Polishes -Orly - Chantilly Peach
Cailee 10/11/2011 2:07:00 AM
Beautiful. Simply beautiful. Chantilly Peach looks absolutely lovely on my ghost-white hands. Ok, they're not that light, but they're getting there. :) This is one of my go-to polishes, and it's perfect for any season, because it's considered as a neutral. A beautiful foiled bronzy peach shade that isn't too dark? And it's opaque and streak-free with just one coat? Automatic winner! Brush works fine for me, wasn't splayed out and separated like the first Orly polish I purchased. I usually use a base with any polish (especially this one, because the base helps prevent the streaks; I haven't used this polish without a base, so I can't compare results). The base that I use is also by Orly, and it's the Orly Ridgefiller (and it also happens to be my favorite base at the moment). I purchased Chantilly at Sally's for $6.99 US dollars, but I know you can get it cheaper on TD and 8ty8beauty. What has drawn me to Orly is the ridiculous amount of polish you get in each bottle! For that factor alone, I think it's worth the price! Oh, and I tried this without a topcoat, and it lasted for about 4 days without chipping (which I think is pretty impressive for just one coat of polish) and with topcoat, about 2 weeks. So, major difference there, but with a second coat, it would last a lot longer without chipping.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -BeneFit Cosmetics - Moon Beam
Cailee 10/11/2011 1:37:00 AM
This was an impulse buy for me when I was in Chicago last year. I'd heard wondrous things about it, and I decided to make it an item to splurge on (since I didn't have a good highlighting product at the time). One word for Moon Beam is this: UNDERSTATED. It isn't anywhere near over-the-top shimmery like its coveted sister, High Beam. I don't like overly shimmery products either (I only own one MAC MSF; need I say more?). This truly gives that 'glow from within' look when topped with translucent powder. A beautiful golden hue with some pink and peach iridescence (Benefit calls that tone 'apricot'). I've never used it under my foundation, because since it's a bit more of a subtle highlighter, I felt that it would defeat the whole purpose. I would consider my skin neutral toned, so (like one of the reviewers below me) I feel like when I only use a spare amount of it, it doesn't even show up on me, like it would with most people. So I feel like it's necessary to apply it just a bit heavier than I would with any other highlighter. That unfortunately, is what knocks it down to a 4. To be a bit more hygienic, I don't apply it to my face straight out of the bottle. I just swipe some on the back of a clean hand, wait a few seconds for it to get just a bit tacky, and from there use my fingers to apply it to my face: the tops of my cheeks, bridge of my nose, and cupid's bow. I usually have to do that step twice, but hey, since the product's going to last me a long time, I don't mind the extra work, since it does give such beautiful results!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Powder Brush
Cailee 10/10/2011 10:10:00 PM
This is, hands down, one of the BEST brushes that I own. What HASN'T been said about this little beauty? Well, I have two of them, and I must say, this is the EPITOMIC HG of applying liquid foundation. It also works beautifully as a buffer brush. The main reason why I have two, is because I use one for liquid products, and one for powder products. Shedding on this brush is extremely minimal and rare, however not nonexistent. The bristles are dense and packed, and are extremely soft, never scratchy, and I've had my first one for about two years now. It beats down other high end brushes to a pulp, and the best part is, unlike regular $1 e.l.f. Brushes, the handles on their Studio brushes never come loose! Well, they don't for me, at least. This brush wasn't sold in any of my Target stores when I bought my first one online, and now it's everywhere! So don't hesitate! Go get this brush! I can guarantee it will become a staple for you as it is for me!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Professional Size
Cailee 10/10/2011 1:47:00 AM
