Concealers -Clarins - Instant Light Perfecting Touch
maylias 9/14/2008 1:16:00 PM
Fantastic brightening primer for me. I wear this everyday under a bit of powder for a very natural look and easy look. It seems to minimize my fine lines and adds a subtle sheen to my face. The tube is brilliant; it's easy to dispense the right amount, and you're able to get what seems like every last drop of product out without really having to try. Also, this seems to be one of the more affordably priced Clarins products because a little goes a long way. The pink shimmer works for my light-medium neutral skin tone, but I could see how it might not work for everyone.
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Shave Products -Avon - Silky Stay Shave Gel
maylias 7/14/2008 2:06:00 PM
Nothing special here for me, although I've repurchased several times on sale. Give me a smooth shave, but so do most other shaving products. The blue tint does not make it easier to see, and I do not care for the scent.
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Masks -St. Ives - Mineral Clay Firming Masque 
maylias 7/13/2008 11:00:00 AM
I've been using this for years; I've tried other clay/mineral masks and always come back to this one. I'm not sure why but this does wonders for my face. It must make my pores smaller and clean them out. Not sure about any firming effect but the way it leaves me looking radiant is enough for me!
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Gels/Soaps -Kiss My Face - Olive and Green Tea Soap
maylias 6/23/2008 2:48:00 PM
I've been using this on my face and body for about one week in conjuction with Kiss My Face Olive & Aloe Moisturizer. It leaves me feeling very clean but moisturized, and I particularly love what this has done for my face. The scent leaves something to be desired but it's not strong or offensive in any way, just very natural. As others have mentioned, it's not the prettiest soap and it does get mushy quite easily, so be sure to keep it in a well-drained dish. The bar is enormous and I have a hard time moving it around in my small hands, so I've cut it in half and that has helped somewhat. Using this and the KMF Olive & Aloe Moisturizer together has allowed me to vastly simplify my routine, and I have much less in the way of stuff to carry along when I travel. Update 11/11/08: too drying for winter, on both face and body.
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Lotions/ Creams -Kiss My Face - Olive & Aloe Moisturizer
maylias 6/23/2008 2:11:00 PM
I've been using this as a face and body moisturizer for about one week-- in conjuction with Kiss My Face Olive & Green Tea soap-- and I couldn't be happier with it. It absorbs well and moisturizes my normal-dry skin perfectly, even during our hot, dry summer season. The scent is clean and light and disappears quickly, and the pump (recently improved) is very handy. I apply this morning and [sometimes] night with no other creams or treatments, and I wake up looking bright and refreshed every morning. Using these two simple, natural products together has allowed me to vastly simplify my routine, and I have much less in the way of stuff to carry along when I travel. Update 04/29/09: Not as moisturizing as I had originally hoped or thought. A good natural moisturizer, but I need something with a little more oomph.
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Eye Shadow -Stila - Irma La Douce Eyeshadow
maylias 6/17/2008 3:19:00 PM
I recently purchased two Stila powder shadows (Starlight and Irma La Douce) in addition to the three-pan case because I was unhappy with the color and packaging of my everyday LORAC shadows, and after a week of using the new shadows in a multitude of ways, I'm a convert. I have a fair-medium neutral skintone, blue eyes and blonde hair. Irma La Douce is a smoggy, gold-flecked olive green with good color payoff, exceptional staying power and a subtle shimmer/sheen. I use it (wet) as a liner and layer it over Starlight for a shimmery, greenish smoky eye. For some reason, this green works great with my blue eyes. UPDATE 04/29/09: This shadow crumbled under no duress, which made me mad considering the price. Will not repurchase!
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Eye Shadow -Stila - Starlight Eye Shadow
maylias 6/17/2008 3:15:00 PM
I recently purchased two Stila powder shadows (Starlight and Irma La Douce) in addition to the three-pan case because I was unhappy with the color and packaging of my everyday LORAC shadows, and after a week of using the new shadows in a multitude of ways, I'm a convert. I have a fair-medium neutral skintone, blue eyes and blonde hair and have always preferred a more natural look consisting of a champagne shadow wash, brown mascara and a touch of rosy blush. Stila Starlight is the perfect everyday champagne wash for me: good color payoff, exceptional staying power and a subtle shimmer/sheen. I also like to use it (lightly) as a highlighter in my browbone and on the inner corners of my eyes. I was worried when I first opened the package because in the pan, Starlight looks brownish peach, but it shows up as a complex warmed silver shade on me. UPDATE 04/29/09: This shadow crumbled under no duress, which made me mad considering the price. Will not repurchase!
