Makeup
- BeautyJunkieAmber » See my profile
- Points: 11770
- Reviews: 231
Here are all my reviews:
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While it does fan out the lashes and add a little length, it's not too spectacular in the volumizing department. Also, the brush can be a little tricky--I was having a difficult time avoiding touching my lids with it! If I were wearing a full eye-look, I'd be pretty bummed if I had a mascara wipe-out at the last minute. On the bright side--I love that it's such a glossy blue-black and that the formula really is very moist, it didn't flake which is always a plus. In all honesty, I wouldn't go totally out of my way to buy this in place of any of my other mascaras. There might be room for improvement in this brush! *insert sad face here*
January 18, 2010
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This formula definitely has a “no makeup†look but offered me medium coverage. I really like the incandescent glow it gives my skin without getting shiny or oily in the middle of the day, and the longer I wore it–the better it looked as it warmed up to my skin. I’m right in between Ivory 20 and Ivory 30, but Ivory 30 worked out A-okay for me once it was all said and done. I did still have to use concealer around my nose like I always do and that was to be expected–I don’t fault PowerFoundation for that at all because that’s the case for me with about 95% of the foundations I’ve tried. The added benefit of the SPF 21 is awesome, the formula also contains Vitamin E and aloe for additional skin benefits. To use Oscillation PowerFoundation, all you do is gently shake the container 2-3 times before opening the cap. Then, unscrew the cap and lift out the applicator, press the button and use the applicator in circular strokes from the middle of your face moving outwards. Wah-lah! I expect other brands to follow in Lancome’s footsteps with this innovation much like the mascara, but this one is getting great reviews, especially on Sephora where it currently scores 4 out of 5 stars.
January 3, 2010
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One of my fave fragrances! With notes like caramelized popcorn and strawberry leaves--it's sweet and delicious! It only smells better throughout the day and I receive compliments every time I wear it.
December 20, 2009
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With the proprietary blend of gentle acids and 2% AGP Complex in CosMedix Define, I’ve experienced some smoothing and resurfacing benefits with cumulative use on a nightly basis. The lightweight moisturizer goes a long way–just a little dab spreads easily on my freshly cleansed skin before bedtime, and then it starts a little remodeling job! The first few times I applied it, I felt just a little tingling sensation but nothing intolerable or anything that caused me alarm, it did dissipate with continued use. I highly recommend the use of a sunscreen whenever you’re using any product like this as it can cause increased sun sensitivity with daytime sun exposure. Define has a fresh citrus scent and also provides mild hydration benefits–my skin really loved that I used it and I saw visibile results after 2 weeks which improved into week 3.
November 29, 2009
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When I think of YSL fragrances, I think of classics like Opium and Paris, both of which my Mom wore ages ago! The newest Yves Saint Laurent perfume, Parisienne seems to be more a modern take on classic– the damask rose-based floral has a slightly mysterious and edgy side with all things feminine in between. My first impressions of Parisienne were favorable, the sparkling blend of blackberry and cranberry was unmistakable! As the middle notes began to take shape, a more classic fragrance was revealed through the harmony of damask rose, violet, and peony notes. Once Parisienne reached the base notes, it became more reminiscent of the old YSL classics to me and got just a little too heady with patchouli and vetiver. It was pleasant after dry down, but in a perfect world– if it would have stopped in the middle I would have been as pleased as punch! After some time had passed, I was left with a faint touch of cranberry, rose, and blackberry which was a nice finishing touch, so all was not lost! The Parisienne bottle is one part classic, one part modern as is the fragrance itself and has a nice weight to it. Slightly etched, the bottle’s surface is said to resemble the labyrinth of Parisian streets. For me personally, Parisienne wouldn’t be my “everyday†fragrance of choice because of the bottom– but once it wears down and everything comes together, Parisienne becomes very feminine and delicate again.
October 10, 2009
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My fave Harajuku Lovers fragrance has always been Love, but lately I've been wearing Lil' Angel and I really enjoy it. It's really got a fruity zing to it with top notes of raspberries and cranberries-- very tangy and tart right off the bat which warms up nicely on my skin. It's a nice change of pace from florals which can sometimes be a little on the boring side!
October 9, 2009
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Using their shade selection tool, I chose my foundation color by matching a card of transparent swatches against the inside of my arm. I’ve seen this color-matching card available at some drugstores on the L’Oreal display itself, but not at all of the places I’ve spied True Match. As I started to apply the foundation, I got scared! My first thought: “I should have gone one shade darker!†Flashbacks of junior high are often traumatic, especially when you’re already incredibly pale and you choose makeup that makes you look even more… shall I say– ghastly? The tone looked just a little too pink right out of the bottle which made it seem light, but once it was all blended that wasn’t the case. Most foundations turn incredibly warm and yellow on me, and this one actually stayed true on my face without shifting. I don’t know what got in to me, but I actually forgot to wear primer yesterday morning when I applied this and surprisingly enough, it didn’t slip-slide around or separate once my oil production started kicking in for the day. True Match liquid provided a natural finish with medium coverage that warmed up very nicely throughout the duration of wear. I did find that it had a tendency to gather slightly on the smaller dry spots on my face around my nose. Drier skin-types may wish to use the cream foundation version of True Match or use a specific primer or moisturizer prior to application to combat that.
