Eye Shadow -Estee Lauder - Signature Silky Eyeshadow Duo - All Colors
siouxie 11/3/2010 12:45:00 AM
Actually, I won an on-line contest which included all the eye shadow singles mentioned in the aforementioned review. Out of curiosity, I looked up all these shadows on the Estee Lauder website, and I was shocked how costly this stuff is! Yeah, the packaging is extremely rich looking feeling, even though these compacts were not easy to open at all. The good: it fell off my dresser and didn't break. Now, on to the product - VERY underwhelming. For $20.00 for a single eyeshadow, these colors are very blah. They wouldn't do good for most people with any color in their complexion. The pigmentation is really just OK. You can buy NYX for $5.00 and get a better deal at 1/4th the cost. I want bright and strong color that packs a punch. Not this soft girly stuff. Thumbs down.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -Wella - Wellite Powder Lightener
siouxie 10/25/2010 10:08:00 PM
So, in my quest for the ultimate platinum blonde, I picked this up. I know from MUA and also Sally Beauty that the Wellite Oil Lightener was a great product. Sadly, it is no more : ( (discontinued) Read about how you combine oil to the mix w/ Wellite Oil Lightener, so I decided to try Wellite Powder lightener, substituting coconut oil. For reference, my hair was already a light blonde and I used off the scalp/foil highlighting techinque. OK, this is how I worked it: 1 sachet of Wellite Powder Lightener 1 ounce of 30 volume developer 1 teaspoon of extra virgin coconut oil Did 4 foils (1 for each side of my head, the back and my bangs). Applied mixture to both top layer and reverse (underneath) of hair to be processed. Left on 15 minutes because my hair was already fairly light. You're going have to do trial and error to get as light as you want. Cautiously proceeding is the way to go when bleaching your hair. When timing complete, shampooed w/ neutralizing shampoo (I used Bantu) afterwards and then deep condition. Cost: $2.99 for packet of Wellite Powder Bleach.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -L'Oreal - Super Oreal Blanc Professional Powder Bleach
siouxie 10/10/2010 3:00:00 PM
Decided to try highlighting my hair because when I used box color had to buy to to cover all the hair, and I find it a major hassle. Watched a video on youtube (link below). The instructor, Marty from Salon Republic, clearly knows his stuff, and it's an excellent instructional for foiling highlights. Also, he shows you how to use a rat tail comb to pick out strands to be highlighted. It's a technique that takes a little practice and being practically blind I had to use a magnifying mirror to see what I was doing. He doesn't get too much into hair sectioning, but after watching the 5 minute or so video a couple of times, I felt fairly confident that I could do an adequate job. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4wHeJ2G0b8&NR=1 I do my eyebrows w/ this too (although I know it's not recommended). This stuff is thick and creamy, and it was the easiest to apply of all the bleaches I've tried (Wellite and Kaleidocolors). Kaleidocolors requires heat to work properly, and that's a drag. I do recommend pairing this w/ 30 volume developer (unless you want your highlights to be subtle), especially if your hair is lift resistant like mine. For reference, I used one packet w/ two ounces of 30 volume Clairol Soy 4Plex developer. Please note, there is a real learning curve to bleaching your hair. It does take a while to get the hang of it. So err on the side of caution with your developing time. Even though I'm only a dark blonde w/ say 25% gray, getting the white platinum hair has been an elusive process. Someday, I'll attain the white baby blonde I had naturally when I was a kid. Cannot complain about this bleach: no fumes, minimal scent, enriched w/ deep conditioners, no irritation on my scalp whatsoever and little damage. Years ago, I would get a very itchy scalp from hi-lift blonding. So, after applying this mixture, I still had a decent amount left over, so I used it to scour my sink : D !
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Kleancolor - Kleancolor Watercolor Retractable Eyeliner - Electric Blue
siouxie 9/23/2010 11:50:00 PM
This stuff probably isn't waterproof, and the color sure ain't electric blue. But the packaging is really nice and stylish. This shade is muted navyish blue. And for what I paid for it ($1.49), you get a decent amount of product. They have similarly packaged lipliners in cool colors too. Just might check them out.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -L'Oreal - Vive Pro Hydra Gloss Conditioner With Royal Jelly for Dry Hair
siouxie 9/19/2010 6:52:00 PM
This has become the conditioner I use on my color treated hair on a regular basis. How I use this is to apply some to my hair after I've rinsed out my silicon-free conditioner (Suave/Alberto VO5) and towel dried my hair. Being this conditioner is thick, it works wonderfully as a leave it, and I'm going to have this bottle for some time. It is certainly the most economical way to use this product and also I get a lot more volume by just putting a pea size to the underside of my hair (flip my hair over and apply) and then another pea size amount to the outer layer of my hair. I have a lot of hair, and this seems the only way to distribute it. I also use some Redken Smooth Down serum. I love the fragrance of this condition and the bottle and label also has an upscale design which I like too.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -Clairol - Herbal Essences Bleach Blonde XL1 Maximum blonde
siouxie 9/12/2010 12:46:00 AM
Just to correct some misunderstanding posted here by Dee Dee C in review of product. She writes "there's no bleach in this, only peroxide." Please note peroxide IS BLEACH. Only bleach will lighten your hair, and only bleach. Also hair lighteners or BLEACH do not make your roots black. Its just that the hair growing in looks just that much darker when you lighten your hair dramatically. Just don't want people to get confused : D
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Alfred Sung - Sung
siouxie 8/11/2010 12:34:00 AM
I bought this 3.4 oz. size for $60.00 @ Macy's when I had a well paying job. Those years are sadly over, but I recently rediscovered this eau de toilette and found myself appreciating it in a way I never did before. Now, I don't usually go for florals, but I must say this fragrance has a beautifully fresh "dry down," and lingers for a good period of time but not in a heavy or cloying way. It definitely has more "punch" (although not overpoweringly) than many other designer scents, and I really appreciate that I can subtly smell it while I'm wearing it. After all, there's no kick if I'm not aware I'm wearing it! Sung is a sophisticated and almost formal fragrance that I think is more appropriate to those over 25. I could see wearing this for a job interview or to a wedding or when you want to impress. It's timeless and classic, but perhaps not for everyone.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -NYX - Dark Gray
siouxie 6/11/2010 2:23:00 PM
I was very disappointed with this shade - although I love the Black and also Maui. What happened w/ this shade? The color really is lacking in punch and poorly pigmented. Don't like it. UPDATE: I punching this up a notch. Yeah, the pigment density is not what I hoped for. Compared to the black, which is super dark and sooty, this is not nearly as pigmented. But I found that if I give my lids a thin coat of Nivea or even Vaseline before applying, it is a great improvement. Primed lids are in order, especially w/ this shade.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Paco Rabanne - Metal
siouxie 6/8/2010 8:09:00 PM
This has to be one of my all time favorites. Metal - pronounced May-tal is a very sophisticated scent, and I have always enjoyed wearing it. I ran out a while ago and would love to pick this up again. Was this discontinued?
