Lipstick -Illamasqua - Climax
Jhereg 3/5/2012 3:55:00 PM
I don't think I have ever bought a lipstick twice, but this is perfect for me. My lips are very pigmented, so to get a rich color, I usually have to pile on product or neutralize with pencil/concealer and can't get that sheer wash of color I'm looking for sometimes-especially in a pale pink or neutral. The pigment in this is so intense, a single stroke leaves a wash of neutral/cool medium pink that brightens my whole face. It manages to pale out the dark bluish undertones of my natural lipcolor and give me a pretty rose color that looks natural, but a bit bright. Almost a MLLB,but more punch. It stays on forever, and though it's a sheer and a matte, it's not at all drying and feels quite nice. This is a very different lipstick experience for me, and after having worn so many for so many...decades, this is wonderful. I am now a fan of Illamasqua and will purchase other products! (Well, I already did. I purchased the cream color rouge in Rude, review to come soon :)
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Paint Pot in Painterly
Jhereg 3/13/2011 5:05:00 PM
This is my first and only paint pot. I threw it out today after dealing with it for about a year or so. I had used MAC paints as shadow base, but wanted something creamier to get some shadows to adhere to them. Shade sticks were OK, but inconsistent in their quality. What I like about Painterly: It is a perfect color. Just enough color to even out lid color. That's all I like about it. What I dont like: Most of this deals with packaging and delivery of the product. It's dry. It was dry from the moment I began to use it. I stated storing it upside-down as some members suggested which actually helped, but it was still dry which lead to It's hard to spread smoothly on the lid without tugging and leaving thick/thin spots. It's a pain to apply. It's too thick to apply easily with a brush, so using my finger is easiest, but it's hard to get out w/o getting gobs stuck under my nails. Yuck. Not hygienic enough. having to stick a finger or brush into a wet product meant for eyes does not make me feel confident it is clean enough. I prefer shadesticks (the ones that are creamy) and paints. Paint pots are just a dry sticky mess that I feel is a breeding ground for germs.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Aveeno - Stress Relief Moisturizing Lotion
Jhereg 1/10/2011 4:42:00 PM
I put the price on this product as a little high, because it is high for a drugstore product at the same price as a dept store product for the size-but less than most spa products. It's still a bargain at $12 though. Smells light and lovely, like lavender for babies, not a strong French lavender. Soaks in very well and is very moisturizing. I bought this after using the body wash which has the same scent and is also lightly moisturizing and calms my winter weary skin. This is a good everyday lotion because it's lightly scented, so not too clashy with perfumes, it soaks in well so no greasiness, does actually soften, and is a good bargain.
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Eyeliner -L'Oreal - Extra-Intense Liquid Pencil Eyeliner
Jhereg 12/10/2010 6:11:00 AM
This is the best eyeliner I have ever used. It's simple: SUPER black. Goes on creamy Stays on incredibly well - the downside is that it sort of sets like a liquid, so once it does it's a little difficult to clean up errors or smudge out for a softer look. That requires me to use some e/s or another kohl type pencil. It reminds me of a liquid or maybe a cream like MAC Fluidline but in convenient pencil form. The upside of that is that it does eventually wear off, but doesn't flake off like some liquids. Works very very well in the waterline. Soft enough to go on, but sturdy enough to stay on well. If I have any complaint, it would be that it's difficult to remove-but not any harder than any other strong eyeliner. I think it only comes in gray and black - pity,I'd love it in an emerald, turquoise, and even a navy. This is the perfect eyeliner, especially if you want a rich dark black.
