Lip Treatments -MAC - Tinted Lip Conditioner - Petting Pink 
bernsie 4/20/2012 1:01:00 AM
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this tinted lip treatment. The color looks like baby lips with a nice pinkish/rose flush. It's quite sheer, but buildable. It's not super shiny like a lipgloss, but is somewhere inbetween gloss and a regular formula lipstick. It's very hydrating/nourishing to the lips and even protects with a sunscreen of SPF 15. It comes in a jar and is meant to be applied w/your fingers. Any leftover just rub into your cuticles as it's not so pigmented that it would turn the cuticles pink. I just don't think a drop of this should be wasted. Highly Recommended for it's formula and this particular color!
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Cleansers -Neutrogena - Naturals - Purifying Facial Cleanser
bernsie 4/20/2012 12:54:00 AM
There are 3 variaties of this cleanser: the soap, purifying cleansing and fresh cleansing+makeup remover. This last one (Fresh Cleansing+Makeup Remover) is the one I am reviewing here. I like it for the money as it does NOT contain any sulphates or parabens as it's more natural in it's ingredients. It contains Peruvian Tara Seed which helps to calm and soften the skin. It lathers well and rinses very quickly with 3 or 4 splashes of water. It can be used to remove eyemakeup and waterproof mascaras and transfer resistant foundations and lipsticks so it's very efficient. You need the smallest amount (half a pump, if that) so a little goes a long way and you will not have to repurchase for a long time. What more can you ask for? It's around 6 bucks in Walmart.
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Moisturizers -Kinerase - Ultimate Night Moisturizer
bernsie 4/19/2012 8:20:00 PM
This is the creme de la creme as far as I'm concerned. Forget about Creme de Mer, I'll take this anyday. I've splurged on this a few times and it really does work. It totally softens deep lines and will practically eliminate fine lines. I got smart and use it as "go to" eye cream. It's really the only place (other than the center of my forehead) I've fine lines. When I use this twice a day for a month as eye cream it rids the area of lines, Period. Kinetin, which is the active within this cream, not only reverses ageing skin by eliminating/softening lines, but also acts as a very powerful anti-oxident. Kinerase always shows the percentage of Kinetin on all of their products which contain it. This Ultimate Night Moisturizer has the highest percentage of the product line, my reason for using it as an eye cream as their eye cream has a lesser percentage. Some may find this irritating when used as an eye cream, but I'm a contact lens wearer and am not bothered by any irritation. Most Highly Recommended, though a bit too expensive.
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Moisturizers -L'Oreal - Age Perfect Hydra-Nutrition Golden Balm
bernsie 4/19/2012 8:09:00 PM
I can't believe this product doesn't have more reviews. This is a fabulously rich cream (the likes of which are hard to find these days as everyone seems to want everthing light and oil free.) It has 10 different oils to claim it's richness. It's rich, but not overly heavy though I only use it as a night cream and try to apply it a few hours before bed so it penetrates totally before my head hits the pillow. It also has a form of calcium which is suppose to have a firming effect on the skin. I don't use it consistently. I use it when I feel my skin needs a good bit of hydration and cushioning, usually using it after a Glycolic Peel or if I've been a bit too agressive with Rx (Vit A) gels. It serves this purpose very well. Highly Recommended!
