Shampoo -Clairol - Psssssst Instant Spray Shampoo
xtinahb 11/22/2011 10:56:00 AM
Purchased the travel can 1.76 oz for $3; it is readily available at any Duane Reade or Ricky's here in NY. Love it. I picked it up for my blunt cut black bangs which I always touch and are always limp and piecey by mid-day. The trick to Pssssst is to spray and wait at least 3 full minutes before combing through, to ensure the oils are absorbed by the powder. When I get impatient and start combing right through, it does nothing. So now I wait and the results are clear. The white powdery coat disappears and what's left behind are refreshed, dry, matte bangs. Don't be discouraged, dark haired beauties, by the initial fine white mist on your hair. When I brush through, it totally disappears! A great find and value.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Bumble & Bumble - Hair Powder
xtinahb 11/22/2011 10:50:00 AM
Tried this is in Black on my fine, straight Asian hair. I have blunt cut bangs that are always greasy by mid-afternoon, thanks to my habit of constantly touching and mussing them. This Hair Powder's effectiveness is 5 lippies: a quick spritz, wait, then brush through produced thick, matte, full bangs in 2 minutes flat. The formula on this powder is amazing and definitely refreshed and degreased my bangs. The downside? The perpetual black powder tinge ALL OVER my hands because, naturally, I continue to play with my bangs and proceeded to smudge my forehead and nose as well. I will try in the White shade and see if it works on my dark hair just because I love this formula, but I don't trust my roving hands to stay put and the black powder seriously ended up all over the place.
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Lip Gloss -Shu Uemura - Vinyl Unlimited
xtinahb 11/21/2011 4:26:00 PM
I have the 521 coral pink lacquer and it is a perfect rich warm pink semi-opaque super shiny gloss on my NC30/C4 pigmented lips and complexion. I don't have nor have I found any other shade like it for my skin. I compliments bronzer and natural cheeks perfectly! It is ULTRA sticky just like MAC lipglass texture, so it feels thick, but there is zero build-up or guckiness on the lips. This formula is smooth and wears off evenly; lasts a full 2 hours which is amazing to me for a lipglosss. I'm a Shu fan and still have 1/2 of this tube left after 2 years (only wear it in the summers, really), but would repurchase, even online!
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Stick -Shiseido - The makeup Stick Foundation
xtinahb 11/21/2011 10:45:00 AM
I'm on my second Shiseido Stick foundation in O60 and I'm a NC30/C4 light tan Asian gal. This is my closest color match for any DS or Dept store brand, so I am loyal, but the staying power of only 4-6 hours and tendency to transfer are downsides. The packaging is great, I dab straight from the tube and blend with Beautyblender.Then I take time to set the makeup because if I don't powder, this will end up everything, from my hands to my cellphone. Also, it's quite emollient, so I get shiny within 3 hours on my t-zone (I am combo skin), and powder throughout day. These are minor things IMO, though, for the color match, the lightweightness, and the medium-full coverage this makeup gives. It's a really great product if you have normal / dry / combo skin and find your color match and don't mind touching up here and there.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -MAC - Satin Blush - Fleur Power
xtinahb 11/21/2011 10:16:00 AM
A very strong, vibrant rich coral pink on my NC30/C4 light-tan Asian skin. I usually blend this with my MAC Matte Bronze for a warm glow, otherwise I find this color too bright, even when using a very light hand, since I prefer very natural blushes. I would repurchase since I don't know a good dupe for this shade and do like how it pairs with muted blushes, just to add some pop to my cheeks. A nice finish, not powdery at all, and the depth of color means it does last at least 6 hours. Definitely a good shade for tan guys and gals!
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Skincare - Face -Sonya Dakar - Omega Oil
xtinahb 11/20/2011 1:08:00 AM
This was recommended by an aesthetician after I started Renova (a retinoid) and my combination skin experienced dryness and irritation. Within 2 weeks, my skin was soft and dry patches eliminated. The packaging feels cheap and the pump doesn't always provide the same amount, but the product itself is great. I use one pump on my face and neck in AM and PM all year round, except for the summertime when it's pretty humid here in NY. My skin feels nourished and hydrated with this oil under my moisturizer; not greasy whatsoever. The smell is definitely noticeable, but more like vitamin pills than straight "fishy," at least to me! I can definitely handle it considering the benefits and for reference, my boyfriend has never even noticed the smell. Will definitely rebuy; it really helps balance my skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -MAC - Studio Finish Concealer
xtinahb 11/18/2011 3:17:00 PM
A beautiful finish and texture with nice medium-coverage. I purchased NW25 for my NC30/C4 skin. I wanted a lighter peachier shade for natural highlighting and undereye circles. This is fabulous for both. I brush on with a small concealer brush under eyes, bridge of nose, and chin and blend with fingers. My face wakes up instantly. I have combo skin with dry patches and this concealer doesn't stick to dry skin and doesn't make me any shinier, either. It feels comfortable and light. The lasting power is only a few hours, but it has great packaging, so the little flip-pot lid is always in my bag. Will definitely repurchase.
