Sunscreen -Arcona - Reozone SPF 40
mulletoftruth 5/4/2013 1:09:00 PM
I figured this product would only have limited appeal (super pale people with oily skin), but I guess the reviews here show otherwise. I didn't realize this was tinted until I went to use it for the first time. Usually one-size-fits-all tinted products are too dark for my N20ish skin, but this is way too light, resulting in a ghostly, white mask effect. It's also mattifying (not my preferred finish) and very drying, making it both unflattering on my skin and uncomfortable to wear. The mousse-like consistency comes out in little balls that are hard to apply to the skin evenly, so on top of everything else, it looks patchy and uneven. Miserable stuff in my opinion, but apparently this just proves that one woman's trash is another woman's treasure :)
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Treatments (Eye) -The Body Shop - Vitamin E Eye Cream
mulletoftruth 3/18/2013 5:57:00 PM
This is a thin, watery eye cream that doesn't perform. It will not hydrate your eye area, or do much of anything, for that matter. I used it for about a month then gave up in exasperation. I thought it might make a nice, light moisturizer (I require more hydration on my eyes than the rest of my face) but it's just watery and sticky. The first two ingredients are water and glycerin, so I guess that shouldn't be a surprise. Also, my tube's no more than a few months old and it's already gone rancid. I'm not a fan of The Body Shop and this eye cream did nothing to improve my opinion of them.
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Treatments (Eye) -H20 - Sea Results Eye Mender Plus
mulletoftruth 3/18/2013 5:39:00 PM
I hate to knock this product of its 5-star throne here, but it's the most ineffective eye cream I've ever used. I don't ask much of my eye cream and I'm not looking for miracles. I don't have puffiness or dark circles, and I don't expect an eye cream to eradicate fine lines. But I do have dry skin on and around my eyes so I need an eye cream that actually hydrates. This stuff is bizarre. I put it on my eyes and it absorbs immediately, then... nothing. It's as if I'd put nothing on. When I first started using it, I kept applying it multiple times because I'd be about to put my makeup on, then realize my eyes felt really dry and would think I hadn't put any eye cream on yet. So I'd put some more on and nothing would change. I finally realized it wasn't me - it was the product. It completely disappears - and not in a good way. In an utterly useless, waste of money way.
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Cleansers -Earth Science - Active Age Defense Whipped Cream Cleanser
mulletoftruth 3/18/2013 4:55:00 PM
I admit I was drawn to this because it has "whipped cream" in the name, and was hoping it would be a creamy cleanser with sudsing properties. I've not had great experiences with most cream or foaming cleansers so I thought a cross between the two might do the trick. It's not a cream cleanser, it's a foaming cleanser that happens to be white and thick. It does an okay but not great job of cleansing, leaves skin a little dry & taut, and takes a lot of effort to rinse off. It's very, very similar to Clarins Gentle Foaming cleanser, so if you're a fan of that, this would be a cheaper alternative. I bought it at vitacost, where it's just under $10 for a 5.8 oz tube. Incidentally, I had an allergic reaction to this (not sure which ingredient set it off, though.) However, my review is based on the actual efficacy of the product, and I would not repurchase or rate it highly regardless of this. It's just not a great product and I don't want to have to work that hard to rinse my cleanser off.
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Styling Products -Unlisted Brand - Miss Jessie's Curly Meringue
mulletoftruth 3/18/2013 3:49:00 PM
This is the most foul smelling hair product I have ever used. It smells really, really strongly of chemicals doubled up with a nauseatingly sweet cotton candy fragrance. As a smoker, I have a pretty weak sense of smell, but I cannot overemphasize how overpowering these fragrances are. It's like they tried to cover up the rank chemical odor with an even more intense fake sugary stench. It reminds me of the marshmallow flavored fluoride treatment my dentist put on my teeth when I was a kid -- not a smell I want on my hair, or anywhere on my body, for that matter. The combination's enough to make you gag, if not pass out. For the record, the Super Sweetback treatment has the same vile odor. But that wasn't even the worst of it. By the end of the day after using this, my hair was a mass of tangles and a sticky mess - so much so that I couldn't even get my fingers through it. The following morning, my hair was full of knots and I lost handfuls of hair and suffered massive breakage trying to get the knots out. WTF. No thanks. FWIW, I have fine, porous, curly caucasian hair and normally use products from the Carol's Daughter and Nick Chavez lines.
