Shampoo -TiGi - Rockaholic Livin the Dream Sulfate-Free Shampoo
josette 6/11/2011 1:03:00 PM
This is my new HG shampoo for a few reasons: I have color treated hair that is also highlighted - so this shampoo is perfect for that My hair is thick and frizzy and curly so I only wash it every 4 days. This is gentle and gets my hair nice and clean. I want products now that are made without harsh chemicals. Also I travel frequently and this shampoo is so very thick that a small amount goes a long way. Most shampoos are thin and watery and they charge you for that. With this I can pour some in a 3 oz. travel size carry-on bottle and it lasts ages while flying around the country.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Volum' Express One by One
josette 6/11/2011 11:24:00 AM
This is the best "drugstore" low priced mascara I have ever found. I got the NON Waterproof - so that is comes off easily with a cotton pad and my usual Neutrogena non oily eyemakeup remover. My other favorite mascara is MAC Plush Lash - they are both superb but this one cost about $7 vs. $14.50. I have not found smudging or flaking issues and also One By One makes my eyelashes look LONGER -- YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gives some volume too. I purchased it at Target and always use an eyelash curler too - Shiseido. My own lashes are very straight and of average length - this mascara makes them look almost like false eyelashes, but not quite. I use 2 coats and sometimes a third if I use a metal lash comb. How aggravating that my hair is frizzy/curly/thick and yet my eyelashes are so straight......
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Top/Base Coats -Seche Vite - Dry Fast Top Coat
josette 3/22/2011 9:47:00 PM
My search is over - this is the BEST top coat ever. Really glossy and my manicure lasts at least 8 days. I think I got it at Sally's. I apply a coat over freshly painted nails. Then every 2 or 3 days to really keep the gloss going. Thank you, Makeup Alley reviewers for bringing this gem to my attention.
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Makeup Brushes -MAC - 194 concealer brush
josette 11/28/2010 12:07:00 PM
This is my new favorite brush. For a person with Deep Undereye Circles - it is a miracle worker. Because the bristles area are thinner and a bit longer than any other concealer brush - you can get into these hard-to-reach areas. ********* 1] Apply foundation to face if necessary. Blot with tissue. 2] Using heavy duty concealer 1 shade Lighter than that, apply to back of hand and taking a little on brush - apply it only along the deepest part of the undereye circle and including inner eye area. 3] This will only cover a thinner area and not the entire dark area. 4] Now pat with your small pinkie finger gently - not smoothing - just tapping it in. This very action will serve to spread the concealer upwards to the undereye area as well as the deeper 'tunnel' area. Repeat if necessary. 5] Powder whole face or just eye area with Fine Milled powder using a fluffy brush. ********** This brush helps cover blemishes and dark spots too. For concealer I use Laura Geller Real Deal Concealer in 'Light' and for reference my skin is NC25. But MAC Studio Finish is good too - I would use NC20 in that. Because I have yellow undertones, and NW20 looked too pink on me and somehow too dark also. ********** I hope this helps you, I know it's a different approach than just covering normal darkness and spots. I guess for those, you'd need a larger brush head and a foundation-matching concealer.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -MAC - Sheertone Shimmer - Springsheen
josette 6/16/2010 5:46:00 PM
I made the mistake of buying this without trying it on in the store.... It has almost No Pigment yet has tons of gold shimmer. I took it back to the store this morning and got 'Peaches" which looks so much better on me. I have NC25 skin but the Springsheen didn't even show up on me - you would have to have NC15 or NW15 perhaps for this one to be visible on your cheeks.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -LUSH - The Olive Branch
josette 5/29/2010 5:42:00 PM
I won't be repurchasing this shower gel again for a couple reasons: First of all, it does not create lather. Yet I do understand that it containes a lot of olive oil which is good for the skin and is moisturizing. It's just that I like lather. I dont' care for the smell. It makes me think of 'old man aftershave' - heavy and warm. On a positive note, this might be a very good shower gel for men as it does have a masculine smell. Also I am impressed that it lasts so well on me even an hour after my shower - unlike every other brand than Lush. I hate spending money on expensive gels like Philosophy which smell nice in the shower and are Completely Gone when you step out. I would go so far as to say The Olive Branch even gives a lasting fragrance to my bathroom for quite a while.
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Cleansers -Aveeno - Ultra-Calming Moisturizing Cream Cleanser [DISCONTINUED]
josette 4/23/2010 9:23:00 PM
This is an HG worthy cleanser for my combination/sensitive skin. It both completely gets off my face makeup and cleanses my skin gently but thoroughly. I appreciate its fragrance-free, calming qualities and even though I habitually use a toner, you don't really need one. It's got a drug-store price and yet is department store quality - a really good value with this one. And I've had some expensive ones that were bad for me. Like the uber lauded Philosophy Purity cleanser - it made my skin red and I found it harsh and hated the powerful smell. So this Ultra Calming cream cleanser was a real find.
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Lotions/ Creams -LUSH - Vanilla Dee-lite
josette 4/18/2010 8:19:00 PM
This is the very best body lotion I've tried. It smells wonderful with a rich vanilla scent and it is nicely moisturizing. I tried this as well as Sympathy for the Skin and this was by far the better of the two for me. While Sympathy for the Skin had an unpleasant herbally smell - Vanilla Dee-lite is wonderful.
