Mascara -Josie Maran Cosmetics - gogo Mascara
Marella 9/19/2011 6:36:00 PM
I got this with a gift at Sephora and was interested to try it out and see how it did. I should never have bothered. I like a fairly natural look and it wasn't even good for that, even though I used my beloved Diorshow Maximizer which makes any mascara better I think. This was still a dud. It clumped and I didn't get any seperation, length, and definitely none of the volume that I desperately need. The Maybelline volume express in my makeup bag is 10 times the mascara for a quarter of the price of this completely useless product. This line in general tends to be a lot of hype for a bunch of products that are hugely overpriced from the beginning, including the argan oil itself. Half of an ounce of argan oil at Sephora is 14 dollars and I can get a full oz of exactly the same product from Garden of wisdom for 8 dollars and 20 cents, and don't even get me started on the fact that Josie Maran charges 48 dollars for 1.7 ozs of Argan oil and I again can get 8 ozs of the same product- also at Garden of Wisdom- for 60 dollars and 50 cents. Argan oil is a nice oil and there are actually a couple of products in this line that I like, but these kinds of prices are highway robbery!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Josie Maran Cosmetics - Argan oil
Marella 3/21/2011 1:49:00 AM
Argan oil is a great item but I can't and won't give this product anything over a 1 because of the insane price. Argan oil that is exactly the same in every way to this product easily costs about a fifth of this price. You can get an ounce of quality cold pressed 100% Moroccan argan oil for well under 10 dollars. Advertising it as something different than what it is and charging almost 50 dollars for not even 2 ozs is highway robbery. Please folks do your research. There is no reason at all to pay this price for the oil itself. None. I love argan oil too, but I refuse to pay almost 5 times the price for the exact same product just because someone slaps a model's name on the bottle. I've seen a few favorite sources mentioned as places to purchase quality argan oil at a sane price including Garden of Wisdom which I'll also put in as my favorite source too.
37 out of 43 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -MAC - Powerpoint - Duck
Marella 9/13/2010 6:39:00 PM
I have tried sooo many eyeliners, and they all smudge on me. Except for this one. I use it every single time I wear liner on both the upper lid and partway of the waterline. I am very fair and cannot wear black and so many liners no matter what shade they purport to be are so dark that on me they might as well be black because they show up that way anyway. Even some liners that might be lighter on other folks tend to look dark on me. Not Duck. It is as dark as I would ever want to go and practically idiot proof which I love as I am not the most talented when it comes to eyeliner. Honestly, I'd moved away from pencil liners which I didn't have much luck with to the gels, trying to find something that would not smear, but they tend to be a pain to apply sometimes and need a brush and were no better than this pencil liner. Well I'm a convert again to pencils. This is the best eyeliner. I can get a fairly fine precise line right after sharpening if I want or a more chunky line. It all works and without making me look like I should be standing on a street corner or in the circus as most darker eyeliners do. And for a huge plus, there isn't any red in it. Anything with any red at all makes my eyes look bloodshot or as if I have pinkeye. So it is an easy to use, is a true dark brown without red, stays where I put it, and defines my eyes in whatever manner I choose. Can't really ask for more in an eyeliner. I'm down to a stub of a pencil and will certainly buy again.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Christian Dior - 5 Colour Eyeshadow - Earth Reflection 609
Marella 6/13/2010 11:45:00 PM
It truly pains me to return this, but I've decided I have no choice. The colors are wonderful and in my experience ones that are so hard to find, either on their own or together. Neutrals that are not too warm and not super cool, coolish browns-wonderful. I can wear every single one of these colors and I always trying to find just these types of color palettes. So much so, that if the shimmer factor were toned down even as much as one third, I'd gladly pay twice price to get them. I'But they are just too frosty. No getting around it. I've sampled and played and if used very lightly I can get a nice base and maybe?? one other color as an accent. But even then, it is iffy, and I'd like to be able to use more of the palette together. I almost kept it just for the fact of the colors, figuring I could mix and match with other palettes, but then tonight I did a test with a Armani shadow as a base and a scott barnes in the crease on one eye against the lightest gold base and the lightest brown in the crease. Unfortunately it showed the difference. The Armani and Scott Barnes weren't matte shadows, they gleamed and shone and were classy, while unfortunately in comparison the Dior looked ultra frosty and not terribly sophisticated. That decided it for me. I truly truly hate to do it, but these are not for me.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Bobbi Brown - Berry Mauve Creamy Lip Color
