Cleansers -Eve Lom - Cleanser
a67penguin 10/26/2004 11:56:00 AM
Although incredibly difficult to obtain in the US anymore, I'm still using this cleanser. It is, hands down, the best "end of the day" cleanser I've tried.... melts off the grime and makeup, leaves the skin fairly moist but not oily/greasy (at least for me). Make sure you scrub off ALL the cream, though-- don't leave ANY traces of product behind-- otherwise you may get zits.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -MAC - Select Tint SPF 15 ] [DISCONTINUED]
a67penguin 10/15/2004 8:32:00 AM
Purchased this as an alternative to Becca's LSF (too oily). I have basically pretty good skin and was looking for something to even out a little redness around my nose and cheekbones. Purchased this at the Pro shop at the King of Prussia mall, where the SAs are extremely helpful (or, at least, one named Diva is). Discovered my true shade is a NW (not NC) 35. When Diva put both shades on either cheek, MAN is there a difference between the NW and NC. NW looked natural where NC looked like chalk. I guess that means I'm more neutral to reddish than yellow toned, though I'm an MMM in the winter, tending towards GGG when tan. Anyway, back to the product, this feels very nice on the skin, doesn't give a whole lot of coverage, but looks natural. I top it off with Becca's Wheat powder and it looks great.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Paula's Choice - Barely There Sheer Matte Tint SPF 20
a67penguin 9/17/2004 11:31:00 AM
I purchased this in "sheer beige) during PB's Labor Day free shipping offer. As others have written, it is extremely sheer, but evens out the redness very nicely. I was looking for something similar to Becca's LSF (Toast is my shade), but not as greasy. This fits the bill. I was going to rate it higher wrt price, but as another MUAer wrote, Becca's LSF gives you more product for the money (probably more than 2 oz I'm guessing for $35) than PB does. This is 1 oz, which on one hand is the std. size for fx. products, but on the other hand, is a bit small for some tinted moisturizer products (i.e., LM, LSF). Nevertheless, the price is pretty reasonable ($12.50, no shipping during holidays and no tax) everything considered. Although the finish is supposed to be matte, I found I got oily by mid morning (but that's typical for me anyway... most TM would get oily earlier than that). It does sort of accentuate my pores, too. Overall, not the best product, but better than most.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Frederic Fekkai - Texturizing Balm
a67penguin 8/18/2004 9:59:00 AM
Very nice lightweight product which encourages my fine (but lots of it) hair to go into the wavy style my hairdresser razor cut. Doesn't weigh my hair down like my old Sumo Wax did. Also seems to hold better. I don't know how he does it. Will try it on wet hair as Erin/Octoberbride suggested.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -NARS - Pampa
a67penguin 8/18/2004 9:55:00 AM
Appears brown in the tube, but shows up as a neutral pinkish brown stain on the lips. Very pretty for fall. I'm glad I allowed the national MUA to talk me into it. Looks great when layered with Boogie Nights or Dirty Shame. Stain lasts a long time. Consistency is like a watered down lipstick, not a gloss. You may need to blot after you apply it. You don't need much. I apply with the wand, then use a lipbrush to spread the product onto my lips. This keeps it from getting too dark and allows you to spread the product b/f it dries. It dries pretty fast. hth.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -NARS - Lip Stain Gloss in Victoire
a67penguin 8/18/2004 9:53:00 AM
Scary looking in the tube, but Victoire shows up on me as just a really pretty deep rose shade... my own lip color, but punched up. The consistency is a thin watered down lipstick (not a gloss), but it dries quickly and you may need to blot. You don't need much to get the rose effect. The stain lasts a while-- not indefinitely, but longer than other lipsticks, glosses, etc. I highly recommend, with the small caveat that the lipwand applicator could be improved upon. It appears to deposit more product than you need (unless you want to look goth). hth
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Chanel - Ombre D'Eau Fluid Iridescent Eyeshadow, (general)
a67penguin 8/18/2004 9:50:00 AM
On impulse, I purchased two shades this weekend, and will be returning them to Saks. The color is supposed to last all day, however, the shades are pretty subtle unless you layer them on thick (and it is easy to do that and get cheesy looking application). I really didn't notice they lasted all day, and I wouldn't rely upon them as a base for other shadows, either. The wand applicator (sort of like a lipgloss) takes some time to get used to, and I think takes more time than if you just used powder and brushes. You have to smudge with your fingers, too, which means you get dirty fingertips and uneven application as well. A cool concept, but until some of the kinks are worked out, it will remain a concept product. Good try, Chanel.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Vincent Longo - Gel-X in Kiss
a67penguin 6/18/2004 8:59:00 AM
