Products I Regret Purchasing

The products are: Sexy Hair Straight Sexy Hair Aerated Anti-Frizz and Shine Spray, MAC Blush Ombre Azalea Blossom, NYC Chroma Face Glow Moonstone, MAC Beauty Powder Tahitian Sand, Maybelline Baby Lips Fruit Punch, Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser, Physician's Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash Mascara, Wet'n'Wild Lipstick 528A, NYX Concealer in A Jar, Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Liquid Lipstick Miracle Mauve, Essie To Buy or Not To Buy, and China Glaze Smoke and Ashes.

Straight Sexy Hair: I find this product helps with frizz, but it does so by making my hair feel weighed down and look greasy. It also has an awful and very strong scent. 1 out of 5. No recommendation here.

MAC blush: The ombre effect is nice to look at, but this one is odd. It's got a warm, yellow-y pink that fades into a cool, lilac. Once applied the color is actually very pretty with or without the ombre, but the texture is very hard and not as blendable as I'd prefer. 1 out of 5. No recs.

NYC Moonstone: I actually swapped for this product, but I have the same issues with it as I do with the MAC blush. It's very hard, difficult to pick up product, and it barely shows up on my skin. 1 out of 5. No recs.

MAC Beauty Powder: Also hard and difficult to work with. Provides absolutely no color, which makes it pretty much useless as it doesn't even add a soft-lit glow to the face or anything.

Maybelline Baby Lips: While this is moisturizing, I find the flavor nauseating, and the color doesn't work on my skin. It is a pretty color, though, and I know that other people could enjoy it. It's just not for me. 3 out of 5. Would recommend for cooler skintones and people who desire bright pinks that are moisturizing.

Maybelline Concealer: This product helps with dark circles, but the packaging is awful. When I first bought it, I really liked the sponge, and I still do, but at some point the top just exploded off of it which resulted in a lot of wasted product as when I popped it back in, a ton of product squirted out. I like the texture, but I dislike the color range. I know a lot of people would be able to find satisfaction in this product, packaging issues aside, so I give it a 3 out of 5.

Physician's Formula Mascara: This is a very dry mascara. I heard a lot of great reviews about this, so I decided to try it, and I absolutely hate it. It does make my lashes look nice, but it's extremely dry and clumps easily. Despite the dry formula, it also smudges all over my face without me even touching my eyes. The packaging is disgusting and obnoxious, too. 2 out of 5, because it does make my lashes look great, and I know a lot of people really like this.

Wet 'n' Wild Lipstick: This is just a terrible color for me, and it's extremely frosty. I'm not into frosty. 3 out of 5.

NYX Concealer: Hard to find a good color match, very drying, doesn't last well on the skin no matter what primer I use, doesn't cover well. 2 out of 5.

Revlon ColorStay Liquid Lipstick: This never sets on the lips. It always feel wet and sticky, and it's supposed to be a long-wearing product, but it's not. It stays sticky all day which is uncomfortable, and it will rub off onto everything. 1 out of 5.

Essie To Buy or Not To Buy: I regret this one because it's very similar to Revlon's Lilac Pastelle, and it has these beautiful shimmer particles that do not show up on the nail at all. I love Lilac Pastelle, and I was hoping that this would be a bit different with the glitter, but it looks exactly the same. Formula is fine, though, and I'll still use it. I would not repurchase. 3 out of 5.

China Glaze: Smoke and Ashes: This polish looks amazing in the bottle with all the multi-colored, multi-dimensional glitter, but the glitter hardly shows up on the nail. It just looks like a black polish. I am keeping this one as a memento of The Hunger Games, or perhaps better described as a collector's item. I would not repurchase this product. 3 out of 5.

Revlon Lip Butters Review

From left to right: Tutti Frutti, Gumdrop, Sweet Tart, and Crème Brulée.

These retail for 7.49 at Walgreens, but I always to try buy them when they are buy one get one half off, which I did with some of these. I have six, but I've only used four of those. I will review each in order.

Tutti Frutti: This one is a bright coral/orange, and it is extremely moisturizing. I find that it wears really well on my lips, and it looks good with my skin tone. This one has no shimmer, and it glides on easily. 5 out of 5

Gumdrop: This is a very light lilac that isn't too purple to be worn on the lips (considering I have such light skin). It's very cool-toned, but it still looks good on my very warm skin. It's fairly moisturizing, but it does have some tiny, silver sparkles in it. I do not find them to be scratchy or uncomfortable, and they do not affect the performance of this one. 5 out of 5.

