Lips -Revlon - Just Bitten Kissable Stain Balm - Crush
hesperia 5/24/2012 4:45:00 PM
I've been wanting to get a lip stain for some time now, but all the ones I tried were too dry and they made my lips look like prunes. I tested Tarte's LipSurgence yadda, yadda Matte in Exposed and I liked it well enough. On me, it's a genuine nude, not a concealer-like shade. But $24 for a lip stain is too much for me. When I heard of this latest Revlon prod, I was elated. In a moment of mental aberration (or wishful thinking, I'm not sure which) I got Honey, and sure enough, it gave me the dreaded chalk-lips. I rushed back to Rite Aid and exchanged it for Crush. And I couldn't be happier. This is a dark berry, but it looks so natural. I can make my lips look sculpted, but since this is sheer, it's not the Cruella Deville kind of sculpted that you get with dark full-cover lipsticks. This is definitely My Lips After Eating That Berry Popsicle. It looks really classy. I tried it on with a bare face and it even looks good that way, though I would not wear it like that b/c it's not my thing. Doesn't disappear in five minutes, either. I want to try the Adore, which is a dark reddish-brown. This is a great lip stain and I would definitely recommend it.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Revlon - Age Defying Spa Concealer [DISCONTINUED]
hesperia 5/17/2012 2:12:00 PM
I bought this at my local Fred Meyers. It's not bad at all. It covers decently w/o looking thick. I does crease, though, but then again, I have crepey skin under my eyes (oh, the joys of aging!), so I can't blame a DS product for not performing like cosmetic surgery. I find that this works best used on its own. At first, I put this on top of eye cream, but that thins out the product and makes the coverage less effective. What I do is apply this with a small foundation brush (Bamboo, I think). It works a lot better than patting it on with my finger. Eyeliner does not slip around over this. I'd like to share a tip that works really well for me. Instead of putting eye cream under my concealer, I just use the concealer alone. Then, once I finished doing my face, I use Garnier's Anti-Wrinkle Eye Roller Ultra-Lift. Make sure it's the Ultra-Lift because it's not drying at all. I roll a bit of the product on my ring finger (not directly on my under eye) and gently pat it on my concealer. It's a clear liquid, so it does not alter the color, and since it's not at all greasy, it does not make the concealer budge (provided it's fully set). I found that this helps to soften the creases and lines and keep the under eye skin from getting too dry. Also, for some reason, it works much better if I pat it on top of the set concealer, instead of using it under. Depending on how often you do this, you might have to re apply concealer. Since I'm retired, I don't usually wear MU for too long a time. I keep a roller of this in my handbag especially for this purpose. I also use it when I don't wear MU because I like the way it feels and it moisturizes my under eye skin w/o being greasy. Forgive me for doing a review-one-give-another-free, but I only did it because this is a system that I use only with concealers. I hope it helps. :)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Tarte - Lipsurgence Natural Matte Lip Tint in Exposed
hesperia 5/11/2012 8:55:00 PM
I tried this on on my last visit to Sephora. I applied it carefully and conscientiously because I wanted to see how it performed, and a quick dab doesn't hack it when you're road-testing l/s. Anyway, after meandering about the place for some time (I spend HOURS at Sephora) I checked my lips again. To begin with, this is the GENUINE nude. It's only slightly lighter than my natural lips, not the ridiculously unrealistic, Dracula-just-drained-me, beige color I hate so much. This actually looks (gasp!) natural. I cannot speak of longevity since I didn't drink, or eat, or anything like that. It's matte, but not dry-as-spackle matte. So why only 4 lippies? $24 for a lip balm? Too expensive. Other than that, I like it.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Thierry Mugler - Alien Aqua Chic
hesperia 5/10/2012 11:22:00 PM
I usually like Thierry Mugler a lot. I LOVE Alien and most of the flankers. But this one is terrible. I saw it at Sephora today, and thinking I would love it as I love the other Aliens, I sprayed it liberally on my arm. BIG MISTAKE! On me, this was not pretty. I kept wondering what it reminded me of (not in a good way) and then it smacked me: Baygon. It smelled exactly like the roach killer of my childhood. Ugh! I couldn't wait to get home and hose my arm down. Womanity was also a disaster on me. What's up, Thierry? Don't go wonky on me, now.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Bulgari - Omnia Coral
hesperia 5/10/2012 7:43:00 PM
UPDATE: Ohhhh, I know now why I like this. On me, it smells a lot like Marc Jacob's Daisy Eau So Fresh, which I also like a lot. Only this has more staying power. ;) Just to prove that one woman's perfume is another one's poison, I totally differ from GlamDiva's opinion. I like this a lot. I got a sample at Sephora. I usually detest overly-fruity scents, which I consider too girly, and regardless of price, always scream "cheap" to me. This one is definitely a fruity I can live with. Womanly, not childish. On me, it's sweet, but only just, and very pleasant. It makes a nice summer frag, that does not smell like those multi-fruited punches you get at supermarkets (V8, anyone?). Good staying power, too, for a change. I would buy this.
