Highlighters -Hard Candy - Moon Glow Luminizing Powder
xxgoldstarsxx 5/31/2010 7:45:00 PM
I'm a girl that loves some shimmer, so when I heard about this product, I knew I was going to buy it. It's a fair, translucent powder with tiny soft gold microglitter in it- I find I can apply it over my other makeup without it affecting color, and I tend to use it as a highlighter rather than an allover shimmery powder, although either would work. The packaging is much nicer than I expected; it feels sturdy, stays shut, and the powder hasn't broken despite being tossed around constantly in my purse. That's all a girl can really ask for, isn't it? The compact flips open on the bottom to reveal a heart-shaped applicator sponge and a good-quality (glass, no distortion) mirror with the Hard Candy logo and "ready, set, glow" written on it. Juvenile? Possibly. But it was cute and a nice surprise, and I'm a sucker for cute. The powder applies nicely with the included sponge, but it's even better with a fluffy powder or blush brush, depending on where you like to apply it. It wears well for several hours (I basically set it and forget it, and when I check my lipstick a few hours later, the powder is always noticeably still doing its thing) and the glitter doesn't migrate into facial lines or shed on my clothes, even when I've used it on my decollete. The finish is lovely and subtle- It's like mass-market version of Too Faced Candlelight, and it would take some serious work to overdo the "luminizing". That said, it is a glitter powder, and the particles are more obvious in direct sunlight than indoors or at night. Overall, it's a well-executed product at a drugstore price point. Definitely worth checking out!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Cover Girl - Shineblast
xxgoldstarsxx 5/31/2010 2:15:00 AM
I received this product in "Fire" as part of a BzzAgent campaign. In the tube, it's a nice, shimmery orange-coral color. When applied, I get very little of this color- I can see a slight difference on my lips, but nothing like the pigmentation the tube would lead you to expect. The consistency is pleasant- smooth, if a little thin, and the applicator is unique and nice enough, a doe-foot with a subtle curve, although nothing revolutionary. The gloss really is very shiny without being heavy, but it doesn't stand out from the myriad other shiny, extremely sheer glosses on the market. Wear time is average for a drugstore gloss- an hour, maybe 90 minutes, and is gone after eating or drinking. It smells and tastes like plastic, and the scent lingered for almost ten minutes after application. Nothing about this gloss was exceptional in any way. Sure, it's OK, but with all the other glosses I could be wearing instead? Life's too short to waste time on this product. PROS -Not sticky -Shiny :) CONS -Extremely poor pigmentation -Smelled and tasted like plastic
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Eye Shadow -Cover Girl - Smoky ShadowBlast
xxgoldstarsxx 5/31/2010 1:33:00 AM
I received this product in Onyx Smoke as part of a BzzAgent campaign. I don't usually use cream shadows because I find that almost without exception they smudge or have poor color payoff. Smoky ShadowBlast was no exception. I applied it over UDPP and a thin coat of MAC Painterly, using the white shade all over the lid and browbone and the black in the crease of my eyelid and outer V. The pearl white went on fairly nicely- it was sheer and left a nice sheen, but the black never built up and seemed to take the white shadow off with it. Blending was a nightmare- the more I tried, the more I seemed to be taking the shadow off completely. I finally built up enough color to make it worth wearing, and it all migrated into a crease-y, greasy mess in less than an hour. The packaging feels sturdy and has a pretty, clean design- these are always appealing on the shelf and feel good in your hand, and having one color rounded off and one color sightly chiseled at the ends is intuitive. The design is nice, and coupled with the clear directions on the packaging make this product a great concept for beginners. I suspect, however, that most MUA users aren't this product's target- this is clearly geared for people who either value low price point over quality or are not used to high-end, high-performing products, and those who couldn't put together a smoky eye on their own to save their lives. PROS -Novelty, nice design -Interesting color combinations -Pearl/shimmer finish is forgiving of poor blending CONS -Smudges, creases, migrates, fades. -Doesn't blend -Poor pigmentation -Feels greasy and heavy, tugs during application
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Lipstick -Clinique - Long last Lipstick - Bamboo Pink
xxgoldstarsxx 11/5/2009 10:17:00 PM
I received this in a swap after hearing tons of good things about it from various sources. Apparently Bamboo Pink is a "cult favorite," and I just had to see what the hype was about. Bamboo Pink is a light-medium neutral pink with silver shimmer in it. It goes on semisheer- can be a light gloss or can be buildable. The texture, as with many Clinique lipsticks, is light, soft, and moisturizing, with a good amount of slip. Sounds good, right? Unfortunately, Bamboo Pink is the EXACT color of my lips. It feels great on, but aside from the shimmer, it looks like I am not wearing lipstick. I'd recommend this to those with more lightly pigmented lips or who like very, very subtle color- It would make a great nude to go with a dark or smoky eye. I'll keep and wear this tube, but I won't repurchase. Bamboo Pink just isn't the right color for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Wet 'n' Wild - #521 - Fuschia w/ Blue Pearl
xxgoldstarsxx 10/22/2009 6:57:00 PM
I love this lipstick more than I rightly should. I'm extremely pale and usually rock a bright lip, but I've been frustrated with the lack of really bright pinks. I'd think that I found a real hot pink, only to have it go on looking soft and natural. Not so, Fuschia with Blue Pearl. Yes, the name is bulky. Yes, the packaging is chintzy. Yes, it's a hot pink lipstick with blue reflect made by Wet'n'Wild (80s prom queen cliche, anyone?). But if loving it is wrong, I don't want to be right. The tube stays securely shut, the texture is to die for (They called it "silk finish," and they weren't lying!), and the color lasts for hours and hours. If forgotten in my car, it does not melt. It isn't drying, it's bright and opaque in one coat, and it actually works quite well as a lip stain. I like topping this lipstick with a slightly darker gloss for an ultra-shiny, layered look. It's not for the faint of heart, but for 99c at any drugstore, it's worth a shot for anyone who likes a bold lip. It's a fun pop of color that somehow looks like "just enough."
