Holly Doss cosmetics – review
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Have you ever been in this situation: you wake up, look in the mirror, and think to yourself, “I know there’s a gorgeous woman in there somewhere…if only I had a celebrity makeup artist to assist me, maybe I could look just as bright and fresh-faced as those Hollywood starlets!” Or this situation: you walk up to your favorite cosmetics counter and are blown away by all the gorgeous colors to choose from, but you have no idea where to start, because you don’t know what colors work perfectly for your unique face? Well, enter Holly Doss…
Holly is an L.A. based celebrity makeup artist who has worked closely with an elite clientele, including the makeup maven Trish McEvoy. Known in the industry as “the next Bobbi Brown”, Holly set out to start her own line after becoming frustrated with the lack of pigment available when she painted faces daily. Well that she did, and not only is her line vast and impressive, so is her website and customer service. Holly doesn’t leave you hanging on your own to navigate her huge selection of colors and products. If you can’t get the assistance you need from her site or how-to videos, you’ll certainly feel in capable hands when the incredibly approachable and sweet Holly personally emails you back! (I’m serious ~ I emailed Holly twice with questions, and within minutes both times, she emailed me right back!) I’ve truly never been so impressed with a website and business owner.
Check out her Custom Color Chart and select your hair shade, eye color and skin tone, and you’ll receive an extensive list of every product Holly has that coordinates with your coloring; from foundation to eyeshadow and lipgloss. You can even see the celebrities that have your same color combos ~ how fun is that?! Yeah, me and Catherine Zeta-Jones – we’re two peas in a pod!
Holly sent our very lucky review team and array of eye products to test, including:
Brow Looks in Blond, Brunette, and Auburn: Eyebrow kits customized by hair color, that includes Brow Match (mascara for brows that won’t flake or crack), White Light Pencil Highlighter (for highlighting directly under the brow bone), and the thicker Highlight #1 (for below the white light, to be blended with the tip of the ring finger for an instant, surgery-free lift!)
Eyeliner sets: eye definer in jet black Florido with Brush # 11. Line, define, and/or smudge around your eyes with this professional cake eyeliner. The brush is a synthetic, flat eyeliner brush that may be used wet or dry.
Eyeshadow sets: Ashton a light shimmering taupe eyeshadow and Brush #9, the ultimate squirrel ‘smudge’ brush for smokey eyes or correcting eyeliner mistakes.
So, let’s hear it review team: are your brows as brightened and eyes as lightened as mine? Do you have as much adoration as I do for Holly, her website, and her products?
I had never tired Holly Doss products before, so getting the chance to try them was a really great surprise. I know what to expect with the big brands (usually). But when you try a smaller, boutique brand, well..it’s kind of like Christmas! Especially when it turns out that you really like it.
I tested the Brow products in Blonde and the Eyeshadow set. I’m not greedy. I needed to keep 2 in the name of beauty science! Ok…maybe I’m a bit greedy. But I was so intrigued, I just couldn’t help myself.
The star of the brow products for me was the Brow Match. At first glance, it looked a bit thick and I feared it would be too much. But after looking at Holly’s brow video and seeing how she applied this (almost in a painterly way, going back and forth, different than you would a mascara) I got it. When you apply this you really deposit a lot of color on to your brows, the hairs themselves and the skin underneath. It’s really like a pencil and a setting gel in one. It fills in bare spots, holds the brows in place without getting crunchy or flaky. It really is pretty fabulous! The pencils are both good too, nice and creamy, but didn’t wow me like the Brow Match. (And honestly, 2 pencils just for my brows is a bit more work than I’m willing to do, at least on a daily basis).
And as I am a huge fan of taupe eyeshadows (imagine brown and grey having a love child-that’s taupe!) I had to check out Aston as well. It did not disappoint. It’s got a lovely shimmer that’s just right. My only complaint would be that the small pan size is a tad pricey for the size ($18).
The #9 Brush at first seemed a little sparse, like it was missing about half the bristles. My other smoke brushes are way more dense. But I’ve come to really like this brush a lot. I find that I’m reaching for it over way more expensive ones. And the fact that it’s a lot of play in it has become the reason. Rather than being stiff, you can really blend well with the softness of it.
I’m excited to try more from Holly’s line. Really nice stuff!
.-= stef´s last blog ..Benefit Holiday Collections =-.
