Concealers -Laura Mercier - Secret Concealer
Lyra16 3/27/2013 1:59:00 PM
Asides from the un-natural shades for my neutral skin, this product was greasy, sheer, and disappeared into fine lines. This concealer did not even last 1 hour and no matter what I tried my under eye circles were staring right back at me. Their 'secret' for this concealer must be that it does not have great coverage or last whatsoever. If you are in my situation and can not leave the house with at least putting on concealer this product will not help you ):
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Concealers -Becca - Concealer compact
Lyra16 3/27/2013 1:50:00 PM
This reminded me of a stick concealer in a pot. Waxy weak coverage and it accentuated any texture of skin making my under eyes look horrid. I really wanted this to work for me and I have tried this out multiple times. No amount of moisturizing seemed to help. I have hereditary under eye circles- a muscle slightly protruding giving me pink, blue and purple discoloration. A rainbow of a bruise almost I really was hopeful based on the reviews and blogs. This product did not layer well. This would not conceal OR look natural on my skin. I have come to conclusions that only liquid concealer works for my skin- if you are currently using a liquid concealer (yet still on the hunt for "the one") I suggest sticking with liquid concealers. Estee Lauder Double Wear is phenomenal. For a drugstore, Maybelline instant age rewind works almost as good. If cream concealers are what work for you, this might be what you are looking for
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Mascara -Estee Lauder - Sumptuous
Lyra16 3/23/2013 2:31:00 PM
This gave my eyelashes nice definition and length- check pictures mine has Lyra16 on it. (: That's how happy I was with this product and I had to show my results. This is more on the wet side of a mascara. This has not flaked on me, just one or two little flakes while brushing out the mascara. When I finish applying I am worry-free. Since this is wet enough to move around I can easily remove any clumps which can happen if applied too heavily. I always brush through my lashes as this creates a nice fuller look. I use a soft touch when applying this mascara and I can usually avoid applying too much and producing any clumps by doing so. Takes not time at all to avoid this. This holds a curl and feels so weightless. This does not irritate my eyes like many mascaras have, especially by the end of the day. The lasting power is great. Overall, I am really impressed. I received this as a sample and will definitely repurchase (: **Update** I repurchased in Brown. Upon opening it is noticeably bright brown, so I thought it would appear so on my eyelashes which I did not want. The result is very dark (but not "black") eyelashes so it looks believable! I highly recommend the brown if you want your eyelashes to look believably long, defined, darker, and thicker. It is so nice to have finally found my perfect mascara.
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Concealers -Maybelline - Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles
Lyra16 3/22/2013 2:25:00 PM
Short Version: I love this concealer. It has a flexible range of coverage and flawless staying power. The shades are "real" leaving me with a natural skin finish. This is a concealer I wouldn't mind spending $40 for which makes me incredibly happy that it is so cheap in comparison. This puts all higher priced and praised concealers to shame. Long Version: This is the only concealer to work with my skin, though it takes some patience. I would rather spend a few more minutes (waiting time) applying concealer than a lot more money on something with similar quality of ingredients and little to no effect. I have deep dark purple-y under eyes circles with the top part of the line slightly protruding making the bottom half darker and even harder to conceal. Hereditary under eye circles are usually caused by a bulging eye muscle... isn't that attractive? For shades, I am a neutral. I look more natural with a pink-neutral rather than a more yellow-neutral. I have been using this ever since it was in different packaging and newer then. The times when I have thought that a better concealer was out there I ended up returning back to this. This product is build-able and looks great. It is not cake-y or sheer on me, it is natural: matte with a glow. I use the fair and light concealer shades, the first to act like a corrector and primer, the second shade combines the two making my exact shade, almost-cover to completely-cover my dark under eye circles. I can achieve any amount of coverage with this. It is like applying a new layer of skin. For now, this works enough and I am lucky enough to not have to order it from a site, as well as being well under $40 unlike crappier concealers I have ordered/tried. I never will believe that a concealer can help permanently get rid of under eye circles and it is true that this concealer will do nothing to rid or "heal" your dark circles, especially bags or hereditary darkness. This is my routine: Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer in shades: Fair and Light I always remove the sponge applicator (I wish it came in a squeeze tube) and use a small concealer brush to lightly line under my eyes. I apply two thin layers of the Fair shade, waiting a minute each time before blending with my ring finger. I have found the waiting game gives it less time to settle in to any lines and sets instantly. I then apply 2 or 3 thin layers of the Light shade (each layer includes the waiting game) until my under eye circles have disappeared (some days they are only 'almost disappeared'). These two shades combine to match my skin tone perfectly. This lasts all day. At the end of the day though, I see faint lines if my face is right up to a mirror. Even then it is in bright light and the colour matches my face anyways it isn't too noticeable. Perhaps a setting powder will work for you if you want to eliminate that, yet I have come to conclusions that setting powders will still allow your concealer to crease, and if anything they take away from the coverage power of the concealer even if it isn't sheer. That's just my opinion. This is ALL just my opinion. OH! One important thing that really helps make my concealer fuller coverage is using my ring fingers to apply my moisturizer, that way my under eyes are equally as moisturized as my fingers so it is consistent when blending. My conclusion is that dry fingers seem to be just as bad as a dry under eye area when blending in.
