Blush -Tarte - Amazonian Clay Long-Wear Blush in Tipsy
pastelflower 3/4/2012 4:20:00 PM
Tipsy is ORANGE in the pan and I only swatched it for a laugh but it's really an orange-leaning coral! The redness in it helps it look like a more natural color and it just melts into skin and doesn't look like blush at all! It really looks as if I blush an orangey-coral color. This blush instantly brightens my whole face and I feel really happy whenever I wear it. :D I have to apply it really lightly to avoid clown cheeks but I get different colors by using different brushes. When I use my MAC 109 brush it leans towards coral but when I use my MAC 138 it applies as a light mandarin orange! The formula of tarte's blushes is really top notch and I would buy it again. I'm going to go back and buy Natural Beauty, too!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Luster
pastelflower 3/4/2012 1:29:00 PM
I was in Sephora a few weeks ago and decided to swatch all the Nars blushes just for fun! Luster is very brown and dull in the pan and I would never have looked at it otherwise. I was so surprised when it swatched a beautiful peachy-beige that really complimented my skin. Luster gives a soft layer of color and is perfect for a natural look without being a 'nude' blush. It's just peachy enough to remain a blush and not look like a bronzer. It lasts through a full work day and it hasn't disappointed me once! I have also used it carefully (with a really light hand) as a bronzer! I've tried bronzers in the past but even the lightest were too dark or orange-tinted for me. Luster's beige base helps create some shadows on my face without being too dark and the peach makes it look like a natural, healthy color.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Gaiety
pastelflower 3/4/2012 12:56:00 PM
I've been looking for a soft pink summer blush and Gaiety is it! I'm really impressed with how subtle the color is and how easy it is to apply. Gaiety looks almost neon in the pan but applies as a delicate baby pink that shows up clearly against my skin. Another application on top of the first gives me a slightly bolder cotton candy pink. I don't have to worry about putting too much on because it never darkens/brightens beyond two applications. It's also very long lasting and is still clearly visible after a full day at work. I love this blush and would definitely buy it again!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Neutrogena - Facial Cleansing Bar
pastelflower 12/6/2011 11:05:00 PM
I received a coupon for a free bar and was looking forward to trying this. I thought it would be gentle because it looks like the Purpose soap I used to use as a teenager. Unfortunately, as soon as it touched my skin, it BURNED like nothing else! I washed it off immediately (desperately!) and my skin felt really tight and uncomfortable. I suffered some dryness from it but thank goodness nothing worse happened. This soap definitely needs to be swatch-tested before using!
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Lip Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Lypsyl - Regular Lip Balm
pastelflower 12/6/2011 8:01:00 PM
I'm on my 6th tube and couldn't live without it! I first picked this up because I liked the cute bee slider. The balm itself is fantastic and just melts into my lips. It provides instant relief for chapped or cracked lips but it's not gummy or sticky and my lips just glide across each other after applying. It smells strongly of peppermint and has a cooling tingle that makes my lips feel rejuvenated.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Mildew eye shadow
pastelflower 12/4/2011 9:06:00 PM
This isn't a good color for me. Mildew shows up as a muddy color on my skin, as if I had smudged some dirt over my eye. It also has so much glitter that most of the time I see a golden sheen instead of any color at all. It works well enough as a crease color but I'd prefer to have a shadow with a distinct color and less shimmer.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Humid (Frost)
pastelflower 12/4/2011 9:00:00 PM
I bought this so I could create a green smoky eye with Lucky Green. It's a deep green that stays true-to-color on my skin, without turning muddy or colorless! To my surprise, it's also light enough that I can wear it on its own and it looks really good with other non-green shadows, too. It's really soft, blends extremely well, and stays the same color all day long. It has very sparse shimmer that keeps it from looking too dark on my eyelids.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Lucky Green
pastelflower 12/4/2011 7:41:00 PM
This was the first MAC eyeshadow I tried and I loved it from the moment I saw it. It's a beautiful bright yellow-green that can be applied as a soft wash with a fluff brush or packed on with a more dense brush for stand-out color. It's extremely soft, applies evenly, and blends really easily. The color is really unique and I've found it to be surprisingly easy to wear with a variety of other shades. I took off one lippie because it does fade throughout the day, so I start out with bright shiny green and end up with a soft matte grass green, but both shades are beautiful. It's a unique color that I reach for way more than I thought I would and it's now one of my favorite shadows. I'd definitely repurchase!
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Mascara -Laura Mercier - Full Blown Volume Lash Building Mascara
pastelflower 11/27/2011 6:10:00 PM
This is the only mascara I've tried that gives me the "false eyelashes" look. Super big, super dark, and super dramatic! The formula is easy to apply, coats and defines all my lashes, and adds some volume. It doesn't separate as much as some other mascaras and I think this adds to the illusion of adding volume. The mascara stays put all day and doesn't smear or flake and I can easily remove it with facial wipes. I usually only use it on weekends so I try to get the trial sizes. The trial sizes last me forever and the only negative I can think of is the cost. I'm sure I'll waste a bunch of a full size because I'll never be able to use it all before it goes bad.
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Mascara -Korres - Provitamin B5 & Rice Bran Mascara
pastelflower 11/25/2011 12:46:00 PM
This is my favorite everyday mascara! It applies easily without clumping and does a great job of fully covering my lashes with one application. I feel like it coats my eyelashes and makes them stand out better without giving me a "false eyelashes" or "made up" look. I can also add another layer or two for more definition and color if needed. It stays on my lashes no matter how many layers I wear, with no smudging or flaking, and still comes off easily with make-up remover wipes. I've re-purchased this three times and will continue to do so!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Unlisted Brand - Unii Cosmetics Palette
pastelflower 11/24/2011 12:42:00 PM
I was so excited to get my Unii palette but I think it's a little disappointing compared to what I was expecting. Unii recently updated their palettes and packaging and raised the price $1. They used to be $29 with US shipping and now they're "on sale" for $26 plus $4 shipping. The biggest disappointment is the new design. The steel plate is built into the palette and there is no removable rubber gasket; that part is now solid plastic. It doesn't come apart for cleaning anymore! There's a tiny gap between the plate and the sides and I know powder/dust will get trapped in there with no way to clean it out. It also doesn't "seal" at all and I can see into my palette from the side when it's closed! I wanted plain white and ordered mine in "Crystal." It has small sparkles that remind me of lipgloss or a snowglobe and I'd like it better if it didn't have these. The thumb grip has also changed. It used to be a small Unii logo encased in an acrylic block. Now it's a large rubber logo that wasn't cut from the mold very well (it has chunks of rubber on the side that I'll have to trim off). It's also a little grey around the edges and looks dirty even though it's brand new. Overall, I think it looks less professional and polished than it used to. Without the ability to take it apart for cleaning and without the seal to keep loose/spilled makeup from escaping during travel, it's just a pretty, overpriced palette.
13 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No