Lip Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Principessa-Bacio Me Tube
starrysim 3/4/2013 10:15:00 PM
I'm usually very picky with lip balms and don't really stray from my tried and true MAC lip conditioners. I got this as a gift, and I actually like it. It's very light and slippery on the lips, but it actually does moisturize. It wouldn't be up to the task on the worst days of winter, but it does a decent job. I like the clean squeeze tube. I'm not sure I would repurchase, especially since I don't even know the cost.
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Lip Gloss -MAC - Mall Madness 
starrysim 3/4/2013 10:13:00 PM
Mall Madness, from the 2013 Archie's Girls collection, reminds me a lot of Fierce & Fabulous (Style Warriors). It looks purple-fuchsia in the tube, but on my lips it's a shimmery rosey fuchsia. It's definitely more pearlescent than Fierce & Fabulous, and maybe a touch more purple. It's of course super super sticky, like all Lip Glasses in general.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Pure Zen
starrysim 3/4/2013 10:10:00 PM
Maybe it's just that me and nude lips don't go well together, but I don't really like this lipstick. The texture is typical of MAC nudes in my experience - it's sort of slippery, but not necessarily moisturizing, and it settles in lines and looks milky. Just not for me.
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Blush -Christian Dior - Edition Dentelle Vintage Pink 839
starrysim 3/4/2013 10:07:00 PM
This is one of my go-to blushes that works for daytime or evening, with both cool or warm looks. It's a very natural and flattering colour on my NW20 skin, and it blends so effortlessly. It's neither matte nor shimmery, but it looks alive on the skin. I usually just blend the two colours together, but they are each definitely large enough to use on their own. The packaging is probably my favourite LE from Dior, from the Dentelle collection (2010 I believe). I hope they repromote this blush at some point.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Yves Rocher - Micellar Cleansing Water
starrysim 2/25/2013 10:35:00 PM
This is a decent cleansing water, but it's just not tough enough to remove my eye makeup without some serious soaking and rubbing. I like the scent, and it doesn't burn my eyes, but there are other makeup removers that tick all the boxes, so I don't think I would re-purchase this one.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Cream Blush in Penny Lane
starrysim 2/10/2013 7:49:00 PM
Penny Lane looked gorgeous swatched on my hand, like a lit-from within natural flush. However, it just didn't show on my NW20 skin. I thought it would at least be useful as a "no make-up" look, or a lightlighter, but I was never very impressed with the looks I achieved, so I ended up swapping it. It just didn't work out for me, but I can see how it could be gorgeous on others.
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Lipstick -MAC - supreme style
starrysim 2/10/2013 7:35:00 PM
Wow, I love this lipstick. It's a perfect daytime go-to lipstick for when you just can't pick a colour, or need to look polished but simple. It's very creamy and comfortable to wear, very similar in texture to the discontinued Slimshines. It's a light peachy nude that sinks nicely into my lips, instead of looking milky or ashy. Highly recommended.
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Lipstick -MAC - Fire Sign
starrysim 2/10/2013 7:32:00 PM
Beautiful colour, and so easy to wear. It's a sheer red, that doesn't lean too pink, nor plum, nor brown. It's not a va-va-voom vixen red, more like a daytime, low-key red. I think it's beautiful and would be easy to wear for brunettes and blondes alike.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Essence - Gel Eyeliner Brush
starrysim 2/10/2013 7:30:00 PM
Ok, let's not kid ourselves here. Sure, this is a decent brush *for the price* but it's not anywhere near being a good brush in its own right. It's too thick, too stiff, and just doesn't do the job as well as a higher priced higher quality brush. It's fine to play around with, or maybe to use for brows, but it's really not an outstanding brush. You get what you pay for.
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Mascara -Make Up For Ever - Aqua Smoky Lash - Extra Black
starrysim 2/10/2013 7:28:00 PM
At first I liked this mascara. It has a huge, fluffy brush, and looks super rich and black. It volumizes like crazy. Unfortunately, it flakes a bit, and after a month or so of opening it, it now clumps, even on the first coat. Would not repurchase.
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Palettes -LORAC - PRO Palette
starrysim 12/15/2012 10:55:00 PM
I'm really happy with this palette. The quality is consistenty good for all shades. One row is all shimmers, and the other is all mattes. They are all well pigmented, smooth and buttery, and can be worn in so many combinations, for both day and night looks. Sable, Taupe and Espresso make good brow fillers, too, for a range of blondes to brunettes. It's a very well rounded palette, and being very sleek and thin, it may just be the only shadows you need for travel, unless you like to have bright colours too. My only complaint is that Champagne has terrible glittery fallout, but I just stay away from it because Nude is a very similar shimmery nude, but without the glitter. Slate seems out of place, being a dark blue-grey. I just don't see this combining naturally with any of the other colours, as they lean more brown than cool grey. I've been absolutely loving Lt Bronze and Gold, paired with Sable or Expresso in the crease. For a quick daytime eye, Nude with Sable is quick, easy and pretty. I do agree that the shadows are very soft, and if you have a heavy hand, you will make a mess. This isn't an issue for me, I'm generally very gentle on my makeup. I personally like the packaging - it's super thin and sleek. I'm generally very clean and gentle with my stuff, so I'm not likely to destroy it or get it dirty and gross. Overall, this is a solid buy, and a classic palette that I think I will often take with me for travel, in addition to frequent home use. As for the primer - I wasn't impressed. I did experience some creasing and fading by the end of the day. With my usual NARS primer, the looks easily last all day.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Zoya - Mikka
starrysim 12/15/2012 8:20:00 PM
Mikka is such a gorgeous, deep, shimmery jewel-toned eggplant. It does require two coats, but for the most part it applies evenly. It's classy meets vampy.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - DS Reserve
starrysim 12/15/2012 8:19:00 PM
DS Reserve is stunning! It's a midtone pink that's neither too cool nor too warm. On my light, pink skintone it looks great. It has these tiny subtle shimmer particles that give it a look between a holo and a glitter, but it's neither. In certain lighting, it looks like white flecks of different sizes and intensities. In other lighting, it comes alive and looks like it's lit from within with millions of little silver lights. It's not an obnoxious or loud glitter, and it's not at all gritty, it's more like shimmer for grown-ups. Application is an absolute dream - it goes on evenly and is opaque after a single coat, though you may want two coats if you're picky.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Quo - Modesty Palette - Holiday 2012
starrysim 11/19/2012 9:40:00 PM
The Modesty palette is a honkin' giant makeup box that's maybe suited to tween girls just starting to play around with makeup, but should be passed on by anyone over 13. The eye shadow shades appear pretty at first glance, but there is actually very little variation in texture and shade, there just isn't enough contrast between the different shades. As for quality - they will only give a very light wash of colour, and they're not even buildable to medium intensity. The blushes are ok, not too chalky but not particularly nice either. The glosses, brushes, etc. are just child's toys. Quo should be careful - if they keep putting out seriously sub-par products like this, they will ruin the image they've worked hard to build. Their permanent line is decent, but if a palette like this is someone's first experience with Quo, that's bad news. At the $60 price point, we deserve better.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Phloof! (frost; Hollidazzle)
starrysim 11/17/2012 11:24:00 PM
Phloof! is a heavy-duty highlight shade. If you want a highlight that really shows, this is it. Despite packing such a punch, it is not gritty, or glittery, or prone to fall-out. But stay away if you want something subtle.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No