Eye Primer -Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Sin 
avid_writer 6/21/2010 4:26:00 PM
I don't know where the negative reviews are coming from. Maybe people are disappointed because they love the original version so much they feel nothing else can measure up unless it's exactly the same. Anyways, I really love this. It lends a very subtle champagny glow, makes my eyeshadow unbelievably vibrant and it lasts a very long time without creasing! Would absolutely repurchase. This also apparently makes matte shadows shimmery. An added bonus to help you get more looks out of the same shadows! I'm a cheapo. I feel like with makeup you rarely get what you pay for. But I really like this and think it was definitely worth the money. It isn't as shimmery as people say, it's very wearable and layerable with shadows. Works perfectly as a base for eyeliner as well to keep it from fading or smudging. I have extremely oily lids and no creasing or fading issues when I use this.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -MAC - Base Light
avid_writer 6/21/2010 4:21:00 PM
Goes on sheer, so it doesn't really impact the eyeshadow color. Does not improve eyeshadow vibrancy as much as ELF mineral eyeshadow primer (which is only $3!) Also definitely underperforms compared to the similarly priced UDPPs. Packaging sucks as paint dribbles out of the tube easily when you don't intend it. I regret this purchase!
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Crème -Graftobian - High-Definition Glamour Color Creme Foundation
avid_writer 6/14/2010 9:52:00 PM
pro - cheap - looks perfect after you put it on - will work great for dry or normal skin - might work for slightly oily ladies if they use primers and oil control powders or setting sprays - extensive shades from fairest to darkest - pro makeup artists use it - can be sheer or full coverage depending on how you apply con - oily so it's not good for long wear if you have oily skin - not as good as revlon colorstay and almay clear complexion in terms of long wear for oily skin - has lanolin and petrolatum ps I am nc37-40 and enchantress is a perfect match
12 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -NYX - 3 Color Eyeshadow
avid_writer 6/13/2010 12:06:00 PM
Rexall in Toronto stocks these and they are really pigmented and nice. I bought two of the single eyeshadows and I think the trio ones are better quality more pigmented better pressed and less messy. Contrary to what some people have said, the quality is not worse with the trios at all. I actually prefer the trios.
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Eye Shadow -NYX - Ultimatum
avid_writer 6/11/2010 2:07:00 PM
Very good quality. Almost too good, lol. It is very pigmented and soft so it's easy to over do it. But very nice.
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Eye Shadow -NYX - Super Creamy
avid_writer 6/11/2010 2:06:00 PM
I can't complain about the quality. It's very pigmented and very soft. You have to use a light hand with your brush. :) It's a nice shimmery highlight colour. I didn't notice glitter on my lid, it seemed more frosty.
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Eye Shadow -NYX - Jumbo Eye Shadow Pencil - Cottage Cheese
avid_writer 6/11/2010 1:51:00 PM
This a great eyeshadow pencil! It's great for highlighting inner corners or smudged over the lid as a sheer wash of slightly shimmery brightness. I wear it on top of my elf mineral primer and never have issues with creasing. This is great with shadows on top as well as a subtle, shimmery, brightening base. I feel sorry for the high end snobs who miss products like this that are amazing, just because they like getting ripped off. high end products are as hit and miss as low end ones, but they don't see that because they feel comfort in the fallacious idea that money can buy beauty (which it can't). the distinction between high end and low end is usually artificial and based on marketing/packaging more than anything else. oh well, that just leaves more for the rest of us :)
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -E.L.F. - Mineral Eyeshadow Primer
avid_writer 6/9/2010 6:53:00 AM
I read a blog where a pro makeup artist posted photos of everything she took to a shoot and this was the only eye primer in it! This stuff made my eyeshadow look so vibrant today I couldn't believe it. This does a better job improving vibrancy, wear and preventing creasing than my MAC paint in base light did. I wish I had never bought that MAC paint. ELF mineral eyeshadow primer makes my shadows pop more than mac. This is essentially a $20 product for a $3 price. This stuff is like a magnet for eyeshadow.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -E.L.F. - Studio Blush in Gotta Glow
avid_writer 6/9/2010 6:44:00 AM
I am surprised there are no reviews on this yet. It is a PERFECT albatross dupe. It really does give a beautiful candlelit glow. It is very soft and pigmented. The packaging is lovely and quite similar to NARS. Everyone should have one of these. I cannot believe the price. You get much more than you pay for here. It is a perfect dupe, except albatross has a slightly more whitish cast. I actually think gotta glow gives the more candlelit glow. Google themakeupsnob's blog review with photos and you'll see.
