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Week in Review | December 2nd through December 8th

Happy Saturday! I always enjoy seeing what makes up the week’s top ten highest-reviewed products, so I hope you find it somewhat interesting as well! 🙂

What was your week in review like?

My skin tone/coloring:

Favorite look you wore:

Most used product of the week:

Any new beauty discoveries:

Week in Review

23 Comments

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Deborah S. Avatar

Skin tone: Fair with cool undertones.

Favorite look: I used an Elizabeth Arden palette with rusts, reds and violets and created a sunset sort of look. I lined my eyes with a black L’oreal Infallible pencil. I used the Chanel Peche Blush and finished the look with my new Shiseido Beauty powder. I am not sure if I will use it much because the embossing is so beautiful I can hardly bring myself to touch it with a brush!! I will use it though. On my lips I used Tom Ford Seadragon. I was very happy with the look.

Most used product this week: J One Jelly Pack

Beauty discoveries: I broke down and purchased a Pat McGrath Labs lipstick in Beautiful Creature a couple of weeks ago and I am in love. This formula, for my lips, is perfect. So comfortable to wear, doesn’t migrate, doesn’t wear off funny or collect in my lip lines, doesn’t taste weird, very pigmented and is a gorgeous color. It is the new standard by which I will judge all lipsticks.

Seraphine Avatar

My skin tone/coloring: Light neutral

Favorite look you wore: Neutral eyes using Tarte Amazonian Clay Matte Eyeshadow Palette and L’Oreal Lash Paradise black mascara, and bold red lips using Colourpop Ultra Satin Lipstick in London Fog

Most used products of the week: Estée Lauder Double Wear in Desert Beige, Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Paaarty (I hit pan yesterday), Tarte Amazonian Clay Mattes Eyeshadow Palette, Clinique Brow Shaper

Any new beauty discoveries: The Givenchy and Guerlain stores at Epcot!

Genevieve Avatar

My skin tone/colouring: Porcelain with pink undertones

Favourite look you worn: Had an all Clarins Day – Clarins Everlasting foundation in linen (my favourite foundation); new blush in soft peach, used the eye palette 05 Natural Glow – the dark brown on the lid, a bit of the dark grey and soft peach in the crease and the light vanilla shade in the corners. I topped it off with the Clarins Joli Rouge lipstick in ginger.

Most used product of the week: My new Clarins Prodige Soft Peach blush – very pretty.

Any new beauty discoveries: That I like Clarins’s makeup range for my age group – subtle and sophisticated.

Deborah S. Avatar

Genevieve,
I haven’t used any Clarins in many years. I will have to check them out. I use to use their skin care line exclusively in the 1980’s when I was having some trouble with cystic acne. I don’t know if it was a fluke that I had cystic acne or whether the Clarins worked miracles but it was gone very quickly and I kept using the Clarins for quite some time and then my finances changed and I stopped using them. It coincided with my interest in makeup decreasing as I had little time, new mother, working full time, etc. I honestly didn’t realize they had a makeup line as there are no Clarins counters in Spokane, Washington, which is the closest big city for shopping. The next time I go to Seattle I will check them out.

Genevieve Avatar

Deborah, I just looked up where Spokane is, and my, you have to travel a really long way to get there from Western Montana!
It’s a shame there isn’t a Clarins counter there, but I can understand that – it’s a reasonably expensive brand (at least here in Aus it is) and I guess the image is that Clarins is for ‘older’ women.
However, their makeup line is beautiful – not lots and lots (like MAC) but carefully curated. I just wish they would bring back the Everlasting Foundation in linen, their porcelain shade, as it is magnificent.
Probably on ebay you could get their products. The Joli Rouge lipstick line is fantastic and their eyeshadow quads lovely. Christine reviewed the Rosewood one last year and it made it into her top 10.
I really regret not getting the first Essentials Eye Palette when it first came out, you can’t get it now here and the later ones aren’t as good or not my shades.
Do you drive to Seattle or fly?