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Mascara -L'Oreal - Voluminous Million Lashes
Jhereg 12/5/2010 3:23:00 PM
The thing about mascara is that you have to match your lashes up to the product. I have VERY long and VERY fine sparse lashes. Almost no mascara really works well on this kind of lash-Diorshow barely sticks to them and what does flakes right off. LashBlast clumps my lashes into 6 spidery claws then flakes off to a pile of dust under my eyes (attractive!). REglar Voluminous did pretty much nothing on my lashes at all. So If you dont have this kind of lashes, you probably wont like this mascara. This worked very well on my lashes. I managed to get volume which is RARE. It does tend to want to clump them together, but the style of the brush makes it easy to separate them. Nice and dark, and a little glossy. Doesnt seem to flake off, but washes off very easily with soap and water. The brush feels really hard to me, so if I get too close to the base of my lashes, it's uncomfortable and pokey and I can't get that thick base that I really like-I can compensate with liner, but still. The package is super thick - I can do without that. I'd definitely repurchase this.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Urban Decay - Gravity
Jhereg 12/5/2010 3:14:00 PM
Love this color. On me, it's a deep purple berry with a hint of pink. The formula is pretty creamy and in general, it's a sophisticated look for a woman who wants a deep berry, plum or burgandy lip but does not want to look like she's in a Goth costume. On me, it's 'everyday goth" and that suits me fine :) It has a light caramel/creme brulee scent. It DOES have a few problems. I have to make sure I dont wear it with anything under or over it that brings out the pink in it - it goes from deep berry to cheap fuchsia in a quick turn and then it looks terrible. It also does that if I try to wear it too sheer-it needs enough application to build up some body or only the fuchsia remains and it's not a flattering version of the color. The taste. It's bitter and gagworthy. I will put up with a lot for great lipstick, but it's remarkably unpleasant and doesn't taste like it smells. The packaging. any other review will go on an on about this and they are right. It's cute, if immature, but bulky and annoying. I'd buy it again, but if I could find a replacement, I'd ditch it in a heartbeat.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Urban Decay - Rush
Jhereg 5/9/2010 5:24:00 PM
This is the perfect nude lipstick for me. I have not found anything like it and despite the flaws, I love it. I have very pigmented lips (more purple than reddish), so finding a nude that works is really tough. This one fits for me perfectly. That Angeline Jolie lip that is fleshy and soft and smooth looking without being shiny is what I get when I wear this. I love the feel of it as it goes on - very creamy. It's actually a bit too sheer and doesn't really build, so for more opaque coverage, I use a pencil under and to define the lipline. Staying power is not very good-but it wears away evenly. If you have lips you feel are too bright or if they are like mine and you want them to be a bit more 'flesh' colored, this is a good choice for a natural looking lip with a bit of sophistication. If you have very pale lips this might warm them up to a nice natural looking nude this will do the trick. Not recommended for very dark skin or dark lips. I found it to be rather drying. The packaging is a nightmare. besides the fact that the case is just plain too large and fat, it's difficult to get it out of the package, and why oh why is the stupid little sword handle on the end? It's in serious need of repackaging. I dont like anything about it except the pretty purple color and the imprint of the emblem on the lipstick itself. Despite these things, I will repurchase. Pros: smooth creamy to apply scent is mild caramel/vanilla and not offensive sheer color that is not too sheer & fades away gracefully unique color I have yet to find anywhere else Cons: expensive drying low staying power not buildable terrible packaging
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Mascara -Rimmel - LASH MAXXX Mascara Extreme Black
Jhereg 2/5/2010 7:27:00 PM
just got it - like the overall look and like the brush, does seem to look a bit dry though. I prefer a glossy mascara- will see how it wears and update
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Eye Shadow -Unlisted Brand - Medusa's Makeup - Eye Dust - Desert Storm
Jhereg 1/4/2010 3:05:00 PM
I love her eyedusts. They are like pigments. I am lucky enough to live right where Lora does, so I began buying her products in her shop, Medusa's Circle (which is no more). Now I can find her products in local stores, so I have the luxury of being able to try out her products in person (though I have seen ads for her stuff in BUST magazine). thus far, all the eye dust pigments are very true when applied. Anyhoo, this is a perfect neutral for me. I like it as an overall lid color, to help blend out shades, and it even works as a not too shiny or too pale brow or face highlight. A very handy color to have around. It's a soft pale sand color, with the *tiniest* bit of iridescence so its not flat or matte, yet not opalescent not shimmery. It's got a satiny skin finish. I liken it to MAC Shroom, but a little bit pinker and not with quite the gleam of it, which I see as a good thing. It's very versatile. It's a smooth, nearly creamy pigment that blends nicely. Like most pigments, you get a ton. This is my favorite brand of pigments.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -Amphigory - Special Effects in Atomic Pink
Jhereg 12/18/2009 5:29:00 AM
This is a great pink. Super bright and very true. As with all bright colors, the staying power is sketchy, but this stuff stays in FOREVER. It was actually to the point I got tired of it! If you want a bright bubblegum pink, this is for you. Loved it
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Polishes -Milani - Reddest Red
Jhereg 11/1/2009 6:41:00 PM
In general I love Milani products and their nail polishes especially. This particular color, Reddest Red is nearly disturbing - it is the exact same color as blood. Not only is the the color of bright fresh blood, but the depth of color is too. Two coats and it looks as if one has dipped their nails into a vat of the stuff. It's not super shiny, but I added a quick dry topcoat and voila, there was the shine. Now I know this review is a bit morbid sounding, but it is, after all, the day after Hallowe'en and I found this color while I was looking for a bright neutral red to go with a costume (not gory at all, I was a British "Redcoat") and this one was devoid of too much blue or orange. I remember buying it and wearing it months ago, and that it wore well and applied nicely, but it is a bit formal looking for a fun flirty red and too intense or perhaps dramatic for a sexy red. It's just so...red. Blood red. Despite my sanguine description,the color is actually very lovely and oddly sexy - perhaps because of its dramatic tint and depth. It wears well and I would indeed wear and buy it again.
