shagtownlady
Member Since: March 22, 2009Reviews
Breathe Right Nasal Strips
These strips are genius! Last week I had a cold and my sinuses were very congested, and I felt immediate relief after putting one of these strips on. The strip feels comfortable to wear, and it's easy to apply and remove as long as you're gentle... +
These strips are genius! Last week I had a cold and my sinuses were very congested, and I felt immediate relief after putting one of these strips on.
The strip feels comfortable to wear, and it's easy to apply and remove as long as you're gentle and remove with water. It stayed on throughout the night and allowed me to get some much needed rest.
It basically holds your nose open more, which really helps when you're stuffed up and have irritated sinuses. It doesn't clear up the congestion, but it takes away some pressure and immediately makes my sinuses feel more open and relaxed.
Because of the way it works, it makes my nose look much wider! But it gave my bf and I a good laugh, and it's a small price to pay for relief from a stuffy nose, especially since it's drug-free.
I would definitely recommend these to anyone! It's great whether you're suffering from a cold or allergies and it works instantly.
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COVERGIRL Outlast Stay Luminous Foundation
Lately I've been using NARS Sheer Glow foundation, but it has it's pros and cons because I have to apply it with my hands for the best finish, and none of my primers seem to work that well with it. Applying foundation with my hands takes me longer... +
Lately I've been using NARS Sheer Glow foundation, but it has it's pros and cons because I have to apply it with my hands for the best finish, and none of my primers seem to work that well with it. Applying foundation with my hands takes me longer because I want to be sure everything is even and blended, plus I don't like getting the product all over my fingers, etc. I want something I can just apply with my Beauty Blender and go, but didn't want to spend too much money on another product (and I do love the Sheer Glow).
I looked up some reviews and swatches for drugstore foundations that might have a shade match for me, and found CoverGirl Stay Luminous. The shade I got is the lightest one in this range, and thankfully it's actually quite perfect!
I got 810 Classic Ivory which is less yellow/warm toned than the shade I'm using in NARS (Gobi) but it works so well for me.
The first time I used Stay Luminous I applied it with my hands to compare it to my other product. I really didn't like it - it was hard to blend, and looked way too dewy on my already somewhat oily complexion. The luminescence in this product is obvious when you look at the bottle of product, although it doesn't show up on the skin. However, when I apply this with my hands I think it goes on way too thick, and the luminosity just translates as greasy (at least for me). Powdering over top helped tone down the shine a bit, but this didn't wear well and started looking patchy within a few hours.
SO, I started applying this with my Beauty Blender and it's PERFECT! I can't believe how nice this foundation looks when applied with the BB. For some reason, doing this I use less product but the coverage is way better; plus it looks even and blends easily (although it sets within a minute or two and you kind of have to leave it alone after that). With the BB this has more of a natural finish; it's way less dewy and not greasy looking. It still has a luminous looking finish, but it's more subdued and so beautiful.
Using Beauty Blender to apply this, it lasts much longer and wears very well. I don't have to powder it too much to set it, and it still lasts for hours without breaking up or starting to look weird. This does cling a bit to dry patches like most other foundations, but it isn't as bad as others can be because the formula isn't matte.
I've tried this alone, and applied over MakeUpForEver's Step 1 Hydrating Primer (applied with the BB of course). It works well both ways but I still don't think this is the right primer for this product.
Overall I am pretty impressed with Stay Luminous. It isn't the perfect formula for my skin (somewhat oily, somewhat dry, with some noticeable pores) but I love the glowy look it gives my skin.
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Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting BHA 2% Salicylic Acid Liquid Exfoliant
I found out about Paula's Choice and this product in particular from online reviews (especially from https://www.reddit.com/r/skincareaddiction/). My skin can be so combination (sensitive, oily, dry, pores are enlarged in places and get clogged... +
I found out about Paula's Choice and this product in particular from online reviews (especially from https://www.reddit.com/r/skincareaddiction/). My skin can be so combination (sensitive, oily, dry, pores are enlarged in places and get clogged easily), so it's hard to find exfoliants that actually work without further irritating my skin.
I've tried a few chemical type exfoliants in the past year or so and they worked well for a time, but this is the one I've been relying on for the past few months and actually feel like I'm making progress with my skin!
