Blush -Clinique - Soft-Pressed Powder Blusher in Honey Blush
lirontocker 2/12/2007 3:40:00 PM
The listing for this item is wrong. The name of this product is "Soft-Pressed Powder Blusher in Honey Blush" and not "Powder Blushwear in Honey Blush". I've notified the admins, hopefully they will correct this shortly.
Clinique's Powder Blushwear in "Honey Blush" is the peach counterpart to the "pink doll-cheeks" look. This shade is a sheer matte warm peach-tinged muted watermelon pink that would probably look good on most warm skintones - from the lightest, to the darkest, due to the shade's sheerness. This is a great spring-summer shade which would probably work well with some bronzer and a coral or peach shade of lipstick. Despite the great color, this blush has a shortcoming in the form of it's texture. While not horrible, the texture is slightly flakey, dry, bumpy and uneven to the touch. The staying power is moderate - Clinique has some great blushes and eyeshadows with very good staying power, this specific line of blushes doesn't seem to share the same quality. For this, I am removing 2 lippies. The color itself is great, but not unique, I suggest trying Clinique's other blushes for better texture and staying power.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Clinique - Happy
lirontocker 2/12/2007 12:09:00 PM
I had been wanting to try this perfume for a while, I was glad to recieve a small sample vial from the sales assistant at Clinique. Unfortunately, this fragrance didn't hit a note with me. I found it to be too heavy, too far on the citrus side, it turned very tart-like on me. It's base notes are very good, good enough for me to take interest and look at other Happy-based fragrances from Clinique (like Happy Heart, which I love). While I wouldn't be entirely against slapping some "Happy" on if I didn't have anything else in the vicinity, I wouldn't purchase this myself.
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Lipstick -Flirt - Tint-A-Licious Lipsheer SPF 15 in Flashy
lirontocker 2/12/2007 12:02:00 PM
I'm not entirely sure what took me so long to post a review for this great item, which I recieved in a swap this past summer. "Flashy" is a sheer, warm flamingo-pink melon shade which may look immediately shocking in the tube, but upon application imparts a lovely buildable watermelon appearance. The texture of this lipstick is comfortable, reminds me of MAC's "Lustre" finishes, both certainly have the same scent (Both MAC and Flirt belong to the same company, Estee Lauder). Staying power is wonderful for a sheer lipstick and I look forward to the summer again in order to wear this with some bronzer.
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Eyeliner -Clinique - Brush-On Cream Liner in Chocolate Lustre
lirontocker 2/7/2007 8:45:00 AM
"Chocolate Lustre" is a pretty eyeliner shade from Clinique which came out for their Holiday 06' "Pink Chocolate" collection. The color itself is a bittersweet chocolate shade with a nice dose of golden sparkle. This sparkle is not entirely visible upon application (unless buffed) and provides a nice sophisticated "gleam". This shade is very similar to MAC's recent Limited Edition eyeliner, "Graphic Brown", and in fact I had been worried that they were indeed too similar. However, "Graphic Brown" has a pronouced warm bronze tinge and sets off a shimmer, as opposed to a sparkle. The formulation for "Chocolate Lustre" is a good one - applies evenly and comfortably and doesn't set as quickly as MAC's fluidlines, which provides a few more precious minutes for corrections or buffing. It sets to a waterproof liner which doesn't budge and stays put throughout the day. Removal is moderate - perhaps a little more difficult to remove than other brands, but not entirely difficult. Clinique's Brush-on cream liner comes with a brush, which is unfortunately wrong for this type of product, unless one is interested in applying especially thick and concentrated lines - for precision application, best use a finer tipped eyeliner brush. The brush is, however, good for precision application of eyeshadow.
