Treatments -MD Skincare by Dr. Dennis Gross - Hydra-Pure Vitamin C Serum
ashergill 1/18/2013 11:10:00 PM
This is expensive but so worth it! I love all Dennis Gross products and ordered this on a whim and I don't understand all the negative or low reviews I love this and it helps lighten my post inflammatory hyperpigmentation marks on my cheeks (3 on each) and brightens my complexion overall. I can understand this not working out for sensitive skin as it is a strong dose of vitamin c but for my combination skin it is wonderful and I love this and would definitely repurchase even though it is pushes my student budget to the brink. I have used Mario Badescus vitamin c and while it does work I know this does a better job for me personally. The texture of this is gel like and I can feel the silicones i believe as it is alot similar to my lancome la base primer but when I wake up every morning I see refreshed glowing skin.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Clarisonic - Mia2
ashergill 1/18/2013 10:49:00 PM
I absolutely love this and would recommend it to anyone looking to enhance and take care of your skin. I held off from purchasing the clarisonic and its byproducts like mia/mia2 because I thought it was all hype and "electronic toothbrush for the face" status. But after watching my brother's acne prone skin go from problem skin to beautiful skin within a six month time span I was sold. My skin is combination/slightly sensitive and I had the occasional breakout but my biggest worry was the post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. I kept getting the two or three zits in the same spot and mario badescus pink stuff was leaving dark marks on my golden/olive skin that was getting tough to cover. It had gotten to the point where I had a face full of makeup just for school and that is not me I have never been the girl to do the cake face at school. After doing the 2liters water a day and not seeing significant improvement I bought this and two months later this is the best decision I could of made. The brush has two speeds I usually use the lower, a self timer that allows it turn off by itself, and once finished my skin feels tingly and ready for my night routine. Two months later my skin is baby soft smooth, glowing, and looking good. My favorite cosmetic guru, Francesco Nars said at a conference, "the best makeup any woman can have is beautiful skin" and I cannot agree more! *Be warned though there is a purging stage and while my brother and friends were lucky enough not to experience it I did and it was horrible. For three weeks I had monster sized zits on my chin and near my cheek. Not a ton but enough to make me cringe.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Dolce & Gabbana - Dolce & Gabbana Pour Femme 2012 Release
ashergill 1/16/2013 2:58:00 AM
I won't lie I'm a sucker for good marketing and I bought this based off the commercial..After all who wouldn't want to have sweet sexy trip to Italy all wrapped up in a bottle?! But I was really hoping it smelled bearable and I was happily surprised its sweet, warm, contrasting scents with warm underlying base. I love fruity florals and gourmand scents I have flower bomb, jimmy choo, coach, Thierry mugler, valetina, lolita lempicka, bluebell, Herrera, etc etc (I love perfumes) and this fits right in it lasts most of the day and while I can't detect it on myself others can and compliment and ask what is it I usually lie and name it viva la juicy just cause I don't want that many people wearing it.. But it's wonderful I love it!
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Lipstick -Tom Ford - Tom ford private blend lip color pink adobe
ashergill 8/14/2012 10:14:00 PM
Part of my splurge today was this along with coco ravish. Pink adobe is the perfect natural pink lip color it's closest to my all time favorite which is Mac twig except more pink wheras twig is a bit darker brown. It's the perfect brown pink it's natural, it looks great on, moisturizing, and it lasted at least 8 hrs through work and then gym no retouching. I regret not purchasing this when it first came out its that good. If I had to take one lipstick with me it would be this just because it's so versatile and flattering. Perfect for golden olive skinned women!
