Eye Shadow -BeneFit Cosmetics - Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner - Skinny Jeans
LeanneMM 2/21/2011 10:18:00 AM
I bought this color and Gossip a few months ago, and, while I liked the staying power of them, found that when I applied them with my fingertip, I ended up with uneven and sort of spotty-looking coverage. That being said, I recently discovered an amazing tutorial by Lisa Eldridge (if you search her name and "Quick Smokey Eye" you'll find it on You Tube) that makes doing a smokey eye with these so easy. I've been using her technique with Skinny Jeans and then a dab of Gossip on top, and it looks amazing and is so simple to do! Also, I always use a primer underneath these (either Too Faced or Urban Decay) and they remain pretty creaseless on my oily lids.
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Top/Base Coats -OPI - RapiDry Top Coat
LeanneMM 2/11/2011 8:45:00 PM
Wow -- I'm surprised at all the negative reviews here! I've tried Seche Vite, Poshe, OPI's regular top coat, and some of the other brands out there, but this has been the best top coat I've ever used. Usually five or ten minute after I get to work, I end up with a big chip in my polish and it's all nicked up by the end of the day, but this stuff has given me the best staying power I've ever had. In the past few days, I've gone to work, cleaned out, and even worked out, and I don't even have a chip or nick. I'm totally blown away by this. To help with lasting power, I also use CND's Stickey base coat, which always seems to help my polish last longer. A coat of Stickey, two coats of polish, and a coat of this OPI product seems to do the trick. The price on this was high, but I will definitely re-purchase since I've never used a top coat this good.
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Cleansers -La Roche Posay - Effaclar Deep Cleansing Foaming Cream
LeanneMM 9/23/2010 10:26:00 AM
If you're familiar with Leslie Baumann's book _The Skin Type Solution_, this is one of the face washes she recommends for oily skin. Since I also have sensitive skin (my skin type is OPWS), I was worried that it would be too drying for me, but I really do like this! The foaming action is definitely more subtle than other foaming cleansers I've used, but it suds up nicely and has a light, pleasant scent that is non-irritating. Since it contains salicylic acid, it's designed for oily and acne-prone skin. I don't have acne (just the occasional pimple), but do have that classic oily T-zone, and this seems to help reduce the shine. What I also like about this is that it is excellent at removing makeup; when I wipe a cotton pad with toner over my face after cleansing with this, no makeup residue is left on the cotton pad. Since I am worried about this being too drying, especially as winter approaches, I will probably save this for nighttime use since it does an excellent job at removing makeup, and use something a bit gentler in the morning. I can also see this tube lasting a really long time since you only need a small amount of product to wash your whole face. The price is high, but I will definitely re-purchase it when I run out since it works so well.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Bumble & Bumble - Straight
LeanneMM 8/21/2010 5:08:00 PM
The new stylist I've been going to the last year has been using this on me, but I hadn't purchased it since I have a drawer of silkening products (Biosilk, Chi, B&B Defrizz) that I thought did the same thing. Based on the positive reviews I read on Makeup Alley, I finally decided to splurge on this and used it for the first time today. Wow! This really is like a miracle in a tube for straightening out my thick, wavy hair. It left my hair sleek and shiny, without any frizz, and my hair feels so soft. It also is making my dyed gray hairs lie down and behave. I honestly don't think I will need to even use my flat iron. Also, if you check out the B&B website, there is a decent video for this product that gives you a rough idea of how much to use in your hair and how to use it (not on roots as much, but rather from the middle of the strands down). The model in the video has really long hair and they used a lot of product on her, so I used about half that amount on my hair (a few inches below my ears) and it worked well. Yes, this is pricey, but I'm kicking myself for not having tried it sooner! Wonderful product!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Funbathing
LeanneMM 6/1/2010 5:56:00 PM
I stopped by the MAC counter today when I was at Nordie's to check out the collection, and this was the last lippie I picked up to try out. In the tube, it looks like a scary dark color for summer (especially on my NC 15 skin), which is why it was the last one I picked up. However, once I tried it on, I loved it the most of the new beach collection lippies! It's got a beautiful rosy sheen to it, and looks very summery and pretty. I had really wanted to pick up a gloss since lipstick seems so heavy to me for summer, but the Creamsheen formulation is nice and light, and all of the lovely sparkles in it make it look almost like a gloss. It's got the staying power of a lipstick, but the shine of a gloss. The tube it comes in also so adorable! It's so cute for summer. I think that I will be picking up a backup of this!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Bobbi Brown - Gel Eyeliner
LeanneMM 5/7/2010 11:29:00 AM
I bought two of these (Black Mauve Shimmer and Black) over a year ago, and can't believe that I haven't written a review for them! In the time I've had both pots, they have stayed fresh and have not dried out at all. While more expensive than drugstore brands like L'Oreal, the fact that it stays soft and fresh makes the higher price worth it for me. This BB eyeliner lasts all day and does not budge! It's my go-to eyeliner for my 12-hour work days. In fact, last month, I worked 12 hours and then headed to a concert afterwards; when I got home past midnight, this eyeliner was still perfectly in place! The pure black color can sometimes feel a bit harsh on me to wear to work, so I tend to wear Black Mauve Shimmer more since it's a bit softer-looking. I'd been using the BB eyeliner brush with this, but recently picked up the Sonia Kashuk bent brush from Target, and love the SK brush even more -- and it was only $7! I usually dab the brush in the pot, smear a bit on the back of my hand to get the globs off of the brush, and then apply, dipping back into the smudge on my hand to add more to the brush. The MUA I bought this from said that this was the easiest way to apply it, and it works great.
