Lip Treatments -Korres - Lip Butter - Pomegranate
novelist 12/23/2009 10:09:00 PM
This lip butter is very emollient and worth the money. I like it less than the quince one from Korres. The color is supposed to be a sheer peach but on my lips it looks a bit orange. I will save it for the spring and summer when it will look more natural with warm weather makeup. Because it doesn't flatter my coloring as much as the other lip butter, I won't repurchase, but it is a very high quality product.
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Lip Treatments -Korres - Lip Butter -Quince
novelist 12/23/2009 10:05:00 PM
This little jar of lip product is very emollient and looks very natural. It is a medium-rose in the jar and a deeper rose on my somewhat pigmented lips. It's called a "sheer pink" on the product description but on me it's more opaque with a sheen. It is buildable but I prefer just the smallest amount on my lips. The product doesn't last too long on me, but there's plenty in this $9 jar for this winter and the coming months. It's a very nice way to provide color and moisture to your lips.
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Styling Products -Sebastian - Shaper Hairspray
novelist 12/21/2009 6:49:00 PM
I'm not one to use hairspray much, except for when I've got shorter hair. Since my hair is now in a layered bob just below my ears, I decided to buy this "hairspray," based on reviews here on MUA and from glowing statements from hairdressers. The price was not cheap but it wasn't expensive; I'd judge it mid-range and the can is large. My method of applying this product is unorthodox because I don't spray it onto my hair. I've had to wash my tile floors too many times to clean hair sprays from it, so now I spray some into my palm, spread it quickly over both palms, bend over so that my hair is hanging down, and work the product throughout the areas where I need "shaping." I usually have to repeat the process standing up with my hair in place. It sounds bizarre but I work quickly and then the product doesn't get all over the bathroom; it doesn't end up in one spot on my hair more than another; and my hair gets incredible lift and hold this way. Most of all, this hairspray doesn't stink or turn the hair crunchy. The can is huge so I will repurchase but it will be quite a while.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -Clairol - Natural Instincts in Hot Cocoa
novelist 12/19/2009 6:32:00 PM
I've used "Hot Cocoa" at least twice, so I knew the look I was going for when I used it this time. This past week I got my hair cut from almost shoulder length to a layered bob just above my chin with wide full bangs. The gal in the pic which my hairdresser worked from had warm chocolate brown hair, and I figured a darker color suited the cut. The Cinnaberry I used 6 weeks ago has faded nicely to a light auburn but I wanted a deeper color. I already knew that "Hot Cocoa" pulls warm on my dark blonde hair which has red undertones so this result was just what I wanted: rich chocolate brown with golden red and coppery highlights. Not the striped highlights I once paid a lot of money for in a salon. You know, the ones which faded in 2 weeks. These highlights are soft and shimmery and natural and they just light up the face. It's a great look if you want warm tones in medium-dark hair. A definite re-purchase.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Lansinoh Lanolin
novelist 12/18/2009 6:13:00 PM
I purchased this product based on reviews here and elsewhere. It is a thick, very thick gel which is hard to squeeze out of the tube, and it is a bit pricey, but the results are great. I use some on my cuticles and lips each night before bed, then appy Aquaphor over them, and no cracked or chapped or split fingers or lips thus far this winter. It's been very cold and very dry here where I live, and it's been wet and cold as well and so the skin gets quite a workout trying to figure out what to do. I've read that folks who grew up in intensely cold regions (which I did) develop cracks in cuticles more easily than those from temperate zones, and so now I'm not just thinking these cracked areas will get better and be gone. I work with my hands and at times these cuticle cracks are painful. Lansinoh heals them quickly, and probably is preventative too. I ought to mention that if one is lanolin-sensitive, then this product is not for you. The stuff can be warmed to make it more viscous but I'm too lazy to do it so I just use my fingers to work it into the areas where it does such wonderful healing. Definite re-purchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Make Up For Ever - Face & Body Foundation
novelist 12/18/2009 5:59:00 PM
Edited to add 1/31/10: Having been contacted for the color number, I've deduced that it is Ivory 20. First, the bad: There is a rather gross scent to this product which I didn't smell in the Sephora where I got color-matched and purchased this bottle. The scent doesn't last, and the more I use it, the less I mind it. As a matter of fact, the results from this foundation are so fantastic, that I am not deducting a lippie for the odd odor. But it is not without an unusual scent . Now, the good. I swore off liquid foundations a couple of years ago because they set up to a dry, chalky mask. I wound up using all kinds of creams and powders, none really great. I liked the color and flawless finish to Px Photochrome (reviewed) but that product dried up in the pan in no time. On my 2nd trip to Sephora in 2 days (I am a foundation commitment-phobe), I went for the MUFE Face & Body. Reviews here on MUA helped me to make the decision but it was the lack of "cones" which allowed me to stick with the choice. The ingredient list looked like a bunch of "friendlies" and so I got color-matched by a gal who picked out 3 colors: one very pink, one pink, one wheatish golden beige. We never did figure out the color numbers or names. A re-purchase ought to be interesting. I am MAC NW-20 and thought I'd be pink in MUFE, but to my great surprise, the pink foundations sat on my skin like, well, a wet salmony blob. Only the wheatish golden beige blended into my jawline and cheeks like it was made for my skin. So I bought