Blush -Milani - Baked Blush - Rose D'Oro
NikkiDagger 3/24/2013 3:01:00 PM
For reference I am C5/NC42 in MAC & 360 Golden Caramel in Revlon Colorstay. I love the way that this looks on me and it's everything that I wanted/expected MAC's Stereo Rose MSF to be. It's a pigmented, rosy-coral shade that's not too powdery and has more of a sheen than a frost (which is what you want). The packaging isn't perfect (it's bulky), but I don't mind, because of the price.
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BB Cream -Sleek - Be Beautiful Blemish Balm
NikkiDagger 12/17/2012 10:59:00 AM
For reference I'm C5/NC42 in MAC & 360 Golden Caramel in Revlon ColorStay. I like the packaging, price & pigmentation, BUT it's quite hard to figure out what shade to choose. Most brands consider my skin tone to be Medium-Dark, so naturally I chose Medium (the original). Unfortunately, Medium is on the Dark side. I'd guess around NW45 in MAC, because it's several shades darker than me and quite red based. I put it on my cousin, who is 400 Caramel in Revlon ColorStay (NC45-ish maybe). It was definitely redder than she is & looked at least 2 shades darker. I applied this with my fingers. It didn't spread as easily as a moisturizer does and wasn't very moisturizing on her Normal/Dry skin. It's a medium coverage with one relatively thin layer and I'd say that it has a satin finish, unless you have very oily skin. In which case, it will probably turn out to be a bit dewy. This is my first BB Cream, so I don't have anything to compare it to. But, I think that I'd really like it in the proper shade (which should be Light?). I'll edit this, once I've gotten my hands on it. I recently read a blog review by someone who says that she is NC42 and found the perfect match by mixing Light with Medium. So, I'll hold on to Medium, for now. EDIT: I've found that this works really well as a bronzer
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Highlighters -MAC - Iridescent Pressed Powder in Ice
NikkiDagger 11/21/2012 2:40:00 AM
I am C5/NC42 and Ice looks similar to Shell Pearl Beauty Powder on me. It gives a very flattering light pinky-gold sheen to my skin. I think that it would suit most warm skin tones. I took one lippie off, because it's not very finely milled.
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Lipstick -Bare Escentuals - Lip Bud in Love
NikkiDagger 11/20/2012 12:13:00 PM
I took off 1 lippie off, because it's not as pigmented as my lips with medium pigmentation need, to show up. I do really like the smooth feel and vanilla scent, though.
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Highlighters -MAC - Skinfinish-Stereo Rose
NikkiDagger 10/7/2012 10:48:00 PM
I've had 2 different Stereo Rose MSFs and both were too dark to be a highlight & too frosty to be a cheek color. Plus, they looked "dirty" on me. With the first one, I thought that it was due to the marbling or batch. Then, when I used another one with different marbling from a different batch, that ended up looking exactly the same on me, I thought that it was because of my C5/NC42 coloring. BUT, now that I've read some reviews from people with fair to dark complexions, that mention this looking frosty and/or dirty on them, I don't have a clue as to why Stereo Rose has this effect on us. To anyone that has had these problems AND those dying to get their hands on Stereo Rose, I STRONGLY SUGGEST TRYING MILANI'S ROSE D'ORO BAKED BLUSH. It's cheaper, easier to get a hold of and everything that I wanted/expected Stereo Rose to be. Big THANKS to bloominbeautyblog.com for bringing Rose D'Oro's likeness to Stereo Rose to my attention.
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Lipstick -MAC - Cherish Lipstick
NikkiDagger 10/6/2012 2:02:00 AM
Cherish & Brave New Bronze (LE) are almost identical colors that blend in beautifully with my C5/NC42 skin tone, without looking like I have concealer on my lips and both have Satin finishes. BUT, somehow Cherish doesn't feel as dry. For that reason alone, Cherish has replaced Brave Brave New Bronze as my HG nude. Plus, Cherish has the added bonus of being part of the permanent line. So, I don't have to worry about availability when I run out of my current tube.
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Eye Shadow -Stila - Diamond 'Lil
NikkiDagger 7/14/2012 12:50:00 AM
I have both Diamond 'Lil and MAC's Smoke & Diamonds. I had S&D 1st, so as soon as I got DL, I compared the 2. I applied each to an eye & they looked 100% identical. There are differences in wear & pigmentation, though. I had to apply 2 layers of DL to get the same payoff as S&D, without a base. And, DL creased sooner on my oily lids, without primer. The differences don't really bother me, because you get more for your money with DL, I don't mind using a base & I always wear primer when I go out. I love S&D, so I'm very happy that there is something out there that I can use when mine runs out. Needless to say, I will definitely repurchase Diamond 'Lil.
