Concealers -It Cosmetics - Bye Bye Under Eye
ginabinawina 12/3/2010 1:01:00 PM
I'm not really sure where to start with this review. I sometimes Iike it, almost love it, and sometimes I dislike it enough to wipe it off and start over with a different concealer. First of all, the coverage is just O.K. It starts off quite dense in pigment, but quickly spreads out and loses density as it melts. I have concealers that are dense in pigment and stay that way even as you blend out, I was expecting the same from this concealer. This feature is good for some, but just not "there" for my fairly intense hereditary circles. Secondly, the finish. It's a high shine oil/grease finish. I love a more moisturized look under my eyes, but this takes it to a level of which it doesn't look natural. I also have puffiness under my eyes and this accentuates them when having an exceptionally bad "eye" day. Finally, the color. Some people express that it's a peach/orange color, but neutral medium looks much more pink in comparison to correctors/concealers manufactured specifically for correcting "darkness". I don't feel it neutralizes/corrects as much as I'd like and therefore the color pops out on my skin a smidge. I'd almost say that a slightly more yellow concealer would've corrected even more than a color like this, and I'm semi opposed to using yellow under my eyes. I'm going to work with this more and update. It does work amazing with mineral products, so if you're a lover of BE well rested or any under eye minerals, this concealer works great as a base.
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Boots - Lifting & Firming Foundation SPF 15 [DISCONTINUED]
ginabinawina 9/6/2010 1:22:00 PM
Holy Cow! I've been wearing this foundation for well over a week and onto two, and I just can't get enough of it! This is seriously department store foundation almost at a drugstore price; especially since I've seen it on sale on Target for cheaper than the "new" revlon and covergirl foundations. ON the makeup "about" website, this is considered a dupe to the Chanel Lift Lumiere. Now, I can't personally attest to this, but I can attest to it being similar to My Chanel Vitalumiere, but with slightly more coverage (while still being lightweight) and slightly less dewy. It's more on the dewy end of a satin. With primer and powder, this wears just as long on me as estee lauder's double wear. It wears incredibly well! Also, I do believe this foundation is Water based, NOT oil based, so shouldn't be pore clogging. I've definitely not had any break outs from this foundation, but that's just me. This foundation is amazing for smoothing out your face as well as hiding unevenness, yet allowing your skin to slightly peer through, and I assure you, it's in a good way. My favorite application is using the Sephora #45 brush which is meant for mineral powder, but just as amazing as a liquid foundation brush. Then I take a wet sponge wedge and lightly bounce it off my face where any extra sheering and blending is needed. I then set with Palladio Rice Powder which is also amazing and cheap. Higher end favorite is either my Laura Mercier or Bare Minerals Hydrating Veil Powders.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -Palladio - Rice Powder
ginabinawina 9/5/2010 7:44:00 PM
Would I buy this again? IN A HEART Beat! Why? It's just as good as any other powder I've ever tried, a crossed the board, price wise. The closest to finish I can compare it to is the MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in Natural, BUT (with a huge BUT) this is way smoother on the skin. I have dry skin, so the caked up powder look is WAY easier for my face to pick up than most because of excessive dead skin cells; powder tends to cling to those dry patches.. Yuck.. This stuff does not cake up at all! The fact it works on my skin and works so well is a true testament to how smooth it really is. I use a powder puff (not the one given) and lightly roll the teeniest amount on my face to set my foundation, and Voila! It mattifies, but in a way that even a dry skinned gal can pull off.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -eos - Lip Balm Sphere - Summer Fruit
ginabinawina 8/27/2010 12:44:00 AM
I just don't get this product at all. It's an extremely solid/hard balm that I find to be basically the least moisturizing balm I've ever tried. Dare I say, it almost dries my lips out quicker when I use it vs. other balms/conditioners I use. Cute packaging, but that's all it has going for it. I prefer Blistex to this without question.
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Concealers -Neutrogena - 3-in-1 Concealer for Eyes
ginabinawina 8/19/2010 11:37:00 PM
So far, I'm really impressed with this product. I personally like it a little better than the Clinique all about eyes (can be a bit mask-like but great and opaque) and definitely more than the MUFE lift concealer (I find it to be drying). I'm only comparing to these as I feel categorically speaking, this is similar in marketing and initial texture (not to mention all three are in tubes). What I like about this is how hydrating and glossy it is under the eyes. It feels wonderful with almost a cooling sensation when applied. It also feels lightweight and comfortable. The downside is the coverage, which is why I didn't give this 5 lippies. I have pretty dark circles with also slight puffiness (both heredetary) so I really need an opaque coverage, and this doesn't quite get there. However, the caveat of needing all the coverage is the lack of a "natural" appearance under my eyes. Overall, I'll definitely use this as my everyday concealer! It looks phenomenal in natural sunlight, (which most concealers really show their true colors under the harsh reality of the sun), very hydratying, and semi-decent coverage.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Unlisted Brand - Michael Todd Cosmetics - Bone Lipstick
ginabinawina 7/24/2010 10:25:00 PM
I really like this lipstick. If you want a satin finish long wearing nude or a good lip base, this is an amazing color. I prefer this to my MAC fleshpot or myth as a nude or a base. Bone is densely pigmented, but has the ability to be applied with thin layers, which helps prevent it from competing with other lipsticks, etc., You can definitely wear it alone, but it is very pale, so my favorite is to use it with a lip combo, base, or to top off my lipsticks to add dimension (right in the center of lips to add a pout).
