Gels/Soaps -LUSH - Demon in the Dark soap
Jexka 12/29/2011 8:29:00 PM
This is a great bar soap from Lush. Demon in the Dark is a visually appealing soap -- it's dark green with lighter green swirls throughout. One of my roommates said it looks gross and moldy, but I think it's pretty. When you first get this, it will be wrapped in black wax that needs to be peeled off before using. I had no problem peeling the wax off like some people have; it came right off for me without taking off any chunks of soap. I did leave the wax on one side of the soap. This way, the soap didn't stick to my soap dish and this also made the soap a little easier to hold. I love the smell of this. It's a spicy spearmint scent that would be great for guys or girls. The smell is pretty strong, but I love how it fills up the bathroom when you're using it. It's very refreshing and wakes you up. The smell doesn't linger on your skin, but it does leave your skin smelling clean. Like many other Lush soaps, Demon doesn't produce a bubbly lather like most shower gels do. This makes a nice creamy lather that made my skin soft and moisturized. Lush claims the mint will make your skin tingle, but I never experienced that. It does feel very cooling on sore muscles, though. This is a pricier Lush soap, but an $8 piece lasted me roughly 2 months, so I'm not complaining. If you like spearmint, check this soap out. I will be repurchasing if I ever run through my massive Lush soap collection!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Top/Base Coats -China Glaze - Fast Forward Top Coat
Jexka 12/23/2011 5:48:00 PM
This top coat is OK, but not the best. The shine it provides is pretty good, but I have found other top coats that give a better and longer-lasting shine over nail color. It prevents chipping pretty well also, but when I get a chip after using this, all the polish off that finger tends to peel completley off, which I really hate. The consistency was nice at first, not too thin or runny and not too thick. But once I got about halfway through the bottle, it turned very goopy, which made it difficult to get even coverage over my nails. Many people complain about the smell, but I didn't find it so offensive. It had a strong, floral-y chemical smell, but most top coats don't smell great anyway. My least favorite thing about this was the drying time. It took around 30 minutes to dry completley. Doing anything with your hands before this dried would leave smudges and dents in your manicure, but I don't always have a half hour to wait for a polish to dry. Overall, this did it's job, but I'm going to move on to other top coats.
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Top/Base Coats -China Glaze - Strong Adhesion Base Coat
Jexka 12/23/2011 5:39:00 PM
This is the only base coat I have ever used and I don't think I'll ever try another because this one is so great! Being a former long-time nail biter, I am now very picky about my nails always being in perfect condition. This helps me achieve flawless at-home manicures. I just apply one coat of this before applying my color. Strong Adhesion Base Coat covers up any bumps or ridges and really helps lock color onto the nails. This makes my manicures last longer (usually about 5 days before chipping occurs) and prevents staining with darker colors. Before I used this, reds, browns, blacks, and other dark colors left my nails looking yellowed or brown. Not anymore! I've also used this as a top coat in a pinch, and it worked wonderfully, much better than the China Glaze top coat, actually. Highly recommended!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Hard Candy - Sheer Envy Tinted Moisturizer spf15
Jexka 12/23/2011 5:21:00 PM
Over the summer I went on a tinted moisturizer kick even though I usually prefer my foundations to have high coverage. Hard Candy Sheer Envy Tinited Moisturizer is one of the products I bought, and I have to say it is one of the best tinted moisturizers I have tried. The product is heavier than other tinted moisturizers, but it still glides on with the ease of thinner products. This provides medium to full coverage without feeling heavy or cakey, which is why I love this product so much. It's not oily at all and it lasts on my face all day. The only bad thing about this product is that it separates in the tube. 2 or 3 weeks after purchasing, a big shot of oil would come out of the tube before the actual product would. But there is an easy fix to this -- stick it in the fridge! The product will stop separating without changing the consistency. It was also nice to do this in the summer, because the product felt nice and cool on your skin. Although the separation may be a killer for some, I would still highly recommend this product if you're looking for a lightweight, high coverage foundation.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Body -LUSH - Volcano Preserved
