Fragrances -MAC - Hue -Violetrix
swaly 1/5/2006 9:28:00 PM
This is not a badly made scent by any means––like any MAC product, it's a well-constructed fragrance without any hint of cheap or synthetic scent. But, as one of my friends described it, "It smells like my grandmother." It's flowery and overpowering. If you're into more "elderly" smells (to be euphemistic about it), it's very long-lasting and very strong...otherwise, stay away. It's kinda gross.
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Highlighters -Tony & Tina - Cosmic Lights Loose Glitter
swaly 1/2/2006 3:34:00 PM
I have the chakra collection, which you can find cheaply on eBay or in stores. Some colors have a much finer consistency than others, but I prefer the larger cuts as they have more surface area for sticking. The purple, blue and red have the super-fine cut (almost like a powder) while the yellow, white, green and orange have the larger cut. All the colors are beautiful. The fine-cut are straightforward colors while the large-cut are iridescent.
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Highlighters -MAC - Rocking Orange Glitter - Holidazzle 2003
swaly 1/2/2006 3:30:00 PM
More opaque and much more glittery than its fellow Holidazzle release Neon 60's, this glitter is extremely bright. The orange is visible as well as a greenish-yellowish reflect; reminds me a whole lot of Melon pigment in that it goes on orange but reflects green/yellow. Wonderful color.
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Highlighters -MAC - Neon 60s Glitter - Holidazzle 2003
swaly 1/2/2006 3:27:00 PM
Snagged this on eBay––too bad it was LE and can't be found anywhere, as I would recommend this to everyone. It's a gorgeous neon pink that goes on pink and reflects light purple/blue. It's the new finer cut so it sticks better and has incredible sparkle. Subtle enough that I can wear it in the daytime, layered sheerly over a little eyeliner with a bare face and nude lips. Also great for Halloween looks.
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Lipstick -BeneFit Cosmetics - Shangri-la Sheers- Picked up in Paradise [DISCONTINUED]
swaly 1/2/2006 3:22:00 PM
Hate the packaging (it has a ribbon tied to the bottom, which makes storage somewhat awkward and opening difficult), but the formula is amazing (incredible lasting power for such gloss), and the color is so flattering and lovely (deep mauve-y purple-y sheer).
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Lipstick -BeneFit Cosmetics - Shangri-La Sheers- You'll Never-Never Land Me [DISCONTINUED]
swaly 1/2/2006 3:20:00 PM
Great formula (best gloss lipstick formula I've ever tried), and the color is a good balance between bright and sheer. Surprisingly well-pigmented.
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Fragrances -Anna Sui - Sui Love
swaly 1/2/2006 3:10:00 PM
I have a sample of this and I love it! Reminiscent of the fragrance used in Anna Sui cosmetic products (foundation, powders)––sweet, slightly creamy, slightly tart. Difficult to describe. Wouldn't consider this a daily-use kind of perfume, but it's unique enough and tantalizing for occasional use. As to violite's comment––I hope that most people here don't work with or date people who would judge you based on the shape of your perfume bottle!
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Polishes -Anna Sui - Nail Color in 214
swaly 1/2/2006 3:04:00 PM
I love the packaging, but this product doesn't have much else going for it. Color is a clear base with deep purple glitter. Glitter doesn't go on evenly and there isn't enough of it; the finish isn't quite glossy enough. Looks splotchy and unattractive. The idea is fabulous, but the product itself is a disappointment.
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Blush -Anna Sui - Face Color in 300
swaly 1/2/2006 3:00:00 PM
Heavily pigmented dark fuschia-rose color. The lavender powder puff, while cute, is not an appropriate applicator (you'll end up looking like a clown!). Use a sheer-application blush brush. The color is gorgeous and unique. Powder has signature Sui scent.