September 25, 2009
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I don’t see myself passing on a yummy smelling bottle of shampoo in lieu of concocting my own baking soda and vinegar rinse anytime soon, so I took Chaz at his word and trusted the Cucumber Aloe Cleansing Conditioner for the job! WEN is TOTALLY different than anything you’d expect, at least it was for me– a habitual shampoo offender. Check your pre-conceived shampoo notions at the door, WEN doesn’t lather or suds at all and will take some getting used to! You may even think there is no way that the thick and creamy concoction is even touching the oils that have taken over your scalp. You’ll also use much more of this product than what we consider normal, so don’t be alarmed– it takes about 30 pumps to ensure the product is evenly distributed for my hair texture and length. The process is more involved and time consuming than just lathering some shampoo in my hair and rinsing it out, and the longer you leave WEN on the better it works. Keeping these things in mind, I was really impressed with how light my hair actually felt– it was almost bouncy. I can’t forget about the shine! The Cucumber Aloe Cleansing Conditioner left behind a shimmering shine on my black hair that I ordinarily can’t achieve with traditional shampoos and conditioners alone. And the fragrance? Heavenly! I know this may sound impossible, but the Cucumber Aloe is both soothing and invigorating at the same time. I don’t get to say that very often! For something that conditions so much, it cleanses incredibly well and builds volume at the same time. It’s definitely not your everyday shampoo! If you just don’t think you’ll ever be able to kick your sudsy habit and you’re hooked on it, this honestly may not be for you and it could end up being a “washâ€. If you’re on the product-adventurous side and want to explore other shampoo options, or have hair that screams for lots of TLC– give WEN a shot. While it’s not a permanent shampoo solution for me since I’m perpetually testing new products, I do enjoy the change and so does my hair!
September 24, 2009
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First, let’s go over the pros of this baby. The little funky Medieval Times-looking ball at the end makes it possible to get every last lash that a cumbersome mascara wand would miss. That’s a huge plus to me since I have such a hard time reaching the corners of my lashes like you probably do, it’s a pretty common complaint we share! I also really liked how the formula stays a little wet and allows you to work with it a bit before it dries. So many times a mascara will dry before you can even get past a first or second coat to perfect it. You know I like to experiment so I have to share this discovery– I tried this over another mascara and it looked incredible! It’s not an ideal use and I wouldn’t recommend purchasing it for that benefit alone, I just thought it might be good to know. *wink* Like Phenomen’Eyes, Telescopic Explosion isn’t without it’s faults either. Eek! Right away, I noticed that it will definitely deposit a few clumps if you don’t wipe the ends of the brush on the lip of the tube when you take it out. If you are mindful of this, it shouldn’t be an issue with application– but the fact that it’s even a probability is no bueno! Additionally, the black isn’t very dark… it actually looks more like a dark graphite-grey in my opinion. I LOVE a shiny blue-black on my lashes and this one isn’t the answer for me. Another issue that may be of importance to you is the fact that we’re all so used to swiping a mascara horizontally across our lashes pretty quickly, you probably won’t really be able to do that with this one right off-the-bat. I found this applied best when holding the wand vertically and that can seem a little intimidating. Be prepared to take some time! If you always wanted to try Phenomen’Eyes but cringed at the price, you might consider giving this a shot! In all honesty, I loved the final result but it was a process of trial and error like all things new. It curls my lashes and gives them noticeable volume, so at the end of the day it meets my needs and that’s not a bad thing!
September 21, 2009
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Is it possible to actually fall head-over-heels in love with a hand cream? Ohmygosh, YES! Last week I was traveling, and I’m getting ready to do it again later this week. It goes without saying that my skin is in for a rude awakening! As a result of my obsessive hand washing, being in a different climate, and flying– my poor little hands and cuticles are ridiculously dry to the point of being tight and uncomfortable. One of my regular fave hand creams just wasn’t cutting it! I picked up a tube of Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve on a whim, and as I was unpacking I re-discovered it and had a “Eureka!†moment! It’s so Amazing, it deserves the capital “Aâ€. Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve is a true salve in texture, so it’s probably not suitable for use during the day if you’re going to be clicking away on a keyboard or trying to grasp anything. It’s also got a medicinal scent, similar to Vick’s VapoRub yet much, much lighter due to one of the soothing ingredients being eucalyptus leaf oil. I do find this extremely beneficial for applying immediately before bedtime, because hey! Who cares at that point, right? The dense, rich texture of shea butter with avocado and sesame oils in a glycerin base forms a nourishing barrier on my hands that I can actually feel. It completely envelops my hands and makes them much softer and more hydrated when the morning rolls around. I’ll definitely be reaching for this as Fall temperatures drop and my skin gets drier!
September 15, 2009
