Cleansers -Philosophy - Purity Made Simple (Real Purity Cleanser)
susieq101 1/25/2008 5:31:00 AM
This is a wonderful cleanser for people who wear no or little makeup AND for those who wear makeup almost everyday like me. This cleanser gently yet effectively takes off all my makeup, including waterproof mascara. After cleansing with this, my skin is left clean and well-balanced and ready for my morning or night ritual. It's on the more expensive side, though not grossly pricey like Kinerase or Perricone type stuff, but a little goes a long way and the quality is definitely there. If you must have heavy lather in your facial cleanser, then perhaps you may want to skip this, but I recommend giving it a try regardless, and perhaps you too will genuinely like this cleanser.
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Lip Gloss -NARS - Chihuahua
susieq101 7/27/2007 3:21:00 AM
I like this color. It's a natural, basic, peachy gloss that has good shine and no shimmer. The color lasts quite well and is terrific for everyday and especially for the summer here in sunny California. You can do a smokey eye and use this gloss for a great look. I think I'll still use this during the Fall.
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Moisturizers -Olay - Regenerist Night Recovery Moisturizing Treatment
susieq101 6/21/2007 7:23:00 AM
I decided to splurge on a night time moisturizer, and this was what I purchased a few months ago. I would've spent more on a pricier product, but I trust the Olay brand as I've been using several of its basic products since my teenage years and my mom has been a loyal user; further, I've tried Philosophy's much-lauded Hope in a Jar for several months and didn't get the results I was expecting. Anyway, this product definitely absorbed into my skin very well like the other Olay night creams I've tried, but I don't believe I've seen much of anything else. My skin felt smoother the morning after, so that's a positive note, but I suppose I wanted something more. I haven't completely finished the jar of this product though there's very little of it left because I absolutely hate to waste product. I've now moved onto Olay's Total Effects moisturizer, about which I've heard and read good things. I know I need to give this moisturizer some time before I share my two cents, but let me admit that I already like this more than the Regenerist night cream.
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Fragrances -Stella McCartney - Stella- Eau de Parfum
susieq101 6/20/2007 4:01:00 AM
Over the past two months, I have had six people compliment me on Stella. Just today, at Starbucks, a young male barista said, "What perfume are you wearing? You smell really good." I've had coworkers and customers tell me I smell good and then ask what I was wearing, so perhaps my taste in perfume a'int so bad! The main note is that of the rose, but trust me, it's not one of those cloying rose scents that I absolutely dislike. It's understated sensuality that you can wear during the day and night! What a keeper and classic!
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Blush -Bare Escentuals - Warmth All Over Face Color
susieq101 6/20/2007 3:56:00 AM
Overall, I consider myself a BE consumer because I have several products from the company, including foundations, brushes, blushes, and all over-colors. I purchased Warmth a little after appreciating the coverage and good quality of BE's foundations and Mineral Veil. I must admit, however, that Warmth is a little too bricky for my very pale Asian complexion. I notice I can only get away with using the tiniest amount of this or else I look like I've got a faux tan on me, and that is never the look I want to achieve. I have had much better luck with BE's Faux Tan color, which is less bricky and a more muted, basic brown color that I find is wonderful for contouring (my face looks thinner and thus more defined when I use Faux Tan as a contour product on my cheeks, forehead, and jawline. Maybe other gals who are very fair complected like me will enjoy Faux Tan more than Warmth. Just my two cents.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Bare Escentuals - Blush Compatibles from Bare Minerals
susieq101 6/20/2007 3:45:00 AM
I have this item in Joyous Jennifer/Sorbet of which I use more of the latter because its perfect pink color complements my very pale Asian skin. I use Joyous Jennifer either alone or mix it with Sorbet when I want a more dramatic look. Both colors are great and blend into my skin well. I use BE's foundations in Fair and Light as well, so you can imagine this blush product fits into my beauty regimen quite well. I'm interested in purchasing another compatible, namely the one with Lovely. Great product! And mind you, I'm a blush fiend.
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Eyeliner -Kevyn Aucoin - The Eye Pencil Primatif Basic Brown
susieq101 6/20/2007 3:39:00 AM
The search is now over for the perfect, basic eye pencil since I received this in the mail. I've realized that dark brown fits me better than the classic black, so when this item was on sale on VictoriasSecret.com, I honestly felt compelled to purchase it because Kevyn Aucoin was a makeup genius (not an over-exaggeration & how I miss this beautiful man). The product glides on smoothly (no tugging at all) and lasts all day with very little smudging. You can wield this product quite easily to create any look you want, whether you want a simple, clean, defined eye or a more smudgy, smokey one. This is a fantastic product. Would recommend it to all!
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Mascara -L'Oreal - Voluminous mascara
susieq101 6/4/2007 5:35:00 AM
I tend to stick to drugstore brand mascaras because I'm happy with quite a few of them; plus, I chuck mascara every three months because that's hygienic, so why pay lots of money for a product that'll be thrown out fairly soon? Anyway, this mascara is not one of favorites, but I would get it again because my mom uses this often, and given I'm a pretty sentimental person, I would get something that reminds me of my beautiful mother. I used this product several years ago, but from what I remember, I know that it makes your lashes pillowy. My one main criticism is that it doesn't give enough pigment to the lashes, so you'll end up applying several coats before you're mildly satisfied. All in all, I prefer Maybelline's Volum' Express over this one for when I want volumed lashes.
