Lips -Aromaleigh - Gothic Lolita Nourishing Color Creme in Pinafore [DISCONTINUED]
Mojie 12/18/2008 4:10:00 PM
I love Aromaleigh's Gothic Lolita Nourishing Color Cremes. They have a wonderful, emollient texture that makes my lips feel soft and happy and pampered. I have them in Melancholia, Lollypop and now Pinafore. I put off buying Pinafore for quite a while because it seemed too loud and pink to me (I hate pink as a color, but I'm learning that it's incredibly flattering on me when it comes to makeup), but I broke down and bought it and I'm so glad I did.
Pinafore is a rich, deep fucshia color that makes my lips look lush and kissable. It doesn't draw attention to the dry spots on my lips and it doesn't take over my whole face when I put it on like some bright lipsticks can. It just gives me a pop of color and brightens up my face.
Like the other GL Color Cremes, Pinafore has a strong chocolate scent that I'm not crazy about, but that's really my only complaint. Unlike Lollypop, Pinafore doesn't smear on me and goes on easily and stays in the lines of my lips without my having to be painstakingly precise with it, even with the chubby lipbalm style tube.
PROS: (1) lush, bright color that's not overwhelming; (2) very smooth and emollient feeling; (3) inexpensive.
CONS: (1) I'm not crazy about the chocolate scent and would be happier if Pinafore was unscented; (2) if you have small lips or a very pronounced cupid's bow, you might have some minor trouble getting it applied precisely thanks to the packaging (I have a strong cupid's bow, but mine is rounded enough that I don't have to be too precise).
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Eye Primer -Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Original (UDPP)
Mojie 12/12/2008 10:57:00 PM
UDPP changed eyeshadow forever for me. I don't find my lids to be insanely oily, but I've always had a hard time getting a smooth, even application of eyeshadow and keeping it on my lids all day. I figured UDPP wasn't something I needed but then I gave in and got myself a tube on a whim and it's literally been a revelation for me.
Through some lucky twist of fate, UDPP is the perfect shade for my fair, neutral-cool skin (MAC NW20, Aromaleigh 2CL, Josie Maran Butter). It blends in invisibly and just evens out the darker skin on my eyelids. The texture is heavy on the silicone. It's slick and easy to spread but not greasy. A couple of small dabs on each lid is plenty. I just spread them out gently with my fingertip, let them set for a couple of seconds and then apply my shadow.
UDPP makes my shadows go on evenly, without that dreaded clumping/uneven spreading. Colors are truer to what's in the container and last much, much longer than on my bare lids. It's indispensible when applying loose mineral eyeshadows like Aromaleigh's, but equally wonderful for any pressed shadow you throw at it.
The only complaint I have is the ridiculous (but cute) packaging that everyone complains about thanks to its product-hoarding curves that require minor surgery to get all the product out. UD really needs to rethink how they're packaging Primer Potion. The only reason any of us put up with it is that the product itself is amazing (and, in many cases, necessary).
PROS: (1) easy to use; (2) comfortable; (3) makes eyeshadows glide on much, much easier than without a base; (4) eyeshadows last longer and without as much creasing; (5) colors are truer to the shade in the container when applied over UDPP.
CONS: (1) container isn't practical by any stretch of the imagination; (2) color may be a bit weird on those with darker skintones, although it applies sheerly; (3) contains a high amount of silicone, so those with skin allergies might have a reaction.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Bliss Labs - Change Your Spots
Mojie 12/12/2008 10:33:00 PM
Let me start out by saying that I'm not sure if I got a defective tube or if the texture of mine is normal. I emailed Sephora asking whether they could tell me and never received a response due to an overload of questions thanks to the holidays. It's possible that I got a bad tube, but I don't know for sure whether that's the case or not.
I bought Change Your Spots thanks to the high ratings here on MUA. I rarely get blemishes, but when I do, I want something to get rid of them fast and without irritating my sensitive skin. This seemed perfect and I couldn't wait to get mine.
The first two times I used my tube of Change Your Spots, I ended up with a watery, runny liquid. Since there were no instructions on the tube to shake it first, I assumed that was normal. The third time, I got watery liquid with a small blob of thicker gel (which was still thin, but thick in relation to the true liquid). Aha! No wonder it wasn't working very well, it needed shaken!
