Top/Base Coats -Essie - Matte About You
loriorio 3/10/2013 1:12:00 AM
I wasn't very impressed by this product. It's the first matte topcoat that I've bought since I've read some good reviews and some bad (the other brands I read about were pretty much all bad). My interest in matte nail polish is to get the cool matte/gloss contrast when I use my Konad nail stamping kit to do designs. I have no interest in just wearing a matte polish alone. I used Nicole by OPI's Razzle Dazzler and this did a pretty good job mattifying it initially. I used my OPI Start to Finish with my leopard print stamp and it looked really cool and I was excited to show it off at school the next day. By the morning, the matte coat had gotten so shiny I couldn't differentiate between it and the leopard spots. I was bummed. It started chipping right away and by the end of the second day, my entire index finger had gone bare. I might try to use a protective top coat over Razzle Dazzler before the matte (someone said that would work) and try again. If it doesn't work, I'll spend the money on the Butter London matte.
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Eye Shadow -Tokidoki - Romeo
loriorio 1/30/2013 11:35:00 PM
I have a few of these shadows since they're on sale right now because Sephora is phasing out all their Tokidoki （時々） stock. I got all of them for $5 ea! Upon first impression, the packaging is to die for - signature heart and crossbones is a fan pleaser. It's a great plastic container that stays shut but it is a bit bulky, especially considering the container to actual pot ratio = not too on-the-go friendly. The shadow itself doesn't disappoint - especially for the sale price. I use Urban Decay's Primer Potion but the pigment quality seems to vary with these. My Bruttino is bold while the Nancy Rocks is a bit more subtle. The finish is very glimmery without being glittery if that makes sense - I want to say almost metallic. Anyways, these are really fun and worth checking out. I plan on getting more of them!
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Makeup Brushes -Sephora - Professional platinum concealer brush #45
loriorio 12/8/2012 6:03:00 PM
I got this brush on Sephora's website and I must say that the price is what reeled me in -- $11 sale! This brush is now my love. The shape and size is perfect for my undereye area where I have dark circle problems as well as my breakout areas and the red areas around the edges of my nose. It applies product evenly and just does beautiful work. I'd almost given up battling my dark circles -- they're still persistent even with additional sleep and a low sodium diet. This brush really helps me feel more confident with its flawless application. <3
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Foundation brush
loriorio 12/8/2012 5:37:00 PM
This was my first foundation brush and I was really happy that it was only $1. I didn't expect much from it for the price so I wasn't too disappointed when it didn't distribute product evenly and left a streaky mess. Since I had to go over my face several times with this brush, I ended up putting way more product on than I had initially planned. I also had to go over everything with a sponge to blend as this brush is worthless for blending. I have since purchased a high end quality brush for everyday use but I'll keep this brush in my kit for doing character or costume makeup -- in which case I don't want to use my nice brush. For the price, it's worth a try but don't expect good results and be prepared to spend some time applying and blending.
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Concealer Brush
loriorio 12/8/2012 5:24:00 PM
I bought this brush to apply some white cream makeup around my eyes and on my lips for my "ganguro" look this Halloween. It did the job ok, but the brush is so small and the bristles are really stiff so it was a bit rough on my eye area. I've tried using it as a concealer brush for hard-to-reach and small breakout areas but I just don't like how it always feels like I'm just poking my face. If I use it too lightly, the product just stays on the brush and I get none on my skin. Like others, I tried this as a lip brush. Since it's so small and my lips are pretty full, I really only use it for lining them. I've also heard of people using it as an eyeliner brush and I might try using it for that. As a concealer brush, I wouldn't recommend it. But for only $1, I'm sure anyone could find some use for it.
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Angled Foundation Brush
loriorio 12/8/2012 5:10:00 PM
This is a great brush for the price. The angle is great for contouring and that's really all I use it for -- I only do contouring when I do character or costume makeup. The bristles are soft enough to not irritate my skin but still a bit on the stiff side. It picks up product well enough but distributes with a little streaking so keep a makeup sponge handy for blending out. For a $3 brush, it's worth a try.
