Eyes -Stila - Kitten Smudgepot
RainbowsUnicornsAndHGfdn 5/25/2010 11:53:00 AM
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COLOR: This is a beautiful true champagne, ie. pinkish flesh-toned beige topped with cool-golden shimmer. The shimmer is pretty BAMinyoface but because the individual sparkles of shimmer are tiny and evenly distributed so as to blend into "one" (as opposed to large individual sparkles here and there), the result doesn't look as cheap/juvenile as I'd expected. Still, I wouldn't wear this to a conservative setting, but it's perfectly appropriate for a casual day look.
USES: I use this as all over wash, it looks low-key yet glamourous. Can also be used on the waterline to open up the eyes. Or in the inner tear ducts to awaken the face. Or as a base to brighten up other eyeshadows.
TEXTURE: To me the texture feels harder to the touch than MAC Paint Pots but it's incredibly easy to blend which is all that matters in the end. I recommend a fluffy eye brush, as opposed to a small, dense brush which would pack on way too much shimmer. I use MAC217.
SMUDGEPOT VS POWDER PAN: I compared the two versions in store: while the level of shimmeryness is almost identical, somehow the Smudgepot appears less 'messy' and more refined, probably due to the even creaminess, compared to the pan version's soft, loose powdery feel. So Smudgepot appears more 'delicate'.
LASTING POWER: Mindblowing wearing power (I usually use Urban Decay Primer Potion with powder shadows but not with this, absolutely unnecessary): no fading in pigmentation, no migrating of shimmer particles, no creasing - looks as perfect after 12hrs as it does right after application.
PRODUCT AMOUNT: I've been using it 5 days a week for the past 6 months and there's still that much left (see photo).
Overall - a product worth every cent of its seemingly unreasonable price (US$20/CAD$26 for 4g; compared to MAC Paint Pot US$16.50/CAD$20 for 5g).
12 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Desire
RainbowsUnicornsAndHGfdn 4/7/2010 3:34:00 PM
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Desire is a matte, bright, saturated cotton-candy pink with intense pigmentation. As ridunkulously intimidating as it looks in the pan, you can easily achieve a subtle effect with a light hand: it blends seamlessly into the skin and can lift up the whole face on a tired, sallow kind of day. A skunk brush like MAC187 would make application easier as the sparse bristles pick up just the right amount of product that can then be evenly stippled onto the cheeks. Texture is silky and soft, but not so soft that it easily migrates or breaks down throughout the day, in fact I've never had to touch up with this. I think it's because of the inherent brightness of this shade that the intensity of it doesn't even fade after 12 hours.
Overall, it's the quintessential wake-me-up product that should work especially well on fair/medium skintones. (I'm NC20)
15 out of 16 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Amour
RainbowsUnicornsAndHGfdn 4/7/2010 3:12:00 PM
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This is an intensely saturated corally dark pink that turns to a ruddy red on my pale skintone (NC20) throughout the day, hence 1 lippie off. However I can see this working beautifully on darker skintones as the shade itself is a very natural, complex type of coral/peachy pink that resembles a real blush, as opposed to a flat, monotone shade that just looks like another layer of product on skin. The finish is matte and the texture is silky. Due to the intense pigmentation of this blush, the wearing power is quite impressive - not much fading in color intensity, not much migrating of product, the only gripe is, as I mentioned earlier, a slight shift in tone where it turns more reddish which can look rusty on fair/cool skin. However applied very lightly, I can still make it work and keep the ruddiness to a minimum. To conclude, I'd recommend this to medium to dark-toned ladies of say, NC25 or above.
As you can see from the photos, on contact with my skin the color turns out more muddy and red than it looks in the pan. Pale ladies beware. Make sure to do a swatch in store and leave it on for at least several minutes to see the final look.
The stripe swatch is 1 layer, the round swatch is multiple layers.
13 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Gina
RainbowsUnicornsAndHGfdn 4/7/2010 2:22:00 PM
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I've always steered clear of peaches/oranges/corals as I thought they would clash with my cool-toned face, but this pure peach magnificence that is Gina, has proved me wrong. Even though NARS blushes are known for its crazy pigmentation that can be easy to overdo, it's not a problem with Gina. The colour itself isn't saturated to the point of being full-on orange, it looks as if it's composed of 70% pigmentation and 30% transparency. Due to this relative sheerness, it blends into your own skin effortlessly, and looks like the colour's coming through from underneath your skin. The end result is a natural, earthy, summery, light look. This complements light makeup and neutralizes dramatic looks. Versatile, fail-proof shade indeed.
The finish is matte, the texture is silky and its particles are so finely milled it feels flour-like, as opposed to powdery which tends to feel grainy. Wearing power easily lasts 8-10 hours, and may fade in intensity after 12 hours however there's still enough colour left at the end of the day that I've never felt it necessary to touch-up.
Overall this is a neutral pure peach that should flatter a wide spectrum of skintones. Ladies if you've never ventured outside of pinks, let Gina show you a whole new kind of beautiful you didn't know you could be!
