Makeup Brushes -MAC - 226 Small Tapered Blending Brush - BBR Collection
piasucks2 1/26/2009 2:07:00 AM
I make myself wait two weeks before I review anything so here I am! This is THE brush to have! I have used this brush everyday since I got it, and have eliminated almost all other eye brushes from my routine because this is so multi-purpose. As with all MAC eye brushes, it's the right length, nice ferrule and handle, appropriate hair, hair length, colour, and cut. I find this brush is also extremely unique with the size of the brush head. This particular brush head is fantastic and makes it as useful as it is. I use it to dust finishing powder underneath my eyes to trap any fallout, or over concealer to set it. I take the brush and stipple it in a colour and then stipple it on my lid to work like a 239. Then, with it's small head, I can use it to line underneath or above my lash line, or create a "v" with any dark shadow I may have, like I would with a 219. After I create these lines I can use the brush in swirling motions, to diffuse the colour, like a 224. I can lay the bristles on its belly on to a colour and swipe that into the crease, and turn it upright and go in swirling motions to blend the crease colour perfectly (222, eat your heart out). I can use this same technique for the "outer corner." I can then stamp the pointed head of the brush in a highlighter colour, than stamp it again on my inner eyelid.. then use sweeping motion with the brush head to diffuse and move the colour up to the brow bone. I can then again lay the bristles on the belly of a highlight colour and highlight right underneath my arch. Perfection. Sheer. Utter. Perfection. I am a brush hoor.. love 'em, have of 'em, have plenty of back-ups. I wear a crease colour everyday. Somedays, I just put a crease colour and a highlight colour and that's it. Previous to this brush coming out, I only had a SK crease brush. Why, do you ask? Why didn't I have several MAC 222s or 224s? Um, because they're awful.. 224 was too big and floppy to do anything for me, and the 222 was too long and akward to use.This brush has all the functions of the other ones but in the nice, perfect package of this brush. I budgeted $0 for BBR, told myself if I wanted something it had to be a l/g, l/s, or an e/s for b2m and that's it. I b2m'd red devil l/g and flip e/s to pacify my addiction.. and then.. I came back to the MAC store a few hours later and I reluctantly bought this brush. I tried my best to hate it, that way I could return it. "It's not that great." "It's all hype." "This isn't unique!" I got a $300 Sephora giftcard (thanks bro!) and then feverishly tried every brush in there. Some came kinda close, but not close enough. No such luck. I took away my "allowances" I set for HK and the other collection coming out so I wouldn't have to return this. I became obsessed and a few days later called my local MAC counter. Nada, been sold out for days. Called my local PRO counter. They laughed at me. Went on MAC online.. yes... my precious was there! I only had $30 allowance for HK (this brush is $27 with tax) so I begged DH to buy a back-up. He agreed, because I told him this could be in lieu of going out to dinner for Valentine's day. :) I did MAC Live Chat so I could get free ship, and soon, my love will be with me again!
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Chanel - Glossimer in Wild Rose
piasucks2 1/4/2009 8:22:00 AM
I was determined to buy something from the Chanel spring collection. Determined. Wild Rose is the most non-offensive, universal product in the whole collection, so I figured I'd start there. It's a really pretty mauvey rose (mid-tone) with tons of micro shimmers, although they're all monochromatic and thus don't stand out like the kind in MAC's dazzleglass. The downside there is when I rub my lips together I can feel the shimmers. It's not super gritty, but for such an expensive gloss, the shimmer can definitely be finer. I don't need my lips exfoliated by my gloss...I usually make sure that's done beforehand. What is not so awesome is that after the gloss wears off (evenly, btw) the shimmers remain, which looks sloppy, strange, and kind of childish. It's also very, very sheer; much more so than the other Chanel glosses. It's not too light or dark, which paired with it's sheerness makes it 100% universal. If you're paler than NC30 or have any slight coolness to your face, this will warm your face up a little bit. Other than that.. I am not impressed at all. My lips still shone through with two applications of the gloss, and it's only slightly buildable - if you keep adding layers then it will look too glittery. If this wear more opaque and had finer shimmer, I could see it be an HG. Once I got home I busted out MAC Soft and Slow gloss, and put S and S on one side of my lips, and Wild Rose on the other half. Wild Rose is about a shade lighter, and pinkier than MAC Soft and Slow (Neo Sci-Fi, Smoke Signals). Soft and Slow has pearl shot throughout it, versus Wild rose's shimmer. Wild Rose's shimmer is visible, though subtle on the lips.. Soft and Slow's is not. Anyway, the side with Wild Rose just looked like I had put some clear gloss with shimmer on it, where the soft and slow side actually came out the colour of the tube, something to be appreciated! I don't want a light, sheer hue of the colour on tube, I want the full-fledged thing! Returning this tomorrow. Another reviewer (there are two reviews for this, check them both out under: Chanel "Wild Rose") has some other variations that may seem like they're more pigmented. HTH!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Styli-Style - Line and Seal 24 -- Deep Purple
piasucks2 10/8/2008 12:56:00 AM
I love this liner. It's a dupe for Lust, but is more of a purple than lust (lust is more indigo than anything). It performs just as good as the 24/7 pencil for 1/3 the price. I got this at my local rite-aid for 5 bucks, but there are always sales so you can get it cheaper. Standard pencil with a nice cap - the liner comes on the skin the same color as the pencil itself. Smooths on really nicely, stays put, and can be layered for more intensity. Wonderful!
