Makeup Reviews, part III
Continued reviews as I update my stale makeup collection.
Stila Eyeshadow in Barefoot Contessa:: This came highly-recommended to bring out the green in my eyes. It's a fairly-matte purple shade, mixed with a warm reddish-brown hues. I was a little underwhelmed with this, honestly. It's a good accent color, but all over the lid, it was too much for my paleness, and it made my eyes kind of flat. I might try it out in the crease, but until then, I have a pan that's only been used swiped once. I could always swap it on MUA.
Stila Lip Glaze in Black Cherry:: This is beautiful for a daytime look that's not bland. The color is a deep but bright true berry that really brightens the face, and someone as pale as me can use it, too. The color is much more apparent here than most other glosses I've tried. It lasts pretty nicely, and leaves a little pinkish stain behind on the lips. Plus it smells good, like cherry candy.
Stila Lipstick in Ava:: This was a very sheer brownish-red, much less cherry blossom than the hue that Stila shows on their site. It goes on very smoothly, like a gloss. The color is very wearable, and it can be worn daytime or nighttime, depending on the look. It's understated and elegant because it doesn't make the lips the focus, but it does really pull colors together. My only minus here was that I have to reapply this more than my other lipsticks because it is so sheer. All in all, I am pretty nicely pleased with this lippie.
Pixi Eye Beauty kit in Muse:: First of all, I was shocked at how small this thing was. It's the size of a credit card. If the colors were not so richly-hued, this would have been sent back, no question. This palette is all greens-- a champagne glitter, a celadon green glitter, a sheer goldy-green, a golden moss, a khaki and and olive, plus two eye primers. I bought it because as I get a little less timid with eye color, I've found that the greens work really well with the pink in my complexion. I did a test swipe, though, and I was surprised at how densely-packed the color is. This is denser than Urban Decay, somewhere right below MAC on richness of hue. Usually, little kits like these go on very sheer. I decided to keep it because a little will go a long way, and in fact, I'm wearing two of the colors today, because if you moisten your liner brush, these can be easily converted to colored liners. On the minus side, I was interested in possibly getting two of the other kits, but I might hold back on them for right now. This was kind of expensive, and I don't know if it's quite worth it.
MAC eyeshadow in Trax:: This is what I wanted when I bought Barefoot Contessa. Trax is a rich eggplant purple with gold overlay that gives depth to the eye. Right now, I can only wear it at night because I'm so fair, but this is one that will be really fun to play with, and it'll make a stunning smoky eye.
MAC eyeshadow in Bamboo:: A matte beige that I bought for neutral looks-- a simple cat eye paired with a red lip. Something classy and retro. It's just noticeable enough to give off a 40's flavor. And this is very nice-- especially when shaded with a neutral mid-brown. I need to get Ricepaper to pair this with.
MAC eyeshadow in Mythology:: This is a really nice bronze-gold for highlighting the crease. It makes the eyes pop.
MAC eyeshadow in Idol Eyes:: A pale silvery-blue that isn't too bright-teenybopper. It looks classy but fun at the same time. I was really surprised at how wearable this is, but then again, I've been laying it on kind of sheer. Maybe I'll pack the lid next time and see how blue it gets.
MAC lipglass in Enchantress:: A pinky-peach pearl that is super glossy and really goes well with a peach cheek and light eyes. Pale chicks, this one's for you. It's the color of spring flowers blooming, and I'm sure that I'm going to use this a lot. Also, it's kind of sticky for a lipgloss, but in a way that makes it stay on, so that's good.
MAC lipstick in Russian Red:: Wowza red. This red is not for the faint of heart. It is not a brown-red. It is not a garnet red. This is Red red, Marilyn red, with a very very slight blue-tone. This is definitely to be used for effect.
MAC lipstick in Fresh Moroccan:: A more everyday kind of red-- it's slightly spiced brick color, with a nice shimmer to it. This would look fabulous on you if you have olive tones in your skin.
