Lip Treatments -Maybelline - Lip Smooth
pulitzer 9/5/2010 9:24:00 AM
I bought this product to use by itself when I wake up late or don't have a lot of time to spend on my makeup in the morning. Seeing as the name is "lip smooth", I bought it thinking it would be the perfect moisturizing balm/lip stick combo that would be great to use in a hurry. I got this in 'Pink' which is 02 and it is a sheer light pink with a bit of sparkle. It does not show up pigmented on my lips at all (which is completely fine) but rather gives my lips a nice shine with the slightest hint of a pink tint. All was well until I noticed that my lips were pretty dry a few minutes out the door. For me Lip Smooth didn't do any moisturizing at all, so I'd recommend applying some lip balm before this product for the best effect. This sort of defeats the purpose of why I bought this in the beginning as a standalone product that I could use for a nice shine to my lips when I am in a hurry. Otherwise, it looks great once on the lips and I really like the natural sparkle it contains. I'd still use this over some lip balm or layer it over a matte lip stick just to give it an extra natural shimmer.
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Lip Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Aquafina Flavor Splash Lip Balm
pulitzer 9/3/2010 12:38:00 PM
To the reviewer below me, I live in the "PRC" right now. I'm not dead. Anyway on to the product...these are smooth, moisturizing lip balms that actually *surprise surprise* live up to the whole "We, Aquafina, are marketing a product that has nothing to do with water but we will take advantage of the consumer's mindset that water + lip balm = great moisturizing product" hype. Haha that's really all I can say. One lippie off for the taste which is off-putting but everything else is great! I would definitely buy these again for on-the-go and stick them in every bag I carry so I'll always have a reliable lip balm when my lips are feeling dry :)
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Lips -Philosophy - Raspberry Sorbet Lip Shine
pulitzer 9/3/2010 12:00:00 PM
I received a smaller version of this in a gift set along with three other Philosophy lip glosses. This one is, by far, my favorite. I love the versatile sheer pink/coral color that can adapt to enhance anyone's lip color. The scent is sweet but not overpowering and the glitter shine is fun and flirty. It's also surprisingly long lasting on my lips! I think the glitter has to do with that...even though the shine may dull, my lips will still look nice since the shine from glitter is making up for it haha. My only major gripe is about the taste. I'm guessing it was purposefully made sweet to match the whole "raspberry sorbet" theme going on, but I don't like it...very unnatural tasting. The gloss is also a bit sticky for my taste (hahaha) , but that's lip gloss for you.
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Mascara -Christian Dior - Diorshow Black Out Mascara
pulitzer 9/3/2010 10:59:00 AM
Unfortunately, nothing special in my experience. The main pros for me are that is a rich formula and volume-izes my lashes well. Other than that, there was no lengthening factor and it didn't do much to hold the curl in my lashes. The brush is too big and bulky to get at the shorter inner/outer corner lashes so I ended up with an unattractive "bunch" of lash in the middle of my eye haha. The formula isn't smooth and clumps my lashes like crazy. Also, I don't know if this has happened with anyone else but I don't have the waterproof version and it is a beetch to remove. On one rainy day, it smudged on my lower eye (which is obviously expected of non-waterproof mascaras) and I could NOT easily wipe it off with a tissue and some water. The water smudged it even more and in the end I had to use a makeup remover cloth. Normally, that would be fine if the product was on my lashes but not when it has smudged on my eye! Please revise the formula or something to make the non-waterproof version less waterproof! As you can tell my cons definitely outweigh the pros. I can get the effects I want elsewhere whether under or over the $24 price tag.
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Polishes -Sally Hansen - Hard as Nails
pulitzer 9/3/2010 10:02:00 AM
I was given a few of these as a gift from my friend and I must say that I'm really glad she did! I normally stay away from cheap, drugstore nail polishes in light of previous experiences with trying to find a good one (and ending up spending enough money to buy me more expensive polishes that I would have been way more satisfied with!) Anyway, I was satisfied with these mainly because of their application and the chip-less formula. They applied super smoothly, which is attributed not only to the formula but also the wide-but-not-too-wide applicator. I was able to cover my nail in two to three easy applications. It isn't 'gloopy' or watery at all. I was also surprised to find that these lasted me a good week with near perfect condition before the first major chip. (This is with two bare coats; no base or top) I later found out on a trip to the drugstore (i'm sure you do it too (; ) that they are only $3. Essies and OPIs, move over! And out of the shades I received, I strongly recommend Fly Away! It's a sheer ballerina pink that is sophisticated enough to be pulled off on its own or it provides a nice duochrome effect as a top coat over any other solid color!
