Top/Base Coats -Seche Vite - Dry Fast Top Coat
Seclusae2 10/16/2006 12:27:00 AM
DESCRIPTION OF ME Asian with a warm complexion (C3-C4 in MAC) with strong yellow undertones and some peach. Strong natural short fingernails that are slightly ridged. My nails are exposed to a lot of wear and tear (tons of handwashing, alcohol-based sanitizers, heavy lifting with hands etc.).
GENERAL DESCRIPTION Fast-drying top coat. Approximately $7.99 at Sally's Beauty Supply, Trade Secret and other beauty supply stores and some drugstores. 14 mL/0.5 oz.
PACKAGING Seche Vite comes in a standard glass nailpolish bottle. Nothing fancy and complicated. The brush is on the thick side (which I like). No complaints in this category at all.
APPLICATION Seche Vite is very easy to apply. It applies and layers smoothly. The thick brush picks up and deposits a lot of polish so be sure to wipe it off the mouth of the bottle beforehand.
One of the claims associated with Seche Vite is that it can be applied while your nailpolish is wet. I've tried doing this but the brush still left little marks as it dragged across my nail. I do not think this is a problem exclusive to Seche Vite. I simply just wait until the nailpolish has gone from super wet to slightly tacky.
DRYING Seche Vite dries very fast. It dries in about a minute to the point where you can press your finger on it very hard and not leave any prints. It delivers what it promises in this department.
WEAR This is where Seche Vite disappoints me. For some reason, Seche Vite makes all of my nailpolish chip extremely fast at the tips of my nails. At first, I thought it was the nailpolish I was using. But after trying with a variety of brands and colors and ending up with the same result, I decided the problem really is with Seche Vite. My lifestyle is not really to blame either because this still happens when I am not at work and not subjecting my nails to a lot of wear and tear.
In comparison, my holy grail topcoat Revlon Colorstay protects even the most high maintenance of polishes for four to five days until the wears on the tips becomes noticeable. After reading all the raves, I thought Seche Vite would at least be able to match that kind of performance.
MENDING MISTAKES The only reason I am keeping Seche Vite is that it is great for covering mistakes in nailpolish application. It "blends" away sheet marks, slight fingerprints, small bubbles and even scratches a lot better than Revlon Colorstay.
OVERALL A very much hyped up product that, for whatever reason, does not work for me. I will not be repurchasing unless I find myself reaching for it often to fix mistakes.
UPDATE I used to rate Seche Vite a two out of five but after trying a few things, I upgraded to a four. The tip wear I mentioned above was actually Seche Vite "shrinking" and pulling the polish underneathe away from the nail tip. This can be prevented by waiting for the colored polish to dry completely before putting on Seche Vite. Seche Vite is still not as shiny as Revlon Colorstay but the faster drying time and the ease of application makes it a better choice when I don't have a lot of time to do my nails.
7 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Milani - Sheer Color [DISCONTINUED]
Seclusae2 5/29/2006 6:04:00 AM
DESCRIPTION OF ME Asian with a warm complexion (C3 in MAC) with strong yellow undertones and some peach. Black hair. Oily skin that is prone to breakouts.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION Tube lipstick that is sheer. I am reviewing Rose Blush. Aproximately $4 US retail. Available in selected Sav-On, Ulta and Walgreens.
PACKAGING Milani Sheer Color lipsticks come in a gold tube with a frosted, translucent lid. (The regular line of lipsticks are in completely gold and opaque tubes.) Sturdy and not gaudy at all.
COLOR Rose Blush is the unbelievably perfect sheer pink that I have been looking for for a long time. It is not overtly warm or cool and has no muddy brown tones to it. I just slick it on and I am done. With most lipsticks and glosses, I feel the compulsion to sheer it out. Not with Rose Blush. I do not know any lipsticks that look exactly like it. I am sure they are out there but I doubt they are as inexpensive as this!
TEXTURE What a pleasure to wear. Sheer Color lipsticks have a very creamy, non-waxy lipbalm feel to them. It feels very moisturizing and does not dry my lips out.
SCENT/FLAVOR Unlike the regular line of lipsticks that have a yucky chemical rose scent, Sheer Colors have a pleasant faint vanilla smell that wears off quickly.
LASTING POWER Due to its creaminess, Sheer Colors do not last very long. I am willing to overlook that because I frequently wipe off my lipstick during the day and put on plain lipbalm instead.
