Shampoo -Nioxin - Scalp Recovery Medicating Cleanser
khadijah 5/26/2010 11:12:00 AM
I bought this based on MUA reviews but mostly based on a hairboard search for itchy scalp treatments. My scalp itch I think is mostly due to my habit of picking of the scalp flakes. Taking off 1 lipstick for the price, 3x more expensive than drugstore treatment shampoo, but I've tried TSal (Salicylic acid too drying), and Tea Tree shampoo. They're good for the scalp but strips moisture from my hair. What is different about Nioxin scalp recovery is that its gentle enough and I can use it almost daily without leaving my hair feeling like a scrubbing brush afterwards. I havent seen significant improvement yet on the scalp, but I guess if I use it every day, it means I can wash away the flakies and reduce it that way, without drying out my hair. Your mile may vary, but I think its worth a try.
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Lip Gloss -NARS - Bad Education
khadijah 2/12/2009 12:05:00 PM
I've had this for a while but just recently found love for it. I love the look of red lips but I'm not sophisticated enough to wear it. My style is very casual, I wear minimal makeup like blush and lipbalm to work. And I bought Bad Education, admittedly, because I loved the movie. Since I started taking up salsa dancing, I've been going out more and playing with makeup, and one day I wore this brightly burgundy colored top with a black trench coat and I wanted some oomph on my lips. Bad education delivered that. Its not bright or strong, its just right. Its a sheer jelly red like strawberry jam in the jar, it has decent lasting power, and looks pretty wearable on its own. You can layer it over lipsticks for a stronger look, of course. Over all I'm very happy with this color because I can see myself using it more often than a stronger blue/orange red.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Christian Dior - Hydraction Deep Hydration Skin Tint SPF 20 [DISCONTINUED]
khadijah 8/26/2008 3:15:00 PM
Update 12/08/09: Still loving this product. I am not inclined to try ANY other TMs. Shade #3 is a bit darker than my skin tone in winter, but blends well, hard to explain. I am on my 3rd tube. works great for me in summer and winter. worn over LM primer, this lasts longer on me. EDIT: I changed my review from 2 to 5 lippies. In the beginning I noticed some pilling and it must be my moisturizer/sunscreen or whatever because I am on the 4th week of using this and I LOVE it. It has the coolest texture of a product. It does not feel like foundation, it really is moisturizing. But the best part, it has really good coverage for TM. more like light-medium coverage. You can layer for more coverage, and not get that greasy or thick feeling. And does not fade or rub off easily. Has a dewy finish, so oily skinned gals (like myself) need to blot a few times throughout the day. I am very happy and would repurchase. Laura Mercier gets a lot of raves, I've tried it but I don't get whats so amazing about it. Before this I was using Tarte SO. This is my possible new HG, esp in the winter. Shade 3. NC30-35
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Eyeliner -BeneFit Cosmetics - Eye Kohl in Onyx [DISCONTINUED]
khadijah 5/28/2008 1:04:00 PM
I used to think that all black pencil eyeliners were equal. Thats because I discovered fluidlines early in my pre-mua to post-mua transition that I barely use pencil eyeliners anyway. So I still had this (bought from ebay for $4) benefit eyeliner, and for a while it was my only black pencil eyeliner. However, when my friends borrowed my eyeliner, they always tell me how great this eyeliner is. I would just shrug and say, I guess so, nothing special to me. Plus I always use gel liners anyway. Not until later when I bought a MAC technakohl and received a tarte starry night eyeliner that I noticed how awesome my Benefit kohl liner was. Color: very intense black Texture: Smooth and buttery, no tugging, no pulling. Smudgy?: Yes Wear: Not as long lasting as fluidliners or powerpoints. But its definitely creamier, thats probably why. So big yay for benefit for making such and awesome basic product. I would buy this again over other pencils.
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Eye Shadow -NARS - Voyage single
khadijah 5/13/2008 12:13:00 PM
This is one of my favorite eyeshadows ever. At first, Voyage is an unassuming, boring neutral. With gold glitter, which I don't care for anyways. I went to the counter wanting to get the Underworld duo. Then the MA did a smokey eye on me using the duo and used Voyage slightly above the crease, blending around the edges of the dark blue, IT WAS like so amazing because it gives such a different dimension to the whole smokey eye look. IMO it looks like a modern/edgier smokey eye. Instead of purchasing the duo, I decided on Voyage instead. On its own, its a very nice neutral, malt-ish color on my NC30 skin. Its pretty on its own, with AAE or a darker brown or copper, with a chocolate brown eyeliner. Its a nice staple that changed my view of smokey eyes forever. I can never go back.
