Eye Shadow -MAC - Paint Pot in Soft Ochre
ddha 12/15/2010 2:27:00 PM
This review is for MAC's Paint Pot in Soft Ochre. This is a good product. I switch between this and Urban Decay Primer Potion (UDPP) as a base for eye shadow. Below is a review on the different aspects of the product. About me - NC 15, pale blonde hair, blue eyes, normal skin, sometimes dehydrated. Color - MAC describes this as a yellow-beige and that's spot on. I'm NC 15 and its just about my skin tone -except it is more yellow in shade. It's to yellow for me to wear alone. If you are considering a paint pot and Soft Ochre is to yellow, I'd try Painterly which is more pink in tone. Coverage - It is thick and covers well. Texture - It's a creamy potted product. I use my finger to apply. I just swipe my finger over the product and apply. It applies smooth and evenly. Longevity - It doesn't last all day on me. I think UDPP works better for that. It doesn't wear off blotchy. It can crease after time, especially if you are outside in the summer. I took off a lippie for this. I really dislike products that crease. Packaging - It's in a small pot. The packaging is MAC's typical sleek and simple style. There is a black screw off top and a glass pot. The MAC site lists it as 5 g / 0.17 fl oz. It's a small pot, but there is a ton of product. I've had it for over a year and have only made a small dent with regular use. Price - I bought this at the Cosmetic Company Outlet. MAC sells it for $16.50. I purchased it for around 30% off. It's a decent price for the amount of product. Would you buy this product again? Yes, but I likely won't have to. This one is going to last me for years.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Pigment in Naked
ddha 12/15/2010 1:44:00 PM
This review is for MAC's Naked pigment. This is not a favorite. I will use up what I have left, but won't repurchase. I just can't deal with the glitter. From the reviews, it seemed like this product had some shimmer or very fine glitter particles. In mine, the glitter is big and that's all you notice on my eye. I feel like a tween with this on my eye. I've made this work for me by loading my brush with the pigment and then tapping it. The glitter usually falls off - but then so does a lot of the product. Below is my review of the different aspects of the product. It's not horrible, but just not for me. About me - NC 15, paler in winter. Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Color - It's a beige. The name Naked is spot on. I either use Urban Decay Primer Potion or MAC's Soft Ochre as a base and then apply Naked as a wash. It pretty much blends into my NC 15 skin. It's a bit darker (just a bit) and a bit more pink. As mentioned above, it also has big particles of glitter. I am not wowed by the color. It works for a nude eye, but I just can't deal with glitter. I try to tap all the glitter off my brush and wear this as a wash. I usually pair this with eyeliner, lots of mascara, a contour, blush and a red lippie. Texture - The texture is nice and soft. It's easy to apply. Wearability - It wears well for me as long as I have some sort of base. Packaging - I have the old MAC pigment packaging. It's a simple small container. It contains approx. 7.5 g and I estimate around 4 teaspoons of product. Price - $19.50. This is a decent price. Pigments last a long time.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Revlon - Just Bitten Lipstain-Blood Orange
ddha 12/15/2010 1:11:00 PM
This review is for the now discontinued Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain in the color Blood Orange. I like this product a lot. I purchased it a few years ago and it got pushed to the back of my lip products. I recently organized my makeup and rediscovered it. I've been wearing it non-stop since. It really brightens up my face and provides a polished look. Figures it has been discontinued. Color - I'm NC 15 with pigmented lips. Many red lip products turn fuchsia on me. On my lips it shows up as a nice neutral red. It doesn't lean orange. The color doesn't scream - hello, I'm wearing a red lippie. Instead, it is a nice just bitten stain - go figure Revlon got it right with the naming. I tend to wear this with a sheer nude wash on my eye, eyeliner, mascara, a bit of bronzer for contour, and a neutral blush. Consistency - It's a liquid consistency. How I apply - I don't wear a lip liner. The stain is in a small vial with a roller ball top. I just roll it on and smooth it out with my finger. It's very easy. I usually apply a few coats in the morning. Feel on the lips - It is not sticky as are some lip stains. It is not moisturizing, but it is also not drying. It