Eyeliner -Milani - Liquif'eye Metallic Eyeliner Pencil - brown
foamytea123 1/15/2013 2:37:00 AM
I bought this in hopes that it would be a cheaper alternative to MAC/Urban Decay. Needless to say this eyeliner is a complete and total failure. Pros: -it has the look and appeal of a quality eye liner -only $6 Cons -the creamy, smooth application of the liner is deceptively similar to Urban Decay- however unlike UD, if you give the pencil a little too much pressure, it will smoosh. You're basically forced to use the liner with a very light hand otherwise I'm sure, you'd be done with the pencil in a week with its' frustrating tendency to smash, smudge, and blur your eyesight (which it definitely does). -it doesn't have much lasting power on the actual lids
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BB Cream -MISSHA - M Perfect Cover BB Cream
foamytea123 1/13/2012 1:20:00 AM
I got this and another popular BB cream (Skin 79 VIP Gold) because Bubzbeauty recommended them. I've been using both for about a year now (rotating between them and OMI tinted sun screen) and I must say that I rather like it and would not hesitate to buy another when this bottle runs out. Like others have said, a little does a lot for this BB cream and using more than a spare amount can result in caking. It has pretty good coverage, the second best of all the BB creams I've ever tried (the best to date is Sunkiller). In terms of texture, it's creamy and a bit thick in my opinion. Best way to use it would be directly after cleansing and moisturizing your face with a makeup friendly moisturizer (like Embryolisse or Vitacreme B12). Wait a few minutes before stepping out in order for the cream to oxidize and not look absurdly grey, powder, and then you should be good to go. Overall, the only downside to using cosmetic products with SPF like BB cream versus wearing a straight up SPF moisturizer (like Devita or Mychelle) is that I honestly do not think there are any real benefits for the skin. In fact, if you don't wash this stuff off properly, you're more than likely to break out. On the rare occasion that I do forget, I always get a couple of annoying little whiteheads. I guess I'm fortunate that I haven't gotten cystic acne like some of you on here but nevertheless, I DEFINITELY recommend using a cleansing oil to get this stuff off- a regular cleanser simply won't complete the job--trust me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Clearasil - Vanishing Cream
foamytea123 1/8/2012 2:03:00 AM
I admit I'm perfectly aware of the nefarious effects Benzoyl Peroxide has on the skin but decided to keep using it anyway because nothing else beats the crap out of those giant mofos that keep trying to appear during my ToM...well RetinA can probably give BP a run for its money being a pretty good zit & scar vanquisher in its own right without the negative aging effects of BP....but it's also quite a bit more expensive and usually requires a prescription. I've tried a few acne spot treatments in the past:: DHC Acne Spot Therapy, Erzulie Oxygen Blemish Treatment, and Clean & Clear Persa-Gel. And in terms of LONG TERM effectiveness, Clearasil beats all these clear out of the water. The DHC & Erzulie only worked initially and decided to stop working after a couple of months. The Persal Gel- loved by some- and also as a user of BP doesn't quite work as well for me as Clearasil possibly because it's a gel and rubs right off my skin. Like all acne spot treatment, this stuff works best when you start to feel that little mofo coming up. You only need a little bit of this to stuff cover the incipient zit and you need to apply it multiple times through out the day. Make sure not to apply too much and only apply it on the necessary area otherwise you are going to get disgusting dry and flakey skin. For zits that are already doing a celebratory dance on your face, this stuff can help shrink them to an extent...but don't expect any miracles and in the end you're probably gonna have to squeeze the damn thing until it's bled dry. For about 5-6 bucks at Target, the Vanishing Cream is a bargain and most importantly it works...if you don't mind BP.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Burt's Bees - Orange Essence Facial Cleanser
foamytea123 1/8/2012 1:42:00 AM
I've bought this cleanser a few times in the past but for some reason decided to stop using it for a good two years. I don't know exactly why I stopped but the most likely conjecture is that I got bored and wanted to try new things. No other cleanser smells quite as brilliant and delicious as this one. It smells like oranges as you might anticipate (just because a product says it smells like orange doesn't mean that it always does- the Avalon Organics orange cleanser smelled like orange scented chemical detergent). The scent is probably my favorite thing about this cleanser as I don't honestly think BBOEC is the HG cleanser of the world...as it is not appropriate for all skin types (particularly oily). In my opinion, dry skin types would benefit most from this cleanser and won't feel the "filmy remnants" that oily skin types do. I certainly didn't when I used it. IMO it cleaned without stripping and left my face nicely soft and moisturized. NOTE* This stuff does not foam so if you're looking for the bubbles and that squeaky clean feeling- this isn't it. 8 dollars a is bargain price IMO for a cleanser. Perhaps because I have been wastefully extravagant in my selection of cleansers since I ceased using this one:: Clinique's 7 Day Scrub, Origins Frothy Cleanser, Origins Perfect World Cleanser, Kose Nature & Co Cleanser, Purity Cleanser, Missha Super Aqua Cream Cleanser, Boots No. 7 Cream cleanser, Boots No.7 Radiance Scrub...of these I would say Burts Bees is better than the majority of them with the exception of Purity & Origins Perfect World but then again you also have pay quite a bit more for the latter. So for the time being I've decided to go back to good old Burts Bees. When my pocket book gets fatter, there's a chance I'll swing by Purity & Origins again but otherwise it's all about Burt.
