Bronzers -NARS - Casino
MalibuMands 5/9/2013 3:26:00 AM
I've had CASINO since I bought the NARS Danmari palette in 2011, but hardly ever used it as the shade seemed daunting to me and my n10 skintone. But after extending my blush brush collection and practising my application, I've come to love CASINO... CASINO is a browny bronze, that contains very subtle golden shimmer. The shade doesn't look orange on my pale skin, but it does leave a hint of a red glow after application - sounds iffy, but does mimic how my skin looks when I've been out in the sun. Despite the shimmer, this bronzer looks very natural. The pigmentation is great, the formula lasts all day on me. I have no complaints about this bronzer and will rebuy it - even though the pan seems bottomless, as you don't need to use a lot of product to get a good colour payoff.
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Mascara -Unlisted Brand - Dainty Doll - Mascara & Eyeliner Duo in Good Gosh Miss Molly (black)
MalibuMands 5/2/2013 6:39:00 AM
The mascara is the main reason that I bought the Dainty Doll Mascara & Eyeliner Duo, and I've found it to be an 'meh' product; it does leave my lashes nicely separated, evenly coated, and mostly non-clumpy. Because of the good separation my lashes look full and slightly longer. However; I didn't like the absence of any lash thickening, and that there has been some running and flaking - so I tend to look as though I've been crying on blustery days. I'm not wowed by this mascara in the slightest; it's not the worst mascara I've tried, but the increase of length is arguable, the thickening abilities are absent and for a runny formula it does dry out pretty quickly. This is not a product that I'll be stocking up on. The other end of the tube holds a liquid liner. The formula of it is good; rich colour, quick to dry, and it rarely flakes. But the brush tipped wand is very difficult to work with - the fibres are very bendy so it is tough to achieve a neat line. If this came with a doefoot applicator I'd really like it, but as it is I don't use it often, as I'm likely to mess up my eyeshadow with it.
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Blush -Unlisted Brand - Dainty Doll powder blush in Hippy Shake [001]
MalibuMands 4/30/2013 4:57:00 AM
Dainty Doll HIPPY SHAKE is a matt, pale lilac shade in the pan, but the powder melts into skin and gives a pale pink glow after application to skin - it's best worn high on the cheek bone as it is almost pale enough to class as a highlighter. Many Dainty Doll products can be worn on medium skintones, but HIPPY SHAKE is a very light shade, so would ashy on medium or dark skin. I've removed a lippie, as this shade stays lilac on skin in colder months, or when I'm ill/very tired. I'm impressed with the pigmentation; a little goes a long way. You don't get a lot of product, but it'll still last a while since you just need a light dusting of powder. The powder isn't very tightly packed, so it can be a bit messy. Not a deal-breaker for me, but if you're using this for the first time bear it in mind. I've found that this lasts all day with no touch-ups, and it doesn't enhance my dry skin. I'll be sure to pick up more colours in the range, as I'm so happy with the performance of this. Dainty Doll is a small UK brand, that produces flattering-but-trendy shades of makeup for fairer skintones.
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BB Cream -Revlon - Photoready BB Cream SPF 30
MalibuMands 4/13/2013 2:26:00 PM
I mainly use Ivory in Revlon foundations, but occasionally use Vanilla. For the Photoready BB Cream I wear Light [010], and find that the base is pretty balanced between pink and yellow - not leaning towards one more then the other. Revlon Photoready BB Cream feels very light and silky on my skin and blending is super easy. Once blended, the results are a smooth satin finish, with a nice glow. However what makes this BB Cream stand out is the surprisingly good coverage it has - I have the Nearly Naked foundation and I think that the coverage with this is almost as good as that. The Photoready foundations contain reflective pigments which some people don't like, but I haven't noticed any in this, so I'm not sure why this is labelled as part of the Photoready line. Photoready BB Cream won't cover my hormonal breakouts, but my main problem is discolouration, which this product solves. It even reduces the appearance of my pores AND undereye circles too. I've found it to be transfer resistant, long lasting and it doesn't settle in my fine lines. It does feel fairly hydrating, but I have noticed a little bit of flaking around my nose - I do have severely dry and sensitive skin right now though, and the amount of flaking is less then I suffer from with foundations. I think the packing is very user-friendly; It's in a squeezable, slim tube, so you can squeeze all of the product out. Plus; it's a ideal size for small bags and the lid is very secure.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Revlon - Nearly Naked Foundation
MalibuMands 4/12/2013 5:24:00 AM
I'm a tad too pale for the regular facial MAC foundations, and my bottle of NEARLY NAKED foundation is in Ivory. The base leans toward pink more then yellow - Perfect for me. Where to start? This seems to melt in to my skin, leaving no tide marks or visible strokes and it feels weightless, despite a build-able medium coverage. The finish is very similar to my NARS Sheer Glow; Silky smooth, with an almost poreless look and a glowing satin finish, that lasts all day. It'll cover discolouration/uneveness and minor blemishes, but if I have a spot I'll need to use a concealor. Best of all, there were no patches of dry skin, itching or feelings of tightness on the dry and sensitive skin on my face, which almost every other foundation I’ve tried has left. There will be some shine on my face at the end of the day, but not too much and it won't look very oily if you leave, and a touch of powder takes care of the shine if you prefer to have none. I haven't suffered from any breakouts whilst I've been using NEARLY NAKED foundation. This foundation is perfect for those of us who have dry skin, and/or struggle to find drugstore foundations that don't have overly yellow undertones [I'm in the UK, most drugstore brands maiy produce yellow toned foundations here].
