Eye Shadow -Shu Uemura - ME Silver 945 [DISCONTINUED]
mskim 1/15/2006 1:19:00 AM
It almost seems unnecessary for me to write a review on this e/s since it's such a classic cult product, but since it's one of my HGs, I thought I'd add my praises to the others. It's the most perfect silvery taupe ever. You can apply it sheerly for a subtle taupe, or pack it on for more drama. In any case, it applies so richly that it looks wet on your eye and has the most unique texture on the eye. It goes well with so many colors... it's fabulous. The pan is super-soft and richly pigmented. Just gorgeous. One warning though, because this e/s is so super-soft it is prone to shattering/crumbling/breaking very easily. Perfection in a pan. So I don't know why Shu is re-formulating. In any case, I have stocked up to take of all my future ME 945 needs. If you can find it, grab it and run.
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Eye Shadow -Scott Barnes - Illumineye Eyeshadow in Lilly
mskim 1/15/2006 1:08:00 AM
I cannot believe that I have not reviewed this product yet. This item is HG material for me, right up there with Shu ME 945 in terms of my favorites. It's the most perfect highlighting e/s EVER. The packaging is luxe -- a square container that opens smoothly and easily with a mirror included in the container. In the pan, the e/s looks boring white. On the eyes, it's a creamy white with a gold reflect. It blends like a dream and the powder even feels creamy. It sounds so boring, but I have bought tons of highlighting white-ish e/s and trust me when I say that this is the best one out there. It's absolutely fabulous.
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Shampoo -John Frieda - Brilliant Brunette Shine Release Shampoo
mskim 1/15/2006 12:58:00 AM
I am on the fence about this product, but I would probably buy it again. The smell is wonderful (a very clean soft slightly coconutty floral. The problem is that I find that this shampoo is a bit too harsh. It's not the most harsh shampoo I've ever used, but it feels more strong and stripping than other shampoos I've used as well. I don't think I would recommend using this shampoo if you've color-treated your hair with a semi-permanent dye because it is a bit harsh. However, when my hair feels really gross and dirty, it's perfect.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Sunday Best
mskim 1/15/2006 12:54:00 AM
At first I thought this e/s would be too frosty for me (I was afraid it would show up as blinding white on my eyes) but I bought it because I kept thinking about it. I'm so glad I did. The color is a creamy peachy-pinked frosty white that blends like a dream. Even the texture is creamy. In the pan, the shade is a light peachy pink. On the eyes, it appears as I described earlier -- a creamy peachy pinky white. It's similar to but more subtle than Phloof (which is why I never bought Phloof). Lovely.
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Lip Treatments -Unlisted Brand - SCO - Lip Balm
mskim 12/3/2005 6:42:00 PM
The one big negative is that this lip balm comes in a pot, which is annoying and can be gross. That said, this lip balm is pretty good stuff. I was on a search for this product after seeing it featured in O magazine (yes I know, I know, but still...). I found it at Barney's. The texture's very nice (smooth and moisturizing but not greasy). It lasts a decent amount of time on the lips. Overall, a very good lip balm because it's a good combination of factors (smooth but not too greasy, velvety enough to last a decent amount of time on the lips but not too dry velvety if you know what I mean, really moisturizing). Overall, very nice. Cost $21 for a generous pot.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Paula Dorf - Brush Out Bath
mskim 11/21/2005 2:44:00 AM
This is an excellent brush cleanser. I bought one bottle on sale, and I want to kick myself for not buying all of the bottles they had. Brush Out Bath is like Cetaphil for your brushes. It gets your brushes very clean (almost squeaky) but doesn't dry them out horribly. My brushes actually feel okay (not all rough) after using this product to wash them. It's a thick creamy cleanser which really does look like a thicker version of Cetaphil. You only need a tiny little bit to clean a brush. My method is to squeeze a small drop (maybe half a pea size for small brushes, of course you'd use a larger amount for a larger brush) onto my palm. Wet the dirty brush, then swirl it on my palm in the cleanser. Keep swirling. Then rinse. So easy! It's very gentle, and rinses clean. It really does make washing brushes a lot easier for me because it's simpler. Anyhow, this stuff is fantastic and you should give it a try.
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Moisturizers -Korres - Sugar Crystal Cream Multivitamin Skin Shield
mskim 10/29/2005 5:43:00 PM
This stuff is amazing. My skin is usually dry, as it is, but when the change in seasons hits (especially in cold and dry Chicago) my skin really suffers. I get huge dry patches on my forehead and around my nose, and then I get breakouts. NOTHING would really solve this problem. But after the raves, I bought this moisturizer and tried using it (along with Benefit's Honey Snap Out of It and Benefit's Pineapple Facial Scrub)... and it's like magic. My face actually feels very moisturized, protected, HAPPY even. The dry patches are gone. The breakouts are gone. This stuff is amazing. AMAZING I tell ya. 3 pumps for the whole face then another half pump to put an extra layer on my forehead and around my nose and my face is happy. The only negative is that the bottle is opaque so I have no clue how much is left. But, overall this is a wonderful, truly wonderful, product. And sooo much cheaper than CDLM.
