REVIEW: Ecotools By Alicia Silverstone: 5 Piece Set Cosmetic Bag

Ecotools 5 Piece Set

Breaking It Down

This set comes with 4 mineral makeup brushes (made of sustainable bamboo handles and cruetly-free, taklon bristles) and a SUPER cute makeup bag designed by Alicia Silverstone that actually carry the brushes as well:

- Powder Brush

- Finishing Brush

- Eyeshadow Brush

- Brow Brush/Lash Comb

How It Works

Well, depending on your personal preference of applying makeup, you can basically use these brushes any way you want.

Powder Brush

I've been looking for a really good powder brush, and I must say that I really like this one ! Now, it didn't exactly fufill my "quest" to find a SUPER HUGE and fluffy powder brush, but, I know that this whole set, in general, would be an excellent travel makeup brush set, so of course, it'd be a little too much to assume that such a brush would be included in this set. 

Finishing Brush

If I could only live with ONE brush, I'd most likely choose this one ! I don't use it as a finishing brush though, but actually as a liquid foundation "stippler" (is that even a word... ?). This brush, working with my Revlon Colorstay, makes my face look AIRBRUSHED. Yeah. It's THAT good. And it really did impress me, because everyone who has basically tried this foundation knows that once you put it on your face, you only have a short amount of time to blend it out on your face. With this brush though, there's no rush to hurry up and blend, blend, blend once you put foundation on your face. Using this brush, just do a circle-motion to apply the foundation throughout your face, and viola ! Perfection;D

Eyeshadow Brush

This eyeshadow brush was not exactly, EXTRAORDINARY, but I really like it. It does distribute a generous amount of eyeshadow onto my eyelids, and it's a WHOLE lot better than my Covergirl Eyeshadow Brush (what eyeshadow brush isn't ? O.o) but I just wish that the bristles were a lot more compacted and smaller, so EVEN more pigments would get picked up. 

Brow Brush/Lash Comb

I mean, it's a Brow Brush/Lash Comb, what's more to say ? I suppose I could add that I kind of appreciate the somewhat "roughness" (not really "rough" but, firm ?) of the brow bristles, because it keeps my eyebrows in place, but the eyelash comb is I guess, is an eyelash comb. 

Yippie's

- Brushes are EXCELLENT quality (soft, doesn't shed)

- Cheap ! Found this at Wal-Mart for like $13-14

- Bag is cute and can also store makeup in another compartment

- Environmentally friendly ! (Whoop-whoop)

Boo's

- Wish the eyeshadow brush was smaller and a little more compacted

- Brow Brush/Lash Comb was ordinary

Would I Recommend and Repurchase ?

Recommend: DEFINITELY. But hurry, because these are only limited edition !

Repurchase: If I ever lose this set and is in desperate need of more brushes, then yes ! 

REVIEW: L'Oreal EverPure Moisture Restorative Masque

L'Oreal EverPure Moisture Restorative Masque

Breaking It Down

So this "leave-in-conditioner" has no sulfate, and has Rosemary Mint extract in it (which smells heavenly !). It's suppose to help slow down treated color fading and moisturize your hair.

How It Works 

After coloring my hair with those color treatment boxes you can buy in drugstores, I decided to try this out, and I have no regrets of doing so ! I use this after I use my conditioner, and I leave this on for about 5 minutes. After rinsing this stuff out, my hair is extremely smooth and straight ! This also kept my highlights in for about a year, when really, it supposed to last a month ! 

Boo's

- Can't think of one x)

Yippie's

- Straightens hair !

- Protects hair color from fading (colored or not)

-  Makes my hair nice and soft

- Only $5 !

- Smells awesome ! :D

Would I Recommend and Repurchase ?

YES. Already have repurchased a gajilliiioon times. :)

REVIEW: Biosilk Silk Therapy

Biosilk Silk Therapy

Breaking It Down

Although this product has been out for years, the packaging is quite new. Silk Therapy is available in these sizes: 0.5 oz, 2.26 oz, 5.64 oz, 12 oz. and 34 oz. and range from $10 for a small bottle to around $60 for a large one. 

