teadrinker
Member Since: August 19, 2017Reviews
SoftSoap Juicy Melon and Crisp Cucumber Hand Soap
This is a very inexpensive hand soap that is both fragrant and effective. The cucumber melon scent tends more to the cucumber than the melon, so it smells quite fresh (moreso than sweet and fruity). It lathers up easily and rinses clean. It's... +
This is a very inexpensive hand soap that is both fragrant and effective. The cucumber melon scent tends more to the cucumber than the melon, so it smells quite fresh (moreso than sweet and fruity). It lathers up easily and rinses clean. It's also very affordable. I find it at the dollar store all the time. If you need a cheap and easy soap to restock in your bathroom, this should meet your needs. -
Vichy Thermal Spa Water
Want a nice, light mist of fancy water to spray on your face? That's what this is. You get an atomizer of very fancy volcano water (15 minerals!) that comes out of the sprayer in a delightful, light mist. I'm not going to lie; it's fun to spray on... +
Want a nice, light mist of fancy water to spray on your face? That's what this is. You get an atomizer of very fancy volcano water (15 minerals!) that comes out of the sprayer in a delightful, light mist. I'm not going to lie; it's fun to spray on your face. It feels good. Beyond that, I'm not really sure what this does. I am definitely someone who can be convinced by a certain number of beauty gimmicks, but this one just doesn't quite convince me. It's pleasant to use, but I can't see this as at all necessary (like I would feel about a cleanser, moisturizer, or even a toner).
If someone gave me this as a gift I'd use it and enjoy it, but there's no way I'd buy it.
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Essie gel couture nail polish
This set contains a nail polish and a topcoat, which are meant to give the appearance of a gel manicure. They are also supposed to provide the longevity of a gel manicure, without the need for a curing light or the difficult removal process. The... +
This set contains a nail polish and a topcoat, which are meant to give the appearance of a gel manicure. They are also supposed to provide the longevity of a gel manicure, without the need for a curing light or the difficult removal process. The color I received, Beau-Tie, is a pretty deep purple creme. It looks quite blue-leaning in the bottle, but is actually much warmer on the nail. In any case, the color was pretty, and the polish did look nice on my nails. The instructions say to use the polish on bare nails (no base coat), do two coats, and follow with a coat of topper. I did this, and I did have a nice, shiny manicure. The shine was obvious, but I'm not convinced that it's anything exclusive to Essie. There are other topcoats that will give you a similar appearance. This polish definitely did not last the two weeks that the package claimed it would. I found it lasted for about as long as any other polish when worn with a good topcoat- about four days. The bigger issue, for me, is that without a base coat, my nails were in rough shape when this polish started chipping and I removed it. They've been weak, peeling, and splitting. The result is that I won't be wearing this without base coat again. The bigger takeaway is that I don't find this to be fundamentally different from other nail polishes. The "gel couture" business seems like a gimmick. Also, I'm accustomed to using a quick dry topcoat, and this one takes much longer. Be advised! -
Burt's Bees Coconut & Pear Lip balm
I have never used such a good stick lip balm in my life. It goes on so smooth and hydrates really well. There's no dragging the stick across my lips, and it is not at all waxy. The smell is fantastic - tropical and fruity coconut pear (definitely... +
I have never used such a good stick lip balm in my life. It goes on so smooth and hydrates really well. There's no dragging the stick across my lips, and it is not at all waxy. The smell is fantastic - tropical and fruity coconut pear (definitely more coconut than pear). I am so happy to have the convenience of a stick, with a high quality balm. This is my first time buying Burt's Bees lip balm, but I will for sure repurchase. -
Dr. Jart Water Full Hydrogel Mask
I really prefer hydrogel masks to regular cotton sheet masks. Whereas cotton masks are sopping with serum and feel kind of gushy on (and can flop all over the place) the gel base of this mask contours and fits the face perfectly. It's very... +
I really prefer hydrogel masks to regular cotton sheet masks. Whereas cotton masks are sopping with serum and feel kind of gushy on (and can flop all over the place) the gel base of this mask contours and fits the face perfectly. It's very comfortable and even pleasant to wear (which I do not find to be the case for cotton sheet masks, even the high-end ones at a similar price point to Dr. Jart). As for formula of this mask, it did leave my skin feeling nice and plump, filled out and refreshed. That effect didn't really last, though. Which bring me to price- these masks are EXPENSIVE. I'm just not one to pay $20 for a single mask, especially one that doesn't really provide any more than passing effects, which I can get from much cheaper masks. Also, hydrogel masks aren't swimming in serum (the treatment is in the gel) so it's not like you'll get multiple extra serum treatments from the package. Final analysis, way too expensive for what it is. -
BECCA Cosmetics Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter
I'm fairly new to the world of highlighting. I haven't been actively looking for a more radiant look, and I don't go searching for luminous or dewy finish foundations (I tend towards the mattes, myself). After reading about people raving over... +
