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Yay, I was so excited when I got home and there was a package waiting for me, don't you just love when that happens?
And what was inside, you ask? (lol, you can probably already guess because of the title, but I like to add a little suspense :P)
The new Cover Girl Lashblast Fusion mascara that I had mentioned in my previous post! Yay! I had gone ahead and pre-ordered it on Cover Girl's Facebook pre-sale that they had going on
Remember awhile back I told you how I purchased the Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge? Well here is a picture of what it looks like to refresh your memories:
This sponge is a cheaper version of the infamous Beauty Blender sponge. For those of you who don't know what that is, here is a picture:
Ever since I heard about Hard Candy being at Wal Mart I have not been able to stop looking at the products! Every time I go I always want to pick up something from their line. However, I currently only own four of their products, but will probably be purchasing more in the future.
Here are the products I own:
I actually wasn't planning on doing a product review yet, and if I had been, then there would have been other products I would review first, but seeing how much some of you girls are interested in this product and have done posts about them (see FacesbySarah and AdoreBeauty's posts) I thought I would review these for you :)
Okay, so first of all you'll notice that the packaging is different here than in other places. I'm not sure why companies do that? Anyways, I actually really like this packaging, it looks really sleek and I like how the cover gives you an indication as to what shade is inside.
Okay, so in a previous post I mentioned how excited I was to try this since I have been looking for a new face primer.
To refresh your memory in case you missed my previous post, this is the product that I am reviewing
So I have finally tried it out....and I hate it!
Okay, hate is a strong word, but I am seriously disappointed in this. Why? Let me count the ways:
1.) The price. It's about $12.99 which is kinda expensive for a drugstore brand, and you only get 0.5 oz of product.
2.) It's in a jar. How unpractical is that?
3.) The texture. At first I was excited because I thought it would have a smooth creamy consistency. Boy was I wrong. This stuff feels like...mashed potatoes. Seriously. And not even creamy mashed potatoes, but extremely thick and grainy mashed potatoes. Yeah, gross huh? Now just imagine rubbing that across your face!
4.) This claims to hide your pores and banish imperfections...which it did neither. Instead, it made me feel like I had a thick, sticky, potatoey mess on my face, which didn't do anything to help my makeup go on smoother at all.
Rating: 1/5
Pros: um....it's pink?
Cons: Well first off, it's in a jar, which isn't very practical; it's thick, grainy, and makes you feel like you're wearing potatoes on your face; it's too expensive for the quality of product and you barely even get any product; and it doesn't do anything to help your skin look better or your makeup go on smoother
Man I was so disappointed in this, which is weird because I usually love Loreal products. I hated this so much that I took it back, which is pretty serious for me because I hardly ever return something, even if I don't like it that much. I was curious to try their new colored bases, but after this experience I' m kind of hesitant to. We'll see.
And now I can't eat mashed potatoes anymore...:P
Just kidding about the last part :)
Note: this is my own personal opinion and should not deter you from making your own judgements of this product. Products work differently for everyone, so if you feel the need to buy this product, don't let my own experience halt you from experimenting for yourself. And this product was purchased with my own money :P
I have heard so much about this face mask that I wanted to try it, and I finally got it a couple weeks ago and tried it out. What's the verdict?
I love it!
Here are some pics of me with the mask on for your viewing pleasure! Haha, I look like I should have rollers and a bathrobe on! Only for you guys would I let you see me like this! :P
Okay, you can stop laughing now!
See? Clean face! Now off to bed :)
(I look crossed eyed or something!)
Rating: 4/5
Pros: Refreshing, goes on smoothly, non drying, face feels very clean and smooth afterwards
Cons: twist off cap, hardens a lot! you can barely move your face!
Would I repurchase? Sure, it's really nice, plus inexpensive!
Okay, I know I just subjected you guys to a product review, but since I am still sick and my face looks as gross as I feel, this was the only thing I could come up with at the moment that didn't required me showing my hideousness (?Another made up word?)
Anyways, I forgot where I first heard about these lipsticks, but ever since then I have been on the lookout for them, and the other day I found them at Walgreens (I think?) for like 75% off, or something ridiculous like that, so I got it for only $1.99! Too bad I was in a hurry or else I probably would've gotten more...
I like the packaging, it's simple and sleek, and I like how the top is clear so you can see what color is inside
The shade I got was #006 Really Red, and boy is it!
(please excuse the horrendous nails, I promise I will paint them soon!)
Now I know most of you are thinking this is a bit bright to wear on a daily basis, which it is, but I like to have a bold red lip now and then...plus I am planning on doing a Valentine's Look with it
Here's a swatch to hold you over until then :)
Now I haven't really worn this long enough to comment on it's staying power, but it definitely has good pigmentation, and there is no shine whatsoever. The formula does seem like it could be a bit drying however, so for those of you who have chapped lips, I'd recommend wearing some chapstick or lip balm underneath.
