satojoko
Member Since: April 14, 2010Reviews
Urban Decay Naked Palette
Ever since I had the opportunity to try this palette, I have been salivating over it. It is probably THE most beautiful set of eye shadows I have ever experienced. And yes, they ARE an experience, every single one of them :-) Super saturated... +
Ever since I had the opportunity to try this palette, I have been salivating over it. It is probably THE most beautiful set of eye shadows I have ever experienced. And yes, they ARE an experience, every single one of them :-)
Super saturated colors, smooth, easy application and blending, incredible metallic sheen, a little goes a very long way. I have just requested this and ONLY this for my bday this month - I even told my family where to get it because I know where they are in stock LOL and cannot WAIT to get it in my hot little hands. I have actually dreamed of using this palette several nights in a row. How pathetic is that? haha :-) Oh well, my hobby is far more interesting and pleasurable than putting together jigsaw puzzles or collecting stamps! For those of you who are having trouble getting one, PM me and I'll let you know which store you can run to for your own AFTER my bday LMAO
7 more days til my the BIG day! I will be so upset if this isn't one of the gifts I asked for. If it isn't, I'll be going out myself to get it, immediately. It is worth every penny and then some!
-
COVERGIRL TRUblend Minerals Blush
This is marketed as a blush, yet any time I have ever used it in the Shimmering Sands shade, it did nothing but act as a sparkly, pinkish highlighter. This is due to the fact that it is far too full of fillers, and NOT pigments. The pigments... +
This is marketed as a blush, yet any time I have ever used it in the Shimmering Sands shade, it did nothing but act as a sparkly, pinkish highlighter. This is due to the fact that it is far too full of fillers, and NOT pigments. The pigments themselves are way down on the list of ingredients. The first ingredient on the label is talc, then mica, then oat flour (which is actually VERY good for the skin), along with zinc and titanium dioxide (natural sun screens and also good for skin healing), and then a pile of mineral oil (VERY bad for the skin - WHY?) and chemicals. What you wind up applying to your face is mostly a baby powder-like substance, minus the fragrance (unlike BENEFIT blushes), plus mineral oil and chemical preservatives with the tiniest bit of pigment. Not a great formulation at all.
I have found that it is best for summer use when I am using lighter, softer colors, although I rarely use it due to the mineral oil. It can also be used over lip gloss as a highlighter. Just apply gloss, tap some of this puppy over top, then smoosh your lips together. However, I have a BonneBell bronzer/highlighter type thingy which works far better for that than this product and is of higher quality, not to mention far cheaper.
Is it terrible? I've tried much worse, honestly, which are far more expensive than this product. BENEFIT blushes being one example (loaded with fillers and synthetic fragrances, yet they charge a premium price for their stuff). This CoverGirl product at least gives you a lot of product (18 grams/.63oz) for a middle-of-the-road price - but is still mostly filler. I can't see women with dark or tan skin using this at all either, as the fillers would probably make them look extremely ashen.
Would I buy it again? Highly unlikely as firstly, this one container has already lasted more than 2 years and secondly, not unless I see a far more pigmented, less sparkly shade of it in the store. Maybe I'll get lucky? I'm not holding my breath :-)
-
NARS Cosmetics The Multiple
I got the opportunity to try this product the other night. As much as I do like some of NARS products and think some of them are spectacular - some of their eye shadows and blushes - this is not one of them. I can come up with exactly the same... +
I got the opportunity to try this product the other night. As much as I do like some of NARS products and think some of them are spectacular - some of their eye shadows and blushes - this is not one of them.
I can come up with exactly the same affect on the skin using nothing but pure satin mica. At about $2 for an entire ounce, which would last years. This product is crazily expensive for what makes up the base of it, which is probably THE most important thing when it comes to makeup. Base ingredients. After that, pigments/colorants. In addition, I compared it to the myriad of other highlighters/'glow' products I have - which are much cheaper - and found this to be no better.
After trying it before a night out, I will definitely not be buying this one. It simply is not worth what NARS is charging for it at all. Obscenely expensive for what it actually is. And god forbid should you have problem skin, this would very likely make you breakout like crazy.
-
Benefit Cosmetics Sugarbomb Blush
Really not a fan of this product at all. The first reason being that a lot of benefit cheek colors are fragranced. Absolutely unnecessary and very irritating to the skin. Synthetic fragrances can make anybody - even somebody with normal, clear skin... +
Really not a fan of this product at all.
The first reason being that a lot of benefit cheek colors are fragranced. Absolutely unnecessary and very irritating to the skin. Synthetic fragrances can make anybody - even somebody with normal, clear skin - break out in hives, whiteheads, painful lumps under the skin, additional blackheads, etc. This can wind up leaving scars.