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Eyeliner -Bobbi Brown - longwear gel liner in black mauve
LeanneMM 5/7/2010 11:26:00 AM
I've had this eyeliner for over a year, and can't believe that I haven't written a review for it! In the time I've had it, it has stayed fresh and has not dried out at all. While more expensive than drugstore brands like L'Oreal, the fact that it stays soft and fresh makes the higher price worth it for me. If you have green eyes, it is a wonderful color that just makes your eyes pop. Best of all, this BB eyeliner lasts all day and does not budge! It's my go-to eyeliner for my 12-hour work days. In fact, last month, I worked 12 hours and then headed to a concert afterwards; when I got home past midnight, this eyeliner was still perfectly in place! I also have this in the pure black color, but that one can sometimes feel a bit harsh on me to wear to work. Black Mauve Shimmer is a bit softer, but still dark enough to add contrast to your eyes. The shimmer is very subtle, and this is such a versatile color that it goes with almost all of my eyeshadow colors. I'd been using the BB eyeliner brush with this, but recently picked up the Sonia Kashuk bent brush from Target, and love the SK brush even more -- and it was only $7! I usually dab the brush in the pot, smear a bit on the back of my hand to get the globs off of the brush, and then apply, dipping back into the smudge on my hand to add more to the brush. The MUA I bought this from said that this was the easiest way to apply it, and it works great. I will definitely re-purchase this if I run out!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Urban Decay - 24/7 eyeliner in Rockstar
LeanneMM 3/26/2010 5:59:00 PM
I've had this eyeliner for over a year, and just love it. If you have green eyes, it will just make them pop. Up until now, I've only used it a few times a week since I've had the hardest time sharpening it, but I just bought an UD Grind House sharpener, and it works great. Although the description states that it has some glitter in it, it's very subtle and I can definitely get away with wearing this to work. What is also nice about this color is that it's very versatile; you can wear it with darker eyeshadow shades, but also more muted ones when you want a bit more color near the eye. This has nice lasting quality and glides on so easily and creamily. Right after applying it, you can also smudge it out a bit so it looks softer. It usually holds up just fine after a ten-hour day at work. I will definitely re-purchase! I love this color!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tools -Urban Decay - Grind House (sharpener)
LeanneMM 3/26/2010 5:54:00 PM
I own three UD 24/7 eyeliners, and have had the hardest time getting them sharpened with the sharpeners (Clinique and Benefit) that I already own. Fortunately, I thought to look here to see if UD made a sharpener and to see if it was any good, and I just have to say that this makes a HUGE difference in being able to sharpen you UD pencils. I couldn't get them to sharpen with the other sharpeners, but this makes a nice, clean point. The little tool that comes with it to clean it is also a nice bonus. UPDATE: 3/31/10: Someone sent me a message asking about the little cleaning tool, and it's definitely a bit hard to locate. When you take the clear plastic cover off, the tool is located up against the rim, and it looks like a plastic toothpick. It slides out from the brackets that hold it in place. Hope that helps!
