Mascara -Yves Saint Laurent - Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils
Lauralena 2/3/2010 10:45:00 AM
LURVES this! Before I tried this, I've been using Dior Iconic topped with Dior Show. And I'll probably still use those. But two coats of Faux Cils made my eyelashes even longer than those two Diors combined (granted, the Faux Cils was brand-new; the other two I've had for about a month already). Another plus: It comes in Burgundy (which I bought). I have brown eyes with flecks of gold, and the Burgundy really brought out the gold, making my eyes look more gold, even slightly greenish! Yes, it's majorly expensive, but it's worth it to me to get that false-eyelash look. Especially considering how I've read how this dries out quickly, I will probably purchase it on eBay, where I've seen it for considerably less. Will be searching eBay for the Burgundy color.
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Hair Removal -Unlisted Brand - Smooth Away hair removing pads
Lauralena 2/25/2009 9:25:00 PM
One word: SUCKS! Like the prior reviewer, I have sensitive skin. It took me forever to get the hair off my legs, and it hurt! It didn't even work on my underarms or bikini area. It hurt like sandpaper and didn't remove ANY hair in those areas. I got on eBay, so it cost next to nothing—for a nothing product.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Christian Dior - Diorshow Iconic High Definition Lash Curler Mascara
Lauralena 2/25/2009 9:20:00 PM
LURVES this!!! The closest I've come to "false eyelashes" in a mascara. First I curl my eyelashes with a Shu Uemura eyelash curler, then immediately apply this mascara (I use black). It is totally nongloppy and really holds the curl. I love the way it makes the lashes at my outer corners fan out! For extra oomph, I apply regular Show in black to make my lashes thicker and stand out even more. Yes, it's pricey, but it's worth it to me to have great doe eyes!!!
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Lip Gloss -Cargo - Lip Gloss Quad in South Beach
Lauralena 11/10/2008 2:17:00 PM
GORGEOUS colors, but as is the problem with Cargo, very little staying power. And I'm not crazy about appying the gloss with my finger. (What do you do? Wipe it off with a tissue each time?) As for the tin, at least once the top has come off in my bag. BUT I will buy it again as the colors are so beautiful, I'm willing to put up with everything else, and that's saying a lot.
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Eye Shadow -Givenchy - Prisme Again Eye Shadow Quartet - Purple Emotion
Lauralena 10/5/2007 7:23:00 PM
Okay, I'm going out to a club tonight, so I went downstairs to my nearby Sephora to make myself up (as is my ritual). I went to the Givenchy station to try on a lipstick (Rouge Interdit Satin Lipstick in Only Beige, which was gorgeous, but is too similar to M.A.C. Cherish, which I already own). Amyway, I spotted this Purple Emotion quad and decided to give my eyes the smoky look using just the plum shade. I have very pale skin, very dark brown hair, and soft brown eyes. I've worn purple eye shadow before (was never a big fan; thought it was cheap-looking), but this eye shadow color was MAGIC. I swear: IT MADE MY EYES LOOK GREEN!!!! It's a very intense color, and I don't know if I'd wear it during the day (I guess I could, but much less of it and with much less intensity—I'd have to blend it really well). And unlike purples of my past, it doesn't look like something I bought at one of those beauty-supply stores for $1. How can I describe it? It's intense and startling, yet sophisticated and expensive looking. Anyway, just this color makes me want to go back and buy the quad. The other colors looked gorgeous, too, but I'm in love with this plum!!! P.S. So I left Sephora wearing Laura Mercier oil-free tinted moisturizer in Porcelain, the aforementioned lipstick and eye shadow by Givenchy, Nars blush in Orgasm, and Christian Dior Show Blackout Mascara. I was ready to rock!
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Lip Gloss -Smashbox - Lipgloss in 35mm
Lauralena 10/2/2007 3:59:00 PM
Yeah, what she said! I discovered this gloss in an "our favorites" display at Sephora. I have very dark hair and eyes and very pale skin. So many lip glosses and lipsticks either make me look too washed out or tend to be garish. This color was perfect: a shimmery bronze-like color that slightly deepens my natural lip color and really makes me lips look fuller. It's like a nude with "oomph." The consistency is amazing. You have to reapply after eating, but I guess that's true with virtually every gloss. The tube is a real skinny rectangle—great for carrying around. Definitely my new HG lip gloss!
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Treatments (Eye) -BeneFit Cosmetics - Ooh la lift!
Lauralena 9/11/2007 3:53:00 PM
Loved this! Instantly brightened my eye area. I don't have lines or wrinkles under my eyes, but sometimes (mainly due to stress and/or not enough sleep) I have dark circles and some puffiness. This stuff makes it vanish immediately, and it's invisible, unlike traditional cover-up concealers, which can look thick, cakey, or otherwise obvious. I don't know if using it every day has a cumulative effect, but I put it on whenever I can remember to. It feels good, too! A nice cooling effect. A +++! P.S. I put it on at least a half hour AFTER I've applied my mascara and am careful not to get it too close to my lower lashes. Probably because of this, I haven't had a problem with smudging.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Shu Uemura - Eyelash Curler
Lauralena 7/5/2007 5:47:00 PM
Have been using this for three days. It's the first time I've owned/used an eyelash curler, and I bought this one, as a lot of people say it's the best. I have pretty long lashes (I use Talika eyelash gel, which is great) and use Dior Show mascara. Before that, I put on a coat of Sephora curling mascara, which acts as my primer, and aids in holding the curl (I think so, anyway). I DO have a problem curling my outer lashes (hence my 4-lippie rating, rather than 5). But maybe that will come with experience, as I try it at different angles. A few questions: 1. How is it possible to curl just the outer lashes, once everything else is curled? (Note that I do just my top lashes; I don't bother with the bottom ones.) 2. How do you know when to replace the rubber pads? 3. How do you replace them? Are the pads sold separately? 4. Is it damaging to my eyelashes to use this every day?
