Liquid -Rimmel - Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation
ridemebigsheIdon 4/7/2013 6:18:00 PM
This sh*t is bomb. I bought it last fall and reach for it whenever I'm having "skin woes" and it covers every bit of redness without ever looking over the top. I own the "103" color and I'm a N20 for reference. Slightly oily/hormonally angry skin and it works like a charm. The trick is to make sure you blend it throughly and use sparingly. I squeeze a bit out and dot it all over my face and go to work with a duo-fiber (skunk) brush. Set with el cheapo NYC loose transparent powder and we're set. It's $5-$7 for a tube so you can't really go wrong. It really does last all day without going bad on me at some point (settling, flakes, all those annoyances).
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - Gly-Luronic Acid Serum
ridemebigsheIdon 4/1/2013 5:06:00 PM
This product sounded as though it was too good to be true, so many shining reviews from those who now have radiant, clear skin. I did not find this to to be the case, however. I tried this a couple of times hoping that something else was causing me to break out, but this is the culprit. I feel as though the hyaluronic acid might be what caused my skin to react poorly, as it is basically a sugar water solution. This product brought on a small cluster of deep and red zits on my forehead which we all know are a little hard to conceal, and they take a while to subside. Too bad, because I really wanted to work this into my routine!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Everyday Minerals - Jojoba Base
ridemebigsheIdon 1/9/2013 10:52:00 AM
I'm writing this review based on a few samples I received a couple weeks ago. Let me just begin this review with....LOVE it. It's a great product. Me: Long time acne --- I'm 26 now but have battled acne since I was about 13. This includes multiple rounds of Accutane. I've luckily worked most breakouts out of my system, and only succumb to bad bouts during my TOTM. I'd classify my skin type as "combo". I don't like heavy-feeling products, and I was actually afraid to try this given the "jojoba" namesake. I was disenchanted with my other go-to foundations though. Revlon CS Whipped began breaking me out, and my otherwise loved Palladio Wet/Dry suddenly appeared mismatched to my skin --- I looked PINK in natural lighting. I busted out the samples -- Vanilla, I'm about a N20. And we have a match. I like how this stuff becomes one with my face -- it doesn't look like I have any product on -- let alone that dusty powdery appearance. It applies so easily with my Sigma round-top kabuki. The finish is satiny and dewy. I'm hooked. I'll be pulling the trigger soon on a FS, and I can't wait to make this my go-to product. EDIT: this stuff isn't longwearing enough, and I do not like the way I look midday. When I blot, the product disappears from my face. :(
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Tarte - Amazonian Clay 12-hour Full-Coverage Foundation SPF 15
ridemebigsheIdon 12/21/2012 9:21:00 AM
This stuff kinda stinks. I bought it when it was still a QVC-exclusive, and I was mainly swayed by the fat brush that they used to apply it. So I ordered it, I got the 2nd lightest shade (fair? light? what is the difference anyway between those words) and it matched my N20 face quite well. I like that it has a lot of yellow in it since I have a number of old zit marks. Score 1. I bought it right as winter began in 2011 -- I was in love with the mousse-gel kinda texture. Totally easy to apply, and I *thought* it wore well, too. I pulled it out recently to venture back into it, and actually a number of times throughout the summer too, thinking it'd act as oil control given its "clay" namesake. What went wrong? This stuff just sat on my face, emphasizing every nook and cranny and random dry flake of skin. Despite wearing my regular Palladio primer, it slide off the edge of my chin and alongside my nose. I looked que horible at the end of my otherwise mundane desk work day. So I put it away. I pulled it out again recently. I'm not sure, either it was so fresh and good when I bought it or I had blinders on for this product. It feels greasy and grody as the day wears on (more than likely due to the high silicone content, too) and looks like an additional obscenely obvious layer on my face. Son, I am disappoint.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -NARS - Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer
ridemebigsheIdon 12/9/2012 5:56:00 PM
I was really excited to try this -- but it's quite emollient (yes, I know it's called a TM...) so much that it makes my combo skin incredibly greasy. The color selection runs very warm -- I was between the two lightest shades (NC20) and both appeared orange-y in a test swipe. I had high hopes since I love SG by Nars...but they were dashed.