From that point on, I've been shaking my tube and I end up with a thin, runny gel, but at last it's actually a GEL not a liquid. It's still far runnier than I'd expect and tends to pool in the cap, wasting product and making it run out whenever the cap's removed. It would be a lot easier to apply if it had a thicker texture and if I knew that a new tube would have a better consistency, I'd buy another tube in a heartbeat. But my local Sephora doesn't carry Change Your Spots and I can't justify buying another tube online and waiting for it to arrive and then return one tube once I find out if it's normal or not.
But on to the effectiveness. Change Your Spots does work, but not nearly as well as I'd expected based on everyone else's reviews here on MUA. Again, this could be due to the weird texture of mine. Or not. I do find that if I apply Change Your Spots before bed (after shaking it vigorgously and hoping for something resembling gel so it doesn't run down my face), there's a decrease in redness and swelling in the morning, but it's nothing dramatic. It does work better than the other blemish treatments I've tried, so I can't really complain too much, but I would prefer a dramatic difference in a matter of hours like other people seem to be getting.
Would I buy it again? Yes, even if the texture of my tube is normal because it works better than the other spot treatments I've tried. If the tube I have is abnormal and the texture should be thicker, I'd definitely buy another tube in a heartbeat and return my defective one. I have a feeling that it might work better with a thicker texture.
PROS: (1) screw-on top is good for people like me who tend to make messes when things aren't secured tightly; (2) squeeze tube lets you get just the amount you need, rather than a pre-measured pump like some other spot treatments; (3) doesn't burn my sensitive skin too badly (there's a slight burning, but it disappears quickly and doesn't leave my skin red); (4) does make a difference in the size/redness/pain of blemishes overnight.
CONS: (1) my tube is very runny, needs to be shaken HARD before use and still tends to pool in the cap, wasting product; (2) I didn't get the dramatic results that other reviewers seem to be getting; (3) somewhat expensive.
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Lip Treatments -Korres - Lip Butter -Quince
Mojie 12/12/2008 10:20:00 PM
I bought Korres' Quince Lip Butter hoping for a tinted lip balm that would really make a difference in my chronically dry lips while still being pretty and flattering.
The results ended up falling a little short of my expectations. The color in the tub (I hate dipping my fingers into a pot of tinted balm; it's unsanitary and gets under my nails) is a pink-coral-rose shade, very pretty and springy. On my medium-pigmented rosy lips, I get a sheer rose with a touch of coral. It's slightly shiny, not as intensely glossy as a true lip gloss, but more shiny than a regular lip balm. The scent is a nice, tropical fruity type scent, again, very springy/summery. It's bordering on being a little TOO fruity/sweet for me, but I tend to avoid food/fruit scented things that aren't actually food/fruit, so keep that in mind.
The downside was that this was nowhere near as moisturizing as I needed it to be. It felt nice on my lips and seemed to leave them feeling a little less parched while it was on, but there wasn't any long-term softening/smoothing and the lip butter seemed to wear off quickly.
PROS: (1) pretty, flattering color; (2) looks less made up than a regular lip gloss, making it perfect for a casual, but still polished look; (3) container has a small plastic insert to protect the lip butter from dust/dirt.
CONS: (1) unhygienic pot-style container; (2) not moisturizing enough; (3) wears off more quickly than I'd like.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Peter Thomas Roth - VIZ-1000 75% Hyaluronic Acid Complex
Mojie 12/12/2008 10:09:00 PM
VIZ-1000 is my first ever serum. In spite of it's $65 price tag, I kept finding myself getting drawn back to it on Sephora and finally gave in about a month ago and bought a bottle.
One pump of VIZ-1000 covers my entire face, but I think 1 1/2 pumps (if I could get half a pump, which is impossible since the pump is very stiff and either goes down all the way or not at all) would let me get a more even application. The consistency is very thin, almost watery, but slightly gel-like.
This is supposed to be extremely moisturizing, "by attracting 1000 times its weight in water from the moisture in the air", but I don't notice a huge difference in the moisture level in my skin, using this (strangely, there seems to be more of a moisturizing effect if I use this alone rather than under another moisturizer, for reasons I can't figure out). What I do notice is that my skintone is much more even with less redness and irritation and that I have next to no breakouts anymore.
