Polishes -L'Oreal - Colour Riche Nail Polish Violet Vixen
trinitycharm 9/20/2012 10:30:00 PM
Wow! I finally found a magenta/fuschia color that looks more than decent against my naturally tan, olive-yellow, Asian skin; in fact, I think it looks superb (which I've never said about ANY nail polish! Violet Vixen is a rich, deep color that goes on like a dream for me. The brush isn't the cheap skinny ones that you sometimes see, but perhaps not quite as wide as some of Sally Hansen's. You can get a smooth, opaque finish in one coat, but can also do two thinner layers if that's the method you prefer. The consistency isn't too thick or thin, and I only had a problem with it streaking on one finger (probably because it was on my right hand; and I'm right-handed. lol). I believe this costs $5.99 at CVS (that, or $6.99. Can't remember. I just know it was cheaper than the Essie bottle that I returned, so I could get this one instead.) For me, this is the perfect Summer to Fall transition color; which I've been searching for like crazy. Now I don't have to look any further. There was only one bottle left at my local CVS, so I plan on going back to get it (just-in-case). Lovely!
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Polishes -Essie - Chinchilly
trinitycharm 9/16/2012 11:17:00 AM
On my naturally tan, olive-yellow Asian skin, this color looks fairly decent. In the bottle, compared to other grey/taupes, I thought it was a medium to light grey; but ON, it looks more like a medium to dark grey. On my skin, I don't see as much purple in it as I do in SH Greige Gardens; or as much taupey-brown as WnW Wet Cement; nor is it as light as Professional 10 (?) Moonlight---though more similar in tone to the latter. It's a lovely neutral that's office appropriate, but still edgy IMHO. The problem I have with this one is that my two bottles are both very runny. I used 2 coats, which isn't that bad compared to a few other nail polishes. If you're looking for a dupe, I believe the new L'Oreal np (called Eiffel For You), is pretty darn close...though I haven't actually done a side-by-side comparison.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Play the Peonies
trinitycharm 6/16/2012 11:03:00 PM
On my olive/yellow/tan Filipino skin, this is a lovely pale lilac. It has a hint of shimmer, and a dainty pearlescent quality about it that I find very elegant. It's a good not-your-average neutral, and would be perfect for just about any occasion (I think). I think it would work especially well in the office or out to dinner. If you want something elegant but not in your face, this is perfect. The application and consistency is better than most. It only took two coats for me to get full opacity.
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Polishes -Essie - A Crewed Interest
trinitycharm 6/16/2012 10:55:00 PM
I LOOOVE this color! In the bottle, it's a soft and pretty peach. On my naturally olive/tan Filipino skin, it looks like a pale (yet still pretty) salmon color. This is the perfect Spring/Summer everyday and every occasion color, and my hands always look so pretty and polished when I have it on. The major downer is that it takes several coats (3 at least) because it's so streaky. When I first opened the bottle, the consistency was smooth and not too difficult to deal with, but the second time I used "A Crewed Interest", it was suddenly very gloopy. The streaking was worse after being opened. This is unfortunate because this is my favorite color. Tarte Deco is slightly too orange-toned/bright on me. I'd really like to add some kind of gold accent to this because I think it would look beautiful. :) Overall, love the color, but wish they would fix the streakiness.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Haus of Gloi - Perfume Oil - Depravity
trinitycharm 10/11/2011 1:18:00 PM
Depravity is a very dark, earthy, and almost even cozy scent. I have a small sample vial of this, and was completely intrigued by the name alone. On first sniff, I smell a strong amber note, which then gives way to fresh cloves. The combination of amber and clove almost smells "soapy" on me, rather than spicy, and then suddenly turns to a woodsy-soapy smell. After the initial offerings of Depravity, I sense some kind of fruit....or berry?...But just a hint of it, and only a slight tartness. I wonder if that's the wine note that's playing with my mind...?? Towards the end, I can only smell that surprisingly light tartness, a dash of nutmeg, perhaps a wee bit of sandalwood dashing in and out of the shadows, and even a smidgen of amber is left to keep it sexy and warm. Perfect for the Autumn and maybe the winter. It's such a dark brew that I feel like it goes best with the Autumn months. Overall, interesting blend. For those who like "bewitching" fragrances, spice-blends, and woodsy-blends, this is a must try. And for those who just like to try new fragrances, this should be put on your list as well---even for just a sample.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - Bathed & Infused "Coconut Cream Pie" Body Lotion
trinitycharm 10/4/2011 8:56:00 PM
Scrumptious! Smells just like a coconut cream pie: creamy, non-suntan-lotion-smelling coconut custard with a delicious flaky crust. My all-time favorite coconut scent. As far as the lotion is concerned, it's not as moisturizing as I'd like it to be. I'll try one of their other butters/creams when I get the chance, but this one is okay. I have to constantly reapply it though. Scent lasts a moderate amount of time. The good thing about this brand is that you can get it in soft, regular, or strongly-scented. Give it a try! (P.s: I find that if you let it cure for at least a week, the scents is soooo much better.) Coconut Cream Pie, Waffle Cone, and Madeleines are my favorite scents from this line.
