Beauty Product Reviews | Page 5

Don't let the name fool you...pigmented AND moisturizing

I'm someone who needs a bold lip so when I see something that is a "natural lip conditioner" I'm thinking...cool, a little tint and a lotta moisture. I picked up one from Beautylish to bring to a camping wedding (don't ask) where it would be difficult to do some major touch ups. Was I ever shocked when not only did my lips feel supple and moisturized in 104 degree weather outdoors, but the color lasted not only through the wedding but, well, being that there was lack of adequate resources to wash off my makeup that evening, my lips still had a pretty rose tint even the next morning!

I would give it 6 stars if I could

I don't know whether to feel fulfilled or disappointed that I've found the best mascara that can ever be made. I'm not kidding. Everyone who wears mascara needs to be wearing THIS mascara. The precise brush literally hugs each lash individually, coating it with the mascara that was made for gods. Kevyn, a makeup god himself, really outdid himself with this one.

One coat and you have a very defined eye. Two to three coats looks like false eyelashes grew from your lash line. No clumps, no mess, and hassle free in taking it off at night with -- get this -- warm water.

No joke, guys. You want a good mascara. This one. None other. Throw all those tubes away...like, right now. You can thank me (or really, Kevyn) later.

It's Like A Magic Wand

First off, I don't break out. Yeah yeah...go ahead and go on about how lucky I am and this and that...

No. I don't break out because my skin is so dry, during the winter time, I swear no matter how many treatments, moisturizers, masques, steamers and DIY treatments I use there is no battling it. That being said, with trying near anything during these dreary skin and weather months, you can imagine my skin gets a little fed up. So it decides to form the winter zit.

Whiteheads, pfft. nothing... If that is your ailment, stop reading here and buy this and rest easy tonight. Because you see, the winter zit is the Abominable Snowman of zits. It will attack you where it hurts, where everyone can see and feels like it has it's own heartbeat.

This magic wand of a blemish stick will attach said winter zit with forces beyond belief. 2 days and it's gone. Put it above or below makeup, keep in your purse for on the go...It's also made of willowbark extract instead of harsh drying ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid which only feeds the dry, chapped, angry skin.

What's to say that hasn't been said

As a makeup artist, it's truly rare to find the product that is a true multi-tasker. Well, not one that will give me the exact vision of a look that I want and know I can achieve with 3 other products and/or tools that I likely have in my kit, anyhow.

Different story here. Normal brow regimen is always as follows: Pencil in areas of sparseness with pencil (Brow Wiz) Find where brows need to be defined and shaped. Using an angled brush, fill in with brow powder with a slight graduation in front. Use spooley tool to go back through, even hairs, and graduate any color. Finish with clear brow gel to hold in place Total steps: 5, Total products/tools used: 4

Here's what one can do with Dip Brow: Take the tiniest amount of product and apply to sparse areas with angled brow brush Find where brows need to be defined and shaped Using even less product than step 1, fill in brows in a sweep/blending technique, graduating from the front Done. Perfect brows, defined any way you want. Total steps: 3, Total products/tools used: 2

While it's brand new, something tells me since I've barely made a dent that it is also a bang for your buck.

Full Coverage Never Felt So Good.

I'll admit I don't NEED full coverage...but there are times where I want to dress up and look like the women in the 40's with their flawless polished pancake makeup skin. I'll admit that I still own Max Factor's Pan Cake Makeup but ever since using Cover Fx, I'm actually pretty grossed out by it. It's like reading Fast Food Nation after eating a delicious Big Mac.

That being said, you get an absolutely flawless finish from this and there's a shade for everyone. Being that I was a few steps away from the fairest tone, I was amazed by how wide the color variety is. It is very versatile and has the most buildable coverage of any foundation I've used. In fact, the real test was covering up my tattoo that covers about 1/2 my upper arm, which it passed with flying colors (no pun intended).

It's guilt free coverage. Whether you're going for a natural look to even your skintone, or for full coverage to cover well, anything, it never feels heavy or cakey and leaves your skin feeling supple and hydrated.

Basic. Classic. Perfection.

Call me a snob, but being both a makeup artist and enthusiast, it's hard to get excited over something so "basic". Granted, I BECAME a makeup artist because of the legend Kevyn Aucoin, but something with the color name "basic black" just didn't have me jumping out of my seat like some innovative technology that is the first on the market. But then I get to thinking...as innovative as say a mp3 format of music is, doesn't it just sound clearer and more raw when on the original vinyl?

Well, this is how I feel when trying Kevyn Aucoin's Basic Black Liner. It's the Beatles White Album on 180 gm vinyl of all liners. It just CAN'T GET ANY BETTER. Kevyn already did it. Sorry all other liners to ever exist after this one.

