Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Clump Crusher Water Resistant
tiny101 5/21/2013 12:19:00 AM
I had high hopes for this mascara based on the amazing reviews on YouTube and MUA, but perhaps the waterproof version just doesn't compare to the regular; I have not bothered to try the regular for various reasons though. [ PROS ] - It really doesn't clump - Creates separated and clean-looking lashes - Doesn't smudge or run even in the rain [ CONS ] - Does not lengthen by any noticeable amount - Barely any volume added to lashes - Does not hold a curl (which is imperative for my short/straight Asian lashes) All-in-all, the pros cannot redeem the cons. I would never repurchase or recommend this mascara to anyone.
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Moisturizers -Clinique - Moisture Surge Intense
tiny101 5/21/2013 12:14:00 AM
I bought this cream when the winter weather was taking a huge toll on my skin. At the time, my eczema was uncontrollable and all the creams that didn't break me out were unable to keep the flakes at bay. It was brutal to apply foundation just to find bits of skin peeling off in every direction, no matter how much moisturizer I used. This product saved me. [ PROS ] - very moisturizing; does not irritate my eczema/rosacea; does not break out my acne-prone skin. [ CONS ] - a little pricey; may be too heavy for those with normal to oily skin/the summer time; it can leave the face feeling greasy (perhaps just use at night!); bottle is very unsanitary; glass bottle may be too heavy and cumbersome for travel. All in all, I would definitely repurchase this cream without thinking although I may venture out to try different products for the summer if this proves to be too heavy.
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Mascara -Shu Uemura - Mascara Basic [DISCONTINUED]
tiny101 7/19/2010 12:59:00 AM
[ PROS ] - really lengthens my short Asian lashes; fans out each lash; looks super natural; no clumping; holds a curl very very well; does not cause any reaction for my sensitive eyes/skin; waterproof
[ CONS ] - quite pricey; will smudge if rubbed in humid weather
This always gives the same lengthening/fanning out effect as false eyelashes, but being really bold and fake looking. Because it is not too humid where I live, it doesn't usually smudge on me, so that isn't much of a concern. The only thing is the price that kind of irks me... but considering how much I love the result it gives, I am willing to repurchase over and over again! =D
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Full 'N Soft Mascara Waterproof
tiny101 7/18/2010 2:48:00 AM
Upon purchasing this in the states (this isn't sold in Canada as far as I have seen), I didn't remember that all of the positive reviews I'd read about this mascara was for the non-waterproof version. In any case, this one works just fine for me!
[ PROS ] - really increases length of my very short asian lashes; holds curls for more than 12 hours; spreads lashes out; gives a very full and healthy/natural appearance; lashes remain soft to the touch; does not cause a reaction for my sensitive skin/eyes
[CONS] - smudges if rubbed; not totally waterproof, yet difficult to remove with eye-makeup remover; clumps a little upon application but separates after drying
To conclude, I really love how this mascara makes my lashes look full/long without appearing fake. From this, I can completely overlook the occasional smudging (which I must emphasize only occurs when it's raining hard or I just when I rub my eyes). In-fact, this is likely my HG mascara from the drug store and I would definitely repurchase it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -New York Color - Pressed Translucent Powder
tiny101 12/1/2009 1:45:00 PM
I've actually been searching for a good blotting powder (with a decent price) for a long time. I have used a couple of drugstore ones (i.e. Maybelline's Dream Matte Powder) and MAC's blot powder as well, but this one by NYC surpasses them all.
[ PROS ] - controls oil very well (blot once, and it lasts all day); is actually translucent on my skin; does not look chalky; finely milled so it does not accentuate my pores; does not break me out; great price
[ CONS ] - packaging is flimsy -- does not close properly with the sponge/puff inside
I think that the packaging issue is not really a great one, as I've been using it for a few months now and it's still intact =) I would definintely repurchase this.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - IQQU - Acne Serum
tiny101 12/1/2009 2:35:00 AM
I purchased this based on the great reviews this serum got on IQQU's website, however, this just didn't work for me. (I should mention that besides having rosacea, my skin is oily, quite sensitive and breaks out from time to time.) --- I probably shouldn't have tried this because of my rosacea, but I was just intrigued by all the great reviews =)
[ PROS ] - watery consistency (makes it easier to spread); very little is needed to cover the face; absorbs almost instantly; does not leave any kind of residue or shine; is unscented
[ CONS ] - dispensing pump is not so well-made (after one pump, the product keeps flowing out of the pump) --- wastes a lot of product; did not decrease redness or treat acne
Lastly, this product really broke me out. I used it for 2 weeks on a daily basis, and the breaking out began after 1 week. Basically, my rosacea got worse (even parts of my face that weren't usually red became irritated), and small pimples arose in several different sections of my face. At first I felt that this was just the purging stage, but after another week, when the pimples became larger and the redness persisted, I decided this product wasn't for me. Thus, I will not be repurchasing this in the future.
