Powder -Alima - Satin Matte Mineral Foundation
MissK4012 12/1/2012 7:56:00 PM
To jump start this review, here is the product description and ingredients list from Alima Pure: Alima Pure Satin Matte Mineral Foundation is hypoallergenic -- it goes on easy and feels like nothing at all, naturally. It evens out your skin tone, enhances your complexion and reduces the appearance of fine lines and pores. And, with 61 shades, there's a match for just about everyone. Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Zinc Oxide (CI 77947) Mica (CI 77019). May contain [+/-]: Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499). Nothing more. Okay, with that out of the way, the selling point for me when I chose to try this foundation was the ingredients list - no bismuth oxychloride, which makes my face red and itchy, no lauroyl lysine or other coconut derivatives, which clog my pores and break me out like crazy and really nothing but minerals. Exactly what I was looking for. I am also really impressed by the color selection and how easy the Alima website makes it to find your match. You can start by selecting your shade: fair, light, medium, medium deep, or deep. Then your undertone: cool, neutral, beige, warm, golden or olive. Clicking on your selection narrows down their 61 colors to just those that fit what you're looking for. I ended up choosing Cool 2, but if you're not 100% certain of which color works for you, Alima offers a sample kit where you can choose 4 different shades to try and many of the other online retailers that sell Alima Pure products offer samples as well. So, I applied my new foundation with my favorite flat-top kabuki brush. The first thing I noticed was that it was an absolutely perfect match for my skin which is a first for me. The container allows a lot of control over how much product you shake out of the sifter and the powder applies easily and blends well. On top of totally dry skin, I still got the powdery look most powder foundations give me, so I tried applying while my moisturizer hadn't quite finished soaking in and it was perfect - exactly what "satin matte" should be; not shiny, just a bit dewy. I found that with either application method I could layer anywhere from a light dusting to multiple coats and get exactly the coverage I wanted from ultra-light to completely full coverage. As for staying power, this foundation has the best of any mineral foundation I've ever tried and even beats many liquid and cream foundations in the longevity arena. With no primer or setting powder, I didn't have to touch up until about 5 hours into my work shift, and even then it was just a couple spots where my skin is most prone to oiliness and redness that needed any help.With a primer underneath (I usually just use a bit of aloe but have also tried this foundation over samples of other primers) and setting powder on top (I use Silk Naturals Perfecting Powder or Ultimate Luxury Powder) and a quick spritz of hydrosol to finish the whole look, I didn't need to touch up at all. Seriously, not even once from application to removing my makeup before bed. I imagine it goes without saying, but Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation gets a full 5 lippies from me. I would recommend it to anyone and feel pretty certain you'll find a great color match and love this stuff as much as I do.
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Foundations -Everyday Minerals - Jojoba Base
MissK4012 7/10/2012 5:00:00 PM
I've tried a number of Everyday Minerals foundations and face powders and loved the way most of them applied and looked, but discovered that the lauroyl lysine in them was breaking me out. When they came out with this Jojoba Base, free of lauroyl lysine, I just had to try it. Colors: Not a wide enough selection for my needs. Beware the online descriptions and get samples first! I bought the full size in Natural, described as the second lightest cool-toned shade as well as a number of samples. The natural was far to dark for me. It looked like I had applies a very light bronzer all over my face. I switched to using the sample of Alabaster, which was a better match - that means if you're normally the very fairest shade in most