Makeup Brushes -Unlisted Brand - Manicare - Artiste Stippling Brush 17
xBrunetteBarbie 7/30/2009 6:35:00 AM
I'm from Australia and you can pick up this brush at Priceline or Myer. This brush only cost me about $18AUD which is very cheap considering how well it works. It's extremely soft and doesn't shed for me. Buy one!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Unlisted Brand - Natural glamour 2Glo mineral makeup
xBrunetteBarbie 7/22/2009 3:11:00 AM
This product i AH-MAY-ZING! I totally agree with the review below. & yes, it is an australian only product. "This is my new HG foundation! All hail 2Glo! I don't know if you can get this stuff outside Australia, if not it can be ordered online. I love this stuff because it's easy to apply, gives gooo day-to-day coverage, lasts for ages without the need for a finishing veil or a spray to set it. Some other pros include: -no talc, fragrance or parabens are used -it has an spf rating of 15 -vitamin C and other antioxidants are added to this foundation in order to fight the first signs of ageing and give skin a luminous look -It DOESN'T MAKE YOU ITCHY!!! Not even if you sweat while wearing it, which I found was a problem with some other mmu's As amazing as I find this product, there are a few cons: -the packaging is a pain and can be a bit messy to use -the coverage is light-moderate so if you're looking for something matte, this probably isn't the product for you -i wish they sold this stuff in larger packs! I go through more than I'm probably meant to... Anyway there you have it, my HG foundation. I was shocked nobody had reviewed it yet!"
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -L'Oreal - Smooth Intense Anti-Frizz Serum
xBrunetteBarbie 7/20/2009 4:33:00 AM
This is an AWESOME hair serum. I use one pump of this and run it through the middle to ends of my damp hair. (I have thick, black, typically straight Asian hair) When my hair is dry, I have really smooth hair. And it smells so good! I think this would be the best, most value for money hair serum you could buy. 5 lippies and a definite rebuy. :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Stila - Belle of the Ball quad
xBrunetteBarbie 6/22/2009 5:26:00 AM
My first Stila haul, too, and I wish I'd read the reviews first (how often I've said that!!). I did note that the shades are called "shimmer" ("blue shimmer", "green shimmer", etc.) so I guess they intended these to be what they are; sheer washes of color, great for a barely-there look, or for punching/glamming up other colors, which is what I've used them for. They're more glitter than shadow, for sure, but what gorgeous glitter, so many different variations of the initial pan shade. Using a creamy base seems to help with the fallout, and there is a lot of that; glitter does tend to fly.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Maybelline - Mineral Power Powder Foundation
xBrunetteBarbie 6/12/2009 3:21:00 AM
NW20/FFF skin coloring & Light 2 is a perfect match. I have combo skin that is prone to clogging (blackheads, not acne). I personally like this product a lot. I've been using it since the middle of February w/ no skin issues (I've actually noticed a clearing of my skin. I don't have acne, but I do have blackheads). I don't think this "fixed" my skin issues, I just think all the stuff I was using before (liquid foundations) were clogging my pores. I did go through about a month of not wearing ANY foundaiton ever prior to starting using this stuff. The coverage is light buildable to medium. The brush that comes w/ it SUCKS; don't even bother w/ it. I use a kabuki to apply a light layer for my daytime face, spray w/ mark's mist opportunity spray, let dry, then apply the veil (finishing powder) lightly. I find this stuff is also great for oil control. While I don't have overly oily skin, it does get kind of icky/gross feeling as the day wears on w/ liquid foundation. Not with this stuff, though. I originally purchased this in a kit w/ the liquid concealer, veil/finishing powder, the foundation, and the (worthless) kabuki brush) for $14 @ CVS (not on sale). I have since purchased the bigger/full sized containers of the foundaiton & the veil/finishing powder. Hope this review helps
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -Maybelline - Dream Matte Pressed Powder
xBrunetteBarbie 6/12/2009 3:19:00 AM
I previously wrote a review on this but thought I'd update seeing as I use it for a different purpose now. Before I used it as a setting powder, but now I use it as a foundation. I'm a tan skinned NC37-40 and the shade 'honey' in winter and 'latte' in summer suits me perfectly. What I love about this is that it isn't cakey at all. I sometimes apply 2 dustings of this and still no caking. It actually looks pretty natural! It's finely milled and melts into my skin. I have some slight acne scarring and blemishes on my face and this covers it suprisingly well. The packaging is a bit bulky, but I like the swing out mirror. There isn't actually much product contained within the packaging itself, and the free puff it comes with is pretty much useless. I use my TF retractable kabuki brush to put this on - simply swirl it in and shake off the excess. When used as a foundation, it doesn't keep my combo (oily t-zone normal cheeks) oil-free for the whole day, a couple of hours at most. But I just lightly go over my face with some blot powder and I'm set again. When I previously used to use this as a setting powder over my TM, it controlled shine pretty well. I spend half the year back home in the Dominican Republic (where it's pretty hot/humid) and I used to use this on the nights when I went. I definately noticed that I didn't get quite so oily as I usually did, even less oily than I would when I would spend the other half of my year in the UK! It's matte, but doesn't leave me looking flat or one-dimensional, which is good. Overall, this is a very good powder -- the best I've tried. It lasts me all day too without fading :) PRO'S: 1) Controls oilies quite well 2) Packaging includes a mirror 3) Doesn't look cakey 4) No fragrance...beneficial for all skintypes! 