Foundations -Giorgio Armani - Designer Modelling Compact Foundation SPF 22
nakobear 10/26/2007 6:28:00 AM
I stopped by the Armani counter after hearing about this new foundation and had the MA apply it and bought it purely because I loved the way that it felt on my skin. I had previously purchased the designer shaping cream foundation and loved it during the colder months when my skin was dry but it became too much for my skin as the weather got warmer. After wearing this for 8+ hours, I am in love with this foundation. While I was afraid that the cream texture would end up being a bit too much for my skin, this foundation truly is a cream to powder foundation without looking powdery or cakey on my skin at all. My skin has a tendency to get oily after a few hours around my t-zone but this foundation kept the oilies at bay. Also, I love the fact that it has SPF 22 without smelling like sunscreen. My only gripe about this product (which I took of one lippie for) is the fact that for a "compact foundation" its not very compact since it's in a glass jar. I do love the fact that it comes with its own brush but the MA that helped me suggested using the Armani foundation brush in the morning and use the included brush only for touchups. I know that the glass jar is signature to Armani's foundation but if it's supposed to be compact, then they should have put it in a compact like their powders. That's my only gripe...
As for the color, I purchased shade #5 which matched my skin a lot better than #4 which was a little too pale on my skin. I've used the LSF in #5, Designer Shaping Cream Foundation in #5.5 and the MSF in #5.5 and #5 mixed.
Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 5.0% Other Ingredients: Dimethicone, Isononanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Nylon-12, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsequioxane Crosspolymer, Polyethlyene, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Lauroyl Lysine, Aluminum Hydroxide, [May contain / Peutcontenir, iron oxides, barium sulfate, titanium dioxide].
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Make Up For Ever - Super Lip Gloss
nakobear 6/6/2007 8:22:00 PM
I recently got Super Lip Gloss in #4 and LOVE it. It is a bit on the sticky/tacky side so for those of you that don't like sticky glosses, this won't be a good choice. #4 is a described as a Strawberry shade but on my pigmented lips it a very pretty mauve shade with slight shimmer. It's not glittery or anything and the texture is very smooth. I do wish that it had a better application since I don't like the rounded tips on lip glosses.
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Powder -Make Up For Ever - Duo Mat Powder foundation
nakobear 6/6/2007 8:06:00 PM
I got the Duo Mat thinking that I would use it over my Mat Velvet + foundation to help set it and to use it for touch-ups. On a whim, I tried the Duo Mat on its own one day when i was running a bit late in the morning and discovered that it works quite wonderfully on its own. I use the Mat Velvet + foundation in #40 and use the 202 shade in the Duo Mat. I also tried 203 but 203 turned out to be a bit too orangey looking on me. For reference, I'm around NC25-30. The Duo Mat definitely helps keep me matte for hours when worn over the Mat Velvet + and keeps me more matte than most other powder foundations out there.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Make Up For Ever - Mat Velvet PLUS Matifying Foundation
nakobear 6/6/2007 8:00:00 PM
After several attempts at trying to get a good color match, I've found that I'm best matched with shade #40. I've also tried 25, 30 and 35 and noticed that on my NC20-30 skin, the 25 was too pale, the 30 and 35 were doable but the 35 made me look a little too orange and the 30 was still a tad bit too pale. Number 40 is the best match that I've found. I love the fact that this foundation really does stay put and keeps my skin matte. I have slightly dry skin that tends to get a little flaky sometimes if I don't properly exfoliate my skin but easily gets oily after a few hours if I don't apply enough moisturizer before applying foundation. This foundation doesn't make my skin feel too tight like a lot of other matifying foundations and doesn't slip and disappear even when I have a slightly heavy moisturizer on underneath. Like other reviewers have mentioned, this foundation does dry fairly quickly. I was also told by an MA at Sephora that the best way to apply this foundation is to start in the middle of the face and to work outwards because it dries quickly and it's easier to blend that way. I tested this out in the hot Las Vegas weather this past weekend and hands down, this is the best foundation that I have found. It took awhile for me to find a perfect color match, but it's definitely worth taking the time to find the right shade. I also like the fact that the bottle is a plastic squeeze bottle which makes it more sanitary and easy to travel with. I did notice that on two of the bottles that I got that some of the foundation sort of oozed out when I first opened it but it's fine now and doesn't do that at all. I will definitely be repurchasing this foundation in the future.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Make Up For Ever - Lift Concealer
nakobear 6/6/2007 7:52:00 PM
I've had this concealer for awhile and it got lost in my traincase and I've recently rediscovered it and realized that it's way better than what I've been using. I use the Lift Concealer for my eye area to cover up under my eyes and also as a base for my eye shadow. This stays on really well but I feel that coverage wise, their Full Cover concealer has more coverage but for the more delicate eye area I prefer the Lift Concealer as its a lot easier to blend. A little bit goes a long way and I don't imagine finishing this concealer anytime soon. I'm around NC-25 to 30ish and use the Mat Velvet + foundation in #40 and the Lift Concealer in #3 is good to use around the eye area as it is a touch lighter than my complexion.
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Palettes -Make Up For Ever - Essential Eyes
nakobear 5/29/2007 5:36:00 PM
Jojoba did a wonderful job describing the colors below so I won't go into detail about each of the shades. Rather, I want to add that this was the first MUFE purchase for me and has started a new MUFE addiction for me. The eye shadows are such wonderful quality and are really comparable to the quality of Stila's shadows. I don't even want to use MAC anymore after using MUFE. The best thing that I got from this kit has to be the eyeliner. I have really oily lids and rarely, if ever use pencil liner but the waterproof eye liner really stays put. I love the texture of it and how it doesn't have to be warmed up like a lot of other pencil liners out there. It doesn't tug at all. This set was such a bargain and a great way for those who like neutrals or haven't tried MUFE to try this great line. The eye shadow palette is great to carry around in my purse for touch-ups during the day or to take your daytime look to a nighttime look. I have to agree that the eye shadow applicator is total crap but otherwise, I am very satisfied with the kit. The box is a bit useless too but I use it to store my everyday stuff so I can find my basics easily.
