Eye Shadow -MAC - Portraiture Paint
Aiko_Aiko 6/5/2003 10:02:00 PM
This a beautiful terracotta color, with a slight shimmer to it. I love MAC paints, and as far as quality goes, this hasn't disappointed me. Pairing this with their Melon pigment might seem like an obvious choice (and it does look great), but this is a shade I can see working with many more. If you're at all attracted to 'peachy' colors, you'll definitely want to check this one out!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Bask
Aiko_Aiko 6/5/2003 9:51:00 PM
In the tube, this shade is a VERY deep chocolate-y bronze with just the tiniest hint of red, which made me think this was a color too dark for me to pull off (I'm a C2/C3). On my lips, the color that emerges is more of a brown/brick red with just bit of shimmer -- although this is a Frost lipstick, it's not what I'd call frosty. I apply mine lightly, and find the color very wearable, almost like a stain. And as this won't offer much in the way of frostiness or shine, I think it would be gorgeous paired with a gloss! But worn alone, this is still a beautiful color, perfect for days (or nights) when I feel like wearing a bolder shade.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -MAC - Bronze Sugar
Aiko_Aiko 6/5/2003 9:29:00 PM
I love this color!! A beautiful bronze with irridescent micro-glitter. My lips are fairly well pigmented and this shows up as a sheer wash of bronze with a bit of sparkle when worn alone. It looks beautiful over lipstick as well (right now I'm pairing it with pink or red shades to give them a nice twist). I find the glitter in the Tan Ray lipglasses is less noticeable than in some of my older colors (like Oh Baby or Nico), so I would feel comfortable wearing this in the daytime. The formula seems less sticky and applies a bit more sheerly as well. But I like these changes -- and I definitely love this lipglass!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -MAC - Gold Charm Lipglass
Aiko_Aiko 6/5/2003 2:11:00 PM
I really like this color! I can't do any better than the description below, the lipglass is gold with a hint of peach and lots of irridescent glitter. It looks great applied sheerly over lipsticks, giving them a bit of depth and shine. The glitter isn't as obvious as one might expect, even in daylight, but those uncomfortable with glittery lip products might still want to pass on it. It doesn't add much color to my bare lips, the peachy gold sheen and glitter are nice, but I think this is something I'll only wear layered or with a lipliner.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Paula's Choice - Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant
Aiko_Aiko 5/30/2003 6:13:00 PM
Another PC product I can't live without! I alternate this with her 2% BHA solution on my face at night, and also use it on my upper arms to help get rid of keratosis pilaris. It works beautifully on both areas, with no dryness or irritation. Quite the opposite in fact! I rely on this in the wintertime, when my skin becomes a dry, flaky mess. One application makes such a difference, I wake up to skin that's much smoother, softer and glowing. The solution itself comes in gel form, which spreads easily and sinks right into the skin with no stickiness or residue. The bottle lasts quite a long time (like all the PC products, it's a great value) but be sure to clean the cap from time to time, as the dispensing holes can become clogged. I've never had a problem with leakage however. Overall, a great product from a great line --- highly recommended!!!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Diamancel - Foot Buffers
Aiko_Aiko 5/28/2003 11:11:00 PM
I have the #11 and I love it!! I use mine quite regularly, along with a great foot lotion, and my feet are as soft as a baby's. Even in the dead of winter. These are really worth every penny. I'm going to try their nail files next; let's hope they can save my hands like they did my feet!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Paula's Choice - One Step Face Cleanser-Normal to Dry Skin
Aiko_Aiko 5/28/2003 8:51:00 PM
My favorite cleanser!! I fell so in love with this, I too bought the huge 16 oz. bottle. This cleans my skin without stripping it dry, and has a nice rich texture, which makes it a pleasure to use. Although I usually take off my eyeshadow and mascara before I wash my face, this does a decent job of removing makeup, and certainly clears away the last traces of it. It's a great cleanser and a real bargin!!
*******UPDATE******* This used to be my favorite cleanser! It recently lost its place in my heart to PC Skin Balancing cleanser, which is just amazing, no matter how dry/sensitive/oily my combo skin decides to be. I have a seperate review devoted to my new favorite, so please see that if you're interested in more details!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Paula's Choice - Super Antioxidant Concentrate
Aiko_Aiko 5/28/2003 8:39:00 PM
I would like to incorporate an antioxidant product into my skincare routine, but sadly, this won't be it! The texture of this product is indeed very similar to the shine serums one might use on one's hair, so it felt a bit strange applying it to my face. But I did so anyway, for about a week. Boy, did I live to regret it. I broke out like craaaa-zy. My skin is not really acne prone, and as this was the first new skincare product I'd added to my routine in well over a year (including foundation etc.) I figured it was the culprit and stopped using it. My skin cleared. A few weeks later I foolishly decided to give it a second chance. I broke out again. Stopped using it again. My skin cleared again. I learned my lesson the second time around, and haven't touched it since. I'll bravely face the 'oxidants' on my own for now, thanks!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Paula's Choice - Essential Non-Greasy Sunscreen spf 15
Aiko_Aiko 5/28/2003 8:17:00 PM
I've used this sunscreen every day, rain or shine for a couple of years now. Although the name says it's non-greasy, please don't expect this to leave your face looking matte! It will absorb into the skin, but that takes a few minutes and still leaves a bit of a sheen. I usually wear a powder foundation over it, which cancels any shine, but my skin is on the normal to dry side to begin with, and needs the moisture. Aside from the SPF protection, and the fact that I don't require a separate moisturizer, I LOVE that this doesn't clog my pores or cause breakouts. I can also use this around my eyes with no stinging or burning, even with my contacts in. In a nutshell, it does everything I want it to do, and nothing I don't, so I definitely plan to keep using it!
