Blush -MAC - Pink Cult
AvaRoses 4/5/2011 7:42:00 PM
I'm an NW15/NW20 with very cool pink undertones for reference. I ordered this from MAC and then bought a second one I loved it so much. I normally wear Dame for a pink blush or Melba for a peach blush. This blows Dame out of the water on me. Dame looks very natural on me, but Pink Cult makes me look flushed and healthy but like it's totally natural and not from a blush. I can't explain it, but it's HG and could go with any makeup look. I could be ill and this would make me look fabulous. Hopefully MAC will make it permanent. I hardly have to use any product to get the look I want, so didn't want to order more than one extra otherwise it might go bad before I use it up. It blends wonderfully and lasts almost all day. I love it! My local Nordies is out, but MAC still has it on their website.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Mineral Oil
AvaRoses 3/16/2011 2:43:00 PM
I never thought I would say this but I love mineral oil. I have delayed contact dermatis to a lot of fragrances, some syntethic but especially botanical extracts. It's dangerous to the point I could go into anaphylactic shock. My derm was saying that most people don't realize botanical extracts cause more frequent and more severe allergic reactions than synthetic fragrances - so the majority of "natural products" are now out for me. After being covered in blistered hives for 2 weeks from a natural lotion, I use all unfragranced and pretty much unnatural products for items I rub on my skin and then don't rinse off. I've never had a problem again. The mineral oil does't clog my skin, it disolves makeup on contact and a FEW - few is the key word here - drops rubbed into my fine naturally curly hair help mositurize and give my hair added shine, for some reason it helps hold my curl too. The underside of my hair doesn't even tangle anymore from rubbing on my shirt all day. I buy the fragrance free product from either Walgreens or Rite Aid that is listed as being for constipation - it's the same as Johnson's baby oil but doesn't contain fragrance. It's in the isle with well....the constipation products. This is somewhat freaky for a girl who buys all her makup at Nordies, but hey even La Mer has mineral oil in it. My husband and I are both very fair with red or reddish hair and freckles. He had to have a mole removed recently and his derm said only plain Vaseline on the area until it healed - he was very stern nothing else was to be used. So then I decided to start some research and if you view government or dermatologic websites that have done actual scientific studies and not just a website that has a motive to sell you something or a website that is run by someone who is repeating what they read off these websites....guess what, refined mineral oil or petrolatum produced for either cosmetic or other medical purposes is completely safe and it's been used for 100 years. So if you've been afraid to try mineral oil like I was, give it a shot you might be surprised.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -MAC - Bronzer in Golden
AvaRoses 2/25/2011 4:06:00 PM
This is the best bronzer I've found for my NW15 skin. I've tried so many. The best was Bobbi Brown and their lightest shade made my face look dirty if I accidentally applied more than just a faint dusting. This is perfect! It looked a little dark and scary in the pan, but applied with a large face powder brush for an overall sun kissed look or with my blush brush I can do light contouring under my cheekbones. There is the faintest amount of shimmer, but it's just enough for it to look natural - it's nothing like Mac's Soft and Gentle on a shimmer level, this is much more natural. It doesn't turn at all orange either. I love this stuff! It just makes you look lightly sun kissed and not like death, no one would be able to tell I had bronzer on. It's a healthier me. Give it a try if you are pale with pink undertones. With the amount I used the pan will easily last me at least 6 months to a year. I'm quite pale though.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -NARS - Vanilla Concealer
AvaRoses 2/22/2011 7:37:00 PM
Love, love, love! I haven't found another concealer that properly matches my very pale pink NW15/NW20 skin. I love the formula, I also love concealers that are in stick form. I have no trouble applying this to under my eye area, or with creasing after a few hours. I use this for under eye, sides of my nose (to cover faint red blood vessels), and then for any pimples or slight red marks I might have. I usually buy two at a time so I always have an extra. I go through it somewhat fast, but it's just such an easy product that requires so little blending on my part to make it look great that I can't help but rebuy. After all who wants to struggle with their concealer in the morning?! I just wear this and then Mac's Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in medium - because the medium also has pink undertones and works for very pale skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -MAC - Beauty Powder in Play It Proper
AvaRoses 2/22/2011 7:29:00 PM
I like this so much I bought a backup of Play it Proper and it's collection counterpart Too Chic. Play it Proper is a finely milled pale pink highlighter. It's not glittery or over the top in anyway. I actually use this lightly all over my skin after I've applied my Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Medium. Medium was the palest MSFN color that still had a slightly pink undertone. My skin is NW15/NW20 it's very fair and has major pink undertones. By lightly dusting Play it Proper over my cheekbones, forehead and chin my face powder is an exact match for my skintone. Plus it gives me a faint glowing look that isn't even remotely glittery. Play it Proper also makes a nice color for an overall wash of eyeshadow. Both Too Chic and Play it Proper are l/e, but are still for sale on Mac's website. The price is great compared to their other highlighting powders plus you get 10 grams of product - which is quite a lot!
