Eye Shadow -MAC - Ricepaper Eyeshadow
dela_cerna 8/5/2012 2:59:00 PM
When I first bought a bunch of MAC shadows, I didn't go for this, because at first swatch, it looked really light and frosty. It gave me flashbacks of wearing white frosty eyeshadow in high school. Not a pretty look on tan skin! But this shade totally won me over. You can use it on its own for a really subtle look, but this shadow truly shines when paired with other colors, especially neutrals and browns. It's a great supporting color for nearly everything. I like using this with a warm matte brown (MAC Saddle or UD Buck), which is a great every day look that can easily be polished with a stronger lip color, especially reds (try it with Revlon Lip Butter in Candy Apple). Simple and very chic! I also like using this as a highlighter. It's not sparkly, so it lends a lovely glow that looks amazing on tan skin. Give it a try!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Torrid
dela_cerna 3/25/2012 7:51:00 PM
I was torn between buying this and Gilda. Unfortunately, I'd have to go to Neiman Marcus to swatch Gilda or buy it online and deal with the hassle of a return. I read that these two are very close and that the only difference was the shimmer. I'm really glad I went with this-- the shimmer particles blend in very well once applied, and it imparts a beautiful glow rather than creating a disco ball effect. There's something about it that gives the face warmth and dimension that I'm not sure I could have achieved with Gilda. It's one of those things that can make you put together but not made up (if you use a light hand, obviously). For reference, I'm NC35. Tanned girls need to get this!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Dove - Nutritive Therapy Nourishing Oil Care Shampoo
dela_cerna 7/2/2011 11:46:00 PM
Best. Shampoo/Conditioner. Ever. And I'm not even very loyal to shampoo brands, only because I have never experienced anything that wowed me this much. For reference, I have thick coarse straight hair, coupled with an oily scalp. As in my crown area sometimes gets oily the same day that I wash it, especially when it's extra humid. I also have layers, and it has a tendency to feel crispy in the ends. So this is pretty much a recipe for disaster in the summer, since everything just falls flat and greasy. Whatever is in this stuff not only moisturizes my hair so well but it also makes it ultra smooth and absolutely shiny--- not oily! My hair magically dries much faster than usual. I often just air dry, and it still gives me awesome results with just air dry and brushing and no heat styling. I use the leave in conditioner on the tips as well, to give it an extra seal on the tips to get it smoother, and it really does the trick. Seriously, give this a try. It's a steal for the price and the quality!
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Shattered eyeshadow
dela_cerna 6/21/2011 12:38:00 AM
What a gorgeous color! Perfect for spring and summer. Shattered looks blue in the pan, but has a lot of green undertone when applied, plus gold flecks to boot! I was trying to find a blue to wear for the summer and preferred this over Flipside, which looked more blue and one dimensional to me. No glitter or crazy fallout. I know some people find blues not very wearable, but this color doesn't apply like liquid metal like some UD shadows do (like Half Baked) so it's easier to control and not too out there especially when sheered out, or paired with golds and browns. It's perfect as an accent color..and really, if you apply with a light hand, it won't look straight from the 80s--- just really pretty and a refreshing break from neutrals. Extra awesome on brown eyes too!
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Lipstick -MAC - Lustre in See Sheer
dela_cerna 6/19/2011 1:47:00 AM
Desert island lipstick. I was on a search for a perfect pink for me, and this is it. The website describes it as grapefruit pink-- it's a pink alright, but it leans a bit in the coral family. In fact I was on the fence between this and Viva Glam Cyndi, which turned out to have more overt red undertones, while See Sheer (in my eyes) was more pink, and had a little peach. But with my yellow undertones, this color works very well. I love that it's versatile enough to wear for a job interview, a night out and just for every day use. It makes my face brighter, put together and healthy, but also looks natural and not like I've slapped on some lipstick.It doesn't make my teeth look yellow like some corals have a tendency to do. I personally like the lustre formula, as it adds to the natural look. Love layering this with Freckletone for a nude lip!
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Lip Gloss -MAC - Viva Glam Cyndi Lipglass
dela_cerna 6/12/2011 10:05:00 PM
Man, am I sad that I am so late for this bandwagon. Sigh. I bought the Cyndi lipstick but returned it because it just was not what I was looking for at the time. I somehow got interested again months later, but since it's LE and the products are being moved out, I was left with just the Lipglass, which I did not want really, but thank goodness the consumerist in me caved in. Whenever I buy coral that leans hot pink, it turns blue based on my lips, which is annoying! Not so with Cyndi. The perfect bright pink/coral on me. It's fairly opaque, which is great for me, since I'm getting more color for the price, and not goopy liquid. Definitely one of the most interesting glosses I own. Perfect for the summer, but it has a very versatile, not to mention, very sexy appeal. Hopefully, my counter still has some left so I ca get back ups!