foundations, there is not currently a Jojoba Base match for you. Upon application, Alabaster looked like a decent match, though perhaps more neutral than cool. As it oxidized during the day it warmed up a bit too much - not orange like some mineral foundation, but just a bit warmer so it no longer looked natural on me. Coverage: Can be layered for light-full coverage but uses a lot of product. I generally prefer light-moderate coverage and found I had to spend twice the time and product to get the same coverage as I do with other mineral foundations. If I had a good color match, I wouldn't really mind this too much as it's also half the price of most other mineral foundations. Other stuff: Used my Alabaster sample for a week and it did not seem to clog my pores or break me out. Applied best with a flat top foundation brush, good as a finishing powder with a foundation or powder brush. Overall: I indication "Yes" for the would you buy again question, but I likely won't - unless they come out with some more colors to try and I will get SAMPLES FIRST if this happens. A nice product, if you can find a color match.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Unlisted Brand - Terra Firma Cosmetics Gel Eyeliner
MissK4012 7/10/2012 4:30:00 PM
This review if for Terra Firma Mineral Gel Eyeliner in "Brownie Points." Color: A dark brown, close to black on my very fair skin. What I love about the color is that it is not a warm brown, no hint of red - I have trouble finding brown liners that work for me since any hint of real warmth looks silly on my very cool complexion and makes my eyes look red. So this liner gets points from me for being just brown, perhaps a bit on the ashy side. Application: Easy, easy, easy. It's truly a gel, does not require adding water or anything, just dip your brush lightly and apply. As easy as most quality liquid liners with the same color intensity. Dries quickly, but not so quickly you can't blend/smudge if you want a smokier look - though I would strongly suggest doing one eye at a time and smudging immediately if that's the look you're going for. Staying power: I've tried this without primer/shadow/anything else and it lasted from application until I got home from work (about 11 hours) without smudging, smearing, fading etc. off of my somewhat oily lids. No flakes - no irritation. Ingredients: For a "mineral" product, there's a whole lot of non-mineral ingredients in here (I put the full ingredient list at the end). Most are actually known to be beneficial for skin and hydration but I was worried some of the many extracts may irritate my eyes or skin (cinnamon, lemon peel, and peppermint? in an eye product?!) but apparently my eyes are okay with everything. I can't say that I would suggest this liner for someone with sensitive eyes or skin though, there is a lot of stuff in here that can cause problems. Other stuff: Package is standard, you get a lot of product for the price. Smells weird - almost vanilla? And the scent sticks around for an hour or two on me which I do not particularly enjoy. Not a bad scent, I just don't make a habit of perfume-ing my eyes :) Overall: I would probably buy again, assuming I ever run out and don't find anything I enjoy more before that distant time. If you're in any way sensitive to harsher ingredients I either don't recommend, or suggest a patch test first. As far as more natural options for a dramatic liquid liner go, this is certainly a keeper for me. Ingredients: Aqua, Aloe Leaf Juice, Witch Hazel, Arabic Gum, Vegetable Glycerin, Beeswax, Black Oxide, Ultramarine Blue Oxide, Emulsifying Wax NF, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glycoprotein, Stearic Magnesium Stearate, Polysorbate-20, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Xanthan Gum, Vitamin B5, Hyaluronic Acid, Pullulan, Fulvic Acid, Carbomer, Mannan, Potassium Sorbate, Suprapein (A proprietory blend of botanical extracts for preservation that includes: Extracts of Oregano leaf extract, Thyme extract, Cinnamon bark extract, rosemary leaf extract, Lavender Flower extract, Lemon peel extract, peppermint leaf extract, Golden Seal Root extract and Olive leaf extract.), Tonka Bean Oil, Lavender Oil, Almond Oil.
