withdiamonds
Member Since: March 29, 2010Reviews
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Original
I love this stuff. I have oily skin, which is something I've mentioned in nearly every review I've written here. It doesn't matter what I do, even my eyelids get oily, which means, no matter how awesome the eyeshadow, it's going to crease. Until... +
I love this stuff.
I have oily skin, which is something I've mentioned in nearly every review I've written here. It doesn't matter what I do, even my eyelids get oily, which means, no matter how awesome the eyeshadow, it's going to crease. Until now. I received a small sample of Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion and, honestly, I'll never stop using it. Since starting to use it, I've noticed that my eyeshadow doesn't crease at all anymore. Even if I put it on under some of the cheaper shadows I own, they'll last all day, no creases, no rubbing off. And as an added bonus, the primer makes the colour richer.
The only thing I don't like about it is that it makes it a little difficult to blend colour. I have to be careful about how I've applied it, because if I want to blend the shadow into my crease, I'll need to avoid using too much primer there. But all in all, it's an excellent product.
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Tarte Lipsurgence Natural Lip Tint
I received Tarte Lipsurgance natural lip tint in 'lively' as part of a bonus gift from Sephora, so while I can't comment on the price (free is always good, right?) I can say that I absolutely adore the product. I wasn't sure what I'd think of it at... +
I received Tarte Lipsurgance natural lip tint in 'lively' as part of a bonus gift from Sephora, so while I can't comment on the price (free is always good, right?) I can say that I absolutely adore the product. I wasn't sure what I'd think of it at first, because I have a tendency to lean toward more glossy colours and this one was clearly a matte, but it's actually really lovely.
First, the smell. It smells like some kind of mint, which I love. I know a lot of people aren't really fond of that scent, so that should serve as a bit of a warning as well, but for me? It's amazing. Mint is one of my favourite scents in the world and every time I uncap the lip tint, I get excited to use it based solely on the smell.
It offers great coverage. The 'lively' colour is a rich, deep pink, almost red, and it covers really well. It's more of a lip crayon, so the tip can be a little thicker than some lipsticks, which means you have to be careful when putting it on. If it gets on your skin, it's staying on your skin. Which says great things about how long the colour lasts. I find that I only need to reapply after I eat. If I didn't eat, it would probably last all day, but I like food too much to give it up for lipstick.
My only qualm is that it left my lips feeling a little dry. I like something with a lot of moisture and this didn't really bring that. On the bright side, my lips didn't look dry.
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L'Oreal True Match Mineral Powder Foundation
Still on that epic search for a foundation. Just to re-cap, my problem with most foundations is that I have oily skin with large pores and even with a good primer, most foundations sink into my skin over the course of the day, leaving my pores... +
Still on that epic search for a foundation.
Just to re-cap, my problem with most foundations is that I have oily skin with large pores and even with a good primer, most foundations sink into my skin over the course of the day, leaving my pores looking extra large. I asked a friend what she would recommend and she suggested a mineral foundation.
Not wanting to spend a lot of money on something I didn't end up liking very much, I decided to try L'Oreal's version of the mineral makeup first. I can only hope that other brands work as well as this. What I like so much is that the coverage of this mineral makeup is surprisingly good. I've never been sure what to expect in terms of coverage, but L'Oreal's makeup covers like a dream. No redness, no uneven skin tone anymore.
But the best part? It's still so light that it doesn't get sucked into my pores within a few hours. My skin will always be oily, it seems, no matter what, but so far, this makeup hasn't been affected much by that. It stays looking light all day, needing only minor touch ups.
My only complaint would be that if I touch my face, it does come away fairly easily. But I guess there is a trade off with a foundation this light.
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Sephora Collection Blush Me!
In looking for blush, I always found even the lightest colours too pink or too red or too something. It seemed that many blushes I tried were simply too dark for my pale skin, no matter how lightly I applied them. Sephora's Blush Me! in Meringue... +
In looking for blush, I always found even the lightest colours too pink or too red or too something. It seemed that many blushes I tried were simply too dark for my pale skin, no matter how lightly I applied them. Sephora's Blush Me! in Meringue Jalouse is exactly what I was looking for.
I tested it in the store (I love Sephora for this; no more buying makeup and being dissatisfied when I can test anything I want first!) and loved the light sheen it added to my cheeks. In addition to adding just the right amount of colour, there's a nice shimmer to the blush as well, giving a beautiful contouring effect.