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Polishes -Sephora - Nail Polish
pulitzer 9/3/2010 8:24:00 AM
Aww, give these little guys some credit. They are quick drying (and I mean really quick drying! I swiped some on a finger at Sephora, walked around the store and it was dry!); the colors are super trendy and there's a huge variety to pick from; and for those in a hurry/don't have the patience, one coat is really enough to get a strong burst of color! The one lippie off is for the price, as many have already mentioned. Other than that, no complaints from me! By the way, my favorite shade is Passion (L09). It's a deep coral with some hot pink. Hot!
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Eyeliner -Sephora - Liquid Eyeliner
pulitzer 9/1/2010 1:00:00 AM
Easy to draw a thick or thin line with the applicator. I also like the length of the eye liner so nearsighted chicks can get close to mirror without bumping the "wand" into the glass. At the same time, it's not too short either (unlike some other liquid liners) so I have great control over the applicator. The formula is smooth without being too watery and it stays on my eye the whole day. I have no complaints it smudging. Great, affordable price at $10. My only complaint is that it takes a tad too long to dry BECAUSE of the amount of product that comes off of the tip. If Sephora could remake the tip so that it didn't "soak" up that much product, it'd get a five rating from me!
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Pressed Powders -New York Color - Color Wheel Mosaic Face Powder - Rose Glow (725A)
pulitzer 8/29/2010 4:59:00 AM
This is a really good product for its price. I'll start with why I took a lippe off. In my opinion, this is WAY too red toned to be used as an "all over face powder"/bronzer. I tried sweeping it over my forehead, cheeks, and chin and I looked like I have a fever or something haha. I have medium skin in the summer since I'm still a bit tan and it makes me look like I just went running. Not what I like, but the cons end here. First of all, there is a ton of product for the price. I've been using it for half a year now and I only have a little dip; far from half way to the pan. Like I mentioned above, it is a bit red, so I use this mainly as a blush. It gives me a healthy, coral-with a light bronze flush. There is some shimmer in there and it gives my face a nice glow. One more thing is the issue of application. At first I tried using a dense powder brush with vertical bristles, but as soon as the brush touched the powder, the powder particles went everywhere. When I applied to my face, I could see the powder puffing into the air. I then switched to a soft fluffy blush brush and swept it across the pan. It applied lighter and I didn't have any of the excess powder come up in the pan. Another plus is the large lid which you can swirl your brush around in to blend the powder more.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Clean & Clear - Oil Absorbing Sheets
pulitzer 8/28/2010 12:23:00 PM
I am on my fifth package (book?) of these! I don't see how I can say anything negative about these life saving sheets: they remove oil, don't smudge makeup, and are relatively inexpensive. Yes, the bright blue may be noticeable but if you're a Clean&Clear oil blotting sheet veteran like me, you can whip these out in public and by the the time someone notices a flash of blue, the sheet is crinkled safely in your hand :P
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Lip Gloss -Lancome - Lancome Juicy Tubes
pulitzer 8/18/2010 1:46:00 PM
I have this in Pink Horizon. The smell is delicious and color pigmentation is a nice blend of sheer and super opaqueness. Otherwise, it's definitely "ultra glossy" like it says on the website (in a bad way) and it wears off rather quickly. I feel a bit ridiculous wearing it when going out because it's so shiny and sticky, and I always have to tone it down and blot it with a tissue or wear it over lipstick or tinted balm. Looks a bit pre-teen-dabbling-in-makeup-dollar-store-gloss ie. tacky. Not worth the $18.
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Eyes -Christian Dior - Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in Black
pulitzer 8/18/2010 1:33:00 PM
Why are there no more reviews for this amazing liner?! It took me ages to find this page for it...I loitered around on the other Dior eyeliner pages and almost wrote this review on the wrong one haha. This eyeliner is the perfect mix of a soft consistency, smudge/budge proof-ness, and color intensity. It is soft enough to smudge along my lower lash line but it doesn't move or fade after a few seconds (maybe due to the fact that it's waterproof? i'm not sure...), and it's also NOT an intense dramatic black that I don't like for natural and daily go to class makeup. It really stays on until after a full day and the waterproof formula stays true. Another plus is that I actually don't have to sharpen it as much as other eyeliners like UD 24/7 and MUFE Aqua Eyes which wear out so quickly for me that I seem to be reaching for the sharpener every few days! With this one, I can use it for up to two weeks without having to sharpen. (A time saver as well since I'm a student that has around ten precious minutes for makeup in the morning...)
