Blush -Scott Barnes - Chic Palette in Samba [DISCONTINUED]
dreamspice 12/14/2006 1:08:00 AM
Wow. This is just... beautiful. All that everyone has said is true about how flattering the colors are, how they make you look like you've got glowing skin... Orgasm never worked for me so I was skeptical about Samba (which I would call peachy and not peachy-pink) but when the MA put it on I saw that Samba gave me a natural, day in the sun, glow (versus an out in the snow flush). It's not a color I'll wear all the time because I mostly wear cool toned lippies and Samba looked dreadful with them (but luckily I have Venus or Brandywine for them) but when I'm wearing brickier red lipsticks or glosses then I'll be reaching for this. I never used to believe that peachy blushes were universally flattering but I guess now Scott Barnes has made me a believer! EDIT: This has become my favorite everyday blush! I wear it with a very thin line of black cake eyeliner and Chanel sirop glossimer for a natural, yet sophisticated, pretty look. Love it!
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Lip Treatments -Jurlique - Lip Care Balm
dreamspice 12/13/2006 2:48:00 PM
Wow, I guess I'm voting against the majority here because I love this product. Jurlique was created by some people who used to work for Dr. Hauschka. I bring this up because this product is what I wanted my Dr. Hauschka lip balm to be. I actually like that it has that thin, liquidy (rather than waxy) texture. I put it on at night because it does take a long time to absorb but since I've started using it I've noticed my lips chapping much less in this windy winter weather. Next week I go to Idaho - that'll be the real test. I'll try to remember to update.
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Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream
dreamspice 12/13/2006 2:31:00 PM
What is it with the Japanese and their genius products? I have tried everything under the sun for my dry, scaly elbows and NOTHING worked. Until I absentmindedly rubbed a sample of this onto them (as I do with creams whenever I'm at a beauty supply store) and noticed that my elbows instantly felt silkier! I use this once a day, at night, a dab at a time and ... no more dry, scaly elbows! I also adore the packaging, not only is the tube cute and Japanese-y but the cap snaps in so you know it's on tight. This is expensive but a little goes a long way and it's worth it. Yes, it does have a camphor smell but to be honest I use so little I don't really notice it. It doesn't bother me in the way that it did with the Elizabeth Arden 12-hour stuff.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Scott Barnes - Chic Palette in Venus
dreamspice 12/11/2006 2:10:00 PM
Wow! I am soooo in love with this! First of all, you get A LOT of product for your money. If you add up the amount of product it's actually cheaper than a NARS blush. Meanwhile Scott Barnes performs far better (for me anyway). NARS blushes are too sheer for me - they tend to apply unevenly and fade really badly on my skin. Plus I love the packaging (NARS packaging always starts to peel on me). The only downside is how big the blush is for travel. But believe me, for these results I can live with it! Venus is so heavily pigmented that it took me several days to figure out how to apply it. (Skunk brush swiped across all three pans, blow off excess, dab in apples of cheeks then blend blend blend out.) Once I figured it out and stopped looking like a clown, I found that this blush lasts all day and looks so natural that people have been saying to me "you're glowing!" OR "you have the most perfect skin and coloring!" Not just people who know me, but random strangers. I'm a classic winter (half chinese, half scottish, black hair, hazel eyes, fair olive-toned skin) but I was a bit worried about how cold these pinks were. However, I've been wearing really bright pink lip glosses so I felt like I really needed to get this color versus samba. I'm really glad I did because it gives me that fresh, in from the snow look and really brightens up my eyes. Now I'm lemming other colors of this blush...
