Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Rodin - Olio Lusso
proflady 8/29/2012 1:54:00 AM
Ok, true confession, and it is embarrassing. I bought this insanely expensive oil a while back, tried it a few times, felt it was too scented for a face product, and swapped it away. I counted it as a crazy purchase. Then last month, I saw that there is a set with travel samples of all the Rodin products and since I liked the smell (just not for a face product), I bought it in another crazy moment. Loved all the other products so I decided to try the face oil again. Well, it is fabulous. I used it more sparingly, and the smell didn't bother me as much. Once I used it for a few days straight, I was so happy with the results. This makes my skin moisturized, supple, glowing, kind of radiant. Over time, it has reduced if not eradicated the little breakouts that I get. I get compliments on my skin! My sensitive skin is not at all irritated but it. I know that people say that you can make your own version of this, but I personally wouldn't know how to get the proportions right or the high quality oils to do that. Yes, it is really expensive, but I use 2 drops per application and my skin looks awesome. Really, really awesome.
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Eye Makeup Remover -Make Up For Ever - Sens Eyes
proflady 11/11/2009 9:25:00 PM
I've been using Lancome's Bifacil for years and don't need to switch, but I'm a sucker for hype. So I bought Sens Eyes during Sephora's F&F. I wanted to love this. I read the reviews and the raves on the boards, but I am disappointed. I am giving it 2 rather than 1 stars because it did remove my eye makeup exceptionally well. No residue, no leftover smudges, and it left my eye area moisturized. Sounds great, right? Well, no. First, when I pumped some of the bottle, I realized that it is a lotion-like consistency. I am really used to Bifacil, which is a liquid, so this surprised me. Like all eye makeup removers, it is impossible not to get some of this in my eyes while using it, and because it is thick and goopy like a lotion, my vision got blurry, even after rinsing. I HATE that, but I might have put up with it. Then, it made my eyes itch, not terribly, but enough that I was uncomfortable. The slight itch continued the next morning, and I had some crust around my eyes when I woke up, perhaps because of the product that I never got out of my eyes. None of this happens with Bifacil, so back to that remover for me.
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Eye Primer -Artdeco - Eyeshadow Base
proflady 9/29/2009 6:25:00 PM
In terms of performance, I want to give this MORE than 5 stars. I like it better than UDPP because it doesn't settle into the crease on my middle-aged lids. My shadow also goes on so smoothly and evenly even when I'm sloppy and rushed, and the effect lasts all day -- no fading. You just have to be careful not to apply too much. It really is an awesome primer. Why four lippies, you ask? The scent. Ugh. Why make an eye product that smells so strongly of cheap men's cologne. I hate that. However, after much consideration, I will suffer the smell and keep using this. I will even buy it again, and I hate heavily scented products. Just be warned that the scent is overpowering.
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Blush -By Terry - Rose de Rose Sheer Liquid Blush
proflady 8/3/2009 4:57:00 PM
Crazy expensive? Yes. Absolutely gorgeous and unique product. Yes!!! I have this is #1 Fresh Rose, and I think that it is a truly fabulous liquid blush. It gives a lovely rosey glow, not as warm as it looks in the bottle, but not too cool either, very neutral. On me it is the exact color that my skin gets when I'm in the sun or cold (for reference, I am a PPP, KA SSE 1, lighter than all MAC fx shades). It has a sheen to it that makes skin glow. It blends wonderfully too which makes it seamless and natural-looking. Depending on how much product I use, I can get a very delicate natural effect or a bolder cheek, which makes me think that it would work on darker skin tones. I was worried about the pump bottle because the first time I used it, way too much product came out and I do NOT want to waste such expensive stuff. But strangely it is easy to control the pump if you do it gently. A truly unique and HG blush, as I've never, ever used a liquid like this.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -NARS - Silk Road Duo
proflady 8/1/2009 6:47:00 AM
I'm really disappointed with this new NARS duo, but for a very specific reason that may not apply to everyone. Yes, the two colors are gorgeous and are something that I've been waiting for -- a rosier, slightly darker, still shimmery version of AAE. They could be very versatile neutral colors to add to NARS' range of neutrals, which, as the Best palette shows, are really amazing. However, as the previous reviewer noted, these colors are full of what Sephora calls "gold fleck" -- in other words, gold glitter. Yes, the glitter is not as chunky as in some other NARS duos, but there is a lot of it, and it is noticeable. Despite trying these colors with primer AND another fixative, I found myself with gold glitter fallout all over my face. Some women may like the glitter, but honestly I think that it is ridiculous to put it into shadows that are neutral because, for me, it makes them essentially unwearable during the day or to work which is when I'd like to wear them. If you don't mind glitter, then ignore my 2 stars, but if you avoid that sort of thing, be warned that this could be a disappointing and not very versatile duo for you.
