Eye Makeup Remover -Kiehls - Supremely Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover
xnobzx 3/12/2012 11:44:00 PM
As a male actor it is vitally important for me(well at least my male ego) to get ALL traces of dramatic makeup off of my face after a performance. I was recently in a performance of Pippin where I had to wear rather dramatic waterproof eye makeup. I used the Makeup Forever Aqua Liners along with the Makeup Forever Aqua Cream shadows for most of the look. If you have tried either of those products then you'll know how hard they can be to get off. I mascara I had to wear (MAC Zoom Lash) wasn't waterproof but it did get it off completely as well. The best part is that it got all of it off in a flash. No tugging, no hazy vision, Just clean eyes...And I wear contacts so that says a lot. Also the price is a steal for the amount of product that you get. The only other eye makeup remover in a lotion type form on the market that I am aware of is by Clinique. I haven't tried it but it is $17 for only 2.5 ounces, with this one you pay $.50 less and get 1.7 ounces more! The best part is that you don't have to rinse it off after you use it and it doesn't feel greasy! I also found that since it was a lotion it was much more easier to use on a cotton swab to fix any mistakes that I may have made while putting the makeup on(unfortunately it was a low budget product so no MA on set).
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -MAC - Cleanse Off Oil
xnobzx 3/11/2012 3:22:00 AM
AMAZING PRODUCT!!! I have tried several different cleanse off oils in the past and I keep coming back to this one. I have VERY oily acne prone skin and this does not break me out, figured I should get that out of the way first...now on to the rest of the review. I wear a lot of long wearing products>MAC Pro long wear foundation(which WOULD break me out if I didn't use this oil to remove it), Makeup Forever Mat Velvet +, Shiseido sunscreen, Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes Pencils and cream shadows, Urban Decay 24/7 pencils, Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill waterproof formula mascara, etc. This product removes EVERYTHING easily! I know a lot of people on here are complaining about the price...well compare it to the prices of other oil cleansers on the market and this one is actually one of the cheapest. I have used Josie Maran Cleanse Off Oil, Boscia Makeup Break Up, Philosophy Purity Cleanse Off Oil, and Nars and this is by far my favorite out of them all. I also have read some negative reviews on here where the people posting it clearly are not following the directions for use...What do you expect? The directions are not suggestive, they are there for a reason. Don't think of this as a replacement for your regular face cleanser, it is a makeup remover. After using it follow up with your regular cleanser. This is the ONLY makeup remover I use, it not only cleans off your eye makeup without a trace but it also cleans off all of your other makeup as well. I will warn you all though that it will make your eyes cloudy if you get it in your eyes...however other eye cleansers do this too and the effects from this one don't seem to last nearly as long as regular eye designated makeup removers. If you're still on the fence about this product ask for a sample! You won't regret it.
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -MAC - Pro Longwear Foundation
xnobzx 3/11/2012 1:47:00 AM
LOVE this foundation. NW20 is the perfect match for my skin. At first I was VERY skeptical because MAC foundations are typically known to break me out, well not this one. I purchased this a year ago when it first came out and have repurchased it twice since. I have VERY oily skin and this foundation not only stays in place all day it helps control the oil in my skin. It also doesn't transfer....AT ALL! I don't think that this is the best choice for someone with dry skin though. Some of the negative reviews for this product have been the following: -"It broke me out"- Well to you I ask how are you removing it? It is a very LONG wearing foundation and requires proper removal. The best way to remove a long wearing foundation is with a cleanse off oil prior to washing your face. I personally have very sensitive break out prone skin and find that it does not break me out when removed properly. Here is my routine to remove it> 1.)Massage MAC Cleanse Off Oil all over dry skin for about a good 60 seconds prior to washing. 2.)Rinse off with water. 3.)Cleanse with my regular cleanser (Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil Free). 4.)Rinse. 5.)Repeat with regular cleanser and Clarisonic. 6.) Dry face then apply toner. 