Polishes -OPI - Russian Navy
tinytapa 2/12/2012 8:40:00 AM
A fantastic rich navy colour and an awesome alternative to a basic black polish! The micro-shimmer is stunning and reflects the light with subtle purples and reds. This product lasts me without a top coat for roughly 3 days without chips. The colour is opaque after only a single coat and two coats is all you need for a perfect application. The product's formula is neither streaky nor clumpy. The one downside is that this colour can stain your nails, so a base coat is crucial. I'll definitely repurchase it, and can understand why this colour is in OPI's 10 best-sellers list.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -MAC - Tinted Lip Conditioner - Gentle Coral
tinytapa 2/12/2012 8:31:00 AM
This product was gifted to me so I can't really comment on its value in terms of its price. I guess since it's been discontinued that doesn't matter as much now, though MAC sometimes brings products back from the dead, so who knows?! On the whole, I think it's a pretty great lip product. It certainly is conditioning and it feels light and smooth on my lips. Unlike similar products, it has a non-greasy texture and feels natural. The smell and taste are sweet (signature vanilla, of course). The coral tint is surprisingly pigmented for a lip conditioner and looks great against my NC25/NW20 skin - on friends with darker or lighter skin, it still looks fantastic. Versatile colour! So, if you can get your hands on it, I think you'll appreciate it in your collection - mine just keeps lasting and lasting!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Lipstick in Plink
tinytapa 2/7/2012 1:56:00 AM
Plink! is a great staple in my lipstick collection. I appreciate that it's more yellow-based than blue, as almost all of my other pinks lean that way. To this end, I haven't found anything very dupe-able. On me, Plink! is a frosty baby pink with a slightly sheer finish (I'm NC 20 / NW 25, for reference). It's very sweet looking and compliments a natural look very well. On the downside, I do find it drying and the longevity is not as good as other MAC lipsticks. But I will happily continue to stock it in my collection.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Bubble Bath
tinytapa 2/3/2012 8:09:00 AM
I've been wanting to add a pale pink to my collection for awhile, and finally picked up Bubble Bath on a whim. It's not quite what I wanted but it's not a total waste of money. First of all, it's a nice colour for a French manicure, if you want to add a different spin than a clear finish. After 3 coats, the colour becomes slightly more opaque and subtly pretty. Any less than 3 coats can be a bit streaky, though, and the formula is not as hassle-free as other OPI polishes. I'll happily finish my bottle but I'm torn on whether I would repurchase - I'll probably look for something with a nicer formula.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Rimmel - Moisture Renew - Nude Delight
tinytapa 2/2/2012 8:01:00 AM
I love it when a product called "Nude" really actually does turn out to be a nude on me! This product measures up to its name in that it IS a delightful nude - it doesn't wash me out but rather is quite a natural, peachy nude. My lips are moderately pigmented and I am roughly NC25 and this colour suits me very well. I've used this product over a variety of lip liners - I've never been disappointed with the combinations, and even a darker "Spice" liner works well with this colour. I appreciate that it isn't drying, and I even do find it to be a bit moisturizing (a tall order for many lipsticks). The longevity is as good as most lipsticks I own - I can make it through a morning coffee, breakfast, and at least two hour-long client sessions before I need to reapply. So, not bad at all, really! I don't like my cosmetics with fragrance, so I do find the smell a bit odd - but it's not overwhelming and disappears quickly. The package is of average quality and I can't really fault it. On the whole, I think this is a solid drugstore nude lipstick - far more natural and less drying than many of the alternatives. I will happily repurchase.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Liners -Maybelline - Color Sensational Lipliner in Toast 25
tinytapa 2/2/2012 7:51:00 AM
I agree completely with the reviewer below me - Toast may be the most underrated "nude" shade in the drugstore shelves. Well, at least that is for fairer girls such as myself, with moderately pigmented lips and roughly NC/NW 20-25 skin. Canada stopped receiving Boots No 7's makeup line, so I could no longer get my hands on my favorite nude liner. One day I went to the drugstore to hung down my perfect replacement product and I picked up 8 "nude" or nude-ish looking shades. Of the 8, Toast is at the top of the pack (tied for #1 with a Rimmel liner). I find that it doesn't dry my lips out or flake at all. This liner doesn't dramatically alter any of the lipstick shades I put overtop and keeps everything in place - no feathering! I can also pair this more naturally with lip glosses, even sheer ones, and it wears very well. It's a good liner for my OCC lip tars, which can feather notoriously even when used sparingly - this holds them in place. The price is great, the pencil holds up and doesn't crumble under pressure (something I've found with other drugstore lip liners) so I think it's a fantastic value. I will most certainly repurchase.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Dermalogica - Skin Clearing Wash
