Makeup Brushes -Sigma - E40 Tapered Blending (was SS224) 
mariavittoria1987 3/10/2011 11:48:00 AM
This came with the eye brush kit. It was great at first, very soft and functional, but after a few washes the bristles lost their shape and now they're all splayed out. It also sheds quite a bit. I can still use it for blending light lid colours but not when I need to be precise. Overall, a disappointment.
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Makeup Brushes -Sigma - E45 Small Tapered Blending (was SS226)
mariavittoria1987 3/10/2011 11:46:00 AM
I had high hopes on this one. At first it was great, soft and precise. After a few washes it lost its shape and now is not tapered or pointed anymore, the bristles are all splayed out. It's still pretty soft and I can use it for some no-fuss blending but it's not what I wanted.
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Mascara -Dr. Hauschka - Mascara - Brown
mariavittoria1987 2/13/2011 12:47:00 PM
I've given this more than one try, having owned it for almost a year, but I still think it's one of the worst mascaras I've ever had. I haven't tossed this out yet because of the price. It IS damn pricey, and for that amount I'd rather buy some high-end mascara that works. This basically does NOTHING to my lashes. I have blonde, long, full lashes that need colour because otherwise they won't show. Even if I apply 4, 5, 6 coats of this, nothing happens. It feels as if I'm putting water on my lashes. It's ridiculous! And on top of that, I happened to sneeze once a couple of minutes after the application and the product got all smeared on my undereye area. No thanks.
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Moisturizers -Lancome - Bienfait Multi-Vital SPF 30
mariavittoria1987 2/12/2011 5:13:00 PM
I used this moisturizer a couple of years ago, when I used to live in Beijing. It is a solid day moisturizer, with really good spf, but I believe it is formulated for dry skin. The winter there was really crazy, always below zero and very dry, so my skin was really suffering. This helped a lot! It is also a good base for makeup. I would not use in summer though, and I will not repurchase as I'm trying to stick to natural skincare.
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Powders -Clinique - Clinique Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder
mariavittoria1987 2/12/2011 8:58:00 AM
NOTE: This review is for the Redness Relief Mineral PRESSED Powder. I use this mainly as a powder for touch-ups throughout the day, although it works well as a finishing powder too! First off, let me say this doesn't have a dramatic power in reducing redness. You do need to pair it with an effective primer and/or green concealers etc. So I would say that the correcting effect is really mild, not suitable if you have serious redness issues, such as rosacea, bad acne etc. However, I only get red cheeks and nose especially with the cold weather or dramatic temperature changes (inside/outside), and this works just fine! A list of pros: - mild corrector of redness - very finely milled, so it looks transparent and 100% natural on skin - possibly it has some calming effect - really handy to keep in my purse for touch-ups - it can be layered and the yellow never shows off too obviously Cons: - consider buying something else if your redness is very obvious - quite pricey - I don't understand the open holes on the back of the packaging. It feels like it lets bacteria in so easily! One final consideration: a) this does NOT mattify. Don't buy this if you need oil control. In sum: do buy this if you have mild redness, normal to dry sensitive skin and need a compact powder! I like it!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NYX - Raisin
mariavittoria1987 2/9/2011 11:15:00 AM
First of all, let me say I actually prefer this over my MAC Blushbaby!! It's the ultimate neutral blush that also works wonders as a contour shade for pale ladies like me. It's very neutral, I can't see any obvious yellow or pink tone to it, so I think it would suit most complexions. I actually think that this is a really unique shade, I don't see this being easily duped. I use it when I do bold eyes to give me a nice flush of colour without directing the attention too much on my cheeks. It's also fantastic for an elegant night look, with a smokey eye and/or bright lips. This is for you, girls who don't like pinky/shimmery/baby cheeks! This stuff is for sexy chic ladies! It's SUPER pigmented, definitely more than MAC blushes. It looks quite dark in the pan but if applied with a light hand you can definitely control the amount you put on and even get sheer coverage. It has a matte finish, which I like (we've had enough of shimmering blushes, don't you think?). Definitely worth buying also considering the price. NYX has an excellent range of blushes, overall even better than MAC. I will probably only buy NYX blushes from now on, so worth the price.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Laura Mercier - Eye and Cheek Silk Road
mariavittoria1987 2/9/2011 11:02:00 AM
This is a beautiful palette which would complement many skin tones. I thought the price was pretty good for 4 eyeshadow and 2 blushes, all at Laura Mercier's quality standard, so I bought it for £37 in the Uk. First of all, the packaging is pretty luxurious. Instead of plastic or cardboard they chose a firm and sleek looking fabric, and the size is great to toss it in your purse. Eyeshadows: I love the deep purple, the lavender and the taupe (huge pigmentation and NO fallout!), I'm a bit disappointed by the light glittery pink, it only transfer glitters and no colour. But hey, those flecks look pretty good on the browbone anyway. I also like the idea of matching purples with a neutral taupe, it works really great. Cheeks: one GORGEOUS coral with golden shimmer and one (again) shimmery pale pink highlighter! Seriously, I think they went a little overboard with shimmer in this palette, but I don't mind it for daywear either, since it's very sheer. All in all, my only little gripe would be the two glittery pinks (they also look pretty similar), a matte pink eyeshadow would have fit perfectly. But I must say that overall this palette is really superb quality, pretty, girly and perfect for day/night looks. Everybody should have one!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Boots - No7 Stay Perfect Eyeliner (Liquid)
mariavittoria1987 2/9/2011 10:53:00 AM
I have this in Gunmetal, a really pretty grey-taupe colour. I like the texture, it's liquid but on the creamy side. I don't use the provided applicator, instead I much prefer an angled eyeliner brush. It's well pigmented and stays on decently - 6-8 hours? The colour is very versatile, it can be worn with many eyeshadow colours, but I especially love it with pinks.