The other reason being is the price. Seriously? Benefit has some of the most highly priced, highly over-rated products on the market. I can think of several which are really NOT good, and most are LOADED with TALC. Zit-city. Talc is a comedogen. When a company expects women to pay that much, they better be giving us something of quality, not a product full of cheap fillers and toxic perfumes that are going to wind up making us look worse than we did to begin with. Makeup is supposed to *enhance* women's features, not detract from them.
Why anybody would pay this much for THIS blush is absolutely beyond me. There are far better ones out there for much less, or only a $ or 2 more. I own both types. My best is actually one I made myself with pigments, mica, silk & pearl powders, and other ingredients. It ended up costing me less than $2 in wholesale products to put that together, and I've got enough to last a couple of years at least. Even benefit doesn't use those quality ingredients. They are all about the fartsy-names and cutesy-packaging. I had been dying to try them for years as I thought there *must* be something to their stuff if so many women were raving about it. And once I had, I quickly found out I had been missing nothing at all. Much like high-school, popularity means nothing when it comes down to it.
-
Smashbox High Definition Concealer
I recently went to Shoppers and asked for a sample of this product. Because the tube looks tiny/IS tiny and the price was $22, I was not about to buy it before knowing if it actually worked or not. I guess I should first say that I don't have... +
I recently went to Shoppers and asked for a sample of this product. Because the tube looks tiny/IS tiny and the price was $22, I was not about to buy it before knowing if it actually worked or not. I guess I should first say that I don't have severely dark circles under my eyes - which is mainly what I got it for, the under-eye area - but I do look better with just a bit of product on. More rested, not quite as haggard :-)
The reason I had asked for a sample in the first place was because when I tried it in-store, the texture was amazingly smooth and spread like crazy, while still appearing to cover. Not at all cake-y like most of the other concealers I tried that day. Other brands either looked like dry-wall mud or were too sheer. The Smashbox concealer also took VERY little product to cover. The tiniest bit spread out all over my hand, with still having enough pigment to camouflage. Rare. I still hesitated, though, because this concealer has silicones in it. I normally avoid all silicone based products like the plague, including primers, because they form an occlusive barrier which leads to break-outs, flaky skin, and a rough texture. Sure, it may *feel* smooth when you put it on, but a week down the road, I always see that my skin looks much worse than it did to begin with. However, my under-eye area doesn't react the same way, so I really wanted to give this a try. It also had some other decent ingredients in it such as plant extracts, which were very interesting. The woman gave me a small sample in the shade Medium and I took it home, prepared to be disappointed :-)
That small sample ended up lasting me about 2 weeks straight. From the first time I used it, I fell in love. This stuff is amazing under the eyes. It doesn't settle into lines, you can powder over it without it looking crusty and magnifying fine lines, it is absolutely invisible face to face and in photos - no deer-in-headlights eyes at all - and it covers like a dream. Smooth smooth SMOOTH. There is no need to tug at the delicate skin around the eye while applying, either. Spectacular stuff! I generally don't use it all over my face, though, because as I mentioned my mug does not like silicone, but the few spots Ive been testing it on hasn't seemed to freak it out or anything as of yet. Just dab a bit on and then dab a little bit of yellow mineral powder - neutralizes red - over top to completely hide red spots, scars, etc. The shades all seem to be very neutral, as in not pink and not yellow-based, so I have found that for a pimple or anything else red, you need to add a bit of yellow product over top. Mineral concealer is perfect for that.
Would it work for somebody with severe darkness in the eye area? Maybe not. This product is more for somebody who needs up to a medium amount of coverage that looks completely natural. Then again, I never did try to apply it more thickly to see how buildable it is, though I do sometimes apply a brightener over it and it still looks very good. It may be worth a shot as you can return it if it doesn't work for you.
Is it pricey? Yes, but I figure that small tube will probably last me more than a year. Even at a years worth of use, $22 divided by 12 = absolutely nothing per month. This stuff is worth every penny, and then some. Because of the price, I had no intention of actually buying it as I really was not prepared for the excellent results I got. But in some cases, you really *do* get what you pay for :-)
-
Glysomed Hand Cream
I at one time used this product for contact dermatitis which I sometimes get from my wedding band and other rings. I stopped using it after I came up with my own product as mine is better and far cheaper, not to mention loaded with nothing but... +
I at one time used this product for contact dermatitis which I sometimes get from my wedding band and other rings. I stopped using it after I came up with my own product as mine is better and far cheaper, not to mention loaded with nothing but active ingredients. Although that is the case, I DID like this cream very much when I used it some years ago.
