Pressed Powders -Hourglass - Ambient Lighting Powder in Radiant
KileyMc 5/1/2013 2:25:00 PM
Radiant looks a little like bronzer or maybe a blush in the pan with a definite gold sheen. And that's the problem. For starters, on my light medium skin this is waaaay too peachy/orange. But it's the gold shimmer that makes this a definite non-starter for me. Extremely over the top shimmer that I can't seem to buff out without totally ruining my fdtn. And because it's so dark you can't use it to highlight cheekbones or brow bone. Horrid. I also own dim and it's just ok. At 39 I'm only going to add ANOTHER powder on my skin if it's worth it and neither are. So I say pass and if you need a glow check out one of the million iterations of Meteorites.
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Top/Base Coats -Christian Dior - Gel Coat
KileyMc 4/24/2013 1:14:00 PM
Woot! I'm first-- yea!! So on to the review. Just had to try this after reading bloggers and other reviews. I have used this on many different brands such as Chanel, Zoya, Essie, OPI....tons. Although this does not claim to dry fast, I find it does. Definitely slower than SV but still pretty quick. It's thick but not unmanageable and smoothes out bumpy glitters really well. But-- and it's a big one-- major shrinkage. Day 2 of any mani with this and the tips have totally peeled back looking like I'm a professional typist or dishwasher. Just can't recommend this due to that. But it does give great shine and does leave your nails with a kind of thick look. I think I'll try this next as a glitter tamer followed by a different QDTC and will let you all know the results. Bummer though, right?!?!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -L'Oreal - Rouge Caresse Lipstick in Tempting Lilac (101)
KileyMc 3/12/2013 2:51:00 PM
What a weird product. Like others, I had to try this out after loving my YSL glossy stains. In the tube it appears to be kind of a MLBB color (for me at least) but it totally changed on my lips. Like one of those "color changing" glosses this turned sort of reddish winey plum. So not what I was wanting. And the lasting power/glossyness does not remotely compare to YSL. Big fail. Back to Rite Aid it goes.
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Mascara -Chanel - Le Volume De Chanel
KileyMc 2/14/2013 11:53:00 AM
I normally don't love Chanel mascara but decided to throw this into my Nordies cart after reading such positive blog reviews (I know, I know) and found myself completely smitten. Long, thick and curled lashes. Gorgeous even after only 1 coat. And by 1 coat I mean going over and over on each eye and not redipping before the next. Anyhoo, no flaking on me or smudging but I only apply on top and use a tubing one for the bottom. This is a truly dramatic mascara that deserves checking out. Oh, and as a huge bonus, it was perfect to use right away and didn't need "dry time" like others that are too wet. I might just rethink my whole "I hate rubber brushes" thing and may have found my HG. Also love GA ETK and Tarte LCL.
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Liquid -Kanebo - Sensai Fluid Finish Lasting Velvet
KileyMc 1/15/2013 11:39:00 AM
So I was browsing nm.com and remembered the great reviews of this. Well, I thought it was this but I apparently bought the newer model which supposedly lasts longer. Okay, so I hate this foundation. I have it in 202 soft beige which is a fine match for my light-med skin. Yellowish but natural base. However, there is very little coverage and it's really patchy on and layering is quite difficult. I've used brushes, my fingers and my BB and fingers work fine with a light bounce of a sponge after. I settled on fingers cause even with a damp BB it took about 2 1/2 pumps to get the coverage I needed. It also just looks really unnatural and totally emphasizes my pores seemingly eating up my Clinique pore refiner. IT also isn't nearly as long lasting as others, maybe 8 hours of wear time. I'm not sure if they're phasing out the other but it's currently still the only one listed on Neiman's website. I guess I'll check around to get the original but now I'm kinda gun shy as this was such a fail. 2 stars for the pump and the packaging.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Lancome - Hypnose Star 
KileyMc 12/20/2012 2:04:00 PM
I also received a sample of this and was prepared to hate it as Lancome has never been my go-to for mascara. Have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I like a high drama mascara and this almost delivers. I have long but sparse lashes and this volumized quite a bit and I got a lot of length. Personally, I find the formula more so than the brush is what determines lengthening and I always swipe my tips for further length. The fuzzy side of the brush helps with volume. To me, bristley brushes work best for volume rather than rubber. This can get clumpy with multiple coats so be warned to have your comb ready. As to the other reviewers comment about curl. Funny, my lashes are naturally curled and this seemed to straighten them out some. No smudging but I only put this on my top lashes and always a tubing formula on the bottom ones. No flakes either. I probably won't buy it but it's worth a shot if you can return it to try it out.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -It Cosmetics - Celebration Foundation
KileyMc 12/19/2012 5:31:00 PM
Truly, truly horrible. Even using the lightest dusting this fdtn gets pasty and cakey. Especially around my nostrils and on my chin and cheeks and forehead...well you get the picture. I have tried this with different sunscreens and primers and it's still a mess. Amazing how it looks so much worse after it sinks in. Color was nice and sponge is good but overall a total waste. I recommend CdP, Mally or LM for amazing powder foundations. Back to QVC it goes.
