Lotions/ Creams -Nubian Heritage - Indian Hemp & Haitian Vetiver Lotion
zayala 1/22/2013 2:58:00 PM
I've had this for some time, love both the scent and formula. Looking at ingredients I could tell the lotion was worth a try, however it was the scent that made me purchase. Super fresh, full, non synthetic fragrance. The formula is more on the thicker cream side vs. watered down (so you feel like you're getting a good value) the feel on skin is soft, penetrative and non-greasy. I'm similar to the previous reviewer in thinking I may get too used to the scent after awhile and want to move on (as I seem to do) but I found recently this all natural scent layered well with a fragrance I wear that's on the fruitier side, so that kinda reignited the flame, makes me curious of the possibilities. Especially since I once received a comment from a guy that this scent is slightly masculine.. which I hadn't noticed until then! So while I don't think I'd consider it on the muskier side, I would consider it having a little depth, and not being your typical woman's/ expected floral, fruity or musky fragrance. Anyway 5/5 . Fresh scent & Excellent lotion.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Dr. Bronner's - Organic Peppermint Lip Balm
zayala 1/22/2013 2:22:00 PM
This is excellent lip balm, that had everything I was looking for. Deeply penetrative, refreshing, and with a good *slip* when first applying. .. Not hard, waxy or one that just sits on top of the lips leaving a film. I always find peppermint oil in balms refreshing and good for my lips for some reason.. So for all of these reasons Dr. Bronner's Magic organic lip balm Peppermint, fit the bill and definitely saved my desperate lips the night I bought it (without having read reviews). The biggest plus is that it heals and *doesn't* have to be re-applied constantly... I know this because I'm not instinctively out of habit, stashing it in my pocket everywhere I go like my old balm (which was also, all natural) The price was great, especially since it's going to last awhile. The tube is basic and works like it should. 5/5 For sure
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -NYX - Round Lipstick in Orange Soda #588
zayala 4/14/2012 6:31:00 PM
I'm not sure if I've ever worn this by itself, if so it'd be a sparingly/minimal amount/blotted quite a bit if going for a nude look... however I Love Orange Soda for layering over other lipsticks, I use it quite often!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Batiste - Dry Shampoo - Blush Scent
zayala 2/13/2012 12:35:00 AM
Ran into Sally's the other night because I was going out early, in a hurry & wasn't going to have time to wash my hair. The only dry shampoo I'd tried before this was Big Sexy Hair's a couple months ago and it's what got me suddenly excited about dry shampoos as I loved the volume it gave me, that lasted even onto the next day or maybe even two. So after reading dry shampoo reviews on here of course I knew I could bop into Sally's and grab a can of Batiste! and trust it would work, never having tried it. Well...first of all was a little taken back by the price of such a small can on the bottom shelf looking all retro/questionable age-wise. I felt 3-5 bucks looked more the price range it *looked like* but hey, if it works and smells alright, 8 bucks wasn't going to hold me back. So of course had to pick the scent, and was a little let down as they had only 2; Blush and Original. BUT I knew there were many who preferred the blush scent so I was like *yeah! here goes nothing!* gave it a sniff & Let me say, ...Ohhhkay....do I even want to test the Original.....YUCK. Really????.....Seriously....? Not a fan of the scents, at all. I am not understanding how anybody can think these are acceptable honestly. The original, was an Instant *** no* was not even worth a second sniff, and since the blush had high reviews, I thought 'well maybe it will smell better once it's in my hair'....the girl at the counter tried to sell me an Ion dry shampoo, she said worked for her, but I wasn't convinced it would work as I hadn't read reviews on it...but I bet it smelled better than this Batiste blush!! Honestly, was smelling it all through my dinner, I dunno if it's just because it was near my face obviously but I felt as though the smell overpowered any perfume or lotion I had on *That I Want to smell like* :/ It's got some powder-perfumey smell covering up some medicinal sour nutty note (how to describe..) But I feel the scent is embarrassing. By the time I got home around 3am, I was becoming Used to the smell, but I smelled it again just now and eh yeah, just can't say it's okay. Secondly, for the performance, when I sprayed it in, wicked light cast but I think that came out eventually, and I had some volume. However, it fell flat in not too long of a time after, just started to feel a bit heavy and by the time I got home, and when I woke up the next morning, I definitely needed to wash it, and I don't really have greasy hair. I wouldn't call the performance horrible, which is why I give it a 3. I give the scent a 1.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Styling Tools -Farouk CHI - Chi Ceramic Flat Iron by Farouk
zayala 7/28/2011 3:18:00 PM
