Week of Reviews Day 7: Real Techniques Stippling Brush

     For my last review for my week of reviews I decided to basically review Real Techniques customer service and their stippling brush. One of the 1st posts I ever did on this blog was a review of the stippling brush, you can click here to read it.
     My opinion on the brush has changed over time. I rarely use it anymore because I just don't love the results. It's great for blending along the jawline & stuff like that, but it just makes my foundation (which is light coverage) look so caked on! Anyway, about 2 weeks after I purchased the brush (under 10 uses, had not washed the brush yet), this happened....

A huge chunk of the brush literally fell out. Based on what I've read online, others have also had the same problem. Here are some of the things I've read online of people having similar experiences with the stippling brush:

From Facebook:

From Ulta.com, WalMart.com, or RealTechniques.com:

As soon as my brush started to fall apart I sent an email to Real Techniques. The replied within 24 hours, saying that if I gave them my address they would send me a new brush. I emailed them back, didn't get the brush. Emailed them again and the brush came 3 weeks later. It took me a total of 6 weeks to get the brush. Honestly, I don't think it was worth it and would have rather just got a different Real Techniques brush or my money back. However, I do realize I am part of a minority. I read hundreds of reviews to find the ones posted above. Don't get me wrong, this is a great brush. It doesn't work with every product I've tried, but it works well with most and it's affordable. I was just very disappointed with its quality. 

Since it seems to be a very small amount of people who have had the same experience as me, I would recommend purchasing it. For a $10 brush, it's great. I like it better than any other drugstore brush I've used. Despite everything I had to go through with this brush, I think the majority of you would enjoy this brush and hopefully won't have to go through the same experience I did. 

Tip: This brush may not work well with liquid foundation, but try using it to apply your undereye concealer or cream blush!

Week of Reviews Day 6: Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser Fortifying Shampoo

I've been dying to try this new Garnier line but it has always been sold out at my local drugstore. My bottle was literally the last product from the Damage Eraser line left.

The first thing I noticed was that it didn't smell like your typical Garnier product (fruity), it was more of a salon shampoo scent (like Tresemme). The smell didn't bother me, it was just unexpected since it is a Garnier product.
This shampoo dried my hair out. I only use it every other day at most, so I can't imagine how dry it would make my hair if I used it every day. I honestly don't think it did any "damage erasing" either.

I don't recommend this shampoo. There are so many other shampoos that work much better, both from Garnier as well as other brands. I hope to try the rest of the line in the future and hope I like the other products more than I "liked" this.

Week of Reviews Day 5: Equate Cocoa Butter Conditioning Body Lotion VS Vaseline Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning Body Lotion

     As I have said before, I have super sensitive skin and cannot use lotions with any sort of fragrance in them. I use lotions with cocoa butter in them because (1) they smell good and don't irritate my skin and (2) cocoa butter helps prevent stretch marks and other skin conditions. The Vaseline lotion was the winner by far. I was very unimpressed with the Equate lotion. A 24.5oz bottle of the Equate lotion retails at $3.42 and a 32oz bottle of the Vaseline lotion retails around $6.64. Although the Vaseline lotion costs nearly twice as much as the Equate lotion, it is much better and definitely worth the money. Plus, the Vaseline bottle is also larger than the Equate lotion, so you are paying for a larger amount of a better quality lotion. I have loved every Vaseline lotion I have tried and I highly recommend them. The Equate version is just a cheaper alternative that simply isn't as good.

Week of Reviews Day 3: Garnier Fructis 3 Minute Undo Dryness Reversal Treatment

You know I love me some Garnier. I've loved almost every Garnier product I've tried and was super happy when I got this for free thanks to Garnier's glorious manufacturer's coupons that you can find on the shampoo & conditioner bottles.
Disclaimer: This is more of a first impressions than a review, but who cares?

The first thing I noticed was that it smelled amazing, as do most Garnier products.
Then I noticed that it was a thinner formula (for Garnier) and had little beads in it.

Let's just get to the point; this did not condition my hair! It made my hair really dry and tangly. I ended up putting my normal Garnier conditioner in my hair afterwards because my hair was really dry and tangled.

After I got out of the shower I went to see if other people had this problem. Turns out most people loved this product and swear by it but people have also had nearly identical experiences to mine. Seems to me that this product isn't for everyone. I personally wouldn't recommend it and I will never repurchase it, but hey- if you can get it for free like I did, go ahead and try it. Maybe you'll love it. Maybe.

