Lipstick -MAC - Emanuel Ungaro Lipstick - Pure Rose (Lustre)
bellagemma 4/14/2010 2:29:00 PM
Got this mainly for the packaging. Totaly gross color on my nc37-40 skin. Looks like...white paste on my lips. But, I really like the smooth lustre texture. I don't like to wase, so, I ended up using it as a lip balm before going to bed at night or to tone down ultra red lipsticks or liners. I ended up using the whole thing that way-it goes to show you can find a use for almost anything!
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Eye Shadow -L.A. Colors - 5 Color Metallic Eyeshadow (all colors)
bellagemma 4/14/2010 2:25:00 PM
I got this palette in "Wildflower" as an extra in a swap =) The first two gold colors don't swatch too well, but the last three have a lot of pigmentation reminiscent of the 88 shimmer palette from coastal scents in both payoff and texture. I haven't tried it on my eye yet, but I'm pretty sure they'll wear the same as CS. I think this is a real nice thing to pick up as a cheap pick-me-up or a nice stocking stuffer. I'm not going to do comparisons to MAC b/c it doesn't make sense to compare dollar products to high-end. This is very nice for the price though.
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Bronzers -NARS - Orgasm-Laguna Blush-Bronzer Duo
bellagemma 4/10/2010 7:18:00 PM
I've hit pan on this, no joke. I'm a total bronzer junkie, and out of all hat I've tried, this is my go-to for special occasions when I really want to look good. On a regular day, I just use something cheap like nyc sunny. Laguna is a great bronzer-I am nc37 and it is perfectly neutral and has just the right amount of color so it looks real. When I am done with this, I am going to buy a full size laguna. As for the orgasm blush, its really nothing special to me-looks like MAC springsheen. However, it DOES last much longer, so I still use the blush when I need one that will last all day. Great product overall!
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Makeup Brushes -Everyday Minerals - New Flat Top Brush
bellagemma 4/10/2010 7:14:00 PM
I had one that I used and abused for a long time like 3 years, and it finally broke-I think because I washed it the wrong way and let water go down into the ferrule (silver part). After that, I bought 2 b/c I can't be without this brush. It gives very flawless, full coverage when used with powder. I use it to apply my MAC MSFN over my foundation when I want a really made-up, professional look. So flawless! It can apply too thickly if you are crazy with it though. The bristles are ridiculously soft and I like that when you clean them, they really get clean, no product is left -the top is white so you can see if there's any remaining makeup on them. They are easy to clean too. No bleeding b/c there's no dye I think and BEST OF ALL, no smell at all Really a high, high quality brush. My other brushes are mostly MAC, and I rate this up there with them.
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Makeup Brushes -MAC - 224 Tapered Blending (Windshield Wiper) Brush
bellagemma 4/10/2010 6:42:00 PM
I'd say this is a MAC brush you have to learn how to use as opposed to one that just magically makes your makeup look gorgeous (like the MAC 217). For someone with small lids like me (i'm asian), the 222 is actually better to do the windshield wiper thing with. If I do the windshield crease thing with this, I end up with color almost all the way up to my brow b/c its so big compared to my lid space! Still, I don't think this brush is worthless...it has a lot of uses. Personally,I like to use it to apply color to my browbone b/c I don't like that BAM WHITE BROWBONE kind of look-I really just want it to be subtle and even, and this brush does it! If you have deep set eyes I think this brush will be an amazing windshield wiper crease brush. If you have asian type eyes like mine, try the 222 or 217 for the crease instead =)
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Makeup Brushes -MAC - #217 Blending
bellagemma 4/10/2010 6:38:00 PM
This is one of the MAC brushes that really, REALLY lives up to the hype for this brand. A lot of MAC brushes are dupe-able but not this one. This one is really special and well made and I haven't found a true duplicate for the way it functions yet (none of sonia kashuk, EM, smashbox. sigma, japonesque, clinique, ecotools, etc match up). Really, if you know nothing at all about makeup or brushes or how to handle a brush, this one is fool proof. Yet if you know a lot about makeup and brushes, this brush is indispensable. I recommend for beginners b/c you can do no wrong AND I recommend for seasoned brush users b/c you can do some pretty intricate outer V work, blending, diffusing of color, etc. Really a great brush. You can also use it for concealing and contouring your nose. So great. I really think every woman, girl, man, whatever needs this in their makeup arsenal.
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Makeup Brushes -MAC - 266 Thin Small Angle (Synthetic hair)
bellagemma 4/10/2010 6:32:00 PM
One of the MAC brushes really worth paying for that lives up to the hype. I'm about to buy another one of these...its so versatile I use the one I have too often. I use it to fill my brows, line my eyes, and apply shadow under my eyes. It is soft and doesn't poke my eyes and it has just the right amount of "give" to it so that my liner always looks great. I've tried to find a lot of cheaper dupes for this-ecotools, smashbox, sonia kashuk etc. but none are really quite the right feel. I'm going to have to break down and get another one but I might try the 263 first just so I don't have duplicates. I do really love this brush though!
