Beauty Product Reviews | Page 5
The BEST day cream, hands down!
In July, I received a sample of Korres Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Day Cream SPF 10 in my NewBeauty TestTube. I have been using it for the past month and I really wish it wasn't $48.00 because I truly do enjoy how it feels on my skin.
It's a heavier cream, you only need a few small dots to cover your entire face. When rubbing it in, it feels very smooth and doesn't soak in right away - it turns pretty white and spreads out a lot. I've learned after the initial rubbing and it turns white, let it sit and soak in for a few seconds, then continue to rub it in and it literally melts into your skin. It's not tacky or slimy feeling - it feels 'baby butt' smooth! My favorite thing about this day cream is that on days when I wear nothing on my face but this cream, it lasts me all day without any oily buildup or dry out during the day. It keeps my skin hydrated all day! I'm talking from morning to night with no dryness, no greasy feeling. I can even use this as a primer to my makeup because it keeps my skin moist without adding shine to my MAC Studio Fix Fluid foundation (currently NC20).
If you can get a sample or travel size of this - or if you can afford the full size, definitely check it out - it's a wonderful cream that I REALLY wish I could afford to buy.
Shockingly Voluminous Lashes!
My initial thoughts were that I wouldn't like this mascara because the wand looks too skinny for my liking and the formula was thick with fibers and looked to be on the dry side. Normally I prefer my Benefit Bad Gal Lash mascara, I love giant wands and semi-moist-semi-dry formulas.
My likes: The wand is not too skinny, it grabs my lashes (the top hairs and the bottom hairs) and applies the formula very evenly There is no clumping when you simply run the wand from the base of the lashes to the tips (if you do the wiggling technique, it will look more clumpy) I only needed to apply 2 coats to get the same effect I prefer from my Benefit Bad Gal Lash mascara and Revlon Grow Luscious mascara - those two mascaras usually require 3 good coats with the wiggly technique The fibers visually extend my natural lashes, while adding more volume I am able to comb through my lashes to separate the hairs and get an even fuller effect - without losing the formula or it flaking off The formula lasts all day, all night and even if you sleep in it - your lashes still look great the next morning (yes, I got lazy one night and didn't remove my makeup like I should have - oh well)
My dislikes: By the end of the day, the mascara begins to flake off slightly - and those little bits have gotten in my eyes a few times - resulting in repetitive eye rubbing (very annoying) The wand is loose and rattles a bit, but that could just be the one I received Because of the fibrous formula, the opening of the tube gets clogged very quickly - and cleaning it makes me feel like I'm wasting some of the product, but it really does need to be cleaned to prevent clumps in your lashes
Overall, I like the mascara, I might even repurchase it when my mascara stock runs out. I would recommend this mascara to people with short lashes, thin lashes, sparse lashes... If you wear contacts, I would suggest only wearing this mascara for up to 8hrs, after that it begins flaking badly and you'll hate it!
*More product photos, before/after photos on my blog: <a href='http://www.beautybykrystal.com/2011/12/loreal-voluminous-false-fiber-lashes.html' rel='nofollow' target='_blank'>http://www.beautybykrystal.com/2011...</a>
Multipurpose product; creamy, blend-able, build-able & only $1!
These solid sticks are so creamy and blend-able that I can use some of the shades as eye color bases, check and brow highlights, blushes, lip tints and as bronzers. They are the ultimate multi-use products! I find that they last quite a long time, of course when I use them on my eyes I set them with a powder shadow - usually a sheer one because when I use these as color bases, I always want to keep the color they provide instead of just using it as a sticky base and covering it up with another shade. Sometimes when I used them as a cream blush, I'll layer a powder blush on top to give the color more punch, but on my normal to dry skin I don't need to set it. When I use these are a lip tint, I always dab some clear gloss on top because they will dry out the lips after a couple hours of wear - they are a creamy product, but they aren't emollient enough to hydrate your lips for extended wear time. Overall I love this product, I think it's a great idea and it's only a dollar so it's well worth the money. You actually only need a little bit with each use, and although the packaging looks small - it lasts a lonnng time!
