Highlighters -Milani - Illuminating Face Powder
mkdallas 10/15/2012 5:22:00 PM
This is a really great product, and I'm one to avoid facial highlighters since I'm 54 and don't want to draw any more attention to my wrinkles than they already command on their own. For that reason, I've never indulged in the Guerlain Meteorites or similiar products. I purchased this on a whim in Hermosa Rose and after 3 months of use, it has become almost an HG. I have a fair-to-medium skintone that's not quite cool, not quite warm. I have not tried this as a stand-alone blush; I'm sure it wouldn't show up on my skin. I first apply a cream blush (usually Le Metier De Beaute Coral Nymph) and as the last thing I do before heading out the door, I take a fat kabuki brush, swipe it a few times on the Hermosa Rose and dust my cheeks in a circular motion. There is zilch glitter in this product...just a gentle gleam that really doesn't lie atop the skin, but looks like you're lit from within, if that makes sense. Probably the best drugstore makeup purchase I've ever made!
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Bite Beauty - Beauty Lip Shine
mkdallas 9/25/2012 11:33:00 AM
I'm amazed by the lack of love for this product! I rarely write reviews, but the Bite Beauty Lip Shine in Sante (neutral pink) is the bomb and has become my first real Holy Grail product. While the color is pretty muted, it plays well with a huge variety of lipstick colors; it complements all tones of nudes, peaches and pinks across the board. The best thing about it is the texture and staying power. I find it to be utterly non-sticky, yet very smooth (almost a creamy texture). It applies evenly and stays that way, with no yucky bits clumping around the lipline. It also lasts and lasts; average wear time for me (drinking from a straw but no eating) is 4 hours...seriously! I like it so much that it has become difficult to use any other gloss. Sephora carries the line in some stores and also online. 5 Lippies, all the way!
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BB Cream -Ishizawa Labs - Nanoce BB Moist Cream
mkdallas 8/18/2012 11:55:00 AM
So I decided to try this product based on the good reviews here and I'm glad I did. I have been a happy user of both Missha Perfect Cover and Cho Bo Yang BB creams for about a year, enjoying the fuller coverage, sunscreen and skin benefits. Lately, I've been gettiing a few breakouts and also felt that in the extreme heat of a Texas summer, the Missha was a little too greasy and might be the culprit. I ordered this cream in shade #2 (Healthy Ochre) and while it's not perfect for my semi-tanned skin right now, it is still doable and will be perfect in the winter. I am 54 years old, with light-to-medium skin
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Colorburst Lip Butter
mkdallas 10/28/2011 2:00:00 PM
Awesome product!! I've been dying to try these but I live in Dallas where there are no Rite Aids & Walgreens doesn't have them in stock. I did find a big display of them at Bed, Bath & Beyond this AM (the store near Northpark) and grabbed three. Sadly, Pink Truffle was sold out, but all the colors are really nice.
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BB Cream -MISSHA - M Perfect Cover BB Cream
mkdallas 8/1/2011 12:16:00 PM
I think this stuff is the bomb! I'm 53 with pretty good skin and the Perfect Cover BB is exactly what I need; good coverage, moisturizing and a high SPF. I've been using this for about 4 weeks now and haven't experienced any breakouts (although my skin is pretty dry, other than a shiny nose at day's end). I chose this brand as my 1st BB because it's one of the only ones with a darker color option. I'm quite fair in the winter, but for summer, I use a teensy squirt of shade #23 combined with a larger amount of shade #31 (which looks scary dark in the tube but isn't IRL)...a ratio of 1/4 #23 to 3/4 #31. This combo gives me a nice tan glow that matches up well to the rest of my body. I only need to powder my nose 2 times during the day (waaaay less than I normally do here in the scorching heat of Dallas) and the coverage on this is really pretty. You can actually skip concealer if you've had a decent sleep with this stuff. Since this acts as my AM moisturizer, I'm now down to eye cream, Perfect Cover BB and a little cream blush to be good to go for the whole day.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -Cover Girl - Simply Ageless
mkdallas 11/6/2010 5:56:00 PM
OK, I am shocked at how great this stuff is! I am a total high-end foundation buyer (Chanel, Guerlain) and out of curiousity (and a coupon, lol), I decided to check it out. I'm sort of surprised by all the comments that it runs so light; I'm an NW20 and got it in Natural Ivory, which was a perfect match. The packaging totally sucks; I actually had to Google how to open the compact (the top simply twists off, like a jar...but trust me, this is not obvious), but other than that, it's the bomb. It comes with a perfectly usable round sponge. Basically, you just smooth the sponge over the foundation (which blends the Olay serum with the makeup) and then I do downward sweeps across my face. The coverage is excellent and feels lighter than air; none of that greasy feel you can get with liquids. I only have to blot my nose with powder about every 4 hours and the pretty finish lasts pretty much all day. For a drugstore product, the quality is really superior. Based on my experience, it is totally possible that I will not return to my department store brands.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Clarisonic - Opal
mkdallas 10/5/2010 11:51:00 AM
I pulled the trigger & bought the Opal with some misgivings, based on the mixed reviews here. I'm 52, with pretty good skin, average crows-feet and the usual under-eye bags (exacerbated by seasonal allergies). I've used the Opal for 14 days now (2 x daily) and am pleased to give it a solid B+. However, I would caution others that it is not a miracle worker; your crows-feet will still be there (but your puffy bags will not, and neither will most of your dark purple shadows). Basically, the Opal pretty much erased all my under-eye puffiness, leaving me looking much more rested and dare I say it, a few years younger. Family members did notice a positive change, as have I. I still use concealer (not much at all), but almost as an enhancement, rather than a spackle repair job. I did the whole Botox thing for years, but after 50, you can't have a shiny, tight forehead while the rest of your face softens up. In light of that, I'll take advantage of all the non-surgical boosts I can get. Opal was a good investment and I'm quite pleased with the results.
