Blush -Jordana - Rouge
aditswimbug 6/2/2012 12:53:00 AM
I'm on my second "Rouge" from Jordana. What a great line to come across at Savemart! Like another reviewer mentioned, only $1.29 for any product in the entire line. I'm not a huge fan of Jordana's foundations and mascaras, but I like their eyeshadows and their blush has yet to be beaten. I use this in alteration with my Nars and Stila blushes. I love bright, peachy pinks, and this one fits the bill! It has no shimmer, which is fine with me. I prefer to add my own highlighter if I want a little sparkle (NARS Copacabana, Stila All Over Shimmer Powder, or BE Feather Light Mineral Veil.) In my experience, there's a fine line between shimmery blushes and frosty blushes, and I prefer to purchase straight up, matte, unadulterated color. "Rouge" is pigmented and blends beautifully, sinking into my skin "just" enough to pop out again (if that makes sense, lol.) The only thing I deducted lippies for was the delicate composition of the pressed blush; it's quite crumbly and doesn't make the best travel blush. My first one was reduced to crumbles by the time I used it up, but I hadn't been kind to it, either. For use at home, it's fine, and only gets a little dusty around the edges from time to time. It's not a big enough deal to deter me from repurchasing, though.
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Shampoo -Beyond The Zone - Rock On Dry Shampoo
aditswimbug 5/29/2012 11:57:00 PM
Glad to know I'm not the only one experiencing problems with this dry shampoo. I was so excited to try it when Sally had a sale, but I got only ONE use out of it, which is not worth it, sale or not! I was in the process of moving when I purchased it, and when I unpacked at my new home, I found the bottle completely empty. There was no sign of leakage or spill on the outside of the can, or damage to the can. I thought I was crazy! Maybe I'd used it in my sleep?!? Seriously, this went through my mind....and the can went in the trash. I will not repurchase until this defect has been remedied. At that time, I'd really like to try the product again. It worked very nicely to refresh hair without leaving a film, and I was able to easily direct the spray (so as not to waste product....hahaha ironic, isn't it?)
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Mascara -Wet 'n' Wild - MegaVolume Thickening Mascara
aditswimbug 5/28/2012 2:20:00 AM
I had to review this little gem. It's not perfect, by any means, but for $3, it's pretty darn close. I was a die-hard Diorshow user for about a year, but that was the max amount of time I could justify spending $24 every three months on a tube of mascara, especially because by month three I was -unhygenically- adding eyedrops to the tube to boost it up. I've always been attracted to extremely high end and extremely low end cosemtics, and not enticed by much in between. I'm an extreme kind of person, I guess, and finding a great product in a cute package in a display at the end of a drugstore aisle gives me the same giddy feeling as opening a new tube of Diorshow, pulling out that plump wand, and breathing in that glorious expensive rose scent. So, I had to try megavolume when it went on sale for something around $1.99. In fact, I bought the last four on display (don't know what possessed me, I had a good feeling?) I think I thought they were cute. The ones I bought were in silver and black packaging, not the yellow like the one pictured, but perhaps it's been repackaged since I bought mine (a year or two ago)? Anyways, I don't remember being "wowed" by the product back then. I decided it was a steal for the price and good for when I was "playing" with looks at home or not going anywhere fancy, but I wasn't like OMG HG HG HG or anything. I tried L'Oreal Telescopic and got hooked on that great stuff for a while. About a month ago, I was running out of mascara and came across two unopened MegaVolumes. I discovered that now, I really really like them! The texture of my eyelashes has actually changed in the last couple of years (weird, perhaps?) I no longer need to curl them, and they are longer and more defined than they used to be. I accidentally ripped out many of them once upon a time while removing false eyelashes, and luckily for me, they grew back more lush and stronger. (I don't recommend trying this...I just lucked out!!!) I now really like this mascara, more than the others I was using. I discovered that after it's been open for a while and given time to thicken, it gets REALLY good and reminds me of how Diorshow used to look and feel when I was applying it. This sounds kind of gross, but I love this mascara when it gets to the point where it's really thick and the brush starts to clump and look different. FYI: it doesn't take long to reach this stage, maybe a couple of weeks, so it's well within the three month mascara window. Wow, I feel like this is the weirdest review I've written, but I've had such a unique relationship with this mascara that took a while to blossom, but I have a feeling I will be buying this or other wet 'n' wild mascaras (if it's discontinued) for years to come. That's saying a lot, since I am easily excited by new products and have a hard time remaining faithful to old ones. I think it's great that this mascara is so cheap (since I must continually repurchase mascara) and gives me the same thrill as good ol' Diorshow did. It makes my lashes thick, doesn't take out the curl, and doesn't flake. It even lengthens. Thank you, wet 'n' wild.
