Hello! How was your Halloween?
I was Waldo (my last minute costume :P)
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Petal
Revlon's Colorburst Lipstick..
LOVE LOVE LOVE these! I only have two colors so far but am definitely going back for more. These lipsticks are really smooth and moisturizing, and the colors are all so beautiful. And the packaging is SO CUTE! I love the matte black criss cross pattern with touches of shiny black. So chic for a drugstore lipstick. You have to try them out if you haven’t yet.
My FAVORITE color right now that’s perfect to wear every day is the color Petal. It’s a sheer baby pink with a glossy finish. I think it’s a great nude color with just a touch of pink. I don't even need to wear a gloss over these!
Swatch of Petal (above)
Here's what it looks like on my lips:
Which is your favorite Colorburst lipstick color?
Monday, October 24, 2011
movie ticket deal!
2 Fandango movie tickets for $12 from KGB deals. click here! and Enjoy! :)
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Body Shop - Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion Review
I’ve been in the market for a new moisturizer for a while and really couldn’t decide on one so eventually I completely ran out of moisturizer and had to settle for anything. I went to Sephora and came across a few interesting moisturizers, but I was specifically looking for something formulated for an oily complexion. I came across The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion which claims to be a “lightweight hydration with shine-control for clearer looking skin.” “Perfect, lightweight with shine-control” I thought, and bought it without any prior research. When I got to the counter to pay for it, the woman at the counter was raving about this product. She was saying how great it was and how quickly it cleared up her acne and because of that I was really excited to go home and try it.
When I got home, I did a little research and looked up reviews on The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion. There were mixed reviews with some people loving it to some people hating it. I just had to try it for myself to see which side of the debate I would side with. I washed my face and put it on before I went to bed.
The first thing you notice about this product is its STRONG smell. It has a similar smell to menthol but people say this is just what tea tree smells like and they say it’s a smell you can get used to. Immediately after applying on my face, I noticed it drying my face. I figured that was just normal because it’s supposed to help with shine-control and to help clear blemishes.
When I woke up in the morning, my face was extremely dry. I knew at that moment the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion was not working for my skin. I think that this product is HORRIBLE. The smell is almost unbearable. It smells like ointment. Sexy? I think not. It's like a man repellent (just saying...). The lotion also did not offer any hydration. All this does is dry the crap out of your skin. In addition, it did not improve the appearance of any of my blemishes. I know I can't expect a huge improvement from just using it one night, but it made absolutely no difference. Even something like a product with salicylic acid shows improvement with a one night use. This product just irritated my skin.
I do not recommend The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion at all! It is HORRIBLE! I just cannot get over how much I did not enjoy this product. If you've tried it, let me know what you think of it. And if you have any recommendations for a good moisturizer, let me know as well :)
Saturday, October 15, 2011
i Adore Milani Baked Blushes
Blushes are freaking amazing! Why? Because a good blush can give you a natural youthful flirty glow and really make your face radiate. It is also important to always wear a blush over a face covered with foundation in order to put some color back on your face that you muted out to achieve the most natural look. An awesome blush works with your skin tone, is highly pigmented, and blends well. There are so many blush formulas on the market: cream blushes, cheek stains, powders, baked blushes, and more! There are some amazing quality department store blushes, but what’s just as great are drugstore blushes, namely the Milani baked blushes!
I heard a lot of fantastic things about the Milani baked blushes and it’s been really difficult to come across them, but when I finally saw them at a Target out of my city, I had to buy it and try it out! The Target I went to unfortunately only had 3 colors left and because I haven’t tried these blushes yet I only bought one. I purchased the color Dolce Pink and I must agree with everybody else, these blushes are phenomenal!
