NP SET Concealer Set and Dior Addict Lipstick in Pink Lust
Posted by: Productfreak on: March 6, 2009
I have to run to work so here are two quick reviews:
NP Set Concealer Set
Overall Score (out of 5): 4
Price: Over $20
I bought this a while ago at Target and never got around to trying it, since I do not like to fuss with my makeup. I usually never wear concealer unless I have a volcanic zit. This one comes with 5 colors, which look in the palette to be dark tan, sienna, beige, medium tan, and blue. These went on the skin much lighter. I used the two tans under my eyes, and the medium tan was almost too light, but I didn’t apply it heavily. The blue I used on two zits that had some red in them (ew), and with liquid foundation, would disappear perfectly. I don’t know if this is how it’s supposed to be used, since I thew away the box, but I blend the sienna on top of the blue and it balances out. I didn’t know what to do with the beige; I think it’s just too light for my skin tone. I used Bare Minerals over and lined my waterline in the pic below. As you can see, the look is overall very natural, and the mineral foundation keeps my skin looking dewy and not matte. You can still see imperfections, and it’s very possible to visually eliminate those, but I just don’t have the patience to deal with concealer 
Dior Addict Lipstick in Pink Lust
Overall Score (out of 5): 4
Price: $21
I’m not a color lipstick fan so I’m not sure why I picked this up. I love matte nudes, but I’ve never had any Dior products, so I got this along with the spray foundation. The texture is extremely light, and it goes on lips looking very juicy. It’s not as moisturizing as some other lipsticks, like NP SET’s, which I looooooove. The color goes pretty well with my skin, which I was surprised about; still, I’m going to steer clear of bright lipstick.
DermaDOCTOR Pictue Porefect Pore Minimizing Solution
Posted by: Productfreak on: March 2, 2009
Overall Score (out of 5): 4
Price: $42 at Sephora/Ulta
I have some visible pores on my nose, as do many people, so I picked this baby up to see if it would help tighten them up. I’ve tried pore minimizing products from Neutrogena that didn’t really do anything but dry my skin out. This is a very liquidy serum that has a slightly slippery feel. It slides on easily, but is not moisturizing. I still had to wear a moisturizer over it. I did, however, notice my pores were noticeably smaller and the skin was smoother on my nose (I only applied it to my nose). I’m not sure if the effects are temporary or if it permanently helps reduce pore size. I only used it three days in a row, and the days after that I saw my pores go back to normal. I will update when i get a chance to use this product for a long time straight. If you only apply this to your nose, this bottle will go a long way. No fragrance, and cute packaging, though it sometimes makes me think it’s less professional when the packaging is cutesy. Good product though, and didn’t break me out.
Kiss Lightning Speed Acrylic Nail Kit
Posted by: Productfreak on: February 26, 2009
I’ve gotten really into nails recently. I bought 4 or 5 kits and this one has proven to be the easiest to use. I haven’t mastered how to use beige tips yet, but I like French manicures and they’re easier to do with tips anyway. This kit comes with 20 white French tips and 20 natural tips. You glue the white tip on, cut/file it to shape, brush on gel, dip in powder, brush in gel again
, and spray with the activator. It sets really fast and you can buff to get a smooth surface.
The natural tips are a mess since you have to file down the seam where it meets your real nail to blend, and that can take forever and cause injuries. Some kits, like Kiss’s Acrylic Sculpture kit, make huuuuuge messes. Also, make sure not to do this on an coated-surface – it will burn holes in your table.
Here are my results with this kit. I did mine very short since I do a lot with my hands, but you can see they look pretty good. I’m right-handed, and the pic is of my right hand so I did this with my left. I really like this kit. There was a nice one in a white box from CVS that was also really good, but I didn’t like the natural tips that came with it – you could really see the seam, but the gel and setter that came with the kit are even better than this kit’s. I’ll try to get hold of another one soon so I can post on it.
Even though I like this kit, I don’t know if it’s for everyone – you save a lot of money ($30 for a full set vs. $12 for a couple uses from this kit), but you have to have a steady hand and patience.
Bare Escentuals RareMinerals Blemish Therapy
Posted by: Productfreak on: February 23, 2009
- In: Acne | Concealer | Mineral | Treatment
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Over winter break, I didn’t have anything to wash my face with, and it wrecked my skin. I’m still trying to make it up, and I don’t like to use saliylic acid or benzoyl peroxide since they dry out my skin and make it flake.
