365reviews

E.L.F. Studio Powder Brush

I bought this powder brush from the studio line on eyeslipsface.com about 3 months ago.  This brush usually retails for $3 but I used a now-expired, online coupon code at that time.  It has a flat top and synthetic bristles.  These bristles are very dense and decently soft.

I've used this brush to apply setting powder, [wider] blush, and shading larger areas.  It works beautifully for these tasks- picks up and applies colors well.   I also tried to use this brush to stipple on liquid foundation.  The results were a little uneven but I should mention that I am still relatively new to this application technique.  I ended up having to blend a lot of the foundation (defeating the original purpose of the stippling) and the final results were still slightly streaky.  I have NOT used this brush for mineral foundation yet.  Although, I'd imagine that people with super-sensitive skin may find repeated buffing with this brush to be a bit rough because the bristles can be a tad scratchy. 

I've also washed this brush several times and there has been minimal/no shedding.  The bottom line: as for using this brush as a liquid or mineral foundation applicator, the jury is still out.  However, it works fantastically as a powder blush and is well worth the price.

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Kiss My Face Tinted Moisturizer

I purchased the Kiss My face Tinted Moisturizer on sale at the drugstore a couple months ago.  I think it usually retails between $6 - $8.  I have medium skin color with yellow/olive undertones (yes, I'm Asian) and bought the shade in "Sisal."  For the ultra-low sale price of less than $3, I didn't not expect much....

However, this product did surprise me!  The sheer coverage is pretty decent for a tinted moisturizer.  It's no foundation, but when used with some strategically-placed concealer and some translucent setting powder all over, I do feel sufficiently covered.  This product is a great alternative to days when I have a decent skin and do not want the heavy feel of foundation.  Also, I was very pleased to find that this TM does not leave a shiny or greasy finish on my oily skin (note that I usually wear a 10% benzoyl peroxide cream below my makeup, which mattifies my t-zone - to see my review of this cream product, click here). 

My minor gripes: the formula is pretty runny and can get a little messy during the application.  Also, the coverage that this TM provides does not last past 3-4 hours.  Finally, there is a very, very slight orange tint.  In my opinion, these cons still outweigh the pros. 

Kiss My Face is a great tinted moisturizer.  It is affordable, has a good formula, and is worth a try.

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Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

Pros: small wand that makes it somewhat maneuverable in the inner corners, shows up very black with a little shine on the lashes, and it's inexpensive.  

Cons: very odd consistency (stays wet on the lashes, but somehow still manages to clump horribly and flake immediately after application), smears too easily, annoyingly sticky formula, and does not really give amazing volume or length. Within seconds of applying this mascara, I had both raccoon-looking eyes and spider-leg eyelashes. 

Bottom line: maybe I purchased a product that's been on the store shelf for a while?  Nonetheless, I don't understand this mascara's hype.  Too messy and sticky!

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Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick

About 2 months ago, I purchased two Maybelline Color Sensational lipsticks in Pink Please and Born with It from my local supermarket/drugstore.  I have medium-colored skin with olive and yellow undertones (I am of Asian decent).  My lips are very pigmented (pinkish-red). 

After hearing so many raves about the Pink Please color, I was disappointed to find that this lipstick was too light for me.  This shade seemed like an pale, opaque whitish-pink on my lips and did not compliment my skin tone.  However, Born with It was a very pretty baby-pink shade that did not washout my face. 

Both lipsticks had the similar formulas with decent coverage and the same [bearable] floral/plastic-y scent.  However, Born with It seems to be slightly more sheer than Pink Please.  These lipsticks were moisturizing and did not dry out with wear like other lipsticks.  Because of the built-in shine, I found that a lip gloss on top is optional/not completely required.  However, these are not long-wearing lipsticks- even with a liner base, they do rub off within a couple hours. 

I will not be re-purchasing Pink Please but will re-purchase Born with It.  This latter shade is a good  everyday lipstick that will go well with a lot of my make-up looks.  I believe this lipstick will generally sell for $5-8.  With that being said, these lipsticks are worth a try. 

