Eye Shadow -Christian Dior - 5 Couleurs Designer All-In-One Artistry Palette - Nude Pink Design 508
StilaKitten 6/11/2009 3:26:00 PM
Gorgeous palette, and functional to boot. It contains a sheer base (lower left corner), two shadows (the middle shade is a wash/lid color, the upper left is a crease color), a glitter overlay (upper right corner), and a cream liner (lower right corner). Two double-ended applicators are included; one has a slanted liner tip. The palette itself has beveled silver edging around it, to distinguish it from other Dior palettes of the same size. The base is very sheer and gives the shadows good cling. I usually use a litle Dior SkinFlash on my lids, but this base works well, too. The two shadows are soft and velvety, and the colors are subtle enough for day. It's great that the glitter overlay shade is separate from the shadows, as you can opt to add it to your look, rather than being committed to the glitter. It works best when finger-patted over the other shadows. I like to concentrate the glitter in the center of my lid, so it catches the light. I love the look of a liquid-y, wet-looking shimmery eye, and this glitter delivers. It should also be noted that the glitter itself is amazingly fine-textured and non-gritty. The cream liner is standard and nice. I use a separate brush as I prefer a longer handle for this task. I'm really pleased with this purchase. I plan on getting a lot of use from this palette. It works with everyday neutrals (I like Dior Addict Undressed Pink lipstick and English Rose DiorBlush with it) or with bolder/brighter lips. I've seen this palette in several editorials in French Vogue and Elle, and it was paired with red lips (such as Rouge Dior Red Premiere) and it looked amazing. I'd say out of the four Designer Artistry palettes this one is the most versatile and will suit most skintones. Also, this one seems to be selling fastest at Sephora, Bloomindales, and Nordstrom in my area (SF, CA)! If you are a Dior Addict, this is the one to have.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Rimmel - Lasting Finish Enriched w/ Minerals
StilaKitten 6/14/2008 5:13:00 AM
1. Color: I purchased this in 100 Ivory. I'm MAC NC20/DiorSkin 20 and this shade is a great match. This is the lightest color offered, and probably wouldn't do well for those with pink undertones. While I think it would be great if Rimmel expanded its foundation color selection, I have to applaud them for bringing quality yellow-toned foundations to the drugstore!
2. FInish: This applies very smoothly and is full-coverage if you want it to be. Blends like a dream using fingers or a brush (in my case MAC 190). Lots of pigment! Dries to a semi-matte finish, slightly satiny but not dewy or dead-matte.
3. Wear: While it may not last the purported 16 hours (what foundation does?) it does last through a day for me. I touched up twice using Rimmel's Stay Matte translucent pressed powder, and I didn't have a problem with the foundation deteriorating or separating on my face (something I always experience, even with the "highest quality" bases). In fact, I wore it from 9:30am to 10:30pm when I finally decided to take it off, though admittedly it was feeling a bit sticky by the end. I didn't notice any issues with transference onto clothing.
In summation, I found this to be a surprisingly excellent product, well suited to my combination skin. I would happily substitute this for more expensive foundations! It's priced around $6.00.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - My Private Jet
StilaKitten 7/9/2007 5:36:00 AM
OPI's My Private Jet is a new favorite; holographic shimmer suspended in a charcoal base. The look is less "glitter" and more "prism." It has a fun, 80's feel and looks great with black and grey ensembles. I would also pair this with jewel tones.
A few reviewers have noted that it takes more coats than usual to achieve the deepest possible shade. I've been wearing it over OPI's Black Onyx and it looks great! I think this one should be treated like an accent coat.
I think it's difficult to produce a pure black shade with (micro)glitter. Does anyone remember Black Orpheus by NARS? It was jet black with pink and red glitter. It was beautiful in the bottle, but didn't apply well at all.
I think OPI did well with this shade. Not only does it apply and wear beautifully, it's a rainbow shimmer that's fashion-forward instead of tacky.
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Polishes -OPI - Red Hot Ayers Rock
StilaKitten 6/6/2007 5:56:00 PM
A bright, warm lava red that virtually glows! This shade is right on trend with the bright red nail many starlets have moved to, post-Black Satin (and its ilk). It's a playful, summer red, not dark in color or serious in mood! The neon-like effect sets it apart from the millions of other reds available. This is unique enough to purchase, even if you already have a lot of reds. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is a creme; many reds I find are a gel consistency and have to be layered. Anyone familar with Essie's reds will know what I'm talking about. The much raved-about ProWide brush lays down thick, even color; two coats was enough as this polish is denser than most.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Lincoln Park at Midnight
StilaKitten 6/6/2007 5:43:00 PM
A beautiful deep aubergine, with enough shimmer to give a pearl effect that enhances the shine of the polish. This could never be called a frost! Consistency is good; three coats gives me the desired coverage. I prefer a thicker polish application, and this, with the ProWide brush, delivers. A lot of people feel that the dark polish trend is going to expire soon, but I, for one, will continue wearing darks and vamps. I consider these shades to be the new, go-with-everything neutrals!
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Lipstick -MAC - MAC Couture Lipstick in House of Style
StilaKitten 11/23/2006 1:29:00 AM
The MAC Couture color story is one of the most hyped product launches of the year. That said, the question on everyone's mind is likely "Does it live up?"
Mostly "yes." The packaging is interesting, sort of a MAC-Chanel-YSL fusion; however, the "jet" metal shows any and all fingerprints and must be handled with kid gloves if one doesn't want it to look filthy, and the grid notches will most likely collect errant makeup bits. The items do look chic on a vanity, though. Something about the sleekness and grid patterns evoke NYC.
