Pressed Powders -Maybelline - Fit Me
lovejkras 4/24/2012 1:05:00 AM
Just another "meh" product for me. It doesn't break me out, but the product payoff from brush to skin is minimal at best. Even after I put this on over my foundation, my skin still feels tacky as if I had applied foundation alone. I'll use it up, but won't repurchase.
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Blush -MAC - Stunner (MAC Me Over 2011)
lovejkras 3/29/2012 3:42:00 PM
Stunner is a neutral mid-tone pink with modest color pay-off, which is why I like it so much. It's not particularly "soft" or "buttery," but when improper blush application can easily look like someone is wearing too much make-up, I actually appreciate that in this product. When I apply this in the morning, I don't really have to worry that I'm putting too much on. It's a natural color that looks great with just about any look. I wouldn't repurchase only because I could find a similar color by a cheaper brand, and because it was limited edition and I couldn't repurchase even if I wanted to.
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Treatments -Sally Hansen - Quick Care Massaging Cuticle Treatment
lovejkras 2/18/2012 4:12:00 AM
I recently lost my HG cuticle treatment, Burt's Bees Lemon Cuticle Butter, and found this on sale for 75% off at CVS. It really is just okay. I find the packaging kind of cumbersome and gimmicky with the whole "massaging" element. With cuticle treatments, I'd much rather use my fingertips to apply it than an applicator. However, the oil isn't very moisturizing and practically vanishes after one handwashing. I would never pay $10 for this product, and I wouldn't even pay the $2.50 again that I paid before. After I use this up, I'm going back to the store and picking up another Burt's Bees.
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Polishes -Sally Hansen - salon effects
lovejkras 1/23/2012 1:47:00 AM
I detest these things. I bought two colors- Red-y for Trouble (neon red) and Cry Baby (neon pink) for 75% off at CVS, and even at less than $3 each, I feel like I paid too much. these do not adhere to my nails well at all- each nail has dents, bumps, creases, etc. The edges began to lift the same day I put them on. It's really a crime that Sally Hansen charges such an asinine amount of money for these when they are essentially stickers for your nails. Will not repurchase, ever.
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Eye Shadow -BeneFit Cosmetics - Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner-BIRTHDAY SUIT
lovejkras 1/11/2012 1:41:00 PM
I like this, but I dont' LOVE it. I tried using this as a stand-alone shadow with no primer or powder shadow in which it promptly creased. If I wear it over Mac's Painterly Paintpot and under a powder eyeshadow, it provides a vivid base that makes shadows I layer over it pop. I find that Mac Era and even Shroom do well over this- however, I find it difficult to find other coordinating shades in my wide array of eyeshadows. It's kind of an ashy beige gold which is less flattering on my skin than Benefit RSVP which I prefer. I like how you can layer it for a very sheer wash of color, or build it up easily for more vibrancy. The consistency is less thick and more oily-feeling than a Mac paintpot, which probably lends itself better as a base for other shadows than a primer itself. Not too pleased with the packaging though; after a few weeks of not using it, I opened up today (I keep the lid on it very tight) and there was a huge crack down the middle of the product. Even though I was able to revive it, it should not do this- Paintpots do not have this problem.
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Brows -Maybelline - Define-A-Brow
lovejkras 11/21/2011 2:16:00 AM
I bought the shade "light blonde." I was told this was a dupe for Mac's brow pencil in "Fling." I can tell you it most certainly is not. While the packaging is very similar (twist up, a similar type of stick packaging), but the pigmentation is simply not there. I have natural, golden blonde hair and I wanted a brow pencil that made my similarly colored, sparse brows defined. This pencil is waxy and severely lacking in pigmentation. For a drugstore brow pencil, you'd be better off getting the Wet 'n Wild eye pencil in taupe, though that's a touch darker for me. Fling is still my HG and I will continue to buy it until I find a drugstore product that perfectly dupes it. Brows are too important to chance it with bad products!
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Treatments -Nexxus - Pro-Mend Split End Binding Targeted Leave-In Treatment
lovejkras 9/26/2011 2:33:00 PM
I have very fine hair, but a lot of it. Since my hair grows quickly and is fairly long (to my chest), I get my share of split ends. I bought this while CVS was having a deal on Nexxus products, and I am not pleased. I used a single pump and left it in my hair overnight..and my hair throughout the following day felt...plastic-y? It was extremely dry, and I didn't notice any difference in my split ends. I used it for a week, and I think this is going back to CVS..it makes my hair feel like straw.
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Polishes -OPI - Step Right Up!
lovejkras 9/20/2011 1:50:00 PM
I was at my local beauty supply looking for OPI Bubblebath, and this color was mistakenly in its place. I can see why-- they are similar, milky white-pinks and give a (presumably) similar effect to your nails. Step Right Up! is a go-to color of mine for a work appropriate, clean, simple look. I imagine that it would also work well with fewer coats as a French manicure base, though I haven't tried that yet. I notice that with time, these milky colors tend to thicken up as time goes on, which I don't like. I docked a point for that, as well as the fact that this color is dupable by a number of brands.
