Eye Primer -Too Faced - Shadow Insurance, Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer
sizza911 11/12/2012 8:00:00 PM
I'd read so many great reviews on this primer, I had to get some when my Urban Decay ran out. I was pretty disappoined. First off, when I opened the tube and squeezed it to use the first time, all I got was a big blob of oil. OK, now I know--shake it up first. Second time I used it, I shook the tube thoroughly and still got a small greasy blob, not as bad as the first time but still a little grease. On my eyelids, it takes a bit to set and dry before I can start applying my eyeshadow. When I do go to apply shadow, I feel like this primer makes my shadow go blotchy. I find I have a harder time getting my shadows to blend well. The Urban Decay is definately creamier and thicker. I also have a LORAC primer that I got with an eyeshadow palette that goes on similar to the Urban Decay. Even my $1 ELF primer is easier to use and my shadows go on better than with the Too Faced. I had gotten a sample tube of Too Faced primer in Candlelight as a bonus with my Sephora order a while back. I hardly ever use it because it has a shimmer and I don't like shimmer primers. I have used it 3-4 times and it doesn't seem to have the same greasiness as the regular Too Faced primer. Definately will not re-purchase considering that Urban Decay is the same price and works better for me.
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Powder -Lancome - Dual Finish Versatile Powder Makeup
sizza911 11/2/2012 5:56:00 PM
I have used this powder for 20 years now. I'd recently started experimenting with other brands, but after spending tons on money trying to find something that might be better, I've come to the conclusion that there isn't anything better for me. I wear Matte Porcelaine Delicate. It has a nice pink tone that suits my skin perfectly. Great coverage alone over a moisturizer or primer and flawless coverage over liquid makeup. For those complaining about the smell, it does come in a fragrance free formula!! I personally like the scent and don't find it too overpowering, but I realize some people are more sensitive to how cosmetics smell.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Lancome - Vernis In Love Noir Caviar
sizza911 9/7/2012 11:36:00 AM
This is an almost black color, nothing spectacular. I was looking for a black polish to wear with an outfit and this fit the bill. If I hadn't needed another $12 to add to my order from Lancome to qualify for free shipping (save $7) and qualify for the free 4 piece sample,I would never have shelled out $15 for such a small amount of polish. OPI and China Glaze both have nice black polishes and run .5 oz. This Vernis In Love bottle is only .21 oz. So, twice the price for half the polish. Wear so far is good, on par with OPI. It has a nice patent leather like shine even without a topcoat. It gives decent coverage in one coat, but because it it so dark, two is better to make sure there aren't any light streaks. My biggest complaint is that the little bottle is made long and thin which makes it top heavy. I almost tipped it over a few times swiping the brush across the top to remove the excess, so beware!
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Polishes -OPI - Pamplona Purple
sizza911 8/31/2012 8:41:00 PM
This is a pretty purple, but it dried much darker on my nails than the bottle color. I was hoping for a color that leaned a bit more towards fushia, but this looks like a dark grape/plum on my nails.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Urban Decay - Naked Skin
sizza911 8/27/2012 12:33:00 PM
I can't decide about this one. First off, I think the coverage is pretty good. It wears well and doesn't settle into my pores even without a primer first. A very nice, flawless finish.This is also the only foundation I've used where I didn't feel like I needed a powder to set it. I think perhaps the color I chose may not be the best fit and that's why I can't decide if I like this or not. I got 3.5 as I needed a pink based shade. 3.5 is the second lightest pink based shade. The 0.5 is too light, 2.0 is too yellow and 3.5 is a smidge too dark. They need a pink based shade in between 0.5 and 3.5. I find myself blending in just a touch of my other foundations to lighten the Naked Skin a little. My only other comment is about the smell of this foundation. My first whiff of Naked Skin smelled just like latex house paint. It is very odd and it takes me several minutes to stop noticing the smell.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -China Glaze - Caribbean Temptation
sizza911 8/24/2012 10:33:00 AM
I purchased this and when I got it home, realized it was a very close color to my OPI Pompeii Purple. OPI's is a just a tinge redder with less blue irredescence. OPI is also a thicker formula and goes on more opaque. The China Glaze would have required a third coat on my nails to be completely opaque. It is a pretty and exciting summer shade, but I prefer Pompeii Purple for quality if I had to choose one. I said I wouldn't re-purchase since I own both and would choose the OPI over the China Glaze since they are so similar.