I luckily also tested two of Holly’s sets: the Brow Look in Brunette and the Eyeshadow set in Ashton, and I concur with Stef – I also am excited to try more from Holly’s line! I plan on ordering some custom shadows, glosses, and blush at least. I printed out all her colors that work for my hair, eye, and skin and am ready to shop!
The Brow Look set was very intriguing to me – I never really thought I needed any brow help – mine are very dark and I keep them groomed. Well, I didn’t know they could look so good! I agree with Stef that the Brow Match is the standout here. It’s very easy to use (especially after watching Holly’s video), and indeed does deposit alot of color. It stays put and doesn’t flake all day. It enhances what I already have in a natural way. I probably wouldn’t reach for 2 highlighter pencils either on a daily basis, but I do have to say that I notice a difference when I use both pencils as opposed to just one or none. Together they make the eye look more “put together” and fresh. Both formulas are very creamy and easy to spread – the thicker pencil more so. I didn’t know what to do with the thin white pencil until I watched the video, but that also became easy to use after viewing. It doesn’t go on easily because it’s so thin, but it blends very easily. The finished product does make my eyes look brighter, more awake, and better than without them. Will I buy this again? Absolutely when the difference is so visible!
I LOVE the eyeshadow in Ashton! What a gorgeous color. It’s got the perfect amount of shimmer and goes on beautifully – no mess, and it holds all day. Stef’s color description is perfect too – brown and grey’s love child! I actually thought it looked slightly purple until I read that – now I see that’s exactly what it is and no wonder I love it – brown and grey are my favorites! I’ve been using the brush daily to apply my shadows in the corners – I find it’s the perfect size to deposit just the right amount of color there.
Holly gets 5 stars from me – can’t wait to try more! Thanks for making such a great and useful website and company, Holly!!
I got the Brow kit in Auburn. I’m more brunette than auburn, but I’ve got some red tones (and I’ve been a redhead MANY times over the years) so this worked well.
On the unfortunate side, I received this at the same time as my Anastasia double-sided brow pencil (which I LOVED). On the fortunate side, I like this set almost as much.
In this brow kit there are two highlighters (Hi-lighter, a skinny pencil in bright white, and highlight #1, a fatter pencil in a peachy-nude) and a “Brow Match” tinted brow gel in a mascara-type tube.
Honestly, I tried the white pencil, then abandoned. I know you fairest-of-them-all out there with lilly-white complexions will benefit from this, but for those of us with a little bit of a yellow undertone, well, it just doesn’t look right. Instead, I used the peachy “highlight #1 exclusively. This is almost exactly like the Anastasia product (one half of my duel-sided pencil/highlighter), and I loved it every bit as much. Anastasia’s was a bit creamier and easier to apply, but HOLLYDOSS didn’t break off like the other one did.
Finally, I really liked the “Brow Match.” In the tube, the color looked sparkly and hi-gloss–kind of like those old drugstore temporary hair highlighting wands–and I was skeptical. Afterall, those hair highlighting wands were a stiff mess of unnatural color. But the “Brow Match” goes on much more naturally. Since the brows are such a small but important feature, “Brow Match” simply grooms and emphasizes. For my more natural days I prefer this to most pencils (and its subtleness makes me look youner than a heavier, penciled brow, I think).
I’m going to give this 4 stars only because it came on the heels of Anastasia, but I’d buy this again in a heartbeat.
I had the pleasure of trying Holly Doss’ jet black eyeliner in Florido and Brush #11. I love lining my upper lids, but I am completely incapable of doing a straight line with a liquid or pencil liner with a steady hand. However, by some weird twist of fate, I’m pretty good at lining my eyes with powder and a brush. The only downside is finding a good powder eyeliner that doesn’t disapper after a few hours. (I must have oily eyelash lines! lol.)
Holly Doss was a great eyeliner, and the liner is so black that jet black isn’t even a good enough description. I was able to to get very close to my lash line with the brush, and draw a straight thin line. My eyes looked bigger even behind my glasses.
I am a fan of pigment rich cosmetics, so I am looking forward to trying out more make up from Holly Doss. Definitely 5 out of 5 stars.
Oh, I forgot…Brow Match does say “unisex” on the box. Strange. I’d think that any makeup COULD be unisex, but should it be? For some guys maybe, just not my guy, K? Just trim and comb ’em up.
I love the write-up on Holly Doss.. Very nice! I will keep my eyes open for it! If the line is even remotely akin to Bobbi Brown, I’ll be impressed! I’m jealous!