I've been using this once a day, usually pm, after cleansing and before moisturizing. It does tend to leave a slight residue on my skin which is why I prefer using it at night (also because it can make your skin sensitive to the sun), but if I let it dry longer I'm sure it would be fine to use under makeup during the day, with a good SPF.
Since I've been using the 2% BHA Liquid, my pores are much clearer and I don't have the same issues I used to with flaky, dry spots around my chin and nose. I still get some slight breakouts on my chin around my time of the month, but they are much less noticeable and go away faster.
I love that this is so gentle and effective. My skin has improved so much while using it, and it's SO inexpensive as well! It's available in small foil packets, deluxe sample bottles or the full size, so it's easy to try out and see if it works before committing to the product (I bought a bunch of samples the first time just in case).
I can't recommend Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid enough. I've tried a lot of decent exfoliants in the past while, but this one is by far my favourite! It's the easiest to use and has helped make my skin much healthier looking.
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KVD Vegan Beauty Everlasting Liquid Lipstick
This is my first hardcore liquid lipstick; as in the colour is full and opaque, and once you put it on it's going to stay put for quite a while. I absolutely love it, as with every other KVD product I've tried lately (just some lip products and... +
This is my first hardcore liquid lipstick; as in the colour is full and opaque, and once you put it on it's going to stay put for quite a while. I absolutely love it, as with every other KVD product I've tried lately (just some lip products and Monarch eye shadow palette).
I got this in Double Dare. It's one of the nude / neutral shades, and is such a beautiful colour, especially for fall and winter.
This lipstick has no scent (unlike the Studded Kiss bullets) and it goes on perfectly smooth. It can be a tiny bit patchy on the first swipe, but that's only when I try to apply this in a very thin layer. Otherwise, it is rich and opaque. The formula is great, and it really does last for hours. I only have it start to wear off when I eat something (sipping my coffee throughout the day doesn't affect it). I haven't tested to see how long it would last on it's own without interference, but I'm sure it would be pretty remarkable in it's staying power!
It's easy to apply this straight from the tube - it has a doe-foot applicator which works great. Sometimes I line my lips with the edge of the applicator, and then fill in the rest of my lips. However sometimes I like to apply this with a finer tipped lip brush, so I can get perfect edges. This also makes the colour appear a tiny bit lighter on my lips, than if applied with the doe-foot.
The shade Double Dare really reminds me of the Studded Kiss bullet version of the shade Lolita-they are both rosey-brown types of shades, and not too dark. I own and love Studded Kiss Lolita, but have heard the liquid lipstick version of it is more of a brown shade so I've been avoiding it.
I really love this product - it's got serious staying power, beautiful, rich shades and it doesn't actually dry my lips out much. I'm sure it would affect them more if I wore this all day, every day, but using it once in a while doesn't affect my lips any more than using other lipsticks/glosses/etc would.
I wish I had the courage to wear more of the colours in this product range, but for now I am very happy with Double Dare and would recommend it to anyone!
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Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Curling Mascara
I am a HUGE fan of both Benefit's Bad Gal Lash and They're Real mascaras, but am not so into Roller Lash. Roller Lash has a "Hook n Roll" design on the brush, meant to catch and lift your lashes and give them a decent curl. The wand is curved, and... +
I am a HUGE fan of both Benefit's Bad Gal Lash and They're Real mascaras, but am not so into Roller Lash.
Roller Lash has a "Hook n Roll" design on the brush, meant to catch and lift your lashes and give them a decent curl. The wand is curved, and has shorter bristles on the inner edge, with longer ones on the outer edge. This always messes with me for some reason (any curved wand from any mascara), because I find it hard to use the same technique on both eyes with this brush, and then my lashes might look thicker on one side, more curled on the other, etc.
I also find the plastic/rubber bristles to be a little rough on my eyes sometimes - maybe its me but I always get poked a little bit when I'm trying to apply the mascara to the very base of my lashes.
I do think the curved brush can emphasize and help lift the lashes, but it isn't a noticeable difference compared to my other mascaras.
