Review: Jordana Cat Eye Liner (01 Black Leather)

Picture found at Walgreens.com

$2.99/ 0.057 fl. oz (1.7 mL)

http://www.jordanacosmetics.com/p-173-cat-eye-liner.aspx

This eyeliner is described as being “Lightweight, Long Wearing, Smudge-Proof Color that Lines & Defines Eyes”, “From Novice to Pro; Easy To Use, Tapered Brush Applicator”, and having “Smooth Application”.

Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Acrylates Copolymer, XanthanGum, Cellulose, Hectorite, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Mica.+/- May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI77499), Red 40 (CI 16035), Blue 1 (CI 42090), Carmine (CI 75470), Ultramarines(CI 77007), Black 2 (CI 77266), Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288), ManganeseViolet (CI 77742)..

This product is a black liquid liner with a shiny, vinyl-like finish. It is housed in a long tube with a very fine brush applicator. The applicator is slightly tapered.

I found that about half of the claims associated with the product are accurate. This is a pigmented, very black liquid liner that provides smudgeproof wear for the whole day. The brush is so fine that you can get really thin lines and really sharp points. However, it is not at all easy to use. Because it is a brush tip and not very tapered, it is really easy to make mistakes. So I would definitely NOT recommend this for novice eyeliner-wearers as the blurb suggests. Because it is a brush/inkwell type design instead of a pen, if I draw into the roots of the lashes I get my lashes coated with the product. I can work around this, I just gently run makeup remover over my lashes, but I can see this being a problem for inexperienced makeup wearers. If you are already boss at doing liquid liner and have trouble finding a product that allows you to draw fine enough lines or points, this is definitely check this out though.

Another thing is the consistency of the product. It has a very strange consistency when it dries; the product binds together. This makes it really resistant to running or smudging (I’ve taken showers with this on and have come out with my liner intact), however, if you rub it it balls up and rubs off completely without much hassle. This only happens with liner on my eyelids, not swatches on my hands, leading me to believe that water or oil breaks down bonds between the skin and the product. This makes the product really easy and not at all messy to remove when you actually want it to, which is great. Thankfully I think the gentle rubbing is key; I have quite oily lids and haven’t had this peel off of its own accord throughout the day (unless I accidentally rubbed my eyes) even without wearing primer underneath. It never rubbed off my hand without water. So if you have super oily eyelids, I would suggest putting a bit of primer under your eye makeup; for drier lids this should work fantastically.

The finish is a bit strange, being slightly shiny- if you are familiar with the L’Oreal vinyl finish liner (I don’t know the exact name), I think this is similar if memory serves correctly. I can’t exactly say for sure if this is an exact dupe because I only have used my friend’s about 4 years ago, but I think if you like that one this one could be a good replacement. It’s also significantly cheaper!

Overall, I think this is a really good product if you are really good at doing liquid liner and like the vinyl look. It has great wear, yet is easy to remove when you want it off; it is super black and can draw really fine lines. And for $2.99 you can hardly beat it! I would be interested in seeing if Jordana INCOLOR Fabuliner has the same performance as this liner in terms of formula, but with a little bit easier application.

Rating: A-

Product Smackdown: Color Enhancing Conditioners for Brunettes

In one of my LBTs (see post here), I mentioned a conditioner from John Frieda that was supposed to enhance the color of brown hair. I really did like it, hence having it in a favorites post, but since then I have tried a couple more and have a little more experience in the world of color enhancing conditioners. In this post, I will be evaluating my original favorite, John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Hydration Conditioner, Guhl Farbglanz Braun Balsam-Spülung (“Color Shine Brunette Hydration Conditioner”), and the Lee Stafford Blinding Brunette Condtioner. I love this kind of conditioner because they really make my hair color look nice. Without them, my color can be a little blah. I must also say that I actually like all of these conditioners, but I do have one favorite. One thing to take note of, though, if you do decide to use one: if a glob lands on the floor of the shower, wash it off right away or it might stain. It goes away eventually, but still isn’t that fabulous.

 

John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Hydration Conditioner: ~€7/250ml (dm, Rossman)

Guhl Farbglanz Braun Balsam-Spülung: ~€3-4 (dm, Rossman)

Lee Stafford Blinding Brunette Conditioner: ~₤5-8/25 ml (Boots)

http://www.johnfrieda.de/haarpflege-produkte/brilliant-brunette/bb-hydration-conditioner

http://www.guhl.de/kollektionen/farbglanz-braun/#reflect_p03

http://www.leestafford.com/en/products/blinding-brunette/blinding-brunette-conditioner#.UQJvGxzNpYB

Found on John Frieda website

Found on Guhl web

 

Found on Lee Stafford website

 

