Foundations -Unlisted Brand - Lucy Minerals Foundation
kimst2009 3/23/2013 7:50:00 PM
-Types I used: Oil Control with Silica & Calcium Carbonate -My Skin: Combo/Oily -My Best Color Match: Bisque (approx NC15-20, a little neutral) If you're more NC20 then try Light Medium. Medium seems more for an NC25. Creamy Bisque may be closer to an NC30, more yellow. This was my first time trying a mineral foundation. I have always been skeptical about whether I would get enough coverage with a mineral foundation because I'm used to using a med-full coverage foundation since I have red acne scarring and uneven, oily skin. It took about two attempts to get used to the application but once I did, I loved the coverage. It wasn't flat, but was more luminous or glowy. *I used the Sigma F80 and 82 to apply* After a week I started noticing that my pores were more pronounced and skin looked parched. Eventually I stopped using it as a foundation. However I found a new use for it since I ordered so many samples... I found that I love using it as an under eye concealer! It sort of reminds me of what a Laura Mercier Secret Brightening powder would look like if it came in other colors. Lucy's MIneral foundation isnt quite as fine and silky as LM's SB powder but it gives a more luminous glow to your undereyes. You can build up the mineral foundation under your eyes unlike some liquid concealers which can end up cakey if you overapply. BTW, I used the MAC 286, a duo fibre brush to apply the foundation to my undereye area. Even though I wouldnt buy this product again to use as a face foundation, I will buy it again for my undereyes. The sample size ($2.50) lasts quite a long time and I was very surprised by that because the container is tiny and I always use alot of foundation. Eek. Another thought is you can buy the Snow White color, a white, to mix if you need a lighter color. I dont think buying the Finishing Powders are a necessity because I tried it and didnt notice any benefits. I used my trusty LM Translucent or Maybelline Dream Matte powder and they worked fine.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -Ben Nye - Bella Luxury Powder: Banana (formerly known as Visage Poudre Luxury Powder)
kimst2009 7/29/2012 5:29:00 PM
I really thought I would like this powder but I found it to be... finely-milled but a little gritty? Or maybe you can say it had a chalky feel to it. Hard to explain but it just didn't go on smoothly for me. I like to think of myself as someone who can make alot of things work but I didn't like the way it looked on my oily skin. I tried it on top of Revlon ColorStay and Whipped foundation but I began to see separating and then it just turned gross. I tried it with different powder brushes by sweeping it on or pushing it in but still didn't work. I really wanted it to work. I know alot of people love it but I'm just not one of them.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Deodorants -Secret - Clinical Strength
kimst2009 5/20/2012 1:49:00 PM
I absolutely love this deodorant. It keeps me feeling fresh all day with no hint of funk coming through. It is a little hard to wash off but Im fine with that as long as it is blocking the smell. lol. I was using the regualr Secret deodorant for so long but I guess my body chemistry changed for the worse and it would only work for the first few hours. With the clinical strength, I dont have to do the sniff test. :)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Ecotools - Bamboo Blush Brush
kimst2009 2/3/2012 2:28:00 PM
I love this brush. Originally I bought it to apply blush and while I like it for a light application of blush I found my favorite use for it... I use this brush to apply my loose powder. Whereas some people may use the Sigma F80 or ELF Flat Top brush to stipple (or push in) their powders (though I know alot use these for applying foundation but I used it for applying my powder) I use this brush to apply my loose powder by not pushing into the skin with the pointed tip of brush BUT pushing in the powder with the flat side of the brush. This brush is so soft (and dense), making the bristles splay to get the job done very well. If you still have the brush and didnt quite like it for applying blush then I would highly recommend trying it to apply powder in the way I explained.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -Laura Mercier - translucent loose powder
kimst2009 6/1/2011 6:16:00 PM