Jexka 12/7/2011 12:35:00 PM
I actually have this on my feet as I write this! I love trying new foot care products because I have very dry, cracked heels and my feet are always sore from waitressing and walking around campus every day. I used to always smell this in the store, but I thought the scent was disgusting and never bought it. But the last time I went in and smelled this again, it didn't offend my nose so much, so I bought it. I really like what this product does. It really does deodorize your feet, and it feels amazing if you let it sit for a while. I've had it on for about 15 minutes now, and I'll probably let it sit for another 45. My feet are tingling like crazy and it feels amazing for cold or sore feet. It also leaves your feet feeling pretty soft and smooth after rinsing. But I don't think I'll repurchase this because it's just so messy and a pain to use. This stuff is thick, like a soft clay. Your hands get covered with this when you apply it, and it's honestly pretty hard to completley wash off. It also takes forever to get this totally rinsed off your feet without any residue. Also, I feel like the longer you leave this on, the better it works, but I really dislike walking around my house slipping and sliding with my feet covered in plastic grocery bags. So you really need to have an hour or so to just sit back and not move around, which is hard for me to get into my schedule. I really wish I could repurchase this because it is a great product, but the high price for all the mess and trouble is just not worth it to me.
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Gels/Soaps -LUSH - Ring of Roses Buttercream
Jexka 11/16/2011 11:03:00 PM
I have to start off by saying that the scent of Ring of Roses is sooo beautiful. I love rose scents, and this smells like a huge bouquet of flowers, with a hint of lemon. My one and only complaint about this is that the fragrance is very light. You can smell it while you use it, but its scent doesn't fill up the bathroom like many LUSH products do, and the smell doesn't linger on your skin at all -- it's pretty much gone as soon as you get out of the shower. Complaints aside, I don't even think my review can do this soap/buttercream justice because it's so amazing. I rub this right on my body in the shower and it literally feels like rubbing silk or satin all over yourself. It's such a creamy, lovely feeling. When you rinse this off, it feels like you've just put on a lotion, and that feeling stays long after you've gotten out of the shower. I used to think I had pretty soft skin, but every time I use this it feels 100 times softer. Seriously, Ring of Roses makes showering a luxurious experience. It doesn't give a sudsy lather, but it doesn't claim that it will. What is does create is a rich, milky, moisturizing lather. This is one of LUSH's more expensive soaps, but I bought a $9 piece and it lasted me 50 showers (yes, I keep track!). I don't think that's a horrible value. I'm so upset this is being discontinued. I feel like it's a very misunderstood product since it is now labeled as a "soap." This is by far the best LUSH soap I've tried, and I suggest trying some out before it goes away. I know I'll be stocking up.
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Lotions/ Creams -Bath and Body Works - Exotic Coconut
Jexka 11/14/2011 2:57:00 PM
I've had this lotion sitting around forever in my stash but I've only just gotten around to using it. I'm glad I did, though, because I love this scent! It's a more natural-smelling coconut scent than many other products. It still has a little bit of a fruity smell to it, but overall this is a very warm coconut scent that isn't overpowered by fruity or floral notes. I think the smell is great for all seasons. Coconut is usually seen as a more summery smell, but since this is a warmer scent, it's also great for the fall and winter. The smell is quite strong, which I love, but if you prefer your lotion to have a lighter fragrance, this one might not be the best for you. As far as the consistency, it's not too light or greasy, but it's not as thick as a body butter. I have normal skin, and it works well to keep me soft and hydrated throughout the day. Definitely recommend to coconut lovers!
