Hair -Got 2 Be - Rockin' It Encore Fresh Dry Shampoo
Jexka 4/30/2013 11:42:00 PM
I wasn't expecting too much from this dry shampoo, since it was the cheapest one my drugstore had in stock. But this stuff works so well! I have very oily hair, so skipping a day of shampooing is impossible for me without dry shampoo. This product never gave me any problems. It sprayed evenly and the tip never clogged, it has a nice, kind of fruity scent, and it absorbed my oil for the whole day. It does leave a little bit of a white cast, which isn't a huge issue for me since I have blonde hair, but it may be a little much for those with darker hair. I think if you really work the product in with your fingertips, though, you can probably get rid of most of the white color. Overall, this is one of the better dry shampoos I've tried, and it's only about $5, so definitely give this one a shot!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Aveeno - Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer spf15
Jexka 4/3/2013 2:40:00 AM
I grabbed a few samples of this from my dermatologist's office and I have been using this moisturizer consistently for the past few weeks. I'm not super picky with moisturizers, but this one is not one of my favorites. For the most part, this does what I want a moisturizer to do. It makes my face smooth and soft, and it's nice that it has SPF. However, I think the SPF is what causes some of my issues with this. To me, this really looks, smells, and feels like a typical sunscreen for the body. It has that thick, hard to spread feeling, and once it sets it feels a little greasy. It leaves a white cast if I apply too much, and it has that sunscreen smell that takes forever to fade. I haven't had any negative reactions to this, but it isn't as smooth and as easy to apply as I would like my moisturizers to be. I used up my sample tubes, but I won't be purchasing.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Mademoiselle
Jexka 4/3/2013 2:05:00 AM
This is an alright polish, but it's not really for me. I've heard a lot of great things about this shade, and while I'll admit it is nice, it's nothing spectacular. I used this the other day when I was staying at my grandma's house. I had an important meeting the next day and wanted to use a polish that would be neutral and look professional, so when I found this in her stash I decided to try it. Honestly, it is pretty good for a quick, easy, pretty much foolproof neutral manicure. The color is almost nonexistent -- this polish is basically clear, with just a little bit of milky pinkness to it. I used three coats to make my nails look polished, shiny, and glossy. I wish it had a little more color, but I think you could layer this all day long and it would never be totally opaque. I did have an issue with this bubbling very badly. It bubbled so much that a few of my nails actually feel bumpy, even with a top coat on. It's not noticeable from far away, but I definitely notice it and don't like it. I love color on my nails and I really don't like the look of bare nails, so this isn't for me. It would be a nice base for a French manicure, but I don't do those on myself so this shade would be worthless for me to buy myself. If you're very low maintenance with your nails and don't like to wear dramatic colors, then I would recommend this; just be careful with application to try to prevent the bubbling.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Makeup Remover -Hard Candy - Take it Off Makeup Remover Wipes 
Jexka 2/12/2013 12:48:00 AM
These might be the worst makeup remover wipes I've ever tried. I picked these up recently because I was out of town and had forgotten makeup remover, and I generally find Hard Candy products to be some of the best in the drugstore. Well, I was totally wrong about these. These wipes are incredibly thin and flimsy. They literally tear and fray at the edges when I use them. To make matters worse, they aren't well saturated at all. Maybe I got a bad pack, but mine were very dry. This meant I had to really rub at my face, causing even more rips in the wipes. I don't have a whole lot to say about these, other than the fact that they are very thin and just a pain to work with. The only reason I'm giving 2 lippies is because they do take off all makeup (just with a lot of work!), they don't irritate my skin at all, and they are totally unscented. They don't even have that "clean/unscented" smell, if you know what I mean. They seriously have no scent, which is good for some people. Overall, I don't recommend these. I'm not even sure I'll finish my pack because they just take too much work at the end of the day.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Biore - Facial Cleansing Cloths
Jexka 2/8/2013 11:35:00 PM
