Palettes -Ben Nye - Theatrical Eye Shadow Palette
k1dub 4/13/2013 12:54:00 PM
I adore this palette. Nevermind the title 'Theatrical Makeup' as it's a lovely selection of matte neutrals that can be used by itself to give a great neutral or smokey eye or blended in with other colors. I find that with a little inspiration, I use this palette alone 6 days a week. It's perfect for so many looks. Also the pans are so big that I know even with daily usage, it'd take a year or two before I hit pan. Naimie's says : Expect 400 - 750 applications! Matte makeup is so hard to blend but this eyeshadow is very blendable and applies exactly as it looks in the pan. On my dark skin, even popular brands like Urban Decay or Stila need so many applications that I hit pan before I should just to build up color. This goes on very pigmented after one or two swipes-- probably because it's made for theater. I love it so much that it's the only eyeshadow palette I travel with. If I had to gripe, it's that I rarely use the white shade and will replace it with another color (probably a sage green or apricot-y champagne).
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -LORAC - Behind the Scenes Eye Primer
k1dub 4/13/2013 12:44:00 PM
I've been using this for about 2 months now and it's just okay. I adore the packaging - the squeeze tube applicator is fabulous since it's less germy than the typical doe foot eye primer applicator. Once applied, the primer does a pretty good job of keeping my eyelids prepped. I don't have oily lids but like primer to make my color last all day and pop. However, I notice that every once in a while, I see a little streak of creasing. And my colors don't look any brighter with this primer. I adore my NARS eye primer and wanted to try something new but once this tube is done, I'll be going back to it.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Inglot - Single Eyeshadow
k1dub 2/15/2013 9:29:00 PM
After all the Inglot hype here, on blogs and on YouTube, I caved and went to the Times Square location to buy some brighter colors since I wear mainly neutrals. I bought five colors and while they're highly pigmented, they don't really show up on my eye unless I pack them on in several layers. I have a mixture of DS, pearl and matte shades and none is truly sensational though they seemed to swatch well in the store. I even use a great eye primer (alternating between LORAC and NARS brands) and neither really improves the application. Mind you, I'm used to Ben Nye's WYSIWYG colors that are vibrant, blend like a dream and really pop on my dark skin. I haven't had this much trouble getting good e/s application since I used drugstore brands. Lesson learned: don't believe the hype.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast 24 HR Mascara
k1dub 1/24/2013 9:15:00 PM
This mascara looks really dark and long at one coat but really needs two coats to look lush. The brush is perfect for application because it's so full of plastic bristles ready to make your eyes pop. But...for the love of God, this stuff does not come off. I steer clear of waterproof mascara since it requires so much rubbing to remove that I'd rather spare my already hyper-pigmented eyes from more friction. There's no mention of this being a waterproof mascara anywhere on the packaging though. I've tried Ponds wipes, waterproof eye makeup remover wipes (Maybelline Expert Wear), oil and Dr. Bronners-- in one day and the mascara won. I even cried for a few minutes and had zero breakdown of this mascara. So though I love the results, I have to bring this back to the store for one of the other Lash Blast varieties.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -LUSH - Lemony Flutter
k1dub 1/15/2013 11:14:00 AM
I don't mind the lemony scent as much as others do. I figure when you buy lemon scented products they're either going to be crisp and true or Pledge-y. Either way, I don't keep my fingers near my face nearly enough to care about the smell. I keep it in the fridge. I like that this keeps my cuticles moisturized, especially in the cold dry weather. However, it's basically scented shea butter. The same shea butter I can buy from the West African shop near my house for 1/3 of the price and it's raw and un/minimally processed. I've tried the Burt's Bees cuticle balm and ounce for ounce it's more expensive than this stuff but comparable. I'd buy again to treat myself since I've been doing more at-home manicures but I wouldn't go out of my way.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman - Expert Face Brush
k1dub 1/8/2013 10:11:00 AM
This brush has stumpy little bristles and is shaped like a bunny tail. That firmly packed, rounded edge makes quick work of blending my stick foundation. The first go with this brush I thought it was just ok until I realized I was applying too heavy a hand to blending. Once I eased up, I saw the big deal. I have dry skin with large pores and with minimal buffing, it leaves my foundation looking like second skin. I was choosing between this and a BeautyBlender but this is a multitasker and won't get as germy as a sponge.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -NARS - Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
k1dub 12/18/2012 10:53:00 AM
I love this stuff. When I look for primers, I don't want color on my lid, although they are hyperpigmented. I love that this dries clear and not only grabs any e/s I put on it, but makes it true to color. Even flesh-toned colors come alive with it. I've been using this for 2 months now and very rarely do I have patchy areas (which I'm sure is due more to my application than the product). On my normal to dry eyelids, my eyes stay put for at least 14 hours. I've used UDPP and find it comparable. My only gripe is in the packaging. Can we not put eye primers in wand/doe foot applicators? I believe they need to be in squeeze tubes so I'm not wasting product. This stuff is hella pricey and I'm looking for substitutes as I can tell I'll go through 2-3 tubes a year.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Colorburst Lip Butter
k1dub 12/18/2012 10:40:00 AM
I bought these on sale at Ulta a few days ago in Fig Jam and Sugar Plum. I liked the colors and the soothing feel of these on my dry, cracked lips. I say that because since the winter has come even the shiniest lip glosses show up my lip issues but this didn't. Granted, this is a good product. Some colors are sheer, some offer semi-opaque beautiful coverage. As a WOC (NW45), I love that there are more than enough colors to keep me satisfied. However, I don't find this product any more extraordinarily ground breaking than Cover Girls oldie but goodie Lipslicks (the only tinted lipcolor I was allowed to wear in high school. If it's on sale, I'd buy it again.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Stila - Coco Eyeshadow
k1dub 11/26/2012 9:39:00 PM
On my dark skin, this color is indispensable as a transitional and crease color. It's a true cocoa color, warm and blends silkily into just about any eyeshadow it's tasked with blending. When I travel, no matter which palette I bring, this comes along, too. Great team player that will always have a place in my makeup bag.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -Paula Dorf - Eye Primer
k1dub 10/29/2012 10:05:00 AM
I bought this product on a whim from Drugstore dot com and it had decent reviews there. I think this product has it's use (as I later read) as a primer for a simple wash of color. If you actually use several e/s on your lid and need something to keep that in place, then keep looking. I'm looking at MAC Painterly or Soft Ochre pot next.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Revlon - Beyond Natural Cream Lipgloss, all colors [DISCONTINUED]
k1dub 3/17/2009 8:39:00 PM
I have multi-tonal lips that I sometimes want to conceal. Usually, this would involve a lipstick or a lipliner/concealer on my lips topped by lip gloss. I love that this lipgloss is creamy, nude and pigmented enough to cover my entire lip. I wouldn't call this lipgloss sheer as others has because it definately doesn't have the see through effect of other glosses. The texture is closer to a Clinique or Estee Lauder lip gloss than Mac or Nars. The coverage is medium and the colors are in the nude range from berry to peach to rose. If you can get this BOGOF, it's a steal!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Maybelline - Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Foundation ] ] [DISCONTINUED]
k1dub 2/5/2009 6:27:00 PM
I never ever wear foundation but now that I'm interviewing, I had to have something that would cover up acne scars from stress breakouts. II got this product on sale, BOGO so the price was right. The color is 90% close to my skin tone and with a little blush or bronzer, it looks great. I must say that as with any cosmetic application is KEY. When I first bought this, I put it on with drugstore wedge sponges and looked a hot mess. Later, I put a few stripes on my face with the sponge and blended with BE brushes and it looked fab.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No