BB Cream -Olay - Total Effects Tone Correcting "CC" Cream
ashleystar 1/6/2013 2:20:00 PM
I'm 26 and have combination, acne-prone skin that LOVES to get dry, flaky areas in the winter and tends to get greasy in the T-zone during the day. I also have acne marks on my cheeks that have faded, but are still definitely visible. When I read the benefits Olay's CC cream promised (including fading dark marks), I was excited but skeptical. Would it REALLY be that moisturizing? (Most BB creams I've tried don't provide enough) Would the coverage REALLY be that great? The answer to both is YES. Not only does the CC cream add just enough coverage to even out my skin tone, it also moisturizes without being greasy, provides SPF, AND as a bonus, it's worked magic on my dry patches AND kept my face from feeling oily mid-day. Even after just a few weeks of use, I've noticed my skin tone evening out, and I love that there's bonus anti-aging benefits. (Never too early to start, right?) In terms of lightening my acne scars, I haven't seen much improvement, but considering it's lived up to all its other claims, I already know this will be a re-buy!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Neutrogena - Intensified Day Moisture SPF 15
ashleystar 9/20/2012 4:28:00 PM
I always know the weather's shifting because I get this gorgeous, flaky crop of skin right in the center of my T-zone and down the sides of my nose, and my skin starts to feel tight... signaling it's time to change my moisturizer! What I LOVE is that this is the ONLY moisturizer I've tried that totally eliminates the flakiness, PLUS it has SPF 15 built in. What I'm having issues with? It makes my skin SO oily by the middle of the day, even if I layer on a primer over it. It's love, though; everything about it, minus the shine, is making it my new winter must-have moisturizer!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Everyday Minerals - foundation semi-matte formula
ashleystar 6/20/2012 5:03:00 PM
LOVE. I've got acne-prone combination skin and this foundation is my h-e-r-o. It's the only foundation I've ever used that doesn't make my skin break out, provides amazing coverage, and blends beautifully. Here's an amazing example of how well this stuff holds up. Yesterday, I applied my usual makeup (sunscreen, L'Oreal primer, Everyday Minerals semi-matte base in golden medium and a dusting of bareminerals mineral veil to set it) and spent an afternoon walking around in 90+ heat at an outdoor shopping mall. When I got home, I went straight to a dance rehearsal, where I sweated through almost three full hours of dance... and when I got home? Not a spot of shine or even a fade in where I'd applied the foundation. Absolutely my favorite, even moreso than Bare Minerals; I apply with the Everyday Minerals long-handled kabuki and it provides perfect, perfect coverage. Giant air heart for this stuff!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Volum' Express The Mega Plush
ashleystar 6/20/2012 4:59:00 PM
When I bat my lashes through a mascara wand, I'm looking to get three things: volume, length and WOW. You know what I'm talking about, ladies; that *bat my lashes* bombshell kind of feeling? Unfortunately, that isn't what I get from the Mega Plush. While it's got its pros, it's not quite the full-of-volume experience I was hoping for. Pros: Doesn't flake; really, really buildable (I can put on tons of coats and no clump!); holds a curl beautifully; my lashes feel really soft (not spiky or stiff) Cons: Not as much volume as I get from my usual brand (MEGA Lash, also by Maybelline, in the yellow tube); wobbly brush that I don't feel deposits enough mascara onto lashes
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Foundations -BeneFit Cosmetics - Play Sticks
ashleystar 5/31/2012 5:28:00 PM
Oh, I wanted to like this product SO much! But as for me and my oily, acne-prone skin... it just wasn't love. Coverage-wise, this didn't deliver what I was hoping for (it barely covered the redness of blemishes, let alone some red post-acne marks), and no matter how I applied (directly from the stick, with my fingers, blending with a sponge), the final effect always looked cakey. (I wasn't even using much, either, so I ruled out that option.) Plus, compared to when I use mineral foundation, I noticed my face (particularly my T-zone and forehead) felt much, much greasier than normal. The kicker for me, though? Something in this makeup did NOT get along with my skin; after two days of use, I was broken out in all the places I'd applied it, and the pores closest to my nose on both cheeks began to just look... HUGE. Almost like they were having a weird, slightly swollen allergic reaction. So strange. Not a re-purchase for me; thank everything for Sephora's return policy!
