Bath Treatments -LUSH - Creamy Candy Bubble Bar
mabethg 2/12/2010 7:12:00 PM
This bubble bar smells amazing. It's sweet like cotton candy and bubblegum. The bar itself is kind of small. I used half of it for one bath and it made tons of big, fluffy bubbles. At first, it made the water a milky light-pink color. Unfortunately, the color disappeared really quickly. It was gone less than 5 minutes in. Although the scent doesn't linger on my skin, it does linger in the bathroom. My bathroom still smelled strongly of creamy candy the next day which was a nice surprise. Overall, the scent and bubbles are enough to make me repurchase.
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Bath Treatments -LUSH - The Comforter Bubble Bar
mabethg 2/6/2010 8:11:00 PM
This is my first time using a bubble bar from LUSH. I crumbled a piece into the running water as soon as I started filling the bath. It has a yummy berry scent which smells fruity and sweet. It turns the water a cute pink color. The scent doesn't linger very long afterwards on my skin, but it does linger in the bathroom. I don't take baths very often but this made it fun. I like it!
Although this is one of the more pricier bubble bars, it's also one of the biggest. The website says that 1 bar is good for two baths; I only used 1/4 of the bar and it made tons of bubbles! At around $9, I can get at least 4 baths out of it.
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Makeup Brushes -Unlisted Brand - Studio Tools Dual-Finish Skunk Brush ] [DISCONTINUED]
mabethg 6/5/2009 5:10:00 PM
When I went to Target, I originally grabbed the Sonia Kashuk highlighting brush. But then I saw this Studio Tools Dual Fiber brush and remembered its great reviews here on MUA. I decided to get this one since it was almost half the price of the SK.
- Only shed a few bristles when I first washed it with baby shampoo.
- A little bit smaller than the 187, but not by much.
- Really soft, doesn't feel scratchy at all on your skin. Not quite as soft as the 187 though.
- Very dense. More firm than the 187, so it applies products a bit more heavily.
- The bottom of the handle is flat, so it stands up on flat surfaces.
I think the MAC 187 is better, but it's $42. The Studio Tools one is only $6.99. Some people even found it for $1.99. For the price, it's a really good brush. If you come across it, I'd suggest checking it out. I would repurchase :)
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Mascara -Maybelline - XXL Curl Power
mabethg 4/24/2009 7:27:00 PM
POSITIVES:
- Can be found at drugstores, readily available
- Adds volume
- Color payoff is good, goes on very black
NEGATIVES:
- Feels heavy and weighs lashes down
- Doesn't hold a curl
- Slightly clumpy
- Huge curvy brush makes it difficult to neatly coat inner lashes
- Not a lot of product
OVERALL:
The idea is good. It comes with a white primer that you apply first. The primer has tiny little fibers that grab onto your lashes. Then, you apply the actual mascara.
I was very disappointed with this product. It drew me in because of everything it promised. It seemed like a good mascara for my straight lashes. However, it didn't deliver length or curl like it claimed. It made my lashes look clumpy and droopy. I really wanted to like this, but it just didn't work for me.
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Mascara -Maybelline - Lash Stiletto
mabethg 4/20/2009 9:27:00 PM
POSITIVES:
- Can be found at most drugstores or any location that sells Maybelline cosmetics. Finding it is easy and convenient.
- Price ranges, but for the most part, it's affordable. I got it at CVS for around $8.
- Cute packaging! The tube is shaped like the heel of a stiletto.
- The wand is a good size since it's not too big. The tip of the bristles is thinner, making it easy to coat those hard to reach lashes like the inner corners.
- Never looks clumpy. No need to fear spidery lashes.
- Lashes feel soft, not stiff or crunchy.
NEGATIVES:
- Doesn't lengthen as much as I expected it to.
- Weighs my lashes down.
- Doesn't hold a curl.
- Doesn't come in a waterproof formula yet.
- Has a noticable smell when you're applying it.
OVERALL:
Lash stiletto is a decent mascara, but it's just not for me. My asian lashes stick straight down, so I need a mascara that will lengthen and hold a curl. I saw a bit of lengthening, but it wiped out my lash curler's work. My lashes ended up looking better bare and curled. I don't think I would repurchase. However, if you're fortunate enough to have lashes that don't need a curl and want a mascara that gives a bit of length, this product might work for you.
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stiletto shaped packaging
close up of the wand
My bare lashes. They stick straight down.
Curled with my Shiseido curler, yay!
