Lip Gloss -L'Oreal - Glam Shine Holographic in Knights Armor
PoisonedIvy 7/29/2005 2:55:00 AM
This is a from the recent (early 2005) Canadian re-release of the some of the more obscure colors in the Holographic line, like Iridescence, Vibe, and Echo, which were LE in 2004 in the US. I'm pretty sure this one is identical to Vibe. I didn't save Vibe to compare, I swapped it, so I'm not 100% sure, but I think that's the one. (Diamond Tiara is Echo). I'm glad I repurchased this, I hadn't realized at the time I swapped Vibe that it was going to be unavailable so quickly.
Anyway, it's a soft bronzy brown with blue sparkle particles. As usual, I can't detect any grittiness, some people seem to though. Glad to find it again. Browns aren't a big favorite of mine, but with my coloring pretty much anything goes, and this one is waayyyyy more interesting than most brown lip colors.
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Lip Gloss -L'Oreal - Glam Shine - Gem Crystal
PoisonedIvy 7/29/2005 2:39:00 AM
I love this color. It's the European/Asian version of Seductress. Now, one might suppose they are identical. One would be wrong. First, the texture of the non-American/Canadian ones is smoother and thicker, and I prefer it. It lasts longer, and you don't sacrifice any of the other qualities I love about this gloss (ultra shiny finish, good smell, and amazing sparkle and color selection.)
Like Seductress, this is a duochrome sort of a greyed out taupe beige with pink iridescence, with tons of the Glam Shine sparkle. It's incredibly complex and multifaceted. It's also a bit darker in color than the American one, and more interesting looking on me.
The darker base color makes the pink flash better. In short, buy if you can find, if you like Seductress. I love unusual cool colors, and greyish tones. This has a grey undertone to it. If you can't do grey tones, stay away.
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Lip Gloss -Chanel - Unity Glossimer
PoisonedIvy 7/28/2005 6:22:00 PM
I like this color, but I'm not blown away. I looooove the texture of Glossimers, so I always toy with the testers at the mall, but most of them look terrible on me- the colors are just not for me, most of them. The ones I have, I don't use all that much. The best so far have been Blizzard, the LE Pagoda, and when I'm feeling feisty, Force. I did just buy this one, as it looks not as brown as I'd feared. This one is a complex mix of bronzy brown, rose and mauve. It looks like a very wearable, moderately shimmery pinkish light bronze. I like it better than most brownish colors, and will use it when I wear something on the warmer side (unusual as that is!)
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Lip Gloss -MAC - Pink Clash
PoisonedIvy 7/28/2005 4:15:00 PM
This color ties with my all time favorite, the under-rated Cavalier. It doesn't come out very gold at all on me- more a complex pink/neutral like Chanel's Blizzard. The glitter/shimmer particles are the right size, not too big so they're gritty, but enough to be very cool in the sun.
If you don't like glitter gloss, don't do it, but if you do this is one of the best. It does look light enough to go with dark eyeshadow, but enough pigment to look really pretty. Might need backup!
EDIT: I just noticed something weird- this lipgloss has no scent. All the other MAC lipglosses I own have the signature vanilla scent. This one doesn't- not even a hint. Odd!
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Makeup Brushes -MAC - #187 Duo Fiber Face Brush (Stippling, Skunk Brush)
PoisonedIvy 7/28/2005 2:29:00 PM
I finally bit the bullet and purchased a nice brush to apply my Aromaleigh mineral powder foundation. I'd been using a flocked sponge, and while it was delighfully quick, it was simply getting too heavy a layer of makeup on my face. My skin is clear, but flushes and gets blotchy easily, so I need a sheer to medium foundation. The sponge was definitely getting a medium-to-full coverage effect, which unfortunately creates havoc with my oily skin mid-day; it makes for a much nastier mess when it breaks down, as all foundations inevitably do when faced with the oil slick I call my forehead.
