Highlighters -BeneFit Cosmetics - Moon Beam
xbabe82517 8/20/2011 2:30:00 PM
This was an impulse buy for me and it's become an HG product for me! I'm lucky enough to have clear, smooth skin with very slightly noticeable pores on my cheeks. I don't wear foundation all over my face, only where I want to even my complexion a little so I only apply foundation to my cheeks and nose - and it's only ever a very small amount. So instead I mix this with my moisturiser for a subtle all-over glow. Then just before I apply blush and bronzer, I apply a little extra to the apples of my cheeks (I don't have cheekbones, as such!), to my forehead, nose and chin. I blend out to ensure it's not shimmer overkill, then apply concealer and then blush and bronzer. I end up with the most perfect, glowing finish! This product also seems to have a slightly mattifying effect on me, and whilst I've never suffered with oily skin, I have noticed that I don't get as much shine on my nose and cheeks when wearing this. Also, this makes my blush - BeneFit Coralista - look even more awesome! It brings out the pink tones of Coralista and also makes it appear smoother. The bronzer I use is Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Bronze, and Moonbeam also makes this look even better! I couldn't live without this product now and will always repurchase, regardless of the price. I much prefer the subtle pinky glow than the usual gold shimmer you get with highlighting products. Despite this having a pink glow, it compliments my medium yellow-toned skin perfectly. I will continue to wear this through winter to make my skin look dewy and fresh. Love it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Maybelline - Dream Matte Mousse
xbabe82517 7/31/2011 1:21:00 PM
I'm quite surprised at the negative reviews on this product, although I'm guessing that the majority of people who use this foundation use it on their entire face, as it's designed to be used. However, I only use foundation sparingly - on my cheeks and nose only - as I'm lucky enough to have good skin and I don't need to use it everywhere. For the small amount I use, I find this foundation is great. It evens out my skin tone and hides my pores, although they're not hugely noticeable to start with but there is a noticeable difference when I've used this stuff. The colour range is great and I much prefer the glass pot than a pump tube and given the small amount I use, this stuff lasts me absolutely ages. I can see why the texture would not be suitable for those with dry skin and I do have to be careful about application myself during the winter months as my skin does tend to be dry in colder weather but I moisturise morning and night and don't seem to have a problem. Applying this foundation onto skin that hasn't been moisturised is a big no though! Overall, given the price and the amount you get, I can't really find fault with this product. I can't compare it to any high-end foundations though as I've never spent a lot of money on foundation, given that I already have good skin. All of my other make-up is high-end but foundation is where I save pennies so I can still buy those Chanel lip glosses!
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Eye Shadow -Guerlain - Ombre Eclat Mono - L'Instant Fauve
xbabe82517 6/26/2011 4:37:00 PM
I'm wondering if the reviewer below got a different product to me or perhaps they just don't mind the things that I hated about this eyeshadow! The colour in itself is lovely. That's all I can say. However, it is NOT infused with gold shimmer. It's more of a silver shimmer. The texture is difficult to work with and the fall-out is HORRENDOUS! This stuff leaves little flecks of shimmer everywhere. I had it on my forehead, my chin and seriously bad all over my cheeks. The fall-out was a lot worse than, say, an Urban Decay glitter eyeshadow because the flecks were a lot smaller and just would not budge. This is the ONLY eyeshadow I've ever had where I gave up after applying it and removed it. I then started all over again with one of my faithful Urban Decay (non-glittery!) shadows. And then I threw this in the bin in anger. No point returning it for me, the travel costs to get where I bought it from would defy the whole point and eBay now have a policy of not allowing used cosmetics to be sold. So in the trash it went. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I would never touch it again. This was my first Guerlain eyeshadow and it will definitely be my last. I was unfortunately seduced by the tester shadow in Debenhams, and it did indeed look great on the back of my hand. The shop assistant then convinced me to purchase and I really wish I'd ignored her because I was about to leave it, owing to the huge price tag, and go for an Urban Decay or Mac shadow but ended up getting talked into it. Never again! If you don't mind fall-out and you're not too bothered about texture - this wasn't the best to blend and didn't have the velvety, buttery texture of my Urban Decay and Mac shadows - then this is probably a very pretty colour for warm-toned brunettes like myself. But I don't want to look like a disco ball. I was extremely disappointed in this shadow. The two lippies I'm giving are for the colour alone and the quality of the packaging and the lovely little applicator you get with it - which I have kept!