Deborah S. Avatar

Yes, it is a long trip to Spokane, especially in the winter time. The majority of the trip is on two lane roads and not freeways so it takes more time. There are little towns to go through that slow things down. We make the trip to Spokane fairly frequently, say 4-6 times per year. Seattle is about an 8 hour drive but once we get to Spokane it is all freeway to Seattle and goes pretty quickly. We do have a major mountain pass to go over called Snoqualmie and it is just outside of Seattle. We drive to Seattle as we take our cat with us and usually stay for at least 3-4 days to make the trip worthwhile. Seattle has a “real” Sephora as opposed to the one in Spokane which doesn’t have many of the brands and products that Sephora carries in larger cities. The Nordstrom’s in downtown Seattle is like a makeup lovers dream and my daughter and I can spend hours in there just looking at makeup, shoes and purses. We make a day of it and have lunch at the Nordstrom’s café which is really nice in Seattle. We already have 3 trips planned to Seattle for spring and summer as that is also the closest venue for most productions. My daughter is seriously in love with Harry Styles from the group One Direction and he is coming summer of 2018. She also likes Ed Sheeran and he is coming so we have tickets for those two performances. Then we have a trip planned to meet a friend who is passing through Seattle on the way to another city. Vancouver, B.C. is not far from Seattle and we like to go up there a few times per year also. Anyway, the crux of the matter is that there isn’t a great place for me to see, swatch and buy makeup except on-line. There are some products that I just won’t buy online and so I have to wait to try them. Luckily most of those products are foundations and concealers. Most colored products are reviewed on-line and I can see videos and blogs with reviews. Hence, I stalk Temptalia and always hope that a product that I am curious about will be reviewed!!!

Genevieve Avatar

What an incredible journey you have to take to get to Spokane and Seattle.
It’s like driving from Melbourne to Canberra or Sydney even, in comparison. I guess it’s much like people who live in outback towns in Aus – they have to drive a long way to get to a major town.

Rachel R. Avatar

My skin tone/coloring: Very fair with neutral undertones; magenta/red hair; hazel/green eyes.

Favorite look you worn: EYES — UD Primer Potion in Enigma. Viseart Theory Amethyst Palette: Matte mauve in crease and brought around onto the entire lower lid. The matte eggplant on the outer corner of the upper and lower lids; the shimmery mauve over the inner 2/3 of the upper lid; the shimmery light pink on the brow bone and foiled on the inner corner. UD 24/7 Eye Pencil in Perversion on upper and lower waterlines. Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara. CHEEKS — LORAC Color Source Blush in Ultraviolet and Looxi Beauty Highlighter in Pandora. LIPS — Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Rebel. FACE — BH Cosmetics Naturally Flawless Foundation in Ivory; Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder; Sephora Tranquil (contour); e.l.f. Original Mist & Set.

Most used product of the week: Urban Decay Distortion Palette; UD Primer Potion in Enigma; LORAC Color Source Blush in Ultraviolet. I’ve been living in Ultraviolet since I bought it.

Any new beauty discoveries: Viseart Amethyst is my first Viseart palette. So far I’m really liking it, but I don’t know if I’d say they’re the best eyeshadows I’ve ever used. Mind you, they’re really good, but not what I was expecting from the hype. The palette is really beautiful with my greenish eyes, I must say that.

Rachel R. Avatar

I don’t know how the little Theory palettes like this compare to the larger ones, and Amethyst is the only one I have. Purples are notoriously difficult, so there’s that too. So I don’t know how accurate my assessment is.

Pigmentation is really good, but not as good as MUFE Artist Shadows, IMHO. I was expecting more pigmentation. The mattes take some work, whereas I kept hearing Viseart mattes took minimal effort to blend (but again…purples…). Staying power over my primer was on par with any other high-end brand. I would buy Viseart again if I got a good deal. I hope that makes sense. I’d still say MUFE Artist Shadows are the best formula I’ve tried.

Erica Avatar

Haha isn’t that always the case. I feel that way about the MUFE Artist shadows. People are always like once you try them, you won’t go back. Tbh, they are ok but they aren’t my favorite. I prefer MAC, Colourpop, Morphe, ABH more!