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -Kevyn Aucoin - The Celestial Powder: Candlelight
LeanneMM 3/26/2010 4:29:00 PM
I came across the wonderful reviews for this product here, and decided to give it a try. I usually balk at paying this much for a product and was a bit shocked at how small the powder pan is when it first arrived in the mail, but I LOVE this product and will definitely re-purchase! I've tried other highlighters in the past, but they have wound up looking way too shimmery on my 38-year-old skin. This imparts a nice, SUBTLE glean, and is definitely suitable for day wear to the office. I've been using a small angled powder blush to apply it, and am still playing with where and how to use it. I've found it works better on top of my regular powder (Bobbi Brown's yellow shade loose powder) so that it sits on top and imparts that nice glow. I just wish it weren't so darn expensive, but I can see this lasting a long time since, as some other reviewers mentioned, you only need a small amount and your brush just picks up the right amount of it.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Nivea - Skin Firming Lotion
LeanneMM 3/26/2010 4:24:00 PM
Like the reviewer before me, I bought this at Costco a few days ago for about $12. However, I used it only twice and had to return it since the smell was so strong! If you are at all sensitive to smells, I definitely recommend smelling this before you purchase it. I can usually handle fairly strong smells, but this one was incredibly strong -- and icky! Usually the scent of most lotions will also dissipate after the lotion sinks in, but this one lasted for about six hours, and interfered with my perfume. Since I only used it twice, I can't speak to its skin-tightening abilities. I really did like how light-feeling it was, and it also adds a nice glean to your skin. If you don't mind the smell, it seems like a nice lotion, but just be warned that it may be too strong! Luckily, Costco has a great return policy, and I returned it two days later, even though it was used.
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Liquid -Chanel - Vitalumiere
LeanneMM 3/23/2010 10:27:00 AM
I've had this foundation for about nine months now, and really do like it. (I have the Satin Smoothing version of this, not the Moisture-Rich one.) I normally don't spend this much on makeup, but I went along with a friend to get our makeup done by the traveling Chanel team at Bloomingdale's, and I loved how my skin looked so much that I bought it. I have it in the Cameo/Clair color, and it definitely has a yellowish cast to it, but it still makes my skin look dewy and glowy. Since I use Retin-A and am 38, my skin is a weird mixture of oiliness mixed with dry patches. This foundation doesn't make the dry patches stick out. (I can't get mineral foundation to work for me since it makes it seems to settle in all my fine lines and makes the dry areas look terrible.) This also has buildable coverage, so you can add layers to get more covering. Since I don't like a heavy look, I usually add a second layer only over my nose, to cover a broken capillary. A little of this also really goes a long way. I usually only wear it three or four days a week (to work only), and I've only used up about 1/4 of the bottle. I will definitely buy this again, but did mark off a lippie because the price is so high!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Bare Escentuals - Tutorials Rocker Eye
LeanneMM 3/17/2010 4:12:00 PM
I just bought this new on Ebay, and used it for the first time today. It really is as easy as the instructions suggest! This is my first time using BE eyeshadows, and I was amazed at how silky they glide on. As others have said, the brush that this comes with is also amazing, and works really well. The only negative is that I did get some of that fallout onto my cheeks and under my eyes, but I used Sonia Kashuk's trick of applying a dusting of powder on my under eyes and cheeks before applying the shadow, so it mostly whisked right off. The three pots are also small, but I don't see myself going through these anytime soon since it's definitely a night-time look. Also, the 1980's color is slightly similar to the cool silver color in Chanel's Smoky Eye quad, so having this is slightly redundant -- but I still am glad I got it! It's got an edgier look overall than Chanel's quad and applies heavier and darker. Love how easy it is to use!
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Polishes -OPI - Lincoln Park After Dark
LeanneMM 11/6/2009 3:11:00 PM
I've been using this color for about three years, and it is my absolute favorite color for my fingernails. It's dark and sexy, and looks fantastic. Whenever I wear it, I get comments on it from both men and women. I've had more comments on this color, in fact, than on my Chanel Rouge Noir (original Vamp). I love this color! Don't be afraid of how dark it is!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Urban Decay - Book of Shadows Vol. II [DISCONTINUED]
LeanneMM 10/25/2009 1:04:00 PM
This is my first purchase of UD eyeshadows, and the colors and pigmentation of these are amazing! Now I know what all the fuss is about. :-) As a 38-year-old college professor, I was worried about the suitability of these shadows for work, but, inspired by a review on Sephora by a teacher, I decided to give them a try, and I'm so glad I did. Yes, the colors are intense, but you can apply them lightly if you work in a more professional setting. You can also build up the colors to create darker and stronger looks. I was also pleasantly surprised at how creamy the shadows appear once they're on. I really love these, and am so glad I took the plunge!
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No