Treatments (Eye) -Physicians Formula - Eye Boosters 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Serum
NicoleNightly 9/25/2011 7:13:00 PM
So I have oily lids and need a waterproof mascara. I cant get a way with regular. All the extra wax in the mascara is so drying to my lashes. Luckily I try to find mascaras that are moisturizing and have found quite a few gems in that respect. My lashes still dry though and I just wanted something that was safe to use around the eyes but was hydrating. I noticed this contained glycerin (a humectant aka water binder) and I decided to give it a go! It's perfect my lashes seemed to have perked up! Im not looking for crazy length or anything. Just hydrated lashes and it helps in that respect. I also have this in BLACK, which is the 'eye liner' where as the above is the serum. Too lazy to look at the boxes to see if they have the same ingredients. The Eyeliner of this is 'okay'. The black isnt very dark, it doesnt flake but it can and will smudge.
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Cleansers -Earth Science - Active Age Defense Whipped Cream Cleanser
NicoleNightly 9/25/2011 7:05:00 PM
Perfect. No/very light smell. Takes off make up. Great packaging. Cheap. Non irritating. Ph Balanced. So moisturizing it leaves my skin plumped and soft. Have not used around eyes
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Lip Treatments -Blistex - Deep Renewal
NicoleNightly 9/24/2011 3:05:00 AM
LOVE LOVE LOVE! So Id been looking everywhere for an spf containing lip balm that had no color/tint that moisturized my terribly dry lips. I bought everything, from $1 balms to $25 ones and nothing worked as well as this! This is the only CLEAR lip balm that leaves my lips moist and pretty after it wears off, others leave it drier, cracked and peeling. I use my Clinique's Lip Repairware at night and my lips are now transformed! My favorite TINTED lip balm is Neutrogena's Revitalizing Lip Balm (Black tube) in Sunny Berry!
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Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Orjene Organics CoQ10 OliveVitale Foaming Face Wash
NicoleNightly 9/24/2011 2:59:00 AM
I looked high and low for a gentle natural foaming cleanser that was also inexpensive. I refuse to pay a fortune for soap! This was exactly what I was looking for. Doesnt interfere with my natural oil balance, cleans well, doesnt sting. I use this at night with my Thayer's toner and my face is left clean and moisturized. It's great.
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Treatments -Clinique - repairwear intensive lip treatment
NicoleNightly 9/12/2011 11:09:00 PM
This is the most amazing lip product that has ever touched my lips! I am in L-O-V-E! I have tried everything... Vaseline, Aquaphor, Chapsticks, Burt's Bees, Carmex, Jack Black, Blistex, Fresh Sugar Balms... blah blah blah you name it, I've tried it and it either left my lips drier or didn't do squat! My lips get very dry, to the point of bleeding! It got so bad that my boyfriend would complain about how dry my lips were. I started scouring the internet for all the best lip products and finally came across this night lip treatment! First Clinique product ever actually. I love this so much it has me looking further into the brand. It has no distinct taste, it goes on thick, it lasts on my lips most of the night and when I wake up my lips are moisturized and kissable. My lips are now 'pinker'. It comes in a cute silver tube and has no color so it doesn't stain my pillows. I'd pay twice the price for this lip treatment, I love it! New Holy Grail!
