Eye Shadow -Christian Dior - 5 Couleurs Designer All-In-One Artistry - Amber Design 708
jejkim 12/2/2010 6:58:00 PM
Love the colors in this quint. They have no trace of red in the browns/gold/shimmer which is my biggest pet peeve of brown shadows. The quality is excellent, but the formula definitely is a step away from regular Dior eyeshadows in the regular line. If you're good with makeup, you'll quickly pick up the versatility of this quint: the shadows apply and blend well, can be interchanged, layered with other products, and the staying power is good. The shimmer definitely needs to be applied with fingers or patted on with a pencil brush. For those that don't see color payoff, use different brushes or techniques. The colors in this quint are gorgeous and can be applied lightly to heavy. Goes easily from day to night. The cream liner is a bit stiff but still workable. The Dior makeup artist was at the counter working on someone with this quad so I had some help picking out a palette. I wanted a brown one and she steered me towards this quint. Would definitely repurchase this color combo or alternate versions. Thanks Dior for creating the tool for some gorgeous eyes!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Yves Saint Laurent - Touche Eclat No 2
jejkim 11/21/2010 2:23:00 PM
The hype is completely true on this product. Works wonders as a highlighting, light concealer. It'll definitely wake up tired looking eyes or make light undereye circles and bags disappear. Initially, I got this as a sample, then purchased and use it daily. It won't hide large or extremely pigmented areas of the face, but it will give you a beautiful glow if used properly. I haven't had any issues with brush funk....you just wash the brush with soap and water or with a dab of alcohol as the instructions state. I use more than the 2 clicks that others mention but it's lasting me a while. The formula is feather light, blends/melts into skin and doesn't accentuate lines or wrinkles. I love this stuff so much I bought it as a gift for others. Definitely try it out. It's helped a lot when I look a bit tired or under the weather.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Yves Saint Laurent - YSL Instant Pur Gommage sans grain
jejkim 11/21/2010 2:19:00 PM
Nice luxury exfoliator to have. Smells great, extremely gentle exfoliation of the skin and leaves the face moisturized. I like the smell and ingredients. The gel to oil transformation on the face is a pretty nifty process. As for continually repurchasing this, it won't happen. It's a nice luxury to have, but definitely for people with extremely sensitive skin or who just need the absolute minimum in exfoliation.
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Eye Primer -Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Professional Size
jejkim 11/21/2010 2:13:00 PM
Just got this product because of the hype. I have no problems with eyeshadow without it, so for me, it was more out of curiosity and test purposes. The amount and redesign of the product is good. You definitely get a lot of product for the money and I haven't had any issues with the squeeze tube - maybe because I make sure to close it tightly each time? Eyeshadow goes on smoothly, doesn't flake or feather or fade...but with or without this stuff, that's the case for me. If you want eyeshadow insurance, I'd recommend getting this stuff for the days when you absolutely need perfect eye makeup without worries. The formula is feather light and applied smoothly. I definitely don't worry that it's adding more weight to the delicate eye area than necessary. Overall it's a great product, although the wand would help with smoother application and less messy fingers. I can go without this stuff but if you're a die-hard eye primer gal, this is HG status.
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Bronzers -Too Faced - The Bronzed & the Beautiful Bronzing Powder
jejkim 11/20/2010 3:28:00 PM
I was looking forward to getting this product and once I did, it just didn't do it for me. The packaging is super cute and getting 3 bronzers and a brush in one is a great deal, but the colors of the bronzers didn't work for me. Sun Bunny was the only one in the trio that I liked, but it was just too dark. Something that I could use during the Summer or at night but that's it. Pink Leopard doesn't show at all and Snow Bunny just adds a weird, metallic bronze color onto the skin. I really wanted to like this product but it went straight back to the store. The colors didn't work for me. For reference, I use Guerlain's Terracotta Light - Blondes and Nars Laguna as staple bronzers. Will be sticking to those from now on.
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Top/Base Coats -Essie - Matte About You
jejkim 9/26/2010 7:38:00 PM
I <3 this mattifying polish. Matte nail polishes look gorgeous with the right looks and this product solves so many probs in one little bottle. Picked this up and, contrary to instructions, you can use it over a top coat and it'll still give you the same matte effect with your nail polishes. Turns any and all colors and formulas into matte heaven. This just exponentially broadened my nail polish collection and I love the instant matte effect it gives. Will look great with Fall/Winter polishes. HG product!!!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Midnight Cowboy Rides Again
jejkim 9/16/2010 3:36:00 PM
If you love neutral sparkly shadows, this one's for you! Midnight Cowboy Rides again is a golden beige sparkly shadow. It swatches a completely different color from Midnight Cowboy. The color is gorgeous. Only prob is the massive glitter fallout. Despite the one flaw, it's a great shadow: just change up your makeup routine to eliminate the fallout or incorporate it into your look: for night looks, just applying this and letting the shimmer fall onto your cheekbones looks heavenly. I've been eyeing this color for a while but didn't purchase it until I found a good price: rock-the-catwalk.com. Got it at a ridiculously good price and love it!