Total waste of the 30+ dollars I paid for it. Thank Goodness it was LE, because a lot of people were cheated out of their money. It's sad too, because this was my first ever experience with the ever-famous UDPP, and I thought, for almost an ounce of product, it's a pretty good deal, right? WRONG! I have long since had to de-tube all this unusable gunk into a huge cosmetics jar, because the point at the end of the tube was way too narrow, and the product was so thick, that absolutely none would squeeze out, without a bit of arm muscle put into it (this appeared to be the most common problem, with, like, everyone and their brother). I've tried, and tried to save this from drying out completely, but I render it useless because the formula was too thick for my liking to begin with, and I have tried putting Visine eye drops in it to soften it up, and make it at least a little less concentrated, but to no avail. I feel like when I'm applying this, it's as if I'm spreading sticky peanut butter across my eyelids. No joke. I've now had to resort to mixing it with other primers, to at least try to get my money's worth, and use it up. So far, that's working, but I'm shying away from all of the newly tube packaged Primer Potions, because this one was a living nightmare to work with, and I'm afraid the consistency on those is eventually going to turn into the likes of this one, over time. I only had the opportunity to try a couple of the mini-sized UDPPs that come with sets, I never owned a full size in the original genie bottle packaging everyone was complaining about. Now I wish i had :( EDIT: Yes, UD is BACK with their 2012 remake for this overpriced, super-size primer. The packaging goes along with the likes of their newly vamped metallic packaging for their original-sized primers. Be careful, people! The formula is more than likely just as problematic as it was last year in the Professional size!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Milani - Baked Blush in Dolce Pink
Cailee 10/10/2011 1:22:00 AM
This blush is close, so close, to being HG status for me. What knocks that status down is the amount of shimmer in it. If there were just a touch less shimmer, then it would totally be HG. I picked up Dolce Pink and Luminoso around seven months ago, and Dolce Pink is, to this day, one of my most reached for blushes, and I don't think I'm even close to hitting pan. Dolce Pink is best suited for those with fairer complexions. It is perfectly pigmented, and what I love about it is that the shimmer doesn't take away from the color payoff; therefore, if you feel like you need to apply more, it's not like you're just putting more shimmer on your face. The shade of pink itself is perfect too: not too bright, not too warm. I've heard countless times that it's a dupe for MAC's d/c MSF in Stereo Rose, which I've never had the opportunity to try myself. On another note, I absolutely LOVE the glow this blush gives. It instantly perks and brightens up my sometimes dull and tired NW15 complexion, and I think it's a bit difficult to overdo it with this blush, because even though it's pigmented, it's a relatively light, almost medium-toned color (to me at least). Lasting power is 6- 8 hours, which is outstanding for a drugstore blush. Would I repurchase? If I ever ran out, then absolutely. But for now, I want to repurchase in other shades, like Red Vino and Corallina.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyes -E.L.F. - Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter
Cailee 10/7/2011 4:27:00 AM
This product was just ok. It wasn't terrible. I forget what shade I got this concealer in, because it's been so long since I used it (I DID use all mine up, both sides too). In a perfect world, this concealer could have been just a 'smidge' more opaque. But it is a very good lightweight concealer, for those that are fine with it, and don't need the heavy coverage. I don't have bad skin in the slightest, but sometimes I do need the heavier coverage. The concealer is absolutely useless on anywhere other than the under eyes, because then it will just blend right off the face. It feels very nice on the skin, and really does feel like you're wearing nothing on your face. It's not thick at all. Some people complain that it looks greasy, and I say it depends on your skin type. I have dry skin (sometimes especially under the eyes), and the concealer itself has some sort of light reflecting effect on my skin, and just instantly brightens up my eye area. Dewy and fresh. Those would be two words to describe it in a nutshell. Packaging sucked, though. The highlighter side wouldn't stop falling out, and eventually the black part just snapped in two, because there was a long crack running down the side of it. Would I repurchase? Probably not. But I think it's definitely worth trying if you're a concealer junkie like me.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Victoria's Secret - Love Spell-body spray
Cailee 10/6/2011 12:31:00 AM
