Lipstick -Estee Lauder - Pure Color Crystal Lipstick- Crystal Baby
swaly 3/31/2006 5:50:00 PM
I got this as part of a free sample, in a set of four, and I quickly found this shade to be my favorite. It's a gorgeous natural pinky-nude. It has shimmer in it but it shows up as a sheer gloss. Great formula--obviously not that long-lasting, as it is a gloss, but I like that it's not sticky.
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Pressed Powders -Shu Uemura - pressed powder compact
swaly 3/31/2006 5:36:00 PM
This is the first powder I've found that has tone-evening properties similar to that of foundation without covering up too much or making me look cakey. I find it makes me look healthier, almost like I'm glowing, without any shimmery bits or being dark like a bronzer. In terms of oil control, I'm not sure this rivals my current HG, MAC's loose blot powder, but it's still a good product overall. The packaging is gorgeous (minimal glossy black compact), but it picks up and holds onto fingerprints super-easily.
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Fragrances -Kenzo - Flower
swaly 2/22/2006 6:50:00 PM
It's a very light, crisp scent, unlike the heavier, foodier scents I prefer...but it's a welcome change. It's reminiscent of the clean soapy smell of Japanese shampoo or face wash...that's what comes to mind first. Its bottle is certainly striking, but it's very tall and thin, which means...I'll probably break it. A very worthwhile purchase!
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Fragrances -Lolita Lempicka - Lolita Lempicka Midnight
swaly 2/22/2006 6:47:00 PM
It's a sharp, pretty floral scent, but I find it extremely hard to pin the individual notes down. Something about it is just slightly generic and I'm happy I got it at a discounted price. People rave about the bottle, but it seems just slightly tacky to me, with all the glued-on glitter and rhinestones, and the tiny little spray tip is exactly the kind of thing clumsy people like me break. However, it's a nice scent in a cute bottle. Worth owning, though not one of my favorites.
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Fragrances -Thierry Mugler - Angel
swaly 2/22/2006 6:03:00 PM
This is one of the most enigmatic scents I have ever worn or smelled...it strikes a perfect balance between sexy and innocent, rich and light, foody and floral...if sprayed in moderation (I have the eau de parfum spray, and a little goes a very, very long way). It's easy to overdose on Angel...I just spray once onto my wrists and once into my hair and I'm set for the whole day. The thing that's wonderful about Angel is that it's delectable, yet isn't foody in the way Pink Sugar or Demeter perfumes are foody. It never stops being interesting because it's so complex. At first spray on me, I got a strange whiff of something flat and un-sweet, a sort of neutral between sweet and savory, that confused me thoroughly. However, it wasn't unpleasant, just very odd. As it dries down, Angel becomes sweeter, darker and more accessible. But from first spray to dry-down, Angel is an incredible scent. I bought a discount one online but I daresay it just might be worth the full (rather expensive) retail price.
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Lip Gloss -MAC - Lipglass in Nico
swaly 1/31/2006 12:30:00 PM
When I first saw this at the counter (I was exchanging for Squirt lipglass, so I was probably drawn to the opposite of a neon green shimmer-free gloss) I was drawn to the sparkly, gorgeous purple color...by the time I'd brought it home I was unsure if I'd made the right decision. Reading reviews got me thinking that Nico was a little juvenile, too glittery and frosty. But once I figured out how to apply it, I quickly reverted back to loving it. It somehow brightens up my face and, surprisingly for a purple, whitens my teeth. The glitter isn't too apparent on, neither is the gloss too frosty. It's shimmery and just opaque enough. It's hard to describe what exactly makes this gloss to appealing to me, but I will say that it looks great with almost any eye combination. My favorite, however, is wearing it with a tanned/bronzed look and Surreal eyeshadow for a beach-bunny type look.
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Eyeliner -MAC - Fluidline Eye-Liner Gel - Sweet Sage
swaly 1/31/2006 12:19:00 PM
When I first saw the color in the pot, I was disappointed because a.) the shade was so light and b.) it was so similar to my Forever Green Powerpoint. But as soon as I applied it, I knew it would be my favorite shade. It's a versatile and absolutely gorgeous green. It's light enough that you can layer it on on the bottom lashes for a color POP without looking like a raccoon. It has a smoother texture than Fluidlines like Silverstroke. It's a very worthwhile buy.