tinytapa 1/21/2012 8:57:00 PM
On the whole, I do like this product. I have very oily, sensitive and sometimes acne-prone skin, so this product, with its Salicylic Acid content, is right up my alley. It busts existing blemishes within 12 to 24 hours, at most. My blemishes tend to appear a week before my time-of-the-month, when my hormones are high (darn luteal phase), and there's normally nothing I can to avoid breaking out during that period (pun intended); however, I found that this product miraculously kept the zits at bay. Yes, it is drying and it is quite a harsh product. But I haven't noticed any of the dryness that other reviewers have described - perhaps my skin is just that extra oily! As well, I am hyper-vigilant about moisturizing my skin with products that restore the balance. I should also add that I only used this product once a daily, not morning and night, and preferred to have it in my nighttime routine, followed by a night cream. Again, this might explain why my skin did not react badly to it. I am in the process of playing around with my skin care routine to determine what are the best products that work well together. If I don't add this to the lineup and repurchase, it won't be because I hate the product, but because I've found a better combination of products. I would recommend it to girls with very oily skin, and might perhaps suggest starting off by using it every other day to determine whether it's too stripping of your oils or if your skin can take it daily.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Italian Love Affair
tinytapa 1/20/2012 9:48:00 PM
Well, I have to say that I am split down the middle on this product. In the bottle, it looks like a milky, warm pink - kind of subtle and sweet. On, however, it's a very cool-toned, frosted, bright pink (yes, Barbie pink, as other reviewers have claimed). Like other polishes with frosty or pearl finishes, I find Italian Love Affair to be a bit streaky and difficult to achieve a perfect application. I do think that pastel and frosty polishes share the common dilemma of imperfect formulas (for instance, Gargantuan Green Grape and Chicago Champagne Toast, both from OPI, have similar application/finish problems, as do my other frosty/pastel polishes from various brands). BUT, I still do like it! I'm not a girly-girl, at all, so this Barbie pink is fun and different for me. I wear it on my fingers when I'm feeling a bit zany and out-there, but it's always a solid colour for my toes. Yes, the application is a bit of a pain and it can be a process to get the right amount of polish on the brush to avoid streaking or gooping. However, two coats is enough for ideal opacity and a non-streaky finish. I think that cool-toned girls are going to find this polish far more complimentary against their skin, especially if you have a bit of colour (a bangin' summer tan, for instance). I think that there are far better pinks out there, from OPI and other, but I would probably repurchase this if I ran out.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -L'Oreal - Voluminous mascara
tinytapa 1/14/2012 5:07:00 AM
This is a pretty solid drugstore mascara. As I am becoming more vigilant about disposing of mascaras after 3 months (I used to stretch it out to 6 - naughty, I know!), I am using higher end mascaras less and less. I've been searching for my HG under-$10 mascara and this comes pretty close, though it misses the mark in some ways for me to crown it HG. The pluses, in my opinion, include a non-irritating formula that applies smoothly and relatively clump-free. Two coats achieve natural-bordering-on-dramatic eyelashes, which appear full and lush. The brush is a good size, not too small or large, and navigates easily to grab inner and outer corner lashes (by the way, mine is a straight brush, not the curved edition). The downsides of this mascara include that it doesn't do anything for length, and the formula can flake a little as the day wears on. I also find that it can be a bit of a pain to wash off, though it's nothing a reliable eye makeup remover can't handle. My tube saw me through to 3 months without becoming clumpy or dry, so the value is great! I will happily repurchase it, though I will continue to search for an HG drugstore mascara that will handle both volume and length.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Dermalogica - Skin Refining Masque
tinytapa 1/14/2012 4:59:00 AM
I have oily, acne-prone skin, so this mask is right up my alley! I like to use it once every week or two (depending on how busy I am!) and I find it to be immediately clarifying (as in, within 24 hours!). Upon rinsing, all the yuckies have been drawn to the surface of my skin and a quick exfoliation and/or extraction does the rest. After use, my skin feels smooth and soft, and neither dry nor tight as I often find with other Kaolin masks. When I have a pimple, I dab this product over it before going to bed and by the morning it's almost invisible (this was a lifesaver the night before our engagement photos!). On the whole, I think it's a great product for ladies like me with oily skin. A little goes a long way, as well, so the price tag doesn't deter me from repurchasing. I highly recommend it!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -MAC - Lustre in Lovelorn
tinytapa 1/11/2012 8:17:00 PM