Rating: 4/5
Pros: great pigmentation, matte, goes on smoothly, sleek packaging and able to see the real color inside
Cons: can probably be drying, the top of the tube is really hard to get off for some reason!
Would I repurchase? Probably! Especially if they're on sale again ;P
Okay, I know I just did a mascara review a couple of days ago, but I just have to rave about this mascara! I purchased this after returning the Covergirl Lashblast Length and I am sooo glad I did!
The packaging is kind of funky, it's made to look like a telescope, hence the name I presume? When you first pull the wand out of the tube, it's a little awkward because there is actually a ring around the inside of the top that combs any excess mascara off the wand. Although it makes it a little difficult to put the wand back inside, it's not enough to deter me in any way, and it's actually very useful instead of having to wipe off the excess on the rim, which I hate doing!
At first glance I was a little worried because the wand is pretty much the same as the Lashblast Length brush, and also the Hard Candy mascara brush that I reviewed previously and hated! But not to worry, because this brush is sooo much better! It really makes the mascara glide on effortlessly and defines and lengthens with just a few coats, and all without clumping. It also reaches the inner corner where my tiny lashes are that I can never get to.
Before shot (and for those of you who say I have perfect eyebrows, this obviously is not the case!)
After 2 coats (I had to fix my eyebrows, they looked horrible)
After a couple more coats:
I love Loreal mascaras! I am always satisfied with them.
Rating: 5/5, one of my new favorites!
Pros: Lengthens, defines, no clumping, packaging
Cons: The brush is kind of flimsy so be careful when putting back in the tube
Would I repurchase? Definintely! This was definitely worth the wait!
I have been using Covergirl's Lashblast for a little while now so I thought I should probably do a review. Since I ended up loving it, I couldn't resist getting the Lashblast length as well, since I figured that it would work just as well as the original, plus my other lengthening mascara is pretty much gone.
Obviously, the two are very different in size. The regular one is very fat! It actually took awhile to get used to holding the brush because the handle is so big! I like the Lashblast Length's packaging, I tend to like slimmer designs when it comes to mascaras. I like the fact that the packaging of both are very bright, it makes it easier to spot them in my cluttered makeup drawer :)
First I will review the original Lashblast. Like I said, the package is very wide and round, which can be kind of difficult to handle in the beginning.
So what do I think of this mascara? I LOVE it! Seriously! It makes my lashes look so much fuller and darker, and even though it is a volumizing mascara, it does actually lengthen my lashes too, not to extreme lengths or anything, but better than other volumizing mascaras I've tried. I think one of the best things about though is the fact that it doesn't clump whatsoever! You can apply like twenty layers and it still doesn't get clumpy!
Before:
After 2 coats:
And after like 10 coats!:
Rating: 5/5! This definitely is one of the best mascaras I've found so far!
Pros: Volumizing, clump free, lengthening
Cons: The only con I can think of is the packaging and the applicator being so bulky. But once you get used to it, it's no problem.
Would I repurchase? Definitely!!!
Now onto the Lashblast Length! I figured since I loved the original so much, this one had to be just as good.. Uh, wrong! I was so disappointed in this! And it actually took me forever to decide between this one and a different mascara ( I think it was Loreal's Telescopic mascara). I even read really good reviews about this one too :(
The tube is a lot skinnier than the original
Before:
After 2 coats:
After about 10 coats:
It did lengthen my lashes somewhat, but just barely, the original formula lengthened about as much as this one, if not more. It definitely didn't do as good a job as my Maybelline XXL Extensions mascara. And the brush is really tiny and didn't hold onto any product at all, I had to pump the wand up and down in the tube like twenty times and it still barely held onto any formula.
Rating: 3/5! I was really disappointed in this! :(
Pros: Skinny packaging, no clumping
Cons: Formula doesn't do anything, applicator is too small and doesn't hold onto any formula
Would I repurchase? I really don't think so!
Biore has recently come out with a new line of skincare products, Skin Preservation, aimed at those who are no longer in the teenage acne phase, but hasn't quite reached the age where it's time for wrinkle cream. I have been looking for new products to try out and their Microderm Exfoliater was just what I was looking for. My skin is really dry and uneven, with patches of redness, and I am constantly on the lookout for products that will reduce any of these problems. This is the description of the Microderm Exfoliater, taken directly from the Biore website:
"Even Smoother® Microderm Exfoliator features the same ultrafine alumina crystals that are used in microdermabrasion, a process aestheticians use to help skin look radiant and smooth. Skin-conditioning Shea Butter and calming White Tea Extract are on hand to help soothe skin, with the result that it feels beautiful – not irritated.
