Brows -Bare Escentuals - Eye Brow powder 
mandms08 3/1/2009 2:35:00 PM
I wasn't sure what to expect because I've only used pencils. However, I haven't been able to find any natural-colored pencils so I tried this powder as a last result. Not only was it a powder but a loose powder. And I love it! The look is natural and you need very little (if you overapply, it looks fake).
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Eye Shadow -Bare Escentuals - SkyLine
mandms08 3/1/2009 2:29:00 PM
This color is very atypical of what I usually wear, which is brown neutrals with just a hint of shimmer like Camp. I gave it a shot because it came in the Smoky Eyes kit with Celestine (love!) Because it was matte, I thought it wouldn't look good but the color is great with my gray eyes. It is definitely one of my go-to shades.
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Eye Shadow -Bare Escentuals - Celestine Eye Glimmer
mandms08 3/1/2009 2:23:00 PM
Love this shade!! The color is sort of a taupe. Because of the shimmer, I was hesitant to wear during the day. In this case, I use it only on the lids and it looks great.
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Lip Treatments -Smith's Rosebud Salve - Smith's Rosebud Salve
mandms08 3/1/2009 2:11:00 PM
I had high hopes for this product. I've heard great reviews and hoped it would do great things for my extremely dry and chapped lips. Pro's: Cute vintage packaging, great smell, and lighter than vaseline. Con's: Did not moisturize, poor packaging because you have to apply with finger (which encourages bacteria in the tin), and wears off quickly. As soon there is no longer a film on my lips, my lips are back to being chapped. I wished it would have actually treated the dryness.
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Cleansers -Bliss Labs - Fabulous Foaming Face Wash
mandms08 3/1/2009 2:04:00 PM
Not impressed. I used it and then looked in the mirror an hour later to discover patches of dry skin on my face. That never happens with my oily skin! I found the smell quite noxious and I am usually ok with heavily fragranced (or even chemicals like DDF's sulfur mask) but this was just too sickly sweet or something.
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Styling Products -TRESemme - Thermal Creations Curl Activator
mandms08 12/6/2008 6:29:00 PM
This is my HG when curling my hair. I have fine, chin-length, stick straight hair. When I use a flat iron to curl it (youtube it if you don't know how), the curl stays in all day long. Even being out in the Indiana snow today, my curl still held. The trick to keeping your hair from turning crunchy is to follow the suggestions on the bottle: spray on, brush through, and dry with a hairdryer (and brush) for 30 seconds to a minute. Then curl as usual. I'll very lightly mist with the spray after the hair has cooled. I finger comb to help separate and loosen the curl a bit. My hair is soft to the touch after that.
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Shampoo -Pantene - Silver Expressions Shampoo
mandms08 8/20/2008 10:24:00 PM
I have used a lot of violet-tinted products to combat the brassiness of my highlighted hair. This works just as well as other high-end products. It helps reduce the yellow but it very drying to my over-processed hair. I can't use it with the matching conditioner because it doesn't condition enough.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Original (UDPP)
mandms08 7/6/2008 12:19:00 AM
Best product ever!! I have somewhat oily eyelids and thought I was destined to never have eyeshadow last until the end of the workday. Now, it lasts past 5pm. In fact, it's still on my eyelids when I wash my face before bed! The tube lasts about 3 months, applying daily. Some people have complained about not being able to blend their shadow with this product. I have not had that problem at all. I think the key might be letting it dry long enough because it is somewhat tacky after you apply it. I usually put it on, do my concealer and blush, and then my eyeshadow. I also have pretty sensitive eyelids (allergies and contacts) and this product has never given me a reaction. The only downfall to this product is the packaging is awful! You miss so much product! Benefit has an eyeshadow primer in a squeeze tube that comes out great (but doesn't work as great as UD's.) Come on, UD! Make your package a little bit smarter! Search youtube for some videos of cutting open your tube if you want to make the most of your product.
