Cleansers -Boots - expert sensitive gentle cleansing wash
Plagueofhamsters 11/18/2012 4:53:00 PM
My all time FAVORITE gentle cleanser. This cleanser never feels stripping on my very oily (yet prone to dehydration) skin. I use two pumps in the morning on my clarisonic before shaving and my face doesn't appear flaky, feel dry or tight, and I get the satisfactory feeling you get using a foaming cleanser. There is nothing in this cleanser that clogs my skin either. I have used this to remove makeup (longwearing, sunscreen, and mascara before) and you do need to double cleanser and follow up with a good toner (something with a bit of an AHA or BHA is ideal). I can't recommend this enough and for under $5, I stockpile this cleanser. I hope it's NEVER discontinued.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Revlon - PhotoReady Airbrush Mousse Makeup
Plagueofhamsters 2/26/2012 6:44:00 PM
Glitter! Sits terribly on oily skin, decent coverage, fairly buildable, small shade range, but the glitter drives me insane!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Make Up For Ever - HD High Definition Foundation
Plagueofhamsters 11/30/2011 9:25:00 PM
A silicone-based foundation that has been hyped to an extreme. Silicone foundations are known for creating a "second skin" effect, hence this one calling itself high-definition. However, like a silicone primer, it's a terrible product for oily, combination, sensitive, and dry skin. For oily/combination/acne-prone skin, this foundation will keep all your wonderful oil underneath the silicone layer, trapping it in the pores, clogging them. For dry skin, it will cling to every dry patch on your face, finding ones you never knew you had (in fact, I found this to be true even with my very oily skin). Do yourself a favor and don't fall into the hype of this foundation unless you have normal, fairly clear foundation. It doesn't provide more than light-medium coverage, so, if you have sunspots, post-acne hyperpigmentation, or other higher pigment issues, pass on this.
28 out of 38 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Complexion Brush
Plagueofhamsters 11/30/2011 9:21:00 PM
Pretty decent synthetic powder brush! I don't find much use for it since I'm not fond of the shape for loose power or pressed on the initial application, but I do like it for touching up thanks to it's flatter shape. For $3, I'd totally recommend this.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Christian Dior - Diorshow Mascara
Plagueofhamsters 11/30/2011 8:11:00 PM
I hate me some Diorshow! I don't understand the hype behind this product -- the brush is oversized, so, it doesn't allow you to get to your lashes to really thicken them up at the root, where you want the most volume. It doesn't give me more length than most mascaras I've tried and for the price, I'm still baffled as to how many people love it. I've got fairly long, semi-full lashes and I can get most mascaras to work for me, however, Diorshow, and Maybelline Great Lash actually, isn't one of them.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Hourglass - Crease Brush No. 4
Plagueofhamsters 11/23/2011 8:48:00 PM
Hourglass brushes are truly worth every penny and many more. I've actually got two of these brushes and would gladly buy another. This brush is amazing for doing everything -- blending in the crease, applying color to the lid/inner corner/brow, or smudging shadow along the lower lashline. The only brush I may use other than this is an eyeliner brush. This is synthetic, so, it can be used wet or dry. I wouldn't go without this brush ever again and won't go back to natural hair.