OVERALL Holy grail material! I will definitely repurchase.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Maybelline - Pure Makeup [DISCONTINUED]
Seclusae2 5/17/2006 1:19:00 AM
DESCRIPTION OF ME Asian with a warm yellow-based complexion (C3 in MAC, Buff 5 W in Lancome Teint Idole). Black hair. Very oily skin that is prone to breakouts.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION Liquid foundation that claims to be highly water-based. It feels, applies and covers like a tinted moisturizer without oil. 1 fluid ounce/30 mL for approximately $5-$6 US at most drugstores. I am using Pure Beige/Medium 2.
PACKAGE Pure Makeup is packaged in a opaque plastic squeeze tube that stands upright. It is very hygienic and it is easy to dispense the right amount of foundation. You can toss it in your bag without worrying about breaking or spilling.
A fairly accurate swatch of the shade is printed on the front. I would not use it to choose my exact color but it does guide you in eliminating candidates without opening packages.
CONSISTENCY/TEXTURE Pure makeup's consistency and texture is very light. You really get the impression that it is water-based (although I am not sure how accurate Maybelline's claims are). However, it is not watery or slippery. When applied on the skin, it settles into a very thin layer that is matte but does not feel dry or powdery.
APPLICATION It is very easy to apply Pure Makeup. It works with a sponge, foundation brush and even with fingers. Unlike many foundations, the results achieved using these tools are consistent. Usually I have a lot of difficulty using my fingers and I get subpar results. Not with Pure Makeup.
This foundation distributes over the skin very easily. There are very little streaks or lines of demarcation that you have to fix.
COVERAGE This is the reason why I rated Pure Makeup a four out of five. The coverage is sheer to medium, much like a tinted moisturizer. For me, it evens out the skintone and hides subtle redness and dark areas. I consistently need a little bit more coverage than that. I can get away with wearing Pure Makeup on its own on my good days but 75% of the time, I need to use a separate concealer.
When I tried to build the coverage, the areas got slippery and greasy-looking easily.
FINISH The finish is satin to matte.
STAYING POWER Considering that it is so much like a tinted moisturizer, the staying power is quite impressive. I am a die-hard Revlon Colorstay fan and so I have high expectations when it comes to staying power. Although Pure Makeup does not wear like iron, it stayed for a SURPRISINGLY long time. I wore it during an eight-hour hospital rotation and it still looked very good at the end. I only needed to blot once with blotting paper. However, if I were to be careless and rub against my face, it would come right off. Still, this is all very impressive considering that I have oily skin and I literally was sweating at that time.
COLOR I initially chose Medium 3/Medium Beige and it is HORRIDLY orange-looking. Medium Beige seems to be a bad color choice across all of Maybelline's foundation lines. I had Dream Matte Mousse in Medium Beige once and it was just as ugly.
I settled with Medium 2/Pure Beige. It is a nice neutral. Although Pure Beige does not have enough warmth or yellow tones to it, it does sheer out quite nicely and blends with my skintone. The difference between Pure Beige and Medium Beige is gigantic. Medium Beige is dramatically darker and more warm and orange. I cannot believe they are next to each other in the shade spectrum.
OVERALL I am very impressed with this foundation. I have worn it for a couple of weeks now and it has performed consistently and has not broken me out. It will definitely become a good skin day staple for me. Definitely will repurchase.
21 out of 23 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Jane - Blushing Petal [DISCONTINUED]
Seclusae2 1/17/2006 12:51:00 AM
DESCRIPTION OF ME Asian with a warm complexion (C3-C4 in MAC) with strong yellow undertones and some peach. Black hair. Oily skin that is prone to breakouts.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION Pressed powder blush. Approximately $4 US or less retail. Available in Walmart and Rite Aid for sure.
PACKAGING Jane blushes come in small screw-top pots. They are sturdy but I prefer pots that flip open. Blushing Petal is also available in a duo with Blushing Wine. The blushes are in small rectangular pans in a plastic compact. This package is a little bit more troublesome since the pans are too small to accomodate a proper brush.
COLOR Blushing Petal is a GORGEOUS subtle neutral matte pink. It reminds me of MAC Blushbaby. It is one of those blushes that are so forgiving of mistakes. I can pile it on and it still looks good since the color is so soft. It gives my cheeks a hint of pink that is so easy to match with virtually any look. However, this color would not work as well for people with darker skintones or those who have a really strong warm skintone. It is appropriate for my winter skintone but I have a feeling that I'll have to retire it during the summer.
TEXTURE Jane blushes are extremely high in quality in terms of texture. They are very finely milled, smooth and pigmented. They are on the same level as L'Oreal Feel Naturale blushes (which are, in turn, in the same league as Lancome's Blush Subtil). However, when you get Blushing Petal from the duo, it's texture is somehow off. It's less smooth, more sheer and powdery.
