Pressed Powders -L'Oreal - True Match Super-Blendable Powder
missmanic 3/30/2013 10:05:00 PM
I tried this powder a few years back while still under the impression that I had warm undertones (W1). It's taken me this long to realize the reason why alot of foundations/powders were "too dark" for my very pale skin was because they ran too warm and looked yellow/orange. With the help of the lovely ladies of MUA, I realized my under tones are actually pretty neutral (maybe just a PINCH warm). Enter, N1. After reading lots and lots of reviews online as to how pale this shade is, I took the plunge. It's perfect. I really loved the finish of the W1 True Match powder, but the color was all wrong. Now that the color matches, I can completely enjoy this product. This blends into my skin beautifully and really gives me an airbrushed look. My Mom even commented on the nice finish when I asked her opinion on the shade. My skin is very oily, so I top this with a bit of MAC Blot, and viola...I love the result. I'm curious to try the N1 liquid now, as I used to like the W1. If you're very pale and have a hard time finding powders that are light enough for your skin, try N1. EDIT:// This DOES get a little heavy/cakey.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -L'Oreal - Hydracharge Cleansing Conditioner
missmanic 3/29/2013 8:37:00 PM
I really like this so far. I've always wanted to try WEN, but wasn't sure how my hair would react to it. This is my first cleansing conditioner, and I'm pleasently surprised how well it worked. My hair is long, color treated and needs lots of moisture. I also use alot of different hair products that I need to make sure are all cleansed from my hair properly. This did everything for me, in one step, just like claimed! I rinsed my hair really well in the shower, then applied a palm full of this into my hair and worked it through. I was shocked how creamy and rich this stuff was. It really felt like a deep conditioner. It has great slip and detangeled my hair with ease. I let it sit for about 5 minutes. It froathed...not really foamed, with a nice cushy feel. I rinsed it out and it felt like my hair had just been shampooed and conditioned! All my product build up was gone and my hair was soft, silky, and very shiney. I, for one, love the smell. It smells just like the EverStyle gels, which I also like. The scent lingers, and I love that too. Great product, but expensive for the amounts. I will keep using this to see how it effects my hair in the long run. EDIT:/ I'm noticing the chemical like smell alot more now. It doesn't smell as nice as it did the first few times I used it.
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Pressed Powders -MAC - Blot Powder - Light
missmanic 3/29/2013 3:18:00 PM
I can't believe I haven't written a review for this yet. This powder is HG status for me. My skin is whiter than a piece of paper and oilier than an oil rig, and this is the only powder I've come across that is pale enough for me AND controls oil in a noticable manner. I use the press and roll method to set my foundation with a powder puff. Lately, I've been setting my entire face with a more sheer Sonia Kashuk powder (Bare Minium) and then usuing Blot as my finishing powder. It seriously adds to the amount of time I can go without getting ridiculously oily and also adds a bit of coverage. My skin looks great whenever I wear Blot and I keep coming back to it. My skin is also very sensitive and acne prone and I've never had any issues with this in all the years I've used it. This can get a little cakey if used with too heavy of a hand, which is why I've resorted to layering it with a more sheer powder. This also looks great when dusted on with a brush. (I just prefer using powder puffs and pressing into my skin)
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Lipstick -Maybelline - Color Sensational Vivids - Vivid Mandarin
missmanic 3/28/2013 8:38:00 PM
Creamy, smooth, very pigmented. Comfortable to wear and applied like a dream. The one downside of this particular shade is it pulled alot more pink on me than I was expecting. I was expecting a deep, true orange (something along the lines of OCC Saftey Cone Orange or MAC Morange...just deeper). While this is definately more orange than a standard bright pink lipstick, it wasn't as unique as I was hoping. (It reminded me alot of MAC Impassioned with a bit more of an orange pull) Very beautiful lipstick, just not "Mandarin". This wore for 4 hours with minimal fading. I did not eat, however and my drinking was few and far between. My lips felt hydrated and I did not feel the need to reach for a lip balm or to top it off with a gloss. Excited to try the other 3 shades I purchased!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Creative Nail Design - Shellac UV Polish System - 14-Day Wear
missmanic 3/27/2013 4:56:00 PM
This stuff is amazing. I alternate between UV gel nails, Shellac, and doing my nails myself. CND Shellac was the only "gel polish" that actually did what it claimed on my nails. OPI Gel polish peeled off within a week. With CND Shellac my manicure looked absolutely flawless for THREE weeks. No chips, no peelies. Shiney and beautiful. This is amazing for me, since regular polish applied to my natural nails chips off within 1-3 days. Shellac also helped my nails stay strong and hard since the polish lasted so long and worked as a shield, thus letting my nails grow nice and long. I did notice a bit of nail damage, but nothing crazy and nothing a nice manicure couldn't fix. I wish my nail salon offered more CND Shellac colors. OPI Gel and Axxium did not work for me like lovely Shellac.