really doesn't feel like I have anything on my lips when I use this product. Wear - It wears well. I apply a few coats in the morning. I don't bring it with me as I don't like to carry makeup in my purse. I like makeup to last and wear (and wear off) well. This product fits the bill. It's not as long lasting as some lipstains, but it typically lasts until lunch at full strength. It wears with eating and drinking. But, it wears off evenly. Some lipstains tend to wear off blotchy. This doesn't. Packaging - There's a picture attached to the review which shows you the packaging better than I could explain it. It's a small product with a roller-ball applicator. It has a screw on top - which is nice as it won't fall off. There was white print on the side of the item which has worn off over time. The packaging doesn't look or feel luxurious, but it does the job and it doesn't leak. It's a small item, but there is a ton of product. I have been using it daily and it's still full. Price - I don't remember the full price. I believe it was around $7 or $8. I purchased it when it was half price at Walgreens. I hate buying drug store products at full price because without testers its always a crap shoot. Would I buy this product again? Yes, if only I could. About me - NC 15. A bit paler in winter. Blue eyes. Pale blonde hair.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Murad - Pomegranate Exfoliating Mask
ddha 10/3/2010 11:31:00 PM
This review is for the Murad Pomegranate Exfoliating Mask. I will not repurchase. This did nothing for my skin, except cause some slight irritation. Me: Pale, normal skin, that can sometimes get dehydrated. My experience: I've included specific product details below. The mask was easy to apply and remove. When applied, it felt fresh and tingled which was nice. After I applied, I went on and did some chores around the house for 15 minutes. It didn't drip, itch, or feel weird. I removed it with warm water and a wash cloth. It took a few times to get all the gel off. It seemed to sink into my skin. After, my skin was beet red. I'm pale and sometimes masks cause this for a few minutes, so I don't think to much of it. However, hours later my skin still felt slightly irritated. It doesn't hurt, but feels like a light sunburn would. Looking at my skin, I see no difference. According to Murad, it is supposed to "free skin of dull, dry surface cells to restore brightness and smooth texture while Pomegranate Extract provides powerful antioxidant protection." Well, I guess my skin isn't dull anymore, since it's red and irritated. It didn't remove any dry surface cells and definitely didn't smooth texture. I'm really not a fan of this product. I think I will stick with the Aztec clay mask and for brightening, Caudalie's Vinoperfect. Product: The mask is a clear, gel-like consistency. I didn't notice any smells, but the ingredients state that there is fragrance added (ingredients listed below). Application & Removal: I followed Murad's directions, which were - "After cleansing, apply contents of one packette to face and neck. Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and pat dry. For optimal results, use 1 to 2 times weekly and follow with recommended Murad moisturizer and sunblock." Application and removal were easy. It was easily removed with warm water. Packaging: The mask is in small one use packets. It's a good concept, but I would prefer a tube or similar packaging. There was enough for two or three masks in each packet. However, its difficult to save in the little paper like packets. You can put it in a ziploc and prop it up so it doesn't spill, while hoping it doesn't dry out. I just don't like dealing with things like this. Ingredients (per Murad's website): Water (Aqua), Sorbitol, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Bromelain, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Lactic Acid, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Sodium PCA, Menthoxypropanediol, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 60, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Benzyl Salicylate, Fragrance (Parfum)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Unlisted Brand - Katie B Mineral Magic - Liquid Mineral Foundation
ddha 7/26/2010 3:08:00 PM