LASTING POWER I usually wear longwearing foundations so I cannot judge this blush on lasting power.
OVERALL A fantastic product! The color is not clownish pink at all. It would suit a lot of skintones and would be appropriate for professional as well as more casual looks. I will definitely repurchase.
18 out of 19 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Jane - Blushing Wine
Seclusae2 1/16/2006 8:23:00 PM
DESCRIPTION OF ME Asian with a warm complexion (C3-C4 in MAC) with strong yellow undertones and some peach. Black hair. Oily skin that is prone to breakouts.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION Pressed powder blush. Approximately $4 US or less retail. Available in Walmart and Rite Aid for sure.
PACKAGING Jane blushes come in small screw-top pots. They are sturdy but I prefer pots that flip open. Blushing Wine is also available in a duo with Blushing Petal. The blushes are in small rectangular pans in a plastic compact. This package is a little bit more troublesome since the pans are too small to accomodate a proper brush.
COLOR Blushing Wine is not as purple as it is in the pan. On the skin, it turns into a beautiful matte dusky mauve that is sheer but definitely buildable. Jane blushes have a nasty habit of looking very boring or drab in the pan.
TEXTURE Jane blushes are extremely high in quality in terms of texture. They are very finely milled, smooth and pigmented. They are on the same level as L'Oreal Feel Naturale blushes (which are, in turn, in the same league as Lancome's Blush Subtil).
LASTING POWER I usually wear longwearing foundations so I cannot judge this blush on lasting power.
OVERALL A fantastic product! The color is not clownish pink at all. It would suit a lot of skintones and would be appropriate for professional as well as more casual looks. I will definitely repurchase.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Revlon - ColorStay Makeup with SoftFlex SPF 6 for Combination/Oily Skin
Seclusae2 1/16/2006 12:55:00 AM
DESCRIPTION OF ME Asian with a warm yellow-based complexion (C3-C4 in MAC, Buff 5 W in Lancome Teint Idole). Black hair. Very oily skin that is prone to breakouts.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION Long-wearing liquid foundation with SPF 6. Around $10-$13 US at most drugstores. 1 fluid ounce/30 mL. It is meant to replace the original Colorstay foundation. It comes in two different formulas, one for normal/dry skin and oily/combination skin. I am reviewing the latter.
PACKAGE Revlon Colorstay Softflex (CS), just like Colorstay (CS), comes in a glass bottle with a screw top. The top for the oily/combo formula is an opaque black whereas the one for normal/dry skin is clear. I really have no complaints about it. I like the fact the mouth of the foundation is completely open. That's what I've been used to but I can see how it would cause difficulty for other people.
Note that the CSS bottles are smaller than CS. Softflex has only 1 ounce whereas the original had 1.25. It is very irritating considering that Softflex is more expensive. Makeup is just not as cheap as it used to be.
CONSISTENCY/TEXTURE Colorstay Softflex has a lighter consistency and is easier to spread across the skin than the original.
APPLICATION
This is the biggest improvement that CSS has to offer. It is easier to apply and blend and it does not set nearly as fast as CS. With CS, I had to work really fast and it took me some time to get my technique down. With CSS, I no longer have to do that.
CSS also offers more flexibility when it comes to application methods. It can be used with a sponge, brush and fingers whereas I've only had luck with sponges for CS.
The downside is that CSS is not as easy to stipple onto blemishes. With CS, I can taptaptap and even the biggest pimple is covered. I can't do that with CSS. It just keeps moving away from the pimple. Added note: I figured out how to cover pimples. Using a brush is much better than stippling with a sponge.
COVERAGE This part I am really sore about. The original Colorstay was THE foundation I ran to when I broke out. It covered EVERYTHING and lasted like no other. Sure, it looked unnatural but there are some really bad skin days when the look of obvious makeup is actually an improvement. Colorstay Softflex, on the other hand, does not offer the same level of coverage. It may be easier to apply in general but, like it said, it does not fare well on uneven imperfections. It covers redness and dark areas well but not pimples. UPDATE: I take it back. After figuring out that a brush works best, Softflex is actually on par with CS in terms of coverage. :)
The coverage of this foundation can be sheer too depending on how much you actually use.
FINISH The finish is invariably matte.
STAYING POWER Previously, I stated that Softflex does not last as long as CS but I was wrong. After working with it a little bit more, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it lasts just as well as Colorstay with normal activity. If I were to be rubbing my face, it would come off easier than CS but it is easy enough to avoid that.
