Polishes -Sally Hansen - Diamond Strength No Chip Nail Color - Tyin' the Knot!
BarbItalia 7/7/2011 11:42:00 AM
A new, unique addition found during my constant quest for perfect go-with-anything polish shades for my toes! This is a shimmery pewter shade (maybe BE's Bravo in a polish version); a warm grey, in which I even see a bit of pink. Applies perfectly, looks gorgeous, fine shimmery finish. As always, topped with my Seche Vite, I receive compliments and the question "Where did you get your pedicure done?" I especially love this shade because it's so unusual. It's not brown, silver, cool grey - it's not at all like any of the usual shade suspects! Love!
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Eye Shadow -E.L.F. - Brightening Eye Color - Brownstone
BarbItalia 7/5/2011 12:51:00 PM
Absolutely incredible perfectly neutral eyeshadow palette for A BUCK. Honestly, if I had to choose one palette to keep, this silly little thing delivers everything I want in a quad, including a shade for my brows, and I would choose Brownstone over all of my d/s and h/e palettes! Of course I use an eye primer first as I do with any eye shadow brand. These shades create a perfectly neutral contoured eye that applies easily and beautifully. I love this!!! And perfect for gift-giving to both makeup newbs and pros; adorable size to slip into a stocking or gift bag. I'm getting backups for traveling and my work locker. LOVE!
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Eyeliner -Wet 'n' Wild - H2O Proof Liquid Eyeliner - Ultra Black
BarbItalia 7/5/2011 12:30:00 PM
BEST PRODUCT FOR TIGHTLINING! I just want to shout it from the rooftops! For me, regular lining with this is a joke; it gets on my lash tips, makes a mess, and is impossible to remove. But for tightlining, there's nothing better! Dot, press or drag the tip along the underside base of your lashes and POW! you have instant lash and eye definition that will last until you remove it. Do SHAKE WELL before each use, wipe excess off of the tip or you'll have too much product on your skin and it will take forever to dry. And here's my trick: As you apply this to the base of your lashes/tightline, gently press upwards against the lashbase, applying to the actual lashes at their base - you can even lift your lashes upward with a finger immediately after application - and the liner will dry and LIFT your lashes! And it will hold them all day! Apply mascara as usual. I pick up another backup of this every time there's a WnW sale, and use this every single day. You must try it for tightlining!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -NYX - Full Coverage Concealer Jar - Yellow
BarbItalia 7/5/2011 9:19:00 AM
Added 11/27/11 I now use this very effectively to preconceal blemishes and scars before liquid or mineral foundation! Great product to keep in your stash. 7/22/11 I've found that applying ELF's Mineral Eyeshadow Primer under my eyes before applying NYX's Concealer Jar makes for an even smoother, longer-wearing finish! Wonderful concealer! And this shade is brilliant; as others have said it is VERY pale yellow, but this works on my reddened/purple undereye circles in a very surprising way. Initially I bought this to pre-correct my allergy-irritated inner eye and undereye discoloration under my NYX Concealer Jar in "Light". But I've found that this does the job all by itself, there's no need to layer another shade on top of it (let me add here that I'm very fair and olive-skinned). I apply with my fingertip over my face primer, blend and pat it out, then dust with my Coastal Scents Silica Spheres Powder (see my review) with an Ecotools Deluxe Concealer Brush. Then I apply my mineral foundation and finish my face. This concealer lasts all day with no creasing or caking. I'm very pleased with this product and highly recommend it. At this price one can afford to buy a few different shades with which to experiment!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Bobbi Brown - Caviar Ink
BarbItalia 7/4/2011 12:28:00 AM
I am so glad I bought this, I so love this shade! It's a deeply pigmented, very dark liner that appears to be a soft - but not muted or greyed - black. Super-creamy like all of BB's gel liners and a pleasure to apply. I tightline with this, apply on my upper lid and also softly at the roots of my lower lashes. Fabulous. Lasts until I remove it. I imagine Caviar Ink would great on anyone who wants a dark liner to make their lashes look thicker and their eyes to look larger and well-defined.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -E.L.F. - Studio Cream Eyeshadow
BarbItalia 7/4/2011 12:15:00 AM
OMG THEY'VE ADDED NEW SHADES! Including "Pewter" and "Smoke"! These will be the best buck and a half you'll ever spend on yourself (with a code). Too fabulous, large attractive jar, can't wait to try the above-mentioned shades; see my Review for Bronzed. Check out the new shades! http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/eyes/eyeshadow/cream_eyeshadow
