Beauty Product Reviews | Page 6
Lovely pale barbie pink
Grapefruit is a really beautiful shade. In the tube, it looks like a pale barbie pink, kind of like pepto-bismol (hope I haven't scared you away yet). When applied, it retains a hint of that barbie pink and transforms into a lovely milky pink with very very subtle shimmers. It looks great with pinky-nude cheeks (try Stila Lillium Convertible Color), or a ballet pink blush (try Shu Uemura M Pink 30A). For eyes, it will match with all cool toned shades, but I would try it with a bronzey-brown smoky eyes for an interesting contrast. It's sheer enough that it will work with most looks, and sticky enough to last for many hours. Smells like grapefruit as well, very subtle, not too cloying.
*** Please see my review on Apricot Lip Glaze for a general review on Stila Lip Glaze
My first makeup product...
Ahh, Stila Apricot Lip glaze holds such sentimental value to me. It's the first lipgloss, let alonemakeup product I ever owned! It's a clearish apricot pink (which basically shows up clear on the lips) It has a subtle micro shimmer that gives a beautiful and subtle glimmer on lips. When I first purchased it, it was in the original thin lip glaze pens, not the fatty ones you see now. It took me at least 10 clicks to finally get product up, but I was so excited to be applying this gloss with a BRUSH (“how professional!” I thought...) The glaze smells like Apricot as well! It's a very subtle and pleasant scent so don't worry if you're sensitive to fragrance in cosmetics. In terms of texture, this gloss is sticky. It's not goopy sticky, more of a tacky-sticky. Subsequently, the lasting power is pretty impressive. When I bought the product it had very little product in it so I went through it quickly, but now with its new packaging, it could last a decent while. Apricot is a beautiful 'lips-but-better' shade. If you like a natural glossy look, then this is the color for you.
******************* Stila Lip Glaze has been a popular product in the modern beauty industry for quite some time. I remember purchasing it in the early 00's when it hit its peak popularity (a celebrity favorite!) The spectrum of colors is beautiful and there's always a shade that works for you. They can range from very sheer to quite dark and pigmented, which I like. The click pen is an ingenious idea, I love the idea of combining the brush into the product with minimalist packaging, and I love that you can see how much is left of the product (unlike their lip polish line, which is covered in silver). The texture of the lip glaze is sticky and tacky, but lasts a pretty good while on the lips. That's the tradeoff with lip gloss, I guess...
Now, the bad bits. For $22, you get .08 oz of product. Compared to MAC's lipglass (.17 oz for $14.50), this is COMPLETELY overpriced. Yes, I said it. These glosses have always been way too expensive.
With all that said and done, I think this is one of those products you have to experience for yourself. The shade range is excellent, the texture is great for those that like sticky, long lasting glosses. The packaging is really lovely and nice visual addition to your makeup collection. The only true issue I have with it, is the price. Try to grab these when Stila makes all of those special sets, otherwise, at $22 a pop, it's not worth it.
Nostalgic memories on one of my first products
At 14, I was really starting to get into makeup. My mother, of course, refused to let me wear anything but a little smudge of eyeliner (“not black!”), and some lip gloss. I researched online for weeks trying to find the perfect starter products. Somehow, I found Stila! My mom took me to the counter and said I could pick out two products. The first, was their Apricot Lip Glaze. I decided to be sneaky about the second product, and buy the convertible eye color in Ivy (which REALLY had an eyeshadow inside, I thought I was so clever...)
The eyeliner is a shimmering golden olive (almost identical to MAC Rosemary and Thyme Eye Kohl), with matching eye shadow inside. Let me break this product down for you.
On one side, there is a twist up automatic pencil (the olive shade), on the other side, there is a smudge tool to smudge your liner. When you twist open the convertible eye color, there is an eyeshadow stick that holds loose pigment inside. For my 15 year old self, it was a pretty ingenious concept. I put a shimmering neutral as a wash on the lids (like Stila Starlight), blended a bit of the loose shadow onto the outer corners, then lined my upper lashline with the olive eye liner. On my brownish greenish eyes, it worked really well and enhanced the green bits. Unfortunately, as much as this product holds a dear place in my heart, the eyeliner always never lasted, or would be underneath my eyes after 5 hours. To be fair, this is before I discovered eye primer, but for some reason it just always smudges.
At $22, you're getting an eyeliner, a smudge brush, and a shadow in one...a great deal! The portability is also excellent and would make for great vacation makeup. Use an eye primer with this product, and you'll be golden :)
A lovely pinky-nude to own
In the pan, Lillium is a simple pinky nude shade. On my fair skintone, that's how it applied as well. Pinky Nude. As always, Stila's quality is excellent; the cream blush is a dream to apply and doesn't feel sticky at all. (I have combination skin with dryer cheeks). This definitely isn't a WOW shade, but I don't think it was ever meant to be. It's a staple flattering color that would work best for Fair-Medium skintones (Darker skintones should look to Gladiola, Rose, Poppy, or Peony if applied heavily). Lillium gives that perfect pale pinkish nude glow that matches with any look.
**** Please see my review on the shade 'Fuchsia' for a general overview on Stila Convertible Colors
The most wondrous of peaches!
Christina and I are on the same page here because we're both obsessed with Stila's Convertible Color in Gerbera. It's a bright peach with the subtlest hint of coral that sheers out to a glowing peachy apricot tone on the skin. On my fair skin, it applies pretty dramatically but sheers out well (see attached photo). It works on a lot of skintones (Christina has asian golden medium skin compared to my fair European complexion, and Gerbera still works on both of us wonderfully) I highly highly recommend this for that elusive and youthful “peaches and cream” look. Love the peachy metal packaging, and love the mirrored compact, it's so useful! This product is a holy grail and if it got discontinued I would buy 2 more just in case...
