Lip Gloss -Victoria's Secret - Beauty Rush Sparkle Gloss Lip Shine- Stardust
MissJulie89 3/1/2013 7:25:00 PM
Vicky really disappointed alot of people by discontinuing their previous line of awesome Beauty Rush products, especially the lip balm. However, this new lip gloss kinda makes up for it, and has become one of my favorite recent beauty buys. This gloss has some serious sparkle in the tube, but it's quite mild and flattering on the lips. It makes my lips look shiny and healthy rather than... stripper-y. Not to mention, this particular shade- Stardust- makes my lips look fuller, as it's pretty close to a MLBB. The packaging is also pretty classy, and the applicator functions quite well. My only beef with this product is the price- $9 is a tad expensive for lipgloss, but then again, it is Victoria's Secret, and you do get a decent amount in the tube. But hey, I'll definitely repurchase. Just you don't go discontinuing this one now, Vicky! *wags finger*
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Treatments -Mario Badescu - Drying Lotion
MissJulie89 2/9/2013 11:53:00 AM
WARNING: There's gonna be more all caps than usual in this review. Enjoy! I have pretty problematic skin (bouts of regular and hormonal/cystic acne, bouts of dryness and oiliness, tons of little acne scars and hyperpigmentation, large-ish pores...), and Mario Badescu products have been my only true saving grace. The Drying Lotion in particular has been a HUGE miracle in my life. I want to get down on one knee and propose to it, but first I have to sort out the pros and cons of a lifetime together. Pros: IT WORKS. It works like nothing else. No product has ever been able to zap not only regular pimples, but cystic ones as well, in the span of one to two nights' worth of application. Our relationship is just as fresh as it was in the beginning- I've been using the Drying Lotion for months now and its effects haven't worn off or anything. I just dab a little of that noxious-smelling, magical pink sediment with a q-tip on each pimple, let it dry, sleep it off, and wake up with the bugger half its original size or more. By the second or third night (depending on how big the pimple is)- GONE. It's seriously miraculous. Sometimes, when I'm too tired or drunk to wash my makeup off, I still apply this stuff, and it STILL works. No other spot treatment has done or can do what Mario Badescu Drying Lotion does. It's my One and Only. Cons: Now, no one- or no product- is perfect. I have some issues with the Drying Lotion that I work around. First of all, the price for the amount of product you get wouldn't be so bad if the liquid suspension didn't DRY OUT SO QUICKLY. One bottle only lasts me a couple months due to that enormous flaw. $17 for a treatment that dissipates too soon after its initial use is literally cash evaporated. I've debated on creating my own alcohol suspension to revive it, but it probably wouldn't be the same and I'd most likely blow up my house doing whatever chemistry experimentation necessary to create the suspension. Lastly, the packaging. I understand that glass is much better to store... well, anything to keep it fresh and free of the chemicals that plastic is composed of. But, I have to clutch the bottle like a baby bird when I move it from my cabinet to the bathroom sink. If I drop it, it's done. $17 gone and a facefull of pimples. Now, I know the poisonous smell and messy, awkward application process could be considered cons, but I'm not complaining about that. The smell is an olfactorial manifestation of the product's prowess, and the application could be worse. In the end, this is the product that keeps me from going bananas due to my acne's persistence. Mario Badescu Drying Lotion maintains my skin and my sanity. Hmm... Maybe I will propose. Where can I find a little bottle-sized ring?
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -LUSH - Flying Fox Shower Gel
MissJulie89 1/17/2013 1:10:00 PM
I know this scent is a hit or miss, but lawd have mercy, it's the most intensely beautiful-smelling thing my olfactories have ever experienced. The fragrance permeates the entirety of the bathroom, energizing and relaxing me simultaneously. It's a powerfully unforgiving floral- "unforgiving" meaning that if you plan on wearing another fragrance, you'd better give this one time to dissipate. Flying Fox *will* do battle with it, unless the other fragrance is complementary. That being said, the body wash itself is lovely. It cleanses and doesn't make my skin dry or break out. It takes a bit of work to lather, but not too much work. The bottle feels a bit flimsy, but I can get behind Lush's minimalist packaging. This was my very first Lush purchase, and now I can't wait to try more, along with the full size of Flying Fox. It's not for the faint of heart, but if you dig some serious florals, at least take a whiff of this in a Lush store. You might fall in love.