Sweet Tart: This is a very saturated, bright pink. It's warm-toned enough that it looks great on my skin tone, and I had a friend who is much fairer and more cool-toned try it, and it looked amazing on her as well. I feel that this one is probably the most universally flattering of the bunch. This one is also very moisturizing, and it wears extremely well. It is a simple creamy finish, no shimmer. 5 out of 5.

Crème Brulée: This one is a deep nude with a hint of shimmer. It's fairly warm, so it works well with my skin tone. Color-wise this one is my favorite, but I take issue with the texture. I can feel the slight shimmer particles on my lips, and I do not find this one to be particularly moisturizing. It still wears just as well as the others, but this one is my least favorite so far. 4 out of 5.

Overall, these are great lipsticks, and I will continue to purchase more (I bought more today!), and I would recommend them to anyone who is searching for a lightweight, moisturizing, and glossy lipstick.

*other products I am testing for review:
Garnier Skin Renew BB Cream
Revlon Lip Butters: Lollipop, Strawberry Shortcake
Revlon ColorBurst Lip Gloss: Strawberry

Revlon ColorStay Nail Polish - 030 "Calla Lily"

This is a very sheer, creamy, white polish with beautiful, multi-dimensional gold micro-shimmer. Because it is so sheer, I applied two coats of it over one coat of Essie's "Sand Tropez", my favorite nude. The base coat I have been using and loving of late is Pro FX Epoxy Bond Base Coat. I used two coats of Seche Vite Fast Drying Top Coat for this manicure to allow the micro-shimmer to really pop.

This manicure was applied Friday, and it has lasted through three showers without chipping or peeling. It lost none of its luster. Application is very nice on this polish: it glides smoothly over the nail, and it dries fairly quickly on its own which makes applying multiple coats faster and easier. The brush is the flat, slightly wider type that I find most similar to the Wet'n'Wild Fast Drying nail polish brushes. It is not as wide as the OPI pro-wide brush. Over "Sand Tropez" this polish takes on more of its creamy properties due to the undertones in "Sand Tropez", but if used alone it comes out as a pretty, jelly-like white, and the shimmers still look gorgeous.

I paid roughly 8 USD for this at CVS.

I give this polish a 5 out of 5 for it's color, application, luster, dry time, and strength (resistance to chipping). This one makes me want to try more of the Revlon ColorStay polishes!

Revlon ColorBurst Lipgloss "Crystal Lilac"

I purchased this for 6.49 USD at Target last week. When I saw the color, I just had to have it! It's so pretty, but as you can see in the swatches, it's not very pigmented. I find I get very little color on my lips when I use this, just a nice sheen. The texture is extremely strange for a lip gloss: it feels very dry, almost like a long-wear lip product, but this does not claim to be a long-wear product. It doesn't make my lips feel dry, though. It just applies very strangely. As you can also see in the photos, the applicator is quite different from most lip-glosses; it's curved, so it conforms to the shape of the lips a lot better, and I have found I can apply the gloss to my top and bottom lips in one swipe if I just push the applicator between them and apply. It sounds odd, but that's how it could be used. I prefer to apply it to each lip separately. It lasts for a fairly long time on my lips as compared to other glosses, but for a Revlon gloss, I find it the same as others I've used (Super Lustrous). Overall I think this particular color is really pretty, and it's a nice addition to any collection. This is the only gloss from the ColorBurst line that I have tried, so I cannot comment on the pigment/texture/wear of any other colors.

cross-posted on Luuux:

August 2010 Favorites (because I can't make a video --stupid iMovie)

- sulfur soap
- Burt's Bees Herbal Blemish Stick
- Earth Therapeutics Complexion Brush
- L'Oreal Go 360 Clean Deep Cream Cleanser
- OPI "What's with The Cattitude?"
- OPI "Pamplona Purple" with Sally Hansen "Hidden Treasure" over it
- Wet'n'Wild MegaLast "Club Havana"
- Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup SPF 20
- Wet'n'Wild ColorIcon palette "Vanity"
- Prestige Waterproof Eyeliner pencil "Granite"
- Bath and Body Works "Orange Sapphire" lotion and body spray
- MAC lipstick "Sandy B"
- Revlon Super Lustrous lip gloss "Firecracker"
- Soft Lips Pure 100% Natural Lip Polish

Perhaps I'll upload photos later? I'm pretty annoyed that my iMovie isn't working at the moment. So enjoy this fabulous list of fabulous products that I loved this month.

