Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Tamanu Oil
JELo 10/18/2012 4:31:00 PM
I am 36 and I had the double-whammy of wrinkles and acne sprinkled with seasonal skin (dry in the winter and oily in the summer) and my spots always scar. I had started using Fresh's Seaberry Moisturing Oil and, although moisturizing, caused a horrible breakout on my cheeks of bumps that could not be extracted. So I had spots, scabbies, and flaking. I was desperate and went to MakeupAlley for help. I am trying to cut out all processed skincare products and knew that I needed an oil to help with my dryness and wrinkles. I stumbled upon the Tamanu Oil reviews and they sounded too good to be true but I was in pursuit of a miracle! The oil: The oil is green and does have a root-like smell, but not overpowering. Slightly thicker than EVOO. I purchased the Aura Cacia Nourishing Tamanu Oil, 1 fl oz. for $14.99 at Whole Foods, but it can be found cheaper online. Routine: My routine is to wash with Dove soap, pat dry, then gently rub in 1 pump (about 4 drops) of Tamanu Oil. When I wake up, I use a warm washcloth and wipe my face and then apply makeup. My skin is still moist, but not oily, and looks plump and clearer. Summary: No new breakouts in 7 days (a new record) and my spots are healing quickly and scars are fading. This is truly something you have try! This stuff is amazing!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Lancome - Hypnose Drama
JELo 2/20/2012 5:23:00 PM
I was so excited to try this makeup. The Lancome ads were gorgeous and I am on the never-ending hunt for the perfect mascara, but this, sadly, is not it. The one one positive feature is that this mascara smells yummy! Seriously, it smells like honey and my DH even commented on how nice it smelled. But that's where the positives end. No matter the technique, I could not layer this mascara. It would instantly clump. And the worst part was it began flaking about 2 hours after application. As a contact wearer, this caused a few painful incidents. So, unless you want to your lashes to just smell good, pass on this one.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Christian Dior - Ultra-Gloss Glow 256 Negligee Pink
JELo 11/30/2011 5:19:00 PM
This is the lipgloss love of my life. The color is a very light, creamy pink grapefruit color that is very flattering on my NC32 coloring. I have very pigmented lips and this mutes them without washing me out. Not to mention the consistency is gel-like, not sticky, and has a beautiful shine without glitter. The lasting power is not amazing, but it is a gloss. The applicator is a wonderful brush (no hard doe foot) and the packaging is beautiful. Not only will you look lovely with this gloss, you will look uber-chic applying it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Guerlain - L'Instant de Guerlain
JELo 11/30/2011 4:24:00 PM
This scent is creamy and acidic at the same time. Very white and floral but also powdery and sweet; the magnolia note is very pronounced. I love the bottle! On me, the sillage is exceptional and one spritz lasted all day and was not overpowering but definitely noticeable. This is not one of my favorites because I prefer "darker" fragrances (like Midnight Poison and Opium) but it definitely has some appeal. Top Notes: Bergamot, Mandarin Orange, Red Apple Middle Notes: Iris, Jasmine, Ylang-ylang, Magnolia Base Notes: Musk, Amber, Benzoin, Vanilla, Honey
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - ColorBurst in 070 Soft Nude [DISCONTINUED]
JELo 10/12/2011 4:33:00 PM
I keep trying to make this lipstick work and it just won't! I am a NC35 with light olive complexion and very pigmented lips. I find this lipstick washes me out and it's incredibly streaky and emphasizes every single little flake and crease in your lips. It gives my lips a chalky appearance and would require a great deal of prepping to with lip balms and chapstick to ever come close to working. I think this works better for fairer and less olive-complected ladies. For color reference, it is more peachy than MAC's Blankety and pinker than Bobbi Brown Beige. I've heard great things about L'Oreal's Fairest Nude, so that's my next purchase! The hunt continues :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Aveeno - Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer
JELo 5/19/2011 9:48:00 AM
I have been using this product for a few months (which is impressive, in itself) and I really love this lotion! It's not greasy, smells great, and most importantly, doesn't break me out and has definitey improved the clarity of my skin. I recommend applying the lotion and then immediately applying your foundation. The two blend together and creates a really nice glow. Highly, highly recommend!!! Edit: I don't know what happened, but this started breaking me out. So terribly sad :( I have tried Tamanu Oil and it is working miracles on my skin!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -LORAC - Couture Shine Liquid Lipstick Vintage
JELo 2/20/2011 9:40:00 PM
