Concealers -E.L.F. - Essential Zit Zapping Concealer
CarlaN 5/24/2013 1:03:00 PM
I bought this in green, in hopes of counteracting the redness of some acne scars, but it did not work.
In fact, I tossed the product after one use, mostly because of its awful click pen gush-or-nothing applicator. I ended up with green splotches all over my face, which is not good.
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Lip Gloss -E.L.F. - Crystal Cranberry Glitter Gloss
CarlaN 5/23/2013 5:45:00 PM
This is not at all red, to my eyes.
It's a blue pink, somewhat similar to the same product in "Fuchsia Fireworks," though possibly not quite as "cool."
I like it, though, and don't find the glitter too large.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Haus of Gloi- Honeysuckle Lemon Curd
CarlaN 5/22/2013 5:55:00 PM
I have this scent in the perfume oil. I'm used to wearing EDT and fragrance "mists," so the potency of this product startled me a bit.
Fortunately, it smells good, though. I'm not detecting a lot of honeysuckle; I smell mostly lemon, with a hint of something else - coconut, maybe?
I like the way it smells, and think it'll be great for summer.
I bought a tiny sample vial, just to see if I liked the fragrance. Since I do, I may order a larger size later on.
I can't rave enough about the Haus of Gloi - they got my order right, and shipped it out immediately! And it's a vegan company, which is a big plus for me. Find them at
hausofgloi.com.
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Foundations -Wet 'n' Wild - Coverall Cream Foundation
CarlaN 5/20/2013 12:50:00 PM
I feel compelled to give Coverall a score of five, because it's really better than a four.
I'm something of a makeup snob, so I rarely buy drugstore cosmetics, but Coverall got such good reviews, and costs so little that I figured I had little to lose.
I am 48 years old, and have *extremely * oily skin, with some fairly light acne scarring. Therefore, I do need moderate coverage, but I don’t like a heavy look or feel.
To my pleased surprise, Coverall suits my needs very well. The lightest shade, Fair, is a nearly perfect match for my NW15 skin. For some reason, this seems to be the scarcest shade; the lightest offered on EBay was the next shade up,Fair/Light, which was too dark and orange-ish for me.
Fortunately, the local Walgreens had my shade. The packaging is no-frills, and the product does tend to gush out of the container, but I can live with that.
Applied with a damp Beauty Blender, over Hourglass Mineral Veil primer, Coverall blends easily into my skin with a seamless look. To maximize coverage, I stipple the foundation by “bouncing” my Beauty Blender on my face. Applied in this way, Coverall does an excellent job of blurring my skin’s various imperfections, though I still use a few dabs of concealer here and there. Unless you look *very* closely, it's not possible to tell that I'm even wearing foundation, and I LOVE that! Coverall also resists the greasies admirably.
I finish with translucent powder, and even my oil-slick face looks smooth, even-toned, and reasonably matte for at least a few hours.
Coverall is inexpensive (< $5), high-performing, and is made by a cruelty-free company. It’s not my “dream” foundation, but it’s pretty darned close! I’ll keep buying this as long as it’s available.
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Fragrances -Bath and Body Works - Strawberry Lemonade Body Splash
CarlaN 5/17/2013 12:43:00 PM
I wanted to like this; I went to the trouble of finding some on eBay long after it was discontinued, in fact.
However, it just doesn't smell that good, to me. I don't smell strawberries or lemons - just a kind of cloying, cheap-wine scent.
If anyone would like to have a twice sprayed, 8 oz. bottle of this, please PM me, and it's yours! Needless to say, I wouldn't buy this again.
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Lip Treatments -LUSH - Ultrabalm
CarlaN 5/16/2013 12:54:00 PM
I like this, but don't love it as much as I expected to.
I have persistent dry patches on and around my lips, and Ultrabalm seems to have helped some with that, without causing breakouts. You do need to reapply often, though.
I'm not really crazy about the cucumber-y scent, but it doesn't bother me. I'll use up this tin, but I'll probably try something else next time.
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Lips -Hourglass - Aura Sheer Lip Stain in Flush
CarlaN 5/11/2013 11:27:00 AM
Since I bought this online, sight unseen, it took me a while to decide between Flush and Petal.
I've already got Scarlet, so I knew what to expect in terms of quality - I was just hung up on the color. I wanted a warm pink to wear as a base under lipsticks like MAC Impassioned and Party Parrot.
That is exactly what I got! Flush, at least to me, is a vibrant sheer pinky red. It's not exactly cool, but it's not too warm for NW15 me.
It glides on, with a gel-like consistency, and stays put for hours. I don't find it drying, but it isn't moisturizing, either, so a little balm on top is perfect. I also LOVE the fact that Hourglass is cruelty-free.
