Primer/ Corrector -Smashbox - Photo Finish Light
PositivelyRadiant 8/11/2010 4:01:00 PM
So many people overlook the importance of a foundation primer but a good primer, like Smashbox's Photo Finish Light, makes all the difference. The silicone ingredient works double-time by filling in fine lines and evening out the skin's surface for smooth foundation application while also blocking out harmful free radicals. You don't have to wear foundation to experience the benefits of this product, however I only use this when I'm wearing foundation. There's such a noticeable difference in how the foundation goes on when I'm wearing this primer. I even have the 1oz travel size that I keep in my makeup travel bag so that it's ready to go when I am.
NOTE: This foundation will not mattify your skin. It is oil-free, so it's good for oilier complexions, like mine, but your skin will still get oily, so I recommend blotting papers like Clean & Clear's Oil Absorbing Sheets.
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Lipstick -MAC - Tanarama
PositivelyRadiant 8/11/2010 3:49:00 PM
This is not your novice lipstick. Anyone wearing this lipstick needs to be ok with venturing outside the box and wearing a color that will get noticed, but maybe not for the right reasons. I always layer my lipsticks with a gloss on top, and if that's what you're doing, then you'll be ok. However, one night I was in a rush and when I went to reapply I just reapplied the lipstick and not a gloss and I looked like I was having an 80's flashback! I'd recommend this lipstick for much fairer skin tones. It can be pretty but there's a fine line between pretty and tacky. Make sure your MAC MUA recommends a good gloss and liner to go with it for your skin tone.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Lustre in Politely Pink
PositivelyRadiant 8/11/2010 3:44:00 PM
Of the 10+ MAC lipsticks that I own, this one gets used the most. It's a great, light pink that acts as a nice base for any light-colored glosses you may want to layer on top. I'd suggest using Dazzleglass gloss in Baby Sparks on top of Politely Pink for that nudish-pink look.
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Lip Gloss -NARS - Orgasm
PositivelyRadiant 8/11/2010 3:37:00 PM
It's not that this gloss isn't flattering, it's just a little, dare I say, dated. I prefer MAC's glosses to Nars, because if I apply too much of Nars' lip gloss, I get clumps of gloss that push outwards towards my lip line. I only have to worry about this with my Nars gloss. This color is also a bit metallic, which is not what's trending nowadays. This gloss tries to double-up as a gloss and lip stick in one. I'm just trying to finish the gloss so I can toss it and go back to my MAC glosses.
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Lip Gloss -MAC - Lipglass - Dreamy
PositivelyRadiant 8/11/2010 3:33:00 PM
I actually was gifted this lip gloss from a friend when I was her bridesmaid. This was the gloss that all the bridesmaids wore and it was flattering on all of us. I love MAC glosses because they have great sheen, yet they're not too tacky and they have that wonderful vanilla-scent. This is one of those go-to glosses that you can wear by itself or layer it on top of a lipstick like High Tea or Politely Pink.
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Lotions/ Creams -Bath and Body Works - Moonlight Path Body Lotion
PositivelyRadiant 8/11/2010 3:25:00 PM
I've been using this product for 9+ years and I still keep coming back to it. By now my mom and sister use it, too, and even some of my sorority sisters began using it because they loved how I smelled when I got out of the shower! The name really does the fragrance justice. I feel like it's a sultry scent that's not overpowering, yet it has great staying power. It's subtle but effective. More recently, I paired Moonlight Path with Juicy Couture's Viva la Juicy perfume and... wowza! The 2 fragrances mixed so well! I kept smelling myself all day because I couldn't get over how nice the 2 mixed! Even my car smelled awesome afterwards!
