Palettes -Urban Decay - Naked Basics
reallyrita 2/25/2013 10:52:00 PM
A great matte palette. Highly recommend or "mature eyes". Excellent quality with no sparkles!
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Eye Shadow -Sephora - duo eyeshadow golden kaki # 6
reallyrita 2/20/2013 11:14:00 PM
I have been meaning to review this eyeshadow for some time now. I think I have had it for about 6 months and I reach for it often. It is a generous compact of two matte colors. Although the color is called Golden Kaki, I find the two colors to be in the brown family and very cool toned. This is the newer paraben free formula made in France. I do think that these eyeshadows are under appreciated. You get a lot of product for the money, about $12 for the pan. The packaging is strictly utilitarian, functional but sturdy. Nothing glamorous here or hard to open. This is a very versatile duo. I often use the darker brown for my eyebrows. Even though I am a slightly warm fair olive, I really can't use warm eyeshadows. They make me look as if I have "pink eye." This is, therefore, a real gem for me...it is quite cool and I don't get the "kaki" moniker at all. I don't find this powdery and the pigmentation is good, too. I always use primer under my es's though so I don't know about longevity on its own. I would rebuy if I had to because I lost it or dropped it but I can't see how I am ever going to hit pan on this one.
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Blush -Too Faced - Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush
reallyrita 2/15/2013 2:28:00 PM
I would not buy this product again because there is a lot of blush in the container and I don't think I will ever hit pan, plus I get bored with blushes and always have to look for a new favorite. I gave the packaging only three lippys because, even though it is adorable, it is never going to hold up in a makeup bag and it is too bulky as well. It is gimmicky, I admit, but it is still really cute. I bought it on impulse. The three little colors swirl together very nicely but the color payoff is very soft. It is kind of a no-brainer blush. With few exceptions, these three colors work together no matter what your color scheme might be. It is easy to just grab it, swirl and swipe. I like the subdued and natural looking glow it gives my cheeks. I am an NC20 and it shows up well on me but I think the soft pigmentation might be a problem for anyone past the NC or NW20 mark. This is not a soft, powdery blush. It looks like it is a baked product but I am not so sure that it really is. This makes the blush a bit dry and the brush does not grab up a lot of color. I swipe very gently because I don't like bright cheeks at all. Works for me, it is cute, the colors work well together but again, I say: it is gimmicky. Maybe I should have saved my money for a really high end blush.
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Makeup Brushes -Everyday Minerals - Eye Kabuki Brush
reallyrita 1/8/2013 3:32:00 PM
I have two of these brushes and I wish I had at least one more. I use them for all over lid shadow to brow bone, and I use them for mineral concealer products. I have several beloved Southern Magnolia Minerals concealers that work perfectly with this little, dense brush. I use it with Well Rested all around my eye area and it applies just the right amount of powder without any bristle irritation. It is really soft. Cleans well and does not take forever to dry. I have a ton of brushes from a number of companies. These are the brushes I reach for every day. Very versatile and well priced.
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Concealers -Unlisted Brand - Southern Magnolia mineral - Multi Task Bisque Concealer
reallyrita 1/4/2013 5:04:00 PM
I have several products from this company that I just cannot do without. This is one of them. It is a light weight, non-irritating neutral toned mineral powder concealer that does what it is supposed to do: conceal and conceal well. I use it over my mineral makeup, my liquid foundation or my cream foundation to invisibly cover the redness of my rosacea and the redness around the sides of my nose. Just a little bit on a soft blending brush does the trick. I don't wear foundation every day but I always wear sunscreen. I can get away with fluffing this powder on the areas that need to be evened out and it will last all day. I do have normal to dry skin and I live in a very dry climate. Results might be a bit different in a very hot and humid environment. On no makeup days, this is a real life saver. Check out this little company. They feature some amazing products. I recommend their Well Rested Shadow and their Eyelights Concealing Eye Illuminator as well. You don't have to be a mineral foundation user to add these beauties to your routine. Samples run $2 per little bag....always enough for multiple uses.
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Lipstick -Shu Uemura - Celebrity Beige Rouge
reallyrita 11/27/2012 3:01:00 PM
Adorable packaging. Outrageous price ($30). I splurged on this for my birthday as I really love my Shu lipsticks. I tend to hoard them instead of using them, silly me. This feels so nice on my lips but slips off easily when I drink or eat. Well, all lipsticks tend to do that anyway. I was expecting a real orange color but on me, due to very rosy pigmented lips, it pulls more a corally orange. Still, I love it and will try not to hoard. There is no question but that Revlon super lustrous lipsticks are a much much better bargain. But then, this was a special treat from me to me. The red color might have been a better choice for me though. Can't justify another one at this price. I just love the cute case and it does feel nice and substantial.
