Powder -Stila - Illuminating Powder Foundation
fitnessa 1/8/2007 5:48:00 AM
I thought I'd reviewed this already, but I see I haven't. No matter what other colors and lines I try, I always come back to Stila's IPF. It's pricey, it's got the stupid reusable compact sold separately (it gets a 4 because it's good quality, but expensive), and it's not the finest milled powder in the world (although it is nicely milled, there are the odd tiny balls of stuff), and it doesn't last very long if you use it every day. [I despise that long ago, I bought the compact and fill palette separately. EDITED: I bought both styles of Shiseido compacts--the one with the puff, and the one with the brush. Fantastic--these have separate compartments for the brush/sponge and the powder, and the Stila fills the space perfectly.] That said, this is my HG foundation. I find Stila's liquid foundations to be laughably watery, and I can get the powder to cover what I want it to, so I don't bother with anything else. Stila has the best color match for my pale yellow/white-peach Asian skin (MAC is too ash-yellow or orange, or brown; BB is the same, as is Nars. Cargo is a bit ruddy-brown in the darker colors and too yellow in the lighter shades). I use 20 watts in the summer and 10 watts in the winter. When I wear it, people ask me what skincare products I use to get my flawless skin. Ha! It's Stila IPF. I've learnt that the trick to making IPF cover what you need is in the application: -For sheer, unmade-up-looking coverage, just sweep on with brush on T-zone -For medium coverage, pat/sweep on with puff, and even out so it doesn't look powdery -For photo-perfect coverage (this lasted through a Chicago summer wedding from morning to night without a touchup!), exfoliate, moisturise, apply concealer under eyes and on blemishes, then pack this stuff on with a velour puff. Must use velour, and must pack on so much the skin can't absorb any more. Face, jaw, and neck if you need. Dust off excess with powder brush, and apply blush, etc, etc. Voila, perfect skin!
13 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Christian Dior - Plastic Shine in Red Cheer
fitnessa 2/20/2006 9:27:00 PM
This gold glitter-enhanced gloss was bright red with a tinge of orange on me. Very attention-grabbing, but a little too orange once I could notice how it looked against my skin. cons: strong floral/plastic smell either pro or con: thick, sticky texture pro: the shine, the luxurious feel, how little you have to use to have laquer-looking lips
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Lips -Stila - Salome lipstick
fitnessa 2/20/2006 9:22:00 PM
This is a sheer almost gloss-like, pinkish-fuschia red that was too pink for me. Stila's lipsticks encased in cardboard should either be much, much cheaper or changed to metal or plastic.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Christian Dior - Addict Lipstick in Positive Red
fitnessa 2/20/2006 9:20:00 PM
An orangey red with a fine gold shimmer and a strong but not unpleasant smell (much weaker scent than Clarins Passion 350!). Smooth, luxurious, but too orange for me.
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Lipstick -NARS - Jungle Red
fitnessa 2/20/2006 9:18:00 PM
Great formulation, just not the right red for me. Bright orange-red, very matte.
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Lipstick -Clarins - Le Rouge - Passion #350
fitnessa 2/20/2006 9:13:00 PM
A purply-brick red that's waxy with an overwhelmingly "floral" smell that I couldn't stand.
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Lipstick -NARS - Red Lizard
fitnessa 2/20/2006 9:12:00 PM
This is a very nice formula, just not the right color red for me. It's a claret (purply) matte red.
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Lipstick -Clinique - Plush Red
fitnessa 2/20/2006 9:10:00 PM
This isn't my HG red, but if my HG were discontinued, this is one of the reds I'd use. It's a gloss/cream fuschia-based red that smears easily (blot, apply, blot for longer wear). A few coats gives it more dimension and a deeper red.
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Lipstick -Clinique - Colour Surge - Vintage Red
fitnessa 2/20/2006 9:05:00 PM
Not my HG red, but one of closer contenders for a while. This is a subtle claret (purple-shaded red). Gloss/cream mix with high shine. Subdued enough a tone to wear in daytime, but smears easily. Blot, reapply, and blot for longer wear. The packaging: flimsy and kind of cheap, and the turning mechanism will reverse if you push too hard.
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Lip Gloss -MAC - Lipglass in Russian Red
fitnessa 2/20/2006 9:00:00 PM
This is a bright orange-red lip gloss. On top of MAC's Russian Red lipstick (it's matte), it's even more so. Not as sticky as MAC's Lipglass in Clear. I put this on top of MAC Auburn or LORAC 03 lip liner, and that seems to tone down the brightness and offset the orange-ness. Other shades of liner or lipstick could tweak the RR, too. No eating, drinking, or affection with this on unless you want smear city. (If you like, NARS Blood is similarly red, less bright, and opaque while being less sticky.)
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Lipstick -MAC - Russian Red
fitnessa 2/20/2006 8:56:00 PM
I found RR to be a bright orange-red lipstick that looked garish on me. Nice consistency, decent price, just unflattering on me.
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Lip Liners -LORAC - Lip Liner 03
fitnessa 2/20/2006 8:51:00 PM
This is nearly the same shade as MAC Auburn, but with a smoother (by a hair) formula. It's a dark reddish brown that goes on creamy to matte, is richly pigmented, blends well and covers easily. Can be used as liner or blended on lips for that look between a stain and a blotted lipstick. I'm not much for dark lip colors any more, so that's why I wouldn't rebuy.
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Makeup Brushes -NARS - Flat Concealer Brush 07 
fitnessa 2/20/2006 8:47:00 PM
My HG concealer brush--the taklon makes it easy to clean and gives it enough flex and firmness so I can apply what I want where I want it. Lends a smooth finish. MU toolbox: must-have
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Makeup Brushes -Paula Dorf - Brow brush
fitnessa 2/20/2006 8:44:00 PM
The perfect brow brush. Smooth, strong hairs which are firm enough to deposit precise amounts of color in any shape and yet aren't harsh or painfully stiff. Easy to clean and well-constructed, with the contoured handle that makes it easy to handle. Not for use on eyelids as eyeliner, powdered or otherwise. MU toolbox: must-have.
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Lipstick -Trucco - Spy Red
fitnessa 2/20/2006 8:36:00 PM
This is my HG red. Creamy, richly pigmented, pure red lipstick. Not orange, not pink, not brown, not fuschia or purple, not garish, just drop-dead gorgeous RED. This is the kickass red. The red of a power suit. Classic, clean, and strong. A light coat won't do--a full swipe and you're in business. MU toolbox: must-have.
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