Beauty Product Reviews | Page 3

I have tried a lot of different setting sprays and makeup sprays (Fix +, Skindinavia, EFL, and 2 out of 3 from UD) and this one is probably my favorite. It doesn't dry the skin, but it also doesn't add any oiliness or shine. The full-size bottle lasts for a couple of months, and the XL, which I believe is now discontinued, lasts for several. I do like De-Slick as well when I am more oily in the summer, but overall All Nighter is a superior product.

Since I liked MAC Mineralize eyeshadow duos in the past, I figured I would give their Mineralize blushes a go as well. I got Dainty, which is a nice soft pink. Once applied, it is not a terribly unique color, but it does have a really pretty glow to it (similar to MAC Mineralize Skin Finish) that makes it look a little nicer on the skin that blushes in comparable shades. I feel like one pan should last for a very long time, which is a bonus.

I got this as a holiday gift from my cousin who is a big Gaga fan. I don't have much of an opinion of Gaga either way, but I am a fan of shiny pink lipsticks and VGGaga is unlike most of the other pinks I have. I had never tried MAC's Amplified finish before, but I quite like it. (My favorite finish from MAC is Lustre, even if it does not last. Amplified, on me, is like Lustre's more opaque sister.) Weirdly enough, I did not like this color much on me when I had very dark brownish-red hair, but as soon as I lightened it I could wear this lipstick full strength. There are a billion pink lipsticks out there, but I do think this one is fairly unique, and it supported a good cause. If you ever have the chance to pick it up, do it!

I like this brush quite a lot, and I've had it for several years. I have deep-set eyes, so I usually want to blend my shadows out a little more above the crease. This brush works perfectly for that. My only real criticism is that the goat hair feels cheap, and even after all this time it is slightly coarse.

I hate being the black sheep when this product has such good reviews, but it does not work well for me. I find it to be a little oily (like mineral oil), and it just sits on top of the skin. I couldn't use it as a mixing medium because the fragrance irritated my eyes and skin. I also tried it under makeup and it just sat there like an oily mess. If you actually want to make your makeup "set" and last a little longer but you also want a less matte finish, try either UD All Nighter or Dew Me.

This is a really brilliant brush. At the time I purchased it, about six years ago, there were not suitable dupes on the market. The 187 is amazing for applying everything from foundation to blush to highlighter. I really like it with light, liquidy foundations as well as blushes that require a very soft application. Sonia Kashuk's version is the most similar one I've tried, but I do find it to be a little more flat at the end, and slightly more dense. I do use both quite regularly.

I am a serious rose lover. Rose perfumes, rose candles, actual roses, rose bushes, rose candy, you name it, I am all about it. To my nose, roses simultaneously smell sweet, clean, rich, velvety, inviting, and warm. Stella embodies a soft, feminine, assertive rose perfectly. I absolutely detect the amber and the peony mixed with the lush, deep red damask roses, but sadly I don't really pick the mandarin out. I suppose it blends in to the other notes when I smell it. Stella is the perfect rose if you want a contemporary, less soapy rose that is authentic to the flower yet also offering something a bit more captivating. Stella's rose is a rose with a story to tell if you would only come closer.

L'Eau d'Issey is truly a modern classic. This fresh, ethereal scent ushered in the trend of "aquatic" fragrances, and it has stood the test of time. It isn't heavy on the ozone, but you definitely do get a whiff of it. It has a crisp coolness to it that is not icy or offputting. I have always gotten a ton of compliments when I wear this scent.

Freak is a very cool perfume, perfect for your inner goth. I don't think the idea behind it is too terribly unique, and in a lot of ways it reminds me of a very modern version of Dior Poison. It doesn't really smell like the original Poison or any of its flankers, but it has that "Poison family" feel to it. I suppose it doesn't hurt since some of the notes used in this fragrance are from poisonous plants. I was expecting something a little more complex and layered given the description and the notes, but in general I get a sort of semi-dark (purple) floral. It is quite nice, but also very pricey. It lasts about as well as any other good-quality EDP lasts, around 4-5 hours. Illamasqua gets major points for the bottle design, it is pretty unique and beautiful. All in all, a good scent if you're feeling kind of dark but you don't want to stray too far outside the box.

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Pixie Epoxy really lives up to its claims. You only need a small amount, and glittery or loose shadows stick like glue. The only reason I cannot give it a full five stars is because Fyrinnae can sometimes run out of stock and not replenish for some time, and occasionally order turn-around-time is very long. If you order several tubes a at a time it probably wouldn't hurt you too much, but if it is something that you use every day and you completely run out, it could be a while before you get a replacement. (I understand that they are a small company run by just a couple of people, and I totally forgive them that sometimes they get overwhelmed with orders. However, it does affect my opinion on the product since I know it could take a long time to get more if I run out.)