Eyeliner -FLOWER Beauty - On Your Mark Liquid Eyeliner- Brown
mpshouse 3/3/2013 9:07:00 AM
First, what this liquid liner isn't. It isn't a vivid, heavily-pigmented color for a bold, graphic look. Other liquids work for that. Now, what it is. It is a versatile, well-made liner, that has become a workhorse for me. Superficial part of the review: beautiful packaging matters to me, and the sleek, white pen fills the bill.It The tip has a good balance between firm/bendy, so that I can easily dot it between lashes, or draw varying thicknesses of line, including the finest, barely-there lines. For this reason, as well as it's neutral shade of brown ( no noticeable reddish tint at all ), this liquid liner works very well for me as a brow pen. It is not heavily pigmented. I don't recommend it for bold looks. However, it works very well for a number of other uses. I wear it often for work, as it looks polished. I use it as a barely-there liner for my lower lashes, since I don't like to wear mascara on the lower lashes. I use it when I want a natural-looking tightline, and many other ways. One way Flower liquid e/l works beautifully is as a primer underneath a less long-lasting pencil liner or powder e/s-as-liner. many liquid liners are too heavy to do this, but Flower is truly a liquid, and it's sheer texture plus it's neutral brown make it ideal to prime under many shades of brown/taupe/khaki.It intensifies the color of the other e/l, and makes it last all day . Perfect for e/l but no e/s looks. Flower liquid e/l doesn't budge, even after 12 hours, but it comes off easily ( I use an oil cleanser). I've raved so much that I feel I must add that I'm not affiliated in any way.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Laura Mercier - Faux Lash
mpshouse 3/1/2013 8:30:00 AM
Laura Mercier Faux Lash is a mascara that I have tried to master, and haven't yet. I've come to the conclusion that the problem lies with the product and, especially, the brush. The brush is quite lagre, and LM says it is "dual-sided", with one side of long bristles and one of short. The problem is that instead of a side of short bristles, it works in practicality like a brush with lang bristles which has a chunk cut out of it. It is very hard to apply the mascara to the roots of my lashes because the short bristle section is rather small. It doesn't seem to be a side of the brush. The long ones then result in getting spots of mascara on my lid as they poke through my lash roots. The mascara gave me extra volume and good length for the first week, but quickly afterwards began to be clumpy. Even wiping most of the product off of the brush isn't preventing clumps now, after a month of use. It does give a dramatic lash, but the clumps, tendency towards spidery-ness with more than one coat, and transfer under my eyes after a few hours ( 5-7) make it not a good everyday choice for me, and the brush, I think, just will not work for me. Color is a deep, rich black. Tube is classy and feels weighty. However, I will not repurchase.
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Shampoo -Unlisted Brand - Whole Foods 365 Lavender Shampoo
mpshouse 1/19/2013 8:23:00 PM
Background: My hair is currently just below shoulder-length, colored, and highlighted. This shampoo gave me the worst results of any shampoo I can remember. It made my hair feel brittle and straw-like when wet, crispy once dried, and it caused quite a bit of tangling. I bought the formula for normal to dry hair, but this formula was very drying to my hair. I waited to review this until I had used other sulfate-free shampoos, to see if my hair simply prefers sulfates, but that is not the case. Other sulfate-free shampoos have worked well for me. I do not recommend this shampoo at all.
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Mascara -Laura Mercier - Full Blown Volume Lash Building Mascara
mpshouse 12/14/2012 12:45:00 PM
This mascara gives me a moderate amount of volume, perhaps just slightly less than original DiorShow. It doesn't flake at all on me, even after a 13-hour day, and it doesn't run when I tear up ( allergy eyes), or smudge, even when worn on bottom lashes. The color is black, but not an overly intense black ( like EL Sumptuous). The brush is traditional-bristle-style, not pokey silicone, and is of moderate size. I do have a little bit of trouble getting the tip of the brush onto my outermost upper lashes without hitting the bottom ones.At two months' use, I'm starting to get just a little bit of clumping sometimes at the tips of my lashes. When new, this mascara was not a very wet one, so I feel it's holding up well to near-daily use. Packaging-wise, I really like it. The squared-off edges of the tube make this mascara so easy to grip while juggling a cat in my lap. That's a small detail, but it's little things like that which get me out the door faster in the mornings. Doesn't irritate my contacts. I will repurchase, and I recommend .
