Marianne and I talk about a lot of the beauty products we buy and most of our reactions/reviews are written when the product is still new to us. This is...sort of helpful. A first impression is great and all but sometimes my opinion changes quite a bit over time and I thought it might be good to revisit a few of the items that I've changed my mind about.
First, CoverGirl Clump Crusher mascara. (Original review here.) My initial review was really lukewarm. I do not have the most awesome lashes so I wasn't too impressed with the weak-sauce nature of this stuff. However, I've continued to mess with it and have discovered that if I take my time and do three coats it's crazy-good, especially for day. Not over the top, but good. And it is never clumpy, so there's that.
Next, that crazy-expensive Armani concealer I bought. (Original review here.) It's...fine. Not great, not horrible, just fine. My undereye circles are epic and I'm never quite satisfied with any concealer I buy and keep hoping the next one will be The One. This one is not The One. Save your money.
Then there was the Laura Mercier creme compact. (Original review here.) I got a deluxe sample of this back in November and I still really like it...or what's left of it. I keep it in my bag to use for touch ups and it's just a really decent product. I'm not sure why I haven't actually bought it yet, but I probably should.
One thing I'm standing by is my original review of the Urban Decay Optical Blurring brush. It's still not knocking my socks off and I mostly use it to make sure my foundation is blended around the edges. Eh. If foundation brushes are your thing you might like it, but fingers are free.
Finally, a couple of mini reviews of stuff I talked about buying but never actually reviewed. Whee.
Okay, remember that Josie Maran palette I wanted so badly? I bought it and it's weird. Not bad, exactly, just kind of odd. The three shimmery colors are SUPER loosey-goosey and you'll get fallout galore. The matte shade, however, is an inpenetrable block of NO. I have to scrub at it to get any kind of color on my brush. What the hell is that stuff made of? And the whole thing smells a little...argan-y. But all that aside, if you do the work and apply all the colors the end effect is very pretty.
I also bought this Josie Maran argan color stick in petal pink. This, I like. It's a little like NARS Orgasm in color - a pretty shimmery peach-pink and it looks lovely on. A subtle flush of color. It also feels nice on the skin (argan-y!) and smells just fine. It doesn't last as long as my beloved Benetint, but nothing does.
So there you have it. A bit of an update on some old stuff and a quick review of the new. What have you bought lately that you love (or hate?) Please save us from ourselves.
I'm a Clump Crusher groupie, but I've found that subsequent tubes that I've bought don't have the same level of awesomeness that the original tube did. I don't know if it's just that I've become accustomed to it or if it's really not as awesome. But I still use it every day.
ReplyDeleteHave you heard about Clinique's new CC cream? It's supposed to be better than BB creams but my local Clinique counters don't have it yet. I'm eager to try it out.
I haven't heard about the new CC cream! If you try it, let me know how it is.
DeleteWhat's your recommendation for eyeliner? I've been trying some but they're all ... not-The-One.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a fave?
I really like Urban Decay 24/7 pencils (in the less-glittery colors) and Mac Eye Kohl pencils. I also occasionally use Bobbi Brown gel liner, but that requires a block of time to apply.
DeleteI, too, love the Urban Decay 24/7 pencils! I have a couple colors that are my must-haves, and just bought a couple new colors with the Sephora VIB discount going on now.
DeleteJust today I started trying out some Bumble and Bumble products (got some sample/travel sizes) - style prep, de-frizz, and volumizing hair spray. Unfortunately, I just got a haircut that isn't working for me so NO hair products are working right now. I'll give it some time and see if any of them work for me.
ReplyDeleteBumble & bumble is good stuff! I hope it works for you eventually. (Sorry about the haircut!)
DeleteAfter buying 2 different drugstore brands of foundation both of which I hated, I tried about 5 different brands at Sephora. Love the Nars sheer glow foundation. FWIW, I have semi-oily skin.
ReplyDeleteAlso bought the Tarte lipsurgence lip tint. Love the color but it bleeds. Wahhh.
The Prime Time Eyelid Primer from bareMinerals is ridiculously good! I had heard from friends who do some performance art that it's the BEST primer for long-lasting make-up and they weren't lying! It's not cheap, but I really think it's worth every penny.
ReplyDeleteI also like the Nars Eyeliner Stylo - it glides on well and stays put. So far, I'm happy with it.
I just got the Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque in my Birchbox, and it's really awesome. I have thick, curly, frizzy hair, and I seriously think I have found the answer to my hair prayers now. One dose made my hair really soft and cut a lot of the frizz, especially combined with a liberal dose of Aveda Be Curly style prep and Macadamia Natural Oil healing oil. Huzzah! My friend at Clinique also got me into Super City Block, which it a light cream with SPF 40 that doesn't clog pores or feel like sunscreen. OH, and I used to be obsessed with Benetint, but now I actually prefer TheBalm Staniac in Beauty Queen. Very similar in color, but it goes on a bit thicker and seems to last longer.
ReplyDeleteI, too, LOVE the Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque! I have the Luxe Travel pack in my wishlist to try eventually. There was an unfortunate experience at the salon in which the person bleached my hair. Gah! This stuff saved me from shaving my head and starting over. I tried other masques and this one won, by far. And the best part is a sample pack that is enough for 2 uses is only $4! http://www.amazon.com/Macadamia-Oil-Repair-Masque-Unisex/dp/B0046UCZ2G/ref=sr_1_24?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1366518528&sr=1-24&keywords=macadamia+natural+oil
DeleteHave you tried the Bare Minerals "Well Rested" powder for your dark circles, Adrien? For me, it's a wonder. Won't pretend to 'treat' them but covers them up just dandy! Best under-eye concealer I've found, and lasts forever.
ReplyDelete