Eyeliner -Rimmel - Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer - Deep Ocean
raindrops_on_roses 12/3/2012 2:32:00 PM
I have brown eyes and I keep hearing how blue eyeliner is supposed to look great. I've experimented with navy liner before but the result was TOO subtle. And yet I do not want to be rimming my eyes with some robin's egg or crazy bright blue either. Enter this product. It is just bright enough to be noticeable but still daytime appropriate (of course you can apply more to make it more noticeable still). The blue of this eyeliner reminds me more of a very dark teal than a navy, or a purple-tinged blue. Besides the color, the eyeliner is a really great product in its own right: draws on smoothly, stays put, blends very easily with the cute little smudger. The next time I have to replace my black eyeliner, I am seriously considering getting this brand instead.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Givenchy - Dahlia Noir
raindrops_on_roses 11/13/2012 5:24:00 PM
These are my thoughts on the EDT. I was moved to try this after sniffing a scent strip (that appeared in quite a few women's magazines this fall--maybe Givenchy is reallllllly trying to make it a bestseller). Anyway, I love this, in part because it fits in my favorite genre of fragrances-- light girly floral blends WITHOUT noticeable fruity or gourmand notes (Marc Jacobs Blush, Burberry London to name two). My mom, who is not a perfume person at all, recently complimented me on this saying I smelled so fresh and lovely and asking if I had applied a powder. (I told her that it had a powder note, but no, it is a spray perfume). That is high praise coming from her. My boyfriend loves it as well even though he usually only comments on in-your-face vanilla scents. The name is ridiculous as there is nothing "noir" about this, but it's perfect as an all-occasion "you but better" scent. The lasting power is not bad for an EDT....I spray it on my pulse points and in my hair and it lingers all day, making me feel so happy and deliciously feminine every time I catch a whiff of it. :-)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Volum' Express The Colossal
raindrops_on_roses 11/13/2012 5:08:00 PM
I vacillate between this and CG Lash Blast (the original in the orange tube) for when I want a cheap, reliable volumizing mascara. I've probably bought about 4 tubes of this and maybe 8 tubes of Lash Blast over the last couple years. Both are good. Colossal has a big brush as is the rage, but I find it easier to work with than most. It provides dark, standout lashes with a surprising amount of length. In terms of building bulk (i.e. volume), Lash Blast wins by a tad, but Colossal has it beat on length--making it a good "all-around" mascara if you're looking for a more streamlined makeup bag or when you're traveling and don't want to haul around a bunch of mascaras, haha. The main drawback can be a pretty big one: it flakes. Like, bad sometimes. Many afternoons I will be picking little black fibers off the tops of my cheekbones. Using a fresh tube and keeping it to 2 coats max seems to help. It also smears a bit under the eyes when applied to lower lashes, and Lash Blash NEVER does that on me. Therefore, this mascara is not quite destined for HG status....but I still like having one of these cute yellow tubes on hand.
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Liquid -L'Oreal - True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup
raindrops_on_roses 11/13/2012 4:55:00 PM
I was not expecting to like this at ALL to the point where I already had regret in the checkout line at Ulta. (I have had bad luck with L'Oreal products for awhile.) Man, was I wrong. Since I got this 3 months ago it's the only foundation that has touched my face and I have no desire to try anything else. First, I LOVE pump packaging because it's neater to use and more convenient, IMO. One pump produces only a small dollop of product but I was shocked to see how well it covered my entire face. (I might use 1.5 to 2 pumps if I'm having a bad skin day or I'm going to be photographed, but most of the time 1 pump is perfect). It glides on like a dream and it blends seamlessly into the skin. It has good coverage but does appear cakey in the least even when you build it up a bit. This all probably sounds like ad copy, but for me it is the truth--L'Oreal really delivered on this one. Great quality product and I hope they never discontinue it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Victoria's Secret - Love Spell
raindrops_on_roses 4/21/2012 5:32:00 PM
I'm 26 (almost 27) and just picked up a bottle of the mist as a springtime pick-me-up. It's been a few years since I used Love Spell. Is it the height of sophisticated perfumery? Um, no. I get bored easily with simple scents so it's a "sometimes" fragrance for me. But does it get reactions? Hell yes! It is a compliment magnet. It's sweet fruit on steroids but sometimes that's just what you need, know what I mean? It's not as concentrated as an EDP so before long it's dried down to a fresh, lightly sweet, fruity aura that clings to you all day long. When people catch a whiff, do you think they are thinking, "WOW, that grown woman smells just like a teenybopper?" No, they think "Wow, she smells great" and demand to know what you have on. Trust me.
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Volum' Express One by One
raindrops_on_roses 3/5/2012 10:39:00 PM
I am OCD about my lashes, and right now this mascara is my everyday go-to. I love it because it goes on FAST and the brush comes out of the tube so clean, glob free and lovely. You do not have to worry about any messes. To me this mascara works best with 1-2 coats. The bristles are so closely placed that I feel like if you build up a lot of volume, it starts going on not as smoothly (the bristles are designed for bare lashes, if that makes any sense). For days when I want a "wow" look I will probably look elsewhere, but One by One provides decent length, blackness and excellent definition--perfect for your average weekday. Another winner from Maybelline!
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Fragrances -Guerlain - My Insolence
raindrops_on_roses 3/5/2012 10:32:00 PM
Probably the girliest perfume I have ever smelled. Creamy, powdery, violet raspberry. Wear it if you want a LOT of attention. Also, the lasting power is very good. (I would expect nothing less of Guerlain).
