Brows -Rimmel - Professional Eyebrow Pencil
Spamstuff 2/23/2013 6:14:00 PM
I bought this in "Hazel" : just let me say up front if you are looking for a medium red/auburn, you might consider this. On me, against my dark hair, it looked orange. All I needed was a big red nose under it to complete the picture! Ugh. The formula however is very nice! It went on easily, and I could either shade or draw individual hairs. It smoothed nicely with the included brush. If the color matched me I'd be all over this! The formula is good.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Other -Ulta - Ulta- whole store
Spamstuff 2/15/2013 12:18:00 AM
There are two Ultas where I live; one gets a five-star and one gets ONE star. Guess which one is closest to my house? Yes, the one that is the most hideous. I go out of my way (and almost 20 miles) to go to the GOOD Ulta store. It's staffed by very young but very NICE gals who let me shop, don't ride my a$$, and are nothing but great every time I go in. I have had an ongoing issue with the manager of the closer store. She is short, and has thin hair plastered to her skull in blonde, black, and pink tones. I only give this description in case she frequents the MUA boards and might perhaps recognize herself here. I can only pray. Whenever I go into the "bad Ulta", this manager treats me like a shoplifter with a communicable disease. My first experience with her, I had to return an online order and she treated it as a return with no receipt and tried to force me to take store credit; um, no thanks. Open your eyes and read the papers in front of you! Halfway through our transaction she took a personal phone call and left another employee to 'finish it up'. That poor girl messed the entire transaction up and I had to wait for Hello Kitty Hair to drop her personal phone call. Several times I have been fruitlessly searching for something, and had to find someone to help---and there was HKH, putting on makeup directly from the high-end makeup testers! Dipping the brushes back into the testers, putting on her face, back in the testers: I was so grossed out. She did not even wash the brushes when she put them back on the end of the counter! She looked up to see me watching her and got a really snotty, snobby tone in her voice when she asked me if I was finding everything (as she kind of looked me up and down as she always does). I once went in to see if I could find some curl styling cream, praying that she not be the one to accost---er, help--me. Sure enough she ignored me while I cruised the cheap side of the store (Cover Girl, Revlon) but as soon as I hit the Pureology section, she was on me like flies on poop. As she walked toward me hurriedly to ask me if I needed help (eyeing my hands and purse as she did so) I told her what I was searching for, knowing she would be clueless since her hair is so thin and straight. Mine is thick and curly and dry and looked a mess that day due to some crazy wind, I hoped that the state of it would show someone what I needed. Miss Kitty started leading me all over the hair care area, showing me stuff that would work on HER hair. I told her several times, I need some curly hair styling cream--she wasn't listening. So I found the Deva Curl area and she cooed, "Oh they have great shampoo!" But I'm looking for a styling cream. "Oh they have great hair gel!" But---I need a styling cream. As I found the bottle of cream MYSELF, she chirped, "Oh that's great styling cream!" YOU THINK??? Then---she said--"I have thick curly hair myself, that's great stuff!" I told her, I will get this and hope that it works. She said--brace yourself---"Well it can't look any worse!" Really? I can see your SCALP, your hair is so thin and fine!! Maybe she is trying to 'relate' but I almost fell over when she said this to me. It took all I had not to react. She also offered to carry the cream to the front for me--when has anyone at Ulta tried to 'babysit' what you picked up so that you don't shoplift it? This isn't the jewelry counter at Wal-mart! I'm probably old enough to be this twit's mother and she acts like I'm some kind of felon. (I have redeemed SEVERAL 1000 point rewards, obviously spending quite a bit of money in there) Maybe all the times I've filled out surveys and specifically mentioned this woman's behavior, she's figured out that I tattle on her and she's annoyed? She never has a name badge on so I don't know what her name is, and I truly don't want to ask her because her entire demeanor is such that it seems like her lip is curling as she talks to me. I am not a confrontational person but I finally hit my saturation point with her and started talking to her like Mrs. Thurston Howell III when she approaches me. (Then I find someone else to help me if I need it) If she seems to be hovering while I browse, I no longer pay any attention to her. If she's watching me, she's not talking on the phone or putting on makeup from the testers and contaminating them. Sigh.
