Polishes -Rimmel - Midnight Blue
AliceF 7/24/2011 4:04:00 PM
Of all the polishes I have owned, this is the one that applies the best. I was absolutely amazed at how well the brush works, and I was applying it in very low light; nighttime with only the tv to guide me. It didn't drip, goop on the sides, and I only needed one coat. I remember saying to myself 'this is the best nail polish in the world" before I had even strarted the second hand. Love the colour; a rich, deep navy with very subtle shimmer. It dries quickly, and hangs on as well as any other good polish. I'm going back for more shades this week.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Smog
AliceF 8/8/2009 10:40:00 PM
I love this eyeshadow! I love the shade, the texture, the wear, the uniqueness of it. In the store it looked greenish and a little sickly, but against my neutral skin and on my olive green eyes it's perfection, a brownish-burnished gold that is what I wanted Mac's Woodwinked to be. Where Woodwinked is overly warm and orange tinged, Smog is neutral, like rare green gold. It can be worn in many ways, as a lid or crease shade or even as a liner. I like it as an all over shadow shade with something a bit deeper to pronounce the crease and line the eyes, like UD Twice Baked, MAC Mulch or Mystery, Smashbox Sienna or Lise Watier Chocolat. The texture is shimmery, but not metallic. It does not highlight my lines like some lighter shimmery shades do by other brands. I love working with UD. I actually think it's blendibility shortens my morning routine! If only they had more practical shades, wearable colours. They seem hell bent on promoting metallics and bright jewel tones, shades fit for the younger generation. It's too bad because the shades I have found to wear, I adore, but they are only three. Two of them I will repurchase, one was wishful thinking. Smog is a definite winner for me!
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Gunmetal 
AliceF 8/8/2009 10:26:00 PM
I adored this in the store because the lighting made it look like there was no blue in it, but when I got it on - blue! Argh! As a green eyed girl, having blue in my grey, and sparkles and shimmer on top of that..it all seems a bit like overkill. But, I still like it anyway for a dramatic look. The texture of Urban Decay's shadows is lovely; smooth, creamy, blends easily, and looks even effortlessly. UD makes it easy to look like you know what you're doing;) I use Gunmetal for a punky, smoky eye with black liner, black mascara, pink blush and pale gloss or lipstick. A lighter grey in the inner V widens the eye and balances the blue. Gunmetal brushed overtop balances the colour for the smoky eye look. Aside from the blue, I don't love that the sparkles DO appear on my eyelids from time to time. I'd prefer a satin texture. Glitter is so over! I have only ever found one grey shadow that doesn't turn blue (Gosh duo) on me. Why do cosmetics companies think that black+white=blue? I'm enjoying it, but I don't think I'll repurchase. I'm just making it work because I paid for it. I wish that UD would create a line of practical, more adult shades. The texture is incredible but a lot of the shades are very young and overly metallic or shimmery - just not useful. I'm a makeupaholic and I could only find 3 that would work for me (others being Twice Baked and Smog), Gunmetal being an obvious stretch.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Twice Baked
AliceF 8/8/2009 10:08:00 PM
What I love most about Urban Decay shadows is the texture. It's so smooth and pigmented, it's almost creamy. It really goes on like a dream. I got my first one in a swap, and though it was the wrong shade for me, I knew that I would want more from the line. I use Twice Baked for either a great smoky eye, a liner or a crease shade, but usually a smoky eye. It's perfect for that as, unlike a lot of matte shades, it blends easily and quickly and unlike a lot of shimmers, it's not too shimmery too use for a smoky eye. I have fair, neutral skin and on me I do not get any bronze from Twice Baked. Rather, I get a rich, dark taupe, very neutral, and I can wear it with peach or pink blush and gloss to suit my clothes. Bronze is too warm for me and it instantly looks "wrong" on my skintone, but this looks beautiful. The little sparkles you see in the pot seem to disappear on the lid, thankfully. I'd call the texture "satin". It blends better than a matte, but doesn't shine like a shimmer. I wish they had more practical shades like this one!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Christian Dior - Diorskin Nude Hydrating Makeup SPF 10 [DISCONTINUED]
AliceF 7/17/2009 1:43:00 AM