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Styling Products -Unlisted Brand - Miss Jessie's Pillow Soft Curls
mulletoftruth 3/18/2013 3:23:00 PM
I probably should have read up on this product before I bought it, but my aunt has been raving about it so I snapped up a tube during a recent online sale at the Miss Jessie's website. This is for people who want a "fluffy soft curl." For me, this meant fluffy, poufy, and frizzy with no curl definition whatsoever. The real issue, though, is that not only does it not make my hair soft, it actually makes it feel kind of rough and starchy - the opposite of soft, and hard to run my fingers through it (which is crucial since I usually wear it up in a ponytail.) This effect is even more noticeable the next day. I had massive flyaways, a big frizzy poff ball on my head, and hair that's very coarse. I have curly caucasian hair that's porous but not particularly coarse; it's fine but densely packed. This product actually made my hair look worse than it would have with no product in it at all. My go-to post-wash hair softening product/defrrizzer/curl activator is Carol's Daughter Hair Milk (lite or regular). Needless to say, I won't be switching over to Miss Jessie. I guess I should have been dubious about this stuff from the get-go since the person who recommended it to me has fluffy, poufy, frizzy hair with no curl definition. Just sayin'.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Mad Hippie - Vitamin C Serum
mulletoftruth 3/18/2013 4:34:00 AM
I will 3rd the reviewers below who noted that the majority of the 5-star reviews for this product are clearly from fake/paid/planted profiles set up to rave & flee. Unless of course, Diane Ulia of Houston, Samantha Kenner of Boston, Katherine Spencer of Hollywood, and Tina Uri of Boulder all felt the same ecstatic desire that compelled them to set up profiles, write glowing reviews for multiple Mad Hippie offerings, trash competitors with similar products -- all under 3 minutes -- then flee, never to return to MUA again. diane617's profile Member since 11/18/2012 11:03:14 PM Last visited on 11/18/2012 11:05:00 PM Name: Diana Ulia Location: Houston, United States diane617's reviews (5) samanthakenner's profile Member since 10/19/2012 9:20:42 PM Last visited on 10/19/2012 9:22:00 PM Name: Samantha Kenner Location: Boston, United States samanthakenner's reviews (4) katspencer's profile Member since 6/20/2011 6:29:46 PM Last visited on 6/20/2011 6:32:00 PM Name: Katherine Spencer Location: Hollywood, United States katspencer's reviews (6) ColoradoTina's profile Member since 5/21/2011 9:30:22 PM Last visited on 5/21/2011 9:42:00 PM Name: Tina Uri Location: Boulder, United States ColoradoTina's reviews (7) Annoying. The fake raves bump these up to some of the highest rated products on the site. I was looking for real reviews. If you toss out the fakes, this gets closer to an average of 3 lippies. Makes me wonder why Mad Hippie is paying and/or planting and frankly, makes me suspicious of their product quality. I've not tried any of their products - this is not a review of them. I gave 1 lippie in each category because I had to give a rating, and figured my "1" rating would help to lower the average so that it more accurately reflects what real MUAers think about this product.