it. I've used this foundation 3 times, and ought to have more experience with it, but the results just keep getting more amazing for me. I think this type of golden-pink-champagne look is what Bobbi Brown is trying to achieve with her "counter-act the pink" theory which, imo, is all wrong. I tried 3 of her foundations and colors, and each one looked grayish on my face. This MUFE color is balanced and I, for one, am so grateful for skin which looks like mine, not like the version of what someone thinks it should be. The Sephora gal suggested that with this shade I can go higher-contrast with my makeup, and it does work. I also can go lower-contrast, as in neutral/natural look, and I do not look boring. (I set it in t-zone and on cheeks with NARS Eden.) The formula is watery but blends into my skin like second skin. I apply it about 15 minutes after my philosophy untinted shelter s/s has sunk in. I actually like the bottle because I shake the stuff, open it, and use just the small amount in the lid, applying it with my fingers. I usually use a second shake's worth for the area below my chin and re-application elsewhere. The application is so incredibly easy and my skin has never looked so incredibly good (and I've got good skin, provided I stay away from "cones.") Because of the wonderful finish from this foundation, it is now my HG for fall and winter, perhaps into spring. Summers in my region are oppressively hot and dry and this year I'll probably use my sunscreen mixed with a bit of MAC Studio Sculpt. The price is mid-range compared to Dior/Chanel/Armani, but the amount used per day is incredibly small. I'm thrilled to love a liquid foundation once again.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Bobbi Brown - Chrome Eyeshadow in Pewter
novelist 12/14/2009 4:35:00 PM
This "chrome" eyeshadow is called "pewter," which is really a misnomer. There is a lot of cool gold, taupe, and on my skin, a luminous sage/olive green undertone. I was quite stunned when I saw the shadow in person. It's equivalent to the range and complexity of shades and hues in the BB metallic longwear cream shadow in Goldstone but in a silky powder form. I tried it first just in the crease but that limiting approach looked just plain boring. I have a rather large area from the crease to the brow bone so I swiped one brushstroke over each area. Gorgeous! And I'm talking daytime wear. I applied BB Black Plum shimmerwash to the lids, UD 24/7 liner in bourbon to top and bottom lashlines, blended some of the MUFE Aqua Eyes in Shimmering Plum (4L), smudged, blended some more, added mascara. What a classy, elegant, modern look for a gal of my age. I have to hand it to Bobbi Brown for coming up with ways to update one's look without having to overhaul it. She is the best for chic neutrals, even better than Dior, and cheaper. I know that some gals complain about the price of her e/s but they last forever. I've hit pan once in Navajo in the Stonewashed Nudes palette purchased not quite 2 years ago. The quality of this shadow is superb; just a small amount gives maximum effect, and the finish is a combination of a subtle luminance with a soft-focus color on the lids. It is very different from her shimmerwashes. I can see myself using this eyeshadow year round; it's versatile, practical, and complements my blue eyes well. The eye color doesn't pop; it just becomes a bit more intense. I put that I'd re-purchase because it is a winner but I doubt I'll run out of this product and since it's LE, we'll have to see how Bobbi deals with the success of this chrome line.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Make Up For Ever - Aqua Eyes Collection Set
novelist 12/9/2009 8:40:00 PM
Having purchased the full-sized Forest Green (20L) (reviewed) from MUFE, I wanted to try more of these pencils but didn't want to invest in another full-sized pencil. Sephora, as always, came to the rescue with this Aqua Eyes Collection Set, $35 (a $49 value). I've tried all the colors, mixed them, reviewed them, and now can make a definitive review of the entire set. If you are looking for a lot of eye pencil, look elsewhere. These little babies are little. There are five of them, as follows: - 0L black - 21L dark grey (new) - 12L blue with green highlights - 4L shimmering plum - 23L champagne They come in an adorable metal case, each pencil embedded in a groove within a tray. I feel like a kindergarten kid with her own set of fancy art pencils. Emotions aside, though, I am very pleased to have bought this set because it was a "try me" kit for a brand which is new to me, and eyeliner pencils can be risky. Even in this set, some are better than others (black/dark grey/champagne I rate higher than the other two, although they are all good). Bottom line is that MUFE has produced a wonderful array of high-quality eyeliner pencils. I have returned to using pencils after gels disappointed me and the only other method I use is liquid liner for a very different type of look (and that product has been discontinued, of course). I think I can still use the package/tray after these little pencils are done for, and I honestly can't say how long they will last. I use only a small amount of the product each time I line my eyes, and have not yet sharpened them, but for the price and the experience of getting to try five colors at once, I'm glad I bought them. I'd repurchase the set but I think I'll likely purchase the separate favorites in full-size. The set is very travel-friendly.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Make Up For Ever - Blue with Green Highlights 12L
novelist 12/9/2009 8:14:00 PM
The color of this pencil gives one pause; it looks like a bright teal but on me it actually became a gorgeous green-blue with subtle shimmer, more like a glimmer, which makes my light blue eyes brilliant. I also like to blend this color over darker ones. I would re-purchase because a pencil of this shade is hard to find, and it provides me with a little flair without going overboard. The application is easy and the product stays put. There is some minimal "drifting" below the lash line, but I am told that it gives a softer look to the line (will the 1980's ever fully leave my makeup psyche?).
