Eyeliner -Physicians Formula - Shimmer Strips Gel Creamliner - Brown Eyes
ritables 2/11/2013 10:43:00 PM
I have used Maybelline, MAC and WnW so far, with each of them having an annoying quality that prevents me from repurchasing. What attracted this to me is the cute containers that stack up, I was thinking the little black one could go into my makeup bag when i needed to touch up my Blacktrack cat-eye winged flick (yes it rubs off, and yes its irritating) so I purchased this trio at CVS for 70%, which came out to a buck and a quarter for each container. WOW and wow, This stuff stays on better. I dont have oily lids, but i do touch my face and eyes a lot. This is way more durable than MAC blacktrack for sure. i love all three colors. The purple seemed to be not pigmented enough, but going over it twice really makes it pop and it does darken up, im in love with it. The brown is smooth and creamy while the black dominates my world. It washes off easily, which is a weird but very important prerequisite for repurchase. It washes off easily, unlike the Maybelline and WnW. I would have never bought another color than black, but here I am enjoying a pop of purple or a nice subdued brown cat eye so I dont scare the people at the grocery store. warning: i have found a similar product that gives this a run for its money...NYX gel liner & smudger, which i just bought today and find these two products so similar! the brown is between the Charlotte (brown) and the Scarlette (dark brown). But they do not have purple, which is really a lovely deep plum color once its on. I am regretting not buying the Green eyes while I was there. at three bucks...i lost out big time!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -NYX - Gel Liner & Smudger
ritables 2/11/2013 10:33:00 PM
Ive got this in Charlotte (brown) and Scarlett (dark brown). They were buy one get one half off at ulta, and a 20 percent coupon made the both of them under 12 USD after taxes. Score! The colors appear lighter outside the container, until you open it to see the true shade on the inside, which is darker. The consistency is firm when you brush across it, but then is very smooth and creamy during application. I use my pinky to smear the amount i need for both eyes and then close the container so it wont dry out. I also like to use my pinky as a palate because the warmth of my finger gets the product a bit creamier than just wiping it off the sides of the jar. I am using a Sephora professional brush #15 (synthetic angle brush). It does take a while to dry, so using it for a eyeshadow base would be ideal. I do my winged liner, or cat-eye with it, and have no issues getting a smooth line, both thick and thin. When my MAC blacktrack started to dry out, it became extremely cumbersome to apply, very streaky and at times difficult to get a fine line. Maybelline and WnW are too indelible; I dont like products that stain my brushes plus a devil to remove at night. I have mature skin around my eyes and cringe at the thought of scrubbing and rubbing. eek!!! This is also much easier to correct during application, which is why i have ceased to use Maybelline and WnW. I was able to make a correction with just water on a q-tip rather than bust out the oil based eye remover (lancome) that needs to be shaken to be used....aggrevating!! So, yes this gem of a product is a win-win for me on many levels. The container is streamlined; other jars have extraneous material that is not necessary. I don't need a block of glass or extra weight! this package is streamlined and does supply a generous 3 grams. It is perfectly round and the lid is much smaller than other competitor's lid sizes, that are increased to accommodate the extra bulk of glass. I likey!! If I had to make a general assumption on my initial impression, it would be that this product is very similar to Physician's Formula Gel Liner. I have just gotten this today, and will update any changes or new observations at a later time :)
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Wet 'n' Wild - On The Edge Creme Liner - Little Black Dress
ritables 12/30/2012 10:00:00 PM
The packaging is so much better than the little plastic UFO on their regular creme liner. Other than the improved packaging, I did not like this simply because its not very 'workable' as in other gel liners. it dries really quickly, so when i go over and over I get little bald spots. The brush seems big and will not form a point or good hard line, although the performance was okay. It just looked messy, but application was able to get a nice thin line. It does, however, go on more pigmented than Maybelline's gel eyeliner and does (or should) take less effort. It is very black; this is darker and deeper than MAC blacktrack. WnW is the darkest, then Maybelline then MAC I just dont like how the performance of this product is more of a liquid eyeliner and not a true creme or gel eyeliner. to see swatches and a full review, check out my blog http://froofrooritables.blogspot.com/2012/12/wet-n-wild-fergie-centerstage.html
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Full 'N Soft Mascara
ritables 8/10/2012 5:42:00 PM