I'm not wild about the click-pen applicator (twist too many times, and you waste product), and it wouldn't hurt my feelings if the price were lower, but overall this is a fantastic stain. I only wish it came in more colors! Definitely worth a repurchase!
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Eye Shadow -Illamasqua - Forgiveness - matte
CarlaN 4/25/2013 12:58:00 PM
This is my first Illamasqua eyeshadow, and it’s a keeper!
Forgiveness is on of those complex neutrals that I crave. It’s described on the Illamasqua site as “rich chocolate plum.”
To me, it’s not as deep/dark as “rich” implies. It looks like a medium-to-deep mauve/plum/taupe – absolutely matte, with generous pigmentation, smooth “creamy” texture, and superb bendability. It might be *somewhat* similar to Stila Tone, but maybe a bit less red, more plum.
In the crease, with Face Stockholm “Liberty,” a light brownish pink, on the lids, Forgiveness really “pops” my bright green eyes. Forgiveness applies beautifully and wears well, over a good primer.
The clear-lidded compact is simple, classy, and sturdy. Forgiveness is a little pricey, at $24.60, and it had to be shipped overseas, from Illamasqua.com.
I consider it well worth the expense and effort, though, and I’d gladly repurchase Forgiveness and other Illamasqua shadows!
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Concealers -Paula Dorf - Magic Stick
CarlaN 4/21/2013 5:16:00 PM
I like this, though I'm not sure I've got the right shade for me.
I'm NW15, and I bought #2 because I could get it cheaply off eBay. It's a decent match, but I think I'll try #1 next time, because it's said to be pinker.
That said, I'm favorably impressed with the product. I use it to conceal some minor acne scars, and it does that fairly well, without looking obvious. I dab it on straight from the tube, then immediately blend by dabbing it with my moist Beauty Blender. The concealer stays put nicely, even on my super-oily skin.
I think I'll buy this again, just in a different shade.
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Lipstick -Bite Beauty - Lipstick in Pomegranate
CarlaN 4/20/2013 4:35:00 PM
I’ll make this brief:
Pros: absolutely gorgeous deep cherry red; cruelty-free
Con: as the other reviewer observed, it feels kind of “wet,” and can smear. However, if you wear it over a red stain, with minimal balm, it can wear okay, though not tenaciously.
I have a mini, and I’ll go for a full-size once it’s used up.
This brand is sold at Sephora; a full size of this lipstick is $24.
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Lipstick -Illamasqua - Atomic
CarlaN 4/19/2013 12:27:00 PM
I’m growing to really love Illamasqua lipsticks, and colors like Atomic are a big reason why!
I loved bright lips even when bright lips weren’t “cool,” and unless you feel the same, Atomic may not be the best choice for you. Illamasqua describes Atomic’s color as “Fuchsia violet,” and I find that to be a fairly accurate description. On NW15 me, Atomic is a deep but bright (if that makes any sense!) magenta, with just a trace of bluish sheen.
Here’s a very thorough review of Atomic, complete with color-true photos:
http://www.temptalia.com/illamasqua-atomic-lipstick-review-photos-swatches
I don’t know of any exact dupes for this shade, though Bobbi Brown Rose Blossom and Stila Intriguing might be somewhat similar.
As others have stated, the texture of Atomic is fairly dry, and that seems to be characteristic of Illamasqua lipsticks. This means that most may need or want a little balm underneath, but the drier texture also translates to tenacious wear.
I like either colorless or magenta liner with Atomic – if you’re going to wear a color this bold, you don’t want it to look “smeary.”
I’d *definitely buy Atomic again. In fact, I already own five Illamasqua lipsticks, and am eying more! Illamasqua, which is a cruelty-free company, is fast supplanting MAC in my heart.
They’re pricey, at around $24 each, and most people will need to order them online, but to me, it’s totally worth it!
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Eye Shadow -Face Stockholm - Liberty (matte)
CarlaN 4/13/2013 12:41:00 PM
I like this fairly well, even though it’s not a color I probably would have chosen for myself if I’d seen it in person before buying.
However, I’m all about matte neutral eyeshadows, and Liberty certainly fits that description.
It’s kind of a tricky color to describe: it’s a soft pink with a good dose of beige mixed in. It sort of reminds me of a pinky version of MAC Omega, or maybe a browner version of MAC Yogurt. I could even see a very fair-skinned blonde possibly using this as an extremely subtle blush. It makes a nice lid shade, with a plum shade in the crease. It does kind of “pop” my green eyes, and that’s good. On me, though, I prefer more grey-leaning shades, like MAC Velour.
Liberty comes in a simple clear-lidded screw-top compact about two inches in diameter. It’s nothing fancy, but it looks sleek and feels sturdy.
