Skincare - Face -Ramy Beauty Therapy - Miracle Matte
SickSexFix 12/28/2012 8:57:00 AM
I saw this didn't have many reviews and no picture either so I uploaded one. I got this bottle as a swap extra (yay) and was excited to try it out as I'd never heard of this brand before and wanted to try out a primer. I have oily skin and it seemed perfect for me. The website says it costs $40 (that's a lot for a primer..) and has this to say: An incredible lotion to keep you matte all day without drying your skin. Ideal for oily complexions, keeps shine at bay until you wash it off! The velvety finish will make you want to skip your foundation. Ramy Tip: Apply Miracle Matte to keep your skin matte, velvety and shine free for hours! Ingredients: Water, Propylene Glycol, Hydrated Silica, Glyceral Stearate PEG 100 Stearate, Squalene, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Sesquiolate, Cetereth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Xanthan Gum, Methylparaben, BHA, Dimethicone, Trisodium EDTA, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben _______________ Now for the actual review: This lotion comes out the tube semi opaque and sticky. I didn't know if my tube was expired or what but yes, it was very, very sticky. I didn't like the "velvety finish" after it dried down either. It wasn't velvety, it was very matte. I definitely felt it on my face afterwards and didn't like that. I prefer clear, lighter primers. Since this is a lotion, I want to recommend it for dry or combo skins. However, since I didn't like the sticky filmy dry down, I find I would recommend it for super oily skins - much oilier than mine, which goes combo in winter. This also has BHA in it, which I think is great but probably contributes to the heavy consistency. I didn't even continue to put foundation on afterwards as I hated the way this left my skin feeling and immediately took it off (lol so yes, I did skip my foundation as the bottle claims I would hahaha) I like the hygienic pump but the bottle is really cheap flimsy plastic. I put this up for swap as I think it may work for someone else. If my review helped you, click yes below!
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Concealers -Hard Candy - Glamoflauge Concealer
SickSexFix 12/27/2012 6:11:00 PM
I really like this concealer so far. I was on the hunt for a really heavy duty concealer to use on my face, body and under my eyes. This was incredibly cheap and you get a lot of product - plus I didn't have to hunt it down, just went to the local Wal Mart. I got the shade Tan, which I was worried would be too light or have a strange undertone, and I'm happy to report that that's not the case! I think this shade is equivalent to MAC's discontinued studio stick foundation (which I loved) in NC 30 or 35. It's a great match. Anyway, my first impressions re: the concealer: It's very heavy and yellow. That's a good thing for my oily skin. It did cover up red acne spots on my chin and lightened up my hereditary dark circles. However, for my dark circles I prefer using a salmon or peach corrector first as this is too yellow and it can look "off" or "grey" under my eyes if I were to use just this. I took one lippie off because this just didn't work on the random red, but flat spot I got on my chest. It just wouldn't stick to the spot at all and blended in everywhere else BUT there. I couldn't figure out why and am still trying to get it to work. Maybe it's too heavy? Also and this is really important: this concealer transfers like crazy! The consistency is kind of oily yet dry?? so maybe that's why. If you touch your face you can be sure it'll come off. Don't put this on and then pull on a white t shirt over your face - just sayin'! I find it has pretty good staying power but cakes up in a primer and powder sandwich. I'm still trying to figure out how to make it set properly. It was easy to blend if I stippled it on with fingers but be advised, this doesn't have much slip to it. I'd say it's drier than MAC's studio fix pot concealer and must be warmed up a little with your fingers. However, I still can't set it properly with a powder. It just doesn't want to stay and instead slides off my face. All in all, I'd probably repurchase but seeing as how there's so much product I'll probably never need to. I'm still waiting to see if this will break me out or separate in the tube. I'll edit my review then. (edited to add) I adore the concealer pencil it comes with! I've been looking for a natural looking concealer pencil to use for lining my waterline and I'm pleased as punch with this. I didn't want to splurge for the MAC pro chromagraphic pencil. I wish they sold them separately and at full size! If my review helped you, click yes below!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Estee Lauder - MagnaScopic Maximum Volume Mascara
SickSexFix 12/27/2012 5:42:00 PM
This mascara works if you really take time and comb comb comb through your lashes as it clumps like a mofo. No thanks. 1 lippie for being very black, but it's also messy. The tube is pretty but too thick and takes up space in my makeup bag. My tube dried up quickly too (ugh) which pissed me off since I paid a bit more for it. It does lengthen but everytime I wore it it was just wayy too thick and flaked into my eyes and being a contact lens wearer I just can't deal with that. It also made my lashes hard and crunchy. That's my biggest mascara pet peeve so I didn't like this. I won't repurchase or recommend. My mom likes it though, but she loves everything from EL and really enjoys putting on mascara. If my review helped you, click yes below!
