BB Cream -L'Oreal - Youth Code BB Cream Illuminator
PaulaNC 4/23/2013 1:47:00 AM
This definitely has a place in my arsenal. I prefer TMs or light coverage makeup. The color I purchased was light and it's a dead on match for my NW 20-23 skin. What I like about the shade is that it isn't pure gold, as I find is the norm in light shades. Stila and Maybelline I'm talking to you. The coverage is beautiful, slightly luminous, but I did notice more luminescence than I care for in the bright sunlight. I think some HD silica powder or any other sheer powder would handle this. But, today I used a tiny drop of this mixed with my Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer #30 light to neutral and at the end of the day I had a non oily, not "glowy" finish. I like it. So, I am not sure if I would use it alone, but as a boost to some other more matte TMs, yes. As for the BB cream claims, I have no idea. I've never used a Japanese BB cream ad it seems that the US BB creams, for the most part, are just light foundations. Just have reasonable expectations of what products can and can't do. Price? $11.99, several coupons, final price about $8 at CVS.
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Foundations -Wet 'n' Wild - Coverall Cream Foundation
PaulaNC 4/6/2013 2:43:00 AM
Edit: I don't like this simply because it's cheap. It performs as well if not a bit better than Chanel's Perfection Lumiere on me. Since I liked Wet N Wild's TM (which was more of a foundation) I was interested to see what Coverall was about. It's great! Fair/light suits me well, NW20. As more of a TM girl, the first day I thought this went on rather thickly. It does. But, after blending and a spray of rosewater on my sponge, this sheers out to exactly where I want it to be-natural, semi-matte, and my dry cheeks are happy, as is my oily forehead and nose. I've returned so many foundations recently, because most I've picked up are yellow-gold. This one seems to be true to what it says-light, not too pink, not to yellow. I'm not trying to fake a tan here. For $4, oh yes! I do use moisturizer under it, and if it seems cakey, check your primer (mattifying?) but I see no need for primer with this great little drugstore find.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Stila - NEW Stila Sheer Color Oil-Free SPF20
PaulaNC 3/29/2013 2:50:00 PM
I purchased this yesterday at Ulta, with a 20% discount. My skin is very pink and light. The color chosen was Tone, as Light had a very yellow base. I tried this on today in bright, natural light, and it's gold glitter, reminiscent of the JLo glow. If that look is what you are shooting for, here's your perfect product. On me it looks like sweat sheen. It's going back, obviously.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -C.O. Bigelow - Rose Salve
PaulaNC 3/4/2013 12:44:00 AM
This is a fabulously vaseline type product that will moisturize all your dry spots. But, just because it's called Rose's Salve, doesn't mean it smells like roses. It doesn't. It smells like vanilla. The top is a total pain-but it's a nicer, more luxury petroleum product.
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Lip Gloss -Physicians Formula - Sexy Booster - Sexy Glow Glossy Stain
PaulaNC 2/27/2013 3:52:00 PM
I purchased this in red yesterday at CVS, for $10.49, with a $7 EB rewards. The coupons had been pulled from the 2 remaining packages. This is a lovely, soft red. Transfer is slight, and bright fuschia. I've had it on for an hour or so now, and it is spottily wearing off, having drank only water and nothing to eat. I'm on the fence about this one. Update: This turns from pretty red to bright fuchsia. I'll pass-this isn't the 80's.
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Foundations -Revlon - Nearly Naked Foundation
PaulaNC 2/14/2013 2:35:00 AM
UPDATE: I like this more today, smoothing out with a sponge dampened with rose water. I've upped the rating to a 4. When I saw Nearly Naked, I thought it would be. But, make no mistake, there's coverage to this one! I purchased Nude, which is a good match for my light/medium pinkish skin. I've purchased so many foundations lately that are jaundice yellow-so I'm happy about the color match. But, I could feel it on my skin-and I don't think it's nearly naked, by a long shot. It's a pretty light medium foundation that lasted well on me. I would be tempted to mix a drop of TM in with a couple drops of this foundation to get it to sheer out a little. I bet it would build up to near Colorstay's full coverage. There is no pump, but I'm not much of a fan of those since they tend to over-squirt at random.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Rimmel - Match Perfection Concealer
PaulaNC 1/13/2013 12:34:00 AM
I purchased this little treasure due to the positive reviews, in light. This is perfection for my undereye area, which is dry and crepey, and a brown spot on my cheek. The finish is dewy but settles nicely and looks like SKIN and not powdery bump concealer, as most concealers do, and I've tried a lot. The squeezy brush system leaves something to be desired, but since it's practically perfect in every one way-and not to mention cheap, I am not reducing my rating.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -Physicians Formula - Super BB Cream
PaulaNC 1/8/2013 12:27:00 AM
Update: I can't make it work, at least for winter. It's too "tannish" for my light/medium skin. Physician's Formula's tinted moisturizers work well for me, so I was thrilled to find a little display of this at my local CVS store, with a $3 coupon affixed to the box.I purchased light/medium with high hopes, and I really like it! I am about a NW20-25, Bobbi Brown sand/warm sand, and the color is a little deep, but I can work with it, smudging out the hairline area with a sponge. The finish is not matte but dewy on me. I do not powder it. The finish stays! Coverage is light, but a little thicker than I thought it would be, but still natural and not masky. I'm pleased but I might try light next time, or blend the two. I don't know about all the supposed benefits but for the smooth,lasting finish and SPF 30 on top of that?