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Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Naked Palette
NicoleNightly 8/22/2011 11:15:00 PM
I have mixed feelings about this palette in that I think the palette itself is so pretty, the colors look so vibrant. Like all Urban Decay shadows, it's a palette that I'd be proud to display on my vanity but that's where the love affair ends. First off, I'm 'tan', MAC NC42/44 depending on the season and some of the shadows did not show up true to color on my lids =( I also wasn't going to pack on the shadow to make it show either as I hate for my lids to feel heavy... and that is my other problem, the 'shimmery/glittery' shadows felt rather heavy on my lids and I simply felt gross and had to wash it off. I'm so sad about this really, I so wanted this to be my 'it' palette as I only wear natural colors. Oh well
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Lotions/ Creams -Eucerin - Aquaphor Healing Ointment
NicoleNightly 8/21/2011 6:06:00 PM
I tend to avoid petroleum and mineral oil based products but I was getting desperate! My lips were becoming so dry. It was to the point where I was too embarrassed to even kiss my boyfriend. I went on the boards and noticed so many people recommending Aquaphor. I always ignored it because I assumed it was just an over-hyped version of Vaseline. But I decided to check out the ingredients, sure enough I was partly right but decided to give it a try anyway since unlike Vaseline's 100% Petroleum Jelly, Eucerin added some other ingredients I'd yet to try on my lips. Over all I'd say my experience with this product on my lips was like most... on it felt ok, sometimes nice but once the product dried my lips were right back to being the pitiful chapped things they are. I can't really fault petroleum jelly for acting like, well... petroleum jelly, so while this product did nothing for me, I cant rate this too poorly. I do think this is too expensive for what it is though so I gave it a 4 in price.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Mane 'n Tail - Conditioner
NicoleNightly 8/21/2011 5:42:00 PM
My hair type: Dry, Thick, Full, Curly hair... think Halle Berry Curly hair (which I believe was a weave on her but you get the idea) When I wear my hair curly I use separate hair products from when I wear my hair straight, meaning I also use different shampoos and conditioners. I find I get better results for what I want. This is the conditioner I loved when I wore my hair curly. It is amazing! I only purchased it at Sally's as the formula is different if you purchase it at Walmart etc, which would explain the varied results. Because I have very long thick hair I seek a conditioner I can not only wash my hair with but leave in as well. I also love the smell of this, it isn't floral or citrus like, more 'clean' but definitely different. I also like that it doesn't contain silicone, an ingredient I don't use when my hair is curly. How I use it, when I wear my hair curly I use a hair washing method called 'Co-Washing' (Washing with only 'Co-nditioner'. Curly hair, especially thick curly hair needs as much oil it can get. So every night I'd wash my hair with the Mane N Tail. Comb my hair out once out of the shower, damp not wet. Re apply the conditioner to my edges and ends (my driest areas). Then I'd braid my hair in pigtails or a ponytail. In the morning I'd release my hair and styled as desired. One thing I loved about this conditioner was that it laid down my flyaways. I dont use gel/mousse/hair spray so this feature is very important to me in a conditioner/leave in. This left my hair so soft, so smooth and was a perfect value for the price as it was everything I was seeking for in a co-washing conditioner: 1. Dual Use (Both rinse-out and leave in) 2. Frizz/ FlyAways Calmer 3. Cheap and Comes in a Liter 4. Silicone/ EDTA Free 5. Great Smelling For me this was the perfect co-washing conditioner! Sidenotes: Because it was so moisturizing on my thick curly hair, I can't imagine anyone with straight fine hair liking this as I imagine they may find it 'greasy'. Especially if they avoid using the Shampoo like I did. Also I notice some people claim this 'makes their hair grow', don't be silly. No topical product does that. This like all conditioners is mostly made of water and surfactants. If 'hair growth' is all you're using this for, do not waste your time. Exercise, sufficient protein in your diet, B-Vitamins and Iron (if you are deficient) and head massaging will all help your hair grow. CONS: While I will always love the formula of this conditioner, part of the reason I stopped using it was because I hate the packaging. I'm kind of a packaging snob, I like to display my products and this bottle is definitely not something I'd leave on my vanity. For that, I gave the packaging a 1.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Alpha Hydrox - Foaming Face Wash
NicoleNightly 8/1/2011 6:39:00 PM
DOES NOT CONTAIN ALPHA HYDROXY ACIDS! I apologize for the caps, but people keep stating this contains AHAs in their reviews when it does not say so in the ingredients. For me, that is a good thing
12 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Ion - Repair Solutions Hair Reconstructor
NicoleNightly 7/25/2011 1:05:00 PM