NATURAL? This is one of the high points though. It looks a LOT more natural than its predecessor. It gives a beautifully finished matte look without looking cakey.
COLOR Another improvement. Revlon has expanded the color selection. At first glance, none of the colors are glaringly orange or pink. I do not know how well Revlon accomodated paler and darker skintones but I am very happy with what they have to offer to my medium skintone. They added a new color between Medium Beige and True Beige (two colors I mixed to get a match for the original CS). It is called Fresh Beige and it is an EERILY good match for a drugstore foundation. It does not have quite enough warmth but this fact is only obvious when I really pack the foundation onto pimples (or try to). Otherwise, there is no line between my face and neck.
OVERALL I added more comments above. As I said before, this foundation works a lot better with a brush and now I am very happy with it. It has the same amount of coverage and endurance as the original Colorstay but I'm still taking off a point because I don't like using brushes that much. This is an EXCELLENT foundation and is on par with Lancome's Teint Idole but much, much more affordable.
UPDATE ARRRRGH! This foundation made me break out. I really did try to "get used to it" (ha, like that ever works). For a week, I wore it every day and every day, I got at least one new pimple. HORRID. I am downgrading my rating to a three which means it is still above par but not for me.
15 out of 15 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Goldenaire pigment
Seclusae2 12/26/2005 9:17:00 PM
DESCRIPTION OF ME Asian with a warm complexion (C3-C4 in MAC) with strong yellow undertones and some peach. Black hair. Very oily skin that is prone to breakouts.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION Loose powder pigment that can be used on the eyes, cheeks and mixed with lip products. (Some colors are not safe for eyes and/or lips though. Check Specktra.com) Some people have even used it with nailpolish. Available at MAC counters and stores, and maccosmetics.com. $18.50 for a full-sized jar containing 7.5 g/.26 US oz. This particular shade is part of the limited edition Lingerie collection.
PACKAGING Full-sized pigments come in a tall tub with a black screw top. It is sturdy but, as many reviewers pointed out, it is a disaster waiting to happen. It is easy to spill pigments and there is nothing that will control the out flow. Adding a shaker top would be a major improvement. I rated the packaging a four out of five.
COLOR Goldenaire is a nice light color that reminds me of rose gold (as in the metal). On the skin, it turns into a neutral pinked champagne with a high metallic sheen. It is very versatile but not very exciting for me. I have a lot of other eye products that achieve the same effect.
Many MAC pigments (Goldenaire included) are highly, highly pigmented. I can easily achieve a gold leaf effect with one swipe. However, it is also easy to sheer it down to a sheer wash.
TEXTURE Very soft on the skin and easily blendable. No complaints here at all.
APPLICATION On my eyes, I apply this pigment with my finger or with Sonia Kashuk's blending brush. (It is a fluffy teardrop shaped brush that can be used for a sheer, diffuse application.)
Since MAC pigments are loose powders, it is a little bit more inconvenient than a pressed product. However, you can simply work with the pigment that collects on the underside of the screw top. This is a lot better than messing with the inside of the tub and risking spillage.
LASTING POWER All the MAC pigments I have tried stay true and vivid throughout the day but crease on my oily lids. However, I have never had a powder product that never creased on me so I don't hold it against MAC or any other powder product. However, Vanilla doesn't look really obvious and ugly when it creases.
OVERALL The texture and pigmentation are impressive. However, the color is pretty run-of-the-mill. For something of this price, I expect something a little bit more unique. I would not repurchase but it is a good product nonethless.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish in Petticoat [DISCONTINUED]
Seclusae2 12/26/2005 9:05:00 PM
DESCRIPTION OF ME Asian with a warm complexion (C3-C4 in MAC) with strong yellow undertones and some peach. Black hair. Very oily skin that is prone to breakouts.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION Shimmery pressed powder highlighter. Part of the limited edition Lingerie collection (release date December 26, 2005). $22.50 US.
PACKAGING Skinfinishes are packaged in simple plastic compact with a clear window in the middle. The actual powder is shaped into a small dome within the pan. There are no brushes or applicators included. You are going to have to use your own.
I have no complaints about the packaging at all. However, Skinfinishes have a reputation for being very fragile and prone to shattering.
COLOR Petticoat is a beautiful color that can be used a highlighter and blush. It has a pale candy pink base color and burgundy and gold veins. It mixes into a cool rose color that is not orangey like Stereo Rose or too pale like Porcelain Pink. It looks like an adorable flush on the cheeks.
Keep in mind that each Skinfinish is unique. No two are alike when it comes to amount of each color. Some other Naked You's have a lot more bronze than mine.
