Lip Treatments -eos - Lip Balm Sphere - Summer Fruit
HunterGray 2/29/2012 4:54:00 PM
I use this product almost every day. I love the texture of it-- it fills in the lines of my lips and doesn't melt to a greasy consistency, which makes it absolutely perfect for wearing under lip products. I use it as a primer, almost. Even my most matte, drying, lipsticks look good on my lips with this underneath. I also have it in the mint flavor, and I love both of them equally. I don't find that they are intensely hydrating. I think that they'll help to prevent your lips from becoming chapped, but they aren't the best for repairing already chapped lips. I prefer something more penetrating for that. However these are great for locking in product. I personally think the packaging is cute, even if it means I can't store it with it my other lip balms because of the unusual shape. It makes it easier to blindly find in my purse/makeup bag because of the shape. I'm actually pretty close to finishing the summer fruit one, and I'll definitely be repurchasing.
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Lip Treatments -Maybelline - Baby Lips lip balm
HunterGray 2/29/2012 1:49:00 PM
I have one of these in Peach Kiss. I absolutely LOVE the smell of it, and it does give me a tiny hint of a nude-y peach color, although it is very faint. As far as moisturization goes, it's just ok. It doesn't dry out my lips, which I appreciate, but when my lips are already dry, and I put this on, I don't feel like it does much to help them. It's just your basic lip balm in cute packaging. I'd be willing to try one of the more pigmented ones, but as far as using it as chapstick? I have others that I like much better.
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Cleansers -Cetaphil - Daily Facial Cleanser (Normal to Oily Skin)
HunterGray 2/29/2012 1:42:00 PM
This was okay. I bought it because I was worried that my acne-fighting face washes were too harsh, and I was doing more harm than good. So many people recommended this. I used up the bottle that I bought, but I don't think I'd repurchase. It didn't break me out any more than i already was, or irritate my skin, so for that I applaud it. But I also felt like it never really *cleaned* my skin. Since it did pretty much nothing for makeup removal, I was using a separate face wash for that, and felt like I was kind of defeating the purpose of this super-gentle cleanser. I have since switched to using an oil cleanser, which I have had a lot of success with. To each their own, but for me, this wasn't my favorite.
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Eye Shadow -Wet 'n' Wild - Color Icon Single in Brulee
HunterGray 2/29/2012 1:37:00 PM
This is one of the few shadows I have used up completely and had to repurchase. It is just one of those super versatile products that I find myself using on nine out of ten days. On my NC15 skin, this matches my lid color pretty closely. So closely, in fact, that I use it on occasion to set my concealer. It's also great for days where you don't want to look like you're wearing a ton of eye m/u, but you want to cancel out any redness/veins/discoloration and brighten up the lid area. This is also the perfect blending color, and is great for blending out eyeshadow of any color. I find that a lot of times, using this to blend with works better than using a clean brush. It's cheap, easy to depot (if that's your kind of thing), but the packaging is also slim and easy to store. The shadow itself is incredibly soft and easy to work with. The only down side is that because the shadow is so soft, and the packaging doesn't absorb any kind of shock, the shadow is very prone to breaking when dropped. For this reason, I don't travel with it. I've never broken mine, but even if I did, they're very inexpensive. I would repurchase.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NYX - Taupe
HunterGray 2/27/2012 5:33:00 PM
What's to say that hasn't already been said? Bronzers look terrible on me for contouring, I had been using e.l.f.'s Berry Merry blush, but it had a little shimmer, which I could have done without. This is the perfect mstte contour shade for me. On my NC15 skin, it looks just like a shadow. I also occasionally use it as eyeshadow.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Colorburst Lip Butter - Berry Smoothie
HunterGray 2/22/2012 3:05:00 PM
NC15 with a decent amount of pigmentation in my lips. This is actually really similar to my natural lip color, just a couple shades darker, so it looks really natural on me. I love it. It was the only one that really stuck out to me on the display at Ulta, and I am very pleased with the color. The only real complaint that I have with it is that it makes my lips feel drier after a day of wearing it, if I don't layer lip balm underneath. I do that for most lip products anyway, so it's not a huge deal. I was just hoping that with a name like "Lip Butter" I might be able to skip that step.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Naked 2 Palette
HunterGray 2/22/2012 11:58:00 AM
I am generally a huge fan of Urban Decay's shadows, and consider myself somewhat of a collector. So for me, getting this was a no-brainer. I already had the Naked palette, but was interested in the cooler tones in this one. The colors are gorgeous, and I find that this palette compliments the other nicely. You can mix and match shades from both palettes to create thousands of looks. This palette also has a repeat of my favorite shade, Half Baked :) I did take off one lippie because there are some negatives, in my opinion. For one, I prefer the packaging of the original. I can appreciate that this one is sturdier and better for travel, but I had grown to love that velvety little box. Secondly, I really like the brush that they included, but I hate that it is double ended so I can't store it with my other brushes. I always forget to wash it with the others because it's tucked away in the palette. And lastly, I was somewhat disappointed with the lip gloss that came with it. I love their lip junkie glosses, so that's not the issue, but I think it would have made more sense to include something eye related. A primer, liner, even a mascara sample. I don't know. That's. Just me. Overall, I would repurchase, although I highly doubt I'll ever run out. This is a great compliment to the Naked Palette, and even a great substitute if you are someone who prefers more of a cool toned neutral palette.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Naked Palette
HunterGray 2/22/2012 11:42:00 AM
