Eyeliner -Laura Mercier - Tightline Cake Eye Liner in Bleu Marine
swolf123 12/8/2008 8:48:00 PM
My first bad LM review. I really don't get these glowing reviews. Unlike the Ebony Cake liner, this one has Zero color payoff. I attempted many times with different brushes and different amounts of moisture; and still Nada. This could have been re formalized to suck, because the tester was just as bad in store. Anywho, I was still in search this week to find the perfect daytime blue liner, that would make my brown eyes pop. Found it after help from a Sephora SA. Smashbox Creme Eye Liner in Picasso, is more like it.
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Treatments -Physician's Choice - PCA Skin - pHaze 33 Acne Cream
swolf123 12/6/2008 8:57:00 PM
A really good BP Treatment, that is somehow gentler than Jan Marini's 5% BP. I don't like that it is a in a tub; which is terrible for sanitary reasons. Not much else to say except I wish there was a 10% BP in tube form as well.
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Cleansers -Physician's Choice - PCA SKIN pHaze 32 Blemish Control Bar
swolf123 12/6/2008 2:27:00 PM
Looking for a miracle, I departed from my Jan Marini products to help calm my hormonal acne; which usually strikes around my chin. I was worried that this would dry out my face, but It actually softens and calms, while giving a squeaky clean feel. I have only used this for about 3days, but I am very hopeful, plus I haven't gotten any new breakouts. I alternate this, as prescribed, with Ellen Lange Mineral Cleanser in the morning. Will update after a month of use. A+ so far. Update: This is excellent in calming and cleaning skin. I have a feeling Lanolin is one of the main ingredients that calming and evening out my skin. I have troubled skin, so this isn't my only face product. In addition I have been using Jan Marini Glycholic Cleanser to clear up dryness and pigmentation and Good Skin Micro scrub at night; and Ellen Lange in the morning. I am definitely going to keep this cleanser in my line-up, sans the buffing sponge. The sponge seems so unhygienic and irritating to my sensitive skin. So I use this with damp face and hands, and it seems to work just as well, but a bit more gentler. Update: I've been using this for a while, still having issues on and off. Even at the beginning of using this product I notice a slight burn every time I kept it on longer than 5secs. Thinking that the product was "working" I ignored this problem. However, when I started on a weekly Glycolic Peel, my skin became a wreck again. I know it's not the peels, because once I starting using the pigment bar alone my face started to heal, and the reactive bumps, redness and pimples slowly diminished. I've never been able to use Salicylic Acid spot tx w/o incident, so I guess it's the same for any product with SA. Happy to confirm the Pigment Bar does not trouble me a bit, especially sans the face scrubber.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -BeneFit Cosmetics - Creaseless Cream Shadow Liner in Bunny Hop
swolf123 11/23/2008 2:06:00 PM
Yes I got this with my Sephora BI points. It applies very nude, with an almost opalescent sheen. I apply UDPP first on my oily lids, then this to have a more vibrant and less creeping for my shadow. I have noticed it works much better than Paint Pots as a e/s base; with less creasing. I will definitely be trying more in varying colors.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Kat Von D - Beethoven palette
swolf123 11/16/2008 8:48:00 PM
Pretty, but the quality is not there, compared to Shu and LM. Also, I didn't see any sense in keeping the palette for a few of the pretty purples, which are a dupe of some of my LM e/s. I would say this would be worth it if you are use to drug store/Sephora brands, and don't already have these color; others wise I would pass.
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Lipstick -Laura Mercier - Lip Colour-Aurora
swolf123 11/16/2008 8:42:00 PM
LM quality aside, this was not the neutral that I was desiring. With a beige/orange opaque base, it completely neutralized the natural blush in my lips. Essentially I looked as if I was going into rigamortis, ie. dead.
