Makeup
- StarrLite » See my profile
- Points: 860
- Reviews: 10
Here are all my reviews:
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I so love Palladio eye and lip products. As a cosmetics consultant, I have the opportunity to compare high-end products to low-end products everyday. Much of the time, it's true that you get what you pay for. But this baby is the definition of bargain! Super shiny, silky NOT sticky, easy to apply, and lasts a good couple of hours through talking and sipping a drink. Wears off evenly. It won't stay on through eating, but few glosses will. And those that do are usually sticky and/or drying to the lips and mouth. In fact, these are moisturizing! They are petroleum free (thank goodness), which is the big reason for that. Many glosses seem to show off chapped lips, these do not. They still apply smoothly and will help heal any roughness/dryness. Palladio offers a great selection of colors and supplies testers --rare for a mass-cosmetics brand. You have the option of the original version with a sponge tip applicator or the plumping version with a brush tip. I have found that the plumping version lasts a bit longer, has a minty feel, and offers a different variety of colors. I've seen no "plumping", but I'm okay with that as I'm horribly allergic to the ingredients used in most plumping glosses (a lot of people are). All in all, these glosses are easily worth twice their price. No one will know you're not wearing an expensive prestigious brand!
July 2, 2009
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As a cosmetologist who specializes in natural and organic products, trying this was a no-brainer for me. It seems a lot of people have not tried much of the Kevin Murphy line yet, probably due to the higher price point. But trust me, it's worth every last penny! I've used dozens of all-natural shampoos and conditioners and this is by far the best. I have fine, naturally dry hair that I color bright shades and blow-dry and flat-iron/curl every day. After using the Luxury Wash and Rinse as my only shampoo and conditioner for over 2 months, my hair is stronger with zero breakage, has silky natural movement, and SHINE like I never thought possible!! It also soothes my dry, itchy scalp much better than other products intended for dry scalp. I need smaller than a quarter size to create a full lather on my shoulder-length hair; any more is a clumsy waste. The 8oz bottle shown lasted me over 2 months, and-- BIG bonus-- my color stayed vibrant the entire time! And I use semi-permanent haircolor. I eventually recolored only because I had new growth. One last thing: even though I have fine hair, I chose the Luxury Wash & Rinse b/c I have such dry hair & scalp. For those with fine to medium hair with normal to oily scalp, Angel Wash or Balancing Wash is recommended. However, you can pair any shampoo with any conditioner in the line; they're almost all color-preserving! The Keving Murphy website is fabulously informative with tons of videos and podcast spotlighting each product. Where has this company been my whole life??
May 16, 2009
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Wow, is this good stuff! After reading other reviews, I think just about everything informative about this toner has been said here. It's great for dry, combo/dry, and even combo/oily skin types (Boscia does make a great toner for those with oily and acneic skin). It will soothe redness in most cases, evening out blotchy skin and the redness of blemishes. It works very well with any of the other Boscia cleansers and moisturizers, but it will fit easily into any other skincare line. I love the fact that it sprays a fine mist-- not too much, not too little. After cleansing in the shower, I spray it over my face and wipe off a bit with a cotton pad. It's especially great for removing any eye makeup that didn't come off during cleansing. I also spray it over my chest, arms, and any freshly shaved sensitive areas. It really helps to prevent razor burn, at least for me. Out of the entire Boscia line, this is the one product I think is very reasonably priced based on the quality, durable packaging, and the amount of time one bottle will last: literally months!
