Lotions/ Creams -Tree Hut - Coconut Lime Shea Lotion
etain_anders 5/15/2013 1:38:00 AM
Bought this on a whim because it smelled wonderful and was on sale. I have no regrets--this lotion is thick, but sinks in quick and leaves hands soft. A little pricier than I'd like, but still quite lovely.
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Eyeliner -E.L.F. - Cream Eyeliner - Plum Purple
etain_anders 5/14/2013 10:51:00 PM
I almost never wear eyeliner, so this review is from a definite amateur. I bought this eyeliner mostly because I needed a few more dollars to meet the free shipping requirement. It's a beautiful dark plum, sexy but not flashy. It's got a very soft cream consistency, and despite my inexperience with applying eyeliner, I found this very easy to use. I even liked the little brush that came with it. Also, this eyeliner stayed on for 12+ hours without budging! Given that eye shadows crease on my oily lids within no time, I think this stuff is amazing. I'm going back to ELF to buy more colors.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -E.L.F. - Studio Lip Exfoliator
etain_anders 5/14/2013 10:45:00 PM
I bite my lips (and even when I don't they peel), so some kind of exfoliator is a must for me. This is the best I've ever tried. I just rub it back and forth across my lips until the little beads smooth everything. Unlike others, I really don't like the taste--too sweet. But in all other respects, this is a fantastic tool. I will definitely repurchase.
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Loose Powders -E.L.F. - Studio High Definition Powder
etain_anders 5/14/2013 10:42:00 PM
HOLY CRAP, THIS STUFF IS AMAZING! Sorry, I just had to get that off my chest. I've had combo/super-oily skin since I was a teenager. Primers don't work. 'Matte' foundations slide right off my skin. I switched to mineral makeup just because it at least wouldn't actually break up from the oil on my face. The only thing that's ever made a difference are those Palladio oil-absorbing sheets--and I'd run through 2-3 of those a *day* trying to keep the oil at bay. I can't even remember why I ordered this from elf, but I was stunned when I applied it and realized that not only does it actually make your skin look sort of 'soft focus,' but it also ABSORBS ALL OIL. Seriously, it won't last more than a few hours for me, but when I put this on my face, every bit of oil flat out disappears. If you've got oily skin, this is a must-have. Even their irritatingly gigantic container is worth hauling around. This powder is that great.
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Everyday Minerals - Jojoba Base
etain_anders 5/14/2013 10:34:00 PM
After they discontinued the Intensive line (at this point, I just assume EM will discontinue every product I like within a year), I tried samples of this. I have to admit, I loved the way it felt. It went on silky smooth, and while it did nothing for oil control, I'm used to that with all foundations. Still, while I liked the way this felt, none of the shades were really a match for me. I'm neutral/warm, but *very* light, and all the shades were too dark or pink. Sorry, EM, I've moved on to Alima. Keep jerking your customers around, and I won't be the last.
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Makeup Brushes -Everyday Minerals - Long handled Kabuki
etain_anders 5/14/2013 10:28:00 PM
I'm a fan of EM brushes, but this one kind of struck out for me. It's not bad, but I don't really like it. It's still super soft, doesn't shed, and isn't flimsy (hence the high rating), but for me it falls far short of the Flat Top brush. It's very dense, but the long bristle length means it bends where you press it to the skin. I feel like EM tried to combine the Flat Top with a blush brush, and ended up with the virtues of neither. The FT's denseness and lack of flexibility makes it perfect for applying thick foundation, while this brush is too flexible for that--but too dense for blush! Maybe if you like very light coverage. Summary: I own one of these, and three of the Flat Top brushes. The Flat Top's are in constant rotation; this kabuki gathers dust in the back of my drawer.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Everyday Minerals - Eye Kabuki Brush
etain_anders 5/14/2013 10:22:00 PM
As an eyeshadow brush, I think this fails. But for applying concealer, this is my HG brush. It picks up mineral foundation/concealer and applies it easily around my nose, under my eyes and anywhere else that my foundation brush is too big to fit easily. It also results in thicker coverage, and I suspect it would be great at contouring (not something I do). I've bought one, and I have another in storage for when they (inevitably) discontinue it.
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Makeup Brushes -Everyday Minerals - New Flat Top Brush
etain_anders 5/14/2013 10:19:00 PM
My HG brush for applying mineral foundation. It's super soft but very dense and it picks up and applies powder beautifully. It gives thick foundation coverage, and with extra buffing on prepared skin, it can almost make your mineral makeup seem to 'disappear' leaving perfect skin behind. This brush rarely sheds, washes easily, and lasts for years (I've yet to throw one out). I have two that I swap out between washings, and a third in storage just in case they discontinue this suddenly. One caveat: if you use this to apply powder, your skin has to be *very* *well* moisturized. Otherwise when buffing, this brush will cause even slightly dry patches to look awful.