Dolce Pink is a beautiful deep pink color with swirling flecks of gold shimmers baked in. These blushes are so easy to blend out which allows you to have a natural looking flush on your cheeks. The gold shimmers complement my olive skin tone flawlessly and doesn’t create an overwhelming glitter effect after blended out. These blushes are highly pigmented which makes it so worth the $8 price tag. What’s also amazing about this line of blushes is that it comes in 9 varying shades, which is perfect for people of all skin tones. Bottom line, I LOVE these blushes. Their quality is AMAZING. I love these more than MAC blushes, but that’s just me. I cannot wait to try out the colors Luminoso and Coralina.
Aside from the fantastic quality of the actual product, the packaging isn’t too bad either. I must admit it’s a little bit bulky, but that’s because it comes with a built-in compact mirror and mini travel brush. I hardly ever use sponges, brushes, or applicators that come with my makeup, instead I opt for my own brushes because I like the way it applies better. However, I love that Milani included the mini brush because it is convenient if you’re ever in a pinch. I don’t have any huge complaints about the packaging because it is not inconvenient or messy which is the most important thing to me.
I definitely would repurchase!
Here are some pictures:
For more information about these blushes or Milani products, check out their website at www.MilaniCosmetics.com
Do you guys like these blushes too?
I heard a lot of fantastic things about the Milani baked blushes and it’s been really difficult to come across them, but when I finally saw them at a Target out of my city, I had to buy it and try it out! The Target I went to unfortunately only had 3 colors left and because I haven’t tried these blushes yet I only bought one. I purchased the color Dolce Pink and I must agree with everybody else, these blushes are phenomenal!
Dolce Pink is a beautiful deep pink color with swirling flecks of gold shimmers baked in. These blushes are so easy to blend out which allows you to have a natural looking flush on your cheeks. The gold shimmers complement my olive skin tone flawlessly and doesn’t create an overwhelming glitter effect after blended out. These blushes are highly pigmented which makes it so worth the $8 price tag. What’s also amazing about this line of blushes is that it comes in 9 varying shades, which is perfect for people of all skin tones. Bottom line, I LOVE these blushes. Their quality is AMAZING. I love these more than MAC blushes, but that’s just me. I cannot wait to try out the colors Luminoso and Coralina.
Aside from the fantastic quality of the actual product, the packaging isn’t too bad either. I must admit it’s a little bit bulky, but that’s because it comes with a built-in compact mirror and mini travel brush. I hardly ever use sponges, brushes, or applicators that come with my makeup, instead I opt for my own brushes because I like the way it applies better. However, I love that Milani included the mini brush because it is convenient if you’re ever in a pinch. I don’t have any huge complaints about the packaging because it is not inconvenient or messy which is the most important thing to me.
I definitely would repurchase!
Here are some pictures:
Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink (above)
Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink swatch (above)
Here you can see the small flecks of gold shimmers baked in the blush
For more information about these blushes or Milani products, check out their website at www.MilaniCosmetics.com
Do you guys like these blushes too?
Labels:
Check Out Melissa's Reviews,
Dolce Pink,
Milani Baked Blush,
Milani baked blush swatch,
Milani Cosmetics
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Gorgeous Glitter Polishes by Revlon!
The three nail enamels I recently purchased by Revlon are a glitter polish lover’s dream. These limited edition polishes are fresh off Revlon’s Expressionist Fall 2011 collection created by Revlon’s global artistic director and celebrity makeup artist, Gucci Westman. Before I get into more detail about the Expressionist collection, let me show you the three polishes I purchased.
Three coats of Starry Pink (pictured above) without a topcoat.
-#051 Starry Pink
This pink is such a pretty unique shade of pink. I would describe the color to be a creamy baby pink with a slight hint of gray. Swirling within the creamy polish are fine silver glitters and larger silver hexagonal glitters. Because the polish has a creamy appearance, it tones down the shininess from the silver glitters causing the glitters to look gray colored on the nail with just a little bit of sparkle. To achieve it’s true pink color potential, you need to apply 3 coats of this polish. Glitter polishes can be difficult to remove, so to cut down on removal time, use a light pink colored base and layer fewer coats of this polish over top.
