Makeup Brushes -Lancome - Mineral Powder Foundation Brush
AngelOnFire 3/25/2010 6:47:00 PM
I have this brush from the Declaring Indigo collection. The only difference to the original is that it has a blue (d'oh) theme, specifically the Lancome rose logo is blue, and the bristles are dyed blue close to the root. The brush is quite beautiful; very pleasing to the eye. The bristles are synthetic, dense yet soft, and have a slight 'rubbery' feel to them. They pick up my loose mineral foundation powder without any effort, and deposit the product evenly on the face. The size of the brush is ideal. It's small enough to fit into my sifter jar that has a 5cm diameter, yet large enough to cover my face without too much fussing about. A few swipes along my face are enough to guarantee a smooth, flawless application. Another thing I noticed is that this brush seems to be less inclined to swipe away any concealer that I use to cover my imperfections. If you can spare the change, then this is a brush that I can wholeheartedly recommend. It saves me a minute or two everyday by making the application of my powders a child's play. Plus, it's gorgeous to look at. So, what could you possibly want more? :-)
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Jojoba Oil
AngelOnFire 3/23/2010 2:57:00 PM
Jojoba oil is one of the staples I cannot live without when it comes to my skincare. One of my earliest make-up and skincare related memories as a child is a glass bottle of jojoba oil my mother kept in the vanity. The golden coloured liquid, its sweet smell... fond memories! I started buying jojoba oil on my own about two years ago, after having a stint with coconut oil as a body moisturizer (which is good in its own right as well) I have a variety of uses for it. It is great for removing most makeup, even if it's waterproof. Granted, I had some problems with a few waterproof mascaras (Kiss Me Heroine's Long & Curl, in particular), but it still did an equal or even better job at removing them than my trusted Lancome Bi-Facil. I love to use jojoba oil as a moisturizer, especially when my skin is irritated or had a rough time because I put it through either chemical peels or Retin-A. It calms my skin much better than Make Up Artist's Choice Aloe Jelly for example, which whilst being formulated for after-peel care, makes my skin burn even more if it's already angry. Another great way to use it is as an exfoliant if you have peeling or flaking skin. You just dab it onto your face with your fingers, and massage it into your skin for a few minutes. You can really feel the dead skin balling up and coming off under your fingers. Or, alternatively, use a soft face brush or (very!) soft tooth brush for those problem areas. In short: Everybody should try jojoba oil at least once. It's qualities are brilliant, and you really can't go wrong at such a low price for a product this good. Try it!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Angelika
AngelOnFire 3/23/2010 1:35:00 PM
I was very cautious of buying Angelika, even after seeing it in person. I swatched it on the back of my hand, and went 'uhhh... no'. It was way too glittery for my liking. Flash forward a few weeks, and I bought it together with other items for a laughable price. I figured that if I didn't like it, I could always swap it or give it away whilst consoling myself with the other items in the set. Well, I'm glad that wasn't neccessary, though! Whoever said that the aftermath of the application of this blush looks like being attacked by angry fairies (or something along those lines) must have piled this blush on like there's no tomorrow. Granted, if you do that, you will look ridiculous. However, with common sense, a steady hand and cautious application, the results are nowhere near that. All I do is dip my blush brush (NARS Yachiyo, by the way :-)) gently into the pan, tap the excess off, and apply it along my cheeks. I repeat if neccessary, but more is less with Angelika, since this blush is incredibly pigmented. Mind you, I'm no fan of glitter, so if any larger chunks of it hang on for dear life to my skin, I just brush them away. Easy. The result? Wonderfully, glowy, fresh looking cheeks. The blush is a cool, matte pink, which suits my very fair skin perfectly. And the glitter? Barely noticable! It simply looks like slightly larger flecks of shimmer, spaced sparsely on your cheeks. I like textures that are matte, satin, shimmery or at most frosty, but this is something entirely new for me. Glitter that is subtle and subdued... The finish of Angelika is pretty, not overdone. I have to credit this blush with sparking my interest in glitter. Whilst I was really unsure of it in the beginning, it makes me want to try other blushes with a similar, or even bolder finish (NARS Super Orgasm, I'm looking at you!). If your method of application is right, then this is a product that really can't be faulted for much!