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Lotions/ Creams -Ocean Potion - Ever Glow Lotion
BarbItalia 7/2/2011 4:09:00 PM
Where the devil have I been; how is it that I just now read about this product after years on MUA? This is a fantastic product! I love everything about it: The scent, the peach color of the lotion itself, the warm glow it gives my skin, the price, the value! I've purchased this for friends and they love it too; at less than $4 one can afford to! If you want a deep tropical tan from a lotion this is not for you. But if you want to look healthy and sun-kissed with a lotion that smells like Creamcicles, you'll love this.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Japonesque - Lipstick Palette Kit
BarbItalia 7/2/2011 3:50:00 PM
I LOVE this palette! It has simplified my makeup routine so much that I bought a second one; I keep one for fall/winter shades and one for spring/summer shades. The kit includes 1. A sleek, 8-well mirrored compact with lip brush 2. A soft, black rubbery bowl 3. A black spatula. Now for the fun! Choose which lipstick shades you want to put in the palette. From your first shade, slice off a bit less than 1/2 inch of lipstick with the spatula and drop into the bowl. Place the bowl in the microwave and watch carefully until it has melted completely to a liquid. Remove bowl (it's not hot), gently fold it to create a spout and pour into one of the palette wells. Wipe out the bowl and move on to the next shade! Directions are on the box. I highly recommend filling one well with your favorite lip balm – lipsticks applied with a brush last much longer than from the tube, but their emollient qualities are minimized with the thinner brush application. It’s so great to toss this in your makeup bag and/or keep at work and have eight of your favorite lip shades literally at your fingertips. Also a fun way to create your own lipstick shades, either by melting to mix or apply a combination of shades. This kit comes in the cutest red-swirled box and makes a wonderful gift! The kit sells for $18; I purchased mine from the LeCosmetique.com for $11 each on sale, so check the site frequently and watch for a sale. http://www.lecosmetique.com/Japonesque_Lipstick_Palette_Kit_p/pm500.htm
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Black Radiance - Starry Eyes Shadow Stick in Gunmetal Gray
BarbItalia 6/9/2011 7:15:00 PM
If you loved MAC's Shadesticks and/or the short-lived Jordana Eye Fixation you MUST try this! Same basic product, sleek black and gold package, long wearing and less than $4. "Gunmetal Gray" is a medium/deep shimmery grey; when applied lightly to my lid I see gentle sparkle. I always use an eye primer first; if I use this as liner on especially hot days I stroke Jesse's Girl Transformer over all. This product comes in five shades: Jet Black (interesting!), Natural Brown (which is lighter than Rich Gold), Deepest Plum and Gunmetal Gray. These can be applied sheerly or strongly, directly from the stick and blended with a finger or brush, or applied from the stick with a brush. They apply and blend easily as shadow or liner. As of this date these Shadow Sticks are still not on the Black Radiance website; I bought mine at Rite Aid. Love love love.
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Eye Shadow -Black Radiance - Starry Eyes Shadow Stick in Rich Gold
BarbItalia 6/9/2011 7:01:00 PM
If you loved MAC's Shadesticks and/or the short-lived Jordana Eye Fixation you MUST try this! Same basic product, sleek black and gold package, long wearing and less than $4. "Rich Gold" is more of a medium/deep shimmery bronze really, not too warm and not orange. I saw a video on Cat Cosmetics using her Smolder Smoky Eye Stick and I loved the look, then went out to find a cheaper version. Cheaper indeed but fantastic quality! I adore this thing! As in Cat's video, I use this as a rather thick liner on my upper lashline and at my outer eye corner, then line with black (Smashbox pencil or gel liner) at outer V and lots of mascara. Lovely and easy! I always use an eye primer and on especially hot days I stroke Jesse's Girl Transformer over all. This product comes in five shades: Jet Black (interesting!), Natural Brown (which is lighter than Rich Gold), Deepest Plum and Gunmetal Gray. I own Rich Gold and Gunmetal Grey; the latter is a medium/deep silver grey. Both look great with my dark brown eyes. These can be applied sheerly or strongly, directly from the stick and blended with a finger or brush, or applied from the stick with a brush. They apply and blend easily. As of this date these Shadow Sticks are still not on the Black Radiance website; I bought mine at Rite Aid. Love love love.
