Eye Shadow -Almay - Almay Intense i Color for Hazel
AprilH 4/3/2011 12:10:00 PM
These are some of the worst eyeshadows I've ever used. Disappointing, because Almay's quality is generally quite high for a drugstore brand, and their eye products are usually excellent for sensitive eyes. This eyeshadow is very powdery and loosely packed, so it's very easy to get some in your eyes (and everywhere else!) when you are applying it. Not good for sensitive eyes. They also have very little pigment but are VERY shiny. You end up piling the shadow on to get it to show up, and at that point, your eyelid is shiny enough to double as an airport beacon. It's also not very flattering for those of us in the 40 and over crowd! I like many of Almay's products, but this was a bust.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Bobbi Brown - Luminous Moisturizing Foundation
AprilH 4/3/2011 11:57:00 AM
I would recommend Bobbi's Moisture Rich foundation over this one. The Luminous is only slightly more moisturizing than the Moisture Rich, and has a finish that is slightly more dewy and "luminous", but there isn't a huge difference. What is different is that this foundation tends to just sit on top of your skin and never sinks in. You have to be very careful about touching your face, because this is the polar opposite of transfer-resistant. It easily transfers to anything and everything. It also has very poor staying power. Setting the foundation with powder can help with these issues, but it can also cancel out the luminizing effect. All in all, I think the Moisture Rich is a better option for dry skin. Stila's Illuminating liquid foundation is also an option, but be aware that it's a bit more sparkly than this one, with a shine that could be overpowering for some.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Aussie - Aussome Volume Styling Mousse
AprilH 4/3/2011 11:37:00 AM
This is an ok styling mousse, but best suited for those who wash their hair daily. I wash mine every 3 days, and by the third day, my hair was disgustingly greasy. This mousse gives you decent, but not exactly "awesome" volume. I would describe it as being middle of the road in terms of the hold and the crunch factor. It's inexpensive, and stocked in most stores that carry the Aussie line, so if the "gross" factor isn't a concern for you, it might be worth a try.
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Styling Products -Ion - Healing Jojoba Flat Iron Cream
AprilH 7/18/2010 3:43:00 PM
Sorry to be the dissenter on this product, but I did not like it at all. The first time I used it, I apparently used too much, even though I thought I was using it sparingly. My hair was a limp, lifeless, greasy mess. I tried it again and only used a dime size, but my hair was still flat and felt gross. When I straighten, I usually let my hair air dry in order to spare it the double damage of a blow dryer and flat iron. With this product, my hair took so long to dry that I gave up and used a blow dryer. I don't think it's helping my hair that much if I have to both blow dry and straighten. In my experience, there's no product that can repair damage to the hair that's already done, so I am skeptical of the "healing" claims. I do think that for the right hair type, it could help minimize the inevitable damage done by a flat iron. Unfortunately I don't have the right hair type, and I would definitely not recommend this product to others with hair that is very fine and easily weighed down.
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Shampoo -Clairol - Psssssst Instant Spray Shampoo
AprilH 6/23/2010 10:36:00 AM
I have tried several dry shampoos and this is my favorite. As others have noted, it can be purchased at Walgreens, which for me is very convenient since I have a Walgreens just down the road. It isn't exactly dirt cheap, but compared to the salon brand dry shampoos, it is quite affordable. I don't use this on a regular basis. I use it mostly to prolong blow outs from my salon. My hair is generally quite dry, but on the third day without washing, my roots get a bit greasy. With this product I can get a third day out of a blow out, and in the wintertime, occasionally a fourth. It does flake up a bit if you use too much, but I try to work it in really well with my fingers, and my hair is fairly light, so any flakes aren't too noticeable. If you have dark hair, I'm sure you would have to be more careful. It does have a scent, but it doesn't linger. I would definitely recommend this as a good way to try out a dry shampoo without spending a lot of money.
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Lip Liners -Flirt - Draw Attention Lip Pencil in Come Hither
AprilH 3/26/2010 3:59:00 PM
This pencil is a somewhat cheaper alternative to the popular Spice lip liner sold by Flirt's sister company, MAC, especially if you get it on sale. I got this lip pencil for 20% off which is more than $3 cheaper than a MAC pencil. The regular price is $12, a dollar less than a MAC pencil. Of course it is true that MAC gives you 0.05 oz compared to 0.04 oz, but it you can get the Flirt pencil on sale it's a pretty good deal. The shades are not identical, but they are similar enough that you have to look closely to see a difference. I would say that the Flirt shade is a tad pinker and a tad less orange than Spice, which is why I purchased it. I do wish the shade had more pink to it, which is why I will not repurchase. That said, I think that fans of Spice may find that this shade works for them at a lower price. If you love MAC Spice and have a Kohl's nearby, I would definitely check this out.
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Styling Products -Garnier - Body Boost Volumizing Spray
AprilH 3/24/2010 2:29:00 PM
This is the worst volumizing spray I have ever used. I couldn't get any volume whatsoever out of it. It's not sticky, but it doesn't do anything. It's about as useful as spraying scented water on your hair.