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Glaringly Hip Dazzle Lipstick
ginabinawina 7/23/2010 3:58:00 AM
I absolutely love this line! This shade is my favorite of the few I've purchased. It's a light peach shade with pink glitter, giving an overall coral effect on the lips. Perfect for summer! I find the lipsticks from this line to be similar to lusters or glazes (so sheer) with a ton of glitter, but not gritty. I would attribute that to how small the glitters are and how lusters and glazes tend to be moisturizing, so I think it helps it smooth on.
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Crème -Maybelline - Dream Smooth Mousse
ginabinawina 7/4/2010 1:33:00 PM
For those of you who are looking for dupes to high end cream compact products like MAC's dc'd Moistureblend, Chanels Teint Innocence, etc., definitely check this out. I personally think it's way better than Moistureblend and a friend says its better than her Chanel.
First off, people best suited for this foundation are very dry skin and or mature skin types. Mostly, I state dry as older skins don't always have the stereotypical "dryness".
With that said, I think this would also work for combo-oily and "maybe" oily. Why I say maybe is if you like an airbrushed finish and also aren't a fan of full on matte finishes, you probably have already tried finishes like this and know how to work with them (ie: favorite matte primers and setting powder).
For me with dry skin, I don't even have to set it, but I do on occasion with my Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder just in the T-Zone.
Brushes that I find work best? Most! I've tried Sephora #55, ELF Flat Powder, Mac 190, and my favorite is using stippling brushes for some reason. All don't deviate much in terms of how it applies as this foundation blends effortlessly! Without any streaks, I might add.
Coverage wise, it's light to medium, but pretty much an illusion of close to full. I say this because the foundation permits such a blurring (airbrushed) effect on the face, that the coverage is more than a tinted moisturizer, but just as light feeling on my face as one.
One downfall; it doesn't contain SPF, so you'll need to apply one prior if exposing yourself to the sun. However, on the flip side of this, it'd photograph well.
Overall, as a predominantly high end foundation user who likes a dewy hydrated face and decent coverage, this is a fantastic buy!
14 out of 15 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -MAC - Lustre Drops - Pink Rebel
ginabinawina 7/2/2010 3:16:00 PM
First of all, this is a decent product ( I have Pink Rebel). It gives a verrry natural luminosity when added either to foundation or directly to highpoints of the face (ie: nose, bridge of cheeks, cupids bow, etc). However, there are a few cons that I'd like to make aware for those possibly interested in lustre drops. 1. It takes more product than you realize which means you'll run out quicker than other highlighters. 2. It's subtle and natural.. but to a point where it's almost undetectable, which really brings back to point #1. 3. Price wise, it's ok., but there are even drugstore products that permit the same results, and most of them even have more product than this. In conclusion, I like lustre drops by MAC, but I won't repurchase. If you're abroad I recommend trying Boots No. 7 highlighters. Target carries Boots, but not this particular product in the U.S. In the U.S. I recommend Revlon Illuminators.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Cargo - Lash Activator Night Primer
ginabinawina 7/2/2010 3:07:00 PM
I have to say, I was somewhat skeptical at first. I wasn't even diligent with it because I didn't think it'd work. Wow, just wow. Even without diligence, this product delivered results for my lashes. I even took before and after pictures and everyone could see a major difference. Even a few lashes almost hitting my brows! Another plus is that I didn't have a "darkening" side effect like the Latisse and Lilash are known for. I've seen friends' lids after their use, and they looked brown and bruised. I so regret stopping it to try the L'Oreal lash serum. All that did was reverse what hard work the Cargo did for my lashes and make them fall out. I don't just mean a few.. I mean 6 in one day 8 on another.. 2-3 etc and so on. At $35 for the Cargo, I truly feel this delivers results all while being easier on the wallet than the more expensive versions. And the L'Oreal Serum? Avoid that like the plague.