Picture Posting Mood.

Prestige Liquid Liner in Pop Star
OPI Yoga-Ta Get This Blue!
China Glaze in Liquid Leather
A Grape Fit!

Done Out In Deco 
NYX Single Eye Shadow in Purple

Physician's Formula Baked Collection Wet/Dry Eyeshadow: Baked Oatmeal
L'oreal Telescopic Clean Definition mascara
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Black Bean
Jane Be Pure Mineral Blush in Rose Satin
Revlon Colorstay Under Eye Concealer SPF 15 in Light/Medium
 Wet n Wild MegaSlicks Lip Gloss in Cherry something
 NYX Doll Eye Mascara: Long Lash

 MAC Slimshine Lipstick in Voile

 Jane maxlash² précise Lash Defining Mascara
Revlon Colorstay Mineral Finishing Powder in Brighten 

The photos don't do most of these justice, but I'm being lazy and not busing out the camera. Done. 

I shopped again.

 My lighting gives things a reddish glow, but I did my nails today with my new nail polish: A Grape Fit! by OPI. 

I also bought Done out in Deco, Yoga-Ta Get This Blue!, and a Revlon nail polish in Gold Get 'Em. The last was on clearance, and it's a really shimmery, pastel yellow. The OPI polishes are colors after which I have been lusting for quite some time. They're buy 2 get 1 free at Ulta, so I grabbed some. In the nail department I also bought OPI's AvoPlex exfoliating cuticle treatment. I'm pretty sure that I don't need it since I use my Burt's Bees cuticle creme everyday, but we'll see. I like the way it smells! 

I bought one more hair product for the week: got2b Smooth Operator Smoothing Lustre Lotion. It is a heat and UV protectant while also smoothing the hair, of course. I used it, and the smell bothers me (too sweet), but it did what it's supposed to do. I also used the mousse today. I like the mousse. It didn't make my hair feel gross or anything, but it has the same smell as the lotion, obviously. 

While at Ulta I got a NYX lipstick in Pandora. It's a purple color, the same color as the African Queen lip gloss. I like it in small doses. 

I also got the Physician's Formula Baked Collection Wet/Dry Eyeshadow in Baked Oatmeal. I swatched them, and they are all really pretty. The only problem is that the packaging is difficult to fit into my storage. I'm running out of space! And despite being a bit bulky, I like the little compact. It's a very thin line. 

I used the L'Oreal Telescopic mascara today, and I am not impressed. I don't know why anyone would be. As I said, the wand is flimsy, and when applied, the mascara is too wet. It clumped, too. While applying, the flimsy wand feels like it's going to break against my lashes. It lengthens well enough, no volumizing. It's just a normal mascara to me, not the worst, not the best. 

I also got a Twilight poster and stuck it on my door, but we don't need to talk about that (but it's so fucking hilarious). 

I finally figured out the proper way to use the Seche Vite topcoat, and it's a BITCH to use. One must let it bead up on the brush and then drop that onto the nail, then spread it around while the polish is still wet. It doesn't disturb the polish, but it can get a little messy. I got it all over my hands. Also, it is high maintenance! It requires a thinner to keep it workable. Otherwise it will get too hard and goopy to use. What the hell is that? I want a topcoat that I don't have to buy extra products to use! Anyway--I said my nails chipped before. Perhaps that was because I was applying the product incorrectly. We shall see. Perhaps it is worth buying the fucking Seche Restore that the Vite requires to keep. Ridiculous. 

I think my cousin's boyfriend should go on So You Think You Can Dance. He dances. 

Scooby Dooby Doo Where Are You?

I cannot stop singing the Scooby Doo theme song. I think everyone in my house wants to kill me. 

