Eye Shadow -Illamasqua - Servant
paneradfisk 12/15/2012 6:48:00 PM
This is a matte, nude eyeshadow. Illamasqua describes the shade as "pale eggshell". The shade matches a NC15 almost exactly, and would look awesome on NC15-NC25.
I love this as a base for other matte, neutral eyeshadows. I, and many others, find matte eyeshadows hard to blend sometimes - my advice is to use a shadow like this as a base because the other shadows will blend much easier. My favourite combination is this as a base, MAC Omega in the crease and MAC Espresso in the outer V.
This is soft and blendable, very pigmented and not at all powdery.
The size is 2 g (0.07 oz) for 25 dollars, that is 12 dollars per gram. MAC eyeshadows are 15 dollars for 1.5 g (0.05 oz), which is about 10 dollars per gram, so Illamasqua's eyeshadows are rather expensive but they have some of the very best matte eyeshadows. MAC eyeshadows are also very good but not all their mattes are great.
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Liquid -MAC - Face and Body Foundation
paneradfisk 12/15/2012 6:24:00 PM
(I got this in White) My skin is paler than any foundation I have found, including MAC foundations. I'm not only pale, I also have many red spots and uneven pigmentation. I only use this foundation to mix with others.
So let's start.
TEXTURE: This foundation is very liquidy, like Bobbi Browns' Skin Foundation. It spreads and blends easily, and doesn't dry too fast.
COVERAGE: If 100% is full, like MAC Full Coverage, and MAC Studio Fix Fluid is 80%, this is about 30%. It is buildable but will never cover much, so if you're planning to use this by itself, you better have decent/near perfect skin. You can spot conceal with a concealer, of course, but I would still not recommend this if you want to cover alot.
PRICE/AMOUNT: Face and Body is available in two sizes. The smallest size is 50 ml (1.7 oz) and costs 27 dollars. MAC Studio Fix Fluid is 30 ml (1 oz) for the same price, so Face and Body is cheaper.
My opinion, though, is that you can get more out of a full coverage foundation, because you can always sheer down a full coverage foundation, and still be able to get alot of coverage with a small amount.
MIXING WITH OTHER FOUNDATIONS: I mix this with other (high coverage) foundations to make the shade lighter. This takes away a bit of the coverage, making me use more - wasting money, taking more time, feeling/looking thicker, not lasting as long. I have since found a better white foundation to mix with, which already has very high coverage, so it doesn't take away any coverage. (Illamasqua Skin Base)
If you decide to mix this with other foundations, remember that Face and Body is water based, so it mixes best with water based foundations and primers. One should always try to use moisturizers, primers and foundations that are based on the same thing (silicone, oil, water) because the foundation will last much longer.
The reason I give this a 3 is because it takes away the coverage from my foundations, due to its own sheer coverage. Also, I'm not that impressed with the longevity or finish. Maybe I would use this if my skin was already perfect, but then why use a sheer foundations that barely does anything? If the skin is already good enough, one should be able to get away with powder or nothing at all.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Prada - Candy EDP
paneradfisk 10/16/2012 6:09:00 PM
I really love this. Yes, I'm also one of those girls who like Miss Dior Chérie and Viva la juicy - but I also really love Chanel Coco, Dior Diorissimo and Guerlains' scents so I'm not one who's particularly drawn to all sweet things - it has to be good!
As I said a perfume needs to be more than sweet to appeal me. Candy is, for me, like a less sickenly sweet version of Pink Sugar. For me this is a warm, burnt caramel scent... kind of like butterscotch and vanilla, but still not sickenly sweet, but kind of warm and cozy.
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Eye Shadow -Make Up For Ever - #93
paneradfisk 9/27/2012 6:48:00 PM
Oh how I love this colour. It's matte, and it's like the lightest, brightest jade... like a greenish mint. If you have Illamasqua's nail polish Nomad, you will know kind of what I mean, except the shadow is a little greener.
I just wish I could make it work. It goes on sheer and patchy, and trying to blend it it just fades away.
I tried this over UDPP, TFSI and MAC Paint Pots. I have had the best resuls with a sticky base like MAC PP, the colours actually shows - but blending it will just make it go away again.
This disappointed me since I have not seen any eyeshadow in a shade like this, and MUFE's eyeshadows are usually the best ones.