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Liquid -Unlisted Brand - FACE atelier Ultra Foundation
khadijah 8/7/2007 6:02:00 PM
Recommended by makeup artists and actually one MUA compared it to Armani LSF. Granted i have never used Armani LSF but I do use Armani Hydraglow foundation. Maybe in terms of the formulation, both FaceAtelier and Armani uses a silicone base. Hence, a silicone base primer would do very well in both cases. The texture of face atelier ultra foundation is thinner (runny almost) than Armani Hydraglow and has less coverage. Which may imply its comparison to the LSF. You can apply this using a sponge, or skunk brush. Finish is similar to Armani Hydraglow, only less coverage. But I think its buildable. Very light and weightless. It looks natural, and photographs very well. Where to buy? FaceAtelier.com or Whiterabbitbeauty.com. You can purchase samples for cheap to find what color shade you wear. Price: Reasonable. If compared to Armani, definitely cheaper. comparable to prices of your typical highend brands like Nars, shiseido, smashbox foundations. 1oz = $40. They also make smaller pump bottles for professional use that is slightly cheaper (about $32?) A few months ago FaceAtelier.com had a 30% off code which I used to purchase my stash of Ultra foundations. Shades: 1-8 that go from the lightest to darkest linerar scale so its not confusing. They are yellow toned, no pinks or oranges as far as I have seen. (I only have seen 4 shades) They also have Zero Plus and Zero Minus which is used to darken or lighten foundations respectively and can be used for contouring purposes. So far I have not used it much, only for photographs so I can't really tell how it fares throughout the day. Will edit this later when I use this more. Will i repurchase this? maybe, Its not like utterly ground breakingly awesome. for photos, I like the finish of graftobian hi-def cream foundation more.
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Eye Shadow -Pout - Eyeslick Bamboo
khadijah 7/25/2007 1:52:00 PM
This is my first Pout eyeslick and I've been lemming them forever. Always thought it was kind of expensive at $22 a pop but I got them for ~$7-8 at Nordstrom Rack. Like the other reviewers say these eyeslicks do not crease and do not budge. I love that you can sheer it out or layer or apply powder e/s on top. I guess the reason they don't crease is because they more like liquid eyeshadow than cream. Most other cream eyeshadows come in solid form like Becca's or Shiseido hydropowders (which i love too btw). Packaging is cute, practical and more hygenic than most other cream e/s. I use the applicator to dab a bit on my lids then i blend with fingers. no dipping fingers in eyeshadow! also, you wont waste a lot of product when running out because of the tube shape, unlike UDPP tube. Bamboo is a beautiful shimmery beige-y taupe. I like to wear this on its own on the lids and it looks like my lids are dewy and shimmery. I also use this with Satin Taupe or NARS Voyage in the crease. Overall I think its a versatile color, its a neutral so you can pretty much pair it with anything. You know what this color reminds me of? MAC Pigment in Sunnydaze. I also have this in Indrani, Mare, Lotus and Bud. i dont know if i would pay retail for these, but for the price, you do get a lot of top quality product,
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Lip Gloss -MAC - ICON - Raquel Welch - Adventuresome
khadijah 4/6/2007 12:53:00 AM
OMG I have to thank LBE and FunkyKitty for introducing me to this. I usually dislike lipglasses because of the ones i've tried are kind of streaky (except for Greed and Lust) and usually I pass on ICON collections altogether. And if not for these MUA girls, I would look at it and go, "meh". Wouldnt even look twice at it, let alone try it. IMO all three of us have different skintones and coloring and yet it looks soooo flattering on all of us.
Adventuresome is like MLBB but glossier, polished, a little made-up. I love that it isnt gritty, streaky or frosty like some other lipglasses i've tried. It feels more comfy and cushy for some reason. Love the packaging.
For reference, I am NC30, olive-yellow asian/chinese skin with dark brown eyes and black hair. I would buy this again if it were not LE and I am confident that this will be a staple in my stash.
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Mascara -Dejavu (Imju) - Fiberwig Lash Knockout
khadijah 4/6/2007 12:44:00 AM
After reading that this is the best selling mascara in Japan, I decided to try this on. Yes it does have some fiber in it, holds a curl, yada yada. But nothing that my Fasio cannot do. In fact my Fasio mascara does it better at lengthening and seperating my lashes. IMJU Fiberwig is a fiberWIMP next to my Fasio mascara.
Also, this mascara will NOT COME OFF. I used my regular Avene mu remover, water, soap. THe next day, it was still flaking from my lashes. Good gawd. My Fasio isnt any better because that one would not come off at all, not even in flakes. Total element proof. In case world disaster strikes, one should always have a fasio mascara handy. I digress. Needless to say, Imju Fiberwig went back to Sephora and I think I'm going back to mascara hunting in the D/S department.
