Eye Shadow -Bare Escentuals - Well Rested
iheartowls55 5/20/2013 4:55:00 PM
LOVE this!!! I use this powder to set my concealer under my eyes, and it does a great job of really brightening and perking up those dark circles. It comes in a little jar, and you have to twist the cap to get out the product. I shake out a tiny amount (you really don't need much at all with this) onto the lid, then use a small blush brush to sweep under my eyes. I also like to use this to set liquid highlighting products, by sweeping it along my cheekbones, down my nose and on my cupid's bow. It helps keep the liquid in place and just freshens everything up. I lusted over this for awhile before picking it up, and I'm very, very glad I did. I've used it every day for about a month now, and my makeup routine wouldn't be the same without it. I went on a trip recently, and I made sure this was in my beauty bag! I can always tell the difference! I costs just under $20, which is not inexpensive, but know that it will last you a long time, because you need such a tiny amount, so I think it's worth it. I also have friends who don't like to wear a lot of makeup, and I've used it on them alone, without a concealer, just under the eyes, to brighten the area. It can work very well alone for ladies who use mineral makeup. I'm super glad I bought this, and I would recommend it to anyone in the market of a little extra goodie to brighten up your face and makeup routine!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Viva Glam V
iheartowls55 5/20/2013 4:49:00 PM
This is such a pretty, my-lips-but-better-and-more-berry color. It's a beautiful color for everyday wear, and I think it complements a variety of skin tones, although it really pops on fair-medium skin. Like all MAC lipsticks, it has a lovely vanilla smell, but no taste. The odor disappears right after you apply it. I was testing out at a bunch of lippies at my MAC counter, when the MUA recommended this. I was a little wary, because I thought it might be a little too dark for me for everyday, but once I tried it on, I was hooked. I think this is great for girls who want to take their "nude lip" up a notch or two. It's a beautiful product, and my favorite MAC lipstick of all time. Test it first, because coloring's key with this. If you like it at the store, I don't think you'll be disappointed when you get it home!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -BeneFit Cosmetics - "Hello Flawless!" Oxygen Wow
iheartowls55 5/20/2013 4:22:00 PM
I got samples for this foundation in two different shades (Champagne and Petal) for my NC 25 skin. After wearing each for a day, I am so glad I didn't spend the money to buy the full-size product. For starters, this foundation is no friend to the oily-skinned girl. If you have oily/combo skin, you can probably stop reading right now. This just doesn't cut it. When I put it on, it looked nice, dewy and fresh. I wanted to see how it performed, so I didn't powder. Twenty minutes later, I was an oil slick (even though I don't usually get that oily THAT quickly), so I powdered. Two hours later, I was an even worse oil slick. An hour later, I took it off. I just couldn't stand how greasy it felt. That's unusual for me, since I live in a pretty humid place, and wear makeup every day--but I just felt disgusting. I tried it the next day and made it all the way through, but it still felt horrible. It looked shiny and it oxidized LIKE CRAZY. I'm on the neutral side, but seriously, this caters to very, very warm skin. It's very yellow, and it doesn't even help balance the pink on my skin. It just didn't work if you're not quite yellow-toned-like at all. I love Benefit, and I hoped to love this, but I would choose almost any drugstore foundation over this. Of course, ladies with warmer skin or dry skin will probably have a completely different experience, so it's not necessarily a loser for everyone. But it's no winner for me.
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Styling Products -TRESemme - Instant Heat Tamer Spray
iheartowls55 5/14/2013 2:58:00 PM
There's a reason there's so much hype around this product. It WORKS! I've been using it for several months, and it's really cut down on the damage I do to my hair. I use heat on my hair almost every single day, and this helps to cut down on split ends (which I normally struggle with), and just leave my hair feeling healthier, silkier and shinier. The spray itself has a nice, pleasant smell, and I genuinely enjoy putting it on my hair. This is my HG heat tamer, and I honestly can't see myself using anything else ever. BONUS: It's like, what, 5 bucks? Such a bargain.
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Shampoo -LUSH - BIG
iheartowls55 5/14/2013 2:52:00 PM
First off, I hate my hair. It's pretty fine, but there's a lot of it--still, I have no volume. And I love big hair, so that's a drag. THEN I found this product. And it's life-changing. Seriously. It gives my hair so much volume, it's crazy. It comes in a little tub like a lot of Lush products, and it looks a little nuts when you open it. It's like a gel-ish kind of consistency with little scrubby sea salt bits in it. It also has a peculiar kind of smell. It's not bad, just different. I got used to it fast, though, and now I kind of like it. You have to be careful not to get TOO much of this. It can weigh your hair down. Just get enough to create a good lather. After using this, I always put in a leave-in conditioner, heat protectant and blow-dry with my head upside down. It gives some serious volume. It's expensive, though, so I save it for special occasions. I've let several friends use it, and I don't have a single one this didn't do wonders for. I love it. I can't say it enough.I will repurchase forever and ever.
