Beauty Products Reviews

Thursday, February 28, 2013

NARS New Order Highlighting Blush Review, Photos, Swatches

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NARS New Order Highlighting Blush

NARS New Order Highlighting Blush is described as a “sheer highlighter with golden shimmer.” It’s a pale, cool-toned, blue-based pink with golden sparkle and a golden shimmer-sheen finish. MAC Veronica’s Blush is warmer, less sparkly. NARS Undress Me is a grayer pink and has silver sparkle (that is more like glitter in particle size).

Despite NARS’ great success with Albatross, their other Highlighting Blushes have a high dosage of sparkle and shimmer that doesn’t bind with the underlying powder/blush color, so a lot of the sparkle gets lost, looks unflattering on the skin, and sometimes travels for parts unknown. New Order has a powdery, almost gritty, texture, as a result of all the sparkle that just seems to sit on top at all times. If this had no sparkle but just a level of golden sheen, I think it would work better.

The pigmentation is as described–sheer–and will add some pink on lighter complexions (like a blush) while perhaps brightening on deeper complexions. When it blends out, it’s mostly just sparkle/shimmer and the pink coloring fades away. This shade wore six and a half hours, and then I only saw remnants of sparkle. This is my second pan of New Order, and while the texture was still on the powdery side, it wasn’t nearly as dry as my original New Order.

THE GLOSSOVER

If this had no sparkle but just a level of golden sheen, I think it would work better. Instead, it tends to read "disco ball," rather than glowing or luminous. It highlights... imperfections, unfortunately.

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NARS New Order Highlighting Blush

NARS New Order Highlighting Blush

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Sephora Curacao Punch (13) Eyeshadow Review, Photos, Swatches

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Sephora Curacao Punch (13) Eyeshadow

Sephora Curacao Punch (13) Eyeshadow is described as a “bright aquamarine with silver glitter.” It’s a bright, medium blue with a hint of teal and silver glitter. The underlying color has a metallic finish. NARS South pacific #1 is a touch muted in comparison and has no glitter. Urban Decay Electric is bluer and matte. Make Up For Ever #83is very similar but has no glitter.

The color payoff was just so-so when applied dry, but it was incredibly pigmented and intense when applied using a dampened brush. The glitter also adhered better initially when the product was applied to the lid with a wet brush, because when it is used dry, there is a ton of glitter fall out during the application process. Unsurprisingly, the big downfall to Curacao Punch was the glitter fall out during wear–which was lots and lots–and was noticeable after five hours or so of wear. The actual blue color lasted eight and a half hours well, and it looked a bit faded after a full ten. I noticed some very slight staining when I wore this shade without primer. It feels soft, despite the heavy glitter content, and smoothes out nicely on the skin.

THE GLOSSOVER

If you already have a great adhesive for glitter eyeshadows, Curacao Punch is still worth considering; it has great brightness and plenty of sparkle. If you loathe fall out, though, stay away!

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Sephora Curacao Punch (13) Eyeshadow

Edward Bess Monte Carlo (02) Quad Royale Review, Photos, Swatches

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Edward Bess Monte Carlo (02) Quad Royale

Edward Bess Monte Carlo (02) Quad Royale is described as a “golden coral.” It’s comprised of four shades: shimmering beige, shimmering champagne, gold-shimmered orange, and shimmering peach-orange. Together, they create a muted, gold and peach-shimmered orange with a frosted finish. MAC Warmth of Coral is a touch lighter and more matte. MAC Melba is more matte and a touch dustier. Bobbi Brown Nude Peach is less frosted and less orange. Becca Damselfly is a smidgen darker. Make Up For Ever #153 is more frosted with a higher sheen.

The concept behind this product is that the shades coordinate with each other to sculpt and highlight the face, so they can be used together or individually on the cheeks and eyes. While there are four distinct colors, the pan is not that large, so if you wanted to use a single shade on cheeks, you’d have to grab an eye brush, which would fit into each color better. I don’t think it’s practical to use a blush brush and grab only one of the shades; the only shade you could really do that with would be the largest one (bottom right). You can, however, concentrate your brush on different sections, which would allow you to get lighter/darker color.

Monte Carlo has an incredibly smooth texture that feels buttery and creamy at the same time. It’s a delicate, finely-milled powder. The texture is every inch what you’d expect from a luxury blush like this. It’s soft without being powdery, and the pigmentation is fantastic; no stubbornness or sheerness to worry about here. The color is buildable and blendable, so you can go for a very soft, barely-there peachy blush or apply a heavier, more orange-hued shade. It wore well for nine full hours, and after ten hours, there was slight, but noticeable, fading.

THE GLOSSOVER

Edward Bess continues to deliver a high-quality, luxury line that impresses. Monte Carlo is wonderfully pigmented, easily blended, and long-wearing.

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Edward Bess Monte Carlo (02) Quad Royale

Dior Pareo (644) Mono Eyeshadow Review, Photos, Swatches

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Dior Pareo (644) Mono Eyeshadow

Dior Pareo (644) Mono Eyeshadow is tangerine orange with a subtle golden shimmer. It’s just bright enough to be a bolder shade, but it’s muted enough that it isn’t a neon orange. Dior Aurora #5 is darker, more shimmery. MAC Fresh Daily is a touch more copper. Milani Orange Primary Runway Eyes is more shimmery. NARS Ramatuelle is darker and more muted.

The eyeshadow had good color payoff, and while the texture was soft and finely-milled, it was noticeably powdery both in the pan and applied. It’s really vital that you remember to lightly tap your brush against your forearm or over the pan to minimize fall out during application. The color is also better patted on, rather than swept, and though pigmented, has a tendency to blend out very, very quickly. I like applying it, then working the rest of the colors into the look, and then going back to add more color and blend it with the rest of the shades. When I wore it, Pareo lasted seven hours but was noticeably faded after eight hours (no primer).

THE GLOSSOVER

It's definitely a case where the eyeshadow looks better in the pan--and even swatched--than it performs in action. It's a little more demanding as a result of its powdery texture: sheers out too quickly and has a tendency to fade faster than other shades.

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Dior Pareo (644) Mono Eyeshadow