Lipstick -Cover Girl - Trushine Lipstick - Petal Shine 425
Cailee 10/30/2011 3:53:00 PM
TruShines were the only lip product lineup that I EVER liked from CoverGirl, and...of course it just had to be discontinued, right? Well, out of the 4 that I bought a couple years back, I still to this day, have Petal Shine and Raspberry Shine. Those two were the most flattering on me. In fact, they're still two of the most flattering lipsticks I have in my monstrous lipstick arsenal. Petal is almost down to the nub, and I'm trying to save it for when I REALLY want to wear it. It was my first foray into nude lippies, and the color is exceptionally beautiful. Not too brown-toned, not too pink. It has the perfect touch of pink. Perfect MLBB shade for my ridiculously pale cool-toned skin (NW15 in MAC). The shine and butteriness of these made this lipstick feel so luxurious on the lips (seriously, how many drugstore lippies can do that? Not many). Good pigment, not too sheer, which was surprising, given the formula. Lasting power was average, felt like I had to reapply every 30-45 minutes or so, which isn't a big problem for me (if it's high end lipstick, then yeah, it's a problem). The cap came off very easily, so I was always afraid of carrying this in my purse, because I knew I would find a hot lipstick mess when I opened it. So packaging got a 2. If I could find these gorgeous babies for a good price on eBay, then I'm all for buying backups. In which case, yes, I would repurchase.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Sonia Kashuk - Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 (tube)
Cailee 10/29/2011 2:01:00 AM
I glow! I glow! Sonia certainly hit the ball out of the park with this one! This stuff has the perfect amount of coverage. Definitely my HG tinted moisturizer; I will most certainly be coming back to this one again and again. Also, with the light-reflecting factor it claims to have, I don't know how, but it completely blanks out any and all redness or tiny blemishes on my face, and just leaves it appearing dewy and fresh (oh, did I mention I don't even need to use concealer beforehand?). I don't have acne-prone skin anymore, just really irritated dry skin and redness, with a few blemishes here and there. I had been lemming over the Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer for quite some time, and purchased a tube of this magic last summer, and then forgot all about paying the $32 price tag for Stila. This....is...it. And I'm just now due for a repurchase, since its down to 3 or 4 more uses TOPS. It brightens up my complexion, and the shimmer in it is hardly noticable. My worst fear was that the 'glow' infused in this product would emphasize any little dry spots that I had, but it doesn't at all. It just blends seamlessly with my skin, like we were made for each other lol. Whenever I wore this (alone or with a little spot concealer for problem areas) complete strangers would come up to me and compliment me on my flawless, gorgeous complexion, even if I was having a 'bad skin' day that day. I never thought a tinted moisturizer could do that, but hey, I'll take it! Lasts 6-8 hours when set with powder, doesn't leave the face looking shiny or oily at all (if you applied too much, then yes, it might). Formula is very lightweight, doesn't feel heavy in the slightest. I've never gotten breakouts from using this, nor did it cause my pores to clog. Packaging on this one gets two thumbs wayy down. It tends to leak into the cap, and I mean A LOT of product gets down there, to the point of it being wasteful. On another note, off to Target tomorrow to make a repurchase! Yay!
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - puerto vallarta violeta
Cailee 10/24/2011 1:04:00 AM
This is one of those shades that you either love...or you despise. This was my first OPI polish, and it seriously did nothing for me. It took three coats to get the soft, grey-toned lavender color in the bottle, and I realized that against my fair skin, it made my hands look washed out and dead. In the bottle, it looks like it has a low shimmer to it, which sadly doesn't show up on the nails. It just shows up as a pale lavender creme. I think this is definitely for warmer skin tones (or any other skin tone besides alabaster white, like me). But I'm not in any way knocking it down just because the color didn't work for me. It's just that for OPI, this was a complete dud on my list because the formulation on this particular shade is rather thin and watered down, not to mention very sheer. This gets two thumbs down from me, unfortunately.
