Blush -NARS - Exhibit A
euroasian 3/4/2011 9:42:00 PM
I've been comtemplating this purchase for the longest time; everytime time I see it I get intimidated and run away. I finally mustered up the courage and took the plunge. A-m-a-z-i-n-g. I've been using the 187 with this and I still can not believe that such an ethereal glow came from this garish tomato blush. I keep looking in the mirror and looking down at this blush; it's just really difficult to believe. My application method is to lightly tap my 187 on the blush, then tap the 187 on the compact's mirror, then lightly stipple on my cheekbones. Simple and elegant. I am so so glad that this is finally mine.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -NARS - Irresistiblement
euroasian 2/18/2011 4:41:00 PM
Extremely natural-looking and flattering bronzer. Intensely pigmented, so a light hand is par for the course unless you are going for the baked look. My face has always been lighter than the rest of my body, which is very annoying, and this bronzer warms me up and evens my skin tone out. I can imagine this will layer fantastically come the summer months when I self-tan the rest of my body. It goes on smoothly and evenly and I look sunkissed and healthy. A staple in my makeup bag.
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Self Tanners -St.Tropez - St.Tropez Tinted Self Tanning Mousse/Whipped Bronze
euroasian 2/18/2011 12:47:00 PM
My favourite self-tanner that I have repurchased multiple times. I am as pale as they come, and this gives me a truly believable tan. (A constantly tanned friend who hadn't seen me in a while was shocked at how tanned I was.) It does what it claims to do and doesn't stick to dry patches of skin as much as other self-tanners do; you still have to exfoliate of course, but this is much more forgiving than others. I do feel ridiculous walking around like a brown monster for 3-4 hours before rinsing but the results last over a week. I embrace the pale during winter but I simply can not live without this in the summer. Love it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Kat Von D - Tattoo Liner
euroasian 2/18/2011 12:31:00 PM
This was my first experience with liquid liner so I can't compare to any other ones, but I think that this has been a fantastic introduction. The liner comes in a simple and easy to handle container, the colour is pitch black, and it is completely waterproof and lasts all day. The hairs on the brush never splay or go in all directions, and the colour glides on easily. With a steady hand you can make a perfect cat's eye in seconds. As the previous reviewer mentioned, it can also be used to make "tattoos" on the body, as even soap and water can not remove it, but it comes off easily with my trusty Neutrogena Oil-Free makeup remover. I think I'll be sticking to this liner for a while before experimenting with others.
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Blush -LORAC - Powder Blush in Rose
euroasian 1/15/2011 11:30:00 AM
I find it a bit sad that a lot of good quality blushes are not as popular as they should be, and LORAC is a great example. This blush is about the same price as a MAC blush, but the quality is far better. The texture is smooth, the colour is pigmented, and the lasting power is great. The colour Rose is a boring nude/pink/peach colour in the pan, but on the cheeks it creates an incredibly beautiful, natural-looking flush. It is a very subtle, English rose flush; not a ran-a-mile flush, not a bright-pink-cheeks flush. This blush is not meant to be the focus of your makeup, but it pulls any look you create together. I can wear this during the day with natural eyes and lips, and in the evening with heavier makeup. A very versatile blush that exceeded my expectations. I am actually thinking about getting a spare.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Shiseido - Nourishing Mascara Base
euroasian 11/19/2010 9:41:00 AM
I have been using the original base on and off for several years now, mostly for nights out or when I want extra emphasis on my eyelashes. I loved the original formula to bits; it lengthened, thickened, and held a curl with just one swipe. If I had run out of my HG Heroine Make mascara it would make any crappy "temporary" mascara look just as good. It was one of the few products I was completely loyal to. I have used the new formula for a few days now, and I must say that although it still better than most of the other bases available, it does not perform nearly as well as the original. The new formula requires many more swipes to achieve the same result that the original formula provides in one. It also does not give the same amount of thickness that I had come to love about the original. It still holds a curl wonderfully and adds fantastic length, but the thickness! I am using it for the thickness! Having compared both the original and new formula, I am reminded of the old adage: If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
