Liquid -Neutrogena - Shine Control Makeup
Denise18 6/16/2012 6:15:00 PM
Huge fail! When, oh when, am I ever going to stop making these impulse drugstore buys! The new product displays at the Harmon inside BB&B get me every time! Anyway, I had seen this foundation in a display along with a mattifying pressed powder and shine control primer. There have been a number of new matte foundations out there lately (Clarins, Clinique), so when I saw this, I thought I'd give it a try. Shade 40 Nude was a fabulous match for my NC20/25ish complexion, but the love ends right there. First off, it is impossible to pour this out of the bottle (there is no pump, think Revlon Colorstay). It's that thick. Secondly, the finish was far from matte on my combo/oily skin, and my T-zone was an oil slick within an hour. Life's too short to deal with a foundation that's impossible to pour out and leaves me looking like a greaseball. This promptly went back to BB&B.
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Liquid -Maybelline - SuperStay Makeup - New Version
Denise18 4/12/2012 8:08:00 AM
I was looking for a foundation without SPF for photos, and SuperStay was mentioned while reading posts on the MU board. Based on reviews, I chose the second lightest shade, Sand Beige. When I first applied it, it was a really great match for my NC20 complexion. The coverage was fabulous without even having to build on it. It covered the redness on my cheeks, and (shock!) even managed to cover some of the darkness under my eyes. It didn't settle into my pores or fine lines, and it didn't feel thick or heavy on my skin, considering the coverage it gave me. But here's where the letdown comes in ~ within less than a half-hour, it oxidized to an orangy-tan. So disappointing! Seriously, this would have a fabulous drugstore find (at less than $10) if it just stayed the shade I had put on my skin and didn't make me look like I had a bad fake tan on just my face. I would not repurchase (in fact, I will be returning it), but I did give it 3 stars for the coverage, price point, and how it felt on my skin.
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Lipstick -MAC - Sheen Supreme Lipstick - Bare Again
Denise18 3/29/2012 5:57:00 PM
I was so disappointed when MAC discontinued the Slimshines, but I'm very happy with the Sheen Supremes as a replacement. For me, Bare Again Sheen Supreme is definitely comparable to Bare Slimshine. Bare Again is the perfect pinky-nude for my NC20 complexion. It's not too pale that I look like a zombie and not too beigey-nude that makes me look like I have concealer lips. It's just perfect! This is a nude that's very wearable for everyday, and with a smoky eye for evening. The formula is creamy, glossy, and just a bit sheer (reminds me of a glossier Lustre formula, which is my favorite of the MAC lipstick formulas). I also love how the packaging snaps very tightly closed (no worries that it's going to open in my bag). I would repurchase Bare Again in a heartbeat.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Chanel - Vitalumiere Aqua
Denise18 3/25/2012 9:56:00 AM
I was so disappointed this didn't work for me. I'm loving these new foundation formulas that are lightweight, yet still provide coverage. For me, VA gave medium coverage, yet only looked like my skin, not foundation. Loved that! However, my T-zone became insanely shiny after only about an hour. I felt like I was blotting constantly for the few days I wore this. Also, I wasn't happy with the way it photographed. My nose looked like an absolute oil slick, even though I had just blotted. The ultimate reason I had to stop using this was because after 2 days or so, my cheeks and chin just started to burn/sting and turn red. After eliminating the foundation, I realized that the VA was the culprit for the roseacea flareup. Unfortunately, I can't use this anymore. I liked the plastic packaging (very travel-friendly), and I felt that the price ($45) is a bit pricier than some other department store brands, but is at around the same price point as Bobbi Brown foundations. The shade B10 was a good match for my NC20/NARS Deauville skin. I still gave it 3 stars because it really is a wonderful foundation, but just didn't work for my sensitive skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Bare Escentuals - bareMinerals Big & Bright Eyeliner - Granite
Denise18 2/11/2012 8:46:00 AM
I bought this on a whim when I was placing an order with Sephora online (it was one of those "You might also be interested in..." items). It was on sale for $7 and the original price was $14, so price-wise it was a good deal, and I needed to spend a few extra dollars anyway to get the free shipping. The formula and packaging are great. It's an automatic pencil, smooth and creamy without being too soft. I love the color. It's not a true gray as one would expect from the shade name "Granite". It's charcoal gray with some green and brown tones in it - it's dark without being as harsh as black. It's a unique shade in my arsenal of pencil and automatic eyeliners and works well with my brown eyes and NC20 skin tone. But...here's the but...it smears. Big time. Like within 30 minutes of wear, and I only use it on my upper lash line. Anyway, I should've read the reviews here on the Big & Bright eyeliner line before purchasing it, because the smearing issue is a real disappointment. I would not repurchase this or any other shade in the Big & Bright eyeliner line. I gave this eyeliner 2 stars for the packaging/smoothness and color.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Origins - VitaZing SPF 15 Energy-boosting moisturizer with Mangosteen
Denise18 1/28/2012 9:21:00 AM
I really wanted to love this, after hearing all the raves from my favorite YouTube makeup guru. I have combination skin, and unfortunately after a short time, my face was a complete greasepit. I felt like my face just kept producing all this oil, no matter how many times a day I blotted. I really didn't expect this to happen with VitaZing, considering it didn't look or feel greasy when I put it on my skin. It left a very natural finish. I did give it 2 stars: 1 for the packaging, because I really like the tube packaging; and another star for the nice glow and even tone it gave my skin immediately after applying it. I do agree with others on the price point ~ it is a small amount of product for $35. Unfortunately, this is going back to Macy's...