May 11, 2009
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Pür Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Powder Foundation with Skincare Ingredients
One Step, Full Coverage
Working in the cosmetics field, I have the opportunity everyday to sample the most popular brands of foundation, including the mineral variety. Pur Minerals Pressed Powder has been my only foundation for over 6 months now, and for many reasons. First, it's completely natural: paraben, talc, oil, and dye free. I've noticed several of the most popular high- and low-end brands still contain these ingredients (namely Physicians Formula original, Amazing, and Urban Decay) which are unneccessary and can irritate skin. This is important considering people who wear foundation have a reason for wanting to do so. Second, Pur Minerals gives FULL coverage in ONE STEP. No finishing powder veil required. One crucial point to mention here: to get full coverage, you MUST use a full coverage brush, namely the Pur Chisel brush (about $22). The shape and density of this brush work specifically with mineral powder in pressed form. Bare Ess.'s Heavenly Face brush ($30) is another option. You could use a dense kabuki, but its round shape against the powder's flat surface creates a lot of mess and wastes powder. If you want lighter coverage, use a natural bristle blush brush. The sponge can be used for initial coverage in a pinch, but Pur suggests it for touch-ups only (mostly for the obvious cleanliness factor). Third, Pur Minerals has SPF 15 sun protection utilizing 9% Titanium Dioxide, one of the highest concentrations I've seen yet. I think the SPF is actually higher, but since it is in powder form, 15 is the higest rating the FDA will allow at this time. Lastly, there is MUCH less mess made when applying this powder than with loose powders and the compact w/ mirror is super convenient. WARNING: this does contain shea butter and vitamin e which can be very soothing but can also aggrivate acne-prone or oily skin. I have seen this happen on clients more than once. Definately try before you buy. I'm sorry to say, but this is not suggested even by Pur for all skin types. I have combo/dry skin and this will actually moisturize any dry patches away. It will also look less powdery on drier skin than most mineral makeups. In the end, this covers amazingly, soothes my dry patches and hormonal breakouts without adding to them, has improved my skin dramatically, but I still get the annoying shiney T-zone. One con for like 8 pros. Not bad.
May 11, 2009
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Harsh weather and especially changes in season can bring on the worst in people's skin. Even in winter I tend to get shiny in my T-zone area but with dry, scaley patches, even though I exfoliate regularly. Combine this with hormonal breakouts and insanely fluctuating temperature/humidity... Gross. This night cream is recommended for most skin types, something that is often claimed by many brands but I've learned is often... well, a lie. Boscia is an amazing exception! After much success with their Vital Daily Moisture (drastically calmed down the shine, redness, and breakouts), I was still left with dry patches. So after a day of wearing heavy makeup, I cleansed, toned, applied eye cream, and then Recharging Night Moisture. The first night, no difference. But after doing this for 3 days (not even consistantly!), my skin is evenly hydrated, less blotchy, and radiant --but not with shine. I can actually feel the increase in firmness. And my skin has not been this smooth in years! Recharging Night Moisture cream is lighter and absorbs much quicker than most. (It may not be right for those with very dry skin, but Boscia does have another cream for that. Check their website.) Because it does not aggrivate or cause breakouts, it is a fantastic option for those with combo/dry to oily skin types who want the ease and anti-aging benefits of a night cream (versus applying extra wrinkle creams, etc. during the day). This night cream would even work for someone with sporatic or hormonal breakouts, who is being treated for rosacea, or who has inactive acne (meaning they've been treated and have it under control). But I would not recommend it for those with an active acne infection, as that is usually something that must be dealt with before even thinking about night or wrinkle creams. A dime-sized amount liberally covered my face and neck. This product is a little pricey, but innovative. I have yet to find anything else like it... I'm sold!
April 30, 2009
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I am really impressed with this eye cream. It's very rich, but easily glides over the sensitive eye area. I've been using it regularly for over a month now and have seen visible results. When I apply it at night, it totally prevents puffiness and my eye area looks MUCH brighter when I wake up. Someone with undereye yellowing or dark circles due to increased melanin will most likely see a difference with use of this eye cream, but if you have dark circle due to very thin under eye skin or pooling of blood in that area, you'll definately need something much more powerful. It wears very well under makeup when I wear it during the day. I can even apply my usual Smashbox primer over it. I have seen some improvement with fine lines, but someone with more drastic lines will need something more. I'm positive this will prevent fine lines and is great for a younger woman or man who wants to do just that. And compared to other products with similar ingredients, this one is a great value for the amount of time it will last.
April 25, 2009
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I tried this in a trial kit with 3 other Korres products. It seems to be a staple in most of their trial kits and is recommended "for all skin types." I seriously disagree. I have combination/dry skin and found this to be way too drying for my skin. I even experienced a slight tightness after using it. There were things I like about the cleanser: the consistancy is easy to use alone or with a sponge/exfoliating brush and it suds a bit. In fact, it could probably be used as a body wash, too. A little goes a loooong way, making it a fantastic value for the money. It removed facial makeup completely and most of my eye makeup without burning my eyes. Also, the smell is divine, herbal-y and citrus. It did remove all excess oil from my skin; unfortunately, that wasn't the right thing for me. For those with combo to oily skin, it would work very well with an alcohol-free balancing toner used afterward. I gave it to my boyfriend who uses it in the shower with an exfoliating facial pad and he's had great results. He still gets some blackheads but almost no white heads and his skin is much less oily when he wakes up in the morning. I gave 5 stars for his success, but it loses 5 for the line's bogus recommendation that it is suitable for all skin types.