Here’s a product I found effective:
Bare Escentuals RareMinerals Blemish Therapy
Overall Score (out of 5): 5
Price: $60
This is a light colored powder in the same kind of packaging as Bare Minerals foundation. It comes with a small concealer brush. You shake some out onto the lid and swirl the brush in it and apply directly to problem areas. I really like this. It makes zits disappear without weird side effects (no drying, etc.) and though it is a light color, you can apply a light layer of this and wear some makeup over it and it disappears nicely.
I like to use this in conjunction with the Bare Minerals foundation, which I also got a jar of.
Busted my bank at Ulta
Posted by: Productfreak on: February 22, 2009
- In: Brows | Foundation | Tools
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So I don’t even know why I let myself go into these stores anymore. The products I picked up today are a Supermile whitening kit, which comes with a toothpaste and an accelerator, and the Supersmile Quickee whitening treatment. I also got DERMAdoctor Picture Porefect pore refining solution, RareMinerals Blemish Therapy, BareMinerals mineral makeup, Dior Airflash Spray Foundation, Dior Addict lipstick, Anastasia Brow Fix, Prevage Anti-Aging Treatment (I’m starting to worry about lines around my eyes and smile lines!) and a Kiss gel nails kit.
I also overkilled my bank account at Macys :’|
I’ll get around to reviews on these soon (some of the products need a trial period for me to see results), but today I’ll do reviews on the Brow Fix and Dior foundation.
Anastasia Brow Fix
Overall Score (out of 5): 4
Price: $21
My brows are long (some are over an inch!), and even after trimming, I need to groom them so they don’t go every direction after I sleep on my face. I usually use Lumene Brow Styler in Brown 2, but was interested in something with stronger hold, since even after applying, my stubborn hairs would pop up.
This is a clear wax in pencil form that you glide over brows to keep them in line. Even after applying considerable pressure, I still had hairs trying to pop back up. This convenient and easy to use. I have coarse hairs, so those of you with finer eyebrow hairs might benefit from this – it offers better precision, so when you’re trying to get one little hair to stay in place, you don’t end up with gel all over your face. As for me, I’ll stick with gel/liquid stylers that wet my brows first so they are more flexible.
Christian Dior AirFlash Spray Foundation
Overall Score (out of 5): 5
Price: $60 (Ouch)
This foundation is meant to be sprayed on at 6 inches from the face. Done this way, you get a perfect finish, but since this finishes the can in just a few weeks, I spray a little onto a wedge and apply it. This is a feather-light foundation that has great coverage. It looks very natural and doesn’t clump/cake over imperfections since it’s so incredibly light. If it weren’t for the price tag, I’d buy this faithfully for the rest of my life, but since I don’t have the dough to shell out $60 every month for a new can, I’ll stick to Stila’s liquid foundation.
I’ll get to the other products as I get a chance to try them.
Hope you all have plans to celebrate Mardis Gras!
Nivea Men Energizing Hydro Gel
Posted by: Productfreak on: February 16, 2009
Howdy! I went to a local Dominick’s the other day and browsed the discontinued products and found Nivea for Men Energizing Hydro Gel for $.99, so I had to pick it up. I realize I’m doing a review on a product you guys probably won’t see for much longer, but maybe if you get out there now you can grab the last of this great moisturizer.
Nivea for Men Energizing Hydro Gel
Overall Score (out of 5): 5
Price: $.99 (on clearance)
I LOVE THIS. I’ve been dealing with the winter flakies and some heavier creams have helped me out, but I didn’t expect a hydrogel to do just as well. This is a clear gel that comes out of a convenient air pump and smooths onto skin evenly. It is cooling and while some other moisturizes burn my dry winter skin on first contact, this does not hurt me. It keeps dry patches at bay and smells like a clean man lol. It’s a subtle scent, so nobody is going to call you on using a men’s product. I’ve always like Old Spice and man products, but this is my first brush with a product designed for men (the only difference really is the scent and packaging), and I think I’ll try some other products from Nivea’s line for men.
I gotta go get some sleep for tomorrow’s AM class now. Nite yall!
2 Foundations and NP Set Travel Brush Kit Reviews
Posted by: Productfreak on: February 6, 2009
- In: Brushes | Foundation | Powder
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Hey guys, I just finished midterms so I can relax tonight. I’m about to go to bed for the first time before 3 am in a week! I picked up a new foundation at CVS after I got dark in Mexico, but it turned out way too light. I found an old Stila foundation in my makeup bag that should probably go in the trash, but it matches my skin and has a good formula, so I’m going to be bad and keep using it for a while.
