Eye Shadow -MAC - Woodwinked - veluxe pearl
HaloCom 1/4/2008 11:34:00 AM
Woodwinked is a stunning bronzey-gold in the pan and swatched on my hand, plus its Veluxe Pearl formula applies smoothly with excellent pigment. However, on my eyelids, this gorgeous color somehow turns into a flaming orange overlaid with metallic gold - yikes!
For reference, I can wear MAC foundations in both the NC and NW ranges (usually between 25-30, depending on the time of year). Messing around one day, I found that Woodwinked is beautiful layered over a cool-toned eyeshadow (I mostly use Satin Taupe). It completely cancels out all orange tones and depending on how much of each shadow is used, Woodwinked can either show up exactly how it looks in the pan, or as an added gold-ish dimension to the shadow used underneath.
Now, I've constructed my "perfect" quad with Bisque, Patina, Woodwinked and Satin Taupe. I'm glad I gave Woodwinked second chance and experimented with getting it to work for me!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Shu Uemura - Precise Volume Mascara Waterproof
HaloCom 8/1/2007 3:23:00 PM
I like this mascara and buy it on occasion when I feel like a splurge. The color seems a bit more black and it smudges less than my staple Maybelline Full 'n Soft (I probably go a little crazy on the eye cream, so smudges are inevitable on me even with waterproof mascaras), but they both give very similar end results on me.
I will try just about any mascara that promises volume, but wasn't blown away by the Precise Volume. I liked the brush for the dual level bristles (I used the short ones wiggled at the very base of lashes for thickness, then combed through the length with the longer bristles), but the actual formula didn't seem all that different than Shu's Basic mascara (which I also like). That said, on the rare occasions that I do buy Shu mascara, I get the Precise Volume since it's a few dollars less than the Basic.
I marked that I would repurchase, but Maybelline's Full 'n Soft edges this out because of its price and similar results, and because the Shu makes my lashes feel slightly "crispier."
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Mascara -Shu Uemura - Lash Repair
HaloCom 8/1/2007 3:13:00 PM
I'm on my fifth tube of Lash Repair and plan to keep replacing it. I use waterproof mascara daily with this as a base underneath. After my first tube, I felt like a massive sucker for paying $20 to add another step to my morning routine, but noticed a difference (for the worse) in my lashes around two months after I stopped using it. That was enough to convince me to buy another tube and I haven't strayed since.
My lashes have always been fairly long, but this seems to help keep them from breaking and the tiny brush separates my lashes so that when I add mascara on top, it seems like I have more. I don't wear mascara on my lower lashes, but run the Lash Repair through them to add a little definition and get them all pointing in the same direction.
I'm not sure what the "proper" use of this product is, but I apply it first thing when I start putting on makeup and let it dry while I do my eyes. Then, I curl my lashes and apply mascara. Unless it's really humid outside, that pretty much sets my lashes for the whole day. Since I use waterproof mascara, I used to worry about damaging my lashes, but I can honestly say that this has kept my lashes in great condition and is worth the extra step and cost.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Urban Decay - 24-7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Baked
HaloCom 8/1/2007 2:54:00 PM
For such a soft, creamy pencil, I've been extremely surprised by the staying power of this product. Once it's set, it doesn't budge - even on the inner rims of my eyes. On me, Baked is a bronzey-gold (leaning more towards gold), slightly muted and not overly yellow. The shimmer shows up wonderfully, yet isn't too over the top for daytime use. The color is dark enough for me to do my "gold smokey eye" with, but I also like to use it to line my inner rims for everyday. It only adds a little bit of definition, but the gold color and metallic shimmer catch the light and seem to help brighten my dark brown eyes.
For the way I use the 24/7 pencils, I prefer a slightly dull point to them. But to get a really sharp point seems to waste a lot of the product. I put them in the freezer for a few minutes before sharpening to harden the pencil a little as it seems to help prevent the pencil from getting eaten in the sharpener. Despite this inconvenience, these pencils (and especially Baked) have become a staple in my makeup bag and I'm certain I'll repurchase as they get used up.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Urban Decay - 24-7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Lucky
HaloCom 8/1/2007 11:43:00 AM
I love the 24-7 pencils - they are smooth, easy to apply and smudge easily (yet don't budge once set). The ones I've tried last quite well on my waterline too. On me, Lucky is a metallic coppery brown, with a slight hint of red. I have dark brown eyes and think it's a nice change from my usual neutral and bronze colors, but not garish and doesn't scream obvious color.
