Treatments (Eye) -100 Percent Pure - Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream
lilinah 10/31/2010 7:45:00 AM
First, the smell... it comes from ingredients that are intended to be good for the skin, NOT from added fragrance. To me it smells like cake, in part because it has vanilla - i have a number of natural skin care products that include vanilla for therapeutic reasons - but, frankly, most of its ingredients contribute to its scent. Caffeine, from both tea (camellia sinensis) and green coffee beans, tones down redness or other discoloration. And this product has quite a bit. Many of larger commercial brands include it waaaay down the ingredient list. I even put this 100% Pure Eye Cream on my cheeks, to combat redness there. It feels terrific, soothing and moisturizing the dry skin around my eyes, although I don't think this is doing away with my wrinkles, so i alternate it with eye cream containing peptides. A big plus is that I find it non-irritating -- many eye products and cosmetics hurt my eyes; some make my eyes sting and water for days (for example Olay Regenerist Eye Lift, and many mascaras).
7 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Sonia Kashuk - Eyeshadow Quad in 08 Cotton Candy
lilinah 10/19/2010 4:56:00 PM
In Target i saw the Sonia Kashuk line and decided to try it. . The Cotton Candy Quad has four light matte or satin colors: pale pink, pale peach, pale lemony ivory, and light beige. I thought these warm neutral shadows would lighten and brighten my eye area. . Unfortunately on application, they were all chalky and without distinct color. I have warm/neutral fair skin. But no matter which one i used and how much i applied, it just looked like i had put a little face powder on my eye lids. . I think this might be a nice innocent treat for a very young girl who wants to play with makeup, but on me, at least, it failed to deliver any color payoff.
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Eyeliner -Urban Decay - Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in Stage Dive
lilinah 9/18/2010 2:37:00 PM
Stagedive is an absolutely gorgeous turquoise green! The brush in the tube makes application easy to control. I make a fine line over a darker eyeliner (such as UD 24/7 Flipside or MAC Liquidlast in Aqualine); you can make thicker line if you like, or even spread it over your lid. Then I keep my lids lowered (not closed) a few seconds while it dries so it won't transfer to my upper eye area. . Once dry it doesn't shower me with glitter, doesn't irritate my eyes, & isn't hard to remove. Clearly not for the office, i wear it when performing or when going out. These glitter liners are so much fun! I also got Distortion (more subtle iridescent pearl), Metalhead (med-light purple) & Spandex (black with rainbow glitter). (+ i have gold glitter liner in another brand)
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Treatments -DDF - Fade Gel 4
lilinah 9/17/2010 10:08:00 PM
I was no sun bunny, but after many years of working at summer fairs w/o enough sun screen, i now have discolored patches on both jaws as well as a line of dark spots in the hollows of my cheeks. First i cleanse, then use retinol, then this product. I have no trouble controlling the amount that comes out of the pump. I wait for it to sink in and dry, then apply peptide serum and finally moisturizer. The gel seems to have a slight yellow cast and often peels off when i gently pat on my serum and moisturizer :-( I have used this along with retinol once daily, at night, to avoid irritation for 2 1/2 months. Of course I wear sunscreen during the day: SPF 30, when running errands so not out long; SPF 60 when i know i will be in the sun. However, I do not notice any change in my dark patches or spots :-( I will use up the bottle, but then i will try something else. EDT: I used it for 3 months, it did nothing, and was not pleasant to use. Definitely not buying again.
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Treatments (Eye) -The Body Shop - Vitamin C Eye Reviver [DISCONTINUED]
lilinah 9/11/2010 2:39:00 PM
This product was discontinued in early summer 2010. It was replaced in late July 2010 by a reformulated and very different item, with the name Vitamin C Eye Reviver Duo, which contains two products in one double ended container.
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Eye Primer -Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Original (UDPP)
lilinah 9/3/2010 6:00:00 PM
I've always had problems with eye shadows as they would slide around and crease very quickly. Recently i tried several other eye lid primers, such as Benefit stay don't stray and Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer, and they make my eyes sting, water, and turn red. Yuck! Amazingly this stuff doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes! . I'm older and my eyelids are getting kind of crinkly and crepey, and UD Primer won't change that. But it does brighten the upper eye area and even out the color of my eye lids. I even wear it when I don't wear eye shadow (but with liner & mascara) because it makes my eyes look bigger and brighter. I dab a few dots onto one lid and brow area, blend and smooth it all over, and then do the other eye. . And, of course, it provides a smooth canvas for eye makeup, helping shadows go on smoothly, blend together nicely, and look clear and vibrant. And it really does make eye shadows stay in place for hours and hours without creasing! . The bent stick applicator is an improvement over the former straight stick, but still not perfect. And while the bottle is cute, i wish i could see how much is left as i use it. . ETA: UD now offers this in a squeeze tube. I haven't tried it yet, but now we may be able to get more product out of the package and waste less.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Naked Palette
lilinah 9/3/2010 4:17:00 PM
This is a *great* palette for an enhanced nudish (but not necessarily natural) look. Many colors are shimmery or glittery, and quite a few are rather dark. So this may not serve for low key day wear, some work environments, or someone who doesn't like shimmer or glitter (but if you don't, why buy UD? :-) It is *terrific* for a festive natural look when you don't want bright colors. . PLUSES: 1. The shadows are good sized. 2. There are satin & matte shadows as well as shimmers & glitters. I'm over 60 and matte shadows make my eyes look *dead*! So i'm glad there aren't too many of them. Many of the shadows have a nice controllable shimmer. Only a few are typical UD glitter bombs, and, hey, this old girl likes a bit of glitter once in a while :-) 3. There is a wide range of cool & warm colors: beiges, peaches, browns, & greys, so any skin tone can create great looks. 4. Set includes an adorable mini bottle of primer potion that fits into a small makeup kit. Originally there was a double ended eye liner pencil, black on one end, brown on the other (i like brown eyeliner). Because the pencil manufacturer could not keep up with demand, the new edition has an eyeshadow brush instead. 5. Box has a large mirror inside the shadow case. . WARNING: The palette is too big to fit in a little evening bag. And it won't fit into a standard small handbag. But it fits fine in my current go-to large purse. . MINUS: Only one: The original set included no applicator for the shadows. That may be just as well, because those stubby foam thingies are an abomination. But i have plenty of brushes, so not a problem. And i find i get extra color payoff when i apply UD shadows with my finger tip than a brush. NOTE: Eyeliner pencil manufacturer could not keep up with demand, so now the set DOES come with an eyeshadow brush. . This is absolutely a CLASSIC!
