Misc Beauty Tools -Sonia Kashuk - Blending Sponge
applecore 5/12/2012 7:58:00 PM
I recently switched from a cream foundation (studio tech), that I applied with the sponge that comes with it when I was in a hurry, to a liquid (MUFE HD) so I was looking for new sponge. Sephora doesn't have the beautyblender in stores so I thought this would be a good alternative and liked the ergonomic shape. I found the sponge to be way too hard and stiff and it made application very difficult. It felt like it was just bouncing off my face and not really setting the foundation into my skin. When I tried to blend with it it wiped off too much foundation. I don't like having to take the time to wet it before use since I already wash sponges before bed with my brushes. It also absorbed a lot of product, seemingly more than a flat sponge. There was smell to it but that's to be expected with any latex product (off gasing) and it isn't harmful. This sponge made me decide a foundation brush is the best way to go with a highly pigmented liquid because it makes application easier and doesn't waste product.
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Primer/ Corrector -Estee Lauder - Matte Perfecting Primer
applecore 5/12/2012 2:38:00 AM
Definitely my HG because it works wonderfully with my dry sensitive skin and MUFE HD foundation. My skin is mostly dry but I get a bit oily on my t zone throughout the day and this prevents oiliness without appearing too matte or flat. I love that it's also good for my skin and fragrance free. Since I'm the first to review, I thought I'd add Beautypedia's review since it's one their preferred primers and Paula sums it up nicely. From Beautypedia.com: This lightweight primer has a silky texture just like most foundation primers. But this goes the extra mile by offering skin a good range of beneficial ingredients, making it more advantageous if you prefer to prep your skin with a product labeled “primer” instead of one labeled “serum.” In truth, any well-formulated serum does double-duty as a primer, but perhaps the serum you prefer has a texture that doesn’t pair well with your foundation. In that case, a primer like this is worth a look, especially if you have normal to oily or combination skin. This does a very good job of smoothing the skin’s texture while slightly filling in large pores and leaving a soft, slightly absorbent matte finish that works (for a couple hours at least) to keep excess shine at bay. In terms of filling in large pores, the effect is minor but noticeable, and of course, it’s temporary, lasting a few hours or less depending on how oily your skin is and the type of foundation you apply after this primer. One last attribute of this primer is that it’s fragrance-free. It contains many of the same great anti-aging ingredients Lauder includes in their serums, but most of their serums contain fragrance, which isn’t helpful for anyone’s skin. Pros: • Goes beyond what ordinary primers do because it contains a good range of beneficial ingredients. • Fragrance-free. • Lightweight, silky texture smoothes skin and refines enlarged pores. Cons: None
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -DERMAdoctor - Picture Porefect serum
applecore 5/12/2012 2:32:00 AM
This good for slowly shrinking pores through exfoliation and it’s unrealistic for reviewers to expect it to work instantly. I was noticing that the pores on my t zone were getting bigger with age so I wanted something to combat that and this is a preferred exfoliant on beautypedia. I have very dry sensitive skin and most AHA or BHA serums are too irritating and drying but this hasn’t done either. After about a week, there was visible reduction in pore size. I only use at night so I’m not picky about the texture, shine, and whether it works with makeup. Since this is so gentle on my skin it may not be the most effective for someone with very oily skin and/or blemishes but it’s worked very well with my sensitive skin. I appreciate that it contains potent anti-irritants and is fragrance free.
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Treatments (Eye) -Estee Lauder - Verite Special Eye Care
applecore 5/12/2012 2:14:00 AM
For awhile I had given up trying to find the perfect eye cream for my sensitive dry skin. Now that I’m in my early 30s, I’m starting to think more about preventing wrinkles so I really wanted a gentle yet effective eye cream and a friend told me about the Verite line and I found that Beautypedia rates it highly. I’ve been using nightly for about a month and my skin looks way more hydrated and refreshed, slight fine lines have disappeared, and I haven’t had any irritation or milia. This is the kind of eye cream that you will slowly see a difference with since it’s not full of silicones to superficially reduce the visibility of lines only while you’re wearing it. I don’t use it under makeup as I feel that any eye cream that’s really hydrating enough (which this definitely is for me) will be too emollient to wear well with makeup. I love the sanitary tube since I won’t use anything that comes in a jar. I really appreciate how gentle this is while being effective. Definitely my HG eye cream.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Estee Lauder - Verite LightLotion Cleanser
applecore 5/12/2012 1:47:00 AM
This is a great cleanser for my dry sensitive skin. I feel that some of the reviews here aren’t fair. A cleanser that is truly gentle will not easily remove all your makeup as a cleanser that removes all makeup in one wash will also strip away your skin’s moisture and protective barrier. This also doesn’t contain lavender, an irritating ingredient, as some reviews state. To get the most makeup removing capability out this and most lotion type cleansers, thoroughly massage onto a dry face before rinsing or wiping off. I prefer to rinse it off and then use toner on a cotton pad to remove any leftover makeup or dry my face and start the process over. My skin doesn’t feel dry or tight after washing which is exactly what I want. Beautypedia rates this very highly for people with sensitive skin. If your priority is to remove all makeup with one wash then this isn’t for you but I highly recommend for anyone looking for a gentle cleanser that will promote healthy skin.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -BeneFit Cosmetics - Dandelion
applecore 5/11/2012 6:57:00 AM
By far my favorite blush. The pale pink color is perfect for my light complexion . The powder sinks right into my foundation and looks very natural. I have a love hate relationship with the packaging since its cute but not very functional. I take out the tray and awkward brush and use a regular blush brush. I would definitely repurchase but it seems to last forever.