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Moisturizers -Vaseline - Vaseline Intensive Care - Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning Rich Hydrating Lotion
aditswimbug 5/28/2012 1:42:00 AM
I use this lotion for one purpose and one purpose only: to remove self tanner when I'm ready to scrub clean and start over. I used to like the smell, but now I find it cloying. I wouldn't want to be in a small, closed room covered in this stuff for too long. The packaging is awful. My pump broke very soon after purchasing. ****That said, I would totally buy again. Not sure if I will, as I am an ever-curious consumer and love raiding my drugstores for new products, but I actually enjoy this cocoa butter and I'm glad I have it. I find it quite moisturizing on my painfully dry skin. I am very picky when it comes to moisturizers, because they often leave a film, are drying, or do both (shocking, but true.) Even though I hate the initial smell, it dissipates and leaves a pleasant scent that lingers without being offensive. After I apply, I try to get out in the open and move around a lot so I don't choke on the initial scent. (I am probably being over-dramatic; it's not really that bad, and I do like the dry down scent a lot.) ******MAIN PART OF REVIEW: *****The reason I would repurchase is because this product does a stellar job of removing traces of self tanner without drying my skin out. Yes, I have to unscrew the broken pump and "scooch" the lotion off the tube and apply, but it's worth it. After I exfoliate a bit in the shower with soap and a washcloth, I towel dry, apply this stuff, and the next morning, I am good to go. This lotion is dirt cheap and has lasted me forever. I will continue to buy it (or similar products) for whenever my skin needs a thorough, yet kind exfoliation and moisturizing.
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Self Tanners -Jergens - Natural Glow & Protect Daily Moisturizer with SPF20
aditswimbug 5/28/2012 1:31:00 AM
I found this product to be VERY DIFFERENT from the regular Jergens gradual tanning moisturizer. That said, I LOVE this gradual tanner + protect, and don't care much for the other. I don't tan at all during the summer (I wear sunscreen almost all the time) and so I depend on self tanner to convert my fair skin to sunkissed bronze. I spotted this product in CVS, and the concept of a self tanner and sun protection in one prompted me to buy a bottle of medium/tan for $9.99. That was $9.99 well spent. I was shocked to discover using this product resulted in an immediate tan that's far superior to the regular gradual tanner. I slathered it on in the morning before heading out, and by afternoon, my skin was sun-kissed and looked like I'd been lying in the sun for a week. I thought I was hallucinating at first! Luckily, I didn't have any streaks, even though I hadn't been at all careful in my application; the tan wasn't drastic enough for that, but I did have some stains on my hands. After applying every day, by the third day I was as dark as I'd ever want to be, and not at all orange. Not bad! Soooo much better than I expected. When I bought the bottle, I was kicking myself for giving into a gimmick. But now I'm rather glad I tried it. The smell doesn't bother me; in fact, I rather like it. To my nose, it's very florally, which provides a nice reprieve from incessantly coconut flavored tanners. It's quite strong, though, so after a few bottles, I may grow disgusted with it. We'll see. Now for the cons, of which there are only two. I really really really wished this provided higher sun protection (of course) and it would be wonderful if it employed the use of Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide) as I prefer to use physical sunblockers, and I use only physical sunblockers on my face (CVS and Equate brands Zinc Oxide SPF 50). I deducted a lippie for the sun protection issues I just mentioned, although I'm not sure that's fair, as this is the first product of its kind I've come across and the tanner works so well. After a week, it does begin to get blotchy and gross, but what tanner doesn't? Skin exfoliates, after all. That's what my scrub and vaseline cocoa butter are for. The good news is, with this tanner, I have a nice glow within eight hours, so the fact that I have to exfoliate every week and a half and start over is no biggie :) If you're on the fence about this product, give it a try, especially since so many stores have such great return policies (don't abuse, of course) you've got nothing to lose.
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Powder -Bare Escentuals - BareMinerals foundation #2.3 Medium Beige 
aditswimbug 6/12/2009 1:45:00 AM
This is the makeup I've been the most faithful to over the past 2 years and 10 months (it was actually my very first foundation). What can I say, it goes on easy, is hard to screw up, always gives a bright, smooth, perfecting look, and is a perfect color match. I sweep this on with my Ecotools kabuki (BE brushes irriate my skin) and dab it under my eyes with The Ecotools or BE (synthetic) concealer brush. This is also my go to for "body" makeup, cover blemishes and evening skin on shoulders and chest. It lasts all day, is waterproof, doesn't oxidize or enhance dry flakes on my skin. The other foundations in my rotation: (Covergirl AquaSmooth in Buff Beige, Boots No. 7 in Light, Clinique superfit in Shell, and Fusion Beauty skin fusion in Light/medium.
