Makeup
Disney Takes Down Their "Sexy" Version of the "Brave" Princess

Now that this mascara is not available at Sephora anymore I have to buy it when I visit Japan, which is fortunately often enough that I can get a new tube every two to three months (nicely aligning with the life-span of this product). Even though I repeatedly buy other waterproof mascaras (including another hard to find discontinued favorite - Chanel Drama Lash in Jet), this one has remained my favorite for day-to-day use. I wouldn't say that it adds volume, at least not for me, but it does lengthen and separate and I never have to worry about too many coats creating that "mas-scary" look. My favorite part about this product is that when I curl my lashes it holds the curl most of the day, something that other waterproof mascaras often fail to do. My least favorite part, and the reason I only gave it a rating of four out of five lipsticks, is that it works best in the initial month after purchase - after two months it works, but not nearly as well. My favorite mascara. It lengthens, makes my lashes look fuller, and it doesn't smudge. It's also easy to remove, not like the cover's girl's lash blast waterproof mascara I just got. I think I loss some lashes trying to get that mascara off. Sephora stopped selling this line at their stores, so I've been searching for a mascara similar to this one or better. I've tried over a dozen mascaras, but I haven't been able to find anything that beats this one. I may just end up purchasing this online somewhere. My eye makeup tend to smudge very easily w/o udpp, and BB liner smudges on me, the only liner that doesn't smudge is MAC fluidline/liquidlast. So in the first place everything tend to smudge on me, so are mascaras and I'm always looking for non-smudging mascaras. This is the only mascara in my 20 mascaras(All bought less than 6 months ago) that I use everyday. It's WATERPROOF, and that's it's function. I use it to volumize my lashes after the first coat of other lengthening/curling mascara, it does not weigh down my lashes even if I apply a lot, nor does it clump or smudge. I'm able to use many mascara because I don't have to worry about whether it would smudge, bourjois does the trick! After using it for three months it looks dired up a little, I'm definitely looking for bourjois waterproof, volumizing mascara, maybe to try out another line but I'll stick on to this brand! People have been talking about clarins double fix mascara, but I wouldn't spend $5 more on just for the waterproof, no volumizing, and make my lashes hard like wooden sticks! my lashes arent that thick but they are kinda long. you wouldnt be able to telll the length really since they are really light, at the end. im asian. so my lashes arent all that awesome to begin with. but this mascara so far has been very good to me. i use a shu uemera curler and apply this and my lashes are nicely lengthened and wonderfully separated. not SO much volume. but its better than nothing. i also have lash injection from too faced and i like bourjois much better because it doesnt do the ugly flaky thing at the end of the day. however, TF does volumize better. but almost to the point of tarantula legs. i've had no problems with the waterproofness. its withstood 10 mile bike rides, pms fits, and fights with the boyfriend that leave me crying for silly reasons.
January 26, 2012
I wanted to try this mascara because I had never tried this type of wand before. The formula is very wet. This is good because it gives you a long time to work and sculpt and shape with. Once it's dry though.......IT'S DRY! It dried super hard. i did find that the formula weighed down my lashes more than any other formula I have ever used. I have naturally curly eyelashes so I didn't think it was possible to straighten my lashes out but this formula kinda of did that. I did like the look I got. This mascara is wonderful if you want extra super long...almost false lash like length. It is not the most volumizing/thickening formula though. The wand definitely takes some getting used to and by all means do not poke your eye out with the wand like I did one morning before work. I have gotten mascara in my eyes many times with almost every mascara I have tried and none of them have ever burned like this one so beware. I would not repurchase but will enjoy using it while it lasts. I was actually completely stunned with this product. A friend bought it for me as a gift, and since it's a department store brand, I wasn't expecting much, but this wand is FANTASTIC! Out of every mascara I've ever tried, this one does not clump AT ALL. It goes on thick and smooth, with no hassle at all. She did get me a colored mascara, call Extreme Plum, which I was leery of because I prefer neutral colors. It turns out my lashes are dark enough that the color does not make a difference. If fun colors is what your looking for, this mascara is probably useless unless you have light colored lashes. I would so buy this mascara again. The wand for the mascara resembles a curved comb with little teeth that help separate your lashes. Although it doesn’t so much for volume, I thought was really happy with the way it separated and lengthened my lashes. They also appeared slightly curled. (I don’t use eyelash curlers.) The only downside I experienced was that it tends to look a bit messy if you apply multiple coats. (The clumps were more towards the lash line than towards the tips.) I LOVE THE WAND on this product! its like a 3 row comb that distributes the formula thoroughly down the length of my lashes and helps to separate any lashes that get stuck together. the wand can take a little time to get used to tho. the formula is wet so it doesn't clump for me but takes a bit longer to dry versus other mascaras. i've experienced great wear with it though - no smudges or flakes. it really makes my lashes longer, but doesn't do much in the thickening or curling departments. i curl my stick straight lashes before applying this stuff and the formula straightens out some of the curl, but it doesn't straighten them completely. i wish they had waterproof formula! those kinds usually keep the curl of my lashes better. Love this!! I love the look of long lashes that look natural. I've tried several different mascaras and this one is by far my favorite. The best part is that it is affordable, I believe around $12. It is a little hard to take off, but totally worth the extra effort. Just make sure you have a good make up remover!