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Eyeliner -Cover Girl - Perfect Point Plus Eyeliners
pulitzer 8/18/2010 12:54:00 PM
I recently did an eyeliner 'test' with drugstore liners in my makeup bag, because I wanted to see which ones were worth buying again and how they matched up to pricier liners. The verdict? Perfect Point Plus won the category for easiest to apply in terms of it being smooth and precise, but that was it. An eyeliner that glides on nice and smoothly is useless if it slips off by an hour later and looks like a hot smudged mess. When I use it on my eyelid, it is faded by the end of the day; and when I use it on my lower lash line, it sort of melts into the super fine lines from dark circles (i'm a student, afterall!) on my undereye area. This also failed in the un-budgeable test which is very apparent if you make a line on your hand, give it a grace period of ten seconds and then rub your finger over it. My other drugstore liners like L'oreal Extra Intense liquid pencil liner and Revlon Colorstay were better by miles.
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Fragrances -Ralph Lauren - Ralph Rocks
pulitzer 8/13/2010 11:19:00 PM
Two years ago, I was wandering through an airport's duty free shop because my plane had gotten delayed...and I came across this jewel. I cannot even begin to describe how much I love it! It's a fresh flirty scent, great for everyday going to class or even at night when I go out! I spray twice; one on either side of my neck behind my ears and it lasts me from morning until late afternoon. My friends are so used to my love affair with this that they're like 'this smell is a part of you' haha. The scent isn't musky or heavy like some other perfumes (Vera Wang's original comes to mind...) and it's great for all occasions. There's a bit of a sweet orange note that is fun and flirty. Like I said, I got this two years ago and wear it at least every week and I still have half a bottle left!
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Foundations -Sephora - Mineral Double Compact SPF 10
pulitzer 8/9/2010 1:24:00 PM
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this product. I initially bought this for a trip, since I needed a new compact and I hate carrying a container of powder foundation and a brush on trips. It turns out that I now use this pretty much on a daily basis even after my trip is over! The first thing I want to say is that the I am in love with the sponge/puff it comes with. I usually apply the pressed powder with a fluffy face brush, but this one is double sided and it felt so soft that I gave it a try. One side is white and it's labeled for "light coverage" and the other is a slightly more coarse black side and it's labeled for "heavy coverage". I recently found out that Sephora sells these puffs one for $6 each and I'm ecstatic that I can buy more when this one wears out (which it's already almost there since I use it daily!). Now onto the product...the powder is super buildable and I can apply it heavier with it still looking natural! It stays on my face the whole day (8am - 6 pm) with a tiny touchup in the afternoon and keeps it smooth. The whole nasty chemical-free ingredient list is a plus and makes me feel better using it haha. I'm a lightly tanned Asian matched perfectly to a D25 and it accommodates my slightly darker summer skin too! If I could give this a 4.5, it'd be for the slightly annoying double compact in which I have to take the puff out of the compartment beneath the powder, flip back up to the powder, and then flip to the mirror and then flip back up to get some more powder...haha but the actual product is so worth it that I can forgive it and give this a 5! :)
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Mascara -L'Oreal - Extra Volume Collagen mascara
pulitzer 8/9/2010 12:57:00 PM
I admit I'm a bit intimidated by the overall not-amazing rating, but I like it! It's great for students who need to rush in the morning. A quick swipe gives me volume and length and it dries relatively quickly! I find myself just needing one application to get the intensity I want. Also, as opposed to many reviews I've read, I really like the brush! The curve in the middle in an otherwise big brush really lets me get to the base of my lashes, and the bristles also allow for maximum coverage...as in it can coat all around my lashes. The formula doesn't clump and stays on my lashes the whole day with no flaking or wearing off! If I could give half a lippie off, It'd be for the packaging. I love space savers in my makeup bag and the mascara is a bit on the chunky side. Other than that, I will definitely repurchase if I'm in need of a cheap mascara that I can grab at the drugstore!
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