Eyeliner -Jordana - Fabu Liner Liquid Eyeliner Pen
kateST 5/12/2013 1:07:00 PM
Got this at pharmacy for $2.99 I was not expecting much, but was completely surpirsed! I used liquid liner from UD for a long time, and althought it gives a beautiful finish, it's super pigmented and opaque in color, and the staying power is superb, it was taking a lot of time and effort to apply it with the re-dipping, wiping off lashes because the liquid always ended up smudging on them, and concentrating to create symmetrical winged lines with the tiny brush. This liner is a marker tip. it's easy to hold, incredibly easy to "draw" with, and the color is nice and black. ***at first the color will not seem pigmented, as with most marker tip liners. you have to kind of wait for the liquid inside to fully seep into the tip after opening it for the first time. shake it without the cap on as you'd shake a new pen to make the ink flow.
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Nails -Unlisted Brand - Broadway- imPRESS nails
kateST 4/26/2013 9:43:00 AM
I bought these for $7.99 (not on sale, no coupon) at Ride Aid (NYC) They come in a nail polish shaped container. You can see the nails clearly through the packaging, which is a relief when trying to pick out a design. I chose the french just because there weren't many to choose from at my pharmacy, and this was the least offensive to me. It comes in two variations aside from different colors/designs: regular and short lenght. I chose the short ones. There are 24 "nail covers" in 12 different sizes in each box. It also comes with a prep pad which is just a regular alcohol pad. Now about my nails: they are short and weak. No matter what NP, base coat, top coat or unicorn blessing I use, it will chip within A DAY. It has always been this way. I used to get the gel NP done at the salon, but I got sick of going and spending money. Acrylics would just further ruin my nails. I bought this without any high hopes although I did read many raves. All I could think of were those glue on nails I'd use in my teens in the 90's, that would cause an avalanche of glue, and pop off if the wind blew too hard. I applied these according to the instructions. I took off any NP residue I had, washed my hands, and wipes the nails with the alcohol prep pad. I let it dry for about a minute. First, you have to "try on" the nail covers, pick out the right sizes, and arranged them. The box says to NOT apply a cover that is bigger than the nail, because then the cover will not have a full contact with your nailbed and cause it to come off much sooner. Each nail cover has a tab on the underside, which you peel off, and then press the nail cover onto your nail. The underside has the glue on it, and it will melt and stick to your real nail with your body head. I pressed firmly a few times. The process took less than 10 minutes. I also ended up filing them shorter, since my nail beds are very small, and it still looked very long on me. It files down easily, and doesn't stink of acrylic like the old school nails. I am on day 5. I have washed my hair 2x, took a hot shower every night, did the dishes, and scrubbed the bathroom. These have not BUDGED and I am extremely impressed. I have 14 more nails left in the box, I am pretty sure I can use it as a second set once this wears off. The ones that are too large on the sides can be filed down easily. I love the fact that these fake nails didn't require sanding down my real nails. They are thin enough to look natural unlike acrylics, but strong enough to withstand chipping and breaking. Check out the attached photo! Highly recommend to try it :) EDIT: they started to get loose on day 6. They were not popping off, but I was able to pull them off. I did not use acetone as per instructions. my nails underneath did not get damaged, and suprisingly they did not even peel (my nails peel horribly, whenever I do anything to them) I applied the remainder of the set this morning, I had to file down 2 of the nail covers, but I got a second full manicure set out of the box.
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Crème -Revlon - ColorStay Whipped Creme Makeup
kateST 4/18/2013 12:14:00 PM
I bought this due to all the raves here on MUA. It was hard to select a matching shade in store, as pharmacies always have an incompetent lighting, and the glass jar is so thick, that it's hard to fully compare the shades. I still made a good match somehow, and right away replaced my original colorstay with this. Now let me complain. The container is huge, bukly, and heavy. I used to think the original was a pain to travel with, but this takes the cake. Also, it is more expensive than the original, and you get only about half as much product. Given that this is a thicker, and technically you can use less, it's still a bummer. I have applied this with a stippling brush, and the sonia kashuk sponge. I have set it with my go to powder, and still this did not hold up nowhere near as long as the original. 4 hours later it was starting to slip off, taking the abundance of concealer from under my eyes with it. I tried setting it with 3 powders at some point, and I was still an oily mess. Upon application, it looks very nice. however, if I look closely, it outlines my pores horribly, it disappears after maybe 10 min once the foundation warms up to my skin. It has a silicony smell, but that does not linger for long. again, this does not last on my face. I've tired everything. I see how this can work for someone who has time and will to touch up every few hours, but for someone like me, this failed misarebly.