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Highlighters -MAC - Beauty Powder in Too Chic
AvaRoses 2/22/2011 7:19:00 PM
I'm nuts apparently since I ordered a back up of this and it's counterpart Play it Proper. I have very pale cool toned skin, NW15/NW20. Both Too Chic and Play it Proper look great on me. Too Chic has a very fine shimmer that looks like your skin but better, gives a nice glowing highlight. You can build it up for more shimmer, use it lightly all over your face, or just your cheeks over blush, etc. It makes a great brow bone highlighter; the uses are endless. The color is kind of a pale gold, but it's a champagne really. It's definitely perfect for pale skin, and don't be afraid thinking it's too warm. The MAC website still has both of these l/e items and the price is a steal for 10grms compared to the cost of some of their other more glittery highlighters. This is a highlighter for everyday use or evening, etc. It's not too shimmery and always appropriate.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -MAC - Lustre in Lovelorn
AvaRoses 2/21/2011 9:43:00 PM
This lipstick looks so great and almost natural on me, I was worried because I didn't try it at the store and just added it to my on-line mac order. I have NW15 - NW20 coloring that is very cool, extremely pink undertones and I have very pigmented lips. Most pale opaque neutrals make me look washed out or ill. I could wear this to work or out for an evening.....anything. It looks fine for a quick trip out to the drugstore even. It perks up my face and just looks refreshing and natural. Me but better. It's not Barbie in any way, or I would have sent it back! So if you have similar coloring give it a shot. Even my husband who doesn't like unnatural or obvious looking makeup loved it. I love the lustre finish. I find this shade even slightly stains my lips so I get about 3 hours with drinking, etc.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Deodorants -Almay - Clear Gel Antiperspirant & Deodorant
AvaRoses 2/21/2011 4:12:00 PM
This is my HG deodorant/antiperspirant. I'm allergic to everything and this doesn't irritate me whatsoever. I also hate having to worry about white marks from solid deodorants. Usually nothing works for me and no matter how many times a day I shower I still get stinky and develop wet underarms that are quite noticeable. This isn't a total miracle, but it's pretty close. I still get an occasional wet mark on a tight dark t-shirt and will smell just barely (only noticeable by me) after 24 hours, which really is about all I expect a product to do for me at this point. I don't have any problems with the product taking too long to dry, but I hardly have to apply any of the product. I think the people who say it doesn't dry before they want to get dressed are putting way too much of it on? This seems to dry faster on me than any roll on product or other gel ever has. With the small amount of it I have to use per application it lasts quite awhile. I've tried everything from Nordstroms to Walgreens and this is my hands down favorite.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Cetaphil - Cetaphil Restoraderm Eczema Moisturizing Wash
AvaRoses 2/15/2011 8:06:00 PM
I don't actually have eczema. What I have is a terrible case of Allergic Contact Dermatis from using using essential oils. I have what my doctor thought was eczema covering the entire insides of my arms from my wrist to underarm. It's also on my stomach and legs for some reason. Everything burns my red, itchy, blistered and hardened skin in the shower. It's terrible. This product has been a godsend. It feels so soothing. I've been using it with the Cetaphil cream in the jar and Albolene cleansing cream multiple times a day as a moisturizer to try and keep my skin from cracking. It seems to be working well and I'm hoping in a week or two my skin will be normal again. Trying to remain positive at least I now know I have a fragrance allergy to both synthetic and natural botanical oils. :) So give this product a shot even if you're just suffering a horrid allergic reaction!
