Blush -E.L.F. - Studio Blush in Candid Coral
victorianlace 6/1/2011 1:39:00 AM
Really loving this blush! So beautiful for the warmer months. This is a peachy, bronzy blush that shimmers gold. It can be done very naturally or built up for a lovely glow. I tend to build this up on my cheeks since one-two swipes isn't enough to show up on my olive skin. But when I build it up it has great staying power. The powder itself isn't packed super well into the pan so there is a bit of blush fallout in the pan, but it doesn't bother me much. Packaging is really nice, sturdy and not super cheap looking. The price is unbeatable!
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Cleansers -Origins - Checks and Balances
victorianlace 4/29/2011 5:25:00 PM
I really like this cleanser. I received a full size for free during their earth day trade in. My skin is traditional combination with an oily t-zone and dry areas. I also have slightly sensitive skin with clogged pores, not much acne but some break outs due to stress. I use this with my olay pro-x brush and wow! The scent is minty and fresh (much like their gumballs), it has a nice little foamy froth to it and it feels very refreshing. This does take off makeup effectively but since it really stings the eyes I don't put it anywhere near my eyes. Use a separate makeup remover for eye makeup. Definitely feel clean after this, but not like harsh stripped clean. My skin drinks in moisturizer after this cleanser, so I have no issues with dryness. I have used this now for a week and I have noticed a difference in my skin! It looks so much clearer, almost glowy and I think it has evened out my complexion quite a bit. I think it has also helped clean my clogged pores as they are looking tighter. Very impressed with this, a little goes a long way so I anticipate this to last months! I don't know if I will repurchase solely based on the high price tag (I usually use $4 olay cleanser) but I might consider saving up for it when the time comes!
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Hair Color -John Frieda - Precision Foam Color
victorianlace 4/29/2011 5:13:00 PM
I literally just dyed my hair with this and had to write a review. I was really interested in trying a foam hair color. I was really sucked into the idea of this easy, less messy way to do your hair. I had two great coupons and was able to get this dye at target for $4 (normally $11.99). For note I have long thick hair (well down the middle of my back), naturally dark brown/black (which I feel washes me out), I usually dye with Loreal preference 4g or 5g for a nice rich golden dark brown color. I used John Frieda foam in 4N Dark Natural Brown. The application process was pretty cool. They give nice thick gloves that are fitted and I feel that the directions were clear (although I feel more depth would have been nice.) The application was easy and indeed no drip! Easily the fastest dye process I have ever done. I did notice that the foam was harder to work into the strands of hair as it didn't quite lather like it promises and my hair definitely did not lather up like a shampoo (the pictures in the directions definitely show lathering). There really wasn't a chemical scent to this, didn't really burn my eyes like others do. Staining wasn't an issue at all. It rinsed like a normal home dye would. My hair felt really brittle though, usually when I dye my hair it feels really nice, especially after the conditioner and this was not the case whatsoever! My hair felt so dry, especially the ends. I feel this might be due to the fact that you are essentially rubbing the dye into the hair instead of brushing on like with traditional dyes. Some people have been impressed with the size of the conditioner but I noticed that it is a tiny bit smaller than the l'oreal preference conditioner. Tube looks bigger but I don't think it is anything special at all. My hair really felt brittle and dry, I added some bio-silk before drying (which I normally don't have to do) and that helped a little. I dried my hair and afterwards my hair looked a bit damaged, normally my hair looks really soft and nourished after coloring, so that was a bit disappointing. The color was okay. It was darker than I anticipated, more black brown then rich brown. There is a bit of warmth to the color but not enough, I think this color is a bit too dark and is washing me out a bit. I also noticed that my few grey hairs (less than 5 percent of my hair, probably less than twenty strands) were not covered at all!!! Now I have white/silvery greys growing in, so they are harder to cover but honestly they weren't effected at all by this product and it was on for 30 plus minutes. And with dark hair and little silvery roots popping out they can seem so much more noticeable. Not happy about that at all. Over all I would not buy this product again. The application was really nice, clean and quick but with the color turn out poor and no grey coverage as well as the damaging effect to the hair I can't justify spending $12 on this every 6-8 weeks. John Frieda has the application down pat now they need to improve the overall results!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Bachelorette Bash
victorianlace 4/21/2011 5:15:00 PM
I love this polish! I bought it about 2 months ago and it is the only polish I have worn since. Such a fun, girly magenta with awesome color payoff! This is my first experience with Essie polish and I am very pleased, the formula feels very rich and coats the nail very well, even with the small brush. Two coats is all you need to seal the deal! I love that dries to a shinny finish so you don't need a top coat but I recommend one to make your polish really last. This lasts over a week for me with a top coat which makes the 8 dollar price tag worth every penny!
