Crème -Laura Mercier - Silk Creme Foundation
LaciP504 11/12/2011 3:15:00 PM
I've used LM's tm (regular not oil free) for quite some time with nice results but never one of her foundations until this one. My beloved Chanel teint innocence was dc'ed (without me even realizing it in time to stock up. :/) and I needed a replacement. I read mixed reviews on it but it's turning out to be one of the best foundations I've used to date. IMO this is has medium coverage, I consider MAC's SF powder to be medium-full and this was lighter than that. It's nice for days when I want to go heavier than a tm and want to look more polished. I have combo skin/get oil in my tzone throughout the day and that happened at a much slower pace w/ this foundation (no primer). I found an excellent match shade wise (bamboo beige). For reference I'm NC25/C3 in MAC, Shell 1.5 in Chanel, and 120 in MUFE HD. I have strong yellow undertones in my skin and often find some shades in foundation to come off to beigey/unnatural looking. I've been wearing it for 2 weeks now and no sensitivity issues/breakouts/etc. Retails for $42 which is a bit expensive considering how small the tube is. Somehow it is easier to justify 40 something dollars on Chanel vs LM :) but this one is definitely worth it for me.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Wet 'n' Wild - Mega Matte 907C Mauve Outta Here
LaciP504 9/23/2011 4:31:00 PM
This was my 4th megalast matte that I purchased recently and I still have a few more in my sights. My only regret is that Mauve Outta Here was my 4th one and not my 1st or 2nd as far as purchasing. I love the formula of these. I don't find them drying and they have excellent staying power. It's comparable to MAC Up the Amp like I've seen mentioned here and in general online when I was googling images/swatches But it's not a dupe by any means. I own UTA and it's a fun color but MOH is definitely the more wearable of the two. MOH has a tad more of a pink tone to it, just enough to make it more universally pleasing and easier to pull off. I'm NC25-30/N5, neutral warm. I can't say that I'd ever wear UTA to the office but MOH I would. It's a pinky mauve and some bloggers do have swatches of it so when in doubt...google. It's a beautiful shade that brightens my complexion, I've been wearing it w/ MAC Coygirl Blush which pairs nicely with it. Retails for 2.99. The packaging isn't the most aesthetically pleasing, just a basic black tube w/ a clear cap. I know packaging can be a sticking point for some but given the price and the formula I have no complaints.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Cherries In The Snow
LaciP504 9/20/2011 11:48:00 AM
Revlon's super lustrous lipstick in Cherries in the Snow is one cult favorite that I will let the masses have their way with. I have been looking for some different d/s lipsticks lately to try for fall. I like Revlon's formula and some of their other shades so I was willing to give this a go...especially with the raves I read via reviews and a board search. Not to mention the name conjures up all sorts of lovely color images. This shade seems to typically be described as pinky red which is what I was looking for. On the right complexion it might be just that but on my NC25-30/N5 skintone it's an unflattering fuschia shade. I have a couple of brighter pink l/s in my stash for when I feel the urge to be bold and wasn't in the market for another so this was a fail. I bought it yesterday at Walmart and returned it promptly this morning. I wound up purchasing Cover Girl lip perfection in Flame which for my neutral-warm complexion is a better bet and a true pinky red shade. If you find Cherries garish, give CG Flame a go.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Chanel - Le Crayon Khol in 69 Clair
LaciP504 8/4/2010 2:28:00 PM
This kohl has become hg for me. This is a flesh colored pencil for lining your waterline and in effect to open your eyes up, appear more awake, etc. Previously I was using Cargo's reverse lip liner for this purpose, it's very natural shade wise too but is not very soft to work with. Then I moved onto Mac's chromagraphic pencil which has a great texture but is too peachy and unnatural on my yellow toned skin. Chanel's is the best of both worlds. I find it to be soft and workable for the waterline and the color is incredibly natural! It is more $ than Cargo and Mac, it is Chanel so that's a given. It's worth every penny! For reference I am 1.5/shell in Chanel t.i.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -MAC - Skinfinish-Stereo Rose
LaciP504 7/17/2010 1:53:00 PM
Somehow the "would you buy this product again?" is funny to me considering the frenzy that accompanied the release and the fact that many who wanted the product couldn't even purchase One. Lol. I had convinced myself I didn't need it and then the day before release at counters I decided to give in to the hysteria. I had to call a few counters in my area to track one down and at my last stop was told I snagged the last one at that particular counter. I had it shipped to me at home and anxiously awaited its arrival. During that agonizing 4 day wait I thought of it...arriving broken, having been accidently sold to another customer (as happened quite a bit according to the boards), or the S.A. "mistakenly" putting the wrong shade msf in the box to be shipped. Much to my relief stereo rose showed up at my door, unscathed and happy to be home. It's a gorgeous glowy coral blush on me (NC30ish at the moment) and if I get any darker this summer I can see that it would be a lovely highlight. I don't regret tracking this baby down at all and I can see why it was so loved on its last release however it still doesn't merit the current asking price on ebay. I wouldn't pay over retail for it. I can appreciate what a beautiful blush it is but at the end of the day it's still Just a makeup product. If you *still* have the opportunity to pick this up then go for it but don't lose any sleep on the boards here if you don't. Retails for just under $30.
