Treatments -Joico - k-pak deep penetrating reconstructor
Seattlemama 4/28/2013 2:07:00 PM
Really bad product for me. I have highlighted, dry, naturally curly/frizzy hair with oily roots that I wash twice a week. I tried this after reading great reviews. It does not offer any moisture at all - I guess because this is a protein treatment? Regardless, it made my hair feel and look like frizzy straw, and it was impossible to get a comb through. Can't return it so I will be tossing it. Complete waste of $20.
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Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - Infallible in Endless Pearl
Seattlemama 4/25/2013 2:09:00 PM
Total dud for me. Not pearly at all, no sparkle, no depth, appears chalky and flat. I expect better quality from the Infallibles, several of which I use often. This one's a waste of time.
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Eyeliner -Maybelline - Eye Studio Master Precise Ink Pen Liner
Seattlemama 4/25/2013 12:59:00 PM
I got this after reading rave reviews and because the pen format is how I prefer to apply liner - lasts way longer for me than pencils, and is quicker and more precise than gels. Unfortunately this one fell short in many areas when compared to the high-end versions. Pros: fair price, rich black color, nice pen format, does not smudge, lasts all day with no problem. Cons: very dry and draggy (even when it's brand new and there should be plenty of product); you have to work hard to get a perfect smooth line; difficult to remove completely. Seems cheap, especially when compared to the Stila Stay All Day version of this and Geisha Ink, my personal HG. Will not re-purchase.
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Sunscreen -La Roche Posay - Anthelios SPF 30 AC Fluid Extreme
Seattlemama 4/22/2013 5:05:00 PM
Horrible product for me. I have dry, flakey, rosacean, sensitive, reactive, acne-prone skin with lots of fine lines. This made my skin look the worst it has looked in years. It's my own fault for buying something that's made for oily skin, but I usually do fine with sunscreens for oily skin. This stuff emphasizes every flake and wrinkle, it balls up terribly, it makes me dry and itchy all day, and it looks ghosty. And it's not cheap. Awful! I did have a good buying experience from Pharmamundi on Amazon. Got it quickly and it's clearly not old product (expires 7/2015) - other than that, this was a major fail. Wish I could return it.
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Treatments (Eye) -La Prairie - White Caviar Illuminating Eye Serum
Seattlemama 4/22/2013 4:59:00 PM
Received a generous sample of this and was so excited to try it after reading some great reviews by beauty editors. I was SO disappointed. It is LOADED with flowery perfume and it's very thin and runny. Did nothing. Maybe you have to use it for several weeks to see a difference but I couldn't use it more than twice because of the overpowering fragrance. Why do companies put fragrance in eye serum? Makes no sense to me. Will definitely not buy skincare products from this brand.
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Eyeliner -L'Oreal - Lineur Intense
Seattlemama 4/1/2013 12:59:00 PM
What a crap product. This consistently produces a sloppy line on me - no matter what I try, I cannot get this to look right. It always looks like I was wasted when I applied it. Mine is the packaging in the center photograph above and it's just a horrible applicator that does not allow a neat and tidy line. Too fat or something. Terrible product. I much prefer Stila Stay All Day felt-tip liners - you get a perfect line with no effort and it lasts most of the day.
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Lip Treatments -Neutrogena - Revitalizing lip balm
Seattlemama 4/1/2013 12:51:00 PM
I have two of these: 20 Healthy Blush and 60 Fresh Plum. The plum one is lovely and gives just the right amount of pigmented-but-sheer pinked plum. I love that these have some SPF and they are very moist. But the Healthy Blush one is hideous - an opaque creamy peach that emphasizes every flake. Yuck. SO it's hard to know how to rate this since I love one and loathe the other. Will repurchase the plum.
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Lip Gloss -Shiseido - The Makeup Lacquer Rouge
Seattlemama 3/25/2013 7:20:00 PM
I was also under the impression that these were longlasting. I thought these were Shiseido's answer to the YSL glossy stains. On me this lasted 30 minutes and it isn't glossy at all. I got this in Nymph, thinking it would be an deep MLBB red. The color was beautiful but on my very pale, yellow-undertoned NC15 winter skin, it was just too severe and loud. It also bled like crazy so I looked like I had been eating cherry popsicles. The formula is comfortable - not too drying but also not moist. I returned it because I was looking for something more natural and longer-lasting.
