Posts Tagged ‘Beauty’

Product: 5 of 5
Packaging: 5 of 5
Quality: 5 of 5
Price: 5 of 5
Overall: 5 of 5
Would I repurchase? I already have, and I’ll continue to unless I ever find something I like more!

::: The Product :::
Maybelline The Falsies was originally released in the UK before it made its appearance in the USA.  I was intrigued by reviews I saw on Makeup Alley, but I never thought much about trying it until I finally saw it in the store.

The Falsies is supposed to give you the look of more lashes by building 8x more volume without clumping.  The spoon brush and flexible wand is supposed to help give 300% more visible lashes.  The Pro-Keratin and Fibre enriched formula is designed to deliver immediate results, distributing volume and visible intensity to your lashes.

The Falsies is available in both washable and waterproof formulas in blackest black, very black, and brownish black.  The tube is very much like that of Colossal, except the tube is purple with teal writing.  Each tube measures about 0.85x 2.75x 5.65 (LxWxH), and holds approximately 0.25 oz. of product.  This mascara is safe for contact lens wearers, and is ophthalmologist tested.

::: Ingredients :::
Aqua/water, paraffin, potassium cetyl phosphate, cera alba/beeswax, cera carnauba/carnauba wax, acacia senegal/acacia senegal gum, glycerin, cetyl alcohol, acrylates copolymer, hydroxyethylcellulose PEG/PPG-17/18 dimethicone, steareth-20, phenoxyethanol, hydrolyzed corn starch, caprylyl glycol, sodium polymethacrylate, sodium dehydroacetate, hydrogenated jojoba oil, hydrogenated palm oil, simethicone, rayon, disodium edta, arginine, serine, glutamic acid, 2-oleamido-1, 3-octadecanediol, silica, panthenol

::: My Experience :::
I had tried Cover Girl Lash Blast, and it wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t until I repurchased it that I liked it.  Then I tested out my Maybelline Colossal again, and that was all she wrote… Until I found this!

Maybelline The Falsies was originally released in the UK before it made its appearance in the USA.  I was intrigued by reviews I saw on Makeup Alley, but I never thought much about trying it until I finally saw it in the store.  It seems I’ve always had better luck with Maybelline over other brands, so I’m glad this didn’t disappoint me!

Let me say, I never have issues with flaking for the most part.  And I’ve never had raccoon eyes because of a liner or mascara.  Maybe I’m in the minority of women because of that, but it just rarely ever happens to me.  And I never really have issues with my mascara running all over my face if I cry either… So, that being said, let’s move on!

This is a very wet mascara, so for the first week or so of using it, I have to take off any excess mascara before applying it.  I normally curl my lashes first, and then use the inside of the “spoon” to apply it.  To get even more of my lashes to come out and play, I go back over my lashes with the side of the brush, or the “back” of the brush.  Practice makes perfect with this mascara, but if you’re good at tricky wands (i.e. Givenchy Phenomen’Eyes and L’Oreal Telescopic Explosion), then you’ll be okay.

I end up with natural looking long lashes, so the false lashes effect isn’t insanely dramatic on me.  While I do have naturally long, curly lashes, they are sparse and stubborn.  Growing down, in, out and every which way but the right is normal for them.  I don’t have clumping issues, and it’s not insanely hard to get off at night.  I generally just use my face wash without any makeup remover, and it’s all gone!

::: Overall :::
If you have the time and patience to learn this mascara, then don’t hesitate!  I’ve never been one for layering lengthening and volumizing mascara, and I get both with this one.  I have naturally sparse lashes that look long and lush!  I’ll most definitely keep purchasing this, and I’ve already gotten one friend to convert to it from her CG Lash Blast!  (If you prefer drier mascaras, then try the new Lancôme mascara… I can’t remember the name of it, but Julia Roberts advertises it… The Lancôme MA told me it’s just like Maybelline The Falsies!)

Disclosure: This product was purchased by me from a local store. For more information, please view my Disclosure Policy.

There’s a reason I always ask my DH to rate things on a scale of 1 to 10… Because I can’t make up my mind!  It’s a good thing I’m a woman, so I use that as my excuse with him LOL!

I recently got a sample of pureDKNY, the latest scent from DKNY.  It’s sweet enough for summer, but all I can think about is apple picking and pumpkin pie when I wear it!  For some reason, instead of getting a perfume I’ve grown to like over the last few days, I got Dior J’adore.  It seemed to sit okay with me last night, so I thought I would be okay with it… Sadly, this was not the case.

