Treatments -Jan Marini - Skin Care Management System
redbeemerbabe 9/16/2012 8:38:00 PM
I started using this system last November, and within a month, I could see a difference in my skin's texture. My skin is extra-sensitive, and none of the products in this kit bothered it. My twice-daily routine consists of: Bioglycolic Face Cleanser - I swear by this stuff now. It makes my skin feel squeaky clean, but not dry in *any* way. How do they do that?? C-ESTA Face Serum - If I could take a bath in this, I would. It has a watery consistency and one squirt from the bottle is all it takes for my entire face. And the scent is yummy:-) I make sure to get it a little under my eyes, and my fine lines are less noticeable now. Bioglycolic Bioclear Lotion - This is HG for me. I'm convinced that, between the cleanser and this, I haven't had a single clogged pore since I started this kit. Again, one squirt is all you need for your entire face. This makes my skin feel like it did when I used to use Retin-A, but without all the redness and irritation. My skin is super-smooth with no bumps at all. Enlighten Plus - I used a couple of bottles of this, but I didn't feel it was doing anything. I won't repurchase. Transformation Face Cream - My only complaint about this product is that it's in a jar rather than a squirt bottle like the other products. The cream itself is non-oily, but man, does it moisturize! It has a very light scent similar to the C-ESTA serum. My T-zone is not greasy at the end of the day, and that's saying something. Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant SPF 33 - I use this in the a.m. but not at night. It's light and creamy and comes in a squeeze tube. And it lasts forever.... I'm still using the tube I started last November! Overall, I can't say enough good things about this system. It truly has transformed my once-clogged-pores face to a satin smooth finish.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Ulta - Super Blender Elliptical Sponge
redbeemerbabe 3/21/2012 5:43:00 PM
I bought this months ago, and just tried it for the first time today. I cannot believe what a difference it made in the finish of my liquid foundation! It truly looks airbrushed. I soaked it in water, then squeezed out as much as I could. Then I dabbed the foundation I had poured onto the back of my hand. If you dab and twist it on your skin, the finish is flawless. To cover up a spot on my cheek from having a sun spot burned off last week, I dabbed and twisted twice. Total coverup without looking fake. I wish the sponge were easier to clean, but hey, we can't have everything, right? :-)
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Liquid -Maybelline - Fit Me Foundation
redbeemerbabe 9/3/2011 7:35:00 PM
I can't believe I got a *perfect* match just by holding my wrist to the store display:-) But I did, and I love this stuff! Light to medium coverage; blends beautifully with my 187 brush. It lasts all day for me and looks good the whole time. FYI, I'm NW20, and Fit Me's 115 is my shade. Would I buy again? Absolutely!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Bare Escentuals - buxom lash
redbeemerbabe 9/2/2011 8:27:00 PM
I don't understand how so many people love this stuff. I just bought a tube and I'm beyond disappointed. It doesn't lengthen at all, and it adds almost no volume. The only good thing about it is the brush. It does a great job of separating. That is all. :-(
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Hair -L'Oreal - Elnett Hairspray
redbeemerbabe 8/27/2011 5:52:00 PM
I couldn't wait to try this once it became available in the US. Unfortunately, it was one of the biggest let downs I can remember. It stinks and it doesn't hold at all. No way could I recommend this to anyone.
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Mascara -L'Oreal - Voluminous Million Lashes
redbeemerbabe 11/13/2010 6:49:00 PM
The first time I used this, I thought it sucked. I couldn't get on an even coat for anything. The second time I tried, I got it perfect. I love this stuff!! I've been using primer for the past year and a half because it was the only thing that would help keep my lashes curled. I don't need primer with this; my lashes stay curled without it. The weird scent people refer to is supposed to be roses, I think. It's not offensive, and I can't smell it after I close the tube. While this isn't the most volumizing mascara, it definitely lengthens lashes, almost to the point of being absurd (but in a good way;-) I'll def be buying more when this runs out.
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Fragrances -Serge Lutens - Iris Silver Mist
redbeemerbabe 7/22/2010 7:01:00 PM
I soooo wanted to love this fragrance, but, truth be told, I don't even like it. I'm not a connoisseur, but I know what I like and don't like. Usually I lean toward floral, powdery scents (Cashmere Mist; L'Artisan La Chasse Aux Papillons; L'Artisan Jour de Fete), and I read some reviews that described ISM as such. I bought a sample from Perfumed Court, and thank doG I didn't buy a bigger size. I know this is a popular scent, but unfortunately, it didn't work for me.