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Palettes -Urban Decay - Urban Ammo Eye Palette
loriorio 12/8/2012 4:49:00 PM
A friend of mine gave me this palette and I'm glad she did. It has a great variety of colors and each one is a highly pigmented, quality shadow.This palette has some shadows with a satin finish that are great for everyday looks and highly glittery ones for going out on Friday or Saturday nights. Big glitter chunks means get a quality fan brush to brush away all the fallout or finish the eyes before washing face and applying foundation. The results are worth the little bit of extra effort. I absolutely love the color combos this palette offers and would recommend it to anyone who needs soft colors for everyday office/school wear as well as glam colors for clubbing!
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Masks -LUSH - Mask of Magnaminty
loriorio 11/29/2012 7:47:00 AM
I made a trip to Lush to replenish supplies and came home with a sample of this stuff. The tiny sample jar had enough product for multiple uses and I loved it so much that I went back for more. Initially, working this product into my skin is just fun. I love the green color and it immediately cools my face. The smell is fresh and minty, invigorating. I can actually feel my pores tightening as this dries. I usually wait the full 15 minutes and it washes off cleanly, leaving my skin smooth and refreshed. Sometimes, before I wash, I like to look at my face closely in the mirror and I can actually see where this product has drawn the dirt and oil out of my pores (most noticeably on my nose where the blackheads dwell). It's amazing. This product visibly shrinks my pores, helps get rid of blackheads and prevents their return. The little Aduki Bean bits lend an little bit of an extra scrubbing factor but it's not at all abrasive. I usually use this every other week or more often when I need a pick-me-up or if my skin needs a little extra TLC. I'll use it in place of my toner : cleanse, mask, moisturize. This mask is love and I always look forward to using it!
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Cleansers -LUSH - Angels on Bare Skin
loriorio 11/29/2012 7:30:00 AM
I tried Angels on Bare Skin over the summer. I usually use Dark Angels and when I went to Lush for more, I talked to a clerk about my recent sunburn and she suggested to give this a try since it's more of a mild cleanser and should soothe my very sad skin. I wasn't expecting much from this but it really worked! It actually soothed my skin and it's creamy consistency did nothing to irritate it. It was also gentle enough for me to use everyday for a speedy recovery. I haven't added this one to my regular routine though. Dark Angels just offers a lot more for me in that respect. But for summer time sunburns, I'll be buying this again since it's more ideal for sensitive skin.
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Moisturizers -LUSH - Enzymion
loriorio 11/29/2012 7:18:00 AM
Like with most of the Lush products I buy, this one seems pricey but lasts a really long time. I use this moisturizer after using cleanser and toner. I like how lightweight it is and it doesn't leave me feeling greasy (like other moisturizers have). Since I have combination skin, it's hard finding a product that keeps oil at bay while keeping dry skin smooth and supple. This is that product for me! I do love the smell too - it's quite refreshing. Another interesting point is that the natural ingredients in this product kill the acne-causing bacteria in the skin. Since using this, my skin has become less prone to break-outs and oil slicks. My skin is also a lot smoother and softer! This has become a permanent addition to my skincare regimen and I love it!
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Toners -LUSH - Tea Tree Water
loriorio 11/29/2012 7:01:00 AM
I just started getting into skincare products over this past year and one of my discoveries was this toner. I was hesitant because the toners I've tried before did nothing short of dry my skin out and I didn't even realize what the function of toner actually was. After making a trip to Lush to get more of my cleanser, I talked to someone about this toner and she let me try it in the store and I came home with a bottle. It seems a bit on the pricey side, but this bottle is going to last for months to come. The scent is a bit minty and leaves my skin feeling cool and fresh. It really helps make my pores visibly smaller without alcohol, and keeps my face matte. I love that I can even spritz it over my makeup for a smear-free refreshment. Love, love, love. I've made it part of my regular routine, using it after I cleanse and follow it with a moisturizer.
