Mascara -Urban Decay - Big Fatty Mascara - Electric Blue
Jexka 12/8/2012 4:18:00 AM
Hate this stuff. When these Big Fatty colored mascaras first came out, I picked up every color because I love colored mascaras and I really liked the original Big Fatty. But these were just awful. Electric Blue looks like a bright, cobalt blue in the tube, but the color does not transfer onto the lashes at all. I tried wearing this alone, and it gave no color payoff whatsoever, and it did absolutely nothing to my lashes...No length, no volume, no definition, nothing. Over a black mascara, I was able to get the tiniest bit of color to show up on the tips of my lashes, but it was only visible if you were standing right in front of me. Even then, it still was barely noticeable. Also, this is probably the driest mascara I've ever used. I like my mascaras semi-dry, but this literally felt like I was just combing through my lashes with a dry spooly brush. Because it was so dry originally, this mascara dried up and became totally unusable very quickly. I don't think Urban Decay sells these terrible mascaras anymore, but I have still seen them on Amazon and eBay for around $5. But don't bother wasting your money. You'll be super disappointed.
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Mascara -Urban Decay - Big Fatty Mascara - Flipside
Jexka 12/8/2012 1:36:00 AM
This mascara did absolutely nothing for me. I liked the original Big Fatty mascara so when these colored ones came out, I picked up every color. But these were super awful. First of all, I think this was around $20, but the tube is similar in size to a deluxe sample that you can get for free with GWPs and such. I thought this was super overpriced, but like I said, I had high hopes for these. Flipside looks like a nice turquoise-y blue in the tube, but there is zero color payoff when applied to the lashes. The mascara was super dry (and it wasn't a bad tube, every color I bought was the same), and it literally just felt like nothing was going onto my lashes. I used this alone, over black mascara, over mascara primer, and the most I could ever get was the tiniest hint of color right on the tips of my lashes, but it was only visible if you were right up in my face. This did nothing for adding length, definition, volume, curl...It just didn't do anything. Also, since this was so dry initially, it became incredibly dry and unusable very quickly. I've seen these going on Amazon and eBay for around $4-$6, but I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.
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Gels/Soaps -LUSH - Vanilla in the Mist
Jexka 11/30/2012 5:54:00 AM
So sad LUSH discontinued this soap! I stocked up when I found out they were getting rid of this, and I'm already down to my last piece :( This soap smells so delicious...Like a caramel/vanilla latte. You would think coffee-scented soap might be a little gross, but it's such a warm, sweet scent that I love to use in the fall months. This soap isn't as pretty as other LUSH soaps...It's kind of a dirty yellow/brown color. But like I said, it smells great and lathers up nicely used either on a shower poof or directly on skin. I don't find this super moisturizing, but it isn't drying, either. The scent will fill up your shower while you're using this, but it doesn't linger on the skin after rinsing. I know a lot of people complain that LUSH soaps tend to melt pretty quickly, but a $10 piece of this will last me a little over 2 months, which I don't think is too bad. My only complaint about this soap is the vanilla pods they stick on the top. They're rough and can really scratch up the skin, and they're embedded pretty deep so they can be hard to pick out without losing a big chunk of soap in the process. I just suck it up and deal with it until enough of the soap has melted and I can just pop them out. I hope LUSH brings this soap back as a Retro product sometime, because I really love this stuff, and I think any latte lover would too!