Honestly, this scent just screams 'Migraine! Migraine!' to me whenever I smell it on someone else. I used to have the body butter (I've actually never owned the body spray, but since this has more reviews than the body butter, I thought I would just put it here). I've long since gotten rid of the body butter, I gave it to my more-than-joyous best friend who loves it. It shouldn't be called Love Spell, it should be rightfully called 'Headache Spell.' Cloying, heavy, my nose felt like it was about to start bleeding, that's how strong the scent has always been to me lol. I'm more of a perfume type of gal now, and have mostly ended my time of every girl's 'rite of passage' with Victoria's Secret. I've moved on, with the exception of keeping the Vanilla Lace body butter, and Luscious Kisses body spray. I do still enjoy those scents (well, I think Luscious Kisses came out recently, though). But Love Spell, ugh, seriously, I NEVER liked it, even when I was a teenybopper in middle school. In my opinion, girls are pretty brave for wearing this out in public.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -E.L.F. - Studio Blush in Candid Coral
Cailee 10/2/2011 9:02:00 PM
I've made a tiny dent in my Candid Coral blusher. I hardly ever use it anymore, but I used it quite a bit at first, around the time I bought it. Pigmentation is on the sheer side (compared to higher end blushes AND drugstore blushes combined). ALL of the e.l.f. Studio Blushes I own have the same level of pigmentation: sheer to medium, but definitely buildable. The main reason I stopped using this blush in this particular shade, was for two reasons: (1) the blush faded entirely off my cheeks in about three hours of wear, but after it faded, for some strange reason, the glitter in it STAYED ON MY CHEEKS (yeah, not an attractive look), and (2) I noticed that within an hour, the color would turn from a light coral to just a flat out muddy orange on me. I didn't notice until too late. Also, the texture of these blushes isn't that bad, however it is VERY powdery, and some colors can make certain skin tones look ashen. This shade in particular is quite chalky, in both texture AND shade. It's been compared numerous times to NARS Orgasm. Yeah, I don't see that at all. The coveted Orgasm is BY FAR brighter in color, and leaves a glow to the face. This doesn't really have a 'glowiness' to it, it's more of a satin finish blush with cheap gold glitters here and there. It doesn't really impart a sheen at all when on the face. Just a muddy-looking color with glitter. The range of shades is good, and I prefer the matte shades (Tickled Pink) to the other shades any day. Tickled Pink is my favorite of the four that I own. This color just....doesn't work for me or my fair skin. I give it a 2.5, because I don't think it deserves a 3 in my book. And trust me, I think people only compare these to the NARS blushes because of the packaging. Because none of the shades I have come even relatively close to being NARS dupes. Check out Sleek or NYX blushes if you are looking for good quality dupes.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Victoria's Secret - Silk Wear Eye Color in Champagne
Cailee 9/21/2011 3:11:00 AM
Seriously, for 10 bucks, this eyeshadow should be much better quality. I know I most likely won't buy any more of the Lustre shades in this line, because they are just too difficult to work with. I have tried every method of application with this, and I have now resorted to using my fingers to apply it, and then blend out with a brush. A sponge tip applicator works well too (not the cheap black ones, the soft white ones that come in NYX trios are the only sponge applicators I use). The problem is, the eyeshadow is so pressed into the pan, that I feel like there's a film coating the top of the shadow that I have to scrape off. I seriously doubt that, though, since I've used this shadow many times since I got it. But I have to really press my finger into the shadow to get a good amount for my eyelid. Not the creamiest or smoothest formula out there. Now, onto the shade itself. 'Champagne' is a gorgeous shade, and quite interesting too. It's not just an average 'bland' champagne color; it's like a light beige with gold and pink undertones, almost duochrome in certain lights. I do not recommend using a regular primer alone with these shadows. To get the best results out of this eyeshadow, I use a shimmery base, like MAC Bare Study PP, to ensure that it really lasts, because this shadow likes to fade very quickly. One other plus is that you get a good amount of product in the pan (.11 oz, compared to a MAC e/s, which is .05 oz). I do think this is a nice highlight and all-over shimmer wash for everyday use (my go-to barely-there look was this shade, paired with UD's Naked in the crease). I just don't think I'll be repurchasing.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Sinful - Secret Admirer
Cailee 9/15/2011 1:16:00 AM
