Liquid -Christian Dior - Diorskin Nude Hydrating Makeup SPF 10 [DISCONTINUED]
kbah 2/26/2010 4:32:00 PM
This is the worse foundation I have ever used. At first, the consistency of the liquid is smooth and fluid and coverage is light to light-medium at best. Colour range is horrible in this line and oxidation occurs a few hours after wear. It is not hydrating, accentuates flakes and subsequently makes skin over produce oil making the face uber shiny! After about a month of usage, the consistency changes and separates so that it becomes grainy with small clumps which clogs the pump to the point that if you don't shake the hell out of it to blend it in the bottles, you'll most likely break the pump. After 2 months, the separation becomes unbearable and not amount of shaking and blending will fix the foundation. I have only used 50% of the bottle and have tried in vain to finish is. This is complete trash and for the amount of money I paid, am severely disappointed.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyes -Guerlain - 406 Tsarina
kbah 9/12/2009 11:50:00 PM
I so glad I grabbed one up at Murale as this is LE. I have no colors that are similar in my e/s collection and have never tried Guerlain e/s before this. I am extremely impressed! Not only are the colours gorgeous (they remind me of autumn leaves), the texture, finish, blendability and lasting power are all top notch. I pair these shadows with my BB Ivy Shimmer Ink and love the autumn-y look it gives. These are right up there with Dior shadows and could possibly surpass them since Dior's e/s tend to fade a teensy teensy bit. I always use TFSI on my oily lids. There is no creasing. The only complaints I have about this product is the packaging, don't know if mine was weird but there's a little dent on the top. Other than that, it's a beautiful compact with a pretty overspray of a Russian folk art motif. I would definitely buy again if it wasn't LE. Grab one while you can! These colours are quite uncommon.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Givenchy - Gloss Interdit Ultra-Shiny Color Plumping Effect
kbah 9/11/2009 4:27:00 PM
This review is for #15 Velvet Purple (a Blackberry Plum). While perusing the displays of my local Sephora, they were in the process of stocking the new Givenchy line they had just begun to carry. I was immediately drawn to the glosses and swatched a few colours. On the far right of the display, I say Velvet Purple. A deep shimmering purple that looks very opaque in the tube, but applied on the lips is a pigmented deep non sticky gloss with the most marvelous scent I had ever encountered in a lipgloss. I recommend this colour for those wanting to try the vampy lips fall trend back this season since it is wearable and not too harsh looking for everyday working gals like us. For those who don't like their glosses to smell, this one isn't OTT, but it's noticeable upon application and fades away after several minutes. The colour is buildable and this one in particular does not bleed. The texture is light, fluid and very moisturizing and does not dry the lips after a few hours of wear and provides high shine but like most glosses, fades after an hour or so. It leaves a nice berry stain on the lips. the shimmer is not gritty/chunky and gives an extra dimension to the lips. I can't vouch for the plumping effects, but I can believe that moisturizing the lips plumps them up... but not noticeably. So if you are looking for a plumping gloss, look elsewhere. I intend on getting more from this line and although the price is high, Givenchy is considered a luxury brand so their price point is on par with others of the like (Chanel, Guerlain are more expensive).
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Makeup Brushes -Quo - Blush Brush
kbah 9/11/2009 4:15:00 PM
For the price (got at 40% off) it's good. The size is not too big and the dense dome brush gives enough control to buff and blend in blushes. The only thing I don't like about it is the fact that it is a little scratchy, but for the price, I can't complain. If your budget will allow, I suggest investing it HE brushes as they will last you 10+ years easy! I have some that are in perfect condition (I'm pretty hard on them too!) that are over 10 years old. They were MAC BTW. Back to this brush, it sheds a little bit but not a lot and does not bleed dye. The weight and shape of the handle is also very good. Although this is a good brush, I will not repurchase this and intend on buying a HE one. I'm not trying to be a snob, but IME, I've bought several Quo and other drugstore brushes and I found that I liked using them less and less as the weeks/months pass.
