Lip Gloss -NARS - Downtown
djpaint 12/5/2010 8:03:00 AM
mauve purple gloss with warm(gold) shimmer, pigmented. With a lot of Nars products, application is *everything*. When I first tried this, it looked awful on me because I was treating it like a regular gloss. Used sparingly (like many NARS products) it is gorgeous on my skin/lips. The trick for me was the amount used (same with Petit Monstre lipstick). The makeup artist explained that it looks great over Little Darling (beige) lipstick and it does look fantastic that way...but it also looks nice applied on it's own. It's unusual and worth checking out.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -MAC - Superslick Liquid Liner
djpaint 11/30/2010 12:58:00 PM
I held off on doing my review for this, as I didn't think I would use it much, but I have this in metallic grey (fabulous felines collection) and I LOVE it. I wasn't even going to buy one. I had trouble using liquid liners previously, mostly because I didn't want to take much time applying it and most seem fiddly. I personally don't have problems applying it, and aside from being slightly ticklish, the applicator is easy to use; it doesn't flake or clump on me at all. I love using glitter over it, while still damp (on Halloween I used it and nothing budged for 24 hours, until I took it off with oil based cleanser). looking into getting a black one and a brown one in the future.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -NARS - Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Palladium
djpaint 8/27/2010 1:16:00 PM
I had skipped the other soft touch pencils when they were released last year, during the holiday collection. BUT, after trying this bright turquoise shade, I thought 'why not' (I was already getting most of the fall collection). It works best over the NARS e/s primer (which is LOVE/HG for me). I wore Palladium (over the NARS primer) to line my upper lid and it stayed on for 12 hours without moving. I don't have oily lids, and I did put glitter liner over the top of Palladium, but I have used it just as liner on me it doesn't move (only when used with the NARS primer--sorry to bang on about it, but it does seems to make everything better). Palladium doesn't make me want to try the other soft touch pencils, though ( and I love NARS). I like the colour, and it is a fun addition to all my other stuff, but I am not sure I would buy it again.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -NARS - Strawberry Fields
djpaint 8/8/2010 5:44:00 AM
a gorgeous richly pigmented gloss that is almost like a liquid lipstick. I have been wearing NARS for years but this is the first lip gloss that has impressed me this much in a long time . The colour is bright and almost violet purple in some light, It can be applied in layers for depth. It is sticky but not in an off-putting way(I personally don't use Mac's lip glass, for example). I wear it (auburn hair, brown eyes, pale skin), but I also bought it for an 86 year old woman as a gift when she admired my lip gloss! She is blonde with blue eyes and it looked great on her when applied lightly. Probably a 'try before you buy' but worth trying. I wasn't going to try it and I am happy I did.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -MAC - Opulash
djpaint 8/8/2010 5:25:00 AM
I used to loathe wearing mascara because I hated taking it off, I have sensitive eyes/skin around my eyes. I use YSL Faux Cils at night for dramatic lashes. My mom sent me a tube of Opulash, and the first time I used it I hated it, I thought it was too 'wet' but with a few uses, it has dried a little and now I love it. I didn't know about it any hype, and I didn't realize it was a 'tube' mascara...I didn't know that a tube mascara was the answer to my mascara removal issue. anyway, on me, it holds a curl and is somewhere between natural and a bit more dramatic and for my taste/style, that is great. I love that it can be worn all day without flaking and I even exercise in it and no panda eyes! I think it is a wonderful 'every day' mascara, at a fair price.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Redken - Aerate 08 Bodifying Cream Mousse
djpaint 1/2/2010 8:06:00 AM
disclamier ;) I am not a 'hair person' and spend very little time doing my hair. I dye it, but other than that I am usually wash-air dry and go kind of girl. BUT this product intrigued me. aerosol mousse reminds me of crunchy 80s hair (not good), I thought I would try this and see how it worked with my wavy, medium textured (prone to frizz), medium length, coloured hair. this is not like using a scrunch-able mousse, which is great *for me* (although if you wanted that effect, this would also do that, I suspect). I was startled by it's hold. YES--it holds. I put most of it near the roots at the front of my hair and a bit all over and started blow drying...one day later my hair is still off my face, because the roots at the front are being held aloft and the waves are still soft waves. I would say, be careful how you use this--and a little goes a long way. It isn't cheap, but it is quality stuff. Solid rating from me, would repurchase.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Chanel - Aqualumiere Gloss Furious
djpaint 12/26/2009 4:12:00 AM
only wanted to echo that this gloss works best over another lipstick (I have Obscure from the Noirs collection, but it works over other dark colours and I bought it for that purpose). expensive and probably would buy a Glossimer before I would by an Aqualumiere again, but I am still happy with my purchase.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Chanel - Eyeliner Duo La Ligne de Chanel Celadon Lamé
djpaint 11/11/2009 2:47:00 PM
this is part of the Holiday 2009 offering from Chanel, and LE. cake liners: A matte green-black and a shimmery dark green (not forest green and not teal, something in between) in a compact, with two small brushes. Packaging is lovely. I love the colours and the intensity can be built up easily. I used both sides dry and it was fine, a soft look. Chanel suggests you use them wet. I think that works well too. While there are lots of black and shimmery gray shadow/liners out there, but this colour combo is unusual and a very pretty alternative to blacks and browns, but also somehow edgy--I wore it alone, with dark lips (Chanel Obscure) and it looked fashionable without being overwhelming or theatrical. Is it a 'must have'? probably not, especially if you have MAC's khol power pencil in Mystery or Tealo pencil (you just wouldn't have the glittery shade, but there is probably a dupe out there) OR if you have the Noirs Obscures quad(les boutons de chanel) from Chanel--the colour is close to the green in that quad, perhaps this liner duo is a little paler, but not by much if you use the dark matte side underneath the shimmer. The liner duo is more pigmented than the quad. a nice treat, but not necessarily a OMG Must Have.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -MAC - Dazzleglass Creme- Amorous