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Mascara -BeneFit Cosmetics - They're Real
kateST 4/4/2013 12:56:00 PM
I got the mini version of this as a sephora birthday gift. the brush is very nice. I love the rounded tip that I can use for my outer and inner corners. however, this clumps my lashes. it IS very wet, which I usually don't have a problem with, but it coats my lashes to a point where it's just too heavy. Once it dries, my lashes become so hard, I imagine I could rake leaves with them. staying power is good. the overall look and finish is not. TIP: if you have a mascara that you feel is too wet, dust setting powder on your lashes prior to application. It will help the wetness while applying :)
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Conditioner -Joico - Moisture Recovery
kateST 3/25/2013 6:25:00 PM
My hair has been FRIED. and I do mean that in every sense of the word. I have been bleaching it platinum blonde for years, elbow lenght, and made the big mistake of putting a hot curling iron to it for about 2 months. inches have fallen off, the rest became extremely dry. I've used everything in the drugstore without any significant results. This however has instantly detangeled my hair, it felt very moisturizing and calming to my ends. My hair finally has some life to it. Highly recommend trying this. I really stand by this product. My local Marshalls always carries Joico products, look there first because the regular retail price is pretty steep. good luck!
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Shampoo -Batiste - Dry Shampoo
kateST 3/13/2013 11:31:00 PM
YES!!!! I have tried everything low end and high end. To spare you the details, Tresemme sucks incredibly, and Oscar Blandi smells like lemon pledge. Suave- the silver can with yellow top- was OK, but I needed tons of it to get the desired effect. I picked up Batiste on a whim. I got the cherry one. Let me tell you what I need it for: my hair is fragile because it's bleached to a platinum color. the less washing and re-styling, the better. I also need volume, and nothing works better than dry shampoo to create tons of volume at the top (oil weights hair down). this stuff is POTENT. maybe 3 sparse sprays and it's done. which is incredible. the scent in it deodorizes my hair (smoker) and volumizes beautifully. although the white mist won't show up on my hair, i still have to brush it out and shake it out (flip hair upside down and fluff) because this product is PACKED with oil absorbing goodness. my new love.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Christian Dior - lip maximizer
kateST 2/13/2013 10:10:00 PM
I have tried MANY plumpers. My absolute favorite was Lip Fusion XL. Now that Sephora does not carry it anymore, and it's hard to find otherwise, Dior has cought my attention. It got my FULL attention once I read that the forumla of this Lip Maximizer contains marine particles - the ingridient in Fusion XL that has plumped and hydrated my lips like nothing ever before. How does it feel: Other plumpers such as Too Faced plump by irritating your lips, thus the burning sensation and red ring around your mouth. This however has no burn and irritants in it. Plumping and formula: The formula contains marine particles. when these come in contact with water/moisture in your cells, they swell up, plumping the area and retaining moisture. It also contains collagen which improves ellasticity, and helps to smooth out lines and wrinkles <-- these are two most important ingridients. They do make my lips much smoother and just slightly plumper. I wear this to bed, as well as during the day. During the day I apply it once to twice. I am a lip balm/chapstick addict. Recently I was sick, and my lips became parches and exteremly dry. No amount of chapstick cured it. this product however did the trick almost instantly. Lasting power: After about 3 days of wearing it to bed, and applying it randomly once a day, I noticed that my lips feel moisturized throughout the entire day. Before this product I applied lipbalm probably once an hour throughout the day. I am constantly talking at my job, and I always felt my lips being tight and dry. With this product I don't get that feeling at all, and I do not need to keep my lips constantly saturated in the product either. It actually works after it wears off. I do notice my lips looking smoother and more defined on their own after 5 days of using it. The product on the lips, once applied, does not last that long at all. But the benefits of it do. Look & feel: This is not a colored lipgloss. It has a tint in the tube, but it's practically clear on the