Concealers -NYX - HD Photogenic Concealer Wand
shoeboxoftrees 5/8/2013 6:29:00 PM
My skin: acne-prone, oily, old pink acne scars from picking, occasionally a small pimple. VERY PALE. My skin would be the neutral baby of NC/NW 10 in MAC, at its darkest. This product is one of the most natural-looking concealers I have ever used. The lightest shade, porcelain, is a very pale neutral color, and is a perfect match for my Caspar the Ghost-toned skin. This is one of the only drugstore concealers that matches me, and it happens to be one of the best (YAY!). Breakouts: No Coverage: Medium. It covers the lighter acne scars perfectly. It needs a bit of help on super red areas from a fuller coverage concealer, but it provides a base of color so that I don't have to use as much of the heavy-duty concealer. The BEST part of this concealer is that you can use it over large areas, like most of a cheek, and it still looks good and natural. My scarring is mostly on my cheeks, and I use a coat of this over my cheeks instead of foundation and it looks great. "Blendability": Amazing. I blend this into my cheeks and it looks like I'm not wearing makeup. My skin just looks flawless. Lasting-power: Good. It stays best with a setting powder. It doesn't transfer much if at all when set. It moves around a bit on my super oily areas, but a powder foundation on top takes care of that problem. Scent: Pretty horrible. This is the only con of the product. It smells like burnt plastic to me. With the price of this product, it is definitely worth a try. I do wish more stores carried NYX around here besides Ulta, which is an hour away. However, cherryculture.com is currently having their 40% off NYX sale, so I got 4 of these for around $3 each.
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Treatments -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - Radiance Peel
shoeboxoftrees 3/1/2013 10:46:00 AM
Many people recommended this product to me to help diminish old acne scars. I hadn't been breaking out for about 6 months, and figured I'd give it a try. I hate to be the Debbie Downer of this product's reviews, but I feel as if my experience with it is equally as important as the positive reviews. I cleansed my face with a gentle, non-medicated cleanser, had stopped using retinol and acne products a few nights before, and applied this peel to my face. It tingled at first, then felt like I was being stabbed in the face with needles over and over again. The sharp pains shot around my face, and an intense itching began after the first minute. After removing the peel, my face felt much better, was a tiny bit red, but looked overall alright. I thought that the pain would be worth the results. I waited for the peeling phase that I was told to expect, and that never happened. Instead, two weeks after applying the mask, I began to break out all over my face in pimples, mostly on my forehead where I never usually break out. The pimple attack would not go away no matter what I tried doing to help soothe the skin and combat the acne. I continued getting constant pimples for about two months after the initial breakout two weeks after application. While the pimples were mostly small, there were just so many and so spread over my entire face that I couldn't hide them well. After the pimples started to subside (though I should note that I still get a couple a week now), I noticed that they were leaving indented scars that I had never experienced before. So currently, my face looks like the surface of the moon, plus some pimples on top of that. I couldn't be more disappointed in a product than I was with this one. The moral of the story is that strong peels like this one affect everyone differently. I had done the patch test with no negative results as the product suggested. My skin looks worse now than I think it ever has, and I feel like hiding in a hole and not coming out until this nightmare ends.
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Treatments -Mario Badescu - Healing Cream
shoeboxoftrees 2/3/2013 2:56:00 PM
This is an HG item for me. I love this product. I have acne-prone, oily, very sensitive skin and this stuff is magical. I apply a medium amount of product all over my face after applying my acne treatment and moisturizer, to seal it all in and really nourish the skin. This is more of a thick balmy cream, so I wouldn't suggest using it during the day unless you have super dry skin that doesn't get oily. That said, at night, it is perfect. I will sometimes spot treat red areas with a little extra before going to bed and in the morning the redness will be greatly reduced. It does heal acne spots and acne scarring nicely, without scarring. It seems to have even helped my old acne scarring from before I found this product. HOWEVER, it is not a one-time, overnight miracle cream. Usage over time is what makes this product work well at preventing scarring from acne. I love how few ingredients are in this and how simple it is. The only downside to the product is the packaging. It comes in a little plastic tub, and it is not exactly super hygienic when you have to dip fingers in to get product out.
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Primer/ Corrector -Skindinavia - No More Shine Makeup Finish
shoeboxoftrees 2/3/2013 2:48:00 PM
I bought a huge bottle of this after hearing rave reviews about the original formula on MUA and on youtube. I figured the "mattifying" version would be optimal for me as I have a very oily T-zone by the end of the day. This spray does not seem to dry my skin out, does not seem to moisturize it, does not break me out, but it also DOES NOT CONTROL OIL. This sets makeup and helps it stay put, but it does not do anything about my shiny T-zone. I was pretty disappointed that it didn't help with the oil, but it still gets three stars for setting my makeup well and keeping it in place all day.
