Blush -Tarte - Amazonian Clay Long-Wear Blush in Natural Beauty
tracita 8/3/2011 10:44:00 AM
i just picked this up a few days...i agree with the previous review--leans more towards a deep strawberry pink rather than just "red". it's gorgeous...i knew it would be. extremely pigmented...maybe because of the deeper color but it seems more pigmented than the other three tarte clay blushes i own. the right brush is key though and a light hand must be used...i can't believe the amount deposited on my cheeks with just a quick swipe of MAC 187, crazy. i've also tried some BE brush with it, flawless radiance brush i think it is, seems to work well at laying the color down evenly however BE brushes are scratchy on my skin so the 187 will have to do...i think the 188 would be too small, would put too much color down in one small area...but i'll experiment with that. so very long-wearing, i think this lasted a good 6 or 7 hours on my combo skin. i'm NW20-25 and this looks very natural when applied correctly...glowy, no sparkles though...also worth mentioning: my facial skin leans towards sensitive and likes to break out in varying degrees whenever it decides i've used something it doesn't approve of but i've had no issues with the tarte clay blush line. i think for the price ($25 ea), these blushes are a steal as they'll last a good long time. the compact is sturdy enough and i like that it has a mirror within it. tarte really did hit a home run with this product.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Thierry Mugler - Angel
tracita 7/31/2011 6:32:00 PM
strong, very very strong. strong to the point where it can become overpowering...however that said, i do love it. after it's "set" on me...which seems to take about an hour. and holy long-lasting batman. i recommend the lotion...honestly, the angel lotion's strength of scent is more than enough for me...i can still smell it on clothes in my hamper days later...who needs more than that?? so if you like angel (or are unsure about angel) and you find the spray is a bit too overwhelming, try using the lotion...and you can even dilute the lotion with an unscented jergen's or something like that...it's really THAT powerful. really. so yeah, i'm writing this to simply recommend the lotion...because i love it...i actually mix it with philosophy pure grace sometimes as weird as that sounds.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Tarte - Maracuja creaseless concealer
tracita 7/11/2011 4:40:00 PM
would i buy this again? a resounding YES! i agree with the prior reviewer, i think my quest for HG concealer is over. let's begin with the price--for me, it can't be beat as i too received mine in a QVC TSV...but i would gladly pay $20+ for this, it's THAT good. okay, now a little history: i have gross undereye circles...thin skin, allergies, part genetics and yeah, i'm tired a lot...it all equates to yuck under my eyes, the circles are difficult to conceal. oh yeah, i'm 40 now so i do have some fine lines as well (though the clarisonic opal has made a lot of said lines disappear---read more about that in my opal review). sooooo yes, i've tried tons of concealers for my circles...and i've found some that absolute suck (can you say lorac undercover lover?? maybe it wasn't actually named "undercover" for undereye but for under foundation but still, a big ick) some that work okay (some lancome maqicomplet or something) and others that work quite well (cover fx cream foundation--even though it's not technically a concealer, it works very well), or at least i think so at the time. i usually get a little creasing with any concealer even when using setting powder...that creasing may not happen for several hours but still, it usually occurs. enter tarte maracuja creaseless concealer. it's called creaseless for a reason...OMG, i've had no creasing...and no setting powder needed...can it be? yes, it be. it's got an almost-sticky feel, a little tacky i guess you could say...you only need a bit, it's not super mega thick but it's a "weighty" consistency at least compared to say the diorshow radiance pen that i was using prior...even thicker than the cover fx liquid (not the aforementioned cream) foundation that i've used under my eyes. i use a small fluffy brush to apply as i've been doing with my concealers for a while now--i find it applies better for me as opposed to a flat concealer brush or my finger as either seems to lay down too heavy for me and i have a hard time blending it out. i'm using a MAC 224 alternated with the fluffy end of a BE line & define double-ended brush--both work equally well though the BE brush is a bit bigger and i think i like using that one better. i'm NW20-25, color LIGHT is actually the perfect shade for under my eyes once i get my foundation applied and a slight dusting of some sort of bronzer. it also comes in fair (which looks casper-esque), medium, tan and deep. as of right now, 7/11, it is still showing on QVC's website under item A217165---only slightly higher cost than the TSV price, it's $54.96 (i paid $49 and change) plus shipping of like $6 or so...fair isn't showing as available, light is on waitlist so still order-able right now. i highly recommend picking up the TSV as the concealer isn't available separately right now unless you go to ebay...plus the value is huge as you receive 8 or 9 pieces total (the amazonian clay blushes rock, serious staying power). yep, bottom line of my blabbering, i'm a BIG fan of this concealer.
