Eye Shadow -Milani - Eyeshadow singles - Wet/Dry
jmp24 1/15/2008 1:28:00 PM
This is more of an alert than a review as I did not actually purchase one of these. They are huge new shadow singles, approx $6, with lots of fine microglitter (my reason for NOT purchasing) The product is in a dome shape in the pan, and it looked like the applicator was one of those sponge/brush deals. The display said they are meant to be used either wet (lots of color) or dry (sheer color). There were about 10 different colors ranging from vivid to nuetral. They are nothing like the old and sorely missed Milani singles. A mid tone olive green one had been opened, so I swiped a little on my wrist (dry) and it was very sheer. These looked to me like the kind of shadows that within an hour of applying, you would have glitter all over your face from the fallout. Not the look I go for these days, not even for evening. The color selection was nice, but nothing remarkable. I probably will not purchase any of these, but just wanted to give you all a heads up. These were at CVS, there were also a few other new Milani things, they re-released Luminous blush as a pressed mineral blush (also $6-ish) and there were some new mascaras and a brush on foundation. Also, CVS is having a buy one get one 50% off on Milani till 1/19, but even that was not enough to persuade me into investing in one of the new shadows.....I am just soooo disciplined! :P
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Blush -Milani - Smooth Finish Blush - Luminous
jmp24 1/15/2008 12:57:00 PM
I believe this is a brand new version of Luminous, as it was on a new display with other new Milani products at CVS. Comes in a nicer compact than the old Luminous, you push the little button and the lid pops up, then the pan w/ the blush in it also pops up to reveal a mirror on the underside, and a cute, but useless, half moon brush. I never bought Luminous before, by the time I decided I wanted it, it was no longer available. I would never even consider paying what Nars wants for Orgasm, so have no idea about the comparison. I am not big on blush anyway, so when I do get it, it lasts me forever, I just do a little on the apples of my cheeks in the morning and that is it. This is a very pretty color, as described in the past, a lovely peachy pink with a find gold shimmer. Stays on about as welll as any inexpensive blush, I suppose. I will have to get back to you on that. I just wanted to get this review in for all of you who have been crying yourselves to sleep ever since Milani stopped selling the old Luminous! PS - there is also a new Milani eyeshadow single, lots of bright colors, all with micro glitter, to be used wet or dry, one was open at the store and on my hand it swiped very sheer. Pretty, but not like the old singles Milani shadows. I decided to pass on it....also, the price was higher than the old shadows, I think it was $5.49. The blush was also $5.49, so the prices have gone up. They also have a new foundation (brush applicator) and some new mascaras.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Unlisted Brand - Aspirin Mask
jmp24 1/15/2008 12:47:00 PM
I have been doing this mask with different variations for about a year, but mostly I just mash the aspirin with water. Sometimes add honey. The problem was the honey was too sticky, and the aspirin water combo to grainy and crumbly, hard to spread and falling off my face. AND making me sneeze violently! My new trick is to add about 6 drops of cetaphil cleanser, it makes the mix much creamier and easier to spread, it doesn't drop off your face in little crumbs, and not as much sneezing. Other than that, results are the same!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -Clairol - Herbal Essences highlights
jmp24 1/13/2008 11:50:00 AM
I use this at home, either for touch ups in between salon appointments or sometimes in place of the salon appointments. The secret is in the applicator tool, which you fill with the goop, and it gives you perfectly spaced, evenly applied stripes of bleach. I use the cool blonde shade, and that gives me the least brassy results. If I feel that it is starting to look brassy after a few weeks, a few washings with Artec White Violet or Shimmerlights sets the brassiness back a few degrees. Definitely a good, easy to do, at home highlighting kit, even for beginners. Usually priced between 8 and 12 dollars, but I find it on sale alot, just got it at my grocery store for $4.49.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -The Healing Garden - Organics Wild Honey Body Lotion
jmp24 1/13/2008 11:43:00 AM
This is a nice, lightly moisturizing sweet scented lotion for a great price. I like that it is not mostly mineral oil, that it is 85% organic and that the main ingredients are organic aloe, sunflower oil, and glycerin. The scent is pretty, sweet and slightly floral but not overwhelming. The best thing is that the scent stays on your skin for pretty much the whole day, even when you just use the lotion alone. I don't wear much perfume, so I love scented lotions like this, especially if they have staying power and have such great ingredients. I definately recommend this. I have tried the Healing Garden's Lavender lotion and did not get the same good results, that product was just average. Maybe even below average.