I use VIZ-1000 once a day (before bed) on freshly cleansed skin, layered over Josie Maran argan oil and under my moisturizer (usually LUSH Vanishing Cream or Gorgeous). I apply the argan oil (4 drops) by rubbing it into my palms and patting them over my face, then 1 squirt of VIZ-1000 (again, rubbing it into my palms and pressing them gently over my face), let them set for 15 seconds or so, then apply my moisturizer as usual.
Like all PTR products, the packaging is simplistic and appealing to me in its minimalism. There's no box to protect this clear glass pump bottle, which may bother some people, just a plastic wrapper. Granted, it's not as posh as some other expensive brands, but I like the clean look of it.
PROS: (1) lightweight texture sinks in easily; (2) leaves my skintone even and my skin far less irritated; (3) seems to help prevent breakouts (whether it's VIZ-1000 alone or a combination of it, argan oil and my Clarisonic, I can't say for sure, but I think they all play a part); (4) a little goes a long way; (5) hygienic pump container.
CONS: (1) doesn't seem to do all that much to increase my skin's moisture level (although other reviews I've read suggest that that's not always the case for other people, so it may help you in that area or it may not); (2) expensive; (3) can leave skin feeling a little sticky until it's sunk in completely; (4) stiff pump doesn't allow for partial "squirts".
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Aromaleigh - Pure Rouge in Cashmere [DISCONTINUED]
Mojie 12/12/2008 6:08:00 PM
I fully expected not to like this once I received the sample I ordered. In the bag, it's a dusty tea rose shade that, frankly, looked boring and too mature for me. But since I bought it and felt like I should give it a chance, I brushed a bit onto my cheeks and completely changed my mind about Cashmere.
On my fair, neutral-cool (MAC NW20, Aromaleigh 2CL) skin, Cashmere comes off as a very natural, slight pink flush. It's not a candy pink like my beloved MAC Pink Swoon and it's not a pale, ballet pink like my Guerlain Rouge Chamallow. It's a nude-pink that just gives my cheeks a healthy touch of color without looking chalky. There are some tiny red shimmer particles that show up if I swatch Cashmere on the back of my hand, but they don't seem to make it onto my cheeks (which is good; I don't want glitter in my blush). It's perfect with a nude eye and lip. For a brighter look, I'll still be using MAC Pink Swoon, but this is going to be my go-to blush for a low key, natural look when I don't want a candyish shade on my cheeks.
While I'm not a huge fan of loose powder blushes, the color of Cashmere in relation to my skin (not a huge difference like there is with my MAC blushes and some other Aromaleigh blushes I've tried like Cherrybomb), makes it easy to apply without going overboard.
PROS: (1) natural, understated shade that works well on fair, cool-toned skin; (2) little to no shimmer; (3) cheap; (4) a little goes a long way.
CONS: (1) doesn't give a bright dash of color, so if that's what you're looking for, Cashmere isn't for you; (2) loose mineral powder is trickier to apply than pressed powder blush.
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Lips -Aromaleigh - Gothic Lolita Nourishing Color Creme in Melancholia [DISCONTINUED]
Mojie 12/12/2008 2:58:00 PM
I have Aromaleigh's Gothic Lolita Nourishing Lip Creme in Lollypop and love the texture, but find the color a little difficult to work with and not as flattering as I'd like against my fair (MAC NW20, Aromaleigh 2CL), neutral-cool skin, so I decided to try Melancholia. Originally, I went for Lollypop because as much as I love deep, rich reds/wine shades, they tend to look harsh on me, but I'm glad that I took a risk and got Melancholia in the end.
In the tube, Melancholia is a deep berry wine shade with no shimmer (unlike Lollypop). On my medium-pigmented rosy lips, I get a sheer wash of rich berry color that's surprisingly flattering and not at all overwhelming.
