Blush -FLOWER Beauty - Ready Set Glow! blush/bronzer duo - shimmering goddess
deadonarrivals 3/15/2013 10:22:00 AM
Love this and it was worth the trip! I searched three cities and three different Walmart's to find Flower products. Along with this blush/bronzer duo, I got a bunch of other items and love most of them too! Now, don't let the name, shimmering goddess, fool you. This duo is completely matte. The pigmentation on this duo is by far the best out there in drugstore cosmetics. In fact, this is even more pigmented than some of the highend products. I'm NC42 and even I had to go real light-handed with this. The shade selection in this duo is beautiful. The blush looks rather bright in the pan but on the cheeks, it comes off as such a pretty warm red pink on me. A lot of blushes will pull orangy on my skin unless it is extremely cool toned but this shade doesn't which is very nice. The bronzer is the perfect matte bronze shade. No orange tones in this at all. This bronzer isn't too cool but more of a neutral shade that will work for everyone. The texture is smooth and blends very easy. I love this hard. I love the packaging..do I love the freaking packaging so much. I love white and rose gold together. It is pleasant to see this bright gorgeous packaging sitting in my collection peaking through the dark sea of standard black gloomy packaging. I love the magnetic clasp that ensures a perfect closure. I can't say anything negative about this product. Plus, it is oil-free as well!
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -Bobbi Brown - BB Cream SPF 35 PA+++
deadonarrivals 3/13/2013 4:46:00 PM
Meh, I tried this BB cream for a week and now I'm going to return it. I thought this would be comparable to the more traditional Asian BB creams but it acts more like a poor quality light foundation. My main issue is when I first apply this, I look fresh, hydrated but not oily, awake and even toned. After 4 hours, this breaks down terribly. Patches of product fade in some areas while collecting and caking in other areas. By noon time, my skin appears rough and tired. This BB cream can go on the crap list with the many other American BB creams that I've tried. What I liked about the product: 1. Shades. Most Asian BB creams don't have darker shade choices and often leave a grey cast. I love that Bobbi Brown created a Medium to Dark shade which matched my NC42 skin nicely. But beware, the Medium shade (next shade lighter than the medium to dark) is very PINK toned. 2. No skin reactions. I didn't get any breakouts, rashes or clogged pores w/ this. 3. Packaging. A sleek slim tube. Overall, I feel that this is an overpriced product at $44.94 (US) for what it delivers. I would much rather pay an extra few bucks for Missha.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -Make Up For Ever - HD High Definition Loose Powder
deadonarrivals 3/8/2013 9:41:00 AM
*****FACE POWDER USE*****I've reviewed this powder before as a finishing powder which is okay (3.5 lippies). I'm pretty oily so this doesn't do as good as a job as Neutrogena Oil Control pressed powder. But, I found that applying this powder before my foundation works a lot better. For some reason, I don't produce oil as fast by using this powder this way. I think the major issue why people don't like this powder is that they use too much. Seriously, you need only a tiny amount...real tiny (less than 1/2 of a 1/8 tsp) to use and use a non-dense kabuki brush with a flared out tip (Ecotools Finishing Kabuki) . If you look at my pics in profile, the ones that I'm wearing makeup, I'm wearing this powder and these pics were taken w/ flash. So, it is an okay finishing powder if you have oil issues. But, I've had this darn container of powder for 2 years now and haven't even made a dent in it. It's still basically full. I'm thinking of ways to use this up and now, I have found the perfect dry shampoo! *****DRY SHAMPOO USE***** My hair is very dry like hay as well as coarse and thick. I only wash it once a week (every saturday). I even workout 6 days a week and my hair is so dry, even that doesn't produce enough oil to prompt me to wash my hair. By Friday, I like to use a little dry shampoo on my scalp because oil is finally starting to produce on my scalp. Because I use a dry shampoo weekly, I have tried majority of them. Some suck all together. Some work decent but have such strong scents. Some leave residue. I have not found a great one in my search. I've tried baby powder but I'm sensitive to scents and I hate the smell of it. Out of curiosity, I used this MUFE HD powder on my scalp and it worked perfectly! Plus, no smell from this unscented powder. *TECHNIQUE* You will need: 1. MUFE HD Powder. 