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Lipstick -Revlon - Super Lustrous Lipstick- Teak Rose
reallyrita 11/20/2012 2:11:00 PM
This is one of those lip colors that pulls differently on different people. On me, it is a somewhat intense brick red. I do not get the rosy, mauve or pink undertones on my lips. I am an NC20 and think of my coloring as a warm light olive. This is a beautiful color if it works for you. It does work for me. I like to wear it "gently" since bright intense colors overwhelm my complexion. The Super Lustrous line of lipsticks from Revlon are every bit as nice as many department store brands and certainly a lot cheaper. The color range is huge. The packaging, as those of you who use these lipsticks regularly know, is pretty basic but sturdy. Nothing flimsy or glam. The newer releases have clear tops which are helpful.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Sonia Kashuk - Synthetic Flat Top Multipurpose Brush
reallyrita 11/12/2012 6:07:00 PM
i agree with all the good reviews on this nice little brush. I bought mine to use with cream blushes. Mostly, I use powder blushes but when the weather turns colder and my skin gets drier, I prefer to use cream foundation and cream blush. I never seem to get a smooth application of the cream blush so I went looking for a little, dense, flat top synthetic brush that did not have long bristles. This works really well. You have to be careful not to pick up too much product but the application is fast and smooth. Gives a natural, flawless look to the cheeks.
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Pressed Powders -Guerlain - Meteorites Illuminating and Mattifying Pressed Powder Compact
reallyrita 10/26/2012 7:26:00 PM
Well, I think I have figured this product out. It is not for people with oily skin. It sounds like it oxides and turns darker without really controlling the oil. Since it is billed as both illuminating and mattifying, this is baffling. It really does not mattify at all. I think if you have normal or somewhat dry skin, this powder would work out well for you. It is not a foundation and does nothing to cover anything. What is does do, at least for me, is give a soft focus look to the skin with a very subtle glow. No sparkle, no glitter, no frost. Just a nice soft glow from within look. I swirl it on lightly on top of my BB cream or my liquid foundation. It is a nice pick me up for my face when I don't have time to redo the whole makeup thing as the day wears on. With only three colors available, there is not a lot of choice to match to different skin colors. I have 02 which is the beige( slightly yellow toned) color. I am NC 20. If you skin is not on the oily side and you use this as a finishing powder or last step, the effect is really beautiful. It is nice around the eye area as well for a nice brightening and softening look. It is so finely milled that it does not settle into lines. Use with a light hand and a soft brush. Guerlain powders are really special and beautiful products. Just don't expect this to do the work of more intense products. It really is a last step kind of thing. The compact is pretty if lightweight. Since this is a product that I would carry with me when I am going to be out all day and need a quick makeup refresher, I do worry that it might not withstand the dreaded handbag jumble. It comes with a nice velvety pouch but still, it is a bit flimsy for a Guerlain product. I do appreciate that it is not going to add yet more weight to my purse. It is very pricey for only .23 ounces however and I would have expected something more substantial. Having said all of this, I do have to admit that if I lost this compact or broke it, I would rebuy it because I just love the diffused look it gives to my mature skin in both daylight and evening. A winner for me.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -MAC - Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15
reallyrita 10/3/2012 3:25:00 PM
This is the first liquid foundation I have tried in a very long time. Due to rosacea issues, I normally wear a cream or pan makeup for the total coverage. Because my redness is now much decreased (I am 7 months into a good rosacea control routine) I wanted to lighten up a bit on the texture of my foundation. I was matched with NC20. The SA applied the product with a duo fiber MAC brush and several hours later, my daughter saw me and said it looked like I was wearing a yellow Kabuki mask. My first impluse was to rush back to the MAC store and return it. However, I decided to give it another try on my own. I am finding that the color blends really well if I use a light hand with it. It does cover and even out my skin tone and lasts until I take it off. I use my finger tips to spread it as I find that the brush lays down just too much product and the makeup sponge just eats it up. It goes on so smoothly and blends so well. I believe that is partly because of all the silicones in the foundation. So far, I have not had any irritation from leaving this on my face all day. I do not set with a powder as I want a slightly dewey look. I am not altogether sure that I have been matched with the right color. Maybe I am a NW although I have always avoided "pink" tones in foundation as I am a pale olive. I am still in the trying it out stage. I have only had the product for less than two weeks. By the way, I did buy the pump (ouch! $8). I think it makes it easier to dispense but more awkward to travel with the pump in place.