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Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Hemp Seed Oil
MissK4012 6/18/2012 3:30:00 AM
I love hemp oil! I have combo skin prone to all varieties of acne, dryness/flakes/ excessive oil - pretty much skin that can't make up it's mind. I also break out from the lightest touch of any, even very slightly, comedogenic ingredients so it has been quite the search for an oil to use and moisturizer or moisture booster.For reference, I have also tried olive (broke me out), coconut (broke me out HORRIBLY), grapeseed (breakouts), argan (slight clogging), macadamia nut (neither seemed to hurt nor help), almond (breakouts), and sunflower (nice, but hit or miss depending on source). I use hemp seed oil when I need a bit more moisture than my AM sunscreen supplies (also hemp oil based) and at night either alone or before adding shea butter for extra moisture. What I love: * Cheap. I have used a number of different brands of varying prices and they all seem to work equally well. So I just buy whatever's cheapest at the time. * No breakouts or clogs and doesn't look greasy (as long as applied SPARINGLY, like a serum). * Gives my face a nice, dewy glow (not greasy shine) that I actually get compliments on. * Adds enough moisture to help reduce the fine and dehydration I am recently starting to acquire. * Muti-tasks as a great hair oil, salad dressing, substitute for EVOO in cold recipes (hummus!), body oil (applied while still damp from shower and allowed to soak in), makeup remover (I mix with aloe and use it to remove eye makeup), component in almost any DIY lotions/creams/hair products/etc. What I do not love: * Oxidizes/ spoils quickly and must be kept refrigerated. * It's easy to go overboard and use too much - but this is easily remedies by keeping a small amount in a dropper bottle. OVERALL: Love it. Recommend it. A staple I will continue to buy.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Queen Helene - Grape Seed Extract Masque
MissK4012 6/17/2012 11:49:00 PM
I have been using this mask on and off for a number of years and keep coming back to it. This is a basic,peel-of mask meant for clearing pores and gently exfoliating. I does it's job rather well. Pros: Super cheap. The most I have every seen this mask for is $5, and I can usually find it online for around $2.99. Dries quickly and actually peels off, all in one piece, without leaving a mess. Removes the top, dry and flaky, layer of dead skin off face (if applicable). Cleans pores gently, not as much as pore strips, but since you can spread it wherever needed, I prefer it over pre-shaped strips (I have enlarged and/or clogged pores everywhere, not just my nose). Doesn't break my super acne-prone skin out. Cons: HIGHLY fragranced. My eyes water and nose itches while I have this on. It really smells like I sprayed strong perfume on my face - to be safe I always wash my face with my usual cleanser after using this mask as I don't want to risk leaving unknown "fragrance" on my skin. A bit too gentle if your aim is to thoroughly cleanse pores - it doesn't really pull all the "gunk" out, just a bit so deep cleaning takes multiple uses. OVERALL: I will continue to buy this mask until I find a better substitute. For the price, I haven't found anything to beat it. Although I would be willing to spend more if I could find something that got stuff out of my pores as well as the strongest pore strips, but with more natural ingredients and less waste. A functional mask, with some downfalls, but worth using. UPDATE: Couldn't get passed the fragrance AND this mask started irritating my face. I don't have particularly sensitive skin but something in here just didn't work for me after regular use. Won't buy again myself, but if the ingredients and small agree with you, it's still a worthwhile product to try, especially considering the low price.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Unlisted Brand - Honeybee Gardens - Nail Polishes
MissK4012 6/8/2012 5:00:00 PM
*** in all of my reviews, my rating is based on product performance and value. however, I do discuss company ethics/customer service/etc. where applicable as this does effect whether I would buy the product again. *** I had been wanting to try Honeybee Gardens nail polishes for a long time and I LOVE their polish remover, but due to so many mixed reviews didn't pull the trigger until I found them 75% off. I purchased the clear base/top coat, hippie chick, and san francisco (all non-peel-off). I am not impressed. These polishes get one lippie for no scent, healthy ingredients, and easy application. This is where I started disliking this polish. Within one day, all of my nails had very noticeable chips. I polished at night as recommended, with the clear base, 2 coats of polish, and clear top coat. If this extended the staying power at all, I imagine without all that the color would have lasted only hours. I didn't have a chance to remove it for a few days so I let it just chip off rapidly until my nails looks ridiculous enough that I HAD to take the time to remove the polish. This is where it gets really weird... The polish that had not chipped off already was nearly impossible to remove. I spent ages trying to rub it off with Honeybee Gardens nail polish remover (which is wonderful for removing other polishes, FYI) and finally resorted to a sample I had of a super-strong acetone remover. Neither really worked. I eventually got it off my fingers (about 40 minutes later) by continually rubbing as hard as I could with Honeybee remover. It's still on my toes as I just can't bring myself to go through that again. Hopefully my toenails will grow out quickly! BOTTOM LINE: I wanted to like this polish, but it's just useless. It looks really pretty for a few hours, but I don't have the time to polish and then spend the better part of an hour removing said polish just to have nice nails for a less than one day. Will not buy again. Ever.