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Top/Base Coats -Sally Hansen - Mega Shine Top Coat
lovejkras 8/26/2011 7:13:00 PM
I bought this topcoat because I wanted an alternative to the toxic carcinogenic cult-favorite topcoat, Seche Vite. I heard all over that this was supposedly a dupe but without all the harmful chemicals. I can tell you it's not a dupe...it does dry fast, but no where near Seche Vite fast where you slap it on top of wet polish and it dries almost instantly. The "Mega Shine" claim of this polish is accurate...I don't get this same type of glossy finish with other top coats. Lasting power here is average...I never have a manicure for longer than about 3 days anyway. The problem here is the packaging. You think, "ooh, pretty reflective mirror-bottle!" But no, this is a pain in the ass. After using this a few times, the silver paint on the outside of the bottle begins to mix in with the topcoat from the twisting motion of screwing/unscrewing it to open. This is pretty cool if you want a naturally silvery sparkled topcoat, but I typically don't want this look unintentionally. Additionally, it gets a bit thick toward the end and the brush doesn't seem to be long enough, so I end up tilting the bottle horizontally to get the product out. Would I purchase this again? I'm going to try out a few more topcoats, but I wouldn't be opposed to going back to this one. If they changed the packaging, it would be a HG for sure.
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Liquid -Neutrogena - Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup SPF 20
lovejkras 8/1/2011 12:54:00 PM
My skin is normally pretty clear and I only get the occasional pimple. I began using this foundation to even out my skin tone and diminish the minimal redness in in my cheeks. I began breaking out but thought it might just be coincidental because I do get the occasional breakout. I stopped using it as an all-over foundation and started using it as a spot concealer on a pimple I had on my forehead near the hairline. The formula and color blended into my skin well, but then three more pimples popped up when I initially was only covering the one. I later also tried it on a pimple on my chin and had the same effect. This leads me to be pretty certain that this foundation is causing my recent breakouts. I discontinued the use and my breakouts are finally dissipating...and you can bet I will not be putting this crap on my face again.
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Polishes -Essie - Cute As A Button
lovejkras 8/1/2011 12:42:00 PM
This polish is truly a chameleon. In the bottle it's the perfect coral, on your nails it looks like a muted red, a hot pink, slightly orange, depending on the light...all perfect for the summer months. What truly impresses me with this polish, however, is the wear of it. I'm currently on my 3rd day of this mani and there are ZERO signs of wear. Any nail polish, whether it be high end or drugstore, begins peeling on me after the 2nd day...so that says a lot about Cute As A Button. Would definitely repurchase if I ever need to! :)
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Polishes -Essie - Marshmallow
lovejkras 7/26/2011 11:39:00 AM
I'm not gonna lie, I bought this primarily for the name since marshmallows happen to be one of my favorite treats. This is definitely a pretty white that looks white without looking like stark, opaque, white-out-white. However, it takes MANY coats to get to the desired opacity. While I find that most of Essie's polishes have a thin and watery formula, because this is white, it takes 4-5 coats instead of the normal 2-4. And because of the many coats that are needed, this polish tends to peel even faster for me than other Essies. I've also tried using it as a french manicure base, however, the formula is pretty streaky and it doesn't function well for that either. I'll use up the bottle I have, but do not plan on repurchasing it.
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Moisturizers -The Body Shop - Aloe Soothing Moisture Lotion SPF 15
lovejkras 7/22/2011 1:16:00 PM
Let me begin by just stating how much I LOVE Body Shop products. Almost all of my skincare and body care is exclusively theirs. Thus, I had high hopes for this moisturizer. First, SPF 15 is practically useless. Experts say you need at least 30...but this was the highest they had so I went with it anyway. This makes my skin just feel...gross...sticky and uncomfortable. It hasn't broken me out, yet...but just the way this feels on my skin is a reason not to repurchase. And for $18...I could almost afford two of my HG Neutrogena Healthy Defense SPF 30.
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Eyeliner -Maybelline - Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner
lovejkras 6/17/2011 12:41:00 PM
This is an eh-product. For a drugstore liner, I found it to be pretty expensive (I want to say I spent like, $9 on it). For a few dollars more, you could get Mac Blacktrack Fluid Line, and for a few dollars less, you could get the Wet N Wild cream liner, which I like much better. The pigmentation and texture of this liner leaves much to be desired- it doesn't apply evenly, and gives the look of a pencil liner rather than a pigmented, rich cream liner. Will not repurchase.
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Polishes -Sinful - Green Ocean
lovejkras 5/28/2011 11:56:00 PM
I got this because I love SH Hidden Treasure and had heard that this was similar. Let me tell you, it's not. Obviously I was not expecting it to be opaque...I always intended to use it over another polish. But on some of my nails, you can't even tell it's there because not ONE sparkle transferred from the bottle to the nail!! On the others, I can literally sit and count how many are there. What a huge disappointment.
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