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Eye Makeup Remover -Rimmel - Gentle Eye Make Up Remover
BarbItalia 6/5/2011 1:00:00 PM
This is and has been my HQ eye makeup remover for 2 years. Referring to a comment by previous reviewer, I always use high-quality cosmetics whether they were purchased from a department store, specialty store or drugstore, and Rimmel's remover removes every trace of product from my eyes. I experience no irritation or residue, and can apply eye makeup immediately after use if necessary. Now, I use this differently than most, I think, and perhaps that's why I have such success with it. Rather than a cotton ball, cotton square or washcloth, I use a cotton swab. Removing the top of the bottle, I soak one end of the swab and swish over my eye area brow to lash and undereye. Then I take that wet end and rub it against my lashes and lashbase back and forth, left to right, as needed. Like I said, there is no eye irritation, so before rinsing that eye I soak the other end of the swab and repeat on my other eye. I rinse both eyes completely with water (and then wash my entire face) and my eyes, lashes, and lashbase is completely free of cosmetics. Let me add that I tightline with a VERY waterproof liquid liner every day (Wet n Wild H2O liquid liner) and Rimmel's product removes it completely. Whenever this is on sale I stock up! Try the cotton swab technique, you may fall in love with this remover too.
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Concealers -Unlisted Brand - Cory Cosmetics Light Yellow/Green Mineral Concealer
BarbItalia 6/5/2011 12:20:00 PM
Best concealer shade I've ever found to cover my reddened blemishes and facial areas. My complexion is a very light olive; green and yellow concealers just don't work on my spots. But lo and behold, someone had the fabulous idea of combining both shades! At last, I can effectively color-correct and conceal my red spots (which are generally a blue-red in tone on my skin). Cory Cosmetics is an Etailer with a great reputation for their products; I am completely happy with this concealer quality and shade. I use mineral foundation so I spot-conceal first, using my ELF mini concealer brush, then apply my foundation. But take heart - Cory makes a cream-to-powder version as well. You may find the website rather busy and difficult to shop from, but the product array is vast and the quality is good. This has been my HQ blemish concealer for 3 years and I highly recommend it. Website: http://www.corycosmetics.com/makeup/face_files/concealers/concealer_products.htm Scroll down for concealer shades and options.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Japonesque - Lipstick Palette Kit
BarbItalia 6/5/2011 12:01:00 PM
I LOVE this palette! It has simplified my makeup routine so much that I bought a second one; I keep one for fall/winter shades and one for spring/summer shades. The kit includes 1. A sleek, 8-well mirrored compact with lip brush 2. A soft, black rubbery bowl 3. A black spatula. Now for the fun! Choose which lipstick shades you want to put in the palette. From your first shade, slice off a bit less than 1/2 inch of lipstick with the spatula and drop into the bowl. Place the bowl in the microwave and watch carefully until it has melted completely to a liquid. Remove bowl (it's not hot), gently fold it to create a spout and pour into one of the palette wells. Wipe out the bowl and move on to the next shade! Directions are on the box. I highly recommend filling one well with your favorite lip balm – lipsticks applied with a brush last much longer than from the tube, but their emollient qualities are minimized with the thinner brush application. It’s so great to toss this in your makeup bag and/or keep at work and have eight of your favorite lip shades literally at your fingertips. Also a fun way to create your own lipstick shades, either by melting to mix or apply a combination of shades. This kit comes in the cutest red-swirled box and makes a wonderful gift! The kit sells for $18; I purchased mine from the LeCosmetique.com for $11 each on sale, so check the site frequently and watch for a sale. http://www.lecosmetique.com/Japonesque_Lipstick_Palette_Kit_p/pm500.htm
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Bare Escentuals - bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation
BarbItalia 6/5/2011 11:47:00 AM
(There are many listings for this same product, so I'm posting in each) I've been using mmu for approximately 7 years; prior to that, powder foundations. I live in the deep south and am one of those women who is always hot, whose my face perspires a great deal. At 53 I have large pores, some redness, oily T-zone, some broken capillaries now (wth - what're these about?), not too many wrinkles but lots of . . .texture. I've tried LOTS of makeup brands and always found Alima to be the best (I love and respect everything about the company). Over these 7 years I've met and fallen in love with BE eye shadows, blushes, brow color and even their specialty brushes. But because of all the negative reviews and posts about BE foundation's sheen, irritation, lack of coverage, etc. I never even