Two coats of Blue Mosaic (pictured above) without a topcoat.
-#934 Blue Mosaic
The Blue Mosaic is a clear polish saturated with beautiful teeny tiny teal glitters, which give this polish its color when applied. What’s really gorgeous about this polish are it’s large silver and contrasting green hexagonal glitters. The green glitters are a surprising pop of color that complement the teal blue color of the tiny glitters and gives the polish more depth and dimension.
This polish needs to be applied with multiple coats to achieve a substantial amount of color on your nail. Three coats of this polish will give you color, but beware: glitter polishes are a pain to remove! I suggest painting a coat or two of this polish over a navy blue base color.
This polish needs to be applied with multiple coats to achieve a substantial amount of color on your nail. Three coats of this polish will give you color, but beware: glitter polishes are a pain to remove! I suggest painting a coat or two of this polish over a navy blue base color.
Three coats of Facets of Fuchsia (pictured above) without a top coat.
-940 Facets of Fuchsia
This dark magenta glittery polish is absolutely stunning. This black colored jelly based polish is heavily filled with tiny magenta glitters and large hexagonal glitters. This polish needs to be applied with 3 coats to achieve the perfect dark hue from the jelly base. The multiple coats of overlapping small and large glitters create a beautiful deep dimension on your nail. For the perfect opacity, apply three coats or apply fewer coats over a dark base.
By the way, many people on blogs and youtube have compared this polish to Deborah Lippmann's Bad Romance and have concluded that it's a very close dupe!
By the way, many people on blogs and youtube have compared this polish to Deborah Lippmann's Bad Romance and have concluded that it's a very close dupe!
These three colors I purchased were the three out of the four polishes available from the limited edition Revlon Expressionist Fall 2011 Collection. The last shade I did not purchase was Smoky Canvas, a creamy taupe color. In addition to these 4 nail polishes that retail at $4.79, the Revlon Expressionist Collection includes 12 new lip colors: 4 liquid lipsticks retailing at $10.99, 3 traditional lipsticks retailing at $7.99, and one lip gloss palette called Bordeaux in the Snow containing 5 new lip colors retailing at $6.99, and 5 new eyeshadow colors retailing at $4.99.
What have you tried from this collection?
What have you tried from this collection?
Friday, October 7, 2011
Revlon Expressionist Collection
I got these three polishes from the Revlon Expressionist Collection. My favorite is 940 Facets of Fuchsia. I also picked up 934 Blue Mosaic and 051 Starry Pink. There are some things in life I can live without, glitter polishes are not one of them. I LOVE glitter polishes :) and I'm really happy with my purchase.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Dyeing Hair At Home
Excited to dye my hair! I bought these from Sally's Beauty Supply. It's the Loreal Technique Feria Professional in 5.33 Candlelit Golden Brown and Loreal's 25 volume multi-tone color developer. I'll be sure to post pictures when it's done! :)
Labels:
Check Out Melissa's Reviews,
feria professional,
loreal technique,
melissa's reviews,
sally's beauty supply
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Must-Have Shoes
Shoes are an essential piece to any outfit. Having the right shoes can make the difference between a killer look and an outfit gone wrong. I learned early on that making wise shoe selections are important, as the shoe can either last you season after season or go out of style as quickly as it came in. As a person who wears a women’s shoe size of 4.5, my option of styles are limited and I'm often times restricted to pricier shoes. Shoe stores that sell the most inexpensive shoes (ranging from $20-30) only carry size 5 and up so I’m usually left to purchase shoes in tiny sizes from Nordstrom that can cost over $100 per pair. Therefore, it is crucial that I make wise shoe decisions for the amount of money I spend.
Although I love shoes of all styles, colors, patterns, designs, you name it, I have narrowed down 4 must have shoe styles that every girl should own. With these styles you will be covered for every occasion in your life. My tips on choosing classic shoes that will stand the test of time is great for everybody; the girl who is looking to build a solid foundation for her shoe closet, the girl on a budget, or the girl like me with small feet and limited options.