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Woodwinked - veluxe pearl
xbabe82517 6/12/2011 1:55:00 PM
I have developed a serious love affair with Woodwinked! And...this eyeshadow is orange on me and does look different to the shade in the pan but I still adore it! My skin is quite pale but warm-toned and I tan very easily. I have hazel eyes and dark brown hair. This shade compliments me beautifully BUT...I never wear it alone. I use this shade on the whole lid, then I use Bobbi Brown After Hours in the crease. And I don't just use After Hours in the outer crease, I smudge it in the whole crease and darken it even more at the outer V. This gives my eyes wonderful depth, although it may not work for everyone. I have noticeable double eyelids so the Woodwinked on my lid remains very noticeable even with After Hours in the whole of my crease. I then use Mac Rose Blanc on the inner corner, I line my lower lashes with Woodwinked and then a very tiny bit of After Hours in the far corner of the lower lash line, highlight under my brows with Rose Blanc and I've got my perfect everyday golden look! Using After Hours completely eliminates the orange tones in Woodwinked and makes it a perfect shade for me. If I want to vamp up the gold on my eyes, I'll add a little bit of Urban Decay Half Baked in the middle of my lid as this is a lighter, even more metallic version of Woodwinked and really makes my eyes pop. I do agree with other reviewers that this shade can look too orange and my advice would be to use other darker brown shadows with it and just mess around until you can get it to work for you. It's such a gorgeous shade once you find the perfect combination and I've found myself using this shadow at least three times a week since I bought it a few weeks ago. Will definitely repurchase!
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Blush -BeneFit Cosmetics - Coralista
xbabe82517 5/30/2011 1:03:00 PM
I have become a massive fan of BeneFit boxed powders and I would now choose them any day over any other brand - and I own quite a few brands from Chanel and Nars to Urban Decay and Body Shop. Until purchasing Coralista, I was a fan of Nars Orgasm blush but it was never quite perfect for me. Orgasm is a stunning colour but I wanted that same shade...but less strong. I'd known Coralista had been around for ages but had never really considered it. And then during a shopping trip to Selfridges, I found myself at the BeneFit counter and I swatched it...and I adored it straight away. I bought it and never looked back. I own both Nars Orgasm and Deep Throat and neither have seen the light of day since I bought Coralista! The thing I adore about the BeneFit boxed powders is their blendability. They're the only blushes I own where it is pretty much impossible to overdo them. They're incredibly buildable, yet I never end up with any harsh lines. Coralista is probably my favourite - the perfect shade of pinky-peach with just enough shimmer. The shimmer is much finer than the shimmer in Nars Orgasm as well, which can almost look glittery if you overdo it. I have since purchased Bella Bamba and SugarBomb and neither have disappointed me and have the same qualities as Coralista, although I think Coralista will always be my ultimate fave!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -NARS - Orgasm
xbabe82517 5/2/2011 12:07:00 PM
I own both this and the Super Orgasm lip gloss and I must say I prefer Super Orgasm - both for colour, texture and ease of use. Firstly, I'd like to say that this colour is very flattering but I'm not sure if it's as universally flattering as the Orgasm blush. I have medium skin with yellow undertones and I usually wear gold-toned taupes and bronzes on my eyes with a warm-toned pink or apricot blush. With those shades, this lip gloss looks awesome. It really brightens my face and looks very 'polished'. However, it is not the easiest to apply. I've found that this particular lip gloss is very drying in comparison to Super Orgasm and I need to apply a lip balm first before applying