Hair Type: Naturally Curly Hair that is now Relaxed Goal: Stronger, Softer, Shinier Hair Results: BINGO! Stronger, Softer, Shinier Hair ;) Summary: This is my go to protein treatment. I have naturally porous hair (means: holes in my hair follicle) and then I recently decided to add to that porosity by relaxing my hair (chemical treatments eat even more holes into your hair) I've worn my hair curly pretty much all of my life and I wanted a change, one of the problems with wearing my hair straight was my ends always looked so dry. No matter how often I cut them, they looked like I hadn't received a trim in years, when I was dusting them and trimming them often. I then realized that it must be something wrong with the hair shaft itself and found out it was a symptom called 'high porosity'. To fill these 'holes' in my hair, it was suggested to add hydrolyzed protein to my hair. In comes ION Reconstructor (hydrolyzed keratin), Ive tried all kinds of protein treatments, this one is the BEST! Even when my hair wasn't relaxed this made my ends and edges look outstanding! Now that my hair is relaxed and I need all the protein I can get, this stuff is a God send. My ends no longer look like they need to be cut and when I use it, it makes my hair feel so soft and it looks brilliantly shiny. Also, I never had a problem with breakage but once I starting using a relaxer, I noticed 'pieces' of hair around the sink. I applied this treatment, and the breakage stopped! I love the packaging, it's a pump, any hair product with a pump gets an A+ in my book. I enjoy the smell, it's not too chemical-like or strong. The price is very good for what you're getting, I purchase the largest bottle. Lasts a long time. I would rate the protein intensity of this treatment as moderate. It is safe enough to use once maybe even twice a week on chemically treated hair. Always condition your hair after a protein treatment. How I use it: I rinse my hair of any oils, if I had a conditioner or some form of leave-in in my hair, then I shampoo it clean with my Giovanni 50:50 Shampoo. After rinsing (either with just water or shampoo) Mind you, I do this under hot water to encourage my hair to absorb the treatment. After rinsing, while still in the shower I squeeze as much water out of my hair that I can (gently), to leave it mostly damp. Then in sections, I start applying the Reconstructor. I make sure that is coats every single strand of hair, concentrating on and massaging on the ends. Once Ive applied it to my entire head, I pull it up and let it sit under a plastic cap for 30 minutes. Once I wash it out, my hair is shinier, stronger and healthier looking. Again, remember to Condition your hair after any protein treatment. If you don't have porous hair, or chemically treated hair, don't use this! It's like eating when you're full, don't blame the product because you used it when you didn't need to. This stuff is awesome!
14 out of 15 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Giovanni - Smooth As Silk Conditioner
NicoleNightly 7/25/2011 12:24:00 PM
Hair Type: Curly (Think Christina Milian Type Curls), Now Relaxed Goal: A Conditioner that made me hair feel like silk Results: OOOOHHH MMYYYY FREAAAKIINNG GGODDD! I'm in LOVE! Summary: I'm going to review this as a Leave In Conditioner, not as a Wash Out/Detangling Conditoner, mostly because if I did that, in that aspect this conditioner would only get a 3, since for my hair, it doesn't have much slip. I have naturally curly hair that I now relax because I wanted my blow-dried straight hair to last longer (it does) with out frizzing up and getting curly within a day or two. One problem Ive always had is dry ends and edges, since the dawn of time. This dryness is not a result of heat, chemical treatments, silicone etc NO this is just how my hair is. When I wear my hair straight I have to constantly slather jojoba oil on my ends and edges to try to seal in any moisture to keep it from drying up, but sure enough, within a few days, my ends and edges look like the Sahara desert. I started using ION Reconstructor (love) and that has made a significant improvement but I was still searching for a product that I could put on my hair while it was straight that would leave it soft and bouncy... in comes Giovanni Smooth As Silk Conditioner! I love love love this stuff as a leave in on my blow-dried hair. Actually, as a leave in period. It makes my dry ends feel like smooth silky butter. I cant stop touching my hair, I play with it, I sniff it, I want to eat it.. okay, that's an exaggeration. Because my hair is relaxed I can put this water based conditioner (hence why I relaxed it) in my hair without it reverting to curls and it breathes back life into my hair, what was once drying out, is now deliciously soft. This is my new 'sealant' (a sealant is a product, usually oil based that helps lock in moisture so that your hair stays moisturized) I never thought Id return to conditioners as leave ins because I was convinced nothing was going to do a better job then just pure oil. I also didn't want to use conditioners because I couldn't find any that I felt comfortable leaving in my hair with out all those harmful ingredients- but this is it! I still use jojoba oil in my hair of course, for daily use, but when my hair needs a heavy duty sealant and pick me up, Giovanni is who I turn to. This also makes a great DC as well. Smells great. The bottle looks chic and professional. I buy the 1 L bottle which comes with a pump, I love conditioners that come with a pump so the packaging gets an A+ in my book. Did I say I love this conditioner?