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Eyeliner -Unlisted Brand - zosimos botanicals eye pencil
MissK4012 6/8/2012 4:43:00 PM
*** in all of my reviews, my rating is based on product performance and value. however, I do discuss company ethics/customer service/etc. where applicable as this does effect whether I would buy the product again. *** I received a full size of this eyeliner in the color "Supernova Plum" in a subscription box and, always on the hunt for great purple/plum liners to bring out my green eyes, was very excited to try it. Of course, I always check out the ingredients first, so here they are: Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil; Organic Castor Oil; Wildcrafted Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax; Castor Wax; Mica; Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Oleoresin So, the first thing I love about this pencil is the tiny list of natural, vegan ingredients. No irritating fragrances, no nasty chemical preservatives, and I always love a liner or mascara with castor oil - I have had a lot of luck growing longer, thicker lashes with straight castor oil and having it in my eyeliner just makes me feel like I am continuing treatment throughout the day. As far as packaging, I don't have much to say - it's a pencil with a plastic cap. Like most liner pencils. Nothing great, nothing bad. And now for the performance review: Application: Smooth and easy, a very soft pencil that can be applied with a light hand for a subtle line, or layered for a darker shade. Also easy to blend for a smoky look but equally easy to sharpen and use for tightlining. Exactly what I like in a pencil. Color: The supernova plum is just "plum-y" enough that it really makes green eyes pop but doesn't look like you're wearing purple liner. To the naked eye it could just as easily be brown or soft black. There is also a bit of shimmer, but only enough to draw attention to the eyes. So, basically, it's a sparkly plum liner that doesn't make you look like you applies a sparkly plum liner. Staying power: Lasted all day on my oily lids without primer or shadow on day one - with just a bit of fading/sliding off on the very inner corner of my upper lash line. Lasted with said fading on day two when worn with primer and shadow. I also did my irritant test on day one - wearing it to bed. It did, of course, come off on my pillow and end up getting into my eyes a bit but - no irritation! Price: $15. Pretty standard, not too pricey but certainly not cheap. Other noteworthy tidbits: They have a very large selection of colors available, which I will definitely try. AND This little blurb on the zosimos home page makes me extremely happy - "Welcome to Zosimos Botanicals, where we handcraft our own line of mineral makeup and natural skincare in a 100% wind-powered studio. Everything is skillfully created in small batches using only the purest essential oils, waxes, herbs, fruit extracts and floral waters. Our exclusive personal care products are custom made fresh for you upon order, not simply taken off a shelf and put in a box. It's all cruelty-free and made without synthetic chemicals such as parabens, nanoparticles, sulfates or other toxins. Here at Zosimos Botanicals, we are dedicated to giving you the absolute freshest green cosmetics possible. You will love how our healthy makeup and skincare enhances your natural beauty!" Just the ethics of this company would have me looking for something to buy from them, even if I hated this liner. But I love the liner and can't wait to try other items as well! OVERALL: So glad this product fell into my lap so could check out Zosimos Botanicals. Love it and will definitely buy again.
