Polishes -Essie - Forever Yummy
Walhalla 5/16/2012 3:19:00 PM
This is a lovely shade of red! Not too dark, not too bright. I have fair skin, with pink undertones, and this colour looks awesome on me. I see it working with many different skin tones. It's opaque in one coat, but I always apply a second one for more vibrancy. It takes a little bit more time than I'd like it to for it to dry completely, though. I always get nail marks, somehow.
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Shampoo -Batiste - Original Dry Shampoo
Walhalla 5/9/2012 12:57:00 PM
This product is awesome. This is the first dry shampoo I've ever tried, so I can't compare, but until a few months ago, the selection of such products was quite limited in drugstores around here. It's like they all got the memo at the same time and finally decided to carry more than Got2b and Klorane... . Anyway, I mostly use it to keep my bangs fresh and non-greasy and it works quite well. I had been using baby powder for over a year before trying dry shampoo and it doesn't even begin to compare. I admit the scent is not great, but to me, it smells a bit like lemon Pledge, which is not necessarily the worst scent in the world. It dissipates quickly, so it's not a big deal. My boyfriend tried it once because he didn't have time to properly shower and he LOVED it. He kept talking about it for days (and he didn't notice the scent). . It's between 9$ and 11$ here in Montreal, depending on the store (Jean Coutu tends to be cheaper than Shoppers Drug Mart in my neighbourhood). I've had it for over a month and I've used it every 2 days.
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Moisturizers -Korres - Yogurt Cream (Yoghurt Cream)
Walhalla 12/1/2011 12:14:00 PM
I was very excited when I first heard about this cream. I couldn't believe I had finally found a moisturizer suited for my particular skin type, and that would help control flakies and oilies at the same time! Unfortunately, it didn't work out well for me and ended up being a huge disappointment. :( . I purchased the Yoghurt regimen kit at Sephora almost 7 months ago and have been using the cream since then, 2 or 3 times a week. (On a side note, I live in Montreal, Canada, and would have NEVER bought this here because we always get doubly screwed by taxes. I regularly go to the US, though, so I held off until then to buy the kit. It's definitely a great value if you want to try both the mask and moisturizer, but I didn't really like the eye cream and the cleanser was just OK...) . Anyway, the jar is ridiculously small, but in its defense, after 7 months, I haven't even used half of it yet. The cream's texture is fairly light, not too thick, and it spreads out easily, so not much is needed to cover the whole face or the problematic areas. I'm pretty neutral about the scent. It smells a bit yoghurt-y (unsurprisingly) and it's not bad, but it's nothing delicious either. . I find the cream is sticky and never really gets absorbed into my skin. It leaves my face shiny and I can see/feel it is not moisturized adequately. I also noticed that a few minutes after application, if I touch or rub my face for some reason, the cream peels, as if it were a mask that needed to be rinsed off. At first, I thought it might be caused by improperly washing and exfoliating my skin beforehand, but I've since then tried different cleaning routines and the cream always peels off... . Sooooo yep, obviously, this cream works for others, but sadly, not for me.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Stila - NEW Stila Sheer Color Oil-Free SPF20
Walhalla 11/14/2011 3:09:00 PM
This is the first (and only) tinted moisturizer I ever tried, so keep this in mind when reading my review. :) . I've tried several (mostly drugstore) foundations in the past, liquid, mousse, powder, and I've never been able to achieve a satisfying look. I have oily and dehydrated skin (very dry during winter), so anything I've tried always made my dry patches stand out more. Honestly, though, I don't really need coverage. I have some redness around my eyes/nose and on my cheeks, but it's nothing that a little bit of powder/concealer can't take care of. Regardless, I thought that a tinted moisturizer would be best to deal with my dry skin while giving me a more polished, flawless look. Soooo, last time I went to the U.S for a conference (I'm from Montreal, Canada), I decided to try out different TMs at Sephora. I'd never buy anything like that here because the prices and taxes are ridiculous, haha. Stila's new TM in Fair ended up being the best colour match. . The shade Fair appears to be extremely pink out of the tube, but it blends into my skin perfectly (for reference, I believe I am around NW10-15). The texture is light and smooth, and it's a good base for setting powder and blush. I prefer to apply it and blend with my fingers. I rarely use it all over my face, but mostly under my eyes (it brightens nicely), on my cheeks and around my nose. It's a bit sticky at first, but when it sets, the coverage is natural, makes my skin glow and doesn't make my dry patches stand out. I like that it's shimmery, but as the previous reviewer stated, it might not be for everyone. . However, don't be fooled because this is definitely not a moisturizer. For optimal results, I have to wash, exfoliate and moisturize my skin properly before applying this TM. As long as my skin is smooth, it's not going to cling to dry patches and such. I also rarely apply it on my nose because I think the glowy effect is too much and makes it look oily instead. I've been using it for approximately 6 months now, every other day, and I still have at least half of it left. . I'm glad I tried this TM first and I recommend it. I already bought a back up, but I may look for something else after I'm done with this one (just to change things up a bit).
