Bronzers -Physicians Formula - Shimmer Strips - Custom Bronzer Blush and Eye Shadow
mmcgoug 1/2/2009 4:33:00 AM
Not a good value at all IMO. The price $12.99 USD is expensive for a drugstore brand..and is it just me or are the "drugstore" prices creeping up to MAC and Sephora prices? Anyway, the compact is a bit tough to open the first few times. The product itself is just shine on me, very little color or maybe its just not getting on to my brush? I'm getting shine but not getting bronze and I'm very very pale. Skip this one.
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Eyeliner -L'Oreal - HiP Kohl Eyeliner- Black
mmcgoug 1/1/2009 1:49:00 AM
I do know how to apply eyeliner via the Eastern method, and I know how to apply it with a brush. With this product either method is just a big old mess. There is just too much fallout with this product. I get a great line - this is wonderful on the waterline. Then I blink my eyes and it's black smudgeys everywhere. It does stick to the waterline very well but the flakes stick everywhere else too :(. I'll continue using gel and kohl pencils, not this product thank you.
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Polishes -OPI - Lunch at the Delhi
mmcgoug 4/21/2008 2:31:00 AM
Um...this color did not go on the way it looks on the swatch or in the bottle. It looks like a really cheap pink when I wear it. I think I was hoping it'd have a little more orange going on. When I saw the bottle and the swatch I was thinking "coral." But it just isn't coral. It's pink. Not at all what I was hoping for.
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Polishes -OPI - Suzi Says Da!
mmcgoug 4/21/2008 2:24:00 AM
Love this shade - it's looks so beautiful against my pinky skintone. I've been wearing it consecutively with every pedicure for the past 6 months. The only reason I wouldn't buy it again is that it was from the Russian line and probably won't be available when it gets cold later this year. And if I buy one now so I'll have it later I suspect it'll get chalky. You know how nailpolish gets... Still if you haven't tried this shade you really should. It's gorgeous! I get so many compliments on my toes!
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Lip Gloss -Urban Decay - Ultraglide in Video
mmcgoug 4/9/2008 5:22:00 PM
Love the packaging. Love the color. Love the scent. Flavor is nice. Zero staying power. Yeah I know it is a lipgloss but reapplying after 15 minutes is ridiculous.
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Powder -Cargo - Cargo Blu-Ray High Definition Powder Makeup
mmcgoug 4/9/2008 5:20:00 PM
Nice packaging. But is this makeup or powder? Don't say both. Honestly this is just pressed powder. And the product says it is "pressed powder" on the label but is somehow being marketed using the word "makeup" as though "makeup" means "foundation." Really it is not. It's too dark and too yellow for me anyway. Yucky.
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Foundations -Prescriptives - Virtually Fresh-All [DISCONTINUED]
mmcgoug 4/7/2008 1:58:00 PM
Nice packaging. The shades are excellent. The texture feels nice at first - it's a cross between a gel and a liquid. But it is impossible to blend and I use a foundation brush. Another reviewer said she felt it maximized her imperfections and I couldn't agree more. It looks cakey and I am not applying much makeup and am only applying to a small part of my face at a time. I would not buy this again and I won't even be using the product I bought. It's going in the trash bin.
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Moisturizers -Dr. Brandt - Lineless Cream
mmcgoug 4/7/2008 3:11:00 AM
Love the product. Hate the price. Hate the packaging even more. What is it with companies who push their high tech ingredients and then use such a low tech package? This product should come in a tube or a pump. Not jar with a wide screw off lid. Nobody uses spatulas and besides, too much oxygen gets into the product. The product itself is wonderful. The texture and color is odd but the fragrance and feel during application is great. I feel that it sinks into my skin quickly and easily without having to rub and rub. It leaves no visible trace on my skin so I'm always ready for my next product or foundation almost immediately after application. Now fix that darned package and I'll buy it - even at that high price!
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Moisturizers -Korres - Wild Rose 24-Hour Cream
mmcgoug 4/6/2008 3:39:00 AM
I got a few samples of this product from Sephora and used them over a consecutive 5 day period. I think that it's a good moisturizer and it doesn't irritate my sensitive skin, nor did it make me break out. The price is fantastic. The scent isn't too strong. But the packaging is a little tub and I just dislike that so much. To me a long term use product should not allow a lot of oxygen to enter nor should you have to use your bare fingers to scoop it out and lets face it: nobody uses spatulas. So that's why I won't buy this product. If they change the packaging to a pump or a tube I'll buy it.
