Eye Shadow -Bobbi Brown - Metallic Eyeshadow - Gold Dust
MrsHolcomb 4/16/2012 6:13:00 PM
This is literally my everyday shadow! I apply it as a wash all over my lid and go, great for an instant brightening pick-me-up. True to description, this is a shimmery champagne gold. The shimmer is delicate and not overwhelming (like you may automatically think a metallic may be).
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Blush -NARS - Cream Blush in Enchanted
MrsHolcomb 4/20/2010 11:24:00 AM
I bought this from the NARS Summer 2010 collection after I feel in love with it's creamy peach color. Like the other NARS creme blushes in my experience, the staying power is great---a true creme to powder formula. This particular color is very sheer, and very forgiving to apply. Certainly is buildable and is lovely combined with the multiple in South Beach. I would absolutely be keeping this, but in fact I'm exchanging it today. Why? Enchanted is FULL of ENORMOUS shimmer chunks. Looks like large pieces of gold mica on my cheeks. Now, if you can hack larger shimmer--it could be pretty. For me, who battles larger pores near my nose...the shimmer is no bueno. The chunks of shimmer are the same as in the Silk Road e/s duo (on the pinker side). Unfortunately I didn't notice how large the shimmer was until I was in my car after purchasing the blush (looked shimmery in a tame way in store).
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Mario Badescu - Special Healing Powder
MrsHolcomb 3/29/2010 11:52:00 AM
Description from Mario Badescu: Heal and conceal acne breakouts with this specially formulated, Sulfur based powder that absorbs excess oil and reduces redness and irritation caused by breakouts. May be applied to skin to help control surface oil, disinfect and calm acne prone areas. Works wonders to quickly dry up open, infected pimples. How to Use: Dust the powder sparingly on irritated, excessively oily areas of the face a few times a week or as needed. Avoid eye area. Beauty Tip: Dust lightly on post waxed or shaved skin. Apply with a cotton swab to infected or raw, erupted pimples to speed healing process. Tap a little powder into your loose powder and dust over make-up to stay shine free all day. Ingredients: Talc, Kaolin,Calcium Carbonate,Bismuth Subgallate ********************************************************** My experience has been fabulous with this! My results have been entirely the same as the description they give---this product works hard to combat shine, blotchiness and keep trouble spots under control. It helps heal blemishes amazingly fast, and keeps others from erupting. You can use this alone, before or after makeup, in your makeup---it's extremely versatile! I have been lately applying only concealer to my spots and then lightly dusting this over my trouble areas in lieu of full face makeup. Though: I HAVE tried it under my foundation before, which wasn't my favorite because my skin was mattified from the powder---so the liquid was a little hard to work with. But possible. Throw out the puff it comes with and use a fluffy brush to apply this with, and a concealer brush to dab directly on the spots. A little goes a long way and I wouldn't expect to get through the jar in a year though I use it everyday! Try this, and you won't be sorry :)
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Mario Badescu - Buffering Lotion
MrsHolcomb 3/24/2010 12:14:00 PM
Where has this been all my life?? Why I chose this: I get the occasional hormonal cyst around my cheek/chin area---the kind that can lay roots and threaten to be there angry and red for weeks on end. I tend to leave them alone cause I usually can bat an eye and they'll leave a scar. What it is described as: Specifically designed to treat deep, cystic blemishes. Sulfur based solution allows the lotion to be quickly absorbed into the skin, treating the source of the deeply rooted pimples. Excellent acne treatment containing Allantoin to calm and soothe inflammation and promote healing. My experience: Significantly minimized appearance/feel of the bumps within one night! I didn't find it drying at all. Amazed! Cons: -Stinks to high heaven, but smell dissipates after a while. I use it at night cause I don't want this smell wafting after me at work...besides, if it works who cares. -Kind of difficult to apply due to it's watery texture. I tried first with saturating a q-tip but didn't feel the white powder was being applied to my skin. Worked better for me to squirt a droplet on my finger and apply directly to the blemish area. Really looking forward to continue using this. Will always repurchase! !