Yes, it is somewhat heavy, but I know that it is quite effective and works quickly. Most hand creams do not, no matter what the brand is. The smell didn't bother me so much, which is surprising as I'm not a big fan of any synthetic scents in any skin care products. As somebody else said, it is available in an unscented version, so there is that option for those who can't tolerate the fragrance.
As for the price, I used to buy it when it's available around Xmas in those huge value packs, which really IS a great deal. The stuff lasts forever, so a value pack could potentially last for years - the other bonus being that it never separates or goes all liquidy even after an extended period of time in the cupboard - not to mention the fact that you get the hand, body, etc products all in one package.
Overall, if I didn't have my own product which I make for my dermatitis, I would more than likely use this one before reaching for another brand. It's effective, goes a long way, can be gotten in great value packs and works quickly.
-
SPAresource Amber vanilla body lotion
I was given some samples of this product to test out in several different scents and was not impressed with any of them, to say the least. As the other reviewer said, these smell nothing like what the label says. Nothing at all. I also tried one... +
I was given some samples of this product to test out in several different scents and was not impressed with any of them, to say the least.
As the other reviewer said, these smell nothing like what the label says. Nothing at all. I also tried one with an 'amber' scent (please, what a crock of %#$& - I have a real bottle of amber oil and I can tell you this doesn't even come close) and a few others. All the scents they use are synthetic, NOT natural, so you will never get a nice smell from them.
Secondly, I did not like the way they felt on my skin. I tried them after a bath all over my body and as a hand cream as well as I was going about my business throughout the day. They do not sink into the skin at all. Anything but. I found they left somewhat of a greasy finish on both my body and hands. *GAG and YUCK* Everything about them feels synthetic.
Whether these are gotten as free samples or for a dirt-cheap price, I would never use them again. I went out and got some raw shea butter which is amazing just by itself, melted it down and added some other carrier oils, etc and essential oils to it. THAT is what shea butter is supposed to feel and perform like. How is it I am capable of making a better product in my kitchen than a large company is?
-
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil
This is definitely one of the few pencil liners I will use, for several reasons. Even though the price is quite high (about $18 in my area), its effectiveness, the fact that it's waterproof (although not as waterproof as MAC's liquid liner... +
This is definitely one of the few pencil liners I will use, for several reasons. Even though the price is quite high (about $18 in my area), its effectiveness, the fact that it's waterproof (although not as waterproof as MAC's liquid liner which won't come off for days), and because it doesn't smudge on MY eyes - maybe because of their shape - I would say it's worth it. Not to mention that it's one of the few liners that I've bought that I still use. Most pencils I purchased in the past are sitting there sadly in their little pencil container, unused. I haven't even bothered sharpening them once. Besides that, spending $18 on an eye liner you will use down to a stub, as opposed to a $6 one that never gets used, it's kinda obvious which is the better value. There is also the fact that most decent liners I see nowadays - and not so decent - are around the $18 mark, so this one is not outrageously priced in comparison. I have found, however, that GOSH at Shoppers Drug Mart has waterproof eye liners in very similar colors which are just as waterproof, and for a cheaper price.
I've found these liners to be very creamy, with no pulling and tugging required to get good application. They are also pigmented to the extreme, and as another reviewer said, really stand out from a distance. That may not be a good thing for a funeral, but is great for everyday or going-out-at-night wear if you prefer something other than boring, flat black or brown.
In addition, because they are so creamy, it is very easy to pack loose or even solid powder shadows over them to either intensify or mute them somewhat, or even smudging them out for a more faded appearance, creating more looks than just a standard lined eye. Very easy to create a smokey look, a softened look, or a vibrant look with these.
And of course women always look at the packaging. Without a doubt. That has gotten to me purchase more crap products than I care to admit :-) But along with the great quality of these pencils, they are also very eye-catching and easy to find in my bag or in my pencil container amongst all the other dull-looking ones.
Would I buy again? Maybe. This would definitely be one of the very few pencil liners I would purchase if I ever needed one, but seeing as I use mainly cream and gel liners, along with shadow sticks with minerals and pigments packed on top, it may be a while before I purchase another one. They're definitely at the top of my list of good quality pencil liners, though.
-
Smashbox Limitless Eye Liner
I got this recently in a Smashbox kit from Shoppers Drug Mart in the shade Golden Ivy. This is my first experience with a Smashbox liner and I was actually surprised at how much I like it. The sharpener at the end of the lid is really good for me... +
I got this recently in a Smashbox kit from Shoppers Drug Mart in the shade Golden Ivy. This is my first experience with a Smashbox liner and I was actually surprised at how much I like it. The sharpener at the end of the lid is really good for me because I am ALWAYS losing my sharpeners. But it's also a bit of a pain because every time I go to open the liner it, I wind up opening the sharpener and not removing the lid of the pencil. DOH!