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Liquid -Sephora - Instant Radiance Foundation
hesperia 5/10/2012 7:19:00 PM
UPDATE: upping it to 5 lippies. I am wearing this today on just clean, non-moisutrized skin and it has a lot more coverage this way. If you are dry you might want to stick with your moisturizer. But if you're oily, this fdt alone will do the trick. I paired with my Infallible pressed powder in Nude Buff (I think) and it looks beautiful and totally non over-powdered and dry. I was told that paired with Sephora's new Microsmooth Foundation Face Powder (a dupe of Mac's mineral pressed powder, or so I heard; also got great reviews) also works very well. As soon as I have some play money, I'm getting both. ;) I briefly dropped by Sephora today, exclusively to get a sample of this new product. This is described by the company as "An oil-free foundation that instantly brightens and moisturizes the skin for a flawless complexion." It got excellent reviews on the Sephora site and I can understand why. I got it in Light Nude #15 and it's darn near a perfect match. I spreads on very well. No scent that I detected, but I'm not bothered by perfume in foundations so that's really a non-issue for me. Although it's oil-free, it's feels nice and creamy and it's not a shiny mess (even on my oily skin). Most importantly, no silicones and no sparkles. YAY! Thank you, Sephora! Coverage: sheer to light. Too light for me, but I'm sure some people will call it full-coverage, something that leads me to seriously wonder if those people are hopelessly trend-addicted, or if, regardless of age, they suffer from cataracts, poor dears. I hope it's not the second. Also, coverage improves when I put powder on top (which of course, I always do, as I abhor the greasy look, a.k.a. "glowy"), and it does not look dry. Comes in the regular Sephora pump bottle. Anyway, I gave it only 4 lippies because I have only worn this once. So far, I like this very much. Not as much as their Perfecting Cover fdts. (fuller coverage), but this should make a very good summer fdt. This is $22, which is not cheap, but if you consider there are other fdts. out there, which cost double and aren't half as good ... If BB creams performed like this fdt., I would have a good deal more respect for them than I have at present. If anything changes, I'll keep you posted
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Revlon - ColorStay eyeliner in Black Brown
hesperia 5/8/2012 7:28:00 PM
UPDATE: yes, as I feared, there is NOT much product here. I HATE swivel pencils. Regardless of the brand, they all share this deplorable fault. I bought it little more than a month ago, I don't wear it every day, and I've already ran out it. I will continue to buy it because the color and wearability are superb. But the amount of product is ridiculous. Even for the price they charge ($8 at my local Walgreens). Finally! An eyeliner that lives up to its name. This is TRULY a black brown color. After trying many liners (HE and DS) that claimed to be that shade, and ended up being not so, I was reaching exasperation point. I decided to try this and was rewarded. The color as I said is spot on. The staying power is excellent. I wore it alone yesterday, to 'road-test' it and it lasted till I took it off at night. Today I put it on my L'Oreal Infallible Shadow, Bronzed Taupe (if I could give an ES the Nobel prize, it would go to this one). It smudged on perfectly w/o smudging to nothing, like some EL annoyingly do. It is now 5:30 and my eye makeup looks just applied. No fading, no smudging (the bad kind). Even the line on my lower lids is still intact. Goes on soft and creamy, but not too emollient. And the sharpener works divinely. If I had to find a flaw in this, I would say the package. I'm a bit wary of swivel up pencils because they usually last much less than wooden pencils (Clinique's quickliner comes to mind). However, since I just started using this, and since I don't wear MU every day now that I'm retired, that is more a concern, so far. I'll keep you posted.
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Eyeliner -L'Oreal - HIP Color Truth Liner Pencil
hesperia 5/6/2012 4:00:00 PM
Did I buy the same product as the rest? This was a total fail for me. To start with, the color. It's supposed to be brown, but on me, it's such a RED brown I could use it as a lip liner. Too hard to apply, I must really press it and at my venerable age, I don't need that. I'm glad it worked so well for everybody else. Me, I'll skip it. Didn't work at all.