Some ways I use these shades: Eye color bases: I use all shades Cheekbone, brow bone, nose bridge, cupids bow highlighting: Spotlight, Persimmon, Golden Peach Blush: Golden Peach, Lilac Petal, Pink Lemonade Bronzer: Toasted Lip color/tint: Pink Lemonade
(closer swatch photos on my blog: <a href='http://www.beautybykrystal.com/2011/12/elf-essential-all-over-color-stick.html' rel='nofollow' target='_blank'>http://www.beautybykrystal.com/2011...</a>)
My Nail Savior!
A few weeks ago I tried a new manicure set, pretty much it left my nails super dry, peeling, and looking as if I had gotten false nails on - you know that peely, damaged look that you get when you remove the false nails. Anyways, I freaked out (so much that I forgot to photograph them at their worst) because I've always taken care of my nails and am proud to have strong nails. So when they were brittle and sad, I pampered them with a warm water bath, smothered them with oils and creams and applied two coats of Seche Retain. This polish has proven to resurrect my nails in the past, and it helps to maintain their strength during the "healing process". I've been wearing retain underneath my nail polish and my nails have stopped peeling. Hopefully they grow out quickly because the tips are still really thin from that manicure set I was testing.
These are my #1 highlighters! I LOVE them!
Okay, are you ready for this? I LOVE all of the ELF Essential Shimmering Facial Whip shades! The first one I purchased was Spotlight to use as a creamy cheekbone highlight during the summer. I loved it's scent, easy blending and the way it melted into my skin and showed no traces of ever being a creamy, whipped product. It lasts for hours in the heated months, never looked greasy on me and the sheen it leaves isn't like a bunch of glitters lying in the skin. These have micro particles that give a high shine but can also be subdued by dusting a little powder product on top.
Did I mention the price point of $1.00 made me even more excited for these? If you're an avid ELF Cosmetics follower like me, then you know they offer 20%, 50% even 70% off deals very often. I "splurged" and bought the remaining 7 shades during a 65% off sale they were running. I have come to love them all and use them as cheek highlights, brow highlights, color bases for shadows, inner corner highlights, even as a color base for some of my sheerer blushes.
I wholeheartedly recommend getting these, even if you only buy one, it's worth the dollar. These have amazing pigmentation, last a long time and you only need a tiny dot to get a decent amount of product so I can easily see these lasting over a year - even if you use it everyday.
Closer swatch photos on my blog: <a href='http://www.beautybykrystal.com/2011/11/elf-essential-shimmering-facial-whip.html' rel='nofollow' target='_blank'>http://www.beautybykrystal.com/2011...</a>
Great quality for $1, 4 shades make it even better!
I'm a lonnng time user and lover of the ELF Essential Eyelid Primer in the original shade, sheer. It's significantly thinner than the Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion, but it lasts just as long and does its job well at priming, helping colors show more true and preventing shadow creasing all day. At only a dollar each, I've been recommending this primer to everyone - and I haven't heard any complaints on its performance. This year, ELF released 3 new shades (most likely to mimic Urban Decay's shade range of their Eye Shadow Primer Potions). Pearl is a shimmery white, Golden is a shimmery gold, and Champagne is a shimmery pinky taupe. The consistency of these 3 new shades is very different than the original Sheer. Sheer has a thin, smooth feeling, but these 3 new shades, Pearl, Golden and Champagne, have a pretty glittery, gritty feeling. I don't find the glittery primers to be a hassle, but I do wish they were smoother like Sheer. When blended out onto the lid, the glittery effect does come off very sheer and barely visible. They don't really alter the color or effect of your eye shadows the way the Urban Decay primers can. Overall, I use these as cream shadows. I like the glittery look and that they stay on all day, but when I need an eyeshadow primer, I reach for the Sheer instead.
Close swatch photos can be found on my blog: <a href='http://www.beautybykrystal.com/2011/11/elf-essential-eyelid-primers.html' rel='nofollow' target='_blank'>http://www.beautybykrystal.com/2011...</a>
Perfect liners for color bases & only $1!
