Mascara -BeneFit Cosmetics - BADgal Lash
glossedup 4/21/2012 1:44:00 AM
I'm surprised that this mascara has such a low rating! In my personal experience, it ranks around #3 or #4 - somewhere behind Kiss Me's Heroine Make Long & Curl (whatever it's called) and Chanel's Inimitable. Two things I love about it: (a) the big fat wand and (2), the super-wet super-lush formula. The former gives my stick-straight eyelashes plenty of 'lift', while the latter helps to volumize. I also appreciate how long it stays wet - lots of mascaras dry out, but this one is good for at least three months. Bonus points for no lash crunchiness - even with three dramatic coats, it's still soft. Prefer the other two in terms of performance and curl holding - BadGal droops a little about four hours in. Still, it's a good mascara, and one I would probably repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Bobbi Brown - Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara
glossedup 4/21/2012 1:35:00 AM
It's been a long time since a product has disappointed me this dramatically. I received a sample size as part of a GWP, and tossed it after just one month. It's low-end quality with a high-end price tag. I have very straight lashes, and this would not hold a curl for love nor money. More irritatingly, it clumps, so it looks like you have spiky little lashes. I find that I also tend to smudge with this mascara. At the end of the month, it was also drying out. This was all the things I hate in a mascara, and I'm so glad I didn't actually pay for it.
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Crème -Chanel - Teint Innocence Cream to Powder Compact Foundation 
glossedup 6/5/2010 3:19:00 PM
A little about my skin:
I have generally good skin that's been breaking out steadily for the past 8 or so months due to stress and hormones. My skin is normal/combination, with slight dryness in the cheeks and some oiliness in my T-zone. I have fairly small pores and they're quite easily clogged. Onto the review!
Teinte Innocence cream compact is $US56 for a 12g/0.42oz, with optional refil compacts sold separately. The texture in-pan is similar to one of my Becca cream blushes - thin (i.e., if I swipe it lightly with a fingertip, I do not pick up a lot of product) but still creamy and workable. I apply it with a slightly dampened foundation brush (Becca 18) over a moisturized/primed face (usually primed with either Becca mineral SPF primer or Sofina sunblock.) I don't pick up a lot of product, and use very little foundation per application.
The finish is lovely. It is fresh, natural and makes me look like I'm not wearing foundation. My skintone is evened out without appearing fake. I wouldn't try to build this, though, it looks flatter when piled on, so I'd only go for this if you a) have good skin and want to even it out, or b) have a few blemishes, but don't mind them peeking through a little bit. At the end of the day, I do notice a touch of oxidisation between my brows, but it's not major. The colour match is FANTASTIC. Seriously. I think there's a shade difference between this and the TI liquid - this is slightly darker and yellower once applied, and 20 Clair/Cameo is perfect for my NC25 self while TI liquid needs a little doctoring up to be just right.
I sometimes powder over the top of it, if it's warm, but in winter I just leave it alone. I don't have issues with it sliding off my face as previous reviewers have mentioned at all, but I should note that this foundation does tend to transfer a little, onto tissues as such. This is a small issue.
Other issue: SPF 10. I prefer to use my own SPF, and this does have a slight white cast when photographed. In conclusion, i have three small issues with this product, but am still very happy with it, and will continue to buy it.
MY OTHER MATCHES:
LIQUID: Camel in Becca Luminous Skin Colour; C3 in MAC Face & Body foundation; Fiji in NARS Balanced foundation (BEST MATCH); Cream in Chantecaille Future Skin foundation
POWDER: NC25 in MAC Studio Fix powder; 50 Poudre in Chanel Mat Lumiere powder foundation; Wheat/Sesame in Becca loose/pressed (I seem to work best with a mix of the two)
CREAM: OC02 in Lunasol Water Cream foundation; 754/764 in Shu Uemura Face Architect creme; Real Champagne 04 in PX Real Skin foundation
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Lipstick -Christian Dior - serum de rouge #650 Peach Serum
glossedup 6/3/2010 12:44:00 AM
*****CLICK 'CONTINUED' FOR PRODUCT SWATCH*****
Dior Peach Serum (Peche Serum) is undeniably a gorgeous thing. It is also a scarily expensive thing; $32USD/$58AUD for 2g of product. Dior have purportedly infused this with their anti-ageing collagen-building skincare serum; I'll admit it's very, very creamy/gel-ish, and not at all oily. It boasts a very lightweight formula, and has a slight florally scent typical of Dior.
