Polishes -OPI - Big Apple Red
snis 4/7/2013 10:31:00 PM
I recently went to salon while on vacation and had my nails done with this shade of red nail polish. I had seen it many times before in stores but didn't think it would work well with my skin tone. I generally get OPI's Affair in Red Square or I'm Not Really A Waitress when I am looking for a red. Affair is a brighter red with shimmer, Waitress is a darker red with shimmer. But the salon was out of both so I selected this one. It is a classic red creme polish with no shimmer. Af first I wasn't sure that I would like it but after a couple of days, it grew on me and I did get lots of compliments on it. It seems to be a universal shade as I have seen it on fair, medium and dark skin.
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Lipstick -Revlon - Super Lustrous in Kiss Me Coral
snis 3/25/2013 5:13:00 PM
This is often recommended as a good coral shade for darker skin but it did not work for me. I am an NC 43/ Bobbi Brown Golden - med dark skin with yellow undertones and this did not flatter me at all. It is a less than vibrant coral color that was too light on me and more pink than I expected ( it looks more orange in the tube). This really seems like a color more suited for fairer complexions. I am still in search for a coral/orange that works for me. This is definitely not it.
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Lipstick -NARS - Semi-Matte in Heat Wave
snis 3/21/2013 11:07:00 PM
I guess I am in the minority on this product but this LS did not look good on me at all! I am an NC 43 and it is touted as a good Coral/Orange color for women of color but it was just way too bright for me and not at all flattering. It looked like someone had put an orange crayon on me. As with all of NARS' semi-matte lipsticks, it is dry and really needs a lip balm under it.
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Lipstick -NARS - Red Lizard
snis 3/21/2013 11:02:00 PM
I was looking for a true matte red and came upon this after reading some of the reviews online. I have a love hate relationship with Nars. I love their colors but the semi-matte formula is still kind of drying to me. I always have to use a lip balm and you lips need to be perfectly smooth when you wear this. For $26 dollars, the formula should be better IMHO. I am also not a fan of the black rubber tube. But I have been looking for a true red for some time now and after trying MAC's Ruby Woo ( also a matte that is even drier than Red Lizard), Russian Red, Chili, Lady Danger, Mac Red as well as countless other brands. I just couldn't find another true red that really flattered my NC 43/ Bobbi Brown Golden complexion (Mac does have some great darker burgundies like Diva and Dark Side ). I am not sure that I would re-buy this,because it takes me so long to use lipsticks up as I have so many. By that time, there may be some other equally good red lipstick out there. We'll see. I am always on a quest for the perfect red lipstick. But this one will work for now. UPDATE: This didn't turn out to be what I thought it would be.This lipstick is tomato red on me; I usually go for cherry reds. It didn't look tomato like in the store but once home the color was different. Also, they really need to just admit this is matte and not call it semi-matte. It is as dry or drier than Mac's Ruby Woo. When you put it on, it is almost like chalk. I have to have some moisture so I end of using lip balm or lip gloss otherwise it looks somewhat clownish on me. With a little luster it gets a lot better. All though most reds make you stand out, I don't think I can get away with this during the day unless I blot a lot. It's more of an evening look for me. I will use this tube but I will definitely not buy this again. Sometimes I mix it with a deeper red which makes it more wearable for a daytime look. At $26 I can't afford to toss it but it really requires some work to wear, it is definitely not a quick smear on and go type of lipstick for me so I have to be int the mood to deal with it, which takes some of the joy out of wearing lipstick. Still looking for my HG red lipstick.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Stila - Long Wear Liquid Lip Color in Fiery
snis 1/15/2013 6:57:00 PM
I tried this out at Sephora because I saw it featured in a magazine but this shade is definitely not for me. It was way to bright for my taste, it is a true red ( I am an NC 43). The MA applied this on me but she smeared it a little by mistake and because it sets so fast, it was difficult to get off.I had red marks all around my mouth and had to use several makeup wipes to get it off. This is a color that you want people to notice, it is not subtle at all. I tried another shade of this formula , Amore which for me is much more wearable but I am not sold on the matte appearance of this lipstick, I like a little more moisture on my lips so I opted not to buy either one.
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Lipstick -Sephora - Rouge Cream in Magnetism
snis 9/28/2012 11:56:00 PM
I saw this color featured in a magazine as a good color for darker skin tones but It was wasn't for me. I am an NC43/44. This is very bronze with metallic specks. It was more matte than I expected. When one of the Sephora MA's applied it to my lips, I immediately thought that it was dry. She added a little gloss to give it some shine and moisture. This is supposed to be one of their newer shades but I don't think it's all that special. A better option to me would be Clinique's Amberglass which has the bronze color without the metallic glitter like specks and a much better texture. Needles to say, I did not buy this.
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Lipstick -Lancome - Rouge In Love - 391N Fiery Attitude 
snis 9/28/2012 11:37:00 PM
This lipstick is not for the faint at heart but it is a wonderful deep berry color. It is very pigmented but has a great texture. It is probably more of an evening look but you could blot it for a nice stained lip which would be more subtle. I am currently looking for a good lip pencil to go with it to give my lips more definition. I am an NC43/44 and it works really well with my skin tone. I gave it a 4 because of price. At $25, it's the most that I have spent for a lipstick. I usually don't pay more than $15 for them. So it was definitely a splurge, but this is a really different color and the makeup artists at Sephora raved about the Rouge in Love line, so I decided to treat myself. I'm glad I did.