Week of Reviews Day 2: Garnier Fructis Fall Fight Conditioner VS Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Condtioner

Don't get me wrong, these are both great conditioners, but they are very different. They both smell great and work well, but I think that the Fall Fight would be better for oily hair and the Triple Nutrition would be better for dry hair. I have a huge problem with my hair falling out, which I've talked about before on this blog, so I was really hoping I would love Fall Fight, and I did, but I still love Triple Nutrition more because my ends tend to get really dry and it really moisturizes them. As far as the Triple Nutrition in the green packaging as opposed to the yellow packaging, I do see a difference and I like the one in the yellow packaging much better than the one in the green packaging. 

Week of Reviews Day 1: Pond's Dry Skin Cream

Today I'm reviewing Pond's Dry Skin Cream, which I purchased because Clean & Clear no longer makes their Morning Glow moisturizer (which I am still super upset about) and this was the most affordable alternative. I found Pond's at Walgreen's on sale and ended up getting two 3.9oz creams for about $3!
My biggest concern was that this moisturizer was going to break me out because it didn't say "oil free" on it, but I trusted the packaging, which said it won't clog pores.
My first impression of the cream, which I use as my primary moisturizer in my morning and my under eye cream at night, was that it was very oily. It has occlusives and humectants in it, so I started to freak out when I saw how oily it was. Luckily, it was only oily-feeling for a couple minutes & then it just made my skin feel super soft. Also, it did not break me out and still hasn't after 3 week of using it religiously...and I have sensitive skin!
The only thing I do not like about this product is the packaging. I wish it had a pump! Other than that, this is a pretty great, affordable moisturizer/cream, especially if it's on sale!
I have both oily and dry skin and I absolutely love this stuff for my dry skin, but it doesn't make my oily patches any oilier than they already are. If you have dry skin or combination skin, I highly recommend trying Pond's Dry Skin Cream!

P.S. If you have any recommendations on great facial moisturizers with SPF in them that are under $10, please let me know! I'm going to Belize this summer and I need to find a good one since Clean & Clear doesn't make theirs anymore. I have tried Jergen's Natural Glow (or whatever it's called) and I liked that one, but I went through it so quickly! 

Affordable Pencil Eyeliners

I'm going to do a mini review on all the pencil eyeliners I have tried (don't worry, I'm somewhat new to the eyeliner world, so there aren't a ton)! I decided to do this post for girls who are still trying to find a great pencil eyeliner :)

1. Ulta Collection Gel Eyeliner Pencil: These were the first eyeliners I ever tried and I have them in the colors Peacock, Majesty, Black/Brown, and Black Out. At first I really loved them, but now that I have experimented with other pencil eyeliners and gel eyeliner, I think they're pretty dry compared to the eyeliner I mention for #5. Don't get me wrong, I still love them, but they are definitely not the best out there. I don't think I would ever repurchase the Black/Brown and Black Out ones, but I would definitely repurchase Peacock and Majesty (yes, I do love colored eyeliner). Peacock is such a fun color to wear in the summer and Majesty is a fun purple. They also come in many other beautiful colors! $8.00 each at Ulta
2. Bonne Bell Eye Define in Espresso: I really like this eyeliner and it was very affordable- it retails around $2.50. The color is easily the best brown color I have ever tried- it's a beautiful dark brown with hint of plum (don't get me wrong, this is not a purple eyeliner, it's definitely brown). It's very creamy and easy to apply, great for a beginner!
3. Maybelline Line Express Eyeliner in Ebony Black: I honestly didn't like this eyeliner. The color is great and it's easy to apply, but it kind of ends up looking waxy, like a crayon. I also didn't like the smudger; it's more like an eraser. $4.97 at WalMart
4. Ulta Collection Automatic Eyeliner in Raisin: This eyeliner was great at first, but it started drying out after about a month. The color is gorgeous- it's a very wearable plum color that is very subtle. It's a little harder to apply and hard to get a thin line. Also, I'm not a huge fan of the "automatic tip", especially for beginners. $8.00 at Ulta
5. Ulta Collection Design A Line 12 piece eyeliner collection: My grandma gave me this for my birthday and at first I thought I was never going to use it- there was 1 black and 1 brown and the rest were crazy colors (like gold and orange). I'm really sad that Ulta no longer sells this because they are my favorite eyeliners now! They're extremely creamy and go on very easily and look absolutely flawless. They are so creamy that sometimes I blend them out and use them as eyeshadow. By far the best pencil eyeliners I've tried. Plus, who else has awesome, festive eyeliners for almost every holiday? Yes, I am wearing green eyeliner on today. 