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Eyeliner -Make Up For Ever - Aqua Eyes Shimmering Plum 4L
novelist 12/9/2009 7:56:00 PM
This eyeliner pencil is not the first plum-colored one which has been somewhat disappointing for me. I've tried probably half a dozen different brands over the years, trying to find a good dark plum to use to line my light blue eyes (stunning effect when it's right). This one from MUFE has the same faults: not creamy, a bit stiff to apply, not as pigmented as one would hope, and it fades. I think the color itself is difficult to formulate so I've given up on eye pencils in this shade (still looking for liquid liner though). I use it to blend over other eyeliners such as black or brown or gray or even teal. As an eyeliner on its own, it does not do enough for me to re-purchase but to accent/blend with other shades, it's fine.
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Eyeliner -Make Up For Ever - Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in Mat Black 0L
novelist 12/9/2009 7:45:00 PM
This eyeliner is a lovely soft black which is smudgeable into my upper lash line but seems to stay fairly put on the lower lid with just a small amount of smudging. It even passed the sunlight-on-eyeglasses-while driving-in-heated-car test. I'd given up on using black eyeliner on my lower lashline but MUFE has allowed me to give it another try. For an added bit of drama, I also blend over this matte black the MUFE Aqua Eyes eyeliner pencil in shimmering plum (4L). The price is reasonable (less than the Lancome black pencil liner I own) and it does not run down into my corrector/concealer (a major clean-up job).
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Maybelline - Moisture Extreme - Nude Blush ] [DISCONTINUED]
novelist 12/9/2009 4:51:00 PM
What a surprise this one was for me! It really is a nude blush! It gives my pigmented lips a MLBB glowy look. The finish is lovely, the texture creamy, very moisturizing, and the only drawback is the odd scent but it is such a rare find for me (NW20, blue eyes) that I still give it 5 lippies. I'm tempted to call it a universal shade, but it approaches that divine state.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Maybelline - Color Sensational Lipstick - Warm Me Up
novelist 12/9/2009 4:42:00 PM
Based on the wonderful recs and reviews on MUA, I "splurged" and got 4 lipsticks (2 Maybelline, 2 L'Oreal, all reviewed) from drugstore. This color is, on my pigmented lips, a medium rosy pink with a spicy undertone but not that dreaded brown which ruins it for me (NW 20, blue eyes). The color doesn't "warm me up" but it does go well with my coloring and is a deeper version of MLBB. The texture is creamy and the finish is almost matte which I like. I think this lipstick and the others I purchased will work pretty much all-year round, but I think they'll be great in the spring.
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Lipstick -L'Oreal - Colour Riche in Mica
novelist 12/9/2009 4:36:00 PM
I purchased this L'Oreal lipstick on sale and knew it was a gamble. Reviews at the drugstore site said it was paler than the swatch shown, but that's not saying much. When I got it, I thought, ooooh, dark. But once I put it on my already pigmented lips, it appeared much lighter. It is not a neutral, imo, but it is a wonderful plum-mauve with a slight silver sheen. Complements my NW20 skin and blue eyes beautifully. The texture is silky, the finish a bit more dressy, so I'll probably have to use more eye makeup for this one. Still, it's a great find, and the price was 1/2 off because I'd purchased another L'Oreal Colour Riche, so let's say it was more than dirt cheap. The lipstick is not as lasting as Fairest Nude but it is still quite durable.
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Lipstick -L'Oreal - Colour Riche in Fairest Nude
novelist 12/9/2009 4:28:00 PM
Thank you MUA for leading me to this lipstick. I must tread carefully when it comes to lipsticks since my mouth is bow-shaped, small, and though I have a full lower lip, the upper one is thinner (not thin enough to disappear but enough to look pouty even when I'm not). If the color is too pale, the mouth just disappears! If the color is too dark and too red, it looks as if I've just cut my lips and need medical attention. In addition, my skin is cool (MAC NW20) and my eyes blue so getting the right shade is a chore. So after trying the BB versions of nude lip and seeing them turn brown on my lips (although her pale mauve is great), I decided to go drugstore, based on recs and reviews from MUA. I purchased 4 lippes in the lastest sale (2 L'Oreal, 2 Maybelline, all reviewed), and this L'Oreal Colour Riche in Fairest Nude is now HG. I've never had a HG lipstick! The texture is creamy, the finish satin, and the color somewhat lighter than my rather pigmented lips (for a blonde, NW 20). The smell is not offensive to me. I've just eaten lunch and purposely left on the lipstick (not a habit with me) and enough of it remains for me to say it is lasting. It is a great lipstick for a paler look without trending toward sickly or trying to reclaim my adolescence. And for the price, it's 1/3 that of the HE lines. For a basic look which looks great, this lippie gets 5 of them.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No