Lipstick -Revlon - ColorBurst Lipstick in Blush 035 [DISCONTINUED]
keahi 6/19/2010 9:51:00 AM
This was my "test shade" for Revlon's new line of lippies when they were launched because I knew this shade would work for me. I would call this a peach rose-nude. It has fine shimmer in it. This type of shade amounts to an "MLBB" look for my coloring, so I tend to have a lot of lippies of this shade in my stash. This is pretty good, and a cheaper alternative to some of my pricier favorites that are in the same color family, such as EL Tiramisu, Dior's Box Office Beige, and some Shu that I can't remember the name of. I would prefer this without the shimmer but at least it is very *fine* shimmer and not frost. Blush isn't getting a whole lot of love from me at the moment just because it isn't super-exciting, but I know it will become a staple once I've tired of the bright statement lip color phase I am in ATM. Safe, office shade & it's always good to have at least one.
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Lipstick -Revlon - ColorBurst in 070 Soft Nude [DISCONTINUED]
keahi 6/19/2010 9:40:00 AM
I'm probably not the best judge of this since I've never really liked the *nude* nude look. Give me a peachy-nude, or a nude-pink, but the true nude always seems to give me something I call sick-face. Being into a ColorBurst buying binge, and seeing rave reviews for this shade I naturally bought it and had instant buyers remorse. For some reason, I few months later I pick it up and start to have some appreciation. As a nude, it really works. Much better than the disaster that was MAC Hug Me, or Revlon's own Nude Attitude from the matte line. There is just enough peachiness in here and a slightly glossy texture to make it look kind of fresh and appealing. I still top it with a shimmerless colored gloss to give it some more body, but that's just me. I'm not 100% converted to the nude lips look. But boy, with a nice gloss on top, does this shade ever make my lips look full and pouty. It is also quite handy to have around when you want to cancel out the natural pigment in your lips and make a more vibrant color pop true. I've been using this a lot lately for that purpose so I guess having a fail-safe "lip eraser" in my line-up makes this something I am bound to buy again and again.Useful product to be sure, and if you're a nude-lover I can't see how this would disappoint.
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Lipstick -Revlon - ColorBurst lipstick in Lilac 001
keahi 6/19/2010 9:30:00 AM
Probably my most worn lippie this spring, and that is saying something. I was going through a lavender/ lilac pink phase and this was extremely wearable - one of those lippies you can just swipe on from the tube and go. Love the lightness of the ColorBurst formula - in my opinion though, the formula works much better in the lighter shades. It's a little harder to work the deep & hot-bright shades in this line, but boy are those gorgeous (Coral is a knock-out). My one gripe is the shimmer in this. Had it been a cream shade like the Mauve or Soft Nude from this line it would have been perfect for me. Now that it's summer I've moved on to punchier shades, but this will remain one of the top picks in my rotation. Good job, Revlon! Now just expand the shade range so I can buy more. . . a cream pinky-coral would be divine.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -L'Oreal - True Match Super Blendable Compact Makeup
keahi 11/1/2009 5:44:00 PM
I feel compelled to write a review for this product as I think application method is everything. I've had this compact for several months now - it has been doing little more than collecting dust in my stash. Upon purchase, I applied it with a sponge and was less than thrilled with the results. Coverage was heavy, looked mask-like and seemed to make my face look greasier and greasier as the day wore on. It quickly found its way into the reject pile. Fast-forward a few months and I have found myself in the midst of a huge make-up revelation: foundations with Cyclopentasiloxane have been wreaking havoc on my skin. Thank you NARS Sheer Glow for showing me the truth (heartbreakingly beautiful finish but poison for those sensitive to volatile silicones). Now, try finding a cyclopentasiloxane-free foundation in this day and age is getting more and more difficult. That s*@$ is everywhere! Noticing that this compact foundation lacks that noxious ingredient, I decided to give it another go. This time I was a little more patient and experimented with application method. I disliked the finish when using dry sponge & damp sponge, or a foundation brush. I've had good results using simply my fingers. BUT, when I apply this with a stippling brush like the Mac 187, this stuff is like perfect skin in a compact. Here's the trick: when using the 187 (dry) and buffing into your skin, it looks like you are putting absolutely nothing on your face. Really, you can't tell you're getting any coverage at all. The first time I did this I applied waaaayyy too much. Now, I just brush/ stipple it all over my face lightly and try to trust in the process. It still looks like no foundation is actually sticking to my skin, but when I take a step back and look in the mirror, my skin looks flawless! It seems to look even better as the foundation mixes with your own skin oils. The 187 applies very sheer coverage and it looks incredibly natural while evening out all my problem areas. The best part is, this foundation looks as good at the end of the day as it did freshly applied. The longevity is amazing. I truly think anyone that dislikes this foundation should try this application - I think the sponge simply deposits too much color and leaves one prone to cakey-ness. Now, my list of "Pros" for this product is growing daily: - very affordable - widely available - great color selection (I have perfect match in W3) - super quick to apply - stays on all day - no breakouts - makes my skin look practically perfect I dare say, I am liking this even better than my previous cylopentasiloxane-free HG - the $46/ bottle Diorskin Nude. I hope L'Oreal keeps this one in production for years to come!