Excellent blush, especially for the price!
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Almay Smart Shade Makeup
After months, I'm still on a quest for the perfect foundation. Given how well my primer works, I decided to try a brand with lighter coverage, a finish that would be much more sheer and a friend suggested I give Almay Smart Shade foundation a... +
After months, I'm still on a quest for the perfect foundation. Given how well my primer works, I decided to try a brand with lighter coverage, a finish that would be much more sheer and a friend suggested I give Almay Smart Shade foundation a try. I'd looked at it before and thought it looked interesting, given the way the makeup starts off white and is supposed to blend into your skin tone. Considering my love for Almay's Clear Complexion foundation, I figured it would likely be good makeup.
The problem I have encountered time and again is in the shade of foundation. I find that many are too orange for my extremely fair skin, no matter how light I go. I was hoping that this would be different and picked up a bottle of the 'light' version of this foundation.
It was a disaster. It starts off white and as soon as I begin to blend it into my skin, it turns a horrible shade of orange. I tried various methods of blending, including patting it lightly onto my skin and using smaller and smaller amounts. The only reason I use foundation now is to even out my VERY uneven skin tone around my nose and mouth, and I find that wherever I put this foundation, I just end up with orange splotches, instead of red.
I'm very disappointed in the performance of this makeup.
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Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Water-Light Daily Face Sunscreen SPF 45
I received Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Water-Light Daily Face Sunscreen as part of the Product Review Club and I absolutely love this product. I wear sunscreen daily as it is, although it's built into my moisturizer (also Neutrogena and also... +
I received Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Water-Light Daily Face Sunscreen as part of the Product Review Club and I absolutely love this product. I wear sunscreen daily as it is, although it's built into my moisturizer (also Neutrogena and also well loved) so I was excited to try this new product.
It is exactly what it says it is. Unlike many sunscreens that are made specifically for the face, this product actually is sheer and very, very light. I have sensitive skin and am prone to break outs, but I've been wearing this product every day for a week now and there is no sign of it clogging my pores or being too heavy for my face.
In the morning, I put it on right after my shower before I put on my moisturizer. I find I do still need to put something on over it, as my skin feels very tight after a shower and the sunscreen does nothing to help this. However, it's so light weight and sheer that it feels like I'm wearing nothing at all, so layering moisturizer and makeup on after I've put it on doesn't feel strange. It's extremely comfortable to wear under makeup and I love that it doesn't feel like I'm piling more and more things onto my face.
The scent is light and airy as well. It barely smells like anything at all, which I definitely consider a plus. My skin doesn't react well to strong perfumes or overwhelming scents and this really doesn't irritate my face in any way. It protected my skin well, after I wore it alone outside on a very hot and bright day and came home without even a hint of colour on my face. I like that it kept my skin from getting burned, especially since I forgot to reapply throughout the day and was outside and sweating for several hours under the sun.
Even my boyfriend, who refuses to put anything on his face because he claims it feels weird, couldn't find anything to complain about with this product.
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Philosophy The Present Clear Makeup
About a week ago, I went into Sephora looking for some new makeup brushes and ended up asking an employee what she could recommend for my foundation problem. Often, I find foundations (even the oil free brands) end up looking greasy halfway through... +
About a week ago, I went into Sephora looking for some new makeup brushes and ended up asking an employee what she could recommend for my foundation problem. Often, I find foundations (even the oil free brands) end up looking greasy halfway through the day, and make my already large pores look even bigger when it just sinks right in there. She recommended I try a primer and, after asking several questions about my skin type, gave me a sample of Philosophy The Present Clear Makeup.
I took it home, pretty excited about trying it, and I have yet to be disappointed. When putting it on in the morning, I do have to let it set, but it leaves my skin feeling both moisturized and beautifully soft and smooth. Even with that sense of moisture, it feels amazing going on, not the slightest bit greasy or oily. I had to adjust how I put on foundation (there's no more slow blending, as the primer 'sets' the foundation fairly quickly) but once I learned to dab lightly, one area at a time, I found my foundation going on quite nicely.
The best part? My face doesn't look like an oil slick halfway through the day. Yeah, I still get a bit of shine, but this primer has more than cut that in half. I can touch my face without cringing and, when I look in the mirror at the end of each day, I don't notice my foundation sinking into my pores or into the beginning of the lines I like to pretend aren't there.
