Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - Infallible Eyeshadow - Bronzed Taupe
2ksmom 5/30/2012 9:33:00 AM
I held off on getting these Infallible eyeshadows for longest time, because I really like the eyeshadows I currently own & didn’t really have the need/desire to get any more. But CVS had these on sale & I had a bunch of coupons, so I ended up finally biting the bullet and getting 3 of these Infallible eyeshadows. Well, I am sorry I waited so long, because I love them! Bronzed Taupe is a beautiful shade that just pairs so well with so many different colors, and the wear time is amazing. In the pot, it doesn’t really look ‘taupe’ to me (more of a plummy-bronzy-brown), but on my lids it’s a glimmering silvery taupe, with just the slightest plummy-brown undertone. Its so beautiful & complex, and the mix of warm & cool tones seems like it would show different on everyone. The texture of this is (as others have described) like a pressed, loose pigment, if that makes sense. It is a bit of a pain to keep removing/replacing the little plastic insert, but I can see that its necessary to help the shadow hold its form. It feels like a creamy powder. It applies best with my fingertip (I usually swear by brushes, but the application is too sheer and uneven with a brush). I apply a light layer all over my lid, blending with my ring finger. It can be easily layered for more intensity, or makes an excellent base for other powder eyeshadows. It lasts all day (a good 12+ hours on me) without a primer, and without fading, creasing, etc. A pot of this should last for ages, since so little is needed. The shade is versatile, the texture is unique, and lasting power is phenomenal. Highly recommended, for sure! EDIT 6/4/2012---I have been experimenting with application techniques. If I want vibrant color, a crème-shadow finish, and if I am using it as a base, I still prefer applying with my finger. But for a softer effect and a wash of color (over other powder shadow+primer), I use my ELF eyeshadow brush to apply all over my lid. Either way, the color is beautifully dimensional, and the lasting power is awesome. I am loving the versatility of these!
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Stila - Illuminating Powder Foundation
2ksmom 5/29/2012 9:06:00 AM
I’ve never been a big pressed-powder or powder-foundation user, but I actually hit pan on this, which really must be saying something! I lucked out and got this in a ‘mystery bag’ of Stila products; little did I know it would become one of my ‘staples’. The shade number has rubbed off the bottom of my compact, but I’m guessing its probably 20 Watts (it’s a pretty light shade) and it’s an excellent match for my fair skin. The texture of this is almost like a creamy powder, if that makes sense (not too dry). It seems to blend in with my skin’s natural texture, instead of sitting on top of my skin. I love the versatility of this product. I can apply with the included sponge for fuller coverage. I can apply with my finger or a concealer brush for spot-coverage. But most often I apply with a big fluffy brush all over (after my usual TM or liquid foundation) to ‘finish’ my look. This keeps my skin looking fresh for a good 8-10 hours. I might touch it up late in the afternoon, if I notice any ‘shiny’ spots (my skin is pretty normal, though). For an ‘illuminating’ product, I don’t notice any shimmer in this, which is good (I don’t like all over shimmer, anyways). It just makes my skin look fresh and my makeup look polished. This is the only face powder I’ve ever hit pan on, and I just purchased a backup (on eBay, I didn’t pay full price).
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Fragrances -Philosophy - Falling in Love Body Spritz
2ksmom 5/25/2012 9:06:00 AM
I have loved Falling in Love for at least 8 years now. No other scent makes me feel more sensual & confident and attracts more comments (the 'oh you smell good..', instead of the 'what perfume are you wearing...' -type comments) than this one. So when I saw on MUA that there is a FIL body spritz, I had to have it. It seems to be a QVC-exclusive, so I immediately ordered 2 bottles. As I would expect from a body ‘spritz’, the formula is less concentrated & the staying power is weaker than that of the EDT (which itself is not that great, to begin with). This is indeed a subtle, skin scent, that lingers & garners compliments long after I think its worn off. I apply 8-10 spritzes in the morning after showering (layered over the FIL body lotion or an unscented body lotion). Initally the alcohol scent is prominent, but within minutes it settles into the familiar, warm, slightly musky blackberry & vanilla scent I love. It fades gradually throughout the day, 6-8 hours later I can only smell it faintly on my skin. I’ll often do a mid-afternoon touch-up. The formula of the spritz is light & clean, and I can apply and reapply without feeling like I’m overdoing it. It is ideal for summer, though for cooler months and special occasions, I think I’d prefer the EDT for its (slightly) greater intensity and better lasting power. As a FIL fan, I am not disappointed, as it smells wonderful and performs as I would expect it to. I would repurchase, should I have the need.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -NARS - Tokaido Express
2ksmom 5/25/2012 8:44:00 AM
I love this shade. Others have done a good job describing the shade, it’s a brownish plum with bronzy shimmer. I did not buy this (I swapped for it) so had I shelled out the big bucks I may feel differently, but I am actually quite pleased with the overall performance. I love purple & plum nail colors, and I don’t have anything quite like this one. It’s a nice, warm plum & the shimmer gives it beautiful dimension. Its opaque in 2 coats. The brush is fine, though the square-shaped bottle & cap are more for looks than ease of application. The formula is quite thick and takes a long time to dry. I always top it with a fast-dry top coat, and it looks rich & shiny & beautiful. The lasting power is quite good- I get 2-3 days before any tip wear, and 4-5 days before any chipping. I can get this to last a week+, with a mid-week touch up. I don’t ever tire of looking at this shade on my nails. I would repurchase, should I ever have the need & I could find it for a good price.
