Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Shine #11
vvalencia 12/6/2004 7:25:00 PM
When I first saw this color I just had to have it! I bought it the same day I came in contact with it! It's such a pretty rose color with sheer gold/gleam influence. I can wear it alone or over a darker lipstick to add dimension to the color. Seems more suitable for dark skintones as I am MMM and currently tan from a recent Costa Rica vacation. Might look a little garish on lighter complexions...
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Lip Gloss -Giorgio Armani - Lip Shimmer #6
vvalencia 12/6/2004 7:19:00 PM
This was the first lip shimmer I tried. This was recommended by the MA at the GA counter in Costa Mesa. She used this over Mania Lipstick #11 and it made the color so juicy and cherry like! This was part of her recommendation for my wedding makeup (you can read about the review under the general eyeshadows review). At first I wasn't sure if I was going to keep it and actually returned it. Then I repurchased when I realized how nice of a color it was. You can use it alone or over other lipsticks. I'm hooked and have purchased more!
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Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Sheer Lipstick- #10
vvalencia 12/6/2004 7:13:00 PM
At first I didn't even think this was showing up on my lips. Then I realized it was the lighting in the bathroom. This is a very natural YLBB color. I was on the fence at first, but paired with one of the many greyish hue GA eyeshadows it's actually very pretty in a subdued way. Great for a more natural look or I would assume with a smoky eye. Only thing that drives me crazy about these lipsticks are all the tubes are the same color! I wish I could get the tester bottoms that at least give some indication of the color inside! I have officially lost my mind and gone GA crazy and the sheers are my favorite!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Sheer Lipstick #8
vvalencia 12/5/2004 2:12:00 AM
This is a great sheer raspberry color. It does look scary at first, but it's the best summer color out there! I've also worn it with my navy colored clothes and it's a beautiful contrast. Looks like it would work with darker skintones. Might be too bright for the lighter complexions. A color only GA could pull off nicely!
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Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Sheer Lipstick #6
vvalencia 12/5/2004 2:08:00 AM
This is a staple for me. It's the one to reach for when you are definitely in a hurry in the morning. Very easy color to wear. My previous fave was MAC Shhh, but this has a better formulation and I love the natural look on my lips. I tried Kevyn Aucoin's version which is Dantique and it was way too pigmented for me. I love GA sheer lipsticks! It's like lipgloss effect but better!
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Lip Gloss -Giorgio Armani - Lip Shimmer #1
vvalencia 12/5/2004 2:02:00 AM
I purchased this based on the reviews here on the board. Definitely has the subtle ability to make your lips look juicy! Very natural and light peachy nude. When I use it over my lipstick it adds that extra creaminess and softens the hue. If alone it enhances your natural color, especially if you have very pigmented lips like mine. My favorite out of the 3 I've tried so far. Definitely don't regret it and neither will you!
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Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Matte Silk Lipstick - all colours
vvalencia 12/5/2004 1:57:00 AM
I am reviewing Matte Silk in #8. This is a cognac with russet orange influence. At first I wasn't sure what to wear it with, but I wore a black/grey top the other day and it was perfect. Great texture that goes on smooth. Not drying at all! This is definitely a color for warmer skintones. Might actually be too bright for lighter complexions.
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Eye Shadow -Giorgio Armani - Eye Shadow #26
vvalencia 12/5/2004 1:54:00 AM
I love this color! It is a greyish/ brown/taupe that is a hint shimmery. I used it all over lid. Haven't tried crease yet, but I'm sure it would work just as well. It's extremely easy to wear and goes with almost everything. Great every day color!
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Blush -Giorgio Armani - Sheer Blush #7
vvalencia 11/12/2004 2:10:00 AM
This blush is NOT THAT BAD! You really do have to be gentle with the application, but it can give the most subtle flush as well. I tried it and it makes me look like I have that post workout glow on my cheeks. It looks natural on my MMM to tan complexion! I can see how if you aren't careful this can get clownish on the face. So be careful since it is extremely pigmented. I purchased mine off of ebay in the full size tester for MUCH cheaper than the retail department store. I was about to swap it away, but got a chance to try it and can say that it's a keeper. I only take away one lippie because I think they have to do something about the packaging. It is annoying for me in the morning trying to figure out what color is what since everything is the same matte black packaging! YMMV depending on your coloring, but I would think yellow based/golden medium to dark complexions would do best.