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Lipstick -Revlon - Super Lustrous Lipstick- Smokey Rose
reallyrita 9/11/2012 4:43:00 PM
I have reached for this lipstick every day since I bought it about 2 weeks ago. At first, I was sure I had made a mistake in choosing this somewhat mauve-y nude rose color. Too dark, too plum, too cool for my warm toned yet olive complexion. Wrong! It looks great on me and goes with just about everything I wear. I am loving the moisturizing texture and long lasting color. It is so versatile and a nice change for fall. This is my first Super Lustrous lipstick and I think I will pick up a few more. Most lipsticks are just too drying for me and I have to wear balm underneath. With this one, I don't get that uncomfortable dried out feeling on my lips and I can wear it without preloading with balm. It is not glossy or shiny which is a big plus for me.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Turquoise & Caicos (Resort 2010)
reallyrita 9/9/2012 3:27:00 PM
I have a love-hate relationship with Essie polishes. I get seduced by the gorgeous colors and then disappointed in the quality of the formula. This one surprised me. On top of my OPI bottom coat, this glided right on with none of the usual streakiness or glue-yness. I used in on my toes only and it is a really pretty minty green. Believe it or not, I am wearing only one coat of this polish and it looks amazing....not neon at all. I have a top coat on (Out the Door) and the polish is wearing quite well. I would not repurchase as this is pretty wacky color for the toes of a senior citizen...but a bit of summer fun.
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Polishes -Milani - Jiffy Orange 05
reallyrita 8/29/2012 1:37:00 PM
Where have these nail polishes been all my life? On a whim, I bought this bright orange polish. My gosh, this is the best nail polish I have ever put on my toes. It went on smooth and opaque with just one coat. I did use a base coat (OPI) and a top coat (Out the Door). I have had this polish on for just over a week now and there is no chipping. Looks like I just did it. Great shine, brush easy to control. I had no idea that these drug store polishes were such high quality. The color looks even better on then in the bottle. Compared to most of my Essie polishes, this stuff is amazing! I hope to pick up yet another color soon but I am loving my bright orange toes at the moment. Highly recommend!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Satin Taupe
reallyrita 8/14/2012 11:40:00 AM
I am another happy camper with this lovely little eyeshadow. I bought it and then abandoned it to my makeup drawer for fear it would give me the dreaded red eye look. I finally pulled it out and tried it on one day...all by itself...and it is an amazing color. I have dark brown eyes and a warm light olive complexion and this is just about perfect. I have worn it with and without primer. Works both ways for me but it does move around a bit without primer as I have oily lids. With mascara and a little bit of dark brown eyeliner and I am good to go. I am sorry I waited so long to try it out. I am well over the 65 age category and this eyeshadow, used lightly, does not make me look like a clown nor does it accentuate the aging eye syndrome. A winner!
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Unlisted Brand - Gabriel Cosmetics - Zuzu Luxe Dual Powder Foundation
reallyrita 8/5/2012 12:58:00 PM
It has been too hot for makeup recently. Even my tinted sunscreen felt thick and heavy on my face. I decided to try the ZuZu dual powder foundation based on the reviews here. I initially bought color D-10 as I was matched to that one by the SA. I was almost immediately worried that I had the wrong color. The color in the pan looked a little pink toned to me when I checked it in natural daylight. After going to the website, I realized that it was indeed pink toned. I am light olive and need more yellow based foundation. I returned it the next day for the D-7 which is the yellow based equivalent of the D-10. I have been applying it over my sunscreen with the big ecotools bronzer brush. This brush is really soft and dense and picks up a good amount of product and applies it evenly and smoothly. You are supposed to use the sponge applicator that comes in the contact. I have not tried that yet as I do not want a really heavy coverage during this heat spell. The compact seems sturdy enough and is easy to open. The sponge and mirror are located under the pan, making the whole thing a little bit bulky. I love the feel of this on my skin. No streaks, no itchy-ness, no settling into fine lines and best of all....no cakey-ness. I like to keep my ecobrush for bronzers only so I may need to get a second one to use with this foundation. I would rebuy this product in a heartbeat. There do not seem to be a lot of color choices however. I was lucky to get a really good match.
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