Cleansers -Cerave - Hydrating Cleanser
Penlatysan 6/12/2013 2:58:00 AM
I was in the hunt for a cheaper alternative to my beloved First Aid Beauty Cleanser when I thought I would give this a shot. I have VERY sensitive skin. Even Cetaphil irritates it. I also have skin that's seasonal and goes from being dry/ combo to combo/ oily. Right now it's more on the oily side as it's getting close to summer. However, I once heard a skin expert say that NO ONE, not even people with the oiliest skin, should ever use "foaming" type cleansers because they basically strip your skin of everything which is very bad in the long run. So I tried the hydrating one. Pros: The pump bottle is convenient Didn't irritate my skin (which is a pretty amazing feat) Cons: Didn't cleanse my skin. Like, at all. After I used this I ran a tissue over my face and foundation came off! And it's not even long wearing foundation! It smells like finger paint. I should know, I work with 1st graders. It has a bizarre consistency. Definitely not an alternative for my HG FAB cleanser :(
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Cleansers -First Aid Beauty - Face Cleanser
Penlatysan 4/15/2013 1:16:00 AM
I have the most sensitive skin. To put it in perspective, Cetaphil, the the supposed HG of dermatologists everywhere for people with sensitive skin, stung like a MF when I used it and left my skin irritated for days. I also have bizarre skin that goes back and forth from being very dry to combination to fairly oily. I also have mild rosacea. *sigh*. Yeah, you get my point. Anyway, a MUA at Sephora used the FAB cream on my face and I loved it so I thought what the hell and gave the cleanser a shot. OH MY GOD. No stinging. No stripping. Nice, soft clean skin. What a concept! And it seems to be calming some of my redness! It's fragrance free and to me smells a bit like a plain old fashioned bar of soap. A little goes quite a long way. No it doesn't foam, but, if that's your biggest priority in a cleanser, then me thinks you need to get your priorities straight. No, this will not remove eye makeup completely. But come on now, that's what eye makeup remover is for! This is for all of the rest of us girls (and guys) who need something extra EXTRA gentle and often get overlooked! HG status! NEVER STOP MAKING THIS!!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -Laura Mercier - Silk Creme Foundation
Penlatysan 10/20/2012 1:29:00 AM
I really, really like this foundation, but it has a learning curve. You have to play with it, applying it different ways before you find which one works best. If you find this looks cakey after wearing it for a couple hours, you've applied too much (no matter how small of an amount you think you've applied...a small amount in most other foundations is too much for this one). This foundation is like the poster product for a TINY bit goes a long way. The amount that I use for my whole face probably equals out to less than 3/4 of a pump of other foundations. I put one tiny dot on each cheek, one on my nose, one on my chin, and one on my forehead and then I really buff it in well with my Real Techniques buffing brush (this one does not work well with a beauty blender or you fingers. Your fingers apply way too much product and the water in the beauty blender seems to make the foundation go wonky). This itty bitty amount gives me excellent coverage with a satiny finish. I set with a very thin dusting of pure cornstarch (best setting powder I've ever used, btw) and it lasts me all day. I've even gone to the gym wearing this foundation and it still looked good after! And yes, it does have a strong smell. I've narrowed it down to a mix of baker's chocolate and nail polish. But the smell goes away as soon as you apply it. Bottom line: Use a VERY, VERY small amount, buff it in really well, lightly set with loose powder, and it smells when you first squeeze it out but it goes away. Good stuff :)
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Clinique - Redness Solutions Makeup SPF 15 with Probiotic Technology
Penlatysan 5/24/2012 10:21:00 PM