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -L'Oreal - Visible Lift Smooth Absolute
PaulaNC 10/11/2012 1:31:00 AM
I'm giving this a generous review for now. It was beautiful going on. Color? I'm not sure it was a good match. When it came out of the brush applicator, it was pale-and turned darker before my eyes. That is kind of strange. I did not use primer or a powder,, but oddly it looked a little on the cakey side tonight. I'll give it a fair go tomorrow, and report back. But, my initial impression is good for the first 2-3 hours, not so fabulous after.
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Lips -Revlon - Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain- Romantic
PaulaNC 10/2/2012 2:22:00 AM
While I adore Adore (doesn't pick up orange on me) I'm less than thrilled with this one. I'll try it in the daylight, but it looked vibrant orange, not the pretty cherry pop color that's been described. I'll update, but, I think it will go back. LLL, NW20/25 MAC.
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Eye Shadow -Wet 'n' Wild - Color Icon Trio - Silent Treatment
PaulaNC 9/30/2012 2:29:00 AM
This is a $2.99 winner from WnW! I used the darkest shade to plump up my wimpy eyeliner today, and it worked great. I used the lid shade in the crease, and the highlighter of course, on the brow bone. Worked beautifully on my NW 20 skin with green eyes. I've been trying to find a dupe for Bobbi Brown Cognac, and while the darkest shade isn't it, it does a good job. BTW Rust from NYX isn't even close as a dupe. I have returned eye shadow palettes right, left and center (cheap, expensive and middle of the road in price) due to outlandish and unflattering glitter. Yes, BE Ready too..I'm older and don't want to look cheap. While these do have some shimmer it isn't OTT. A great $3 cosmetics bucks spent! **If you are trying to open the packaging in a time crunch to get to work, forget it-I picked for 5 minutes and resorted to a kitchen knife to get it open.**
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Bare Escentuals - Ready 2.0 The 15 minutes
PaulaNC 9/8/2012 5:26:00 PM
I purchased this duo recently. The lighter shade is a peachy color, and the deeper a mauve/brown. I'm really disappointed. The lighter color has chunky glitter. I applied it over UDPP. Using a wedge/crease brush (by BE) I applied to the outer V and it stuck in a streaky way. I tried to blend it out, but it didn't move. The lighter color was true to what I saw in the pan, but I did not expect the glitter chunks. The darker color was not as dark and rich as it appeared in the pan. This palette will be returned to Ulta.
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Eye Primer -E.L.F. - Eyelid Primer
PaulaNC 9/2/2012 1:10:00 AM
I couldn't even evaluate my e/s staying power with this..there are big random glitter pieces. I guess if you are under 30, that's cool. I used the 2 I bought once, and gave them to my daughter. I'll stick with UDPP. And, my budget is not big-it's just worth it.
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Mascara -L'Oreal - Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Black Lacquer
PaulaNC 8/30/2012 2:26:00 AM
I'm always loved L'Oreal's Voluminous mascaras, starting with the regular, to carbon black, to the collagen one. I didn't care for the Million Lashes version. I like this one very much. The fibers are unobtrusive. They fatten, without making my lashes look like airborne fuzzies got stuck in them when the mascara was wet. Maybelline Illegal Lengths? You are guilty as charged! The brush, I like. It's an actual brush, thin and easily maneuverable, unlike many other big, plastic comb-brushes. It's deep, dark, inky black. My fave higher end mascara is Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes. This is better.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -Maybelline - Dream Fresh 8-in-1 BB Cream
PaulaNC 8/24/2012 11:48:00 PM
I've never used a beauty balm (I'm reading reviewers calling BB cream blemish balm) from an Asian manufacturer, so I really didn't expect this to be anything more than a tinted moisturizer, and that's what I think it is. I purchased light/medium, and whoa, it's pale and yellow. There is a bit of coverage, but compared to my Physician's Formula TM in fair/light, it's much lighter. I'm very surprised that there hasn't been more discussion on the shades! I'm not a fan, and while it's ok, I don't think it's anything special. I'm returning it to CVS tomorrow.
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