Bronzers -Sephora - Microsmooth Bronzing Duo-Spicy Heat
Alexine 5/20/2013 1:10:00 PM
I usually never wear bronzers because they look too orangey on my cool complexion. The Sephora MA suggested Spicy Heat because it has a little more pink in it, and wouldn't turn orange on me. I was skeptical at first, because Spicy Heat is an 02 level shade and I thought it would be too dark. I went with her suggestion and I'm so glad I did. I love it! It is the darker of the two Microsmooth bronzers available, and I'm fair, but with a light hand it gives me a natural, sunkissed glow. The bronzer is a duo, with a shimmery lighter color on the left and a matte darker color on the right. I run my brush over both to mix them together and it looks great. There is no glitter or sparkle in the shimmery part, and it isn't highly shimmery when both sides of the bronzer duo are blended together. I'm very happy with this purchase. It was also reasonably priced; $19 USD at Sephora.
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Styling Products -Sexy Hair Concepts - Big Sexy Hair - volume mousse
Alexine 5/18/2013 8:31:00 PM
This mousse leaves my hair looking dry and dull. If I use too little, there is no volumizing effect, and if I use too much, I can barely run the brush through my hair to blow dry. I haven't found the right amount to give me volume without the dryness. It also leaves behind a residue, which makes my hair feel sticky. On the positive side, it will hold a style because it gives your hair a some texture, but for the price, I expected a much better product.
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Eye Shadow -Chanel - Raffinement
Alexine 5/12/2013 3:53:00 PM
This is "The One" for me. My HG eyeshadow palette that has replaced three other palettes, and an eyeshadow single. My first Chanel quad in almost 10 years, and I'm seriously in love. The colors are neutral and will flatter both cool and warm tones. The palette contains a cooler rosy taupe, a warmer highlight shade, a warmer pinky-tan, and a cooler brown-burgundy shade. I think everyone describes them a little differently because it's hard to pinpoint the exact colors. In the palette, they look boring and I can see them easily passed up for a more exotic color combination, but on the eyes---bam! They are sultry, sexy, yet subtle and polished. Not too much shimmer (except the highlight shade, which is frosty) and appropriate for any occasion. I hope Chanel never discontinues these. They were a gift to myself, and I couldn't be happier, even with the hefty price tag. Worth every penny.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Cover Girl - Invisible Concealer
Alexine 5/1/2013 12:58:00 PM
I am very impressed with this concealer. I needed a new concealer and Target was out of my usual, so I purchased this in Fair. The color is more on the pink side, and even though I am obsessed with yellow-based products, I have to admit that a pink-based concealer works best for me. The color is actually lighter than it looks in the tube, and it brightens my eye area (huge bonus!). The consistency is not too thin, but not thick and cakey, and it covers a decent amount of imperfections. I have spent a small fortune on concealers and never have found an HG. So, knowing that I probably will never find that, I am very happy spending less than $6 for a concealer that covers just as well as most that I've tried for a lot more money. Definite repurchase.
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Eye Shadow -Chanel - Illusion D'Ombre - Illusoire
Alexine 3/7/2013 1:23:00 PM
This is a beautiful eye shadow and I concur with the other reviewers in describing this as a silvery-purple-grey-taupe shade. The color is gorgeous and the bouncy texture of the shadow is soft and smooth, but performance wise, this is disappointing. I have not had luck with staying power. On me, it creases, fades and leaves a glitter trail on the eyelids. For an eye shadow that is $40 USD with tax, that's unacceptable.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Satin Taupe
Alexine 3/7/2013 1:10:00 PM
I feel very foolish writing a positive review about Satin Taupe, considering that I've railed against it for years. When I first tried this eye shadow in the late 90's, I remember it looking horrific on me. I remember it looking like a bronzy mess with a red undertone that made my eyes look tired and bruised. I was so disappointed because it looked fab on everyone else. Over the weekend, I was at the MAC counter looking for a new neutral look and the MAC MA used Satin Taupe with Vapour (which I already own) on me, and the combination was stunning. She used it lightly on my lid and heavier in my crease, and I couldn't believe how glorious this looked. At first, I thought that it was a mistake and that she used a different shadow, but it was indeed Satin Taupe. It is a gorgeous plummy-brown taupe; basically what I've been looking for all along. I see no red nor bronze. I'm kicking myself for not having given this another chance years ago. I don't know if maybe I had originally tried a different shadow similar to Satin Taupe or what, but I've been so wrong, and now I gladly stand corrected. This is a "frost," but it's just a little shimmery and it isn't over the top.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Clinique - Chubby Stick - Graped Up
Alexine 3/6/2013 5:17:00 PM
I was excited about the Chubby Sticks returning to Clinique and I love Graped-Up; it's a very soft plummy nude. This is a great YLBB shade. The color is sheer and has a slick, buttery texture. It is very moisturizing and I've not experienced any dryness or chapped lips. However, because of the texture, it has a tendency to migrate if I don't use a lip liner. These new Chubby Sticks are much different than the former ones. I remember the old ones being more matte--but not drying, opaque, and they lasted forever. With the new formulation, I need to reapply more often than I wish were necessary. The packaging is cute and clever, but there's not as much product as there seems to be, and after a few days of applying this, I'm wearing down the "point" much more quickly than I thought I would. Also, considering the amount of product you get, it's pricey.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -Maybelline - Dream Fresh 8-in-1 BB Cream
Alexine 2/20/2013 12:10:00 PM
This was my first BB cream and I liked the light coverage and the way it felt on my skin, but the color was too orange and enhanced my redness. I ended up purchasing Smashbox's BB Cream, which performed as well as the Dream Fresh, but the color was light years better than the Dream Fresh. However, the price is just too high for what it is, and I probably won't repurchase that one either. If only Maybelline would expand their color range, or at least make the colors less orangey, I would repurchase. I ended up trashing this, which I hated to do, but I couldn't go on wearing it. The search continues...
