Powder -Unlisted Brand - Gabriel Cosmetics - Zuzu Luxe Dual Powder Foundation
reallyrita 8/5/2012 12:58:00 PM
It has been too hot for makeup recently. Even my tinted sunscreen felt thick and heavy on my face. I decided to try the ZuZu dual powder foundation based on the reviews here. I initially bought color D-10 as I was matched to that one by the SA. I was almost immediately worried that I had the wrong color. The color in the pan looked a little pink toned to me when I checked it in natural daylight. After going to the website, I realized that it was indeed pink toned. I am light olive and need more yellow based foundation. I returned it the next day for the D-7 which is the yellow based equivalent of the D-10. I have been applying it over my sunscreen with the big ecotools bronzer brush. This brush is really soft and dense and picks up a good amount of product and applies it evenly and smoothly. You are supposed to use the sponge applicator that comes in the contact. I have not tried that yet as I do not want a really heavy coverage during this heat spell. The compact seems sturdy enough and is easy to open. The sponge and mirror are located under the pan, making the whole thing a little bit bulky. I love the feel of this on my skin. No streaks, no itchy-ness, no settling into fine lines and best of all....no cakey-ness. I like to keep my ecobrush for bronzers only so I may need to get a second one to use with this foundation. I would rebuy this product in a heartbeat. There do not seem to be a lot of color choices however. I was lucky to get a really good match.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Nuance by Salma Hayek - Tinted Moisturizer
reallyrita 7/13/2012 2:20:00 PM
This little one ounce tube of tinted moisturizer packs a big punch. It goes on like a liquid foundation and gives a good amount of coverage. Concealer is still needed. I was surprised as I did not expect this amount of pigmentation from a tint. I bought color #250 which is the Light/Medium. It is definitely yellow/warm based and blends perfectly on my fair olive skin which is slightly tanned at the moment. It does not contain a sunscreen and I am actually glad about that as I can use my preferred product under the tint. It wears well but not all day long. I bought it to take with me on a quick trip to DC where I know the weather will be very hot and very humid. I just know that my regular foundation will feel like a clay mask on my face in that climate so I wanted something lighter. I don't have to pack a daytime moisturizer as this as just the right amount for me in the formula. This might not work for you if you have oily skin as it does have that dewy finish that comes from most tinted moisturizers. This feels far less heavy on my face than my usual Bobbi Brown tinted moisturizer. I think it will be just what I need for the climate challenge coming up for me. I might buff on a bit of powder for the evening. The one ounce tube is air travel friendly but a bit expensive for only the one ounce.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Milani - Pretty in Porcelain
reallyrita 7/12/2012 12:15:00 PM
I love Milani polishes. They may be some of the very best on the market today. Having said that, this is not one of them. It was a bit thick, went on streaky and is more metallic than pearlized. Looks different on the nails than in the bottle. I did use a base coat as always. It just does not look all that smooth. Fortunately it is on my toes and I will live with it for a few days. If I had used it on my fingernails I would have removed it pronto. I don't know yet about how it wears as this pedicure is still fresh. These are just my first impressions. I have never had trouble with Milani polishes not lasting a good long while but I usually add two top coats...especially on my toes. We will see. Meanwhile, I am sure these toes of mine will glow in the dark tonight. Needless to say, I won't be repurchasing.
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Eye Shadow -Milani - Caramel Brown Powder Shadow
reallyrita 7/7/2012 11:53:00 AM
This lovely neutral brown shade is part of the new collection of eyeshadows just released by Milani. I have already reviewed the gold color. Like the gold, this is very pigmented, not chalky or powdery at all. It applies smoothly and evenly. Yes, there is some shimmer but it is subtle. I have used this as a wash on the eyelid and I have also used it with the gold shadow to create a different look. I use these shadows with a light hand because I want to keep the shimmer, light as it is, to a minimum. This is a terrific bargain for a big pan and under five dollars. I have a couple of the matte shades as well but I have hardly used them yet as I am loving the brown and brown/gold combo. The packaging is quite plain but I worry about the long term stability of the hinge area.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -Physicians Formula - Mineral Glow Pearls- Translucent Pearls
reallyrita 7/2/2012 11:38:00 PM
From all the reviews I have read about this product, you either love it or hate it. I have older skin and I like a little glow even in the day without glitter or shimmer or frost. I have had this product for almost a year now and I reach for it almost every day, especially when I am just doing a quick make up to get me out the door. I just got back from a vacation where make-up really wasn't a necessity and this was the product I grabbed for when tidying up for a dinner out. I think it will disappoint a younger person who can carry off the shimmer of a pronounced highlighter. This is very subtle highlighting and I think it is very suitable for mature skin types. The brush is nearly useless but I have used it in a pinch. The packaging is bulky because of this brush compartment. You do get a lot of product, however.
