Lip Gloss -Barry M - Glossy Tubes
monsterbeans 10/6/2010 2:44:00 PM
Barry M's Glossy Tubes have the unfortunancy of being packaged in slightly...tacky packaging. But if you look past that (and to be honest, the compact size means that your hands will cover most of gold swirly writing) and consider the contents, these are inexpensive, smooth and very glossy lip products. I own 3 of these, a dark nude colour that was exclusive with a newspaper (unavailable) and number 8 (Hint of Red) and 6 (Iridescent Violet Glitter). Okay, so the names are not intoxicating money grabbers. They sort of describe the contents. Hint of Red looks bright pink in the tube, but on the lips it does have that 'just bitten' colour (similar to the reddening from lip plumpers) with a high shine gloss. Iridescent Violet Glitter, in fact appears to contain no glitter chunks, just shimmer. Its a bright pink with a blue-violet sheen so is incredibly flattering for those with 'ivory' teeth (I'm English yeah?) It looks bonkers in the tube but is infact very wearable. When these first apply to your lip its like having your mouth stuck together with peanut butter, but once yo spread the product with the applicator it becomes a smooth, non tacky product. Lasts as long as any other lipgloss I've tried, cheapo and expensive, that is it lasts until I have a drink, eat something or chew my lip. They retail for just over £3 each and can be found in Boots, Superdrug and online. I picked 8 and 6 up for a fiver as part of a deal at Boots :) The one I have my eye on next is Pale Strawberry Shimmer, a 'j*zz lip' colour in the tube but when swatched on my hand had a light pink/gold shimmer with little extra colour, so much more flattering and...classy?
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Barry M - Lip Gloss Wands
monsterbeans 7/30/2010 5:46:00 AM
I have this product in one shade: Peach Sparkle (currently LE....I hope its made permanent or I will NOT be happy!) Lipgloss is one thing I hate to spend money on. I have many bags and pockets and things like balms and glosses get lost very easily as I move things from bag to bag or get drunk, dance and lose things from my pockets. I got the Peach Sparkle lip gloss free at Boots with two other Barry M products and I *loved* it. It is shimmery gorgeousness with a hint of colour and a nice fruity scent. Inevitably, I lost it, and Boots had stopped carrying it. When my Mum ordered x473040 bottles of Berry Ice-cream nail paint from the website, she treated me to another tube of this stuff, and we were reunited! This goes well over many shades of lipstick as well as looking lovely by itself. I love this layered over Lush's new lip tint 'It started with a kiss'. Its not super moisturising but it doesn't dry out my lips either. I will definetley repurchase as good quality, economical, gorgeous and non-animal tested glosses can be hard to come by.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Sukí - SukiColor - Tinted Active Moisturizer
monsterbeans 7/29/2010 3:23:00 PM
Okay, to break this down: As a tinted moisturiser: 5* As a product I would use everyday (i.e. a light/med foundation) by itself: 3* As a base mixer with mineral foundation: 5* Hokay. So i have been using this product for EONS and keep changing my mind. My skin is fairly clear. I get the odd cluster of spots especially on my chin (hormonal) that I have the habit of turning into raging plukes and scabs. My skintone can be quite uneven as well. I bought a full size bottle of this in 'Natural' after trying a sample sachet. I don't know if I had been heavily drinking that week. Though 'natural' isn't a horrendous colour match for me, it is too dark to be totally invisible and matching my neck/chest in any vague way, which became more apparent as the weather got warmer and necklines got lowers. In order to obtain a tinted moisturiser coverage I had to use far too much to get a match, though the finish was lovely and the coverage what I would expect from a TM, hence the 5* However, I prefer slightly more coverage. I had been struggling for a while to achieve the perfect DIY tinted moisturiser, none of my moisturiser seemed to gel well with my mineral makeup. I've discovered that roughly equal parts Suki TM and my regular shade of mineral makeup (Barefaced Beauty) mixed corrects the shade of the Suki TM and gives the required coverage. The sides of my face can look slightly powdery but I feel this may be more to do with my downy face fluff than the makeup as on my cheeks the effect isn't visible. Whilst the product is quite expensive, the ingredients have been good for my skin and I'm happy with the product. The amount I use indicates that the £22 bottle will last a long time Once my bottle of Suki has run out, I will either repurchase natural and continue with my current method or I will try the newer, lighter shade called porcelain.
