Sunscreen -Shiseido - Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 55 PA+++ [DISCONTINUED]
treecatd 11/16/2008 9:23:00 AM
Love this! It's the perfect sunscreen for winter. I love both versions the lotion and the cream, but i must admit the cream makes me feel more protected. If you have allergies or just a runny nose , the size makes it very easy to take along and reapply. I usually just use a sunscreen and some Blot powder and am good to go...it also provides a great base for under-eye concealer ...Since i rotate sunscreens all the time, i find that this or Lancome's UV expert are my favorites as they really stay on my face in hot & humid FL. Other sunscreens that i frequently use are clinique white spf 40, super city block spf 40, MAC prep+prime, both shiseido spf 55 and Lancome expert spf 20. This way i'm ready for any weather or skin-day ....(the clinique ss are quite usefull if it's colder or my skin needs some moisture & cover) My hubby clearly loves the MAC ss best, followed by Clinique's SCB spf 40...as the shiseido & lancome leave a white cast on his face. ( And to demand that HE wears powder to correct this would be just a little too much...LOL)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Shiseido - Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion SPF 55 PA+++ [DISCONTINUED]
treecatd 11/16/2008 9:06:00 AM
This is an old stand by that i will never be without. I have very sensitive skin and the only chemical ss that i can tolerate is Lancome's UV expert spf 20. I do love the light texture and my only issue is the fragrance. Having oily skin & living in FL provides quite the challenge to finding good sunscreens. I must admit the PPD is low, but as long as the FDA has a bunch of crazies working for them, i will just have to settle for this as it's easy to find and quite cost effective. Lately, i have been using the creme version of this and must say it makes me feel more protected- but that just might be me...;)
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Sunscreen -Peter Thomas Roth - Instant Mineral SPF 30
treecatd 11/16/2008 8:37:00 AM
I'm going to cry if i hear another person uses this as their sole sunscreen- PLEASE DON'T DO THIS!!! I like this for touch-ups during the day as a powder. But seeing how the brush is a little rough for my taste , i decided to just pour it in a regular shifter jar. If you are wondering about this product but don't want to shell out 30$, just visit coastalscents.com or one of the beauty DIY stores and pick up some zinc oxide & titanium dioxide and mix it in with any loose powder- it's very easy to find the right proportions that work with your skin- good luck! Still : Use a ss underneath powder!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Avene - Ultra high protection cream SPF50
treecatd 11/16/2008 8:30:00 AM
Worst product ever! I mistakenly swapped for it with a lovely lady just to find out that this is a pink thick creme. So i admit that is my fault ...However there are sunscreens with more active ingredients than this with much better texture. And the Zinc Oxide is pretty low here (2.4%) ...i don't mind applying a thick layer of anything as long as i get the protection, but this product is just a very bad joke! Seriously it has a thicker texture than tooth paste and when one applies this to neck & face it just looks so horrible. So, no big deal since i just use any ss that doesn't work with my face on my arms/hands/... BAD IDEA...this stuff not only rubbed of on my clothing (yes, i did let it 'sink' in) but it gave one of my beloved coach purses a couple of greyish streaks (black leather) - that just won't come of. BAD AVENE!!! * Off to cry about my purse*...lol
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -Paula's Choice - Healthy Finish spf15 powder
treecatd 11/16/2008 8:08:00 AM
I first purchased the powder when it was still in the square packaging and the lightest shade was fine, but i can't recall it actuallydoing anything for my complexion. Now i just re-ordered this in the "new" round packaging and i love love the texture and the perfect glow ( that's how i imagined MAC's MSFs would look on my skin, but that's a whole other "issue" ) . This really evens out my skin-tone and looks perfect even if reapplied. But Paula obviously missed colour-wise. The lightest shade has so much pink/ warmth to it it looks like NW 25 studio fix ....So if you are that shade go for it! All PPPs must sadly be without this great product....what a shame !!! (JFYI: I 'tested' this for it's great texture on several days ,i knew i didn't have to go anywhere...LOL)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -MAC - Dazzle lash
treecatd 11/15/2008 3:29:00 PM
