Makeup
- Jewelrydesigner » See my profile
- Points: 18890
- Reviews: 66
Here are all my reviews:
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This is the first Elizabeth Arden skincare I've tried, but it certainly won't be the last! I am in my early 60s and blessed with good skin and a youthful appearance. But over the past 10 years my very fair skin has become a bit duller and drier, and even using high quality cleansers and moisturizers hasn't done much to help. So I was interested to see whether this pricey serum would make a noticeable difference. I'm delighted to say that it does! The surface of my skin was noticeably softer to the touch after the first one or two uses. After having used this serum twice a day (morning and before bed) for a little less than two weeks, my skin looks brighter and less dry, and my fine lines have softened visibly. Even though this serum is intended to be worn under a moisturizer, I skipped my moisturizer for a few days to help me see what the effects of the serum alone would be, and the dry patches on my cheeks that disappeared after I had used the serum for a few days did not return! Normally I wouldn't consider spending this much on a bottle of serum, but since only a tiny amount is needed to cover my entire face and neck, I know this bottle will last me a very long time. Highly recommended!
August 19, 2015
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I was hoping that an airbrush foundation and blush would give me the flawless, natural looking complexion that usually takes me 20-30 minutes to achieve, but in less time and with less effort. My new Temptu Signature Starter Kit did that and more! I've used the foundation, pink blush, highlighter and bronzer so far (peach isn't a good color for me) and I couldn't be happier with the results. The foundation and blush went on extremely evenly and looked VERY natural. Even the highlighter looked natural! My skin is extremely fair and it's really hard to achieve a convincing faux tan. But after I applied the bronzer with the airbrush (which took about 1 to 2 minutes, since I applied it very lightly and built up the color gradually) I looked as though I'd just spent a day at the beach. I couldn't believe how natural it looked! It will take me a few more sessions to get used to the sensation of the air blowing on my face and to control exactly where the makeup goes, since I'm applying it very sheerly and building up the color gradually in the areas where I need more coverage, but I'm confident I'll be applying it like a pro in no time. And considering how great even my first application looked, this system is very forgiving. The makeup leaves a dewy glow. If you prefer a more matte finish, just sweep a light dusting of colorless powder across your face.
November 25, 2014
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I received this "mystery lotion" sample and was really looking forward to trying what I had assumed was a new lotion formula for which the manufacturer was seeking customer input prior to launching it in the marketplace. I still have absolutely no idea why the manufacturer would have TB do market research on an old and not particularly impressive product. However, as this was a "blind test" with an unbranded sample, those considerations did not affect my perception of the product while I was evaluating it. First, the pros: This lotion is light, absorbs quickly, leaves my skin soft and hydrated, and doesn't leave a greasy residue. All good qualities. Now the cons: The consistency was too thin for my taste. It didn't feel rich or luxurious like my favorite moisturizing lotions and creams. And while scents are totally subjective, unfortunately the smell of this lotion was a bit of a turnoff for me, a bit reminiscent of the jars of watery, translucent white, rosewater and glycerin creams from the drugstore that were commonplace several decades ago. However, neither of those issue would have been deal-breakers if the initial hydrating effects of this lotion had lasted for more than a few hours. I really wanted to like this product, but for me it just didn't perform to my expectations of a good body lotion. And now that I know which product I tested, I will add that it certainly doesn't live up to its "Total Moisture" branding. I wish I could find more to recommend about it, but I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to evaluate the sample.
July 11, 2012
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Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer With Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Effective, non-greasy, and doesn't sting!
I always try to use a different sunblock on my face than on my body, otherwise my face tends to break out. This one is perfect - lightweight, non-greasy, and it doesn't sting my sensitive skin like so many sunblocks do. Better protection than a moisturizer with SPF.
April 11, 2012
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I've tried dozens and dozens of mascaras over the years, most of them high-end and pricey. The only ones that came close to meeting my needs were Benefit "They're Real!" and Dior "Diorshow," but what I really wanted was a cross between the two that would give me the definition of "They're Real!" and the volume of "Diorshow" and that also would hold a curl on my rather straight, downward-pointing lashes. Sick and tired of spending $25-$30 a pop to try more and more high-end mascaras that didn't quite meet my needs, I finally decided to try this highly rated drugstore mascara that had been recommended by a pro makeup artist in a TB article. WOW!!! Not only does this one hit the perfect balance between definition and volume, it also holds a curl! I'll never spend 4x the price of this wonderful mascara again on the high-end brands! I really hope they never discontinue this one.