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Eyeliner -Revlon - Luxurious Color Eyeliner
susieq101 6/4/2007 5:26:00 AM
This pencil is richly pigmented. Actually, it's too pigmented that it smudges my lower lash line every time I use it. I find myself wiping away the residue a few times a day. If you want an eyeliner that goes on smoothly and gives dramatic effect, this one's the one for you, but it's not one that I would personally use day in and day out. BTW, I bought the one in black. I wouldn't buy the black one again, but I would like to try the gold and amber colored ones.
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Foundations -L'Oreal - Quickstick Foundation [DISCONTINUED]
susieq101 6/4/2007 5:21:00 AM
This product gives coverage that you can control, so if you want to go lightly, you can, and vice versa, if you want more coverage, you can! It's creamy enough to be easily blendable, but it doesn't make my face feel heavy or oily. I have combination, fair skin, so this foundation fits me as the package states that it's useful for combination skin. You can use it as a eye primer as well. Overall, this is a good, dependable product. You get a lot for about $12-15.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -BeneFit Cosmetics - Benetint
susieq101 6/4/2007 5:15:00 AM
My boyfriend bought this for me as a mini-gift. I've been wanting to try this cult-favorite product for some time. It's not my favorite blush product, but it's not disappointing. I use three to five dots on each cheek, and I don't need any retouching for the entire day. The product gives me a nice flush of cherry-pink color, which I think brings my very fair skin to life. I'm certain I'll have this product for a couple, if not more, years because a little goes a long way. Plus, I'm a blush junkie, so it's unlikely I'll finish one blush product too quickly.
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Blush -Pout - Pout Cheek to Cheek Cream Color in Coral Nymph and Bronze Siren
susieq101 6/4/2007 5:08:00 AM
I purchased this on VictoriasSecret.com on clearance price ($11.99 vs. $20 plus retail). What a deal! The colors compliment my very fair, yellow-undertoned skin. I use the coral part on the apples of my cheeks and blend the bronze on the top parts of my cheeks, blending outwards. The product lasts throughout the day, especially if you use a primer to set your makeup. This is a great product for those who want a cream blush that can be used for the Spring and Summer seasons.
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Primer/ Corrector -Kevyn Aucoin - The Sensual Skin Primer
susieq101 5/31/2007 2:54:00 AM
I purchased this product on VictoriasSecret.com on clearance price, so I paid $19.99 plus S&H and tax rather than $42, the actual retail price. I lucked out because this product works quite well, so not only did my makeup go on smoothly and stay fresh-looking throughout the day, I also saved money on an expensive beauty product. To cut this short, the PROS: makeup stays put and rarely will you have to retouch; a little goes a long way; luxury item. The CONS: pretty expensive retail price for very little product (0.33 fl. oz.)
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Eyeliner -Maybelline - Expert Eyes in Velvet Black
susieq101 5/20/2007 8:04:00 AM
This product is a good basic, everyday eye pencil. I use it in this color almost everyday on the top lids. I should try heating it before using it as many reviewers have advised if that'll help to make the product smudge less. Don't get me wrong: this products doesn't smudge like crazy like some other pencils. I've tried Revlon's latest eye liner pencil ("Luxurious" is part of the name, if I'm correct) and L'oreal's self-sharpening eye liner pencil, and these both smudge too much under my eyes. This one is by far the best in terms of staying power and control as to what effect you're going for. I would recommend using this as a foundation piece (i.e., lining upper and/or lower eyes and then using shadow and whatever else to build up to a particular desired effect like smokey or cat-eye). All in all, this one is a keeper. I'm coming close to the end of this pencil, and I'm certain I'll be purchasing a new pack soon sometime this year.
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Powder -Bare Escentuals - Bare Minerals ALL
susieq101 5/18/2007 2:54:00 AM
I haven't used my BE foundations as religiously as I have in recent weeks, but before said recent weeks of not using it every single day, I had been using this foundation day and night because the "swirl, tap, and buff" technique is easy and fast when you're trying to make yourself look presentable in a quick and effective pace. This makeup definitely does not make you feel disgusted at yourself those times when you wake up in the morning without having washed your face the night before [I know, I sometimes fall victim to really bad face hygiene] because it doesn't have all that gunk that most foundations have. I've noticed that my skin is not irritated by this stuff. The coverage is controllable, but I warn that you really should moisturize well before using because it will settle into lines and crevices of your face if your face if dry and/or unmoisturized. I don't particularly love the Face Revver Upper; it's alright, but I prefer a day face cream or lotion with SPF 15 or higher, like something from Oil of Olay. I turned my sister onto this stuff, and she enjoys it. My boyfriend got the starter kit in Medium for his mom because of my loyalty to and use of BE. Further, my sister's good friend raves about this stuff as well. My mom, however, ordered the starter kit once over two years ago and she turned back to her liquid foundation while still using the Warmth she got along with said BE starter kit. My cousin doesn't use it anymore because she says it rubs off too easily from her very oily skin, so it's really a mixed bag as to who likes this stuff, but I give it an overall thumbs up, especially if you're looking for something convenient, effective, non-irritation, and you've got combo skin like me that is slightly prone to acne.
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