Lip Treatments -Fresh - Sugar Lip treatment SPF15 Petal
lilyeffigy 5/15/2013 4:26:00 AM
I hate Fresh lip treatment packaging. The logo and wording rubs off in a week if you carry it around in your purse. I love the scent. Like everything else from Fresh, the scent fades within minutes. This is MLBB on me. It is the best universal color in the lip treatment line. Sugar Berry, Coral, and Passion leave the dreaded "ring" around my lips, but not so with this. I do not find it to be hydrating like my Jack Black Lip balm or the advanced Fresh lip balm, but it is more moisturizing than a lipstick, and the color is so pretty (almost a dead 0n dupe for Guerlain #6 Garance ROUGE G
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Eyeliner -MAC - Fluidline Eye-Liner Gel in Blacktrack
lilyeffigy 5/15/2013 4:13:00 AM
HG. I am flabbergasted that Estee Lauder manufactures MAC fluidlines and Bobbi Brown gel eyeliners, yet there is such a difference in quality. Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner in black ink is terrible if you want a dark black liner that applies easily with one brush stroke. MAC blacktrack is perfect. If you want barely visible coverage, or a more grey tone, try Bobbi Brown. Or, save your cash, buy MAC Blacktrack, and use less of it. I can't actually see a downside to the MOST AWESOME GEL EYELINER EVER. I have sensitive eyes (I can't even use paint pots without another base under them or I get a terrible allergic reaction) but I wear this on my waterline daily. Yay MAC. Sorry for the breakup, but I still use blanc tyoe and blacktrack, and occasionally painterly paint pot. Everything else has bitten the dust.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Laura Mercier - Eye Color- Vanilla Nuts
lilyeffigy 5/15/2013 3:40:00 AM
this is the best neutral base shade I have found after MAC blanc type as far as consistency and shade goes. it is darker than blanc type, but not dramatically, as in a shade change in foundation or skin tone. It has the same full coverage application, non powdery/flaky/fall out texture as blanc type and stays all day with a primer. I am generally not a fan on Laura Mercier eyeshadow, so this is a standout product for me. I have not found another neutral brightening base shade with the same longevity as this, apart from MAC blanc type. Other shades I have tried: MUFE 35, 3, 7, 156, Stila Chinois & Dune, Edward Bess nude, Trish McEvoy shell, Bare minerals ready duos (with neutral shades) NARS Biarritz, Nars Night star, NARS AAE, Bobbi Brown bone & ivory, MAC Brule, Shroom etc. - basically I've been around the neutral base block. I have close set, round, heavy lidded eyes, which means a neutral matte base on lids every day, shimmer in the crease if I'm feeling crazy. Buy this and love it.
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Eye Shadow -Tarina Tarantino - Jewel Shadow Palette - delightful
lilyeffigy 11/9/2012 2:41:00 AM
I bought this on sale. It was $20 and I got 20% off, so $16 before tax. It was the only Tarina Tarantino palette of the 5 I saw that I could rationalize purchasing. I am a matte-a-holic, so shimmery shadows are not my preference. Sephora sales make you do crazy things. When I got home and swatched it on my arm, I realize it was a dead on dupe for Dior Earth Reflection. Even as I'm writing this, I'm beginning to see the similarity in her other palettes with some permanent Dior palettes. I think this is the closest, shade for shade. Given that info, this is a steal. If I had to liken her shadows to anyone elses, I would say Dior, with Stila (frosty shades, mostly) coming in at a slightly distant 2nd. These shadows are very pigmented. They also have that Dior heavy shadow layer feel about them. I should mention that I am not necessarily a Dior enthusiast. I think Dior suffers from too much hype syndrome. I'm rambling now. Bottom line: this is a great deal. If you just bought Earth Reflection and live near Sephora, return it and buy this. You'll save $40.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Chantecaille - Rice and Geranium Foaming Cleanser
lilyeffigy 11/9/2012 2:30:00 AM
This is a great cleanser, but it is also scary. Here's why: The good: It cleans very well. You only need a tiny dot on a fingertip and it will produce a face-worth of foam. It has basically eradicated any problem I had with adult acne. The bad: It is really expensive. I am still working on a 1oz sample size that has lasted me 6 months, so it does last quite a long time, but I still can't justify spending that much on a face wash. Chanticaille does not release ingredients to the public, on their site or elsewhere. When brands do that, I get angry and then suspicious. The neither good nor bad: it stings your eyes, so be careful. It's worth it, though. I am living in the delusion that my sample will last forever and I won't have to have the "you can't buy this" talk with myself.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Laura Mercier - Baby Lips
lilyeffigy 11/9/2012 2:23:00 AM
Laura Mercier sheer lipsticks are the best products in her line, in my opinion. They are definitely not sheer, but they do come in four (or five, thanks Nordstrom!) wearable shades for each occasion. I have pared down to Baby Lips and Tender Lips because they get the most use. Baby lips is a warm rosy pink with a bit of brown to tone down the pinkness. It's not your standard MLBB. I would say it's MLBB 2.0 (my lips but brighter) Too light? Try Healthy Lips, Tender Lips or Sexy Lips. Too dark? Try Bare Lips. It is the most flattering neutral lipstick around. My favorite thing about the sheer lipsticks is that they last, leave a stain, wear evenly and actively moisturize. For the record, I think LM stick glosses suck. They have insane slip and a wear time of, like, 5 minutes. The sheer lipsticks are leaps and bounds ahead in my book.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Laura Mercier - Lip Sheer in Tender Lips