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Mascara -Bare Escentuals - Flawless Definition mascara
redbeemerbabe 8/19/2009 6:16:00 PM
I received a deluxe sample of this at the BE counter at Nordies. I already had my faves, so initially, I didn't plan to even try this. I'm so glad I did! I just recently discovered Shiseido mascara base, and I use it every day, regardless of which mascara I use. First I curl the lashes on one side, apply the mascara base and let it dry. While it's drying, I curl and apply base to the other side. With this mascara, I only do one coat instead of two. The brush/comb is new for me, and I thought I wouldn't like it. Wrong again:-) It grabs tiny lashes I didn't even know I had. Trust me, with my blonde lashes, I need all the help I can get. The mascara wears all day - and I mean *all day* - without smudging. At night, it's easy to take off. I'm glad I tried this. It's now my fave:-)
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Eyeliner -Urban Decay - 24-7 Glide on eyeliner in bourbon
redbeemerbabe 8/13/2009 9:30:00 PM
Finally! An eye liner that doesn't tug, doesn't slide off my face, and looks great all day! This shade of brown with teeny, tiny glitter is so pretty. No way is it OTT. I like it so much, I've ordered more colors from UD. I haven't tried sharpening it yet, but I understand it needs to be put in the freezer for a few minutes beforehand. I'll def try that. Bottom line is that this is a product that really works. Yay!!
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Philosophy - LIP GELATO
redbeemerbabe 8/13/2009 9:21:00 PM
I bought a set of three gelatos from QVC. I've always loved Kiss Me, so I thought these would be similar - just in different flavors. Wrong! They're nothing like Kiss Me. They're thinner and they're very tacky. I have pomegranite, grapefruit and tangerine, and while they all smell great, I really don't like the feel. They're not a real gloss, IMO. I put one on before I go to bed at night, and in the morning, most of it's gone, but that tackiness is still there. I just can't love that. Kiss Me will always be HG for me.
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Fragrances -Donna Karan - Cashmere Mist
redbeemerbabe 8/13/2009 9:13:00 PM
I bought this fragrance when it was first released, and I loved it then. It's so powdery and light, but with staying power. A couple of months ago, I sprayed it on again for the first time in a long time, and I discovered my bottle had gone bad. OMG. Needless to say, I had to toss it. Then last week, the new Nordies catalog came, and there was a scent strip with Cashmere Mist. I opened it and left it on my nightstand so I could enjoy the scent. Needless to say, I was reminded of how much I loved it. Of course, I had to get another bottle:-) If you like powdery, light floral scents, you'll probably like Cashmere Mist.
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Shiseido - The Makeup Mascara Base [DISCONTINUED]
redbeemerbabe 8/8/2009 9:43:00 PM
FINALLY!! A product that does exactly what it's supposed to! I've tried many mascara primers and I thought UD was as good as it was gonna get, even tho it was far from perfect. This one, however, not only primed my lashes for mascara, it made them hold the curl - something no other primer has ever done for me. I used my Shu eyelash curler then immediately followed up with a coat of this mascara base. I let it dry completely before I applied my mascara. It's now the end of the day, and my lashes are STILL curled. This has just never happened for me. I was a little put off by the grayish color when I first removed the wand from the tube, but I guess that's better than white. I noticed no scent, which I thought was good. I can't say enough good stuff about this product. It truly amazes me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -Kevyn Aucoin - The Celestial Powder: Candlelight
redbeemerbabe 8/8/2009 8:45:00 PM
This is my first KA product, and I have to say I'm so impressed! I hadn't read any reviews before I purchased it, so I didn't have any preconceived notions about it. In the compact, it's a very, very pale peachy-pink. I didn't notice any scent, and I'm usually pretty scent-sensitive. Yesterday and today, I used it as a finishing powder, applying it with a buffer brush. OMG. It makes my skin look almost "angelic." It's the perfect amount of highlighting, and it takes very little to achieve the perfect look. The way it reflects light is unlike any highlighter I've used before. Bottom line is that I've found a new HG. It may sound a bit silly, but this single product makes me feel pretty. I can't say that about too many products.
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Olay - Deep Cleansing Daily Facials Cleansing Cloths
redbeemerbabe 7/31/2009 7:24:00 PM
I've been using these on my sensitive skin for about a year now. (I buy mine at Costco.) Before I started using them, I could always feel bumps on my skin, and I had blackheads that had to be removed daily. I haven't had a single blackhead since starting with these, and any menopausal acne I had is long gone. They're folded into fourths, and I use one fourth at night, then rinse my face with a warm washcloth. I put the cleansing cloth in the shower for use the next time I shower, so I always get two uses from one cloth. I've never cut them in half, but it's a great idea. I've also never used the smooth side. It never occurred to me that I could remove eye makeup with these (duh), so I'll try that tonight. I follow my cleansing with Olay Regenerist Serum. My skin is never tight or dry, nor is it irritated. I swear, my complexion has never been so good. Oh, and I haven't had a real facial in over 6 months. I just don't feel the need when my skin is in such good shape. Would I recommend these? Absolutely. They're one of the few products that actually do what they say they will. On a scale of 1 to 10, these are a 20:-)
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Primer/ Corrector -Smashbox - Photo Finish Primer
redbeemerbabe 7/29/2009 7:16:00 PM
I received the travel size in a swap and couldn't wait to try it. It truly is awesome. I can't understand the complaints about this product. I wear it under BE without another moisturizer and it makes my skin flawless. It has never felt oily or rolled up into little balls. Mine dries instantly and makes my mmu go on perfectly. It has no scent, that I can tell, which is a plus. I just bought a full size bottle so I can save the travel size for traveling:-)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No