Liquid -BeneFit Cosmetics - "Hello Flawless!" Oxygen Wow
animalsrbetterthanpeople 4/22/2012 12:41:00 PM
As a devotee of powder foundation, I never thought that I would ever go back to liquid foundation, but this product is truly amazing. I got a sample (pump bottle) from Ulta and I was amazed at how beautiful my skin looks with this product. (and it is not tested on animals, another one of my pet peeves) I was also delighted that it has SPF25. I must start by saying that I have taken very good care of my skin, so I don't have a multitude of sins to hide. However, most liquid foundations make my already oily skin an oil slick in a very short time, particularly in a very humid climate. Not so with this. It imparts an ethereal, almost "glowy" finish to my skin and evens out my skintone perfectly without looking masky in any way. I still use a bit of powder in my T zone, but other than that, for me, at least, this is the perfect foundation to impart a dewy, not greasy look , which in my mind, equates to a more youthful look. (and it is oil free as well) I use the Ivory color, which Ulta, sadly, does not carry, so when I run out of the Ivory samples, I'll have to order it. But that's a small price to pay for such a lovely, good for you, product. I hope they never stop making this as this is the ONLY liquid foundation that I have ever used that I truly think improves the look of my skin. Plus, I really like the fact that it comes in a pump bottle, which eliminates the lack of sanitation of "regular" liquid foundation. Thanks, Benefit. UPDATE: This foundation looked fine until the heat and humidity rose. If I lived in a cold climate or in an arid climate, it would be ideal. I will use up the samples that I have as concealer as my face looked like an oil slick by a few hours into the day. Wish I did live in a climate that was conducive to using this, as it really does look nice on the skin, providing you don't live in a hot and humid climate.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -L'Oreal - Magic Souffle Blush
animalsrbetterthanpeople 4/7/2012 11:51:00 PM
I have very fair skin, and a lot of blushes can look very garish on me. I have been using Tarte "Dollface" powder blush, but just recently had coupons and bought the the L'Oreal souffle blush in Celestial Dawn. I liked it so much that I went back for the coral shade. The texture of these blushes , in my opinion, is superior to most "cream" blushes because it does not have that sticky, tacky feel to it. It is very light and airy, as you would suspect by the name. While I do not like to have to stick my fingers in product, I must say that this blush looks very natural and the color payoff is just enough to give me some natural looking color without looking overdone or sickly. This blush blends seamlessly and it takes very little product to achieve a very natural and pretty look. With the little amount that I need to use, I can imagine that these will last me a long time. I'm very happy that I gave these a try.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Maybelline - Dream Lumi Touch
animalsrbetterthanpeople 3/11/2012 7:44:00 PM
I have to agree about this concealer. So many concealers are way too yellow based for us fair complected gals. I have very dark circles that are almost impossible to conceal. This does a better job than most that I have tried. (and for far less money). I also use the nude (chair means "flesh", in French, I think) color and it matches very well. Has just enough peach in it to cover my circles better. Nothing will cover them completely,but this is a winner. I was using Cargo High Definition, but it is too yellow, and the color selection is very poor. (only two shades). Give this a try...I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. The only reason that I took off one lippy is because the only concealer that I have found that does not emphasize fine undereye lines is the Cargo, but as I said, it costs an arm and a leg and is too yellow for me, compared to this one.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -Garnier - Nutrisse Nourishing Color Foam
animalsrbetterthanpeople 3/6/2012 9:43:00 PM
I usually use L'Oreal Excellence and decided to give Nutrisse Nourishing Color Foam a try, and boy, am I glad that I did. I have very resistant grays at my temple and elswhere, and this is the FIRST color that I have ever used that completely covers them. The ease of application is superior with the foam. It is much easier to get even coverage at the roots with the foam than with a gel colorant The foam is thick and luxurious, not runny at all. The directions tell you specifically to gently rotate the product, but NOT to shake it. . Not only was the coverage better, but the vibrancy of the color is superior , too. I will see how it wears since I just colored my hair last week, but I have already bought another box if that tells you anything. I have medium brown hair which is short (think Lisa Rinna's length) and about thirty percent or so gray. I used the light brown , shade number 6, rather than the golden brown, as I wanted less red. There is still a slight red tint when I am in the sun, but it is a warm and vibrant color which looks much healthier and feels much less dry than when I used the L"Oreal Excellence, which I have used for years. I hope that this will sell well so that it will not be discontinued. FAR superior, IMHO, to the Garnier Nutrisse which I used to use many years ago, but which I found dried out my hair. I am very pleased with this color and will continue to buy it. Better gray coverage, ease of application, vibrant color, healthier looking hair...what's not to like.