Lip Gloss -MAC - Boy Bait Cremesheen
spunky456 5/20/2010 3:40:00 AM
This is a gorgeous, milky, no-sparkle no-frost lipgloss. The formula is less sticky than lipglass. It is the perfect translucent nude colour on me - no pink hue to this at all, so it complements the rest of my makeup no matter if I've used peachy blush or pinky blush or bronze or plum or whatever! Have bought a backup. This is the beginning of a serious relationship. ♥ ♥
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Murad - Resurgence Age Balancing Night Cream
spunky456 5/13/2010 2:40:00 PM
I purchased this as part of the Resurgence kit that Sephora has, on a whim. Of the four products in that kit, I love this cream and the serum the most, and have purchased full sizes of both of these. Expensive, but I think worth it. I'm 30, my skin is normal with a tendency to be oilier in T zone in summer, and drier patches on cheeks in winter. I was prompted to buy this after the convincing ads on TV, and noticing more fine lines develop over the last few years, and freckles/discolourations from too much sun when I was a longtime lifeguard. I still get breakouts occasionally and so I wanted a product that would kind of address both issues. I dislike heavy night creams and before this, was using Impruv cream in the winter, and Clinique's DDML rest of year. I found the texture of this similar to my Impruv cream, it's more emollient than the DDML. But it's not heavy or greasy, and a small amount smooths easily over the skin. I apply this every night after the serum (which I also reviewed), and I'm not sure which of the two products I'm seeing the results from, but I am DEFINITELY seeing results. Thrilled to say that after 2 months of regular use before bed, my skin is much smoother, dry patches have vanished, and applying concealer and foundation now is SO much nicer because of it. Not sure if I notice a big difference in the fine lines, but mine aren't bad anyway. And the thing I am most happy about is the fact that my enlarged pores and dry skin around my nose that I've battled forever have completely vanished. I can't believe it. Never had a product be so effective on skin tone and texture. Will definitely be repurchasing, though it's a little pricey, a little goes a long way.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Murad - Resurgence Age-Diffusing Serum
spunky456 5/13/2010 2:13:00 PM
Bought this in the trial pack of 4 products, and of all the things in the kit I like this serum and the night cream the most. The two of those products have really worked magic on my skin!! I am 30 with normal skin that tends to be oilier T-zone in summer, dry cheeks in winter. I still get occasional breakouts (sigh) and over the last couple of years have noticed more fine lines appearing around my eyes and more freckles - I chalk this up to years of lifeguarding and a bad habit of squinting. Anyway I was quite impressed by the infomercials for the line on TV, and bought the kit in Sephora on a whim. I have been using the serum and night cream every night for almost two months now, and the results have REALLY impressed me. My skin is undeniably much smoother overall and has a more even tone. Some of the age spots/freckles have faded. One thing I'm super thrilled about, is after many years of having difficulties with blackheads and enlarged pores around my nose, these seem to have vanished!! I can't believe it. My concealer and foundation goes on so much nicer now that the pesky dry patches I had have disappeared as well. The serum comes in a hygenic pump bottle which I like. One pump JUST covers my whole face. Texture is light, silky and easy to apply. Occasionally I get a little stinging sensation, but I can tolerate it. I have made the mistake of applying on my eyelids and they get REALLY angry about this, one day I think they even got a little dry/chapped skin reaction. So be very careful to steer cleer of immediate eye area. I will definitely repurchase this. Since I've been using the Age-Balancing Night Cream with it, hard to say if all the great results are because of the serum, or the cream, or the two together. Will definitely repurchase and have recommended to several friends who have been happy too!
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Smashbox - Mascara
spunky456 5/13/2007 11:41:00 PM
Smudges, flakes, awful. By the end of the day there is always a fine dusting of black under my eyes, and if I so much as touch my lashes with a finger, it flakes off black. I will stick to my Clinique and Maybelline mascaras.
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Blush -NARS - Exhibit A
spunky456 7/29/2006 7:32:00 PM
Can't say enough about this blush. There isn't much that I can say either that hasn't already been said below. I'm NC20 with green eyes and I apply it lightly with my MAC skunk brush. To complete the flushed-from-the-sun look I use stila lip glaze in orange. If I need to tone it down I sweep Nico or some loose powder on top, and this makes it look like the glow is coming from within. Gorgeous, and I can't find a dupe anywhere.