I’ll keep my eyes peeled too, very classy looking line! & the Custom Color chart is such a smart and nice tool to see your best matches!! Gotta try some of this line. . maybe its time to Christmas shop for myself :)
I was never a really big fan of wetting eyeshadows to use as an eyeliner. It made yor shadow crusty. And it had absolutely NO staying power on your skin so you had raccoon eyes by 10 am. I don’t know what is different about Holly Doss’ Eye Definers...but it STAYS on!
I like to just hold my brush under a dripping faucent for a couple of seconds then smoosh it around in the cake. It transforms into this creamy paste that glids easily onto your eyes and stays on ALL day!
Hopefully, I’ll be getting some graduation money so I can spend it in Holly’s store!
I can’t give more praise for Holly Doss Cosmetics! I have fair and sensitive skin. Most makeups were either too oily or just felt way to heavy. I am in love with the Prayer Photofinish. It is just the right degree of coverage (it covers all the imperfections without making it look too heavy). The only downside is I wish we could buy samples to experiment with the colors. Beyond that it is a great product at an affordable price.
I know I shouldn’t be looking a gift horse in the mouth, but I am so jealous of youguys that got to try the eyeliner! I totally heart jet black eyeliner and have only one brand I use exclusively. Guess I’ll add this to the list, too, to see if it’ll replace my HG. Plus, if Katie approves of it, you KNOW it’s good! I agree Rakisha, with being a pigment rich fan. I bet her other shadows, etc are great! That’s really cool that you were able to draw a straight line. I wonder if that says more about her cake liner or the brush?
I hear ya, Sherri – I don’t really want my guy painting his face either…it freaks me out enough when he uses my moisturizer and masks (he’s been obsessed with masks ever since seeing American Psycho! But, we can’t find one that actually peels off anymore)
Thanks Pammie Irene and Christy! I think you’ll be impressed if you try it.
I swear I’m not trying to rub it in Mel, but the Florido Eyeliner rules! As Rakisha mentioned, jet black (which seems to be standard beauty industry description of any black) doesn’t do it justice. With a damp brush this is the deepest, richest black liner – I love it – and beauty mavens will too. It stays put too – lasts all night long – always a feat with my lids which seem to lose color so easily.
As a fan of black liner, I’ve almost got the application down pat. For years, I purchased all sorts of liquid eyeliner pens that promised goof proof application. Then, I learned the beauty of cake eyeliner and a good brush – which the Holly Doss Brush # 11 certainly is. You can work with the liner and brush dry or wet (you get a deep smoky grey black with a dry brush/liner) and the fine bristles just glide over my lash line delivering a smooth, straight, line. Then smudge or add some thickness as you wish – or quickly press the brush, slightly arched right at outer edge of your eye – where the upper and lower edges meet – to create that winged effect that opens eyes so much.
Hooray – it’s always exciting to discover a new, quality make up line! Can’t wait to see some more from Holly Doss. I’ve got some eye shadow palettes and cream eye shadows on my wish list – such great colors! Five stars.
.-= Tyna Werner´s last blog ..The search is on for our next Pet of the Month… =-.
Mel, I could see how you could see some purple in taupe. As a matter of fact, taupes look really fab with purple. I’ve been using Ashton this with a dark plum liner and it’s really pretty!
.-= stef´s last blog ..Benefit Holiday collections! =-.
Stef – I just used Ashton with a plum liner I got for another upcoming review (!), and you’re right, it’s gorgeous together! I also have been using my #9 brush to smoke out my eyes the last couple days and I really like how it works for that because it does blend well.
Tyna – now I totally want the Florido liner! Thanks for the lesson in applying it – can’t wait to try.
Christie – Thanks for letting us know about the Prayer Photofinish. Of course that’s great, too – oh boy, one more thing for my list! I also have fair and sensitive skin and don’t like heavy coverage, so I’m looking forward to this one now, too! Plus I love when companys put “photofinish” in a name – it makes me want it immediately b/c it sounds like airbrushed perfection to me.
Sherri – I forgot to say earlier that I also tried Anastasia at the same time and thought the same thing as you except in the opppostie direction! For my coloring, Holly’s pencils worked better (I must have much more of a fair tone). I really liked the creamy Anastasia pencil too, but the color was off for my skin. The creaminess of both Holly and Anastasia were comparable, in my opinion.