Not only is the application seamless, but the color is rich, but not overly thick to where it transfers in your crease. Having a hooded eyelid, myself, it is often times difficult to create a perfect cat eye. That's not the case with the fine pen tip of this liner. Other pen tips often move or smuge or end up balling at the end over time. This is pointed to such a precise elongated cone shape that it takes 4 strokes. One from the center of my eye to the outer corner, one to connect to the inner corner, and two to create a very fine outer edge. Lasts beyond an 8 hour day, yet I'm not pulling at my eyes to take it off at night.

Basic. Classic. Perfection.

Completely Wow-ed me by surprise

Call me a cynic but after trying 89732486329462398426394872398471894 eye creams, I pretty much knew this one would end up in the box with the others. But it was part of Indie Lee's Radiant Skin system so I thought I'd give it a shot.

I made sure to try it at night since I still have the haunting memory of walking to school on a windy day when I was about 14 years old (It's totally normal for a 14 year old to be dabbling in their mom's skincare, right?) and I walk into my first period science class only to be teased for looking like a raccoon with mascara and eyeliner smeared all around my eyes.

My first take on it was that it was super moisturizing, yet since it is a balm, my dry, thirsty, prematurely aging eye area did not immediately soak up the moisture benefits. I woke up and my eyes looked refreshed and skin glowing. Since I had ZERO (for me this is pretty miraculous) reaction I decided to test it out AM (knowing that since I work in the beauty industry there would be some makeup remover in the office if I arrived looking like a raccoon).

My take on it in the morning was even more amazing than the previous night. The glow remained, however for an extra bonus, after putting the balm on again, I noticed a light highlight from it so I patted it further into the temple and blended with my rms beauty Living Luminizer. It was the perfect lift! Loving this product!

So, youth horror stories aside, I can officially say I've fallen in love with not only an eye cream but a highlighter as well. Totally unexpectedly impressed!

Not your crunchy granola natural skincare line

Have you ever read the children's book If You Give A Mouse A Cookie? Well, my most recent Beautylish purchase went a little something like this:

So I'm out of my usual go-to serum and have heard such great things about Indie Lee so I decided to treat myself to the Swiss Apple Face Serum. Stem cells in an all natural skincare line?! I had to see (and feel) it for myself!

But, I'd also heard such amazing testimonials about the Squalene Facial Oil...and after reading Asmeet S.'s review of mixing the two together, I knew I had to try the full concoction.

I backed up a second thinking...ok, I'm starting to turn into "the mouse" in the story, BUT if I'm spending x amount of dollars for a new serum and oil, how am I going to know I'm fully benefiting without the CoQ-10 toner?

To be honest, I saw the cleanser and the eye balm as just bonuses initially but the cleanser leaves such an amazing clean feel behind without feeling tight at all. And the eye balm!!! I haven't been able to EVER use an eye cream in my life hence my lack of excitement initially but I can officially say I am an eye balm believer. (see my separate review for this bad boy as it was a pretty life changing event)

Moral of the story? You can stop at the cookie (or in this case facial serum) but it wouldn't be the same cookie without the milk etc.

NARS Orgasm Without The Glitter

This color is PERFECT for every skin tone. Gives a nice glow to the skin without being glittery and adds just a hint of color. I know that NARS Orgasm is everyone's favorite go-to but sometimes the glitter fall out can be intolerable. This is my new go-to!

The Brush That Does Everything

I've heard wonderful things about Billy's brushes and Jackie, like always, puts it best. A makeup artist will look at a brush, and immediately have the idea of how THEY would use it - which may not even necessarily be what it was made for. In this case, mascara of all things on a non-spooly brush! Genius, Billy! Only you!

But no - this brush goes beyond mascara application. It is probably the most multi-purpose brush I own. After playing around with it doing detailing work (great for darkening the outer corners of the eyes and smoking out the bottom lash line), I tried the mascara trick and was in awe. However, that is not the reason I had to share this review alone.

The real mind-blowing moment I had with this brush was when Beautylish launched the Inglot Gel Liner I had long awaited. However, DOH! I just remembered I had lost my favorite liner brush. A fellow Beautylish team member suggest Billy B Paintbrush 9. I thought, no way. This fellow Beautylisher also happens to have every perfect feature there could possibly be, so I just nodded with jealousy of her perfect lids and cat eyeliner and made a reminder to myself to pick up a new liner brush small enough for my awful hooded eyes.

Well, in the excitement of my new gel liner, I forgot to pick up the brush. Got home and unwrapped my new cult find liner, and looked at my Paintbrush 9 on my vanity. I thought - what the heck, I'm home for the evening, if I look like my already near non existent eyelid is black so be it - I'll bust out the coconut cream and a towel and pick up a brush tomorrow.

I was amazed at the ease of the brush. One stroke and I had the perfect defined line. There was no going back and forth between both eyes watching the line get larger and larger while trying to look even until the cat eye effect ends up at my brow - one stroke, and you're done. It's also great for tightlining the upper lash line for even more definition. Just tap it upwards and the rounded firm tip offers seamless application.

Definitely a treasure every MUA needs. I can't wait to find even more uses.