Blush -NYX - Taupe
moushka26 5/14/2013 4:35:00 PM
HG for me (NW20, blue/green eyes, dark ash brown hair). A great, natural looking contour colour that mimics real shadows to accentuate my cheekbones and slim my jawline. Every other contour or bronzer I've tried has been too brown, too orange or too dirty looking. NYX's "Taupe" blush is perfect. I use it under my cheekbones with a tiny pop of warm pink on the apples of my cheeks for instant contour and a healthy glow. NYX is now available in Canada at Target but at ridiculous prices. I bought mine on ebay (3/$12 plus minimal shipping). The packaging is serviceable and does the job. NYX is all about good products at reasonable prices. If you're fair and cool, and have had trouble finding a good contour colour, give this one a try.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Lily Lolo - Cover Up in Blush Away
moushka26 4/26/2013 11:15:00 AM
I'm really, really pink (NW20) with a lot of surface redness from broken capillaries left over from manhandling my Scandinavian/British skin as a teenager. Covering the redness has been a constant frustration until I discovered MA and this fantastic neutralizing powder. Lily Lolo's Blush Away is a soft, pale white/green that completely neutralizes the redness in my face without leaving a sickly green cast. This is seriously HG worthy and will remain in my overstuffed makeup bag until lasers take care of the capillaries (i.e., when I win the lottery ;) As with all mineral makeups, be prepared to cope with the added fuss of loose powder. That said, the packaging does include a closeable sifter that makes it possible to store the powder without mishap. I'm very late to mineral makeup but Blush Away has converted me. If you struggle with redness of any kind, give this a try; wish I'd discovered it years ago. Thank you, MA, and thank you, Lily Lolo!
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Concealers -Bare Escentuals - Bisque
moushka26 3/10/2013 7:42:00 PM
After five decades of wearing makeup (I'm 63) I've finally found a concealer that hides the redness around my nose and on my chin from tiny broken capillaries. This mineral powder concealer, called simply "Bisque" (formerly called "multi-tasking concealer") works better than any cream concealer in my still-oily T-zone. It's packaged in a neat little container with a closeable sifter that lets you measure out just what you need. Over the years, I have spent literally thousands of dollars on foundations and concealers to hide redness and some acne scars. Available in five shades, the two lightest, Bisque and Summer Bisque, work beautifully for my NW20 colouring. Cream concealers, even with primer and powder, disappear from my face within ninety minutes. Bisque is good for three or four hours before i have to touch-up. I don't use it under my eyes, but for everything else, this is my HG. Hope they never discontinue this product. If you have redness and oily skin, give it a try. You can always get a free sample from Sephora. Edited to add: I've just tried "Summer Bisque," another shade of the same product, and I'm switching as I prefer the slightly yellow base. I think it cuts the red a bit better. My other comments still apply. I love this stuff!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -E.L.F. - Studio Lip Stain
moushka26 2/1/2013 12:27:00 PM
I bought this in Fashionista and was so pleased, I immediately ordered two backups and two more colors. This is a moderately pigmented lip cream that dries to a soft matte finish, which you follow with a clear gloss. You should wear it over a lip balm, as it can be drying, but it lasts for several hours. Fashionista is a clear, rosy pink, very flattering on my NW20 skin. It's a great basic if you want more than a nude lip but not screaming color. I've had good luck with e.l.f. products. Their Studio Line offers some great values, although somewhat limited color ranges. I don't get the negative reviews on this product. First, it's dirt cheap at $3. How much cheaper can you get? Second, the packaging is nice, not high end but this IS e.l.f., not Guerlain! You're not paying for fancy packaging. Thirdly, while this isn't a stain in the sense of those hideous pencil lip stains (which all seem to turn bright fuchsia on me) it does stay in place much better than a regular lipstick or gloss, doesn't get all over your DH when you kiss him, and doesn't leave a colored imprint on your cup when you drink your coffee, all things I require of a stay-on lipstick.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -MISSHA - M Signature Real Complete B.B. Cream SPF 25 PA++
moushka26 7/19/2012 9:58:00 PM
After trying half a dozen Asian BB creams, Missha M Signature Real Complete BB cream is definitely my favorite, with skin79 orange coming a close second. Both provide high SPF, medium to full coverage, and good wear times. Missha M is slightly lighter weight and seems to provide slightly more oil control than the skin79 orange. I wear both of them over my HG primer, Revlon Photo Ready in 001. Without primer, my skin needs blotting and powdering every two or three hours and every foundation I've ever tried breaks down after about five hours. Missha M Signature lasts a good eight hours on me with just a couple of touch-ups with a beauty blotter, and a light dusting of mineral powder. It feels very light on the skin, blends easily, and covers almost every imperfection, including the broken capillaries around my nose and the dark hollows under my eyes. Truly remarkable! I'm NW20 in MAC and am using the shade #21. I know I'm luckier than most because most BB creams seam to be geared towards my skin tone. I have a drawer full of drug and department store foundations that are just sitting there, including MUFE, MAC, Bourjois, EL, Clinique, Dior, etc., and no desire to use any of them now. I bought all of my BB creams from Amazon.com; all were priced under $25, including shipping. Besides the two mentioned, I've also tried Dr. Jart+ Silver, Holika, Holika, skin79 gold, and Hanskin. For my aging, combination, slightly acne-scared skin, BB creams and are one of the best makeup discoveries of this century. If they contain ingredients that are also helping my skin, that's great, but it's the texture, colour, coverage, and high SPFs that have impressed me the most. For my money, they make most "Western" foundations obsolete.
