Sunday, March 31, 2013

Neutrogena: Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover

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Neutrogena Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover

Project Pan Item #36: Neutrogena Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover

I'm currently on my second bottle of this (the one photographed) so it goes to show that this is a product I would (and have) repurchase(d). It's a good drugstore option that's effective, inexpensive, and easily accessible. Though oil-free, it has two phases that get mixed when you shake the product up. It also has a light oily feel about it, although it isn't gross and doesn't sit on the skin. Instead, the slight oiliness serves to soften and moisturize. It removes my waterproof mascara and other eye makeup as well as the best removers I've tried so I recommend it.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Swedish Skin: Anti-Aging Eye Cream

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Swedish Skin Anti-Aging Eye Cream

Project Pan Item #35: Swedish Skin Anti-Aging Eye Cream

I got a ton of the Swedish Skin eye creams and moisturizers way back when they had some B1G2 deal. Sadly, I was not the biggest fan of these products but I have a big stash awaiting use.

The eye cream is the better of the two products I tried. I turned to it after I ran out of my beloved Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye (reviewed here), which I am holding out on repurchasing because I'm learning to live on a strict budget. Swedish Skin's products are apple-based and come in a very light mint green tint with a fresh scent. The texture of the eye cream is sort of gel-like, not quite creamy like a lotion but also not as thin as a true gel. It gets tacky as it dries down, which I wasn't crazy about because instead of gliding across the skin, it'd end up pulling on and dragging the skin. This is not something you want for the delicate eye area. To get around this, I'd suggest patting this product in instead of smoothing it out, Once on, I do feel that this eye cream suffices to keep the skin around the eyes moisturized. It sank in quickly and was not greasy so it did not disturb the makeup that I put on over it.

I tried to look up the price of this product but I got a message from my antivirus program about Trojans so I wouldn't even venture onto their website. This eye cream is mediocre at best, and it's not worth looking into.

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Swedish Skin Anti-Aging Eye Cream

Thursday, March 28, 2013

China Glaze Nail Lacquer: Fast Track

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China Glaze Fast Track

China Glaze's Fast Track came out last year in the Hunger Games collection, and I was determined to have it. It's a nude-taupe with the most beautiful golden shimmer. The first coat goes on sheer so that it can be layered over other polishes. It's opaque by the second coat. Great polish, both in application and color.

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Fast Track (natural light)
Photographed several days after application (explains nail growth at base)

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Fast Track (with flash)
Photographed several days after application (explains nail growth at base)

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

fresh Sugar: Lip Treatment SPF 15

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fresh Sugar Lip Treatment

I received the fresh Sugar Lip Treatment (Project Pan Item #34) as part of Sephora's birthday gift. It also came with the a tinted one (I think the rose shade) but sadly, I can't find that one anymore.

This lip treatment was extremely soft, which made it feel great on the lips but also made for a mess in application. My tube broke several times because the balm is hardly solid. The product would melt onto the sides of the bullet and it was too easy to over-apply onto the lips because it was so soft that it'd just glop right on. Given its consistency, I think this lip treatment would have been better off in pot form.

As for its performance as a lip treatment, I do feel that it is a very nice balm that's soft and soothing on dry, chapped lips. It's quite slippery, almost like Vaseline but a bit waxier so that it holds onto the lips better than petroleum jelly. It also smells great- a fresh, fruity scent that I can't otherwise describe.

The packaging is gorgeous and luxe, featuring a sturdy metal tube with a cap that twists on and off for secure closure. However, I found that a lot of the product was buried within the bullet. Once you use up the product so that it's flat and can't roll up any further, there is still quite a bit of product that you can reach if you dip your finger or a cotton tip into the bullet.

This product retails for $22.50, which I think is ludicrous for a lip balm. While it's a great lip moisturizer, it's hardly enough to warrant that price. I feel like a lot of the money is going toward the pretty packaging, which to me is silly. I'm glad I got to try it but I would not purchase this on my own.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Revlon Colorstay Nail Enamel: Provence

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Revlon Colorstay Nail Enamel in Provence


Revlon's Colorstay polish in Provence is a pretty pale pastel lavender creme that doesn't clash with the yellow undertones of my skin. I don't know if it'd be appropriate to call it a warm shade but I don't feel that it's cool- perhaps it is neutral. Either way, I love that it works on me and I think it's a great color for spring! The polish is easy to apply, dries quickly, and doesn't streak.

