Makeup Brushes -Essence - Gel Eyeliner Brush
FairlyVanilla 3/8/2013 6:40:00 AM
This is a GREAT angle brush. I bought one last week, and then I went back and bought another one this week. :) I have many angle brushes -- from Quo, M.A.C., e.l.f. and others. This is definitely up there, and the price is fantastic. I've had no issue with shedding at all, it washes up nicely, is great for applying shadow or liner to lower lash line and water line, and for darkening the upper lash line. It picks up a lot of color, and deposits it well. I will probably end up picking up more! I like that it is a fairly stiff brush, not too stiff, and that all the bristles move together as one, which is very important when applying gel liner.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essence - Iced Strawberry Cream (#2 in Nude glam line)
FairlyVanilla 3/5/2013 5:57:00 PM
I love all the polishes in the Nude Glam line, and this one is no exception. Like all Essence polishes, applies like a dream, and I LOVE the new brush and ergonomic bottle shape. Definitely recommend!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essence - Iced Latte (#4 in Nude glam line)
FairlyVanilla 3/5/2013 5:55:00 PM
This is a lovely nude shade, and like every other Essence nail polish I've used applies like a dream. Definitely recommend!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -Essence - All About Matt Fixing Compact Powder
FairlyVanilla 3/1/2013 8:39:00 AM
I normally use the HD Powder from e.l.f. which works awesome, but the loose powder is kind of a PITA, especially when I'm travelling. It unsurprisingly ends up going all over the place if I take it on a trip, and the package is bulky and large. :\ So, I was VERY glad to see Essence come out with a very similar product, but in a light, slim package that is MESS-FREE! Awesome! Works great, definitely sets makeup nicely and keeps things shine-free but not overly matte. Highly recommended! I love that Essence is finally releasing many new products in Canada -- keep it up -- I really love this high quality low cost line! ^_^
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Essence - 01 Asian Sensation
FairlyVanilla 3/1/2013 8:32:00 AM
I think this blush is GORGEOUS. I love the very pretty, subtle shimmer, and I like having two colors to either swirl together, or using the lighter shade to highlight, and the darker to add contour. Also, the cherry blossom design is beautiful -- what's not to love? Only $2.99 for 9 gram of product! I think this coral shade is very beautiful for spring and summer. It's too bad this is a limited edition -- I actually think that Cherry Blossom Girl is one of the nicest limited collection's that Essence has done yet (save for the staining eyeliners and the mixed reviews I've hard of the lipstick pencils). But I have the entire collection, and I love everything that I own. :) Would definitely recommend this blush, IF you can find it! I had to go to several Shoppers locations to track down this collection. I do wish that Essence had larger limited collections -- ALL of the Cherry Blossom Girl promo packs I saw at Shoppers (8 locations in all) had small promo packs that only had TWO of each color. TWO! That is cray. Anyway, love this blush and look forward to getting lots of use out of it this spring and summer! ^_^
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Essence - Gel Eyeliner
FairlyVanilla 3/1/2013 8:08:00 AM
WOW. Hands down the BEST gel liner I have EVER used. I am a huge fan of M.A.C., and their gel liner is good -- I've used Make Up Forever's gel liner, Sephora, and e.l.f. All of those are meant to be completely waterproof, but they are not really. Especially the MUF. Anyway -- for $3.99, you get a ton of product, and Essence's gel is a lovely consistency, soft and smooth, and glides on effortlessly. So far I've only been able to get this in black, but it is a gorgeous black, very dark and pitch black. Doesn't smear or budge at all, but still removes fairly easily with waterproof eye make up remover. (I use Sephora's waterproof eye make up remover). Would definitely recommend and repurchase! :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -Essence - Breaking Dawn Shimmer Powder - Bella’s Secret
FairlyVanilla 3/1/2013 8:03:00 AM
Ah, I can see what all the hype about was now. :) This shimmer powder is LOVELY. What a bargain for $2.99! You get a ton of product, and it's a lovely, subtle finely-milled shimmer powder. Just perfect for highlighting the eyes, brow bone, and cheek bones! LOVE! I thought this would be all sold out by now (March 2013) -- but I found one Shoppers location that had almost the whole in tact display of the BD2 Limited Edition collection. I'm thinking of going back and getting more! For $2.99, how can I not? ;) Definitely recommend and would re-purchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Hard Candy - Sheer Envy Primer
FairlyVanilla 4/14/2011 7:45:00 AM
The primer I use the most is probablt E.L.F.'s mineral primer -- it works great, and is a great price, especially when you use a coupon code on it. BUT -- it's inconvenient because I have to wait to have it shipped to Calgary (Canada) AND the packaging is HORRID. I mention this, because one of the reasons I very much like Hard Candy's primer is the packaging. It's in a TUBE, and that's how ALL primers should be! I hate that E.L.F.'s is in that stupid hard plastic pump. After you've use 1/2 the product, the pump can no longer pump any primer out because it's so thick, so you end up having to unscrew the cap and try and scoop the primer out using the stick from the pump. Which sucks. -_____- So, I was looking forward to using HC's primer in a TUBE, and I quite like it. I admit, I DO prefer the thicker, smoother consistency of E.L.F.'s primer, or The Body Shop, Gosh (which is quite thick and comes in a jar). BUT -- for only $7 bucks, I'll take it! It's convenient for me to pick up at Walmart, and the tube is a good size. I've had my tube for almost a month now, and it still seems full to me, so I think this will last much longer than other primers I've used. I saw some of the reviews complained about the product separating -- I haven't had that problem. I just give it a really good shake before I squeeze any product out, and it's working well for me so far. I do recommend giving this primer a try -- the price point, quality, and packaging (tube) are great. I wear my E.L.F. mineral concealer (foundation) over this, and I get great results! :)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Sephora - Instant Depuffing Roll-on Gel