Alright I don't own this product but I used it several years back and will recommend this iron, if you want super stick straight flat hair the first run through, as it does succeed in straightening, that is for sure. This iron is going to do "the job", if this is your first professional iron. However if you own another pro iron like the HAI, I believe you already own the best. Although I have Not tried the GHD yet. In my experience the straightening job with the Chi was affective to the extent my hair was so flat, thinned and stick straight and static-y in the section I used it in, that it felt gross. And if I was to put some type of serum or spray in this section before or after straightening, I feel I'd have then just a greasy static stick-straight mess.. which doesn't work for me. For reference I have fine ( but lots of it ) spiral curly/ wavy hair. I also used it on my friend's hair, who at the time had straight-up long, thick wavy hair, (with thick strands) and it was difficult to maintain an even texture throughout her hair, with some pieces stick-straight-static-y matted to her head, others going another direction, even after running the iron through slowly, multiple times. (Weird + frustrating) The Chi, you definitely had to concentrate on your sections, using the exact same amount of heat in every small section, to get an even, consistent look, because A: it only had one straightening level---(Flat/ straight as sh*t) and B: (somewhat continuation of A) It didn't seem to have the type of glide where you can keep running it through your hair until you get the degree of *flattened/ straight* you're going for, or satisfied with. There's no Freestyle with it, if you will. It seemed impossible to get variations between thicker and thinner flattened looks, or maintaining some degree of your own texture and therefore volume if you choose, like the Hai. ; which would also seem *safer* for every day use/ multiple times a week use. Honestly I don't flat iron *that* often anymore but would be frightened using the Chi even weekly. I love how smooth the Hai runs through hair, and how I can choose the level of flat I'm going for from thin thin smooth straight, to straight and a lil thicker. I'm not sure if they have changed the Chi in the past couple years which might render most of what I said useless but regardless, I don't have any reason to give up my Hai. Unless it finally cashes out on me after 8 years, I keep re-taping the cord and it keeps truckin ;p...Even still, I would buy another Hai or check out other irons before ever considering this one.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - EXTRA VIRGIN Coconut Oil (All brands)
zayala 1/14/2011 4:51:00 PM
Coconut oil is awesome for all things already mentioned in these reviews. -Hair + Scalp conditioning *Personally, this does wonders for my head and hair, I completely rub it in, leave on for a bit, maybe put a plastic bag over my head, then *rinse it out And shampoo and condition~ -Skin Moisturizer -Topical healing -Glow from within- Internally it is great for your metabolism, teeth, your bones, it's suggested for losing un-wanted pounds, antioxidants, good for your kidneys, your heart, good for stress relief, the list goes on and on and on Coconut oil is a whole food. A tablespoon a day is just really really great for your health and body. Make sure you're buying virgin, Cold-pressed coconut oil and from a reputable seller. A good batch of coconut oil should last you 2 years before going bad, so don't skimp on buying the best you can find
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Dickinson's Witch Hazel
zayala 5/10/2009 4:52:00 PM
Well I had been out looking for straight-up witch hazel but just picked this up at Ulta and it's great. I think this may be slightly gentler than pure witch hazel which is fine with me as my skin is more on the sensitive side. It just smells kinda like witch hazel to me and def waaay better to inhale than any other toners I've used, which mostly wreak like alcohol. This does the job without stripping and drying my skin. Good stuff.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Unlisted Brand - Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar
zayala 5/10/2009 4:25:00 PM
This too is a review for hair, not as a toner I use Apple cider vinegar once every couple weeks on my hair and it really is the best. It removes product buildup and restores natural PH, instantly making my hair lighter and more volumized. I use it half + half with water and pour it through my hair and scalp before I shampoo and condition, (just because for me and my extremely porous hair, washing After helps to remove the scent of the vinegar) It leaves my hair shiny and squeaky clean and my sensitive scalp loves it as well. There's no excuse for using any sort of harsh clarifying shampoo if you have a bottle (or jug) of this on hand. It works better and more thoroughly than any product like that I've ever tried. I tell everyone I know about it but everyone's so freaked out by the potential smell! I get a faint aroma when I step out of the shower but when your hair is dry it's barely and rarely detectable. I have gotten a faint hint of it before after blow drying, but nobody else can pick up on it (I've asked lol), and either way it's certainly gone with your next shower. Apple Cider Vinegar has so many great uses but I would say that just for hair alone, I would def never be without it~~