No, will not repurchase. Kind of expensive for what it is.
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Highlighters -NARS - The Multiple in Copacabana
khadijah 3/19/2007 4:52:00 PM
The texture of NARS multiples is wonderful. Its not like waxy or too creamy and soft. Its a little expensive, but you get a lot of it. I think it was made for makeup artists so that they have a portable, do-it-all color stick. Copacabana is a shimmery off white color that makes a great highlighter for the face, inner corner of the eyes, eyelid, brow bone, cupid's bow, collarbone, practically anywhere. I reach for this and Maldives a lot. I use Armani's blender brush to apply on my cheekbones. Fingers work just as well. I would not buy other colors because its too much product just for blush or bronzer but Copacabana is a winner because it truly is an all-around everything product.
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Makeup Brushes -Giorgio Armani - Blender brush
khadijah 3/19/2007 4:33:00 PM
I find that this foundation brush is great to use with thicker, creamier foundation, be it liquid or cream, because the bristles are more shorter and densely packed, the structure is sturdier to apply cream foundation or heavier liquid foundation such as the ones made by Armani. The small head makes it easier to blend in small areas at a time. For thinner foundation, I prefer to use my smashbox foundation brush. As mentioned by other reviewers, the bristles has a certain smell to it when, especially when wet. It does not bother me because I know its clean. I purchased this about a year ago and its great, no shedding and the shape is still good. Pricey, but I think it is worth it.
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Mascara -Christian Dior - Diorshow Black Out Mascara
khadijah 3/17/2007 12:18:00 PM
I must say that I like the brush better than the big Diorshow one because of my small ish eyes, I can't figure out a way to apply it without poking my eyes with it.
The effect on me is similar to that of the Diorshow, not necessarily on my lashes, but I never fail to stare at them after putting Diorshow/Diorshow Black Out on and I keep zooming in and out of the mirror several times a day. This happened when I first tried the regular Diorshow at the counter a year ago, maybe. At the time, I could not justify purchasing a $23 mascara. It happened again when I tried Black Out at Sephora yesterday.
Since my lashes are black, I could usually just get away with curling it. But Black Out really stands out to me, because as a black-haired person, this black is really black. So for girls with black hair out there who wants more definition on their lashes, try this one. Finally I decided to buy this and I just had it on this morning. And I still zoom in and out of the mirror, looking at my lashes in awe.
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Shampoo -Victoria's Secret - So Sexy Nourishing Shampoo
khadijah 1/7/2007 3:52:00 PM
I would give this 4.5 lippies actually. I have no complaints but I don't give 5 lippies unless its beyond great.
I have coarse, black, stick straight hair. Normal with sensitive scalp. what I love about this shampoo is that it lathers so well that you really only need a quarter sized dollop to do your whole head.
Plus the smell is AMAZING and lasts the whole day. Its a very sweet girly smell and the scent can be a bit too much for some people. I don't wear it everyday for that reason.
It does the job and makes my hair look shiny, healthy and soft. I use it with VS So Sexy conditioner. Leaves no film or residue. My major gripe with shampoos is that some makes my scalp itch and flake, this one does not. Hooray for sexy hair!
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Gels/Soaps -Bath and Body Works - temptations 3 in 1 in Wickedly Hot Chocolate
khadijah 1/7/2007 3:44:00 PM
Too bad this is LE. It really looks like liquid chocolate and smells like it too. Helps me curb my lust for chocolate during the time of the month. I don't really use it as a shampoo but I like it as a body wash. Does not dry out my skin. I have already bought a backup and contemplating getting another backup while its still in stock. Overall i love this more than the Tutti Dolci chocolate shower gel. Will definitely repurchase again and again. This product really rocks my boat. *HUGS my bottle of Wickedly Hot Chocolate*. Must have for chocolate lovers.
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Lips -NARS - Lip Stain Gloss in Indian Red
khadijah 1/7/2007 3:38:00 PM
My first experiment with lip stains. It does not last as long as I wanted it too. I expected it to last longer than lipsticks? When this one fades you can sort of see it settling into the lines of your lips. Is it supposed to do that?
Anyway, the color is really gorgeous though. It really looks like blood. When you take the wand out of the tube, it looks like real blood. Deep red and a tinge of rust red. It is somewhat scary, but kind of cool.
Texture is smooth and creamy, not runny or sticky like gloss. It dries to a matte finish so the end result might leave your lips on the dry side. Lipbalm underneath is a must, and maybe gloss on top would help.
I got this on sale and while it would make an awesome red lipstick, will not replace my beloved NARS Red Lizard. So no to repurchase.
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