Lipstick -Revlon - Super Lustrous - Rose Velvet
Theophilus 4/24/2013 5:14:00 PM
I initially bought this because I liked how it swatched on the back of my hand. However, when I actually used it on my lips, it's far too brown for my liking. I was pretty disappointed because the texture is lovely and it was such a promising shade. I decided to try it as a blush, and lo and behold: perfection! On my light-medium skin with yellowish undertones, it is the perfect complexion pick me up. I swirl a bit on my ring finger, dot it along my cheeks and blend it out. Just one layer makes me look bright and awake no matter how tired I feel. It also has great lasting power and it doesn't feel greasy or drying which is fantastic for my dry skin. If you're stuck with this product or would like to use it in another way, I'd really encourage you to try it as a blush!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Revlon - ColorStay Active Light Makeup SPF 25 ] [DISCONTINUED]
Theophilus 10/25/2010 7:04:00 PM
I absolutely love this foundation. Starting on clean, moisturized skin, I apply this with my hands right after moisturizing to really work it into the skin then set it with MUFE HD Powder. Working in this foundation right after moisturizing seems to make the application much better. It might be that the moisturizer acts as a kind of primer, helping the foundation to stick. About an hour after application, it settles in beautifully and allows my natural skin texture and dewiness to show through. On my dry, yellow-based skin, I've been wearing 05 Natural Beige and it doesn't seem to have particularly pink or yellow undertones; it's quite neutral. Everytime I wear this with a bit of concealer (TheBalm's TimeBalm), my mother will comment on how nice my skin looks. In fact, I've noticed that my concealer wears much much longer with this foundation on. Some days, I'll just wear this around my eyes to mute out the dark sallow tones and then dot some concealer on my dark circles to look more awake. On a regular day, it has amazing staying power. It'll fade a bit by the 10 hour mark but it fades very evenly. My only complaint is the ingredients. There -has- to be some bad ingredients in that mile-long list but unless I find something better at a comparable price point, this remains to be my favourite.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Ecotools - Bamboo Blush Brush
Theophilus 9/28/2010 9:24:00 PM
This brush so soft! It makes short work of blush and I can use it for a light dusting of powder as well. It doesn't pick up a whole lot of product which makes it hard to over-apply blush. The tapered shape is also great for contouring. It's advertised as cruelty free since the fibers are synthetic, but I have to wonder if there was a human price paid along the way so that we can buy the brush for such a low price. Quality-wise though, I am very pleased with it. It's just as soft as my Too Faced retractable kabuki but far less dense. It has also yet to shed.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Sephora - Jumbo Eye Pencil - 502 Beige
Theophilus 9/15/2010 6:39:00 PM
This was $8 CAD well spent at Sephora. The pearly beige really brightens up the eye on the waterline without the harshness of a flat white liner. It's soft enough that it glides on without any tugging of any sort but isn't so soft that it crumbles or melts away once it's on. It also lasts the whole day even though I really wasn't expecting it to. I took a shower and it was still there when I stepped out. Haven't cried with it on, but I think surviving a shower is a testament to its lasting power. It comes off easily enough though with a cotton swab and a touch of olive oil. It came with a clear plastic lid, sealed with plastic so it was good to know it hasn't been tested. I'm very impressed. Highly recommended.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Revlon - Satin Eye Shadow Single in Nude Slip
Theophilus 8/30/2010 4:03:00 PM
An unspectacular colour in the pan, but beautiful on the eyes as an all-over wash. I have fine lines around my eyes due to very dry skin and I was pleasantly surpised to discover that this does not accentuate that when applied as a wash. If packed on too much though, the fine lines do soon become apparent. My eyelids also have a perpetual sallow undertone that makes me seem sickly on days when I don't get enough sleep. The peachy undertones of this shadow neutralizes the harsh yellow undertones and makes me appear much fresher and more awake. This makes me very happy. :) I use my ring finger to apply and blend away with my middle. It's quick and works just fine. Applied over my lids that I 'primed' with foundation, it lasted all day with only a bit of fading. As it were, this is the first eyeshadow I've ever tried so I can't compare this to any other one, but I have no complaints so far. Highly recommended.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Aveeno - Daily Moisturizing Lotion with Sunscreen spf 15