i bought this at my local grocery store because i have read so many reviews about this oldie, but goodie. I personally have never tried this, as i was on a solid Loreal kick for 15 years...voluminous and the newer collagen one were my HG for a long time. Then, i noticed a clearance rack at the groceries and saw they had a bunch of cosmetics on it! I saw this and instantly knew i must try, for the dirt low price of $4 USD. I couldnt believe how cheap it was and didnt have much expectation really. And then i gave it a week or two to test drive it. I am using several different brands, both high and low end (Lancome Hypnose Doll Lashes, Maybelline Mega Plush, Shiseido Perfect Defining Volume) and feel that it actually outperforms the Hypnose Doll! Its orange to apples with the Shiseido, as that stuff is concrete and will not wash out without oil based cleanser (hello wonderful Lancome eyemakeup remover) so I dont consider this on par. I like it better than the Mega Plush because its so much easier to wash off, and does not leave any stains like the Mega Plush does. I guess I may squint my eyes extra hard sometimes and the mascara wont wash off with just facial cleanser. If its harder to remove than just my daily facial cleaner than i reject the product, I can not stand a product that may cause wrinkles from all the tugging and pulling...plus it may yank out a hair or two? NO!! reject! I dont like waterproof mascara by itself...and usually put a coat of something easily washable first and then if i know im going to be outside sweating a lot i will top if off with the Shiseido to keep them curled, while being able to wash off with ease. The Shiseido does feel crunchy to me, as i have worn it before by itself and it does feel okay...is sticky feeling and stiff. I couldnt wear this alone. This product washes off like a dream and actually touts some ability of it extra ease of removing somewhere ive read, but i can recall exactly what they call it. Amazing that this has been around so long and flies under the radar. When i first used it, it was more natural. Which is okay i guess, but i like drama and excitement. After it 'broke in' a little, perhaps a week or so, I noticed its ease of build-ability...i can get a few coats of this stuff on without clumps! and va va vooooom i got vampy gorgeous lashes that are fluttery and the curl holds up good (main failure of the Hypnose Doll, which flattens the curl on my naturally curled eyelashes. duh!) I have to say this product really blew me away! It sat on that grocer's shelf, so humble and quiet...just waiting for someone to discover how wonderful it is! I think everyone should give this one a try, even mascara snobs that only like high end will be surprised.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Nails -Farouk CHI - Chi Ceramic Nail Lacquer Catcha Wink Pink
ritables 7/14/2012 9:09:00 PM
I have this in Always a Bridesmaid, it pretty close to Wink. Firstly, this polish takes forever to set. it seems to dry to the touch quickly, but easily smushable even longer than an hour out. I do have to put this on rather thickly, as it loves to settle into my finger's vertical ridges. Gross. It was on sale for $1, so im not going to cry about it. It does dry to a nice high gloss shine, but since is smash them before they are set, i havent gone longer than a day; its going to be impossible to test its longevity because i cant stand an imperfect nail. all 10 must be dead on correct or it bothers me to no end. Id rather go without than one smooshed nail. I like Revlon's Colorstay nail polishes way better. The color, however, its an accurate match to Band-Aids, such a novelty :) thinks its pretty funny
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Physicians Formula - Healthy Wear SPF 50 Powder Foundation
ritables 7/12/2012 10:18:00 PM
I love Physicians Formula. They sure have come a long way and much improved. I am very impressed with them lately! The high spf is what attracted me to this product. I love the orange and hot pink bubble case! Lately, its about the packaging; its a make or break deal, if i dont like the case im not going to consider it. the product is powdery and does cover pores. It is very transparent and light in coverage. I use this powder to top my powder foundation Physician's Formula Mineral Wear Talc Free Airbrushing Loose Powder SPF 30. This case is so much easier to tote around than the loose powder's case, but i so do dearly love the loose powder. I tried to put this on by itself, but it didnt look as nice. It looked dry and dull, but with the PF Mineral Wear on top, looks absolutely fabulous. Also, its got talc :( but so far no breakouts or clogged pores) but so far so good. check out my full review on froofrooritables.blogspot on this and the other Physician Formula products that I love!!!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Skin Laboratory - Glycolic Acid 35% Gel Peel
ritables 6/29/2012 10:15:00 PM