Ahhhhh...Dazzle Dazzle Dazzle...Yes ,the packaging does..and this is where it stops! Once again a failure from MAC in the lash department- wouldn't one think the fact that they are a Lauder company help their formulations a little? Even Clinique & E. Lauder have better mascaras!!!! The packaging is cute with the little glitter , but also seems very 'pre-teen' . The tube feels really light in the hand and the brush seems to be in a X-mas tree shape that is more on the small side. The wand gives great control but unforunatelty either deposits too much or too little of the very 'wet' mascara.( wiping the wand with some tissue took care of this) I tried layering with several other prodcuts and the best results were: 2 layers shiseido base, one layer Dazzle and two layers plush and one last layer Dazzle...THAT is just too much work to achive an 'ok' look. And I am not even picky with my mascara as long as i have my shiseido base. I do give this mascra two lippies because after i curled my lashes it did hold the curl and it didn't clump after i refreshed my eye mu in the afternoon. It also didn't irritate my eyes... If you like Plushlash ,you might like this...it's more of an lenghtening version of plush and you can apply 500 layers w/o clumping... But if your looking for anything dramatic or quick fix in the morning forget this boring product! But for 12 $ i can't complain...especially seeing how all drugstore MU is almost as much & you can't B2M it... EDIT: Please do not try the mascara at the counter because a) people LOVE to double dip and b) since the mascaras in stores are used/tested frequently their consistency varies slightly ( usually they are drier as they have more air exposure!....) HTHS
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Highlighters -MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish in Gold Deposit (Rococo)
treecatd 10/22/2008 12:07:00 AM
yes, i love this! being a PPP with yellowish undertones it looks very scary in the pan but applied lightly transforms into a peachy glow to die for. no glitter chunks - love it. it seems more buttery than the previous release! get it now!
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Highlighters -MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish in Petticoat [DISCONTINUED]
treecatd 10/16/2008 12:27:00 AM
I think i might have reviewed the original before, but i just would like to say that the new 2008 re-release of this is a little different . A) it's a little darker -more berry B)the texture is more 'buttery', just a tiny stroke with a kabuki will pick up more color than the older version C) the colors have less variations. I have several of the original- each time i swipe across the different MSFs the color varies! with the new version, despite them looking differnt they all yield the same color. (if you look at the pic in my profile you can see how there are several pink swipes on my arm, they all look the same- i haven't had time to do comparison ..so will update) THIS doesn't look like Light Flush at all- light flush is in a pinker base w/ more of a copper iredecence to it. Petticoat is pink w/ bronze (notice bronze isn't copper!) and it looks like a shimmery berry. The original version had more of a pinkish irdecence kind of like pink opal pigment has. The new version is just berry w/ a touch of bronze! (will post pics tomorrw) Both versions are gorgeous and i'm happy that i have them! Anybody who ever has a chance to get them, should get them! Even if you are just going to stare at it all day long..LOL EDIT: HERE IS A PICTURE OF of Northern light, petticoat & light flush http://img.makeupalley.com/6/8/9/0/1093662.JPG here are swatches of : so ceylon, soft and gentle & petticoat http://img.makeupalley.com/6/8/9/0/1091537.JPG
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Bronzers -MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish - So Ceylon [DISCONTINUED]
treecatd 10/16/2008 12:15:00 AM
This review is for the re-realsed 2008 version of this MSF. I have several of the original and just got several of the new ones. I think the older version is more diverse as far as colors/swirls go. It has more copper and redish undertones. The new ones are more universal and look more like dark cocoa powder, the cooking ingredient. This is very smooth, but it seems like the dome of this particular shade are a tiny bit smaller than the original & the other shades of MSFs. But as all products it's measured by weight-so you still get the same amount...I really enjoyed wearing this with the new permanent shade Soft and Gentle as i need this a little toned down (very fair skin) . It still gives the really nice look of natural sun but without the deep reddish & copper tones. So imo- as much as i love the original -i do like this for my skin tone better & i wish they were both available ( for collectors..lol) Swatches are in my profile. HTHS
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle
treecatd 10/15/2008 10:52:00 PM
I purchased this today and love the color! It's like baby of Shimpgane MSF & Glissade MSF. The texture is very 'buttery' and when applied with a small kabuki gives skin a very nice glow with some shimmer . Even a light stroke over the dome deposited quite a large amount of product on the brush.However, applied with a skunk (187) it looks very natural without obvious shimmer. Compared to Glissade- it just has the peachy parts without the bronze/rose that Glissade should have( i picked mine out to be w/o a lot of veining because i like to keep colors light) ..it almost looks like a natural version of Shimagne msf without the obvious silvery sheen. I personally don't think this is super unique & really MAC should have made another MSF permanent- but i guess since it's quite neutral it is a more marketable choice. With Ceylon (the bronze MSF 2008 edt.) it looks really great. So Ceylon can be quite dark so i used this to tone it down a little bit and it looked like a natural 'kiss of sun'...I recently acquired some Laura Geller products and must say i prefer MAC's MSFs ! I'm happy that is is NOT LE! (<- maybe MAC actually got sick of people complaining about LEs. >:( .... HTHs anybody. here are the swatches of the 2008 edition MSFs: so ceylon, soft and gentle, petticoat http://img.makeupalley.com/6/8/9/0/1091537.JPG