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Wet 'n' Wild - Mega Liner - Black
xxgoldstarsxx 10/22/2009 6:48:00 PM
I love this stuff! I switched to it after my favorite DS liquid eyeliner (L'oreal Lineur Intense in black, with the brush) started to irritate my eyes, and I like it even more than the L'oreal! It's super inexpensive, which is great if you like to replace liquid cosmetics often. It stays on and dries fast, the included brush is fine-tipped and completely usable, and it's easy to remove with water or makeup remover without having to scour. A flat, deep, matte black in one stroke. $2.99 USD. Gentle, often on sale. This habitual cat-eye wearer loves it. You will too!
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Loose Powders -Coty - Airspun face powder
xxgoldstarsxx 9/30/2009 11:55:00 PM
I really, really love Coty Airspun. I know, I know... It's cheap, it's talc, it's scented, it's loose... It's everything I'm supposed to hate ;) But this stuff works. I either use translucent light or translucent light with shimmer, and it works beautifully on my very pale skin. I use it to set foundation, highlight (the shimmer) or just to dust on if I don't have enough time for foundation but want something to pick up oil. One container is $5-$8 and will last forever- I mean it, forever. It does have a tendency to get bits of powder all over the room you apply in, but I haven't had much trouble with this. I just pick up a tiny bit with a big fluffy brush and tap it into the lid. Somehow, this doesn't irritate my skin- the scent is rather grandmotherly, but light, and dissipates quickly. I actually think the packaging is adorable, if a touch impractical (cardboard!) and it has a lovely 1930s-1940s feel to it. I just love this stuff. It's a workhorse of a loose powder, and for the price, you simply can't top it.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Rimmel - Lasting Finish - Birthday Suit
xxgoldstarsxx 9/5/2009 12:49:00 AM
I'm pale and cool-toned, so this looks kind of an orangey-tan on me- but I like it. Moisturising, buildable coverage, not too sparkly, but not matte- great for days I want a nude lip that has a little more going on. Fabulous price, and always on BOGO at drugstores. I probably paid $2 or $3 for it, and it's honestly worth more. Great staying power, and great to layer with gloss, but, as many others have noted, it smells atrocious. Kind of a plastic sugary caramel scent (smells a little like the new UD lipsticks, actually) that occasionally gives me a headache after application, but fades in half an hour or so. I love the color, so it's not a deal-breaker, but if you're sensitive to fragrance, this may not be your lipstick. I would definitely repurchase- a high quality, no-fuss beige-nude lippie that's quite a steal.
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Cleansers -Burt's Bees - Natural Acne Solutions - Purifying Gel Cleanser
xxgoldstarsxx 8/29/2009 12:56:00 PM
I received this product as part of a BzzAgent kit. I've been using the cleanser for about a week now- I have dry/oily t-zone, sensitive skin with moderate acne and eczema- and I'm loving it so far. It's sulfate-free, which I love (much gentler to my skin), and it has a higher concentration of salicylic acid than my old cleanser (the foam cleanser from Neutrogena's SkinID kit). My skin feels really smooth and natural after using this, and it doesn't leave residue or a dry or tight feeling. It removes makeup pretty well, but I do get better results when I remove makeup prior to cleansing with a baby wipe or cold cream. I haven't experienced any dryness or purging since I've started using it, and it has done a good job of keeping acne under control. The consistency is more liquid than gel, and because it's sulfate-free, it doesn't lather. I add very little water to this to avoid it washing away before it gets on my face. I'm used to low-lathering sulfate-free products, so this doesn't bother me much, but if you enjoy thick lather, this product won't be for you. The bottle is hard plastic, so you can't squeeze product out, but that helps conserve it- the liquid consistency would make a squeeze bottle dispense way more product than necessary. This is an awesome product for dry or sensitive skin, and it feels cool and non-irritating. It is lightly fragranced, and has a woody, herbal tea scent to it- since it's mostly natural products, I wonder if this is just the natural scent of the product, rather than an additive. I would definitely repurchase this- at $10 it's a little pricey for a drugstore brand, but it's worth it to me find a sulfate-free, effective cleanser.