More makeup blabbering to follow:

I got Revlon Colorstay Mineral Finishing Powder in Brighten, which is very similar to MAC's MSFs, except as far as I can tell there is little color pay off. It's is light pink with white and darker pink veining, and it applies as a soft, shimmery sort of thing, which I like. This means I can stop abusing my MAC MSF natural/shimmer because the shimmer side is almost gone (I use it on a daily basis because it is my LOVE), and I don't know if I'll be able to get another one, since they are no longer available in MAC stores/counters/website. I like the really soft, shimmery effect on my skin. I like it to look dewy. The only problem I have with putting a bunch of powder on my face is that it makes my dry skin unhappy. I'd actually really like to try the bronzey MFP from Revlon, and some of their mineral blushes. I like the texture of this one. 

 I've been trying to use my normal face lotions the past few days since they're neglected, but they don't give my skin the moisture it needs. I to use a facial cream. It makes me sad that my skin is so desperate for moisture. Luckily, I finally got the right cleansers for my skin. 

I also bought L'oreal Telescopic Clean Definition mascara in blackest black, finally. First impression is that the wand is really flimsy. How the hell do people use these cheap, flimsy wands? I hate them. I have not yet used the mascara, obviously, but I suppose I will try it out tomorrow. 

I also bought Jane Maxlash² precise Lash Defining Mascara in black, of course. I just grabbed it on a whim because it was on sale. Again, it has a really flimsy wand. I hate flimsy wands! I will try this one on Sunday or something. 

I also grabbed Jane Be Pure Mineral Gliding Liner in Earth (03). I'll probably use it as a brow pencil, but I like the color enough to line my eyes with it. I trust Jane in that regard. I really like Jane products. I find that they are highly underrated as far as drugstore makeup goes. So far, I've only swatched it, and it comes out this beautiful reddish brown, and it's pretty smooth. We'll see how it works on my face!

I also bought Jane Be Pure Mineral Blush in Rose Satin. It's a nice peachy color, which is what I have been wanting for a while. Swatching it on my hand proved it to be very sheer but very pigmented and pretty. I really like it, and I think it will look fantastic on my skin tone. The texture is very smooth. We'll see how it works on my face, but again--Jane is so underrated. It's a wonderful drugstore brand that makes highly pigmented eyeshadows, blushes, liners--everything. I haven't found any products of theirs to particularly dislike, except the pluming lip gloss. 

I also bought got2b Smooth Operator Smoothing Luxury Mousse to help in styling my hair. I have tried it yet, but I got it 2USD off, so that's good. I put a lot of faith in got2b products, so I'm not concerned about how well it will work. From what I've been able to smell, it smells good. All of my got2b products smell delicious though. 

I also got a huge tub to pull my winter wardrobe in. It barely fits... I need to go through it and fold it all and get it organized so all of it will fit. I was just really tired of my closet being super crowded. I'm considering selling a lot of my stuff because I just have too many things. I am not one to have so many things, though I do continue to buy things. It's very difficult to explain. Don't ask. (but it's in my post about compulsions, so maybe you should read that, k?) 

Mascaras I Want

• Revlon Double-Twist
• Stila Major Lash
• L'Oreal Telescopic
• L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion
• Rimmel Glam Eyes
• Rimmel Sexy Curves
• Urban Decay Big Fatty in Black Cherry
• Too Faced Lash Injection PinPoint (full size--I only has travel size)
• L'Oreal Voluminous
• Max Factor 2000 Calorie
• Physician's Formula PlentiFull Thickening
• Bourjois Volume Glamour
• Benefit BadGal Blue
  

I think that's all on my mascara wish list. Yes, I am a mascara junkie. I love mascaras. 

I'd also like to try Coppertone's Sunless Tanning Gradual Tan Lotion. I'll just try them all until I find a perfect one! And I like Coppertone products. 

I am also considering trying L'Oreal's Ever Pure volume hair line, since it's for colored hair and all. I am particularly interested in the conditioning masques and the UV protect spray. My hair could use it! And all this stuff is on super sale at Ulta right now. 

I'd like to try lots of things! I must go take a nap or something now. I don't know. 

Rubbish!

