Skincare - Body -Palmers - Skin Therapy Oil
Amsi 8/27/2012 1:23:00 AM
I think an important thing to keep in mind when using this product is that very few things will actually diminish the appearance of scars, stretch marks and wrinkles. If there were, then we'd all have perfect skin! ... That said, this product does help with maintaining the condition of my skin and keeping my back acne marks from getting too terrible. I've been using this product every night for a couple of months on my back, as well as my regular Palmer's lotion on the rest of my body. At first I was expecting it to make my scars go away within weeks, but I realized that would be impossible. However, I kept using the product out of habit and recently noticed that my scars have toned down just a little. ... For an affordable product, it certainly doesn't hurt my skin. This has not caused my back to break out more, even though it is an oil. I do still get breakouts, but my overall skin is decently smooth. I use this after I take a shower in the evening. I don't know how it would work on skin that hasn't been just washed. It's also great for adding a little bit of a glow to your legs. ... Overall, I like that this product is affordable and gentle. It doesn't work miracles, but it has improved my skin's texture and appearance better than the acne products I was using before. For a few dollars, that's not bad at all!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Revlon - Colorstay Longwear Nail Enamel
Amsi 5/19/2012 12:07:00 AM
I have this polish in Red Carpet, which is a great classic red that's perfect for year-round wear. ... One thick coat or two thin coats of this product are all you really need for opaque coverage. The polish goes on smooth and leaves a really shiny finish. This doesn't last that long on my thumb and pointer fingers since I'm constantly opening containers and bobby pins, but on my other fingers and toes, this polish does last about a week! ... My one major gripe with this product is that even after it "dries" it's still not super hard. Even after having the polish on for a full 24 hours, I feel like my nails get scuffs and scratches in the surface since the finish still feels a bit soft.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -BeneFit Cosmetics - They're Real
Amsi 5/3/2012 8:53:00 PM
I have long but thin eyelashes and look for something volumizing in a product. They're Real doesn't disappoint! The formula does give my lashes a lift while separating them, however, the formula can clump and make lashes stick together if you aren't careful. ... My favorite thing about this product is how long the formula lasts on my lashes. It doesn't say that it's a waterproof formula on the packaging, but it seems to last like one. I have oily skin and sometimes rub my eyes due to contact lens irritation, and this mascara keeps my lashes looking fairly fresh and dark throughout the day with almost no flaking or fading! It also keeps my lashes looking curly. ... As for the brush, it works like many of the other rubber-bristle mascara brushes out there. The rounded, spiky tip is an interesting feature, but I honestly don't get that much use out of it. You do have to wipe off the excess product from the tip, as a disclaimer, but this goes for many other mascaras out there. ... Overall, I already have long lashes, so most mascaras "work" for me. I really like the long-lasting formula and volumizing brush, but it didn't blow me out of the water or anything, which is why I'm not giving it a 5. Also, the spiky tip is a cool idea, but I personally don't find myself making much use of it.
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Loose Powders -Ben Nye - Bella Luxury Powder: Banana (formerly known as Visage Poudre Luxury Powder)
Amsi 5/3/2012 8:43:00 PM
This is a great translucent powder for everyday use! I have brown/tan skin (NC42 for reference) and white powders can look a bit ashy on me. ... This powder isn't heavy, so it doesn't look cake-y. It offers a natural satin finish, rather than a flat matte look. If you're looking for something heavy, this might not be for you, but you definitely can build it up by adding another layer. ... This product is also great value for money! You get 1.5 ounces (42 grams) of product for a very reasonable price. Almost all powders (both loose and compact) only have about 0.3 ounces or about 10 grams of product, including "large" jars. Check the back of your powders and see for yourself! ... As for the cons...the packaging is a bit disappointing. The lid is about the size of a quarter and is way too small to swirl your brush into. I ended up buying an empty sifter jar to transfer a little bit of the product into at a time. Way less messy this way. ... Another con is that this tends to irritate my eyes a little, especially the inner corners. I don't know if it's because I wear contacts. It's annoying, but I still use the product.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -BeneFit Cosmetics - Stay Don't Stray
Amsi 4/27/2012 7:26:00 PM
I actually found this to be an effective eyeshadow primer! I had a small sample bottle of this that I hadn't used and just thought I'd try it out on a whim. I have oily, acne-prone skin which is pretty uneven, and eyeshadow always looks terrible on me! I've had mediocre results with Urban Decay Primer Potion; it was better than using nothing, but still creased on me. While UDPP is kind of gel-like, this seems to be more of an opaque product. I applied just a dab of it over my lids which had a little foundation and powder already on them. I then applied just a thin layer of shadow (I'm too scared to put on any more than that!). And 6 hours later, I have very little creasing. I can't believe it! Usually my eyelids crease just from having a little powder from my powder brush, but for some reason, this product works with my skin type. The downside is that the full-sized product is a bit expensive and the pump packaging is strange for a primer. I literally used just a finger's touch of this per lid. No way would I need even a full drop of it! I think this would be better in a squeeze tube where you could control the amount better. Furthermore, I don't think it would work with everyone's skin type.
