Self Tanners -Jergens - Jergens Natural Glow Firming
alalia86 8/20/2010 7:49:00 AM
This was a life saver over the summer. I quit tanning for health reasons and have pasty pale legs. I also am horrible with self tanners, even the easy to blend ones. This stuff is cheap and easy to find. It doesn't deliver that much color, it just knocks the glare off my pale white skin. I got this in the light/medium, perhaps I will try the medium/dark a little later in the year. It's only buildable to an extent. I used religiously, sometimes twice a day. I am still the lightest person I know. So if you are looking for a tan, this product isn't it. I experienced no self tanner smell at all. It smells pretty good, actually. I only noticed the gold sparkles a little bit. Usually I despise this, but they aren't too visible and the overall effect is good enough to ignore the glitter. As for cellulite reduction? I don't know for sure, but I doubt you can get great effects from a $7 walmart lotion. My cellulite is visibly reduced, but I started going to the gym at the same time I began this product so I don't know if I can give any credit to the lotion. The firming lotion made my skin feel better than the revitalizing lotion, leaving it feeling less greasy but more hydrated. It is pretty goof proof! No streaking around knees and elbows. I just did the tops of my feet after using what was left on my hands after doing legs, and I had no issues. With any other self tanner, I always end up having to wear tennis shoes until it wears off. It WILL stain palms, but you can just wipe your hands with a baby wipe (remember to get between your fingers!) and that won't happen anymore. In conclusion, I will repurchase every summer. However, additional tanning will need to be done. I hate being pale, and this product isn't dark enough. I recently got a tan on vacation though, and Jergens look absolutely smashing over tan skin! So, since its the best I've found for pale skin and a great compliment to tan skin, it will be a summer staple.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Top/Base Coats -Rimmel - Lasting Finish Pro Nail Enamel Base & Top Coat
alalia86 8/18/2010 2:27:00 PM
LOVE it. Using this as a top coat makes my nails look like I just stepped out of a salon. I deducted a lippie because this product is worthless as a base coat and makes the polish peel off within hours. I will repurchase, this has replaced OPI as my HG top coat.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Orgasm Blush
alalia86 8/17/2010 8:42:00 PM
I don't get the hype. The gold shimmer is cheesy, and the shade is unattractive with hints of orange. It's definitely not worth $26. Maybe I'm crazy but I'd rather have plain old covergirl cheekers.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Bare Escentuals - Bare Minerals ALL
alalia86 1/20/2010 3:58:00 PM
So this is full coverage, to my surprise, if you take the time to layer it over and over. And don't try to speed the process along by getting more on the brush because it will almost instantly look cakey. It gets one lippie for actually being able to cover. However, before I even leave the house a half hour after I put this on, it looks like hell. It settles into fine lines, looses its concealing power, seems to change color, and makes my face feel greasy. This is especially frustrating because it takes so long to apply, and makes such a freaking mess. And it's not like I can take it with me to do touchups, because it's too messy to apply in public bathrooms or in the car.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Estee Lauder - Perfectionist Correcting Serum
alalia86 1/6/2010 9:17:00 AM
I used this in combination with the EL moisturizer and the EL night correcting serum (the saleslady caught me on a weak day!) and I have to say that this product is useless. I noticed no changes in tone or radiance, in fact, I have even noticed some new fine lines since beginning this treatment. It does make my face feel really smooth, but that is not enough to repurchase. The packaging is frustrating, because for the past couple of weeks i have to unscrew the pump and fish around for product, because there is still a substantial amount in the bottom that won't pump.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Estee Lauder - Spotlight
alalia86 1/6/2010 9:09:00 AM
This doesn't have any glittery specks like a lot of highlighter. It gives a subtle shine, but the problem is that it is too subtle. I can't really tell a big difference after i put it on over my foundation, and I can't tell a difference at all if i put it on under my foundation. If I wear it over foundation, it kinda leaves a pinkish hue that clashes with my skin tone. I do not think it is worth the price, and i will not repurchase.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Bath and Body Works - Moonlight Path Body Splash
alalia86 7/10/2006 2:14:00 PM
No staying power whatsoever. I like the smell and all, but haven't the vaguest hint of it left on me no matter how much I spray on myself. Therefore, I find it useless and will never repurchase.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Self Tanners -Lancome - Glow N Wear
alalia86 7/10/2006 12:19:00 PM
I am shocked at how many say that there is no smell, or that the smell isn't so bad. Guess my body chemistry is just odd, because this stuff reeks...like nothing I have smelled before! I can't get over the disgusting smell! Okay, so it goes away a shower or two later, and the tan is still there, so I would tolerate smelling like a dirty ass if I could get this stuff to go on smoothly. However, no matter what I do, I always end up with streaks and white patches. So, since I spent $30 on this bottle ($1 less than required to get a free gift with purchase, and no, the sales lady wouldn't just go ahead and give it to me, she wanted me to buy a whole 'nother item) here's what I have to do to make it work: Shower, exfoliate, moisturize. Put on latex gloves and apply as meticulously, evenly, and quickly as possible. Use moist makeup applicator pad to apply to back of hands. Ignore husband's complaints about how horrid I smell. Shower, just so I can get some sleep (the smell keeps me awake). Wake up to a beautiful tan. Step outside, see that tan is actually patchy and fake looking. Use hydrogen peroxide to get super dark patches off, then use a solution of 50%/50% lotion/lancome and reapply to even out white areas and get everything looking naturally even. Avoid human contact until I'm confident I can shower this smell away. Hope nobody notices the fact that my ankles/feet and other parts of my body are still discolored. Okay, so it doesn't turn me orange. But there's gotta be a cheaper, easier way!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Nivea - Nivea Body Firming Treatment Cream with Q10 plus
