Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - SOHO Beauty Sponge
STsalim 8/18/2012 7:30:00 PM
So I bought this sponge for around $5 at Wal-Mart. It is the football-shaped one. Overall I think this product gives my face a great finish! It allows me to build coverage but when I do my foundation does not look cakey it just looks dewy and flawless. ---------------------- Price: Very very cheap compared to the Beauty Blender (I think 2 for $20 -- so these are half the price). ---------------------- Quality: I've used mine a few times and it's holding up well. I didn't expect too much since I've heard that nothing compares to the BB but as of now I see no signs of wear or tear. Obviously it does get stained with makeup but that's to be expected. ------------------------ Use: So I wet the sponge with warm water and wring it out. I dot my foundation all over my face and sort of use swiping/swirling motions with this sponge. When the coverage looks good I roll it across my face to blend everything in. I especially like the pointed end because it makes getting around the nose easier. I do wish both ends weren't pointed so it would make it easier to pat foundation and then blend it out but it still gives me an amazing finish. ------------------------ I like this sponge -- I wish that one end was flat but I think the quality is great and the finish I get is beautiful. For under $5 I'm highly impressed.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Cerave - Moisturizing Cream
STsalim 8/10/2012 6:32:00 PM
Got some samples of this from my derm in late July. I was suffering from extremely dry flaky skin, especially around my mouth and burning and itchy dry skin on my neck area. This stuff is AMAZING. I am definitely going to purchase the full size asap. Product/Texture: A light cream formula that has a slight translucent gel-like appearance. No burning upon application and absorbs quickly. I put it on at night and in the morning I have such nice dewy skin. Prior to being on a lot of skin meds for acne I had oily skin and recently as I stated above my skin has been parched. I now have nice, healthy skin all thanks to this product! Price: It is a little pricey for a drugstore cream ($14-$17 I believe). However, the jar is HUGE (16 oz). Packaging: Only con, it comes in a jar. And such a huge jar. Not travel friendly at all and not sanitary. That's the reason I took off 1 lippie. Amazing amazing product if you have dry, peeling, burning, itchy, sensitive, acne prone skin. Love it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -L'Oreal - EverStrong Hydrating shampoo
STsalim 7/19/2012 2:04:00 PM
I love the CONDITIONER that is supposed to go with this shampoo. However, as much as I want to love this shampoo it's too harsh for my dry scalp. I love the smell and the lather but it leaves my scalp dry and itchy. I've repurchased this several times in order to try to make it work but I think this will be the last time.
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Conditioner -L'Oreal - EverStrong Hydrating conditioner
STsalim 7/19/2012 2:01:00 PM
This is my HG conditioner. I have super long, thick hair with dry ends and scalp. I've been using this conditioner for over a year and I could not be happier. I hope this is never discontinued! Smell: Rosemary, soothing, nice and light. Texture/Formula: Love how thick it is. Perfect consistency. Most conditioners are wayyyyy too thin for my hair and provide no moisture. This conditioner provides hydration without weighing down my hair, leaving it shiny and soft. Price: Can usually get it for $7 or under. A lot of times will come on sale. Bottom line: No matter how much I want to try different things, I always come back to this conditioner. The shampoo is definitely not my favorite (too harsh for my dry scalp) but the conditioner is a staple. Love love love.
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Eyeliner -L'Oreal - Carbon Black Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner
STsalim 7/8/2012 3:49:00 PM
After hearing rave reviews of this product from various YouTubers I tried this liner. I have tried this liner and the Maybelline Line Stiletto which is almost the same liner. I definitely don't prefer these liners because the felt tip is way too flexible and makes it difficult to draw and straight smooth line. In addition, the formula, while pigmented, is much too liquidy and skin shows through upon redrawing of the line. Not sure where I purchased this product. Smell: faint smell. Nothing bothersome. Opaqueness: This is definitely dark black. However, because the tip is so unprecise, it is hard to make a straight line and requires subsequent reapplications to get a perfect line. However, if you put the slightest amount of pressure to prefect the line, the tip scrapes through the lower layers of product leaving you with a strip of eyelid showing. The product is too liquidy so when trying a winged look it smudges so easily. Tip/Brush: Hate how long and flexible the tip is. Does not allow precise control and I have to constantly redip to get the correct product pigment. Price: not sure how much I paid, couldn't have been much more than $6 or $7. Wanted to love it but ended up hating it. Not the product for me.
