Palettes -Wet 'n' Wild - Nude awakening
belovedhope 5/3/2013 10:16:00 AM
Love love love.... Definitely a naked palette dupe. I spotted this at Jewel the other day (after seeing it online somewhere and wondering where i could but it) and got very excited. Really, you can't go wrong with these Wet N Wild palettes- for 4.99 you get 8 beautifully pigmented, generously portioned eyeshadows, less than half the price of one MAC shadow! I will say that my least favorite color in the palette is the vanilla browbone color... It's just not as pigmented as the other colors and a little chalky. Otherwise, I think this is an absolute gem and agree that it's stock-up worthy given that it's limited edition!
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Eye Primer -Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Original (UDPP)
belovedhope 4/24/2013 11:06:00 AM
This works for me but it's also the only eye primer I've tried (besides Mac painterly, but I consider that more of a shadow base). I also don't find this to be that expensive bc I've always been able to find it on sale or at Nordstrom rack for half off (the original curved tube, however). I'm giving this a four star rating for now until I try some other primers, but overall, this makes my shadow almost smudge proof, gives them a stronger pop of color, and feels lightweight on my lids. Can't complain at all!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Smashbox - Jet Set Waterproof Eye Liner in Black
belovedhope 4/19/2013 11:15:00 PM
I am pleasantly surprised by this product. I received this in Sephora's "Draw the Line" eyeliner sampler package, included full-size. It's on the dryer side compared to other gel liners i've tried, but that's likely b/c of the waterproof formula. Overall, I find this to be quite long lasting and not as smudgy as other reviewers have mentioned. I also find myself being able to create some flattering eye looks w/ this liner- can't quite pinpoint what it is about it, but I really like how my eye makeup turns out when I use this product compared to other products. Perhaps it's because it dries down matte, not shiny, so it lends itself to a more casual, soft look. That being said, it retails at $22, more than twice the price of my favorite drugstore gel liner, L'oreal Infallible Gel Lacquer Liner. Do I think it's twice as good? Naw. But I would buy this again in the "Draw the Line" sampler package, which I bought for $28.
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Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - Infallible in Endless Pearl
belovedhope 4/6/2013 10:57:00 AM
Perfect for a quick and easy highlight for the inner eye corners and browbone. Just use your fingers! If youre looking for a very pigmented shadow for the lid, i dont think youll get that with this. But for a foolproof and subtle inner corner and browbone highlight, this is my go-to product. Minimal fallout, finely milled, buttery texture- love.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Milani - Color Statement Lipstick in Uptown Mauve
belovedhope 3/8/2013 12:08:00 PM
Been wanting to try a Milani lip product for a while, and I must say, this lipstick is AMAZING and has far exceeded my expectations. The color is super pigmented (a plummy fuschia, close to MAC rebel but a little lighter, creme finish) and the consistency reminds me of L'oreal Infallible in that it feels a little drying but makes up for it with its incredible lasting power. One thing that makes me like this better than Infallible is its sweet smell/flavor - kinda reminds me of strawberry Lip Smackers. The packaging is really sleek and modern, which is a nice change from Milani's typical packaging (kinda retro, late 80's, early 90's feel). But probably the best part about this product is the price - $5.49 at CVS! This can totally pass for a h/e long-wear lipstick- I'm ready to buy all the colors :D 100% my new favorite product
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman - Expert Face Brush
belovedhope 2/8/2013 10:02:00 PM
I am absolutely floored by the quality of this brush! I've used this for cream, liquid, and mineral/powder foundation, and for all three, this is my favorite brush to use. I am most impressed with how it works for my mineral foundation since it's not marketed to be used for such- the bristles are so densely packed that I can fill in every crevice of my face with powder to achieve a truly flawless finish. I'm ready to purchase two more of these b/c at $9 it's an absolute steal and I'm sad just thinking about the day (tho I hope it never happens) that I can no longer purchase these at this amazing price.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Frederic Fekkai - sheer hold hairspray
belovedhope 2/6/2013 11:42:00 PM
My favorite hairspray at the moment. Love, love the smell, and it offered exactly what I was looking for which was a flexible yet durable hold. Works great for teasing and just taming those annoying flyaways. Worth the price!
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Palettes -Urban Decay - Book of Shadows Vol. IV
belovedhope 1/26/2013 9:00:00 PM
I got this for $29 off HauteLook, so I'm basing my review off this price point. Totally worth it!! Love the color selection, love the mascara (SuperCurl), and of course, can't go wrong with the travel-size UDPP. Yes, the packaging is awkward and comes with too much fluff (e.g. the pop-up butterflies/the keychain), but I think everything that's in the packaging is quality. My favorite colors are Lost (dark matte brown), Cobra (they say it's matte black with gold micro-glitter, but I see it as a shimmery olive-black), and Sin (pinky-champagne). Oh, and you also get a full-size 24/7 Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion, which might be my most-used item out of everything in this box.
