Beauty Product Reviews | Page 2
Plumping Version - Definitely has improved my lashes!
Given all the hype surrounding this product, my curiosity got the better of me, and I decided I needed to see what the big deal was with this product. I am so glad I did!
The brush of Revlon's Grow Luscious Mascara is long, and tapered, so it's easy to get the inner and outer lashes, as well as the lower lashes, without making mistakes. The formula is a bit on the wet side, but not so much that it weighs down my lashes or takes longer to dry. The black shade does a wonderful job of coating my lashes in rich, black color.
Revlon's Grow Luscious Mascara doesn't clump, flake, or smudge throughout the day and night, and isn't difficult to remove. It does a fantastic job of lengthening and separating my lashes, while filling them in for a bit of added volume. I would not say this is a "volumizing mascara", but I will say the Plumping version definitely does help your lashes become fuller!
My lashes were short, thin, and spaced out prior to using this product. I had tried L'Oreal's makeup remover (green bottle), and had some result, but I have really noticed a difference since using Revlon's Grow Luscious Mascara. I'm a skeptic, and with all of these lash-enhancing products on the market, I really wasn't expecting this one to perform, but it does!
My lashes are longer and fuller since having used Revlon's Grow Luscious Mascara. I am so pleased with the results, not only with how it wears as a mascara, but with how my lashes look on their own thanks to this mascara. I highly recommend Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara if you're looking for a great day-to-day mascara, but especially if you're looking to enhance your lashes!
Not a Fan.
Burt's Bees' Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream definitely moisturizes the cuticles, but leaves a semi-greasy feel that doesn't absorb into the skin (like LUSH's Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter does). But, before I get further into the product, let me first complain about the packaging.
The tin is a pain in the rear to open. I have to leave the lid ajar to be able to get it off, because if I put it back on as it should be, I can't get it open again. I've almost broken nails trying to pry the lid off the tin, and even watched as my fiance struggled to get the darn thing off. We've had to use scissors and knives to get into this sucker!
That aside, the lemon fragrance is very strong, and it lingers, so if you're sensitive to certain fragrances, I would steer clear of this. I think its compact-size makes for great portability (keep it in your bag, pocket, suitcase, etc.), but it's messy, smells, and you can barely even open it.
A dear friend sent this to me to try, and I thank her, but I definitely would not spend my money on this product.
Great for Body Wash, Not So Great for Bubble Baths.
I have two of Philosophy's 3-in-1's, one of which is Cinnamon Buns. The fragrance really does smell of homemade cinnamon buns! It's not strong, and doesn't linger on the skin, so it won't compete with any perfumes/body sprays you use after showering.
Cinnamon Buns' lather isn't very bubbly - not like some other body washes/bubble baths can be. It does lather, but nothing I'd call "rich". As a body wash, it leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturized. As a bubble bath, the bubbles don't reach anything higher than a fizz, and they dissipate almost instantly, so I definitely don't recommend it for that purpose. I haven't tried Cinnamon Buns as a shampoo because my hair is color-treated, so I can't report on its performance there.
All in all, Philosophy's Cinnamon Buns 3-in-1 is a yummy scent, and works wonderfully as a body wash, but I wouldn't repurchase. While you're only paying $1.00 per ounce, $16 for a cinnamon buns-scented body wash that doesn't do anything special seems like a waste to me.
Great for Body Wash, Not So Great for Bubble Baths.
I have two of Philosophy's 3-in-1's, one of which is Vanilla Birthday Cake. The fragrance really does smell of vanilla and that traditional cake-mix-scent we all know and love. It's not strong, and doesn't linger on the skin, so it won't compete with any perfumes/body sprays you use after showering.
Vanilla Birthday Cake's lather isn't very bubbly - not like some other body washes/bubble baths can be. It does lather, but nothing I'd call "rich". As a body wash, it leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturized. As a bubble bath, the bubbles don't reach anything higher than a fizz, and they dissipate almost instantly, so I definitely don't recommend it for that purpose. I haven't tried Vanilla Birthday Cake as a shampoo because my hair is color-treated, so I can't report on its performance there.
All in all, Philosophy's Vanilla Birthday Cake 3-in-1 is a lovely scent, and works wonderfully as a body wash, but I really don't think it's anything worth purchasing. While you're only paying $1.00 per ounce, $16 for a vanilla cake-scented body wash that doesn't do anything special seems like a waste to me. I received my particular bottle as my free birthday gift from Sephora. I likely wouldn't have purchased it otherwise.
Limited Edition JulieG Collection
Mermaid's Lagoon - Turquoise blue with fine gold shimmer. Stiletto - Taupe with fine silver shimmer. Party Dress - Red (leans a touch orange) cream.
Both "Mermaid's Lagoon" and "Stiletto" required two coats for opaque and even coverage, but "Party Dress" only required one! The formula of all three was a bit thick, though not difficult to work with, and the polish didn't run on the nail. I really like the brush on Jesse's Girl High Intensity Nail Colors - I find them very easy to work with and they do a great job of distributing the polish precisely and evenly. All three polishes dried about average at/around five minutes.
In the bottle, "Mermaid's Lagoon" has a gorgeous sheen, which is due to the fine gold shimmer throughout. The shimmer is most noticeable on the nail when in natural sunlight, though it doesn't give the same sheen you see in the bottle. This is quite the unique color (in my opinion). There are many teals and turquoises on the market, but in my personal collection, "Mermaid's Lagoon" is one-of-a-kind.
"Stiletto" also has a sheen in the bottle, but its sheen is silver. In "Stiletto"'s case, the shimmer is noticeable indoors, though it's at its best when in natural sunlight. This particular taupe is on the brown side, but thanks to the shimmer, it's not your regular run-of-the-mill taupe.