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Becca - Soft Touch Blush - Songbird
AngelOnFire 3/18/2010 10:20:00 AM
This is my first Becca product, and whilst I've heard a lot about the brand, I was never drawn to it for a couple of reasons. One, being the exorbitant price (the Soft Touch Blushes go for £23.50 for 6 grams, just a smidge below Giorgio Armani's Sheer Blushes), and two, the product not being widely available here in the UK (I like to be able to see and swatch my cosmetics before ordering or buying). Well, I got this product as a bonus, and practically for free when buying NARS Angelika on eBay, so I'm not complaining! The first that struck me was the quality of the packaging. This is above my Armani Blushes in terms of material! The case itself is rubbery (not nearly as dust attracting as NARS packaging, though). The lid has a brushed steel (not plastic!) piece embedded in the top, with the words 'Becca' engraved on it. Wow. Talk about high quality packaging, no wonder they're so darn expensive! I've included a few pictures above in the product images for you to enjoy. The blush itself is amazing, too. Songbird looks almost like a brick red in the pan, but once on, it's the most gorgeous and flattering coral I've ever seen on my pale skin! It has a delicate, golden sheen to it, similar to NARS Albatross, only much less in your face. So, as you can imagine, highligher is optional here, and not really neccessary. It is quite well pigmented, too, so a couple of swipes are more than enough to give you a healthy, flushed look. With corals being all the rage for spring and summer 2010, this is a viable alternative to the more widely known brands. I reckon that this will be a blush that I'll use a lot for the coming, warmer seasons. If you're looking for a great, coral blush, look no further. You can imagine my surprise as Song Bird exceeded all my expectations tenfold. Even though it IS a very expensive product (well, as expensive as NARS given that you get more product with Becca), the quality IS there to give the better known brands a good run for their money. A must-have blush in a must-have shade. Why this doesn't have as much a cult status as some NARS or Giorgio Armani blushes have is beyond me. HG!
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -BeneFit Cosmetics - High Brow
AngelOnFire 3/18/2010 9:40:00 AM
This is a very nifty little product. I started craving this after watching the girls from the Pixiwoo channel use it. So, what was a girl to do other than give in? Even though I swatched High Brow in-store and didn't like it, I decided nevertheless to purchase it. But, to make my wallet less miserable, I won it in an auction on eBay for almost half price (£8 vs. the original £14). Once it arrived, I was immediately struck at how well packaged, and how beautiful the pencil itself is. This is definitely something that I won't hide in my vanity, in fact, I'm proudly displaying it amongst my brushes. When I swatched it on my hand, I definitely felt like I made a mistake. It's a whitish, pale pink! But, once on my brow bone, it looks great. I just put it beneath my eyebrows and blend, blend, blend. It really lifts the area making it ready for a highlighting eye shadow, and the pink isn't discernable at all. It's also great to cover stray eye shadow and to sharpen the edges of any application of it, or eyeliner for that matter. It looks also very good on the water line, being much more natural than a white pencil. Overall, for the amount you get, and for how versatile this product is, £14 doesn't seem that much anymore. This is definitely something everybody should try, unless you have something in your arsenal that does all those things just as well.
