Pressed Powders -New York Color - Pressed Translucent Powder
macompanick 11/8/2006 10:03:00 AM
This powder has outstanding staying power for the price. Unfortunately, I think the "Translucent" color a little too pale, even for a gal like me who is proud of her pale complexion! The sponge applicator is the cheapest thing I've ever seen, but I apply the powder with MAC's powder brush in the morning. I don't think I'd carry it around in my make-up bag in my purse because I can't find an applicator thin enough to fit inside. I was pleasantly surprised by this powder, but I'll keep looking for another product that is truly translucent vs. ghostly pale.
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Crème -Cover Girl - Cover Girl TruBlend Whipped Foundation 
macompanick 10/30/2006 12:18:00 PM
I tried this foundation in #405 Ivory in my search for a base that would not show my pores and dry spots. Unfortunately, the color is just a bit too light and the consistency was no better than a liquid. As a plus, a little goes a long way, so I imagine the tub would last many months. However, I think I'll stick to higher end foundations (at the moment Prescriptives Virtual Skin in Real Rose) to get the best color match possible. Also, I got some blemishes on my chin while using this product. I dont' know if it's the foundation's fault, but the packaging says nothing about being oil-free, non-comedegenic or non-acnegenic. I have more confidence in products that i know are oil-free.
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Mascara -New York Color - Thickening Mascara
macompanick 10/19/2006 12:55:00 PM
This product is what you would expect for a $2.00 mascara. It did very little for my lashes in terms of volume or even length. I'll just toss it.
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Mascara -Revlon - Luxurious Lengths
macompanick 10/19/2006 12:53:00 PM
I used this mascara a few months ago and liked it, so I recently returned. I'm not such a fan this time around. It's more of a curling mascara than lengthening. And the 2-sided brush is a pain for me to use. I returned it after one use.
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Mascara -Yves Saint Laurent - Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils
macompanick 10/11/2006 10:08:00 PM
The jury is still out on this mascara for me. It gets raves from others, but I find it to be more of a lengthening formula instead of a volumizing formula. The packaging is just lovely and it's a nice big tube for the money, but I feel I get better volume with Vincent Longo Volume Riche.
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Lip Gloss -Neutrogena - Moisture Shine Gloss in Swizzle
macompanick 10/4/2006 1:35:00 PM
I saw this gloss on a model in the 10/06 issue of Allure and ran right out to buy it. Boy, was that a mistake! The color seemed beigy-nude in the magazine but it's really a bright pink/plum (at least on me, no matter how much I blotted). Neutrogena glosses taste good and they're not too sticky/tacky, but they have less staying power than I'd like. I've tried other colors (First Blush, Chic) and they look better in the tube than they do on my lips.
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Moisturizers -RoC - Age Diminishing Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15
macompanick 10/4/2006 1:20:00 PM
This product got positive reviews from others, but I just couldn't stand the fragrance - it lingered all day. Plus, my face was quite greasy by mid-day. I returned after about a week.
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Mascara -L'Oreal - HIP High Drama Volumizing Mascara
macompanick 9/8/2006 1:17:00 PM
I bought this in an attempt to better budget my beauty money. Vincent Longo Volume Riche is my current favorite mascara, but I can't always rationalize spending $23 on a .22 oz tube that lasts less than 3 months. L'Oreal's HIP comes a very close second! I bought Blue-Black. I like the idea of a non-traditional color, even though I could detect no blue on my lashes (I have blue eyes, too). The color was intense with just one coat and the volume was quite good (though VL's volume is ever-so-slightly better IMHO). It lasted all day with no flaking or smudging into my sensitive eyes. If you're uninterested in brand names and you're looking for a true, intense volumizing mascara (i.e., you want much more than a "natural" look), I'd recommend HIP. EDIT: I bought another tube in Black and it applied very clumpy and blobby. I would not buy this again (and I think it's discontinued anyway).
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Styling Products -Redken - Forceful 23
macompanick 9/8/2006 1:06:00 PM
One spritz of this and I knew it wasn't for me. I don't know why Redken calls it "Forceful," when all I got was "Floppy." Perhaps I'm just a hair spray junkie, because I need a litte crunch in my hair to feel like the product is working. I've since returned to Biosilk Firm Hold, which actually holds firmly and has the best scent of any aersol hairspray ever!
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Mascara -Max Factor - Lash Perfection
macompanick 9/7/2006 1:06:00 PM
I am a bit perturbed that Max Factor would imply this is a "volumizing" mascara. Defining/separating - sure! Lengthening - okay! But volumizing should not be on the menu. I certainly do get clump-free definition with Lash Perfection, but not nearly enough volume for my sparse blond lashes. However, I may keep it around, as others have touted the brush as an eyelash comb. Unfortunately, I could not, in good faith, repurchase just for the brush/comb.
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Lip Treatments -Fresh - Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15
macompanick 9/6/2006 9:57:00 PM
This is by far, the best tasting balm I've ever used. I purchased it after it was reviewed in In Style (which specifically said it held up on a vacation to Greece). Sugar Lip Balm is great at moisturizing. However, the tube is a bit chubby to carry around in one's pocket. Also, I left my make-up bag in the car on a recent hot summer day and my tube melted, darn it! I would like for this to be my staple balm, but I can't see spending over $22 when I can get Neutrogena Lip Moisturizer for about $3. They are identical in functionality, but Neutrogena is uncented (Sugar's sweet tangy taste is far superior). If they made this in a tinted version, I'd be all over it - balm, color and yummy taste all-in-one would definitely be worth the price!
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Liquid -Cover Girl - Advanced Radiance Age Defying - Liquid
macompanick 9/6/2006 9:50:00 PM
I got a small tester of this foundation (Natural Ivory) and liked it so much that I bought the full size. Unfortunately, after wearing it to work for 2 days, it leaves me looking like a grease pit by noon and I have a nasty breakout on my chin (which I attribute to the foundation). Back it goes!
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Blush -NARS - Deep Throat
macompanick 8/28/2006 9:26:00 PM
I must be the only fair-skinned, blond-haired woman who can't wear NARS Orgasm blush. It looks great on my sister but lousy on me. However, during a recent visit to Sephora, I sampled Deep Throat and found it much more to my liking. There is no discernable peachiness, which suits me just fine! There's still a lot of shimmer, which I tend to shy away from, but it's not glittery. In fact, the the blush looks pretty darn good in pictures! I was using NARS multiple in Maui, but I think I got a bad tube. It's sooo hard to get onto my cheeks, that I just gave up. NARS powder blush, on the other hand is like buttah. I've been using Deep Throat for just over a week. It goes with everything and every lip shade that I own (something Orgasm couldn't do). I plan to make this a keeper!
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Lotions/ Creams -Jergens - Ultra Healing Lotion
macompanick 8/9/2006 8:13:00 PM
I've been using Jergens Ultra Healing Moisturizer for years. I think I first bought it after it won an In Style "Best Beauty Buy." It's a staple and I hope they never stop making it. Jergens just recently changed the packaging and I was afraid that they changed the formula as well. Surprisingly, the product seems even better to me! To be fair, I've never had super dry skin, though I was a competitive swimmer for 13 years (I can attest that chlorine is not your friend!) I'm a little more low maintenance about body products than make-up, but for my money, this body lotion can't be beat!
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Styling Products -Bumble & Bumble - Classic hairspray
macompanick 8/3/2006 12:50:00 PM
I bought a 4 oz of this spray yesterday. ICK! Absolutely no hold whatsoever. I sprayed, and sprayed, and sprayed, and my hair was limp by the time I walked out the door 10 minutes later. An absolute waste of $10.
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