Eyeliner -Clinique - Brush-on Cream Liner Smoke Grey
srscott 6/6/2011 12:48:00 PM
I was so sad when Palladio discontinued their taupe liner, it was the best shade on me! (me - nc25, blonde hair, blue eyes) I have been looking for a taupe liner ever since. I have tried grays and browns but they just aren't as flattering on me. Then, as I was hopelessly perusing reviews, I saw people referring to this "smoke grey" as a taupe color. I immediately went out and purchased it. LOVE! This goes on easily, lasts forever, and is a perfect taupe! I love the color even more than my old fav! I definitely recommend!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Paula's Choice - Shine Stopper Instant Matte Finish
srscott 3/10/2011 11:41:00 AM
This product claims to "give you a matte finish that keeps you shine-free for at least six hours while minimizing the appearance of pores." I did a split face test with this along with my favorite primer - L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base. My current favorite was decided upon after numerous split face tests with every primer on the market that claims to both control oil and minimize pores. (I'm not kidding when I say "every" primer!) They both go on smoothly, L'Oreal's product is thick and light pink, Paula's is thinner and white. Both disappear on your skin and give an instant matte finish. The Paula's Choice product does indeed do a fine job of controlling oil (and with my oily skin, that is really saying something!) However, after checks in a magnifying mirror every half hour, the Paula's Choice side began to get a glow about it before the L'Oreal side. This was at about the sixth hour, so the oil control claims are pretty factual. Paula's Choice did not perform as well with the pore minimizing claims. While it did somewhat blur the appearance of my pores, it did not do this near as well as the L'Oreal product. The winner -- L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base! It control's oil better and also does a much better job in minimizing the appearance of pores. I would not purchase the Paula's Choice product again, since L'Oreal's works better for me. However, I do think the Paula's Choice Shine Stopper is a good product. It would beat out many other primers in oil control. As long as you aren't worried about minimizing pores, I would recommend this product! EDIT: Price comparison -- L'Oreal's is a little more expensive at $13.00 for .5 oz. as opposed to Paula's at $22.00 for 1 oz. However, keep in mind that you will get every last bit of L'Oreal's because of the jar, while Paula's is in a squeeze tube. Also, you will have to pay shipping for Paula's unless you get in on a special deal.
13 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Ulta - Organza
srscott 12/9/2010 3:52:00 PM
I bought every Ulta eye shadow that looked even vaguely taupe on their website during a bogo sale. The way the colors show up on the website is very misleading! I ended up with some colors I really love and some that I really don't think will work on me. In hopes of helping others avoid purchasing shades they can't use, I'm summarizing them here. I also have a picture in my profile. Organza - light shimmery shade with hints of lavender Sandstone - light shimmery pinkish brown - identical to Revlon’s Nude Slip - a good base color. Mystique - My favorite out of all of these! A true medium taupe, great for the crease. It is also shimmery. Plum Smoke - My second favorite. This is another shimmery medium taupe, but with plummy undertones. Another good crease color. A perfect dupe for Elizabeth Arden's buff which I loved and is now discontinued. Gold Dust - Quite dark, given the name! There is nothing gold about it -- one of the least shimmery out of the bunch. However, it is a great neutral taupe color, excellent for lining. I am quite fond of this one! Chestnut - This has the least shimmer of them all. It is also one of my least favorite. It is a reddish brown color and just doesn't look good on me. Mesmerize - This color looks nothing like it looks in the pan! It is quite shimmery and quite red! Many reviewers mention this, but I didn't believe them -- well, believe it! This is my absolute least favorite. The quality of these shadows is excellent! They are very smooth with little fallout. The color payoff is very good and they are long lasting. I do not have a problem with the hard coating on top that some reviewers mention, even though these are the new shadows with the word Ulta imprinted on the shadow. The price ($7.00) is cheap, especially with the bogo deal ($3.50). Overall, I highly recommend these shadows and the colors are dependent on your personal preference.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Ulta - Sandstone
srscott 12/9/2010 3:51:00 PM