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Liquid -Anna Sui - Fluid Foundation
swaly 1/2/2006 2:50:00 PM
Bought the "fluid foundation" in shade 04 for $9 off eBay. Was immediately pleasantly surprised by the creamy vanilla scent. Tried it on my skin––at first, appeared to simply "sit" on my skin, making me look ashy and pale, but it quickly sank in, leaving it looking smooth and faintly luminous. It's way too sheer for my tastes, but it's a wonderful color for my Asian skin. The formula is a light, free-running liquid that feels a lot better on my skin than heavier, thicker formulas. Recommended.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Maybelline - Dream Matte Mousse
swaly 12/28/2005 1:20:00 AM
During the first few weeks I had this foundation, I was convinced it was my HG foundation. But little by little I realized that the mousse texture is really just a gimmick––the texture doesn't help application/coverage/blending in any way whatsoever. The air-whipped quality is just a way for manufacturers to sell less product for more money. And the color, though it looked alright enough on my tanned skin, looked positively ORANGE as my tan faded into the winter months! It left my skin feeling––literally; I don't say this lightly––like someone had smeared a handful of margarine over it. Perhaps the texture might work well for orange girls with a bone-dry complexion...but otherwise, this product is NOT for you!
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Palettes -Chanel - Travel Collection
swaly 12/27/2005 10:12:00 PM
The glosses are pretty enough, but the blush-creme thingamabobs are too dry and drag on the skin. This is good only in that it won't make your skin super-greasy, but it's quite difficult to blend, and since both colors are so pigmented, it's easy to end up with blotchy-looking skin. The colors are quite pretty, though, and the four eyeshadows are basic, well-pigmented shades. Nothing too exciting. All in all, you get a decent deal for decent products, but if I hadn't received this as a gift I never would've bought it. I would've gone and gotten some MAC instead :)
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Cleansers -Shu Uemura - Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/O
swaly 12/23/2005 10:36:00 PM
The large (450 ml I think) bottle was $60-$70, duty free, so it's pricey––but definitely worth it! It seems, based on these reviews, that premium a/o oil is a hit-or-miss product for many people...but then again, they may have just used it incorrectly! My mother lent me some (I don't have that kind of money!), and even though I have oily, breakout-prone skin, I trusted her enough to slather oil all over my face. Good choice, me! 1.) My winter flakiness (which comes despite my oiliness, quite an ugly combination)––gone within five minutes. Completely. 2.) Half the blackheads on my large-pored face––gone within five minutes. Completely. (Especially those pernicious ones on my cheeks which are so hard to squeeze, so hard to pore-strip out, generally impossible to remove.) 3.) Skin texture after proper massaging/rinsing...more vibrant, healthy, glowy and generally attractive than I have EVER seen it. I'd say invest in a sample first. Follow the instructions––cover your skin with it, using DRY hands, add very small amounts of water, massage until a creamy white lather forms on the skin. I removed with a facial sponge from Korea––flat and dense––which helped to get the last of the oil residue off my skin. If, even after following the instructions, you find the oil makes you break out rather than miraculously fixing you up, this product is not for you. But for me, it really was an amazing experience. (Sounds cheesy, but it's true!)
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Highlighters -MAC - Glitter - Black
swaly 12/20/2005 10:47:00 PM
This stuff is really only useful for crafts. I've had this glitter for the longest time, keeping it around in hopes that one day I'll find a use for it. In theory, it's really an excellent product for me– I LOVE glitter and black is such a striking color– but in practice, the cut of the glitter is way too large to even stick to nailpolish properly, and on the skin it looks (like others have said) like enormous blackheads. And I wouldn't even feel comfortable wearing this around the eyes, as the huge size looks kind of lethal should it get into your eyes. All in all, it's a good thing this product has been long discontinued. I would love to see it reissued with the new finely milled formula, though...I still love the idea!
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Lipstick -Milani - Sheer Color in Amaretto 01
swaly 12/19/2005 5:42:00 PM
While the formula is quite nice (all of Milani's sheer lipsticks have a rich, non-tacky, creamy consistency with a sheer, shimmery, glossy appearance–– and to top it off, a mild vanilla scent and no flavor!), the color just makes me look like a leathery old Florida granny because of the frosty sheen and pale color. It also accentuates dryness in the lips. All in all, if frosty off-white is what you're looking for, then by all means pick up this cheap find at your local CVS, but the look definitely isn't for me.
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