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Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Wallpaper Shadow Box
belovedhope 1/26/2013 8:44:00 PM
Pretty colors (Grind, Shotgun, Last Call, Asphyxia, Uzi, Shattered, Smog, Chopper, Midnight Cowboy), but too much glitter and fallout. Also, the pigmentation doesn't seem to be as good as other UD shadows I've tried--perhaps this is because I got it from Nordstrom Rack and it's not as "fresh"? I do like how compact the packaging and the magnetic lock. I got this for a very reasonable price ($11.50), so I can't complain too much, but can't say I'm going to buy this again.
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Lipstick -NYX - Chaos
belovedhope 12/15/2012 2:13:00 PM
This is a gorgeous, vampy red lipstick that is moisturizing and affordable. Staying power is so-so, but I always anticipate reapplying lipstick throughout the day anyway, so to me it's not that big of an issue. Took off a lippy because there are higher-quality lipsticks out there--ones with richer consistency, better smells/tastes (this one doesn't have a taste or smell), and just feel more luxurious on the lips... but if you plan on doing bright, bold red lips only every so often, this lipstick will do just the trick at a very good price.
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Blush -Cover Girl - Cheekers Blush in Pretty Peach
belovedhope 12/14/2012 9:12:00 PM
Maybe a little light for me, but I still think this brings a nice warmth to my cheeks. I also like the smell of this blush (smells fresh) and the compact casing. Cover Girl Cheekers are generally well-pigmented, affordable, and travel-friendly, and while I may not buy this exact color again, I'll definitely buy more Cheekers in the future.
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Eyeliner -Maybelline - Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner
belovedhope 12/14/2012 8:54:00 PM
This is a very good gel liner for an affordable price, but it does dry out after a while and can set with a chalky finish when this happens. For this reason, I prefer L'oreal's Infallible because it stays creamy for a longer period of time and dries down a very bold black.
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Eyeliner -L'Oreal - Infallible Gel Lacquer Liner in Blackest Black
belovedhope 12/13/2012 11:22:00 PM
Personally, I much prefer this over Maybelline Eye Studio gel liner. L'oreal's formula is creamier, which makes it easier to work with. It also dries a very rich black, versus Eye Studio, which dries sort of chalky due to the drier formula. The staying power is also fabulous- I've noticed both the L'oreal and the Maybelline liners fading over time or after a lot of physical activity, but the L'oreal tends to fade more "gracefully" into a more smoked out look, as opposed to the Maybelline which tends to become more crusty. To date, this is the best gel/cream liner I've tried, and it's available for a very reasonable price and in easily accessible places such as the local drugstore and supermarket. Based on the reviews I've seen here on MA, I don't feel the need to try its HE competitors anytime soon like Bobbi Brown and MAC fluidline because this product has met and exceeded my expectations, and I don't expect to be blown away again just by paying double the price for a HE product.
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Blush -E.L.F. - Studio Blush in Candid Coral
belovedhope 12/9/2012 10:22:00 PM
This blush creates instant pretty :) My bf even noticed that my cheeks were "glowing" when I first wore this. It's "Candid Coral," but I'd say it's more of a coral-y peach, since it's lighter than a true coral/more prominently peach- just something to keep in mind if you lean more towards the medium to dark skin tones. I took off a lippie b/c while it does leave a very sweet, warm glow to my cheeks that I love, it's not super pigmented, so I find myself putting on a lot of this to get the look that I want (as an NC42, for reference). I'm also not too crazy about the flecks of glitter, but it's not truly bothersome either. I will repurchase for sure though b/c while it's not a perfect product, you still get a lot of bang for your buck overall.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -L'Oreal - True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup
belovedhope 12/8/2012 9:23:00 PM
This is a nice foundation with some outstanding qualities. First, the fact that this has a pump is a HUGE step up from most drugstore foundations. Second, the color selection is fantastic, with Sun Beige matching my skin tone (NC42) better than any other foundation I own (except for my Illamasqua Skin Base foundation). However, there are also some less than outstanding qualities in this, such as the lasting power and the coverage. The coverage isn't bad, but if you're looking for full-coverage, this may not be for you (it gives a solid medium coverage, with a decent ability to hide blemishes). The lasting power is also somewhat poor, as the directions even state to "reapply every two hours" (I personally don't do this--I'll reapply once, maybe twice throughout the day). I enjoy the dewy finish this leaves on my skin, but the moisturizing properties of this leave me with a pretty oily t-zone by the end of the day due to my combination skin. I find myself reaching for this foundation when I'm planning a more laid-back day since it's easy to use with the pump, matches my skin well so I don't have to do too much as far as contouring and concealing, and leaves a natural dewy finish. While this hasn't reached HG by any means, it's still a reliable and affordable product that I'm happy to have in my collection now and again.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No