Mascara -Maybelline - Volum' Express One by One
labu 9/1/2012 4:41:00 PM
I have naturally long, thick, curly black lashes, and was looking for a mascara that would 1) help them stand out when using dark shadows, 2) not clump my lashes together, 3) not make my lashes look so overly thick and dark to look like false lashes with too much mascara on them. This one did it for me -- NO clumping, keeps my lashes nice and separated; darkens and thickens lashes without looking gooped on; natural-looking; no smearing or flaking off; thinner formula for smooth application; maintains the curl in my lashes, unlike other mascaras that straighten them out. If you have lots of long lashes and want a mascara that darkens and thickens without clumping them together, this is the way to go.
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Eyeliner -Maybelline - master drama eyeliner
labu 7/2/2012 9:05:00 PM
Hah, I read the reviews of other ladies complaining of the twist-up pencil not working, and thought they were just really unlucky. I bought one of these in the color brown, excited about the reviews saying the colors of these pencils were great and didn't sting sensitive eyes. Wish I would have had a chance to try it out... it wouldn't twist up! I twisted and twisted in both directions, but it seemed to be stuck. I had to resort to pulling the thing apart and manually pushing the product up, but then it wouldn't go back down, eventually bending and breaking off altogether. It didn't last 2 minutes. Silly me, didn't save the receipt, but thought I'd be generous and give this thing another shot. On my next trip to the drugstore I grabbed another, only to open it and discover IT DIDN'T TWIST EITHER. I twisted away in both directions and got tired of it, putting the cap back on and sitting on my bed, twisting some more and thinking about when I'd get the chance to return the thing... ah, yes, kept my receipt this time. I opened the cap just for fun again and found that as I was twisting it with the cap on, some had actually come out! Too much for using, though, so I tried to twist it back in, but nope, wouldn't budge. I DON'T LIKE PLAYING GAMES WITH MY EYELINERS.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Brows -Nuance by Salma Hayek - Shape & Define Brow Kit
labu 6/27/2012 3:41:00 PM
Always on the hunt for a brow wax that will tame by long, curly brows without sticking them together in clumps. Though I have black hair and decently full brows, I use 095 Medium Blonde, which contains a brow wax, a shimmery gold brow highlight, and a light taupe brow powder, which seems to work well enough for me to subtly fill in sparse areas. WAX: What I was most interested in... is super thick, gooey and stiff, in fact, a bit too stiff. It's hard enough getting the stuff onto a brush, which you gotta press pretty hard into the wax to build up, but it tugs quite a bit when applying it to the brows because it's so stiff and gooey. I thought maybe this would make for good hold, but surprisingly, after a few minutes my brows still shift a bit because they start sticking together. It's also pretty shiny, so makes my brows look somewhat wet... not what I was hoping for. I think for some ladies this could work great, but for those with longer brows, may not be ideal. It does the minimal job, though. HIGHLIGHT: Perhaps the only reason I'll be repurchasing is this highlight... AMAZING STUFF! It's extremely dry, but still a cream of sorts, so using a brush is odd but still better than the fingers, which can't really give precision application under the brow. The dryness allows for the sheerest wash of shimmer, though, so you end up with the most fine, subtle, beautiful and sophisticated shimmer that's super sheer and only visible when reflecting the light, like it's supposed to. I think this may suit those with yellow or warm-toned skin far better than those with very cool or pink-toned skin, as gold tends to be that way anyway, but seriously, the perfect brow highlight choice for the most natural of looks to the most sophisticated. POWDER: Eh, it's a powder like any other. It is very smooth and finely milled and stays for quite a while. Color selection is minimal, so not much choice here, but if you already have brow powders you like, this powder wouldn't offer anything special. You'd probably want to fork over the cash just for that highlight... PACKAGING: AWESOME, a spring-loaded sliding compact with a large, good-quality mirror as the cover that's small, stylish, and easily fits in any purse. The mirror alone is great.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -NYX - Champagne
labu 6/27/2012 3:03:00 PM
You can never go wrong with a NYX single eyeshadow, always top quality that's worth the money. This one is the perfect nude shadow with fine-milled shimmer that's almost metallic in the light. It therefore gives great dimension all on its own, making it an eyeshadow that could stand alone without need for other colors in the crease or corners of the eyes to create depth. My yellow-toned skin also appreciates this my-skin-but-better color, as most champagne colors end up being too peachy or pink or orange on me. Thanks to the subtle color, I can wear it to work or everyday casual occasions, or spruce it up with some eyeliner and mascara for a sophisticated night look. Something young and mature women could appreciate because it's definitely not a flat or boring shade, but nowhere near glittery or obnoxious. Smooth, fine texture with great pigmentation and no fallout as usual. A super versatile shadow that will definitely be repurchased.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Colorburst Lip Butter in Creme Brulee
labu 6/27/2012 2:53:00 PM
