Lips -NYX - Soft Matte Lip Cream in Monte Carlo 
loverlover1328 11/27/2012 11:50:00 PM
On me (yellow toned Asian NC30) this is a blue toned cherry red, kinda dark, so looks sorta wintery. I also have Stockholm which I think would suit cooler toned girls better. Overall I absolutely love this product and am going to start a bit of a collection :) The smell is divine, like cupcake icing, and the doefoot applicator is so easy to use! I never thought it'd be easier than a lip brush but it actually is. I think I'm going to get a doefoot applicator for my OCC lip tars. The matte finish makes my lips look huge, much bigger than a shiny lipstick, and it makes the colour infinitely more wearable. I think I'm going to get Amsterdam as well, as that one is a little brighter, for summer.
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Lips -NYX - Soft Matte Lip Cream in Stockholm
loverlover1328 11/27/2012 11:44:00 PM
Absolutely love this product - bought Stockholm and Monte Carlo and am planning to collect a few more. What I love the most about it is the scent - it is this delicious sort of cupcake icing smell, I can't stop smelling the bottle! The packaging is also awesome - sturdy lip gloss style, small enough to fit into any handbag. Stockholm is a pinky peach nude, not the most flattering on me but I am giving it a high rating because it is such a fantastic product. I get a good 5 hours wear out of it, and it doesn't dry my lips out at all. The doefoot applicator is a really easy way to apply the product - I actually find it easier than a lip brush, and I get real precision. It dries down in a few minutes and you can reapply if you want it really opaque! Overall, I am definitely purchasing more shades in this product and think that Stockholm may suit cooler toned girls. p.s. I think some of the high end companies are releasing matte lip creams so get on this!
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Blush -Illamasqua - Cream - Rude
loverlover1328 10/13/2012 1:43:00 AM
This colour is so gorgeous - peach pink - super natural for summer, and the formula is lovely. It is creamy, not sticky, and blends beautifully. Highly pigmented so you only need to touch once with your finger and that is enough for a whole cheek. I can see this one pan will last me forever. I think it cost about AU$30 but I can't recall. Illamasqua recently dropped their prices and I really support their Fight for Fair campaign against Aust prices. I have put 2 lippies for price due to how little you need. I am able to build this - layer upon layer - but be careful you don't overapply first go, because if you try and remove it, you may end up removing fdtn underneath. Having said that, this looks gorgeous and natural over my liquid/creme fdtns. I don't use this over powder fdtn. The colour looks more natural on the skin than it does in the pan, like a healthy flush. When you first apply it, it looks crazy but blended out it is incredible. It works well for my yellow toned skin. It is pretty much a cream version of my powder blush Dior peach veil. Nothing wrong with the packaging, standard plastic flip up lid. Very sturdy, clicks shut properly and stays shut. If you aren't sure about cream blushes, give this one a try and you won't be disappointed! More about me: Asian normal skin - tending towards combination in summer Was acne-prone for years Foundation preference is to look as yellow as possible, absolutely nil pink MAC NC-30, Shiseido O60, BeneFit Champagne, Bobbi Brown #4, MUFE Sand/Desert Sunscreen everyday - alternating between Sofina and Invisible Zinc
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Brows -Sigma - Beauty Expert - Brow Design Kit
loverlover1328 10/13/2012 1:35:00 AM
Cardboard box packaging, which is smallish and functional. Environmentally friendly? Houses the product as well as the tools which is handy. I have put this as a 'No' for repurch because I think it is impractical. How many of us, apart from perhaps Katy Perry or a chameleon would need 5 different colours of brow powder?! Don't get me wrong, I've been blonde, I've been black. But really, that isn't common. Sigma, how about you make a 'light' and 'dark' brow palette, with 3 shades in each and drop the price? $69 for a brow product is ridiculous! I understand that you've added tools and stencils. But c'mon. More about me: Asian normal skin - tending towards combination in summer Was acne-prone for years Foundation preference is to look as yellow as possible, absolutely nil pink MAC NC-30, Shiseido O60, BeneFit Champagne, Bobbi Brown #4, MUFE Sand/Desert Sunscreen everyday - alternating between Sofina and Invisible Zinc
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Sigma - F05 Small Contour (was SS109)
loverlover1328 10/13/2012 1:26:00 AM