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Mascara -BeneFit Cosmetics - They're Real
Lyra16 3/22/2013 1:29:00 PM
I fell in love with the long fanned out voluminous lashes achieved with this mascara. The wand managed to literally grab and stretch each lash and fully coat. I had a bold, full feathery set of long lashes! Two weeks in, the formula dried slightly. It became harder to work with and there were big clumps to brush out. The mascara dried out just under one month. This was amazing for the first few uses. So I think the sample size is worth it only for special occasions. Within one month of daily use it made my lashes brittle and sparse. That is a huge deal breaker for me. From my experience, this mascara is not worth it and I am making this review to warn you as well as remind myself of this in case I ever even think of repurchasing.
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Concealers -Make Up For Ever - Full Cover Concealer
Lyra16 3/20/2013 11:30:00 AM
I did not buy this based on reviews, I just decided to order it and give it a go. I always moisturize my eye area. I realized that this concealer needed to be blended immediately after moisturizing which is new for me. I have normal to slightly dry skin on a bad day and this would not stay under my eyes. Amazing for the first minute RIGHT after blending, if it could only stay like that for 8 more hours or so. It faded, clumping together in spots leaving a dry caked mess. It made my skin look rough and dry. I imagine if it did work for me, over time it would lead up to a very dry irritated under eye area becoming impossible to work with. I can rest assured this product has no way of working under the eye area where I really need concealer. If you are looking for an under eye concealer and have a normal &/or dry under eye area do not bother with this option. No need to waste your money, I already have for you. ):
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Mascara -Tarte - Lights Camera Lashes
Lyra16 3/8/2013 5:56:00 PM
I have gone through one entire tube of mascara and I am torn between loving it dearly and truly hating it. At first it was on the wetter side of a mascara. It gave me the look I wanted fast: naturally bold, accentuated and feathery eyelashes. I wish it came in dark brown so it could look more believable though. I was drawn to its friendly minimal ingredient list. Through the entire use it never once smudged during wear. It very rarely flaked (once or twice out of five 8-hour work days) and it was so minuscule I could only see it up-close in a mirror. No mascara I have tried has stayed so flawless. Now, the packaging is bulky. I cut off the packaging around the handle so I could apply the mascara more freely. The excess material is wasteful and useless and if anything it is in the way. The real downfall though, is that this lasted only one month of regular use. It started out wet and I had to apply carefully and lightly, yet I got the look I wanted fast. I loved that! A few days of use I slowly needed to use more and more coats as the product dried up. I will not spend C$25 every month on mascara. That's $300 a year on just mascara not including shipping where I live! If it lasted longer for its price and came in a dark brown then I might consider this. The cost and overall lasting power of the product is quite disappointing. The product is said to be a conditioning mascara yet I found it made my lashes feel rough/dry with and without mascara. Add-on worth mentioning: The brush was harsh on my lashes it is not as soft as it looks. I find my eyelashes feel just as rough as the brush itself which may be a result of the second ingredient, alcohol. I recently put some very warm water on the brush, twirled it around in the tube and left it for a bit. The product worked like it used to. If you were planning on tossing away the dried mascara, try this out... the first ingredient is water anyways.
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Styling Products -Live Clean - (Exotic Nectar) Argan Oil Smooth & Shine Cream
Lyra16 3/6/2013 1:47:00 PM
Best when used in damp hair, this product calms dry ends and diminishes frizz so well. The smell is very nice and subtle. I love to use this just to polish my look without doing much to my hair at all. Once I am out of the shower I run this in my hair around ear level to the ends and let it air dry. My naturally wavy/ soft curled hair looks perfect when I use this.