	John Frieda	Guhl	Lee Stafford
Features (as found on brand websites)	Restores moisture and shine to dull, dry hair Unlocks color nuances in hair without needing to get it colored Made with crushed pearls and tea leaf extract	Gives hair strength and shine whilst intensifying color Noticeable flexibility Extra-easy combability With walnut extract	Adds moisture and shine Enhances brown tones UV protection Made with walnut and henna for color and moringa seed extract for shine
Price	2nd place	1st place	3rd place
Moisturizing, shine, and softening capabilities (as decided by me)	Good, made my hair nicely soft and shiny. For all conditioners, I would put it at the higher end of average.   3rd place	Good, made my hair nicely soft and shiny. For all conditioners, I would put it at the higher end of average. Slightly better than other two. 1st place	Good, made my hair nicely soft and shiny. For all conditioners, I would put it at the higher end of average. Slightly better than John Frieda. 2nd place
Color renewal capabilities (as decided by me)	Good, brought out the brown tones well.   2nd place (tie)	Really good, made my hair color fresh and bright, almost like I had just colored it. 1st place	Good, brought out the brown tones well.   2nd place (tie)
Scent	Pleasant, traditional conditioner scent but a little more chocolaty.   3rd place	Pleasant, very similar to John Frieda.     2nd place	LOVE, traditional Lee Stafford scent. It was funny because I hated it in the heat defense spray, but loved it here. 1st place
Packaging	OK, easy(ish) to get water in after you can’t squeeze product out. Not clear, though, or as sturdy as the Guhl one. Also has sharp corners.     3rd place	OK, it’s sturdy (good for travel), but is a bit harder to get out especially when getting to the end. Also it’s smaller, so you have to buy it more often. Relatively easy to get water in. Rounded corners 2nd place	Very good, first of all it’s pink. Next, it’s ombre. ‘K. Also, it is transparent so you can see how much you have left. Not as sturdy as Guhl one, and has sharp corners.   1st place
OVERALL RANK	3rd place	1st place	2nd place

As I explained before, I actually like all these products, but I prefer the Guhl one over the others because it has the best color renewal and moisturizing capabilities. It is also a bit cheaper than the others. The Lee Stafford one is a close second, I LOVE the packaging and scent, but in addition to being not quite as good for color and moisture as the Guhl one, it is really hard to find. I bought mine in Hungary at Douglas on the Vaci Ut, if that helps anyone… But really if you see any one of these, I would really recommend picking them up, they are really fabulous.

 

Review: ELF Mineral Infused Mascara

8g

ELF US: $3

ELF UK: ₤3.75

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/eyes/mascara/mineral_infused_mascara

http://eyeslipsface.co.uk/en/restofworld/mascara/mineral-infused-mascara/invt/81411/

Found on eyeslipsface.co.uk

This mascara is advertised  as creating “fuller, healthier looking lashes” and add definition while still volumnising. The mascara is supposed to be long-wearing and clump-resistant. The brush is made of silicone, and has even sized bristles placed relatively close together and a tip that tapers off.

Ingredients:

Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate SE, PVP, Triethanolamine, Triacontanyl PVP, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate.

I love this mascara! It gives my lashes the most amazing doll-like effect, it separates them and lengthens them nicely. It does NOT stick my eyelashes together so it looks like I have about 5 total, which I do enjoy. The formula is nice and black, and doesn’t clump, flake , run, smudge, or anything on me, but isn’t too hard to get off when I want it off. The packaging is really nice and sleek, as with many ELF Studio or Mineral products it doesn’t look or feel cheap. This is one of my favorite mascaras and yes, it is 3 dollars. 3. You really cannot get much better than that. I would highly recommend this product and would definitely repurchase it!

Rating: A+

Review: Clarins Moisture-Rich Body Lotion

6.7 oz/200 ml

Sephora (Clarins.com): $40

Clarins.co.uk: ₤30

Clarins.de: 33€

http://www.sephora.com/moisture-rich-body-lotion-P95060

http://www.clarinsusa.com/Moisture-Rich-Body-Lotion/C020202002,en_US,pd.html&cgid=330&start=6

http://www.clarins.co.uk/Moisture%20Rich%20Body%20Lotion/C020202002,en_GB,pd.html?start=8&cgid=330

http://www.clarins.de/Baume%20Corps%20Super%20Hydratant/C020202002,de_DE,pd.html?start=1&cgid=330

**NOTICE: contains parabens (ethylparaben, methylparaben)**

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Clarins Moisture-Rich Body Lotion is a moisturizer for dry skin. It contains “peach milk, shea, candlenut oil and orange blossom” that “visibly minimize the signs of ageing caused by sun, cold, heating and air-conditioning”. It supposedly “helps smooth dry, rough patches and improve skin tone” and “gently removes dull, flaky cells for a youthful, all over glow”. It also should sink in quickly.

Ingredients:

Aqua/Water/Eau, Paraffinum Liquidum/Mineral Oil/Huile Minerale, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Glyceryl Myristate, Glycerin, Ppg-15 Stearyl Ether, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Peanut Oil, Stearyl Heptanoate, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Stearyl Alcohol, Parfum/Fragrance, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Aleurites Moluccana Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Disodium Edta, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Malic Acid, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Potassium Sorbate, Carbomer, Ceteth-24, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Wax, Prunus Persica (Peach) Leaf Extract, Choleth-24, Pisum Sativum (Pea) Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour, Sodium Citrate, Sutilains, Prunus Persica (Peach) Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Bht, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Citronellol, Eugenol, Citral, Isoeugenol.

This is a very rich, luxurious cream that smells AMAZING but not overpowering at all, and is excellent for hydrating dry skin. I love how it comes in a tube, so everything is very hygienic. And yes, it smoothed my rough patches. It even made the skin on my legs look polished and semi-healthy, despite their deathly paleness. I don’t know if I would call it a “glow” but it certainly is an achievement. On those points the moisturizer has certainly upheld its claims. I cannot speak for the aging part, but I mean as I, not a dermatologist/expert, understand it, well-moisturized skin looks less saggy than poorly-moisturized skin. I guess that makes sense… That having been said, it really doesn’t sink in quickly. At all. Actually, it kind of takes forever to sink in. But it really is a good product that works really well, I would just recommend applying it before bed rather than before anytime you need to get dressed. I am also not so happy about the parabens or the price. However, if neither of those things bothers you, then I think you will be very happy with this moisturizer.

Rating: A