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Burt's Bees - Beeswax Lip Balm
MalibuMands 3/27/2013 5:54:00 PM
The balm doesn't tint my lips with any colour, unlike other varieties in the Burt's Bees range, and whilst this does make my lips shiny this effect wears off within five minutes. But this contains peppermint, which gives my lips a tingle and makes my breath stay fresh. It does do it's main job great, better then any other brand of chapstick I've tried; it keeps my lips moisturized and chap free during these colder months and helps keep breath fresh at the same time, so what more do you need?
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Fragrances -Elizabeth Arden - Island Fantasy by Britney Spears
MalibuMands 3/23/2013 7:54:00 PM
The mandarin is the strongest fruit note on me and, and coupled with the raspberry, gives the fragrance a soft, fuzzy feel. The lemon gives the quieter fruit a bit of bite and energy. The floral notes used in ISLAND FANTASY remain watery and in the background. There is a breeze of orange blossom, freesia and occasional hint of violet underneath it all, but none of the floral notes are truly strong enough to stand out from the fruits for long. This is definitely a fruity perfume. There is no strong indication between the heart notes and the base, thanks to the constant trickle of summery fruits. I'm sure there is some sandalwood here, as after a few hours ISLAND FANTASY begins to remind me of J.Lo Love & Glamour, which uses bucket loads of it. I also detect a coconut scent too. Official Scent notes: citruses, mandarin, clementine, red berries, jasmine, violet, freesia, musk and sugar cane. Overall: ISLAND FANTASY is pleasant and easy to wear. I'll mainly stick to wearing it on casual days, but you could get away with wearing it to work if you wanted to. ISLAND FANTASY does go close to the skin fairly quickly, but a faint woody scent is still detectable five hours later. So yeah; this is quieter and doesn't wear as long as the rest of the Fantasy line, so beware of that.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -Bourjois - BB Bronzing Cream
MalibuMands 3/20/2013 9:08:00 AM
I have very pale skin, so I wasn't expecting this to work. But the formula is very light and silky on my skin and blending the product into your skin is super easy - just apply a little bit at a time. The amount of coverage depends on how much fair your skin is, as the amount of blending needed will alter it. OK, this won't cover my hormonal breakouts, but my main problem is discolouration which this product solves, and it even reduces the appearance of my pores too. If you need stronger coverage, I've also fond that this makes a nice base for use under foundation too - the glow it gives carries through. The coverage is light on me, but what sets this BB Cream apart from the others is the bronzed glow you get from it; I don't use self tanner as it always looks orangey on my Casper skintone, but this is mild and a true bronze hue. I've found Bourjois Paris BB Bronzing Cream to be transfer resistant, long lasting and it doesn't settle in my fine lines.
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Eye Shadow -Unlisted Brand - Dainty Doll - power eyeshadow in Teach Me Tiger [003]
MalibuMands 3/7/2013 12:10:00 PM
Teach Me Tiger is a orange shade, with golden shimmer. When you hear orange you may envision day glo clown makeup, but don't be afraid - Dainty Doll cosmetics are produced for fair skinned ladies, so the shade isn't overly bright, even on those of us with the skintone of Casper. Having said Dainty Doll cosmetics are for fair skintones, I do think that Teach Me Tiger eyeshadow will work on most - if not all - skintones; the golden undertone tones the brightness down and gives it a 'suits all' appearance. Plus it makes the whites of eyes super bright and makes my blue irises pop. I've been wearing Teach Me Tiger without primer, to see how well it lasts, and it has proven to be great quality. It applies smoothly, is easy to blend, and wears for 10+ hours without creasing. It isn't cheap, but the quality is up there with MAC and Urban Decay.
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Fragrances -Coty - Pulse NYC edp by Beyonce
MalibuMands 3/2/2013 4:13:00 PM
I quite like the original Pulse, so I was keen to try this. After what seemed like forever a store near me finally received stock, so was the wait worth it? Nope. All I get from PULSE NYC is a mild and watery mix of raspberries and pear, followed quickly by a unidentifiable powdered floral notes. This soggy fruit salad is rounded of with a hint of buttery vanilla. Scent notes; raspberries, pears, pomegranate, jasmine, peony, orchids, red velvet cupcakes and patchouli. The staying power is non-existent, which is why I've been unable to write a detailed review. Within half an hour of application I couldn't smell a thing - no, I'm not exaggerating. Whilst I'm not keen on the earlier Heat editions I don't find them unlikable, plus Pulse was nice and Midnight Heat was a very pleasant surprise, so this sudden nosedive in the quality came as a shock. PULSE NYC is something I'd expect Kylie Minogue/Coty to come out with.
