Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Powder Brush
agl112 6/12/2012 1:15:00 PM
Add me to the long list of people singing the praises over this brush. It has synthetic bristles and a flat top that can be used for either powder or liquid products. I've used it to apply liquid foundation (Sonia Kashuk Luminous Foundation) and tinted moisturizer (Sonia Kashuk Radiant Tinted Moisturizer) and both applied easily, smoothly and seamlessly with no lines of demarcation or streaks. The brush blends these products easily and quickly. With mineral powder, it works great. I applied my Amazing Cosmetics Velvet Powder (loose version) and got an airbrushed finish while using very little product. The price can't be beat and the next time I'm at Target, I plan to get another as a back up. Highly recommend!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Signature Club A - Big 7 Wonderwheel Compact
agl112 11/12/2011 4:22:00 PM
This product has gotten so much criticism that I just had to put my two cents worth in. The application that we have all seen on hsn.com is heavy because it's TV. But for everyday, daytime use, you have to use sparingly to get good results. Like any other concealer product, application technique is crucial. Less is more with this product and a little goes a long way. I found that the best way to apply the concealers is with a damp BeautyBlender sponge. You'll get just the amount of coverage that you want, you can build the coverage and still have control to avoid a caked-on, pasty look. If used carefully, the different concealers will hide redness, blemishes, spots and other imperfections. Applying the 8 Butters foundation over it with the BeautyBlender sponge will render a smooth flawless finish every time. Give it a try!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -beautyblender - the sponge
agl112 11/12/2011 4:00:00 PM
I came across this sponge here on makeupalley and found one on Ebay. Am I glad that I purchased this little gem! Like other reviewers, I was initially skeptical about an egg shaped sponge. I watched the video on proper use on the beautyblender website (www.beautyblender.net). But, after my first use, I was sold. I used a cream foundation to try this out (a very tricky to apply Siganture Club A 8 Butters Creamery Foundation and Concealer) and the application was flawless, seamless and best of all, quick. I found that I was able to quickly stipple both the concealer and the foundation. I even used the sponge to stipple on the Signature Club A Jet Tech Aloe Puffed Powder (a pressed powder) to set it all. The results were simply beautiful. I had not been able to successfully use this foundation to my liking (even though a stippling brush produced acceptable results - it took too long to apply evenly) and every other sponge that I tried was very difficult to maneuver, even using the sponges damp. But, with the beautyblender, the application was so much easier and my foundation did not looked caked on, dry or cracked. My pores disappeared, the look was clean, flawless yet polished. An airbrushed finish by the time I was done. I quickly tried this beautyblender sponge with other liquid foundations that I had lying around such as Ready To Wear Liquid Lift and another Ready to Wear cream foundation and the results were the same. Flawless, airbrushed, clean yet polished. If you're looking for a better foundation application, definitely give this sponge a look. If you've got foundations lying around that you don't use, resurrect them and try them with this sponge. You may just fall in love with those foundations again. Definitely will continue to use and repurchase if sponge wears out eventually.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford - Skin Softening Cleanser ( aka Nettoyant Adoucissant)
agl112 6/6/2011 9:16:00 AM
I was very pleasantly surprised when I received my 30 day trial kit containing this outstanding cleanser. This is a lotion type cleanser that is easily removed with water and a wet warm washcloth. It does an excellent job at removing all types of makeup even stubborn mascara and television makeup without irritation or leaving a dry, tight feeling. I find that using a washcloth to remove the cleanser is very soothing and leaves my face, clean, soft, soothed and hydrated. My skintone has improved tremendously in the three months that I have been using this cleanser along with the other products in the kit. Redness is greatly diminished almost gone to the point that I don't notice anymore. My skin is now more even in texture and tone. For reference, I have Normal to dry, extremely sensitive, redness prone skin with a tendency towards breakouts and I haven't had any allergic reactions to this cleanser or any of the products in the trial kit. I have since signed up to continue to receive these products and am quite satisfied with results that I have gotten with continued use. To the basic kit, I have added the Glow Serum which I use after the toner and before the Day Creme with SPF 20 (the Day Creme with SPF 20 has been the only moisturizer with sunscreen that my skin has ever tolerated without redness or irritation - so this was an unexpected surprise); the glycolic pads which I use twice a week leave my skin exquisitely soft and exfoliated again without any irritation; and the Eye Enhancing Serum which leaves the eye area smooth and hydrated without a greasy feel. As with any product, your mileage may vary and not everyone's skin is the same. But, my results have been quite meaningful and I will continue to use these products.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Too Faced - AMAZING FACE SPF FOUNDATION