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Mascara -Maybelline - Lash Stiletto
AprilH 2/15/2010 11:29:00 AM
This is an ok mascara, not great, but not terrible. I was a huge fan of Maybelline's Illegal Lengths mascara, and am constantly hoping for a new Maybelline mascara that compares. This isn't it. With a bit of effort you do get decent length, but not the "ultimate length" that the ads promise. You are also promised a shiny, "black patent" finish, but this looks like any other mascara I have ever used. Personally the wand is a bit long for my tastes. I was worried I was going to poke myself in the eye with it. And if you're not careful you can end up with mascara all over your browbone. For a lengthening mascara this is worth a try, but don't believe any of the claims in the advertising.
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Length
AprilH 2/15/2010 11:18:00 AM
This mascara was a real disappointment. As other reviewers have noted, it takes several coats to even look like you are wearing mascara. If you work hard enough this will define and separate your lashes, but if you are expecting any length, forget it. And after my experience with the original Lash Blast I was expecting dramatic length out of this. I suppose this would be ok for a very natural look, but Lash Exact will give you a natural look with much less effort. Also this is one of the messier mascaras I've used. When you pull the wand out of the tube the wand has goop all over the ends, and there's also goop all over the opening of the tube. Don't bother with this one.
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Mascara -Max Factor - Volume Couture - Rich Black
AprilH 7/15/2009 10:54:00 AM
This is my all-time favorite mascara so it figures that Max Factor is being discontinued in the United States. :( I love this mascara because it gives you the perfect combination of both length and volume without clumping, smudging or smearing. I actually have found that this mascara lasts somewhat longer than others I've used. I have gotten 3 months out of a tube, which is rare for me. I find that other mascaras dry out within a month or so. Due to longevity this is one of the economical mascaras around! For now I have stocked up on it, but I'll be sad when I run out.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Paula's Choice - Ultra-Light Weightless Finish SPF 30 Sunscreen Spray [DISCONTINUED]
AprilH 7/15/2009 10:45:00 AM
This is one of the few spray-on sunscreens that I know of that doesn't contain alcohol. It's great for when I want to quickly apply sunscreen to my legs or arms. When I tried to use it on my face I experienced the most horrific breakout of cystic acne that I've had in years. Based on prior reviews not everyone experiences breakouts, but if you are acne-prone, beware. I'd probably test it on a small blemish-prone area of my face before I'd apply it all over.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Paula's Choice - Ultra light sunscreen spray lotion spf55
AprilH 7/15/2009 10:40:00 AM
I tried both this and the extra care non-greasy sunscreen in the new formula. I, too, am baffled by the spray bottle packaging. A pump bottle would make more sense as this really doesn't spray very well. I find this to be fairly matte but a bit greasier than her non-greasy sunscreens. I think this would be best suited for those whose skin is fairly normal and neither really dry nor really oily. Overall, I neither loved nor hated this sunscreen. Due to the high SPF I will use it when I am going to be in the sun and need extra protection. But I don't see myself using it as an everyday sunscreen.
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Sunscreen -Paula's Choice - Extra Care Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF30 (new formula)
AprilH 7/15/2009 10:34:00 AM
I guess I'll write the first good review for this product. My go-to sunscreen is Paula's original non-greasy sunscreen, but I was interested in trying something with a higher SPF and a more state of the art formula. The Essential Non-Greasy sunscreen is getting to be a bit dated and probably wouldn't receive a Paula's Pick rating if it wasn't her product. Anyway, I found the texture to be somewhat thicker and the finish a bit more matte than the Essential Non-Greasy. I would recommend the Skin Balancing sunscreen to those who are really oily. This one is more for the moderately oily crowd. To my nose it doesn't have much of a smell. I did not experience any breakouts or irritation from it. My one complaint is the screw off lid. This is a huge pain because the product leaks out if you lay it down while applying it. A flip top lid would be so much more convenient, and indeed, the Essential Non-Greasy sunscreen has a flip top lid. Otherwise I thought this was a decent sunscreen, but based upon the prior reviews, I'd recommend getting a sample before purchasing.
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Palettes -Bobbi Brown - 4 pan palette
AprilH 11/6/2008 7:35:00 AM
I would disagree with the previous reviewer as far as this being better than her previous palettes. Mine just broke after only six months of normal use. Her previous palettes are much sturdier. I have both a 3 pan and a 6 pan in the older palette that I've had for years and both are still in good condition. I also have Stila palettes that I've had for years. I'm really not keen on using a palette that has to be continually replaced. I also think that BB should sell its eyeshadows and blushes in pans, with an individual compact sold separately for those who want it. Every time I purchase shadows for my palette I throw away the original compact, which is quite wasteful.
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Lotions/ Creams -Boots - Expert Sensitive Moisture Boost Hand Cream
AprilH 10/9/2008 12:07:00 PM
In terms of performance, this is a pretty good hand cream. It makes hands very soft, and it absorbs fairly quickly, though not instantly. It also withstands hand washings quite well. My only problem with this hand cream is that the texture is very runny, and it's a pain to dispense. Be prepared, because the moment you turn the tube sideways or upside down, a big glob comes rushing out. I like to be able to turn the tube over and actually squeeze out the amount I want. So I have mixed feelings about this hand cream. I said "no" on repurchasing because there's no "maybe" option.
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