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Fragrances -Chanel - Chance
euroasian 11/16/2010 12:00:00 PM
I don't know much about fragrances but I've always been drawn to base notes like musk, amber, and patchouli (my favourite cologne being Lancome's Hypnose Homme). I remember falling in love with this scent many years ago when I was still in highschool, but I remember thinking I was too young to be wearing it. I was recently re-introduced to it while I was rifling through my sister's stash (lol), and I fell in love with it once again. I don't know what to say about it except that it is such a beautiful, balanced perfume. To me it is fresh and sexy at the same time. I don't really care if other people like it because I love it, but luckily every guy who has ever smelled this on me falls in love with it. I think I will be wearing this for many years to come.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Reversa - Skin Smoothing Cream 8% Glycolic Acid
euroasian 9/29/2010 10:59:00 AM
Ever since I entered my 20's I have been looking for an anti-aging cream for prevention. I went to my derm and she suggested using this relatively unknown skincare line, and more specifically, this cream. I can honestly say that my skin looks exactly like it did when I was in my teens. I am constantly being mistaken for being a teenager (I even get hit on by them, lol!) and I am constantly receiving compliments on my skin, even by complete strangers. This cream, unlike other AHA's I have dabbled with, does not sting like crazy upon application. Reversa states that their products are time-released so that it doesn't sting like other AHA's, and I really do believe that. Just remember to wait until your skin is completely dry before application, (wait 5 minutes or so after cleansing). The cream is very thick and moisturizing, and it exfoliates without causing flaky skin, which again most AHA's do. It has refined my skin's texture and reduced the size of my pores. I can not say enough about this cream. I may change my eye cream, cleanser, etc, once in a while, but I will never stop using this cream. It is my HG. And the fact that it is Canadian is a bonus. If you need further proof that this works, just check out my pictures in my profile. I do not wear or own foundation or tinted moisturizer; I only wear concealer under my eyes and around my nose (to cover the tiny bit of redness), and occasionally some bronzer. Although I'm sure that genetics do play a role in how a person's skin ages, I can safely say that my skin would not look the way it does if it weren't for Reversa.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Yves Saint Laurent - Matte and Radiant Pressed Powder
euroasian 9/27/2010 9:56:00 AM
This my very first powder and it is fantastic. Over the summer I got used to the skin perfecting properties of my bronzer so I went in search of a regular pressed powder that would keep me polished through the winter as well. I read reviews for many different powders on Sephora's site (since MUA didn't have that many reviews for HE powders), and decided to get either this or Chanel. I went to Murale and tested YSL against Chanel's pressed powder and YSL won me over with its smoother and creamier texture. I threw the pouch and applicator aside and I use a fluffy powder brush to lightly dust this on my face and it somehow manages to blur all my pores and make my skin look air-brushed (fyi I have very clear skin and I don't use any foundation or TM). You can't see or feel it on the skin; instead it makes your skin look naturally smooth and perfect. The effect lasts all day without touch ups, although I do bring it with me for the mirror. This is such an elegant and effective product. I definitely would buy again. (This was $67 Cdn, tx incl., lol!)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -La Femme - Powder Blush
euroasian 9/19/2010 9:13:00 PM
Sorry to be the dissenter here, but these blushes are nowhere nearly as good as they are hyped to be. I have smooth, blemish free skin and these applied *so* blotchy on me! I was so disappointed! I bought 4 of these online and though the colours were beautiful they just did not live up to my usual high end blushes (rumour has it that La Femme blushes are repackaged and sold as Napolean Perdis blushes). The pigment of these blushes are great but they do not last through the day; it's like they start with a "bang!" but end up with a whimper. I was a bit heavy-handed on a late morning and by early evening the colour was almost completely gone. I'll stick to my usual Shu, Bobbi, and Nars blushes, thank you very much. P. S. To everyone who rated my review as not helpful, I would love some pointers, though it does seem that if your review doesn't follow popular opinion it is often rated as such.