How it Works

Mainly, this product is used for the hair, but it can also be used for the skin (for softness). To achieve a silky, smooth texture to your hair, comb this through with your fingers. Whenever I flat-iron my hair, I always use this first, because it creates a silky, straight finish to my hair. 

Boo's

- If you apply too much, then your hair can end up looking greasy.

- Quite expensive

Yippie's

 -Makes my hair SUPER silky

- Makes hair straight as well, even if you don't flat iron it. 

- Worth the money !

Would I Recommend and Repurchase ?

Yes, yes ! Already have recommended my friend to buy this (she used to have short, curly hair, and it would frizz up whenever she straightened it) and she LOVED it ! I have repurchased this several times and will continue to.

REVIEW: Clinique High Impact Mascara (w/ Photos)

Clinique High Impact Mascara

How it Works

Clinique claims that this mascara is supposed to volumize and thicken your lashes. The brush is not necessarily the standard kind, but it does not have any special feature (like Givenchy's Phenomen'Eyes Mascara). 

*the following pictures are mine, please do not steal*

Without mascara

With Clinique High Impact Mascara

Boo's

- Brush didn't impress me or "wow" me or anything

- Honestly, I've tried more dramatic drugstore mascaras than this one, that's abut half the price.

- Doesn't give me exactly the "dramatic" effect I love, even though the name is "High Impact"

Yippie's

- Not chunky

- Doesn't dry quickly, yet it's not too watery

- Is one of the cheaper high-end mascaras

- Doesn't weigh down a curl

- Easy to apply

- Doesn't smear throughout the day

- Does lengthen and darken lashes 

- Product availability, even towards the Holidays, is still the same.

Would I Recommend and Repurchase ?

Recommend: Yes, to those who don't really want a DRAMATIC look, but still want long lashes.

Repurchase: Well, see, I received this in a promo kit, but I am still considering whether or not to repurchase individually. I do like some of the drugstore mascaras more, and I do appreciate the fact that they are still cheaper than this mascara. Would, and did buy for a gift though.

REVIEW: Covergirl Eye Enhancers 1-Kit Shadows

 Covergirl Eye Enhancers 1-Kit Shadows

Covergirl's a drugstore brand; 

We all know that.

But do these shadows live up to the name of their sibling mascaras ?

Let's find out !

How It Works

These eyeshadows are sold individually, so you can literally create hundreds of looks like multiple are purchased.

Boo's

- To me, these shadows are VERY chalky.

- It does have pigmentation, but I feel you have to pack it on to get the color you want

- The Enhance shades are quite inferior to the Blast shades, which is not very good, I suppose.

- Applicators= USELESS. The sponges fall off after using it about three times !

Yippie's

- Cheap. ($3 at Wal Mart)

- You get what you paid for (wait, isn't that a Boo ? O.o)

- There are a variety of shades, ranging from ultra glittery, to shimmery, to matte

Would I Recommend and Repurchase ?

I hate to be the downer of this product, but no. It's way too chalky for me, and the pigmentation really isn't all that great. Believe it or not, I think the texture and pigmentation of Covergirl's Exact Eyelights Eyeshadow Palette is WAYY silkier and better than these shadows. But that's just me. 

I WANNA HEAR FROM YOU.

Do you like this product ? 

Which shades would you recommend for brown eyes (I already have Swiss Chocolate) ?

Do you agree with my opinion ?

So comment, reply, respond ! 

Who knows, maybe you can change my mind about these shadows. ;) 

REVIEW: i.d. Bare Escentuals 100% Pure Moxie Makeup Kit (w/ Swatches)

Bare Escentuals Moxie Kit

Breaking It Down

This kit comes with three brushes, a Heavenly Face Brush, a Heavenly Blush Brush, and an Eye Buki Brush. It also comes with Tropical/Pure Radiance All-Over Face Color, Tinted Mineral Veil, blush in Naughty, Naughty, and two eyeshadows in Magnetize and Kudos (the Lip Guard, I believe, had a recall)

How It Works

This kit, I would not say is a "starter" kit to bareMinerals, but an expansion to any makeup collection a person currently has. The brushes in this kit are supposed to be used with the cosmetics it comes with.