January 26, 2012
I absolutely adore this mascara!!! It is hands down one of the best ive ever used, and ive wasted plenty of money trying to find a good one. Ive got incredibly long lashes, and i had always found it quite problematic to get a mascara that didnt clump them altogether and leave marks on any and every area that my eyelashes seemed to touch, (my eyelashes really are that long). This mascara however, manages to perfectly curl my eyelashes so much so that i dont even have to use a curler. It doesnt melt and leaves marks all over my eyes either, which for my eyelashes is a major plus. With just one coat, your eyelashes look amazing for daytime, or anytime to be honest, but if you want a more dramatic finish than you can add more coats, and the best bit is that this doesnt clump at all!!! Its got a really good texture to it, and you can feel it when your putting it on. Needless to say, i never leave my house without it, and literally one coat of this leaves my lashes look amazing all day and night. The pricing is slightly expensive, but its definitely worth it considering how good an effect it has, and so i will definitely be repurchasing. For those who want a beautiful curl to their lashes, than this is the product for you. It also helps with volume and gets to every lash, giving you a lovely wide-eyed look. This is one of the best (if not THE best) mascaras I've used. It is not goopy, clumpy, too wet, too dry, smudgy, or flaky. It makes my lashes look a lot longer, and hold their curl. The brush is so great at coating individual lashes that it looks like I'm not wearing mascara-- it looks like I just have naturally long, dark lashes, which is exactly what mascara should do! It lasts all day too. I have tried a ton of drug-store and high-end mascaras, including the popular ones like Fresh Supernova, Benefit (badgal and they're real), the regular DiorShow (too clumpy), and Chanel Inimitable (very good mascara). This one is my favorite so far! These guys really know how to make good mascaras!This is the best mascara I have used ever,period. Lasts all day, doesn't smudge . Easy to apply , lengthens lashes and doesn't make it look clumpy, makes my lashes look naturally beautiful and not madeup ,but if you looking for something dramatic and illustrious then definitely this is not your type.
January 26, 2012
I love this, I bought it a while ago at Bealls because it was like $4 and I knew it was much more at Walmart and other drugstores.. I didn't know it would become my favorite mascara! I love it, and am almost out. Today I found it at my dollar store and I was so happy, of course I picked it up. It looks so natural, I've used it completely with NO clumps ever, never had a problem of flaking or anything else. I use blackest black, but they also have a black brown color. For everday (I love dramatic eyelashes with neutral makeup) I use it on the 3rd setting of the dial, and it looks great. no matter how many mascaras I buy, I always come back to this one! I prefer to use this on #2 and in Blackest Black. I usually use MAC's Prep and Prime Lash with a majority of mascaras to try to boost the product but I find that even without it Dial Up is a great product. Great pigmentation. My only complaint is the packaging because it's so bulky. Almay SOUNDS like it would be just what I need for my sensitive skin and eyes, but IRONICALLY, most everything Almay that I have tried has been more irritating than mainstream Maybelline or CoverGirl products. This mascara is no exception. Thought it was love at first swipe with how smooth and beautifuly dark black this initially went on as a mascara. However, 5 minutes after putting it on, my eyes felt and looked red and irritated, and this continued the whole night I had this on until I completely removed it. Very very sad because a $1 successful mascara would have made my month, and I surely would have gone back to stock up on more. But more importantly, I once again realized how Almay products are oddly even less hypoallergenic than other companies, mostly because (if you notice Almay ingredient labels) they like to put excessive botanicals and extracts in their products, which all can be potentially irritating. A lot of times, simple and basic is the way to go for sensitive beauty upkeeping.
