Beauty Product Reviews | Page 7

This is kind of my holy-grail gloss. I have a hard time finding it in stores since a lot of Sephoras seem to have taken out their DuWop displays.

This was also the first plumping-gloss I ever bought. If you're sensitive to plumpers, this probably isn't for you. I think DuWop uses a blend that includes cinnamon, and I know some people who say they just can't use it. Personally, I love it. I can't say it plumps my pout, but it makes my lips feel fabulous, even if previous chapped or raw. --and I love, love, love the gentle wash of intense red that Tulip gives me.

Only downfalls, it smells a little wonky. Almost anesthetic, very sterile, probably due to the "secret blend of essential oils." It's also a little sticky, and can build up on the corners of your lips if you apply too heavily.

I bought this in A-Go-Go and was unimpressed. The formula seemed dry, and it caused my lips to flake which made it look super-streaky. I don't remember what I did with it, but I didn't plan on buying any other shade. Probably a half-year later, I saw Rosary in Sephora and fell in love. It's a beautiful deep brick-burgundy, the colour of a lovely old red wine. I remembered my experience with A-Go-Go, but played with the tester and found it was much creamier than I remembered and applied very smoothly. Maybe they reformulated? As far as Rosary is concerned, it applies evenly directly from the tube, and is very richly pigmented. There is nothing sheer about this lipstick! It has sort of a medium creme sheen to it, not completely matte, but not glossy. It lasts for quite a while and stays put well enough if you need to eat or drink while wearing. Only small spot-reapplication is required afterward.

I am extremely sensitive to a lot of perfumes, and it runs in my family. Migraines abound when we get guests who wear a lot of strong fragrance, and even some of my sister's B&BW mists bother us. That said, whenever I read "vetiver," "patchouli," "woods," or "musk," I usually run the other way.

I love this fragrance. I get more deep fruity-floral from this than woody-floral, though there is that cinnamon-bark scent underlying. Perhaps it's just the way the formula reacts to my skin, but it's much more wearable than the description would have led me to believe. If I had to describe this to someone else, I'd say it's more plum-cinnamon than anything else. Being a jasmine fanatic, I can't say that note smacks me in the face, but the flowers I smell in this aren't the heady jasmine I love.

On me, this scent goes on and stays steady for maybe an hour, then morphs into something much sweeter, which is what lingers on. I end up reapplying every couple hours or so, which isn't bad considering the applicator is small and discreet.

I am madly in love with this line. I snatched up two of the three palettes currently available (Burning Heart and Sweet Heart) to try the most colours possible, and I have yet to be disappointed by any of them.

The shadows themselves seem to be two different formulas: a subtle satin sparkle, and a matte. They all apply evenly, with no streaking or uneven buildup in one spot or another, and they all blend like a dream. The only difference I notice in formula (other than finish) is the way it comes off the pan: the satin shadows hold together a little better, not creating as much "dust" as the matte shadows, which are very soft and velvety. I hate wasting shadow, and I feel bad when I can't get that "dust" on my brush without creating more. :C

A little of them go a long way, and you can layer on colour until you've reached your desired intensity if you're a little scared of the brightness. Also, the pink and red stain my eyelids after a while, but usually fades by morning after removing it well.

I'll admit: I use this mostly because my mother is a Mary Kay sales person and I can get it ridiculously discounted. But it is good stuff, and I find myself going back to it over and over.

I wear a lot of heavily pigmented eyeshadows that are a bear to get off (especially reds and bright pinks), as well as coats upon coats of mascara and tons of eyeliner. But this stuff really goes to work--I tend to soak a cotton ball with it and hold it to my lid for a few moments before gently pulling it away. It takes no more than two or three swipes to get even the most stubborn colour off, with some concentration in difficult areas (like underneath the eye, in the corners, etc).

Word of warning: don't get this in your eye. It does sting, and will cloud your vision for a bit.

