Scrubs -Olay - Regenerist Microdermabrasion and Peel Kit
Kimberlyj33110 5/2/2013 7:17:00 PM
One of my all time favorite repeat drugstore buys. IMO this is pretty close to HG. I have tried countless others, and this does the trick for a lot less. I mainly use the scrub only and not the peel second step because I use RAM. I would love to try Exfolikate or Dr.Brandts Microdermabrasian and am curious how those work in comparison but haven't been able to take the plunge just yet :) Overall though, the Olay kit is a fabulous drugstore bargin buy.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Unlisted Brand - Revlon Orofluido - Beauty Elixir 
Kimberlyj33110 5/2/2013 7:07:00 PM
The scent is heavenly, but that's about the only nice thing I can say about Orofluido. To me, it was thick, and didn't absorb very well into my hair, it just kind of sat on top. I did go into this purchase with the knowledge of previous reviewers complaints, but bought it anyways because of my hair being so dry. The silicones don't bother me, I need cones for my hair type ( fine, but coarse and naturally curly) but this seemed to be way more cones than necessary for a hair 'oil'. I also have Shu's oil, and cream oil as well as Kerastase Elixer both the original and the one for damaged hair and they are far superior to Orofluido.
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Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Now-100% Vegetable Glycerine
Kimberlyj33110 4/30/2013 11:57:00 AM
Thanks to you MUAer's I found this :) Jojoba and avocado oils have been my moisturizers for a year or so and have worked wonderfully. But I needed a boost since moving to a drier climate. Vegetable glycerine is awesome, has made my skin feel plump and hydrated. I have been using it for a couple of days and the difference is remarkable. My dry flakey retin-a patches ( worse now indrier climate) Glowy, plump, smooth skin that doesn't need as much foundation. And the best part? This stuff is DIRT CHEAP.
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Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - AmLactin 12%
Kimberlyj33110 4/30/2013 11:19:00 AM
HG for me. Most moisterizers are just fluff, they are loaded with preservatives and other ingredients that don't do much but smell good. This moisturizer DOES something. I have moderate KP, it gets really bad on my upper legs and this is the only thing that helps. A day without this, my skin feels rough. I am considering purchasing the Ultra though since I move to a drier climate.
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Liquid -Guerlain - Parure de Lumière
Kimberlyj33110 4/24/2013 12:06:00 PM
Since relocating to Denver I have been dealing with "surprise" dry patches that appear after I set my foundation, soooo annoying. So not only did I have to seek out some alternate skincare, i felt i needed a more moisterizing foundation as well.So the 15% VIB coupon had its way with me and i took the plunge.This is by far the most expensive foundation I have ever purchased. But it is LOVE <3 Formula & Coverage: It feels beautiful going on almost like a good moisterizer (and the scent is very luxurious :) and it is buildable in a fool proof way, kinda like Diorskin Nude. The finish is glowy, and my skin just looks so smooth after applying. Using my fingers, it is easy to spread and I used about a pump to a pump and a half. I have not yet experimented with brushes but I will keep you posted. I wouldn't say it fits in quite with the cliche "your skin but better" because of the thicker texture but it makes my skin very glowy and radiant. **** If you have oily skin, I defiantly wouldn't recommend because of the texture and the luminosity. Color: I went with #2 though my concern was it would be too pink after looking at swatches/ reading reviews online.My skin tends to be on the pinker side so I try to downplay that with a more neutral or yellow based foundation.To my pleasent surprise it is actually more neutral on me than pink. ( For refrence the foundations currently in my drawer include LM Silk Creme in Cream Ivory, Kevyn Aucoin SSE in SX03 & SX 06, MUFE HD 117, Diorskin Nude in 020, MUFE F&B #32, my beloved Givenchy in #5, with the Dior being the best match) I have also owned Mac Studio Fix NC 20 and this is less yellow but the same tone family. Hands down Parure is the best foundation I own!
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Liquid -Yves Saint Laurent - Teint Touche Eclat Foundation
Kimberlyj33110 8/17/2012 11:40:00 PM
Was disappointed with this. Wasn't long lasting, and was more of a light coverage rather than medium. I am lazy when it comes to foundation. I like a good, buildable medium foundation with a natural finish. I also like it to be "effortless" in a sense where I don't need to keep piling it on to cover up a few uneven spots. Spending forever covering my problem areas with a concealer is too time consuming for me as well. So this didn't measure up to what I would consider ideal. So far, I love MUFE HD, MUFE Lift and Givenchy Photperfexion. They are effortless in a sense where you have the option to add more or less coverage without cakiness or having to use too much product. Sadly this YSL is too sheer to do any of that. For those of you who have near perfect skin, have the time/patience to deal with a concealer if need be, love a sheer dewy look and like the coverage of a tinted moisterizer go for it. You won't be disappointed. The price tag is high, but I can see where a lot of people would like this. Unfortunately it just isn't for me.