11 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -New York Color - Smooth Skin Perfecting Primer
Spamstuff 2/9/2013 8:52:00 PM
I got this at Walmart (1 oz.) for $3.97. I liked how it felt on the back of my hand. I have to say, the slip this gives my foundation application so far cannot be beat! I've even used the Smashbox primer, something I used to be a huge fan of. This primer (probably because it is heavy in silicone) makes my dry skin areas lay down and behave. I have um--older skin---and it causes no settling or crinkling at all. I currently wear Urban Decay Naked and MAC Studio Fix Fluid, both of them love this primer. (It is so cheap!! HOW can it be so cheap? I shudder to think what's in it---but so far no breakouts or anything. If it's going to make anyone break out it would be me!) There is absolutely NO shimmer in this whatsoever. I desperately tried to find some after seeing it mentioned...but no. And I shook the snot out of it to make sure it was mixed. I'll buy this and buy this until I find something better. So far those of us having the best luck with it, are old ladies. Maybe you young'uns have skin that's not this desperate yet ;--)
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tools -Urban Decay - Grind House (sharpener)
Spamstuff 2/9/2013 7:52:00 PM
I selected "NO I wouldn't buy this again" because I discovered that the NYX Sharpener at $4.99 (instead of $10 for this one) is literally the exact same sharpener. Not even just "It kind of resembles it", but the EXACT SAME THING. They are molded identically. They both have German blades. They have the same finger holds, the same pop out blade cleaner, the lids even nestle inside one another perfectly. THe only difference is their color. Save your money and spend $5.00 on the NYX instead! I bought the Grindhouse years ago and love it, but discovered it was identical to the NYX when I purchased one of those for a pencil that wasn't sharpening the way I wanted it to in my Grindhouse. It sharpened the same way in the NYX. Duh.....
10 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -MAC - Face and Body Foundation
Spamstuff 2/7/2013 7:10:00 PM
I bought this in C2 because several people posted this was the equivalent to NC10. Well it sure as hell isn't!!! I wear NC15, and the C2 was darker and yellower than the NC15. It made me look jaundiced. I have very dry areas on my face and this was just a patchy application overall. I couldn't even get any kind of coverage on my nose or over the rosacea-areas on my cheeks/nose. I tried a sponge and brush, I don't use fingers because I can't get a smooth application with anything that way. My skin is just too dry in certain areas. Right now I guess I'll stick with my Urban Decay Naked foundation in 0.5,, or Studio Fix Fluid in NC15 mixed with about a drop or two of Estee Lauder Double Coverage in...whatever their lightest is (I don't have the tube here).
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Lancome - Teint Idole Ultra 24h
Spamstuff 2/7/2013 7:05:00 PM
I bought this in every fair color, none of which was right for me. I will give it high marks though for application, it went on great. It covered everything right up. And the pump is fabulous, I wish more foundations pumped this little amount at a time for less waste! but---the next day my cheeks were sore. I pushed on one area to see what was under there, and a mirror-squirter exploded. The kind that just keeps on bleeding, making it impossible to do your makeup until it stops. Yeah---no thanks. I had that kind of face in high school and don't need it at THIS age!
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Liquid -Revlon - PhotoReady Airbrush Mousse Makeup
Spamstuff 2/2/2013 11:16:00 PM
I wear NC15 in MAC but could wear something lighter if they made it! So I was at the store and saw the Revlon display, the lightest Airbrush Mousse makeup looked like it might work. Kmart will not let you return opened makeup, that's probably why all their stock is opened and tested....and I took advantage of that. I tested the lightest and the next lightest, on the inside of my arm. (The pump was a mess, it looked like this stuff just ran out with a little bit of foam) One looked like a total match, until I got outside and saw---the glitter. GLITTER. What in the holy hell does glitter have to do with anything? It doesn't even advertise itself as 'illuminating'. If I had put this on my face and walked into daylight looking like a craft project, I would have been SO MAD!! You can't even see the glitter in the store---!! WTH REVLON!!!!!!!!!! Oh and while I'm griping about it, this stuff smelled like dirty pantyhose. So there.
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Makeup Brushes -MAC - #219 Pencil Brush
Spamstuff 1/24/2013 9:48:00 PM
I agree with the previous reviewer that says this is scratchy; I swapped for several MAC brushes (as well as some that I purchased directly from MAC) and I have to say: I have NOT BEEN IMPRESSED with them. This pencil brush is unbelievable in it's roughness. I would expect that this was some $5.00 drugstore brush. My eyes are very sensitive and this just causes them irritation. With it being so stiff, it also is hard to pick up pigment. Not ever a recommendation for me.
