Lipstick -Maybelline - Color Sensational - Park Ave. Peach
Indigirka 7/25/2011 2:14:00 PM
More of a coral than a peach, despite the name. I suppose it could be described as a muted coral or a dark peach, or a bridge between stereotypical peach lipsticks and coral. At first, I found this to be too blah of a coral at best or a MLBW (my lips but worse) at worst. But after revisiting it in my lipstick stash while trying to clean it out, I've decided it suits me (ha, if you look at my last few reviews on Color Sensational lipsticks you can tell I'm not as good at purging lipsticks as I'd like to be). I think it could suit many skin tones and is a potential (on-the-orangey-side-of-)MLBB for many. Or it could be the perfect coral for those who are scared of brighter and/or darker coral lipsticks. And, like another reviewer, I love the name!* *though, of course, I don't endorse buying lipstick or any other product for the name, no matter how unique or kooky or classy or edgy or [insert miscellaneous marketing images here] it makes the product sound - unless you'd have also been attracted to the color had it been named something like "#11." I'm convinced that's how some (cough, Urban Decay) make half their money, but that's another story. [It has the shortcomings of the Color Sensational line. I prefer no scent or the fragrance of L'Oreal lipsticks to the "play doh" smell of Color Sensational, and they apparently go rancid faster than other drugstore lipsticks (see reviews). But this line has some colors not found elsewhere and is fine when not rancid.]
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Maybelline - Color Sensational - Madison Mauve
Indigirka 7/25/2011 1:59:00 PM
VERY different color; a far-out, outer space-hooker sort of way. On me it's a medium purple and the frost looks blue, not green. It's very cool-toned, even by the standards of purple/plum/mauve lipsticks. What it isn't is a mauve, or a lipstick that particularly suits me. (I'm just not that into frosty purples and mauves anymore at this stage in my lipstick connoisseurship, even if I once wore Majestic Mauve by L'Oreal down to a nub.) In a way, it reminds me of a frosty light blue drugstore lipstick (!) I had in the early '00s (purchased from a dollar store though I think it was from a regular drugstore brand - CoverGirl, I believe). Also, it feels the faintest bit tingly or cool on my lips - a byproduct of all the blue and/or green glitter, perhaps. I'm keeping it around because I can see myself wearing this in a blue moon (especially to a costume party) and unlike another purple from this line (I think it was Mauveulous) it hasn't gone rancid. And if it sounds like non-rancid is the most I've come to expect from the C.S. line, it's not - it really has its charms, as a unique color. I haven't had much luck with the purples from Color Sensational, though. The corals/reds and the naturals (though oddly, I never tried very many) seem better. I find Milla's Plum by L'Oreal (OK, this review is starting to sound like a shill for L'Oreal, but it isn't - see how much I dig their competitors, Revlon!). [It has the shortcomings of the Color Sensational line. I prefer no scent or the fragrance of L'Oreal lipsticks to the "play doh" smell of Color Sensational, and they apparently go rancid faster than other drugstore lipsticks (see reviews). But this line has some colors not found elsewhere and is fine when not rancid.]
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Lipstick -Maybelline - Color Sensational-Coral Crush
Indigirka 7/25/2011 1:45:00 PM
Hmm. A "peach" in this line of lipsticks is more of a coral and a "coral" (this one) is more of a pink. Nevertheless, it's good for what it is (despite the creative liberties taken in naming it, as if that isn't common in the world of makeup) and worth keeping around if you like day-glo bright pink lipstick with a bit of coral. I've always preferred "warm" bright pinks to cool (in fact, I've liked this color ever since I had day-glo crayons), and love the color even though I don't wear it often. One of the best I've tried in the line, though I certainly haven't tried them all and don't plan to. Oh, and compared to my other pink-coral (L'Oreal Color Riche in Tropical Coral, which I've used more than this one) it's brighter and doesn't have frost. [It has the shortcomings of the Color Sensational line. I prefer no scent or the fragrance of L'Oreal lipsticks to the "play doh" smell of Color Sensational, and they apparently go rancid faster than other drugstore lipsticks (see reviews). But this line has some colors not found elsewhere and is fine when not rancid.]
