Blush -NARS - Blush in Oasis
MissB18 8/9/2012 4:26:00 PM
I went into Sephora to purchase NARS Douceur blush which the small store I went into whilst on holiday didn't carry so instead I decided to look at the other blushes on my want list and had to decide between Oasis and Sin, which I had had my eye on for a while. For whatever reason, I just fell in love with the way Oasis looked swatched on my hand so I chose it over Sin but now that I've used it a few times I'm really regretting my decision. It's up to par with NARS high quality standards and the colour is truly beautiful, a pinky mauve, but there is just way too much shimmer in it. It's borderline glittery and applying it takes the lightest hand possible and a lot of concentration. If I happen to get into the city I may consider returning it and I for sure will not be repurchasing.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -NARS - Rue bonaparte
MissB18 8/2/2012 11:33:00 PM
Simply a must-have product. Even my mum who isn't really a makeup person went out and purchased it after she saw it on me. It gives me a wide-eyed look and even helps darker smoky eyes look less severe and more neatly done. The flesh tone is so much more natural than a white liner on the waterline. Its' staying power varies on me depending on how badly my summer allergies are affecting my eyes. On a good day I don't worry about it budging but if my eyes are especially teary then I will usually carry it with me to retouch whenever necessary. The packaging is the forever my favourite sleek and classy black and white NARS packaging and the fact that it's a twist-up liner instead of a sharpened liner makes it worth every single penny. It's the best waterline liner I've ever used and I'll be sticking with it for the foreseeable future.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Urban Decay - 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil Perversion
MissB18 6/12/2012 8:57:00 PM
Zero had been my go-to black liner ever since I started using high-end products so when Perversion came out I was so excited to try it, especially since there was so much hype and I already loved the original liquid version of it. I do really like it, almost love it. It's the blackest black I've ever seen and looks amazing on. It does smudge and transfer a little, especially if I've had it on for a long time but what bothers me most is how soft the pencil is. I literally have to sharpen it after every single use and that's just too much of a waste. I won't be repurchasing.
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Pressed Powders -Urban Decay - De-Slick Mattifying Powder
MissB18 5/2/2012 7:27:00 PM
I was gifted this product ages ago and really haven't used it very much in the past. I've kept it in my purse more so just for the mirror and emergency touch-ups but I've recently been trying it out as a setting powder after getting fed up with messy loose powders. I'm absolutely blown away by the finish it leaves behind considering it's just a translucent powder. My face looks like flawless porcelain. It seems to smooth out my liquid foundation perfectly to the point where I almost get a bit more coverage out of it and I'm not as concerned with looking cakey as I sometimes am when I use my mineral powder as a setting powder. It absolutely controls oil and shine throughout the entire day, even after rushing around a muggy mall. The packaging is gorgeous but heavy and the accompanying puff is utterly useless, though that's quite standard with most compacts. My only gripe is that the product is so solid in the pan that using my MAC 187, which is my go-to powder brush, doesn't quite work. It doesn't pick up enough product so I have to use the same super dense flat top kabuki brush that I use for my liquid foundation for the powder. I'm then worried about rubbing my foundation off while trying to apply the powder. I end up stippling it on, which is fine, it just adds a bit more time to my makeup routine. That mere annoyance aside, I'm so glad I decided to pull this out of my purse and actually put it to use. I highly recommend this powder and will most likely repurchase in the future.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -NARS - Larger Than Life
MissB18 1/22/2012 3:57:00 PM
This is by far the best lip gloss I've ever purchased. The price is a kick in the face for sure but it's worth it. I have it in Como which is a beautiful warm berry that's still neutral enough for me to wear. It's intensely pigmented with just the right amount of shimmer. The formula isn't sticky and it's fairly long lasting. I love the clear tube compared to the regular frosted NARS lip gloss packaging that makes it difficult to really see the product. I also love the brush applicator which I very much prefer over the sponge applicator. The biggest upside is that this one does not have the yucky taste and smell that the regular NARS gloss has and that makes a huge difference to me.
