Liquid -Giorgio Armani - Luminous Silk Foundation
leserpent 4/9/2013 9:17:00 AM
First I'll say I don't own one, but I let a make-up artist do me a make-up with this just yesterday. I am very pale so she used the shade #2 on me. Before foundation she used some serum for the dry areas and Armani BB cream to tone down the redness. She applied the foundation light-handedly, so the outcome was pretty natural looking, but nothing to wow! about. Matte and seemed to go well with my skin tone. When I arrived home a few hours later I noticed my face was yellow, ugh. Maybe it was the initial light or maybe it oxidized. Any way, pale skinned people, beware, and don't be too hasty buying it.
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Makeup Brushes -Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman - Brush Collection Core Collection
leserpent 4/9/2013 9:08:00 AM
The main reason I bought this set was that I needed a contouring brush. I actually wanted an angled contouring brush but thought I get 4 different brushes at a price I'd probably pay for one angled contouring brush made by some other brand, and all these good reviews on MUA about these... I'll give it a try. Delightfully I discovered these brushes are indeed great. I discovered what a wonderful tool is a concealer brush - I never used one, but it's so great for putting the concealer to just the right place under my eyes and I only need really tiny bit of product with this. The contouring brush is the right size for my small face and gets the job done. The buffing brush made me understand why buffing is great. I go over my foundation quickly with it to eliminate any concrete lines and it's great. I used to have an E.L.F. buffing brush which was too big for my face, flat, and I never really "got it". The right size and the dome shape makes all the difference. Also, the bristles are more dense and at the same time softer. The foundation brush is the least favourite of the bunch and I haven't really used it so far. Shape wise I would have preferred if the brushes had these typical narrowing end handles, these flat ones are a bit inconvenient to slide into the rubber band holder and into the case.
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Lip Treatments -Lumene - Sensitive Touch SOS Lip & Dry Spot Balm
leserpent 4/5/2013 1:45:00 PM
I have these evil, super dry, chapped and cracked lips I must use some lip balm on at all times. I have now used this for 4 days in a row and it has done nothing to my lips. It does make my lips *feel* moisturized when I have it on, but it disappears quickly, and has not healed anything (I still have that crack in my lip I had days ago) nor do my lips feel any better nay how. And beware! - it is IMPOSSIBLE to apply without a mirror, as it is white and will go on your lips very unevenly. You have to smudge it out with a finger to be able to wear it in public, or you'll look as if you had a sour cream on your lips or something. I had the same problem with my previous lip balm (Blistex Lip Medex), but this one is way worse. And even if you have it smudged out it will still make your lips lighter like you were using a nude pink lipstick. Which can be cool in case you don't mind or you are after that kind of effect, otherwise, it is better to be used at night when it's dark and you're in bed :P The good side is that you can apply it anywhere else on your body/face (but we actually already know lip balms are great for dry patches and hangnails). When on lips, it feels very moisturizing, but when applied to face, it also feels greasier. It does not irritate and has no real scent to it. Their website says it's free from ethyl alcohol, colorants, fragrance, parabens, mineral oils or silicone, which is good. Wish they also made it colourless. Not worth the money (almost 6 € here), not buying again.
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Gels/Soaps -L'Occitane - Shea Butter Ultra Rich Hands & Body Wash
leserpent 2/2/2013 3:06:00 PM
I have this in use right now and I love it! It does not irritate my super pretentious, sensitive, eczematic skin but instead makes it feel comfortable. It's non-drying, so I don't even have to put on any moisturizers after shower or just put moisturizer on areas that are really-really dry and could use some more care and hydration. It creates a decent foam and smells discreet. Before Hand & Body Wash I used their Ultra Rich Shower Cream, which was pretty much the same and equally fantastic. Hand & Body Wash comes in two sizes - 10.1 fl.oz/300 ml (a size more suitable to place on a sink for hand wash) and 16.9 fl.oz/500 ml (more suitable for body wash).
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Lotions/ Creams -L'Occitane - Shea Butter Body Lotion (Lait Corporel)
leserpent 2/2/2013 2:33:00 PM
One of the few body lotions that actually goes into my skin without leaving this greasy or film like feeling, it's not sticky, the bottle lasts a while, it does not irritate my super pretentious, sensitive, eczematic skin but instead makes it feel soothed and comfortable. Perhaps not madly hydrating, but still the best I've found so far (and I have tried loads because my skin is never satisfied), and my skin is usually super dry so it might not be of any case for other people with normal/dry skin. Looking at the ingredients, it has no harsh chemicals in it, which is an instant winner for me. Also, it has a lot more shea butter in it than usually creams with shea butter do (and those 2% shea butter creams don't do much good "shea butter work" on you I tell you). The scent is nothing to be crazy about but it's subtle and doesn't bother me. And the bottle looks cool!