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Crème -Cover Girl - AquaSmooth SPF15 Make-up
aditswimbug 6/12/2009 1:37:00 AM
Like quite a few people here, I hated this product when I initally tried it several months ago. The commercials and glossy magazine ads convinced me to buy it but of course the makeup inside the compact looks nothing like the pictures LOL. Upon application it was heavy, dry, and accentuated every little flake of skin. I was horrifed at the results. DO NOT USE THE SPONGE which comes with the product, it picks up WAY too much and deposits unevenly and irritated my skin. I recently tried using a "less is more" strategy and am much more impressed. I dab lightly (no rubbing or stroking) a triangular sponge one or two times on the surface of makeup, then pat it gently onto half my face, going carefully over the nose (which tends to collect a lot and look fake) before rubbing it in. Then I repeat for the other side. This gives me a smooth, clear complexion without being drying or appearing to sit on the skin. I use a concealer brush to dab this under my eyes and it works great there, too, to conceal without making the delicate skin there an atrocious mess. This is a cream to powder formula, so no additional setting powder is nessasary and it lasts all day, even through swimming. The shade I use is Buff Beige, and it is not overly pink as I've found Covergirl to be in the past, but not yellow either (hence why I can use it to conceal undereyes without look ghostly). My skin is neutral/warm, fairly dry, sensitive and acne prone. My hang up about the product is the stupid packaging. It's so huge as to be completely ridiculous. The sponge they include is useless, so setting aside 1/2 of the packaging for it is a waste. I'm thinking of depotting the circle of makeup into something more practical. Also, the product was pulled away from the pan when I bought it, almost like it was dried out, though it seems to work fine and has a nice texture. I will buy this again, and happily use it in the foundation rotation I have going :P (Bare Minerals in Medium Beige, Clinique Superfit in Shell, Boots No. 7 in Light, Fusion Beauty Skin Fusion in Light/Medium)
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Lip Gloss -Physicians Formula - Plump Potion Clear
aditswimbug 5/10/2009 1:29:00 AM
I got this two for one (with Pink potion, reviewed seperately) so I can't complain about the price. Besides, after paying big bucks for products like Lip Fusion, Too Faced Lip injection, Duwop lip venom, and BE buxom glosses, these really aren't that expensive, even full price, and the fact that I LIKE THEM BETTER than the high end ones I mentioned doesn't hurt at all! This spreads very evenly onto my lips, not goopy at all but with a high shine. Within seconds my lips tingle a bit (not bad) and turn a beautiful natural shade of dark red, which they maintain for hours. The gloss fades in about an hour and a half, leaving smooth, moisturized lips behind, which gives the plumping illusion. If my lips are severely chapped and flaking, this is the only treatment which gives me relief and perfect lips again. Sometimes I apply this before bed and enjoyed hydrated, plumped lips all the next day. This also defines the lipline and makes the lip shape appear very pretty. After several months of use I am almost out of this, I'm to the stage of wiggling and scraping the applicator in the tube, trying to get product out. This is saying a lot, as I have never even "almost used up" a gloss before. I will repurchase for now, but am always on the lookout for something better. One lippie off for horrid smell, and while this is one of the longest wearing glosses I own, I'm hoping for better out there!
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Lip Gloss -Physicians Formula - Plump Potion - Pink Potion
aditswimbug 5/10/2009 1:20:00 AM
After using Lip Fusion, Too Faced Lip Injection, Duwop lip venom, and going on a BE Buxom kick for a while, I hardly expected this drugstore product to blow them all away. I helped myself to a duo pack with this and Clear because at two for one it was a good deal, and the packaging was so intriguing. (I had to find out how the gloss actually worked, I didn't realize there was even a wand in there LOL.) I was running low on my Bare Escentuals Crystal and Candi and figured these would be decent replacements for pretty gloss,I didn't expect any plumping action at all. As soon as I purchased, I applied this frosty pink shade, and wow, it is LIGHT. The frost scared me at first, but now that I know what to expect, I've honed my application technique to get just the right sheer layer of shine. The lightness of the color doesn't really matter, though,because within 30 seconds my lips flushed a deep, natural shade of red, and stayed that way for hours! While this doesn't exactly "plump" it smooths and moisturizes chapped lips, making them supple and defining the lipline. When I'm suffering from severe skin peeling, I apply this before bed and in the morning my lips are moisturized and beautiful and stay so the rest of the day, whether I reapply gloss or not. No other lipstick, chapstick, or lip treatment has worked the way this has for hopelessly dry lips. In fact, after a using this a few times a week for a while, I rarely have dry lips at all. I alternate between using this and the clear shade, and I don't use either every day, so they've lasted me several months. I will either repurchase when I run out (which will be soon) or try a different shade, like the Berry.