Like Lollypop (and Candy Cane, Aromaleigh's holiday LE nourishing color creme), Melancholia has a very smooth, soft, creamy texture that glides on effortlessly and leaves my lips feeling wonderfully soft, soothed and comfortable. Unlike Lollypop, I don't seem to have the issues with the color smearing wildly outside my lip line when I rub my lips together. I think that might be due to Lollypop's bolder, brighter color and shimmer. Any smearing with Lollypop is just more obvious. I do find that the standard lipbalm tube makes it a bit difficult to get precise application with the color cremes. Melancholia is easier to apply than Lollypop thanks to the less bold color, but I'd be happier if Aromaleigh repackaged the color cremes into the slimline tubes they use for their lipsticks.
My only real complaint with Melancholia (and the other Gothic Lolita color cremes), aside from the packaging, is the strong chocolate scent. I'm not a fan of chocolate in general and really don't want to have to keep smelling it because it's right beneath my nose. The scent does fade, but if it were eliminated all-together I'd be much happier. It's just too sweet and cloying for me.
PROS: (1) rich, sheer berry shade; (2) goes on very smoothly and leaves my lips soft and smooth; (3) unlike Lollypop, Melancholia is easier to apply and seems less prone to obvious smearing; (4) cheap!
CONS: (1) size and shape of the lipbalm tube makes it hard to get precise application; (2) strong chocolate scent (which may be a good thing if you're a chocolate fan).
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Lipstick -Lipstick Queen - Medieval
Mojie 12/12/2008 2:49:00 PM
LOVE the texture of this balm/lipstick. It's extremely smooth, soft and moisturizing, thanks to the soothing vitamin E base. If I hadn't looked at my tube of Medieval (and seen the rich, candy apple red color) before slicking it on, I would have guessed that it was a very posh lipbalm. It leaves my chronically dry lips feeling smooth and happy, not tight or flaky the way they can with traditional lipsticks. It also seems that the ultra-moisturizing formula keeps the dry spots on my lips a little more camouflaged. No matter how much I exfoliate my lips, it seems like traditional lipstick draws attention to those spots, which is frustrating and not very attractive.
Color-wise, Medieval falls a little short of my expectations, but only because I was hoping for a true (but very sheer) red shade. On my medium-pigmented rosy lips, I get a sheer deepish rose shade from Medieval, not the cherry/blood red I was anticipating. It's still beautiful, don't get me wrong. It's just not quite what I expected.
I'm very impressed with the packaging on Medieval. It's my first Lipstick Queen product and from what I can gather, they're all as beautifully packaged as this is. Medieval comes in a satin finish, deep cherry red metal tube with elegant script on the outside and a small logo on the inner tube under the cap. It not only looks pretty but seems very sturdy (a good thing for someone like me who's hard on things).
PROS: (1) very smooth, moisturizing formula; (2) sheer finish makes this a red(dish) shade that's non-threatening and easy to wear; (3) classy, solid packaging; (4) all the comfort of a lipbalm with a sheer wash of color.
CONS: (1) not the true (sheer) red shade I was hoping for; (2) a little expensive for a tinted lipbalm.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Aromaleigh - Candy Cane Nourishing Color Creme [DISCONTINUED]
Mojie 12/5/2008 6:02:00 PM
Candy Cane Nourishing Color Creme is one of Aromaleigh's tinted lip balms. They come in a standard, twist up lip balm tube but are much softer and smoother than many lip balms I've come across.
Candy Cane is described as "a delightful pepperminty balm with a touch of nude pink and subtle iridescence" and that's right on the money. In the tube, it's a soft nude shade, somewhere between pink and brown. It doesn't look iridescent until it's swatched on the hand or applied to the lips.
On my medium-pigmented rosy lips, I get very little color from this, but it's not intended to be heavily pigmented. What I get is a subtle wash of soft pinky nude with a gentle iridescence that's very soft and natural but ever so slightly made up. It's a perfect winter color with a neutral or soft pink eye and a touch of pale pink blush or it can be slicked on with a bare face. It's not an obvious, "I'm wearing makeup" kind of shade.
The texture is wonderful. Soft, smooth and creamy. It glides on easily, smooths out wonderfully and leaves my lips feeling soft, smooth and moisturized.
My only complaint is that it emphasizes some of the drier areas of my lips, which tends to be the case on me with lighter lip shades.
