Treatments -Kinerase - C8 Peptide Intensive Treatment
lola88 11/19/2012 12:06:00 PM
This is an expensive serum that came for free as part of a package with the Clarisonic brush set that I ordered from Sephora years ago. I'm so glad I didn't pay retail for this. Although it is a very nice serum, I don't think it's done any wonders for my skin. This didn't break me out at all but I am not prone to breakouts. It's a nice serum but just nothing special for the price.
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Palettes -LORAC - PRO Palette
lola88 11/17/2012 4:42:00 PM
This is a very nice palette, great quality buttery shadows, great packaging,,,,BUT If you are like me and already own the 2011 Bejeweled Day & Night palettes, you already own most of these colors already. I really wish Lorac had been more original and gone with different, even slightly different colors. Also the Day & Night palettes were a MUCH better Value for the money (at $56 comes with 32 shadows, 2 blushes, a huge bronzer, 2 eyeliners, and 2 lip glosses). It kinda puts the $42 price tag on the Pro palette to shame. Here is what is duplicated EXACTLY--same EXACT shade: Taupe - is in the Day palette (top row 3rd one over) Black - is in the Night palette (3rd row down 4th one over) Nude - in Day palette (top left) Champagne - Night (4th row 1st one) Lt Bronze - Day (2nd row 2nd one over) Pewter - Night (2nd row, 2nd one over Garnet - Day (2nd row , 3rd one over) Slate - Night (3rd row, 2nd one over) Here are the shades that are not exact but close enough: Cream - Day palette (2nd row down, 1st one) Espresso - Day (1st row, 4th one over) Gold - Day palette So in sum, 11 out of the 16 you already have if you have the Bejeweled Day and Night palettes from holiday 2011. So do you need this Pro Palette when you got a much better deal last year? NO! I bought the Lorac Pro palette but will sadly have to return it. I just don't need all these duplicates. I have better uses for my money I think the Day and Night palettes are even more convenient since they come with coordinating blushes. No blushes in the Pro palette. Hope this helps someone out there.
8 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Revlon - PhotoReady Eyeshadow Quints
lola88 10/3/2012 12:46:00 PM
When I first saw these eyeshadows from Revlon Photo Ready, I thought they looked so much like my Japanese and Korean eyeshadows in turns of the sparkle and the color selection. Revlon really did a nice job in selecting color pairings. Each compact comes with 5 shadows: 1. An all over powder eyeshadow that is supposed to have primer in it. (I still need an eyebase - this doesn't replace my eye primer.) 2. A brow color (that I would never wear on the brow bone) 3. Crease color 4. Lid color 5. Sparkle color - for any where you want to add sparkle. Like Japanese eyeshadows there are instructions on the back telling you where to put each shade - Don't follow the instructions! (who puts a bright peach on the brow bone?) I chose 2 of these thin, sleek compacts: Metropolitan - Rosy pink ("brow" color), sparkly taupe brown ("crease" color that works better on the lid), matte dark brown ("lid" color that works better in the crease), pink champagne "primer", sparkle bronze. Bohemian - Golden primer, Yellow gold sparkle color, Sparkly Aquamarine lid color, matte dark brown crease, sparkly peach "brow" color (I use this as a lid color or in the crease to warm up the dark brown) I love the color combinations so much--they really resemble Japanese cometics. The pigmentation is so-so. They are a bit like the Maybelline shadows in that the colors are a little too easy to blend. I sometimes feel like I'm blending the colors right off. Overall, they are nice for $6.99. They are not the nicest shadows out there, but they are not bad either. Definitely worth a try.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Color Stay Ultimate Suede Lipstick
lola88 10/2/2012 11:42:00 AM
These lipsticks really last a long long time. The swatches on my hand lasted over 4 days! On the lips they last all day but need a bit of touching up in the center of the lips. The one negative is that they dry out my lips, which can be expected for a lip product to last that long. Upon application they are very smooth and creamy and "suede"-like. Afterwards, they quickly settle and dry down. I purchased Backstage (burgundy - the shade used on Olivia Wilde in the ad) and Front Row (a bright peachy light pink). The darker colors look better in this formula because light colors tend to show dryness more. Overall, I like the lasting power and will probably layer under the Lip Butters to combat the dryness. They are definitely different from the balm stains in that the balm stains left a stain that was at times different color from the balm color. For example the peach color left a brigher coral stain. With the Ultimate Suedes, they don't stain your lips but are just a long lasting lipstick. It doesn't leave stain.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -L'Oreal - Project Runway - The Mystic's Blush - 626
lola88 10/1/2012 10:34:00 AM
This is a great dupe for NARS Sex Appeal, which I also own. When swatched and on the cheeks the look identical down to the finish. This is a light peachy pinky shade for those with fair skin. I'm NC10 for reference. If you are medium or dark skinned this won't show up on your skin. But if you are fair, it's just gorgeous! It also has a light peachy scent.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -L'Oreal - Infallible Gel Lacquer Liner in Blackest Black
lola88 7/26/2012 3:18:00 PM
This is a very comparable dupe to MAC's Blacktrack fluidline, which I also have. My Blacktrack is in the process of drying up (and I still have half the pot left!) so I was looking for a cheaper alternative. I swatched them side-by-side and they are both equally as black and pigmented. The L'Oreal glides on very nicely. I really like the brush that it comes with. I find it very easy to do a cat eye winged eyeliner look with it. I used the L'Oreal on my waterline. It stayed on, didn't smudge down, and didn't irritate my eyes. Blacktrack, you have been replaced!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Tokidoki - Vegas Arte Palette
lola88 7/23/2012 11:00:00 AM
This is a bargain for $6 for 4 beautiful eyeshadows and a gorgeous pink blush. Even drugstore prices aren't this cheap. The quality of the eyeshadows and blush are great. They last all day for me with primer. Pick this up before it's gone.
