Eye Shadow -Ben Nye - Raisin
dawndie23 8/15/2012 8:39:00 AM
Brilliant color and loooong lasting I have this in Raisin. I absolutely love this shadow and color. I use it as more of a transition color between my browbone and crease, but it also makes a lovely lid color. I'm always surprised to see so few reviews about Ben Nye products. The are superb quality at ridicilously cheap prices. These shadows will last all day with a primer underneath. I have been out in crazy heat and humidity and this stuff will-not-budge! It blends very easily and you get a lot of product. I can't wait to try some more colors.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Ben Nye - Pressed Eye Shadow (ALL)
dawndie23 8/15/2012 8:38:00 AM
Brilliant color and loooong lasting I have this in Raisin. I absolutely love this shadow and color. I use it as more of a transition color between my browbone and crease, but it also makes a lovely lid color. I'm always surprised to see so few reviews about Ben Nye products. The are superb quality at ridicilously cheap prices. These shadows will last all day with a primer underneath. I have been out in crazy heat and humidity and this stuff will-not-budge! It blends very easily and you get a lot of product. I can't wait to try some more colors.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -MAC - # 239 Eye Shader Brush
dawndie23 8/15/2012 8:34:00 AM
I understand all of the great reviews, but..... I finally broke down and picked up this brush about 5 months ago. BROKE being the operative word. This is a fantastic brush that applies shadows perfectly to my lids. It's very soft and applies pigments very precisely. It also cleans very easily and I can tell that it will last me a long time. However, I can (and have) achieve all of the above with numerous other brushes at a fraction of the cost of the 239. I'm not really feeling paying so much money to have MAC stamped on the handle. I really do like this brush, but it's not so great that I 'save it' for special applications. I won't buy another one, but would never turn it down as a gift. ;-)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Too Faced - Matte Eye
dawndie23 8/15/2012 8:32:00 AM
Desert island worthy! I have been waiting for a high quality matte eye palette and Too Faced once again delivered! As usual, the colors blend beautifully and are very pigmented. I haven't tried these without a primer, but can attest to the longevity with one. This palette works for any skintone. There are instruction cards tucked in the lid of the palette if you need a guide to creating a few basic looks, but it's much more fun to experiment on you own. The Vintage Violet looks very nice against a darker skintone and Coffee Bean has become my workhorse color! This palette was worth the wait. You get alot of product and the price (for me) is very justifiable.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -E.L.F. - Mineral Infused Face Primer
dawndie23 8/15/2012 8:22:00 AM
Does the job. This primer is a very good value. I apply it with a foundation brush only on my T-Zone and apples of my cheeks. It really does make my foundation or powder applications look much smoother. The packaging however is a major disappointment. I was only able to use the pump one time before I had to un-screw the lid and scoop out the product. Due to the opaque container, you can't tell how much product is in the bottle. As much as I do like the primer, I will not re-purchase unless the packaging is changed.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Sephora - Hello Kitty Parisienne Palette
dawndie23 8/15/2012 8:02:00 AM
I was very pleasantly surprised by this palette. I got it with a discount on Sephora's website and am very happy with the quality and colors. It has 4 beautiful eyeshadows (.07 oz each) and a blush (.3 oz). Eyeshadows: -pearlized creamy beige -glittery dark brown -matte bright purple -matte blue/gray Blush: -pearlized medium pink The colors apply very easily and blend beautifully. They last all day long with a good primer or base. The colors work with any skintone....I'm a NW 45/Caramel-Cappuccino and these colors look great on me. The blush is too light for me, but it works brilliantly as a highlighter! It has the perfect amount of sheen and surprisingly really brightens my look. Obviously, the packaging is adorable. It's very sturdy and has a large mirror that is very helpful.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -Maybelline - Dream Fresh 8-in-1 BB Cream
dawndie23 7/29/2012 6:16:00 PM
BB Cream?....eh, no. Very good tinted moisturizer.....yes! The color (dark) and consistency work very well for those days that you want a very natural, yet pulled-together look. If you add concealer you will end up with a smoother result. This cream doesn't completely hide any dark spots or circles, but makes them look less prominent on the face. A light dusting of powder over your slick spots is all you need to have a nice, lasting finish all day long (even in the heat and humidity!). The price is very good, especially with sales and coupons. I've had no irritations or breakouts since I starting using this about 3 weeks ago. So far, other than the very expensive Smashbox BB Cream, Maybelline is the only one who realizes that WOC are willing to shell out major money for the newest trend. Admirable job.