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Provence (natural light)


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Provence (with flash)

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro Nail Lacquer: Burgundy Flirt

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Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro Nail Lacquer in Burgundy Flirt


Rimmel's Burgundy Flirt is a deep, vampy red shade that I think has a cool jelly sort of finish to it. It's a thinner, more translucent formula but the opacity builds up by the second coat. The brush is wide for fast application. It dries quickly and is very easy to work with. Great polish in a classic shade!

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Burgundy Flirt (natural light)

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Burgundy Flirt (with flash)

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm: Red Dahlia

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Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia

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Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia

Project Pan #33: Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia

I've previously reviewed the same product in the shade Rose (see review here) and my thoughts on the product still stand. The tint is subtle but enough that it adds some life to pale lips, and it provides good moisture. There is not a scent or flavor, which is great for people who are irritated by or sensitive to those things.

As far as the shade goes, Red Dahlia is browner than Rose, which is brighter. I've provided swatch comparisons. I personally prefer Rose but once on the lips, the difference between them is relatively subtle. They both end up looking like my-lips-but-better so both work for me.

All in all, great product! I highly recommend it.

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L-R: Red Dahlia, Rose

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L: nude lips
R: Red Dahlia

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Collection 2000 Illuminating Touch Concealer: Glow 3

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Collection 2000 Illuminating Touch Concealer in Glow

When I went to Europe back in the summer of 2011, I had it in mind to pick up the much-hyped Collection 2000 concealer. Foolishly, I did not think to look up exactly which concealer everyone raves about (Lasting Perfection) because I figured there'd only be one clear choice. I was wrong. I ended up instead with the Illuminating Touch concealer, which I used up by summer of last year (Project Pan Item #32).

Luckily for me, I loved Illuminating Touch! I used it primarily for my undereye area. I had it in the Glow 3 shade, which had a bit of a salmon tone to it that allowed it to blend more seamlessly into my skin than the Maybelline Dream Lumi concealer (reviewed before here), which had a more stark lightening effect. The formula of Illuminating Touch was incredibly smooth and blendable. I think the it is probably the lightest formula I've ever used because all other concealers I've tried have been thicker and stickier. Though it was light, it still managed to brighten the undereye area. This is probably my favorite concealer to date because it was effective without being heavy and cakey.

I highly recommend this concealer if you're looking for a brightening corrector. I wish I could get another for myself. I don't believe that this would be able to conceal blemishes though.

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Swiped on hand (hard to see because it's a good match!)

Saturday, March 9, 2013

More Project Pan!

Here are additional items I've used up that I have reviewed before (click on name for link to review). Some were finished a very long time ago before my move last year. They were just sitting around waiting to be photographed and recorded.

Project Pan Items #27-28: Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Eye

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Full-sized pots

Still my favorite eye cream! Macy's has a good Estee Lauder gift with purchase at the moment so I will be restocking on these!

Project Pan Item #29: Essie Grow Faster

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There is a bit left but it's not very usable anymore. Even so, this bottle lasted me quite a long time if I'm remembering correctly.

Project Pan Item #30: Estee Lauder DayWear Creme

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Trial-size pot

Still my favorite moisturizer! I have a brand new full-size pot ready to go.

Project Pan Item #31: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat

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Friday, March 8, 2013

Rock & Republic Eye Colour: Diffused, Sabotage, Vintage, Exile

Rock & Republic Eye Colours

L-R: Diffused, Sabotage, Vintage, Exile

L-R: Diffused, Sabotage, Vintage, Exile

I went crazy and bought a bunch of these R&R eyeshadows way back when during a Hautelook sale. I don't know if they still do them but they were quite the hype at the time.

I essentially shop my own makeup collection whenever I come home now so these were the four I picked to bring back with me to Boston. Diffused is a cool-toned mauve-taupe that looks like a satin in the pan but comes off matte on the skin. Sabotage is a lovely warm, satin-finish nude sort of shade. I think it is a great neutral, and it is one of my favorites of my R&R shadows. Vintage is my other favorite. It's a nice matte medium brown that's just slightly warm. Lastly, Exile is a coppery-orange in a satin finish. It is the most pigmented out of this bunch.

