Eye Shadow -BeneFit Cosmetics - Silky Powder Moody
Seficat 3/31/2013 3:35:00 AM
This is one of those shadows that I look for and there should be a plethora of dupes out there, but somehow there aren't. This is a good, basic workhorse of an e/s - a matte, warm, light fawn. In the pan there seem to be glints in it but on the lid this is perfectly matte. I feel a bit sorry for this e/s - because it's one of those ones I use a lot but completely lacks drama I never really think about it. I use it to define the crease and outer v when I want a soft, polished look without fuss. It's a good interview shadow :-)
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Eye Shadow -NYX - I Have a Headache
Seficat 3/31/2013 3:26:00 AM
I've been on a hunt for matte neutral eyeshadows lately. This is a pretty good, but not as pigmented or as smooth textured as Lap Dance. This is a pale yellow flesh tone, and it works well on me as a brow highlighter but is a bit light for my lid. This is still good value, but there are lots of dupes out there so I doubt if I'll re-purchase.
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Eye Shadow -NYX - Nude Matte - Lap Dance
Seficat 3/31/2013 3:17:00 AM
Love this shade and texture. Perfect MELBB shade for me. This is the perfect warm nude shade, with yellow-peach tonings. The texture is pretty good, pigmentation is much better than I would have expected from the price and it's not chalky at all. I've been reaching for this on a daily basis this summer. It's equally lovely with a fine black cats eye liner, or with softly smudged brown liner for a gentler look. Highly recommend this colour as a makeup bag staple. I'll be re-purchasing several of these as backups.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Milani - Eye Tech Extreme
Seficat 3/31/2013 2:48:00 AM
Wow, really impressed by the easy application, long wear, and great colour of this liner. The felt tip is super easy to use, and the rubberized shaped grip is a nice touch. I have absolutely no problem with feathering or smudging with this and the tip makes drawing a fine wing a (comparative) breeze compared with liquid and a brush or with other less flexible tips - yes, I'm looking at you Revlon Colour Stay liquid liner! Unfortunately I used this for tightlining a couple of times so the tip has a little fuzziness at the end. I store the pen lying flat, and give it a couple of hard flicks to start the ink running - voice of experience - do this with the cap ON or you'll end up with tiny black flecks over a surprising wide area. Getting hold of this in New Zealand is painful, but I've found a few stockists in Australia with reasonable shipping. I'll be re-buying this - and a few backups too
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Styli-Style - Line & Seal Black Velvet
Seficat 3/31/2013 2:04:00 AM
Love this liner. I had thought that wouldn't be able to find a comparable product to my beloved Prestige Total Intensity Deepest Black, but this is a winner. This is a creamy, richly intense, matte black that stays true and will not fade or turn a disappointing dark grey. It's possible to smudge out this liner, but you have to move FAST, as it will set quickly and then it ain't budging until you wash it off. I wouldn't try using this to do a winged liner look, as I think it would be pretty unforgiving. I use this infrequently on my upper lashline and usually as a base for liquid liner over the top and to use the liquid to draw in a winged finish. Where this liner is an absolute legend is for lining the bottom waterline. I have big eyes and have always liked the look of a lined waterline, but have never been able to make it work for more than an hour or so. My method is to apply a tiny smear of UDPP on a cotton-bud, then lightly run this over my waterline. I let this dry for a minute or two, then go over it with this liner, and then immediately gently pat on a matt black e/s with a soft brush over the liner. This method means that my waterline stays in black without fallout, smearing, or fading for at least 4-5 hours, and while it'll have faded after 7 or 8 hours the liner is still very much there with absolutely no touch-ups. I've tried using a few other of the Line and Seal colours, but nothing works quite so well as Black Velvet.