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Eye Shadow -Giorgio Armani - Eyeshadow
vvalencia 11/3/2004 7:54:00 PM
All I can say is THESE ARE THE BEST eyeshadows out there. I went to the GA makeup counter at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa desperate for someone to help me figure out my wedding day makeup. I had my wedding at The Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay, CA and had a "trial" makeup done and was really unhappy with the results. The MA there used mineral based foundation and eyeshadow and it looked way too heavy and masky. Luckily the MA Stefanie was willing to select and show me how to apply my wedding day look! I had on Classified Cosmetics ERA airbrush foundation in Y5/Y7. Along with Alexandra deMarkoff Disguise for Eyes eyeshadow base. She used #6 as the all over base and #11 for the entire lid. Then she used #33 in the crease and liner! Then she lined upper and lower lashes with the eye pencil in #2 and Star Lash Mascara in #2. She used Sheer Blush #2 for the faintest glow and Sheer Bronzer in #1 dusted on the face and neck! On the lips she used Mania Lipstick #11 and a dab of Lip Shimmer #6. I was completely blown away with the look and bought everything right then and there! All the other items I mentioned I will be posting a review for, but I just had to describe everything at once. My bestfriend and maid of honor was REALLY impressed with the staying power of my makeup! She kept saying how flawless my makeup was AND it lasted ALL DAY! Hooray for GA eyeshadows. This should be every bride's HG makeup!!! My only beef is since all the packaging is the same matte black color it can get annoying figuring out what color you are reaching for. Other than that these are truly THE BEST eyeshadows!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Classified Cosmetics - ERA face foundation
vvalencia 10/31/2004 12:47:00 AM
There is no doubt in my mind that this is the best foundation there is out there. The true test was for my wedding day makeup. It looked so natural and came out so beautiful in the photographs! This is coming from someone who had only 2 hours of sleep the night before!!! I first got Y5 in a swap. Then I purchased my makeup a month ahead of the wedding date and practiced a little. I also was in between colors so I purchased Y5 and Y7. I would mostly use Y5 for concealing. Spray Y5 once, then I would follow with Y7 and got the most natural looking makeup in my life. No one's face is ever one flat color. I have medium brown skin but with yellow undertones so this stuff was PERFECT! When I get a little lighter due to the colder months I don't use as much Y7, but if I start to get a little darker I just spray on a little bit more (i.e. for the honeymoon in Capri when I got a little sun)...Needless to say I don't think most people are patient enough and give up to quickly. It is my HG of foundations, because I'm just coming off of the flu and used it today and no one could tell I was sick! Just had that nice healthy glow. My bestfriend and Maid of Honor is now thoroughly hooked! She looked great in all the pics too! You've got to try this at least once...You won't regret it!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Classified Cosmetics - ERA Face Spray Foundation
vvalencia 10/31/2004 12:46:00 AM
There is no doubt in my mind that this is the best foundation there is out there. The true test was for my wedding day makeup. It looked so natural and came out so beautiful in the photographs! This is coming from someone who had only 2 hours of sleep the night before!!! I first got Y5 in a swap. Then I purchased my makeup a month ahead of the wedding date and practiced a little. I also was in between colors so I purchased Y5 and Y7. I would mostly use Y5 for concealing. Spray Y5 once, then I would follow with Y7 and got the most natural looking makeup in my life. No one's face is ever one flat color. I have medium brown skin but with yellow undertones so this stuff was PERFECT! When I get a little lighter due to the colder months I don't use as much Y7, but if I start to get a little darker I just spray on a little bit more (i.e. for the honeymoon in Capri when I got a little sun)...Needless to say I don't think most people are patient enough and give up to quickly. It is my HG of foundations, because I'm just coming off of the flu and used it today and no one could tell I was sick! Just had that nice healthy glow. My bestfriend and Maid of Honor is now thoroughly hooked! She looked great in all the pics too! You've got to try this at least once...You won't regret it!
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Liquid -Classified Cosmetics - ERA Face Spray Foundation
vvalencia 10/19/2004 4:25:00 AM
There is no doubt in my mind that this is the best foundation there is out there. The true test was for my wedding day makeup. It looked so natural and came out so beautiful in the photographs! This is coming from someone who had only 2 hours of sleep the night before!!! I first got Y5 in a swap. Then I purchased my makeup a month ahead of the wedding date and practiced a little. I also was in between colors so I purchased Y5 and Y7. I would mostly use Y5 for concealing. Spray Y5 once, then I would follow with Y7 and got the most natural looking makeup in my life. No one's face is ever one flat color. I have medium brown skin but with yellow undertones so this stuff was PERFECT! When I get a little lighter due to the colder months I don't use as much Y7, but if I start to get a little darker I just spray on a little bit more (i.e. for the honeymoon in Capri when I got a little sun)...Needless to say I don't think most people are patient enough and give up to quickly. It is my HG of foundations, because I'm just coming off of the flu and used it today and no one could tell I was sick! Just had that nice healthy glow. My bestfriend and Maid of Honor is now thoroughly hooked! She looked great in all the pics too! You've got to try this at least once...You won't regret it!
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Crème -I-Iman - I-Iman Stick Foundation
vvalencia 7/4/2004 6:12:00 PM
I ordered this on Sephora and got the 03. It was too light for my medium skintone (I am a MAC NC35), but tried it under my eyes as a concealer and was amazed at how well it worked under my eyes. I went back to Sephora and exchanged it for 05 and it was an exact match! Unfortunately because of my large pores and dry patches it looked smooth when I first put it on, but started to sort of "break up" before the end of the day. I don't blame the product and think maybe this is too creamy for me during the summer season and would give it another shot for winter. I highly recommend it as a concealer for combo/oily skin! It's $27, but would last forever! I am on a hunt for a good mattifier and may need to revisit this if I can get a good primer/base. The color offerings are amazing for the darker complexions.
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Crème -MAC - Studio Tech
vvalencia 6/6/2004 12:23:00 AM
I have combo skin with large pores. I really loved this foundation when the SA put it on me. The color match was awesome! I thought for sure I had found my new HG! Then over the course of the day it really emphasized any flaky dry patches and showed up on the pores of my nose! I tried the foundation for several days just to make sure it wasn't user error and had been dusting my face with the matching pressed powder. I followed the MA's recommendation to use a foundation brush (this was the Prescriptives one I already owned). Overall it was just really disappointing AND frustrating since it was pretty pricey and I expected better performance. Believe it or not I recently tried the Palladio Wet/Dry Foundation and have had much more superior performance with that at a 1/3 of the cost! MAC has great color selection so I didn't give this the worst rating.
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