This is one great lipstick. Feels featherlight on your lips, but simultaneously conditions them while leaving a nice stain behind. I'd use a little lipliner to make sure there's no intial migration of color, but honestly, once the color sets, there's little ruboff. Passes the coffee mug test (very minimal rub off). Great product, and would purchase more!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Sue Devitt - Gold Coast Bronzing Powder
a67penguin 4/16/2004 3:23:00 PM
Despite my self-imposed ban on new purchases, I decided to drop $30 on this new bronzer (although I already have a Becca one.... in salsa). I'm really tan right now, after returning from the Caribbean, so the SD shows up as more of a reddish bronze shade as opposed to a true bronze. Not sure whether I'd use it as a bronzer for me, anyway (due to coloring issues), but its a very nice blush! Long lasting.... nice consistency, OK packaging. Wish it were a bit cheaper, but... hey. It gets 5 stars from me!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Yves Saint Laurent - Touche Blush #1 Rose
a67penguin 3/16/2004 8:40:00 AM
I wish these came in more colors. This is, hands down, the easiest blush delivery system. No flying powder, no greasy cream, no streaking. The colors are lovely-- I purchased the bright pink shade, and I'm glad the SA talked me into it. Now-- since I only have about 100 other blushes, ....do I rotate, or just stick with this one? hehe.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Versace - Versace's Lips (in general)
a67penguin 2/17/2004 8:56:00 AM
If you like the Armani MSL, you'll love the Versace Lips. Feels like a gloss (whisper light), yet somehow, imperceptibly, it leaves a stain on your lips that will last. And, best of all, it doesn't dry out your lips, either. A definite repurchase in other shades.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Versace - Glam Touch Blush
a67penguin 2/17/2004 8:54:00 AM
Great, great, great stuff. Hands down, the BEST powder blush out there. I could do without the lion head design (a bit over the top for my taste, but hey.... it reminds me of my heydays from the 80s). Lasts a good long time, finely milled.... would like to try more of these.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Versace - Smoothing Skin Foundation [DISCONTINUED]
a67penguin 2/17/2004 8:50:00 AM
This is it! The HG material! Funny-- but had this not been on sale at the Versace boutique, and had I not been on the lookout for a certain Versace lipstick, I never would have stumbled upon it. Hands down, the best I've ever tried. Great coverage, but doesn't look fake. Apply with a wet sponge. I'm thinking of purchasing another one b/f the sale is over. BTW-- for reference sake, I'm a V2004-- however, I'm pretty light this time of the year. Nice yellow undertone, but basically a neutral light beige.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Revive - Moisturizing Renewal Cream
a67penguin 1/31/2004 10:32:00 AM
I've used this night cream for about a week, and I must admit I see some improvements. The capillaries around my nose aren't as red, my skin feels softer and more refined (in the pore area) and appears to be dewy/glowy. Whether this is due to the epidermal growth complex, or just a good moisturizing base combined with AHAs, I cannot say. However, I believe its a good product for one reason: after an glycolic acid peel, NOTHING heals my skin as fast as this stuff.... nothing. And I think that's due to the EGH that is in the cream (the "unique" ingredient which allegedly commands the high price of the product). EGH, acc. to Paula B., is a great wound healer. So, ladies-- if your skin feels a bit raw due to the great weather we've been experiencing, or you have some sunburn, or are recovering from an AHA peel, try to score a sample of this stuff (or just buy it). I'd probably buy this again, although I purchased it during the Sak's $50 off $100 deal, so it ended up costing me around $100 (with tax and shipping). Normally, it costs around $150. However (psst).... the Nieman Marcus counter at KoP is very generous with samples of this stuff. Just ask! HTH!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Smashbox - Lip Brilliance Lightbox (warm)
a67penguin 1/27/2004 8:41:00 AM
I've never been that much of a SB afficionado--- I see their stuff and think, "eh.." but I do see the line has a huge following at the KoP Nordstrom's, where the MUA constantly is ringing up the sales. So, finally I asked to see one of the small little lip palettes (included is a small lipbrush-- practically useless on its own, but nice to have in a pinch). The palette is covered in a vulcanized rubber coating, sort of a la NARS, and inside there are three shades of gloss (actually, more like liquid lipstick): one is a really gold shade, the other is a fairly brownish pink (think Turkish Rose as a lipgloss/lipstick) and the other is a dusty rose. Problem I have, is that the lipgloss "migrates" onto the mirror-- and I cannot understand how that happens, other than the packaging is cheap and rather defective. (isn't this stuff, incidentally, also sold on QVC? That might explain it). All in all, packaging quality rivals the brand's forefather-- Max Factor. It looks expensive, but the packaging is drugstore cheap. The lipglosses wear well, but not that great, either. I think they're comparable to Chantecailles glosses, though at a much more favorable price ($25 for three in this palette) and you can find some similar colors to Chantecaille. That's why I rated it an overall "4."
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No