5) Doesn't make my acne-prone sensitive skin break out CON'S: 1) Packaging is fairly bulky 2) Doesn't control oil amazingly, but hey, I'm not expecting miracles with my oil-slick t-zone
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Boots - No7 Intelligent Balance Foundation Pump Bottle
xBrunetteBarbie 6/4/2009 8:14:00 AM
My skin is normal to dry, with some shine prone to my t-zone. I bought this at my local Target because 05 Porcelain is a 100% EXACT color match to my skintone. Woohoo! A perfect match is near impossible to find so even if the formula isn't the best I'll work with it. It also has an SPF of 12 (Octinoxate 5%, Titanium Dioxide 1.9%) and comes in a glass bottle with pump. For a drugstore foundation I was pleasantly surprised how nice the finish is!Texture and finish: The texture is smooth and light, with a light to barely medium-level coverage with a natural matte finish (like clean, non-oily skin - not a chalky matte finish). I really liked how natural the finish was on my skin! The coverage is enough to even out my skintone but not opaque enough to cover moderate to major blemishes. With a few pats of concealer on needed areas and a brushing of loose powder, my skin looked natural and polished.Durability: It wore well but not perfectly throughout the day. Mid-day I needed to touch-up with powder, but the texture and color didn't change. Still looked natural. No caking or creasing.Overall I'd recommend this foundation for those who are looking for a lightweight, light coverage foundation that softly mattifies without the thick, chalky look of typial matte foundations. Best for combo, mildly oily and normal skin types.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Unlisted Brand - Playboy Stiletto Lip Shine - Scandal
xBrunetteBarbie 6/4/2009 8:12:00 AM
This is a gorgeous, moisturising, shiny, semi-sheer lipstick which I picked up on sale recently. Scandal is a beautiful berry pink which suits my NC30ish complexion perfectly. It is packaged in an attractive eggplant-purple slim tube with the pink playboy bunny printed on it. It looks quite cute. There is no noticeable fragrance to the product. It doesn't have the most fantastic staying power because of its moisturising formula, but I don't mind reapplying it. I think Playboy could have easily chosen cheap, inferior products to sell in their cosmetic line but I am impressed with this lipstick. The quality is definitely here, and I would recommend you try this Lip Shine if you get the opportunity. 5 Lippies!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Unlisted Brand - Playboy Beauty Liquid Luxe Lipstick
xBrunetteBarbie 6/4/2009 8:11:00 AM
I love this product because I always have a difficult time with "lipsticks". Lipstick pigment never seems to stay on my lips for very long regardless of how often I'm eating or drinking something. None of that seems to matter when I use this product. I get the perfect amount of pigment using this product, and the sponge applicator applies the perfect amount of product, while lasting for hours. I never noticed the taste of this product, and I don't intend to find out (I've trained myself to not lick my lips when I wear product, so if this is any issue you for you, you may want to take the other reviews into account). Although this product has a nice shine to i, it is definitly not a "glossy" look. For a glossy, fuller look I apply Bobbi Brown's Crystal Lipgloss over this with a lipbrush. Doing so gives my lips some pop and is a great look for going out at night. Lastly, this product has true color, meaning that the color you see in the tub is what you get (unless you blot) so if you're buying online and do not like a dark lip, be conservative with your color choices.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -Bourjois - Poudre libre aux poudres
xBrunetteBarbie 6/2/2009 1:50:00 AM
Great product! I got one yesterday because my Revlon pressed powder has run out and I was in urgent need of setting my make up. I picked this in a drugstore and it's surprisingly very good! There were 2 colours in the store and i picked the darker one for my Asian skin.The powder is soooo smooth it's the smoothest I've ever used. When I put it on it makes my face matte and dewy without looking cakey. It has a very nice scent (Some people might think it's grannyish but i like it, it's like retro cosmetics haha) Anyway the scent is not detectable when it's already on your face. It covers my pores well so it provides a very nice finish - flawless face! However the package sucks. I dont think I can use it directly from the original package because the super smooth powder can fly away when you open the lid! So I pour it to an old loose powder box, a small one which is good for bringing it out. I wish I could use the original box because it looks very cute and pretty. never mind..