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - Plus White - 5 Minute Speed Whitening Gel
treecatd 10/15/2008 6:00:00 PM
I can't believe this product doesn't get more love here on MUA. I read the reviews on drugstore.com and it has great reviews. As a very heavy coffe drinker ( and i love dark chocolate) i am always on the search for the perfect on the go dental whitener. After trying strips, liquids and toothpastes- i found my-self unhappy all the time because of either dental sensivity or very suttle changes. Desperate for help i saw this at walgreens for only 10$ -it includes a pre-whitening rinse,tray & gel ( also available $ 5 for just the gel). I figured that it looked cheap and it's probably going to suck- but with only 10$ to risk i went for it. Came home -tried to use it as directed, didn't work for me. the tray has way to much space ,my teeth never even touched the gel. So i trimmed the ends of the tray to make it smaller for my tiny jaw. in order for this to have contact w/ my teeth I would really have to bite down on the trays (which were super soft -so that's a plus ) & that was very uncomfy.Then i read about the q-tip application and tried it-obvioulsy my lips touched the gel and i has drool everywhere, but i just rolled two cotton rounds/squares into little sausages and put them between my lips & gums. Worked like a charm & absorbs the saliva as well. Now be warned that you will look like an ape- but the results were amazing! I used it three times for 20mins & let me tell you -my teeth look really great- even hubby noticed ( will test that on him later) . Out of all the products i have used- this gave me the fastest and most dramatic results. It completly made up the time i wasted figuring out how to keep the gel on my teeth. And no sensitivity ( i can only take crest strips for two days in the row-so i'm very sensitve!)!!!! Bottom line: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!! (at least try it- it's only $ 5 for the whole tube!!!)
24 out of 24 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -MAC - Beauty Powder in Flower Mist Dew (Emanuel Ungaro)
treecatd 10/3/2008 6:48:00 PM
Sorry- where is the DEW???? this is a completly matte/flat looking BP very similar to the pink Diana BP- not similar to Barbie's BP at all- no shimmer ...very boring product! I'm too fair to use it all-over - the compact is even boring =(
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Tinted Moisturizer -Tarte - Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Mosturizer (Smooth Operator)
treecatd 9/22/2008 2:37:00 PM
I just wrote a review for MAC's full-coverage foundation AND i am surprised that such an old classic formula by-passes this new generation of foundations with shades/texture...! First of all: Sunscreen? really??? what are % of the active ingredients? To even get an spf 10 from this one would have to slather on 1/2 a teaspoon...lol ,which with this heavy paste seems like a bad idea. I would never recommend this alone for sun-protection ( if you are a member of mua ,you probably would want sun protection as you probably dislike wrinkles as much as we all do ...LOL) I really dislike foundation to be fair- but this is one of those really big disappointments. everybody rave here how natural it looks, how light it feels.... Sorry, but i don't think this is even comparable to a Tinted moisturizer...first of all it's way to pigmneted and heavy to be a TM, furthermore it's not moisturizing and then to top it of ,my face looked oily after two hours of test-driving this...how is this possible? It is really hard to achieve a sheer finish as this sets very quickly, it really left a bad texture on my skin and made me look very cakey. i tried it with a sunblock underneath and due to the matte texture of the sunblock (shiseido spf 50) it made it even less workable. I do love the squeeze tube,it's hygenic,light and easy to travel with... After experimenting with this for about a week on my-self i must say- no, i still hate foundation and my skin looks a gazillion times worse w/ it. Aslo,stay away if you ever get peelies-this will make every flake very visible. I must give Tarte points for the beautiful shades. When i first applied Facade(lightest shade) to my wrist i was amazed-so natural looking no pink/peach...just beautiful color!!! I envy everyone that get's this to work for them..lol . If you must wear foundation and your skin is looking for a luminous and very natural finish try MAc's full-cover (yes,i can't believe i'm actually recommending a foundation!!! and seemingly heavy one-but try it,it's really not!!!!LOL) The verdict: too much texture & too heavy :( -lovely fair shade!