Rank (1=Best, 5=Worst)

1. Ulta Collection Design A Line

2. Bonne Bell Eye Define

3. Ulta Collection Gel Eyeliner Pencil

4. Ulta Collection Automatic Eyeliner

5. Maybelline Line Express Eyeliner

Vaniply by Vanicream

I've had a dry patch on my hand since around June (I have had very bad eczema my whole life). It comes and goes, but it's been getting really bad recently. I have tried a total of 3 ointment/steroid prescriptions from my dermatologist, but they would typically make the patch go away for a day at most & then it would come right back, sometimes worse than it was before I used the ointment/steroid. 

Since none of the prescriptions were working, I decided I wanted to try some non-prescription products and see if any of them worked any better than the prescriptions did. I did my research and found that Vanicream had a new product, an ointment called Vaniply. I love Vanicream products (I highly recommend the Lite Lotion), so I was very hopeful about Vaniply. Before I ordered it, I called my grandpa (who is also a huge fan of Vanicream- he literally has a Lite Lotion in every room of his house) to see if he had tried it yet. Turns out he had tried it and he loved it. He even offered to let me borrow his to see if I liked it before I bought it. 

The first thing I noticed about this product was that it feels exactly like Vaseline, which I haven't had much luck with with my eczema (but I love it for my feet), so I looked at the ingredients to see if there was any Petroleum Jelly in it. Turns out it is Dimethicone, not Petroleum Jelly, which I believe is the active ingredient in Dermasil lotions. I love Dermasil, but the results aren't very long lasting for me, so that worried me a bit...

While reading everything on the back label, I noticed that it said it was for lips and skin. Since my lips are always super chapped, I decided to try it on my lips as well....

I LOVE THIS STUFF!! I put it on my lips during the day & put my Revlon Lip Butter right on top. Revlon Lip Butters usually turn into a train wreck when applied on dry lips, but with the ointment on them it glided on like a gem. It stayed on all day and you couldn't even tell how chapped my lips were! It made my lips super soft. As for the dry patch on my hand...I applied it to the patch before bed and when I woke up in the morning the patch was literally gone AND it hasn't come back since (1 week, which is the longer than any prescription ointment I tried). 

This stuff is amazing. I highly recommend it, whether you are using it as a lip treatment or a skin ointment, it's superb. AND it's safe for kids and those with sensitive skin (like myself).
Here is the link to the Vanicream website: http://www.psico.com/products/products.cfm

$6.99 at Walgreens. $5.29 at drugstore.com 

*This is not a sponsored post.*

Products I Use in the Shower

1. Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Shampoo: This shampoo makes my hair soft and shiny; it makes it look healthier! I've seen a huge difference in my hair since I started using this.

   

   $2.96-$6.97 at Walmart

2. Garnier Fructis Length & Strength Shampoo: My favorite shampoo! It makes my hair really soft & detangled. I can tell my hair has gotten a lot stronger since I started using it. 

   

   $3.99 at CVS Pharmacy

3. Garnier Fructis Fall Fight Conditioner: This stuff works! I used to have a problem with my hair falling out, but ever since I started using this conditioner, I haven't had to worry about it that much. It has really helped my hair not fall out so much. It also makes my hair really soft! Best conditioner ever.

   

   $2.96-$4.97 at Walmart

4. L'Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm: I did a review on this last week (I have also done a post all about Garnier Fructis products, go check them out). In short: I LOVE this stuff.

   

   $5.97 at Walmart

5. Up & Up Women's Shave Gel in Strawberry Tangerine: I couldn't find an online picture or price for this, but it is awesome (& it's the generic brand, so it's most likely cheap). It smells good & it works great! It makes my legs feel soft--& I have sensitive skin and Eczema, so that's saying something!
6. Sugar scrub: I make my own sugar scrub. If you haven't tried sugar scrub, google a recipe & try it! Sugar scrub is amazing for hands, feet/legs, underarms, and lips! If you'd like me to do a post on sugar scrubs or share a recipe, let me know :)
7. Equate Daily Freshness Spring Showers Antibacterial Body Wash: Although this is not a very moisturizing body wash, I love it! It makes me feel so clean & helps keep my skin clear. & it smells good, too!

