Eye Shadow -Guerlain - 06 Les Fumes Quad
adele37 4/23/2013 12:38:00 AM
I am so grateful for board hype because I wouldn't have looked at this product otherwise - and it's a stunner. Les Fumes is a taupe lover's dream: it's got a lovely shimmery silver, a dusty mauve, and two taupe shades. Texturewise, the shadows aren't nearly as creamy as Rouge Bunny Rouge or Burberry shadows, but despite the slightly drier feel, they blend effortlessly and last well. I get a lot of mileage from this quad. I've worn the silver on the lid with any of the other shades in the crease, I've worn the lighter taupe on the lid with the darker taupe in the crease, the silver in the inner corner, and the mauve as a transition/crease color, I've used it for a smokey eye. It's a no-brainer any morning I'm in a rush. It's a beautiful, beautiful quad, and I highly recommend it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Korres - Milk Proteins Foaming Cream Cleanser
adele37 4/23/2013 12:27:00 AM
I'm glad I listened to the reviews and tried out this cleanser - it's fantastic. I've used cream cleansers exclusively for the past few years - mostly the Embryolisse Lait Creme Moussant - but I found that the Embryolisse was a bit drying during the cold months. (My skin is typically combination but I get flaky during the winter.) I've been using the Korres since November and I love it. It's a cream, but a thin cream with a slightly soapy feel. It foams slightly and rinses cleanly. It doesn't get off all my eye makeup, but it does remove my tinted moisturizer completely. And best of all, my skin feels soft after using, clean but not stripped. I don't think it did anything for my pores or skin condition, but I don't expect it to; I'm happy with it doing well what it's meant to do: cleanse.
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Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Embryolisse - Lait Creme Moussant (Foaming Cleansing Milk)
adele37 10/28/2012 1:27:00 PM
I didn't see any mentions of this cleanser on MUA (or the rest of the internet, really) so I thought I'd add it so others can find more information on it. One of the best discoveries I've made about my skin is that avoiding stripping cleansers really makes a difference. I used to use liquid facial cleansers with acne-fighting ingredients. My face would feel squeaky clean but I would see no improvement. I first tried a cream cleanser during the winter, probably three years ago, from Neutrogena, only because my face was suddenly dry. It was incredible how one product - a cleanser, which sat on my skin for a minute tops! - made my skin softer and a little clearer. Of course, right after I'd repurchased the Neutrogena for the second time, it was discontinued. So began my search for a new cream cleanser. I first heard of the Embryolisse cleanser from camiloveskiwi on YouTube. I'd heard of Embryolisse, of course, but only for their moisturizer, which had always sounded too heavy for my combination skin. I ordered a tube from Beautyhabit (it's also available on Amazon). It was fantastic. It was soothing, it rinsed well, it took off most of my eye makeup except for waterproof mascara. It didn't clog my pores. I'm convinced my skin became less red. I repurchased it. It came with a "New formula!" sticker this time. My heart sank. But I decided to give it a try, and also ordered the Earth Science and Korres cream cleansers, just in case. I still haven't gotten to those two. I'm still using the Embryolisse. I can definitely tell that the formula is different - it feels slightly more slippery and a little less creamy/more soapy, but it's still fantastic. It may not be moisturizing enough for winter anymore, but I used it all summer and was very happy. If you're looking for a good cream cleanser (which always seem to be difficult to find) - give Embryolisse a shot.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Joico - Silk Result Shampoo for Fine/Normal Hair
adele37 5/20/2012 8:30:00 PM
I've been looking for a shampoo for my thin, fine hair for some time. My hair tends to get a bit limp and flat on the second day between shampoos, but I don't like shampooing daily to avoid that. This shampoo lets me wash my hair every other day, gives me volume, and cleans my roots without drying my ends. I absolutely love it. Thanks to everyone who previously reviewed it! The accompanying conditioner is serviceable. Not great, but just fine if you like using shampoos with matching conditioners.