This is a gorgeous foundation that gives my already good skin a gorgeous finish. I'm lucky. I have no acne scars, minimal freckling, but I do have some sun damage on my cheeks and some redness around my nose. Thus, I wanted something with a little more coverage than I was previously using. I used a tester for a week before finally purchasing this. I disagree that it completely covers redness, but it does a really good job at disguising it. Most days I go without green concealer, saving the extra step for special occasions. It does even out my skin tone perfectly, much better than my last foundation, giving me the appearance of flawless skin. This foundation, as others have stated, really does look like "skin". The glow seems to radiate from within. There are no telltale sparkles wandering about your face as there are in many Asian foundations, obviously there to illuminate and camouflage, though look sparkly. Yet my skin DOES glow in a youthful, ethereal way. It is also moist, but only as moist as I need it to be. My last foundation was moist also. Neither left tightness in my combination-skinned cheeks, like the Revlon Colorstay and Colorstay Active foundations did. DNFGHM (what a mouthfull, even in acronym form!) does not sweat off in the mild to moderate Vancouver summer heat and I am able to powder over top to secure my oily forehead from getting shiny under my bangs during the day, without drying it out. I also find that this foundation makes my skin look firmer than my last one did. Perhaps that is the extra coverage giving me a more "complete" look. I have zero problems in application and find dotting a wee bit all over my face then smoothing it with fingers is easiest. I wear it over MAC Prep & Prime. It is expensive, but as I gain experience with make-up and as I see what the difference is in quality of foundation, I am willing to fork out the money to have my skin look this good every day. Its my face. It's what people stare at every day as they talk to me. To pay $35 extra dollars for a department store foundation over a drug store foundation is a big jump, but I get a) smooth finish b) eveness c) no tightness in the cheeks or forehead d) SPF e) a beautiful glow f) long wear without ANY oxidization and g) the appearance of a perfect complexion. I'll scrimp elsewhere. This is a smashing formulation and I have no intention of straying anytime soon. What would make me stray? A higher SPF maybe, but I'd want everything else to be the same. I'm 35, constantly get carded and asked "What's my secret?" This is not exactly a secret, but it's a contributing factor indeed!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Smashbox - Lip Enhancing Gloss in Fame
AliceF 6/21/2009 2:37:00 AM
This is a sumptuous, Windsor rose petal pink with mauve undertones. It has a slight shimmer, but only for lip volume - nothing garish. It's perfectly suitable for daytime or nighttime. I love Smashbox's Full Colour glosses. They are my absolute favourite glosses out there and I wish they had more shades! I wish Afterglow was a Full Colour...but I digress. This is not as sticky as Mac's glosses, but stickier than Dior or Estee Lauder. Personally I adore the texture and find that it is moisturizing and makes it last longer. It goes on easily with a doe foot applicator. The colour doesn't take much effort to build up and there is a great deal of shine. It's a cool shade, but not so cool that it cannot be worn with neutral eyes. However, it will clash with coppers and other super-warm shades. I like to wear it with neutral browns, Satin Taupe or greens. It looks beautiful with both pink and peachy-pink blushes. $22 CAD. Will repurchase if I ever run out.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - speed dial cremesheen
AliceF 6/21/2009 2:29:00 AM
This is one of those cosmetic products that looks bloody scary on it's own, but gorgeous on you. It's bright in the tube and it's bright on, and that is what is so flattering. It's brightness serves to light up the skin. It is "Barbie pink" with a pinch of bubblegum! The Cremesheen formula in this one is a tad different in that it gives even more sheen, but with the same lasting power. This one stains in a good way, making you look like you have been sucking on a raspberry popsicle. One swipe of this looks best. The more you put on, the heavier it gets and the brighter it looks. With one swipe it looks like a fresh pop or pretty. With three it looks a bit retro. I love Mac's packaging and the price and really wish they would expand the Cremesheen line. I don't care for the other formulas. I think, at this point, that I will repurchase this. It's getting a lot of my attention this summer. For ref: I have neutral skin with yellow undertone, and can wear both warm and cool shades. NC 15/20 (mixed), green eyes, brunette.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Frost - Angel
AliceF 6/21/2009 2:19:00 AM
I get a lot of wear out of Angel and have only one complaint. After about three hours I get a sticky build up around the inside of my lips that is quite unsightly. I don't know how to avoid this! Does this happen with all Frosts? Angel is my first and I'm wary of trying others. That aside, the shade is lovely and completes my dark eye make-up and subtle cheeks well. It's an opaque, uber-light blue based pink that is an excellent alternative to nude in the summer, worn with smoky eyes. The frost is detectable, but very soft. Otherwise I would not wear it as I have a scar on my lip that would be highlighted by frost/shimmer. This just smooths my lips and makes them look plump. Love the packaging and price, as always! Will repurchase as this has become a staple for me.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Make Up For Ever - Super Lipgloss No 13
