Eye Primer -Wet 'n' Wild - Fergie Take on the Day Eyeshadow Primer
waymire01 1/2/2013 3:53:00 AM
WnW hit it out of the ballpark. I've seen it compared to TFSS.. and it has a similar texture in the tube, but as someone for whom TFSS does not work (it just adds more oil to my lids and my shadow creases worse with it than without) I can tell you this is better. When it comes out of the tube it is very thin, slippery, and wet, almost has an oil-like consistency. But once it dries it goes matte, dry and smooth, with none of the slipperiness of TFSS. Does a great job at preventing breakdown of shadow, and shadow applies beautifully over it with no sticking or streaking. Very light on the eye and not at all drying. The tube is well designed and easy to use with a very small opening, and the cap has a little ridge around the top which makes it very easy to hold. A very little goes a long way. The only problem I've had is the product slowly comes out of the tube by itself, so I have to be quick to apply and get the lid on before it makes a mess. Once the lid is on it stops so no mess in the lid. Has a slight flesh toned tint, but applies sheer.
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -NYX - HD High Definition Eyeshadow Base
waymire01 10/14/2012 4:58:00 PM
Not as good on me as UDPP, but still a very nice creamy primer at a good price. Takes a minute or two to dry and a little goes a long way. Has a doe foot applicator.. which I actually prefer to a tube, but some do not. Keeps shadow from smudging all day. A little hard to blend on top of if you do not give it enough time to dry or put too much on, a little base color or face powder will solve that problem. Shadows look great on top so I do believe it improves the pigmentation. I have not done any direct side by side comparisons though. A great everyday primer if you do not want to spend on high end.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -NYX - Slide On Pencil - ALL
waymire01 10/14/2012 4:50:00 PM
These are identical to the UD 24-7 liners, I bought both at the same time and other than color cannot tell them apart. They perform equally well, even have the same faults, but you can buy 3 of the NYX for the price of 1 UD. I have four colors and they are all beautiful. Extremely creamy, pigmented, set and last well, perform decent on the waterline but a bit sticky and heavy for my taste. Last really well, and only a very small amount of smudging. If you are looking for color though they are perfect. Lots of gorgeous colors. I seldom ever wear liner on my lid but I think they would be even better there.
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Powder -Cover Girl - Cover Girl Olay Pressed Powder
waymire01 10/14/2012 4:40:00 PM
Bought this on a whim and glad I did. This is a really nice powder. I've tried a lot of them, they always seem cakey or chalky so I seldom reach for them but this is different and it is my new HG. Very smooth "creamy" feel.. very smoothing on the skin. Not completely flat matte finish, more of a satin so you look alive. No sparkles or shimmers though. Not the slightest bit chalky. Good pigmentation. I do not rely on it to control oil, I use good primers for that.. but it leaves a very smooth, soft finish all day on my combination skin. Seems to work well with various foundations of different finishes, I have a few I rotate through. Also great under the eyes to set concealer. Nice compact, but the puff is awful and there is very little room for a nice thick one, since I use a brush or sponge to apply just to set my foundation or concealer it is not a problem for me. I have never tried it as powder foundation, but considering the finish and pigmentation it may be a good candidate. Very good for mature or problem skin it just smooths everything out and leaves a very airbrushed finish.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Cover Girl - Covergirl and Olay Tone Rehab 2 in 1 Foundation
waymire01 10/14/2012 4:24:00 PM
I have oily/combination skin and this foundation is really nice on me, I think it will be a go-to in the winter. I do use a good primer to control the oil (Black radiance complexion perfection all over and Milk of Magnesia on my forehead). It has an odd texture, kind of buttery for lack of a better term. Blends like a dream, medium coverage, easy to blend out or build up for less or more coverage. Feels really nice on the skin, like a nice night cream, sets to a natural comfortable finish. Satin to dewy, I set it with powder.. and I do not usually set my entire face with other foundations, but once set it's fine little to no transfer. It lasts all day, no problem. I can see this being really good for dry skin with an appropriate primer. Really nice pump bottle. A bit spendy for drugstore, but my skin feels great after I wear it... soft, hydrated, and smooth.. no breakouts either. It does have a strong fragrance, kind of a floral/powdery scent which does not bother me, but may others. It does not linger through the day. My only gripe is the color selection, I am very warm toned and the closest color is more neutral, I can wear it and warm up a touch with bronzer.. but it's not the perfect shade which is always nice.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Rimmel - Clean Finish Matte Foundation
waymire01 10/14/2012 3:54:00 PM
A fantastic improvement on the original formula.. if the original was a bit to "moist" for you, as it was for me. Same smooth lightweight feel, super easy blending, fantastic paddle applicator, medium coverage. Sets better, no transfer, more of a satin finish, looks very natural, lasts at least 8hrs. A smidge darker than the exact same shade in the original formula, at least for my shade. I would say this is the best foundation available for the price (about $4).. and better than many that cost much more.