2. Spare kabuki brush that you don't use on your face. 3. Paper towel. 4. Vent brush. Dispense about 1/2 tsp of powder on a paper towel. Dab kabuki into the powder and press into your roots and dust a bit around the hairline. Take you vent brush and apply it to your roots and gently tease it a little bit in a zig zag motion. Do it unitl the oil is absorbed. Lightly brush over the top portion of your hair to distribute the powder evenly and until all traces of powder are gone. My hair stays fresh and dry all day long unlike those dry shampoo sprays that leave my hair smelly and flat by a few hours.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Cover Girl - Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation
deadonarrivals 3/4/2013 11:43:00 AM
I don't think I ever liked a CG product so much that I would repurchase it until now. This new foundation by CG is a decent foundation at the drugstore level. This foundation is pretty darn priced reasonably at $12.99. The only reason why I picked this up was to use up a Cover Girl coupon. I wanted to try some new things from the brand to see the quality has improved and it appears that this foundation is a major improvement to the brand. I have oily skin and I have to agree with many youtube reviewers that this foundation is very comparable to MUFE Mat Velvet +. My usual foundation is MUFE Mat Velvet + because it gives good medium coverage and keeps oil in control yet doesn't look like a mask. This new Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 is also medium coverage that can be built up to full. This is NOT like Revlon CS and Estee Lauder DW which both are very heavy, full cover and mask-like. Outlast Stay Fabulous feels very lightweight on the skin. One layer evens out skin. Two layers will hide blemishes and old cystic scars. No layers will hide my very dark circles (I still needed corrector and concealer). As for the 3 in 1 claim (primer, foundation & concealer in one), I didn't need a primer but needed a concealer for under eyes. The staying power was 8 hours before it started to fade in areas. As for oil control, it isn't as good as MUFE Mat Velvet +. I was oily after an hour of wear. I find even at inital application, Outlast gives an almost dewy satin finish. I do need to set with powder for my skin needs. The color range seems pretty good with shades both in warm and cool tones. I'm NC42 and picked up Outlast in 857 - Golden Tan. Golden Tan has wiggle room, if you are NC44 you can still use this shade. I noticed the next darker shade 860- Classic Tan has strong pink tones and is more suitable for NW35 + skin. I do really like the fact that this foundation didn't cause reactions or breakouts to my skin. I love the pump and it actually works a lot better than some highend ones out there! Lastly, no stinky smell. I'm pretty impressed overall with this foundation. I took one lippie off for mediocre oil control.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Nick Chavez - Amazon Hair Body Building Spray
deadonarrivals 3/4/2013 11:21:00 AM
I don't know what this magical unicorn rainbow spray is made of or how it works, but it is the best hairspray that I ever used in my lifetime. My biggest issue with hairspray is buildup! I don't care how good it is at holding, if I see white residue flakes, it gets tossed in the trash. My second problem with hairsprays is texture. I want hold and volume but I don't want a helmet on my head. I want natural flow and movement with my hair. Thirdly, it must hold and give volume to my very heavy thick long hair. Even though my hair is thick, it is like a deadweight. Even with long layers cut into it, my hair is still heay. Lastly, IT MUST NOT STINK! I watch Nick Chavez use this hairspray on QVC and I was amazed at the results the models were getting. So, I decided to pick up a bottle at Ulta. Spray retails at $19.00(US) and used an Ulta coupon so I only paid $14. About Amazon Hair Body Building Spray: You can literally stand in front of the mirror and spray this all day long and it never gets buildup or sticky. You can really brush the hell out of this and you won't get flakes or snags with your brush. The scent is also sophisticated and clean..not floral or fruity at all. Lastly, it gives me such healthy looking hair that has natural looking volume. This hairspray is pricey but I feel it is worth every cent. I would even be willing to pay $30! This is simply my HG spray and I would recommend it to anyone.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Clothes -Unlisted Brand - Discount Womens Dress Shoes