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Urban Decay - Rush
LaciP504 2/1/2010 4:16:00 PM
Overall, I'm a huge fan of UD especially their lipsticks. I have never minded the slight caramel scent/taste and while the packaging can be somewhat annoying in my traincase, I feel the product itself is worth it. :) I was really looking forward to getting this lipstick and loving it but that just wasn't the case. I was expecting a nude-ish pink/mlbb shade. I'm not sure what happened w/ this lipstick and my skin :( but I'm neutral warm and pull off cooler toned lipsticks pretty well...certainly ones that rate cooler than this one. Unfortunately once applied this one took on a mauvey tone...not terrible but not wow either. For $22 I want a lipstick to be a little more than "eh" on. I'm going to play around with it a bit more and see if this purchase can be rehabbed, so to speak. For reference, my skintone is around N5 in MAC.
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Lips -Laura Mercier - HydraTint SPF15
LaciP504 1/16/2010 8:34:00 PM
I purchased my first hydratint (Apricot) shortly before Christmas and after trying it decided I had to have more. :) I have only picked up one more since then though--Crimson. Apricot gives a slight color to my pigmented lips. I find Crimson to have a stronger color payoff. Already owning LQ Medieval I was originally hesitant to pick up Crimson b/c I feared they might be too similar. I need not have worried though b/c the texture and color are actually quite different on me. Crimson is a true red on my warm (strong yellow undertones) complexion while LQ Medieval goes pinky red on me. The texture of the hydratints is very nice, they are very moisturizing and reasonably priced. There is a slight scent to them. Karlasugar described it best on her blog when she mentioned orange tic tacs. It's very slight and doesn't bother me. Another great product from Laura Mercier!
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Highlighters -Illamasqua - Halcyon (Illuminator)
LaciP504 12/27/2009 3:16:00 PM
I love highlighting products and have been loving the Sephora's addition of Illama so I was anxious to try out of their liquid highlighters. After reading some reviews I decided Halycon would be my best bet. Love the packaging in that it's sleek, modern, and you can see the shade of the product perfectly like their lipglosses. I don't care for the squeeze tube though as sometimes it's hard to get exactly the right amount of product out. It does dry fairly quickly as others have noted so don't linger in your application. As far as highlighters go this is pretty reasonably priced. Halycon is described as ivory pearl. It wasn't very striking on my NC25-30 skintone. It didn't really show up, perhaps better left to other skintones. I would repurchase in another shade that might be more flattering like Fondle or Glimmer.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -BeneFit Cosmetics - High Brow
LaciP504 12/27/2009 3:04:00 PM
I've never had much of an interest in purchasing any of this brand's highlighting products until I watched a YT tutorial by Pixiewoo and she used this for a look. I loved what it did to brighten her eyes in the video and decided that I "needed" it. It retails for $20 and is a decent sized chubby pencil for the price. Sephora describes the shade of it as oyster pink and that's very accurate. On days that I don't feel like doing much and want to depart my other lazy eotd (soft ochre pp and eyeliner) I swipe this under my brows for an instant brightening effect. Makes my eyes come alive and look awake whether I feel it or not. I'm not sure how completely unique the shade is though or how it would fare on very pale skintones as it might appear much less natural I think. For reference, I'm NC25-30.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Illamasqua - Cream in Betray
LaciP504 8/1/2009 1:55:00 PM
This is my first purchase from this much awaited line at Sephora. It retails for $23 and is 0.14 oz, just a tad under the weight/size of a NARS blush. Sleek shiny black packaging/trim with a clear window on top that allows you peer into your colorful goodness. It's very functional but still pretty. Betray is described as a deep plum rose. The description is very accurate as there are definitely some rose tones to this one. Sephora's swatch shows it as being more plummy. It's highly pigmented and has excellent staying power. Very silky texture for a cream blush, it glides on, and blends like a dream. As far as cream blushes go, I have tried NARS, MAC, BB, Tarte, and Becca, out of those Becca's apply easiest for me and this one surpasses even that line. I think this brand will be a real contender with MAC (re: variety & color choices), if the rest of this line's products deliver like this one. NC30-35, Shell in Chanel T.I., 120 in MUFE HD, 32 in MUFE f & b, and #3 in GA Face Fabric. I'm neutral-warm with strong yellow undertones, hazel eyes.