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Designer Series - DS Design
tracita 3/6/2011 1:36:00 PM
oooooooooooooh so freakin' pretty!!! i got lucky i was able to score this gem recently. okay, so yes: a neutral nude-y holographic. what more could one ask for? well, in a situation where one needs a not over-the-top polish but wants a little smidge of bling, this is IT. it kinda looks like a sand color mixed with a light bronzey-copper color on my nail, well at least one coat does...maybe it's the superfine glitter particles that contribute to that? dunno...i'm seeing some gold and green-ish glitter...is that silver glitter in there too? it's a winner. OPI should bring this puppy back...i need backups stat.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Clarisonic - Opal
tracita 3/6/2011 1:23:00 PM
i've had excellent results from this product...i've been using it about six weeks now, most of those days in the morning and at night. i'm still on the first dispensing cap...not sure exactly how much is left (which is slightly annoying) however it feels like i may be getting towards the end. i think clarisonic says a cap should last about a month. at any rate, i've not only used their sea serum, i've also used philosophy's miracle worker serum and when hope is not enough serum along with perricone's deep wrinkle serum...all three work perfectly with the opal though i'm not sure if they are able to penetrate deep into the skin like dr. robb says the sea serum does. anywhoooooo, i babble and digress a bit. this little thing has done wonders for my undereye area...hardly any puffiness now...fine lines lessening by the week as well. i don't have deep crows feet so i can't comment there. my undereye area is brighter though i still have dark circles (and always will). i have noticed how much smoother my undereye concealers apply and i've also noticed how i have next-to-no creasing in that area anymore. now i've tried me a concealer or hundred and though some are better than others re the creasing, i almost always end up with at least a little (creasing) at some point during the day. since using the opal on a regular basis, i hardly crease at all...and i've experimented with several different concealers, same results. that in itself makes the opal worth every penny to me. i've also been using it on my laugh lines...well i think "folds" better describes the horrid things...on the folds with the perricone deep wrinkle serum...it's helping, i swear. i had a co-worker (who i don't see often, maybe once every week or two) stop me the other day and say "you look good" and then she gave me another long look and said "what've you been doing? you look good!" LOL maybe i look less tired, maybe my latest concealer is covering the circles better, maybe my 12-products-in-the-morning and 6-products-in-the-evening routines are helping, maybe all that extra water i'm drinking is plumping and hydrating...i really don't know. something is working though and at this point, don't think i'll be straying from my current routine...well, not too much anyways. i bought this on the Q on four easy payments...they had a good deal, extra dispensing caps and a lower price point when i purchased...made it less painful. but still, i would pay full price with no extra caps as i firmly believe it's making a difference. oh also it is soothing.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Naked Palette
tracita 8/2/2010 1:29:00 PM
add my raves to the list...i just barely received it and already i'm convinced i won't need any more eye colors ever...well, okay..that's overdoing it...but this palette rocks...gorgeous colors, great pigmentation as usual and such a fabulous deal...will i need a back up? yes, most certainly...
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Korres - Korres Watermelon Lightweight Tinted Moisturizer
tracita 6/13/2010 9:37:00 AM
disappointing. as a previous reviewer stated, it emphasized all the bad regarding my skin...made my pores look like craters even more so than usual...also thick and not easily spread about the face...felt very heavy, not like other tinted moisturizers i've used in the past...i ended up slathering some MAC strobe cream over it to help blend it out. i was oily-looking almost immediately (can't blame that on the strobe as it's been in my routine for several days now)...also like another reviewer stated, it caked on certain areas, around my nose and in between my eyes. the color (sand) was okay on my NW20 skin and as stated prior, the scent is quite nice. i'm going to keep it and use it on my neck for SPF. i would not purchase it again.
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Lotions/ Creams -Eucerin - Aquaphor Healing Ointment
tracita 5/23/2010 5:48:00 PM
i had the pleasure of slathering this all over my face daily for about 7 days after i had laser...i looked purdy. i will say, it helped me heal nicely though it caused some major breakouts on my touchy skin (imagine burning AND pimples, oh joy)...i used the rest of the jar on my feet and elbows...it softens like no other...a good solid drugstore product.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -MAC - industrial pearlglide
tracita 5/23/2010 5:45:00 PM
i adore this. i almost bypassed it. i ordered my pearlglides online via the MAC site and it really didn't look or sound like much of anything...i know, i know...you can't go by MAC's crappy web photos but still, i didn't think i *needed* it. well, fast forward a few weeks later and i'm standing in a MAC store swatching this pupper on my hand and drooling...wow! it's not easily described but it's freakin' gorgeous! it's like a steel blue-grey but when you look at it from different angles, it takes on a whole new life...i kinda wish i had bought two...i may have to break down and order another as i see the online store still has this color available. love the smooth and long-lasting pearlglide formula...
