Eyeliner -Unlisted Brand - Pure Anada Luminous Loose Mineral Eyeliner in Java
AudB 5/15/2011 2:27:00 AM
Pure Anada lists this in both the eyeliner and eyeshadow categories, but I use it primarily as an eyeliner. As with all Pure Anada products, this one is a natural mineral product. See my other reviews on Pure Anada for other products in this line. I'm very impressed with them! I use this both as a dry powder liner and as a wet liner using an angle brush. Java is a deep brown colour with a bit of shimmer. As a powder it goes on as a very deep bronze-y brown. As a wet liner it goes on with less shimmer and much darker. It has good staying power for a mineral product. I find it lasts best when applied wet and after all other eye make-up has been applied. I tend to have oily lids and this does crease a bit by the end of the day, but not any more than pencil liners do on me. If you don't have problem eyelids like mine, you would probably get even better results.
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Mascara -Unlisted Brand - Pure Anada Natural Mascara
AudB 5/15/2011 2:16:00 AM
I'm loving the products from Pure Anada (see my reviews for foundation & eyeshadow). This mascara is no exception. I am very picky about mascara because it always seems to run, smudge and flake on me. I have been using L'Oreal Beauty Tubes for its staying power even though I dislike the application. Pure Anada Natural Mascara sells for $14 CDN, and only comes in black. It is a deep black, but not the blackest mascara I've ever tried. It goes on easily and is easy to build up coats for more volume and length. A simple one coat application gets me natural looking lashes with some added length (necessary for my short lashes) and some volume. Two or three coats get me some evening drama. This mascara really lives up its promises. It lasts all day (usually I put it on at 8am, take it off around 11:30pm) and it does NOT smudge or run. I can sometimes count two or three tiny flakes at the end of the day. That's really good for a regular mascara, but for a natual mascara, that is amazing! The formula is paraben-free, gluten-free and mercury-free. I will add the ingredient list to this review if you want to see the whole list. It isn't 100% all natural ingredients, but the company says it is 97% natural. It is also PH balanced, so for someone who can't wear mascara because it stings their eyes, this would be a very good mascara to try. I would definitely buy this again. It has become my everyday mascara. In fact, when this tube runs out, I'm going to sign up for their auto-ship option on this mascara.
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Eye Shadow -Unlisted Brand - Pure Anada Velvet Matte Loose Mineral Eyeshadow - Lilac
AudB 5/14/2011 2:19:00 AM
This review is for the colour Lilac, but I'm also talking about the whole line velvet matte eyeshadows by Pure Anada. Pure Anada is an all-natural mineral eyeshadow. The Velvet Matte line is especially nice for mature ladies who don't want too much shine and sparkle on our eyes. Lilac is a very pretty, youthful looking shade somewhat between a pale purple and pale pink. Depending on the rest of your make-up and outfit, it kind of goes either way. I like this as an all over colour with a bit of highlighting in a soft white or ivory. It looks very fresh and brightens up my brown eyes very nicely. The formula is very good, and applies as a true matte -- no shimmer at all, just a soft wash of matte colour. I have somewhat oily lids, so creasing is going to happen for me no matter what I do, it seems. This does crease some, but not much compared to other shadows I've tried. This eyeshadow is very easy to blend, too. As with all other Pure Anada mineral make-up, you can order very inexpensive samples of the eyeshadows to try before you buy. The eyeshadows retail for $8 for a 1g pot. Since they are heavily pigmented, you need very little for a good application, so that little pot will last a very long time, making it a very nice value.
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Powder -Unlisted Brand - Pure Anada Loose Mineral Foundation
AudB 5/13/2011 2:23:00 AM
Pure Anada Mineral Foundation is the first mineral make-up I've found that I can use easily, get good results and that doesn't itch or irritate my face. It doesn't settle in my fine lines and doesn't cake either. Pure Anada is made in Canada and uses natural ingredients. It is fairly economical as a 10g pot is only $25 CDN and will last several months. They have a pretty extensive array of foundation colours. They offer samples of all their mineral make-up, so you don't have to waste money trying to find your shades. Soft Wheat was a perfect match for me. I can get a light or full coverage depending on how much I apply. The key to using this with mature skin is to make sure your skin is well hydrated. I use a good moisturizer first, then wait a minute for it to sink in, then apply the mineral foundation using a flat top brush in a buffing motion, just like you do for other mineral foundations. Pros: Made in Canada Natural Ingredients - no bismuth oxychloride (I have added the ingredient list to this review) Customizable coverage Good value for $ Samples available Cons: Packaging is uninteresting and I thought the pot was a little small for handling a large buffing brush. You really do need a good brush to get good results with this Overall, I'm very impressed. I thought I couldn't wear mineral make-up but this changed my mind. I really like wearing this. It doesn't feel like I have anything on, but my skin looks fantastic. I actually WANT to put this on everyday, even on "lazy Sundays," and that's really saying something!
