Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Clump Crusher mascara
Mariav 11/5/2012 11:51:00 AM
I think I may have been one of the first here on MUA to review LB in the Orange Tube when it first came out... I've never looked back - it's been my go-to mascara for the past few years and I love it. That said...I've cheated on it from time to time b/c I have no self control. I'll see a new display and a new mascara and I HAVE to try it - I haven't met a mascara that I have liked as much so I'm always back to the orange tube (and in the summer I bought the limited OIympics version in the cream tube).... so here we are with Clump Crusher - and I will say this - it does.not.clump. Not at all... and it finds bottom lashes that my trusty original can't get to due to the size of the wand - but if you're looking for an everyday, non-clumping, lash enhancing/lengthening mascara, this may be it. I did an eye side-by-side and my eye on the left (original) def. has more oomph than the eye on the right (CC) but the right eye still looked a million times better than what my lashes look like naked! For the past few days I've done the first coat with the CC - THEN I curl (I know....ultimate no-no) then then I do the second coat with the original just to get a bit more volume. That seems to work well - b/c now I get great length as well as volume.... Would I re-purchase? Yes - for its ability to find my hidden lower and corner lashes, for the natural look it provides, for absolutely no raccoon eyes, and for the zero clumping. Will it replace the original? Nope. Oh, just to note that I have used all the other entries in the LB line (the purple tube, yellow tube, red tube, etc) and haven't liked any of them. This is the first one other than the original that I've liked. :)
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Karin Herzog - professional Cleansing Cream 
Mariav 12/9/2008 8:03:00 AM
I'm just going to come right out and say it - KH Professional Cleansing Cream is the BEST cleanser I have used in all of my 30...cough - okay 40 something years. I was extremely skeptical - the vaseline-like texture, etc....but once I got the hang of it - wowza. I warm my fingers with warm water, squeeze a little more than a pea size amount in my palm, then gently massage all over my face - gently pressing around the temples, under the nose, etc - and then I take a baby washcloth (these are fabulous - not just for little wee ones! They're a perfect size, very gentle on the skin..I usually buy a package of six at Wallyworld Carters, Gerber - it doesn't matter, but I digress) and then wash off. My face feels so clean - not dry, just clean and very soft. When I wash my face at night, this is the first cleanser that I don't feel I have to add a moisturizer after cleansing b/c my skin never feels dehydrated or tight. Seriously great product. :)
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -LORAC - Publicity Stunt Lashes
Mariav 7/30/2008 12:34:00 PM
What a tube of poo this mascara is. I was excited to see this as part of the sampler package at Sephora as believe it or not, I've not had the "pleasure" of trying it - and I try them all. Thank goodness for sampling programs...(even though $28 is still alot for sampling...but I digress....) it de-curled my curled lashes, they felt crunchy and dry, and it did absolutely nothing for them. Back to Lash-Blast I go. I'm finding I'm liking drugstore mascaras more and more. Seriously, this mascara is not good.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Arbonne - Re9 Eye Cream
Mariav 10/19/2007 8:43:00 AM
Probably the best eyecream I've ever used. Talk about being sceptical when I had my arm twisted to go to an Arbonne demo! I went kicking and screaming b/c I thought Arbonne was more hype than a skincare line that would actually do something for me. Boy, was I surprised at how much I loved this eyecream and I have tried a lot of them out there. It's got all the right "stuff" - a lovely hydrating effect that lasts throughout the day, no clashes with concealer/makeup, and a very light fresh scent. It is a winner. I have just ordered my fourth bottle. I have stopped looking for THE one. Found it! : )
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast
Mariav 10/17/2007 2:03:00 PM
So, I'm in CVS and when I first saw this I was thinking, "is this a mascara for Halloween?" (Bright Orange tube) but then I saw it was CG's latest - Lash Blast. Let me say first of all that being a mascara junkie for 30+ years, I try them all, no word of a lie, from the $30 dollar ones to the drugstore ones, and I have stuck with only a handful over the years, and in the last year or so, it's been the CG line of new brush-type mascaras (first Lash Exact, then Volume Exact - which I've repurchased at least 8 times, and now I'm trying out the Lash Blast). It does not flake - not a bit - on me anyway. But does it give more volume than Volume Exact? hmmmm.....not so sure. It looks the same to me. The brush is def. chubbier, but not clumpy. Maybe it's b/c I'm not doing a lot of layers so it looks similar to the Volume Exact. But I digress - so far, so good. I'll report in again after a little more road testing - but at least right now the jury is out as to whether it gives more volume than the Volume Exact for me. As far as the new brush technology mascaras, I think CG has really come out with a really decent, affordable line. : ) EDIT: I am almost ready to up this to a 5 lippie b/c after a couple of years of using Kiss Me mascara on the bottom lashes as it was the ONLY mascara that wouldn't smudge on the bottom, I have found that Lash Blast does NOT smudge on the bottom....a rarity for mascaras fo me (I wear contacts and my eyes can be watery and cause mascara to smudge - not so with Lash Blast). Really, I am liking this big ol' jumbo orange tube more and more every day...: )