So I headed to the MAC counter for a brush, specifically. The SA immediately recommended this little goodie, and it was so heavenly soft I had to go for it, despite the ouch price. (Usually I'm lame and spend $6 max on brushes.)
Anyway, when I used it with my foundation, I fell in love. I applied two thin layers, and it distributes powder foundation like an airbrush, sheer and diffuse but buildable. It takes much more time than a flocked sponge, but so worth it. My foundation looks great, and lasts all day, FINALLY. (I do apply a translucent powder over it too, with a powder puff, not the brush, since I need as much of that as I can get!)
Also tried it with blush. It is fantastic- it creates a soft hint of color blended just perfectly. Especially nice with a shimmery blush. I needed something just like that, since most blush applies too strongly on my pale skin. I'd actually be willing to try a NARS blush with this brush, I think it would sheer out the strong pigment enough.
Anyway, a big splurge but absolutely worth it. The size is perfect for me, not too unweildly huge as many powder brushes are, small enough to double as blush brush, and sooooo soft! Highly recommended if you need a good multipurpose brush.
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Powder -Aromaleigh - Voile [DISCONTINUED]
PoisonedIvy 7/27/2005 2:44:00 AM
I usually use Glissade, which I wrote a lengthy review about. I love it basically. I tried Voile since I'm extremely oily, really (yet with clear skin, bizarre) and all makeup breaks down on me, including Glissade, but it at least is repairable, which most aren't. So I tried this one, which is for oilier skins, or so they say.
First of all, it applied more patchily than Glissade, though it wasn't too bad. Just needed some work with the sponge to even out.
It lasted really well- it was a really hot day and we were driving in the sun, and it still didn't melt or break down, for a good 6 hours I think. Unfortunately when it went, it looked terrible. Glissade just looks a little melty, and then I can buff it back into place easily. Voile on the other hand, just did a full face meltdown, with no hope in sight. Had to wash off and reapply.
Basically it's a good foundation, but I'm sticking with Glissade. Everyone should try both though. I am very exceptionally oily and I expect it would wear like iron on most people. It also might last better when it's not 90 degrees out. While I gave it a 4, that is in comparison to Glissade- compared to all others, it's definitely a 10. It has the wonderful natural look I love from AL's foundations, the perfect color match (1Y with a bit of 00), and the great, yet sheer, coverage. And the fantastically quick application.
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Lipstick -Aromaleigh - Pure Lips Mineral Lipstick- All Colors [DISCONTINUED]
PoisonedIvy 7/27/2005 2:37:00 AM
I like the formula a lot- tons of pigment like the highest end lipsticks, so very long lasting. Great chocolate scent. They make my lips numb and tingly though, which usually doesn't bug me but occasionally does. All natural ingredients. Decent color selection. Reasonable price for the quality and amount of pigment. They also condition my lips pretty well, no drying effect whatsoever.
My only small gripe is the color selection. Most colors don't work for me. I've tried quite a few samples (GREAT system!) and found only two I bought in full size, and I don't use them that much, simply because the colors aren't ones I use a lot.
Framboise is my favorite, really. Web description: "A lush frosted raspberry/ruby. (cool)" It is, it's not too fuschia but is a strong berry raspberry pink. It has a lot of shimmer, which I like. It also has an interesting russet undertone, which makes it totally unique in my experience and very wearable. The iridescent effect is nifty and pretty.
Belladonna is nice too, the other full size one I have. It's a cool pink with lavender tones, and some neutrality to it, which makes it wearable. Website: "A "your lips but better" buff/nude pink with soft mauve undertones. (cool/neutral)" Not YLBB on me- too pink and mauve. Not too buff either. Creamy and nice.
Victoriana was a color I had high hopes for: "A romantic frosted shade with pink/copper/golden/russet tones." It was too warm for me though, and darker than I'd hoped (not really dark but an intense medium toned color). Someone with darker skin who wears warmer colors would probably like.
Thistle was a muddy streaky greyish dark brown on me, a cool tone. Not something I imagine many would look good in, plus it seemed to streak somewhat.