I bought this powder after it was recommended by an SA at Sephora for oily skin. I wanted a loose powder instead of a pressed powder (she highly recommended the pressed Smooth Focus because she uses it for her oily skin). It's finely milled with a hint of ivory color but goes on sheer for the most part. I prefer using a powder brush to distribute a light layer onto my face because I feel like using a powder puff first doesnt spread it well enough since the powder is so finely milled. You'll just end up with dots on your face from the sifter. This powder reminds me of powders like MUFE HD powder but it isnt quite as finely milled but pretty close. I didnt want the white color (even though it's supposed to go on sheer, it isnt always the case) so that's why I like the LM translucent powder because it's off-white. As far as how it works for an oily face, it does a decent job- even in the heat. Do I think there is a better powder to be found for alot less than $34? Yes, and I'm going to find it. But I do think this one is worth a try to purchase and see if it does work. IF you're looking for pressed, then I would definitely check into the one mentioned in the first paragraph.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Milani - Smooth Finish Blush - Luminous
kimst2009 1/9/2011 12:58:00 AM
I like this blush. It's not one of my faves during the cold season but I bet I'll like it more during the summer. *Im about an NC25 for reference* It has just enough color for me but I read where some darker women are saying it isnt showing up on them. I actually own another blush I think is extremely similar but has more color and pigmentation. It's called Blushin' by Palladio. You can find it at Sally's, or perhaps anywhere that sells Palladio. It's practically the same blush but with more pink. In my opinion, it looks more like Nars Orgasm without the glitter. So, I hope this helps some of the women who wanted to love Luminous. Blushin' is actually one of my favorite blushes and it's cheap... :)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Palladio - Baked Blush in Blushin
kimst2009 1/9/2011 12:49:00 AM
This is one of my favorite blushes. If you like Luminous by Milani then I would suggest buying this from Sally's. Blushin' looks just like Luminous but with more pink and for that reason- I love it more. For some of the darker women who have said that Luminous didnt show up on them, then I think Blushin' would be a better option since it has more pink.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Queen Helene - Mint Julep Masque
kimst2009 6/30/2010 8:11:00 PM
I'm glad to see that the reviews for this product are more positive than negative. I always hate trying new skincare because my skin is so sensitive and will breakout easily. But, I'm going to be optimistic about this product. :) I know there are some people who are just totally against recommending products because of their terrible experience but that doesnt mean it doesnt work for someone else. With that said, I'm going to continue using this on my combination/oily skin once a week because it did shrink the APPEARANCE of my pores. It doesnt have a pleasant smell but then that's ok because some of the stinkiest things work better. ha ha. I didnt notice a significant difference in the way my skin felt but it didnt make it any worse than it already is and that's a plus. I got this at Dollar General for a little over $2 so if I dont like it, then no big deal.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -NARS - Loose Powder
kimst2009 6/29/2010 11:49:00 PM
This is my HG powder. I will wear nothing but a loose powder. I was using L'Oreal Translucide for a few years and I thought it was pretty good until I tried MUFE's loose powder. Except, MUFE just seemed to sheer and I need more coverage.. so I kept looking because I realized I loved these finely milled powders. Finally, I was watching MakeupGeek on Youtube and saw that she loved this powder and her description of it made me want it even more. I bought it and am very pleased with the coverage and the airbursh look it gives me. I havent had to worry so much about my makeup getting oily because that is a big problem for me. When used in conjunction with my primer, it's keeping the oil from coming through so much. Yea! It's the worth the money for me because I think powder is very necessary and you get alot of quality for your money. IMO. The packaging could be better (i had fallout when i opened my new pkg) but use it according to how another reviewer said: put the screen UNDER the sifter. Do not leave it on top because the powder will just get stuck under it. Well, that's my review and I'll keep buying this till they discontinue it. :)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Purpose - Dual Treatment Moisture Lotion with spf 15
kimst2009 6/29/2010 12:06:00 AM
I'm glad I'm not crazy because I thought it was only my bottle smelling like too much sunblock. How weird. It used to have such a super light fragrance (even though the bottle says fragrance-free) and that's one reason why I used it. Now im worried that this too-much-sunblock-smell will aggravate my acne-prone skin-- making it red. Infact, I'm already noticing some redness associated with this new bottle. Im glad I read the reviews about the formula change... This WAS my daily sunblock for my face but looks like I'll be finding a new one that has a nicer fragrance, but preferably-- no fragrance.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Purpose - Gentle Cleansing Wash