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Concealers -Giorgio Armani - high precision retouch
Seficat 3/31/2013 1:46:00 AM
I really wish this wasn't so damn awesome. I really wish the colour wasn't such a good match, that it didn't resist setting into the lines under my eyes, or provide such silky and easily blendable coverage. Why do I wish this wasn't so good? The price is ridiculous and you get an eeny-weeny tube. Having said that, a little goes a very, very, very long way. I use the product that comes up on the shaft of the wand and that's usually enough to take care of both eyes and any blemishes or redness on my face. I've been using this for at least 6 months and I think I still have a lot left. The formula is a thickish liquid, and is very pigmented. I dab a little where I need it, pat out to cover, leave for 20 seconds or so and then gently blend with a fingertip. The texture is great, not drying under my eyes, but stays put on pimples and on a broken vein on my nose on a hot day. Although I'll moan about the price, I'll be re-buying this.
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Eye Shadow -Maybelline - Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Shadow
Seficat 3/31/2013 1:33:00 AM
I've been suckered before by cream e/s (creasy, greasy, poor colour pay-off) and so was pretty skeptical about these. These are actually pretty good especially for the price. My one remaining bit of niggle about these is the inconsistency of colour pay-off and texture in the range, and that the full range isn't available in New Zealand. I have: Bold Gold - Sheerish light gold with shimmer rather than glitter. Most traditional 'cream' texture. Reasonable pay-off, but sheerer than I was expecting. Tough as Taupe - Matte greyish-brown. Work-friendly, dryish texture but easy to smear on and go. Audacious Asphalt - Medium silver grey with silver sparkles. Hard to work, goes on unevenly, really hard to blend, too much work. Painted Purple - Metallic purple with a hint of pink iridescence. Poor pay-off, but is useful as a base under purple e/s. I find a sponge-tip applicator works really well for applying these (except Asphalt for which I don't know WHAT would work) as brushes get gunky and my fingertip doesn't do a good blending job. I have found that these need to be stored upside down to prevent them drying out. I've had the four above for at least a year and they haven't dried out yet.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - Nellie Tier Hand Cream May Chang & Mandarin
Seficat 3/31/2013 1:05:00 AM
I was given this as a gift and the smell is divine. A light, clean citrus smell that somehow manages to avoid smelling like a cleaning product. It feels richly moisturizing but not heavy. This product has a huge number of oils in it, and a small (I assume, as it's a long way down the ingredient list) amount of silicone in it. I love the smell and feel of this stuff. Unfortunately it doesn't include an SPF and is on the spendy side ($13 for 30ml) so I don't think I'd buy it for myself. Ingredients are: Distilled water, neroli water, shea butter, aloe vera gel, apricot kernel oil, macadamia nut oil, witch hazel water, Manuka honey, emulsifying wax, glycerine, cetearyl alcohol, wheatgerm oil, essential oils blend, vitamin E, silicone gel, rosehip oil, carrot seed oil, calendula oil, evening primrose oil, green tea extract.
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Primer/ Corrector -L'Oreal - Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base
Seficat 3/31/2013 12:53:00 AM
I'm pretty sure this is the same product sold in New Zealand as 'Base Magique'. I'm a bit on the fence about it, worn alone (over moisturizer) it seems to make a difference, blurring imperfections slightly and making pores less visible. However it doesn't seem to make my foundation last better during the day, and while it feels like foundation goes on more smoothly, I don't really see much of a difference in the finished texture of my skin. The jar packaging doesn't really bother me, I just use a cotton-but to scoop out what I need. Bottom line for me is this is a nice to have rather than a must have. I doubt whether I'll re-purchase.
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Sunscreen -Clinique - Super City Block SPF 40
Seficat 3/31/2013 12:35:00 AM
I'm a recent convert (bad I know) to wearing a separate sunscreen rather than an SPF-containing foundation. I'd largely moved on from Clinique products but liked the high SPF of this product. I use this over a serum and moisturizer, and eye-area primer. Most days I will mix it with a scant quarter pump of liquid foundation (Kevyn Aucoin Liquid Airbrush ATM) for a quick and light application. This way I get a sheered out look for minimal effort. On days when I want a more finished application, I'll add a face primer and use this as a separate layer under foundation. I don't think I'd use this alone as, as many reviewers have noted, the physical nature of the sunscreen does leave a white cast. I haven't noticed any issues with balling up or flaking, and it doesn't seem to be breaking me out. I don't find it heavy or greasy to apply. Cost wise this isn't the cheapest option out there, but I use a fairly small amount (about 1/4 teaspoon for my whole face) so on the whole I feel it's reasonably good value.