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Lipstick -Urban Decay - apocalypse
sizza911 8/19/2012 5:04:00 PM
I like Apocalypse. On me it's a sheer blackberry color. It's doesn't take much to show up even though it's a sheer color. It reminds me a little of Clinique's Black Honey in its intensity. It's buildable like Black Honey, but not as glossy. Usually I will just pat this lipstick on my lips and then smear the color around. Sometimes I'll add a clear pink gloss over the top. I've read a lot of comments on the smells of the UD lipsticks but I don't find them strong smelling or bad tasting at all. I picked up an extra Apocalypse up on sale at the UD site for $6. I think they are discontinuing these lipsticks. I've never been a fan of the packaging. I don't like the dagger on the end and the tube itself is rather large and bulky.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Sephora - Flashy liner waterproof Taupe
sizza911 8/19/2012 3:01:00 PM
A great color. I had purchased an Urban Decay eyeliner called Stray Dog in a limited edition package of 4 liners. It was a perfect match for my MAC Satin Taupe eyeshadow that I used all the time. When I used up Stray Dog and discovered it wasn't a permanent color in UD's 24/7 collection, I went in search of a suitable replacement. UD's Underground was a taupe color but had too much brown, Stray Dog is grayer. Some others were a closer match colorwise, but lacked the sheen of Stray Dog. Enter Sephora's Flashy Waterproof Eyeliner in Taupe. It's as close a dupe as I could get to Stray Dog. The quality is just as good IMO as Urban Decay and the price was right. I'll definately repurchase when I use this one up.
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Tools -Sephora - Sephora Collection purple heated eyelash curler
sizza911 8/19/2012 2:02:00 PM
A complete disappointment! I was really looking forward to this too as I'm always in search of a lash curler that works for me. My local Sephora didn't carry it, so I was excited to find it while vacationing in New Orleans. I wish I was still there to take it back! I have a hard time maneuvering my lashes in there and then find it difficult to close the lever on my lashes to get enough pressure so that the heat reaches them. I think a re-design is needed, the closing lever needs to be on the outside of the curler not the side that is closest to your cheek. It is nearly impossible to get my fingers on the lever when the curler is positioned properly on my lashes and when I do, it takes too much pressure to close the lever. When heated, the pad turns from pink to clear, but when I put my finger on it I barely feel any heat whatsoever, it doesn't get hot enough to work. What a piece of junk! I get much better results from a $1 ELF curler heated with my blow dryer. Lesson learned.
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Fragrances -Bulgari - Mon Jasmin Noir
sizza911 8/19/2012 11:11:00 AM
I always choose the fragrance samples when I order from Sephora. Last year I picked Mon Jasmin Noir as one of my freebies. I was hooked. I used up the whole sample vial within a week and then ordered the smallest bottle that Sephora offered. I used that one up and am now on my second larger bottle. I get so many compliments on this fragrance when I wear it. Unlike some other reviews, I think it lasts pretty well on my skin. IMO, it's a heavier, more dramatic fragrance, so I usually wear this in the evening. Very nice and unique, I don't think I've smelled anything like this to compare it to. Pretty bottle too. It's one of my top two favorites right now.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Orly - Nail Polish - Red Flare
sizza911 8/19/2012 9:09:00 AM
This color has been around for a while in Orly's lineup. It's saturated blue based creme red. The more Orly polishes I buy, the more I'm convinced they are my favorite brand. They always go on smoothly, cover well and last. I've got Red Flare on my nails right now. It's a sexy bombshell red that dries to a glossy patent leather finish. It reminds me of a shiny, red Italian sportscar on my nails. It's a classic, beautiful intense red and worth a spot in any woman's collection as a staple color.