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Masks -Unlisted Brand - Oatmeal
MissK4012 5/28/2012 1:16:00 AM
After seacrhing for years for a gentle cleanser to use in the morning and having no luck, I decided to try using oatmeal just a few months ago. I keep it pretty basic most of the time - just finely ground oats mixed with a bit of raw honey and some warm water. I mix it up then use immediately as scrub/cleanser and am having truly great results. My skin is very volatile, combination, prone to breakouts, clogs, dryness, flakes, redness and it gets very coarse and just plain gross feeling while I sleep so I always feel the need to exfoliate in the morning. Using oatmeal for this purpose has been extrememly helpful. Since I am not using a soap in the morning, I am not completely stripping my skin or throwing it out of balance. My face feels amazingly soft after scrubbing and the redness/overall skin tone is much more balanced. I also find that existing blemishes are less noticeable after using oatmeal. Also, my makeup glides on so smoothly after exfoliating with oatmeal and any dryness/flakes seem to be pretty much taken care of after just one or two washes. I would definitely recommend most anyone (excpet anyone allergic to oats, obviously) try this. What's great is how versatile oats can be - I like my cleanser pretty coarse and exfoliating but you could always soak the oats/water longer for a gentler scrub, or even prepare oatmeal then squeeze the water out and use that for very sensitive skin. Worth a try!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Andalou Naturals Meyer Lemon Creamy Cleanser
MissK4012 5/25/2012 3:43:00 PM
The first thing one should note about this cleanser is that it is for combination skin - after trying it out I can say I would definitely not recommend it for very dry or very oily skin, just truly combo folks like myself. Also, it contains a lot of extracts and essential oils so the sensitive may wish to avoid it as well. My first impressions: I didn't notice the word "brightening" on the bottle prior to my first use but after just one wash I can certainly say they are not making erroneous claims! My face was noticeably less dull and downright glowing immediately. Also, I noticed right away the amazing scent of this cleanser. It's certainly lemon (and other citrus) but it's neither the sickeningly sweet "creamsicle" scent of some products nor the overpowering lemon Pledge scent of others. I don't know how to describe it better but let's suffice it to say I've wanted to eat this on more than one occasion! Now, after using this for about 2 or 3 months now, here are my findings: PROS: *Removes all makeup, including eye makeup. Though it is worth noting that if it gets in your eyes, you will be very, very sorry - think about squirting lemon juice directly into your eye and you'll have the right idea. Also, I do not wear any waterproof makeup, so I cannot speak to how well it would remove anything waterproof. *Does not dry out my skin, nor leave it oily. *Leaves face lightly moisturized, but not with a residue. I've never had residue or makeup come off on the cotton with my toner after using this cleanser. Great for my lazier nights when I wash my face but skip the tone and moisturize steps out of laziness. *During drier months helped to clear up blemishes and clogs. Now that it's getting into summer this cleanser seems a bit too heavy and is no longer helping BUT is also not causing any problems. *Great ingredients as far as "green" goes and the company overall seems, so far, like one I am comfortable supporting. *Fairly affordable, especially if you look for discounted items online. CONS/WARNINGS: *Personally, I love the extracts and EO's in this product BUT if you're sensitive, they are likely way too much for you. *Just not deep cleansing enough for me in the hotter or more humid times. *Love the sanitary pump bottle, but it's not great for travel and it's PLASTIC. BOTTOM LINE: I really think this is a great cleanser. I will be trying something else for the summer (currently considering the Citrus Kombucha cleanser by the same brand), since I need something a bit more deep cleansing, but I have little doubt that I will come back to this for winter or even just keep some on hand for when my face feels dry. I would recommend for those that, like me, have that very volatile combination skin that dries out very easily but also gets oily and broken out very easily. I will be buying this again!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Unlisted Brand - Honeybee Gardens Eyeliner
MissK4012 5/15/2012 4:27:00 PM
So far, I have only tried this eyeliner in "smoking gun" which is a very slightly metallic, medium gray shade. I got it for very cheap from vitacost, but even the normal retail price really isn't much more than the cheaper drugstore eyeliners out there. Packaging is a standard, wood pencil with your typical plastic cap - nothing special, nothing bad, just standard. And now on to the actual product. PROS: Glides on smoothly and evenly. Can be applied with a light hand for a light color or layered for a darker and more dramatic look. Sharpens easily and to a very fine point, making this a great pencil for tight lining. Has not irritated my eyes at all nor run into them (although I don't line my inner rim, so I can't speak to how it would behave if one were to do so). For me, this liner lasted all day with and without primer which is awesome because most days I don't bother with primer and shadow - just mascara, liner and done. Cheap, fairly "green" and in general Honeybee Gardens is a more "natural" brand and I am comfortable supporting them. CONS: Other than the fact that I can't find these anywhere in person, I can't think of any cons (besides the plastic in the packaging). But since I regularly order other items from websites that carry this liner at a greatly discounted prices, availability isn't a big problem for me. BOTTOM LINE: Will certainly buy again and recommend. Next I intend to try "passion" - their smoky plum color - and will update when I have tried that as well.