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Highlighters -MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish - Naked You
swaly 1/21/2006 6:55:00 AM
Pretty to look at, yes. Way to g.d. glittery? Absolutely. Won't take it back, but it's bordering on being a novelty product for me. I rarely go places that heavy flakes of glitter is appropriate. Will probably let it sit on a shelf in my bathroom, and admire it until someday (inevitably) it is dropped and it shatters into a million pieces. O, woe!
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Highlighters -MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish in Petticoat [DISCONTINUED]
swaly 1/21/2006 6:51:00 AM
Everyone says this is a pink product, but mine is a mauve-lavender with metallic streaks. No matter; it's a gorgeous product. I couldn't help but gasp when I opened the box and saw it...I had Stereo Rose, but it was nowhere near as striking as this. Yes, it's a bit glittery, but it's just such a beautiful product. Of course, color is a bit underwhelming but it gives a perfect subtle glow to my cheeks. Wish there was more pop, and a little more of the minerally sheen that Stereo Rose gives (dewy 'glow'), but whatever. It's a piece of art in and of itself!
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Eye Shadow -Kryolan - Aqua Colors UV Dayglo
swaly 1/21/2006 6:46:00 AM
This stuff is off the walls...color goes on just as brightly as in the pan. It just about ALMOST fulfills my deep desire for fluorescent makeup...except that its water-soluble nature means it's also very impermanent. Might try using Final Seal or Shelaq or some sort of sealant...this product would be PERFECT and foolproof if only it could be made waterproof or at least the slightest bit more durable. Still, I'm in love. (P.S. Buy from sillyfarm.com, they have a great range of theatrical products and my stuff came within a couple of days.) If I ever run out (which I seriously doubt), I'd repurchase. Also considering Kryolan's UV eyeshadows (powder)...wanted the other Aquacolor palettes, but the colors are not as unique as these and the formula isn't good enough for me.
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Blush -MAC - sunbasque
swaly 1/9/2006 10:13:00 PM
This is my favorite blush. It works better than any bronzer I've ever tried (including MAC's, which all seemed either too glittery or too orange), because it somehow works on my wintertime pale skin and makes it look healthy and sunny even with a light dusting. Using bronzer on my winter skin makes me look ridiculous, like I'm wearing orange makeup. I thought the product wouldn't live up to the MUA hype, but Sunbasque is a really incredible color. It's pinker and peachier than bronzers and it lends a 'buffed' appearance to your skin, similar to the Mineralize Skinfinishes.
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Lip Gloss -MAC - Squirt Lipglass
swaly 1/6/2006 6:24:00 PM
Like my friend said after seeing this on me, "What happened? It looks like someone peed on your lips." Back to the store it goes....
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Lipstick -MAC - Impassioned (Amplified)
swaly 1/6/2006 5:47:00 PM
This color is like candy––glossy, pink-orange-coral-red, slick, and vivid. I hate that it stains my lips and won't come off with makeup remover or soap, but otherwise it's a gorgeous, unique, near-neon color that goes surprisingly well with my warm-toned Asian skin.
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Lipstick -MAC - Satin Lipstick - Myth
swaly 1/6/2006 3:27:00 PM
Oh MAN. This lipstick is so incredible. I'd been through Blankety (which is a nice alternative), Kinda Sexy, Lovedust and Honeylove searching for the perfect nude lip, but it wasn't until I found Myth that my search was completed. I'll repurchase this as many times as is necessary. For those who say this is a "bad" shade...it obviously isn't a color that works for everyone's skintone or taste. But I doubt that most people look at Myth in the tube––a very very pale peachy flesh color––and expect it to NOT look like a very very pale peachy flesh color on the lips. This shade is for those looking for a real Twiggy-esque mod nude lip, not for a natural look.
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Fragrances -MAC - MAC Creations Fragrance Blend Variation Parfumee MV2
swaly 1/5/2006 9:31:00 PM
Oh, God. I wanted so, so, so badly to like this. I hate 'typical' scents, so I was intrigued by all the MUA reviews referring to it as unique or strange...but this perfume smells so distinctly of plastic to me that it's nauseating. The vanilla-y bit makes the whole thing extra-unpalatable. MAC, from my experience, makes quality fragrances, but they're all a little 'off,' all a little bit repulsive. This might be mysterious or alluring on some girls, but on me, it just made me smell like a melted Barbie doll.
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