Conditioner -Redken - All Soft Conditioner
tracyltrust 12/4/2012 1:10:00 PM
I wanted to come to the defense of the newest formulation of Redken's All Soft Conditioner. I've read a bunch of reviews stating that they loved the old and hate the new. There are a few notable changes but a big one is that the new formula no longer contains silicones-which is better because it is actually hydrating and not just masking dryness/damage. If your hair feels "like straw" after using the new All Soft, you either have irreparably damaged hair or need to clarify to remove silicones that have built up on the hair shaft and are blocking out moisturizing ingredients in the conditioner (or both). It is also possible that you are accustomed to the feeling that silicone-laden conditioners give your hair and are missing that. Usually they give a very slippery silky feel that people mistake for the feel of healthy hair. While it's nice for a quick fix this coating is detrimental to your locks over time. You're blocking out hydrating ingredients in the future-the silicones are not water soluble and in order to completely remove them you must use a clarifying shampoo. I'm not completely anti-silicones, but if I want to add them to my hair I prefer to do it with products after my shower (usually for heat protection). I try to go easy on them since they block out moisture that my hair desperately requires and I also don't want to have to clarify too often. I have a feeling that people who miss the old formula are missing the silicone slip (which is not an indication of hair health). The new All Soft conditioner does make my hair feel soft. It detangles beautifully and leaves my hair feeling moisturized; not slippery & coated. It also works great as a leave in because it no longer has the tendency to build up. As far as the changes in ingredients I want to first point out that there are many moisturizing ingredients in the new formula. I am a hairstylist and I recommend Redken products in general because they work (not affiliated w/ the company). Just because you may not recognize or know how to pronounce an ingredient doesn't make it bad for your hair. Argan oil is a trendy one right now which is why they added that I'm sure. They replaced one oil for another. There are many moisturizing ingredients in addition to the argan oil. There is also some light protein in it which is just enough to maintain hair strength without causing brittleness (which excess protein will do). A few people pointed out the alcohol in the formula. Alcohol by itself will dry your hair out. Alcohol combined in the correct percentage with certain moisturizing ingredients actually helps your hair absorb more of the moisture. There is a reason it's in there-the chemists at Redken don't stand to gain anything by ruining your hair. This conditioner reminds me a bit of Terax Crema now. The ingredients list has some similarities. I hope this helps explain the new formula a little bit better-I really like it and I know those of you who avoid excess silicones will be excited to learn it is now cone-free. It's a good idea to clarify your hair prior to trying new conditioner. No conditioner will be able to do what it should on hair that has a layer of silicone coating it. If you didn't care for this try it again after you clarify. Some people are surprised to find that clarifying and following with a moisturizing conditioner will instantly restore their hair to a softer and healthier-feeling state. Lots of my clients want to add products to their hair in an effort to moisturize-oils, creams, leave-ins-when in reality they should remove everything first and then keep it simple with a good conditioner. This is a great one.
19 out of 20 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -A/G - beach bomb
tracyltrust 9/5/2012 12:38:00 PM
I'm thrilled with this new offering from A/G. I'm a hairdresser and a loyal fan of A/G Re:coil. (I recommend it to clients despite it not being for sale at my salon) In my experience it is THE curl product. I have tons of fine wavy hair that becomes curly with some encouragement. Re:coil gives me the most curl of anything I've ever tried. My only gripe with it is it can leave my hair a little darker or wet/dirty-looking, can be crunchy if I use just a bit too much and doesn't always leave my hair soft to the touch-even if I "scrunch out" the crunch. It is a bit drying so it can make my hair look a little more matte than I like and is also why my hair feels less soft than I'd like. I am knit-picking really since it is more or less perfect for when I want my waves to become defined curls in minutes. Beach Bomb is a welcome change for me however; it's kind of like a softer and gentler Re:coil. It does enhance my waves but I don't get as much of a springy curl as with the Re:coil. It's a more undone kind of look that leaves my waves loosely defined and full with a touch of hold but still soft. Once I got the amount right (I use 2 pumps for my very dense, just past shoulder length hair) I was in love! I feel like I have that Victoria's Secret model hair that is tousled and wavy but full. And it is so quick and easy! I just spread it