Blush -Illamasqua - Katie
juliemitc 11/17/2011 11:29:00 PM
So I bought into the hype and bought this during the Sephora FF sale. I agree with other reviewers that it works very well for my NW10 skin and rosacea. This and my Trish McEvoy Perfect1 are my go to blushes that really make my cheeks have a nice glow, despite the fact that they are matte. For me the packaging isn't the worst, from the reviews I thought it would be hard to open and super thick. It isn't hard to open and it doesn't break my nails or anything.
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Scrubs -LUSH - Ocean Salt
juliemitc 11/10/2011 4:57:00 PM
I use this on my legs and arms, and only very occasionally on my face. It is really great for exfoliating before shaving my legs and it also helps reduce the keratosis bumps that I get on the back of my arms. I love the smell of it, probably due to the grapefruit, lime and vodka. I buy the bigger tub and it has lasted me about 6 months and then I repurchase.
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Eye Shadow -BeneFit Cosmetics - Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner-BIRTHDAY SUIT
juliemitc 9/26/2011 8:16:00 PM
I recently started using birthday suit after "finding" it in my stash in August and it has been my daily go-to eyeshadow since. I just apply with my finger all over my lid for a daily I-have-5-minutes-before-work-starts-look. I love the shimmery taupe because it gives my eye dimensions even though I'm just using one color. It stays on all through my work day. I have oily eyelids so I use a primer and with that it stays beautifully. I also dress it up at night with a crease color and a darker liner. One issue though is that if you have some dryness or more mature eyelids it can emphasize crepe-y-ness so I would not suggest it. As for packaging, I accidentally dropped it on my tile floor and it did not break.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Too Faced - Aqua Bunny Cream to Powder Splash-Proof Bronzer
juliemitc 8/24/2011 8:10:00 PM
I really like this bronzer and the staying power. It has been super humid recently and I definitely see beads of sweat of my face but they aren't fake-tan colored. You have to rub it off or use make-up remover to get it off. Beware that if you are fair like me you have to apply with a light hand. Also I found that the brush it comes with applies too much for me and I looked like an oompa loompa. So now I use a kabuki type brush that I have or a stippling brush. I get a lot of compliments on how "tan" I look. Also I have a problem where my self-tanner never stays on my face as long as my body. So this is great for blending into my tan neck area. Right now I wear it over primer with some undereye concealer daily. But it also can be mixed in with foundation and concealer or used as sort of a contour.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Cargo - Catalina
juliemitc 8/21/2011 2:39:00 PM
I recently was fed up with looking muddy using other blushes and I wanted to find a matte plain old pink. I was about to buy one of Tarte's new blushes, when I saw the cargo counter, and I remembered that I have Catalina in my stash. I swatched it and I really like the finish and pigmentation, so I decided to just go home and use the one I already owned. This whole month it is all I ever use. I love the pigmentation, but those with darker skin tones will have to use more. Also I like that it is basically neutral, even though I first thought it was more cool toned. Also this is really odd, because I have rosacea, I had stopped using baby pink blushes because it emphasizes my redness. However, when I wear more natural make-up, I cover up the rosacea mostly, then add this to my cheeks and it gives me a perfect flush continue along my cheeks after the areas where my natural redness stops.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Guerlain - Terracotta Healthy Glow Foundation - Second Skin Effect
juliemitc 8/12/2011 6:45:00 PM
I had a tested of this product from Sephora, and then I purchased a full sized one. In the summer my problem is that while I use fake tan all over my body, my face never stays tan. Plus even with a self-tanner, my pigmented cheeks still show through the self-tan. This product really helps to even the pigmentation in my face. I am blonde, but my sample was in the 02 brunette, but when I applied it with a light hand or mixed with my foundation, it matches my (fake) tanned skinned nicely. I buff it into my skin with either a kabuki or stippling brush, all over my face and my neck so it all matches. I also use it alone for contouring. I have worn it work (8 hours) and even with some minor sweating, it still stays put. I use tissue sheets to blot my face throughout the day and a little bit comes off, but not too much. You could probably set it with powder, but I don't because I like the finish. If you rub your face hard, then the product will come off. So I would not wear this with a white top or to a friend's who has a white couch, which is why I took off a star.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Trish McEvoy - Topaz eyeshadow
juliemitc 6/28/2011 6:51:00 PM
I really love this eyeshadow. I thought that I had a similar color but I really did not. I would say it is similar to Mac's satin taupe, but is has more a bronzy sheen. It is a great everyday taupe that warms up and helps to define my crease. The only issue is that you might be pressured to buy the Trish McEvoy palette but these eyeshadows stick perfectly in my z-palette.