Since this is the only black nail polish I've ever owned (no joke, I'm more into classic manicures and light/neutral shades), I have nothing to compare it to. But there's something about the shimmer in this polish that makes it look....surprisingly not so harsh! This is a beautiful black with silver micro shimmer that almost makes it look borderline charcoal. I'm a big fan of Sinful Colors nail polishes for their ridiculous affordability and gutsy range of shades (and hit or miss quality), but my big problem with them is that, out of all the polishes I have from them, half of them take about 3 to 4 coats to show up as opaque. With this one, it only took 2 thin coats! I just rediscovered this in my nail polish stash today (I bought it about two years ago, and have only worn it a couple times since I got it) and it hasn't become thick or goopy at all over time. I also LOVE the finish of it: not too glossy, almost has a suede finish.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Viva Glam V
Cailee 9/13/2011 3:23:00 AM
This was one of those impulse, on-a-whim purchases for me. The only Viva Glam lipstick I ever considered buying was VG IV, but my MAC counter didn't have it in stock, and I wanted my next lipstick purchase to be Patisserie, but my counter didn't carry it. Apparently only the MAC stores carry it?? Anyway, I love the lustre finish in MAC l/s, and I immediately fell in love with this shade. How I skipped over this shade before, is a mystery to me. I'm NW15, with naturally pigmented lips (a bit more pigmented than normal), and I found this to be the perfect MLBB shade. PERFECT pinky neutral pearl rose. It looks a little dark in the tube, but being a lustre, of course it's going to be on the sheer side. It pulls a tad bit brown on me when built up, but it still looks gorgeous, and instantly brightens up my face no matter how I wear it. People look at this as a more 'mature' color, but I disagree, because of its sheerness. I also appreciate that every Viva Glam purchase goes toward a good cause. This is my fifth MAC lippie, and I can definitely see myself repurchasing this shade many times in the future. Lasting power was decent, around 4 hours without touchups (but I didn't eat anything, I just had a glass of iced tea during that time). With this lipstick, I instantly look 'naturally' made up. Need I say more? If you are a fair-skinned gal like me, go and get this lipstick!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Wet 'n' Wild - 8-pan Palette "Comfort Zone"
Cailee 8/12/2011 2:13:00 AM
Oh my goodness, one of the reviewers below me hit the nail right on the head when describing this palette: neutral but potent. Couldn't have said it better myself. I have seriously gotten so much use out of this little gem, I'm thinking of getting a backup. I shamefully missed out on picking up MAC's 'Dalliance' shadow, from the Mega Metal collection (I think that's what it was called?). The brow bone shade on the right is the closest thing to being a dupe, and it just so happens to be the shade I'm about to hit pan on. A light taupe with the slightest tinge of a golden cast. It's a smidge too dark to be a highlight for me, though it works beautifully, especially with green eyeshadows. It's an interesting, beautiful color that works great as an all-over lid color. WnW is now notorious for their buttery soft shadows, and this is no exception. Any neutral lover out there, if you don't have this little palette already, GO GET IT. haha I don't care if you're a 'high-end makeup only' snob, if you were to buy one thing from Wet n Wild, get the Comfort Zone palette! But the only cons I can think of for the 8-pans are, of course, the fact that they're only 'shimma shimma,' and, (I think this goes for all shadows from WnW), but the shadows can break very easily in their pans. The bottom left Definer shade in this palette keeps crumbling every time I open it, and it's starting to aggravate me, but other than that, nothing I can't live with. Also, the massive amount of fallout I get from these shadows just can't be ignored, and when I tap my brush, most of the shadow is gone from the brush before I can even apply it. But other than that, they're insanely pigmented, easy to blend, and are long-wearing when worn with a good primer (much longer than an 8-hour workday, sometimes lasting up to 12 hours without fading). I do feel like I have to incorporate other eyeshadows from other palettes whenever I want to do a look with this palette, because the shades ARE so shimmery and sparkly, that I'm afraid it'll look like shimmer overdose and muddled together. I never use more than two eyeshadows in Comfort Zone for one look. And I do like the quality of their 6-pan palettes and trios a lot better, but I just had to give this palette 5/5, because even though it's not practical enough to use on its own without pulling out other shadows of different finishes, these are perfectly nice for being accent colors, and three of the colors in this palette are unique enough that I would purchase this palette again, and also for the Dalliance and Club dupes.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Coastal Scents - 28 Neutral Palette
