Makeup
- Nikatron » See my profile
- Points: 102115
- Reviews: 150
Here are all my reviews:
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I categorically refuse to even acknowledge the bad reviews for this product, because I love it so much, and have been using it fo years, and it had never peeled or cracked on me. Ever! And I by no means am saying that the bad reviews are untrue or anything like that. But what I'm thinking is that maybe those "bad reviewers" coincidentally didn't apply any alcohol to their nails prior to applying nail polish and their nails weren't degreased or perfectly cleaned? And that might have possibly caused the pealing? And neither am I saying that we absolutely need to apply alcohol before putting our nail polish on. I only do it if I'm not applying the nail polish immediately after removing the old polish. You know how you can take your old polish off and then start doing something else, and forget that whatever we had our hands in might have possibly left residue on our nails? That's when it's good idea to have a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol, and give your nails a quick spray... Anyway, I absolutely can not live without this product. It is the best top coat in my opinion. In years of using it it has NEVER cracked on me (like many others had in the past), never let me down in terms of shine, drying time or durability. Once again, never! And I strongly insist that it's a superb product. We simply need to remember the basic rules of applying nail polish... Have clean nails prior to application. Do not (ever) go over the cuticle with nail polish or top coat - this will definitely cause your polish to peel much quicker (if not the next day). It is much better and neater to leave a very small visible nail around the cuticles, because your manicure will last longer and look more professional. And DO use good nail polish that doesn't need 5 coats in order for you to get the color you thought you were purchasing, because if you got over 5 coats of product on your nails, it will be hard for any top coat to get through all these layers and work for you... So if these very basic rules are respected - you will love the "Good to Go" from "Essie". I highly and strongly recommend this product to anyone looking for a good top coat! ;)
January 2, 2014
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L'Oreal Paris HiP Studio Secrets Professional Matte Shadow Duo
They blend amazingly and are very pigmented...
I just want to say right off that the only reason I’m giving these 9 stars is because I wish that the color range was a bit wider… I tried these in “Dashing” (917) because it was the only duo with one sort of neutral color (but still a bit too “warm” for me) and black, which is always good to have because even if you don’t use black shadow, it can always be used as a liner with an angled brush, when you need a subtle outline… But I didn’t actually find the colors I was looking for and the color selection was very poor, in my opinion… With that being said, the quality of these eye shadows is amazing… They go on very silky and smooth, almost creamy. Their texture is so silky that they are extremely easy to blend. It just feels like you can apply only a tiny little bit and if you have enough patience you could blend this color out all the way to your eye brows if you wanted to… Not that anyone would actually do it, but this is how blendable these shadows are… And this goes for both, the "bright shadows" series and the "matte shadows", so my reviews for these two might be a bit repetitive... Both of the colors I got in my duo, the light sort of pinkish nude and the black are very pigmented and very easily to pick up with a brush because of their soft and almost creamy texture… I would recommend these especially for those who like the “smoky eye” look because you could achieve a perfect smoky eye with just two colors. When I used the black in my duo for that look, it looked like I had applied three different shades of black… I was so happy with the result – especially because it took me half the time it would have taken to actually use different shades and blend them all in… So yes, if you can find the colors you are looking for – I would most definitely recommend these… ;)
January 2, 2014
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L'Oreal Paris Hip High Intensity Pigments Bright Shadow Duo
Blend fantastically and are very pigmented...
