Eye Primer -Artdeco - Eyeshadow Base
HotLikeMexico 3/8/2012 9:13:00 AM
The Urban Decay Primer Potion isn't available where I live and I desperately wanted an eyelid primer so I got myself this baby. And I love it. APPLICATION: It comes in a tiiiny little pot, but don't be fooled by the size because you only need a light layer of this on your lid and you're good to go. I dip my finger into the pot once and get enough product to cover my lid and brow bone. After blending this in, I can layer as many shadows as I want over it and get great results. QUALITY: This product makes eye shades so many times more vivid and long-lasting than they are without it. Colors look as bright on the lid as they do in their pans, if not brighter. I've worn this on multiple occasions and it lasts for 8+ hours, in my experience. It is also water-resistant! I splashed/rubbed/ran water over it and it didn't budge. Only when I scrubbed with soap did it actually come off. It'll last you forever, seriously. I've had mine for a little under a year now and the product looks barely used. SMELL & CONSISTENCY: It has a hard creamy consistency. The color is a nude gold color with slight iridescence but worry not, NO sparkles or glitter shows on your lid. The product doesn't show through eye shades at all, either. It has a slight cologne-ish smell, like men's perfume. I don't mind that, though. To sum it up - PROS: -makes eye shadow as bright as can be -makes eye shadow last 8+ hours -very small amount needed -pot lasts exceptionally long -not too expensive CONS: -some people may not like the men's cologne smell -stupid pot packaging (Use a spatula/toothpick/back of a spoon to get product out, I'd say) All in all, it really is a great product, minus the packaging. When and if I run out of mine, I'll definitely get another.
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Blush -Maybelline - Dream Mousse Blush in Rose Petal ] [DISCONTINUED]
HotLikeMexico 1/29/2012 7:52:00 AM
CONSISTENCY - Creamy, whipped. Feels lovely to dip your fingers into this little pot and touch the blush. It is very soft and comes off easily onto the fingers. COLOUR - Darkish pink. Would look good on tan - olive skin tones for everyday look or otherwise. Would suit very fair skin for dramatic looks mostly, in my opinion. PACKAGING - Looks adorable. Little pot of blush. BUT there are hygiene issues as you have to dip your finger in it to apply it to your face. I use fingers but a small blush brush may be appropriate for major germophobes. CAUTION - THIS HAS GOLD SHIMMER! So you may not want to wear it in the daytime, though I do. Brushing loose powder over it tones the shimmer down and it looks okay in soft winter light. APPLICATION - Dip in your finger; light for less product and a little deep for more. Smile and move finger across cheek in circular motion. Little bits of product may come off as you blend but that's okay; just keep moving your finger and they blend right in too. SMELL - It has a strange smell, not sweet, not like play-doh either. But I find it cute, somehow. I always smell it when I open the pot. Weird. LIFE - If you use it daily, I'd say 6-8 months. If not, like sometimes, when going out or after 3 - 4 days, it'll last you +12 months. WHO WOULDN'T LIKE IT? -People who don't want to dip in fingers to get product -People who don't like shimmer -People who don't like the smell (try it and smell it before purchase!) -People who want their blush to last long - this fades after about 2 - 3 hours. To prevent that I wear a layer of loose powder before AND after application. That way it stays for 5 - 6 hours and fades leaving a natural-looking colour behind. WOULD I BUY IT AGAIN? - Probably. I like the colour and it is easy to apply so I wear it often when I'm going out because it goes with most looks (can be applied lightly or for a deep flushed look) and it can also be applied quickly in case you're in a rush. It is also inexpensive.