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Foundations -Cover Girl - Covergirl and Olay Tone Rehab 2 in 1 Foundation
Amsi 2/15/2012 11:54:00 PM
I have oily skin, but was looking for something a little more moisturizing since I am using Retin-A which causes my skin to be flakey. Oily and flakey skin can be a real challenge to work with! ... I love that the bottle comes with a pump and is clear so you can see how much you've used up. The texture is mousse-like, and not "liquidy" like most foundations. It blends pretty well, but it can look streaky when applied with a brush. It feels moisturizing without being too heavy or oily. ... I thought this would have buildable coverage since the consistency is thick, but on my acne-scarred skin, it actually looks like a medium coverage product. I really wish this covered better since it feels so nice on my skin and reduces the appearance of my pores and lends a smoother look to my skin. Obviously, if you're super oily like me, this will look dewy on you and might not be super long-wearing throughout the day. ... I am about an NC42 in MAC and chose shade 155 Soft Honey (157 Golden Tan looked like it could also work). This does have a noticeable fresh scent to it. While I don't mind it, I don't think it's necessary, either. I also think the name Tone Rehab sounds a bit strange and wish they had picked something else. ... Overall, this is a smooth and creamy foundation which I enjoy as an everyday use product.
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Bronzers -Cover Girl - CG Bronzer in Golden Tan
Amsi 2/15/2012 7:07:00 PM
I've never worn bronzer so I wanted to start off with something inexpensive. I thought CG would be a decent brand to try, but I'm disappointed in this product. First, the bronzer seems to be packed so densely that it's hard to pick up product with my brush. I've tried a couple brushes but the skinny little strip of color doesn't really allow for swirling my brush in to the product. When I do apply the product, I have trouble getting even coverage. Again, I've tried a couple brushes and it just looks obvious that I have a slightly shimmery layer over my skin. If anything, it just looks like my foundation got oily and oxidized where I applied it. Yes, this is inexpensive, and if you're on a budget or really determined, you can make this work. I don't know if it's just me, but the product pigmentation isn't great, the powder doesn't blend well and the little strip of product is way too skinny. This might as well be an eyeshadow since the pan is so small.
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Loose Powders -Bare Escentuals - Mineral Veil
Amsi 2/8/2012 5:41:00 AM
I use this as a setting powder over my liquid foundation. I have oily skin and use a light dusting of this to mattify my face. It doesn't control oil that well since the product is so fine, but that's not necessarily what it's meant to do. Even used on bare skin, it helps even out my complexion. I know this product will work differently on different people, but at the moment, this fine and light powder is exactly what I need. .. Before this, I was using various drugstore powder compacts which did the job but were a little chalky in comparison with this. I dust a VERY light layer of this over my face using a patting, rather than rubbing, motion. I then go over my face again with another light layer to really set my foundation. ... I have no idea how this product looks over Bare Minerals, but I do like it over my liquid foundation. Some of my drugstore powders were a little heavier, and once they absorbed into my oily skin, they just contributed to the shine and clogged pore situation. I feel like this is light enough that it won't fuss with your makeup underneath and won't make your skin fight back with oiliness. ... The loose powder can get a little messy, but now that the new packaging has a sifter you can open and close, my pot of powder still looks clean and new!
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Highlighters -Too Faced - Absolutely Invisible Candlelight
Amsi 2/8/2012 5:29:00 AM
I had seen this in the store on several occasions, fell in love with the way it looked and finally bought it. In the compact, it looks like the most beautiful, shimmery powder, and the packaging itself is pretty nice. I went home expecting to continue my love affair with this product and was planning to use it as a subtle highlighter. Unfortunately, this doesn't do much. It's okay if you just want a really light powder to set your foundation with, but any drugstore powder can do that. It doesn't work well as a highlighter, either. If you look really close, you can see the tiny glitter particles it leaves on your skin, but honestly, with my oiliness and large pores, you can't really tell I have it on. This is a very pretty product and is exactly the type of thing you should avoid if you get suckered in by a nice presentation! Unfortunately this product doesn't really...do anything.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Bath and Body Works - Pink Chiffon Body Lotion
Amsi 2/8/2012 4:34:00 AM
I admit that I was drawn to this product by the whimsical pink packaging. BBW's packaging looks better each year, now that I think of it. The website states that the key notes are vanilla, pear and musk, but I personally am having a hard time really pinning one note down. It's almost as if the "light-as-air" scent is left without a note to really anchor it down. Or at least that's what my nose perceives. I enjoy soft vanilla scents and was really hoping this would do the trick, but it really isn't as vanilla-y as I expected. More of a soft, fruity floral minus any fruit-punchiness. The scent is pleasant and sweet, I must give it that, but I don't find it particularly unique. To me, I find it really similar to Paris Amour, and the fact that both products have pink packaging make them seem even more alike. I feel like Pink Chiffon fits into a family of BBW's new sweet florals: Paris Amour, Carried Away, Charmed Life, Country Chic and Winter Wonderland. If you like these scents, then do try this one out! You'll smell sweet and "nice" for sure. But if these scents have been leaving you wanting just a little more, then you might want to consider something else.