i just wanted to warn people that they should experiment with home peels only after experiencing a few of them from the spa. Its a dangerous thing and i can see how easy it would be to damage your skin. It takes a few times to understand how much pain equals to how deep/amount of flaking you are going to have. Everyone is different, you can NOT rely on these internet reviews. Even with my own experience with peels things are not constant or predictable; the same conditions often yields different outcomes. Do yourself a favor and get a peel done by a professional first before trying to emulate at home. I have done 8 peels before i tried this one. The first time i only left it on 1 min. The second time 2 mins with similar results. The third time i could only bear it for 2 mins (and yes i noticed the pain was much worse) and this time it burned a few places and went deeper than expected. Its not a very strong peel, and if done correctly the flakes should be very small, if you can see them at all. The lack of flakes does not mean it is not working; i did notice the condition of my skin was fabulous afterwards in areas i did not peel at all. I do think its because of the Retin A use the past few days. It says not to use retinoids for a week before peels, which i disobeyed. But previous to all peels i was using the Retin A micro anyways. So bizzare. Im telling you the results are so weird sometimes and very unpredictable. the last 2 peels i had absolutely NO downtime at all but unfortunately this time i do have some areas that look road-rashed and do feel odd. This product is a great alternative to getting expensive spa treatments but if you dont know what you are doing, you can really hurt yourself. Go to the spa a few times and get familiar with peels before trying them at home with out any previous experience,.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Clarisonic - Mia
ritables 6/26/2012 9:08:00 AM
my beauty addiction started with this tool. My mother had purchased this and she found it was too harsh on her skin, even with the sensitive brush head. So she gives it to me and just in time: i had been wearing Revlon's colorstay foundation and it was reeking havoc with my skin; that foundation is the devil to remove. My skin had gotten angry and red. It had never looked so bad. I had no previous experience with skincare, other than a cleanser and moisturizer. I did wear a mineral makeup for the past few years so i had okay skin. OR so I thought: I had just turned 40 and noticed my skin was really bad compared to women that were 10+ years older than me. My mother has really nice skin. I had to do something. The years of playing in the sun (I owned 2 jeep wranglers in a row, and loved taking the top off) really did a number on my skin. If i payed attention i could have at least worn sunscreen, but no. My hair, from whipping around in the convertible, was showing signs of damage: split, broken ends. I knew my skin had to be in a similar state. After a couple weeks i noticed my skin was not so 'mad' and started calming down. After a month it started to glow. Now, i cant live without this. I only use it at night, mainly to get a little exfoliation so my serum can sink in well. It makes a huge difference. I spend too much money on serums and anti-aging potions so i appreciate getting the most value for my money. Yes, this little device costs a pretty penny, but worth it. its been a year now, and i still use it every day. I feel that 2 times a day might be too much for me, as i do have dry skin on my cheeks and it does get sore from daily use, even with the sensitive brush. It is pricey, and know that there are now other products that might be less expensive, but works well. Not as good, but well. Olay is one of those. I have a freind who raves on and on about it, but since i already have a Mia, i didnt need another physical device.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Physicians Formula - Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow and Liner- Nude palette
ritables 6/24/2012 4:56:00 PM
I am in love with the adorable packaging, its like sexy fishnet lingere! Heed warning ladies: i am not an experienced eye makeup person; i only wear mascara. I may not be the best reviewer if you are big into eye makeup and need decent advice. It was on sale at CVS for $6 and a steal i could not resist. I am in love with the third color from the top. Its a light beige shimmery color and i think it looks so good with just a simple swipe on the eyelids. nothing else. I like this collection because it offers enough variety for a couple different looks. I dont really go out at night but the bottom three colors looks like it would be really smoky and sexy. I am in love with Physicians Formula lately, they sure have stepped up their game with better formulas and awesome packaging. In love!!! I use the second from the last color with the included slant sponge applicator to fill in my brows. Its an all-in-one for my eyes and brows. Love Love Love!!! Back about 10 years ago i tried the loose powders from this brand and found them to be cheap and did not perform well, but since then they really improved and i am so surprised.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Coppertone - Coppertone Water Babies Pure and Simple, Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
ritables 6/24/2012 4:49:00 PM
