Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Cheek Product Review: MAC Get-Away Bronze Powder Blush and Deckchair Pigment

Cheek goodies are back :D :   

Highlight: MAC Powder Blush in Get-Away Bronze
AvailabilityDiscontinued.  
Would I buy this again?: Not sure
Notes: Honestly, had it not been for Christine's swatch on Temptalia (see it: here) I would've passed on this - look at how her cheeks just glow - so pretty! This is a mahogany-kissed tan , or a reddened bronze,  whichever sounds better to you; and has a matching sheen throughout - this is MAC's frost finish (which to me just means it has a noticeable shimmer throughout) . This looks like a bronzer but  pulls somewhat redder which can lead to a somewhat burned appearance if you choose to use it all-over. I think it's a unique color for the apples of the cheeks specifically because you don't often see people using bronzy shades there, but this looks pretty and summery. I also like this particular shade if I'm concerned with my blush clashing with the rest of my makeup because it goes with everything. I like that it warms up my skin - it's a good shade for when pinks or peaches don't quite work for a look. :) The formula is silky and blends easily; however, I find that MAC's blushes are very pigmented, so start with a small amount of product and build up from there - otherwise it's hard to take away and can become streaky. Not cute! I miss the packaging from To The Beach - it was one of MAC's cutest collections. :(

Highlight: MAC Pigment in Deckchair
I used lune+aster Dawn to Dusk Gel Eyeliner in Black  for the black base and Sephora Collection Let It Snow Colorful Shadow & Liner for the white, the far right is this swatched wet
AvailabilityDiscontinued. 
Would I buy this again?: If it were available, sure. That said I've had this jar since high school, used it very many times, and am nearly positive will last me til the day I die.
Notes: This is a frosty, peachy nude. I have no idea why it looks so incredibly pink in the jar - it's not my camera this time, it really looks like that in person - because even if I use it wet, it just has a more metallic finish but is still peachy-nude.  I love this particular color because it's incredibly versatile - you can use it very lightly to highlight, use it as an eyeshadow, use it as body shimmer/glitter, mix it in with moisturizer to create a strobe-cream like product, mix it in with foundation to make it glow (be sparing unless you want a glitter-explosion on your face), mix with lip gloss/balm to have a metallic nude lip effect, mix it with nail polish - whether clear or tinted. Use it wet, use it dry - the possibilities are endless. That said, it's a discontinued color. In my research on the product I find people always upset that this is no longer available and wanting a dupe. 


Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. 

Disclaimer: I paid for the blush mentioned above. My mum used to work for a PR company that would send out products for their clientele to try (like with YouTube gurus/bloggers), if any extra were left they would give them to their employees, this is how I received the pigment. I don't let the fact that something's a free sample bias my opinion.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Perfume Review: Gucci Flora

Today I will be reviewing Flora by Gucci

Availability: I was able to find this product on the following websites: bloomingdales.com, nordstrom.com,  macys.com, sephora.com, neimanmarcus.com and their physical store locations. It is also available on fragrancenet.com (they sell fragrances discounted and are Ebates eligible! You could save money AND get cash back, mhhm :) ), gucci.com, amazon.com, and ebay.com. This is also available at the aforementioned department stores' physical locations. The standard department store prices are as follows:
1 fl. oz. EDT: $65
1.6 fl. oz. EDT: $80
2.5 fl. oz. EDT: $105
1 fl. oz. EDP: $74
1.6 fl. oz. EDP: $97
2.5 fl. oz. EDP: $118
Would I buy this again?: Yes.
Notes I received a sample of this with my Sephora order last year and knew I had to have it. This is, hands down, my favorite perfume of all time!!!! It's appropriate for day or night and any season. A gorgeously sophisticated yet flirty fresh floral.
To quote from sephora.com, here are the fragrance notes:  
Citrus Accord, Peony, Rose, Osmanthus Flower, Pink Pepper, Sandalwood. 
Smelling it straight out of the bottle I cannot discern most of the notes, I pick up on a bit of the pink pepper - it's ever so slightly spicy/zingy but everything else is floral and sweet. When sprayed on myself, I still pick up on the pepper, but it's weaker, as the scent first starts drying down I pick up on a strong citrus-y note - which I can only guess is the Citrus Accord - it smells like orange blossom to me with a mixture of other florals in the background.  In addition, although I pick up on sweet notes, the perfume does a wonderful job of having a fresh, floral, and invigorating feel without going into cloying sweetness or being fresh/clean.
I love this perfume thus far and hope I don't get sick of it, it's perfect in every way and I can feel confident wearing it anywhere.
      
Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I received this as a holiday gift :3 The initial sample was included free with something I paid for. I don't let the fact that something's free influence my opinion of it. That said, I do let the fact that this perfume smells divine alter my opinion of it. :P

Monday, June 6, 2011

Perfume Review: Elizabeth Arden Green Tea

Today I will be reviewing Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Scent Spray 
Availability: I was able to find this product on the following websites: macys.com, target.com, fragrancenet.com (they sell fragrances discounted and are Ebates eligible! You could save money AND get cash back, mhhm :) ), elizabetharden.com, amazon.com, and ebay.com. This is also available at the aforementioned department stores' physical locations. 
The standard department store pricing is:
1.7 fl oz - $29.50 ($11.49 at target.com)
3.3 fl oz -  $39.50
Would I buy this again?: Yes, possibly a smaller bottle (that said, it's only a $10 difference between the 1.7 and the 3.3 :/)
Notes
I actually bought this perfume for my mom, she let me use it so I can include a review for this week and later just gave it to me because she no longer likes it. Overall, the scent reminds me of a fancier version of The Healing Garden's Green Tea (a drugstore brand which I think is now discontinued... alas :( )
To quote from elizabetharden.com, here are the fragrance notes:
  • Top Notes Caraway: Fruity Rhubarb, Lemon, Orange Zest and Bergamot
  • Middle Notes: Cool Minty Peppermint, Green Tea, Sweet Jasmine, Spicy Carnation, Fresh Fennel and Crisp Celery Spice
  • Base Notes: Oakmoss, Musk and Amber
Smelling it straight out of the bottle I pick up mostly on mint, green tea, and a bit of fennel. Freshly sprayed on myself, I pick up on the mint, but it smells very sweet - more like a spearmint than a peppermint, which is totally cool because peppermint makes me nauseous, I'm also picking up on a sweet green tea note as well as something flowery, which I think is jasmine as well as some citrus notes, most notably a sugary lemon. In addition, although I pick up on sweet notes, the perfume does a wonderful job of having a fresh, clean and yet relaxing/tranquil feel while still being sweet (which is why my mom likes it, she hates my personal penchant for sweeter, fruity notes).
I  really love the bottle design, it's simplistic, tranquil, and beautiful. I might pick up one of the spin-offs. Green  Tea Mimosa, in particular, sounds really interesting.


Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I bought this with my own money (as a gift for my mum :P).

Monday, May 16, 2011

MAC Naked Pigment Review

MAC Cosmetics Pigment in Naked
I used lune+aster Dawn to Dusk Gel Eyeliner in Black  for the black base and Sephora Collection Let It Snow Colorful Shadow & Liner for the white, the far right is this swatched wet
Availability: This retails at $22 for .15 oz (4.5g) on maccosmetics.com as well as physical MAC  and MAC Pro stores along with MAC counters. It's also available at department stores such as Macy's , Bloomingdales, Ulta and Nordstrom.
Would I buy this again?: It's highly likely :3
Notes:     I've had Naked on my wish list for a long time and finally sprung for it last winter. I wish I'd gotten it back when the 7.5g jars were available but it was always sold out back then :( Before the argument of $20 for an eyeshadow begins - this is 3 pans in a jar - MAC's standard pan size is 1.3 g and those are $17 each. Meaning that if Naked was an eyeshadow this jar would cost you slightly less than $66 or slightly less than $110 if the jar was 7.5 g (5 shadows). With pigments I suggest buying samples - I haven't bought any at this point so I can't recommend a retailer. The reason for that is because with a full-sized one - you'll have enough pigment to last you a lifetime, so only buy colors that multitask well and you can use every day. Samples will allow you to try out a bit (usually a 1/4 teaspoon, or around 1g so it's almost like getting a whole eyeshadow :P) before you commit to buying the full-size jar. :)
    Naked  is one of these colors that's perfect for multi-tasking. Described as a fleshy beige with pearl; it is a light satin beige with these gorgeous little gold shimmers to it. It's perfect as a base color on the lid or as a highlighter for both eyes and cheeks; it's also great for a nude lip when mixed with a clear gloss or patted over a lip balm, it would probably be pretty mixed in with clear nail polish or even a pretty understated body glitter if dusted on lightly and sheered out or mixed in with something like Fix + (or another setting/refreshing mist) or a body cream... heck even a pinch in face cream or a  foundation/tinted moisturizer/BB Cream to make them glowy. I really like colors like this even though it's not something I'd be instantly drawn to. The brights usually pull me right in, but I love this, the subtle gold shimmer in this is absolutely stunning. I'm glad I finally broke down and bought it. 

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.