Makeup Brushes -Versace - Powder Brush
vvalencia 3/19/2005 1:42:00 AM
This is the HG of my powder brushes. I got this brush at least 5 years ago and it has held up amazingly well. You don't have to be rough with it... it effortlessly caresses your face with the powder or bronzer of your choice. I have tried Trish, Bobbi Brown, Shu Uemura and Benefit...Trish is the closest, but I like this for the big, huge and fluffy brush head. Mistake proof and worth the investment!
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Fragrances -Joop! - All About Eve
vvalencia 3/19/2005 1:22:00 AM
Well, I received a decant of this via a swap. I won't say I hate it, but this scent is not for me. I've heard people complain about Pink Sugar being too contrived, but this scent really smells fake to me for some reason. Just doesn't have anything wow or unique about it. I think it's because it makes me think more of Glade air freshener or potpourri for the home.
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Highlighters -Yves Saint Laurent - Teint Parfait Complexion Enhancer Oil-free
vvalencia 3/18/2005 9:02:00 PM
Well, found another product that I will consider HG at the moment... This stuff is fabulous by itself! I have tried it with foundation over it, but I think this works better with sheer powder or powder foundation lightly brushed over it since it provides such a good anchor for that type of makeup creates a natural "base".
So far I've tried #4, #5 and #7. They all actually work for me! At first when I was putting it on I was wondering how this could do anything for my face since it was so sheer, but once it settles into the skin, it just makes your skin look better somehow and gets rid of any blotchiness or uneveness in skin tone. It is a toss up for #4 and #7 for me. One is more yellow and the other is slightly just on the pink side. #5 is my natural skintone and is great for my summer tanned skin! I am waiting for #2 and really want to try #1 and #3 now. So as you can see I'm hooked! I think these are reasonably priced since you don't use too much...Even though this is supposed to be a primer, it is the perfect thing to use when you are too lazy to do a full "made up face" and just want to look decent when running out of the house. Glad I found this through the board! Somehow I convinced myself I am saving money by buying what has been reviewed already...haha..yah,right!
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Concealers -La Prairie - Light Fantastic Cellular Concealing Brightening Eye Treatment
vvalencia 3/18/2005 8:39:00 PM
So I went to my local GA counter to exchange some items and purchase a new eyeshadow I was lemming. I went to the Trish McEvoy counter looking for the portable travel brush and they were sold out. They told me to check with Saks...So I go to Saks and wander to the YSL counter to pick up the Teint Parfait #5 primer I'd been lemming and right next to it is the La Prairie counter....How convenient!
To make a long story short I asked about this product and the MA tried it on me and I liked it a lot! Definitely brightens the eye and gives more opaque coverage than Radiant Touch. It definitely costs more, but you get an extra refill so I figure for $50 you are actually getting two concealers at once!
Only thing that bothers me is the scent that is really strong...Almost gave me a headache. But I will forgo that because this is also a treatment concealer at the same time. I will try this for awhile and update this review, but I think it is the best and most convenient concealer pen I've found so far!
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Treatments (Eye) -La Prairie - Cellular Radiance Eye Cream
vvalencia 3/18/2005 2:26:00 PM
Okay...Now I'm pissed! I received a sample in a swap and hadn't touched it for over a month. I recently purchased Carita Eye Contour Cream and Micro-Gel and have been using the cream at night and the gel during the day. They were working fine...On a whim I tried this and I woke up this morning completely AMAZED at how awake and rested I look. It HAS TO BE the cream, because I stay up late every night and don't get the requisite 8 hour beauty sleep! So I'm pissed because this stuff is $220 per jar! Yet I have never had an eye cream make my eyes look like this...To the point wherein I can get away with no undereye concealer!!! Aaarrrgghhh! I will finish my sample, but have to fight the urge to try and get my hands on more!!!! Anyone got one to swap?!?!
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Treatments -Elemis - Absolute Night Cream
vvalencia 3/16/2005 4:46:00 PM
I discovered Elemis when I started to get facials and massages and Georgette Klinger here in Costa Mesa, CA. I purchased the Skin Nourishing Bath Milk upon the masseur's recommendation. There was a sample tube of this in the box. I tried it and am absolutely hooked. It is a moisturizing treatment that comes in two types: Normal to Dry and Normal to Combination. I have tried both. I use the one for Dry during the winter or when I travel frequently on the plane. I use the Combination version during the summer or when I am feeling oily. Anytime I have strayed away and played with other treatments and experience irritation, I go back to Absolute Night Cream and my face calms down OVERNIGHT! I remember a trip to Colorado during the winter and my skin getting pummeled from frequent air travel and the changes of weather from California. Using this literally saved my skin! When I ran out of the samples I immediately ordered online! There is also a day cream which I will review separately. No breakouts or problems! To learn about Elemis go to this link http://www.elemis.com/story.html, but the big thing about their products...here are a few reasons why Elemis is superior to other aromatherapy products. One of the reasons is their effort to ensure that all essential oils and plant extracts are of premium medical grade with high therapeutic value. The other is that they only use first extraction. These two practices seem small, but make a world of difference to the finished product. One of the few products that I honestly recommend without hesitation!
