Tools -Sephora - Sephora Collection purple heated eyelash curler
sizza911 8/19/2012 2:02:00 PM
A complete disappointment! I was really looking forward to this too as I'm always in search of a lash curler that works for me. My local Sephora didn't carry it, so I was excited to find it while vacationing in New Orleans. I wish I was still there to take it back! I have a hard time maneuvering my lashes in there and then find it difficult to close the lever on my lashes to get enough pressure so that the heat reaches them. I think a re-design is needed, the closing lever needs to be on the outside of the curler not the side that is closest to your cheek. It is nearly impossible to get my fingers on the lever when the curler is positioned properly on my lashes and when I do, it takes too much pressure to close the lever. When heated, the pad turns from pink to clear, but when I put my finger on it I barely feel any heat whatsoever, it doesn't get hot enough to work. What a piece of junk! I get much better results from a $1 ELF curler heated with my blow dryer. Lesson learned.
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Fragrances -Bulgari - Mon Jasmin Noir
sizza911 8/19/2012 11:11:00 AM
I always choose the fragrance samples when I order from Sephora. Last year I picked Mon Jasmin Noir as one of my freebies. I was hooked. I used up the whole sample vial within a week and then ordered the smallest bottle that Sephora offered. I used that one up and am now on my second larger bottle. I get so many compliments on this fragrance when I wear it. Unlike some other reviews, I think it lasts pretty well on my skin. IMO, it's a heavier, more dramatic fragrance, so I usually wear this in the evening. Very nice and unique, I don't think I've smelled anything like this to compare it to. Pretty bottle too. It's one of my top two favorites right now.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Orly - Nail Polish - Red Flare
sizza911 8/19/2012 9:09:00 AM
This color has been around for a while in Orly's lineup. It's saturated blue based creme red. The more Orly polishes I buy, the more I'm convinced they are my favorite brand. They always go on smoothly, cover well and last. I've got Red Flare on my nails right now. It's a sexy bombshell red that dries to a glossy patent leather finish. It reminds me of a shiny, red Italian sportscar on my nails. It's a classic, beautiful intense red and worth a spot in any woman's collection as a staple color.
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Mascara -Shiseido - Majolica Majorca Lash Gorgeous Wing
sizza911 8/18/2012 2:38:00 PM
This product is not sold in stores in the US (perhaps in Asian super- markets, I haven't checked) I ordered it off of Ebay from a vendor in Hong Kong on a whim and it arrived today. First off, I think it is perhaps old, the formula was a bit dry- but that's OK, I like my mascaras to dry out a bit, they are too clumpy when new and wet. I wasn't wearing any makeup when my package arrived so I tried it out on my bare lashes without curling like I usually do. I must curl my lashes as they stick straight out and I have to wear waterproof mascaras to keep my lashes curled, non-waterproof formulas make them lay flat despite curling. I was very pleasantly surprised when this mascara not only lengthened, but curled my lashes without using any kind of lash curler beforehand. It added a nice length to them with a curled flare at the outer corners (hence the name I suppose) Later, I removed it to shower and re-do my makeup . Removal is somewhat of a pain-- it has some serious staying power, but I got the job done with waterproof mascara remover. I used this as a base mascara after curling with my Lancome curler and then topped it with my Maybelline Falsies waterproof. WOW-- the two together made long, thick, flirty lashes that almost looked like false lashes. Very nice. I'll have to see about this one over a period of time to see if I will re-order, perhaps another Majolica Majorca product, but so far, a hit for an on a whim purchase.
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Makeup Brushes -Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman - Blush Brush
sizza911 8/18/2012 11:01:00 AM
In general, I really like the Real Techniques brushes. They are a great quality, really full and plush. IMO this brush is just a little too large to use if you want to get just under the cheekbones for contour. I have to use a smaller angled blush brush (My el-cheapo from ELF works great for this) if I am trying to contour. This brush is great however if you are trying to get a nice subtle wash of color over the cheekbones and onto the apples of the cheeks.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Douceur
sizza911 8/18/2012 10:53:00 AM
Love, love, love Douceur!! I ordered this blush without seeing it in person from Sephora. When the box arrived, I opened it my kitchen with its fluorescent lights and my first thoughts were YUCK! It looked muddy brown like the dust my husband tracks in on his boots. I was thinking that this one was going straight back to Sephora. I'm so glad I decided to give it a try first. Gorgeous! It certainly doesn't look muddy on my skin. Unlike their other colors, it's a pretty sheer blush for Nars, I find that I need lot more to get the desired amount of color on my cheeks, but at least I don't have to worry about over-doing it with one swipe like my Sin blush from Nars. It is a great contour color and looks better IMO to use than my Too Faced bronzer with a light hand. This is the only Nars blush that I'm seeing a dent in so far because it takes more to show up. I've never encountered this color in another line. I'll definately re-purchase when I'm done.