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Highlighters -BeneFit Cosmetics - High Brow
AngelOnFire 3/18/2010 9:39:00 AM
This is a very nifty little product. I started craving this after watching the girls from the Pixiwoo channel use it. So, what was a girl to do other than give in? Even though I swatched High Brow in-store and didn't like it, I decided nevertheless to purchase it. But, to make my wallet less miserable, I won it in an auction on eBay for almost half price (£8 vs. the original £14). Once it arrived, I was immediately struck at how well packaged, and how beautiful the pencil itself is. This is definitely something that I won't hide in my vanity, in fact, I'm proudly displaying it amongst my brushes. When I swatched it on my hand, I definitely felt like I made a mistake. It's a whitish, pale pink! But, once on my brow bone, it looks great. I just put it beneath my eyebrows and blend, blend, blend. It really lifts the area making it ready for a highlighting eye shadow, and the pink isn't discernable at all. It's also great to cover stray eye shadow and to sharpen the edges of any application of it, or eyeliner for that matter. It looks also very good on the water line, being much more natural than a white pencil. Overall, for the amount you get, and for how versatile this product is, £14 doesn't seem that much anymore. This is definitely something everybody should try, unless you have something in your arsenal that does all those things just as well.
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Eye Shadow -NARS - Balthazar Duo
AngelOnFire 3/18/2010 9:20:00 AM
I got Balthazar purely out of curiousity when reading the glowing reviews here. Once the occasion arose (in the form of an eBay auction), I jumped at it. It came to me from the loveliest private seller who travels between Ireland and Japan. I got this in nearly mint condition without the box, and the seller even offered to mail me the box free of charge once she got back home. But I declined, knowing that this duo isn't going anywhere! NARS describes these shades as simply 'maize and saffron', which isn't exactly a precise description, as both maize and saffron come in a variety of shades. I'd describe the left colour as antique gold or brass, and the right as burnt orange. The finish is curious. The shades don't have shimmer, they ARE the shimmer itself. The most finely milled shimmer for a beautiful, metallic effect. I have used Balthazar several times now, and I love it with every application. The texture is probably the best I've seen from NARS. Soft and highly pigmented, yet firm enough not to fall apart. I use the lighter shade in the inner corner of my eyelid, whereas the darker shade goes onto the outer corner and the crease. As for the lower lid, anything goes. What is very surprising about this duo is that it is very wearable for everyday, except in the most conservative of work places. The shades make my greenish-blue eyes appear a little more blue, but it doesn't make them as blue as the NARS Scorching Sun duo. The eyeshadow stays put all day, but the fact that I don't have oily lids must surely play a part in it, as well. I consider Balthazar to be not just an eye shadow, but 'jewlelry' for my eyes. The metallic effect of both shades is decorative, not over-the-top and does not distract from your eyes, just helps them being more of a focal point in the whole that is your face. This product is five lippie material, perhaps even HG.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -NARS - Scorching Sun Duo
AngelOnFire 3/18/2010 8:47:00 AM
Lately, I almost compulsively collect NARS eye shadow duos. And irrationally it seems as well, because I really don't know what I was thinking when I bought this duo. It's orange. I've never worn orange shades before... I didn't use it for weeks after its purchase because I was scared of it. In terms of finish, I'd call it Jolie Poupee's (another NARS duo) orange sister, because just like the aforementioned shade, the Scorching Sun duo has one highly pigmented matte, and one shimmery shade. The colours are so highly pigmented and beautiful, it makes me swoon. Even though it's scary looking in the pan, it's simply gorgeous once on, and brings out the blue in my greenish-blue eyes. NARS describes the shades as 'glazed apricot and orange with a delicate sheen'. I agree for the most part, they're spot on with the description of the left, matte apricot colour. But the right one is more unique than the generic 'orange' label might suggest. It is a reddish shade with