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Moisturizers -Elemis - Absolute Day Cream
vvalencia 3/16/2005 4:42:00 PM
I discovered Elemis when I started to get facials and massages and Georgette Klinger here in Costa Mesa, CA. I purchased the Skin Nourishing Bath Milk upon the masseur's recommendation. There was a sample tube of this in the box. I tried it and am absolutely hooked. It is a moisturizer that comes in two types: Normal to Dry and Normal to Combination. I have tried both. I use the one for Dry during the winter or when I travel frequently on the plane. I use the Combination version during the summer or when I am feeling oily. They come with SPF7 so can be worn alone for regular everyday use or under foundation. There is also a night cream which I will review separately. No breakouts or problems! To learn about Elemis go to this link http://www.elemis.com/story.html, but the big thing about their products...here are a few reasons why Elemis is superior to other aromatherapy products. One of the reasons is their effort to ensure that all essential oils and plant extracts are of premium medical grade with high therapeutic value. The other is that they only use first extraction. These two practices seem small, but make a world of difference to the finished product. One of the few products that I honestly recommend without hesitation!
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Skincare - Face -Carita - Radiant Beauty Fluid [DISCONTINUED]
vvalencia 3/13/2005 4:58:00 AM
I did not understand that this was a night time treatment when I first received it! I was using it during the day and it was irritating my skin! I actually put it up for swap, but am now taking it down. It is extremely difficult to find and I am glad I spent the time to figure out how to use this.
UPDATE: I tried again and it irritated my skin again. I made sure to use it as sparingly as I could. Something is just not agreeing with my face, because it starts to itch. I am knocking it down a lippie, because I did notice the glowy effect...Just couldn't maintain usage due to the irritation.
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Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Mania #2
vvalencia 3/2/2005 7:42:00 PM
Not sure why this is getting such a low rating. I got this today and love the color! It's a very classy neutral that reminds me of Matte #2, BUT a warmer shade that works with my complexion. The reason I like it so much is it is a neutral that I don't have to add anything to and is very beautiful! Meaning I don't have to use a special color liner or put any gloss on top of it. Not sure how people are getting an orange or peach color out of this...This is now my perfect neutral!
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Eyeliner -Bobbi Brown - Eye Pencils
vvalencia 2/27/2005 6:52:00 PM
Not sure why this eyeliner gets such a bad rap. I used it for my wedding day makeup and find myself reaching for it all the time. It lasts on me all day! Can't say the same for many other eye pencils out there...Even though it's $20 it will last a very long time!
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Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Shine Lipstick #7
vvalencia 2/23/2005 5:12:00 PM
I just received this in a swap. When I first looked at it in the tube I figured this would not really show up on me, because Sheer #4 looked just as gorgeous but did nothing for me...But I put it on and *WOW*! It gives a sunkissed glow to your lips! It's a perfect summer or vacation lippie. I just got back from vacation on the Big Island of Hawaii and it really looks good with my tan...Another keeper! My how my GA lip collection has grown!
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Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Lipstick Mania #3
vvalencia 2/14/2005 1:06:00 AM
When I first tried it, I thought it would be like any of the nude type GA lippies I had tried in the past...Like all the color was drained out of me and just "Not for me!" Then I applied it and it actually looked good! Actually didn't wash me out. I wore it today with #7 as a base, #26 on the lid, #33 in the v and lined/smudged my eyes with BB Creamy Eye Pencil in Black. To my surprise...I looked very polished! Hooray! I finally found a nude that works for my LSF 6.5 complexion! What a relief to be able to break away from the standard warm or dark type lippie...Definitely a keeper!
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Lip Gloss -Giorgio Armani - Lip Shimmer #3
vvalencia 2/13/2005 1:49:00 AM
I was looking for a good brown based gloss and the MA at Nordstrom South Coast Plaza suggested this. I wasn't sure if I liked it at first, but tried it and it grew on me! It has a malted chocolate look to it, but it's neutral and looks very classy. It's a different color than I'm used to, but the lip shimmers never fail to amaze me!
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Lip Gloss -Giorgio Armani - Lip Shimmer #2
vvalencia 2/12/2005 8:24:00 PM
This reminds me of a tomato red hue. I love this color! Just enough color to accent your lips, but understated enough to look very polished and classy...I LOVE the lip shimmers. Trying to get my hands on almost all of them!
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Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Lipstick Mania #7
vvalencia 2/12/2005 8:21:00 PM
This color actually reminds me of a Boston Baked Bean color. It's brown but with more of a maroon influence. I purchased this looking for a warmer, wearable brown. I sometimes put lip shimmer #1 over it to soften it up and make it look creamier.
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