This was my first urban decay palette, and no matter what other fantastic eyeshadows I accumulate, I still find myself reaching for this palette on a daily basis. Honestly, I could survive with just this palette if I had to, and do without every other eyeshadow I have. Depending on my hair color ( I go back and forth between a warm medium brown and a bright red) , I use Naked or Buck on my brows. Just about every day. Then, I find myself thinking, "well, since I have the palette out anyway..." My favorite look uses Half Baked and Smog, and Darkhorse as a liner. On my NC15 skin, and against my blue eyes, it is just so flattering on me. There is a lot of shimmer/glitter in this palette, but I personally love that. I also haven the Naked2, and while I like that one as well, I do prefer this one. The warmer colors just appeal to me more. I do find that the two palettes compliment each other nicely though, and I often find myself creating looks using both of them. I prefer the packaging of the original Naked palette. It's small, and to the point. It does show wear after a while, but to me, that's just a sign of a welll-loved item. Ive hit pan in a few of my favorite shades, and if I were ever to run out, I would absolutely repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Colorburst Lip Butter
HunterGray 2/20/2012 5:26:00 PM
I caved to the hype and bought one of these in Berry Smoothie. I'm NC15 with pretty decently pigmented lips, for reference. If you deepened my natural lipcolor a few shades, it would be Berry Smoothie exactly. So the shade I have looks great, and I wear it all the time. I like the texture. The longevity isn't great, but it has the word "butter" in the name, so I wouldn't have expected long wear time in the first place. I took off one lippy because these aren't that hydrating, at least for me, in the shade that I have. I still have to wear a balm underneath, and combined with how balm-like these are in texture, it really sheers out the color. It's still prettty though. I would repurchase the shade that I have just because it's such a nice every day color, and I'd also be open to checking out other shades. These aren't the be all and end all of lip products, but they are pretty, and relatively inexpensive. They're worth a try.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Bare Escentuals - Well Rested
HunterGray 2/20/2012 12:50:00 PM
NC15-20 ladies with redness/acne marks, listen up! If you don't have this concealer, drop whatever you're doing and go get it right now. Forget using it under your eyes though, it's just ok. But it is phenomenal at hiding redness. I just buff this into areas that need it with a fluffy eyeshadow brush, and the scar is gone. GONE. And it looks so natural. A lot of times I skip foundation completely and just buff a little of this where I need it (mainly around my chin and nose) and it blends right in with my skin and doesn't look like concealer. When I'm trying to hide those bright red active pimples, I use my regular concealer on them, and then dust a bit of this on top to set it, and there is no discoloration peeking through whatsoever. This is absolutely my secret weapon. Bottom line, if you are pale a neutral to golden toned, this stuff might be just what you're looking for to hide redness on your face. Try it on your eyes too, a lot of people like it. I just prefer its coverage on the rest of my face.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Body -Unlisted Brand - Egyptian Magic Healing Cream
HunterGray 2/17/2012 12:21:00 AM
The packaging is tacky as all get out, but the product works, plain and simple. In the winter, my eczema gets out of control. My hands itch, crack, and bleed, and I get dry patches all over my face. Makeup looks horrible. Unless I use this. I don't find that it feels heavy on my skin at all, my skin practically drinks it in. And I find that when my skin is hydrated properly, it breaks out a lot less. The smell is a little weird, but you get used to it. Seriously, for me, this is a lifesaver.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Laura Mercier - Foundation Primer Radiance
HunterGray 2/14/2012 11:46:00 AM
I really love the way this feels on my skin, not greasy at all. It adds just enough of a subtle glow, and leaves my skin looking really healthy. Even on days where I don't wear foundation, a little of this along the tops of my cheekbones gives me more of an "alive" look. My skin is about NC20 , and I don't find it to be too dark on me.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -E.L.F. - Studio Shimmer Palette
HunterGray 2/2/2012 7:17:00 PM
This is such a fantastic product. I have many much more expensive highlighters, but I find myself reaching for this one every single day. Each of the four colors is incredibly creamy. They all blend so gorgeously. I find use for all of the colors. And when I want a particular area's highlight to last, I use this product, then top it with a matching powder. I have a very small basket on my counter with my "every day" products, while the rest of my stash is in the drawers of my vanity, and this lives in my basket :)
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Powder Brush
HunterGray 2/2/2012 6:44:00 PM
I have three of these, one I purchased over a year ago, and the other two are more recent additions, about a few months old each. Looking at the three of them, I couldn't tell you which one was which. They've held up really well. I use one of them every single day for my liquid or cream foundation. It buffs the foundation in seamlessly, and can be stippled on areas for more coverage. The second one I use for setting powders and mineral foundations. It does a better job than any of my more expensive natural hair brushes. The third I use for contouring, the angled edge is really nice for giving my ckeekbones definition. These have held up through countless washes, and are still as soft as ever. They're only $3, so if the handle detatched, or they started shedding they'd be easy to replace, but I have had none of those issues.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Albolene cleanser
HunterGray 2/2/2012 3:46:00 PM
I've used this for years. Every time I try something else, I end up being underwhelmed, and return to this wondering how I ever gave it up in the first place. I have normal/dry skin, so I can't speak for oily people here, but this works so well for me. It takes all of my makeup off, and leaves my skin feeling super soft, which is a miracle in the winter time. I also haven recurring patches of eczema around my eyes, and I notice it always returns when I stop using this. I haven eczema on my hands too, and I find that if I put a good layer of this on my hands, then sleep with gloves on, I can keep it under control.
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