Toners -Thayers - Rose Petal Alcohol Free Witch Hazel
big_eder 11/7/2003 9:41:00 PM
Granted, this product is a great deal and smells nice, but sensitive skin gals be warned! After using it one night, my skin got blotchy and itchy. I persevered and tried it two more nights, and by the end I had a rash and bumps all over my face.
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Blush -Shu Uemura - P Purple 05B
big_eder 11/4/2003 6:19:00 PM
A true cool-toned lavender/lilac blush with very fine silver microshimmer. I love this blush - never thought purple blushes would work on me, but it's amazingly subtle and very very flattering. Is absolutely gorgeous with a red mouth, and is a wonderful alternative to the usual brownish neutral blush. Not sure that it would show up on darker skintones though (I'm a LLL). Pic in profile, but it looks more drab than in person.
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Blush -Shu Uemura - P Orange 58D
big_eder 11/4/2003 6:16:00 PM
This is a very pigmented burnt red-orange with gold shimmer. It looks much like NARS Taj Mahal but with more red in it. More flattering and wearable, IMHO. A tad too warm-toned for me, as I'm a slightly cool LLL. Would look gorgeous on ladies with darker skin or those able to wear warm colors. Pic in profile.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Ultraceuticals - Ultra Moisturiser Cream
big_eder 10/29/2003 1:00:00 PM
Decent basic night moisturizer. Doesn't clog pores, break me out, irritate my skin, or contain ingredients which react poorly with other skin treatments. Unfortunately, it doesn't do anything except for moisturizer - I wake up with soft skin, but almost any heavy moisturizer will do the same thing. If you are oily, or prone to clogged pores, I highly recommend Awake's Direct Nutrition cream as a better alternative to this. Would not purchase a full jar (I had two generous sample packets).
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Treatments -Ultraceuticals - Ultra ACE Facial Treatment Cream
big_eder 10/29/2003 12:56:00 PM
I can't decide whether this deserves 4 lippies or 5. On the plus side, it's pretty mild despite the manufacturer's warning that it contains very high levels of Vit. A and C, so it doesn't irritate my skin. It doesn't seem to be clogging my pores, and my skin seems to be responding just fine to it, though the results really aren't dramatic. On the downside, it's somewhat expensive given that there aren't any really noticeable results to speak of, it smells bad, and it's so thick it needs to be warmed up before application.
I'm going to use up the full jar, but I think I'm going to return to my tried-and-true Oil of Olay Intensive Restoration Treatment - much easier to secure, cheaper, and at least as effective.
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Moisturizers -Awake - Direct Nutrition
big_eder 10/29/2003 12:37:00 PM
Great, great serious moisturizer. I have extremely dry skin, and cannot believe this is oil-free! It feels so rich, but is extremely easy to spread and not heavy-feeling. I use a tiny bit all over my face at night, and I wake up with baby soft skin that's not at all greasy or filmy. Don't try using this during the day, though, as it leaves a greasy film which takes a while to absorb (gone in the morning though!) and makeup will slide all over it. My dry skin looks refreshed and plumped after I use this! (I'm 24 yrs old so I can only imagine what it does for more mature skin!) I can't say much about it giving me a glow or anything, but that's probably because it doesn't have any exfoliants in it. Still, it's a very soothing cream that will be a godsend now that the cold weather has set in. Does not cause breakouts and would probably work very well for people using strong chemical exfoliants like Renova and Retin-A. A keeper! The best basic moisturizer I've tried.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Pigment in Matte Red
big_eder 10/27/2003 11:37:00 AM
This is a great, great pigment. Seems really scary as it's a true blood red, and matte, no less. It makes a gorgeous red lipstick when mixed with the tiniest bit of lip balm, and I'll mix it with a little moisturizer to use it as a blush - you can make it as sheer as you like, and it results in a pretty cherry-colored flush. I don't use anything remotely pink or red near my eyes, so I can't comment on its use as an eyeshadow. For some reason, this pigment isn't allowed in the States. But I'm still alive so it's not *that* dangerous!
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Masks -Kanebo - Clear White Mask
big_eder 10/23/2003 11:25:00 PM
Oh yuck. This is the only Kanebo mask I don't love, and in fact, I kind of hate it. The gel covering it is much thicker and much more gooey than the liquid on the other masks, and this one just sits on your skin. Takes forever (at least 30 minutes) to dry and my skin feels like it's suffocating the entire time. When I take it off, my skin looks reddish, irritated, and less radiant than before, if you can believe it! I've tried it twice and both times I've been very angry at the mask. Do NOT waste your money on this. The other masks are much better, particularly the Freshel White C, which has become a staple for me.
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Blush -Pout - Flush Blush in Flushed Pink
big_eder 10/23/2003 9:47:00 PM
Very good but not great product (actually deserves 4.5 lippies). The consistency of the Pout sticks is fabulous: while it looks waxy in the tube, it actually applies as a smooth gel-like stick, without any of the stickiness or tugging on Tarte, Passport, or Too Faced blush sticks. Very easy to blend both over and under powder, and it's odorless.
