Eye Shadow -NARS - Rated R Duo
khadijah 1/7/2007 3:31:00 PM
Stunning and unique colors. Unfortunately the texture SUCKS. When people discuss chalky eyeshadows, I have never understood the meaning until I got this duo. I am serious. I have tried Milani, MAC, Tarte, Fresh, BB, Ben Nye, UD and none of them are crappy like this one. I also have other NARS eyeshadows that are not crappy.
Rated R looks gorgeous when swatched behind the hand, but on the lids it is very sheer and fades in like 5 minutes. I literally do 1 eye then the other and the first eye has already shown signs of fading.
Will not repurchase unless they improve on the formula. YOU HEAR ME FRANCOIS?
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Eye Shadow -NARS - Mediteranee Duo
khadijah 1/7/2007 3:25:00 PM
The texture of this duo is awesome. One is a pale golden beige and the other is a bright shimmery orange. NARS eyeshadows are a hit/miss. This is a definite HIT but only if you have very warm/golden undertones. I would definitely recommend this to those between NC25-NC40 for a nice summer glowy eye look. Despite the brightness of of the orange shade, it looks very nice in the crease. Again, I must stress that this duo will only work on certain people. I am NC30 for example, it looks like crap on me. Cool/neutral colors (plums, taupes, muted pinks) work better on me. My friend is also NC30, but much warmer (her hair color is lighter with caramel highlights) and this duo looks divine on her.
I believe L'Oreal HIP has made a duplicate of this duo and on the campaign ads, Scarlett Johansson wears the duo and she looks stunning in them. Note that she has warm and golden undertones herself. I hope this helps.
Me? I would not repurchase this but I keep telling my friend that she NEEDS this. or at least the HIP dupe.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Liners -NARS - Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bettina
khadijah 1/7/2007 3:16:00 PM
This is my first NARS Velvet Matte Lip pencil and I bought this on a whim during a GWP sale. Where have I been?!! Why has nobody told me about the awesomeness of these lip pencils????!! I thought that lipstick pencils would typically be waxy but these are soooo soft and smooth, like velvet! Rave, rave, rave.
Bettina is a pearly nude pink color, that is not flat and matte at all, despite the name. Gorgeous color and texture, it looks great with a natural look or dark brown smokey eyes.
Now I cannot wait to try it in other colors. I will not repurchase Bettina because I do not think the color itself is unique enough. I like nude pinks and there are just too many of those out there to try. My HG nude pink shade is and always be MAC Hug Me ls.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade
khadijah 1/7/2007 3:04:00 PM
Lightscapade was the only product that caught my eye in the Danse collection. The swirl of colors are just divine and reminded me of this ice-cream stick I used to love as a child (Rainbow Paddle Pop).
On the skin, Lightscapade is just a layer of sheer white with a pink tint, but its not shimmery like say, BB Shimmerbrick. To compare it to MAC eyeshadow texture, i think this is like Satin or duochrome, not frost. Most importantly its very very sheer. This is my first MSF ever and the reason I am not a fan of MSFs in the first place is i think that its very shimmery and shiny.
I am MMM, NC30, wear Armani hG #5.5, Chanel Shell 1.5, Lightscapade barely shows up on me. I do use it as highlighter and the best thing is, I don't have to worry about overdoing it and looking like a disco ball (as in the case with BB shimmerbrick). The result is just glowy and angelic. Mind you it looks better IRL than in photographs where it can appear ghastly if you wear it all over the face.
Also very nice as eyeshadow and browbone highlighter. Many MUAers have recommended wearing this e/s wet but I have yet to try this.
I think that it is a good buy, I do not have other powder highlighters except BB shimmerbricks to compare but suspect this is along the lines of SB softlights (halo) or Becca Shimmer powders.
For a more shimmery and apparent highlighting, I have NARS Copacabana multiple.
All in all I think it is great and I have no complaints. I think its a little expensive for MAC (and I hate the cheap-looking packaging). I am saving 5 lippies because I think there might be better powder highlighters out there.