14 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Cargo - Cargo Bronzer in Medium
keahi 6/3/2008 2:26:00 PM
I also got as a deluxe sample from Sephora, so after years of hearing this raved about I am finally checking it out for myself. I think I'm underwhelmed. It's nice. But nothing to stop the presses over. I think of this as an orangier version of NARS Laguna--has that same shimmery gleam-y quality to it. However, Laguna makes me look tanned and this doesn't really. I'd say sunkissed, or golden, but not believably tanned looking. To me this is more like a warm tawny blush. Pretty, and nice swept on sheerly for a glow to warm you up. But ultimately I want my bronzer to make me look more browned/ tanned than orangey glowy. The browner or rosier bronzers just look a lot better on my fair skin with yellow undertones. I don't think I will seek this out in full size, though if the color works for you, they quality is very nice.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -TheBalm - Bahama Mama
keahi 6/2/2008 12:51:00 PM
Mine also came with an oily residue on the inside of the package which BUMS me out because the packaging is paper/ cardboard. It soaked into the corners so mine is practically falling apart now and looks really gross in places. Strangely enough and thankfully the powder is untouched. No idea where that oily stuff came from--I'm suspecting the plastic strip they place on the mirror to protect it, because it was only there the first time I opened it up. So. . . I'm deducting some lippies for Packaging quality and moving on because apart from this, I love this bronzer! At first I was peeved by how small it looks, especially in a world of big bronzers to choose from. I calmed down though once I realized it is *nearly* the same gram/ oz weight as NARS bronzers--just missing that big, nice, non-oily packaging. The girl on the front is cute, but I would really rather have something substantial here. I said I was over the packaging. Guess I lied. The powder looks very dark, but it is sheer. If I were to compare it to anything I would say it is like a matte version of NARS Casino. Applied with a skunk brush I get a very believable brown tan. No orangey tones at all! I have fair skin w/ yellow undertones. I thought it would be too dark at first but it's not if you apply with discretion. No fragrance, no sparkle. Very realistic with a nice texture. Despite my frustrations over the packaging I would probably repurchase as I love the effect on my skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Clinique - Powder Foundation Brush
keahi 6/2/2008 10:23:00 AM
This is a *new* brush by Clinique. Retails for $32.50 and has a long clear lucite handle. It has natural bristles that are very soft and silky and the brush, when brand new, is in the shape of a soft paddle--in other words it has somewhat defined edges. The broadest part of the brush is soft, flat, and firm--like a very large, but fluffy foundation brush. The sides are a little more narrow, allowing you to turn the brush and target different surfaces of your face--like the sides of your nose, or underneath your cheekbones. The tip is just slightly tapered. I bought this to use with their Almost Powder foundation (which is wonderful, BTW!) and this brush was amazing. It distributed just enough powder, it felt so soft on my face. It really was the perfect tool. Notice the past tense here. "Was." As soon as I washed this for the first time this brush completely lost it's wonderful unique shape. It fluffed out to the point that it is now nearly identical to my Sonia Kashuk powder brush. I'm so P.Oed!!! It's still a wonderful brush--for Powder, but it is no longer the most amazing Powder Foundation brush ever. Now it disperses the powder a little too thinly. I have to work a lot harder to get good coverage with my Almost Powder makeup. For reference, I treated this with the same care as all my brushes. I sprayed the dry bristles with MAC brush cleaner, gently worked it through, then rinsed, being