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Skincare - Face -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - 50% Glycolic Peel
Spamstuff 1/18/2013 6:25:00 PM
I have used Retin-A for years, so this apparently was good training for my skin. When I applied this 50% glycolic acid peel, I expected it to burn and sting, but I felt NOTHING. At first I didn't think it was really doing *anything*, but as I washed it off, I noticed that two zits that'd been lurking under the skin for a week, had become volcanic eruptions. WOW. The next morning, it was as if they had never existed. This is my new PMS-skin routine! My skin just looks glow-y, not red or peeling. This peel did a nice job of helping budge what has felt like a thick layer of skin that I just couldn't get off. I use a Clarisonic and a microdermabrasion paste, but this glycolic peel did in one minute what nothing else has been able to do. I'm amazed, and a believer! (When you have older skin like me, the last thing you need is a layer of DRY to make you look rough and old!) I just ordered some TCA from MUAC and will try that in a few weeks.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Exact Waterproof
Spamstuff 1/17/2013 11:29:00 PM
This ranks right up there with one of the worst mascaras I've used. What a clumpy, globby, icky mess! It ended up under my eyes, on top of my eyelid, and it made my lashes stick together. WTH??? I keep trying Cover Girl mascaras....WHY?? WHYYYYY??? Try Jordana Lash Extreme: $3 and it makes this stuff look like motor oil!
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Eyeliner -Milani - Liquif'eye Metallic Eyeliner Pencil - brown
Spamstuff 1/17/2013 11:26:00 PM
I picked this up by accident, and couldn't be happier with it! First of all, I don't know why they call this a metallic eyeliner; it really looks just like a plain brown. It goes on thick and rich, and you have a few seconds to smudge if you need to. I put this on at 8 am, and it's still there when I wash my face at midnight!! It has very little migration. I like this cheap pencil better than ANY of my MAC eyeliners, pencil or gel. I like it even better than the Bobbi Brown pencils that run under my eyes and cost many times what this one does. I'll buy this over and over!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Prestige - Eyeliner - Poly E-65
Spamstuff 1/17/2013 11:20:00 PM
I love the color; it's a medium amethyst purple. But, trying to get this to go on my lid? What a trial. It was waxy and dry, it pulled my eye skin horribly. I couldn't even GET any color to go on under my lower lashline. Yeah I could heat it with the hair dryer, but why?? It should work when I want it to: most brands will ;--)
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BB Cream -Urban Decay - Naked Skin Beauty Balm
Spamstuff 1/17/2013 11:18:00 PM
I am pasty pale, Missha #13 is a good match for me. If there was NC/NW10, I'd be it. You get the idea.... I was excited to get this when another MUA'er told me about it. I read the description on Ulta's site and ordered. When it arrived I swatched it: it's orange. ORANGE! It smells like weird Noxema, nothing drastic and something I could live with, if only it matched me. No, no no no. Sending it back.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Kat Von D - Lock-It
Spamstuff 1/12/2013 11:29:00 PM
I went into Sephora to try this, after seeing the great reviews. I always wear the lightest shade in foundation, so I tried the lightest and the next lightest. In the store, the lightest shade appeared to be a match. I applied one color to one cheek and the next lightest to the other. Then I went outside. O.M.G. First of all: if you have any imperfections in your skin, this is NOT the foundation for you! I'm older---with decent skin and not a lot of wrinkles (yet)---but holy jelly on a cracker!!!!! The lightest color that looked so amazing in the store? BAM! Stark plaster white-reflecting zombie mess! The next lightest shade? Just in the time it took us to walk outside, it had oxidized into an orange MESS. It emphasized every single flaw and bump on my face. Honestly--and I'm not saying this to be funny--but the lightest color actually looked like Pancake makeup, as if I was putting on a base for clown makeup. I love Kat Von D's products!! I'm such a sucker for her stuff. But NOT this. I desperately wanted to love it! I currently prefer the Urban Decay Naked foundation and Kat's stuff was nowhere near it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Jordana - Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara
Spamstuff 12/27/2012 5:36:00 PM
THREE DOLLARS?? All the good reviews, I had to try it. I have paid $28 for Lancome, so really *just how great could this $3 stuff be*?? Let me tell you---it's fab! It stays where you put it, it's buildable, I like it just as well as my $28 Lancome. In fact I just stocked up on the Jordana when I found our store had two tubes left. I LOVE THIS STUFF! It looks great, and it comes off when you want it to w/o breaking lashes. For $3 you simply can't go wrong---try it, you might love it! I get mine at Kmart. You can also go to kmart.com and order it along with the MIlani glossy Flash lip pencils they don't sell in their stores :--)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No