7.) Moisturize. -"It looks cakey"- I HATE when people say this about any product because this is usually the users fault. How are you applying it? Here is what I do- 1.)Moisturize face well and allow it to sink in for at least 5 minutes. 2.)Add Makeup Forever Primer in #0 to entire face using Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki. 3.) Use the same brush to apply the foundation, do not clean primer off prior to application. This will help the foundation not absorb into the bristles of the brush and helps it apply much more evenly. 3.) Blot face with non lotion tissue to remove any excess oil left over from the foundation. 4.) Set foundation With Makeup Forever Super Matte Loose powder. 5.) If I have slightly too much coverage at this point I'll use either MAC Fix+(In winter time or dryer climates) or Skindanavia(In summer time or when I know I'll be sweating a lot) setting spray to diffuse the product on my face with a duo fiber brush.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Clinique - Acne Solutions Concealer
xnobzx 11/2/2011 4:25:00 AM
I have the green corrective concealer and it works wonders when used correctly with a standard eyeliner brush. If I just applied this to the zit it would look horrible, that's probably why this product has such negative reviews on here. Its the operator not the product. Dispense the product on a plate/mixing palate/drink coaster and use the eyeliner brush to pick up a very SMALL amount of product. Literally a just the very tip of the brush should have concealer on it! Apply it only to the red areas around the base of the zit and not the entire zit. Then slightly smudge it in with the eyeliner brush again(this time clean) and let the product dry before applying your regular concealer over it. I like to use the MAC studio finish over it. This is the best way to use any green corrective concealer and this product works wonders for its intended purpose.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Kiehls - Blue Herbal Spot Treatment
xnobzx 11/2/2011 3:56:00 AM
For me this product actually works, which is RARE because most BHA spot treatments don't. I suspect it is because the added AHA helps the BHA penetrate the skin. I have EXTREMELY sensitive skin with that being said; does it burn on my skin like others have reported? No, just a slight tingle that really isn't anything to complain about. In fact I would say that the tingle is actually more cooling than burning. Have I noticed extended hyperactive pigmentation like one other reviewer has? Nope, the complete opposite. I have found that this product actually reduced the amount of time for any pigmentation to go away. I suppose that the part of the reason I have found that this product works for me is because I don't use any other products that contain typical acne fighting ingredients in conjunction with it. Also some reviewers didn't like it because it contained alcohol denat....I actually LIKE it for this reason because I feel like it helps the infection dry up quicker. Also I only use this product once a day at night before I go to bed. If I applied this multiple times daily I would imagine that it could irritate the skin but for me putting two layers on at night(really massage it into the affected area till its dry then apply the second) only to the affected area works just fine. Everyones skin is different but I think this is worth a shot for people who get the occasional zit here and there.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -Make Up For Ever - HD High Definition Loose Powder
xnobzx 8/20/2011 11:34:00 PM
I LOVE THIS STUFF! I have really oily skin and this product does all it claims to do. I can wear it alone to control oil and minimize the appearance of my pores or wear it over my foundation to set it, control oil, and minimize any imperfections without it adding color or looking cakey. Not to mention that its effects last all day. But the best part...IT DOESEN'T MAKE ME BREAK OUT!!!!!!!! Now truth me told that this product is actually really pricey for what this product actually is. The only ingredient in this product is silica...$30 for silica is crazy, what you are paying all that extra money for is the packaging and the name that comes with it. That is why I only gave it a 4 instead of a 5 because you can get a much larger quantity of plain old silica spheres off of Coastal Scents and other web sites. I probably will repurchase though because it is amazing and $30 really isn't that big of a deal for me given the convenience of how easily available it is to me. I HATE having to order stuff online because for whatever reason it always takes me 2-3 times longer to receive packages in the mail then it does for most other people and many times they get "lost"...Don't know why that is though, I live in fairly populated city in Jersey so its not like I'm living out in the sticks somewhere= / But that's just me.