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Laura Mercier - Mineral Pressed Powder SPF 15
mpshouse 12/11/2012 8:07:00 AM
The first thing I noticed about this product was how finely milled it is. The powder feels luxuriously soft, and tends to get all over the compact when I touch a brush to it. A puff may work better, but I personally prefer brushes. The finish is softly matte, not shiny or glowy like some mmu. I use Replenix Physical ss spray under my mu these days, and this powder tends to cake in spots over it, especially when I try to build up coverage. A very thin dusting works without caking, but offers no real coverage or blurring of imperfections. So it's not the best choice for going on moist-ish skin, as it wants to stick and cake up on those places. I bought this in Soft Porcelain, which is too yellow for me ( about NW5-10), so I can't comment too much on shade selection. I will say that while Soft Porcelain is too yellow for general wear, I like it's palest yellow hue for my purple under eye circles and for helping correct redness on my chin. Not a bad powder at all, just not quite right for me.
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Mascara -E.L.F. - Studio Volume Plumping Mascara
mpshouse 8/27/2012 4:32:00 PM
I gave this mascara a 5 for packaging,because I just adore the matte black tube, but I'm afraid it just didn't work at all for me. The formula is one of the wettest I've ever come across, and even after being used for over a month, it hasn't begun to dry out. The combination of super-wet formula with giant brush means that every time I apply it, I get mascara all over my lids. And I'm a lover of big brushes. This one just isn't well-designed,though, in my opinion. There are rows of bristles with big gaps in -between, and no shorter bristles in those spaces to get at the roots of lashes. Also, the tip doesn't taper enough to get at corner lashes. This mascara doesn't volumize or lengthen my lashes, and tends to stick them together instead of create a natural feathery look. So it's neither va-va-voom, nor natural. Just bleah. To top things off, it leaves black shadows under my eyes,even when used only on my top lashes. I will definitely not repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Too Faced - Beauty Balm- Vanilla Glow
mpshouse 8/27/2012 4:22:00 PM
I really like the finish this bb gives,though I consider it a TM instead of a bb, so that's what I'll compare it to. It has a thinner, more fluid texture than Tarte or LM TM, my other favorites.I have dry skin, so have used this with a light moisturizer underneath. Even without the moisturizer, it blends in properly. Vanilla Glow is a bit warmer than ideal for me ( about NW 10 -ish ) ,but is so light and translucent that it works as long as I don't use too much. The finish is absolutely beautiful. Not dewy,not shiny, not shimmery, just a glow . I know "lit-from-within" is a MU cliche, but it applies in this case.Staying power is very good; It still looks good after a day at work, though I do need to blot my t-zone after about 5 hours. I don't count on the spf, as, of course, I don't pile on 1/4 tsp of this.However, with it's extremely sheer coverage , I probably could.Don't expect any hiding of flaws with this, just a glowing refinement of your skin's overall appearance. Will repurchase.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Tarte - Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Tinted Moisturizer
mpshouse 8/27/2012 4:08:00 PM
This TM has a very thick, gel-creme consistency. To me, it has the thick look/feel of a tinted ss more than a TM - more coverage than I'd expect in a TM, and a heavier look.It covers my slight hyperpigmentation,but not the more visible places, nor broken capillaries. I have dry skin, so this needs a moisturizer underneath or mixed in ( which has the advantage of sheering it out). Otherwise, this sets so fast that it won't blend in well. It has a slightly satiny matte finish, which lasts well over 5 hours for me before needing a t-zone blot. SPF is 20, but there is no way I could wear enough of this to get that protection. It's way too heavy and thick,plus it would be too costly. Of course, that's not the primary reason for choosing a TM. I won't be repurchasing because the shades available are all too yellow for me, but if the shades suit you, it is a nice formula.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -MAC - Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder (Pressed)
mpshouse 1/24/2012 12:03:00 PM
Prep+Prime Pressed is very finely milled, with a beautiful texture in the pan. Unfortunately, I found it less-than-beautiful on my face. It is matte, and does a decent job of taking the shine off my ss. When applied lightly( tiniest bit dabbed on with a foundation brush), it's like I'm not wearing anything. As I'd prefer a bit of an airbrushed, glowy effect, this disappointed. It did not visibly blur anything. When applied with a fluffy powder brush, it appeared powdery and had a bit of a whitish cast. I am already very pale ( NW10-15), so this may be even more noticeable on someone darker. For packaging lovers like me, it is worth mentioning that this compact is different from other MAC pressed powders. This compact is shiny, with a sparkles, and the MAC logo is much smaller. I do not think I would repurchase, because, for me, there are similar products which provide a noticeably better finish ( UD De-Slick).
