Mascara -Tarte - Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara
blearghk 9/2/2012 12:12:00 AM
Now that I've been wearing it for a few weeks, I can say it's the best mascara I've tried so far! I like a lash that's still in the "natural" range, but thick and black so that I don't have to use eyeliner. (I much prefer it to Lights, Camera, Lashes! That one is more dramatic, longer, thin and separated - like a doll's eye. They're very different styles so sample both if you can) It's a little expensive, but other than that I have no complaints and lots of compliments. - It doesn't make my eyelashes feel any different, while many other mascaras felt heavy/thick/uncomfortable - It stays on LONG. I've had it on for 20 hours straight once, still great. - It stays on STRONG. If I rub/scratch my eyes, it might flake a tiny bit, but it'll be okay when it would've been smudge city for other brands. - It's kinda water-resistant. Not waterproof, you can still run it off in the shower (more time-consuming in the sink, several rinses, but very doable), but I've had no problems with teary eyes or drizzles. - It doesn't pull while taking it off, no issues with ever tugging a lash off. You can rinse it off gently without having to scrub your lashes or anything like that. However, since it's a little water resistant, I'll use a touch of makeup remover to help it along if I'm not in the shower. - It applies quickly and intensely - I only need one coat on one of my eyelashes, 2-3 small ones on the other (I think I have longer eyelashes on one side - or at least just easier to curl) - Holds a curl up nicely. - Nice deep black color. Pretty much all I could ever ask for in a mascara.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Tarte - Lights Camera Lashes
blearghk 9/1/2012 11:53:00 PM
I didn't like the effect of this, though I could see why some could. For me, it really, really lengthens (too much for me!) - but that's it. Plus the lashes all get very separated, which makes me think of doll eyes. I much prefer their Gifted Amazonian Clay Mascara. That one lengthens a little less, but thickens a lot more. Both look pretty natural though (this one more so since it doesn't give that little "eyeliner" effect at the base), it depends on your style and what your lashes need.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Cover Girl - Professional Super Thick Lash Mascara
blearghk 8/11/2012 10:58:00 PM
It's okay for everyday use. I like how cheap it is, and how it is light and does not clump, flake off, or take off lashes. But it's not super great for me - the very black isn't really "very black" and for me it lengthens much more than any thickening effect, so I still have to fill in a bit with eyeliner. It's so, so un-waterproof that any tears are a disaster, although that does mean that it is super easy to wash off too.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Makeup Remover -Lancome - Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Make-up Remover
blearghk 8/11/2012 9:35:00 PM
Wow - no stinging at all! That's really new for me. No nasty residue too - it's a little oily but it washes off. I don't even have to moisturize right after like I'd have to with other more drying/irritating removers. That said, it's not perfect. I'm sure they could've marked it up less: 26 bucks is just steep for a makeup remover no matter how great it is. It's just a bit over airport liquid limits, but hopefully those will go away. Most of all, though, WHY the childproof cap? That's so obnoxious, especially when getting home late and needing to get the make-up off before bed. It doesn't even make sense - you'd have this either with your makeup or your bath products, which are both areas a kid shouldn't be accessing anyway (lest they get into mascara or hair treatment stuff or something that'd be way worse for them). That said, I was very surprised seeing some super low reviews here - they must've changed the formula since then, or maybe there's something in there that some people are allergic to.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Aveeno - Daily Moisturizing Lotion
blearghk 8/11/2012 9:24:00 PM
Cheap, great, doesn't sting or itch at all on my sensitive skin. I can even use it around the eyes.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Tweezerman - ProCurl Eyelash Curler
blearghk 8/11/2012 9:21:00 PM
I have reeeally deep-set eyes. This is the first full-sized curler that I could fit and make work well (I've tried Shu Umera's, Lancome's, Sephora's, Tarte's, and more I don't remember...), and it's so much better than my previous awkward mini. Quick to use, and the curl lasts well for me - I once did it before bed to practice, and it was still there when I woke up. There could be some improvements though. I love how there's 3 extra pads, but they're not the best quality I've seen - good enough, but could be sturdier and a touch better textured. I'd also love if it was just a bit less wide, .5-1cm or so, so it could actually go around my eye all the way and get a more intense curl. Lastly, the pure black color of the pads makes it impossible to see my (also black) eyelashes - it'd be great if there was a bright, colored option that would contrast. Still, it works pretty well, that's saying a lot when nothing else had so far* and it even comes with Tweezerman's standard lifetime of sharpening! Haha. *(Concealers are such a pain too, especially after the passing of Tarte's Dark Circle Defense. I begrudgingly stick with Bobbi Brown's.)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Bobbi Brown - Concealer Kit
blearghk 8/11/2012 9:07:00 PM
(Reviewing this as the Corrector/Concealer-Kit together) It's great for hardcore raccoon-eye cases... but it's fussy, a bit thick/product-y, it's a bit time consuming, and it's expensive. ***The most important part*** is to make sure that you get the right shades, or it'll really be not worth it. Don't go for a makeup artist's pick if you still think it looks less than great. Look for a store, maybe a Sephora or something, that will have all the shades available for you to try, take off, and try again. Set out some time to really find the perfect combination, compare different options on each eye side by side - it makes a lot of difference. If your eyes are dry, you'll want to moisturize them because this is one drying mixture. Preferably, do it the night before, and then some during too. Of course, BB will sell some extremely expensive eye creams (hah!), but a regular one will do, really. I use Aveeno's Daily Moisturizing lotion, and it's great on my (super sensitive!) eyes. With a little effort, the right shade combination, the time to put 4 things (moisturizer-corrector-concealer-setting powder) and a bite out of your wallet, you could get a pretty great effect with this. I'm going all the way to 4 despite its flaws, because right now I haven't found anything with a better end result. That said, I really miss Tarte's discontinued Dark Circle Defense. Much cheaper, lots of it, great texture, super fast to put on - maybe just toss some powder if I wanted it to go all day. It wasn't as perfect of a shade match, a little pale, but it was so great for the everyday...