22 out of 24 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Algenist - Regenerative Anti-ageing Lotion
mulletoftruth 3/14/2013 5:29:00 PM
I absolutely love, love, love the Algenist Regenerative Anti-Aging Moisturizer (in the jar) so I was really excited to see the lotion version as a 100-point BI giveaway at sephora.com and got 2 bottles (0.5 oz each.) I went through the first one, using it for about 6 weeks, and am less than thrilled. It didn't leave my skin particularly moisturized or hydrated - in fact, I was suffering from a lot of dry patches on my face while I was using this - not an issue I normally have with my skin. Where the Regenerative Anti-Aging Moisturizer is silky and elegant and feels luxurious on the skin, the lotion has none of these properties. I didn't like the way it felt on my face, and if someone had swapped it with a drugstore lotion I don't think I'd have noticed any difference. This was hugely disappointing as I so wanted to like this. After finishing the 1st bottle, I realized I was dreading getting into the 2nd one so I gave it away. I also really like the Lifting & Firming Cream so it's puzzling as to why this lotion was such a miss. I will also note that by the time I got down to the last 1/4 or so of the bottle, the pump would no longer pull up any more of the product. To get it out, I had to remove the lid and tap it onto my palm (there was a good week or two worth of product still inside.) I'm not sure if this design flaw is mirrored in the full-sized product, having only used the deluxe mini.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Bare Escentuals - Flawless Definition Volumizing mascara
mulletoftruth 1/6/2013 7:47:00 PM
This is very similar to Benefit BadGal mascara, which is to say it's mediocre at best. (Same wand, similar performance.) Between the brush design and the formula, it's difficult to get an even product transfer with this mascara. It also clumps, which is not an issue I've ever had with the original Flawless Definition formula. It's not the worst mascara I've ever used, nor the best, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone or buy it again. For major volume, buy their Buxom Lash and for major definition, get the original Flawless Definition. These are my 2 HG mascaras and really are flawless. I'm not sure why their other formulas are so ho-hum (if not downright awful.)
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Crème -Illamasqua - Cream foundation
mulletoftruth 1/6/2013 7:34:00 PM
This goes on - and looks - like pancake makeup. The first time I put it on (using the included sponge) I felt like I was backstage getting ready for a broadway show. It's thick and heavy and doesn't spread or blend easily so it's difficult to get even coverage. It's the kind of product you can really feel on your face, which is quite unpleasant. I experimented with this a bit, using different application methods, but it was just too greasy and thick and the color match was awful so I finally gave up. I ordered it in CF 133 "for light skin with neutral undertones." It's not neutral at all. It's really yellow (not like yellow undertone, but full-on yellow) and made me look sallow. For reference I'm a Dior 20 (light beige) LM #2/Blush. My other gripes: they include a sponge but the sponge does not fit into the compact. Most other brands' cream compact foundations include a space for their application tool, which makes them portable and user-friendly. The fact that this compact is huge but lacking a spot to hold a sponge drops it way down on the practicality scale. You also have to jam your fingernail into the clasp to get it open, which is another real annoyance.
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Polishes -Zoya - Harley
mulletoftruth 1/5/2013 4:22:00 PM
Harley is a light grey with silver shimmer. I'd been looking for a silver that wasn't OTT metallic, glittery or a foil, which turned out to be a tall order. This fit the bill exactly. It has that embedded subtle microshimmer that Zoya has perfected, giving it depth. Pretty, delicate and flattering on my hands, it reads silver without hitting you over the head with it. It's actually the color of silver auto paint. Go look at a silver car, and you have Harley. I've seen lots of swatches online that lean purple and reviews that refer to it as such, yet I've had it on my hands for 6 days and see nary a trace of even the slightest hint of purple or lavender. I do see a blue undertone in some lighting situations, but it's basically a straightforward light grey. The 2 member photos posted here are very good likenesses on my monitor. I'm not sure whether it's my nails being in good shape or this formula, but like I said, I've had this on for 6 days. I'm only removing it because I'm ready for a change. I have slight tip wear, but otherwise it's in great shape. I don't wear Zoya colors on my hands very often, but every time I do, I'm again struck by how easily their formulas glide on. The brush fits perfectly into my nail beds (which are quite round) making it a breeze to paint evenly at my cuticle lines and thus requiring very little cleanup.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Laura Mercier - Tinted Moisturizer Creme Compact SPF 20
