BB Cream -Physicians Formula - Super BB Cream
elovejoy25 3/9/2013 7:04:00 PM
I picked this up when I got fed up with how greasy the Garnier BB cream made me look. I am really pleased and it's definitely the best drugstore BB cream I've found. It's a creamy texture that appears to have microbeads of something in the formula. I can't speak to its skin care benefits, because I started a new skincare routine around the time I purchased it, so any benefits I'm attributing to that. However, this is very impressive coverage for a BB cream and wears very well. This has become my everyday staple over my actual foundations. Like I said, Garnier made me look very oily. This doesn't as much. I still have to put a setting powder on, but overall it gives me a fresh, dewy but not oily appearance. I thought I went through it really quickly, but I realized I've had it since early December so I suppose 3 solid months of product isn't too bad. I always cut bottles like this open because I can usually get a few more days out of it and there was a lot of product left inside. Also: You must shake this product before you use it. It does separate. I got this on promo for about $6 but the retail price is $14.95 which is way pricier than I'd normally spend. I'm more likely to finish my greasy Garnier while I wait for a sale then run out and get it right now. That being said, once it goes on sale I'm grabbing at least one, maybe two to stock up.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Naked Palette
elovejoy25 8/3/2012 12:06:00 AM
If you are reading this and you have a lemming for the Naked palette, take it from me, get it. I wanted this for so long, but I resisted due to the cost. In that time I probably bought well over $50 in other neutral drugstore shadows trying to satisfy my craving. Since purchasing the Naked palette in October I went all the way until mid-July without buying a single eyeshadow. Not only is the quality (and quantity!) or the product worth the price, but I feel like it's such an amazing product, you'll save money just because you won't want any new shadows! Since I purchased the palette I have not gone a single day (where I was wearing makeup) without using at least one of these shadows. Today, for instance, I went with Buck in my crease and Virgin on my inner tear duct and brow bone and that was my entire look and it looked beautiful. My favorite shades are Naked, Virgin, Sin and Buck. I constantly am trying the other colors in different combinations as well. The quality is, obviously, incredible. The shadows are incredibly soft and blendable. Never found better from any brand. I am hoping against hope UD makes an all, or mostly matte Naked palette because I'd get that in seconds.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -Maybelline - Dream Matte Pressed Powder
elovejoy25 5/11/2012 2:43:00 AM
IF YOU HAVE OILY SKIN GO TO THE DRUGSTORE RIGHT NOW AND PURCHASE THIS! I have tried everything. Powder foundations, setting sprays, mattifying primers, you name it, I've tried it (including a Milk of Magnesia face mask... yuck). Once I've had my makeup on for more that four hours it usually is still in place, but entirely in liquid form, no matter what the substance started as. I picked this up because of MissGlamorazzi on youtube seemed to like it a lot. I'm not the biggest fan of her's but she does have very oily skin so if she was so devoted to it, I figured it was worth the $7 shot. I am so glad I found this product. It keeps my makeup on all day and I don't look like an oil slick. I am not lying when I say this is the very first product I've found to accomplish that. When you first apply the powder, don't be discouraged. I use an elf kabuki brush and always find it looks a little heavy at first. Once you wear it for a bit it seems to adjust to the oils in your face without letting them get out of control. It doesn't look matte (which looks fake, let's be honest) but it just lets your skin look naturally and a little luminescent rather than oily. I do have to re-apply after about 6 hours or so, but I can live with that. My T-Zone is Deepwater Horizon status so 6 hours for me is a miracle.
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -L'Oreal - Go 360 Clean Deep Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin
elovejoy25 5/11/2012 2:36:00 AM
I bought this when it first came out, mostly for the scrublet. Nouveau Cheap gave it a rave review and I thought I'd try it. I wasn't impressed with either the scrublet or the cleanser so both went in my unused products drawer. Over time I purchased a Clarisonic Mia and used Cetaphil with it. When my Cetaphil ran out and I didn't have time to repurchase it, I gave the cleanser another shot and LOVED it. My skin has never been clearer in my life. The combination of the Mia and this has just been incredible. I am having a hard time finding it ANYWHERE, but hopefully it hasn't been discontinued. If it has, I hope they repromote the formula without the dumb scrublet, because that this is gimmicky and unnecessary.
