Beauty Product Reviews | Page 2

Excellent

I use two products on my lips for healing and moisture: By Terry Baume de Rose and Jouer Lip Enhancer. I came across this product in an effort to find something I could travel with that worked similar to the Baume de Rose, but easy to apply without using fingers, and I had to have something that created the same gorgeous look as the By Terry. This is it. It's not quite as emollient, but it's just enough to protect the lips, and keep them from drying and peeling. I love the texture-not sticky or too slippery, it doesn't smell or taste bad, and the translucent light pink just gives a gorgeous healthy look. I've used it for years. So long in fact that I worry it will fall out of the line since Jouer has became more of an Instaglam brand. I hope they keep it. It's a repeat purchase for me and a staple in my routine.

My Favorite Moisturizing Mask

I've used the Black Rose mask for several years now. It works very well for me as a long time Retinol/Tretinoin user. It does not burn my skin, and it helps to plump up little fine lines, and leaves my skin super soft and supple. I do leave it on for longer than recommended and it always performs.

Not what I expected

I could not make this product work for my hair type: fine texture, lots of hair, straight/no waves or curl pattern. It didn't reactivate any product in my hair to help reform loose heat styled curls. When I gave up on this supposed benefit I went into just using it as a heat styling spray on 2nd day hair. After releasing the hair from my curling iron it caused my hair to become "crunchy." This product added weight and an unwanted crispy texture. Maybe it works better on permed or naturally curly hair? I currently cocktail two different products together to reactivate heat styled curls in 2nd and 3rd day hair. I really wanted this to be a one product solution for that purpose. I wouldn't use this even as my heat protectant on fresh hair.

Unremarkable Setting Powder

Charlotte Tilbury is the saleswoman of the century. After watching any video with her I want everything she uses on the models faces. I've also suffered some of the biggest buyers remorse over her products: Magic Cream, Instant Look Palettes, Eyeshadow quads, Mini Miracle Eye Wand, Lip Cheats. It's not that she produces inferior products. She just hypes them up to a point that many of them just don't live up to the promises, or the price points. The Genius Magic Powder (fair shade) has been added to my growing list of underwhelmed CT products. It definitely has a silky fine consistency, but that's where I run out of good things to say. I thought the pinkness of the color in Fair would lend a brightness to my skin. It did not. If you saturate your finger in the powder and rub it into the skin you will see a slight glow, but merely dusting this onto the face produces zero glow and the finish falls extremely flat. A thick application to try and get the glow produces an unwanted powdery chalk like result and you can tell you have powder on your face. The pore blurring is just not up to par with other powders on the market now, and the promised radiance just never happened until I added the glow portion of my Filmstar bronze and glow. The bitter icing on this cake was that the product made my skin feel like it was pulling tight. It was uncomfortable for me to wear it. I never have that issue with any powder I've used in the last 20 years. It does do a good job of controlling oil, but this one small benefit did not outweigh the other cons. It also smells bad-like earthy clay but worse. I adore Charlotte. She just has a way about her that makes you want to be buds. But I have to remind myself her sales techniques, though advanced, (she knows the buttons to push) and the names that feed into our self conscious like GENIUS MAGIC powder creating instant need are all in place to sell her products. Will I continue to purchase her stuff. Absolutely! She is what is missing from the shopping experience that has turned so boring and terrible over the last 10 years in the retail world. But I'm no longer keeping things that don't hold up to her promises. This one is going back to Beautylish.

Cheap Price. Cheaper Results.

I have used Indie’s Squalane for two years now. I thought I would try to save money by giving the Ordinary Squalane a try. Not even close to the results I got with Indie Lee’s product. My skin started getting that tight feeling on the same day I switched. By the end of the week I had to wonder what I was even putting on my face it was different. This didn’t even absorb as nicely. And both are Squalane. This is not a good economical alternative all. At least I’m only out $8.