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Blush -BeneFit Cosmetics - Benetint
xnobzx 8/20/2011 11:11:00 PM
This is what I would consider to be just an "okay" product. I purchased it because I fell in love with high beam and figured that since this product got just as much hype as high beam(if not more) it probably is pretty good as well. As someone with fairly prominent natural red undertones I don't feel like this product does much for me. As a lip product it works well to make sure that my lips look naturally red and uniform in color but when more then one sheer coat is applied it makes it look like I just ate a artificially colored cherry popsicle. A little does go a long way. For lips its fine for days when I want a more "no makeup but flawless skin" look but doesn't do anything for me on other days...which I wasn't really expecting it to do anyways. As a cheek stain the same applies. It works best when used sparingly and then expect the look to look natural and like you are not wearing anything at all. I don't like how fast I have to work with the product before it dries though, literally like 10 seconds max! I also am not too crazy about the packaging, but w.e. The real issue I have with the product is the price. $30 for a cheek/lip stain that can only add a slight little color seems insane depending upon how long this will last for. I have had it for about a month and a half and hardly used 1/100 of the bottle so if the self life of this bottle last a long time I guess the price could be worth it being that the actual time spent to go through the bottle will take me FOREVER....Like I said I've only had it for about a month and a half so I don't know how long it will last before it starts to get a little funky. I like the smell, the rose water scent reminds me of my Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation, which I love. Also find it hilarious that it was originally formulated as a "nipple tint' for a topless burlesque performer...haven't tried it for that purpose yet though lol. Possibly will repurchase when I run out depending upon how long it lasts me and how fast the product goes bad.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Make Up For Ever - Mat Velvet PLUS Matifying Foundation
xnobzx 8/16/2011 8:03:00 AM
I have been using this foundation for about 5 1/2 weeks and I absolutely LOVE it! I am usually NW20 in M.A.C and the MA at Sephora paired me with #30. At first I was cautious about purchasing #30 because all of the online research I did on the product told me that people who are NW20 in M.A.C are best paired in #25. Well not the case for me! Number 30 works perfectly and matches my skin flawlessly. It doesn't look overly matte or cakey like other matte/long-wearing foundations do(*cough**cough* Revlon Color Stay, Estee Lauder Double Wear *Cough**Cough*). Here is the absolute BEST way that I have found to apply it that works best for my SUPER OILY and ACNE Prone skin(and no this doesn't cause me to break out, imagine that!). 1-SKIP THE TYPICAL SILICONE BASED PRIMER! This foundation already contains silicone so if you use a silicone based primer your just suffocating your skin and making it slippery. The silicon in this foundation is made to take the place of a primer because typically people with oily skin don't really need that much silicone based primer anyways! If you have REALLY oily skin like I do I recommend priming your skin with 1 pump of LUSH Grease Lightning. True, Grease Lightning is supposed to be a "spot treatment" of sorts but the ingredient's in it are not overly drying and really do have some amazing benefits for your skin(and at $12 its a pretty darn cheap alternative to your typical $30 primer at that!). Not to mention that it really does help to balance out your skins natural oils. Other people who have reviewed Grease Lightning have also said it makes a great primer so I'm not alone on this..sorry I'm getting side tracked with my love for Grease Lightning...Back to this foundation lol 2-This formulation of this foundation sets fairly quickly so when dispensing the product apply it to a pallet of sorts and not the back of your hand. I use an old square glass drink coaster that works great for this, but an old CD case or square of glass from an old picture frame will work just fine too. About 1.5 inch line is really all I need for my entire face. The foundation starts to set at body temperature so the heat from your hand will accelerate that if you apply it to the back of your hand thus giving you less time to work the product onto your face. Also for this reason it is better to only work on one area of your face at a time instead of using the "dot method" where you apply small amounts all over and then blend it in. 3-Use a foundation brush, I use the Sigma F80 and absolutely LOVE it! Using a brush instead of your fingers also allows for more time to use the product because of the same reasons I listed in tip #2...if there is one foundation brush I think you should get it is the Sigma F80. Hands down it's the best one I have ever used and only $16! But that's another review for another day lol 4-Set your foundation with a silica based set powder, I use the Makeup Forever HD but if you want a cheaper alternative Coastal Scents sell Silica Spheres(which is all that MUFE HD Set is anyways) for MUCH less. It's the exact same product but different packaging. Smashbox also makes a great one but it's even more expensive and contains sunscreen which can cause a white cast in photos if applied too heavily. Don't even bother with the E.L.F one(packaging is messy and other ingredients can cause breakouts on MANY people)! Use a synthetic face/kabuki brush for this to kind of roll and press in the powder instead of swirling it on your face. 5-Make sure to remove this product properly at the end of the day! It is slightly long wearing and contains silicon so a good cleansing routine is necessary to remove it all. I use my Clarisonic Mia with my typical face wash from Kiehl's(the Ultra Oil-Free one) and it does the trick but some users may want to use a cleanse off oil instead. Viola! The ultimate "My skin but better no makeup" look! Hope this helps some of you oily acne prone people out there!