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Lip Gloss -Prescriptives - Custom Blend Lip Gloss
mmcgoug 3/26/2008 9:10:00 PM
I ordered this online so I wasn't sure how the color would look in person. I received the package promptly and opened it. The packaging is disappointing. It looks like it would be the standard tube with a wand but it is actually a really cheap tube that you squeeze and it comes out of an angled top that you press against your lips. The tube isn't made of a soft pliable plastic that is meant for squeezing. It's made of cheap plastic that feels like it will break. I don't ever want this in my purse because I know what will happen. The color in the tube is representative of what I saw online but the finish is frosty, not the chrome I ordered. The scent\flavor is tropical and I'd say that part of it is ok. The texture is very very soft, like Cargo gloss but softer. No staying power. This product is a real disappointment overall.
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Treatments -Obagi - obagi skincare system
mmcgoug 2/13/2008 3:43:00 PM
I've read a lot of the reviews on this product and there seems to be a theme: Those who received the product after an in person consultation appear to be having significantly better results. If you are thinking about trying Obagi please please I beg you to get it from an in person consultation with a licensed professional. I received mine from a nurse practitioner at a med spa. I did not have to pay a fee to visit a doctor and the med spa matched the Internet price. If I had purchased on the Internet I would have assumed I needed a different kit than what was prescribed. Also I would not have known how much tretinoin to use. I'm still in progress and will update as the weeks go by. This line does not include a moisturizer. That is by design. I have been instructed that it is normal for the skin to feel tight and dry. The point is that the first weeks of the system are for exfoliation. A moisturizer will only slow the process down and wouldn't stay on the skin anyway because the layers of the skin that hold moisture are sloughed off during this process (they will return but it is important to slough off top layers of the skin in the early stages using Nu Derm). If your face feels tight or as if it may peel and you have a special event where you can't appear as a horror film flake face... by all means go home, exfoliate a bit (gently please!) and slather on lots of night cream and a greasy foundation. Put powder on top if there is too much shine. Just make sure to get home and wash up and get right back on the program. I have done this two times in a month and do not feel that it impeded the process. DON'T PUT TRETINOIN (RETIN-A) ON OR NEAR THE NASOLABIAL FOLDS OR THE CORNERS OF YOUR MOUTH. **** Week 1: Used 1/4 gram each Tretinoin and Blender on Friday and Tuesday. Experienced flaking and peeling. Used Clarisonic with the regular brush which helped rid my skin of excess flakes. No pain. Some tingling when using the Exfoderm Forte. **** Week 2: Used 1/4 gram each Tretinoin and Blender every other day. Experienced more flaking and peeling and redness. Used Clarisonic with the gentle brush to remove excess flakes. Couple clogged pores which yielded waxy plugs with minimal pressure. Skin was very sensitive. The Exfoderm Forte causes extreme discomfort. Was told by nurse to take a 2 day break from Tretinoin and then resume every other day. Skin looks BEAUTIFUL. All the acne is gone and some spots started to fade. **** Week 3: 1/4 gram Tretinoin and Blender every other day. Used the rest of the line as recommended in the Obagi materials and as prescribed. Face is always red and warm, as though I'm flushed. Am peeling daily and there is SO MUCH skin coming off, layers and layers. The Clairsonic helped with the flaking as in previous weeks. Exfoderm doesn't hurt anymore, just tingles. Spots fading and there has been no acne at all. Pores are smaller due to thinner skin. Pores clog easily with the dead skin but I haven't been extracting because my skin is too sensitive and I fear it will tear or leave a mark. **** Week 4: The most my skin has ever flaked or peeled. OMG. OK now I feel a little freaky when I see myself in the mirror. I have a cubicle job and the people at work don't give me a hard time about the flakes. I just told them what I was doing and that it'd be like this for a couple more weeks. No pain and the redness has diminished. Just lots of flakes. LOTS. Still using 1/4 gm tretinoin and blender every other day. Had an in-person checkup with the nurse and she did not increase the dose. **** End of week 4: Oh. My. Goodness. My skin looks amazing. I don't need to wear foundation. Now I suspect that since my skin hasn't peeled again that I probably need to increase the frequency or the dose of tretinoin. **** Week 5: Hmm. Skin looks dull and I have lots of clogged pores. One breakout - just the one spot and it's the only one I've had during this program. Bit of flaking but no outright peeling. No redness. Still on 1/4 gm tretinoin every other day. I have an appoitment with the nurse next week. **** Week 6: Skin is back looking as good as it did