This review is for Katie B's Liquid Mineral Foundation also named Mineral Magic. I'm surprisingly impressed. Katie B is a Southern California makeup artist. I'm not sure where I first heard of her - but possibly on MUA, MySpace or Facebook. I've admired the before/ after pictures of her work, but never felt the urge to try her makeup as I have been disappointed with smaller boutique type brands in the past. I don't know what got into me, but I ordered a number of samples from her website. I like she offers sample sizes, because I wouldn't have taken a chance trying her products otherwise. I first ordered samples of the Mineral Magic in shades G100 and G200, which I have reviewd below. I also ordered samples of the Stick Foundation/ Concealer in shades G100 and G200, which I will review separately. Mineral Ingredients - Katie B's website describes this product as "fluid version of mineral powder usually sold in loose powder form." I don't know if it’s truly a mineral foundation as I am not up on the ingredients vs. the marketing/ brand hype which she does a lot of. I do know that I like the product. I also like that it does not contain sunscreen. I use LRP Dermo Peds sunscreen and like the high protection. It always irritates me when a good foundation contains a low level of sunscreen that counteracts with my personal sunscreen as it restricts me from using that foundation. I honestly don't know why makeup companies even bother. Consistency - It is thicker than a typical liquid. It is more like a soufflé foundation. Coverage - I would describe this as a medium to full coverage. The website states that it is buildable from sheer to full, depending on how you use it. I'm sure you can water it down with other products to make it sheerer, I just haven't tried. It doesn't feel heavy on the skin, even when used for full coverage. I tend to use it at medium coverage - I use very little and blend well. I like that it provides good coverage, but doesn't have a mask look. Application - I apply it with a sponge. I dot a little bit around my face and blend. With foundations, I typically dot foundation on my forehead, cheeks, and chin all at the same time and then blend. I can't do this with Mineral Magic. It dries fairly quickly making it harder to blend. Instead, I dot on one portion of my face at a time and blend. It applies like a creamy foundation, but dries to a powder. It's not chalky, but dries down to a silky finish. Appearance- Using a triangle sponge to apply, it has a beautiful, air-brushed appearance after it dries. This method also makes it apply heavier. It does not have a dewy finish. I would describe it as matte, but not 80s heavy matte. It's a thicker, creamy liquid foundation and dries to a silky powder finish. It does not look powdery. I like how it seems to float over dry patches rather than magnifying them. I have normal skin that can get dehydrated and dry. I am pale and have some surface redness. This covers everything very well. As stated above, I use it as more of a medium coverage foundation. I like that it covers well, but my freckles still show through. It doesn't appear mask-like. Strangely, when I use the Sonia Kashuk beauty blender, the product goes on more sheer, but also seems to visibly sit in my pores, which h I dislike. So, I won't be using this on days I want sheer coverage. From looking at Katie B's before / after makeovers on her site, I always assumed that the skin finish was due to Photoshop. Honestly, I don't doubt that Photoshop is used, but I can see how her clients get that airbrushed skin look from this product. Shades - 12 shades are offered - 6 for golden undertones and 6 for rosie undertones. For reference, in MAC I am NC 15 and in Cinema Secrets I am 401-71. In Mineral Magic I tried the two lightest shades in the golden undertone category G100 and G200. Both were good. I bought the full size of G100 as it is a better match. G100 is slighty light, but looks great after I use my bronzer and blush. G200 would have been to dark. A mix of G100 and G200 would have probably been perfect, but I am horrible at mixing foundations and didn't want to purchase 2 bottles. Price - The full size is 35 grams and is $34.00. The trial size is 5 grams and is currently $4.99. There are shipping charges on top of the prices. Items ship from California. Packaging - The samples come in little pots. They are tiny and at first I was disappointed thinking - this is all they sent! But, a little goes a long way and I got over 2 weeks use out of the pots. The full size is in a squeeze tube - similar to the Illamasqua foundation. I have no complaints. Skin Issues/ Breakouts? Breakouts are my main concern when trying new products. I have good skin and rarely get breakouts. However, I have had some horrible reactions to foundations in the past - the worst being Laura Mercier. This Mineral Magic foundation hasn't created any skin issues - no breakouts, no clogged pores, no irritation. Longevity - So far, I have only used this without a primer. I never touch-up my makeup