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Moisturizers -The Body Shop - Vitamin E Illuminating Moisture Cream
HotLikeMexico 1/8/2012 6:39:00 AM
First, let me just say that my skin-tone is somewhere between tan-medium. I say this first because I'v heard many medium - dark skinned people say this cream makes them look bad in any way. For me, that is not the case. I was a bit put off when I read so many reviews criticising how this cream makes people with similar skin-tone to mine look bad. But I'd read so many good reviews of it(regardless of skin colour) that I decided to buy it anyway. Btw there is one review on TBS website where someone mentioned that their mother who is brown-skinned loved this cream. That made me want to buy it too. And I love it. I will first give details, then list pros and cons. The key to making sure it does not give you a purple or pinkish tint on your face or make you look greasy is simple: use it with a verrry light hand. All I do is dip my middle finger once, lightly into the pot, and use only the amount that comes off on my finger. I put a bit on my cheeks, forehead and around my mouth. I start with my cheeks because when used right, this can really light up the cheeks beautifully. If I need more than my initial application, I apply the tiiiniest amount, ONLY around my mouth because that is the driest area of my face. So that's the way to go, IMO. Use a very small amount, and from that amount use more on your cheeks to make them glow. The great thing about this cream is that it moisturises well too, while making the face glow. So if you're using it for that purpose, apply a tiny amount on the dry patch and blend in. I have dry skin generally, and normally lather on the moisturiser in winters. But with this cream, all I need is less than a pea-sized amount. Perhaps half a pea-size. Some people say it breaks them out. I have dust allergies so I tend to break out at random times because of them. So I haven't noticed this cream causing any breakouts. If you are prone to breakouts after using makeup, I suggest you try it first, wait a day and then buy it if you like it. In brief: PROS - Illuminates beautifully, even on medium-dark skins (read one of the reviews on TBS website if you're still unconvinced). - You need only half a pea-sized amount, at most, to illuminate and moisturise. - Great for dry-skinned people - you'll need only a tiny amount to moisturise your skin in seconds. - Blends fast, so blend it quickly and well (always blend downward) to get results. -Great smell - it smells like baby lotion and I love that. Some people may be put off by the smell, but it is very light, fresh and fades after a while. CONS - Packaging - hate it! My pot is new but in time I may have to dip my fingers in deeper so it is bound to get under my nails and what not. I wish they'd provided it in a tube. - It is expensive where I live. But in most countries like the US and UK TBS is always having sales or handing out coupons so if you want it, get it when that's happening. - Amount - since it is expensive where I live, I wish they'd provided more. It is 50ml. But you only need a tiny amount. So I'm also unsure about this one. IN CONCLUSION: I love this product. It is great when worn alone. You can use it without foundation for a gorgeous glowing natural look. It makes cheeks very dewy. Apply this cream, two coats of mascara and a slick of gloss or lipstick and you'll be good to go. Worn under makeup as a moisturiser/primer/illuminator, it makes foundation look lovely. I've worn it every day since I got it about a week ago. For me it is expensive, but there is an 80% chance I'll be buying it again so I'm more than willing to save up for it.
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Liquid -Rimmel - Match Perfection
HotLikeMexico 11/5/2011 1:58:00 PM
I bought this foundation in the shade 100 Ivory along with the Match Perfection Pressed Powder in 103 True Ivory. I did not buy the concealer which I now consider a stupid move because most reviews state it is the best out of the range. I will review the liquid foundation and powder (detail only for liquid foundation). COVERAGE AND ABILITY TO ADAPT TO SKIN TONE: Firstly, the name of this foundation is bang-on in my opinion, because it is amazing how this foundation adapted to my skin tone. The perfect phrase to describe the look it gives is "my skin, but better". That makes it perfect for everyday wear. It gives medium coverage which can be increased a bit if more is layered on. It does not look cakey either. I have LÓreal True Match which I wear in summer and that does not adapt to my skin tone nearly as well as this one does. FINISH: Many reviews state Match Perfection is dewy without being shimmery. One of the main reasons I bought it was because of that. It did look dewy when the salesgirl tried it on my wrist. After trying it myself on my face, I was disappointed with the semi-matte finish. I wore it in the afternoon when it looked semi-matte and seven hours later in the soft evening light, it had begun to look glowy rather than dewy. I'm not too happy with that because I love a dewy finish. Another thing - it lasts long. I wore this foundation with Rimmel mono blush Santa Rose and a dusting of loose powder to set it(not Rimmel). Seven hours later, the blush had faded just a bit but still gave me a healthy flush. The foundation was still there, faded just a weensy unnoticeable bit, but looked just as good as it had on first application. One more thing: I needed no touch-ups. I'd cooked, been out in the sun, through dusty, humid places, into air-conditioned cars and out of them throughout this whole time, btw. It is moist too. The second reason I wanted this was because I'd read about how hydrating it is and great for winter wear. I wore it without moisturiser in cold weather where my face usually starts to look like a desert without moisturiser and a grease-ball with it. This kept my face, including dry patches, perfectly hydrated. Now I'll just state pros and cons. PROS: -has a pump -does adapt to skin tone -is hydrating -is inexpensive -semi-matte finish(which could be a con for people like