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Mascara -Rimmel - Sexy Curves
victorianlace 10/19/2010 8:11:00 PM
Love this mascara! I have long heavy lashes and need a mascara that will help keep my lashes curled throughout the day. This is it. I use an eyelash curler first then apply two coats of this mascara for big eyes. It really does seem to hold a curl through the day and I love the way my lashes look, big and dramatic, but not so big and dramatic they look like a clown. What is so great about this mascara is that it does not smudge or flake. I have used countless mascaras and had to deal with that weird black smudge under the eyes, or the black flakes snowing down my face. This mascara has none of that, used it all summer long in humid climate and it stood the test. Wonderful mascara!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Maybelline - Dream Mousse Blush - All colors [DISCONTINUED]
victorianlace 10/19/2010 8:07:00 PM
This is a great light blush. The color options are pretty varied which is great. I love the way the mousse feels, I'm kind of a sucker for a gimmick but I really love how soft it feels going on. I like and dislike the finger application, first I like it because I feel more in control of the product placement but I also feel it's a bit unhygienic to always be sticking my fingers in the pot. This blush is shimmery, which I like but some people hate so beware. I think the shimmer is very subtle and the blush looks very natural on. I use rose petal and it give me a nice shimmer glow that is very natural and healthy. I did notice that this mousse does not last all day long which is annoying but everything else about it is wonderful.
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Cleansers -St. Ives - Olive Cleanser
victorianlace 10/19/2010 7:59:00 PM
I love this cleanser. I have combination skin and wear makeup daily, I'm fighting against oil and makeup residue when wash my face. This is the product for me. I wanted a cleanser that was gentle without harsh chemicals or acne medications because those tend to dry out my skin or irritate it. I also wanted a product that would take off my makeup while I cleansed. St. Ives Olive Cleanser is that product. It is gentle yet it makes my face feel clean and refreshed and it takes off eye makeup like a pro! And can't beat the price.
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Treatments (Eye) -Burt's Bees - Radiance Eye Cream with Royal Jelly
victorianlace 6/9/2010 2:59:00 AM
I think this is a good moisturizer for under the eyes, but I don't think it does much for puffiness, dark circles, fine lines etc. So if you aren't worried about those things and just want a good moisturizer this might be the product for you. I picked this up after a bad reaction to another eye cream and can happily say this did not agitate my sensitive eyes.
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Treatments (Eye) -Aveeno - Positively Ageless Lifting & Firming Eye Cream 
victorianlace 6/9/2010 2:54:00 AM
I picked this up because I wanted to start using an eye cream and I thought Aveeno was a pretty good brand for facial care. I have used their products in the past and have liked them. I also (foolishly) thought the higher price for a drug store brand would provide better results. I don't know if this works well as an eye cream because I was only able to use it for two nights. The first night I put it on and experienced some burning in my eyes. I thought I was careless and had gotten some product in my eyes. I put some drops in and it seemed to go away and I didn't think of it again. I made sure to be careful applying it the next night and afterwards I experienced the most painful burning in my eyes. They were watering like crazy and drops wouldn't help, I finally had to wash off the product and wash out my eyes. Needless to say I threw this out. I have found other eye creams that work and don't wreak havoc on my eyes.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Physicians Formula - Organic Wear Facial Makeup Remover Lotion
victorianlace 6/9/2010 2:44:00 AM
Very overpriced makeup remover! I thought I'd give this a try because I like organic products and I really love the Physicians Formula line, but this was a big disappointment. It doesn't really remove makeup, it just moves it around in a big mess around your face. And I happened to get some in my eye and it stung like no other. I was extremely disappointed in this product I had to stop using it and find something else. And I really wanted to like it but it just was a waste of money. The only upside was that it did have a great stable container with a pump but unfortunately the pump seemed to spit the product across the room.
