Bronzers -Stila - Loose Mineral Bronzing Powder With 24K Gold
tinytapa 6/2/2011 1:29:00 AM
On my NW20-25, this comes out looking way too orange. The packaging is cute, and I like the twisting sifter to keep the product from spilling everywhere, but that isn't redeeming enough. It's too shimmery for me, as well, and I end up looking like a frosty Oompa-Loompa...not a great look! One plus is that it is very pigmented, and a little goes a long way - I use only the teeniest amount and still find that it's too much. I don't think this is carried anymore, in any event (it was part of the Indian Summer line, if I'm not mistaken?) but I've seen it in sales bins and online a fair bit recently. I wouldn't recommend it for ladies with my tone, but maybe you can make it work for you?! In my humble opinion, this is a sub-par bronzer.
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Lip Gloss -Pupa - Lip Perfection Ultra Reflex - 09
tinytapa 6/2/2011 1:16:00 AM
09 is the most red gloss in this line of products, though on me it shows up as more of a deep berry pink with a hint of coral. The colour is great for me, anyway - though, I kind of wish it was closer in colour on my lips as it appears in the bottle, which is a vibrant, bright red with finely milled shimmer. It applies nicely, and feels quite moisturizing on my lips. It has a light citrusy scent and no notable taste. It's shimmer and glossy, and makes lips look FULL and JUICEY! It sits dangerously on the verge of being sticky and is thick, and the milled shimmer can become a bit gritty as the day wears on. But, these are small inconveniences to a beautiful product - it coats my lips well and gives me sexy lips! Relatively long-wearing, especially for a gloss. I'm keen to try it in some of the other shades, as well. A great addition to a lip junkie's collection! ;)
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Misc Beauty Tools -beautyblender - the sponge
tinytapa 6/2/2011 12:34:00 AM
Well, I'm late to the game on this one, I know! I've only had my BB sponges for a few months now, and I've been waiting to chime in with my opinion because, to be honest, I'm constantly up and down with this product. I've tried it with every foundation and concealer I have in my collection or could get my hands on. I agree that it does a much better job than most brushes, insofar as it doesn't streak and it deposits colour without disturbing the skin. However, I don't find it to be significantly better (I give it a slight edge!) than my Simga F80 when it comes to liquid foundation - both achieve an air-brushed finish with no steaks. The pointed end of the sponge is great for getting into corners better than a brush, such as around my nose. Some of downsides is that I found it stains easily with liquid foundation and it needs a wash after every use! However, I deep clean my brushes once a week and I've managed to make the sponge-washing one of the steps in my makeup routine. It's also quite expensive, though mine have lasted pretty well. Some of the cheaper dupes are comparable in use but not in quality and seem to deteriorate quickly. When I wash it, the water runs pink, which makes me wonder how much dye is in this little sponge? I would prefer something more natural, I think, though I concede that it is a cute colour. I also feel that it forces me to use way too much product, as it seems to absorb a lot of my liquid product, despite only using the sponge when it's damp (instructions say this will prevent the sponge from soaking up product - I call BS on that!). One thing this sponge has done for me is made me love my Bare Escentuals products again - nothing I have ever used previously gives me such a fantastic application of this line. I had pushed them to the back of my makeup cabinet, but now I'm using the foundation and concealers daily again thanks to the help of the BB sponge. I'm finally able to make 'Well-Rested' eye powder work for me, whereas I previously hated it. So, I definitely recommend trying this with a few different products and lines before forming a firm opinion - it could surprise you! Right now, I'm loving it and will continue to try it out with more items (highlights, cream blushes, etc...) to see where else I can make it work for me. I would likely buy it again.