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Pressed Powders -Estee Lauder - Lucidity Translucent Pressed Powder
applecore 5/11/2012 4:38:00 AM
I used this in translucent and while it is actually translucent (doesn't change color of brow corrector or blush), I don't feel it's "luminous" as Lauder claims. It wasn't that chalky but it seemed to just sit on top of my foundation and took away the natural look of my foundation (MUFE HD). I've been using MAC blot powder and feel like I can find better but this definitely isn't it. The fragrance was the biggest turnoff as it's very strong and lasts awhile. I try to limit how much fragrance my products have and this isn't worth it.
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Concealers -Make Up For Ever - Full Cover Concealer
applecore 5/11/2012 1:59:00 AM
I absolutely love this concealor and have been using it for years now. I have hereditary dark circles and visible veins under my eyes so in order to look like I’m not exhausted I have to use concealor. This is the only concealor I’ve tried that provides enough coverage without looking cakey or unnatural. It’s so pigmented that I don’t even need to build it up to get full coverage. It doesn’t settle into lines much and lasts all day. When my eyes water a little it stays put although it will streak during a full on crying session. I also use it on red spots and it works beautifully under foundation. I have sensitive skin and it’s never irritated or dried it out. I love the hygienic tube packaging and it lasts a very long time. When I’ve told people that haven’t seen me without makeup I have dark circles under my eyes they don’t believe me so that’s a good testament to how much coverage this provides without appearing unnatural. Definitely my HG and I would probably cry if it was ever discontinued.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Make Up For Ever - HD Microperfecting Primer in 0 Neutral
applecore 5/11/2012 1:43:00 AM
I love MUFE HD foundation so I thought I would give the primer a try. Luckily I got a sample because I was not impressed. It accentuated the fine lines around my eyes that aren’t normally very visible as soon as applied MUFE full cover concealor over it. It also made applying concealor difficult and my finger was tugging the delicate skin around my eyes when usually their concealor glides on nicely. I stopped using it around my eyes but really want a primer that can be used with concealor. I didn’t seem to have much setting power on the rest of my face or cut down on shine. I really couldn’t tell the difference between using it or not. I also didn’t like how strong the fragrance smelled and try to avoid fragrance due to having sensitive skin. I now use Estee Lauder’s matte perfecting primer which is fragrance free and has antioxidants so it’s beneficial for skin.
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Moisturizers -First Aid Beauty - Ultra Repair Cream
applecore 5/11/2012 1:07:00 AM
This is definitely not for sensitive skin! It contains eucalyptus which is a known skin irritant, even in small amounts. I have very sensitive skin and a SA at Sephora recommended this so I bought it on a whim. It immediately burned my face and made it red. Since I had a bad reaction, I looked it up on beautypedia and sure enough it’s got a frowny face due to containing eucalyptus. Very frustrating that a company supposedly created for sensitive skin would use irritating ingredients.
