Palettes -Too Faced - Natural Eye Kit
chocolatemartini 3/23/2011 7:08:00 PM
This palette is very versatile and I find myself sub consciously reaching for it everyday because it provides so many easy, work-safe looks in one place. Its my go to palette, even surpassing the urban decay naked palette that I absolutely love. My favourite look for work is: heaven on the brown bone as a highlight, velvet revolver all over the lid, sexpresso on the outer corner and blended into the crease, and finishing it off with a dab of silk teddy as a shimmery pop of colour in the middle of the lids. Its gorgeous and stays put all day with a primer. Haven't even got a chance to properly try out the other colours yet because I love this look so much I do it everyday. I do however find the packaging to be bulky and redundant - I never open that little drawer or use the brush. Also the eye picture on the front is rather creepy - I would have preferred a different design...
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Foundations -Unlisted Brand - Legere- bb creme white
chocolatemartini 2/23/2011 5:51:00 PM
Best BB cream I've tried so far and also the best colour match for my skin. It goes on dark but somehow blends into my skin colour (I'm fair to medium skin toned) Even though its silicon based it, it absorbs pretty well and doesn't feel all slippery like the Giorgio Armani second skin. This lasts a fairly long time as well. I am impressed. It manages to make my skin look brighter without being artificially fair and ghostly. Almost gives a slight lit from within look which I really like. It gives quite a dewy satin finish which is very flattering. This does not have the greyish cast that most BB creams I've tried tend to give. I can't say much about the other claims of anti wrinkle and the gazillion other claims BB creams make. But if you treat this BB cream as simply a tinted moisturiser with possible additional good-for-your-skin benefits, it compares really well. Definitely repurchase. One thing I dislike is the design of the packaging which looks sort of boring and old fashioned. They could have made it look more appealing. After hearing good things about Legere's BB cream I was going to get this but at the store I was extremely tempted by some of the other BB creams on display because the packaging on this looked so unattractive compared to some of the others. I'm glad I resisted though because I haven't stopped using it since.
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Treatments -Laneige - Laneige Strawberry Soft Peeling Gel
chocolatemartini 2/23/2011 5:34:00 PM
Love this product. If nothing else, the smell is so lovely that you just want to use it everyday even though recommended usage is twice a week! I look forward to every 3 days when I get to use this again. Its not too harsh like some physical scrubs that can be very abrasive. This one is very gentle but still gives your skin a good deep clean. Its such a treat to use! Anyway I definitely recommend. Will repurchase no question.
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Eye Shadow -Chanel - Ombres Perlees de Chanel
chocolatemartini 2/23/2011 5:16:00 PM
Very disappointed with this palette. Good things first, the packaging is lovely, the colours look absolutely gorgeous in the pan and overall the look and presentation of this whole palette makes it look expensive, chic and hard to walk past and not want it immediately. But that's where it ends. The colours go on very sheer, I find myself digging hard into the pan just to get enough colour to show up on the lids. The staying power is close to nothing. Even with primer, the shadows don't make it through the work day. I've tried all my primers - UDPP, too faced, even Loreal's face primer on my lids in an effort to have the shadows not crease and disappear by end of day, but they have all failed. By end of day, my lids look sad, oily, creased and no colours or sheen remains. The darker shades that I put in the crease look like dirty patches on my eye lids because the rest of it has disappeared. I think it could be the formulation of these eyeshadows - some people say its cream to powder finish which may be the reason why this becomes so oily by mid day. My lids aren't even what I would consider oily. I have normal skin sometimes even abit dry. I never had creasing problems with my urban decay naked palette or my NARS eye shadows, given the right primer. But I do with this Chanel one and its quite frustrating because it was expensive and I really wanted to like it. The initial effect (first 3 hours of wear with relevant primers) is beautiful and the shades look gorgeous. But this will not last you a work day or a night out. I would probably wear this palette on weekends when I'm not going to be out all day. If you haven't got it, I would skip this palette altogether.