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Bobbi Brown - Corrector
blearghk 8/11/2012 9:06:00 PM
(Reviewing this as the Corrector/Concealer-Kit together) It's great for hardcore raccoon-eye cases... but it's fussy, a bit thick/product-y, it's a bit time consuming, and it's expensive. ***The most important part*** is to make sure that you get the right shades, or it'll really be not worth it. Don't go for a makeup artist's pick if you still think it looks less than great. Look for a store, maybe a Sephora or something, that will have all the shades available for you to try, take off, and try again. Set out some time to really find the perfect combination, compare different options on each eye side by side - it makes a lot of difference. If your eyes are dry, you'll want to moisturize them because this is one drying mixture. Preferably, do it the night before, and then some during too. Of course, BB will sell some extremely expensive eye creams (hah!), but a regular one will do, really. I use Aveeno's Daily Moisturizing lotion, and it's great on my (super sensitive!) eyes. With a little effort, the right shade combination, the time to put 4 things (moisturizer-corrector-concealer-setting powder) and a bite out of your wallet, you could get a pretty great effect with this. I'm going all the way to 4 despite its flaws, because right now I haven't found anything with a better end result. That said, I really miss Tarte's discontinued Dark Circle Defense. Much cheaper, lots of it, great texture, super fast to put on - maybe just toss some powder if I wanted it to go all day. It wasn't as perfect of a shade match, a little pale, but it was so great for the everyday...
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Bobbi Brown - EXTRA Eye Repair Cream
blearghk 8/11/2012 8:40:00 PM
Ehh... This works well, yes, but it also stings a little for me, and it's EXTREMELY expensive considering that I get a good enough, non-stinging effect from Aveeno's daily moisturizing lotion (Yes - on the eyes! Mine are really sensitive too, it still works well!). Which, for the eyes, is practically a lifetime's generous supply for 5 bucks. I wish I could give this like 1.5 lippies since it DOES work, but due to the massive price and super-positive review balance I decided to lean to 1 rather than 2. Maybe this was recommended to me for the wrong reasons. I'm still young and don't have wrinkles to take care of yet, and my Ringo Starr-esque racoon eyes (deep set, thin skin, very dry and very dark, creasy and occasionally puffy) are hereditary. Then again, most studies show that anti-aging creams are hardly noticeable or more effective than a good plain moisturizer. And anything that's good enough for sensitive skin should really be good for the eyes too (which are just thin, sensitive skin) - separate products are mostly just double marketing. Plus there's going to be a very strong placebo effect - when you 70 bucks on a bit of cream, you REALLY want it to work. I lucked out with a generous sample from a super generous makeup artist, so I'm left wondering if maybe I just didn't get hit with that. But I won't go so far as to say that this is definitely a rip-off: maybe it does have something "extra enough" for other people, e.g. with age-related lines or something I don't quite have. I'm skeptical, and I don't see any particularly amazing/expensive ingredients in it, but enough people are thrilled with it that maybe it does make a real difference for some. I'd just like to recommend trying out some cheaper options first (nice ones: natural ingredients for moisturizing sensitive skin) - you're free to use big amounts of those, too. You can even look up the ingredients and look for similar stuff.
