Lipstick -Sonia Kashuk - dahlia
Gabriel679 12/3/2009 9:42:00 AM
I actually really like this lipstick line, although I agree with other reviewers that it doesn't last as long as some of my other lipsticks do. Dahlia is a berry metallic, but pretty warm, with kind of a brick tint. It goes on smooth, and doesn't feel drying or get all over the place for me. It will disappear quickly, but I usually put some pressed powder over my lips to help keep in in place. I think there may be a matching liner that would help, too. I actually like the tube - makes it easy to tell which lipstick I'm looking for. The scent is vanilla-like, and is gone almost immediately after applying. Will repurchase, and will be looking at other colors, too.
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Cleansers -Cetaphil - Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar
Gabriel679 11/25/2009 3:22:00 PM
This is, by far, the best "soap" I've ever used, for face or body. I have rosacea and extremely sensitive skin - I almost never change products simply because bad things happen when I do. . . This is the only thing I will use on my face year-round. This removes makeup but doesn't strip my skin of the good oils or make it feel tight or itchy, something that Dove, Basis, and a lot of other products do. I've actually found that by using this all the time, 2x a day, my skin's tone and texture have improved, and even better, my skin is dependably clear and "normal". I also used to get irritation/breakouts on my body, as well - but as long as I stick to this and my Aveeno unscented lotion, I am in good shape. Highly recommended. For anyone out there at the end of your rope when it comes to your facial regimen, please, please give this a try.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -TiGi - Big Fat Fun Eye Pencils
Gabriel679 11/24/2009 11:46:00 AM
I got this as a GWP with a hair product months ago and then decided to use it yesterday, since I was out of my usual brown liner from Cover Girl. Wow, is there a difference! I have this one in the Espresso color, an extremely dark brown. This eyeliner is creamy, smooth as butter to apply, and doesn't BUDGE! I couldn't believe it - I figured if it was that easy to get on, it would smudge like crazy, but it doesn't - Smokes out beautifully, too - such a perfect product - and then removes easily with my L'Oreal eye makeup remover. Mine doesn't have a smudger at the end, which is my only complaint - I wish it did, as hunting for a q-tip sometimes gets a little old. Maybe the regular pencils do, I don't know. Will repurchase. Is now a HG product for me, totally by accident.
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Lip Gloss -Lancome - Cinnamon Brioche - Chic Delights Juicy Tube
Gabriel679 11/16/2009 11:44:00 AM
Scored this one for $7 at TJ Maxx - lovely sheer, neutral nude bronze - all the great hallmarks of the JT product line - shine, moisture, and decent staying power. Wish they'd had more of these, as they are discontinued.
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Scrubs -Unlisted Brand - Soap & Glory - Scrub Your Nose In It
Gabriel679 11/9/2009 2:51:00 PM
Love, love, love this facial scrub. Minty fresh scent without being irritating - pore-refining mask - AND a finely textured scrub for your face - I was initially wary of a product that was promising so many things, but I decided to try it and see, since I love their other products. I swear, my pores looked minimized and almost non-existent immediately after the first use - my extremely sensitive skin did fine with the scrub, too - and my facial skin texture and clarity was vastly improved. With every use, it gets better, too. I've started noticing much less oiliness, too, which is nothing short of amazing. I am very impressed. I got this for $12.99 at Target, which is higher than, say, St. Ives' Apricot Scrub, but this one is light years ahead of St. Ives, for sure. Highly recommended.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Napoleon Perdis - NP Set Memory Foundation
Gabriel679 10/19/2009 3:20:00 PM
So far, so good. . . . I ran out of my usual TF foundation and decided to try this one. I purchased Set 1 - Light - as the others came out too dark on me. I've been really impressed with this one - covers evenly and blends well, matches my skin exactly, and so far has not bothered my very sensitive, very redness/itch-prone skin. It has a light dewy finish - even when set with powder - nothing opaque and scary looking here. Your skin shows through, and it looks perfect. I wish it had an spf, but that can be remedied, so I'm not complaining. I also am not sure I agree with the terminology "tinted moisturzer" attached to this product - this behaves nothing like a tinted moisturizer, at least for me. No grease, and it stays put, even paired with my normal daily moisturizer. More like a really sheer, really light foundation, which was exactly what I was looking for. I do like the packaging - the squeeze tube will let me get it all out with no waste, and the simpler the better, at least to me. $30 usd, but compared with what I often spend on foundation, it's a steal.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Maybelline - Stylish Smokes in Emerald Smokes
Gabriel679 10/7/2009 10:41:00 AM
I was suprised and excited by the quality and color-payoff of this quad. My experience with Maybelline shadows in general is that they are pretty mild in color - and have a lot of fallout- I found this quad to be buildable - lots of color or not so much, depending on what you use - and though I do notice fallout, expecially with the lighter colors, it was nothing that you couldn't brush off pretty easily. Using a base really helps - I like TF Shadow Insurance - This quad works really well for my hazel eyes, actually makes my eyes look green, rather than brown - The price is right, and I think these are really good, especially for a drugstore ES>
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Lip Gloss -NARS - Stolen Kisses
Gabriel679 10/7/2009 10:28:00 AM
This is my new favorite lipgloss. It is perfect - I cannot believe it - not too pink, not too brown, with just a hint of shimmer so it's not in that flat, scary "dead nude" family. I'd had it for several months, having purchased based on the reviews I'd read here - but hadn't tried it, b/c of the crazy amount of other glosses I have - and I can't believe I waited so long - Lovely consistency and staying power, like all of NARS' glosses (at least for me). Great color - a medium nude/pinky/brown, with a hint of shimmer, so you don't look dead. I paired this with a soft brown smoky eye and a hint of bronzer and I look like I am rested and fresh (when I really am pregnant and exhausted). Will be getting a backup as soon as I can!!! Highly recommended - I bet this would work for lots of people.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Maybelline - Color Sensational
Gabriel679 9/4/2009 10:28:00 AM
I got this in Crazy for Coffee - very lovely color - I think I'd repurchase - if I can get over the taste and smell - it literally nauseates me. I do like the consistency, color and application of these lipsticks - rival a much more espensive l/s. Packaging is nice, too. I just don't like the taste/smell!