careful to shape the bristles before letting them air dry. I have a bizillion brushes, and cared for in the way I described very few of them have lost their original shape. So I'm deducting 2 big lippies for this shape-losing characteristic because I spent $32.50 for a unique, powder foundation brush, not another plain old powder brush which I already have, and which is what I ultimately ended up with. In short, the honeymoon with this one only lasted one week, which is as long as I was willing to go before washing my brush. Clinique's "antimicrobial technology" can only go so far. A quality brush should be able to hold it's shape IMO.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Prestige - Prestige Sunflower Bronzer
keahi 5/29/2008 9:35:00 AM
What is up with these bronzers stinking to high heaven? Seriously. Milani's XL bronzer smells like Nair, and this one smells like the active (read stinky) ingredient in self-tanner. One huge lippie off for this because it makes this almost intolerable for me to use near my face. Everything else about this bronzer is pretty nice, so the stench is a big shame. I'm not typically bothered by fragrance in powders (I even kind of like the classic Noxema scent Cover Girl has as its trademark) but come on, it's got to be pleasant. This actually makes the Nair smell of Milani seem preferable. I didn't notice any other reviews ranting on this, so maybe I got a bad/ old batch? I have the one called "Terra" with the star shaped section of gold overspray. The color of the powder is quite nice--a medium golden tan that isn't too orangey. I also have NARS Laguna among quite a few other bronzers and I disagree that this shade is like Laguna. Laguna doesn't have any strong warm tones and this definitely does. I'd liken Terra most to Cargo bronzer in Medium. It's pigmented and looks nice on although I rubbed off the gold overspray section because that deposited way too much glitter on my face. Once that was gone this was pretty nice. Doesn't seem to be totally matte, but maybe there's some residue from the overspray still left on the surface of the powder. You get a huge compact for $7.99 If not for the smell this would be a steal. As it is, I am too grossed out by the fragrance to bother with this one again.
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Bronzers -Physicians Formula - Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Bronzer
keahi 5/27/2008 4:36:00 PM
I have this in "Healthy Glow" which has segments of a deep milk chocolate brown color interspersed with segments of pale pink. I was attracted to this one because it lacked the orange/ red/ terra cotta tones that look bad on my fair skin w/ yellow undertones. I like bronzers that give a *brown* tint as opposed to a golden or bronze tint. In other words, minimal red tones are best for me. This gives me a beautiful natural tan look with a bit of a highlight due to the pale pink shade. The problem is that it is *so* sheer I have to pack it on, then pack in on some more to achieve any color payoff at all. There is a subtle luminosity to this that is gorgeous but due to all the layers I have to pack on it turns out a bit too shiny for my liking. It also seems to lack any staying power--fading off my skin in the blink of an eye. The real kicker is that this is pretty stinky--as reviewers before me have mentioned, so I am *loathe* to keep adding layer upon layer of stinkiness. It has a papery smell to it. Like cornstarch and glue or paper marche. No one has yet told me my face smells like butt, thankfully, but I still don't personally like to smell this throughout the day. If it had the color payoff and longevity I'd deal with it. But since it doesn't, this just loses out in pretty much every category except the visual appeal of the packaging and the powder itself. Expensive for what you get. $5 more and you could have MAC. $10 more and you've got NARS. Save your pennies for something better. This is not one of the winners in PF's impressive bronzer line-up.