I really did want to like this after all the reviews of how smooth and moisturizing it was. I was hoping it would be the lip product I wouldn't have to wear a lip balm under or condition my lips first before using. Not sure if it's just the tube I got, but this really doesn't seem to be the case. In fact, it's actually pretty drying. I tried wearing this by itself, no balm or gloss, like I thought I could, but my lips dried out within minutes, and it even tugged a little going on. I tried it over a balm, and even then, it wasn't as "buttery" as I'd hoped, and I really gotta layer on that balm if I want it to be moisturizing or smooth at all. I was also disappointed with the shimmer factor in this thing, almost a borderline frost. A nice moisturizing sheen is okay, but the white, frosty shine this thing has takes off another lippy for me. If my lips are dry or aren't exfoliated beforehand, this stuff will really bring out the flaws with that frostiness, and I always feel frosty lip products scream teenager (I'm not one, though...). One redeeming quality is the color itself, which is a pleasant nude color without too much pink, peach or orange in it, perfect for my yellow-toned skin. I'd say it's very close to NYX Tinted Lip Spa in Champagne Bubble, though NYX's has the moisture and smoothness this does not, which tells me I'd be better off looking at tinted balms. I'll use up the rest of it eventually, but will have to use balms or gloss with it, the extra step I was hoping to avoid, and won't repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -NYX - Eyeshadow Brush # 1
labu 6/27/2012 2:22:00 PM
Most versatile brush EVER. The best for applying eye shadow along lower lash line, especially if you have long lashes that get in the way, as well as lining upper lash line with shadows. Stiff enough to be used for the brows, but soft enough that it won't hurt the eyes. Just perfect for any precision work.
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Lips -NYX - Soft Matte Lip Cream in London
labu 7/24/2011 4:42:00 PM
*NOTE: I posted this same review in the section for the NYX matte lip creams in general. I can see why for many people, this formula is drying and/or overexposes the cracks on the lips. YOUR LIPS MUST BE EXFOLIATED, SMOOTH, AND MOISTURIZED BEFORE USE! As it is a mattifying formula, of course it will cause dryness on the lips to appear 10 times worse. If you are the type to take good care of your lips, wearing lip balm regularly and exfoliating regularly, this product will be no problem in this regard. The matte cream literally does go on like a very soft, smooth cream, and smells sweet like cake or some other dessert. It feels very soft and light on the lips to the point where I forget it's there, like a mousse, and I LOVE this. By the time it dries, of course it's matte, so it's not necessarily going to feel slick like a gloss or lipstick, but does manage to maintain that smooth feel. However, I ALWAYS use this over a lip balm, and this helps it to not sink into the lines in my lips or dry out too much. Even when matte, it does not turn powdery or dry thanks to that lip balm. I can see how over-application would make it dry to a cracking finish, so make sure to apply only enough to cover the lips evenly. Applying too little, on the other hand, might make it look streaky when dry, so as long as you can apply it evenly, you're good. I would say the lasting power is the same as any other average lip product, and would depend on what you're doing (with lots of eating, talking, etc. it will wear down faster...). A simple reapplication, which many women don't mind doing with other lip products, is all that's necessary, though it may be a good idea to wipe off what's already there and apply from scratch over balm. I own this product in the color London, which is a bit more on the brown side than I thought it would be for a nude lip (exactly the same color as the Mega Shine gloss in Tanned and pretty close to the Black Label lipstick in Beige). Keep in mind, though, that dries to a bit lighter tone than when wet, so in the end, this works out nicely for a nice matte, nude lip. This color is definitely on the warm side, so those with fair skin and light lips will find this pretty dark... Stockholm may be a better option. Price is cheap, so you won't feel so bad to try this and find it doesn't work out for you. A very different yet wonderful product.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -NYX - Soft Matte Lip Cream
labu 7/24/2011 4:40:00 PM
I can see why for many people, this formula is drying and/or overexposes the cracks on the lips. YOUR LIPS MUST BE EXFOLIATED, SMOOTH, AND MOISTURIZED BEFORE USE! As it is a mattifying formula, of course it will cause dryness on the lips to appear 10 times worse. If you are the type to take good care of your lips, wearing lip balm regularly and exfoliating regularly, this product will be no problem in this regard. The matte cream literally does go on like a very soft, smooth cream, and smells sweet like cake or some other dessert. It feels very soft and light on the lips to the point where I forget it's there, like a mousse, and I LOVE this. By the time it dries, of course it's matte, so it's not necessarily going to feel slick like a gloss or lipstick, but does manage to maintain that smooth feel. However, I ALWAYS use this over a lip balm, and this helps it to not sink into the lines in my lips or dry out too much. Even when matte, it does not turn powdery or dry thanks to that lip balm. I can see how over-application would make it dry to a cracking finish, so make sure to apply only enough to cover the lips evenly. Applying too little, on the other hand, might make it look streaky when