I mostly use these pencils for smokey eyes so I don't bother much with getting a fine point. I think that they go very quickly if sharpened often because they're so soft. I freeze mine for a few minutes before sharpening and it seems to help cut down on how much is wasted in the sharpener.
A couple points I don't like and why I didn't rate this higher - I find a lot of the color and it's unique qualities are lost when this is smudged. It turns into a dark brown with slight shimmer, but doesn't have the interesting vibrancy and metallic qualities of the color when not smudged. The other thing I don't particularly like is the addition of silver microglitter in this. It's not that obvious, but to me, it clashes a little with the base color and was an unnecessary addition because the base color is beautiful on its own.
To make this color show up the way I like requires a bit more effort than other colors, but I really love the contrast with brown eyes and that it stays where it's placed.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Prestige - Lash Matrix in Black
HaloCom 7/31/2007 2:13:00 PM
I love the concept of these tube mascaras and was thrilled to find Lash Matrix for under $5 (at Bed Bath & Beyond of all places). Since the reviews are mixed on this, I was hopeful that I would be one of the people that it worked for. Unfortunately, I feel this is an absolutely horrible mascara with few, if any, redeeming qualities.
The formula is dry (which I usually prefer), yet extremely heavy and weighed down my lashes, pulling out all curl. It was also clumpy despite scraping the wand and took some extra combing to remove the clumps and unglue my lashes from each other. But, once dry, it didn't make my lashes feel crispy. My lashes are on the long side already, so I didn't feel it did much in that department, but it did add some volume and was a true black color.
For me, the brush didn't reach all my lashes and since it doesn't taper at the end, was a bit difficult to manuever. Though the mascara did not smudge, it sometimes flaked at the end of the day (though the flaking might be because I re-curled my lashes after they dried, weakening whatever hold the mascara had on the lashes). I didn't have a problem with removal - just used my regular oil cleanser at night and it seemed to dissolve. This has an odd chemical smell, but it went away quickly and didn't bother my eyes at all.
It took more effort than I'm willing to spend in the morning to make this mascara look good. I've read that there are batch inconsistencies in the formula, but I'm not willing to take the chance and waste any more money on this. For tube mascaras, I still consider Kiss Me to be the best because of it's glossy black color and the fact that it actually comes off in tubes with just water. But for value, I'll stick with Maybelline's Full 'n Soft mascara and keep a little makeup remover around to deal with smudges.
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Treatments -Alpha Hydrox - AHA Souffle 12 percent Glycolic AHA
HaloCom 7/13/2007 8:59:00 PM
My combination skin doesn't seem to like retinol-type products, but I really needed something to address sun damage and bad skin texture. When I was younger, I used the oil-free gel for acne/texture problems with good results, but felt the Souffle was a better fit because my skin is less oily now.
I got this in January and started by using it 3x a week; I've only recently started using every night. The first month of use was a nightmare because I was pretty flaky, yet had a lot of large whiteheads and red bumps. However, I've gone through this "purging" cycle before while on prescription products so I just stuck with it. At this point, I'm pretty happy with my results. My skin is smoother with a bit of "glow" and there's much less to attack with my extractor. Makeup goes on better and I find that I use less foundation since there's not as much to hide. Unfortunately, I haven't noticed a measurable difference in my sun spots/old breakout scars and am trying some other products in hopes of fading those.
I take a break from this one week out of the month in hopes that it will prevent my skin from getting too accustomed to the AHAs. So far, it seems to be working and I've gone ahead and bought a second jar (though I wish it came in a tube instead). However, this product does contain stearic acid (please see complete ingredients below) which can be comedogenic and cause problems for some.
INGREDIENT LIST: Water, Glycolic Acid, Ammonium Hydroxide, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Stearic Acid, Peg 40 Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polysorbate 60, Steareth 2, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein (Peptides), Green Tea Extract, Panthanol (Vitamin B5), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Xanthan Gum, PVM/MA Decadiene Crosspolymer, Imidazolidinyl Urea, BHT
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -NARS - Lipstick in Dolce Vita
HaloCom 7/13/2007 8:26:00 PM
Ok, I marked that I wouldn't purchase this again, but feel like I should confess that I've already bought it three times in hopes that I was wrong about it before. But I think I've finally learned my lesson and that I do not like this lipstick.