I was fine last night when I tested it out, and again this morning when I used it.  It wasn’t until this afternoon when I went out to lunch.  By the time I came back, my head was pounding!  I’m not sure if the mix of the summer heat and my skin warming up is what did it, but something about the scent induced a sinus headache like no other!  I called Macy’s to be sure they’d take it back since I opened it, and luckily they said yes.

Of course I almost made a silly choice in purchasing Burberry Brit Sheer since I know I like it from when it was first released over a year ago, but I decided to go with my gut and get pureDKNY.  I tell you what – I’m glad I did!  The sales associate was even nice enough to let me have the free bag and mini body butter you’re supposed to get for purchasing a 3.4 fl. oz. even though I only got a 1.7 fl. oz. bottle.

Goodness knows why I didn’t just bother getting this to begin with last night… I could’ve saved myself from a headache, the torture of making a bad decision, and I could’ve saved some gas!  But, I did end up spending $20 less for the same size as the J’adore and still got a free gift!  I’m now a happy and lovely smelling woman!  I’ll have to write a more formal review on this later, but you’ll have to be gentle on me since I’m definitely not a perfumista!

I got this yesterday from Revlon for a new mascara called Grow Luscious, and even though I think I’ve found my HG mascara, I’m still going to try this!

Revlon Grow Luscious is supposed to help you lashes grow stronger, while visibly adding length.  Apparently in a survey of testers, 96% saw instantly longer, lusher lashes.

Revlon Grow Luscious is currently available for pre-order (kind of how Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion was), and you can purchase it from Walmart.com (sold out), CVS.com, Walgreens.com, drugstore.com, Ulta.com, Target.com or Rite-Aid.com, and shipping is free on all sites until the 26th.  (Currently, CVS has it on sale for $7.19, but Ulta has it for B2G1F).

So, will you bite?  I know I am just because I HAVE to!  I mean, hello!  Maybe I’ll like it!  I still need to do a review on the CG Lash Blast Fusion soon too!  And I have some other mascaras I need to review… Oh, looks like reviews might be headed your way!

Products: 4 of 5
Packaging: 5 of 5
Quality: 4 of 5
Price: 5 of 5
Overall: 5 of 5
Would I repurchase? I’m in debate on the foundation only because it doesn’t seem to jive well with my combo skin, but with a primer, it’s golden… Yeah, I’d buy them both again.

::: The Products :::
Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 is a water-based, extremely lightweight foundation which is considered ideal for all skin types, and is available in 20 colors.  Skin Foundation, as per the Bobbi Brown website, is “A truly modern foundation that offers invisible, weightless coverage that looks like skin, not makeup.  This long-wearing formula evens tone, minimizes the appearance of pores, conceals imperfections, and offers broad spectrum UV protection.  Its hydrating technology leaves skin feeling cushioned, comfortable, and clean.”  Each bottle holds approximately 1 fluid ounce and retails $45.

According to the Bobbi Brown website, Sheer Finish Pressed Powder is “Bobbi’s long-lasting, super-sheer powder sets and perfects color to create a smooth, flawless finish. This sheer powder is 100% oil-free and oil-absorbing, with Vitamin E for the most comfortable wear.”  The 0.38 ounce powder is available in 7 colors, and each compact comes with a powder puff and retails $32.

::: The Ingredients :::
Skin Foundation SPF 15 – (Active ingredients: Octinoxate 7.50% and Titanium Dioxide 1.00%) Water, Methyl Trimethicone, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Talc, Boron Nitride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Dimethicone, Lecithin, Aluminum Dimyristate, Tocopherol, Myristic Acid, Silica, Magnesim Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sorbic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol. May contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499).

Sheer Finish Pressed Powder – Talc, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Silica, Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisosterarate, Cetearyl Octanoate, Zinc Sterarate, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Zeolite, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEI-10, Sorbic Acid, Tetrasodium Edta, Methylparaben, BHT, Propylparaben, Butylparaben
(May Contain) Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Red 30 (CI 73360), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Carmine (CI 75470), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140)

::: My Experience :::
I heard of Bobbi Brown LONG ago… She was actually one of the first makeup artists I’ve ever heard of.  However, I just never gave a lot of thought to her products.  I’m not too sure why, but I didn’t.  Over the last few years I’ve begun using her Shimmer Bricks and limited edition palettes.  I knew her foundations were yellow-based, which is good for me since I have yellow undertones.

