Powder -Alima - Satin Matte Mineral Foundation
AKmedic 7/16/2012 7:25:00 PM
I am thrilled to find a mineral foundation that matches my skin tone perfectly. For years I kept buying different shades of Bare Minerals, and kept being disappointed with the terrible color mismatch and maskiness of the BE makeup. I looked like a floured biscuit when I wore BE, and it didn't look natural or flattering. I have very fair olive skin, and BE doesn't make anything for me, and all their colors either looked too pink or too yellow on my skin. I stuck with BE since I can't wear liquid foundation, which makes me break out in a bumpy rash. I looked at the color chart and Alima has a huge range of colors. They have a very helpful tutorial on skin undertones and since I am part Sicilian, I figured a light Olive shade would be my best match. I paid $20 for the Alima foundation sampler kit and it was the best money I've spent. You get a cute mini kabuki brush and a makeup pouch, plus 4 foundation samples and a sample of coordinating blush and finishing powder. PLUS you get $10 off the purchase of the Basic Face Kit. My foundation samples included Olive 0, Olive 1, Olive 1.5, and Beige 3. The accompanying instructions tell you that if a foundation looks too chalky, you may need a darker shade; if a foundation looks too orange, you may need either a more neutral shade or a lighter shade. If your pores or fine lines look obvious, you may have applied too much at once. For me, Olive 1 was perfect. The trick is to moisturize your face and let it absorb totally (hopefully with sunscreen unless you want to look like an old boot in 20 years). At this point I apply my Paula's Choice Shine Stopper to my T-zone and let it dry for a few seconds. Then I apply the Alima foundation in an extremely sheer layer, gradually adding more sheer layers until satisfied with the coverage. This may sound daunting, but it only takes me 2 minutes to apply this foundation in the morning. Then I go over it with a makeup sponge to lightly blend and touch up any areas that need it, and you can hardly tell I am wearing foundation, it just looks like I have a perfect complexion. I have to blot my T-zone and reapply because I have allergies and blow my nose all day. I also have some redness around my nose and may try their color-correcting powders to address this issue. My shade is Olive 1. Thanks for catering to the olive-toned people, Alima.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Alima - eyeshadows - all
AKmedic 7/16/2012 6:40:00 PM
I bought five full-size Alima shimmer eyeshadows: Milan, Venus, London, Sphinx, and Aubergine. I have samples of Opal, Nymph, Sky, and Mahogany. All of these shadows are poorly pigmented. They all have a lot of fallout whether used wet or dry. They are all sheer and don't have the same predictable application that the Bare Escentuals eyeshadows do. I had hoped for better color payoff and easier blendability. I will stick with the other eyeshadows I was using before: Kat von D Beethoven palette, the Urban Decay Naked2 palette, and most of the Bare Escentuals eyeshadows.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Ouidad - Double Detangler Comb
AKmedic 7/7/2010 7:52:00 PM
This was expensive for "just a comb", but I have been dying to try it, so I finally got it from Sephora today. I think it's totally worth it. I just detangled my completely-dry hair and it still looks fabulous. No pulling or snapping, it just somehow detangled all my hair. The detangler feels really high-quality. I like that it's heavy. It didn't hurt my scalp at all. I have thick, wavy/curly Sicilian hair that is past my shoulders. It gets tangled far too easily so this detangler is a godsend. Another winner from Ouidad.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - M2 HP Skin Refinish
AKmedic 5/2/2010 8:27:00 PM
One of my good friends has radiant skin, and swears by this product as the reason for her flawless complexion. I had to try it, and I just bought my 2nd bottle. Each bottle lasts about 6 months, so I think it is a good value. It has really improved the texture of my skin, its smoothness, and has reduced the nasolabial wrinkles that I was just starting to develop. I use M2 Refinish almost every night. I can't use it every night, or else my skin gets irritated. I will use it for about 5 or 6 nights in a row, then I skip it the next night to let my skin rest. Because I am 31 and still have adult acne, I have noticed that it works best if I wash & dry my face, apply benzoyl peroxide, let it dry a few moments, and then apply the M2 lotion. In the morning, I use Paula's Choice BHA, antioxidant serum, Barrier Repair Lotion, and sunscreen. My skin has never looked so good. My boyfriend keeps telling me that I look like I'm 20. I have far fewer breakouts now. The orange-peel pores around my nose have gotten smaller. This has reduced the sun spots that I had on my cheekbones. If you notice that it is making your skin too sticky, you might be using too much. I use one pump of M2 and it's enough for my entire face. I think the M2 is going to be a permanent part of my beauty regimen. I deducted 1 lippie from my rating because the pump-top is flimsy. I do like the airtight packaging though.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Pigment in Naked
AKmedic 4/19/2010 1:12:00 AM