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Bronzers -Clarins - Summer Fever Sun Palette 02--Spicy Sun
keahi 5/27/2008 10:45:00 AM
I recently spent about 4 hours in the dept. store seeking out a new HG bronzer for the summer and this is the one I chose--over BB, NARS, Dior, Chanel, EL, Smashbox, YSL, and Lancome's ridiculously huge "Sun Cherub" bronzer. Seems like everyone is coming out with a dinner-plate size bronzer this year and I secretly really wanted one. Spicy Sun is not exactly saucer-sized, but it is a very large compact. It is marketed as being for both face and body bronzing. Has Spf 20 with Titanium Dioxide as the active ingredient, although you'd have to really pack this on to benefit from any sun protection I think. Oh well, the extra iota can't hurt, right? The packaging is gorgeous and the powder is formed in the shape of a sunflower with golden overspray in the center. Once the overspray is worn off it is a perfect satin matte finish. The shade is a medium dark tan. A very natural tan without the terra cotta or red tints most golden and bronze bronzers have. It is incredibly natural looking on my fair skin w/ yellow undertones. This is a superbly fine milled powder and incredibly pigmented. I apply with a skunk brush for a fine veil of tan. I made the mistake of using a densly bristled bronzer brush at first and was shocked at the deep dark pigment it deposited. You really do need a light hand with this, but it's perfect and you can either build color lightly or go dark with very little effort. I think this shade would suit deeper skintones as well. I was actually a little sad when the last of my shimmer overspray wore off as it imparted a lovely subtle glow instead of gaudy shimmer. However, I do prefer matte bronzers so I wasn't too disappointed the shimmer is just overspray. The powder is lightly fragranced with the most intoxicating scent. I can't put my finger on it but it reminds me almost of chocolate--I love it and find myself looking forward to putting this on in the morning. I'm addicted, LOL! I'm not a bronzer expert but I have used Hoola, Laguna, BB Medium, Cargo Medium and Matte Medium, Clinique Sunkissed, and EL Bronze Goddess in the past. I dare say I like this one better than any of those, although if Laguna came in matte form it would be the HG of all HGs. I don't know if this Sun Palette is LE, seasonal, or here to stay--nothing on Clarins's site indicated LE status. If it's around when I've used up my huge compact I will definitely get this one again--the quality astounded me. Very reasonably priced at $35 considering it is the same price as Clarins' regular bronzers for what looks like double the amount.
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Milani - All Over Glow Bronzer XL 02
keahi 5/22/2008 1:02:00 PM
There is just something so silly & fun about having a huge-ass bronzer! I couldn't resist! This XL bronzer appears to come in 2 shades: #01 which appears to be the orangier/ more golden of the two, and #02 "Fake Tan," which is the one I'm reviewing. #02 has one side that is matte and more of a brown/ tan color. The other side is a shimmery golden bronze. The pan is so huge that you can easily isolate just one side, or swirl your brush in both to mix them. I really favor the darker tan (matte) side. This looks believable on my skin. The shimmer side I would never use by itself as it is very loompa-land, as MUA likes to say, but it looks ok if I mix just a bit of it in with the darker matte side. I got this full price at Target for about $7 and change. This is incredibly pigmented--I'm impressed! The deal-breaker for me though is the insanely heavy fragrance. It smells so chemical--just like NAIR--I kid you not. It's very unpleasant on my face and sometimes makes me nauseous. So, the fragrance ruins an otherwise above-decent product here. I'll probably use this up on my body (far, far away from my poor nose) but I would not repurchase unless Milani ditches the fragrance. Too bad.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Bobbi Brown - Bronzing Powder in Medium
keahi 5/22/2008 11:12:00 AM
Well, this is very *natural* I will give it that. To be honest, I was expecting this to be much more pigmented, since BB's products typically are. I feel like I can swipe layer after layer over my face and still see only minimal impact. One lippie off for that. While I don't want to be super light-handed to avoid a mess, I do wish I could see a little more payoff. NARS Laguna, for example, gives me a lovely tan veil after one light application. I feel like I have to really pile this stuff on before I am noticeably "sunkissed." To it's credit, the shade is fantastic--once I get it to show up it gives me a very authentic color to my fair skin with yellow undertones. I normally turn a little rosy when I get some sun, and this manages to mimic the way my skin would actually look. I love the matte finish too. This is a very good bronzer but I will probably keep my eyes open for the same shade in a more pigmented form. If you're looking for subtle, this is it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Clinique - non-streak bronzer