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Treatments -Avene - Diacneal Acne Treatment [DISCONTINUED]
khadijah 1/7/2007 2:51:00 PM
First of all, to treat acne, one must know what the treatment does. I don't think retinaldehyde or AHA kills bacteria, rather they exfoliate and improve rate of skin turnover. I use Diacneal as spot treatment at night after cleansing the face. It burns like a m*tha i tell you. But then, I do apply a generous amount and let it sit there the whole night. Peeling will ensue, but it does help fade the acne marks faster. Also remember to use sunscreen. I still use benzoyl peroxide 2.5% in the mornings and together they have worked well for me. Occasionally I still get breakouts around the time of the month. Bottom line, it does what it is supposed to for me. Will repurchase again and again.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Clinique - Makeup Brush Cleanser
khadijah 4/23/2006 12:33:00 AM
Easiest makeup brush cleanser to use! and I just discovered that this cleanser will actually lather if you spray it on water. Much easier to use than MAC brush cleanser or baby shampoo. Here is how I use the cleanser:
1. with the brush pointing down, spray onto the brush. Use fingers to work it in.
2. Wipe excess mu with tissue
3. Rinse with water, gently squeeze excess water.
4. Spray (again) onto the brush and this time work up a lather.
5. Rinse again, remove excess water.
6. Dry flat.
Voila! Clean brushes.
Will definitely repurchase. YOu get a huge bottle for $12.50.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -NARS - Flaming Dust
khadijah 3/23/2006 9:56:00 PM
Flaming Dust is a sheer cherry red lipstick that has no shimmer, like Dolce Vita and Gypsy. I love the packaging of NARS lipsticks and Flaming Dust is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. I love it with red lipliner for a more polished look, or without liner for a stained look (kinda like after eating a lolly).
I also love pairing this lipstick with NARS Cream blush in Cactus Flower (sheer shimmery poppy red),nude eyes and black eyeliner. A really cute 'geisha' look.
A little expensive, and for a bit more you could get an Armani lipstick, but I adore NARS sheer lipsticks so much. And NARS has the most fabulous red lipsticks out there (as well as unique colors)
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Pressed Powders -Tarte - Provocateur Mineral Powder
khadijah 3/17/2006 1:59:00 PM
Bought this because its cute and i love tarte btw. I love the powder, though it does not control shine as good as MAC blot powder, but then again its mineral powder. However, after 3 months of use (not being carried in handbags/purse) the latch closure broke off the compact!! Now I am so angry and upset because I cant return to sephora. I complained to Tarte and they said they cant do anything because I bought it from sephora. :( DONT BUY THE COMPACT! Use Stila's instead or whatever that fits. don't waste your $20.
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Bronzers -Jane - Shimmering Bronzer - Sedona 10
khadijah 3/9/2006 11:45:00 AM
First of all this reminds me so much of Bobbi Brown's Beige Shimmerbrick, which was simply shimmer on me so I swapped it away.
Indeed on the face, it looks like BB beige shimmerbrick but the texture is way much more softer than that of shimmerbrick. I feel that with shimmerbricks, I have to scrape/dig the pigments out of the compact, but these Jane bronzers are soft to the touch.
Sedona is not really a bronzer IMO. Maybe for people with skintones less than NC20. A MUAer posted swatches of these on her skin and she is NC15. On my NC30 skin, Sedona is really just a highlighter or for very subtle contouring. If the Beige Shimmerbrick didn't do anything for you, this won't either, although this does give a bit more color than the Beige shimmerbrick.
Shimmer is subtle, I don't look like a disco ball. I knocked off 1 lippie because this isn't really much of a bronzer,but a highlighter. Would repurchase it as a highlighter.
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Mascara -Pout - Wet Lash
khadijah 2/14/2006 12:20:00 PM
$20 for clear mascara is pricey, but I was attracted to this because it has nourishing properties for lashes and eyebrows. I love the fact that this one really holds a curl for me, and does not clump. It makes my lashes soft, look natural and lush. I already have black eyelashes and they're long. So a soft curl is all I need most of the time. I am not a mascara person, I really hate them. Most mascaras flake and irritate my eyes so Pout's Wet Lash is really perfect for my day to day wear. If I want dramatic lashes for night or special occasions, I just wear fake eyelashes. I have worn this for about a month now and I love it. Will definitely repurchase.