20 out of 20 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Paula's Choice - Clear Targeted Acne Relief Toner with 2% Salicylic Acid for all skin types
moushka26 5/23/2012 9:19:00 PM
This is an HG product for my aging, blackhead prone skin. Blackheads have been the bane of my existence since I was twelve (fifty years ago). PC's new Clear Toner has eliminated 95% them. It's lightweight and doesn't leave any residue on my skin so other products and makeup apply smoothly. Great product!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Eden
moushka26 5/23/2012 8:49:00 PM
This is the first eye primer I've purchased and it has been a big disappointment. I have tried to make it work for me off and on over the past six months. My eyelids aren't super oily but I wanted something to give me better wear from my eye shadows. Eden is heavily tinted and thick, and just sort of sits on my eyelids. It does seem to slightly increase the wear time of eye shadow, but after a few hours it looks kind of separated and just plain ugly anywhere it's not covered by eye shadow.. It could be my skin because my eyelids aren't the smoothest in the world, but it doesn't improve the look of my eyelids by itself. Perhaps the original is better. I wish I'd heeded my gut feelings and taken this back early enough to change it for the original. I'll chalk it up to experience! Will not re-purchase and cannot recommend.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Maybelline - Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Shadow in Tough as Taupe
moushka26 5/15/2012 4:32:00 PM
Lovely, long-lasting cream eye shadow in a beautiful matte taupe that really highlights my blue eyes. This is my everyday go-to shadow when I don't want to fuss. I tap on MAC's Painterly Paint Pot and then this, darkest next to the lash-line and fading out to just about the crease. Add mascara and you have a soft, polished look that lasts all day. This shadow is not shiny so if you're into shimmer, it's not for you. If you want a classic, flattering eye look, try Tough as Taupe. Great quality for the price.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Physicians Formula - Matte Collection Quad Eye Shadow in Canyon Classic
moushka26 5/10/2012 8:11:00 AM
Doesn't look like another review of this palette is needed but I love it so much that I'm going to write one anyway. This palette is a must for every woman. It's THE BEST deal on eye shadows in the world. The four versatile, neutral colours are beautifully matte, have a velvety texture, zero fallout. and last all day. I've just repurchased this, which I have never done with any other eye shadow. You can go from basic to dramatic with one palette, and the darkest shade is perfect for my eye brows (NW20-ish, blue eyes, medium brown hair). What a bargain! While yes, the packaging is nothing special, it hasn't fallen apart like some other brands costing much more so while not much to look at, at least it's sturdy and does the job. And there's a teeny, tiny mirror in the lid if you're desperate. I chucked the applicators and use a Quo shadow brush to apply. The creamy white shadow is my all time favorite highlighter. As one other reviewer mentioned, I, too, use it as a setting powder over my under-eye concealer. This is first class quality at a ridiculously cheap price. I've used department store brand shadows that were no where near as good, and two or three times the price, and always come back to this. A set of good, basic matte eye shadows is a must in every makeup collection. You will not be disappointed in this one, and if you are, send it to me ;)
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Illamasqua - Tremble
moushka26 5/1/2012 11:07:00 PM
This is my HG, everyday blush. As others have said, it's a light, bright warm pink with tons of pigment and some fallout.It's wildly flattering and natural on my NW20 skin and lasts a good six-eight hours. Since most blushes disappear on me within a couple of hours, I'm thrilled to have found one that stays on so well. I think Tremble would suit any cool skin tone and many warm ones. Definitely a must have if you want something highly pigmented and long-lasting.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Clarins - Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate
moushka26 5/1/2012 10:56:00 PM
Since I am now past even that "certain age," I need all the help I can get. My eye area had begun to look terrible: dry, lined and puffy. I caved and let the SA at Shopper's talk me into this expensive eye cream since I knew I could easily return it. At $82, it's the most I've spent on any skin care product in my life! I've never used anything that worked as well or as quickly on my puffy, dried out, baggie eyes. This eye cream is close to perfect. My bags are gone, the dehydration is gone and the awful crepey lines are visibly lessened. If your budget permits, do your eyes a favour and give Clarins Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate a try.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Too Faced - Matte Eye