January 26, 2012
As thrilled I was with the colored half of the duo, the clear gloss side has almost no staying power. Since then, I have realized this has become a go-to lip color that I reach for with great frequency. The color lasts me at least an eight-hour work day, including exposure to all meals and beverages consumed in that time. It is the only long lasting lip color I have tried that has not completely dried out, roughed up my lips or gone darker or fell off in patches. It only darkens a little in the few minutes after application, and as I mentioned stays put. I wear it when I dine out and I never have to worry about tending to my lip color before or after the meal. I no longer bother with or care about the clear gloss end of the wand. I'll try to review my two colors individually. (I don't know... might not be worth the effort as I think this may be discontinued. I just noticed I placed my prior review in the wrong spot and am fixing it.) For now I'll mention I'm light-medium and cool (MAC NW15) and honey is a subtle MLBB color for me. Wish I would have picked blush though as honey skews a little bit more brown/beige than ideal for my coloring. Raspberry is a nice bright pinky-red. A definite go for night but during the day it would depend a lot on context as it is quite intense. I love this lip-color -- nothing is longer lasting. It does not dry out my lips at all, and if I keep hydrated all day -- my lips stay soft and lovely. Application is a little irritating, but definitely worth it. You must let the color dry out completely before applying the gloss (I recommend applying the gloss very sparingly!), or else you will not get even color or long-lasting results. TLC may not last for 12 hours, but the color withstands eating, drinking and even long kisses ;) and will do so for maybe 5 hours or more. I touch up the color when it begins to look dull and I'm good for a long time! The color variety is excellent -- I bought "sugarplum" which is a deep pinkish color that looks extremely natural. For me, it's the perfect color for work, school and everyday. One of the draw backs though, is if you do not stay well hydrated, your lips will chap and peel, making the color appear very spotty. At this point, if you try to touch up, it'll just look worse. To fix this, drink some water, remove the dead skin on your lips with a damp towel, use lip balm and once your lips are smooth -- reapply TLC. This lip-color is definitely worth a try. Almay's TLC is one of the best products for those of us with busy lives, who can't afford to be reapplying our lipstick constantly! I bought this at Big Lots in almond for $3 thinking if it didn't work, I didn't have anything to lose. I LOVE it. I love the color. I won't go to anything else and neither will my friend who recommended this to me. I tried Revlon's version of this a couple years back, but this stays on longer and I got it much cheaper. In fact, the other day, I went to get my teeth cleaned. It stayed on the entire time (and all that evening and night). The hygienist loved the color, was impressed by its staying power, and wanted to know what brand it was. There wasn't much of a selection at Big Lots, but then I wasn't expecting there to be. (Heck, it's only Big Lots.) Both colors I bought worked well for me. (Roseberry was the other one, but almond's my favorite.) I don't know how great the selection is at drugstores. I have found it to be a little drying, but my lips aren't particularly dry so that's not much of a problem for me--especially for $3. Reapplying the clear gloss has helped. To take it off, I've found that carmex and a tissue work well. I feel so much prettier with it. I seldom wore lipstick before, because I'm not one to reapply my make up once it's on.
