Styling Products -Sexy Hair Concepts - Powder Play
lhuynh10 1/19/2013 6:36:00 PM
First off, I use this product differently than what it's intended for. I use it as a dry shampoo. I bought it upon a recommendation at Ulta, not looking at the actual bottle until after four uses to realize it was not actually a dry shampoo, but it works! My roots become very oily after one night, and I absolutely needed to wash my hair. With this, it takes away the oil and gives me volume, something no other dry shampoo I've tried has done successfully. Another great thing is that it doesn't leave an ashy look on my dark brown hair. I'm quite happy for my stumbling upon this product. At first, I was indecisive about the packaging. However, I actually really like it because the small holes, like a salt shaker, spreads the product evenly. Most of the time, I don't even have to rub it in, the white powder just absorbs and disappears. I'm on my second bottle and this worked wonders on vacation. They come in a few different sizes, but i always save the smallest travel size you can buy. All you have to do is unscrew the top, pop in more product from your larger bottle, and it's a space saver on vacation. Plus, a little goes a long way.
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Blush -Milani - Baked Blush - Coralina
lhuynh10 1/19/2013 3:51:00 PM
I am surprisingly enjoying Milani blushes in general. The glitter at first glance was frightening for my combination skin, however, just tap off the excess on your blush brush and the glitter comes right off. What's left on the brush that goes on your skin is just shimmer. This color is awesome for my light, yellow-toned skin. It gives a great flush during the winter. It stays on from 5am to 5pm, I would recommend it for oily skin. These blushes are one of the few on the market that doesn't require me to reapply. I've used it religiously and have not caused a dent in the product. I really can't speak enough for baked products because they tend to be quite pigmented with minimal product so you can use less for a great payoff. If you are worried about having too much shimmer on your face with other products you may already use with shimmer in them, I balance this blush out with a matte bronzer or contour, and no highlight. As for packaging, it's too big for my liking and I'm not a fan of the extra brush underneath the blush. It's too dense so even if you're trying to save space when traveling and not bring an extra brush, it's not practical because it applies way too much color. Final verdict: great quality for the money, highly pigmented, has become my staple blush in my routine.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Andalou Naturals Meyer Lemon Creamy Cleanser
lhuynh10 11/14/2012 1:42:00 AM
I am on my fourth bottle, this is my absolute staple skincare! This cleanser is geared towards brightening your face. I went through about 3/4 of my first bottle before I saw noticeable results and with more use, my skin looked healthier and my complexion is brighter. I love this because it reduced my teenage left over acne scars from years ago and even faded newer ones within a couple days. It's amazing because the brand is natural as well. I stumbled upon this in my local Whole Foods and decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did because I now use their moisturizers and serum also. The cleanser doesn't lather, it is a creamy texture. It melts makeup pretty easily although not waterproof mascaras. I usually use just enough to wash off makeup in the first cleanse and then a full pump to wash my face on the second cleanse. For people who have tried every drugstore and high-street brands to find little results, I highly recommend you give this a try. I was in your shoes and I didn't think I'd ever find something that would work even for a little bit! Sometimes a shift back to basics versus chemical filled skincare is just what your skin needs.
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Brows -Anastasia Of Beverly Hills - tinted Brow gel in Espresso
lhuynh10 11/14/2012 1:31:00 AM
Absolutely reduces my morning routine by half because I don't have to pencil in my brows! This is great for ladies with medium to full brows that needs little filling in, but you'd like your hairs to stay in place and have a bit dimension/color/depth. You can go light or build it up. I wouldn't recommend it for sparse brows because it can look quite fake or undone brows. At first glance, you may see little shimmer or glitters on the gel, but it isn't noticeable at all when applied. I've been told by makeup artists they just help to give your brows dimension versus just a colored gel will make your brows look dull or powdery. As far as packaging goes, I've never been a fan of anything that comes in a mascara like tube because I know I will never be able to get all the product out.
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Lipstick -Revlon - Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain - Charm
lhuynh10 8/26/2012 3:24:00 PM
I'm not quite convinced about this product, or I should say the color pay-off. It's a brilliant product right next to Tarte lipsurgences and all other easy-to-apply lip colors. My lips are a light pink-peach coloring, but very pigmented. I expected this color to add a little color, but it seemed to pretty much erase any coloring of my own. Maybe it's because i've built up a pretty good tan over the summer and this color doesn't look great as a color with tan skin. I don't hate it, it just wasn't what I was expecting. In the future, I'd use this color for a truly nude lip or to erase a bit of color from my own lips and slap on a bright lip gloss.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Paint Pot in Painterly
lhuynh10 8/26/2012 3:18:00 PM
I've compared this to Bare Study and for my small, oily, asian lids, Painterly is best. It works well with my skin tone also and it never feels like a heavy product on your lid. I found that it applies and stays best with a stiff brush. I usually throw this down and then Naked Lunch on top.
