Makeup
- GigiSD » See my profile
- Points: 438580
- Reviews: 1103
Here are all my reviews:
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Lancôme products are generally exemplary, and this mascara is one example. For many years I was pleased with using "Definicils." It separates perfectly. But I wanted more volume. Lancôme's "Hypnôse Star Waterproof 24 Hour Mascara" delivers both--exceptionally! It was actually inspired by both Betty Boop™ and model Daria Werbowy. This delivers buildable, pliable volume and length (the softness reminds me of Maybelline's "Full and Soft"). Perhaps part of the secret is in the dual-sided brush. One side is straight; another is fluffy. Between the two, you can capture, color, and maximize every last lash. Lancôme suggests that you use this within ninety days. Good for them! Mascara is one of the first products which can be easily contaminated. So toss it after three months and buy a new one, especially when there is a gift with purchase.
April 25, 2013
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I received more than I expected when I purchased this sleek compact. The colors are lovely and wear a long time (you don't have to worry about continual touch-ups). They have a dense texture, much like a lipstick, and you can be creative and formulate your own unique shades! The shades do not feather (even without a lip primer) and have a moist, wonderful feel. This is an amazing palette!
April 25, 2013
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I've mentioned several times before that I want long, lush, glossy eyelashes--the kind that Scarlett O'Hara used to charm men. I do have several mascaras which I like a lot (Benefit's "They're Real!," Lancôme's "Definicils," the version by Ellis Faas, Buxom's effective formula, and Lancôme's "Hynôse Custom Volume," just for starters). When DJV Beautenizer came out with their "Fiberwig Mascara," ($22.00), I was over the moon. Finally, I could have the color, length, and volume I have been trying to achieve since junior high school! This mascara contains tiny fibers to allegedly double the look of your own lashes. It forms a "film coating" to prevent smudging. The active ingredients include panthenol, hydrolyzed silk, and a root extract to nourish beautiful lashes. Moreover, it is free of harmful sulfates, phthalates, and synthetic dyes and fragrances. That's where the beauty ended for me. The brush is an awkward, concave shape which you are supposed to place at the root of your lashes, sweeping upward in a wiggling manner in order to coat lashes with the protective film. In order to add length, you are supposed to apply the fibers of this product to the ends of your own lashes until you reach a desired length (much easier said than done). Lower lashes are to be coated by using the protruding side of the brush in the same wiggling manner. The company suggests using an eyelash curler if needed once the product has dried. I have lots of problems with this. I don't have this much time in my daily routine for multiple manipulations on my lashes with a hard-to-use brush. I would NEVER curl lashes after applying mascara, as this has a tendency to remove your natural lashes (and they may never grow back). Despite the extra fibers, I saw LITTLE increase in volume or length. I tried working with it several times before I gave up. This is simply not worth the time nor the money. I returned it.
April 25, 2013
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I said in previous posts how much I hate coloring my hair. Temporary root-covering products are good. I like the one from Paula's Choice. Before that, I was using Roux's "Tween Time" (reasonably priced at Amazon for about $7.00). At first my results were horrendous--should I admit this? Okay, I will. I didn't thoroughly read the package and didn't realize that you needed to dampen the stick before use. Once I did, I was able to spread color over the areas I wanted. When it dried, I could comb through it easily and it looked and felt natural. Color remained until I shampooed. Then magazine articles touted the miraculous effects of Rita Hazan's "Root Concealer." I researched it on Sephora and was pleased to see that it is free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, petrochemicals, and synthetic dyes and fragrances. It is available in a shade appropriate for my auburn hair ($25.00). Hazan claims that one of the benefits is the "pinpoint actuator" which allows precise application. Too precise! I tried it a few times, and a heavy, steady stream of color penetrated not only my hair but also my scalp. Like the other reader, I had a hard time removing this color even though I washed my hair several times. I returned it and asked for a refund. Back to Roux and Paula's Choice for me!
April 25, 2013
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I tend to be a "girly-girl." I like feminine colors, patterns, and fragrances. Versace's "Bright Crystal" is a very nice fragrance. The key notes are pomegranate, mingled with the relaxing scents of peony, magnolia, and lotus flower. This is warmed by a blend of musk and amber. It is delicate but yet sexy!
April 25, 2013
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Yankee Candle Company Midsummer's Night Housewarmer Jar Candle
For Summer, Winter, Spring, and Fall!
My husband and I like to light candles. We generally have candles burning everywhere, even during the day. We like the subtle glow and scents. Our grown nephew--a Yankee Candle fanatic--purchased "A Midsummer's Night®" for us. It is a heady, intoxicating fragrance, an incredible blend of musk, patchouli, sage, and mahogany. The price, $24.99 for a medium-sized candle, may seem a bit stiff, but it gives sixty-five to ninety hours of delight. We sit and sip a glass of wine around it in the winter; in the summer, it travels to our deck as we sit at the stars and stare. Yankee has fragrances which cannot be replicated by any other firm--they are superb!
April 25, 2013
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My husband and I like to light candles. We generally have candles burning everywhere, even during the day. We like the subtle glow and scents. Our grown nephew--a Yankee Candle fanatic--purchased "A Midsummer's Night®" for us. It is a heady, intoxicating fragrance, an incredible blend of musk, patchouli, sage, and mahogany. The price, $24.99 for a medium-sized candle, may seem a bit stiff, but it gives sixty-five to ninety hours of delight. We sit and sip a glass of wine around it in the winter; in the summer, it travels to our deck as we sit at the stars and stare. Yankee has fragrances which cannot be replicated by any other firm--they are superb!
April 25, 2013
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Facial primers and I don't seem too mesh very well. I do love Benefit's "Primed and Poreless" and DHC's "Velvet Coat," but "Smashbox" was heavy and basically a disaster on me. I like NYX Cosmetics, and for $15.00, their "HD Studio Photogenic Primer" was hard to resist. Applause, applause yet again for NYX! This very silky, lightweight liquid has a faint green tint to it. It blends in effortlessly and seamlessly. You don't "feel" anything on your skin. But pores, fine lines, and discolorations are disguised with this matte formula. Powder or liquid foundations apply like a breeze over it and last from morning until late night, keeping you looking fresh and lovely.
April 25, 2013
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I was only able to buy this at Sephora in "Envious" (pink) or "Greedy" (berry). Both of these colors had a nice feel, but they were too overpowering for my very pale skin. It lasted on my lips a very long time, but the scent is strange and artificial; I'm sure Urban Decay can do better than this.
April 25, 2013
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Lip and cheek stains intrigue me. There are few that I don't have, and Stila's is one of my favorite. I have this in both "Cherry" and "Pomegranate Crush" (it comes in a huge range of shades, most based on fruits). I am not a huge fan of the twist applicator, because the amount of product it dispenses is sometimes hard to control. But the stain itself is very lovely. Stila claims that it reacts to your own skin's pH level to create a perfect, personalized hue. Each fruit color contains some extract of the fruit itself--I like that! Also included are glycerin, antioxidants to protect and nourish skin, and Vitamins A, C, and E. The stain is a gel with buildable coverage. It dries a little quickly, so begin at the apples of your cheeks, gently and quickly blending until you've reached the amount of color you want. With lips, I prefer to use a lip brush for a precise look, although you can always use your fingers. The stain is buildable here, too. One of the things I most like about it is that the color is not too intense. You will probably want to use a balm or gloss over lips to keep them moist, and the color will last all day. I wear it to amusement parks, water parks, on vacation, everywhere--and I never have to give a second thought to a touch-up. Now that's something to love!
April 25, 2013