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Mascara -Givenchy - Noir Couture 4-in-1 Mascara
KileyMc 11/8/2012 12:38:00 PM
Hmmm, well I seem to disagree with most of the reviewers. I found this to be a really lackluster mascara. Not amazing in any way. Volume was minimal and no lengthening. This was just a very "natural" looking mascara on me and back to Sephora it went. FYI my HG mascaras are Tarte LCL and IT! hello lashes.
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Styling Products -Oribe - Dry Texturizing Spray
KileyMc 3/30/2012 12:37:00 PM
Another winner from Oribe. LOVE the apres wave beach spray. I have used this wet and dry on my very long, thick but sparse blonde hair. Sprayed on wet hair it works as a root lift and gives me gorgeous hair. Because it's technically a dry shampoo, the volume stays for a couple of days. (I wash every other.) On dry hair it gives tremendous oomph and never looks white or chalky. LOVE IT!!! I ordered mine from Birchbox and used points so it was practically free. Price is not too bad as I go through a can like every 6-7 months so it's not a big deal to me. The can is enourmous which stinks when traveling but I'll take it as that puffy, fluffy look is so important to me! Must try!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Sephora - Mineral Double Compact Foundation SPF 10
KileyMc 3/30/2012 12:32:00 PM
This reminds me so much of Pur's pressed fdtn. Very heavy coverage and a nice color selection. The first time I wore it, it didn't play nice with my LRP s/s and got cakey and settled into every fine line I have. But with a more matte s/s it works nicely. I find a fluffier brush works better or you wind up with way too much product on. I have a lot of broken caps and need coverage and this covers all! No oxidation and did not make me any oilier than normal. HATE! packaging like this. So sick of that under the fdtn mirror that's impossible to use. Otherwise a good one to try if you like powder fdtn, especially given Sephora's excellent return policy.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Oribe - Après Beach Wave and Shine Spray
KileyMc 3/17/2012 2:01:00 AM
I love!!! this product. I have fine hair with a light/medium wave. On days that I sleep in a bun or scrunch my hair dry it gives me beautiful beach waves. This is like a combo hairspray slash pommade slash shine spray. I think the key is already having some wave in your hair. I only use this dry and I love it. It's in my vacation bag always and as I only use it a couple times a week so the price is fine. I just spray all over in sections and scrunch. DH thinks I have Victorias Secret hair and I do too. to me, people that really need this must have a light wave already and this will augment and highlight it. Def repurchase.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Yves Saint Laurent - Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking Mascara
KileyMc 1/10/2012 12:40:00 PM
I am so tempted to write a "funny" review of how shocked I was with this mascara. I'll spare you all my witty humor. Sigh. It's just too wet, as others have said. The bristles are short which only makes it clumpier when applied. I've even been using this for 3 months and it's still a gloppy mess. The kicker is that after I comb it through over and over again with my tweezerman, my lashes are thick and long and very black. But I just cannot recommend a product that is so difficult to apply....or repurchase said product! Back to Lights, Camera, Lashes or Mally. Sidenote--I do find this much easier to apply after Dior's primer first. Who knows why?!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Christian Dior - Diorskin Forever Flawless Fusion Compact (2011 version)
KileyMc 1/5/2012 2:49:00 PM
Okay, so I liked the old one fine. As a powder fdtn junkie I was dying to try the new one and it was a complete fail for me. The color 30 which matched perfectly in the old is yellowish-orange and looks hideous. It is powdery and just sits on top of my skin. As hard as I tried with 2 different brushes and the sponge, I could not get this stuff to blend. Far less coverage than previous compact. Even with concealer under, I could still see any flaws. Horrid. I much prefer LM MMU or pressed powder fdtn and LaPrairie. My advice is to try others first. Though Sephora does have a great return policy.....thank God!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Pur Minerals - Pressed Powder Foundation
KileyMc 12/15/2011 1:23:00 PM
This is definitely a full-coverage foundation...which I love. I use a dense but soft powder brush from Fresh and I barely need to touch up any leftover redness. Because it's so heavy I recommend putting on concealer first on any spots. Too much of this will certainly make you look cakey. Does a fabulous job controlling oil and seems to last on meall day. Also it lasts a long time. No hitting pan yet but I switch fdtns depending on my mood! Good shade choices also. No oxidation which is normally a big problem for me. Also LOVE LaPrairie and LM so this is now in my top 3. Still waiting to try out the reformulated Dior forever. Oh and FYI I don't know if I'm just stupid but it took me like 3 weeks to realize the mirror and sponge are under the powder. Not easy to use them but great coverage is worth it.
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Moisturizers -La Mer - Creme de la mer moisturizer
KileyMc 9/23/2011 2:04:00 AM
My husband and I have been using this on and off for about 10 years. Every time we finish a jar we feel like it's just too expensive to repurchase. But after a bout of the retin-a peelies I was once again hooked. If you buy the 2 oz jar it's a much better deal. We both wake up to plump glowing skin-- at 37!!! I don't feel the anti-aging benefits are present so I use other products for that. But for hydration and that youthful glow it can't be beat. FYI. We were both loving Kate sommerville's k 8 peptide cream but this has it beat.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No