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Mario Badescu - Strawberry Face Scrub
MrsHolcomb 3/23/2010 3:23:00 PM
I have just finished my sample of this and absolutely plan to repurchase. I have sensitive, combination skin that is prone to hormonal dryness/breakout. Lots of more harsh exfoliating products tend to make my skin worse but this scrub is delightful. Scent is divine, texture is very creamy and silky, and I feel that the AHAs in this one are really improving my skin texture. FYI the seeds are more of a throw-in, and don't do too much in the way of scrubbing (it's the gentle strawberry acids in this one that truly do this). I really look forward to using this 3x a week in the shower!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Cetaphil - Gentle Skin Cleanser
MrsHolcomb 3/15/2010 11:45:00 AM
It's been an interesting journey for me to finally end up using this! I have tried just about every cleanser/system under the sun including Proactiv during the bad times, La Mer during some good, Mario Badescu, Clinique, Origns, Aveda---you name it. I've used toners, foams, masks, exfoliators, night cream, day cream, treatment cream, etc etc etc until I realized--- Maybe I should just give my skin a BREAK. So I did my research. I wanted a gentle cleanser and a gentle moisturizer. I wanted my skin to know what to expect and not freak out. I read tons of reviews and landed at Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser (this beat out a Mario Badescu I was looking at and a Kiehl's). My skin before: I am almost 28 and my skin has been changing a little over the last year. I tend to get a few hormonal cycstic acne (around jawline) and dryness in the t-zone around "that time", and is pretty sensitive to change. I started using this 2x a day and was really pleased---very gentle, removes makeup well and my skin still feels hydrated afterwards, almost like I just washed with water. I had the good chance to happen upon a posting on the skin board that said her dermatologist recommended using this as both a cleanser AND a moisturizer (!) She seemed to have similar skin issues and so I decided to try it. I was very nervous at first and was at the ready to combat a sudden skin freakout! 1.5 weeks later my skin is hydrated, less oily and just---happy! I wash with this 2x a day and afterwards use it as moisturizer. I've used a dab here and there of a richer night cream if I'm feeling at all dry in the evening, but it's overall really helped normalize my skin. You get a ton of product for about $8-9 and need very little to get the job done. I'll be on my first bottle for some time! It's not a purdy thing to look at, but who cares if my face is taking that honor! Worked for me---don't know if this would work for everyone but I'm happy!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -MAC - Star Nova
MrsHolcomb 3/12/2010 4:33:00 PM
Time to give some love to this lovely lustreglass! Star Nova is a beautiful sheer mauve with a light silvery sheen w/ VERY small fuchsia glitter. It goes on extremely sheer, but with great staying power. Not sticky, smells (As expected) of vanilla. This is fabulous if you want a my-lips-but-better look, with lovely depth and slight shimmer. Never in a million years would have picked this for myself (I gravitate towards roses, guavas or true berry colors), but luckily had a talented MA who suggested this. I wear it over MAC Plum l/l (my fave combo), or by itself. Have also used it as a highlighter on a deep jewel-toned lippie (middle of lower lip, blot). Worth the price for how long it lasts!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Clinique - Super Rescue Antioxidant Night Moisturizer
MrsHolcomb 3/11/2010 11:47:00 AM
I have combination skin, with occasional hormonal breakout and is very very sensitive. This cream has pulled me out of times of hormonal/winter dryness, with no ill effect to breakouts yet (2 months+). I don't use the Clinique 3-step (murdered my skin), but simply Cetaphil 2x a day. Sinks in quickly, wake up feeling rebalanced and hydrated, so far so good!
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Concealers -Almay - smart shade
MrsHolcomb 3/9/2010 2:43:00 PM
On a whim I bought this this weekend hoping to save some $ on some much needed concealer---I have a few red spots here and there from past breakouts that I was hoping I could just cover and touch up with a little powder (ie forgo foundation!). I am very fair, so I bought the lightest shade. It comes out as a really strange white/clayish color, very light consistency...doesn't work to cover light scarring without packing it on! Is O-K undereye and for light redness (like under the nose and such). Not wowed, more confused and will buck up and go spend the money on something that works.
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Blush -MAC - Full Fuchsia
MrsHolcomb 2/23/2010 9:56:00 PM
Gorgeous and bewitching bright fuchsia color. Since discovering the light-handed magic these bright colors can lend to a tired face this was a must-buy. Beautiful staying power and very blendable provided you've approached it with a light hand to begin with. Would repurchase!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -NARS - Strada
MrsHolcomb 2/23/2010 9:54:00 PM
Beautiful and unique e/s...lovely pale purple with gold shimmer, very buildable and blendable. The e/s itself does not come off as overly shimmery---it's like there are glimmers of gold pearl within a matte purple. Very unique and would repurchase!
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Eye Shadow -Bobbi Brown - Ballet Sparkle Eye Shadow
MrsHolcomb 2/23/2010 9:52:00 PM
YES if it was STILL AVAILABLE! Boo. It's hard to describe the sparkle in this besides that they are TRUE sparkles...not shimmer...better than glitter... Distributes really well, the pink shade in this is very sheer and goes on as a wash. I don't get much fall out at all, but tend to use it with a primer just as well. Lovely and unique e/s with great packaging (there is an interior clear plastic "flap" that protects the e/s from sparkling everywhere in the compact...
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Lip Gloss -Clinique - Full Potential Lips Plump and Shine in Rose Bloom
MrsHolcomb 2/23/2010 9:49:00 PM
I have searched high and low for the best nude lip gloss and this is hands down my favorite. Lovely staying power, visible plumping in a lovely and creamy nude pink. This is one of the few glosses I have finished and re-purchased. Reminds me of a more glossy version of NARS Dolce Vita l/g, and for $17.50 it's worth every penny.
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Eye Shadow -NARS - Fathom
MrsHolcomb 2/20/2010 9:18:00 PM
Oh Fathom, why oh why... I was bewitched by this in Sephora...under those bright lights this was the perfect matte baby pink with diamond twinkles. Gorgeous. Annnnnd on: Have to work with this one---layer layer to get the pink to show true. Have a feeling it wouldn't stay that color for too many hours. I wore this once, and for about 30 minutes. I am still trying to get silver sparkles off of my face...to echo another reviewer's sentiments---"fall-out city!" Will be returning after one use.
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Lip Gloss -NARS - Harlow
MrsHolcomb 2/18/2010 9:37:00 PM
Terrifying in the tube---kind of a silver, light purply mess, but when applied sparingly this adds amazing depths to your lips. I'd never use it all over like an actual gloss, but I apply the tiniest dab on the center of my lower lip, and blend. Really unique and compliment-drawing! Would re-purchase, but this would take forever to use up.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No