this or my lips will become dry and not very nice to look at. This gloss seems to apply unevenly at first and I really need to spread the gloss out with the wand before I achieve the desired result. But then there's a fine balance you need to strike - apply too much of this gloss and you get too much gold shimmer, which can result in the washed-out look others have mentioned. With Super Orgasm, I also apply on top of a balm but the gloss doesn't require any work to look good, it just looks great with minimal effort. This gloss is more peach compared to Super Orgasm, and personally, I feel the pinkier tone of the Super Orgasm is more flattering. My lips are quite pigmented and I do look good when wearing this gloss but it doesn't have the 'wow' factor I had hoped it would. Overall, I still much prefer it to some of my other glosses and I think I will be wearing it quite a lot throughout the summer but I doubt I will repurchase as it's a lot of money to part with for a gloss that doesn't live up to expectations.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Hugo Boss - Boss Orange by Hugo Boss
xbabe82517 5/1/2011 2:49:00 PM
I've owned this perfume about a month now and it's become a firm favourite for summer! I desperately wanted a new summer scent as I was using either Chanel 'Coco Mademoiselle' or Lancome 'Miracle Intense' and neither felt right for summer. I fell in love with this fragrance the first time I sprayed it and couldn't understand why I had never tested it before! It's not exactly a new fragrance but for some reason it had never caught my eye...or nose! I was initially drawn to the scent of the men's version and I loved it so I tested the women's...and that was it. I bought a 30ml bottle (I always buy small bottles so I can carry them in my bag) and I've used it almost every day since. The initial spray is floral and citrus and quite fresh but it soon settles to a lovely, comforting and warm scent. The even better thing is that the staying power is very good on me and I can still smell it at the end of the day. Sometimes I spray again at lunchtime if I feel it's needed but not always. However, I do spray my clothes as well as skin so this could have something to do with the staying power. Either way, I adore this scent and I know it's definitely my HG scent for this summer at least. I'm going abroad in July and I think it will be the only scent I will take with me. The dry-down is very sexy, creamy and warm and will be delicious for warm evenings out!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -BeneFit Cosmetics - Bella Bamba
xbabe82517 4/25/2011 4:00:00 PM
This blush is amazing and everything I always wanted Nars Orgasm to be! Don't get me wrong, I adore Orgasm. But it can be tricky to work with, the texture isn't the best and it's very easy to end up overdoing it. Benefit Bella Bamba is actually the most perfect peachy-pink I have ever used. The gold shimmer is more subtle and less sparkly than Orgasm and it's a lot more blendable. The overall finish is a beautiful peachy-pink flush, which is more pink than peach, and a light, delicate golden shimmer over the cheeks. I'd say Orgasm is more peach than pink, so I don't regret owning both. But if both ran out at the same time, it's Bella Bamba I'd re-purchase first! The one thing that lets Benefit down is its packaging. They are cute, yes. But they don't last long, very quickly can look battered if you carry them around (which I do), and they're not the best for dipping your brush in, unless you do actually use the horrible brush that comes with it. I use a Mac 116 brush which is quite small and contoured. The design of the Benefit boxed blushes is really not the best for those of us who want to use a separate brush. I much prefer the Nars packaging, which just screams quality. But that's one thing I'll just have to live with because Bella Bamba has become my favourite ever peachy-pink blush and I will continue to use it all through summer. Not sure if it'll be as great for winter but I am absolutely loving it right now!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Deep Throat