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Rimmel - Glam Eyes
zayala 5/10/2009 3:25:00 PM
This is my HG mascara atm, I've re-purchased twice and got my mom some too. I have fine lashes and this has never clumped on me, It's buildable and the brush is great for that purpose. In general it's def not a real *wet* mascara , the kind that gives you pokey stick wet lashes, but even so i find I do get the best result if I just wait a couple seconds before application when i take the brush out of the tube. I've tried an array of mascaras including some more expensive and I can't see myself needing to find anything else right now. [ Although I do still love my NYX Doll Eye :) ]
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Tarte - Cheek Stain in Tipsy
zayala 5/21/2008 2:06:00 PM
Well I was super excited to try this out, While I love the color, I don't find that it's a stain at all so I was a little disappointed, and I had to use quite a bit and build it to get optimum color, and I am quite fair!!! I was looking for a stain to dab on my cheeks & lips just for some color and this didn't really come out as Bright or Pigmented as I was hoping. I have cream blushes that come out more vivid? It's still fun to use and if I'm using it in layers it seems to work alright and stays on my cheeks a decent while but it doesn't taste so great on the lips ;p I think it will be alright to use once I'm a bit tanner this summer and just want a little tint on my cheeks. but that's what i'd call it..a Tint, or 'glaze' (like another user said) not a stain/
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Burt's Bees - Carrot Nutritive Day Creme
zayala 3/11/2008 9:09:00 PM
Ahh I accidently grabbed this instead of the night creme, and figured I'd just try it instead of returning it.. well since it is such a huge amount in the pot I was really trying to like this but it's got like a plastic-y/chemical weird almost synthetic or something underlying odor that I just can't get over, and since the texture is almost like a creamy watery plastic it just doesn't feel *right* rubbing it all over my face, I still love Burt Bees, they have some great products,.. Not a fan at all of this formula
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -New York Color - loose translucent powder
zayala 10/11/2006 8:35:00 PM
As light as this powder is, I'm lighter so this did not work for me as a translucent powder. From now on I know to stick to translucent powders that are stark White in appearance so I can be assured they wont leave a trace of color on my oh so pale skin. This powder will probably work for me in my tanner months of summer though, and it goes on pretty well so I will keep it around but no re-purchase for me (even though it is def dirt cheap!)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Everyday Minerals - Foundation - Intensive formula [DISCONTINUED]
zayala 10/9/2006 8:27:00 PM
Definately the best foundation I've ever used~ for so many reasons... I have pale freckled cool-toned skin and Fair Neutral was the Perfect match- I don't like to cover my freckles but I do appreciate good coverage when and where I need it~ Soo easy with this foundation, buildable without looking cakey or overdone in the least bit~ Always So natural looking!! Love love love... Edit: I still will always keep EM on hand, and may go back to it at some point, but I have found that this particular formula (at least) somewhat enlarges my pores slightly, as well as causes me to be shiny in my t-zone (more shiny than Before I put it on!!) I've since been experimenting with alima and silk naturals, and so far have been happy with SN
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Almay - Intense i-color powder shadow-Trio for Greens
zayala 9/21/2006 9:51:00 PM
I give this one lippy because if you do have green eyes, these Are okay colors (For me at least) I would however recommend buying the colors somewhere else. These have terrible staying power, Made my eyes look pretty for no longer than 5 minutes and then whoosh faded with one color still attached, another totally gone. I had the green shades already in other brands, and don't particularly care for the lime green on me, I just wanted the purple/burgundy shade, I feel this shade is excellent and complimentary with the dark green, makes my particular shade of green eye color pop. ( My eyes are on the cooler blue side, vs. the hazel side)- Unfortunately the purple shade seemed to be the least pigmented of the lot~ so Blah. I will be on a search though to find this particular color in a more pigmented brand!!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Sonia Kashuk - beautifying blush
zayala 9/21/2006 9:37:00 PM
I too own "Flamingo"- Gorgeous color, I even sweep it over my eyelids on occasion when I don't feel like wearing eyeshadow~ I believe this is one of those colors that works universally on pretty much anybody regardless of skin tone (warm, cool, whatev) The brush is soft and the color has good pigment and goes on smooth! What can I say, Quality blush! Ive had it for a while and it will last for a while so I wont need to repurchase anytime soon but I would def repurchase/try other colors!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No