and like it to last. It lasts reasonably well. After about 8 hours it fades. By the end of the day, if I look close I can see it sitting in my pores. From a distance, it still looks okay though. I'm hoping a primer will help with this. Overall - This is a great foundation and I am happy with my purchase. It covers well and has a nice finish. It feels great on the skin. My HG has been Cinema Secrets Ultimate Foundation. That's still a HG for me, but Katie B's Mineral Magic is a great product too. About me - I'm pale - NC 15 in MAC and 401-71 in Cinema Secrets. Generally good skin, but I do have skin redness around the nose and some uneven color on my cheeks. I would describe my skin as normal, but it can get dehydrated and dry at times. Sometimes, I get slighty oily in my t-zone during the hotter summer months
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -E.L.F. - Studio Lip Stain
ddha 6/18/2010 3:58:00 PM
Horrible. Don't waste your money on this garbage. I purchased this at Target for $3 in the shade Heartbreaker. For the price, I wasn't expecting a lot but this really wasn't worth any amount of money. Heartbreaker appeared to be a pinky medium nude shade and was very pretty in the package. However, it had no pigmentation. On my lips, I could hardly tell I had put anything on. The lip stain isn't really a true lip stain. It's basically a cheap sheer liquid lipstick. It feels heavy and waxy on the lips, but when I looked in the mirror I couldn't see any color payoff. I added layer after layer, but still couldn't even tell I had any product on my lips. The look of the packaging is okay. It's clear they are trying to go for a look similar to NARS. Alot of the product leaked out when I first opened it, but I thought that may be due to pressure during shipping. I'm not going to keep this long enough to determine if this is a consistent problem with this product. The wands are horrible. This is a 2-sided product. One side is what they are calling a lip stain. The other side is a lip gloss. I put on the lip stain. Then I put on the lip gloss. The wand of the lip gloss wouldn't soak up any gloss. Then it was so hard that it took the stain product off of my lips. I ended up just putting on the lip stain without the gloss. The stain isnt drying, because its not a true stain. Other companys have similar dual sided lip stain products and tend to use a brush for the gloss side. Looks like ELF didn't do a lot of product testing on this one. I tossed this after trying to use it a few times. Just garbage. If you're looking for a true lip stain try - MAC Pro, Vincent Longo, Beaute, Laura Mercier, NARS, or even BeneFit (really drying for my lips though). For drugstore, I haven't had a lot of luck finding a great product as I am not a fan of the marker type products and the lack of decent shades available. However, the Revlon Just Bitten stains with the roller ball were great. The roller ball version was discontinued, but can be found at discount stores.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Lancome - Cils Booster
ddha 12/24/2009 2:28:00 PM
The Lancôme Cils Booster XL did not work for me. I have fairly nice lashes as they are very long. However, they are blonde and I am always looking for lots of volume, extra length, and drama. I was looking for a primer and ordered Cils Booster XL based on the good reviews, but it just didn't work out. Application: It goes on a transparent white shade, which I liked. It wasn't pure white and did not look unnatural like some primers can. It also applied very easily. It wasn't overly dry or overly wet. It seemed to apply similar to the Ardell Lash Growth Accelerator, if you have tried that. Lashes: When I first put on the Cils, I did notice that it first seemed to extend my lashes making them appear longer. However, when I put on mascara, I didn't notice any improvement in my lashes. In fact, the Cils seemed to make my lashes appear more sparse, which I found very odd. I combed through my lashes, but they still appeared sparse. With mascara, my lashes didn't appear longer either. I first curl my lashes with the Shu curler. The Cils seemed to weigh down the curl and flatten my lashes. I tried using it with a number of different mascaras, including Lancôme Hypnose, YSL Faux Cils, Maybelline Full & Soft, and Max Factor 2000 Calorie. I didn't notice any improvement. Interestingly, it worked the worst with Lancôme's Hynose mascara. Hypnose was one of my worst purchases in 2009 as I really disliked that mascara. When I used Hypnose and the Cils Booster XL together, my lashes turned into a crunchy, spidery mess. Apart these two products are not great, but together they were absolutely horrible. I returned the Cils XL primer because it did nothing for my lashes. Ratings: Overall Rating - 2. It's not the worst product I've ever used, but it didn't work for my lashes. Price - 5. It retails at Sephora for $21.50. I purchased through Sephora's Annual Friends & Family sale and received 20% off. This is expensive for a mascara primer, but I wouldn't think twice about buying this if it worked. Unfortunately, it did nothing for my lashes. Packaging Quality - 3. There is nothing special here, but it has a simple design and is easy to use. Would I buy this product again? No. It did not work for me. I returned it.