TEXTURE The texture is a bit of a disappointment. All the Skinfinishes I have tried have a slightly grainy feel. It is nothing too problematic but I expected something smoother.
APPLICATION The most versatile way to apply Skinfinishes is with a brush. The powder gets picked up and blended into the skin very easily.
You can also pick up the powder with your finger and dab it onto your eyelids as a highlighter/eyeshadow.
FINISH Petticoat has a fine, very shimmery finish. It does not look like chunky glitter.
OVERALL It is most definitely a nice product but I will not repurchase because I have far too many highlighters/blushes that do just as well. MAC does have the advantage when it comes to offering wonderfully complex colors. I will probably get rid of the one compact I have not used yet. If you are disappointed in this product, keep it because it will definitely be a hot item on eBay too!
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -MAC - MAC Indulgence 7 Face 2005
Seclusae2 12/26/2005 4:34:00 AM
DESCRIPTION OF ME Asian with a warm complexion (C3-C4 in MAC) with strong yellow undertones and some peach. Black hair. Very oily skin that is prone to breakouts.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION Palette that includes one blush, four pressed powder eyeshadows, two lipcolors, one eyeshadow brush and one lip brush. $42 US. Available exclusively through Nordstroms. Limited edition.
PACKAGING This Indulgence palette is in a rectangle olive colored compact. The top has a crocodile embossed print and an Asian-style emblem with the MAC logo. There is a very generously sized mirror inside. I have no problems with the package except for the fact that it is hard to hold it with one hand while the other is applying makeup. The hinge is a little loose so the compact tends to open way too far. I wish it was a little tighter.
CONTENTS Here are the products inside and my review of each:
Mocha blush Located right at the center of the compact. It is a perfect matte pink for my skintone. It is just divine. I honestly thought that it would be too light but once I put it on, it gave such a beautiful and natural flush. It is not like a candy pink that looks cute but is obviously makeup. The texture is fine and smooth. The pigmentation is a little sheer but it is easy to layer to your desired color.
Retrospeck eyeshadow Upper left hand corner. Lustre finish. It is a very shimmery champagne. I can see why this is a classic MAC eyeshadow. It has a bit of a grainy but dense texture. It is not the eyeshadow I would recommend if you want just a sheer, fine shimmery wash since it is pretty intense despite its neutral color. The pigmentation is pretty heavy. I really like this one. It goes with all of the colors in this palette.
Greensmoke eyeshadow Middle left side. Frost finish. Shimmery forest green. I love this one too. I am not too fond of green eyeshadows, especially ones that look like MAC Humid. This, however, is dark enough for my tastes. I love using it as a crease color. The texture and pigmentation are both heavy.
Petalescent eyeshadow Upper right hand side. Satin finish. Very fine shimmery pale pink. I am pretty neutral about this one. I am not very partial to pure pink eyeshadows but this is natural enough not to look ugly on me. It gives a nice sheer wash. That's pretty much it. The texture is powdery and the pigmentation is low.
Plum Dressing eyeshadow Middle right side. Veluxe Pearl. I love Veluxe Pearls but Plum Dressing is not as smooth and heavily pigmented as the others. It is a shimmery red violet. I have to really pack it in or use it wet to get a full effect. Otherwise, it just looks like I have a swollen eyelid.
Fetish lipcolor Frost lipstick. It looks like a burnt bronze with gold shimmer. On the lips, it is actually very sheer and looks like a nude that tones down pinkness. It is a bit hard to spread it on the lips with a lipbrush without looking uneven. Other than that, I like it. The color really works for both color schemes of this palette.
Lady Fabulous lipcolor Lustre finish. In the pan, it looks like a rich cool pink that has a very slight hint of shimmer. However, on my lips it looks a lot more sheer. It has a slight sheen and has a very comfortable feel on the lips too.
BRUSHES The two brushes included in this palette are 213SE (eyeshadow brush) and 316SE (lipbrush). The eyeshadow brush is pretty scratchy but it applies OK in a pinch. The lipbrush on the other hand is pretty small and the bristles are a little too stiff for my tastes. As mediocre as these brushes are compared to the full-sized versions, they're still OK for something that is included in a palette.
OVERALL I am not a palette fan AT ALL because most of them have colors that are way too pale for my tastes. However, Indulgence is one of the very rare palettes that I can actually use 100% without being completely comprised of boring neutrals. Definitely worthy of a repurchase.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish - Naked You
Seclusae2 12/24/2005 5:36:00 PM
DESCRIPTION OF ME Asian with a warm complexion (C3-C4 in MAC) with strong yellow undertones and some peach. Black hair. Very oily skin that is prone to breakouts.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION Shimmery pressed powder highlighter. Part of the limited edition Lingerie collection (release date December 26, 2005). $22.50 US.