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Hanae Mori - Hanae Mori Butterfly EDP
raindrops_on_roses 7/18/2011 7:57:00 PM
Butterfly is like a popular girl in high school who hangs out with her other ditzy friends Pink Sugar and Fantasy. Then you spend some time with her and realize there's a lot more to her than meets the eye. Even though she keeps company with the ditzes, there's some depth to her, and she's actually pretty great. This is how I think of Butterfly EDP. Yes, it is sweet. There's no denying that. But instead of a wallop of buttercream or cotton candy hitting you over the head then staying for 8 hours, the notes here comingle and develop on the skin so beautifully into something that is very sensual and grown-up. I can pick out the almond, strawberry, cedar, sandalwood, and floral notes. I will always have this in my collection. I also love that it can be found so cheaply online!
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Versace - BRIGHT CRYSTAL
raindrops_on_roses 7/18/2011 7:39:00 PM
I passed this by for years, grabbing a sniff at Sephora once in awhile and thinking how it was the most generic watery "pink" perfume out there. Then on a very warm May evening I smelled it on my friend and had to know what she was wearing....it was an inobtrusive, happy, feminine scent that just smelled plain GOOD. I got a bottle and have drained most of it this summer so far, because it is just so easy to wear. It's a great work scent. When I repurchase I will be getting the large size bottle and probably the lotion to layer with it. It has reminded me that some days I'm just not in the mood to deal with a huge-personality perfume...for those days I love having a crowd pleasing no brainer like Bright Crystal on hand.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Cover Girl - Professional Super Thick Lash Mascara
raindrops_on_roses 5/12/2011 9:27:00 PM
I picked up this mascara after seeing it featured in this month's Glamour magazine. It is an older Cover Girl mascara and is not really on many people's radar, but it should be. I love the look it creates on my lashes: mostly lengthening, with perfect separation, and more volume achievable with subsequent coats. It holds a curl like you would not believe. It's the perfect everyday (but still "wow, you have great lashes") mascara. I am OCD and have tried every mascara but I still love it. It has a traditional bristle brush, which I have decided I prefer to the new plastic spike-variety. It is cheap--although it's missing from the CG display at some stores, it's worth hunting for. In short: sometimes, when it comes to mascara, you really don't need to reinvent the wheel. CG, please never discontinue this.
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Eye Makeup Remover -BeneFit Cosmetics - Gee...that was quick! Oil-Free Makeup Remover For Eyes And Face
raindrops_on_roses 1/4/2011 11:21:00 AM
Just awful. I received a bottle for free but for the amount Benefit charges for this it should be AT LEAST on par with something you can pick up at CVS. I understand that scrubbing away every trace of stubborn liner/mascara from the lashline is a hard task for any remover, but I tried using this to remove streaks of mascara that had migrated to my cheeks....and it didn't even work there!! UNBELIEVABLE. Plain water is more effective than this stuff. It stings your eyes too. I love some Benefit products, but this particular product is ALL cutesy marketing and no actual payoff, which is the case with quite a few Benefit items. Stay away.
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Fragrances -Chloe - Chloe (EDP new)
raindrops_on_roses 11/16/2010 10:41:00 PM
I ordered this unsniffed (not too smart, I know), so the incentive was STRONG for me to like this one. On paper the notes sounded right up my alley. The long and short of it is: I could not make myself stomach this fragrance. For awhile I thought there must be something wrong with MY nose, that I was just not "getting it," but seeing some other reviews reaffirmed the truth to me. Chloe smells like it is made from the cheapest materials known to perfumery. Harsh, ultra-synthethic, not even pleasant. This has never really happened to me...I am no perfume snob and can enjoy or at least appreciate most scents, high or low end. But I am simply baffled that anyone can like this. And now I'm stuck with a full bottle. For those of you who like this, more power to you, but for those considering it, PLEASE try before you buy!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Revlon - Colorstay Eyeliner
raindrops_on_roses 8/10/2010 9:20:00 PM
I used this in high school and part of college, then went on a 5 year hiatus from it when I tried what seems like EVERY other eyeliner out there, both h/e and d/s. I'm back to CS for good now. I want an everyday eyeliner that is reliable-I TRULY hate having to worry about migrating eyeliner throughout the day. This will not not budge. Plus, it is always on sale and is easy to find and repurchase, especially if you like using a few different shades. Here is what you are sacrificing by using this product: a REALLY black, super intense color, like you would get from a Prestige, L'Oreal or any of those new "liquid pencils." (It's still decidedly black, just "plain" black though) I own this in black, black/brown and charcoal and they are the only eye pencils I need.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Revlon - Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara
raindrops_on_roses 6/10/2010 10:10:00 PM
First of all, props to Revlon for finally entering 2010 and coming out with a mascara that is USABLE. (Am I right??) That said, so far this is a respectable addition to the shelves, although I'm skeptical of the "growing" your lashes claim. The brush is in the tradition of Diorshow....if you know you hate big brushes, skip this because it is the largest brush I have ever seen on a mascara. I was able to achieve impressive length AND volume (I hate having to choose between the two). It's easy to create dramatic results with this mascara with only 2 coats. My only quibble so far is that I noticed faint streaks on my brow bones by the end of the day, I guess from where my lashes hit. This has never happened to me, ever. It might be a problem if it continues, but I'm kind of impressed that this product made my lashes that long!
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Lip Gloss -Clinique - Glosswear for Lips- Tenderheart
raindrops_on_roses 6/10/2010 9:59:00 PM
This is definitely the dark horse in my lip gloss collection. From the ever so slightly muddy color in the tube, I never would have guessed it would become my most used l/g. Perfect peachy nude that is understated but *there* enough for when you want to look polished. I wear it both in professional situations and out to bars. It's like a naturally flushed kind of nude rather than concealer-lips kind of nude (which to me is ew). The texture is creamy and kind of thick but I don't mind because it stays on forever. Will always repurchase!!
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