$14 from Sigma, cheap but not cheapest. Can't say I've had any issues with shedding but if I do I will edit this review! Haven't washed it either, but as I use this for powder products I don't see myself washing this any time soon. I hope that will avoid the 'bleeding black' issue some people have had. I am a huge Sigma fan and a fan of this brush. I don't contour often but when I do, I use this brush. I have a small face, and try to contour in small amounts and try to be quite controlled with it. The size of this brush head makes that possible, because it is small (duh). Before buying this brush, I considered using the F40 Large Angled Contour, which I know a lot of MUAs like for contouring. I chose the F05 because it is smaller, and also because it is dense, which makes application more controlled. The other reason is because it is a round brush i.e. the ferrule is rounded, not flattened at all. I like this because it means when I'm blending, I can blend in circles if required. That is not to say I contour in circles, but it does mean blending is a bit easier because you are not limited to back & forth motions! If I was to contour liberally, like I use my bronzer, then I would consider the F40. Or if you are a bit taller than I am (short asian). I'm sure there are plenty of cheaper options out there, so I put price as 2 lippies. Overall, happy I invested in this, and get a lot of use out of it. More about me: Asian normal skin - tending towards combination in summer Was acne-prone for years Foundation preference is to look as yellow as possible, absolutely nil pink MAC NC-30, Shiseido O60, BeneFit Champagne, Bobbi Brown #4, MUFE Sand/Desert Sunscreen everyday - alternating between Sofina and Invisible Zinc
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Makeup Brushes -Sigma - F88 Flat Angled Kabuki
loverlover1328 10/13/2012 1:17:00 AM
$16 on the Sigma site - I put that as a 2 lippie because there are cheaper brushes out there but compared to MAC or Bobbi Brown or NARS brushes, $16 is nothing. I am a huge fan of Sigma's Sigmax brushes, in fact, they are the only ones I use for fdtn regularly. I also own the original Prescriptives paddle brush (which has lasted me literally for 12 yrs) and am waiting on my Real Techniques order. Firstly, the entire Sigmax range is fantastic. I have the F80 and the F82, and they have lasted me about 3-4 yrs and still going strong. The hairs are synthetic which is perfect for fdtn as the bristles do not soak up fdtn. This makes them easier to clean, and you don't waste product. The bristles stay soft and easily reshaped after cleaning. The handle is heavy and easy to hold. The shine has slightly come off mine but the name of the brush is still on. The handle is the right length so that it is easy to store. Now on to the F88 specifically. Because it is flat, you can stipple with it. Because it is angled, you can swipe/blend with it. The sharp angle makes it easy to get product under the eyes and around the nose, you can blend out under eye concealer easily. It doesn't buff as well as the F80 due to the angle. But it is more comfortable to hold than the F80 due to the angle, so you can sorta hold it like a pen, and your wrist will be at a comfortable angle. The F80 is probably still my 1st favourite, and I reach for that most often. But this one is my 2nd fave and a really great brush for a cheap price which will last ages. More about me: Asian normal skin - tending towards combination in summer Was acne-prone for years Foundation preference is to look as yellow as possible, absolutely nil pink MAC NC-30, Shiseido O60, BeneFit Champagne, Bobbi Brown #4, MUFE Sand/Desert Sunscreen everyday - alternating between Sofina and Invisible Zinc
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -NYX - lipgloss with mega shine
loverlover1328 10/13/2012 1:01:00 AM
Gorgeous product - I got this in Natural, which is a nude gloss without shimmer. I have given it a 3 for packaging due to the applicator. The actual tube itself is fine but the doe foot is way too big! It is about twice the size of a normal gloss doe foot which means I have trouble controlling how much I put on my lips, particularly because I just bought this so it is full to the brim. I could scrape it on the sides and then just gently dab it on my lips, but it is still too big. And also bent, which I find awkward. Other than that, this is a lovely colour, great for warming up bright lippies, and lovely for plain old nude glossed lips as well. This is something which you will always reach for, and will never go out of fashion. Very glossy, without looking shimmery and silly. Slightly sticky as a lot of glosses are, and reasonably opaque, so don't overapply or it will look thick. Smells sorta like cherry medicine. Super cheap, only $7 from Crush Cosmetics and you get a lot of product - bigger tube than most glosses! More about me: Asian normal skin - tending towards combination in summer Was acne-prone for years Foundation preference is to look as yellow as possible, absolutely nil pink MAC NC-30, Shiseido O60, BeneFit Champagne, Bobbi Brown #4, MUFE Sand/Desert Sunscreen everyday - alternating between Sofina and Invisible Zinc