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Polishes -Creative Nail Design - Fedora
Lauralena 5/8/2007 12:37:00 PM
I agree with most everyone here about the long drying time. But I give it a 5 because I'm a PPP, and of all the REALLY dark colors (such as Opi's Lincoln Park After Dark and Creative Nail Design's Limited Edition and Nail Noir), this color (brown based rather than purple based) has really been the most flattering.
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Eyes -Talika - EyeLash Conditioning Gel
Lauralena 8/13/2006 2:04:00 AM
This stuff is expensive ($35) and hard to find (some Sephoras have it; you can get it at Sephora.com; its official name is Talika Eyelash Lipocils) . But, believe me, it's worth it. After learning about it on another beauty Web site, I decided to give it a try. At first, I used it morning and night for the first 28 days, as directed. Thereafter I've applied it only apply it at bedtime. My lashes DEFINITELY became longer, lusher, and more plentiful. No, you're not growing more lashes. What it does is condition your existing lashes (and possibly the area from where they emerge), allowing them to be stronger. They will grow to their maximum length and will be less likely to fall out. Therefore, it is maximizing your eyelash potential. My lashes look terrifically long. However, since my hair is very dark and my natural lashes are brown, I top them with black Christian Dior MaximEyes and/or Christian Dior Show mascara. I get so many compliments on my lashes. It's as if they're false eyelashes. Oh, and although the bottle is small (10 ml/.35 oz), it lasts a long time (if you use it once a day, as I am)! I bought my first tube MONTHS ago and am still using it. TRICK: Don't apply it like mascara (i.e., sweeping it from the base up); just close your eyes, then take the wand and press it against the base of your eyelashes (once for each eye). When I open my eyes, I see that all the lashes are coated. It's clear, so to test if there's actually stuff on the wand, every once in a while, press it against your inner arm to see if any gel is reflected. (I know I'm ready to start a new tube as although I know from my test that there is still gel left in the tube, the brush is starting to feel abrasive.) P.S. Last week I was happy to see that the Sephora at Broadway between 43rd and 44th Streets in N.Y.C. now has it in stock after not having it since I first started looking for it. The salesgirl said so many people have been clamoring for it, that now it's now back. So here's one store where you can buy it if you don't want to go online.
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Christian Dior - Maximeyes [DISCONTINUED]
Lauralena 3/31/2006 2:28:00 PM
I love, love, LURVE this mascara. I bought it after reading the many four/five-Lippie reviews on this board. I bought the black, as I have very dark hair and eyes (and pale skin). It curls, lengthens, volumizes. Definitely my new HG mascara! Because I like to put on several coats, I start with Maybelline Sky High Curves as a base. This way I can make the expensive CD mascara last longer. My lashes look curled, voluminous, xtra long. I have received many compliments. It's like wearing false eyelashes without having to go through the bother. It is my new HG mascara!
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Primer/ Corrector -LORAC - Oil-Free Neutralizer
Lauralena 3/16/2006 9:54:00 PM
I'm a PPP with WHITE skin and dark hair. But I have these damned pink cheeks. Not rosacea, just a tad flushed. And I know it's obvious when friends and coworkers say things like, "And it goes so nice with your pink cheeks." Well, if my cheeks are going to be pink, I'll be the one to decide when and how pink, TYVM. So I went into a Sephora and the salesgirl told me that that was the best neutralizer by far and that it was oil free, which I liked. I've only used this for about a week, and—and a number of review here have backed me up on this—it took me a while till I discovered the best method of application. What I do is, first I apply my daytime moisturizer. Then I apply the Lorac to my cheeks, patting my cheeks gently and blending like crazy around the edges. I let the whole thing dry while I finish getting dressed. Then, once it's dry, I apply my foundation (Chanel Teint Fluide Universel—my favorite foundation!!!—in Cameo). It obliterates the pink completely!!! Okay, so why not five lippies? First, I hate the pump. Way too much comes out in one pump, which I wind up wiping off my fingers. So it's a waste. Second, and again, maybe I'm not applying it right, but the makeup (Lorac + foundation) on my cheeks looks a tad thick, if you're way up close. Third, by the end of the day, I see that damn pink a-shinin' through. I think I need to revisit Sephora and learn the best way to apply this. But despite this, I love this product and will continue to use it.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Lancome - L -extreme Mascara
Lauralena 3/16/2006 9:40:00 PM
At first I LOVED this mascara. It made my eyes look as if I were wearing false eyelashes. But the love affair lasted only about a week. I don't know if it was the mascara's drying out or that I developed an allergy, but because of the fibers I felt within the first hour or so of putting it on that I had something in my eyes. My eyes would be burning like crazy. (Granted, I wear contacts; maybe I should stay away from fiber mascaras all togheter.) It's also very goopy going on. Blink or sneeze within the first few minutes of putting it on and it's a mess. Really difficult to clean up smears that I tended to get under my lower lashes. Difficult as hell to take off at night. THEN I learned that Lancome tests on animals. Forget it. I will not buy this mascara again.
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