Mascara -Maybelline - Great Lash Mascara Waterproof
xtinahb 6/20/2012 9:39:00 AM
Smudge city on my short, straight, skimpy Asian lashes against my creaseless lids. The pigmentation and effect was nice; Blackest Black is very black, lashes were soft with natural definition, moderate plumping, and decent curl hold! It’s BIG drawback were smudges on my cheeks and lids after less than 2 hours, even with setting powder on my lids and undereye area. Smudging = unusable to me. What a bummer. It is a very nice formula otherwise.
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Mascara -L'Oreal - Double Extend Mascara with Lash Boosting Serum
xtinahb 6/6/2012 11:05:00 AM
My wimpy Asian straight short lashes did not like this formula, nor did my eyes. The serum provided a decent base which thickened my lashes, the Blackest Black color delivered on pigment and the lengthening was fine, but overall not a dramatic mascara whatsoever. The 1 rating is because I had an allergic reaction to the serum (or the mascara, can't be sure), that led to very tingly lids and itchy eyes the 3 days I tried this mascara. Even without the reaction, it was just ok, but beacuse of it (my first allergic cosmetic reaction ever), I give it a 1 and tossed it.
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Lipstick -Estee Lauder - Pure Color Crystal Lipstick in Tiramisu
xtinahb 5/11/2012 10:43:00 AM
Tiramisu works on my pigmented lips and NC30/C4 light tan Asian complexion for every look. It’s weird. Brown blushes, pink blushes, smoky eyes, natural, bronzed, whatever. Tiramisu always compliments. It is a sheer, lightly frosted (in a glossy way, not an 80s way) light peachy pink that leaves my lips smooth, and healthy and a touch pink. I reapply every 2 hours since it’s a sheer formula, but I don’t mind since this lippie is the best. I love love love.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Milani - Baked Blush in Luminoso
xtinahb 5/11/2012 9:42:00 AM
Gives me glowy cheeks with a beautiful finish, excellent pigmentation, and lasts all day. It is such an amazing blush with insane value. I also have Orgasm and this shade is peachier and more flattering on me.I am light tan Asian NC30/C4 and this blush is peachy gold in the pan and shows up a soft healthy peachy pink on my skin. This has replaced my Shiseido Satin Face Color in Petal as my HG powder blush (and saves me $20, too!).
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Stick -Shu Uemura - Nobara cream cover stick
xtinahb 5/10/2012 10:31:00 AM
Flawless formula for my combo complexion (oily T and dry cheeks) light tan, asian NC30/C4 complexion. I apply this in light stripes on the side of my face, chin, and the bridge of my nose and contrast with thin stripes from my lighter shade Shiseido foundation stick (060) around my mouth and on tops of my cheeks. I blend all together using the Tom Ford Cream foundation brush. It is a really perfect satin finish medium coverage; great for the office and nice evenings out. Set with Nars loose powder and I am shine free for almost 6 hours (a record for my t-zone). It is my current HG foundation routine!
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Liquid -Estee Lauder - Invisible Fluid Makeup
xtinahb 5/3/2012 2:20:00 PM
A satin, light to medium coverage lightweight foundation and it is 6 hours before shine appears on my Combo complexion. This applies easily with my Tom Ford Cream foundation brush, my fingers, or a sponge. It’s a very natural finish, like your own skin but better if you have an average complexion like I do (spots of redness, occasional zit, dry cheeks). It’s not as polished or the fuller coverage I want for the office, but for a night out or weekend, absolutely an amazing formula. You can’t feel it, after 6 hours the shine is more dewy than greasy, and it really makes my skin look glowy and naturally nice. Great “first date” kind of makeup. I wear the 2CN2 on my light tan Asian NC30/C4 complexion. Will repurchase.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Unlisted Brand - Kett Hydro Foundation
xtinahb 4/23/2012 10:50:00 AM
This is the best foundation I have ever tried. Period. Dramatic much? I have Asian light tan combination skin with some broken capillaries, dry cheeks and oily T-zone, but overall clear skin with fine lines. I am NC30/C4 and purchased in O5. From high-end fashion pro Tom Pecheux to Youtuber Gossmakeup, all MUAs rave about Kett, which is how I discovered the brand. This is my new HG; sorry MUFE F&B! This foundation is completely weightless and leaves an impeccable finish halfway between satin and matte. It is the same watery consistency as MAC F&B but with far better pigmentation. After moisturizing, I squeeze a dime-size amount in a petrie dish, dip a damp sponge in, then stipple on (don’t swipe or swirl on). I wait 15 seconds to dry, then apply a second time for ideal every day medium coverage. You could easily build to full coverage with a third layer. The best part is I stay shinefree for at least 8 hours; with my other foundations (Nars SG, Revlon CS, MAC F&B, and MUFE HD, MUFE F&B), shine appears by hour 3. And it is super waterproof. I went out in a NYC rainstorm yesterday and came home nearly 10 hours later looking the same as I looked that morning, but easily washed off with a creamy cleanser. I plan on using this foundation for my wedding day. This is truly bulletproof, stay all day, beautifully fresh foundation. I am stocking up.