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Makeup Brushes -Sigma - Mrs. Bunny Essential Kit
iheartowls55 5/14/2013 2:47:00 PM
These were the first non-drugstore brushes I bought, and I LOVE them! They are so soft, they feel like heaven on your face. Practically speaking, this set is great for beginners to higher-end brushes who don't want to shell out a complete fortune. You get just about everything you'll need to do a full face of makeup, from a great powder brush to fine precision brushes for the eyes to a great contour brush. The bristles are synthetic too, so they're great for cream products. My favorite item in this set has to be the dual fibre brush. I use it all the time when I'm applying super pigmented blushes (like the instain blushes from theBalm), or anytime I want a more sheer look to any powder product. It's the best one I own. These brushes are very sturdy and will last you a long time (although a bit of paint did chip from one of mine--bummer), as long as you take good care of them. They are very pretty, with a blue/pink color scheme that's absolutely precious and makes me even happier to do my makeup. I think this set is a great value for the money. You're paying essentially the same price you'd pay for drugstore brushes, but you're getting incredible quality for it. I love this, and I'd repurchase in a heartbeat! (If you're interested, Sigma ALWAYS has a coupon code somewhere on the website. Don't checkout without grabbing it! It's usually 10 percent off, so take advantage of it!)
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Blush -TheBalm - Instain - Arygle
iheartowls55 5/3/2013 2:28:00 PM
I have NC25 skin, and I atually found this blush incredibly wearable. I think for fairer-skinned people, this is the most wearable blush of the instain collection. It's a true pink shade, not quite as bright as "Lace" (which is the hot pink shade). Warning: These blushes are PIGMENTED. And they STAIN. Like, seriously. You want to be careful. It's great for me, because I have problems with my blush staying all day, and I really need something long-wearing. For sure, these blushes work best with a light hand. I always use a stipple brush to apply. I think if you're having trouble with these blushes, you should try that over a typical blush brush. Your average angled brush is just going to pick up too much concentrated product, so choose something like a dual-fibre brush to help with that. The packaging on this is lovely, and it's "argyle," just as the name suggests. It's a small cardboard square with a magnetic closure like the other theBalm blushes. YOU SHOULD GET IF: You want long-wearing blushes, you have trouble getting blushes to show up on your skin (I think any of these blushes will be incredible on darker skin), you love theBalm's formula YOU SHOULD NOT GET IF: You don't like super-pigmented blushes, you have trouble blending products, you don't need a long-wearing blush These are $22 right now, which is pricey, because they're the newest items from the company. You can probably get them cheaper later on HauteLook, so be on the lookout for that. I got them on theBalm's 50% off sale on their website a few weeks ago, and it was a great deal. If you're on the fence, try one (especially on sale)! I was very, very happy, and I'd repurchase (but I don't think I'll ever have to-because this baby will last forever). Another hit from theBalm!
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Bronzers -TheBalm - Bahama Mama
iheartowls55 5/3/2013 2:18:00 PM
Heads up: It's May 3rd, and this bronzer is on HauteLook today for $10!!! That's half-price. Normally, it's $20-so if you want it, grab it. The quality of this bronzer is outstanding. It's nice and matte and soft without being powdery. If you have medium skin, it's the PERFECT contour shade. I'm NC 25, so I find this ever so slightly too dark to look natural on me. Maybe when I have a tan it will work better. I got it when theBalm did 50% off everything on their website a few weeks back, so I'm not sorry I bought it at all. I use it when I do friends' makeup, and it looks beautiful. I think if you're around NC30 or darker, this could be an HG bronzer for you. It's gorgeous and the packaging (like most theBalm products) is sooo cute. Perfect for those looking for a great contour shade of very high quality.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -MAC - Cream Soda
iheartowls55 5/3/2013 2:10:00 PM
I almost didn't buy this blush because so many people who were close to my skin tone were commenting that it didn't show up on them--but the cute packaging and some other rave reviews sucked me in. I'm an NC 25, and it shows up very nicely on my skin. It's like a peacy coral with tiny amounts of shimmer. At first, I was disappointed to see all those little flecks because people had called it a "close to matte" blush, and I hate glittery blushes. Fortunately, when you apply, the shimmer almost completely disappears. It's more like a brightening effect, which works very well. The packaging on this is super cute and a big bonus for anyone who's every read the Archie comics. I'm really happy with it. Overall, if you have lighter skin and you want something that will really warm it up and add a little extra oomph for summer, I think this is a great choice. It's sold out completely at MAC and online, but I've seen it on eBay (for hiked prices). If you can get your hands on an authentic one, I think it's worth it.
