Eye Shadow -Jane - Eye Zings
CaterpillarGirl 5/14/2008 2:23:00 AM
Being the eyeshadow addict that I am, I was purusing the top eye shadow choices on MUA and was shocked to see such high overall ratings for Jane eyeshadows. Well, I must give my 2 cents here. The older eyezings are wonderful--smooth texture and rich pigment, but these newer ones are pure crap. They are chalky and have very minimal pigment. If you buy these, plan on scraping the pan like a fiend or applying them in multiple layers to get them to show up on you. Ugh. Really, life is too short to wear poor quality eyeshadow (says the e/s addict). If you want reasonably priced eyeshadows that have good pigment and a finely-milled texture, buy Jordana, Milani, NYX, or Wet n Wild instead of this garbage.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Molinard - vanille patchouli
CaterpillarGirl 4/30/2008 12:36:00 PM
I love patchouli and like vanilla, so this fragrance should have been a slam-dunk for me, right? Wrong! I liked it for the first 5 minutes but then it morphed into a strong burnt plastic smell that made me feel sick. The first time I tried it I thought it must have been something else that was generating the stinka, so I tried it again....and again...and every time I got burnt plastic and ended up trying (in vain) to scrub it off. Definitely try this one out on your skin before you buy a full bottle.
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Moisturizers -Biore - Pore Minimizing Lightweight Moisturizer [DISCONTINUED]
CaterpillarGirl 4/23/2008 10:15:00 AM
I have super oily skin, and this is the best drugstore sunscreen I have ever used! It is lightweight, does not make my face shiny, and has good oil control properties. While I will say that this is not as good at controlling oil as my HG Shiseido spf 55 lotion, this is the best drugstore sunscreen for oily skin that I have ever found, and I have tried them all! At $15, it is a bit pricey for drug store, but if you are unwilling/unable to shell out $37 for Shiseido, this is the next best thing.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Chanel - Coromandel
CaterpillarGirl 3/13/2008 4:27:00 PM
This is a really gorgeous, unique scent. To me it smells like Aveda Shampure with a touch Prada mixed in, which by the way, are two of my favorite scents of all time, so is it any wonder that I can't stop sniffing myself?? But I don't get a Fifi vibe at all, nor would I consider this to be a gourmand scent, as others have mentioned. I purchased a small decant of this and am already afraid of running out. But I do get some comfort from the knowledge that it is long-lasting and potent, so just a tiny dab at a time is all that I will be using.
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Makeup Brushes -Essence of Beauty - Crease
CaterpillarGirl 11/18/2007 9:34:00 PM
Of the multitude of brushes I own, I can honestly say that I use this one every day without fail! It is stiff enough to deposit color right into the crease, yet soft enough to blend the color out so you don't have a harsh line. I have had no problems with shedding, or with the bristles being too dry or stiff like on so many inexpensive brushes. It is a high quality brush at a fabulous price, and is a must-have for anyone who wears eyeshadow! (BTW, I noticed that the reviews below me talked about this coming in a set with another brush. I bought mine so long ago I don't remember...my review is for the angled, slightly pointy brush that says "crease" on the handle).
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Cleansers -Burt's Bees - Orange Essence Facial Cleanser
CaterpillarGirl 11/13/2007 11:43:00 PM
Yuck, I really hated this cleanser. The texture was like extra thick, orange-scented vaseline that would not rinse off my skin no matter what I did (I tried a washcloth, cotton pads, a facial brush), and on top of that it left a substantial film of make-up behind. I could imagine someone who doesn't wear make-up and has very dry skin possibly liking this, but I can't see how it would work for anyone else.
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Styling Products -Murray's - Murray's Superior Hair Dressing Pomade
CaterpillarGirl 10/28/2007 8:33:00 PM
A celebrity hairstylist recommended this product for creating smooth, piece-y ends on longer hair, so of course I had to try it. I have long-ish hair that is very thick and coarse, so the fact that this was greasy and thick didn't deter me at first. I tried using a tiny bit just on my ends, and no dice. I tried warming the product in my hands...I tried mixing it with my usual styling cream...I tried using less...then using more...I begged, I pleaded, but no go. Everytime I used it, it left me with goopy, gummy, yuck hair, despite my technique. I am glad that it works for so many people, but it was just not a winner for me.
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Skincare - Body -Unlisted Brand - Bee and flower soaps
CaterpillarGirl 10/28/2007 8:16:00 PM
These soaps smell nice but gave me dry itchy skin that later became a rash, so if you have sensitive skin, please proceed with caution! This was on my body, so I especially would advise against using this soap on the face.