agl112 11/14/2010 12:36:00 PM
I'm on my second compact of this stuff and I still love it! I have sensitive, redness prone, combination skin and I have yet to have an allergic reaction from this. I find that the powder goes on smoothly and creamy and leaves a skinlike smooth airbrushed finish. The best way to apply this is after using a primer such as Ready To Wear Underwear Makeup Base, YBF Neutralizing Face Primer, because this will make a huge difference not only in how well the powder will go but also how long it will last. I also used the new Amazing Concealer under the powder to conceal some left over old blemish marks and undereye circles and it did so remarkablye well without caking. I use the new Too Faced Pouf Powder brush with this powder and it applies the powder very evenly and I can control whether I want a sheer coverage or a more fuller coverage. I like the fact that it sets quickly to a creamy flawless finish that lasts all day and I don't need to touch up until much later in the day. Other powders don't last quite as long and tend to become cakey, break up on the face, settle into fine lines or disappear during the day. Not this one. It stays just as fresh as when I applied first thing in the morning. It's also not drying and doesn't irritate my skin at all. As far as the sunscreen coverage, I was able to walk around in the sun recently during vacation and did not get a sunburn. This is definitely a keeper. I use Warm Vanilla which blends exquisitely into my fair, light skin with slightly warm understones. Highly recommend!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Boots - Expert Sensitive Gentle Cleansing Lotion
agl112 11/8/2010 8:51:00 AM
This is another soothing option from the Boots Expert line. This cleanser is best for dry skin that's sensitive. It's fragrance free, paraben free and lanolin free. I find that it takes off all of my makeup and leaves my skin soft, soothed and hydrated without greasiness. I apply a dime size amount and rub between my palms, apply all over my skin and then remove it with a wet warm washcloth. I haven't had any allergic reactions to this product and the price is right. It's available at Target stores locally, so it's easy to find. Would buy again.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Boots - No7 soft and soothed cleaser
agl112 11/8/2010 8:43:00 AM
This is a very soothing cleanser for sensitive skin that's on the cusp between oily and dry. I find that the best way to use this is to first wet the skin and pump a dime size amount onto the palm of my hand, rub my palms together quickly and apply it all over my face. I remove it by splashing slightly warm water on my face and then follow by using a warm wet washcloth to remove the last traces of the product. It won't leave your skin squeaky clean as it does leave your skin soft, hydrated and smooth. Squeaky clean means you've pretty much removed your skin's natural moisture barrier, something I can no longer afford since my skin has become somewhat drier and much more sensitive. For those who have to or choose to avoid detergent cleansing agents in facial cleansers, this is a good alternative and the price is reasonable. It's available locally at Target stores. Would buy again!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Signature Club A - Vanilla meltdown makeup remover
agl112 9/4/2010 1:37:00 PM
I've been using both the SCA French Vanilla and Vanilla Meringue meltdowns for a long time. They're effective at removing both facial and eye makeup including mascara without leaving a greasy or dry feeling. I have found that if you are careful not to get the product into your eyes, you can still remove eye makeup effectively without rubbing or tugging at delicate skin. The best way to use this product, I have found, is to spread a small amount all over your face, count to 10 and then remove it with a warm wet washcloth, rinsing the washcloth as you go along until you remove all of the product from your skin, eyes and lashes. With practice, I have been able to successfully remove eye makeup and mascara without stinging or irritation and the rest of my face feels soothed, softened and clean. I have had no problems with finding makeup left behind because with the washcloth method, you remove everything. I wouldn't recommend tissuing this stuff off because the tugging and pulling will irritate your skin. I find that I need no other cleanser with this method of removal and my skin is no longer dry and irritated.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Signature Club A - Coconut Meltdown Makeup Remover
agl112 9/3/2010 9:33:00 AM
