Lip Treatments -Fresh - Sugar Plum Lip Treatment SPF 15
stilagrrrl 1/7/2011 10:43:00 AM
Love this balm! Such a pretty plum and so comfortable to wear. It's dark enough to show up on pigmented lips but sheer enough to work on even the fairest of skin tones. Plus it feels and smells great. I really hope Fresh comes out with more of these, especially in a peach or coral shade.
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Blush -NARS - Sex Appeal
stilagrrrl 12/28/2010 10:54:00 AM
This looked kind of blah and chalky in the pan, but once I applied it to my NC15-20 skin it gave a gorgeous soft peachy glow. I also thought it looked really similar to other matte blushes I own in the same color family, but it's very different: not as orange and much softer than Cargo Cannes, cooler and lighter than Shu M Peach 44. To my eye Sex Appeal is closest in hue to Benefit Georgia, but Sex Appeal lacks the fine shimmer that has and is much more pigmented (I swiped one on each cheek to compare.) While this blush is super flattering on pasty old me, I don't think it'll work on darker skin tones since it's so light.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Philosophy - Peppermint Bark 3 in 1
stilagrrrl 12/28/2010 10:42:00 AM
I need another food-scented Philosophy 3 in 1 like I need a hole in the head, but I had to get this. It's sweeter and slightly less chocolatey than their Peppermint Hot Cocoa and Double Chocolate Mint Cookie 3 in 1s but not as sweet as their Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. Perfect for the holiday season!
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Blush -Cargo - Cannes
stilagrrrl 11/18/2010 11:36:00 AM
What a perfect matte peachy shade! Shu M Peach 44 has some serious competition with this. Cannes is a smidge warmer, ever so slightly more orange than Shu M Peach 44, and just a tad lighter. While I love both equally, as the reviewer below mentioned, Cannes is more of a true peach. Texture and pigmentation are excellent, and while it's on the pale side I'm guessing this will work on pretty much everyone.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Philosophy - Sugary Cinnamon Icing 3 in 1
stilagrrrl 11/18/2010 11:30:00 AM
This isn't bad, but it doesn't really smell like cinnamon icing either. Maybe my nose is off, but it smells like Quaker instant oatmeal in the maple syrup flavor. Definitely sweet but I'm not getting any cinnamon or icing. Try before you buy!
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Gels/Soaps -Philosophy - Crispy Marshmallow Bars 3-in-1 Shower Gel
stilagrrrl 10/22/2010 2:14:00 PM
This really does smell like warm Rice Krispie Treats. You definitely get a Krispies note, albeit a very subtle one, in addition to the marshmallow. The scent is on the soft side - it doesn't linger on your skin at all after you step out of the shower - but I love it anyway because it reminds me of making these bars with my mom when I was little. Like many other Philosophy food-scented 3 in 1s, this makes me want to eat the real thing!
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Treatments (Eye) -Unlisted Brand - Latisse Lash Growth Drops
stilagrrrl 10/22/2010 1:51:00 PM
I can't believe how well this works. I was wary of trying it, but since I have brown eyes I figured there was very little chance of them changing color. I noticed my lashes were a bit longer after 2 weeks, and after 2 months they looked a lot longer. By the time the full 4 months had passed, my lashes were so long they almost reached past my eyebrows, and that was without mascara! With mascara it actually looks like I'm wearing false lashes. My eyes aren't irritated at all, and I have very sensitive eyes. I've also gone to the eye doctor and my peepers are still totally healthy after nearly 6 months of use, so I'm definitely going to continue using Latisse. The only side effect I noticed was that my lids are a tad darker/redder, particularly along the lashline. Hence my 4 out of 5 rating. Still, this isn't a big problem for me since I wear eye shadow and liner nearly every day, and the bare lids alone aren't that noticeably dark - I think the only reason I can tell is because I knew that was a possible side effect and was watching for it. It is a bit expensive, but if you apply it with a fine liner brush (I use Bobbi Brown's Ultra-Fine eyeliner brush) instead of the very wasteful applicators it comes with, the bottle lasts a good 3 months.
