Lip Gloss -Guerlain - Divinora - Kisskiss gloss Abricot Gourmand #40
chickadee1351 4/28/2005 11:39:00 AM
I just discovered this lip gloss and I am in love. When I tell you that I have been forever in search of the ultimate peachy/pink/salmon/coral lip gloss, I kid you not. Let me preface by saying I was blessed/cursed, haven't figured out which it is yet, with *very* pigmented lips. They are a cool-toned pinky-red when naked. I have tried MAC Pink Lemonade, too milky & medium pink. MAC Tartlette, too frosty, blech. MAC Love Nectar, can you say clear?? MAC Lychee Lux, too red-toned coral, not enough soft pink tones. MAC Fancy That, blah pinky-nude, meh. Some of the other line's I've tried many other glosses from many lines, including Sirop (changed to fuschia), Orgasm (FROSTY!), Lick of Taffy (boring peach, stinky), Blush of Wine (grandmom coral, stinky)YSL glosses (eww, paint....so you see that it's been a long journey. I tried Guerlain after noticing that it was an MUA top pick. I wasn't very hopeful when I asked to sample it at Neimans. But good golly o'molly, this stuff knocked my socks off. First thing I noticed was the scent, so sweet, and I mean this literally. To my nose, it's a combination of Grape Nerds candy & sweet-tarts, and just a *hint* of floral to keep it from being overly sweet & cloying. It was a refreshing change from all the nasty plasticy/paint glosses, and even the vanilla/cake batter ones (starting to get old IMO)The second thing I noticed was the size of the tube, it was sooo HUGE. So much gloss in a long, slender tube, with a shiny gold twist-n-lock cap. I wish it was silver though, but it's very sophisticated looking. I also loved that it had a firm brush applicator, not a flimsy one that could splay. It really helped to give precise application, never went on gloppy. Ok, so onto the good part, the color payoff. I could see my own eyes pop as I was looking in the mirror, amazed at what I was seeing as I applied. The color, oooh, the perfect blend of salmon pink, candy pink, peach, hint-o-gold, & hint-o-coral. And the shine, my goodness, it was the dewiest wet-look shine, it just dazzled. Someone could probably see their reflection in this, no kidding. I am utterly in love and desperate to get more colors. Don't tell my bf but I'm having an affair with this lipgloss. shhhh :P
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Candles -Bath and Body Works - White Barn Candle Company- Pink Watermelon Candle
chickadee1351 2/11/2005 6:24:00 PM
I sniffed this for the first time today. It's one of the candles from the Ripe n Juicy collection at BBW/White Barn. It is one of the truest watermelon scents I have found but a little too sweet for my liking. It's definitely fruiter than a cucumber melon scent but I detect something very sweet, almost grapefruity in this candle. I suppose that's what makes up the "pink" they refer to in the candle's name.It's very pleasing to look at in a small cylindrical votive with a shiny metallic magnetized lid. And it has an all-cotton wick so it doesn't put out those ashy vapors or leave rings around the glass. It burns clean and pure with a delectable scent. The only thing I didn't like was the price. The smallest one went for $9.50 and it's about 9oz i'd say. To get a large decent sized one expect to have more than a 20-spot in your handbag
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Candles -Bath and Body Works - White Barn Collection - Passionfruit & Guava Candle
chickadee1351 2/11/2005 6:20:00 PM
This is one of the candles from the new Ripe & Juicy collection at Bath and Body Works/White Barn Candle. It smells heavenly! There is nothing fake or cloying about this lush tropical candle. It really conjures up an image of juicy ripe guavas sitting on a bed of passionfruit. And it's got an amazing throw that drifts throughout rooms. It's very pleasing to look at in a small cylindrical votive with a shiny metallic magnetized lid. And it has an all-cotton wick so it doesn't put out those ashy vapors or leave rings around the glass. It burns clean and pure with a delectable scent. The only thing I didn't like was the price. The smallest one went for $9.50 and it's about 9oz i'd say. To get a large decent sized one expect to have more than a 20-spot in your handbag. I also intend to pick up Heirloom Apple and Pink Watermelon.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Aura Science - Foundation Brush
chickadee1351 1/12/2005 3:22:00 PM