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Eye Shadow -Cover Girl - Eye Enhancers - Tapestry Taupe
Cailee 10/21/2011 7:08:00 PM
Bleh. Utter, complete crap. Tapestry Taupe is the only CG eyeshadow single I own, and I think I may have gotten a bad batch as well. Sure, mine's somewhat pigmented, and it's a nice color and such, but the texture is absolutely HORRENDOUS. Hard to the touch, chalky, flaky, and I've tried it as an all over wash a couple times for a simple look. FAIL. This absolutely would not blend to save it's life. It went on in glittery patches (oh yeah, and its a complete glitterbomb!) And trust me, I'm no beginner at makeup application. It just goes to show you how long some drugstore makeup lasts before it has to be pitched: not very long. Packaging sucks too, but then again, you have to realize, this is CoverGirl we're talking about. They're gonna keep their outdated blue plastic packaging until the Rapture, I bet. :)
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Eye Shadow -Maybelline - Expertwear Eye Shadow Quad - Time for Wine
Cailee 10/20/2011 6:20:00 PM
Wow...I really wanted to like this product. The color grouping looked so nice, and looked like it would make for a flattering eye look. The Lid and Crease colors are the only ones I get any use of from this cruddy quad. Those two shades are somewhat smooth, somewhat decently pigmented, easy to blend. SOMEWHAT. Even then, its very easy for the colors to blend into one another, thus looking muddy, and also looking like I have a black, swollen eye. The Browbone shade is a chalky, grainy wanna-be metallic pink that has zero color pay-off, and the Outer Corner shade is a rather interesting color that I wanted to like, but it was much too sheer. It was lighter than the crease color. And it has a strange texture. Besides, shouldn't the outer corner color be, oh I don't know, DARKER than the crease color? Lol not in this case. Maybelline likes to switch things up, I see, and sometimes not for the good. This was for the most part a dud, which is a shame, because the colors look so promising and beautiful in the pan (as do most Maybelline shadows, which in the end almost always turn out to be an unpleasant surprise in the end). Shame shame. I'll stick with my WnW and NYX for drugstore eyeshadows. EDIT: knocking it down to one lippy because I just can't get the colors to stop looking like one big sloppy hot mess on my eyes. I let my aunt use it, and she doesn't even like it (and she's very low maintenance when it comes to makeup, unlike me). Needless to say, this is going in the trash.
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Cleansers -Clean & Clear - Morning Burst Facial Cleanser
Cailee 10/20/2011 3:11:00 PM
This cleanser really did nothing for my skin. It cleaned it....made it feel tingly and fresh....smelled good...that's about It. But then again, that's not why I'm giving it a low rating, because this product never claimed to do anything else. What I don't really like is the feeling it gave my skin after I washed it off. Almost immediately after the water absorbed into my skin, my entire face felt so tight and started to flake a little bit. Now, granted, I already have super dry, flaky skin, and I moisturize at least twice a day. If this product didn't bother me that much, I would keep using it, and just follow up with my moisturizer afterwards. But this stuff just makes my skin feel..irritated and angry. It didn't break me out or anything, but I'm just not particularly fond of having my face feeling so tight and cold, that it feels like there's ice cubes and pin needles attacking my face. That's what this cleanser feels like after it's washed off. It just feels....odd. To the point of feeling uncomfortable. No I would not repurchase the product. I'm not saying it's a bad product, because all my friends who have tried it seem to like it, it's just not my cup of tea, and I really don't find it necessary in my skin regime.
