Polishes -Zoya - Miley
kattymat 10/24/2008 9:47:00 PM
I, like so many others, can't do lavender, or lilac polishes (eg Essie Baby Cakes). I found Miley to be 'ok' in the lilac polish stakes. It is a really pretty color, very sheer and if you are like me then one coat will give you some color without the problems that two coats will give. That said, I did two coats and found it bright (almost weird looking) but it grew on me. I painted my nails 3 days ago and initially gave this 3 lippies thinking I'm not sure I like this. However, it has really grown on me and I am now giving it 4 because I do like it. It's that sort of color. I have received a lot of complements about it. If you are wanting a lilac, then this may be your best bet. The formula is great like all Zoya's, never goopy or hard to apply, pretty smooth, no streaks. I find the staying power on Zoya is not like NARS, Essie or OPI, but considering how chemical free, it gets me about 4-5 days wear.
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Blush -NARS - Cream Blush in Gueule de Nuit [DISCONTINUED]
kattymat 10/24/2008 9:42:00 PM
This is a fantastic blush. I find the NARS cream blushes provide the best texture (very light feeling and creamy), really pigmented (so you can apply lightly or with a heavy hand for buildable colour) and they really last. I tried this on in the store and it is a gorgeous colour and could see it working for a lot of different skin tones. I'm a fair olive skinned girl and found this to be similar to amour - a coral sort of colour (with a little bit of bronze if that makes sense). It is gorgeous. It looks pretty boring in the pan, but does remarkable things on the face. I'm a Deauville and this packs some punch for the spring / summer months. I own 2 others - Penny Lane and Lokoum (great for autumn / winter) and see these as HG blushes. If you haven't tried NARS cream blushes, give them a go. You'll be amazed at the staying power and the color.
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Polishes -NARS - Midnight Express
kattymat 10/12/2008 4:21:00 AM
I have gone through a bit of a blue phase and found Midnight Express to be the most unique, blue blue rather than blue-black, out there. It is a cream, it is a peacock blue and is really striking but not such a light blue that it's in your face. I found the first coat to be hideously streaky but the second sorted that out and the finish was glossy and it had great staying power. I wore this to work (after having a crap week and needing a pick me up), received complements and wore it for almost a week before I got minor chipping on the edge of the nail. Really fantastic formulation - I'm getting hooked on NARS polishes.
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Polishes -NARS - Rebel Yell
kattymat 10/12/2008 4:16:00 AM
I have only recently tried some of the NARS polishes as they are unavailable in Australia. Rebel Yell is described as a dusty pomegranate and I agree that this has that funky brick red / brown / burnt orange / plum aspect to it. It is a fantastic 'work' colour, as it looks polished, shiny and sophisticated and it is spring here and I've worn it and received complements, so it is a good Autumn(Fall), Winter, Spring shade. The formula is awesome. It was easy to apply, dried fairly quickly and is super shiny. I had 6 days of wear with only edge wear visible and removed it for a change, rather than by necessity. I will definitely be wearing this colour more and more as it is unique and lasts and lasts.
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Polishes -Essie - pinkadelic
kattymat 10/12/2008 4:11:00 AM
I love Essie polishes for their staying power and fast-drying formula. I do find that they can be a bit streaky sometimes...but not this one! Pinkadelic on my pale olive skintone has emphasised the whiteness of my nails (which have turned yellow from too many dark polishes) and have made my nails look healthy, chic and better than their natural selves. I don't find it overly pink. It is very similar to Mademoiselle, with a hint more pink and if you were like me and have just removed a reddish polish that has stained your nails slightly (even with basecoat), this covers it up while still allowing your whites to show through. I was really impressed with this and can't stop lookin at my manicure! It is gorgeous.
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Fragrances -Chanel - Chance
kattymat 9/28/2008 8:15:00 AM
I bought this on a whim one day and have found myself wearing this a lot and getting compliments. I'm not usually a Chanel girl (but I adore Gardenia and it's so hard to get in Australia unless you buy like 200mls and pay $330 which is why I don't own it) but this is lovely. It's fresh, pretty, girly, but in a chic way. One for work or casual days..it's a good all-rounder.