Let me first start off by saying that I have been aware of the foundation brush "buzz" for months now. I have always used the smooth circular sponge that came with my MAC Studio Tech cream foundation compact but as the stellar reviews for foundation brushes went through the roof, I let my curiosity get the better of me and broke down and bought one. I was way less skeptical as to the difference a foundation brush can make based on what my fellow MUAers had to say. The Aura Science brush seemed like the best quality for the right price. I visited our local Victoria's Secret which has been carrying the full Aura Science line since last summer. I asked the MA for help and she showed me how to apply cream foundation and told me that to clean it I only needed to rinse the bristles/hair in warm water w/ a drop of dish soap and then lay it down to air dry. I was very eager to give it a shot this morning. I read tips that you should moisten the brush ever so slighty first. I did this and proceeded to apply my Studio Tech and instantly felt the soothing coolness that the MAC website had boasted of. I think I missed out on feeling it before b/c the sponge absorbed most of the moisture/cooling properties, if that makes sense. The foundation glided on and the brush felt silky against my skin and it was easy to apply in light, short strokes. When I was done I rinsed the brush with warm water and mild soap then let it air dry. I looked at my face in the mirror for the final inspection and my foundation really did have a very natural porcelain look. The makeup didn't look cakey or thick, instead it was smooth and even, which I loved ! I know there are many other brands out there you can try but I think this brush is amazing. And it comes with a frosty plastic pouch perfect for storing and for travel. Try it out !
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Styling Products -Conair - Conair Ceramic Brush
chickadee1351 1/10/2005 4:36:00 PM
I have to start by saying that I didn't really believe a brush could make all the difference. I have to say I am a believer now. This brush was amazing!!!! I love how it feels when you brush your hair. The bristles are just the right length to give an invigorating scalp massage. I find I brush my hair at random times of the day b/c it feels so good. I also love how the brush glides through with ease and really makes your hair smooth and silky. It's a ceramic ring (or square in the case of my paddle brush) that really makes the difference. It works to reduce static and frizz and it's a godsend when combined with a blow dryer. The heat combined with the ceramic brush helps to really straighten and smooth hair. It's got an ergonomical handle which makes it easy to hold and a smooth polished deep cherry wood finish that just looks lovely. It may be slightly heavier than say a regular wooden brush but I'd say it's fairly lightweight given the ring of ceramic. I found this brush at Target for $7.99 which isn't bad at all considering the quality and performance you get. I LUV this brush !!!
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Lip Gloss -Stila - Brown Sugar Lipglaze
chickadee1351 10/21/2004 11:00:00 AM
I soooo love this Lipglaze. In the past I haven't thought too highly of Stila lipglazes. They were messy to apply, ridiculously priced, and they contained a miniscule amount of gloss. The new lipglazes have me giving Stila a second chance. So many ppl complained about the size and amount of gloss. Well, they redid their packaging and the click-pens are now the size of a fat magic marker and they hold a whole lot more gloss b/c of it. And instead of raising the price, they shaved off a few dollars. Can you believe that?? It's only $20 now for a new and improved chubbier Stila lipglaze. They still have their multiple clicks method of use but the gloss that disperses is better than ever so it makes up for it. Stila changed the formula so it's more moisturizing, lasts longer, and dazzles like none other. Your hair won't get stuck anymore. Amazing. Stila also added a total of 8 new color concoctions to their collection. I fell in love with Brown Sugar. Despite it's name, it does not smell like Brown Sugar to me, instead it smells even better, just like a buttery chocolate-caramel..YUMMMMM. PLEASE don't be discouraged by what the gloss looks like in the tube, a boring brown-nude. I swear, the color just comes alive on your lips. Try it!! Once applied, the color is an earthy plummy-mauve-brown infused with finely milled gold shimmer, which really makes the hue of the gloss pop. It's a YLBB color but with a bit more pizazz than all the other dozens of YLBB glosses out there. I think the golden shimmer/sheen pumps up the color, depth and body of the gloss. Looks fantastic on this PPP! And the mega-watering shine of the gloss is just too damned sexy. When you first apply, there is a slight tingling numbing sensation which I really enjoyed. If that's not your thing, don't worry, it only lasts for about 5-10 mins after you apply. But for me, I loved the way my lips felt..like I had been sucking on a candy cane..so now I look forward to reapplying. Plus, I have to admit that I'm addicted to the delicious chocolate and caramel scented confection :)
