Blush -Chanel - Joues Contraste in Espiegle
mica8999 1/5/2011 12:26:00 AM
I am NC30, warm with yellow undertones. I love JCs, and have 9 of them including this. Espiegle looks peach in the pan, but pulled peachy pink on me, leaning slightly more towards pink. It reminds me of NARS Deep Throat, and when I swatched them side by side, they definitely look more or less the same though Espiegle is lighter and and is slightly less intense than Deep Throat. Espiegle gives me the 'glow from within' look which is typical of JCs, but somehow it is not like the usual 'glow from DEEP within' effect like my other favourite JCs. The glow I got from Espiegle is the effect one gets when using blush with a really good finely milled highlighter, i.e: really nice, but kind of superficial slightly. Lasting power is at par with the other JCs which is pretty good. To sum things up: I do like it, but I'm not overwhelmed by it. I love my other JCs better, like Orchid Rose, Reflex and Candy.
13 out of 16 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Laura Mercier - Foundation Primer-Mineral
mica8999 12/7/2010 6:00:00 AM
I was really curious if this will work with LIQUID foundation. It is meant to be used with mineral powder foundation. All the other reviewers used it with mineral powder, and there I was thinking, "hey, it'll be cool if I can use this with both my mineral powder and liquid foundations, a 2 in 1 thing..". So I went to ask the LM sales assistant, and she wasn't sure herself. She did say that perhaps I could, but I have to put the primer and then apply liquid foundation quickly since the primer will dry to a matte velvety-like finish so as to provide a base for the mineral powder foundation. I got her to give me a sample, got home, and tried it under my various liquid foundations, and it worked great. I didn't really have to do my primer/foundation routine fast like the SA told me to, just went about it at my normal pace. Makeup stayed till the end of day/night (I have combi to dry skin by the way) no blotting, no blot powder touch ups required. I have tried the Laura Mercier Oil Free foundation primer btw, and found that it worked like any regular normal primer, not too mattifying at all, so it'll work great for normal to dry skin. LM foundation on the other hand will make me shiny after abt 4 hours. So that'll mean I can forget about trying their HYDRATING primer. In short, I'd say this is the best primer LM has to offer from their primers lineup. It is in between Smashbox Photo Finish Light and MAC Prep + Prime SPF 50 in terms of matte finish, and shine and oil control. Again, I have combi to dry skin.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Philip Kingsley - Elasticizer
mica8999 11/16/2010 2:33:00 AM
I got the 500ml tub which comes with a pump, which I love. No scooping required. Bought it last year due to the grear reviews here. At that time I had virgin, hair bit it tends to be frizzy, poofy and coarse. Tried this a couple of times, varying the amount of time I left it in, and was disappointed with the result. My hair felt kind of dry after that, had even MORE volume (totally unwanted result in my case) and didn't feel nor look healthier. If anything it was a few notches down than before. So I shelved it away. Fast forward to last month and I have now started colouring my hair (too many grays, sigh...) and my hair is now drier, and stiff feeling. Not yet straw-like, but getting there. Been using this a couple of times, and NOW it managed to give me nice, soft, silky, shiny hair! applied it to length and ends, covered my head with a shower cap and one of those microfibre turban wrap over it, and after an hour,shampoo and finish of with conditioner/mask. So, in my case this didn't work on my virgin, unprocessed hair, but worked great when I started tampering with my hair. On a side note, one of the main ingredients in the Elasticiser is castor seed oil. I have been putting pure food grade castor oil on my scalp nightly where I have 2 baldish spots on the left and right front part of my head. Not exactly baldish but I forever have fine, baby hair at those parts which refused to grow longer and due to it's fineness, I look baldish there. I put just a bit of castor oil with a cotton bud on those parts and after 3 weeks, those bald spots are gone! I have new, real hair growing there, though now I look like I have horns growing under my hair. Great right? (About the new hair part, not the horn looking part)
