Concealers -Laura Mercier - Secret Concealer
mspb 4/22/2009 3:05:00 PM
I was looking for a better under-eye concealer when I found this (I was using one in wand-form by a different brand). The Laura Mercier Secret Concealer's texture allows complete coverage and the color, that I thought would be too dark (#1), is perfect. The trick is to use a brush and to apply from the outer eye area into the inner eye area. That way it doesn't settle into any fine lines or under-eye wrinkles. The price is very reasonable for the small amount you need and the quality of the coverage. It turned out to be a very pleasant surprise.
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Eye Primer -Too Faced - Shadow Insurance, Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer
mspb 3/21/2009 5:02:00 PM
I would have given it a 5 rather than a 4 if I thought it worked as a base - neutralizing my eyelid color. Instead, I use it over a concealer. The HUGE bonus of this product is that it gives your shadows a new life. It brings out all the vibrancy that you see in the pan and that rarely translates once applied to the skin. I could not believe how bright or deep (depending on the shade) my eyeshadows were after first applying Shadow Insurance. I also use much less of the shadows because a little now goes a long way. This is a brillant invention. I tried using some other silicon-based primers for which I had samples - just to see if they'd also bring out the true color of my shadows. But, none replicated the effect. I have recommended this to a coworker, my mom and all my girlfriends. It's amazing.
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Makeup Brushes -Too Faced - Teddy Bear Brush Set
mspb 3/21/2009 4:54:00 PM
I bought the set after buying a set as a gift for a friend and hearing positive comments and needing new brushes - specifically synthetic brushes. The are so soft yet they do a great job of picking up the color. I've had no loose bristles at all. And, I just washed them with mild soap and they held up beautifully. The set is a bit pricey -especially for synthetic - but, the quality is there and I get to stick to my morals and convictions.
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Eyeliner -Stila - Kajal Eye Liner in Topaz
mspb 3/21/2009 12:18:00 PM
I was looking for a nude liner for my inner eyes to make them appear larger. White is very 80's and un-natural-looking. I went into Sephora last night and the only nude liner was Stila's Kajal in Topaz. I was hesitant to buy it because my experience with Stila is that the brand's colors have zero staying power. I bought it anyway (since there were no other options), applied it while still in the parking lot and then washed my face when I got home. When I woke up this morning, I noticed that the eyeliner was exactly where it was last night - it hadn't moved; it wasn't on my lower lashes and the nude color was the same strength as it was last night. This liner somewhat redeemed Stila (it would take many more good Stila products for me to recommend the entire Stila line), I would absolutely suggest that someone looking for nude liner for the inner eye try Kajal. I'm very pleasantly surprised.
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Blush -Cargo - blu ray Blush/Highlighter
mspb 9/14/2008 10:30:00 PM
I doubted that this would look better on me than my Nars' blush but, liked how it felt when it was brushed on my hand (I have a lot of skin sensitivities so I have to try stuff on my hand before my face). I wore it for the first time today- to my brother's wedding. It looked so beautiful that I was a little aggravated with myself for not trying it sooner. I received a lot of compliments - especially about how pretty and healthy I looked (I'm have a chronic illness so that was a terrific complement). Honestly, I don't know if it helps with defusing light. All I know is that my Nars is now in the garbage. I'm sold. I would absolutely suggest that it's worth a try; buy it if there's anything about your current blush that doesn't look perfect on you or if you're curious as to whether there might be something better. One note, I used a powder brush instead of a blush brush - it may have had something to do with how great the blush made my skin look (the way that the color was deposited on my face). Regardless, I know I looked healthy today. One last note...it was unbelievably hot and humid all day but, the blush held up beautifully to my breaking out in a sweat.
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Powder -MAC - Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation
mspb 1/22/2008 6:49:00 PM
This completely covers the redness in my cheeks from Rosacea. It does so without causing any irritation. I find that it can be a bit drying when I use it without first applying my DDF oil-free moisturizer. It stays on all day - even in my t-zone and the color is dead-on for me (NW-15).
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Powder -Bare Escentuals - Bare Minerals ALL
mspb 1/22/2008 6:37:00 PM
One of my friends loves and swears by Bare Minerals. I decided to try it again recently because she looks great. I used it a couple of years ago and found that it made me look older because it settled in fine lines and left my skin with an odd appearence. Anyway, they must use mica because the powder felt like shards of glass on my cheeks. I have Rosacea - the powder made my cheeks burn badly. As I wrote in a review of Soft Glee, it bothers me that this is marketed as natural and, therefore, good for your skin. It's not good for sensitive skin. I used to use liquid foundation and wanted to switch to powder instead. I recently began to use MAC's Studio Fix. It covers much better than Bare Escentuals and it doesn't irritate my skin.