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Eyeliner -Maybelline - Define-A-Line Soft Black
Denise18 1/11/2012 4:00:00 PM
This is officially one of the worst eyeliners I've ever used. I liked the soft black shade, but within 30 minutes it had already smeared under my eyes (and I had only worn it on my upper lid). Back to CVS it went.
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Lip Gloss -Fresh - Sugar Fairy
Denise18 7/3/2009 11:17:00 PM
I tried Sugar Fairy in Sephora today, and did not purchase it. In the tube, it's a pretty baby-pink with shimmer, but basically goes on clear with slight shimmer on the lips. Definitely not worth the $18 price tag, even though I *love* the formula of the Fresh Sugar glosses in general (that's why I gave it a 2-lippie rating). A clear gloss with slight shimmer is easily dupable ~ in fact, on my lips, it reminded me very much of Neutrogena MoistureShine lip gloss in Fizz, which also feels lovely on the lips, and is half the price of the Fresh gloss.
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Blush -Too Faced - Papa Don't Peach
Denise18 6/5/2009 2:01:00 PM
I have to add to the raves on this blush. I'm NC20, and this gives me such a beautiful peachy glow. This blush is one of three shades from Too Faced's Brightening Blush collection (I also purchased Mocha Mi Amore), and that's exactly what is does ~ it gives fresh-looking color to brighten your face. It has a fine shimmer, so it's not overly sparkly. The texture is fabulous, and the color is buildable ~ it applies beautifully with both my skunk brush or my Ecotools blush brush. The polka-dot box packaging is just adorable too. If you love peach blushes, or if peach blushes work well on you like they do on me, then Papa Don't Peach is definitely a must-have. I was anxiously waiting for my local Sephora to get these Too Faced blushes in stock, and it was well worth the wait.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Rimmel - Peach
Denise18 4/2/2009 4:08:00 PM
Another great drugstore find from Rimmel! (the first one for me was Rimmel Birthday Suit lipstick) It's a beautiful peachy blush that gives such a nice glow to my NC25 complexion. This was the first peach blush I've ever bought, and it's a winner. I was considering purchasing LORAC Peach blush (for $19), but I won't, now that I've found this gem. No frills, no fancy packaging, just a great blush (and a nicely pigmented one) for under $3 (amazing!). This is definitely backup-worthy, and I'm planning to try the other Rimmel blush shades.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -MAC - #217 Blending
Denise18 3/27/2009 9:38:00 PM
I recently bought the 217 based on all the raves here, thinking to myself that I really didn't *need* another brush...I already have the TM and LM crease brushes, and a MAC 36 and old 216 that I use for blending. Well...I love the 217, and I *did* need it! The 217 really is foolproof and does it all! I've used it to just put color on the lid, for the crease, for the outer lid, to apply shadow as an all-over wash, for blending ~ it's fantastic! I also tried it for my undereye concealer, and it works beautifully. I'm in love with this brush! I've already bought another one, so to answer the question: Would you buy this product again?, my answer is, Yes, I already have!
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Liquid -Tarte - ReCreate Anti-Aging Foundation With Wrinkle Rewind Technology SPF 15
Denise18 3/27/2009 6:50:00 PM
Unfortunately, I couldn't get a good color match in this foundation. I'm NC25, and 02 was too light, 06 was too deep, and 04 was just too pink (I should've known by the color name Cool Bisque that it wouldn't work for me). I liked the formula and the coverage (2 lippies for that), but I wasn't wild about the packaging. I took so many pumps just to get any product - very annoying! This went back to Sephora.
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Lipstick -BeneFit Cosmetics - Silky-Finish in Good To Go
Denise18 3/14/2009 10:41:00 PM
Good-to-Go is my perfect MLBB shade. The Silky-Finish formula is so smooth and feels great on the lips. I deducted one lippy for staying power ~ it doesn't last too long...but I love the shade, the formula, and the semi-sheer finish, so it's OK. I would definitely repurchase once I run out.
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Liquid -Bobbi Brown - Skin Foundation SPF 15
Denise18 3/9/2009 4:14:00 PM
I was so excited to try this foundation, and really wanted to love it, but I just can't. The SA at my local BB counter gave me sample packets in a few shades she felt would be possible matches. The application was wonderful ~ it blended so easily with buildable coverage ~ and made my skin look really nice. However, my T-zone looked like an oil slick within an hour or two, and the shade completely oxidized and became orangey on my face. So I decided to try a shade lighter, thinking that would help with the oxidation, but the same thing happened. Sadly, I will not be purchasing the Skin foundation. I'm just glad that I was able to try samples of it first. I gave it two stars for the application and the pump packaging.
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Lipstick -Rimmel - Lasting Finish - Birthday Suit
Denise18 2/5/2009 4:29:00 PM
What a great drugstore find! I picked up this lipstick after reading raves on the makeup board and here on P'ville, and I'm really happy with it. It's a great nude for my NC25 complexion, and for the price (it was $5 at CVS), how could you go wrong? I deducted one lippie because I like my lipsticks a bit more moist or glossy, but I would still definitely repurchase it.
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