Lips -Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain (All Shades)
SuziL 5/27/2012 6:58:00 PM
This is the most amazing gloss/stain product I have ever used in my life! Somehow it goes on and then separates into two layers – one stains my lips beautifully and the other is a gloss that barely leaves a mark on my coffee cup. How does it do this? (Note: It doesn't usually look very smooth until it sets and then it becomes magically smooth.) YSL has equipped this product with the best doe's foot applicator on the market. It is big, but has an innovative shape that delivers a smooth, precise application. Build-able color and fragrance, taste, and texture that don't annoy me – I love this stuff! I currently have three colors – #10, #8, and #2 (my go-to color). I wear them alone and, when I want serious opacity, I layer them over Kat Von D's Everlasting Liquid Love lipsticks in Outlaw or Lolita. When I do this, I have lips that go all day with just a touch-up of the YSL gloss/stain. The layering has given me such a variety of colors and depths that I have completely abandoned my other lipsticks. No kidding.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Kat Von D - Liquid Everlasting Love - Outlaw
SuziL 5/27/2012 6:45:00 PM
This liquid lipstick has serious staying power. While it is described as a brick red, it reads as a medium dark true red on me (fair skin with yellow undertones, dark hair). I would give it five lippies except for a few things: (1) It has a chalky texture than can be uncomfortable (2) The packaging isn't well-designed and color will ooze out the top from air-pressure when you push the wand back in (you can mostly circumvent this problem by wiggling the applicator back and forth as you push it in to prevent the piston effect). And, (3) It has a small, not very precise doe's foot applicator. However... A big "however"... I experimented and found that any of the Liquid Everlasting Loves are the perfect base coat to any of the new Yves St. Laurent Rouge Pur Couture glossy stains. Yes, the combination makes an expensive lip, but the combo STAYS and is easy to touch up without any dryness. I wear Outlaw under the YSL #10 for a bright, clear red, and under the #8 when I want to rock a more orange tone. I get opacity, a tiny bit of shine, and staying power without the "red ring of death" where it wears away in the middle of lips. Using the YSL for touch-ups makes a much more elegant reapplication than trying to finesse Outlaw in a car or public bathroom. Apply Outlaw, allow to dry, then blot and apply the YSL. How long will this last? I'm a teacher and I apply in the morning before work, touch up with YSL after lunch (nothing super oily) and I still have it on at 5 p.m. Seriously. And, I drink hot tea during the day.
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Shampoo -Nature's Gate - Herbal Hair Shampoo
SuziL 7/23/2011 3:17:00 AM
I've been using this shampoo for about a year now, and I have to say, I'm confused by some of the comments I'm reading here. In my experience the shampoo itself is a pearly white color, not green, as one person commented. Also, every bottle I have purchased (at Whole Foods in Northern California) has been clearly labeled "sulfate free" and the ingredients list no sulfates. I have had lots of troubles with shampoos causing skin and scalp reactions over many, many years. I've tried all sorts of things, and actually worked for a (shall remain nameless) haircare company, so I know a bit about ingredients. In my adulthood, I was diagnosed with celiac disease and along with the internal reactions from consuming gluten, I also have skin reactions to it. Therefore, I can't use shampoos with wheat protein, wheat germ oil, barley additives, etc. Additionally (and not related to the celiac), my skin reacts to SLS and silicone ingredients in any skin/hair/makeup product. This shampoo was a wonderful discovery for me. I really like the spicy, earthy scent which reminds me a little of the old Coty's Wild Musk oil. Or, maybe it just reminds me of the 1970s :) People tell me how good my hair smells (even my hairstylist) and since I favor a "warm" perfume, it seems to complement what I wear, not compete with it. While I don't find this shampoo incredibly drying, I don't find it to be moisturizing, either. I have short, straight, silky hair (not colored) and I don't use conditioner. My hair can become flyaway, so I usually use a product before blow-drying. Right now, I'm favoring the L'Oreal EverSleek serum, which seems to be just the ticket, and also doesn't contain sulfates, parabens, or silicones. I have been experimenting with the EverSleek shampoo, but have found that after one or two washings, it becomes heavy on my hair, so I rotate back to the Nature's Gate.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -L'Oreal - Double-Extend Beauty Tubes in Blackest Black
SuziL 6/3/2011 9:02:00 PM
I love, love, love this mascara because it doesn't burn or irritate my eyes and it comes off so easily with warm water. There's no makeup remover, no oil or soap involved. I just hold a warm washcloth to my eye and gently "pull" the mascara off. The warmth of the water seems to be key. I have actually gone swimming in this mascara (yes, head under water), and after being careful not to touch my eyes while they were wet, it dried beautifully! The only problem I have ever had is with an oily eye cream. This made it break apart and sprinkled little mascara dots around my eyes during the day. This mascara is worth skipping that cream. My eyes look great with just this mascara. Women have approached me to ask what mascara I use. I curl my lashes (near the root) and this product has no effect on the curl. I get both length and volume from this mascara. I apply the primer and then the mascara before the primer dries. I've found that friends who didn't like it, didn't follow the directions. Letting the primer dry before applying the mascara messes up the process and will make your lashes look spidery and clumpy, or "like antlers" as one friend said. (She agreed she'd try it again!) One complaint: the packaging isn't great. Each tube I've purchased has (rather quickly) had the little rubber "gasket" that scrapes surplus black mascara off the brush come loose. It's still usable after that, but it requires more attention because the brush is messier. A tip: For extra oomph, I use a fiber product called Longcilsextender (in the white/clear formula), which is a absolute HG product for making me look like I'm wearing falsies without any of the hassle! I apply it after the primer and before the mascara for tons of length and volume without any removal issues. As far as the $12 price goes, I frequently find this on special at Ulta or Rite-Aid – usually one at full price and 50% off the second – and then I stock up.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No