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Mascara -Reviva - Hypoallergenic Mascara
MissK4012 5/9/2012 5:27:00 PM
Easily my HG - my biggest complaint being that I hesitated so long before trying it! I use this mascara in brown, originally purchasing it thinking it would be my subtle, every day, barely there brown mascara. It's far too dramatic for the "natural" look if that's what you're going for but I love it so much I just do a more dramatic daily look than originally planned. PROS: VERY lengthening. Thin, smooth texture but not so thin it runs into my eyes. One coat is enough, but the product is easily layered - whether you do so when it's totally dry or still wet. Separates lashes enough that when applied with a light hand I do not need to comb afterward. Little to no clumping. No irritation, even when I sleep in it. I haven't had ANY flaking no matter how long I leave it on. CHEAP. I get mine for under 6 bucks on vitacost or iherb. CONS: The stopper doesn't get all the excess product off the brush, so you have to pay close attention to how much product is on the brush or you'll end up applying way too much at once. Also, I can't find it anywhere in person. But since it's so readily available online, that's hardly a con. BOTTOM LINE: Wonderful mascara. The only reason I even try other is because, well, I'm a mascara whore. But I always make sure to have this stuff on hand.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -100 Percent Pure - Fruit Pigmented ultra lengthening mascara
MissK4012 5/9/2012 1:50:00 AM
I bought this mascara in blackberry (I am eternally on the search for the perfect purple-tinted mascara) and for a brief moment I thought I'd finally found the HG of purple/plum mascaras. Upon opening the tube I found what appeared to be exactly the smokey purple color I wanted, a surpisingly pleasant scent (I imagine it just smells like the fruit it's pigmented with) and a very functional brush with shorter bristles (which makes it easier for me to apply right down to the lashline - a must on my very pale lashes). Acceptable ingredients list, cute (albeit plastic, but oh well) packaging. Applying the mascara the following day: it was sticky, a bit too thick and difficult to apply. It kind of hurt like I was pulling at my lashes a bit, actually. I ended up with a sheer coat of pigment and wore that to work. Halfway to work my eyes started itching/burning like something was in them - I assumed it was dust since I walk/bike to work, but when I arrived and inventisgated via bathroom mirror, it was a bunch of tiny purpl-ish mascara flakes. I cleaned them up, blaming the wind, but continued to experience more and more flakes all night - until the mascara was almost totally gone which was about 6 hours into my shift. Next day, I applied some oil to my lashes first. This helped the application process immensely, but a few hours later the oil had dried and the flaking began again. Day 3: I put a few drops of vitamin e oil in the mascara PLUS a bit on my lashes as a base. This made for an easy application and I was actually able to layer for added color without much effort. It also lasted a bit longer, but still flaked regularly enough that my eyes were constantly irritateded almost through my work shifts. I would have given up here probably, but I didn't have any other mascaras and I do not go in public with my invisible lashes. Kept it up for about a week with a bit of oil as a base, then the mascara+vitE mixture. This combo made it seem possible to use this mascara at least until it was gone - until my eyelashes started falling out! There are no ingredients in the 100% Pure mascara that I am sensitive to, so I don't think the product itself caused my lashes to fall out - I think it was just the daily effort of applying a too-thick, too-dry mascara to my lashes in a rather harsh and violent manner. BOTTOM LINE: I've heard good things from others, so perhaps this can work for you too. I will not be buying this again as it clearly does not work for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Weleda - Iris Night Cream
MissK4012 5/4/2012 5:16:00 PM
I received a large sample of this as well as the iris day cream and only tried it for a couple of days. If you are not prone to clogs/breakouts from comedogenic ingredients, this may be a good moisturizer for you. I used both JUST around my eyes and ended up with small eyelid pimples after 2 days. I knew I was easily broken out by some of the ingredients, so that's not really the products' fault, but I have NEVER broken out on my eyelids before. Another con for me is the EXTREMELY strong fragrance. My eyes watered applying it and it really doesn't fade much. I don't mind fragrance in some products, but a facial moisturizer really doesn't need to smell like I've applied too much perfume, IMO. Again, if you enjoy and are not sensitive to highly scented stuff, you may like it. BOTTOM LINE: Would not pay for this and will use up my samples by stealing another reviewer's idea: foot lotion. It seems like it will be great for feet (but even if it is, the price is far too high for a foot cream!).