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Liquid -Chanel - Vitalumiere
SickSexFix 12/27/2012 3:28:00 PM
I really liked this foundation. I read it was reformulated? recently so I may be reviewing the original formula, I'm not sure. I got this foundation as a gift from a friend but unfortunately, the color was wayyyy too light (I'm a MAC NC 35/40 and I got the shade Limpide Nude .5) and so wanting to try this out anyway, I would either wear it alone with a darker powder/bronzer on top or mix with a foundation that was too dark for me. Both ways came out great which means this foundation formula plays well with others. Awesome! I really like the heavy glass bottle with the hygienic pump. I loved applying it to my face, either with my fingers or a foundation brush. My skin was left dewy and natural. It didn't oxidize at all and smelled lovely. I'd say the coverage is light yet very buildable. Unfortunately for me, I have oily skin and my skin was *incredibly* shiny an hour later even with powder on top. I can't even get away with wearing this in the winter when my skin is more combination. The range of shades is excellent and I want to try this out (actually, the Vitalumiere Aqua looks like it'd work for my skin) in a shade that matches. Oh well, up for swap it goes! (oh and I've uploaded a swatch for reference as the shade Limpide Nude is hard to find I hear.) If my review helped you, click yes below!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Clinique - Aromatics Elixir
SickSexFix 12/27/2012 2:00:00 PM
I wanted to like this. I love woodsy scents and dabble in heavy orientals for evening and I love LOVE Chanel's No. 5. I got a bottle of this from my aunt after she came back from Paris. She gifted one to many relatives in the family, so I didn't purchase it but it's not that expensive (many full sizes for sale on ebay in the $35-$50 range). I love the packaging, the raised flower on the frosted glass is beautiful. But onto the scent... It's strong and overpowering at first and takes a loooong time to dry down. Dab this on sparingly, please! This perfume is like the whiskey of fragrances. It definitely seared my nose hairs (lol). I liked the first few floral notes I detected (rose, ylang ylang and jasmine) but that's about it. (The rose is definitely lost on this one.) The oakmoss and to an extent the patchouli & sandalwood, I think, are the culprits. They're much too heady and strong. The dry down is nothing but oakmoss and patchouli. A previous reviewer mentioned that it smells like a rainforest after it rains and yes, I totally agree. But there are too many sharp scents in this one that compete for my attention and don't give me any of that warming woodsy tranquil feeling I expect from a scent with this makeup. If the concentrations of oils in this juice were different, say, less vetiver, incense, oakmoss, I'd buy it. I've since sold my bottle on ebay to a buyer that loves this fragrance. Oh well. If my review helped you, click yes below!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Rimmel - Lasting Finish - Kate Moss 06
SickSexFix 12/25/2012 6:21:00 PM
I'm in love with this shade! I was surprised there weren't many reviews of it and no picture so I uploaded one. I saw this collection when it first came out and not really being a fan of Kate and Rimmel is kinda expensive here, I just passed it over. A few months later I was on vacation in the States and I was in the market for a hot pink lipstick that was warm and didn't pull fuschia on me (they always do) but this one didn't! It has a hint of coral in it I think, sort of a raspberry pink and doesn't. go. fuschia. It's #06 and the shade is "Rossetto" (edit: it looks like many of the lipsticks say Rossetto on the bottom, so I don't think that's the shade at all). It's opaque so I apply with a lip brush, really working it into my lips as a stain - then blot - and add another layer and voila! Beautiful raspberry pink lips. It fades gradually and naturally throughout the day. It doesn't clump or accentuate my dry lips, but it does go into the lines due to the matte formula. I'm an NC 35-40 in MAC and this lipstick instantly brightens my face. It's like a classic red - only pink. None of the other shades in the Kate Moss collection jumped out at me (except for the red, but I have a thousand red lippies) so this is the only one I bought and I'm looking for a back up already! If my review helped you, click yes below!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Lancaster - Flash Purity Mask
SickSexFix 12/25/2012 3:42:00 PM
This is my secret HG mask. I bought it totally by accident. I was in the market for a clay based mask and wanted one without any harsh ingredients. For some reason all of the clay masks I found at the store had harsh oils in it like peppermint, eucalyptus and the like - which doesn't make my skin feel cleaner, it actually just burns. (I was using Clinique's Acne Solutions mask and found it too harsh). Literally every single one I looked at had this stuff listed in the ingredients. I had all the SA's running around the store looking for masks without any of those ingredients and this is the only one we found! And it was on sale. I wasn't at all familiar with the brand - I think I've seen one perfume ad they had? so I had no idea they even made skin care. Anyway, I bought the mask on sale and the instructions said to put on a thin layer and leave on for 5 minutes. In my experience most clay masks require a thick layer and 10 minutes or more on the skin. I was thrilled when I put on a thin layer of this and it started to dry hard and dry quickly. I've used it even while waiting for a shower to get hot so the bathroom was all steamed up and it hardened just the same. Even better, my skin looked amazing afterwards. My pores were smaller, less congested and blackheads (of which I have plenty, since I live in a very polluted city) were 80% reduced. The acne flareups I had shrunk immediately. That was after one use! My skin didn't feel tight afterwards either. The scent is gentle and clean and my skin isn't sensitive to it. It's not as harsh as most clay masks I've tried. It's expensive so I'll only buy this on sale. Luckily I only have to use a bit of it at a time so the tube I have will last me a good while. I highly recommend this mask to anyone with normal, combo or oily skin. If my review helped you, click yes below!