The closest dupes I can think of are MUFE 168, which is alot better but much more shimmery... and Inglot 372 which is matte but darker and more blue, according to me.
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Polishes -Illamasqua - Smash
paneradfisk 9/23/2012 11:44:00 AM
I don't think I have ever seen a nail polish that is similar to this one. The colour is warm green, not chartreuse, not light green, not dark green... it looks exactly like peas. Really lovely and flattering on my warm, pale skintone.
This is the only nail polish that doesn't make tiny bubbles when applied - especially OPI makes bubbles on my nails, Essie is better but still not as good as this. Illamasqua's polishes are really great, and better than anything else I have tried - especially considering what a huge brand OPI is, that is remarkable.
Excellent pigmentation - it is opaque in two coats, I mean really opaque - you can't see the tips of the nails through it, which was always a problem for me with other brands. No bubbling or streaking... and it lasts a week with minor tip wear, which is good, other brands last about 3-4 days on me.
I have tried a few polishes by Illamasqua and they are all equally awesome. They make really unique colours, usually most brands offer reddish and "natural" shades. I will absolutely get more polishes from Illamasqua... :)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Lancome - La Vie Est Belle
paneradfisk 9/19/2012 5:45:00 PM
First of all, I want to make clear that this is my second perfume review. There are only a few notes I can actually recognize, and I really wish I could describe a perfume as detailed as many as you can... on the other hand, maybe it's a good thing that I'm no expert - because most women who buy perfumes are no experts, but they know what they like and don't like. And maybe it's a good thing that I'm not one that "can't see the woods for the trees", if you know what I mean? Anyway, here is my review.
I have never bought any Lancome perfume. They're not appealing in any way, they have always been so mediocre I never even gave them a second thought. I was surprised, because La vie est belle is very different from their other scents.
I am surprised many people here call this too sweet, that wasn't really my first thought... I tried this on, and my first thought was that it was very powdery, like Chanel's new perfume Coco Noir, that I'm not very fond of either. The notes they have in common are jasmine and patchouli... I don't like powdery scents, but I realize maybe other older women will like it - I don't mean that in a bad way, it's no secret that young women don't always like the same perfumes as more mature women.
For the rest of the day, all I could smell was this overpowering powdery vanilla scent... I didn't want to wash it off because I always wait to see if it gets better. It lingered all day, and in the evening I actually could accept it - it was still powdery and vanilla, but not at all as powdery as in the beginning. I smell vanilla and maybe a little patchouli... but that's all, as I said, I'm no expert.
What's interesting is that when it had been on my skin for a couple of hours, it really reminded me of Gucci Rush, which I love but won't wear. The notes they have in common are patchouli, vanilla and jasmin. Gucci Rush is much more patchouli and gardenia, La vie est belle is much more vanilla - and the most important detail - I love Rush, I really don't like La vie est belle.
I can see more mature women liking this - I don't even know what you all get "teenage girl, cotton candy sweet" from, actually.
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Fragrances -Marc Jacobs - dot
paneradfisk 9/9/2012 5:01:00 PM
I am not really a big fan of Marc Jacobs scents. I hate Lola, it took some time for me to even accept Daisy Eau So Fresh, and the others - Daisy and Oh Lola - fall into the same category as this new scent.. Actually this feels like a mix of Daisy and Oh Lola - light, easy to wear, floral, plain and mediocre.
The bottle is adorable, though.
My conclusion... it is just not memorable, not distinctive, just ordinary.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Make Up For Ever - No. 9
paneradfisk 8/16/2012 11:02:00 PM
Oh how I love this! This is a very vibrant orchid/lavender eyeshadow, it kind of reminds me of MAC Stars n' Rockets except this is matte. As with all MUFE's eyeshadows, it's insanely pigmented, cheaper and bigger than most other eyeshadows by other brands. I love to combine this with MAC Bitter or any other chartreuse colour, or use it with a white and a dark violet eyeshadow like MUFE 92 and create a wonderful purple smokey eye.