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Glamora Castle
AvaRoses 2/15/2011 12:40:00 PM
Maybe this will help someone else who likes the shadow but thinks it's too blue. I hate blue eye shadow and was hoping this would swatch more gray. On my arm it looked like a gray/teal blue color. I noticed if I tried to just take pigment from the gray portions I liked the swatch better. It came out more gray with just a slightly blue leaning undertone. So I took my freshly sanitized metal Tweezerman cuticle stick and carefully carved out the blue. It only goes less than a 1/16 of an inch down, maybe 1/32 of inch is a good estimate of depth. I kept everything dry the whole time and tipped the shadow over onto a clean klennex to empty out the blue powder. Then I wiped off the top and have the gray eyeshadow I wanted. The whole thing took about 10 minutes. I think you could use a new wooden cuticle stick too. You can still see a plaid pattern - between what I carved and what MAC pressed into it - it doesn't look unattractive. I got this on sale on MAC's website so you end up with double the amount of eyeshadow in these for the same price as a normal MAC eyeshadow. So it's still worth the price in the end since you hardly loose anything by removing the blue.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - A Wish Come True
AvaRoses 2/9/2011 7:26:00 PM
I thought about getting this when it came out around Christmas but bought some other eye shadows instead. I was on Mac's website and all the Tartan Tale plaid eye shadows are on sale. I loved it so much I ordered a second one before they run out. I have NW15 skin and it's the perfect eyelid wash. It looks a touch warmer than my Mac Dame blush - just enough not to be monotone when worn together. I would say A Wish Come True is more of a neutral pink that suits most anyone. The color goes on very smooth with no unevenness. It's not too shimmery, but not matte. Just perfect in my book. Plus since these are more than double the size of a standard Mac shadow - I now have the equivalent of 4 of them! Based on my calculations that will get me through the majority of my 30s, especially when rotated with Jest and Yogurt, maybe I should use it occasionally as a blush too!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - Borax laundry powder
AvaRoses 1/31/2011 10:43:00 PM
I'm allergic to something is normal laundry detergent, it makes my skin burn when I wear the clothes. I use a scoop of this with 7th Generation fragrance free laundry detergent and I have super clean clothes with nonburning skin. For some reason which I have yet to figure out my husband can not wear deodorant and smell completely fresh - I can wear antiperspirant and I will smell - my husband never smells whatsoever. It's not fair! Adding the borax to my laundry load removes any smell of sweat or odor from my shirts, even Oxy Clean doesn't work this well for me and it also makes my skin burn. I'll never be without Borax. I just use it for laundry, so can't comment on other uses.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Thierry Mugler - Womanity
AvaRoses 11/10/2010 7:24:00 PM
As a whole I find this perfume very interesting, but not in a good way. I actually like the fragrance of the perfume, on spray I got a mix of fig and passion fruit with a background of pleasant vanilla. It was nice. It was automatically a no buy for me though. The bottle scares me. I think a bottle that sort of looks like something from a medieval dungeon is off putting. The whole deal with a ring attached to a chain that is attached to the bottle top is just tacky to me. Also lets say I'm at a cocktail party and someone says, "you smell nice what are you wearing?" I have to either respond "Womanity" or make something up. It's just not me...... The juice seems perfectly lovely though. I find Angel and Alien to be represented in a much classier way. Maybe a decant? Maybe if the bottle was abstract in an artful way that represented the female form? I'm not a person to care about the bottle or the name, but I've never experienced such strong revulsion from them either. Maybe a decant and say you're wearing something else if asked?
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Lotions/ Creams -The Body Shop - Pink Grapefruit Body Butter
AvaRoses 11/10/2010 3:49:00 PM
This is my favorite of The Body Shop's body butters. The smell is very realistic. It's also a nice compliment to a citrus perfume if you want to bring out the grapefruit side of your fragrance. I wear it with Ralph Lauren Romance, Bulgari's White Tea or Clinique Happy for reference. The texture is wonderful. I have very dry skin and also like their coconut body butter, but it can be a bit greasy. This is still a body butter on a moisture level, but it's like whipped heaven. It absorbs in a reasonable amount of time and doesn't leave my skin greasy. It smells just like a fresh grapefruit. I love to peel and eat one in the evening while watching tv, and this is definitely the same scent as the real thing! The smell fades fairly quickly if for example I rub a small amount on my hands or arms, but if I put a ton on my feet with socks they still smell like grapefruit an hour later. If you don't really like the scent of grapefruit it could be an issue!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Bulgari - Eau Parfumee au The Blanc
AvaRoses 11/10/2010 3:13:00 PM
This fragrance lasts all day on me without being overwhelming. It is one of the best clean smelling "fresh out of the shower" fragrances I've ever tried. It doesn't smell at all masculine to me. It's just fresh with citrus and musk, and it does have faint silage, but wouldn't bother anyone with allergies. My husband loves it on me, and I've gotten multiple compliments from strangers. Definitely a HG. I will always have this in my fragrance wardrobe. It will work for any occasion from daily errands to a cocktail party. It's not dated or stuffy, just fresh and clean and sensual. In my opinion, Bulgari has the highest quality tea scents in the market. I love being able to smell this on my jacket or sweater the next day as well.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No