Highlighters -MAC - Whisper of Gilt
skaroncita 4/6/2012 1:29:00 PM
For reference, I'm NC25, blue-green eyes, medium brown hair, yellow undertones. Whisper of Gilt is a highlighter in MAC's In Extra Dimension collection, which debuted last week. It's very pretty -- subtle but still shimmery, and a lovely golden color, much warmer than Lightscapade (re-released in the Reel Sexy collection). I also tried Superb, another highlighter in the In Extra Dimension collection, and Soft and Gentle, a permanent Mineralize Skinfinish. Superb was nice, but it was much darker, working more as a blush than a highlighter. And I liked Soft and Gentle, but it was cooler and more silvery than Whisper of Gilt, and didn't look as good with my yellow-undertoned skin. Word of warning, though: the MUA said you can't use these highlighters on eyes or lips, due to the type of pigment used in the product.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Body Time Egyptian Musk
skaroncita 3/19/2011 12:30:00 PM
Ugh. I just received this in the mail, and I'm not a happy camper. I opened the bottle and immediately noticed that (a) the scent was barely detectable, and (b) what I could smell didn't smell like Egyptian musk. Egyptian musk is traditionally made with rose and patchouli, but what I love about the fragrance are the other notes -- such as amber, cedar, myrrh, vanilla, and almond -- that lend it depth. I don't get any of that in Body Time's Egyptian musk. Applied to my skin, the fragrance smells strange and unpleasant. It smells cloying and sour -- bleaah. I'm just hoping I can return or exchange this for something else.
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Fragrances -Kuumba Made - Egyptian Musk
skaroncita 3/1/2011 5:49:00 PM
I tried this at Whole Foods and loved the way the tester smelled on me. (I love the scent of Egyptian Musk.) Several days later I returned and bought a vial, but after wearing if for the last few days, I'm really disappointed. The rollerball itself smells like Egyptian Musk, but after I apply it on my skin, all I smell is sandalwood. The scent also fades very quickly. I'm not sure why there's such a discrepancy between the way the tester smelled on me versus the take-home product, but I'm going to keep looking till I find an Egyptian Musk that smells like, well, Egyptian Musk on my skin.
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Lipstick -Dr. Hauschka - Transparent Pink (07)
skaroncita 2/20/2011 7:06:00 PM
I just bought my first Dr. Hauschka lipstick, and I'm impressed by its creamy consistency, pigmentation and long-lasting color. It feels great on my lips -- very moisturizing -- and the color lasts several hours. However, I'm going to exchange the shade I purchased (Transparent Pink #7) for another color, because #7 is too bright on my highly-pigmented lips. It reads more like fuchsia -- pretty, but not what I was going for. Still, a great product, and one that I'll definitely buy again (in a different color).
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Chanel - Rouge Coco in Rose Comete
skaroncita 5/23/2010 10:43:00 PM
Me: Fair, NC25, blue eyes, yellow undertones.
I thought I'd found the perfect cool-toned, Barbie-pink lipstick when I tried MAC's Pink Nouveau. I loved the color, but the formula completely dried out my lips. After scouring every makeup counter in Macy's for something similar, I happened upon Rose Comete. True, it's lighter than Pink Nouveau -- swatched on my hand, it's a dead-ringer for MAC Viva Glam Gaga. But on my lips it feels more creamy and moisturizing than Gaga; the Chanel formula is really lovely.
Rose Comete also has a lot of shimmer in it, which is why I still haven't purchased it. (I love shimmer, but part of me feels like if I'm going to fork over $30 for a lipstick, it should be a little more... versatile.) But the color is beautiful -- a fun shade for summer, and perfect for those in search of a very cool, very shimmery pink.