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Lipstick -Chantecaille - Lip chic Nocturne
Seattlemama 3/25/2013 7:14:00 PM
Nocturne is a gorgeous deep dark fuschia/almost-red that was too bright and too cool-toned for my pale, yellow-undertoned NC15 winter skin. With my blond hair and pale skin, the effect was jarring and definitely too bold for day. The formula is lovely - very moist but not greasy or sticky - and does not bleed. It does fade very quickly and did not even last an hour. I think this would be beautiful on lots of different skin tones but on me it did not work. I will be trying more lip chics for sure.
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Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentrate
Seattlemama 3/22/2013 2:24:00 PM
smells divine, hard to find in US, not greasy but also not moisturizing enough for dry skin, caused me to break out terribly, is now a very expensive hand lotion for me.
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Mascara -Guerlain - Maxi Lash Mascara
Seattlemama 3/20/2013 2:46:00 PM
I have been using a sample of this from Sephora for the past 4 days and I LOVE it. I use it over primer and it creates a dramatic look - thickens AND lengthens beautifully. I also have a problem of constantly tearing eyes (not sure why - allergies maybe or related to my rosacea) and this stuff is pretty bullet-proof and does not smudge, flake, or run at all. But one of the nicest things about it is that it's really easy to remove completely at the end of the day. No tugging and pulling like with Benefit They're Real which just doesn't want to come off. This stuff is fantastic, one lippie off for the ridiculous price ($30 usd) and the fact that it does tend to clump.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Hourglass - Illusion Tinted Moisturizer Oil Free SPF 15
Seattlemama 3/19/2013 1:39:00 PM
Got a sample of this from Sephora in Fair, the lightest shade. I am NC15 - very pale with yellow undertones but ruddiness from rosacea. This TM has a nice non-greasy, creamy feel and a non-dewy, natural finish with decent coverage for a TM, but it's way too dark and too orange for my coloring. I am surprised that this is the lightest shade. If they ever do an Extra Light version, I will give it a try.
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Sunscreen -Unlisted Brand - Elta MD UV Pure Broad-Spectrum SPF 47
Seattlemama 3/17/2013 7:33:00 PM
My 4-year-old daughter's skin is like mine: super-pale and sensitive/reactive. She has eczema, and almost all sunscreens and moisturizers give her rashes. This is one of the only sunscreens her skin tolerates - it causes no problems at all for her and is pretty waterproof as well. The reason I didn't give this 5 lippies is that is causes major ghostface! She looks like a little casper. And it doesn't photograph well. In other words, I cannot use this. For kids it doesn't matter, but for me or any other adult, it's a no.
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Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Eminence Sweet Red Rose Cleanser
Seattlemama 3/17/2013 7:25:00 PM
I am in LOVE with this cleanser! This stuff is brilliant. I have been a huge fan of the Eminence Lemon Cleanser for three years and I usually use that every morning. My skin is very dry, flaky, sensitive, reactive, rosacean, acne-prone, and I have some fine lines. My dermatologist is the one who first recommended the lemon cleanser for me (she's crazy for this brand) and I do love it but thought I would try the rose because I am so dry at this time of year (March). The lemon is perfect for me in the summer but this one is my new winter HG. I use this in the same way I use all cleansers: I massage it into my face without wetting first, massage for one minute, wipe off with Shiseido cotton pads, then splash with lukewarm water for 30 seconds. This cleanser does remove sunscreen and makeup (I used a separate eye makeup remover.) It leaves my skin very soft and moist, clean but not stripped or squeaky clean. It's important to wipe it off with cotton pads or use a washcloth because it doesn't all rinse off with just water. This does have a natural rose smell (not artificial or old-lady-ish) but it doesn't last on the skin once it's been rinsed off. This is a wonderful product that I would highly recommend to anyone with dry skin, rosacea, or fine lines. (BTW, I know Paula Begoun is not a fan of this brand but this is one of those cases where she and I have the opposite review of a product/brand.)
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Lipstick -Neutrogena - Moisture Smooth Color Stick
Seattlemama 3/17/2013 5:18:00 PM
These are the drugstore version of Clinique's chubby sticks and they are very similar in texture and performance, however the Neutrogena ones have way better colors! I have the Plum Perfect (#70) and it is a gorgeous slightly frosty MLMM pinky plum. These are not as glossy as the chubby sticks, therefore they last a little longer but still don't last more than an hour on me. I do love the cute fat-pencil twist-up format and the smell is melon-y deliciousness! Love these and will be buying more!
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