The colour is a lovely bright warm/neutral pink - not very peach. It's about as close to Barbie as I can get without looking jaundiced (NC25, yellow undertones). It's vaguely similar to Guerlain's Fleur de Feu stickgloss in terms of colour - that one has a definite cool tone but they have similar shade depths and are in the same sort of family. I think a cool-toned girl could wear this well, too.
Performance-wise, Peche Serum does well. I haven't experienced any bleeding, and pigmentation is medium on first swipe, buildable to two. I can keep this on through a glass of water, but not through a cookie. Packaging is luxe and pretty, a long, thin click-pen.
I wouldn't have spent $58AUD (it was a gift!), but I'd pay $32USD for it.
I am a NC25 in MAC Studio Fix powder; C3 in MAC F&B; 20 in Chanel Teinte Innocence Cream, OC02 in Lunasol Water Cream foundation; 2 in MUFE F&B; Fiji in NARS Balanced; 774 in Shu Uemura Face Architect creme; Real Champagne 04 in PX Real Skin and Level Two in PX Traceless.
One swipe of lipstick
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Lip Gloss -Lipstick Queen - Black Shine (Black Tie Optional)
glossedup 3/7/2009 10:20:00 AM
*****CLICK 'CONTINUED' FOR PRODUCT PIC AND SWATCHES*****
Lipstick Queen's Black Shine pot ($22USD/$36AUD for 0.494oz/12.5g) is a gorgeous thing. I'm well aware that the black-lip trend is pretty much dead at the moment in the Northern hemisphere, but here in Australia we're just coming into autumn/winter and this gloss is very appropriate.
I find it quite wearable layered over other colours to 'mute' them a little, and slick a very small amount on sometimes if I just want a bit of tint to tone down my lips a little.
It's not the most buildable or opaque of blacks, and can look overapplied and clumpy/gross. It can collect along the inside rim of your lips, also, and has a medium stick factor - it's 'stringy' as you pull it from the pot. That said, it's not so sticky on the lips. The deepest you could get it is probably sheer/medium pigmentation, maybe more if you layered the LQ Black Tie Optional lipstick underneath.
Packaging is lovely, a clear black yo-yo. It's not the most sanitary, but it's the only sort of way you could package this gloss given its texture. No lip brush included but I'll forgive that. Really incredibly generous - fantastic price for the sheer mass of product. I'll never get through mine but I'd rebuy if I ran out.
I am a NC25 in MAC Studio Fix powder; C2 in MAC F&B; 20 in Chanel Teinte Innocence, OC02 in Lunasol Water Cream foundation; 2 in MUFE F&B; Fiji in NARS Balanced; 774 in Shu Uemura Face Architect creme; Real Champagne 04 in PX Real Skin and Level Two in PX Traceless.
Shown layered over NARS Dolce Vita matte lip pencil
20 out of 20 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Lipstick Queen - Big Bang Illusion Gloss
glossedup 2/28/2009 11:49:00 PM
****CLICK 'CONTINUED' FOR SWATCHES****
Lipstick Queen Poppy King's newest range of glosses, packaged in test-tube form with teeny doefoot wands. My main gripe with these are that they are slightly sticky (less so than her Shine pots though!) and that there are no matte/creme colours. I'd like to see her make a warm, medium-toned one too. Also, don't buy this for the purported 'plumping' effect - there is none, at least on me.
I am a NC25 in MAC Studio Fix powder; C2 in MAC F&B; 20 in Chanel Teinte Innocence, OC02 in Lunasol Water Cream foundation; 2 in MUFE F&B; Fiji in NARS Balanced; 774 in Shu Uemura Face Architect creme; Real Champagne 04 in PX Real Skin and Level Two in PX Traceless.