Stila Natural Finish Oil-Free Makeup in Shade g
Overall Score (out of 5): 5
Price: Probably around $22, but don’t remember
Even though this is maybe 2 years old (I know, gross), I still keep it around, which means it’s a winner. The shade matches my skin exactly, is super blendable, but has really great coverage at the same time – a feat rarely accomplished by a liquid foundation. This is moisturizing but matte, and scentless. I walked past a Sephora today and didn’t go in for fear of dropping half my bank account, but next time, I’m going to pick up this same product.
L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Compact Makeup in (Three Dots) Warm
Overall Score (out of 5): 3.5
Price: $14 at CVS
Maybe if I had picked the right shade, this would be OK. I held these up to my arm to try to match shades. In the case, this looked much darker than it was once on my skin. Once I had it on, I looked like I had some kind of pox disease. The powder-cream consistency formula can be drying and a bit chalky, and is for sure not super-blendable. I had to wash my face after applying since I couldn’t simply blend it away, as I can with some other foundations that are too light. I don’t have very good luck with L’Oreal face makeup.
NP Set Travel Brush Set
Overall Score (out of 5): 5
Price: $25 at Target
I’m not really sure how to rate brushes, since I’ve never tried a brush that disappointed. They’re just sticks with hairs sticking out one end that grab some powder – not complicated, though I’ve heard EcoTools brushes are inexpensive and earth-friendly (available at Walgreens, CVS), so I want to try those next. I never use brushes, even when going out, except to apply blush about once a year, but I still buy a bunch of brushes – it’s a curse. Anyway, this set comes in a cute little white patent-croc flip case with a small mirror on the inside of the cover, and four brushes: a flat brush/powder brush, a concealer brush, a slightly tapered eyeshadow brush, and a more precise crease brush. The brushes are all very soft and pretty dense. I’ve seen denser, but these are really fine for the job.
Hope everyone’s holding up through the winter and if you’re in school, that the weather’s not getting the best of you and making you skip class staying cozy in your room! It’s February now, so it better start getting warm here. Til next time, take care!
Almay Pure Blends Mineral Makeup
Posted by: Productfreak on: January 27, 2009
Overall Score (out of 5): 3.5
Price: $14 at drugstores
I got a lot darker over vacation, so I needed a darker foundation. This SPF 15 mineral powder foundation provides light to medium coverage and does not mattify (dry) skin as much as some others, like L’Oreal Bare Naturale minral makeup, do. The actual makeup is great, but the packaging makes me wonder if the design/regulations people fell asleep when this product went through. There is a button on the end of the tube opposite the brush that if pressed to push powder out onto the brush. The first time I pushed the button, powder flew out onto my desk, my computer, and into my tea. It was impossible to clean without some Windex too. After that initial burst, I couldn’t get any more product to come out, and have left it alone out of fear of another accident. I’m planning on somehow opening this package up and transferring it to an emptied ELF mineral makeup sift jar.
Some skincare reviews
Posted by: Productfreak on: January 23, 2009
C.O. Bigelow Incredibly Moisturizing Face Cream
Overall Score (out of 5): 4.5
Price: around $20
This is a good heavy moisturizer. There is not much of a scent; I prefer something with a scent that floats around for a while. This really does the trick in the winter, but so does the Alba moisturizer, which I review below. That one smells like a stronger version of the jasmine in my tea. Love it.
C.O. Bigelow Brown Sugar Crystal Face Polish
Overall Score (out of 5): 5
Price: over $20
I really like this. The scent, the texture. The granules are very coarse, so maybe not eh best thing for sensitive skin. Some scrubs are too dry and I keep having to add water. This one isn’t – the granules are suspended in liquid. My skin is pretty tough, probably weathered by the winter Chicago wind ripping at my face, but for most skin types, this should not be too irritating if gently massaged in circles for 2-3 minutes. Afterwards, skin is glowing and so soft.
Citra-Peel Kit
Overall Rating (out of 5): 2.5
Price: ~$30 at Macy’s/Kohl’s
Before buying this, I read good reviews on it at Makeupalley.com, but I didn’t find this particularly effective. But I think it’s more geared toward those concerned with aging, and since I’m not getting wrinkles/age spots yet and exfoliate every once in a while, there wasn’t really much to be fixed by a peel in the first place. I expected a citrusy smell, but there’s just a vague “acidic” smell. Not really fun to use. There are two steps. Step 1 is a resurfacing pad. You apply it and let dry, rinse, and apply the step 2 restoring pad, let dry, and rinse. Afterward, my skin does not seem different.