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Moisturizers -Kanebo - Sensai Silk Emulsion Moist 
nakobear 11/22/2006 8:04:00 PM
Sensai Silk is a line by Kanebo that is geared for women in their 20's. I use the Emulsion as the second step in the double moisturizing program that Kanebo recommends. I use this after the Softening Lotion also in Moist. The moist is geared more towards women with normal & combination skin. I have combination skin that tends to get a little oily after a few hours but with some dry patches on my cheeks and forehead. The texture of this moisturizer is light and doesn't feel heavy like a cream and isn't too greasy feeling and doesn't sit on my skin either. The moist is perfect for nighttime but I feel that it's a little too heavy for daytime as it makes my skin a little oily feeling as the day wears on. I think I prefer the sunscreen emulsion from Kanebo during the day as it doesn't give my skin the oilies as much. After switching to Kanebo Sensai silk, my skin feels and looks so much better. My dry flaky skin is now really hydrated and I have little to no flaking now.
Update: I no longer use Kanebo and have switched to SK-II and their moisturizer is a lot better in terms of hydration and I've noticed that my skintone is a lot more even with SK-II.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Kanebo - Sensai Silk Softening Lotion Moist
nakobear 11/22/2006 7:57:00 PM
Kanebo's Sensai Silk line was created for women in their 20's. This softening lotion is the first step of the double moisturizing program. The Softening lotion comes in "light" which is more for normal to oily skin and "moist" which is geared more towards normal to dry skin. I got the softening lotion in moist as I get some dry patches on my skin. I use this right after cleansing and while it moisturizes a bit it's still not enough so I still use a moisturizer afterwards. It does however get rid of the slight tightness that I feel on my skin after cleansing. The Softening Lotion comes in a glass jar (I'm not a big fan of this...it's so bulky and heavy) and isn't a pump style or anything. It leaves my skin feeling soothed. There is a slight fragrance but nothing too overpowering. Overall, this toner is not bad, but it doesn't do anything spectacular which is why I only gave it three lippies.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Kanebo - Sensai CP City Day Defence Emulsion SPF 23
nakobear 11/22/2006 5:28:00 PM
This is hands down the best sunscreen that I've used. While I wish that it could have had a slightly higher SPF, this stuff is still the best sunscreen that I've tried. There are so many other sunscreens that I've used and many of them don't smell too much like sunscreen, there's still that hint of sunscreen smell that I smell on my face and hands when I apply. This sunscreen does not smell like sunscreen at all and works great as a daytime moisturizer for me. It doesn't leave a whitish cast on my skin nor does it feel too greasy or heavy like a lot of other sunscreens. While I don't like the price very much, I think this is one that I will have to suck up and purchase until I can find a cheaper alternative that works just as well.
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Cleansers -Kanebo - Milky soap
nakobear 11/22/2006 4:36:00 PM
I just got this as a deluxe size GWP with my cleansing oil purchase. I usually use the Creamy Soap but as winter is approaching, my skin has been a bit more dry so I noticed that my skin felt a little tight after washing. I used the Milky soap and my skin did not feel tight or anything at all afterwards. I think for the winter months, I will use the Milky soap instead of the Creamy soap. A little does go a long way with this cleanser so it will probably last awhile. I like the fact that the milky soap is in a pump dispenser unlike the creamy soap. Its easier to handle and more hygenic.
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Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Shine Lipstick 28
nakobear 11/14/2006 8:34:00 PM
Shine lipsticks are my favorite formulation of GA lipsticks. They are definitely moisturizing and they wear really well. #28 is a brown-red shade and a lot of times brown/red colors tend to have a tinge of orange on my pigmented lips. This color shows up more brown with some red (not too dark but not too red either). When it wears off, it leaves a nice stain on my lips.
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Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Shine Lipstick
nakobear 11/14/2006 8:29:00 PM
Armani's Shine lipsticks are my favorite formula. They don't dry out my lips and they leave a slight shine yet wear very well. I bought #28 which is a brown-red color that doesn't turn orange on my pigmented lips.
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Eye Shadow -Cat Cosmetics - Curious
nakobear 11/14/2006 8:12:00 PM
Curious is a beautiful shimmery eggplant purple shade that's perfect to use as a liner and in the crease for a smoky look. Has a great texture like all of Cat's eye shadows.
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Eye Shadow -Giorgio Armani - Eye Shadow #32
nakobear 11/14/2006 5:59:00 PM
#32 is a shimmery white shade with microglitter. While the color is very versatile, the texture of this shadow isn't as silky or as smooth as GA's other shadows. I also didn't like how the glitter doesn't stay put. I got glitter all over my face by the end of the night. If I wanted glitter, I would have gotten Urban Decay.
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Eye Shadow -Giorgio Armani - Eye Shadow #4
nakobear 11/14/2006 5:54:00 PM
#4 is a wonderful soft black eye shadow. It's not chalky like a lot of other matte black shadows and blends beautifully. The texture is silky and I want to say there's a slight sheen (not shimmer though) in this eye shadow. It does apply a little on the sheer side with a brush but when used wet as a liner, it's beautiful. Since it's more of a soft black, it doesn't look as harsh when used as a liner but gives beautiful definition. It's a beautiful shade but definitely not one of the more unique ones in the Armani lines.
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