evenly throughout my very wet hair with my fingers, scrunch a little, ruffle up the hair at my scalp and diffuse on low for 30 seconds or so. I can also let it air dry but I don't get as much volume that way. I used it yesterday and woke up this morning with crazy beautiful texture. My hair was in a loose ponytail and there are still medium sized waves that are soft to the touch. I feel like I could easily make a gorgeous updo with the texture my hair has from using this product yesterday. If your hair is pin straight with no discernible bend or wave to it I'm not certain how well this would work for you. If you're looking to create texture where you have none I'd say the Re:coil would be worth a shot since the magnesium sulfate in it shrinks the cuticle of your hair-causing it to bend. You could maybe get a slight wave that way. A/G makes a spray product as well that contains magnesium sulfate,"Curl Trigger," that gives a similar result as the Re:coil in my experience. While I love the effect magnesium sulfate has on my waves, I also believe it to be one of the ingredients responsible for drying and dulling my hair. Beach Bomb does not contain magnesium sulfate and is better suited to hair that is already wavy in my opinion. It enhances and softly defines my naturally wavy fine hair, giving me volume and separation without stiffness or a darkening/dulling effect. I have tried mixing Re:coil and Beach Bomb together and I prefer the effect of the Beach Bomb by itself. I am in love with this stuff so I hope everyone else likes it too and buys it up so A/G will keep on making it :-)
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Volum' Express The Mega Plush
tracyltrust 7/14/2012 5:18:00 PM
I rarely buy drugstore mascaras but was lured by the brightly colored tube on the end cap at the drugstore. Maybelline was Buy One Get One Half-off too, so I grabbed this and a tube of Full & Soft, which is the one drugstore mascara I do purchase regularly. It occurred to me as I was checking out that Mega Plush and Full & Soft make very similar claims. After trying the Mega Plush I'm thinking Maybelline should've just re-promoted Full & Soft! If the description for Mega Plush entices you I promise you'll love Full & Soft (and will more than likely be disappointed in Mega Plush)... My lashes are naturally long so I look for mascaras that enhance volume. When I talk about lash "volume" I'm referring to wanting my lashes to look multiplied. When a mascara separates and defines every single lash so it looks like I have tons and tons of lashes-this is what I refer to as volume-just so we're on the same page. My favorites for dramatic volume are Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill and YSL Faux Cils. Maybelline's Full & Soft is my go-to when I want a voluminous look that is softer-for say a low-key makeup day. Mega Plush was appealing as my summer makeup is always lighter and softer and it still made the promise of volume (it was a hot summer day). I got this in blackest black. If I just pull the wand out and apply it glues bunches of my lashes together and I look like I have 3 clumped up and heavy (flat) lashes. Terrible. I tried wiping the wand off almost completely and the results were much better. It separated my lashes rather nicely and they didn't look brittle or crunchy. But way too much comes out on the brush for starters. I wipe off most of my mascara wands before swiping for the best effect anyway though. I can build them up slowly this way, rather than being stuck with clumps. If the results were amazing enough, having to wipe the wand wouldn't be a deal-breaker for me. Unfortunately, while this mascara does leave my lashes looking "soft" they seem to behave as though they're soft as well. Meaning a couple hours later I looked in the mirror and my lashes looked disheveled. A bunch of them were going every which way and had fallen. Kind of like messy hair. It even seemed like some of the lashes that were previously separated had become stuck together. I may have rubbed my eye inadvertently but nothing I don't ordinarily do that my other mascaras hold up to-I was watching television for a couple hours. So the light as air "mousse" formula seems to offer about as much hold as hair mousse does-which just doesn't cut it for me. Maybelline's Full & Soft mascara gives me more volume while leaving my lashes looking soft and my lashes stay where I put them. Again I'm not really sure why they didn't just re-promote Full & Soft (although if they tried to change or "improve" the formula I'd freak out!) At my drugstore the Full & Soft mascaras do seem to collect some dust since they're not any new and exciting "formula." But it's one of those "if it isn't broke don't fix it " kind of things. Maybelline nailed the "Mega/Full, Plush/Soft" look when they made Full & Soft. Having bought both at the same time and applying one on each side I can promise you that if you're looking for a "Mega Plush" look you're better off reaching for the Full & Soft...even though the tube is no where near as flashy ;-) I will experiment with layering them to avoid feeling like it was a total waste. Hope this helps someone!