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Conditioner -LUSH - Jungle
monsterbeans 5/2/2010 4:18:00 PM
I haven't actually used Jungle for a while, as I've been on American Cream kick, but I've noticed Jungle gets a bit of hate, so here is my two pennies: I loved the effect it had on my hair, but applying it was such a pain. Simple solution. Put the block (or a bit of it) into a pot, pour some hot water in, and bung the lid on. A day or so and voila, a pastey, semi-liquid version of Jungle has formed. I've never had one 'go off' but if you were worried, fresh batches could be regularly made with small chunks of Jungle.
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Bronzers -LUSH - Charlotte Island Body Tint
monsterbeans 4/23/2010 10:08:00 AM
I am a fake tan disaster area. Firstly, few cruelty free companies make self tanner and secondly, I am hopeless at applying the ones I can find and look ridiculous till it wears off. So here is what is good about Charlotte Island. Its a tint, it washes off in the shower! Huzzah and rejoice (and also why I put it in Bronzers, not Self Tanners). As with standard fake tans, you still need to do some amount of prep before you apply, but I found standard exfoliation with a scrubbing mitt and moisturising with sweet almond oil was fine. I haven't tried it on my ghostly legs yet (no need, just because the rest of England feels the urge to get naked at the mere hint of sunshine doesn't mean I do) but I have tried it on my arms and chest. On my arms, it produces a nice, subtle bronzing effect with no orangeyness (the colour in the bottle is brown rather than orange) and sinks into my moisturised skin leaving no streaks or patches. It was harder to apply on my chest, and I agree with one reviewer on the Lush site...Charlotte Island became a strange brick colour. So I think I will stick with foundation and bronzer for my bojangles department. So, in conclusion. Arms = yes, legs = probably yes, chest = nope. The bottle comes in two sizes, with the smaller size being under a fiver. It doesn't have that weird biscuit smell and instead has a fruity, tropical smell, which makes a nice change. I loooove that I can splodge this on for a day or so and then get rid of it if I need to and that if I make a mistake it is not something I have to deal with for a week (please see: Fake Tanning the Soles of My Feet Fiasco circa 2009) In the words of Terry Tibbs "Thankyou and goodnight. Much love"
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Masks -LUSH - Love Lettuce Mask
monsterbeans 4/23/2010 6:01:00 AM
I *think* that this mask might be one of Lush's great unsung heroes of the face mask collection. I have tried nearly every Lush mask, especially as I live in black pot central and 5 pots = one free mask (at least in the UK) but I have never tried this one. Why? It looks BORING in comparision to the others. There is the classic Cupcake and the brightly coloured Catastrophe. But Love Lettuce? Sounds and looks boring. Lettuce *is* boring. But, I've been nitpicking over my skin for a while, its been worse than normal for some time and it was quite frankly, bumming me out. So I decided to go with what i thought would clear up spots and tighten pores. So armed with 5 black pots, Love Lettuce it was. It smells....fine. Nothing exciting and I don't want to eat it but that is possibly an advantage. It has the authentic 'mask green' colour as well. It applies like a dream though. I don't find the almond shells too scratchy. I leave for the allotted time and potter about doing other things. When I swirl the mask about and wash it off, my skin feels very soft and exfoliated. My pores seem a bit smaller and less lumpy and I've done it a couple of times now and I have had maybe one new tiiiiiny spot. So I will carry on with this and see if my skin clears up. But so far I am veeerrry impressed with how this underdog has performed.
