Foundations -Make Up For Ever - HD High Definition Foundation
gaisgirl 8/21/2012 12:19:00 AM
MAKE UP FOR EVER HD FOUNDATION REVIEW PACKAGING: 1 oz of foundation in a sleek bottle pump container. Color can easily be seen through the container. CONSISTENCY: Definitely a light to medium coverage foundation. A bit runny, don't need much to cover a large area. COLOR SELECTION: Make Up For Ever definitely got this right. I'm pale, but I realize that not everybody is. It frustrates me that many women of color are often very limited when it comes to choices of foundation. This is unacceptable, and I applaud MUFE for realizing that "deep" does not mean "lightly tanned." Also, warm and cool tones are both readily available. I'm a 117 which is warm ivory, but there are also choices for women with pink undertones. WEAR: Pretty decent wear. I start getting oily after a couple hours, but the foundation itself doesn't seem to melt, even on hot days. I also usually moisturize or prime beforehand, and set with powder. COVERAGE: Like I mentioned before, this is buildable coverage. I wear Skin79 BB Cream on days when I don't need a lot of coverage, and I wear this when I want to look polished. It definitely looks and feels like natural skin. PRICE: This is where this foundation is lacking. $45 US dollars for an ounce of foundation? That is just TOO expensive. I took off a lippie for the price because it's a little ridiculous, and I don't think I'll be buying this very often. CONCLUSION: Overall, this is a great foundation for me. It is the first foundation I've used that matches my skin perfectly. It doesn't break me out, but I realize that acne is a very personal thing and everyone's skin reacts differently to different products. What works for me may not work for you. It will definitely pain me to not repurchase this when I run out, but since I don't wear it every day, it should last me a long time.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Urban Decay - Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush
gaisgirl 8/20/2012 11:47:00 PM
It's not every day that a product is so good that I need to compulsively write a review the same day I purchase it. Urban Decay's Optical Blurring Brush is one of those products. Here are the reasons why. 1. The density. My god, the density. Probably thousands of bristles on this thing and they're all soft and tightly packed together. 2. For $24, not a bad price. Not for what you're getting anyway. 3. The packaging. It comes in a wonderful plastic and cardboard package that's sleek and would fit in small spaces while traveling. Definitely saving this package. 4. What it does! I have owned so many foundation brushes in the past, but none come close to what this can do. It applies without soaking in the product. It stipples. It buffs. It never cakes. I tried this with both UD's Naked Skin foundation and my go-to MUFE HD foundation, both of which it applies like a dream. I used to use a brush for application and a brush for blending. This baby does it all, and fast! It took two minutes do "optically blur" my whole face. The bristles are super soft, too. In hindsight, I honestly would have paid fifty dollars for this brush. I got it for half that at my local Sephora. Ladies and gentlemen, if you use liquid foundation, please do yourself a favor and get this brush. Total HG.
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Wet 'n' Wild - Mega Last Lipstick in Dollhouse Pink
gaisgirl 6/28/2012 6:30:00 PM
This is an almost exact dupe for MAC Saint Germain. SG is slightly lighter, but that's about it. If you want the gorgeous color of Saint Germain but don't want to pay the price, WnW is here to the rescue with Dollhouse Pink. It is a cool-toned light in-your-face Barbie pink. This color is creamy, long-wearing, and bright. It does not drag or skip and it is absolutely gorgeous on my warm ivory skin. Honestly, if this color had existed when I bought Saint Germain, I wouldn't have bought Saint Germain at all. Aaand, Dollhouse actually lasts longer than MAC. For freaking $1.99, it's nothing short of HG status.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Sephora - Professionnel Platinum Air Brush #55
gaisgirl 5/20/2012 2:52:00 AM
I used this in the Sephora, so I can't comment on how well it holds up to daily wear and tear. However.... I can speak from common sense: This is NOT a good brush for liquid or cream foundations, in my opinion. The bristles are way too long and floppy for effective buffing, and it's way overrated. HOWEVER, I own the #56 and it's perfect for that purpose.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Naked 2 Palette
gaisgirl 5/13/2012 10:34:00 PM
I'm keeping my review short and color-centric. Here are the colors in this beautiful palette. FOXY: This is a matte off-white/beige shade. Good for highlighting the browbone and inner corner. It's pigmented, but pale girls might not notice (I've actually used it as a powder once!) HALF BAKED: Neutral light tawny champagne shade. Shimmery, very pigmented. I'm aware that this is in the original Naked palette. BOOTYCALL: Light pinky beige shimmery color. Great for highlighting. CHOPPER: Tawny shimmer color that leans warm. Be warned, this does have glitter. TEASE: Matte neutral taupe color. Great for everyday looks. SNAKEBITE: Shimmery cool medium brown. SUSPECT: Greyish gold shimmer color, lighter than Snakebite. PISTOL: Neutral gunmetal grey shimmer. VERVE: Weird taupey-greige color with shimmer. It's about as light as Suspect, maybe a bit lighter. YDK: Warmer shimmer/glitter copper with a hint of grey. This is a great color to use allover. BUSTED: Dark brown shimmer. Great for lining and crease-cutting. BLACKOUT: Pure matte black. I love this palette. I would NOT buy this palette if: -You don't like neutrals. -You don't like shimmer; there's lots here. -You're not willing to spend $50 on an eye palette (it's actually cheaper than individual UD pans though.) -You already own the original Naked and you're not an effing makeup fanatic like I am. In that case, what are you doing here? :) Phenomenal color selection, great payoff, and nice little brush and lipgloss included to boot. I highly recommend it to any neutral junkies out there.