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Eyeliner -NYX - Super Skinny & Super Fat Eye Marker
STsalim 7/8/2012 3:41:00 PM
I really was excited about the Super Skinny liner b/c I loooove the tip. It provides precise control and makes making winged looks so foolproof. However, the lack of pigment and how soon it dried out were a real disappointment. Maybe I should try the Super Fat one? Purchased in Carbon Black from Ulta. Smell: nothing too bothersome. Smells like a marker but not overly strong. Opaqueness: requires redrawing the line several time and still ends up looking sheer. Tip/Brush: The tip is amazing. I love the control it provides and how firm it is and it doesn't lose it's shape. All pen eyeliners should have a tip like this. However, it dries out SOOOOOOOOO fast! I've had it for a few months but compared to my Revlon Colorstay pen (which I've had for over a year) it was so quick to dry out. Maybe this was because of how thin the tip is? Price: Don't remember how much I paid but wasn't much more than $7. I cannot reiterate enough how disappointed I am in the actual formula. The packaging and tip were amazing but the formula just didn't live up to my expectations.
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Eyeliner -Revlon - ColorStay Liquid Eye Pen
STsalim 7/8/2012 3:32:00 PM
I am literally shocked at how much people hate this product. I didn't really love it at first -- I had to keep applying more product to build up the line that I wanted and the tip was much too thick. However, after trying other liquid liners (including L'oreal Lineur Intense, NYX Super Skinny Marker, Sonia Kashuk and Bobbi Brown gel liners, and Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner) I must say that I do prefer this one to those. I will be trying the Maybelline Line Expert and Stila pen product and comparing this to those. Otherwise, from the liners I've already used and similar products this is the lesser of the evils. Smell: Does smell a bit like a sharpie but the smell didn't really bother me. Opaqueness: Definitely has to be built up but I've found that, compared to other similar pen-like products, this is more pigmented. I like that it's a little liquidy and does not dry out like other pen products I've tried. I've had this product for over a year and it still works. I wish it was more pigmented but as I said is comparatively better. Tip/Brush: Definitely needs to be thinner for a more precise wing but is easier to use than actual liquid products where you have to dip the tip into a pot or other device. Don't have to keep redipping and dries relatively fast so if you build layers the bottom layer doesn't show through to your skin. Price: Can't remember how much I paid but couldn't have been much more than $6 or $7
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Eyeliner -Sonia Kashuk - Dramatically Defining Long Wear Gel Liner
STsalim 7/8/2012 3:03:00 PM
Bought this liner over a year ago and it still hasn't completely dried out! I think the key to keeping gel liners pliable is closing them as soon as you've gotten the product onto your brush and sealing them tightly. The liner was under $10 at my local Target so the price was fine. However, the liner was not as inky black as I would have hoped. In all this liner was a good buy, lasted a long time but did not provide the color payoff I was looking for. I will be trying the Maybelline gel liner to compare. However, I would not discourage others from trying this liner. I've previously used Bobbi Brown's gel liner and found that it dried out far faster than the Sonia Kashuk version.
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Primer/ Corrector -Bare Escentuals - Prime Time Oil Control
STsalim 6/11/2012 11:09:00 PM
I actually have repurchased this product several times and I love it. However, it's the first and only primer I've used so I'm not really sure to what to compare it. I like that it's silicone-free, and although I'm not sure if I'm allergic, I've heard bad things so it's probably better that way. It comes out as a clear gel. I get dry days so it can get a bit flaky on those days but I see a DEFINITE increase in foundation wear time. As far as packaging, it has a nice pump. However, the pump does get clogged. That's when I have to open up the bottle and unhygenically take some out by hand. Price isn't terrible -- around $19. I torn about whether to stick with what's tried and true or try something else out to see what I'm missing. Overall, good product for lasting foundation. Can be drying and the packaging isn't the best. Can't really say anything about oil control. Wish it was a better pore and imperfection filler.