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Gels/Soaps -Philosophy - Vanilla Birthday Cake 3-in-1
Cailee 10/19/2011 11:58:00 PM
This was a free birthday gift with purchase for me as well, and I have to say, I would never pay full price for this product in this particular scent. The smell isn't necessarily plastic-y (I was actually expecting a true vanilla bean buttercream scent, coming from Philosophy, but no), although it does have that artificial-ness that i can't quite put my finger on. Maybe imitation vanilla? I do like that its not cloyingly sweet though. The reason I'm giving it a mid-rating is because I've tried a couple vanilla scents from Bath & Body Works that smelled WAYYYY better than this. As a body wash, I do feel rather squeaky clean after using it, but the smell fades after two minutes. That's ok with me, because I'm almost twenty, and just don't feel like walking around smelling like a sweets shop, like I used to in my preteens lol. I even tried it as a bubble bath, and it did nothing. The stuff just sank to the bottom of my bathtub without so much as one little fizzing bubble. Fail. But overall I think it's just average. This won't deter me from trying out a couple other Philosophy 3-in-1's, because it is good as a lathering body wash, and for the whopping amount of product that you get (16 oz for $16), I don't know what you all think, but I think it's at a pretty good price, myself. I put the price point at 3/5. Oh, and I will never...EVER.... use this as a shampoo. I don't know why this product even claims it can be a shampoo. I think I'm the only person who is weird and picky about what they put in their hair, and when my hair dries right after I wash it, it's dry as a bone, but then it gains back its natural oils within a day. That's why I have to keep switching shampoos. If I use this as a shampoo, I'm almost certain my hair will NOT feel clean, and all the chemicals in this product will completely strip my hair of its natural oils. My hair is also color treated, and I think people with color-treated hair should stay away from using this as a shampoo altogether.
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Eyeliner -Coastal Scents - gel eyeliner
Cailee 10/14/2011 3:26:00 AM
I have two of the CS gel liners: Stellar and Exotic. Stellar is a beautiful almost-black charcoal (a little deeper than charcoal or gunmetal grey, though) with shimmer that looks multidimensional in certain lights. Exotic is a darkened mossy green with a slight golden shimmer. Very pretty. I reached for this one the most out of the two. I used the heck out of it! :) What I DO like about these liners is the amazing staying power that they have, the nice range of colors they have, and, of course, the price. However, I found that it varies with the amount of product you get in each jar. My Exotic jar was almost filled to the brim, but my Stellar jar had about half that amount (the jar wasnt even filled halfway, and the jars are pretty tiny, compared to many gel liners.) If it was obvious enough for ME to notice, then it's a problem. I read a lot of complaints about these drying out after as little as a couple weeks, and I read those complaints before I bought them. But I figured I would just use my handy dandy eye drops to save them if they ever dried out on me. Well, these liners were creamy for about a month after I got them. They dried out at the same time, oddly enough. It wasn't to the point where they just separated from the wall of the container. No, they were actually CRUMBLING each time I went to use them, and when I mixed in a couple eyedrops, they were creamy for about a week, and then they dried out again. And it was the worst consistency ever. No product would even pick up onto my liner brush. They became impossible to work with. So I will not be purchasing any more of these liners, because I feel like I wasted my money. Do not recommend at all, but I gave them a 2, because they were good while they lasted.