Better as a Temporary Solution

This does not provide enough moisture for my skin. I can't figure out how to make it work for me. No matter what I do, it leaves a greasy layer on the top of my face, and I am someone who actually prefers a natural shine, instead of a powder matte finish. I'm not anti shine. So when I say greasy, I mean it. It also burns if it gets in your eyes, and it is loaded down with fragrance. It does nothing magical for my skin or my finished makeup look. The only thing I can think of is that I have taken very good care of my skin through the years, with a multi product approach, and good quality products to boot. It takes a lot to win me over because of this. Maybe this would be magic (temporary solution) for someone who hasn't been as kind to their skin? Definitely a purchase I regret. I still love many of CT's products, and I adore her in general. This was a big miss for me.

Gold Standard

I have taken this in multiple times to have my manicurist substitute it as my top coat over her OPI. It doesn't just dry fast, it keeps my mani from getting the dreaded fade marks on the tips between services. Super high shine is gorgeous and lasts. For acrylic nails, it's the best I've found. I've used it during times my nails have been natural with excellent results. Seche Vite has stood the test of time. I've been loyal for almost 20 years, pairing it with most every brand of polish on the market for consumers, and licensed pros. Word of advice: Buy the thinner to go with it. It thickens in the bottle quicker than most other formulas. The thinner remedies this easily without compromising the integrity of the formula. Store it out of light inside a cabinet or a drawer. Get a system down when applying. Less is more. Try to work toward a two stroke max, as the more you work with it, the more difficult it can get because it is designed to dry quickly. Get in, and get out. You will love it once you make it past the learning curve of application.

Love it so much it bleeds for me...

I own two 00's formerly known as the Holiday Brush. I purchased the first when it was launched almost two years (over?) ago and then grabbed the second one up when they anniversaried and offered it again a year later. For powder face products it is my go to (personal use). Even though the brush head is larger I find I can use it for blush in a bind because of the tapered tip. I apply my powder and bronzer with this brush each day. Now that I have had it for quite some time I wanted to put down this review because while it is one of my top 3, it is not without its issues. Both brushes are very delicate hair-wise. These don't hold up well to slapping back and forth on brush soap. Shampoo them gently with your fingertips lest you will find little pieces breaking off. Both of my brushes are also the black and they bleed quite a lot with each shampoo. Be aware of this and keep it away from linens while you are moving it around wet and also when laying it or hanging to dry. I've tried many different brush shampoo products and nothing stops the bleeding. I even tried my Pureology hair shampoo. Another thing I would like to mention, and if you own Goss brushes you already know this, but the handle is not quite as long as say a pro brush. It's perfect for personal usage, but if you are an artist looking to purchase for use on clients just know you won't have that long pro handle. Not really a deal breaker. It is balanced beautifully so you can still use it on other people, but if you are like me and like to pull back on the brush with your hand placement you may find it a tad annoying. Still a great brush for personal use for someone who is meticulous and takes good care of their tools.

Smoky Eye Staple

I had been on the hunt for a messy cream black shadow and this fits the bill. Karma is a deep shade of black mixed in with a beautiful oily roasted coffee bean. The combo makes it easier to get away with and it has a multifaceted sort of color shift in the light. Longevity is weak, pack this baby in your wristlet for touch ups. It will crease. And, it kind of moves around. With that said. all of the above work very well if you are going for that devil may care, I just rolled out of bed look. The best part is actually layering it under shimmery or mineral type shadows. The color makes for a gorgeous priming base and sets the stage for the most gorgeous smoky eye of your life.

Needs another name...

First, Kevyn Aucoin Beauty, I am a fan. One of the few lines that pretty much hits a home run with every release. But I have to be honest, with the Neo Setting Powder I felt a bit duped. I thought there would be a gradient shade range no shimmer to full shimmer. Instead I got a highlighter with a major overspray of super highlighter. Once the overspray has been touched you are left with a pearl white highlighting pressed powder. It is definitely pretty; longevity is good and the product layers well. I would have skipped this purchase had I known the full details.