mulletoftruth 1/2/2013 10:29:00 PM
Let me say first that this product has nothing in common with Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer. Zero, nada. Using "Tinted Moisturizer" in the product name appears to me to be a marketing gimmick to reel people in who are fans of the TM or are familiar with it due to its cult status. I've been looking for a cream foundation compact to replace Vincent Longo Water Canvas, which I like quite a bit but is not HG (though I'm finding it might be as close as I'm going to get.) My HG foundation is Diorskin Nude Skin-Glowing Makeup (in shade 020 Light Beige, for reference) which makes my skin look drop-dead gorgeous, glowy, and flawless but I like to have a couple of other options. I like a cream compact foundation for ease of application and for more casual occasions - I don't need to have vavoom skin just to run to Target on the weekend. So far I've tested out DiorSkin Nude Natural Glow Crème-Gel, Cover FX Total Cover Cream Foundation, Illamasqua Cream Foundation and this. I'm not pleased with any of these options. This foundation is quite heavy and cakey and does not blend well if you use the included sponge applicator. I think a few have described it as waxy, and I'd have to agree. I've experimented with it quite a bit, using 2 different foundation brushes, 2 other sponge applicators, and tried using a damp Beauty Blender type sponge. The latter worked the best, and a traditional flat foundation brush worked quite well as well. However, I'm just not loving it. It sits on my skin rather than blending in, tends to look patchy, and separates on my nose immediately despite all of my efforts. Finally, it makes my skin feel tight and dry after a few hours of wear. (It really accentuates any dry patches if you apply it with a dry sponge.) Coverage is medium to heavy depending on which application method one uses. The finish is on the matte side. Unless you are really taken with this formula, keep looking. There are much, much better foundations out there. No reason to settle for something so mediocre. On a positive note, it's a very good color match in shade Blush for my neutral light-medium skin. I've got LM's original formula TM in Nude, which I wear in summer but is far too dark for my skin in the other 3 seasons.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Bare Escentuals - Stroke of LIght
mulletoftruth 12/28/2012 8:55:00 PM
I've pretty much given up on under eye concealers as they tend to be cakey, exacerbate lines, blend poorly, and not actually conceal anything. While not a concealer per se, this is a lovely and very effective product. It's silky going on, blends beautifully, and adds just enough luminosity beneath the eye to brighten things up. I also add a little dab to the hollow of my eye and it covers and lightens that area nicely. Doesn't cake or crease and adds a touch of moisture as well. I also love the applicator. I find bareMinerals to be a bit like the little girl with the curl. When it's good, it's very very good, and when it's bad it's horrid. They make some truly terrible products and brushes. But when they do things well, they really hit it out of the park. This falls in the latter camp.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -Smashbox - Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer
mulletoftruth 12/28/2012 8:38:00 PM
I got a deluxe mini of this as a promo, looked at it and thought, "I must be reading this wrong. Under eye primer?" I looked it up on the Smashbox website and found that that is indeed its intended use. Then I was just irritated that someone would make such a ridiculously nonessential product. It seemed like a scammy way to get women to spend money on more beauty products that they don't need. Then I actually used it. I am a convert. This feels amazing going on - it has a cooling effect and has the most delicious feel on the under eye - silky and lovely and luxurious. Sometimes I use it alone (over eye cream) and sometimes I use concealer over it. I think of it more as a treatment than a primer, though it really does help to create a smooth surface for concealer and does brighten when used alone. I now consider it an essential part of my makeup routine and most assuredly will repurchase.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -Smashbox - Photo Finish Lid Primer
mulletoftruth 12/28/2012 8:26:00 PM
I got this in a kit as well, and glancing at the reviews below, it appears that most who got the GWP do not like it. Perhaps there's an issue with the mini version. I will chime in to concur that yes, this dries out really quickly and is chalky and impossible to spread over the eyelid. Am also in the camp for whom the shade is too dark. Disappointing.
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