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Mascara -L'Oreal - Extra Volume Collagen mascara
Jhereg 10/15/2009 1:33:00 AM
still deciding. like it so far, hate the fact that the packaging is way too bulky. Stays on well, doesnt flake, clumps a lot, but that's OK on my very long but VERY fine lashes. does not find the tiny lashes, but plumps up the ones it does get to. formula is very dark, but could be glossier, especially since it tends to be a bit goopy. I'll check back-only used 4-5 times now and sort of slapped it in, didnt really work with it yet. UPDATE 1/04/2010: after using it off and on for a couple of months, I lower it to 3 stars. Like that it doesn't flake, and it does plump up the lashes it gets, but dont like that it looks a bit too dry and it tend to stick the finer lashes to the bigger ones - long, but sparse lashes. Works OK with any other mascara, but if I feel like doing that much work, I'll probably just apply falsies or put up with some dramatic mascara. It does give long lashes. If you have thick but short lashes, this stuff is probably ideal if you apply one coat.
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Fragrances -Thierry Mugler - Angel
Jhereg 10/5/2009 9:28:00 PM
I know it's all the trend to hate this fragrance, but give me a moment here, please? I first came across this fragrance after I realized my beloved Chaos was no more. I had never really found an incense type fragrance before that was available mainstream. There are a zillion descriptions of the scent, so I dont have to go into detail, but I love the vanilla, sugar, incense this fragrance has. The bottle is fun and kitschy. and despite all the people who claim to hate it, it gets me a lot of compliments. It is important to remember the fragrance is quite strong, and I think it also needs to be suited to the personality that adopts it as their scent. Just as much as Chanel No. 5 or Fracas seems silly on your average Gossip Girl watching Twinkie, Angel is reserved for the dark, gothy, mysterious, hippie, and/or ethereal type who can support a scent that does what this does. Wear it while drinking absinthe and listening to Massive Attack or drinking Malbec from a goblet while rocking out to Concrete Blonde.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -China Glaze - Love Letters
Jhereg 10/1/2009 12:48:00 AM
I bought this thinking it would give that pale pink jelly color, and as other reviewers said, it's pretty much clear pinkish. I applied up to 6 coats over the course of a week and it never got much more than sheer once it dried. If that was all, I'd love it, but it's slightly peachy pink, so though it looks OK over the pink part of my nails, it makes the tips look yellowed! I was disappointed that it was so sheer that it didn't give the cool jellied look. It's nice and shiny, and wears well, that's the only pro. The con category is that it makes the tips of my nails look stained or yellowed and frankly even makes the pinkish part look a little yellowish too. This was an overall disappointing product that I don't have any use for.
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Hair Color -L'Oreal - Color Rays in Fuschia Flash
Jhereg 6/19/2009 5:39:00 PM
Useless. Actually worse than useless. it dyed my scalp and any skin it touched very well. otherwise it didnt color my hair at all. I have dark brown hair, but it's been processed to death and dont usually have a problem with products like this. I will not be lazy next time and go back to Special Effects color.
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