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Pressed Powders -Urban Decay - De-Slick Mattifying Powder
mpshouse 10/28/2011 8:29:00 PM
UD De-Slick is one of my favorite powders.For reference, I'm currently dry and about NW 10-15, with that bluish kind of undertone. The powder has a pale lavender tint in the compact, but goes on colorless ( remember- pale and bluish here) when applied lightly. Though the ingredients would make it seem completely matte, I find that over ss, bare skin, or TM, De-Slick has a very natural finish, with almost a glow. At the same time, it takes off the shine. The sponge which comes with it is useless - thin and cheap-feeling. I apply a small amount with a fluffy powder brush to get a very pretty, natural look, which usually needs no touch-up during the day. In warm weather, I may touch up my nose with just a dab of De-Slick powder on my fingertip. The compact is well-made and weighty. It is a lovely translucent purple, with what are supposed to be edgy designs. They simply look like scrollwork unless one looks closely, so this compact is adult-looking but eye-catching when whipped out of a purse. It took me almost a year to use it up. I will definitely repurchase.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Avene - Very High Protection Cream SPF 50+
mpshouse 12/6/2010 12:43:00 PM
This sunscreen, in a mixture of tinted and untinted, is now my daily ss. Color: The untinted version can be whitening when used in the proper amounts, but it is easy to mix in the desired amount of the tinted version. It has a peachy tint which warms up my cool complexion... much peachier than the Bioderma tinted. Pink cream blushes skew peach when worn with this. Finish: (My skin has become drier, and is not clog-prone.) This ss gives a dewy, healthy finish, and though I often choose to lightly powder over it, I don't feel it is absolutely necessary. In fact, the Avene spf 50 creme is less shiny than the emulsion on my skin. It stays on the skin, making use of liquid or cream foundations hard, but a mixture of tinted/untinted can be used to give the effect of a medium-coverage foundation. This blends very well ( unlike the emulsion). Protection: spf 50, ppd is given as 20. Contains Tinosorbs and avobenzone. Irritation factor: The onlt time I have had any irritation with this is when I applied to red, swollen skin ( don't try that at home). It doesn't irritate when used near my eyes. Tenacity: Strikes a good balance between staying through perspiration and being easily removed. Does not require oil cleanser or scrubbing. Repurchase: I have, and will continue to.
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Sunscreen -Clinique - Sun SPF 30 Face Cream
mpshouse 1/11/2010 8:29:00 PM
THis is a chemical sunscreen, with stabilized avobenzone. It is a thick creme/lotion,and does not sink into my skin at all, instead forming a thick coat on top. It contains a lot of shea butter, which is bad if that clogs your skin, but is excellent for saving your skin from winter winds. I find this extremely,hideously shiny, but it is almost impossible to apply anything on top of it when it is applied at the rate of 1/4 tsp for the face. Best results are obtained with a very lightly brushed powder on top or a silicone primer to matte it out. If you use this in the proper amount, forget foundation on top. Though far from ideal, I will repurchase thisand keep it in my rotation due to its excellent protection in summer or winter mid-day sun, its protection from harsh, cold winds.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Avene - Ultra High Protection emulsion 50
mpshouse 1/11/2010 8:09:00 PM
This sunscreen is a runny, white liquid dispensed from a flip-top bottle. With a PPD of 20, it gives great protection,and I have yet to get any color , even when wearing it outside for several mid-day hours at a time.Unlike some reviewers, I find this to give a matte finish,though admittedly I'm not oily to begin with. The big negatives of this product are the white cast and the tendency to clump up if one applies too much ( as in even one speck more than 1/4 tsp on the face). It works well alone or over a very light lotion,but over a richer,mor eemollient lotion, it streaks and clumps. Overall, since sunscreens are notoriously far from perfect, I have rated this highly,and will repurchase. It will remain in my rotation due to its fantastic protection.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Bobbi Brown - Lip Color - Sandwash Pink #22
mpshouse 12/3/2009 7:52:00 AM
On me, a bluish-cool PPP, this lipstick shows up as a gorgeous perfect pink, with neither a hint of purple nor a hint of peach - neutral pink, if you will. I can add cool or warm tones by switching up l/g on top. Alone, over lipbalm, this gives a creamy finish with just enough shine to not be matte. It has wonderful staying power, and holds up well with gloss on top. Of course, all lippies are very much YMMV, but I find this to be one of my go-to colors, and highly recommend.
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Sunscreen -Eucerin - Daily Protection Moisturizing Face Lotion - Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen - 4.0 FL. OZ. 118mL
mpshouse 12/2/2009 8:01:00 PM
This ss is a lightwieght lotion, with octinoxate,ZnO,TO, octisalate, and ensulizole as actives ( % not given on bottle). I find it nonirritating, and with a matte finish. My problem with this ss is that I find it terribly streaky and white. I always use 1/4 tsp each for face and neck, and with this ss, to do that is absolutely unworkable. In fact,this is the streakiest ss I've used.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No