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Lotions/ Creams -Bath and Body Works - Wild Honeysuckle Body Lotion
PositivelyRadiant 8/11/2010 3:17:00 PM
I only use the lotion in the summertime and revert back to the body cream in the winter. I love this scent the most out of all the B&BW fragrances because my skin handles sweet scents best and because this scent layers fabulously with Escada's Magnetism perfume. The combination of the 2 is unstoppable. Everyone compliments me on the fragrance and it's truly unique because the 2 fragrances play off each other so well. The staying power is pretty impressive as well, but then again I might just use too much of both! :)
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Fragrances -Escada - Magnetism
PositivelyRadiant 8/11/2010 3:10:00 PM
I'm probably on my 10th+ bottle of this fragrance. It's my go-to staple and the fragrance I get the most compliments on. I actually layer it on top of Bath & Body Works' Wild Honeysuckle body cream and it solicits compliments from EVERYONE! Both contain jasmine, which could be why they work so well together. I've always liked sweeter fragrances and wore Escada's Sentiment in the past (but it was discontinued). This scent carries well in both the summer and winter and I'll keep buying it until I get sick of it or they discontinue it (which they probably will soon). My next favorite fragrance is Juicy Couture's Viva la Juicy.
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Blush -NARS - Taos
PositivelyRadiant 8/11/2010 3:02:00 PM
A little of this powder goes a long way. I use this product nearly every day and it looks like I've barely touched it. My skin tone is fair/medium, and I initially bought this blush to use when I'm really tan and need more pigmentation. I've found that this is a surprisingly versatile blush and I use it all year-round. I also have Nars' blushes in Deep Throat, Orgasm, and Desire, but this is the color I use most. I was finding that Orgasm just didn't give me the kind of pigment I like and Desire is a great blush to use in conjunction with other blushes but it's not so good on its own. I can wear Taos by itself or with a bronzer and both ways work fine. I would definitely not recommend this blush for fair skin tones, or else it'll be too much color.
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Powder -Chanel - Double Perfection Compact
PositivelyRadiant 8/11/2010 2:45:00 PM
This is the best powder for someone who wants heavy powder coverage. It's a versatile powder that I can wear by itself and apply with a brush or a sponge (for heavier coverage). If I feel like I want a more airbrushed and mattified look, I can apply it over liquid foundation. There is so much you can do with this powder foundation! I have it in every shade from 1.0 to 5.0, but they've changed from numbers to actual colors, so I'm not exactly sure what color I am at this point.
A word of caution, though, to anyone who wants to avoid the caked-on makeup look and is looking for a more natural powder. This is powder foundation and a little product goes a long way. I only wish this product wasn't so expensive!
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Eye Shadow -Laura Mercier - Eye Basics - Wheat
PositivelyRadiant 8/11/2010 2:22:00 PM
This, to me, is the HG of eye primers. I've been using this product for years and won't stop. I never have to worry about this product creasing and it holds my eyeshadow in place all day. I even wear it by itself, when I want a natural look. I have a lot of pink pigmentation in my eyelids, which can make me look more tired, so I love how this eye primer makes me look well-rested. Even friends of mind that wear next to no makeup have purchased this product because it does wonders for the eye area. In the summertime, when I get a little bit more tan, I used to switch over to bisque, but that color has been discontinued. Instead, I find that buff is a good replacement. FYI, MAC's paints are a great primer if you're looking for a primer with pigment.
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Concealers -BeneFit Cosmetics - Boi-ing
PositivelyRadiant 8/11/2010 2:13:00 PM
I've been using this concealer for a very long time and love it. So many other concealers come and go but this has been a great go-to of mine. What I like the most is the shade of the product. I have fair/medium skin tones and have a hard time finding an under-eye concealer that actually blends in and doesn't have that raccoon effect. This concealer is perfect for that. My only gripe is that it can settle into your fine lines and it's not very humidity-resistant, so I always dab on some powder over it to set it. Still, it's one of the best that I've tried. Not too thick, just the right coverage.
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Cleansers -Philosophy - Purity Made Simple (Real Purity Cleanser)
PositivelyRadiant 2/5/2008 10:50:00 PM
