Beauty Product Reviews | Page 4

When I originally bought the Patchouli Moisture Shave, I purchased the little squeeze-tube, and a larger pump-top bottle which I thought was a corresponding moisturizer. Turns out, it was actually a larger sized shaving cream--which is cool and I will definitely use, but a little disappointing initially. So I went back out and bought this product. It's the exact same fresh, woody patchouli as the shave cream, but in a lotion.

the large size of this product is huge--16oz, for something like $12. I use this after shaving and sometimes just at night when my skin feels dry. Like the other moisturizers they make, it can apply streaky if you use too much or if your skin is not completely dry (wet from the shower, etc) before using. Not a big concern for me, since usually I'm just going to bed afterward.

This is also a great scent to sleep to. It's remarkably soothing and (for me, at least) very nostalgic. Also a cruelty-free and vegan product (they state clearly on the back of their products which are vegan).

I have been through countless shaving creams trying to find one that works for me. I have incredibly dry skin, especially on my legs, and it's difficult to shave without leaving ugly red marks or just cutting myself to pieces.

I picked up this product in Whole Foods while browsing their personal care section and thought it was worth a try. It's more of a lotion formula, which I thought was nice, since most of the shave products I've seen have been gels or foams. It goes on incredibly creamy--it doesn't really "lather" so much as it "expands" or "whips" to cover the surface. It allows the razor to glide smoothly over the surface of the skin, and still provides a moisturizing layer. Not sure if it affords the closest shave ever, but it's close enough that I feel smooth and moisturized without the awful burning, prickling, red, bumpy razor sores I'm used to getting with other products.

Additionally, I love this smell. It's not an in-your-face-dirty-hippie smell (which, face it, is what we're all used to with patchouli), but in fact a very soothing, deep woodsy smell. It does not give me a headache when the steamy shower amplifies it x10, and I like the scent it leaves on my skin. Fresh and clean, but still very natural. No laundry-detergent-scent here!

I purchased this in Whole Foods because I was out of my previous scented moisturizer and wanted something from a brand whose ethics I trusted. Kiss My Face is a cruelty-free company offering a lot of vegan products, and this is one of them.

Right off the bat, let me say I don't typically like peach-scented products. They smell perfumey and childish, and not at all like peaches. This is the exact opposite. If you've ever been to a produce stand or farmers' market and gotten up close to a basket of fresh peaches, this is exactly how it smells: fresh, ripe, juicy, and just a little bit earthy. As far as the formula goes, it's fairly thick. A dime-sized amount will do both my shoulders and decollete. If you use too much, it can leave a bit of a white film--it's not greasy, just streaky if over-applied. This sinks into my dry skin very quickly, and leaves my skin smelling great for hours: if I apply while getting dressed, I can still smell ripe peaches by 5PM, and get little whiffs of it through the evening.

Another product I ordered in hopes of matching or replacing my Bare Minerals products.

I purchased both the "sheer" and "shimmer" versions of this product. First, "sheer," really isn't entirely "sheer." It's sort of a neutral flesh-tone with a pink tone to it. It doesn't provide stand-alone coverage, so I guess in that sense it is "sheer," but it does deepen my foundation a bit. Not a problem while setting my Bare Minerals foundation, but with the ELF foundation, it makes it unwearably dark for me.

The shimmer, by contrast, is a white/yellow powder with definite sparkle to it. In the jar, you can detect very bright, very distinct sparkle. I was a little afraid, but after applying it found that the sparkle sort of diffuses into a light-reflecting glow. I like this, but find it more appropriate for occasions, not for every-day.

Applied with a large, fluffy complexion brush, it goes on smooth and sets mineral foundation very well. This is all I use it for, and for that purpose it's very effective. A large jar of booster is $8, which is very reasonable. If you use mineral veils, give it a shot--you probably won't find a better-performing alternative for the price.

I bought this in Blissful Blush while looking for nude/taupe/neutral liners, thinking I could use it on my waterline or lower lid. It's a pretty colour, though a little more brown than what I wanted.

Unfortunately, less than two hours after applying, I had big puddles of pinky-brown under my eyes. It actually startled me while passing by a mirror. I tried it again with a good deal of powder under my eyes, and it seemed to stop the running, but my eyes felt too dry and cakey.

