Eye Primer -NYX - HD High Definition Eyeshadow Base
BurgundyMist 2/10/2012 10:03:00 PM
Stop looking for another eyeshadow primer! This is HG material. I have very oily skin (confirmed by my sister, the aesthetician) and have tried to combat this with many different bases. I've used L'Oreal De-Crease, MAC paints, UDPP, ELF, and most recently TFSI for a while. I found that on my oily lids, TFSI performed better than UDPP, but it still wasn't standing the test of my 10 hour workdays.
However, the NYX HD primer does! I put on my face at 7AM and usually come home at 5ish. It even lasts through my post-work cardio at the gym! I started using this primer at the beginning of this week and couldn't believe when I looked in the mirror at the end of the day. I had zero creasing and no oiliness on my lids! My shadow still looked as crisp and blended as it had before I left the house! This is HG for sure! I feel sorry that I hadn't discovered it earlier.
If you feel like your lids are an oil factory, please give this product a shot. If it can stand up to my lids, it can withstand almost anything!
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Banana Boat - Sport Dri-Blok Advanced AvoTriplex UVA/UVB Sunblock with SPF 30 [DISCONTINUED]
BurgundyMist 7/5/2009 11:22:00 AM
I have oily, acne-prone skin and have previously been on two prescription products (Duac and TretinX .05%) to clear it up. My skin is very sun sensitive and has some acne scarring which is healing and fading.
I have tried at least four different sunscreens on my face during this time and Banana Boat Dri-Blok Sport SPF 30 has TRUMPED Hawaiian Tropic Oil Free Sensitive Skin SPF 50 to become my HG facial sunscreen!
Application is the KEY to this SS. Dri-Blok Sport has a unique consistency that feels light and almost gel like. When you apply it, you must work in small areas (i.e. cheek, then move on to chin, etc.) and rub it in gently, letting the rest soak into your skin. If you rub it in vigorously like oilier sunscreens (ex. HT Oil Free Sensitive Skin), it will start to ball up and flake off. However, I never have a problem with it flaking if I don't rub too much (both during SS & makeup application).
It has a slight white cast when you initially put it on your skin, which completely disappears in a minute or two. After it has dried, it leaves your face baby soft and feeling as though you're wearing makeup primer. In fact, this SS really helps my foundation stay matte and last! Best of all, Dri-Blok Sport sinks into my skin and leaves a smooth face that is free of oil all day!
Banana Boat Dri-Blok is IDEAL for oily skin. It is super mattifying like Shisedo & Sofina. Unlike the nightmare I had with Sofina last fall, Dri-Blok has never clogged my pores. If my skin is feeling extra sensitive, it might sting for just a moment upon application, but it quickly fades away. Dri-Blok stands up to all day sun exposure (high PPD and is photo stable).
PSA: For those who were having trouble finding it, BB Dri-Blok is now available at Wal-Mart.
I purchased it a few nights ago. There was a large display at the front of the store of just the Banana Boat Dri-Blok kids version. However, there was another display of both kinds (Sport & Kids) in the general SS section at Wal-Mart.
The best part is, I picked up a back-up of my HG SS for $5! :-D Run, don't walk, to pick up this PRICELESS sunscreen!
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Apricotcha Cheating
BurgundyMist 3/29/2009 7:49:00 PM
Despite the fact that I did not like the formula of the OPI polish I had previously tried, I purchased this one based on color. This is a pink-coral shade that becomes opaque after the second coat. I got it at TJMAXX on sale a few summers ago for $4.99, and I'm glad I did!
Apricotcha Cheating is a happy, bright color without being too loud or garish. I recall one of my classmates saying, "I love that color on you. It's just so different -- perfect for you!" to me while wearing it. That's why I love it: unique, without being screamingly bright hot pink
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Masks -Freeman - Totally Juicy - Mango Taffy Pore Strips
BurgundyMist 1/26/2009 5:40:00 PM
This is, hands down, one of the worst skincare products I have ever bought. The product dispenses as an uber-thick sticky substance. The moment I smeared it on my face I became very doubtful as to how something that smelled like mango Italian ice would be good for my skin. Once dry, it peels off in very flimsy, tissue thin pieces. Not something comparable to the consistency of taffy at all. Last, the product literally extracted ZERO blackheads. It didn't help reduce oil or clear up my acne. Simply put, though it smells like candy, it wasn't even worth the purchase. The name, "Mango Taffy Pore Strips" is merely a gimmick to convince consumers to waste their money on it.