Alba Hawaiian Jasmine & Vit. E Moisture Cream
Overall Score (out of 5): 5+++++++++
Price: ~$14?
I love this. It keeps winter skin under control, and the jasmine scent is amazing. I love to put this on. Sometimes I can’t get myself to stop putting it on and end up with a greasy face. But this is not greasy and feels almost velvety on skin, but is thick is heavy duty for winter flaky skin. My mouth waters when I open this jar.
These are my new boots. Please excuse my dirty floor; there’s nothing you can’t find on it. They’re Carlos Santana, who apparently designs shoes. I got them on sale at Macy’s for half the original price (around 60 bucks). I love how they’re cowgirl but a little more put together. Even though these have zero traction, I still wear them in the snow and take 20 minutes to walk across the street to class. They legs are really tiny though. I have pretty standard/athletic calves, and I had to wear these around my room a little to stretch them out lol. At first, they cut off some circulation, so I recommend these for skinny-leg people.
Here’s a look I did with Jemma Kidd i-Tech liquid liners in Covert (aqua) and Contrast (lime green), and a royal blue pencil with no label on the bottom lid.
Winter skin tips
Posted by: Productfreak on: January 7, 2009
My camera has gone out of commission again. This time it was the battery charger, but I didn’t figure that out before I bought 2 more batteries dangit. First off I want to get out there a quick blurb on NP SET’s Mascara Runway (yea, it’s inverted like that). Part of the new upscale Target makeup lines, this mascara is very natural-looking, impossible to clump, and feels sooooo soft I just want to touch my lashes all day in class. Of course, some curl, volume, and length are compromised, but it was a small price to pay for such fluffy soft lashes.
On to some winter skin tips I keep to. OK, I keep to about once a month when I’m not too lazy. Take a look!
1. Cleansing – With all these harsh cleansers out on the market claiming different miracles, it’s difficult to have faith in the good old stuff like Cold Cream and oil cleansers. Cold cream will not clog pores, no matter how much you expect it to. It’s extremely gentle but manages to get rid of anything rough on the skin, leaving only baby softness. I love this stuff. My alternative is Shu Uemura cleansing oils, particularly the green a/o and yellow premium types. It leaves the skin feeling a little more squeaky clean. After a year of using cold cream, I was stuck in Mexico with no luggage and was forced to use liquid neutrogena, and my skin flaked like nobody’s business, and I was in the tropics. No matter boys have the best skin, and they never use any type of products. I guess the skin isn’t meant to be squeaky clean. Cetaphil is another alternative, but is not as moisturizing as cold cream and harder on the wallet. If you have oiler skin, the switch to a gentle cleanser may be difficult at first, but you skin will adapt and actually fare much better with the change, as it will much less stressed. In addition to keeping my skin happy, I like to think oil cleansers, esp. cold cream, condition my lashes and brows, which is useful sometimes when I overpluck lol.
2. Toning - If you tone, make sure to use something non-alcoholic.
3. Moisturizing – After cleansing with cold cream, I often don’t need to moisturize, or I’d end up with an oil slick on my face. I like to use an anti-aging moisturizer even though I haven’t started to show signs of aging yet. If I had cared about such things then, I would have started using them then! Who knows if they actually work, but hey, you need to moisturize anyway. I like to use a 10% alpha hydroxy cream. If you have sensitive skin, this may sting, so you can dilute with another lotion or buy a lower concentration cream. This stuff will make you skin so so so soft. It gets rid of bumps and rough spots in a matter of days, and it’s great for the body too. Don’t put it on wet skin though, unless you like to torture yourself.
4. Other treatments – I’m not a fan of masks, as they tend to be drying or gimmicky – fun, but pointless. On the other hand, I love Scrubbing. My current scrub of choice is Pure Skincare Black Rice scrub from CVS, and I love it..the ricey scent, the large, rough (and sometimes painful (but that lets you know they’re doing their job!)) granules, and the consistency. But scrubbing with salt or sugar in a few drops of honey will do the trick just as well.
I’m gonna get on fixing that camera as soon as I can get to Best Buy. Til then, take care yall!