PACKAGING Skinfinishes are packaged in simple plastic compact with a clear window in the middle. The actual powder is shaped into a small dome within the pan. There are no brushes or applicators included. You are going to have to use your own.
I have no complaints about the packaging at all. However, Skinfinishes have a reputation for being very fragile and prone to shattering.
COLOR Naked You is GORGEOUS. It has a fleshy, slightly peachy gold base color and pale gold and pinked bronze veins throughout. On the skin, it mixes to make a shimmery gold with a very slight hint of pink. It is very versatile and not too pale or cool for my warm skintone. The color works nicely on the cheeks and eyes as a highlighter. It is not dark enough to be a blush or a bronzer unlike other Skinfinishes.
Keep in mind that each Skinfinish is unique. No two are alike when it comes to amount of each color. Some other Naked You's have a lot more bronze than mine.
TEXTURE The texture is a bit of a disappointment. All the Skinfinishes I have tried have a slightly grainy feel. It is nothing too problematic but I expected something smoother.
APPLICATION The most versatile way to apply Skinfinishes is with a brush. The powder gets picked up and blended into the skin very easily. For those who do not know how to use a highlighter, they are applied to the high points of your face to make them stand out more. The most common place Skinfinishes are applied to is the cheeks.
You can also pick up the powder with your finger and dab it onto your eyelids as a highlighter/eyeshadow.
FINISH Naked You has a very shimmery finish but does have little bits of glitter in it.
OVERALL It is most definitely a nice product but I will not repurchase because I have far too many highlighters that do just as well. MAC does have the advantage when it comes to offering wonderfully complex colors. I will probably get rid of the one compact I have not used yet. If you are disappointed in this product, keep it because it will definitely be a hot item on eBay too!
This picture shows the glitter.
18 out of 18 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Jane - Eye Zing in Brownie Points
Seclusae2 12/8/2005 10:09:00 PM
DESCRIPTION OF ME Asian with a warm complexion (C3-C4 in MAC) with strong yellow undertones and some peach. Black hair. Oily skin that is prone to breakouts.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION Powder eyeshadow. Around $3-$4 US at most drugstores. 0.06 oz/1.7 g.
PACKAGING Jane individual eyeshadows come in a black plastic screwtop tub. The pans are roughly the same size as MAC and Milani eyeshadows. They fit into MAC and Cover Girl palettes. The packaging is nothing problematic.
COLOR Brownie Points is a matte deep chocolate brown. It is very basic and versatile. It can be used as a liner, a wash, a crease color or for dark-haired gals, as a brow powder too.
TEXTURE Smooth for a drugstore matte eyeshadow, but not as smooth as I want. So far, I've had bad luck with matte eyeshadows. Only NYX and Jane have great matte eyeshadows in the drugstore, in my experience. Brownie Points is soft, pigmented but a little on the hard side.
OVERALL Once again, a very versatile and straightforward product. If this color is for you, you will find many uses for it. Worthy of a repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Jane - Blushing Plum
Seclusae2 12/8/2005 10:01:00 PM
DESCRIPTION OF ME Asian with a warm complexion (C3-C4 in MAC) with strong yellow undertones and some peach. Black hair. Oily skin that is prone to breakouts.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION Pressed powder blush. Approximately $4 US or less retail. Available in Walmart and Rite Aid for sure.
PACKAGING Jane blushes come in small screw-top pots. They are sturdy but I do not like them. I prefer a compact that flips open.
COLOR Blushing Plum is not plum at all. It is actually a very shimmery candy pink that is on the cool side. The shimmer is white/silver. As intensely pigmented as it is, it does not show up on my skin right away. However, that is not to say that I don't like it. It gives a very playful porcelain doll-like flush. It would look even more stunning on paler skintones.
TEXTURE Jane blushes are extremely high in quality in terms of texture. They are very finely milled, smooth and pigmented. They are on the same level as L'Oreal Feel Naturale blushes (which are, in turn, in the same league as Lancome's Blush Subtil). The brush picks it up extremely easily.
LASTING POWER I usually wear longwearing foundations so I cannot judge this blush on lasting power.
OVERALL A fantastic product! Jane has probably the best drugstore blushes, rivalled only my NYX. The pigmentation and texture are through the roof. Definitely worthy of a repurchase.