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Lipstick -Aromaleigh - Pure Lips Belladonna [DISCONTINUED]
PoisonedIvy 7/27/2005 2:25:00 AM
This color is a pure pink based lavender mauve on me- not too bubblegummy, enough neutral hues to it to make it wearable. The density of pigment in it is great- it lasts FOREVER on my lips. I don't wear it a lot simply because I reach for shimmery colors more, and this one is a nice satiny finish cream formula.
Some ingredient makes my lips go number than anything I've ever tried, and they tingle forever. Sometimes I don't mind the effect, other times it bugs me. The ingredients are all natural, so I have no clue what it is that I'm sensitive to in it.
Scent is fantastic- delightful chocolate aroma, maybe a hint of orange? Yummy anyway.
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Lip Gloss -Aromaleigh - Aromaleigh Pure Shine Lip Gloss [DISCONTINUED]
PoisonedIvy 7/27/2005 2:14:00 AM
This is the website description of the color I bought: "Buzz- A romantic frosted shade with pink/copper/golden/russet tones. (neutral)" Indeed, it is a complex color. It's more warm in tone to me than neutral. It's an opaque frost, rather than shimmer. The color is a medium tone, with a sort of iridescent finish- russet/warm undertones with a more pinkish frost to it. It's dimensional and pretty but I don't reach for it a ton, partly because I have eleventy bazillion lip products. It is a bit warmer than I usually go for, which is probably why.
It's in the wretched clicky pen thing, damn Stila for introducing those stupid things. I hate them because they hold the most intensely tiny amount of product, and most of them (this one included) you have to click the thing forever and then it suddenly blobs out too much all at once. I'd rather have a wand gloss with a reasonable amount of product any day.
This is a lot more like a liquid lipstick to me. It's got a nice smooth texture, not sticky but not greasy. Also not very thick, so it doesn't last very long at all on me. It is also opaque rather than translucent, which is also not so lipgloss like. It also does what Aromaleigh's lipstick does, which is tingles forever, but a bit less than the lipsick, which makes my lips numb for a really long time.
The scent is like their lipsticks- a nice chocolate scent, and I do like it in both.
I might try a new color of it but not likely- I like more sparkle to my gloss, and more of a translucent effect.
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Lipstick -MAC - Plum Dandy (frost-from Pop Mode)
PoisonedIvy 7/23/2005 2:41:00 PM
Nice. This reminds me of a purpler "O"- it has the wonderful intense gold sheen and the long-lasting but non-staining deep plum color. Very flattering on me. I reach for it quite a bit actually, especially when I'm wearing eggplant purple; it goes nicely without being matchy.
Looks great sheered too, and with Nico lipglass over it.
I haven't found a ton of MAC lipsticks I can't live without, but the ones I like, I love. Plum Dandy, O, Viva Glam V and that's pretty much it so far, though I've tested a ton.
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Lip Gloss -Prescriptives - Moonbeam Reflective Gloss in Planetary
PoisonedIvy 7/21/2005 2:42:00 AM
While snooping around the Px display today I noticed, lo and behold, that they FINALLY released a few more colors of these evil little things! I loooove the few that were useful of the original batch (Stellar, Meteor) but stalled at two. Of the new ones, they were unfortunately fairly similar to each other- can't recall the names (but you'll be SHOCKED I'm sure, that they're astronomical.) There was a bright orange (which would probably be fairly pretty too actually as these sheer a lot), and Twinkle, which was a bit lighter than the one I actually bought.
I ended up with Planetary, which looks scary-bright pink with gold in the tube but sheers way down- looks like you'd wished MAC's new lustreglass Pinkarat ought to. A soft, sheer kiss of pink with lovely, complex gleaming gold. Purty.
It actually looks amazing on. I reach for it constantly. It is the perfect pink- the color is translucent, yet vibrant, yet not loud. The sparkle is perfect, soft gold flecks. I use it way more than I thought I would, it's more unique than I'd guessed.