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Eye Shadow -Milani - Gold Dust Powder Eye Shadow
reallyrita 6/18/2012 1:35:00 PM
I would buy this es again if I lost or broke it as it is a gorgeous color. However, the pan is huge: 3.1 grams. I think that is twice as much, at least, as a Mac shadow. I am a little worried about the packaging. It has a clear plastic lid with a plastic hinge. Time will tell whether opening and closing it a lot will cause hinge failure. It is sturdy looking and sturdy feeling at this point.. This is one of a new line of es products from Milani that is just now out in the stores. They all look amazing in the pan. I splurged and bought five of them. For 6 bucks, why not? I have tested this gold one and a brown one (Caramel Brown) so far. They are both quite pigmented, creamy with absolutely no fall out. They blend easily and stay where you put them. I almost always wear a primer with my es's because I have oily hooded lids. So far I have tested these out without primer and I have not had any creasing over a normal wearing period for me. I do not, however, put es on early in the morning and take it off at bedtime. I usually only have makeup on for an afternoon or evening out. So maybe 6 or 7 hours at a pop, max. No creasing with these. I have two matte colors that I have not tested out yet. The gold and the caramel are pearlized but not overly so. I probably have no business wearing a gold es on my lids at my age, but I could not resist this one. It is the prettiest gold. I keep it on my actual lid and not any further up and so far, I don't think I look too aging disco queen. It is just such a fun color.Of course, I don't have any other gold to compare it to, nor do I need another gold. This giant pan will probably be passed on to my heirs! Go check out these lovely, high quality shadows before they all sell out.....because they will be off the shelves really quickly.
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Makeup Brushes -Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman - Shading Brush
reallyrita 6/18/2012 1:18:00 PM
This is the first "realTechniques" brush that I have. I would love to get two or three more so that I can use them all in one go when doing a multiple es look. I bought a set of these brushes for my daughter and she loves them. She recommended this particular one for me as I have small, hooded, droopy eyelids. I have quite a few es brushes both high end and drug store ones. Until now, I usually reach for my "essence" eye brushes as they fit my eye shape well and are so cheap, I can have more than one. Wow! this new brush of mine blows all the rest out of the water. I am using it for everything except my crease. It is good at packing on color and good at blending. Works for under brow powder and for just sweeping a bit of color over the lids. I struggle with es because of my eyelid shape and this brush is tailor made for me. I can never find them in the stores near me. While traveling in the NorthWest, I found them in the FredMeyer's store. I hope I can buy off the internet. If you have small eyes give one of these little brushes a try.
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Blush -Revlon - Powder Blush - Sandalwood Beige
reallyrita 6/18/2012 12:45:00 AM
This blush/bronzer did not work for me. It was an impulse buy. I should know better by now, sigh. The color is pretty in the pan and I think it is a fine product for a very fair and young person. On my light olive complexion it just does not show up much. I have been using it as a quick slap on brush for a bit of a dusky color, but really, I would be better off with an actual pink or coral pigmented blush. There is also the sparkle effect...while not too much at all, it is still too much for my mature skin. The compact is a little cumbersome and cheap although it has stood up both to my purse disaster and my over crowded makeup bag. It is sturdy enough, just not glam in any way. I use my own brush. I would not repurchase and am just trying to figure out if I will ever remotely use this purchase up.
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Lip Gloss -Revlon - Colorburst Rosegold
reallyrita 6/16/2012 11:34:00 PM
I won't be buying this lip gloss again because I have 3 of them! I am not a lip gloss gal but this color intrigued me and I gave it a shot. I liked it so much that I went out and bought two more....just to have back ups. It compliments my coloring and is fairly long lasting as long as I don't eat or drink while wearing it! Actually, I love it! I have been really pleased with Revlon's ColorBurst products recently. I have a few of their butters and one of their color burst lipsticks. I have some high end lip products but I always seem to reach for the Revlon ones. Good job!