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Skincare - Body -LUSH - Strawberry Feels Forever massage bar
josette 4/12/2010 12:14:00 AM
This is my favorite of the Lush massage bars - actually it's the only one I like. I more than like it, I Love it! The smell is strawberry but more complicated than that - hints of vanilla and a tiny bit of something darker like musk. It's the absolute perfect follow - up to showering with Yummy Yummy Yummy shower gel. I then follow all that up with the Vanilla Puff body powder. What a divine combination to make yourself smell wonderful.
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Gels/Soaps -LUSH - Figs and leaves soap
josette 4/5/2010 1:38:00 PM
This is the WORST soap I've used in my life. Mainly, if you have sensitive skin - - Watch Out. I broke out in a rash over most of my body especially around the ears and my chest but also backs of hands, wrists, back of neck..... It was the only new thing I was using. Then I used it once more to prove that was the problem - It Was..... My husband has normal skin and did not breat out - but he hated the look and smell of the soap. In the trash it went.
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Conditioner -LUSH - American Cream
josette 4/2/2010 11:22:00 PM
Would I buy this conditioner again? YES and I even gave it as one of my Sister - In -Law's birthday presents which I themed 'Best of Lush'. I love it so much - it smells truly wonderful and this fragrance lasts 2 days in my hair. I wash my hair every other day. I use Rehab as shampoo and American Cream as condtioner. Some people feel it doesn't moisturize enough, but for my hair -which is dry and very curly- it works very well. I just use a little Artec Blow Serum right before I blow it dry and then I flat iron my hair with my CHI or use my curling iron. This heat may be why it activates the American Cream scent so well. Anyway, the fragrance smells like strawberries and vanilla plus a bit of something darker like maybe musk. The scent is almost sensual and I get compliments on it. On YouTube I heard the scent described as 'sophisticated' which is true - and it has no silicones to artificially coat my hair. This stuff actually reminds me of the old days when I used 'cream rinse' if you've heard of that. My hair now that I use Rehab Shampoo and American Cream Conditioner feels clean and has a certain "weight" to it when I move my head. An unusual product that you should use several times in a row before you judge it as repeated use gets rid of 'build-up'. It is so different but remember Lush is about Natural, Organic ingredients. In the long run that has to be good for you and your hair.
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Moisturizers -Cetaphil - Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF15
josette 2/10/2010 5:14:00 PM
This is the very best daytime moisturizer I've had and at such a low price. It has SPF 15 - some have too much and burn your skin and sting your eyes. It is great under makeup - light yet effectively moisturizing all day long. The texture is perfect - some are too watery and some are too greasy. This is my new favorite daytime moisturizer!
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Makeup Brushes -MAC - 109 Small Contour Brush
josette 12/20/2009 7:44:00 PM
This is my favorite brush I've ever had. It is unusual because it does so many things and is actually the best brush for each different function. For instance, it is perfect for applying my Studio Sculpt foundation- it makes it look airbrushed and is even better than my Napolean Perdis 19b at this. It is also the most wonderful brush for applying my MAC Sculpt contour powder - it has enough 'resistance' to actually do the job and because it's round I can swirl it round and it's just the right size to contour the perimeter of the face, the cheekbones, and the sides of the nose. It is a super blush brush if you are using a sheerer type blush - I use it with 'Blush Baby'. So many brushes are too soft and flimsy to do anything. The 109 is very soft and high quality yet has plenty of resistance to get the job done. I know it sheds some, but it's worth it. A good trick to remember is to hold the brush toward the end so you can swirl it better - instead of holding it near the brush head - which confines your motion.
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Crème -RCMA - Color Process Foundation
josette 12/20/2009 2:25:00 PM
Pro: Excellent coverage and buildable. My skin is NC20 - NC25 and I found an excellent match in "Shinto 1". I tried samples of other shades like KO-1 and KO-2 but they did not have enough yellow and were completely neutral in tone. I found the perfect way to apply it was swirling it on with a MAC 138 brush for quick, light coverage [per Wayne Goss on YouTube]. I even got a sample of Shinto 4 to swirl around the perimeter of my face to bronze and give definition just like in his video. Cons: The two tone technique didn't show up well to define my face - powder bronzer works better. Even though I applied it this way and tried the damp sponge technique too; my face felt heavy and greasy from it even hours later. I went back to my HG foundation which is MAC Studio Sculpt NC20 which I apply with a MAC 109 brush and get a satiny light lovely finish. I really wanted to like the RCMA because it's so affordable and I can see how it would be ideal for photography and film work. Yet for my everyday life; sadly it just didn't work out.
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -MAC - Studio Moisture Tint SPF15
josette 12/20/2009 2:05:00 PM
This TM is a pretty good match to my NC20 - 25 skin; I bought it in Medium, for reference. It has decent coverage for a TM but the reason I won't purchase it again is that it's not moisturing. I find that strange in a Tinted Moisturizer. I have to wear eye cream as well as moisturizer under this Studio Moisture Tint! My skin is combination/sensitive. I will go back to my HG TM which is Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 in Light [for reference]. It has less coverage but is actually moisturizing enough without being greasy or shiny. I will use this one up but not repurchase.
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