Blush -Tarte - Cheek Stain in Flush
schwabj 4/2/2012 7:54:00 PM
I'm usually not a fan of cream blushes or stains (I prefer power blushes), but I really love this one! It doesn't smear the powder foundation I wear underneath and gives a very natural "flush" on my fair skin. It also has amazing staying power; better than any blush I've ever tried. I have the sample size and it's lasted me a really long time. My only gripe is the price of a full-sized cheek stain; I think $30 is too steep. Also, I prefer the twist up packaging of the mini size to the push-up packaging of the full size. I wish you could simply buy the smaller one for half the price!
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Blush -Tarte - Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Dollface
schwabj 4/2/2012 7:17:00 PM
I personally adore this matte baby pink blush, and I wear it almost everyday! I love matte blushes the most, and it looks incredibly natural on me (I have fair skin with pink undertones). I can also build it up for a more intense "going-out" look. Even though it's pricey at $25, I will repurchase and possibly try other matte blushes from Tarte.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Tarte - LipSurgence stain pencil - Enchanted
schwabj 4/2/2012 6:58:00 PM
This is my absolute favorite chubby stick-like product ever! It's moisturizing like a chapstick, glossy like a lip gloss (but not too glossy or sticky), pigmented like a lipstick, and has staying power like a lip stain (Not quite as much staying power as a stain, but after the gloss fades, the color remains). I have fair skin and naturally pigmented lips, and I absolutely love to use Enchanted for a bright pop of color on evenings when I want bright lips. It works amazing with my skin tone, and I will definitely repurchase! I also love the minty scent and the fact that it's a twist-up (No sharpening!). My only gripe is the price, but since the sample size has lasted me a long time, I believe it's worth the price.
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Lipstick -Clinique - Chubby Stick - Super Strawberry
schwabj 4/2/2012 6:50:00 PM
I'm in love with chubby stick type-products, since they are like a lipstick, chapstick, and gloss in one! I received Super Strawberry in a set along with Woppin' Watermelon, Mega Melon, and Whole Lotta Honey. The color is a bright rosy pink, which I absolutely love! It gives a great pop of color without being crazy intense. It's one of my favorites out of all the chubby sticks (By the way, the only chubby stick product I like better than Clinique's is Tarte's Lipsurge Natural Lip Tints). Also, I love how the chubby sticks twist up and don't have to be sharpened. These are also basically unscented (though it does have subtle crayon-like smell).
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Lips -Clinique - Chubby Stick - Woppin Watermelon *NEW FORMULA*
schwabj 4/2/2012 6:46:00 PM
I'm in love with chubby stick type-products, since they are like a lipstick, chapstick, and gloss in one! I received Woppin' Watermelon in a set along with Mega Melon, Super Strawberry, and Whole Lotta Honey. The color is a very light pink, and I absolutely love the way it looks on my lips! It's very subtle, but gives my lips a gorgeous pink tinge! I love wearing Watermelon with smokey eyes. It also makes me want to explore other more pigmented pinks! It's also very moisturizing and not too glossy. It's my favorite out of all the chubby sticks (By the way, the only chubby stick product I like better than Clinique's is Tarte's Lipsurge Natural Lip Tints). Also, I love how the chubby sticks twist up and don't have to be sharpened. These are also basically unscented (though it does have subtle crayon-like smell).
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Lipstick -Clinique - Chubby Stick - Mega Melon
schwabj 4/2/2012 6:37:00 PM
I'm in love with chubby stick type-products, since they are like a lipstick, chapstick, and gloss in one! I received Mega Melon in a set along with Woppin' Watermelon, Super Strawberry, and Whole Lotta Honey. The color is basically a coral-based neutral. Looks great on the lips as a wash of color, without being too intense. It's also very moisturizing and not too glossy. It's not my favorite out of all the chubby sticks, but I still love it! (By the way, the only chubby stick product I like better than Clinique's is Tarte's Lipsurge Natural Lip Tints). Also, I love how the chubby sticks twist up and don't have to be sharpened. These are also basically unscented (though it does have subtle crayon-like smell).
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Eye Shadow -Stila - Puppy Eyeshadow
schwabj 4/2/2012 6:26:00 PM
I keep hearing that Puppy is discontinued, but I just bought it in the Stila "Ladies Who Lunch Kit" at Ulta for $32 (This kit is a great value btw; it came with 3 full size eyeshadows in Kitten, Puppy, and Twig, a full size liquid eyeliner in Rock Candy, a crease brush, and a sample size mascara. Since each eyeshadow is $18 alone, this kit is well worth it!). Puppy is medium matte brown, and has a soft, buttery texture. I like to use it as an all over lid color with a darker brown as a crease color, as a crease color itself (I have fair skin), or as a cheek contour. Very versatile product and it works well. Yay!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Stila - Twig Eyeshadow
schwabj 4/2/2012 6:15:00 PM
Twig is a fabulous plummy red-based brown with a satin finish and very fine-milled plum sparkles (NOT chunky glitter, which I dislike). And though it looks intimidatingly dark in the pan, it is a very wearable crease color (I have fair skin, so if it works on me, chances are it'll work on pretty much anyone). Like all Stila eyeshadow singles I've tried, it's got a great, smooth, buttery texture. It's also easy to blend and apply, and doesn't have much (if any) fall-out. Good job, Stila!