Top row: Black Hole, Space, Time
Middle row: Expansion, Creation, Infinite
Bottom row: Time (swatched twice), Cosmos, Energy
17 out of 17 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Becca - Sheer Tint Lip Colour
glossedup 2/4/2009 7:41:00 AM
*******CLICK 'CONTINUED' FOR SWATCH*******
Becca's lipsticks have been a long time coming. I think they are worth the wait. The colour range is rather limited (hopefully expanding!) and the wear time is not as good as I'd hoped (about average, maybe a little longer). However, I'm very fond of the texture - gel-ish, less 'oily' feeling without compromising on moisture. They are emollient and moisturizing, sheer-but-buildable and smell divine (like Palmer's cocoa butter, actually.) No detectable taste.
At $30US/$48AUD for 3g/ 0.1 oz, it's a fairly expensive purchase. I would buy again. I don't have anything similar to several lipsticks, and the packaging is really nifty - a screw/twist cap (very elegant, don't worry) and a beautiful heavy silver tube. I picked up Gisella (lovely nudey MLBB with a hint of rose and peach) and plan on going back for maybe Vendela and Alina. I'm happy, I just expected... more, somehow?
I am a NC25 in MAC Studio Fix powder; C2 in MAC F&B; 20 in Chanel Teinte Innocence, OC02 in Lunasol Water Cream foundation; 2 in MUFE F&B; Fiji in NARS Balanced; 50 Poudre in Chanel Mat Lumiere powder foundation, 774 in Shu Uemura Face Architect creme; Real Champagne 04 in PX Real Skin and Level Two in PX Traceless.
(full light, two coats)
(less light, one coat)
Top: Gisella, Vendela, Alina, Yasmina
Bottom: Laelia, Estella, Milla
24 out of 24 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Becca - Duende Mineral Bronzer - Santa Rosa 2008
glossedup 12/29/2008 5:33:00 AM
*****PLEASE CLICK 'CONTINUED' FOR PRODUCT PICTURE AND SWATCH*****
Becca Duende Mineral bronzer is a permanent addiction to the Becca line, released with the holiday Santa Rosa collection (2008.) It retails for $40USD/$65AUD for 11g/0.388oz of product - definitely a big compact and plenty of value for your cash!
Becca didn't market the heck out of the 'mineral' aspect, which I'm quite pleased by. As far as I can tell, the only real difference it's made is the lack of the distinctive Becca fragrance - I kind of miss it, but it might make more sensitive folks happy. Application is still smooth and light, Duende is a buildable medium gold/brown shade with very little (if any) orange undertone. I certainly can't discern any. Shimmer is muted, subtle, classic Becca - think maybe half the shimmer of a Pressed Shimmer Powder.
Closest dupe is probably NARS Laguna. Duende is slightly less brown and less shimmery though, and the texture IMO is better - Laguna is soft enough that I can still pick up way too much with a brush.
Overall, a nice bronzer, not sure how it compares to the others in the line, worth a rebuy.
I am a NC25 in MAC Studio Fix, C2 in MAC F&B, 20 (TI) in Chanel, OC02(winter) or OC03 (summer) in Lunasol 2 in MUFE F&B, Fiji in NARS Balanced, 50 Poudre (summer) in Chanel Mat Lumiere powder foundation, 774 in Shu Face Architect creme, Real Champagne 04 in PX Real Skin and Level Two in PX Traceless AAB.
Duende
Swatched lightly->heavily
17 out of 17 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Christian Dior - Pink Essence Creme de Gloss 531
glossedup 11/15/2008 3:30:00 AM
*****CLICK 'CONTINUED' FOR PRODUCT PICTURE*****
Pink Essence is a limited edition Creme de Gloss released with Holiday 2008 (Black Diamond). It retails $25.50USD/$45AUD for 0.2oz/6ml, which is a fairly standard price point for Dior.
This is definitely a more opaque-coverage lipgloss, requiring only one swipe to cover the whole lip. Texture reminds me a bit of Chanel Praline, and I can't detect a smell. Colour is a neutral-verging-on-warm pink, with a slight, superfine shimmer that is barely noticeable but very pretty. Lasting time is also comparable to glossimers, and it wears off fairly evenly. It is a gloss I imagine myself getting quite a lot of use out of - neutral enough for everyday, and quite polished.