At first, I was a little worried about introducing something new into my skin care routine and I had some concern that it might cause me to break out, but a week later, and I'm satisfied. No new break outs and my sensitive skin hasn't had any sort of reaction to this new addition.
I didn't pay for what I have now, but I certainly have no problem paying the asking price of $32 Canadian. The bottle is a pretty decent size and the product will probably last for ages. Even the tiny sample I was given will be more than enough to get me through the next month. Only a dab is needed to cover your whole face.
All in all, I'm very satisfied with Philosophy The Present Clear Makeup and, if you're looking for a good primer, this one is fantastic.
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L'Oréal Paris True Match Super Blendable Foundation
In an attempt to find a new foundation, I turned to L'Oreal, only to be horribly disappointed. I picked up the lightest shade, which matched my skin beautifully, a problem I'd run into with previous foundations I had tried. However... +
In an attempt to find a new foundation, I turned to L'Oreal, only to be horribly disappointed. I picked up the lightest shade, which matched my skin beautifully, a problem I'd run into with previous foundations I had tried.
However, L'Oreal True Match Foundation claims to be oil-free, something I certainly can't see reflected in my skin. Within an hour of putting it on, I'm shiny. All over. Not just my t-zone, which always ends up a little shiny by the end of the day, but my whole face. I find myself blotting on anything I can get my hands on several times a day just so I don't feel like I'm going to drip on something.
Even with a loose powder or a pressed powder applied after the foundation in order to set it, I still get the same results. It just doesn't feel good and while it hasn't caused me to break out (yet) I sure don't find it to be as 'oil-free' as it claims. I wouldn't recommend this foundation to anyone whose skin already produces enough oil as it is. You're just going to end up wiping it all off your face by the end of the day.
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Almay Clear Complexion Makeup
This is sort of a frustrating review for me to write, because I absolutely love this makeup, but cannot find a colour match for the life of me. I was able to use the lightest colour Almay offered during the summer when I was a little darker than I... +
This is sort of a frustrating review for me to write, because I absolutely love this makeup, but cannot find a colour match for the life of me. I was able to use the lightest colour Almay offered during the summer when I was a little darker than I am in the winter. It blends wonderfully and feels so light on my skin. It boasts that it's oil-free and absolutely feels as such. My skin didn't end up shiny halfway through the day, yet felt nourished and moisturized.
However, as I lost my light tan and made a decision to be more careful with my skin in the future and keep the sun off my face this summer, I noticed that even the lightest colour looked a little orange on me. It didn't blend as well into the rest of my skin and when I went looking for a new shade, I found this to be my only option, which was intensely disappointing. I'm very fair skinned, but I'm not the only fair skinned girl out there, so a few more options would have been wonderful.
Despite this, while I was able to use it, I absolutely loved this makeup. It made my skin feel fantastic and it will be tough to replace.
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Garnier Skin Renew Brusher Gel-Cleanser
As someone with relatively sensitive and acne prone skin, if I'm not careful, I'm fairly cautious about trying out new products. When I find something that works, I like to stick to it. However, I had the opportunity to try Garnier Skin... +
As someone with relatively sensitive and acne prone skin, if I'm not careful, I'm fairly cautious about trying out new products. When I find something that works, I like to stick to it. However, I had the opportunity to try Garnier Skin Renew Brusher Gel-Cleanser and figured that the whole brush/massager system was interesting enough for me to give it a shot at least once.
Now, don't get me wrong, it is nice. Make sure to wet your face first (I forgot, initially, after getting caught up in brush preparation and the brush didn't glide very well over my dry skin) and the massage will feel absolutely lovely. Even if the brush preparation is a little bit of a pain when you're used to just squirting some cleanser into your hands and rubbing them together, it's an invigorating feeling. The brush is gentle and soft and distributes the product well over your skin.
My only issue with the product is how it left my skin feeling. No matter how much I rinsed my face after applying the product, my skin felt a little slimy, like there was a layer of product left behind. This isn't a feeling I'm particularly fond of. After using this product, I had to wash my face a second time with my regular cleanser just to feel clean.
For someone with skin less sensitive than mine, this might be a great product and I absolutely love the brush idea. I won't continue to use it, but I bet some people out there are going to love this.
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