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Liquid -Estee Lauder - Double Wear
chocolatemartini 1/15/2011 8:35:00 PM
I am absolutely in love with this foundation. I'm in the shade sand and it matches me perfectly. I have been using this for about 3 weeks now and I'm thrilled by how long it stays on without needing touch ups. A very little goes a long way and even though it is full coverage I don't particularly find that it looks that way (i.e. caked on and thick). At least for me, the foundation makes me look like I have amazing airbrushed skin, it is the perfect level of dewyness with a good degree of oil control - I don't find myself blotting with this product. The best best thing about this is that it is seriously a long lasting foundation. I hate having to touch up anything. When I step out of the house, that's my make up done for the day. This foundation gives me the confidence to know that at any point in the day, whether it is at all my meetings in the day or even at after work social events, I will probably still look almost the same (skin wise) as when I first left the house. Before I found this, the closest I had in terms of a long wearing dewy looking formulation was Revlon Colourstay which had been my HG before, even though the colour was slightly too light for me. I think its now been replaced by this foundation because the colour match is perfect. I am in love with it. I work in a client facing office environment and I have had disasters before where I buy a new must try foundation (read: Nars sheer glow) and put it on in the morning before work, then finding myself blotting my face every 5 minutes, and only go to the loo during lunchtime just to find a the foundation completely gone from my t-zone and patchy everywhere else. Foundation faux pas. This has solved my foundation troubles for now. Top marks for the long wear, colour match and the confidence that brings.
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Treatments (Eye) -Origins - GinZing
chocolatemartini 1/15/2011 6:34:00 PM
This eye cream is easy to apply with its light and runny consistency and it also has caffeine as an active ingredient to reduce puffiness. I find that its got a fine sheen that remains on the skin after its absorbed, that is supposed to reflect light to make your under eye are look less dark. While its a nice touch, I would prefer if there wasn't that sheen because psychologically I feel like there's 'make up' on my skin or residue that may clog pores and I don't like that feeling before bed. This may be a cream for day time only. Its good, but not HG for me. I still prefer Kiehl's avocado eye cream and La Mer's eye cream.
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Treatments -Lancome - genefique
chocolatemartini 1/15/2011 6:27:00 PM
I got the full sized bottle and I've used up almost 90% of it. Its one of those products that for me, I neither love nor hate, I would rate this a 2.5 if there was that option. It just doesn't quite leave an impression despite using up almost the whole bottle. No noticeable differences but no noticeable bad effects either. I suppose that means its working?? Their marketing was also (deliberately?) vague with all the talk about genes.. You cannot transform your genes and DNA with a serum. Fact. I don't know why I bought into it - its a gimmick. Its got a nice 'high end' feel and packaging but I doubt I will buy it again because I honestly don't know what it does or its supposed to do.
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Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Naked Palette
chocolatemartini 1/15/2011 6:11:00 PM
This is the most value for money eye shadow palette I have ever bought. The colours are neutral and I wear it to work everyday. I think I have used some combination of these eyeshadows pretty much everyday since I bought the palette in Sept 2010. Super good value. Plus it comes with the eyeliner and a sample sized primer potion. I must say, Urban Decay really thought this one through. Its the perfect 1 stop shop for a woman working in a professional work environment, with some darker options for night time. There's no reason to get anything else eyeshadow wise really..
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Powder -Elizabeth Arden - Pure Finish Mineral Makeup
chocolatemartini 6/6/2010 6:18:00 PM
I bought bare mineral's foundation before this and it totally broke me out so I thought I was done with mineral foundation but then decided to give this a try because I was enticed by Elizabeth Arden's innovative packaging and dispensing idea. Also bought the brush because it was really soft and plush (EA's brushes are actually very good quality!) BEST BUY EVER! Its my go to foundation for summer weekend picnics in the park since it is not oily, fuss free with SPF, doesnt smudge around and its so simple to apply with EA's soft fluffy brush. Once it settles into the skin, it looks very natural like you have no make up on yet your skin looks very even. Love it. Doesn't break me out either. I would recommend using it over a primer like Laura Mercier's. Would def repurchase!
