Lip Gloss -MAC - Cult of Cherry
CoonieR 8/21/2008 8:23:00 PM
Wow... this has to be one of the the most pigmented l/g I've ever tried, although quite honestly, I'm usually a sheer l/g kind of girl. Being a MAC sucker, I had to try this out and found that the cool-toned red CoC was worth buying. The color was way more intense than I'd thought it would be. It's a very cherry red color with blueish undertones and slight shimmer. It kind of reminds me of cherry pie filling color-wise. It's very pigmented--it makes my lips stand out for sure (I'm NW20, so I'm on the pale side). I'd thought that this would look more like a stain or sheer gloss, so I was slightly disappointed at its pigmentation. (weird, I know) As with most glosses it lasts about 1-2 hours. I found that it does tend to bleed a little (a la red lipstick) so I might try using this with a pencil. It does feel nice on and isn't drying. The color's ok, but I don't see myself using this often.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Paint Pot in Delft [DISCONTINUED]
CoonieR 8/17/2008 5:54:00 PM
Gorgeous peacock blue! This is a lovely shade that has haunted me since I laid eyes (no pun intended) on it and very true to the Paint Pot line. I lucked out and found this at a CCO for about $12, so I *had* to have it. The color is lovely. It's a deep teal blue that really enhances shadows in the same family (Shimmermoss, Clarity) but looks good on its own as well. It's a little much for weekday wear (I'm in a conservative field), but is rather a fun color that I use on weekends/nights--occasionally I'll wear it to work, but in moderation. It's definitely on the warm side of blue, so it's not my favorite color on me (I'm NW20), but I can still pull it off. The texture is pretty similar to other PPs, but I have noticed it creases a little on me. That's no problem when I apply it over UDPP, though. Honestly, for someone who knows and loves PPs this is worth a look, but those looking to dive into the PP line should probably stick to neutrals like Painterly or Bare Study before trying this one. I'm glad I found it at the CCO, and in the unlikely event I finish this (you get a lot of product in that pot!), I would repurchase it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Bobbi Brown - Eyeshadow in Cocoa
CoonieR 8/12/2008 8:59:00 PM
I've generally liked BB e/s since I discovered them a few months ago, and thanks to the repackaging and subsequent CCO markdowns, I've collected quite a few. Cocoa is a nice basic matte brown, but nothing remarkable or different. This is a lovely basic mid-toned brown with a moderate amount of pigmentation on the neutral/warm side. It does, as the name implies, look like the color of cocoa powder. This looks good with other neutrals like Bone or MAC's Naked Lunch, but I don't find myself reaching for it often as there are loads of other shadows out there like this. Cocoa blends beautifully with other shadows, but I wasn't overwhelmed with its lasting power--it barely lasts 8 hours over UDPP. The old-style packaging was lousy--the screw-top just isn't practical. Since it's been repackaged, I won't count that against Cocoa in this review. Suffice to say that the new flip-top packaging is good. This was definitely worth the $13 I paid at the CCO for it, but I don't think it's worth the $19 BB charges at counters now.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Go - Starflash Collection ] [DISCONTINUED]
CoonieR 8/5/2008 8:19:00 PM
As one reviewer below put it, this truly is Tempting with a better texture. Tempting is one of my favorite shadows, so I had to give this a try. The pigmentation is excellent and the color is pretty darn close to Tempting. This is a lovely golden brown. I'm NW20, so usually warm colors don't work well on me, but this is neutral enough that it not only looks good, but it brings out the blue in my eyes. I love pairing this with Naked Lunch or Omega, and I could see wearing this with Solar White or Sumptuous Olive (haven't had time to try those yet). This is highly pigmented, so a little goes a long way. I love the texture of these new Starflash shadows! Go is easily blended with other colors and lasts all day over UDPP. It's shimmery without being OTT, which makes it perfect for the office or weekend. I'm glad I bought this, even though I already had Tempting. Go is a lovely alternative and one I'd repurchase if I a) finished the pan and b) it wasn't LE.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Dazzlelight
CoonieR 7/29/2008 7:46:00 PM
