Mascara -Cover Girl - Professional Mascara
dreamsandreverie 7/27/2012 8:10:00 AM
I've now gone through several tubes and what a wonderful surprise this was! CG and I generally don't get along for the most part so I'd often bypass it. However, I picked up my first tube from my college's convenience store because it was the end of the year and I had money on my account that couldn't be refunded. I didn't expect to like it, especially as I hated the CG eyeshadows I also bought. (I am not a lashblast fan, either) As it turns out, this is my favorite everyday mascara. I have it in very black and it's great. This mascara stays all day and doesn't flake or smudge. It won't create va-voom lashes, but it's a step above the natural look. No tarantula leg lashes and no clumps. It doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes. The price was low - under $5 US in my area. I buy a non-waterproof version with the straight, not curved brush. I have not used the one with a curved brush so cannot comment on it.
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Conditioner -Redken - All Soft Conditioner
dreamsandreverie 6/4/2012 12:52:00 AM
I have hair that is generally normal but can easily turn oily. By turn oily, I mean it will look like I dunked my head in a bucket of grease. This conditioner was okay for me. It wasn't bad, but it certainly wasn't great. My hair was soft and had a bit of a shine, but it wasn't as soft or as shiny as it can be. I did notice my hair was a bit drier after using, which is opposite to what I want in a conditioner. It didn't matter if I used only a little bit, used it only on the ends, or let it sit awhile - the results were all the same. For some reason my hair would always be very flat after using this. I found the scent to be fairly inoffensive and it did not cause any irritation/breakouts to my scalp or skin. I have not used the matching shampoo so cannot comment on that or on how they work together. If it was all I had, I would use it but I will not buy it again. There are other products, both more expensive and less expensive that work better on my hair.
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Skincare - Face -Ole Henriksen - Truth Serum
dreamsandreverie 5/26/2012 1:36:00 AM
I really like this serum, or really my skin likes it. It has a pleasant scent and goes on smoothly and absorbs quickly, even if I apply too much. Most days I use it under a moisturizer, but some days I find it works enough on its own. I generally have combination skin and some summer days I can be pretty oily, but this seems to have calmed my skin quite a bit so that it's closer to normal. The pump is nice, although the product is a bit runny. One downside is when it gets nearly empty, I had difficulty pumping it out and had to turn it on end to get the last bit of it out. I'm also a little afraid of breaking the bottle, but it has survived a few falls to the tile floor. My full size bottle can be stubborn to pump, but I did not have a problem with smaller ones. I do find it to be expensive at $48 for 1 ounce ($72 for 1.7 oz) but it has lasted me a long time and I was able to get some sample sizes by redeeming Sephora's Beauty Insider points. Of course I'll continue to buy this.
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Skincare - Face -Ole Henriksen - Truth To Go Wipes
dreamsandreverie 5/22/2012 4:07:00 AM
I received these wipes from a Sephora 500-point BI gift. Normally they cost $15 USD for 30 wipes, which is not inexpensive. They have a strong orange creamsicle scent which I like, but it's a bit too strong. As for removal, they seem to work decently, but don't quite remove everything. There are wipes out there that do a better job. I actually preferred them for wiping my face after a sweaty day when I was NOT wearing any makeup. They did not irritate my skin or sensitive eyes. I feel they're a product that's worth trying. I will not be purchase again because of price, strong scent, and there are better wipes out there. If they're in a freebie or gift, I will use them, but will not actively seek them out.
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Highlighters -Christian Dior - Skinflash
dreamsandreverie 4/23/2012 7:30:00 AM
I had my eye on this product for some time and finally just bought it after a makeup artist/sales associate at a Dior counter used it. She had used it as an eyeshadow base, but as expected, it creased within the hour. (My eyelids MUST have a primer of some sort.) I've been using it as a concealer on blemish spots and find it adequate, but not great. One positive is it doesn't look caked on or obvious that I covered something. Lately, I've gotten some dark circles under my eyes from lack of sleep and this has covered them decently. I'd say it's done a good job with that. It isn't great, but it's done the job. As a highlighter I find it pretty useless. I don't love the click pen or the applicator brush on the end. I find the brush becomes stiff and scratchy so I have to constantly clean it. With the clicker, I feel as if I have to click forever, but even one click too many and I have a huge glob and mess. A tube with a narrow opening may be better. I do feel it's worth a try to see if it works for you. I can make it work, and won't return it, but it's not my favorite and do not see myself ever repurchasing as there are better products for me. I gave it three lippies because while it's not great, it's still not awful. I paid $37 for it, which is a bit too expensive for how it performs combined with the packaging. I find it a very middle of the road product.
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Eye Shadow -Stila - Kitten
dreamsandreverie 3/14/2012 2:11:00 PM
I really do not like this eyeshadow. The color was a straight up frosty white on me with no pink or gold tones as others have claimed. (My skin is not at all tanned.) I didn't even like it as a highlighter. There was so much fallout although patting it on helps a little. As for the quality of the shadow itself, it seems to break easily. I find it to be far too crumbly. I don't mind loosely pressed eyeshadows, or even loose pigments, but this was just way too much for me. I didn't really like that I had to buy a pan with it, but this may have changed. The price was not worth what you get. Some pros are you do get a rather large pan of eyeshadow and it was highly pigmented.
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Gels/Soaps -The Body Shop - Satsuma Shower Gel
dreamsandreverie 3/12/2012 3:34:00 PM
I love this shower gel. I was first introduced to it with a sample then I later went out and bought a 13.5oz bottle from Sephora. I find it cleans very well. In a pinch I've used it as a shampoo, though I wouldn't recommend that for long-term use. The scent is amazing. It's a citrusy scent that almost has a hint of gummy candy. I always crave tangerines and gummy bears after getting a whiff. My bathroom after a hot shower always smells wonderful. My sample size came with a flip top and the larger version has a pump and both versions were fine by me. The pump dispenses a decent amount of product and I like that I can do a half-pump if needed while the flip top bottle wasn't too runny, nor did I have to fight to get out the product I haven't had any problems with the plastic crinkling or cracking, which has happened to another (non-TBS) body wash of mine. I will buy this again and again.