I just want to say right off that the only reason I’m giving these 9 stars is because I wish that the color range was a bit wider… I tried this duo in “Reckless” (514). The reason I chose that duo is because I can never find an "Eggplant" or "Dark Lavender" color with a good color payoff, and I was curious if that new formulation would be different... But I didn't actually find the colors I was looking for and the color selection was poor, in my opinion… With that being said, the quality of these eye shadows is amazing… They go on very silky and smooth, almost creamy. Their texture is so silky that they are extremely easy to blend. It just feels like you can apply only a tiny little bit and if you have enough patience you could blend this color out all the way to your eye brows if you wanted to… Not that anyone would actually do it, but this is how blendable these shadows are… And this goes for both, the "bright shadows" series and the "matte shadows", so my reviews for these two might be a bit repetitive... Both of the colors I got in my duo, the dark lilac or lavender color and the "Eggplant" are very pigmented and very easily to pick up with a brush because of their soft and almost creamy texture… I would recommend these especially for those who like the “smoky eye” look because you could achieve a perfect smoky eye with just two colors. When I used the "Eggplant" in my duo for that look, it looked like I had applied three different shades of purple… I was very happy with the result – especially because it took me half the time it would have taken to actually use different shades and blend them all in… So yes, if you can find the colors you are looking for – I would most definitely recommend these… ;)
January 2, 2014
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I used this four times and saw absolutely no difference. I don't know if it's due to the fact that the product doesn't really stay on your blemishes or because it just doesn't work... I know that on their website they state Sulfur as one of the main ingredients that helps to fight blemishes, so I guess in theory, this should really work, but it didn't work for me at all... On the other hand it works very well as just regular very finely milled mineral powder. You can use it to set your makeup, or your concealer... But since I don't know if this is actually good to use all over your face, I would definitely not recommend it to anyone. Obviously, if you are looking for mineral powder you are better off just purchasing mineral powder, which would cost you about the same anyways (if you go with “ELF”)... Oh, and another thing which I found interesting was the brush that came with this kit. It’s a small black brush that says “e.l.f. Mineral Blemish Brush” on it, but in my opinion it is almost identical their “Studio Concealer Brush” (which I only use to apply cream eye shadow, because it doesn’t work with my concealers at all and is very stiff). This blemish brush is just a tiny bit pointier and very slightly wider, but exactly the same density and thickness. I found it very strange that such a wide flat brush would come in a kit that’s meant to conceal blemishes. Shouldn’t it be a small pointy brush??? Maybe that’s one of the reasons that that product doesn’t really stay on your blemishes. You simply can’t pick it up well and your application definitely can’t be precise, so you kind of brush this powder all over the area where you have the blemish and a couple of minutes later it disappears altogether. I wouldn’t bother with this if you are looking to treat your blemishes. And if you are looking to conceal your blemishes, try the green shade in ELF’s “Studio Tone Correcting Powder” or the green “Studio HD Concealer”… For me, the green in the “Tone Correcting Powder” works perfectly.
January 2, 2014
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I do use the bronzer, even though I find it extremely pigmented… But the blush is very powdery, just like all ELF’s “Studio” blushes… I’ve heard that the formulation for the blushes used to be different. And this is how they have actually gained their popularity. But they’ve changed some of the ingredients over the years and most people who have gotten these recently are not that impressed with them… So with in this particular duo you get a powdery blush and a very pigmented bronzer. The bronzer seems to be less powdery… Maybe the fact that you need so little makes it seem that it’s less powdery. I’m not sure, but I do use it for contouring. I don’t know how I would be able to use it as a bronzer, since the pigmentation is so strong. I feel like it would be extremely difficult to evenly distribute it all over your face and maintain a natural look. But if you need something for contouring, I find that this bronzer works very well with a softer brush, such as ELF’s “Studio Small Tapered Brush”… Basically, you need to make sure that the brush you are using is not too dense, because you don’t want to apply to much of that color at once and you want to be able to blend it out as much as possible. And if you use a tapered brush, it would allow you to blend out evenly, with no streaks or harsh lines… And yes, the blush could work as well, but you will have to build it so in my opinion it’s very difficult to achieve a natural look when the blush is this powdery and has so little pigment in it… I also think that it’s important to mention that my skin is very fair, so I imagine this blush being completely useless for someone with medium to dark skin tone (unless you would like to try it as a highlight)… So yes to the bronzer (for contouring) and the blush gets a “no” from me unfortunately .
January 2, 2014
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Great for setting my concealer or covering up blemishes, but coverage is very light...