This is my absolute go-to nude lip color! It has the shine of gloss but the opacity of a lipstick. It is neither orange nor pink so it's flattering for most skin colors. This is also a God-send for those ladies with very pigmented lips that hate layering lipstick and gloss to tame down our very rosy lips. I never by products twice and this has been repurchased at least 3 times. I highly recommend!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Neosporin - Antibiotic Ointment
JELo 11/20/2010 11:15:00 AM
OK, in a fit of frustration during an especially dry and flaky lip period, I reached for my trusty tube of Neosporin. Hey, it works to heal cuts and scrapes pretty effectively, so why not my languishing lippies? Lo and behold, the HG of all lip treatments!!!! I swear, this stuff is the ultimate for dry, cracked, painfully chapped lips! A warning: the taste is nasty. Really nasty, but try not and do that and this will work for you everytime. Even my little ones will go and grab the tube themselves when their lips are chapped and by the next morning they look healthy again. I carry a tube in my purse. It's not glamorous but it is totally effective. Note: for those poor people that are suffering from chronic dryness from Accutane, give this a try. It worked for a friend of mine when she was at her wit's end. Don't you just love products that are inexpensive little gems that do double-duty!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Cover Girl - WetSlicks Amazemint - No Care Bare
JELo 9/8/2010 9:40:00 AM
LOVE THIS COLOR! I have very pigmented lips and I have the darndest time finding a complementary gloss or lipstick (and I hate layering lipstick and gloss). This color tones down my lips to a lovely neutral shade. The mint taste is great, the shine is minimal (a good thing), the price is unbeatable, the packaging is toelrable but the staying power is tragic. If only this would last longer than 10 minutes on me! Another MUAer posted that the gloss seems to absorb into your lips and become flaky and it's true. If your lips are not already moisturized, it looks really bad. If this color could be transformed into a moisturizing lipstick (hint, hint Cover Girl) it would be the perfect nude lipstick! If anyone knows of a another product that mimics this color, please share. Overall, I have to recomment this color but with the warning about staying power and potential flaky, lippies.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Alba Botanica - Sea Lipids Daily Cream
JELo 9/3/2010 11:36:00 AM
Well, like most products that start out so great, this lotion ended up pooping out on me. I actually think it has a nice, light scent and it dissipates very quickly, BUT after about a month of hope and happiness it broke me out and my skin started flaking. So the search continues!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Eden Rocks
JELo 8/19/2009 11:44:00 AM
I really like this color but it has much too much frost! It does have porn star potential but if you keep eyes and cheeks natural, it works. The color itself is lovely but I cannot deal with the frostiness. For reference I am Mac NC 30-35/Skinfinish Natural in Medium Dark (light/med olive) with black hair and brown eyes.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Sephora - Sun Disk
JELo 11/24/2008 3:52:00 PM
This disk is huge and for the amount of product you get for the $$ ($18) it's a great value. BUT the color on me (NC35) was too orange. The worst part was that it broke my face out! Admittedly, I'm pretty acne-prone, but these were deep, painful, cystic bumps. I really wished this had worked because it was such a great bargain. Overall, I've been very disappointed in Sephora products :(
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Cover Girl - Volume Exact [DISCONTINUED]
JELo 9/4/2007 10:27:00 AM
LOVE THIS MASCARA! And that is saying a heck of a lot since I've tried (nearly) every mascara out there, high and low end. Love the brush and this is the blackest mascara I've found. Dries quickly and can clump a little but all volumizing mascaras do, that's part of the volumizing quality. Tried this because I was so impressed with Lash Exact but needed more thickening as opposed to definition. And I haven't been disappointed. My biggest mascara gripe is smudging and neither LE or VE smudge at all which is a miracle in and of itself!! Try this! Edit: Still like this alot but I have gone to L'Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -MAC - Plushglass - Posh It Up
JELo 4/27/2007 2:18:00 PM
Love, love, love this gloss! It's Nars Orgasm in a lip gloss. I am a NC35 and this is a perfect compliment to my very pigmented lips. It hydrates and lasts (considering it's gloss) and I love tingly lips. This is a HG product!!!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Bumble & Bumble - does it all styling spray
JELo 1/30/2007 5:09:00 PM
My first B&B product, and I hate to say, but I'm not impressed. First of all the smell made me nauseous and was so bad that I had to return it. Also, it really made my hair look oily and dull. I also had issues with tangles after using this. YUCK!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No