For some reason I decided I wanted to switch from mineral makeup to liquid foundation.  I can’t be too sure why this is, but something has me thinking my drier winter skin might’ve prompted it (even though summer is around the corner now).  I definitely wanted a natural look, and stopped by the Bobbi Brown counter while on a trip to the mall.  The SA was very nice, and was more than willing to let me walk away without making a single purchase instead of walking away with something I wouldn’t be happy with.  (Although this might have something to do with her not wanting to have a return on her sales, that’s fine by me too!)  The SA was able to show me I didn’t need concealer, and I actually haven’t used it since… And I’ve always sworn I needed it for my severely dark circles!

ANYWHO!  I knew with my combo skin, which leans oily lately, that I didn’t need a tinted moisturizer.  Skin Foundation seems to be a good alternative, and since it’s oil-free, I decided to try it while I waited for the new foundation to be released almost two months later.  I’ve been using Bobbi Brown for almost two full months now, and I like it quite a bit.  I don’t need a lot at all, and it gives me a nice natural finish with barely there coverage.

To complete my look I use the Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Pressed Powder.  The color doesn’t change my foundation at all, which I should mention doesn’t oxidize and change color either.  I can reapply the powder throughout the day and never look cakey or overly matte either.  I’ve debated on getting the loose powder to use at home and taking the pressed for my purse, but I figure I don’t need two powders for one face, right?  Oh, and I should mention, my color match was dead-on in both products without any worries about lines of demarcation either.  I’m a perfect Warm Natural who hasn’t had a single breakout from either product!  Yay!

::: Overall :::
I would definitely buy these products again… Especially the powder.  I’m a huge fan of Bobbi Brown’s, and I think she knows how to help a woman stay true to her own natural looks.  It seems Bobbi’s philosophy is to be happy and beautiful with what you have… Not mask yourself up and be someone you’re not.  All of her products have been good to me, and I will be a repeat customer.

Disclosure: These products were purchased by me from Bobbi Brown. For more information, please view my Disclosure Policy.

Photos from Bobbi Brown Cosmetics.

Products: 4 of 5
Packaging: 5 of 5
Quality: 4 of 5
Price: 5 of 5
Overall: 5 of 5
Would I repurchase? Yep! I sure would purchase more products from e.l.f! They’ve improved a lot over the years, and their quality is almost as good, if not as good/better, than a lot of higher end products available.

::: The Products :::
Eyes Lips Face is more commonly known as e.l.f (ELF), and makes cosmetics and accessories ranging from $1 to $15. Most of their products are relatively cheap, and most work very well. You can purchase anything from lip gloss to makeup brushes to customizable compacts.

::: The Ingredients :::
Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder – Talc, Mica, Magnesium Stearate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Paraffinium Liquidum (Mineral Oil), Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Iron Oxides (CI 77491 CI 77492 CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77981), Red No.40 Lake (CI 16035), Ultramarine Blue (CI 77007)

Mineral Infused Mascara – Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate SE, PVP, Triethanolamine, Triacontanyl PVP, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate

Minerals Lip Gloss – Mineral Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Mica Silica, Capryly Glycol, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides (CI77491, CI77492, CI77499), Manganese Violet (CI77742), Mica (CI77019), Red No.7 Lake (CI15850), Red No.27 Lake (CI45410), Red No.6 Lake (CI15850), Blue No.1 Lake (CI42090), Yellow No.5 Lake (CI19140), Yellow No.6 Lake (CI15985).

::: My Experience :::
I had used e.l.f. products a few years ago, but had only tried their foundation and pressed powder. Unfortunately, at the time I didn’t have a proper color match, and haven’t looked back since. My oldest daughter just turned twelve, and she’s begun to show an interest in cosmetics. For some reason it still seems almost overpriced to purchase Cover Girl or Maybelline for her, so I was more than happy to realize e.l.f. had products which are even better alternatives, as well as cheaper.

I was able to test drive the Mineral Infused Mascara, which is a rather nice product. It’s a wet mascara, so I did have to take the excess off with a paper towel, but it applied very well afterwards. The brush is a plastic one with the little bristles like most mascaras with a plastic head/teeth. I can’t say if it did much for volumizing or lengthening, but it definitely separated my lashes. The black wasn’t an intense one either, and my lashes still felt soft and pliable. Definitely something I would prefer my daughter using over a mascara that will almost harden on her lashes and cause some breakage and loss.

For just a nice pop of color, without a lot of shimmer, the blush from the Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder duo is nice. The color has been compared to NARS Orgasm and Milani Luminous, but I find it way less shimmery than either. Possibly with less pigmentation as well, but I prefer it to the more. Actually, the duo is considered a dupe to NARS Laguna/Orgasm duo, which I did at one time own and promptly gave back up. The bronzer and I didn’t mesh well with this palette though. I’m not sure what it was though… It’s a nice subtle bronzer, so no worries about looking like an Oompa Loompa!