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Treatments (Eye) -100 Percent Pure - Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream
foamytea123 12/15/2011 11:53:00 PM
I've been using this eye cream for about a year now and I can honestly say that I like it. It's no miracle worker in my opinion as it didn't banish away my dark circles or the tiny, incipient wrinkles at the corners of my eyes but in my experience, no eye cream I have ever used has managed to achieve that. I'm just happy with anything that moisturizes my eye area properly without giving me milia or an uncomfortable allergic reaction. 100% Pure's coffee bean eye cream does just that. The cream has a high quality smooth texture that sinks into the skin within a few minutes. I don't wear eye cream in the mornings so I can't say anything on how well it endures or interacts with makeup but it really doesn't seem to be the type of cream that would pill up. I will say that the caffeine in this product is sort of a bright little pick-me-up for the eyes as either the scent or chemical reaction of caffeine and skin does something magical for tired eyes. If there is one caveat about this cream- it would be the packaging. I got both the tube and the glass bottle and between the two, I DEFINITELY recommend the tube as it's easy to use and you'll get your money's worth of the product. The glass bottle, while aesthetically pleasing, became a pain when I reached the last quarter of the cream on account of the pump failing on me (I had to resort to a Q-tip to get the rest of the product out). Heck, even before the pump failed on me, I hated it because there was basically no way to control the amount of cream that came out- which for the most part was always much more than I needed. Would I buy this again? Maybe...more yes than no but definitely not in the near distant future because (1) I'm on a tight budget right now and 20 bucks a pop is sadly too steep for me and (2) I am sick and tired of the coffee scent. I've never been a fan of warm scents but I can endure/ignore them if the product is decent- which was the case here...but after a year of using this, I gotta say I'm bored and moving on.
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Foundations -Almay - Pure Blends 97.4% natural
foamytea123 9/30/2011 12:46:00 AM
The price was right for me since I got it on sale at CVS for like 2 bucks and a half. I got the shade "Naked" and really I just picked it 'cos that was all that was left on the shelf aside from "Ivory" and and while I am on the lighter side of the skin tone spectrum, I usually can't pull off the lightest shade of any foundation without looking absurd. Luckily for me, this foundation is more of a tinted moisturizer than a full coverage product so color matching wasn't a big deal 'cos it sort of just "blended" in with my skin anyway. The texture is pretty oily and if you put it on without a finishing powder, you're going to look like a grease ball (personally I prefer a mineral finishing powder like "Aromaleigh's Peaches n'Cream"---which is sadly out of business but I'm sure there is a wide array of other mineral finishing powders on the market). Otherwise, It's really not much for concealing darker scars or acne but it is good for evening out skin tone. Plus since the texture is so oily, you don't need to apply a moisturizer beforehand in order for it to spread evenly across. For reference, I have dry skin and am mildly acne prone. Looked and felt great on my skin during the colder seasons. Not so much during the summer when my skin became more oily. My only real gripe is that the SPF is 20 and that for me, is pretty low (it should be at least 30 in my book). On the other hand, the SPF in this product doesn't result in a white cast in pictures so ultimately it's something I'd buy again and wear on days where I won't be out under the sun too much if at all.
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Eye Primer -Too Faced - Shadow Insurance, Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer
foamytea123 4/15/2011 3:11:00 AM
Primers I have used thus far: UDPP, Loreal Decrease, and TFSI. Of the 3, Loreal Decrease was the worst. I regret wasting money on a cheaper eye primer. In terms of quality and effectiveness, I'd say UDPP and TFSI is about the same for me. Both keep my shadows on all day without creasing. I dislike the packaging for the original UDPP for reasons others before me have gone over thoroughly and prefer the easy squeeze tube of TFSI. However since UDPP has finally come to their senses and came out with a proper, affordable, and reasonably sized tube at Sephora (online only apparently), I will certainly reconsider them again when I run out of my TFSI (although that will take awhile). The only thing keeping me from giving TFSI a perfect score is the product's tendency to separate into oil if left too long unused- although it is easily remedied with some shaking. NOTE: I've noticed oily skin ladies (my sister for example) dislike TFSI---saying that it's too oily and slides right off the lids leading to creasing--- versus dry skin ladies (like myself) who find it perfectly effective.