PROS: (1) soft, gently iridescent pink-nude shade; (2) soft, creamy texture; (3) very moisturizing; (4) easy to apply even without a mirror; (5) inexpensive for a lipstick (but expensive for a balm); (6) soft peppermint taste/scent that's not overpowering.
CONS: (1) limited edition--Aromaleigh says it's a seasonal shade that comes out around Christmas each year; (2) very subtle color may not impress some people.
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Lips -Aromaleigh - Gothic Lolita Nourishing Color Creme in Lollypop [DISCONTINUED]
Mojie 12/5/2008 5:52:00 PM
I've always loved the look of a red lip but find it hard to wear myself without looking like a clown or a hooker thanks to my full lips and fair skin. I've found one wearable red lipstick (MAC Lady Bug), but I'm always on the lookout for a nice sheer red lip color that I could slap on in a hurry and wear without feeling as self-conscious as I do in a full-on red liptick. Lollypop is fairly close to meeting that need, but it does have some downsides for me.
On the plus side, I love the texture of this balm. It's soft and smooth and moisturizes my chronically dry lips beautifully. It doesn't feel like a lipstick or quite like chapstick. It's somewhere in between. A nice, smooth, soft balm that makes my lips feel comfy and happy. It glides right on my lips with no tugging at all.
On the negative side, I absolutely have to apply this in front of a mirror and with some tissue to clean up the edges of my lips. Under no circumstances can I smooth my lips together without again being in front of a mirror and having tissue handy because it smears easily outside the lines of my lips, making me look like I've been guzzling Kool-Aid.
I'm also not entirely sold on the color. Lollypop appears to be a rich cherry red with subtle shimmer in the tube, but it has a decidedly orange base on my rosy lips and against my neutral-cool skin. It's still red, but it's a warm, orange-based red. It's nice enough, but not quite what I was hoping for.
All in all, though, I'm impressed. The texture is great, the way it leaves my lips feeling is great and the color is pretty (although not perfect). This would be ideal for a warm-toned woman looking for a non-threatening, semi-subtle red lip.
PRO: (1) soft, smooth texture; (2) very moisturizing; (3) glides on easily; (4) inexpensive; (5) makes for a semi-subtle red lip that's likely mroe wearable for many ladies.
CON: (1) orange-based red isn't as flattering as I'd like on me; (2) smears easily outside the lines of my lips during application and if I rub my lips together to smooth the balm out.
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Mascara -Christian Dior - Diorshow Mascara in Plum (LE)
Mojie 11/25/2008 7:42:00 PM
I got a small sample tube of Diorshow mascara in Black with my Dior Moonlight eyeshadow quint and loved it and I've been toying with the idea of trying a colored mascara for a while now, so when I saw that the Diorshow mascara came in Plum I had to try it.
In the tube, Plum is a deep violet edging towards eggplant. If I spread it on the back of my hand, it comes off as a very deep violet purple, very close to a true eggplant shade. But on my lashes (which are medium to dark brown) it looks like a standard black shadow but maybe a smidge less harsh. It was a little disappointing because I was dreaming of beautiful, rich purple lashes that would look sexy but not overdone and got...black or near black. But since I was going to get a full-size tube of Diorshow in black anyway, it's a keeper.
It's possible that if I got more product on my lashes (my tube seems fairly dry and doesn't drag much mascara out when the brush is removed, but that's more or less true of my other Diorshow mascaras, so I don't think I have a defective tube necessarily) I'd get more color payoff, but I doubt it.
Like the other shades of Diorshow, Plum has the signature, ginormous brush that makes it nearly impossible to use if you have small eyes or tight corners. It also has the strong rose scent (thanks to Dior's decision to make Diorshow more luxe--or something, I'm not really sure WHY they felt the need to do this; who's going to be smelling their eyelashes, anyway?--by adding fragrance to the formula), which can potentially irritate sensitive or allergic eyes. Luckily, neither one is an issue for me in spite of having eye allergies to other things. Diorshow leaves my lashes soft and natural looking but defined and lengthened (I have long lashes to begin with, but Diorshow makes them longer). I don't get any real volume, which is okay because that's not the look I prefer.
