Self Tanners -ModelCo - Tan Mousse
katiebaby87 3/4/2013 2:30:00 AM
I'm normally not a ModelCo fan AT ALL but I just had to get on here and spread my love for this tanner. It's a gradual tanner (develops over about 12 hours) with a hint of instant bronzer. It develops into a really nice deep, natural golden brown. It's pretty easy to apply (I just used my hands and it was fine, might get a slightly better result with using the recommended tanning glove but who knows). I got the exact same result with this as I did with the St Tropez mousse, except this is a bit cheaper and you just put it on and you're done (as opposed to having to wash the St Tropez off 4 hours after application. Which is lame.) I will buy this again!
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Blush -MAC - Trace Gold
katiebaby87 2/8/2013 5:37:00 AM
This is not a colour I ever would have picked out for myself. Being pale, I've always been scared of bronze/gold tones that I thought would look harsh, orange-y or otherwise 'fake' on my skin. Thank god for the MAC MUA who convinced me to try trace gold! The colour is so flattering, it really warms up my face and brings out my eyes. Not orange, harsh or unnatural looking in the slightest. If you have a fair + warm complexion like me, give this blush a try!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -NARS - Lipstick in Dolce Vita
katiebaby87 7/24/2012 4:38:00 AM
This is a great lipstick for every day. I have very fair skin and prefer a soft, natural look for my 9-5 makeup, but I'm not really a fan of nude/super neutral lipsticks, and this warms up my complexion beautifully without looking too bright on my pale skin. It's also the only lipstick I keep permanently in my handbag that I can whip out for a mirror-free application straight from the tube (I normally only ever apply with a brush or my finger). I totally agree, however, that the formula is kinda drying and not very long lasting. At AUD $37 (my god we get ripped off in this country) it's ridiculously overpriced. I picked mine up for half price online and will definitely look for a more reasonably priced dupe rather than repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Eve Lom - Cleanser
katiebaby87 3/22/2012 2:27:00 AM
I was freaked out by the negative reviews I saw on here, especially as I have very sensitive skin and have had disastrous results in the past (redness, rashes, irritation) with products that have turned out to be both insanely overhyped and overpriced.. BUT, I'm very relieved to say, this cleanser has worked fantastically for me (I've been using it for about 8 weeks now). My skin has never felt so soft and clean and I now use about half of the moisturiser that I used to. Lots of reviews say that the cleansing routine is time-consuming, but I don't really agree (and I'm super lazy haha). Normally I spend ages getting all my makeup (especially eyemakeup) when I'm washing my face before bed, but this stuff just melts it right off. My skin feels sooo spotless and squeaky clean afterwards. I would have to say my favourite thing about the eve lom is that I've been able to eliminate facial scrubs/exfoliating from my routine, and this is from someone who has been plagued by a stubborn, flaky tx-zone since puberty. My skin is just so manageable now...I don't even have to think about it. All in all, I'm relieved and happy I finally tried this product. Another thing I noticed in the reviews on here is people saying they broke out after the first few days of using this, followed by their skin subsequently clearing up, which is apparently how the cleanser 'works'...this didn't happen to me, and I probably wouldn't have been too keen if the SA had mentioned it. One last thing I have to mention is the muslin cloths - I have been waaaay too time and money poor to waste dollars on these (I lost mine only a few weeks after buying the cleanser). I personally find the routine works exactly the same and is just as effective l with a good quality, texturised face washer/cloth. Although I love Eve Lom and everything's it's doing for my skin, it is VERY expensive...especially when you consider the list of ingredients. For this reason, I may investigate similar, cheaper cleansers when my current tub starts to run out. Sooooooooo to summarise, I love the results I got with this stuff, but taking into account the absurd, unjustifiable high price tag, I can't bring myself to give it 5/5.
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Lotions/ Creams -Clinique - Deep Comfort Body Butter
katiebaby87 3/21/2012 2:19:00 AM
This is too expensive for what it is. It's a nice body butter, absorbs well and isn't greasy. I didn't really find it that moisturising though. (I do have crazy dry skin though, so I'm sure it would be fine for people who don't need harcore moisture). It's a pretty standard product, nothing special...I don't think the hefty price tag is justified.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Paul Mitchell - Extra Body Daily Boost
katiebaby87 3/15/2012 4:20:00 AM
Loooove this spray! It's not remotely crunchy/sticky feeling, unlike every other volumising/boosting hairspray I've tried. In fact, I can't feel it in my hair at all. You only need a very small amount to get a natural lift at the roots and some thickness. (...and if natural isn't what you're after, use a little more and this will definitely will do the job ;) The only thing I don't like about this is the smell, which reminds me exactly of kid's medicine. My favourite use for this product is a couple of days after washing my hair, when it tends to go very flat and lifeless: I dampen my roots with a wet comb, spray a little of this on the undersides, then give them a quick blowdry with a small round brush. Gives my hair instant perk and body!
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Eye Primer -NYX - HD High Definition Eyeshadow Base
katiebaby87 2/29/2012 10:37:00 PM
This is a great eyeshadow primer!!! I don't have much experience with eyelid primers so don't have a whole lot to compare this too, but it does everything I want. I apply a tiny amount with the sponge tip directly to the eyelid, then use my fingertip to spread and pat it across my eyelid, up to the browbone. It dries to a slightly tacky finish in seconds. I then apply my eyeshadow and bam, strong colour for the rest of the day and ZERO creasing on my crazy oily lids. Skip the expensive brands, this one does the job for a fraction of the price.