The top stripe swatch is 1 layer, bottom round swatch is multiple layers buffed in. As you can see, there's not much of a difference - this blush is not easy to overdo like most NARS blushes, very beginner-friendly.
13 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -La Mer - Skincolor De La Mer - The Powder - Poudre de La Mer
RainbowsUnicornsAndHGfdn 12/16/2009 10:01:00 PM
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My skin: I have the kind of combo skin where the oily pores sucks in whatever product I have on, mixes it with some sticky sebum, then spews it back out onto the drier skin surface for the sebum/powder paste to dry up, resulting in blotchy cakiness by 1pm, so the majority of the time my face looks dirty and messy. But even on skin as *lovely* as mine, La Mer doesn't ever cake, no matter how long I've had it on or how much I've sweated.
Shade: At the store I swatched "Translucent", which was way too shimmery for my combo skin (it looked like a subtle highlighter), so I got the lightest matte shade "01 Creme" for my NW15 skin since what I'm looking for is a powder to set my foundation and add a natural finish. Don't fret about finding your perfect shade as the sheerness of the shades is very forgiving.
Finish: This is only matte in the sense that it doesn't contain sparkles - it doesn't look flat/monotone at all. It's like baby skin, glowy and transparent, where you can see the flesh underneath the skin layer (that came out less pleasant than I intended, but you get my drift). It seems to smooth away pores and minor skintone uneven-ness, without adding a 'layered' look.
Oil control: I didn't expect this to control oil (since it looks so glowy as opposed to the heavy matte-ness you associate with effective oil-control powders), but every single day of this past week, I didn't have to use a blotting sheet once. I admit that by the end of the day (10hr), my skin did look "shinier" than in the morning but it wasn't the greasy kind of shine that you need to blot, but rather the natural kind of glow after a long day. My foundation also didn't look blotchy like it normally does.
Texture comparison: The following photos feature La Mer as well as 2 other finishing powders that I used to love. Notice how they compare next to La Mer: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish appears grainy, while Make Up For Ever HD Powder looks unnaturally matte which almost appears opaque-ish. La Mer does not form a layer of visible product or emphasize fine lines. The only difference between La Mer and 'nothingness' is that it will take away the flaws in your skin. Application is straightforward, no special techniques needed: lightly dip brush into powder (duo fiber or dense brushes both work well) , tap off excess, then brush or stipple onto skin. The included puff works too but I prefer the evenness of a brush.
Price: The jar contains 20g of product which is twice as much as most other companies', so if you break the price down, it's not as outrageous as it first appears. I'm pretty sure this'll last me a lifetime since you only need a tiny portion each time so really, it's worth it - I've wasted much more money on numerous other powders that I never even finished. Ladies, do give this a try, it could become your HG for life, and CAD$101 is a small price to pay for that.
Photos taken in yellow lighting so you can focus on product texture without being distracted by shade inconsistencies.
51 out of 52 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -MAC - Tendertone Lip Balm SPF 12 - EZ Baby
RainbowsUnicornsAndHGfdn 7/25/2009 2:36:00 PM
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Most flattering nude I've ever found for my pale face (on which most nudes tend to look dead dull). It's milky beige with pink tones, pretty sheer so it's hard to overdo, very fool-proof. Just the right amount of gloss, not too shiny like a lipgloss, not too dull like chapstick. Extremely moisturizing, heals the most chapped lips within a few usages. Absolutely delicious fruity scent, no fake plastic-y feel at all. The only improvement I can think of is for this to come in a tube form, ah well!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -MAC - Tendertone Lip Balm SPF12 - Pucker
RainbowsUnicornsAndHGfdn 7/25/2009 2:32:00 PM
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Very moisturizing - heals the most chapped lipsticks within a few usages. Smells heavenly, no fake plastic-y scent at all. Just the right amount of gloss, not too shiny like a lipgloss, not too dull like chapstick. Beautiful sheer red that I'd call 'everyday glam', so why just 4 stars? There are many other cheaper dupes that I love just as much: Lipsmacker in Dr Pepper, Nivea Kiss of Flavour balm in Cherry, and Kiehl's tinted balm in "30G", plus all these are in tube form, so no digging into pots. Other than that, this is pretty darn great.
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Lip Gloss -Christian Dior - DiorKiss "Lychee Rose 488"
RainbowsUnicornsAndHGfdn 7/25/2009 2:12:00 PM
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Dang!!! The most beautiful shade of violet ever. It doesn't look odd or super dramatic, given how plummy it is. It just looks oh so glamourous *fans neck*
It's creamy and thick but not as sticky as MAC lipglasses. Very good wearing power around 4-5 hours before touching up is required. Applied lightly it just brightens your whole face by adding a bit this lifting pink to your lips, applied heavily, you get the beautiful glamour. I'm usually weary of rose scents but with lychee added in, this is utterly delicious; the intensity of the scent is light and non-intrusive.
Only con (hence 1 star off) is that it has these multi-color sparkles which look a little juvenile. I would have been happy without the sparkles, or at least just 1-toned sparkles. Ah well, from a distance it's negligible!