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Tools -Nailtek - Crystal File
chickadee1351 10/15/2004 11:34:00 AM
Ok girls. I tried out the Nailtek Crystal File this week. The claim of this product is that the "surface of the file seals and protects the free edge (of the nail) as you file and shape the nail to help prevent splitting and peeling of the natural nail. The abrasive surface will never wear out and the file is washable, sanitizable, and completely sterilizable." I happened to notice it on the shelf and when I explained to my manicurist that I never could get a smooth edge when i was done filing, she pointed this out. It's a pointed white crystal nail file that comes in a little clear cylindrical tube. To look at it, you'd be skeptical that it lives up to it's claim. But it does!!!!! I bought one b/c I had a coupon for savings on any salon products so I thought what the hey. And I am delighted to say that filing my nails is sooo simple and the edges feel like shined steel. I couldn't believe how it really did seal the ends and leave a perfect even edge. No little peelies underneath or on the edges. When you use a regular nail file, or emory board, you usually have to follow it up with a fine-grain finishing board to smooth the roughness. With the crystal file it's just one easy quick step and you are done. Works amazing on toes too. I know I sound like an infomercial but I'm just so happy. And you can wash it and it will never wear out. We'll see how it's holding up in a few months but I love it so far. I am throwing out all my old nail files. Woohoo!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Aura Science - Paint lacquer for nails
chickadee1351 9/13/2004 1:48:00 PM
This is the new line sold at most Victoria's Secret Beauty stores. The color I chose ( which was sooo hard b/c there are like 50 awesome shades) is Lunar Pink. The name really does suit this polish. In the bottle it's a lovely lush pink-peach with a slight moonlit-lunar opalescence to it. And it stays true to it's color when applied. This color IMO is what I had wanted OPI's Dancing in the Isles to be. This is the wearable pinky peach, without being too bright pink..too orange, too peachy, or too frosty for us PPP's. In terms of packaging, these polishes are absolutely adorable. They have Japanese influences and are small oval, almost egg-shaped bottles that fit in the palm of your hand. The top portion is black and the bottom half is all glass. IMO, it seems like a retro style of packaging but I adore it! The polishes run $8.50 but they are much larger than a typical Essie, maybe a bit more than OPI. The cap really fools the eye too. The ergonomic cap lifts off to reveal a tiny raised black spill-proof cap thingy(think of the top of a medicine dropper) which twists to reveal a tiny nail polish brush The brush is awesome..I don't know if it has to do with the fibers in the brush or what..but when you dip, the polish stays on the brush until you apply it on your nail. It doesn't threaten to run off and yet it isn't all dry and cakey. I really was impressed, it must be the bristles in the brush. And the application was a cinch..so smooth...no bubbles or globs..just perfect even color. One coat gave my nails a shiny tint of color..2 coats gave it some more ooomph and really made the hue come out. I loved it!! And sooooooo shiny...honestly...i went to the movies later that day and when the lights dimmed, I propped my feet up on the empty seat in front of me and you could see the movie screen's lights reflecting off my newly polished piggies. Even my boyfriend commented on how shiny they looked. Lunar Pink looked so healthy and radiant, really perked up my PPP feet and hands. I definitely want to pick up a few more of these...such lovely colors and they look adorable on your dresser too!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -Neutrogena - Shimmer Sheers in Mesmerized
chickadee1351 9/13/2004 12:23:00 PM