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Kat Von D - Lolita
gaisgirl 5/13/2012 10:17:00 PM
I was looking for a very versatile lipstick: one that would go with both casual and evening wear. I found it in Lolita. Packaging: BEAUTIFUL packaging. I love Kat's makeup containers. They are well-made, durable, and beautifully adorned with fake rose tattoos. I have never seen a more gorgeous lipstick tube, with the exception of YSL's lipsticks. Color: This is a.... hmm. It's a pinky dusty rose with warm undertones. It's not too severe but it makes your lips look full and gorgeous. It's EXTREMELY pigmented, meaning a little bit goes a long way. I put mine over lip balm and it looks beautiful. Be warned, it's NOT a moisturizing formula by itself. It's so pigmented that it will last an awful long time if you use it with balm. Staying power: Phenom. Just lovely. It lasts for four hours without a touch-up. Finish: Matte alone, creamy with lip balm underneath. I love everything about this lipstick. I love the name (I'm obsessed with Nabokov's book!) and I love the color and finish. I would gladly pay $19 for this again at Sephora.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Illegal Length Fiber Extensions
gaisgirl 1/22/2012 3:23:00 PM
This mascara is incredible. I bought it because it was new, and I'm easily attracted to hype. This mascara is perfect. There are no clumps whatsoever even after three coats. And the best part? It actually does what it says it's going to do. It lengthens and adds little fibers that don't fall off until you wash your face. My new HG lengthening mascara.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -L'Oreal - Telescopic in Carbon Black
gaisgirl 1/11/2012 11:43:00 PM
After receiving a bounty of gift cards for Christmas, I headed to the local CVS in search of a new HG mascara. I ended up walking out with three, but for the purposes of this review I will only address L’Oreal’s Telescopic in Carbon Black. What I had to work with: Average-to-long blonde eyelashes. What it claims to do: This mascara claims to lengthen lashes with a dramatic effect due to the carbon pigments. Price: I had a gift card, but it was $10.99 at CVS. It would be cheaper to buy it at Walgreens or Wal-Mart. Packaging: Gorgeous sleek black tube fashioned to look like, you guessed it, a telescope. I wasn’t sure which end to open so I tried with much chagrin to open the bottom. It didn’t work. Scent: This mascara has a peanut odor mixed with fresh tar. Not a good description, but it’s the best I’ve got. Consistency: This is a very runny mascara. I’ve only had it for a few days, so I’m hoping it will dry out. Effect on my lashes: The first time I tried it, I was disappointed. It clumped at the base of my lashes, effectively making them look shorter. I gave it another go the second day and had more luck. My lashes lengthened considerably but not without a few drawbacks. The wand is difficult to use because of its sparsely spiked exterior and makes for a tedious application. My lashes were crunchy and prone to clumping by the second coat, and a comb was needed (which I never need.) Overall impression: Not worth the price. Nice black color, but too difficult to apply and too crunchy. If you’re looking for defined lengthening, look elsewhere.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Satin Lipstick - Myth
gaisgirl 7/20/2011 10:30:00 PM
I have found the perfect nude after a yearlong search for something that would blank out my lipcolor. Here it is, folks! Pros: -Beautiful color, almost pinkish. -Lasts FOREVER on my lips, even through meals. -Does not dry out my lips. -Reasonably priced. Cons: -None.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -BeneFit Cosmetics - BADgal Lash
gaisgirl 7/20/2011 10:26:00 PM
Ick. I had way higher expectations for this mascara. Pros: Great huge wand. Deep black color. Cons: FLAKES after 2 hours! Kills my curl. NOT volumizing OR lengthening in any way. Now, I have pretty long, full lashes, and this somehow made my lashes look sparse and shorter.... wtf. Expensive. I officially hate Benefit... Their track record is terrible! Hopefully They're Real! mascara will deliver!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Rimmel - Lash Accelerator