deadonarrivals 2/18/2013 3:21:00 PM
I stumbled upon this website looking for some inexpensive trendy pieces for the summer such as neon items, beach dresses and sandals. I was a little worried about the site at first because it kept on freezing but other days, the site seems to be working fine. I would say this site is along the same concept as Forever21 which can be very hit or miss. Discount Womens Dress Shoes has the same large variety as F21 with shoes, clothing, and accessories. Also, the prices are comparable to F21 as well. Why am I reviewing here? I was blown away with the whole ordering and shipping process. So fast and easy plus they have live chat for any questions. I received very prompt emails from them after placing my order with confirmation of order and two days later with a confirmation of shipping email! I chose standard shipping but they upgraded my order to priority shipping for free. I received my items within 3 days and in great condition. The two tops received appeared just as described on their site and actually had pretty decent quality to them. Sizes appear true to size (in my case anyway). I love this shopping site! I mean, you won't be purchasing your work or key wardrobe pieces here but this is a great site to try out new trends that you don't want to spend $100+ on.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - The Rocket Volume Express
deadonarrivals 2/18/2013 10:47:00 AM
Decent overall and I'm very critical of mascaras. Generally, I don't care for Maybelline mascaras. But, The Rocket pulled me in by the 80s flashback cobalt blue and hot pink tube. My lashes: Short, thin, curled but lots of them. My mascara needs: Must be able to pack on multiple layers to create drama. I like big thick volume - false lash effect. Must not clump. Must not flake. Must separate. Must not weigh curl down. The Rocket does a pretty good job meeting all of my mascara needs. I was able to layer about 5 coats before it started to get clumpy. Also, it did not flake or smudge during a night out and walking from bar to bar on a very cold snowy night. My eyes did water while I was out in the cold and my mascara didn't smudge at all. This will not give you any length though. So, my HG mascara is still Prestige My Biggest Lashes because it does everything The Rocket does plus give decent length. But, I stll do enjoy using The Rocket.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Liners -Rimmel - Exaggerate-063 Eastend Snob
deadonarrivals 2/12/2013 9:33:00 AM
Years after, I keep on coming back to Eastend Snob. This shade is the perfect MLBB shade for those with cool toned mauve-pink lips. I explore to find comparable "nude" liners that will work for my lips but most liners that are called nude, natural, flesh etc are way too warm based, orange or brown based for my natural lip color. I will be SOL if Rimmel ever discontinues this shade! If you also like Eastend Snob and is looking for a nice lipstick to match with it, try MAC Modesty. Both provide the ultimate natural looking lip for mauve-pink lips.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -La Roche Posay - Mela-D Serum
deadonarrivals 2/12/2013 9:18:00 AM
After 6 weeks of use, I had to toss this serum. The main issue is that this was clogging up my skin all over. I had this issue before with Glycolic Acid products but wanted to try this particular serum out due to the decent reviews here. The second biggest issue is that this didn't change the color of the 3 cystic acne scars I have on my jaw line. They remain as dark as they did since day one of starting this serum. I do appreciate that fact that this didn't cause breakouts or any discomfort to my skin. Also, I find this is a fairly reasonable priced serum at $50 compared to others out on the market. Lastly, the packaging is very nice. The serum is in a light blocking bottle with a dropper applicator. Lastly, I enjoyed the scent of this product. It has a nice clean citrus scent. I'm bummed this didn't work out for me. On to the next.......