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Cleansers -Clarins - Pure Melt Cleansing Gel
SickSexFix 12/25/2012 3:12:00 PM
I'm not sure how I feel about this yet. I've been using it for about a week, almost two. I use a dime size amount and massage it into my face and eyes to get rid of my makeup. It does leave a film (on my t-zone) and doesn't take off all of my mascara and eyeliner so I have to use a separate remover. I love the way it leaves my face (so soft) but am still trying to work with it to figure out the best way to get it to rinse off completely clean so it doesn't clog my pores and leave my eyes blurry after. I've tried splashing my face with water (seems to work better) and slowly adding a bit of water while massaging it in (didn't emulsify). I wonder also if I can use this with a face brush? I have noticed since I've started using it that my skin looks better. I haven't broken out (yet) and my skin is oily! However, I'm not sure if it's this cleanser that's doing it or what since I've changed my cleansing routine and makeup so I'm using a bunch of new products at once. Where I live, I don't have access to an Ulta so there's no DHC cleanser or any of the popular ones so I didn't have too many choices. I looked at an oil cleanser from Decleor but saw it was way too expensive. This one was on sale and I've been wanting to try out the Clarins brand. I got it at a great price but don't think I'll repurchase unless it's on sale. I love the fact that it's a gel - no oil running down my arms - and that I can use it without wetting my face first. I'm lazy, I hate having to do that! If anyone has any tips on how to make this emulsify better - message me and let me know! *Edit* the last two times I've used this, it didn't get the dirt and renegade mascara off my face after I splashed with water. I used a toner and separate eye makeup remover after this and there was dirt, mascara and a little foundation left on the cotton ball. I've since changed my rating to a 3. It's not a one step cleanser at all. *Edit x2* I found the best way to use this on my oily skin is to take off my makeup first (I use an oily makeup remover) and then use this. Perfect. Still a hassle though since it doesn't do a good job of completely removing my makeup. *Edit x3* Okay, I've had this for a while now and I finally figured out what I was doing wrong - I didn't use enough product for it to emulsify properly! Now I use twice as much as I was using before and it rinses completely clean. Still doesn't get all my makeup off but my favorite way to use it is after I do a BP mask when my skin is broken out and I've left BP cream on my pimples all night. I use this in the morning and it gets rid of the dry, flaky effect the BP has on my skin. Feels really good after. If my review helped you, click yes below!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -MAC - 182 Buffer Brush
SickSexFix 12/25/2012 8:46:00 AM
I've had this brush for around 7 years and it *still* freaking sheds every time I use it or wash it. Granted, a little less than when I first got it but yes, it still sheds. I'm constantly picking hairs off my face after I use it (and when I'm done with my makeup, that's the last thing I want to be doing! ugh) I'm always worried that I've missed a hair and (my hair being dark brown, like the brush) people standing close to me will think I'm sprouting dark hairs on my cheeks. Not comforting. However, it's still an excellent brush. It's dense (so much so that when I wash it, I have to rinse it reallllly well otherwise I notice the soap I've used is still stuck deep in the bristles and foams a bit) and leaves a wonderful finish, especially with powder foundations and blushes. I absolutely love it for that. It's a great quality brush that I use with my NYX powder blushes - if I use a less quality brush then I'd get powder all over the place - but not with this one. It picks up the powder and leaves no mess! I would put it up for swap due to the shedding, but I haven't found a dupe of it yet (I'll have to reread these reviews and go on the hunt ;o) I wouldn't buy it again since it's lasted me all these years, but if you're looking to buy this brush, just be aware that you'll more than likely have to deal with the shedding. If my review helped you, click yes below!
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Tarte - Clean Slate
SickSexFix 12/22/2012 5:49:00 PM
This is discontinued, you say!? NOOOO Seriously, I love this primer. I did a lot of research before buying a primer and I'm pretty happy with this one. I don't have much to compare it to (previously tried Clinique's pore perfector) but I like how it performs on my oily skin. It glides on, the formula doesn't break me out, doesn't feel heavy, a little goes a long way, it's clear, unscented, cheap and all natural. I like how it sort of "blurs" my large pores (like the Photoshop 'healing' tool lol) and I even wear it sometimes on its own. My makeup lasts a lot longer too. At the end of the day, I find there is a lot more makeup to take off than if I hadn't have used this primer. The only con is the stupid packaging. I know I'm going to have to break it open to get every last bit out but I haven't even gotten there yet because like I said a little goes a long way. If you do end up using too much, you will get pilling when you try to put foundation on top of it. If my review helped you, click yes below!
