Blush -Smashbox - O-Glow
theotherbox 4/6/2008 9:17:00 PM
I was hestitant to buy this product because of the price tag, but I'm so glad I did!!! Basically at first you think you looks like an 80s rock star when you put it on, it does glow a hot pink at first but its basically there to help assist you to see where you're actually applying the stuff on you cheeks. Within seconds it fades to your "natural glow". And you will only look like a cheap hooker for about 5-10 seconds .... no longer!! Haha.. The stuff fades throughout the day, but its still holds a nice glow on your face al day long. I've always had trouble finding the right shade of blush for my skin, now I wont have that problem every again!! Maybe now Smashbox will come out with a similar bronzer!! Oh and you can buy a set at Ulta (ulta.com) that comes with the new Lip O-GLOSS!!!!
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Powder -Everyday Minerals - Foundation Matte Formula
theotherbox 3/5/2008 12:17:00 PM
First of all I must say I live in Houston, Texas where it is always 80%+ humidity!! I need something that will keep my face oily skin from looking like I bathed in grease!! I wore BE in Medium for over 2 years, and did not like the shine that would form an hour later. I ordered several samples from Everyday Minerals and Alima minerals (www.alimacosmetics.com). Both were matte finishes that were recommend for oily skin. Everyday Minerals in Medium Matte was a perferct match to my skin tone and covered alot more than BE, but it also did not feel like I wearing alot of makeup. I like to keep my makeup as natural as possible, but still be able to cover my flaws. Alima (Neutral 4) provided way more coverage than EM & BE, but for me...personally it was a little too much. (Even though my friends still said it looked like I wasn't wearing any make up.) However, I do believe Alima did a better job at keeping the oil slicks away. After switching back and forth between the two products... I finally decided to order the EM foundation. After reading dozens of reviews, many suggest that EM is way cheaper. Well...yeah the price is lower than the avg jar of BE materials, but is anyone doing the math of how much you are paying per gram? I found all the mineral make ups (BE, EM, and Alima) to all run about the same price. In fact I would rank them for cheapest to most expensive...Alima, EM, and then BE. But one way to reduce cost when ordering EM is to order the custom kits you can create and select yourself. I ordered the "Personal Customer Kit" for $32 (about $40 w/shipping). I customized my kit to have 2 foundations, 2 finishing powders, 1 Concealer in Mint (which is absolutely awesome!!!!), and one lip color. If I wore to order all of the prices without the custom package...for the same items in the same amount, it would come out to $60!! NOT including S&H!!!! I would suggest everyone to order the FREE samples from EM, and the $1.00 samples with a good generous amounts from Alima. And make a comparison for yourself. In fact, I will be keeping my Alima samples around for the "important days" (weddings, formal events, interviews....) Also to keep the oil & shine away, Please read the reviews on Milk of Magnesia..I HIGHLY recommend it!!!
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Powder -Alima - Satin Matte Mineral Foundation
theotherbox 3/4/2008 12:18:00 PM
I've been wearing BE for about 2 years. I live in Houston so it is constantly hot and 80%+ humidity, and with my oily skin keeping shine down a minimum is very important. I use to wear Medium in BE, and after buying $20 worth of Alima's samples, I found that Neutral 4 to be the best match for me. I felt that Alima covered alot better than BE, my skin looked alot healthier, and it reduced the shine immediately, and kept the shine away for hours on end... (8 hrs on avg. with just a little tissue blot around the T-Zone mid-day..no extra make up needed!!) < I usually get shinny with BE within the first hour!!!!!!!!!! and lose all coverage by the end of the day!!! However, I like to wear my everyday make up as light as possible. I felt that Alima provided for coverage than what I would prefer. But asking several friends for their opinion, they still said I looked like I wasn't wearing any make up at all!! So I've ordered a large container of Satin Matte for my "important days"... (formal events, job interviews, ....) While, also ordering the samples at Alima, I also ordered samples from Everyday Minerals. I really like EM Medium Matte foundation. So I now combine my Alima Primer and Alima Finishing powder with the EM foundation. EM provided the light effective coverage I was looking for. (Way more coverage than BE, slightly less coverage than Alima) EM & Alima both helped reduce shine and keep it away!! I highly highly recommend Alima's Finishing powder, its the "key" to keeping the oily shine away!!!!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Aspirin Toner
theotherbox 1/12/2008 11:43:00 PM
I must say... I have finally figured out the combination to keeping. my face shine free (while living off the coast of Texas (that means 100% humidity year round!!!)) !!!! I make my toner is a 2 oz used sample bottle. I put 4 aspirin with a few drops of hot water (just enough water to cover the top of the pills), then I fill the of the bottle with T.N Dickenson's Witch Hazel. I shake it before every use and apply it with a cotton ball. My rountine to keeping my face shine free: After washing my face, I then apply the Aspirin Toner, followed by new Clean & Clear's Shine Free Moisturizer (this moisturizer does not keep my skin shine free, but it is a nice light moisturizer), followed by a gental thin layer of Milk of Magnesia (if you don't know what I'm talking about, read the reviews on it!!! You'll thank me later!!!) and then apply my Bare Minerals Make-Up and Voila!!! I didnt want to write my review after the first try, and did some test runs for the past week. I've notice my skin is clearing up rapidly, and the pinkness in my cheeks/nose area is gradually fadeing. My skin is finally balanced!! I have very very greasy skin, and it USE to not take long after applying my makeup before I would shine like a mirror!! (But those days are over). Please keep in mind when useing this toner, how much your skin can take. My skin is NOT sensative at all. Because of this I dont really dilute the Witch Hazael at all. If your skin is very sensative or not oily, I would recommend 1/4-1/2 witch hazel and the rest water. UPDATE: 03/04/2008 I AM STILL VERY MUCH IN LOVE WITH THIS PRODUCT IT HAS ERASED MY BLACKHEADS ALL OVER MY NOSE!!!!!! I'LL NEVER USE ANOTHER TONER AGAIN. **** FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO SUFFER FROM ROSACEA **** I spoke to a dermatolgist, and the worst thing you can do is use products that contain Salicylic Acid, this will indeed cause flares up and worsen your skin!!! For those of you who dont have it, ENJOY!!!