I got a sample of these wipes when I purchased another Biore product. I wasn't expecting too much from these wipes, but they're actually really great! I had on a full face of makeup today complete with liquid foundation, a smokey eye, and lots of liner and mascara, and the wipe took off everything very easily. With some wipes I have to rub pretty hard or go over the same spot on my face a few times to take everything off, but these took everything away with just one swipe. When I first opened the pack, I thought these seemed a little thin and I was worried they would tear like some wipes do. But these were surprisingly really sturdy, and also perfectly saturated. These smell a little alcohol-y, but not too strong. They did burn my eyes a little bit, but I think it's rare to find a good makeup remover that doesn't. They didn't irritate my face at all, though, and my face felt really clean and soft after I used these. I would still follow up with a cleanser, though. Overall, I'm really impressed with these and I will be buying a full-size package next time I run out of makeup remover! I definitely recommend these if you haven't tried them out yet.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Physicians Formula - Organic Wear Fake Out Mascara
Jexka 1/19/2013 1:19:00 AM
I so wish I could give this mascara a 5, because I actually really, really like it. I picked this up randomly and didn't have super high expectations for it, but I needed a new mascara and I really liked the packaging. I used it and I absolutely loved it. First of all, the formula is pretty dry, which I prefer. And this really did give a false lash effect for me. With 2 coats my lashes were super long, curled, had great volume and definition, and just looked amazing overall. I even wore this mascara to my college graduation, which is saying something because I wanted my makeup to look perfect that day. I never had issues with this smudging, clumping, or flaking off. So why only 3 lippies? Because this stuff dries out SOOO quickly. I only got to use this for a few weeks before it completely dried up and became unusable. The first two weeks or so this stuff was great; the last two weeks or so I was really pushing it to make this stuff work like it did in the beginning. I'm not sure if I got a bad tube or what, but I've heard that PF mascaras tend to dry up quickly, so I'm guessing it is the product overall, not just my tube. I'm really bummed that this dried up so quickly, because it really had the potential to be my favorite mascara ever. While I loved how it made my lashes look, I don't think it's worth it to have to pay $10-$12 for this every 3ish weeks when I have even cheaper mascaras that don't dry out for months. I might try more Physician's Formula mascaras in the future and hope for better luck, but I won't be buying this one again unless they can somehow resolve the drying out issue. :(
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Estee Lauder - Re-Nutriv Intensive Lifting Makeup
Jexka 1/19/2013 1:07:00 AM
This might be my favorite foundation ever. I never would have purchased this myself -- I'm a recent college graduate that does not have $80 to shell out on foundation. But my grandma had purchased this and ended up not liking it, so she gave it to me to try. And I love this stuff! I really wasn't expecting this to be so amazing, especially since it isn't exactly marketed towards people my age (21). But this foundation is seriously awesome. This comes in a jar with a little spatula to scoop the foundation out with. I don't love the packaging, but it was never too much of a hassle to work with. This stuff is really thick and has a pudding-like consistency. You really don't need very much to cover your whole face. If you over-apply this, it can be a little cakey and greasy-looking, so use this sparingly! When you use the right amount, this will cover any and all imperfections and give your skin a beautiful glow. The coverage of this foundation is the best part, in my opinion. I have never needed to use a concealer for any reason when wearing this. This wears well all day, even if I don't set it with a powder. It can feel a little thick and sticky right after applying, but once it sets, this foundation will last all day long. I've used up the jar I received, and I'm actually really bummed because I know I won't be able to purchase this myself anytime soon. It's just way too expensive. But the results are so beautiful! This is definitely going on my birthday list. :) If you have money to blow and you want a creamy, full-coverage foundation that will last all day and make you look gorgeous and glowy, check this out!!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Hard Candy - Flat to Fab
Jexka 1/19/2013 12:56:00 AM
This mascara is amazing! After not really loving another Hard Candy mascara, I decided to give this one a shot. I was hoping to like this, but I was not expecting to love it as much as I do! This mascara claims to give dramatic volume and curl. It does all that, and also adds a ton of length to my lashes. With just 2 coats of this, I can really get that false-lash effect. I used this pretty much every day because I like really dramatic lashes, but this was especially great for nights out when you really want your lashes to pop. I'll admit that this mascara took some getting used to. The brush is huge, and the barbell/hourglass shape of the brush was a little hard to handle at first. I ended up with lots of mascara on my lids the first few times I used this! The formula also started out being pretty wet, which didn't help matters. But in a few weeks this had dried up enough to make it much less messy and easier to use. Despite the fact that this was a pretty wet mascara, I never had problems with this smearing or smudging, and when this dried out a bit it never flaked, either. It would last all day, even through naps! I think this is a really underrated mascara, and I think more people need to check this out! If you like a lot of va-va-voom to your lashes, this stuff is fabulous!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Estee Lauder - Bronze Goddess
