Moisturizers -Clinique - Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief
cjmar 11/7/2010 12:30:00 AM
I've had a difficult time finding a facial moisturizer that doesn't: 1: Cause my skin to break out. 2: keep my skin moisturized all day 3: compatible with makeup and Retin-A 4: cause me to get oily. Fortunately, Moisture Surge has been the only product that has helped keep my acne at bay, keeps my skin moisturized (but not oily!), and works well with my makeup. Some have complained that this doesn't contain SPF, but I layer this underneath Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer. I look forward to seeing how this helps my skin in the winter, but so far, it's been perfect and lightweight for me. It also has a nice gel-like texture and doesn't smell offensive. I wish the product was dispensed out of a pump or a tube, instead of a dip-in jar (so unhygienic!), but other than that I'm a big fan of this product!
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Hair Styling Tools -Unlisted Brand - Zoe 1" Professional Styling Iron
cjmar 10/25/2010 12:31:00 AM
I visited Ulta and asked a salesgirl to recommend a flat iron, naturally she showed me a CHI, which is way out of my price range so I asked her to recommend an affordable iron. She showed me the Zoe, I paid my $30, and I was on my merry way. Brought it home and the first thing I discovered is no adjustable temperature. The on/off switch is just a sliding switch, I'm not sure if this thing has an automatic shutoff. I plugged it in and it heated very quickly (a plus!). I flat ironed about 3 sections of hair and it snagged and pulled the entire time! Returning this item! Sorry.
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Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Naked Palette
cjmar 9/9/2010 1:04:00 AM
I was lucky enough to snag this at a Las Vegas Sephora store last week. Currently this palette is hard to find. Urban Decay has a genius marketing department for withholding their stock and keeping up the high demand for this! As a wearer of mostly neutrals, this palette is perfect for me. Most shades can be worn in the office, a very great buy. Most shadows are slightly shimmery, there are about two matte ones and one glittery shadow. UD is well known for not including any "highlighter" shades in their palettes, but this time a few are included! It also comes with a double ended pencil in Zero (black) and Whiskey (non-glittery brown, finally Urban Decay makes a non-glittery brown pencil!!!). The only issue I have with this palette is that it passed some spotty Quality Control: some of the shades were smudged, as if someone put their finger in it (impossible since mine was right off the shipment) and that double ended pencil broke in half! Since I was already home and the nearest Sephora didn't even receive Naked, I stuck it out and held on to my flawed purchase instead of exchanging it. A shame I paid $44 for a less than perfect palette, but I love it so much so I think I can pass that!
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Masks -Boscia - Luminizing Black Mask
cjmar 8/24/2010 1:21:00 AM
I received this as a free sample from Sephora. I slathered on the entire 0.25oz tube, I made sure it was applied thickly so you couldn't see your skin underneath. I had read from previous reviewers that it pulls your little hairs so I avoided my temples and upper lip (guilty of a few hairs up there lol). My SO saw it while drying and couldn't stop laughing at me. Also, like other reviewers had said, it did make my eyes burn for a minute or so (while still applying it) but the stinging went away quickly. Like another reviewer said, it scared my pet too! Peeling it off was a challenge at first, but I rubbed along the edge on my forehead until it started to roll, then I got a hold of it and peeled it down my face. I have a lot of blackheads, and this did a great job at pulling out the dirt from my pores. It worked a lot like a Biore strip, but for my entire face. It was kind of gratifying to hold it up to the light and see all the blackheads it had pulled out. My fiance commented on how smooth and soft my skin looked, but I used this mask tonight. I hope the effects remain at least till tomorrow. Since it does tug and pull at your skin, I decided to skip my acne treatment tonight and slather on a layer of moisturizer. Let's hope I still look good tomorrow!
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Masks -Yves Rocher - Bio Specific Pore Refining Mask
cjmar 6/19/2010 1:54:00 AM
Skin looks smooth right after removing the mask, not very effective in the long term (as in, I wake up the next morning and I look normal). Smell isn't offensive and it has a slightly cooling effect. Kind of sticky before it dries, so don't touch your face till you're ready to peel! More fun in the novelty aspect than anything, it's fun to peel off, even my fiance loves it!