12 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -NARS - Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer
tracyltrust 3/18/2012 3:52:00 PM
I don't usually do tinted moisturizers as I like a bit more coverage than they offer but hearing this gives slightly more coverage than most TMs, while supposedly providing spf 30 PA+++, I knew I had to check it out. I love the idea of multi-tasking products although I'm skeptical about most skincare claims... I have tried BB creams but when I use the 1/4 tsp required to get the stated SPF I look like I am wearing a thick layer of paste on my face. There also usually seems to be only two or three shades available for most of the BB creams I've looked at, so I seldom get a good match. I kept reading reviews for the Nars hoping someone was finally offering something along the same lines-only better- and finally decided to try it myself... I am NC15, Bobbi Brown Porcelain, and Finland is a great match. I'm not sure how this would look on someone fairer than myself as it seems to match my skin tone exactly (and it does have enough pigment/coverage that I think getting the color right would matter.) *What I want to say, that I don't think has been mentioned yet, is that I can use the full 1/4 tsp amount of this that would be required to achieve the touted SPF of 30 without looking like I have piled on a ton of makeup. It also doesnt leave me looking greasy, even though I do have combination-oily skin. Nars got the pigmentation level and emoilence just right in that sense. It is not overly emollient which means my skin is able to fully absorb the 1/4 tsp amount. If you're concerned about sun protection these two things are a big deaI. It seems to last on my skin for a good part of the day- I can still tell it's there hours later. I will likely use my Peter Thomas Roth powder sunscreen to touch up throughout the day if I'm outdoors for any length of time. My skin tends to be oilier in the heat and I fear it will melt off eventually. With roughly 1/4 tsp I get a bit more than light coverage and a bit less than medium. I apply this as I would sunscreen- with my fingers. It blurs minor imperfections, evens out any redness but I still need concealer for my undereyes and any blemishes if im going for a very finished look. Circles and blemishes are definitely diminished-just not imperceptible. Its perfect for running to the grocery store or post office when im not overly concerned with looking polished but I don't want to frighten anyone, lol. I have done a full face with this as well ( with concealer, eye makeup, blush,etc) and it looked great-and my skin is far from perfect. The finish is satiny. In certain lighting it can almost look a bit "sheeny." If it's very hot or I'm feeling oily I will set this with powder. I forego the powder altogether if my face is looking dull or I'm feeling old as the "glow" of it certainly helps with that! I will get overly dewy though after a few hours and need to blot-but thats just my skin, not the product. It leaves my skin feeling lightly moisturized. Someone with drier skin might desire an additional moisturizer under this. I am very impressed with the coverage level and conisistency which make it possible to apply a generous amount. It makes me think that Nars is taking sun protection seriously with this product. As for the skincare benefits promised- I haven't been using it long enough to comment on any and as I mentioned I'm always very skeptical. For me it provides ample benefits by protecting me from damaging sun rays while at the same time giving me an evened out and non-greasy complexion. I will update should I notice anything extraordinary happening... EDIT: I repurchased this today! It is making my summer makeup routine so easy and I love the finish so much. I'm preferring this over all my foundations lately as I truly feel I look younger and fresher with slightly less coverage and the satiny finish. I love to dab it on my under eyes later in the day to touch up and re-hydrate that area.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -MAC - Pro Longwear Foundation
tracyltrust 10/25/2010 8:52:00 PM
I have never been a fan of Mac products in general but was in need of a long-wearing foundation for my new salon job at the exact time this product was being launched. I grabbed a sample out of curiousity and I'm so happy I did. I have combination skin with a fairly oily t-zone. I ususally find it necessary to blot my skin every couple of hours. I like medium to full coverage foundations that give a natural, skin-like appearance/finish. Prior to finding this I was using Nars Sheer Glow and I quite like it except I was finding it would wear off/ slide around my oily areas throughout the course of my 9 hour work day. . The ProLongwear has been wonderful for my long work shifts in the salon where I am busy and active all day and not always able to blot/reapply powder, despite usually feeling a little sweaty and getting sprayed/splashed with water on the regular. It lives up to its promise and my makeup looks just about as good when I get home as it does when I leave in the morning. I wish I could say the same for my hair, lol. The finish is quite natural. I wouldn't