I bought every Ulta eye shadow that looked even vaguely taupe on their website during a bogo sale. The way the colors show up on the website is very misleading! I ended up with some colors I really love and some that I really don't think will work on me. In hopes of helping others avoid purchasing shades they can't use, I'm summarizing them here. I also have a picture in my profile. Organza - light shimmery shade with hints of lavender Sandstone - light shimmery pinkish brown - identical to Revlon’s Nude Slip - a good base color. Mystique - My favorite out of all of these! A true medium taupe, great for the crease. It is also shimmery. Plum Smoke - My second favorite. This is another shimmery medium taupe, but with plummy undertones. Another good crease color. A perfect dupe for Elizabeth Arden's buff which I loved and is now discontinued. Gold Dust - Quite dark, given the name! There is nothing gold about it -- one of the least shimmery out of the bunch. However, it is a great neutral taupe color, excellent for lining. I am quite fond of this one! Chestnut - This has the least shimmer of them all. It is also one of my least favorite. It is a reddish brown color and just doesn't look good on me. Mesmerize - This color looks nothing like it looks in the pan! It is quite shimmery and quite red! Many reviewers mention this, but I didn't believe them -- well, believe it! This is my absolute least favorite. The quality of these shadows is excellent! They are very smooth with little fallout. The color payoff is very good and they are long lasting. I do not have a problem with the hard coating on top that some reviewers mention, even though these are the new shadows with the word Ulta imprinted on the shadow. The price ($7.00) is cheap, especially with the bogo deal ($3.50). Overall, I highly recommend these shadows and the colors are dependent on your personal preference.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Ulta - Mystique
srscott 12/9/2010 3:50:00 PM
I bought every Ulta eye shadow that looked even vaguely taupe on their website during a bogo sale. The way the colors show up on the website is very misleading! I ended up with some colors I really love and some that I really don't think will work on me. In hopes of helping others avoid purchasing shades they can't use, I'm summarizing them here. I also have a picture in my profile. Organza - light shimmery shade with hints of lavender Sandstone - light shimmery pinkish brown - identical to Revlon’s Nude Slip - a good base color. Mystique - My favorite out of all of these! A true medium taupe, great for the crease. It is also shimmery. Plum Smoke - My second favorite. This is another shimmery medium taupe, but with plummy undertones. Another good crease color. A perfect dupe for Elizabeth Arden's buff which I loved and is now discontinued. Gold Dust - Quite dark, given the name! There is nothing gold about it -- one of the least shimmery out of the bunch. However, it is a great neutral taupe color, excellent for lining. I am quite fond of this one! Chestnut - This has the least shimmer of them all. It is also one of my least favorite. It is a reddish brown color and just doesn't look good on me. Mesmerize - This color looks nothing like it looks in the pan! It is quite shimmery and quite red! Many reviewers mention this, but I didn't believe them -- well, believe it! This is my absolute least favorite. The quality of these shadows is excellent! They are very smooth with little fallout. The color payoff is very good and they are long lasting. I do not have a problem with the hard coating on top that some reviewers mention, even though these are the new shadows with the word Ulta imprinted on the shadow. The price ($7.00) is cheap, especially with the bogo deal ($3.50). Overall, I highly recommend these shadows and the colors are dependent on your personal preference.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Ulta - Plum Smoke
srscott 12/9/2010 3:48:00 PM
I bought every Ulta eye shadow that looked even vaguely taupe on their website during a bogo sale. The way the colors show up on the website is very misleading! I ended up with some colors I really love and some that I really don't think will work on me. In hopes of helping others avoid purchasing shades they can't use, I'm summarizing them here. I also have a picture in my profile. Organza - light shimmery shade with hints of lavender Sandstone - light shimmery pinkish brown - identical to Revlon’s Nude Slip - a good base color. Mystique - My favorite out of all of these! A true medium taupe, great for the crease. It is also shimmery. Plum Smoke - My second favorite. This is another shimmery medium taupe, but with plummy undertones. Another good crease color. A perfect dupe for Elizabeth Arden's buff which I loved and is now discontinued. Gold Dust - Quite dark, given the name! There is nothing gold about it -- one of the least shimmery out of the bunch. However, it is a great neutral taupe color, excellent for lining. I am quite fond of this one! Chestnut - This has the least shimmer of them all. It is also one of my least favorite. It is a reddish brown color and just doesn't look good on me. Mesmerize - This color looks nothing like it looks in the pan! It is quite shimmery and quite red! Many reviewers mention this, but I didn't believe them -- well, believe it! This is my absolute least favorite. The quality of these shadows is excellent! They are very smooth with little fallout. The color payoff is very good and they are long lasting. I do not have a problem with the hard coating on top that some reviewers mention, even though these are the new shadows with the word Ulta imprinted on the shadow. The price ($7.00) is cheap, especially with the bogo deal ($3.50). Overall, I highly recommend these shadows and the colors are dependent on your personal preference.