11 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Peter Thomas Roth - Mega-Rich Anti-Aging Cellular Creme
mkdallas 8/19/2010 7:14:00 PM
Great product! I was lucky enough to get this dirt cheap with the recent "O Magazine" promotion and I'm so glad I did. I'm 52 with combination skin; I use this at night and my skin still feels moist when I wake up. I've had no breakouts and a little of the cream is all you need to do your whole face...honestly, I'll be using this for months. Really good quality if you're on the older side and need something truly hydrating.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -MAC - by candlelight
mkdallas 7/16/2010 11:40:00 PM
This was my first venture into MAC MSFs and I think "By Candlelight" both beautiful and unusual. I'm NW25 (warm-toned) and the pigmentation on this is just about perfect for my slightly tan summer complexion: pale, peachy, golden. This MSF did not add any real color to my skin, but more of a "lit from within" kind of glow; the name really describes the effect. I am 52 with pretty good skin and hate alot of glitter/shimmer on my face, because it really highlights fine lines. It is easy to pick up a little too much product on your brush, so apply sparingly for best results.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Yves Saint Laurent - Eyeliner Moire
mkdallas 6/28/2010 3:16:00 PM
I have these liners in the moss and bronzy-brown shades (purchased off Beautyticket.com) and love them both. I am a total spazz at appling liner (have tried cake, felt-pen type, etc) and am never able to get a super-thin line. The brush on these liners is so slender that you can't mess it up...really! I have brown eyes and am 52 years old, so anything in a dark color or a thick application looks harsh, hard and just generally awful. The Moire colors are just dark enough if you apply lightly but could be built up if you want a heavier line. The best thing is the fool-proof application, though. If you want a heavy cat-eye, this is NOT your eyeliner, but if you want a polished, more demure look, I think you'll love these.
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Hair Styling Tools -Goody - Modern Updo Maker
mkdallas 6/28/2010 2:54:00 PM
OK, I had such extreme good luck first time out with the Spin Pins that I thought this tool would be really easy. The first couple of times I tried to use it, no luck at all. I kept trying and on my 4th attempt, I got a great messy French Twist securely in place instantly. I still don't know quite how I did it, lol, but the moral to the story is to keep trying and don't get discouraged. Looking back on my initial failures, I think I was trying to jam the pin in too tightly & too close to the head. When I put it in the base of the hair (rather than right against the scalp), I was able to pull the tool up without pulling my hair or having it rest uncomfortably once the tool was in place. As an FYI, my hair is pretty thin, 2 inches below my shoulders and layered, so you don't have to have super-thick hair for these to work. UPDATE: After I had my 1 big success with this, I couldn't do it again. I scoured the internet trying to find instruction tips & found one that made ALL the difference. Instead of putting the Updo Pin in at the bottom of your bun, insert in smack dab in the middle (or even towards the top)..then follow the remaining instructions. I have now done it successfully 5 times in a row. This was a huge help!
12 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Styling Tools -Goody - Spin Pin
mkdallas 6/28/2010 2:42:00 PM
This product is the bomb! SO much better than the usual claw clip and much more comfortable. I followed the directions on the box on how to use and was able to make a good messy bun first time trying; it even stayed intact (no loosening whatsoever) during a 30-minute workout at the gym. It may take you a little practice, but hang in there. FYI, my hair is fairly thin, 2 inches below my shoulders in length and layered; still had no problems using at all.
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Lipstick -Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Volupte #26 Tender Peach
mkdallas 4/15/2010 8:25:00 PM
Gotta agree with the other comments that this is a really beautiful lipstick! I have 4 other Rouge Voluptes and while I enjoy them all, the shades for this line are a little "off"...either too dark or waaay too light for me. I initially thought I hated this color, because I swatched it heavily on my wrist and it was very light, very peachy and very opaque; the kind of product that might give you clownish concealor lips. Once I tried it on my medium-rosy lips, it turned just the teensiest bit pinkish but still a warm, lovely soft peach overall. Absolutely love it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Rescue Beauty Lounge - Om
mkdallas 2/21/2010 6:20:00 PM
Om is a great color but didn't pack enough pigment to suit me. It is beautiful in the bottle, but 2 coats on my toes barely showed up. If it was more opaque, it would be an HG for me. I would say that this polish comes out to be considerably more sheer on the nail than it appears in the bottle; other than that disappointment, it is indeed a lovely color, especially as summer comes and your feet get tan.
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Polishes -Rescue Beauty Lounge - opaque natural
mkdallas 2/21/2010 6:17:00 PM
This is an absolutely gorgeous nail polish, although not accurately named! It's a semi-sheer pale neutral with very slight peachy undertones. Two coats creates a light, translucent (but noticeable, NOT clear) shell color on your nails...totally beautiful. There's no shimmer whatsoever and this is the most versatile color. A bride could wear it on her wedding day, it would be professional in the office...you just couldn't ask for a nicer look. Goes on super smooth, no streaking and is worth every dime of the outrageous price. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.
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