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Lancome - Hypnose
ddha 12/23/2009 4:52:00 PM
Lancôme Hynose mascara just did not work for me. I have thick and long lashes already. I love dramatic lashes and tried Hypnose based on the good reviews. I tried Hypnose on its own and over the Lancôme Cils Primer. My lashes looked horrible both ways. Hypnose created instant spider lashes on me, no matter how many times I tried to comb through my lashes. It was even worse over Cils primer as they became crunchy spider lashes. I've never had this happen with any other mascara. Hypnose also weighed my lashes down. I curled them with my Shu curler then applied mascara. Hypnose instantly dragged my lashes down and eliminated the curl. It's also a very wet mascara, which I dislike. I returned this mascara. It's definitely my worst purchase of 2009. I much prefer YSL Faux Cils. Ratings . . . Overall Rating - 1 (worst). This is one of the worst mascaras I've tried. It seems to be HG for many MUAers, but it just didn't work for me. Price - 4. It's $24.50 at Sephora. It's priced at the higher end for mascara. However, mascara is something I don't mind paying extra for, if it created lush dramatic lashes. This mascara did not do those things. I returned it. Packaging Quality - 3. It's okay. Nothing special here, but it does its job. The wand is easy to hold. The packaging is simple black. Would I buy this product again? Absolutely not. This was a horrible mascara which created a mess on my lashes.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Christian Dior - Diorshow Mascara
ddha 7/12/2009 2:04:00 AM
I am always searching for a dramatic mascara that will give me great thick and long lashes. This wasn't it. Mascara is very personal and everyone experiences different results. However, in my opinion, there really isn't anything special about this mascara. It is average at best. It did not thicken at all. Also, it weighted my lashes down and did not help hold the curl in my lashes. I use the Shu curler, then apply mascara. This mascara seemed to drag my lashes down and remove the curl. I will not repurchase because there are much better mascaras out there. However, there were some positives to this mascara. I did like the brush. It was very good at separating lashes and clumping was not a problem. I actually saved the brush and cleaned it to help me separate lashes for my other mascaras. It is a dry mascara formulation which I prefer. It did not get all over the place the way the wetter formulas tend to do. It did seem fairly resistant. I didn't test this out in the pool, but it didn't give me racoon eyes during the day. I also didn't get many flakies under my eyes throughout the day. So, in sum . . . Overall rating - 2. This isn't the worst macara (that slot is reserved for Maybelline Great Lash). However, it did not plump my lashes up the way I expected. Price - 5. I think its fairly expensive for an average or below average product. I purchased this at Sephora. It's list price is $24.00. However, I purchased this during Sephora's annual Friends and Family event in November and received 20% off. Packaging Quality - 5. It's a typical mascara. The tube is a bit bigger than most. The brush is thick which I liked. Would you purchase this product again - No. It did not live up to its marketing for me.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Redken - Blonde Glam Conditioner
ddha 7/11/2009 6:59:00 PM
I like Redken products, but this isn't one of their best. I have color treated pale blonde hair. I need a good moisturizing conditioner and this wasn't it. It also left my hair a bit greasy/ oily. I washed the product out completely. My hair is dry and a product has never left my hair oily, so this was unique for me. I do like the smell. It's a fake grapefruity, citrus smell. I won't repurchase. In Sum . . . Overall Rating - 2. Not the worst I have ever used, but it isn't super moisturizing and at the same time left my hair oily. Price - 5. It's fairly expensive for not being a great product. I purchased the 8.5 oz size for $13.95 at a local beauty supply store. Packaging Quality - 4. I purchased the smaller bottle and its shaped so you can hold it in the shower without dropping it. Some of the round bottles get to slippery. This one also has indents on the side so you can grip the bottle, which is a great idea. Would you buy this product again? No. There's much better products out there.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Vegas Volt