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Cleansers -L'Oreal - Youth Code Foaming Gel Cleanser
2ksmom 5/23/2012 10:05:00 AM
Yea! I am so glad I found this! I just used up the last of my d/c L’Oreal Skin Genesis Pore-Minimizing cleanser (loooooved that stuff), so when I saw this on the shelf at CVS, I snatched up 2 bottles, thinking it looked like the same stuff, just renamed. And sure enough, it seems to be the same (or close enough that I can’t tell the difference). I actually like the scent of this, kind of a soft florally scent. 2 pumps are sufficent to cleanse my face, and it lathers & rinses easily. This effectively removes makeup, oil, dirt, etc. It even removes eye makeup without aggravating my sensitive eye area. My skin just feels thoroughly clean & healthy, not dry or ‘stripped’. (I have normal skin, that is a bit acne-prone, as of lately). As far as exfoliating, regenerating, or anything like that, I don’t know if this has any effect, though I don’t expect much from my cleanser other than to effectively clean my skin without drying/irritation, which this DOES. It’s a great basic cleanser that I’ll continue to repurchase, as long as they keep making it & it keeps working for me.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -LORAC - Sheer Lipstick in Just Kissed
2ksmom 5/23/2012 8:46:00 AM
This would be pretty darn near perfect if only it had better staying power. I love sheer berry-red lip colors, so I swapped for this and was not disappointed. ‘Just Kissed’ is such a cute name for a lip color and describes this shade perfectly. It just reddens my lips the slightest bit. It is really, really sheer, and I have to swipe it on multiple times to get it to show up. But when it does, the color is natural, neutral and super-flattering. The texture is moist and balmy and applies best to bare, dry lips. It smells & tastes like vanilla. Unfortunately, I just can’t get this to last more than 30 minutes to an hour on me. Its nice for a quick touch up of color throughout the day, and its foolproof so I can swipe it on without a mirror, and I never have to worry about looking overdone. This definitely has its place as a nice, natural, sheer, moist lip color, just be warned it doesn’t have much pigment & doesn’t last long at all. I just repurchased 2 more of these from Hautelook, because I have a feeling I’ll blow through a tube of this really quickly, though I would never consider paying full price.
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Blush -Too Faced - Brightening Blush - Mocha Mi Amore
2ksmom 5/22/2012 10:50:00 AM
I got this as a super-awesome extra in a swap! I have been using it as a bronzer, and I absolutely love it! I am not a fan of traditional bronzers, as they tend to look too brown or too orange or just plain fake on my fair skin. This is a pinky-plummy-brown that just looks so natural on me (kind of similar to Benefit Dallas, which I also really like, only more muted and less shimmery). There is a slight sheen to it which keeps it from looking flat, but there is no obvious shimmer, at least to my eye. I just use a fluffy brush to apply it my cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin (and sometimes my chest & tops of my shoulders). It sounds cliché but this (along with a little blush on the apples of my cheeks) just gives me a natural, healthy glow. I even like the cardboard, magnetized compact, it seems sturdy & should travel well. This is truly a little gem I never would have thought I would have liked or needed, but I use it nearly every day. I would definitely repurchase, should I ever have the need.