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Crème -MAC - Full Coverage Foundation
treecatd 9/22/2008 2:07:00 PM
One of the main problems with fair skin is to find a foundation that is fair enough w/o being too pink and blendable enough not to pool in pores to give a black-head reverse look- pores filled with very light foundation. Now we have tons of super modern designed foundations that look very skinlike and have great other features like airbrush formulas,silocne .....but when used w/o a primer all this fails as foundations for light skin always end up looking bad due to the reverse-pore look. This foundation is a classic cream foundation ,nothing fancy- it's very affortable considering how much you get and how little you need. it leaves skin looking fantastic with lovely sheen that can be easily adjusted to a matte finish by simply applying powder and it gives a very generous amount of time before it sets, making is foolproof. This photographs perfectly and if you are just starting out as a MUA and try saving some cash and get this in several neutral shades. it's easy to mix and really works with every skintype. For those who want to use this as a concealer: this can be used as a concealer but imo it's not worth paying 30$ for a lifetime supply of concealer just to realize products have a shelf-life and especially this product since it is a very open container & a cream- throw it out after 12-18 months (THIS is bacteria central,if you don't plan on removing a small amount with a spatula each time!!!) . I personally hate foundation and i haven't found a foundation that improves my looks in anyway- but when i need a little cover i would pick this over anything else. Especially, since i can have oily skin with occasional peeling- this doesn't dry out my skin and doesn't really contribute to the oilies. let's say it provides a nice amount of pigment to my face w/o obvious foundation look and looks just like nice healthy skin and since you only need a tiny bit-it feels soooo much lighter on skin that other products (eww-to studio fix fluid & co). I just tried tarte's smooth operator,that everybody here seem to love and sorry, it was way too heavy and cakey...no matter how little i applied( and from all the blending attempts my skin started peeling-eww! lol) Another plus point is that this never seperates - not in the container nor on the skin. that's something else i really dislike about foundation ...it seems that a lot of foundations seem to seperate on the skin and require many touch ups troughout the day- not this product!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Giorgio Armani - Luminous Silk Foundation
treecatd 9/9/2008 7:01:00 PM
NO thank you- i will not purchase a foundation that makes me look shiny, old or looks only pretty on my dresser....i'm so dissapointed bc everybody loves this product so much..it does look good indoors with warm lighting,it applies lovely but it just pools in my pores no matter how thinly i spread it and what technique or primer/moisturizer/...i use. To make matters worse- fair people are not always PINK, i again failed to get a great match..if one even exists! So i guess that's my fault, but still this foundation is completly over-hyped and i haven't tried any foundation from the DS yet, but this is how i imagine something for 3.99$ would look...well let's add 2$ for the obvious 'shimmer-particles'..lol It looks so glowy and perfect in pics, but unfortuntatelly i don't have the time to stare at my-self all day to correct every little thing ...I do like the bottle- but i'm still looking for a foundation that actually looks natural on me. So if your a PPP w/ oily/combo skin test-drive this before commiting !
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