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Fusion
cjmar 5/23/2010 3:00:00 AM
I love everything in the Lash Blast line. The original orange tube, the Lash Blast Length, and the Lash Blast Luxe. Typically I like to layer Lash Blast Length and Original Lash Blast, which makes my lashes look super long and super thick. Lash Blast Fusion is supposed to have the volumizing powers or the orange tube (original) as well as the nylon fibers to lengthen your lashes (like in the Length mascara). Unfortunately this does not pan out as I had expected. My lashes don't look super long AND thick, but it does give nice volume and a tad bit of length. This is not at all a bad mascara, I still plan on finishing the tube and probably purchasing another, but this did not meet my expectations. Although may I add, I absolutely love the purple tube!
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Highlighters -Stila - Illuminating Finishing Powder in Rose Gold
cjmar 4/24/2010 2:50:00 PM
I very much like this product. It's a beautiful pinkish gold color that really helps illuminate your skin. It is indeed very sheer, because it's for your whole face, not your cheeks or eyes. If it were obvious, this would be a horrible product. I did struggle with finding a good brush for this, I have to give it a few swirls before getting any product on most brushes. Bare Escentuals brushes are more scratchy and help pick up more product for those who need more. The only issue is that this actually has some large specks of glitter in it, and my experience with other illuminators was they were shimmery, not glittery. This also works well on the eyes, I apply a sheer wash all over the lid with black liquid eyeliner, or I use it to highlight my brow. I also like the aluminum packaging with a clear dome top, and you get a lot of product! This will last you forever!
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Liquid -L'Oreal - True Match Super-Blendable Makeup SPF 17
cjmar 4/20/2010 1:33:00 AM
The idea of this foundation is great. The display in a drugstore has a thick piece of clear plastic with all the shades shown on it. The shtick is you hold it up to your wrist, and whatever color blends the best with your wrist, is your shade. It indicated that I was the lightest shade in neutral, I didn't feel comfortable buying goth makeup so I went the next shade down. Unfortunately this shade is too pink for me so it actually isn't my "True Match." The foundation itself is difficult to blend and feels cakey and like a mask, even though it's light coverage. It also somehow emphasized my bumps (pimples) when most foundations I've tried would help blend them in. I appreciate that this foundation is Oil-Free, however it did not keep the oil I produce at bay and I was shiny after a few hours. I also like that it has SPF. It's not a bad foundation per se, but I didn't like it and I will be returning this to the drugstore.
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Foundations -Napoleon Perdis - China Doll Foundation
cjmar 4/19/2010 1:06:00 AM
A sales associate at Ulta gave me a makeover with this foundation. The shade matched my skin perfectly and gave me a flawless look. The makeup however felt heavy and thick on my skin, and I also found that it cracked where I smiled. I don't quite have smile lines yet, but it made it look like I had wrinkles! For a $50 price tag, I opted to not buy this foundation.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Concealer Brush
cjmar 3/26/2010 1:19:00 AM
I've never used a concealer brush before, so I cannot speak from too much experience. This was only $1 at Target, so I figured, what the heck. When I removed it from the packaging, the brush head popped off the wood handle. I slid the brush back onto the handle, and haven't had issues yet. Works fine with concealing small spots and blemishes, no complaints here. I just wish it were better quality, but I guess that's what a buck will buy ya these days ;)
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Treatments -Peter Thomas Roth - Acne Spot and Area Treatment
cjmar 3/26/2010 1:14:00 AM