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Palettes -E.L.F. - 32 Piece Eyeshadow Collection
MissJulie89 1/11/2013 12:16:00 PM
*This review is for the 32 Piece Warm Palette.* Sometimes, after work while waiting for my ride home, I hang around in a super ghetto Walgreens. Unfortunately, doing so leads to some pretty stupid impulse buys, but this palette is a total exception. I shelled out the five bucks with low expectations (E.L.F. eyeshadows are a hit or miss for me, and mostly misses), but I was pleasantly surprised the first time I used it. I have blue eyes and fair, warm-leaning skin, so I knew this palette's colors would work best for me. I absolutely love all of the medium and dark brown shades, and the paler highlight shades are nice as well. They actually last a pretty long time on my lids, even without primer. I can kinda just swipe them on and go (I'm super impatient and usually rushed), and they only crease a little bit even after a long day. Some of the brown shades really make my blue eyes pop, which is excellent considering my eyes are one of my least favorite features. However, there are some duds in the palette, namely the darker gray, black and olive shades. They're kinda chalky and don't last very long. Luckily, that's only a few of them, and cheap, well-pigmented dark eyeshadows aren't difficult to find (thanks, Wet 'n' Wild!). I guess I should say something about the packaging, too. It's... not that bad. While it can be a bit frustrating to open, the palette itself is pretty classy looking and relatively sturdy. I'm super careful not to drop it, though- that would probably obliterate the eyeshadows inside. Otherwise, it's alright, like the majority of E.L.F's studio line packaging. Overall, if you can still find this palette in stores such as Walgreens, Target, KMart, etc., five bucks is a total steal for something that'll probably last you forever, especially if you don't wear eyeshadow too often, like me. There are other 32 piece palettes for other skintones and looks, so warm colors aren't your only option. This palette isn't perfect, but it's definitely worth checking out!
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Blush -NYX - Cinnamon
MissJulie89 1/4/2013 10:57:00 PM
If you take a looky-loo in my reviews history, you can see the absolutely... glowing... assessment I wrote for the miserable disappointment that was Etude's Carrot Cheesecake blush. Welp, today I went to Ulta and picked up NYX Cinnamon with the same reasoning as Carrot Cheesecake- my undying love of orange blushes. I see them and I just can't help myself- they work for me. Considering I've had positive experience with NYX blushes as well, I was confident in this one. When I finally got home and tried it, I looked in the mirror and knew it was love at first sight. It was everything I wanted Carrot Cheesecake to be. It's THE PERFECT orange blush! It's VERY pigmented, so be light-handed. It adds such a beautiful, summery, youthful glow to my fair, warm-leaning skin, and brings out my blue eyes to boot. It has decent staying power, which along with pigmentation and the amount of product makes it totally worth the six bucks I paid for it. My only qualm is the packaging. I wrote a review for NYX Pinched a while back, wherein I bitched about the packaging and how boring and flimsy it is. I still feel the same way, but it just doesn't matter for Cinnamon. I just love this blush so much. I can see it working for most, if not all warm-leaning skintones- light, medium or dark. Not so sure how cool tones would look with Cinnamon, but I recommend this to anyone. And hey, if you're cool toned and you love Cinnamon, lemme know! Not to mention, it reminds me of a gerbil named Cinnamon I had as a kid. XP
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Etude - Lovely Cookie Blusher- #4 Carrot Cheesecake