Flushed Pink gives me an effect similar to my beloved MAC Subtropical stain (very deep, bright, candy pink), but it's much sheerer. This is both good and bad because I need a lot more of this to give me the deeply flushed look I want, but the sheerness makes it goof-proof. I will say that it doesn't melt into the skin as well as the stain does, but this doesn't surprise me, as most sticks just don't. The other downside to this is that it doesn't last as long on the face as true gel stains do. It's not silicone-based like NARS Multiples, so it's not an issue of sliding, it just sort of wears off. It's not the best on the lips due to the waxiness (apparent on the lips but not the cheeks) but it would do in a pinch - looks a little opaque though.
I'm not sure that the color would show up on all skin tones, however, at least not without applying a lot. Darker-skinned ladies (I'm a LLL) should definitely try before they buy. It's so portable and easy to apply anywhere, though, I think I'd definitely repurchase if this huge thing ever ran out. $24 at Henri Bendel, Sephora, Louis Boston.
Ingredients:Octyl Palmitate, Aluminum Starch, Octenylsuccinate, Mica, paraffin, Cera Microcristillina, Candelilla Cera, Carnauba, Titanium Dioxide, Talc
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Pout - Miss March
big_eder 10/22/2003 1:55:00 PM
Another beautiful shadow duo from Pout! Their colors are so pretty. One side of Miss March is a light, golden olive green that's almost the exact replica of MAC Golden Olive pigment - it just doesn't flash gold as much as the GO pigment does. But it's shimmery, and has almost a lime tint to it. The other side is a smoky khaki green that goes on a bronzy brown with green undertones. Pout shadows are silky, soft, and have pretty good staying power. They're not very sheer, which I like, but don't get scared - they're not like Dior shadows or anything! $22 for a duo, available at Sephora, Henri Bendel, or Louis Boston in the U.S.
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Eye Shadow -Pout - Miss May
big_eder 10/22/2003 1:48:00 PM
These are such a deal! Two gorgeous colors for only $22... yes, the pans are small (slightly larger than a single Stila shadow), but I've never used up an eyeshadow yet, so it doesn't bother me.
One side of the Miss May is a beautiful shimmery sunshine peach with a golden hue. I've never seen a color quite like it - the peach has a touch of mandarin orange in it, but it's still very much a peach, not an orange. The other side is a medium-dark olive/emerald green that reminds me of a less black-based MAC Humid. This side of the pan isn't as silky as the peach side, but it's very soft and can be "mashed" into pure pigment with the slightest bit of pressure. The color combo makes for a beatiful fresh-faced look. I'm a LLL and due to the pigmentation, I think this combo would show up on most skin tones.
The formulation is sheer but not as sheer as Stila's shadows, and the texture is smooth, very soft. I haven't had a real problem with creasing, either. My only gripe is I wish it came with a mirror inside, as the size makes it perfect for carrying around for touch-ups.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Crazed
big_eder 10/21/2003 10:45:00 AM
This is the scariest NARS blush ever due to its hyper-pigmented quality. We are talking pigmented enough to make Taj Mahal and Exhibit A look almost sheer! One light tap of the brush on this, and I have to tap it on the counter to get even less pigment on the brush before I use it. Color: bright raspberry that has gold microshimmer shot through. Very pretty, but on my face it's almost too ruddy for me - odd, because it definitely looks like a cool-toned blush, but... maybe I'm just wearing too much despite my best efforts? This isn't as versatile or natural-looking a color as most other NARS blushes, so I don't know I'd reach for this much. I actually prefer Outlaw to this - it's a little less bright, and has a similar effect. Oh, btw, I'm a LLL.
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Skincare - Face -RoC - Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Treatment (night) [DISCONTINUED]
big_eder 10/20/2003 4:06:00 PM
So very disappointed with this cream. My skin cannot tolerate AHA's, but has responded well to OTC retinols. When my beloved Oil of Olay Intensive Restoration Treatment ran out, I decided to try this. Result: massive skin irritation, clogged pores, and on top of all that the product stinks to high heaven. Have replaced it with Ultraceuticals Ultra ACE Cream, much better results.
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Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Sheer Lipstick #18
big_eder 10/20/2003 4:02:00 PM
Very beautiful coral pink in the tube, but it just didn't show up on my pigmented lips. Too bad, because when I swiped it on my hand I was literally hopping up and down because it was so gorgeous.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Giorgio Armani - Luminous Silk Foundation
big_eder 10/20/2003 3:38:00 PM
Love this foundation. I don't know that it's anything truly spectacular, but here is what I like about it: full coverage. The consistency is rather thin but it's extremely pigmented, such that I really only need concealer for very dark spots on my face. It stays on all day, and actually looks better by the end of the day (at least on my dry skin). Unfragranced, unlike Becca's LSC which I used right before this. Things I don't like: the colors are a little odd. You know how most Chantecaille foundations are just too pink for most skin tones? I think the Armani is too beige. My complexion is LLL/FFF, but #5 is too dark, and while #4 doesn't look too light, neither of them blend into my skin the way my Becca LSC in Cashmere did - I sat at the counter for an hour and there was not a single perfect match, and I decided it's because the colors are just toned oddly. That said, the pump dispenser is convenient and hygenic (although the pump dispenses a little too much), and the price isn't bad. Great coverage, doesn't look overly heavy. Retails for $46.00
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No