Crème -MAC - Studio Tech
Cland 4/7/2008 11:58:00 AM
I am overwhelmingly in love with this foundation. I apply with a damp beautyblender and it is absolutely flawless and doesn't look too heavy. I haven't tried this with a foundation brush, so I can't speak to that application, but using with with the beautyblender is a great combination. For me, the best thing about this foundation is how it comes out in photography - better than any other I have used. It doesn't state an SPF on the packaging, so I am guessing that is the reason it comes out so well. For reference, I am currently using NC35 and have dry skin in a very dry climate.
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Lip Gloss -Chantecaille - Brilliant Gloss in Flirt
Cland 10/14/2007 1:00:00 PM
First let me say that I almost always find warm, peachy lip colors to be unsuitable for my cool coloring and I often feel that they make my teeth look less than white. When I got this shade through a phone order with Barney's I didn't realize it would be so peachy, but after giving it a shot, I realized it was the PERFECT peach. What I like about it most is that it's not frosty, which most peaches are. Instead it is a gorgeous peach punch that feels light, not sticky, and moisturizing. Worn alone it is pretty sheer, but I found that when I used Lancome Framboise Lip Crayon underneath, I got a lasting glossy finish with great depth of color. Love this and can't wait to try more Chantecaille Brilliant glosses!
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Moisturizers -Origins - A Perfect World
Cland 7/18/2007 10:07:00 AM
This is my current daytime moisturizer and after two months of use, I am very happy with it. I have extremely dry skin with flakiness on my cheeks if I don't keep up with exfoliation and moisturization. Perfect World makes my skin feel nourished and soft and the smell, like many Origins products, is divine. With other moisturizers, I have noticed that after application, my face feels like it's sweating - I dont have that with Perfect World, which sinks into my dry skin without leaving residue on top or making my face warm. My only complaint is that I wish it came in a tube or a pump rather than a jar because I hate product getting under my fingernails.
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Bronzers -Mally Beauty - Believable Bronzer
Cland 6/25/2007 1:45:00 AM
Me: NW20, Light Brown Hair, Dry Skin (especially on apples of cheeks). In the 18 years that I have been wearing makeup, this is the very first bronzer that actually does what it's supposed to on me. I use the Golden Tan and it never ever looks fake, orangey or obvious on me. Just glowy and perfect. The bronzer itself looks dark in the compact IMO but goes on perfectly sheer and buildable. I never find myself going back over it with my fingers or a brush to try to blend more - it just goes on correctly if you apply it right. The highlighter is one of the few highlighters I've used that isn't glittery and doesn't worsen the look of the dry skin on my cheeks. Just shimmery, subtle goodness. The blush was the only part of this that I found a bit disappointing - very little color payoff unless you pack it on, but I have other blushes that also work very well on top of this, so it makes no difference to me. The bronzer and highlighter are what make the product for me and I would pay the current price even if it just included those two products. I think there are a lot of really cool things in Mally's line, but it won't get its fair shake until it expands offerings and becomes available on a more widespread basis.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Origins - Modern Friction
Cland 6/22/2007 10:50:00 AM
This is now my HG scrub (it's definitely more like a scrub than a microdermabrasion). I have dry skin in a dry climate and this, in combination with A Perfect World serum and moisturizer have made my rough dull skin become soft and glowing again. I bought this in the LE Go Perfect Set which included a 4oz. Modern Friction (in a TUBE! yay! not sure why they can't do that for the full size), as well as smaller versions of Perfect World serum and Checks and Balances face wash (the least exciting part of the set). Modern Friction has a sort of gluey consistency which was new for me, but otherwise it works like any other scrub. I usually do this before a shower because it's easier to remove that way (and I'm always tempted to do it daily even though it says 2-3 times a week because I end up feeling so good afterward). I've been using this skincare combination for about a week and a half now and my skin is noticeably improved.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Urban Decay - Wonder Brush
Cland 5/21/2007 12:22:00 PM
The Wonder brush is purrrrr-fect for a smokey eye eyeliner application. I use this brush with Fluidlines, MAC Paints and for running dry shadow over liner. I very rarely need a lip brush, but when I do, this comes in handy. I actually have two or three of this same brush in my collection. IMO UD brushes are underrated. These are super soft and cruelty free and very reasonably priced. Each time UD has a F&F 30% off code, I stock up on extra brushes.
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Makeup Brushes -Urban Decay - Shadow Brush
Cland 5/21/2007 12:17:00 PM
I'm always surprised at how little love UD brushes get on the boards. The shadow brush, in particular is one of my favorites for wet application, which I usually prefer. These are super soft and cruelty free and very reasonably priced. Each time UD has a F&F 30% off code, I stock up on extra brushes.
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Treatments -Unlisted Brand - MOOM Nourishing Botanical Hair Remover
Cland 5/19/2007 3:00:00 AM
I find using this product to be very similar in to standard hot waxing. I don't think it removes the hair QUITE as well as regular wax that gets much harder, but it still does a really good job. More importantly for me, however, it takes away all the mess and margin of error as traditional waxing. If you make a mistake in your application, you can simply wash it off and start again. Drop a big glob on your vanity? Just wash it off with warm water. Tired of cutting/buying tons of muslin strips? The ones that come with this can be washed and reused. In addition, it doesnt leave me quite as red as regular wax.