moushka26 4/11/2012 7:22:00 PM
Too Faced Matte Eye Shadow Collection, nine eye shadows, three large highlighter shades and six basic colours, divided into three groups: Day - Tufted Suede (dark ecru), Chinchilla (taupe), Coffee Bean (dark brown) Classic - Velveteen Bunny (off white), Pebble (medium grey), London Fog (deep purple/blue/charcoal grey) Fashion - Fresh Linen (pale nude pink), Vintage Violet (dusty lavender), Midnight (deep grey) Highly pigmented, lovely quality eye shadows that last like crazy with virtually no fallout on application. I wear shimmer shadows very rarely and was looking for some good quality matte shades. Came packaged with a tiny trial size of TF shadow primer. They work very well, and are especially and compact for travel. I took off one lippie for the high price here in Canada and a second half lippie for the cardboard packaging. Overall, I'm very satisfied with these shadows and will explore more Too Faced products. I will order a second set for DD.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Japonesque - Mini Heated Eyelash Curler
moushka26 3/2/2012 11:02:00 PM
I have straight, Scandinavian hair and eyelashes that point toward the floor. I've always hated the time and effort necessary to curl my eyelashes with a regular eyelash curler so I ordered this hoping for something simpler. Japonesque, where have you been all my life?!! This little gizmo is amazing and curls my lashes quickly and easily after one quick coat of mascara. I turn it on just before I apply my eye shadow and it's hot by the time I've applied a light coat of mascara. One or two swipes on each eye, holding for a few seconds, and my lashes stay curled all day long. So much less hassle than the classic pinch curler, which half the time pinched my eyelid. About the size of a tube of mascara, the mini heated eyelash curler fits easily into a makeup bag or purse. I wouldn't be without mine. Love it!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Other -Paula's Choice - Beautypedia.com
moushka26 2/26/2012 8:47:00 PM
I thought I'd add a review to this site as it's been a while since anyone posted about Beautypedia. Paula has saved me tons of money and does a great job of informing consumers of what skin care and makeup products can and cannot do. While I frequently don't agree 100% with her reviews, I have found that her ingredient information is accurate and that, in general, her insistence that you don't have to spend a ton of cash to achieve good skin is helpful and encouraging. Cosmetics companies spend billions of dollars annually devising and advertising new ways to separate women from their hard-earned cash. Consumers only have Beautypedia and Makeup Alley to give them unbiased information - hardly a level playing field. Don't even get me started on women's beauty and fashion magazines, possibly some of the most biased information in the world! I use many of Paula's products, and many she has recommended from other brands, and have been very happy with most of them. My son, daughter and mom have all experienced immense improvement in their skin from using Paula's Choice products. I've not been as successful but that's because only Rx drugs have succeeded in making headway against my chronic acne (yay, Differin cream). As other reviewers have noted, skin care and makeup products are highly personal. Since there are so many to choose from, it's great that Beautypedia provides information to consumers that they cannot find elsewhere. FWIW, I subscribed and paid for two years before the site went free, and I felt the money was well-spent.
11 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Illamasqua - Rich Liquid foundation
moushka26 2/26/2012 6:05:00 PM
I love this stuff! I ordered shade RE150 from England as Sephora doesn't ship Illamasqua products to Canada. After applying moisturizer, I apply a tiny dot to each area of my face, blending well with my fingers. I use a concealer brush over any spots - no concealer needed; this foundation means what it says about "full coverage." I press into any areas of large pores and set with the tiniest bit of MUFE HD or Clinique loose powder. Perfection! The finish lasts and lasts on my combo skin giving me a clean, radiant look that I haven't found with anything else. Do choose a darker shade than you think you'll need as the shades run light and peachy. Since most foundations are way too yellow for my MAC NW20 skin, the peachy undertone was a happy surprise. Edited to add: I forgot to mention that this foundation is not suitable for dry skin as it will magnify any dry or flaky patches. Even my combo skin needs to be well moisturized for it to work flawlessly. If I have any flakiness, I only use it as a concealer. It does cover better than 90% of the concealers I've tried!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No