MissJulie89 12/20/2012 9:41:00 PM
Why why whyyyy must this product insist on sucking so much butt? It's like a super attractive person who isn't terrible, but just lacks any and all personality whatsoever. Here, let me explain. I bought this thing based on the adorable packaging, decent reviews, and a love of peach/orange colors in blush. I waited almost a month for this product to arrive from Korea, and when it finally did, I rushed upstairs into my bathroom to try it out. I opened it up and was enthralled with its adorableness. I applied it with my Ecotools kabuki brush, and... NO PIGMENTATION. NONE. AT ALL. "Okay, okay..." I thought. "Maybe it'll apply better if I use the puff it came with." So, I did just that, and STILL NO PIGMENTATION. Guys. Literally, this blush has no pigmentation whatsoever. I have pretty fair skin too, and absolutely nothing showed up. Maybe like, five sparkles and a teeny tiny bit of shimmer, but not the sweet, bright orange color in the pan. I'm so sad. I really wanted to enjoy this product, as it's so gosh darn cute, and I spent the money to import it. I gave it a 2 instead of a 1 for the sturdy and squee-worthy adorable packaging. Either way, regardless of skintone, don't bother with this blush. It's possible the other Etude colors may have some pigmentation, but Carrot Cheesecake has absolutely none at all. Blergh.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Cover Girl - Eye Enhancers Trio - Shimmering Sands
MissJulie89 11/7/2012 12:26:00 PM
My favorite neutral pallete! Slap me twice and call me Sally, but I think I like this one more than Walking on Eggshells. The two are relatively similar, but to me, Shimmering Sands is a bit less chalky (WoE isn't that chalky, but SS is less so), has a better brown shade, and it has a huge winner of a highlighter shade. No, seriously, the highlighter is what makes this palette for me. It's SO versatile! I use it on my brownbone, down the bridge of my nose, under my eyes, and even on my cheekbones (I apply it with a blush brush there). It lasts ALL DAY. Some cons, though: The packaging is balls, and the six dollar price tag is more or less evident of just paying for the name- the packaging and amount of product don't warrant any higher than about three bucks. Something else that might be a con, but doesn't bother me: these shadows are very shimmery. I mean, one should expect that due to the palette's name, but ya know. I prefer shimmery shadows (they make my eyes seem more three-dimensional than with mattes), but others may not like the shimmer. Other than my little gripes, this palette is goshdang wonderful. Totally worth a shot!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Jordana - Fabu Liner Liquid Eyeliner Pen
MissJulie89 9/23/2012 11:28:00 PM
This eyeliner is just... MUAH. I wanna give it a KISS. I've repurchased it a handful of times now. Why? Because I LOVE IT. I guess that's obvious by now. Anyway, here's why I adore it so: It's CHEAP, AVAILABLE, and QUALITY stuff. Oh, and since it's a pen with a relatively pointed, relatively longish tip, it's ridiculously easy to apply. Nearly every time I use this, I can get a fantastic cat eye without having to fix anything. The color is rich (I have the black one and haven't experienced a dry gray color or whatever) and it lasts a while- usually a couple months before I have to get a new one. And if it does dry up a bit? WHO CARES? I just go out and buy another one or two because it's THREE BUCKS. It lasts all day, doesn't smudge, and is pretty easy to remove (I usually use almond or grapeseed oils as makeup remover.) Gosh, this liner is Fabu-LOUS. That's... not even a pun. 'Cause it's the actual word. Go out and buy this eyeliner. G'nite everybody. (Protip: It's easiest to find Fabuliner at Walgreens. You're welcome.)