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Mascara -Shu Uemura - Precise Volume Mascara Waterproof
dreamspice 12/2/2006 1:13:00 PM
I'm really in love with this mascara. I can wear it on my lower lashes without getting smudges and dark circles (which all other mascaras, regardless of whether or not they claim to be waterproof, seem to give me). It also holds a curl beautifully (as I would expect a Shu Uemura mascara to do) and coats every single lash effortlessly. I wouldn't call this a volumizing formula. Rather it just seems to make my lashes look longer, more defined and really beautiful in a very natural way. As though I have those gorgeous long lashes that kids have. It's really a fantastic product for day time lashes. For night time, I use it as a base for L'Oreal's Voluminous (for more omph) and it helps Voluminous hold a curl (so I don't have to use Shiseido's base). This justifies the price for me (as I have to buy the Shiseido base in order to wear Voluminous anyway). Also, I adore how elegant the packaging is.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Shiseido - Concealer Brush
dreamspice 11/21/2006 1:58:00 AM
I bought this when I bought my Cle de Peau concealer. The MA used it to apply the concealer on me and I loved it. I had no idea Shiseido made such great brushes! I have used every kind of expensive brush out there (Trish, Shu, etc etc) and this is my favorite concealer brush.
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Makeup Brushes -Shiseido - The Makeup Powder Brush
dreamspice 11/21/2006 1:57:00 AM
The MA at Cle de Peau used this brush on me when I was buying the concealer and I HAD to buy it. I have had every kind of high end powder brush in my time (Trish McEvoy, Shu Uemura, etc etc) and this is hands down my FAVORITE!! I didn't even know Shiseido made such great brushes!
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Concealers -Cle de Peau - Concealer
dreamspice 11/20/2006 6:51:00 PM
Am I a lemming? Like everybody else I love this concealer. I used to use Becca's concealer and while I liked the color range very much there was something about the texture that was not perfect. I think maybe it was too pigmented for me... Enter Cle de Peau. Not too creamy, or too dry. Just the right amount of pigment. I swipe this on the back of my hand to warm it then use a brush to apply around my eyes and on red spots. I don't need foundation because between this and powder (Laura Mercier) my skin looks perfect while looking like skin. It actually dries to a very nice finish so it doesn't need powder but I use the Laura Mercier secret powder on it around my eyes and it really gives me a fantastic, great night's sleep look... I think this concealer will last a really long time so it's actually not such a bad deal...
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Cle de Peau - Baume Contour De Yeux
dreamspice 11/20/2006 6:44:00 PM
I bought this when I bought the concealer. At the time, it seemed like a fantastic eye cream. I really loved how it made my eyes look when the MA applied it under the concealer. I felt it gave me a bright, wide awake look. However, the effect didn't last. The cream absorbed and that was it. And other than that, it's just an eye cream. Shiseido's got one for a third of the price (Benefiance) that has a similar texture and feel and doesn't break the bank. I don't mind paying a lot of money for a fabulous eye cream. I'm now in my early 30s and want to fight those tiny little lines. However, it truly has to be fabulous and this just doesn't seem to be.
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Lip Gloss -Yves Saint Laurent - Baume D'Ete Tinted Lip Balm - #4
dreamspice 11/20/2006 4:19:00 PM
This is my favorite lip product for every day - it's so easy to swipe on and wear. While the color is dark in the tube, on my lips it gives a brightening mlbb color along with a lovely juicy look. It also stains my lips a little so that I still have some color even when the gloss itself has worn off. It has a bit of a jolly rancher flavor to it but it wears off so it doesn't bother me. I also like that it has a bit of sunscreen in it. Overall, a winner. I much prefer this color to my prior every day lip product (Bobbi Brown's cherry tint).
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Lip Gloss -Cle de Peau - Lip Gloss N
dreamspice 11/20/2006 4:09:00 PM
While buying myself the Cle de Peau concealer, I got snared by the gorgeous color of Lip Gloss N #8. It's a very bright, Barbie looking pink in the tube. When I wear it, it brightens my whole face, no matter how tired I am, and makes my lips look juicy, luscious and fuller... Even though the gloss was $47, when I saw how it looked on, I had to buy it and I absolutely don't regret it. Just wearing it makes me happy. The feel of the gloss is very soft and moisturizing. (Apparently, it's a gloss AND a treatment. At this price it should do my taxes, but whatever.) I also really like that the sponge tip applicator is angled (though I would prefer a brush - esp. at this price).