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Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Midnight Cowboy
jejkim 9/16/2010 3:35:00 PM
If you love neutral sparkly shadows, this one's for you! Midnight Cowboy is a light pink/slightly peachy sparkly shadow. The color is gorgeous. Only prob is the massive glitter fallout. Despite the one flaw, it's a great shadow: just change up your makeup routine to eliminate the fallout or incorporate it into your look: for night looks, just applying this and letting the shimmer fall onto your cheekbones looks heavenly. I've been eyeing this color for a while but didn't purchase it until I found a good price: rock-the-catwalk.com. Got it at a ridiculously good price and love it!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -NYX - Winter in Moscow
jejkim 9/16/2010 3:10:00 PM
This is the one makeup investment you should make for this Fall/Winter. Just got mine from rock-the-catwalk.com (super inexpensive...the best price I could find and also picked up UD Midnight Cowboy and Midnight Cowboy Rides Again at riduculously good prices). The colors are superb and range from cool to warm, pink beige to purple tinged to various grays and black. Of all the makeup palettes out, this is the one that has it all. The blushes are really great as well although the lippies are useless - could just be used as balm or mix in some of the blush and it's a tinted balm. Brushes are a great addition as well and the entire item is super convenient sized - excellent for travel. This is the first NYX product I've purchased and I love it: design, quality, colors, functionality, value for the money. I have everything to look like a Russian doll with this palette. They make great gifts too!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -eos - Lip Balm Sphere - Summer Fruit
jejkim 9/13/2010 6:26:00 PM
I love this lip balm! The design if fab and the product even better. Once you get past the outer waxy layer (I suggest scraping off the outer layer with a paper towel), the formula is better than chapstick. It sort of reminds me of a cool/edgy/modern way of packaging my fav essential oils/butter lip balms. The scent on this is so light I don't notice it. I also picked up the new lemon version which has a nice lemon scent and spf to boot. Definitely try it out.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -NARS - Cordura Duo
jejkim 9/9/2010 1:32:00 AM
This is a great dark brown duo. I totally agree with the below reviewer that this works as eyeshadow, eyeliner and brow powder. So versatile! The quality of the shadows is excellent and extremely pigmented: with different brushes, you'll get the right look, whether natural (use a fluffy) or intense (pat it on). They blend well and last until you take off your m/u. The dark brown comes in as a lifesaver as eyeliner: once you put it on your waterline, it doesn't budge - usually eyeliners on my waterline will fade/disappear after a hour. Great colors for the office or night smokey eye looks. Looks like this is a popular duo: mine I just took out of storage and I bought it in high school. I guess colors go around and come around.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -NARS - Paris Duo
jejkim 9/9/2010 1:25:00 AM
Paris is a good staple grey duo for cool smokey eye looks: dramatic if used heavy-handed and natural if used light-handedly. Mine I bought in high school...just recently took it out from storage to work with it and it's still kickin'. The colors are pigmented and if you play around with them, blend to a fairly good range of colors. The color payout really differs depending on different skintones, so I'd recommend swatching it at the store.
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Mascara -Yves Saint Laurent - Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils
jejkim 9/6/2010 9:55:00 PM
This mascara doesn't need another review, but...my $.02 is that it's amazing! It's added into my rotation with Lancome mascaras. Have tried so many different brands but this and Lancome are the best. Like others have said, it works best if you use light, straight strokes and work fast as the formula dries quickly. The best false lash effect mascara that I've used so far. Smells great and elegant packaging. Got the noire radical color and love it. Definitely a great dramatic formula for non-false lash occassions.
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Top/Base Coats -Seche Vite - Dry Fast Top Coat
jejkim 9/6/2010 7:13:00 PM
I'm on the bandwagon with everyone on this product. It's amazing. Using this, my nails are done within 5-15 minutes, although if I'm attaching rhinestones or other deco pieces, it'll take a bit longer. It cuts drying time literally to a fraction of the time. Just don't apply too thick a coat as it will pull color off of the nail, and definitely try wrapping it around the tips of the nails for chip free wear. This stuff even holds large rhinestones and deco pieces onto my nail like crazy-glued rocks. It leaves n/p super shiny. Price varies amongst stores: my local beauty supply store is overpriced, but you can definitely find this product online or at some stores around the $5 range.
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Makeup Brushes -Guerlain - Meteorites Brush
jejkim 9/6/2010 5:45:00 PM
This is a cute brush. There's not much more I can say that hasn't already been said, but if you have the extra $$$ for the matching brush, get it. Nice black velvet pouch, elegant pink/white/silver brush, coarse goat hair that gets the meteorites onto your face or body efficiently. It's a little pricey. If you have a good set of brushes, you don't need this brush.
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