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Eyeliner -Sephora - Flashy Liner Waterproof 07 Flashy Copper
piasucks2 9/19/2008 10:46:00 PM
Wow, this product is awesome. I wanna say it is an exact dupe of UD "baked," but it will look different on anyone's skintone. If not an exact dupe, a damn close one, for everyone. It has the 24./7 liner qualities such as super smooth, glide-on application, creamy consistency, GREAT colour payoff, and smudge-proof, budge-proof wear and tear. I have been eyeing BAKED forever but was just so hesitant about spending the 16 bucks, esp when they have the holiday editions of 24/7 with FIVE of them for $30. I saw this out of the corner of my eye and swatched it, perfect!! I 100% recommend this liner!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -MAC - Mineralize Blush - Nuance
piasucks2 7/30/2008 2:06:00 PM
I love this blush.
If you are worried that these will be like MSFs, be more shimmer than colour, have really bad colour-pay off, take forever in applying or will serve as a spotlight for your pores, have no fear. I was you, and was planning on skipping this whole collection. If you are worried that this is a huge glitter or shimmer bomb, than have no fear.
I am the only person (in the world!) that hates MSFs. They are either chunky, glittery, or if they have fine shimmer, they don't have much payoff. They make my pores look huge :(. They make me cry. BUT, I was stopping in to pick up the lippies from electroflash and tried Nuance out.
Ah, the product easily came on to the brush.. Very unlike Warmed or Light Flush! It applied flawlessly, smooth, with no chunks or shimmer particles flying everywhere. On my cheek? A very subtle, pretty, GLOWING (and glowing not by shimmer, but by pearl). I cooed and applied another layer. It wasn't another layer of pearl, but a layer that had colour and sheen. It wasn't oily sheen, or sweaty sheen. I put it down calmly, walked around the mall for a few more hours to shop, spotted myself in mirrors, and took photos with a friends camera. Wow, it photographed well! A few hours later, it was still perfect (how it managed to do that when I live in a sauna, I am unsure) It didn't turn orange, and it wasn't streaky.
My first "shimmery" blush that wasn't returned or swapped.
$21, available wherever MAC is sold.
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Eyeliner -Jane - Mineral Gel Eyeliner - Black
piasucks2 7/6/2008 5:40:00 AM
ZOMG. This is so beautiful!!!
Jane's new Be Pure Mineral Gel Eyeliners retail for $5.99 at your local Walgreens/Wal-Mart. The pots are a whopping 5 grams, and the colors are: Black, Wine Blue (it may have another name than blue, but it's blue) and brown. I had been hearing raves on this so I went ahead and picked up the black and purple.
I have tried every gel liner there is - Stila Smudgepots, MACs fluidline, Bobbi Brown's Ink, Loreal HiP gel liner, I'm sure I'm forgetting others, and now this.
This hands-down is my favorite.
The formula is fantastic - BBs and MACs are very gel-ly, inky, and thus do not come off as opaque as I need. Nor are they as stiff and easy to place. When I need BLACK liner, I need BLACK liner. I'm Indian, so I am used to the kajal - soot-ish eyeliner. Stila and Loreal come in and fill for when that's needed, but alas. Stila's smudgepots are just too thick, when you load the brush you have to put so much pressure that there is too much product and thus, too much of a hot mess. Loreal HiP was one of my favorites, but it dried out in a month, and after two or so weeks, it wasn't as creamy as I'd like. It'd also crumble if it was layered a bit.
These gel liners are a perfect mix - they are not total creams or gels - the consistency is in between. The wine is to die for - it reminds me of MAC Nocturnelle shadow. The black is BLACKER than the Loreal - I did a few experiments and the more dramatic of the two definitely is Jane's.