I loooove the Px gloss's texture, and the shine is the bestest ever. I mean, I love lustreglass, but Px is a wee bit better. I should be grateful there are few good colors of this stuff. I'd be broke! It's way expensive for gloss. Worth it though.
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Lip Gloss -Maybelline - Shiny-Licious - ALL colors
PoisonedIvy 7/20/2005 11:16:00 PM
I tried Grape-full and Sugar Plum as they were BOGOF. I liked the Grape-full color the most, it had way more pigment than I'd expected, a pretty pinky purple shade with tons of shimmer- quite pretty really. The second one was a nice sheer sort of warm tone on me- my skin is light enough that it showed up. I actually liked it fairly well, it was a nice sheer, slightly shimmery summer shade. The texture was much better than I'd expected, it was wonderfully thick and glossy. I was basically pleased as punch with it until... (dun dun DUN) I licked my lips.
OMFG was basically what went through my head. Sweet, minty MOLD. Mold, I tell you! They somehow managed to create a hellish chemical flavor that tastes exactly like mold to me. And very very sweet. I literally gagged it was so bad, and scrubbed my lips frantically.
I guess that boils down to a 3- great gloss, insanely horrid flavor. It smelled fine even, minty. But OH DEAR GOD THE TASTE. So wrong. So very wrong.
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Lip Gloss -Maybelline - Shiny-licious in Grape-ful
PoisonedIvy 7/20/2005 11:11:00 PM
This color was way pretty on me- sort of a berry pink/lavender with tons shimmer/frostiness to it, a very nice summer look. And enough pigment to look good. The texture was much better than I'd expected, it was wonderfully thick and glossy. I was basically pleased as punch with it until... (dun dun DUN) I licked my lips.
OMFG was basically what went through my head. Sweet, minty MOLD. Mold, I tell you! They somehow managed to create a hellish chemical flavor that tastes exactly like mold to me. And very very sweet. I literally gagged it was so bad, and scrubbed my lips frantically.
I guess that boils down to a 3- great gloss, insanely horrid flavor. It smelled fine even, minty. But OH DEAR GOD THE TASTE. So wrong. So very wrong.
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Lip Gloss -Maybelline - Shiny-licious in Sugar Plum
PoisonedIvy 7/20/2005 11:08:00 PM
The color was a nice sheer sort of warm tone on me- my skin is light enough that it showed up. I actually liked it fairly well, it was a nice sheer, slightly shimmery summer shade. The texture was much better than I'd expected, it was wonderfully thick and glossy. I was basically pleased as punch with it until... (dun dun DUN) I licked my lips.
OMFG was basically what went through my head. Sweet, minty MOLD. Mold, I tell you! They somehow managed to create a hellish chemical flavor that tastes exactly like mold to me. And very very sweet. I literally gagged it was so bad, and scrubbed my lips frantically.
I guess that boils down to a 3- great gloss, insanely horrid flavor. It smelled fine even, minty. But OH DEAR GOD THE TASTE. So wrong. So very wrong.
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Lip Gloss -Revlon - Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Bronze Ablaze
PoisonedIvy 7/10/2005 4:12:00 AM
This isn't very bronze on me- to me bronze would be a flat metallic brownish color- instead this is a wonderful soft reddish rosy hue with some warmer coppery tones thrown in. Complex and pretty. It is a hair warmer than I usually do, but I'll still get plenty of use out of this one. I like the Raisin one a bit better (OK, it's basically my favorite gloss ever so it's hard to beat!), it's more pink/red on me, but this is a close second favorite. I also like the level of shimmer in this one- lots, that is. Some may find gritty, I don't really but I'm not very sensitive to that at all.
By the way what's up with the ugly gold band Revlon attached to their SL glosses? I loved the sleek black, now there's this stupid chintzy gold band on them. Bah! I hate gold colored plastic, I hate it on Chanel and Dior, I hate it on Revlon. It just looks cheezy and cheap. OK, I'll get over it ;-)
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