11 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -100 Percent Pure - Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream
LaciP504 8/1/2009 11:37:00 AM
I ordered this based on a few raves via the makeup board. A couple of ladies seemed to love it and I am always on the hunt for a good eye cream. I have pretty dark bruisey circles that are unfortunately genetic. Despite not having any allergies, sleeping enough, hydrating, etc. they've just never improved. Those of you that suffer the same affliction understand the frustration of this, I'm sure. Granted every product doesn't necessarily work for every person but I Highly recommend you order the cream and give it a go! This is probably the most amazing overall skin product that I have ever tried! It smells delicious and applies very smoothly. It's not greasy, doesn't leave any shiny film behind like some creams do. It soaks into the undereye area and leaves it feeling like velvet. I've been gliding my finger gently over this area lately, I'm still so amazed at how soft it leaves my skin. It's lightened my undereye area considerably. My underye area now looks like it used to post-concealer. I don't suffer from puffiness but it is also supposed to be excellent for that as well. I00% Pure (www.puritycosmetics.com) is a vegan brand and does not test on animals. The cream retails for $19, including shipping total purchase was $24.99 off of the website. They have excellent customer service. When I was concerned about receiving my order by a certain date, I emailed "customer service" and the owner Susie Wang e-mailed me back to assist me very promptly. Some lovely samples of other skincare products were included with my order and I plan on trying them out soon. If the eye cream is any indication of the complete brand then I'm hooked!
15 out of 15 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Bare Escentuals - Siren of the Sea Kit
LaciP504 7/30/2009 11:09:00 AM
When I was originally considering purchasing this set by BE, I was suprised that there were no prior reviews. This kit gives you a subtle yet beautiful summer look, IMO. Even the name of this set is enticing...Siren of the Sea. Sirens are mermaid-like and lured mariners in with their enchanting music and voices according to ancient folklore. :) This is a 7-piece set/kit by BE that is currently retailing for $39 at Sephora. It includes: - 0.02 oz bareMinerals High Shine Sand Dune (gilded sand, high shine) - 0.02 oz bareMinerals Mermaid Eyecolor (dark blue-green velvet) - 0.02 oz bareMinerals Hydrating Coral Blush (coral dusk) - 0.07 oz bareMinerals Hydrating Mineral Veil (brightening finish) - 0.14 oz bareMinerals 100% Natural LipGloss in Chiffon (nude sand) - Double-Ended Hydrate & Brighten Duo Brush with Custom Bamboo Handle - Straw Clutch Unfortunately my online order from Sephora shipped minus the brush so I can't speak for its quality. I'm very impressed with the set. I don't even own a lot of BE products nor am I usually a "kit" kind of girl. Sand Dune is a metallic taupey shade that I found very flattering on my NC35 complexion. (I'm a bit darker right now due to the sun, I'm usually around N5/NC30.) Some taupes can go too cool and look very wrong but this one suits my strong yellow skin just fine! While it is shimmery and kind of metallic I don't find it OTT at all. It still manages to be very pretty and subtle somehow. The Mermaid eyecolor is probably my favorite product of the bunch. From the color description I expected this to be blue-green but it was more of a green-blue. No complaints though as it's absolutely beautiful on. It's great on my hazel eyes and I can also see it really bringing out brown eyes as well. So far I have only used this as a liner in conjunction with Sand Dune as a wash. I plan on trying this in the crease very soon though. The blush is a very pretty coral color that looks very nice on tan skin. Since I am a bit darker now due to the summer this is fairly subtle shade wise and I'd think it'd be hard to overdo it. Some blushes are so pigmented that even on darker skintones you have to worry about using a light hand. I think this will also look pretty as my tan fades a bit, I won't have to worry about it being overpowering even then. It's matte and comparable to NARS Torrid minus the shimmer. I didn't know what to expect with the Hydrating Mineral Veil. I dusted this lightly over top of my foundation and it had a lovely brightening/illuminating effect. I use LM Secret Brightening Powder to set my