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Liquid -Neutrogena - Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup SPF 20
elovejoy25 5/11/2012 2:28:00 AM
To start off, I am an NW20 and the shade Nude is the best drugstore match I have found yet. I am a big fan of Revlon Colorstay, but I was craving a lighter foundation for the warmer months. On a whim I picked up the Neutrogena Healthy Skin liquid makeup, because I've heard youtube gurus rave about it as a dupe for Nars Sheer Glow. I haven't ever tried Sheer Glow, so I won't speak to that at all, but as for the Neutrogena product on its own: I'm really liking it. The first time I used it I almost ended up returning it immediately after. I applied it and though I was pleased with the shade, it looked cakey and strange on me. I ended up taking it off within the hour. I decided to try it again the next day and realized that my cakey effect was due to using wayyyyy too much product. For Revlon Colorstay I use about a quarter sized amount, but for Healthy Skin you are much better off with a dime sized. If you need more coverage once that's applied, it is better to build than to start off with a lot right off the bat. When I apply it, I slightly blend it with my fingers then go over it with the Sonia Kashuk flat top foundation brush. This gives a good enough effect. I them set it with Maybelline Dream Matte Powder. The reason I say it looks good enough is because the magic of this foundation isn't in the initial look, but how it wears throughout the day. I love the luminous and healthy look this gives my skin. When I look in the mirror when I return from class it almost looks like I'm not even wearing makeup, though in a good way. I'd call this a solid medium coverage foundation. You aren't going to be able to cover everything, but it does its job. My biggest complaint is the packaging. For some reason it pours out SO messily and it's almost impossible to get the right amount without having to waste some. Neutrogena NEEDS to put a pump on this sucker! Especially if they claim it makes skin healthier, it would be much more hygienic!!!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Revlon - Nail Enamel - Demure 229
elovejoy25 5/11/2012 2:11:00 AM
I have been craving coral this season like crazy-- blush, lipstick, clothes and, of course, nail polish. I tried two of the most raved-about corals, Butter London's Trout Pout and Sally Hansen's Coral Reef and found them both far too neon for my taste. I hate the way overtly bright polishes look on me. I thought I would never find my perfect coral, then lo and behold: I already had it! I purchased the Demure polish on a whim during Revlon's Fire and Ice promotion over a year ago. I fell in love with the lipstick and thought I'd get the nail polish to match. I think the reason I didn't take to the polish right away, was because it was the winter and I gravitate towards grieges and purples that time of year. I am so glad I decided to shop my stash now, though because I am in LOVE! It is just a beautiful, light but not too bright coral. It really brings out my tan, too. And with all corals, I think it's important too note it doesn't have too much orange or red. It's a very orange-toned pink if I had to describe it. Both the lipstick and polish are part of the permanent collection now, if I'm not mistaken (although I'm thrilled to have the bottle with the cursive logo!)
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Lipstick -Revlon - Superlustrous Lipstick - Demure (LE)
elovejoy25 4/23/2011 5:24:00 PM
This is my HG lipcolor. Perfect for any occasion and is definitely a my-lips-but-better shade. I'm buying some backup from Target because it is a LE shade (but they should definitely make it core collection!!). Adore it. The only downside is the cap NEVER stays on. It might just be mine, though.
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Polishes -OPI - No Spain No Gain
elovejoy25 2/15/2011 9:28:00 PM
I bought this on a whim, because the color doesn't look that exciting in the bottle (at least not to me) but I am so glad I picked it up. As you can see in the swatches, it's a beautiful purpley-red. It's a great winter color that I will definitely be rocking the rest of the season. If you want a low-cost polish that is similar (though not a dupe) try Confetti Purple Reigns. It's not identical but it has the same feel. The Confetti has more purple.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - ColorBurst in 070 Soft Nude [DISCONTINUED]
elovejoy25 2/15/2011 9:24:00 PM
I love Revlon Colorburst lipsticks. The formula is always soft, creamy and smooth. Formula is great. This color (on it own), however, is SO UGLY! I look like a cadaver with it on. Personally I'm not a fan of nude, nude lips and this is as nude as they come. What I have found is that this is a great base color to use with lipstick shades that don't look amazing on you. For instance, Revlon Colorburst in Soft Rose just doesn't work with my skin tone. When I apply it on top of Soft Nude is becomes a pretty, flattering pale rose color. Under my very dark Covergirl Amazemint lipgloss in Wine Shine, it becomes an interesting and pretty lilac-tinged color. I thought for sure I'd return it, but I think it will work in my collection as a mixing shade. I also have this weird urge to try it as an undereye concealer because it's essentially my skin tone with a peach undertone... But don't worry, I won't.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Revlon Colorburst in Peach
elovejoy25 2/15/2011 9:18:00 PM
I adore the formula on Revlon Colorburst lipsticks. They are creamy and amazing to apply. Unfortunately, I had never found a color that I loved until I came across Peach. I am obsessed with this lipstick. As I said, the formula is great and this color is SO flattering. It is hard to find a peach that isn't too nude or pink or orange. This is just a beautiful peach. It's a your lips but better color for me. I need to give it some more time but this is quickly becoming a HG product.