I got a generous sample of this pigment from a fabulous MUAer. I have been using it almost every day for the past month. My sample is running low so I just bought a full sized jar. Like everyone else has said, this is a beige nude with a small amount of gold microglitter. The glitter is very subtle and this is my favorite to apply all over my lids. I wear it to work and also when I'm going out. I don't even need to use primer with this pigment, and it still lasts all day. I also work it into the corner of my eyes and it makes me look refreshed and alert even if I've had a late night. I haven't tried the cupid's-bow trick, I will have to try that! Naked Pigment is versatile because it's so subtle yet gives you a fresh, "awake" look. I have too many white highlighters, so it's nice to have one in my makeup arsenal that is closer in tone to my skintone so it looks more subtle and natural.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Illamasqua - Lover
AKmedic 3/27/2010 1:24:00 AM
Until I found this product, I never used blush. Now I use this every day. The color is pure peach. I have very fair skin, and this is perfect. The blush is heavily pigmented and this would look great on a huge range of skintones. Because there is so much pigment in this blush, you only need a tiny bit. I have used mine every day for a week, and the pan still looks untouched because you literally only need to tap the brush to pick up enough colour. Zero glitter, easily blendable, and it blends so perfectly that it makes you look like the color is emanating from your skin. I am not skilled with makeup at all, yet this was easy enough even for me to use. This is a gorgeous peach/apricot shade. I also got "Hussy" but it's a little harder for me to work with, so "Lover" is my go-to shade. I also have skin that breaks out at the drop of a hat, but this hasn't made me break out at all. I love it. The only feedback I have for Illamasqua is that the compact feels hella cheap and chintzy for a $23 blush. I have seen drugstore blushes with better-quality cases. The Illamasqua compact is lightweight plastic and doesn't feel "quality" at all. You have to use a fingernail to open the compact, which I don't like. I will still repurchase when this runs out in like 5 years, but I would prefer this if the packaging was better quality.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Bare Escentuals - Sugar Plum
AKmedic 3/17/2010 1:27:00 AM
This is an elegant deep purple tone that I think looks like lipstick. I usually prefer lighter and nude shades for my lips, but this color is great for those days when I want more of a lipstick look. The gloss has a great texture and the vanilla scent is great. I love this gloss because there is zero irritating menthol or grossness like the "Buxom" lipgloss. BE's "natural" lipglosses are my favorite.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Bare Escentuals - 100% Natural Lipgloss in Wild Honey
AKmedic 3/17/2010 1:20:00 AM
This is my new HG lipgloss. The color is amazing. Wild Honey is a nude peach color, but I think the gold sheen is almost iridescent. It is very natural and I think it looks amazing. I hated the "Buxom" lipgloss because of the menthol it contained, but this gloss is heavenly. It smells like vanilla and the texture is luxuriously smooth. It is one of the least-sticky lipglosses I've ever tried. I will definitely repurchase.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Other -Paula's Choice - Beautypedia.com
AKmedic 3/9/2010 4:50:00 PM
I also got my Beautypedia subscription at 50% off. I love Paula's expertise, but sometimes her snarky reviews and smugness grate on my nerves. Still, the snark has saved my skin a lot of grief and hassle, as I am able to steer clear of beauty disasters instead of throwing money down the drain like I used to. Her reviews are scientific and I think she's trustworthy. I still read reviews on MUA, but I really like Paula's Beautypedia. Like many others, I don't like how she has the site set up. I like to open links in a new tab, but the site won't let you do that. It makes the site slow and awkward to navigate.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Sephora - Stippling brush silver
AKmedic 12/28/2009 4:25:00 PM
This is a nice stippling brush that helps get more mileage out of liquid foundation. I like it, although next time I will buy a slightly larger brush. This brush gives great control and an airbrushed effect. I don't seem to have an issue with the hard bristles that some other reviewers have. I quick-clean this brush after each use with smashbox spray brush cleanser, and then I wash it about once a week with Bare Escentuals Well-Cared-For brush wash. I find that using regular soap or shampoo or face wash is not conditioning enough for the bristles, but using Well-Cared-For keeps the bristles soft and clean.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Unlisted Brand - Latisse Lash Growth Drops
AKmedic 4/23/2009 1:36:00 PM
Updated review - July 5, 2009 - after 17 weeks of use. I have been using Latisse since March 3, 2009, so as I write this I have been using it for about seventeen weeks. My lashes are amazingly longer, thicker, and they look great! Truthfully I just use off-label Lumigan because it is vastly cheaper and they are identical medications except the packaging. I have posted before-and-after photos on my MakeupAlley photos, so please check them out if you want to see my results.
