Lip Gloss -MAC - Plushglass in Big Kiss
tulipswallow 8/15/2006 9:44:00 AM
A beautiful color -- a darker pink/coral with golden highlights. However, I see no plumping with this gloss. No tingle for me, either. So, aside from the color, this is just another gloss. And, as far as MAC goes, I *much* prefer the Lustreglass which has a better shine, and a brush applicator. At $14 the Lustreglass is a much better value. I'll use up this tube, but won't repurchase.
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Polishes -China Glaze - Whos Wearing What
tulipswallow 8/10/2006 7:26:00 PM
Had this applied at the salon today, and I'm totally hooked on the color. A darker cream lilac ... possibly verging on goth, but versatile, so don't let that scare you. I love it because it's different and very fun for summer. Looks great with white, but also awesome with khaki or camo. Completely opaque in 2 coats, and not even a whisper of shimmer. Love it!
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Bronzers -Laura Geller - Bronze-N-Brighten
tulipswallow 8/2/2006 12:01:00 PM
Well, I'm not as impressed as others with this product. I am fair, with a slight tan, and this is very light -- no color shows up. And while it's an ok powder, if you use too much, it can quickly look cakey. It seems to wear well, and it doesn't turn orange, but as a bronzer, I think it fails except maybe for the very palest skin tones.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - HiP Concentrated Duo - Mischief
tulipswallow 5/27/2006 12:14:00 PM
Great colors, no doubt. The navy is amazing -- absolutely unique and wearable. The lighter shade is more common, but works very well with the blue -- bringing out the absolute best qualities of the darker shade. My problem with the duo (with the whole line of duos) is two-fold. I don't find the shadows to be blendable at all. High pigment and blendability should not be mutually exclusive. These shadows almost "stain" the skin, and it's difficult to get a natural, smokey look. And the packaging is horrid. I'd rather have no mirror or applicators than have to deal with this silly two-tiered set-up. I've also found the shadows to be extremely fragile, and I believe it's due to the packaging. Fix the pan, and I'll gladly buy them all.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - HiP Concentrated Duo - Dynamic #828
tulipswallow 5/27/2006 12:11:00 PM
Great colors, no doubt. Really lovely dark olive-brown that looks blah in the pan, but transforms into something beautiful and truly unique on the lid. And the gold-beige that it's matched with is perfect -- bringing out the absolute best qualities of the darker shade. My problem with the duo (with the whole line of duos) is two-fold. I don't find the shadows to be blendable at all. High pigment and blendability should not be mutually exclusive. These shadows almost "stain" the skin, and it's difficult to get a natural, smokey look. And the packaging is horrid. I'd rather have no mirror or applicators than have to deal with this silly two-tiered set-up. I've also found the shadows to be extremely fragile, and I believe it's due to the packaging. Fix the pan, and I'll gladly buy them all.
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Polishes -Milani - Nail Lacquer
tulipswallow 5/12/2006 11:45:00 PM
One of the few lines that carries a wide range of light colors that are opaque in as little as 2 coats. I have several of the lighter shades ... Sweet Dreams and Tres Jolie being two new favorites. Both are very pale, with a bit of shimmer, and completely opaque in 2 coats. Lasting power is kind of hit or miss, but at $3 or less a bottle, I'm not too bothered by it. Excellent range of colors, as well.
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Lip Gloss -Bare Escentuals - Mood Lips Lip Palette
tulipswallow 5/12/2006 3:00:00 PM
This was not at all what I was expecting. Perhaps it's a body chemistry thing, but on me, these glosses are nothing special.
What we have here is a pretty black matte case with 5 glosses and a lip brush. The glosses are simply numbered, but basically it's a pink/gold, turquoise, yellow/gold, white/silver, and a pink/lilac.
When worn alone these glosses are supposed to transform into various shades of your perfect lip color and create a natural tinted shine. Well, on me, anyway, they all look almost identical and colorless. With the one exception being the turquoise which actually does go on a bit blue, but eventually fades into nothing but clear shine.
The other way to wear these is *over* lipstick, and the glosses are meant to lighten and transform any shade of lipstick. Each in a different way, but again, into perfect shades for your coloring. Again, all 5 glosses seem to do the exact same thing to my lipsticks, and I wouldn't call it "transformed" at all ... simply glossed. I see no color change at all -- just a tiny bit of lightning. I don't care for the consistency or the taste/smell of these, either.
In other words, for whatever reason, this palette, while pretty and (I thought) a good idea, is really nothing more than an overpriced clear gloss. *shrug*
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Aveeno - Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer SPF 15
tulipswallow 4/3/2006 1:52:00 PM
Just goes to show you that one product can have vastly different results for different people.
I have mild to moderate rosacea and at 40, my skin has become ultra-sensitive to a lot of ingredients, so the redness has become more of a problem in recent years. I had to stop using a lot of my favorite products because of this.
I started using the Aveeno line about 6 months ago, and have worked my way through several products, and have hit on a combination that I feel works best for my skin. I use the Positively Radiant Daily Cleansing Pads, the moisturizing bar, and this moisturizer.
I agree that this can feel quite heavy and a bit greasy. I tend to use a very small amount -- less than a full pump -- at each application, twice a day. Although it feels heavy going on, I do not feel it at all once it settles into the skin, and it has not shown any signs of clogging my pores or dulling my skin in any way.
While using this moisturizer along with the facial cleansers I mentioned above, the redness in my skin has definitely diminished. I can get away with minimal make-up now, something I couldn't do even 5 years ago. I've noticed my pores appear smaller, as well, and my skin just has a healthier look to it.
