Blush -Hard Candy - Living Doll
PoseyOregon 6/4/2011 11:42:00 PM
There are definitely two versions of Living Doll - one is a warm pink with gold veining (the large, original packaging) while the other is a bright, watermelon pink with silver shimmer (smaller, sample size available in the First Flush collection). I own the latter and I have to say, YOWZA, this is bright and beautiful. It works well for my skin tone (pale olive) and it doesn't look like I have crazy clown cheeks. It highlights due to the shimmer, and makes me look flushed at the same time. A definite winner! Note: The First Flush set also comes with a Sheer Envy Primer sample, a Plumping Serum lipgloss mini in Uptown Girl, and a mini-tube of highlighter. It's a great deal and a wonderful way to try out many Hard Candy products.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Rimmel - Sexy Curves
PoseyOregon 8/2/2010 7:34:00 PM
Like most of the reviewers here, I hated this mascara upon first application. The formula was really wet, dried slowly, did nothing for my lashes other than darken them and separate. Fast-forward three weeks and we are talking about a completely different mascara experience. Once the formula had had a chance to dry out, it added volume and curl, dried quickly, darkened my lashes, and all this without clumping. The added volume is not as intense as one would get with CG's LashBlast but it's decent. Overall, I would not repurchase because I can get immediate results with other mascaras without having to wait three weeks for the formula to dry out. So for all those peeps who thought this was a waste of money, give it a try after a couple of weeks (unless you've already thrown it out). It might just surprise you.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Wet 'n' Wild - Color Icon Pencil - Mink Brown
PoseyOregon 8/1/2010 2:19:00 PM
Like the previous reviewer, I have dark hair with no red undertones to it. Finding a suitable eyebrow pencil is a quest of ridiculous proportions. I know that fafinettex3 swears by this eyebrow pencil but in the shade "Taupe". I was curious as to whether Wet N Wild would have a suitable shade of brown for me. I initially picked up Mink Brown and thought it was a mislabeled black but if you compare it side-by-side with the black pencil, it's a hair lighter (hair, eyebrow, har har). It's a great pencil because you can definitely adapt the colour based on how firmly you press the pencil to your skin. This pencil does contain wax in it, so it does double-duty: you can fill in your brows and keep them in place. This is probably the hardest working product in my collection. I have already purchased two back-ups because I tend to go through this fast as I sharpen it to a point everyday to aid with precision. The pencil itself is quite long (I would estimate it to be about 20 cm in length) so I might just be paranoid about running out. All in all, this stuff is HG for me and I love the fact that it's so accessible and inexpensive.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -E.L.F. - Mineral Eyeshadow in Elegant
PoseyOregon 1/8/2010 9:30:00 PM
I just swatched this beside Stila's famous Kitten e/s and they are almost identical except that Stila has a slightly more pink tone whereas Elegant is slightly more yellow. The quality of the shimmer and the pigmentation is the EXACT SAME. Colour me stunned. I would rather pay $3 for this than $16 for Stila's kitten. Note: I took off a lippie because I find this eyeshadow a little too shimmery - I would love to wear it as an all-over lid colour but the shimmer prevents that. I find that Stila's kitten is also too shimmery for my tastes.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Cover Girl - Professional Super Thick Lash Mascara
PoseyOregon 1/6/2010 9:25:00 PM
I had a brief love affair with Lash Blast but I came back to Professional Super Thick Lash because it does exactly what LB does for about half the price. I find that one tube of this mascara lasts longer as LB tends to flake after a month and a half of opening the tube. I am blessed with naturally long lashes so I'm always looking for a volumizing mascara. Super Thick Lash gives my lashes extra 'oomph' and depending on the number of coats, I can easily achieve the false lash effect. I have the non-waterproof formula and I find that it washes off quickly and easily but it doesn't smudge throughout the day. Overall, this mascara is my HG. I will love it forever and I will cry if it is ever discontinued.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -New York Color - Quick Dry Nail Polish - East Village 206
PoseyOregon 12/28/2009 12:24:00 AM
I own several of the polishes in the "In A New York Color Minute" series and this is, by far, the biggest disappointment but the color is so beautiful that I can forgive most of this product's flaws. The formula is very watery and sheer so I had to do FIVE coats to get the colour completely opaque, but each coat dries very quickly so I'm not that peeved (I paint my nails as a distraction and a break from hitting the books for long periods so the longer it takes to paint my nails, the better, hehehe.) This shade of aqua is more blue than green which is why I consider it a fairly unique colour and would repurchase it. It's a shame that such a beautiful colour would have such a poor formula despite the great quality of the rest of the polishes in this line. Overall, each NYC nail polish needs about two-three coats but five coats is getting silly. I do very thin, even coats so I could probably get away with three thick coats but we all know that just leads to ickiness.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -New York Color - Ultra Last Lip Wear in Fragile Pink 409B
PoseyOregon 12/5/2009 6:19:00 PM
I bought this on sale (couldn't resist a bargain) and Fragile Pink seemed to be the only color that might actually work on a human being. Although I sort of get the "frosty porn star effect" discussion, I am an avid lipstick+gloss fan and I find that a nice, sheer pink lipgloss over this lipstick dramatically reduces the porniness. Then again, if you use a plumping lipgloss with ridiculous shine, that might actually amplify the porniness...which some people might like. But whatever, back to the product. It's dirt cheap and it's not as frosty as some other bargain lipsticks from NYC or Wet N' Wild. A pretty girly pink colour with a hint of silver frost. The packaging is horrible, so I carry it around in one of those lipstick cases to prevent what happened to the reviewer below. I'd buy this lipstick again if I manage to get through this first tube although I think it's a color that's really appropriate for spring so it might have to wait out the winter months.