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Lip Gloss -Stila - Papaya Lipglaze
kattymat 9/28/2008 8:12:00 AM
I should have listened MUAers!! I should have paid attention!!! This smells like vomit. No bones about it. Sickening. Sickly. You know you are on a bad thing when you have put this on your lips, go to pick up your boy and he asks, "are you feeling ok? something smells like vomit". That something was ME!!!! I tried. But after 3 applications, I felt sick. To my stomach sick. Like that sick feeling you get when others are being sick and you can hear it. You know what I mean. Gross. Gross. Gross. Don't let the siren song of the pretty pink colour call to you. You will regret it.
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Eye Shadow -Stila - Stila Kitten Palette Summer 08
kattymat 9/28/2008 8:08:00 AM
I must say that I love the colours in this palette, particularly mystic (the blue/aqua one) but...and I can't believe I'm saying this
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Palettes -Bobbi Brown - Surf and Sand Shimmerwash Palette--2007
kattymat 9/28/2008 7:58:00 AM
I agree with the previous reviewer. Bland. Way too shimmery for me. If you like shimmer and are fair and blonde (doesn't work with my dark hair, it just isn't 'enough' if you know what I mean) then this will work for you. Didn't work for me even though it's cute and looks great in the palette. Disappointed as I too was hanging out for this one. :-(
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Fragrances -Nina Ricci - Pretty Nina
kattymat 9/28/2008 7:08:00 AM
This is quite sweet and reminds me of so many other fragrances, so I'd call this generic. The opening is quite citrusy and reminds me of D&G Light Blue. I sprayed it on and thought it was great and then bought a bottled and have found that it gives me a headache. Will try again a bit more lightly and see if it's a keeper. Pretty, but not so pretty that it becomes a signature or a re-purchase.
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Mascara -Stila - Lash Visor (New- Fall 2004)
kattymat 9/28/2008 7:01:00 AM
It's not often I buy mascara twice but I've bought this twice. I have long, thick, curly eyelashes (don't hate me) but it makes finding mascara a NIGHTMARE! What I love about Stila Lash Visor is that you can just do one coat and you get a little bit of colour and volume so that you have enhanced what you have and then can build it with additional coats to more volume. It has a gel consistency and if you have long eyelashes like mine, let it dry first before looking up or you'll get tiny black marks in your eyebrows! I am thinking this maybe HG but too scared to label it as that just yet...let's say almost HG.
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Mascara -Christian Dior - Diorshow Mascara
kattymat 9/28/2008 6:58:00 AM
Hate this. Feel like a drag queen. It makes me think of Queen Latifah's add for Covergirl where she bags the girls with clumpy eyelashes. This just adds so much stuff to the eye that it looks clumpy. When you open the bottle for the first time, it is good. Then it dries up SO quickly that you end up looking like spider leg, clumpy, weirdo before you know it. So not worth the money IMO and am still searching for a HG mascara...which might be Stila's Lash Visor.
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Gels/Soaps -Philosophy - Pomegranate 3-in-1
kattymat 9/28/2008 6:54:00 AM
Mecca (stockists of philosophy) were discontinuing this in Australia and in a panic I stocked up. I bought
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Fragrances -Philosophy - Falling in Love
kattymat 9/28/2008 6:51:00 AM
This is such a beautiful fragrance and seriously under-rated. Yes, I agree with all the other reviews that it's staying power leaves a lot to be desired, but it doesn't change the fact that it is just so fresh, subtle, pretty, clean and happy. I feel happy when I wear it. This is my 3rd bottle and I love that it is close to the skin so that you have to be close to smell it which is how I like my fragrances to be. I keep it in my bag so that I can spray at midday and it will last me until night time. You do get mini-whiffs of yourself during the day with this. HG for me.
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Blush -NARS - Madly
kattymat 9/28/2008 6:46:00 AM
Love this and it's so pretty in the pan. Not sure how to wield it to best effect on my face though and have some great days where I gasp at my handiwork and others where I wash it off and start again with something else. It is a good all rounder, great for all eye looks, gives some colour and a lift to the face for fair to medium girls. I agree with those that said it can be used as a bronzer (but I suck at bronzer too).
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