Primer/ Corrector -Sephora - Smoothing & Mattifying
cadabeijos 2/27/2013 11:54:00 PM
I got a deluxe sample of this from Sephora, and have used it up. Pros: cheap for a primer, works decently. Cons: Doesn't keep your skin matte for very long, smells awful. Won't be purchasing this full-size. I much prefer Hourglass' primer to this.
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Lipstick -Guerlain - Rouge G 25 Garconne
cadabeijos 1/28/2013 1:20:00 AM
This is one of my favorite red lipsticks, due to the wear and texture of this l/s. It stays on forever without having to retouch, and doesn't dry my lips out like a lot of my other red lipsticks. It's not necessarily a unique red, but it's a red that lasts and lasts. I'm used to having to retouch every hour or so, but this stays on all night and moisturizes my lips, so it's a keeper for me. The case is also awesome--makes me feel like a spy with lipstick:)
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Queen Helene - Mint Julep Masque
cadabeijos 1/28/2013 1:17:00 AM
This stuff is good for when you don't want to spend more $$ on a mask, but I think there are better masks that are far more effective out there. Evanhealy (avial at Whole Foods and online) has a much better one that works much better. The Queen Helene one is nice for spot treatments--pimples do reduce in size overnight with this--but I don't really like using this as a whole face mask. The smell is a little overwhelming, sort of like plastic and sulfur. I also don't think it really does much as a weekly treatment. I'm finishing my first tube of this, but won't be repurchasing.
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Primer/ Corrector -Hourglass - Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15
cadabeijos 1/27/2013 4:42:00 AM
This has quickly become one of my favorite primers. It creates a great base for makeup, has SPF for added sun protection, and keeps my makeup perfect for hours. It's quite expensive, but a little bit goes a long way, so the pump should last quite awhile. I'm actually still going through the deluxe sample (1 month+), and haven't even gotten to my full-sized one yet. Love this stuff so far, hopefully my skin doesn't get sick of it anytime soon...
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Clarins - Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch
cadabeijos 1/27/2013 4:37:00 AM
I have been using a deluxe sample of this, and it's surprisingly good, even on my combo-oily skin that doesn't like about 90% of primers. I switch between the Hourglass one and this one, and I'd say this is quite comparable to the Hourglass one in performance. This one allows my makeup to apply very smoothly and keeps in in place well, without me having to touch up much at all. I might buy a full-sized jar of this once my Hourglass primer is finished. I'd say this is an ideal primer for those with fine lines and wrinkles, as it smooths everything out for your makeup application. Surprisingly, my combo-oily skin loves this too, so I'd say quite a few people would like this. I do wish this was in a more sanitary container, however. I hate products in jars--horribly unsanitary:T.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics - Lip Tar - Nylon
cadabeijos 1/4/2013 7:56:00 PM
This is a bright, neon pink, somewhere between a fuchsia and a neon pink. Love the extreme pigmentation and can be mixed with other OCC's to create a unique color mix, but like my other lip tars, I wish this was more moisturizing. Within an hour of wearing this, the pigmentation is still there, but my lips have become pretty dry. Even with chapstick, I end up having to remove this completely, because my lips have become dry/cracked/flakey. Love OCC lip tars for the colors, but hate them for the lack of moisturizing properties.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics - Lip Tar - Demure
cadabeijos 1/4/2013 7:53:00 PM
I love this color (bright magenta), and the pigmentation is amazing. But, like all OCC lip tars, this is really drying. I've found that every time I wear my lip tars, my lips end up extremely chapped. This is amazing for the color, but formula can definitely be improved to make it more moisturizing.
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Moisturizers -Clarins - Multi-Active Day Cream *new formula*
cadabeijos 11/26/2012 3:19:00 AM
I just started using this, so will have to update at a later time, but there are some pros and cons to this. PROS: hydrating, and heavy enough for winter time on my combo-oily but dehydrated skin, not too heavy, sinks into skin nicely. CONS: smells bad, a lot like something my mother or grandmother would use. I'm not too keen on the fragrance in this. Also really expensive, at about $50 a jar. It'll probably last through a winter, but probably not longer than that. Not sure if I'd repurchase, but for now it's doing a good job hydrating my skin in the cold weather / dry air.