January 26, 2012
I recently stumbled across several shades of Almay Ideal Lipcolor at a discount store for about $2 apiece. Having never tried an Almay lippie but satisfied with the high quality Almay maintains in their other products, I bought "Berry", "Pink" and "Red". These lipsticks come in a round white tube with a see-through top that very much resembles the Revlon tube design. The barrel is a frosted aluminum. The bottom of the tube has a color swatch sticker on it so it's easy to see what is inside no matter what end you glance at. One advantage of having a white case/cap is that the color inside isn't swallowed up in a dark shadow cast by dark plastic. In fact, I see nothing about the package design to complain about. I am of the philosophy that simpler, smaller and sleeker in a lipcolor tube is better. I dislike clunky lippies that don't feel comfortable in the hand and take up too much room in my cosmetic pouch, handbag or train case. This one doesn't. It's a decent quality tube all the way around, most notably the fact that the cap is a secure fit. One thing that makes this formulation unique is the peppermint scent (as described on the back of the package). It is definitely minty, more so in smell than taste, however. Each of these lippies are sheer and a single coat when applied with a light hand is rather subdued. As a result, less or more applications change the look quite dramatically, particularly with respect to the Red shade. Unfortunately, as sheer colors go, none of them wear very long — which is why I am docking the rating. Red, as others have pointed out, contains some gold glitter, which is quite obvious in the tube. The good news is, that does not translate into obnoxious, giant glitter chunks on the lips by any means. That being said, the sparkle does feel slightly gritty, but only upon rubbing my lips together. Otherwise, it is not irritating. (Almay, after all, has traditionally been the go-to drugstore brand for non-irritating cosmetics long before the mineral makeup fad took hold.) In my opinion, Red is not an overly orange hue, either. A single coat is a very subdued pale cherry tone. After building up several coats the best I can describe it is a clear medium-bright red with pink undertones and a modest golden shimmer. I would say this is a fun red color, not an inappropriate or dated looking one. It simply isn't opaque enough to look garish in the way some of the worst reds are. Pink has a tinge of coral that makes it less like cotton candy and more like a nude that will flatter anyone, especially those who dislike cool pinks. It is very natural looking and because it isn't loaded with shimmer it doesn't accentuate lines on the lips the way some lipsticks do. The medium gloss in Almay's Ideal Lip Color is just enough to give a pleasing lip plumping illusion when fresh out of the tube. Pink remains a subdued color that never becomes too bright no matter how many coats are applied. And because it doesn't have any glitter, it is smooth and moisturizing without feeling heavy. I don't need to carry a separate lip gloss or balm in my purse when I have my Pink Almay Ideal Lip Color with me. Perhaps it has something to do with the peppermint? (It somewhat reminds me of a milder smelling version of Burt's Bees.) Berry, like Pink, has a nice medium sheen and goes on without any overt shimmer. It is a neutral berry tone, neither overly warm nor overly cool. Unlike some colors with the word "Berry" in it, this one doesn't take on a wine or purple tone, either. It has some medium pink tones too it, but the overall look isn't too bright. It would be perfectly appropriate for a professional environment. Like the others, however, it doesn't have much of a lipstaining effect. It is necessary to reapply it fairly often to keep the color and moisturizing effects from fading, but in all fairness this appears to go with the territory when using lippies classified as "sheers". Almay's attempt to making these colors flatter shows. It is nice to have a lipstick where it is easy to control the intensity of the color. That's what makes this product unique — or as Almay describes it, "Ideal". I would buy this product again — especially if I could find it in Orange (sheer coral/peach). Like the poster before me, I also picked this up at my Dollar Store! Already content with my Almay Ideal Lip Color in 'Pink', didn't hesitate to pick up 'Red'. I have been looking for a true blue-red, and Almays 'Red' fits the bill. But this particular shade does have some gold shimmer in it, but it all looks good to me. The Ideal Lip Color formulas are incredibly moisturizing and refreshing (peppermint). I apply this, pat excess off with a tissue, and seal with some clear lip gloss. This gives me a simple, red lip that finishes like a stain!!! It is a simple, classic shade that would work well with all skintones, imo... And it won't wear away unevenly like many stains do. Overall, I am very happy with my super-bargain lip color!