I got this today because it was on sale and I had $1 off coupon,ended up being $6 USD. Cheap! I this formula reminds me of Shiseido's spf 60 for face and body, but minus the burn around the eyes. I didnt wait for it to dry, i just dusted over the top with some loose powder (Physicians Formula Airbrushed Loose Powder in Translucent Light) and it looks really nice. Not too matte, but not greasy. I can not tell how much sun protection it is yet, i have not properly tested. I do like the thinner consistancy and the best part about this product is the high Titanium and Zinc Oxides. Love it! Been looking for a decent physical sunscreen that is affordable. All sunscreens make me look greasy, but if i dust with a little mineral make up it sets just fine. I just cant wear black when i dust my arms with the mineral makeup, but i dont really wear black in the summer anyways. Its unusual for me to put a ss that is higher than 30 spf for my face (i dont like so many unnecessary chemicals on my face) but I really need to up my spf game because i am going through a round of glycolic peels and do use retin A. I hope this keeps me nice and pale, i really like the way it feels and how it doesn't sting my eyes.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyes -Unlisted Brand - Careprost~Generic Brand Latisse
ritables 6/19/2012 8:51:00 AM
This is the product through which i discovered this site, makeupalley! I was considering this when my anesthetist wrote me a prescription, but nearly had a heart attack when i called a few pharmacies to inquire the price. I then cruised around the net and found these reviews. The first bottle i purchased was from Amazon, at around $50. That bottle lasted me 18-20 weeks. One drop is enough to use for both eyes and brows. I used a tiny little, i mean TINY little brush included from the vendor. The brush included from alldaychemist was more like a lip brush, and i like it because it does get tedious using that teeny little brush. the pros of using the teeny little brush is that it itches less. I then took the advice and purchased it from alldaychemist (careful: not alldaychemist and not alldaySchemist) with a mastercard that isnt used very often or have a big balance, just in case. They unfortunately dont take paypal, my main form of payment for online purchases.I have had no problems, however. after the second week to one month i noticed initial growth in length. I was substantial; i kept staring at them in the mirror, absolutely fascinated. Then it stayed static until the very end, about 10 weeks in, i started to notice thickening. It wasnt until the very end of 16 weeks that they grew to final length and thickness. It is exactly as others have described; one day upon waking up the lashes' growth and density seem to explode. I am now into the 7th month of use, and yes, i use every other day. I should reduce to every 3 days. I do use this product on my eyebrows and lower lashes (shame!) but not until after the 16 weeks of growth on the top lashes only. I dont really notice it as much on the brows, but very much notice on the lower lashes. It is difficult to apply, and the product does turn the skin slightly darker. The top lid has a line of darker skin along the lash line, but i do use a little eyeshadow and it covers it right up. There is a spot on my lower eye, just inside the lash that i have touched with the product and that dot is still there. Its fading though. To say this product has transformed my lashes is an UNDERSTATEMENT, as my lashes are freakishly long and have received many comments, "your lashes are the longest ive ever seen" or "are those real" or "who does your lashes" are some of them. They are so thick too, not just the length, which i would have been happy with. It is beyond expectation It is easier to apply mascara, as i dont have to butt up to my skin very closely anymore; they also curl with the mascara alone (no more lash curler needed). I hope they dont fall out, as i have heard from some, after long term use. If they do, then i hope to take a break and resume, as i am spoilt rotten how gorgeous they are and how they make me feel so sexy and confident! I do have some shedding once in a while, but only one or two and maybe once a week. If i shed before, i didnt notice, so this may be perfectly normal. I will use this forever: i consider this the one product i would have with me on a deserted island. Update: Ive had some breakage on the left side, but dont think its due to the product. Its been itchy lately, so i think its a bit of over zealous rubbing. I sure do hope so, because i would be SO SAD if i couldnt use this anymore. I still have a full bottle unopened and a bottle ive only used for a a month. It must be the bigger brush im using. The more product the more side effects but not not more results! Time, and not more product will get your results.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Murad - Essential-C Toner
ritables 6/17/2012 8:05:00 AM