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Mascara -L'Oreal - Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara in Black
AudB 4/8/2011 9:10:00 PM
Fantastic product! I've been wearing this daily for about a week now and I don't know how I ever lived without it. It NEVER smudges or flakes. It looks as good at 10pm as when I put it on at 8AM. I took a previous reviewer's advice on the application process and I haven't had any problems getting nice, full, long lashes. The key is to apply the primer to one eye, then right away flip the tube around and apply the coloured mascara while the primer is still wet. I just do one eye at a time (primer & colour) and it works wonderfully. Removal is the easiest thing in the world. Just use warm water and a gentle washcloth or cotton pad. The little tubes slide right off. The only downfall I can see to this is that there is no such thing as a good second coat with this mascara. You have to get it on there on the first coat or it ends up looking like messy spider lashes. I would definitely buy this again, and will continue using it for my everyday mascara.
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Cleansers -Arbonne - FC5 Hydrating Cleanser/Freshener
AudB 3/21/2011 1:33:00 AM
I have been using this cleanser (along with the nurturing day lotion and moisturizing night cream) for about a month. This cleanser was a disappointment. I expected it to be hydrating, but it wasn't. I found it left my skin feeling dry and tight. It also stings a bit -- not terribly, but it is unpleasant and unexpected. Additionally, it does not do a very thorough job of removing my make-up when I am wearing full foundation (I use Arbonne foundation, too). Generally, I quite like Arbonne products, but this one just didn't live up to claims and expectations. Given that it is quite pricey ($31 CDN!), I just can't justify repurchasing this.
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Moisturizers -Arbonne - FC5 Moisturizing Night Creme
AudB 3/21/2011 1:27:00 AM
I have been using this night cream for about a month now (along with the hydrating cleanser/freshener and nurturing day lotion). I like the formulation very much. It is a cream, but has a gel-like quality to it that keeps it feeling light. It hydrates very well and you don't have to use much to get good coverage and hydration. I took off a lippie for the poor packaging. It comes in a glass tub, so you have to stick your fingers in it each use, which I feel is somewhat unhygienic, not to mention cumbersome. The glass jar is also very heavy and clunky to hang on to, which matters to me because I have to take my glasses off to put this on all over my face and having a slippery piece of chunky glass in my hands to manage is not the best situation. Even though this is quite pricey ($51 CDN!), I am seriously considering repurchasing. It will probably be quite a while before I need another jar, though. After one month, I don't think I've used 1/4 of the jar and I'm using it every night.
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Moisturizers -Arbonne - FC5 Nurturing Day Lotion with SPF 20
AudB 3/21/2011 1:22:00 AM
I have been using this moisturizer for about a month now (along with the hydrating cleanser/freshener and moisturizing night cream). While the formulation is very nice -- light lotion, good SPF, spreads easily -- I don't feel it is truly meant for normal/dry skin like it says on the packaging, as it does not hydrate particularly well at all. The night cream in this line does hydrate well, but the day lotion is an inferior version, in my opinion. This day lotion also stings a bit going on, which I did not expect from an Arbonne product that is supposed to be all natural ingredients. I suspect that it is whatever is in the product for SPF protection that causes the stinging, but I can't be sure of that. Given the cost of this product ($48 CDN!), I can't justify repurchasing it. In general, I like Arbonne products, but this one just didn't cut it for me.
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Polishes -Sally Hansen - Complete Salon Commander in Chic
AudB 3/21/2011 1:13:00 AM
This is a gorgeous grey neutral with purple undertones. I love this formula which I reviewed under the SH Complete Salon line reviews. It has lasted a full week with NO chipping and minimal edge wear. I did not use a base coat or top coat either. This colour goes very well with nearly anything in my wardrobe which is a variety of neutrals. It has an adaptable quality to it that makes it look as good with a green khaki as with a charcoal grey or even a chocolate brown or basic black. This makes it a great choice for everyday wear. There is something very sophisticated about this colour, too. I've gotten amazing compliments on it all week long. Will definitely repurchase.