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Estee Lauder - Double Wear LIGHT Foundation SPF10
NicoleNightly 7/25/2011 11:34:00 AM
Skin Type: Sensitive/Combination Goal: Light coverage foundation that has staying power Results: Great match for my hard to match skin tone that gives a nice glow Summary: This is my go to foundation, Ive only used it in the spring/summer months so I cant tell you how it performs in the winter but it leaves my skin with a wonderful glow. It has just enough coverage to hide any slight imperfections (I have decent skin so I dont need full coverage) it also doesn't break me out. I use intensity 4.0 which is only slightly darker then my complexion but when smoothed out, looks flawless. This is the only shade that looks natural on my skin as all of the other foundation lines in this brand do not have a shade for me. So when it comes to EL, DW-Light is the only one I can use. It has great staying power for a light foundation and does not transfer on items or clothing. I also enjoy the packaging since I have a thing for golden accented cosmetics. The tube is more hygienic than a bar/bottle and is shatter-proof unlike most pump foundations Ive used (who met early untimely ends on the bathroom floor). Definitely great for everyday use (Side note: Reading the reviews I get this feeling that people may be reviewing the wrong product, this is Double Wear LIGHT, it is not dry (opposite) nor hard to blend nor 'masky', you may be thinking of Double Wear)
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Skincare - Face -Clearasil - Acne Treatment Cream 
NicoleNightly 7/25/2011 11:18:00 AM
Skin type: Sensitive, Combination Skin Goal: Fast Acting Spot Treatment Results: No results, slow results and scarring/hyper-pigmentation Summary: I have the type of skin that I don't even have to touch a break out and it will scar, simply by existing. I used to use this cream because at the time it was the only thing I could find that seemed powerful enough to take on my red painful blemishes. Didn't do a thing to those kind of pimples! Due to the nature of Benzoyl Peroxide, it helps pimples by killing acne causing bacteria, I realized those red pimples then must not be the cause of bacteria, but something else. I then started using this cream on whiteheads, which did show some improvement, which makes sense since Ive always gotten white heads when I forgot to wash my face or slept on an unclean surface (bacteria) BUT this will dry out and burn up your skin like you wont believe. It bleaches my towels and bed sheets if I try to spot treat overnight and it leaves a 'melanin' mask on any of the areas I placed it on. Not a scar, it's as if I'm developing some sort of melasma when I use this product. If you're prone to hyper-pigmentation/sensitive skin STAY AWAY!
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Blush -Milani - Minerals Blush - Sweet Rose
NicoleNightly 7/24/2011 8:51:00 PM
This is the perfect color for my deep tan complexion. It's also very build able. It's not very long lasting, but makes for a great setting blush over my 10 hour wear cream blush. I also love the packaging, very cute and has a separate compartment for the brush with a mirror that I enjoy. Great blush for the price.
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Nails -Zoya - Remove +
NicoleNightly 7/24/2011 6:49:00 PM
Goal: Quick acting remover with little to no smell Results: All I ever wanted DETAILS: This is my all time favorite remover. SMELL- The smell is light and unoffensive so I can use this in the same room as my boyfriend without attacking his nose. I like that it doesn't smell up my beauty pantry either. Please understand that it IS a remover, so of course there is some chemical scent, but very tolerable APPEARANCE/PACKAGING- The remover comes in a gorgeous violet hue that looks great in my bathroom. The pump is no-spill so I can do my nails around curious 2 years old without freaking out. The pump is very convenient and can be used with one hand without excess product being wasted PRICE/VALUE- One of the first things that attracted me to this remover was I was looking for a gentle remover that could be purchased in bulk. I prefer to buy my beauty products in large sizes (conditioner, lotions etc) and refill them in their smaller original pretty packages. I find that it's more economical and eco friendly. The fact that I can buy this in a large 'economy' size and the fact that it is so effective yet gentle to not only my nails but my sinuses makes it very well worth the money. ANY CONS? Yes, I cant run down to the corner store to purchase it
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