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Moisturizers -DDF - Ultra Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew
ridemebigsheIdon 11/26/2012 8:58:00 PM
I was excited to try this because I had so much love for the DDF glycolic toner, I thought perhaps my face would respond as well to this, too. Well, it didn't. Luckily I only bought some sample packets on Ebay to give it a shot--because as soon as I stopped using this, a cluster of small clogged pores and zits began to clear across my forehead. Thankfully since my wedding is this weekend. I was sad since this lotion sank in so well, and my face felt like velvet...but, red flag...I see there's BEESWAX in this facial lotion. I fail to understand how this is a "lite moisturizing dew" with stinkin' wax products in it. It's among the top of the ingredients, too. Certainly will not repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -Revlon - ColorStay Whipped Creme Makeup
ridemebigsheIdon 11/20/2012 3:55:00 PM
Up front: the glass jar -- like so many others have said -- is definitely a weapon in disguise. I mean, really. Put this thing in a sock, in your purse, and whip it out when you need to give someone a smack down. Revlon, this is seriously too much packaging -- although, it does appear very lux. The product itself is very nice, thick and creamy -- has a lot of slip (no doubt from the base of silicone ingredients). I've applied it a handful of ways. Over primer. No primer. Using a BB sponge. Using a duo-fiber brush. Using my fingers. And the winner...using a flat and fat foundation brush. I swirl some product (not much, a little goes a long way) in the lid, and dot all over, working fast as it can dry quickly -- and finally buff it in to blend seamlessly. I actually wrote this stuff off over the summer when I originally bought it...it settled, cracked, just went gross fast. This product takes a bit of work to get the hang of it. I'm thinking of using this as my wedding day base, as it contains no SPF, need to give it a couple more rounds to ensure this is the "one". I will say that the color selection is lacking -- I generally buy 150-Buff in the basic ColorStay...the whipped line runs light, though. The Buff appears flat and mask-like on my N20 face. The next shade down is 200 Sand Beige -- I'm just wondering where the "180" level went away to! Edit 12.9.12 -- I bought this in the "200" level a week or so prior to my wedding and pulled out the giant jar that morning to get ready. The color was just about made for me -- and all day I got compliments up and down on how great my make up looked. Another edit 1.8.2013 -- this stuff clogs my pores. :( it's since been retired. RIP.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Hard Candy - Just Face It - One Step Foundation
ridemebigsheIdon 10/24/2012 2:09:00 PM
Eh. I thought this stuff would be a total win, but it's just a weird sticky foundation. :-| When it first is applied, it looks really great. But during the day, as it melds with your face - it gets quite shiny and tacky feeling to the touch. Kind of a bummer, as it was otherwise a good product. Cheap, too! Oh well. At least it was pretty cheap ($6 IIRC at Walmart).
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Liquid -Chanel - Vitalumiere Aqua
ridemebigsheIdon 7/30/2012 1:26:00 PM
So this stuff is amazing for the summer months, but I will note that it's lasting power could be improved. I'm NC20, and found that B10 was actually the better route versus B20 since it runs a bit dark IMO, and with the possibility of oxidation, it just seemed like the better choice. Application is fast and smooth with this stuff. I don't really like using my fingers so instead, I apply with a damp peep sponge (by Sonia Kashuk). I really love it's dewy, natural finish so I actually do not set it. I understand that setting it could make it last longer, however with my skin, it really doesn't make a big difference. I marked it down a notch given its price point (ugh, Chanel...) and the teensy bottle size. I also think that the woodsy yet rosey smell (although it dissipates fast) could be nixed, as well. I might move on to try the recommended Shiseido liquid sun protection next, as it's a few bucks cheaper and offers higher sun protection.
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Skincare - Face -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - 55% Lactic Acid Peel
ridemebigsheIdon 7/19/2012 1:30:00 PM
Ok, I love MUAC. But this peel is a no-go for me. I've used it a handful of times, careful with the timing to avoid any burns and each time I've gotten horrible breakouts following. Yes, I understand that this might be bringing the nasties to the surface. However, I believe "let sleeping dogs lie". I have used other peels from MUAC - the fade, the radiance, and also the mandelic peel, and I truly feel that the mandelic is the best route for me. It always leaves me with gleaming, healthy looking skin. I won't be using this again, or other lactic acid products.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -L'Oreal - Healthy Look Creme Gloss Color
ridemebigsheIdon 7/19/2012 11:51:00 AM
BAD BAD BAD. Like the reviewer prior to me I selected the light auburn color. My hair, usually a level 6 red, is basically a dark burgundy color. This is nowhere near "light". DON'T BUY THIS. I can't wait to wash my hair a couple hundred times to fade this junk out.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Unlisted Brand - Milk of Magnesia
ridemebigsheIdon 7/2/2012 3:52:00 PM
Utterly amazing. I tried this in years past, but I must not have had a technique down right --- after my face began eating my makeup these past few weeks with this heat and humidity, I decided to give this another go. Just... wow. My routine with this stuff is wash, any treatment product (serum, toner, whatever) and a wee bit of moisturizer, let it all sink in, then take a slightly damp cotton square (I dampen it to dilute the chalkiness) and apply MoM to the face in a downward swipe. Let that dry, and go to work with your make up. I found that applying the MoM on a dry cotton square was too much for me, my make up actually began to flake due to how matte/dry it kept my face. I hope this continues working, so cheap and easy!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Styling Tools -Conair - Infiniti Pro 1875 AC Motor Dryer
ridemebigsheIdon 6/20/2012 10:36:00 PM
DO NOT BUY THIS BLOW DRYER. I just purchased this dryer in March 2012. Despite some reviews stating its copper coils making the motor die out faster, or something like that (science isn't my thing) I bought it for the decent price and nice aesthetics. Fast forward June 2012. Mere months. It just died. Out of no where. Of course while I had wet Aphogee Protein Treatment on. I'm not even a frequent blow dryer, by the way -- maybe a few times a week, if that since I have a lot of hair, and I wash it infrequently. Thank you for nothing Conair. I learned my lesson and will be upgrading to a better brand tomorrow.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No