******UPDATE****** I've recently discovered some far superior sunscreens residing much closer to home. Vichy, La Roche Posay and a few other lines I can find at my local drugstore carry some excellent products with Mexoryl SX (a photostable UVA filter not yet approved in the US), and I think I've made a permanent switch, as these offer better protection and are easier for me to purchase. The only downside to these other lines is that they are a LOT heavier and greasier than PC. If Paula were to add these new ingredients and find a way to keep her formula as light as it is now, I'd switch back in a second!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Paula's Choice - Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant
Aiko_Aiko 5/28/2003 7:50:00 PM
I really love this stuff! It helps to keep clogged pores and blemishes away, it doesn't irritate my skin, and it's extremely affordable. The liquid has a slippery feel to it when first applied, but it's not at all greasy. It does take a minute to sink in, so I tend to only use this at night, when I'm less pressed for time. I really wish this came in a dropper type bottle, as the pop up cap is prone to leaks or dispensing too much product if you're not careful. But I love this so much, I'm prepared to suffer those little inconveniences! And just a bit of a warning to first time users --- I did experience breakouts with this at first, which lasted a few weeks. I'm very glad I stuck with this though, because since that initial 'purging' it has done nothing but wonders for my skin. And it's been about two years since that time. Whenever I get complimented on my skin, I tell people about this product, it gets nothing but raves from me!!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Molton Brown - Lipsaver
Aiko_Aiko 5/28/2003 7:31:00 PM
I have to agree with some of the other reviewers, this is glorified Vaseline. Maybe a little lighter and creamier in texture, but nothing really special. It does keep my lips soft and moisturized, but once I've finished with this pot, I don't think I'll repurchase.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -DuWop - Revolotion (Medium)
Aiko_Aiko 5/28/2003 7:23:00 PM
I'm always looking for ways to fake a tan, so I was excited to try this product. This comes in tube form, and the lotion has a nice light texture, no stickiness or greasiness whatsoever. The scent is lovely (ylang-ylang) but not overpowering, and it fades quite quickly. The color however, definitely leaves something to be desired. Or perhaps to the imagination. It seems fairly dark when it's first dispensed, and has a definite orange tone (think: bad drugstore foundation orange), so I was a bit worried about how it would look on my C2/C3 skin. I needn't have worried. After squinting and holding my arms up for comparison in every light source available to me, I finally realized there was simply nothing there. No color, no shimmer, nada. The arm with the lotion on it smelled great for about five minutes though! I'm curious about what the Dark lotion is like, but if it's not substantially darker than this shade....well. On the plus side, there was no rub off on my clothing, and it has SPF 15. But if you're looking for a tinted lotion and not a vanishing cream, you might want to look elsewhere!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Terax - Crema
Aiko_Aiko 5/26/2003 5:35:00 PM
I know that many consider this conditioner a life saver, but I failed to see what all the fuss is about. My hair is naturally thick and wavy, and fairly normal and healthy, so perhaps there was not enough damage present for it to work it's magic on?? But while other conditioners designed for dry/damaged hair are a little heavy for me but otherwise fine, this actually left my hair dry, dull and difficult to comb through and style. I also despised the scent, which reminded me of pet shampoo. Thankfully, that didn't linger in my hair. I'm happy for all those who love it, but I won't be going near this stuff again!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Quo - Lip Lacquer in Ice Wine
Aiko_Aiko 5/26/2003 5:16:00 PM
This is a deep wine shade with fine pink/bronze shimmer, very pretty. The lacquer formula is slightly thicker than the Quo gloss (aka. 'Lip Delight'), not at all sticky, and very very pigmented. I can only wear this color if I apply it sheerly, so that it's more of a stain (I swing between a C2 or C3 in Studiofix), but this would look really gorgeous on someone who can pull off darker shades. Like the gloss, this comes in a tube with a sponge tip applicator (the lacquer tube has a distinctive paddle-like shape). I've never had a problem with this leaking or the cap becoming all gummy and messy. I wish the color worked on me at 'full strength', but I'm happy enough with the product to consider getting this in other shades.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Quo - Lip Delight Gloss in Sunset
Aiko_Aiko 5/26/2003 4:51:00 PM
I see this color a bit differently as well! To my eye, it's a pinkish bronze with shimmer. It comes in a tube with a sponge tip applicator, and I've never had any problems with leakage. The gloss itself is very creamy and feels great on my lips. The color is definitely on the sheer side. I can detect a hint of color/shimmer and a lot of shine, so I really like this on days when I'm going for a slightly-better-than-natural look. I don't think I'll ever need to replace this (I have yet to finish a single lip product I own) but if I saw another shade of this gloss that I liked, I'd pick it up.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No