dry, so as long as you can apply it evenly, you're good. I would say the lasting power is the same as any other average lip product, and would depend on what you're doing (with lots of eating, talking, etc. it will wear down faster...). A simple reapplication, which many women don't mind doing with other lip products, is all that's necessary, though it may be a good idea to wipe off what's already there and apply from scratch over balm. I own this product in the color London, which is a bit more on the brown side than I thought it would be for a nude lip (exactly the same color as the Mega Shine gloss in Tanned and pretty close to the Black Label lipstick in Beige). Keep in mind, though, that dries to a bit lighter tone than when wet, so in the end, this works out nicely for a nice matte, nude lip. This color is definitely on the warm side, so those with fair skin and light lips will find this pretty dark... Stockholm may be a better option. Price is cheap, so you won't feel so bad to try this and find it doesn't work out for you. A very different yet wonderful product.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Dove - Intense Moisture Conditioner
labu 7/22/2011 10:54:00 PM
Okay, ladies, I realize anyone who knows anything about hair and hair products, particularly hair stylists, would say this conditioner and any other drug store shampoo or conditioner is CRAP for your hair. Any company can put words like "moisturizing" and "shine" and "botanicals" etc. on a bottle but that doesn't mean anything. Here's the thing: When it comes to taking care of your hair, it's not just about the products you use, but the PROCESS. I have very curly, dark Middle Eastern hair, and I realized a while back that what works best for MY hair is to NOT condition in the shower, but only as a leave-in. I used to use Dove shampoo and conditioner in the shower back when I didn't know any better, and after a visit to a REAL salon, I was introduced to Sleek Look shampoo for us curly girls, which turned out doing WONDERS for my hair. I stopped using Dove in the shower and decided, what the hey, why not try the conditioner as a leave-in? This works GREAT... for ME. It may not work for others, but I think those of us with big, naturally curly hair should give this a try. EVERY TIME I go to the salon to get my hair cut, the first thing the ladies say upon sifting through my hair to figure out what they're gonna do with it is, "Oh my GOSH your hair is SO HEALTHY! What do you put in here?!" And I always knock their socks off when I tell them that all I do is shampoo with Sleek Look a couple times a week and use Dove conditioner as a leave-in after washing... and for the record, I never experienced much difference between the "Intense" Moisture Therapy and "Daily" Moisture Therapy versions. When I ask them if I should stop using Dove, they say my hair looks so good that I should probably not mess with whatever seems to be working for me (3 separate hair stylists have said this). My hair used to be pretty crappy, but doing it this way has really helped. Now my husband, with super thick, tight wavy hair (Latino) has been using it as a leave-in and says his hair feels a lot better, too. I realize Dove conditioner may not be the best for everyone, or very good for our hair at all, but it seems to work for me as a leave-in. They seem to always sell sample sizes of this at the drug store, so pick one up and give it a whirl. If you end up liking it, the huge size with a pump is cheap from Costco. Good luck!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -NYX - Mega Shine Lipgloss - Tanned
labu 7/22/2011 10:29:00 PM
Identical in color to the NYX matte lip cream in London, and similar to the Black Label lipstick in Beige (just a bit more on the bronzy-tan orange side). If you're looking for a nude gloss, this may be a bit dark for those with very cool-toned skin or light pink lips, but works beautifully for those of us with warmer-toned skin/lips. Would work awesome to nude out any lipstick to a more neutral tone. Is similar in color intensity to the Mega Shine gloss in Natural, so if you like that one and are looking for one that's literally on the "tanned" side, go for this one. As I mentioned in my review for Mega Shine glosses in general, they are all awesome glosses as far as the formula goes (and the packaging, too), with a good sized wand and applicator tip. They last for hours without fading or drying up, and even when they finally are drying out, they don't get all sticky on you. They are not gooey, slimy, sticky or runny, and do not sink into the lines of the lips. Awesome gloss.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -NYX - Black Label Lipstick - Natural
labu 7/22/2011 10:18:00 PM
This color is closest to the NYX round lipstick in Perfect, a neutral, brownish-peach color. I agree with pjw1209 that it is a tad darker than Perfect, but also think it also has more of an orange tone to it as well... it turned out a bit too orange for my olive skin, made me look yellowish. I'd say it would work best on those with more tanned complexions or brown/honey skin. It also might look great on those with reddish hair. As I put in my review of NYX Black Label lipsticks in general, these lipsticks are far superior in formula and packaging quality to the round lipsticks. Goes on smooth with a satin finish that doesn't sink into fine lines or wrinkles of the lips and doesn't dry out for hours. Best when applied over a lip balm. When on sale, these lipsticks are a steal. Got mine at beautyjoint.com for a good price. I wouldn't repurchase only because the color doesn't suit me as well as I'd want, but will certainly give away to a good friend and feel good about it!