"Party Dress" is probably my favorite of the three (gasp!, I know) primarily due to its opaqueness, but also because it's an interesting red. "Party Dress" isn't that loud, traditional red - it leans a touch orange, so it's softer and can compliment a number of skin tones, age groups and outfits. You can wear this to school or the office without looking "over-done", then comfortably transition to an evening out!
"Mermaid's Lagoon", "Stiletto" and "Party Dress" are top notch, and Julie did a fantastic job coming up with interesting colors with cute names. After having tried these three, I may purchase a few more! Of the three I own, "Party Dress" is my most favorite, though I love all three.
Good Pigmentation, Bad Wear & Odd Color Combo
"Tropical Fusion" is designed to make your eye look go from day to night, and contains a rich cobalt blue, teal blue, peachy-orange and yellow-green. My particular "Tropical Fusion" was very sloppily put-together, with the pans laying crooked, sunken in or raised more than the nearby pans. Aside from that obvious detail, the shadows are packaged in a traditional compact with a blue base and clear lid. The included sponge applicator is a COVERGIRL norm, with an angled end and a wider end, which is nice for getting into the corner of the eye and crease, and for packing on color.
Each of the shades in "Tropical Fusion" were nicely pigmented, applying true-to-pan and blending easily. Some of the shades are patchier than others (cobalt blue and yellow-green), though none of the shades were chalky and there was little fallout.
While the shadows did apply true-to-pan, they didn't wear well throughout the day and night. By the time evening rolled around (8 hours later), the shades were looking very faded and slightly ashy. For example, the teal shade was used in my crease and by nighttime, appeared grey. While they didn't crease, the color payoff doesn't last.
Another tidbit worth noting is it may be difficult to decide on a color combination within "Tropical Fusion", especially if you're looking for a more wearable combination (i.e. office and school-appropriate). Personally, I feel the best two shades in the quad are the cobalt blue and teal blue - they're the best performers in regards to color payoff and pair well together.
"Tropical Fusion" offers a nice combination of fun, bright shades, and is great if you're looking for this sort of combination within one palette. However, as I mentioned, I found it hard to come up with color combinations within this palette, especially since the yellow-green is too light for anything other than a highlight.
Little Black Dress
I couldn't find a flaw with this eyeliner. The pigmentation is superb, it precisely applies color and it's just wet enough to get the job done without bleeding or taking a while to dry. It isn't the smoothest at going from one end of the eye to the other (it drags that way), but short, small strokes is the way to go with liquid liner anyway (usually).
"Little Black Dress" lasted all day and night without smudging or fading, and when I went to remove it 12+ hours later, it looked exactly as it did when I first applied. Though it is waterproof, I had no difficulties removing this eyeliner with a makeup removing cleanser.
I simply love Hard Candy's Stroke of Gorgeous Felt Tip Eyeliner in "Little Black Dress"! Whether you're applying a simple, black line, wing, or dramatic cat-eye, "Little Black Dress" will get the job done perfectly. Also, since it's a felt tip pen, it's easier for beginners or those not-as-skilled to apply without making mistakes. This liner is a must-try!
Best Foundation for Oily Skin EVER!
Seriously, this product kicks butt and takes names. This is the only foundation I have ever used that has kept my skin matte and gorgeous for well over 10 hours. Its consistency isn't runny, but isn't thick either - it's the perfect consistency to get out of the bottle with ease, and allows you enough time to properly distribute on your face before drying. Double Wear provides medium, buildable coverage, with a natural, semi-matte finish. It's very lightweight and sets itself, so you don't have to use a setting powder.
I am amazed at how well this foundation holds up throughout the day and night, in extreme summer heat and over oily skin! This foundation does not rub off, slip or smudge in the least, yet isn't difficult to remove with a makeup remover/cleanser. My skin has not broken out from use of this product.
Double Wear is a must-have for ladies who have oily skin and suffer from foundation melt-down! Though, Double Wear is good for anyone who is looking for a long-wearing, natural-looking foundation that covers well and is available in a wide array of shades. I really cannot rave enough about this foundation. I'm amazed! It's definitely a bit pricey, since it's high-end, but you really are paying for quality here, folks. I recommend going to your local Estée Lauder counter and request a sample. They'll match you to a shade and your sample will last 10-14 days, so you can see the results for yourself!
It's good, but I didn't get like-falsies results.
Everyone has sworn by this mascara, but it didn't perform that well for me. I love the brush with the rounded tip bristles (to reach the little inner lashes) and the formula is just right - not too wet, not too dry. I don't normally like rubberized wands, but this one doesn't give me any trouble. It's also not difficult to apply product to my lower lashes (tip: use the tip of the wand to apply color to your lower lashes!).
The color is a perfect rich black, which coats my lashes instantly in color that stays put all day and night, without smudging or flaking. However, the only result I saw was length and maybe a touch of volume (and that's being generous). I did not get the lift and volume this product claimed to provide and, despite it's claim to help maintain/create curl, it actually pulled the curl from my lashes. Also, when applying two coats, you can get a spidery look if you're not careful.
In conclusion, I like this mascara (don't get me wrong), but I don't love it. I wish it provided a bit more volume and didn't pull the curl from my lashes. Otherwise. it's fabulous! Great color, length and long-lasting results. It isn't a pain to remove either.
Like it, but don't love it.
I love the texture of Yes to Blueberries Intensive Skin Repair Serum, as it's lightweight, absorbs quickly and doesn't leave behind any residue. BUT, I couldn't get past the smell. I'm sure it's because there aren't any additives to mask it, but the product's fragrance actually gave me headaches. I used it for about 14 days before I had to stop. It's a shame because, aside from the smell, I was pretty pleased with this product.