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Lipstick -Maybelline - Moisture Extreme
Seclusae2 12/4/2005 11:04:00 PM
DESCRIPTION OF ME Asian with a warm complexion (C3-C4 in MAC) with strong yellow undertones and some peach. Black hair. Oily skin that is prone to breakouts.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION Tube lipstick. I am reviewing 380 Truly Mauve. Around $5-$6 US at most drugstores.
PACKAGING Moisture Extreme lipsticks come in a standard twist-up tube made out of red plastic. It is not gaudy and is nothing problematic.
TEXTURE This is the absolute high point of this lipstick. Moisture Extreme lipsticks have a very slick, moist but light texture. It feels so smooth and luxurious and it doesn’t drag on my lips at all when I put it on. The slickness decreases as time goes on but the moisture stays for a long while.
Many people have told me that it is the low-end equivalent of Clinique Buttershine. However, I must disagree. Buttershines are thicker in consistency. They feel more like a thin layer of gloss whereas Moisture Extremes are lipstick textured all the way. In the texture department, I prefer Moisture Extremes. They feel lighter and are much more moisturizing than Buttershines.
COLOR Truly Mauve is not really a mauve. I would call it a nice medium pink that is not subdued like a mauve usually is. It has no shimmer but due to the moisture of the lipstick, it doesn’t always look matte. Regardless, it is a nice color that is adds vibrancy to my look and yet can be used every day. The pigmentation is wonderful but the lipstick can also be sheered down.
Moisture Extreme also has a MUCH larger color selection than Clinique Buttershines. There are a lot of options for all skintones and all of the colors are well-formulated. I couldn't decide what to get next!
FINISH Moisture Extremes are satin to matte depending on whether you not you blot and how long it has been on your lips. This is another reason why I do not think these are not similar to Buttershines. Moisture Extremes are not nearly as glossy and Buttershines can never be matte.
SCENT/FLAVOR These lipsticks have a synthetic, sweet watermelon scent. I like it a lot but I am sure many people will differ. However, the scent does wear away after a couple of minutes.
LASTING POWER Excellent wear. It lasts a good hour or two before I have to reapply again.
OVERALL Lovely lipstick! I adore this. I wish I could trade in virtually all of my lipsticks for more of these. I like them better than Buttershines. Will definitely repurchase.
UPDATE I bought more colors. I can see why some people have said Moisture Extremes are comparable to Buttershines. At least one of the line's colors is somewhat similar. See below.
Plum Wine Plum Wine is a PERFECT my-lips-but-better mauve. This particular color is more sheer and stays glossy for a longer time than the rest. It still has the luxurious slip which makes it superior to Buttershines.
That's Mauvie Medium cool lilac pink. This color is just not my thing. It looks Barbie-ish, but not in a good way. A little bit more on the sheer side, but not as sheer as Plum Wine.
Toasted Almond Warm burnt orange-brown. I don't like this one either. It is not laughably awful like That's Mauvie but I am not partial to lip colors that have orange in them at all. This is pretty richly pigmented and opaque.
Real Raisin GORGEOUS burgundy. It is a perfect winter shade. It can look satiny or matte if you blot. Richly pigmented and opaque too.
Sunlit Bronze Very beautiful caramel shade with gold shimmer. It shows up as a very natural nude shade that lets the pink of my lips show through. It does not look dead at all. On the sheer side.
Desert Bloom This is a popular shade that is a sure winner. It is a very natural, subtly shimmery peachy mauve. It is just as sheer as Plum Wine.
Roseberry This is like Truly Mauve (bright pink) but with more orange. Like I said, I don't like orangey colors so I gave this up.
Here is a picture of some of my favorite shades.
38 out of 38 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Milani - Even-Tone Powder Foundation
Seclusae2 11/29/2005 1:55:00 AM
DESCRIPTION OF ME Asian with a warm complexion (C3-C4 in MAC) with strong yellow undertones and some peach. Black hair. Very oily skin that is prone to breakouts.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION Powder foundation. 0.42 ounces/12 grams. $5.99 US retail. Available at Walgreens, Rite Aid and other drugstores that carry Milani products.
PACKAGING This powder foundation comes in a plastic compact. The top is a frosted gold and the bottom is a slightly tacky-looking polished gold-tone. I'm pretty sure that it will get scratched or chipped as time goes on. The mirror inside is a nice size. The top tier holds the powder pan (which is very generously sized). It flips up to reveal a bottom tier that holds the sponge. The sponge is pretty darn good. It is big, durable. and will stand up to washing.
Other than the gold tone, I have no problems with the packaging. It is a vast improvement from my former favorite powder foundation, Maybelline Purestay.
