Fragrances -Agent Provocateur - Agent Provocateur EDP
Cactus_Pear 2/9/2008 7:31:00 PM
I heard raves about this perfume on this site so I checked it out at Sephora. ICK! I was totally repulsed, it smelled *very* strong , musty, sharp, old lady-like, and soapy. I sprayed it on my jacket and left. A few days later, I put my jacket on and smelled it--it was totally different. So comforting, warm in a non-heady way, woody--kinda manly. It just smells so damn good. I can't really describe how it smells like. I love this perfume but can totally understand why some people hate it, it smells horrible straight out of the bottle. It smells best a few hours after it's sprayed...I like it when it's warmed up on my skin or sprayed on my coat. This perfume is expensive for a small bottle but it's so strong and concentrated that a little bottle will go a very long way.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -MAC - Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation
Cactus_Pear 2/9/2008 7:23:00 PM
Why else would this foundation be the most reviewed product on this site if there wasn't something *great* about it? Studio Fix is awesome, can't beat the color match, coverage, texture, packaging, and price. I love Studio Fix so much, I have yet to find a good shade match in other mu brands. I have acne prone combination skin that tends to get very oily, I don't have any problems with breakouts from SF. Studio Fix works best if you take care of your skin first, make sure to exfoliate, moisturize, and use primer so that this foundation goes on smoothly and not caked on looking or patchy. I use Studio Fix fluid also, which is not as great as Studio Fix powder **edit** although I do love Studio Fix's classic black round packaging with the bottom compartment for the sponge, it's not very durable--one drop on a hard floor will cause it to break and shatter. :-( be careful not to drop your Studio Fix compact!
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Blush -MAC - Blushcreme - Uncommon
Cactus_Pear 1/26/2008 1:55:00 AM
HG blush!! I would never have given this blah looking muddy blush a second look at the counter but I heard good reviews on MUA so I decided to check it out. And I am sooo glad I did......I bought this blush 5 months ago and I've been using it daily ever since. I actually hit the pan on this blush, something that I've never done with any other blush!! I agree with the reviewer below me, although the description "white nude rose" on the website is very vague, it somehow just fits the blush. It is a nude, neutral pink with hints of peach. It looks brownish in the pan but transforms into this gorgeous color when applied. Uncommon is perfect to wear alone for a hint of pink on your cheeks or to use as a base for powder blushes. This color is just so subtle/ easy to work with that it works as an 'anchor' for my powder blushes--I apply Uncommon and then layer a powder blush over it and it lasts all day. It's the perfect everyday blush. This doesn't look like it has much peach, but on my skin NC40 warm toned asian skin, the peach in it really pops out after an hour or so after application.
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Blush -MAC - Blushcreme Pearl Blossoming
Cactus_Pear 12/29/2007 2:58:00 PM
Blossoming is a pretty blush, medium pink with coral undertones and a subtle shimmer. The texture is different than most MAC creme blushes, it's slightly drier and not as sticky/greasy. This is a pretty color to use as a base for a blush like NARS Orgasm or Torrid, a shimmery peachy pink blush and helps the powder last longer. I never really reach for it anymore, as it's winter now and it feels too bright to wear. Good color for spring/summer.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Cosmo-Not Tonight Honey
Cactus_Pear 12/14/2007 11:15:00 PM
The first reviewer hontapocasgreen described this color perfectly... "light champagne honey". It is just that, it's a sheen of sheer neutral champagne. LOVE this on my medium yellow toned asian skin!!!! I was looking for a good neutral beige and saw this with the new OPI collection, it's a great, natural looking color to give a little oomph to your nails or to layer over other similar colors for a sheen. Texture is a bit streaky but it blends in well and the OPI pro wide brush makes application so effortless.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Lipstick in Bombshell
Cactus_Pear 12/5/2007 8:06:00 PM
Bombshell looked terrible on me (NC40 warm toned asian) The cool purple-ish tones in this just clashed with my skintone and the frost finish just looked garish on me. This lipstick could look good on the right person but unfortunately didn't work at all for me. Bombshell is on the sheerer side but it's definitely pigmented to show up. It had too much frost for my liking, I don't like the frosty sheen, looks dated to me. Color: cool toned bubblegum (lilac) pink with tons of gold shimmer/frost finish.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Rubia 
Cactus_Pear 11/25/2007 2:50:00 AM