I generally like to wait at least 4 weeks after trying a new skincare product before reviewing it, but I'm so darn excited over this, I couldn't wait. I'm approaching 25 years old, and I still have pimples. Blackheads, whiteheads, cysts, I have the whole trifecta. I generally break out along my jawline or on my chin. I purchased the acne care set from Sephora, and this is definitely the star player in the package. I applied a tiny dab of product to two large red pimples on my chin, and the next morning, they were reduced to flat spots. So far, it dries up my pimples overnight, and leaves either a dark spot or a scab. It also works well for daytime use and you can use it under makeup. A Sephora SA explained to me that sulfur targets the puss in a pimple, and dissolves it. The only downside to this product is because it contains sulfur, it smells absolutely putrid. TBH, I've avoided applying this product to a pimple under my nostril because the product smells so horrible. There's no way around this odor, but it dries up pimples so quickly, I've learned to just deal with it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Shu Uemura - Eyelash Curler
cjmar 3/13/2010 1:42:00 AM
As a product alone, it works pretty well. I can't really compare it to other products since I've only used the Maybelline eyelash curler previously, and that curler also works well. My lashes have a very nice curl when I use this. I like the rubber pad, as it's nice and firm and doesn't start to split if you squeeze too hard like some cheap eyelash curlers. I think the rubber pad also helps prevent the skin on your eyelids from getting caught and squeezed, because I've never caught my eyelids on this particular curler. But like all curlers, it always misses the lashes at my outer corners (which can be fixed with the mini if you have one). It also comes with one rubber pad, and they recommend you buy a whole new curler after you've exhausted your second pad. At $19 a pop, I don't think I want to replace this curler on a regular basis. For the price you pay, I honestly believe you would get the same results with a cheap curler and pad replacements are available. Also as one other tiny complaint, I have prominent cheekbones, and the curler always jams into my cheeks when I use it, leaving a dent for a minute or so. This may work wonderfully for others, I see many rave reviews, and I hear this works wonders for people of Asian descent; who knows, maybe this was designed for Asian eyes and I'm just not supposed to use this!
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Concealers -BeneFit Cosmetics - Powderflage
cjmar 3/11/2010 12:54:00 AM
This product is so cute! It comes in a camo-print tin can! The powder is packaged in a round "ball," which is also adorable, except once it rolled and spilled powder everywhere! You also get a teeny tiny fan brush. This works well for applying the finishing touch to your concealer, especially under the eyes. If I use this product alone, I don't see a difference, but you see a noticeable difference when dusted on top of concealer. This product is rather pricey though, if I ever run out (there's a lot of product in the "ball"), I'm not sure if I'd buy it again.
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Lip Treatments -Jack Black - Intense Therapy Lip Balm spf 25
cjmar 3/11/2010 12:47:00 AM
For a lip balm, I would say this is pretty pricey, but I love it to death so it's worth it. I have the lemon and chamomile scented one, so it smells like lemonade and I cannot comment on the "mintyness" like a lot of the previous reviewers have mentioned. It's nice and thick, and stays on your lips for quite a while. I live in California, so the weather isn't too harsh out here, but I haven't noticed my lips getting dry and chapped since I started using this product. It also has a SPF of 25, which is an added bonus. This product line is designed for men, but that won't stop me. Although my boyfriend likes kissing me when I use this balm, and sometimes I catch him borrowing it. The tube is rather small, however you only need a tiny bit of product to cover your lips so I can imagine this lasting quite a while (I think I've had my tube for about a month now). Will repurchase.
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Eyes -BeneFit Cosmetics - Big Beautiful Eyes
cjmar 3/10/2010 12:54:00 AM
This kit comes with Boi-ing concealer, a pink base shadow, a taupe contour shadow, a brown liner shadow, a concealer brush, and a double ended eye brush (fluffy shadow/liner). Overall, this is a great idea for a kit, but unfortunately the shadows kind of suck. They are not very pigmented and are difficult to work with. They do look nice after some effort, and the colors go very well together. The brushes aren't that great either. The included lesson leaflet is helpful though, and Boi-ing is a great concealer. With some effort, patience, and good brushes, you can achieve a nice look with this palette. But for $32 (fortunately I got this on BeautyTicket), I wouldn't say it's worth it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No