considered trying it. Ever. About a year ago there was a website special offer from BE that offered a free trial-size jar of their original foundation. So I got one - Fairly Light for my really light olive complexion. I was flabbergasted. I fell totally, completely in love with the stuff. I've never used a mineral foundation that applied so smoothly, covered so easily, made my skin look so nice - and I applied it the same way, with the same brushes, as every other mineral foundation I've used. Regarding the sheen or "shiny" finish people refer to, I have experienced this ONLY when I've applied BE foundation over moisturizer. I've never had good results applying any mmu over moisturizer - the moisturizer seems to eat the product up or, with BE, leaves a sheen. So I use a silicone primer or pure aloe vera gel prior to my foundation. I won't even say that BE makes my skin look "luminous" - it simply makes my skin look really NICE. Natural. I keep a yellow-green mmu concealer to pre-conceal blemishes and redness (from Cory Cosmetics) with an ELF mini concealer brush but find that I can often skip this and pre-conceal with the BE foundation instead. Using my Alima foundation brush I layer the foundation as needed, spritzing my face with either water or a product specifically for this purpose (by BE or Mark) in between layers and after mineral blush. I'm an experienced mineral makeup user; if you are not you must remember - apply as little as possible, applying more as needed as you learn how much you need to achieve the look you want. This is KEY to successful mmu application. Because of skin sensitivity this may not be right for everyone, but do keep in mind that BE's natural-bristle face brushes may be causing your irritation rather than the bismuth oxychloride. Give a synthetic brush a try, and also consider that a silicone primer creates a waterproof barrier between your skin and the foundation, which will help protect your skin from ingredient irritation. The new sifter jars make usage and traveling worry-free. I never ever thought I'd be a Bare Escentuals devotee but here I am.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Bare Escentuals - Mineral Powder Foundation
BarbItalia 6/5/2011 11:42:00 AM
(There are many listings for this same product, so I'm posting in each) I've been using mmu for approximately 7 years; prior to that, powder foundations. I live in the deep south and am one of those women who is always hot, whose my face perspires a great deal. At 53 I have large pores, some redness, oily T-zone, some broken capillaries now (wth - what're these about?), not too many wrinkles but lots of . . .texture. I've tried LOTS of makeup brands and always found Alima to be the best (I love and respect everything about the company). Over these 7 years I've met and fallen in love with BE eye shadows, blushes, brow color and even their specialty brushes. But because of all the negative reviews and posts about BE foundation's sheen, irritation, lack of coverage, etc. I never even considered trying it. Ever. About a year ago there was a website special offer from BE that offered a free trial-size jar of their original foundation. So I got one - Fairly Light for my really light olive complexion. I was flabbergasted. I fell totally, completely in love with the stuff. I've never used a mineral foundation that applied so smoothly, covered so easily, made my skin look so nice - and I applied it the same way, with the same brushes, as every other mineral foundation I've used. Regarding the sheen or "shiny" finish people refer to, I have experienced this ONLY when I've applied BE foundation over moisturizer. I've never had good results applying any mmu over moisturizer - the moisturizer seems to eat the product up or, with BE, leaves a sheen. So I use a silicone primer or pure aloe vera gel prior to my foundation. I won't even say that BE makes my skin look "luminous" - it simply makes my skin look really NICE. Natural. I keep a yellow-green mmu concealer to pre-conceal blemishes and redness (from Cory Cosmetics) with an ELF mini concealer brush but find that I can often skip this and pre-conceal with the BE foundation instead. Using my Alima foundation brush I layer the foundation as needed, spritzing my face with either water or a product specifically for this purpose (by BE or Mark) in between layers and after mineral blush. I'm an experienced mineral makeup user; if you are not you must remember - apply as little as possible, applying more as needed as you learn how much you need to achieve the look you want. This is KEY to successful mmu application. Because of skin sensitivity this may not be right for everyone, but do keep in mind that BE's natural-bristle face brushes may be causing your irritation rather than the bismuth oxychloride. Give a synthetic brush a try, and also consider that a silicone primer creates a waterproof barrier between your skin and the foundation, which will help protect your skin from ingredient irritation. The new sifter jars make usage and traveling worry-free. I never ever thought I'd be a Bare Escentuals devotee but here I am.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No