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Lipstick -MAC - Cremesheen - Shy Girl
xtinahb 11/18/2011 2:08:00 PM
I picked this up to pair with smokey eyes on my NC30/C4 light tan complexion. Shy Girl is definitely too pale and fair to wear on its own for my skintone. I layer Creemsheen glass in "Richer Lusher" on top to add more color and warmth and it's a perfect shade to compliment smokey eyes. I have plenty of true nudes/beiges for heavy eyes, but sometimes feel I need more life to my lips, without being a "true" color. Shy Girl + RIcher Lusher is the perfect solution.
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Makeup Brushes -MAC - #187 Duo Fiber Face Brush (Stippling, Skunk Brush)
xtinahb 11/18/2011 11:34:00 AM
I love this brush for cream blushes. The soft, springy bristles are perfect for diffusing pigmented creams (I like MUFE liquid blush) on my cheeks. The MAC SA suggested this for bronzing and loose powders and I also tried using the 187 for foundation, but my preferred use is for blushes. It applies color softly and evenly for a really natural look. Bristles stain easily, even after washing, but doesn't shed at all and feels soft on my skin. It isn't a must-have brush in my collection, but glad to have it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Kevyn Aucoin - Eyelash Curler
xtinahb 11/17/2011 10:38:00 AM
Effective and pinch-free curlers for my short, spare, straight Asian lashes. These fit perfectly against my face, allowing the curlers to grip the base of my lashes for a full doll-like curl, without pinching (which happens with my Shiseidos). Shu does a great curler, of course, but the Kevin Aucoin is just as effective for me and much easier to buy here in New York. My lashes don't hold any curl whatsoever without mascara, so using these curlers alone (or any curler in the world) isn't enough. But these curl my lashes quickly and painlessly, holding gently for 5-4-3-2-1 and I slap a coat of Lashblash Length and voila, curled, black lashes for 8-hours.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Make Up For Ever - HD Blush (all)
xtinahb 11/16/2011 3:13:00 PM
I tried #2, "Caught in the Act," a raspberry shade. On my NC30/C4 light tan Asian skin, it is soft pink flush; the precise shade of my actual natural blush when I work out. It is the best cream blush formula I have tried, from Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge to Stila Convertible Cream to Benetint to MAC Cremeblush etc. I pump the teeniest amount on the back of my hand, swirl a small flat foundation brush thru it, and brush lightly lightly lightly on my cheeks, repeating the whole process until I have the shade I want, about 3 teeny pumps total. TEENY, like pinhead-size, as other reviewers mention. It stays ALL DAY. At least 8 hours. Feels like I am wearing nothing and has a natural finish: smooth and soft with no sheen, no powderiness, no tackiness and doesn't attach to any dry skin on my combo complexion. I am buying in more shades! A+!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Dive Bar
xtinahb 11/8/2011 11:15:00 PM
Gorgeous deep teal with shimmer and gloss. Two coats for full 100% opacity; it's a nice dense varnish. It has a midnight tone and is very rich and chic, which is not always the case with blue polishes. It's a great alternative to black for a dark dramatic color with a little more interest. Love it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Stila - Convertible Color Camellia
xtinahb 11/7/2011 10:34:00 AM
Very flattering warm, soft peach shade on my NC30/C4 light tan Asian complexion. Overall a peachy healthy shade with a very slight brown undertone, all which flatters my yellow skintone. Would recommend with anyone with yellow undertones and a slight tan. I could see why this might look "dirty" on lighter complexions, but this is a daily blush for me that is very hard to overdo. It compliments any lipshade, is very natural and soft looking, and I feel healthy and warm in it! I use my MAC 130 to stipple and blend on my apples and tap with my fingers to warm it up a bit. It dries matte and lasts at least 8 hours. Love this formula!
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Tinted Moisturizer -Becca - Tinted Moisturizer
xtinahb 11/7/2011 9:34:00 AM
My HG TM! So glad I found this. Provides ideal "weekend" or "first date" type coverage, meaning very natural and sheer, but enough pigmentation to even out my skin. I have decent skin with broken capillaries, fine lines, and the random blemish, so this TM is perfect on my NC30/C4 light tan Asian complexion. I purchased the "Olive" shade. It truly feels like I am wearing nothing, providing light coverage that feels like skin. I set with MUFE HD powder and get shiny about 4 hours later; normal for my oily T-zone. I wouldn't wear this to feel polished on an interview, but for daily use and hanging out, this evens my skin out perfectly and feels super comfortable all day. Would recommend for guys and gals who don't like the feel of foundation and prefer sheer coverage. Love this!
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Lipstick -Shiseido - Perfect Rouge Lipstick
xtinahb 11/3/2011 2:06:00 PM
I purchased RS-306 Titian for my C4/NC30 Asian light tan complexion with pigmented lips. This formula is superb: creamy, moisturizing, satin finish, no flaking, and holds color through breakfast and coffee for a full 3 hours, which is long to me as I don't wear my lipsticks completely opaque and tend to mix it with a balm. It is a deep pink with a slight plummy tone, a touch too cool on my skin, but when I mix with a red-tinted balm (like Cherry Chapstick or Lipstick Queen Medieval) it creates a perfect MLBB shade. I would absolutely buy other shades in this range. The finish and feel is sophisticated and rich and smooth and full of moisture. Definitely recommend!
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