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Other -Unlisted Brand - Birchbox
MissK4012 5/4/2012 5:04:00 PM
I was excited to receive my first Birchbox for March 2012. I had read all the FAQ's and knew they didn't have an option for ALL natural products, which is normally my preference, but they did say that if you selected that as an interest they wold try to accommodate as well as possible. They did make an effort on this part - I received 2 samples from more "natural" brands in my box and they were both a good size. Nothing I could personally use, but I appreciated the effort and know I can't love every sample sent. My disappointment stems from the rest of the contents of the box. There were a couple tiny, useless sample packets - definitely not enough product to know whether it would work for you and be worth repurchasing - and weird stuff I hadn't heard of and couldn't figure out how they decided, supposedly based on my preferences, to send me. Example: I had indicated natural products, makeup, bath and body as things I was interested in and my "makeup" sample was a packets consisted of a set of weird, stick on "eyeliners" in odd shapes and a packet with a single use pre-soaked nail polish remover pad. My skincare/bath/body option was a packet of some sort of lotion with enough product to almost moisturize my hands 1 time. OVERALL: Not a good value for what you get, there isn't enough to most of the samples to truly test the products and the value of my box didn't even add up to 10 bucks. Not much attention to your preferences in the initial sign-up survey. Not really worth it. The only reason Birchbox gets two lippies is that I have heard others, with more specific preferences (i.e. ONLY selected makeup, or JUST skincare) had better luck.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Tarte - Lights Camera Lashes
MissK4012 5/4/2012 4:53:00 PM
The first few times I used this mascara I was really quite pleased. It applies easily, can be layered will very little effort, and gives a great dramatic look - definitely lengthening and a bit of added volume. I also didn't experience any flaking throughout the day (which is the only way mascaras usually irritate my eyes) and didn't need to touch up all. I did try to touch up once after work just to see if I could, and was happy to find that even after wearing this mascara all day, adding a layer on top for more drama was possible and didn't cause clumping. Overall, this is a pretty great product. My biggest issue though, and the reason I will not buy again, is the lifespan of a tube of this stuff. You get a lot, so the high price seems like a value, but I found that after just two weeks the product was starting to dry up. It became much more difficult to apply, flaked and clumped more, and the performance just rapidly decreased overall. This does happen with most tube mascaras, but for the price Tarte charges for this, I would hope it would at least outlast it's more natural competitors or at the very least last equally as long as it's peers in the semi-natural category. Paying that much for a product that only works well until I'm about 1/5th of the way through the tube just isn't worth it to me. And I wear a lot of mascara EVERY DAY to hide my almost invisible blonde lashes. I was able to make it last longer adding some vitamin e oil to the tube - this made it possible to apply, but it still felt dry going on flaked pretty terribly throughout the day. OVERALL: Great mascara IF you tend to go through large quantities of mascara very quickly. If you can use it up in 2-3 weeks, buy it. If you need something to last longer, this is not a good value.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No