Concealers -Merle Norman - Luxiva Creamy Concealer
faireyfantom 4/12/2013 10:20:00 AM
Color was ok. Applied ok. Feels very nice on the skin. The coverage is mediocre. Did not stay put at all. Packaging is bulky. There a tons of better options even at the mass retailers. I should also note that what I purchased did not come with two shades as others seem to be referring to.
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Crème -Merle Norman - Total Finish Compact Makeup
faireyfantom 4/12/2013 10:01:00 AM
I don't know what has happened to Merle Norman. I used to love their color match. Lately everything seems to pull pink or so neutral it washes me out. I explained my skin in great detail to the SA. Explained I like full coverage and need my makeup to stay put. This is what she recommended. This is the worst foundation I have tried in a long time. Applies beautifully. Within 10 minutes it starts to break down on my face and sank into my pores. I am not a lumberjack or landscaper, I work in an office and by 10am my hair was sticking to my face. By the end of the day I was a greasy, spotty mess. I tried this over a week with different primers, moisturizers, setting powders, etc. to no avail. It transferred to everything and completely wore off where my sunglasses touched my face. The final straw was a nasty breakout. To top it off the owner of the store is hassling me about returning this. I am officially done with Merle Norman. There are so many good options these days and much better values. Although they do have lovely color products, they are overpriced. There are a ton of places such as Dillard's and Sephora that give you samples, coupons, lots of freebies, and more than one person manning the store.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -Laura Geller - Baked Split Highlighter Duo with Brush
faireyfantom 4/11/2013 4:52:00 PM
This is the first product in months (not joshing) I haven't rushed back to return. So that says a lot. The price really is high - it's powder for goodness sake. But I knew how much it was when I bought it. It really stands out on my fair skin. It stays put like no one's business and that is usually a big problem for my oily, combo, sensitive skin. Although fair, I have a warm/olive complexion and many highlighters look ashy. Not this one. The "brush" is ok. I was suprised it applied product so well. You get a lot of control. But I have played around with my other brushes and used this powder lightly to diffuse and brighten my under eye area. Overall a nice product. Clearly it will last forever but I can see repurchasing this. The packaging is appropriate, slightly large to tote around but there is a mirror. No smell. No breakouts. No animal testing.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -DHC - Scalp Cleansing Shampoo
faireyfantom 4/11/2013 4:31:00 PM
I have fine hair. I have to wash every day or I look like a homeless person. This shampoo is okay once in a while to remove build up. I used it every day when I received it and it left my hair crunchier and crunchier. I have thick, shoulder length hair and literally used about a dime to nickel size amount for my entire head. Lots of lather. The smell is ok. Even using it daily for four months, I still have at least half the bottle. Regardless, I would not repurchase this because it is so drying.
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Conditioner -DHC - Moist Conditioner
faireyfantom 4/11/2013 4:24:00 PM
It's ok. Not great. Not terrible. I have fine, highlighted hair and most days this does not provide enough conditioning. I have to follow up with something like It's a 10 or other blow dry product. Smells ok. Will not repurchase.
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Lipstick -Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics - Lip Tar
faireyfantom 2/23/2013 10:08:00 AM
The colors are beautiful and easy to mix into countless gorgeous shades. Intially these are creamy feeling on the lips. As with most long lasting colors they tend to be drying as time passes. Balm and gloss help combat it. I bought these because they are supposed to be really long lasting. As my experience has been with other color products, some shades lasted longer than others. They did not perform better than a good matte lipstick or any other long wearing product. The shades that lasted longest, however, did not stay put uniformly resulting in patches of color dried to my lips. The color can run without proper application and does transfer. These are not portable, especially if you mix colors for a specific shade. I like to grab a tube and inconspicuously reapply. I feel that part of beauty is that it remains somewhat mysterious. Constantly fiddling for this and that for touchup is tacky and gives the impression that you are comsumed with how you look. This stuff requires more of a production to apply than I care for. I will be returning and will not repurchase. Except maybe one. The pearl white shade (Iced) is brilliant when applied in the middle of your bottom lip. It really gives the look of plump, full lips.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -DHC - Coenzyme Q10 lotion
faireyfantom 2/4/2013 11:10:00 AM
Edit- This broke me out. I didn't reduce the rating because it is a good product and can't possibly work the same for everyone. Not it's fault my face is fussy. This is a nice toner. My SO and I both use it. I noticed her pores looking much smaller and her face was more even toned so I decided to give it a go since we had it on hand. I can tell a difference in pore size for sure - better than BHA. I find it soothing for my sensitive/rosacea skin. I notice my makeup looks smoother because my pores are not gaping holes in the middle of my face. There is no scent to speak of. It is super expensive. However, we only use a couple of drops at a time for face and neck and it lasts. Will repurchase.