I have been on the hunt for a new foundation. I want something that's medium coverage, lightweight, and has a satiny finish. I went to Sephora and got some samples, this foundation being one of them. I chose this foundation because I have mild rosacea, and so my nose, cheeks, and chin can get quite red (ESPECIALLY my nose). I just ran out of the sample I was given. I was able to use it a good 6-8 times, and I tested it out using several different methods of application, with/ without a primer, and with/ without setting spray. First off, I think the best way to apply this is a stippling brush. When I applied it with my fingers, a flat foundation brush, or a sponge, it's just way too heavy. It *feels* like I have a ton of foundation on. And when it's applied that heavy, it transfers pretty easy. But with the stippling brush, I was able to get a light enough layer to where it still covered everything, but wasn't heavy. As far as primers go, I don't think it really made a difference with this, staying power wise. Neither did the setting spray (Urban Decay's All Nighter). The problem with this is that it's *so* creamy, that on really hot days, by mid-day the heat melts the foundation. On a 90 degree day, when I looked closely in the mirror at work, I was horrified! The foundation was fading off in some areas, and melted together in others! So I had some dots of really dark foundation and some spots with no foundation! It wasn't super bad though, I don't think you could notice it unless you got within 6 inches of my face, but it still made me self conscious. And my face doesn't get oily, so if it did that to me, imagine what would happen on someone with oily skin! Also, despite the claims I really didn't notice any improvement with my redness. And the color selection is pretty poor. Alabaster is the lighter shade and it's still a hair dark on me. And I found this oxidizes and goes orangey when it's hot outside.
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Eyeliner -E.L.F. - Cream Eyeliner - All Colors
Penlatysan 5/17/2012 1:18:00 AM
For the price, these are pretty darn good. I have them in several colors, and I will say some colors are way more pigmented than others, but overall they're pretty decent (ESPECIALLY for $3). No, these aren't quite as good as say the MAC fluidlline, Clinique, or Bobbi Brown cream liners, but they're way better than any drugstore one I've tried. The staying power is good (lasts me at least 12 hours). My only gripe with these is the texture seems to be a bit temperamental. Some mornings I'll go to apply this and it applies very rich, dark, and smooth. Some mornings, the product seems drier, and I have to go over the line several times to build up color, and it seems harder to get product on the brush. Speaking of the brush, the one that comes with it, while not terrible, it pretty flimsy and the bristles lose their shape easily.
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Cleansers -Basis - So Refreshing Cloths
Penlatysan 5/14/2012 12:52:00 AM
These dried out my skin so very, very bad. They also burned, and left my skin feeling hyper-sensitive to the touch. After using them about 3 times and my skin getting progressively worse and worse, I've stopped using them. It's been a week now and I'm *still* trying to get my skin back to normal. I have mild rosacea, so maybe these aren't for people with rosacea? But they're supposed to be hydrating and hypoallergenic, so I don't know.
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Liquid -NARS - Sheer Glow Foundation
Penlatysan 5/12/2012 1:07:00 AM
I am currently on the hunt for a new foundation. I've been using Revlon Colorstay for the past year, but I've never really been completely happy with it (but I'll save that for another review). I decided this time to try something more high end. My skin is pretty much all over the place. Sometimes it's extremely dry to the point where I get flaky patches, sometimes it's pretty oily (although, I know someone with what I would describe as "very oily skin" where every part of their face feels like it's been rubbed with bacon grease, and my skin, at NO point has EVER been close to that oily). Most of the time it's somewhere in between, with dryish skin on my cheeks and some oil in my T-zone. I also LOATHE matte foundations (one of the reasons I was never truly happy with Colorstay). I feel like they just don't look right on my skin; like my face is chalky and flat, with no dimension. Anyway, I decided to go to Sephora to get some samples of medium coverage, lightweight, satin finish foundations-- sheer glow being one of them. Pros:Nars claims that this foundation is meant to be applied with the fingers, which I whole heartedly agree. Other methods just don't achieve the same finish. Speaking of which, the finish. OMG the finish. By far, THE best finish I've ever seen. It's satin, but it doesn't have that "wet" look that a lot of satin and dewy foundations have. The finish almost reminds me of an eggshell. It's also sooo easy to apply, blends like a dream, and a very little bit goes a long way. A few fingertip-sized dots will do your whole face. Once it's on it feels so lightweight on my face. And it almost creates a soft-focus effect, blurring my dry patches, fine lines, etc, Staying power is decent for a non-long-wearing foundation, I can easily get a full workday out of this. BUT, I've discovered paired with UD All Nighter setting spray this easily lasts 12 hours. Primers do not seem to achieve the same effect, in fact primers really don't work well with this at all. Cons: All the shades run yellow. Even the ones that are marketed by Nars as having pink undertones have more neutral undertones. I have neutral undertones and was matched to Mont Blanc. I tried Deauville which is the light shade that's SUPPOSED to be neutral, and it was waaay too yellow. It also oxidizes pretty bad on me, making it MORE yellow as the day goes on. By the end of the day my face is noticeably darker, and when I remove it with a makeup wipe, it looks like sunless tanner coming off my face. But that's pretty much my only gripe with this, and I may just try out a shade lighter to see if that would oxidize to the correct color for me.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman - Stippling Brush
Penlatysan 5/7/2012 4:05:00 PM
Just thought I'd give people with dry skin a heads up, DO NOT use stippling brushes. I bought this trying to get that "airbrushed" look that so many claim stippling brushes give, only to find it roughed up any dry patches on my skin, making whatever foundation I was using stick to the little flakes. At first I thought it was just this brush, but this brush feels like it's really good quality and the bristles are some of the softest I've felt; so after some research, I discovered stippling brushes apparently just aren't a good idea in general for people with dry patches. The bristles cause "micro exfoliation" which can make your dry skin worse over time. Instead, use either a flat foundation brush or something like the Expert Face Brush; and only do downward strokes so the dry patches aren't irritated. I'm still giving this a good rating because the brush is amazing quality for the price, I just thought I needed to get the word out about the dry skin issue.
20 out of 30 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -NYX - HD High Definition Eyeshadow Base
Penlatysan 5/5/2012 7:16:00 PM
First, I must comment that I recently bought my second tube of this, and I think the formula's changed. I pulled out my old one and compare the 2, and there are some differences. First, the new wand is black instead of white. Also, the product seems thinner, not as pigmented, and takes longer to dry on the lid. But, believe it or not, these changes are for the better. Now it really is IDENTICAL to UDPP. Before I always thought the formula was too thick and almost pigmented like a concealer for it to be an exact dupe, but not anymore! Great stuff!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Giovanni - 2Chic Brazillian Keratin & Argan Oil Ultra-Sleek Shampoo
Penlatysan 4/21/2012 12:45:00 AM
I've recently decided to try more "natural" beauty products and heard Giovanni was a good brand to try. When I saw this shampoo had argan oil in it (something I've wanted to try for quite a while), I decided to give it a go. I've been using it for about 3 weeks now and I have pretty mixed feelings: Pros: It smells really good. Almost like coconut, but sweeter, but not in a sickening way. It makes my hair really shiny and smoother than I've ever seen it. It also seems to moisturize really well, and when I use this my blow drying time seems reduced. It lathers well, especially for a sulfate free shampoo. Cons: It has made my normally wavy hair almost stick straight and pretty limp, and no matter what I do, I can't seem to get the wave to come back. Normally, all I have to do is put some mouse in it, scrunch it, and let it air dry and my hair's natural, gorgeous beachy- waves come out. When I did that after using this, my wasn't wavy, it just looked like it was straight but messed up, like hair was wind-blown or I had hat hair or something! And it won't hold a curl with a curling iron either. I'm assuming that means that this product is weighing my hair down quite a bit. Also, the cap on the tube is pretty flimsy and likes to not close all the way, and one time I apparently didn't get it all the way closed and a bunch of the product leaked out and was wasted. Bottom line: This product is fantastic if your goal is shiny, sleek, STRAIGHT hair, but if you have any sort of curl or wave to your hair and wish to keep it, skip this.
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Sunscreen -Eucerin - Daily Protection Moisturizing Face Lotion - Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen - 4.0 FL. OZ. 118mL
Penlatysan 4/12/2012 11:39:00 PM
I don't know what's up with this moisturizer, but it never fully absorbs into my skin. I mean, when you touch my face it *feels* like it's completely absorbed, but if I put makeup over it, my makeup rubs off way easy, like it doesn't wanna "stick" to the moisturizer. And this is Revlon Colorstay foundation I'm talking about! It just rubs right off! Also, the SPF is useless. I went to the zoo for 8 hours and came home with my face fried. I was never in contact with water, didn't sweat (it was only 60 degrees out), and by the end of the day it was all too apparent this moisturizer failed me. But it does moisturize quite well, and hasn't made me break out or anything, so I guess that's a plus.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Tarte - Lights, Camera, Splashes Waterproof Mascara
Penlatysan 1/2/2012 3:53:00 PM
I got a small version of this mascara in a Sephora set I bought; so as for price, I couldn't tell ya cause I pretty much got it free considering the set was only $35 and came with a ton of stuff, including a nice-sized makeup bag :) . At first I really liked this mascara. No flakes, made my lashes look really good (although I it could have been a little more volumizing), and the formula wasn't clumpy at all--a problem that usually makes me shy away from WP mascaras. The reason this only gets 3 stars...it makes my lashes brittle and fall out! After using it a few weeks I noticed whenever I'd rub my eyes (without makeup on, obviously) I'd have about 5-10 lashes on my hand afterward! No bueno! That's NEVER happened with any other mascara! It's such a shame because I really love everything else about this mascara, but for the sake of my lashes, I gotta give this a big NO.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Physicians Formula - Gentle Cover Concealer(green)
Penlatysan 11/8/2011 10:21:00 PM
I have mild rosacea on my cheeks, nose and chin. The redness isn't awful and mostly just looks like a have a slight sunburn or maybe rubbed my skin a little too hard. But no matter what foundation I use, I can ALWAYS see the redness peeking through (even if other people say they can't). First impressions: the packaging is super flimsy and the top really doesn't stay on well, so beware if you toss this in your purse. It smells AWFUL. My god, I'm really surprised no other reviewers have mentioned this yet! It smells very, VERY strong and artificially earthy, if that makes sense. Like someone took all the smells of the woods (dirt, leaves, tree bark, animals, etc) and concentrated it in a very unappealing way. It covers decently for mild blemishes and the parts of my face that are less red, but on the redder areas--like my nose and parts of my cheeks--it only makes the red more subtle and I feel like I have to cake it on to get any coverage. The lasting power could be a lot better, and I felt like this had disappeared from my face within a couple hours (and that's with foundation primer and setting powder). To sum it up, the packaging in flimsy, it smells awful, it works pretty well on minor red blemishes but not so well on redder areas, and the lasting power isn't great. I won't be repurchasing this.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -John Frieda - Radiant Red Anti-Fade Shampoo
Penlatysan 7/28/2011 10:50:00 PM
I have naturally light red auburn hair (think Isla Fisher) that I dye a bright, intense coppery red shed (think Florence Welch). I have tried lots and lots of things to make the intensity of the red stay longer than a couple weeks with varying success. I wash it in cold water, only wash it every other day, and put UV protectant spray on it. I tried this stuff to see if it would help, and I have very mixed feelings about it. It is insanely drying, and my hair felt like straw after using it, even though I used conditioner as well. I really didn't notice any changes in my hair color. The only thing I noticed was that for the first couple of weeks after I dye my hair, when I rinse the shampoo out the water typically runs out a little orangey, like minute amounts of dye are coming out, which didn't happen with this shampoo. Whether or not that means the color is staying in better, I don't know. But because of how gross it made my hair feel, I think I'm gonna pass on using this again.
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