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Eyeliner -MAC - Smolder eye kohl
katiebaby87 2/29/2012 10:31:00 PM
This is a true black, that I find stays on all day (unlike other black eyeliners that quickly fade/smudge/melt into a watery grey colour). Glides on very easily, no pulling at the skin, and creates a smooth, precise line. Despite the fact that it's a kohl pencil, I have no problems with it smudging, and I have very oily lids that pencil eyeliners normally bleed and slide all over. No complaints, I will definitely be repurchasing!
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Palettes -Stila - Light Up The World
katiebaby87 2/9/2012 3:11:00 AM
This palette is beautiful to look at and the colours look gorgeous in the pan. Unfortunately, the quality of the actual eyeshadows is way below par...they are really dry and the pigmentation is terrible, nowhere near Stila's usual quality. Barely any colour shows up on my skin and I got crazy amounts of glitter fallout (I applied over a primer, use decent brushes etc). You can probably get better quality from any cheap, no-name, 50+ eyeshadow palette at your local discount store. I like other Stila products and really wanted to love this but it was a big disappointment.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Vanilla
katiebaby87 1/24/2012 6:37:00 PM
Vanilla is a warm, very neutral, cream colour - perfect as a base for all over the lid and up to the brow. I like that the warmth helps neutralise the blue undertones around my eyes (especially in the inner corner, where I find concealer doesn't work a lot of the time). However, the texture of the velvet formula is kind of a pain in the ass...the rest of my MAC eyeshadows are Matte or Luxe Pearl, and the difference between these and Vanilla is marked. It's hard to pick up Vanilla with my brush and it doesn't apply smoothly. It also seems to clump a little bit?? I love the colour and it's fine for now, but when it runs out I'll be looking for a dupe with an easier consistency instead of repurchasing.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Bamboo
katiebaby87 1/21/2012 6:12:00 AM
I didn't think I would like this colour looking at it in the pan, but once one applied it transforms into a beautiful, soft golden-beige peach. However, I do think this is the kind of colour that would such up differently on different skin tones, so you definitely need to try it first and make sure it's right for you. (I am pale with blue eyes and warm undertones, however I actually think peachy shades look best with brown eyes!) I see a few reviews saying wah wah, the colour's too sheer/not strong enough, and yeah, if you don't like subtle eyemakeup then Bamboo is probably not for you. Personally, I wear it blended over the top of Vanilla and paired with a chocolate eyeliner for a beautiful, natural daytime look that makes my eyes pop.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - corduroy eyeshadow
katiebaby87 1/17/2012 2:32:00 AM
I bought this when I was in need of a new medium-brown, staple eyeshadow. I was originally planning to get either Cork or BrownDown, but both were out of stock - the makeup artist at Mac suggested I try cordoroy as it would match my reddish brown hair, blue eyes and give my complexion some warmth. She was right! This is the perfect medium-dark brown shadow for me, very warm and flattering on my pale skin, soft enough for every day but perfect for a smokey eye at night. Very blendable and buildable, never fades, looks fantastic in the inner-crease and as an eyeliner. This is also the PERFECT shade for filling in my eyebrows, bar none. This realisation was somewhat bitter-sweet considering the money I've wasted on a multitude of eyebrow pencils and powders that I'll never use again, but still, I feel blessed to have finally found my HG brow product.
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Skincare - Face -Jurlique - Sun Lotion SPF 30+
katiebaby87 1/7/2012 1:11:00 AM
Okay, this stuff is expensive as hell. This is the only reason I can't give it 5/5 - AUD$70, are you freaking kidding? But, I need it. I'm sun safety crazy, super pale, freckle and burn very easily. I also have oily and VERY sensitive skin. I hate it when other sunscreens (and I've tried a lot) mess with my skincare regime and make my skin greasy and oily, not to mention that gross gritty feeling you get with some. It makes the effect the summer heat already has on my skin 100 x worse. But, what can you do - with my skin type and living in Australia (not to mention the history of skin cancer in my family), risking my skin is not an option. The reason I love this product is that it goes on feeling completely smooth, and dries immediately with a papery, matte like finish, but at the same time, it's not remotely drying. I can put it on over the top of my makeup, any moisturiser or fake tan I'm already wearing, without zero problems. This is the only sun protector I've found that does this, while still being SPF 30+.
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Eyes -NYX - Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencils- All
katiebaby87 1/3/2012 2:07:00 AM
Okay, for me, these pencils do not work as an eyeshadow, at all. They crease and/or melt like crazy no matter what, including if I set the lid beforehand with primer, powder blah blah.That's cool though, cause I paid like $4 for 3 of them. I currently have black bean, milk and cottage cheese. They are very good eyeliners, and I also use the latter two for highlighting. I would love to use Milk as an all-over eyeshadow base, but as I said, crease city. The pencils themselves are cute and big and soft, they glide on easily for controllable application and blending, and have good staying power.They're not the most amazing product or anything, but very decent and fun for the price.
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Self Tanners -ModelCo - Tan Remover Exfoliating Scrub
katiebaby87 1/1/2012 2:36:00 AM
This is great for removing both self-tanner from hands and tan that has been recently applied. As for 'stains', i.e. patchy fake tan that's a few days old and really needs to go, I'm not sure if it necessarily does a better job than other exfoliating products, but it's still my favourite scrub. I combine a generous amount with a little soap or shower gel and use a loofah to lather. The fine grains are awesome for throrough exfoliation and my skin always feels sooo soft and smooth after I've scrubbed with this stuff. Also, I love the subtle grapefruit scent and the cute colour. It's a bit pricey, but a little goes a long way.
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