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Eye Shadow -Stila - Kitten
schwabj 4/2/2012 6:06:00 PM
I find it crazy how people either seem to love this product or hate it with a passion. I rather like it, personally. Yes, it is frosty, but when applied correctly, it is a great shimmery neutral. Keep in mind I have very fair skin, so it's more like my skin tone, but with shimmer. I like that it's shimmery, but without annoying, chunky glitter. I like to wear this all over the lid over primer, with a dark matte brown in the crease. My favorite way to wear Kitten, is to put the smallest amount near your inner tear duct as a highlighter. Makes you look very bright-eyed and awake! I don't have any problems with fall-out, staying power, or creasing. I think it's one of those eyeshadows that looks great on certain skin tones, and horrible on others. But for me, I quite like it!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Tarte - Lights Camera Lashes
schwabj 4/2/2012 5:46:00 PM
I have the deluxe sample size of this mascara, and I absolutely love it! I only have the 5 mL tube, and it's amazing how long the deluxe size has lasted me without drying out. I love how I only need one coat of this mascara to get great volume, length, and definition. Though it is not waterproof, it does not smudge or flake on me. It also is very easy to take off. I will take off one lippie, however, because it is very pricey at about $20. I don't like to spend more then $10 on mascara, but for this mascara, I will probably repurchase at some point.
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Mascara -E.L.F. - Lengthening & Defining Mascara
schwabj 4/2/2012 5:40:00 PM
I bought this mascara in a holiday set for $3, which came with black, dark brown, and clear mascara. So it's incredibly cheap! And though it is not waterproof, it does not smudge and is easy to take off. It does thicken and lengthen my lashes, though not as much as I usually prefer. I like to use these on days when I want a more natural look, and for that, they do their job well! The only major problem I have with these is the packaging. It's almost like there is just way too much product crammed in the tubes, so it tends to glob out. If you don't wipe the tip of the wand with the tissue, it can be quite messy. I don't like how it basically forces you to waste product. However, once you use the tube up halfway, the problem is basically gone. I most likely will repurchase, especially if they are sold individually. I love the clear mascara the most for keeping brows in place.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -E.L.F. - Eyelid Primer
schwabj 4/2/2012 5:32:00 PM
This is not the best eye primer I've ever used, but for the price it's not too bad. It does successfully prevent eyeshadow from creasing, but it doesn't make your eyeshadow pop whatsoever. In fact, I feel like it makes the colors less intense. It works in a pinch for natural looks, but if I want my eyeshadow to stay true to color (or be more intense), I'd rather use UDPP in original or Eden. It's honestly not bad for a dollar, however. I use it to even out my eyelids on days when I don't wear eyeshadow. This sounds strange, but I actually like using it under my eyes. It helps prevent my under eye concealer from creasing. I will repurchase to use as a under eyelid primer (lol), but I would not repurchase this as an actual eyelid primer.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Cover Girl - Perfect Point Plus Eyeliners
schwabj 4/2/2012 5:25:00 PM
These are just okay. They're great when you are in a rush, because they glide on easily on your lower and upper lash line. The problem is that they smudge like no other, especially on my upper lids. This can be fixed with a quick swipe of a Q-tip, but honestly there's better eyeliners out there for not much money. I like that they are dark and pigmented (I own dark onyx and expresso), but that just means more smudges. Since I've found better drug store liners (Try Physicians Formula Custom Enhancing Eyeliner Trio), I won't be repurchasing. Also, the lids tend to crack and break.
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Eyeliner -Physicians Formula - Shimmer strips custom eye enhancing eyeliner trio
schwabj 4/2/2012 5:19:00 PM
I love these eyeliners, especially for the price! For about $10, you get three full size eyeliners! Not bad at all, especially since you get a good black and can experiment with fun colors. I have the trio for blue eyes, which comes with a black, a medium bronzy brown, and a medium blue. Pros: -Great lasting power! It's virtually waterproof and does not smudge at all! I always have problems with eyeliner smudging on my lower lash line, and this does not whatsoever. -Great colors. -The black is a dark black, with a slight blue undertone and subtle blue shimmer. I hardly notice the shimmer at all, to be honest. I use it like a matte black. -The brown is medium and quite bronze, which is very flattering for blue eyes. It's also not too bold for days when you want your eye look to be less intense. I do see the shimmer in the brown a bit more, but nothing too crazy. -The blue is medium in color with not much noticeable shimmer. It's not a dark blue-black at all, but it's great for a pop of color. -I love automatic eyeliners, so it's a win for me! -You can sharpen the tip with the build-in sharpeners at the base of the eyeliners. -Great value! Cons: -The shades could stand to be a bit darker, but I'm not complaining since I prefer a more natural look anyway. -The subtle shimmer might be a negative for some people, but I rather like it. Keep in mind that the shimmer is NOT chunky glitter. -The eyeliners could stand to go on a bit more smoothly. These don't glide as readily was other eyeliners, but since the staying power is so good, I'm not complaining. All in all, good quality product and worth the money. I will repurchase these for blue eyes when I run out. I would also like to try the ones for green eyes.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Volum' Express The Colossal Waterproof
schwabj 4/2/2012 5:05:00 PM
I like this mascara, since it is waterproof, makes my lashes dark, separates, doesn't clump, and gives good length & volume. It can be difficult to remove, but I just use Neutrogena or Clinique eye-makeup remover with no problems. I will not repurchase, however, because I find that my upper lashes smudge on my brow bone. I have fairly long lashes, but I don't have this problem with most other waterproof mascaras or even decent non-waterproof ones! I like this mascara, but the smudging problem prevents me from loving it. I'll finish this tube up, but I won't repurchase.
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