Blush -BeneFit Cosmetics - Bella Bamba
cjsande3 3/1/2012 11:53:00 AM
I'm confused by all the comments about this blush being too shimmery--to me, it's the perfect about of subtle sheen that makes you look lit-up rather than sparkly. Maybe the shimmer shows up more on other skin types, idk. Anyway, this was my first true makeup product from Benefit (I'm a fan of their makeup remover, but that's another story) and I've been mostly happy with it. The shade is gorgeous and seems to me that it would be near-universally flattering. It's got an extra little "pop" to it that I haven't found in any other blush. I like the brush that comes with it as well. I recommend applying it from your cheeks all the way up to your temples. It blends easily and is buildable, although you probably wouldn't want to layer this stuff too much as it is quite pigmented. The box isn't the best idea but it's cute as can be. I don't like how the brush just sits there on top of the blush. The handle gets blush on it which seems wasteful. All in all, I would buy this again. I've been using it regularly for months and literally haven't even made a dent in it, so I'm predicting it to last at least a year more.
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Bronzers -NARS - Laguna
cjsande3 3/1/2012 11:26:00 AM
Tried this and found it to be too...muddy for me. That may not be the best word, but it's the best I can think of for it. I tried both the Laguna and Casino--Laguna didn't blend well for me and Casino was far too dark. I also didn't like how small the pans were in the bronzer/blush combo compacts. How on Earth am I supposed to fit a fluffy bronzer brush into a square-inch pan? I went for Too Faced instead; I found it to be much more natural and blendable (and even though I got the Natural Face palette with smaller pans, Too Faced puts their separate bronzers in nice big round compacts that are much better suited for big brushes). Apparently NARS is the Holy Grail bronzer for lots of people, but skin comes in so many colors and textures that no one brand will be perfect for everyone, I suppose.
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Skincare - Face -Clinique - 3 Step System
cjsande3 2/29/2012 2:43:00 PM
The 4 lips and "Yes" are tentative at this point for me. It's been interesting to read these reviews. Apparently lots of people have had some nightmarish experiences, while some have been thrilled. I've only been using this for about a week, and so far, so good. I agree that the toner is super harsh, but I recommend using it only once daily instead of twice (I typically just wash my face at night anyway as recommended by several sources). I was amazed at how much gunk and makeup the toner took off my skin, even after washing TWICE with the soap & a washcloth. Wow. Glad to get that crap off my skin. For that reason alone, I'll probably keep buying the toner (or at least some sort of toner) from now on. For me, the gel moisturizer is perfect. Absolutely perfect for my skin. It's the first lotion I've ever used that soaks right into my skin and leaves it perfectly soft and moist without being greasy. It literally vanishes into my skin. Amazing. The soap seems pretty unremarkable. Probably won't rebuy that. So, unless I end up with some sort of skin crisis in a few weeks like some other reviewers, I think it's safe to say that I'll be repurchasing a large (I bought the toner & got free samples of the other two products) gel moisturizer and probably the toner as well. I'm "Type 3" btw.
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Liquid -Clinique - Even Better Makeup SPF 15
cjsande3 2/24/2012 10:02:00 AM
I'm confused by some of the reviews saying that this product is "thick" or "mask-like"--it's the opposite IMO! It probably depends on your skin and how you apply it, and believe me when I say that less is more with this makeup. I didn't love this stuff at first, but at some point I realized that I was using way too much. A dab is all you need for your entire face; this stuff spreads very smoothly. I just put a pea sized amount on a tapered foundation brush starting with my forehead and moving down/outward. Streaking can be a problem as this foundation needs to "dry" more than most. Initially I was concerned about the wet finish, but after a few minutes and with the addition of my powder bronzer, it looks fresh and natural. On me at least, the coverage is great. I would call it medium-to-high coverage. I strongly reccommend putting this over Too Faced Beauty Balm as a primer. This combo lets me get the most out of the foundation by maximizing coverage and smoothing out my skin first.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Too Faced - Beauty Balm- Vanilla Glow
cjsande3 2/13/2012 2:41:00 PM
I use this as a primer (tinted moisturizers don't offer enough coverage for my acne-scarred & unever skin) and it's great. I was skeptical about the oil control factor, but after using it a few times, I'm amazed at how matte and fresh it keeps my foundation looking. It also lets me get more out of my Clinique foundation--it goes on smoother, more evenly, and gives it more coverage. I'll definitely be purchasing this again, if only for the incredible oil control. It's not the cheapest product, but the bottle is big and a little bit of product goes a long way.
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