Cailee 8/11/2011 1:21:00 AM
Why can't I love this palette, make it easy on myself and give it a 5/5? if 2.5 were an option, I would give it that. While I do love the shadows in this palette for being super-soft and blendable, (I've had it for over a year now and they're still smooth and creamy as ever), I'm not so much a fan of the shade selection itself. There are too many ruddy-looking highlight and off-white shades (the reason why I hate most of the left side of the palette) and not ONE basic shimmery champagne color. There are only 3 shades in this entire palette that have a true shimmer, and they're all darker shades. WTF? I just despise the finish of some of these shadows; some of them look shimmery in the pan, but on the eye, they come off as almost completely matte. Some of them appear to have sparkle particles in the pan. Does the sparkle show up on the skin? No. Yes, this is a perfect everyday palette, and I'm more of a minimalist when it comes to makeup, so thats a good thing, and the reason why I will continue to use this palette. But I don't know, there's just no 'oomph' factor here for this palette. No uniqueness to it. I suppose this is why its popular for being a " beginner's makeup palette," and since I'm not exactly a beginner, I don't fall into that category. I'm hoping to someday fall in love with this palette, and i guess that's why I ultimately gave it a 3. Because some of the shades did find their way into my everyday eye makeup routine at some point, so that's why this palette can hold its own.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - All That Glitters
Cailee 6/13/2011 11:57:00 AM
Grr, I should've returned this when I had the chance. I'm sure all fair ladies probably know this by now, but I didn't make friends with MakeupAlley until after I bought this shade (this was my first eyeshadow from MAC), so I just want to say as a reminder: "All porcelain ladies, this color WILL look orange on you!" Yes, orange! ATG is a beautiful bronze shade (those with darker skin tones would call this color a pink champagne) but the undertones are so warm that it's just too much for me (I'm NW15). On other, darker skinned women, it looks like a pink bronze, on me it looks like a coral bronze! I kept it because when I do want to give my eyes that touch of warmth, I use just a basic golden champagne color on the lid, and SPARINGLY apply ATG in the outer corner (I don't blend it inwards, because then it would be way too much). The result for that looks beautiful, but if 14.50 is what I paid for a shade to only work like that, well, first, I'm never going to run out of it, and second, there's many other, not-as-orange shades out there that can do the same thing. The reason for my low rating is not necessarily because the shade didn't work on me, it's because this is known for being a 'universally flattering' color for every skin tone. I call bologna on that one, because it's just not true.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Victoria's Secret - Love Me Wild Perfect Lipstick - Instinct
Cailee 6/13/2011 11:41:00 AM
I'm seriously considering buying a backup of this lipstick. That's how amazing it is. I cannot wear many nudes, but my drugstore HG a couple years back was CG's TruShine in Petal (conveniently now discontinued). I haven't tried any nudes from MAC yet, (I have Creme Cup, but that looks far from MLBB on me, gorgeous on though; review on that later). A few weeks ago I made my first VS makeup purchase: so Instinct is my first lipstick from VS, and will not be the last! First, the shade itself: a beautiful pearlescent neutral with pink and peach undertones. Not too warm toned; it leans a bit more cool toned, but not too much. (I'm in MAC NW15). The silver shimmers in this lipstick provide that beautiful gleam effect when on the lips; this color will NOT make your lips look flat and dull like some nudes, trust me. It brings more dimension and definition to them actually, and my, oh my, is it moisturizing! The entire time that it's on my lips, I feel like it's hydrating them, and never feels drying or makes my lips feel, er, tight, like other products do. I would give the packaging a 3 out of 5. It's cute, but the way it clicks shut, it just feels cheap. It's not that important, though, just thought I would point it out.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No