I got one of these in “light” and one in “fair” because I've heard some rumors about ELF’s mineral foundations shades not matching their mineral concealers shades. I do have to say that the rumor is true. If your mineral foundation is in “fair”, get the mineral concealer in “light”. Should be the opposite, right? I mean we’re always told that the concealer should be one shade lighter than our foundation. So good to know! Thank being said, I love the texture of this concealer and find it very similar to ELF’d mineral foundation, actually, but it doesn't really cover up my dark under-eye circles… I use a bit of ELF’s “Studio HD Brightening Concealer” mixed with my “Lancôme Cache-Cernes”, which I have loved for years, and ELF’s mineral concealer as a setting powder. I would actually recommend this combination to anyone who has very noticeable dark circles under their eyes… If you already have a favorite concealer, just add a tiny little bit of ELF’s “HD Brightening Concealer” to it, and it really adds to the coverage and brightens that area… I think that this mineral concealer might possibly be good for someone with minor discoloration under their eyes because it would give you very light coverage, but if you need more coverage than you would have to combine it with another product. One of my friends actually uses ELF’s eye shadow primer in “Sheer” (the 1 dollar one) and the mineral concealer on top of that and finds it a perfect duo for her very unnoticeable dark circles. So keep in mind that the coverage is very light, but it does go on very smoothly and is hardly noticeable on your skin. And also, remember that when it comes to this particular product “fair” is darker than “light” and not the other way around.
January 2, 2014
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I got four of these, just because I've seen a lot of good reviews about those shadows. And I really liked the concept and the fact that MAC’s eye shadows fit in this palette as well. I told myself that even if I don’t like these particular shadows, I could always use the palette for something else. Plus, I made my order during their 50% off site wide sale, so the four shadows with the palette cost me $2.50. Can’t go wrong with that, right? ;) So the shadows themselves, when swatched with your fingers are amazing. I think it’s due to the fact that there is always a bit more moisture on the tips of our fingers (unless your hand are very dry). But when used with a brush or a sponge, they are powdery. Still, the pigmentation is great, so the fact that they are powdery wasn’t that disappointing to me. I didn't expect miracles from a $2.50 quad. My actual problem with these shadows is that they don’t last very long. I first swatched them on the back of my hand and all I had to do to remove them was wipe my hand with a dry napkin. I didn't need any water or make up remover. It just came off so easily… That was my first indication that the shadows wouldn't last – at least not without a primer. However, when you do use a primer you get a much better color payoff plus they will last pretty much all day. By “all day”, I mean at least 8-9 hours… So for such a small price, I really have to say that this is a good product. Yes, there are similar products in this price range, such as “NYC” or “Wet’n Wild” quads, but with these you have the convenience of picking all the four colors, and actually using all of them. If you are very picky about the texture of your eye shadows, then I wouldn't recommend them to you, because you won’t get a silky application out of these. Since they are a bit powdery, they go on pretty thick and almost creamy (with a primer). But I still think that they are a great option for someone on a budget or a beginner, or for a night time look.