concealer and this puts me in my mind of an all over face version of that product. The lip gloss in Chiffon is a nude shade which complements the rest of the products nicely...definitely a good pick shade wise to use in conjunction with the rest. I have pretty pigmented lips so that combined with the fact that it's just a gloss didn't make for a very strong lip. It shows up but lightly on my lips. Nudes are a hard lip look as different shades suit different ladies. If you are neutral-warm, however, and have yellow undertones, I can assure that this is not a shade that will make you look like death warmed over. The clutch is cute but I doubt I will get too much use out of it aside from possibly storing these products inside to keep my stash semi organized. :) I didn't receive the brush with my order so I'm not sure of the quality nor do I own very many BE brushes to try to guesstimate. I am very happy with this kit! Interested in trying out some of their others now. I am typically N5/NC30 in MAC but more along the lines of NC35 right now, #32 in MUFE f & b, #120 in MUFE HD, #3 in GA Face Fabric, and Shell in Chanel T.I. Neutral-warm with strong yellow undertones and hazel eyes.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -NARS - Rouge d Enfer [DISCONTINUED]
LaciP504 7/3/2009 4:16:00 PM
Seems like the reviews speak for themselves. :) I had been looking online at Sephora for NARS lipsticks and although I have quite a few of his reds, this one never interested me due to the description of "satin cranberry". I was in store, however, swatching the majority of the display l/s that I don't own, and gave this a try. Wow. I really regret that I have passed this one up for so long! It's a beautiful shade of red that is bolder than Gipsy but still very wearable for daytime. It's definitely cranberry but I pick up a hint of brick red thrown in as well. Stunning shade that's wearable for daytime but obviously could be layered for evening for a more dramatic look. I don't find these drying at all formula wise either. Retails for $24.00 @ Sephora. For reference, I am N5/NC30 in MAC (yellow undertones), 120 in MUFE HD, 32 in MUFE f & b, Shell in Chanel T.I., and #3 in GA face fabric.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyes -MAC - Paint Pot in Rubenesque
LaciP504 6/13/2009 8:42:00 PM
This paint pot was originally my first pick when I started getting into this product recently but I was left a bit disappointed with the shade. Overall, I love paint pots and think that they're a terrific product. There are some very pretty shades, they apply well/evenly, and make my eyeshadows last longer. This shade was just a bust for me unfortunately. After reading the reviews prior to testing it out, I thought I had a winner. At the MAC counter, however, after having applied it to my eyelids, I couldn't tell that I was wearing any product whatsoever. I put 2 layers on and still didn't get much color payoff. I realize it's a lighter/highlighter color but I expected to notice something. :( It just blends right in w/ my lids. MAC describes the shade as a golden peach with gold pearl (frost). Retails for $16.50. For reference I am N5 in MAC SF Powder (=NC30), Shell in Chanel T.I., #3 in GA Face Fabric, and #32 in MUFE f & b.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Paint Pot in Soft Ochre
LaciP504 6/13/2009 8:34:00 PM
Soft Ochre is the perfect shade eyeshadow base for my N5 (NC30) complexion. Originally I had planned on picking up Painterly but after swatching it at the counter quickly dismissed that one. It was too pasty and unnatural looking for my coloring to use as a base. Soft Ochre is the one to go with if you have yellow undertones in your skin and are looking for a basic base to make your eye makeup last! I was initially suprised how well it blended in effortlessly with my skintone. In previous reviews for this I read how some ladies also use this is a light concealer as well. I had a hard time believing it could double as that but it can. :) I still prefer my Benefit erase paste but if I was stuck somewhere with just this, it would be a fair substitute concealer wise. In general, paint pots have a nice creamy texture, apply evenly, and last all day on my lids. I prefer this to UD Primer Potion as a base. MAC describes the shade as a yellow beige (cream).Retails for $16.50. For reference, I am N5 in MAC SF Powder (=NC30), Shell in Chanel T.I., #3 in G.A. Face Fabric, and #32 in MUFE f & b.
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