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Cleansers -LUSH - Fresh Farmacy
Jexka 11/30/2012 5:06:00 AM
This is THE BEST product to ever come in contact with my face, ever, period. I've struggled with acne since I was about 11 (21 now), and nothing has ever cleared up my skin the way Fresh Farmacy has. I have combination acne-prone skin (mostly big, yucky hormonal breakouts on my chin), and I've tried soooo many cleansers in the past, even others from LUSH. While other products were better than not cleansing at all, nothing really did all that much. I was skeptical about this product since I've never used a bar-soap cleanser before, but I am so happy I decided to give this a shot. First of all, this is a lot easier to use than I expected. I thought it would be messy and difficult, but all I do is take a small chunk, wet it, rub it in my hands, and it produces tons of soft bubbles that I then rub all over my face. This feels so nice and soothing on the skin...The lather feels really soft and cushiony. Then I rinse and am left with literally squeaky clean skin. This leaves behind no residue and although my skin is super clean, it does not feel tight or dry at all. I really love the scent of this -- It has a natural, herbally/floral scent that I think is really nice and kind of relaxing. It's definitely better than the harsh chemically smell of other cleansers! And I also love how long a piece of this will last you. I bought a $6 piece thinking it would only last me a month or so, and with once-a-day use, the piece lasted me around 4 months! That's definitely a great value if you ask me. I cut my piece into about 3 smaller chunks and kept it stored on a soap dish in the shower, and I had no problems with this melting. Onto actual results....Like I said, this cleared up my acne like nothing else ever has. I've tried countless cleansers and I have tried doing full-on routines with toners, moisturizers, serums, etc., and nothing ever really helped. Somehow with Fresh Farmacy, I am able to drastically cut down the other products I use and still have crazy clear skin! I use Fresh Farmacy at night, and the only other things I do to my skin are use spot treatment when necessary (which is rare now!), and cleanse with a gentle cleanser or exfoliator in the morning. All my toners, serums, and moisturizers have gone to the back of my drawer. I don't know what it is, but my skin just loves the ingredients in here and reacts so well to them. Whatever it is, I love it! If you have skin similar to mine, give this a shot! It's really inexpensive considering how long a bar will last you, and if you purchase in-store you can have them cut you a piece to fit your budget. I've never been happier with my skin, and I never want to be without this!
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Conditioner -Dove - cool moisture conditioner
Jexka 11/30/2012 4:51:00 AM
True rating: 3.5. I bought this because I've had really good luck with Dove hair care products and I really liked the cucumber scent of this. I have long, fine, bleached hair with oily roots and damaged ends, and I look for conditioners to keep my ends soft and healthy, detangle my hair, and not weigh my hair down. This conditioner was decent, but not my favorite. Like I said, this has a really nice, light cucumber scent that slightly lingers in your hair after using. The conditioner is not super thin and watery, but it's not really thick and creamy, either, so I do like the consistency. I apply this to my ends only, let it sit for a minute or two, and then rise. It rinses out very easily and doesn't leave behind any heavy or greasy residue. My only complaint is that I just don't feel like this is strong enough for those with damaged or dry hair. People with all-over oily hair or super-fine hair may really like this, but I don't find that it detangles well enough and it doesn't make my hair as soft and healthy looking as other conditioners I've tried. When I use this, I always have to spritz my hair with detangler just to get the knots out, which is something I haven't had to do with any other Dove conditioner. This was a decent, affordable, everyday conditioner, but I'll be buying other Dove conditioners once this runs out (I really like Color Repair and Intensive Repair).
