Blush -Everyday Minerals - Daydream
j0j0 2/15/2013 12:14:00 AM
I decided to purchase this blush based on the descriptions here. I didn't want anything too bright, too peachy, too red. I was very surprised when I received it - it looked like a light-toned matte bronzer. The color does actually sort of "morph" as another reviewer mentioned, and it seemed to do the same thing for me as it did for her - on the skin it is a nice warm earthy color with a hint of pink. Very pretty. However, I do have to build it up a bit for it to appear on my skin and once I get the desired color, it's lovely. I usually wear the multi-tasking neutral semi-matte base, for reference. Oh, and don't go by the picture of the product here or the one on the EM website. Too dark and too light, respectively!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Jouer - Lip Enhancer - Conditioning Lip Treatment
j0j0 2/6/2013 1:39:00 AM
Expensive, but worth the price! I don't know what's in this stuff, but it works wonders for chapped lips and in a hurry! I am prone to chapped, cracked lips a lot in the winter months - very painful. I smooth on some of this, and my lips feel immediate relief and look and feel better within a day of using this. Nice, glossy, non-sticky formula. If I apply this before going to bed, my lips look like new when I wake up. I just wish they added a more pleasant scent.
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Cleansers -Neutrogena - Fresh Foaming Cleanser
j0j0 2/6/2013 1:32:00 AM
This is a good, gentle cleanser and very effective at removing all traces of make-up. Convenient pump, which I like to use in the shower. My skin feels clean and pores diminished after use. No drying, no film, no breakouts.
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Treatments (Eye) -Neutrogena - Healthy Skin Eye Cream
j0j0 2/6/2013 1:29:00 AM
I found this eye cream to be moisturizing and to have a temporary "tightening" effect around my eyes. I used it in a "C" shape around each eye, but if I applied the cream too close to the undereye area, it made my eyes water a lot.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Neutrogena - Healthy Skin Anti Wrinkle SPF 15
j0j0 2/6/2013 1:22:00 AM
Decent moisturization, maybe a little bit of improvement in tone, but nothing major.
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Mascara -Essence - essence 2 in 1 volume mascara
j0j0 2/4/2013 1:38:00 AM
I'm surprised to read negative feedback for this mascara! I've tried lots (haven't we all), and among my favorites are Cover Girl Lash Blast (original) and Tarte's Lights Camera Lashes. I had never actually seen or heard of this mascara until I received a brand new tube of it as an extra in a swap. The design is actually kind of brilliant, really - you can choose 2 different ways to apply this just by a twist of the cap. I prefer to use the 2nd way, which is to apply it a bit more heavily. I would say that I've got mediocre lashes. Not thin or sparse, but not thick and lush by a long shot. Just so-so. I first tried to apply it using the first way, and wasn't impressed. The mascara seemed to just darken my lashes and add a little length. But, when I tried applying it the 2nd way...Wow! It thickened A LOT, and added nice length. I didn't find the formula to be too wet or too dry, and it hasn't clumped, flaked, or smeared on me. In fact, it looks good on its own - no eyeliner or anything. It *is* a little more tough to remove than my other regular mascaras, but it's worth it to me - for the great look and staying power. BTW, it isn't a waterproof formula. One thing that is frustrating me is that I cannot find this anywhere! So, if you're reading this and know where I can buy it, PM me and I'll be forever grateful!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Erno Laszlo - sea mud mask
j0j0 2/4/2013 1:24:00 AM
I have combination skin leaning toward oily, with dry patches every now and then during winter. I use this mask probably once per month, for about 20-30 minutes, when I want a deep-clean. I love the way it feels, and the smell is pleasant. I like the way it tightens my pores and makes my skin feel soft and smooth. It definitely helps to control oil during the times my skin is particularly oily, and during winter it does not exacerbate any dryness. My skin feels clean, and pores diminished after use. Very refreshing. My only complaint, though not that big a deal, is that I wish it were easier to wash off.
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Lotions/ Creams -Ahava - Mineral Hand Cream
j0j0 1/25/2013 5:42:00 AM
I received a generous-sized tube of this a while back from a sampling program and stashed it in my desk at work "just in case". I had forgotten it was there until recently. It's been below freezing where I live and between the terrible cold and wind, and washing my hands constantly to stave off cold/flu germs, my hands have taken a beating. I discovered this in my drawer and used it right away and was very pleasantly surprised. My hands were in pain from being so chapped, and this cream soothed them right away. The dry appearance of my hands disappeared almost immediately, too. The skin doesn't feel as "tight". Very soft, in fact. I also like that for as moisturizing as it seems to be, it isn't greasy or filmy in any way. The smell isn't horrible, but it's not great either. But, I can live with it because it sure works wonderfully!