I've been using SCA makeup meltdowns for a long time and find them to be effective at removing both face and eye makeup completely without tugging or pulling skin. The first time that I used this product, I did experience irritation and burning but found out later that the culprit was not this product but another BHA product that was too strong for my skin and therefore, everything I was using was bothering my skin. Until my skin got over the effects of the offensive product, I wasn't going to get good results from any cleanser. Once my skin recovered, I tried this product again and was pleasantly surprised to find that it didn't irritate my skin at all. So, if you've experienced irritation with the SCA meltdowns, be sure to look closely at the rest of your skincare regimen to see if any other product is creating the reaction before blaming this one, as I mistakenly did before. To avoid irritation, the best way to use it is to apply and spread the product all over your skin and eyelids and lashes (keep your eyes closed and you won't have a problem with stinging) and then with a wet warm washcloth, gently wipe the product off, rinse the washcloth and continue until you remove the product completely from your face and eye area. I personally found that using tissues to remove this product was way too irritating for my skin and didn't remove the product as effectively. The coconut version smells delicious, is very soothing and softening and not at all greasy and thick as the Pond's Cold Cream you find at the drugstore. I had a hard time removing both versions of Pond's cold cream and find that the SCA meltdowns are much easier to remove and leave no greasy afterfeel. I have never had an allergic reaction such as redness, irritation, itching or burning with this product when used in the fashion described. After using this product to remove my makeup, my skin is left clean, soft, soothed and hydrated and I find that I need no other cleanser. I can even use this as a morning cleanser and my face is still calm and soothed. Using the washcloth is key for me. I can apply my additional facial products such as serums and lotions with no problems. So, if you're on the fence, give it a try! As anothe reviewer noted, this is really "the bomb" - a great product!
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Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Adrien Arpel Foam Cleanser
agl112 9/3/2010 9:14:00 AM
I've known about and used Adrien Arpel products since I was in my early 20's and hadn't really tried anything again until now. I was curious about the Foam Cleanser and decided to order it from the Adrien Arpel website (the Adrien Arpel line is owned by Color Me Beautiful and not by Adrienne Arpel herself for several years now). I'm glad that I did. It is not foamy as the name suggests but dispenses from its push-top container as a creamy texture which emulsifies into a milky lotion that is fragrance free and paraben free. I found that the best way to use this cleanser was to wet my face, dispense a nickel size amount of product onto the palm of my hand, rub my wet palms together to emulsify the cleanser and then apply it all over my face. I rinse it off and finish removing it with a wet warm washcloth and my face is left clean, soothed and hydrated without a greasy afterfeel. It removed makeup efficiently and completely. I like this as a morning cleanser and actually prefer to use the Signature Club A makeup meltdown/cleansing cremes to remove my makeup as they eliminate the need for tugging or pulling to get face makeup and eye makeup off. (Adrienne Arpel owns the Signature Club A line and it's her current incarnation of skincare and makeup products geared towards older women with changing skincare needs). All in all, I recommend this cleanser for those with combination or dry skin looking for a mild, gentle cleanser that is fragrance free and paraben free.
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Crème -Signature Club A - "8 Butters Creamery Makeup & Blend-in Concealer" (from jet-tech kit)
agl112 7/12/2010 9:31:00 AM
Despite the mixed reviews about this product, I had to try it for myself and see. I have highly sensitive, combination, blemish prone skin and was concerned about how greasy this might look as applying with a sponge produced a cakey finish. Although Adrienne applies this foundation on TV with a sponge, you have to remember that her application technique is most likely preferable for TV where makeup needs to be exaggerated in order for skin to hold up under bright lights. Everyday application needs to be much lighter and can be with this foundation when applied properly. As another reviewer noted, a little goes a very long with this cream foundation and the compact lasts a very long time. So, it's a good value for the money. You can achieve as much coverage as you want with this foundation but the trick is the application method. The best application method that I have tried is applying it with a stipple brush. I used a Lancome No. 3 stipple brush and and swirled it lightly over the foundation and then swirled it onto my skin doing portions of my face at a time to blend the foundation into my skin. I got a smooth, flawless look with only a minimal amount of foundation on my skin, my pores were practically invisible and any redness was successfully camouflaged. I lightly dusted some of the Jet Tech powder on with my Smashbox dome powder brush and I was done. Lasted all day with minimal touchups and didn't look greasy at all. I got a polished, professional look with minimal effort and no allergic reactions whatsoever. Now, I made sure that my skin was adequately moisturized and smooth first before applying this foundation. Otherwise, like any other foundation, it would be difficult to apply evenly. I used Signature Club A 5 Essentials Creme +1 For Face