Jexka 1/19/2013 12:44:00 AM
I've been using this bronzer for years and years, mostly because it seems to come in every GWP that I get. I've actually never had to purchase it. I just used one up, and I have two more sitting in a drawer! Normally I'd complain about getting the same product sample over and over, but I love this bronzer. This is a matte bronzer, and although I can always see golden glitters in the pan, they do not show up at all on the face. The color is perfect for me...not dark and muddy looking, not too orange or red-based. This is one bronzer that I can use year round. It's dark enough that I can contour with it in the winter when I am more pale, and I can use it all over my face in the summer when I'm tan. I've never had an issue with this looking patchy or giving that "dirty bronzer" look, no matter what brush I use with this. Many bronzers I have require me to be very careful and use specific brushes, otherwise they look awful. This always looks flawless and natural. Like I said, I seem to always have one of these on hand, but if I ever actually needed to, I would definitely purchase this. I think this would make a great staple bronzer for anyone with light to medium skin tones.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Hard Candy - Just Face It - One Step Foundation
Jexka 12/11/2012 7:26:00 AM
I wanted to love this foundation so much, especially because I absolutely loved the Hard Candy tinted moisturizer, which is no longer being sold. When I realized the tinted moisturizer had been discontinued, I decided to try this hoping to like it just as much. But unfortunately, I kind of hate this. I'll admit that I do like a lot of things about this foundation. First of all, the pump packaging is great. It's easy to control how much comes out and it has never clogged or broken on me. I also like that the bottle is clear so you can tell when you're running low. The formula is also pretty nice on this. It's a liquid, but it almost feels a little moussey. It's relatively easy to blend, but you have to work quickly because it sets very fast. This gives medium to full coverage and it wears pretty well throughout the day. I have combination skin and I'll usually have to blot or apply powder once a day when wearing this. The biggest issue with this is that it creates these little flakes all over your face. At first I thought maybe it was accentuating my (minor) dry patches, but then I realized I was getting these flakes all over, and that the flakes can be picked off or rubbed in, so its definitely the foundation. I think it has to do with the fact that this claims to be a foundation as well as a powder. I think it's trying to dry to a powdery finish, and is leaving these little flakes everywhere. It's hard to explain, but they're really noticeable and look awful. It looks like I have insanely dry skin or like I have some skin disease. It's gross, and it's impossible to get rid of all the little flakies. I tried everything...Using different primers underneath, using different setting powders, applying with different brushes, mixing with other foundations, mixing with moisturizers...Nothing worked. I ended up tossing the bottle, which I very rarely do. I can usually find some way to make a product work, but the flakes were a big no-go for me. I buy a foundation to make my skin look flawless, not nasty! I also want to mention the color choices are a little off. I'm about an NW 20, and in the store it looked like either Fair or Light would match me. I almost went with Fair, but I got Light since it was the beginning of the summer. Turns out Light was a little too light for me! I think Medium would have matched better, and that's the second darkest color they offer. So definitely no options for darker women. I'm glad a lot of people seem to like this, but I would keep your receipt if you purchase this just in case you have the issues I had.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Estee Lauder - More Than Mascara
Jexka 12/11/2012 6:08:00 AM
