Mascara -Chanel - Le Volume De Chanel
hckelcou 1/21/2013 12:32:00 AM
I'm really surprised I haven't seen more hype around this mascara because it's absolutely phenomenal. One of my Chanel consultants gave a sample tube to me to try out around a month ago. In that month, I developed a huge love affair with this mascara. I don't find myself picky over mascaras because I don't have very "needy" lashes... They're fairly lengthy and have a decent amount of volume on their own. This is one of the two mascaras that I've found that I actually notice a HUGE difference in my lashes. The formula is very smooth and doesn't give you that "crunchy" feel. I believe it actually has nourishing properties because I found my lashes to be softer after using it this past month. I've already purchased the full size and cannot wait to get that baby open. This comes in one shade (as of now) which is 10 NOIR. It's the blackest black (although many other companies claim to hold that title) and the brush is nice and thick. The beauty with this mascara is you will absolutely see a great difference with just one coat. It doesn't get clumpy on me, although I did notice that when I was running out of my sample size it got just the slightest bit thicker, but never really clumped. Another important factor is that this never smudged on me. I have oily skin and lids and sometimes later on in the day I will find a little smudge of mascara (depending on which one) under my eyes. That did not happen at all for me with this. I know it might seem like it's an expensive product, but I'm telling you I've never felt more comfortable dishing out that kind of money for mascara. I have a feeling this will definitely become a HG mascara for me! Let me know if you try it!!! :)
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Blush -MAC - Melba
hckelcou 11/7/2012 3:02:00 AM
This is definitely a HG blush for me. I love this color during the Spring/Summer for a really natural "healthy look"; and I love this during the Fall/Winter to bring some warmth to the face. This is my favorite blush to do when doing a bolder lip or eye look. It really is just a classic color that will look the best on light to medium skin tones. It's too light of a color for darker skin tones and could turn too orange for the very light skin tones. This is a nice neutral for everyday and if you find yourself wanting to try a blush shade that is not the conventional pink, berry, or true peach than this is for you. This is like a dusty/nude peach and doesn't come across too orange. Give it a try, you might just fall in love. :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Viva Glam Gaga
hckelcou 5/7/2012 1:18:00 AM
Viva Glam Gaga is a HG pink lipstick for me. I absolutely adore the color and formula. It's not one of those scary baby pinks that is going to wash you out (for most people) and scare everyone away. Haha! I enjoy that you can build this up or apply it lightly for a beautiful wash of pink. I love to pair this with a multitude of pink glosses or wear it alone. This does not sink into the fine lines on my lips, does not bleed for me, and does not enhance any chapped areas if I have any at the time. I think the price is in the lower-middle of the price range spectrum. It's certainly not a luxury purchase, but I could certainly find a similar formula (not color) at the drugstore. This is worth the cost to me as the color, formula, and organization is wonderful. I highly recommend.
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Lip Treatments -Maybelline - Baby Lips lip balm
hckelcou 3/13/2012 10:02:00 PM
I am not a huge fan of this product. I bought it because there was a lot of hype around it and I wanted to try it out. I purchased the Pink Punch one and while I liked the color it left, I don't find it to be very moisturizing. It just sits on top of the lip instead of actually giving moisture. I don't tend to reach for it and will probably end up giving it away to my young niece who loves to play makeup! I might purchase the peppermint or unscented one to see if that makes a difference.
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Foundations -Make Up For Ever - HD High Definition Foundation
hckelcou 3/13/2012 9:58:00 PM
I absolutely adore this foundation. I've been using it for over a year now and find it really suits my skin. I think it's a nice medium for those with dry, oily, combo skin. I've heard people from all skin types using it and loving it. I have oily skin and find that it lasts decently on me. The coverage is also right in the middle. It's not a full coverage, but it's not light either. I find that nice for when I want a more made up look, because I don't always like a lot of coverage unless it's for an event or I'm going out for quite a while. I recommend going to a Sephora and asking for a sample to try it out. It may not be for everyone, but it's worth testing to see if you like it. :)
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Mascara -L'Oreal - Voluminous mascara
hckelcou 3/13/2012 9:52:00 PM
This is a great drugstore mascara that has been around for a while. I like this SO much better than the Maybelline Great Lash. This has about as much hype around it as GL and this is much more deserving of it. It lasts and doesn't smudge on me and gives me a nice look. I always switch up mascaras, but this is one that I always purchase again and again to keep in my purse or in my stash because I know I can count on this mascara to deliver. I recommend it if you're just starting to wear mascaras or you want something basic that won't break the bank. :)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Christian Dior - Diorshow Mascara
hckelcou 3/13/2012 9:49:00 PM
This is a beautiful mascara. It performs amazingly and doesn't dry out too quickly if you make sure the cap is screwed tightly. I love the brush size and it really helps add some power to my lashes. The only thing is that now you can pretty much find a mascara at the drugstore that does the same things for less money. I would purchase this again if I felt like I wanted to "treat" myself to something luxurious.
