Palettes -TheBalm - Balm Jovi Face Palette
spyral 2/16/2013 5:00:00 AM
If you can get your hands on this, BUY IT! For me, this is the all-in-one palette I have been searching for and will be my new travel companion. You get color and neutrals as well as 4 metallic, 4 matte, and 4 sparkly-satin shades. in addition there are plenty deep, medium and highlight shades in every finish. The colors work beautifully with my primer, have great color payoff, lovely texture and blend beautifully. There is not a single shadow I don't like. The blush is slightly powdery compared to the full size but still has nice color payoff. The luminizer is great and I have no complaints there. I love that the lip colors are protected by a separate magnetic flap. They are nicely pigmented and universally flattering. Don't let the cutesy packaging fool you. This is a great palette for makeup lovers of all ages. This will appeal to both the rocker and romantic. This is my first TheBalm palette and I'm IN LOVE.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Sexy Divide
spyral 10/5/2012 9:11:00 PM
This is a moody deep, dark purple. I prefer cream polishes so when I got the bottle in the mail, I was a bit skeptical because it's got a lot more shimmer in it than expected. However, on the nail it is elegant and refined. It darkens up a bit but I think that's what lends to its sophistication. If you love purple, I think Sexy Divide is pretty damn perfect.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Bottega Veneta Eau de Parfum
spyral 6/14/2012 10:55:00 AM
I have been cruising duty free shops looking for my fragrance soul mate for the last decade. I almost passed this up because it did not impress in bottle form. But wearing it is believing and I can say I finally found THE ONE!!! It's warm, elegant and slightly more oriental on my skin with a hint of suede. To me, it smells like sophistication in a bottle. Staying power is great and it wears close to the skin, which I think is the mark of a perfect perfume. Also, I'm a headache sufferer with a sensitive nose, but my olfactory senses have nothing but love for this fragrance. Beautiful but definitely not boring.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Laura Mercier - Eye Colour
spyral 6/14/2012 10:40:00 AM
I've used every kind of shadow that's out there and my favorite formula is Laura Mercier by far. There are various finishes: matte, sateen, sequin and luster and I adore them all. They are buildable, blendable, smooth and long lasting. The colors are sophisticated but not without flair. They are gorgeous. After using her products for a month or so I learned that Laura Mercier got her start as a painter and fell in love with doing portraits. As a painter myself, I can really appreciate the hard work it must have taken to create eyeshadows with such lovely pigmentation and texture.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Beauty Marked
spyral 5/24/2012 8:06:00 AM
This is a very disappointing shade, and honestly, why is Mac still selling it? I'm sorry but if you have to foil it to get it to work then it's not worth buying. Even as a black shade, it looks a mess. Save your money.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Cork
spyral 5/1/2012 10:10:00 AM
This is the perfect neutral brown - not too warm, not too cool, which is great for my cool toned skin and blue eyes. I needed a nice medium matte or satin brown to enhance my Naked 2 palette. This did the trick. I really love the finish of Mac satins. I just wish Mac products weren't so expensive in Japan.
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Prescriptives - Colorscope Lipcolor - Rouge Social
spyral 5/1/2012 8:37:00 AM
This is my favorite of the B/R lippies still offered by Prescriptives. It's a subdued berry with a perfect amount of sheen. I have light skin, blue eyes, and dark brown hair so this color works great for me in the daytime. However, it might be a bit bright for fair-haired maidens to wear to work. If you are looking for something a bit brighter than a rose color, this should do the trick.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Top/Base Coats -Unlisted Brand - INM - Out the Door Top Coat
spyral 4/24/2012 8:43:00 AM
I like this product so much better than SV. I'm making an effort to rid my make up of anything toxic and my SV was the first to go. That, and it peeled like crazy! OTD is a great alternative. It dries a little more slowly but totally worth the wait because it holds up so much better. I have one hand so needless to say, my nails go through a lot of wear and tear. By the end of the day my nails had minor chipping along the edges, that was visible up close. With SV, my polish would peel off in sections which annoyed me to no end. OTD has a lovely, long-lasting shine as well. Good stuff!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Nailtiques - Formula 2 - Nail Protein
spyral 4/23/2012 10:07:00 PM
My nails have always been paper thin and tend to peel. Then I had the fabulous idea to get gel nails... MISTAKE! My nails literally crumbled after I had them removed. I was desperately looking for a good treatment polish and came across Nailtiques. This stuff totally transformed my nails into the strong, beautiful nails I always longed for. Literally, my previously flat nail beds now have a beautiful curve and the peeling has stopped. Great as a treatment, but I also use it as a basecoat for my fingers in toes to keep them strong and healthy. It is pricey but when a product does exactly what it claims, it's worth every penny.