After applying Lash Stiletto. The curl disappeared :(
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Cleansers -Purpose - Gentle Cleansing Wash
mabethg 3/21/2009 7:54:00 PM
My skin is sensitive and acne-prone. After trying out so many acne-fighting cleansers, I decided it might be better to use gentle products that won't irritate my skin. Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash is soap free, oil-free, hypoallergenic, and non comedogenic. It can be found in most drugstores. It retails for around $6 depending on where you buy it. Packaging is a rectangular bottle with a pump dispenser. It's a basic cleanser that's not irritating, makes my skin feel clean, and doesn't break me out. I love the scent; it smells like baby wash. I use it morning and night. At night, I wash my face twice. The first time is to remove my makeup, the second to clean my skin. Since it's so gentle, washing twice in a row doesn't dry out my skin. One pump is enough for my whole face. The only con is that it's easy for water to leak into the bottle through the pump, diluting the cleanser. It's not a big problem as long as I keep it away from the shower water. Sometimes I stray away from this cleanser to try other fancier/more expensive products that don't work as well. I always end up coming back to Purpose and my skin gets better again. I'm going to try and resist other cleansers since this one works best for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -MAC - Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation
mabethg 3/21/2009 7:20:00 PM
When I first heard about Studio Sculpt, I was really excited to try it out. The description made it sound amazing, and I wasn't disappointed. Sorry my review is so long, but I wanted to be thorough :) PACKAGING: The packaging is a squeeze tube, good for travel since you don't have to worry about a glass bottle breaking. The tube allows you to dispense the exact amount of product you need, not to mention it's sanitary. COVERAGE/LASTING POWER: The consistency is like a gel, so it's not as fluid as liquid foundations. Coverage is medium, but can be built up a little by adding more to the areas that need extra coverage. I say a little because the coverage isn't as high as something like Studio Fix Fluid. The finish isn't extremely dewy, but it's not matte either. It's somewhere in between and looks pretty natural, never cakey. I apply this in the morning and set with a loose powder; by the end of the day, it doesn't look as great as it did when I first applied it, but it's still there. APPLICATION: The first time I applied this, I used a stippling brush and wasn't too happy with the results. I think a stippling brush works better with liquid foundations, and Studio Sculpt is a gel- based foundation. Figuring out the best brush to use took some experimenting. My favorite way to apply this is with the MAC 183, a flat top kabuki. A little bit goes a long way, so the $28 tube should last a long time. The week that I started using Studio Sculpt, I was breaking out. I was ready to blame it on the foundation, but it ended up just being that time of the month. False alarm, haha. It's probably not a good idea to try out new skin products during that time. So I waited til that was over and started using Studio Sculpt again, and it hasn't made me break out. It's become my everyday foundation.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -C.O. Bigelow - Mentha Lip Shine
mabethg 9/28/2008 12:57:00 AM
I tried this out a few years ago because my sister had it. My lips used to be really dry/chapped. When I put this on, I immediately loved it. It moisturized so well that my lips looked better than they had in a long time. So I got one for myself, and it's been my favorite gloss since. It has a nice shine, moisturizes great, smells nice, tastes yummy. Very minty and tingly. And they go on sale a lot. The only downside is that the tube itself gets dirty easily. But I don't mind too much since the product inside is what matters. I've repurchased many times already :)
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Concealers -Flirt - Glamouflage Healer/Concealer
mabethg 9/28/2008 12:48:00 AM
When I saw this at Kohl's, I figured it would be a good product for me since my skin is pretty acne-prone. But I don't like it very much. It has a hard time spreading/blending into the skin. It's very drying too, so it makes my skin look chalky. I wouldn't repurchase.
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Lip Gloss -L'Oreal - Color Juice Bubble Gum
mabethg 9/28/2008 12:40:00 AM
Bubble gum is a milky light pink color. This makes my lips slighter lighter than they usually are. Great for those days when I want more of a nude look for my lips. It's not overly sticky, and lasts for a good amount of time. Slightly moisturizing too. A slant tip applicator would probably be better, but the round tip doesn't bother me too much.
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Lip Gloss -L'Oreal - Color Juice in Watermelon Crush
mabethg 9/28/2008 12:34:00 AM
Out of all my lip glosses, this is one of my absolute favorites. The color, a medium pink, is so pretty. It gives my lips more color while still looking natural. It's not overly sticky, but it's sticky enough to have good lasting power. It doesn't dry my lips out either. Packaging would probably be better if the tip was slanted instead of round. But it doesn't bother me since I spread the gloss around with my lips, to even out the application. Love it!
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Vanilla
mabethg 9/28/2008 12:24:00 AM
Vanilla eyeshadow is a pale peach-beige color with some shimmer. I use it with almost all of my looks as a highlighter on the brow bone. Sometimes I use it on the inner corners of my eyes to brighten them up. Very pretty neutral color. I haven't tried any other highlighter shades from MAC yet, but I really like this one.
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Lotions/ Creams -St. Ives - Oatmeal and Shea butter
mabethg 9/28/2008 12:17:00 AM
I loved the Oatmeal & Shea Butter body wash, so I decided to try this too. The packaging has a pump bottle, so it's really convenient to use. The lotion sinks in fast, doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy, and moisturizes well. For some reason, I feel like the body wash smells a little better, even though they're the same scent? I know it sounds weird, haha. But this lotion has an okay scent. It goes away after a while. I've been using this everyday, and I like it.
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Gels/Soaps -St. Ives - Oatmeal and Shea Butter Body Wash
mabethg 9/28/2008 12:10:00 AM
When I saw the great reviews for this, I had to try it out myself. So I got it, and I have to say that I love it too :) It makes a nice lather, moisturizes well, and leaves me feeling clean. The smell is one of my favorite things about it. The scent is so yummy, like cookies, but not too overpowering. Packaging is convenient. Not too bulky, and the body wash comes out just fine. Inexpensive, and found in drugstores. I would repurchase.
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Lotions/ Creams -Eucerin - Aquaphor Healing Ointment
mabethg 9/27/2008 11:29:00 PM
I remember the day I bought this stuff. I had heard great things about it, and saw it at cvs. I was so hesitant to buy it, considering vaseline was so much cheaper, haha. But I don't regret getting it at all :) I use Aquaphor whenever areas of my skin get really dry: feet, elbows, knees, etc. My lips tend to get dry/chapped easily, and Aquaphor is one of my favorite lip moisturizers. I use it almost every night as a lip balm before I go to sleep. Works great!
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