12 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish in Perfect Topping [DISCONTINUED]
tiny101 11/29/2009 8:08:00 PM
I use this from time to time, but would much prefer to use NARS' Albatross instead.
[ PROS ] - gives a very subtle golden glow; hard to overdo; is very natural-looking; a great price for so much product
[ CONS ] - requires a lot of product to be really noticeable; the shimmer/glitter spreads a little bit; my hand ends up with lots of glitter if I touch the highlighted areas (even with just a little amount used)
I think this is a very decent highlighter that would take forever to use up. With that said, I would not repurchase, just because I find the effects of Albatross to be much more evident and appealing for my skin tone (NC 20-25).
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -NARS - Highlighting Blush Powder in Albatross
tiny101 11/29/2009 7:56:00 PM
I absolutely adore this highlighter that gives a beautiful luminous pearly glow. The bridge of my nose, brow bone, cheek bone, and right below my cheek contour color is where I tend to use this the most. Despite how some people have found this to be too shimmery or too chalky, this is still my HG highlighter. (Note: I find that MAC's Perfect Topping & EDM's Champagne carry much more shimmer/glitter!)
[ PROS ] - really accentuates without going over the top; does not look chalky or too white at all (though I cannot speak for those with darker skin tones); gives a subtle shimmer to look almost glowy; the shimmer does not spread all over my face like some other highlighters; very little is needed; great price for the amount of product
[ CONS ] - none
I really think that this will last me a lifetime as so little is needed to yield that perfect glowy face. However, when the time comes that I need to repurchase, I will do so right away =)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -MAC - Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder
tiny101 11/29/2009 7:44:00 PM
To start off, I think that this powder is very comparable to MUFE's HD Powder. Both actually yield the same results for roughly the same cost.
[ PROS ] - keeps my face matte for up to a max of ~6 hours (with something like BE's Mineral Veil, I have to blot within 1-2 hours); gives a very nice & perfect finish; a little goes a long way; is actually transparent and does not leave a white cast; good price for the amount of product
[ CON ] - the only con I have for this product is with regards to how it dispenses. I use tape to block off half of the holes in the sifter to avoid dispensing too much, but sometimes the holes become clogged and I have to tap it really hard to get any powder out.
Even with the one con that sounds so problematic, I would still repurchase this product because it is so amazing. I cannot stress how impressed I am by the oil-controlling properties this has and how perfect my face looks after I use this to set my foundation ! =)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Unlisted Brand - IQQU - Advance Sunscreen SPF 35 UVA/UVB
tiny101 11/29/2009 7:27:00 PM
Upon receiving this product, the first thing I noticed was how empty the tube actually was. I held it up the light and found it less than half full. In fact, I nearly had to squeeze the tube until it was flat before I got any product out at all.
[ PROS ] - very nice (whipped) consistency; very light on the skin; no unpleasant smell; did not cause any irritation to my sensitive skin
[ CONS ] - there were gritty chunks here and there; caused a white cast upon application; very little product for the high price
Though it seems to have some nice pros (i.e. consistency & no irritation), I will not repurchase this as the cost is just too great for the tiny amount of product.
* I should mention that I never used it on-top of my makeup, only beneath. Thus, I cannot make any comment on whether or not it will smudge or ruin a made-up face.
*** Something to note: I actually wrote a review on the IQQU website about how it was gritty (from time to time), but that review was never posted.
13 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -MAC - Suntint - Pink Tinge
tiny101 7/27/2009 11:29:00 PM
This is an amazing lip balm that is very comparable to the regular one that MAC sells in the tub form. In-fact, this Suntint has qualities that far exceed that of the regular lip treatment. Note: This review is based on two days of usage, so if there are any drastic changes, I will update!