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Shampoo -Aussie - Confidently Clean
Jexka 11/30/2012 4:37:00 AM
I have long, fine, bleached hair with very oily roots and damaged ends. I'm super picky with shampoos and conditioners because it can be difficult to find products that clean my hair well without stripping it, and that keep it looking shiny and healthy without weighing it down. I had sworn off Aussie for a while because years ago I found their products to do next to nothing for my hair. However, they have come out with new products and reformulated some things, so I decided to give them a shot again. This is a pretty solid shampoo for my hair type. It cleans my hair very well and keeps it pretty much grease-free for about a day. I do still have to shampoo daily, though. It makes my hair soft and healthy-looking, and I really enjoy the fruity scent. I bought the jumbo bottle that claims to last up to 100 uses for around $5, and it has lasted me several months, though I don't use this daily. I really like the pump dispenser, because I hate trying to squeeze out products with wet, slippery hands. Two pumps usually covers my long hair. This lathers pretty well, however the formula feels pretty thin and a little watery, and sometimes it just slips right out of my hands/hair and I have to pump some more out. It rinses well without leaving any heavy residue behind. My boyfriend also uses this whenever he comes over and he has no complaints about it. This isn't a miracle shampoo, but I do really like it and I would repurchase, especially if I'm ever really low on cash. Like I said, I don't use this daily because I like to use shampoos for colored hair, purple shampoo, and more clarifying shampoos as well, but this gives me what I need at a super low price.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Sally Hansen - Kwik off nailpolish remover
Jexka 11/30/2012 4:25:00 AM
I keep buying different polish remover sponge-tub products hoping that one will actually make polish removal quicker and easier, but every one I've tried, including this one, have disappointed me. Kwik Off isn't a terrible product, but I find using cotton pads and a plain ol' bottle of polish remover to be easier and more effective. The smell of this isn't overpowering, and the sponge inside was very soft and didn't break into pieces like other similar products have. But I found it very difficult to remove all traces of polish, especially around the corners and edges of my nails, to be difficult. Most of the time I had to clean up the polish this had missed with a cotton pad and a bottle of remover, which kind of defeated the purpose of using this. Also, I found it hard to get my shorter fingers deep enough into the tub to really saturate them with the remover. And once I did, it still took several swirls of my finger to get most of the polish off. I'd say it took 30-45 seconds per finger. Doesn't seem like too much time, but a soaked cotton pad can remove almost all polish in a single, quick swipe. My last complaint is that I feel like this gets used up pretty quickly. I do my nails about twice a week, and a tub of this only lasted about a month before it was all dried up. I can buy a huge bottle of polish remover that will last me several months for the same price. I think I'm done with products like this. I wish they worked better for me, but I just find them a pain to use and not as effective as the old fashioned method.
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Gels/Soaps -Unlisted Brand - Summer's Eve - Bath & Shower Gel for sensitive skin
Jexka 11/18/2012 2:44:00 AM
This whole review may be a little TMI, but I really want you ladies to know how this product works! I've tried a few different formulations of the Summer's Eve Feminine Cleanser...They have one labeled "Bath and Shower Gel," and some labeled as "Cleansing Wash," which come in formulas for sensitive to normal skin. I first used the Delicate Blossom scent for sensitive skin, and I used it daily with no problems. It had a light floral scent and did not irritate me at all. It made me feel really clean and refreshed "down there," and really did help neutralize odors until the next shower. The next time I got Naturally Normal, which is for normal skin. I'm not really sure how you're supposed to tell if your lady parts are sensitive or normal, but I assumed that mine were not super sensitive, considering I've had laser hair removal with absolutely no issues. I used this one every day just like I did with the Delicate Blossom, and I started having some big issues. General irritation, itching, and even yeast infections! I know it was this product causing it, because every time I went back to using this every day, I'd get another yeast infection. Not fun! And yes, trust me, I was only using this externally as directed! I tossed that bottle and swore off Summer's Eve for a while, but I eventually went back and began using the Bath and Shower Gel in the Green Tea and Cucumber scent. Now, I only use this a few times a week to freshen up. I feel like that is enough to keep me feeling clean. All of these cleansers also work well as body washes in a pinch, but I generally just use them for cleansing down there. So yes, I do like these feminine washes and I will continue to repurchase them, but do be careful! If you use these daily and notice any changes or irritation, try just using this a few times a week. I get the same results but with no problems.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -L'Oreal - Professionnel Absolut Repair shampoo