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Moisturizers -Aveeno - Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer SPF 15
bernsie 4/19/2012 8:00:00 PM
I LOVE this moisturizer!! I chose the one w/SPF15 as it had twice the amount for the same price as the SPF30. If I was intending on being outside for many hours or had a very long distance drive during daylight hours I would have chosen the SPF 30, but I planned on using this for more intermmitent exposure. I use very agressive skin care: Retinol, Retin-A Gel and Tazorac Gel which can start to irritate my skin when I overdo it. That's why I LOVE this product as it's extremely calming to the skin even taking down redness or eliminating it altogether. There is a natural plant based extract called "Feverfew" which are one of the key anti-irritation ingredients. Aveeno along with Neutrogena and Roc are owned by Johnson and Johnson. They've a pretty large wallet when it comes to research and development which is prevalent when one understands cosmetic ingredients and their reason for use. This calming, protective moisturizer has the perfect texture. It's not too thin (watery) nor too thick. It's not too emmolient nor too dry, but walks the road between the two. The texture has a silkiness to it which absorbs quickly. The key for me is it is the last layer of skin care and never becomes too heavy to put over an active serum/lotion/gel for daytime use. Makeup (foundation) goes over it beautifully, never feeling or being for that matter too heavy nor too thin as a base for the foundation. I can even use a primer between it and the foundation with excellent results. Highly Recommended!
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Blush -Maybelline - Dream Bouncy Blush
bernsie 4/19/2012 6:19:00 PM
This is a very deceiving product. There are no testers so you must "eye" the color you think you want. Once you get it home and actually try it you find there is very little pigment or payoff on the skin and what you are left with is a bit of a sheen or hi-lite. Forget about getting enough color so you look healthy, young and fresh which is what blush is suppose to achieve for you. This has virtually no payoff whatsoever. I find it useless for anything! When perusing the makeup aisle and stumbling upon this product please pass it by and look for something else for blush as anything is better than this. In Target there is a line called E.L.F. (eyes, lips, face.) There is a cream blush available in two shades (one rose, one coral) which is packaged like a lipstick in that you roll it up to expose the product and down to a level where you simply put the cap back on. Dot it on your cheecks and preferably blend w/a sponge and you will get wonderful results. I've reviewed it elsewhere here on MUA. The price?? How about one dollar! To think Maybeline has the nerve to try to sell this awful stuff and for the not all that cheap of a price either. It's not worth a penny!!!
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Blush -Hard Candy - Fox in a Box - Hot Flash
bernsie 4/19/2012 3:14:00 PM
For general info on the quality of these blushers please see my review of the color "Spicy and Sweet." This color is far less "Sweet" and quite a bit more daring when used on a medium toned skin. On darker skin it becomes far less dramatic. I use a rather fuller blush brush than I would normally (as the brush which comes with this blusher is useless except for something I will explain later.) This is a very highly pigmented color and for fair-medium toned skin one needs to be light handed. The texture is wonderful as they go on smoothly and wear exceptionally well, hardly ever fading no matter how long your day. I like to use the brush which comes with these blushers to apply one of the four squares of color to an eyelid or browbone as eyeshadow. Highly Recommended!!!
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Blush -Hard Candy - Fox in a Box Spicy & Sweet
bernsie 4/19/2012 3:05:00 PM
There was a time when Hard Candy was only purchasable in Bloomingdales. Now it's available in Walmart where I purchased this blush for very little "out of pocket." The blush is an array of four differntly colored squares which you swirl your blush brush into very gently (as these are highly pigmented powders.) I do NOT advise using the brush that comes with this brush as it is far too small for blush application though it's perfect for dipping into a particular "square" of color and using as an eyeshadow across the lid or browbone as these colors have a slight shimmer to them. I think this particular color is so pretty, young, fresh and natural as if one pinched their cheeks. I'm Medium toned, but someone w/darker skin can use this shade also as these blushers are definitely "buildable." A very fair skinned person can use this color also, they just need to use a fuller brush for less deposit or be very light handed with application. Highly Recommended!
