Lipstick -Revlon - Matte Lipstick - In the Red
merenguehips 9/24/2011 3:27:00 PM
I'm buying backups just because I love this so much. See other reviews for more info, but yeah. It really is worth all the hype. Perfect, glamourous, 1940s Hollywood-throwback red matte lipstick, but better.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Aveeno - Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer SPF30 [DISCONTINUED]
merenguehips 5/25/2011 5:19:00 PM
Tried this for a month, but it caused me to break out horribly. I've since switched back to my Purpose Dual Moisturizer with SPF, and I'm still waiting for my skin to get back to where it was (God, I hope this trial won't warrant a trip to the dermatologists...ugh). The product didn't even moisturize very well. Left my skin feeling seriously dry after 15 minutes...not worth the money. I suppose I'm being kind about the experience by giving it two lippies...
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Aveeno - Active Naturals Nourish + Style Soft Hold Gel-Creme
merenguehips 5/20/2010 11:20:00 AM
After being a stick-straight-haired girl for 21 years, I turned wavy/curly after my son was born. Needless to say, I've been trying to figure out how to work with my new hair ever since (that's four years). FINALLY!!! I think this may qualify as a HG product for me. I have shoulder length, layered, wavy-curly hair with fine-medium thick strands, but lots of them (especially since I'm pregnant again and not shedding). Just worked six small dabs through my hair after wrapping it in a towel for ten minutes, and oh my gosh...no crunchiness, no frizz (and I'm on the Gulf Coast, frizz is a way of life), great definition, and no falling flat!!! At times like this, you really have to hope the manufacturers check websites like this to see what customers really think, because Aveeno, please don't stop making this. It's awesome, it really is. Great, nonintrusive smell, wonderful product, and yep, was at CVS for $7.99. I'll be buying this as long as they make it!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Self Tanners -Jergens - Natural Glow - Light
merenguehips 4/5/2010 12:15:00 PM
I've been using this product since 2005 in Light, in both the regular and firming formulas. I guess I lucked out or just did enough research, but this is one of the few building-self tanners that is 1) moisturizing, 2) doesn't streak at all, 3) appears a true tan color, not overly orange or brown. My sister has had horrible experiences with other self tanners that were drying, streaky and orange-brown, so I can verify just how rare it is to find a good formula, and an inexpensive one at that. Just go easy on the application (it is a moisturizer, after all, you just need enough for a light layer that can easily be absorbed), and give it enough time to soak in, like any other moisturizer. Great product, and I'll be using this for years to come.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Purpose - Dual Treatment Moisture Lotion with spf 15
merenguehips 4/1/2010 12:19:00 PM
Wow, a little surprised by the bad reviews since I've had an opposite experience with this moisturizer over the years. After YEARS of bad, severely acne-prone skin, and trying all sorts of benzyl peroxide and retin-A based creams (which, turns out, I'm highly sensitive to, and they only cause worse break-outs), this product was recommended about ten years ago by my dermatologist at the time. Did not work well for me at all then, only seemed to intensify the breakouts. Now, after having gone through a round of accutane at 17, (eight years ago), my skin has settled into a combination-type, and after having tried several moisturizing products by Burts Bees, Aveeno, and other "sensitive skin" brands, I find this is the only one that does not cause breakouts. And yes, I'm using a recently purchased bottle (within the last three months). This moisturizes perfectly, provides light spf coverage, and, well, the obvious benefit for me is, no breakouts! (And certainly no stinging skin as described below...) Overall, if you have super-sensitive skin, and like me find that products containing retin-A and b.p. are irritating, this might be worth a shot...and it's under $10 at CVS. (You can always return it if you have a bad reaction...) I'm really glad I gave this product another chance.
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Polishes -OPI - Jade is the New Black
merenguehips 3/3/2010 11:17:00 PM
Love it! Please, OPI, please keep this in your classics lineup! Best green shade they've come with in years. Excellent application and formula, 2-3 coats to opacity. Wears well for several days with top and base coat. Great color, dusty, muted and absolutely elegant and eye-catching jade blue-green. Seriously, one of their best yet, and definitely the standout of the Hong Kong collection.