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Lip Treatments -Burt's Bees - Beeswax Lip Balm
hckelcou 3/13/2012 9:46:00 PM
This is a HG item of mine. I've used it for so many years and can see myself always using it. I also use the Jack Black lip balms when I need something with more saturation, but this has such amazing accessibility and performance that I still continue to use it on an everyday on the go basis. I love the mint flavor and scent, it really leaves a nice tingle on the lips as opposed to a stinging one. It's a really great product and I definitely recommend it.
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast
hckelcou 3/13/2012 9:43:00 PM
This is a decent mascara and gives a nice amount of volume without being clumpy. The brush really deposits more product on your lashes, yet has enough structure to get rid of clumps. I really liked the formulation of these mascaras from the second I opened the tube until I needed a new one. I'm always changing mascaras and testing out new ones, but this is one that I would go back for because I know it works well for me and have used it many times before.
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Mascara -Maybelline - Great Lash Mascara
hckelcou 3/13/2012 9:40:00 PM
This is an ok mascara. There's nothing that will WOW you and there may be a little that can disappoint. I think there's too much hype about this product and not enough delivery. It's won many awards in Allure for many years and I just think there are so many better mascaras out there with similar pricing. I have curly, long lashes already so I don't "need" those kinds of mascaras (even though I use them anyway) and I think I could get away with just using this, but I find it transfers under my eyes. I like the consistency after about two weeks of use... it's not as watery. I can't say I'll buy this again because I've found other mascaras that I like much more that this one.
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Treatments -Clean & Clear - Advantage Acne Spot Treatment
hckelcou 2/6/2012 3:34:00 AM
I only use this for the one blemish I get during "that time of the month," because I don't have a problem with acne at any other time. I know they have the guarantee of "100% of people saw clearer skin in one day!" and I can say that it was true for me. I usually put it on before bed the day I notice a blemish and by the next morning it's already dramatically reduced in size and redness. I have oily skin, so I don't really feel it gives me any dry spots. When I do get a blemish, I find that it only takes 2-4 days to completely clear up when I use this product. I've used the Neutrogena one before too and had similar results. I switched to this one because my Neutrogena one was expired and this one was on sale at the time. I don't think I'll run out of it any time soon... It will probably expire before I use it all up. :P I really like the control the packaging gives me. I can squeeze out the tiniest amount that ends up being more than plenty! Great product and recommend if you don't have SERIOUS acne issues.
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Lip Treatments -Jack Black - Intense Therapy Lip Balm spf 25
hckelcou 2/6/2012 3:21:00 AM
I own the Original and Lemon & Chamomile balms -- I use the original during the day and l&c at bed time. This is nourishing for my lips, but I never had extremely chapped lips in the first place. I love both of the scents (l&c reminds me of the Fresh Sugar lip balm scent). It does not last during the night, but I do notice my lips are softer in the morning after the nights I have used these balms. I will definitely purchase again (and try the other scents!!!) because it does work well for my lips. I find the price to be somewhat in the middle of drugstore chapstick and high-end brands. Considering the brands I've purchased before, it's on the cheaper side. I like that these are a true balm and don't give shine to the lips.
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Pressed Powders -MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish Natural - Medium
hckelcou 11/13/2011 8:31:00 AM
This is my go-to everyday powder. This doesn't offer a ton of coverage, but I like that quality about this. For me, I can use it on top of a liquid foundation to set it, or I can use it as a "My-Skin-But-Better" powder for a quick sweep. I don't have problematic skin, so I can get away with doing that. If you have a lot to cover then I don't recommend using this product by itself. I have oily skin, but this seems to last fairly well on me throughout the day. It has a nice price point for the quality of the product. It lasts a super long time, too! The packaging is quite decent.. I've dropped mine countless times and it's never cracked the packaging or product. I would definitely give this product a thumbs up and will repurchase again.
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