Not sure if I'll really find a use for this, but considering the price, I'm not too broken up about it.

I started using Bare Minerals foundation and was extremely happy with it. However, at $25 a pop, I was curious to try a cheaper alternative. I've heard a lot about ELF, and thought this might be worth a shot. I ordered in "Fair," though I was worried it might be a little too light, and hoped for the best. I normally won't buy foundations sight-unseen since I'm a tough colour-match, but for $5, I won't be nit-picky.

This really isn't comparable to Bare Minerals at all. I know, I know, it's a fifth of the price, but! It really lacks coverage. Additionally, the "fair" colour has a distinct orange tone to it, and looks almost like a bronzer on my skin. I mentioned that I'm touch to match, but this was at least 1-2 shades darker than my skin. And it's the lightest shade they stock. Eek.

I'm going to hold onto it and try it again in the summer, though I really don't tan at all, but I also encountered a slight problem with breakouts while using this. I won't say this is what did it, because I was trying out a few other products at the same time, but as soon as I switched back to my Bare Minerals, the breakout calmed down. Just a coincidence, maybe, but a pretty striking one.

Exactly what pencil shadows should be!

I have to admit, I was extremely hesitant to try these out. I've always been intrigued by the idea of a pencil shadow, something to throw on and go for a no-fuss every-day look, but was always disappointed: most formulas are too wet, too slippery, fall right off the eye and collect in muddy puddles under my eyes.

I picked this product up in "Mercury," a deep pewter gray. The pencil point is sort of dull and round, so contact with the eye is smooth and painless (I have very sensitive eyes). It goes on cool and moist but dries down pretty quickly. It's extremely opaque and does not crease, though it doesn't hurt to keep your eyes as closed as possible while blending it out. --which brings me to the best point: these blend effortlessly, leaving no harsh lines where they've been applied. The finished look is no different than if it had been done with powder shadows. And when applied over a primer, these last all day with no trace of creasing.

I've since gone back and purchased "Clash," the bright turquoise blue. It applies and blends just as nicely, though it's a tiny bit more sheer than Mercury. Possibly because it's not a frosted shade, more of a solid blue with a silver micro-glitter.

Downsides? I'm not sure I have a sharpener big enough for this pencil. The Grindhouse sharpener from UD appears to fit, but I'm not sure I want to spend that sort of money for a sharpener. Also, I'd like to see more variety in shades, but for a brand-new product, it's off to an amazing start.

Precise liner, but stained my lids

I ordered this in Picnic Basket, which is exactly the dark forest green it appears to be on the site. It's a little more sheer than I'd like to see: when I applied it over my violet eyeshadow (from the Super Fun palette), it turned more to a murky brown-black than the green it swatches as. The tip is actually quite nice, and gives you the option to create a number of different line weights.

Just don't wear it for too long: I threw this on before work and then tried to remove it (using NARS eye makeup remover) and it had stained my eyelid where it had been applied. It faded by the next day, but it was still a little disconcerting.

Strange applicator, super-sticky

I was really surprised to find that this gloss is way more pigmented than the Sweet Gloss. Ordered in Smoothie (which is less the bright, sparkling lavender it appears on the Sephora site, and more a milky baby pink with subtle microglitter shimmer), I was utterly baffled by this packaging. It's a little like the Stila lip gloss pens, except where Stila uses a brush tip, this uses a rubber mouth-piece that seems to take off more gloss than it applies.

the formula itself is decent, well-pigmented like I said, but it has that same youthful berry scent that the rest of the products have. Unfortunately, this felt super sticky on my lips, and I felt like it caked a little in the corners of my mouth. It's not a horrible gloss, and if you find a colour you like (I'd suggest shopping in-store if available), go for it! Just not my favourite.

Super-sheer, sweet-smelling

I ordered this gloss in Grape Frosting, which appears to be a deep, dark plum with a bright microglitter shimmer. The Sephora swatches looked fairly well pigmented, but upon receiving and swatching it, it's more of a bright magenta pink. Good thing I ordered this in such a dark colour, or I don't know if I'd have noticed much pigmentation at all!

Like all the Hello Kitty products, this has a super-sweet berry scent that reminds me a little too much of a perfume I wore when I was 14. It's not terribly long-lasting, so it shouldn't be that much of a nuisance, but it's very powerful in the tube!