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Eye Shadow -NARS - All About Eve Duo
stilagrrrl 10/22/2010 1:38:00 PM
I finally get the hype over this product. So-called neutral eye shadows either made me look tired or flat-out bored me to tears, so my "neutral" was always a pale shimmery gold or ivory. All About Eve changed that upon first application. The duo consists of pale, ever-so-slightly champagne-y beige shadows, one slightly darker than the other, and both provide an amazing glow. There is a tiny bit of shimmer but it's not really noticeable, it's more like my lids have this totally natural sheen that wakes up my whole face. Pigmentation and texture are excellent - the shadows glide right on and look even better applied wet. I love pairing this duo with a strong red or plum lip, or just going all natural with a light dusting of bronzer and pink-nude lips. Since it's so versatile and essentially the queen of neutral shadows, I think this would suit any skin tone.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Bobbi Brown - Natural Finish- Long Lasting Foundation SPF 15 [DISCONTINUED]
stilagrrrl 9/24/2010 12:40:00 PM
This really lives up its name. Natural Finish has more coverage than a tinted moisturizer but less than a medium to full-coverage foundation (i.e., Estee Lauder Double Wear or Armani Lasting Silk), so it's the ideal light foundation and truly perfect for hot weather when you want some coverage but don't feel like piling on a regular foundation. It looks and feels totally weightless and lasts all day, even on my oily skin - quite a feat, especially for something so light. And while it's oil-free I still think it would be comfortable for normal to dry skin as well. The pump dispenser is fabulous, since it allows for small amounts so you don't end up with one big glob that gets wasted. For shade reference: MAC NC 15-20, Armani Lasting Silk in 4, Px Virtual Matte in Ecru, and I wear Warm Ivory in this (Sand was just a touch too dark.)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Bobbi Brown - Denim Ink Long-wear Gel Eyeliner
stilagrrrl 9/23/2010 3:50:00 PM
I was hoping for a dupe of Bobbi's discontinued Sapphire Shimmer gel liner, but this wasn't it. It is very close though - Denim Ink is just a tad more indigo and has the slightest tinge of purple to it, while Sapphire is more of a true blue. Looks great with neutral or pale silver shadow and is especially flattering on brown eyes, but it would look good with any eye color. It's too bad it was limited edition because there are so few shimmery dark blue gel liners on the market, so if you can still find it don't let it get away!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Philosophy - I Love Candy Corn
stilagrrrl 9/23/2010 3:33:00 PM
I think a good, genuine candy corn scent would be difficult to reproduce in shower gel form, but Philosophy nailed it. This manages to accurately smell like the Halloween favorite but without being sickly sweet or plastic-y. I love it so much I may actually finish it before October 31st!
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Primer/ Corrector -Yves Saint Laurent - Matt Touch - Touche Mate - Oil-Free Primer
stilagrrrl 9/23/2010 3:24:00 PM
I was really shocked at how well this worked after trying so many primers that don't do anything. My skin is super oily and this definitely helps keep the grease at bay for much longer (I'd say about 3-4 hours) than usual. Normally by lunchtime I have to blot, but not when I use this. It's very similar to Urban Decay's Pore Perfecting primer - the only real difference is that the YSL is ever-so-slightly better at mattifying, whereas the Urban Decay is better at camouflaging large pores. Either way, this is pricey but definitely worth it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Philosophy - Rainbow Sherbert 3 in 1
stilagrrrl 8/12/2010 11:06:00 AM
This is excellent - a very true sherbert sniff in all its fruity, creamy glory that reminds me of my childhood summer vacations at the beach. The scent is subtle and doesn't last once you're out of the shower, but the deliciousness more than makes up for the lack of staying power. I bet layering with the matching lotion would help it last a little longer.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Philosophy - Pineapple-Coconut 3 in 1
stilagrrrl 8/6/2010 10:19:00 AM
Blech. I was really hoping for a dupe of Philosophy's delicious (and long-discontinued) Pina Colada 3 in 1, but this wasn't even close. It smelled okay in the store, but when I got home and used it in the shower it was totally off - it was like washing with rancid canned pineapple juice! I didn't get any coconut from this at all either. A rare miss for Philosophy.
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Blush -Make Up For Ever - HD Microfinish Blush in 14 Star Struck
stilagrrrl 7/24/2010 7:09:00 PM
This is my second MUFE HD blush and it didn't disappoint. It's a great peachy-nude shade that looks equally great with smoky eyes (I love it with dark green or bronze) or a simple wash of light gold shadow. I think it's best suited for fair to medium skintones, as it may be too pale for darker skin, but it's very pigmented so it may show up. Yes, I'm not crazy about the pump dispenser that squirts out way too much product, but the staying power and gorgeous, natural finish are top notch so I can overlook it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No