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Angled Foundation Brush
bellagemma 4/10/2010 6:29:00 PM
I haven't used this for foundation. It's head is very skinny and i'm not sure how that works, but I use it to contour my nose and it' VERY GOOD for that. Since the top is so slim, it can really produce a nice slim line on either side of my nose. Then, I blend out with a MAC 227 just a bit to diffuse the contouring, and it looks good. I like it for this purpose but have yet to use it as a foundation brush!
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Blending Brush
bellagemma 4/10/2010 6:27:00 PM
This is actually a really good brush even though its cheap. It is like a VERY dense MAC 224. Sort of like if the 224 and 217 had a baby. It has a dome top and will apply a lot of color, so I mainly use to blend or soften my browbone color. Extremely soft!
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Lip Gloss -E.L.F. - Super Glossy Lip Shine SPF 15 - Pink Kiss
bellagemma 4/10/2010 6:23:00 PM
The color itself is okay- a light shimmery pink that can read a but silvery pink if you are darker like me (nc37-40). I think this particular color is better for light skinned ladies-ladies who love MAC angel, myth, and those really pale lip colors. Personally, I use it to tone down stuff thats too bright (like MAC ever hip-ccomes out too orange on me sometimes, but this makes it perfect) In general,I love these glosses. I have glosses from NARS, MAC, Revlon, loreal, maybelline, clinique, Victoria's Secret etc. yet these are my favorite and not because they're cheap. For one, I really like the smell. To me, they smell like the taste of Grape Skittles. That may turn people off, but it's yummy to me. I also like the texture-not too sticky like MAC but not too watery like Victoria's secret-they kind of feel like the VS soothing lip balm-right in between in terms of sticky factor. They are very moisturizing and sort of fade nice and even instead of leaving that waxy overlay feeling on your lips. This particular color makes my lips pretty red, not so much rose like it looks in the tube. I use it at night or over pale l/s. love! =)
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Lip Gloss -E.L.F. - Super Glossy Lip Shine SPF15 - ALL
bellagemma 4/10/2010 6:21:00 PM
I love these glosses. I have glosses from NARS, MAC, Revlon, loreal, maybelline, clinique, Victoria's Secret etc. yet these are my favorite and not because they're cheap. For one, I really like the smell. To me, they smell like the taste of Grape Skittles. That may turn people off, but it's yummy to me. I also like the texture-not too sticky like MAC but not too watery like Victoria's secret-they kind of feel like the VS soothing lip balm-right in between in terms of sticky factor. They are very moisturizing and sort of fade nice and even instead of leaving that waxy overlay feeling on your lips. love!
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Lip Gloss -E.L.F. - Super Glossy Lip Shine SPF 15 - Malt Shake
bellagemma 4/10/2010 6:20:00 PM
I love these glosses. I have glosses from NARS, MAC, Revlon, loreal, maybelline, clinique, Victoria's Secret etc. yet these are my favorite and not because they're cheap. For one, I really like the smell. To me, they smell like the taste of Grape Skittles. That may turn people off, but it's yummy to me. I also like the texture-not too sticky like MAC but not too watery like Victoria's secret-they kind of feel like the VS soothing lip balm-right in between in terms of sticky factor. They are very moisturizing and sort of fade nice and even instead of leaving that waxy overlay feeling on your lips. This particular color makes my lips pretty red, not so much rose like it looks in the tube. I use it at night or over pale l/s. love! =)
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Eye Shadow -Ben Nye - Lumiere Grande Colour
bellagemma 4/10/2010 12:15:00 PM
I honestly rarely use this. The colors go on very patchy on my eye. I bought it at a small costume/theater place for around $60. When I first got it, the tops of the shadows were really hard...when I swiped it, I just got a very faint, chalky bit of color. So, I had to rub and sort of scrape the tops off to get to pigment. It still applies patchy though. I'm thinking maybe mine must have been sittng in that store for ages or something and that might be the reason. Still, the colors...I just don't really use-they are bright but one-dimensional (no duo tone sheen or anything like that)...I do thinkg the 88 shimmer palettes probably a better deal than this.
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Eyeliner -L'Oreal - HIP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner in Black
bellagemma 4/9/2010 3:03:00 PM
Really did wear for awhile, but I ahd an allergic reaction to it (same with the HIP e/s duos). Too bad b/c it was a decent product. Not as longwearing as MAC blacktrack but a couple layers can get you as dark as fluidline. More glossy while fluidline is more matte. Kind of pricey unless you get it on sale or bogo.Worth a try if you don't have allegies like me.
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Lips -Cover Girl - Outlast Lipstain 
bellagemma 4/9/2010 3:00:00 PM
I bought a berry one. Does stain your lips but was not my thing. It accentuated the uneven and different pigments in my lips (I have a lip scar ). After that, the tubed dried out so quickly. I only used it 3-4 times and it was gone! I prefer something that smooths out my lips and gives a little coverage I guess =) Fun to use maybe if you have great lips lol or I think younger girls woud love this for going to the beach and stuff like that.
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