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Lipstick -Rimmel - Lasting Finish - Birthday Suit
PoseyOregon 10/24/2009 6:35:00 PM
I bought Birthday Suit because I needed a brown-y nude color and in the store it looks awesome - not so much in natural light when I got home. I tried on Birthday Suit, got really frustrated that it didn't look the same, wiped it off my lips, and put on Airy Fairy to see a colour comparison. I hadn't actually rubbed all the Birthday Suit off my lips...and the combo looks amazing! The brown in Birthday Suit cancels out some of the harsh mauve-y pink of Airy Fairy and the brown doesn't look as orange. I find that Airy Fairy is a little...drier, I guess is the word; Birthday Suit is much more creamy so layering them together helps prevent my lips from drying out. Overall, I am pleasantly surprised that two colours could actually look so beautiful together. A happy little makeup miracle. I love the way the packaging looks and feels. The smell of the lipsticks is something that a lot of people have commented on but I simply love it. I would definitely buy Birthday Suit again but IF and ONLY IF I can also get my hands on Airy Fairy.
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Lipstick -Rimmel - Lasting Finish - Airy Fairy
PoseyOregon 10/24/2009 6:28:00 PM
I bought Airy Fairy because when I swatched it in the store, it looks absolutely amazing. Well, damn fluorescent lighting because in natural light, Airy Fairy was just a bit too cool-toned for my skin tone (let's put it this way - if I wanted to wear this shade for a Malibu Barbie costume, it would work). It was definitely frustrating but one day I bought Rimmel's Birthday Suit because I needed a brown-y nude color and again, in the store it looks awesome - not so much in natural light (should have learned my lesson the first time). I got home and I tried on Birthday Suit, got really frustrated that it didn't look the same, wiped it off my lips, and put on Airy Fairy to see a colour comparison. I hadn't actually rubbed all the Birthday Suit off my lips...and the combo looks amazing! The brown in Birthday Suit cancels out some of the harsh mauve-y pink of Airy Fairy and the brown doesn't look as orange. I find that Airy Fairy is a little...drier, I guess is the word; Birthday Suit is much more creamy so layering them together helps prevent my lips from drying out. Overall, I am pleasantly surprised that two colours that I thought were a waste of money could actually look so beautiful together. A happy little makeup miracle. I love the way the packaging looks and feels. The smell of the lipsticks is something that a lot of people have commented on but I simply love it. I would definitely buy Airy Fairy again but IF and ONLY IF I can also get my hands on Birthday Suit.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -LUSH - Grease Lightning Spot Cleanser
PoseyOregon 9/26/2009 10:13:00 PM
I was wandering through my local LUSH when my favorite LUSH girl announced that they just got in a shipment of a new product. Knowing how much I love having the scoop on stuff, she sold me their very first bottle of Grease Lightning. I immediately knew that I would not be using this as a spot cleanser but rather as a preventative agent - I put a very thin layer all over my face and let it dry, then I apply my moisturizer. They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and it is very true - I have been doing this every night before bed for a few months and I have noticed a big improvement in my skin, everything from tiny little whiteheads to larger blemishes. (And I still have about half the bottle left! I feel like I would be using way more product if I were trying to attack individual blemishes.) Using Grease Lightning as a mask keeps breakouts at bay and it controls oil all over my face. I definitely prefer this to other spot cleansers or acne treatments with benzoyl peroxide or other harsh chemicals - this doesn't bleach my towels and pillowcases and it smells really nice. I have never had an issue with the pump - I find I can always control the amount of product that I dispense. Overall, this has become my HG blemish prevention/treatment product and I am recommending it to all my friends. And at about $10 CAD, it's one of LUSH's cheaper skincare products.