FairlyVanilla 4/10/2011 3:56:00 AM
I generally don't purchase "speciality" eye products. I haven't bought an "eye product" in years, actually. (I just use my facial moisturizer around my eye area) But I was in Sephora the other day and happened upon this. I thought the price was fairly reasonable, considering the sometimes crazy pricing on most eye products. I tried it on my hand, and read the ingredient list, and it felt nice, and the ingredients were pretty good. So, I decided to treat myself and get it. I actually quite like it. I enjoy the roller dispenser, and I like that it dispenses a very small quantity at a time. I think one tube will last quite a while. The roller balls do have a nice cooling effect, it's very soothing to apply to tired eyes, and refreshing to put on in the morning. I've been using it night and day. I don't have any dark circles, but I do get a small amount puffiness from time to time. I think it does help a little. It feels nice on the skin, too. Overall, I wouldn't expect miracles. But it is a refreshing and soothing product, and I would buy it again. I might get a second one to keep in the fridge over the summer. :)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare -Dove - Dove day moisturizer
FairlyVanilla 2/12/2010 5:48:00 AM
This is a great moisturizer, especially for the price! My review is for Dove Sensitive Skin Day Lotion, 120 mL. The first three ingredients are Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, and Glycerin. Cyclopentasiloxane is the first ingredient in my #1 fave moisturizer, Olay Daily Regenerating Serum, Fragrance Free. I love that the Dove moisturizer has no fragrance, it absorbs quickly and smoothly, and is non-irritating. For the price point, it's a great product! Although I think it's interesting that everyone has given this product 5 lippies -- I think some of the reviews are for a slightly different Dove moisturizer?
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Olay - Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum - Fragrance Free
FairlyVanilla 2/12/2010 5:37:00 AM
I LOVE this moisturizer -- so soothing, great ingredients, just lovely all around. It's FRGRANACE -FREE -- thank god -- it's still so hard in this day and age to find fragrance free products! I use this moisturizer morning and night -- I used to use Paula's Choice moisturizing gel for normal/combination skin, but I found it wasn't quite moisturizing enough for me anymore. Plus Calgary is notoriously dryer than a desert, so that doesn't help matters -- everyone's skin in Calgary is dehydrated! But when I switched to the Olay Serum, I did notice that my skin's hydration level improved. It's great for under the eye, but I use it all over my face. In the winter when it is super-EXTRA dry in Calgary, I usually put an extra, plain moisturizer on top for additional hydration at night. What I also love about this serum is that my makeup goes on so smoothly. There are so many moisturizers where I've found they leave an odd film -- everything from Biotherm, L'Oreal, Lancome, etc., -- and when I apply makeup on top of a "filmy" moisturizer, it tends to flake off in clumps. Luckily, the Olay Serum soaks into the skin, just leaving a silky softness behind, and letting your foundation go on like silk. (I use M.A.C. Select Concealer in NW15 in the t-zone, and then Sonia Kashuk Sheer Magic Minerals all over in Pale Ivory.) I HIGHLY recommend this moisturizer! I still love the Paula's Choice moisturizing gel, but I just found it too inconvenient to re-order when I kept running out --- it's nice to have a moisturizer you can buy locally when you run out! I do still use my Paula's Choice Super Antioxidant Serum layered under or over the Olay Serum from time to time for extra night time treatment. That also works great! The only drawback is the small size -- 50 mL -- How I wish I could just buy a giant vat of this stuff -- I'd slather it all over my body! ;) Oh, and the price for Canadians is a bit steep -- I saw that at Target it was around $18 USD -- in Canada, it ranges from about $24 CDN on sale or at Walmart or Superstore, and when it's not on sale at Shoppers Drug Mart, their regular price is $36.99, which is INSANE. I only buy this moisturizer on sale or at cheaper stores!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Sonia Kashuk - Sheer Magic Mineral Face Palette
FairlyVanilla 2/12/2010 5:12:00 AM