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Blush -NARS - Dolce Vita
dela_cerna 5/30/2011 12:43:00 AM
It's painful to like a product like this, because it's so expensive. That being said, the penny pincher in me believes that this is truly a keeper. To be honest, Dolce Vita looks pretty blah on the pan and even when you swatch it, it's just meh. I was curious though, and I looked up more photos online and saw that it applied beautifully on the face. So I caved in and bought it. Glad I did. Like many have said here, a stippling brush will do the job to prevent you from looking like a bruised up streetwalker. Applied with a light hand, I forgot about the price tag and became enamored with the lovely color it imparted on my face. It's natural, yet sultry--a bit grown up, for sure, but also pretty sexy. It imparts a warmth and glow on the face that's really hard to explain (I'm sure DV users know what I'm talking about). Some have mentioned that the finish is matte, and I agree, but be aware that there are very fine iridescent particles, which seems to just add to a glow effect, rather that shimmer. Most importantly, the color lasts forever! I work a long shift and hate touching up, and this really goes the extra mile in terms of staying power. I'm pretty in love with it, and if you're curious about Nars blushes, don't pick Orgasm, pick this! Way more bang and pigment for your buck.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Nivea - A Kiss of Flavor Cherry
dela_cerna 5/3/2011 12:59:00 AM
I'd actually give this a 4.5. If it were a little bit more moisturizing, I'd be over the moon, but this is pretty good for what it is, certainly better than most balms in the market. I usually dislike flavors/scents on lip balms, but I actually like this one. The cherry scent is juicy (but not nauseating like the NYX glosses). One reviewer said it's like cherry starburst and I agree! The tint is fantastic. I have pretty pigmented lips and this really does the trick and actually shows up. I talk to people at my job all day long, and it's nice that I can put this on without having to whip a mirror out. Very nice for low key/natural makeup too!
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Lipstick -Revlon - Super Lustrous Lipstick-- Chocolate Velvet
dela_cerna 4/28/2011 10:38:00 PM
I got this for free on a buy 2 get 1 deal, and thank goodness I picked this up. I was very surprised at how much I liked it. I usually worry about browns looking blah...or like I rubbed mud all over my lips, but this is nice. It's not a straight up brown since it has kind of a slightly reddish/plummy undertone that rounds it out quite well. Very sophisticated and proper enough for the office, but also would pair well with a brown smoky eye at night (I know brown on brown sounds bad, but trust me, it looks awesome on olive skinned girls). Admittedly, it's a more mature color, but hey, if you want to set yourself apart from a sea of nudes and corals or want to try a bolder lip look, definitely get this.
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Lip Treatments -C.O. Bigelow - Rose Salve
dela_cerna 4/20/2011 11:40:00 AM
My go to purse lip balm. I like that it has the ideal amount of scent that doesn't linger and affect any food or drink taste. It smells faintly of roses, but also pretty sweet, but not artificial. I love that it's super versatile too! I use it on my cuticles, and even as a balm for my hands in the winter (bonus: after moisturizing my hands, I usually run it through the tips of my hair to give it shine and it makes my hair smell faintly of roses!). When I forget my purse perfume, I sometimes dab this on my neck and wrists. Love that this keeps my purse bulk down. Desert island item, for sure!