10 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Too Faced - Lip of Luxury - Centerfold
lilinah 9/3/2010 3:51:00 PM
I wanted to replace a discontinued lipstick from a DS brand, a sheer nude pink that matched my lips. The Sephora SA recommended this. At first i was a bit disappointed that Centerfold was opaque & didn't quite match the old color. But it has become a favorite. First, the packaging is so cute! I'm not normally into that, but for those who are; it comes in a tube that is metallic pink and the cap has a big flat rhinestone on top. Very girly. This medium nude pink, only slightly lighter & pinker than my natural lip color, works great when i want a refined & flattering no-makeup look. It is creamy and without any frost or shimmer. Centerfold really enhances my naturally pink lips & fair neutral skin color. And it is soothing & moisturizing, just not glossy or slickery. It has an unusual scent of champagne which is unlike the typical vanilla or fruit scents of so many cosmetics today. It's a real keeper & always in my basic makeup kit.
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Lip Gloss -MAC - Superglass in Tunnel of Love
lilinah 8/31/2010 8:28:00 PM
For my very first lip gloss, I bought a few DS glosses. They had nasty flavors and mostly safe, polite, boring colors. This was my first MAC gloss. And i LOVE it. I love the varicolored glitter, some large, some small, often with hints of orange and green in the dark brown gloss. I have worn brown lipsticks since the 1960s and always keep a dark and a light in my collection. I now have a nice nude lipstick and this is my dark brown, great color spangled with flashes of iridescence.
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Lip Gloss -MAC - Superglass in Sweet Tart
lilinah 8/31/2010 7:57:00 PM
Let me say first that i love the Superglasses with their mixed sizes and colors of glitter. Sweet Tart really surprised me. It is not a color i thought i would like, but it is one i keep in my purse and i wear it quite often. The base is a lovely coral pink that looks fine with my pale warm toned skin and pink cheeks. I like the glitter, which behaves just fine, staying on my lips and giving them a little oomph.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Glaze in Pervette
lilinah 8/31/2010 7:04:00 PM
Despite its suggestive name, Pervette is a sweet, pale, sheer, girly, frosty lavender-pink. It looks good with a tan and good with pale skin, too. I confess i was hoping for something a bit more extremely lavender blue, but this has stolen my heart. It plays nicely alone and works well over darker lipsticks, too, to lighten and brighten them up.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Dazzle in Hellraiser
lilinah 8/31/2010 6:52:00 PM
I was excited by the new digipop dazzle lipsticks (and the dare to wear glosses, oh! my!) Some were rather intense reds and oranges which i don't wear, but i tried them on anyway! How could i resist? Hellraiser and Liquid Lurex especially caught my eye. Hellraiser has a very sheer muted lavender mauve base jam packed with iridescent multicolor dazzle. The glitter is not at all gritty and the lipstick feels moist. Once on it has a pinkish quality, so it is somehow both polite and edgy. It also works well over darker lipsticks, to give them a push out of being staid.
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Lipstick -MAC - Go For It
lilinah 8/31/2010 6:16:00 PM
I was so excited when i saw this limited edition lipstick! I have some nice polite lipstick colors, but i really crave unusual ones. Sadly, before i could purchase, it was sold out in my local MAC shop and on mac online. So i called around, found a shop that still had it, and ordered two! It has a nice moist creamy feel and is quite wearable in a light coating, and with a bit of pink gloss on top. For a real cyanotic look, build up the color with a couple applications, nice with Urban Decay Asphyxia eye shadow.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -MAC - Originality
lilinah 8/31/2010 5:25:00 PM
Limited Edition, intensely metallic copper with hints of gold and bronze. I ordered from the online mac store and based on the picture and description, i thought this would be a shimmery brown, so i was disappointed at first. But the coverage is excellent and it has excellent lasting power. Great with a summer tan. And also good for fall with clothes in purples, burgundies, browns, greens, black, and pumpkiny / fall leaf colors.
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Polishes -MAC - In The Buff
lilinah 8/31/2010 5:01:00 PM
Limited Edition, a medium light greenish beige opaque creme, definitely an unusual color, which i like. It makes an interesting neutral, good with many colors of clothing. Decent coverage, although on some of my ridged nails i needed a second coat (i gotta get a buffer :) It is durable, held on and lasted a week, at which time i wanted a color change. The MAC bottle design is interesting, very modern. The rubbery matte black cap accounts for 1/3 the height of the item. I think it is an excellent color for spring, summer, and fall. I will want darker, more intense colors for winter.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No