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Primer/ Corrector -Tarte - Clean Slate Poreless 12 hr perfecting primer 
shoeboxoftrees 2/3/2013 2:44:00 PM
So far so good. This primer has not broken me out, and I am extremely acne-prone. One thing I love about it is the texture and finish. It is not completely clear and is pretty thick. Once applied, the pores literally just seem to disappear. I have some small pitted acne scars and it fills them in nicely, making them look less harsh. It keeps makeup on all day, and is decent at oil control. Not great, but decent. I also like that Tarte uses more natural ingredients in their products. It smells a bit plastic-y but I don't notice it much and only smell it when I am literally sniffing the primer. It seems like the smell is what it is because Tarte did not add a chemical scent to the product, but I could be wrong. Pros: -keeps makeup on for 12 hours like it claims -really does seem to make pores disappear -not greasy -DOES NOT BREAK ME OUT -I really like the texture Cons: -doesn't control oil as much as I'd like Basically, this is a good primer for a "poreless" look. However, it is not HG for me. I am still on the hunt for that perfect primer, but this does a pretty darn good job. I plan on repurchasing as my go-to primer until I find something better.
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Primer/ Corrector -Cover FX - Clearprep FX Matte Foundation Primer and Anti-Acne Treatment
shoeboxoftrees 2/3/2013 2:35:00 PM
I tried a sample of this and was impressed that it did not break me out. I am TERRIFIED of primers breaking me out, so I am very picky about what I use. The "anti-acne" properties of this drew me in. I purchased the full-size bottle, and am about halfway done with it and it has been about two months of almost daily use. It helps keep my makeup on all day, but I can't say anything about its ability to control oil, as I am still greasy pretty quickly. It hasn't broken me out, but it also doesn't seem to be helping acne either. Pros: -doesn't break me out -keeps makeup on all day Cons: -doesn't control oil -doesn't seem to do much about acne -expensive -can sting a bit when first applied Honestly, I'd rather just apply an acne treatment before a normal primer than use this. I recently discovered the Tarte clean slate poreless primer, which is much better at oil control and has not broken me out.
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Concealers -BeneFit Cosmetics - Boi-ing
shoeboxoftrees 1/19/2013 5:26:00 PM
I like this concealer a lot. I am in between NC and NW 15 in MAC, and a beige 0 in Alima Pure, and the lightest shade, 01, is a good match. It looks darker in the pot than it does on my face. This concealer is very creamy, but not greasy. I can put it on blemishes on my forehead and it does not get any greasier than any other concealer I've used there. It is easily buildable and nicely pigmented. HOWEVER, for me, I can only use it on redness and blemishes around the face, not on under eye circles. When I put this under my eye, even the teeniest amount, it settles into lines. I have no undereye lines, so I don't know what this product is doing under there. That said, it is great for the rest of the face. Pros: Creamy, easy to blend Buildable coverage, from medium to full Shade 01 is pretty darn light for us pale gals Great for blemishes and redness Cons: Creases under my eyes Packaging is annoying to open and looks like it may allow the product to dry out- we'll have to see
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Blush -BeneFit Cosmetics - Dandelion
shoeboxoftrees 1/19/2013 5:19:00 PM
I have found my HG blush with this one. I was apprehensive at first as I was purchasing it online and had heard that it isn't pigmented and doesn't show up, but I thought I'd give it a try. I am in between NC and NW 15 in MAC, and a beige 0 in Alima Pure, and this blush gives the prettiest, most natural flush of any blush I've ever tried. It looks a bit light in the pan even to me, but it is just beautiful. It looks like I'm actually blushing when I wear this one, or like I've been outside in the cold for a bit. It has a teeny bit of shimmer to it, but it isn't really noticeable when you apply it. It also has a nice scent to it, which is kind of weird to me honestly, but I don't mind it. Pros: Beautiful color for pale skin Not too shimmery, more of a satin finish Can be applied lightly or heavily without looking clownish Doesn't break me out Has a scent Looks very natural HG for me Cons: Has a scent- if you are super allergic to perfumes, perhaps try in the store first to be sure that it won't upset you I am love/hate about benefit's box packaging- it's cute but kind of clunky and big
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Concealers -Make Up For Ever - Full Cover Concealer
shoeboxoftrees 11/3/2012 11:35:00 AM
I love the coverage, the texture, and how this product does not settle into fine lines, but the PROs pretty much end there. First of all, it costs $32 for a small tube. Granted a little does go a long way, but still. That is expensive for concealer. Secondly, the lightest color is still too dark for my face. I can use it under my eyes, as it is very pink/salmony toned, but on the rest of my face it just looks orange. I am pretty pale, but with the wide shade selection I figured they would have a color for us ghosties. Wrong. I guess one other PRO/CON, depending on how you look at it, is that this product does not budge. It is indeed waterproof as it claims to be. My facial cleanser always leaves a bit of product behind unless I use an eye makeup remover first. I have not tried swimming in this concealer though. I would be curious to see how it holds up.