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -LORAC - Undercover Lover
tracita 5/23/2010 5:25:00 PM
oh my, this is the absolute worst concealing product i have ever tried...horrid. not blendable at all...i tried to blend and voila! all the product i applied to cover blended itself right on away. i don't like the little pump dispenser. awful.
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Concealers -Bare Escentuals - Bisque
tracita 5/23/2010 5:20:00 PM
i've been using bisque and summer bisque for years...bisque works very well at concealing...i use it around my nose to cover the redness and on my neverending breakouts. in a pinch, i can use it as foundation. the new containers are locking, the old ones were a bit of a pain. it's SPF20 which is nice...i alternate bisque and summer bisque depending on how my face is looking...summer bisque leans more yellow and is good for cutting the red. bisque evens out my lids and upper eye area nicely. covers that obnoxious darkness in the corners of my eyes too. i don't *think* this product breaks me out...i sure hope not...i won't be without it...i have three deluxe sizes for backup...it does last quite a long time so it's a great deal...i carry a bisque and brush with me...oh and i use all kinds of brushes with it...MAC 130 works nice in smaller areas...BE eye buki too but it's kinda scratchy...BE max concealer brush for full coverage...blah blah blah...good stuff.
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Concealers -MAC - Studio Sculpt [DISCONTINUED]
tracita 5/23/2010 5:12:00 PM
this covered okay but i would never use it under my eyes...crease city baby. it worked well on my myriad of facial flaws but i don't know that i would buy it again...it seemed kinda greasy yet oddly enough, under my eyes, it looked all dry and caked on yet there was the creasing factor...that's some serious talent, a concealer that can make ya look dry and cakey yet greasy and creasy LOL oh, nw20 was a pretty decent match...i had heard the shades run a little different within the studio sculpt products but i'm nw20 and this worked fine as far as color matching my skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -BeneFit Cosmetics - Powderflage
tracita 5/23/2010 5:07:00 PM
i didn't find this all that exciting. the pink color is nice but that's about it....i mean, it didn't really do much, i suppose my undereye area was a little bit brighter but i much prefer Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder. the brush that is included is a farce...it's like a teeny fan brush...i didn't find it helpful. the round ball-like container is silly...i'd much rather see it in a pot (if i was going to re-purchase i'd dump it in a jar but as it stands, i returned it). it didn't set my concealer nicely as i'd hoped. and it's kinda pricey.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -BeneFit Cosmetics - Erase paste
tracita 5/23/2010 5:03:00 PM
update: 8/3 -- i no longer use this...if you are looking for HG concealer, look no further than tarte creaseless with maracuja oil (see my review). i've actually had great success with this product...both in #1 and #2. yes, i have found it to crease in the past. i just perfected a new concealing method using this first and then the Dior Radiance Booster Pen afterwards and the creasing went away for the most part...regardless though, i think this is a good little concealer. i use #2 on my purplish-brown dark undereye circles and #1 on darker places on my face that i'd rather see a little lighter (like my stupid laugh lines that turn red at any given moment)...a little goes a LONG freakin' way...i was applying way too much at first...less is more with this product. i have applied in extremely light layers in the past, that works okay. i've tried all kinds of brushes...i like using something fluffy i've decided (MAC 224 except the damn thing keeps shedding on me...ugh). you get a lot of product for the money...hasn't seemed to dry out on me either...heck, i worked from a sample packet put in a 5gm jar for months if you can believe it...lasted THAT long, stinkin' little sample packet. i think the spatula thingamajig that it ships with is ridiculous although i suppose you could use it to scoop some out and put in a sample jar as i did, that way one wouldn't have to keep exposing the actual product jar to air. but whatever, however you do it, try a few different methods...i really like it and my dark circles are no picnic.
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Concealers -Christian Dior - Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen-002 Candlelight
tracita 5/23/2010 4:51:00 PM
i'm digging this. i let it sit around for gawd knows how long just withering away...dug it out a few days ago and now i fear i can't live without it ever. i've been experimenting with it---tried a few different ways...so far, i've had the best results applying a bit of Korres Primer under my eye first, then using a fluffy brush (MAC 224) to apply my concealer (Benefit Erase Paste #2 for my horrific dark purply-brown circles), letting the concealer sit and stew for a moment and then taking that same fluffy brush and applying the Radiance Booster Pen lightly over the whole area. i set with a Becca powder and i have had minimal creasing using this method. it brightens my whole undereye area, fantabulous. i don't like the clicky pen, i always seem to click 7 times too many and end up with globbing...it's pricey too (though mine came in some sort of kit a while back)...i thin it's a keeper though...i may try the 001 shade which is more pink if i recall correctly...i'm nw20 and this looks natural but i'm always on the search for something better.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No