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Mascara -Too Faced - Lash Injection
monsterbeans 2/24/2010 3:13:00 PM
Oooh, this really is a love-hate product isn't it? I'm in the love camp, but I'm not sure its HG. Why wasn't I content with UD Big Fatty (WP)? It might have been to do wth the epic staining I found it left, that and I didn't need waterproof mascara everyday. My pool of brands to choose from is limited as I only choose companies with very strict anti-animal testing and there are certain ingredients I avoid. I bought handbag size to try out. I love the smell, very punchy and fresh. It lengthens, thickens and any clumps can be easily brushed out (my plastic comb didn't cut it, needs metal) so more layers can be added. I rarely curl my lashes but this does lift them up a bit by itself. I've been using it for about a month and the formula hasn't started to go weird. I wear daily lenses and find it doesn't flake into my eyes or onto my cheeks. Removal is much easier and I'm no longer plagued by circles caused by mascara! I'm not sure why its not my HG. If I want 'OMG falsies' then I will wear falsies, I think in an ideal world I would like a more natural ingredients list.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Ted Baker - XO Woman
monsterbeans 2/21/2010 3:01:00 PM
Since my beloved B Never Too Busy Too Be Beautiful closed down I know I have a finite supply of 1000 Kisses Deep left, and reserve it for special occasions and days I need cheering up. I had been using a cheapy perfume for general use which was nice, but very sweet and cloying. I wanted something between the two, fruity and sweet like my cheaper Lee Stafford scent yet a bit sexy like 1000 Kisses. I bought my friend a miniature Ted Baker XO Woman bottle from Boots as part of her birthday pressie. I loved the smell and nearly kept it for myself (wench...). The sample sizes were a 1/3 off at Boots recently so I treated myself to one. The samples don't come with a spray so I didn't get the full loveliness of the scent until I decanted it into a spray bottle. It is exactly what I wanted, a gorgeous sweet smell that has another layer of something a bit deeper and sultry. When I first wore it out two of my (male) workmates immediately said 'it smells really nice over here'...and after sniffing me they realised it was my neck! What an endorsement, they never say anything like that normally. Boots also sells the full sizes which retails for £35, which I think I will have to treat myself to when my sample is done. The bottle is sleek and modern with a wooden base under the glass but with girlish pink glass and liquid. What is also fabulous is that Ted Baker doesn't test perfumes or anything else on animals. I wouldn't have even considered this brand if I was unsure of their animal testing status
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Too Faced - The Bronzed & the Beautiful Bronzing Powder
monsterbeans 2/16/2010 12:59:00 PM
I ummed and ahhhed over this for ages and found it uber-cheap for £13 on HQhair so went for it. I was originally only interested in the Pink Leopard but I am chuffed I got the set in the end. Sun Bunny: Quite dark on me (I'm quite fair) so I use it for contouring and use a light hand in good light because its very pigmented and a noob like me could easily muck it up (UD Gilded Baked is my 'makeup in the dark' contour) But when its blended it doesn't look dirty or mucky at all. Very nice. Snow Bunny: I wasn't expecting to be bothered about this but at the minute its my favourite of the three. On me, its a very shimmery pink/gold/peach shade. I use it directly on my cheeks and look awake and dewy Pink Leopard: Oddly, considering this is the one I wanted, I haven't used it as often. Its very subtle in colour (but shimmery) and as such its more of a highlight than a cheek colour, but its still pretty and I just think I need to experiment more. The brush is gorgeously soft and very useful for all sorts of products, I love it! The packaging is OK, my arrived a bit damaged (the glue in the hinge had pulled apart) and I wish the mirror was bigger but honestly, these are minor quibbles. If you like the look of one of more of the TF bronzers, consider this set. I'm surprised that I prefer Snow Bunny to Pink Leopard, I never even looked at Snow Bunny before!
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Blush -Unlisted Brand - Marks and Spencer - Per Una Cheek Colour
monsterbeans 2/5/2010 12:42:00 PM
*This review is for Dusky Pink* This *holds the compact aloft* was my first ever blusher, aged 21. Before that I used highlighters instead. I wasn't sure what I wanted from a blusher, so I went to M&S purveyors of non-animal tested war paint at reasonable prices. And I'm English and thus drawn to M&S like a moth to a flame, not the clothing, but the pants, food and makeup! Anyway. Basic packaging, window compact with no mirror and no rubbish brush wasting space, just product. The surface of the blusher has an imprinted flower pattern which is rather ooh ahh lovely. The base colour is a basic mid-pink though it has a slightly darker hint, almost plummy that gives the colour depth. For a shimmer fiend like me, I was surprised to note one day that this is actually a matte blusher, I just hadn't noticed. I think this is because on my warmish English roseness, this colour has a very peppy, lifting, bushy tailed effect on my cheeks. Rather than looking chalky or dull, it brightened my chops up. Not sure about its long lastingness. Once I get out the house I only look in a mirror once I've been to the loo and the fluorescent lights make me look like a zombie even if I was to cake myself in liberal amounts of bad bronzer. However, I do thin that it has an average lasting power on me if I ever do catch my reflection in daylight. The price is very good, and the pan is a good depth for this sort of product. I know this because I dropped my first one on the floor and shattered it and had to go buy another one.