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Blush -Bare Escentuals - Soft Focus Glee
mspb 1/22/2008 6:27:00 PM
I was so disappointed with this product. The color itself is beautiful. It's the powder itself that I didn't like. I have Rosacea and the powder felt like tiny pieces of glass on my cheeks (they must use mica). It bothers me a bit that this is marketed as natural and good for your skin. It's definitely natural but, not everything natural is good for you. Everyone I know with sensitive skin ends up having problems with Bare Minerals powders. As I said, it's a shame because the color itself was so pretty. If you don't have sensitive skin, you'll probably love the product.
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Fragrances -Michael Kors - Very Michael Kors
mspb 1/22/2008 6:09:00 PM
This fragrance is beautiful. It's softer than the original (the original also smells wonderful but, it kills my sinuses during an allergy flare-up) and a bit more feminine. I get compliments every single time I wear Very Michael. Even my boyfriend who has only positively commented on one other perfume (Armani Code) really likes this on me. The one odd thing is that it fades much faster than the original Michael. Perhaps that is related to the fact that it doesn't bother my sinuses the way Michael does. Either way, I'm so happy I got the last bottle at the local Lord & Taylor. It's the first perfume since Philosophy's Pure Grace that I can wear during a migraine without getting worse.
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Treatments (Eye) -Olay - Definity Eye Illuminator
mspb 1/22/2008 6:03:00 PM
Just as another reviewer, I bought this after seeing Allure's review. I have dark circles thanks to allergies and being the family guinea pig for everything (my brothers are blessed with better skin, eyes, etc). Anyway, this is the weirdest crud I've ever used. I swear, after the 3rd nightly use, the stuff seemed to come out of the bottle separated. I just bought it and yet it looked like the color was separate from the oil (or whatever the stuff is that's in it). What works substantially better is Clinique eye cream at night and Clinique concealer. I don't get this stuff. I don't get what Allure is so thrilled about. I wouldn't even suggest someone try it (it's no where as expensive as department store products) - it feels gross, it doesn't do anything and there's no way I could wear it under makeup because (as I found out), it made my concealer ball up and smear off. At least it doesn't burn.
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Treatments -Patricia Wexler MD Dermatology - glyco peel system
mspb 1/22/2008 5:54:00 PM
I have VERY sensitive skin with Rosacea but, I can use this once every 1.5/2 weeks (at most). Just as the case with most people, my skin shows obvious signs of any bug (especially stomach viruses). The first thing I do after an illness passes is use this system. I carefully (gently) use the first pad on my cheeks and then use it normally on my forehead and chin. It gets rid of the dead skin and brings back a healthy glow. For the first day after using it, my face is a bit red but, that fades by day #2 and then I'm left with soft, zit-free, non-peeling skin. I gently wash my face after the 2nd step to be sure that every trace of the system is gone. Doing so helps enormously with reducing irritation. It's a bit pricey but, when I factor in how long the effects last after each use and that I don't need it all that often, it's a good investment. Just be VERY sure to not use anything irritating before or after you use the pads. I moisturize with DDFs oil-free cream afterwards. All-in-all, I'm impressed with this peel.
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Treatments -Darphin - NIAOULI AROMATIC CARE
mspb 8/25/2007 12:21:00 PM
I was given this as a sample from Blue Mercury Spa. A little goes a very long way; two small drops covers my whole face. I was REALLY concerned because it's an oil (which is the last thing I'd think to put on my face). The only part of my face that still breaks out is my forehead but, I do apply all over my face. I swear, my forehead was COMPLETELY clear the morning after applying this. I made my mother look because it seemed too good to be true. She was excited for me because the last time I had a clear forehead was pre-puberty. I am very sensitive to scents (thanks to Fibro) so I was afraid of a reaction when I was shown it in the store. I decided that it was worth trying. I have absolutely no sensitivity to this light scent. The bottle is expensive but, because I literally need 2 drops for my whole face, the bottle will last a long time. I still have 80% of the test vial given to me 4 weeks ago. I know it's counter-intuitive to put an oil on oily and/or sensitive skin (I have rosacea but, my cheeks never become inflammed from the product). Trust me, it is worth the leap-of-faith. I recommended this to my 2 friends who still have breakouts. They know I have strong (usually glass-half-empty) opinions so now they're looking for the product as well.