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Liquid -Clinique - Superfit Foundation [DISCONTINUED]
aditswimbug 5/10/2009 12:56:00 AM
PIC IN PROFILE
This is a wonderful foundation purely for its absolutely natural and brightening effect. It's one of those formulas that let your skin's good characteristics (natural shading, a few freckles) shine through, while covering the ones you'd rather not display (uneven skintone, blemishes, redness, etc). It's almost like throwing a veil of light across your face, if that makes any sense. So don't write this off for its sheerness before testing to see if it does in fact cover what you want it to. The color pigments are very good as the shade Shell is indecernable on my face. The selection is sadly limited, as I wear the lightest shade (!) and consider myself to have a medium skin tone. I squeeze just a tiny amount onto my finger and use a skunk brush to apply. This is the best application process, IMO. When I use fingers or a foundation brush I endup with skin flaking off. My skin does tend to be on the dry side (although acne prone) though when I use a good sunscreen and then a skunk brush to apply this you can't tell. I LOVE that this dries to a powder finish, because then I don't have to put a layer of drying powder over my makeup. This lasts all day, and really is "superfit" as I can sweat through a workout no problem without my makeup disappearing. The bottle appears to be tiny, but I've been using it for six months and only half the liquid is gone. The only cons I've found is sometimes this dries a little *too* powdery for me, and seems to sit on the skin if you peer close, and on rare occasions the color goes on a little orange. I haven't discovered what triggers this. I would definetely buy this again, as it hasn't damaged or broken out my sensitive skin in the slightest, and looks amazing on. Like I said, it dries to a powder finish yet retains a beautiful glow. I also ADORE how this photographs. (My profile pic is me wearing this foundation, if you're interested in looking.)
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Palettes -Stila - Deluxe Folding Palette in Warm
aditswimbug 7/24/2008 8:29:00 PM
Welcome to the first review for Stila's warm deluxe palette! (At least, I'm pretty sure this is the first, I couldn't find another anywhere.) If you manage to read all the way to the end of this, you'll find some pictures if you click "continued>" First of all, I received the palette as a free gift when I ordered over $150 USD from stilacosmetics.com (yikes!) The packaging is unique, but rather inconvenient. It is a silver, magnetic closing box folded twice over itself, measuring from Q to the beginning of I on my keyboard and about an inch and a half thick. The first fold out reveals a mirror. Flipping a second time showcases three (crummy) brushes, and the actual cosmetics in the third "flap" beneath them. The brushes included are an eyeliner, eye shadow, and lip brush, all of poor (though still useable) quality and plastic handles. I basically do not use them, though I might use the eye shadow brush in a pinch. It is tiny, though soft. The goodies in this case are four eyeshadows, one blush color, and two lip colors. The eye shadows are by no means full size, but there is a generous rectangle of each. All are preexisting shades, the shadow on the far left being Launey, the next Salsa, Jezebel, and then Java. Launey is a pleasant, non offensive multi-use shade with very subtle shimmer. The color is a creamy, almost white peach. I use this as a base and browbone/lid/inner corner highlighter. Salsa is a now-discontinued orange shade with a bit of sparkle to it. It is definitely orange, I cannot with a clear conscience call it peach. That said, it wears surprisingly well as a light lid color, complementing the warm peach tones of Launey in the inner corner. Jezebel is breathtakingly unique in the pan, as well as interesting on the eye. I think of it as a rosy, copperish, almost plummy crease color. It looks very red toned on the eye area, though it's flattering to my hazel/green eyes and neutral/warm beige complexion. The last eye shadow, Java, is the most diverse in its uses, in my opinion. Its a very dark, matte, brown. It may sound boring, but it really is beautiful, and the most creamy in texture, whereas the others tend to be somewhat chalky. I use it lightly in the crease, to line, or to lightly fill in my brows. All of the eye shadows afford great pigmentation and standard Stila quality. The cheek color, square in the palette, is Soar, which is a very light, warm pink with the most subtle silver shimmer. This is too light for me to use as a blush, but it works brilliantly for highlighting the cheekbones or just adding light over the apples. The two rectangular lip colors are Miranda and Sun Shine. Let's save the best for last. Miranda just doesn't do anything for me. Its a somewhat glossy, blatantly orange lipstick. I really am better off with my bare lips then with Miranda, although I couldn't really say why. Sun shine, the gloss, on the other hand, is lovely. A pearly pink with light catching shimmer in the pan, it wears as a sheer layer of shimmer on the lips. While it is so