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Palettes -Urban Decay - Urban Ammo Eye Palette
waymire01 8/13/2012 1:18:00 AM
This is my first UD palette. I chose this one because of the large variety of colors, both neutral and bright. While the colors are gorgeous.. I can't use it due to the immense fallout and glitter bombs in most of the colors. Not only does it wind up all over my face, not only during application but throughout the day, but it drive my eyes crazy, even after I remove it.. the rest of the night and into the next day I feel like someone put salt in my eyes. I tried it for an entire week, thinking I would get used to it, but no luck. It's a terrible shame because it was so expensive, and I really looked forward to the purchase thinking I was getting the best. Now I'm stuck with $40 worth of shadow I cannot wear.... fair warning to anyone else considering a purchase.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Victoria's Secret - The Nakeds
waymire01 8/13/2012 1:10:00 AM
I bought this on a whim while at the mall. The packaging was sealed with no tester.. in fact I had to ask the sales lady to look to see if they even had any, they were all locked away in a drawer, not even on display.. and I had only seen some pretty terrible photos online, so I was not sure what to expect. Several people had given it mediocre reviews before I had a chance to use it, so then I was really worried..but I really do not understand anyone having a problem with it. I think it's a great palette if you are looking for very wearable neutral shades. It has been called a dupe for the Urban Decay Naked Palette, but it does not resemble either Naked or Naked 2.. except for the fact that it contains neutrals. All the colors are satin finish.. no heavy sparkle or glitter, but no matte either. Very smooth formula, you do need to pack it on a bit for full pigmentation.. but it is not chalky in the least. No fallout and lasts all day with primer. A very good distribution of light, midtone, and dark colors. The pans are large, over an inch square.. you get a lot of product. The outer packaging is really nice, a vinyl snakeskin print metallic with a metal plate on the front with the name. The inner packaging is very flimsy and cheap though.. although it is only a problem if you remove it from the outer case. It has a reasonably nice black pencil liner.. and a horrible excuse for a double ended brush.. honestly do not know what they were thinking with that brush. After using the palette several days straight I have been really happy with it and feel it was worth the money. I bought an UD palette the same day for twice the price and while the colors are beautiful, the fallout and glitter are so bad I can't wear it, it drives my eyes nuts even after I remove it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Suave - Professionals Heat Protection Spray
waymire01 7/22/2012 2:31:00 AM
I flat iron my hair about twice a week, it is quite short and I have not had any problems with damage, my hair is in really good condition. Usually just put in my styling oil and maybe a bit of silicone serum. Decided to give this a try when I saw it at the store, figured more protection was a good thing. After only one use I'm throwing it out. It goes in very wet, dries sticky, made my hair dull and dirty feeling.. but the worst is that my ends felt like hay, like I had bleached it three times in a row and forgotten to use conditioner. I have no idea how this could do so much damage, hoping like heck it's just buildup from the product. Now on second day hair and it feels a bit better, still rough but nowhere near as much.