insanely fine shimmer. On the whole, as another reviewer before me said so well, the main differences in this duo aren't the colours, but the finish. Both shades have a medium texture. Not hard and chalky, but not as soft as butter either. The pigmentation of the left, matte shade is extraordinary, whereas the right one is a little sheerer, yet still well pigmented. I use the matte colour in the inner corner and middle section of my lid, and the shimmery one on the crease and outer v. I also love to use this duo in conjunction with another, Balthazar, because the colours go very well together. It also pairs immensly well with any coral blush. The staying power of NARS eye shadows is great, they don't fade or crease at me even after 10 hours of wear, but I need to mention that I don't have oily eyelids. Overall, Scorching Sun is a nice duo to have, but for me, it's not completely neccessary. Even though this is my opinion at this stage, I think this might change once summer arrives, since these definitely aren't winter colours. If you love orange colours, THIS is the product to go for. The shades simply beautiful. EDIT: I upped it to 5 lippies. It's a keeper for summertime. The shades look absolutely stunning when the sun is shining and you're outdoors. However, it does look a little washed-out in artificial lighting.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -NARS - Highlighting Blush Powder in Albatross 
AngelOnFire 3/17/2010 1:51:00 PM
When I was new to NARS and didn't have a blush of theirs, I decided to go with the Albatross / Orgasm Highlighting - Bronzing Blush Duo, since you get more product for a relatively good price (5g / 0.18oz each for £28 compared to 4.8g / 0.17oz for £19.50). So if you want to get into NARS blushes and the Albatross highlighter, whilst craving the shade Orgasm, Torrid or Sin, definitely go for the duos. I see that Albatross is very well liked here, and I'm not surprised. It's a wonderful, golden highlighter that isn't to shimmery and looks very natural if applied with a light hand. However, it doesn't work for me without some sort of foundation. My face is cool toned, but my neck and chest are warm (for the most part, where the skin isn't too veined) so I get away with using warm foundation to match the rest of my body. If I skip my foundation, it looks slightly out of place. It's warm, golden sheen is too strong, and doesn't look natural. Even the rather frosty, Stila Kitten eye shadow I sometimes use as a highlighter looks more natural than Albatross. Yet, I am still using Albatross and not giving it a bad rating. Why? Because overall, it's still a good product. It's incredibly convenient to use it as a highlighter all over the face and the brow bone. The texture is somewhere between medium and soft, and I have to be carefull so that I don't pick up too much product. On top of that, it's finely milled, and not a glitter bomb. To sum it up: If you have warm undertones, go for it. I can imagine that it must look wonderful for fair, east Asian girls. If you have neutral undertones, beware, and if you are cool-toned, avoid. I will definitely use it up, but I won't repurchase once I'm done with it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -NARS - Ita Brush
AngelOnFire 3/15/2010 1:30:00 PM
After much deliberation and having bought the NARS Yachiyo, I decided that I needed a contouring brush. And since I'm very much into NARS lately, I decided to go for the ITA, #23. It is beautiful, and as much as a piece of art as the Yachiyo. You have to see a side-view or see it in person to fully appreciate the beauty of the brush. It is also a bit intimidating in its size. The first time I saw it, I thought, what the heck am I going to do with it? How am I supposed to use it? I didn't have a clue. The only way for me to find out was experimentation and research. The bristles are similar to the Yachiyo in feel, only stiffer. Therefore, it is much more suitable for hard-textured blushes (for example NARS Orgasm). But it is much more versatile than the Yachiyo. Its size makes it wonderful for the sheer application and buffing of setting, mineral foundation or finishing powder! It is amazing for contouring with any darker powder, or the application of blush along the cheekbones if you prefer this way of scuplting the face. I don't have contouring powder, so I use two shades of blush, one shade of highlighter and presto! It makes my cheekbones pop! It is, however, tricky to use for highlighting as it is too large to get into nooks and crannies with precision, but that's what the smaller, Ita Kabuki is for. Overall, this is probably the most versatile brush I own, even more so than the MAC #217, I imagine. Whilst the Yachiyo is still my favourite because of its design and softness, it is much more specialised than the Ita. If you want a brush that does a lot for the whole face, I can't recommend the NARS Ita brush enough.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -NARS - Bohemian Gold Duo