7 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyes -Make Up For Ever - EYE SEAL - Waterproof Liquid Converter
mica8999 11/14/2010 10:00:00 PM
I use this underneath my MAC Paint Pots or any cream eyeshadow for that matter and it'll make the colours last through 2-3 hours of tennis in hot, humid Malaysia. Lasted through an hour of boxing too. Btw, after putting my cream shadows through the 2 hours sweat test, this will be my findings (I always use an eye cream around my eye area, and no eye primers, and my lids are normal, not super greasy or super dry): 1. Shiseido Hydro Powders: Disappeared without a trace within 30 minutes, without streaking though. 2. Bobbi Brown Long Wear cream shadow: Lasted about an hour, and went all streaky. 3. Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadowliner: Lasted less than an hour, but didn't go all streaky like the Bobbi Brown one. 4. Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Shadow Creme: This one only lived up to the last half of its lengthy name. It stayed in place for around an hour before making a gradual exit, a bit like Benefit, but slightly more lasting. No 'double wear' here. 4. MAC Paint Pots: Stayed with me the whole duration, but in the end the intensity of the colour would have faded by maybe 50%. No streaking at all. But with MUFE Eye Seal underneath, I noticed that even the least performing Shiseido Hydro Powder managed to last the sweaty sessions. Not bad at all huh? :) Put the eye seal underneath the MAC Paint Pots, well, lose or win my game of tennis I still came out of it with marvelous looking eyeshadow colours. Though the rest of me did look like something even the cat refused to drag in.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -Laura Mercier - Crème Smooth Foundation
mica8999 11/13/2010 6:57:00 PM
I'm NC 30 in MAC, warm with yellow undertones. My best colour match is Sunny Beige. I have dry skin though I do get somewhat oily at the T-zone. I stay in the tropics, read hot and humid and I'm 41, read fine lines and some pigmentations. This foundation is great for the fine lines part, and also for the pigmentations part. BUT it is does make my tzone shiny after a while especially if it is really sunny, which in Malaysia, is normally the case like 90% of the time. Also the colour is somewhat dulling on me, since I'm very warm toned and Sunny Beige even though is the closest match leaves me with a kind of ashy beige hue which annoys me a lot. But since this foundation has too many plusses going for it, I fixed the shiny tzone and the colour problem by mixing it with Clarin Everlasting Foundation SPF15 in 108 which I already have. I like the Clarins but darkest we have here is 108 which is a touch too light for me and it does tend to be drying and my face feels a bit tight after a while. (though at 41 I should be happy with a 'tight' face right? :p) So mixing both gives me the best result. Makes the LM last way longer on the face too,since the Clarins will not budge until I use a paint scraper to get it off, and that attribute rubbed off to the LM some I think.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Bobbi Brown - Day to Night Warm Eye Palette
mica8999 11/7/2010 9:57:00 PM
This is a limited edition palette Fall 2010 collection (I think). It consists of : 3 matte eyeshadows :ivory, oat (neutral brown, a bit like UD Naked), Espresso(dark black brown) 2 metallic eyeshadows: Burnt sugar,Velvet Bronze 1 shimmer eyeshadow: Black Plum (uh..a blackish plum with shimmers? :P) I have Urban Decay super hyped Naked Palette which I am pretty disappointed with since I find the colours are too shimmery except for the very few matte ones. Shimmers are ok but the ones in UD Naked Palette have really annoying fall out and I would find glitters on my nose, cheeks, top of lips, and on lips (though that could be from my shimmery lipgloss, so I'm going to let UDNP off the hook on that one). I'm 41, and I don't really want to look like I'm wearing my kids' art project. Got the Bobbi Brown eye palette since I love neutrals and I am thoroughly happy with it. No fall out, subtle shimmers instead of glitters, very well pigmented, no chalky colours, blends easily, long lasting (I do use a base). It also comes with a perfectly usable double sided eyeshadow/eyeliner brush which is of a nice length (not one of those slightly longer than a toothpick, with bristles so splayed out and scratchy 'I can engrave my name on wood with it' useless ones that are usually included in palettes). Neutral lovers, check this one out! PS: And I'm not even really that big on Bobbi Brown stuff.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Chanel - Tentation Cuivree- Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow
mica8999 10/29/2010 7:53:00 AM
I'm NC 30, warm and yellow toned. This is part of the holiday 2010 collection. A off white cream colour which is great as a highlighter (not too shiny. I totally dislike too shiny highlighters); a shimmery neutral pink; a most gorgeous shimmery warm brown; and an equally gorgeous darker brown. I apply the lighter brown all over the eyelid and blend the pink on top of light brown. Then I use the dark brown as a crease and outer V colour. Be careful with the dark brown, it is super pigmented. I dabbed my crease brush in like I would with say, the Kaska Beige quad, applied it, and I was like "Whoa!!" Sooo pigmented, and I had to do some serious blending after that. Colour payoff for all 4 colours is superb. Lasting power is also very great (I use Nars eye primer). And when I looked in the mirror in night lighting, I saw that there are fine purple flecks in both browns which I deduced could have been from the pink colour (Not so sure. I failed my 'The Origins of Colour 101' class.) The effect is really very nice! Great for smokey eyes, more pigmented and smouldering than Kaska Beige. The shimmer in this quad, for me (at 41), is very palatable and not OTT. Totally recommend!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Christian Dior - DiorShow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum
mica8999 9/28/2010 11:37:00 PM
An extremely good mascara base. I've used those from Lancome, Shiseido, Shu Uemura and Chanel (didn't like the Shiseido mascara base btw), and been sticking to the Chanel one till I found THIS! It somehow manages to fatten up the lashes whilst making mascara application easier and less clumpy and separates the lashes well! Even on the second application! A magic wand indeed!!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -NARS - Sunset Strip
mica8999 8/18/2010 8:38:00 PM
Hands down my favourite lipgloss ever! I'm NC30, warm/yellow skin tones. Applies tangerine coloured initially but settles down in a few minutes to a warm, peach hue with a nice golden even sheen (not GLITTER). What a nice sexy looking golden sheen! It is not a yellow gold golden colour, more like a uhh..peach + beige + a bit of orangey coral all churned up with tiny tiny micro gold flecks as a base. (Geez, think I busted some nerves in my brain trying to come up with the description of the colour. Obviously I'm not really good at it :P) I got my first 2 tubes in Bangkok (they don't have Nars here in Malaysia..sooo sad), but ordered my third one from strawberrynet.com. It is cheaper at the website as opposed to getting them in Bangkok. (And no, I'm not working for or affiliated with strawberrynet. I'm just one of their rabid loyal customer)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Chanel - Rouge Allure Laque - Dynastie 74
mica8999 8/17/2010 1:56:00 AM
I'm NC30, warm with strong yellow skin tones. It was only recently that I actually got around to trying the Roque Laques, because I thought they were going to be super sticky and super intense and I would go around feeling that there would be this SOMETHING on my lips and that something being so creamy looking will go everywhere, like on my teeth. And it would be there when I smile and until someone is kind enough to tell me or till the next time I check myself in the mirror, I would go strutting around thinking I look bloody pretty, when in actual fact I look like I have bloody gums. I was wrong. the Laques are intense but not to the extent that one has to don sunglasses when looking at me. They are not drying at all, very opaque, very smooth on the lips and do not bleed. I got Dynastie which is a warm rose on me. I also got Mandarin which is an yellow based red. Tried Santal but that one pulled pink on me even though it is beigey peach in the tube. Chanel should come out with more colours. Please?