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Blush -Tarina Tarantino - Dollskin cheek palette
reallyrita 5/21/2012 1:51:00 PM
I have had this palette for about two months now and I really love it. Two of the colors are a bit sparkly and two are matte or nearly matte. Even on my mature skin the sparkly ones are quite subtle in the glitter department. This is a terrific palette for travel as you have two choices in both the pink and peach category. The housing is quite sturdy as well which makes it even better as a travel or purse product. I don't have any other TT blushes so I can't compare to the singles. I have some Nars blushes however, that I love, love, love. These are less pigmented and way less glittery. I will probably never use them all up because I am a light blush user and not even an everyday blush user. If I lost or broke this palette I would look to get another one right away. I reach for it often. I am going to be doing a lot of traveling this summer and this is the one blush product I will take with me. Lasting power is quite good but not all day and all evening until bedtime.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Maybelline - Express Finish - Peachy Petal (LE)
reallyrita 5/21/2012 12:11:00 PM
This is terrible. I had a bad experience with Essie "Tarte Deco" and I was looking for a dupe. This is certainly that. The color, when compared bottle to bottle, is very very close. The Maybelline is a tad more yellow. It is also a dupe in respect to quality. If anything, this one is even worse than the Essie. Also, in both cases, the color looked to be a soft orange sherbet kind of melon shade but on the nails it is quite bright. The Maybelline is a tiny bit softer in color (not texture). This stuff streaked and ran and made a mess of my pedicure. I at least got the Essie polish to work to a degree. This is hopeless....going straight into the trash. I had an Express Finish polish last spring that was really nice to work with....a pale pink. But no more, this product is garbage. Save your money.
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Eye Shadow -American Beauty - Luxury For Lids Duo in Afternoon Tea
reallyrita 5/14/2012 6:22:00 PM
This is a high quality product in a very nice compact. Comes with a usable little brush on the other end of the sponge applicator. Nice mirror. The duos are satin like with no glitter. The application is butter soft and blend able. No fall out. Stays well without creasing even without a primer. I usually wear matte shadows because of my age but this makes for a nice change without emphasizing creepiness. The over all effect is subtle and muted, not in-your-face color. There are some really pretty color ways in these duos. Frankly, I was surprised to find such nice eyeshadows at Kohls. The price is certainly as good as many of the drugstore duos which almost always disappoint....fallout, fading, too much glitter, no color payoff, powdery...
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Polishes -Essie - Tart Deco
reallyrita 5/9/2012 2:26:00 PM
Here goes yet another review. I bought this polish off of a promo display. It is the tart deco color #584. In the bottle it is a gorgeous soft melon orange. On my toes it is nearly a neon orange with no softness to it at all. It actually looks pretty good on my tanned feet. I have light olive skin. However, this was a streaky thick nightmare with the same old skinny Essie brush. Just not worth the headache. I applied a clear bottom coat (OPI) and one miserable color coat. I have to say it was pretty darn opaque with just that one coat but it was so thick and gloppy that I dared not add a second coat. I let it dry thoroughly which took quite a while and then I applied an OPI topcoat. Next day I had a few minor tip chips that I had to fix and then I added yet another clear top coat. The streakiness has evened out considerably. I was planning on just taking it all off. For all the work and coats, I will try and get the remainder of the week out of this. Don't be tempted by this color in the bottle. It is not the color you will end up with on your nails. Unless you are very experienced or a pro, you might just want to leave this one on the store shelf.
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Lipstick -Nuance by Salma Hayek - Lipstick in Dusty Rose
reallyrita 5/7/2012 10:17:00 PM
Here is yet another happy camper.I bought the Shimmering Nude color 140 (see my review) and I loved the feel of this lipstick and the moisturizing effect so much that I went out and bought the Dusty Rose. The 140 had too much shimmer for me but I have been using it with a lip pencil and I can make it work. This Dusty Rose is a perfect color for me. There is pigmentation without the matte/dryness effect and the color complements my fair olive skin tone. It is not too brown on me at all. I have fairly pigmented pink lips and this just enhances them. I have been using it with a Mac lip pencil in Spice. Maybe not the correct color for it but it seems to blend in. I have another Mac pencil that I can not for the life of me find that would be perfect. I think it is called Rosewood. I usually do not bother with a pencil but this lipstick is so rich that I was afraid of bleeding. I am, ahem, after all, well over the 56 age category. I have actually not had bleeding without the pencil...but just in case. I am loving this color. I was afraid that all the shades in the display were too dark for me, so I am glad I found this one. I wonder if the shades in her lipsticks and other products are geared to women with her coloring. I think she must be at least a medium olive, at any rate, a "warm." If you are "warm" and a little yellow or olive based, check out this line. The lipsticks compare very favorably with expensive brands. I still think the case is ugly.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Unlisted Brand - Southern magnolia minerals
reallyrita 5/4/2012 10:25:00 PM
I use matte eyeshadows. I tried this out as a sample therefore I cannot comment on the packaging. This is a smooth buttery very neutral loose mineral shadow. Completely matte. I have been using up my little sample on my eyelids when I don't want to do a full on eyeshadow makeup. This product is called Cafe and it looks like a buff/light coco in the bag but on my eyelids it is just a nice neutral base that completely cancels out any discoloration and irregularity in color. I have been using it with a primer as I always use a primer with es. I love the nice canvas this gives me for other shadows or just as is. Easy to blend, no creasing with the primer. It is not brown on my eyelids at all. I am ordering a full size. It is so hard to find really good matte shades and this one is terrific.
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