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Eye Shadow -NARS - Habanera Duo
mariavittoria1987 2/9/2011 10:46:00 AM
HG material here!! I read tons of reviews before I had the chance to take a trip to the UK and actually see this in person at Selfridges (NARS doesn't sell in my country). I was so excited I went there with no makeup on my eyes and asked the SA to apply it. URGH. It looked horrible, as if someone had just punched me in the eyes. However, I did believe in the two beautiful complimentary shades so I bought it anyway. Turns out I was right, and the SA had probably missed her morning coffe or whatever, because when I tried it at home with my brushes and my hands, it looked FABULOUS!! seriously, one of the best eyeshadows I've seen on my eyes. The trick is blending, as always. It really makes BLUE eyes POP even on an uber-pale skin like mine!! It looks extremely polished and sophisticated. The intensity is buildable, you can easily go from a classy wash of colour during work hours to a bold smokey eye for nighttime. I could go on for hours: excellent colour payoff, no fallout, beautiful blendability, and THE SHADES!! who would've thought those two colours would be so sexy and sophisticated together?? It is extremely expensive at £23, but honestly I don't care, it will last me a long time and I will definitely repurchase when I finish it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -NYX - Jumbo Eye Shadow Pencil - Yogurt
mariavittoria1987 2/9/2011 10:38:00 AM
I bought this on a UK website and ordered from Italy, so I paid much more than all American ladies here, which pisses me off. Anyway, the product is really cool! I've been using this on a daily basis over my eye primer and under eyeshadow. It really makes shadows pop and look more vibrant and creamy. I think it also minimizes fallout. The colour is neutral enough that it works as a great base for a wide range of colours - except maybe greens and blues?. I will probably buy this in Milk too, which sounds more versatile. My only gripe is that this can't be used as an eyeshadow (even with primer, and even if you don't have oily eyelids), it does crease badly!! They should rename it to Jumbo Eyeshadow Base or something like that. Overall I'm very pleased and would buy again.
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Loose Powders -E.L.F. - Mineral Booster
mariavittoria1987 2/9/2011 10:34:00 AM
This is a great powder, and a great alternative to ELF HD powder, depending on what foundation you're using. I use the HD powder to set heavier coverage makeup, or over a sheer foundation if I want to keep the dewy effect. This one is a little thicker - but still it is very finely milled and transparent - so the mattyfing power is higher, it really manages to make my foundation last extra hours! It never cakes and adds a nice natural glow to my skin. I can reapply throughout the day without it looking fake or overdone. Also, it's very mild and I would say suitable for dry and sensitive skin, it doesn't emphasize lines or dry patches. My mother (50s) and my two aunts (40s) use this with great success. I believe this is probably the best value for money powder that you can find around!! and my two aunts (40s)
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Makeup Brushes -Sigma - Professional Eyes Kit
mariavittoria1987 2/7/2011 4:24:00 AM
This is EXCELLENT value for money. I paid definitely more than the price they retail at in the US because I ordered from Germany to Italy, but still I think it's totally worth the money. You get some really high quality brushes, every essential piece to do your eye makeup. I haven't tried the original MAC ones, but I guess that if you're not a pro these are just as good. I couldn't even pick a favourite, they are all oustanding brushes IMHO. The handles feel very well-made (you don't have the impression that they're about to break/fall), and the bristles are very, very soft. I'm so happy with them I would even repurchase to have a backup!
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Eyeliner -Urban Decay - 24/7 eyeliner in Rockstar
mariavittoria1987 1/28/2011 10:11:00 AM
WOW this eyeliner is super creamy!! I love the colour, I guess it would be flattering on many complexions and eye colours. Great staying power, high pigmentation. Doesn't crease nor transfer to my upper lid. I'm really very happy with it and will buy more shades.
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Eyeliner -Urban Decay - 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Stash
mariavittoria1987 1/28/2011 10:08:00 AM
Lovely eyepencil!! UD 24/7 liners are really awesome quality. I like to wear this with Bobbi Brown long-wear metallic cream eyeshadow in Antique Gold. Great staying power, high pigmentation, what more could I ask to an eyepencil?
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Eye Shadow -Bobbi Brown - Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Antique Gold
mariavittoria1987 1/28/2011 10:06:00 AM
This is one of my best recent beauty buys. I am so in love with this cute little pot of sparkle! First off, it is not metallic (BB should think twice before naming its products, because it might lead customers to buy something other than they expected). It's GLITTERY. I'm sure many of you would not purchase something that is described as glittery but wait! This glitter is super fine and subtle, to a point that it can be worn during working hours and you will not look like a disco ball! It's creamy and the intensity of the colour is buildable: you can apply a thin layer for a super sheer wash of colour, layer over another eyeshadow, or apply a thick layer as BB demonstrates on her website. I find that the best application technique is gently dabbing the product with my fingers, instead of using a brush. After approximately 30 seconds it dries out on your eyelids and, no matter what, it STAYS ON! I've worn this several times and did not experience creasing whatsoever. Again, it is definitely glittery but the finish is very soft and diffused, and I'm sure it would be flattering on most women for a daytime look also. Forget about chunky pieces of glitter that can be detected 10 miles away. This is CLASSY and girly. Also, Antique Gold is a pretty neutral wearable shade that goes well with many different looks. I found myself wearing this more often than I expected, so I will probably repurchase in more shades. The only little con is that it's really expensive at £16 for 0.12oz, but again I have a feeling that this is a very unique product and not easily dupable. Love it.
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