Foundations -Revlon - ColorStay Mineral Mousse Makeup
LilySnow 3/24/2010 5:49:00 PM
I would give this 3.5 if I could. I usually use normal colorstay or double wear, but I wanted something slightly lighter in wear for everyday use and easier to travel with, so the plastic squeeze bottle appealed to me. I have it in fair 010, and it's a better match for my pale but redness prone skin than the colorstay ivory which I find a little too pink. On it's own it' really isn't great, really dry and cakey and hard to get an even coverage. However, when mixed with a light moisturiser it's actually really good for day to day wear, giving a much more even medium coverage which lasts well. It's not as good as the original colorstay, but I really like the packaging, much easier to get the correct amount and not waste product (I feel like a quarter of my regular colorstay goes to waste because of having to pour it out - put a pump on it revlon, you rip offs!). I will mention that I didn't pay full price for this, I got it on ebay for £4.99. Overall, I wouldn't pay full price for this, but I will continue to buy if I can get it cheaper unless I find something medium coverage that I like better for the same price. I based my score on what I think of it if it was the price revlon charges, and have also taken off a lippie for the inconvenience of having to mix it with a moisturiser.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Volum' Express The Falsies
LilySnow 2/6/2010 2:05:00 PM
I will admit that I have a penchant for maybelline mascara, and despite my initial reservations, they didn't disappoint with this latest offering. Although the packaging gives the impression that this is just colossal rebranded, (the reason I almost left this on the shelf). I personally think this has a better formula, and the brush is definitely different, it's curved and flat, almost like a spoon shape (but less width) and it really sets this apart from it's predecessor. Prior to using it, with my usual scepticism about such things, I dismissed the brush design as a pointless gimmick feature for marketing purposes. However, the brush is actually a great feature of this mascara. What I like about it is that it has big brush bristles and coverage, without the bulk. This makes it way less awkward to use, gives you more control, and makes it easier to reach all your lashes. All this without sacrificing the benefits (such as quick coverage and volume) afforded by a 'christmas tree' style wand. One coat gives fanned out, defined and lengthened lashes, which is great for a less dramatic daytime look. But better still, like most maybelline mascaras, it layers well without becoming too clumpy meaning that you can build up to add volume and a bit of length without losing too much definition. It does all this whilst still feeling soft and not weighing down my lashes. So despite 'The Falsies' having a pretty crude and unimaginative name, plus the same super ugly and unwieldy fat tube design as colossal (at least it's purple instead of bright yellow, I suppose). I can forgoe my superficial impressions, appreciate what's on the inside, and say that without one shadow of a doubt, I LOVE this mascara!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Barry M - Lip Gloss Wands
LilySnow 2/6/2010 12:48:00 PM
I have the clear one which smells of coconut and it is great! I've tried a few different brands of gloss and I've found that most higher end ones such as benefit etc. stay on longer but feel really sticky on the lips, and other drugstore brands either feel oily, sticky, or disappear after about 5 seconds. Also many (prestige is a notable offender) have a horrible plastic smell and taste that is seriously off putting. In comparison, this Barry M gloss really trumps it's competitors, mainly for the way it feels on the lips - it goes on really smoothly and stays on for an acceptable amount of time, and doesn't feel oily or heavy and sticky. When it does start to wear off it doesn't leave a sticky residue and it feels quite moisturising, and although the smell may be slightly sweet and fake for some tastes, it's definitely not plasticky and personally I find it quite pleasant. As for the packaging, it's a simple clear tube with black writing and a black metal covered screw cap which looks quite stylish and not unlike the benefit 'her glossiness' tubes. It's effective, too, with a normal sized sponge wand and an opening which is small enough to scrape off the residual product so you don't end up wasting any or getting a gloopy mess around the cap when you screw it back on. It fits well in to my make up/handbag too, so no complaints there. The reason I have removed one lippie is that the colour range is limited and of those which are available, most are either really garish or full of large chunks of glitter. However, at £4.25 a tube the price is pretty damn reasonable, so I would definitely choose it over any other clear gloss I have tried in the past. A definite re-purchase for me, and if you're looking for a nice moisturising no frills lipgloss, you really should give this one a try too.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Bourjois - Liner Clubbing
LilySnow 1/3/2010 9:24:00 PM
This eyeliner is horrible! I bought the black shade, and although the colour payoff is good (hence one lipstick rating), everything else about it sucks! The first problem with it is the brush applicator. I usually like to use the slender brush type for a thin line, and on first inspection this looked like it would be great for precision application. However, as mentioned by another reviewer, it is very plastic feelng and harsh on the eyes, and it was not easy to work with either. Secondly, the liner burned and felt very irritating on the skin. I am not sure if this is just me being sensitive to this particular formula (I have tried many other liquid liners without irritation) or a combination of the irritation caused by the scratchy brush with the eyeliner. I don't think this is helped by the fact that it takes too long to dry as well. Although I don't care about appearances if the product works, I have to say that the packaging is not great either. It's slightly bulky and pretty tacky and rubbish looking, especially in comparison to other Bourjois products. All in all this was so bad that instead of keeping it for a standby or passing it on to a friend as I would usually do with make up that doesn't work for me; it went straight in the bin.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No