The brush that it comes with is actually awesome - synthetic bristles. The brush is super short-handled, but the brush is really great, I love using it. The price and amount of product are AMAZING, wow. .5 more grams than the next "cheapest" alternative - Loreal HiP and $3 less to boot.
GO GET IT!!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Jane - Be Pure Mineral Gel Eyeliner
piasucks2 7/6/2008 5:40:00 AM
ZOMG. This is so beautiful!!!
Jane's new Be Pure Mineral Gel Eyeliners retail for $5.99 at your local Walgreens/Wal-Mart. The pots are a whopping 5 grams, and the colors are: Black, Wine Blue (it may have another name than blue, but it's blue) and brown. I had been hearing raves on this so I went ahead and picked up the black and purple.
I have tried every gel liner there is - Stila Smudgepots, MACs fluidline, Bobbi Brown's Ink, Loreal HiP gel liner, I'm sure I'm forgetting others, and now this.
This hands-down is my favorite.
The formula is fantastic - BBs and MACs are very gel-ly, inky, and thus do not come off as opaque as I need. Nor are they as stiff and easy to place. When I need BLACK liner, I need BLACK liner. I'm Indian, so I am used to the kajal - soot-ish eyeliner. Stila and Loreal come in and fill for when that's needed, but alas. Stila's smudgepots are just too thick, when you load the brush you have to put so much pressure that there is too much product and thus, too much of a hot mess. Loreal HiP was one of my favorites, but it dried out in a month, and after two or so weeks, it wasn't as creamy as I'd like. It'd also crumble if it was layered a bit.
These gel liners are a perfect mix - they are not total creams or gels - the consistency is in between. The wine is to die for - it reminds me of MAC Nocturnelle shadow. The black is BLACKER than the Loreal - I did a few experiments and the more dramatic of the two definitely is Jane's.
The brush that it comes with is actually awesome - synthetic bristles. The brush is super short-handled, but the brush is really great, I love using it. The price and amount of product are AMAZING, wow. .5 more grams than the next "cheapest" alternative - Loreal HiP and $3 less to boot.
GO GET IT!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Jane - Mineral Gel Eyeliner - Wine
piasucks2 7/6/2008 5:38:00 AM
zomg. This is so beautiful! Jane's new Be Pure Mineral Gel Eyeliners retail for $5.99 at your local Walgreens/Wal-Mart. The pots are a whopping 5 grams, and the colors are: Black, Wine Blue (it may have another name than blue, but it's blue) and brown. I had been hearing raves on this so I went ahead and picked up the black and purple. I have tried every gel liner there is - Stila Smudgepots, MACs fluidline, Bobbi Brown's Ink, Loreal HiP gel liner, I'm sure I'm forgetting others, and now this. This hands-down is my favorite. The formula is fantastic - BBs and MACs are very gel-ly, inky, and thus do not come off as opaque as I need. Nor are they as stiff and easy to place. When I need BLACK liner, I need BLACK liner. I'm Indian, so I am used to the kajal - soot-ish eyeliner. Stila and Loreal come in and fill for when that's needed, but alas. Stila's smudgepots are just too thick, when you load the brush you have to put so much pressure that there is too much product and thus, too much of a hot mess. Loreal HiP was one of my favorites, but it dried out in a month, and after two or so weeks, it wasn't as creamy as I'd like. It'd also crumble if it was layered a bit. These gel liners are a perfect mix - they are not total creams or gels - the consistency is in between. The wine is to die for - it reminds me of MAC Nocturnelle shadow. The black is BLACKER than the Loreal - I did a few experiments and the more dramatic of the two definitely is Jane's.The brush that it comes with is actually awesome - synthetic bristles. The brush is super short-handled, but the brush is really great, I love using it. The price and amount of product are AMAZING, wow. .5 more grams than the next "cheapest" alternative - Loreal HiP and $3 less to boot. GO GET IT!!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Gentle Simmer Slimshine
piasucks2 6/26/2008 9:34:00 PM
I HATE SLIMSHINES. Slimshines are great: they have wonderful, sleek packaging that's small enough to tote around anywhere. They are smooth, never sticky/tacky, but have enough colour payoff so you don't get upset at yourself for not choosing to wear vaseline instead. They come in gorgeous colours and the formula is great enough so you don't need a liner or any precise application, just slick it on. So why do I hate slimshines!? They are expensive. For ONE ounce of product, it would cost $168.00. $168!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not cheap, but freakin' 200 bucks for one ounce of lipgloss/stick (WOW, LIPSTICK, people) is absolutlely ridiculous. This colour is beautiful. Really pretty. I don't know how ot explain it, and it looks 100% different on everyone. I've had this come out as pinky ice on some, irridescence on others, or a like pink lemonadey colours on others. On me, it's a STUNNING, natural pink with shimmer. I will BAC2MAC for this, but only bac2mac. Because slimshines have that very balmy consistency, you fly through the tube pretty easily.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Magnetic Fields Eye Shadow from Neo Sci-Fi Collection
piasucks2 5/23/2008 5:36:00 PM
OMG, How i love this product. Like the other reviewers mentioned, this is not a brown.. its a taupe. I am extremely warm-toned (think the Simpsons) so I never thought I would be able to take on a deep taupe. This shadow is freaking gorgeous and looks amazing on everyone. I thought I would be buying the entire nei-sci fi collection twice over (back-ups) but honestly, the only back up I'm getting is this shadow..it's perfect, gorgeous, and unique. It has a slight sparkle in it that isn't chunky at all, nor does it compromise the integrity of the shadow. Satin taupe on the lid and this in the crease = sex. Love it!
