e.l.f. ESSENTIAL JUMBO EYESHADOW STICK

10 SHADES
$2.00

TARGET, EYESLIPSFACE.COM

THE CLAIMS:

This creamy and pigment rich Jumbo Eyeshadow Stick is perfect for creating a natural or smoky eyeshadow look. Infused with nourishing Vitamin E to condition the delicate eye area. The twist up component and smooth glide formula is easy to use for on-the-go beauty. All colors, except Like A Boss, have a shimmer finish.

THE INSPECTION:

These are ok but not great.  They are good if you are in a hurry and just need quick eye makeup.  They don't stay on that long even with primer.  The colors are really pretty though and go on smooth.  The stick twists up from the bottom.  The colors Turkish Coffee and Rock out look the same on.  My favorite color is Little Miss Thing.  It is a dupe for the Urban Decay eyeshadow pencil called "Lit".  They are easy to carry around so you can touch up.

FRESH SUGAR LIP BALM

7 SHEER TINTS
1 CLEAR

SEPHORA              $22.50
FRESH.COM          $22.50
AMAZON.COM      $11.95 (TRAVEL SIZE)

THE CLAIMS:


Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 is scientifically proven to keep lips moisturized for up to six hours after initial application.

It blends reparative oils and waxes with real sugar, a natural humectant, for delectable and dependable moisture. Sweet and tart black currant oil, rich in plumping essential fatty acids, cushions the lips while antioxidant grapeseed polyphenols and vitamins A, C, and E provide protection from wrinkle-causing free radicals. It also provides essential, year-round protection from damaging UV rays.

This lip-loving essential has a bright, citrus scent and is free of petroleum, mineral oil, and lanolin.

THE INSPECTION:

Best lip balm ever!! The claims on this are true.

I got this as a birthday gift from Sephora and I have not been able to leave the house without it ever since.  It is so hydrating and is not sticky.  It's the only lip balm that I have ever used that actually stays on for hours!

They are tinted but are pigmented enough to give color. I have been using this in place of lipstick.  Your lips feel so hydrated and moist.  I really think they are worth the price.  I love it!!

COVERGIRL CLUMP CRUSHER MASCARA

4 COLORS

WALMART  $6.94
CVS             $6.99
TARGET      $6.99

THE CLAIMS:

A volumizing, clump-free mascara

This mascara comes with a slightly curved brush with bristles positioned close together to prevent clumping.

Have no fear of swiping on layer after layer of this mascara: The short plastic bristles separate and lengthen lashes, and there isn't room between them for clumps to form, even with repeated applications. 

 

THE INSPECTION:

The claims are true.  There is no clumping with this mascara.  It separates and fans out your lashes.  It does lengthen but you have to work at that more.  I love the brush and it works really well on the bottom lashes.  There is no problem putting 2 coats on as long as they are still wet from the first coat.  I was impressed by this mascara.

CeraVe FACIAL MOISTURIZING LOTION - PM

$12.97 - WALMART
$12.99 - CVS ($10.39 ONLINE)
$11.35- AMAZON.COM
$13.99 RITE AID

THE CLAIMS:

CeraVe  Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM is a nighttime moisturizer, developed specifically for the face, which helps repair damaged skin and maintain the skin’s natural protective function with ingredients not commonly found in other moisturizers.
Containing ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM increases the skin’s ability to attract, hold, and distribute moisture.  It penetrates deep into the layers of the stratum corneum to help to replace deficient levels of key lipids that are essential for an effective skin barrier.


THE INSPECTION:

A great night time moisturizer!  It is not a thick cream or greasy. The consistency is almost like a serum, but a bit thicker.  You can feel the moisture on your face when you put it on. I use it as an eye cream also.  When you wake up in the morning your skin looks hydrated and feels really  soft.  You don't even look like you just woke up.  I love all of the ingredients in this and I love that you can get it at the drug store.

e.l.f. STUDIO CREAM EYESHADOW- DAWN

$3.00

TARGET, EYESLIPSFACE.COM

COMES IN 8 SHADES

THE CLAIMS:

Line, shade and contour your eyes with this ultra pigmented and creaseless cream shadow. Easy to blend for layering and building color. The silky smooth and smudge-proof formula provides long lasting color for a beautiful look all day.



THE INSPECTION:

e.l.f. EYESHADOW BRUSH

These cream shadows are great!!  It's one of my favorites right now in the color Dawn. This color would look good on most skin tones and is good for a neutral eye look.  I use the e.l.f. eyeshadow brush to apply this.  It lasts all day but I found that it does crease a little without a primer.  It is a shimmery taupe color and can be used as a base for other eyeshadows or alone.  It looks really good mixed with a little pink cream shadow.  It comes in a cute small square container, and will last a long time and doesn't take up any space in your make up bag.  I love it!

ELYSEE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH FLAWLESS FACE LIFT

HSN.COM - $20.00
THESHOPPINGCHANNEL.COM  - $24.50
AMAZON  - $32.50

THE CLAIMS:


An intense instant and temporary lifting and skin tightening concentrate combining key ingredients specifically targeted to achieve a flawless-looking skin by helping to visibly refine and smooth the appearance of facial contours. Featuring an exclusive peptide complex of Matrixyl® synthe'6™*, Argireline®**, and Chronodyn®*, this visibly flawless face lift provides instant temporary skin tightening benefits while providing long-term benefits by helping boost the skin's own 'youth' mechanisms through the optimization of collagens and hyaluronic acid.