11 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Tom Ford - Cream Foundation Brush
xtinahb 4/16/2012 2:49:00 PM
An A+ brush with no current comparable peer on the market. I think the Real Techniques Expert Face brush is a similar shape, but I don’t have to compare it to. This TF brush is softer than soft and blends 100% streak and line free no matter how light or heavy your hand. It is completely user friendly for someone of any level, including a heavy-handed novice like myself. I’ve used to apply and blend Shu cream stick foundations, liquid foundations (Nars SG and Chanel VA), undereye concealer (Bobbi and MAC), blemish concealer and watery MUFE Face & Body formulas and it works for it all. It feels so lovely on the skin and I can’t say enough on how beautifully it blends bases. A FORTUNE at $75, but is the reigning favorite in my collection. A must-have tool for a flawlessly “natural” (hehe) complexion.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Cork
xtinahb 3/29/2012 5:09:00 PM
Love this color. I am an NC/C4 light tan asian with creaseless lids. I use cork lightly all over my lid with a MAC 217 to give my eyes a little depth. It's very subtle but makes a difference (to me at least, lol!). Also a great blending color due to its soft, matte, natural color on my skintone. It's a staple color and will repurchase.
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Eye Primer -NARS - Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
xtinahb 3/29/2012 10:23:00 AM
This formula dries matte and fast and enhances the color and wear of all eyeshadows. I have creaseless Asian lids and wear matte neutrals and shimmery taupes and beiges, nothing too thrilling, but this primer actually brings the subtle color to life, rather than looking like I am wearing no eye makeup, which is how I felt before I started using this primer. Shadows really do cling to it which is why the wear is so enhanced, but that does mean I have to apply and blend quickly, as other reviewers mention. It's something worth noting when blending but definitely is not a downside compared to the benefits of this formula. Will repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Sephora - Cream Lip Stain- all shades
xtinahb 3/29/2012 10:01:00 AM
Purchased in Strawberry Kissed, #03, a rich bright pinkish red (almost neon), for my NC30/C4 light tan asian complexion. This is the most comfortable long-wear matte lip formula I have tried thus far, from MAC Matte formulas to Revlon Colorstay. The pigmentation is 110% and it stays put for a solid 4 hour run of drinks, dancing, eating, and light cheek-smooching, ooh-la-la. The downside, as with all long-wear formulas, is a slight parched feeling on my semi-full lips and mild pruning. It is absolutely mild and slight compared to other formulas and I simply rub Chapstick on my finger and lightly tap my lips. A little color lifts off, but it doesn't seem to affect the wear. This will be my go-to product when I want vibrant long lasting color.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -NARS - Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer
xtinahb 3/6/2012 10:13:00 AM
Comfortable and lightweight with light-medium coverage. This formula is definitely more of a foundation than TM, which is my preference as traditional TMs don’t offer enough coverage to me. It’s really similar to the Sheer Glow formula, but with less pigmentation. Also, like Sheer Glow, this tinted moisturizer is not good for dry patches as it highlights and sticks to flakes. I applied with fingers and it dries very quickly. It leaves a matte finish, probably due to the SPF, so there is no “dewy” factor here, but this also means it will be a great formula this summer. Right now (Winter in NY), this formula is not moisturizing enough for my combination skin. St Moritz is a perfect color match for my Barcelona (Nars Sheer Glow) / NC30 light tan Asian complexion. I will definitely be wearing this once it’s warm.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Almay - Wake Up Undereye Concealer
xtinahb 2/19/2012 11:08:00 PM
A fantastic value for mild to moderate undereye circles. Purchased in Light / Medium for my NC30 light tan Asian skin. The squeeze tube is cheap and thin and the amount dispensed is a guessing game as others mention, but the brightening peach tone is really effective (but very natural; no Kim Kardashian bright eyes here) and the light creamy texture means very little caking after 4 hours. I actually like the little brush-tip applicator; I smear on the back on my hand and use the brush tip to apply the amount desired, then pat with my finger. It is my current HG, temporarily replacing my Bobbi Brown Light Peach corrector. Will definitely repurchase and I recommend to other guys and gals with mild/moderate circles looking for natural coverage.
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Lipstick -MAC - Satin Lipstick in Twig
xtinahb 1/26/2012 2:59:00 PM
A well-pigmented and fully opaque warm brownish pink lipstick on my NC30/C4 pigmented Asian lips. It’s odorless, tasteless, has a nice smooth finish and no frost or shimmer (my preference). It is definitely a MLBB shade so it’s perfect for the office; I feel “finished” when I wear this shade. It lasts about 2 hours before I reapply, but it wears evenly and doesn’t create flaking or that dreaded build up on the outer corners of your lips. It does leave my lips a bit dry, so I top with a light lip balm, like my clear Maybelline Baby Lips or Aquaphor. Would recommend as a daily lippie if you are a 9-5er in a conservative office and just want a polished lip. Nothing exciting, but it’s a great neutral and those are the lippies I tend to use the most!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Maybelline - Baby Lips lip balm
xtinahb 1/26/2012 11:09:00 AM
Purchased in Quenched (clear) and Cherry Me (pinkish red tint). Adorable packaging, subtle fruity scent, and lots of shine for $3. I get what I pay for and I am totally satisfied with Baby Lips as I wouldn’t expect much from a $3 product. Its claim to moisturizing is overstated; it definitely feels slippery and smooth but only for about 30 minutes, then I need to reapply. I really only use these on top of my matte lipsticks for shine. For moisture, I stick to Aquaphor. Baby Lips best asset is honestly its packaging but so what. It’s cute and fun.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No