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Concealers -TheBalm - Time Balm
j0j0 1/8/2013 3:40:00 PM
I'm on day 4 of using this, and I am very impressed. It covers darkness under my eyes very effectively, and also works well covering redness around the nose and on blemishes. Though it's a little pricier for a concealer, I think that it will be worth it in the long run because a little bit goes a long way for me. I haven't had issues with creasing, but I do apply a light dusting of finishing powder over it, which probably helps prevent that. I purchased this in light/medium, and I was a little surprised at how much darker it looked in person, but it actually goes on the skin lighter and is a perfect match. I believe I'm an NC20, if that helps. So far, so good :) Update 3/15/13: So, it's been about 2 months since I wrote this review and I have been using this concealer every single day since. I'd say I've used not quite 1/4 of the jar!!! Seriously great stuff. :)
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -E.L.F. - Nail Polish - Cranberry
j0j0 11/29/2012 11:56:00 PM
Very, very pretty color - deep red with very subtle gold shimmer. I found the formula to go on very nicely, thickly, and opaque. Used a simple base coat, and only 1 coat of color was needed to get a lovely manicure. Didn't take any longer to dry than I'm normally used to.
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Other -Unlisted Brand - Birchbox
j0j0 10/16/2012 1:44:00 AM
I've been a subscriber to Birchbox for over a year now. Some months are decent, others not so much. Recently, I have been considering cancelling due to having gotten repeats of nonsense that I really can't use to begin with. I've received 3 nail polish samples from the same brand with colors that only a tween would wear, 3 different colored "twisty bands" (seriously?!), and the foil packets are mostly useless in that you can't really get a sense of how something will work for you in the long run after just one use. I do like the feedback feature, however, and have redeemed points several times to purchase full-sized versions of cosmetic and skin-care items that I really want and use. In a nutshell...Eh.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -E.L.F. - Studio Maximum Coverage Concealer
j0j0 10/5/2012 3:23:00 AM
The shade "nude" was an excellent match for my skin, but when it came to coverage, I wouldn't exactly classify it as maximum. Mediocre, really. It didn't cover under-eye darkness as I expected it would from the description on the packaging. It also claims to be able to cover tattoos, but if it can't completely cover my circles, I doubt it can conceal a tattoo. It didn't crease, so I guess that's something.
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Eye Shadow -E.L.F. - Mineral Eyeshadow in Natural
j0j0 9/26/2012 1:05:00 AM
Bitchin'. Love this! I don't find it to be as "glittery" as other reviewers. It does provide a dose of shimmer, maybe a subtle sparkle, and I find that a *light* dusting of this is perfectly appropriate for day. I have 40 year old dark brown eyes and when I caught a glimpse of myself in the rearview mirror, I said, "Oh, wow!". It made my eyes look more awake and "lively", without being garish or over the top. I like the way it compliments my eye color and gives a little extra "oomph". Natural is a good name for this color, as it matches my skin tone very well, but gives that extra lively push. At my age, glittery stuff isn't so great - but this is really, really nice.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -E.L.F. - Studio Mineral Infused Mascara
j0j0 9/24/2012 9:22:00 PM
If you're looking for a mascara that packs a punch when it comes to thickening and/or lengthening, then this isn't it. However, it does provide a nice "natural" look when you're looking for minimal. It darkens nicely, separates lashes and doesn't clump, and I haven't experienced any irritation or smudging while using this. The brush is similar to the Cover Girl Lash Blast mascaras, in that it's got rubber bristles. Some people don't like that, but I do. The brush isn't as huge, either. It's quite a bit skinner and maybe a tad longer than the CGLB brush. Don't know if I'll re-purchase this, but I'll definitely use up the tube I have now for those days when I want a little something, but not too made-up.
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Powder Brush
j0j0 9/24/2012 9:16:00 PM
I purchased this brush with the sole intention of using it for powder application as the name implies. I used it once for powder, and actually prefer using the E.L.F. complection brush for that purpose. But I digress... I saw some tutorials on YouTube wherein this brush was used for liquid foundation application and so I decided to try that. Wow!!! I've used it with both liquid and cream and it's wonderful! I'm especially happy with the way it applies the cream, and I have to say that I have been using a FRACTION of what I was using before. This brush puts my Beauty Blender to shame! I'm definitely going to purchase 1 or 2 more as back-ups. The brush is so inexpensive, great quality, provides a beautiful "air-brushed" finish, and is saving me money on my liquid products. Can't beat it!
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