Moisturizers -Clinique - Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel
amlheureux 5/13/2013 2:35:00 AM
This is a nice, no frills moisturizer. I have very dry skin and have used this on its own and also in conjunction with other moisturizers and it has never failed me. You may be wondering why I would use a moisturizer if I need to use something else too, but I find that I need something lighter and easily absorbed for under makeup or to mix with some of my fuller coverage foundations. This works great for both of these purposes, and, as I said above, on its own too. The 4.2 oz bottle lasts about 8 months for me with 1-2 uses daily. I use about 3-4 pumps each time. I think this is a decent value. I've used this product for years and while I do have other moisturizers that really help combat my dry skin, I consider this a staple that has been essential to me time and time again.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Revlon - ColorStay Makeup
amlheureux 5/12/2013 2:02:00 AM
This review is for the normal/dry formula. I use Colorstay a little differently than most. I find it to be too heavy for what my skin really needs (minor acne scarring and some surface redness in my cheeks) so I mix it with moisturizer (lately I've been using Timewise by Mary Kay but you can use anything) and then stipple it on with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. This gives me perfect coverage and, best of all, it doesn't cling to dry patches on my face. I wear this through sweaty double shifts and it doesn't budge. I take it off with micellar water and some sort of oil on a cotton pad at the end of the night just to thoroughly remove it. I highly recommend removing it with an oil based remover just to really break it down. They aren't kidding when they say this stuff lasts and lasts. I, like everyone else, wish it had a pump because I always dump too much out, but otherwise, I think this product is pretty top notch. It is a great value especially on sale or at Target where you can get it for as little as 10 dollars. I've tried lots of foundations and this one really has been the most consistently impressive.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Clinique - Airbrush Concealer
amlheureux 5/11/2013 1:23:00 AM
This product is a lifesaver. I use the lightest shade (fair) which is very, very pink toned. It does a beautiful job correcting the darkest areas under my eyes. I actually like that it doesn't have a lot of coverage and acts as more of a thin corrector than a concealer because my undereye area is dry and slightly textured. Anything heavy tends to get cakey and looks super awful and obvious. This also illuminates but it's not glittery... it just looks like you have nice, healthy skin. As far as value goes, it is expensive considering the amount of product you get, but I have found that it lasts about 3 months with daily use. This product won't work for everyone but it suits my purposes perfectly and I use it every day!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Candles -Bath and Body Works - French Baguette
amlheureux 12/19/2012 1:39:00 AM
I bought this online without smelling it in person, intrigued by the idea of a candle that smelled like a baguette... I'm used to bakery smells being SO sweet and often times artificial so I didn't expect the world from this but it is MAGNIFICENT. Smells just like a hot, fresh baguette. I already have re-purchased this because I don't want to be without such a lovely scent in my house.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -MAC - Kohl Power - Mystery 
amlheureux 11/14/2012 2:53:00 AM
This kohl pencil is currently being re-promoted with the Holiday Glamour Daze collection. It's supposed to be a blackish teal but I get almost no color payoff... I did a quick swatch on the back of my hand and it was so dry and faint. I couldn't even imagine trying to get a visible line on my eyelid... I'd end up tugging so much. I literally never return things but I had to send this back because it would be the biggest waste of money. This was well reviewed in old reviews on this site so maybe the formula is different? I just can't even begin to understand how anyone could use this.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Bourjois - Healthy Mix Foundation
amlheureux 11/9/2012 1:59:00 AM
Let me start off by saying that this foundation isn't going to work for everybody. If you're the type of person that looks for full coverage in your foundation, you may as well save your money because this isn't going to do that, nor do I find it particularly buildable. When I shop for foundation, I look for a nice base to even out my complexion. I have dry skin so something that doesn't emphasize dry patches or look cakey is a must. This foundation completely suits my purpose. I get effortless application with fingers and a synthetic foundation brush. It also does a good job covering surface redness. Adding another layer did not work well for me, and the lovely finish was replaced by a mask-y appearance, so I just do one layer and use concealer on anything else that this doesn't cover. This does have a very strong, fruity scent but I don't mind it-- if you are sensitive to smells, you'll probably hate this though. I purchased this for less than $15 and it is definitely worth every penny I paid for it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -MAC - Mineralize Blush - Warm Soul
amlheureux 10/25/2012 8:40:00 PM
This review comes from someone who is ghostly pale... At MOST, an NC15... I absolutely LOVE this blush. I always assumed it was much too dark and would probably look like mud on my face but I can honestly say that, when applied with a light hand, this is absolutely beautiful. I work right next to a Macy's and like to visit a lovely MAC SA on my breaks... He used this very lightly on my face and it just imparts this beautiful, warm glow onto the cheeks. It is definitely shimmery so I would take that into account if you have large pores on your face, but the color is to die for. I honestly think anyone could wear it-- you could just apply more if your skin is darker than I did. For some people, the price will be off putting but I think it's worth the cost seeing as how this will last FOREVER.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Maybelline - Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Shadow in Tough as Taupe