This was just alright. I always worry about how stable the Vitamin C is. I use homemade concoction as a 'serum' right before i put makeup on, but i do wash it off, as i have suspicion that it darkens my foundation/mineral makeup or oxidizes, whichever term is more correct. I didnt see any whitening. I love the spray nozzle. I use about 5-6 pumps on my face and then use a cotton pad to smooth and wipe down. It does feel nice and refreshing. due to the cost, i will not be repurchasing again. I have discovered the joys of online shopping for exotic korean and japanese cosmetics and will be trying other products, especially with whitening or brightening qualities (which i dont see in US toners, maybe I am not looking hard enough)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Great Lash Lots of Lashes
ritables 6/17/2012 8:01:00 AM
This was my HG because of the fabulous little applicator. Loved it so much i used 3 bottles concurrently, but have switched to something less flaky and more buildable. I had to be careful when applying this product, as it was very easy to go overboard. The reason why i applied too thickly is that it makes the lashes stick together when i applied the third or more coats. I had to go seriously light on this. I kept wiping off product with a paper towel so i could go back and use the brush to comb out lashes and define them. The final straw was the flakies. I got them pretty bad, especially after wearing a few hours. Plus, the formula is not flexible at all, it is very firm and crunchy. It all depends on what you like in a mascara. It worked for a while when i needed a firmer hold, my lashes do not like to curl; but now that i have maximum length from using Latisse, they seem to curl by themselves and dont need a mega-hold product. I am Asian, and had the stubbiest teeniest lashes. Now, they are long, full and fluttery....but....need a less firm hold. I am using Maybelline's Mega Plush....for now. Im sure that will change also.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -Dr. Jart+ - Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45 PA+++
ritables 6/17/2012 7:55:00 AM
This was my first BB cream; I sampled it at Sephora, and then bought a small 10g tube to try a bit further than the 2 days the small Sephora sample afforded me. The coverage is medium, a little bit thicker than my Legere Multi White, but about the same as my Skin79 gold. I dont think it makes me look as dewy or glow like the other two bb creams, which is why i stopped using it. The SPF is higher and is the main reason why i bought this product. I think the price is a bit high too; there are so many bb creams out there, and they are about half the cost, although you have to wait for international shipping (such a drag, when you are so anxious to try your new product). I dont regret buying this, but i wont buy it again simply because there are so many out there to try. It really does have a nice coverage, but to what i refer to an 'american standard'. I am Asian, NC25-ish and feel that other online purchases of the many varieties of bb creams makes it hard to want to re-purchase this again. It is a superior product, and the quality is awesome, which is probably why Sephora chose this brand, from the hundreds out there. The SPF alone is a great feature. I didnt have my sun powders nor set this bb cream with a loose powder, but i feel that i might have liked it better if i set it with my Etude House O2 Whitening sun powder (i really love this stuff, i am furiously trying to make 20 reviews so i can add this product to this database)
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Burt's Bees - Burts Bees Lip Shimmers
ritables 6/17/2012 7:48:00 AM
I have this in three shades: Guava, the original color (sheer with a little shine to it) and Strawberry. The Guava and Strawberry more opaque. What i love about these is how light they feel on the lips, and the physical sunscreen quality to them. I do love burt Bee's for lips. the Guava color has a bit more shimmer than the Strawberry; I can not say which one i wear more of the three because they equally get worn. I lost the original color one for a while, it was in my husband's jeep, which is parked in a hot garage. After missing it for a month, i open it up and it has not melted and re-formed, however, i did let it fully cool before attempting to apply. My Guava got messed up when i tried to use it when it was warm and mushy, but it sorted itself out with more use. I dislike it when lip balms melt and then re-form. I tried the brighter red one before, but returned it. it was too orangy for me and clashed. Which is weird, i usually look good in that color. They are a bit more expensive than regular chapstick, but these are my go-to products when I am out and about and need to do something about ugly dry lips. I do use Revlon's butter balms more lately; they give off more gloss shine, rather than the flecks of sparkle in the Burt Bee's. But, if you are active like me, and dont want to keep messing with it, then i use the Burt Bee's and it sort of dries on my lips and forms a physical barrier. Yay, because i have a horrible freckle on my bottom lip that ive had frozen off before and it came back anyways. Wearing lip SPF for me is a must, or the freckle gets big and super dark and looks like ive been eating pencil lead.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No