Marella 5/29/2009 4:27:00 PM
This is literally the perfect color for me and I wish it was a permanent color and not one that only came in a kit. I got the chocolate mauve kit and loved this lip color so much that I bought several additional ones from ebay just to have it on hand. This is the absolutel perfect MLBB lip, not too cool or too warm. Just a half a shade darker than my medium pigmented lips. It is moisturizing and can be worn alone by just doing a swipe across your lips which brightens your face a little whether you are wearing additional makeup or not without giving you that too pink brightness that some of Bobbi's products have. It is perfect for plane trips when regular lip gloss is a no go, but it also great over lip stick if I happen to go that route or with just gloss on top of it. Very versatile color that way. I really can't say enough about it. Mauve itself is not always the best color for me, a little too much purple, but the berry balances it out and somehow makes it into something that is just a nice everyday color that doesn't jump out at you, but that you could certainly wear either with casual makeup or with a more polished look. I constantly check to see if it will be added to the permanent collection. No such luck yet.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Skinceuticals - Ultimate UV Defense SPF 30
Marella 10/1/2008 12:22:00 AM
This is the highest rating that I've ever given a sunscreen and I like it very much. I does have an initial white cast, but it disappers quickly on me, I'm fair, but it does turn greasy afterwards. Most sunscreens IMO do that which is why a gave it a 4 instead of 5. It isn't a problem if I'm going to put makeup on over it because then it isn't a problem, but if I'm not doing makeup, it is very shiny an obviously a bit greasy. However, it seems like a pretty good sunscreen and most importantly IT DOES NOT BURN MY EYES. I swear that is a miracle in a sunscreen and the reason that I can't wear even the supposedly gently ones and a huge factor in my book. So many times I've had to take a a sunscreen right back off because it burned my eyes and immediately turned them red and made them water. I'll put up with shiny quality for that miracle. I can always use a little powder over it if I have to. Also though chemical sunscreens are supposed to give better coverage, I usually can't wear them well, but I can wear this one just fine. The best that I've found so far.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Mally Beauty - Love is Pink
Marella 11/13/2007 1:11:00 PM
Okay, this gloss doesn't have a lot of color, -a pinkish peach that is slightly darker than nude really-but I love it anyway. The main reason is the staying power of this gloss. It is thicker and a little more opaque I think than many glosses and wears very well and is on my lips much longer than pretty much any gloss that I own, and I own a lot and some very high end ones. I wear it on its own when I want something on my lips for a just a hint of color that is going to still be there later, but I absolutely love it over a lip stain, lipstick, or even another gloss. It really finishes off both a casual and a polished look nicely. I confess that I often put it on before bed as well so that my lips stay nice and moisturized. On the surface, it isn't a striking gloss, but then I look at how much I use it and realize that I have to give it all five stars. The tube isn't very large, but I hardly ever finish a complete lip gloss tube of any size and I am scraping the bottom of this one now. I have already ordered another one.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Giorgio Armani - Eye Shadow 53
Marella 10/17/2007 2:35:00 AM
This is my all time favorite GA shadow and my 'go to' shadow of any brand. I have lots of GA shadows, but this was one of my first and I've used it far more than any other. As an all over color when I was in a hurry or as part of a more elaborate mix. It looks lovely all over with either the warm or cool taupey 11or 26 or even the peachy 54 or tangerine 38 done in the crease. Very versatile. The color is hard to describe and still do it justice. If you combined 12 with 9 and threw in a touch of brown it might come out something like this. A pale pale taupe where you wave a tiny bit of peach at it or a very very lightly bronzed sand with a touch of tan doesn't exactly do it either. I suppose the fact that is so hard to pin down is what makes it such a great base for so many colors, taupes, browns, coppers etc, I have yet to find any color, cool or warm, that won't work with it. Great great shadow!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Laura Mercier - aubergine eyeliner
Marella 7/25/2007 4:35:00 AM
