Foundations -Maybelline - Dream Matte Mousse
MostAdorable 11/3/2004 11:01:00 AM
Finding a foundation that I really like has been nearly impossible. I was very hopeful and thought this would work out for me, but it did not. I got the darkest color available - hoping it would be a decent match. Not sure about the other colors, but I noticed right away that it did not seem to have enough yellow in it to match my skin's natural undertone - or something. Foundations that lack the yellowy undertone can look very ashey gray on me. And that's exactly what happened with this one. I really should have known better though, because in the jar, the color is a flat dark brown. Maybe I am naive, but I have YET to see anyone walking around with a complexion that flat. Most people actually do have some type of undertone you know. :x Anyway, if you like Estee Lauder's Ideal matte, this product overall may be a great inexpensive alternative because the texture is similar. That is, IF you can find a shade that matches you. *Sigh*. This is going back to the store ASAP.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Lustre in Fresh Brew
MostAdorable 11/2/2004 1:39:00 PM
This color is a soft, beigey light brown that helps to tone down my natural lip color. If you are familiar with the amplified lipstick in Orchidstrate, Fresh Brew seems to be along that exact same line in terms of color depth, but has more brown as opposed to Orchidstrate's slight mauvey undertone. The formula of both lipsticks is wonderful - it's like lipstick and lipgloss combined perfectly all in one! The rich, creamy texture of course means that the lip color will go on rather sheer. Which can be a good thing, depending on your personal preferences. I wore Fresh Brew, with Spirited lipglass layered lightly over it for a very neutral beigey-pink effect. Very nice combo for a light makeup day.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Estee Lauder - Equalizer
MostAdorable 10/19/2004 10:07:00 AM
Hmmm. I still can't quite figure out whether this foundation is a keeper or not. It does apply well. It's not completely sheer nor is it thick, sticky feeling or masklike. It looks and feels perfectly natural, and it has a medium coverage that you can build on wherever you need it. Once you set it with powder, it looks great. It doesn't have the strong orangey or dull gray undertones some foundations have and the color stays true. But, I have to agree with others that have said that this still may not be the best foundation for oily skin. The creamy texture winds up 'melting' in certain areas within a couple of hours. And there's nothing you can do to keep it from happening. You have to blot constantly and touch it up with powder all throughout the day, which is a hassle. Other than that, I could probably live with it. The search continues...
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -Becca - Aphrodite Pressed Shimmer Powder
MostAdorable 10/18/2004 11:24:00 AM
Aphrodite is a shimmery warm (yellow) gold against my NC55 complexion. The shimmer is very subtle. So subtle in fact, that after a couple of hours my oily skin soaks it right up and there's no shimmer left at all. I think it would be pretty for special occasions. But even then, I tend to like the loose shimmer powder in Odette for that. The shimmer is a bit more intense in the loose version. I don't think I will be keeping the pressed powder. Not special enough.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -MAC - Brush Cleanser
MostAdorable 10/18/2004 11:19:00 AM
The packaging of this product is absolutely ridiculous. As you are pouring the cleanser, it 'leaks' out in large amounts and drips down the sides of the bottle. That's crazy. You can waste so much product like that. To remedy that part, I have come up with the idea of just putting the cleanser into a regular spray pump bottle (that you can probably get out of the drugstore), so I can spray enough to saturate my brushes directly, and rinse them clean with warm water. For the most part this does an OK job of getting the makeup out of my brushes. I wouldn't go so far as to say that this is a necessity product though. It's more of a novelty...