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Skincare - Body -Bio Oil - All Products
monsterbeans 1/8/2010 7:17:00 AM
Righto, I have used this for two purposes now: 1. To get rid of scars where I had microdermal 'piercings' removed under my collarbones 2. As a base for mineral makeup I wasn't religious in my use of it for my scars, and I think they mostly faded on their own, but a year and 1/2 after having the microdermals removed the scars are minimal. My reasoning for putting it on my face: I am on a quest to find the HG foundation that isn't full of chemical rubbish. My skin doesn't like dry minerals and mixed with water I didn't get enough coverage. I was rifling through my cupboards the other night and re-ound my Bio-Oil. I slapped some on my existing microdermals and also on my face. Bio-Oil does feel AMAZING on your skin, very soothing. The next day I thought that my skin looked less red (it occurs in rounded 'v' patches under my eyes) 'what the heck' and over my regular moisturiser I slapped a *little* bit all over my face, applied my stick concealer to give it some sinking in time, then applied my mineral foundation. The result? Amazing slip, I could pile on the minerals without caking for much more coverage that with just water and minimal streaking. I was in love. But as with all affairs, there is a downside. I knew that Bio-Oil didn't test on animals (I had emailed them prior to buying the product originally) but then I looked at the ingredients: Liquid paraffin and BHT amongst others. I try to steer away from mineral oil, it did b****er all for my teenage eczema and is obv part of the oil industry. BHT has a less than stellar safety record. I am trying to get away from foundations laden with rubbish! So, in conclusion: Bio-Oil seemed to help my scar tissue reduce in appearance, though I stress I had two small scars of about 4mm in diameter, max. It also made a great foundation base (though probably wouldn't be so good for people with already oily skin) but I am not happy with the ingredients and will be looking for a more natural version in the meantime. Sorry this was long! CIAO!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Urban Decay - Big Fatty Lip Plumper
monsterbeans 12/31/2009 10:24:00 AM
I ordered this online and it turned up whilst I was at work. I got home and was so excited I slathered a load on my lips. Chuffing hellfire, it burnt, and my whole mouth blew up and I had an incredibly scary 'trout pout'. So that was my first exercise in restraint with this product. Less is more, and the result is subtly pillowlier (word?) lips with a beautiful gold gloss. Expensive, but I only use it on nights out/parties etc, not just for slumming it on my sofa.
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Styling Products -Unlisted Brand - Lee Stafford - Bling Sparkle Spray
monsterbeans 12/14/2009 3:52:00 PM
I am a glitter fiend. I love the stuff, especially when its iridescent or rainbow. My joy, last Xmas, when Lee Stafford haircare released this sparkle spray! Its a sparkle spray and a firm hold hairspray. The glitter is pink, gold, bronze, light green and white from what I can tell, lovely combination. In daylight its barely visible on my light brown hair and its gorgeous indoors, lots of people comment on it. It has a strange smell, but it disappears. Its perfect for nights out and long shifts at Xmas when I want to cheer myself up without worrying that its tested on animals...because its not!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Unlisted Brand - Lee Stafford - Heat Protection Professional Straightening Iron Mist
monsterbeans 12/14/2009 3:48:00 PM
I keep using this product. I am a styling junkie, as my hair is naturally all over the place, so I use straighteners (also as curlers) on some bit of my hair almpst everyday, so protection is a must unless I want to have that 'fried' look. There is a similar product in the LS range, but this review is for the one that comes in the white bottle. You use it as you would any other heat protection spray. It doesn't leave hair crispy, it smells nice and its not in a aerosol can (meaning it can be fully recycled). My hairdresser always comments on how lovely my hair is despite its heat abuse! Its not tested on animals and widely available at Boots. They often run a Professional Haircare promotion which Lee Stafford products are always part of. I find the product, which costs £6.99 lasts about half a year, unless I have been doing lots of full heads of curls. The same range also has a curling iron spray. I don't own actual curling irons, but I use the straightening spray whether I'm curling or straightening. My only wish? A clear bottle so I could see how much I have left.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -LUSH - NEW! Hair
monsterbeans 12/9/2009 8:20:00 AM
I love Lush's solid shampoos, but i was after one that didn;t have Cocodamide DEA in it. So I picked New, even though it wasn't really marketed at me. I hate cinnamon, but this smells beautiful and combines surprisingly well with American Cream. The effects New has had on my hair are as follows: Its has brought out the lighter blonde and gingery bits in my otherwise muddy mouse barnet. My hair is much stronger and before I used to lose a lot of hair showering and brushing. Since using New this is much less. My hair is even shinier and softer than when I was using the Blonde. I love this bar. Its lasts for months, so is incredibly cheap and there is no packaging whatsoever.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No