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Lipstick -Tom Ford - Tom ford private blend lip color coco ravish
ashergill 8/14/2012 10:06:00 PM
$50 for a lipstick really?! I couldn't rationalize spending so much but after constantly looking at all these swatches online and understanding if I spend $50 once maybe I will find the perfect lipcolor and finally stop collecting a bunch of Mac lipsticks (19 and counting..)and turns out that was the right way to go. Coco ravish is the perfect nude for me next to Mac mocha except it's more moisturizing and lasts a bit longer. I have a golden olive complexion with yellow undertones my perfect foundation shades being mufe 153, Nars Tahoe, and Tom ford caramel. I have pigmented lips so most of my lipsticks even the nudes are darker for the color to show through. Coco ravish is the perfect nude it's a brown-coral that perfectly compliments me. It's understated yet sophisticated and I should of bought it months ago I wouldn't have wasted so much time and money...Tom ford has brought his expertise to the beauty game and I can't be more grateful for someone bringing back elegance to makeup.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Cherish Lipstick
ashergill 6/20/2012 1:02:00 AM
A nude lipstick that doesn't make me look grey or dead is this really possible? yes it is lol I am olive skinned with naturally pigmented lips and it seems as if I would never find the nude lipstick that would suit me and having seen so many not so cute versions of girls doing the whole kim kardashian signature nude lips look I steered clear and opted for natural looking rosy browns (twig, brave, fast play, brick o la) or bold lips (s0 chaud, lady danger, up the amp, girl about town) etc. I rather look good in other colors than wear a hideous nude lipstick that doesn't suit me at all (no offense to kim k say what you want about her but the girl has perfected her nudey lips although her face is a bit cake at times lol), But anyways I took a trip to mac to get a replacement for brave and so chaud when i eyed cherish with a doubtful look debating when the mua decided to test it out and holy cow with a bit of gloss i have my nudey naked lips that look natural and not disgustingly milky or grey. She also suckered me into buying half and half over jubilee but that is going back tomorrow as I do believe jubilee would be a better call. Overall nice color, great wear time, whats not to like? if you are tanned/olive skinned with pigmented lips try this its great! I said no to repurchasing because i don't think i will ever finish it.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Gaiety
ashergill 6/20/2012 12:49:00 AM
I loveeee all nars blushes and despite telling myself that this was an exact spot on version of urban decays crush blush I still bought this telling myself I needed a cool based powder pink in my collection. gaiety is girly and bright pink and I am not cool toned or fair myself but it looks great on my olive skin like I just ran a mile, didn't break a sweat, just got that nice healthy flush on my cheeks. and after this purchase i do believe i have every color under the sun for blush and am steering clear of any future nars blushes because i don't think i will ever be able to finish the ones I have. Beautiful and bright this is the blush your looking for if you want the classic girly pink.
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Blush -Make Up For Ever - Sculpting Blush 22 - Iridescent Orange Coral
ashergill 6/20/2012 12:44:00 AM
I saw this at sephora today and it was a complete impulse buy but I am sure I won't regret it because the color is so beautiful its a loud coral color that attracted me like a magnet. I love corals, pinks, and peaches on golden skin and despite having nearly every other nars and mufe blush i can't seem to stop. I tested this is as soon as I got home and loved it only a little is needed as it is quite pigmented but its beautiful on olive skin tones and a must for the summer. A guilty but worthwhile purchase! (I said i wouldn't purchase again because I have way too many blushes to be purchasing doubles).
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Blush -NARS - Liberte
ashergill 6/20/2012 12:39:00 AM
I am a blush fiend and while scrolling through older posts on temptalia I came across Christine's review of liberate and while she did not like it herself I knew on my golden olive skin it would be awesome as it was a cross between taj mahal and exhibit a. taj mahal gives me the bronzy tanned look and liberte is this nice terra-cotta color that just livens up my face I would say its a darker version of MUFE gel blush in number 12 which is a orangey coral. Its a great color and would suit any tanned/olive woman well! I have used it on and off for the last three weeks with no complaints. Thanks to nars for another hit! I would not purchase again as I have an arsenal of blushes that will get me through this life and the next lol.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Stick -Tom Ford - Traceless Foundation Stick
ashergill 3/23/2012 11:58:00 PM
I have been on a mission to find the perfect non masklike foundation that provided a dewy complexion not oily so pretty much it's been impossible. Tom ford launched awhile back but $80 for a foundation is steep on a student budget. So after going through Armani, ysl, and a bunch of others I ordered Tom fords foundation stick along with the liquid foundation. First off the shades online are way off I ordered sable thinking it would suit my medium olive complexion as it looked yellow enough. Nope way off, ordered tawny next close but not yellow enough, and then caramel which was near perfect.. I applied with my hand over tom ford primer and my face looked flawless in terms of natural looking skin. The coverage was great enough to cover acne scars but allows my skin to breathe. The consistency of the stick is very creamy and no greasy face at all. I'm not a fan of stick foundations having tried Bobbi browns crappy one in the past but Tom fords lasted all day even through a gym session. The packagings simple and sleek. Exactly what I was looking for I cannot wait for the liquid foundation to arrive!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Kiehls - Ultra Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15
ashergill 3/15/2012 5:18:00 PM
My skin is going through a dry phase maybe the weather or whatnot so I ordered this thinking this would be a great everyday moisturizer and I could use this under foundation. Sadly I didn't take into account the spf in it and how my sensitive skin doesn't do too well with it. I tested it for a week and the formula is average it can make one oily at the end of the day but it is hydrating and I believe this would be great for people with normal skin. But for me another $30 down the drain.
