Foundations -Besame - Souffle Foundation
CaliChick 3/29/2008 9:22:00 PM
I've had this foundation for about 6 months now, but only recently can I say that I LOVE it. At first, I was using a foundation brush to apply. Even though I was using a small amount, it seemed too heavy and left a flat finish on my face. I started using it just to cover my rosacea and was using another foundation for the rest of my face. But today I tried applying it with a skunk brush, and WOW. What a difference. I just tap the brush in the glass tub and that's all I need for my entire face. It covered beautifully, didn't feel caked on, and really just gave me a flawless finish. I can now say that I love the foundation. It lasts all day and the tub will surely last a while. The $18 price tag is a bit steep, but seeing how long this will last, I'm willing to spend that. I use the Besame finishing powder on top and it leaves a really natural, polished look to my skin. Highly recommended!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Sonia Kashuk - Highlighting Brush
CaliChick 3/29/2008 6:50:00 PM
I've never used a skunk brush, so I can't compare this to the MAC 187, but I can say that it did an amazing job at applying my cream foundation flawlessly. I've always used a flat foundation brush in the past, but this far exceeds what the flat brush can do. The bristles are soft enough that they didn't scratch my super sensitive skin, but stiff enough to apply foundation (I did try another version of the skunk, but it was too flimsy and didn't apply very well) properly. The price is dirt cheap and I would definitely repurchase in the future. Highly recommended.
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Lotions/ Creams -Bath and Body Works - True Blue Spa Island Get Away Tahiti Sweetie Body Lotion with Monoi Oil
CaliChick 3/21/2008 5:16:00 PM
I just received this in a swap and I am in love. Hubby and I honeymooned in Tahiti and this brings me right back to my honeymoon. The scent is dead on -- you smell this EVERYWHERE in French Polynesia. The lotion is thick and moisturizing but not greasy. It absorbs quickly into my skin and the scent lingers for quite a while after that. I wouldn't describe this as a traditional tropical scent, because it's not the overpowering, sticky sweet coconut scent that most people think of when they hear tropical. I smell mostly the Tiare flower in this lotion, which instantly relaxes me. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a tropical, but not sticky sweet, scented lotion.
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Eye Shadow -NYX - Trio TS36--Ceramic
CaliChick 3/19/2008 2:46:00 PM
Love this palette for creating a quick and fairly simple smokey eye. They're smooth and easy to blend and staying power is good. They also work well as liners. I'd repurchase again, you can't beat the price for the quality!
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Eye Shadow -NYX - Trio 10 - Tropical - Yellow - Lime Green
CaliChick 3/19/2008 2:43:00 PM
I just hauled a few of these trios from Cherry Culture and this is probably my favorite. I love that the colors are somewhat sheer when dry, but really pop when wet. I can use them for work or going out. I applied over UDPP about 5 hours ago, and the colors are still just as vibrant as they were when I applied this morning. They blend nicely and go on very smoothly. Overall, I'm pleased and would repurchase. Though I find the case a bit difficult to open...am I the only one?!
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Fragrances -Bath and Body Works - Pink Grapefruit Eau de Toilette EDT
CaliChick 3/19/2008 2:40:00 PM
I just received this in a swap. Love it! I've been wearing The Body Shop's Pink Grapefruit body butter, so this is a nice change. It's fruity without being sticky sweet. It smells fresh and clean, with a hint of citrus. I love the bottle, it looks great on my dresser. Another reviewer said the square shape made it hard to dispense, but I haven't found that to be the case for me. I can't comment on price, as this was a swap, but I would definitely repurchase, if it wasn't being discontinued.
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Eye Shadow -Besame - Vintage Alluring Eye Shadow
CaliChick 2/15/2008 8:28:00 PM
I have 3 of these eysahdows in Beige, Peacock Blue and Plum Dandy. I love the vintage looking gold cases that the eyeshadows come in, though they can be a bit difficult to open at first. All of the shadows are highly pigmented and go on sheer and naturally when applied dry, or bold and dramatic when wet. Peacock Blue makes a wonderful liner for my deep brown eyes and Shimmer Beige is a great highlighter. Plum Dandy is a bit more subdued than I was expecting, but it complements my eyes very nicely. The colors stay put all day, and look just as polished after 8 hours as they do when I first apply. The prices are more than I normally spend, but the quality is excellent, and well worth the price.
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Fragrances -mark - Pure
CaliChick 2/15/2008 8:25:00 PM
I'm normally a foodie-scent-wearing type of person, but there are days when I just want to smell fresh and clean, not like vanilla, lemon, grapefruit, etc. This one reminds me of lounging around on a Saturday afternoon in jeans and a t-shirt. It's a very casual smelling scent that leaves you smelling "just showered." It does smell a bit soapy, but on me, the citrus lingers around for a while too. It's more long-lasting than the past few scents mark. has put out, and the bottle is much sleeker and cleaner looking. For $15, I'd definitely recommend this.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Besame - Lip Glaze in Vanilla
CaliChick 11/14/2007 6:05:00 PM
I received this free with my order and I love it! The new packaging seems much nicer than this one (it's the older packaging) but it's still a great size to throw in my purse and always have with me. The color is slightly more opaque than I was expecting, but I love the rainbow shimmer. It gives my lips a fresh glossy look without color, which is what I like. The formula is really moisturizing and feels great on. Not overly sticky, but not slippery either. The smell is just ok. I normally don't go for vanilla scents because they usually smell fake, but this one is pretty light and not overpowering. I can't wait to try some other lip glazes!
