Mascara -L'Oreal - Voluminous in Carbon Black
arcybarrios 7/21/2012 3:15:00 PM
Do to the hype, I really wanted to love this mascara. Unfortunately, it weighs my eyelashes down. It does not hold a curl at all. I have thick and heavy eyelashes which is why I struggle to find a good mascara. ALL normal formulas weigh my eyelashes down, cheap or expensive none hold a curl on my lashes. This one was no exception :-( Due to the difficulty of removing waterproof mascara, I don't normally add two to three layers on a daily basis. I have found a way to holding a curl by applying my first layer with a waterproof mascara followed by one or two layers of a normal mascara. After applying my waterproof mascara (currently using some Mexican brand called Zan Zuzzi which is fantastic), I applied this L'Oreal Voluminous. I wasn't even done applying it to one eye when the curl was gone (no joke). £11.00 down the drain. For those of you with similar problems, other mascaras that have worked on my stubborn/difficult lashes have been: Max Factor Calorie 2000 waterproof (a lone or combined with Maybelline the Falsies Volum' Expres) Rimmel ScandalEyes waterproof (a lone or combined with VS very sexy lashes)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Christian Dior - Capture Totale One Essential Skin Boosting Super Serum
arcybarrios 6/2/2012 6:00:00 AM
I was given a sample of this product at Sephora and of course tried it. I was applying a tiny yet sufficient amount AM and PM for as long as the sample lasted (about 3 to 4 weeks) Did it work? Not that I can tell. It has a pleasant very subtle scent, goes on easy, absorbs rapidly but other than that, I wasn't enticed to purchase the product after finishing the sample. I am giving it 3 lippies simply because it is not a terrible product. I did not purchase it and I cannot say it caused any damage to my skin either. It is simply an overly priced serum that did not work for me.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Olay - Regenerist Flawless Skin cream SPF 30
arcybarrios 5/9/2012 8:26:00 PM
I really did go on a whim when purchasing this product a year ago as it was £30 at the drugstore. I cannot say good enough things about Olay Regenerist spf30! I can't really say it has done anything for my pigmentation spots or my two wrinkles (smile lines) but I absolutely love how quickly it absorbs without leaving any white residue. It's high spf means my face is "safe" once I set foot outside my home. After application, my skin feels soft and moisturized rather than sticky and dry like with other high spf face moisturizers. The scent is soft and pleasant and fades away rather quickly. Because it is absorbed quickly, I am able to apply my foundation immediately. I fall in the 36 - 45 age bracket with dry/combo skin. I am not acne prone nor is my skin overly sensitive (I can even say it is rather resistant lol). Cons: Packaging. Because it comes in the solid red tube, you can't see when product is finishing =/ Expensive for a drugstore product but have found it cheaper on amazon
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Sigma - F80 Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki (was SS197)
arcybarrios 5/1/2012 9:44:00 AM
Absolutely LOVE this brush. Very dense yet extremely soft on the face and the liquid foundation application (I like to stipple) goes on flawless! Have washed it many times with MACs brush cleaner and it has never sheded (I've had it for almost a year) Beyond expectations! A definite must have for all makeup lovers.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Brows -Rimmel - Professional Eyebrow Pencil
arcybarrios 4/2/2012 7:02:00 AM
I cannot rave enough about this product! I have always had a difficult time finding the right pencil/powder color for my eyebrows. I like to have both to achieve different looks. I have tried various brands ($ to $$$) and to be very honest, this pencil is top quality. The color is an exact match for my eyebrows (brown/black/greyish). Easy to use and sharpen. Glides on softly and stays put all day. Does everything (or even better) than other top brands do for a fraction of a price. Will absolutely buy again (and again)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Sally Hansen - Miracle Cure
arcybarrios 6/27/2011 4:28:00 PM
After trying several good and not so good brands for split nails, I decided to give this one a go. Nail growth has never been and issue but splitting nails has. Do to my splitting nail problem is that I decided to go with acrylic nails for many many years. When I moved to Europe I had to give up that luxury as it was ridiculously expensive to get these done. So I endured the pain of seeing my nails peel for a couple of years now. I hated putting nail polish on because 9 out of 10 times my nails would start splitting the day after. I purchased Miracle Cure about two months ago and can comfortably review it as "my" miracle. I have applied this product religiously for the past couple of months and only once has one of my nails split from the side (unlike from the top edges as before). I remove the nail polish every 3 days, wash my hands right after and then proceed to apply two coats of Miracle Cure. Will I purchase this again, most definitely. My base coat forever!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Barry M - Dazzle Dust
arcybarrios 6/26/2011 3:28:00 PM
I want them ALL!!! I am in love with these little pots. The shadows are highly pigmented, very smooth and beautiful. It is important that I mention that you really need to learn how to use these properly so that you are not disappointed with a shimmery shiny face. It is an absolute MUST, and I cannot stress this enough, you MUST apply primer to your eyelids prior to using any of your Dazzle Dust's. I recently purchased them to do a makeup trial on a friend. I did her makeup at 10am and by 9:30 she came by my place to show me that her makeup was intact! If you feel this will ruin your makeup, try and do your eyes first so that you can clean up nicely prior to applying your foundation The only downside I see in the product is that it can be a little messy. The packaging can use a little swifter (open close shaker type of deal to dispense the right amount). Best time to buy is when they have the 3 for 2 sales!!!