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Conditioner -Live Clean - (Green Earth) Invigorating Conditioner
Lyra16 3/6/2013 1:35:00 PM
The quality, the light fragrance, the condition of my naturally dried hair... it is all so so great. I am so thankful for this shampoo and conditioner. The shampoo really cleans and the conditioner almost nourishes the hair in a sense. It did not make my hair overly conditioned such that I would not have greasy hair by next morning. (I found that happened after a while with the Live Clean Fresh Water shampoo and conditioner- plus the smell gave me a headache. It has a light, yet sharp fragrance.) The Green Earth shampoo and conditioner is amazing. I even branched out to use the argan oil smooth and shine cream, their fragrance free body lotion (very light purple flower scent) as well as the night nourishing face cream. Amazing products and you definitely get your money's worth. I am in love <3
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Shampoo -Live Clean - (Green Earth) Invigorating Shampoo
Lyra16 3/6/2013 1:33:00 PM
The quality, the light fragrance, the condition of my naturally dried hair... it is all so so great. I am so thankful for this shampoo and conditioner. The shampoo really cleans and the conditioner almost nourishes the hair in a sense. It did not make my hair overly conditioned such that I would not have greasy hair by next morning. (I found that happened after a while with the Live Clean Fresh Water shampoo and conditioner- plus the smell gave me a headache. It has a light, yet sharp fragrance.) The Green Earth shampoo and conditioner is amazing. I even branched out to use the argan oil smooth and shine cream, their fragrance free body lotion (very light purple flower scent) as well as the night nourishing face cream. Amazing products and you definitely get your money's worth. I am in love <3
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Eyeliner -Stila - Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
Lyra16 3/5/2013 1:18:00 AM
I purchased chocolate brown and the colour never faded throughout the day, the product never dried out, and the felt tip held its shape and allowed different thickness. I do not wear this everyday as it is pain to take off. The easiest for me is to use a q-tip with some coconut oil and then try to erase the line completely. This eyeliner works so well I turn to it on days I know I will be my busiest or if I would like a more defined eye. It has never disappointed me and I definitely get my money's worth with this eyeliner.
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Treatments (Eye) -Promaxyl - Eyelash Renewal serum Rapidlash
Lyra16 2/9/2013 11:44:00 AM
**I am reviewing the newer formula Rapidlash Enhancing Serum** It's been exactly 5 weeks and I have noticed very little improvement. My eyelashes have grown a little longer but it is also possible my own eyelash cycle came to its flourishing state once more. I applied this to a few small spaced out hairs on my eyebrows also which have not completely filled though my eyebrows do look darker. Basically, I am skeptical as you begin to think it works because you apply it every night and stare at them to the point you think it really is working. Who knows. Everyone's eyelashes goes through a nice growing cycle. No one has noticed. I wear glasses at times and my eyelashes almost touch so much so that if they had grown they should be touching my glasses. They do not. If you do try this, I do not suggest applying to your bottom lashes. I tried to and woke up with dry eyes, irritated and red. Based on the results, I do not recommend this product.
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Treatments (Eye) -Sephora - Sephora Age Defy Eye Cream
Lyra16 1/5/2013 11:05:00 AM
I received this as a sample from Sephora and it was very thick, creamy, rich, and hydrating. I noticed any very fine lines were instantly diminished. I waited 40 minutes before applying makeup and felt under my eyes lightly moving my fingers around and the product balls up and flaked off. That was what made any fine lines disappear because the product filled them in. This cannot go under eye makeup for this reason as it bunches up in less than an hour and would lift up any concealer or eyeshadow. I will not even think to spend $29 on the 15ml container.
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Conditioner -Live Clean - (Fresh Water) Moisturizing Conditioner
Lyra16 11/14/2012 11:39:00 AM
This did wonders to my dry ends at first. With daily use my hair looked like second hair everyday; a nice shine. Just like second day hair though, it would look greasy half way through the day making me feel like I needed to wash my hair daily. I wash my hair every other day, sometimes 3 if I am not going to work. I shampoo only the roots and condition from around ear level to the ends of my hair so it is not the result of the conditioner being applied to my roots. I feel like it just did not clean my hair completely which resulted in the shine and excess oil. Another disappointment for me is the smell. It is light, yet there is some sharp scent that just gives me a pin-point headache and that stays for the day. Too sweet of a scent or something. If this product left you with the same results, I highly recommend Live Clean's invigorating shampoo and conditioner. It works like a dream in comparison. The scent is softer and more calm plus the products clean my roots better without drying my hair.
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Shampoo -Live Clean - (Fresh Water) Moisturizing Shampoo
Lyra16 11/14/2012 11:37:00 AM
This did wonders to my dry ends at first. With daily use my hair looked like second hair everyday; a nice shine. Just like second day hair though, it would look greasy half way through the day making me feel like I needed to wash my hair daily. I wash my hair every other day, sometimes 3 if I am not going to work. I shampoo only the roots and condition from around ear level to the ends of my hair so it is not the result of the conditioner being applied to my roots. I feel like it just did not clean my hair completely which resulted in the shine and excess oil. Another disappointment for me is the smell. It is light, yet there is some sharp scent that just gives me a pin-point headache and that stays for the day. Too sweet of a scent or something. If this product left you with the same results, I highly recommend Live Clean's invigorating shampoo and conditioner. It works like a dream in comparison. The scent is softer and more calm plus the products clean my roots better without drying my hair.
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