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Blush -MAC - Sheertone Blush in Peaches
paneradfisk 8/16/2012 10:45:00 PM
This is my favourite blush ever. I always used cool and pink blushes and thought they looked okay on me, and just thought that was the best I could achieve - until I tried Peaches on and was amazed by how it made me look so much better! Much more awake, healthy and glowy looking. It's the most beautiful, natural looking matte, warm peachy-coral - not even a hint of pink, which makes this the perfect blush for all warm skin tones. Another blush I love is Peachtwist which is similar but with shimmer.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Sleek - i-Divine Acid Palette
paneradfisk 8/3/2012 7:25:00 PM
(PRESS CONTINUED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE REVIEW TO SEE SWATCHES OVER UDPP AND NYX MILK JUMBO PENCIL, PHOTO TAKEN WITH FLASH)
This palette is made of matte, black plastic. The palette itself isn't particularly big, it's 13 cm x 7 cm, which is about 5 inches x 3 inches. It is really hard the open. At least the lid isn't loose.
There are 12 eyeshadows, and the size of the eyeshadows is 1.1 g, which is 0.03 oz - it may not seem like alot, but considering the low price of this (12 dollars) it's totally worth it. Also, I can't remember the last time I even hit pan on any eyeshadow. I can't see myself breaking them, because they are placed pretty deep in the palette.
Review of eyeshadows, from the left
FIRST ROW:
1. A matte, neon, lime green. It's a bit chalky but with NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk it really pops.
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2. A very shimmery blue. Buttery texture and much easier to work with than the neon mattes. Works great without primer as well, good colour payoff.
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3. A very shimmery dark blue. Buttery texture, easy to work with, good colour payoff. Dupe for MAC - Deep truth.
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4. A matte, somewhat dark, green. Works best with primer. Dupe for MAC - Velvet moss.
SECOND ROW:
5. A matte, neon orange. Best colour payoff of all the neons in this palette. It's a bit chalky but with NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk it really pops. Dupe for MAC - Genuine Orange pigment.
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6. Matte black. There are better blacks on the market but this one is actually much better than MAC - Carbon.
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7. A shimmery, kind of dark silver. Buttery texture, nice to work with. Good colour payoff. Dupe for Urban Decay - Gunmetal.
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8. A warm, matte purple, kind of like a dark magenta. I like this colour most of all in this palette. Good colour payoff, but of course it's best over a primer.
THIRD ROW:
9. A matte, neon yellow that is more chartreuse than yellow. Can I call it a cold yellow? This performs like the other neons, best over NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk.
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10. Bright pink. Good colour payoff, performs best over a primer. Dupe for Sugarpill - Dollypop.
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11. Matte white. This one is a disappointment. Barely shows up.
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12. A cool based dark purple. Decent colour payoff, best over a primer. Dupe for MUFE 92 or Sugarpill - Poision Plum, though Poision Plum has a little shimmer in it, and both the MUFE and Sugarpill are of better quality.
Overall, these wear for a long time, they don't crease and they are very good for the low price!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -MAC - Pro Palette Large (Magnetic)
paneradfisk 8/2/2012 10:54:00 PM
I'm on the fence about this.
So this palette holds 15 eyeshadows. The colour of it is like dark grey plastic with very subtle shimmer - like asphalt, and it says M'A'C on the top. It's easy to open and close, while the lid is not loose or floppy. It's sleek and minimalistic and feels professional. Easy to clean too, water doesn't damage it.
What I don't like is the divider. Between each eyeshadow there is 1 cm (0.4'') of plastic, and personally I think that's just wasting space that could have been used for fitting more eyeshadows in the palette. Actually, there are guides on how to remove the divider from the palette so you can fit up to 21 eyeshadows in each palette.
Another thing I don't like is that when you have put your eyeshadow in the palette, it's hard to get them out again. Every time I want to move or take an eyeshadow out, I'm afraid to damage the eyeshadow itself, trying to bend it up. I actually have to take a bobby pin and try to get it down next to the shadow and bend it up - I have broken many eyeshadows this way.
Also, you have to mark it yourself if you have many eyeshadows or blushes. I have marked mine neutral, green/yellow/blue/pink and blush, as there is no other way to tell besides opening the palette.
Other than that, I will repurchase this palette as I love MAC eyeshadows and I like putting them in a MAC palette.
3/5 because of the wasted space in the palette and the problems trying to move eyeshadows.
