Top/Base Coats -Seche Vite - Dry Fast Top Coat
stephanieee 3/19/2013 11:56:00 PM
favorite top coat. definitely lives up to all the hype. I always have people ask if i'm wearing gel polish when I use this. suuuuper shiny and significantly cuts down drying time. bad points? it gets very thick when you're about halfway through the bottle and it's easy to go through a bottle since the product is definitely thicker than most top coats. with that being said I have no desire to try any other top coat cause this one is just about perfect,
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BB Cream -Dr. Jart+ - Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25 PA++
stephanieee 3/17/2013 7:58:00 PM
I've been using this for almost a year straight with really no complaints. my skin is combo/dry and this is the only 'foundation' that keeps my skin hydrated and comfortable all day. while it leaves a dewy finish it can come off as greasy around my t zone. I'll press some powder into my usual oily areas and I find by doing this it keeps the foundation in place for around 8 hrs. application wise, I get the best results when applying with my fingers. I've actually gotten comments on how healthy my skin looks when I wear this and really, I agree. Also my skin is about nw15-20 and this bb cream blends seamlessly with my skin tone. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone with oily skin or even some with combination as this is very hydrating.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Chloe - l'eau de chloe
stephanieee 2/25/2013 9:07:00 PM
I am really terrible at describing scents since i'm not a huge perfume person. With that being said I don't like to smell too 'in your face' but I want to have an attractive and memorable scent. for the longest time I wore daisy and that is an amazing scent. only problem is that a LOT of women wear daisy. I probably bought l'eau de chloe last spring and I truly think reading about the scent and seeing the pretty bottle with the quirky green liquid is what sucked me in! (kudos to those in marketing with chloe) however! this scent embodies spring to me. I can't help but think of flowy white dresses and a field of wildflowers when I smell this. it's just an overall pleasant scent. the initial spray is floral without being too heavy but what I like best is the dry down. I think that's when the fruity notes come through. this is a really nice daytime scent that won't smack people in the face but it definitely isn't forgettable. and the bottle looks really cute on your sink/vanity/where ever you keep your perfume!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Marc Jacobs - dot
stephanieee 9/25/2012 2:14:00 PM
I've said before that mj's daisy is 'my scent'. Ever since discovering my love for daisy, i've made sure to check out his other fragrances. When i caught wind of marc releasing dot, i went to my nearest bloomingdales to smell it for myself. thankfully, i really like it! it is definitely a 'young' scent due to how fruity it is. there isn't really any unique quality to it which is something i think everybody looks for in a fragrance. this is an easy scent to wear though and i think it can be worn for really any occasion. the stayng power on me isn't very long which is disappointing seeing as how daisy lasts on me all day. the bottle is terrible. it looks like something that you would see in a justice store. is this a scent that i would buy again? probably, but I don't think i'd be in dire need if I did run out.
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Powders -Smashbox - Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder
stephanieee 9/24/2012 2:04:00 PM
I've had this product sitting around for a while now. when i first bought it it was just one of those 'eh..i guess i like it' things. it's nice for setting a foundation but i bought it because i wanted something quicker and easier than liquid. i have combo/dry skin so the 'hydrating' claim drew me in. sadly, this does not offer even the slightest bit of hydration. if anything, it accentuates dryness in my skin. it also offers very little coverage hence why it's been sitting around for a while. however, i've found that if i dampen my brush using my bare minerals it offers a smoother and heavier coverage. i recently ran out and haven't had time to get more. then i stumbled upon this again. i used it with a damp sephora mineral powder brush and voila! the halo effect that it claimed to give was now in effect! it also lasted over 8hrs on my skin which is something a lot of foundations can't do for me. now i wouldn't say that once i run out of this i'll be jetting out to get more but for the time being it is a nice replacement for my bare minerals. edit: after using this for a week my skin became way too dry to the point where any foundation looked terrible. shame because this did have a beautiful finish.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Marc Jacobs - Daisy Eau So Fresh
stephanieee 7/2/2012 1:39:00 AM
the original daisy is 'my scent', i've been wearing it since it first came out. when i saw they were doing another version i knew i had to try it. i feel like i'm alone on this one, but eau so fresh smells repulsive to me. which sucks because it is probably the cutest perfume bottle. i get that it is supposed to be light, and 'fresh' but all i smell is dirt. like when you're putting mulch down and planting flowers. giving it a 3 though because this is solely based off of opinion and not performance.