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Makeup Brushes -Shu Uemura - Wool Brush #20 (Pony)
adele37 4/10/2012 5:48:00 PM
This is the best blush brush I own. Buy it. Oh, you want more details? Sure :D The only blush brush I own that's a similar shade - rather flat, and rounded on top - is the MAC 116. The Shu blush is softer, better made, picks up exactly the right amount of blush, and blends it effortlessly. That, I think, is this brush's real selling point: it blends blush all by itself. I don't have to work - I barely have to do anything! And it works with every type of powder blush I try it on: pigmented, sheer, hard, soft. The Shu 20 is probably the only blush brush you'll ever need. I find myself using it at least 4 days of the week.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Make Up For Ever - Rouge artist intense
adele37 9/17/2010 4:28:00 PM
Wow. When they tell you there's fifty percent more pigment, they aren't kidding! That's the first thing I noticed about these lipsticks: you have to dab them very lightly if you're applying them straight from the tube. You need very very little to cover your lips. I bought two of the satin formula lipsticks, #30 and #32. I have very fair, cool toned skin, and #32 is a bit too warm for me. #30 is a gorgeous, gorgeous MLBB rosy shade. It goes with anything. It's my grab and run lipstick. The lasting powder is amazing as well. They last throughout a meal on me, and they wear off well, too - they gradually fade to a stain as the day progresses. One thing: they feel a bit drying, though they don't accentuate flaky skin or actually dry out my lips. They just feel drying sometimes. Applying a gloss on top takes away that feeling. Bottom line: I want to try many more shades.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Cover Girl - TruBlend 
adele37 8/22/2010 9:09:00 PM
This is a really decent liquid foundation. The pros: It's lightweight. It doesn't feel heavy. The coverage is light and can be built slightly. It's blendable, and it can look like skin. It's also really easy to apply. It didn't break me out. And it's cheap! The cons: Shade 405 was too dark for me. It's probably about an NW15. It clings to dry patches. Every time I used the foundation, I would need to pump and throw away the first pump, because the color had separated (and I did shake the bottle beforehand). It did oxidize slightly over the day. I wasn't thrilled with it, but if I ever had a liquid foundation emergency, I would run out and grab this one.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Unlisted Brand - Yaby Cosmetics - Eyeshadows 
adele37 7/13/2010 11:00:00 PM
After all the YT raves, I was expecting to be blown away. These are really good eyeshadows, but they're not spectacular. I was expecting insane pigmentation, but they're on par with MAC - which is great, but they're not *super* amazing. The texture is kinda funny - the eyeshadows are on the hard side, reminiscent of MAC Shale, yet they're powdery and they have some fallout. The pearl paints are a bit softer and the pigmentation is a bit better, but they have fallout as well. Initially I swatched with a stiff, flat brush. The swatches were a bit faded. However, when I used my fingers to add to the swatches, they became way more pigmented. I'm not sure what that means, because I only use brushes to put on eyeshadow, so I wish they picked up on brushes like they do on my fingers. I only bought neutrals, maybe the brights are way better. They are good; I don't want to sound like I dislike them, because I don't. In no way do I regret buying them. They're just not life-changing. They're just not super creamy, super pigmented, and super smooth like MAC Starflash shadows. I went "Ooooh" when I swatched those. While I like Yaby a lot, I didn't react like that. What I like about Yaby is the blendability. These blend insanely well. They are so, so easy to work with. Even the mattes - none of the mattes I got are chalky at all. They all blend so easily. And they're relatively waterproof! After swatching them, I held my hand under the shower spray for a good minute before they even began to fade. These would be great if you're ever afraid you'll get caught in the rain. BTW, they're really tiny. None of the pictures I saw prepared me for how small they were. But they're cheap, so I think they're worth it. The swatches in the picture at the top of the page, on my arm, from left to right, are: Left to right: Yaby es 005, 410, 034, 048, 133, 509, 347, 569, pp 048, 049, top es 540.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Estee Lauder - Tender Blush - Peach Nuance
adele37 6/17/2010 6:58:00 PM
This is an absolutely gorgeous blush. I have very fair, cool toned skin, and I've never been able to wear peach blushes. Peach Nuance, however, is a neutral to warm-toned blush that looks lovely. In my opinion, though, it's not at all peach. It's more of a coral color on me. Not orangey at all, just a lovely, natural flush. The powder is finely milled. It's not very pigmented, but it can be built up easily and is very easy to blend. The finish is satiny, not too matte, not shimmery or glitter-infused. It has a gorgeous, understated sheen. Only con: the packaging is bulkier than it needs to be because it includes an absolutely useless brush. It's $26, sold almost everywhere.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Bobbi Brown - Blush in Nectar
adele37 6/10/2010 9:47:00 PM
This blush is incredible. It's extremely finely milled and applies and blends almost effortlessly. It looks insanely bright in the pot yet applies naturally. Unlike the reviewer below me, however, the color is not good for my fair, cool skin. It has too much of a reddish tone and it makes me look burnt or overheated as opposed to naturally flushed. It's definitely a warm pink on me - too warm. If you have neutral to warm fair skin, it will probably look like a perfect flush on you. If you have fair, cool skin, try Apricot or Pale Pink. They'll give you that flush, but they won't turn reddish on you. BB blushes are $22 and worth every penny. They're amazing and they'll last for years.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -BeneFit Cosmetics - Dandelion
adele37 5/3/2010 8:00:00 PM
I have really fair (about NW10) skin, and in reading the reviews I noticed that some fair people use Dandelion as a blush while others use it as a luminizer. I bought it because I was looking for a barely-there, extremely natural flush. My first impressions were: The packaging isn't so flimsy after all. It's thick, stiff cardboard. And the powder is not very finely milled. I applied it with a skunk brush first. It did not show up at all. I then used my Ecotools blush brush. I got a really pretty medium pinky flush, very natural looking, with noticeable sheen. This powder blends relatively well - not amazingly, but decently. I looked at the really pale pink powder and wondered how it turned into a darker pink flush on me. As the day wore on, that pink flush got redder. After wearing it for quite a while and getting the same results each time, I realized that this blush is oxidizing on me! So: this is great conceptually and might work for other people, but it did not work on me at all. Try it and wear it before you buy it.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Serge Lutens - Clair De Musc
adele37 4/18/2010 8:38:00 PM
So, I just got into perfume and I don't know notes like the perfumistas here, but I got a sample of Clair de Musc and I know one thing: It smells like Lysol on me. Awful, cheap air refreshener. I usually love musky scents but not this one. (Obviously, it doesn't smell like musk on me.) Unfortunately, the wear was great - about five hours - and toward the very end, it got quiet and turned into a warm, soft floral with *slight* hints of musk. I am so glad I only bought a small sample.