I can't say that I am overly impressed with the R&R eyeshadows. They're quite dry and for that reason, they don't offer the greatest pigmentation. The color can, however, be built up. In general, there's nothing particularly special about them other than the fancy packaging, which may be posh but is also rather bulky. Don't feel bad if you missed out on these.

Sabotage across lid, Vintage on outer half

Lorac: Behind the Scenes Eye Shadow Primer

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Lorac Eye Shadow Primer (all packaging text rubbed off)

Here is my last post from May 2012:

After I used up my Urban Decay Primer Potion (review here), I turned to Lorac's Behind the Scenes Eye Shadow Primer (Project Pan Item #26), which came as part of the Little Black Palette. When I first started using this, I was carrying it around as part of my travel case because it was so small and compact. This meant that I had it on during long flights, at the end of which I'd often find my eye makeup creased. For this reason, I have to say that Lorac's primer cannot hold up to extreme conditions.

I did not have the best impression of this primer after my experiences traveling with it. I tried going without primer after I ran out of UDPP because I figured the Lorac primer was not going to do anything for me anyway. However, I soon learned that I was wrong to think that I don't need primer because my eyeshadow began to crease. I gave the Lorac primer another try and I was pleasantly surprised to find that when used as part of my normal, everyday routine, it did help to enhance my eye makeup. It is an acceptable primer in the way it improves adhesion and wear of shadows.

I have a mini tube of the primer so I'm not sure if the full-size version is the same. Mine came as a squeeze tube. The product itself is a lot thicker than UDPP and it is prone to getting goopy and hardening around the opening. It can get quite messy as the goop builds up so this is something I take issue with.

In summary, I feel that the Lorac eye primer is a decent product but I feel that UDPP is superior. I prefer the consistency of UDPP, which glides on easily and leaves a thin, smooth veil, as opposed to the thick and more sticky feel of the Lorac primer. I also feel that UDPP works better overall to enhance the wear of eye makeup. The Lorac primer is $21 for 0.47oz, while UDPP is $20 for 0.37oz. or $30 for 0.85oz (the professional size). I'd completely recommend that you go for the professional size of UDPP if you're deciding between these primers.

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Goopy buildup around the opening

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Estee Lauder: Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator

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Estee Lauder Idealist Illuminator

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Estee Lauder Idealist Illuminator

Here is another post from May 2012. Enjoy!

Here are Project Pan Items #24-25: Estee Lauder's Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator.

I pointed out in my last post that I adore Estee Lauder's gift sets because I enjoy most, if not all, the products they include. Here is yet another item I sampled from their gifts with purchase.

The Idealist Illuminator is a white, pearly fluid with a consistency similar to a liquid moisturizer. The smell of it is to die for and the effect it gives is gorgeous. I mix a generous dollop of this with my foundation before applying it to the skin. It is hard to describe because it is so subtle and natural, yet it clearly enhances one's complexion with a soft, brightening effect. It is quite amazing.

I really don't have much more to say other than that. It is the best illuminator I've tried. I have not tried many, but I have used ones in the past that were much too pearlescent and gave the skin a greasy sheen. This one is lovely because it looks so natural. It is expensive at $58 for 1oz. My sample size was .24oz and I got decent use out of it. Definitely try to get one as part of a gift set if you're interested in this product!

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Blended in (hard to see radiant effect but that's because it's so natural!) 

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips: Misbehaved

Sally Hansen Nail Strips in Misbehaved

Contents: cuticle stick, nail strip, and nail file

I've had these Sally Hansen nail strips sitting around for quite a while now. I finally decided to give them a go and I am pleased with the results!

Misbehaved is a taupey-golden shimmery base with black snakeskin design. It has a cool lace or fishnet look about it.

Each pack comes with two separately packaged sets of 8 strips each (16 strips total). The 8 strips are of various sizes. It also comes with a cuticle stick and a mini nail file with three different textures. The hot pink side is a course file, while the pale pink portion is a finer grit for filing off the excess strip. The back white side is for buffing the nails.