January 26, 2012
ORANGE ORANGE ORANGE! Hideous. Do not buy. Very cheap quality. You would have thought I bought this from the Dollar Store. When I first bought this powder I thought it worked fine. The coverage was nice and didn't cause me to break out. Unfortunately, after using it regularly for about 2 weeks, it became completely unusable. The powder became rock hard and impossible to pick up with the applicator (which fell apart soon after). I ran out of my usual pressed powder and decided to try something different. This was called Clear Complexion so I thought it would help the blemishes around my cheeks and mouth clear up. Bad assumption. The first day I tried this, it looked okay on my skin right after it was applied. But after about an hour my skin looked orange!! So we were already off on the wrong foot, but I decided to give it another try. After wearing this for a week I started noticing little bumps on my forehead and I NEVER breakout on my forehead, so I knew this was the problem since it was the only change. That day, this little buddy said hello to the trash can. This powder was disappointing...Once I could actually get it out of the compact! I had to go over the powder with an eyebrow brush to get it to go on my powder brush. Otherwise it was stuck in the compact, hard as a rock! The mirror got dirty quickly, as well as the rest of the package. Not very good. This didn't provide me with any coverage, and it made my face look cakey no matter how little I applied. Will never repurchase. i hate this product. since it was for people who wanted "clear complexions" i tried it out. but it broke me out so much. also, it broke within one month of using and i can't even carry it around in my purse because it falls out and the lid is not shut tight enough. horrible horrible. This oxidized into an orange/brown MESS after only a few minutes. Almay's products have diminished in hypoallergenic quality, and in overall quality. When the company was bought out, and the products were reformulated, Almay went down the tubes. Very sad indeed. This is the second time I have bought this product, I thought I'd give it just one more shot. My skin is very oily, so if I use something that's too thick I usually break it in really bad underground zits, I've been using Avon Mineral Powder and haven't had one of these breakouts in over a year. I ran out recently so I thought I'd try Almay Clear Complexion Blemish Healing Pressed Powder in Light/Medium 200, one more time. Same thing as the last time, overnight I started getting the same huge painful underground zits on my chin area and my forehead. I will never ever use this product again.
January 26, 2012
I find this mascara very light. It's my everyday mascara when I am looking for a light everyday look. It doesn't do much for volume or fullness but I don't find it clumps. I have had a great experience with this product but if your looking for something thats going to give you a dramatic look it's probably not for you. The commercial says that this product is "light" but it makes my eyelashes stick straight and hard as rock. It's awful. I usually buy waterproof simply because it will hold a curl so much better but that is not the case. Nothing about this feels "natural." Didn't like it. Felt very wet going on and continued to feel wet for hours. I know that seems crazy, but I tried it a couple times and both times it felt very wet and heavy even with only one coat on. It definitely didn't add volume b/c the lashes were stuck together, not clumpy, but wet looking. Hoping Walmart will take it back, it was a waste of my $$. I'm not exactly sure what is so mousse-y about this. As other reviewers have said, it seems to be the same consistency as any other mascara. That being said, I am a fan. I usually don't like plastic applicators with mascara, but this one works well. I use two coats and my lashes look full and long. At the end of the day, I use my Bioderma makeup remover paired with Purity Made Simple and it comes off pretty easily. Most important, my fiance has told me how nice my eyelashes look when I wear this, which has never happened before. Since Taylor Swift was the spokesperson for this particular mascara, and the overall Nature Luxe line...I had to buy this! It claims to be a water-resistant mousse mascara. In all honesty, even thought it claims to be a mousse formula... it's not much different, formula-wise, as another mascara. BUT, when it says water-resistant, its not joking. I went to the beach and through sweating AND underwater in the ocean, it did NOT budge. If you're looking for a good actual water-proof mascara that volumizes nicely with some unintentional length, go for this one!