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Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Smog
tinytapa 6/2/2011 12:10:00 AM
A deep copper colour, with golden undertones. The reviewer below me totally captured the pigmentation - insane! One swipe with my MAC 239 is all I need to achieve the desired colour. I love this as a crease or outer-v colour, but I've worn it previously as an all-over lid colour with UD Sin as a highlight - beautiful! I don't get any fallout with this product, and it resists creasing, even without a primer. Finally, it is buttery and smooth, despite the subtle shimmer, and is blendable. Very long-wearing. I definitely recommend it!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Shattered eyeshadow
tinytapa 6/2/2011 12:02:00 AM
A very pretty aquamarine/teal colour - in some lights it appears more blue and in others the green undertones are very obvious. I don't wear a lot of blue shades, but this one seems to suit my hazel eyes well. The colour is moderately pigmented, compared to other UD shadows, but I like that because it don't overwhelm or cheapen my eye. It is quite frosty but it lacks the usual annoying glitter in UD products. In my experience, there is little fallout and it blends beautifully.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Bamboo
tinytapa 6/1/2011 11:51:00 PM
On me, bamboo is pretty near invisible - the peachy-beige shade matches my skin almost perfectly. So, it doesn't do the usual job of an eyeshadow for me. Instead, I use it to even out my lids (especially on rough mornings, such as when I'm sick and my lids are red and sore). It's a good all-over base before apply highlight/lid/crease colours - it can help some shades appear more pigmented, for instance. When I'm going natural, I sometimes use it to soften my eyes and apply it over a primer - this also helps my lids from looking oily as they can when I'm makeup-free. To be honest, though, I don't reach for it that often - I need to bring it forward in the eyeshadow drawer so that I remember it's there. I've had the same pot for, well, years - I don't know whether I'll buy another when it does go.
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Eyeliner -Rimmel - Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil in Pure White
tinytapa 6/1/2011 11:28:00 PM
Solid drugstore eyeliner - applies easily and smoothly, and is very pigmented. Brightens up eyes - great for the corner and the waterline. Can be blended out easily, if need be. The staying power is so-so (hence one deducted point) but the price is right and the need for an occasional touch-up won't deter me from repurchasing.
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Eyeliner -MAC - Rosemary and Thyme eye kohl
tinytapa 6/1/2011 9:58:00 AM
I have hazel eyes and olive skin, so this is a great colour for me. I'm trying to think of a descriptive word for the shade, and all I can come up with is "sage", which is just another herb! I guess you could call it leafy, though it's very soft. (OK, I just cheated and looked on their site - MAC describes it as an olive-gold, which I guess is pretty accurate - though I find it to be more green than gold.) It does has subtle gold shimmer in it, which really makes the colour POP! I actually prefer to wear it on an otherwise bare eye when I wear it on my top lid, or it doesn't actually show up very obviously. On its own, it holds up beautifully. I also like it on the waterline, and it is quite long-wearing either way. It seems to need a fresh sharpen often, for the most pigmented application. It applies pretty easily, though I don't find it to be as soft as other MAC kohls. On the whole, I think it's a nice product. I've been keeping Rosemary & Thyme in my kit for over 8 years, and I'll continue to repurchase. I would recommend it for fairer skin tones - one of my besties, who is quite dark, found that it didn't show up on her at all. For me, though, I dig it!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -The Body Shop - Facial Brush
tinytapa 5/31/2011 9:50:00 AM
This little brush is great! It's tough enough to be exfoliating, but not too rough that my skin feels damaged or irritated. I like using it with a gentle cleanser and moving it in little circles around my face. In particular, I concentrate on areas where I am prone to blackheads (my nose and chin). For only a few dollars, I don't see how you can go wrong! My biggest piece of advice around this product is to be sure to give it a good clean after every few uses - I use Dr Bronners to clean mine, and then let it dry outside of its cover. It's lasted my ages and helps me keep my skin smooth and clear. Recommended!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Body -Gillette - Satin Care Shave Gel - Alluring Avocado
tinytapa 5/31/2011 12:15:00 AM
I normally have trouble with shaving creams or gels irritating my skin but this one is luxurious and soft. It leaves my skin feeling nourished and moisturized, with a light and pleasant smell. It foams up beautifully, making a little go a long way (one bottle can last me upwards of 4 or 5 months, believe it or not!). It doesn't stain the tub, which is another bonus. The pump is easy to use and has never, ever given me any hassle. Basically, I can't think of a bad thing to say! Recommended, for sure!