As I mentioned before, it is possible to make the sparkle in "Chocolate Lustre" to be more pronouced. A few minutes after application, buff the line softly with your pinky finger, softly enough in order to avoid smudging the liner but firmly enough in order to buff the face of the line itself. This should bring the sparkles "out into the open" and provide for a nice nighttime look.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Clinique - City block Sheer SPF 15 [DISCONTINUED]
lirontocker 2/6/2007 5:17:00 PM
I was looking for an oil-free daily SPF and moisturizer, I picked this up and am glad to say that it is easily the best of those I have tried and my oily, breakout-prone skin loves it. I apply this in the morning after cleanser and toner, the texture is creamy and easy to work with, and sinks in expectionally quickly. It serves as a great base for makeup, does not leave residue and doesn't leave my skin sticky or overly shiny. The scent is great, despite being a perfume-free product (as these type of products tend to reek of their ingredients), City Block Sheer smells slightly like coconut butter. This is a repurchase (in fact, I have already) - probably my favorite Clinique product and one of my favorite skincare products overall.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Nivea - Flexible Curls
lirontocker 2/5/2007 12:16:00 PM
Nivea recently revamped their haircare range, and "Flexible Curls" is one of the new additions to the line. I was looking to replace my Pantene conditioner (I'm trying to steer away from Procter & Gamble products) and figured to try this out. It's extremely affordable, which is very important to me, as I have a head full of thick curls and I go through a bottle of hair conditioner in a week. While it's difficult for me to say that this conditioner improved the appearance of my curls (I use a lot of styling products which kind of "obscure the view"), this is not a half-bad hair conditioner. It contains aloe vera and water lily extact, smells very lovely and does a great job of leaving my hair shiny, smooth and soft. The formulation is a tad runny - probably something "curly heads" aren't going to appreciate, but overall this is a very good product from Nivea.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Clinique - Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad - Pink Chocolate
lirontocker 2/2/2007 7:30:00 PM
Introduced for the Holiday 06' seasonal collection, the Pink Chocolate eyeshadow quad is probably one of Clinique's most impressive releases of eyeshadow. The quad coordinates four different "sweet" shades which are great additions to the eyeshadow arsenal of every gal who likes her pinks, her browns, and her feminine colors - for a classy and sophisticated look. The colors look rather different applied than they do in the pan - the following shade reviews pertain to the colors when applied (both to my lid area and the back of my hand)
Off-white cream tinged pink
This shade is more of a "complimentary" shade than a stand-alone. Probably the most cool toned of all four shades and the least shimmery, this color goes on looking slightly chalky but wears well as a subtle highlighter for the browbone and the inner V. It seems to give off a certain iridescence, but this is extremely subtle. The staying power of this one is rather moderate.
Shimmery "sweet" medium pink with a slight warm base
This shade is probably the sheerest of all four, but can be easily built up to achieve a similar depth of color. Can be used as a browbone highlighter or lid wash, is surprisingly wearable and imparts an interesting "gloss" finish. I was actually surprised by this one - it seemed to be extremely similar to Clinique's "Lucky Penny" (which I didn't like) and I was pleased to discover that although they look similar in the pan, upon application this shade is much livlier and more interesting.
Milk chocolate brown with slight pink base
This is a beautiful color, and my favorite of the quad. This is a true milk chocolate color with a subtle pink sheen that imparts a subtle and feminine look. It wears especially well with the pink shade and can be worn as a lid-wash, or crease color.
Dark Chocolate brown with slight pink base
The color itself is identical to the previous brown - but about 5 shades darker. The subtle pink-ish sheen is apparent in this shade as well, and it coordinated well with all colors in the quad, would probably work very well as a base for a brown smokey-eye.
All shades wear well, are easy to blend and work with, have good lasting power and do not crease - this seems to be consistant with all of Clinique's reformulated Color Surge eyeshadows and this quad is no different.
Inside the compact is a rather long mirror and two applicators - a brush, and a sponge. Personally, I don't use these - while I like having a brush in the mix, the stems of the applicators are too short to be able to grip onto properly. The compact itself, it should be noted, has a pearl plastic cover in the "Pink Chocolate" signature shade (dusty medium rose) - this is to be made note of since more than a few Clinique quads are making rounds on eBay which claim to be the Pink Chocolate quad, but are in fact the "Disco Pink" quad. The shades are slightly similar but the cover on the "Disco Pink" quad is a strong metallic pink (similar to the Clinique BCA Buttershine packaging color).
This is a really, really beautiful palette to own, and if these types of shades are up your alley, it's worthwhile to call the Clinique counter and see if they still have any of these in stock. Since it's an LE (and it's no longer 2006), now would be a good time to try and get this if you haven't already.