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Eyeliner -Almay - Liquid Eyeliner
victorianlace 6/9/2010 2:40:00 AM
This is a great liquid liner! Obviously there is a learning curve for liquid liner and I think this product is great for getting the hang of things. The wand has a nice long handle which creates better stability and the tip of the brush is very thin so it's easy to get a natural effect and not one big fat line. It's also nice that the formula isn't too dry so if you make a mistake while applying it, you can rub it away without making a huge mess. The color pay off is great and I've never had a problem with melting or flaking. I also like Almay because their products are kind to eyes and those who wear contacts. Consider this product if you are interested in starting with liquid liners.
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Cleansers -Yes To Carrots - Can You C Me? Eye and Face makeup remover
victorianlace 6/9/2010 2:34:00 AM
I bought this on a whim looking for a new cleanser that would also take off my makeup, because I'm lazy and want a products that does it all. I picked this up because I've heard great things about the Yes to Carrots line and it seemed to have a list of good stuff in it. This Product is great for your skin but unfortunately it's not a great makeup remover as it claims to be. I thought it was so so as a makeup remover. I think it cleaned most of my foundation off but I think it's useless for eye makeup. It mostly smeared it around and when I was done I still had some dark mascara lines around my eyes. And it made my eyes cloudy when some product got into them, and was difficult to rinse away. But I do love how this makes my skin feel! And like I said it's got some good skin stuff in it so it must be doing something for my skin. I think I'll keep this around for shower use or for a morning cleanser, but as a makeup remover it's just not for me.
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Scrubs -St. Ives - Apricot Scrub Blemish and Blackhead Control
victorianlace 5/5/2010 2:34:00 AM
This is a great staple in my beauty regime. As some have said you must be gentle and only use it once to three times a week no more!! This can be very abrasive if you scrub too hard which could cause more acne. Also this has salicylic acid which means you shouldn't use it every day. This product used right is a great way to get rid of the built up dead skin cells on your face. I also like to rub it on gently then leave it on for a minute or so, that way my skin can get a bit of the salicylic acid. If you find this product doesn't work well on your face it works wonders as a body scrub, especially on the back and areas like elbows. It really does leave the skin soft! If used right this product could be an inexpensive way to exfoliate!
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Highlighters -Physicians Formula - Shimmer Strips in Vegas Strip
victorianlace 5/4/2010 2:06:00 AM
This is a fantastic product! Such a makeup multitasker! I love to use the lighter strip as a highlight on my cheekbones, brow bones and inside corners of my eyes. As a highlighter it is shimmery but not obvious, it gives a nice natural glow and really makes your skin pop in photos! It can also make a good eye shadow if you sweep your brush across the entire palette. The darker bronzer color is okay for contouring the hollows of the cheek and temples but is not good for use as an all over bronzer. This palette is great for traveling because it does so much! Love this product and definitely would repurchase.
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Powder -Physicians Formula - Mineral Wear Talc-Free Illuminating Powder Duo
victorianlace 5/4/2010 1:16:00 AM
I bought this product on a search for a decent drugstore mineral foundation. I do like this product, but the coverage is a bit thin. I have an uneven complexion with redness around the eyes and some acne scarring. I found this product evens out the complexion fairly well and will cover redness nicely but is pretty useless on acne scaring. I tend to use this with a bit of coverup stick and it's not too bad. I do like the glowy look it gives to my skin, it's not too over the top but definitely not for every situation. I really do dislike the packaging. The plastic stopper thing is really annoying and can be hard to close which sometimes gets the powder on the bathroom counter. And as everyone said the brush is useless, way too stiff and scratchy. Make sure you use a different brush with this product!! Overall it's a decent product for the days you want to be a little more natural, but if you want something to really give a good medium to heavy coverage you might want to find something else.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No