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Eyeliner -Laura Mercier - Caviar Eye Liner - Black
hesperia 5/5/2012 9:53:00 PM
I can't believe I never reviewed this gem. I've had it for about 3 years and it's still good as new. Since I don't wear MU every day, it will last me for ever. The case is very high-quality, with a small mirror and all. This is a sort of powder-gel - which I'm sure makes NO sense, but I can't think of another way to describe it. I don't do precise lines because I prefer the smudged, smokey look. Goes better with my eye shape. With this I have perfect control on how much/how smudged I can make it look. It's also terrific for emphasizing your eyeliner going from day to night. The color is a deep black, but it does not look like you rubbed a piece of charcoal on your lids (a look best reserved for young women with no wrinkles). I use it with an angled liner brush and then, gently smudge it with a small smudge brush. I get perfect results every time. This is a staple in my MU case. Expensive, yes. Then again, not really, if you consider that it lasts forever. Love it!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Hourglass - Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15
hesperia 5/4/2012 6:25:00 PM
I've known about this product for a long time but, not being a primer user, I never paid too much attention to it. A friend of mine was praising it to high heaven the other day, so I thought I'd drop by my local Sephora to get a sample. Good thing I did. After only ONE use, this broke me out (damn those 'cones!). I know how acne-unfriendly silicone is, but if I wear it only, say, once a week, I usually can avoid breaking out (that's what happens with Hourglass' Immaculate fdt; I can usually get away with wearing it if I do it only now and then). Not with this stuff. What with that and the insane price, I'll give this a pass. Mind you, if you're not acne-prone you might like it. My friend simply adores it. I gave it 2 stars mainly because of the high price. I have yet to find a skin care prod (HE or LE) that is worth a quarter of what they ask for it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Maybelline - Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Shadow in Bad to the Bronze / on and on bronze
hesperia 4/16/2012 6:40:00 PM
Bad to the Bronze is the color I thought - and hoped - Tough as Taupe would be. One me, it looks totally different on my lid than in the pot. In the pot it looks like a golden light bronze. On my lids this becomes a lot more neutral shade. It turns into a lovely neutral, shimmery, genuine taupe. At first, I thought it looked too shimmery, but with time it settles to a more satiny finish. It spreads much better than TaT (shimmer always does; I don't now why) and looks softer. Staying power is excellent. I use it with eyeliner alone, or with a slightly darker shade in the crease, if I want a more dramatic look. All in all, I like this very much. Better than TaT. A very elegant color.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Napoleon Perdis - China Doll Foundation
hesperia 4/7/2012
My local Dillards carries Napoleon Perdis now, so I decided to try this foundation. I got a sample in B2, which is one of the best matches for my skin I have ever tried. I like the consistency very much. It's creamy w/o being oily, spreads beautifully, has decent medium coverage - GENUINE medium coverage, BTW; not medium-because-everybody-says-it's-medium coverage - and it does not look cakey at all. The finish is satiny. What I like is that when I put powder on it (I always use powder) my face does not look over-dry and lined. On the contrary, it looks soft and airbrushed. I'm not sure if I would buy it. It's very pricey, and if I had to spend that kind of money I'd probably prefer Hourglass' Immaculate Liquid Powder fdt. Still, it's a nice product and I recommend it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -NARS - Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer
hesperia 4/6/2012 11:50:00 PM
I got a generous sample of this at Sephora. I chose St. Moritz which is too dark and too yellow, even for someone with yellow undertones like me. I understand it's just a tinted moisturizer, but it has zero, zip, zilch coverage. I'm running out of patience with people who find "good coverage" in everything, even in water. Either they follow the hype in a robotic fashion, or they can't tell (bleep) from shinola. Apart from that, this leaves my face too shiny. No, not "glowy." Shiny. As in greasy, oily. If people are willing to plunk down $42 for a shiny yellow face, well, you know what they say: fools and their money are easily parted. If you need something with more coverage and a more realistic color, look elsewhere.
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Blush -Sephora - Hot Hues All Over - Flush
hesperia 4/3/2012 7:36:00 PM
UPDATE: I liked this so much I bought the "brown" one, too. Very happy with both. UPDATE: I thought NARS' Douceur was my new favorite until I tried this gem. It's GORGEOUS. I use the lighter bars and it gives me a color similar to Douceur, but this spreads much better. The finish is flawless, slightly satiny (no glitter), and very natural. Of course, I will continue to use my Douceur. But this one is a close second and SO much cheaper. It's a huge compact, very sturdy and nice. The mirror is terrific. I chose Flush because the other one was very brown and I already have a lot of bronzers. I love this. It's more a variety of blushes than bronzers. The quality is great. Very pigmented. Shimmery, but not sparkly, it gives a nice, subtle satiny glow, but you don't look like a disco ball. Some of the colors can also be used on the eyes, especially the highlighters. I got the last one they had left, I'm glad to say. I wish I had more money to get the bronze one, but being on a strict budget, I'll have to wait. I hope they don't run out before I can afford another trip to Sephora.
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Eye Shadow -Maybelline - Expert Wear Single-Tastefully Taupe
hesperia 3/22/2012 3:12:00 PM
UPDATE: today I put this on properly, with a full-face MU, and it looks utterly lovely. More satiny than shimmery, gorgeous color, excellent for every-day, pairs beautifully with brown/black eyeliner for a not-too-intense smokey eye. I was thinking of investing in a HE taupe shadow, but now I don't have to. Great job, Maybelline! I'm very much into taupes, lately. I was browsing around my local RiteAid today when I bumped into this little gem. Since it was only $4, give or take, I decided to buy it. I am so glad I did. This is what I always thought taupe should look like, and truth be told, it's what I hoped the 24 Hour Tattoo, Tough as Taupe, would be, but is not (I don't dislike it, mind). On me - light, yellow undertones - this is a lovely greyish light brown. In the pan, it looks very glittery (which at first, gave me pause), but on my lids, it turns into a satiny finish that is very flattering. I tried this on my bare lids (no, primer, nothing) and the color payoff and texture are great. Makes a difference, but a subtle one. I like this very, very much, and you can't beat the price. Thank you, Maybelline.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No