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Shampoo -Garnier - Fructis Fortifying Shampoo
dreamsandreverie 3/10/2012 8:56:00 AM
I despise this product. I like the scent, but that's it. The shampoo made my hair feel coated and just plain nasty. I felt like I had to wash after I had just shampooed it. It was as if someone had dumped a bucket of grease on my head. After my shower and when my hair was dried there was a huge amount of buildup along with an itchy scalp. It was disgusting. I had a roommate who used it without a problem but it was just not for me. It was cheap but definitely not worth even that. I will not buy again. I would rather never wash my hair than to use this again.
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Eye Primer -Too Faced - Shadow Insurance, Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer
dreamsandreverie 3/10/2012 8:51:00 AM
This product is a lifesaver to my eyeshadows. Alone every eyeshadow on the planet will crease, slide, and fade on me. It doesn't matter which brand they are or their quality - my oily lids just kill eyeshadows. TFSI is a miracle worker and holds shadows in place for hours and hours. I do find that if I apply too much primer it won't work so using a little bit is key and building up if needed. I put a tiny amount on my finger, pat it all around my lid and up to my brow bone, then *very* gently rub it in. (Without tugging at the lid!) For new tubes or if the tube has been sitting unused for awhile I find it may be a little watery but this is fixed by squeezing about the tube (lid closed, of course) and shaking it to mix it together again. With regular use this doesn't seem to happen. It goes on smoothly and sheer without irritating my sensitive eyes. I would choose this over Urban Decay's primer potions any day because I find this is easier to spread over my lid and UDPP occasionally makes my lids feel dry and sore. It's a little pricey at $18 for 0.35 oz. but it truly does work and the tubes last awhile. It's nice that it's in a tube and you can easily squeeze out the product.
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Eye Shadow -Christian Dior - Iridescent Quint -Petal Shine 809
dreamsandreverie 3/10/2012 8:41:00 AM
These shadows have a pearly sheen that is just lovely. The quality is excellent and the colors in Petal Shine work for multiple looks whether you take your time doing your makeup or just swipe it on heading out the door. Often I find light colors to be chalky but these are very smooth and apply evenly. I do use a primer because I have very oily eyelids and have had no problems with creasing or fading. This quint is expensive at nearly $60 but I love this one. The sponge applicators are cheap looking and I prefer a brush so I throw them away which seems like a waste. I feel the sponge applicators detract from the "look" of the palette. I'm not a fan of the blue but the case is very sturdy. Overall, I rated it 4/5 because while I really enjoy this quint, all the colors had a strong sheen to them meaning I personally cannot use this quint solely from lashline to brow bone. It's a small complaint and shouldn't deter anyone from trying it. If I had the chance to redo my purchase, this would definitely come home with me again. If you see it in store, swatch it and maybe you'll love it, too.
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Blush -Maybelline - Dream Mousse Blush in Pink Frosting [DISCONTINUED]
dreamsandreverie 3/10/2012 8:26:00 AM
The texture of this blush is nice and I really love the baby pink color. It goes on smoothly and blends out nicely. It has a ton of gold glitter, however. The glitter is just way too much. I'm also afraid I will break the jar. If this blush didn't have any glitter I would love it and it would be one of my top blushes. The price was fairly inexpensive and it's easy to find the product in stores. I will not buy this again because of the glitter.
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Treatments -Ole Henriksen - Invigorating Night Gel
dreamsandreverie 3/10/2012 8:20:00 AM
Why did I not try this product sooner? It has been an absolute savior for my skin. I apply a fairly thin layer every night and it has truly improved my skin in texture, tone, and overall appearance. People have even commented about the difference in my skin. I've tried a thicker layer and that caused it to ball up a bit, which was not a lovely effect, so stick with thinner applications. There is a slight scent that isn't the greatest, but it's not strong or offensive. The price is a bit high, but it's worth it to me and it helps that only a little is used at a time. I received mine in the 1 oz. size from the Three Little Wonders kit and plan on buying a full size once this jar runs out. A full size jar (1.7oz) is $45. A pump would be nice, but I just make sure my hands are clean before applying. Yes, I will buy again... and again.
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Lip Treatments -Chapstick - Strawberry
dreamsandreverie 3/10/2012 8:12:00 AM
This is one of my favorite lip balms. The scent is a bit fake but there's something about it that I like and they're easy to carry around with you. It keeps my lips soft and unchapped which is especially great for windy days or cold weather. I often have some difficulty breaking the seal when I get a new tube which sucks, but at least I know it's unused. It's inexpensive (98 cents) so I don't feel too bad if I misplace it. It will, however, melt in the car when it's hot. Some mentioned they have to continuously use it to keep the effects, but I don't find that to be the case for me personally.
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Gels/Soaps -St. Ives - Oatmeal and Shea Butter Body Wash
dreamsandreverie 3/10/2012 8:01:00 AM
I've been using this body wash for years and years. It's a solid no-frills body wash. The scent isn't strong nor unappealing. The consistency is smooth and a slightly pearly yellow color. One con is it looks a bit like snot, which is an unpleasant thought. It's inexpensive and does its job of cleaning. I really like that the bottle can be stood on the cap when you get to the end of the product. Sometimes I squeeze out a bit too much at a time, but that's just my own clumsiness. Despite the one con, I would (and do) repurchase.
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