13 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Brows -Bare Escentuals - Essential Brow Kit
theotherbox 1/3/2008 10:31:00 PM
To be honest...I dont think I could live with out this product. I too was one of those who always had the worse eyebrows due to over plucking/waxing, and filled in my eyebrows with pencil!!! WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!?! And now I get so many compliments on my eyebrows its ridiculous!!! Who would of thought?!!?! And dont worry about the price tag, yes it does seem like a lot of money at first, but get this: I've been using the same pot for over a year, has even spilt it a couple of times (include one huge spill!!), and I have yet to put a DENT in the amount of product you get!! I use the brunette shade, I have solid black hair and medium/light skin and it matches perfectly. With this stuff you can add more or less to intesify the impact of color. I do wish this came with a sifter, hopefully BE will change that soon if they have not already. Like I said my pot is over a year old.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Garnier - Fresh Toner
theotherbox 9/14/2007
FOR THOSE INQUIRING, THIS PRODUCT IS ONLY BEING SOLD IN CANADA, but you can buy it online in the US. There are a few websites that will ship to the US, however the shipping cost can be outrageous!! A $7 bottle with $50 shipping... I dont think so!! BUT I did find it @ www.Well.ca a Canadian based drugstore. I ordered 4 bottles and was shipped to south Texas for $12. Not bad since it's so great!!! Also, if you have oily skin, I definitly recommend "Milk of Magnesia" to help deal with a shiny face. Thanks to MUA I NEVER NEVER NEVER leave home without it!!
13 out of 15 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Unlisted Brand - Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar
theotherbox 9/7/2007 1:52:00 AM
I've only used this for a few days, and I'm already in love!!!! I use 1:1 ratio (ACV in the generic Target brand) with green tea. I have huge pores on my nose and surrounding areas. After the 2nd use they IMMEDIATELY disappeared!!! I wish I took before and after pictures!! I did do a little bit of research before making this potion. I must say my concern was how long will the mixture keep. Basically if you mix ACV with water...it can keep forever (literally). But if you mix it with green tea or any type of oils, that you should only keep it for a week while being refridgerated. This is because green tea doesn't keep very long. (Ever had just a regular cup of hot tea, and come back a couple of days later...not a pretty picture. I doubt you would want to rub it on your face either!!) I found out that the people who said they broke out more when they started using ACV, and then cleared up was because of the pH level of your skin. Think of this way....you skin is balancing out, so all the bad stuff comes to the surface, and from there you are all good to go. Also, I'm sure many of the people who use this product have very very oily skin like myself. If you haven't read already... Check out the "Milk of Magnesia" review for solving that treaded shiny greasy face!! I wash my face, use the ACV toner, follow by Biore Shine-Free moisturizer, and then MoM before the make-up!! It all works so many wonders!!! THANKS MUA!!!!!!!!!! UPDATE: 3/4/08 I have stopped using this product, the smell got to me after awhile. It's still a great product. I have switched to Aspirin Toner since January, and will never try anything again!! (Read the Reviews)
10 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Bare Escentuals - Bare Minerals ALL
theotherbox 9/3/2007 1:23:00 AM
I absolutely love bare minerals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Simple. Its not a messy liquid foundation that leaves lines and unmatching neck circle!!!!! Nor a powder compact where you can see the oil begin to clump up!!! It's clean and fresh!!!!!! UPDATE: 3/06/2008 I have officially stopped using Bare Minerals, and switched to a combination of Everyday Minerals & Alima Minerals Cosmetics. Bare Minerals left my skin shiny and did not provide the coverage I needed to last me to the end of the day. EM & Alima are way better in quality and cheaper in price. Glad I have MUA to discover better mineral makeup!!
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Toners -Arcona - Cranberry Toner
theotherbox 9/3/2007 1:16:00 AM
This is my second bottle, and I love the stuff!! I have oily skin, and use this for a toner, cleaner, and eye makeup remover!! I love the clean light fragrance of cranberries (so does the bf!) Its a great product, however I do think the price is a little ridiculous for being a toner.
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Masks -Unlisted Brand - Milk of Magnesia
theotherbox 9/3/2007 1:11:00 AM
I have very very very oily skin and live off the hot and 100% humid coast of Texas. I apply my makeup in the morning and by the time i walk out the door to my car my face is shinning like I dipped my face in vegetable oil!!! After discover MoM on MUA, I've never been so happy!!! I can go all day without ANY retouches and be perfectly matte!!! ITS GREAT!!!!!!! I first apply an Arcona Cranberry Toner, then a Biore shine-free moisturizer, followed by the MoM with a cotton ball...... then my Bare Minerals makeup...........ITS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!! THANKS MUA!!!!!!!!!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Sephora - professional lip balm
theotherbox 8/31/2007 3:41:00 PM
First of all, I have a severe lip condition that several doctors and dermatologist can not exactly figure out. I have an extreme allergic reaction to the sun ONLY on my lips. My lips will swell up for days, and then become super dry. This is a very painful process!!! I have tried hundreds of lips balms ranging from the cheap ones found at drugstores to expensive one at department stores. THIS BY FAR IS THE BEST LIP BALM EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I seriously never leave home without it!!!!!!!!!!!!! The pot does last awhile, but on my next order I plan getting at least 10...thats how much I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great light scent and is very kissable...the BF approves!!!
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