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Mascara -Make Up For Ever - Smoky Lash Extra Black Mascara
chocolatemartini 6/6/2010 6:09:00 PM
Passable mascara for most people I would suspect, but fails for me because it doesn't do what I need it to... My lashes are stick straight and short. The main thing I was looking and hoping for when purchasing this mascara was the 'curl' as claimed in their packaging and marketing materials. This mascara does not hold curls whatsoever. Just like all the other 'curling' mascaras I've tried. I felt cheated. Its not a bad mascara per se but it falls short of my expectations. Flakes and smudges slightly as well. The wand is big and bulky so I found it hard to apply without messing up my lids and under eye since my lashes are short. If you are looking for a curling mascara, the best one in the market has to be max factor's masterpiece waterproof. That and one by the brand 'majorlica majorca' you can only get in Asia. Smokey lash by MUFE is not it.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Clarisonic - Mia
chocolatemartini 6/6/2010 5:43:00 PM
Great product! What can I say. my skin has been looking glowy and refreshed since using it twice daily for the last 2 weeks. I live in the UK but got the pink mia when I visited the US 2 weeks ago. It works with most cleansers - there is no need to use clarisonic's. I have also bought 2 replacement brush heads for 'delicate' skin because I have heard that the original head can be rather abrasive. i'm currently using the sensitive brush head and I find it wonderful. Perfect level of cleansing and feels great after I use it everytime. I agree with a previous review - it feels like you just had a facial. Everytime. Love it. I didn't experience any purging and in fact using this daily might have prevented breakouts - My skin's incredibly soft and my bf commented on how great it looks too. Love it. Would def repurchase. Its very portable and super cute in pink too!
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Tinted Moisturizer -Laura Mercier - Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 - Oil Free
chocolatemartini 6/2/2010 3:36:00 PM
I absolutely love this tinted moisturiser! I think I may have found my HG in terms of formulation and shade. I'm in the shade bisque in the summer. I originally got the LM regular TM because I thought I had dry skin. However I always found when i used the regular version that my T-zone area became extremely oily after half a day which caused me to not use the LM TM product as much as I should. I got the oil free formulation recently after a friend recommended it and used it in conjunction with the LM foundation primer and it is GREAT. Used it non-stop for a week on holiday and my skin always looked flawless even after a long day. I think its a combi of the oil free formulation and the primer. You need to use both to really get the best result! Its abit pricey but its my go to TM for the summer! I'm using it up pretty fast since I'm in love with this product and its so consistent and worry free!
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Length Water Resistant
chocolatemartini 6/2/2010 3:27:00 PM
Not great - was disappointed the first time I used this mascara. It requires many coats to notice a difference and it clings to the lashes and weighs them down which eliminates any curl. I think I will stick to Max Factor's masterpiece waterproof. Current HG for me.
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Lip Gloss -MAC - Boy Bait Cremesheen
chocolatemartini 5/11/2010 3:56:00 PM
This lip gloss is a nice colour but abit too nude to use on its own for me. I'm fair skinned and not big on eye make up (usually stay with very neutral shadows) and too much nude doesn't work for me. But the gloss itself has a very nice consistency, fairly long lasting and the colour is very versatile when paired with lip sticks. I find myself reaching for this gloss alot when I'm going for a more 'safe' look. I usually use it over some of my coloured lip sticks to tone down the colours and provide a glossy finish. Its great used that way.
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Moisturizers -Kiehls - Ultra Facial Cream
chocolatemartini 5/11/2010 3:47:00 PM
I love this cream! Its a thick gel consistency, which leaves your skin moisturised but not oily. Feels light on the skin and when it dries off it leaves my face feeling very refreshed. I've finished one tub and have bought a new one. Its my HG moisturiser at the moment! I use it for both day and night. Definitely highly recommend this product.
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