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BB Cream -L'Oreal - Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream
waymire01 6/28/2012 11:17:00 PM
This is a great product if you take it for what it is. It is not a tinted moisturizer, nor is it a BB cream (as I have understood traditional Asian BB creams to be, I have not used one, I have used the American versions). They call it a "skin beautifier" and I would say that is accurate. First, it runs dark... and there is a huge difference between "fair" and "light", with "light" being the tester available. If you would normally pick up "light" get "fair", it is MUCH lighter. I am currently a W3 in true match and "fair" is fine. I do believe from using it that there is some adjustment in tone when applied, and it is quite sheer, so one shade would be able to be used by a range of skin tones. I believe "fair" would be acceptable for even very light skin tones.. However "light" is definitely more like "medium" compared to most foundations. It has not oxidized on me, and does not appear the slightest bit orange. The product comes out clear, with beads that break and adjust the tone when rubbed in. It is quite thin, and very lightweight. You really want to apply this with fingers, to work in the beads. It dries quickly, so apply in sections. It does smooth skin texture, and "give an improved appearance to bare skin" as advertised.. the key word there is "bare". It is not a foundation, it is not going to cover blemishes, etc. It does improve the appearance of my skin though- it looks like I have nothing on, but my coloring is much better and more even, my skin looks healthier, and much smoother. The first time I applied it I did half my face to compare- and could definitely see and feel a difference. My face felt very smooth, like I had applied a silicone primer, but dry (in a good way, not dried out) at the same time with no oily, wet, or sticky residue. It has lasted all day in the heat, and I was outside for a few hours. It does not contain sunscreen- which is a plus for me. I am very sensitive to them and can only wear a few products, most that contain sunscreen break me out terribly. I can put my compatible sunscreen under it, or powder with spf over it and all is good. It is supposed to improve skin over time with the inclusion of vitamins etc., only time will tell if that is the case. The finish is matte- which is a big change from every other TM or "BB" cream I have tried. They all leave me greasy and shiny, this does not. I think it is a great product for those who have oily skin who are looking for a product to improve their skin tone, especially in the summer. I don't know how much actual oil control it has, I do wear a good primer so I had no problems with breakthrough, but it did not add any additional oil or interfere with the performance of my primer. It did give a luminous, brighter quality to my skin, without any trace of shine. I don't know how to explain it.. but it did. I think this is a great product for someone who wants to improve their skin while not wishing to wear a foundation, or those wearing a powder foundation. It is excellent for days when you do not want, or do not have time, to apply makeup. It only takes a second to rub in, and it makes a difference. It may make a great primer as well, if you have normal skin. I found with a bit of concealer and a good powder it made a big difference in the appearance of my skin while having next to nothing on it. *Update* I originally thought this would be a good product for those odd days when I didn't want to wear makeup... just a natural "toss on a bit of powder" look. I have been wearing this for a week straight. I recently found a fantastic foundation that I love, yet still find myself reaching for this instead. It not only lasts all day, looks great under a good powder, is very easy to apply, and is super lightweight.. but it has improved my skin. It is softer, smoother, and has evened my color. I suffered with melasma with my pregnancies, and each time it got worse. Even now, years later, I have traces of it and it gets worse whenever I am in the sun. This has made quite a lot of it disappear, and I have only been using it a week. My skin looks better everyday. Really great product that has not been getting the attention it deserves.
20 out of 22 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -L'Oreal - True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup
waymire01 6/24/2012 9:02:00 PM
I've worn this for a few days now, and so far no breakouts. This is promoted as a "luminous" foundation... which would normally be a big red flag for me since I have oily skin... but I tried on the tester on a whim and wore it on the back of my hand the rest of the day, and I couldn't get over the finish. It has a transparent quality, a very smooth soft finish with zero cakeiness or stickiness, and a soft "glow" with no sparkle. I went ahead and bought it, and I have to say it is the closest thing to natural skin I have ever worn. It is extremely comfortable, very lightweight, provides sheer to medium coverage... but does not look like you have anything on your face. Although it does even out skin tone, and blur imperfections, and is buildable for more coverage, you can see through it. If you have freckles, sun spots, scars, etc. they will still be visible. While that could be a problem if you have serious skin issues and really want to blank out your face, those with pretty nice skin are going to adore this. I put it on with my fingers, and find it blends out like magic. It does dry quickly, quickly enough that I prefer to work in sections, but even if it dries out on you in one spot there are no noticeable blotches just blend a little more out on top and it's fine. I find it actually controls oil quite well, and has very good staying power. I have had no trouble making it through the day in the Louisiana heat with it on (I do wear oil control primer), and have noticed no "breakdown", separation, or spottiness. The glow is there, but it is pretty subtle with no sparkle, it really looks like your normal skin, comparing it to my neck and shoulders it has the exact same "luminosity" as those areas. If you hate any sign of shine on your face, stay away... but if that is the case you should never buy a luminous product in the first place. I can see this being an excellent mixer- giving some of the glow and transparency while taking a bit more coverage from a longer wearing matte foundation. I have not had any problems with this acting up under powders, and it also plays well with concealers both over and under the foundation. It does contain an spf of 20. The packaging is very nice, a heavy sleek bottle with a pump. The color selection is excellent with options for warm, cool, and neutral skin tones.... and there are TESTERS available in every shade!!! Something we just never see in the drugstore. I really hope they reformulate the regular true match to have a similar staying power and consistency... or offer us a matte version in the future, because the colors offered are fabulous. It is so hard to find a true yellow based foundation for very fair skin, and I can go to W1 in the winter. *Update* I mixed this 50/50 with my Rimmel 25 hr, and it was fantastic. More coverage, just a little bit of sheen (not shine) giving it a very natural finish, blended much easier, and added spf. Lasted all day with no powder needed, no oil breakthrough (I do use a good primer).