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Lipstick -NYX - Black Label Lipstick in Diva
labu 7/22/2011 10:08:00 PM
This color is closest to the NYX round lipstick in B52, a neutral, reddish-mauvy my-lips-but-better color. I think the color on the lips in the picture someone posted for this product is pretty accurate. As I put in my review of NYX Black Label lipsticks in general, these lipsticks are far superior in formula and packaging quality to the round lipsticks. Goes on smooth with a satin finish that doesn't sink into fine lines or wrinkles of the lips and doesn't dry out for hours. Best when applied over a lip balm. When on sale, these lipsticks are a steal. Got mine at beautyjoint.com for a good price.
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Brows -NYX - Eyebrow Shaper
labu 7/22/2011 10:01:00 PM
Bought mine at beautyjoint.com for $6.99, and for the price, it was worth it. The pencil is fat and short, but you don't have to use much product to get the effect you're looking for, so I can't see this thing running out too quickly. My brows are thick, long, and curly, and I live in a humid area, which means my brows tend to want to curl up and go in all kinds of directions. This stuff is strong enough to straighten them out and mat them down where I want without leaving a greasy or shiny film on them. The best part about it is its form, a pencil, which means unlike the Wet'n'Wild eyebrow kit's wax (which I always loved, by the way) which must be applied using a brush, I can just pretty much "draw" my brows where I want them to be, and there they stay! I gotta say, though, that the hold isn't as superior as that with the W'n'W eyebrow kit, but it most certainly does the job for a great price. The packaging is sturdy, feels like plastic on the outside rather than just painted wood like most pencils. Must have a jumbo pencil sharpener. This is great to have on-the-go in a purse for touch ups, takes 2 seconds to apply with no tools.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Revlon - Illuminance Creme Shadow Quad - Not Just Nudes
labu 4/17/2011 10:28:00 PM
This is a great product, as it does everything a cream eye shadow should do -- places beautiful color on the eyes, and works as a base to pop shadows placed on top. The colors alone are gorgeous, which include a matte vanilla color (more on the cool-toned side, though, ashy on warm-toned skin), an awesome shimmery nude/taupe color, a matte soft brown/taupe color, and a dark, shimmery brown. The cream formula itself is a bit on the oily side, which is why I can imagine so many complain that it creases and/or fades easily (those with oily skin may have the most trouble). A primer used underneath would greatly help, or even better, a setting powder underneath... yes, that's right, put a setting powder or skin-colored eyeshadow underneath first, then apply the cream eye shadow on top, and the creasing will definitely diminish, if not get solved. I particularly love using the shimmery nude color for all-over lid color when going out on a regular day to work or wherever, that's all I need. I don't apply very much at all, just enough to place some sparkle to my eyes, and I don't have oily skin, so using primers or powders isn't necessary for me. It's so flattering and easy to use, and stays put on me for a good several hours. The packaging is slim and has a mirror, which is great, but really sucks to open (hard on the nails, and I often end up accidentally landing a finger in one of the pots after getting it open). Neutral colors make it versatile.
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Brows -Wet 'n' Wild - Ultimate Brow Kit
labu 4/17/2011 10:18:00 PM
I LOVE this brow kit. First off, let me say that I buy it for the wax, not the powders... I just need my long, curly brows tamed, not filled in. The powders are nicely colored and stay put extremely well, though, and I can say that because I use them as eye shadows, and they work great in this capacity. The wax is what I'm stoked about, which is light, not gooey, keeps my brows EXACTLY where I put them ALL DAY, and doesn't leave a shiny or oily finish afterward. I HATE the shininess that so many brow waxes leave, as though having wet-looking brows is attractive. This one is the best I've found so far, and considering I get some great shadows out of it as well, it's a no brainer. The tweezers are totally useless, but you wouldn't buy something like this for the tweezers anyway. I do like the brush it comes with, and use it with the wax regularly. Packaging is sturdy and convenient. AWESOME PRODUCT FOR AN AMAZINGLY LOW PRICE. DO IT.
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