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Eye Shadow -Ulta - Gold Dust
srscott 12/9/2010 3:47:00 PM
I bought every Ulta eye shadow that looked even vaguely taupe on their website during a bogo sale. The way the colors show up on the website is very misleading! I ended up with some colors I really love and some that I really don't think will work on me. In hopes of helping others avoid purchasing shades they can't use, I'm summarizing them here. I also have a picture in my profile. Organza - light shimmery shade with hints of lavender Sandstone - light shimmery pinkish brown - identical to Revlon’s Nude Slip - a good base color. Mystique - My favorite out of all of these! A true medium taupe, great for the crease. It is also shimmery. Plum Smoke - My second favorite. This is another shimmery medium taupe, but with plummy undertones. Another good crease color. A perfect dupe for Elizabeth Arden's buff which I loved and is now discontinued. Gold Dust - Quite dark, given the name! There is nothing gold about it -- one of the least shimmery out of the bunch. However, it is a great neutral taupe color, excellent for lining. I am quite fond of this one! Chestnut - This has the least shimmer of them all. It is also one of my least favorite. It is a reddish brown color and just doesn't look good on me. Mesmerize - This color looks nothing like it looks in the pan! It is quite shimmery and quite red! Many reviewers mention this, but I didn't believe them -- well, believe it! This is my absolute least favorite. The quality of these shadows is excellent! They are very smooth with little fallout. The color payoff is very good and they are long lasting. I do not have a problem with the hard coating on top that some reviewers mention, even though these are the new shadows with the word Ulta imprinted on the shadow. The price ($7.00) is cheap, especially with the bogo deal ($3.50). Overall, I highly recommend these shadows and the colors are dependent on your personal preference.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Ulta - chestnut
srscott 12/9/2010 3:46:00 PM
I bought every Ulta eye shadow that looked even vaguely taupe on their website during a bogo sale. The way the colors show up on the website is very misleading! I ended up with some colors I really love and some that I really don't think will work on me. In hopes of helping others avoid purchasing shades they can't use, I'm summarizing them here. I also have a picture in my profile. Organza - light shimmery shade with hints of lavender Sandstone - light shimmery pinkish brown - identical to Revlon’s Nude Slip - a good base color. Mystique - My favorite out of all of these! A true medium taupe, great for the crease. It is also shimmery. Plum Smoke - My second favorite. This is another shimmery medium taupe, but with plummy undertones. Another good crease color. A perfect dupe for Elizabeth Arden's buff which I loved and is now discontinued. Gold Dust - Quite dark, given the name! There is nothing gold about it -- one of the least shimmery out of the bunch. However, it is a great neutral taupe color, excellent for lining. I am quite fond of this one! Chestnut - This has the least shimmer of them all. It is also one of my least favorite. It is a reddish brown color and just doesn't look good on me. Mesmerize - This color looks nothing like it looks in the pan! It is quite shimmery and quite red! Many reviewers mention this, but I didn't believe them -- well, believe it! This is my absolute least favorite. The quality of these shadows is excellent! They are very smooth with little fallout. The color payoff is very good and they are long lasting. I do not have a problem with the hard coating on top that some reviewers mention, even though these are the new shadows with the word Ulta imprinted on the shadow. The price ($7.00) is cheap, especially with the bogo deal ($3.50). Overall, I highly recommend these shadows and the colors are dependent on your personal preference.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Ulta - Mesmerize
srscott 12/9/2010 3:44:00 PM
I bought every Ulta eye shadow that looked even vaguely taupe on their website during a bogo sale. The way the colors show up on the website is very misleading! I ended up with some colors I really love and some that I really don't think will work on me. In hopes of helping others avoid purchasing shades they can't use, I'm summarizing them here. I also have a picture in my profile. Organza - light shimmery shade with hints of lavender Sandstone - light shimmery pinkish brown - identical to Revlon’s Nude Slip - a good base color. Mystique - My favorite out of all of these! A true medium taupe, great for the crease. It is also shimmery. Plum Smoke - My second favorite. This is another shimmery medium taupe, but with plummy undertones. Another good crease color. A perfect dupe for