call it matte at all and neither is it dewy. I feel it is similar to the finish I get with the Sheer Glow and would describe it as "satin." I should add that I always use a primer to diminish the appearance of pores and give a smoother application. I haven't found that the primers I prefer do much for the longevity of my foundation however. I apply it over Clarins Instant Smooth or Too Faced Primed and Poreless using a damp cosmetic sponge to stipple it on. I have absolutley no problems with blending this product and I believe applying it over a primer is probablly why (since some people indicate it dries quickly?). I have to wait about 3 to 5 minutes to feel like it has "set" and then I use some silica powder to set it. I don't find this foundation to provide oil-control. I still blot every couple hours. The difference for me is that despite my moderate oil-production the foundation doesn't budge. I rather like that this isn't "oil-controlling," so to speak, since in my experience products that control oil tend to be drying. I think someone in need of serious oil-control should probablly look for that in a primer or sunscreen. The consistency of this foundation is perfect for me since it doesn't make me oilier and doesn't dry me out. It just performs very well providing buildable med coverage that I can depend on being where I put it all day. I am NC 15-20 depending on the product and I am mixing NC15 and NC20 to get my perfect match. The NC20 is quite warm and seems a tad darker than NC20 in other MAC products. The NC15 is nice and neutral but a touch too light for me by itself. Definitely try and get a sample of this if you can and be sure to experiment with different methods of application. I highly recommend using a primer of some sort. Even my favorite and most amazing foundations look 10x better over a decent primer. I also really love a damp sponge for this one as I believe it helps with the blending (especially if you've never worked w/ long-wear makeup before). Another plus: my blush doesn't budge all day either when I wear this foundation underneath it. I think I could probablly get away with skipping my e/s primer too with this on my lids but haven't experimented with this yet. I'm extremely happy with this foundation and I highly recommend it if your needs are at all similar to mine.
14 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Stila - Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner Stingray
tracyltrust 6/8/2010 10:05:00 PM
I really love this on my lids and for tightlining. It IS waterproof (stays where I put it all day, but to be fair I also use UDPP or TFSI all over my lid first so this may help). It stays on my water line for about 5-6 hours (I think someone else said the same thing) but what I like about it is that when it leaves my water line it kinda of seems to disappear (fades) instead of smearing down onto the skin of my undereye area. UD 24/7 liners always end up everywhere but my waterline after an hour or two. Also, the automatic/sharpener free nature of this makes it super easy to throw in my purse for quick touch ups. I mostly use this to tightline and it doesn't budge. What I really love is that I can tightline with this and add a little to my upper waterline too and when I blink it doesn't transfer to my lower waterline. A lot of times I do my upper waterline but skip the waterline on the bottom which is almost impossible to do with many products because once it's on the upper waterline it transfers to the lower waterline as soon as you blink. It is so easy to apply and so dark dark black and can be smudged out and then it sets. I've used this everyday since I purchased it and actually finished it today; which is actually my only gripe...I've had it 2.5 weeks at most. I've actually never finished an eyeliner ever and I thought this one should have lasted me a bit longer. Granted, I've never used any eyeliner every single day but there is substantially less product with these than you get with other pencils. .01 oz vs .04oz in a typical eyeliner pencil. Also, Stila compares these to their Smudge Pots but if they're really so similar I should get the Smudge Pots instead since you get .14 oz in those for a couple bucks more. Of course with these you get the ease of a pencil..no brush...etc. Incidentally If I recall correctly the texture of the Smudge Pots are a bit different than these... So I'm torn...I love it and we were hot and heavy for a little over two weeks and now its over. I've never loved an eyeliner so much and I'm really tempted to go pick up another one but I kind of feel ripped off. I mean .01 oz for 20$ and it lasts 2 or 3 weeks...which is why I took off one lippie. Maybe Stila will have some kind of sale and then I will pick up a bunch...or a set would be a nice option. Stila, are you listening!?!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Brows -Shu Uemura - Eyebrow Gel
tracyltrust 10/31/2009 11:35:00 PM