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Top/Base Coats -Sally Hansen - Double Duty Base & Top Coat
arcybarrios 5/12/2011 3:30:00 PM
So I purchase this 2n1 Double Duty product thinking "great, I've gt my top and base coat covered with the added bonus of strengthening." Sadly, I did not get exactly what I was after. Yes it gives great shine as many top coats do BUT this product makes my polish peel. Doesn't matter what polish I use, next day it peels in a single sheet. Product itself dries very quickly as well (bottle) making it think and hard to apply. Still looking for my top/base coat hardening HG
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Olay - Regenerist Thermal Skin Polisher
arcybarrios 5/3/2011 10:16:00 AM
I have combination skin and use it once a day. I can't say I am in love with the product but I do like how my face and hands feel after I rinse. The thermal effect doesn't last long AT ALL if it even heats up a bit. I read on an amazon review that it is helpful to wet face first, dry hands before applying the product otherwise you don't seem to get the heated effect when its applied to the skin. So I will have to give this a try. I like the feel of the product on my face but can't really say it helps shrink my pores. I do not have problem skin but for some odd reason I have large pores around the nose area. The tube is a bit strange as it seems to crease when you squeeze (feels like it is going to crack). So definitely needs some improvement there. Will I buy again, more than likely yes.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Max Factor - False Lash Effect Waterproof
arcybarrios 10/10/2010 7:16:00 PM
Cannot say I am highly impressed as I am with 2000 Calorie. This product is simply put... bleh. Nothing extraordinary really. The brush is a little on the thick side and you have to play around with it to get the lashes where you want them (it clumps a bit but not to much). Once you achieve that, lashes stay up all day but IMHO nothing of a false lash effect at all.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Volum' Express The Falsies
arcybarrios 10/10/2010 6:58:00 PM
HORRIBLE! As soon as I applied it, the curl on my lashes fell! I curl my lashes with a Shu eyelash curler which I heated and I also curl with a spoon (heated) and the combination of both techniques my lashes tend to keep their curl all day. This mascara however does not live up to its marketing on my lashes. EDIT: I found a way for keeping this mascara and maybe purchase it again. What I do is apply it after applying a layer of waterproof mascara (in this case a Mexican brand one called Zan Zuzzi). The curl holds ALL DAY and my lashes look beautiful.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Bare Escentuals - Mineral blush
arcybarrios 9/1/2010 6:09:00 AM
Cannot live without my BE products but my Pearl blush is my HG. I am a bit pale with some yellow undertones and this blush works beautifully with my skin color. Sadly it has been discontinued so it is difficult to get my hands on this item. Luckily I bought a couple and they go a long way.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - Chrome Effect Eyeshadow
arcybarrios 8/31/2010 8:19:00 PM
While killing time in the make-up dpt I came across this lovely soft gold tone shadow (172 beige shimmer) and loved it. Prior to purchasing it, I went to Sephora and MAC to see if I was able to find a similar color as I am always hesitant of buying without trying. I had no luck and gave in and bought it... Bad choice...They always say to follow your gutt instinct and I did the opposite. I used it today and was very excited of my "day look." Sadly, after a couple of hours of wearing it I had gold shimmer all over my face =( NOT HAPPY. I should mention that I did apply MACs fab painterly pot as my base. If that is what happens with base I don't wanna know what my face would look like without it. I am glad this has worked so well for others, unfortunately it didn't seem to work for me. I will give it a second go BUT it seems like this is going to the "Never use again" make-up bag =(
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Christian Dior - Diorskin Airflash
arcybarrios 8/22/2010 8:38:00 AM
Absolutely LOVE IT! I love the look, the feel and the texture. I like the fact that you can control the amount of coverage and best of all it DOES NOT give you a white face in pictures! For a night out or for a photoshoot I will spray the product onto a kabuki brush and then apply to my face. This gives a beautiful "porcelain" skin look or more precisely the "airbrushed" look without looking cakey. For lazy weekends (as I use BE for everyday). I will simply spray a tad bit on my face given it the type of coverage a tinted moisturizer would only better. Will I buy this product again? Despite the price ($60) Definitely YES, it is well worth the it.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Victoria's Secret - Very Sexy Lashes - Intensifying Mascara
arcybarrios 8/22/2010 8:23:00 AM
As many other reviewers, I got this as gwp about 9 months ago and only trying it now. My thoughts... it's just OK. It doesn't provide any length and may provide volume when working the wand. It does not clump making It is easy to work it through the lashes. I cannot say it holds a curl though; it holds the lengthening of the lash (when curling them at base) but it does not hold the curl (mid and tip). I like the fact that it applies clean; it doesn't leave any spider marks nor a "liner" line Will I keep using it? Maybe. Will I buy it, definitely no.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No