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -BeneFit Cosmetics - Jiffy Tan [DISCONTINUED]
xBrunetteBarbie 6/1/2009 2:00:00 AM
so, first off, this product is *not* a self-tanner...its a liquid-like (consistency like your typical lotion) bronzer for your body. it gives instant color upon application and washes off with soap and water. personally, my pros were: loved the little silvery sparkles that gave me a nice (not over the top) glow to my bod. didnt break me out did indeed wash off with soap and water-even the really concentrated stuff which was on my hands from rubbing it on the cons: smelled gross...something like plastic or...clay? streaked like mad-even with careful blending...and if you ended up trying to blend to much, the product would scrape up into little balls on the skin the color was not anywhere close to being natural. it was either muddy or orangey...no happy medium
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Pigment in Steel Blue
xBrunetteBarbie 6/1/2009 1:56:00 AM
Shade Complex deep sea blue with a strong green-gold element Texture Loose pigment powder Performance Usual smooth M.A.C. pigment texture. Endnotes Hoo boy, this is such a beautiful colour! This shade was what I was hoping "Deep Blue Green" would look like. Great as a liner and as a shadow brought upwards on the lower lid, "Steel Blue" looks fabulous on brown eyes! My colouring Yellow-beige Chinese Asian NC35 with jet black hair and very dark brown eyes (I have a slight tan too.) - pale colours wash me out.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Cornflower Pigment
xBrunetteBarbie 6/1/2009 1:55:00 AM
As far as pigments go, this is certainly rates high in colour but I'm not 100% loving it once you apply it. I'm a MAC NC30 with black hair and eyes. This colour has amazing lasting quality but the actual texture is what bugs me a bit. The colour in the pot is a duo chrome ... the base is a mid blue with grey/mauve tones and it flashes a vivid pink violet at times. It looks great in the pot but when you apply it onto the skin, it loses the duality a lot. On the skin, it really looks like Violet pigment (which is gorgeous) but it kinda disappoints because I was hoping for something different than a pigment I already have. It's not as finely milled as Vanilla pigment but it's definitely not as flakey as Rose or Kitschmas. Overall, it's a good pigment but perhaps not the best one MAC brought out.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Golders Green Pigment
xBrunetteBarbie 6/1/2009 1:54:00 AM
I was iffy on this pigment because it looks so bright, but honestly I couldn't have picked a better color from this collection for my brown eyes and dk tan-olive skin. When combined with a darker crease shade this looks amazing. With Night light pigment in the crease, this color just makes my eyes pop. It's very bright, smooth and easy to work with...so a little goes a long way. I tried this with brown shadow and it looks just as good. I'd rec this to all brown eyed girls. IT's unique and a *happy* color.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Acid Orange (Pro Pigment)
xBrunetteBarbie 6/1/2009 1:52:00 AM
Very pretty! I actually added a little bit of L'Oreal OTL in Flashlight (sheer gold) to my jar and it makes it even prettier! It doesn't look so good on my eyes (but with the right base, I bet it could be fab!), but rather as a blush! I've gotten so many compliments from people when I wear it on my cheeks. It's so glowy and a sheerer version of NARS Taj Mahal. It definitely gives you a glowing from within look on your cheeks. So, anyone reading who hasn't tried this, you must!!!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No