January 2, 2014
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I got two of these – one in “golden” and one in “warm”… Both of them have very good pigmentation, and give a very nice glow to your face… There is quite a bit of sparkle, so I wouldn’t call it a subtle glow. If you want just a subtle hint of color – don’t get these… For someone who wants to have a dewy kind of glow – this is a good option… My cons for these bronzers would be the fact that they are a bit too powdery for me (when I use them in my washroom, where there is a window allowing daylight to come in, I can literally see the powder flying everywhere when I apply this bronzer), and the fact that all three of them lean yellow… I would really like to see at least one bronzer with a lot cooler undertones and less yellow/orange in it… That being said, I still think that this is a very good product, especially if you factor in the $3 price tag, and when used with a soft brush, can greatly complement your overall look. I actually use this bronzer with ELF’s complexion brush all over my neck, because it always looks a lot lighter than my face… Occasionally, I will use it on my face (mostly at night) and for that I use ELF’s small tapered brush… Both of these brushes have very soft bristles and that way you don’t “dig into” the bronzer and don’t waste as much of it. If you would like to know how this bronzer compares to ELF’s bronzing and contouring duo’s bronzer – it’s a lot less pigmented than the bronzer in those duos. This is why this bronzer wouldn’t not work for contouring purposes – it would be a bit too sparkly and light. The bronzer that comes with the duos is a lot more pigmented and almost matte. So if you are looking for something to add some glow and a sun kissed look to your face, then this bronzer is for you… ;)
January 2, 2014
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All those who know me, know that I’m truly obsessed with these… I have to really force myself to use anything else… I own all the colours, obviously and there are so many that I love – I’m not going to go into details of all the 26 colors in this review, but I’ll tell you the one I am truly in love with and it’s called “caffeinated”… My hair colour is dark ash blonde, my eyes are green and I have a very pale complexion. This color is sort of like a mixture of light roast coffee, khaki and bronze… It’s not particularly brown or green or bronze – that’s the beautiful thing about it, and it would complement someone with my complexion immensely. I almost always get complemented when I wear this color. So!! I know a lot of people say that they are messy, but there is a very easy solution in order to avoid the messiness. Just don’t remove the tape all the way. I usually take an “exacto” knife and cut the protective tape in such a way that there are only two little holes left open to distribute the shadow, so that most of it always stays in the jar. Now when it’s time to apply the shadow, don’t load it onto your brush and bring it straight to your eye lid. Put some shadow on your brush and then kind of roll it around a bit to make sure that you got all the excess off (I usually do it in the lid of the container). I can swear to you that I never once had a problem with this shadow getting messy or glitter all over my eyes or anything like that, when using it this way. And by the way, not opening the plastic film all the way trick works for all ELF’s mineral products. There is really no need to deal with any kind of mess – it will last you longer that way, and you’ll be happier using it. I don’t think I need to describe the consistency, because mineral shadows are pretty standard in consistency. Maybe I could say that these shadows are not insanely loose… They actually have kind of a magnetic consistency, if I can say that, which makes them even better and not at all messy, in my opinion… My favourite everyday combination is “elegant” in the corner of my eye and up to the middle of my lid, with “caffeinated” in the outer corner and slightly in the crease… Beautiful colors, amazing pigmentation and effect, and you definitely can’t beat the price!
December 19, 2013
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These are amazing!!! I can never say enough about them… Very highly pigmented, very true to color, very easy to apply and can be a real life saver when you are in a rush. I’ll say right away that if I were to come up with a down side for these then I would say that they cannot be blended to “perfection”… By “perfection” I mean that you wouldn’t be able to create a beautiful, gradient smoky eye look with these, but you can definitely blend them enough if you just don’t want to have any harsh lines. Other than that, they are virtually perfect in my opinion… So I got these in all the shades that ELF offers, and at first I fell in love with “confetti”. I find it just a perfect color to lightly dab in the middle of your upper eye lid (no matter what else you have or don’t have on)… It just opens up your eye and instantly makes you look 20% more awake… ;) And we all know that it wouldn’t hurt to look a bit more rested… I don’t know anyone who gets a proper amount of sleep every single night… Then, after watching reviews on other colors on YouTube, I really wanted to try out “party” because it looked so much like a dupe for “Chanel”, and I ended up buying all of them. Love them! Consistency wise they are a bit unusual… ;) When you first touch them, they almost feel wet, but they are really not – they are just whipped and spongy. But you get used to this right away; it only feels strange the first couple of times you use them. They literally last me all day (which to me is about 14 hours)… At that point I usually take my makeup off, so they probably last longer if you need them to. I do have to say that I use all my eye shadows with a primer, so I don’t know if they would perform the same way without one… But since they are called “long lasting” I would imagine that they do last a very decent amount of time even if you don’t prime before applying them. If you are looking to get only one or two of these to start with, then I would recommend “toast” because it’s a great stand-alone colour. If you are in a super rush, you can just put this color all over your top lid with some mascara and liner (or whatever else basic makeup you use) and you are good to go. And from the darker colors I would recommend “party” (black) or “gala” (brown)… They are all beautiful, but these are just really good basic colors.
December 19, 2013