The formula of Roller Lash seems a bit different than Benefit's other mascaras. For whatever reason, I find this to really clump my lashes together if I'm not careful. It also seems to flake off and become smudged throughout the day, a little more than I'm used to. My eyes are hooded and eye makeup tends to transfer on me, to my brow bone and under eye, but more so with certain mascaras and this is one of them.
Overall I would definitely recommend Roller Lash if you're interested in trying it and don't mind the price. I'm glad I tried it because I love Benefit's other mascaras, and I love mascara in general so I had to see what the product was like for myself. Unfortunately, for me this product is a little too clumpy and smudgy, and the brush design isn't my favourite, so it isn't worth the price.
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NARS Sheer Glow Foundation
I bought Sheer Glow this past summer. I loved the colour match and the way it looks from the start, but didn't really want to apply it with my hands all the time (which is what you're meant to do with this foundation). I tried using my Beauty... +
I bought Sheer Glow this past summer. I loved the colour match and the way it looks from the start, but didn't really want to apply it with my hands all the time (which is what you're meant to do with this foundation). I tried using my Beauty Blender, foundation brushes, and with 2 different primers underneath, and most of the time it would end up looking super cakey and sunken into my pores, if not immediately then definitely after a few hours.
It took some time to realize that not using any primers, and just taking a tiny dab and warming this between my fingers is THE only way to apply this foundation - it goes on so perfectly and wears so much longer! It doesn't get all weird around my pores, doesn't fade too much, and only starts to settle a little bit around my mouth/"laugh lines" by the end of the day.
The finish of Sheer Glow is what I truly love. It perfects the skin so much, but it also looks natural. It's ethereal in a way - like the skin is glowing with health and youth. It isn't actually a luminescent or dewy foundation, but it definitely has that feel. In my opinion the coverage is a pretty decent medium - it covers a lot of my imperfections and hides under-eye darkness pretty well, but not completely.
This foundation doesn't have a noticeable scent (to me) and it doesn't cause me any breakouts or dryness.
The shades available are so decent - there are cool tones AND warm/yellow tones to choose from, which I really needed - Gobi is pretty perfect for me.
Because I have to apply this with my hands, it seems to take a bit longer than if I was using something like a sponge or brush, and I have to be more careful that I've blended properly and haven't missed any areas! Also, the packaging could be better. It looks amazing, but the black rubberized material they use on the cap can get messy pretty fast if you're not careful, and most importantly there is no pump included. There is one available separately, but I didn't see it when I purchased this. The formula seems a tiny bit thick at first, so it isn't easy to pour out, and it just seems to waste product and mess up the bottle.
Apart from those two things, I really love this foundation! It is definitely worth the price, for how it performs (when applied correctly) and how it looks. I love the finish, and the way it looks on me in photos is gorgeous. I would definitely recommend others to check this foundation out!
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KVD Vegan Beauty Monarch Palette
This palette is so beautiful! The quality is perfect, from the product right down to the packaging. Each shade is gorgeous, and so rich and pigmented. If I tap my brush into the shadows too hard it kicks up a little powder, but that is only because... +
This palette is so beautiful!
The quality is perfect, from the product right down to the packaging. Each shade is gorgeous, and so rich and pigmented. If I tap my brush into the shadows too hard it kicks up a little powder, but that is only because these are so SOFT. They aren't "powdery" at all, they actually feel almost creamy, and are incredibly easy to blend out. They don't require primer to make them look more vivid, and they can last a long time on their own before starting to crease or fade on me.
The packaging is cardboard, but quite sturdy and it has a nice weight to it. There's a decent sized mirror inside that's easy to use when you're holding the palette.
I love how the shades are organized; you can create looks easily from each little set of 4 (each base shadow plus the 3 each beneath them), or mix and match them all. All the shades go together, and I find it way easier than ever to incorporate multiple shadows into my look, or just use one or two for something more simple.
The colours are all gorgeous and are so wearable, and the packaging is a work of art. I can't recommend this palette enough!
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CoverGirl Ready Set Gorgeous Concealer
This is a really decent, inexpensive concealer! I love how easy it was to find a very close match for my skin tone. The shades are easy to see in the packaging, and there are a good amount of neutral to warm tones (which I need), as well as cool... +
This is a really decent, inexpensive concealer! I love how easy it was to find a very close match for my skin tone. The shades are easy to see in the packaging, and there are a good amount of neutral to warm tones (which I need), as well as cool tones.