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Moisturizers -Ponds - Dry Skin Cream
Cailee 10/12/2011 10:52:00 PM
I've been using Pond's Dry Skin cream for the past three years now, and I can honestly say that I will never go back to any other moisturizer, or try any others, because this is HG status for me. I have very dry, sensitive, and sometimes acne-prone skin, and this is the only thing that has worked for me. Other moisturizers, like Cetaphil and Clinique, just sit on top of my skin without sinking in and hydrating it. This does everything it's supposed to do, and I use it as a base for makeup (since I've just accepted the fact that I'm allergic to silicone, so therefore I'm allergic to most face primers that are on the market). I do find that it is easy to put on too much, making your face look like an oil slick. It doesn't matter how dry your skin is: it is very easy to use too much of this stuff. This isn't something you should just slap onto your face and rub in, unless you're applying it generously and then going to bed. My method is picking up some of the cream, rubbing my hands together first, and then apply it to the outside of my face (towards the hairline, and neck) and blend inwards. Amazing, affordable product that I will continue to use for many years to come. The smell is very pleasant too. It's a clean, powdery scent. EDIT 8/29/2012 - Cetaphil has replaced this as my HG moisturizer. My skin isn't nearly as dry as it was before, and I knocked Pond's down to a 3 because it was clogging my pores terribly and it just became too heavy for me to wear on a daily basis.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyes -MAC - Paint Pot in Bare Study
Cailee 10/12/2011 1:49:00 AM
I feel no need to look any further for an HG cream eyeshadow base, because this is it. Primer and base in one. I don't feel the need to look at the Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liners, UD Shadow Pencils, or anything else. MAC Bare Study and Soft Ochre are my staples, and they are what I will continue to buy, forever and ever amen. I think everyone knows what Bare Study looks like, so I won't go into detail about the shade. Simplistic but beautiful neutral champagne beige with gold shimmer. I've had mine for about a year, and I'm so relieved that it hasn't started to dry out, or separate itself from the container. That means I take care of my makeup. :) But no seriously, with paint pots, all you have to do is make sure the lid is not only closed, but closed very tight, after each use. I don't know how others use their paint pots for them to crease, but mine never crease on me....EVER. The only minor problem I have is that it dries very quickly on me, for some reason, so if I want to apply another thin layer on my eyelid, I'll have to work rather quickly (maybe it's because I have somewhat dry skin on my eyelids?). I can use Bare Study with anything, and it just makes the color appear so much more vibrant and gives it more depth (as with any base; what more do you need, really?). It creates the perfect canvas, and lasts all day until I take it off at night with makeup remover. Could this be used alone? My answer is yes, but it's a very subtle, low maintenance color, so building up the color is absolutely necessary. Would I purchase this IF I ever ran out? Absolutely. I would repurchase it the SECOND I ran out.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -NYX - Diamond Sparkle Lipsticks- Sparkling Flamingo
Cailee 10/12/2011 1:02:00 AM
This is my first Diamond Sparkle lippie from NYX, and let me tell you, as soon as I got my Cherry Culture package and tried this little baby on my lips, I fell in love at the first swipe. I have a good selection of NYX Round Lipsticks in my makeup drawer, but I think I've been converted into buying the Diamond Sparkles from now on. I never really understood the clean soapy plastic smell of the Round Lippies, but these have a rather appealing light scent. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's somewhat sweet (not cloying though, just subtle). Sparkling Flamingo is a beautiful neutral-ish baby pink with subtle gold sparkle. What I love about it, is that it doesn't look frosty, but has more of a gleaming glossy 'wet diamonds' effect on the lips, which is of course, more flattering than flat out white frost. And I was sooooo afraid that since this was a light color, that it would have that garish overpowering white frost, reminiscent of the '60s. But it is nothing of the sort. This does wonders to my NW15 skin tone, just a beautiful wash of color, without looking overdone. Now onto the formula. One word: BUTTERY. Not grainy or gritty in the slightest. Maybe not as creamy as the Rounds, but its pretty darn close. The formulation on these honestly could not be better. What's even better (and this came as a major shocker to me, considering what they are) is that these lipsticks are actually very moisturizing, and they don't dry out my lips at all. It wears about 4 hours on average for me. So, since all the factors are there, I have no reason NOT to give this product a 5/5. I will DEFINITELY be checking out more shades in this lineup.
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Lip Gloss -E.L.F. - Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Baby Lips
Cailee 10/12/2011 12:26:00 AM
The Liquid Lipsticks are undoubtedly my favorite lip products from e.l.f. I've tried a couple of the brand's other glosses, but eventually threw them out and kept these, because of the gorgeous colors, and the lasting power that they have over the others. They last around 2 hours tops for me, without eating or drinking anything. And they are rather sticky, which I like, because that determines their lasting power. These are not overly sticky, though. All in all just great quality, and I'm rather picky about what I put on my lips, because they get dry and parched so easily. I purchased Baby Lips online, along with a backup of Pink Lemonade. I now wish I would've bought a backup of this one, because I haven't checked my Target yet to find out if they sell this shade! But now, onto the shade itself: I have extremely pigmented lips, and I usually have to use a lip erase or a concealer for lighter colors, but even on my pigmented lips, this actually doesn't turn up clear on me! It just gives them a soft, barely there pink look (like actual baby lips!). So yes, I think the name is very fitting. I would buy again in a heartbeat, because of the price, and because I'm almost out.