AliceF 6/21/2009 2:07:00 AM
It's not too sheer, not too pigmented. It has a doe foot applicator (I hate brushes and squeeze tubes). I like it best applied over a teensy bit of foundation or concealer as I get truer colour and it makes my lips look bigger and smoother. The colour is a very light, angelic, slightly warm, clamshell pink with delicate shimmer. No shimmer remains on my lips as it wears off and you cannot see shimmer particles in the gloss. This gloss goes well with warm or cool looks. That being said, it's wholly insignificant and overpriced for what it is. I never reach for it, unless it's to dress up a lipstick. Basically, I spent too much money on it and now I'm trying to find a purpose for it. It takes forever to get any gloss out using the applicator. I have to extract the applicator about 5-6 times per use. Very annoying. I will not purchase this line of MUFE glosses again.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Make Up For Ever - Glossy Full
AliceF 6/21/2009 1:59:00 AM
Loves: Scent (Fresh, natural mint) Shade (#7 very light blue pink) Gloss (high shine not seen in other glosses, except maybe Revlon Super Lustrous...but that has no lasting power) Unloves: Price (over $20 CAD) Packaging (I hate tubes! I find them wasteful, difficult to apply with) Pigment (The MA used foundation on my lips when she tried this on me and now I must use foundation when I wear it to get the same effect. The pigment is decent without foundation, but not as good as Smashbox Full Colour) However, I do absolutely love the look of this when I wear it. It doesn't last forever, so I can't wear it to work. Because it was costly, I tend to save this for special occasions. Did it plump? I don't think so. With MAC's Plushglass I can feel a bit of burning and see smoothing of lines, but nothing much with this. However, the shade I chose (with foundation) makes my lips look GIGANTIC! If I come into money I might buy up a supply of these. Otherwise, no.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Bobbi Brown - Powder Blush - Peony
AliceF 6/21/2009 1:48:00 AM
So gorgeous was Pale Pink on, that I went back the very next week to buy Peony and I was not disappointed! Since then I will admit that Peony, Pale Pink and Mac Cheek and MUFE 15 Eyeshadow are the only blushes in my collection that are getting any play. The rest just sit there looking....not near as pretty! Pale Pink and Peony look quite similar when placed side by side, Peony being the warmer of the two. And this is how they wear. Neither wears as a blue-pink or terribly cool. Both light up the face. Peony is the one I go to when I need to bring in more warmth to my neutral-warm toned skin because I have done a cool toned eye. With my skin I have to balance, not play one or the other. That being said, Peony is NOT a terribly warm blush. It is not orange in the slightest. It has a slight tinge of coral mixed in with faded neon reddish-pink, but the warmth comes from mimicking natural skin's blush. This is what I like about it, that it is so natural. Don't be put off by the brightness. That is it's strength. Now that I have discovered this I will always try the bright blushes because I know the transition to skin is just gorgeous. It is very finely milled and goes on smoothly, requiring little blending. I use a bit of Mac MSF to highlight and it looks beautiful with these blushes. There is no shimmer in this blush, and it is not powdery if layered (which you would not want to do anyway because you would look ridiculous!). One or 2 dabs of the brush in the blush is all you need. I adore the new packaging. It's slim and doesn't waste space in my mu box, unlike other "selfish", "showy" brands. I will repurchase this forever and think this would be the blush I would take to a deserted island. It's so versatile! Not too warm, not too cool - perfecto! Yes, it is pricey at $30 CAD, but it is of exceptional quality and the shade is extraordinary. I have no problems paying the price for this. I'll scrimp elsewhere ;)
12 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Bobbi Brown - Powder Blush in Pale Pink
AliceF 6/21/2009 1:28:00 AM
This is my favourite blush in my entire collection for many reasons. It gives my yellow undertoned fair skin a gorgeous, natural glow with only a dainty tap of my blush brush. It mimics my natural blush and so it goes nicely with both cool grey or plum toned eyes, and with warmer brown hues. It's finely milled so it goes on like a dream, smoothing over my cheekbones effortlessly, without the need for much blending. And I love the slim, non-bulky packaging that doesn't take up needless space in my make-up box. As others have said, it looks bright, but the brightness is the key to it's fabulousness. Unlike other drab shades, this lights up your skin. And even though it looks like a blue pink and thus unsuitable to warm skinned girls, I am neutral-warm and this blush looks like it was made for me. It looks much more natural on than warmer blushes do. I will repurchase this as long as they make it and if I hear they are to ever stop, I will stock up for life!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Clinique - Different Lipstick - Ginger Frost