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Eyes -Ardell - Fashion Lashes - #124 Black
BurgundyMist 11/24/2008 5:38:00 PM
All I can say is WOW. I bought these lashes randomly because I realized I only have one other pair of lashes to my name, and they are of the Halloween variety. They sat on my vanity, unused for one reason or another. Due to extreme boredom, I decided to test my false lash application skills today to see if they were up to par.
Not only are these lashes beautiful and natural, they are easy to use. I used Ardell LashGrip Waterproof Adhesive, which I found dried completely clear and held the lashes fast. The #124s provide a natural look that is appropriate for daytime while also having the ability to add a little extra oomph to an evening makeup application. Due to my experience with these lashes, I plan on buying additional Ardell lashes, including more pairs of the #124s!
Here are the #124s in action!
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Palmers - Cocoa Butter Dark Chocolate & Peppermint Lip Butter
BurgundyMist 9/29/2008 7:53:00 PM
I have been in love with the glorious combination of mint & chocolate since I was very young, so it was hard for me to resist this lip product. Simply put - AMAZING. When applied, the lip butter comes out as a quite thick, clear gel. However, the heat from your lips thins out the texture a considerable amount. It is fairly moisturizing, with a lovely scent, and no taste. Makeup-wise, it also makes a great basic clear gloss (which every girl should have at least one of)! I would recommend this to any person who loves the combo of mint & chocolate, needs a moisturizing lip product, and doesn't like to fuss much with colored lip products. My lips feel naked without it. This is now my go to gloss and I literally do not leave home without it. I also work in food service and it is great to reach back in my pocket and quickly apply this. Palmer's please make more scents of this lip butter!
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Eyeliner -Jane - Mineral Gel Eyeliner - Black
BurgundyMist 9/17/2008 7:48:00 PM
Like many makeup & vintage obsessed mavens, I had been lusting after MAC Blacktrack Fluidline to create the perfect, striking black cateye. Blacktrack, your services are no longer needed here!
Whenever I do my makeup, I do cateye liner. This is just perfect for that. And the brush, despite my suspicions, is perfect for cateye liner application! Plus, you get so much more product compared to MAC! This shade is strikingly black pigmented. Also, it is wonderfully creamy and doesn't skip across the lid.
As much as I love the intensity of this Black & the stunning Wine shade, Jane needs to make a wider range of colors. I am really hoping they come out with an intense, emerald green!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Jane - Mineral Gel Eyeliner - Wine
BurgundyMist 9/17/2008 7:42:00 PM
WOW! This eyeliner is so surprising. The first time I tried it, I used it without a base and didn't press that hard into the product. Consequently, I didn't get much on the brush and I didn't get a true impression of the pigmentation and staying power. The next time I used it, I made sure I worked the brush back and forth more, to allow more product to transfer to the brush, and applied over a base. GORGEOUS!
Whenever I do my makeup, I do cateye liner. This is just perfect for that. And the brush, despite my suspicions, is perfect for cateye liner application! Plus, you get so much more product compared to MAC! This shade is similar to the Prestige Precision Liquid Liner in Icon that I love. Also, it is wonderfully creamy and doesn't skip across the lid.
As much as I love Wine, Jane needs to make a wider range of colors. I am really hoping they come out with an intense, emerald green!
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Masks -Unlisted Brand - Aspirin Mask
BurgundyMist 6/26/2008 12:04:00 PM
I have been pleasantly surprised by this! First of all, let me give you a little bit of history on my skin. I had fairly clear skin through high school, which turned into an oily, acne prone (with some cystic acne) catastrophe come my second year of college. I have been going to a derm for almost a year now and am using a combination of an antibiotic and a retinoid at night, with some success. In the past couple of weeks, I have been using an aspirin mask as a treatment about twice a week. I wash my face slightly with warm water and dissolve 3-4 aspirin with a few drops of water in my hand. Then, I mix it with a little bit of honey. The honey helps it stick better to my face and also has beneficial properties. I spread it all over my face and let it sit for about half an hour. After the time is up, I wet it with a bit of hot water. I use it as a scrub, concentrating on areas of discoloration and roughness. I wash the remainder off with warm water and splash a bit of cooler water on my face to help close my pores. Give it a try! You may be as pleasantly surprised as I was!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Alberto Vo5 - Tea Therapy Vanilla Mint Tea Clarifying Shampoo
BurgundyMist 5/18/2008 2:26:00 PM
This is a flawless product, as far as I'm concerned. I was prompted by my hairstylist to get a clarifying shampoo because I had some buildup from hair products. I wash my hair a few times a week with this. It cleans my hair so well, but never strips it of nutrients or moisture. Also, I have atypical hair: thick, curly/wavy that has a tendency to frizz. This is one of the few shampoos I have found that tames my hair, both defrizzing and helping my curls tighten. Although your hair doesn't really smell like mint tea after washing it, it does leave a clean, pretty, fresh scent that I love (which isn't too strong or cloying, either). I would recommend this shampoo to anyone who has trouble getting stubborn buildup out of their hair or those who have hair that gets oily at times. However, it's just a great shampoo overall!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Wet 'n' Wild - Ultimate Expressions Eyeshadow Palette - Sand Castle - 396 [DISCONTINUED]
BurgundyMist 4/19/2008 6:32:00 PM
This is the HG drugstore eye shadow palette. I have fair skin and brown eyes and hair, and the shades from this palette flatter me in any combination. There are highlighters, crease shades, and midtones. All of this comes in a nice, compact case with a mirror! Throw whatever hesitation you may have about buying a drug store palette aside. This is the real deal!
