Eye Primer -Pop Beauty - Eye Magnet Primer
TwoBostons 5/22/2009 1:54:00 AM
I received this in a sample-sized container which came with a wand applicator. I've been looking for an eyeshadow primer and have tried several, none of which worked for me. This little gem worked like a dream! The color is a good skintone match for me and did not interfere with the eyeshadow colors I used. Blending was easy. This primer is much less drying than the Urban Decay Primer Potion was--ladies, if you are getting older, give this a shot! After a 15-hour day, much of it spent in muggy 90+ weather, there was nary a crease to be found. The full size is very reasonably priced as compared to other e/s primers. Will definitely repurchase this!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Clinique - Glosswear for Lips- Tenderheart
TwoBostons 5/22/2009 1:44:00 AM
This is a great gloss for a work environment. It adds a little glossy color to my pale self! It is a true my lips but better color, a nude shade with a tiny hint of pink. I am a person who normally cannot wear any pink-toned shades, but this one is perfect. The finish is shiny without sparkle, which is a huge plus if you are going for a natural, yet polished look. Staying power is quite good, I only needed to reapply after my sandwich! This gloss has a doe-foot applicator and is good-sized--an excellent value. Would definitely repurchase.
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Concealers -Clinique - All About Eyes Concealer
TwoBostons 5/18/2009 2:17:00 AM
I got a good color match with light petal, that part was pretty much perfect. Dark circle coverage was decent. The problem with this concealer is it goes on cakey, even with a brush or patting it in, and settles into fine lines that otherwise don't show up on me! I applied it over eye cream, and it still had a drying effect. Did not spread well, and after being on half the day had started to look patchy. The product performance reminded me of the first foundation I used in high school, Cover Girl w/Noxema! Not a good look. Would not purchase, and am happy I got to try this as a GWP instead of shelling out $$.
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Toners -The Body Shop - Vitamin C Energizing Face Spritz
TwoBostons 5/18/2009 1:17:00 AM
So sad to see this spray doesn't get more love! I've used this for about 10 years, and always repurchase. It's the perfect little freshening spray for days when the temperature is climbing into the stratosphere. I've never used it over makeup, unless I was home from work and still happened to have some on, and I can see why that wouldn't work out very well. I use it heavily in the summertime when I'm cleaning the house or hanging out in the backyard gardening. Great at the beach, too. Cools me down and sooo refreshing! It has a light, bright citrus scent--do close mouth when applying, though :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Cosmedicine - Opti-mologist with Light Diffusers
TwoBostons 5/16/2009 12:40:00 PM
This eye treatment has an herbally-menthol smell, and I am not keen on putting menthol near my eyes! It's light-diffusing properties are no different than any other similar product--no better, no worse. The problem with this product is even if you warm it up between your fingers there is not enough 'slip' to apply it without stretching out your eye area. It is thick and sticky, and does not absorb worth a darn. Did not pill under concealer, but it felt like I was wearing a mud mask :( Overall a very disappointing product, especially since I like several of Cosmedicine's other items. If you are looking for a product with properties this claims to posess, try Clarins Extra-firming Eye Serum!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Cosmedicine - Medi-morphosis Self Adjusting Exfoliator
TwoBostons 5/14/2009 7:29:00 PM
I originally got a sample of this and ended up purchasing the full size. The granules in this scrub are round, so you don't have to worry about it tearing up your skin. Medi-morposis is a very thorough scrub, though, so if you have very sensitive skin it may not work for you. I use a tiny bit (size of a dime) for my entire face and massage in until the scrub particles dissolve. Leaves my skin extremely clean and visibly reduces the size of pores on my nose. An excellent way to help those of us who are starting to age maintain glowing skin. My favorite thing to do with this exfoliator is to use it immediately before my beloved REN Glycolactic peel--talk about an effective combination!!
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Eye Makeup Remover -Neutrogena - Extra Gentle Eye Makeup Remover Pads
TwoBostons 5/14/2009 1:28:00 AM
What an awful product. I love the Neutrogena makeup remover wipes, so I figured these would be a natural...NOT! They are very stiff and thick, about the size of 6 m/u remover wipes stacked up together, and have a fuzzy sort of texture. The eye pads were also almost completely dry--even at the bottom of the container. The package was sealed, so the problem has to be with the amount of liquid added to the pads to begin with. I do not want to have to scrub my eyes with something as thick as an old-school hiking sock in order to remove mascara and eyeliner. Even with the scrubbing the m/u did not come off completely. I will not repurchase these. Back to my Neutrogena wipes, which have reliably worked for years.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Bobbi Brown - Blushed powder blush
TwoBostons 5/14/2009 12:46:00 AM
This blush looks basic and a little blah in the container, but on? A natural just-in-from-the-cold look with a red/pink/brown cast to it. In comparison to Tawny, my other BB blush, this one is a more intense color (and more red) and needs to be applied sparingly to my BB 2.5 complexion. Staying power is excellent--I apply in the morning and it looks the same when I get home at night as it did when I left the house. There is visible sparkle in the container, but nothing noticeable upon application. Would definitely purchase again.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Bobbi Brown - Metallic Eye Shadow in Bronzed Pink
TwoBostons 5/14/2009 12:34:00 AM