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Treatments -Dr. Brandt - Pores No More
mandms08 7/6/2008 12:11:00 AM
This is a must-have for my oily skin with large pores. I can see why this product wouldn't work with other types of skin. A little bit goes a long way. In fact, the tube lasts me 3-4 months and I abuse it! The texture is a powdery paste. It blends in great and I don't even use foundation over it--my skin looks that great! However, I didn't have success using it over anything (i.e. Philosophy's On a Clear Day Protection Cream) because it started to pill up. I have to reapply mid-day or mid-afternoon. But the effect is worth it. This is seriously a miracle product for anyone with my type of skin. The only negatives to the product is that it is a bit pricey and the container is poorly designed. You miss out on a good chunk of the product because of the pump. I cut open the tube when I thought it was empty and discovered another 1-2 weeks worth! I scooped it out and put it in a small plastic container. It was more messy applying it that way but I didn't feel like I was just throwing out product. Overall, I highly recommend this product.
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Moisturizers -Cosmedicine - Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion
mandms08 7/6/2008
I was not impressed. You can buy Philosophy's On a Clear Day Protection Cream for a whole lot cheaper! And it does about the same job. In fact, I did one half of my face with this product and the other half with Philosophy's: I didn't have a problem with the consistency. It is thicker, almost sticky, but I could rub it into my skin just fine. I don't wear foundation so I put powder on top of it. Philosophy's filled in my pores a little bit more than this product. I am super oily so my shine returned in a few hours (with both products.) Maybe if your skin is normal or combination, this might be a good mattifier
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Masks -DDF - Sulfur Therapeutic Mask [DISCONTINUED]
mandms08 7/5/2008 11:50:00 PM
Love love LOVE this product! It does wonders for my skin. Salicylic acid and hydrogen peroxide don't do too much for me. The sulfur mask is the only thing that has worked. Works great as a mask a few times a week or spot treatments overnight. When I feel a blemish coming on, I do the spot treatment right away and the swelling has usually gone down by the next morning. I don't mind the smell at all--it's very medicinal. But I know some people are very bothered by it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Fresh - Soy Cleanser/ Makeup remover
mandms08 7/5/2008 11:27:00 PM
I have very oily skin and most cleansers for my skin type either dry it out (resulting in more oil production) or leave it feeling still dirty. This cleanser is the first that I've tried that I loved the feeling of my skin afterwards. And several hours afterwards. I liked the fresh cucumber smell but I could see how others might not. It is pretty pricey and like a pp said, it doesn't go far. I went though the small tube in less than a month.
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Polishes -Nicole - Enchantress
mandms08 7/5/2008 10:35:00 PM
The perfect iridescent pink with a very slight purple glimmer in the light. One coat would be perfect for a french manicure if you'd rather have a pearly topcoat (instead of a matte beige.) Two coats is perfect for a slightly translucent look. No streaks. Gorgeous color for fair-medium skin tones without looking washed out.
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Treatments -Aveda - Dry Remedy Treatment Masque
mandms08 7/4/2008 2:37:00 PM
This treatment makes my hair feel so soft. I highlight my hair too much and it does a lot of damage to my very fine hair. I have been applying the masque 2x a week, cover with a plastic shower cap, and apply some heat from the hairdryer. I rinse out after 15-30 minutes with cool water and my hair feels fabulous. The only thing I would caution is it is somewhat heavy for fine hair. I use my normal root boost mousse afterwards but I can see the difference in volume. I try to do the treatment at night before bed so when I shampoo in the morning, I have volume again.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Aveda - Dry Remedy
mandms08 7/4/2008 2:27:00 PM
My hair is fine and very over-processed. The shampoo doesn't strip or make my hair feel like straw like every other "dry hair" shampoo does. The consistency is like a creamy paste but a little bit goes a long way. I use about a nickel-size amount for my chin-length hair. Work it in and it produces a good lather.
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