I am really happy I picked this up. I have used the infamous Shu Seal Brown brow pencil and found it to be quite nice for the most part. This newer brow product works much better for me, however, and I'll explain why... Seal Brown is the perfect color for my very dark neutral brown brows. My eyebrows are sparse and I have a tendency to overpluck them every once in a while. When my brows are nice and full, the Shu pencil works nicely to darken in the gaps between the hairs an give an overall more defined look. When I've gone too far w/ the tweezers and have a patch to fill or need to alter the shape of my brows significantly the pencil does me no good. As you may know, the Shu pencil is designed to sort of be activated by the oils in brow hair. Therefore, you can't draw on bare skin. So, if I needed to add a few faux hairs in places I can't do that. If you have full brows, however, the pencil is super easy and user friendly since you can't really draw outside the lines. Anyway, the gel is perfect for me because you get the wonderful convincing color of Seal Brown in a soft powdery-type of gel that can be used to build width and shape outside the brow hair if needed. It works wonderfully to simply fill in the area between brow hairs as well. When I heard "brow gel" I imagined the consistency of Bobbi Brown's Gel liners or MUFE waterproof brow corrector. This is nothing like either of these products. It is almost more like a moist dense powder then a gel. It can be layered from a very soft to a more medium/full (yet natural) effect. This product is very forgiving and the end result extremely natural. It is impossible to overdo this, I have found. I use an angle brow brush with this and after filling/shaping, I apply Mac Brow Set to add further dimension and also hold my brows in place. This product stayed put for a 16 hour day. I used UDPP on my brow area (i always spread a tiny bit all the way up to my brows from my eyelid) so this may have had something to do with the longevity...not sure. UPDATE: I came back to change this from a 4 to a 5 after using it again today. It just makes me sooo happy as my brows are usually such a pain for me and now they're a breeze (and look fantastic if I may say so myself) It is just really easy to use and looks so natural. A++ product in my book
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Kevyn Aucoin - The Sensual Skin Enhancer
tracyltrust 10/19/2009 5:19:00 PM
This is fabulous. With a damp sponge I can use this by itself and it gives full coverage while looking like skin. A tiny amount goes very far as this is highly pigmented and blends like a dream. Before actually experiencing it I couldn't have imagined how unique this product really is. I tried mixing it with my moisturizer and was amazed at how little was needed to create a tinted moisturizer (of course you could add more to make a higher coverage product). The SA also suggested adding it to my regular foundation to up the coverage but I have yet to try that. So far I am really loving this on its own, full strength. It takes a little more time/effort to blend but the results are SO worth it. When I asked my boyfriend what he thought he said it literally didn't look like I had makeup on my skin. It isn't a "natural" look, however, meaning that your skin doesn't really show through. It doesn't look cakey or mask-like either so for those who avoid fuller coverage products for this reason needn't worry. It's like having beautiful smooth satiny airbrushed skin from a magazine. I'm serious. The blendability and creamy texture of this make it ideal to use on the undereye area and I have been able to forego my other concealer products when I use this. I have normal/combo skin (oily t-zone) w/ some fine lines under my eyes and around my mouth. I use a primer before any foundation to fill in any larger pores and lines. I imagine the versatility of this product makes it suitable for all skin types as dryer ladies can mix this w/moisturizer. This is not a matte finish but it isn't dewey either. I would call it satin with a tendency towards dewey if you are oily. I set it with my Smashbox Halo powder for a matter finish. I haven't had to use it cover any blemishes yet but I will update when my inevitable TOTM pimples require attention. With such intense pigmentation I can't imagine it not covering just about anything... This product is packaged as a small jar and is less than you would get with standard foundations but I see it taking forever for me to finish this one jar. It's like a highly concentrated foundation and were you to mix it with moisturizer or another foundation you'd likely get twice as much usage from it than a standard-sized foundation. I am around NC 15, MUFE HD 117, Bobbi Brown Porcelain and got this in SX03 which is a dead on match. I'll be sure to update as I use this more. I've been using it for a week so far and am in love. Edit (April 2012): I recently discovered sx02 is perfect for my undereye circles (lighter & more pink) while sx03 is still a good color match for all over use. Sometimes i feel the 03 leans a little too yellow so because I fear looking sallow I add a dab of the 02. Still adore this- especially for heavy coverage or to add to moisturizer when I want a "treatment" + coverage. First pot is still going strong and I scored my 2nd alternative color at 20% off at Dermstore (there was a code) so watch for one of those-maybe get on their mailing list? Not affiliated w/Dermstore btw.