Jexka 11/17/2012 3:31:00 AM
I have a love/hate relationship with this shampoo. I have oily roots and damaged ends from bleaching and using hot tools, and it's difficult for me to find shampoos and conditioners that really clean my hair and still moisturize my ends without weighing my hair down. First of all, I love the scent of this. It has a fruity/floral scent that isn't overpowering and lingers in your hair for a few hours after washing. The shampoo is creamy and easy to work with and doesn't leave too much residue in my hair or on my scalp. It thoroughly cleans my hair while still making it really soft, shiny, and manageable. But because this is so moisturizing, I find that I can only use it about once a week. I've tried using this daily, and by Day 3 my hair will be super greasy and limp. It's a shame, because I really like what this does for my hair, but simply due to my hair type, I cannot use it more than once a week. Also, this stuff is pretty expensive. I got the 250ml bottle, which is pretty small, for about $25. I'm a poor college student and even though I don't use this that often, I still find I run out of it pretty quickly and I can't always afford to repurchase it right away. If you have extremely dry and damaged hair, you might love this as a daily shampoo. However, if your hair is slightly oily, I wouldn't recommend use of this too often. But I still say give this a shot, because I always have a good hair day when I use this!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Matrix - Biolage - Color Care Shampoo
Jexka 11/12/2012 12:16:00 AM
This is one shampoo that I have repurchased many times. It is a little pricey (usually around $20-$25), but I can usually get a good deal on the huge 1 Liter sized bottles in a pack with the conditioner. I have long, fine, bleached-blonde hair with damaged ends and oily roots. I generally go for shampoos that will help protect my color, but even more importantly to me is that they do not over-moisturize my hair and make my hair even more greasy. This shampoo does exactly what I want. It cleans my hair very well without totally stripping it, and I do find that my color does not fade as quickly when I use this. This shampoo feels a little thick and it lathers very, very well. It has a light, clean, kind of floral scent that isn't overpowering at all. I only have two issues with this shampoo. Like I said, I generally buy the 1 L size of this, and the cap sucks every single time. The cap is super thin and is very hard to open. I almost always accidentally break the cap off pretty soon after purchasing this, which leaves my shampoo bottle open to excess moisture. My only other complaint is that this isn't always the best for controlling my oily hair. Most days this works really well, but sometimes after using this my hair will start getting greasy 12 hours or so after shampooing. But, for the most part, this keeps me pretty much oil-free for around 24 hours. I will continue to repurchase this shampoo whenever I have the extra money for it. Its matching conditioner is really great as well!
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Cleansers -Clean & Clear - Advantage 3 in 1 Foaming Acne Wash
Jexka 11/10/2012 1:35:00 AM
This is a pretty solid cleanser. I have combination skin, more on the oily side, and I'm prone to breakouts on my chin. I rarely get small blemishes...I pretty much only get the big, deep ones that take about a week to clear up. I picked this up randomly one day and while it's not the best cleanser I've ever used, it does work pretty well. This is a liquid cleanser that lathers up on the skin pretty nicely, but I'm not sure why they call this a "foaming" product, because it doesn't really foam up, it just creates a lather. The pump on my bottle fell off when I dropped this once and the pump hasn't worked very well since, but 2 pumps of this is enough to cover my face. The smell isn't great, it's a little medicinal if you ask me, but I don't mind it. I don't experience the tightness or irritation that a lot of other reviewers have mentioned. I actually find that this makes my skin feel very clean without feeling stripped. I do usually follow up with a toner and moisturizer, though. This didn't clear my skin up completely, but it was definitely better than using nothing. I still get the random pimple here and there, but I find that using this and a spot treatment helps clear my skin up better than other cleansers I have used in the past. Overall, I won't be running out to repurchase this, but I can see myself getting another bottle sometime in the future. If you have skin similar to mine and salicylic acid generally works well for you, I'd give this a shot.