AliceF 5/23/2009 12:33:00 AM
When I bought this I was just desperate to buy something, anything and this is what I ended up with. I wasn't hot on it, even though the sales associate raved about it as the only lipstick she would ever wear. As is my usual routing, I tried it out the very next day and as is not my usual routine, I fell in love. Gingerfrost is not my normal shade. I gravitate towards brighter shades without any frost or shimmer at all. Gingerfrost isn't orangey, as the title might have you believe. In fact, it's a beige with hints of mauve, making it very wearable for a neutral skinned girl like myself, and many of you out there who are not strongly focussed in either direction. The depth is light to medium and is exactly the same as my lips, making this my first real MLBB lippie. I would never have guessed it from the look of it! The frost is evident, but subtle, as only Clinique knows how to do and it serves to perk up my pout. I have a scar on my lip and this lipstick does not highlight it at all. It wears quite well. I can eat and drink and not have to apply for a couple hours, which is great for me as I'm used to having to reapply constantly. It's from their "Different Lipstick" line, meaning it's not a Buttershine (wears off immediately, but looks like lip gloss or a LongLast one. My lips do not dry out while wearing this lipstick, another fabulous perk. This is the perfect lipstick to wear with smoky eyes, warm or cool. I've worn it with warm browns and gunmetal greys and it suited both perfectly. For a ho-hum impulse purchase, I get a lot of wear out of this little gem (in a gorgeous silver tube) and I will definitely repurchase!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -The Body Shop - SPF 15 Daily Moisturizer with Vitamin C
AliceF 5/15/2009 9:30:00 PM
I was pleasantly surprised by this moisturizer. I got it at a buy 2, get one free sale. For reference I have combination-dry skin, wear a vitamin C Avon serum underneath and Loreal Skin Genesis Eye Serum to round out my face moisture. This comes in an orange tube, very functional looking. I have to keep the tube upside down in my cabinet. Otherwise, it will get too enthusiastic and spurt out too much moisturizer. Other than that - no complaints about the packaging. With this method I get the right "raisin sized" amount that I need. It smells like orange rings and SPF, which wakes you up in the morning, even though it is a little medicinal. The scent is not strong and I don't notice it unless I look for it. On to what's important. How does it work? It works REALLY well to moisturize! It is amazing on my cheeks, a problem area for me where I often have to layer moisturizer or use an extra think moisturizer. With this I just massage it in and my primer+foundation look perfect! It leaves a slightly dewy, very fresh look, not greasy. I even use it on my nose. The only reason that I would not repurchase it that I need something more anti-aging. If this had retinol or some other super-fighter in it, I would buy it forever! I have never been so pleased with the performance (moisture-wise) of a moisturizer for my skin.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -MAC - Studio Sculpt [DISCONTINUED]
AliceF 5/14/2009 2:57:00 PM
The first few times I tried this concealer I was utterly disappointed. I used eye cream, followed by my Mac Prep & Prime, then used a Mac brush to apply the concealer. It went on creasy, dry and looked awful, a tad better when set with Blot Powder, but awful nonetheless. Then one night I came home and decided to work with it until I found a way to use it effectively. I really didn't want to return it because I loved the coverage. It was so much better than Mac Moisturecover, which I'd been using previously. I decided to use my fingers and swirled my ring finger in the pot until the bit I was going to use was an oily texture. Then I dotted that under my eyes and patted, patted, patted. Viola! Perfectly concealed under-eye circles! I immediately set with Mac Blot Powder and it lasts all day without creasing, flaking OR (amazingly) settling into fine lines. One less brush to clean! *I also find that it works best if you use a thin layer of foundation under your eyes first. I use Mac Mineralize Satinfinish Liquid Foundation over primer and eye serum. For reference I have combination-dry skin and Select Cover-Up was way too dry under the eyes for me, but this works just fine. It conceals circles amazingly and I also use it on my chin, but not around my nose as I use Select Cover Up corrector there, followed by foundation. I think it would be effective there as well. I really like the pot because I think it is necessary to warm up the concealer prior to use. Also, you only take out what you need and don't end up squeezing out too much.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No