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Revlon - REVLON COLORSTAY CRÈME GEL EYE LINER (all colors)
animalsrbetterthanpeople 3/6/2012 9:09:00 PM
I have to agree with the first reviewer who said that she uses her own brush (the Tarte double ended brush that comes with the Tarte gel/cream liner in the pots) . 'Although it is a good concept, the brush included did not allow me to achieve as thin a line as I like and can get with the Tarte brush. Wish they would revamp the brush and the product would be even better. Personally, I like this better than the Tarte cream eyeliner, which irritated my eyes and did not wear as well as this eyeliner. I bought both the Charcoal and Plum and ended up returning the Plum since it did bother my eyes. This wears all day and I like the fact that there is less product, as these types of liners tend to dry out and not remain as creamy when there is a larger quantity, ie. longer use. Based upon the recommendations, I will try the brown color, too. I'm very pleased with this liner and I, too, hope that Revlon will not discontinue it, as it rivals all high end brands and actually performs better than some I have tried.
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Eyeliner -Physicians Formula - Shimmer strips custom eye enhancing eyeliner trio
animalsrbetterthanpeople 9/5/2011 10:30:00 PM
I have been using Tarte, Amazonian Clay in the little pot, and while it's beautiful, it's very pricey. I took a chance on the set for hazel eyes, and was so impressed that I went back and got all of the sets. (it figures out to about four dollars per liner). These are amazingly smudgeproof, and because of the sharpener, you can achieve as thin and precise a line as you like. My eyes are very sensitive and these do not bother then at all. The only color that I do not like at all is the pink color in the hazel set, but other than that, all are keepers. These liners go on smooth as silk, without any tugging on the eyelid, and last all day. Since they are soft, (which is why they go on so smoothly), I recommend not twisting up much product, or I can see that it could break easily due to the texture of the pencil. I use a primer, but when I got them home, I striped them on my hand and had to rub VERY vigorously in order to get them to come off. They set relatively quickly, and I could not be more pleased that I took a chance on these little gems. And best of all...not tested on animals.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Cargo - Blu-ray concealer
animalsrbetterthanpeople 8/2/2010 12:42:00 PM
Well, I thought that I had found the best in Benefit's Erase Paste....UNTIL I tried this. I got my 20% off coupon from Ulta and on the day that I went into the store , luckily for me, a Cargo rep happened to be in the store. I had tried the One Base as a concealer before, and didn't like it at all. I decided to give this a try and I am SO glad that I did. While I like the color match of the "fair" in Erase Paste, the coverage can't compare to Cargo's Blu-Ray. I like the idea of not having to use a brush to apply, and one needs so little of the product in order to achieve great coverage. Best of all, it doesn't look as though your'e wearing concealer. The only thing that I DON'T like about it is the unsanitary sponge applicator, but if one is applying to clean, moisturized skin, that shouldn't be that much of an issue. It's better than sticking one's finger into a product, that's for sure. This is waterproof, and I find that it looks much more natural on me than the Erase Paste did. Plus, it lasts ALL day with NO touchups in the most humid climate (save for the Rain Forest:) on earth. It does not separate, it does not wear off if you sweat profusely, and I am incredibly happy with the natural looking coverage. I hope that Cargo never stops making this as I have been searching my entire life to find a concealer that would cover my very dark circles without enhancing the problem. The older one gets, the more important it is to find a good concealer that does not emphasize fine lines and that is a good color match. Kudos to Cargo and thanks to Joelle, the rep who enticed me to try it. I am forever grateful.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Living Proof - Full Thickening Cream