Quality, while good, is a tiny notch below that of the very best matte shadows, like Inglot, Stila, Urban Decay, MAC Matte squared. Liberty is ever-so-slightly chalky, and its pigmentation could be better, especially for $20.
I’m not sure I’d buy this particular shade again, since I’m not convinced that it suits me that well.
However, Face Stockholm offers a huge array of matte shadows, so I may try more in the future. They're offered at facestockholm.com.
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Eye Shadow -Jane Iredale - Taupe
CarlaN 4/6/2013 5:08:00 PM
I reallly did not need another taupe eyeshadow, but I bought this one because I’m essentially weak. lol
I’m glad I’m a wuss, though, because this is a really strong addition to my massive eyeshadow collection. Colorwise, “Taupe” reminds me of MAC Quarry – matte medium taupe, with slight mauve undertones. To me, Taupe is less mauve, more brown-grey than Quarry – more straight-up taupe, in other words. Taupe has a tiiiny bit of graininess, so I might rank it just a small notch below Quarry in terms of quality. It’s still very, very good, though – it applies smoothly, wears well, and is nicely pigmented. Be sure to use a good brush to apply it, though, to get the most from this shadow.
I have bright green eyes whose color I love to play up with neutral eye shadows, particularly taupes.
This taupe makes a wonderfully versatile neutral lid shade. I like to wear it with a deeper neutral, like Laura Mercier Sable, in the crease, for a polished-looking neutral eye design that coordinates perfectly with the bright bold lip colors I love to wear.
In the unlikely event that I use this up, I’d buy it again.
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Eyes -Arbonne - Lash Enhancer
CarlaN 4/2/2013 12:12:00 PM
This is good stuff!
I have naturally rather short, sparse, unimpressive lashes, so I do everything I can to “ramp them up.”
In the past, I’ve used the following lash growth serums: Revitalash, Tarte MultiplEYE, and MAC Prep + Prime Future Length.
All of these gave me good, though not spectacular, results. My lashes have become noticeably longer and fuller, but I’ve never gotten that “false lash” effect.
I’ve come to the conclusion that my lashes are simply not meant to be super long. However, I do like the subtle lengthening I get from a lash serum, so as long as I can find one that’s cruelty-free and affordable, I figure I’ll keep on using it.
Enter Arbonne Lash Enhancer.
It’s cruelty-free, relatively inexpensive (I got mine for < $20 on eBay), and it works!
The only disadvantages, and I consider these minor, are: 1) It has to be applied twice a day, which takes some getting used to, and 2) the applicator brush splays like crazy.
But the formula is non-irritating, even on my sensitive eyes, and it’s effective. I’ve been using this serum for about a month now, and my lashes have never looked longer or fuller; I started seeing results within two weeks of consistent use. It hasn’t done much for my brows, but that’s a minor point, for me.
If you want to add some subtle “oomph” to your lashes, definitely try this.
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Lipstick -Lime Crime - Poisonberry
CarlaN 3/29/2013 6:57:00 PM
Don’t consider even going near this lipstick, unless you like and can wear bold bright lips in a slightly-off-the-mainstream color. A lot of attention will be drawn to your lips if you wear this color, so if your lips aren’t among your best features, you may want to approach with caution.
If you’ve got the lips, and the nerve, though, you’ll probably enjoy Poisonberry. The Lime Crime site describes Poisonberry as “Deliciously dangerous berry-purple with a violet glow.” That’s a fairly accurate description of this unusual color – in the tube, it looks scarily straight-up crayon PURPLE. But on skin, it shows the pinkish berry undertones that make it wearable, for the un-shy. I like it blotted, lined with magenta pencil, and topped with deep pink gloss. The result is a jewel-tone clear deep violet. I really like the way it looks with my NW15 skin, green eyes, and black-brown hair. I’m not sure how this would work on someone with warmer coloring than mine. If you like MAC Violetta, you’ll probably like Poisonberry, though I find Poisonberry to be deeper than Violetta, with maybe a hint of wine.
As for quality, Poisonberry is fairly strong. The texture is very smooth and creamy, much like MAC’s Amplified Cremes, though without the vanilla taste. Poisonberry can taste faintly “lipstick-y,” though not enough to bother me, and I’m taste/smell sensitive. Wear is tenacious – Poisonberry leaves a definite stain. At the age of 48, I find owning a lipstick that comes in a purple plastic tube with a sparkly silver unicorn on it somewhat undignified, but I can deal with it.
Poisonberry is hardly an “everyday” color, and I’m not sure how much I’ll wear it. I like the color enough to re-purchase if I should run out, though. I consider $16 on the steep side for a lipstick, but I think this one's worth it.
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