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Suave - Keratin Infusion Leave-In Conditioner
MissJulie89 8/24/2012 10:56:00 AM
I'm a leave-in FIEND. I've tried so many leave-ins it's not even funny- serums, conditioners, gels, blahblah. I guess I'm just not afraid to try different products seeing as my hair can handle it. I have a small collection of leave-ins I rotate with, and Suave's Keratin leave-in has joined the ranks. I guess my hair just loves its noms, and this one is no exception. Let's get this out of the way first- we all know and love/hate the fragrance. It is STRONG, it is PERFUMEY, and it's even slightly masculine. So, if you're sensitive to fragrances (i.e. they give you migranes or make you sick in some way), then just stay away from this leave-in, and the entire Suave Keratin line in general. It's powerful, and it's gonna linger in your hair for hours. That being said, in my opinion, I personally like it. It's like hair cologne. (And yeeeeah, I know, strong fragrances usually indicate harsh ingredients, but I've been using this for a while and haven't had any dryness or harsh effects.) Oh, and the packaging is kind of masculine too. Well, just not very feminine. It's just... functional and unisex. I like it. Okay. Onto the actual product. I have so much love for this as a conditioner. After I wash and detangle my hair, spreading this through my wet strands is an absolute dream. It's so creamy, without being overly rich, and it keeps the beast smooth during the air-drying process. When my thick, dry, curly hair is finally dry, it's left full, healthy, soft, smooth and shiny. I can't comment on how well it works as a heat defense conditioner (as it's marketed on the bottle), considering I haven't used a heat tool on my hair since a wedding I was in last April, but if it leaves air-dried hair this smooth, I'm sure it would be lovely as a blow-drying/straightening aid. If you're looking for a leave-in that's decently moisturizing, not too heavy, and most importantly keeps your hair looking and feeling healthy, I highly suggest giving this a try. It's another gem from Suave- which also means it's cheap, too! :D
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Volum' Express The Mega Plush
MissJulie89 8/13/2012 10:41:00 AM
Weak weak weak. This mascara doesn't live up to its claims. Well, it's not... terrible. If it were the last mascara on earth, I'd still use it. But in all dead seriousness, for eight bucks, Mega Plush is NOT worth it.The brush is enormous and unwieldy (in fact, it's stabby and pokey, too), and the formula isn't thick or dark enough. My lashes just aren't granted the volume, fullness and length this mascara promises. My beloved Jordana mascara actually lives up to Mega Plush's claims without the fuss. And Jordana is three dollars. Oh, but I do love Mega Plush's packaging. The teal and magenta color scheme, and the logo, are adorable. That's definitely not enough to save it, though. There are just better mascaras out there for less than half the price. Oh well, I tried. And returned. And bought more Jordana. :P
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Conditioner -Giovanni - Smooth As Silk Conditioner
MissJulie89 8/13/2012 10:26:00 AM
*I'm reviewing this conditioner as a leave-in. Also, for reference, my hair is long, thick, dry and curly.* Recently, GVP Conditioning Balm and I had to take a little break. Things were becoming uninteresting in our relationship. I met Giovanni Smooth as Silk Conditioner, and instantly became enamored. I introduced it to GVP (whom I still love, of course), and now we share one another happily. I know, it's a strange situation, but don't judge our love. Price: Giovanni shampoos and conditioners usually run around $6.99-$7.99, depending on the store. They usually don't exceed that, which is acceptable. I'd like a little bit more product for my cash, but watcha gonna do. I saw that Giovanni has released enormous sizes of their shampoos and conditioners at certain beauty supply stores, so I'll probably shell out the cash for a giganto bottle of this. Packaging: So chic-looking. The rectangle shape is so classy, and the fonts, very sparse graphics and their placement are all so graphically gorgeous. However, I kinda have a problem with the bottle shape. It's not particularly irritating, but it *is* kind of difficult to get the last of the product out of the bottle. Other than that, it's awesome. Consistency: Not very thick, and a teeny bit gel-like, which makes for an ingenious leave-in. It has superior spread and allows for