I just bought my very first Shimmer Sheers in Mesmerized. The color is best described as porcelain pink-peach. It's a very pale dewy pink with just the tiniest amount of fleshtone-peach mixed in to make it completely wearable. Shimmer sheers come in a small tube, similar to a juicy tube. The round cap twists off to reveal a narrow nose applicator (think Neosporin). When you squeeze the tube a refined amount of product dispenses w/o leaving a mess. I was very impressed with the packaging on this one. The consistency is kinda whipped and creamy at first, but then it transforms into a velvety powder finish. It blends beautifully and has lovely fine-milled shimmer to create an absolutely angelic glow. There is no glitter or too obvious shimmer either. I applied it to my eyelids all the way up to the brow bone. I would like to make a suggestion. Don't apply from lid to brow bone, it looks too disco queen. I would suggest just applying to your brow-bone to highlight or just applying to the lid and using a more matte flesh color on the brow bone. It makes for a lovely contrast and really helps to make your eyes pop. I also tried dotting it on the apples of my cheeks and it lent a dewy luminescence to my skin. The shimmer sheers really do give you that etheral glow. I would not use this color on my lips by itself..maybe you could dab it in the center of another lipstick/lipgloss. But it works lovely on eyes and cheeks. It's about $8 for a small tube but a little really does go a long way so it will take forever to use this up. I have tried countless hightlighters..even High Beam by BeneFit..and i think this is much much easier to work with and really looks very lovely. Go on and try it!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Lancome - Hypnose
chickadee1351 9/1/2004 12:35:00 PM
Ok girls. I decided that I wanted to try this mascara out this weekend. I went to Nordies first and the snobby MA insisted they had no spoolies to sample it with. There was no way I was going to fork over $22 for a mascara that I hadn't tried first. So then I went into Strawbridges and this time I was very lucky. Lancome was having those makeover days. So I snagged a spot and had a very feminine male makeup artist go to work, he was a riot. Let me premise my review of Hypnose by saying, although it was a "free" makeover, he tried to push everything from foundation to eye liner on me. He grilled me like crazy about which products that used. I politely declined any suggestions he had. Anyhow, so he took the Hypnose wand (his sample spoolie had a bent brush), dipped once and holding the wand horizontal to my naked lashes, surprised me by starting on top of my lashes and extending out to the tips. He did this about 2-3 times, but all w/o dipping the wand into the tube again. My eyes watered the first time he did it. Then after he had applied reversely, he went under and out like normal. The MA assured me this was a pro tip for making lashes GORGEOUS. When he handed me the mirror I was startled. My lashes were super dark..i've never seen such a rich deep black shade. And they were huge and fluffy. They really made me eyes pop. When I met up with my boyfriend he even commented on how lovely my eyes looked. I absolutely adored the effect. The tube is a little weird looking although i guess it's shaped that way for a better hold. The formula stays very wet. I was surprised that it only took one dipping to achieve the effect. It really does live up to the hype of allowing for up to 6 coats, it's a very wet formula, but not messy and runny. I am trying to find a deal through Ebay though b/c i can't bear to spend $22 on another Lancome mascara (I used to buy Definicils)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Unlisted Brand - American Eagle Kissy Face lip balm
chickadee1351 8/29/2004 9:46:00 PM
I spotted these little babies at my American Eagle store. Kissy Face lip balm is new for their fall collection. The first thing I noticed about them was their adorable size. They are in little squeeze tubes, but very fat little squat tubes. You can see the color of the "lip balm" through the packaging which is nice. These are not lip balms IMO, they are super moisturizing lip glosses. They are very sheer with a wet moist consistency. They don't feel sticky or heavy on the lips at all. They come in 4 colors. There is a medium bubblegum pink with shimmer, a caramelly-nude color with shimmer, a strawberried-pink, and a raspberry-plum color. I picked up the strawberried-pink and the raspberry-plum. The raspberry-plum smelled like grape bubblegum...yum. It applied very sheer to my disappointment. The only way to get any color out of it is to layer it. The strawberry-pink rocked though. It also smells and, maybe even tastes, like bubblegum. And it leaves this wonderful juicy glaze on your lips. The one thing I noticed is the first time you use these you may get a blob of clear gloss in the first application. Then it works like a dream and you get pigment the next time. And they only cost $3!