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Lip Treatments -Nivea - A Kiss of Moisture
Cailee 10/11/2011 10:54:00 PM
Nivea products don't fare very well with my lips. It's actually very hard for me to find a lip balm (drugstore OR high end) that doesn't make my lips chap and dry out even worse, and this one is one of the many that do, as does Nivea Kiss of Milk & Honey. This stuff completely strips my lips of moisture when it rubs off. It's rather nice while it's on, but my lips feel rather tight after 10 minutes of application, and they feel even worse when its gone. Not a pretty feeling. I don't know why so many lip balms do this to me; the only lip balm that works for me is Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm. But with Nivea, I like the texture of it, it doesn't feel too waxy, but i just don't see myself repurchasing. And, for some reason, in many of my local stores, it's actually more expensive than Burt's Bees.
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Polishes -Orly - Chantilly Peach
Cailee 10/11/2011 2:07:00 AM
Beautiful. Simply beautiful. Chantilly Peach looks absolutely lovely on my ghost-white hands. Ok, they're not that light, but they're getting there. :) This is one of my go-to polishes, and it's perfect for any season, because it's considered as a neutral. A beautiful foiled bronzy peach shade that isn't too dark? And it's opaque and streak-free with just one coat? Automatic winner! Brush works fine for me, wasn't splayed out and separated like the first Orly polish I purchased. I usually use a base with any polish (especially this one, because the base helps prevent the streaks; I haven't used this polish without a base, so I can't compare results). The base that I use is also by Orly, and it's the Orly Ridgefiller (and it also happens to be my favorite base at the moment). I purchased Chantilly at Sally's for $6.99 US dollars, but I know you can get it cheaper on TD and 8ty8beauty. What has drawn me to Orly is the ridiculous amount of polish you get in each bottle! For that factor alone, I think it's worth the price! Oh, and I tried this without a topcoat, and it lasted for about 4 days without chipping (which I think is pretty impressive for just one coat of polish) and with topcoat, about 2 weeks. So, major difference there, but with a second coat, it would last a lot longer without chipping.
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Highlighters -BeneFit Cosmetics - Moon Beam
Cailee 10/11/2011 1:37:00 AM
This was an impulse buy for me when I was in Chicago last year. I'd heard wondrous things about it, and I decided to make it an item to splurge on (since I didn't have a good highlighting product at the time). One word for Moon Beam is this: UNDERSTATED. It isn't anywhere near over-the-top shimmery like its coveted sister, High Beam. I don't like overly shimmery products either (I only own one MAC MSF; need I say more?). This truly gives that 'glow from within' look when topped with translucent powder. A beautiful golden hue with some pink and peach iridescence (Benefit calls that tone 'apricot'). I've never used it under my foundation, because since it's a bit more of a subtle highlighter, I felt that it would defeat the whole purpose. I would consider my skin neutral toned, so (like one of the reviewers below me) I feel like when I only use a spare amount of it, it doesn't even show up on me, like it would with most people. So I feel like it's necessary to apply it just a bit heavier than I would with any other highlighter. That unfortunately, is what knocks it down to a 4. To be a bit more hygienic, I don't apply it to my face straight out of the bottle. I just swipe some on the back of a clean hand, wait a few seconds for it to get just a bit tacky, and from there use my fingers to apply it to my face: the tops of my cheeks, bridge of my nose, and cupid's bow. I usually have to do that step twice, but hey, since the product's going to last me a long time, I don't mind the extra work, since it does give such beautiful results!
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