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Loose Powders -Christian Dior - Poudre Libre (Loose Powder)
bernsie 4/19/2012 2:53:00 PM
I believe I have over a hundred reviews here and this is the only one I've given a 5 in Overall Rating. Dior makes the absolute BEST loose or pressed powders, PERIOD. Nothing sets foundation like talc. The pigments within any Dior powder product are unlike anything else out there. It's been that way forever and does not rest on it's laurels as it maintains this quality to the present.They mill their powders in such a way that they are by far the "finest" (meaning texture.) Now I've read and heard how many cosmetic companies "jet mill" their powder which is supposed to give it the best and finest texture. I have no idea as to how Dior manufactures their powder or where they get the pigments from, all I know is there is nothing like a Christian Dior Powder, PERIOD. This applies to their eyeshadows and blush as well. They just melt into the skin becoming part of it as opposed to laying atop the skin. This is no small feat. I remember using Christian Dior products (especially loose powder to set foundation) in 1978 and even that long ago there was not a cosmetic company's Loose or Pressed Powder that could compare to Dior's. Highly Recommended and then some!!!!! When it comes to powder there is definitely something to be said about "Made in France."
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Concealers -Christian Dior - Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen
bernsie 4/19/2012 2:35:00 PM
I think this is better than Yves Saint Laurent "Touche Eclat" which is saying alot as the YSL has a cult following. The difference is that the YSL product is from 1990 and this Dior baby is far less old therefore it's ingredints are far more modern and high tech than the YSL. I own this in color #003. It's a bit of a peachy color which is perfect for my skin and particularly my under eye darkness which is an ashey grey tone. Grey has an undertone of blue and the orange within the peachiness of this color totally counteracts the darkness under my inner eye corner. Blue and Orange are complimentary colors on the color wheel meaning when placed side by side (a bit of orange/peach in an eyeshadow will make blue eyes appear more blue) they enhance one another. When placed on top of each other they cancel each other out the way green will cancel out red. The texture is beautiful in this formula, having very finely milled pigments. The applicator itself is a luxury and pleasure to use. It does not give a "flat" or "matte" appearance, but has a slight "glow" to the final result (most falattering.) It can be used whereever you want some "light" or "glow" such as high atop the cheekbone as a hi-liter. It works very well in the naso-labiol folds (the lines between your nose and mouth corners.) to make the deepness in that line more shallow. It's very pretty used "outside" of your lipliner thereby giving your lips a very sharply defined look. I even use it on the little raised ares of the "cupids bow" of the lips which run up to the nose, giving more shape to the mouth and upper bowe. Highly Recommended as there are so many uses for it. Blends like a dream and becomes unreadable as if it's part of the skin!!!
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Lipstick -Revlon - Colorstay Ultimate Liquid Lipstick in #1 NUDE
bernsie 4/19/2012 2:10:00 PM
I have this obsesion with lipsticks that are the color of lips, but maybe with a bit more punch. I should say my obsesion is more with trying to find this type of color (the natural shade of lips times 2 or 3.) This color by itself suits all the features I look for. For a transfer resistant lipstick, I'll take it as I love the color (it's a nude and when in doubt this goes w/everything.) I'm not the biggest fan of transfer resistant anything as I find they make whatever texture they're used over just becomes moreso. I.E. Transfer resistant foundation when appled over flakey dry skin just makes the final result moreso. When applied over acne scarred/pitted skin it just accentuates the downfalls of this skin type whereas a "regular foundation/lipstick" improves the overall texture they are applied over.Not that transfer resistant does not have it's benefits. It's marvelous in the way it just stays and stays put right where you want it to. Never does it move to clothing/cell phones, etc. I actually use/mix this w/a L'Oreal "Infallible" lipstick duo which is just slightly lighter in color. I use this mix w/a lipstick brush and use the brush as a lipliner, slightly overdrawing the lip contour. I let it dry and fill in. I will use this mixture as a lipliner w/most any lipstick. It gives me the color value of MAC's "Spice" lipliner, but never moves/comes off. Highly Recommended!!!