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Sleek - Contour Kit
loverlover1328 10/13/2012 12:52:00 AM
Bought this from Crush Cosmetics for $15 - and just love it. The contour powder is matte and the highlighter is shimmery of course.. Both are lovely and pigmented and easy to blend. I have the medium colour and it is perfect - not too dark and certainly not muddy. Its a warmish brown, but looks great against my yellow toned skin (not too terracotta). The highlighter is goldy pink and pigmented so I only need to do a little sweep to look glowy! Its definitely more pigmented than my Physicians Formula pearls, and does not have glitter particles which I am happy about, just a glow. I tend to use the most miniscule amount, due to the pigment, and build up. I use the Sigma small contour brush. If you are looking for a contour kit (powder) then this is a cheap, affordable option which works well. More about me: Asian normal skin - tending towards combination in summer Was acne-prone for years Foundation preference is to look as yellow as possible, absolutely nil pink MAC NC-30, Shiseido O60, BeneFit Champagne, Bobbi Brown #4, MUFE Sand/Desert Sunscreen everyday - alternating between Sofina and Invisible Zinc
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Lipstick -Wet 'n' Wild - Mega Last Lipstick
loverlover1328 10/13/2012 12:39:00 AM
Got this in Sugar Plum Fairy (MAC Rebel dupe) from Crush Cosmetics for $7 and automatically wished I'd bought a backup. I won't add anything about the formula or the packaging (please read my other review). This shade is so gorgeous - plummy fuschia. Seriously stunning! I put it on as soon as the package arrived and immediately fell in love with myself. You know how lipstick has that effect! It is perfect as an evening colour, but strangely, I find it more appropriate as a day colour than the lighter WnW shades, because it doesn't require a lipliner like those do. If you love Rebel, get this as a backup because it is almost exactly the same (slightly brighter, slight + fuschia). If you can't already tell, I'll be adding another one of these to my next Crush order! Def repurch! More about me: Asian normal skin - tending towards combination in summer Was acne-prone for years Foundation preference is to look as yellow as possible, absolutely nil pink MAC NC-30, Shiseido O60, BeneFit Champagne, Bobbi Brown #4, MUFE Sand/Desert Sunscreen everyday - alternating between Sofina and Invisible Zinc
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Bronzers -New York Color - Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny 720
loverlover1328 10/13/2012 12:34:00 AM
Bought this as a result of a billion good reviews. I also own Hoola, the YSL Africa one, glo minerals, and a few others. This one is by far the sheerest. Its a matte which is a must for me (the YSL is slightly sheen-ish) and very subtle. So fantastic if you're light skinned and need a bronzer which is sorta fool proof. It works like a dark powder, without being powdery. I have medium skin so its very sheer, which is good for applying all over the face to warm up a fdtn which is too light. I wouldn't use this for contouring or for real bronzing, but for a foolproof all over application its great. Got it from Crush Cosmetics, for $5 I think! Dirt cheap! More about me: Asian normal skin - tending towards combination in summer Was acne-prone for years Foundation preference is to look as yellow as possible, absolutely nil pink MAC NC-30, Shiseido O60, BeneFit Champagne, Bobbi Brown #4, MUFE Sand/Desert Sunscreen everyday - alternating between Sofina and Invisible Zinc
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Skindinavia - Makeup Finishing Spray
loverlover1328 10/2/2012 12:24:00 AM
Love love love this for so many reasons. If you are looking for a way to make your makeup last longer, this is it. I have primers but find myself not reaching for them as much as this. This is a must-have if you use powder products i.e. powder foundation, mineral foundation. It just melts all the products together and your powder makeup will then look like skin, but set that way. Even if I am not using a powder product, I use this to 'freeze' my face, and it will last that way all day! This will give me a good 15 hrs wear to my face, and that is with a non-long-wearing fdtn. It will also freeze eyeshadow really nicely! I have the bridal version, because it works just as well or better than the original version (without making your face feel like you've put hairspray all over it) and it was a lot cheaper. I got the large bottle for $30! I think the original is double that price. Plus if I do makeup for a bride, they will feel as though I'm using the appropriate product haha. Overall, if you are looking for a setting spray, this one works fantastically. I have not used any of the others on the market, but I know that this one and the MUFE one are the forerunners. More about me: Asian normal skin - tending towards combination in summer Was acne-prone for years Foundation preference is to look as yellow as possible, absolutely nil pink MAC NC-30, Shiseido O60, BeneFit Champagne, Bobbi Brown #4, MUFE Sand/Desert Sunscreen everyday - alternating between Sofina and Invisible Zinc