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Styling Products -Aussie - Instant Freeze spray
Jexka 11/8/2011 10:04:00 PM
I work as a waitress, and I have long, fine hair that needs to be put up for work. I bought this because my hair is so long and thin that it doesn't stay put for 4-8 hours of running around on the job, and I was sick of having to go into the bathroom every hour to redo my bun or add extra bobby pins. Anyway, I'm definitely glad I picked this up! Less than a minute after spraying, your hair is frozen in place. And I really mean frozen. Wind, rain, and hours of serving can't make my hair budge! It used to take about 20 bobby pins (sometimes even more!) just to hold my simple messy bun in place. With this, I don't need any bobby pins, or any other product for that matter. I can just spray and go! The price is amazing. I like Bed Head's Hard Head hairspray, but as a poor college student, I don't always have $16 to shell out on a hair product. This cost me $3.50, and the bottle lasted me about 5 months. Can't beat that! Also, the smell isn't that of your typical hairspray. It's a little bit fruity and not nearly as strong or offensive as others, which I love. As others have stated, it does leave your hair crunchy and allows for no movement, but that's the point! I never had an issue brushing this out, though. On days when I used a little much and my hair was tangled after taking out my bun, I just sprayed a little bit of a children's detangling spray into my hair and the brushed the hairspray right out with no tangles. Definitely try this out if you have thin hair that won't stay up -- you'll love it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -Too Faced - Shadow Insurance, Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer
Jexka 9/29/2011 8:16:00 PM
I've been on the same tube for about 6 months now and it's just now almost used up. That just goes to show that you only need the smallest amount to cover your eye and make your shadow stay put all day. The consistency is creamy and not drying like other primers. I did have some separation issues in the beginning where a bit of oil would come out before the actual primer. This only happened a few times though, so it was not a big deal-breaker. This works amazingly with cream shadows, pigments, eyeliner, eyeshadow...you can put anything on your eyes, and this will lock it down. It doesn't try to a tacky finish like some primers, so blending and smudging will not be a problem. I'm a primer junkie -- I love trying new primers to find the best. Overall, this is a really great one. The Lorac primer is my all-time favorite, but in my opinion Shadow Insurance is better than UDPP, Mac Paints, and the NARS and Kat von D primers.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -LUSH - Angels on Bare Skin
Jexka 9/28/2011 9:27:00 PM
I've been using this for a couple of weeks now and I'm really enjoying it. After a not-great-but-not-horrible experience with Dark Angels, I was hesitant to try another one of Lush's "crumbly" face washes, but I'm glad I picked this up. I use this in the shower and haven't had any problems. It's much less messy in the shower - you don't have to worry about little bits falling into the sink, on the floor, or on your clothes. I just keep the tub on a shelf that is away from the stream of water so excess moisture doesn't get in. I break off about a quarter-sized amount (pea-sized isn't enough to cover your whole face), wet it, work it into a paste, and scrub away! I like that this is such a gentle exfoliator as well as a cleanser. It feels very nice on your skin and isn't irritating at all. I've seen some people complaining about the almond seeds, but in the small amount I use, I usually only have one to two seeds per use and they don't feel scratchy or harsh at all. The smell is great too; it's a very herbal-y lavander scent. I'm giving this a 4 because I haven't noticed any drastic changes in my skin since I started using this. I don't have any real issues that I need taken care of, just combination skin with the occasional breakout, so I'm just glad this didn't have any negative effects. I have noticed that my skin is a little less oily, but I'm not 100% sure if that is because of this product or because of the weather chaning. Immediately after cleansing with this your skin will look gorgeous, though. The other day I stepped out of the bathroom and my roommate said, "Wow, your skin looks so glow-y!" So because of that, and because it's fun to use a product that's so different, I would recommend and repurchase.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -LUSH - Summer Pudding
Jexka 9/28/2011 12:51:00 PM
I've been using this soap for the past month since summer is winding down and this is a great summer scent. It's a strong cherry scent that leaves you (and your bathroom!) smelling wonderful. Unfortunately, the smell doesn't linger as long on your skin as I would like it to. The soap lathers nicely, and I love the ground almonds on the one side for exfoliating my arms and legs. I don't find it to be any more moisturizing than any other soap I use, but I don't have dry skin so that doesn't really affect me. The only downfall to this soap is that now I am down to the end of the bar, and the almond half is breaking off in chunks when I rub it on my body. But aside from that, this is a great soap that I would definitely repurchase. It is pretty expensive, but I bought a decent-sized hunk for about $12 and it has lasted me almost 2 months.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -L'Oreal - Telescopic: Clean Definition
Jexka 4/9/2011 3:46:00 AM
I picked this up on a whim one day when looking at mascaras. I didn't have high hopes for this, but I ended up liking it more than I thought I would. The applicator is plastic and pretty flexible, which I like. I only use this with intense eye looks because this isn't a natural looking mascara. You have to use a very light hand, otherwise this will clump and give you spider lashes. Once you use this a few times you can get a technique down to avoid this. It's not volumizing at all, it's definitely just a lengthening mascara. I've been able to make my lashes crazy long with this, so if you really just want length, I'd say give this a try.