me) -pretty packaging, sturdy too -sheer to medium coverage which can be enhanced -lasts long (7 hours for me, after which I washed my face. That is good enough for me because my university day lasts 6 - 8 hrs) -did not need touch-up after initial dusting of loose powder CONS: -NOT dewy :( just became glowy as the hours went by. Waaah. Maybe it will become dewy if I wear it long enough . . . -people who require heavy coverage like for weddings and photo shoots may not like it. -takes long to dry (around 5 minutes) This foundation is good for everyday wear in cold weather as it gives a natural finish and is cheap. I would buy it again, yes. But if I found one with similar quantities and a deliciously dewy finish, no! I will now list the pros and cons of the pressed powder. PROS: -cute packaging -colour adapts to skin-tone -easy to carry around in purse for touch-ups -smooth texture -those with oily skin will like it CONS: -the wrong colour will make your face look dark. It is better to buy a shade lighter to be on the safe side -better for summers as it makes dry patches noticeable (a friend pointed mine out and asked aghast ,"You're wearing base??!". So. Embarrassing.) -packaging is such that you have to flip the powder tray to see the mirror. May become annoying Personally I didn't like this powder because I have combination skin and this reeeeally highlights dry areas. Plus even though my shade is not darker than my skin tone, this product enhances the olive undertones of my skin. Had I bought it in summer, I may have liked it. I wouldn't recommend it, though. MAJOR EDIT ON REVIEW: This foundation IS dewy! Haha see, I said it would become dewy if I wore it long enough. My theory is that initially the oils that give a dewy foundation its slide haven't mixed yet, when you first purchase it. So do remember to shake it well before every use. After my initial bunch of applications it started becoming very dewy, especially when first applied. After application the dewiness tones down a little but is still visible enough to show well in photos. A major pro is that it is dewy but NOT shimmery. So it ends up looking healthy. I also added another con to my review of the foundation. The drying time it has pisses me off a little and it makes the dewiness fade. Overall, I'd still recommend it for everyday wear, especially for dry skin and winters.
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Highlighters -The Body Shop - Glow Enhancer
HotLikeMexico 7/19/2011 9:52:00 AM
I bought this product in Shade 02 after reading some reviews on it's versatility. And I assure you, it most certainly is versatile! The name of this product perfectly states what it's purpose is. It is not a highlighter, not really, but can be used as one if you take a pea-sized amount and apply it to your cheekbones, bridge of nose, brow-bones etc. But a pea-size, no less, is needed. Perhaps two pea-sizes. Because like I said, it isn't a really a highlighter. I tried applying it to my entire face as a tinted moisturiser but ended up with a very shiny, verging on greasy face. The shimmer in this product is barely noticeable but you have to use it with a very light hand to make sure shimmer overload doesn't occur. I've mixed it with a moisturiser and used it with a foundation and gotten a nice subtle glow. If you want a dewy/satin finish, I recommend you mix around 1 to 2 pea-sized amounts of this with your foundation and apply it to your face. You can also mix it with your moisturiser but that normally makes my face greasy. So I like using it simply by itself to enhance areas like cheeks and make them glowy and radiant. This product can be used in daytime as well as night and illuminate beautifully without worrying about looking like a disco ball. I have to admit, I still haven't properly discovered all the marvellous ways to use this product that I've read about in reviews, but I believe it is amazingly multi-purpose and hopefully it won't let you down. One downside to it is the packaging: the tube thing may make it practical for getting out the right amount, but the product is of a very liquidy consistency and sometimes when I open my tube, there is product on the opening. I hate that, since I'm very particular about not wasting even a tiny bit of products I love. Also, one place it looks gorgeous on is the decolletage (or collar bone).
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Highlighters -The Body Shop - Radiant Highlighter
HotLikeMexico 7/19/2011 8:05:00 AM
I've read about a million reviews praising Benefit's Highbeam as pretty much the best liquid highlighter out there, suitable for all skintones etc etc. Unfortunately that isn't available where I live. So I read up a few random reviews (not on MUA) comparing the TBS Radiant Highlighter to Highbeam and decided to buy that. I was NOT disappointed. Most reviews on MUA are negative regarding this product, but I think it's a lovely highlighter. Absolutely fantastic for brightening up the face, especially on days when you don't feel like applying much makeup or look tired/sallow. I apply very lightly over my cheeks and sweep it up to built intensity on my cheek bones. That gives a very fresh, dewy look to the face. There is shimmer in this product, but it is not visible. I've worn it from dusk till dawn and not needed any touch-ups or whatever. I also splashed my face with water and the dewy/glowy effect remained. In daylight, it looks like you are glowing from within - a very natural type of glowiness (not a word, I know). In the evening, it looks very lovely in the soft light and gives a great, illuminated effect. I've noticed I get noticed a lot more when I go out wearing this. Most days all I need to create a look to last me all day is this product, an eyeliner and, if I feel like it, a lipstick. It has done me pretty well in summer, but I feel this will look best in winter light when the sun isn't too strong. This was my very first liquid highlighter and I really like it. All I need is a tiny bit to make my face glow - literally less than a pea-sized amount. Best for dry/combination skin, I would say.
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