On my hunt for the perfect magenta lipstick, I picked up this lipstick in "Calypso." I don't know if it's still available in this shade, I haven't seen it since. (Upon examining the website, they may have just renamed it "Eros," since the swatch looks similar.) But the following review is based on this shade.

This is one of the most pigmented lipsticks I have ever purchased. It applies beautifully, the colour bright, rich, and with just a hint of creme shine to it. I have problems with drier lipsticks, since my lips tend to flake as the day goes on, but I have never experienced that with this lipstick. It wears well, but you probably will need to reapply after eating or drinking, since (unlike a lot of more pigmented lipsticks I have used) it does not stain.

For the price (which was reasonable, I purchased through ULTA), it's a wonderful buy. However, while I loved the colour I bought, I don't know if I'd buy it in any other shade--I love my dramatic lips, and none of the other shades have really caught my eye or are different enough from anything I all ready have.

Wonderfully pigmented, a little sticky

I snatched some of these up while at the Sephora in NYC--snagged Hermetic, from the Art of Darkness collection and (surprisingly) the last Fierce. I had been desperately hunting down the perfect purple gloss, and found that this really is it.

Normally, I hate squeezy-tube applicators. I still think this would be way better if it had a wand applicator, but the opening is small enough that not too much product is dispersed and you have the option to layer on more or wear less. I found that with the darker shades (Hermetic), a thinner application can be a little spotty. But they stay nicely in place, providing you don't eat a meal while wearing.

One thing I don't really love, though, is the stickiness of the product. It's very tacky, which is good for adhering to your lips, but also great at sticking to your hair, your upper lip, your straw, anything else that gets in its way. Over all, beautiful product, love the colour range, but wear it on a day you don't expect to do much with your lips.

One of my go-to mascaras!

I have to say, I'm a little confused by the previous negative review. While I'm not saying this is the be-all and end-all of mascaras, it's one of my favourites. I received this (as well as the mini-version with the itty-bitty AMAZING brush) as a sample with my Sephora VIB card. The first thing I noticed was the applicator: it is MASSIVE. Remember those old brushes your grandmother used to wash out bottles and jars? Incredibly reminiscent of that! The formula itself is good, but smells a little strange. Almost like a magic-marker scent, which I don't mind but might bother some. Between the somewhat-thicker formula and the massive brush, this mascara gives great coverage and false-lashes look without any of the spider-eye clumping.

That said, I usually use this mascara in conjunction with it's little sister for night events and parties. Worn all day, it can flake a little. Not nearly as badly as other mascaras I've tried, but it might bother you if you apply before work and plan something that night without time to freshen up!

I've yet to be able to use this line's cream shadows without crazy creasing...

That said, I really like the colours in this palette. The three neutral shades can be used for everyday, work-friendly looks, while the brighter colours can be used to liven them up, or create more fun, funky looks. Tijuana is one of the prettiest blacks I own--it's got a very bright gold shimmer to it, though it falls out a little over the course of the day.

I do think these shadows require very precise application, though. If not careful, or if using the wrong brushes, they can look a little messy and smeary. But if you have time to do something fun and really have a good go at it, this is a nice palette to have.

I eyed these in store for the longest time, but couldn't bring myself to shell out for them. Of course, now they're on sale for $16, to which I say BUY NOW IF YOU DON'T ALL READY OWN THEM! That's a fab deal!

I love love love the Pink Diamond colour--it's a bright, glittering pink that will instantly bring all focus to your lips. I like to wear it with a mauve eye, or with smokey greys that aren't overdone. Amethyst I've worn less, but applies a pretty dark plum shade. Some people might find it a little too dark, but I personally love a deep, vampy lip. Have to say, not crazy about the Golden Topaz, but that's just me--don't really do neutral lips, regardless of how sparkly they are!

Short of MAC's Digidazzle collection, I don't think I've ever seen a more sparkling lip product. They're great to wear for events, nights out, or just any time you feel like being a little extra shiny where it counts.