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!! I stumbled across this mineral foundation on a recent trip to Target in December 2009. I was just about out of my Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals Foundation, and I thought wow, for the price of only $14.99, you basically get 3 products for the price of 1! So, I thought I'd give it a try. It turns out to be the BEST makeup decision I've EVER made. I seriously cannot speak highly enough of this mineral foundation! First of all, I am extremely pale; I have a true, very pale ivory/porcelain complexion, with a slight cool pink undertone. I wear a lot of M.A.C. makeup, which I love, and in M.A.C., I am an NC15 -- their lightest shade. I feel that while an NC15 works for me, I would go a shade lighter, if they made it. :( So, it's always been a bit of a struggle for me to find foundations that truly match my pale porcelain skin tone. That's one of the reasons why I love this foundation so much! It's very pale, and a PERFECT match for my skin! It's not too cool, nor too warm a shade, either. The texture is fantastic! The minerals are very finely milled, and the powder is a very silky, soft texture. I use a Sephora Professional Kabuki Brush to apply it, and it works great. The blush is actually fantastic. I was unsure about the blush before I tried it -- it looked like a bright pink in the package. But actually, it goes on VERY sheer, and is quite lovely. The concealer is fine -- it has a nice texture, although I think the concealer is a bit too dark for my skin tone, and moreover, it is too dark in comparison to the pale ivory mineral foundation it is paired with. But that's okay -- I prefer to use my M.A.C. Select Concealer liquid in NW15 anyway. :) I have a tiny complaint about the foundation container -- it's unfortunate that the foundation is on top, with the concealer on the lid, as this means it is difficult to have enough space in the lid to fill with powder. But, that's a small complaint overall. You really can't find much fault with these products, especially at this price point. The foundation is silky and smooth, and lasts SO much longer than Bare Minerals. It does not settle into my pores, or any fine lines, and the coverage is sufficient, but still very natural. (and you can build to a heavier coverage if you like.) HIGHLY recommended! I'd give this product 10 stars if I could! :) The only thing that sucks about me finding such a great foundation at Target? Target doesn't ship outside of the US!!!!!! :( Which really sucks for Canadians. So, I'll have to find a friend in the states to mail it to me! Sigh.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Smith's Rosebud Salve - Smith's Rosebud Salve
FairlyVanilla 8/15/2008 6:58:00 AM
The original Rosebud salve and now the Brambleberry Rose version are the ONLY products I've ever used on my lips that stopped the chapping, peeling, flaking and extreme dryess that I have experienced in the past. Seriously, if I stop using Rosebud salve, my lips are back to being chapping and peeling within days. I've been using Rosebud salve since 2005 and even though it is a balm with "just" a base of vaseline, somehow in combination with its other ingredients it works wonders on my lips. (I've tried plain vaseline over the years to no avail -- plain vaseline does not moisturize my lips as well as rosebud salve) I just bought my second tin of Rosebud salve a few months ago -- my first tin lasted THREE YEARS (and that is with pretty much daily use!) I just bought the Brambleberry Rose version at Sephora a few days ago, and I already plan to go back and purchase more. FWIW, while the vintage-look tins are extremely cute and I love them, in general I am not a proponent of any packaging where I have to put my hand/finger in to get at product as it is not hygienic. However, my workaround for this issue is that I pretty much only use Rosebud salve right before bed, so I've always just washed my hands so I don't have to worry about contaminating the contents of my tin. During the day when I'm out and about I'm either using M.A.C. lipsticks or Sephora glosses in tubes, so just use Rosebud salve at home.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Smith's Rosebud Salve - Brambleberry Rose lip balm
FairlyVanilla 8/15/2008 6:42:00 AM
LOVE this lip balm so much! I've always loved the much talked about loveitorhateit original Rosebud salve (which works wonderfully for me) and when I saw the Brambleberry Rose lip balm in Sephora the other day, I snapped this up. A quick glance at the tin, noting the key ingredients (berry, honey, vanilla, shea butter --- *swoon* you had me at "vanilla"! LOL), and quick sniff of the tester and I knew I had to buy a tin to take home. I personally LOVE the subtle scent/hint of flavour, it smells exactly like natural beeswax, a hint of vanilla and berry, and the texture is perfect -- very similar to the original Rosebud salve, but a little more soft as it is a lip balm rather than an "all purpose" salve like Rosebud. The slight hint of pink color is lovely, and it is moisturizing my lips as well as the original Rosebud salve. I know that Rosebud salve (and this lip balm) is just a base of vaseline, but really, it must be the combination of other key ingredients that works for me -- I have often tried just moisturizing my lips with plain vaseline, but to no avail. Rosebud salve, and now this Brambleberry Rose are the ONLY products I've ever used on my lips which stops the chapping, peeling, and flaky dryness. I live in an extremely dry climate, and whenever I have stopped using Rosebud salve for a few days, my lips go right back to chapping and peeling to the point of bleeding. I've been using Rosebud salve since 2005 and I will continue to buy both the original and the Brambleberry Rose. :)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -L'Oreal - Fresh Vive Shampoo
FairlyVanilla 6/26/2006 4:47:00 AM
LOVE both the shamp. and cond. in this Fresh Vive line!! It is my HG product, and I really don't know what I would use if this was ever discontinued!! I stock up all the time when on sale. The fragrance is fresh and light, and it cleanses really well, but doesn't strip. The conditioner is nice and light and doesn't weigh down hair.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No