Water, alumina, glycerin, propylene glycol dicaprate, cetearyl alcohol, PEG-12 dimethicone, caprylic/capric triglyceride, arachidyl alcohol, trilaureth-4 phosphate, cetyl-PG hydroxyethyl palmitamide, camellia sinensis leaf extract, nymphaea coerulea flower extract, melissa officinalis leaf extract, hordeum distichon (barley) extract, disodium rutinyl disulfate, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), behenyl alcohol, cetearyl glucoside, arachidyl glucoside, acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, propylene glycol, sodium hydroxide, DMDM hydantoin, methylparaben, propylparaben, fragrance."
This product claims to remove rough, dull surface cells so that new cells can emerge, giving you brighter, softer, more even toned skin.
So did this product live up to its claims?
I would say for the most part, yes. It made my skin feel cleaner, softer, and got rid of my dry patches. After applying moisturizer, my skin felt smooth and clean. I have only been using this product for about a week, so I haven't noticed any reduction of redness or a more even skintone yet, but I like it so far, and hopefully the more I use it, the more results I'll see. I definitely like it better than Oil of Olay's Regenerist Microdermabrasion & Peel System. While I liked how this one made my skin feel after using it, it was kind of harsh on my skin when applying it, the crystals felt warm and soothing and had a nice orangey smell, but when I added the activator serum, it felt like it was burning my skin! Also, it was a lot messier to use because it's a two step system and you have to apply two different products which can get kind of messy. I like the Biore one because it's in an easy squeeze tube, and its a one step process which saves time and doesn't burn my skin.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this product to anyone who is looking for smoother, softer skin!
So I finally got to play around with my new Sephora haul products and here are my reviews (sorry the post is so long, but I wanted to be thorough with my reviews! I hope you don't get bored!)
1. MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Foundation
I think I am in love! This foundation definitely lives up to its reputation. First of all, it actually matches my skintone, which is always a problem for me. Second, the formula is great, it glides on smoothly and blends in evenly, leaving my skin with a soft focus effect. It has medium to full coverage, and lasts a pretty long time as well, I even took a nap with it on and when I woke up my skin still looked great (although my hair didn't :P ) It comes with a pump dispenser, which is much more sanitary and convenient. The only downside I can see is the price, it costs $40 as opposed to my MAC Studio Fix Fluid foundation that costs about $26 for the same amount of product (30ml), but for the quality, I would definitely say it's worth it. Overall, I would definitely recommend this product!
2. MAKE UP FOR EVER HD POWDER
I really like this powder as well. I only got a small sample size to test it out, but it seems like it will last me for awhile because you don't need a whole lot to make your skin look good. The particles are very finely milled and blend in evenly, making your skin look smooth and matte. I used the Philosophy Supernatural Airbrush that I got to buff it in after my foundation and my skin looked great! I applied a couple layers to see if it would end up looking cakey, which it didn't, however, it did seem to make me look a little paler. But you do not need to use a whole lot, so I wouldn't worry about that part. I will probably repurchase this after I run out, I really like it a lot!
3. Benefit's Posietint
I have been wanting to try the original Benetint forever, but somehow I always end up forgetting about it, so when I saw that this kit had Posietint, I figured it was the next best thing. If you don't know what Benetint or Posietint are, they are liquid gel stains that you can use on your cheeks or lips to give you a nice natural flush of color. The applicator was similiar to a nail polish applicator, and the formula is very bright pink, like Barbie colored. It can be a bit intimidating to some, but it actually is very sheer. I actually am not overly fond of this product, it was actually a little too sheer, although you can build up layers for more color, and it made my cheeks feel kinda sticky afterwards. I don't know if it is the exact same formula as the original Benetint ( I hope not! ) but I probably will not be repurchasing this in the future.
4. Benefit's High Beam Complexion Enhancer
Omg, I am in love with this product too! Unlike some highlighters which contain too much glitter or shimmer particles, this highlighter is a pale pearl pink which gives your skin a nice glow without making you look like a disco ball. It's creamy liquidy consistency blends in evenly and enhances your cheekbones, browbones, or wherever else you want to highlight. I can see now why it's a favorite among celebrities and makeup artists. This one's a keeper!
5. Benefit's "That Gal" Brightening Face Primer
I have mentioned this stuff in previous posts, but to recap, I really like this stuff as well. It comes out pink but blends into all skintones and makes your face brighter and glowy looking, even when wearing foundation on top. I don't know if I would use it everyday though, I would probably save it for a special occasion where you needed an extra glow, because the original price is about $28 for 11ml, which doesn't seem to be a whole lot of product to me. But I do like this product and would recommend it.