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Pressed Powders -Cover Girl - Clean Oil Control Pressed Powder
bernsie 4/19/2012 1:43:00 PM
For an inexpensive oil blotting powder, this is the "goods." Does it blot as well as MAC's Blot Powder? No it doesn't, but it does blot oil and keeps it undercontrol so one doesn't need to reapply or at least not reapply all that often considering the price and the amount you get. I prefer using a small, firm short haired Kabuki type brush as it concentrates the product only where you need it. I've the "Buff Beige" color which is quite universal for fair to medium toned skin. It doesn't have much coverage which I feel is excellent in any blotting type powder. It works well enough for my fairly oily T-Zone and does so at a very affordable pricepoint. Highly Recommended.
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Moisturizers -Neutrogena - Ageless Restoratives- Anti-Oxidant Moisture SPF 20
bernsie 4/19/2012 1:34:00 PM
I LOVE this moisturizer. I often will use a Retinol serum (Neutragen's Rapid Wrinkle Repair Serum) which dries down to practically nothing. I kid you not. You cannot even feel the slightest bit of a barrier/stickiness/moistureizer. This provides the SPF (20) along w/moisture (hyaluronic acid) along w/anti-oxidents for further protection. The consistency is spot on for my skin. It's not too emmolient nor too dry, but runs a very happy medium between the two. Makeup (foundation, etc) slips on beautifully over this. It also uses Neutrogena's superior suncreen "Helioplex." Highly Recommended!!!
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Blush -MAC - Harmony
bernsie 4/17/2012 6:52:00 AM
You should be fair to medium toned to use this as a darker more olive skin will have this appear ashen/dirty. Overuse of it can cause this effect as well. I've heard people talk of this as a contour, some to good affect others not so good. Harmony looks great in the hollows of the cheek and at temples/around forehead as contour w/a bit of color for that "nude" look. You need a smaller blush/contour brush for this application such as MAC's old #2 brush or their #116. Some have thought that Harmony has too much color and can sometimes come off a bit pink/orange/peach along with it's mostly brown coloring. In that case you may try "Symmety",though I'm not sure if it's still around. Symmetry is similar to Harmony, but has even less color and more Conour/shadow. For instance; Harmony has too much color to use it as contour down the sides of nose or under and along jawline. Symmetry is better for this kind of shading. I think it's name "Symmetry" has to do w/it's usage: to make symmetrical, as in shading/contouring. Both are Highly Recommende when used properly as Symmetry can look dirtier than Harmony when overused or used on the wrong skin tone. I think you get the proper payoff when applied to a liquid/cream foundation as when you apply these over a powder based base such as Studiofix Compact Powder is when you run into them looking dirty because it's too much pigment applied over pigment. The emmoliency of more liqid type bases once set or not will allow these colors to "grab" without overdoing them (which is when their over deposit will cause this ashen/dirty effect.) It seems Sculpting Powder in "Sculpt" would be most appropriate for professional contouring though it may only be available in MAC Pro Stores or online.
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Foundations -Garnier - BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector Daily All-In-One
bernsie 4/16/2012 4:43:00 AM
OK, I'm a Retinol, Retin-A, Tazorac Gel, Stabalized Vitamin C user and therefore am quite aggressive w/my skincare regine. I had a free $4bucks coupon for CVS and decided to try it this as I've been seeing it advertized everywhere. There are times I like to use inocuous skincare to give my skin a break. I checked on the ingredients and it did have Stabalized Vitamin C for hyperpigmentation and skin brightening. I'm Medium skin toned and bought this in Light/Medium. The shade was perfect. It spread evenly. I didn't have to use much of it. My skin looks pretty even w/out any coverage, but this just made my skin look more polished. I powdered down the T-Zone a bit and used a bare, soft gel rouge in rose/neutral. It gave my skin a bit of a glow, but not too much as some mineral based products will. The overall look was fresh, young and perfected with the least effort as this took the place of moisturizer (tinted even), foundation, powder, SPF etc. It was apply and go. It wore well plus has an SPF.This is a multi-tasker if ever there was one and dirt cheat. The color range is very limited though if you get lucky w/a match, you're in business!! Recommended!!!
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