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Mascara -Shiseido - Majolica Majorca Lash Gorgeous Wing
sizza911 8/18/2012 2:38:00 PM
This product is not sold in stores in the US (perhaps in Asian super- markets, I haven't checked) I ordered it off of Ebay from a vendor in Hong Kong on a whim and it arrived today. First off, I think it is perhaps old, the formula was a bit dry- but that's OK, I like my mascaras to dry out a bit, they are too clumpy when new and wet. I wasn't wearing any makeup when my package arrived so I tried it out on my bare lashes without curling like I usually do. I must curl my lashes as they stick straight out and I have to wear waterproof mascaras to keep my lashes curled, non-waterproof formulas make them lay flat despite curling. I was very pleasantly surprised when this mascara not only lengthened, but curled my lashes without using any kind of lash curler beforehand. It added a nice length to them with a curled flare at the outer corners (hence the name I suppose) Later, I removed it to shower and re-do my makeup . Removal is somewhat of a pain-- it has some serious staying power, but I got the job done with waterproof mascara remover. I used this as a base mascara after curling with my Lancome curler and then topped it with my Maybelline Falsies waterproof. WOW-- the two together made long, thick, flirty lashes that almost looked like false lashes. Very nice. I'll have to see about this one over a period of time to see if I will re-order, perhaps another Majolica Majorca product, but so far, a hit for an on a whim purchase.
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Makeup Brushes -Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman - Blush Brush
sizza911 8/18/2012 11:01:00 AM
In general, I really like the Real Techniques brushes. They are a great quality, really full and plush. IMO this brush is just a little too large to use if you want to get just under the cheekbones for contour. I have to use a smaller angled blush brush (My el-cheapo from ELF works great for this) if I am trying to contour. This brush is great however if you are trying to get a nice subtle wash of color over the cheekbones and onto the apples of the cheeks.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Douceur
sizza911 8/18/2012 10:53:00 AM
Love, love, love Douceur!! I ordered this blush without seeing it in person from Sephora. When the box arrived, I opened it my kitchen with its fluorescent lights and my first thoughts were YUCK! It looked muddy brown like the dust my husband tracks in on his boots. I was thinking that this one was going straight back to Sephora. I'm so glad I decided to give it a try first. Gorgeous! It certainly doesn't look muddy on my skin. Unlike their other colors, it's a pretty sheer blush for Nars, I find that I need lot more to get the desired amount of color on my cheeks, but at least I don't have to worry about over-doing it with one swipe like my Sin blush from Nars. It is a great contour color and looks better IMO to use than my Too Faced bronzer with a light hand. This is the only Nars blush that I'm seeing a dent in so far because it takes more to show up. I've never encountered this color in another line. I'll definately re-purchase when I'm done.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Sin
sizza911 8/18/2012 10:33:00 AM
As mentioned before-- use a light hand with this one, especially if you are fair skinned. I overdid it the first time and since Nars lasts and lasts, I really had to wipe with a towel to remove it, and then I'd removed my foundation too. That out of the way, Sin is a beautiful color on me, puplish, brownish, plum with a hint of shimmer. I have Nars Douceur and in the Sephora store lighting, these two blushes looked kind of similar. That's the only similarity though. Douceur is browner, matte and pretty sheer, a buildable color and great for contour. Sin is a very pigmented color, just a little goes a long way so I don't see myself hitting pan on this one for a loooong time. I love the petite Nars packaging, it is slim and fits well into my makeup bag, luckily a little goes a long way because at $27 apiece, Nars blushes are pretty expensive. I have a couple of Tarte blushes which are also highly rated (and pricey!) and a MAC color, but I find myself reaching for the Nars most of the time.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No