*following pictures are mine, please do not steal*

                                                               The Brushes

Very soft. The bright orange handles are very original, and limited-edition.

(from left to right)

Eye Buki Brush:

This brush is quite large for a lid brush (for mine at least), so I mainly use it as a blending brush for my lid to crease area.

Heavenly Blush Brush:

I use this brush a LOT. Like I mentioned, the flat surface of this brush picks up pigments very well, so the blush comes out very nice on my cheeks.

Heavenly Face Brush:

Somewhat resembles a stippling brush. The flat surface picks up product very well, and I would use it for foundation or the mineral veil. 

                                                      Naughty, Naughty Blush

           

I think it's too dark for my skin. I would have to use it VERY lightly for it too look like a subtle blush for me.

                                                       The Eyeshadows

                                      

These shadows do tend to fall out, but like I said, that's what an eyeshadow primer is for, correct ? ;)

Magnetize:

A pretty light, shimmery green (you can't really see it that well in the photo, but it is green)

Kudos:

A nice bronzey color

                                                        All Over Face-Color

    

                                                                 Pure Radiance, Tropical Radiance

I think these two work the best when they're combined. I like the fact that this container is Spill-Proof (it has that twist-lock to it). The Pure Radiance can act as a glittery highlighter (if you're real careful with blending it out) or an eyeshadow, whereas the Tropical Radiance can work as a blush. Combine this together and you get a shimmery finish, healthy look your cheeks !

The Tinted Mineral Veil

Honestly, I can't always see the difference when I do wear this product, and when I don't. It's suppose to finish off my complexion with a "tinted" light to it, but for me, I can't personally tell.

Boo's

- Should have replace Lip Guard with something else at least

- Eye Buki brush could be smaller

- The product inside can get a little messy if you carry it around in your bag because of the packaging

- Would have been my FAVORITE kit if it came with foundation instead of mineral veil, even if it was just a small amount

Yippie's

- Good value (You find these kits for $15 at Ross !)

- Brushes are soft (yay !)

- Magnetize is gorgeous on brown eyes ! ;D

- The All-Over Face Color has the Spill-Proof packaging, so it's easy to carry along

Would I Recommend and Repurchase ?

Recommend: Yes, but make sure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients first !

Repurchase: I'm not sure if I would, considering I already have the brushes, and it seems to me that it will take me quite a while to finish everything. But I would buy as a present for someone else !

REVIEW: Neutrogena MoistureShine Gloss

Neutrogena MoistureShine Gloss

I can always count on Neutrogena to carry out on what they promote.

The word "moisture" drew me to pick this up at WalMart

Because as we all know in the winter,

Things can get really ugly,

And lips can get really dry.

Breaking It Down

These glosses contain Acai, Goji, and Aronia berries that are supposed to help condition your lips, even overtime. There are currently 13 shades up for sale, ranging form neutral, sheer colors to more brighter pink and plum colors:

*Super Sparkle

*Fruity Pink

*Healthy Blush

* Nutri Berry

*Natural Boost

*Copper Power

*Pure Cider

*Vita Plum

*Vital Violet

*Refreshing Rose

*Potent Plum

*Berry Fit

*Wine Wellness

*Healthy Peach

Boo's

-Staying power isn't EXTREMELY long

- There's not a very coral shade out (Nutri Berry is just a regular pink, to be honest)

- It would be nice to have a lovely red, wouldn't it ?

- Not the cheapest lip gloss in a drugstore

Yippie's

- I think the packaging is quite nice for a drugstore brand (compared to the Covergirl Outlast Double Double Lipshine


-It doesn't dry out my lips like other lip glosses do.


- The pink was perfect for my skin tone: Pink, but not BRIGHT pink or anything.


- It wasn't sticky


Would I Recommend and Repurchase ? 


Yes, but I would be a THRILLED camper though if they came up with a coral or a red.