xbabe82517 4/16/2011 3:14:00 PM
I own both Orgasm and Deep Throat, despite some believing them to be very similar, and I think I slightly prefer Deep Throat...but only because it is more wearable and slightly more natural. I bought Orgasm months ago and pretty much wore it every day - I've even hit pan in a few places. But then I decided I fancied a change from Orgasm and my other blush, Mac Mineralize in 'Gentle'. I settled on Deep Throat, even though I knew I was taking a risk that it might be too similar to Orgasm. However, these blushes are very different - in my opinion. Orgasm is a deeper pink with only a slight peach hue to it, and bags of gold shimmer. Deep Throat is a gentle peach with a pink hue to it and only a very slight shimmer. The shimmer is only noticeable when first applied and seems to disappear throughout the day. With Orgasm, the oils on my face would only increase the shimmer effect through the day and by the end of some days, I would feel like I was a little too shimmery. Having very smooth, almost flawless skin, this was never much of an issue for me but I'm sure this would bother some, especially those with blemishes, spots or visible pores. With Deep Throat, the colour does seem to get a little stronger through the day but this isn't a big deal to me. When applied, it looks to be a very gentle shade of peachy-pink but it tends to look more peach as the day goes on. Nevertheless, it is very flattering at all times of the day and doesn't have the tendency to look as clown-like as Orgasm sometimes does, especially when applied more heavily. The shimmer is very subtle and more silvery, whereas Orgasm has a very noticeable gold shimmer. Overall, I would say that Deep Throat is possibly the more flattering of the two. Both are gorgeous but I do prefer Deep Throat. I will still wear Orgasm but probably more for a night out or on holiday when my face naturally has more colour. This review seems to be more of a Deep Throat / Orgasm comparison but I feel this is sometimes necessary when two products are constantly compared to each other. I believe there is enough difference between the two to own both, and both are exceptionally flattering for all skintones. I would say Deep Throat is one to go for if you're not one for bright blush shades or if you just want a subtle flush. And if you're not a fan of shimmer, definitely avoid Orgasm and go for Deep Throat.
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Escada - Taj Sunset
xbabe82517 3/27/2011 4:07:00 PM
This review is going to be at odds with all the others so far...but I really didn't like this! I bought this without even sampling it first as they had no tester in store, but as I have liked a few previous LE Escada summer fragrances and this one had rave reviews, I decided to go ahead and purchase anyway. Got it home and was so disappointed! The scent is exceptionally artificial, cheap and nasty. It doesn't develop at all. This scent is supposed to have a coconut base note but I don't detect anything except the mangoes and blood oranges. The scent is very fruity and fresh but it has no dry-down and smells almost identical to The Body Shop Mango body butter...in fact, I think the body butter smells a bit better! This scent is very sweet, far too sweet and not in the slightest bit sophisticated...but then I guess I am expecting far too much from an Escada scent. My usual scents are Chanel 'Coco Mademoiselle', Jean Paul Gaultier 'Classique', Armani 'Idole', and Lancome 'Miracle Intense'. All seriously classy scents, but all rather strong and sensual. I decided I wanted something a bit lighter and fresher for summer...but this just smells cheap and nasty to me. If I smelled this on someone, it would actually make me step back. If the fruity top notes settled into something softer, warmer and muskier like some of the other Escada scents do (I own 'Sunset Heat' and 'Pacific Paradise') then I'd give it a chance. But I bought this perfume today and tonight it's already on eBay.