The shade is a highly-pigmented, beautiful, dark earthy-green, with just a *slight* shimmer of gold. A hardly even noticeable shimmer, but it gives the color some life and depth, rather than being a flat muddy tone. It works well alone or even under my loose mineral powders, of which I have a gazillion.....I've tried it with a darker brown (from NARS), a dark shimmery green, as well as a lighter green AND gold-green. It's quite versatile. All look great with this pencil. It also looks good under natural lighting conditions, as well as incandescent and fluorescent light. Many types of makeup - I've found - don't. It also works great as a base under darker shadows on larger areas of the lid. Because it's creamy, the powders stick to it very well and don't wind up under your eyes.
The quality of the pencil itself is very good. It glides on very smoothly, doesn't tug or pull at the skin on your eyes, and can easily be applied in a thin or thick line. I don't believe it's waterproof, but it definitely is water-resistant. I ran it under water and it didn't run at all. Bonus. It also sharpens very easily and cleanly, not wasting much in the process like some other sharpener/liner combos do. Extra bonus :-)
Would I buy it again? Maybe. It's a bit pricey if buying on it's own. Then again, most decent brands' liners are around this price now. I actually prefer the Makeup Forever Aqua liners as they are completely waterproof and have a lot of beautiful shades, as well as being very creamy. That being said, this shade from Smashbox is not one I've seen done this well by other brands before, and I love anything which is earth-toned. I'm usually not a big pencil-user as I normally wet-line or buy cream & gel liners due to their easy spread-ability, but the quality is definitely there with this one. Definitely not a waste of money (although the kit I got in in WAS).
-
Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights Baked Stardust
I got this 5 shade bronzer as part of the Beauty Snapshots kit at Shoppers Drug Mart just recently. The entire thing, including this product, a full-size lip gloss (nothing special), an eye liner in a very nice dark earthy-green shade (nice but... +
I got this 5 shade bronzer as part of the Beauty Snapshots kit at Shoppers Drug Mart just recently. The entire thing, including this product, a full-size lip gloss (nothing special), an eye liner in a very nice dark earthy-green shade (nice but nothing spectacular), a 5 full-size eye shadow palette (crap - see other review) and a tube of Photo Finish Targeted Pore & Line Primer (also crap) for $54 tax. It would have been a very good deal if I loved all the products. Or if I loved even 1. Unfortunately, I do not, which would include my disappointment with this bronzer. The eye liner is not bad, but I could get several for the $54 I shelled out for this box-job.
Firstly, I kind of expected this to be close in tone to Halo To Go in Medium, which I have been using for more than a year now and absolutely LOVE. I even tried them side by side in the store on the back of my hand under their fluorescent lights. Looked similar. Big mistake. Even with the 5 tones in it which look like they COULD be flattering to almost any skin tone, when I put it on at home, it still came off as far more orange in color, as opposed to bronze or even a contour shade. Not even peach. Orange! Very close in tone to a lot of the cheap, crappy bronzers you might find in Walmart, which I could have picked up for a couple of bucks.
Secondly, it's a little too shimmery, although not as bad as those big tubs of MAC bronzer which magnify EVERY pore in your face - a former purchase I seriously regret. NOT a good look. And due to the low quality pigments used, it is very easy to get a streaky bacon look. THAT little feature was not advertised on the box. Thanks Smashbox.....us gals really appreciate that. Wet n Wild has a nicer bronzer than this one. And it ain't no $54....
In addition, there is far FAR too much talc in this brand. Talc is a cheap filler that is comedogenic and can cause pores to become plugged, leading to acne. For the life of me I cannot think of anybody who hopes to break out in acne when they purchase a new cosmetic product. Women are funny that way, yes? As a result, I started to notice my skin becoming bumpy in my cheek area after trying to use this for a couple of days. I tried and tried, mixing it with different light shades to get this sucker to work. It was a no-go. Between the bumps and the orange color, I decided this was definitely not for me.
Anyhoooo.....I'd give this one a big fat miss for all of the reasons above. I will be taking the entire kit back as I will get very little to no use out of any of the products in it, including the bronzer. I expected so much more after the love affair I've got going with Halo To Go, which is beautiful, natural and gorgeous. I'd rather have some NARS or Urban Decay products than this.
Lastly, a big thank you to my husband for putting his photographic skills to use. I'm married to the best guy in the world, although he still cannot understand my obsession with cosmetics haha :-)
-
Looking for more?
Check out our other review websites:
