Mascara -Jordana - Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara
biogrrl 3/23/2013 1:11:00 PM
Meh. Really wet. Totally drooped my curl. Clumped lashes together. Left blobs at the tips. Not that black. This is crap even compared to other DS mascaras (CG clump crusher, Maybelline Full n Soft, L'Oreal Carbon, Prestige, NYX).
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Maybelline - New Instant Age Rewind
biogrrl 8/5/2011 11:43:00 PM
I bought the brightener version of this, and it is amazing. It blows YSL Touche Eclat out of the water. I'm NC15, so my blue undereye circles are pretty obvious. At 34 I also have a few more fine lines under my eyes now. This product totally covers and brightens. The texture is so light, it sets very well on its own (no powder needed), and it doesn't migrate into lines. I can wear this for 9 hours, and it looks as if it was just applied. It is the perfect shade for me, but I can see how it might be too light for a lot of other folks. (In contrast, the Garnier roller makes my undereye look orange.) It also works to brighten the inner eye without any shimmer or glitter (which is great because it doesn't look like you're trying too hard). I also like the sponge applicator. I don't use it directly on my skin, but I dab the sponge on my finger then apply to my eyes. It deposits the perfect amount of product this way. Love everything about it!
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Nuance by Salma Hayek - Ultra Shine Lip Gloss
biogrrl 7/31/2011 9:57:00 PM
I bought this in Pomegranate as well. Looks like a beautiful mid-toned pink. But... and this is a huge but... mine had solidified crystals in it. It felt like grains of sand when applying. I returned it, thinking I just had a bad tube, but I had the same problem again. Eventually the grains melt on your lips, so maybe it's crystallized waxes or something. Color payoff is very weak. The gloss is very sheer and has a very strong wonky fruit flavor. I, personally, didn't care for it whatsoever. Combine all three of these issues: hardly any color, grainy sand texture, and rancid fruit flavor and this is one of the worst glosses I've ever purchased. If you want this same color but saturated, you're much better off with N.Y.C. Liquid Lipshine in Fashion Avenue Fuschia. (Great saturated color, great inoffensive flavor, great wear time, and under $3).
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Olay - Age Defying Daily Renewal Cream - Beta Hydroxy Complex
biogrrl 7/9/2011 4:36:00 AM
I had really high hopes for this after seeing all the great reviews, but this broke my skin out so badly. I'm talking 6 deep cysts after the first week not to mention the pores all over my face are clogged. It also aggravated post acne pigmentation and made it all a darker purple-red color. In short, it was a disaster. I have used BHA products In the past and never had them block my pores, so it must be the Olay base cream. Ugh.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Blush Brush
biogrrl 7/1/2011 4:11:00 AM
I adore this blush brush. It is the perfect size, has the perfect angles, is soft, picks up just enough product, and the price can't be beat. All the other blush brushes I've looked at from most major brands were either too big, broad, or had issues getting enough (or too much) product. I have full, round, high cheekbones so I need blush to sit high up and just cover the small area at the tops of my cheeks and this works perfectly. For the price, I think everybody should at least try it.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Revlon - ColorStay Blemish Concealer with Soft Flex
biogrrl 5/19/2011 2:43:00 PM
I have no idea what happened to Colorstay concealer, but this is so sheer it gives absolutely no coverage. I pat it on, and it melts away. Particularly for concealing blemishes, you need a lot of pigmentation in the least amount of product so it isn't cakey and this is the exact opposite. Sheer, no coverage whatsoever, and it has SA which not every skin type can tolerate. Colorstay concealer used to have way better coverage. Maybelline SuperStay 24 Hr has 10 times the coverage. I have no idea why I strayed, but I'm going right back to Maybelline.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Other -Sephora - Ratings & Reviews Section
biogrrl 12/13/2010 2:57:00 PM