I'm fairly new to the world of highlighting. I haven't been actively looking for a more radiant look, and I don't go searching for luminous or dewy finish foundations (I tend towards the mattes, myself). After reading about people raving over highlighters, and Becca's in particular, I decided I had to give it a try. When Sephora was offering deluxe samples I picked this up. I've been quite pleased with it. As others have noted, the powder is very finely milled, and it goes on shimmery but not glittery. A little goes a long way. I give a light sweep with a big, fluffy powder brush and sweep it over the outer corners of my eyes, a light line down the middle of my face (hitting forehead, tip of nose, and chin), and a sweep at the top of my cheekbones. This gives me a slightly illuminated look. It's important not to use too much. As for the color, this is not the color I would choose for myself. This was the only color Sephora was offering as a sample. I have fair, pink-toned skin. Opal is a more golden-toned highlighter. If purchasing for myself I'd choose moonstone or pearl. I put that I would repurchase, with the understanding that it would be a different color. I'm not sure when that day will come, however, because this stuff lasts forever. I have not really even made a dent in the deluxe sample I've had for months. And even though it's not the first-choice color for my skin, it still has enough depth and shimmer that it looks good on me. -
Sephora Collection Pearl Mask
I was pretty underwhelmed by this sheet mask. Sephora has a whole collection of sheet masks. The pearl one is meant to brighten and even skin tone. My skin definitely sometimes tends towards dullness, and it has some, ahem, memories of pimples... +
I was pretty underwhelmed by this sheet mask. Sephora has a whole collection of sheet masks. The pearl one is meant to brighten and even skin tone. My skin definitely sometimes tends towards dullness, and it has some, ahem, memories of pimples past. First problem, the mask sheet was bigger than my face, so it sort of dangled off the edges of my cheeks. Also, the sheet was thicker than other brands I have used, so it felt like more stuff on the face, not as much like a second skin. The thicker sheet meant it was really awkward to fold the edges back where it was flapping off my face and into my hair. Second issue, sheet masks are pricey, and one of the ways to justify the cost is to seal up the packet it comes in and use the extra serum in the days following. This mask had zero extra serum in the packet. Usually these things are swimming in serum. The sheet was soaked through enough, but if you count on extra serum to make them more economical, you won't get that here. That in and of itself is not a deal-breaker, just something to be aware of. My main issue is that this mask didn't really seem to have any real effect on my skin. When I took it off my skin was a bit sticky, and it took awhile for the serum to soak in (expected) but later that evening and the next morning I really noticed no change. If another one of these came my way I'd probably still use it, but I wouldn't buy another one. -
Miu Miu Eau de Parfum
This perfume has some lovely, delicate lily of the valley and jasmine notes. I was sure I smelled honeysuckle too, but it might just be the lily of the valley masquerading. It also has some rather overwhelming notes of pepper and wood, mixed with... +
This perfume has some lovely, delicate lily of the valley and jasmine notes. I was sure I smelled honeysuckle too, but it might just be the lily of the valley masquerading. It also has some rather overwhelming notes of pepper and wood, mixed with some sort of musk. I usually like pepper and wood notes, but these are too heavy, and they down out the lovely florals. I did find that over time the harsh notes faded, and the florals remained, but I'm not willing to put up with the beginning of the fragrance to get to the end of it. There's plenty of fragrances that i enjoy for their entire duration. -
Herbal Essences Naked Volume Shampoo
This shampoo has the most amazing scent. It's minty and fresh, and a bit fruity, like a spa. It produces lots of lather in the shower and rinses clean. Pretty much the whole sensory experience of using it is fantastic. As far as performance, my... +
This shampoo has the most amazing scent. It's minty and fresh, and a bit fruity, like a spa. It produces lots of lather in the shower and rinses clean. Pretty much the whole sensory experience of using it is fantastic. As far as performance, my hair is too dry to use this every day, but this is a lovely interlude that leaves my hair feeling very clean. I use it a couple of times a week. It doesn't give my hair crazy volume, just leaves it fresh and feeling good. -
Clean & Clear night relaxing all-in-one cleansing wipes
Let me start by noting that I am by no means a great fan of cleansing wipes. I often find that they are too wet or too dry, they don't actually remove my makeup, and they feel like wiping a baby wipe over my face. So, I approached these with... +
Let me start by noting that I am by no means a great fan of cleansing wipes. I often find that they are too wet or too dry, they don't actually remove my makeup, and they feel like wiping a baby wipe over my face. So, I approached these with skepticism. These wipes promise to remove all makeup, even waterproof, and have a relaxing scent meant to get you ready for bed. On the scent, I found the scent to be quite pleasant and inoffensive. It didn't smell like a traditional nighttime scent, but it was nice. On the makeup removal- much to my surprise, it really did remove my full face of makeup, including my eye makeup and foundation. Now, I do not wear waterproof makeup, so someone else will have to comment on that, but for regular non-waterproof makeup, this absolutely did the job. I was shocked. Color me impressed. -
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