gaisgirl 7/17/2011 1:25:00 PM
I have long, relatively full eyelashes to begin with-- but half of them are blonde, so I need to wear mascara if people want to see them. I was both intrigued by the promise of longer eyelashes and wanted a good lengthening mascara so I bought this on a whim. I might like this product if it didn't clump (almost as bad as Great Lash) and make my lashes look like spiders. Also, the formula is ridiculously wet and heavy. Not only does it zap any curl that my lashes might have had, but it also flakes, smudges, and runs like crazy. The formula is terrible, and even the brush hurts my eyes. As for the lengthening properties, I honestly couldn't bear to use the product for long enough to tell. The only good thing about the product was the price. Bleh.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Lancome - Cils Booster
gaisgirl 7/8/2011 5:50:00 PM
Oh. My. God. What a BEAUTIFUL primer. After reading so many good reviews on MUA, I had to stop by my local Lancome counter to buy it. The ladies were kinda scary but I hustled out of there with my Cils Booster. Here's the overview. PACKAGING: It comes in a mediocre white and black tube. The wand is triangular and if you look closely, you can see the white fibers on the end of the wand. FORMULA: Not too dry and not too thick. Goes on smoothly without clumps. The formula is white but dries to a milky clear color. It doesn't affect the color of the mascara used over it. RESULTS UNDER MASCARA: Holy crap. My mom thought I was wearing falsies with just the Cils Booster and some Maybelline Colossal. Gives gorgeous length and supreme volume. Not only that, but it leaves my eyelashes soft, not brittle like some primers do. VERDICT: My HG primer. It is a little pricey, but it works wonders and it's good for your lashes too. Since I only wear it for special occasions, my little tube is going to last me a long time. I will repurchase when necessary.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Juicy Couture - Viva La Juicy
gaisgirl 3/31/2011 8:13:00 PM
EDIT 7/17/11: It is no longer my HG, but still a beauty. I took off a lippie for the lack of staying power, which is really a pain, considering the price. Chanel is my new love. I bought this perfume when my aunt took me shopping a few years ago as a Christmas gift. We went to Sephora, and the pretty packaging of this perfume caught my eye. So I smelled this, absolutely determined to hate it, since I hate the Juicy brand and everything it stands for. How wrong I was! It is now my HG scent. I LOVE fruity vanillas, and get compliments all the time when I wear this one. The only complaint I have about this one is that it lacks serious staying power. I spray it in my hair before school and can't help but feel like a goddess. Awesome smell!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Volum' Express The Falsies Waterproof Mascara
gaisgirl 3/31/2011 8:00:00 PM
First review ever! Maybelline the Falsies in Waterproof. I'll admit, I'm a total mascara junkie. I saw this and squealed at the purple packaging and the affordable price. Packaging: Cute purple tube. No problems. Wand: Strange spoon shaped brush, took me a little longer than a regular brush would to apply, but boy, was it worth it. Results: WOW!! I have pretty long eyelashes, but they're blond at the ends so you can't see them without mascara. This mascara made my eyes look fluttery, dramatic, and sexy. I got compliments from people ten feet away! Aftermath: Holy crap. I don't know if it was just me, but I couldn't take this stuff off for the life of me. I tried soap, remover, vitamin E oil, everything-- this stuff would NOT come off. I lost several eyelashes in the process, leading me to take off two lippies. It took THREE DAYS to leave my face. Hey, waterproof shouldn't mean permanent. I'd like to try this in non-waterproof, but I don't recommend the waterproof version unless you're equipped with some sulfuric acid to take it off.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No