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Makeup Brushes -Hourglass - Blush Brush No. 2
Plagueofhamsters 11/23/2011 8:43:00 PM
Yes, this brush is expensive, but worth every penny to me. I use this daily for foundation and bronzer. It's super soft and has remained that way for the 3 years I've had this brush ($58 over three years is cheaper than any other brush I would've repurchased 2 or 3 times). I've tried plenty of similar round synthetic brushes to apply my liquid foundation (Ecotools, Sephora, Everyday Mineral, and some others) and none seem to compare to this one. Highly recommend it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Mario Badescu - Herbal Hydrating Serum
Plagueofhamsters 11/17/2011 10:55:00 PM
Amazing serum -- super hydrating, yet very perfect for combination, oily, and acne-prone skintypes. I use this little gem when my regular water-based moisturizer doesn't seem to be cutting it or directly after doing a Lactic Acid peel and I want to keep the flakies away. Currently, I'm using Face Reality's Hydrating Emulsion as my day and night moisturizer, but I went through a whole bottle of this first. I do find the two interchangable (Though the Face Reality is $22 for 2oz while this is $30 for 1oz) but the MB HHS gives a little more moisture (My very oily skin does need this occasionally since I am a RAM user). Overall, one of MB's more expensive products, but definitely one of the best in the line. Highly recommend you pick up a sample. If you're in the states, head to Nordstrom to get a sample :]
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Mario Badescu - Orange Cleansing Soap
Plagueofhamsters 11/2/2011 7:29:00 PM
I've repurchased this cleanser 3 times and don't show signs of stopping. This is an amazing cleanser if you'e acne-prone and traditionally oily, but thanks to topicals or the season you've got a few dry patches. This cleanses my skin without stripping it of any moisture while also removing any flakies I might have (I use RAM, so, I'm prone to some dry patches around my chin/mouth). This cleanser doesn't foam, which is fine by me because that means it doesn't contain the harsh detergents other cleansers contain that dry the skin out. The name is a little misleading, as this is soap free, but an incorrect name won't stop me from using this. I highly recommend this if you're breaking out and already using other products to treat that issue but need a cleanser that won't irritate your skin.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Face Reality Skin Care - Hydrating Emulsion
Plagueofhamsters 9/28/2011 5:46:00 PM
I bought this thanks to the recommendation of the lovely barbiH, who's amazing if you haven't read her reviews on here or seen her on the boards. I've got super oily, acne-prone skin that can get a few dry spots if I don't moisturize thanks to RAM and the Lactic Acid peels I do. This is the first moisturizer I've ever used that doesn't seem to affect my skin is any way other than moisture. I FREAKING LOVE THIS STUFF. I purchased two when I originally wanted to give this a shot just because I didn't want to reorder not long after the first since shipping is $5 in the US, so, at $22 each plus shipping, I paid $49 for 4oz, which in my eyes is totally worth it for this product. My ONLY complaint about this product is I've been using it twice daily for a little over a month now and it does seem to be going very quickly, but overall, I'm willing to look past that since it's such an awesome product. If you've got oily, acne-prone skin that's sensitive to silicones and oil like me, give this a shot. I also recommend ordering from artofskincare, where there is free shipping on all orders (At least in the US)
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Cover FX - Cover Fx - Powder Fx
Plagueofhamsters 8/31/2011 12:01:00 AM
Love the powder/foundation! Pending on the day, I either use it to set my tinted moisturizer for more coverage, use it to set concealer (when I'm wearing foundation) for more coverage, or use it by itself for quick, medium coverage. My skin is very breakout prone and super oily, so, finding a good powder foundation is always pretty hard, but I love this one! Even better -- my super fair skin has a match! E0 is neutral and very light, so, it's such a win! I don't mind that it does offer SPF 10 as well, though I still wear a separate sunscreen. If you can't get a match in a powder foundation, have very sensitive or breakout-prone skin, give this a shot! I've used up a full compact and am halfway done my second! Highly recommend!
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Revlon - Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara
Plagueofhamsters 8/10/2011 11:13:00 PM
Terrible mascara. Wet, clumpy, and generally bad. The only reason I bought this is because it reminded me of the new Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme, however, there is a slight difference in the brushes. I've got long, full lashes and I can really make most mascaras work for me, but this was a major fail. Another terrible mascara from Revlon! I swear the only good mascara they have is Lash Fantasy.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Cetaphil - Gentle Skin Cleanser
Plagueofhamsters 7/25/2011 2:37:00 PM
Felt amazing the first few days then left my skin dry and irritated after about a week. I've got very oily, very sensitive/reactive skin and this definitely left me super red with a ton of dry patches.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Hard Candy - Nobody's Perfect concealer palette
Plagueofhamsters 7/21/2011 1:53:00 PM
Hard, waxy crap. It doesn't warm up and blend at all and totally not worth the price.
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Primer/ Corrector -Smashbox - Photo matte anti shine (tube)
Plagueofhamsters 7/18/2011 12:29:00 AM
I love this -- it's really the only primer that actually extends the wear of my makeup on my BEYOND oily skin. If you have dry patches, avoid applying this product there, but elsewhere, you're fine. A little of this goes a very long way, so, don't over apply. After using it for about a week, you really learn exactly how much your skin needs. It's an essential for me if I expect my foundation to last more than 6 hours. Totally repurchase. Oh, and it's the same ingredients as the Urban Decay DeSlick in a tube, however, it's 1oz versus UD's .67oz and cheaper than UD's.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No