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Makeup Brushes -mark - Kabuki Brush
CaliChick 10/28/2007 1:05:00 PM
This is the latest addition to the mark. brush line. It's a mini Kabuki brush for powder foundations, highlighters, and blush. The brush itself is about 3 inches long, and about an inch and a half in diameter. The cap pulls off to reveal a nice sized Kabuki brush. The bottom of the brush lifts up over the bristles so when you replace the cap, the bristles don't bend and deform. Really unique packaging, but hard to describe here. It's compact and will fit into any makeup bag without a problem. Very versatile and well worth the inexpensive price I paid. I've used this with the Powder Buff foundation and it gives a flawless finish. The bristles are made from natural hairs and are stiff enough to buff and blend easily, but not so stiff that it irritates the skin. I also like to use this with the new Shimmer Cubes to apply the highlighter more precisely. Highly recommended. Great price, awesome packaging, and superb quality, as usual.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Alba Botanica - Coconut Cream Lip Balm
CaliChick 10/4/2007 2:00:00 PM
Great product! I love the coconut smell -- it's not overpowering, but it smells so much nicer than just a plain unscented balm. It leaves my lips really moisturized and feeling good. I use it at night after my mark. lip exfoliater and it leaves my lips really moisturized and smooth. Highly recommended. I received this in a travel kit from Alba, so I can't comment on the price I paid, but I've seen it in Rite Aid for about $4 and would gladly pay that price in the future when I run out.
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Mascara -Wet 'n' Wild - MegaLength Double Action Mascara
CaliChick 9/17/2007 10:56:00 AM
I bought this mascara because WnW things were BOGO 50% off, and I was picking up a few other things as well. It's got 2 ends -- a lengthening side, and a mascara side. The brush length is pretty standard, but the wand length is a bit short for me. It makes it slightly awkward to apply when the wand is so short. But either way, the lengthening side and mascara make my lashes look full and lush, without clumping. I wear this in the hot summer in California and it doesn't run or drip like previous posters have mentioned. It's not my HG mascara, but it's nice and worth the price. My biggest gripe is actually with the bland packaging design more than anything else. There's nothing on it. Just a black tube for mascara, and white for lengthener, but that's it. Overall, I'd recommend it and repurchase in the future.
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Fragrances -mark - Jewel Eau de Toilette
CaliChick 8/31/2007 12:22:00 AM
This is the latest fragrance from mark., called Jewel. The package says it's, "succulent fruits and sensual casablanca lily mingled with warm macchiato, liquid caramel and vanilla." I definitely smell this in the fragrance. It starts off ever so slighty florally and dries into this wonderfully sweet (but not sticky sweet) Fall scent. It smells warm and comfortable and very feminine, without smelling like a basket of roses. The bottle is super cute as well. 1.5 ounces in a deep red oval bottle with a jewel on top. The sprayer is powerful and delivers a nice spray. The lasting power is better than most mark. perfumes, but still not fantastic. On me, it lasted about 5 hours while baking, watching TV, prepping dinner, etc. The price is just right, at $20 a bottle, including a free red jewel pendant. If you wait another few weeks, it will be available in a cute gift set with free earrings. Overall, I am very pleased with the scent and will definitely be using it everyday in the Fall!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Demeter - Kahala Hawaiian Surf
CaliChick 8/14/2007 8:57:00 PM
I purchased this item because of the description online. I love fresh, natural scented fragrances and have fond memories of both Hawaii and Tahiti, so I thought this would be a good fragrance for me. I can't pinpoint exactly what it smells like, but saying it smells like the ocean isn't accurate. It smells fresh, and clean and just really really nice. I purchased a full size bottle with a gift card, but had I spent my own money, I wouldn't want to pay $20 for the bottle. The lasting power isn't GREAT, but it lasts 4-5 hours on me, which is fine. Overall, it's a nice scent and my husband actually enjoys smelling this on me (he's not a fan of most fragrances), so I'd say it's a keeper. I also love Demeter's 100% satisfaction guarantee, so if you buy it and aren't happy, just exchange it for something else!
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Eye Shadow -Sephora - Miiistic Shadow
CaliChick 8/14/2007 8:54:00 PM
I was really skeptical of these, but I had a gift card and I really liked the shimmery colors, so I figured I'd give it a shot. I bought 2 -- Fashion Brown & Tender Pink. They come in a pink bottle that resembles an upright liquid liner pot and wand. The wand has a sponge tip applicator that actually applies color pretty precisely. The brown is very deep with a slight gold shimmer. It blends into the crease perfectly and stayed on all day without a base. The pink is very shimmery and makes a nice highlighter. I used it under my brow and in the corners of my eyes and it really added a nice bright accent. These are great for travel because you really don't need a brush to apply them. The wand applies precisely and they blend very nicely with your fingers. Overall, I was actually REALLY impressed. Nothing else from the brand comes close to interesting me, but I might purchase some other colors while they're still on sale. Are they super high quality? No, but they last all day, and apply cleanly and evenly, so I really have no complaints.
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