animalsrbetterthanpeople 7/2/2010 10:19:00 PM
I have very thick hair, but it is fine in texture. My hair is short and color treated. Since I have been using Living Proof Full Thickening Cream (and now the accompanying shampoo and conditioner ) , I have noticed a MARKED difference in not only the fullness of my hair, but the ease of styling and the longevity of the style. I can get away with washing my hair three times a week instead of every day or every other day. Now, my technique may not work for you, but this is how I use the products. I wash my hair with the full thickening shampoo. I follow with a TINY bit of the full thickening conditioner. I towel dry my hair and then apply about a nickel size dollup of the full thickening cream to my hair. I let my hair air dry for about ten minutes or so, then I turn my head upside down and blow dry it. ( I find if I store the bottle of full thickening cream upside down in my "traincase" of frequently used products, it dispenses more easily and I get better control with amount of product used. I find that I have to use far less finishing spray and depending upon how I've slept, my hair will either have to be rewet and restyled with the blowdyer in the morning, or just touched up with a bit of Dove extra hold hairspray. I am very satisfied with this product, and since I have short hair, I consider it to be cost effective since a bottle lasts me a long time. I have never used anything that gave my hair more body and as long as they keep making this stuff, I'll keep using it. Plus, it gives me great pleasure to support an AMERICAN company and a product that was developed by American scientists at MIT. This is one of the few "splurges" that I will regularly indulge in in my haircare and makeup arsenal.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Full 'N Soft Mascara
animalsrbetterthanpeople 7/2/2010 8:45:00 PM
With budgets being tight these days, I can't afford to buy 100 percent pure, which I like very much. Thanks to makeup alley gals for alerting me to this product. I use the waterproof version (in the silver tube). Most waterproof mascaras have a stinky chemical smell and are difficult to remove, but not this one. The best thing about this mascara is that it seems, so far, to be non damaging to my eyelashes, probably because it does not make them stiff and "crunchy", but soft and pliable, even with two coats. It doesn't give an overly "dramatic" look, but it does what the name implies....leaves your lashes FULL and SOFT, and at a great price. This is one of the best masacaras that I've ever used, and I think I'll continue buying it as long as I don't see any problems with clumping, which so far, so good on that issue. Plus, I like the thinner, more sleek tube. Some of those mascara tubes today are HUGE and take up so much space in a makeup bag. Good product, great price, and does what it says. I'm satisfied.
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Concealers -BeneFit Cosmetics - Erase Paste in Fair
animalsrbetterthanpeople 6/5/2010 2:44:00 PM
SECOND UPDATE: Found something much better, at least for me, so am knocking this down one lippie. Cargo's Blu-ray concealer is much better and more natural looking. For some, the erase paste might be superior, but for me, it will be the Cargo Blu-ray as long as they continue to make it, which I hope is FOREVER. UPDATE: Still loving this concealer. As long as you apply it with a good concealer brush (I use bare escentuals), it blends seamlessly. I still use my Too Faced "Primed and Poreless" before applying my " Erase Paste", and find it lasts much longer that way. First concealer that actuallly matches my skin tone, doesn't cake up in fine lines, and is a keeper for me. Even though it's what I would consider very expensive, it will last a long, long time as it takes so little to effectively cover my very dark circles. STILL LOVING IT, and as one who's probably tried every concealer under the sun, that's saying a lot. Great for us gals of a "certain age." . I have a horrible time with most concealers being too yellow. This is the first concealer that I have ever used that actually matches my skintone. I do not apply it with fingers or use the enclosed spatula. I use a concealer brush (from Bare Escentuals) and it takes just a TINY bit of this product to conceal my dark circles. I use it over Too Faced Primed and Poreless (that is the only place on my face that I use this primer), and it lasts all day, even in very hot and humid weather. There are two keys, in my opinion, to getting a natural looking coverage. One, use a concealer brush (and wash it every day) and two, use just the tiniest smidgen of product and blend well. I'm very happy with this and with the amount needed to do a good job of covering my undereye circles, I would imagine that this will last me a good year. Also, it doesn't settle in lines, when used with the Too Faced Primed and Poreless Primer. Good product, and FINALLY, a color match for my skin.