Deborah S. Avatar

I agree with you, Rachel, regarding the Viseart shadows. I don’t know if it was the hype or what but I have purchased one of the larger palettes, Paris Nudes and two of the smaller palettes, Amethyst and a second one which I am drawing a blank on the name, maybe Mink. Anyway, they are nice but not what I was expecting. The looks I have gotten are nice but nothing to write home about. I wonder if I just got the wrong palettes? The colors in the Amethyst palette are pretty but they don’t scream amethyst to me. Anyway, I keep them and use them but I have other shadows that I like just as much. I wonder since they are more geared towards MUA’s whether that is a factor? I am just a regular old person who likes makeup and so maybe I don’t have the skill to get the best out of these shadows. I kind of feel the same way about Charlotte Tilbury and Natasha Denona shadows. Nice but for the price I expected miracles, LOL.

Erica Avatar

The fact they are “used by makeup artists” is a gimmick and just bs they tell you so you think it’s something different and gets you to buy it over what else is available. I have only swatched Viseart and I too think they are nice but I don’t think any more special than many of my beloved MAC shadows. I think there are indie brands that impress just as much and they are a fraction of the cost. I think too with a lot of beauty brands if they throw in “french artisan” in the description people will run to buy it. I’m not knocking Viseart by any means but they are relying on a lot fabrication and a good back story to sell their stuff. Oh these finely milled pigmented shadows used by French artists blah blah blah. It’s a gimmick sorry. It works but it’s still a gimmick. Same thing with Natasha Denona. Tell me what credentials she has outside of a makeup school in Israel? Lol, love how people put her on the same level of Tom Ford. No, she branded herself well but I find her shadows average and she has the cheapest of packaging. She has quite the nerve charging what she does based on the flimsiest of experience. But people act like they aren’t followers lol

ShariP Avatar

Rachel (and everyone), thanks for the input. I think everyone makes some good points. I just found myself unable to order them during the VIB sale and then when MUFE had their sale I was glad because I love their formula and now that it’s being changed I’m glad I was able to buy some shades I didn’t have. I know it’s interesting to see that we all have our own favorites and those we dislike for as many reasons. Anyway I appreciate the feedback.

kjh Avatar

Lt-med coolish. Look: this one got compliments…that’s how i’m answering now. Eyes, from the BM naturals 14; good pick up at U for half price. It’s the one that was originally at Nordie’s. The Ready formula is kind to aging eyes. Used celebrate/ browbone, head over heels crease, oyster transition, bewilder main lid,and couture outer vee and haloed up. Bewilder is one of those shades that has some defined sparkles that actually translate to the lid. Liner was Mac new marine, mostly on bottom. Ordinary black masc, Superhero up and TIS Stetchex, bottom (tubing is mandatory on lowers.). Started out with CP mystic for lips and Mac stubborn for cheeks, but was binge watching Empire, so I had to change the lips to Taraji 2, and the blush to Hard to Get! Viva Taraji…the woman. Most used: Jouer luminous TM in blush. Better order a b/u, very diff to source in that shade. Discovery: had some gauze pads that were still sterile/in package, but discolored. If using spray brush cleaner, gauze pads work pretty well, and I wouldn’t want to use those for real, despite intact packaging. Think that’s the repurpose.

Erica Avatar

Skintone / coloring : light, MAC NC 20, med brown hair and eyes

Favorite look worn :

MAC Haux and Satin Taupe in crease. MAC Patina on lid. MAC Phloof on browbone and inner corner highlight. MAC Teddy Eyeliner. No.7 Dramatic Lift Black Mascara (sample I’m using up). Hourglass Mood Exposure Blush. Bare Minerals Gen Nude Liquid Lip in Slay.

Most Used Product :

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation. No.7 Dramatic Lift mascara. MAC Teddy Eyeliner. KVD Lock It Translucent Setting Powder. Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Translucent Pressed Powder. Plus various MAC singles

New Beauty Discoveries:
Picked up some of the new formulated Wet n Wild eyeshadow palettes. I like that they’ve added transition shades. Hopefully the formula isn’t a huge departure. Also I’m trying the Sleek Solstice highlight palette. From swatching it’s intense but I’m not sure how it will sit on the skin!

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