Showing posts with label Rimmel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rimmel. Show all posts

Sunday, August 1, 2010

I Give Up.


Hey everyone!
I am talking about Rimmel Sexy Curves mascara, which I purchased about two weeks ago and have been using since then. I had never heard anything about it, but decided to try it anyways, and besides I had a $2.00 off coupon. Well, let me tell you, I am now wishing I had gotten the Max Flash mascara because quite frankly this mascara just does not cut it. I normally would spend a little more time with it before reviewing it but I just don’t like it that much. However, if this changes, you guys will be the first to know!
Oh yes, the packaging is so cute, with a shiny purple tube and an embossed crown on top (sound familiar? What other Rimmel product looks like that? Answer below!). The brush… well, I can’t really describe it so let me just show you:
This is a “triple plump” brush for “fuller curvier lashes.” To me this just seems like a gimmick because it really doesn’t seem to help.
Nekkid lashes!
How about the formula? I think this is an ok formula. Sexy Curves is a little on the thin side, but most mascaras tend to thicken after a month or so, so I’m not too hung up on that. But it does dry quickly, and once it does you can’t go back and add some without forming unilash. That’s a little inconvenient for me, because I usually do one coat on one eye, then go to the other eye, and repeat until I get the desired effect. But now I do one eye at a time, which throws me off in the morning.
And the lengthening and volumizing? It gives just a little extra something, very natural looking and nothing dramatic. This isn’t what I was looking for; I like a lot of length and volume. It does better in the latter category, but even that isn’t saying much. It's just not impressive.
3 coats of Rimmel Sexy Curves
Now that all that is over, I have to go over my #1 complaint- smudging. Even after it has dried (and formed unilash) if you blink this mascara will usually leave little smudges on your eyelid. This is quite annoying, especially if you’ve already got your eyeshadow on. But the weirdest thing is that I noticed smudging right above my lashline after applying Sexy Curves. I think this is due to the bulbous parts of the brush hitting there while putting the mascara on, but I could be wrong. It’s really annoying though because it’s hard to wash off, and especially annoying if you’ve already applied the rest of your eye makeup.
All things considered, this not a good mascara and definitely not worth repurchasing. It only gives minimal length and volume, smudges easily, doesn’t give curvier lashes, and is just plain annoying. I think the only good thing it does is help your lashes grow, because of added proteins. But let’s face it, I can just use L’Oreal’s lash serum for that and not have to deal with it. My advice? Stay far away from this mascara.
Have you tried this mascara, and if so, what are your thoughts? Any mascaras you think I should try? Comment!
~Gabrielle~
PS The packaging is very reminiscent of their own Moisture Renew lipsticks!
 PPS Is anyone else really excited for Shark Week on Discovery Channel? 

Thursday, July 15, 2010

NARS Cactus Flower Cream Blush Dupe???

Hey everyone!

A few days ago I was watching arose186's June favorites video and she described her NARS Cactus Flower cream blush as "red with a golden glow." That sounded familiar to me, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Then later that night as I was looking through my lipstick bin to find some chapstick, it hit me like...well ok it wasn't that dramatic but I realized what I had been thinking about- my Rimmel Moisture Renew lippie in Rosette- a red with golden shimmer.

Now I've heard of people using lipstick as blush before (Sandra Bullock at the Oscars, anyone?) so  wasn't that reluctant to try this if it meant finding a good dupe. So I dabbed this on the apples of my cheeks, blended it out, and... well it looked pretty good. It was definitely sheer but you can build it up. There is one major problem though- the shimmer in the lipstick is very fickle. On one cheek, you could see what looked like little glitter chunks but on the other it was just a perfect glow, no disco ball-ishness. So that is quite hit and miss, but for finding a dupe of an expensive blush I'm willing to deal with this.

Of course I had to check some other blogs to see if anyone had swatched Cactus Flower for me to compare, and one of my favorite bloggers, Karen at Makeup and Beauty Blog actually has a review of the NARS blush. Her pictures look pretty comparable to my results; however, she says the texture of the NARS is more like a gel than an actual cream, but I don't think that affects the quality of my dupe any less.

Has anyone ever tried using a lipstick as a blush before? Will you be trying this? Comment!

~Gabrielle~

PS Tomorrow I am leaving for Florida! I am spending a week there which is nice because I have only been able to take a few days vacation at my beach house (not in Florida) all summer. Unfortunately, it won't all be fun and games as I am actually there for a national softball tournament but I will still be able to soak up some sun and collect some tar balls on the beach whilst I'm there. Also, posting will probably not be actual beauty posts as much as tags, some awards I've been neglecting, etc. But I will still be here. :)