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Blush -MAC - Beauty Powder Blush in Secret Blush
piasucks2 3/24/2008 1:44:00 AM
This is an absolutely beautiful shade of... Well, I don't know how to describe it. MAC website says plum, but I don't want to scare people off and say it looks like plum. It just looks beautiful, healthy, and fancy. The shimmer is barely noticeable, (although I still would like a completely matte version of this) and you buff it enough, it's luminous verfsus shimmery. The product goes on nicely, has pretty nice pigmentation (two swipes are enough) and lasts a LONG time! I love! May have to get a back up of this. I'm about a NC 35ish, very yellow undertone, but I think this could be very universal - paler people should use a skunk and they will be all set. Perfect!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Bare Escentuals - Bare Minerals ALL
piasucks2 2/3/2008 9:18:00 AM
THIS IS THE WORST PRODUCT IN THE WORLD, I am sure of it. I originally dismissed BE, but then gave it a try. I LOVED it, I thought it was the most beautiful, natural looking thing ever. Note that I was starting my thesis when I first bought it. It made my pores look a little bit bigger, so I put some finishing powder to help with that and dismissed it. My face looks amazing, so who cares that some of the pores near my nose are bigger!? And then I noticed BE (lack of) longevity. This stuff didn't last at all. Not a big deal, I thought. My face looks flawless, and they have one of those travel kits. I'll just bring it with me and swipe some on every few hours. And then I saw what it looked like after just 3 hours in an air conditioned lecture hall. My barely oily skin started breaking through the powder, and mixed to a horrible mess. AWFUL. Just awful. Not a big deal, I said. So I used some primer beforehand, the BE, and then Oil Blotting powder over it. And then I also applied it every 3 or 4 hours. Then one day, I was walking to a meeting and grabbed a mirror to look at myself while walking. I stopped dead in my tracks and was late to my meeting. I tried BE in the stores, always looked at in indoor lighting, and at times put it on with natural sunlight in the room... but this was looking at it while I was in the sunlight, with my mirror. HORRIBLE. Oompa Loompa, shiny, glitter, awful mess. I wanted to cry. I wiped off what I could, went to my meeting, and went to my work and told her the awful news. She just kinda stood there and after a few minutes, she quietly remarked that the entire time she "didn't think it was quite the shade" for me. UM. This was THE best colour match for me! What do you mean it didn't work!? These were just the problems with the pore maximizing, un- flattering oil control, longevity and colour match issues. Whatever, I looked like a pasty, big-pore, oompa loompa for a month, who cares; I'm married. The big problems are the permanent ones. This gave me the worst, most painful, cystic acne ever. I previously never even had pimples unless it was my period. Remember how I said I was doing my thesis earlier? Yeah. The lack of sleep, the being up all night, the stress, the not being consistent with the skincare regimen, and the horrible diet.. all of that I blamed for my new acne. After I quit the BE and was unable to find a replacement (due to money and time issues) I just let my skin be without the BE and take care of itself. Acne? Gone. I couldn't believe it. So I did an experiment where (for one day where I was at the library) I put the BE back on. My face started getting dry, and of course my pores were huge, and I was shiny. That night and the next day? Woke up to a face FULL of flare ups, whiteheads, acne, and redness. WOW. Leslie Blodgett is AWFUL!!!!!