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Gels/Soaps -LUSH - Northern Lights
Jexka 11/10/2012 12:55:00 AM
This soap immediately caught my eye when I went into LUSH last year around Christmastime. Northern Lights is crazy bright and just gorgeous with neon yellow, green, and orange all swirled together. I also really love the smell, although I can definitely see some people hating it. It smells like pine and lime. I generally don't like pine scents, but the citrus notes make this smell so clean and refreshing. The smell is super strong, and like I said, I can totally see this being too Pine-Sol smelling for some, so give it a whiff in-store before purchasing if you can. Since the scent is so strong and fresh, I saved my chunk and used it over the summer months. It was really great for using on hot summer days. If I rubbed the bar directly on my skin, it produced zero lather. I find many LUSH soaps to be more moisturizing than sudsy, so generally I don't mind a lack of lather, but I felt like this wasn't really getting me clean. But this lathers up very well if you rub it onto a bath poof. Some LUSH soaps simply won't lather well on a poof, but this one did so very nicely. I only used half of the $10 piece that I bought and it lasted me ages. Some LUSH soaps tend to melt very quickly, but this one was a little harder in texture and with daily use it lasted me almost 2 months. I know some people think LUSH products are overpriced, but I don't think $5 for about 60ish washes is a bad deal at all. I've bought shower gels for close to $10 that only last about a month. I was very glad to see that LUSH brought this holiday soap back this year. I'll be buying another piece once I can get to a store, and I definitely recommend that you check this out!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Clean & Clear - Oil Absorbing Sheets
Jexka 11/9/2012 4:51:00 PM
I've used many blotting sheets in the past, but I keep coming back to these. I think these are actually the most expensive ones I've used...Even some high-end brands make blotting sheets that are cheaper when you compare the price to the number of papers you get. But these are fantastic. I have combination skin, and my nose and cheeks tend to get a little oily during the day. I keep a pack of these either in my bag or in my car for quick touch ups. The reason I love these so much is because I have yet to find another brand of blotting papers that have the kind of rubbery texture that these have. Every other type I have tried is that thin paper which works, but they aren't as sturdy and I find they don't absorb as much oil as these do. These are so easy to use, they don't leave behind a powdery residue like some sheets do, and they don't smudge my makeup at all. The packaging isn't so great...The pack gets beat up really easily in my bag, and the sticky part that grabs the sheet tends to attract lint and other stuff from inside my bag until it's eventually no longer sticky, and I have to pull the sheets out myself. Not a big deal, but a little annoying. I know pretty much everyone has tried these, but if you haven't, definitely get a pack. Like I said, they are on the pricier side compared to other brands, but I think they are the best.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Other -LUSH - Toothy Tabs - Ultrablast
Jexka 11/9/2012 4:16:00 PM
These Toothy Tabs are just awful. I bought a box of the Dirty tabs and absolutely hated them, and since then I have received samples of two more flavors. I can hardly believe it, but I think Ultrablast is worse than Dirty. Ultrablast contains wasabi, lavender, peppermint, and spearmint. If you think that combination sounds kinda gross, you're right. All I taste is the wasabi. After brushing with these, I'm left with the nastiest taste in my mouth, like I just ate Chinese food. Not refreshing at all. Also, similar to my experience with the Dirty tabs, brushing with these is such a pain. I find it hard to completely crush these up with your teeth, and I will often literally cut my gums brushing with a big, sharp piece that I missed crunching up. These foam up decently and my teeth feel clean enough, but the leftover taste is just too much for me. Seriously, just stick to your regular toothpaste.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Ulta - Femme Fatale
Jexka 11/9/2012 3:47:00 PM
This nail polish is amazing! I got a mini size of Femme Fatale as a GWP a while ago, and I put off trying it out because I had never tried an Ulta polish and I was worried the formula would disappoint me. I was so wrong! This shade is a pretty brown/purple wine color with microglitter of the same color. The glitter is hardly noticeable once this is on your nails. I found the color looked a little more purple/red in the bottle, but it applies a little more brown-toned. This polish was super opaque...I could have probably gotten away with one coat had I been more careful with my application. But two coats was perfect. This didn't streak or bubble at all. What I am most impressed with is the staying power of this polish. I recently started squaring off my nails and I have found that all of my polishes, from OPI to cheap drugstore polishes, have been chipping off my nails a lot more quickly, probably because the harsher edge of my nails now nicks and bumps into more things. Since I changed my nail shape, I cant remember the last time a polish lasted more than 3 days on me without chipping. But this sucker lasted 5 days with zero chips and minimal tip wear. I just took it off because I wanted to change the color, but I feel like I could have gone a solid week with no chips. I was so impressed. I have another mini Ulta polish and I can't wait to try it out. These polishes are pretty inexpensive ($6, but they go on sale a lot), so I highly recommend checking them out!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No