And Eyes With Quosomes and a makeup primer: either Ready to Wear Underwear Makeup base or YBF Cosmetics primer. The primer makes all the difference because it literally hides your pores and prepares your skin's surface for foundation to adhere properly. It made a huge difference in the appearance of this foundation, too. I allowed both the Creme and the primer to sink into my skin for a couple of minutes before application of foundation. With this application method, I highly recommend this foundation. To remove this foundation, I used a Signature Club A makeup meltdown creme for face and eyes and spread a little all over my face and removed the makeup with a wet lukewarm washcloth. No allergic reactions from the makeup meltdown cleansing creme either. EDIT (11/12/11): I have found an even better way to apply this foundation: with the BeautyBlender sponge. (www.beautyblender.net) This little gem, while expensive for a sponge, allows for a polished, airbrushed finish and you use little product to achieve this effect. (Not that you need to worry as SCA compacts are oversized and the product can last easily a year or more). It is used by stippling the damp sponge all over your face and you can even apply all of the SCA concealers very effectively. I was even able to stipple on the SCA Jet Tech pressed powder (Jet Tech Aloe Puffed Powder) to set everything with this very same sponge and the results were stunning. I like this method even more than the Stipple Brush that I mentioned above - it's quicker and even more fool-proof. I've thrown out all of my triangle shaped sponges and now use this one. Give the BeautyBlender a try if you haven't been able to get this foundation (or any other foundation, for that matter) to work for you.
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Treatments -Signature Club A - Flower In-Tense Dual Lift
agl112 6/12/2010 8:16:00 PM
I love this serum and how incredibly smooth it makes my skin feel. I wear it over the SCA 5 Essentials Creme 5+1 for Face and Eyes and my skin is as smooth and clear as it has ever been. I have had no allergic reactions, itching, burning or red bumps from use and I have extremely sensitive skin. Will continue to use! EDIT: The perfume in this product eventually irritated my skin over time. I had to stop using. :(
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Cleansers -Signature Club A - Precious Moroccan Argan Oil Cleansing makeup remover pads
agl112 6/6/2010 3:40:00 PM
I've used these makeup remover wipes for a few months now and they do the job of removing all of your face and eye makeup including mascara without tugging or pulling on delicate skin. I find that I have to use more than one to get all of my makeup off, though. After use, I either wash with a cleanser to get the remaining traces off or use a warm washcloth to remove it completely. Either way, my skin is soft, hydrated and clean with no breakouts or red bumps.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Signature Club A - Double Rich Shea Butter Meltdown For Face & Eyes
agl112 6/1/2010 9:22:00 AM
I was hesitant to even try this type of product, thinking that it would be messy like Pond's Cold Cream as a makeup remover. It's actually a lot lighter than I thought. SCA carries this makeup remover in several different scents and this one my skin can tolerate, probably because the fragrance component is last on the ingredient list. The scent of the shea butter version of this product is light and doesn't overwhelm as you're using it. I have found that the best way to apply this product is to dab it on your face and eye area, spread it lightly on your face, wait 10 seconds and then remove it with a warm, wet washcloth. In this manner, I've experienced no irritation. When I tried using it and then removing it with cotton pads, the rubbing from the cotton pads irritated my skin. The warm, wet washcloth method is kinder to my skin and leaves it cleaner and softer than with the cotton pad removal method. I've tried this even in the morning and it works, leaving my skin soft and soothed and ready for a moisturizer or other facial products. I tried the other scented versions and my skin couldn't tolerate the citrus scented versions such as tangerine and lemon and the coconut version either. I noticed that these versions have fragrance listed much higher on the ingredient list. The shea butter version seems to be milder and my skin can tolerate it. Glad I tried it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Signature Club A - Signature Club A Microsphere With Caviar Night Firming Creme
agl112 6/1/2010 9:02:00 AM
This is one of Signature Club A's few fragrance free moisturizers and surprisingly good. I had been hesitant to try this creme as many others that are offered for fear of an allergic reaction. But, I found the ingredients intriguing and figured why not give it a shot. I've applied this at night over the 5 Essentials + 1 For Face And Eyes With QuSomes and the combination leaves my skin soft, smooth, even and hydrated with no trace of oiliness or dryness. This particular creme is very refreshing and goes on smoothly and a little goes a long way. I've experienced no allergic reactions of any kind with this, no breakouts, rashes or red bumps at all. I'm thrilled with the results and will keep on using this creme.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No