January 26, 2012
Ironically enough, I ALWAYS use CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion.. ALWAYS!! I have naturally full lashes... I recently had some lash extensions added and took them off yesterday. I dont usually like how the fake lashes make my real lashes look after they come off, they seem dry and short and VERY scarce, and I always have to wait for them to grow back fully...... ;( My neighborhood drug store was out of my usual mascara so I picked this one up because it said "NEW".. well OH BOY!!! My lashes look amazing.... like nothing has changed. This made my little scarce lashes look like a KARDASHIAN!! I will be using this until my lashes grow back fully from the extensions. The brush seems to grab EVERY single hair and Pull, pull, pull it out and extend extend and extend and plump plump plump..... We Women Love that! this is the GO TO mascara for miracles.. for me.. for NOW!!!!!!! Im almost on the gate about going back to FUSION because if these are the results now... I can only imagine the results when my lashes grow back to NORMAL. I LOVE this mascara. Funny story on how we met too. I was running late one morning, and didnt have time to do my eye makeup. I swore I packed my mascara, but alas! It was nowhere to be found. I could swing by my house without being late for school, so i texted my friend to bring hers with her. Well, she did, and at first glance "Oh, covergirl." ( I usually prefer maybelline, because after a 'meh' experience with Last Blast Volume, which was supposedly their best mascara, I thought ' The others must be just terrible then! ' WRONG!) Also, its not exactly eye candy, persay. Anyway, I also didn't curl my lashes, which is a must for me, because theyre sooo straight. First swipe: Oh, its okay, but I don't think we'll rendezvous again. Second swipe: OMG! I'm in love! Makes my short stubby lashes like Kim K's. Doesn't flake ever (13+ hrs w/a nap), and though it comes off easily in water, I've played an entire basketball game w/o it running or anything of the sort. Needless to say, this is my go to mascara. Cheap, amazing, and the best I've ever had.
January 26, 2012
My friend got two of the same lipstains (#400). We're both really different, she's pretty pale compared to me and our lips have different pigmentations. This color comes off very pretty, like a very dark pink, but not quite red. I like the idea of a lipstain, but this fell short of my expectationsI gave it 2 lippies because I really do like the color. The staying power sucks though. I have to reapply it multiple times a day because if I lick my lips it comes off. If I drink/eat anything it comes off. Also, it leaves my lips feeling dry even if I've put lipbalm before. There is also a weird taste if I do lick my lips, like a bittersweet taste. I don't think I will repurchase, but it is kinda of great if I have to run and go. It's very buildable but kind of hard to blend out if put on already. I've had mine for about a year now...I have only used it sparingly though because I forgot I had it. I only tried this once for one hour. The color stays even after taking shower, I had to take it off with makeup remover. I don't like how it feels when you put it on. it feels like you are drawing lines on ur lips with a marker. It is not shiny at all. if you add a lip gloss on top of it, it looks nice. I am not sure if it will last all day with eating and drinking. but it looked like it will. i tried rubbing the color off with my finger and it didn't come off at all. its one of those things which u might really love or really hate. Reapplying lip color constantly is such a pain! I thought this product might be a good alternative but I was rather disappointed. I bought the cinnamon color and have since tried applying it in different ways. The first problem is that it is not color true. The box suggests it's a nice nude brown but if you test it on your skin or apply to your lips it quickly turns into a dark red. Very startling! If the stain is applied lightly the color change is less dramatic but it sure doesn't stay brown. This was something I tested on four friends with different skin tones and it happened to all of them. I don't know if the other stains are color true but it is something to be aware of. The second issue is that despite being a 'stain' the color doesn't last. Applied without gloss or anything else on my lips it wears off fairly quickly if I don't eat or drink. If I do eat or drink it vanishes almost immediately. Applying gloss over the top makes it go even faster. My friends had similar experiences. Honestly, I might as well just use lip liner which (for me) lasts just about as long. The third negative is the way it goes on. It is not like a lipstick where you have a solid, rich color. Applied lightly it gives a tint of color which can be very pretty and natural looking. You can also layer it for a deeper color. Unfortunately, the color still remains patchy unless you really work to blend it in. Getting an even application is really hard! I'm not sure if this is the fault of the product or the applicator. Finally, the lip stain magnifies dryness no matter how much or little you wear. Adding a layer of gloss, either before or after, doesn't help and makes the lip stain wear off much faster. Only one of my friends seemed not to experience what we dubbed the lip shrivel. It did look very nice on her but one out of five isn't all that great. I don't think I will buy again or test other lip stains by Cover Girl. I might test other brands but my hope aren't high.
January 25, 2012