This is a nice mascara, but it's not for me. I've received this as a GWP many times and I always use this up, but it just doesn't give me what I want from a mascara. This is a super natural mascara. No matter how much you try to build this, you're not going to get extreme length or volume. Estee Lauder claims that this is a defining and conditioning mascara, and it definitely is just that and nothing more. If you wear minimal makeup and just want your lashes to look a little nicer, I'd recommend this. If you're like me and like dramatic lashes, I'd look elsewhere for a mascara. Even though this doesn't give me what I like, it's still a really great product. The brush is really nice and the formula is very clean, if that makes sense. It never clumps up on the bristles or gets goopy. It feels light and soft when applying, and when I wear this my lashes feel really soft all day long. It's also very easy to remove, since your lashes aren't dry and crunchy at the end of the day. The only problem with the formula is that it does tend to smudge a lot, especially in warmer weather. Another plus is that this mascara never seems to dry out, so even though it's a little expensive, a tube should last a long time. I'd give this a 3.5 if I could, because it's really not bad at all, it's just not my favorite. Like I said, if you like soft, natural lashes, give this a shot.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Urban Decay - Urban FX liquid liner
Jexka 12/11/2012 4:27:00 AM
This product looked so amazing in the tube, so I was really disappointed that the color did not transfer well onto the lids at all. In the tube, this is a gorgeous silver liner with tons of holographic glitter. It's seriously beautiful -- I would catch myself just spinning the tube around in the light to see all the different colors! But like I said, that color did not translate at all onto the eyes. The liner is actually a clear base loaded with the glitter. I wish the base would have been silver for a more dramatic effect. The wand is very thin and flimsy, and it didn't pick up much product. The product it did pick up always applied very patchy, and I'd have to go over the line multiple times to get a solid color. Once I did get a solid line of color, the holographic effect was not noticeable at all! It just looked like any other glittery silver liner.This was super disappointing, and even worse, this dried out very quickly. Not worth the high price at all, and I'm glad UD wised up and got rid of this product.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Ponds - Evening Soothe Cleansing Towelettes
Jexka 12/10/2012 1:52:00 AM
I really like these facial wipes. I've tried many different brands and types (including other Ponds wipes), and these might be one of the best. They have a nice chamomile scent that can be a little strong, and the scent does linger on your face for a while, but I like it. If you're really sensitive to fragrance, though, these could be a little overpowering. I usually have an issue with face wipes that have just the sticky flap closure. Most of the time, the sticky part stops sticking and the wipes will dry out. While the pack didn't close as well towards the end of the package, the last wipe was still just as saturated as the first, which was great. These aren't so moist that they leave your face feeling wet and sticky. I think they're perfectly saturated to remove makeup really easily. The wipes are good quality, unlike some that are so thin that they rip and tear when you wipe. They're softly quilted and remove about 98% of my makeup, including eyeliner and mascara. Sometimes there will just be a tiny bit of leftover makeup that didn't quite come off with these alone. These really don't irritate my eyes, and you don't have to scrub your face too hard to get the makeup off (and sometimes I wear a lot!). I had no issues with these making me break out or making my skin more dry/more oily when I used this, which is another huge plus. I'm kind of a makeup wipe junkie (not sure why, it's kind of a boring product really!), so I've already bought a few different brands to try. But I can definitely see myself coming back to these in the future. I definitely recommend these if you want quick and easy makeup removal.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Clothes -Victoria's Secret - General Opinion
Jexka 12/9/2012 10:25:00 PM
I do like Victoria's Secret in general. I've been shopping there for years, and I will continue to do so. However, there are some issues I have with the brand overall. First off, I do really like their bras. I find them to be some of the best quality bras I've bought. They always fit true to size, and they last me a long time. I used to wash and dry my bras in a machine (I don't anymore), and I would still have VS bras last me for years. I also love their panties. I love getting the Free Panty coupons a few times a year in the mail, especially because there is no purchase necessary with those. I wish more companies would offer things like that. The PINK Seamless Panties and the Sport Panties are probably the most comfortable underwear I've ever worn. I also like their cotton panties, and I've tried many of their different ranges of underwear over the years with few issues. I also enjoy their fragrances and lotions. They aren't really that unique or anything I'd die without, but most that I have tried smell really good and they often have sales or gift sets where you can get lotions and sprays for cheaper than other similar stores, like Bath and Body Works. Now onto the not-so-good things...As stated, I like their bras, but the prices are crazy to me. Most of their bras are $48+, and as a poor college student, I really cannot afford that. I also