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Powder -Korres - Rice & Olive Oil Compact Powder
Seficat 3/31/2013 12:17:00 AM
I got this as a GWP from StrawberryNet in shade 41N for Normal to Dry skin. The blurb says it's a "velvety powder particles coated with a rich botanical blend that has a strong affinity with the skin and provides emollient properties". My skin is oily in the summer but often dries out in the winter, and I was hoping that this would be a quick and easy option for when my skin was tending towards dryness. This is the most horrible powder I think I've ever used. The texture is fine and smooth, but the feeling on the skin is heavy, sticky, cloggy, and stiff feeling. I felt like I was wearing a clay mask - just nasty. It was almost like if I turned my head too fast the powder would slide off. I could only deal with having this on my face for an hour or so before washing it off.
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Highlighters -TheBalm - Mary-Lou Manizer
Seficat 3/31/2013 12:05:00 AM
I've wanted to try a highlighter for a while, but was dubious about ending up with a teenage glitter-ball effect. This was on sale on StrawberryNet at a supercheap price so got it as a low-risk experiment. At first sight this looks like a gold pinky-champagney pressed powder. This doesn't have visible particles of glitter and applies as a buttery smooth powder which leaves a subtle sheen on skin. Really impressed by the finish of this product. I use it sparingly in winter to give my cheeks a bit of a lift. I have oily skin so don't tend to reach for it in summer so much. The packaging is cute, but I do wish that it was square or rectangular so it could be more easily stored but it's not a deal-breaker. You get a LOT of product, so while I don't think I'll ever hit pan and need to re-purchase, I'd be happy to buy again to replace it if I lost or dropped it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Argania Pure oil
Seficat 3/30/2013 11:51:00 PM
Really like this light, non-perfumed oil for using around my eyes and on any dry flaky areas on my face. This isn't in any way a unique product (it's just organic 100% argania spinosa oil) but the dropper packaging is nice and it's easy to find here in New Zealand. It's about $30 for 20ml which isn't too bad. As mentioned, I use this around my eyes at night ( after moisturizing) and I find that 3 drops will do for both eyes and I rub any excess into the backs of my hands.
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Treatments (Eye) -Clinique - All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage
Seficat 12/22/2012 4:20:00 AM
This is a nice-ish serum formula (light and non-irritating) but I'm not at all sure that it adds anything but an extra step to my skincare routine. It's not moisturising so I can't skip my usual eye moisturiser. I haven't noticed any difference from using this at all. The thing which does bug me about this is the roller ball. I have no idea at all how much serum I'm actually using. As far as cooling and massaging, I'm sure that sitting down with dampened and cool from the fridge cotton wool on your eyes would be equally 'effective'. Seems like this was delivery gimmick in search of a serum.
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Mascara -Clinique - Lash Power
Seficat 12/22/2012 3:53:00 AM
I'm astounded at the positive reviews that this has got - a barely mitigated disaster for me. This a wet formula, and to be honest, it reminds memost of Maybelline's most-hated Great Lash. The mitigation for me is the blackness of Black Onyx, no greying at all. Otherwise, the bush comes out with way too much product and by the time I've wipd off the excess I feel like I've wasted a lot. The main downfall is its lack of buildability. One coat of this stuff is just not enough if but if I try to apply a second coat before it's dried it clumps and I end up with half a dozen spiked lash clumps. So, if I wait until it's dried to apply a second coat then it is flakeorama. I've never, ever had flaking like this before from a mascara. I do kinda like to shape of the brush, and as it doesn't seem to run then I may reserve it for the very, very rare times I apply mascara to bottom lashes. Absolutely would not buy again though.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No