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Illamasqua - Rich Liquid foundation
loverlover1328 10/2/2012 12:19:00 AM
I have had no end of trouble trying to find my colour in this product, and that is why it is only getting a 3. The colours are absolutely fantastic for paler shades, and there are tonnes of reviews from paler girls on here who love it for that reason! For me though, I'm an NC30-35 and there isn't a shade which is perfect. I've looked at heaps of swatches, and also tried to shade match in-store. I've considered using a darker shade to darken my BB creams though, and for that I think it'll be perfect. I know a lot of members do the same with the white shade in the RF, to lighten darker fdtns. It will also give more coverage to the mixing product. I have the RF233 and it is just a tad too apricot for me, it isn't yellow/brown enough and just too apricot. The next yellow shade down is too pale. I've given it 2 for price, because it is about the same price as most fdtns but you use a tiny tiny bit. So it is better value overall. As for packaging, I think the packaging is perfect for the product that it is. Its too thick for a pump and would be disgustingly unhygenic in a tub! The container itself has a small narrow nozzle so you squeeze out just as much as you want. Now onto the texture :) A lot of bloggers have described it as thick, weird, etc I liken it to Promite, if you eat that product, or the MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner. It is thick and sticky and sticks to itself. Can be quite stubborn and hard to blend (the opposite of creamy) - it sorta wants to stay where it is! I have heard ppl say its buildable - I find that if you layer over an existing layer, it doesn't look that great. I apply it so it looks natural for daytime, with a damp beauty blender. It looks fine, not cakey, and on my combo skin it looks natural and lasts all day, even without primer or setting spray. There is a small amount of cracking on the oilier areas but that could easily be fixed with primer/setting spray. I don't powder it because I like a natural finish. I don't think it needs it either because the finish is a soft natural matte, and doesn't feel oily when I touch my face at the end of the day! Powder blush works great with it, but cream blush sorta takes the fdtn away a bit, have to use a very light hand. Overall, as much as I like this, I can't buy it again because of the colour issue. *EDIT I may buy this in the lighter colour as a contour shade. More about me: Asian normal skin - tending towards combination in summer Was acne-prone for years Foundation preference is to look as yellow as possible, absolutely nil pink MAC NC-30, Shiseido O60, BeneFit Champagne, Bobbi Brown #4, MUFE Sand/Desert Sunscreen everyday - alternating between Sofina and Invisible Zinc
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -Ishizawa Labs - Nanoce BB Moist Cream
loverlover1328 9/30/2012 4:12:00 AM
This was my go-to BB cream for about a year - I then bought the same product in the Sorbet version but this is better. Sorbet is an airbrush spray style, which is a bit messy and sorta scares me when I do it. This is a creme, you squeeze it out of the tube. For me it is a winter colour (I'm about NC25-30-35) and has a nice warm yellow tone which is perfect for my asian skin. No grey cast and you don't have to wait for oxidisation like with most pale BB creams. This won't really oxidise anyway. I have tried many BB creams, all of them from asia (except for the Garnier oil-free which I bought today) and I bought this because its a slightly darker tone and also a yellow base. The tube lasted me about 8 mths. The coverage is full but you can sheer it out. This works perfectly mixed with either moisturiser or sunscreen (I mix it with Invisible Zinc) for sheerer coverage, and the SPF level isn't specified. If you are looking for a good coverage BB cream, this is it! Less is more as a little goes a long way. It naturally has a satin matte finish, but when mixed with other products that changes. What I like best about it is that it doesn't emphasise pores, it covers them. I also get a long day out of it, and it doesn't turn into an oil slick! All in all, definitely a repurchase, I aim to have some of this on hand every winter. p.s. this is a bit more pricey than other BB creams, perhaps cheaper in Japan but i bought this in HK and it wasn't that cheap. More about me: Asian normal skin - tending towards combination in summer Was acne-prone for years Foundation preference is to look as yellow as possible, absolutely nil pink MAC NC-30, Shiseido O60, BeneFit Champagne, Bobbi Brown #4, MUFE Sand/Desert Sunscreen everyday - alternating between Sofina and Invisible Zinc
