Skincare - Face -Equate - Proactiv knock-off system
mcclouas 12/4/2012 4:00:00 PM
So I have used Proactive for about 8 years. Every time I have tried weaning my skin off of it my face always broke out. I read about this online and thought it was worth a try and I am so glad I did! I only purchased the cleanser and the repairing lotion not the entire set; which is really nice. The cleanser was a little over $4, way less than proactive. The solution itself is not a thick or exfoliating as proactive, and the repairing lotion is thinner in consistency as well but this stuff works just as well as proactive. I have been using this product for about 6 months now and my face hasn't noticed a difference, but my pocketbook sure has!!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Neutrogena - triple moisture deep recovery hair mask
mcclouas 12/4/2012 12:16:00 PM
To start my hair has been to hell and back; I was once a bleach blond and have been trying to fix that damage for years. I started using this deep conditioner a couple months ago and I use it once to twice weekly. This product has been amazing from the first application!! I have very long hair, so I shampoo my hair, rinse the lower half, then apply this and let it sit for at least 7 minutes. It leaves my hair instantly softer and more hydrated. I have used a plethora of other leave ins and for the moment this one is my HG! I purchased this at Walmart for around $6 and will be repurchasing more! If you are looking for a great conditioning mask, don't hesitate to try this one!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -E.L.F. - Studio Makeup Mist & Set Spray
mcclouas 12/4/2012 12:07:00 PM
I use this spray to set my makeup after application and this stuff works!! I like the ingredients: aloe,green tea, cucumber, and vitamins A,C, & E, and the smell isn't atrocious. I have used other setting sprays before this one, mac fix+ and urban decays up all nighter spray and this one works just as well but for a fraction of the price. My only complaint is the bottle and sprayer; the mist is very heavy, but I just put the ELF product into the up all nighter spray bottle and voila! For $3, I have already repurchased this several times and will continue, great product!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Hard Candy - Just Face It - One Step Foundation
mcclouas 5/7/2012 2:44:00 PM
This is one of the best $7 foundations out there!!! I really like the concept of an all in one foundation in that you don't use a primer but very few lower cost foundations pull it off well; this one delivers!I I have combination skin that gets slightly on the oily side after my foundation has been on over 12+ hours.This is a medium-full coverage foundation depending on how you apply & it easily builds when you need more. I apply it after my moisturizer, use concealer to touch up any areas where I need more coverage, set it with Milani Multi-tasker powder, and use ELF setting spray to seal all of my makeup when I'm finished. I have consistently worn this foundation this way for 14+ hours for over a year and it has done really well. After 12 hours of wear I use a blotting cloth; if you have normal/dry skin this probably wont be needed and you may not need setting powder either. This foundation has performed very well for me and gives a natural matte finish. I range in colors from winter to summer from light to medium and It only comes in 4 shades unfortunately. I love this stuff and I have tried all the high ends out there. I will leave my Dior on the counter and put this on everyday!! I even recommended this to my sister, who is also a high end snob (she used to wear makeup forever), and she loves this stuff just as much as me. Next time you are at Walmart and have $7 to spare; give this a try, you won't regret it!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Milani - Baked Blush in Dolce Pink
mcclouas 4/16/2012 3:42:00 PM
I purchased this blush after seeing it at target for around $7. For the price this blush behaves like a high end blush. I just tap my brush in this blush and it gives a perfect natural pink flushed effect, its blends easily, and stays all day. It may have a tiny amount of shimmer, but I use it in moderation because of how pigmented it is and still achieve a very natural look. This blush is a steal for the money and the amount of product you get!! I will definitively repurchase, that's it I ever run out!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Unlisted Brand - MACADAMIA NATURAL OIL Deep Repair Mask
mcclouas 4/16/2012 3:30:00 PM
To start I have long, damaged, highlighted, and easily tangled hair. I use leave in's daily and deep masks on my hair twice a week. I purchased this after seeing a lot of positive reviews about it. I have used this product once weekly for about 6 months now. Do I think its the most amazing product in the world? No. Do I think its effective, yes. Since using this product I have seen slow subtle changes in the amount of damage present on my hair, but its taken a very long time and the product is expensive. I purchased the 16.9oz/500ml size from amazon for $25 which is twice the size of the one sold at Ulta for $30. I will continue to use this treatment mask, but will be keeping my eyes open for something better!! Update: I have since started using the Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recover Hair Mask. This stuff gives me better results then the product reviewed above, and can be purchased for around $6 at Walmart; If you looking for a great deep conditioning treatment for your hair I would purchase this first before splurging on the Macadamia Natural Oil!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -The Body Shop - Grape seed glossing serum
mcclouas 4/16/2012 3:02:00 PM
This product is a must buy!! I have long, dry, easily tangled, highlighted hair and use leave in treatments and serums on a daily basis; this is one of the best! I use 3-4 pumps and rub it between my hands and on the bottom 3/4 of my hair. I have applied this wet and dry and think applying it wet works better and then blow dry. Either way this serum increases shininess, smoothness, and doesn't make your hair feel like it has product on it. This product makes my hair more manageable and soft; it smells amazing too! Its $12 a bottle, but will last a very long time, and the body shop runs specials frequently so snag this next time you see one!