12 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Orgasm Blush
avid_writer 6/8/2010 6:42:00 AM
I keep revising my review but I realize the bottom line is always the same. I regret this purchase and I don't think this blush is suited to nc35/nw35+. It just doesn't show up. Applied heavily, it is too dark and toasty and sunburned to look flattering. Darker skintones need something bright and funky or as an alternative something golden bronzey to make our skin pop. This doesn't do the trick. It isn't flattering. It's too reddening and subtle and toasty, it looks like hyperpigmentation or sun irritation on my skin. I've been trying and trying to use it like a trooper because I spent so much money on it but it's difficult to use and I regret buying something that is so utterly unsuited to my skin tone. I think this blush works on all pale caucasian or asian ladies and that's about it. If you're medium colored or deeper don't believe the claims of 'universality'. On the plus side, there are colors that suit us that pale ladies can't pull off either. If you are nc/nw35-45 try NARS mounia, torrid, angelika, exhibit a, taj mahal, desire, crazed, dolce vita, sertao. These are all better suited for us. IMO nars orgasm is not at all universal, it's a classic 'pale girl' shade. If you are darker than nc/w45 you might be able to pull off orgasm as there would be enough contrast for it to look good, similar to how it works on pale people.
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Concealers -Vasanti - Concealer
avid_writer 6/7/2010 10:13:00 AM
Perfect color for undereye and concealing in general for fair to medium women. Unfortunately the formula is awful! I am 22 and it highlights my undereye lines. It's flaky and drying even though I have oily skin. It never totally looks natural. It fades slightly during the day and collects in lines. You definitely need to use an eye cream under this. I'll try that and report back.
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Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Tazorac
avid_writer 6/5/2010 9:22:00 AM
My acne used to be really bad all through high school. My entire face was literally covered with countless tiny pimples! It was so gross. Really took a toll on my self esteem. Just before university I finally took myself to a dermatologist. He prescribed differin, which didn't work for me because it wasn't strong enough. Then he prescribed .1% tazorac and clindoxyl, which together gave me perfect skin. Clindoxyl keeps pimples at bay by killing p acnes. What tazorac does is it purges and cleans your pores. After using tazorac my pores were flat, clean and visible whereas before they used to be clogged foci for pimples. It takes me 2 years to finish a tube of tazorac so it's worth the $50 I pay for it. You really don't need much. Nowadays I also use OTC BP gel, OTC 8% sulfur cream and OTC Salicylic acid toner as well as queen helene mint julep mask. I use switch around and use different products on different days but I always use at least 1-2 acne fighting products a day. Together all of this stuff works to keep me clear. Unfortunately this stuff will irritate your face and make it darker and redder but it's nothing drastic and it's worth it to have clear skin.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Concealer Brush
avid_writer 6/3/2010 6:21:00 PM
Perfect brush for lining eyes (great with gel liners!) and highlighting inner corners. This, the $1 eyeshadow brush, the $1 blending brush and the $3 contour brush are all you need to do professional looking eyes. It's a great lip brush too. no shedding and very easy to clean doesn't lose its shape. Also great for nails and highlighting cupid's bow and filling in brows. Don't buy it for concealing cuz it will disappoint you, buy it for the above and you will love it.
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Blending Brush
avid_writer 5/31/2010 9:27:00 PM
This brush is amazing! It's a high quality, soft, perfect blending brush. I like it better than my comparable sephora brush so I can't believe the price. I hope ELF never goes out of business because they really give amazing quality and they don't gouge consumers. I will never again buy a brush from anywhere but ELF because I am so impressed with the quality!
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Contour Brush
avid_writer 5/31/2010 9:25:00 PM
WOW! This brush is amazing! It's much better than my sephora brush! This is the softest brush I have ever used. It's also very easy to clean because it's taklon. The size is perfect and the quality is unbelievable. This is a high quality brush. I would pay MAC prices for this brush because it is MAC quality, but thanks to ELF I don't have to. I just did my eyes today with this brush and it was easier and better looking than anything else I had ever used. This brush makes professional looking eyeshadow application easy. Even if you have a large budget for makeup, this brush is worth purchasing. Everyone should have one. I have two. I am sold on ELF brushes. I will never again throw my money away on sephora quo or mac brushes when these ELF brushes perform as well or better.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No