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Styling Products -Paul Mitchell - sculpting foam
stephanieee 6/25/2012 1:50:00 AM
i really love this product. i think if you experiment with it it can be very versatile. if you have fine, wavy hair it is great for shaping your hair and reducing frizz. i also like to use this to give some body and hold to a blowout. what i like most about it is that it's conditioning. i've used other mousses in the past that would give good results but would leave my hair parched due to the amount of alcohol in it. the light coconut scent is an added bonus. note: if you don't have a lot of hair i wouldn't advise using this as it can be heavy if you're not blowdrying it into the hair.
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Fragrances -Bath and Body Works - Pearberry
stephanieee 6/24/2012 8:18:00 PM
when i was younger i loved BBW and this scent was my favorite. eventually i grew out of bbw and somehow forgot about this scent. recently i rekindled the flame and wow... i love this scent just as much, if not more than before. i bought everything i could in it due to the amazing semi annual sale. i figured if i didn't like it there's always someone i could give it to. i find that just by using the lotion and spray the scent definitely lingers. even with just using the spray it definitely stays on longer than a lot of my expensive perfumes and other body sprays. to me it smells like pears, apples, and peaches. very light, crisp scent. perfect for summertime. i don't think i would pick this scent for a night out, but any other occasion it is perfect for. there's also a softsoap body wash that smells very similar to this, if you want to get an idea of what this smells like. i think it's called apple and pear. i have a feeling i might be stocking up on everything pearberry before the sale ends...
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Tarte - Lights Camera Lashes
stephanieee 6/7/2012 1:35:00 AM
what first grabbed my attention with this mascara was the hideous packaging. does it really need the purple faux-snake skin cover? c'mon now. i think that's actually what made me pass on this mascara after always seeing it at sephora. one day after i was fed up with how drugstore mascara was wrecking my lashes, i decided to try this because i knew tarte, as a brand, was good for using a lot of natural ingredients. i was expecting to be disappointed with this mascara but i'm happy to say that i will be buying many more tubes of the ugly, purple snakeskin wonder mascara. it lengthens, defines, and darkens my lashes perfectly without much effort at all. and i'm almost at tammy faye level when it comes to how i like my lashes (not really, but i do like em bold) the main reason as to why i plan on buying this again is because my lashes are in SO much better condition. drugstore mascara made my lashes look nice, but the were breaking and falling out a lot. will be repurchasing. and hoping that tarte will switch their packaging to something a bit more visually appealing.
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Candles -Bath and Body Works - Summer Boardwalk
stephanieee 6/4/2012 9:58:00 PM
let me start off by saying this is by no means a bad product. in fact i am very impressed with it. when i first came across this candle it is because i literally followed it's aroma into BBW. when i smelled the actual candle my initial thought was 'mmm smells like a heavenly dessert" unfortunately, i failed to remember that i actually HATE foodie smelling anything after being exposed to it too long. my entire apartment smelled of this candle within 20 minutes of burning it which is awesome. it was up until my migraine and stomachache set in is when i figured out that this candle is definitely not my taste. i really wish i did like this candle but even my boyfriend thinks it smells disgustingly sweet. if you love anything dessert like, then i'd highly suggest you try this candle because it has incredible staying power and will fill your entire house with its scent.