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Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - Schick Intuition razor
chickadee1351 8/23/2004 12:26:00 PM
I have been using this for half a year now. I thought i loved it but I realized that it has been a very painful experience. My legs sting EVERY time I shave. And i might as well skip my knees...b/c no matter how many times I go over that area, whether it's brand new blades, or week old blades,..it never removes the hair. It's like it's not close enough. Maybe the solid prevents it from getting close enough. And the solid does wear down pretty quick, so after a few weeks, I have to use shaving cream with it anyhow. I had problems with the whole top portion coming off everytime I removed the lid. It was like the lid suctioned itself to the solid. And the solid gets all slippery once it hits the shower floor, so putting it back on can be very risky. I sliced my finger one time trying to pick it up off the floor. I am going to use MAch 3. I tried it way back when i lived at home. And the blades rusted out fast so i just got a new brand. I realized now that I should have just kept up with the MAch 3. Or at least put Mach 3 razor blades in the Venus handle.
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Polishes -Sally Hansen - Beyond Perfect Protein Nail Color in Sheer Summer Blossom
chickadee1351 8/17/2004 3:26:00 PM
These are adorable little polishes. I find the small square bottles to be classy looking. The color itself is a sheer pink with a natural glow. It takes 2 coats to get the pink to show up but it's absolutely lovely. The sheer formulas are MUCH better than the non-sheer (Be sure to read my review on Soothing Spice) They have a lovely sheen/shine to them but if you really like that wet look like i do, i suggest putting a top clear coat. The lasting power is amazing. I tried experimenting putting another color over top the Sheer Summer Blossom but didn't like it so I gently wiped it away with remover. I had expected both polishes to come off and then I would start over. The Sheer Summer Blossom stayed on! I was amazed by that. I mean I didn't rub all that hard but still, we are talking about nail polish remover, which normally eats up whatever you have on your nail bed. Lovely color, so far very good quality and lasting power. There were so many lovely colors in this collection. So far I have only found these for sale on a display in Eckerds.
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Polishes -Sally Hansen - Beyond Perfect Protein Nail Color in Soothing Spice
chickadee1351 8/17/2004 3:05:00 PM
These are adorable little polishes. I find the small square bottles to be very classy looking. The color itself is a very natural earth-toned mauve-berry. I'd describe it as the nailpolish version of Neutrogena's First Blush l/g, with a tad more rosy-mauve to it. This polish takes patience though. The formula is MUCH thicker than the sheer formulas. You have to be careful with how much you put on with the first stroke. If you put on too much, there's no way to fix it. It cannot be smoothed out. It will only muss up the surface if you try to smooth out the bumps. I had to remove several fingers and do them again. But once I got the hang of it and realized how much polish was *just right* , then I was pleased with the results. It also takes a second coat to cover any streaking. The color is just gorgeous. pink with a natural glow. It takes 2 coats to get the pink to show up but it's absolutely lovely. The sheer formulas are MUCH better than the non-sheer (Be sure to read my review on Sheer Summer Blossom) They have a lovely sheen/shine to them but if you really like that wet look like i do, i suggest putting a top clear coat. The lasting power is amazing. Lovely color, so far very good quality and lasting power. There were so many lovely colors in this collection. So far I have only found these for sale on a display in Eckerds. And at about $5 a pop, they are definitely worth it.
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Polishes -Sally Hansen - Beyond Perfect Protein Nail Color in Sheer Summer Blossom
chickadee1351 8/17/2004 2:54:00 PM
These are adorable little polishes. I find the small square bottles to be classy looking. The color itself is a sheer pink with a natural glow. It takes 2 coats to get the pink to show up but it's absolutely lovely. The sheer formulas are MUCH better than the non-sheer (Be sure to read my review on Soothing Spice) They have a lovely sheen/shine to them but if you really like that wet look like i do, i suggest putting a top clear coat. The lasting power is amazing. I tried experimenting putting another color over top the Sheer Summer Blossom but didn't like it so I gently wiped it away with remover. I had expected both polishes to come off and then I would start over. The Sheer Summer Blossom stayed on! I was amazed by that. I mean I didn't rub all that hard but still, we are talking about nail polish remover, which normally eats up whatever you have on your nail bed. Lovely color, so far very good quality and lasting power. There were so many lovely colors in this collection. So far I have only found these for sale on a display in Eckerds.
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