Powder -Jane Iredale - Amazing Base Loose Finishing Powder
m3dinah 11/16/2005 3:22:00 PM
Ok, so I was a 'committed' Bare-Escentuals (medium-beige 2.3) nut for the past 3 months, but hearing all the glowing reviews about how good this was in comparison, I couldn't resist trying the Jane Iredale for something even better. I'm sorry to say, I didn't have the same results as some of the other reviewers. I found it to be less pigmented, and with less staying power, and more "chalky" than the BE. Upon first putting it on, it looked spectacular, like I had nothing on, but about an hour later it had migrated to all the wrong parts of my face and completely faded off of others. I think my particular skin type just lends itself better to the slightly different formulation of the BE (less TO? more pigment?). I've got a whole smorgasboard of skin issues: flakes, acne, oil, dryness...all on one face. This just didn't cover it without me having to use a LOT of product and frequent touch ups. One great thing about this product is that, being inert, it can be mixed with anything (a BHA acne gel, moisturizer, cortizone creme, sunscreen, water...) to form a pigmented paste that also works as a treatment for your "issue of choice". For that, it was fantastic. Haven't tried the same with the BE but I think it would work just as well. I'll be keeping this in the back of my MU drawer and will likely try it again sometime, but as soon as I went back to BE my friend remarked that my skin looked amazing and what had I used!
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Eyeliner -Trish McEvoy - Definer in Rich Brown
m3dinah 11/8/2005 12:50:00 PM
I'm torn on this definer. I LOVELOVELOVE the definer in Deep Aubergine, and get a perfect defined line when I wet the push-brush and mix it with the definer to form a paste. With this color, however, I just cannot get the product to mix with water, and it ends up just floating on the surface with the water subsequently running into my eyes and the shadow dust sprinkling all over my cheeks :(. The color, however, is perfect for lining my brown eyes for a natural look with Soft Peach as a base, and either Cashmere or Tawney in the crease (and a dot of Peach, a shimmer, on the lids). For the time being, I've resorted to using the Deep aubergine as a wet-liner, and going over it with Rich Brown to smudge and determine color. Maybe i just got a bad one?
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Eye Shadow -Trish McEvoy - Raisin
m3dinah 11/8/2005 12:44:00 PM
Great color that's really hard to describe. It's a shimmery-plummy-grey-brown that is quite intense. When the MA applied it to just above my crease (with a neutral base and Deep Aubergine definer as a liner), I loved it. Then when I got home and I tried to duplicate it I was shocked at how dark/intense it applied. A little practice and now it's perfect, and I often use it to "smudge" the Augergine definer and give a wonderful soft smokey look. I'm a PPP with brown/hazel eyes and blonde hair. Staying power is fantastic!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Trish McEvoy - Eyeshadow in Sugar Plum
m3dinah 11/8/2005 12:40:00 PM
A nice neutral plummy color that's perfect for the crease without being too intense. I pair it with Deep Aubergine Definer and Soft Peach as the base, with a stroke of Haze to intensify the color. A winner for me with PPP skin brown/hazel eyes and blonde hair.
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Powder -Bare Escentuals - BareMinerals foundation #2.3 Medium Beige
m3dinah 10/31/2005 1:58:00 PM
I've tossed all my liquid foundations, including La Prairie Skin Caviar foundation, for this. It's THAT good. I've tried Jane Iredale Amazing Base (loose) and find Bare Escentuals to work much better for me. Details: It leaves my combination/flaky/breakout-prone/sensitive looking smooth, glowey, semi-matte and flawless. The first words out of my mother's mouth when she saw me wearing it was that I looked healthy, clear, and younger. Getting this product right is all in the technique. Your skin MUST be properly prepped for this to work, which is not as much of a PITA as you might think. A simple fluid moisturizer base is all you need. BUT, if you apply a serum, say, Skinceuticals C-ferulic serum, it will create a tacky surface that causes the BE powder to clump in a very unflattering way. I have seen comments alluding to "pore magnification" and I've had this happen a few times as well, and every time I can attribute it to improper application techniques. The PROPER way to do it is to tap a tiny amt into the lid, really swirl the brush in a LOT, tap a little, then LIGHTLY buff over the whole face. Then go back and buff more, adding a little more product where needed. You can also take a mini fdn brush and apply over blemishes. There isn't a shine if done this way....just a slight radiance that is very similar to naked skin. Mineral Veil helps mattify and set it a bit and I need almost no touch ups during the day (and I'm a chronic toucher-upper!) Having seen it work for me once I learned how to use it, I can truly say it is an amazing product, you just have to use it properly. It really looks like I have no MU on at all, just clear, flawless skin. Note: If you get hot, it will itch/sting a little, but I have had NO adverse side effects other than the "feeling". The SPF 15 is also a huge bonus!