22 out of 22 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -LUSH - Grease Lightning Spot Cleanser
xnobzx 8/16/2011 1:22:00 AM
I usually don't have much success with LUSH products but I have to say that this is an AMAZING PRODUCT!!! It is loaded with natural proven ingredients that work to control oil and prevent/treat breakouts. Not only does it work to clear blemished and control oil but I have found that it also makes a great primer for your foundation if you have super oily skin! I found this little trick out by mistake but I am sure glad that I did! I apply about one full pump all over my T-zone before applying foundation and it really helps my skin remain oil free and makes my MUFE foundation last all day! Great price too! Will repurchase and I highly recommend this product!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Hard Candy - Sheer Envy Primer
xnobzx 8/16/2011 1:04:00 AM
I bought this after I first discovered Hard Candy at my Walmart the other day and was initially thrilled that their products are being sold again....then I tried the products I bought and realized I got my hopes up for no reason. This "primer" doesn't do anything but make the skin super oily and does not absorb well....if at all. The ingredients looked somewhat promising from the first 3 or 4 main ingredients in the ingredient list (contained the same base ingredients as many high end primers) but the rest of the ingredients really made this product fail. Even after the primer "sinks in"(kinda, sorta, but not really) it doesn't make it easier to apply foundation. It feels like you are applying makeup to really oily skin that hasn't been washed in 2 weeks, not a enjoyable experience at all. And as for the staying power....What staying power!?!?! This made my foundation slip off my face within 30 minutes after application! The packaging was nice looking but when I went to pick up the product the 2nd day after I used it I realized that the product was leaking out of the cap even with it fully on and secure, it felt very oily and the actual outside of the tube was completely clean when I used it last. Terrible experience, miss the old school Hard Candy, will not repurchase. On the plus side this does give me yet another reason not to have to set foot into Walmart! I HATE Walmart with a passion, but that's another review.
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Concealers -Hard Candy - Nobody's Perfect concealer palette
xnobzx 8/16/2011 12:50:00 AM
I was so excited to see Hard Candy products at Walmart the other day and bought this concealer pallet as well as the primer and a lip gloss. Let me warn everyone by saying that this is not the same Hard Candy quality products that we have come to know and love when it was being sold at Sephora! The quality of the product itself is comparable to play makeup for little girls. All of the shades showed up as a slightly ashey white color when swatched and the formulation left much to be desired for! It had this weird waxy oily texture that made it extremely hard to work with and didn't have ANY staying power what so ever! Not to mention that it didn't cover anything in the first place. Horrible product, will not buy again! Such a shame since I miss the old Hard Candy quality= /
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -MAC - Blot Powder
xnobzx 7/7/2011 1:40:00 PM
This is the only MAC face powder that I can honestly say hasn't broken me out and does all it says it will! It simply works to control my oil when you use it the right way...I use it after my foundation or tinted moisturizer to set it with the makeup for ever kabuki brush. Using a simple circular motion works well to blend in the powder making it unnoticeable and it controls my oils FOR HOURS! I hardly ever need to touch up with this product. I think that the negative reviewers on this product would possibly find better use out of this product if they just followed these three tips. 1. Don't use this product by itself to blot with...I know that may seem to defeat the purpose but if you blot using ANY powder the powder is just going to mix with your oils and clog your pores, instead blot with either rice paper or the boscia blot sheets to remove oil BEFORE you apply this throughout your day to control oil. I don't recommend the Clean&Clear or MAC blot papers because they do contain mineral oil which WILL be left over on your skin...true mineral oil isn't really bad for your skin but who really wants mineral oil on their skin when they are trying to control oil in the first place? Plus if mineral oil mixes with another product it WILL cause people to break out. 2. KEEP THE CLEAR PLASTIC FILM THAT CAME OVER THE PAN! If you are going to use the puff throughout your day to touch up you should really keep that little film over the product so the puff isn't touching the product. Think about how unhygienic it is when you don't. Your using this puff on somewhat "not freshly cleansed" skin that is already oily and then putting it directly back onto the product without the film to separate it. Add in the factor that most of you are probably carrying this around in your purse so in hotter temperatures this would cause the product to be a breading ground for all kinds of bacteria that WILL cause you to break out. I truly believe that this could be part of the reason some reviewers experienced break outs with this product. I find that the best way to use the film covering is to put a small piece to tape on top of it that is slightly raised and stuck together in the middle to allow for you to remove it easily when you want to use it, sometimes it can be difficult to get it out of the compact if you don't do this....And don't forget to replace your puffs regularly for the same reasons I listed above! 3. Keep in mind that a little of this stuff goes a LONG way so don't use too much of it or you could end up looking cakey like some other reviewers have reported. I only wish that they packaged this compact the same way that they package the studio fix powder with that little compartment below the pan to store the puff...