The last style I recommend as a shoe closet staple is a flat sandal. Flat sandals are awesome for warm weather seasons like spring and summer. Like ballerina flats, some flat sandals have embellishments like flowers that can be cute at the moment, but go out of style quickly. A plain basic sandal stays fashionable and can last you years. Since sandals are worn during warmer seasons where we tend to wear more light colors, I would choose a nude colored sandal.
After building a basic shoe closet with these classic styles, it's easier to begin exploring and experimenting with edgier styles. Having a solid base first really helps.
The greatest element about fashion is that it is an outlet for self expression. Everybody has their own fashion sense and eye for what is beautiful. I gravitate more towards classic, chic, and sometimes edgy women's shoe selections. Whereas other people may gravitate towards a cute or athletic style. I appreciate all types of shoes. This post is just my personal advice based on my lifestyle, experience, and taste.
I hope this information is helpful for some. Happy shoe shopping!
Although I love shoes of all styles, colors, patterns, designs, you name it, I have narrowed down 4 must have shoe styles that every girl should own. With these styles you will be covered for every occasion in your life. My tips on choosing classic shoes that will stand the test of time is great for everybody; the girl who is looking to build a solid foundation for her shoe closet, the girl on a budget, or the girl like me with small feet and limited options.
#1 - The Classic Pump
The most versatile shoe in my closet is the classic pump. A round toe or pointy toe is really up to your own preference. I find that the pump is a great style for every occasion. Most importantly pumps are professional enough for work and job interviews, yet stylish enough for the nightlife or going out on a date. When choosing a pump appropriate for both work and going out, I would invest in a closed toe pump. In addition, I recommend a 3 or 4-inch heel because a height like that can go from professional to sexy and back. The two colors I must have in my closet are a nude pump and a black pump. A nude pump elongates your legs and can be worn with more neutral and lighter colors, while the sexy black heel is perfect for darker colored clothing items.
#2 - Boots
The second must have shoe style in my closet is a boot. I love knee-high boots most because they’re casual yet very fashionable. Depending on the particular style of your boot, you can dress them up or down, you can wear them with your pants tucked in or out, and with shorts, leggings, or jeans. Boots are fabulous for the chilly fall season and the cold winter season because they will keep your feet warm. Choose a classic boot style, it will last you multiple fall and winter seasons. With boots, again, I would stick with black or neutral colors for more versatility.
#3 - The Ballerina Flat
The third style of shoe I recommend is the classic ballerina flat. Flats are casual and comfortable for when you don’t want to wear a heel, yet still provides your look with a mature and feminine quality. Flats come in a variety of styles with embellishments and patterns. Although those bows or rhinestone designs can be appealing, you can get more wear out of a classic basic design that has style longevity through multiple seasons. Choose a black or nude color to better complete your look.
#4 - Flat Sandals
After building a basic shoe closet with these classic styles, it's easier to begin exploring and experimenting with edgier styles. Having a solid base first really helps.
The greatest element about fashion is that it is an outlet for self expression. Everybody has their own fashion sense and eye for what is beautiful. I gravitate more towards classic, chic, and sometimes edgy women's shoe selections. Whereas other people may gravitate towards a cute or athletic style. I appreciate all types of shoes. This post is just my personal advice based on my lifestyle, experience, and taste.
I hope this information is helpful for some. Happy shoe shopping!
Labels:
classic shoes,
must-have shoe styles,
shoe collection,
shoes for small feet,
shoes on a budget
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Blot and Powder! (for oily skin)
If you have oily skin like me, you know how uncomfortable it can be and you've probably tried everything you could to minimize oil production throughout the day. I know that we all wish to just find a remedy to fix our oily skin so that we wouldn't even have it as a problem, but let's own up to reality, we were born with oily skin, it's part of who we are, and there isn't much we can do about it. There are ways though that we can minimize the oil on our faces throughout the day. The biggest tip I can give anybody about oil control is to blot and powder.
