Blush -Sonia Kashuk - Super Sheer Liquid Tint
tiddleywinks 5/17/2010 3:50:00 PM
I'm in love with this product. I am a blush junkie and have a shocking number of blushes in powder, gel, stick/multiples, liquid/stains, ranging from drugstore/low-end to high enders like Guerlain and Chanel. I went on a blush bender again this weekend (after reading reviews about the NYC blush sticks. I found those in the LE colors and went for broke at Target with a Pixi gel ($20!!! Yikes. I think of Pixi as a Bonne Belle-quality brand) and Sonia Kashuk Sheer Tint ($9.99). I bought the Kashuk in Peony and love the color- it is quite unique, a rosy-blush pink with a hint of warmth. Consistency is great, liquid enough to easily blend round the cheek area, and it lasts all day for me. Good price, too, with a decent value in plenty of product for the money. I would definitely buy again, and am coveting the item the other shades. I am shameless, just shameless, when it comes to blushes.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - The Multiple in Beverly Hills
tiddleywinks 5/6/2010 4:53:00 PM
I find NARS multiples irrisistible and was excited to see the Limited Edition multiples/tints out on May 1, 2010. Naturally, I could not overcome my need for Beverly Hills and Cadaques. I am pleased with both, but do have to add that I was hoping that the Beverly Hills would be, as advertised, a sheer red. It is actually more of a watermelon shade, very cute but not really a red. These multiples appear very bright and intense in the tube, but they are very sheer and buildable. I have a fair complexion and need just a swipe or so. They seem pigmented enough to use with a good range of skin tones. I would purchase these again, although they are so large that I won't likely use them up.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - The Multiple in Cadaques
tiddleywinks 5/6/2010 4:36:00 PM
As a fan of NARS Multiples, I was so excited about the Limited Edition tints out May 1, 2010 and ordered Cadaques and Beverly Hills. These look super-bright in the stick, but are very sheer and buildable. Cadaques is a cool-toned pink. Lo-o-o-ove it! I am very fair, a MAC 20-25, and a couple of swipes give a nice, sheer blush of color. Great lasting power -- it lasts from sunup to sundown without any fading. I generally use my multiples as blush, so I can't really report on the use as a lip-stain. Highly recommended! I would purchase again, even though they are a bit pricy. These last forever.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Crush Metal Stacked #2
tiddleywinks 4/4/2010 5:37:00 PM
I lo-o-o-ve MAC pigments. I literally own 27 different colors and could not live without Coco or Violet. I swoon over many shades and have purchased duplicates on a few, even though a container will probably last a lifetime. Unfortunately, I am not loving on the Crush Metal Stacked set #2. The colors are very lightly pigmented- I can get these shades from NYX or another drugstore brand. These are 4 shades of gold- a light golden olive, a light coral-peachy-gold, a tan-ish gold, and a medium gold. None are dark enough for a crease color on my very fair-toned face. The fallout is unbelievable- glitter flies everywhere. By the time I finish applying, I have fine glitter-sparkle all over my face. The texture is different from most of the pigments I own; it is quite lumpy- perhaps the larger particles needed more binder than finer pigments? I don't like the packaging- the stack is similar to the stacks that one sees at the mall with the lesser quality pigments. One must be very careful opening them to avoid spillage. Overall, and I really hate to say this as I am a true MAC afficianado, I would not really recommend these unless you love glitter. That being said, I will probably still keep searching for the Set #1. I am incorrigible when it comes to MAC.
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Blush -MAC - Just A Pinch Gel Blush
tiddleywinks 5/10/2009 9:57:00 AM
Meh. Normally, I am a big fan of gel blushes and I am a huge MAC addict, but this blush was only "okay" for me. The shade is similar to Tarte Flush, a sheer red-pink, but does not have the lasting power or blendability of Flush. It is more solid than a true gel, really pretty much the consistency of the Tarte blush sticks, so you have to smear your finger around in circles on the surface of the blush in the pot (which also means that you get perhaps 20% of the amount of a blush stick). You then spread it around with your fingers, which I don't generally mind, but I do worry about the contamination in the pot over time. This did not last all day for me. Nars, Tarte, and Allison Raffaele all have better lasting power in their gel blush sticks. Sorry, MAC, this one is kinda average. Sigh.
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Eye Shadow -Coastal Scents - 28 Neutral Palette
tiddleywinks 5/9/2009 3:35:00 PM
I didn't find these shadows chalky; the color payoff was okay and the blendability okay. My problem is that the colors were too warm to be neutrals for my pale coloring. They leaned a bit too far to the warm side of the spectrum for me to ever reach for them again. Time for a swap!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Circa Plum Pigment
tiddleywinks 5/9/2009 11:39:00 AM
M-m-m-m! I totally love this pigment! I am a huge MAC piggie fan and have been longing for a violet/plum/purple that is not quite so deep in pigmentation as many that have been out in the past few years. Circa Plum is just about plum perfect for my fair coloring. It is subtle, a taupe-y medium plum that blends wonderfully and looks terrific with lots of other shades. I have dark brown eyes and know that this will be a favorite for years to come. Fine for office wear but can jazz up for a night look. I will likely buy a backup jar- Love, love, love!