Tarte lipgloss in Baby and Johnny:: Very thin lipgloss, but considering I'm the biggest Dirty Dancing fan I know, I absolutely could not resist. One side is a golden peach lipgloss, the other a true rose. They both go on with subtle tint. It went on very smoothly and silkily, and it was not at all thick like a MAC lipglass. Unfortunately, it didn't stay on as long, either. Although I have to say-- I am really glad that I got this, because aside from being very moisturizing, these things smell delicious, like vanilla cream. It smells like the inside of a Cadbury Cream Egg. Plus the packaging is really slim and nice for throwing into a purse.
Revlon lipstick in Golden Moment Pink:: MAC's Dainty Cake lipstick was a limited edition with the High Tea collection, and I missed out on it. I have tried to find it since, but it goes for outrageous prices when you can find it. It's a real coral pink with golden pearl, and it's very springtime-y. This lipstick is a dead-on dupe. Unfortunately, it doesn't smell like a MAC lipstick. It smells kinda-- medicinal. A problem easily fixed with some clear lipgloss overtop, but still. It'll be a nice stand-in until I find a Dainty Cake that will fit into my budget.
Urban Decay eyeshadow in X:: A pinky gold color that almost comes off as duochrome. This is really close to MAC's Gleam, which I love, only slightly more gold than pink. The cool thing is that the finishes are a little different-- whereas Gleam is a really sheer luster, X has a more frosted finish, like MAC's pearl veluxes. If you have blue eyes, you absolutely must own this, because this makes them really pop and brings out a greeny-teal hue.
Fresh Beauty Memoirs of a Geisha Palette:: I was a little underwhelmed. The product amount is really generous for a palette, but the blush is seriously off. It's a pastel pink, which would be okay, except the formula is really thick, which makes it hard to blend in. The highlighter is standard and nice for the eyebrows and temples, and the lipgloss is a thin red that adds a nice flush. It'll be good for tucking in a purse for quick touch-ups (the packaging and the included mirror are really nice), but it's just such a shame about that blush.
Benefit The Realness of Concealness concealer kit:: Contains Bo-ing undereye concealer, Lemon Aid eye brightener, Lip Plump lip primer, High Beam hightlighter, and Ooh La La undereye de-puffer, all in mini-size. It's a nice sampler tour of Benefit's fix its. I bought it because I have a tendency to not sleep a whole lot, and this makes me look a whole lot less dead. Bo-ing is really nice. It's thick, which can be pancakey if you lay it on too thick, but it covered my tired circles really nicely. Lemon Aid counteracts the blue of tired inner eyes, and, as a plus, it's a great eyeshadow primer. Lip Plump was gross and sticky and just skip it, 'cuz ew. High Beam is fabulous! It works great as a highlighter for the browbone and the top of cheek bones *and* is the best blendable highligher I've tried. Ooh La La I'm kind of wishy-washy about. It's cool and soothing, but I don't really need a de-puffer, so I can't really judge it. All in all, I'd recommend this kit for those of you who could stand to look a little more refreshed in the A.M. Plus, the packaging is so cute and mod. There is one minus here-- the undereye concealer that comes with this kit will be useless to you if you have a darker skin tone. It's sadly white-chicks only.
My New Lust List: Products That Tickle my Fancy:: Benefit blush in Georgia (scented peach), Benefit lipstick in Bachelor Pad (cream red), Benefit Bad Gal eye kohl (black), Sephora fat eyeliner in Flesh (gold), MAC lipstick in Viva Glam III (film-noir mauve), MAC eyeshadows in Ricepaper (light beige), Expensive Pink (gilded pink), and Motif (yellow duochrome), MAC shadestick in Shimmersand (shimmering beige-pink), MAC lichen eye kohl (deep green), Stila Kajal Metallics eyeliners, Pop Beauty Eye Cake in Peaches (shades of peach).
I'm doing the "I wish it were spring" thing right now since it's unseasonably warm here today. Sunlight is streaming in through my window, and I feel calm and clear. Serene and hopeful. I can't wait to see flowers start to pop up.