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Bronzers -New York Color - Cheek 2 Cheek Duo in Jamaica Me Crazy [DISCONTINUED]
dreamspice 8/16/2006 2:31:00 PM
This is so good that I'm bummed I didn't buy two (or ten, considering the price). It looks like Nars orgasm/bronzer but I haven't used both so I can't compare how they look on the skin. I have all kinds of expensive blushes and am a bit of a snob but this is the one I use every single day. I really just gives my skin a beautiful, healthy glow. I mix both colors on the brush, tap off the excess, apply to my cheeks and then put the excess on my t-zone. Fabulous! Only downside is the bronzer side is cracking and flaking off but for the price, I'm not really worried about it (I'm only worried because it means this isn't going to last as long as blush normally lasts me). Love it!!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -MAC - Iridescent Powder - Silver Dusk
dreamspice 8/16/2006 2:27:00 PM
OK ... this powder is the bomb. It really gives me a super glowy look. Yes, if you examine it closely, it looks scarily sparkly but on the skin, unless someone *examining* your face, it just looks like glow. Here is my recipe for a super glowy look (so effective that my assistant, who is a make up artist (and knows from glow), asked me how I did it):
jojoba oil all over the face (under my sunscreen)
sunscreen - I use DHC's White Sunscreen
DHC's olive oil around the eyes and across the top of the cheekbone - if you don't want to use either oils then eye cream is fine but obviously not a matte one
Laura Mercier's Secret Weapon or YSL Touche Eclat on the whole eye area
Laura Mercier's Secret Brightening Powder around the eyes
Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals (small amount, really buffed in, with more applied to "problem" areas with a fluffy e/s brush)
MAC's Iridescent powder - I concentrate on the v from the cheekbones to the temple
NYC's Jamaica Me Crazy on the cheeks, with a very small amount on the forehead, down the center of the nose and on my chin
Glow on!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Bobbi Brown - Lip Tint in Cherry
dreamspice 8/16/2006 2:11:00 PM
Can only add my praise to the others here: I adore this tint! Even though it's not that pigmented, it seems to just brighten my whole face, while giving my lips a luscious look. Plus it moisturizes. And has an SPF. What more could you want?? This is my every day lippie - I love that I can put it on without using a mirror (although you do have to make sure you apply evenly) - and that it does it all - moisturizes, protects and prettifies (not a word, but hey). Funnily enough, the sales lady initially sold me Black Cherry because it was more pigmented and she thought it would work better with my coloring. I didn't like the Black Cherry as well, but when I borrowed my friend's Cherry Tint I suddenly saw what all the fuss was about. I am half-Asian and have light-medium, olive-toned skin for reference. (Dark hair, hazel eyes.)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Bare Escentuals - Bare Minerals ALL
dreamspice 8/16/2006 2:06:00 PM
I actually really like this foundation. Don't listen to the SPF rating - the sunscreen is pretty useless. Unless you're planning on putting a teaspoon of this powder on your face (perhaps you like the kabuki look?) it really doesn't protect your skin that well. I find the trick with this foundation is to use as little as possible and to really buff it in. Then I go over red areas with a fluffy eyeshadow brush (instead of concealer). The only problem with this is that it can get real cakey real fast. Which makes application a bit of a process. Properly applied, this foundation gives me a natural, slightly glowy look... especially when I mix it with MAC's iridiscent powder (which I only use in a v formation from cheekbones to temple). Still, I am now using this instead of concealer, foundation and powder... very convenient! I carry around Shiseido's compact foundation sunscreen for touch-ups. This doesn't get a 5 because the color selection is pretty poor (if Jane Iredale was easier to get, I'd use that instead).
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