13 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyes -Stila - Kitten Smudgepot
tracyltrust 8/28/2009 10:06:00 PM
I was so excited to get my hands on this! First off I am a huge fan of Stila Kitten. On my NC20 skintone it is the perfect high shimmer soft pink/flesh highlight or all over wash for a bright and awake look. The Kitten Smudgepot is nearly identical in color/effect as the Kitten shadow. If you are not a fan of shimmer you should steer clear of this, although I do find the effect of the Smudgepot to be slightly less shimmery/frosty than the Kitten e/s. I used this as both a cream shadow and liner today. i did a wash all over my top eyelind using a cream shadow brush and used my liner brush to highlight my tear ducts and draw a short line under my lower eyelid (about 1/3 length starting at my inner corner.) I also used the smudgepot on my lower water line. Smudgepots last quite well for me on my water line and this was no exception. It gave my eyes a slighter wider appearance and the reflective quality made my brown eyes pop (especially on the tear ducts). Overall this was a very soft and bright eye look and I loved it. I will keep experimenting with different ways to use this. Other than for the waterline I suppose there isn't a neccesity to own both the shadow and the smudgepot as you can use either similarly. The advantage to the smudgepot is mostly longevity and it can also be applied more precisely I suppose. I don't have a problem with the lasting power of the e/s however because I use UDPP underneath... Anyway if you like both Smudgepots and Stila Kitten this is a huge winner. If you haven't tried Smudgepots or Stila Kitten I highly recommend both products and/or just this one:)
18 out of 18 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Make Up For Ever - Full Cover Concealer
tracyltrust 8/25/2009 11:58:00 PM
I love this. I notice lots of the reviews where people don't care for this are referring to using it on their undereye area which this really isnt suited for. It's ideal for covering marks or blemishes. It is a drier formula which helps its be very resistant to fading or rubbing/washing off so I would imagine it would accentuate lines and be drying to the undereye area. I believe MUFE's HD concealer is recommended for the undereye area although I haven't tried that one so I can't comment. It doesn't seem fair to bring the rating down for a product because you aren't using it as intended. I suppose if you're hell-bent on putting this under your eyes (and I can see why-it's amazing at covering anything!) mixing it with a tiny bit of moisturizer may help- though that will surely reduce the longevity. ( Check out Kevyn Aucoin's Sensual Skin Enhancer for undereye circles if you haven't already...) Anyway back to why I love this... This concealer prevents big red TOTM blemishes from ruining my day. It is highly pigmented and a little dab makes any discolorations disappear. I also use it to cover some light sun spots and acne scarring. It doesn't take much work at all. I have it in shade 1 and am Nc15, Bobbi Brown Porcelain, Nars Gobi/Deauville. I'm pretty yellow and this shade disappears completely on my skin. ( despite being called "pink" porcelain) I don't find it very pink- more neutral, so don't let the name stop you from checking this shade out. With concealer I find I get a better result when i err on the lighter side with the color. I might be between shades 1 & 3 but when covering blemishes the 1 works beautifully. I suppose because I am trying to "lighten up" a darker area of my skin? Either way it's invisible over my foundation ( which is currently Nars TM in Finland or YSL Teint Resist in Blonde) I can just dab this onto any trouble spots with my finger after applying my foundation. Ive used a brush but have more success with my finger ( perhaps the heat helps?). If its a very dark mark I can add a 2nd application over the first and it does not look cakey. I just carefully blend it into the surrounding area with my finger. Trust me, this is super easy. Its taking me longer to explain how I apply this than I would ever have to spend applying it :-) Ease of use is a huge reason I love it- in addition to its effectiveness. It sets quickly enough that i can dust on my powder only a minute or so later. It absolutely stays put all day and as I've emphasized, requires very little effort in the way of application. The small tube should last me forever as I use so very little each time. It is quite pigment-rich. Can't ask for anything more than this. I use to neglect concealer all together as I could never get it to look quite right. ( I would just layer up my foundation- not the best look!) This is so easy and leaves me looking so close to flawless I can't believe I didn't know about it sooner...I can finally experiment with tinted moisturizers since i no longer rely on foundation to cover my imperfections. I have some Dermablend that I no longer use because this stuff is SO much more effective for my concerns. I don't even look at other concealers anymore-I cant imagine something better than what is for me the perfect product :-)
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Tarte - Femme Fatale Palette
tracyltrust 7/23/2009 10:27:00 AM