Stila Eyeshadow in Barefoot Contessa:: This came highly-recommended to bring out the green in my eyes. It's a fairly-matte purple shade, mixed with a warm reddish-brown hues. I was a little underwhelmed with this, honestly. It's a good accent color, but all over the lid, it was too much for my paleness, and it made my eyes kind of flat. I might try it out in the crease, but until then, I have a pan that's only been used swiped once. I could always swap it on MUA.
Stila Lip Glaze in Black Cherry:: This is beautiful for a daytime look that's not bland. The color is a deep but bright true berry that really brightens the face, and someone as pale as me can use it, too. The color is much more apparent here than most other glosses I've tried. It lasts pretty nicely, and leaves a little pinkish stain behind on the lips. Plus it smells good, like cherry candy.
Stila Lipstick in Ava:: This was a very sheer brownish-red, much less cherry blossom than the hue that Stila shows on their site. It goes on very smoothly, like a gloss. The color is very wearable, and it can be worn daytime or nighttime, depending on the look. It's understated and elegant because it doesn't make the lips the focus, but it does really pull colors together. My only minus here was that I have to reapply this more than my other lipsticks because it is so sheer. All in all, I am pretty nicely pleased with this lippie.
Pixi Eye Beauty kit in Muse:: First of all, I was shocked at how small this thing was. It's the size of a credit card. If the colors were not so richly-hued, this would have been sent back, no question. This palette is all greens-- a champagne glitter, a celadon green glitter, a sheer goldy-green, a golden moss, a khaki and and olive, plus two eye primers. I bought it because as I get a little less timid with eye color, I've found that the greens work really well with the pink in my complexion. I did a test swipe, though, and I was surprised at how densely-packed the color is. This is denser than Urban Decay, somewhere right below MAC on richness of hue. Usually, little kits like these go on very sheer. I decided to keep it because a little will go a long way, and in fact, I'm wearing two of the colors today, because if you moisten your liner brush, these can be easily converted to colored liners. On the minus side, I was interested in possibly getting two of the other kits, but I might hold back on them for right now. This was kind of expensive, and I don't know if it's quite worth it.
MAC eyeshadow in Trax:: This is what I wanted when I bought Barefoot Contessa. Trax is a rich eggplant purple with gold overlay that gives depth to the eye. Right now, I can only wear it at night because I'm so fair, but this is one that will be really fun to play with, and it'll make a stunning smoky eye.
MAC eyeshadow in Bamboo:: A matte beige that I bought for neutral looks-- a simple cat eye paired with a red lip. Something classy and retro. It's just noticeable enough to give off a 40's flavor. And this is very nice-- especially when shaded with a neutral mid-brown. I need to get Ricepaper to pair this with.
MAC eyeshadow in Mythology:: This is a really nice bronze-gold for highlighting the crease. It makes the eyes pop.
MAC eyeshadow in Idol Eyes:: A pale silvery-blue that isn't too bright-teenybopper. It looks classy but fun at the same time. I was really surprised at how wearable this is, but then again, I've been laying it on kind of sheer. Maybe I'll pack the lid next time and see how blue it gets.
MAC lipglass in Enchantress:: A pinky-peach pearl that is super glossy and really goes well with a peach cheek and light eyes. Pale chicks, this one's for you. It's the color of spring flowers blooming, and I'm sure that I'm going to use this a lot. Also, it's kind of sticky for a lipgloss, but in a way that makes it stay on, so that's good.
MAC lipstick in Russian Red:: Wowza red. This red is not for the faint of heart. It is not a brown-red. It is not a garnet red. This is Red red, Marilyn red, with a very very slight blue-tone. This is definitely to be used for effect.
MAC lipstick in Fresh Moroccan:: A more everyday kind of red-- it's slightly spiced brick color, with a nice shimmer to it. This would look fabulous on you if you have olive tones in your skin.