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Concealers -Hard Candy - Glamoflauge Concealer
shoeboxoftrees 11/3/2012 11:28:00 AM
When I first opened the tube, a greasy liquid came out first, then the product. The concealer itself has a weird consistency and looks greasy when I squeeze it out. I immediately regretted my $6 purchase. However, I decided to try it out around my jawline in case it broke me out. Once on the skin, it does not look greasy at all. The "ultra light" color matches my pale skin really well. This concealer covers like an absolute dream and stays put once it sets with powder. I am still weirded out by the texture and seemingly greasiness, but I will deal with it. Another comparable nicely full coverage concealer I've tried is the MUFE full cover, but not only is that $32, it doesn't come in light enough shades to match my skin. It only works on the undereye area because it is pink-toned. The MUFE has a much wider shade selection though, so if you can't find your shade in the hard candy and don't mind shelling out $32 for a concealer, try that one. The consistency is slightly different from the hard candy as well. The only real CON of this product besides the lack of shade selection is that it is only sold at Walmart. I had to try 3 different Walmarts before I could find the "ultra light" color. What a pain in the butt. UPDATE: After using this in the morning and leaving it on for 8 hours, my forehead was a greasy mess. If you have oily skin, or an oily t-zone, perhaps this is not the product for you. It still worked great on my cheeks though.
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Mascara -Anastasia Of Beverly Hills - Lash Genius Waterproof Topcoat
shoeboxoftrees 10/28/2012 2:43:00 PM
I do not understand this product. I was so excited when it arrived in the mail. It did not help hold my curl, it did not help keep mascara waterproof. A waterproof version of any mascara would do a better job than this. I thought I wasn't using enough so I piled it on and it made my lashes look grey. Every mascara I try gives me some transfer right under my brow bone by the end of the day. I was hoping that this product would stop that. Nope. I saw no difference. I tried this product when my mascara was wet and when it was dry and nothing worked. I tried just applying it to the tips of my lashes, but that looked like little gray blobs at the tips, like little sad pieces of lint or something. This is super pricey for what it is, and I still have most of the tube left. I don't know what to do with it. Too expensive to throw out, but worthless at what it claims to do. I was very disappointed with this product. Had I kept my Sephora returns label this would have gone back.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -L'Oreal - Voluminous False Fiber Lashes~Waterproof
shoeboxoftrees 10/17/2012 9:19:00 AM
This is a great mascara for holding a curl and giving the dramatic false lash effect. It actually lives up to its name. I don't know how much the "false fibers" really do, but the mascara itself is excellent, especially after about a week or two of use. It is a little too wet when you first open the tube and requires a bit more work to get the dramatic look I want, but after a short time it is perfect. The brush is large enough to get the job done but not OTT huge. I do get mascara on my brow bone every time I use this and must remove it with a Qtip, so if you are in a hurry this may not be the best mascara to use unless you have serious mascara skills. The only thing I don't like is the packaging. The shape of the tube is kind of neat but it's a gaudy gold color. Also, when I replace the wand into the tube after use, a decent amount of mascara balls up around the seam, which is very wasteful.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Tarte - Picture Perfect Eyelash Curler
shoeboxoftrees 10/17/2012 9:11:00 AM
I like the handles and how you don't have to hook your fingers in, however anything positive I have to say ends there. This eyelash curler is incredibly bulky and I can't maneuver it comfortably to get close enough to the roots of my lashes to give a good curl. It curls the lashes too far from the roots, which makes them look shorter. I jammed the thing into my eye and still couldn't make it work.I guess one other positive is that it didn't pinch the delicate skin surrounding the eye. My old revlon one does a better job than this and it cost about 1/4 the price. However, I will say that I like a really dramatic, super curl that is almost like a 90 degree angle but with a curve. If you want something natural, this may be a good product for that. Not so much for the fake eyelash look. I will continue on in my quest for a new eyelash curler that I actually like.
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Eye Makeup Remover -Make Up For Ever - Sens Eyes
shoeboxoftrees 7/28/2012 3:14:00 PM
LOVE this. I wear a ton of waterproof mascara and nothing removes it as easily as this. No lashes are harmed or removed in the process, which is what usually happens with other removers. I wear contacts and this has not been a problem. It has gotten in my eyes many times and it doesn't sting at all. I am used to liquid removers, so the creamy consistency of this was odd at first, though it works well in the shower and doesn't run all over the place. I love that this product has a pump. It is so much easier to get to the product this way. The only downside is the price. It's definitely pricey for a MU remover, but honestly, since it doesn't damage my lashes or sting, it is worth the price.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Prada - Infusion d'iris edp
shoeboxoftrees 2/25/2012 9:19:00 AM
For some reason I was excited about this fragrance, thinking that I would really enjoy the scent of irises. Well, this does not smell like irises. It smells exactly like Johnson & Johnson baby oil. If I ever wanted to smell like baby oil, I would use baby oil, which is a couple dollars for a huge bottle. Thankfully I only got a sample of this before buying the full size, because I hate scents that smell powdery, or like a baby's butt. Yet again, I am disappointed by Prada's scents.
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