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Estee Lauder - Bronze Goddess
Indigirka 6/28/2011 5:24:00 PM
Matte version: great bronzer, and I wish the original version of the perfume of the same name was in my budget now. Good color and pigmentation; isn't delicate/fallout-prone (unlike my Wet n Wild Goddess bronzer, which I still like except for this issue). It's non-shimmery (when you look at it in the pan you can see a soft gold shimmer, but it doesn't show on the face) and non-orangey, which is what I was looking for in a bronzer. Like my Wet N Wild bronzer, it has a hint of reddish/coppery tone. However, it's not as deep and pigmented than that one - that said, that bronzer's great pigmentation might go with the territory of a softer, more delicate powder. Bronze Goddess is for a more subtle look but still shows up well. It comes in a large compact with a nice big mirror - it's great on-the-go and you get plenty of product. I'd much rather have a mirror in my compact than room for a built-in brush I probably won't use.
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Mascara -Laura Mercier - Full Blown Volume Lash Building Mascara
Indigirka 6/28/2011 4:47:00 PM
Tl;dr version: Great basic black non-waterproof mascara. In my experience, it isn't prone to clumping compared to other volumizing mascaras. The "old school brushy brush" (as one reviewer accurately described it) is easy and comfortable to use - though perhaps not the best for lash separation. I was used to the new-fangled plastic applicators on my Rimmel and L'Oreal mascaras, but this one does fine. My small tube has held up to six months of very frequent use, so the formula doesn't seem prone to drying fast like some do. Though it has a thinner formula, it doesn't seem to smear much throughout the day. (It does, however, give me a serious case of panda eyes when I forget to take it off before I go to sleep. But one would expect a non-waterproof mascara to do that.)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Revlon Super Lustrous in Chocolicious
Indigirka 3/21/2011 1:33:00 PM
I never pictured myself being able to pull off an ever-so-slightly sheer dark brown lipstick without looking like a kid who got into a batch of molten chocolate, or...worse. But this lipstick has once again proven that Revlon Super Lustrous is my go-to line for experimenting with a new color. It's a new shade, and although I like a lighter brown like their other new color Mink better on myself (Mink is also a bit more opaque, by the way), Chocolicious is a great alternative to dark red for a night out or whenever you want a lipstick that's bold but somehow subdued and not screamingly bright. I liked the look so much that I wore it to the opera this winter. Dark brown with a hint of sheerness somehow works better on me than dark red with the same. And the slight gold shimmer you see on the bullet is not at all apparent on my lips. Like many dark neutral-ish colors, would probably look great on anyone with very dark hair and eyes.
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Cleansers -Neutrogena - Deep Clean Facial Cleanser
Indigirka 3/12/2011 6:41:00 PM
For some reason, my skin absolutely loves many of Neutrogena's products. I'm sure it would marry Neutrogena if it had the chance. Anyway, using Neutrogena Deep Clean a few times per week seems to have helped improve my skin a lot. This (which removes dead skin cells) combined with Garnier Moisture Rescue gel (which moisturizes, obviously) eliminated my winter dry flaky skin patches! Reviews of cleansers are obviously subjective, but here's what the results were like for me. Unlike other cleansers, it leaves my skin feeling *completely* clean and free of makeup, and fresher with fewer dead skin cells, without causing dryness/tightness (I use moisturizer right after, though) or leaving behind a residue - not to mention not burning or breaking me out or otherwise irritating my skin. While hydroxy acid face creams typically burn my skin, apparently having them on my face in cleanser form is long enough for them to do their job and purify my skin a bit without irritating it. It cleans better than Neutrogena's other cleanser I use, One-Step Gentle Cleanser, but I use that one more often because I don't want to push my luck with this product as it's not as gentle. Deep Clean cleanser contains salycilic acid and other harsh ingredients, and some here have said it dries out their non-oily skin. So far it has not irritated or dried out my skin, even though it is combination/prone to dryness in the winter; but again, I don't want to push my luck.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -Clairol - Natural Instincts in 36 Midnight - Neutral Black
Indigirka 2/24/2011 3:18:00 PM