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Mascara -L'Oreal - Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara in Black
animalsrbetterthanpeople 5/30/2010 8:26:00 PM
EDIT; I knocked this down from 5 lippies to 2. Yes, it's great that it doesn't smudge, but I think that it was causing my lashes to thin. Also, it didn't give me any fullness at all, and my lashes looked long, but way too thin, and "spiky". Have switched from this to Maybelline's "Full and Soft" in the waterproof version. Like the look better, lashes don't seem to be damaged, and I like the smaller tube...Double Extend's tube is HUGE and chunky and takes up a lot of room in a makeup bag. Sorry, L'Oreal...good concept, but not for me. The reason that I'm giving this five lippies is that it's the ONLY mascara that truly will not smudge and you can even sleep in it without waking to the dreaded raccoon eyes. While it does not thicken my lashes, it does seems to lengthen them. I bought this quite some time ago and used it only a couple of times and then went back to my Maybelline "Volume express" and "Full and Soft". But I get sick of having to use eyemakeup remover and still having those dreaded "rings" ....my undereye circles are dark enough, thank you very much, without adding to them with smudged mascara. So, I pulled this out of my drawer and decided to give it another try and I'm glad that I did. Because waterproof mascara is so hard on the lashes, and because this mascara isn't....I give it five lippies. I also find, and this may just be me, but it seems to "curl" my lashes without my having to use the eyelash curler. The advice of others to apply the white conditioning formula and then immediately apply the mascara is spot on.If you dod that, it keeps the mascara formula from clumping and gives a very nice and defined effect. I have always wanted to wear mascara on my bottom lashes, too, and with this formula, I can do that without worrying about it smudging. I think from now on this will be the mascara that I use as I'm so tired of smudges and difficulty removing waterproof formulas. Thanks MUA gals for all of the good advice.....I always check this site before buying anything new.
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Eyeliner -Maybelline - Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner
animalsrbetterthanpeople 5/29/2010 6:18:00 PM
I have this in charcoal, brown and eggplant, and I must say that of all of the gel eyeliners that I have tried (Smashbox, L'Oreal HIP), it is by far the best. It is creamier and easier to get a precise line without skipping. I use it over Too Faced Shadow Insurance primer and even though I live in a horrendously humid climate, it holds up really well. The top lid never smudges, and occasionally, I may have a tiny bit of smudging on the lower lid, but not enough to warrant not using this product. I like the size of the pot, as with the L'Oreal, the pot was so huge that it would go rancid (you could tell by the "off" odor) long before you'd finish using the product. This pot size is more similar to the smashbox jet set gel liner, and in my opinion, it's just as good a product at a fraction of the cost. The charcoal gives a more dramatic look, and the aubergine (eggplant) is a very soft color, not as dramatic or noticeable, but still a nice color if you want a more understated look. Great product and I will continue to use it. I apply this with my Merle Norman brush that is intended for use with their gel eyeliner.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Too Faced - Aqua Bunny Cream to Powder Splash-Proof Bronzer
animalsrbetterthanpeople 5/28/2010 9:34:00 PM
I have very fair skin, and most bronzers are either too dark, too orange, look like dirt, or are too glittery on my skin. When I got my twenty percent off coupon from Ulta, I decided to try this. First of all, I love the formula. It is a cream to powder, which means that it is more moisturizing, does not look "chalky" and it's supposed to be water proof or water resistant. I live in a very hot, humid climate, and this formula is just perfect for the summer months. It lasts all day without retouching. I wear it over my Pur Mineral pressed powder foundation, and it gives my skin a dewy, but not "goopy" finish. I use it as a blush, and for me, it's the perfect "bronzy/pink" color. In the pan, it appears that it would be much darker on the skin, but it's very sheer and comes with a fan version of the famous "teddy kabuki" brush...in other words, it's not the same shape, but it is made out of the same lucious synthetic and very soft bristles that impart just the right amount of product. This formula blends perfectly, and doesn't "skip" or look streaky like many bronzers tend to do. Although it's a splurge, it's well worth it since I had my twenty percent off coupon and also, since the formula and color are perfect for my skin tone and type. I like the fact that the brush is included so I don't have to buy another brush to apply it with, and the product has a delightful smell...can 't quite put my finger (no pun intended :) on what it is, but it smells as delicious as it looks on the skin. I have a feeling that this will be my go to bronzer/blush for as long as they make it, and I hope that's forever. Since you can layer the product to achieve more color, I would imagine that girls with a medium toned complexion would get a very pretty flush of color as well. Great product, and so glad that I went out on a limb and splurged with my coupon, or I'd have never tried this. And thanks to Erin, who's a great salesperson who knows my taste and suggested this to me. Oh, and one more thing....you can use this UNDER your foundation if you wish, too. I've used it both ways and it depends upon how much color you want and what type of foundation you're wearing.