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Lipstick -NARS - Funny Face
spyral 4/23/2012 10:17:00 AM
This is a great wearable fuchsia. I tried this and Schiap the same day. Schiap is more matte and dramatic (great for a night out) whereas Funny Face is slightly dewier and elegant enough to wear to work. I also found Funny Face to be more comfortable on the lips. I ended up taking Schiap home with me because I was looking for more drama and I have a color similar to funny face in my lipstick collection already. However, when that's gone Funny Face will most certainly be mine.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -NARS - Schiap
spyral 4/22/2012 4:18:00 AM
This is the perfect shocking pink lipstick. I love the comfortable, long-lasting, semi-matte finish. Looks great with simple nude eye make up and lots of black mascara. It's my summer version of 'red' lipstick and wear it on nights out with the girls. It's a head turning color for sure!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Bobbi Brown - Espresso Ink Long Wear Gel Eyeliner
spyral 3/18/2012 12:40:00 AM
Dry out prevention suggestions! I love BB gel liners and will continue to buy them unless another company creates something better. Espresso Ink is my go to spring/summer shade. To prevent dry out, here are two suggestions: 1) use a cotton swab to wipe away the dry top layer at least once a month. It will reveal the moister layer trapped below it. 2) cut out a small size piece of plastic food wrap. After you finish using the eye liner, gently press it against the product with your finger and close the lid as usual. This will protect it from the air that gets trapped inside the jar. You should replace the plastic wrap from time to time for hygienic reasons. Hope this helps!
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Redken - Real Control
spyral 1/14/2012 8:16:00 AM
I live in Japan and so when I go back to the States I stock up on shampoo because Japanese brands leave my fine hair really greasy. I was skeptical but an Ulta employee talked me into buying Real Control. Japan has super hard water and tons of humidity. Lets just say, my wavy hair that looks smooth and silky in America looks like a frizzy mess in Japan, especially in the summer. So far, my hair looks and feels much better without any extra weight. I'm sure the summer will still be a challenge but at least now I feel I have a better chance at more good hair days.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Naked 2 Palette
spyral 1/14/2012 7:50:00 AM
I think Naked 2 is Naked 1's sophisticated sister. I never bought Naked 1 simply because it was just too warm for my rosy skin. Nor was I a fan of the overwhelming amount of sparkle. Naked 2 is just perfect. It's a lovely balance or warm and cool shades. I always use a matte highlight and liner so it was like Urban Decay read my mind when the included Foxy and Blackout. I have used every single color and though some complain about Chopper being too sparkly, I think it's gorgeous as a lid color. I also gravitate towards Snakebite, Suspect, Pistol and Busted. Booty call is great in the inner corners of the eye. My only disappointment would be Tease. It's so pretty in the palette but fails to perform on the skin. Verve and YDK are super pearly but will be fantastic for evening looks. The brush is not the greatest but the lip gloss is fab. All in all, one of the best palettes I've ever purchased.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Carry On
spyral 10/25/2011 8:36:00 AM
Love! Love! Love! The color looks like money! It's a very opaque, creamy, deep burgundy with a hint of brown. The formula is divine. Just thick enough and super shiny. Two coats and perfection! I have used many Essie polishes but this one is special. If you buy only one polish this season, I definitely recommend Carry On.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No