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Polishes -Sinful - merlot
Gabriel679 8/25/2009 10:43:00 AM
Love this color - looks exactly like my fav merlot wine with a metallic sheen - Great staying power, doesn't chip, and looks great for work or play. I do use two coats and topcoat to keep the color rich and perfect, but nothing different than usual. Plus, this is super cheap, unlike some of the OPI polishes I have, which honestly don't test any better for me. Great product!
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Lipstick -Jemma Kidd Makeup School - Lipsticks - All
Gabriel679 8/18/2009 9:28:00 AM
This is as close to a HG lipstick as I can get - My perfect 'nude' lipstick. Wow. I have this product in retro - from JK's Target line - yes, it is expensive but I find that these lipsticks are just as good as my HE brands which cost twice the amount!! Moist, but buildable color - lovely texture - no scent or taste - doesn't sink into lines or move around on my mouth - and though I have this in Retro, a nude shade, there's nothing flat or dead about this color. Doesn't dry out my lips, either. I find that one application lasts most of the morning, as long as I'm not eating something more than once or twice. Highly recommended. Will have to get a couple of these just in case they are discontinued.
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Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - Genes Vitamin E Swiss Collagen Complex Creme
Gabriel679 8/11/2009 3:39:00 PM
There's a reason why my grandmother swore by this stuff. . . . This is the best Vitamin E cream out there. Perfect for face, hands, and body - heals almost instantly, and with quick, gorgeous results. This is the only thing I've found that will take the puffiness out of my face/eyes after a night up with a sick child, heal dry, cracked hands/feet, AND put irritated, angry post-partum skin to rest. Works for a myriad of problems - our whole family uses it. This comes in a 16 ounce tub - easy to get what you need out of there with a spatula. Lightly scented, but I do have sensitive skin and it's never bothered me. One lippie off for taking a long time to absorb in the summer - but that's a small price to pay.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Sally Hansen - Insta-Dri in Sonic Bloom
Gabriel679 7/14/2009 9:50:00 AM
I bought this strictly for the color - didn't expect much since it was pretty cheap. I was nicely surprised - this is both a fab color AND a fab product. Color: This is not your average coral. This is a bright coral/red cream - no shift or shimmer. Formula: Slightly stripy and runny - but nothing two coats and a top coat doesn't solve. Dry time: Almost instantaneous. Wow. I had to move fast to get my two coats in. And even with a lot of shiny topcoat, it never budged. Again, wow. Staying power: I've had this on for over a week and the pedi looks brand new. All in all, trendy but sophisticated color with super staying power and great value. I'll be buying more of these. Certainly giving my OPI and Essie polishes a run for their money!!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Olay - Daily Facials
Gabriel679 7/8/2009 4:06:00 PM
I'm usually not a fan of Olay products, since the bother my skin, but for some reason these work pretty well for me. They remove makeup and "resurface", if you will, your facial skin - making it look bright and fresh. I also love the convenience - no messy bar or gel pump to use. I don't use these daily - for me, they would be too drying - and I rarely use the textured side (the smooth side works fine for me). Usage 2 or 3 times a week is plenty - and I need to remove my eye makeup first - but this really is a fabulous product. I found the dry ones worked better for me than the pre-moistened cloths. I also get a really good deal on a large box of these refills at Sam's. I probably won't have to buy any more of them for a year or so.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Smashbox - Famous
Gabriel679 7/2/2009 5:14:00 PM
I'm not usually a fan of blushes, but this one I had to review. This was what I'd hoped NARS's O blush would be for me. This one is just more understated. Appears to be a sparkly pink-coral-peach in the pan - but goes on extremely sheer - like a wash of perfect flush (at least for me) with just a hint of shimmer. Very fresh and light - like you're 5 and have been playing outside in the early summer for several hours. I like this paired with TF's Snow Bunny (I like my shimmer, yes I do) - great for a change of pace when you're sick of your bronzer. I've used this a lot in the last few months I've had it, and it doesn't show the wear - tons of product here - so I think it's a grea value. Unlike my TF bronzers, which get a dip in no time. I think for this would be a good one for most complexions. My friend is a ice-queen blonde and this works for her, too -
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