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Eyeliner -Trish McEvoy - Arabian Nights Definer
juliemitc 6/28/2011 6:25:00 PM
I really like how this eyeliner stays put when you apply it wet. I tried this cake liner because while others had not worked for me but I like the idea of using a shadow wet/dry. In the pan it looks sort of navy or even royal blue, but on it is much darker midnight blue almost black. I apply it with a flat liner brush to make it as thick or thin as needed. Also I do not have the special activator but water or eyedrops work fine as well. I also use it dry for a quick/smudgy on the go liner. This makes a very pigmented eyeshadow/liner. I actually think that the price for $16 is pretty good
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Sunscreen -Shiseido - Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 55 PA+++ [DISCONTINUED]
juliemitc 6/28/2011 5:38:00 PM
I have bought a small bottle (1.2 oz) of this for the past 3 summers. I do not use it on a daily basis for when I work indoors, but I use it for going to festivals, parades, camping, the beach anytime I will be outdoors, for my face because my body can take the cheaper stuff. I have very sensitive facial skin and using this type of sunscreen w/o avobenzene is key for me, and out of all the zinc/titanium oxide brands I tried I like this one the best. I do not tan on my face when I use this. I took a star off for price and because if I do not blend or wear with makeup it can come off as a white cast. A friend of mine called me "Casper." So be sure to blend or do not apply without a mirror.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Trish McEvoy - Correct and Brighten "Pen"
juliemitc 6/28/2011 5:05:00 PM
I agree with the other reviewers that this is a good pen type product for concealing, but it does not really brighten as much as the YSL. I also have the Clinique concealer pen and I find that the Trish pen conceals better.
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Mascara -Maybelline - Full 'N Soft Mascara Waterproof
juliemitc 6/5/2011 1:46:00 PM
I'm really impressed with this waterproof* mascara, especially for definition (nearly ZERO clumping). I have not gone swimming with it but I did wear it camping in the rain and it stayed put. I originally planned to use it only for camping, but now it has become my summer mascara this past month. It is easy to take off with a make up remover towelette and does not make my eyelashes brittle. The only minor issue I have is that I wish it gave me more volume at the base of my lashes, but I'm trying to experiment with combinations to find which works the best.
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Polishes -Zoya - Caitlin
juliemitc 5/14/2011 3:47:00 PM
I love this blue/gray/violet color but I wish that it had more staying power. I have not found a similar color from other brands, and the color is why I gave it a 3 rather than a 1. I like how it changes towards a more blue/gray or more purple/gray depending on the light and what I'm wearing. I used a base coat, 2 coats and top coat, but my tips chipped after 2 days.
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Eyeliner -Laura Mercier - Cake Eyeliner in all shades
juliemitc 5/14/2011 3:41:00 PM
I really wanted to like this product, but within an hour it smudges for me. I tried it using both water and the activator. It is super easy to use and I thought that it would be a great alternative to pencil/gel tightline. I have light lashes, so if I do not wear eyeliner I look like I have too round dots instead of normal looking eyes. The black is great and I was able to get it very strong by dipping back into the liner with each stroke. Unfortunately after wearing it for an hour or so it smudges under my eyes. In general I have an oilier eye area, so that could be the culprit for why this product didn't work for me. Also it bothered me that sometimes I would see little black floating pigment in my eye after I applied it (very, very small amount). So I was afraid to try it with contacts.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Urban Decay - De-Slick in a Tube Mattifying Gel
juliemitc 5/13/2011 5:46:00 PM
I like that the product helped control visible oil in my t-zone and chin. However, I did not like that it make my foundation cake. Since I had only applied the gel in certain areas, the caking was even more obvious. I might save this for the summer for a wedding I am attending so my make up with stay even in the humidity, but I would not wear it everyday.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Boscia - Enlivening Amino-AG Eye Treatment
juliemitc 4/26/2011 5:08:00 PM
I received this as a sample as part of my beauty insider points from sephora but I'm planning on repurchasing. First off I one specific issue which is one of my eyelids droops due to ptosis and I have noticed that the skin there is dry and a wrinkle is forming. The rest of my eye skin just needs more preventative measures and I have average circles under my eyes. I have not really noticed a difference either way with my under eye circles. For my ptosis eye I have been using retinol products alternating with regular moisturizer, and I noticed a minor change over many months. However with this product I have noticed a change in how the side of my eye area feels and that the area is plumping up in 2 weeks. It really moisturizers. At first it feel greasy, but in the morning I wake up with soft moisturized eyes. I know that sometimes my ptosis will be there more than others, but this product has really helped. I would suggest asking for a trial to see if it work for your concerns because while it feels nice and moisturizes my other eye, I am not noticing any huge change.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No