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Lipstick -Revlon - Siren
deadonarrivals 2/11/2013 2:31:00 PM
Okay, I was on youtube looking at under eye corrector reviews. Some lady rec'd using a orange lipstick to use as a corrector. So, I went out and purchased Siren and it turned out to be a fail lol. But, using Siren as it's primary purpose, a lipstick and it is a perfect shade for me. This shade is bright orange on me and works well with my skin tone (medium olive ~ NC42 MAC ~ 6.0 UD). I prefer bright pinks and oranges instead of reds for a bold lip because most reds look horrible on me because they are either too brown, plum or blue based and clash w/ my tones. Siren looks hot with bronzed skin, simple liquid black liner and a peach hued blush. Perfect for summer. The formula is creamy and the staying power is decent (few hours).
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Maybelline - Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Spot Concealer
deadonarrivals 2/4/2013 4:35:00 PM
I recently got 4 cystic acne scars from recovering from a bad powder foundation experience. I was excited to find out Maybelline just released a concealer specifically for this reason! This is actually a pretty good concealer but it has some cons. But, overall I do really like this concealer and will buy it again. Okay, the pros: Good coverage. I got full cover with two layers. Another pro is that this has great staying power! Incredible staying power, it will last all day and lasted during my gym session! Another bonus, it doesn't break me out which is a common problem for most concleaers. Lastly, I found a good color match (Medium/Deep) but this can be also considered a con for some. I'm NC40 now (winter) and medium/deep is maybe a smidge too dark but this will work perfect in the summer or when I wear bronzer. The cons: I think the shade selection will be a problem. The shades are: Fair, Fair/Light, Light, Light/Medium and Medium/Deep. I wish they made a regular Medium because that would be ideal for me. Also, I found this concealer a bit drying and I have oily skin. Those with normal to dry skin might have an issue with this showing flakes on the skin. I would not use this under the eyes due to it being drying. So, overall not a disappointment. Now, I'm not sure if this will actually make my dark spots any lighter. I'm currently using a $70 serum specifically for dark spots and it hasn't lightened them up at all after 3 weeks. So, I'm not holding my breath for a $9.99 concealer to do anything. I'm just happy it covers them so nicely. UPDATE: I'm on my 2nd tube and I still love this.
7 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -Wet 'n' Wild - Fergie Take on the Day Eyeshadow Primer
deadonarrivals 2/4/2013 11:49:00 AM
I ran out of UDPP and didn't feel like driving to the mall plus I wanted to try this new primer from WnW. Rite Aid doesn't sell it but I found it at Walgreens. I'm very happy with this primer and I don't think I'll be repurchasing UDPP or Lorac Behind the Scenes anymore which were my usual primers. I've tried many HE and drugstore primers and not only am I looking for staying power and crease-proof, I'm also looking for something that is going to mask my tea stains on my lids. My under eye circles go all the way around and I can't put concealer on my lids to cover them because my lids are very oily too which causes everything to crease! I have issues people with my lids as you can see. So, UDPP and Lorac do provide some light coverage as well but they are expensive and you can't just run down to the local pharmacy to get them when you are being lazy. I like NYX HD primer for staying power but it doesn't do anything to hide my lid stains so the shadow colors tend to come out muddy and not true to color. WnW primer does it all! It covers my lid stains pretty good. It remains a bit tacky once dried but not oily. It is a dry tack which grabs on to the shadow extremely well. Once you apply this shadow, it will stay on all day and night! Also, no creases and I have oily lids and usually I do get some bit of creasing by 4pm with other primers. Lastly, I love how vibrant this makes the shadows appear on me. Wow, I can really see the depth of the shadows in detail and they don't look muddy at all. I'm telling you, this primer makes you look like a professional artist did your eyes! For $4.99 you can't go wrong. As for any side effects, I didn't experience any burning from this like the previous reviewer. Also, some complained about product dripping from the tube. I did experience an oily residue dripping out my first time using this. I was able to stop the dripping by vigorously shaking the tube for a minute before each use. By doing this, I have not experienced any dripping. So the final result is that I will be buying this primer for now on unless it gets discontinued.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -L'Oreal - Colour Caresse Shine Stain / Shine Caresse