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Makeup Brushes -Sephora - Professionnel Platinum Air Brush #56
Kimberlyj33110 8/17/2012 11:18:00 PM
I own several HE/drugstore foundation brushes, and have tried many. ( Mac 187, Sheseido, samantha chapman stippling to name a few)This may be in my top 3. My very favorite Louise Young foundation brush has a competitor. I love love love my LY to pieces but I find it hard to get into places like my nose, under my eyes, etc. So I have to use my sephora airbrush concealer brush to finish the job. Which works, but also makes one more brush to clean. The #56 eliminates the need for 2 brushes. Blends effortlessly, cleans easily. Perfect for my busy mornings, LOVE.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -NARS - Bali
Kimberlyj33110 8/17/2012 11:04:00 PM
I tried to restrain myself from buying yet another taupe shadow, but easily gave in the second saw how beautifully this swatched on my NC25ish skin. The Sephora lunchbug bit me lol.The formula is smooth and blendable, not chalky at all. Yes it is a little pricy but the amount you of product you get for the $ makes this a great value for a HE shadow. Love this as a crease color and smokey lower lash line color. Wears well, very pigmented.Would defiantly purchase Nars shadow again.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Shu Uemura - Eyelash Curler
Kimberlyj33110 8/16/2012 8:41:00 PM
I have been wanting one of these since the day I walked into Sephora about 2 years ago and found out Shu would no longer be sold in the US. In need of an eyelash curler I took the SA's advice and bought the (supposedly) "next best thing", in her opinion the Tweezerman gold curler. The price point is the same, but i now know the quality is UNMATCHED. For the past few years I have been getting okay results with the Tweezerman, and grew content. But of course my beauty product shopaholicness overtook me one day after I pinched my upper eyelid with my Tweezerman Gold...OUCH! . I gave in and ordered the Shu one online, patiently waited a week for it to arrive along with my eyeshadows and couldn't be happier. There is just something distinctly different about the feel, the way it grips your lashes it dosent pinch or crimp them. I can go over them 3 times for a dramatic lifted look. No 90 degree crimp mark or pinching. Simply fab. An HG for sure and a lifetime staple. Now if they could just maybe have counters in the US again....that would be rrreeaalllyyy nice because every product I have tried from them is divine :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Yves Saint Laurent - Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking Mascara
Kimberlyj33110 7/21/2012 4:23:00 PM
Like movie sequals, makeup sequals never seem to be as good as the original. In a huge mascara phase right now. I would consider buying this again if it did not flake so much and didn't dry out three weeks after purchasing. Maybe i got a bad tube? But, for $30 I have tried better. Will stick to the original Faux Cils.
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Mascara -Christian Dior - Diorshow Black Out Mascara
Kimberlyj33110 7/21/2012 4:16:00 PM
Kind of disappointed with this one. Color: pretty black, but not as black as it is made out to be. To me, Chanel Inimitables Intense is more pigmented. Formula: Thick, wet Brush: nothing special, a little fatter than your normal wand Wearability: in humid weather it seems to leave a ring around my eyes If the formula didn't smudge, was more pigmented,and if you could apply it without wiping it a million times on the side of the tube before applying....then maybe I would buy it again. Not worth it.
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Nails -Unlisted Brand - Red Carpet Manicure System
Kimberlyj33110 7/21/2012 10:56:00 AM
Overall i would purchase this again, but i would strongly recommend not purchasing this if you are not a patient person. Practice, patience and nailing down a good technique is the key with this kit. As others have mentioned the formula does make it a challange to apply the thin even coats most UV polishes require. How I have managed to get around the formula are a clean up brush ready with the pink "erase" nearby, and technique. So here is my routine: After applying the Prep, the next step is Structure. This formula is especially gooey. So I apply the thinnest coat possible, and then wipe off the brush completely, then go back over each nail to kind of pick up the extra product.( It is kind of nice the formula stays workable until it is cured with a UV light, so you are able to do this without it drying up.) When I get to the color step, I like to mix RCM Nervous With Anticipation (Sheer natural pink) and Simply Adorable (creamy pastel pink) on my fingers. I again do the the clean brush thing, but also kind of push the brush back and forth on my nails to blend the two color together. Between coats i always run the brush dipped with erase along the edge of where the nail and skin meet to keep the formula from oozing. Making the coats too thick is always what makes mine peel, i have also been able to peel off my manicure after a few days. The cause was usually thick coats (looking at a profile of your nail you can always tell if it looks too thick) and the surface of my nail not being dehydrated enough. Sometimes I do the prep step twice just to be sure I got all the residue from lotions, etc. The instructions state to remove the natural shine from your nail so I find it helpful to (briefly) run a coarse grit file over the nail surface followed by a fine buffing block for extra grip. Use same technique on my toes.Great product though. Pratice makes perfect !
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Hair -Kerastase - Masquintense - Fine Hair
Kimberlyj33110 7/14/2012 10:03:00 PM
HG. A guaranteed good hair day every time I use it. I have fine hair with a coarse texture that can't decide if it's curly or straight. My hair is transformed from dull/dry to something out of a commercial... SUPER SHINY light, frizz free and deliciously scented. Expensive, but since a little goes a long way not so bad. Was lucky and got it in a special packaged deal with a deluxe trial of Bain 2 and Nector Thermique. Worth every cent.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -BeneFit Cosmetics - HOOLA
Kimberlyj33110 6/30/2012 4:58:00 PM
A perfect neutral looking bronze color, not orange/dark/muddy/streaky like many others on my NC25ish skin. Very matte, not a sparkle in sight which i love. I apply this using my Bobbi Brown bronzing brush (the one that comes with it sucks so don't judge this based on using the scratchy brush or you will hate it). Love this, have repurchased several times.
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Makeup Brushes -MAC - #217 Blending
Kimberlyj33110 6/29/2012 11:16:00 PM
I use this daily to apply crease color, and it picks up and deposits the right amount of color in just the right spot.I much prefer the 224 to blend more throughly, but the 217 works magic when it comes to a precise blend of crease colors. We have all tried those cheapies that come with kits that dont hold color well,and leave a mess on your face. This is at the exact opposite end of the spectrum. Its everything you want an eyeshadow brush to be: it's practically effortless with now great it picks up color, the bristles are super soft, As with MOST Mac brushes quality is high, craftsmanship superior. Price? We all know quality brushes like this are expensive, but if taken care of properly they can last you years, and this one is no exception. You will be glad you spent the $ Seriously lemming another....
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No