9 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -Maybelline - Instant Age Rewind Cream Foundation [DISCONTINUED]
Mariav 8/20/2007 10:18:00 AM
Well, well, well. Trust my MUA friends to lead me to a lovely and surprising gem from Maybelline. Who'd a thunk it? Since I've only been using a couple of days, it gets a "4 lippie" for now - but if things keep going the way they are, it'll go up to 5. Soft, pretty, slightly glowy-healthy finish, goes on like a dream...what more can I say? I am repackaging a brand new, used twice $40 bottle of Laura Mercier Moisturizing Foundation and returning it to Sephora. No need to spend that kind of money, when honest to goodness this foundation does the same thing and more at what, $7 a bottle I think? I also, like the reviewer before me, love Vichy's Dermablend, especially when my face is acting all hormonal - what a treat to have two really wonderful foundations in my arsenal. Oh, I got the Classic Ivory as well (NW20) - great match. Nice job, Maybelline. : )
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Nail Magic
Mariav 7/11/2007 11:03:00 PM
Okay, I'm assuming that this is the same Nail Magic that I bought in Sally's a little over a month ago - it comes in a purple box and has a pink tint to it? Well, if it is....wow....I am so impressed. When I went into Sally's I was looking for Nailtiques (which they didn't have) but she brought me right over to the Nail Magic and told me that people swear by the stuff - she then recommended two Rock Hard products - one was a top-coat and one was a strengthener and I was to alternate those, but use the Nail Magic every day. The total for the three products was $15 and it was money well spent. I can't even believe how good my nails look - they were loaded with ridges and constantly were breaking and tearing - but now - they just look and feel thicker and stronger and healthier....The middle finger of my left hand had this ridge that went up the nail bed, and once my nail got to a certain length , it would tear right in the middle - well, now, it's like I can't even see the ridge - I kid you not - and the nail has grown past the point where it would always split in half. I would highly recommend Nail Magic to anyone. In my opinion it is superior to both NailTek and Nailtiques - although those products have helped me in the past, neither of them has made my nails as healthy as this little gem. Love it. : )
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Lumiere - Luminesse Foundation
Mariav 5/25/2007 6:32:00 PM
Love Luminesse - simply love it. I've tried all three formulas - the Flawless Face - I do like it, but it's a little too heavy for me, and I just couldn't apply it without it looking mask-y , the Veena Velvet - had deemed it HG material, but then curiosity about the Luminesse formula when Kim first launched it got the best of me, and I'm so glad it did. Hands down the best I've used and honestly, the list of companies I've tried would take up this entire page. I will add this -because I'm such an MMU hog (snort) I began to lemming the Laura Mercier MMU - I HAD to try it just to get it out of my system, but in no way wanted to plunk down the $$$$$$ for it. A lovely gal on the EDS skincare board offered to send me a sample (smooches Marla!) and it is nice, don't get me wrong - but what stopped any full-size lemming in its tracs was the other day when I was at my DD's softball game and it was HOT and the sun was beating down and my face got all kinds of itchy. There is bismuth oxychloride in LM's MMU, so I'm guessing that was the culprit. Today, I was again out in the hot, hot sun (it's 90 here today in New England! yea!) and guess what??? NOT one bit of itchies and when I got in and had a quick look in the mirror, my face looked pretty dang good (for an old broad, lol!) HG status all the way. Oh, and if you like to wear a little tinted moisturizer under your MMU - I gotta give a surprisingly great shout out to Cover Girl's Advanced Radiance! Can't believe how this little drug store product does the trick! Gives a nice soft glow and sort of evens out the skin b/f I apply the Lumiere - no color really, just kind of a glow. Thanks to Kim and Lumiere for this one of a kind gem of a product. : )
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Sebastian - Shaper Plus Hairspray
Mariav 11/19/2006 7:58:00 PM
Why oh why did Sebastian mess with a good thing? Shaper Plus had been my HG hairspray for at least 15 years. I seriously never even considered purchasing anything else. And now....well, now....not so much. It doesn't hold, it doesn't smell as nice, it just is not anything special any more. I need to find a new HG and I never thought I'd have to. I've already tried a few and they all fell short. I shake my fist in anger at Sebastian for trying to fix something that wasn't broken!!! Dang. The search continues. Someone please find us original SP lovers a replacement! : ) Edit - 1/11/08 - Ladies, I think I've found a replacement. It may be too soon to tell, but I'm really liking the Thermafuse hairspray (my salon just started carrying the line b/c they discontinuted carrying Pureology - Thermafuse is another one of those sulfate-free lines....anyway....this stuff holds really, really well - better than ANY I have tried since trying to find a replacement for Sebastian - it's not sticky or gunky either. I'm really impressed so far. The smell is really nice too....this could be the winner. Will keep you updated....