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Chantecaille - Aquablush in Radiance
proflady 7/25/2009 5:45:00 PM
Let me start by admitting that I am a highlighter addict. I have too many to count, and after trying them all, this is one of my top 3 ever. I first used a Chantecaille Aquablush in Charming, which, true to its name, is a blush, and I fell in love with the texture -- cool, light, not at all greasy, super blendable, totally unique like water on the skin (hence the name). Then I tried this -- a nude shimmer with both gold and silver tones to it. It has the same wonderful texture as the blushes. The shimmer is incredibly fine and natural looking, much more so than say NARS Copacabana, and so it gives a super natural glow anywhere that you apply it. I put it everywhere, but my favorite use is to buff it into my cheeks over cream blush using a cream blush brush. It gives that gorgeous glowy look that celebrities and models have. Yes, it is expensive but absolutely worth it.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -BeneFit Cosmetics - Velvet Eyeshadow Where There's Smoke
proflady 7/23/2009 6:28:00 PM
This is now one of my very favorite taupes, even a HG, and that is after trying a LOT of taupes. Here's what I love about it -- lovely medium taupe with both gray and brown undertones so it doesn't pull too much one way or the other. Great pigmentation and very buildable -- I can do a light wash that looks beautiful or use it for a smoky eye. The amount of shimmer is medium and very fine, so it's just right, not sparkly but with a gorgeous sheen. It is pigmented enough that I can even wear it without primer, or I can intensify it with primer or mixing medium. The texture is so smooth and blendable. I can't recommend it highly enough.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Josie Maran Cosmetics - Lipstick 
proflady 6/21/2009 8:31:00 AM
I bought a Josie Maran lipstick in Mysterious -- a lovely burgundy wine color -- and I had such high hopes, esp. since this line is organic. Unfortunately I hated this lipstick with a passion. It has the weirdest consistency: kind of waxy yet slippery. It didn't apply evenly at all because it's not creamy, and so my lips looked like a hot mess, darker in some places than others and just plain messy. I returned it and sampled some other colors at Sephora, but they were all similar in texture and application. Very disappointed.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Chanel - turbulent
proflady 6/20/2009 4:21:00 PM
If I could write poetry, I would write an ode to this blush. In the compact, it looks ridiculously bright, but applied lightly (I use MAC 187 brush since I am a super pale PPP) it gives the most incredibly beautiful cool pink glow. It has a similar effect as Narcisse on me but is more pigmented and with no warm tones at all. There is very fine shimmer, but it doesn't look shimmery when applied, just glowy. I ADORE this. It was worth the extra money that I spent getting it because it's discontinued.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Rock & Republic - Contrived Blush - Call Me [DISCONTINUED]
proflady 5/18/2009 5:48:00 PM
This is now my HG blush! It is hard to explain how much I adore it. As the other review said, it is a gorgeous peachy pink with some shimmer, deeply and more pigmented than Orgasm, a bit more pink and less shimmery than The Balm Hot Mama. It is just what I've been looking for. I get many compliments when I wear it. It is everything that I wanted Orgasm and Hot Mama to be -- a better balance of pink and peach and with just enough shimmer to give a glow without being obvious. I also have to say that it is one of the most perfectly pigmented blushes that I have ever used(highly pigmented but not over the top for this PPP), and that is coming from someone who has over 100 blushes. Expensive but absolutely worth it.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Chanel - Narcisse [DISCONTINUED]
proflady 4/18/2009 10:07:00 PM
I adore this blush. I am a PPP (lighter than NW10, Kevyn Aucoin SSE 01), and this gives me a gorgeous soft pink color with the slightest peachy cast to it. What I love most, which some other reviewers have mentioned, is that it creates an incredible glowing effect, especially over La Mer powder, but in general, no matter what I'm wearing. But there is no shimmer to worry about. Holy grail blush for me and it got me addicted to JCs.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -BeneFit Cosmetics - Coralista
proflady 4/1/2009 7:42:00 PM
I adore this blush! It is a gorgeous pinky coral (definitely pink-based) with just the perfect amount of shimmer, so it adds a lovely glow to my cheeks. I get so many compliments on this. It is very natural looking and a perfect color for spring -- quite versatile too. It is sheer enough to be natural but pigmented enough to add a fair bit of color. I will say that I'm a PPP (super pale), so I'm not sure how this will show up on darker skin tones.
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Loose Powders -La Mer - Skincolor De La Mer - The Powder - Poudre de La Mer
proflady 3/21/2009 11:47:00 AM
I adore this powder! I have it in translucent, as I am super PPP and was worried that the other shades would be too dark. It gives me exactly the finish that I want -- natural and glowy -- and it lasts all day. My skin is normal/slightly combo, so I'm not sure how this would be on very oily skin, but with mine it blots any shine without a masky, matte finish. It makes me glow with the faintest hint of shimmer, but it is certainly not really shimmery. It also makes a great base for powder blush. I have gotten compliments on my skin since wearing it. Also, and I KNOW that this might sound crazy, but I swear that it is good for my skin. My skin has gotten more even since I started wearing it. Maybe a coincidence, but I thought that I would mention it. The only downside is the packaging. They have switched to a less ridiculously heavy jar recently, but it is still bulky. You definitely need to sift some out to travel. But for me that's a small price to pay for a powder that leaves my skin looking so incredible. Bye bye Becca powder! Hello La Mer!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Frederic Fekkai - Moisturizing Body Wash w/ Shea Butter
proflady 1/18/2004 10:57:00 AM
I think that I have found my HG staple body wash. This stuff is incredibly creamy, lathers luxuriously, and leaves my skin so soft and hydrated that I can skip the moisturizer if it isn't too cold! I also love the scent -- a light floral citrus that just smells clean and doesn't compete with fragrances. Yes, it is expensive but a little goes a long way. I've been looking for a product like this for what seems like forever, so I'm very happy to have found this.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Midimauve Lustre Lipstick
proflady 1/4/2004 1:38:00 PM
I can see how this lipstick color might not work for everyone, but on my PPP complexion and pink, highly pigmented lips, it is the perfect YLBB shade. It is a moist mauve-rose with slight shimmer. When applied heavily, it has a slight gray undercast that creates an interesting nude look. I adore this.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No