Lotions/ Creams -Gold Bond - Ultimate Healing Skin Therapy Lotion
eteix 4/26/2013 5:25:00 PM
Absolutely the best! I am a dry individual, and I have tried many other drugstore lotions because I am kind of an addict. I really hate feeling dry, but you know what else I hate? Really thick, greasy & slippery lotions. They have their uses: it's nice to use Vaseline or Aquaphor or Bag Balm or coconut oil for when you're dry and you need that relief and kind of a hydrophobic barrier. However! I shower in the morning, and I also apply my makeup so I really don't have the time to be massaging in a lotion, or slipping & sliding around slathered in coconut oil. Not to mention how it would be awful pulling on skinny jeans while still in a coat of Vaseline. That's probably my favorite thing about Gold Bond: it does its hydrating job, AND it absorbs so quickly and easily. It isn't sticky at all, which is great for when you need to moisturize your hands but need to get to work right away (happens to me a lot). It also has this lovely light scent. I can't quite place it. If you're sensitive to aromas, you may just want to sniff it first before you buy. I have the larger bottle at home for lotioning after showers, and I keep a smaller one for my hands at work.
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Lips -Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain 15 Rose Vinyl
eteix 4/22/2013 7:03:00 PM
There's no doubt that this is a 5 star product! Once I was able to stomach the hefty price tag, I couldn't deny that this glossy stain is an all-around champ. I only have one glossy stain, and that's 15 Rose Vinyl. I'm a pale person, and it's a rosy pink on me -- perfect for that cute, glossy lip. I really hate the way most stains dry my lips out; the feeling is just awful! The YSL glossy stain doesn't make me feel that way. It's not drying, and even better: reapplying doesn't exacerbate any dry skin or flakes on my lips. I do need to reapply after eating since it doesn't last through that (but few lip products do, so I'm not crushed). It also smells amazing. I think all YSL lip products smell the same, but I love whatever it is. I've heard that the L'Oreal Colour Caress stains are dupes, which is possible since they're of the same parent company. I haven't tried them, so I can't attest to it =(
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Maybelline - Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Shadow in Tough as Taupe
eteix 1/9/2013 8:43:00 PM
Not sure if this warrants yet another rave review, but here's one anyway! I was looking for a cream eyeshadow for a while, since I find them fairly easy to apply & blend with a finger. However, so many cream eyeshadows I've used will crease before I even leave the house! These Color Tattoos don't do that. One more reason I love Tough as Taupe is that since I am NOT a morning person, it's great to just reach for this pot and do a simple look with it and go out looking presentable. For reference, I'm NW20 and I think it's a flattering shade on me. The only slight downside is that the consistency of the product is a bit hard, and not buttery like a lot of other cream eyeshadows. The pot is also a bit bulky for my tastes.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Jordana - Easyshine Glossy Lip Color
eteix 1/7/2013 10:20:00 PM
I have this in SB-03 Grape-Tini, which was a huge leap for me because I never thought I'd buy or wear a purple lipstick. Turns out that it's not overwhelming, and actually really flattering! The color is beautiful, the gloss slides on smoothly and it lasts a while (not through lunch, but you know). It smells like a grape-flavored Jolly Rancher, too! If you've ever tried NYX Black Label lipstick in Diva, it's very similar in look and texture. It's also only $1.99 on Jordana's website, so it's perfect for taking a plunge on a color you haven't tried before - like I did!
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Lip Gloss -Essence - Stay With Me
eteix 1/6/2013 3:08:00 PM
I really love this lipgloss! I took a complete blind chance buying it, and now I find myself reaching for it all the time. They are $2.99 each on the Ulta website, and worth every cent! I have this in the shade 03 Candy Bar, a pigmented pinky-coral. It looks absolutely beautiful! I don't think I could hate it if I tried. The finish is nice and glossy, without tons of glitter like you so often see. The staying power is not incredible, but that's to be expected in a gloss. Oh, and I adore the wand! I haven't seen this sort of wand by another company: it's sort of an sponge-y hourglass, and very easy to use and control. The shape of my lip fits the curvature of the wand nicely. Highly recommended for all gloss lovers!
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Primer/ Corrector -Rimmel - Fix and Perfect Foundation Primer
eteix 1/5/2013 1:00:00 PM
I purchased this primer because I had never used primer before, and it was the least expensive option. The first thing I noticed was that it came out of the tube a peach/orange color. I knew from pictures of more costly primers that it should probably be clear. I don't understand why they sold it in this color when very few people are orange-skinned. Anyway, I tried it and just was not impressed. My foundation applied a bit more smoothly and some of my pores were masked, but there was no continued staying power. It was also frustrating to wait for the primer to dry and set in before using foundation. I kept it in my makeup collection, but I noticed that I almost never want to use it.
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Blush -Jordana - Coral Sandy Beach
eteix 1/4/2013 11:46:00 PM
Wow, I am absolutely impressed with this blush! It is perfect for everyday use, especially for a paler person who doesn't want to look overdone. This is not an in-your-face blush but more of a rosy cheeks in the winter blush. Also, I'm usually a little hesitant when applying blush but this one is seriously dummy-proof! It's only $2.50 on the website and totally worth it. I just wish the packaging was a little bit smaller.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Jordana - Nail Polish
eteix 12/23/2012 9:49:00 PM
I just have to rave about this nail polish! I have it in Ruby Slippers, which is a bold red in the bottle but looks more like a maroon/burgundy on my nails in indoor lighting. Either way, it is absolutely gorgeous! Not just that, but the application was easy, the polish wasn't streaky, and the finish is just beautiful. I'm sure everyone knows the pains of a finicky nail polish, and this definitely isn't one! PLUS it was a mere $1.99 from the website. I would recommend this polish to everyone because of the great results and it being very inexpensive. I'll definitely be buying more colors!