We might have to blot every couple of hours, but it's just what people with oily skin types have to do. Would you rather complain or just do it- blot and have less of an oily face? I used to not want to spend the extra money or take the extra step, but I see so much more of an improvement when I blot and powder. Buy some oil absorbing sheets (I recommend the Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets, they are my favorite) that will absorb the oil on your face, but won't ruin your makeup. It will greatly help absorb the oil and shininess on your face. Hold the sheet on your face for a few seconds, then place it onto a different part of your face. The key is to blot, not wipe. Afterward, powder your face with some good quality powder that will absorb oil well (I recommend Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil). The powder will help absorb any excess oil on your face and the oil your face is continuing to produce. Skipping the blotting step can just lead to break outs. Although powder does a great job at minimizing the appearance of oil, you would just be piling on powder on top of your face and leaving the oil there, leaving your face in danger of looking cakey.
If you're in a pinch and really need to blot, recycled napkins like the ones at Starbucks are great at absorbing oil. You can also blot your face with toilet seat liners. They're made of the same material that some oil blotting sheets are made of! Awesome, but weird..
What's also great about these oil absorbing sheets is that they are compact and easy to carry around. Try it out and see if it works for you!
We might have to blot every couple of hours, but it's just what people with oily skin types have to do. Would you rather complain or just do it- blot and have less of an oily face? I used to not want to spend the extra money or take the extra step, but I see so much more of an improvement when I blot and powder. Buy some oil absorbing sheets (I recommend the Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets, they are my favorite) that will absorb the oil on your face, but won't ruin your makeup. It will greatly help absorb the oil and shininess on your face. Hold the sheet on your face for a few seconds, then place it onto a different part of your face. The key is to blot, not wipe. Afterward, powder your face with some good quality powder that will absorb oil well (I recommend Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil). The powder will help absorb any excess oil on your face and the oil your face is continuing to produce. Skipping the blotting step can just lead to break outs. Although powder does a great job at minimizing the appearance of oil, you would just be piling on powder on top of your face and leaving the oil there, leaving your face in danger of looking cakey.
If you're in a pinch and really need to blot, recycled napkins like the ones at Starbucks are great at absorbing oil. You can also blot your face with toilet seat liners. They're made of the same material that some oil blotting sheets are made of! Awesome, but weird..
What's also great about these oil absorbing sheets is that they are compact and easy to carry around. Try it out and see if it works for you!
Labels:
bare escentuals mineral veil,
blot and powder,
clean clear oil absorbing sheets,
oil control,
oily skin
E.L.F. Brushes
Makeup brushes are essential to creating our perfect makeup look. Makeup helps bring out our natural beauty, but the tools we use are just as important as the products itself. Every brush has it's own individual purpose and if you have a great brush, you are half way there in having a beautiful and effortless made up face.
By now you have probably heard of e.l.f. brushes from EyesLipsFace.com. When I first heard of these brushes a few years back, I thought, "$1 brushes? How good could they possibly be?" Makeup junkies absolutely went bananas for their brushes because of the quality that came with the low price. I often see their brushes selling out at Target and because a lot of people spoke highly of these brushes, I was convinced to purchase and try them out as well.
In total, I have purchased 2 e.l.f. brushes from their $1 line, and 5 different brushes from their $3 line at Target. My overall impression of the e.l.f. brushes were that they were just o.k. I did not buy all the brushes they carry, but from the ones I did buy, I felt that they were just not right for me and I would rather spend more money on better brushes.
This is the bronzing brush from the $1 line. I do not like this brush at all. The bristles are extremely flimsy which makes it a horrible brush. The brush doesn't pick up color well and does not do a good job at blending. I would not recommend this brush for anybody.
This is the concealer brush from the $1 line. The brush is way too small in my opinion to be used for concealer. I tried using it for applying eyeshadow to the inner corners of my eyes, but this brush does not pick up color well at all. I do not recommend this brush either.