ddha 6/27/2009 1:24:00 AM
I am in love with this lipstick. MAC Vegas Volt is a pinky coral which is absolutely beautiful. It has no shimmer, no frost, and no glitter. It is not matte, but creamy with a very slight glossiness when applied full strength. It is an amplified creme and continues to be part of MAC's permanent line of lipsticks (it was also included in the Raquel Welch Icon Collection in 2007). In a few reviews below, it was noted that Vegas Volt pulls orange. Luckily, it doesn't do this for me as I look horrid in many orange-toned lipsticks. I don't get any strong orange tones, but a nicely balanced pinky coral. For once my undertones helped me out (I have been unable to wear so many reds because they turn straight fuschia on me). Surprisingly, this lipstick is not over the top and is easily wearable. With two coats, the color is full strength coral. Blotted down, it is a lovely coral stain, which is how I usually wear it. I am pale (lighter than NC 10) with blue eyes and this shade really plays up my pale skin and brings out the blue in my eyes. I like this shade year-round, but it is especially a great cheery summer shade. For some reason, it reminds me of blooming geraniums. This is a versatile color. I also like using Vegas Volt to add color to my cheeks. I make a few dots and rub it in. It provides a nice flush. Lately, I have also liked pairing Vegas Volt on the lips with with Pout's Apricot Totty on the cheeks (discontinued ~ RIP). I think this lipstick looks great on a rather bare face, but also equally as wonderful with dark winged liner and full make-up. I like the texture of this lipstick and the texture of MAC's amplified cremes in general. It goes on smoothly, feels nice on the lips, and wears well. It also strikes a nice balance as it isn't dry in texture, but also doesn't have a lot of slip which prevents it from smearing outside the lip line. It doesn't accentuate dry skin or imperfect textured lips (I tend to have dry skin). If two or three coats are applied straight on the lips, from the lipstick tube, it can look like this lipstick is just sitting on the lips. I blot it down which solves this problem. Alternatively, working it in with a lip brush also helps. Overall Rating - 5. Beautiful color that flatters my complexion. Great texture and formulation which feels nice on the lips and is long-lasting. Price - 3. MAC charges $14.00 for its lipsticks which are 3g / 0.1 US oz. However, I bought this during the June 2009 Friends and Family event and received 25% off. I paid $10.50. I think MAC falls somewhere in the middle of the price continium, with NYC, WnW, and NYX at the bottom and Chanel or Dior toward the top. Sadly, drugstore brands are inching up closer to MAC's prices. I'd gladly pay a few dollars more for MAC and be able to test the products prior to purchasing. Packing Quality - 5. I like the packaging. It's a small black tube which is simple. I prefer bullet shapped lippies to those that are square shaped as they are easier to stick in a purse or pocket. The lipstick screws down into the tube. The cap stays on tight, even when jumbled around in my purse. Would you buy this product again? Absolutely. If MAC were to ever discontinue this (please, please don't), I'd buy numerous back-ups. My coloring/ skin-type: Pale blonde-hair. Blue eyes. Lighter than NC 15 in MAC SFF. I am probably around NC 10 (if they made that shade in SFF). Neutral to warm toned/peachy undertones with surface redness. Foundations: When NC 10ish - KA SSE #2; Cinema Secrets Cinema Secrets 601-18 - sometimes mixed with a bit of PS401S-7, SK Porcelain. When a bit darker in the summer I'm on the lighter side of NC 15 and wear Cinema Secrets PS401S-7. Pigmented lips. I look best in cool-toned lipsticks. Normal to dry skin. Ingredients: Castor Oil, Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Glyceryl Triacetyl Hydroxystearate, Candelilla Wax, Octyldodecanol, Jojoba Oil, Cera Alba, Sesame Oil, Ozokerite, Carnauba Wax, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Microcrystalline Wax, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Vanillin, Tocopherol +/- colour, fragrance.