lips. I have it in 01, the only choice of color I've seen at stores. There is very slight golden pink shimmer in the tube if you look closely, but it only gives a tiny bit of pearly sheen on the lips. The formula is thick enough to stay on your lips, and it is just a bit sticky. You will leave an imprint on your coffee mug. It has a wonderfully pleasant vanilla-mint scent, and no significant taste. Packing: Signature Dior Addict packing. I haven't had a problem with it oozing out yet. The regular Dior Addict glosses come in a very similar container, however they are .15oz. Lip maximizer is actually .20oz and retails currently for $31 (same price as regular Dior gloss). Just a little hint: Wear it at night, after exfoliating your lips. It will help the forumla sink into your lip, keeping them moisturized from within during the day. Marine particles work when they come into contact with water. If you don't already drink enough during your day, Have a couple of extra glasses. The more water in your skin, the better these particles work. Overall, I am pleased. I still wish I could get Fusion XL, but this is actually a very good product. I recommend trying. x0x0
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Revlon - Just Bitten Kissable Stain Balm- Sweetheart
kateST 1/14/2013 11:48:00 PM
This was my very first Revlon stain. The product goes on smoothly and evenly. the color on my lips is very bright and vivid pink with more purple undertones. The packing is good. It's pleasing to the eye, it does its job, and easy to store. The cap never came off, although this gets beaten around inside my purse all the time. There is no mess as with other liquid stains. That said, the very formula of this lip product is aboslutely genious. I love this for two reasons- it's easy to use, and allows me to wear statement lip color. I love vivid lips, but I just can't deal with lipsticks- too much mess, always worrying about smudging, applying on the go, storing, etc. Wear- it doesn't dry out my lips, granted, I'm a lip balm junkie, and with this I can still apply my lipbalm without interfearing with my lip makeup. the stain this leaves behind is just lovely. lasts through eating/drinking/monologuing. I usually apply few coats of this, wipe off the product after a little while, and I am left with a gorgeous stain that really makes my lips look amazing. Highly recommend
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Kat Von D - Tattoo Liner
kateST 11/30/2012 12:44:00 AM
I got this in a mini size and I was excided to try the marker tip eyeliner. At 1st I was very disappointed because the color was not pigmented at all. I shook it, pressed it, whacked it etc.... and it felt like there is just not much liquid inside. So I just put it to the side for few days. Few days ago I reached for it again, just to play around, and the color was a rich, true black. I've been using it for about 4 days now, and it stays put like nothing alse. The tip makes the application incredibly precise. I love this liner because I have to really get between the follicles of my eyelishes which is hard to do without a needle point liner. It also allows me to make an exceptionally controlled line all the way to my tearducks Another big bonus is that this doesn't leave an imprint on my upper eyelid, it does not transfer at all, and I have oily lids. Prior to this I always had to apply shadow primer and color tones shadow to prevent transfering. I will definately repurchase the full size And if the color isnt coming out as pigmented, give it some time for the liquid to fully seep into the brush after you open the product.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Nioxin - Thinning Hair System 3
kateST 8/5/2012 1:28:00 AM
I have very long hair that is bleached platinum blonde. It's damaged because of coloring and using hot tools. recently I burned off the top layer of my hair with a new curling iron that turned out to be too hot. My hair was fried and lifeless. It became much thinner. It had zero bounce. I bought the system on a whim at Marshall's for $10 - I got the trial size. after two uses my hair has become MUCH MUCH BETTER. It has bounce again, my scalp feels great, it's shiny, it doesn't break off as much and the burn off ends have "calmed down". I've been trying so many drugstore things, and nothing did the trick. I am in love with this product. Whatever it is doing, it's making my hair look much thicker and healthier. Although it is a little drying on my ends, it doesn't cause them to break off- it just makes them "feel" a little dry. Therefore I use biosilk on wet ends and it solves the issue. I am planning on purchasing the full sized system. Highly recommended, not only for "thinning hair", but also for damaged hair. It will not make your hair grow faster- it will make ur hair healthier as it grows out. ( for faster hair growth I've been taking 5,000 mcg of biotin everyday for the past 3 years )