Here are swatches of all three products,left is That Gal, middle is High Beam, and right is Posietint
6. Philosophy Supernatural Airbrush
I was a little undecided between this brush and the Sephora Platinum Professional Airbrush #55, they both got great reviews, but in the end decided to go with this one because it was cheaper (I told you I do that! :P) The head is actually a lot smaller than I thought it would be, the bristles are probably only a 1/2" in length, and are semi-stiff. I really like this brush, it took a little bit to get used to after using a flat foundation brush, but it actually works really well at buffing in my foundation, and being so small works great around my nose. This brush, combined with the HD foundation and powder, made my skin look flawless! I'm really glad I bought this :)
7. Korres Eyeshadow in Silver
This was one of the items I got on sale and they only had like two shades left, so even though I already have a bunch of silver shadows, I decided to go for it anyways. The compact is very tiny, but cute, although I think it would have been cool if it had a tiny mirror inside. The color is very pretty and shimmery, but it actually doesn't go on very well. I had to use a sponge tip applicator to apply it and needed several layers for it to look even, and when I tried blending it, it didn't blend very well. I probably won't buy this again, but I will still use it (waste not, want not, right?)
8. Sephora for OPI nailpolish in Skinny Jeans
I was actually disappointed in the color when I got it, it looked totally different than what it looked like on the Sephora website. Although in the picture it looks more blue, in real life it is actually more turquise looking and very iridescent. I still like the color however, and the polish goes on very smoothly and evenly. Mine is already chipping, but I think it's because I cleaned the crap out of my house today and did a zillion dishes, so that probably didn't help the polish. They had a great selection of colors which made it very difficult for me to choose one, but I would definitely purchase this again (hopefully it will be the color I want )
Whew! So that is it for the reviews, I also tried some of the samples, but I think it's too soon to review any of them since they are facial products that need time for results to show. I will leave you with my FOTD in which I used all the products in this review, plus my Loreal Extra Volume Collagen mascara, Sonia Kashuk gel liner, and some beige shimmery shadow from my e.l.f. makeup kit. I forgot to put anything on my lips though :)
Hope you enjoyed the reviews and thanks for reading!
I finally got to play around with some of the makeup I got. For the most part I am pretty happy with everything, especially for paying so little and getting so much. I love the large makeup kit, I know I will be having a lot of fun with the eyeshadows and creating different looks. So the first thing I want to talk about is the Eye Transformer palette. It consists of four pale shades: a light sea green, a pale yellow, pale baby pink, and a light baby blue. These shadows are great to wear for a sheer wash of iridescent color, or you can take it the next level and transform your darker shadows into new shades. Below is a picture of the four shades that I layered over plain black eyeshadow:
On top are the four shades by themselves. Pretty cool, right? They look soo pretty over the black shadow!
Next is a swatch of the bronzer compact I got in Golden:
These are very pretty and very shimmery, the lightest color makes a great highlighter! (Sorry my arm looks kinda gross in the pics, I don't know what's up with my camera lately!)
I didn't want to swatch all the colors in the eyeshadow kit, so I just did a few that I really liked:
I really like all the colors in this kit. They are pretty much all shimmery, some more than others, and there are a few shades that are just repeated in darker hues, but overall they are all really nice and pretty pigmented.
There are four bronzers in the kit:
Once again, they are pretty shimmery (ok for the sake of repeating myself, let's just assume everything is shimmery unless otherwise stated :) )
Six blushes:
I love the bright pink one and the orangey-peachy one!
Same with the eyeshadows, I didn't want to swatch all the lipsticks so I just chose a few:
These are all pretty sheer, so if you are looking for an intense color, this wouldn't be the place to get it, but they go on very smoothly. I would compare them more to a lipgloss or tinted lipbalm even.
These are the seven lipglosses I got, I don't know which ones are which exactly because I didn't keep them in order, sorry! :)
I love these glosses, they are very shimmery and pretty, and not sticky at all! A few tend to have a kinda funky smell at first, but you get used to it after awhile :)
These are the two blushes I got, the pink one is Mellow Mauve, and the other is Peachy Keen. I guess a lot of reviewers compared them to the NARS blushes.
Sorry, the peach one was really hard to get to show up on my arm because my arm is way darker than my face :(
And last but not least, here is a picture of me after using the face primer, complexion perfection, and the pressed powder, plus one of the eyeshadows and glosses, sorry I can't remember which ones though!
I would have to say that I am pretty happy with everything. Obviously these are not high end department store cosmetics, but they get the job done well for a good price. I think my favorite items that I got were the lipglosses, the eye transformer, and the eyeshadow kit. Heck, I'm not really that picky, so I pretty much like everything, and even the things I don't like that much I always find a use for, I guess I'm just stingy that way :) The face primer felt really good going on and seemed to last for awhile, and althought the complexion perfection didn't quite live up to my expectations, it was still good enough to use as a setting powder, although beware, because if you use too much, it might make you look a little whiter. I'm not really going to go over everything else because I don't want this post to be even longer, but if anyone has any questions about the other stuff I got, just let me know. Hope you enjoyed the review! :)