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Cleansers -Clinique - Rinse-off foaming cleanser
tinytapa 5/30/2011 9:42:00 AM
For me, this cleanser is good but not great. I like using it as a first step in my skincare routine, but I wouldn't dare use it on its own for the following reasons: it doesn't remove all traces of dirt and makeup, and it's very drying for my skin. So, I use it as a primary makeup/dirt/etc remover, and then finish with a second cleanser that is more moisturizing for my skin. In that way, it's great because it means the second cleanser I use really gets to go to work for my skin, removing any traces left behind and getting down deep into my pores. It's like an opening act for the main event, I guess! On the plus, it foams beautifully and so a little goes a long way. It's non-irritating and doesn't have an offensive smell.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -BeneFit Cosmetics - Dandelion
tinytapa 5/30/2011 6:08:00 AM
I am a big fan of this product. On my skin tone (currently roughly NW20), Dandelion shows up as a glowy, delicate pink. I don't have the same trouble as others have in terms of this colour not showing up - I find it to be relatively pigmented but also beautifully subtle. It's also very buildable, in my experience. I don't usually go for dramatic blushes, anyway, so this is the ideal colour for me. I don't bother with the included brush, but use an angled blush brush to apply. I haven't had any problems with it breaking me out at all, which is great (my skin is temperamental and easily agitated!). I don't find it to be chalky, and it blends very naturally. The light smell is precious, too! Finally, my little box has lasted me well over a year now, with no sign of hitting pan soon. The packaging is adorable but, of course, it doesn't travel well. MAC pinch 'o peach is quite similar, in my opinion, so that's my travel blush - Dandelion is my sit-there-and-look-pretty blush. ;) I would happily repurchase this product and will eventually have to do so, as it's my every day cheek colour. Recommended!
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Makeup Brushes -MAC - # 239 Eye Shader Brush
tinytapa 5/30/2011 2:34:00 AM
This is my HG eyeshadow brush - I've had mine for nearly 11 years! Remarkably, it's still holding out beautifully. Offhand, here are some of the notable pros: - Precise application & perfect control - Ideal for all-over colour and highlighting - Can also be used for crease colour - Picks up lots of product and packs on the colour (makes low pigmented shades actually workable) - No shedding (mine has literally never shed a bristle, to my knowledge) - Comes clean easily with regular washing - mine is still as white as the day I bought it The price is worth it, believe me - it'll last forever! I really need to pick a second one up to add to the rotation, as I use mine every day and I'm constantly washing it. Cannot recommend enough!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -beautyblender - Blendercleanser
tinytapa 5/30/2011 1:39:00 AM
I bought this cleanser with my BB sponge, and have had mixed results with it - sometimes it removes everything, but other times there are little stains that remain. I ALWAYS wash my sponge right after use, so I was surprised that not everything was lifted out (the remaining stains were from foundation and concealer). Extra product helped remove them, but I was disappointed by how much product I had needed overall to get the sponge clean. I also found that Dr Bronners natural soap yielded the same results, and that baby shampoo also cleaned the sponge well (although I did find that it took eons to rinse when cleansed with shampoo). Given the price and amount of product needed per wash, I am not likely to repurchase it, though I agree that it does usually clean the sponge pretty well.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Tweezerman - tweezers
tinytapa 5/26/2011 8:49:00 AM
What's not to love?! They grab every little hair without effort or strain. My last pair last me over a decade, and I just bought a cute red pair. It's cool that the company offers free sharpening, though I've never taken advantage of it. This is an absolute HG tool - well worth the price tag. May I never find myself without them!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No