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Sunscreen -L'Oreal - Sublime Sun Advanced Sunscreen Liquid Silk Sunshield For Face SPF 50
ashleystar 5/21/2012 12:27:00 PM
As an acne-prone gal with oily T-zone tendancies, finding face lotion with sunblock in it is nothing short of a nightmare. However, this stuff? IT IS LOVE, Y'ALL. I picked this up (about $9 at Wal-Mart, but I've seen a bunch of $1 off coupons in the Sunday papers since!) before a trip to Vegas, when I knew I'd be out in the sun all day & need an extra dose of sun protection. Right from the start, I was in love with the feel; it glides on so smooth and absorbs almost immediately, leaving behind a smooth, matte texture. It even seemed to help keep my T-zone and cheeks from getting as shiny as usual, which was an unexpected bonus! The only downside, for girls like me who live in dry climates and need a little extra moisture, is that it's not the BEST at moisturizing... but aside from that, this is definitely my new go-to for summertime face SPF!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Rimmel - Sexy Curves Waterproof
ashleystar 5/21/2012 12:24:00 PM
OH, such a waste of pretty packaging on such a horrible, horrible product! It's called "Sexy Curves," but doesn't hold a curl; it's "waterproof," but I got raccoon eyes after applying this and then doing dishes (seriously, DOING DISHES) about 15 minutes later. The only thing this product has going for it is the packaging, which is so, so pretty! The formula, though, doesn't deliver what it promises at all. It's super thin, for starters, and even after putting on two coats, I could barely tell I had it on. Within an hour of applying, it basically just looked like my lashes were a little darker... no curl, no volume, AND it was already flaking off. Don't waste your money, gorgeous girls!
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Treatments -Clairol - Natural Instincts Shine Happy clear shine treatment
ashleystar 1/23/2012 6:20:00 PM
ICK! Not only did this noticeably lighten my hair (and remove almost ALL of the pretty red that I've had in my hair since September; GRRRR!), but it also dried my hair out (even after conditioning; especially my ends!). AVOID THIS PRODUCT!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Bare Escentuals - Full Flawless Application Face Brush
ashleystar 11/25/2011 11:44:00 AM
Scratchy, itchy, irritating and horrible, horrible shedding... ugh! When I first got the brush (a gift in a set with the foundation), it worked great—& then I washed it. Even using the special Bare Escentuals soap, it seemed like the brush's quality completed nose-dived after that. It began shedding like crazy (and didn't stop), the brush fibers got poky and started to make my skin itch every time I used it, and worst of all, the brush lost its softness and started really, really irritating my skin. Super disappointing; save your money on this one!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Volum' Express The Colossal Waterproof
ashleystar 11/25/2011 11:26:00 AM
Best, best, BEST mascara I've ever used! For some reason, only the waterproof version of The Colossal rocks it out for me; I tried switching to the washable version and the results were literally like night and day. I lost a ton of the volume, length and thickness I was used to with this version (waterproof) and it seemed like it clumped up a lot easier, too. What I adore about this mascara? It delivers everything I love in a mascara; volume, thick-looking lashes without clumps, length AND ability to hold a curl. I'll curl my lashes before applying, then again after the mascara has dried & I get a gorgeous, lasting curl that holds all day. Definitely my HG of mascaras! I always try other brands/varieties and end up right back here :)
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Mascara -Maybelline - Volum Express The Falsies Flared
ashleystar 11/25/2011 11:21:00 AM
I'm not one to throw away a beauty product without giving it a fair try; that said, my tube of this just hit the trash last night. Not only does this mascara fail to deliver ANY semblance of a "false lashes" look, for some reason it always goes on really, really wet; the brush seems like it would rock if the formula was better, but as it is, I'd have to do multiple coats just to get a thicker-lashed look, and then it would clump up and look horrible. That, and it didn't hold curl well at ALL. I was really, really disappointed and won't be buying again.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Aveeno - positively radiant
ashleystar 7/14/2011 4:21:00 PM
What I've had the hardest time with is getting this stuff to blend! The lotion comes out easily and seems smooth, but the second I try to rub it in on my face, it just seems to loose all blendability. I've had luck mixing it with jojoba oil, just to give it some smoothness. Overall, though, I wouldn't re-buy.
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Hair -Farouk CHI - 44 Iron Guard
ashleystar 3/19/2011 4:49:00 PM
Sigh—I've always had such good luck with CHI products, but this stuff just doesn't do it for my hairs. I hate the way it makes my hair feel gross and straw-like (I've tried using different amounts of spray to see if it makes a difference, but alas... no) and it really seems to mess up the clean, straight look after I flat-iron my hair, too. Definitely not repurchasing!
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Lip Treatments -mark - Kiss Dry Goodbye Lip Smoother
ashleystar 12/8/2010 11:54:00 AM
Nothing special here; I was expecting a thicker product, but instead, it's got an incredibly thin consistency... I actually own lip gloss that goes on thicker! Not to mention, you have to reapply constantly in order to feel like you're getting the benefits, and you have to squeeze the tube pretty hard (it's a firmer plastic) to get enough product to dispense. For the price, you don't get much at all (about the height of my pinky) and it's definitely not making a difference for my lips.
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Mascara -L'Oreal - Telescopic Explosion
ashleystar 12/30/2009 5:25:00 PM
I was hesitant to try this, because normally my lashes don't respond to anything but the bigger, thicker brushes; however, I was super surprised at how much longer and more defined just one coat of this mascara made my lashes look! PROS: Great at definition and length; the brush really gets every single lash; flexible wand; good if you're looking for a natural look; nice as a "base mascara" if you layer yours with another mascara CONS: Doesn't hold a curl well; flakes/clumps fairly easily; not a very dramatic look
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