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Blush -NARS - Sin
sizza911 8/18/2012 10:33:00 AM
As mentioned before-- use a light hand with this one, especially if you are fair skinned. I overdid it the first time and since Nars lasts and lasts, I really had to wipe with a towel to remove it, and then I'd removed my foundation too. That out of the way, Sin is a beautiful color on me, puplish, brownish, plum with a hint of shimmer. I have Nars Douceur and in the Sephora store lighting, these two blushes looked kind of similar. That's the only similarity though. Douceur is browner, matte and pretty sheer, a buildable color and great for contour. Sin is a very pigmented color, just a little goes a long way so I don't see myself hitting pan on this one for a loooong time. I love the petite Nars packaging, it is slim and fits well into my makeup bag, luckily a little goes a long way because at $27 apiece, Nars blushes are pretty expensive. I have a couple of Tarte blushes which are also highly rated (and pricey!) and a MAC color, but I find myself reaching for the Nars most of the time.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Moth Brown
sizza911 8/17/2012 6:52:00 PM
Finally it's back! I'd read so much about Mothbrown, I just had to get some when I saw it being reissued for a limited time. I must say, it certainly lives up to the hype! It's a lovely purplish-grey taupe on me. I was worried that it would look too much like SatinTaupe or Sable, both of which I already own, but this shadow is distinctly more purple and cooler than Satin Taupe and Sable. Side by side I see much more brown in Satin Taupe and much more red in Sable. They are very different on the eye although the texture and shimmer of the three is pretty similar. I wore it today with Urban Decay's Sellout with MAC Girlie washed over it on the lid and Moth Brown in the crease blended up with Mylar under the brow and blended in. UD has a grey purple eye pencil called Empire that I lined upper and lower lid with. When I went into the natural lighting in my bathroom-- wow! It really made my eyes stand out. Very pretty, I'm glad I sprang for it. I do wish MAC offered it in the pan refill. I had to de-pot it and attach a magnet to put in in my MAC palette,
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Hawaiian Orchid
sizza911 8/12/2012 8:19:00 PM
This color is just--OK. It's not bad, but considering how many pink nail polishes there are out there, I was expecting a little more from OPI. I saw flashes of irredescence in the bottle under store lighting and if this polish contained more I would be in love with it. I see a little bit of shimmer under bright sunlight but that's about. I have pink undertones in my skin, I'm very fair (NW15) in MAC and this polish just sort of disappears on my nails. I needed 3 coats to be opaque. It's a nice subtle color that is good for work for me but I won't be reaching for it when I want a pretty color to wear for a night out
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Grain
sizza911 8/7/2012 9:09:00 PM
I just had to give MAC Grain some love. It doesn't look like much in the pan, sort of a ho-hum kind of beigy color. But, when you sweep Grain on- WOW. It's gorgeous. Not too sparkly or frosty, but a nice subtle shimmer that brightens without screaming disco ball. My favorite look is to pair Grain with Satin Taupe in the crease and a light sweep of Mylar just under the brow bone along with a light line of Sephora's Taupe waterproof eyeliner on upper and lower lash lines. A very nice look that isn't too overpowering for daytime. I'm already making a dent in my pan and I haven't even had it a month. Love it!
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Blush -Maybelline - fit me blush/medium pink
sizza911 8/7/2012 8:55:00 PM
I am very fair skinned and normally it will take me a year to hit pan on a blush. With this stuff, I hit the pan in about a month. I had to pack on the blush to get it to show up and then it didn't last. What a disappointing product from Maybelline who normally makes a pretty decent line of drugstore makeup. Once I saw the bottom of this blush it hit the garbage can immediately. What a shame too because it was such a pretty color in the package.
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Eyeliner -MAC - Chromagraphic Pencil NC15/NW20
sizza911 8/6/2012 8:35:00 PM
I'd read all kinds of rave reviews of this pencil and had looked at purchasing one at the online MAC site. I was shopping at a Tanger Outlet cosmetic store (don't remember which one) and low and behold there was the chromographic pencil on sale for $5. I picked one up and I'm still trying to figure out the best way to use it. It doesn't last around my lips when I tried to use it to block out some freckles at my lipline on the right side of my mouth. It looks a little strange on my waterline too, it doesn't make my eyes look larger- just strange, but I have really large eyes anyway and typically like to wear black on my waterline for an accent. I guess the best use I have for this pencil right now is a spot concealer for pimples,and for that it's OK, but I have lots of concealer sticks that also work OK. I'm glad I only paid $5 for this.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Body -Johnson & Johnson - Baby Oil
sizza911 8/5/2012 1:34:00 PM
I have been using baby oil as a makeup remover since attending a slumber party as a teen. My friend pulled this out to remove all the eye makeup we'd been experimenting with. Every trace of mascara, eyeliner and eyeshadow disappeared without a speck left over and my skin felt soft and smooth. What a revelation! I have been using it ever since. A 14oz bottle is about $3 and lasts me a year. I wear waterproof mascara, and have never found any remover that works as well or as quickly as baby oil. At night it has the added benefit of moisturizing around my eyes now that I am in my 40's. I don't use it as remover if I am planning on re-applying makeup within a couple of hours though as the residue can mess up my re-application. I keep oil free remover handy for those occasions.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -L'Oreal - Youth Code Day Lotion Spf 30
sizza911 8/5/2012 1:05:00 PM
Yuk! This stuff stinks. It is SPF 30 and just smells like suntan lotion. I hate wearing sunscreen and especially hate the smell of sunscreen, but consider it a necessary evil when I'm outdoors. In general, I think it's a pretty good idea to have some mild sun protection in cosmetic products and think a SPF 15 is adequate for most people in their day to day activities. If I am going to be outside for any length of time, I will apply a higher SPF to my face. Stink factor aside, I would have a more favorable opinion if the stuff actually provided some moisturizing. I have used this twice and within 30 minutes my face felt tight and dry like I hadn't applied any moisture whatsoever. I'll go back to my old favorite Olay Regererist serum as soon as I can re-purchase. The L'Oreal will unfortunately sit in my medicine cabinet gathering dust. I perhaps can use it as a sunscreen when I mow the grass or attend my son's soccer game, but it's a big fat NO for daily use.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Veluxe - Kid
sizza911 8/3/2012 6:41:00 PM
I like Kid I guess. It really isn't the greatest fit for my skin tone but I just wanted to post a suggestion-- you don't need Kid and Soft Brown in your MAC eyeshadow collection. On my fair skin they are almost indentical. I saw swatches posted that made them look different but honestly, they aren't different enough to justify having both. Just my 2 cents.
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