The shades are indeed unique, no easy feat at this point in time for MAC, who has literally done it all in terms of color. I chose House of Style lipstick, a warm-verging-on neutral rose pink with very subtle pearl shimmer. For reference, I'd say it's warmer than Bombshell, but cooler than Giddy. The texture is superb, with very refined pearlized pigments that are almost too subtle to notice, but lend a natural sheen.
All in all, I'm pleased with the collection. I also bought La Mode Richmetal Highlighter and plan on going back for Sheer Mystery powder and possibly the 182 brush and Black Box. I do feel they could have done better with the packaging (fingerprint issue), and maybe added another product, such as a fragrance or mascara (OK, so I'm a little jaded!). I eagerly await future installments of the series and consider the 2006 Couture collection to be a sound investment. Off my soapbox now!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Lipstick in Plink
StilaKitten 11/23/2006 12:46:00 AM
One of my favorite lipsticks of all time! A sheer neutral pink glossy shimmer. I rarely wear it on its own; rather, I prefer to layer this over creme finishes (nudes such as MAC Blankety and Hug Me) to add subtle frost. I've repurchased this one several times. My favorite combination is Subculture liner, Blankety, and Plink! over top. I blot it down so it looks extremely natural. A MAC classic for me! For reference, I'm a C2 Studiofix.
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Lipstick -MAC - Blankety
StilaKitten 11/23/2006 12:30:00 AM
My favorite lipstick of all time! I've rebought this 3 times since its release. It's a versatile nude pink with a hint of grey, which may make it hard to wear for some. My favorite way to wear it is with Subculture liner and Plink! lipstick over top. Blotted down, the combination looks extremely natural and works with nearly any eye scheme. Nearly everyday, I team it with Blushbaby blush, Phone Number eye kohl, and gobs of black Zoom Lash. For reference, I'm a C2 in Studiofix with dark brown eyes and brown/auburn hair.
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Blush -MAC - blushcreme ladyblush
StilaKitten 1/7/2005 12:31:00 AM
This is amazing! MAC's answer to Stila's Convertible Colors, but cheaper and better. The color is a perfect neutral pink flush, which will probably work with most skintones. Even though it's not marketed as a dual-purpose product, it makes an excellent lip color. It doesn't dry out on the lips; on the cheeks it applies very smoothly and doesn't grab or streak. If you try one shade out of the Blushcremes, try Ladyblush.
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Eyeliner -Stila - Smudge Pot in Brown
StilaKitten 7/17/2004 5:09:00 AM
I'm sorry to say I didn't like this product as an eyeliner at all. As a cream shadow, it is excellent and really stays put. As a liner that has "smudge" in the name, it was impossible to get a smokey, smudgy look with this as it sets too fast. Smudged on the lid it was ok, but lined around the eye I just couldn't move fast enough to get the look I wanted. The color was fine. I prefer Stila Espresso shadow to this for a smokey look.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Shu Uemura - Depsea water
StilaKitten 5/31/2004 3:17:00 AM
I love this! I have the Cornflower scent. I use it all hours of the day, over and under makeup, and to sheer down Shu Uemura's Nobara foundation. It really helps the foundation to go on more smoothly and natural-looking. You can also use this to dampen your eyeshadow brush to apply shadows wet! It works exceptionally well with Shu's Metallic eyeshadow range. As far as the moisturizing effects of this product go, I have noticed that my dry areas disappear when using this. I love to spray this on my hair and chest as well. Overall a great product that I wouldn't hesitate to repurchase!
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Lipstick -MAC - Lustre in Politely Pink
StilaKitten 12/29/2003 7:19:00 AM
To my eye, this isn't close to the Playboy lipstick at all; I would have to say MAC Lovelorn is the closest match. Politley Pink is a frosty cool-toned mauve pink. It's cooler than Plink! and on my skin (NC40-ish) it almost looks too gray/silver. I like it, but it's frostier than I expected it to be. Also, it tends to be drier than the other Lustres, probably due to the frost/shimmer. I'll get some wear out of this, but I wish it wasn't so frosty! EDITED TO ADD: I returned this. Too silvery/frosty for my taste.
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Lipstick -MAC - Hue
StilaKitten 9/25/2003 5:45:00 AM
Eureka! A new Holy Grail! Every time I go to the MAC counters, I always grab this, but never end up buying it. I'm so glad I finally got it! This is the best neutral sheer pink I've found. It looks amazingly natural on my NC40 skin. I love a lot of MAC lipsticks (Hug Me, Plink!, Faux, & Syrup are my top picks), but this shade easily eclipses them all. I can see this looking good with just about any eyeshadow combinations imaginable, as it's so natural looking. This shade may look intimidating in the tube as it appears to be a whitish-pink, but it's so sheer and neutral it must be tried to be believed! This is a must-have for fans of the natural/neutral lip.
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Fragrances -Stila - Creme Bouquet
StilaKitten 3/28/2003 9:08:00 AM
I love this fragrance. It's not for everyone, and definitely needs to be experienced first-hand. On me, it is a sweet, creamy floral, with prominent powdery notes. Some compare it to baby powder, but it's much more "special"-smelling than that. This is a good year-round fragrance; the vanilla notes aren't too heavy for spring/summer. Personally, I find this scent to be very unique and unlike most recent mass market scents, which seem to have an obvious alcohol smell. Definitely worth a sniff!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Urban Decay - Ink Lip Stain Illegal
StilaKitten 3/21/2003 9:04:00 AM
I was hoping this would be a nice bubblegum pink, but instead it turned a coral-pink. My coloring (medium tan-NARS Sahara foundation; auburn hair, dark brown eyes) seems to accentuate the orange tendencies in warmer colors, so that's probably what happened here. This will probably work well for cooler skintones, or gals who don't mind watermelon/coral pinks. Hopefully, UD will produce a light plum/mauve/blue-pink shade I can wear soon :)
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