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Primer/ Corrector -Make Up For Ever - ALL MAT Matifying Base
MissB18 1/14/2012 12:15:00 PM
I purchased this after the SA I was dealing with at Sephora was extremely adamant that it was one of the best primers on the market for what I was looking for in a primer. I've been using it for about a month and a half and the best that I can say is that it's a sub-par product. It fills in my face and creates a nice smooth base for my foundation. My makeup does seem to last anywhere from 7 to 12 hours without touching up or only quickly dusting my chin once throughout the day. However, it's just not any better than what I would consider to be my favourite primer so far, Lise Watier's Base Miracle 3-in-1 and the All Mat doesn't have the accompanying colour corrector. The biggest downside to this product is that you have to use a lot of it to completely cover your face, three to four pumps and with a price tag of $51 CDN for a 30 ml bottle I couldn't justify repurchasing.
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Concealers -L'Oreal - Touche Magique
MissB18 1/2/2012 1:11:00 AM
As I've said many times before, I really do not care for drugstore cosmetics and I also have some kind of strange OCD issue with buying dupes, or "rip-offs" as I call them, of high end products. However, after reading a significant amount of reviews in which the reviewer preferred the Touche Magique over YSL's Touche Eclat I decided I had to try it. The first thing that impressed me about this product was the shade range. I love that they offer a pinker option for cool skin tones that is still pale enough for me which evidently makes all the difference on my face. I understand that it's not really meant to be an actual hardcore concealer so I don't use it on blemishes or any other major imperfections but it does work well to cover the redness I sometimes get around my nose. It also brightens and covers my under-eye circles a whole lot better than Garnier's anti-dark-circle roller thanks to the thicker consistency and the subtle reflective particles. Because it does have those little sparkles in it I sometimes use it as a highlighter on my brow and cheek bones and the bridge of my nose. I like the accent it adds to those areas and it's a quicker option when I don't have enough time or am too lazy to use my Watt's Up highlighter. The fact that it is a multi-purpose product and its' packaging is convenient enough to throw in any bag or even in a pocket makes me love it that much more, as does it's relative cheapness, around $13 CDN. It is definitely now my go-to under-eye product and I will continue to purchase it over and over again.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Colorburst Lip Butter
MissB18 12/31/2011 7:24:00 PM
I'm usually very skeptical about drugstore cosmetics, especially lipsticks but my best friend is obsessed with these lip butters and bought one for me to try. I have to admit that I'm extremely impressed with it. She got me Pink Truffle which is my perfect every day shade. It's lovely on it's own during the day and I can jazz it up with my NARS Como gloss for the night if I need to. It goes on amazingly well. There's almost an immediate wow-factor when you see the colour/shine payoff and feel how light and smooth it is on your lips. I feel like it's a nice alternative to putting on a heavier, less comfortable formula of lipstick and gloss on top, especially on lazy days or just when it's not really necessary to have decked out lips. It's definitely not a long-wear lipstick and I have noticed the formula can be a bit drying. Still, for being a drugstore brand and fairly cheap I really think it's a great product. I will replace this one I have now when it's gone and I'm actually pretty excited to try out some of the other shades.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -BeneFit Cosmetics - The Porefessional
MissB18 12/14/2011 12:02:00 AM
I'm really confused by this product. Either I'm not using it properly or it's just an awful product. I purchased it during my frantic search for the secret to flawless coverage for a ridiculous $35 considering how little product you actually get. I started out spreading very little over my cheeks and forehead and gradually built it up by a small amount until I noticed a difference. Although it did appear to minimize the look of my pores it seemed to keep my foundation from being able to blend properly. It just kind of made the foundation sit on top of the product and then disperse unevenly when I tried to blend it in. It did the same thing with all three foundations I tried to use this product with. It also has this horribly overwhelming floral scent that made me want to vomit whenever I used it. Since I bought this from Shoppers Drug Mart instead of Sephora I can't even return this so I'll probably end up tossing it if I can't pawn it off on a friend or family member. I definitely regret wasting good money on this.