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Lipstick -NARS - Rouge d Enfer [DISCONTINUED]
mskim 10/29/2005 4:01:00 AM
Gorgeous red. It's a classic hot red, a tad on the warm side. It's not a "shocking" red as far as reds go, so even I can wear it during the day and not feel too dramatic. I favor more neutral lips during the day. But it is still red. It did not go fuschia on me. Instead, it stayed red. If you're a NC30, please give it a go. I don't think you'll be sorry. It reminds me of my very favorite red (Chanel's Lucifer Kissed). Furthermore, when a red lipstick references the Devil or Hell, you know that it's going to be a fantastic smooch-worthy red. Whee!!!
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Polishes -Essie - Prima Ballerina
mskim 5/28/2005 1:39:00 AM
I decided to write a review because this is a fallback staple for me when I want really pretty nude nails. I wear this on my toes, and it's gorgeous for summer when your toes are on show. An almost sandy nude beige. Not too white, not too sheer. Something perfect in between. Plus, it seems to have a pearly look to it, even though it's not really a pearled n/p. If you're slightly tan to darker, you must give this a try.
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Self Tanners -Jergens - Natural Glow
mskim 3/20/2005 11:34:00 PM
I use the med-dark, and I love the results that I get with this product. A really nice tan develops slowly, naturally, and easily. This has got to be the easiest self-tanner that I've ever used. It's very difficult to mess up using this stuff. The shade that you'll get is very natural looking. The price is reasonable. All in all, it's great. The only negative is that it has a very strong scent - sort of floral/laundry-detergent like with the undertone sweaty scent of self-tanner. The smell makes me feel a little sick cause it's so strong (if it weren't so strong it would be okay). But it's so easy to use, I just use it in place of my daily moisturizer, and now I've got very natural looking tan skin. No weird reptilian cracking fading as with L'Oreal's Sublime Bronze. Also, it has tiny shimmer particles, so you get a very faint shimmer effect. Hardly noticeable though, unless you're looking for it. P.S. Why does self-tanner smell sweaty???
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Eye Shadow -Stila - Apres Ski Trio
mskim 1/21/2005 11:27:00 PM
This is the best trio I've ever seen. One shade is frosty pearly pink, on the lighter side of pink. One shade s an awesome shimmery smoky-chocolatey-grey (I don't know how they achieve this shade but it's fabulous). One shade (liner really) is a dark chocolate-grey-black color. I *LOVE* this trio. I wanted it for 1.5 years and finally I was able to get my hot little hands on it, and it was totally worth the hype and wait. It gives such a great smoky eye. It's a fabulous must-have.
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Lipstick -Shu Uemura - Lolishine 769
mskim 12/21/2004 1:40:00 AM
I love this color. It's a beautiful browned-plum with silver microglitter. It applies like a dream; it glides on so smoothly. It's very moisturizing and feels excellent on the lips. The downside is, it doesn't last long on the lips cause it's so moisturizing. But, when you do apply it, it looks like lipgloss on your lips (smooth beautiful shine without any of the stickiness of gloss). The microglitter isn't really all that noticeable because it has a gloss-like finish. There's a fruity scent to it, like fruity cereal (it reminds me of Fruit Pebbles or something like that?). No taste. I bought it for about $20USD. I love these lipsticks. I wish they lasted longer, but I guess that's the price you pay for the gloss-like finish.
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Makeup Brushes -Paula Dorf - Fine Eyeliner
mskim 11/17/2004 10:40:00 PM
I love this brush for applying BB gel e/l. It's fine enough to get a nice, relatively tight, line, but not as hard to use as some other brushes. I got it on sale for $7.50 so I can't beat that price. It's soft, firm, but not too firm, fine. Perfect. And the handle is short enough for easy handling when doing such precise work (as applying gel e/l). The BB Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush was still too thick for my eyes, but this is perfect. I really like it.
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Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Lipstick Mania #5
mskim 10/6/2004 1:16:00 AM
I love this shade. It's sort of neutral cause it's not too dramatic, but it's got a little oomph to take it above a boring a neutral. It's a brownish-raspberryish-plummy-shimmery perfect l/s on me. Not too dark to make me feel uncomfortable during the day, but enough to get attention. The feel of this lipstick is also wonderful. It grips the lips nicely without being drying or heavy. And moisturizes without feeling slimey or slippery. I LOVE THIS LIPSTICK. It really says something that I can default to this lipstick a lot and that the pointy edge of the lipstick is actually worn down! If you are a fair-medium yellow toned woman, you must try this lipstick. Must. I'm a C3, Armani LSF 5.0, Becca LSF Camel, Stila IPF 40 Watts, BB Oil-Free Sand.
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Conditioner -Neutrogena - Triple Moisture daily deep conditioner
mskim 9/18/2004 2:58:00 PM
I really like this product. I'm on my second tube now, and it's worked great so far. The scent is light, clean, and nice (sorta mildly fruity mildly floral). It's definitely a heavier conditioner, but I only use a dime-sized dollop for my slightly-below- shoulder-length hair, and it works great. That's plenty for my amount of hair to moisturize and condition it fully. I haven't noticed any build-up but I don't really use a lot of products on my hair (shampoo, conditioner, maybe a leave-in cream like JF Secret Weapon or Brilliant Brunette cream) and my hair's pretty healthy (no coloring, no perming, no daily blowdrying). So my hair in general doesn't really get a lot of build-up anyway. I'm trying to account for the dislike that others have for this product (build-up etc.). Anyhow, give it a try, I think it's great.
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