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Styling Products -LUSH - King of the Mods
PoseyOregon 9/26/2009 10:01:00 PM
I received a small pot of King of the Mods when I bought a hair product sample kit. Although light hold doesn't do much for my thick hair, I found the gel made for a wonderful curl cream. It was light enough that I could apply to damp locks and then encourage the curl to form as I blow-dry my hair. The gel keeps the curl looking neat and helps it form into a nice spiral. The smell is really nice and it definitely wakes you up in the morning. The consistency is pretty strange for a hair 'gel' - it's slightly watery but I like the fact that I don't need a lot of it to work through my hair. I also find that King of the Mods doesn't make my hair look nasty the next day either. Overall, an awesome product that I would definitely purchase again.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -LUSH - coal face soap
PoseyOregon 9/26/2009 9:51:00 PM
I bought Coalface at the start of the summer for fear of oil-slicks and the general grossness that comes along with humidity and hot weather. I won't lie - this stuff looked kinda scary when I bought it. Coalface is pitch black with opalescent shimmer when you examine it under the light, and it has a gritty texture. It smells like licorice and dirt (I wish I were kidding). Since I am so used to cleansers and soaps being white or clear or a generally happy color, just the appearance of this stuff took some getting used to. Despite the strange color and smell, I could not deny the results - Coalface cleans up oily skin really well. The gritty activated charcoal lightly exfoliates, the soap lathers and rinses really really well. You do need to moisturize after using this product but I do that anyway so for me that is not a problem at all. I found that Coalface helped to balance out all the strange areas and habits of my skin as I used it over time - it helped clear up blemishes, it decreased oil in the oilier portions of my skin and it exfoliated dry patches gently. I wanted something a little gentler for the colder months so I recently bought Fresh Farmacy but that was a big mistake and I am back to using Coalface. I took off one lippie because of the smell and because it does take a while for your skin to get accustomed to how well Coalface absorbs oil. Overall, this is my go-to soap for the summer and we'll see how well it holds up during the drier fall and winter months.
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Cleansers -LUSH - Fresh Farmacy
PoseyOregon 9/26/2009 9:42:00 PM
I was using Coalface over the summer when my skin gets more oily but I wanted to switch to something a little more gentle for the fall and winter when my skin tends to get tight and dry. A friend of mine recommended Fresh Farmacy because of its calming properties and acne-fighting ingredients (my skin is weird and likes to break out in the winter rather than the sweaty summer months). I found the smell of this cleanser to be really unpleasant: it isn't a very strong scent but there is lingering muskiness that I sort of wafts on my face. It doesn't lather very well and I never feel like my face is clean after I use this product. My main problem with Fresh Farmacy is that it is MESSY. When I am cleaning my face, the "lather" runs down my forearms and gets all over my bathroom countertop or on my sleeves (not cool). Basically, my arms are dripping with smelly, pink water. Very frustrating, so I now only use Fresh Farmacy when I am cleaning my face in the shower. I also noticed that for the first two weeks after I used Fresh Farmacy, the top layer of my skin would start to flake, especially in dry areas, like the top of my nose. I wear mineral makeup so little flakes of skin are the kiss of death. And there is a distinct filmy feeling left behind after using Fresh Farmacy. I have recently gone back to Coalface, even in the colder weather, but my skin is much happier. Overall, this is probably my least favorite of any LUSH products I have ever purchased.
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Polishes -New York Color - In a New York Color Minute Quick Dry Nail Polish
PoseyOregon 9/26/2009 12:10:00 AM
I just recently stumbled upon this collection during a trip to the drugstore. They were on sale for 99 cents and I couldn't resist the deal so I bought Central Park (a pink/gold shade) and Mulberry Street (a white/champagne color) as well as Grand Central Station (clear top coat). I got the top coat under the advice of the makeup counter lady who told me that although the polish is a great deal, it does require a topcoat for long wear. I like the thinner consistency of this nailpolish especially because it keeps drying time to a minimum and I am so freaking impatient when it comes to letting my polish dry. I only do one or two coats but I have heard people need to do about three or four in order to get the polish perfectly opaque. I'm waaay too low-maintenance for that so I'm pretty darn happy with one coat and a layer of top coat for a subtle hint of color. I tested out the polish without top coat and two coats of color chipped noticeably in less than 24 hours so that's the reason why I took off a lippie. With a top coat, I would say the polish lasts about four to five days without major chipping. Overall, great product for the price and the color selection is really good for this collection. Plus I like that the colors are named after places in New York - that's just adorable.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -New York Color - Color Wheel Mosaic Powder Pink Cheek Glow
PoseyOregon 9/25/2009 11:43:00 PM
There were a lot of great reviews for this product so I decided to give it a try, especially because I have been very curious about mosaic products and wanted to try something on the lower end of the price scale to see what all the hubbub was about. Overall, this product isn't bad. My main qualm is that the color payoff isn't great (I don't even have very dark skin!). I feel like I have to keep brushing it on to build up the color to the point where I even look slightly flushed, and all the while my brain keeps screaming, "OH MY GOD, STOP IT! YOU ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE A CLOWN!" but it does take a lot of product to show up on my skin. I do naturally blush a very vibrant pink shade so perhaps this pink is a little too light for my skin tone. I'm also not a fan of the consistency of the product - it feels very chalky. The packaging is just a nightmare if you want to travel with this product - the lid isn't attached to the base by any mechanism. Overall, I think I may use this blush during the winter when my skin lightens a little; it may show up better. I wouldn't buy this product again because there are better drugstore blushes with better color payoff for about the same price.
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