[ PROS ] - longer lasting than any other lip balm (it is sticky like a dazzleglass); extremely smooth on the lips; no gritty glitter/shimmer chunks; very moisturizing (even more so than that of the tub form); not irritating for my sensitive skin, has SPF 20, does not leave a white film after a few hours; applicator makes it easy to apply; has a light vanilla scent that is quite pleasant
[ CONS] - does not taste like anything; on the pricey side for a lip balm; is limited edition
In regards to the color of this, I would say it is an extremely light pink (with the tiniest bit of shimmer) that is barely detectable on the lips. However, with the moisturizing + lasting qualities that this has, I can easily overlook the issue of being sheer. I definitely recommend giving this product a go.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -L'Oreal - Voluminous mascara
tiny101 7/16/2009 1:30:00 AM
The only good thing I can say about this product is that it can lengthen and add volume to my short lashes, but only if it's applied in a thin coat. Other than that, here are the CONS: - Clumps extremely easily - Flakes/smudges upon contact - 2 coats makes this look like a spidery/gloopy mess - Very unnatural look I cannot stress enough that this mascara is not even worth experimenting with. On a bright sunny day, my eyes looked like raccoon eyes within a couple of hours (I didn't even have to rub my eyes for this to occur; I do not have particularly watery eyes either). I would never repurchase this, but I am tempted to see what the waterproof version can do.
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Makeup Brushes -MAC - 131 Duo Fibre Powder & Blush Brush
tiny101 7/10/2009 8:39:00 PM
This brush is marketed to work best for mineralize products, and surely, it doesn't disappoint. (Side note: originally I had tried to use it to apply my NARS Deep Throat, but that really turned out to be a blotchy and uneven mess.) [ PROS ] - very soft; applies a nice even layer of blush that can be built up; makes blush application fool-proof; tip of brush makes it easy to highlight cheek bones, bridge of nose, etc. [ CONS ] - shed 2-3 hairs upon blush application (even after being washed); does not seem to work great with a regular blush (could just be me though); a little on the pricey side I have yet to try this to apply foundation, but I probably won't give that a go, as I have the 187 and 109, and both are very good for that purpose already. Further, this brush is not that densely packed, so personally, I'd rather use the 190 if I were to look for a brush that can go back and forth during the application. Lastly, with regards to contouring, I did try it, but I'd much prefer to stick with my 168 just because of the denseness of the brush =) All in all, though this brush seems so multifunctional, I probably won't have much use for it other than applying mineralize products anyways. BUT, I would still repurchase because the effect it gives with MSF's and mineralize blushes is amazing.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -The Body Shop - Coconut Body Butter
tiny101 4/22/2009 2:30:00 AM
I've had this product for over 6 months now, and I have very mixed feelings towards it. [ PROS ] - soothing natural coconut scent; great consistency (melts when met with friction); very moisturizing; can heal & soothe chapped skin fairly quickly in the winter [ CONS ] - comes in a tub; rather pricey for the size; eventually caused a reaction to my extremely sensitive skin I only took off 1 lippie for the fact that my hands eventually had a reaction. If not for that though, I can completely overlook the packaging quality and price, as I truly believe this is a wonderful product (the pros blow the cons out of the water)! If your skin is not extremely sensitive like mine, I would definitely recommend this =)
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Mascara -L'Oreal - Lash Out
tiny101 4/22/2009 2:19:00 AM
This is one of the mascaras that I instantly fell in love with for many reasons. In-fact, I'm becoming so attached to this that it may even be HG material! [ PROS ] - lengthens to an unbelievable degree; gives just enough volume; separates lashes; looks very natural; no clumping; does not flake even with slight perturbation; no irritation (I have very sensitive lids/waterlines and I wear contacts); great price [ CONS ] - does not hold a curl particularly well; is not very easy to reach tiny lashes in the corners Though I think being able to hold a curl is a fairly important trait, I can overlook it because of the extent to which my lashes are extended. I'm sure it's very easy to find a mascara that lengthens stubborn/asian lashes, but fairly few actually make it appear natural. Lash Out's pros definitely outweigh the cons, and I plan to repurchase when I run out =)
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