the easiest detangling and combing, EVER. My hair's snarls and tangles succumb to this conditioner like no other. Scent: A light, pleasant, unobtrusive, quick-fading citrus fragrance. And the good kind of citrus, too- not a sharp, chemically kitchen cleaner citrus. It actually kinda reminds me of lemon meringue pie; it's citrusy-sweet. Mmm. Ingredients: Too nice. Mostly natural and very, very few not-so-natural ingredients scattered along the very, very bottom of the list. Other than that, it feels nice knowing that I'm not slathering chemicals all over my head. No dyes, no parabens, no silicones, no nasty stuff, and only a natural fragrance. Yay! Performance: Absolutely brilliant. After my shower, I section my wet hair into three parts (left, right and back) and use a little over a pea-sized amount for each section. I can just effortlessly glide this conditioner through my tangles. Combing is miraculously easy. When my hair dries, it remains shiny, smooth and moisturized without any overly-weighed down feeling. My curls look amazing when I use this. I believe this is due to the silicones in this conditioner, but whatever. I love cones anyway. I haven't experienced any real build-up while using this, either. Overall: If you have thick, dry hair (curly or not), this is seriously worth it to pick up and try as a leave-in. It might make your life a thousand times easier. I love it, and you might, too! :D
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Milani - Baked Blush - Coralina
MissJulie89 6/30/2012 1:40:00 PM
I'd been lusting after this blush for months before I finally caved. I'm so glad I gave into its persistent winking and seducing me over to it in the makeup aisle. It's gorgeous. I couldn't help myself. I've been searching for a corally-red blush for a long time. I love the delicately feverish, flushed look they give, and especially with a hint of shimmer. Corallina is all of those things. It's a beautiful, expensive-looking color. Despite its appearance in-pan, Corallina's actually not ridiculously pigmented, and it takes a couple of applications to get a full effect. This means it's buildable and it actually takes effort to screw up and give clown cheeks. Two swipes for each cheek with my Ecotools retractable kabuki brush are enough to do the trick. I have fair, slightly warm skin, and the color, and payoff, are just right. The only things that irritate me about this blush are the packaging and lasting power. First, the packaging. It's not attractive, and it's flimsy. Mine hasn't broken yet, but I can tell if I dropped it I'd probably have to shell out another nine bucks for a replacement. Grr. Second, the lasting power- it's not awful, but it's definitely not an all-day blush. It stays on for the most part, but it never looks the same as when I first applied it. Could be from normal skin oils, but I've tried other blushes that have lasted longer. Like I said, though, it's not awful. Overall, I adore the crap out of Corallina and plan on repurchasing when I run out, if I ever do. It's insanely beautiful and well worth the price.
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Gels/Soaps -Dr. Bronner's - Peppermint Castille Soap
MissJulie89 6/27/2012 12:32:00 PM
I have mad love for this soap. Raving mad love. Absolutely NOTHING makes me feel more refreshed than this stuff. So far, this summer has been a little slice of hell, and this soap is heaven in a bottle. In fact, I use it every season. Yes, it tingles and makes my skin feel literally cold, but it's so... awakening. So renewing. It also strikes a perfect balance between cleansing and moisturizing; my skin never feels stripped and never feels filmy or over-moisturized. The fragrance is a perfect peppermint that helps clear my sinuses a bit, too. I also love the packaging. I have nothing against the "All-One" jargon all over the label. I'm anything but a religious person, but for some reason, the entire thing is visually endearing, in an old-fashioned way. It makes me feel like I purchased it from an old-timey... "shoppe"... or apothecary, or something. It's kind of masculine, and a break from all of the cutesy, girly bottles of my other bath products. My only gripe with this stuff is the fact that it can make me break out a little bit on my back once in a while- not enough to not use it, but enough to dock a lippie. Regardless, I've been using this soap for almost a year and nothing's made me want to stop. It's amazing, and a huge bottle costs about $9.99. Love. (PS: DON'T LET THIS GET IN YOUR JUNK. It just... doesn't feel nice.)