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Primer/ Corrector -Clinique - Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector
mspb 8/25/2007 12:09:00 PM
I bought this as a mattefier for my forehead (the last of my t-zone to be problematic). I put a pea size amount on at a time and then dab it (rather than rubbing it in) all over my forehead, adding a bit more as needed. Within a day of this arriving, I ended up sick with a fever. I was in a full sweat, and yet my forehead stayed looking freshly washed all day. The next day when I felt better, I cleaned the whole house and my forehead continued to have a matte finish (and that was from having applied it the day before). This product is only $16! I have tried every high-end mattefier and have never had these results. I am so incredibly happy. I do not use liquid foundation during the summer (the humidity and heat are nasty here). I use one of MACs compact powders. I lightly dust my face with the powder a minute or so after applying the Pore Minimizer and I have no problem with the powder sitting incorrectly over the product. It does seem as though it would be problematic with a liquid foundation. For $16, I would recommend this to anyone. You need very little therefore, the tube will last quite a while. **Update - I wore it today and sat outside in the sweltering heat and humidity for a wedding (according to weather reports - it was 92 degrees; with the humidity the real feel was well over 100). I literally watched as makeup started to drip off of other women. I was expecting to see something awful when I finally got inside. My skin held up perfectly - this Clinique stuff is amazing - especially considering that I used just 2 pea-size drops for my whole face (concentrating on my forehead and chin). You HAVE to try this.
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Treatments -Philosophy - Resurface Kit - The Microdelivery In-Home Vitamin C Peptide Peel
mspb 4/24/2007 9:40:00 PM
I was pleasantly surprised by this product. I've been sick a lot lately which has resulted in dehydration. I have Nars' toner that does remove dry skin without a lot of rubbing but, the dehydration was actually a bit worse than what Nars could do. I feel so-so about Philosophy products in general so I was a bit worried about the Vitamin C Microdelivery Peel. I had held onto a sample of the peel for a while but, my skin looked as cruddy as I felt. So as to play it safe, I first used this peel on a Saturday night. I followed the directions exactly. When I rinsed off the product, my skin was soft and smooth and it glowed (in a good way, not a inflammed-rosacea way). I've since used it twice more and I'm really impressed. I don't usually play around with face stuff because I'm really sensitive and have multiple allergies. By carefully following the directions and waiting almost a week in between peels, I've managed to avoid irritation. Ask for a sample from Sephora before buying if you're unsure based on the price and/or don't like dealing with returns. I will most likely buy the Peel the next time I'm in Sephora or on the site. One HUGE warning - the skin under your eyes is probably very sensitive. It's much thinner than other facial skin and most likely apt to become irritated. Keep the product FAR away from the entire eye area - even when rinsing. I rinse gently using a wash cloth so as to be sure that my eyelids and undereye area remain untouched by the product.
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Lips -MAC - Pro Longwear Lustre - Boss Brown
mspb 4/22/2007 11:20:00 PM
I just bought Pro Longwear Lustre in Boss Brown yesterday and I LOVE it. This is the perfect, slightly-darker-than-nude-with-luster lip color. Its description is: "Chocolate bronze with pearl." It's beautiful, it's flattering (I have pale skin, brown eyes, and dark brown hair with deep reddish highlights). My cheeks look like they have a bit of blush on them (the only good thing about almost-in-control rosacea). It's hard for me to find a flattering lip color when I'm not wearing makeup. But, even without concealer or mascara, Boss Brown made me look healthy and awake. This is ideal if you want lipstick that's a bit deeper than nude (so it'll bring a bit of color to your face). It looks like opaque lip gloss when the clear gloss end is applied afterwards. And the pearl content is not overwhelming, it's not glittery; it's just enough to make the real color pop. If you only pick one color of Pro Longwear, pick this one. I own and use the regular Pro Longwear (without Lustre) in the following colors: Stuck On You, Unchanging, Loyal, and Commitment. The second best part of the Pro Longwear series (the first being that they stay on through the entire day until wiped off with makeup remover), is that you can layer them as long as they're still wet (I'll use one like lip liner and then quickly apply and blend another with it). Once they feel tacky, you can't effectively add other colors - they'll sort of cake and peel off. When they're mixed while wet, you can come up with numerous pretty combinations - customized to your personal preference. I would recommend Pro Longwear (Boss Brown specifically), to anyone who prefers not to have to reapply lip color all day. You can use the gloss end to bring additional shine but, it's not necessary.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No