keahi 5/22/2008 10:58:00 AM
My review is also for the Men's version. In my opinion, this is by far the better product than the women's version of bronzing gel. First, you get 2 oz for $14.00 vs. the women's which is 1.4 oz for $18.50. Wha? Apparently women just like paying more for less product. Thanks Clinique for accomodating this strange feminine quirk of ours. Plus, albeit rather masculine and drab, I much prefer the packaging of the men's version with it's flip top cap. Who wants to be messing with a silly twist on cap when you have potentially staining gel on your fingertips and are worried about product oozing out of the tube? And finally, best of all, the men's version is sparkle free! So it really looks like a natural tan and not bronze sparkling gunk on your face. I mix this with a blob of moisturizer or sunscreen and rub it in all over my face. It gives me a hint of a tan tint that is truly believable. This is my go-to summer face product because I just loathe the way foundation looks and feels on the hot, sticky, casual days of summer. Even TM is too much and too heavy. This just evens out my skintone and gives me a sunkissed glow. I can then layer a powder bronzer on top for more impact. Travel friendly, inexpensive, works great, looks real. I keep coming back to this one.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Maybelline - Dream Matte Mousse
keahi 5/13/2008 12:38:00 PM
Okay, the good stuff first: very inexpensive, liked the container and ease of application, shades are good. I got "Classic Ivory" which is a light yellow-toned shade--perfect for my skin tone. No crazy pink shades in this line from the looks of it. I liked that the product smoothed so effortlessly over my skin. You don't have use hardly any at all for good coverage. I applied this to well-moisturized skin and did not have any problems with it highlighting flakes or dry patches. In fact, for the first 15 minutes this was on my face it was near divine. Poreless, even skin that took mere seconds to achieve. Now the bad. The great skin effect wore off pretty much after those first 15 minutes. I agree with everyone who said this stuff is no good for oily skin. I have combo skin, not even really oily at all, but I think if your skin produces ANY oil whatsoever you will not like this. On me, as the day went on the silicones mixed more and more with the natural oils in my skin. At first it just started not looking nearly as fresh, but by the end of the day my skin felt downright dirty, suffocated, and congested. Far too many silicones for my liking here. If only this would float on top of my skin all day long instead of breaking down and getting gross. Leaves a filmy feel to my skin that really creeps me out. I can see this being good only for those skin types that have perfect, normal skin w/ no oil--but then these people probably wouldn't want/ need something so matte. Wanted to like this one, but I'm back to traditional liquid foundation.
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Cleansers -Cetaphil - Gentle Skin Cleanser
keahi 5/7/2008 2:19:00 PM
I have to add my 2 cents to the review bucket here. Over the past 15 years I have given Cetaphil cleanser more than a fair chance. I buy it, hate it, toss it. Then several years down the line I STILL see raves for this everywhere--magazines, MUA, other skin care websites, etc. and I willfully forget whatever it was I didn't like about it. Buy it again, hate it, (*remember* why I hate it), and toss it. I've gone through this cycle at least 4 times now. I guess you can say I really, really want this to work as well for me as it seems to have for so many other people. I don't mind the texture, scent, or the fact that it doesn't foam. I don't care that it doesn't remove makeup well because I always use an oil cleanser or Albolene to remove makeup first. I hate Cetaphil cleanser because I don't find it gentle in the least. In fact, this makes my face feel ravaged like almost nothing else. Immediately dry, tight, and hot--all the hallmarks of serious irritation. I can use paint-thinning stregth Clearasil or any number of cleansers with SLS or fragrance high up on the list and have my skin feel better than it does after using Cetaphil. I don't know *what* the offending ingredient is exactly. My best guess would be the Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, but it's so far down on the list of Ing. that I wouldn't think it could have much of an adverse affect. I use and LOVE Aquanil, which is basically the same thing/ same idea minus whatever evil ingredient Cetaphil has that causes me problems. I will try my hardest to remember that I like Aquanil and not Cetaphil and quit giving Cetaphil another chance. I only wish Aquanil were available everywhere Cetaphil is--it's a royla PITA to have to order it. Two lippies only because it is somewhat of a personal thing--obviously not everybody is having this problem with Cetaphil. I love every moisturizer Cetaphil makes, but I'm finally putting my foot down on the cleanser. A big thumbs down from yours truly.
11 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No