deadonarrivals 1/29/2013 10:06:00 AM
*****COLOR REVIEWED #184 ROSE ON AND ON***** I picked up a few of these but only tried this shade so far. Well, for starters, this shade does not look the same on me as it does in the tube. In the tube, this shade is a warm toned light pink with shimmer. On me, it comes off as a dark rose, almost red looking. It still looks nice on me but just not the shade I was expecting. Second, is the color saturation. I found this shade to be sheer and needs 2-3 layers to achieve good color payoff. Next, of course is the texture of these which is nice actually. I don't find these stains uncomfortable to wear. They stay moisturizing for longer than I was expecting. Now, as for longivity of the color, I don't find that they last more than an hour. The moisturizing feeling remains but the color fades considerably and that is with no eating or drinking. As for the packaging, I do really like it. They are pretty and slim and I love how you can feel the cap snap in place once it is closed. Lastly, the scent of these lip stains is absolutely horrible, imo. These have a very strong floral scent, like Lancome lip products which I find overpowering. However, I do like this product and I do feel like it is worth the $7.49 I paid for them. Overall, I rate this product a 4. ****COLOR REVIEWED # 188 CORAL TATTOO**** All other aspects of this shade review is the same as above except the shade. Coral Tatto is absolutely perfect for my medium olive skin. It does have a strong orange base and it can look odd on light NW skintones. I highly rec this shade if you fall in the NC shades w/ MAC.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman - Brush Collection Core Collection
deadonarrivals 1/24/2013 3:49:00 PM
This kit proves that you don't need fancy expensive brushes to do the job. I can't see why anyone would want to spend money on Hakuhodo, Chanel, Trish McEvoy or MAC unless you personally feel good inside from buying highend brushes. I do have experience with various brands and find this core collection by Real Techniques to be good in quality and every brush in this kit is very useful. The bristles are soft and dense in each brush. I experienced real good color payoff from using these brushes. I've washed this kit three times and have not experienced any shedding. The kit comes with a Detailer brush which I personally like using to apply under eye corrector because it tapers at the tip and allows me to get right up close inside my tear ducts. Also there is a Foundation brush that at first thought would be too small because I'm used to larger brushes but this one does a better job. I am able to get right in the corners of my nose and around my hairline much easier with this size brush. Next, is a Blush brush that is domed and again, smaller than what I'm used to but this brush packs a punch! I find it picks up color wonderfully and I notice that I need less product when using this particular blush brush. If you are going to you use brush for cream blushes, I would recommend sheering the blush out with your fingers after. Lastly, is a Face/powder brush which is pretty universal for many tasks. I use this for highlighers, bronzers, face powders. Overall, a real good kit for everyone. The only con is the case which I found to be super cheap and poor quality. I tossed it in the trash.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Rimmel - Fix & Perfect Pro Primer 002
deadonarrivals 1/23/2013 5:08:00 PM
My gosh, I think this is it! I have found the righ primer for my skin type. My skin is temperamental in which it will break out easily with certain ingredients and it seems like all primers that I have used cause a breakout after continued use. I have used this primer for five days straight and no breakouts. My skin is also oily and by midday, my foundation looks greasy and patchy. After 8 hours of wear, my foundation looks fresh and didn't need to blot at all. For reference, my day foundation is typically MAC Studio Fix Powder and like clockwork, by 11 or 12pm, I appear oily all over. Since using this primer, I haven't reached for my oil control powder at all....for 5 days! As for the texture of this primer, I love it! It is not that typical silicone slippery feeling type of primer, it feels like a light lotion that absorbs fast into the skin. The only con is the smell. The scent is a soapy floral and it bothers me a bit. But, overall 5 stars! Rimmel has two kinds of primers so be sure you purchase the 002 one!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No