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Palettes -Tokidoki - Tokidoki Arte Palette Sandy in the City
lola88 7/20/2012 1:26:00 PM
This is 40% off right now, so this little gem of a palette was only $6. You can't even get 4 eyeshadows and a blush at the drugstore for that price. This is really a great deal. Plus the eyeshadows and blush are great quality. Even though I have alot of makeup (a whole desk full), I couldn't resist picking up these palettes. I love the convenience of having the eyeshadows and blush in one thin, easy to travel palette. It comes with a thin mirror on the lid inside. It's made of thick cardboard. The eyeshadow colors are A matte shade like MAC brule, a bit lighter A beautiful, shimmery light taupe similar to Urban Decay Sidecar. A chameleon like greenish greyish shade - not at shimmery or frosty as the taupe shade. A deepen brownish plum similar to MAC Beauty Marked. I love how the colors are put together. The blush is a bright pigmented corally pink. (Much brighter and more pigmented than Benefit Bella Bamba.) It has a nice satin, glowy finish--not shimmery or frosty at all.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -Tokidoki - kabuki luminosa powder
lola88 7/20/2012 1:07:00 PM
Tokidoki is no longer being carried at Sephora, so they have marked everything down at 40% off. This highlighter is $13 right now at Sephora stores. I bought one, tried it, and then went back to buy 2 more back ups. I hardly ever buy back ups. So that goes to show how much I do like this powder. I'm fair skinned so this powder works on my skin tone. The color is a frosty, pearly white pink that creates a nice glow. I was surprised at how finely milled and soft this powder is. There is tiny pink microglitter in the powder but it is not at all gritty. The texture is very smooth and pigmented. The microglitter is very small and does not leave fall out. I love using this powder to highlight the tops of my cheek bones, brow bone, and inner eye. It really leaves a nice, lit from within glow. If you hate even a little glitter, I wouldn't recommend this for you. Also this works better on fair skin because of the light color. The packaging is very sturdy hard and thick plastic and is very cute to boot! You get 11.6g of product for $13 - it's a really good deal!
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Eye Shadow -Jemma Kidd Makeup School - Crushed Jewel creme duo
lola88 7/16/2012 2:28:00 PM
I got this in the Citrine color, which comes with a base creme eyeshadow that is like Soft Ochre paint pot from MAC (which I also have) but a little lighter. The "crush jewel" is a loose pigment eyeshadow that is yellowish gold with flakes of sparkle particles. The effect is nice but the pigment does not stick very well to the base that it comes with. If a makeup artist is going to pair two products together in one set, they should work very well together and that is not the case. I need to use a tackier/stickier base to use with the sparkle pigment. Also the base creme eyeshadow does not enhance the color of the pigment at all--it is "flesh" color. It would have been nicer to pair a gold color like Rubenesque paint pot (which I also have) to complement the pigment.
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Makeup Brushes -Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman - Stippling Brush
lola88 7/10/2012 11:56:00 AM
I own the MAC 187 as well as the Coastal Scents and Sigma versions as well. This is not like those brushes at all. First of all it is much smaller which I find is much easier to use when applying base makeup. This brush allowed me to be more precise. Also the bristles are shorter and more dense than the 187. While it is a nice brush, I really like the Sephora Airbrush #55 much more. I feel it gives me a nicer finish with foundation/BB Creams.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Just Spotted the Lizard
lola88 7/5/2012 1:13:00 PM
This really is a chamelon color! In one direction it is teal, then mossy green, then gold, then bronze. The way to describe this is a pistacchio green Tahitian pearl. The color is exactly like a beautiful Tahitian pearl.