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Top/Base Coats -Sally Hansen - Mega Shine Top Coat
elovejoy25 2/15/2011 9:14:00 PM
I HATE THIS PRODUCT! I bought it because at lot of Gurus claimed it was a lower cost alternative for Seche Vite. Not so much. This product leave streak marks on my nails, even if I wait for my polish to dry before applying and they are not even shiny! I change my nailpolish very often so chipping usually doesn't happen, but I wore my polish ONE DAY with this and it was chip city. It is no match for Seche Vite plain and simple.
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Polishes -Sally Hansen - Complete Salon Manicure- Gray by Gray
elovejoy25 1/11/2011 10:50:00 PM
I bought this color to stay my desire for MAC's Blue India (as recommended by All Lacquered Up) and it is a great color (not quite a dupe, but especially considering Blue India probably isn't available anymore it is probably the best you can get). It's much more blue than gray, as the name would have you think. It comes off as a dusty grayish blue. Very pretty. I hated the brush at first. It is one of those wide, flat brushes that Sally Hansen has started using on a lot of their products these days. Once I figured out how to use it (apply pressure on the brush so it fans out and covers the entire nail in one swipe) I didn't hate it so much, though I like it significantly less than the conventional brush. The packaging is nice. The bottle is a glass and feels very expensive. My biggest gripe after the brush is the price. Drug store polish should not cost nearly $8. That's just ridiculous.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -China Glaze - Ingrid
elovejoy25 1/11/2011 10:41:00 PM
I looove griege nail polishes and I enjoyed this because it was kind of greige-plus. The plus being really pretty gold shimmer. The color itself remind me a lot of OPI's You Don't Know Jacques and when I finished my bottle of that, this seemed like a great replacement. Whoever said it looks like chocolate milk was pretty right on. Only thing I would change is the price!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Hard Candy - So Baked Bronzer, Tiki
elovejoy25 1/8/2011 8:37:00 AM
I bought this as a straight up bronzer and was REALLY disappointed. Mostly because, despite it's name, it isn't a bronzer. It's a highlighter. Once I finally realized that I fell in love. It reminds me a lot of MAC Mineralize Skinfinishes, but I haven't used those in so long I can't give it a legitimate comparison. The color is so natural on my skin, I love it. I pair it with a matte blush and it gives me the perfect healthy glow. I gave the packaging a low rating because the top broke off. Otherwise, it's fine, that just was annoying. I'm really confused as to why they marketed it as a bronzer, though? It is such a pale highlighter, I can't imagine anyone actually wearing it as such. It wouldn't even work as a contour. And as an all over type-deal it would look like you took a shimmer bath, which looks good on approximately nobody.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Revlon - Matte Powder Blush in Rose Rapture
elovejoy25 1/8/2011 8:31:00 AM
This is my new favorite blush. I got it 75% off at CVS and even if I had paid full price I think I would have been in love. I have always gravitated to darker pink blushes. I always thought the light pinks wouldn't show up. I decided to try this anyway but wasn't too hopeful. Boy was I wrong. This is a great, pigmented pale rose pink. It gives me a natural flush that I love. This is also the first matte blush I've tried in a long time and I'm sold. With a matte blush I can wear a highlighter without looking like I've bathed in shimmer. I'm sincerely hoping this shade is being discontinued because it's lovely.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No