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Makeup Brushes -Smashbox - Fan Brush #22
kbah 9/9/2009 12:34:00 PM
This brush does its job well. I use it to dust fall out from eyeshadow application, highlighter and sometimes blush. For blush application, I find that the brush picks up the powder and then deposits it right on your face... which is great but because it is so flimsy, there is no control and I actually get too much blush on my cheeks, which is why I don't use it for this purpose anymore. For highlight and excess powder removal, it does the job well, though I can't imagine any other fan brush (regardless of quality) not doing as good a job. While this is a good brush, it is not anything special. I would not repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Smashbox - Arched Liner #21
kbah 9/9/2009 12:29:00 PM
I like the idea of this brush, but can't get past the quality. Maybe i got a bad batch, but the bristles on mine poof/spray out at the end making a fine line impossible. All I get is a thick line on my eye with this. I much prefer my MUFE 2S brush over this one. It is also scratchy.
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Makeup Brushes -Make Up For Ever - EyeShadow Brush - S2
kbah 9/9/2009 12:24:00 PM
This is my favourite brush to use for eyelining with gel liners. It can also be used as a lip liner brush. The sable bristles are so soft and maintain their shape very well with repeated use and washings. Since it is so small, you can really get into the lash liner and the brush is small enough to create precise lines and wings to your eyeliner. I like it much more than angled, straight and arced liner brushes, which seemed too big for my lash line. I would definitely repurchase this if I ever need to.
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Lipstick -Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Pure Shine Sheer Lipstick SPF 15
kbah 9/2/2009 7:32:00 PM
I am in love with this lipstick! I got it in a great swap in #33 Wild Blackberry. It literally feels like there is nothing on your lips except for a moisturized non-greasy feeling. It's heaven as far as texture is concerned. It glides on with little to no effort. I can't speak for other colours, but wild blackberry is fantastic. It's more of a "just ate blackberry" stain than an opaque colour. Layer on a second coat and it becomes glossy. It can be a bit drying after because it's so light, but it leaves a pretty stain so just add some clear gloss or lip balm and it's revived. It does not bleed either. The packaging is very nice and luxe feeling, but a bit bulky. I don't mind that though. The price is high, but what I would expect from a luxury brand. I can't say enough good things about this and intend on getting different colours! I would definitely re-purchase this!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Prada - Prada Tendre
kbah 8/24/2009 4:55:00 PM
I may have found my signature scent! More wearable to a younger audience than the original Prada EDP which I found a tad strong. If you like something a little left of center in terms of fragrances, than definitely check this one out! I'm from the generation that grew up in a market over saturated with candy sweet florals/fruits and an over abundance of vanilla. I used to love those scents, but as I grew older, found them to be sickingly sweet. I decided to venture into other scents and stumbled upon Prada tendre. The delicate lilac liquid was exactly what I was looking for! It's a woody slightly oriental scent with a top flourish of florals which is right up my alley. It's sexy without being cute and the sharp top notes give the impression of a women in charge. The smooth drydown is why I think everyone falls in love with this fragrance; it's smooth and mysterious yet stays light, fresh and young. On my skin, it's detectable only when you're very close. Very sensual. This fragrance travels quite well from the warmer months to the colder winter months. Many people have likened this fragrance to Chanel's CoCo Mademoiselle. I have both versions of CM (EDP and EDT) and can say that to me, they smell very very different from tendre. The patchouli in CM is much more pronounced than in tendre and on my skin, CM smells the same when freshly sprayed and later on in the day and is stronger while tendre changes quite drastically from sharp and spicy to smooth floral to woodsy patchouli. Calvin Klein's Euphoria, which I also have is also different, but much more like tendre than CM is. Euphoria is in the same scent family as tendre and even has a purply hue to the liquid like tendre; but it is much more sweet smelling than tendre and less woodsy, which is why i don't like it as much. Even if you have CM/Euphoria, give tendre a try, I find that they are different enough from each other to warrant a purchase if you like the scent. Finally, the price is right on par with other scents from HE brands like Chanel that one can find at the department store. The packaging is quite nice to look at but harder to spray b/c of the position of the spout. I cannot say enough good things about this scent and encourage everyone to give it a chance. I would definitely repurchase when I run out.
