Mascara -Smashbox - Full Exposure
yoopergirl91 11/1/2012 8:32:00 PM
I picked this up based on a rec from a Sephora SA. I am always on the lookout for a good volumizing mascara for my thin, but long, eyelashes. The SA recommended this mascara from Smashbox, and after using it for awhile, all I can say is, "meh." It's not terrible, it's not fantastic -- it's only ok. There are better, higher end mascaras out there than this (Lancome Hypnose Drama, Fresh Supernova and Dior Diorshow are three that come to mind). I always get black, and this is a true black. The wand is on the larger side which can make it a little tough to control. It does have good staying power -- no under eye smudging at the end of the day which is a huge plus since that's a big pet peeve of mine. High end mascara is a once-in-awhile treat for me, and I probably wouldn't purchase this one again. If you're looking for a drugstore alternative, I highly recommend Covergirl Lash Perfection in the gray tube -- great stuff.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Lancome - Teint Idole ULTRA [DISCONTINUED]
yoopergirl91 10/29/2012 8:25:00 PM
This was my HG foundation. It gave medium coverage with a gorgeous natural/satin finish and photographed beautifully. I wore it in shade Buff 2 (W) which was a great match for my skin tone (NC 20-25; MUFE 120; BB Warm Sand 2.5). I never had issues with this causing breakouts. Sadly, Lancome "updated" the Teint Idole formula and the new version just does not compare to the old version for me. I am really bummed and currently searching for a replacement.
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Crème -Revlon - ColorStay Whipped Creme Makeup
yoopergirl91 10/29/2012 8:15:00 PM
I picked this up in the shade Sand Beige on a whim after seeing some positive comments for it on the MUA makeup board. For the first five days that I used this, I really liked it...I'd say it gives medium coverage and a nice natural/satin finish that is quite lovely. I wore it to work and it lasted through my 8+ hour work day quite well, even though I can get a bit oily on my t-zone. Even though it's a cream, it has a very light, comfortable feel when it's on. And then I broke out...badly and just in time for my 40th birthday : ( It was the only product that had changed in my routine, so I knew it was the culprit and my skin started to clear up within a few days of stopping usage of this product. It has some slip and I'm guessing there are silcones in it, so I think that's what caused my skin to react -- use caution if you're trying this out and have acne prone skin. The color had a weird gray tinge in the jar, but it actually matched my skin tone pretty well (NC 20-25/MUFE 120). It comes in a heavy jar, and I'm not a huge fan of the packaging from a cleanliness perspective.
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Liquid -Lancome - Teint Idole Ultra 24h
yoopergirl91 10/29/2012 8:00:00 PM
I purchased this foundation when I visited the Lancome counter to repurchase my beloved Teint Idole Ultra, which was a HG for me, and found out that the formula had been "improved" and Teint Idole Ultra 24H was the new replacement. Using my old Teint Idole color of Buff 2 (w), the SA recommended 140 Ivoire (n) which seemed like a fairly decent match. I'm about two-thirds of the way through the bottle, and can honestly say that I hate this foundation. On two separate occassions, I've checked my foundation in natural sunlight and it was so awful, patchy/cakey looking and oxidized on my skin that I'm afraid to wear it anymore. The new formula really lacks the great, melt-into-your-skin texture that the old formula had...at least that it had for me. Am so bummed. My skin can be reactive, and this did not seem to cause any breakouts. I also like the pump-bottle packaging. But that's it for me with the positives. This kind of reminded me of Revlon Colorstay, and I'd actually recommend trying that line before dropping $45 US on the Lancome foundation.
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Polishes -Butter London - All Hail the Queen
yoopergirl91 9/30/2011 9:52:00 PM
I purchased this after seeing a picture online and thinking it would be a great color for fall...I thought it would be a gold-ish taupe color with a bit of sparkle, but it didn't look like that at all on my nails...it was kind of a gray taupe that just looked awful with my skin tone (NC20-25). My 6 year old told me to take it off and put on a pretty polish after I did my nails with it. Even though I didn't like the color, I do like Butter London polishes, but they're a tad expensive and their packaging (while cool looking) isn't my fave to use.