19 out of 19 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Curtsy
lirontocker 2/1/2007 6:35:00 PM
Curtsy is an exceptionally beautiful spring-summer shade, but I find that it's not as easily wearable as I had hoped. The shade, a salmon pink with a peach base and slight (barely noticable) peachy-golden shimmer is a wonderful addition to a summer wardrobe but I agree with the previous reviewer - it does seem to leave a "film" when too much is applied, and although it's considerably more sheer than MAC's other Lustre formula lipsticks, it needs to be blotted down. I find that this lipstick seems to be slightly inconsistant with other MAC lustres - it's not as shiny, it's not as pigmented and seems to give off a slightly gritty feel. I'm saving mine for summer, after which I doubt I'll repurchase if it becomes repromoted or reintroduced at a later time - I like my lipsticks smooth and no-nonsense.
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Lipstick -Clinique - Butter Shine - In The Pink - LE for Breast Cancer Awareness
lirontocker 2/1/2007 5:56:00 PM
"In the Pink" is a wonderful shade. I own quite a few buttershines and "In the Pink" is easily my favorite - a sheer, flattering pink with an ever-so-slight warm base which glows, yet doesn't look to glittery, shimmery, or too "doll faced". The shade reminds me of a toned-down and wearable version of Clinique's "Fresh Watermelon" buttershine, which is more neutral-based and vastly more pigmented. I'll be entirely honest - "In the Pink" is what I think of when I hear the word "Watermelon" and this is the shade I hoped "Fresh Watermelon" would be. I love them both, but "In the Pink" has a uniqueness that puts it one step ahead of most of the Buttershine range, and it's wearability far surpasses most of the range, as well. The lipstick itself is cased in beautiful magenta casing and is really a sight to behold. I honestly hope that Clinique bring this shade back next year, as it is worthy to be a staple in every woman's makeup bag.
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Lip Gloss -Clinique - Glosswear for Lips -Black Honey [DISCONTINUED]
lirontocker 2/1/2007 4:27:00 PM
I was expecting this product to be similar to it's lipstick counterpart, but I found it to be much more suitable to my needs. The shade, a sheer burnt red with a shot of raisin, is identical to the lipstick version, but the "Glosswear for Lips" seems to be vastly more pigmented, have better staying power, and better moisturization. While still moderately sheer, the pigmentation of the gloss (as opposed to the lipstick) gives more room for experimentation in terms of look; I can choose if to wear it heavy or light, an option which the lipstick version of this gloss does not have. Despite this, I'm going to have to knock a lippy off the rating as this gloss seems to have a subtle foul odor. This isn't overbearing or overpowering but is still uncomfortable enough for me to take notice of.
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Lipstick -Clinique - Almost Lipstick - Black Honey
lirontocker 2/1/2007 4:21:00 PM
I'm normally a heavier lipstick user, but I had been wanting to try Clinique's "Black Honey" for ages. Despite my love for lipstick as spackle, on and off I have days in which I need something subtle and comfortable on my lips. "Black Honey" is a sheer burnt red with a shot of raisin which shades the lips, rather than paint them, providing for a sweet bitten appearance. This seems to be a product which is versatile enough to wear for almost every occasion - subtle enough for work, but flattering enough for eveningwear. The staying power of "Black Honey" is moderate - closer to the staying power of a gloss or a balm, and is barely there after a few sips of tea. Then again, it's "almost" lipstick to begin with, so I don't have much to complain about when a few minutes later, it's "almost" gone.
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Eye Shadow -Clinique - Color Surge in Lucky Penny
lirontocker 1/30/2007 7:53:00 PM
I recieved this as a GWP and was thrilled with the way it looked in the pan (or rather, just thanked Clinique silently for not GWPing me a blue or a violet shade), however after wearing it once, I was horribly dissapointed. While the texture, workability and blendability of this shadow is extremely good, I found that the shade didn't really do anything for my eyes and just sat there looking mediocre and a little bleak. This is a shimmery medium muted rose with beige-brown undertones that will in all probability look beautiful on a neutral or warm pale skintone. However, on my light-medium warm skin, this didn't do enough for me to want to continue using it.
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Eye Shadow -Milani - Sun Goddess
lirontocker 1/30/2007 7:38:00 PM
Milani Sun Goddess vs. MAC Amber Lights
A fabulous MUAer sent this shadow to me in order to review it vs. MAC's Amber Lights, and when I recieved it in the mail and placed it side-by-side with Amber Lights on the table, I thought to myself "This is going to be easy, they're barely distinguishable". However, when applied, it became obvious that these were two different shades, from two different brands.