AngelOnFire 3/6/2010 5:27:00 AM
I bought this on a whim, not having seen it in real life (or having seen it, but not remembering!). The NARS website describes Bohemian Gold as 'metallic taupe and iridescent copper'. I agree on the taupe, but the right side is more of a salmon colour with dense, finely-milled rose specs (not even shimmer or glitter-sized) for iridescense. Both colours are very beautiful. The texture is good. It's firm, not buttery soft like some shades or chalky and hard like others. My brushes have no trouble picking up the right amount of product. The pigmentation is good, too, but not bombastic. You need a few swipes to get the colour to show nicely. But that might be also because my lids are a little reddish, it might look different on a base (I don't own any bases yet to make that comparison). I love to wear the taupe shade on the lid, and the salmon in the crease and outer V. I haven't tried too many variations yet because it is, paradoxically, becoming my 'to-go' duo, BUT I don't love it enough to use on the weekends or special occasions. I only have about 15 - 20 minutes in the morning to get dressed, wash myself and put my make-up on, and Bohemian Gold is just dead right for a quick, easy, and nice look that isn't too over-the-top. Somehow the colours don't really 'move' me enough to give it a higher rating. They're pretty, yes, but it simply isn't love. Plus, the pigmentation could be better in my opinion. But, if you need something for an everyday look, I can wholeheartedly recommend this.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Laura Mercier - Undercover
AngelOnFire 2/19/2010 11:45:00 AM
I have been using this HG for six years now and can't believe I still haven't written a review about it. It has been discontinued recently, but thank goodness the product replacing it is the same, except that it comes with translucent setting powder now. It is called Undercover Pot, and I will purchase it once I run out of my trusty, regular Undercover. I use it in the lightest shade, Undercover - 1. The product is quite ingenious and incredibly versatile. Why? Because it incorporates two different concealers. On the left side, we have a light, hard concealer that is INCREDIBLY pigmented, and very similar to Laura Mercier's Secret Camouflage (different, separatly sold product). On the right, there's a darker (in my case salmon coloured), creamy concealer, similar to Mercier's Secred Concealer (again, a different product). First of all, and this is very inportant: You really have to be a little patient with this and figure out how to use it. I only learned how to use the darker side recently, because I was too scared it wouldn't suit my very fair skin. People seem to be scared and say: 'The fair side is too hard to be usable' or ' the creamy side is too dark'. Now take note. The left side MUST be used on well moisturized skin, on top of foundation, or with a little of the creamy side. Furthermore, it really should be used with a firm brush, because it is that hard that your fingers will barely manage to pick it up. The best way for me personally to use it is with a no-name angled brush. The point of the brush allows for precise application, whereas the brush itself is great for blending. I have tons of scars and this highly-pigmented concealer, along with the precise brush is PERFECT to cover them. The right, creamy side is (in my case) only used to banish undereye circles and to even out my upper lid. The salmon colour is way too dark to cover blemishes, the contrast between the concealer and my skin would be too great. But it is IDEAL to work on the eye area, which is a different tone to the rest of my face, anyway. To sum it up, I love this product. I am very fair, and this is the only concealer that works for me. While drugstore concealers work for my undereye circles, I have yet to find a superior product to cover blemishes and scars. It also lasts ages, and doesn't go bad. My only quibble is with the packaging. The mechanism that snaps the compact shut has broken on every single one I used. But aside from that, it's HG, Baby!