March 21, 2012
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I've never had good luck with this type of guide strip for French tips until I changed my approach to giving myself a French manicure. What works perfectly for me is to apply these strips to BARE nails, burnish them down with a fingernail so the strips stay firmly attached until I'm ready to remove them (and so that no polish seeps under the edges, especially at the sides), and then apply two coats of white nail polish using a felt-tip nail polish pen with white polish designed specifically for French manicures (I've also reviewed Sally Hansen's version of these pens). Apply both coats thinly and evenly. The tricks to getting a thin, even application are 1) to shake the polish pen VIGOROUSLY for about 10-15 seconds and then press the tip down FIRMLY against a folded piece of scrap paper (or a scrap of thin, hard cardboard) on a flat, hard surface such as a table, pressing hard enough for the ENTIRE FELT TIP to retract into the pen and maintaining the pressure for the full 30 seconds. Then draw a short line of polish on the paper to get rid of any excess polish. These tips will make all the difference, I promise! Allow the first coat of white polish to dry completely before applying the second coat, and allow the second coat to dry completely before removing the paper guide strips. Then apply two coats of very sheer pink or peach polish made specifically for French manicures, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly after it has been applied. When the second coat has dried completely, apply a thin, even coat of Seche Vite, dry it thoroughly, and enjoy your new fabulous-looking French manicure!
March 19, 2012
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I have tried other brands of French Manicure tip pens in the past. They tended to streak or go on a bit lumpy, and the felt tip always dried up quickly. So I switched to using white French tip polish (in a regular nail polish bottle) for many years. I tried using the curved paper guide strips to help me get a clean, even, nicely shaped inner edge, but since my nails tend to be a bit yellow I have to use two coats of the white polish on my tips, and when the polish dried and I pulled off the tape I usually ended up with a thick-ish ridge along the edge that had been taped. Then I went back to painting on the white French tip polish freehand, but even after doing it for many years I never got the hang of getting an even, balanced curve. Finally I decided to give a white polish pen another try. Unlike the previous ones I had used, this one was a flat, matte white, not pearlized. After I applied two coats of sheer pink polish on top, I was really surprised at how much better I liked the look of the plain white tips than the pearlized ones. And, unlike the previous pens I had tried, this one went on smoothly, thinly and evenly! I was getting pretty excited, but I still had the problem of not being able to apply the polish in an even, balanced curve that wasn't lopsided on some nails. So I bought another package of the curved, stick-on paper guide strips and tried it with the white "tip polish" pen. After applying two coats of the white polish and allowing each coat to dry, I peeled off the paper strips, not expecting much but hoping for an acceptable result. I was thrilled to see that my white tips looked as though they had been applied professionally, and there was no ridge at the edge of the polish! After applying two coats of sheer pink polish and a top coat of Seche Vite, my French manicure looked perfect. If you have trouble giving yourself a nice-looking French manicure, I highly recommend trying the combination of this nail tip pen and the self-stick paper guide strips (mine are made by Nailene). Note: It is important to shake the pen VIGOROUSLY and to hold the tip pressed down firmly against a piece of scrap paper for the entire 30 seconds recommended on the package.
March 19, 2012
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L'Oreal Paris EverCrème Sulfate-Free Moisture System Cleansing Conditioner
A good shampoo/conditioner combo
I have tried several different shampoo/conditioner brands and formulas over the years and never found one I liked before this one. I still prefer the combination of my L'Oreal Eversleek sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner (I get better conditioning benefits from using that conditioner separately), but this is a great alternative for those days when I'm in a hurry.
March 11, 2012
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I've read so many reviews that rave exuberantly about this mascara that I was anxious to purchase it and try it out myself. I was looking for length and volume and, I hoped, the ability to hold a curl after I curled my lashes. I must be the exception, because I found this mascara disappointing. It's a great, dark black color that provides lots of drama, but on me this mascara created "spider lashes" when I applied more than one coat. Very fake-looking and provided no fullness. Not sure why I had such a different experience than other reviewers.
January 7, 2012
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I received a sample of this product and was truly amazed to see how effective it was. I've used the pricey MorrocanOil hair products and didn't think there was much that could top them, but this one did! This oil is much less viscous than MoroccanOil hair oil and didn't leave my hair feeling greasy or heavy. I applied it both to my towel-dried hair and also just a tiny bit after I blow dried it and I was amazed at how soft and smooth it was without being weighed down. Wonderful product that I recommend highly!
November 27, 2011