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Lipstick -Chanel - Paradis rouge coco
lola88 6/26/2012 12:29:00 PM
This is a watermelon pink. What is unique about this shade is that is has more warm tones and is more yellow-based. Typically these watermelon shades are more blue-based. Paradis also has very refined tiny micro pearl in pink. Since I have ALOT of lipstick for me to add yet another one to the collection especially at $32, the color has to be pretty undupable. The closest I could find to this color was Revlon's Lip Butter in Sweet Tart. This is not a dupe--just the closest I could find to Paradis. Sweet Tart is more blue-based, more cool toned and a tad darker. Also the finish and texture are completely different. Lip Butters are more glossy and slippy. Burt's Bees wax Lip shine in Watermelon is completely different. So far I could not find a drugstore or MAC dupe. The color really does brighten the face and lift the complexion. The texture and finish of the lipstick is somewhat dry--but that means the lasting power is longer than slippier lipsticks. I get about 3-4 hours of wear with this lipstick. Although the lipstick color is bright, lipstick is not so pigmented so you don't look clownish. I wouldn't call it a sheer lipstick either. For the color the pigmentation is spot on. Overall, the color is unique and therefore worth the splurge. The color is a bright corally watermelon pink--perfect for days when I want a pop of color but don't want a hot pink. Also it looks goregous with Benefit Bella Bamba blush.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Chanel - Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow Eclosion
lola88 6/26/2012 12:06:00 PM
Like most Chanel quads the eyeshadows are not as pigmented as for example Wet N Wild or Urban Decay. Though I can understand that subtlety is what Chanel is going for. The pigmentation is not terrible but "soft". The colors are very well coordinated in this palette. I have ALOT of eyeshadow but I did not have dupes for every single one of these shadows. Also, the colors are nicely selected to work with one another so for that reason I am keeping this palette. The standout shade in this palette is the peachy pinkish shade. It has a sheen to it but is not at all shimmery or glittery. It is like a satin finish. It looks amazing on top of MAC's Rubenesque paint pot. This shade would actually make an amazing blush or lipstick or lipgloss that would look fab on pale skin. I could not find a dupe for this shade. >Urban Decay Snatch is way more metallic with gold glitter. The shade is also lighter. It is more in your face compared to Chanels more subtle fresh glow from Chanel's peach. >88 Shimmer palette has a peach shade but it is too light and again more shimmery. The finish is completely different. >I tried duping the peach shade with blush too but couldn't find a good match. Milani Luminoso is too orange, has gold micro pearl, and is not as pigmented as Chanel. Chanel's quad also comes with a champagne shade with micro glitter (really small--not at all like UD. Very finely milled pearl like a baked mineralized eyeshadow) I don't have issues with fallout if I use a sticky primer like Gosh Eyeshadow sticks or Rubenesque PP. This shade is a bit like the shimmery shades in Dior's quints. I use this as a lid color or an inner corner highlight. It works best with the sponge applicator that comes with the palette. The sponge applicator seems to help minimize fallout. Warm plum - looks gorgeous paired with the peach as a crease color. It has a satin finish. I use a matte dark brown to deepen the color in the crease. Medium beigey champagne - I love this as a transition color to blend out the plum. It has a satin finish and would look nice as a lid color too. The packaging is typical Chanel - very nice and comes with the price tag. Overall, it's pricey at $57 but since I can't dupe it it's a nice little splurge and brightens and warms up my eyes and face. The color combination is sophisticated and soft. For reference, I'm NC10 in winter, NC15-20 in summer-Asian skintone.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Milani - Marbelized Baked Eyeshadow - 606- Drenched in Gold
lola88 6/18/2012 12:13:00 PM
My HG Gold eyeshadow! This is a go-to for me in the summer. And I have alot of gold eyeshadow. It is lighter than UD Half Baked. It is more golden that UD Maui Wowie. It is lighter than the gold shade in the Wet N Wild Trio Gilded Age. It is a beautiful gold for my NC10-NC15 fair skin. It is pigmented when applied dry. It looks beautiful on top of MAC's Rubenesque paint pot or on top of GOSH's waterproof eyeshadow stick in Love that Real Gold. It is much more intense in pigmentation when applied wet foiled with Visine or other mixing mediums. It looks beautiful paired with other brown shadows. I love pairing it with other Milani baked shadows in Copper Excess or Fusion or Intermix. It also looks beautiful with just a matte dark brown eyeshadow. Another way I wear this in the summer when I want to have a light sparkle on the body is to apply if after I put on sunscreen or body lotion - I take a large fluffy powder brush and lightly dust in on my neck, shoulders, arms, and decolletage. It's not over the top, but gives a nice little summertime sparkly glow that's not too obvious.
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