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Maybelline - Expert Wear Single-Tastefully Taupe
Alexine 2/20/2013 11:22:00 AM
I purchased this shade based on the MUA reviews, but Tastefully Taupe did not look on me as I'd hoped. The shade is a very cool looking greyish-brown in the pan, but when I applied it, it looked a little bronzy. :( I have a difficult time finding taupes that flatter my skin tone. I also purchased Silken Taupe, which is a little lighter and looks similar to Tastefully Taupe in the pan, but looks completely different when worn. Silken Taupe compliments my skin tone. Despite the color not being what I wanted, I am impressed with the quality. As far as pigment and longevity are concerned, this eyeshadow delivers.
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Eye Shadow -Maybelline - Maybelline Expert Wear Eyes Eyeshadow in Silken Taupe
Alexine 2/20/2013 11:05:00 AM
I absolutely love this color. I was looking for a light taupe shade I could wear on my lids, and this is it. This shade is a very cool, silvery taupe with slight shimmer, but is probably neutral enough to be universally flattering. I find this to be a good lid color; it is very natural looking. I have not had any problems pigmentation or lasting power, but I apply this with the sponge applicator included with the eyeshadow, instead of a brush. The sponge applicator seems to pack the color on the lid, giving the eyeshadow a richer pigmentation. At least that's how I think it works, because I have no complaints concerning the quality or longevity.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Maybelline - Fit Me
Alexine 2/19/2013 2:30:00 PM
This is by far one of the better drugstore concealers I have purchased. It is more liquidy than pasty, which I prefer. It does a great job of evening out the thin skin under my eyes, but the trade off is that it doesn't conceal as much as a thicker formula. However, I like that it does not settle into fine lines or cake and I don't have to tug around my eye area to spread it, which is a huge plus. I'd rather have something a little more sheer over something thicker and cakey. I purchased the 10/Light and it's a little darker than I expected, but it blends in well. UPDATE: It really is too dark for me and makes me look older. Too bad, because it has a nice consistency.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Raisin Rage
Alexine 2/18/2013 1:30:00 PM
This is a deep, beautiful burgundy lip color. This is a great winter color; it can be worn "full strength" for a black-tie/formal event, or applied lightly for a casual red berry lip. One caveat, it may not wear evenly, so if you want to maintain the deep color, make sure to reapply regularly.
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Lipstick -MAC - Cremesheen- Modesty
Alexine 2/12/2013 2:43:00 PM
Love this! Great pink-nude color. This is a YLBB color and looks great on its own or layered with a gloss and paired with a smoky eye. The Cremesheen formula doesn't dry out my lips and lasts a decent amount of time before I need to reapply.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Liners -Urban Decay - 24/7 lip pencil Naked
Alexine 2/12/2013 2:34:00 PM
I love the quality and lasting power of this lip liner. The color Naked is probably better suited for people with a warmer complexion. On me, this pulls a tiny bit orange. However, it is a good neutral and works well with all of my lipsticks and glosses. It's a great liner and I would purchase other colors from this line.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Estee Lauder - Pure Color Lipstick- Rose Tea
Alexine 2/12/2013 1:59:00 PM
I absolutely love this color. On me, it looks mauvey/plummy rose with a little brown mixed in. This is one of those shades that is probably universally flattering. I can put this on at 7:30 a.m., drink coffee and have a snack and I don't need to reapply until 10:00 a.m. or so. This is a great office appropriate neutral that isn't boring. Even though it's pricey, I would definitely repurchase.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No