My go-to pink lipstick! The lustre finish makes it more subtle than a matte and keeps it from caking. Instead, my lips look moist and full. The longevity is pretty good, though I do need to reapply every few hours. On my lips, the product feels light and slick, in an almost moisturizing way. The blue undertones give the product almost a lilac-pink appearance, and subtly brighten teeth (cool plus!). Consequently, it definitely suits more cooler tones, I daresay! This is a great day-to-day colour for me. I find it to be feminine and romantic (if that makes any sense!). I guess I mean that it's a sweet colour - pretty and a little bit playful. Anyhoo, adjectives aside, I love this lipstick and I will definitely continue to repurchase!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -MAC - Mineralize Blush - Dainty
tinytapa 1/11/2012 7:49:00 PM
Dainty is rapidly becoming my HG blush! I have had in my collection for awhile, but I habitually reach for my MAC 'Pinch o' Peach' or Benefit Dandellion on a day-to-day basis. However, I recently brought Dainty forward in the lineup and haven't been reaching for any others since. As you can tell from my other selections, I am a girl who likes subtle, lightly pigmented blushes in peachy pink colours. I have olive skin and hover around the NC/NW 20-25 range, depending on the season (SA's can never decide whether I'm warm or cool toned). Being relatively fair, I don't require a deep, mega-pigmented blush. I work in a professional environment, as well, so my day-to-day makeup tends to be understated and natural. Hence, Dainty is an ideal blush for me. The finely milled shimmer doesn't transfer to disco-ball cheeks, but instead subtly draws out my cheekbones. The colour lasts me at least 8 hours without reapplication, which is great for my work day. As well, because it's a light blush, I find it impossible to overdo it but, equally, the colour is buildable when I feel like I want a little extra! On the whole, Dainty is beautiful and feminine. It gives me a healthy glow and defines my face in a subtle way. For fair girls, I think this product is a great addition to your collection. I will happily repurchase!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Dermalogica - PreCleanse
tinytapa 12/20/2011 4:14:00 AM
I was hesitant to try this product, as I have oily skin and I was initially concerned about how my face would react to an oil-based product. I was very wrong, however. Although I still like to use a separate eye-makeup remover, I'm a big fan of Dermalogica's PreCleanse product. I find it to be very effective at "removing the day", so to speak. Unlike other similar products, this doesn't irritate my skin or cause me to break out. I absolutely adore how this product smells - it reminds me of being in a spa and having a facial or body treatment, which I find hugely relaxing. I like to close my eyes when I use it - smelling this product is my cue to chill out for a minute. Using it is very straightforward - I apply a few drops with clean hands to a dry face and massage it into my skin (by the way, a little goes a long way!). Then, I wet my fingers slightly and continue to massage my skin- this results in a lightly lathered product, which lifts the oil/makeup/debris from my face. This is finished with a nice, warm rinse. Then I move into the rest of my cleansing routine. A good friend recently began to use EVOO instead of PreCleanse and she's been urging me to make the switch (it would be much cheaper, obviously!), but I haven't been swayed yet. PreCleanse has been fantastic to my skin and I've noticed a big difference in how clean my skin feels and looks since I started using it. The product smells blissful, and I can't look past how nice it feels to apply. So, I definitely recommend it and will repurchase, though I agree that it would be nice to see Dermalogica improve the packaging.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Eyeshadow in Electra
tinytapa 9/25/2011 9:44:00 AM
Hands down my favourite grey/silver eyeshadow! I've been using Electra for over 9 years now, so it's a standing long-time favourite. This Mac frost shade has a beautiful shimmer and is versatile for both day and night wear. It's stunning in a smokey eye, or pretty enough to stand on its own. It goes well with lots of other shades - purples, greens, blues, pinks and so on. In terms of its longevity, it holds up well throughout the day, particularly over a primer, and resists creasing (and this coming from a girl with oily lids!). The product, itself, is impressively pigmented, buttery and easy to blend. A very little goes a long way. I am definitely going to continue keeping this is my kit, and am happy to recommend it. I feel like it's a bit under-valued - I've never seen it in any Top 10 Mac shadow lists, but it would definitely make mine!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Black Tied Eye Shadow
tinytapa 9/25/2011 4:23:00 AM
A true black-black! Doesn't oxidize to blue or grey the way other black shadows can and do on my eyes. I find that the silver sparkle is very subtle and doesn't look at all obvious (someone seeking a sparkly shadow might be disappointed by this, but this suits me just fine!). The sparkle also doesn't result in annoying fallout, the way that Urban Decay Oil Slick does, for instance. Overall, I find Black Tied to be incredibly pigmented, blendable, buttery and perfect for adding depth to any eye, particularly a smokey one. In many ways, I actually prefer this to Carbon, which can oxidize and doesn't seem to last quite as long. I'll continue to repurchase and recommend!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No