Packaging is sturdy and the wand is a doefoot. I would probably repurchase if I ran out, yes :)
I am a NC25 (MAC Studio Fix), 30 (Chanel TI), 2 (MUFE Face & Body) Camel (BECCA LSC) OC02/03 (Lunasol Intellectual Powder foundation) AAB.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Lipstick Queen - Saint Rose Sheer Lipstick 
glossedup 10/13/2008 1:13:00 AM
*****CLICK 'CONTINUED' FOR INGREDIENTS LISTING*******
Rose Saint is one of ten sheer, 10%-pigment lipsticks from Poppy King's Lipstick Queen line. Each of these ten also have a sheer, 90%-pigment 'Sinner' counterpart. They retail for $18USD/$32AUD/15GBP for 0.14oz/4g, and are packaged attractively in slim, slightly rubberized tubes (much, much better than NARS or Becca rubber though.) They are sold through the Lipstick Queen website, which also has the addresses of brick-and-mortar locations worldwide where you can purchase these beauties.
A gorgeous blue-based medium rose, this lipstick needs very specific conditions to be flattering on me, as I'm warm. It's best on a 'pale' day, and when I'm wearing a cool face, and even then, just a touch. It is definitely on the cool side of pink, with no brown whatsoever and quite a bit of blue. Still, it should be very easy to pull off for anyone remotely neutral/cool.
Saints aren't very moisturizing lipsticks, drying to a (less-powdery-than-Sinners) silk-powder kind of finish - dry to the touch but somehow not drying! It's also not as sheer as, say, the typical MAC lustre or Clinique Buttershine. Saint Rose is not particularly glossy - there's a subtle reflective quality but yet again, very unlike Lustres/Buttershines. I like this :)
Lipstick has no scent or taste. Packaging is slim, compact and attractive, and though the outer packaging is just plastic + card, the card is made from recycled material. The box says there are no animal products (vegan-friendly) but the ingredients list (see below) says there MAY be carmine - there ARE parabens.
I'm keeping this but would not repurchase - it's just not as flattering on me as I'd like and docking two lippies for that. Cool/neutral gals, check this one out!
I am a NC25 (MAC Studio Fix), 30 (Chanel TI), 2 (MUFE Face & Body) Camel (BECCA LSC) OC02/03 (Lunasol Intellectual Powder foundation) AAB.
Ingredients
14 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Becca - Glossy Lip Tint in "Sangria"
glossedup 10/11/2008 11:07:00 PM
I'm very fond of this lipgloss but Becca packaging has a tendency to go all sticky on me - something that NARS, oddly enough, does not do. Price point is okay, $23USD - the gloss itself is nonsticky but also not particularly pigmented. I think of this gloss as the little sister to Chanel Praline - less pigmented, a little bit sticker and just a touch sweeter. Colour on *me* (there are a lot of conflicting reviews!) is a slightly plummed pinky MLBB.
It's a repurchase :)
I am a NC25 (MAC Studio Fix), 30 (Chanel TI), 2 (MUFE Face & Body) Camel (BECCA LSC) OC02/03 (Lunasol Intellectual Powder foundation) AAB.
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Lipstick -Lipstick Queen - Oxymoron
glossedup 10/1/2008 5:03:00 AM
*****CLICK FOR SWATCHES OF ALL OXYMORON GLOSSES AND PIC OF INGREDIENTS LIST*****
These are big pots of matte, cream, medium-full coverage gloss/lipstick hybrid colour. They are moisturizing and stay on the lip very well. They DO contain parabens The box says there are no animal products (vegan-friendly) but the ingredients list (see below) says there IS beeswax and MAY be carmine.
1) Saint Coral
2) Saint Berry
3) Saint Natural
4) Saint Nude
5) Saint Pink
6) Saint Rose
7) Saint Rouge
8) Saint Wine
9) Saint Red
10) Saint Rust
A) Free Ride
B) Minor Crisis
C) Honest Politician
D) Deafening Silence`
Ingredients
20 out of 20 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Lipstick Queen - Lipstick
glossedup 10/1/2008 4:58:00 AM
*****CLICK FOR SWATCHES OF ALL 'SAINT' LIPSTICKS*****
These are slightly glossy no-shimmer sheer pigment lipsticks (10% pigment) that are sold for $18USD/$32AUD for 0.14oz/4g (very generous size!) They last a long time, but the tradeoff is that they are not moisturizing. They are not DRY either, just not moisturizing. They do contain parabens.The box says there are no animal products (vegan-friendly) but the ingredients list (see below) says there MAY be carmine.