Even when it's brand new, this lipstick smells like it's gone bad with kind of a waxy, crayon-like scent. I always hear raves about how creamy it is, but to me, the texture is very hard and dry. The color is fine -- a MLBB rose-pink (I have unpigmented lips and can wear MAC NW and NC in 25 or 30) -- and works well with a range of looks. But, I think it can be replicated with a better product and at a better price in a lot of other lines (for example, Clinique Guava Stain looks very close on my lips).
All in all, this product was a disappointment and I wish that I hadn't wasted so much money on it.
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Sunscreen -Neutrogena - Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 55
HaloCom 7/13/2007 8:13:00 PM
I really dislike wearing sunscreen, but am worried about skin cancer having grown up by the beach and baked through most of my childhood summers. Most of the board favorites, such as the Shiseido and LRP sunscreens, do not work for my face -- they felt heavy and greasy and caused breakouts and irritation.
I decided to try the Neutrogena because it is photostable and was pleasantly surprised. It doesn't feel tacky once it dries or leave a white cast on my face. I'm just finishing up my first tube and am getting fewer breakouts than when I used other sunscreens. I'm doing some treatment for sun damage spots and really slather on this sunscreen; even so, it doesn't feel heavy to me. Makeup (I use MUFE Face & Body on weekdays / powder foundation on weekends) works well over it, as long as it's given time to absorb and dry.
My skin type is probably best described as combination and it took some trial and error to figure out what works best underneath this sunscreen -- too emollient and I turned greasy, not enough moisture and I got flaky. I still dislike wearing sunscreen, but this is as near to perfect as I have found so far, and I'll keep re-purchasing until someone comes out with a time-saving all-in-one moisturizer/sunscreen that gives similar results and protection.
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Scrubs -Clinique - Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliating *Cream*
HaloCom 7/13/2007 7:47:00 PM
This is a relatively gentle manual exfoliant, but still effective. I use it mostly on my face, but it was a good pre-self tanning scrub as well. I've had no problems using it on my face and think it's comparable to my former favorite, Clinique's Exfoliating Scrub. Both have the menthol tingle (which I love) and compared to the Exfoliating Scrub, the Sparkle Skin body exfoliator is a much better value. I also think it has finer scrub particles and feels less harsh than the one actually intended for the face. The only downside is the wide-mouth jar -- it can collect a lot of water if I'm not careful and the screw-on lid is kind of a hassle to deal with when I'm in a rush.
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Brows -Shu Uemura - Brow Pencil
HaloCom 1/23/2007 4:51:00 PM
Overall, I'm happy with the shape of my brows, but they've always had bald spots. I have very dark hair, but my skin is on the light side, so I never felt like anything I tried was the right color to blend with my brows or if it did, looked natural enough against my skin.
I use 02 Seal Brown in the H9 Hard Formula and it somehow makes my brows perfect by filling in the sparse areas and polishing the shape without ever seeming too harsh. The pencil's lead is quite hard, making it difficult to deposit too much color. I do still brush through with an old spooly to blend and soften though. On the Shu website, they show this pencil sharpened, probably with a razor, into a very thin, flat-shaped tip, but I just use a regular sharpener for convenience (and safety).
I sharpen mine about once every three weeks, so despite the US$20 price tag, I think it's quite economical since it won't need to be replaced for a long time. Though I will when the time comes!
UPDATE -- 13JUL2007 -- I still use and consider this to be the best brow filler for me. Even with the summer heat and humidity, I get little to no fading throughout the day. However, one thing that drives me nuts is that the cap cracks so easily and, once cracked, won't stay on the pencil, making it a pain to travel with. But I started using it in December '06 and more than half the pencil remains.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Zia - Fresh Papaya Enzyme Peel
HaloCom 1/23/2007 3:28:00 PM
Initially, when I applied it to a damp face, it stung, but that feeling went away quickly. I left it on for about an hour, periodically spraying with water and massaging it into my face again around the half hour mark. My skin never turned red or felt inflamed even though I left it on so long.