I did not like both brushes from the $1 line and that's enough of a reason for me to not buy any more from their $1 line.
This is the blush brush from the e.l.f studio line. It is a tapered blush brush. This brush is great at picking up color from bronzers or blushes and the bristles are extremely soft. However, I am not a huge fan of this brush because it doesn't blend color out very well. It left me with a concentrated amount of product on my face. I also feel that this brush isn't large enough to use as a blush brush. I think this brush is okay if you can find a use for it because it does do a great job at picking up color, but I would not recommend it for use as a blush or bronzer brush.
This is the angled contour brush from the e.l.f studio line. It is an eyeshadow brush that has a slant on it. The bristles on the brush are really soft and dense. This brush picks up eyeshadow pigments well. I feel that this brush doesn't work well as a eyeshadow brush for myself because the brush is too large and deposits a large amount of eyeshadow over the small space I have on my lid. I also don't think that the shape does anything special. If you need an eyeshadow brush to blend your eyeshadow out, I would just stick with a regular fluffy brush. I would not recommend this for anybody who has a small lid space.
This is the contour brush from the e.l.f studio line. This eyeliner brush has a round tip, soft bristles, and is dense. This brush is supposed to be used to create the perfect smokey eye. I cannot use this brush for eyeshadow because it is too large for my lid space. However, I think it does do a great job in picking up color and I have found a use for it.
This is the eyeshadow c brush from the e.l.f studio line. It is a rounded eyeshadow brush with soft, short, and dense bristles. It is supposed to be used to create the outer C shape on your eye for a smokey look. This brush is also too big for my lid space. I don't think that it's fluffy enough to blend well, but I can use it to pack on a highlighter color.
This is the powder brush from the e.l.f studio line. It is probably the most popular brush e.l.f carries. It is a flat top brush that can be used with wet or dry products. The bristles are really soft and dense. I can definitely use it with wet or dry products, but I prefer to use it with powder. I feel that it doesn't really blend out a liquid foundation well, but I do use this brush to buff out my liquid foundation for a smoother look.
I think the studio line brushes are good quality for $3, but because the brush sizes seem to be too large for me, I'd rather purchase other brushes. Of course, makeup brushes can be used for whatever purpose you find in them. Just because a brush says it's for foundation doesn't mean you can't use it for concealer. Experiment! It's the best way you can find out what works best for you.
I purchased all of these brushes at Target, but you can also purchase these at eyeslipsface.com . The regular line of brushes is $1, while the studio line is $3.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment!
What do you guys think of e.l.f brushes? Let me know in the comment section below :)
Labels:
Check Out Melissa's Reviews,
e.l.f.,
elf,
eyeslipsface,
makeup brushes,
Target
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Time To Start Eating Healthy!
Happy October!
It is the first of the new month and because the first of the month is the easiest date to remember, I am going to start eating healthy beginning today. I eat so horribly, most of the "foods" I eat contain a lot of sodium and fat, including chips and fast food. Healthy is the way to go!
Actually, I felt really bad about how I ate when I came across a video of a girl on Youtube showing what she eats on a weekly basis and it was all healthy food items, and because I felt so bad, I decided I should really change up my eating habits. I know I say it all the time that I want to eat healthier, but this time I'm really going to try hard. I have so many friends who in high school were not very fit and are now running marathons. It's truly inspiring to see how fit they are now and I believe I need to take a step towards being healthy.
First order of business for me though is cutting out my number one craving, chips. I love chips of all variety and flavors. It is my weakness. If I can get through one whole month without eating chips, I will be very proud of myself. My plan is to replace chips with other healthier items.. Wish me luck! :)
It is the first of the new month and because the first of the month is the easiest date to remember, I am going to start eating healthy beginning today. I eat so horribly, most of the "foods" I eat contain a lot of sodium and fat, including chips and fast food. Healthy is the way to go!