Why did it take me so long to discover this? I love Naked Lunch and Phloof, but I was looking for something that was less in-your-face frosty and a little more subtle to wear to work. I went in scouting out Nylon when a MAC MUA suggested Dazzlelight for my NW20 skin tone. She was right on! This is a lovely shimmery but not OTT shimmery/frosty neutral. It has a slight sheen to it which really brightens up my eye area and it's neutral enough to wear with a range of shades (I'm wearing it with Plum Dressing right now, but like it with Tempting, Omega, and many others). I'll use it either as a highlighter or a lid color--it works well both ways. Over UDPP this lasts all day and blends well with other MAC shadows. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite shadows! Will repurchase most likely, as I'll probably hit pan on this one.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Bobbi Brown - longwear gel liner in black mauve
CoonieR 7/29/2008 7:11:00 PM
I'm a Fluidlines fan, like many others who've reviewed Black Mauve (BM). I was drawn to BM because black e/l usually looks too harsh on me and I was looking for an alternative to the browns I usually wear. So far, I like it, but wouldn't consider it a must-have item. The color is what was kind of a letdown--although it looks a lot softer than basic black, the eggplant shimmer is barely noticeable after I apply it. It reminds me in a way of MAC's Beauty Marked shadow--gorgeous in the pan/pot, but more of a soft black when applied. It is, however, a nice alternative to black or brown. If you're looking for a more purple/eggplant/mauve e/l, it's probably better to look at MAC's Macroviolet. The formula is nice though--this goes on smoothly and wears well. I can't say it lasts all day, but it lasts about 8 hours on my oily eyelids. While this wasn't HG, I'm willing to give other BB gel liners a shot based on this one. I like this, but don't love it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - La Paz-itively Hot
CoonieR 7/25/2008 9:38:00 PM
Barbie Pink is a perfect description of this color! This goes on smoothly and evenly, thanks to its formula and the OPI brush and wears well. I'd describe it as a hot pink with a *slight* bluish sheen to it. I'd been looking for a substitute for the LE Strawberry Fields polish (released last year) and this is pretty darn close. Great summer color and good for when I'm feeling like a girly-girl. :-)
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Moisturizers -Avalon Organics Botanicals - Lavender Moisture Plus Lotion with SPF 18
CoonieR 7/16/2008 7:55:00 PM
Yuck! I love Alba Botanicals, which I understand is owned by Avalon Organics. Being an Alba fan and a sucker for anything lavender, I bought this as a body/hand moisturizer to keep at my desk. First, I'll cover the good points: It does indeed work as a body moisturizer. It has sunscreen in it. The not-so-good points include: it's not great as a facial or hand moisturizer (too greasy for the face and not enough for my hands). It kind of smells chemical-y too after a while. At first, the lavender scent is pretty, but on me it fades into a nasty sunscreen smell. I agree with all of the previous reviewers--this one's a dud.
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Moisturizers -Korres - Yogurt Cream (Yoghurt Cream)
CoonieR 7/16/2008 7:48:00 PM
This was sort of an impulse buy, as I'd been happy enough with Clinique's Continuous Rescue moisturizer and wasn't really looking for another one. Fortunately for me, a Sephora SA noticed that the Clinique wasn't totally doing the job and recommended Korres' Yogurt Cream to me. Even though my skin appears to be an oil slick, it's actually on the dehydrated side and tends to get kind of flaky in spots. I love this. It's thicker than other moisturizers I use, which means it takes a little longer to rub in and disappear into my skin, but I like the pleasant scent (it's kind of a rosy yogurt-y smell--I'm willing to bet that you either love it or hate it) and don't mind rubbing it in a little longer. It's often hard to see an amazing difference, but I do see that my skin is less flaky and more even-toned. I'm not sure whether to credit Yogurt Cream or my new Smashbox foundation, but my skin is looking good after using both for the past month! The packaging isn't the best or the worst out there. This comes in a glass jar, which while pretty, isn't the most sanitary of containers. For that, I'm going to have to knock off a lippie. This is one that I'll definitely buy again--and probably in the relatively near future!