Demonstrates visibly effective smoothing of facial wrinkles, while helping to significantly improve the appearance of deep wrinkles over time. 

Instant Lift Complex gives an immediate lifting, firming, tightening effect; enhances skin smoothness and radiance. 

It contains a non-animal alternative to serum album. 99.5% lifting and skin tightening ingredients. Three dimensional complex provides an immediate lifting effect on skin.

 THE INSPECTION:

Another product with great claims but poor results.  This did nothing at all.  The sales pitch on this was great!  But when I tried it, nothing happened.  The before and after pictures look believable, but don't waste your money.

N.Y.C SMOOTH SKIN PERFECTING PRIMER

$3.99  TARGET, KMART

THE CLAIMS:

Evens skin tone. Minimizes pores & lines. Smooth Skin Perfecting Primer can be worm alone or under foundation. It minimizes skin imperfections, lines and pores for a perfect complexion. Skin feels smooth, silky & moisturized. Enriched with vitamins top help protect from damaging effects of free radicals. Complexion looks luminous, natural & fresh all day long. For all skin types.  



THE INSPECTION:

I did not like this primer.  It has the consistency of lotion and it really didn't work for me.  The color of this is white and it has a bit of shimmer to it, but that disappears when you put your foundation on.  It is very thin and I did not find any of the claims to be true.  In fact, it broke my skin out a little.  I looked at the ingredients after and noticed it has mineral oil in it.  That's not good. There is only one shade, so I'm confused as to why they have "shade 684" on the front of the tube. Should of looked at the ingredients before I bought it.  Hated it!!

BARE MINERALS ALL OVER FACE COLOR-WARMTH

$19.00   SEPHORA, ULTA

THE CLAIMS:

Warmth All-Over Face Color is an all-year-round complexion booster that infuses radiant light into your skin so it looks like it's coming from within. It's versatile, universal, adjustable, and is 100% pure crushed minerals from the earth. Warmth can be worn over, under or mixed with any bareMinerals foundation to create a healthy, sun lit look. It glides onto the skin like silk, leaving you with a natural, velvety and warm finish.

• Boosts your complexion for an all-over healthy looking glow.
• So versatile that it can be used as a highlighter, blush, cheek contour, eyeshadow or even lip color.
• Does not contain any fragrance, oils, emulsifiers, preservatives or additives.

 

 

THE INSPECTION:

I use this as a blush sometimes and every time I do, I always wonder why I don't use it everyday.  It gives your face a sunny look and people always ask if I went to the beach.  It looks like a fresh healthy "just enough" sun glow.  You only need a tiny tiny tiny amount.  It is very dark but when it goes on, it is the perfect color.  It is a coppery, brick color and seems to look good on all skin tones.  The less you use, the better with this product.

ALGENIST FIRMING & LIFTING CREAM

$94.00  SEPHORA, QVC
$45.00  WITH QVC 3 PIECE DISCOVERY KIT

 

THE CLAIMS:

An ultra-firming and restructuring cream that tightens and lifts while reinforcing skin structure.

This cream leverages the power of alguronic acid and ProPeptide3. Brought together in a never-before-seen antiaging complex, these ingredients boost production of skin's key structural proteins: elastin, collagen, and proteoglycans. As it strengthens skin's structure, this advanced formula redefines facial contours, leaving skin smooth, sculpted, and lifted.

Within 10 days of use (results obtained using product twice daily, following a self-assessment of 100 women):

- Skin is tightened and lifted in 83% of subjects
- Skin elasticity is restored in 80% of subjects

Within 4 weeks of use:
- Skin structure is reinforced in 90% of subjects
- Skin is firmed and toned in 91% of subjects

THE INSPECTION:

The claims on this product are ridiculous!  None of them are true and this did nothing for me.  There was no firming, no tighening, and no change in skin structure.  I used it for 10 days, (claims say will see results by this time) twice a day.  It is a good moisturizer, but so is Suave at the drug store for $1.99.

NAILS INC. SPECIAL EFFECTS 3D GLITTER NAIL POLISH

$9.50  SEPHORA
7 COLORS

BLOOMSBURY SQUARE

MAIDA VALE

CANNAUGHT SQUARE

FITZROY SQUARE

HAMMERSMITH

MARLEYBONE

SLOANE SQUARE

THE CLAIMS:

Special effects 3D glitter nail polish to give your nails a textured, show stopping finish.

These stunning 3D glitters are must have shades. Specially created with two different particle sizes, this polish creates a 3D effect on the nails and is designed to give a full coverage effect for nails that will really make a statement. These polishes look like nothing you have seen before. Texture is a big nail trend, so wear these polishes for fashion forward nails!

SMALL ACCENTS ARE PRETTIER IN MY OPINION

THE INSPECTION:

I like this nail polish a lot!  It goes on with no problems and drys quick.  I found that a small accent of it worked better for me.  The "every nail" glitter look was just a bit too much.  Also, it is very hard to remove and takes a lot of time to get it off of each nail.  This is a nice change of pace from the ordinary manicured look and is a fun look for special occasions.