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Estee Lauder - Ideal Matte
MostAdorable 10/15/2004 9:52:00 AM
I got a trial size of this the last time I stopped by an EL counter. I was quite surprised by the texture of it. The MA pretty much just swiped a few stripes of this across my jawline to see what shade would blend, and once she found the shade that she thought would work, she just gave me a sample size to try out and sent me on my merry way. For 1 week and 1/2, I forgot I even had it. Until today. This morning, I used my Prescriptives foundation brush and applied it. I have to admit - it seems to instantly brighten my complexion without being too orangey. Which is a problem I've encountered during my search for the perfect foundation. So far, it also hasn't turned my complexion a ruddy gray, which is a major no-no for me as well. It has also helped with the oil control. Which is great! The only thing that really bothered me about this is the fact that it *IS* rather thick. It blends nicely, but I just can't stand the thickness of it. I haven't purchased the full sized version of this yet, but it's probably as close to perfect as I can expect. At least it didn't have the awful smell Lorac's foundation has, so that's a good thing too. Update: This foundation settles into every fine line and pore in my skin. The formula is too pastey.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -Becca - Loose Shimmer Powder
MostAdorable 10/13/2004 9:22:00 AM
I have this in 'Odette', which is a very pretty, beigey neutral shimmer. The shimmer effect is very subtle and not over the top at all. It doesn't turn into that fake plastic look that some shimmer powders can give when the glitter particles are a bit too large (Bobbi Brown's bronze shimmer compact comes to mind). If you plan to apply this over your entire face, I would recommend using a large brush to do so. I used MAC's #150 and it was just perfect.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -MAC - #187 Duo Fiber Face Brush (Stippling, Skunk Brush)
MostAdorable 10/8/2004 9:56:00 AM
I'm not real sure why I have this brush, other than the fact that I just recently started getting into buying makeup brushes, and I'm trying to build up my assortment. I've been hearing that this is an interesting brush to have, and at a glance, it is very unique looking. I have used it to lightly dust shimmer powder *just* to the apples of my cheeks. The bristles are arranged in such a way that you don't over-do it and deposit too much pigment in one spot on your skin. Someone else said it perfectly... it's really like dusting powder sugar on a cake. I think I will have to work with the brush a bit more and see what else it can do. During the first use, I did notice that it shed a little. I'm hoping it does not continue to do that with each use because for 40.00, I shouldn't see a single hair shedding from it at all.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Mac lipstick in terra
MostAdorable 10/7/2004 10:11:00 AM
This shade is a carmelly deep neutral brown. Not unique enough for me to keep, so back to MAC it goes.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Stila - Oasis Eyeshadow
MostAdorable 9/17/2004 8:45:00 AM
I was trying to figure out which makes a better brow bone highlighter (Starlight or Oasis), and I think Oasis does. Starlight has a silvery champagne color to it, but Oasis is a shimmery golden champagne, and the color is warm enough that it doesn't give that 'ashy' look that Starlight can give to darker skin. This morning, I experimented and brushed a small amount of Oasis over my blush just for the shimmer of it and it gave a very pretty effect. Well Starlight, all I can say is: I guess it's back to Stila you go... ....or maybe not! UPDATE: Yesterday, I brushed starlight across my brow bone first, and then went back in and put Oasis over it. Those 2 colors combined are a perfect balance so I may just keep them both!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Estee Lauder - Clear Difference Oil-Control Hydrator
MostAdorable 9/16/2004 4:57:00 PM
This works really well. I have used it approx 2 and 1/2 years now, and I like it. I believe they recently changed the packaging (and possibly even the formula) because when I re-purchased this earlier this month after running out, I noticed that it smells different than it did before. I was so worried that the new formula wouldn't work as well as the one I was used to. I was wrong! It works even better at controlling oil now than it did before. I've always mixed equal portions of this, and MAC's oil control lotion for an extra boost, and they work really well together. My skin truly glows now, (minus the oil slicks), and is incredibly soft. Try this product at least once! You may love it.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -MAC - #190 Foundation Brush
MostAdorable 9/14/2004 4:17:00 PM
I like this foundation brush. It is *slightly* better than Prescriptive's foundation brush, which is also pretty good. The brush IS a little difficult to clean, but I have discovered that using MAC's brush cleanser works quite well to dissolve any foundation. If I'm in a rush, I just pour a few drops of the brush cleanser directly onto the brush to saturate it, and the foundation just rinses right out without a problem. TIP: Be sure you immediately wash your brush 2 or 3 times upon purchasing it (before use). It will be stiff as a board when you first get it, but fortunately, if you wash it and then let it dry a few times, it will be OK. I believe someone mentioned that MAC sprays their brushes with something to help it maintain its shape while in transit. That is what makes the brush so stiff, and you have to clean that off.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -MAC - Lipglass-Good as Gold
MostAdorable 9/14/2004 3:31:00 PM
This color is a pretty silvery brown in the tube. However, it is a very pastey looking grey on my lips - no matter how light I apply it. I will be returning this item as fast as I can. I really couldn't imagine anyone being able to wear this color at all. Matter of fact - why, oh why is this called 'good as gold' when there's no gold in it? The name should have been 'Mud' because that name/description fits best.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Stila - Starlight Eye Shadow
MostAdorable 9/14/2004 11:20:00 AM
This is an iridescent silvery champagne. I use it as a brow bone highlighter. It has just the right amount of frost to it, but I am thinking I may like Oasis a lot better since it has more of a gold shimmer to it. The silver in Starlight can make it look a little ashey on my skin in certain lighting.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish in Gold Deposit (Rococo)
MostAdorable 9/3/2004 2:24:00 PM
Goodness. I see why this is called gold deposit - because it deposits plastic-like chunks of gold anywhere you try to put it. Even though I have an NC55 complexion that's deep enough that this doesn't look too bad on me, the oranginess of it just really put me off. I personally couldn't see anyone liking this - dark complexion or not. But that's just IMO.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No