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Eye Shadow -E.L.F. - Custom Eyes - Sage
foamytea123 1/17/2011 5:01:00 PM
This product was my first dive into ELF cosmetics. Previously I had been doubtful of the quality of the entire ELF line. Really, how could I not be suspicious of a product so heinously cheap and made in China? But then I started watching xteener's youtube tutorials and I was gradually persuaded to try ELF out when they had their 50% off sale (which happens more often than I had originally thought, you could probably wait for their free shipping deal or 65% deal- they're better in IMO). And as for the being made in China bit- well, really what isn't made in China these days? But anyways, onto the review of the actual product. I bought Sage and three other colors (Moondust, Ivory, and Golden Glow) along with the simple but aesthetically pleasing and easy-to-use ELF elements custom compact. Of the colors I purchased, Sage was hands down the best of the lot. As other reviewers have said before me, it is indeed a lovely shade of olive green with decent pigmentation. It does get a bit....hmm...dusty? Well when you use it, you get these little crumbs and you have to blow off the excess...I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing since I have yet to find an eyeshadow (high or low end) that doesn't do that but admittedly, I think ELF shadows do this a bit more than usual but what do you expect from a product so ridiculously cheap? Considering how poor we all are from this increasingly sorry economy, I think this eyeshadow is a great deal. It's nothing earth shattering in terms of pigmentation like Urban Decay or MAC but it does its' job and really, it's a very wearable everyday sort of color that I think would suit most skin tones
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Clinique - Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector
foamytea123 9/27/2010 4:22:00 PM
For the price (when I bought it was $49.50- now it's $39.50-grrrr), this product is totally not worth it. Texture is watery, easy to spread, and absorbs quickly into skin. I went into this product not expecting any immediate miracles. I followed the instructions using it everyday for four weeks, wearing sunblock, etc and at the end of the trial period...it did seem like my acne scars, pigmentation had lessened just a tad...nothing spectacular but at least it wasn't a complete bust. Continued use of the product, however, didn't do much. My acne scars continued to exist and the hyper pigmentation only grew worse with unavoidable sun exposure (even with sunblock). Ultimately I found this product to be a very nice moisturizer during the warmer, summer months but considering the high price tag, amount of product, design of the dispenser (which allows little control over the amount of product that is pumped out), and the fact that it did little to remedy the skin problems that it was supposed it, I would not buy this again.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Physicians Formula - Organic Wear Eyeliner
foamytea123 9/27/2010 4:08:00 PM
I really liked this eyeliner at first because (1) it's organic! (2) cruelty-free, and (3) it was free from my sister. Initially I had no problems using this eyeliner. It goes on richly and smoothly (no need to press very hard) and stays on as well as any non-waterproof liner does (which means it depends on the temperature of the environment, activity, etc). I used up about half of it when for some reason beyond me, my eyes decided to become irritated by it. They began to get watery the moment the pencil was within a couple millimeters in proximity. I've tried using this pencil again and again from time to time in the last few months but to no avail. I'm afraid I'm going to have to toss it or shave the top and give it to somebody. For obvious reasons, I'm not going to get this again although this does not mean that I won't recommend it--which I would to anyone who doesn't have sensitive eyes.
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Makeup Brushes -Bare Escentuals - Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush
foamytea123 7/10/2010 4:53:00 AM
This brush was part of the BE starter set I bought a couple of years ago when I first started using make-up. Out of all the brushes that I received in the set- this was the only one worth keeping. In fact, this is the only thing from that set and BE that I would ever consider buying again. It's soft but firm and does its' job as a "maximum" concealer brush wonderfully. I really have no complaints. In terms of price- $20 is a bit steep but really the quality of the brush more than makes up for the price.
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Shampoo -Organix - Coconut Milk Shampoo
foamytea123 5/13/2010 2:58:00 PM
Never again will I buy a shampoo because of its cute bottle. The shampoo and conditioner set is quite possibly the worst I have ever used. Even Herbal Essences and crappy cheap Suave didn't come close to damaging my hair as badly as Organix. Smells wonderful and is supposedly organic but my god, I've only been using this for two days and my usually thick, somewhat oily hair is now dry like hay and falling out all over the place. I'm gonna have to use this as hand soap from now. UGH.
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