The Minerals Lip Gloss is a nice, sheer lip gloss that seems to moisturize while giving your lips a pop of color. I used this in Au Naturale and it reminds me a bit of Stila Kitten/NARS Orgasm lip glosses. Not quite as “dark,” but just as gorgeous and much cheaper. My lips are highly pigmented, so I’m sure this would look even prettier on someone without as much pigmentation as I have. It lasted quite a while, and never felt sticky. My lips didn’t dry up from it either, which is always a plus in colder weather!

::: Overall :::
I would definitely buy these products, and others from e.l.f. They produce quality products for a very inexpensive price, and they products are easier to obtain now than previously. There is a goods variety of colors for both teenagers and adults alike, as well as they now offer mineral products. If nothing else, a customer can purchase numerous items to see what may or may not work best for them, and not spend a small fortune as with some other companies.

Disclosure: These products were sent to me for review from e.l.f. (eyes lips face). For more information, please view my Disclosure Policy.

Photos from e.l.f. website

So, I actually used Biotin and the Ardell Lash & Brow Excel everyday this week but once. I accidentally skipped them on separate days even… Yeah, I know! I’m not sure if I see much improvement in my brows and/or lashes just yet. I can say that I did have to trim my nails down a tad bit. Sadly, I had a nail casualty on my right hand last night before I could even take pics… Needless to day, I’m back to major nubbins. Shorter than when I began this challenge a week ago. I reckon this will give me a “real” chance to see what will happen? Anywho! Here are pics for the week end. I’ll post pics again next weekend!

Left Hand as of Day Seven

Front View My Eyelashes/Brows as of Day Seven

Side View of My Eyelashes/Brows as of Day Seven

Hello my fellow followers! I know, long time no post. I seem to post weekly as opposed to daily. I’ve been in a slight rut, and though I don’t mean to be, I am.

I’m going to pose a challenge for myself. Not so much a challenge, but I have no idea what else to call it. For the next few weeks (months), I’m going to take 5000mcg (5mg) of Biotin daily, and see how it helps my nails. I’m going to continue using the same treatments, and I already believe the Barielle Growth Activator for Natural Nails helps a lot. I also happened to read that Biotin is recommended for infants for Dermatitis, so I can only hope it’ll help mine too, right?!

In addition to the Biotin, I’m also going to be using Ardell Lash & Brow Excel Growth Accelerator to see how well it does on lengthening, strengthening and growing my eyelashes and brows. This isn’t the original formula, but a newer version. It can be found in Sally Beauty for $15.99 ($15.49 with Sally Card), and and comes in a black tube. It has a brush similar to a liquid eyeliner brush.

I’ll take pics weekly on either Saturdays or Sundays, so we can chart the growth progress. How’s that sound? Sounds good, right? Yep, it does! So, here are pics of my nails and lashes currently:

My Left Hand as of Day One

My Right Hand as of Day One

Front View My Eyelashes/Brows as of Day One

Front View My Eyelashes/Brows as of Day One

Side View of My Eyelashes/Brows as of Day One

Product: 5 of 5
Packaging: 5 of 5
Quality: 5 of 5
Price: 5 of 5
Overall: 5 of 5
Would I repurchase? Yep! I sure would purchase these! The only thing that would make them better was if they were pressed mineral eyeshadows!

::: The Product :::
Overall Beauty Minerals is a line of mineral eyeshadows available for $7.99 from Overall Beauty. Each shadow comes in a sealed 5g sifter jar, and the sifter itself is sealed closed, so there are no worries about any leakage before the shadows arrive to you. The front of each jar has a picture of minerals, along with the color name, and the ingredients are listed on the back of each jar, as well as on the website.

::: The Ingredients :::
Mica, Iron Oxide, Zinc Oxide USP, Titanium Dioxide
May also contain: Ultramarine Blue, Kaolin Clay. (Overall Beauty does not use talc or bismuth oxychloride in their makeup.)