This one is HOT!!!! The combination of pink and bronze yields a gorgeous color with a rose-bronze look to it. I am someone who can never wear pink-toned eyeshadow (makes me look sick), but the bronze in this shadow pulls the color to a beautifully wearable shade. It is a light color, but the sheen of the metallic finish makes it much more visible than many darker BB shimmerwash shadows. For reference, I am Warm Sand in BB foundations w/dark brown hair and hazel eyes. This color emphasizes the green/gold in my eyes! I have been combining it with the BB Shimmerwash shadow in Rose Gold--the combo is heavenly. If you look great in bronze/gold shadows, this one is for you :) It is also subtle enough colorwise to be wearable for work, even in a conservative workplace. Ladies over 40, do not be afraid of the metallic finish--it is still quite subtle. This comes in the new square packaging, which is a big improvement over the screw-top containers.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Bobbi Brown - Shimmer Wash Eyeshadow - Rose Gold #8
TwoBostons 5/14/2009 12:22:00 AM
Pink-toned shadows are often difficult to pull off in real life. I have light skin, Warm Sand in BB foundations. Like the previous reviewer, I have golden brown/green/gold hazel eyes! This is an excellent color choice to emphasize them. This color is more gold than rose, and almost has a rosy-flesh tone to it (if that makes sense:)) The pigment when applied is true to the look of the shadow in the pan. The shimmer is enough to highlight the eyes but not overwhelm those of us who are getting older. Usually I cannot wear any pinky/rose shade of eyeshadow as it makes me look ill, but this is the perfect light wash of color I can use over the lid and crease area. Staying power is good, and I do not use a primer. Looks great paired with Metallic e/s in Bronzed Pink! I will definitely repurchase this.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -L'Oreal - EverPure Moisture Shampoo
TwoBostons 5/11/2009 2:18:00 AM
The scent is not unpleasant and is vaguely herbal. The packaging is pretty, sleek, and modern. Looks nice on my bathroom shelf, which is where it will sit till I dump it out--I don't dislike anyone enough to give them this shampoo. I have used a variety of high-end and drugstore shampoos, and have never had a negative experience with one before this. This stuff turned my hair into a stiff bundle of straw!! I literally could not even run my fingers through to make sure my hair was rinsed properly. I have healthy, shiny, below-the-shoulder length hair, so my hair is not the problem. Please, L'oreal, less focus on being vegan and more on product performance! (Very cute packaging, though!)
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Eye Shadow -Bobbi Brown - Eye shadow in Mahogany
TwoBostons 5/10/2009 10:59:00 PM
This is a great shadow for brunettes to use for eyebrow fill-in! It looks natural, doesn't have fallout, and lasts all day/night without requiring touchups. I use it with the BB Eye Definer brush, which is recommended for those of us with 'finer' brows. Touch the flat portion of the brush to the shadow, tap once, and apply with short, feathery strokes. I've always been afraid to add color to my brows until this shadow, and it's made a huge difference to the overall balance of my face. I've also used the Mahogany shadow as a liner with a wet brush--lasted well, but am so in love with the gel liners I won't switch. The new square packaging is great, as the shadow can be popped out and put into a palette for easy organization.
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Lip Gloss -Clinique - Full Potential Lips Plump and Shine gloss in Glamour-full
TwoBostons 5/9/2009 10:23:00 PM
This gloss is wonderful on my minimally pigmented lips. It is a rosy, tawny nude that is a great my lips but better shade. The shimmer is there, but is not over the top and is a wearable amount for my 40ish self! I used this with Chanel precision lip liner in nude, but any nude shade would work. There is slight tingling and a noticeable increase in the size of my lips, probably about 20%, which is just enough to plump out the creases. Lasting power is good, and reapplication was not required for about 5 hours. I highly recommend any of the Full Potential glosses!
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Palettes -Bobbi Brown - Honey Glaze Palette
TwoBostons 5/7/2009 12:33:00 AM
The HG of BB palettes. This palette has a large mirror that is actually useable for makeup application. Each of the products is in a separate, snap-top sealed pot inside the sleek palette. Comes with a dual-ended brush, one end is the ultra-fine eyeliner brush w/cap and the other is the cream shadow brush. There are two long-wear cream shadows and two gel eyeliners. Long-wear cream shadows in Honey Glaze--a light faintly shimmery cream/honey color and Dove Grey--actually the color of those really pretty beige-colored doves. Long-wear gel liners in Mahogany--a dark brown that is the perfect daytime brown for me (dk brown hair, hzl eyes), and Black Topaz--a gold/black with a slight shimmer. The Black Topaz is not available to purchase separately, which is a major mistake by BB. Gorgeous color-(and I don't do black eyeliner) and there is enough gold to make it wearable as a daytime liner on me. Price was $56, and worth every penny. I use it several times a week, as it is especially handy for on the go m/u application. I will buy this again to have as a backup--I don't want to run out! FYI--this may be a Nordstrom exclusive.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Hanae Mori - Hanae Mori Butterfly EDP
TwoBostons 5/7/2009 12:02:00 AM
Looks so nice on my dresser (I love looking at perfume bottles!). This is a perfect work-appropriate scent that smells like almond, strawberry, and vanilla, with a touch of something sophisticated/deeper (I don't know what) that keeps it from smelling like a teenager's perfume. Lasting power is good, as I can still smell it on myself when I get home from work. I was looking for a lighter scent for summer to break things up a little from my HG The One by Dolce&Gabbana. The One is a bite on the neck, Hanae Mori Butterfly is a gentle brush of the shoulder. I regret not purchasing the lotion at the same time. I have the EDP in this--in my experience the drydown on EDTs is different, so just wanted to make it clear which my review applied to.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No