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Lip Gloss -MAC - En Pointe
RainbowsUnicornsAndHGfdn 7/25/2009 2:05:00 PM
Click 'continued' for a swatch.
Medium cotton candy pink with insanely shiny finish. Can look pure silver from certain angles. For this reason I only use it on the centre of my lips, otherwise it can be too glaring. Due to the stickyness (like all MAC lipglasses) it has impressive wearing power (~4-5 hours before touching up is required)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -MAC - Nymphette lipglass
RainbowsUnicornsAndHGfdn 7/25/2009 1:56:00 PM
Click 'continued' for photos (note that in real life the gold shimmer isn't as glaring as it looks below, I positioned my hand to make the gold shimmer show up as clearly as possible)
Even though I'm pale and cool, this goldish gloss works beautifully on me. It's mostly a regular, understated medium pink, but from certain angles in certain lighting, the gold shimmer comes alive and makes you look all summer-goddess-like. Ew sorry for the corny example but that's the image it conjures up in my head. The fact that the gold isn't always standing right there in your face, is what makes this gold workable on many people. It's subtle and 'secretive' - turn your head it appears, turn a little more and it disappears. It's always making you yearn for just another look at its fleeting beauty. Wow I think I'll stop writing now.
14 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - High Intensity Pigment Bright Shadow Duo - Reckless 514
RainbowsUnicornsAndHGfdn 7/25/2009 1:37:00 PM
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The light side contains just a tad too much fuchsia but is generally a nice unexpectedly unique pop of pink. The right side is a tad too dull/dark, it easily looks brownish black on the eyes but is not really as flattering as a real brown or black since it contains plummy tones, which can look bruisey on some skin tones. Overall an average duo, the colours are just slightly tricky to work with. There are many more fool-proof and newbie-friendly shades of pink and plum out there, so save your money if you're, like me, not too big of a pro.
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Loose Powders -Make Up For Ever - HD High Definition Loose Powder
RainbowsUnicornsAndHGfdn 7/25/2009 12:55:00 PM
This is easy to overdo and you end up with a white cast all over the face. But if applied skillfully, it will add a soft-focus feel to your look and blur out any skin imperfections like large pores or small blemishes not completely covered by concealer. I use a skunk brush (like MAC187) to apply - lightly dip the bristles into the product and then tap and tap and tap to get off any excess powder, then swiftly dust over face. Don't rub it in, just barely touch your skin to ensure the thinnest application. I'm oily in the T-zone and it allows me to go 6-8 hours without having to blot. Great product for the summer.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Bonne Bell - lipLITES Glossy Tint
RainbowsUnicornsAndHGfdn 7/25/2009 12:46:00 PM
I've tried every one of the 6 shades, summary:
Cappucino: a nude brownish beige shade that can tone down the red or pink in your lips and add more of a tanned summery feel, versatile shade for many skin tones.
Caramel Latte: a brownish beige shade that has a dusty pink undertone, an understated everyday shade more flattering on darker skin tones.
Vanilla: a frosty pale ballerina pink that looks silver/white if applied heavily, great as a top layer to make any shade of lipstick more 'nude'.
Berry Smoothie: a brownish plum, more suitable for darker skin tones, it made me look like a 14 year old goth girl.
Watermelon Sorbet: a bubblegum pink that can look overly bright and barbie-like if applied heavily. Light application can yield a more fresh and cute look.
Strawberry Gelato: MY ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE! A medium rose pink that should work on most skin tones. The rosy tone makes it look almost glam yet the fairly neutral pink makes it look understated. Very very awesome shade.
All these Glossy Tint balms are moisturzing but may feel slightly greasy if packed on heavily, and the shimmer in it can accentuate chapped lips, so exfoliation beforehand can help. All of them have non-intrusive pleasant scents that don't linger on too long. Most shades are just lightly glossy but Vanilla is the most frosty. Greaaaaaaat stuff! They made me turn 14 again, all obsessed with collecting every single shade :)
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Bonne Bell - Dr. Pepper lipsmackers
RainbowsUnicornsAndHGfdn 7/25/2009 12:30:00 PM
Click 'continued' for swatches.
Most beautiful, moisturizing, yummy and cute $2 product ever. It adds a subtle sheer reddish tint to your lips that has a sheen-y finish (as opposed to glossy or matte), it looks as if you'd just had some cherries or hot pepper! All Lipsmackers effectively moisturize my lips without drying them out in the long run. The scent does resemble Dr Pepper to a slight degree, I like it, but my mom does thinks it smells medicinal, I guess it depends on whether you like the original beverage to begin with. Worth every penny of the $1.99 I spent.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -TRESemme - Instant Heat Tamer Spray
RainbowsUnicornsAndHGfdn 7/24/2009 11:49:00 PM
This product is so good I don't just use it for heat protection. It detangles and moisturizes frizzy ends and softens stiff straw-like strands - just generally puts hair in a more presentable state. Scent is clean and pleasant and light. Can't attest to its heat protection abilities as that's not something quite easily testable.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No