Ready, Set GORGEOUS Concealer has a great texture. It's like a liquid foundation, very creamy and easy to blend out. If it's blended right away, it has a sheerer coverage. For blemishes I like to pat it on, then let it set for a few moments before blending, which lets it dry a bit and gives more coverage.
I really prefer this to every other concealer I've tried - the texture is beautiful and very easy to work with. It isn't a complete coverage concealer, but it does a good job of hiding blemishes and dark circles. I really like using it under my eyes because it doesn't get cakey or dry looking, but it also doesn't crease or fade away when set well with powder. A lot of concealers I've tried either have an oily or thick texture that doesn't wear well throughout the day, but Ready, Set GORGEOUS looks very natural and it actually stays put for hours without starting to look like a mess.
I'm not usually a fan of concealers, but this is one that I really like. The packaging isn't fancy, but the product itself works, and it's very affordable!
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Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Pomade
My brows are pretty full looking on their own, but I sometimes feel like their shape needs some polishing up. I've tried brow pencils and eye shadows to fill in any spots that don't look quite as thick, and to give my brows a bit more definition... +
My brows are pretty full looking on their own, but I sometimes feel like their shape needs some polishing up. I've tried brow pencils and eye shadows to fill in any spots that don't look quite as thick, and to give my brows a bit more definition, but those never give me the result I'm looking for.
After seeing so many reviews online about Dipbrow I decided to try it out, and it honestly lives up to the hype! I love that this can be used to emphasize your natural brows, or to create a new shape entirely. It's so versatile and very easy to use.
There are lots of shades to choose from, so pretty much anyone can find a match in this product. I've noticed that a lot of companies only offer 2 or 3 shades when it comes to brow products, so to be able to choose from more than 10 colours is awesome.
The consistency is like a gel eye liner. It's very pigmented so you only need a little bit to start with, and it doesn't dry down right away so you have lots of time to work with it.
I dip my brush into the pot to get a little product, and then swipe it on the inside of the cap so make sure there isn't too much on the brush. Then if I need more product I pick up what's left on the inside cap first. It really helps to fill in any patchy spots, and make my brows look more groomed. The product doesn't go on thick or clumpy, like some brow pencils I've tried, and it dries down to a somewhat matte, natural finish.
A little bit goes a long way, especially having pretty full brows already, so this will definitely last me for a long time. It was a bit pricey but definitely worth it since it's such great quality and I actually enjoy using it, (unlike brow pencils I've tried).
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KVD Vegan Beauty Studded Kiss Lipstick
I recently bought the shades Lolita and Magick, and everything about them is perfect! I don't have many actual lipsticks in my collection, mainly lip products and tinted balms or glosses. I've shied away from lipstick because it's hard for me to... +
I recently bought the shades Lolita and Magick, and everything about them is perfect!
I don't have many actual lipsticks in my collection, mainly lip products and tinted balms or glosses. I've shied away from lipstick because it's hard for me to find shades that I knew I would like - the colours are always just a little off, and there's always something I would change about the product, like the way it feels or wears, or the scent.
Studded Kiss are basically everything I've wanted in a lipstick - both shades are exactly what I thought they'd be and I feel beautiful in them. The way they feel on my lips is perfect - the formula is a bit dry I guess, but not actually drying. They are still quite creamy and easy to apply, without patchiness, but the slight dryness of the product kind of makes it become one with my lips! It just feels like nothing is there, it is SO comfortable. These lipsticks don't smear or transfer very much, if at all, and they stay on my lips for hours.
Lolita feels a tiny bit more matte and just very slightly less creamy than Magick, (which is a brand new shade and has very fine glitter, as opposed to Lolita which is more matte and has no glitter). Magick does seem to transfer a tiny bit more but not much.
The crème brulee scent these makes me love them completely, and the packaging is just too amazing. It's beautiful and feels very sturdy. I haven't had any issues with the lid coming off in my purse or anything, but I've been very careful with these because I like them so much!
I can't recommend these enough. The two shades I have are absolutely gorgeous, and I can't wait to try some of the bolder colours. If you see one you're interested in, definitely buy it!
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