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Lip Treatments -Christian Dior - Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm
MissB18 12/10/2011 12:57:00 AM
I love this lip balm to pieces, so much, in fact, that my boyfriend occasionally swipes it from my purse just for the sheer entertainment of watching me freak out thinking that I've lost it. My lips are naturally fairly pigmented but this gives them a more vibrant pink glow that looks healthier and less tacky than if I were to wear a brighter shade of lipstick. It's perfect for every day use, especially on the days I want a more au naturale look. It's highly moisturizing and smells amazing, I actually take it out just to smell it sometimes. Like everything Dior, the packaging is elegant and gorgeous. It only gets four lippies simply because of the price. It's impossible to not feel stupid or guilty for spending $35 CDN on a lip balm but you can bet I'll do it again soon after this one bites the dust.
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Liquid -Chanel - Vitalumiere Aqua
MissB18 12/9/2011 4:10:00 PM
I have found love. This is by far the best foundation I've ever used. For being billed as a light-to-medium coverage foundation I'm actually very pleased with the coverage. It gives me solid medium coverage and coupled with my Laura Mercier mineral powder it gives me a lovely naturally polished and flawless look. It feels weightless on my skin and hasn't dried or broken my skin out. It's staying power is wonderful, it lasts me a whole work day without touching up. It is lightly scented but I absolutely love the smell of it. Although I see some ladies don't particularly care for the packaging or the fact that you have to shake it a fair bit before use I'm not bothered by either. My only concern was how tiny the bottle looked at first glance but it is the standard 1 fl. oz. I'm head over heels in love with this product and will for sure repurchase though I may consider switching from B10 to BR10.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Urban Decay - All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray
MissB18 11/17/2011 7:45:00 PM
I really consider this product a must-have. It keeps my makeup near-perfect for the whole day and then some. I use it all year around but there's no way I could get through the horribly humid Ontario summers without it. I especially love the cooling sensation when you first spray it on. Hands down one of my favourite products.
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Liquid -NARS - Sheer Matte
MissB18 11/17/2011 12:13:00 PM
Like a lot of women, I was under the impression that NARS could do no wrong but no matter what I do I can't make this foundation work for me. Although the lightest shade Siberia is a perfect match for me, which is always half the battle for me when I'm looking for a foundation, the coverage is minimal. It seems to accentuate my acne scars and blemishes rather than covering them. It dries quickly and that makes it nearly impossible to blend properly or build evenly to achieve the coverage I'm looking for. The staying power is awful. No matter how many primers I've tried (I've bought four different primers in four or five months hoping it would help) it looks cakey and uneven within a few hours, even with MAC MSF and setting spray overtop. Worst of all, I'm fairly certain it's responsible for my sudden bad skin. I never had such bad acne or dry skin previous to using this. At first I had blamed it on stress, diet, hormones etc. but now I'm sure it has to be this foundation that's breaking me out. I'm deeply disappointed in this product, especially since I paid so much for it, $55 CDN. I've started searching for a new foundation and probably won't even finish this bottle.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -BeneFit Cosmetics - Watt's Up!
MissB18 11/14/2011 8:36:00 PM
I'd never used a highlighter or luminizer before but as a full coverage user I was beginning to fear my makeup was looking a little dull and cakey so I started looking into the various Benefit highlighters to liven my face up a little. I was going back and forth between Benefit's Watt's Up and Girl Meets Pearl but in the end it was Watt's Up's packaging that won me over. It's beyond adorable. It looks really dark at first glance and I was afraid it wasn't going to work with my super pale skin but it goes on smooth and blends really nicely when I pat it out with my fingers. I tried using the sponge on the other end of it to blend once and it was useless so I just ignore it now. I use it under my brow bone, around my cheek bones, very lightly down the bridge of my nose, my cupid's bow and on my chin and it gives me a lovely, subtle glow. I'm pretty confident it'll take me a while to use up all the product and I still think I'd like to try Girl Meets Pearl once it's gone but as of right now I'm totally in love with this product and will repurchase in the future.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No