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Bare Escentuals - Medium Tan
piasucks2 2/3/2008 9:17:00 AM
THIS IS THE WORST PRODUCT IN THE WORLD, I am sure of it. I originally dismissed BE, but then gave it a try. I LOVED it, I thought it was the most beautiful, natural looking thing ever. Note that I was starting my thesis when I first bought it. It made my pores look a little bit bigger, so I put some finishing powder to help with that and dismissed it. My face looks amazing, so who cares that some of the pores near my nose are bigger!? And then I noticed BE (lack of) longevity. This stuff didn't last at all. Not a big deal, I thought. My face looks flawless, and they have one of those travel kits. I'll just bring it with me and swipe some on every few hours. And then I saw what it looked like after just 3 hours in an air conditioned lecture hall. My barely oily skin started breaking through the powder, and mixed to a horrible mess. AWFUL. Just awful. Not a big deal, I said. So I used some primer beforehand, the BE, and then Oil Blotting powder over it. And then I also applied it every 3 or 4 hours. Then one day, I was walking to a meeting and grabbed a mirror to look at myself while walking. I stopped dead in my tracks and was late to my meeting. I tried BE in the stores, always looked at in indoor lighting, and at times put it on with natural sunlight in the room... but this was looking at it while I was in the sunlight, with my mirror. HORRIBLE. Oompa Loompa, shiny, glitter, awful mess. I wanted to cry. I wiped off what I could, went to my meeting, and went to my work and told her the awful news. She just kinda stood there and after a few minutes, she quietly remarked that the entire time she "didn't think it was quite the shade" for me. UM. This was THE best colour match for me! What do you mean it didn't work!? These were just the problems with the pore maximizing, un- flattering oil control, longevity and colour match issues. Whatever, I looked like a pasty, big-pore, oompa loompa for a month, who cares; I'm married. The big problems are the permanent ones. This gave me the worst, most painful, cystic acne ever. I previously never even had pimples unless it was my period. Remember how I said I was doing my thesis earlier? Yeah. The lack of sleep, the being up all night, the stress, the not being consistent with the skincare regimen, and the horrible diet.. all of that I blamed for my new acne. After I quit the BE and was unable to find a replacement (due to money and time issues) I just let my skin be without the BE and take care of itself. Acne? Gone. I couldn't believe it. So I did an experiment where (for one day where I was at the library) I put the BE back on. My face started getting dry, and of course my pores were huge, and I was shiny. That night and the next day? Woke up to a face FULL of flare ups, whiteheads, acne, and redness. WOW. Leslie Blodgett is AWFUL!!!!!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Philosophy - The Supernatural Brush
piasucks2 2/3/2008 8:58:00 AM
I am going to order a back-up of this soon just in case someone ever steals it (LOL) or I lose it! This brush is just perfect. I think it's wonderful and THE BIGGEST UPGRADE EVER from that damn BE Handy Buki brush that tore my face apart with its rough bristles. The supernatural brush is classy looking, with a great ferrule and handle. The brush head is PERFECT, and gives me the most airbrushed look ever. I absolutely hate brushes that aren't dense, so this brush is the brush for me. It works perfectly, is so dense, and whatever hair it is is appropriate for putting on MMU. A TRUE winner!!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -MAC - Curiositease: 5 Cool Pigments and Glitter
piasucks2 1/15/2008 3:04:00 AM
I am the goddess of shimmery browns, golds, champagnes/ambers, so when I saw curiositiease came out, I ran immediately and bought the warm pigment set. It was awful - too much sparkle! I love shimmer and glitter, and I'm only 22, but my god.. I feel as if I was going to be carded wherever I went with all that glitter! I never even thought about the cool pigment set as an option until I saw one of the MAs, who was middle eastern, but had my coloring with softwash grey on. I tried it on and I loved it, it's the most flattering color on my darker skin. Dark skinned and eyed ladies, this is a MUST! Helium is a beautiful sheen and highlighted when buffed into the skin. Naval blue didn't have nearly the color payoff as it should, but when foiled with fix+, it makes dark brown eyes POP. Reflects blue was perfect to brighten and make these not-so-shimmery pigments revved up if you wanted it for a night out. Forest green... eh, but then I tried it in the crease with romp - sex in a vial! The set was $35ish dollars I think, so $7 per vial, which isn't bad. The uniqueness of this pigment set is where it fails - naval blue, reflects blue, and I believe forest green are permanent, with softwash grey and helium being released a few months earlier with baloonacy. The packaging is cute, but sucks. Get empty jars (EM!) and fill them up with them, or go to starsmakeuphaven to pick up some empty pans and press them!
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