max.fab
Member Since: June 4, 2007Reviews
Maybelline New York Colossal Volum' Express Mascara
Yet another goodies from the Product Review Club. I was excited to receive this because I love mascara and I'm always looking for the perfect one - although I doubt anything could be better than the miracle that is Lancome Hypnose mascara. I got... +
Yet another goodies from the Product Review Club. I was excited to receive this because I love mascara and I'm always looking for the perfect one - although I doubt anything could be better than the miracle that is Lancome Hypnose mascara.
I got this in Glam Black, which is the more dramatic of the black shades (I forget what the other shade is called). Here's the verdict:
Price: 5 out of 5 (because it was free. I think it retails for around $7 which is very reasonable)
Packaging (Brush Wand): 4 out of 5
Overall: 3.5 out of 5
What it claims: "Creates 9X the volume, instantly."
The truth: It’s good. I mean, it’s a really good mascara.
What I loved about it: The definition and length are definitely there. It is rich and black and even after several coasts it doesn't weigh down the lashes. Volume-wise it was acceptable - but I don't think it lives up to the 9x claim. Although the brush was huge, it was surprisingly un-messy and did a good job on the little tiny lashes at the inside corners of my eyes.
What I didn't like: The wand is pretty dry coming out of the tube. I felt like I couldn't get enough product. I really wanted to pump it but we all know that's a big no-no.
Overall: I’m impressed but I’m not doing cartwheels. It's a good mascara but there isn't anything so spectacular about it. the best thing about it is the price I think. It gives big results for the price point.
Would I recommend it: Definitley. One of the better drugstore mascaras I've tried.
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pHisoderm Body Wash in Aloe, Vitamin E & Chamomile
I received this from the ChickAdvisor Product Review Club and it couldn't have arrived at a better time. When I got home Friday evening after playing 18 holes of golf in the blazing sun I was a sweaty, dirty, sticky mess! I was so happy to see this... +
I received this from the ChickAdvisor Product Review Club and it couldn't have arrived at a better time. When I got home Friday evening after playing 18 holes of golf in the blazing sun I was a sweaty, dirty, sticky mess! I was so happy to see this in my mailbox that I jumped into the shower immediately.
I normally use Dove Cream Oil body wash and although I dearly love it, I don't really like using it when I'm hot and sweaty and dirty. It deposits a lot of moisture on my skin - which is normally a good thing, especially in the winter - but when it's hot and I feel filthy, I just want to be squeaky clean when I get out of the shower. I had high hopes for this (it even LOOKS clean in the bottle lol) and it did not disappoint. The smell is pleasant, fresh (in a good way - see my face wash review), fruity and vaguely floral. It lathers up nicely but not excessively, and rinses away clean with no sticky residue on the skin. I felt so good after washing it with it once that I did it again just for the heck of it. I've been using it all weekend and I'm still pleased with the results.
Another great thing about this cleanser is that it's unisex - I've even gotten my male roommate using it. Normally he and I each buy our own body wash which gets a little crowded on our tiny shower shelf, but this is something we can both use.
While nothing can take the place of my favourite body wash, this will make a great backup cleanser for the days when I just want to get clean without all the extra fragrance, creams, and oil. I would probably buy this again.
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pHisoderm Normal to Oily Skin Cleanser
I received this as part of the ChickAdvisor Product Review Club. Overall I'd give it a rating of just alright. It's definitely gentle on my skin and it comes in a nice big bottle, which is a plus, but it has a weird smell that I didn't care for... +
I received this as part of the ChickAdvisor Product Review Club. Overall I'd give it a rating of just alright.
It's definitely gentle on my skin and it comes in a nice big bottle, which is a plus, but it has a weird smell that I didn't care for at all. The best way for me to descirbe it as what West Indian people call "fresh". It's not a good thing, but I don't know what the Canadian equivalent would be...maybe gamey? Let's just say that in the Caribbean raw chicken smells "fresh" until you squeeze some lemon juice on it. Know what I mean? Although the smell was unpleasant it didn't linger and wouldn't stop me from using the cleanser again.
Anyway, apart from the smell the experience of using the cleanser was pretty good. It doesn't lather too much, which is good and when I used first thing in the morning my face felt clean but not tight or dry. However when I used it to wash off my makeup, my face didn't feel clean and I had to re-wash it twice before it got off all my makeup. Not a good thing but I don't know too many cleansers that can get your face deep down clean in one shot so I won't hold that against it.
After using it all weekend, I did notice a couple of tiny pimples coming out on my face but it is my time of the month so I can't say for sure this cleanser caused it.
pHisoderm has never really been on my radar so I was glad to have a chance to test out some of their products. I think of it as being more natural and gentle and targeted to people with sensitive skin and when I'm choosing skincare products I tend to look more for heavy artillery. My skin is very oily and riddled with clogged pores and blackheads and is not sensitive at all so I wouldn't say this is ideal for me, but if you're looking for something gentle and non-drying that just gets your face clean this is the cleanser for you.