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Lip Gloss -C.O. Bigelow - Mentha Lip Tint in Pink Mint
xxgoldstarsxx 5/3/2009 9:22:00 PM
I love this stuff! It's slightly expensive unless it's on sale at Bath & Body Works, but it's worth the money. Sweet minty taste, sheer light pink that looks totally natural on my NW15 skin, and a really high-shine finish that lasts about as long as one could expect a gloss to. No shimmer, and very moisturising. Love it!
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Lip Gloss -E.L.F. - Candy Shop Lip Gloss in Cherry Bomb
xxgoldstarsxx 5/3/2009 9:16:00 PM
This is a surprisingly high-quality gloss- nice consistency, nice pigmentation (very sheer natural red). The packaging is durable and cute, and it won't slide open in a purse, but having to carry a brush around or apply with my fingers is a huge pain. For $1US, it's not a bad buy. However, I would NOT NOT NOT recommend this to anyone who is sensitive to fragrances, as it is quite possibly the most bizarre and disgusting scent I have ever experienced. It's like coffee, but then again, not like coffee. It smells like an airplane cabin to me. Every time I wear this gloss, I get incredible headaches. I won't be rebuying :( Pity, because aside from the scent, this is a nice gloss! **UPDATE** I'm removing a lippie, I just can't wear this. The fragrance is truly headache-inducing.
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Treatments (Eye) -Boots - No7 Time Resisting Day and Night Eye Care
xxgoldstarsxx 4/26/2009 7:28:00 PM
I've been using this product for about 2 weeks. It's a large pump split into two separate tubes- a transparent blue gel for day and a white cream for night. I use the gel for day, cream for night, as indicated, patting it on all around my eye area and on my eyelids with my ring finger. I usually apply after cleansing and moisturising the rest of my face. I find that it sinks in quickly and evenly and doesn't feel too heavy or cause milia to form. My eye makeup goes on evenly over the gel if I give it a minute to sink in and it doesn't affect the wear. The cream does not leave residue either. I'm a little skeptical of the low SPF in the blue gel, but it's nice that it contains a sunscreen at all. Both feel cool and soothing when applied, and although I don't feel that the product does much for puffiness or undereye circles, I don't recall it promising to. I'm in my early 20s, so I don't have a problem with visible wrinkles yet, but I live in Colorado and between the weather and the sun, I need to start thinking more about skincare. For the price (about $20 USD), this is an OK eye cream. I think that when I run out, I won't repurchase it, I'll probably try a different product just out of curiosity. I like this eye cream, and it works, but it's no HG.
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Waterproof
xxgoldstarsxx 2/12/2009 12:55:00 AM
I first picked this up when it had first come out- Oops, that's just me buying into marketing again ;) The packaging was cute, and I loved the bright orange and the shape, but when I went to use it I found it kind of hard to hold while applying, and the wand was pretty gucky. Too much product came out and I'd usually end up wiping the excess off on a tissue or using a generic mascara spoolie instead of the included wand. I put it on over curled lashes (mine are pretty long anyway, but I always curl them prior to mascara application), and while it definitely had a tendency to be clumpy, using a different spoolie or combing with a metal eyelash comb usually took care of that. The volume and length were, as promised, pretty decent. Now the bad part: I found that this mascara flaked like crazy, and having tiny mascara chips in your eye all day isn't a recipe for a good time. It tended to feel gummy, like it hadn't totally dried, and after an hour of so of wear I'd start getting itchy, puffy, watery eyes and would eventually either rub or cry all my makeup off in the course of a decidedly unsexy allergic reaction. Every time I used this mascara (I'm dumb and I wanted to like it, so I kept trying), the same thing happened, coupled with an EXTREME waterproof quality that meant it was impossible to get off (Really! I tried several makeup removers, water, steam, plain soap- eew- and even oil, nothing got it off adequately) and that I'd keep reacting with it. I know that this stuff works wonders for a lot of ladies, but it was a decided NO for me. Pros: OK price, delivered what it promised, long-wearing, true dark black color, no glitter. Cons: Massive allergy, bad wand caused clumps, gummy feeling on lashes, flaky, *too* long-wearing. Would I buy again? : Probably not, I'd maybe be willing to try the non-waterproof variety to see if it was less allergenic.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No