They absolutely refuse to post any negative reviews. I have found this with several major bloggers as well. God forbid you try to have an honest conversation. Case in point: the Tweezerman ProCurl lash curler. It costs more than the Shu curler and within 3 weeks of owning it, the welded metal cross bar that curls the lashes against the silicon actually popped off and into my eyeball. That's right! Metal shards in my eye. I wanted to let people know that not only does it not work well (compared to Shu), it is also extremely poorly made and potentially very dangerous. But alas.... nobody will ever know since Sephora.com never posted it even with repeated submissions. Utterly useless and borderline criminal.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Belli Acne Clearing Facial Wash
biogrrl 8/14/2010 2:10:00 AM
This is a fabulous find that I picked up at CVS after searching for an acid based face wash. It contains 7% lactic acid, but doesn't leave my skin feeling stripped at all. Just soft and lovely and with fewer flakes. I am using it in conjunction with BP to treat my hormonal acne, to help lighten post acne marks. Does a great job removing long wear foundation, but you'll need a separate eye makeup remover. I can't say that it alone is improving my acne, but it does improve my skin tone and help clear dead skin cells to prep for deeper absorption of other products. The only down side is the price tag of $22, but since I haven't found its equal and you only need a nickel sized drop, I'd still continue buying it. I have paid more for products that did nothing, so overall a fabulous find.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Physicians Formula - Healthy Wear SPF 50 Tinted Moisturizer
biogrrl 6/30/2010 1:56:00 AM
Man, I wanted to love this but the fair color is so dark. I looked like an Oompa Loompa. Love the packaging and the concept, but I can't imagine how dark the other colors must be for fair to come out the shade of a hotdog. Bleh.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Lypsyl - Regular Lip Balm
biogrrl 4/15/2010 8:45:00 PM
I love this! It's the only thing that keeps my lips from drying out in New England winters. (Great for year round too.) Stays on a long time without being too waxy. Doesn't reduce opacity of lipstick/gloss. FYI, they *do* make one with sunscreen, so folks dinging a lippie for it lacking SPF need to check other stores. My Rite Aid has the SPF 15 version, which is just as great as all the other versions.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Hawaiian Tropic - SPF 45 plus Aloe Vera Sunblock Lip Balm
biogrrl 4/10/2010 9:57:00 PM
Ick. Ew. Gross. Foul. Toxic. That pretty much describes the bug spray taste left in your mouth. I don't understand, as it said vanilla mint scent but it was really minty pineapples mixed with OFF. Bleeeeech. Really disappointing, as so many of their body sunscreens rock (like their new SPF50 lotion sunscreen).
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -La Roche Posay - Anthelios 40 Sunscreen Cream (US Version) with Mexoryl SX
biogrrl 3/30/2010 2:57:00 PM
I am so bummed. This didn't turn me white, worked well under my foundation, didn't sting my sensitive skin, and yet.... broke me out in 6 giant cysts within 3 days of use. DREADFUL. Don't go near this if you are acne prone. There is no way this is non-comedogenic. Blocked every pore on my face, which has never happened.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Viva Glam Cyndi ] [DISCONTINUED]
biogrrl 2/19/2010 12:05:00 PM
If you are pale and have never found a red that has ever worked on you without being too blue or too orange, all while making your teeth look yellow, then *run* and stock up on this. I had totally given up on finding any kind of red lip color that worked on me. Something bright, sexy, and natural, without looking overdone or too high maintenance. This color is absolutely it! Beautiful pinky red that lights up my neutral toned skin, makes my teeth look super white, has a gorgeous sheen but doesn't fade like a gloss would. Stunning, in every single way. I'm going to buy a case of this stuff because I have never found anything else like it.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Too Faced - Metal Eyed in Shotgun
biogrrl 11/13/2009 6:56:00 PM
Boo. I tried this in the store and it was gorgeous (a deep pewter shimmer), but when I tried to apply it at home, it was so watery and uneven in color. It wouldn't even apply to my lids! So, it's going back tomorrow.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Eucerin - Gentle Hydrating Cleanser
biogrrl 10/1/2009 1:53:00 PM
Love this cleanser. I have very sensitive and acne prone skin and was looking for a cleanser that removed sunscreen and longwear foundation without drying my skin. Purpose is too drying, Cetaphil doesn't remove makeup whatsoever, Cerave breaks me out, etc., etc. This takes everything off but leaves my skin soft and not overstripped. Doesn't break me out, non-leaking pump dispenser, no scent, leaves no oily film, and $5.99 at Ulta. Simply perfect.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No