CONSISTENCY/TEXTURE Even-Tone not as finely-milled as MAC Studio Fix but is just as dense and creamy feeling. It is a smoother and gets picked up by a brush a lot easier than Maybelline Purestay. On its own, I like it a lot.
APPLICATION I think the best way to apply this powder is with a powder or Kabuki brush. Simply touch the brush on top of the powder, shake off the excess and sweep across your face. Unless you have a lot of flakes or a bad color match, it is pretty hard to make a mistake since the application is light and diffuse.
Using the sponge makes the this powder look very uneven. I prefer using it damp. I simply spritz some water onto the sponge and swipe the powder lightly. The powder in the pan does not turn hard. Even-Tone is on the same level as Purestay when it comes to wet application. This is a vast improvement over Studio Fix which can't be used wet at all.
FINISH The finish is invariably matte.
COVERAGE Surprisingly excellent for a powder foundation! Since you have complete control over how much you put on, the coverage can be very light to heavy. A soft application with my powder brush is just enough to cover my redness, uneven skin tone and a good deal of my dark circles. I need a separate concealer for pimples and other really red or dark areas but, for me, that goes for all powder foundations. The coverage surpasses Maybelline Purestay and is definitely on par with MAC Studio Fix.
SCENT I don't detect an added scent.
COLOR Unfortunately, Even-Tone does not come in a lot of colors. I think there are only six of them. All of them are more for medium to dark-colored skin. I picked up 02 Fresco which is a warm yellow-based color. It is a little too dark for my C3 skin so I have to stick with a sheer application for now. I am pretty sure that it will be a beautiful match for my summer complexion. The next color down, 01 Shell, looked a little too pale for me. It looked like a very neutral color that would be more suited for C2. It is the lightest of the bunch and I am pretty sure that it is not light enough for truly pale complexions.
For reference: I used Maybelline Purestay in Nude. Nude is more neutral than Fresco.
STAYING POWER Powder foundations don't last a very long time on my oily skin but the upside is that they are easy to reapply unlike liquid foundations. Even-Tone is no exception. It rubs off pretty easily.
OVERALL My new favorite powder foundation! It surpasses the texture and coverage of Maybelline Purestay and does not break me out horribly like MAC Studio Fix. I will definitely repurchase and recommend!
25 out of 25 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Pigment in Golden Olive
Seclusae2 11/26/2005 1:26:00 PM
DESCRIPTION OF ME Asian with a warm complexion (C3-C4 in MAC) with strong yellow undertones and some peach. Black hair. Very oily skin that is prone to breakouts.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION Loose powder pigment that can be used on the eyes, cheeks and mixed with lip products. (Some colors are not safe for eyes and/or lips though. Check Specktra.com) Some people have even used it with nailpolish. Available at MAC counters and stores, and maccosmetics.com. $18.50 for a full-sized jar containing 7.5 g/.26 US oz.
PACKAGING Full-sized pigments come in a tall tub with a black screw top. It is sturdy but, as many reviewers pointed out, it is a disaster waiting to happen. It is easy to spill pigments and there is nothing that will control the out flow. Adding a shaker top would be a major improvement. I rated the packaging a four out of five.
COLOR Golden Olive is a drop-dead gorgeous shimmery light green with gold tones. There is really no olive to it. It is light enough to use as a wash for daytime but has a lot more kick than your everyday neutral. It's great to use on its own but when I am feeling adventurous, I pair it with an electric blue such as Milani Atlantis. LOVE IT!
Many MAC pigments (Golden Olive included) are highly, highly pigmented. I can easily achieve a gold leaf effect with one swipe. However, it is also easy to sheer it down to a sheer wash.
TEXTURE Very soft on the skin and easily blendable. No complaints here at all.
APPLICATION On my eyes, I apply this pigment with my finger or with Sonia Kashuk's blending brush. (It is a fluffy teardrop shaped brush that can be used for a sheer, diffuse application.)
Since MAC pigments are loose powders, it is a little bit more inconvenient than a pressed product. However, you can simply work with the pigment that collects on the underside of the screw top. This is a lot better than messing with the inside of the tub and risking spillage.
LASTING POWER All the MAC pigments I have tried stay true and vivid throughout the day but crease on my oily lids. However, I have never had a powder product that never creased on me so I don't hold it against MAC or any other powder product. However, Vanilla doesn't look really obvious and ugly when it creases.
OVERALL FANTASTIC product and color. It is one of my favorite colors for my eyes. However, I don't think that it is worth buying a whole vial. My 1/2 teaspoon sample has lasted me for a long time. I'll just repurchase a new sample. :)
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No