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Moisturizers -Weleda - Wild Rose Face Oil Capsules
leserpent 2/2/2013 1:20:00 PM
I get dry flaky patches around my forehead and nose and it looks bad and I'm still looking for something that makes them go away, because this isn't it. It's a good product made of natural ingredients and does hydrate (I suggest using it after shower when your skin is still moist) but for me it's not enough because I still get these flakes. And when I use it too often (more than twice a week) I get pimples. I'm also not a fan of the strong scent it has. The price is okay and the idea of casules very clever, but over this I prefer a regular "single malt" organic 100% oils like jojoba which doesn't smell and doesn't give me pimples no matter how much I use it. It is also much cheaper, because I can get a bottle of jojoba oil and use it all over my body.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - J. Del Pozo Halloween EDT
leserpent 1/29/2013 4:21:00 PM
This has been my favorite for years and all other perfumes I have tried to love have failed. Nothing like this. This is perfect. It makes me feel happier and at same time, has a calming effect on me, reminding something of zen-like. The staying power is not the best, but this is a EDT and not EDP. I wish it came as a EDP as well but it's not possible with airy and floral scents I've understood, but oh well. I don't mind re-applying during the day as it has an aromatherapeutic effect on me, giving me an instant mood lift! The packaging is simple and classic, which is always better than some weird artsy bottles and bottles with huge corks that fly all over the place. Seriously. I like it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Nature's Gate - Oh What a Night
leserpent 1/12/2013 7:31:00 AM
I had a similar experience to some others here who have a sensitive skin - it did not soothe but irritated and caused me break out. So watch out. It's good to know it's organic but that is no guarantee.
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Eye Shadow -Unlisted Brand - BYS Eyeshadow compacts
leserpent 1/12/2013 7:16:00 AM
I bought the palette in Natural Delight on some kind of blind impulse only to remind myself why I don't buy cheap products any more. The consistency is bad - or, to be honest, without any real consistency - the brush/applicator collects so much of the stuff from the pan and it will get everywhere), the pigmentation is bad (it's so bad the colours all look the same eventually), the packaging is bad. Cheap but waste of money.
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Eye Shadow -Isadora - Quartet Eye Shadow - 21 Silvery Grey 
leserpent 1/10/2013 7:38:00 AM
I bought one years ago and my review is based on the older version in black squared box. I don't know if they have changed contents of these colours or not, but I do have a lot worse experience with one of their newer palette (however, the newer one I have is another tone - 35 Pearls). So, I bought one years ago and wasn't too much in love with it at first but at some point I discovered it's a perfect match for my grey blue eyes and MAC N15 skin and I've been using it pretty much every day since. I think it's been something 2 years now and and the bottom of the can is not showing yet. It's fairly pigmented and very soft and blendable. I use it to create the smokey eye look - using the black, the darker grey and the light shimmery grey, varying the amount of black/grey depending how dark I want it to be. The lighter grey is almost unused.
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Blush -NARS - Desire
leserpent 12/18/2012 9:57:00 AM
No doubt it's a very good blush but unfortunately I bought the wrong colour. I'm fair skinned (people refer to me as Snow White :P) with neutral undertones and a bit rosacea on the sides of my nose. Desire does not look natural on me. I guess people like me need something more peachy (warmer). The package is classy and the pigmentation very nice so regardless of the bad choice of colour I still give it a high rating.
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
leserpent 12/18/2012 9:46:00 AM
This stuff is great. I own Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion and NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eye Shadow Base and I can tell these are both very-very good and I would repurchase once I've ran out. Urban Decay's container looks quite damaged after using it some time while NARS looks like it looked on the day I got it but this does not affect the good products inside, does it. The consistency of UD feels a bit softer when applied and it also has a subtle ivory-ish tone to it (but I guess it won't show unless you maybe have very dark skin) while the NARS's feels a bit drier on lids. I apply primer all over the lid and the waterline. My eyelids tend to get oily during the day so for an die hard eye liner fan like me who wears eye liner every day, these little fellows are a must! My eyes look as good as they did the night before when I happen to go to sleep after a party etc with make-up on and sometimes have to to some minor touch-ups. One thing I still recommend is that you use some kind of setting powder on neutral eye shadow after applying primer because this will definitely add to the long lasting effect!
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Eye Primer -Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Original (UDPP)
leserpent 12/18/2012 9:25:00 AM
This stuff is great. I own Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion and NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eye Shadow Base and I can tell these are both very-very good and I would repurchase once I've ran out. Urban Decay's container looks quite damaged after using it some time while NARS looks like it looked on the day I got it. However, the looks does not affect the great product inside, does it? The consistency of UD feels a bit softer when applied and it also has a subtle ivory-ish tone to it (but I guess it won't show unless you maybe have very dark skin) while the NARS's feels a bit drier on lids. My eyelids tend to get oily during the day so for an die hard eye liner fan like me who wears eye liner every day, these little fellows are a must! My eyes look as good as they did the night before when I happen to go to sleep after a party etc with make-up on. Aone thing I still recommend is that you use some kind of setting powder on neutral eye shadow after applying primer because this will definitely add to the long lasting effect!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Brows -MAC - Eye Brows Crayon in Fling
leserpent 9/18/2012 6:43:00 AM
The colour is nice but the pencil is a disaster - you cannot screw it back and it breaks all the time. Considering its cost it's a waste of money.
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Concealers -Joe Blasco - Red Neutralizer
leserpent 8/23/2012 4:57:00 AM
Very pigmented, covers everything, a little goes a long way and the miniature box lasts for ages, plus it's easy to carry around in your bag (or pocket) everywhere you go. I'm pale skinned with cool undertones and I have the lightest of shades, Red Neutralizer no. 1, however, I would prefer an even lighter and cooler tone, but this works as well, at least in summer. The only real downside is the staying power - it has an oily texture, which is easy to blend, but tends to disappear during the day.
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