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Benefit Cosmetics Benetint Cheek and Lip Stain
Another one I decided to try out after reading a bunch of reviews. I almost had a heart attack when the total came to over $40CAD. But I guess it's worth it. I followed the instructions on MUA and applied three short lines to my cheek and patted it... +
Another one I decided to try out after reading a bunch of reviews. I almost had a heart attack when the total came to over $40CAD. But I guess it's worth it. I followed the instructions on MUA and applied three short lines to my cheek and patted it in. I had to move fast because this stuff does dry really quickly. I do two layers on each cheek and I'm good to go and it does last a long time. The first time I used it was in the morning when I went to work. When I came home at the end of the day and had a shower it was still on when I came out! I also use it on my lips but for some reason it comes out much darker on the bottom than on the top - what's that about? My lips are the same colour. Anyway I really like the colour on my lips BUT I absolutely hate the taste so I have to put a generous coating of clear gloss over it. Overall a good product but I would feel better if it was $20. -
Benefit Cosmetics BADgal Blue Mascara
I'm pretty ambivalent about this mascara....before purchasing I read on the message boards that it would not look blue at all on a DDD such as myself. And although it's not that noticeable, especially because I wear glasses, if youi knew it was blue... +
I'm pretty ambivalent about this mascara....before purchasing I read on the message boards that it would not look blue at all on a DDD such as myself. And although it's not that noticeable, especially because I wear glasses, if youi knew it was blue and you looked at my eyes really closely without my glasses, you can see that it's blue lol. Not sure if that's a good thing though. I think I would like this mascara better if it was more obviously blue, so then it would have one redeeming quality at least. Not that it's so bad, it's just average. Kinda thick but not too bad, lengthens okay, thickens pretty good, doesn't curl your lashes (but then again it's not really meant to) but at least it doesn't straighten your lashes, which i found to be the case with the original bad gal. this might be because of the new angled brush (a la get bent) which is a pretty cool thing about this mascara. I wouldn't purchase again because at $24 it's a bit pricey for just-barely blue. But I will continue to use this tube until it runs out. Oh and I forgot to add that my eyes do not look brighter at all. -
MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in Fresco
so here's the story: i was watching ANTM last week and noticed tyra wearing a really pale pink lipstick that looked so good on her, and which i never thought would suit my skin tone, which is similar to hers. after a bit of MUA research i realized... +
so here's the story: i was watching ANTM last week and noticed tyra wearing a really pale pink lipstick that looked so good on her, and which i never thought would suit my skin tone, which is similar to hers. after a bit of MUA research i realized if a CCC/DDD such as myself wants to do a pale pink, i need warm undertones because cool undertones just look chalky on me. so i looked through my stash to see if i had a pale pink with some gold shimmer or something in it but came up with nothing. next morning i was doing my makeup and went to put on NARS multiple in Portofino as blush which is the only way i've ever used it and then i thought hmmm....tried it on my lips with a bit of clear lipglass on top and it was perfect! took it to work with me and realized what a pain in the ass it is to carry around something so big and unweidly as a lipstick...wouldn't even fit in my makeup bag. so i went to MAC with a bunch of empties to find something close and the SA gave me Fresco to try...i love it. the only thing that's stopping it from being my HG is that i must must must wear clear gloss over it otherwise it looks like crap, and my HG has to be a standalone product. but i love the colour and the texture and the fact that it was free! -
NARS Lip Lacquer in Eros
i love the colour...kind of a deep raspberry with some gold shimmer to it. the texture's nice, thick and kind of whipped, which i think makes it last longer than other lip glosses. but the smell! it stinks so much i can't stand it. i have to put a... +
i love the colour...kind of a deep raspberry with some gold shimmer to it. the texture's nice, thick and kind of whipped, which i think makes it last longer than other lip glosses. but the smell! it stinks so much i can't stand it. i have to put a clear, vanilla-scented lip gloss over it just to mask the awful fragrance. for that reason, i would not buy this again. but it's still a good gloss. -
MAC Cosmetics Studio Finish Concealer
I really like this concealer...I use it after the Studio Fix foundation for some extra coverage on my acne scars and under my eyes, then I just set it with some loose Studio Fix (mine broke so I emptied it into a little container and use it as loose... +
I really like this concealer...I use it after the Studio Fix foundation for some extra coverage on my acne scars and under my eyes, then I just set it with some loose Studio Fix (mine broke so I emptied it into a little container and use it as loose powder instead). The coverage is great; especially after it kind of "sinks in" to my skin. On really hot days I mix a little bit of this with my face cream and make it into a tinted moisturizer. My only complaint is that it doesn't last forever...I put it on around 7:30 in the morning and when I get home around 12 hours later it has usually faded everywhere except under my eyes. But in all fairness I have really really oily skin so I doubt anything could really hold up for 12 hours. -
Maybelline Salon Expert Nail Color
I bought this in Sparkle Brown (#602). I've only used it once, but I have to say I hate the brush. I don't know, maybe I'm some type of nail polish prodigy but I really never had any problem doing my nails with the regular brushes; but now between... +
I bought this in Sparkle Brown (#602). I've only used it once, but I have to say I hate the brush. I don't know, maybe I'm some type of nail polish prodigy but I really never had any problem doing my nails with the regular brushes; but now between this and OPI's oversized brush it's becoming a real pain. This brush keeps spreading in two as I drag it up my nail so that I end up with the two sides of my nail polished and a big bare strip in the middle. The polish itself is streaky but at least it dries quickly. Doubt I'll buy this brand again, there are too many other non-annoying polishes out there. -
Quo Foundation Primer
I don't get this stuff. When I put it on my face it's instantly mattified and feels like silk. Then I put on my makeup and I'm just a big of a greaseball as I ever was. It makes no difference whatsoever. I hate the packaging; The first two weeks i... +
I don't get this stuff. When I put it on my face it's instantly mattified and feels like silk. Then I put on my makeup and I'm just a big of a greaseball as I ever was. It makes no difference whatsoever. I hate the packaging; The first two weeks i had it, the pump came right off with the cap everytime I opened it so I didn't even know there was a pump! For a drugstore brand I didn't think it was that cheap, and as I said, it didn't work for me so I definitely won't be repurchasing. -
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