Obviously, this product isn't for everyone, and I wouldn't recommend it for oily skin or otherwise healthy skin, but if you have sensitive, rosacea-prone skin, I would give this a try. It may work as well for you as it has for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -BeneFit Cosmetics - look me up and comb me over
tulipswallow 3/27/2006 12:18:00 PM
A *very* warm palette. The colors are pretty, if a little uninspired. The e/s is a pale beige with golden shimmer ... maybe a champagne color. Certainly a highlighter -- you will need something else to wear with this unless you love that pale eye look. I'll admit to wearing this alone with just liner at times. The gloss is a YLBB apricot shimmer. It's a decent quality and wears very well for gloss. I'd have liked a little less shimmer and more pigment, though.
The sleeper in the palette is the fabulous cream blush. It doesn't look like much in the palette -- a flat, darkish peachy apricot. It took me a few days to even try it. I'm loving it now -- it gives a beautiful natural flush, and it's a joy to work with -- creamy and smooth with enough pigment to show up even under powder, but translucent enough to be natural looking. It also doesn't set the minute it touches my dry skin, though I do wear this over moisturizer. It's worth the price of admission, since the e/s and gloss are both perfectly usable.
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Lipstick -MAC - CB96
tulipswallow 2/21/2006 2:51:00 PM
MAC describes this as a "Bright pinky-orange duo-chrome with golden shimmer." Personally, I don't see a lot of pink in this, but there *is* a bit of a duo-chrome effect. I don't care for this on its own ... it's a bit too funky for me. But I love what this does mixed with neutrals or warmer pinks. It gives a bit of a retro feel to some of my favorite lippies like Hug Me, MidiMauve and Bronx. This color is definitely meant for warmer skin tones. I'm a huge fan of MAC lipstick -- it's always creamy, smooth, long-wearing, and moisturizing. This is no exception. I probably will not repurchase this since I can't wear it on its own, but it's a purchase I don't regret.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Christian Dior - Diorskin Fluid
tulipswallow 2/2/2006 3:34:00 PM
This is the first foundation that I have been able to use regardless of season. It is a very *finished* look -- not overly matte, but it leaves a beautiful, clean look. And I never have any problem with it turning color on me. I use 300, 303, and 403 depending on the time of year and how tan I am, though in a pinch, I could get away with using 303 all the time. It's a nice consistency for a liquid ... not *too* liquid, but fluid enough to leave ample working time. Set with almost any powder, it wears all day without turning shiny or cakey.
The price is a bit on the high side, but I almost always pick this up on eBay for about 50% off, so I can't complain -- I would be less willing to use it everyday if I had to pay full price, though. All in all, I think it is a top-notch foundation with good medium coverage. I would recommend it for those still looking for the *right* foundation.
Small note ... while I use the sample cards for this foundation whenever I get them, I honestly think the consistency is different (better) in the bottle. Don't rely completely on how the sample card works for you.
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Highlighters -Stila - All Over Shimmer Powder #9
tulipswallow 1/23/2006 3:02:00 PM
Wow, girls ... it's called *Shimmer* powder ... hence the shimmer. Yes, it's shimmery, but what were you expecting? I don't think this powder was meant to be worn all over the face, but it is very appealing when worn over blush, on the apples of the cheeks, or at the inside corner of the eye. Try it on your lips, too, under a clear or very light gloss. The color is one of those "universally flattering" pinky-golds, so you can't really go wrong there. And it has a nice consistency. I would buy this again, if I ever run out. But I think this will last me a good long time.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -L'Oreal - Bijou Facets B Hopeful
tulipswallow 1/9/2006 11:25:00 PM
I was looking for a certain shade of green, and this was the closest I could find. The color is actually really nice. Beautiful toe color, and I even wore this on my hands when I first got it. The problem is that it is filled with fibers and it dries to a really unattractive, flat finish. And becasue of all the fiber, top coats aren't even able to smooth everything out. I like my polish to shine, and this doesn't cut it. It's also a very short brush, which is a little clumsy. I love the color, but not the formula. I won't be repurchasing or trying the other colors.
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Eyeliner -Pout - Eye Miss You
tulipswallow 12/16/2005 11:52:00 AM
I can't say I'm impressed with this. It's really nothing but a soft black -- as soon as it's on my eyes, all traces of green are gone. The packaging is pretty cute, but I'm not a huge fan of self-sharpening eyeliners, as I think they tend to be too dull -- I like to control the amount of point I use. Also, the smudger seems pointless -- even with the lightest touch, it removes too much product. For the price, I expect better quality. I will not repurchase.
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Primer/ Corrector -DHC - Velvet Skin Coat
tulipswallow 11/5/2005 10:09:00 AM
I use this on my cheeks when I am wearing a cream or liquid blush. As my skin can get pretty dry, this makes a great primer for smoothing out the skin and allowing the cream a "working" time when I can blend and play before it's set. Without this primer, the cream blushes set too quickly and show lines and pores. This primer also hides all that. I'm still not in love, though. It's too much for a full face primer -- silicone is just too heavy, in my opinion, for a full face cosmetic. And as silky and smooth as it makes my face feel, I still never forget I'm wearing it. It does a nice job of filling pores, and I have never broken out from it, but I can always feel it sitting on my skin. Not a good thing. I've yet to find the perfect primer, but I like Smashbox better than this. It's a little expensive for the amount of product, as well, so I doubt I will repurchase. There are almost always samples available anyway, so save your money. I can get about 10 uses out of each tiny sample packet.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No