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Treatments -Philosophy - Love At First Light Skin Luminizer
2ksmom 5/18/2012 1:47:00 PM
No other single product has done more to disguise my dark, undereye circles than this luminizer! I got it at Big Lots during their awesome $3 Philosophy blowout, and I went back and picked up 2 more before they sold out. I’ve never been one to use highlighter/luminizer, I always just looked at it as this extra step I didn’t really have the time or the need for. I also thought a ‘luminizing’ product would just draw more attention to my dark under eye circles, but this product has proven me wrong. This luminizer comes in a chic black plastic mirrored compact. There is no applicator, so I apply with my fingers or a foundation brush (though I think a sponge would be ideal). It’s a lightweight crème that is slick to the touch. It’s a pale beige color, with a bit of luminescence to it. It just looks like satin on my skin, there is no visible shimmer or glitter. I just swipe it under my eyes, under the arch of my eyebrows, around my nose, and above my cupids bow (also works lovely to highlight tops of shoulders, collar bones, etc.). It just blends effortlessly into my skin, then I apply my regular foundation or tinted moisturizer over top. I don’t know how it works, exactly, but it just makes my skin look brighter & more even, without looking like I piled on concealer. This brightening effect lasts most of the day. I can reapply sparingly, but too much tends accentuate any dry/flaky areas and look overly shiny. I would not have even tried this had I not seen it at Big Lots for super cheap, but I am so glad I did. It just makes me look younger, brighter…and better. I am very happy with this impulse buy, I’d definitely recommend picking it up if you’re lucky enough to find it!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - done out in deco
2ksmom 5/18/2012 1:26:00 PM
This is a really pretty, lavender creme. It’s a little more blue, than pink, on me, which I think keeps it from being too girly & sweet. I almost exclusively wear deep, vampy shades, so this is quite different for me, but in a good way. The application & coverage is good, it’s opaque in 2 coats. The drying time and wear is reasonable. I get about 2-3 days before tip wear, and about 4-5 days before any chipping, but since it’s a lighter color, its more forgiving to wear & tear (and therefore lower maintenance!) It’s a nice shade for warmer weather months. I know this was a part of a LE collection when I got it, I don’t know if it’s a part of OPIs regular lineup, or not. I have never finished up a bottle of nail polish, but I would repurchase, should I ever have the need.
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Eye Shadow -Philosophy - Eyeshadow
2ksmom 5/18/2012 9:04:00 AM
I got 2 of these eyeshadow palettes during the awesome $3 Philosophy blowout at Big Lots, and they are absolutely amazing! I have ‘Box of Truffles’ (brown shades) and ‘Plum Delicious’ (purple shades). The packaging is sleek and chic, a black, hard plastic, mirrored compact, that actually comes with a decent, double-ended shadow/liner brush (though I still prefer to use my own brushes). Each palette comes with 4 coordinating shadows pans (3 matte and 1 shimmer). ‘Box of Truffles’ contains a pale cream, a light brown, a medium shimmery golden brown, and a dark matte chocolate brown. ‘Plum Delicious’ contains a pale lavender, a medium purple-taupe, a rich purple shimmer, and a deep slate grey. The lightest shade in each makes a nice highlight shade for the inner corner of the eye and under the brow. The medium matte shade makes a nice lid color. But I love, love, love the shimmer shade and the darkest matte shade in these quads! The shimmer shades looks lovely as a lid color or buffed along the lashline. And I like to wear the darkest shades wet as eyeliner. They all apply and wear beautifully, lasting all day over a primer. I love the convenience of well-coordinated shades all in one palette, but I find I can mix & match these easily with other shades in my collection. I never would have considered these at full price, but for $3 a piece these are a real find. I went back & purchased back ups of each before they sold out. I would definitely recommend picking these up if you can still find them!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Fresh - Fresh Brown Sugar Lip Polish 
2ksmom 5/15/2012 9:23:00 AM
Overpriced, and doesn’t do anything a good, thick layer of lip balm & a wash cloth can’t do! I got it when I was obsessed with all things ‘Fresh Sugar’, that’s the only way I can explain shelling out $20+ for this. Now granted, my lips are in pretty good shape, just the occasional ‘flaky bits’, so if my lips were dry, chapped, peeling, etc, etc. maybe I would see better ‘results’ from this. Sure it smells good & tastes good & leaves my lips smoother, but the results are only temporary. The texture of this scrub is thick & pasty & kind of hard to spread. I put this on before jumping in the shower, then rub my lips together and rinse it off, and by the time I’m putting my makeup on, my lips already feel dried out. I’d expect this not only to ‘slough’ off any dead skin but leave my lips feeling moisturized, which this does not do. Sometimes I apply Fresh Sugar lip treatment immediately after using this, and it does leave my lips more moisturized & prepped for lip color, but I can use countless other combos to get the same effect. Its not necessarily a ‘bad’ product, I just think its way overpriced for a mediocre product and mediocre results. I would not recommend or repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Philosophy - The Color of Grace Amazing Grace Eyelighting Shadow Duo
2ksmom 5/14/2012 8:44:00 AM
I got this duo recently at Big Lots during the awesome $3 Philosophy blow out, and I absolutely love it! I love neutrals, and this duo is perfect for a lovely, low key, natural eye look. It can also be used as a base for a stronger eye look (I like to pair it with darker browns & greens). There is a pale, ivory-champagne shade and a light milky chocolate brown. I detect a very, very slight pinkish tone in both shades. They have a really pretty sheen to them (but not shimmery/glittery). The texture is soft & satiny and beautifully blendable (I apply using my ELF eyeshadow brush), They last all day over a primer. I like the metallic silver compact (even though it easily shows smudges & fingerprints), and it has a pretty substantial mirror. I wouldn’t even consider this at regular price, but for $3 I bought multiple back ups. If you like natural, neutral eyeshadows, this duo does not disappoint.