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Fragrances -Ava Luxe - Loukhoum
trinitycharm 9/14/2011 12:46:00 PM
Unfortunately, this isn't for me. This was a blind-buy that I had been debating on purchasing for months (maybe even a year). I finally gained enough courage to buy it online. It took about 7 business days for it to arrive, so not as long as it felt. (*Shrugs* I get impatient sometimes.) It came packaged in a sweet little box, with an atomizer included. Perfect for when you're travelling. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be wearing this as often as I had hoped to. The scent begins with sugared nuts (light on the sugar) and a faint smell of fresh, yet powdery, pink roses. After a few minutes, the nuttiness fades and the rose note becomes more distinct and even more candied, rather than powdery. I would have preferred for the roses to stay in the background and for the nuttiness to stay longer, but alas, it was not to be. Hopefully this grows on me. If not, I'm moving on.
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Blush -Lola Cosmetics - creme blush - monte carlo
trinitycharm 8/27/2011 4:38:00 PM
I'm starting to think that I'm "dark" and not "tan". I keep seeing reviews where the writer's description says "tan", but their foundation color is quie light (at least compared to me). Maybe I'm just on the darker side of tan. IDK Anyway, I received this in a swap. I was very excited to try this since I discovered I love cream blushes. This one comes in a small-ish tube (like lipstick), and is a nude-ish mauve. When using my Stila CC Blush, I like to use my multi-purpose blush to stipple. I tried using it with this blush and barely picked up anything. I tried swiping the brush on the top of the blush to see if I could pick up more and I did....but barely. I used my finger to rub some onto my cheeks, and got a bit more....but I had to do it about 5 times before I could see enough. I like that it's natural-looking (once you've managed to put enough on), but I hate that it requires many swipes (at least for me it does). I could barely even see the color on my finger when I swatched it. With that said, it blends in pretty well. The other con would be that it feels stickier to me than my Stila and Nars cream blushes. Perhaps it's because I had to rub on a lot before I could see it. I think this color would probably be more convenient for the lighter-skinned gals. For reference, I'm a naturally tan (olive-yellow) Asian. I don't wear much foundation, but when I do, I use MK Medium Coverage Foundation in Beige 400. Everyday Minerals Olive-Medium in O-glow was the closest to my skintone, but still a bit ashy. MK Luminous Foundation in Bronze 1 is good for me in the summertime after I've tanned even more. HTH
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Polishes -Sally Hansen - Diamond Strength No Chip Nail Color "Rosy Future"
trinitycharm 8/14/2011 8:40:00 PM
Gorgeous deep, rosey-pinkish-red (fuschia? But deeper and more vibrant IMHO). One description says the finish is "frost", but this is the most vibrant frost I've ever seen if that's the case. The shine is amazing, and you can even get away with one coat (though I used too). The consistency is somewhat on the watery side, but as long as you lightly wipe the brush on the side of the bottle, it shouldn't be too much of a mess. The only down side is that there was some edge-wear after a day or two. (I wash a lot of dishes in my household, and clean up after my two little boys). I used some SV quick-dry top coat, but it still didn't keep it from wearing out so fast. The color is still shiny and awesome 5 days later though. Definitely try it out! For reference, I have naturally tan (olive-yellow) Asian skin. Definitely not fair-skinned, unfortunately, but there ya go. (I wear Mary Kay Medium Coverage Foundation in Beige 400, MK Luminous Foundation in a mix of Bronze 1 and Beige 8, and was closest to Olive-Medium mineral foundation in the Everyday Minerals line.)