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -E.L.F. - Brightening Eye Color
waymire01 6/24/2012 8:12:00 PM
Bought two of these yesterday, luxe along with butternut which I have yet to use, because of the high ratings here. I have to say I'm disappointed, and I am no brand snob. The colors themselves do not mesh very well, the gold highlight and the cranberry shade seem to clash with the crease colors. They "are" pigmented, but they are also extremely chalky, which makes for a huge mess. Little bits of highly pigmented fluff flying all over, both in the pans and on your eye... so it's very difficult not to wind up with a muddy mess. I did use these over a good primer- and so far they have held up well, but even from the very beginning they appeared washed out and splotchy because it was so difficult to apply and blend without color winding up all over the place. Tons of fall out. The only way I can see these being usable is to do your eyes first, and do a very simple look, maybe one color on the lid and then a highlight. I use a lot of very cheap brands, and there is much better than this out there. For a dollar or two more you can get some really nice shadows and save yourself a lot of grief. The packaging is fine, plenty of room to get a brush in the pans, opens and closes easily, very small and portable... but with the softness of the shadows I would not expect them to travel well.
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Eye Shadow -E.L.F. - Non-Stop Eye Color - Luxe
waymire01 6/24/2012 8:10:00 PM
Bought this yesterday, along with butternut which I have yet to use, because of the high ratings here. I have to say I'm disappointed, and I am no brand snob. The colors themselves do not mesh very well, the gold highlight and the cranberry shade seem to clash with the crease colors. They "are" pigmented, but they are also extremely chalky, which makes for a huge mess. Little bits of highly pigmented fluff flying all over, both in the pans and on your eye... so it's very difficult not to wind up with a muddy mess. I did use these over a good primer- and so far they have held up well, but even from the very beginning they appeared washed out and splotchy because it was so difficult to apply and blend without color winding up all over the place. Tons of fall out. The only way I can see these being usable is to do your eyes first, and do a very simple look, maybe one color on the lid and then a highlight. I use a lot of very cheap brands, and there is much better than this out there. For a dollar or two more you can get some really nice shadows and save yourself a lot of grief. The packaging is fine, plenty of room to get a brush in the pans, opens and closes easily, very small and portable... but with the softness of the shadows I would not expect them to travel well.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -Palladio - Herbal Eyeshadow Primer
waymire01 6/22/2012 10:17:00 PM
A hidden gem no one ever talks about. This primer is very creamy, similar in texture to TFSS, but works 100% better (TFSS creases like crazy on me). Skin toned, blends out clear. Keeps my shadow on, zero creasing, nice and bright all day. I have oily skin and live in a very hot and humid climate. I also use it as a primer for my under eye concealer, and it does amazing... lasts longer, applies more smoothly, no creasing. It does come in a tube with a doefoot applicator, the only fault I can find with it. Retails for $7 at Sally Beauty Supply, or available online.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Garnier - Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream
waymire01 6/22/2012 10:11:00 PM
I have to say this is the best moisturizer I have ever used. I have oily, acne prone skin. Every moisturizer I have ever tried has either irritated, broken me out, left me an oil slick, or done absolutely nothing. This leaves me with wonderfully soft hydrated skin that lasts for hours... put on before bed my skin is still soft the next morning. It does not break me out, leaves a natural non-greasy finish on my skin, does not increase oil production during the day, and wears fantastic under makeup. It dries to a smooth non-tacky finish, and feels like nothing is on your face. The texture is a cream-gel, which sounds weird, but is the most accurate I can think of. It's definitely gel, but slightly thick, slightly opaque, and will not run or drip. A little goes a long way, one dip of the tip of my finger will do my whole face... so it lasts a long time. Very cooling and refreshing, it feels like your skin just took a drink of water. Light fresh scent. Does not irritate your eyes, or taste bad. The packaging is a glass container with a screw on top, I find it convenient but some may have a problem with the fact that you have to dip out the product. Since I apply it right after I clean my face and hands it doesn't bother me. Retails for around $10-$12, but is often on sale or has coupons available.
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