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Cleansers -LUSH - Dark Angels
loriorio 11/29/2012 6:48:00 AM
I use this cleanser on a regular basis and it actually was my first Lush purchase. I've struggled with my skin since hitting puberty and nothing ever really worked for me. A friend took me to Lush to buy soaps and, after chatting with a clerk about my skin, I walked out with this cleanser to try. After one use, I saw and felt immediate results. My skin was smooth and clean and super soft to the touch. For the first week of using this, I did break out a bit since this product actually draws dirt and oil from deep in the pores to the surface. I kept using it though and the break outs desisted over time and now my pores are visibly smaller! Some other reviews have commented on how abrasive this is but if you have sensitive skin, just use a gentle hand. More people complain about it being messy. I usually use it in the shower to avoid cleanup but if I use it in the sink, I just make sure to be careful not to splash about everywhere. I've never had a problem with this leaving a residue on my face but I do sometimes get little black sugar grains under my nails. The Lush product deets suggest to use this once a week and I don't use it more often than that unless I'm going out with thick, heavy makeup and need to wash it off. For me, Dark Angels keeps oil slicks at bay, exfoliates, refines pores, and clears my skin of blemishes. This cleanser = love. It has become part of my regular routine and I couldn't live without it.
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Makeup Brushes -Tokidoki - Pittura brush set
loriorio 11/29/2012 6:26:00 AM
I had been eyeballing this brush set for such a long time and when they went on sale (it seems that Sephora is phasing out everything tokidoki), I pounced! The brushes are SUPER adorable with signature tokidoki characters - Mozzerella (eye shadow brush with blue tipped bristles), Donutella (angled eyeliner brush with pink), and Ciao Ciao (crease brush tipped grey)! I've seen reviews that talk about how the weight each character head lends makes application awkward and I just have to say, I think that actually helps me concentrate more on what I'm doing. Since I'm focusing more, I'm less likely to mess up my makeup. The character heads do make it impossible to use Brush Guards if you have those (I only use Brush Guards for travel or the drying process though). One of my worries was potential staining and ruining the cute colored tips but the synthetic bristles wash easily with mild soap and water. These are high-end brushes quite comparable to other more expensive high-end brushes. They're all really soft and pick up product effortlessly. Love!
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Eye Shadow -Smashbox - Eye Shadow Quad in Modella-Tokidoki LE
loriorio 11/29/2012 5:57:00 AM
Before I bought this palette, I'd read a lot of reviews. I went into this purchase understanding that these weren't highly pigmented shadows and expected to get sheer, subtle results. As such, I find this palette is perfect for just that - subtlety. I don't wear makeup to school often, but when I do, I use this. I usually use the matte brown on my creases and the peach color for lids. In the spring or summer time I used the baby blue and green tinge white for a fun look. The actual shadow is really silky feeling and, since I use a primer, the soft colors last a long time. It's small enough to take with me anywhere for touch-ups if need be. The compact itself is absolute love! When I'm all done with these shadows, I do plan on continuing to use this by filling it with creme eye shadows. In my opinion, worth the $10 I spent. I wouldn't repurchase for the shadows (there are others I like more) but would for the compact if mine was broken or lost.
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Eyeliner -Tarte - emphasEYES Inner Rim Eyeliner
loriorio 10/20/2012 2:29:00 AM
I use the Tarte EmphasEYES Inner Rim Brightener. It's a nude liner that I use on my waterline. I have small Asian eyes that look even smaller behind my coke-bottle glasses so I'd been looking for a long lasting white liner for the waterline. I was tired of reading reviews so I just went to a retailer and asked what the clerks would recommend. They took me to this product to test it out. What I loved instantly is how creamy this is, allowing it to glide on almost effortlessly and the nude color is more natural-looking than using white liner. I decided to buy it and went about my day. To my surprise, when I returned home hours later, my eyes still looked fresh and big. I was only going to use this when I wear my glasses but I love it so much that I wear it when I wear my contacts too. At first, I was worried that applying it to my waterline while wearing my contacts would be a bad idea. It stays in place and doesn't bleed or flake into my eye so I'm really pleased. Will definitely buy this product again.
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