Eye Shadow -Laura Mercier - Metallic Creme Eye Color in Alloy
missdaisy 3/29/2012 7:01:00 PM
In creme shadow land, this is the Queen Bee. There are several other brands that do a decent creme shadow - NARS, BB, MAC, Benefit all come to mind. However, each of those brands have their issues. Some crease, some are too dry and hard to work with or blend. Not LM, the formula is light and creamy and goes on with a swipe of a finger. The application is effortless - you don't even need a brush. Yes, the tube looks small, but there is a ton of product there. If you used it everyday, I doubt you would run out in a year. The shade Alloy is perfection - a taupe with a lovely subtle sheen. If you are in the market for a new creme eyeshadow in taupe, give this one a try.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Brows -MAC - Eyebrows Crayon in Lingering
missdaisy 10/28/2010 4:13:00 PM
I mean, it’s a brow pencil. What can you really say? Either it sucks or it doesn’t. Lingering most certainly DOES NOT SUCK. In fact, it’s maybe the best brow pencil I have used. I’ve tried drugstore pencils (too many to name and most are useless) and HE, including, but not limited to, the Givenchy Eyebrow Show (barely shows up and it was $22. WAT??), the Anastasia Perfect Brow (too greasy), Smashbox Brow Tech (technically, not a pencil but still too much of a PITA to use) and they all wound up in the MU graveyard in my stash. Finally, someone clued me in to Lingering and about 4 repurchases later, it’s still the best – plenty of good coverage that lasts all day and looks completely natural. I had to take one lippie off since one negative of this product is that it gets used up really fast. I feel like I go through these quickly and since it’s self-sharpening, it’s hard to tell when you are almost out. So BAM, one day no more pencil. Other than that, I’m a happy girl.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Douceur
missdaisy 10/28/2010 3:58:00 PM
I know that I have raved about a few NARS blushes already, including Madly, Deep Throat and Penny Lane just to name a few, however, this is by far, the hands down favorite! This blush is tremendous. For reference, I’m a NW20 and the shade Monte Blanc in the NARS Sheer Glow and this blush is the PERFECT shade for me. I purchased it on a whim only because I was in Sephora and couldn’t really find anything else I was interested in. To be honest, I kinda thought this might be too dark and wind up sitting untouched in my stash. It even took me a few weeks until I got around to using it, but when I did, I was instantly in love! The perfect pinkish-brownish shade. Maybe like a dusty rose with a slight muddiness to it. I know that doesn’t sound lovely, but it really, really is. The way this contours the cheek makes me look like I have the most naturally well-defined cheekbones and I swear to you, it makes my face look thinner. Don’t take my word for it, when I went in to Henri Bendel the other day for a NARS event to look at some skincare, one of the NARS National Stylists was there and she did a really cute eye look on me. I mentioned to her that I’m slightly obsessed with Douceur and she used it in my look knowing I already owned it. When she put it on, she was like “Wow, this really is your perfect shade, like it was made for you.” UM…I KNOW!! I need to check if this is a LE, because if it is, I might need a back-up, which is almost ludicrous since NARS blushes last for about 5 years. Just go in and give it this a try. Seriously.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -BeneFit Cosmetics - Some Kind-A Gorgeous
missdaisy 6/20/2010 10:01:00 AM
I have to admit that it's only recently that I've started taking Benefit seriously as a cosmetic company with a decent line of products. Back in the day, Benefit had some catchy product names and adorable packing, but epic failures such as Dr. Feelgood and Bathina just turned me off to the line in general. I finally decided to give Benefit another shot after being really pleased with the Skinny Jeans cream e/s, so I picked up one of the sampler kits which included the Some Kind A Gorgeous foundation. Shockingly, I knew from the first swipe that this was a good product. Contained in a round compact, in the shape of a vintage record player, is a really nice looking cream foundation. At first glance, it looked thick, luxe and creamy, but slightly too dark for my NW20 skin tone. However, once applied, the sheer coverage just looked really smooth and airbrushed on the skin. Yes, this formula is quite sheer, so if you are looking for full coverage, this is not for you. If you are looking to cover acne or scarring, this also probably not for you, but if you have somewhat clear skin and are looking to even out some discoloration or to cover significant redness while still looking foundation free, this is really worth a second look. The formula is quite creamy, so oily skin might have trouble with this, but normal to dry skin will be really, really happy. The compact itself comes with a sponge, which I find worthless. I've tried a few brushes, but by far the best is the Sephora Professional Mineral Powder Brush #45 which gives a perfectly flawless application (Sephora brushes are really underrated imo). I’ve been really happy with this product and have already repurchased several times. Even with Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk and Chanticaille Future Skin in my stash, I still wind up reaching for this more often. I took off one lippie beause I tend to go through this stuff pretty quicky indicating that there is not much product for the ~$28 price tag. To be honest, I’m still shocked I like this as much as I do. With Sephora’s generous return policy, you should consider giving this a try as well.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Cream Blush in Penny Lane
missdaisy 5/25/2010 10:35:00 PM
Obsessed, Obsessed obsessed. That's how I feel about this cream blush. I know Penny Lane has been around for years and years, but I've never given it a chance before and I'm delighted I finally picked it up. This lovely pinkish nude color is the perfect flush of color on my NW20 skin. Not too pink, not too brown, not too coral, just right. I'm of the belief that blush should be subtle and soft, not clown-like and overdone and this exactly what I'm looking for. Penny Lane applies easily with my fingers and blends right in. It's sheer and creamy enough to blend easily with your brush of choice as well. NARS packaging is really cute, but hard to keep clean, so I like to keep mine in the cardboard box so it stays in good shape (I know, I'm a freak). Oh yeah, and in a pinch the other night, I used this as a lippie!!! I was unexpectedly without my beloved MAC Creme d'Nude one evening so I swiped some Penny Lane on my lips and topped it off with MAC Young Thing Lipglass and voila, lip perfection! I shall never be without my Penny Lane from here on out!!