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Concealers -MAC - Select Moisturecover
stephanieee 5/18/2012 5:22:00 PM
i really like using this on any areas of my face that foundation isn't enough for. it does an amazing job of covering while still looking natural. what i love most is that i can use it for my skin but i can also use it under my eyes. i don't really have too much trouble with dark circles and i find that most under eye concealers make me look almost bug eyed? it holds true to it's name and does deliver moisture which is something i enjoy. it lasts longer on my face than it does under my eyes which is why i gave it a 4. overall, great product and have purchased it numerous times.
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Deodorants -Lavanila - The Healthy Deodorant
stephanieee 4/24/2012 11:28:00 PM
to be honest, i really don't have a problem with b.o. or pit stains or anything. just some slightly uncomfortable dampness is all. however, i like smelling fresh and being dry so i'll put on some when i know i'll be moving around a lot. my problem is a lot of normal deodorants (secret, degree, and some dove) will give me a terrible reaction where my pits crack and bleed (ouch). the only deodorant that was perfect for me was teen spirit but i can't find it anywhere :(. the term 'healthy deodorant' is what drew me and lead me to believe that this would be effective, yet gentle on my sensitive pits. what sold me was the smell. i picked up the vanilla coconut and oh my god.. heaven. i can't stop smelling myself. to me, it comes across as a vanilla cake with a powdery essence to it. i love it. the only thing i don't love is how it does show up very white at first and will transfer onto clothing. and an $18 price tag doesn't please me either but i smell delicious and i'm not in pain. i'm going to see how long this lasts me and then decide if i'll actually buy it again. if it only lasts me a month then unfortunately, as much as i love it, there's no way i will allow myself to continue to purchase this.
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Bronzers -Physicians Formula - Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Pressed Bronzer in Light to Medium
stephanieee 4/15/2012 9:06:00 PM
i have tried numerous bronzers and they're all too orange for my alabaster skin. even the tiniest drop of bare minerals 'warmth' looks fake on me. i have this in the lightest color (i think it's called light) and it's great. it actually warms up my skin without looking obvious. i use it on a fluffy blush brush and it deposits very nicely. i gave it a 4 only because it tends to wear off after about 6 hours. also, maybe it's just me but i find that physician's formula products can be pretty expensive. i think i paid around $13-14 which is pretty expensive for something at the drugstore. there is a good amount of product though so it's not like you'll be buying this often.
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Lipstick -MAC - Hue
stephanieee 3/26/2012 12:14:00 PM
favorite favorite lipstick. i'm nw15 and this is the perfect everyday lipstick for me. it's a glaze and it feels very nice and hydrating on your lips. there's no shimmer which is very important to me. one negative is that it doesn't last very long but that doesn't bother me too much as it's very easy to apply even if you're without a mirror. i find that put a lipliner underneath extends it's staying power a bit (i use in sync). this also has the tendency to melt down due to how creamy it is so i wouldn't leave it in your car or anywhere where it will be exposed to too much heat. mine melted before so i just let it sit in the fridge overnight. it's a bit misshapen, but it works the same. i feel like this lipstick works well for warmer toned skins so if this looked funny on you, try creme d'nude. they are practically the same except for creme d'nude is more yellow toned where as hue is a pinky nude.
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Cleansers -Neutrogena - Oil-Free Acne Wash
stephanieee 3/25/2012 1:13:00 PM
this is what my dermatologist said to get the first time i saw her when i was about 12. i've probably used about 100 different cleansers since then but recently i found myself using this again. first off, i have combo skin but for some reason i always have at least 1 disastrous pimple. the kind you can't look away from if you're having a conversation with somebody. i also deal with a lot of clogged pores probably due to wearing foundation. i've been using this with my clarisonic and so far, i've been getting good results. my face is definitely clearer, smoother, fewer clogged pores, and clearing up blackheads as well. after using any cleanser or even just splashing water on my face my face will get dry if i don't use a moisturizer immediately. this cleanser will especially dry my skin which i expected so i just follow up with a heavier moisturizer and it seems to keep things pretty balanced. so i'd say if you had good results with this but it leaves your face feeling dry and uncomfortable, use a thicker moisturizer (i use embryolisse) or something like the cetaphil cream
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