Concealers -Make Up For Ever - HD Concealer
BelleDeCrecy 8/13/2009 10:28:00 PM
My new HG! This is the best color match I've ever found in a concealer. I don't like for my concealer to be one shade lighter or too peachy. For reference, my HD Foundation shade ia 128 in winter. I'm a MAC NC 37. HD 345 (Dark Beige) is a perfect match. It's a medium shade with gold undertones. I can use it under my eyes AND on my face as a spot concealer. There are 14 shades to choose from. The MUF website describes this as a medium coverage concealer, but I found that just one layer covered my rather dark circles. It can easily be layered for extra coverage. It's VERY easy to use. It's like a light textured spackle. The applicator is similar to that of Touche Eclat, except instead of a brush, there's a tiny silicone spatula You must twist the pen type tube about ten times to initially start the product flowing to the tip of the spatula. After that you only need to twist it once or twice. I like the spatula because it is easier to clean than a brush. HD Concealer wore very well without being set with powder. It also works well with the HD powder or LM's Secret Brightening powder. It's not drying, does not cause eye makeup to smear and does not settle in the fine lines. It blends easily and looks very natural-- as if I'm wearing no concealer at all. It retails for $28 USD at Sephora. Love it! Edit: This seems to dark for my currently NC37 skin. I'll have to go back to Sephora to be color-matched.
10 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Smashbox - O-GLOSS
BelleDeCrecy 7/2/2009 10:05:00 PM
O-Gloss a great natural pink for GGGs, DDDs or MMMs who have taken on a bit of summer color. It's just a bit more intense than YLBB. It will give that pop of summer color that other glosses promise in the tube but fail to deliver on your lips. It's also long lasting and easy to apply for quick touchups. This is a tube gloss with a slanted squeeze applicator. I dislike doefoot and brush applicators--it's often too much of a production to touch up anywhere other than the powder room. I'm not generally a fan of Smashbox, but this is a very nice gloss.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Neutrogena - Acne Stress Control Triple-Action Toner
BelleDeCrecy 6/12/2009 10:01:00 AM
This is an excellent toner for retin-a users. I've been using it twice a day along with the cream cleanser for the last three weeks. The two products have completely cleared up a mild case of adult acne on the lower face without a trace of irritation or dryness. The alcohol seems to be buffered with cucumber extract. It feels very cool and soothing on my face. Highly recommended! Update--Acne.org has a far superior product.
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Concealers -Bobbi Brown - Face Touch Up Stick
BelleDeCrecy 5/13/2009 8:28:00 PM
This portable stick makes the new Skin Foundation work like a dream. You get sheer, natural coverage with the SF and precise spot coverage with the FTUS. The slim shape is perfect for quick, on the go touchups. Lipstick, concealer and powder are normally the only touchups I have to do during the day, and the soft consistency of this product makes it easy to use without disturbing your other makeup. Just when I think I'm bored with Bobbi Brown products, out she comes with another indispensible marvel. PS- I'm 4.5./MAC NC37.
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Treatments (Eye) -Unlisted Brand - Latisse Lash Growth Drops
BelleDeCrecy 4/16/2009 10:16:00 PM
Fellow MUAers. Results are promising after a month of using this. You use two drops nightly; one applied along each lash line like eyeliner. I'm already seeing an increase in thickness and length; a few lashes are touching my sunglass lenses! I've had no irritation or redness-- only occasional mild itching along the lashline. According to my MD it takes about four months to get the complete results. Although this tiny vial is supposed to last only 30 days, I'm still not finished with the first vial: I'd say that using the directed two drops every night, I'll get two months out of it. I shake it gently to get an idea, but the vial is opaque, so you can't see how much is left. At $115 this isn't cheap, but perhaps I'll need less mascara! UPDATE: I'm not advocating that you do this, but I don't waste the product that's left on the brush. I've been carefully applying the rest to my brows, taking extra care to stay exactly within my browline. The results are simply SPECTACULAR. My brows have filled in to the degree that I barely need to add brow color. Updated Update: I'm at week 14 and my results have been incredible--both for upper and lower lashes and brows. Lashes are twice as long and about three times as thick. Brows are three times as thick and are longer to the degree that I must groom more frequently (SOOO worth it!) It seems to work more quickly on brows than lashes. I may be in the minority in that I like the stiff synthetic brushes provided with the kit. A natural bristle brush will soak up more product, rendering it less efficient. I moiosten then brush with water first and blot it dry with tissue. This softens the bristles. I use only one brush per application and slowly put one drop near the end, gently twirling it and pointing the brush downward a bit to evenly distribute the product. I then do one upper and lower lashline and one brow. I repeat the process for the other side. No matter what type of brush you use, I don't quite understand using only one drop when the directions call for two. Why cut corners on such a miracle product? How can you know that you are getting the same results with half the prescribed amount? Also, Allergan clearly states that you have to continue to use the product nightly to retain results. Bottom line: this is a VERY exciting and effective new product. Update- Even my husband commented on my ridiculously long lashes. I think he thought they were false?