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Polishes -OPI - Let Them Eat Rice Cake
adele37 4/16/2010 5:14:00 PM
This is a gorgeous, gorgeous nail polish. Definitely conservative, which I like; it's a pale pink creme with slight lavender undertones. The color is perfect for my pale, cool skintone. The formula is perfection. Opaque in two coats, buttery smooth, very glossy. I use it with the SH insta dri top coat and it's dry in under five minutes. Wear is standard OPI - wears great, minor chipping after three days. This is my new, favorite, no-thought perfect for anywhere nail polish.
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Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Dickinson's Witch Hazel
adele37 4/3/2010 10:56:00 PM
After reading the raves on this product, I was expecting something amazing. I've been looking for products that would clear up my clogged pores for a while. Witch hazel seemed like a cheap, easy product to try. I first bought the Thayer's because it did not have alcohol. The Dickinson's has alcohol and I was afraid that it would dry out my skin. The Thayer's did nothing at all, so I bought a bottle of the Dickinson's. The pros: This is cheap - even cheaper than Thayer's. It's easy to find. The packaging is cheap (a plastic bottle with a flip top lid) but effective. However: The first thing I noticed was the awful smell. Yes, it fades, but I can't breath through my nose for the first five minutes. The smell is atrocious. I would forgive the smell if I liked the product, though. I used it for three weeks and I started getting little bumps on my face, mainly in my t-zone. I think that my skin must hate the alcohol, even though it's natural. I may have had clogged pores, but my skin was smooth to the touch. This made my skin look uneven. My makeup went on less smoothly, too. I am convinced that this product is also responsible for the tiny pimples I began getting on my forehead. I stopped using Dickinson's for two days and they disappeared. As a toner, it does a good job. It definitely removes makeup if there's traces left. But I use a great cleanser and I don't need a toner. And the main reason I bought this was for my pores - and this did not work. I think that it may do the job for a little while, that after you apply it, it minimizes the appearance of your pores. But the effect is temporary. And what it did to my skin is hardly worth it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Korres - Yogurt Cream (Yoghurt Cream)
adele37 4/2/2010 3:54:00 PM
The Korres Yogurt line has changed my skin. The cream is a light moisturizer. It has a strange texture: very light, almost fluffy, and more viscous than most creams, because it doesn't hold the gouges that your fingers make when you scoop out the cream; instead, it smooths out. Probably because it's so light, it absorbs easily. It's great for day in the winter and it will probably be all I need at night now that the weather is getting warmer. Supposedly there is some lactic acid in the Yogurt line. I have to say, I believe it. (I don't see it in the ingredients, but I think yogurt has lactic acid.) I've used this at night, when I don't want to use the heavier mask, and my skin looks amazingly healthy and glowing. The cream does not make me shiny at all. I have combination skin (sometimes tight and dry, usually slightly oily in the t-zone). I've used it for three months so far and it has not broken me out or clogged my pores. In fact, it seems to be great for my skin. It may have lightened old acne scars and I feel like it minimizes the appearance of my pores. The only thing that I dislike about this product is the jar packaging. Aside from that, though - this product is amazing. You don't need to use a lot to get balanced, hydrated skin, so I can see this lasting a while. I've used this on top of an AHA gel and a toner and I have not had any problems. I love this and will rebuy again and again.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No