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish Natural - Light
xnobzx 7/7/2011 1:12:00 PM
I don't know why anyone hasn't said this before but there is almost NO COVERAGE with this powder! Maybe it was just the one I got but I found it extremely hard to actually get this powder out of the pan to use it on my face! I used my Makeup Forever kabuki and I thought maybe the synthetic hair was too soft to pick it up....then I used my MAC 187 brush thinking that would be the best way to apply it being that it is what they suggest to use at MAC....still very hard to actually get any product! The time it took to actually get enough product on the brush and onto my face was ridiculous! And I know what you are probably thinking and no I am not the kind of person who over powders my face. When I was actually able to GET IT ON MY FACE I found both the coverage poor and it just didn't seem to do ANYTHING to my complexion or help with ANY oil control. I can't say that it caused any break outs on me because every time I used it I would wind up washing my entire face after about four hours due to its lack of oil control. Usually when a product does not work for me I can often contribute it to the fact that it does not agree with my coloration or skin type but with this product I can't think of anyone that this product would actually work for! It doesn't set your makeup well, there is almost no coverage, It just seems to sit there on your face not doing anything! If you are diehard on using a MAC powder and have oily skin I recommend trying out the Blot Powder applied with a brush and not the puff it comes with(only use it for touch ups). It's one of the only MAC powders that have never caused me to break out and works great at controlling my oily skin. Other then that I highly suggest the Makeup Forever HD powder.
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Sunscreen -Kiehls - Super Fluid UV Defense Spf 50+
xnobzx 6/22/2011 7:37:00 PM
Finding a facial sunscreen that not only worked to protect my ultra fair skin but also did not cause break outs on my acne prone skin, cause a burning sensation, and felt light has been the bane of my existence for YEARS!!! I have super oily fair skin and burn VERY easily and this stuff actually does everything it says it is going to do. It is so rare to find a product that lives up to its claims but this one does! I have tried everything from Clinique, Shisedo, Clarins, Neutrogena, Bannaboat, you name it! The only other sunscreen that I have had good results with is the Chanel UV Essential but that one is too pricey considering I have to use this stuff every day of the year(yes I am THAT fair). I was worried about the liquid texture because I imagined it would run into my eyes and cause them to burn like other sunscreens do when I sweat but so far this stuff has not done that yet and I wore this during a 5 mile charity run for leukemia in June and had no burning at all! Amazing product, new HG sunscreen, will buy again and again. I'm already on my second bottle!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Palladio - oil absorbing rice paper tissues with rice powder
xnobzx 3/20/2011 9:06:00 PM
These do not work as effectively as the green tea bosica ones and the powder that they left behind would have to be blended in by hand afterwards to not look like it was obviously there. As someone who has severely acne prone skin this was a major negative because I try to avoid touching my face as much as possible to prevent the spread of whatever bacteria/germs from my hands to my face. Not to mention that the powder itself does not look natural no matter how much you try to blend it in! The sheets also did not remove much oil at all! The only good thing about this product is it's packaging. Don't buy these, get the green tea ones from boscia instead!
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