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Shampoo -Carol's Daughter - Hair milk co-wash cleansing conditioner
snis 9/7/2012 4:13:00 PM
I have naturally curly hair. This product is meant to clean and condition in one step. It is also a sulfate-free, no lather shampoo. Initially that was weird for me because I am used to having a lot of suds which many experts say is very drying to hair. You wet your hair, work this stuff in and leave it on for about 3 minutes and when you wash it out, you hair is so soft. After rinsing it out, I was in such a hurry that I forgot to put any styling product in my hair, but it still looked good because of the soft curls that resulted from using this product. I was pleasantly surprised.
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Styling Products -Carol's Daughter - Hair Milk Pudding
snis 9/7/2012 2:53:00 PM
I have naturally curly hair andI have used CD's Hair Milk in the bottle for many years. This new product was touted as better than the Hair Milk in the reviews I read. NOT SO! I find it more drying than the regular hair milk and really doesn't do much to define curl as the label claims. At $22 it is not worth the price and I will not be purchasing this again. Very Disappointing! Should you decide to try it, get a sample first before buying it as it only comes in one size unlike hair milk which offers a travel size and a larger bottle.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Cover Girl - Lip Perfection in Euphoria
snis 8/31/2012 12:20:00 PM
I love the texture and color of this lipstick but the taste and smell are AWFUL. It has a very chemical smell and taste. The color is very flattering on me, a dark pink (I'm NC 43/44) and it is very moisturizing but I really can't get past the scent/taste. I am glad I got this on sale and had a coupon so it was really cheap. When I checked the CG website, others were complaining about the smell and taste on other shades so it does not seem to be an isolated incidence. Why do companies feel the need to add any scent to lipstick? What matters is the pigment and texture. I hope to be able to find a dupe of this color in another brand but I will not be purchasing anymore CG lipsticks.
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Lipstick -Maybelline - Color Sensational Blissful Berry
snis 8/24/2012 8:46:00 PM
This is a new shade in the Color Sensational Family. I mistakenly bought this, It was in the same display receptacle as Dazzling Plum which is what I intended to buy. I picked this up without checking the label. However when I got home, I decided to give it a try because the color looked nice. I am an NC 43/44 or BB Golden, and on me this comes off as a medium-to deep plum, depending on heavily I apply it, with a touch of red, and it has a little bit of sheen. I like a little more shine so I would add a gloss. It also makes a good stain. I think it would work well with a similarly colored liner as well. You definitely have to make sure you exfoliate your lips. As a darker lipstick, it will highlight lips that are not smooth. My only criticism is that the formula could be a little creamier. If MAC were to do this shade, it would have a lot better texture, at a higher price of course. But allowing for the fact that it is a drugstore lipstick and I paid less than $6 for it, it's a pretty good deal for a Fall lipstick.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -MAC - Raizin
snis 6/25/2012 4:18:00 PM
This shade works well with women of color. It is an intense reddish brown color so you have to use a light hand but does complement darker skintones. It can also be used as a bronzer. My major complaint is with the packaging. Within days of purchasing this product, the clear plastic disk that is inserted in the cover of the compact came out and I have been unable to put it back in. This leaves the product exposed to contaminants unless place in in another container. I have had to put mine in a plastic bag to keep dirt out and keep it from breaking up and spilling into my makeup drawer. This is the 2nd MAC blusher that I have had where the top came off. With the first, I thought it was a fluke, but it now looks like a design flaw. Why can't MAC make a more durable compact on the order of Nars? It's ridiculous. I will finish this product but I will not repurchase unless MAC can improve their packaging.
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Lipstick -Clinique - Long Last Soft Shine - Amberglass
snis 6/25/2012 4:00:00 PM
This is one of only 2 Clinique lipsticks that I own. I rarely find colors that work for my skintone in their collection However, I have used this off and on for about 15 years. It is a rich bronze color that works well on darker skintones (I'm NC43-44). It is very moisturizing and gives buildable coverage. In the winter I use it straight from the tube for a more intense hue, in the summer I blot it to give more of a stained look and pair it with lipgloss. Two that look good with it are Lancome's Juicy Tubes in Sun Bronze and MAC Lustreglass in Ornamental.
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Lipstick -Sephora - Lip Attitude - Glamour
snis 6/25/2012 3:46:00 PM
I got this in G15 which on me is like the glossier version of Viva Glam VI. When I want a barely there look with a little shine, this is my go to lipstick. It's the lipstick I keep in my bag at all times. If for some reason I forget to put on lipstick before running out. I know this will be sheer enough to go with any outfit for almost any occasion. I also love the subtle sweet scent that Sephora lipsticks tend to have. Overall a great basic to have.
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Lipstick -Clinique - Long Last - Berry Freeze
snis 6/25/2012 2:50:00 PM
In general I am not a huge fan of Clinique lipsticks, because I don't seem to find a lot that goes with darker skintones. I am an NC43-44/ BB Golden and this shade is okay but not something that you could not find a in a cheaper drugstore version. I bought this when I recently purchased the Long Lasting Lipstick in Amberglass (the only Cliniuqe lipstick I use). In the store this looked like a less intense version of Amberglass but when I got home and tried it, I found it had more orange in it than it seemed when it was applied on me in the store.( Ambeglass is a rich bronze color). It pays to wait until you get into daylight to view the true hue of a lipstick. That said, it will do,I can mix it with other shades or use it with a lip pencil to make it work but it is not worth the $15 it costs. I am willing to bet Revlon, CG or Maybeline or L'Oreal has something comparable for cheaper.
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