10 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -NARS - 27 - Yachiyo
AngelOnFire 2/17/2010 12:07:00 PM
This is a HG brush, no doubt about it. I'm sure that there are brushes out there that may do the job, but none does it whilst looking so incredibly delicate and beautiful. It has a far-eastern character that is uniquely traditional and modern. The quality is A+, and the craftsmanship of the person who made it is a testament to aesthetics. For £37, you are not only buying a brush, but a piece of finest industrial design and art. Beauty of the design aside, this is an invaluable tool. The brush head is dense, yet incredibly soft. Whoever said it's like stroking the top of a cat's head has made an uncanny, but true comparison. The end is slightly tapered, which allows for immensly precise application of blush, bronzer or highlighter. It is in fact so accurate in its application, that I can use it to highlight the bridge of my nose, my cupid's bow, the sides of my nose and my brow bone without any hassle. As for blush, it applies it so flawlessly it gives me a 'glow from the within' look that only cream blushes have achieved so far. Would I buy it again? Yes! Definitely! If you are reading this and have doubts, take the leap. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Another wonderful thing is that NARS sparked my interest in Kabuki brushes, which means that someday in the future I'll invest in more of these beauties. Note regarding authenticty: I bought this brush on narscosmetics.co.uk. Unlike the reviewer before me, who also claims her brush is authentic, mine does not have anything suggesting its origin carved into it at all. Even though, I agree with her that NOT everything coming out of China has to be neccessarily fake, especially since most brushes are made there. I ordered a few NARS brushes from an eBay seller in Hong Kong, and I was told by a NARS Sales Assistant that they are indeed authentic. The only thing engraved on my brush are two sets of designations ('27' and 'I4OUN', see product pictures or my gallery) on the rubbery end. It is also wrapped in elegant wisteria, not thick reed as I've seen on some imitations on the internet and on Japanesque-brand brushes.
17 out of 17 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -MAC - # 239 Eye Shader Brush
AngelOnFire 2/17/2010 11:33:00 AM
I got suckered into buying the #239 reading the reviews here. I for one have to go against the flow of things and say that this is a brush that simply doesn't work for me. I am REALLY scratching my head about this brush, thinking how it got a rating this high and how hyped it is. It is probably one of the biggest disappointments so far for me. It is alright for packing on colour... and that's it. The brush itself is also on the large side, which means there's little precision when it comes to applying eye shadow on the inner and outer corner of the eyelid. You can't run it over the crease or lower eyelid. The bristles are simply to harsh for this and it ends up feeling uncomfortable. The only way I am able to apply this brush to my eyelid is at a flat angle. The rounded ends are simply unusable for me. There is one thing though that I absolutely hate about this brush, the same thing that I can't stand about my #217. It splays. Like crazy. As though it is going through a Punk Rock phase. There are so many stray hairs I had to buy Brush Guards to solve this problem. I bought both at the official MAC store, so these aren't fakes, but this sure doesn't make a good impression quality-wise. Needless to say, I wouldn't buy again. I have cheap-as-chips no-name brushes that are working better than this one. For £17.50, it's simply a waste of money for me.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -MAC - #217 Blending
AngelOnFire 2/17/2010 11:09:00 AM
Skip this part if you want the skinny on the brush, this is a short anecdote. In a time that seems ages ago, I had a dilemma. My collection of brushes was very modest, and I was getting into eye shadow. I was scratching my head, after seeing countless pictures, thinking 'how do people get such beautifully complex looks'? After seeing a 'Youtube guru' (forgot which one) use this brush, I had an Eureka moment. To blend eyeshadows, you have to use a blending brush! Duh. Anyway, I did some research, this seemed the most popular choice, so I bought it. At first it was love. This brush is great for blending large spaces and apply sheer washes of shadow, and it is perfect when you are starting out. However, after a while and some brushes later, I realized that there are simply better options out there when it comes to blending eyeshadow. The #217 is simply too large and to crude to be doing anything precise in a small space. However, it is ideal for something else. It is great for setting concealer with powder so it won't budge. I have the occasional blemish and quite a few imperfections (brown spots, old scars). All I do is camouflage it with concealer, then pick up my favourite powder with the #217 and dab it on. There is one thing though that I absolutely hate about this brush, and its versatility and my good mood today is the only reason I'm giving it 4, not 3 lippies. It splays. Like crazy. As though it is going through a Punk Rock phase. There are so many stray hairs I had to buy Brush Guards to solve this problem. This isn't my only MAC brush that does this, my #239 is doing the same. I bought both at the official MAC store, so these aren't fakes, but this sure doesn't make a good impression quality-wise. Overall, I don't know if I'd buy it again (especially for £14.50), but I'm a little glad I have it.
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No