15 out of 15 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Sin
kbah 8/21/2009 4:34:00 PM
This is my first plum/berry toned blush and I love it. The pigment is truly extraordinary as for all NARS blushes. The texture typical of other NARS blushes, tightly pressed but highly pigmented. Buffed in, most of the tiny gold micro glitters fall out and you are left with a very subtle warm berry blush. It is surprisingly wearable on my warm asian skin as long as I don't go swipe happy. I apply this particular shade more on the hollows and blend into the centre. This makes it double as blusher and contour. Fabulous! I can imagine this shade working extremely well for fall/winter m/u looks. I like the rubbery packaging and esp like the mirror inside. I find the price very reasonable given the crazy good quality of the product and the fact you need so little for each application. I would def. repurchase when I run out and encourage those who are curious to give it a shot. MAC NC20-25/ MUFE HD #120/ Diorskin Nude #23. Asian.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Lancome - La Laque Fever - Electric Pink
kbah 8/21/2009 4:22:00 PM
This l/g (more of a liquid lipstick IMO) is not for the faint of heart! The colour is a very bright fuchsia with a hint of rasberry and lots of hot pink micro glitters. The texture is surprisingly thin and not very sticky at all. The gloss shine wears off in half an hour or so but the colour stays for a very long time and even afterwards, you get a pretty raspberry pink stain to your lips. Equally as gorgeous. I like the applicator of this very much. It's like a flat leaf shape with a pointer end and is on a bent wand. I like using the point to line as this l/g is particular requires some care to apply. The perfect amount of product is dispensed each time for one application. Electric Pink demands attention! It will most definitely be the focal point of your m/u look. I like to pair this l/g with neutral e/s and winged liquid e/l for a tame 80's rocker chick look. I wish I went out more so I could use it up but I don't think I ever will. So for that reason, I will not be repurchasing.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Christian Dior - 5-Colour Eyeshadow - Night Butterfly 173 Fall 2009
kbah 8/19/2009 1:43:00 PM
MAC NC20-25 / MUFE HD #120 / Diorskin Nude #23, Asian, Drk Brown Eyes This palette is wonderful! All but one shadow (black) is what I would categorize as satin rather than matte. There is very tiny sparse shimmer to it (undetectable to people looking at you but visible on swatches), but it acts like a matte. You get one very light lavender, one true violet, one mid-tone grey, one eggplant and one matte black with micro silver glitter. All colours are a little sheer but are buildable. I like the sheerness b/c that way, you have the option of creating understated looks for day and layer it for dramatic smokey eyes at night. All the colours you need to make a complete look are here which makes the palette which comes with two sponge tip applicators handy perfect for travel. while blending with satin and mattes are harder than with more shimmery textures like the iridescent quints, it still blends out well. There is minimal fading after a full day and no creasing (I always use a base since I have oily lids). If you have Stylish Move, then you may want to pass up on this since one of the colours is almost the same (eggplant/burgundy). If I had to choose b/w the two, I would pick this one b/c the colours are more vibrant; but for a more understated office wearble look, Stylish Move is more versatile. I love the sturdy compact and the price is very reasonable; especially for a luxury brand like Dior. I would recommend this to anyone who likes purples.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Urban Decay - Urban Ammo Eye Palette
kbah 8/19/2009 10:25:00 AM
MAC NC20-25, MUFE HD 120, Diorskin Nude #23, Asian The palette consists of 1 double-ended sponge applicator and 10 e/s in two rows where the top shadow coordinates with the bottom. Although there is no fixed rule that says you must use them in these duos, they designed it to give you a start on mixing and matching. There is a good variety of colour choices with some neutrals, highlight and some bright colours. Like all UD e/s, the quality is top notch. All except for one (black) eyeshadow is pearlized to some degree very much like MAC's Veluxe Pearl texture if you're familiar with those. Blending is very easy, especially with the VP like texture. The shadows do not tend to crease with a primer and there is minimal fading. The black e/s works well with all colours. For the number of shadows you get in this palette and the price ($44 CAD+tax), the size of the shadows is pretty decent for a HE item. They are kind of small, but large enough for many many uses. You can always buy the full size shadows as I believe they are all permanent (being the best-selling shades from the brand). Sadly, I had to take off one lippie and return my palette because half of the shadows are packed with large glitter particles which travel onto the face and I found no way of making them stick (tried base and MUFE's mist and fix). As a result I ended up not reaching for this palette as much as I should. The cardboard packaging left something to be desired. I much prefer a sturdier plastic compact. If you are not turned off by the large glitter particles and the cheap packaging, then definitely give this palette a try.