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Powder -La Prairie - Cellular Treatment Foundation Powder
m3dinah 1/2/2004 2:08:00 PM
Excellent, and I mean EXCELLENT. I have tried Chantecaille PF, Armani, LM, and numerous others. This is by far the best - best coverage, best staying power, least cakey looking. Simply superb, you cannot go wrong! Edited to add: I use Beige Diore in this (Sand Beige and Creme Blush in the Skin Caviar creme fdn) and the color match is perfect whether I have winter-pale skin or a little color.
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Liquid -La Prairie - Skin Caviar Concealer Foundation SPF15
m3dinah 1/2/2004 2:05:00 PM
HG! Hands down, the best I have ever used. Heard raves and tried it while on a trip to Fla the night of a date, and it made me look like I have flawless skin. I have oily, sensitive, acne-prone skin, and am on Tazorac (major peeling). This does NOT highlight flakes, does NOT make me break out, does NOT settle into fine lines, DOES offer superb (and I do mean excellent) coverage without looking maskey. It lasts all day (the best of all I have tried, including MSF, LSF, KA SSE, LM oil-free, etc)and people comment on my "glow". I can't rave enough about this. I do believe I *may* have to switch to something lighter in the summer (Kanebo liquid?), but so far it is excellent!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -Giorgio Armani - micro fil loose powder
m3dinah 10/13/2003 10:55:00 AM
It doesn't get any better than this! I previously used the LM loose powder in Translucent, and decided to try this - the SA at Saks recommended #1 (I am an MSF #5.5). I *LOVE* this! The finish is pure perfection, and the foundation seems to last much longe
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Concealers -Kevyn Aucoin - The Sensual Skin Enhancer 
m3dinah 10/5/2003 12:05:00 PM
I've been using this product for several months now, I have both X06 (undereye) and X08 (blemishes, when "tanned"). As an undereye concealer, *with* the appropriate moisturizer underneath, this is unbeatable. I'll use the YSL Touche Eclat over that and the area looks amazing. As an overall foundation, however, I've been struggling with it a bit. When I first put it on, it seems perfect, but I have combo oily/flakey/acne-prone skin, and if you have even one flake, this will stick to it, pull it up, and wave it around for all the world to see. Moisturizing first is a *must*. As for the application, I dab the teensiest bit on with my finger, then distribute with a damp fdn. brush. My skin looks flawless....at first. After a while, I get oil break-thru, and it settles into my pores. It isn't transfer-proof either. I had basically given up my GA MSF #5.5 for this, but after going back to it last week I wondered why. It seems as though the *texture* of your skin must be perfect for the SSE to work properly, and that is not my forte! I will continue to use this for touch ups. One thing I did do, is take my 2 colors and place a bit into a tiny empty BB lip palette, and I carry that with me with a small SK concealer brush for touch ups.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Trish McEvoy - Definer
m3dinah 7/15/2003 2:48:00 PM
I have this in deep brown, aubergine, charcoal, and lava (shimmery black/green/gold). I love these for the versatility and intense pigment. Can do a thin defined line (wet) or a softer smudgier look. They last forever and, as much as I love Giorgio Armani e/s, these are better for lining.
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Eye Shadow -Giorgio Armani - Eye Shadow #39
m3dinah 7/8/2003 10:33:00 AM
Ok, I officially love this color! It's so unique, a greenish-khaki that perfectly compliments some of my clothing. I use it in the crease and jazz things up a bit with the #5 (deep plum) for a liner. So lucky for me, I received this in a swap!
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Bronzers -MAC - Bronzer in Golden
m3dinah 3/18/2003 10:24:00 AM
I *love* this! This is the perfect, subtle, golden glow I've been looking for - somewhat like NARS Mult. in South Beach but in a powder and without the shimmer. Perfect for my warm/LLL complextion (blonde, greenish-brown eyes). There is no red in this at all, so it doesn't give that dirty look you get when putting bronzer around your temples, etc. A+
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Giorgio Armani - Eye Shadow #7
m3dinah 3/18/2003 9:43:00 AM
Awesome, perfect subtle suede-brown shadow as a wash or for the crease for a natural look. I wear it with #37 (peachy shimmer). Love it.
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Eye Shadow -Stila - Bohemian Bronze Trio
m3dinah 3/18/2003 9:42:00 AM
These are great warm colors for me, but I just can't get past the high amount of shimmer - it's just way too much for me. The packaging really irks me also. Wish it were better packaged and more matte - then I'd be happy. Sigh.
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Blush -MAC - Pink Glow
m3dinah 2/20/2003 10:54:00 AM
A truly scary bright cool pink in the container, and a wonder fully delicate sheer neutral pink on my FFF (warm) skin! I nearly freaked out when I saw it in the pan, but I love it on me. It goes on very sheer (at least on me), lasts all day. I had stuck this in the back of my MU drawer and forgotten about it for about a year, then found it again, and am using it a lot. Goes great with a plummy eye.
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