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Polishes -Sally Hansen - Complete Salon Manicure Nail Polish
AudB 3/21/2011 1:03:00 AM
This is my first nail polish review. I've never been impressed enough before to review a polish. I got Commander in Chic a week ago and put it on and still have NO chipping and minimal edge wear a full week later. I used 3 fairly thin coats. 2 coats might have worked, but I was new to using this kind of brush so it went on pretty thinly. The bottle says you don't need a base coat or top coat and I did not use one. Like I said, I did only 3 thin coats. Period. So, I feel I gave this polish a fair test on its own terms and it most certainly lived up to its claims! The brush is wider than a regular polish brush and angled at the edges. This allows you to get right up to the cuticle very neatly, and in the corners and edges of the nail with very little need to clean up. I'm not the steadiest hand at polish and even I only had to use an orange stick once to clean up an edge. It takes a wee bit of practice to get used to the brush, but once you get the hang of it, you'll feel like you don't ever want to go back to a regular polish brush. There is a rubber ring around the bottle top to help with grip while you are using it. This doesn't seem like much, but it really makes a difference once you try it. The colour I tried is beyond gorgeous, but I'm going to review that separately. Of the colours in this formulation that I saw at my local shops, there seems to be a good range of colours for all seasons and tastes. I didn't notice any particularly wild or neon bright colours, so perhaps the line may be lacking in that choice of "special" colours -- or maybe my store just didn't carry them. However, that is no detractor to me and I would recommend this polish to anyone looking for a good, long-lasting, easy-to-use polish for everyday wear. It is a little pricier than most drug-store polish ($8 CDN), but cheaper than and performs better than the HE polish brands my manicurist uses. Not only would I buy again, I'm planning my new polish wardrobe to be primarily Sally Hansen Complete. It has lasted so well, and I get such good results that I feel confident enough go a little longer between professional manicures.
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Mascara -Almay - One Coat Nourishing Mascara Triple Effect - Waterproof
AudB 3/6/2011 2:00:00 AM
I had been using this as an everyday wp mascara. The staying power is awesome -- no flakes, no smudges, no sign of raccoon eyes even after 12 hours. However, it is very goopy and tends to make clumps if you don't get most of the product off the brush. The brush has a side with shorter bristles and a side with longer bristles. The longer bristle side is the worst for goopiness and clumpiness, so I was only using the shorter side, which worked well. The biggest drawback, though, is that this mascara is incredibly difficult to remove. I cannot use any eye products with mineral oil, so I couldn't hit it with that, but it took forever to remove even using facial cleanser. I never really felt like I had it all off. I would not buy this again, and I'm still on the search for my HG everyday wp mascara.
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Fusion water resistant
AudB 3/6/2011 1:50:00 AM
I've been on the search for a great wp mascara for a long time. This one is pretty good. I had been loving Almay Triple Benefit wp, for it's lengthening and for the fact that is doesn't leave even a hint of raccoon-ing, but it is so hard to remove! This is just as good with length. I wore it for 16 hours and there was no sign of flaking, smudging or even the slightest hint of racoon eyes at all. It was also incredibly easy to get off. I use PF eye make-up pads which is a pretty gentle remover. I only had to set the pad over my lashes a few seconds, then give a gentle wipe and that got 70% of it off. A couple more wipes and it was all off. The biggest negative is the brush, which is so fat that it makes bottom lash application a bit tricky and potentially messy. It is somewhat awkward to use on the upper lashes, too, but it's manageable. Despite the awkward brush, I would definitely buy this again for the very good staying power and the easy removal.
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Eye Makeup Remover -Avon - Moisture effective Eye makeup remover
AudB 2/15/2011 9:13:00 PM
This is full of mineral oil and gives me awful milia problems. It also makes my eyes blurry for a good hour afterwards from the mineral oil. I wouldn't buy this and I would not recommend it for anyone.
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Moisturizers -Clinique - Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
AudB 2/13/2011 5:02:00 PM
I got a sample of this last time I bought Clinique make-up (and I love their make-up). I tried it and thought it was greasy, even on my dry-combo skin. It felt... not right, so I looked up the ingredients and it's got loads of parabens plus mineral oil. I cannot use products with that stuff in it. I get horrible milia from that stuff and it clogs my pores something awful. If I'd known what was in it, I wouldn't even have tried the sample. Too bad because Clinique make-up is so good, but I'll pass on the moisturizers if this is any example.
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Treatments -Avon - Reversalist Serum
AudB 2/13/2011 3:59:00 PM
I've never really used serums much before and was really surprised at how much I like this. It has a pleasant scent and goes on very silky. It absorbs quickly and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth -- really fantastic. Over a month of using it, I've noticed a couple of small dark patches have faded and my skin overall is glowing and supple. I would definitely buy this again, but probably wait until it's on sale again. $50 CDN is a bit much for my budget.
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