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -MAC - Marine Life [DISCONTINUED]
missdaisy 5/25/2010 10:11:00 PM
So let's start with the positive. The packaging is adorable. Cute LE plastic case with a raised seahorse embossing. So cute! The seahorse itself is really shimmery and pretty. As a collector, this is a really nice showpiece and could be a really nice addition to your stash. OK - now for the negative. Once swiped, this highlighter loses everything it has going for it. The over-spray of the seahorse starts to vanish almost immediately and you're left with a pinkish/rose/coral highlighter or blush depending on your skin tone. I'm a cool NW20 and this is way too dark as a highlighter and a little too warm and bright as a blush. I think maybe finding the right brush is the key here and a MAC 187 Duo Fibre or 129 Blush/Powder brush seems to give the best results, but I still find myself trying to want to sheer this out more and more until it's almost unnoticeable. I guess it's just not a good match for me. My advice - swatch at the store and if you still decide to pick this up, use it only if you know it's going to work for you, otherwise leave it untouched and you'll have a nice collector's item to look at.
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Lipstick -Revlon - ColorBurst in 070 Soft Nude [DISCONTINUED]
missdaisy 5/19/2010 3:38:00 PM
This is by far and away the best drugstore lippie that I have ever purchased. One of the reasons for that is I don’t really ever buy lipsticks in drugstores – I’ve just had too many misses and they wind up in the trash. However, I took a chance and picked up this one. OMG – this is a perfect dupe for MAC Crème d’Nude, which happens to be my HG lip color. I am amazed how close it is in shade, just as creamy and not at all drying. For less than half the price as MAC, this is an amazing find. One tiny little but though – there is a slight smell to this lippie. It’s not terribly strong, but it’s a little off-putting. It’s almost like sour plastic. I only smell it for a few seconds and it’s gone. I wonder if it’s just my tube – does anyone else get that? Anyway, I’ll def. re-purchase!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -MAC - Boy Bait Cremesheen
missdaisy 4/18/2010 9:48:00 PM
I'm a big fan of this lipgloss!! Let me say that as a person with really pigmented lips like mine, there is almost no lipgloss that can be worn alone on a bare lip that presents the color in the tube. That said, yes, this is a sheer gloss, but the color is a lovely pale pinkish beige that is fully on trend right now. As a NW20, I love this with a tan over a bare lip for a sheer nude hint of color. Pair this over Creme D'Nude Cremesheen lipstick for a perfect opaque glossy nude lip (perfect with a smokey eye) and finally over a swipe of Laura Geller's Lip Spackle or other lip primer for a nude pink glaze that creates a sexy, creamy light beigy pink gloss. Not sticky at all, which makes wearing this gloss sooo nice. Big Fan!! I'm so glad this is part of the permanent line now!!