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Shampoo -Got 2 Be - Fat-tastic Fresh & Full Dry Shampoo
eteix 9/15/2012 6:19:00 PM
The few positive aspects of this dry shampoo is that it's a good price (about $6 for 4.3oz), it lasts for a long time, and the packaging is very cute. However, the more I use it, the less I like it. It leaves too much visible powder on my hair. I understand that it is inevitable since I have black hair, but I have used other brands like Suave and Alterna where a bit of combing or tousling can effectively disperse the powder. The göt2b one, however, takes me forever to work the powder in, and then my hands feel awful after. The powder is still even visible, after all my effort. The worst part is that if I touch my scalp later, I could feel the sticky powder there. It also has a pretty powerful scent, which isn't malodorous but if you like to use perfume the two scents could clash. Lastly, it doesn't work to disguise the greasiness well.
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Brows -Unlisted Brand - KOJI - Dolly Wink Eyebrow Mascara
eteix 9/4/2012 7:29:00 PM
Wow, this product would have received a -5- rating from me if not for one glaringly obvious issue...
When I first started using this brow mascara, I immediately noticed what a great shape my brows were getting. It made my brows look spectacular in shape! Moreover, it was so easy to apply! The directions state to first go backwards against the brows (I never thought to do that before) and then swipe in the direction that the hairs grow. My brows were looking so good, so natural and full... but that was two feet away from the mirror. On closer inspection...
I have this in color #3, Cocoa. The darkest shade they offer. I have straight, black Asian hair. Therefore, in a very unfortunate turn of events, this otherwise amazing product shows up a metallic copper color on my brows! I don't regard having shiny tinsel eyebrows is a very natural look. I normally use a brown brow powder and top with gel, so I do honestly prefer a slightly glossy lighter brow. However, these results are absurd. I will say, however, that this product would be phenomenal on someone with auburn/chestnut hair. I desperately looked online to see if Dolly Wink offers a darker shade, but they don't. It's such a shame to toss this easy-to-use product aside, but I just can't walk around with Elmo's fur on my face.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Revlon - Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain- Darling
eteix 7/28/2012 12:57:00 PM
Love it! I was initially frightened of this lavender shade in the store, but I took a leap of faith because I love these Balm Stains so darn much. Let me say that I am not disappointed in the least! The color doesn't make you look like some Nicki Minaj backup dancer -- it's more of a cool toned heliotrope (I just learned that this is a color) that makes you look like a cooler, hip version of yourself. Oh, and the formula is amazing, too! I'm deathly afraid of any lip product exacerbating dry lips, which happens to me a lot if I have to reapply. The great thing about Balm Stains is that you rarely need to reapply AND it's already more moisturizing than other lip stains. The one drawback is that my friends laugh at me like I'm smearing a child's Crayola on myself, but who cares? My lips look fabulous!
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain - Charm
eteix 7/28/2012 12:42:00 PM
I feel I must begin with the fact that I'm loving these Balm Stains... except for Charm. I have them in Lovesick and Darling (so far! I will definitely buy more), which are both amazing but that was what made Charm extra disappointing. Charm is pretty much transparent. From looking at the product, I was hoping I would get a nice peach color out of it, but there was really no color difference. I have no problem if that's what you're into, but I just can't justify spending $10 on what is essentially clear balm. Furthermore, maybe I could have looked past the nothingness that is this color except that the formula was so drying! The stick just exacerbated any little piece of dry skin on my lip. I was so confused -- both Lovesick and Darling were not drying at all and they are all from the same line. I guess the formula can change from color to color.
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Polishes -Sally Hansen - Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Hot Magenta
eteix 4/8/2012 10:09:00 PM
This was a great buy, especially because I got it on sale for $0.99. My favorite part of this is the nice, flat brush. If you're not careful, you can get a lot of product at once but I think the key is to start with your pinky so you can guage how much polish to use. I think it looks really nice with just one coat; it's a very rich bold magenta color that's perfect for spring/summer.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -E.L.F. - Studio Blush - Pink Passion
eteix 3/8/2012 11:03:00 PM
What a beautiful color! I'm fair with cool undertones, and this blush just gives me a bright and youthful Barbie-like color. I think that whether you like a light blush look or a more dramatic blush look, either can work with this blush depending on how it's applied. The packaging is also nice and straight to the point. I have one other Studio Blush, but I'm not crazy about it (Candid Coral). I like this one much better and I'm using it everyday. It's only $3, so definitely worth a try!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -L'Oreal - Voluminous Million Lashes - waterproof
eteix 3/4/2012 6:25:00 PM
This mascara is only okay. It is great for separating lashes and really fanning them out. It's also not clumpy whatsoever. However, it doesn't provide enough volume if you really need it and lashes don't look any longer. The waterproof formula is good because it doesn't smudge or transfer by the end of the day, which was a big problem for me. It is pretty annoying to remove, and I worry about lash fallout when rubbing on my MU-remover.
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