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Lipstick -Revlon - Pink in the Afternoon
euroasian 9/6/2010 10:36:00 PM
I was in Shopper's today just browsing and saw these going for $3.99! I remember reading the reviews on this lipstick and how it was reminiscent of Audrey's lipstick in Breakfast at Tiffany's so I had to try it out. It is a very lovely pink lipstick with a touch of coral to it. I was surprised at it's creaminess because I have notoriously dry lips that constantly need some form of moisture. I can wear this lipstick without priming my lips with balm, which is a small feat in itself, as most lipsticks dry my lips out, even some HE ones. I must say that on my lips it looks nothing like the picture in this review. When applied straight from the bullet on my pigmented pink/mauve lips it is an opaque warm pink, not sheer like in the picture above.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Self Tanners -Unlisted Brand - St. Moriz Self Tanner Foam
euroasian 8/5/2010 9:37:00 AM
Since neither St. Tropez nor St. Moriz is available where I live I thought I might as well try the cheaper one first. Living up to the reviews, St. Moriz is a pretty natural-looking self-tanner in most lighting but you can still tell that it is a fake tan on over-cast days (strange, I know). But it is probably the most natural looking one I've tried so far (most self-tanners are orange or streaky or both). To apply, I first put on a pair of surgical gloves (I just happen to have them but you can probably use a pair of latex gloves), and put a sock(!) over one hand. I squirt the mousse onto the socked hand and spread it evenly onto my legs/arms/etc. and this is my version of the mitt (since I can't seem to find a mitt like that anywhere). It applies evenly this way and the tan will last about 4-5 days before I feel that I need to reapply. I then will go about the house and do random things for 3-4 hours before I shower it off, (so I have to do my self-tanning over the weekend). Don't worry about any darker patches or smears since it rinses off evenly. Instead, concentrate on getting every inch of your skin covered. I have had no issues with applying this on my body but didn't have the same luck with my face. It broke me out in 3 pimples on my cheeks and I rarely break out, save for the occasional premenstrual pimple. I am currently trying out St. Tropez on my face, hoping that it won't break me out as well (I look really stupid when I remove my bronzer at night and have to walk around with a white face and bronze body). Overall, St. Moriz is a really good self-tanner if you are looking to use it for the body. I know other reviewers have had success using it on their face, but it just didn't work out for me. I will be writing a review for St. Tropez after I've given my skin a chance to react to it.
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Eye Primer -NARS - Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
euroasian 7/24/2010 10:55:00 AM
I'm a convert! I tossed my UDPP into the trash after seeing that this kept my eyeliner intact for 15 hours! Mind you, I loved UDPP but it was a pain to apply evenly on the delicate eye area; I had to really smoosh it around to spread it, while the Nars primer applied very smoothly and evenly. It made my eyeliner last as long as my UDPP but it was so much more pleasant on my skin. P.S. I don't understand why people are taking points off due to the fact that it doesn't even out/cover up their skin; it *never* claimed to do any of that, and I think that it is inaccurate to review a product for something that it never claimed to do.
20 out of 20 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -L'Oreal - Voluminous Waterproof
euroasian 7/1/2010 10:28:00 AM
I bought this as an alternative to my Kiss Me Heroine mascara because it hadn't arrived in the mail yet. I loved how Volumious made my lashes look; long, full, dark, and a bit glossy. I was afraid that it would smudge like the other reviewers experienced, but it stayed on really well. A little too well. It took me *forever* to get it off! It is soo freakin' difficult to remove! People complain about KM's mascara being difficult to remove, compared to Voluminous it is child's play. I had to soak my eyes with remover *and* grapeseed oil! And it was still there! Wow! I have no idea why this smudges on others, because it clings on to my lashes for dear life! I love the formula and brush, but I will probably try the regular one the next time I run out of my old stand-by. Edit: This has become my favourite mascara. LOVE it! Really cheap at Wal-mart, too!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Shiseido - Facial Cotton
euroasian 6/24/2010 9:31:00 AM
The best cotton pads, ever. You really get what you pay for. They are so soft and hold their shape so well. They also never have that one tiny, tiny spot that is rough or scratchy (for those who have tried the cheaper ones, you know what I mean). One of Shiseido's best products.
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