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Foundations -Smashbox - High Definition Healthy FX Foundation
CoonieR 7/16/2008 7:39:00 PM
This has HG potential for me! For the record, I reserve HG status for things that are truly amazing/life-altering, and I've tried um-teen thousand foundations over the last 15 years, from Cover Girl to Clinique to MAC to Jane Iredale, and this is my new favorite. I bought this to wear on special occasions, as I have several weddings/parties to go to in the next few months. I'd initially gone to Sephora for the MUFE Face & Body, but the SA suggested HD Healthy FX instead. Lo and behold, not only is the color she selected a perfect match for my NW15 skin(Fair 0), but it made my skin glow and look almost perfect with no concealer. The SA said that a lot of MUAs are using this for magazine shoots, and after test driving this for about a month, I can see why. My skin's on the temperamental side--oily and dry in spots, but this foundation hasn't broken me out at all or made my skin drier. I can't see any major improvements per se, but I'm pretty sure that it hasn't done any harm. It has sunscreen in it, which is great. Love the packaging, too! It's a pump, which is more hygienic IMO, and I find that I don't need a lot most days (1 pump). This can be layered for more coverage. I love this! Although I bought it as a "special occasion" foundation, I find myself wearing this every day. Looking at some of the pictures I've taken while wearing it, I'm thrilled with this foundation's performance and will keep buying it for the foreseeable future. Love it!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Bobbi Brown - Shimmer Wash Shadow - Lilac
CoonieR 7/16/2008 6:15:00 PM
Being a recent BB convert, I'd looked at Lilac and thought it was gorgeous... until I tried to apply it. Although the color *is* pretty, it's not highly pigmented and doesn't show up well on my NW15 skin at all. The color itself is great--it's a shimmery, opalescent lilac/lavender that is shimmery but not sparkly. This is a lavender that I wouldn't be afraid to wear to the office. The only thing is, even if I pack it on, I don't get more than a hint of color. Compared to other Shimmer Wash Shadows (Bone, Chocolate, Heather Mauve), this has very little pigment--a real disappointment. I'd recommend that you skip this one, personally, and stick with MAC Vellum, Digit, or Crystal to get that lilac shimmery color.
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Shampoo -Redken - Blonde Glam Shampoo
CoonieR 7/3/2008 8:04:00 PM
Meh. I bought this to bring out my blonde highlights and remove brassiness and honestly, it's nothing special. Sure, it smells nice and lathers well, but I noticed that my hair was dryer after using this (and my scalp was oilier--coincidence? I think not) and I didn't see any other noteworthy changes in my hair. The conditioner didn't do anything amazing either. No thanks. I'll stick to my Aveda Blue Malva shampoo/conditioner, which really does eliminate brassiness and give my hair some body.
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Eye Shadow -Bobbi Brown - Shimmer Wash Shadow in Stone
CoonieR 7/3/2008 7:50:00 PM
It's official... I've become a BB e/s fan. I'd lemmed Stone after trying it on at Nordstrom and when I saw it in a CCO for $13.50, I *had* to have it. (FYI--the CCO stores have the "old school" BB e/s packaging with a screw top). This was my second BB shadow and I've been impressed with them so far. On my NW20 skin this is an awesome neutral taupe/gray with just the right amount of shimmer--this is no means OTT. It's gorgeous on and really brings out the blue in my eyes. It's what I'd hoped that MAC Shale would look like (for the record, I still like Shale, but this is better!) It's a lighter, shimmery version of Copperplate. The texture is amazing. It's very easy to blend--it's very smooth and blends well with my MAC shadows. It's not quite as blendable over UDPP, but it lasts all day and still blends better than the average shadow. I love it! This is one that I'll definitely repurchase, probably in the new-style packaging. I'm going to have to add to my BB e/s collection now!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Clinique - Glosswear for lips in Juicy Apple
CoonieR 7/2/2008 10:50:00 PM
I'm a l/g junkie and a big fan of Clinique l/g in particular (Superbalms are HG material), but Cherry Apple doesn't work for me, either in the new formula or the old formula. :-( The color is gorgeous in the tube and always looks like what I'm looking for--a sheer, flushed rosy red, but for some reason, when I wear this, it looks like I've been drinking cherry Kool-Aid. It doesn't apply evenly (even though I exfoliate my lips regularly and apply this over a balm) and the color just doesn't last. On the positive side, it does have sunscreen in it. Yay Clinique for adding sunscreen! This, unfortunately, was not a great purchase for me. I might swap it or return it. I have, however, found that Neutrogena's MoistureShine gloss in Gleam gives me the sheer red color I've been looking for--for less than Cherry Apple costs and with more SPF in it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Bobbi Brown - Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow in Bone 16
CoonieR 7/1/2008 8:59:00 PM
Thanks to Bone, another lemming/obsession is born, as I want more BB eye shadows! This was an impulse purchase at the CCO in the old screw-top packaging--but at $13.50, I had to try it. I wasn't disappointed. Bone is a pale ivory that isn't too warm or too cool; it's a true neutral with just the right amount of shimmer. I can use this as a highlighter or as a lid color with all kinds of colors. The shimmer isn't even close to OTT--it's beautiful and fine without the chunkiness or glitter that a lot of shimmer shadows have. It blends like a dream and goes on like butter. I was wowed when I first tried this and blended it with Chocolate--much better than most shadows. It looked like a natural, subtle soft, yet defined eye. Now I understand the hype. This is my first BB shadow but it won't be my last.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No