lilyeffigy 11/9/2012 2:19:00 AM
Laura Mercier sheer lipsticks are the best products in her line, in my opinion. They are definitely not sheer, but they do come in four (or five, thanks Nordstrom!) wearable shades for each occasion. I have pared down to Baby Lips and Tender Lips because they get the most use. Tender lips is a beautiful browned rose coral with a hint of plum. It's not cool toned - it may be dead center neutral. It's MLBB when I'm tan. It would probably flatter any skin tone, although it might be a day time lipcolor for those with darker skintones. Too light? Try Healthy Lips or Sexy Lips. Too dark? Try Bare Lips or Baby Lips. My favorite thing about the sheer lipsticks is that they last, leave a stain, wear evenly and actively moisturize. For the record, I think LM stick glosses suck. They have insane slip and a wear time of, like, 5 minutes. The sheer lipsticks are leaps and bounds ahead in my book.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Dejavu (Imju) - DJV Beautenizer Fiberwig LX
lilyeffigy 11/9/2012 2:08:00 AM
This is a great fiber mascara, and super easy to come by in the USA. It's better than my old D/S fiber knockoff (Maybelline unstoppable) and almost as good as my high end (and discontinued) holy grail, Awake Side Long Lash. A note about fiber mascaras: I seriously admire anyone who can pull off using a fiber mascara as their only mascara. I use it as a "finishing" mascara. It add extreme length to whatever other mascara I'm wearing, while also making whatever mascara I'm wearing water resistant and droop-proof. By itself it is useless. To me, that is, as I come from the land of thin, short, uncurled lashes that need all the help they can get. my default mascara routine is: Dior maximizer lash primer, Buxom lash, DJV fiberwig. SAs and MAs are always saying how amazing my eye makeup/lashes are. I always respond the same way, "It's the mascara."
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Blanc Type - Matte2
lilyeffigy 11/9/2012 1:13:00 AM
This is, hands down, my favorite matte light beige/eggshell eyeshadow. I have deep set eyes that are very pronounced. I have to wear a bright shade on my lids, or I look like a zombie/vampire/crypt keeper. I have tried this shade in pretty much every brand you could name: Edward Bess Nude Burberry Trench Trish McEvoy Shell, Champagne, Soft Peach, Demure Mac Brule, Vanilla, Shroom, Bisque, Orb Urban Decay Virgin, ABC gum, Walk of Shame, Foxy, Kinky & Freestyle (from smoked palette) NARS All About Eve (my preference is the less shimmery side), NARS Night Star, NARS Abyssinia Laura Mercier Stellar any and all pale beiges from Inglot Illamasqua neutral quad Too Faced (insert adjective here "smokey, romantic, neutral etc.") palette Stila Chinois, Dune, Eden Pale shade from the Lorac pro palette I realize some of the shades I mentioned above are satins or have low level shimmer, and some are peachier than Blanc Type. I am comparing opacity and length of wear - Blanc Type is superior in all aspects, and try as I might, I can not find anything that tops it. If you must own one MAC shadow, this is it. P.S. Why have I tried this shade in every other brand? I despise traveling with MAC eyeshadows, and I travel often. The new 4 pans are very bulky and take up too much room to merit bringing with me. I literally have blanc type and mystery or brun in an old NARS duo eyeshadow compact that I travel with. So please believe I am trying to find a replacement :)
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Blush in Oasis
lilyeffigy 5/4/2009 11:17:00 PM
Oasis was my HG blush for a while. It's a lovely neutral shade that would complement warm and cool skintones in the very pale to moderately pale range. I'm about NC20. Still, what's with the glitter? Don't get me wrong, I love glitter, or I should say, I like functional, visible glitter. This glitter is lame. Why not a slight shimmer (ahem, sin)? I shouldn't complain :)
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Lancome - Fatale [DISCONTINUED]
lilyeffigy 2/28/2009 1:43:00 AM
This is a gel based formula. Gel based mascaras are great because they build supreme volume and don't clump (or rather, don't clump as much as other formulas). However, gel based mascaras lack shaping qualities - they don't lengthen, curl, or separate - they just coat. Sure, some companies (um, lashblast) try and add in a super funky brush to do the extra work, but in the end, a gel mascara is a gel mascara. USE A BASE. While I was waiting for my HG maybelline unstoppable to arrive in the mail, I was using fatale over the base side of maybelline xxl extensions (a microfiber white base). Now I use it over my maybelline unstoppable, and I look like I'm wearing fake lashes. Awesome. Seriously. Whatever mascara you're using to define, lengthen, or set your lashes, keep using it. Put this over it. 3x the volume. No clump. Oh, and the brush (or lack of brush, rather) is just fun to laugh at.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Retro Matte - Moxie ] [DISCONTINUED]
lilyeffigy 9/1/2008 11:19:00 PM
moxie is god. I rarely wear it, and I'm scared to carry it with me for fear I'll lose it. I have very neutral coloring, so anything too warm or too cool looks odd on me. Moxie is my magenta HG. girl about town, hollywood nights, full fuchsia, blow, and fusion pink have nothing on moxie. It's their warmer, more beautiful sister. Yes, it's drying, but oh, so beautiful.