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Suave - everlasting sunshine conditioner
MissJulie89 6/21/2012 11:28:00 AM
As an avid Suave co-washer and lover of BBW's Forever Sunshine (which is being discontinued- SHAME ON YOU BBW), I figured this condish would pretty much be the love of my hair's life. It pretty much is. Price: It's Suave, guys. The company graces upon the public wonderful products that cost less than a pack of gum. My boyfriend smokes, and I'm addicted to Suave Naturals conditioners. Guess who spends less money in a month? Packaging: Simple, cheap and functional. The shape is grip-able, and the caps are easy to open and close. I've never had a problem with caps breaking or bottles leaking. I took a bottle of Suave conditioner on vacation with me and absolutely nothing bad happened to it. Yay! BUT, the labels are kind of cheesy. I can't really expect anything super fancy from Suave Naturals (as compared to, say, Suave Professionals, which are a bit more expensive), but hell. It's what's inside that counts. Consistency: Relatively thin, but that's what I like in a co-wash condish. Aside from the slight wateriness, it's a bit thicker than other Suave Naturals (i.e. Daily Clarifying or Cherry Blossom), and it provides a ton of slip and detangling. It's extremely easy to work through my thick, curly hair. Scent: The product's pale yellow color totally matches the fragrance- HAPPY. It smells almost EXACTLY like BBW's Forever Sunshine, which is one of the only fragrances I've ever worn that simultaneously sticks to my skin, rings in the compliments, and uplifts my olfactories and my mood. I'm glad Suave released this line, so that my beloved Forever Sunshine can live on through a conditioner that makes my hair smell incredible ALL DAY. It's a delectable fruity vanilla floral that lingers, so if you don't like lingering fragrances, you might not like this condish. Ingredients: Not too shabby for two bucks- It's a pretty short and simple ingredients list. It has lactic acid and other nice stuff such as vanilla extract and whatnot. Oh, and of course, it's silicone-free. Score. Performance: Since I co-wash, first I massage the conditioner into my scalp to loosen dirt and oils, and then I work some more conditioner into the rest of my hair and let it sit in my hair in the shower until I'm ready to rinse. It detangles so, so wonderfully, and is surprisingly moisturizing for a cheap and cone-free condish. After I use my leave-ins and let my hair dry, my curls are soft, shiny, bouncy and defined- not to mention every time I move my hair, everything around me smells so scrumptious. Overall: Out of the handful of Suave Naturals conditioners I love, this is the one I most adore. The consistency, the fragrance, the overall results- everything about this stuff rocks. I can't tell you how well it would work as a post-shampoo conditioner, but for co-washing purposes, it's amazing. If you're a curly girl, or anyone who co-washes, give this a try. It's impossible for this to put a dent in your wallet, what with it being two bucks, and- protip- if you hate it, use it as a shave cream!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Clean & Clear - Morning Burst Skin Brightening Facial Scrub (with lemon, papaya, and caffeine)
MissJulie89 6/18/2012 3:31:00 PM
Blargh. Ew. No. What? WHY? Let me clear that up for you. I forgot my facewash when I went on vacation. I picked this up from Walgreens since it was on sale and I had read relatively decent reviews for it in the past. So, ya know, I bought it hoping it would be at least half decent. Blech. It smells wonderful, the product and packaging are a cute, happy yellow, but just like people, looks don't always disclose how someone/thing is on the inside. In this crap's case, its looks didn't even come close to showing its true colors. It's just SLIMY. I felt like I was slathering lemonade-scented snot all over my face, complete with little hard round sparse boogers- a.k.a. those useless "bursting beads." They neither bursted nor exfoliated. The facewash was irritatingly difficult to massage into my face and rinse off and it, and the beads, just got stuck in my hair. Ugh. The only reason why I'm giving this a 2 is because it didn't do anything bad to my acne or really dry out my skin. Simultaneously, it did nothing beneficial, either. I'm back from vacation, but I'm not gonna waste it, though. I'll use it as a body scrub and update this review after that. Hopefully it won't be as noticeably filmy and slimy as it was on my face.
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