Cleansers -LUSH - Ultra Bland
cahall2 4/29/2013 3:05:00 AM
This is HG for me - my skin is dry for the most part, but I do get the little oilies around the nose and chin. I massage a small amount of this cleanser all over my face, including the eye area, and then remove with a cloth soaked in warm water. It's amazing - all the makeup - even eye makeup, grime, everything is just gone and my skin is left feeling moisturized and clean. You don't need much, but you do need to spend a few moments really working this in so it emulsifies a bit - I love it, I give myself a little facial massage. Highly recommended.
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Styling Products -LUSH - Sea Spray
cahall2 4/29/2013 2:59:00 AM
This is supposed to replace The Big Tease, which they aren't making anymore. I'm sad. It just does not work for me as well as that product did. My hair is long, fine in texture but I have a lot of it, and it's wavy (but in a weird, uneven pattern) and it tends to frizz if I'm not careful. This product smells good, but it just seems to exacerbate the frizz without giving me a lot in terms of helping to even out the wave pattern, or even really volume. It definitely adds texture, but just not really the texture I want. I don't want to take it back, so I keep playing with it to figure out how it can work best; I always have to brush it out because it makes my hair sticky, but then after I brush it out it leaves some hold and the nice scent...so...I guess it's okay?
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Eye Shadow -Sleek - i-Divine PPQ Shangri-la Collection - Respect palette
cahall2 4/29/2013 2:53:00 AM
I'm really getting into the Sleek palettes - this is my third one, and I am really impressed so far. This palette has a great selection of interesting colors. My favorite by far is called Vandellas (a muted, dark cranberry color); it really makes my blue eyes stand out without that red eyeshadow I'm-ill-and-haven't-slept-in-a-week look. The palette is almost worth it just for that. But it also includes a black (all the Sleek palettes I have so far include a black shade) and some fun neutrals, and then POW - Otis Redding (bright red) and several corally red shades. At first I thought I could never use them, but I have been surprised. I've used the red blended down with a muted brown and it looks amazing, I've even used the coral color on my cheeks. I'd recommend this one. Lots of fallout when applying, but they blend decently and I always clean up under the eyes afterward anyway. Good value for trying out some new interesting shades.
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Bronzers -Chanel - Soleil Tan de Chanel - Bronzing Makeup Base
cahall2 4/16/2013 4:14:00 AM
I think this one depends quite a bit on your skintone - this works beautifully on me, and I love it. It is definitely a color that I think you would want to test out first, because I can see how it would have a tendency to look muddy or too 'citrus-y' on some people. Great texture (it's a gel, but quite creamy on the skin and blends quite well), and I can use it to give my skin the sunkissed look, or I can use it to contour. I use it with a RT stippling brush. It is great value for money, because you don't need much and there is a lot of product. One of my favorite daily products.
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Mascara -Chanel - Inimitable Intense Mascara
cahall2 4/16/2013 4:07:00 AM
I'd been wanting to try this mascara for quite a while, and now that I have, I'm a bit disappointed. It's very black, which is lovely, and I was surprised that I liked the wand (it's one of those plastic bristle wands, which usually end up depositing too much mascara on my lashes and they all clump together). But I'm just not that impressed with the formula. It's difficult to get nice separation on the lashes, and it doesn't wear all that well. After several hours I start to get little flakes. My lashes are quite long, but they are blond and so I need my mascara to give me volume without the lashes all sticking together, and this only does it with quite a bit of work on my part. I just don't think I should have to work this hard with a mascara that costs this much. I'd rather stick with DS and spend more on items that I won't have to toss after 3 months.
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Palettes -Urban Decay - Naked Basics
cahall2 4/9/2013 2:24:00 PM
This palette is exactly what the name says: basics. I like it and find myself using it quite often, but there are pros and cons. PROS - like most UD shadows, these are lovely to work with. Blendable, long lasting (I use a primer, but even the times I haven't these shadows have stood up well), and nicely pigmented - unlike a lot of matte shadows, these aren't at all chalky. So that's a big + - the packaging is nice - compact and small, closes tightly so it's a great palette to take with you, especially if you want to change from a day look to a night one since it has some deeper shades. CONS - I think this palette probably wouldn't work well for those with darker skin. The shades work well for me (although two of the lighter shades are a bit too similar for such a small palette imo) but I am fair to medium in skin tone. The two deeper shades (faint and crave) would probably work great for anyone, but the three lighter shades might not show up as different on darker skinned users. Just FYI - Fallout like crazy when applying these shadows. It's worth it, but just a warning. I said that I would repurchase because I do like this palette and use it several times a week, but honestly by the time I hit pan on this (if I ever do - they are pretty pigmented!) I will probably try a new neutrals palette.
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Concealers -BeneFit Cosmetics - Fakeup
cahall2 3/16/2013 7:04:00 PM
I bought this on impulse and was sure I was going to hate it. I've been using this for a week so far, and I have to say that I'm impressed. I have fairly dry skin, I'm in my early 40's so there's a few little lines and wrinkles to deal with, and I tend to have bags under my eyes. Some darker discoloration under the eyes, but no majorly dark circles. Believe it or not, the fact that I have bags rather than dark circles has made finding under-eye concealer pretty difficult. This stuff is pretty great - looks like a tube of lipstick, and the concealer part of the product is in the middle of a gel-like outer layer with vit E and apple seed extract. It is so creamy and emollient going on that I figured it would quickly migrate to my little lines and emphasize those terrible bags under my eyes even more. Nope. I don't really understand how this works, but it just stays put, no creasing, no moving, nada. I have not even been setting it with powder. Crazy. My skin is medium toned by I got the light color - it illuminates under the eyes without giving me reverse-raccoon or whatever we call that. I haven't tried it on blemishes yet, not sure how that would work, although I have used it around the nose. Lovely finish. Not sure I'd call this HG yet since it's only been a week, but this is an impulse buy that I'm really, really happy with!