PROS: (1) no clumping, smearing or streaking; (2) very smooth coverage; (3) left my lashes very soft; (4) lots of length.
CONS: (1) huge brush will be too big for those with small eyes; (2) fragrance can irritate eyes; (3) expensive; (4) doesn't show up as a true purple on me; instead I get a shade almost indistinguishable from black.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -BeneFit Cosmetics - Silky Finish Lipstick - I Do I Do I Do (LE)
Mojie 11/24/2008 9:52:00 PM
I've never quite understood the hype around BeneFit's products (don't get me wrong, they're nice enough, they just don't wow me like they seem to some people). But I had to try this shade of lipstick after getting and loving the Silky-Finish Lipstick in Bouquet Dive (a rosey coppery shade).
I Do I Do I Do is described on Sephora as a "pink pearl" color and that's true, but it doesn't quite describe how pretty this is in person. It's a cross between a medium rosey pink and a soft coral (it leans more heavily towards pink) with lots of finely milled gold shimmer that makes your lips glow (in a good way). The color is very wearable and would probably suit a wide variety of skin tones, although the coloring seems to be on the warm side (I'm neutral-cool toned myself and it looks good on me, so don't let that dissuade you if you're on the neutral-ish end of the spectrum).
Like Bouquet Dive, this is a semi-sheer lipstick that can be built up somewhat. It has the same irritating grittiness when I rub my lips together (it seems less noticeable in I Do I Do I Do, but it's still there), but it's not so noticeable that it really bothers me. After all, I only feel it when I intentionally rub my lips together to spread the lipstick out. Other than that, it applies very, very smoothly and just glides on.
And, again, I love the packaging. It's sturdy metal with a simple, funky white swirl design at the base of the tube and a simple, raised BeneFit logo on the inside tube (under the cap). No gaudy packaging and no cheap plastic here. This is made to last.
PROS: (1) gorgeous pinky-corally shade; (2) applies very smoothly; (3) non-drying on my chronically dry lips; (4) strong metal packaging.
CONS: (1) feels gritty when I rub my lips together; (2) limited edition; (3) shimmer may be too much for some people.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -LUSH - Ocean Salt
Mojie 11/20/2008 5:28:00 PM
Ocean Salt seems to be a love it or hate it product from what I've encountered. My husband is one of the few people I know who's in the middle. Personally, I hate it.
The only good things I can really say about Ocean Salt from my point of view are that the color and mixing process are fun (I may be a grown woman, but I like bright, funky colors and anything else that make skincare more entertaining for me), the smell is relatively nice (it's citrusy but not lemony; I hate lemon scented things) and it's from LUSH so I know it's made with lots of healthy, natural ingredients. All of those are great, but if a product doesn't work for me, then it doesn't matter how much fun it is to play with or how nice it smells.
But as far as actually using this monster of a scrub goes, it's a complete failure for me. The salt crystals are WAY too harsh for my sensitive dry/combo skin. They leave my face red and sore and doesn't do much of anything to help with dry spots. All I get is a sore, red face and sometimes itchiness from the lanolin (which I'm allergic to and can only tolerate in conditioners). I've never found it helpful as a treatment for pimples, either. In fact it seems to make them worse on me, probably from the irritation of being scrubbed raw by the salt. I also had trouble with the scrub getting into the grooves on the tub and keeping it from closing tightly, letting in water and air.
There are very few LUSH skincare products that I truly don't like and Ocean Salt is one of them. For a while, we had it on hand in our house because my husband used it on his back to try to clear up his acne (it didn't really help, although he went through several tubs trying and seemed to like the feel of it on his skin, which is much, much tougher than mine is), but I won't be buying it anymore. It's a waste of money.
PROS: (1) fun blue color; (2) nice, citrusy smell; (3) natural ingredients.
CONS: (1) WAY too harsh for my skin; (2) doesn't help with dryness or blemishes; (3) expensive; (4) contains lanolin which can cause allergic reactions in people allergic to wool (like me).
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Aromaleigh - Gothic Lolita Rouge - Corset [DISCONTINUED]
Mojie 11/20/2008 4:09:00 PM
Aromaleigh describes Corset as "a clear brilliant reddish rouge" that will give a "candy apple" color when applied with a heavier hand and "a bright pop of natural color on your cheeks" with a lighter application. I'd say that's accurate.