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Eye Shadow -Christian Dior - 5 Couleur Eyeshadow - Stylish Move 970
kbah 8/17/2009 4:22:00 PM
This is my second Dior quint; I am planning on slowly building that collection. This palette comes with five colours in different textures. the center section is a pink sheen (something I think MAC's pink opal pigment would be) It's absolutely GORGEOUS! One very light pink that looks like a off white on the skin with noticeable a pearl finish. One pearly taupe, one dirty lilac colour with a slight shimmer and a beautiful plummy burgundy maroon with slight shimmer. The last two colours can be catergorized as satin; it is not matte. This palette is unlike the iridescent palettes because there is less shimmer. The shimmer on those is insane and can quickly become overkill. If you are familiar with MAC e/s finishes the iridescents are like veluxe pearl or starflash where as this palette is has satin e/s and one frost. Some have said that it is hard to blend, but that is not the fault of the e/s. I find that most people are just used to very shimmery e/s which are great but they blend VERY easily. As well, any mistakes are diffused in the shimmer anyways. Other textures are far less forgiving but give you more options to shape the eye and give depth than only shimmer. As well, while at a Dior counter recently, the Canadian National Makeup-Artist for Dior was there and like matte/satin shades more than shimmer because it creates a smoother eye, whereas iridescents can sometimes make the eye look dry and crepey. Something to think about. I have NC20-25 asian skin and the colours all work well with my skin tone. I cannot speak for other skintones but can't imagine it clashing with any terribly. As well, being Chinese, my eyes are dark brown almost black, so there really isn't a colour that makes the eye colour 'pop' as with other coloured eyes, BUT i can see it agreeing quite well with greens, browns lighter than mine, hazel and even greyish eyes. All five colours coordinate beautifully with each other in any combination so don't be afraid to used all in one look. Applied lighlty and blended well, the palette is very neutral and office friendly. You can also build up the same colours for a dramatic smoky eye. This is a great way to introduce a little colour to the usual neutral brown daytime look without saying "Look at me! I'm wild young and free with my non-brown eye shadow!" The insert that comes with the palette describes it as a 'cult' fave. Lol. Now I know why! I would purchase again if I had to. The price is okay, much less than other luxury brands like YSL, Gvenchy, Chanel etc. Packaging is sleek, sexy and elegant. Just like the looks it gives you! I have Petal Shine (another purple/pink themed palette) and think that you should still get this one too. They are both superb and different enough to warrant buying both. Give it a try ladies, you have nothing to lose!
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Smashbox - Jet Set Waterproof Eye Liner in Black
kbah 8/7/2009 8:58:00 AM
I got this as part of one of their glam box sets with the arced liner #21 i think. At first, this little pot of eyeliner is HG status all the way! It's black, the consistency isn't too thick and it's very fluid. The colour is rich, it's a matte black. It sets really fast and does not budge from the waterline! It's truly amazing. However, if you really like a crazy dense line on the waterline for the wole day, you MAY need to reapply as the liner fades a bit. My only gripe about this liner is that it dries up WAY too quickly! I know this is a problem with waterproof liners but I was shocked at how fast it went. Maybe I'll close it tighter next time around, but mine has since dried and shrunk in size = ( boo.So my overall rating for the product itself is 5, price is reasonably expensve at 4 and packaging quality is given a 3 (i hope they can make it better than a screw top jar). I would and WILL buy this liner again! Give it a shot!
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