Actually, I felt really bad about how I ate when I came across a video of a girl on Youtube showing what she eats on a weekly basis and it was all healthy food items, and because I felt so bad, I decided I should really change up my eating habits. I know I say it all the time that I want to eat healthier, but this time I'm really going to try hard. I have so many friends who in high school were not very fit and are now running marathons. It's truly inspiring to see how fit they are now and I believe I need to take a step towards being healthy.
First order of business for me though is cutting out my number one craving, chips. I love chips of all variety and flavors. It is my weakness. If I can get through one whole month without eating chips, I will be very proud of myself. My plan is to replace chips with other healthier items.. Wish me luck! :)
Friday, September 30, 2011
What I Bought Today
Red Cherry False Lashes in #507, #601, and #747XS
NYX Mosaic Powder - Highlighter
NYX Mosaic Powder - Spice
NYX e/s - Dark Gray
NYX e/s - Deep Charcoal
NYX e/s - Gunmetal
NYX e/s - Midnight
NYX e/s - Purple
NYX e/s - Nude
Swatches in order from left to right - Highlighter Mosaic Powder, Spice Mosaic Powder, Dark Gray, Deep Charcoal, Gunmetal, Midnight, Purple, Nude
Without Flash
With Flash
soo pretty!
Labels:
eyeshadow,
mosaic powder,
NYX,
red cherry
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Generic brand as good as Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover?
Eye makeup remover is an essential item for every makeup user because if you’re going to put it on your eye, you need a way to take it off. There are multiple types on the market including cleansing oils, makeup removing creams, liquids, and towelettes. I have tried each of those types and I find that makeup removing liquids are most convenient for everyday use because of the great quality and affordable price. In my opinion, makeup removing creams never seemed to remove my makeup (especially waterproof makeup) as thoroughly as liquids or cleansing oils.
Liquid removers are the best. Unlike cleansing oils, they are great for touchups, all you have to do is dip a q-tip into a liquid remover to clean up any mistakes you’ve made on your eyeshadow or if you’ve smeared your eyeliner. Unlike towelettes, you can use as little or as much product as you want with a cotton pad or cotton ball, whichever you prefer. Most importantly, it thoroughly gets off all the makeup on your eye.
As for cleansing oils, they are great for removing makeup from your whole face, but not wonderful for touchups. Cleansing oils remove makeup when the oil comes in contact with water. You rub the cleansing oil over your entire face to loosen the makeup then rinse with water to turn the oil into a milky colored liquid that easily rinses away along with the makeup on your face. Your face is no longer covered in oil and is free of makeup, but because it cannot be used for touchups, I don’t find it to be my essential make up removing agent.
I find that towelettes are not worth my money for everyday use because they are pricier than a liquid remover. You can use up a whole packet of towelettes faster than a bottle of liquid remover. Most of the time I don’t even use the whole towelette and have to throw it away.
I find that towelettes are not worth my money for everyday use because they are pricier than a liquid remover. You can use up a whole packet of towelettes faster than a bottle of liquid remover. Most of the time I don’t even use the whole towelette and have to throw it away.
Liquid removers are the best. Unlike cleansing oils, they are great for touchups, all you have to do is dip a q-tip into a liquid remover to clean up any mistakes you’ve made on your eyeshadow or if you’ve smeared your eyeliner. Unlike towelettes, you can use as little or as much product as you want with a cotton pad or cotton ball, whichever you prefer. Most importantly, it thoroughly gets off all the makeup on your eye.
I’ve used multiple brands of eye makeup removing liquids including Almay, Maybelline, Sonia Kashuk, Lancome, and Clinique. Some of those brands suck, and the ones that worked well cost more and work just as great as the Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. It really gets off all my makeup, doesn’t break me out, and does not sting like some other brands. It’s worked so well that there’s even a generic Target Up & Up brand making an eye makeup remover that is supposedly comparable to the Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. I was really hesitant to try it out because I really love my Neutrogena eye makeup remover and didn’t want to buy something that didn’t work. On the Target website, the 5.5 oz Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover sells for $6.49, while the 5.5 oz Up & Up brand Eye Makeup Remover sells for $4.54. That’s a difference of $1.95. Who doesn’t like saving a little where they can?
The Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover claims to remove even waterproof eye makeup. Let’s see how this Up & Up brand Eye Makeup Remover compares.
To test these two eye makeup removers out, I used an eyeshadow from my 15th Anniversary Urban Decay palette, the waterproof Maybelline Lash Stiletto mascara in Very Black, Mac Fluidline in Blacktrack, and Milani Liquif'Eye Metallic Eyeliner in Black.
I rubbed the eyeshadow, Milani eyeliner, Mac gel liner, and the waterproof mascara on my left hand to test the Neutrogena eye makeup remover.
This is what my hand looked like after one swipe of the Neutrogena eye makeup remover...
This is what my hand looked like after two swipes of the Neutrogena eye makeup remover. Pretty good, let's see how the Up & Up brand compares..
Right hand to test the Up & Up brand, swatches in the same order.
After one swipe of the Up & Up brand
After two swipes of the Up & Up Eye Makeup Remover.
Looks like the Up & Up brand Eye Makeup Remover removed all the eye makeup just as great as the Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover after the second swipe. Of course swiping my hand twice was just for testing and demonstration purposes, when you actually remove your eye makeup you'll need to swipe more times to thoroughly remove it all.
To use, I shake up the makeup remover to mix the ingredients all together. I use a cotton ball and swipe over my eye a few times, then flip the cotton ball to the clean side to wipe away the left over makeup. Waterproof mascara can be a little bit more difficult to remove, you just have to hold the remover there longer so it can penetrate and break down the mascara more. Afterward, I wash my face with a face cleanser to remove remaining makeup remover residue. Then all your eye makeup is gone!
Next time you're at a Target and need a makeup remover, try the Up & Up eye makeup remover instead of the Neutrogena Oil-Free Makeup Remover to save yourself a few bucks!
Labels:
eye makeup remover,
Neutrogena,
Oil-free,
Target
Friday, September 23, 2011
Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover
All hail more natural cleansing products! I love the feeling of knowing that I’m putting products on my face made without preservatives or harsh chemicals, it’s good for the earth and good for the face! The Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover is a face cleanser made without harsh chemical sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals, dyes, and phthalates, and is 86% natural. This cleanser claims to clean your skin and remove makeup. We all know how horrible it is to sleep with dirt and makeup residue caked on our faces so when I first heard about this cleanser I was extremely ecstatic because I could now remove my makeup and wash my face all in one fell swoop before I went to bed (especially on those nights when I’m feeling tired and lazy). I’ve always had a problem in the past with cleansers that claim to remove makeup, but still left a residue. The question is, does the Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover really clean off all my makeup?
To answer that question I formulated an experiment:
These are the products I used to test out whether or not the Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover does a good job at removing makeup and cleansing the skin.
I rubbed the foundation, eyeliner, and blush on my hand and let it dry for one minute. Afterward, it was time to wash my hand!
Looks like the cleanser really removed the foundation, eyeliner, and blush, and got my hand clean... but did it really? To test out if there was any makeup left over on my skin, I soaked a clean cotton ball in makeup remover and wiped it over my hand.
The conclusion? The cotton ball was extremely clean and picked up no traces of foundation, eyeliner, or blush! Awesome huh? The shininess on my hand is from the oil in the makeup remover.
Now that we have determined how great of a cleanser and makeup remover it is, let me give you more details about the product if you're interested in purchasing.
The consistency is gel-like and a bit on the runny side. The scent is pleasant. It smells clean and fresh. The product is easy to lather up and rinse off. Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover can be purchased at any drug store, Target, or Walmart and retails at $7.99, but sometimes this item goes on sale so you can purchase it for a discount.
Have you tried this cleanser yet?
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