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Fragrances -Etro - Resort
CaterpillarGirl 10/24/2007 10:06:00 PM
I absolutely adore this scent! I agree with the others who described it as a slightly masculine, clean, citrus/fruity combo. When I first spray it on, it smells like something generic and forgettable, but then morphs into an amazing I-can't-stop-smelling-my-wrist concoction! I swoon all day whenever I wear this fragrance! It is light and fresh, but with an edge. However, if you are looking for something very sweet or floral, you will probably not like this fragrance. It does not smell traditionally "feminine" but is instead "unisex", which is a category of fragrance in which Etro excels.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Clinique - Rinse-off foaming cleanser
CaterpillarGirl 10/7/2007 2:17:00 PM
In general, I am not a fan of foaming cleansers because they are usually too harsh for my sensitive skin, but this one is an exception. All you need is a pea sized amount to clean your entire face very thoroughly. Because you only need a tiny bit, it is actually pretty economical, and I love the light rosemary scent. The only reason I am not giving it a perfect score is because it is a little too drying to be HG for me, but as I said, considering the fact that it is a foaming cleanser it is pretty darn good on that front. I do, however, think that this cleanser is probably only appropriate for normal to oily skin types. My Mother has dry skin and absolutely hates this stuff because it really dries her out (which is good for me because she gives me all of her foaming cleanser GWPs! =)). Also, if you use too much, it will dry you out more than usual, so just take the smallest amount, add water to create a light foam, and apply.
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Bronzers -Wet 'n' Wild - Bronzzer in Medium Dark 702A [DISCONTINUED]
CaterpillarGirl 9/28/2007 5:19:00 AM
I have been using this bronzer every day for almost a year now, and it has definitely reached HG status. I can't believe I just said that because I am a bronzer ho and am PICKY at that, but this one is perfect. I am a neutral ppp, and the shade looks so natural on my skin. Not too orange, not too red, not too brown, just my skin, but better. But I will also say that if you desire a natural flush as I do (I just want to look healthy, and not necessarily "bronzed"), application is key: I take my blush brush and lightly tap it once on the powder. Tap or dab it *one* time only, do not swirl your brush in it, resist the urge! That is enough to cover one cheek. Then tap 1x, and apply to cheek #2. Tap 1x again, apply across forehead. Viola! Instant healthy flush! The amazing thing is that even though I have super oily skin, this bronzer does not break me out, and it lasts all day long. This is by far the best drug store bronzer out there! I even think it rivals my Guerlain Terracotta!
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Styling Products -L'anza - Be Long ProtecShine
CaterpillarGirl 9/28/2007 5:11:00 AM
HG material! I have super thick, coarse (read: unruly) hair, and this is the only serum I have found that makes my hair silky and smooth without being oily. Also, it does not break me out if I apply it along the hair near my face, as most styling products do. I use it every day and it doesn't build up or feel heavy on my hair, and it does not make it look or feel greasy or darken the color (I am blonde and some serums make my hair look darker). Only the smallest amount is needed: I have long hair and I use the size of a large pearl. I apply it to dry hair and it makes my hair come alive! This product is what I wanted Frederick Fekkai Glossing Cream and DuWop Hands to Hair to be. Love it!
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Loose Powders -Everyday Minerals - Finishing Dust
CaterpillarGirl 8/15/2007 12:35:00 PM
I wore this powder on a hot and humid day and then noticed that it had created clumps of white powder on my face where I had perspired! Ack! I have never had a powder do this before! Thinking that it must be a fluke, I wore it again and the same thing happened. Oh well. It did give me a nice finish, but the white powdery globs are a deal-breaker for me. UPDATE: Now that it is winter time and I am not sweating, I have been using this again, and I really like it! As long as the weather is not hot and humid I don't have the clumping problem, and this powder gives a lovely sheer finish that is not too dry, cakey, powdery. (Therefore I am increasing my original rating). However, I still wouldn't use it in the summer.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Make Up For Ever - Lift Concealer
CaterpillarGirl 7/31/2007 6:53:00 PM
I am befuddled by the consistently glowing reviews that this product seems to elicit. It gave me very minimal coverage, and was not long lasting at all. It was better than average in terms of not caking up under my eyes, but I think that this is only because it provided such poor coverage (i.e., there was nothing there to cake up), which pretty much defeats the purpose of using concealer. I also tried the MUFE full coverage concealer, which provided great coverage, but caked up like crazy under my eyes. Therefore, I have decided to dump MUFE concealers altogether for undereye use. Instead, I have discovered that my Revlon Colorstay Makeup works well under my eyes as long as I use an eye cream underneath. The old colorstay makeup formula was too drying to use under my eyes, but I've found that the new SoftFlex formula works great, and surpasses my two ridiculously overpriced tubes of MUFE (which are going back to Sephora).
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Avon - Slick Tint in Glossy Wine
CaterpillarGirl 6/25/2007 9:44:00 PM
This is a HG product for me! It is the perfect YLBB reddish plummy brownish shade that is not bright or fuschia-toned at all! The formula is moisturizing and long-lasting, especially for a sheer, glossy lipcolor. I like this much better than Clinique Black Honey (which barely showed up on me and lasted all of 2 minutes) and this is identical on me in shade and formula as Clinique Buttershine lipstick in Apple Brandy at a fraction of the price. When I am running late, this product + my Prestige lipliner in shimmer are what I grab, and they never let me down. I have repurchased this item at least 5 times, which is unheard of for me, as I have a fickle heart, especially when it comes to lipcolor! ;)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No