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Treatments -Aussie - 3 Minute Miracle Deeeeep
mcclouas 11/13/2011 12:12:00 PM
I initially purchased this product based on the reviews; I am always looking for conditioners because of my hair. MY HAIR: I have very long, blond highlighted hair that has been to hell and back; even though over the past 2 years my hair has improved significantly in texture, and appearance; my hair still tangles easily and is very thick in texture. THE PRODUCT: After my initial use my hair felt more smooth, manageable, and eased combing difficulties. I just finished my first bottle and don't particularly like the packaging because I feel like I'm left wondering if there is more left in there. Regardless, this conditioner has become my everyday conditioner. I must confess I leave it on longer than the 3 minutes but so far I've had amazing results. For the $$..........This is a must buy; I'm in love!
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Blush -LORAC - Powder blush in Soul
mcclouas 11/13/2011 11:34:00 AM
This blush is a staple in my beauty regiment. It was one of the first blushes I tried at sephora and will be one I will repurchase over and over again; I even have backups! The color on my skin gives a natural blushed appearance and highlights cheekbones effortlessly. The color pay off is amazing on this product last all day (no reapplication needed here). The natural warmth it gives to my face is amazing, and I have tried a lot of other blushes and I have to force myself to use anything other than this one; its that good! The price is a little steep, $20 at Sephora, but it will last a very long time!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Philosophy - Miracle Worker Miraculous Anti-Aging Moisturizer
mcclouas 11/13/2011 11:26:00 AM
I initially purchased this based on the reviews at Sephora online. I thought to myself, if women that are 50 something are seeing results then it will be great for my 20 something skin. I have used this moisturizer religiously for almost 2 years. Just the other day I started to notice the increased appearance of wrinkles in my forehead area. I went out and purchased some Neutrogena anti-wrinkle cream with the tiniest amount of retinol in it and within a week...they were almost completely gone. I thought to myself, wait a minute, I thought this cream was suppose to have anti-aging properties within the formula?! Guess not. The moisturizer itself is great, non-silicone based so it goes great under any foundation, and lasts (only need a small amount to go a long way). However, I was mainly relying that it was a great moisturizer as well as anti-aging properties; turns out this claim is not true in my experience. Spending $9 at Walmart actually got me further than this $60 cream. I won't be repurchasing!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Colorburst Lip Butter
mcclouas 11/13/2011 11:09:00 AM
I am still deciding whether these live up to the hype! When applied the lip butters go on like a moisturizing lip balm, but they don't feel all that different from the Revlon colorstay lipsticks to be honest (maybe just a little more glossy), and staying power for me is only a couple hours at max. After a couple hours my lips felt more dry and the product wears off unevenly. I wanted to use these like a lip balm, but keep in mind they are very pigmented so watch out. I found mine both at Rite-Aid and Walgreens for $7.49 (they had displays in the front of the cosmetics aisle).I have purchased and tried at one point : lollipop, peach parfait, pink truffle, and berry smoothie. Lollipop: this is a VERY pigmented FUSHIA pink, its electric. To bold for me everyday or anytime; I returned this one. Peach Parfait: This gives my lips a little more pigment then they already have, almost has a hint of salmon/coral color, mixed with pink shimmer. Its very wearable for everyday! Pink Truffle: I had read about this one and really wanted to love it. However, the color pulls more brown on me than pink. Also if you re-apply this one it gets to be a very deep color. (Returned) Berry Smoothie: This is a very wearable mauve pink for everyday! It maybe has a little bit of shimmer but for the most part is matte and gives your lips just a little bit of color pop, very classy! Overall, I will probably seek out the sugar plum color; but will wait till I see them on sale. I think the lip butters are good, but not for the full price!
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Makeup Brushes -Arbonne - 10-Piece Precision Brush Set
mcclouas 11/13/2011 10:42:00 AM
I received these brushes as a Christmas gift about 2 years ago, and have been using these brushes ever since! These brushes are extremely soft, and very good quality, with no shedding problems to date (they even come in a nice carrying flip-over case)! I use the eye-shadow brush, blush brush, and complexion/powder brush on a daily basis. The larger eye-shadow brush is great for picking up a ton of product and blends well. The bristles are soft but dense. The blush brush cant be beat! It is dense, the bristles are shorter on the side and longer in the middle which is probably why it picks up color so well, and blends effortlessly. I have tried to replace this brush with some of the most expensive mac, sigma, Sephora brushes with no luck! The powder brush I use for my setting powder for foundation and it blends. Overall, I would repurchase this set just for the blush brush...for the price....why not?
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