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Treatments -Avene - Diacneal Acne Treatment [DISCONTINUED]
spunky456 7/23/2006
Curious about the good reviews, I bought this hoping to do something about my hormonal chin-area breakouts. I've been using it for about 3 weeks now and really feel it has prevented these breakouts. It's also a great spot treatment on any spots that are threatening to develop into something bad. It might be my imagination, but it has slightly faded some of my post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and scars from past pimples that I was too aggressive with. I hope it keeps working as well. Only drawback is the price (a wee investment, and it would have been sucky if this HADN'T worked) and the colour. It's a bright yellow, so I can only use it at night. And it's slightly stinky. But hell, all of those things are better than zits! EDIT: This product stopped working well for me shortly after this review. I have since found other products that have helped (I use sulfur-containing treatments and see my reviews on Murad's products)
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Self Tanners -Vaseline - Healthy Body Glow Daily Moisturizer - Medium [DISCONTINUED]
spunky456 7/4/2006 7:35:00 PM
This is my favourite gradual self-tanner (for a bigger change pronto I love and use St. Tropez's Lotion). I've tried Oil of Olay's, Jergen's, Loreal Sublime Bronze gel, and this one has the best smell, and the best colour, with the least streaking. I'm fair (NC20) and I find this is the only self-tanner I can put on when I'm at my pastiest, and it will develop very subtly. Before using I always rub in a bit of plain lotion on my ankles, feet, knees, hands and elbows so it doesn't sink in to them so much and look odd. When I'm done I also take a nail brush and scrub my palms and hands with soap, then reapply the lotion to the backs of my hands with a cosmetic sponge. It looks really quite brown and natural -- not orange, which has always been my problem. Cheap. I wish it came in a pump bottle.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Maybelline - Dream Mousse Blush in Coffee Cake
spunky456 6/27/2006 9:05:00 PM
I bought this mousse after being very happy with my other purchase, soft plum. The colour of this blush looks innocent enough in the jar. Once I got it on my face, I got a nasty surprise - it turned a BAD orange. Just looked ridiculous. Didn't even look bronzey, which, in my opinion isn't what a "coffee" colour is supposed to look like either. I'm NC20, maybe someone who's warmer can pull this off. Texture is great, just like the other one I have, but I'm very disappointed with the colour and would not buy again.
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Blush -NARS - Creme Blush in Cactus Flower
spunky456 6/5/2006 7:37:00 PM
Cactus Flower is a very blendable watermelon-red blush. I'm NC20/NW20, blonde, green eyes. Gives me a very natural flush. This is my favourite blush to reach for when I don't want pink or peach cheeks - I find it's the best blush to pair with red or coral lips. The shimmer is gold but very subtle on me. Looks awesome with a tan/bronzer. I will definitely repurchase.
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Lipstick -MAC - Gleam Lipstick
spunky456 5/17/2006 11:16:00 PM
I'm a NC/NW20 (very neutral) with dark blonde hair, green eyes. Wearing this lipstick instantly makes me look like I am FREEZING COLD. Wow, fun trick! But not pretty. It should be called "Cyanosis." It's very metallic looking (good call on the 'robot' descriptions earlier) and not at all flattering on me. This could look fine on someone of different colouring (darker NW's maybe?) and perhaps I'll give it another shot when I'm tan this summer. In the meantime it has been relegated to the bottom of my stash.
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Blush -L'Oreal - Blush Delice - Front-Page Peach
spunky456 5/10/2006 2:01:00 PM
I am NC or NW 20 (very neutral) with blonde hair and green eyes. This blush is truly beautiful. To compare it with Orgasm, FPP is a finer texture with more pigment -- I have to be lighter-handed with FPP. It gives a very GLOWY look which will be great in the coming months when I'm tan. Much glowier than Orgasm, which has more fine sparkles I think. I have never seen Milani Luminous so I can't make a comparison. It's really too bad, like so many fabulous products, that it's LE. Although I can't imagine using it up; it's a nice large square pan, larger than Orgasm anyway. I would definitely recommend this to fair ladies like myself if you can get your hands on it. Expensive for D/S, but reasonable price for such a nice colour and texture.
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Blush -MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish - Porcelain Pink
spunky456 4/17/2006 6:57:00 PM
I'm NC20 and on me, this is too pale to serve as a blush. It's a light pink with gold threaded through it. I use it for a bit of all over shimmer with a big powder brush, or use a smaller stiffer brush to go over just cheekbones and browbones. Gives a very pretty pink-candlelit look. Looks great over bronzer and makes my face look more polished. I hate glitter -- this amount of faint sparkle seems just right!
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Structural Brown Paint
spunky456 4/15/2006 1:22:00 AM
I'm NC20 with green eyes. This shade is surprisingly rosy and mauve-y on me. I don't mind it, it was just not what I thought I was buying, so one lippie off for that. It's a great base for everyday but a little flat-looking if you don't use another shade for highlight. I like phloof, vex, shroom, vanilla, brule or deckchair pigment for this. Takes a darker crease well too -- like mulch or embark or moth brown. Overall great staying power like all the MAC paints I've tried and since it's a medium tone it's very easy to blend. With all my MAC paints I always roll the crimped end down one fold before I use it the first time, to avoid premature ejaculation of the paint. *hehe*
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Guerlain - Divinora #480
spunky456 4/12/2006 4:32:00 PM
Best nude l/s on me ever, I'm NC20 with kinda-pigmented lips. Haven't found anything like it and believe me I pore over MAC's selections regularly. I agree with other reviews re: the high pigmentation and the need to use balm to avoid your lips looking cakey or cracky. On days when this turns up too beige, I simply slick on some pinkish gloss and voila! Channeling J-Lo. I think I'm going to get a lot of mileage out of this one; it's very versatile and looks quite different with different layers (l/l's, l/g's). I didn't realize this was an Angelina Jolie fave but I can imagine why! One lippie off for the heart/bank-breaking price.
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Lip Gloss -Christian Dior - Addict Lip Gloss- A Bite of Toffee-313
spunky456 3/29/2006 6:43:00 PM
This was a bit of an indulgence after a bad day for me. Normally I do not spend this kind of cash on l/g! A very nice colour though, kind of "nude with oomph." The base colour is a nice nude beige and it has a very high rosy gold frost. Unfortunately I think it's the frost that makes it slightly gritty. This smells like a Dior product - very heavy, perfumey fragrance, and it doesn't taste good enough to keep licking away. Staying power is OK. Overall a very versatile l/g that looks good alone or slicked on over another lipstick (browns, pinks especially). Would repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No