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Eye Shadow -Flirt - Dreamy Eyes Eyeshadow in Glamourazzi
dela_cerna 3/15/2011 12:46:00 AM
Loved this color in the pan, but it drove me absolutely bananas when it wasn't as dramatic when I finally put it on my eyes. On the pan, it looks really beautiful, a mellow purple with bronze/peach shimmer...but I think the shadow itself is actually kinda matte in texture. It needs a sticky base if you want the bronze shimmer to show through. If not, from a short distance, it will just look like straight up purple shadow, which is cool if that's what you're going for. I tried using ELF Mineral Primer and UDPP, but the purple was just coming out stronger, and not really showing much of the bronze. I tried NYX Milk Jumbo Pencil, and it was slightly better. What finally sealed the deal for me was the super crappy Revlon Beyond Natural Cream to Powder Eyeshadow (thank goodness I kept it around). It's a crappy cream shadow on its own, but as a base, the shimmer in it plus the stickiness really helped the bronze particles show through, and the result was really beautiful and more true to the pan. Very sunset in an eyeshadow sorta thing!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Hard Candy - So Baked Bronzer, Tiki
dela_cerna 3/14/2011 12:48:00 AM
I am usually kinda secretive about things that make me look 10x better, since we all love to claim that it's all natural (ha!). I don't even review much but I have to share with you all my love for this product. Okay, yeah, it's definitely not a bronzer-- not even on a pale person. Yeah it can be a highlighter, but I'm not the biggest fan of that since I've got oily skin, and highlighting usually make my face look greasy in photos. Flattering! I use Tiki as an all over illuminator. I dust my face with a small amount of it before foundation, and if I'm feeling extra glowy, I'll swipe some of this and swirl it with my finishing powder. The result: perfection. I have received compliments from my mom and other ladies that my skin looks amazing (which it definitely isn't), and even my boyfriend who never notices anything, told me the other day that my skin looks fantastic. This is what I wanted Too Faced Candlelight powder to be. That turned out to be a glitterball mess. But this, when used with a light hand and some buffing, really comes out natural. It's not glittery, it's not frosty, it will just make you look glowy and healthy, which is perfect for those of us who want a more natural look. Must have even for oily skinned girls!
13 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -TRESemme - Fresh Start Dry Shampoo for Oily/Straight to Normal Hair
dela_cerna 12/27/2010 1:09:00 PM
Okay ladies, here's the deal-- nothing will ever really be as good as washing greasy hair. I know we all want to cut down on shampooing because it's not good for your hair, but if it's really greasy and you're expecting this bottle to work miracles, then you'll be disappointed. I've had my hand trying out several brands of dry shampoo, and really, like this, they were all just okay. I honestly just bought this for the deodorizing effect, which it does quite nicely. The thing is, like other dry shampoos, there is a powdery product (in this one, it's clay) that sops up the oil. The trick is to follow the directions. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS. Also, moderation in using the spray, please. When your face is oily, you don't pile on the powder. You lighty blot so you won't look cakey. Same goes here! I find it helps to do sections and spray small bursts, shaking vigorously in between sprays. That way, you really get into the oily sections that you won't get to if you just spray the top of your head. Yes, it will leave a light cast at first, but as long as you don't overdo (spraying too closely/too long/too much), you will be okay when you brush it out. I find people commenting that their hair feels greasier and heavier afterwards. Look, it's not like the product makes the oil evaporate. In fact with the oil and clay in there, expect it to be kind of heavy (which the product claims as a "volumizing" effect), but if you avoid touching your hair too much (fingers carry a lot of grease), it can appear not oily. So yes, it's not that quick solution that everyone wants. But I find that being careful with application (which takes less than 3 minutes) is much better than having to shower and blow dry in the morning. Think of it more as makeup for your hair, rather than a cleansing product. This is ideal for after workouts, after the beach, and freshening up for end of the day functions.
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Eye Shadow -BeneFit Cosmetics - Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner (All Shades)
dela_cerna 10/6/2010 4:58:00 PM
Tried these at Ulta. They have a wonderful texture, and are easy to blend for sure. Busy Signal is very pigmented, and I can see how this could win awards. BUT, really, 20 buckeroos for eyeshadow? Maybe if you are in a splurge and really dig the colors, which, are fairly common. If you're still in love and want to get it, I recommend looking at Ulta's Extreme Wear Cream Eyeshadow line. There is a color that nearly dupes a lot of the Benefit ones. For example, Private Party looks close enough to Busy Signal and It's Complicated is a lot like R.S.V.P. Even Skinny Jeans can be swapped for Misbehavin. Not saying they're exact dupes, and the textures are way different, but if you're on a budget, these are worth trying. Plus they're always on sale! Edit: Okay, I caved in. I bought these and it was really disappointing! I have fairly oily lids and thought these would work as a shadow with my primer. Nope. Okay, maybe as a base? Nope. It's just crease city with this baby. Plus it burned towards the end of the day. Ouch.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Almay - pure blends lipgloss
dela_cerna 5/26/2010 1:49:00 AM
Yikes. I got this on sale at Walgreens for 2 bucks. I have it in Peony, which is a really pretty nude pink-ish color. Sounds gravy right? Well, it was all good, until I opened it and as everyone has said, the smell. THE SMELL. It totally hits you. I put this on around other people today and I got terribly self conscious because the smell kind of wafted around. Gross. Ironically, it's not supposed to have much chemicals in it, but it smells and tastes unnatural. I can stand many cosmetic smells and not get bothered by it, but this is the only one that I can remember that I really can't stand...so much that I am throwing it out.
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