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Lotions/ Creams -Hawaiian Tropic - Shimmer Effect Coconut Papaya After Sun Lotion
lhuynh10 8/2/2012 12:57:00 AM
HOLY GLITTERS, this after-sun moisturizer is glittery, not shimmery. I like a healthy glow from my skin, but this product makes your skin look fake. The smell is great and it is moisturizing, but the shimmer doesn't impress me. It's a little too much.
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Makeup Brushes -Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman - Blush Brush
lhuynh10 8/2/2012 12:53:00 AM
I didn't believe the hype, but this brand is worth the talk. The bristles stay soft after many washes and it gives your makeup the perfect light finish. I compared this with the Yachiyo brush and it's a good dupe. I use this mostly with contouring and bronzer, then with bright blushes. It doesn't pack the colors and you can keep building.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman - Stippling Brush
lhuynh10 8/2/2012 12:48:00 AM
This is my universal brush. I use it for foundation, liquid and otherwise, moisturizers and cream products. The brittles don't harden after many washes and it's kind of the perfect size for travel. This is the first stippling brush I've used that actually stipples the product, not pack it on your face. For what the brush does and how well it stays together, the price equals out to dirt cheap. For the everyday, natural, light finish makeup look, this is what you need.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Estee Lauder - Invisible Fluid Makeup
lhuynh10 8/2/2012 12:41:00 AM
The invisible technology is quite new on the market, but Estee Lauder did it brilliantly. I heard all the rave and shelled out nearly $40 for this foundation. At first glance, the packaging looks cheap, but I actually quite like the simple look. The squeeze bottle is perfect for getting the right amount, however, the foundation is liquid. Just a tilt of the bottle will spill foundation. The liquid texture is what I like most next to the finish. I don't need too much to go over my skin and it spreads easily. I get a few stress related zits here and there and this won't cover it, but it does cover the redness. This foundation is one of the few i've found that works with cream blushes; it won't absorb whatever you put on top and there's no need to powder. I can't speak for photo quality, but I assume Estee Lauder designed the product with that in mind. As far as longevity, I give it a 3.5. It won't last you 12-hours, but it'll last through a work day. It actually looks more and more like your skin after a workout or a walk because your body heat blends it into your skin. Now, Estee Lauder has been branded in the past for more mature women, but I'm in my early 20s and it works just fine with my combination skin. I use a primer under it to help make it last longer. You can definitely build this up and it won't look chalky. So, I call this one my everyday foundation and I regularly use it during the summer as well.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Korres - Lip Butter - Jasmine
lhuynh10 7/21/2012 1:44:00 AM
Well, this was all the hype so I bought it having high expectations. Maybe that was the downfall, but this is an okay product. The color is great even on pale girls, but as soon as you catch a tan, it makes you look sickly. The smell is quite nice. I don't like the residue it left on my lips, not glitters but some kind of shimmer. The odd thing is, it dried my lips. I wouldn't repurchase for me, but I do buy them as gifts for other people and they like it.
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Pressed Powders -Laura Mercier - Smooth Focus Pressed Setting Powder - Shine Control
lhuynh10 3/8/2012 12:19:00 AM
The only setting powder that does that it's supposed to! Well, it's the only one i've used that sets your foundation and keeps you matte for more than a couple hours. It's pretty hefty of a price, but you pay for what you get. I got this upon recommendation from a friend who cheers all day, sometimes for three games. That sold it for me, when you can sweat all day and still swear by a product. (: The sponge is great, it has two sides, one for blotting and the other side a bit denser for if you really want to splatter the powder all over. I have oily skin, and i usually set this after foundation in the morning, sometimes again later in the day. It doesn't make me look cakey, it's fine powder. The green color does look weird at first, and it doesn't really correct any redness, the powder just goes on translucent. The compact is very sleek. No regrets!
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Foundations -Make Up For Ever - HD High Definition Foundation
lhuynh10 3/8/2012 12:09:00 AM
I'm a true believer in you pay for what you get. This foundation is a-maz-ing, i can't get enough! It retails for $40, which is expensive in my terms, but i have no regrets. It's compatible with oily skin, you don't have to set it, maybe just your T-zone. I wear this from 6 in the morning to 9 at night, no irritation, no break outs. I plan to wear this for my brother's upcoming wedding. I'm amazed and satisfied. (:
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NYX - Desert Rose
lhuynh10 2/27/2012 9:31:00 PM
This blush is really pretty, however, I advise using a less dense brush and a very light hand when applying. I'm an NC20 in MAC, so when I saw this color, i thought, "Whoa! Way too red." Gave it a shot, and like Nars blushes, this is PIGMENTED. A little goes a loooong way. I think however, with a tan, this color would be irresistible!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NYX - Taupe
lhuynh10 2/27/2012 9:25:00 PM
A+ product for contouring, it makes my routine effortless. I basically have a pretty pale asian complexion, and under white lighting, I look like a ghost. This color is PERFECT for contouring or a little all over face color with a light hand. Really glad I found this!
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No