I cannot find the L'oreal Telescopic Explosion mascara anywhere, but there are so many new mascaras coming out that I'm super overwhelmed. I am such a ridiculous mascara junkie. That and foundation. I really want to try the regular Telescopic since I've never used it, but so many people seem to like it. I have low hopes of ever finding anything as wonderful as my Too Faced Lash Injection. It is quite a lot up to which to live, and no mascara I've tried has done it just yet. I still don't have a good brown or burgundy. Life will go on. 

I have been using my Revlon Matte Lipstick in Nude Attitude a lot lately. I really like the slightly subdued pinky tone it gives my lips. I do not find it to be drying at all. It may pass my MAC Fresh Brew (from Hello Kitty) as my favorite lipstick, though the Fresh Brew is really moisturizing. All of my other lip colors have been lonely since I've only been using the Revlon lately. Poor NYX lip glosses, Jane Lipkick, Maybelline something or other, etc. Oh, and my poor Rimmels. I love Rimmel lipsticks. They have such a nice texture, and color payoff is fantastic. The only problem is that the red I have is really messy. It's very difficult to get it on without making a huge mess! Maybe that's just me though. 

I am also really in love with my Maybelline Dream Matte Powder. I use it for touch ups during the day as I use a silica powder to set my makeup and MAC MSF natural/shimmer all over for a nice, dewy glow. It is more convenient to stick in my bag than the MSF. 

I think I should probably put some of my unloved perfumes and such on MUA. They are harder to ship since they are liquids, but since I do not like them and do not use them, it makes sense to send them off to someone who might like them. 

I am still sad that I am lacking purple in my life, and I am having a very difficult time finding a color shampoo that doesn't have a migraine inducing scent. Since I discovered that my Pureology was giving me migraines (oh woe!), I set out to find a new shampoo. They all seem to have similar scents that make my eyes explode and head pound, so I've been using my Organix Shea Butter shampoo. It's sulfate free, so I know it's not stripping color or anything out of my hair. So that's fine. I don't know that I have anything new to report on hair products. 

I haven't got any new nail polishes, but I NEED TO. I really need more purples. It's killing me. It's making me depressed. 

Lots of little, stupid things have been making me depressed lately, and I'm so tired of it. It's so stupid. I keep getting really angry at the boyfriend and angry about life and frustrated and hopeless and depressed and unhappy and just ... :o(. I have no appreciation for such mood fluctuations. My quality of life should be massively improved since I'm not in school at the moment (lots of rest), and I have all of my lovely medications. I fucking HATE people acting like my medicine makes me happy. It obviously does not. Seriously---fuck people who say shit like that. I think they need to be punched in the face by someone less pacifistic than I am. It is fucking infuriating. I believe I have lost all hope in humanity. I do not forgive people for treating their environment and fellow humans and animals the way they do. I do not know what else to feel toward them. 

I still feel really sad for the octopodes at the aquarium. They looked so sad. I do not think I have ever seen an animal looking so unhappy. I feel like one of those little octopodes, trapped and unhappy, unable to properly hide and unable to swim somewhere else.

Just A Few of My Favorite Things

1. Yes to Carrots C is Smooth Body Moisturizing Lotion. The scent is divine, and all of their products smell this way. Delicious! 
2. NYX eyeshadow in "Rust." 
3. NYX Goddess of The Night Gloss in "African Queen." 
4. Everyday Minerals blush in "Snuggle."
5. CHI Silk Infusion
6. My new hair!
7. Removing acrylic nails
8. Secret Clinical Strength Anti-Perspirant/Deodorant
9. My skin looks good
10. Rimmel Lipstick in "Airy Fairy."
11. Revlon Matte Lipstick in "Nude Attitude." 
12. E.L.F. pro eyeshadow primer
13. applying the NYX eyeshadows I don't like with water! works beautifully
14. finding new alternatives
15. My rainbow quilt
16. Eco-Tools brushes
17. Chanel Allure
18. Love Dove's birthday present(s).
19. My new necklace that I haven't had an occasion to wear yet
20. the possibility of a new water heater as early as TODAY
21. the possibility of buying new nail polish and/or concealer (since I'm out)
22. Maybelline Age Rewind cream foundation
23. NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Powder
24. Twin Peaks
25. valerian root capsules
26. Stila Convertible Lip/Cheek color in "Gerbera." 
27. Too Faced Shadow Insurance
28. Too Faced (the company)
29. Juicy Couture
30. Yes to Carrots chapstick in LEMON!