14 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Make Up For Ever - Powder Blush
dawndie23 7/21/2012 3:58:00 PM
WHAT A GREAT COLOR! I actually use this as a transition color on my eyes, it's a true matte red/brown that looks great on my skin. I used it as a blush for the first time this week and was very happy with the application and coverage. You don't need a lot and this is a great everyday color. The only down-side for me is the price. I recently discovered La Femme blushes and cannot justify paying so much money for MUFE when La Femme is just as good, but much, much less expensive. If you are like the 'prestige' of owning a high-priced blush at least MUFE are a great quality.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -BeneFit Cosmetics - Boi-ing
dawndie23 7/21/2012 1:57:00 PM
Works like a charm! I got this in a color 4 and 5, the 5 is a very good match for my skin tone. I use the 4 to highlight and as an eye shadow base. The consistency is very smooth, it's thick so you can start with a very little amount and build it up as needed. This is one of the few concealers that totally covers my under eye circles and dark spots on the first application. It lasts for about 3 hours without creasing if I don't use a powder on top. With a powder, it lasts all day long. The only drawback for me is that I wish the lid was hinged instead of having to screw it completely off. Great little product at a surprisingly fair price.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Unlisted Brand - Milk of Magnesia
dawndie23 6/25/2012 1:41:00 PM
On the bandwagon! I've been using this for a couple years now as a primer. It really does work to keep the shine on my T-Zone at a minimum. There are so many different ways to apply this, just try a few and use what works for your skin type. I apply this (only to my T-Zone) after washing and moisturizing my face. While it dries (about 30 seconds), I apply primer to the rest of my face and then I apply my foundation over everything. I use cotton rounds, balls, sponges, my fingers and a brush. It really doesn't make a difference to the end result which is a smooth, matte finish. This lasts about 3-4 hours on me before I have to blot. I highly recommend giving this a try.....if you're funny about the packaging, just put it in another bottle or container.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Nivea - Sun Protect Water Gel
dawndie23 6/4/2012 7:34:00 AM
Finally! A sunscreen that protects my face and leaves NO WHITE RESIDE!!! This sunscreen is a SPF 30 watergel formula that applies very easily and immediately absorbs into the skin with no residue. It doesn't change my foundation color and it appies very smoothly. I've had no adverse reaction using this product. You can get it in a squeeze bottle or a pump application. You only need a pea-sized amount to get the protection you need. I gave this a 3 rating for price simply because you cannot buy this product at a store in the U.S.A. It's Japan based and you have to purchase it online through Amazon or Ebay but the cost is steep. I am very, very fortunate to have a relative who lives in Japan and sends me all kinds of goodies that have been fantastic for my skin and lots of fun make-up items too. I would however, still pay the Amazon/Ebay price for this sunscreen since it works so wonderfully on my skin. I haven't tried it out at the beach yet.....since I was specifically looking for something to wear under my make-up (I don't wear make-up with SPF), I'll probably use my normal sunscreen for waterplay. This is definately worth the effort and money, especially for women of color who often have to deal with the strange white/grey cast left from other sun protectors.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Sugarpill - Royal Sugar Chromalust
dawndie23 5/31/2012 11:32:00 AM
Holy Cannoli! I got this in Royal Sugar, Magpie and Tiara. Now I want the rest!!! I don't use loose pigments too often, but was blown away by the quality of Sugarpill pigments. The computer can never do these rich and vibrant colors justice. Royal Sugar is a bright, deep, sapphire/royal blue that surprisingly doesn't go over the top. Tiara is a gorgeous silver that reflects surrounding colors and Magpie is a deeper, more complex navy blue shimmer. I'm not sure if my camera picked up the vibrancy of these colors very well, but I absolutely love them. The apply soo easily. I just used a NYX base in white and did not dampen my brush at all. I used a flat shader brush to press the pigment in and after 2 hours, no fallout. There was a tiny bit of pigment around my cheeks and nose immediately after applying, but that is normal. The shipping was very reasonable ($5 flat) and the cost is incredible (only $12!!!). Great, vegan product. I can't wait to try the pressed shadows.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Milani - Liquif'eye Metallic eye liner pencil -black
dawndie23 5/31/2012 11:31:00 AM
Smooth, intense color at a steal! I have this in Black and Aqua....it's fantastic on my waterline. With or without eyeshadow to set, it didn't budge on me. I love how easy this pencil is to use, I always get a smooth line and great color pay-off.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Paint Pot - Groundwork
dawndie23 5/31/2012 11:30:00 AM
Meh... Groundwork was a bit of a disappointment for me. I was hoping for a color that was a match for my skintone but this one is a little chalky on me. Overall, I do like the Paint Pots, you really only need a tiny bit and they last a long time. However, I prefer the new 24-hour color tatoo's from Maybelline. I'm probably going to give my Groundwork to a friend and stick with my Color Tatoo's.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyes -NYX - Glitter Cream Palette in All
dawndie23 5/31/2012 11:29:00 AM
One hot mess! I really wanted this palette to work. The colors look beautiful in the pan, but this stuff is impossible to apply smoothly. I tried it all from using my fingers, dry and damp sponge applicators and brushes and even Q-tips! The glitter (which by the way is only on the top coat of the product!) was not milled very well and scratched my eyelids. It was also pretty greasy...I don't have oily lids, but it was like putting on tinted Vaseline. I love NYX overall, but these get a huge pass from me!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No