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Fragrances -Jimmy Choo - Flash
MalibuMands 2/28/2013 2:22:00 PM
FLASH wasn't too bad upon first application; peppery strawberry and citrus fruits, so it applies sharp and fresh, but has a hint of sweetness about it. Nice and realistic, but nothing original or special. After ten minutes FLASH went from hum-hum to get-it-off-me. Tuberose is always bitter on my skin, so when it combines with the lingering citrus it turns into, err, cat pee. On me it does, anyway. Sorry; it's not a very descriptive review as I can't pick up any of the other scent notes as the tuberose seems to shut my nose down, so the damage is done. After six hours or so the floral and citrus jumble dies down, leaving a light whisper of woods and violet, which is again nice, but nothing special. Sadly the bitter florals leave a lasting impression, so my stomach turns when I simply walk past a display of FLASH in the store. Scent notes: strawberry, tangerine, pink pepper, tuberose, jasmine, white lily, heliotrope and blond wood.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Unlisted Brand - Dainty Doll - lipstick in It’s My Party [003]
MalibuMands 2/28/2013 11:40:00 AM
IT'S MY PARTY is a matt, red-based shade of hot pink - and by hot pink I mean almost fluorescent on my very fair skin. I think that the shade is somewhere in-between MAC' Viva Glam Nicki 1 and Show Orchard, or a darker version of Kat Von D's Backstage Bambi lipstick. IT'S MY PARTY has a similar finish to the matt lipsticks by Kat Von D; it has a long-lasting formula that dries like a stain. I put in on in the mornings, eat and drink, but colour is still on my lips up to six hours later, there is transfer to cups etc, but my lips remain evenly coloured. My lips are dry, but the formula doesn't cause them to flake. Dainty Doll is a small UK brand, that specializes in producing flattering-but-trendy shades of makeup for fairer skintones.
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Blush -Unlisted Brand - Dainty Doll - powder blush in My Girl
MalibuMands 2/28/2013 7:03:00 AM
MY GIRL is a light candy pink shade, that is similar to Benefit's Dandelion - it's just a bit brighter. The powder has a nice satin finish, and when I look very closely at my skin, I can see that the blush is lightly shimmering. [Silly me; I forgot to point out that the packaging on older products just use numbers. MY GIRL is 002]. I'm impressed with the pigmentation; a little goes a long way. You don't get a lot of product, but it'll still last a while since you just need a light dusting of powder. The powder isn't very tightly packed, so it can be a bit messy. Not a deal-breaker for me, but if you're using this for the first time bear it in mind. I've found that this lasts all day with no touch-ups, and it doesn't enhance my dry skin. I'll be sure to pick up more colours in the range, as I'm so happy with the performance of this. Dainty Doll is a small UK brand, that produces flattering-but-trendy shades of makeup for fairer skintones.
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Fragrances -Valentino - Valentina Acqua Floreale
MalibuMands 2/9/2013 3:26:00 PM
Valentina Acqua Floreale is almost pure citrus for the first five to ten minutes. As well as the starring bergamot and orange blossom, I think there is also a zesty lemon note. The main plus of this perfume for me is how light and sheer the tuberose is; I normally dislike perfumes with it as I find it heavy and migraine inducing, so it nice to ind a fragrance including it that I can wear. It is actually the watery orange blossom note that is the strongest, followed quickly by the neroli, which combines with the remaining citrus notes perfectly for a clean undertone. The jasmine is almost as sheer as the tuberose, but it is there. The base notes are a real surprise; after a few hours Valentina Acqua Floreale transforms from a citrussy floral to a warm oriental, the change sounds like a miss-match, but it works. The sweet amber and earthy patchouli mixes nicely with the spicy neroli and warms up the reminder of the fragrance. Official scent notes: bergamot, orange blossom, neroli, mimosa, tuberose, jasmine, amber and patchouli. Overall: Valentina Acqua Floreale is 'nice'. It's easy to wear and is unoffensive to other people. On the downside it is a bit too safe for my tastes, and it doesn't wear for long, which is disappointing for the price. If the longevity were better this would be a four lippie review, but as it is I'm not sure if I'll re-buy Valentina Acqua Floreale. Is Paris Hilton Tokyo Passport still available? That smells similar, is cheaper and wears for longer.
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Lipstick -Revlon - Cherries In The Snow
MalibuMands 1/29/2013 8:53:00 AM
I've never really been into strong lip colours in the past - the shape of my lips is small, and my top lip is practically invisible - but after spending most of my makeup wearing years focusing on my eyes, I became bored with my routine. I've been looking at brighter lip colours to shake up my look for the past year, and this is one of my first success stories... Revlon's classic shade Cherries In The Snow seems to be pure red at first glance, but a closer look reveals that the shade has a strong pink undertone to it. I love the result; I don't feel very comfortable in red lipstick, but the strong dash of pink in this shade tones down the red, so the result feels less harsh. I do feel comfortable wearing this shade in public. The finish to the lipstick is creamy and easy to distribute evenly - I find it similar to MAC Amplified finishes. The formula hasn't had a drying effect on my lips. The lasting power is pretty good; four to five hours, depending on food or drink, and the colour does fade evenly.
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