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Hair Color -L'Oreal - Excellence Creme
skaroncita 5/13/2009 11:29:00 AM
I just used this product for the first time, and couldn't be happier with the result. My hair is naturally light brown, and I've been growing out some old highlights that had turned reddish and brassy. I wanted to dye the old color to match my natural roots, without going too dark. I chose a cool tone (Light Ash Brown, 6A) to try to counteract the brassiness. The applicator was easy to use -- the multi-pronged tip made it easy to avoid depositing color on my roots, and only target the 'problem' areas -- and I liked the pre-treatment serum for dry ends. I'm really happy with the way it turned out -- my color looks incredibly natural, and blends into my roots. Not too light, not too dark. Lovely! *UPDATE* Eh, nevermind. The lovely brown faded quickly and went quite reddish. Wouldn't re-purchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Original (UDPP)
skaroncita 10/24/2007 12:04:00 PM
Wonderful product - does exactly what it promises. The trick is not to over-apply. I dab just a bit on each eye lid (think: grain of rice), blend it over the lid, and then apply eye make-up. Works wonderfully, particularly with MAC pigments. And the tube will last me forever.
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Shampoo -Clairol - Shimmer Lights
skaroncita 10/24/2007 11:57:00 AM
This stuff made me believe in the power of hair products. I got highlights a couple weeks ago, and was feeling really sad about how they turned out - they were supposed to be a mix of caramel brown and dark blond, but they turned brassy and reddish after two shampoos. Enter Shimmer Lights! My hair is now sleek, shiny, and soft, and the color is looking lovely. I actually got compliments on it yesterday! Hooray! The best $7.99 I ever spent...
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Lip Gloss -Hard Candy - Sweet Spot Lip Gloss
skaroncita 5/30/2007 1:19:00 PM
My friend has this in Hippie Chick, and I love it! It's a beautiful golden melon color with lots of shine. I think this shade would look great on warm and cool skin. I love the slanted tip, too.
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Lip Gloss -Chanel - Praline Glossimer
skaroncita 5/27/2007 2:54:00 PM
My sister has this gloss - it's gorgeous and has great staying power. I use it every time I'm at her house! I just checked the Chanel website, though, and couldn't find it listed with their Glossimers. Hopefully it hasn't been discontinued?
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Eye Shadow -MAC - e/s in Mylar
skaroncita 5/23/2007 5:36:00 PM
I was disappointed in this shade - it hardly showed up on my skin, and the texture was chalky and difficult to blend. I swapped it away almost immediately. I think Nylon or Vanilla would be a better bet.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Sumptuous Olive (Veluxe pearl)
skaroncita 5/21/2007 7:37:00 PM
I always get compliments when I wear Sumptuous Olive! Gorgeous green/khaki/gold color - I use it as a liner (wet) or in the crease. Blends wonderfully and looks beautiful with coco pigment. I didn't think I could rock this color (I have blue eyes and pale skin w/ yellow undertones), but it looks amazing. I liked it much better than Greensmoke.
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Polishes -Essie - Fed Up
skaroncita 11/12/2005 11:21:00 AM
I compared Fed Up to OPI's Coney Island Cotton Candy and Samoan Sand, and Essie's Nude Beach, and definitely liked Fed Up the best. It's a very subtle, sheer, non-streaking neutral that makes your nails look polished - just what I wanted. Coney Island is pretty but a bit too milky-pink to be nude; I also noticed it was a little streaky. Samoan Sand is also nice, but more opaque than Fed Up - I can see why some people find it too brown for them. And Nude Beach just wasn't what I wanted: it's a sheer pink with blue-green micro glitter, which was pretty noticable on my nails. If you're looking for a subtle, lovely nude, Fed Up's the way to go.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Origins - Glowing Amber Liquid Lip Color
skaroncita 11/11/2005 10:59:00 PM
I received Glowing Amber as a holiday gift almost 4 years ago, and then misplaced it for a while... well, it's back in rotation and *still* looks great and has that delicious minty smell and taste! (Probably not the most sanitary idea to keep lipglosses for 4 years, but hey.) I love this shade, and was so sad that it was LE. It's the perfect sheer golden color with just enough shimmer to be pretty - without looking like you're thirteen. I'm definitely going to look into purchasing more Origins liquid lip colors.
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Lipstick -Clinique - Colour Surge Bare Brilliance - Blushing Coral
skaroncita 9/6/2005 7:55:00 PM
A lovely, *lovely" MLBB shade! Wow! On my PPP skin, Blushing Coral is a sheer, beautifully natural pink. Not too Barbie, not too red, not too coral, not too nude. Just perfect! Yay!
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