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Moisturizers -L'Oreal - Youth Code Dark Spot SPF 30 Day Cream
STsalim 6/9/2012 12:14:00 AM
I was so excited about this product when it came out with the wave of new "brightening" and spot-fading products earlier this year. Finally -- an actual oil-free cream for my sensitive skin (which is normally combination but has been extremely dry recently because of topical meds) which includes SPF and wards off unsightly dark marks to which I'm prone.... Unfortunately, although I like the consistency, it didn't fade dark marks. Pros included price point, cream formula, oil-free, and SPF 30. Cons -- didn't do what it claimed. Formula: I like that it's a cream, since it's so hard to find one that doesn't break me out and my skin is SO dry these days. Smell is present but not unbearable. Effectiveness: Does not fade dark marks. Period. Price: Medium price, got it for around $20 on Amazon. Lasted me quite a while. Packaging: Not a fan of the unhygenic jar but wasn't a huge issue.
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Hair -Moroccanoil - Moroccan Oil
STsalim 5/29/2012 5:29:00 PM
My hair is NOTHING without this product. I put it on when my hair is still wet and if I blowdry without using this my ends are so parched. With MoroccanOil my hair is so bouncy, shiny, frizz-free, and moisturized. I love it so so much! The only drawback is the price -- at my salon it's $42 for the 100mL with the pump. With tax it's like $45. Online I recently found it for $36, no pump. However by the time I was ready to purchase it was out of stock. I haven't had the funds to repurchase but will definitely do so ASAP. Try this product once and you will be hooked.
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Liquid -Revlon - ColorStay Makeup
STsalim 5/29/2012 5:22:00 PM
Color: I am an NC40-42 and wear the Revlon Colorstay in Rich Tan. First of all, let me say that the range of colors for both the oily and dry skin formulas is unbeatable. I have an olive tone that is usually difficult to match. Foundations are either too yellow or too pink. I love that I was easily able to find the right color for me! Coverage: Definitely a high coverage foundation. I barely have to use concealer and I have serious acne dark marks. This is not for someone who wants light coverage. In fact, I usually only wear this at night when I'm going out or to an event or when I know a lot of pictures are going to be taken. I use an e.l.f. powder brush to stipple and blend this foundation and it looks airbrushed and flawless. Staying Power: Really stays for hours. Will not come off. Period. Even with hand soap. You must remove it with makeup remover (I use Simple wipes and even then I feel like this makeup stays on!) Great for if you're taking pictures outside in heat. I set it with a powder but if you want a dewier look will probably stay on without one. Packaging: Annoying without a pump. I have to put it on my hand and then always forget to remove it -- thus leaving an ugly mark on my hand. I've heard of people putting it on CD's and then using it -- might have to try that. Misc: The scent doesn't bother me -- smells like a standard foundation. Such a great buy for such a low price (I got it for like $11 at Target but I know Revlon always has coupons and goes on sale). I love this foundation more than any high end foundation I've ever tried (Bobbi Brown, MAC, Estee Lauder, etc.). Highly recommend!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Bare Escentuals - Buxom Lips Lip Gloss - ALL
STsalim 5/29/2012 5:06:00 PM
I will never purchase another lip gloss again. I absolutely love these glosses! I can find them for around $14.50 a pop but I recently went to a Bare Escentuals store at an outlet mall and found a deal with two full sized glosses and a makeup bag for $14.50 -- less than $7 each! There is so much product in these glosses and I love the cooling sensation. They are slightly sticky but I like that because they stay on for a long time. I especially love Dolly but was unable to find it at the outlet -- however one of the colors that I did purchase was very similar. You can find all colors -- sheer or cream finishes, shimmery, glittery, whatever you want. Love love love!
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Mascara -L'Oreal - Voluminous False Fiber Lashes
STsalim 4/25/2012 10:46:00 PM
Been using this for some time now, can't say that I love it. Tends to be a little clumpy. I do like it much better than the Covergirl Lash Blash Fusion (it stinks). Still trying to find a good drugstore product.
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Treatments (Eye) -Kiehls - Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
STsalim 1/16/2012 12:29:00 PM
I originally purchased this product because of extremely dry skin in the eye area. I wasn't looking for anything that depuffs or takes care of wrinkles or dark circles and I thought that this was perfect since the info on it mainly said it was for hydration. The first time I used it it stung A LOT but I figured if i kept using it maybe my skin would get used to it. It still stings and my dry skin is still a major problem. I also don't like the greasy film it leave behind and although that eventually dries, I would liked for it to absorb quickly so I could apply concealer asap. Maybe it was just my skin that was reacting to the product but I will definitely not re-purchase. The only other pro was that a little goes a long way.
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