11 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -New York Color - Ultra Moist Lip Wear - Firefly
ddha 6/26/2009 1:33:00 AM
This review is for New York Color (NYC) Ultra Moist Lip Wear in the color Firefly. This is a great lipstick at a great price. Firefly is a pink coral with gold shimmer. I have very pigmented lips and on my lips it is deeper pink and not as bright, as opposed to when swatched on my hand. On the lips, this lipstick also has a lot of depth. It has a slight chrome look which is the shimmer coming though. It is not frost and is not over-the-top. It is not opaque, but has good color payoff. This is a cool shade and makes my teeth appear really white, which is a plus. This lipstick is not drying. It does not seem to emphasize flakes or lines either. It feels moisturizing and feels nice on the lips. It does not feel gritty. It does have some slip, so I wear a lipliner with it to prevent the color from smearing outside of my lipline. It is not very long-lasting, but decent. I, however, am always drinking something and tend to rub my lips together alot, so many lipsticks don't last on me. This is why I tend to prefer lipstains and dry lipsticks because they stick around longer. However, this is a really pretty lipstick and I would repurchase. The price can't be beat at 99 cents. I purchased this at Target. I have read that this is a dupe for a MAC lipstick. I don't know that for sure as I haven't compared the two. However, this is a very pretty color and I would probably pay the MAC price for this shade of lipstick. I am not a fan of the NYC packaging. These are packaged as bullet lipsticks. The cap doesn't snap tightly either. It's fine in my makeup bag on my vanity, but I can't throw this in my purse as the cap will come off and I will have lipstick all over the place. I really wish NYC would redo their packaging so their lipsticks at least screw down into the container to be protected. So in sum . . . Overall Rating - 4. Great lipstick. Beautiful color. Nice, but not perfect formulation, but for 99 cents, its great. Price - 1. Dirt cheap at 99 cents. Packaging Quality - 1 (worst). The packaging could be improved, as discussed above. However, for the price the packaging is not a deal breaker. Would I purchase this product again? Yes. My coloring / skin type - Blonde hair, blue eyes. Pigmented lips. I am pale and lighter than NC 15. I am probably around NC 10. I am warm, but have surface redness. I look better in cool lipsticks and especially berry shades. I have dry skin and dry skin on my lips.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -NYX - MegaShine in Natural - 122
ddha 6/19/2009 7:00:00 PM
NYX lipgloss in Natural (122) didn't work for me. I tossed it after trying to make it work for a few months. When swiped on my hand, this gloss appears to be thick, somewhat opaque, and nudeish, pinky-mauve in tone. I typically love these types of shades. The problem is that when applied to my lips, it didn't show up - even after three or four coats. I'm pale, NC 10ish and have pigmented lips. It muted my lips a tiny bit, but in a way that is not flattering for me. It basically looks like my lipcolor, but in a weird cloudy way. Not pretty. In general, the pros for these glosses are that they are not sticky, they are creamy and moisturizing, and they feel good on the lips. They have a slight scent and taste. I can't pinpoint it, but it doesn't bother me. A con is that they are not long-lasting, are fairly sheer, and the packaging leaks. Overall Rating - I rate the color Natural a 1 because it was not flattering on me. I rate the lipgloss as a whole a 2 due to the lipgloss not lasting and due to inferior packaging. Price - 1. These are fairly cheap. Prices vary quite a bit. I've seen these in small teen jewelry stores and drugstores for $5 -$7. Online you can purchase through nyxcosmetics.com for $5.00. You can also purchase this at cherryculture.com for $4.00. I think I purchased this through Cherry Culture last year when they had their sale. I don't remember what I paid. Cherry Culture seems to have a few sales throughout the year. Packaging Quality - 2. The packaging is okay. It's a typical lipgloss with a slanted applicator tip which is nice. I generally like the styling of NYX products. This lipgloss leaks, which is why I rate it a 2 for packaging quality. It leaked inside my purse. Then I tried leaving it in my desk at work and it left a little sticky lipgloss puddle underneath it. I am not sure why. It's was not cracked or broken. Would you buy this product again? I wouldn't purchase NYX lipgloss in Natural (122) again because the color didn't work for me. I probably won't purchase another shade in NYX lipgloss either as there are far better lipgloss products out there that last longer on the lips and don't leak product everywhere.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Ponds - Deep Cleanser Cold Cream