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Physicians Formula - Gentle Cover Concealer Stick (Yellow)
loverlover1328 9/29/2012 4:20:00 AM
*EDIT Bit of experimenting and I am now in love with this and it is a repurch. For blemishes, this is fantastic, neutralises the red, and the stick formula means it sticks to blemishes better than a liquid formula. For under eyes, it is best applied OVER fdtn but before any powder, because the fdtn creates a base. On skin alone, it will drag undereye skin. I will still go and get the Twins, because the liquid formula is great under eye. * I had a hard time choosing between the PF concealer twins (in yellow and light) over this but chose this because I just wanted a yellow corrector. In hindsight I probably should have bought the PF twins. This is creamy but not as creamy as a liquid concealer or some jar concealers (like NYX). It will drag under the eyes slightly so you can apply to ring finger and pat, or you can dot underneath and then pat. However, I have found it sorta grabs on the skin so you need to blend it really well. If it were creamier this would be easier! So a bit of work is required. 3 for packaging because it looks like a lipstick but the barrel is taller than the packaging tube. This means you have to be careful taking the lid off so you don't chip the barrel on the side of the lid tube. Grr. Overall, for AU$15 this is a pricey corrector which doesn't work perfectly. I'm going back to get the twins because in store that product is a thick liquid formula and really creamy and pigmented. The twins also has the light concealer on the other end so you can automatically cover up the yellow. This is handy if you don't already have a skin coloured concealer. I found that the PF light over the PF yellow looked ok, and neutral. But I wish they'd release a version of the yellow on its own! More about me: Asian normal skin - tending towards combination in summer Was acne-prone for years Foundation preference is to look as yellow as possible, absolutely nil pink MAC NC-30, Shiseido O60, BeneFit Champagne, Bobbi Brown #4, MUFE Sand/Desert Sunscreen everyday - alternating between Sofina and Invisible Zinc
1 out of 1 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)
loverlover1328 9/28/2012 11:45:00 PM
I have given this product a 4 for packaging because I actually like (not love) the bottle with the talcum powder style tap out lid. Alot of members dislike this because of wastage but what I do is tap some out on a tissue and apply with a brush. I find that there is little left on the tissue at the end so I don't think I've wasted much. Plus for the price, wastage isn't an issue - 1 lippie for price! Its a 4 not a 5 for packaging because for loose powder I do like the Smashbox 'grater' system, which they use for their halo powder (in the yellow it is a very similar product to the banana powder but for double the price). This is really cheap and if you find it BUY IT because worldwide stocks are low - due to everyone knowing that Kim Kardashian's MUA uses this on her. I am super scared that Ben Nye will raise their prices so have bought a big jar. As a setting/finishing powder, I love this. I don't want to ever use another one and the reason is I have yellow toned Asian skin and for me, even a translucent powder will give me a white cast - this doesn't. It is absolutely gorgeous, doesn't look powdery, doesn't sit on the skin. Looks amazing even before setting spray! I can set foundation and concealer with this without an issue, it looks fine under the eyes. A little goes a long way with this - so very well worth the money! I think I paid $15 for the bigger jar from Limelight. Some ppl have said this neutralises red in their face. I personally don't think the yellow in it is strong enough for all that, but it is better than translucent. If you are yellow toned like me, you will really love this. More about me: Asian normal skin - tending towards combination in summer Was acne-prone for years Foundation preference is to look as yellow as possible, absolutely nil pink MAC NC-30, Shiseido O60, BeneFit Champagne, Bobbi Brown #4, MUFE Sand/Desert Sunscreen everyday - alternating between Sofina and Invisible Zinc
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No