djpaint 10/9/2009 3:33:00 AM
A cross between burgandy and red, with shimmer. I have pigmented lips and opaque glosses or super sheer glosses don't look that wonderful on me--so this has just enough coverage and pop. It complements my (dyed) auburn hair and fair (neutral to warm) skin, but I could see how this would flash a bit dark pink on some people. Dazzleglass Cremes (like regular Dazzleglasses) are not great value for money, which is irritating. But, for me, the colour is worth it until I find a dupe somewhere out there. [if you can think of one, drop me a note :)]
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -La Roche Posay - Effaclar K
djpaint 8/6/2009 4:13:00 AM
I have used this product on and off for years, but lately have used it more consistently. It is ideal for my skin, which is sensitive and prone to vague 'congestion'--not really major acne, but lumps and bumps, scars/redness etc. I can't scrub my skin, so this is my way of exfoliation. The way I use it is as a treatment at night, without anything over it. Just a dime size or less covers my face. I also don't use it every night, just when I see some congestion building up. My skin is softer after regular use, and it doesn't dry out my skin, although I am not using a lot of other things on my face (i.e. no Retin-A ). I also use Alpha H Liquid Gold, but I don't use it at the same time as the Eff. K. I don't mind the smell, and I am able to use it under my makeup, but not under my sunscreen (that makes the sunscreen peel--and the sunscreen is Anthelios LRP for comb. skin). as with most skincare, it is hard to determine what will work without trying it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Ojon - Revitalizing Mist
djpaint 8/5/2009 12:34:00 PM
Revitalizing Mist smells great--I usually hate any hair/body are that has a scent, but this has a smell in common with EL Azuree perfume, if anything (which I like, a bit tropical but not too much). It does what it says on the tin--calms and refreshes hair, stops it looking frizzy. I don't style my thick, wavy hair (no blow dryers,no straighteners) but this products helps me look like I have made an effort when I haven't. It stops my frizz, pretty much and never makes my hair feel greasy. Some times I use it in conjunction with aveda's lightweight serum, but I think prefer the mist to the aveda serum now-- and I have been using that serum for a very long time. Revitalizing Mist is a lightweight product, but I don't think it would work on those with fine hair, but if your hair is fine and prone to dryness or frizz, perhaps. I was shocked at how spendy this was (In comparison to Bumble and bumble I guess it isn't as costly as it could be), but it is lasting quite a while.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Illamasqua - Intrude
djpaint 8/5/2009 10:10:00 AM
The is a cream eyeshadow, in the Illamasqua packaging (plastic black square, with scooped sides, with window showing the colour on top). Don't mind the packaging, seems a little 'too much plastic' for me, but not a deal breaker. Intrude is a great colour--a gray not unlike the gray side of Nars Brumes duo. It has a bit of purple, a bit of beige in it. No shimmer, no glitter. But it creases. It isn't that pigmented. It fades. I have tried to wear it as liner. Not so great. I have tried it as a base for the aforementioned Brumes shadow. It creased. I don't have oily lids. I believe if you apply it thickly, then perhaps it would work. All in all, I wouldn't repurchase and it is a shame, because the colour is really great. I suggest trying the cream shadows on and letting the wear a bit to see how you feel about the results over time.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Shu Uemura - Precise Volume Mascara Waterproof
djpaint 8/4/2009 9:02:00 AM
hmmm while not Holy Grail, this mascara *almost* does what I need it to do. I have no problems with the brush and my lashed look just a bit more dramatic than if I was using shu Basic mascara (I really like the Basic one btw). The main issue is that this flakes eventually and when I sweat it definitely flakes. I am looking for a mascara than can be worn in spin class(teacher) but I don't want to look like I am wearing makeup...I have tried some other waterproof (Lancome hypnose<--can never get it OFF, and some drugstore ones) but no real luck. so, until I find something else, this is the one I will use. Not a ringing endorsement, but I am not hating on this mascara either, lol --but mostly I would say keep looking.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -NARS - Indian Summer
djpaint 8/4/2009 5:26:00 AM
Indian Summer looks blah in the pan but it is actually a nice neutral duo that looks great on my pale/neutral-warm skin (brown eyes, auburn hair). The shimmer side is a neutral frost and the matte side is (according to Nars) a mustard seed shade. On the website it looks more yellow, in the pan and on skin it looks more brownish, more of a brown with a lot of yellow tones. I wouldn't say the matte side is extremely pigmented, but it isn't not pigmented, either...( I was actually hoping for it to match the website image...I think I need to check out Balthazar for that.) The closest dupes I can think of are Mac's Retrospeck (if you don't like the glitter of Retrospeck, this might be a good way of getting that shade in a frost) and Mac's Ochre Style. Ochre Style (LE), for me, was the standout of the N collection...so, this Nars duo combines 2 of my favourite shades. I would purchase again because it is a good dupe for my Ochre Style and is a nice alternative to taupes/standard browns. It looks great with brick red lips ;)
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -NARS - Mekong
djpaint 7/31/2009 5:42:00 AM
As others have mentioned: -this is a very pigmented dark brown (as pigmented as Nars Thunderball) that is on the warmer side, with shimmer. -It is closest to the dark side of the Cordura duo if you have Cordura you don't really need this single shadow. The darker side of Cordura is perhaps a smidge cooler toned than Mekong. All in all a beautiful dark brown. If you can't or don't like to wear black shadow, this is a great alternative. I wouldn't repurchase because it takes me forever to use up eyeshadow and I also have Cordura. The rubber case packaging doesn't bother me.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No