ddha 6/19/2009 6:14:00 PM
This is a great product at a great price. I am 32 and have used Pond's Cold Cream since I started wearing makeup. My mother and grandmother both used it, so when I was younger I just used what was in the house. I have since continued to purchase and use this product because it works great. To use this, I massage the cream on my face and then wipe it off with a warm washcloth. Sometimes, I use an additional cleanser. Most of the time I do not. I only use this at night to remove makeup. It breaks down waterproof eye makeup very easily and takes off long-wearing makeup and sunscreen effectively. It leaves my skin soft, but not oily. It leaves my skin feeling clean - but not that squeaky clean feeling you get with some cleaners, which is fine with me. I'm always looking for the next best thing and have tried different oils and oil cleansers, but always come back to Pond's. It is just the easiest to use and takes off long-wearing makeup the best for me. It hasn't caused skin problems and hasn't left me with clogged pores. My skin has changed quite a bit over the past 20 years that I've used this product. I've lived in different climates - NYC, CA, AZ, and overseas. Due to climate changes from the different places I have lived and age my skin has been oily and upset in the past and is very dry right now. I've used this product during all those times and it remained effective. It's just simple and easy. I've also purchased the Target and Wal-Mart knock-offs, which are good as well. Overall Rating - 4. Great simple project. Price - 1. It's cheap. I think around $5 for the tub, which does last me a decent amount of time - more than a few months. Drug store, Target, and Wal-Mart generics are slightly cheaper. Although, I have noticed Pond's has jacked up their prices recently. Packaging Quality - 4. It's okay. The cold cream comes in a hard plastic tub with a screw on top. I don't know how sanitary it is to reach into the tub with your fingers each time, but I've never had a problem. I don't get queasy about things like this though. If it bugs you, you could probably scoop it out with a small spoon. I'm not sure if this would work in a pump, due to the consistency. Would you purchase this product again - Yes
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Christian Dior - Miss Dior Cherie
ddha 12/16/2008 3:11:00 AM
This scent just isn't for me. I liked it on a cold sniff of the bottle. I really loved it on first spray. It smelled like juicy strawberries with a bit of musk to weigh it down. It is a somewhat sweet scent, but not sugary sweet like Pink Sugar. Instead, its more of a fruity sweet scent. I don't get the carmelized popcorn note at all. However, by lunch the scent had morphed into a heavy scent. The smell of sweet strawberries changed into a heavy, claustrophobic, scent that reminded me of a heavy musk a very mature woman would wear. It was too much. I felt like I was drowning in perfume. And this was on a very cold day. I can't imagine what this would do on my skin in the summer. I sprayed 1 and a half sprays and it lasted for 12 hours plus. The staying power really impressed me and it would be great if the scent didn't morph on my skin to something I couldn't stand. Maybe it was the mix of patchouli and musk? I don't know, but I wish this one worked on me as I really loved the way it started out. Sephora classifies this fragrance as "mossy woods." The notes: Top notes - green tangerine and strawberry leaves. Heart notes - violette, pink jasmine, carmelized popcorn, and strawberry sorbet. Base notes - fresh patchouli and crystalline musk. In SUM . . . . Overall Rating - 3. Pretty fragrance, but it just didn't work well with my chemistry. Price - 3. The price is on par with most other fragrances. A 3.4oz bottle is $88 at Sephora. However, you can find it much cheaper on discount sites. Packaging Quality - 4. The bottle is simple, but very beautiful. It would look lovely on a vanity. It's a rectangle bottle with a bow on top. Would you buy this product again? No. It just didn't work with my chemistry.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No