   

   $2.97 at Walmart

8. Cetaphil Daily Cleansing Bar: This is my favorite bar soap. It's very moisturizing and great for sensitive skin!

   

   $3.47 at Walmart

Battle of the Mascaras: Benefit's They're Real! vs Maybelline's Define-a-Lash

These pictures are not mine, all rights go to their owners.

Maybelline's Define-a-Lash: This mascara really lengthened my lashes, but I was not a fan of it. It did not separate my lashes at all and it irritated my eyes. It also didn't hold my curl, so I had my eyelashes in my eyes. It made my lashes very stiff and was super hard to take off (& it was the "washable" version!). Wearing this mascara for an entire week (I usually try mascaras a few times before deciding if I like it or not) was horrible. I really didn't like this mascara, which is strange because Maybelline usually has amazing mascaras!

$6.97 at Walmart

Benefit's They're Real!: At first I didn't think I was going to like this mascara. Its brush was strange, but I was still excited to try it. I LOVED this mascara. I'm so glad they give you a sample one for your birthday at Sephora; that way I have a smaller one to take with me when I travel! It lengthened, volumized, and separated my lashes, it made my lashes look natural, yet false (does that make sense?), and it held my curl. It didn't smudge and stayed on all day & wasn't difficult to remove. I highly recommend this mascara!

$23.00 at Sephora

WINNER: BENEFIT'S THEY'RE REAL! ....by a landslide.

Review & First Impressions: Covergirl LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm

Yesterday I picked up the Covergirl LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Blush Twist. I had heard so many girls rave about them on YouTube & felt it was time I picked one up. I chose Blush Twist because it is a pretty pink color that anyone can pull off.
First Impressions: It wasn't very pigmented (not that I was expecting it to be- it says "sheer color" right on it), but it did have a nice tint to it. It was very moisturizing and didn't dry out my lips.
Review: This is a great product for anyone of any age. If you're like me & you don't like to have to worry about how lip butters or lipstick look on your lips half an hour after applying it, this is for you. It's basically just an awesome tinted lip balm! Great for on-the-go or just a carefree day. I believe they come in 15 colors, so I am excited to try more! Go get you some.

$6.94 at Walmart

*This is not a sponsored post.*

My Favorite Foundation

My absolute favorite foundation is the Covergirl Clean Oil Control foundation.I don't have particularly oily skin, but the oil control formula is definitely my favorite. I think this foundation helps keep my skin clear too. I have used this foundation for somewhere around 3 years & I have found that I tend to breakout more when I'm not using this foundation than I do when I am wearing it! The finish is not dewy, but not matte; it's a happy medium & looks very natural! It's definitely not a full coverage foundation (it's light/medium coverage) and pretty hard to build up coverage with. I apply it with a sponge or the Real Techniques Stippling Brush & it blends very well either way.I love this foundation & it really does make your skin look clean! Go check it out :)

$5.94 at Walmart.

*This is not a sponsored post.*

Current Blush Favorites

Ulta Cheek Color: Ulta's blushes are great! They are very pigmented and they're a convenient size and nice for traveling. They're a little difficult to blend, so just be careful not to apply too much. If you purchase them online, keep in mind that they look a lot darker than they actually are. They retail for $7.00 & you can get them at Ulta :)

NYC Color Wheel Mosaic Face Powder in Rose Glow: This is by far my favorite blush. It gives my cheeks a beautiful rose glow (hence the name) and looks very natural. This blush isn't super pigmented, so I don't recommend it for those of you with darker skin tones. I apply mine with a less-dense blush brush & I love how it looks! Definitely go check this one out. It retails for $4.99 and I get mine at Target.

Nyx Cosmetics Powder Blushes: Nyx is my favorite brand when it comes to blush. They offer a wide variety of colors. They are the perfect size and shape for traveling. They blend easily and are very pigmented. All around great blush! They retail for $5.99 & I get mine at Ulta. I believe Target also sells Nyx now, but I could be wrong.

BareMinerals Ready Blush in The Aphrodisiac: This is my favorite high end blush. I apply it with the BareMinerals Angled Face Brush & it looks beautiful. It's very pigmented and looks natural. Gorgeous blush all around. Similar to the NYC mosaic blush. Retails at $22.00 and I get mine at Ulta. 

So those are my favorite blushes at the moment. If you have any great blushes I should try, let me know in the comments!!

***This is not a sponsored post.***