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Lipstick -MAC - Satin Lipstick in Twig
2ksmom 5/14/2012 8:38:00 AM
This is a nice, warmish, pinkish-brown shade on me. I would have preferred it to be a little cooler and more ‘plummy’, but it is still a nice, natural, MLBB color. This is my first MAC satin, and this definitely has a creamy, opaque, full-coverage, traditional-lipstick look and feel to it. I really gravitate towards sheer lipsticks, so I apply balm or gloss under/over this, to sheer it out a little. If I am not careful, this color and formula can ‘age’ me a little bit. The staying power of this is quite exceptional, though. The color lasts a good 3-4 hours. It does dry out my lips a little, but if I add a touch of gloss or balm overtop, that seems to refresh the moisture and color for a few more hours. I am just getting into MAC lipsticks, and I find they really seem to look different on everyone depending on what your undertones are. I can see this shade flattering most anyone. I swapped for this, and I am quite pleased with it. I would repurchase it, should I ever have the need.
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Eye Shadow -Maybelline - Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Shadow in Tough as Taupe
2ksmom 4/10/2012 9:13:00 AM
I swapped for this, without ever viewing the item in-store or reading a review. Had I done that, I probably would have known to pass on this one. I usually like anything ‘taupe’; too bad this isn’t ‘taupe’. To me, this is just a flat, mid-toned grey. None of the interesting brown/silvery/purple tones I usually associate with taupe shadows. This has the color & consistency of putty. I have really been trying to work with this & get some use out of this as a base for some of my other taupe powder shades. I find the texture hard and difficult to spread. Its impossible for me to blend it evenly using my finger, so I apply a thin layer using a flat, firm, crème eyeshadow brush. It looks ok if I apply a very, very small amount, and layer a lighter, shimmery shadow over it. The wear is actually pretty good, as it wears well as a base all day without fading or creasing. I probably would not have been so disappointed with this had my expectations been different. If you like matte, grey eyeshadow shades, you may be more pleased with ‘Tough as Taupe’. I would not repurchase this shade, but I would like to try some other shades from the Color Tattoo line.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Frost Lipstick in O
2ksmom 3/26/2012 9:04:00 AM
I am really lucky I hit the jackpot with “O”! I swapped for it, since I want to try out MAC lipsticks, but I don’t have a MAC counter near me, and I find the selection of shades & finishes online a little ‘daunting’. It looks intimidating in the tube, but on me it’s a semi-sheer, bronzy, pinkish-plum (it reminds me of Benefit’s ‘Bahama Mama’ which was my HG lipstick about 10 yrs ago). Thankfully it has a strong plum undertone on me, which prevents it from being too ‘brown’. I even like the ‘frost’ finish, it just gives the color dimension. The frost is more apparent the heavier it is applied. I like one or two coats of this, blotted, and topped with a moisturizing gloss/balm. It just gives my lips a pretty pink-plum tint with just a hint of bronze shimmer, that perks up my pale lips & brightens up my face. Not really MLBB, since this is no where near the color of my natural lips, but the mix of warm & cool tones makes this a very wearable neutral on me. The lasting power is decent, about 2-3 hours. The formula is a bit dry, but I wear balm or gloss over or under anyways, so I don’t find it problemtic. I find myself reaching for this often (and I have a lot of lipcolors to choose from!) mainly because it seems to look good with anything. I would most definitely repurchase, should I have the need. I’ll give it 4 lippies for now, with the potential to up to 5 if this makes it to HG status for me!
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