Cleansers -Philosophy - the microdelivery exfoliating wash
annetick 1/26/2011 12:46:00 PM
My skin is acne-prone, so it is important that I exfoliate regularly. However, a good exfoliater that is not too irritating or drying is hard to find. My face is also little on the dry and sensitive side, and this is one of the few exfoliating cleansers I can use on a daily basis. The exfoliation is thorough, but not harsh or irritating. I have to follow up with a moisturizer, but with my dry skin, I have to use a moisturizer on top of any cleanser I use. I use an antibacterial soap and SA toner in the morning, followed by Microdelivery and Ziana (retinol) at night, and it seems to have helped me manage my acne quite well. No cleanser is going to be perfect or work for everyone, but this is about as close as I've gotten.
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Eye Shadow -E.L.F. - The Beauty Encyclopedia - Eye Edition
annetick 1/20/2011 9:39:00 AM
This was probably worth the $5 I paid for it, but not much more. I got the version that came with powder shadows, two cream shadows, an eyeliner pencil, and a brush. The powder shadows were ok, but inconsistent. Some of the colors were smooth and highly pigmented while others were not. They also break easily and have tons of fall out, which inevitably gets into the cream eyeshadow. Speaking of which, I tried the cream shadow, and while it looked cool at first, it melted off after about 30 minutes. Same with the eye pencil. It went on nice and smooth, but was gone just as quickly. It might have been worth $5 to pick up a couple of the powder shadows, but I would not repurchase.
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Eyeliner -Smashbox - limitless eyeliner
annetick 1/20/2011 9:34:00 AM
I got the 4-pack of mini pencils for $16 from Sephora. Goes on smooth and stays put. I haven't had any problems with transfering or flaking. I've used other products where the pencil has pretty much melted off before I left the house, not this one. Good product and a relative bargain for $16.
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Conditioner -Redken - All Soft Conditioner
annetick 12/7/2010 1:04:00 PM
Love love love this stuff. It is my new HG conditioner. I used to use Kerastase Lait Vital, but I definitely have a new favorite. I have thick, wavy, medium-length hair and this leaves me soft, smooth, and shiny. Really soft, smooth, and shiny. Usually, my hair doesn't look all that great until the day after I have washed it, but with All Soft, I've found I can wash, dry, and go while still looking great. I will repurchase.
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Length Water Resistant
annetick 11/4/2010 10:24:00 AM
At first I hated this stuff, but I grew to like it once I figured out how to use it right. As a disclaimer, this mascara is not going to give you volume and drama. This mascara will give you nicely defined and separated lashes with a bit of added length. I like using this for daytime wear as it gives me nice, natural looking fringe that is appropriate for my conservative workplace. I curl my lashes, apply Clinique lash primer, then about 3-4 coats of mascara. Yes 3-4 coats is about what it takes to get a little bit of volume and good definition. I've found that it does a good job of not flaking and staying put throughout the day as well. I'm really on the fence as to whether or not I would buy this again. It really is good for daytime wear and I like that it doesn't smudge or transfer to my cheeks/eyelids. However, there are so many formulas out there and it's always fun to try something new.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Yves Saint Laurent - Touche Eclat (Radiant Touch)
annetick 11/4/2010 10:17:00 AM
I love this stuff! As previous posters have pointed out, this is a highlighter, not a concealer. If you mistake it for a concealer, you will probably be disappointed. I usually put a few swipes on my brow bone, under my eyes and around my mouth and it really brightens up my face. Again, it's not a concealer or a foundation, but it can substitute for one in a pinch--on those lazy days when you don't feel like putting on a full face of makeup. I only wish it didn't cost $40!
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Eyeliner -Milani - Minerals Eye Pencil 02 Brown
annetick 11/4/2010 10:14:00 AM
I had a bit of a different experience than the previous reviewer. I grabbed this on a whim at CVS because I needed a brown eyeliner pencil stat. At first, I was impressed by how smoothly this liner went on. However, I found that it smudged too easily and it melted off pretty quickly. I only paid a few bucks for it at the CVS sale, so I wasn't too upset. I would pass on purchasing this again, however.
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Hair -Kerastase - Lait Vital
annetick 10/27/2010 8:58:00 AM
Great stuff. Lightweight yet moisturizing. I use this with Bain de Force and get great results--soft and shiny. My only complaint is that it is stupid expensive, so I'm not sure if I would repurchase. However, if you've got money to burn, I would give it a try.
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Sunscreen -Eucerin - Daily Protection Moisturizing Face Lotion - Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen - 4.0 FL. OZ. 118mL
annetick 10/25/2010 9:18:00 AM
I use this as a daily moisturizer/sunscreen and it's great for my sensitive, acne-prone skin. It's lightweight and has a broad spectrum SPF 30, which makes it perfect for daytime use. You do have to rub it in fairly well or let it soak in for awhile in order to avoid a white film on your face. No breakouts, no irritation. For the price and the quality, this is a great value.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Rimmel - Vinyl Lip - Eastend Snob
annetick 10/22/2010 9:58:00 AM
I got this on clearance at CVS so it only cost me a few dollars. It's a nice neutral color that looks good by itself or over lipstick. It looks great right after I put it on, but rubs off after about five seconds, hence the two rating.
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Lip Gloss -Pixi - Lip Booster
annetick 10/20/2010 3:21:00 PM
I thought these were just okay. The colors are pretty and they go on smooth without being too sticky. I was kind of underwhelmed by the staying power, however. I found they came off pretty easily while eating or drinking. I guess not gloss is perfect though. I probably wouldn't buy it again because there are so many gloss brands and formulas out there to try. This was better than average, but for $18, I don't think it's worth it.
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Eye Primer -Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Original (UDPP)
annetick 10/15/2010 2:20:00 PM
Good stuff. My eye makeup goes on smooth, doesn't crease, and stays put. Really stays put. If you are going to use this, make sure you invest in a heavy-duty eye makeup remover. I hate how you can't get the last bit out without dissecting the entire package. This stuff is expensive enough-I want to make sure I can use it all! I've heard a rumor that it comes in squeeze tubes, but only in the 25 ml "professional" size. Hmm, if only they made the smaller size in a squeeze tube, this would be even more perfect!
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Lipstick -Revlon - Colorstay Mineral Lipglaze
annetick 10/15/2010 9:31:00 AM
I bought this in "Eternal Blossom". I like the color, it's a nice, sheer pink that is good for everyday wear. They staying power isn't bad as long as you don't eat or drink anything. Not too gritty or sticky either. There are better glosses out there, but this is a pretty good drugstore product for the price.
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Lip Gloss -LORAC - lip polish
annetick 10/15/2010 8:56:00 AM
I love these things! It's really hard to find a gloss that does it all-looks good, feels good, decent staying power-but Lorac lip polishes are the closest I've managed to come. The price is steep, but if you go to the LORAC website right now, they are only $3 in the VIP section, what a steal! I've also seen them pop up on sample sale sites like Haute Look.
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Eyes -Pixi - EYE BRIGHT KIT
annetick 10/13/2010 10:00:00 AM
I bought this kit because I liked that it had concealers and highlighters on the same pallete. It's a nice idea, but I was pretty underwhelmed by the product performance. The concealers were too sheer for me and they tended to settle in the creases of my eyes. Also, the tiny pie wedges were too small for me to get my finger into. Maybe I just have fat fingers? I guess I could use a brush, but I like to use my ring finger for under-eye applications. I did like the highlighter though. It did a nice job of brightening my brow bone. For $24 though, I don't think it's worth it.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No