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Sephora - Perfecting Cover Foundation
blearghk 4/28/2011 5:06:00 PM
Hello, HG. This is like Photoshop for real life! Normally, I don't need foundation. But sometimes, I get what I can only describe as "red splotchiness" on some parts of my cheeks - usually because of bad weather or a sensitive reaction to something harsh. Concealer is too heavy for that, tinted moisturizer is not enough (and adding too much brightness on my already pale face makes me feel like I'm in Twilight), but this is perfect! I can spot-apply it and it blends in so amazingly that people don't believe I'm wearing makeup even if I tell them, even if they look up close, only after I show them what happens when I add makeup remover. No more having to cover your entire face with a "mask" - not that it even feels masky or heavy for me. The price is extremely reasonable for such a good product, and I love the packaging. It's easy to get exactly however much you want, and great to be able to tell exactly how much you have left.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -MAC - Select Moisturecover
blearghk 4/28/2011 4:58:00 PM
This didn't brighten up my circles as much as other concealers. However, it was a good amount for a good price and didn't emphasize my creases (which is very rare for me), so I thought it'd be a great everyday option. Unfortunately, I had to return my purchase because a couple of hours after trying on my sample at the store, I got a slight burning sensation in my eyes. I came home and removed the product and discovered a lot of redness on my skin. Later that night, I was chopping up some hot peppers for dinner. I ended up rubbing my eyes by accident, and while usually that just stings a bit, this time it turned into a red-hot fiery agony that rendered me almost blind and soaking my face in milk for the next half hour. Of course I won't blame MAC for my silly accident with peppers, but my skin definitely got a bad reaction to this product and got red, a little painful, and (obviously) extra sensitive. It seems like an allergy to one of the ingredients, so be very careful if you tend to be sensitive to makeup.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Bobbi Brown - Creamy Concealer Kit (Reformulated & New packaging 2011)
blearghk 4/28/2011 4:48:00 PM
(Reviewing this as the Corrector/Concealer-Kit together) It's great for hardcore raccoon-eye cases... but it's fussy, a bit thick/product-y, it's a bit time consuming, and it's expensive. ***The most important part*** is to make sure that you get the right shades, or it'll really be not worth it. Don't go for a makeup artist's pick if you still think it looks less than great. Look for a store, maybe a Sephora or something, that will have all the shades available for you to try, take off, and try again. Set out some time to really find the perfect combination, compare different options on each eye side by side - it makes a lot of difference. If your eyes are dry, you'll want to moisturize them because this is one drying mixture. Preferably, do it the night before, and then some during too. Of course, BB will sell some extremely expensive eye creams (hah!), but a regular one will do, really. I use Aveeno's Daily Moisturizing lotion, and it's great on my (super sensitive!) eyes. With a little effort, the right shade combination, the time to put 4 things (moisturizer-corrector-concealer-setting powder) and a bite out of your wallet, you could get a pretty great effect with this. I'm going all the way to 4 despite its flaws, because right now I haven't found anything with a better end result. That said, I really miss Tarte's discontinued Dark Circle Defense. Much cheaper, lots of it, great texture, super fast to put on - maybe just toss some powder if I wanted it to go all day. It wasn't as perfect of a shade match, a little pale, but it was so great for the everyday...
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Shu Uemura - Mini Eyelash Curler
blearghk 4/28/2011 4:04:00 PM
I used to be really happy with this until I found a full-size curler that fit into my deepset eyes (Tweezerman's Procurl - not perfect, but much better). It really is a pain in the behind compared to a full curler, so I can see why it got discontinued. While it will work, it just takes so much longer - you can only do a little bit at a time, and due to the design you gotta keep making adjustments, since the parts you aren't doing get thrown out of whack. The curl doesn't stay super long either. I was lucky to find a Sephora that had samples of all sorts of eyelash curlers - most didn't fit, but once I found one that did, I've got no use for this one aymore.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Tarte - Dark Circle Defense Under Eye Corrector ] [DISCONTINUED]
blearghk 4/28/2011 1:02:00 AM
Can you say holy grail (especially for crease issues)? I've got some nasty Russian raccoon eyes going on along with skin that is both very dry and very thin/sensitive over there. MAC concealer burned, Bobbi Brown creased too much to pay its price, and many other brands were just all around terrible. Too chunky, too harsh, too unnatural... This is the first concealer to not make my eye creases stick out. I don't think any kind of makeup can make them fully go away, they're just side effects of very deep set eyes and not too much sleep...But my problem was that concealer would lighten the under-eye area while keeping the creases the same, bringing even more attention to them. This one applies uniformly and makes me look so much more awake! And the best part is that unlike Bobbi Brown's concealer, even if you get really close you can't really tell that there's makeup - there's no powdery stuff sitting on top of the skin in my experience. One caveat, though - do try it on before you buy, preferably in a place that lets you remove it and try a new shade on. I could've sworn I'd be a Fair-Light, but that ended up giving my eyes a weird pale sheen. Light-Medium was just fine. I could see how, unfortunately, these limited shades would just not fit some people. Also, you can't really see if it will work well by trying to blend it into your hand, since it's specifically made to cancel dark areas.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No