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Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Toasted
xbabe82517 3/18/2011 8:39:00 AM
Absolutely gorgeous eyeshadow! Perfect for hazel eyes but I can see how it would suit most eye colours. I've given this a rating of 3 for cost as it can be picked up quite cheaply on eBay (I paid £4) but these shadows are slightly on the expensive side at full retail price but there are bargains to be found! On me (fair to medium skin with yellow tones) this shows up as a light bronzey-brown with hints of pink. It can sometimes be difficult to find a truly flattering brown shadow for hazel/brown eyes as greens and purples are usually more flattering...however, I'm an absolute lover of all browns, golds, bronzes and taupes and am frequently seduced by many shadows that look fab in the pot but fail to deliver on my eyes. This one, however, is just beautiful. I prefer a little extra definition, even for daytime, so I use this colour all over the lid and then use a little Bobbi Brown 'After Hours' in the crease and it looks incredible. My other favourite bronze/brown shadow is the Stila shadow trio in 'Champagne Glow' but I think the Urban Decay combo with the Bobbi Brown is slightly better because there's less shimmer, less fall-out and more definition. The look just looks more polished. I will always be a shadow junkie but I know I will frequently return to this eyeshadow and will definitely re-purchase.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Giorgio Armani - Idole d'Armani
xbabe82517 3/10/2011 6:16:00 PM
I bought this perfume a week ago having acquired some Boots vouchers through work and decided I'd put them towards a new perfume. I tend to have favourites where scents are concerned and I'm definitely not the type to go for all the latest ones, and definitely not into the most common ones. In fact, I get turned off by a scent if everyone seems to wear it, ie. DKNY 'Be Delicious'! Feels like everyone has that now! Anyway, I spent about an hour in Boots spritzing those little paper sticks and wandering round to see which scent appealed to me most and it came down to this one. I wasn't crazy about it but I needed to spend the vouchers anyway and it was a little different to the oriental florals I usually go for. To give an idea of my usual kind of scents, I tend to fluctuate between Jean Paul Gaultier 'Classique' EDP, Lancome 'Miracle Intense', and Armani 'Diamonds' - all of which are oriental florals. Another one I like is Sean John 'Unforgivable Woman' - again, another oriental floral! I love scents that are warm, creamy and feminine. 'Idole' didn't smell like this, but it did appeal and I fancied something a bit different. So I bought it, not knowing whether it was an oriental floral or not, and off home I went. I spritzed it on myself that evening to see how I smelled and I have to admit that I started to wonder if I'd made a huge mistake! It smelled quite masculine and fresh, and whilst I'd wanted something different, I didn't want that! So, quite disappointed, I went to bed and decided to wear it the next day to see how it went and then would sell on eBay if it still did nothing for me. Well, the next day was a different story and I can only think it was because I sprayed it on fresh skin (after my shower) which hadn't been already tainted with another scent (I had sprayed it on top of 'Miracle Intense' the night before). And as the day wore on, I fell more and more in love with it. And this scent is quite unique in that it manages to combine freshness with warmth and spiciness. It's a combination that's divine to me and definitely a fabulous scent for Spring and Summer. It isn't as creamy as my usual orientals but I have grown to love it and now I'm so glad I gave it a second chance! I don't think it will become my holy grail scent (I think JPG 'Classique' has the edge there), but it will definitely get used frequently. On me, the lasting power is pretty good. I can still smell it on myself at the end of the day having sprayed it at 8am that morning. And the warmer I am, the better it smells, which is why I think this will be a perfect scent for warm weather. The bottle isn't the most interesting but I do like it - it's simple and classy and a perfect size (35ml) for a handbag. I never buy the larger sizes as I've never (to this day!) got through an entire scent before getting bored! I would definitely recommend this scent to anyone who wants to smell sophisticated, fresh, yet sensual and womanly at the same time. Wouldn't recommend to anyone below the age of 25, this is more of a mature scent, in my opinion.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Orgasm Blush
xbabe82517 2/1/2011 3:00:00 PM