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Lip Treatments -Too Faced - Lip Injection
iheartowls55 4/25/2013 9:37:00 PM
Bottom Line: This worked for me. It definitely plumped my lips, and I have pretty full lips as it is. Of course, that also means you have to put up with the unpleasant stinging sensation. If you can hold out for the 2-3 minutes for it to go away, though, it gives great results. The kind I have (which is the one pictured) is just a clear gloss. It's a little pricey though, and of course there's some discomfort involved, so I wouldn't use it every day or anything. This is more of a special occasion, I-wanna-look-sexy-tonight kind of product for me. For that, it's great-but definitely not an everyday item. It's a decent value for the amount of product you get, too. Plus, the packaging is nice. That's always a sweet bonus!
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Lip Gloss -L'Oreal - Colour Caresse Shine Stain / Shine Caresse
iheartowls55 4/16/2013 2:47:00 PM
I have this in Rose On & On and Eternally Nude. I really, really like these! I've never used the YSL stains, so I can't really compare them, but for me, this was a departure from the norm! The product comes with a tear-shaped, doe-foot applicator and applies very similarly to a gloss. (Be sure to coat your lips evenly, though. I think that's the key to making the color fade more evenly throughout the day.) However, it really does stain the lips. Even if I try to remove this (particularly Eternally Nude, which is a orange-tinted brownish color), it leaves a stain behind. Even after the glossiness fades, though, the texture isn't totally matte. It's a wearable satin-ish finish. I think the key to these are getting colors that suit you. The lighter colors (like Rose) come off as a bit more sheer and on me, aren't quite as flattering. The darker colors definitely have more of a staining quality to them. I'm an NC25 in Mac and I adore Eternally Nude. It may sound a little scary, but it's a kind of "my lips but better" color that is pleasantly surprising. The packaging on these is also gorgeous. They're the kind of pretty you love to display on your vanity. They have a slight floral scent, but no taste, and the smell fades as soon as you apply. Personally, I haven't found these to be drying on my lips. I usually use a lip scrub and balm before applying any other products, so that may make a difference. Overall, at $10 each (and obviously, less with BOGO at the drugstore), these are worth a try. I love the overall affect and I'd buy again for sure. Yay for pretty spring colors!
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Palettes -Too Faced - Matte Eye
iheartowls55 4/11/2013 10:41:00 AM
This palette is perfect for people who love matte eye looks. I love every single color in this palette. You can create a super natural look or go more dramatic. "Pebbles" is a beautiful blue-gray shade that's pretty unique in my collection. The packaging on this is super cute (although I wish it had a mirror), and comes with helpful tips about how to create different looks, which is great for beginners. If you're lukewarm on shimmers and a lover of mattes, definitely invest in this. It's a great addition to my makeup kit, and it's way worth the money.
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Gels/Soaps -LUSH - Flying Fox Shower Gel
iheartowls55 3/31/2013 12:22:00 PM
I LOVER this shower gel! For my fellow Southern girls, if you like the scent of honeysuckle, you'll love this. It smells exactly like it. Like most Lush shower gels, it foams really easily and makes your entire bathroom smell amazing. It says on the bottle it has "aphrodisiac" qualities, and while I'm not sure about that, I do feel a little extra sexy when I use this. Because seriously, when you smell like honey, how can you not?
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Eye Primer -Wet 'n' Wild - Fergie Take on the Day Eyeshadow Primer
iheartowls55 2/28/2013 9:38:00 PM
Confession: I'm an eye primer snob. I've owned the UD Primer Potion and TooFaced Shadow Insurance for awhile, and I've never found a drugstore alternative that competes. This stuff, though, comes pretty darn close. I mean, the colors aren't quite as vibrant as they are with higher-end primers, but this does keep the shadows in place all day, without creasing. I recommend waiting for it to dry before applying your shadow. Otherwise, it can kind of wash them out. That's a little odd, but it's one of the few drawbacks. I was pleasantly surprised by this, and although it can't really compete with the higher-end versions, this is by far the best I've found at a drugstore price. I'm happy with it!
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Eye Primer -Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Original (UDPP)
iheartowls55 2/28/2013 9:34:00 PM
Let's just get real, this stuff is the bomb. It's the perfect primer; it prevents creasing, fading, and just makes lackluster shadows pack a bigger punch. That said, I can't see much difference between this and the TooFaced Shadow Insurance, for those of you that have that and are debating which one is a better fit. I wear a primer every day to keep my shadows lasting me, and I honestly can't tell the smallest bit of difference in those two products. A big bonus: you only need a TINY bit of this. Like, itsy bitsy. It will work even better that way and last you for months, which helps make up for its price tag.
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