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Cleansers -Garnier - Fresh Complete Cleansing Cloths - Normal and Combination Skin
Walhalla 10/28/2011 12:49:00 AM
I went through a pack of those and overall, they're all right, but nothing special. They smell very nice, their size is perfect and they work decently for light make-up. I have sensitive eyes and those were not too harsh, but they were not enough to completely remove mascara and eyeliner (unless you like scrubbing your eyes for 30 minutes :D). They were also not as moist as I would've liked them to be and would easily lose their precious wetness due to the poor packaging. I usually stored them upside down, but I'm not sure it really helped. . For the price, they're worth a try. I won't re-purchase right away, but maybe again in the future.
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Eyeliner -Sephora - doe eyed Felt Eyeliner in Black
Walhalla 9/18/2011 11:49:00 PM
I bought this eyeliner a couple of months ago because I was looking for something easier to apply than liquid liner. There's no Sephora close to where I live, so I purchased this when I went on a business trip to Boston. That was back when CAD$ was higher than US$, so I didn't really care about the price, haha. . Anyway, this eyeliner is not the worst I've ever tried, but it's close to it. I haven't had any problem with it drying up or anything, like other people had. The colour is truly black and it stays put all day. I haven't noticed flaking or smudging. . It is however difficult to apply. I can never get any product into the tip of the applicator, so the best way I found to apply it is to use the side of the applicator and pat it along the lashline. It takes many strokes to achieve a deep black shade and bold line. It's not very practical to make sharp wings or anything else that requires precision. I also noticed that it's a pain to apply on top of eyeshadow. When swatched on my hand, it appears as a clean black line, but the eyeshadow powder sticks to the tip, which seems to block the flow of the product. Whatever happens, it's annoying and it makes things more difficult than they should be. . I recently bought Physicians Formula's eye booster liner and it made me realize that... the Sephora one seriously sucks.
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Makeup Brushes -Alima - Large Shadow Brush 39
Walhalla 9/6/2011 12:38:00 PM
I've owned this brush for at least a year and for the longest time, I didn't quite know what to do with it. I don't think it picks up product (loose or pressed powder) very well. It's good to apply a sheer wash of colour all over the lid, but it's difficult to build up intensity with it (which I need because I have visible red/blue veins on the lids, no matter how much concealer I use). I prefer to use brushes with shorter bristles for all-over-lid application, such as the Eco Tools one, for instance. . However, I have recently discovered that it's a wonderful blending brush! I've never used Alima's blending brush (or any other for that matter), so I can't compare, but this large shadow brush does a very nice job. After I apply colours to my crease and/or along the lash line with a crease and/or angle brush, I blend with the #39 to soften the edges (depending on whatever look I'm going for). I don't consider I have particularly large or small eyes and I think the size of the brush is just right. The bristles are soft and I haven't noticed any shedding so far. I recommend it, although you might want to go for a "real" blending brush if this is the only thing you're going to use it for.
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Pressed Powders -Rimmel - Stay Matte Pressed Powder (ALL)
Walhalla 9/2/2011 10:31:00 PM
This is an "OK" powder, but nothing really special to me. . Good news: It mattifies skin and does not look cakey. I still need to blot once during the day, but it's definitely better than when I don't apply any powder. That's all for the good news, though (it's also cheap, but all Rimmel's products are). . Bad news: The packaging is horrible. The lid is very loose, which makes it impossible to carry around in a purse. You also need to buy/carry a separate sponge or brush to apply it. It has a strong, cheap cosmetics scent (or at least, I think so >.>). Most Rimmel's products smell bad, in my opinion, and this one is no exception. I bought this powder in transparent, which is not... transparent at all. I don't know if it was just a fancy way to say it was very pale, but it has colour in it, so if you have medium/tan/dark skin, this is definitely not going to work. Earlier this summer, I was a little bit tanned and this powder just made me look patchy. . Personally, as far as drugstore powders go, I prefer Maybelline's Dream Matte powder. I'll finish this one, but will not repurchase.
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Eye Shadow -Wet 'n' Wild - ColorIcon Palette in Lust [DISCONTINUED]
Walhalla 8/21/2011 1:13:00 AM
I bought this palette at the same time as the Vanity one a few months ago. I believe Lust is more suited for my skintone (~NW10-15, with pinkish undertones). I was afraid the pinker shades might give me the "I've just been punched in the face" look because my eyelids tend to be red with very obvious veins. But this is not the case. When applied on top of a primer, the colours become completely opaque and I can't see redness through them (for the record, I haven't tried without primer). . The shadows are soft and well pigmented. I think the shimmery shades are a little bit easier to blend than the matte ones. The medium matte shade, in particular, always requires more work than the others. I, however, am in love with the top right eyeshadow. It's a slightly shimmery white colour with a hint of purple. Its texture is smooth and it works wonderfully to brighten the eyes up. . I've only noticed fallout with the dark, silver shade, but nothing that ruined my whole face. Overall, though, great quality for drugstore stuff.