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Fragrances -Guerlain - Mitsouko Fleur de Lotus
BelleDeCrecy 4/7/2009 2:26:00 PM
I've just snared a bottle at the Guerlain boutique in Las Vegas. Lovers of both the pre- and post oakmoss ban Mitsouko can breath easy. Guerlain hasn't fiddled too much with this iconic chypre. There is now a subtle aquatic/citrus note that TMN simply serves to lighten the top. The drydown is pretty much the same, with a slightly softer, but still unmistakably Mitsouko finish. This should make our beloved Mitzi easier to wear in the summer. Think Chanel Eau Premiere--it's still No. 5 but lighter. I was told by the charming (and very handsome) SA that Fleur de Lotus was intended as a LE only for the Japanese market. Only 8 bottles were delivered to the US. All went to the Las Vegas boutique, the only free standing Guerlain boutique in the US. According to him, no more will be shipped. Hmmm...could be a Birkin style marketing ploy. No matter, at $100, it's a relative steal. Jean-Paul Guerlain is listed as the creator of this excellent flanker. PS--this is available only in an EDT version.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Gucci - Flora by Gucci EDT
BelleDeCrecy 4/1/2009 3:51:00 PM
This could be categorized as a "grownup" fruity floral. It's clearly aimed at a young market, but it's well balanced and pleasant without being cloyingly sweet. It has just enough leather in the fruity, pink floral mix to keep it from being a total bore. Pretty bottle. On another note, I don't know ANY 50 year old "aunties" in floral print dresses Personally, I live in skinny jeans and fitted tees Being 50 ain't what it used to be. BEWARE of the COUGAR! She's on the prowl and coming soon to a boyfriend near YOU ! (Just kidding!)
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Makeup Remover -Olay - Mascara + Make Up Remover
BelleDeCrecy 3/26/2009 9:40:00 PM
Hands down the most effective mascara remover (yes even waterproof) that I have ever used. Sure, it smears a bit upon application, but I find that my makeup comes off very easily on the first go round. BUT-- why, oh WHY does Olay have to load every product with fragrance? I haven't found this irritating, but fragrance is inappropriate for use around the eye. This is great as an all around pre-cleanser for your face makeup. A initial swipe of this creamy formula will allow you to use less of your more expensive cleanser afterwards. Update: Although I find this effective at removing all types of mascara, the scent really turns me off. Olay really must stop adding so much fragrance to everything. It's so old hat. This formulation also stings my eyelids sometimes. I'm demoting this to three stars.
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Treatments (Eye) -Erno Laszlo - Ocu-pHel Emollient Eye Cream
BelleDeCrecy 3/22/2009 12:12:00 PM
I use this after applying a little of the Antioxidant complex for eyes. The two products work like nothing I've ever used to de-puff my under eye area without ANY trace of irritation. Another superb Laszlo product> Caveat: Please, PLEASE use caution if buying Laszlo products on eBay. I'd advise MUAers to pony up the money and order the real thing from Laszlo. There are some very scary old and/or fake products floating around out there--particularly creams that are not sealed and can thus contain who KNOWS what.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Sephora - Professionnel Platinum Air Brush #55
BelleDeCrecy 3/18/2009 7:34:00 PM
This is a great new addition to Sephora's high quality arsenal of Platinum Series brushes. It's made of very soft Taklon, and does a great job of giving an airbrushed look with liquid foundation. It's about the size of a blush brush with a longish handle. It picks up product very well and has enough body so that you can swirl, blend and buff the foundation into your skin for a natural, flawless finish. Though Sephora is touting it for use with liquid bases, it's labeled as a powder brush. I haven't tried it with anything other than liquid, but I can imagine that it's versatile enough to be used with any type of foundation, blush or even loose powder. This is likely to become a go to brush for me. PS--If you're a fan of Armani Luminous Skin Foundation or MUFE HD Foundation, try them with this brush. IMO it works even better than the Armani foundation brush or the MAC 187. Update: This has become my favorite foundation brush of all time. I prefer it to the MAC 187 stippling/skunk brush as the HD 55 is much softer and doesn't poke my sensitive skin--it works every bit as well as the 187 for stippling and is much more versatile. Also, there has been absolutely no shedding through daily use and numerous washings. I can't recommend it highly enough.
15 out of 15 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Sheer Lipstick #8
BelleDeCrecy 3/10/2009 5:05:00 PM
This can work on ALL skintones. A bright, super sheer wash of clear pink that can be layered for more intensity. Like it's red sister # 6, it's much less intense on the lips than in the tube. I prefer a MLBB look, so I don't cover my lips with foundation first or line with a lip pencil. If you do that, it will look more like a traditional bright pink.
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Blush -Giorgio Armani - sheer blush 10
BelleDeCrecy 3/10/2009 4:58:00 PM
This one works well on MMM/GGG skins too, I'm LSF 7/MAC NC30-35. For a low key, no makeup look, I use only a little to avoid overdoing the shimmer. This is perfect with GA's new #33, a coral/pink MLBB super sheer lipstick. I hate the fact that GA powder, blush and bronzers have identical packaging. The labels on the back are also black and have tiny print--Arggggh. I mark the backs with a fat indelible marker so I don't waste time looking for what I want.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Cetaphil - Daily Facial Cleanser (Normal to Oily Skin)
BelleDeCrecy 3/5/2009 9:55:00 PM
I use Retin-A, and I found that this cleanser stings my face. I prefer the "gentle" version, though even that also sometimes stings my sensitive skin.
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Toners -Erno Laszlo - HydrapHel Skin Supplement
BelleDeCrecy 3/3/2009 8:20:00 PM
Many of us who use retinoids can't tolerate alcohol based Light Controlling Lotion, particularly in winter. The EL Specialist told me that this is an appropriate substitute. It refreshes and hydrates without irritation. It has the feel and consistency of a light serum. I adore this line, particularly the original products.
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Toners -Erno Laszlo - Light controlling lotion
BelleDeCrecy 2/26/2009 8:11:00 PM
MUAers who find this toner too drying can substitute Laszlo's WONDERFUL HydraPhel Skin Supplement. It's a glycerin based, alcohol free toner that will sooth your skin and leave it baby soft. I use it in winter, then substitute Light Controlling Lotion in summer when I'm oilier.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No