alalia86 7/7/2006 7:19:00 PM
This stuff is icky! I've been using it for a couple of months just to see if it is indeed firming, and it is not. On top of that, it's greasy! I put this on in the morning after my shower and in the late afternoon, I can still feel is sitting on top of my skin in all its slipperiness. Gross. I don't think it smells bad, but my husband hates the smell for some reason. Will not repurchase.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Palmers - Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks
alalia86 7/7/2006 7:12:00 PM
I used this through the first half of my pregnancy, and absolutely loved it. I wish it was sold in a bigger size, because I was going through a tube a week (I didn't use it just on stretch-mark prone areas, I graced my entire body with it) and eventually just went with something I didn't like as much but was sold in a bigger bottle. I never did get any stretch marks, but I don't know if it's because of the lotion or just good genes. I must say, the cream is divine. Maybe I should have stock-piled and bought 4 or 5 bottles at a time, but that's just not how I work. Anyways, love the lotion, it gets 5 stars....not greasy, my husband liked the smell (I didn't notice much of a fragrance, really), very moisturizing, and cheap.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Cyber
alalia86 7/7/2006 6:53:00 PM
Years ago, I found a lipstick at the dollar store that's the most perfect, purpleish-redish-brown color. As you can imagine, the quality sucks so I'm trying to replace the color. I thought cyber was it...but I was wrong. The color goes on just as dark as it appears on the tube, which usually isn't the case. So Cyber is a dark, dark purple that almost looks black. Where am going to wear this? The only way I can get it to look "appropriate" is to apply it so so very lightly, which is difficult to produce an even color. So, if you're looking for an almost black color, Cyber is for you. But don't be silly like me and expect it to look lighter once you put it on.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Olay - Foaming Face Wash
alalia86 7/7/2006 6:41:00 PM
So far, this is my favorite cleanser. It doesn't make my face feel dried out or make me all red like a lot of harsher cleansers, yet it removes all my eye makeup with minimal effort...completely removes it, not just smears it all over my face. Not an HG, but damn close. The only reason I don't consider it an HG is because even after washing my face, when I use toner I'll still see traces of my foundation. Maybe this is my own fault for not washing thouroughly enough. Still, it's cheap, not harsh, and even though I experiment with other face washes I love this one the most. An added bonus is my picky husband likes it too, so us sharing the bottle cuts down on the clutter in our shower!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Smashbox - Photo Finish Primer
alalia86 4/18/2006 1:23:00 PM
This is my first primer. I bought it because I wanted something to fill in my lines and keep my makeup from seeping into them, getting cakey and making me look downright awful come late afternoon. Well, this stuff makes my foundation glide on smoothly and last all day, and I think it enhances the coverage a bit. It does not, however, fill in the fine lines beneath my eyes or make them less visible. So, I will continue searching for a primer that does. Love the packaging, convienient sanitary squeeze tube (got the sample size). The results of this product are too minimal for me to repurchase.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Lancome - Renergie Lift Makeup SPF 20
alalia86 3/29/2006 12:51:00 PM
The shade lifting porcelaine 30 is nice for my pale, warm toned skin and blends beautifully. It may be a little dark for some super pale girls. It doesn't accentuate my fine lines or dry spots, in fact, I'm very excited because I can wear powder now! It is a little shiny, and the staying power is nowhere as good as my EL double wear, but that's just the price I have to pay to not have it caked in my fine lines and look disgusting by the end of the day. I don't know about it lifting anything. All I know is I looked like hell this morning when I got up and after applying this, I look rather stunning, if I do say so myself! The coverage rocks! Yet, it isn't as mask-like as some foundations. I always thought coverage = mask, but I guess not! Will defitely repurchase in the winter, it may be a bit too moisturizing for the summer heat. Oh, and unlike the majority of reviewers, I hate the pump. I can't control how much I get out and I end up getting makeup all over the bottle, so I have to wash it off afterwards. But, that's just me, I know a lot of girls like it, especially because it's sanitary. UPDATE: Can't bring myself to get up early to apply a makeup that's just going to slide off my face in 3 hours. Will not finish or repurchase.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -Lancome - Absolue Foundation
alalia86 3/27/2006 12:56:00 PM
Did I expect too much from this foundation? Since it was deemed full coverage I assumed it would hide my freckles and my redness around my nose. My medium cover EL double wear does a better job of covering the redness and toning down the freckles, for a lot cheaper. What's with the stupid heavy jar? Why would anyone think it was necessary to package a makeup in glass that heavy and bulky? I am glad it comes with the scooper spoon, even though I'm going to lose it. I guess I need to break down and buy a foundation brush. I did love the fact that the absolue is moisturizing and doesnt' seem to settle into my fine lines, or accentuate flakes nearly as badly as other foundations have. For this reason, I will probably continue to use it in spite of the lack of coverage and the fact that it's a little pink for my preference. I wish they would offer a shade with yellow instead of pink in the lightest colors. I will not repurchase this because hopefully my dry skin condition will end with the pregnancy and also because $55 is too much to spend on a foundation that isn't perfect. I am going to see if I can get a sample of the warmer colors and see if they are light enough (which I doubt). If my mind is changed I will update. UPDATE: Too freakin' oily! Exchanged for Regenerie, which is better and cheaper.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No