kimst2009 6/28/2010 11:54:00 PM
I have been using this cleanser for years. Occasionally I'll want to try something new but I always end up going back. However, the Purpose cleanser is my go-to cleanser when all others fail. It makes the skin feel very soft but can be a little drying-- and i have oily skin. I wear alot of makeup and believe that it doesnt quite get all of it off. So, in order to not leave any residue behind, I use makeup cloths to remove as much of my makeup before washing. The only reason I started using this was my friend's dermatologist recommended it to her while she was using Accutane. That's hard to find-- a dermatologist recommened product. I use the moisturizer and soap bar, too. But that's another review. :)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Blush Brush
kimst2009 6/26/2010 12:48:00 PM
I bought this brush for my mom from the Dollar General... meaning I got it for ONE DOLLAR. She was using some raggedy blush brush she had from a billion years ago. I saw this and figured it was a GREAT deal and she likes it. It's not too soft, not too scratchy. But it is a little smaller than the average brush, I think. However, it'll get her through for awhile until she can prove to me she'll wear her makeup more often so I can upgrade her brush. :)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -L'Oreal - Carbon Black Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner
kimst2009 6/25/2010 1:05:00 AM
Such mixed reviews... I have been using Maybelline's waterproof eyeliner with a felt tip for years and love it. However, I saw good reviews on Youtube for this eyeliner and decided to give it a go. (I'm not one for change because once I find something I like, I usually stick to it.) I liked this eyeliner IMMEDIATELY because it got alot closer to my lashline on the first try than my Maybelline and gel liners did. I, also, didn't have to apply a second coat to get it dark enough. With my Maybelline one, I felt it was tugging at my lid while applying, leaving spaces to be filled. I didnt notice this with the Lineur Intense... The tip is flexible, smooth, and long for a quicker application. I felt this skinny, long tip held more color than any other eyeliners I have used. I will still keep using my Maybelline one because it can do a thicker line more quickly than the Lineur Intense. But the Lineur Intense gives a more natural, thin line for an everyday look. I know everyone's opinion, skin, and application technique is different, but I was impressed with this product. I wish I had found it sooner. I don't claim to be an professional at applying eyeliners (but i'm pretty good!) because there is one liquid eyeliner tip I dont like: those very skinny paintbrush ones. Not sure what you call them, but I won't use them. I do feel that the Lineur Intense could be a combination of the reg felt tip (like my Maybelline one) and the skinny paintbrush tip. As far as it flaking and not being waterproof, I applied MAC's Carbon eyeshadow on top of the liner to set it. Didnt have a problem all day.. And I have oily skin. Also, there are products to SEAL your eyeliner. So, if you love it enough then you'll fight for it. :)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -LORAC - Mocktail-Sex on the Beach
kimst2009 6/16/2010 2:42:00 AM
I adore the Sex on the Beach (a sheer, hot pink) color. I agree with another user who said it feels like butter on the lips. It has that juicy look to it and I've always gotten compliments when I wear it. Out of all my lipwear (and that's alot!), it's the only one that looked great on my lips while wearing a smoky eye look. Now I'm thinking I need to check out the other colors! UPDATE: Sephora is no longer selling the Mocktail lipgloss. After searching quite awhile for a place to buy it, I decided to check Lorac's website and found that they are selling the full-size for $3!!!!!!!!!!! The other colors are available, too. If you like these then you better stock up because I think they might be discontinuing them. :-(
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -NYX - Chrome Eyeshadow in Beanie
kimst2009 6/16/2010 1:51:00 AM
I came across this color the other day and took a chance on buying it because I couldn't test it first. It looked like a beautiful color and it did not disappoint!!! It reminds me mostly of the color eggplant but sheer and sparkly. It goes over browns very well; therefore, using it to do smoky brown look would make the browns POP. It's one of those colors that you can't keep from looking at yourself in the mirror, even when worn alone. As long as NYX keeps selling this, I will keep stocking up on it. I highly recommend this color (I think it's my favorite!) if you like browns, purples, and plums. :)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No