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Blush -MAC - Harmony
mica8999 8/17/2010 1:40:00 AM
NC 30, Warm/yellow tones. Was recommended to me by one of the MA at MAC when I asked for a contour colour. I was using Sincere, but it wasn't dark enough for me. Well, I have to be kind of lighthanded and thouroughly blend it in when I use it for contouring purposes, if not I can see it right there smack on my face (of course it is on my face, haven't gotten around to try to do some contouring work with a blush on my arms yet so as to have an illusion of nice, firm, toned arms). But as a blush, it gives a sharp, defined, contoured look, especially when I use a slanted blush brush and just sweep up straight across the cheekbones. A nice, natural, polished and sculpted look, no additional sculpting colour required. I do use a highligher though (MAC Trace Gold or Dior shimmer powder) since it is a matte finish and I'm 41 (so can't really depend on my natural youthful glow). This one I classify it as one of my neutrals. It does look somewhat boring and muddy and uninspiring in the pan though, but give it a try all the same.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Chanel - Sublime de Chanel Mascara Waterproof
mica8999 8/14/2010 10:41:00 AM
Note: I earlier posted this under Chanel Exceptionnel, and it was only just now realized that what I am actually reviewing is the Sublime Chanel Waterproof ( I have it in no 10: Black). Think this was just launched a few months back. Am not sure if you have it elsewhere, since it is not in the Chanel website. I got it in Malaysia. Ok, here we go again, after making the necessary changes. Sorry for the silly mistake. For a while there I lost uhh..focus :P I am using the waterproof one. I am a die hard fan of the Chanel Inimitable Waterproof mascara, which I've been using daily since it would get me through tennis, or gym and sometimes both in the same day without smudging or flaking; it would still be going on strong at the end of it all. (Though the same can't be said for the wearer, whom after those double tennis/gym sessions,would be crawling back home with her tongue hanging out). So, to compare between those two: Sublime is darker and will give a more dramatic result. It is also clumpier, making application tougher. I have to use my scary sharp Tweezerman metal eyelash comb vigorously to separate the lashes plus a spoolie brush. Having said that, it is easier to put a second layer with the Sublime, due to its plasticy hard comb-like bristles. I could really comb the second layer onto the first layer with satisfying pressure and the "combs" will be able to get through the already dried (and thus not so pliable) first layer of mascara. Sublime will also last without smudging throughout my vigorous exercise sessions (but my teenager sons both said I STILL have wiggly butt. Of COURSE I can't compete with their guys' butt. Tough being in an all male household. Not to mention the toilet seats are always up! sorry, where was I? Oh yeah, the mascara) My verdict: if you have the time, patience and skill and even more patience: get the Sublime. It gives a nicer end result. But since patience is def not one of my stronger points, I'm going back to the Inimitable once I finish my tube of Sublime. But then again, I might just keep one around.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Chanel - Orchid Rose [DISCONTINUED]
mica8999 8/14/2010 4:03:00 AM
Orchid Rose is a soft tawny beige with some soft rose in it. I'm NC 30, warm and yellow toned. I have to layer it on a bit but the end result is worth it. Gives you the warm, glow from within effect that is very long lasting and very natural. It goes particularly well with my peachy pink lipsticks and any of the beige ones). Definitely a warm colour, and one can't really overdo it, since I love buffing my blushes in. One of my better loved JCs and I do love them all.....
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Chanel - Rouge Coco Chintz
mica8999 8/8/2010 12:26:00 AM
Chanel Fall 2010 Collection. Chintz looks like a light pale peach in the tube, but on my light pigmented lips, it comes out more pink than peach. Where did the peach go? Sigh... I'm NC 30, warm and yellow toned. (I have quite toned arms too, but that will not be useful in the context of this Chintz lipstick review, and anyway, what toned arms? Yeah, like...in my dreams! Haha!) Thankfully I also got the Chanel Glossimer in Coral Love which is also part of the Fall 2010 collection, and layering it over Chinz helped to lessen the pink a bit. For the record, Coral Love, which is a CORAL peachy pink with gold shimmers, also pulled pink on me. Double sigh... If you tend to have my problem of pulling pink out of peach/corals (especially corals), try Nars lipgloss in Sunset Strip. It is milky tangerine in the tube, but applies golden apricot peach on me (yup, finally!!)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Chanel - Joues Contraste in Pink Explosion 64
mica8999 8/7/2010 11:55:00 PM
I am NC30, warm and yellow toned. Would normally stay away from any blue based pink, and this JC definitely has some blue in it. You can see it straight away without having to swatch it. But it being an LE, and I have this undying love for JCs I got this as opposed to the other LE releases, (Plum Attraction and Rose Temptation, both too dark and muddy for me). Had to admit I had buyer's remorse, since it IS a blue based pink, so I left it untouched for a few days. Tried it yesterday, all the while thinking that I should have used the amount spent on the blush to stock up on the superb (but miniscule) Chanel sunblock instead, that I like very much. But surprisingly, I could wear this pink! Granted, it wasn't a 100% hit, much like how it was with my colouring and the Rouge Coco Mademoiselle lipstick, but I could wear it. I did NOT look like I had baboon's butt for cheeks! Yay!!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No