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Powder -Neutrogena - mineral sheers mineral powder foundation-fair to light
khadijah 2/13/2006 11:33:00 AM
*EDITED*This is my first time with mineral foundations so I can't compare to others. I agree that it is very sheer, and does not provide enough coverage as I would like with foundation, but I use this for days when I am not wearing foundation (going to class etc). I wear Neutrogena Clean Tint tinted moisturizer and some concealer underneath.
The finish is WOW! Dewy looking skin, not powdery and not shimmery (although if you look really closely, theres some *fine* shimmer). For those who dislike the dewy/glowy look, you might want to avoid this. I know some people think its too oily looking.
I wear 04 Neutral to Medium. My regular foundation shade is NC30, I think I can wear 04 or 03 (Light to Neutral) because it is so sheer.
Packaging is slightly annoying. Might consider snapping off the top and use a different container. But on the other hand, its very convenient for touch ups.
*EDIT* I AM ALMOST DONE with my first one. Will repurchase. FOund that the coverage is sheer but buildable. Still very natural and I like this better than EM Matte or Intensive.
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Lipstick -Revlon - Super Lustrous Nude Velvet [DISCONTINUED]
khadijah 1/24/2006 8:54:00 PM
Bought this for $1 on sale. Didnt think much of it before buying but the color is lovely. It tones down my pigmented lips and like the reviewer below said, looks like Angelina Jolie (color) lips. Its a creamy nude (hint of pink) beige but not as pink as Hug Me. May look ashy on some people, especially if you are much paler. I am NC30 asian and this is a great natural nude. with black smokey eyes I usually wear NARS Honolulu Honey, which is warmer with a bit more yellow nude.
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Lip Gloss -Revlon - Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Apricot Glaze
khadijah 1/24/2006 8:49:00 PM
Love Revlon Super Lustrous glosses.. especially when they're BOGOF! Which is quite often. This was a summer LE shade iirc. Apricot Glaze is a pretty frosty peach. I love layering this gloss over beige or peachy lipsticks. I could not wear it on its own because of my pigmented lips but this is def a must have for SL collectors.
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Eye Shadow -Shiseido - HydroPowder Eye Shadow H5 Aqua Shimmer
khadijah 1/24/2006 5:24:00 PM
I wonder why these hydro powder e/s don't get many raves on the MU board, it is absolutely spectacular!! the texture is smooth and silky, almost like MAC fluidlines but very very pigmented with lots of shimmer.
Aqua shimmer is like a swimming pool filled with diamonds.
When applied using fingers, the colors are more subdued and sheer but if applied with a flat brush (like a concealer brush) the color and shimmer is more intense. The color reminds me of UD shattered, minus the gold sheen that Shattered has. Aqua Shimmer is also great as a base for blue eyeshadow like UD Shattered and MAC Parrot, but the eyeshadows will suppress the effect of the shimmer somewhat. Parrot is a tad darker, I've used it in the crease with this eyeshadow as a wash and its absolutely gorgeous.
At $21, its a pricy eyeshadow, but these will definitely last a long time and the color, texture, pigmentation is just worth worth worth it. Oh and I wish they made these in glass pots like Gel liners.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -MAC - Fluidline Eye-Liner Gel - Frostlite
khadijah 1/24/2006 5:10:00 PM
HG eyeshadow base for me and huge rave for MAC fluidlines! I did not buy Frostlite for the purpose of eyelining, so I guess I'm not that dissappointed. Its great to brighten up the eyes by smudging a bit of it in the inner corner of the eyes. the color shows up as a sheer layer of golden beige as eyeshadow/base. for more pigmentation, I use a flat square tip brush to apply. I'll update when I've tried it as eyeliner. But will repurchase just for the staying power as base and beautiful color
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