Fragrances -Chanel - Coco Mademoiselle
maashi 9/20/2009 10:34:00 PM
Men seem to pick up this fragrance on me. LOL! Nice floral scent - makes me feel mature, but not too OTT and heavy. Can get away with it on both day and night. Love the packaging. A good all round perfume from Chanel, just like all their other perfumes.
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Lipstick -MAC - Mist
maashi 9/20/2009 10:32:00 PM
I found this in the bottom of my makeup drawer and experimented with it recently. Alone it looks ghastly and makes me look pale and sick. BUT - bought a horrid fuchsia coloured Avon lipstick once and with this on top it actually became wearable! In other words this lipstick is my go-to when I have made the wrong lipstick purchase LOL! It's good to tone down colours that are too bright. A bit on the frosty side - hence a lippie off - but quite a useful little tool and you don't need much to transform your look. I've still got heaps left. Deserves more credit than what it normally gets. This was D/C-ed a long time ago, so I don't know what you could dupe it with :(
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Eyeliner -Laura Mercier - Black Turquoise kohl
maashi 9/15/2009 6:45:00 PM
Great colour, glides on easily, doesn't smudge too badly (but has the ability to if you need a smoky eye), lovely worn alone (I don't wear eyeshadow much). It hasn't irritated me and I wear contacts, but that is probably a personal thing. Because it is reasonably soft, I found I had to sharpen it a lot to get precision. But!!! I just didn't get as much out of it because I kept breaking it when sharpening. Not sure if that was because of me or because of the pencil. I have this in black navy too and haven't had as much of a problem, admittedly I did learn my lesson and was much gentler with it. I got my 2 from Strawberrynet a while ago for about US$18 i think. We used to have a LM counter at a high end dept store in New Zealand but that's gone now >.<
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Blush -MAC - Beauty Powder Blush in Secret Blush
maashi 9/6/2009 12:45:00 AM
Much more pigmented than expected, great complimentary colour for yellow-based darker skin tones, and a little goes a long way. It is a nice matte change for me, who, accident or not, always ends up buying shimmery blushes. A great peachy-plum blush that can be used for both day and night.
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Highlighters -BeneFit Cosmetics - Valley Of The Stars Palette
maashi 9/6/2009 12:42:00 AM
Yep, I got it off Strawberry in the August sale... The white eyeshadow was a stand out, really pigmented and complimentary. So was the gold, but didn't last as long and you need a few more applications to bring the colour out. A bit disappointed with Moon Beam though? Or is my skin too dark to make it show? (I am a NC35-40) Also not a fan of the eyeshadow-like applicator, would have prefered a nail polish type brush. Haven't tried High Beam yet... looked at reviews here and everyone seems to be pale skined, don't know if it will be too pink for me. Her Glossiness is not too bad, decent colour but I am not a big gloss user. Overall - great eyeshadows - the 3 bottles are a bit small, but nevertheless very cute, and if the eyeshadows are sold individually I will probably repurchase those. But I wouldn't buy the whole kit again.
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Concealers -Stila - Illuminating Concealer
maashi 9/3/2009 9:36:00 PM
Coverage is ok, probably not the best out there, doesn't cover my acne scars that well, but then the marks are dark. I don't have leaking problems like others have reported, but I don't carry it in my make up bag. Dark matched me pretty well, and I am roughly NC35-40. I wouldn't rave about it, but it serves its purpose, considering I got it for free on Strawberrynet last month. I think there are still some on sale there, for those still looking for it.
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Liquid -Stila - Pivotal Skin Foundation [DISCONTINUED]
maashi 8/20/2009 10:21:00 PM
This has been a pleasant surprise. This stuff was on Strawberrynet for NZ$14.50!!! I bought one in shade D hoping it fits my recently-paled skin. (Tan wore off over the New Zealand winter. In summer I am an NC40, I am probably NC35 now?) I think it was a little light, but not overly noticeable so I can get away with it. It is definitely lighter than my usual MAC Studio Fix Fluid, but coverage wasn't as terrible as some other MUAers observed, and I have bad acne scars on my cheeks. Texture is almost like a mousse and looks way darker than when applied. I did not get much of an oily sheen and I have a fairly oily T zone. The box is a little weird - the lid came off, I think I unscrewed it too far... so I am not comfortable with packaging. It also didn't come with a sponge which was disappointing. It is now 2:15pm, I put it on at 6:45am and I still look like I have some coverage, and it has also held the Benefit Posietint in reasonably well, there is still a hint of pink. Not sure of its performance with powder blush. (FYI I did also use MAC blot powder on top) I am pleasantly surprised, given the other reviews weren't great. But I won't buy again, given that Stila is only available in 1 place in NZ and costs an arm and a leg and I always worry about stuff bought online not actually arriving in the mail. But it will probably be good for a light foundation in spring weather. I will update if I get break outs from this... so far so good, but it has only been 2 days lol ----- EDIT: It is not very long lasting after all -_- There is an oily sheen on a warm day, but in the office it is bearable. I have taken a lippie off, but only because I am more used to medium-full coverage. Most importantly at least it didn't break out on me.
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Mascara -Max Factor - False lash effect
maashi 8/18/2009 5:58:00 AM
Disappointing! My last mascara was Masterpiece Beyond Length, which was decent but lacked volume on my average length but ultra fine Asian lashes. (At least they aren't too short...) So I thought it wouldn't hurt to give another Maxfactor one a go. It is nowhere as voluminous as expected, I think I used about 3 coats to get anything noticeable! However, it wasn't too hard to clean off, which is a plus, and it doesn't irritate contact lens wearers. I think I am going to have to use this one with primer and keep hunting for the HG mascara...
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Liquid -Clarins - Colour Tint [DISCONTINUED]
maashi 8/15/2009 8:08:00 AM
I got two of these, sample size, on Trade Me (New Zealand's version of eBay) for dirt cheap prices. #3 warm beige gave me a nice dewy finish, coverage wasn't great but it was expected. (I have acne scars and I normally use MAC Studio Fix Fluid, so the first thing I look for is coverage) The colour suited surprisingly well even though I have heavy yellow undertones and it came out of the tube pretty pink. But at least it didn't break me out and blended in ok. Probably wouldn't repurchase - a bit expensive for me - but it was good to try something new, and a good base if you don't want to look too made up. Note I am usually a NC40.
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Lipstick -Chanel - Aqualumiere #42 - Macao
maashi 7/17/2009 7:28:00 PM
I bought this for NZ$20.50 on TradeMe (that is, New Zealand's equivalent to eBay, and roughly translates to US$13 ish?) so yes, I got an awfully good deal. But I still rated it as a 4, knowing usual Chanel prices. Also, I did go check this out at a local Chanel counter, so I don't think it is discontinued... yet? It doesn't last as long as I would like it to, but the colour is nice and reasonably subtle. I don't like extremely bold, solid colours. It's a nice red that people know I used it, but not overpowering!! I cannot see much of a coral tone though, though it was noticeable on my hand, I think I just have rather pigmented lips. I wouldn't buy again, only because I never buy the same lipstick twice, I like trying new things too much!! FYI I am Asian and NC40.
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Blush -MAC - Mineralize Blush in Love Joy
maashi 5/24/2009 4:56:00 AM
Fabulous colour, though a bit more rosy than the bronze I first saw on my face at Duty Free Sydney Airport (must have been lighting?)... Lots of pigment so have to be a bit sparing with it. Great layered on top of a lighter pink, looks more gradual. Absolutely love this blush. PS I am a NC40.
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