pretty, its difficult to get much product on (a lip brush is useless, it picks up too little) and swirling my finger in the pan isn't the best application process, for both hygiene and performance. But I guess that's what you get in a palette. It also doesn't have very good staying power. I'll probably use it up just because its there and its pretty, though! All in all, the palette is great if only for the eye shadows themselves. Regular Stila pans retail for $18 USD, and these are about half the size and the palette retails for $16-$32 USD, depending on if you got it from the vintage section of stilacosmetics.com during one of their half off sales or not. Of course, you might have gotten it free like I did, and then its a great deal! Sadly enough, I think the Deluxe Folding palettes may be discontinued now. But if they weren't, I'd recommend trying one and so I'm going to say I would buy this again, because I'd love to try a different one. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to have tried this and if I use up Java I'll probably purchase the full pan, but I know that even if I get to the end of the palette, I'll probably be tired of it. That's just the way I am. But, I am GLAD I have it, and experimenting with it over the last several months has been and continues to be a great experience. Now for those pics: http://img.makeupalley.com/5/9/2/4/1024285.JPG http://img.makeupalley.com/5/9/2/4/1024286.JPG http://img.makeupalley.com/5/9/2/4/1024287.JPG http://img.makeupalley.com/5/9/2/4/1024336.JPG Launey as base, Salsa on lid, Jezebel in crease, Java to line underneath eye http://img.makeupalley.com/5/9/2/4/1024391.JPG
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Liners -Stila - Lip Liner Contour No. 9
aditswimbug 3/7/2008 11:20:00 AM
I really love this pencil, I can't help it. I hated it when I first recieved my Sephora order, true, but that's because Contour No. 9 was my first lip liner and I was a newbie on application. I persisted though, and now I can't live without it! Not so much for the lining properties, but the color is gorgeous! I line my medium pigmented lips lightly, fill them in with this, and top with clear gloss. This ritual creates the most beautiful, defined, simple look on my lips that brings in compliments whenever I wear it, which you better believe is every day!
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Eye Shadow -Stila - Kajiki Eyshadow Duo
aditswimbug 3/5/2008 2:00:00 PM
I'm still on the fence about this one, I'll play around with it some more though I'm planning on taking it back to Sephora when I get near one. I've had Kajiki along with Vieux Carre for a month, and there is absolutely no love between us. Stila has made a big, big mistake in marketing these. Do they want to spoil their heavenly eye shadow reputation? If so, this is the way to do it. Both sides are quite hard in texture and dull on my lid. The light blue side barely has any pigment, forcing me to scrape and scrape and scrape, while the navy side is so pigmented I'm barely tapping the brush into the shadow and lightly sweeping the color into my crease before blending furiously to tone it down. The dark side is surprisingly wearable on my green eyes, though the application is messy and difficult and I don't exactly love the color. So, right now, I would not repurchase.
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Eye Shadow -Stila - Vieux Carre Duo
aditswimbug 3/5/2008 1:53:00 PM
Stila, how could you do this to the innocent population of make up lovers who have come to know and love you for the impeccable quality and gorgeous pigmentation of your eye shadows? Vieux Carre looked like another brilliant hit from Stila in the pan, but all love stopped once I stroked the surface with my brush and found it hard and seemily cold, no standard Stila softness here. The color payoff is bad, not to mention blah. Instead of shimmering to life on my eyelid, these shades simply sat and glittered from the visible flecks of gold. The purple side looks like a plummy fuchia in the pan, but wears as a deep, reddish purply brown. The brown side is actually a much nicer color, almost a bronzy tone. I would have kept this duo for the brown side if both colors hadn't turned a horrible bruised tone on my skin after a half hour. What is going on here, Stila? New and improved forumula? I don't think so! If these duos are your first plunge into Stila products, please try their single shadows before you give up. Back to Sephora this duo goes.
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Highlighters -NARS - The Multiple in Copacabana
aditswimbug 2/15/2008 1:54:00 PM
I recieved this in a swap after lemming it for some time, and it is pretty. I apply with my fingers to highlight cheekbones, nose, forehead, and chin. It performs all of these tasks well, but not fantastically. The reason I love this product and would buy again is because it creates the perfect cream base for my Portofino multiple over my powder foundation (BE). If I apply this first, Portofino goes on so smoothly and blends so well with extra glow. Portofino is one of the harder in texture multiples, while Copacabana is very soft.
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