Theophilus 5/24/2010 4:33:00 PM
Moisturizes well, just like their original formula. However, there is a slight... stickiness? film? something? if applied on the face and it doesn't spread nearly as well as the original. Unfortunately, my face has gained a few pimples since using this and I usually don't have any. Needless to say, I won't be using this on my face again though I've had no problems with it on my neck, arms and legs. Can't say I particularly like it, but it isn't bad either. I think I'll try a sunblock with higher SPF to go over the regular Aveeno moisturizer instead.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Super Lustrous-Berry Rich
Theophilus 4/29/2010 3:42:00 PM
Beautiful deep pink colour with the barest hint of red. Rich and long lasting formula, though just the the tiniest bit drying on the lips. Other than that, perfection. I apply just a little bit with my finger for a lovely tint that deepens my lips for a very polished look with minimal make up.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Aveeno - Clear Complexion Cream Cleanser
Theophilus 4/23/2010 12:43:00 PM
I've been using this for the past year or so and I really love this cleanser. I initially bought it because I needed something to cleanse my face of sebum that accumulates during the day in my t-zone, particularly the area around my nose. My skin is quite dry aside from the t-zone, but this cleanser doesn't feel harsh on the rest of my face. This isn't a cleanser that has instant results. But in the time that I've used it, I've seen my blackheads reduce considerably since using this, and the pores become less visible. Recently, I ran out and didn't bother to pick up another tube for about two weeks, but in that time, I gained quite a few pimples even though I usually never have any at all. I also noticed that there was quite a bit of sebum left in the deeper layers of my skin when I skipped this cleanser. Only a few days after including this back into my skin-care routine, my blemishes cleared right up. After a super-mild soap (I use Dial), I massage the cleanser all over my face, focusing more on the t-zone. I finish with Aveeno's moisturizer (green or blue packaging, depending on the seasons) and my skin always feel incredible. Yes, a mild soap. This cleanser isn't perfect and won't remove much of the oil . I've found that it's better at cleansing the deeper layers of your skin like black heads (over time with regular use) and sebum within the pores of your skin. However, the benefits of this cleanser is well-worth the extra minuscule step of using a mild soap. Highly recommended.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Revlon - Pure Pearl
Theophilus 4/8/2010 5:31:00 PM
Lovely pearly white. On my first few tries, the polish did come out quite streaky. However, it's not terribly noticeable because of the way light is dispersed by the pearl effect. After some more practice with nail polish application, I came back to this one, and it was beautiful with no streaking whatsoever. If you can manage to learn a quick and smooth stroke, this polish is extremely sophisticated. One coat leaves just a bit of the nail bed visible, an interesting alternative to a French manicure if you leave the nail to grow out a bit. Two coats results in an opaque pearl. Beautiful.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Revlon - Minted #85
Theophilus 4/8/2010 5:22:00 PM
Ever since seeing the pale green 'Jade' on the runways of Chanel, I've been really wanting to try the colour myself. All of the Revlon polishes I've tried so far have had non-streaky application and great lasting power. Minted is quite a nice pastel green, but one coat is extremely streaky. With Revlon polishes, I've found that applying another coat requires a lot of caution to ensure the layer(s) before is cured (completely dried through). Otherwise, the layer on top can mess up the layer underneath, or the multiple coats take forever to dry, leaving the polish vulnerable to nasty smudging for many hours after application. As a result, I either apply one coat in the morning and another in the evening, or I apply one coat per day until I achieve the desired result. But a coat per day is rather excessive, and having streaky polish for a day is rather annoying. If I ever get around to finding enough time for it, I'll apply 3 coats of this and see if it gets any better. Until then, this polish will be left to languish in the corner.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Shiseido - Pureness Mattifying Moisturizer (Oil Free)
Theophilus 3/26/2010 10:33:00 PM