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Lip Treatments -Yes To Carrots - lip butter
etain_anders 5/14/2013 10:12:00 PM
I'm a lip balm junkie, and I've tried just about every organic one out there (the average women eats SIX POUNDS of lipstick over a lifetime. Think about that before buying chicken poop lip balm). Yes to Carrots in Berry is my favorite so by far. Every other lip balm (Alba's, Dr. Bronner's, Whole Foods, etc) were either too slimy/stiff, or they'd work fine for a week or two, and then they'd start messing up. Chapped lips, peeling lips, drying out too fast... Y2C is the only exception. It's smooth without being slick and has good staying power (I can put it on before bed and have it last till I wake up). I still buy the occasional classic Burt's Bees to mix it up, but after seven? eight? of these, this is my HG lip balm. Caveat: This refers only to the Berry--I found the Mango to be a little too slick for me, and the Peppermint actually made my lips itch.
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Cleansers -Neutrogena - Clear Pore Cleanser Mask
etain_anders 5/14/2013 10:02:00 PM
I have: combination/super oily/acne-prone skin. Best use for this product: I have huge pores on my nose that look disgusting when dirt becomes trapped in them. Biore pore strips have never done anything for me, neither have other cleansers. But this product cleans them out completely. First I get my face damp (not dripping) with warm water and apply this mask. I leave it until it has dried enough it won't smear off when touched. Then, turning the water as hot as I can stand, I hold my fingers under the faucet and then press them against my nose and massage the skin gently. I repeat this until the mask is mostly off my nose, and then I rinse off all of it with warm water. I think the combination of heat+rubbing+slow removal is what makes this method work for me. One caveat: my skin is ALWAYS a little red and tight after doing this, so I do this only once a week and at night. And afterwards, I skip any topical acne medication, and I add a drop of jojoba oil to my regular nighttime lotion (I can't wear creams without breaking out). Good luck!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -St. Ives - Renew and Firm Apricot Scrub
etain_anders 2/8/2012 11:26:00 PM
Bought this after seeing the reviews--thankyou makeupalley for leading me to a great product! This stuff is fantastic, if with slightly larger grains than I'd like. It's very moisturizing, so much so that I don't even need moisturizer after using it at night. I have oily/acne-prone/combo/sensitive skin and using this 3-4 times per week leaves my skin looking great!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Purpose - Gentle Cleansing Wash
etain_anders 4/11/2008 2:28:00 AM
Pros: I've been using this for years and it's never broken me out. My super-sensitive skin never gets irritated, it doesn't leave me as oily as Neutrogena's, and it takes off nearly all of my makeup. Also, no tears. Cons: Fairly drying--I need a moisturizer afterwards. And to be honest--it's boring. There's nothing about this product that makes me think, 'Ooh, washing my face with Purpose, what fun!' Also, while it won't *cause* breakouts, on it's own, it won't prevent them either. WARNING: the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org) which studies all the chemicals various products contain, and then rates them, gives Purpose a '4' making it a 'moderate hazard' because it contains quaternium-15, PEG-80 sorbitan laurate, and cocamidopropyl betaine, all of which are linked to immunotoxicity and have contamination concerns. In other words, it's not terrible, but if you're trying to go all natural like I am, it's one to toss.
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Moisturizers -Olay - Moisture Therapy Cream- Sensitive Skin [DISCONTINUED]
etain_anders 3/20/2008 1:10:00 PM
I've been using this product at night for a few months now--I bought it after I started DK's Regimen and needed some extra moisture at night. It does moisturize very well--goes on very easily, and leaves my skin soft but not greasy by morning. Unfortunately, it tends to sting a bit around my eyes, and when my eyelids and under-eye skin started puffing up, I checked it's rating at the ewg.org: 4 (out of 10), making it only a moderate hazard but more than I'd like, especially since some of the ingredients it contains cause allergies/immunotoxicity, as well as other toxins. I'm 2/3 of the way through the jar (nice packaging, btw, though a pump would be more hygenic) and I'll keep using it while I look for a better moisturizer, but I won't repurchase. Shame, it's nice stuff.
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Lip Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Ora Labs Essential Lip Moisture in Almond Swirl with SPF 15
etain_anders 1/13/2007 11:05:00 PM
This stuff is great--very smooth going on, but not goopy like vaseline, and as far as I can tell, no wax! A very subtle almond/vanilla scent that is lovely. No taste at all. No color at all, and just a bit of shine. Staying power is decent. I tend to bite my lips, and this heals the cracks and turns my lips wonderfully soft. Also, the mini version is wonderful to stick in a purse--it pushes up slowly, so no worries it'll twist up too much. I have a hard time finding this product, but the quality and price make it more than worth the search. So far, my most dependable lipbalm.
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Lip Treatments -Chapstick - Peppermint
etain_anders 5/26/2006 2:34:00 AM
I love this stuff! It's nicer than the other chapsticks, goes on smoother, tingling a tiny bit, and is more moisturizing, but the reason I am so fond of it is that once I put it on I can't stop licking my lips! It smells/tastes like the best peppermint flavor ever! Slightly sweet, almost like candy canes, it is such fun to wear, I went through a tube in a few weeks! And for $0.99 I can afford to buy more whenever I need it! Cococare Cocoa Butter lip balm moisturizes better, but while it smells heavenly, it has no taste, and this stuff is just delicious! I have never liked any other ChapStick flavor this much, and I have tried all of them. You need to pick up one and try it--it's wonderful. And even the packaging--all bright blue stripes--is great!
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