in Week 4, save for the 3 acne spots I ended up getting in week 5. The acne bumps are gone but the spots are still red. I know they will fade but it's frustrating to see that. I upped my tretinoin use to 1/4 gm 2 days on and 1 day off. I'll cycle that a few more times and then up it to every day. I'm not peeling much but my skin is kind of pink like in week 3. I suspect I should have increased the frequency of tretinoin a couple weeks ago. Live and learn I guess :) **** Week 7: My skin is looking nice. It's a little bit dry but doesn't flake anymore. It's funny my skin always was so oily before using Obagi. I'm going to add a regular moisturizer to the daytime product lineup. I don't think I will buy the Action one, I'll use the MD Skincare moisturizer I already had before I started Obagi. I Just saw the nurse a couple days ago. She said I can up the tretinoin to every night. Facialist agreed. Also they said I can finish up the Obagi products and move on to regular products rather than continue with the line. I will keep using the tretinoin though I may take a break during the summer months because the sun here is brutal. Still wearing sunblock every day, even when it is cloudy. By the way I have been using Clinique Super City Block SPF 40. It has a little pigment in it and helped with the redness and it is very greasy so it helps with dryness on days when I need it. That's it, hope you enjoyed my review. Please feel free to PM me with any questions. **** PS about another review that cites "Hydroquinone Damage," it is true that Hydroquinone can damage skin that has a lot of pigment. I'm as white as a hospital sheet. However, if you have naturally dark skin please do your research before slathering Hydroquinone on your face!!!!!
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Primer/ Corrector -Smashbox - Photo Finish Primer
mmcgoug 1/18/2008 10:40:00 PM
For special occassions only. It's not the expense or difficulty in application that makes me say that. Far from it. A little does go a long way and it's very easy to apply. But since it has to go on clean skin it means I can't wear moisturizer or sunscreen underneath...so I don't see this as a very versatile product. I do notice a difference when I use it. My makeup goes on a lot smoother and if my skin is dry it doesn't show as much with the primer underneath. So I like this product but I don't love it. Buy it in the small container. It's less expensive and you'll have the tube for a long time.
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Makeup Brushes -Sephora - Stippling brush silver
mmcgoug 1/9/2008 8:15:00 PM
I've never tried the MAC 187 but I sure hope that MAC brush isn't exactly the same as this Sephora brush. If they are the same it will prove to me that MAC lovers must be insane. I bought this brush for applying bronzer. After the first use I noticed that the hairs broke off or fell out. Every sweep of my cheek or chin produced a big ugly black hair. I have never, ever had a brush shed (or break) hairs so much as this one. It's really embarassing to go to work and have someone point out that there's a big black hair in the middle of your face. Geez I thought I found them all before I left home. Yuck!
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Cleansers -Clarins - Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Plant Extracts [DISCONTINUED]
mmcgoug 1/6/2008 11:10:00 PM
Ugh this cleanser has the worst stale odor. And it stings my eyes. It doesn't rinse off well so I have to wipe it off. Yucky. It does foam if you lather it in the palms before applying. Great packaging. Sadly that can't save this stinky salve from the back of my products drawer.
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Treatments -Clarins - Skin Beauty Repair Concentrate
mmcgoug 1/3/2008 4:12:00 PM
Great product with some reservations. If you are thinking about it I suggest buying it after consulting with the person at Clarins first. It's not for everyone. This product was suggested to me after a couple months of 2% salicylic on my highly acne prone and highly sensitive skin. The salicylic cleared up my acne but left my skin red and peeling and dry. After about an hour at the Clarins counter I went home with just this full sized product and a bunch of moisturizer samples. My skincare "prescription" if you can call it that was this: Continue to use the 2% cleanser once every other day. Use my light day moisturizer every day. Use the same gentle cleanser every night and every other day. Use the Skin Beauty Repair Concentrate every night - 2 pumps, rub it on my palms to warm it up, and pat it over my face. No rubbing. Use my night cream if skin feels dry before bed. After 2 weeks my skin looked a lot better and I didn't need to use this product any more. This product was the only addition to my skincare regimen so I am pretty sure this fixed the redness and peeling problems. Downside is the pump thing would make the oil splash so it ruined a couple of my tops. I'm not fond of the top either, it just doesn't stay on. I don't think I can recommend travel with this product unless you double ziplock bag it.
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