The first time I colored my off-black hair black, which was a few years ago, I used Midnight and I was in love with the results. It gave my hair a very rich, shiny color that didn't fade easily or get dull easily, nor become remotely unhealthy-looking. Each time I used it, I didn't re-dye my hair with Midnight until 6 months after the last time, and even then I didn't "have" to do it to keep it looking good (the color persisted, but the roots weren't noticeable as my hair is dark anyway and it faded *just enough*) - I simply wanted to recapture the shine and rich color it gave me initially. (Yes, as the other reviews indicate, "semi-permanent" on the box is not exactly accurate.) It's definitely an intense, very dark brown rather than a blue-black. I have not tried their newer Expresso Creme color (said to be a richer black - I'd like to try this one sometime in the future), but people here say that one is more of an "unnatural" blue-black than Midnight. I found Midnight to be a perfect "natural black." I would recommend Midnight to anyone seeking rich neutral black hair unless they don't wish to commit to the color for any significant period of time, in which I'd suggest a *true* semi-permanent black (the sort that usually comes in a squeeze bottle and doesn't require mixing with a developer). Natural Instincts has a developer and functions more like a demi-permanent; the colors lighter than Midnight, in my experience, do not last all that long but Midnight does. 8 months or so after the last time I used it, my hair looked like it had no traces of Midnight; but then, I was using Head and Shoulders and other harsh shampoos that tend to strip color.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -Ion - Color Brilliance - Semi-Permanent
Indigirka 2/24/2011 1:35:00 PM
This stuff isn't terrible for what it is (semi-permanent, non-damaging, makes your hair feel conditioned), but in my experience it does NOT last the amount of shampoos it claims. It did not hold to my hair well in the first place (I used the color Blackest Black, but the resulting color was hardly that) and was not apparent at all after 2 or 3 shampoos. And I did everything I could to make the color last, such as rinsing with cold water and not using shampoo with sulfates. I'd recommend it to those of you with lighter hair wanting to "try on" darker hair with absolutely zero commitment. But for those of us who already have dark hair and want to enhance it with a darker, richer, shinier color, the results aren't worth the time it takes to achieve them: it takes as much time and fuss as demi-permanent or permanent, if not more because the thick consistency makes it difficult to work with. (At least it didn't drip!) If you're going to use it, do as the instructions say and apply it straight from the squeeze bottle. Or mix it and put it in a larger one. I tried mixing some of the clear gloss/diluter in a bowl with Blackest Black, but the extremely thick, gloopy consistency of the black dye (the gloss was much thinner) made this very difficult and I eventually gave up, and as I didn't have another bottle for the mix I just squeeze-bottled the rest on and glopped the stuff from the bowl on my hair and combed it through. (Overuse of the word "glop," perhaps, but nothing else accurately conveys it!) Why even make a clear diluter in this line if it's hard to mix with the regular color and apply the mix outside the squeeze bottle? I was trying to go the least-amount-of-damage route when I used this, but I won't go back because it was too much trouble.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Rimmel - Soft Kohl - Jungle Green
Indigirka 2/23/2011 12:58:00 PM
Good eyeliner overall; very smooth application. "Soft kohl" lives up to its name. Jungle Green is definitely a blue-based green, but not so much that it looks teal; while I was a bit disappointed it wasn't a more true green, overall I am pleased because it is very soft and easy to work with. Taking off one lipstick because it doesn't last as long as some eyeliners, but I also didn't have huge problems with smudging.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Sephora - Colorful Mono Eyeshadow - All
Indigirka 2/22/2011 3:03:00 PM
Geisha Kiss is a must-buy if you're looking for a matte true red eyeshadow that can double as blush. Its color and texture are just what I was looking for. Sephora describes it as a matte brick red, but it's brighter, lighter, far less brown and more wearable than you'd expect from an eyeshadow labeled brick red. This color really brings out the flecks of green in my brown eyes! I agree with the reviewer who stated the matte eyeshadows from this line have a silky quality - it glides on very silkily and also blends well, and stays on long like it claims to. Good pigmentation; can be applied heavily or dusted on subtly. I like applying it in a thin line above liquid eyeliner, blending it with other colors, etc. Applying it heavily as an all-over lid color does make me look "tired," so I probably wouldn't wear it out that way except for costumes. I've tried what drugstores (Milani) and Hot Topic (LOL!) have to offer as far as red eyeshadows go, but found them too glittery and not as pigmented/rich red as I was looking for. In fact, I was going to try NYX's offerings (Cherry, a pinker-based red and Sunset, an orangier one) but Geisha Kiss has ended my search. Also, the packaging is quality and very compact; that and the fact that it can easily double as cheek color make it a good travel item!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Maybelline - Expert Wear Single - Antique Jade
Indigirka 2/22/2011 2:36:00 PM
I've used this for years and it was my first green eyeshadow. It's more of a yellow-based shimmery forest green than a typical jade. Flattering, fun but not over-the-top green color. I also like to blend it with other colors such as golds; it blends quite well!