April 24, 2009
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I have combination/dry skin that tends to be extra shiny and finicky this time of year when the weather is changing. I have found that many moisturizers with sunscreens (not block) ingredients tend to exacerbate this and cause problems with the way makeup wears throughout the day, aka the greasy sunscreen look. But I prefer to only use products with completely naturally-based ingredients and preservatives anyway. This turned out to be a pretty decent day moisturizer. The consistancy is perfect for the oily t-zone area while still maintaining a good moisture balance in drier areas. The amount of zinc-oxide in it helps soothe blemishes and is also the reason for the spf 6 sunblock (FDA approved at that). I used about a pearl sized amount to cover my face and neck and found it easy to control the amount in different areas of the face. One factor I'd like to highlight is how quickly this absorbs into the skin; I don't have air conditioning and had no problem with my face becoming sweaty after I applied. No need to stand in front of a fan for five minutes before applying makeup! And my mineral makeup wore well over this moisturizer. However, in the end I found this moisturizer to be too light and does nothing for redness. But for someone with oily or combo/oily skin, this is definately worth a try. (FYI I purchased this as part of a kit that contained the Korres White Tea Cleanser, Pomegranate Scrub, Pomegranate Creme-Gel Moisturizer, and Evening Primrose Eye Cream all for about $39. An interesting assortment of products, I thought. The sizes were very small, but that's to be expected from a trial kit. One thing that bothered me most was the lack of a toner in this regimen-- as a professional, I consider that a necessary step, especially for oily skin. It bothers me that Korres makes only one which they don't include in their line at many locations. I had a very basic, gentle, natural toner at home that I eventually included in this new Korres-based routine. That and my opinion of the other products aside, this is a good way to try the product at home before buying, as it is an investment.)
April 24, 2009
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I'm such a fan of Palladio in general, at least of their eye and lip products. This line is not considered "prestige" but should be, in my opinion. What got me hooked was their automatic (self-sharpening) eyeliner, which I don't see listed on this site for review. Pity. It's seriously the longest lasting eyeliner I have ever used. It doesn't tug or pull at the eye area at all and goes on smoothly every. single. time. I go out all night, go straight to bed, and when I wake up my eyeliner is still exactly where I put it, even on the lower lash line! Utterly amazing. And I have a bad habit of touching my eyes and face a lot. Every color is remarkable, but I wish there were more fun, bright colors. Generally, I avoid kohl, sharpenable eyeliner like the plague, but Palladio's version isn't bad. Definately better than any other drugstore brand I've tried yet. Doesn't drag much, goes on smoothly, but the wear just isn't as long as with the auto version. The color selection of the kohl liners is better, tho'. They just came out with new, sparkly shades a few months ago and I was surprised to see how well the sparkles actually showed up. But in the end, Palladio automatic eyeliners are my #1 holy grail product!
April 23, 2009
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I work at a cosmetics retail store and decided to try this when I needed mascara and was hard up on cash. Prestige is a decent drugstore quality line, nothing too special, and I wasn't expecting much. I was so surprised by the results! The volume and length I built was amazing. This is so close to Too Faced Lash Injection. So close, in fact, that I simply cannot tell a difference in a side by side comparison. As far as building tubes around lashes, LashMatrix does not do that, nor does it really claim to on the package. (It does say that it's "spiral technology will wrap each lash" which I guess is close enough.) What it has is tiny fibers that adhere to each other and your lashes, building volume and length that way. This requires the drier formula and some savvy application, just like with Lash Injection, which is also very dry. Therefore the shelf life of either is never very long. A lash comb is necessary for both brands (wish it was built onto the packaging...) and you'll get much better results if you apply, comb a bit, apply a second coat, etc. The two mascaras also smell the same to me: a little chemical-y, but that doesn't last. I have applied up to three coats of LashMatrix at once and have had no problem with flaking. I definately recommend removing with eye makeup remover. As far as tube-building mascaras go, there are much better brands out there that are worth paying $20+ for. In my opinion, Lash Injection is not worth the price and, as a professional, I honestly would never purchase it. But at less than $7, LashMatrix is a winner!
April 21, 2009
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