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Pur Minerals - Pressed Powder Foundation
animalsrbetterthanpeople 5/26/2010 11:45:00 PM
EDIT: Well, after wearing this for two days, it didn't compare to my Merle Norman Luxiva Mineral Foundation. It's a good alternative for those who don't like the messiness of loose mineral makeup, but in all fairness, it just doesn't give the same natural look and doesn't seem to last as long. Also, since it is absolutely flat/matte in nature, it doesn't give my skin the pretty "glow" that the Merle Norman Foundation does, and it definitely give a more "made up" look. So....as the saying goes....if it ain't broke, don't fix it.....back to the Merle Norman Foundation and don't think I'll stray again. SEE ORIGINAL REVIEW BELOW:: I was using Merle Norman mineral makeup, but was sick of the 'poof" factor, i.e. the messiness of loose powder. Purchased this and found that if applied with my too faced teddy brush, it gives excellent, natural looking coverage. Haven't used it long enough to see if it will break me out or not, but so far, so good. I will bump the rating to a 5 if it doesn't break me out after using for awhile. I actually think the coverage is superior to MN, and I use the L'Oreal magic perfecting base, just on my nose and around the nose to camouflage larger pores. Color match is good (I bought the next to lightest color, as the lighter one was too yellow for my skintone) and it's much more convenient than the loose powder and far less messy . Doesn't settle in fine lines (I don't use it around my eyes, ) and doesn't seem to emphasize pores any more than any other foundation and less than most. Expensive, but will last a long time because I need so little. Overall, I am very pleased with this product. Use my BE clear radiance over it as my "blush". Just wanted to mention that the technique that I use when applying this is not the "swirl, tap and buff"....if you do that, you'll get WAY too much product and defeat the purpose and you certainly won't achieve a natural look. I take my "Too faced" retractable teddy synthetic "hair" Kabuki brush (the one in the pink metal housing) and just BARELY touch it to the powder....I work one section at a time, doing one side of my face, then the other, then the forehead nose and cheeks. If you have good skin, you will barely need any of this product to get very good and even coverage. Since I haven't yet tested it out in the heat and humidity, I will edit after I've worn it awhile to see if it stands up to hot, sticky summer weather. I did ask my hubby to look at my face and on one side, I had the "L'Oreal True Match Roller Foundation" in N1-2 and on the other side I had the Pur Minerals in Light/Clair. I asked him a very pointed question..."which side looks less made up and more natural?" He pointed to the side with the Pur Minerals. I will update/edit this review as needed. For gals who don't like goopy liquid foundation, and like mineral makeup but don't like the mess of the "loose" powder, this is pretty much the best thing out there that I have found.
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Conditioner -Wen by Chaz Dean - Lavender Cleansing Conditioner
animalsrbetterthanpeople 5/16/2010 1:38:00 AM
When (no pun intended:) I first began using this, I really liked it...reason being, it gave my short, thick, but fine textured hair more volume. But I also have color treated hair, and I have finally come to the conclusion that, at least for me, this strips my color terribly. I know that Chaz says on air and in his infomercials that this does NOT strip haircolor, but everyone's hair is different, and for me, it is definitely stripping my haircolor. As for the packaging, I like the pump, but the pump itself is not long enough and you invariably can't pump out the product at the very bottom of the bottle and one has to turn the bottle upside down and smack it on the palm of the hand in order to get the rest of the product out. Although I like the extra volume that it gives my hair, the fact that my haircolor doesn't last with this product, sadly, will mean that I will have to discontinue using it. Since I have about a year's supply, I'll use it for shaving instead. Sorry, Chaz.....it doesn't work for me. Maybe I'm in the minority. Does anyone else have this problem with this product?
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No