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Lotions/ Creams -Bath and Body Works - Aromatherapy in Lavender
jmp24 1/13/2008 11:33:00 AM
I really like this body lotion, mainly because of the lavender scent. It is not real heavy, just a lightly moisturizing and scented lotion for day or night. The packaging is beautiful as well, comes in a blue glass bottle with a pump. Looks very high end. I think I paid about $10 for it, not sure if that was a sale price or not though. Since Bath and Body Works is always having those sales so you may be able to get it for less. The best thing about it is that the subtle scent of lavender stays on your skin for hours after applying, maybe even for the whole day. I don't wear alot of perfume, so I like to get my scents from lotions and creams. I get alot of compliments when I wear it this, I will certainly repurchase and would like to try other products from this aromatherapy line.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - AmLactin 12%
jmp24 1/12/2008 10:47:00 AM
I have seen this for sale at CVS for about $15, but my mom brings it home from the mental hospital she works at, they give it to patients with really bad feet and then the patients leave it behind. Generally, it is lactic acid in a moisturizing base. It works as a chemical exfoliant, exfoliating dry dead skin to bring newer smoother skin cells to the surface. I use it on my hands, elbows, knees, feet, anywhere where I have really dry skin. It definately works. Not a luxurious product by any means, a blah slightly chemical smell, and very liquidy, so a little goes a long way. I highly recommend this for dry or calloused skin problems. It is a little expensive, but it actually DOES what all moisturizers CLAIM to do, instead of just temporarily softening. So I didn 't rate it as very expensive, becuase it is SO worth the money...I can have a $15 bottle of this or 30 $3 and $4 bottles of other moisturizers that I have accumulated in my search for something that actually gets rid of the dry skin. You do the math! And of course you can always let it sink in then apply your fav scented lotion on top. Did I mention it is worth it? It is! And if Estee Lauder made it, it would smell pretty, come in a fancy bottle, and cost $90!!! PS - I would not use this on my face because it contains mineral oil.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bath Treatments -Burt's Bees - Apricot baby oil
jmp24 1/12/2008 10:36:00 AM
I purchased this on clearance at CVS. I am not a big fan of the BB's scents, some of them make me gag, but this one is not too bad, kind of soft and sweet, with just a touch of an apricot scent. I use it mostly as a skin moisturizer and a makeup remover, though I am sure it could be used for many things. Usually I just buy a big bottle of almond oil, but decided to try this when I saw it on closeout. The glass bottle is kind of inconvenient, the oil drips down and gets all over the sides too. It just has a regular cap instead of a dispenser type cap. I can't imagine trying to hold on to a baby and manuevering a slippery glass bottle at the same time. The bottle IS cute though, and this product contains NO mineral oil. It is mostly apricot, grapeseed, and wheatgerm oil, all good for the skin. The normal price is $9.99 which I think is high for 4 fl. oz. I can get almond oil, just as good, and in a better and MUCH LARGER bottle, for about $15 so I probably won't repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Milani - Sheer Color in Pink Chiffon
jmp24 1/12/2008 9:48:00 AM
I finally decided to try Milani lipstick when I saw the 50% off sign at CVS. In my experience, lipstick is one of the few products that the lower priced can be far better than hi-end in alot of cases. The formula for this feels nice, heavier than I expected from the name "Sheer Color" but that is probably a good thing for staying power. There is a slightly sweet vanilla-ish scent. The color I picked up is Pink Chiffon, which looked like a soft rose gold in the tube. On my lips it is much more brown, and that is ok, but kind of a disappointment. I have enough nude lipsticks, didn't need another. Also, this color makes my lips look older, somehow not smooth, and that is NEVER A GOOD THING!!! If I had known, I'd have picked one of the rosier colors, colors which brighten up my face and eyes more. I like the nudes to go with smokey eyes, but this color will probably get very little use, if any at all. Anyone want it?
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Conditioner -Neutrogena - Triple Mositure Silk Touch Leave-in Cream
jmp24 1/10/2008 8:42:00 AM
One of the few products I have repurchased. Really works at keeping my fine and sometimes misbehaving hair smooth and static free... and most important, non-frizzy in humidity. You only need a small amount so a bottle lasts a long time.
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Shampoo -Clairol - Shimmer Lights
jmp24 1/10/2008 8:38:00 AM
I use this as a cheaper alternative to Artec's White Violet. Though it doesn't work quite as well, it isn't bad, and it is about half the price. What I do is only dampen my hair and then put a good amount of the shampoo on WITHOUT letting it lather. Then I will shave my legs or something while it soaks in. Rinse, then maybe repeat as per bottle directions, depending on how brassy I am at that time. EDITED: I did some better comparing, and this product is just as good, if not superior to, other anti-brass treatment shampoos. It works just as well at gettting rid of brassiness, and is much more conditioning than the more expensive brands, like Artec or Aveda. Try this 8oz bottle for $5.99 before spending $15 to $25 on the other stuff -
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Almay - intense i-color volumizing mascara - purple amethyst
jmp24 1/10/2008 8:23:00 AM
Not a very exciting color for the name. I am not crazy about the wand either, it is ok after you wipe it off, but it wastes alot of the mascara because the wand is really coated when you first pull it out of the tube. Usually I will use a separate brush when I don't like the wand, but this mascara is kind of boring. I was expecting something a little brighter. It stays on ok and does not smudge, but then I usually don't have problems with mascara.
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Blush -Everyday Minerals - Back to School
jmp24 1/9/2008 1:54:00 PM
Very light, good for a no-makeup natural look. I was actually hoping for a bit more shimmer but see little to none when it is on my face. Still, a soft pretty color. Staying power is so so....I find it needs to be reapplied halfway thru the day. I probably won't order again, as it was nothing that excited me that much. What I want is EM's version of BE Warm Radiance.
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Powder -Everyday Minerals - Foundation - Intensive formula [DISCONTINUED]
jmp24 1/9/2008 1:51:00 PM
I think this is my fav foundation formula in this line, giving the best yet still very natural, more natural than BE, coverage. Even when applied lightly, I can still see BE on my skin. EM is much less noticable. The semi-matte formula is also a good choice. As for color, I have light to medium skin, and "Fawn" is perfect. It looks pale yellow in the pot, but blends in perfectly with my coloring. I also have tried the original glo formula, and that one is too sheer, after a few hours it seems to disappear. I will definitely be ordering this foundation when I run out of BE, it is a great product and the price is so much less.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Burt's Bees - Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil
jmp24 1/9/2008 1:41:00 PM
The scent of this balm is just not good, it reminds me of a fake cranberry scent. Any color payoff is soooo slight as to not be significant. I don't see the reason for the rave reviews, it's an ok balm but there are plenty of ok and better balms out there, for the same if not less money.
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