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Palettes -Laura Mercier - Beauty Eye Book 
swolf123 11/8/2008 1:22:00 PM
Versatile Neutral Palette, that works well with a lot of other Makeup and looks. Terrific palette for those who love LM or just want to get started and are sampling the colors. Great bang for your buck too, with a full e/s priced at $22. That is a $153 savings! Only gripe I have is that there is no purple or exciting colors, like in the 2006 Eyebook. Hopefully next year. I probably will not be using the brush, so I can't comment on that. Dimensions: 3 1/2'' x 4 1/2'' Update: I have to share something I just noticed about this palette. LM laid this palette out in three vertical columns. All the colors running down vertically complement one another. So if you start at the top of one column for an all over lid color, the middle for crease, and bottom for liner, you are all set. Neat huh? It definitely takes out the guess work.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Bath and Body Works - Heel of Approval
swolf123 11/8/2008 10:29:00 AM
As the other previous reviews have already said, it does exactly what it claims. And like other people I am also not a fan of the tub packaging. Its biggest offense in the beginning was the stench, I hated the smell. That being said, I already bought two more tubs during a 2 for $20 sale. Until something better comes around, this will be it.
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Eye Primer -Too Faced - Shadow Insurance, Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer
swolf123 11/7/2008 6:39:00 PM
Is everyone on crack, this is Terr-o-ble. If the purpose is to instantly dry out my lids until they resemble shriveled-up old flesh, then it does it's job perfectly. This garbage is so un-e/s friendly, that it makes me look like I rubbed in a bit of Coty power onto my lids. Am I doing something wrong? Are you suppose to pray and do a little dance around the toilet prior to application? I just don't get it. Update: I have reconsidered my some of my harsh words, after reading paint pot reviews. This might be the answer to my creasing paint pots. Still, I can not use this product alone. Two bases are way too many steps for this simple gal. I'm still searching for my HG base, and I have tried it all (UD, Guerlain, Benifit, MAC, TM, LM..you get the point). I might purchase again. UpdateII: Okay, but not good enough, it creases. Back to UD.
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Polishes -Zoya - Indigo
swolf123 11/1/2008 3:04:00 PM
What terrible reviews for such a beautiful, rich color. Of course application was easy as pie, usual for all the zoyas' I've tried. Yes, if you are looking for Disco Ball you have come to the wrong place. This is a very subtle, grownup and sparse iridescent, something you would probably expect more from Chanel. I was entirely impressed with the saturation and beauty of this blue, being a warm girl who shys away from cool blues. Very striking.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -LUSH - tramp shower gel
swolf123 10/22/2008 8:09:00 PM
Overwhelming, is what I would describe this wash. The patchouli fragrance seemed balanced when I performed the sniff test instore; however that is not the case in a hot shower. It was so disgusting that I almost got sick in the shower. It's also a little off putting, squeezing out black liquid over your loofah. I like musky and patchouli fragrances, but this one is not for me.
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Lip Treatments -Carmex - LipBalm
swolf123 10/19/2008 12:27:00 AM
Don't believe the crazy stories. They don't put fiber glass in the formula. It is addicting, that is to be true. Only thing that has ever worked for me. I love how the company is expanding to different variations of the original. But, alas they are all crap, destined for the trash. I am just crossing my fingers that this company doesn't go under during this recession like Mothers Cookies. Akk.
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Fragrances -LUSH - Olive Branch Solid Perfume [DISCONTINUED]
swolf123 10/18/2008 11:41:00 PM
The Lush gods have finally answered my prayers, thank you. To my surprise, the Olive Branch loveliness lasts all day. Packaging could be better, but at least it's very portable. Application can be difficult, but I found if you apply it when the skin is warm after a shower, it melts onto the skin a bit easier. Two questions though; is this LE and why can't they bring back the liquid fragrance? Dame it, I'm still in Love.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -LUSH - The Olive Branch
swolf123 10/18/2008 11:32:00 PM
This has been fav Lush body wash for about 5 yrs. I love the light musky smell, which is not overpowering at all, unlike Tramp. And yes it leans more towards a manly scent, which I love. I can't stand sweet or floral fragrances, Ack. Also, interesting enough I never liked any other Lush wash enough to actually consistently use. For awhile I switched between Fresh and Sabon NY; but this brand is much more accessible. I actually found a store in Florence, while on vacation. Anywho, I was ecstatic to find a new matching perfume solid. Which is great because now I can prolong that Olive Branch loveliness all day. Yay!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Laura Mercier - Black Plum
swolf123 10/12/2008 2:56:00 PM
Another home run for brown eyed girls. I use this as a shadow liner, over pencil. I already had its close cousin, Shu uemura's M860 (Matte dark burgundy). At first I thought I had dupe, but this shadow is a deep plum/purple color without red and the M860 is a true burgundy. Great for a non-traditional smokey eye.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No