I hate to ruin the reviews on this eyeliner, but it was terrible on me. It made me look like I'd been on a three day bender. My eyes looked so red and bloodshot that my husband commented and he doesn't notice my makeup as a rule. I'm a LLL brunette with red undertones and blue green eyes, and this is an awful color if you're fair and can't wear reddish tones around the eye. I gave it a three because I didn't want to knock it down too far just because the color was bad for me. Seemed decent as eyeliners go otherwise. Smudged some, but then most liners do on me unfortunately.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Bare Escentuals - Buxom Lips Lip Gloss Candi
Marella 7/2/2007 9:16:00 PM
I love this color. Someone said a light strawberry and that is about right. It is sort of my lips, but more in the nicest way. It has a nice understated shine and really lasts well, partly I think because it might be a little thicker, though you can't see that when you have the product on. Nice tingle and smell. The best of the buxoms, so far. Really great alone or over a fav lipstick.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Ojon - Restorative Hair Treatment
Marella 5/18/2007 6:51:00 PM
I really like this stuff a lot. It gives my super thick, coarse, permed and highlighted hair a lot of shine bringing out all the natural and artificial colors in my hair. Perhaps not the absolute best deep conditioner I've tried for other things. My Keratase deep conditioner really helps with tangles and frizz and this doesn't so much. At least without the help from another product. HOWEVER, it is absolutely amazing in keeping my scalp from flaking. I have that superthick hair so my scalp doesn't breathe the best and no matter what I have tried, ever, I couldn't find anything to help in any major way. Well this stuff works. Not a flake in sight. AMAZING! If you've ever had flakes, you know how much that sucks. I took off one little lippie just for the conditioning part of it, but I would buy this stuff again in a minute.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Sheer Lipstick #17
Marella 3/8/2007 4:28:00 PM
I love this color and it is nicely moisturizing. I can see what reviewers mean when they mention coral. It does appear to have a tiny bit of coral waved at it, expecially when looking at it in the tube. However, on me this is definitely more watermelon in hue, that sheer red that is just the tiniest bit warm in tone, but without any orange. If you've ever seen Tarte's cheek stain in True Love, it's a bit like that with a tad more red than pink. For reference I'm fair with red undertone tones in my skin, blue green eyes and brown hair. Cool colors tend to look the best on me, but I can cross over a bit into the slightly warm ones sometimes as with this lipstick that again is more a sheer watermelon red on me. Not having any orange or peach is key there. It does have more of a sparkle quality than I would prefer, though again, perhaps not quite as much as it looks like from just viewing it in the tube. If it were toned down in that just a tiny bit, it would be perfect, but it doesn't ruin it by far. Still a great color with a wonderful consistency.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Giorgio Armani - Eye Shadow #26
Marella 2/17/2007 11:13:00 PM
I really expected to love this color from the description, a cool brown/gray taupe. However on me this is pretty much just gray and not at all flattering. I like #11 better because it is a bit more brown, but my absolute fav taupe by far is Scott Barnes Sable. Gave a three because as always with Armani shadows the quality and texture are wonderful. Gave this away to someone that it looks fantastic on and not so gray.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -Bare Escentuals - Pure Radiance
Marella 1/23/2007 10:25:00 PM
This is the absolute best of the radiances in my opinion. I have pretty much all of them, but rose was the one that I used the most, though I also like bare. Clear to me had too much shimmer really. This product is not super shimmery, but gives a wonderful lit from within glow. I'm a fair, blue-eyed brunette and I use this to give my face a little color or some definition and use it in addition to my blush. Heck this is great as eye shadow as well. It's a wonderful product for that subtle glow used with a light hand and would probably work great as a light bronzer for those who want to use it that way. When I use this with the new feather light mineral veil and a pop of blush for some color, I look like I'm well rested and happy. Great product.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Bare Escentuals - Feather Light Mineral Veil
Marella 1/23/2007 10:14:00 PM
This is a to die for product!! It is lighter and finer milled than regular mineral veil and leaves the most wonderful glow with a very slight shimmer. Once they start offering this in a large size, I may never go back to regular mineral veil again. Combine this with the new pure radiance and a nice blush and you are good to go all day and looking wonderful.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No