**** Please see my review on the shade 'Fuchsia' for a general overview on Stila Convertible Colors
Great everyday neutral...
Peony is one of those staple shades that 95% of the world's coloring can pull off (for that 5%, try Lillium instead. It will be beautiful on you, I promise.)
Peony in the pan, looks like a brownish-mauvish-pink. When applied, it takes on a nude-brown-pink tone that seems to match with everything. It's one of those shades that you just don't even have to think about when you want to match something. I apply it with my ring finger and blend out after my tinted moisturizer. I pat on the apples of my cheeks, then blend up and out towards the cheekbones with my finger. Compared to other Convertible Color shades, Peony on the lips makes them look a bit odd, kind of pasty (so I don't typically use it on my lips, just cheeks). All in all, a wonderful and staple shade to own.
**** Please see my review on the shade 'Fuchsia' for a general overview on Stila Convertible Colors
Seemingly bright in the pan, beautiful on...
The idea of fuchsia blush always scared me. I didn't want to walk around school with people thinking that I had a bad case of fuchsia rosacea, or that I was applying to clown college in the fall....
When I read about applying bright cream blush with the MAC 187, a brush that picks up a fine amount of pigment, I figured I should try this concept sooner or later. I already knew how awesome Stila Convertible Colors were because I owned a few shades.
So I took the plunge and bought fuchsia. In the pan, it's a vivid fuchsia pink. Its texture is creamy and smooth. I first applied with a cream blush, picking the faintest amount of pigment and lightly swirling it on the apples on my cheeks. When I looked in the mirror at my fair skin, brown hair, and brown eyes, it just seemed to brighten my face; this became the perfect blush for spring. The next day, I wanted to see how it applied with my fingers. I dabbed my ring finger lightly a few times in the pan, then applied the blush after my tinted moisturizer. I made sure to blend well so it didn't look like circles. This time I was expecting clown cheeks, but the blush looked the same as when I used my MAC 187 brush.
All in all, it's a total must have for neutral or cool toned coloring. The texture of the blush is divine, the lasting power is incredible (and literally will not budge if you set it with a fine dusting of loose powder). As usual, I adore the matching fuchsia metal packaging. It also looks wonderful when dabbed on lips (make sure to use a balm underneath)!
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Stila Convertible Colors are one of my favorite makeup products ever. I first got hooked on these about 5 years ago, my first shade was gerbera. I've bought many more shades and am completely hooked! I have combination skin with dry cheeks, so these cream blushes bring life and a glow back to my usual dull cheek complexion. I'm completely obsessed with the packaging: a metal mirrored compact with an adorable rose design on top. Definitely one of my favorite packaging designs. At $25, the cost is steep for a blush. However, consider three things: 1) This product will last you forever, even at daily use 2) The packaging seals the product very well, making the cream last longer 3) It's technically a dual cheek AND lip color, so this could substitute for a lip color as well.
Maybe I'm just a sucker for beautiful things. But when packaging as adorable as this meets a product that makes my skin glow...that LASTS? Well, then we have a winner here.
A holy grail of grails!
Once again, I keep coming back to this product. My skin is so erratic, but this always performs. I have fair skin with peachy undertones and I have never found a product that matches my skin better than Stila Illuminating Powder Foundation in 20 Watts. I am always so impressed by the quality of pigment in Stila's foundation range. They color match skin SO well compared to other brands that lean either too yellowy or too pink.
I love the products versatility in pigment as well. With a duo fibre brush, I can lightly blot my whole face if it's going to be an especially humid day, OR I can wear it alone and heavy for maximum coverage without the cakey feel. I use this to spot dab acne bits and it hardly flakes if I prep the area with moisturizer.
Contrary to other powders, this one doesn't dull my skin, it gives a natural effect that takes other cheek products very well.
It's just such a great product that I don't even care about the ridiculous $28 price tag (just for the pan, the compact is a separate $14....sigh). No matter, I think I'm on my 5th one and I'm in love.
Out of all the neutrals I've tried, this one is “meh”
As the title says, I have tried A LOT of neutrals. For some reason, this one just does not excite me. It's a beige with brown and khaki undertones. A lot of people love this one but my eyes just didn't get excited about it. Perhaps it's the shimmer content; I don't think it has enough shimmer to give it character. Perhaps it's the shade; a muted beige with khaki undertones just doesn't scream “wear me!” The texture was soft and nice, but it's the color that just wasn't calling to me.
***Please see my review on Barefoot Contessa for a general overview of Stila Eye Shadows
One of my all-time favorites
I just keep going back to this eyeshadow. It's hard to find that perfect base that has the right tone warm and cool, the right balance of shimmer, and the right pigment. Stila Starlight most definitely fits all of that criteria. Starlight is a brighter version of my skin, a fair beige that seems to melt on my skintone and make it glow. It's the ultimate eye shadow wash, and can be worn with virtually ANY color. I like that it doesn't have the frost of say, Stila Kitten, but it's not completely matte either. The proper balance of shimmer is essential when looking for an everyday shadow with some oomph to it. In the photo, I am wearing it with a taupe and sapphire colored eyeliner. See how the shadow just glows? It's amazing stuff. With so many neutral wash shades on the market, I keep coming back to this because it's one of the best.
***Please see my review on Barefoot Contessa for a general overview of Stila Eye Shadows