I received a sample of this from Sephora and tried it on my face for two days. It did keep my t-zone matte, but my jaw area developed a number of small bumps -- invisible, but I felt bothered by the development. I need a very good moisturizer for the rest of my face because my skin is quite dry and feels tight and flakes horribly without a moisturizer. The moisturizer did a mediocre job of keeping my skin feeling hydrated and I did notice some patches of flaking skin by the end of the day. I'll be sticking to my Aveeno.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Revlon - Matte Eyeshadow Aubergine
Theophilus 3/20/2010 3:10:00 PM
It has a velvety texture and is almost completely matte. It does have a tiny tiny bit of shimmer but you wouldn't notice it unless you scrutinized it for several moments. Upon application, the colour became a sheer grey with only the vaguest hint of purple. Definitely not what I was hoping for. At least I got this on sale for $5.00 CAD. Next time, I'll be more diligent in researching my next purchase.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -L'Oreal - Bare Naturale Mineral Blush
Theophilus 12/16/2009 5:43:00 PM
I've been wanting to try a mineral blush so I bought this in "Soft Rose" on sale at Shoppers for $13.99 CDN after reading all of the great reviews for this product. Soft Rose is a very soft and pretty pink that is highly pigmented so you only need a little bit to get a nice flush. Lasting power is decent. I noticed that it did fade a bit after several hours. Granted, it may have been because the pigment matched my natural flush so well that it seemed as if it had faded. Although noticeable only under very bright lights, there is some sparkle in this blush. I found out only when I was applying make-up under a reaIlly bright light in a semi-dark room. I panicked at first, seeing all the glitter, but after taking another look in the mirror in normal lighting, the sparkle had completely disappeared. Perhaps it's just my lack of experience with loose powders, but the blush can get everywhere if I'm not careful. I usually opt to open the container over a sink or garbage container if possible. I'm not a fan of the packaging. I tried using the brush it comes with, but it was terrible, so I've been using my Too Faced retractable kabuki instead. Overall a good blush with a nice hue, decent lasting power, and extremely lightweight. I can't feel it at all after application. A lippie off for the glitter (though not noticeable, I dislike glitter) and packaging.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -L'Oreal - Voluminous mascara
Theophilus 10/15/2009 6:45:00 PM
I bought this a few months ago and was really looking forward to using this, but after several uses, it became apparent that it was no good. At least it did give considerable volume to my lashes and "Carbon Black" is a true black. Unfortunately, it clumped my lashes together and always ends up giving me spidery lashes. Combing it out pulls out lashes and washing it takes even more lashes with it. It was rather unsettling to have lost eyelashes and I've tossed it out. Perhaps they've changed the formula (back) since I've last bought it, so perhaps it's no longer as damaging. Regardless, I will not be trying this one again. I'll stick to my FnS, thank you. *Update: After looking at other alternatives for volume-enhancing mascaras, I decided to try this again, but in the original formula. At first, I really hated it and felt ashamed for being such a sucker to give this another go, haha. But after trying new mascara technique from watching MAC's eyeliner tutorial, I decided to give this another go. I figured makeup application is something that's learned, rather than some kind of inherent skill (hence, training for makeup artists) so I spent a bit of time looking up tutorials. Ha! Am I ever glad. Now I can get full, feathery, voluminous lashes out of this mascara. Win! =)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -Revlon - Colorstay Pressed Powder with SoftFlex
Theophilus 10/13/2009 7:13:00 PM
I bought this in Light Medium after reading the many positive reviews and decided to give it a try. I was really looking forward to using this as a finishing powder with my Revlon ColorStay liquid foundation. After application, it didn't look powdery and settled very well into my skin. The shine control was decent and it had a velvety finish. Unfortunately, it made me look very pallid (pale and ghostlike). The pallidness of the powder does mean it provides decent coverage -- just in a bad colour. I couldn't stand the (lack of) colour, and so immediately washed it off. Hence, I cannot say anything about its lasting power or any long-term effect on the skin. A shame about the chalkiness but it's an otherwise okay powder.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No