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Lipstick -FLOWER Beauty - Lip Service Lip Butter in Princess and The Peony
faireyfantom 1/29/2013 12:18:00 PM
The color is lovely and girly. The product applies nicely and really "grips" the lips leaving them smooth and feeling moisturized. It seems to last better than other lip butters I've tried. The price is reasonable. I would try other colors and keep ones that are not similar to what I already have. Really if you have a ton of other lippies you probably don't need any of these. The packaging is way too chunky. There is way more packaging than product. Wonder if we would save some money there. But the lid stays put which I have learned in the last few weeks is important for travel. But don't think you are going to slip this in your front pocket and it will go unnoticed because it is ginormous. I really prefer sleek and minimal. I really don't like not knowing the color name once seal is gone. I am generally attracted to the same colors and I have been known to buy a color I already had. Oopsie. Availabiltiy is the only other real negative. Of all the freakin Walmarts to NOT offer this line yet: the one in Bentonville where the home office is located. Well played, Walmart. Well played. I was only able to find mascara, lip colors, and nail polish so far. I don't mind buying lip color from drug stores because there is no reason a lipstick should be $30. But I don't know that I could ever go back to mass retailers for foundation because of constant product turn over and poor management of inventory. The only reason I tried this brand is due to the no animal testing claim.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NYX - pinched
faireyfantom 11/28/2012 4:35:00 PM
I love NYX blushes and this is no exception. Great color. Fair prices. Simple, unpretentious packaging. I know this has been compared to Nars Orgasm but I like this one better - the color is more natural. Blush is one of those products you do not have to spend a lot of money on but really can liven your complexion.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NYX - Rouge Cream Blush
faireyfantom 11/28/2012 4:28:00 PM
I lost my mind and bought 5 of these from Cherry Culture. The price was awesome. I usually stay away from cream type products because my skin tends to be oily and drier on my cheeks during winter. Colors are fantastic and very forgiving. They stay put all day, even through workouts. I can't think of anything negative to say about these.
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Foundations -Revlon - ColorStay Makeup with SoftFlex SPF 6 for Combination/Oily Skin
faireyfantom 8/17/2012 11:15:00 AM
The coverage and finish is amazing. I thought this looked much better than the ELDW I am replacing. I got pretty lucky with Buff as a color match. It goes on light but dried a bit darker and more natural. It does not transfer and holds up superbly all day. The smell, o god, the smell! Unfortunately this irritated my eyes and skin. There was absolutely no oil breakthrough which sounds like a positive but this seemed to suck all the oil from the depths of my being leaving my skin more uncomfortable as the day went on. I could not wait to get this off my face as soon as I got home. Finally, why is it so effin hard to put a pump in a bottle of foundation?!?!? Really??? I would rate this a total 5 and repurchase over Double Wear if it were not for the smell and irritation. I would try the dry skin version but I am sure the smell will still be there. Oh well, the search continues....
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Foundations -Almay - TLC Truly Lasting Color
faireyfantom 8/17/2012 10:23:00 AM
I am on the hunt to replace ELDW since EL has changed their animal testing policy. This is one of the many foundations I have sampled recently. It is pretty darn decent. The color selection is limited. I abhore cosmetic shopping at drugstores because I can't try before I buy. I was fortunate to find a decent match. The consistancy is more like a gel mousse. It spreads and blends very well. You have more time to work with this than a lot of long wearing foundations. Another positive is this did NOT transfer like many of the others I've tried and it really does stay put. The packaging smokes all the HE foundations with no pump!!!!!! Honestly, I would rate this a "3" overall, but I'm picky and my skin is pickier. I would prefer more coverage. I am not in love with the final texture either. It isn't as smooth and doesn't stay looking fresh all that long. If you don't need much in coverage but something that will last, this is worth a look. It is a great value! It did not break me out or feel tight and yucky like another foundation I recently gave a go. I would not repurchase this overall.
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Primer/ Corrector -Too Faced - Primed & Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer
faireyfantom 8/8/2012 9:44:00 AM
I have oily/combo sensitive acne prone skin. This is my favorite primer so far. I lean towards long lasting foundations so I cannot speak to this product's ability in regard to longevity or oil control, however I can say that it does "prime" the skin for a lovlier applicaton and the effect stays true all day (humid summertime here) and through afternoon workout. It it not thick and heavy like some primers. No breakouts, no drying, no tight feeling. I have been sampling this for about two weeks and i will absolutely purchase. And, a must for me, no animal testing.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Unlisted Brand - Pravana Hyrdating Conditioner
faireyfantom 8/7/2012 12:22:00 PM
Initially I really liked this shampoo and conditioner. My hair just felt like nice hair, bouncy, clean. I did notice that my hair was a tangled, matted mess getting out of the shower and after not using the shampoo for a month I am sure this is what was making my head itch. The scent is nothing to speak of. I have fine, color treated hair and this is a very light conditioner. I may try one of the other formulas as I am not sure I will purchase this again since it is not very moisturizing.
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Shampoo -Unlisted Brand - Pravana Hydrating Shampoo
faireyfantom 8/7/2012 12:05:00 PM
Initially I really liked this shampoo and conditioner. My hair just felt like nice hair, bouncy, clean. I did notice that my hair was a tangled, matted mess getting out of the shower and after not using this for a month I am sure this is what was making my head itch. The scent is nothing to speak of. The packaging for the shampoo is especially abysmal. My SO knocked my first bottle over getting out of the shower and the entire bottle went down the drain. The bottle shape lends to easy knocking over which I remedied by putting the next bottle in another 'poo bottle with a pump. I would not repurchase this again although I may try one of the other formulas. I have fine, color treated hair and I did not find this moisturizing in the least.
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