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Lotions/ Creams -Bath and Body Works - Paris Amour
Amsi 2/8/2012 4:25:00 AM
I find the scent of this product to be a little difficult to pin down, but I would describe it as a soft, sweet berry scent. Sometimes it smells more floral, and sometimes it edges toward sugary. If you like soft, sweet scents (and I don't mean juicy fruit punch scents), this might be for you. I have the small bottle of the lotion and body spray and actually use them as decorative pieces since the packaging is so whimsical and girly. This isn't my favorite scent ever, nor is it especially unique. But I enjoy using it on days when I want to smell a little sweeter without wearing a full-on perfume.
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Liquid -Lancome - Teint Idole Fresh Wear
Amsi 1/21/2012 1:49:00 AM
I have oily, acne-prone skin and use this as an everyday foundation. It offers medium coverage and does not fully cover my dark circles and acne scars, however, it doesn't look too heavy, either. Since this is a shine-free product, it has a matte finish which dries quickly, so it's important to blend quickly. As an oily gal, I can only assume this wouldn't be perfect for drier skin. I don't think this lasts "18 hours" as the packaging says, but it does last a decent amount of time. If you need fuller coverage, try the regular teint idole foundation. Some gripes I have with this product are, first, that you don't get a full ounce (30 mL) of product. Every other liquid foundation I've tried has come in one full ounce, but this is only 0.8. For the price, I would have liked that extra bit of product. Secondly, the product is scented, which I don't think is necessary. As a reference, I'm an NC-42 in MAC and wear shade 7N, which runs pretty "yellow" but blends in pretty well.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Rimmel - Match Perfection Concealer
Amsi 1/15/2012 1:30:00 AM
I think this is a great everyday concealer, and the brush tip makes application easy! I use this product primarily for my dark under eye circles. It feels very creamy going on the skin an blends easily. It isn't the fullest coverage, but makes for a great everyday concealer which looks natural on the skin. The soft brush tip also allows me to cover blemishes precisely. If you have lines under your eyes, yes, this will slightly settle into them. But so will every other concealer. However, this is creamy enough to really blend in and not just cake up. I feel like you get a good amount of product in the tube for the price. However, my only gripe is that at times it can be a little difficult to control how much you squeeze out. Also, the shade range isn't great. Tip: Clean the brush tip with a cotton ball or tissue dipped into makeup remover or rubbing alcohol.
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Moisturizers -BeneFit Cosmetics - b right triple performing facial emulsion
Amsi 12/21/2011 8:31:00 PM
This is a lightweight moisturizer with SPF 15 that I would consider good for those with normal to combination skin. If you have really dry skin, this might not be hydrating enough for you. I myself have oily, acne-prone skin, but use moisturizer since I have slight burning and peeling due to my acne cream. I find that my skin looks a little oily with this, but my skin looks oily no matter what! So it's not the product's fault. It is a bit expensive, but if you go to Sephora or Ulta, pretty much all the "brand name" moisturizers average about $30. The packaging is beautiful, and I love that the pump dispenses just a tiny amount at a time, so you can really control how much comes out. A couple cons are that despite the brand name and price, you can get a similar product from Neutrogena or Olay at half the price or less. Another thing is that this product is scented, and while I LOVE the scent, if you don't like sweet florals or have scent allergies, you might not like this at all.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Rimmel - Moisture Renew - Coral Shimmer
Amsi 6/10/2011 7:23:00 PM
I bought this on a whim for about $6 and have been wearing it almost every day since then! This is a translucent, coral and gold, glittering lipcolor. I'm an NC42 and have pigmented lips and a deeper complexion, so I was wary about how something like this would look on me. It gives my lips a slightly pinked, golden sheen which basically looks like a thin lipgloss. If you like the look of glossy lips, but not the thick texture of gloss, this would be a good option. The glitter particles are a bit chunky, and the formula isn't particularly long-wearing due to it's sheer nature. Although it's part of the Moisture Renew line, this will not replace a lip balm, but it won't dry your lips out, either, and feels comfortable to wear. The packaging is flashy, purple and tacky, but delightfully so. But Rimmel's target audience is young women, so I guess it makes sense. Bottom line: the glitter is a bit chunky and the formula is sheer and thin, but I love the overall look of a warm coral sheen.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No