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Conditioner -Nioxin - Scalp Therapy
kateST 8/1/2012 11:05:00 AM
I bought the three step system (shampoo, conditioner, scalp treatement) my hair is very long and platinum blonde. It's weak because of bleaching, and falls out and breaks off. Also, the very top layer of my hair is only 5 inches long because it got burnt off with a too-hot curling iron. the ends were just terrible, I tried many conditioners/creams/oils to tame them. This stuff really gave my hair a nice, smooth texture. the conditioner felt like an emollient when I put it on. It was very light. After rinsing it off my hair was over 50% less tangeled, and the burnt off ends finally looked better and blended in. I leave my hair to dry naturally, and it dried a lot faster than ever before. My hair was light and felt a lot healthier. The scent smelled and felt very refreshing. I can see how others may get irritated with this stuff, as the mint gave me a strong cooling sensation on my scalp, and my scalp is very used to being abused with bleach. I really love the results, I can see and feel a dramatic difference. Definately worth a try. I got my 3 step system in the small size at Marshall's for $10, look for it there.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - ColorBurst Lip Butter in Gumdrop
kateST 4/15/2012 10:47:00 PM
I was really loving the lilac lip trend, althought it doesn't look good on 95% of ppl I see wearing it. I bought this hoping it will give my lips a slight lilac tint. and that is exactly what this does. one swipe, and I have a gentle, light purple tint. it's moisturizing so it doesnt accentuate flakes and scars. this is very light, so it can look differently on everyone. I have very pigmented lips with a rosy pink cool undertone. it's perfect for a little unexpected and effortless oomph for me.
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Lip Gloss -Fusion Beauty - Lipfusion Infatuation
kateST 2/22/2011 7:13:00 PM
I purchased a set of these that comes with 4 colors: Lollipop: medium bright pink with a touch of silver shimmer, Screen Siren- VERY pigmented old hollywood red, Angelic: super pale milky pink with hints of gold shimmer and First Crush- beige taupe, a little too dark for a nude on my slighty tanned skin. The set costs $29 and each tube is .09 oz which is actually a good amount of product and the price is unbeatable considering the regular Fusion Prices. There is a small brush applicator which i absolutely hate because it makes on the go application impossible. The texture is nice, the feel is a tiny bit sticky. It smells very fresh and lasts a fair amount of time. I have been using Fusion lip products for years, Fusion XL being my absolute favorite product of all time. These glosses have much more intense colors, some of them almost like a liquid lipstick, and still give some of the plumping effect. Best of all, they moisturize like no other lip balm I have EVER tried. I would definately recommend these, and especially the set of 4
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Dove - Deep Moisture Nourishing Bodywash w/Nutrium Moisture
kateST 2/21/2011 8:11:00 PM
My go-to body wash. in the summer time it cuts down sensitivity from constant shaving, in the winter- it takes away from the dryness after long hot showers. it's the best moisturizing you'll get from a body wash.
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Lip Gloss -Stila - Lip glaze
kateST 2/20/2011 2:18:00 AM
The size of this lipgloss really disguises the actual AMOUNT OF PRODUCT you get....which is about one third of the lenght of the entire package. Second: because of the applicator, a lot of the product tends to get wasted because aside from too much coming out at once after you keep "clicking", it seems to start leaking sometimes, so i store it standing up just to prevent the spontanious oozing. The scent of this is weird IMO. not bad, not good, just smells like...makeup. The formula is semi sticky and medium thick. The shine is very nice, it glides on smoothly and it's pretty moisturizing- I applied it over my super chapped lips and it looked smooth and felt very comfortable. that being said, it is not my lip gloss of choice. it's not horrible, but I wouldn't recommend it or repurchase it
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