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Mascara -Bobbi Brown - EXTREME Party Mascara
missdaisy 4/18/2010 11:06:00 AM
I'm not sure what to make of this mascara, ratings wise. I mean, it's not a bad product, but it's not a great one. Overall, I would say that the BB Extreme Party Mascara is extremely forgettable. Let me preface by saying, I have moderately long lashes that have a natural curl already, so what I look for in a mascara is a formula that creates lots of fullness and if it adds any additional lengthening, well, that's just a nice plus. BB's Extreme Party has a nice full brush, that collects a good amount of product with just one dip, so that was a good sign. The formula is a nice, rich jet black, not to thick and not too runny, a perfect gel-like consistency. However, on application, I just didn't really see any effects. There was a tiny hint of fullness, and no lengthening whatsoever. My lashes looked pretty much just like my natural lashes. I added a second coat, and saw the tiniest additional fullness. On the plus side, there was no flaking, no spider lashes, no tiny clumpy globs of mascara taking up residence on my lashes, and the lashes felt really soft. Maybe I'm the wrong audience for this mascara, but I am decidedly underwhelmed.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Shadestick - Nurture
missdaisy 1/16/2010 6:21:00 PM
As a color swatch this shimmery peach shade is lovely - I would say it's comparable to Melon pigment. However, as a Shadestick, this is a failure. As a NW20, I expected this shade to show up on my eyelid and no matter how much I warmed it up, no matter how I applied, with a finger or a brush, it was totally invisible. No issue with dryness, in fact, it was too greasy on the lid to do much of anything except aid in creasing any powder shadow on top of it. Too bad, I had high hopes for this pretty color. I gave it two lippies instead of one because I've been experimenting and have had some success with this shadestick as a highlighter for the front of the nose and tops of cheekbones, so that's a possible alternate use.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Length
missdaisy 1/16/2010 6:08:00 PM
Let me say upfront that I am NOT a fan of the original Lash Blast. I found that to be a thick, clumpy, flaky mess. Yes, it was thickening, but it gave me fake, fat, spidery lashes that sent little black ashes all down my face. Lash Blast Length on the other hand is the complete opposite. This mascara did a wonderful job in separating every single lash, but that was about it. The formula is not dark enough or thick enough to do much more. I could have had basically the same results from a good eyelash brush. Simply put, the formula is too thin to be effective. I should state for the record, that I have naturally dark lashes that do have a curl to them (I don't really need or use an eyelash curler) and this still did nothing for me. Currently, I'm loving BE's Flawless Definition, so you should check that out instead.
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Gels/Soaps -LUSH - Snow Fairy Shower Gel
missdaisy 1/15/2010 10:58:00 PM
I know that basically every person alives lives for this scent and stocks up on it every xmas season and so I had to give it a shot. OMG, this stuff is awful. It's such a fake, plastic, sickly sweet banana scent. I swear it made me gag in the shower. I thought maybe it was a fluke and I just wasn't feeling well that morning, so I tried it again a week later and I could barely stomach the stench. I'm so sorry to everyone that loves this, but I just really don't get the love at all and now I have 17 oz of this stuff just sitting there laughing at me. Oh well.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Sephora - Professionnel Platinum Air Brush #55
missdaisy 12/30/2009 12:17:00 PM
This is a really impressive brush. Like most of us, I've already tried other top rated brushes and sponges like the 187, 190 and the BeautyBlender and I have to say this one probably tops them all. The lightest touch easily blends my foundation to a really smooth, flawless finish. I've tried this brush with both the MUFE HD and the new Revlon PhotoReady and both formulas look airbrushed when applied with the HD Airbrush 55. The bristles feel incredibly soft and gentle on your face and this brush really does do all the work. I have to say I really had my doubts that a Sephora brush could perfom and this level and I was pretty weary at shelling out the $34 for it, but I AM THRILLED that I did. This was one of my best purchases of 2009. I highly, highly recommend that everyone give this brush a try. This one is a winner for sure!!
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -MAC - Plush Lash
missdaisy 12/27/2009 7:14:00 PM
MAC doesn't have a very good reputation for mascaras and this formula is a good indication of why. This does a decent job of creating good volume, but lashes look clumpy from the first coat and only get worse if you try to add any additional coats. Some minor flakiness, but nothing too serious. Another thing I noticed was this formula is hard to remove, even with a good oil based cleanser - I always have some residual mascara left under my lashes that I have to go back over with a q-tip and eye makeup remover. Not a big deal, but a little annoying. All in all, a mediocre product.
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Mascara -Bare Escentuals - Flawless Definition mascara
missdaisy 12/27/2009 6:53:00 PM
This might be my absolute favorite mascara right now!! First the disclaimers, I have decent natural lashes, they are moderately thick with a natural curl so what I look for in a mascara is a formula that has some thickening and/or lengthening, but most importantly, NO CLUMPING. Now, I have tried literally dozens of mascaras, from drustore brands like Define-A-Lash (a top choice), Lash Blast (a flakey mess), Stiletto (decent), and Voluminous (too clumpy) to dept. store brands like Dior, YSL, MAC, etc. I would say that Flawless Definition is easily one of the best I've tried in a long time, which easily competes with my long since discountinued favorite, Pout. The brush is a slender rubber wand with short bristles, very much like the Define-A-Lash wand and the formula is nice and creamy without being gloppy. This mascara does a great job in seperating every single eyelash and creating a wonderfully thick, yet naturally full look. One thing I depise is fake-looking spidery lashes and Flawless Definition doesn't give me that, at all. I highly recommend this mascara if you want perfectly separated, amazing looking lashes!
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