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -LaurEss - LaurEss
Mariav 6/22/2006 9:29:00 PM
I love this MMU. I am a smidge over 40 (and by that I mean 43!) and my first foray into mineral makeup began three years ago with Jane Iredale, which I thought was great, but it turns out, the bismuth didn't love me. Over the last few years I've tried so many brands, had settled on a couple that I deemed HG status, but then I think I started getting hormonal, my skin went a little nuts and I slowly stopped using MMU altogether and went back to liquid. I still visited Delphi's MMM and kept reading reviews until one day, someone's review of Lauress and a couple of other newer lines (which I'll review as well) reignited my interest in MMU. Unsure of the color selection, I emailed Lauren and she promptly replied and the color choices she suggested were spot on. For me, this has got to be one of the nicest MMU's out there - there is NO itch with this makeup. It goes on beautifully, does not accentuate my lines or pores, it's buildable...provides such a soft, natural soft-focus finish, ...sheesh... My skin is normal to dry and this does not make it dryer or feel tight, as a matter of fact, it feels more supple if that's possible. Customer service is outstanding. Packaging is little jars, which is always a bonus! IMHO, Lauress is worthy of the praise. UPDATE: I meant to update this sooner, but after using Lauress for a while, I got a case of the bumpies, which must mean that mica and I are not compatible. I still think her eyeshadows are lovely though, but I can't use the foundation, which is unfortunate b/c it is very nice.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Avon - Anew Clinical Micro-Exfoliant
Mariav 2/2/2005 9:54:00 PM
Here is an Avon product that I really think is terrific!!! I've tried a ton of microderm. creams - have a graveyard full of 'em b/c they were either too harsh or ineffective. Avon got it right with this one. The crystals seem so very tiny and non abrasive and my skin truly looks great and glowing after I'm done. It has really helped clear up my chin bumpies - from excess telephone use at the office. The last product I loved by Avon was Sweet Honesty when I was in 8th grade!!! I also remember getting stung by a zillion mosquitoes at an outside party one night when I was wearing it! Those mosquitoes loved Sweet Honesty - hey maybe that's why Avon came up with Skin So Soft - to repel the mosquitoes!! Off topic there for a minute, back to MicroExfoliant Creme!! A+ product! Nice job Avon!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Aromaleigh - Glissade mineral foundation powder [DISCONTINUED]
Mariav 10/31/2004 8:59:00 PM
Well it must mean something if I've been a MUA lurker for so long and this is my first review!! Love the new AL Glissade foundation. This from a gal who's tried lots of MMU's including AL's original PP formula (wasn't quite right). Glissade goes on smooth as silk, feels light as air on, absolutely NO irritation pr breakuts, (I was a mess with anything that contained Bismuth Oxychloride which AL does not have) and I nailed the right shade for me in level 2 W/L on the first sampling. It is a lovely foundation - similiar in coverage and silkiness to B101 - another fave. This one's a keeper. Edited in 2007 to add: Still love the customer service and products of AL and I will forever be a die-hard Verve pure rouge fan (best blush in any MMU I've tried!) but I'm loving the Lumiere Line now - more specifically the Luminesse. Glissade remains a terrific MMU for those who have sensitive, dry skin - try a little of AL's Divine Lumin. products over it if you want a little more glow.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No