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Mascara -Revlon - Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara
Walhalla 8/12/2011 11:27:00 PM
I have long, full and curly lashes, so I'm generally only looking to add more definition when using a mascara. I bought this product in dark brown, mostly for neutral, day time looks. It does a nice job at defining my lashes, while keeping them clump-less. It dries relatively fast and I haven't noticed smudging throughout the day. . At first, I didn't like the gigantic brush. It felt absolutely awkward, especially compared to L'Oreal Voluminous Original (which I've been using for years). After a few days of use, though, I got the hang of it. It might be trickier to apply for ladies (or gents!) with short lashes and/or very small eyes. . The only thing that bothers me about this product is that whenever I inadvertently get some of it in my eyes, it burns. I've never noticed something similar with other mascaras, but this one makes me teary all day. It can be quite annoying, but fortunately, it doesn't happen too often.
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Eye Shadow -Wet 'n' Wild - ColorIcon Palette - Vanity 249 [DISCONTINUED]
Walhalla 8/11/2011 3:59:00 PM
I don't think I can add anything very useful to what's already been said about this palette. I like the matte colours: they are soft, buttery and blend well (especially the lightest and darkest ones). The same can be said about the gold and bronze shimmery shades. However, I always have trouble working with the shimmery highlight shadow. I find it chalky and difficult to apply evenly. But overall, it's easy to create many neutral looks with this palette, even if you don't know what you're doing. :D . I think the palette is a tad too warm for me, though. I'm fair with pinkish undertones (slightly tanned in the summer, but otherwise, around NW10-15). Both medium shades look awkward on me, especially the gold. But! The product itself is quite decent and worth a try if you look good in warm colours.
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Moisturizers -Garnier - Skin Naturals - Essentials Day
Walhalla 7/5/2011 12:16:00 PM
I bought this moisturizer after realizing the Fresh 24 hour moisturizing day cream (the one in a tube) was not available anymore where I live (or so I think; I haven't seen it in drugstores in Montreal for months and amazing products and foods tend to randomly get discontinued around here, grr). I think it's a good replacement, but my boyfriend uses it a lot more than I do. I never really liked the Fresh tube version as it always gave me a slight burning feeling. Anyway, my man doesn't want anything else on his face. He's very picky when it comes to products scents and he doesn't need anything fancy for his perfectly balanced, normal skin (so jealous...). He uses it on his nose after showering because it's dry and red. It gets absorbed quickly and the smell is pretty nice. . I have combination skin with really dry areas and an oily, yet flaky, nose and forehead. This moisturizer isn't enough for my dry skin, but I like to apply it on my nose because it leaves a matte finish (and no burning feeling). Unfortunately, it doesn't last for more than 1 hour, but it's better than anything else I've used so far. I'm sure it would make a great makeup base for people who have oilier skin in general. . It comes in a lightweight, plastic jar, which makes it look a bit cheap (I don't care about that, but some people may), but so much more convenient for carrying around. I will undoubtedly purchase again.
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Blush -NYX - Rouge Cream Blush - Natural
Walhalla 7/5/2011 12:43:00 AM
This is a wonderful blush. I was impressed by the creamy texture. It doesn't cake or dry up on my skin; it just looks natural (unsurprisingly...). I usually apply and blend it with my fingers or a dense flat top brush (the one from Everyday Minerals, more specifically). As it is quite pigmented, I only put a small dab on each cheek and blend. Sometimes, I apply shimmery powder blush on top for a more glowy look. I occasionally use it on my lips too, but it can become drying (I just love the color/texture and wish I could find a lipstick like that!). . The lasting power seems all right. The only other blush I own is from NARS and I don't think it lasts that much longer on me (and for the price difference, it should, haha). Anyway, definitely a great everyday blush!
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Scrubs -Dermalogica - Daily Microfoliant
Walhalla 6/20/2011 11:15:00 AM
I have the travel size version of this and I've been using it for about 1 month and a half, 2 or 3 times a week. There's no doubt that it's a great product. It leaves my skin unbelievably smooth and soft. I find it's a bit drying, though. I have very dry skin on my nose and chin and it's always a bit worse after using this scrub. But at least, I have soft, dry skin! A good moisturizer usually solves this issue, so it's no big deal. . However, I don't really like that it's a powder. It lathers well and only a small quantity is required to produce excellent results, but it's so easy to spill... and I always manage to inhale some of it, somehow. >.> My main issue with the product, though, is that it's so ridiculously expensive. Maybe I'll get a full size, some day, when I go to the States, but I certainly won't buy it in Canada. I also occasionally use the green tea scrub from St. Ives and it produces equivalent results on my skin (at a fraction of the price). So for now, I'll stick to cheaper alternatives.
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Makeup Brushes -Alima - Angle Liner/Brow Brush 33
Walhalla 6/17/2011 2:59:00 PM
I'm mostly using this brush for gel liners and occasionally, to line my eyes with eyeshadows. I don't even use Alima's products... After trying many of their samples, I realized I was way too lazy for this type of stuff, but I love their brushes! This one is very soft yet firm to allow for precise application of thin or thick lines. I think the price is right for the quality and it has sustained many "washing cycles" without changing shape or anything like that. :D
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