The strips were foolproof to use. I expected to have trouble because things are rarely as simple as the directions would lead you to believe. Not the case with these! You just follow the instructions exactly as they're laid out: remove the backing and plastic covering from the strip; apply to nail; smooth it down; then file off excess. The strips aren't so sticky that they can't be manipulated but they do adhere nicely once you smooth them down.

Each strip is quite long and my nails are short, so I was able to use one strip for two nails. For example, I used one pinky-sized strip for both of my pinkies. If your nails are short enough that one strip is able to cover two, then I'd suggest cutting the strip in half. I was able to complete both hands with just one of the packaged sets. That means I still have 8 strips left in the unopened package, which will provide me with another complete manicure.

I believe that once the packages are opened, the strips will dry out because they are real polish. I imagine that this is why it tells you to discard any open, unused strips. This is too bad because I could have gotten 3 complete manicures (with 15 strips) if there was no issue with drying, or if these were packaged differently (perhaps each strip individually).

These retail for about $8-9. I think they're good if you're looking for nail design without any of the hassle of doing it yourself. I don't think they're worth it if you purchase the solid color ones because you might as well just paint your own nails in that case. While these offer ease and convenience, I feel that 1-2 solid color manicures for $9 is a lot when you can pay $5 for countless manicures from a bottle of polish.

Misbehaved (natural light)

Misbehaved (with flash)

UPDATE:

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Photographed 12 days later

The box claims 10 days of wear. As you can see, this manicure held up pretty well. After 12 days, there was wear at the tips but the body of the polish remained intact. I am pleased with the results!

Estee Lauder: Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex

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Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum

I wrote a series of posts back in May 2012 that I never got around to publishing because I never photographed the items.... Here they are now, almost a year later! I've updated the Project Pan #s to continue off of my current number.

I have been accumulating a little pile of finished products, and I'm finally feeling productive enough to go through and blog about them!

First up are sample sizes of Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair serum (Project Pan Item #22-23). May I just say, I absolutely love Estee Lauder's gift sets. I definitely recommend that you consider purchasing Estee Lauder when these sets are available because not only is it a great way to test out their products, but they're also generally filled with amazing items. I have not yet been disappointed with anything I've tried from these sets. It was through them that I discovered my favorite eye cream (the Advanced Night Repair eye, reviewed here) and moisturizer (the DayWear Creme, reviewed here)!

Back to the subject of the post- the Advanced Night Repair is a serum that is designed to "[repair] the appearance of past damage and [address] the visible damaging effects of environmental assaults— UV light, smoke and pollution— before they become permanent," "[help] prevent future damage," and "[deliver] high levels of hydration." The serum is runny but not too liquid. It smooths over the skin easily and leaves it feeling softer and more supple. I like that it does not leave behind oily residue. I also think the smell of it is quite nice.

When I first tried this product, I wasn't entirely sure how to use it so I tested it in various ways: as a nighttime moisturizer; as a daytime moisturizer; and as a base before my daytime moisturizer. I agree that it is hydrating but I don't feel that it is sufficient to warrant its use as a standalone moisturizer. Bear in mind that I have dry skin outside of the T-zone.

Then one day, I was watching a Tanya Burr video (pixi2woo on Youtube) in which she mentioned that she loves the Advanced Night Repair as a treatment for damaged skin. This was at a time when I was dealing with spots and scrapes on my upper lip area and trying desperately to minimize scarring/discoloration. I started applying the Advanced Night Repair to this area in hopes that it would promote healing and prevent scarring. I can't say how things would have turned out if I hadn't done this but I like to think that the Advanced Night Repair had a positive effect on the healing process. Still, I was also using Neosporin, cocoa butter, and my normal moisturizer(s) on the area so I can't single out the effect this serum had.

To wrap up my thoughts, I feel that the Advanced Night Repair is a nice product in that it feels lovely to use and there is nothing wrong with it per se. However, I can't be certain that it delivers on its claims to protect and/or repair the skin. Its effects aren't revolutionary or dramatic enough for me to believe in its hype. I'm sure it did not hurt anything, and it may even have helped my skin, but only in conjunction with the other products in my regime. At $52 for 1oz, it is pricey. My sample size was 0.5oz so it was a great deal to receive it as part of a gift with purchase! I definitely recommend that you try to snag a set that includes this if you are looking to try it out.