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Bath Treatments -Origins - Cocoa Therapy Comforting Cream Bath
Cland 5/5/2007 5:04:00 AM
This is a really nice moisturizer to add to the bath that leaves you and your bathroom smelling wonderful. It's a chocolate scent with floral and orange notes that make it less like food and more of wearable fragrance. The milk leaves your skin feeling nourished and soft. If anything, I would make this even more moisturizing, though, as I have pathetically thirsty skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Smashbox - Fusion Soft Lights - Gossamer
Cland 5/5/2007 4:48:00 AM
I am a big fan of Smashbox Fusion blushes and I didn't think anything could really top my love for Guru, but Gossamer is even more perfect for my skin tone and less intense. It is my go-to color when I don't want to think about what color blush I am wearing as it is very versatile. Great pigmentation, nice color depth, lasting power. The only thing I could ask for is what the previous reviewer noted, which would be a compact rather than screw on lid - Smashbox desperately needs to work on the packaging of most of their items.
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Self Tanners -L'Oreal - Sublime GLOW
Cland 4/29/2007 3:54:00 PM
After using the Jergens Natural Glow, I was skeptical about whether any self-tanners would ever please me. Luckily, I took a chance and tried the L'Oreal Sublime Glow because I LOVE it! Nice gradual build without excessive blotchiness or streaking (and the "gradual" part means that you can easily fix whatever spots you may have missed the first go around) and the initial scent of Mango-ey goodness was really nice and different than other self-tanning lotions I have smelled. The real test was going to be the 5-Hours-Later-Sniff-Test - you know, the one that proves that all self-tanners reek of that DHA smell the longer you have them on. I was pleasantly surprised to find that when I woke up the next morning (I applied before bed), I was not overcome by the smell and I had a nice lil glow going. Yay! Means you can go out after lotioning up without worrying that people around you can smell you. This Glow version does have glitter in it but it's fairly subtle and didnt bother me at all - actually a nice little bonus!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Self Tanners -Jergens - Natural Glow - Light
Cland 4/29/2007 3:48:00 PM
I thought this product was pretty cool - I like the gradual building for us light complexions... it seems that instant darkness doesnt go on very well, so gradual building prevents the streaking/blotching and unnatural change. Unfortunately, though, the Jergens version still seems to suffer from the blotching issue to a large extent. I thought, perhaps, it was just my application skills (or lack thereof) until I tried the L'Oreal Sublime Glow, which was a MARKED improvement. My biggest complaint with this product, however, is the overpowering self-tanner smell which, within a few hours, was as strong and stinky as going for a regular mystic tan. The lotion smell was completely gone and replaced with a very strong self tan smell which lasted the entire 12 hours until I showered again and seemed to actually intensify the longer it was on. I'll stick with the L Oreal, no question.
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Lip Gloss -Clinique - Gloss and Go- Color Surge Impossibly Glossy Collection
Cland 3/26/2007 3:55:00 PM
I picked this up at a CCO and, while I don't normally gravitate toward Clinique products, I'm really glad I picked this up. Several of the colors in this set have become ones that I reach for frequently. No discernible scent or taste, gorgeous texture, decent staying power (particularly over lipstick or lipliner). I put these on par with my Smashbox and Chanel glosses, which I prefer over my MAC lipglasses and others (I'm a bit of a l/g ho), for texture and moisture. I agree with other comments made about this product line when it comes to the applicator. If these came with doe-foot or bristles, they would be even better!
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Mascara -Chanel - Mascara Base
Cland 3/6/2007 4:11:00 PM
I have been meaning to write a review for this for ages because this has become my new HG mascara base. I was an avid user of Shiseido's but I was not liking the goopy clumps that it was leaving on my lashes before I put on my regular mascara. I decided to try the Chanel on a whim and I am so glad I did! While it's not great that it is white (unlike the grey Shiseido), as long as you let it dry a tiny bit, you shouldnt have any issues with it greying out your black mascara. The way I use it most often is that I put it on uncurled lashes and then curl immediately after I apply the base and then give it another ten seconds or so before applying my HG mascara, Lancome Fatale. It is a nice formula that is thinner than the Shiseido and seems to coat my lashes nicely rather than just sticking them together.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Chantecaille - Luminous Eyeliner - Pianissimo
Cland 3/2/2007 10:56:00 PM
I have kind of sworn off liquid eyeliners in recent years, but I was swayed by the beautiful gunmetal shade I saw online, so I took the dip. This went on very very similar in color to MAC Lithograph Fluidline which is one of my faves, so I do love the color of this. If you prefer liquid eyeliners over gel, than this is a really nice option. I found that this went on nicely (ans easier than I remember liquid e/l being!) and dried quickly enough that I wasn't blinking this on to my upper lid, even with a reasonably thick line.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No