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Lips -My Lip Stuff - Birch Beer Float
BurgundyMist 3/20/2008 2:29:00 PM
When I was a kid, I would always get homemade birch beer at a hotdog place. This balm takes me back to that time. It's sweet, but you're able to distinguish the vanilla ice cream as well as birch beer flavors. Whenever I apply it, it makes me crave birch beer. Fabulous for anyone who loves birch beer and vanilla scents!
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Lips -My Lip Stuff - Peach Belini
BurgundyMist 3/20/2008 2:25:00 PM
You can't go wrong with this one! This was a last minute addition to my order. However, it has quickly become one of my favorites out of the entire order! It's sweet, peachy, and somehow relaxing and energizing at the same time. If you love belinis and/or peaches, this MUST be added to your next MLS order!
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Cleansers -Neutrogena - Acne Stress Control Foam Wash
BurgundyMist 11/19/2007 8:11:00 AM
I have been pleasantly surprised by this product! First of all, let me give you a little bit of history on my skin. I had fairly clear skin through high school, which turned into an oily, acne prone (with some cystic acne) catastrophe come my second year of college. I have been going to a derm for almost a year now and am using a combination of Duac gel and a retinoid at night, with some success. However, I had a lot of problems with cleansers. Since buckling down and using topicals on my skin, I have tried a slew of different cleansers, with everything from "antibacterial" claims, to benzoyl peroxide, to salicylic acid, to green tea and "calming" yada-yada. Everything was either too harsh in tandem with my prescriptions or not enough, resulting in another oily mess and more breakouts.
This cleanser really turned that around for me. I wash my face slightly with warm water, use 2 pumps of the foam, rub it in a bit, and brush my teeth while I let it sit for a minute or two. Then, I wash it off with warm water, and splash a bit of cooler water on my face to help close my pores.
I am not claiming that this is a miracle product, but it certainly works well for me, and I have finally filled the gaping cleanser hole in my regimen!
EDIT: I have been using this for about 9 months now and I adore it! My skin is soft, less oily, less red, and I have NO PIMPLES. This is amazing. It wasn't just the cleanser that made my skin this way (still applying retinoid, Juice Beauty Green Apple Antioxidant Serum, and sunscreen daily), but this cleanser is an integral part of the combo. I would recommend this cleanser to anyone who has issues with oil, acne, and/or redness.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Hawaiian Tropic - Oil Free Sensitive Skin SPF 50 with Sensitive Skin Lip Balm SPF 45
BurgundyMist 5/13/2007 8:14:00 AM
Hawaiian Tropic has really put together a great product! I have oily, acne-prone skin and have been under the treatment of two prescription products (Duac and TretinX .05%) to clear it up since February. The creams are working very well (my skin is almost 100% better), but sunscreen is necessary in the equation! I have tried three different sunscreens on my face during this time and after only two uses, realized that Oil Free Sensitive Skin SPF 50 is close to my HG facial sunscreen! It has never burned me and stands up to all day sun exposure (high PPD and is photo stable). It may feel thick like Elmer's glue, as others have said, but think about how watered down with water or chemicals the other brands must be! This stuff is KEY in my skin continuing to heal, especially with the impending strong rays of the summer sun. It only has a white cast when you initially put it on your skin, which completely disappears in a few minutes. It also really sinks into my skin and leaves a smooth face that is free of oil all day! I haven't used the lip balm yet (I'm addicted to MLS balms), but I may decide to try it at the beach or swap it away. Unlike the sunscreen, it has a bit of a smell.
UPDATE: This is my 2nd favorite SS. Please see my review of my current HG SS,
Banana Boat Dri-Blok Sport SPF 30!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No