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -MAC - Pro Sculpting Cream
cahall2 3/5/2013 1:49:00 AM
I got this in the color Copper Beech - I actually wanted a different color but this was a limited edition item I guess, and they were down to only a couple of options at my local Pro store. I asked the SA about whether these were going to become permanent additions to the line, she said they had all thought they were but they are not. And that's a real bummer, because this product is terrific. I'm at the age where I really feel like cream products give my skin a much nicer sheen, and are just generally less 'dry and lined' looking. This is great for contouring (although it is a warm shade, which actually works well with my coloring but I would imagine it wouldn't for lots of people) but it's also great just on the eyes for a super quick look with mascara. Love it, and would buy more if I could.
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Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Lait-Creme Concentre
cahall2 2/24/2013 3:20:00 PM
Great all-purpose, daily moisturizer. I've used this for several years now, and it always gives my skin a nice finish. I wander to other products occasionally, but find myself coming back to this! My skin is combination but tends more toward dry; I think this is a perfect moisturizer for my skin type because it does manage to control the oil in my T-zone while providing enough moisture for the rest of my face and neck. It works beautifully under makeup. I've repurchased numerous times, and I think it's well worth it.
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Concealers -Clinique - Airbrush Concealer
cahall2 2/19/2013 6:54:00 PM
I love this concealer! I do not have the dreaded dark circles, so I cannot speak to how well this works for that problem. BUT - I have had puffy bags under my eyes since I was an adolescent, and now that I'm older that skin has started to look a little saggy. So, not good at all. I've struggled to find an under eye concealer since products that are too heavy or opaque tend to emphasize my problems. This goes on like a dream, very smooth consistency. And easily blends out. And I don't know how, but it manages to make the area under my eyes look smooth, less puffy, and illuminated. This one is a keeper.
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Brows -BeneFit Cosmetics - Brow Zing in Light
cahall2 10/2/2012 6:22:00 PM
This is actually a really great product - good value because even though it is pretty pricey, you get a ton of product and it lasts and lasts. Packaging quality is nice, and the little included tweezers work in a pinch (ha!) although I find they are too little to even think of replacing my tweezermans. So why not 5 lippies? The color - this pulls very warm on me and everyone I've seen it on, which is great for those with warm toned hair. Unfortunately, mine isn't. And this makes my brows look too obviously different from my hair color no matter how I apply it. But for those for whom the colors are a good match - this would be a great buy!
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Bronzers -Dr. Hauschka - Translucent Bronze Concentrate
cahall2 10/2/2012 6:17:00 PM
I wanted to like this, I really did. But it just didn't work well for me. I have medium toned skin, and no matter how I worked with this (and I'm pretty good at working with products) it just looked bad. I'm not sure how, but it managed to be both too muddy and too red at the same time. I have combo/dry skin, and I tried this blended with a moisturizer, with a sunscreen, and just a little bit on its own, dabbed on with a stippling brush. I tried it just on the high points of the face, I tried it as a contour, and I tried it all over. Nothing looked good. It either disappeared completely or it looked ruddy/muddy (again, not sure how that happened) I have ended up using it on my legs, but like the other reviewer mentioned - this is pretty expensive for using on the legs :) For the price, I wouldn't repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -BeneFit Cosmetics - They're Real
cahall2 8/23/2012 3:37:00 PM
This one just didn't work for me. I have quite long lashes, but they are fine and blond, so I have to have mascara or my eyes just disappear. This mascara caused the worst spider lashes I have ever had. It didn't matter how many ways I tried applying it - thin coats, combing through thoroughly after, etc. etc. I shouldn't have to work this hard with a mascara that costs this much, when I have DS brands that apply like a dream for 1/3 the cost. Maybe this would work if you were going for a look with full-on, messy spidery lashes (like Courtney Love during the Hole days) but otherwise, no.
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Fragrances -Kenzo - Flower
cahall2 8/23/2012 3:32:00 PM
I'm not great at describing scents, so I'm not going to be able to write a review explaining top notes, etc. But since others here have done that, I'll just add my own humble thoughts :) I have a hard time with perfume because apparently my body chemistry just doesn't mix well with a lot of things. I have friends who smell good in almost anything, but that's definitely not me! Plus, my SO hates perfumes in general, so that limits me if I want him to hang around and not stand 20 ft. away. This fragrance is wonderful! Very powdery flowery scent, but not sweet or overpowering - it's almost just a feminine clean smell. It's subtle and long-lasting, so you don't need much. This is one of the few that my SO doesn't object to (in fact, he thinks I just naturally smell like this after a shower - ha!) I've repurchased this several times and it will always be in my collection.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -mark - Gloss Gorgeous Stay On Lip Stain--Bare
cahall2 8/21/2012 4:41:00 PM
I have this product in all of the colors - but Bare is my favorite. First, the actual product itself: nice, creamy gloss that isn't heavy or gloppy. It's actually fairly moisturizing, so it feels good on my lips and lasts quite a while. As it wears off, it leaves color on your lips but without that lipstain dryness that is always such a bummer. Easy to apply and since it wears off nicely, you don't have to worry about touching up without a mirror (which I can't do with other lipstains, because I'm clumsy!) Second - this color (Bare): I love this color for an everyday look. Light, beige-ish pink that works well with my medium skin tone. I actually have several of these: one for my purse, one in my desk, one in my car. I use it that often! However, I think for darker skinned ladies this shade may be too neutral and light. But for the fair-to-medium toned, Bare is a great shade.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No