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Lip Treatments -Fresh - Sugar Honey Lip Treatment SPF 15
yoopergirl91 9/8/2011 10:39:00 AM
I love this product. I'm NC25, highlighted brunette hair/hazel eyes, and on my pigmented lips, it comes off as a warm-toned MLBB shade - it's very flattering and versatile. I love the way this feels on lips; there's a lot of slip to the product but it stays on decently for a lip balm -- my lips feel moisturized when I wear it. It is pretty heavily scented but I kind of like the smell -- kind of a honey lemon cross. As my 6 year old says, "This smells good, Mommy." The tub top actually screws onto the base, which I like since I have small kids who like to play in my makeup : ) It is spendy (like most Fresh products), but definitely worth the splurge.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Cover Girl - Volume Exact [DISCONTINUED]
yoopergirl91 9/7/2011 10:09:00 AM
I loved Max Factor's Volume Couture mascara, and this is the closest mascara I've found to replace it. This is my everyday mascara. I have long, skinny eyelashes so a good volumizing mascara is a must for me. I find this mascara very easy to build, I don't have problems with it clumping and it wears well for me during the day (no flaking or smudging issues). It's very easy to remove, which is a pleasant surprise given how great it wears for me. I like the longer wand, too. Definitely one of my HG drugstore products now that Volume Couture is gone.
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Conditioner -Bumble & Bumble - Creme de Coco conditioner
yoopergirl91 9/7/2011 10:01:00 AM
I love this conditioner; it's one of my HG hair products. I have naturally curly (3a), color-treated hair, so I need moisture but I have issues with products weighing my hair down. This conditioner delivers the perfect amount of moisture for me, plus I love the smell (a very mild coconut scent). It is pricey, but I find that a little goes a long way. I use Creme de Cocoa shampoo, too. Love Bumble & Bumble's simple packaging.
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Shampoo -Bumble & Bumble - Creme de Coco
yoopergirl91 9/7/2011 9:55:00 AM
This is HG for me. My hair is naturally curly (3a) and colored/highlighted, so I like gentler shampoos. This doesn't strip my hair of moisture, cleans effectively and smells good (but not overpowering). I only wash my hair 2x-3x/week, so a bottle lasts me a long time, which is a good thing, because this shampoo is very pricey. Love Bumble & Bumble's simple packaging w/the flip top.
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Conditioner -Bumble & Bumble - Super Rich Conditioner
yoopergirl91 9/7/2011 9:50:00 AM
I have naturally curly (3a), colored/highlighted hair, so a good conditioner is a must for me. I tried this after finishing a bottle of B&B Creme de Cocoa conditioner, and while it's a great conditioner, I felt like it was a bit heavy for my hair...I prefer the Creme de Cocoa. With that said, if your hair is seriously dry,this could be worth a try. I love Bumble & Bumble's straightforward packaging w/the flip-top.
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Conditioner -Ouidad - Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner
yoopergirl91 9/7/2011 9:43:00 AM
I have naturally curly (3a), medium-textured hair that I color on a regular basis, so a good leave-in is a must for me. The best leave-ins I've ever used (Aveda Elixir & Kiehls Leave-In) were both discontinued, so I'm constantly on the hunt for a replacement. I really like this product. It provides me with enough moisture but doesn't weigh down my curls, which is a big problem for me with leave-ins. I've never had issues with it building up either. It is a bit pricey at $22/bottle, but a little goes a long way. I also wish it smelled better; it doesn't smell bad, just reminds me of a basic drugstore moisturizer. I usually order this online from Sephora.
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Scrubs -The Body Shop - Cocoa Butter Body Scrub
yoopergirl91 11/20/2010 9:05:00 PM
This is my all time favorite body scrub. I first tried it when I was pregnant...overly scented products made me nauseous and I didn't want a salt or sugar based scrub that would make my shower slippery. Saw the positive reviews here, and I can see why this gets such awesome reviews...it works really, really well -- got rid of my upper arm bumps and left my skin feeling smooth and moisturized. It's got a faint cocoa butter scent that is pleasant and not overpowering.The screw top tub isn't ideal for the shower, but I'm willing to deal with it since I love the product.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Fresh - Supernova
yoopergirl91 10/27/2010 10:10:00 PM
Definitely HG for me. I'm constantly on the hunt for a mascara that will thicken my long sparse eyelashes. On a whim, I decided to try Supernova while on vacation in San Francisco; the gal at the Fresh boutique highly recommended it. I'm so glad I bought this...it is fantastic. Hands down, one of the best mascaras I have every tried..it thickens, it lengthens, it lasts through the day but washes off at night fairly easily. The downfall is that it's pricey at $24. I usually try to stick with drugstore mascaras, but I'm so in love with Supernova that I'll probably figure out a way to keep it in my stash.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No