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Blush -NARS - Sin
ashergill 3/6/2012 12:35:00 AM
I have mixed feelings on this blush and its described as a berry color and while that is spot on I dont really feel like this compliments me that well. Like a reviewer said below it can look like someone punched you and thats why i am hesitant on keeping this. After loving oasis I went out and bought sin thinking I was missing out on something special but I feel like this is a 90s blush it doesnt really do anything for me like brown lipstick its just there. I am going to play around with it for the next couple of days but I do believe I am going to return it.
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Blush -NARS - Blush in Oasis
ashergill 3/6/2012 12:28:00 AM
I am a nars blush whore and I can't stop so I tend to avoid the makeup counters at nordstrom for that very reason. But my cousin wanted to browse and I helped her choose her blush and was drawn to oasis (the blush I always pass up). I have about 9 other blushes from nars and I always pass up oasis just cause I call it a "dead color" it looks blah and boring in the pan but this day I decided to swatch it. Again I wasn't super impressed but as I blended it out I knew it was going to look phenomenal on my golden olive skin. Oasis on me is like a golden pinky color nice natural flush in all honesty I would call it orgasm's subtle and sophisticated sister or the girl you take home and marry its that good. This is the shade you wear when you want to look put together or that special evening and believe me having (taj mahal, gilda, gina, orgasm, taos, torrid, luster, exhibit a,) I know when something is special. This is one of my most used blushes while I keep the others in rotation based off seasons: taj mahal, orgasm, torrid-summer. gina, gilda,taos-spring. exhibit a/other berry blushes- fall and luster I use all the time. Buy it you wont regret it!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Giorgio Armani - Luminous Silk Foundation
ashergill 3/5/2012 11:59:00 PM
I'm always on the hunt for a better foundation although I love my MUFE 153. i have heard alot about this foundation from beauty editors, makeup artists, but every time I wanted to try it either my color was out or some other excuse. But I did find it eventually and matched myself to 8 because 7 is too pink and 6.5 too light. 8 is caramel and it matches although I have to reconcile myself to the fact that not every foundation is going to match as perfectly as MUFE 153. I have been wearing it for a week now and the formula sinks in smoothes out everything without primer but with primer its amazing. its very lightweight but can be built up and with my combination skin it doesnt leave me oily or anything at the end of the day or cause irritation. *EDIT sigh I hate not being able to find the perfect foundation apparently my skin has decided it needs more moisture and hydration from foundation and luminous silk foundation and mufe aren't cutting it. I wore both of them to work on different days and went to use the restroom only to find the foundations settling into my pores and just sitting there ughhh It honestly made me look too made up and look older which is never a good thing. I want a silky dewy foundation thus I ordered tom ford (fingers crossed) its the one.
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Tinted Moisturizer -NARS - Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer
ashergill 3/5/2012 11:35:00 PM
First off I love Nars and was blown away when I heard about the tinted moisturizer coming out. I love liquid foundations but for day to day wear its such a hassle and I wanted something lightweight that gave me the "my skin but better' and nars delivered. I got annapurna and although its a tad darker than my skin its only noticeable to me and I tan easily so I knew with summer coming up there was no point in getting st. moritzs which was the shade lighter. My perfect match is MUFE 153 golden olive/medium. But back to nars the tinted moisturizer is lightly scented, it doesnt give much in terms of coverage its very sheer, and once applied ( I use my hands) gives off a nice sheen very natural and subtle. Also I can't credit the formula for getting rid of my hyperpigmentation marks (two on my cheek) but I have noticed they have significantly faded over the last month or so. I wear this everyday unless I need more coverage.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No