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Shampoo -Loma - Pearatin Hydrating Creme Shampoo
maylias 6/10/2008 6:59:00 PM
I'm very, very picky about shampoo and I loathe conditioners. This is the first shampoo that I'm satisfied with. I have fine, color-treated blonde hair (I'm a recovering platinum blonde), but I've always had oily roots and dry hair. This doesn't weigh my hair down and actually allows me to forego dreaded conditioner. I don't like the smell very much -- it reminds me of a soap we used to wash dishes at a restaurant years ago, for some reason-- but I can overlook that personal issue in the name of better hair!
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Paul Smith - Rose EDP
maylias 6/10/2008 6:34:00 PM
I found Paul Smith - Rose EDP in a Japanese department store during a recent trip. This starts off with a real, fresh rose scent and morphs relatively quickly into peonies and magnolia as another MUAer has stated so adeptly below. Solid, reasonable sillage and decent staying power. A warm, soothing rose with youthful floral notes that has been working very well for me this spring and summer. The packaging is simple and plain but lovely; I should mention that sometimes I can't put the top back on as easily as I would like.
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Lip Gloss -Too Faced - Beauty Balm
maylias 6/10/2008 6:24:00 PM
This is my favorite lip balm because it's moisturizing and serves as a lightly colored gloss. I've tried Girly Grapefruit (a sheer pink with a light fruity scent) and Chocolate Bunny (a brownish sheer with a fakey chocolate scent) and far prefer the color of Girly Grapefruit with my skintone. I particularly like that I can apply a thin layer as a balm or a thicker layer for a glossier effect.
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast
maylias 6/10/2008 6:18:00 PM
This review is for the brown, non-waterproof formula. The brush is fat and the tube is fatter. My lashes look longer and more defined, perhaps even a bit fuller. However, the formula makes my eyes sting during the day. Also, those splotches that I end up painting all over my eyelid most mornings (on account of the giant wand) make me feel like I'm 103 and losing my fine motor skills. I'll use it up and not repurchase because I'm only getting older anyway.
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Eye Shadow -LORAC - powder eyeshadow
maylias 6/10/2008 6:09:00 PM
I've been using LORAC powder shadows for just over a year and I'm pretty happy with them. The quality is excellent and they have good staying power even without an eye shadow base. I do find some of them to be lighter when applied than I would like, and the screw-top pots are for some reason quite a hassle for me. A quick run-down of the shades I've tried: - Enlighten: creamy white with shimmer (great as an everyday wash for lids, although I think most people would use this to highlight the browbone) - Black: matte black (haven't found much use for this one but I usually go for a natural look) - Dreamy: dark grey navy (good as a liner or when used for smoky eye) - Guava: baby doll pink with shimmer (horrible on my skin tone so I've only used it once) - Moonstone: pink champagne color (surprisingly pink, too pink for me) - Pewter: slate brown with shimmer (great as a liner or for lighter smoky eye) - Serenity: coppery bronze (good for blue eyes)
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Mascara -Ecco Bella - FlowerColor Natural Mascara
maylias 6/10/2008 5:59:00 PM
I have thin but full brown lashes. I recently noticed that my drugstore mascaras were irritating my eyes, likely because I've developed a habit of neglecting to wash my face off before I go to bed at night. I chose Ecco Bella because it was readily available and seemed to have good reviews, and I'm not disappointed. I use the brown shade and it has good staying power, never smudges and seems very easy on the eyes (in the literal and figurative senses both). This is a natural but darker brown mascara that lengthens and defines but does not add volume. The mirror on the tube is genius! One slight downfall: it seems a bit more watery in consistency than other mascaras, which makes for an extended drying time as compared to other mascaras. I'm going to stick with this one for a while.
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Lip Gloss -Clarins - Instant Light Lip Perfector - Rose Shimmer
maylias 5/1/2008 2:57:00 PM
Lovely gloss with great staying power. Smooth, not too sticky. Color is a sweet light pink, somewhat buildable. Lastly, I love the sponge-tip applicator! UPDATE 06/10/08: Alas, the love affair has ended. Still pretty, but too drying for me; I guess I'm looking for more of a balm-type gloss.
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Treatments -Nature's Gate - Light Switch Lemon Brightening Serum for Day and Night
maylias 4/30/2008 5:27:00 PM
No visible difference after two weeks of use: no brightening, no evening of skintone. My normal-to-dry skin almost seemed a bit irritated by this light serum/moisturizer. Also, seemed to make powder and other light cosmetics last a shorter time.
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