Tarte lipgloss in Baby and Johnny:: Very thin lipgloss, but considering I'm the biggest Dirty Dancing fan I know, I absolutely could not resist. One side is a golden peach lipgloss, the other a true rose. They both go on with subtle tint. It went on very smoothly and silkily, and it was not at all thick like a MAC lipglass. Unfortunately, it didn't stay on as long, either. Although I have to say-- I am really glad that I got this, because aside from being very moisturizing, these things smell delicious, like vanilla cream. It smells like the inside of a Cadbury Cream Egg. Plus the packaging is really slim and nice for throwing into a purse.
Revlon lipstick in Golden Moment Pink:: MAC's Dainty Cake lipstick was a limited edition with the High Tea collection, and I missed out on it. I have tried to find it since, but it goes for outrageous prices when you can find it. It's a real coral pink with golden pearl, and it's very springtime-y. This lipstick is a dead-on dupe. Unfortunately, it doesn't smell like a MAC lipstick. It smells kinda-- medicinal. A problem easily fixed with some clear lipgloss overtop, but still. It'll be a nice stand-in until I find a Dainty Cake that will fit into my budget.
Urban Decay eyeshadow in X:: A pinky gold color that almost comes off as duochrome. This is really close to MAC's Gleam, which I love, only slightly more gold than pink. The cool thing is that the finishes are a little different-- whereas Gleam is a really sheer luster, X has a more frosted finish, like MAC's pearl veluxes. If you have blue eyes, you absolutely must own this, because this makes them really pop and brings out a greeny-teal hue.
Fresh Beauty Memoirs of a Geisha Palette:: I was a little underwhelmed. The product amount is really generous for a palette, but the blush is seriously off. It's a pastel pink, which would be okay, except the formula is really thick, which makes it hard to blend in. The highlighter is standard and nice for the eyebrows and temples, and the lipgloss is a thin red that adds a nice flush. It'll be good for tucking in a purse for quick touch-ups (the packaging and the included mirror are really nice), but it's just such a shame about that blush.
Benefit The Realness of Concealness concealer kit:: Contains Bo-ing undereye concealer, Lemon Aid eye brightener, Lip Plump lip primer, High Beam hightlighter, and Ooh La La undereye de-puffer, all in mini-size. It's a nice sampler tour of Benefit's fix its. I bought it because I have a tendency to not sleep a whole lot, and this makes me look a whole lot less dead. Bo-ing is really nice. It's thick, which can be pancakey if you lay it on too thick, but it covered my tired circles really nicely. Lemon Aid counteracts the blue of tired inner eyes, and, as a plus, it's a great eyeshadow primer. Lip Plump was gross and sticky and just skip it, 'cuz ew. High Beam is fabulous! It works great as a highlighter for the browbone and the top of cheek bones *and* is the best blendable highligher I've tried. Ooh La La I'm kind of wishy-washy about. It's cool and soothing, but I don't really need a de-puffer, so I can't really judge it. All in all, I'd recommend this kit for those of you who could stand to look a little more refreshed in the A.M. Plus, the packaging is so cute and mod. There is one minus here-- the undereye concealer that comes with this kit will be useless to you if you have a darker skin tone. It's sadly white-chicks only.
My New Lust List: Products That Tickle my Fancy:: Benefit blush in Georgia (scented peach), Benefit lipstick in Bachelor Pad (cream red), Benefit Bad Gal eye kohl (black), Sephora fat eyeliner in Flesh (gold), MAC lipstick in Viva Glam III (film-noir mauve), MAC eyeshadows in Ricepaper (light beige), Expensive Pink (gilded pink), and Motif (yellow duochrome), MAC shadestick in Shimmersand (shimmering beige-pink), MAC lichen eye kohl (deep green), Stila Kajal Metallics eyeliners, Pop Beauty Eye Cake in Peaches (shades of peach).
I'm doing the "I wish it were spring" thing right now since it's unseasonably warm here today. Sunlight is streaming in through my window, and I feel calm and clear. Serene and hopeful. I can't wait to see flowers start to pop up.