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Lipstick -MAC - Craving
lilyeffigy 9/1/2008 11:09:00 PM
the super mean MA at Macy's wouldn't accept a bunch of my empties, so I had to dig through my purse (I carry about 6 or more mac l/s with me at a time) and give up two of my mostly used lipsticks. I ended up giving her captive, because I really felt that owning craving would dissolve my need for captive. It does. Craving is rosier, prettier, and feels better on my lips than captive. Craving is a plummy rose lipstick, and it looks terrific with rich & ripe (from cult of cherry) over it. I imagine it would also look good with adventuresome lipglass. When going out, I wear it over beurre liner. It's slightly too plummy to be be mlbb, but it really is a great color for lighter neutral skintones. I do wish it was slightly warmer, but it's definitely an improvement over the too plummy captive. The best thing about craving is that it's subdued enough that it can be worn during the day, and deep enough that it works as a bold lip for a night out. Until MAC answers my prayers and makes a slightly redder version of craving, it's my HG.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Sparks Can Fly
lilyeffigy 8/25/2007 8:40:00 PM
I pretty much knew exactly how sparks can fly would look/how much I would like it. If anyone has brave l/s and considers it an HG, then this is for you. Brave is a staple of mine, and sparks can fly is really just a slightly creamier, frostier version of brave, maybe a tad browner. I have owned VGV in the past, and this is almost also a dead ringer for it. I suppose it's a hybrid of Brave and VGV. For those of you who haven't tried either of those shades, here is a breakdown, with a comparison to sparks can fly: Brave: neutral pink rose with a (very, very) slight shimmer (satin) Viva Glam V: neutral pinky brown with shimmer (lustre) Sparks can fly: neutral rosy pink, slightly brown, with a slight shimmer Sound similar? Well, they are. I personally hate the lustre formulation, because I like long wearing lip products, so I don't wear VGV. If you like emollient lip products, stick with VGV and don't bother with Sparks can fly. If you are a fan of the amplified cremes, and the satin formulas tend to dry out your lips, you will probably like sparks can fly. True, it is a frost, but it goes on with a very creamy consistency. If you were hoping for a longwearing frost ala pink maribu, this isn't it. If you are looking for a longwearing creamy rose lipstick, try Brave. It's permanent, and it definitely suits all lighter skin tones. So, my verdict? I like Sparks can fly. It's pretty. I'll wear it, maybe even over Brave for some added shimmer. Do I need it? That's a good question :)
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -ARTec - Smoothing Serum
lilyeffigy 6/4/2007 5:57:00 PM
I discovered this product when I was seventeen, when I had tight, frizzy, thin, extremely dry curls. It was a wonderful product, but I hated my hair so much, nothing could really make it look good to me. Fast forward seven years. I've had my hair chemically striaghtened since I was nineteen (tr), and for some reason, I never repurchased this product. Until today. Even after the tr, my hair is still wavy, thin and dry. I have some regrowth, which has been a terrible annoyance in this week's humidity. I had been using KMS silker to straighten the regrowth, then diffusing the waves with mouse.
NEVER AGAIN! I put some smoothing serum on my roots, they were straight in ONE MINUTE! Then, I put some more smoothing serum throughout my hair, and used a diffuser. Full, wonderful waves in three minutes. This product is HG material, and I have no idea why I waited this long to repurchase it. NOTE: this product works best on thin, normal to dry hair. If you have very thick hair, or very oily hair, I don't think it would work in the same way, but that's only IMHO.
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