Shade:
While Amber Lights and Sun Goddess are close dupes, they're different in color. Amber Lights is an Amber, while Sun Goddess is not, and is more a golden variation. Sun Goddess wanders into the peach territory, and has a suble pink base which Amber Lights does not share. Sun Goddess is a few notches lighter than Amber Lights but can be built up to achieve similar depth of color.
Finish, Pigmentation and Texture:
This is probably where both shadows vary the most. Both are a frost and have a similar sheen, but Amber Lights reflects light more strongly, providing for a slightly shinier finish. Amber Lights is vastly more pigmented than Sun Goddess, and is easier to work with and blend. Sun Goddess is not as blendable as Amber Lights, and requires a little more work in order to blend it properly. Sun Goddess is sheerer than Amber Lights, but can be built up to achieve a similar opacity.
So, what of it?
Both shades are very similar but different in shade and texture. However, I don't find them different enough to justify owning both. If you're on a budget, Sun Goddess is a very lovely color and may save you your lemming for Amber Lights. If you have a few extra dollars, Amber Lights is a better choice, if only for the better pigmentation and easy of workability. However, if you apply Sun Goddess and walk around claiming it's Amber Lights, none will be the wiser.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Sable Eye Shadow
lirontocker 1/30/2007 7:13:00 PM
When I find myself thinking too hard about my makeup for the day, Sable is the default that I tend to fall back on. Sable is a Frosty medium brown with pink undertones - NOT a bronze. Bronze has an entirely different color depth and not each metallic brown will be a bronze shade (this is in response to some of the previous reviewers who had labeled this a bronze). MAC's frosts are probably my favorite eyeshadow to work with, and this shade is no exception; smooth, highly pigmented, easy to blend and a beautiful depth of color. On my light/medium warm skintone and blue eyes, Sable simply "works". I find myself using it more often during daytime than for an evening look, but couple's with MAC's "Graphic Brown" eyeliner, a few coats of mascara and a highlighter will make this a good cantidate for a nighttime look as well.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Clinique - 3 Step System
lirontocker 1/30/2007 5:54:00 PM
I had just been waning off my previous skin regimen and was looking for something to start the new year off well for my oily, breakout-prone skin. I had heard both negative and positive opinions of Clinique's 3-step system and when I recieved a week's supply free of charge as a gift with purchase at Clinique, I figured it wouldn't hurt to try it out for myself. I started using the system for Skintype 3 (Liquid Soap for Combination/Oily, Clarifying Toner 3, Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel) and was having very high expectations - this system should work and work well for the price I'd pay for it if it did. Much to the dismay of my wallet, I saw an improvement in the condition of my skin after this initial trial week.
The system cleared up my blemishes and "peeking pimples" rather well and made my skin look even-toned. My skin seemed to produce less oil and I stopped having little "oil volcanos" on the tip of my nose - this stopped my foundation or powder from looking extremely muddy as it did beforehand.
With these results, I immediately picked up full sized items and chucked the rest of my L'Oreal "Pure Zone" in the bin. It's a pain to my wallet for sure, but my skin hasn't looked as calm and comfortable in a very long time. However, there are drawbacks to what this system does to my face, for which I will withdraw a lippie. Since my skin is not as oily as it was before, small dry patches have formed at the sides of my nose. This is only noticable on very close inspection so it does not bother me much, but 3-step turns into a 4-step if I have to add a stronger on-the-spot moisturizer. The DDMG, however lovely as it may be, lacks SPF and is too emolient to be a good base for makeup. I skip this step in the morning - and use Clinique's "City Block Sheer SPF15" instead.
I have a tendancy to doubt Clinique's claims that this system does not work when the products are not used together. The most important part of the system is the Toner (Clarifying Lotion) and I doubt heavily that it won't be effective without the other two steps. The reason is simple; it has too high of an alcohol content to NOT be effective (for Oily skins, in any case). But in any which way, Clinique's or not - it needs a moisturizer on top.
Overall I'm extremely pleased and very happy with this system and will continue to purchase it as long as I can afford it or it stops working for me for any reason. Those with combination oily to oily skins may find similar success as I did in this system, I believe those with dry to normal skins may want to try elsewhere, first. In any case, try before you buy. Don't start on this system before a test run.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No