have issues with the bras offered in my size. I'm a 36DD, and while a wide variety of bras in my size are offered online, in-store I usually can hardly find any that fit. I prefer to do my shopping in-store, and I generally end up with a pretty boring bra, to be honest. They have so many cute bras in-store for smaller sizes, but for me it's either just a plain, basic white/black/nude fuller-coverage bra or some crazy extreme push-up, which I don't understand. I already have big boobs, I don't need them to look bigger! And the associates always try to push the "sister size" on me (I think 38D for me)...That does not work! A 38 strap is too wide and will bunch up and fall down, and my boobs will spill out of the cup! I hate when they always try to push that. Regarding the panties, sometimes sizing can be inconsistent. 90% of the time, I'm a Medium in all VS panties, but every now and then I'll try a different style and it will be insanely small. I can't really comment on their clothes because I've never tried any. The catalog usually has some things that look nice, but I hate buying clothes online because I don't know of the fit and quality. All my local VSs offer is PINK hoodies and sweats and PJs, which are super tacky and overpriced, imo. I've seen PINK stuff look cute on some girls, but blinged out sweatshirts and sweatpants with LOVE PINK across the butt isn't my style. I'd rather get a plain pair from Target or even WalMart for less than half the price. Also, I mentioned I freaking love the PINK Seamless Panties, but why do they have to make them so obnoxious? I was sifting through the pile one day and they say things like "Spank Me" and "Harder" on the butt, or things like "Pucker Up" on the crotch. Really? Come on. I'm sorry, but that's trashy. I really dislike VS makeup. I've tried some eyeshadows, some lipglosses, and some lipsticks, and all were not the best quality. The biggest issue was how SPARKLY they were. Every single thing I've tried looks pretty in the pan/tube, but when applied it's just crazy obnoxious. I'm only 21 and I love me some glitter, but everything I've tried is just unwearable. Finally, my biggest issue with VS is the customer service. Nearly every time I visit a store, I am ignored or treated pretty rudely. I'm a really pleasant customer, I'm never rude or annoying with my questions or anything like that, but the associates always act like they have something much better to do than help me. I've literally stood around for 15+ minutes in a store just waiting for someone to come around to help me with a quick question, but all of the associates are always standing around talking to each other and ignoring the customers. And the associates cannot do a bra fitting to save their lives. I've been measured from a 34B to a 34C. No freaking way can I fit into that! I'm sure some of the girls (and guys) that work there are nice, but they all just seem rude and not well-trained to me. So I'm kinda half and half on VS. I'll definitely continue to buy bras, panties, and fragrances from time to time, but it isn't my favorite store on the planet. I'm hoping I can find a better lingerie store in the future with better customer service and that fits my needs better.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Urban Decay - heavy metal glitter liner (in general)
Jexka 12/8/2012 1:50:00 PM
I bought 3 of these a while back and they were such a waste of money. I generally like Urban Decay products and I thought these would be really fun to try out, but I found these very difficult to work with. I bought Air Guitar (turquoise-y blue), Catfight (bright pink), and Metal Head (medium bright purple). The colors looked great in the tube, but it wasn't until I got them home and tried them out that I realized these are a clear base with colored glitter, not a colored base with added glitter. That was my fault, but I figured they would still work well. Nope. The brush is very thin and flimsy and does not pick up enough product. The product it does pick up is not evenly distributed on the brush, so when you swipe it on your eye it's very patchy. If I try to immediately add another layer of liner to even out the patchiness, it just spreads the glitter around because the liner is still too wet. Basically, I have to apply one patchy coat, wait 5+ minutes for it to completely dry, apply another coat, wait for that to dry, etc. until the glitter is in an even line. This generally takes 3-6 coats, which is way more than I have time for. Also, since the base is clear, these are never really completely opaque. I have to layer these over either a white eyeliner or a liner in a similar color. Alone or even over shadow, these just look a little funny. These take forever to dry out, which is good if you like them, but once they get old they get an awful fishy smell. I guess that's not so bad since you know when to toss them, but it kinda grossed me out the first time I noticed it. I would definitely skip these. I'll admit I often get compliments when I wear these, but they're just way too annoying to work with and definitely not worth the price.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No