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Conditioner -Organix - Brazilian Keratin Therapy Conditioner
missmanic 3/25/2013 10:16:00 PM
HG Shampoo and Conditoner for me. I have long, color treated, curly/wavy hair. It is fine, but there is alot of it. My hair needs lots of moisture for it to look its best, and this stuff takes the cake. I LOVE how it smells and I love how smooth and silky my hair is afterwards. I usually don't see much, if any, difference after using different shampoos and conditioners, but with this line, my hair is noticebly soft. My S/O even commented on the difference in my hair when I first started using this over the summer. I wash and condition my hair 2-3 times a week (sometimes I can get away a whole week).
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Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Naked Palette
missmanic 3/25/2013 9:12:00 PM
The quality of these shadows far surpasses the rest of Urban Decay's. I have multiple UD palettes, and while I like them, most of the colors are quite ho hum in terms of finish and pigmentation. Not these babies! Smooth, rich, pigmented. True to pan. My current HG brow shade (Hustle), as well as great colors for either a neautal look or a great smokey eye. The only think missing is a good matte black/gray. I reach for this alot more than I thought I would. It really has given me an appetite for more neutral looks. And now I want Naked2...
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Highlighters -Yves Saint Laurent - Touche Eclat No 1
missmanic 3/23/2013 4:52:00 PM
I don't get it. I really don't. This didn't do much at all for me, let alone my pit of darkness that I call my under eye. So glad I got a sample of this and didn't jump on the expensive bandwagon.
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Hair Color -L'Oreal - Preference Shine Extending Hair Color
missmanic 3/23/2013 3:49:00 PM
I alternate between getting my hair dyed in a salon, and box dying it at home. For years, I was using Garnier 100% color in Blue Black. That was discontinued. After lots of research, I settled on Preference in Natural Black (01?). I love it. It's a rich, glossy, black. No blue, no red, no purple. I LOVE the conditioner it comes with, it makes my hair very, very silky. Ideally, I would dye my hair once a month, but I can get away with 2. This doesn't stay as glossy and rich come month 2, but it still looks presentable. My roots are light, and I do notice quicker fading on them. I will continue to use this.
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Primer/ Corrector -MAC - Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50
missmanic 3/23/2013 3:29:00 PM
I've repurchased this time and time again. I love it. I happened upon this by mistake. Originally, I was using the Prep+Prime *without* the SPF, but an SA accidently gave me this instead when I went to get a replacement. Best mistake ever! My skin is very, very fair. This has protected my skin completely even in very harsh, direct, prolonged summer sun. I noticed a difference in the overall appearance of my skin within a month of using this. The SPF really protects. As a primer, it smooths my skin out and hydrates any dry spots I may have. My skin is very oily, and this helps keep my foundation in place much longer as well as provides much smoother application. A little bit goes a long way, and it lasts a decent amount of time. I end up cutting the tube in half and scooping out the left over product once it stops squeezing out. This does have a tendency to seperate in the tube, but I just rub the product back together in my hands before I apply. I am acne prone (cystic, clogs) and very sensitive and this has not bothered my skin. EDIT:/ I have not tried the new formula...and now I'm heart broken...
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Styling Products -Frederic Fekkai - Glossing Cream with Olive Oil
missmanic 3/21/2013 10:57:00 PM
I liked this, but I like the Shea Butter Mask better. I get the same result, only my hair is actually being conditioned by the mask as opposed to just styled by the Cream. I used this in soaking wet hair. It made for a very glossy top knot! Held my hair in place. My hair was very soft and shiney when I took it down.
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Lip Treatments -Mario Badescu - Lip Wax
missmanic 3/21/2013 10:47:00 PM
I added this to my order to get the free $50 shipping. I'm glad I did! I'm a lip product junkie and I love trying all sorts of things. I really love the slip of this. It melts onto my lips with just the lightest touch from the tube. I really don't even notice much of a smell, let alone a strong one like other reviews have stated. This makes my lips look glossy and it feels very moisturizing when on. I haven't used this long enough to see if my lips have a positive or negative reaction, but I like the feel of it on! It feels like I have an oil on my lips, and I like the feel of that, but if that's something you dislike I would reconsider.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics - Lip Tar - Belladonna
missmanic 3/21/2013 8:54:00 PM
This is straight up purple. I love it! Not for the timid! This applies beautifully and wears much better than my first generation lip tars. I love purple lips, and this is PURPLE.
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Lips -Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics - Lip Tar - Nylon
missmanic 3/21/2013 8:51:00 PM
I love this so much it's pretty much stomped my lemming for Candy Yum Yum. This is so super neon bright! I love it. It applies like a dream and wears pretty well. I generally don't get as long a wear time with Lip Tars as most people do, but this wears alot better than my first generation ones.
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Lipstick -MAC - Violetta Amplified (Pro)
missmanic 3/21/2013 7:08:00 PM
This isn't as scary (delicious, if you LOVE bold lips like me) as it looks in the tube! It's got a pink hint to it that keeps it from being straight up purple (like OCC Belladonna LT). It's such a sexy, slightly evil, color. It's purple without being garish or hard to pull off. Looooove. I'd give it a 5 if it wore longer/more comfortable.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No