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Moisturizers -Cerave - Moisturizing Lotion
applecore 5/10/2012 2:02:00 AM
Typically I know whether a moisturizer is going to work after the first try or two but this one was deceptive and ended up being the worst product I’ve ever used on my face. Beautypedia rates it very highly and I thought I could save some $ by switching from department store brands. I have very sensitive and dry skin and this didn’t burn at all and moisturized well. My skin felt and looked softer and it worked well under spf and makeup so I thought I had found a great and inexpensive moisturizer and was really happy. A few days in, I started to notice a few pin sized pimples (I’ve never had any so small before) in spots I never get any and some red spots that looked like blemish scarring but I hadn’t actually had any in those spots. I knew it had to be from this since I hadn’t changed anything else in my skincare or makeup but I stupidly thought that it was my skin purging and decided to see if it cleared up after a couple of days. What a mistake… I ended up having the worst reaction ever when I woke up about a week and a half after I started using it! I got a sty on my lower lash line which I’ve never gotten before and it’s extremely painful. I woke up to so many pin sized pimples on my upper lip that it looked like a pus mustache and it was painful to even move my lip. It took forever with a blemish tool to pop them all and was so crazy painful my eyes wouldn’t stop watering. Under my jaw is now totally broken out as well and it’s really hard to access that area with my blemish tool. I can see pimples starting to form all over my forehead too. My face has never looked so awful and felt so painful. I’ve never had much acne before and now I can sympathize with the pain that people who do have to go through. I’m so mad at myself that I gave this the benefit of doubt. I should have stopped using it immediately after the first blemish. This went straight into the trash where it belongs.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Cerave - Facial Moisturizing Lotion - PM
applecore 5/10/2012 2:02:00 AM
Typically I know whether a moisturizer is going to work after the first try or two but this one was deceptive and ended up being the worst product I’ve ever used on my face. Beautypedia rates it very highly and I thought I could save some $ by switching from department store brands. I have very sensitive and dry skin and this didn’t burn at all and moisturized well. My skin felt and looked softer and it worked well under spf and makeup so I thought I had found a great and inexpensive moisturizer and was really happy. A few days in, I started to notice a few pin sized pimples (I’ve never had any so small before) in spots I never get any and some red spots that looked like blemish scarring but I hadn’t actually had any in those spots. I knew it had to be from this since I hadn’t changed anything else in my skincare or makeup but I stupidly thought that it was my skin purging and decided to see if it cleared up after a couple of days. What a mistake… I ended up having the worst reaction ever when I woke up about a week and a half after I started using it! I got a sty on my lower lash line which I’ve never gotten before and it’s extremely painful. I woke up to so many pin sized pimples on my upper lip that it looked like a pus mustache and it was painful to even move my lip. It took forever with a blemish tool to pop them all and was so crazy painful my eyes wouldn’t stop watering. Under my jaw is now totally broken out as well and it’s really hard to access that area with my blemish tool. I can see pimples starting to form all over my forehead too. My face has never looked so awful and felt so painful. I’ve never had much acne before and now I can sympathize with the pain that people who do have to go through. I’m so mad at myself that I gave this the benefit of doubt. I should have stopped using it immediately after the first blemish. This went straight into the trash where it belongs.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Brows -Make Up For Ever - Make Up For Ever Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector
applecore 5/8/2012 5:52:00 AM
This became my HG the first time I used it! I have very sparse brows and dark hair so I need to draw them on to look normal. It's so hard to find something that provides a lot of definition and coverage without appearing obviously drawn on. After trying a lot of different types of brow correctors I ended up sticking with the MAC pencil (spiked) but I had to spend so much time blending it in with a sponge tip or brush so it wouldn't look too harsh and I was never totally happy with it but it was the best I had found....until this! I was prepared for application to be a bit challenging at first based on other reviews but thanks to others great tips, like making sure there's no excess product on the brush, it was actually easier than using a pencil. Since I'm used to fine tipped pencils, my preference is applying it with a bent liner brush and then smoothing over with a thicker dry brush at the end. It goes on smoothly and looks very natural while providing dense coverage. #3 works very well with my coloring, similar to MAC spiked or stud depending on much you build it up. I also love that applying it with brushes is delicate on my brow hairs. I'm hoping that by eliminating the tugging from a pencil, my brows will hopefully grow in more. I've been using extra dark Jamaican black castor oil (the best) on my brows for about 6 months and have seen considerable regrowth (yay!) so I want to do everything possible to keep it going. My bf even commented that my brows looked great and he's pretty oblivious to whether I'm even wearing makeup. I finally don't feel self conscious that my brows look fake. I'll be saving money too since you need so little product it should last a long time and I went through pencils like crazy. I can't imagine finding anything better than this other than magically growing thick luxurious brows.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream
applecore 4/14/2012 5:28:00 AM
Yu-be is yucky! It looks, smells, and feels like melted Carmex, which I find really gross. I tried a sample on my face and washed it off in minutes and threw the rest out. Aside from the smell and unpleasant consistency, it made my face tingle and burn which is never good sign.
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Moisturizers -Fresh - Black Tea Age-Delay Cream
applecore 12/3/2011 11:38:00 PM
I received this as a Sephora deluxe sample and am not impressed. Smells like dill pickles, which I find weird and unpleasant even though I like pickles. My dry skin usually sucks up moisturizers but this just sat on top and was very greasy. I tried to use under foundation and it was a mess. Also kinda of burned my eyes for a little bit. The only positive was that I have sensitive skin and it didn't cause any reaction so I'll probably finish up the sample as a night creme. I really expected more from this brand since it's so expensive and hyped by Sephora staff. Update: Wasn't able to finish the sample as it broke me out very badly and was the only change at the time to my skin care. Break out cleared up as soon as I stopped using.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No