When I went to rinse it off, I was disappointed because my skin still felt like sandpaper. Then, as I massaged it some more, I noticed that it was pretty easy to rub the dead skin off, so I used a soft washcloth and rubbed it in tiny circles around my face. The skin underneath was much smoother and felt soft; there was no pinkness, but it just looked healthy. Also, I used less moisturizer than usual, probably because I wasn't moisturizing dead skin. I woke up the next day to a few flakes, but they came off when I washed my face. Over time, my skin has cleared up and looks/feels normal despite the wind and cold.
All in all, I think this is one of those products where those with certain problems may see immediate results; those with already good skin or who can tolerate stronger products probably won't see much of a difference and may think it's ineffective. Now, I don't get a dramatic effect when I use it, but I think it's still working because my skin problems aren't coming back. For me, the mask's gentleness is a huge bonus and I like that I don't need to worry about burning my skin if I leave it on too long.
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Misc Beauty Tools -DHC - Hinoki Polishing Facial Brush
HaloCom 1/22/2007 4:18:00 PM
I love DHC products and had high expectations for this brush. I was looking for something that could provide more exfoliation than Shiseido's facial brush, but this was not it. The DHC brush felt a bit abrasive once it got wet, but I used it very lightly to buff my face with cleanser. I had to stop right away because my face started stinging (my skin is not especially fragile or senstive). The next day, my skin felt very rough and upon closer examination, was actually covered with small cuts. I have found one use for it though - I occasionally use it as a dry brush in the mornings before showering. It's much softer when dry (but still not something I'd use daily) and can be a nice way to get the circulation going when I haven't gotten enough sleep. However, I'm just using it because I already have it and would not recommend it to anyone. For me, I've gone back to using Nah-Ri cloths which are $15 for a six-pack of super-soft, thin cotton washcloths. They last forever (I've had some for 5+ years) and can just be tossed in the washing machine to clean.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -Clinique - Touch Base for Eyes - Buff Lighting
HaloCom 1/22/2007 1:39:00 PM
Clinique Touch Bases are somewhat sentimental to me because they are one of the first cosmetic items I started using. I recently came back to them because I was searching for the perfect lightly shimmery gold e/s. This doesn't quite fit the bill in terms of color (I bought it sight unseen online), but I was pleasantly surprised by the smooth texture and staying power. I thought they had a drier texture, but the one I got is creamy and soft - very easy to apply without tugging. The color is a bit lighter than I expected (in MAC colors, I can wear NC or NW 25-30 depending on the formula/time of year, and on me, the Touch Base showed up as a less shimmery version of the pale gold/champagne color in the NARS All About Eve duo). It makes a great e/s base and has enough of yellow/peach to even out slight discoloration on my lids. I haven't had any problems with creasing or fading (for reference, LM creme shadows creased on me and MAC paints felt heavy and were difficult for me to spread thinly enough). I use this on it's own with a thin line of BB Bronze gel liner and mascara on weekends; for weekdays, I use it as a shadow base and it adds a little glow to my usually neutral look. Compared to some other products I've tried, this is a bargain at $13.50 for its versatility and performance and I'll continue to purchase.
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Eye Primer -Clinique - Touch Base for Eyes - Buff Lighting
HaloCom 1/22/2007 1:38:00 PM
Clinique Touch Bases are somewhat sentimental to me because they are one of the first cosmetic items I started using. I recently came back to them because I was searching for the perfect lightly shimmery gold e/s. This doesn't quite fit the bill in terms of color (I bought it sight unseen online), but I was pleasantly surprised by the smooth texture and staying power. I thought they had a drier texture, but the one I got is creamy and soft - very easy to apply without tugging. The color is a bit lighter than I expected (in MAC colors, I can wear NC or NW 25-30 depending on the formula/time of year, and on me, the Touch Base showed up as a less shimmery version of the pale gold/champagne color in the NARS All About Eve duo). It makes a great e/s base and has enough of yellow/peach to even out slight discoloration on my lids. I haven't had any problems with creasing or fading (for reference, LM creme shadows creased on me and MAC paints felt heavy and were difficult for me to spread thinly enough). I use this on it's own with a thin line of BB Bronze gel liner and mascara on weekends; for weekdays, I use it as a shadow base and it adds a little glow to my usually neutral look. Compared to some other products I've tried, this is a bargain at $13.50 for its versatility and performance and I'll continue to purchase.
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