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Eye Shadow -Stila - Kitten
tiddleywinks 1/29/2009 10:17:00 AM
I love Kitten! I like the subtle shimmer, the slightly pinky gold tone, and the silky texture. A great wash or highlighter without being too red-toned. Stila eyeshadows have great texture, terrific pigmentation, and wonderful blendability!
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Palettes -Stila - Guinevere's Deluxe Palette (2007)
tiddleywinks 1/29/2009 10:13:00 AM
I love this palette! It's a perfect combo of eye colors, the blush is, for me, similar to Orgasm- just a bit lighter, and the lippie is very wearable. It's rare to find a palette that could serve as a stand-alone for a weekend getaway, but this one and a mascara will do! I should probably add that I find these subtly shimmery. I can't do sparkle, but these are nicely subtle and wearable.
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Palettes -Coastal Scents - Ultra Shimmer 88 eye shadow palette
tiddleywinks 1/29/2009 10:09:00 AM
If you are someone who enjoys experimenting with bright colors, especially blues, greens, pinks, and yellows, this is the palette for you. Personally, I wanted to really, really love this palette, but for me, it is just a "meh." I am quite fair and prefer cool tones, and never wear blues or greens, so much of this palette isn't workable (so maybe my review is a bit colored by that fact. The greens and blues look fabulous in the pans, I just don't wear them). All of the brown/taupe/gold colors look very similar when on my lids, a big disappointment, and I find them less blendable than expected. There seems to be sione variability in pigmentation- some of the pinks are super-pigmented, for instance, while some of the browns are not. I found all but one of the purples to be fairly warm (leaning to the red/pink tones), which is probably the biggest reason for my disappointment. But hey, anyone out there searching for MAC's legendary "All Girl" pigment, a limited and valuable pigment from a few years ago (I saw one go for $75 on Ebay!), there is a cool pink that is a perfect match. There are some nice highlighters. Overall, it is a decent palette at a good price, with generally drugstore quality shadows.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Coco Pigment [DISCONTINUED]
tiddleywinks 1/29/2009 9:53:00 AM
Coco is one of my go-to eye colors, an absolute never-fail HG. This is the shade safe enough for a job interview but still elegant enough for a formal occasion. For the record, I am pale and like tones without red/orange, so Coco is perfect. Blendable, cool taupey-brown that works beautifully with a huge range of other shades. If I had to go for the rest of my life with just two shades of e/s, I would take MAC Coco and Violet pigments. Love, love, love it!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Philosophy - Amazing Grace Eau De Parfum
tiddleywinks 1/29/2009 9:36:00 AM
Sadly, I have to agree with Bubblysteph below; this is just not the scent for me. The top note was, "oh, wow, I love this!" But after just a moment, it went all powdery-musk on me and I ran screaming for some suds to wash it off. It was one of those evil fragrances, however, that continue to haunt long past all reason. As I walked the mall, I was actually embarassed by the lingering scent of a badly managed nursing home. Don't want to be politically incorrect here with the imagery, but honestly, y'all, it was awful. Please note that I completely recognize that not all perfumes coordinate with every individual body chemistry; this was one that went south immediately for me. Ick.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Bath and Body Works - Black Amethyst
tiddleywinks 9/20/2008 9:20:00 AM
Unfortunately, I have to agree with a number of the negative reviews. This is a pretty icky and outdated fragrance. I have been a little disappointed with B&BW over the past couple of years; their fragrances have become really generic and boring. I haven't been tempted by much of anything, and I used to be a total fanatic (There was much weeping and gnashing of teeth when they discontinued the Tangerine Spice fragrance). I am told that the company was purchased by Victoria's Secret, and this is the reason for many of the changes. They are discontinuing the bubble bath! What's that all about? They may have lost a customer forever.
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Sunscreen -Banana Boat - Faces, spf 30
tiddleywinks 6/8/2008 1:33:00 PM
Please note that there are some ingredients in all suncreens that will be allergenic to some folks. There is a difference between sunscreens and sunblocks. For folks that have sensitivities, you'll have to head for the things like Neutrogena's Sunblock for sensitive skin. These are based on titanium and zinc sort of blocks that literally block sunrays, and are recommended by dermatologists for people unable to tolerate the chemicals. Personally, I can't handle ANY of the chemical sunscreens and have to use the Neutrogena. Too bad. I really miss the Bullfrog and the Banana Boat for convenience. But I have the same reaction as the next reviewer down. It feels like a burning sensation with a severe itch that goes along with it, and it persists for at least three days following. Horrible. But it is not the fault of the sunscreen; it's a personal reaction- an allergy or sensitivity (to things like the oxycinnamate, etc). Check the labels and do a "patch" test if you worry about sensitivity. BTW, some of these chemicals are just fine until activated by time in direct sunlight. It's a very individual thing.
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Eye Shadow -Unlisted Brand - Mad Minerals Pizzazz
tiddleywinks 5/26/2008 4:47:00 PM
Wow. Words fail. This is THE most gorgeous purple you will ever, ever find. It's the color of tropical sunsets in the distance, the color of a bouquet of violets, the color of sighs. It has depth and gleam. Can't praise it highly enough!
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