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Concealers -Make Up For Ever - Lift Concealer
ginabinawina 7/2/2010 3:03:00 PM
I had high hopes for this concealer as I really do enjoy and love the Full Cover by this line. What I was hoping from the Lift was that it'd be a hybrid between Full Cover and a Corrector/Somewhat Highlighter like the Touch Eclat by YSL. Initial results do the trick. It brightens the area really well. I don't apply this all the way under my eye as that will give too much of a reverse racoon effect in photos because of its light reflective abilities. Why I'm not giving this a glowing review? It doesn't wear well. It settles somewhat, but mostly just erodes away quickly, lasting an incredibly short time. It just seems to "disappear" and I'm not even using this as a primary concealer, just to brighten the inner corner (darkest area of my eye) and also under the puffy part of my lower lid to bring out the shade of the bag. Coverage is also lacking for those who may be interested in this as a primary concealer and who may have medium to severe dark circles. An even bigger con is how drying the formula is. For it being liquid, it's not very nourishing and gentle under the eye. My favorite All Time Concealers For Reference: #1. Hourglass Hidden Concealer #2. MUFE Full Cover -I'm taking this back today
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Hourglass - Hidden Corrective Concealer
ginabinawina 6/29/2010 9:53:00 PM
This is my current HG concealer. Call me a connoisseur of concealers when it comes to dark under-eye circles. I've lost count on the number of concealers I've tried, but it's literally in upwards of 30+, mostly high end. This is the only concealer that provides excellent build-able coverage, yet is super light weight. Key with this is to apply with very thin layers at a time. Layer, blend, repeat.. For those who have light circles, you may not even need to layer. What makes this HG? The fact that it doesn't settle in my fine lines after 10 minutes like all other concealers (ie: bobbi brown, laura mercier, amazing concealer, so on so forth). As much as I like most concealers from the get-go, I'm not a model who has a MUA by my side to continuously touch up under my eyes. This concealer delivers!
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Hourglass - Veil Fluid Makeup SPF 15
ginabinawina 6/29/2010 9:44:00 PM
What can I say? I absolutely love this foundation. I'm pretty much a foundation collector, or how it's ended up, anyway. I own Chanel, NARS, Clinique, Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier, etc., and multiple foundations in brands mentioned. This provides an amazing coverage with only half a pump! So I find rationalizing the price pretty easy considering you're using half the amount of this vs. your typical liquid foundation. Sometimes it even requires two pumps w/ other brands. Finish is very healthy and somewhat dewy, but in a very natural non greasy way on my dry skin. I also find this quite long wearing with lasting ability up to 8+ hours, and I don't usually even set it with powder. Overall, this gives a long lasting natural silky and radiant coverage! It is Love.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -L'Oreal - Lash Boosting Serum
ginabinawina 4/15/2010 1:58:00 AM
So, originally I'd been using Cargo Lash Activator Night with great results. However, I'd been curious about the L'oreal lash serum and was hoping that the serum would at least maintain what the Cargo product produced for my lashes. Cargo by no means is as pricey as Latisse or Lilash, but at $35 for the Cargo, and around $10 give or take a few dollars, I was hoping this would do the same job. (I would also like to note I discontinued the Cargo before moving onto the L'Oreal) ALL the L'Oreal did for my lashes was cause them to fall out. I don't just mean one here and there, I mean 8 in one day, two on another, and so on. Tonight was the last straw when I saw 6 on my makeup remover cotton pad. The ingredients have absolutely no lash stimulating or growth properties to it, so I think the marketing is completely misleading. Maybe if you started with your regular lashes you may see a smidge of a difference as L'Oreal claims this helps nourish your lashes so there's less lash fallout. I recommend for a cheaper than Latisse, but does the trick product, to try the Cargo Lash Activator. The results are much more worth the mony.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Laura Mercier - Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 - Illuminating
ginabinawina 10/25/2009 1:42:00 PM
In order to redeem this product's somewhat bad name, I'd like to mention my personal opinion and advice. For reference, I own a lot of foundations: Chanel Prolumiere and Vitalumiere, Clinique Stayfit and EvenBetter, MAC Moisturblend, Studio Sculpt and Studio Fix, Bare Minerals, and Drugstore wise I adore Revlon Colorstay. Call me a "collector" of sorts.. lol But, because I own so many, I feel that what I have to say has probable merit. I have mine in a shade darker than my skin, as I wanted to warm up a foundation I already have that's a little too light, and add a little glow to it; ie: a illuminating moisturizer with also some coverage. That may sound overkill to you, but hear me out. The results may be worth it to you in the end. First of all, on it's own, I do agree that it's a bit of a oil slick appearance, especially if not set with a powder. It has a great amount of coverage nonetheless, but I do agree with others' opinions on that. However! Mixed 50% with a long wearing foundation ie: Revlon Colorstay or Clinique Superfit, This foundation is, "I kid you not" Holy Grail for me!! A. You get a long lasting luminous, but not oily finish (dare I say that pregnant glow?) that lasts me seriously ALL day. B. You get off Cheaper because you use only 50% of the product each time you apply, because you're mixing it with two more affordable foundations. I love my Chanel foundations, but they just don't last long enough, which is a pity because they're 50 bux a piece. I seriously think this foundation wasn't meant to be worn on it's own. It's in a whole different class that people are seeing it as.
10 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No