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Lipstick -Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics - Lip Tar - Narcissus
cadabeijos 11/26/2012 3:15:00 AM
I bought this after seeing some pictures of swatches and on lips online, and it looked sort of purply pink, but in real life this is quite close to MAC's VG GaGa, more of a bubblegum pink that's very cool-toned. Alone, it looks a little too overwhelmingly light on me, but could be used as a good mixing color with something perhaps darker. Like all OCC lip tars, this can be drying, but not too bad with some lip balm. Unfortunately, had to return this--it's a huge tube and since I already have GaGa, I didn't see myself using this often enough to justify keeping it.
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Loose Powders -Ben Nye - Bella Luxury Powder: Banana (formerly known as Visage Poudre Luxury Powder)
cadabeijos 11/21/2012 6:14:00 PM
I got a sample of this from a lovely MUA-er, and it really is one of the better setting powders out there. I've tried a few much more expensive setting powders, and they aren't nearly as good as this one. It's mattifying, keeps my combo-oily skin controlled, and doesn't irritate my skin at all. It's on my list of favorites right now...dare I say HG?:)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman - Expert Face Brush
cadabeijos 11/6/2012 11:29:00 PM
This brush is an AMAZING inexpensive buy. I've been looking to replace my ELF flat top brushes for liquid foundation application, and heard all the rave reviews on this, so decided to order it. It's a great brush, dries within a few hours of washing (vs. my ELF's and Sonia Kashuk flat top, which take 1-2 days to dry), and is able to easily get into spots like under the eyes and around the nose easily. Love this!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -St. Ives - Scrub Free Exfoliating Pads
cadabeijos 10/2/2012 10:46:00 PM
When I first started using these, I really couldn't stand the smell (smells a little like rotten apricots), but after a few days of usage, it doesn't really bother me anymore. I don't really notice it after I apply moisturizer over it. I've been using these for a little over a week now, and my skintone has improved a lot, with the gentle exfoliation of the AHA's. Love it! and it was really affordable (about $3.99 online, something like $5.99 at the drugstore), so hope to keep this in my daily skincare regimen for awhile. I've had fewer breakouts and clearer skin, so I'm stocking up on these!
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Liquid -Bourjois - Healthy Mix Foundation ] [DISCONTINUED]
cadabeijos 10/1/2012 7:06:00 PM
This is near impossible to find online (if you're like me and based in the US, where this is not sold), so I luckily found my shade of this on ebay. I LOVE this foundation. It's not completely mattifying, not completely dewy, but lies somewhere in between as far as finish goes. It looks very natural on. It hasn't broken me out, but it does have a very strong berry-like scent to it that may bother some people if you're sensitive to heavily scented products. I'm NC40 and purchased 56/hale clair/light bronze. It's a tiny bit light for me, but not so light that it's noticeable (you can only tell along my hairline where my skin color and the foundation differ a little). It might be difficult for girls darker than NC40 to find a match in this, since I believe 56 is the darkest it goes, but if you're NC40 or lighter, this is a really great foundation to try.
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Moisturizers -Sephora - Instant Moisturizer
cadabeijos 10/1/2012 6:51:00 PM
I got a deluxe sample of this from Sephora and tried it out. While it is a decent moisturizer--it doesn't seem to be overly moisturizing, so sort of average-grade as far as moisturizers go--it is heavily perfumed. For those who are sensitive to scents in facial skincare products, this is not for you. Also, it seems to perform similar to something you might find at the drugstore. It absorbs quickly, but doesn't seem to be enough for those with dry skin, dehydrated skin, or skin that needs more moisture in the winter. I will not be purchasing the full size of this.
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Treatments -Ren - Resurfacing AHA Concentrate
cadabeijos 9/25/2012 7:07:00 PM
I got a sample of this from Sephora and used it at night after washing my face and before my night moisturizer. I didn't expect much, as I've used REN products before and never got results I was pleased with. However, I woke up to such soft, supple skin, and was blown away. I haven't used it enough to say whether or not this lightens acne marks over time or not, but I think it does a lot to even out the texture of your skin. The one thing I'm not loving about this is the smell, though. It's not the most pleasant smell, but if only used at night, it's not a huge deal. Other AHA's probably do about the same thing as this product claims to do, but I've only tried one other AHA product (First Aid Beauty's facial radiance pads) and that is much gentler than this, and doesn't work nearly as well. Overall, I think this is a good, gentle AHA that brightens your skin and improves the texture of your skin. Any of its other claims, I'm not sure whether or not they prove true. Will have to update this as I use it over time!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No