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Shampoo -Oscar Blandi - Pronto Dry Shampoo Spray
trinitycharm 8/14/2011 8:12:00 PM
Horrible product. If I could rate it a -0-, I would. I didn't wash my hair for two (maybe 3 days) just so I could see how well this worked. It didn't. It smells funny (almost like mint, but mixed with something weird). My hair is fairly thick, straight, black, and mid-back length. After the 2-3 days of not washing my hair, my scalp was oily, but this made it feel even more oily AND dirty. I had to keep this in my hair until I got home (2-3 hours later), and I hated every minute of it. My hair *looked* dirty, *smelled* dirty, and *felt* dirty. Gross! Good thing I only bought the try-me size at Ulta. Don't remember how much it costs, but even if it was only 50 cents, it still wouldn't be worth it. Very disappointed. I expected more from Oscar Blandi.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -eos - Lip Balm Sphere - Summer Fruit
trinitycharm 8/14/2011 12:38:00 AM
I have 3 of the EOS lip balms, but this one is my least favorite. First of all, there's nothing exceptionally special about them. They're your typical waxy chapsticks in a ball form. It doesn't make or keep my lips moisturized very well either. I don't mind the packaging, but for those who prefer something small and compact, get something else. It's a bit bulky, but cute if you don't mind it. The smell is a little weird to me. Can't describe it. You'd have to just suck it up and just buy them all to see which ones you like and don't like. I prefer the honeydew melon and lemon-scented ones to this. For reference, my favorite lip balms are: Smith's Rosebud Salve and Mary Kay Satin Lips.
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Makeup Brushes -Sonia Kashuk - Small Duo Fibre Multipurpose Brush
trinitycharm 8/14/2011 12:33:00 AM
I use this as a stippling brush for my cream blush. I use it lightly to pick up just enough pigment to add color to my cheeks. It's soft enough to not irritate me when I'm stippling. It's also very easy to clean, and the white tips let me know when I've cleaned it enough. Haven't tried it for anything else, but from the way it evenly adds color, I bet it could give you anywhere between light to medium coverage. Give it a go and have some fun finding great uses for it! It's 20% off at Target right now too! :) (I think it's about $7.99 regular price).
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Polishes -Essie - It's Genius
trinitycharm 8/11/2011 11:01:00 PM
I was looking for a few new Autumn nail colors, and came across this one. As soon as I swatched I decided it would be great all year round. On my naturally tan (olive-yellow Asian skin), it's a pretty "red grape" color. (Some say purple grape, but tomato-tomahto). It has a hint of sparkle, but it's very very subtle. Looks good on fingers and toes (which are slightly more tan at the moment). The consistency wasn't bad in my humble opinion. My mani was opaque with two coats. Not streaky; not too thin; not too thick (but maybe that was just my batch). Overall, I quite like it. Happy to have it in my collection!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Mary Kay - TimeWise Luminous-Wear Liquid Foundation
trinitycharm 8/8/2011 11:25:00 PM
I normally wear Mary Kay Medium Coverage Foundation in Beige 400 (sheered out with some face lotion to help match my skin better and to make it look more dewy). I decided to try the Luminous-Wear version so that I wouldn't have to keep adding a step to my makeup routine (which I don't do everyday if I don't have to). My MK consultant came over and tested two colors on me (Beige 800 and Bronze 1). She preferred the Bronze 1 on my summer skin (I'm naturally tan with olive-yellow Asian skin), but I thought it looked slightly too tan on me. I see it in the mirror. It's fairly sheer, so it might have worked, but I knew I wouldn't be this tan in the winter, so I went for Beige 800. That one ended up still being not the right color---maybe slightly too light on me. I like the dewiness it gives, but if you're looking for better coverage, this won't do much. It just gives a sheer wash of foundation to your face. For the price ($20), I expected a bit more. I wish I could find the right shade for my skin, but I either have to mix the two colors, or go back to using the Medium Coverage in Beige 400. If you're looking for something light, that gives you a dewy glow, this might be for you.
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Top/Base Coats -Unlisted Brand - INM - Out the Door Top Coat
trinitycharm 7/20/2011 11:17:00 AM
It was just OKAY for me. This was my first top coat I had ever purchased, and I wanted to make sure it was a quick-dry formula. It went on smoothly, and dried "fairly" quickly, but not as quickly as I'd like (especially if I was in a hurry and had to put on several coats of polish in a short amount of time). This did not add shine, and it made some of my nail polishes bubble. If I had to do several coats of nail polish, this top coat did not do much to prevent nicking or chipping. Like I said, it didn't dry fast enough for me. Also, I wash dishes frequently (SAHM here!), and of course, my mani always chips or wears off much faster for me. However, I bought my second top coat....SECHE VITE...and I *love* that one. My mani lasts so much longer, dries much faster, and has more of a shine. The only downside is the smell, but I can handle that. As for this quick-dry formula, it was just okay. I still have some left, and only plan on using it when I have no other alternative. It was purchased at CVS (but can't remember the price).
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No