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Makeup Brushes -Too Faced - Retractable Kabuki Brush
Jexka 4/9/2011 1:48:00 AM
This is hands-down the best kabuki brush I've ever used. I got this for Christmas a few years ago (because I couldn't part with $30 for a brush myself) & fell in love. It's so soft -- I can't even describe how soft it is. It says it's made with "teddy bear hair," and it really is as soft as a fluffy teddy bear. I used this for everything -- bronzer, blush, mineral foundation -- and it worked perfectly for everything.There was never any shedding and it never began to get rough or scratchy. The packaging is adorable too and never got banged up no matter how much I carried it around. However, I recently dropped it on a hard floor and it broke. The pink outer part under the brush popped off, and the lid won't stay on without that part. So now it's just a squat kabuki brush with a black handle. I suppose I could glue the bottom back on, but I'm too lazy. I still use this because it works just the same, it's just not as cute or travel-friendly now. If I ever find myself with $30 just sitting around, I'll totally buy this in it's original form again. It's amazing.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Redken - Color Extend Conditioner
Jexka 4/5/2011 11:32:00 PM
I love this conditioner. I bought the 1000 mL size along with the 1000 mL shampoo, and they've lasted a really long time. In the time I have been using this, I have had my hair professionally colored and colored from a box. No matter what, this conditioner, in conjunction with the shampoo, has kept my color locked in. I color my hair blonde, and with this there has been no brassiness or fading. This conditioner isn't too thick or too thin, which is perfect. It doesn't make my already oily hair even greasier, which is one of the most important things to me in a conditioner. It also really detangles, which is great because I hate yanking all my hair out when it's tangled in knots from a conditioner that doesn't detangle. This also makes your hair soft and shiny. The smell is boring, nothing special, but this delivers, which is much more important.
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Gels/Soaps -Bath and Body Works - japanese cherry blossom
Jexka 4/5/2011 11:23:00 PM
I have a ton of mini bottles of this shower gel sitting under my sink from gift sets, but I never use them because I know this isn't my favorite scent. I finally decided to use one, and I do like it more than I thought I would. The shower gel does not smell like the lotions & sprays. I find the scent in the lotion too heavy and strong, but this shower gel smells much more perfumey. Like, if they tweaked the scent a little and made it into a perfume, it would smell like this. That probably makes no sense. It's a much lighter floral-y version of what you're used to Japanese Cherry Blossom smelling like. Anyway, since I can't explain it, I'll just say I like it. It lathers well and the smell lingers for a little while after you shower. BBW shower gel packaging still drives me nuts though. The lid always gets stuck, through no fault of my own, and I have to twist the cap open to use it. Not a big deal, but it always bothers me. In all, it's a nice shower gel. I won't run out to repurchase it, but I like it. If I could I'd give it a 3.5.
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