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Eyeliner -Revlon - ColorStay Liquid Liner
Indigirka 2/21/2011 6:59:00 PM
Liquid eyeliners are my favorite and Colorstay is my favorite among them. It was one of the first eyeliners I tried, period. I keep going back to it after trying other liquid liners. I'm glad I learned with this one, as it has the best tip for easy application out of all those I've tried (also tried L'Oreal Telescopic and Lineur Intense, NYC, Black Radiance, Guerlain Divinora and probably some others I've forgotten). It has a very fine but stiff felt tip - makes it easy to apply precise lines quickly at whatever thickness you desire (I haven't had such luck with liners with a thin, flexible brush tip or with a thick stiff tip). This makes it easy to achieve my desired look: thin lines starting at the middle or inner corner of my eyes, getting thicker as they reach the outer corners and coming to a point rather than flaring/winging. I wish it were available in more colors than Blackest Black and Black Brown, but as it stands, I like both colors: very rich and true to their names. And it stays put as long as a non-waterproof product can be expected to.
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Liquid -Revlon - ColorStay Makeup with SoftFlex SPF 6 for Combination/Oily Skin
Indigirka 2/21/2011 4:35:00 PM
I didn't try this foundation until fairly recently (after PhotoReady came out - I tried that one right after it was introduced and was NOT much of a fan). I got into Revlon for their lipsticks and Colorstay liquid liner, and for some reason never thought to try their foundations. Long story short, I should've tried Colorstay earlier and read the reviews stating how shimmery PhotoReady can be and avoided it. It's great to find a product that does exactly what it claims to, for once: stay, it does. In a manner worthy of the description "industrial-strength." Recently I swatched it on my inner arm next to other liquid foundations (from Maybelline to Chanel) and wore them on my arm all day under long sleeves, just as an experiment. Colorstay was also the first foundation I've encountered that can be difficult to remove and I've tried other "long-wear" foundations. You know a long-wear foundation is doing its job when it actually doesn't want to be removed - most foundations do the job for me by at least partially melting off! For this reason, I wouldn't recommend wearing it when you don't want to bother with a more heavy-duty removal process. It'd be great, however, if you absolutely must wear full-coverage makeup in hot weather (or even swimming, as I've tried removing it in the shower), though apparently it's not healthy to wear heavy foundation when hot and sweating/exercising, as pores absorb it more readily. Judging by the reviews, this foundation has an (IMO undeserved) reputation of being cakey and heavy. If you apply it properly, using a brush and a SMALL amount of the foundation, it looks natural and about as "flawless" as you can get without looking like a cake-monster. At least, that's what the combination/oily skin formula does for me. Though my skin does not follow the classic combination pattern, I am prone to dryness in the winter and some foundations break me out, so I bought the combination/oily skin version to be safe. The version for normal/dry skin could be thicker and greasier for all I know, but the combo/oily version provides a nice semi-matte finish and has never irritated my skin in any way. The only problems I have with it are the bottle without a pump and that it contains parabens (though I'm hoping Revlon will get on-board the anti-paraben wave and remove them from the formula... I can dream.). The bottle makes it easy to waste the product or use too much, but here's what I do to avoid that: shake the bottle or turn it upside down briefly, then turn it right-side up and remove the cap, then dip a brush into the cap or skirt it around the inner rim of the bottle to pick up a little bit of foundation and if I need more, repeat. I plan to put some Colorstay in an old bottle of Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse (LOVE that pump-bottle) when I finish it.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - stormy pink
Indigirka 2/7/2011 3:20:00 AM
Oh Revlon, what were you thinking with this one? It has the sort of heavy waxy formula that glides over my lips without depositing much pigment. After many coats I can see the color pretty well, but it's nothing like the rich opaque shades the others from this line give me. (I've tried several other Revlon matte lipsticks, and they've been pigmented and easy to apply. So I thought I might've gotten a bad tube of Stormy, but others have the same complaint!) Pink About It is far better for a hot pink effect, though it's a much warmer pink. What a shame; Stormy Pink is a great color! If only it would show up...
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