amlheureux 10/7/2012 12:34:00 AM
I am CRAZY about this product. I, more and more, find myself reaching for this on a daily basis. I'm very pale (like NC15ish) and this is a great color on me... It's a grayish purple taupe rather than a beige. It looks great by itself or as a base for another color and has excellent staying power. I work 7-10 hours every day and this lasts through it all without touch-ups. I can use fingers in a pinch although I get the most flawless finish with a flat shader brush. I also love what a great value this product is-- you get a large amount of product in a little glass pot and it just feels expensive. Although I have had good luck across the board with the Color Tattoos, this is my favorite one and I would recommend it to anyone.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -TheBalm - BalmShelter Tinted Moisturizer
amlheureux 8/26/2012 7:07:00 PM
Another great product from TheBalm. I have very dry skin and this applies like a dream. It's very smooth and doesn't emphasize any dry patches on my face. The coverage is exactly what I would expect from a tinted moisturizer; light enough to cover up some redness and provide a fantastic base for concealer for more severe blemishes and acne scarring. I think it has a noticeable scent at first, sort of like sunscreen (it has SPF 18) but not so... chemically. This disappears after it's on though, thankfully. It is a water based product and is not remotely greasy, but it does seem more prone to melting on very humid days, but I have worn it quite a bit in the summer and just set it with either TheBalm Sexy Mama or MAC MSFN. This gives it some staying power, but it doesn't lose the nice dewy look it leaves on the skin. There are very limited shades but the light works well on me: I'm about an NW15 in the summer, so I am very fair. I definitely recommend this product and think it's worth the full price, although it's an even better value if you can snag it from TJMaxx or Hautelook!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -NYX - HD Photogenic Concealer Wand
amlheureux 8/19/2012 1:55:00 AM
This concealer is AWESOME! I never get that oh so attractive cakey undereye look when I use this (and I have dry skin) and it also does well on redness and slight discoloration on the skin. I'm a huge fan of the similar MAC Moisturecover but it melts off me in the summer so this has been a miracle... and it's so affordable too! Another huge plus is the shades-- I am very pale and almost always use the lightest shades of foundations and concealer (NW15 at most). I use 'light' in this product-- there are actually 2 shades that are even lighter than that one, which is UNHEARD OF for a brand at this price point! So, if you are super pale and can't find a good concealer, definitely check this out!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Illamasqua - Katie
amlheureux 5/27/2012 12:37:00 AM
Looooooove this blush. I've heard so many great things about Illamasqua blushes and decided to give Katie a try, seeing as how I'm a) mega pale and b) a HUGE fan of matte blushes. This definitely didn't disappoint! It's a little powdery, but it feels like a dream when applied. This does seem like a color that is better suited for lighter skin-tones, as it may look ashy on darker skin, but for me, it's a lovely soft pink color. One negative is the packaging... it's bulky and made of a cheap-feeling plastic, however, that wouldn't deter me from buying from Illamasqua again. This is worth the hype :)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Revlon - ColorBurst Lip Butter in Cupcake
amlheureux 5/27/2012 12:28:00 AM
I love that this is a subtle, glossy wash of blue based pink. There are lots of colors in this family but this one just imparts a nice, semi-moisturizing sheen that makes it very wearable. I have very fair, cool-toned skin and it flatters my complexion. My lips tend to be dry and flaky so I wear a balm under just about every lip product I own, so that does affect the staying power but it's a breeze to re-apply; very low maintenance lip product overall. I don't know if I'll ever NEED to re-purchase this, as I don't reach for this on a daily basis, but I like the Lip Butter formula enough to do so should I need to!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Revlon - Colorstay - Blue Slate
amlheureux 4/19/2012 9:08:00 PM
This is, just like the name says, a lovely slate blue color. I achieved full opacity and a nice, shiny finish with just one coat, which is a very pleasant surprise. Application was a bit tricky though... This is a thick formula and the short, squat brush doesn't make it easy for an even coat to effortlessly glide over nails. I had much more clean-up to deal with than usual. I said I would not re-purchase this because I am always on the look-out for new polishes to try and this is not especially unique, but it was a worthy purchase. ETA: This started chipping not even a full 24 hours after I applied it. Part of this is my fault because I didn't apply a top coat but this is still terrible wear time.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -New York Color - Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny 720
amlheureux 4/13/2012 1:38:00 AM
This product has achieved some sort of holy grail status in the beauty community and I don't really understand why. The color doesn't work on me, first and foremost, but it's not just the usual problem of too dark (I have very fair skin). I would imagine that if you have any sort of pink undertones in your skin, this would look orange on you. I do appreciate that it's matte and also an affordable option should the color work on you, but this is not something I have any use for.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -TheBalm - Cheater
amlheureux 3/30/2012 10:38:00 PM
I have been looking and looking for a mascara that isn't tested on animals that lives up to Lashblast... I've tried EVERYTHING and nothing has worked for me... UNTIL NOW! This isn't a gimmicky product... the brush just looks pretty basic, but the overall effect is long, full, separated lashes. No clumping, no gross stiff feeling... just perfect, super dark lashes. I am completely blown away and will never go back. I've seen this in a set at Marshall's for only 10 bucks but it is worth the full retail value.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No