In the container (I got a sample baggie of this blush), it's a deep, ruby red with a subtle iridescence to it. On my skin, I get a clean red flush with just a hint of shimmery iridescence. It's a playful bright red, but it's sexy, too. A little goes a long way, but not as far as I expected on my fair (MAC NW20; Aromaleigh 2CL) skin. I used 2 small dabs on each cheek and got a strong flush. 1 small dab on the tip of a finger would probably give a subtler look if you have fair to pale skin.
I like the texture of this and the color and the only reason that I won't be buying a full-size jar anytime soon (I did say I'd rebuy because I would--eventually) is that I already have a couple of other red blushes (Guerlain Divinora Bubble Blush in Rouge Lollipop and Make Up For Ever Powder Blush in 131 Dark Red) and don't to add any more to the collection right at the moment.
PROS: (1) highly pigmented; (2) beautiful candy apple red color; (3) sheer iridescence that highlights the cheeks without going overboard; (4) very finely milled.
CONS: (1) can be somewhat easy to overdo it.
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Powder -Aromaleigh - Glissade [DISCONTINUED]
Mojie 11/20/2008 3:57:00 PM
I'd basically given up on the hope that mineral makeup was ever going to look truly good on me until I decided to try Aromaleigh on an impulse. Everyday Minerals is pretty good--a far cry from the disaster that is Bare Minerals--but it didn't work as well as I wanted. It was okay and I'd have used it now and then, but I wanted something better. This is it!
Aromaleigh's Glissade is much different than any other mineral powder foundation I've tried before. It has silicone in it, so it has an oddly smooth feel to it and it glides over my skin instead of emphasizing the dry areas. I actually ended up applying it with my fingers instead of a brush since it was so easy to spread and blended in so easily. The feel on my skin is like a cross between a weightless powder and a silicone primer and it looks very natural but also very smooth. It evens out my skintone and hides minor flaws (like pigmentation scars and redness) fairly well, but the coverage isn't enough to hide any flaws that are anything more than minor. I've found that to be true for most mineral foundations, though, so I can't fault Aromaleigh for it. And I like the lighter coverage, so it works out well for me.
My only complaint is that I've been a bit spoiled by Everyday Minerals' free samples and feel like $2.20 is a bit much for a plastic baggie. Maybe if the samples came in a small jar I'd feel a little better about it. You do get a fairly decent amount of product in the samples, though.
I'm NW20 in MAC foundations and Cool-Fair to Cool-Fair Medium in Everyday Minerals and got a sample of Aromaleigh Glissade in 2CL (Light Cool/Linen or neutral-cool) and it's a good match to my skintone.
I just went back and ordered a full-size container. It probably won't replace my tinted moisturizers, but it's going to be nice to have on hand and I'm definitely going to get more wear out of it than my Everyday Minerals.
PROS: (1) smooth, silky feel; (2) glides on easily and spreads well; (3) feels light on the skin; (4) doesn't make me itch; (5) doesn't accentuate any dry spots on my skin; (6) LOTS of shades to choose from, from the ultra-ultra-pale to the darker end of the spectrum.
CONS: (1) has silicone in it which may cause breakouts for some people; (2) coverage isn't enough to cover anything but minor to minor-medium flaws; (3) samples are a bit expensive IMO.
UPDATE 1/12/09: I've been using Glissade regularly since writing my original review and am now using a 50/50 mix of 2CL and 3CL and have a perfect match. I've been experimenting with ways of applying Glissade (kabuki vs. buffer brush, with primer and without, with a setting spritz of mineral water and without, etc.) and found that I get just the right amount of coverage with a natural finish if I mix a small pinch of Glissade with LUSH Vanishing Cream moisturizer (although I imagine any light, easily absorbed, non-greasy moisturizer would work) and apply it with a wedge sponge spritzed with mineral water. I do have to be careful not to mix too much Glissade into the moisturizer or it will dry down very cakey (although it looks perfect when it's freshly applied). So some trial and error is necessary to get the mix right, but I'm loving my Glissade tinted moisturizer.
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