1) Saint Coral
2) Saint Berry
3) Saint Natural
4) Saint Nude
5) Saint Pink
6) Saint Rose
7) Saint Rouge
8) Saint Wine
9) Saint Red
10) Saint Rust
A) Free Ride
B) Minor Crisis
C) Honest Politician
D) Deafening Silence`
Ingredients
26 out of 26 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Lipstick Queen - Rouge Sinner Opaque Lipstick
glossedup 9/30/2008 4:41:00 AM
*****CLICK 'CONTINUED' FOR PRODUCT PICTURES AND ON-LIP SWATCH*****
Rouge Sinner is one of ten opaque, 90%-pigment lipsticks from Poppy King's Lipstick Queen line. Each of these ten also have a sheer, 10%-pigment 'Saint' counterpart. They retail for $18USD/$32AUD/15GBP for 0.14oz/4g, and are packaged attractively in slim, slightly rubberized tubes (much, much better than NARS or Becca rubber though.) They are sold through the Lipstick Queen website, which also has the addresses of brick-and-mortar locations worldwide where you can purchase these beauties.
I LOVE my Rouge Sinner. The colour is a matte, slightly-muted medium red with no overt orange or blue tones. If you were warm-toned and wanted a LQ red, this is the one to go with - the Red Sinner is quite pink. Cooler/neutral girls should also be able to wear Rouge well though. The formula has lasted through five hours of wear (and then I took it off for dinner!) and two glasses of water. It has not been drying - my lips feel about the same as they do in the afternoon and in the morning - and it doesn't seem to migrate as much as some of my other reds can do. It isn't a very moisturizing lipstick though, drying to a silk-powder kind of finish - dry to the touch but somehow not drying!
Lipstick has no scent or taste. Packaging is slim, compact and attractive, and though the outer packaging is just plastic + card, the card is made from recycled material. The box says there are no animal products (vegan-friendly) but the ingredients list (see below) says there MAY be carmine - there ARE parabens.
Definitely a repurchase! I am very happy Poppy King is back in Australia - I did love her old pot glosses (which have been rereleased!)
I am a NC25 (MAC Studio Fix), 30 (Chanel TI), 2 (MUFE Face & Body) Camel (BECCA LSC) OC02/03 (Lunasol Intellectual Powder foundation) AAB.
On lip, no liner
Ingredients
17 out of 17 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Becca - Mineral SPF 30+ Primer
glossedup 9/22/2008 12:16:00 AM
Becca's Mineral SPF30+ primer retails for $42USD/$68AUD for a 50ml / 1.7 fl oz tube. The active ingredient is Zinc Oxide 17% w/w, (i.e. this is not a chemical sunscreen & should be gentle on those sensitive to particular ingredients) and it provides broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection.
Texture is a dense, light cream. A bit of an oxymoron but it applies very well, without any feeling of heaviness. The cream formula probably makes it less appealing for oily-skinned types, and I'm using this during winter when I only venture out of the house for short periods. It *DOES* leave a white cast to my skin, but I usually powder over it so it's not a huge problem. I use this as a SUNSCREEN, not as a primer because as far as primers go, this doesn't really do much for me. I didn't notice any improvement in foundation lasting time, etc. It doesn't make me break out or anything though.
My main gripes are a) the price - kind of ridiculous, and b) the SMELL. It smells like vanilla cake batter, and STRONGLY. The scent lingers on me for the better part of the day, and I can't stand smelling it constantly.
As a primer, this does nothing for me. As a sunscreen, I can find lighter, cheaper with better SPF (try Sofina or Shiseido). I really like Becca products but I don't like this one - I will finish and not repurchase. HOWEVER, this might be a viable alternative for someone who is sensitive to chemical sunscreens and looking for a nice mineral alternative.
I have heavily combination skin (occasional flaky cheeks+chin, very oily nose) that behaves relatively well.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No