I have used these to line my top lid, smudge my lower lash line, sheer out onto the lid as a color base and I've used Iconic White as an inner corner highlight on no-makeup days. These pencils are very soft, very easy to blend out, and you only need a tiny bit to get that full color payoff and super shimmery effect. Each pencil's cap has a built in sharpener, the quality is decent, but you will have to clean the sharpener quite often because the product is very soft and will stick and clog if left alone. I personally use a separate sharpener. As far as staying power, when sheered out as a base they last all day. When used as a top lid liner without setting it with a powder, it will eventually transfer to your top lid or even smudge depending on how warm you skin gets. Either way, I enjoy using these pencils and I really should use them more often. Without them being waterproof, they last pretty long and that's terrific for a $1.00 pencil liner!
Each swatch will show you one swipe of the pencil, then a thicker application as if you were to use this on your entire lid, and then a blended out application as if you were to use this as a color base or just a smudged effect. (closer swatches on my blog: <a href='http://www.beautybykrystal.com/2011/11/elf-essentials-shimmer-eyeliner-pencils.html' rel='nofollow' target='_blank'>http://www.beautybykrystal.com/2011...</a>)
Amazing lip butters at drugstore price!
My obsession with lippies has recently spilled over to lip butters and balms. A while back I bought this Yes To Carrots Lip Butter on clearance for $2 at my local Target. I've read a lot of hype over the Yes To products, so I thought at clearance price, why not try it out. Can you guess what I'm going to say next? Or type? I LOVE this stuff! I'm all too predictable :)
I have been keeping this lip butter in the side pocket of my mommy chair, where I do all my blogging and networking. When I'm feeling dry or chapped I smother my lips with this super smooth lip butter. It lasts for hours, even through my constant beverages; coffee, water and the occasional soda. I've never really been addicted to a chap stick, they all work the same to me, but my heart has a soft spot for this one. This is one I can actually see myself finishing off! That means a lot to me and my endless collection of lip products.
All Natural Ingredients, No Animal Testing, Paraben, Petroleum & Phthalate Free
On <a href='http://YesToCarrots.com' rel='nofollow' target='_blank'>YesToCarrots.com</a>, you can buy the set of 5 lip butters (5 flavors: carrot, berry, citrus, melon and mint) for $12.99
Light weight, everyday volume!
They are a very light weight pair of lashes, medium in length, clear band and just enough volume to come off natural rather than dramatic. I am IN LOVE with these lashes! I honestly forgot I had them on all day, I almost went to bed with them on until I noticed them when I was taking off my eye makeup. Because these are so light weight, you don't need a lot of glue, which means you don't have to wait as long to apply them and you can be out the door much quicker - GREAT for mommies! The lashes came with a tiny vile of lash glue, but I'm too attached to my Duo Lash Adhesive, so I didn't even try it out. I even like how these lashes look without using mascara, they're just so simple and pretty! I can clean and reuse these a few times, but after that I'm going to have to pick up a few more at Ulta just to have on hand for those days I want a little umph :)
A decent cream color base for only $3.00!
I first saw this palette as a sneak peek photo on ELF's Facebook page - and ever since then I was avidly checking ELF's website in anticipation for the release. I have yet to try out their cream shadow duos, but I have heard good things and I was hoping this would be even better than those duos.
This palette has 6 cream shadows; sheer peach, pearly pink, shimmer light grey, sheer bronze, sheer berry, sheer black. These cream shadows are less of a cream consistency and more of a greasy/oily consistency, they glide on and blend out really easy. Unfortunately though, because they are so oily, they will crease if worn without a primer and without a shadow to set it. I have been wearing these cream shadows as color bases for eye shadows, I apply an eyeshadow primer, then the cream shadow and then I pat on some powder eye shadow to set it. If you want to wear these cream shadows and get their true pigmentation, set them with a translucent powder to avoid creasing and wearing. This will change the texture to a matte shade, but you'll still get the tint of color they provide.
As far as staying power, without a primer and without a powder shadow on top these cream shadows wear off after 3-4hrs. When used with a primer and a powder shadow on top these cream shadows wear off after 6hrs. I haven't been able to wear them longer than 6hrs, but I'm sure if you really set them with a powder shadow, they should hold up all day with minimal creasing.
If you're looking for cream shadows, I wouldn't particularly recommend these because of how oily they are. But if you are looking for an inexpensive cream color base, this is worth the $3.00!