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10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Cream (Off-brand)

 

I have extreme combination skin: super oily t-zone and dry cheeks.  Over 5 years ago, I purchased an Equate brand of a 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Cream from Walmart.  I believe that this product was an off-brand of a Clearasil product and it is a thick, white cream that comes in a 1 ounce tube (not a bottle, not a gel formula). 

This product has been a god-send!  Although it was originally meant to be a spot-treatment, I also rub the cream sparingly over my t-zone areas in the morning and it does wonders for evening out my skin tone!  And it reduces shine immediately and temporarily keeps it at bay.  Because the product does lighten my skin a little bit, my pores seem less visible after the application.  And yes, it works reasonably well as an overnight spot treatment.  Of course, the pimple does not completely disappear overnight but is significantly reduced in size and redness.  Over 2-3 months, the acne in these areas have improved tremendously.  This is one of very, very few skin care products that work for me and has become my must-have staple for several years. 

Years ago, this product used to sell at $1.81!  Now, I cannot find the same cream formula anywhere at Walmart and buy the Meijer drugstore brand for $4 - 5.  I think the Meijer one is basically the same 10% benzoyl peroxide formula and does have the same results for me. 

Now, I am not saying that everyone will have the same results as I have had, but this product works for me.  I absolutely would NOT recommend using this product if you have skin that is the least bit dry and/or sensitive (it is a maximum strength cream, after all).  Again, I use this on areas of my face that are oily and are usually not sensitive.  Even though this product  has more than doubled in priced in a small amount of time, it is still worth every penny (and more) in my book! 

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Sally Hansen Nail Growth Miracle

I purchased Sally Hansen Nail Growth Miracle last year for around $8 at my local grocery/drugstore and finally decided to test it out a couple months ago.  I usually have insanely short nails (a result of lifetime 'chain-biting') and have had several failed attempts at growing out my nails. 

The famous product guarantee: "30% Longer nails in 5 days"  The fine print: this 30 percent increase applied to only the "nail tip measurement."  For what it's worth, considering my nail tip was almost non-existent to begin with, this guarantee was fulfilled.  With that being said, I felt like my nails did grow a tad faster as a result of using this product.  The clear polish seemed to protect my nails from cracking and made the tips appear whiter.  Also, the smooth formula did give this amazing glassy finish that was not overly shiny.  It was as if my nails just had a really good buff, even, & shine procedure.  

The biggest downside is that the instructions on the bottle recommends putting a fresh layer on bare nails every other day.  This means that I had to remove the old product layer with nail polish remover prior to every use,  which could be a hassle.  Also, the smell of the polish was quite strong.

Bottom line:  it's not a "miracle" treatment (so don't expect one!), but it does help in some extent by giving a layer of protection to the nails (and it just looks pretty on, lol).  It's possible that my nails felt a tad bit thicker after only a few uses.  But  I am not completely convinced that the treatment actually stimulated nail growth for length.  Regardless, my nails have actually been the longest that they've have been in at least 5 years (a few millimeters past my finger, after approx. 3 weeks of use).  I would (and have) re-purchased this product again.  

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E.L.F. Eyeliner Brush

I bought this eyeliner brush from eyeslipsface.com for the first time about 4 months ago and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED it- the hairs were dense and stiff, but not overly abrasive on my lashline. The brush also picked up colors very nicely and can be used for both tight-lining the eyes and defining [smaller] eyebrows. Both the length and weight of the handle was average/nothing special.  Other people who have tried this brush mentioned that the straight cut of the bristles made it hard to maneuver around the lids (compared to a slanted tip).  However, I personally did not have any difficulty with this straight cut. 

So, it was a very functional and extremely reasonably priced brush. However and unfortunately, when I re-ordered another eyeliner brush from elf, I received a very different brush! This second brush was not dense at all- and the bristles were flimsy and slightly tapered at the ends. :( This one was useless for lining.  I know that brushes can vary individually, but this difference was too extreme.

So, if you're going to buy this brush, it may be a gamble. But for its very low price (usually $1.00) and if you're looking for something functional, I would suggest buying at least 2 or 3 to up your odds of getting a good brush.

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