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Other -Unlisted Brand - Baking Soda
siouxie 4/19/2010 4:23:00 PM
I've been using baking soda for years as a dry shampoo. My bangs get icky pretty soon after I shampoo - like the next day - so I flip my head over and sprinkle some baking soda into my palm and distribute, starting at the roots, through my bangs and through my top layer of hair. As a suggestion, you might want to do this in the morning before your facial wash because baking soda if left to settle on your skin can be irritating. This works as a perfect refresher, and ladies, it's dirty cheap. Try it!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Unlisted Brand - la color Mineral Powder
siouxie 4/8/2010 7:03:00 PM
I've been a Cover Girl powder user all my life w/ no complaints, but I was curious to check out the new mineral powders on the market. Unfortunately, I don't really have much money to blow on cosmetics. So when I saw L.A. Colors had some mineral foundation powder in my local (Bronx) Gem Store, I tried some of the (ivory) tester on my finger. It's felt so seductive and smooth and the cost? $2.99!!! Now, mind you opening this thing was murder, but the packaging was fabulous. Nice sponge and mirror are included. L.A. Colors also have beautiful and oh so reasonably priced eye shadows as well. Check 'em out. INGREDIENTS: mica, silica, nylon-12, magnesium stearate, dimethicone, zinc stearate, minieral oil, (paraffinium liquidum) sorbitan oleate/hydrogenated polyisorbutene/polysorbate 80, bis-diglyceryl polayacyladipate-2, ethylhexyl palmitate, tocopheryl, acetate, propylparaben, methylparaben
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -L.A. Colors - 6 color metallic e/s palette (Precious)
siouxie 3/29/2010 11:45:00 PM
Today, I'm at my local Gem discount store. Came upon a display of these really cool eyeshadow sets. All for $1.99 each for five eye shadows. I need eyeshadow like a hole in the head but I couldn't resist. Bought two: Lollipop (pinks and purple) and Tropics (white, deep yellow and green shades). All colors are bright, beautiful and slightly frosted. Some people might yearn for deeper pigmentation, but as I am very fair these are fine for me. After I left the store, I try some of the shadow on my hands and was very impressed. Creamy and highly pigmented with little or no "fall off." Makes me want to buy more. OK, the packaging is cheap - one of the containers is hard to open - but I'm buying it for the product inside.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Sephora - Duble Ended Blemish Extractor
siouxie 1/21/2010 1:44:00 AM
Ladies, this thing is way overpriced. You can get identical item in your local beauty supply - the exact same implement made of stainless steel $7.00 to $9.00. This comes in real handy for extracting. I get white heads in my T-zone which are a total b*tch to get out. I don't get blackheads and don't get pimples. I usually have to lance the thing before I can extract by applying good pressure onto the loop. And I'm talking two to three tries, usually and by that time the area is getting red. There's a learning curve with this thing, I tend to press down and twist it. As another MUAer mentions here, if you get into the obsessive/ picking thing - I admit I've been overzealous at times too - be selective about how often you use this.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Garnier - Brilliantine Shine Water Based Shine Wax
siouxie 1/16/2010 5:48:00 PM
This stuff is just the ticket for my bangs. I also own higher end pomades /waxes - Biolage Creme Wax and also L'Oreal Professionel Playball Gelee but I keep coming back to this. Love the fragrance, it keeps my bangs shiny and in place and does not make my hair greasy if I use the right amount. Less is more. Put a little product onto your palm, rub your fingertips into it and then drag down the lower length of your bangs to fix into place.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -Wella - Color Charm in 50 Light Drabber
siouxie 1/10/2010 11:59:00 PM
In general I've been very impressed with Wella Color Charm hair coloring. But I have a strong undertone of red in my hair that is downright impossible to remove. I'm still chasing the white neutral blonde look, and I'm too broke to go to a salon. I realized later on that I didn't use enough of this product to give a fair review. Will report back. EDIT: I bumped my rating on this up a notch, because I just realized that I require a double formula of hair coloring (a lot of hair), I probably did not use enough of this drabber to do anything. The Wella manual suggests 2-4 capfuls. Will report back.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No