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Lip Gloss -L'Oreal - Rouge Pulp
SickSexFix 12/22/2012 5:31:00 PM
This was discontinued a long time ago and I think L'Oreal made a mistake by doing that. These would give NYX lip cremes a run for their money! The formula is fantastic. It's everything I want in a hybrid lipstick/lip gloss. They're creamy yet can be blotted to become matte yet they stay creamy!, they place nice with other lipsticks and glosses, don't accentuate dry flakey lips, don't feather, wear for a good amount of time and come in some truly great colors. I think that when they came out they were ahead of their time. The shades were very fashion-forward and editorial - there were greens, silvers, metallic blues, black, greys, golds... It stood out from everything else in the makeup section at the time! They should repackage them and bring them back! I'm so glad I found these dirt cheap on amazon and ebay. The color Blushing is my perfect nude and I spent years trying to find that shade only to give up and find a NIP tube on amazon. The cons? The wand style applicator - it's not very hygienic. I'd prefer a squeeze tube like the OCC lip tars. The smell is kind of old lipsticky, but I'm weird and I like that scent. I usually pair it with a scented lip balm or gloss and that takes care of the smell if I find it bothers me some days. The packaging is very cute and art deco but I hate that I can't see how much is left so I know when to rebuy. Even with those cons, this is my HG lip cream! If my review helped you, click yes below!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - EXTRA VIRGIN Coconut Oil (All brands)
SickSexFix 12/22/2012 4:44:00 PM
I absolutely adore this stuff. I've used it for absolutely everything and I mean *everything*. I have thick dry hair and scalp and an oily skin. I've used this as a cuticle cream, hair conditioner/treatment/finishing polish, facial moisturizer, lip conditioner, scalp treatment, eyelash and eyebrow moisturizer (it makes them soft!), dry heel treatment, body moisturizer, mixed with sugar/salt to make a scrub.... the list is endless. I even cook/bake with it and use it for oil pulling (although I don't recommend it for that - my gums are sensitive to it). My favorite use is definitely as a body and hair moisturizer. I love how it's a solid at room temperature and melts on contact with my body heat. It doesn't overly moisturize either but leaves me with a nice healthy but not oily glow. I was leery of using an oil on my oily skin but I think this is one of the only oils that works due to its astringent properties. It can actually *dry out* my skin - imagine that! It doesn't clog my pores either which, to me, is effing amazing as I can slather on as much as I want. I just wish it didn't take me as long to discover it! ***Edited to add: This is an excellent lash growth treatment. They were curlier, healthier, more moisturized. I don't even need to grow more lashes but this oil works for that! I used it to take off my eye makeup for a few weeks and noticed what I thought were tiny pimples or styes on my upper last line - turns out they were new eyelashes! I was amazed. If my review helped you, click yes below!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Clinique - Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector
SickSexFix 12/22/2012 4:31:00 PM
This is an excellent primer. I tried a sample of this and loved it. I've since found a cheaper alternative that I love just as much so I never bought the full bottle of this - honestly it's too pricey for what you get, even if a little goes a long way. If my review helped you, click yes below!
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Mascara -L'Oreal - Telescopic
SickSexFix 12/22/2012 4:23:00 PM
Okay so I didn't like this mascara. The wand is the worst, I hate how it bends the way it does. The first time I tried it I thought "Are you effing kidding me?! WHY!" It makes it impossible to get my mascara on! I just touch it to my lashes and it bends away from them. I think I've poked myself in the eye a few times with the little teeth on the sides of it too, ugh. The formula is super black, which is great, but very wet and it smudges. It's like the consistency of gel eyeliner. It does lengthen nicely and doesn't clump when I can manage to get it on and wait for it to dry. I'd never buy this again. If my review helped you, click yes below!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Chanel - No.5
SickSexFix 12/22/2012 4:15:00 PM
Add me to the list of ladies (and gents?) that LOVE the iconic No. 5 fragrance. I even have a huge framed poster of Marilyn Monroe holding a bottle of it in my bedroom :D When I was younger (and stupid..) I foolishly sold a full size bottle of this on eBay because I didn't like it. (My aunt gifted it to me). I sincerely regret it! It's now one of my favorite perfumes. I think it smells classy and not at all old lady like but I can see how many people would think that. In the beginning and especially if overused it can smell heavy and oriental? like but I make sure to use it only sparingly during the day as it has the potential to knock you over. I love how it dries down to a nice powdery smell. Definitely still a classic. If my review helped you, click yes below!
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No