As the patient instructions warned, for the first few weeks one of my eyes got better results than the other. It's not a big deal, I just used less mascara on the thicker side so they look even. After the first few months of use, they evened out.
This is an amazing product. I would have loved to try the Jan Marini lash product with the illegal bimatoprost, but sadly the FDA took her product off the market. Latisse is pricey but it's soooo worth it.
The downside is that you have to keep applying it. If you stop using it, eventually your lashes will shrink back to their original size. On the plus side, by using a VERY SMALL eyeliner brush and dropping one drop of Latisse into the bottle cap, I only use 1 drop for both eyes and it works great. This means my medication will last twice as long. I buy a new eyeliner brush each time I open a new bottle, so I don't think contamination will be a problem.
21 out of 21 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Amouage - Jubilation 25 by Amouage
AKmedic 11/22/2008 10:10:00 PM
I received a 2.5mL sample of this perfume and traded my precious bottle of Serge Lutens MKK for a full bottle of Amouage Jubilation 25. oh god, it is HEAVENLY. When I sniffed it directly out of the bottle I was unimpressed...until I decided to try some on my skin. I must say that the composition is masterful and the individual notes blend together synergistically into a heartbreakingly beautiful symphony. This is one of the best perfumes I have ever smelled. Truly amazing and my signature scent.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Frederic Malle - Musc Ravageur
AKmedic 6/29/2008 2:58:00 PM
Oh, God... one of my favorite fragrances ever. The warmth and sexiness of the musk and the spiciness of the cinnamon just makes me melt every time. There is an intricate mix of notes, but the cinnamon and musk are most prevalent on my skin. Everyone I've introduced to this amazing fragrance has simply adored it. Rich and complex. Highly recommended.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Frederic Malle - Iris Poudre
AKmedic 6/29/2008 2:57:00 PM
This is a beautiful aldehydic fragrance that is heavenly, soft, and very luxe. Wearing it makes me feel instantly elegant, like being wrapped in the softest cashmere. One of my favorites.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Mary Kay - Mineral Powder Foundation
AKmedic 6/22/2008 1:44:00 AM
I like this foundation, and I'm happy to say that the first jar lasted me over 3 months. I hear a lot of people bitching about the talc in this product, yet I have not noticed any new breakouts due to this foundation. In fact, my acne is much better with this foundation than when I used to use Bare Escentuals BareMinerals. I wear Ivory2 in the Mary Kay brand, and although I thought it was a great shade, I saw myself in a photo and was surprised at how neutral it is. My skin is fair with yellow/olive undertones so I don't think Ivory is a good choice for me. The color choices are limited, although they just added new shades recently. I do love that this mineral makeup makes my skin look flawless, yet it doesn't look cakey or weird like BareMinerals original formula did. The coverage is amazing. Unlike some of the reviewers here, I don't have a problem with the brush. In fact, I vastly prefer the application I can achieve with the flat-tipped Mary Kay brush. The Bare Escentuals Kabuki brush that I used to use with the BareMinerals just didn't provide enough coverage, but the flat Mary Kay brush is perfect. I like this foundation a lot more than the Bare Minerals original foundation, but less than the Bare Minerals Matte.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No