I've had this blush a few months now and I have to say it's become a holy grail blush for me! I'm fair-medium with yellow undertones and this blush looks great on me. I haven't tried it with a tan but I'm sure it will look just as good when I have one. I've always wanted the 'perfect' peachy-pink blush and never quite found what I was looking for. They were either too orange or too pink. I even tried Benefit Coralista but that wasn't quite right either. I finally came across Orgasm in Selfridges and fell in love with the colour in the pan. Taking a chance - but also knowing that my skin suits most blushers anyway - I just bought it and hoped it would live up to the hype. For me, it definitely did! I apply this blush with a Mac 116 brush as I have a heart-shaped face with rounded cheeks and need a smaller brush to create some definition or I just look like a clown! The application is so easy. The blush is very smooth and it's almost impossible to go wrong with it. There is no patchiness at all. I apply the blush with one side of the brush and then use the other side to blend out the edges and I get a perfect finish every time - even on winter mornings when I have to apply my make-up in artificial light! I do love blush and I'm definitely not the type to always use the same one so I'm sure I won't use this every day forever, but I genuinely believe this is a blush I will always be coming back to. One thing I will say, however, is that the gold shimmer makes this a very warm-toned blush. For my skin, it works great. But for certain looks, ie. cool-toned smoky eyes, I don't think it would work that well. I always like to have a cooler-toned pink blush for different looks...which I haven't yet managed to find in Nars. But this blush is amazing for me - well worth every penny!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -NARS - Super Orgasm
xbabe82517 2/1/2011 7:13:00 AM
I got this gloss a week ago...and I've worn it every day since! I'm a bit of a lip gloss junkie and own several Mac Lipglass glosses, Lancome Juicy Tubes, Estee Lauder, YSL...but this particular gloss is by far my favourite ever! On my mid-pigmented lips, it comes across as a bright but sheer pink and the gold sparkles are noticeable enough to be eye-catching but not too in-your-face glitter. It's a very pretty, flattering gloss. I originally went with the intention of buying Nars Pillow Talk as I wanted a fairly pigmented pink shade, so obviously Super Orgasm is a million miles away from Pillow Talk, but as soon as the assistant showed me, I was in love! She swatched it as well and I could see it was sheer but not too sheer to show up. I couldn't justify almost £40 on two lip glosses so I changed my mind and went with Super Orgasm...and I'm so glad I did! As far as the smell goes, yes I can smell it but I am never put off by smells anyway so it's not an issue for me. The texture is just right - about the same as a Mac Lipglass but you need stickiness for staying power. As for the glitter coming off, I haven't found that to be a problem, but then I am always very aware when I am wearing lip gloss and deliberately avoid eating or drinking whilst I'm wearing it. If I wiped my mouth with it on, it would end up all over my face but I just refrain from doing that! I think I bought this lip gloss at the right time because it will be an awesome colour for summer. I just hope I still have enough left for my holiday in June. I will definitely re-purchase!
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Moisturizers -L'Occitane - Shea Butter Ultra Rich Face Cream
xbabe82517 1/31/2011 5:52:00 PM
I absolutely adore this moisturiser! My skin is normal/dry but definitely suffers from dryness in the winter months and with the past two winters being very cold (in the UK), I realised I would have to invest in my skin as it was starting to visibly suffer - dryness, itchy patches, redness and a couple of spots. The odd spot wouldn't usually bother me but coupled with the other problems, I was really starting to hate seeing myself with no make-up! So I finally parted with my £20 (bought from eBay; I believe this is a little pricier at RRP but I would still buy it) and waited for my little pot to arrive, having heard wonderful things about L'Occitane's Shea Butter range. It arrived and, unlike others, I wasn't at all put off by the thick consistency or the scent. I felt like I was really putting some serious moisture back into my skin. (For info, I was previously using Johnson's Daily Moisturiser for dry skin - fine for summer, not enough for winter). Of course, this stuff didn't work miracles overnight and I knew I would have to wait patiently to see results... and slowly, I did. The dryness cleared up, the redness followed and the spots disappeared with no more to follow. Now, at almost the same time, I also switched from using my usual Soap & Glory cleanser to using Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polich cleanser, so I'm almost certain that my skin came good from a combination of using a great moisturiser and a quality cleanser, so I'm not sure if this cream can take all the credit, but there's no doubt about it that this stuff is amazing. I notice it more in the evenings after cleansing. My skin used to appear red and slightly irritated after moisturising but not with this. I look fresh and radiant and my skin feels so comforted. I agree it is thick and very rich, and is probably not suitable for everyone, but I also use it in the mornings and find it fine to wear under make-up. I don't get any more oily during the day with this cream than I did with any other. I think the consistency is very different to many other face creams and strongly suggest that anyone put off by this should definitely persevere with it to get used to it before giving up - the results are well worth it if you have dry/sensitive skin. I will definitely re-purchase!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No