I ordered this from Sephora online and I must say the image on their website doesn't reflect the shades in this palette very accurately. They are also very metallic in real life (not necessarily a bad thing, just not what I expected). A couple of them are shimmery and look lovely on but for the most part these eyeshadows aren't as pigmented as what I'm used to and don't show up on my eyelid the way they look in the palette. I use UDPP underneath all of my eyeshadows and this didn't seem to make a difference with these in terms of color intensity... The shadow brush included is really nice quality though. The double ended liner is decent enough. One end is blue and the other is green. What is also nice is the application guide included with the palette that shows you two possible eye looks the palette can create. I tried them both, and while they were creative and fun, I honestly thought the color combinations of the second eye look were odd and kind of clashed. Anyway, my main disappointment with this palette is the lack of color payoff of these eyeshadows as well as finding the shades to be a bit different in person than they appear online.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Maybelline - Super Stay Makeup
tracyltrust 7/13/2009 2:35:00 AM
Meh. I'm really very suprised at the high ratings for this. Perhaps I'm spoiled by my MUFE HD but I returned this after wearing it only once. It blended well but almost too well in that it offered little coverage. It was there enough for me to tell the color was a touch off though, and I had used the testers provided in the store so this was definitely the closest (I am NC 20/Stila B,MUFE 117 and got Sand Beige). The next shade up was too dark and down was too pink. I got oilier than I normally do and I just had an all around "ugly day." It feels good when you can blame it on your new foundation, lol. I'm pretty sure this was the case though. Even when I dabbed extra onto my trouble spots (acne/scars,etc) I couldn't get the even/smooth effect I desire. Bummer. I prefer Colorstay to this for a drugstore foundation, although I can't really recommend Colorstay either (see my review for that if you're curious) :/ I still hold out hope that I'll find the perfect drugstore option. It would be nice to spend less than I currently do.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Cover FX - COVER FX
tracyltrust 7/13/2009 2:26:00 AM
I dunno I just can't get this to work for me. I'm sad because the color I got is right on and I had high hopes for its supposed great coverage/masking ability. I'm NC15-20/Stila B/MUFE 117 and I got this in M20. Spot on. When I blend this all over my face like a foundation it looks pretty good but I would hardly call it full coverage. That would be acceptable though because I am able to dab this liberally onto blemishes/discolored spots for more coverage...except after a few hours I am mysteriously able to see the blemishes again. Also, if I look closely at the spots I have concealed (or in natural lighting) the makeup is kinda obvious and blotchy/cakey looking. I also get pretty shiny and my pores show up when I hardly ever have this problem. When I touch my face (which I try to avoid in general but sometimes I get itches, lol) I can see color on my fingers afterward. I'm returning this to Sephora and I'm going to try Amazing Cosmetics concealer as well as MUFE Full Cover next. Wish me luck...
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Cleansers -DHC - Deep Cleansing Oil
tracyltrust 7/13/2009 2:17:00 AM
I don't know how I lived without this stuff. I used to dread removing my makeup at night and then washing my face. This does everything in one quick step. My face feels clean and soft. No residue nor a trace of makeup remains. I wear waterproof mascara everyday and this just whisks it away. My skin is combination, leaning towards oily/acne prone and I have no problems with this so far. I highly recommend everyone try this gentle and effective product.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -L'Oreal - Extra Volume Collagen Mascara (waterproof)
tracyltrust 7/13/2009 2:06:00 AM
For me this is fantastic. Holds a curl, fans out my lashes and makes them look lush and dark without looking crispy or crunchy. I have been using Shiseido's mascara base for months and got tired of stiff looking lashes so when I purchased this I decided to skip the base and just see what this mascara would do on its own. I'm really pleased. The strange thing is this mascara flakes when I am applying multiple coats. Once I get everything the way I want it I have to brush some flakes off my face w/ my powder brush. After that it doesn't flake Somehow the texture of this mascara formula is unique and the flaking seems to be part of that unique texture....I know this sounds odd and I'm having a hard time explaining it intelligently...Basically it seems like as I add the second and third coat any clumps on my lashes have already dried and the dense bristle-type brush is brushing through them and they fall off. I guess I would call it a dry formula and quick drying. I don't have to wipe off the brush before applying and it seems no matter how many coats I use I don't end up with clumps. Just flakes. But I love the end result and I don't mind running a powder brush over my face quickly once my lashes are perfect. I feel like I have a dark and dense "fringe" of lashes with this. I would give this mascara 5 lippies if the darkest black shade was just a touch blacker. Also I don't need to use an eyelash comb with this, although I do have the Tweezerman comb. Something about the softness of this mascara or the bristles on the brush allow for superb separation w/out the extra step. I'm telling you its different than most mascaras I've tried and for me its different in a good way.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No