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Blush -MAC - Mineralize Blush - Fresh Honey (Naturally Coll. 2012)
NikkiDagger 7/7/2012 7:00:00 PM
I love the texture of MAC's Mineralize Blushes & I'm obsessed with peach/orange/coral colors, so I had high hopes for Fresh Honey. But unfortunately, it's a complete letdown. Although the texture is lovely, it doesn't have very good color payoff. I'm C5/NC42 and Fresh Honey doesn't really show up on me. I tried several different brushes & using it wet, but the color still barely showed up & just wouldn't/couldn't build. I've given Fresh Honey 2 lippies for texture and the only reason that I've written this review is to warn girls over NC40 (maybe NC37), not to bother to swap for this or pick it up if they happen to see one at a CCO. BTW, I have Nuance & it's only slightly more pigmented. But, Nuance is buildable & using it "wet" (damp really) increases the color payoff. Also, I considered getting Warmth of Coral, but as far as I can tell, it has the same issues as Fresh Honey. UTTERLY GAME & SUPERDUPERNATURAL, on the other hand, ARE PIGMENTED & PERFECT.
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Blush -MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish - Glissade
NikkiDagger 6/19/2012 1:37:00 AM
My Glissade doesn't show up pink on my yellow-ish C5/NC42 coloring at all. In fact, the base color blends right in to my skintone, leaving only gritty golden glitter. If your skin isn't completely smooth, this will definitely enhance any uneven texture. I might wear this with an evening look, but wouldn't EVER wear this during the day. I also have By Candlelight and it doesn't look anything like Glissade. Aside from the fact that the finish is a lot different/better, the coloring is completely different as well. At least, on me it is. Which either shows that you can't trust every swatch that you see online or how different each individual MSF can be (possibly due to marbling).
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Tinted Moisturizer -Urban Decay - Urban Defense Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 (Halo)
NikkiDagger 5/9/2012 11:16:00 PM
I'm C5/NC42 and Forcefield is too dark for me. Should suit NC45+ skin.
I apply this in sections with my fingers. I really like the coverage. It doesn't cover everything, of course, but it does cover redness & faint acne scarring/hyperpigmentation. I think that this would be great for someone with normal to slightly dry skin. Because, I have a VERY oily t-zone and even though I set it with powder and then used a setting spray, I had to blot frequently throughout the day. I wore it for at least 6 hours without a base or primer. It didn't oxidize and faded a bit, but that's probably due to my oiliness. I purchased mine from ebay (in the pump, which I don't have a problem with) and I'd consider purchasing another (in Bulletproof) if I found one at a reduced price.
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Blush -MAC - Prism
NikkiDagger 4/28/2012 6:12:00 PM
I'm C5/NC42 and Prism fades right into my skin tone. So I don't really have any use for it, personally. I've tried to build up the color by layering it and it ends up giving me a very SLIGHT, natural looking flush. I have oily cheeks, so I can get away with doing that on my bare skin. But, if I wear a mattifying primer or my matte foundation, then it would look powdery. I give it credit for not being chalky, like some matte blushes are, though.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Shag
NikkiDagger 8/15/2011 6:50:00 AM
I am C5/NC42 & can use Shag as both a transition color on my eyes AND a contour color on my face & nose. I saw that someone compared it to Haux, so I took a picture of them side by side in order for you to see that they look absolutely nothing alike. Haux is a cool (possibly neutral) taupe-ish brown with a slightly mauve tone (MAC describes it as a "rosy brown") and Shag is a warm medium brown with a slightly red-orange tone. Kind of like a muted Saddle.
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Blush -MAC - Mineralize Blush - Gentle
NikkiDagger 8/15/2011 3:22:00 AM
Described as "raspberry with gold pearl", I would say that Gentle is more of a dusty mid-toned pink (like the color of a blush wine) with a gold sheen. I am C5/NC42 & only need a touch of this for it to show up on me, so I would suggest that fairer ladies be moderate. The base color combined with the "pearl" gives me a very natural blushed GLOW and I love it! It looks very similar to how I expected (or at least hoped) NARS Orgasm would on me.
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Highlighters -MAC - Mineralize Sheersheen Loose Powder in Lucent
NikkiDagger 8/14/2011 2:58:00 AM
(C5/NC42 for reference) Lucent is a lovely silvery, dusty pink color. I'm confident that it wasn't meant to be used all over the face. It's sheer, as the name indicates and gives a very subtle, flattering sheen/highlight. I use it on both my face & body. I've even mixed it in with my matte foundation, applied it to my face (not the center), neck & collar bone and it looked gorgeous (IMO). I assume that it would be a very useful product for MuAs & it's definitely not a product for those who are trying to achieve a very highlighted look. I feel compelled to mention that the packaging is rubbish. Personally, I solved that problem by transferring mine to a rotation sifter jar from Coastal Scents (wish that all loose powder came in sifter jars like that). Anyway, a very small amount is needed each time I use this, so it'll likely be a long time before it's necessary to repurchase. But I definitely will, if I ever run out.
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Blush -NARS - Blush / Highlighter Duo in Albatross / Torrid
NikkiDagger 8/12/2011 10:08:00 AM
I love this. Both colors really flatter my C5/NC42 coloring & I think that if you already like the 2 colors seperately, this is a great value for your money. I feel the need to mention that I had an Albatross single and it was slightly whiter & less smooth than the one in the duo. IDK why. Maybe it was the batch.
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