Elizabeth Arden's buff which I loved and is now discontinued. Gold Dust - Quite dark, given the name! There is nothing gold about it -- one of the least shimmery out of the bunch. However, it is a great neutral taupe color, excellent for lining. I am quite fond of this one! Chestnut - This has the least shimmer of them all. It is also one of my least favorite. It is a reddish brown color and just doesn't look good on me. Mesmerize - This color looks nothing like it looks in the pan! It is quite shimmery and quite red! Many reviewers mention this, but I didn't believe them -- well, believe it! This is my absolute least favorite. The quality of these shadows is excellent! They are very smooth with little fallout. The color payoff is very good and they are long lasting. I do not have a problem with the hard coating on top that some reviewers mention, even though these are the new shadows with the word Ulta imprinted on the shadow. The price ($7.00) is cheap, especially with the bogo deal ($3.50). Overall, I highly recommend these shadows and the colors are dependent on your personal preference.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Unlisted Brand - She's G.A.L. (Got A Look)
srscott 12/2/2010 4:17:00 PM
For those of you looking for cruelty free products -- these brushes are for you! My Ulta carries these and I got the powder brush ($13) and the blush brush ($9). The handles are shorter than my other brushes, but that doesn't bother me. The synthetic fibers are very soft -- not scratchy at all! They pick up and deposit color very well. And they are so pretty! The handles are a cushy light purple with silver accents. There is even purple tipping on the white bristles!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Neutrogena - one-step gentle cleanser
srscott 11/29/2010 1:02:00 PM
I use this every single night. This does a wonderful job of removing my makeup. I don't have to use a special eye makeup remover anymore! (I don't use waterproof makeup.) Although it does a stellar job of removing makeup, it is gentle and doesn't irritate or dry out my skin. The odd thing about this is that stores stock this face wash with the makeup, not with the other face washes.
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Eyeliner -Cover Girl - Liquiline Blast-Silver Spark
srscott 11/19/2010 1:17:00 PM
This is pretty great! I bought this because I was seduced by the thought of a pencil eyeliner going on as easily as a liquid. I hate the tugging of those hard pencils! I was not disappointed by the promise. It really does go on smoothly and easily. Of course, then I started worrying about the staying power and figured this would smear all over. Not at all! I did wear over UDPP, as I do everything, but didn't put any shadow over it so I could test its true staying power. It did not transfer a single bit after a full day! I love the color also. As a blue eyed blonde, I can't wear black eyeliner. This gray really emphasizes my eyes, yet doesn't look too harsh. (Don't be disturbed by the name "Silver Spark" -- it is just a shimmery gray.) My one complaint is the fact that it is not a twist up pencil. It seems so archaic to drag out the sharpener... However, it is worth it and I will repurchase.
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Conditioner -John Frieda - Smooth Start Hydrating
srscott 11/19/2010 1:07:00 PM
This conditioner is marketed as a hydrating conditioner for extra-dry hair, but it provides no more hydration than any other conditioner yet costs twice as much. (For example - the Herbal Essence conditioners have 12 ounces versus the 10 ounces in Smooth Start, yet cause several dollars less.) This did not give my curly hair a "Smooth Start". I will finish this tube, but will not repurchase.
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Shampoo -John Frieda - Smooth Start Shampoo: Hydrating for Extra-Dry Hair
srscott 11/19/2010 1:04:00 PM
This shampoo has an odd texture -- sort of gluey. However, when you lather it into your hair, this isn't a problem. The problem lies in the fact that this is marketed as a hydrating shampoo for extra-dry hair, but it provides no more hydration than any other shampoo yet costs twice as much. (For example - the Herbal Essence Shampoos have 12 ounces versus the 10 ounces in Smooth Start, yet cause several dollars less.) This did not give my curly hair a "Smooth Start". I will finish this tube, but will not repurchase.
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Lipstick -Urban Decay - Rush
srscott 11/19/2010 12:57:00 PM
I'm not really impressed with this... The reviews say sheer -- and it definitely is! This is more like using a lip balm than anything. The moisturizing effects do not last long though. On a positive note -- My boys love the case! They like to draw the sword from its scabbard! ;)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No