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Liquid -Estee Lauder - Nutritious Vita-Mineral SPF 10
merenguehips 3/3/2010 11:12:00 PM
I had been using Prescriptives mmu in Cool 01 when it was discontinued. Probably not a bad thing since that foundation was a tad too pink for my skin, and had a pale mask effect on me, not to mention it caused breakouts, had a weird, difficult to blend application, and just didn't look as good as the other liquid foundations from Prescriptives. After picking up a sample of this in 1.0 from the EL counter, I'm truly impressed on what a step up it is from the Prescriptives formula and the issues I had with that foundation. While the Px was too pink for me, the EL is actually a bit too yellow, but not nearly as noticeable as the death mask look the Px gave me. I have a feeling that once I get a bit of a tan going, this will be just fine. I have had no issues with the EL causing breakouts-in fact, on days when I wear it, it really does seem to improve the overall appearance of my skin, and I've got super-sensitive skin. Also, in appearance, whereas the Px was a bit more of a matte/flat finish, the EL has some slight sheen to it, not a lot, but enough to make my skin look radiant instead of dry. As far as application on the EL goes, a little goes a long way, much better than the Px, and no issues with gloppiness, streaking, or difficulties blending. Overall, if you were using the Px mmu, give the EL a shot-I will be purchasing this as soon as spring officially hits...overall, best foundation I've tried. Only drawback: limited color selection. Wish they offered more in cool, warm and neutral varieties so that I could find an exact match. Unless you're a super-cool tone, you might be able to pull off the yellow-based shades.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Can You Tapas This?
merenguehips 2/9/2010 4:07:00 PM
Another keeper from the Espana collection, second only to Barefoot in Barcelona. This dark, rainsiny red will stain the heck out of your nails, so be sure to use a base coat, but it's soooo worth it. Gorgeous color, covers in two coats, beautiful, rich creme.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Glacier Bay Blues
merenguehips 2/9/2010 4:05:00 PM
Hey Suzi! Bring this one back, or start making them like this again! Incredible color, flashes blue, green and purple in the light. Absolutely one of my all-time favorites, so it only comes out on special occasions. Gorgeous color-mainly teal with just enough purple to add intrigue.
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Polishes -OPI - Ginger Bells!
merenguehips 2/9/2010 4:02:00 PM
Please keep this one! Great color, somewhere between gingerbread, pumpkin and caramel. The coverage is great, only needed two coats, application went well, and as odd as the color may come across, it's really lovely on me. Perfect for fall and winter, though I could see myself wearing this in the hottest part of summer without feeling out of place.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Melon of Troy
merenguehips 2/9/2010 3:59:00 PM
My first OPI! The best spring color ever! Golden coral shimmer-works great with the beginnings of a tan! So glad they kept this one, otherwise I would have stocked up a long time ago.
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Polishes -OPI - Here Today ... Aragon Tomorrow
merenguehips 2/9/2010 3:58:00 PM
As much as I wanted this one, the biggest fault is it's sheerness. Maybe a very experienced person could make this work as a sheer, thereby highlighting the black-green aspect, but I need four coats to cover completely, and...that's a really long drying time. It does appear black at this point, but only if one has no other reference point for black. Against anything actually black, the green tones stand out and in natural light, it's clearly a very dark forest/emerald green. As much as I like that about Aragon, it's just not enough to make me repurchase. I'll look for something that will cover in fewer coats and be a little more distinctly green.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Barefoot in Barcelona
merenguehips 2/9/2010 3:54:00 PM
Another I hope OPI will add to the Classics collection, this, for me, was the standout shade from the Espana collection (Aragon had the potential, but at four coats, something is lost...). BinB is a lovely dark nude/neutral, great coverage. Really lovely and somehow really elongated my nails and made my hands look truly elegant.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - You Don't Know Jacques!
merenguehips 2/9/2010 3:51:00 PM
Please make this part of your permanent lineup, OPI!! One of the best colors in this genre! As everyone else has said, it's a mushroomy-taupe, chocolate milk type concoction, and absolutely fabulous against my skin tone (super fair with slight yellow undertones). I'll weep, protest and tie myself to a tree the day they stop making this one. Beautifully sophisticated.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Lincoln Park at Midnight
merenguehips 2/9/2010 3:48:00 PM
As much as I like this one, and as much as it screams rocker chick, I'm not willing to commit to a rebuy since I'm pretty sure OPI or some other company will come out with a more interesting deep, almost-black purple shimmer in the next five years. I really do like it, but I'd just like a little more next time...
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