::: My Experience :::
I received OB Mineral Eyeshadows in Night Wisp, Honeydew, Pale Pink, Buttercup, Ivory Lace, Lavender and China Doll. Are are very light colors, mostly for highlighting.  Descriptions are as follows:

• Buttercup – Light golden wheat
• Pale Pink – Pale pink with a hint of mauve
• Honeydew – Vanilla-ish with a green duochrome tint
• Ivory Lace – Shimmery ivory
• Night Wisp – Light peach with bluish-purple duochrome
• Lavender – Shimmery paled lavender
• China Doll – Soft whispery pink

When used with a primer, all of the eyeshadows are darker and have a richer color. The key is to pat the eyeshadow on, not swipe it on using a windshield wiper motion. Out of the colors I received, I definitely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Night Wisp! My favorite pigment from MAC is Pink Opal, but Night Wisp is like Pink Opal only better. I can’t even describe how it’s better, it just is!   After Night Wisp my favorites are Lavender and China Doll.  China Doll reminds me of a shimmery mineralized version of Stila Bouquet, which is my daily eyeshadow.

Granted I’m naturally tan, so these should probably all be highlighters for me.  However, they give just the right amount of shimmer without being overly shimmery.  There is nothing frosty about the colors either.  All of the mineral eyeshadows applied like butter, and I didn’t have any issues with creasing and/or fading throughout the day.  Again, since I’m so dark everything isn’t going to show on me as well as others.  However, here are pics of Night Wisp and Lavender (sorry they’re not so great!):

::: Overall :::
I would definitely buy these, especially Night Wisp!  The only thing that would make them any better is if they were pressed eyeshadows since I find them easier to use.  I don’t have to worry about tapping them out of sifters (or spilling them everywhere if I take the sifters out!).  For only about $8 per shadow, and knowing it’ll last forever, it’s seriously almost insane to not purchase a few! Who doesn’t love a good deal?!

Disclosure: These products were sent to me for review from Overall Beauty. For more information, please view my Disclosure Policy.

Question: Has your makeup preference changed over the years, and if so, how?

I wasn’t HUGE into makeup until about 2006 when I joined two makeup forums. I mean, I used eyeshadows and whatnot, but I wasn’t a fanatic. I didn’t know how many different brands there were, or even what primer was. As a matter of fact, I had only heard of M.A.C. a few years prior in passing when my younger sister went to use her face powder by them (in retrospect, I think it was Blot Powder).

I remember two of the first high-end brands I heard of were Bobbi Brown and Stila while reading a magazine. I was intriuged, but didn’t give the brands much thought past that. I mean, I wasn’t a hardcore makeup person, and at the time, even Stila seemed like a lot of money to a high schooler! I eventually started using Clinique, but it didn’t seem like much of a step up from Cover Girl or Revlon for some reason. Ya know?

Anywho! About eight years, a few makeup forums and LOADS of money and swaps later, I had way more makeup than I knew what to do with! I can’t say my husband was too happy, but he loves me all the same LOL! I switched over to Stila for foundation, then Chanel… Eventually I ended up in Urban Decay’s mineral makeup. Needless to say, the eyeshadow, blush, bronzer, lipgloss and lipstick ranged from Cover Girl to Chanel. I was a happy woman with more than enough to offer a nice variety of brights or nudes.

And now, here I sit, four years later, and I’m completely back to where I started almost. I still keep up with the brands and their new releases, but not the way I used to. I wear the same basics daily, and I’ve gotten rid of 90% of what I once owned. I don’t do brights at all, and I stick to tonal/neutral colors. Bobbi Brown is quickly becoming my favorite brand since she’s more about enhancing the true you, and I think that’s where I finally am. I think I’m happy enough with my skin and my facial features that I can feel I only need to enhance myself, not hide someone I don’t think I want to be. Does that make sense?

So yeah, what are your makeup preferences, and how has that changed over the years? Who are your fave makeup artists and what are your fave brands?

A few years ago when we moved to NY, I got into makeup big time for the first time in my life. It was because of joining makeup forums and watching YouTube that I learned new methods for applying makeup, as well as learned about new products and new releases.

Over the years more and more makeup “gurus” have shown up on YouTube, and while they’re all good, I have my favorites. MakeupByRisa being a HUGE fave only because I learned about Risa WAY before she joined YouTube and she keeps it real. Not to mention, I’ve never seen anyone rock bright pink or purple lipstick the way Risa can! Another guru I really like is emilynoel83. I like Emily because she uses a lot of drugstore brands, which is great for people on a budget or who don’t believe MAC is the holy grail of cosmetics. I also like the fact Emily has her husband Tyler in her videos from time to time, which is nice to get a male perspective on things. Oh, and I LOVE Pixiwoo too!!! Sam & Nic are just too awesome!!

So, what YouTube gurus do you like? You know what we need though? More nail polish gurus. I mean, I like JulieG, but it’s not the same as if some of our well-known nail bloggers did vids on Konads or whatnot! I’d totally be addicted!