This is an interesting lipstick shade. Reminds me of Nymphette lipglass.....neutral/ borderline cool base fleshtoned mauve-ish color with a warm gold shimmer. It's a neutral lipstick that looks cool on me. I didn't really find it very similar to VGV, VGV has shimmer/glitter and looked warm on me. Rubia isn't anything to write home about, definitely not a shade you should go out of your way to get. It's not bad, I don't reach for it often but it's good for an easy, natural low key look. It looks nothing like it does in the Paulina Rubio ads. My skintone>> NC40 asian
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Cream Blush in Gueule de Nuit [DISCONTINUED]
Cactus_Pear 11/25/2007 2:44:00 AM
I've been wanting this blush for a long time but could never justify buying it since I had so many blushes. Finally I bought it on a whim......and I am so happy that I did! I *LOVE* this blush! It looks dark/muddy in the pan...but goes on beautifully. It's a natural looking bronzed-gold peachy pink with a gorgeous iridescence/ microshimmer that reflects striking bits of pink, peach, gold, violet. Reminds me of one of my fave blushes, Chanel Fantasia. My skin tone>>NC40 asian. I think this blush might be too dark for paler skin tones, I'm pretty tanned but I have to apply this with a light hand or it's too much.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Profusion [DISCONTINUED]
Cactus_Pear 11/25/2007 2:38:00 AM
I didn't like this lipstick. The color on me reminded me of one of those spinster aunts with garish makeup and talon nail. It just looked bad on my skin tone (NC40 asian.) The color is a medium warm berry-rose in the tube and goes on brighter, rosey/ hot pink/berry on the lips. It's a pretty color but it just didn't work for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Romp Eyeshadow [DISCONTINUED]
Cactus_Pear 11/10/2007 6:28:00 PM
Medium brown w/gold--can be applied sheer for a neutral, shimmery look or built up for a bronze smokey eye. Very easy to pull off. Best thing about Romp is that it has absolutely no red tones---it's just a sheer, medium brown with gold. The gold shimmer is soft and glowy, not chunky or glittery at all. NC40
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Mascara -MAC - Splashproof Lash in Blacksplash
Cactus_Pear 9/30/2007 11:11:00 AM
This mascara was awesome for lengthening /thickening my lashes. It slightly raccooned on me which is a no in my book. The thing that made me decide this was a loser was the little flakes--it flakes off onto my lower lid and the little flakes get into my eyes and irritate the hell out of my contacts, my eyes felt so gritty. If you don't wear contacts, this would be a meh mascara because while it's not bad, there are still many out there that are much better. The reason why I gave this mascara a 1 was because it hurt/irritated my eyes.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Deep Truth
Cactus_Pear 9/28/2007 5:13:00 PM
From the pot, Deep Truth looks very similar to Flashtrack but has a more vivid iridescence of blue and is a slightly lighter hue of blue. It's a deep, vibrant royal blue with a pretty medium blue iridescence. I love to layer this over my eyeliner, for a pretty smoked blue e/s look, looks great with a peachy neutral blush and nude lips. The formula is FANTASTIC, the frost formula feels so soft and pigmented and is easy to blend. A definite keeper from MAC!
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -China Glaze - Ruby Pumps
Cactus_Pear 9/18/2007 6:52:00 PM
Ruby pumps is awesome. 1 coat is blah, the red is fuschia-ish. but add 2-3 coats and the color is a deep, true ruby red with non-chunky/tacky glitter. This n/p really does live up to its name, it really brings Dorothy's ruby shoes to mind. The staying power is excellent, much better than MAC's. And you can just add a bit of n/p to anywhere that chips, because the color blends together instead of looking streaky or messy, the glitter blends it in.
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Liquid -MAC - Select Tint SPF 15 ] [DISCONTINUED]
Cactus_Pear 8/25/2007 7:12:00 PM
This felt pretty crappy on my skin. I bought it because I needed a moisturizing foundation.....instead, select tint tended to accentuate dry flakes/ patches instead of moisturizing. Even w/moisturizer and primer beforehand, this aggravated dry spots on my skin. Select tint feels kinda cake-y....it just doesn't feel good to put on, like MUFE face and body foundation or MAC's face and body foundation. If you're looking for a light, natural looking foundation that actually feels good to put on and makes your skin look better/feel better, try MUFE face and body. or even MAC's, although I think MUFE's is better.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Shindig
Cactus_Pear 8/10/2007 1:32:00 AM
Shindig is GORGEOUS!!!! It looks soo beautiful when applied---it's a medium pink w/coral (absolutely no orange/peach tones in this) with a pearly lustre that goes on smooth and a vivid yet subtle pink/red iridescence. The formula of this Essie n/p goes on smooth. 1 coat of Shindig is slightly sheer, 2 coats make it opaque. HG nailpolish.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No