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Liquid -Illamasqua - Rich Liquid foundation
paneradfisk 7/30/2012 9:37:00 PM
This foundation comes in a plastic tube and a black screw cap, and it has a small pipe making it easy to get the right amount, which is a surprisingly small amount as it is very full coverage. This is also very thick for being a liquid, similar to a somewhat thick body lotion. I find this hard to work with due to the thickness and the fact that it dries very quickly. My advice is to try a damp sponge or a buffing brush and work one area of the face at a time to get the best results. Once on the face it dries to a matte finish that accentatues every flaw, and you will notice dry patches that you did not even know you had. It also feels very heavy and thick. I don't recommend using a powder over this due to the already very matte and dry finish. The colours are one of the good things, as it has some very dark and some very fair shades, even a white shade. I got this in white to blend in to other foundations, which it works very good for. I also got this in RF 115, which is very much paler and less yellow than NC15. This also smells strongly of vanilla which can give some people headaches. Gave me acne too. SUMMARY: - Accentuates even the tiniest flaws and all dry patches, making you look flakey, cakey and dry. Matte finish. Powder makes it worse. - Comes in a minimalistic plastic tube. Easy to get the right amount with the small pipe. - Best application with a buffing brush or damp sponge. - Dries fast on your face. - Consistency similar to a thick body lotion. - Very full coverage and very thick consistency for being a liquid. - Best used as a concealer for spots or under eyes, NOT the whole face. - Very good for making other foundations paler without losing the coverage. - Palest shade except white is very much paler than NC15. For reference I would say NC05. - 30 ml or 1 oz. - Many shades for very pale and very dark people. Also comes in white. - Smells strongly of vanilla, similar to MAC lipsticks. 2/5 because it can work as a concealer, it has a good shade range and a good bottle.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman - Stippling Brush
paneradfisk 7/29/2012 6:27:00 PM
If you like MAC 130 then you will like this, maybe even more, and it's about the same size but a -little- less dense. Good stippling brush for the price, but there are better alternatives if you have the money. Keep in mind though that I don't like MAC 130 any more than this.
The bristles are a little scratchy and the brush is, in my opinion, too dense to apply foundation, as it makes my foundation streak if I'm not careful. For cream blush/highlighter it works better on me but for this I prefer my fingers or my MAC 168. Also, I find it kind of rubs off and rubs around the foundation because of it being densely packed.
This works best for the purpose of applying cream products, but also for sheer application of powder blush and highlighter.
The pros are, for me, basically that it doesn't shed, is cruelty free, doesn't cost much. The cons are that it doesn't do the job as good as my MAC 187.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics - Concealer
paneradfisk 7/28/2012 6:23:00 PM
EDIT 2013-03-26: My acne scars have faded alot and I now have very little discolouration, and a little redness. I no longer use this every day, but still reach for it if I get a pimple. I now use MAC Pro Longwear Concealer.
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This is by far the best concealer I have ever used. Having very visible, red acne scars, dry skin AND being paler than most, this is very impressive.
It comes in a clear, plastic screw-top jar and the concealer is a solid concealer which is creamy to the touch, not dry at all but still not creamy enough to slide around, almost like hard, cold butter that melts when you touch it with your finger. I think it would be good for oily skin as well.
On me this never feels heavy and it never looks cakey, obvious or dry and it works both on the face and under your eyes. It's easy to work with and is easily blended with your fingers, though I don't recommend dipping your finger in jars as it can spread bacteria. If you want to cover spots I recommend either fingers or a small, precise brush.
The coverage is amazing and will cover most blemishes and dark circles. The coverage is about the same as MAC Studio Finish concealer just that this OCC concealer looks less dry/cakey, is easier to work with AND is 100% vegan and cruelty free.
The colour I'm using is Y0, the palest yellow shade. There are also colours with cool tones. I am NARS foundations - shade Siberia, Bobbi Brown foundations - shade Alabaster and Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24h - shade 005, and MAC - NC05 or NC10 if they had those shades.
Will definitely buy again
Here are some swatches by Temptalia; http://www.temptalia.com/occ-skin-conceal-concealer-review-photos-swatches
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Aquadisiac
paneradfisk 6/23/2012 4:09:00 PM
I do NOT believe my eyes when I read all these good reviews.
This eyeshadow is gritty, not smooth at all, and the colour payoff is HORRIBLE. Truly horrible. I have to SCRAPE this eyeshadow with my nail to get any pigment out - even then it looks awful.
I have uploaded a picture in this gallery to show you how it looks after digging, scraping, and managing to put 5 layers of this eyeshadow over Urban Decay Primer Potion.
Better alternatives are MAC Steamy (more metallic, darker), MAC Surf Baby (darker).
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