Hair -Wen by Chaz Dean - Replenishing treatment mist
smileandactnice 7/24/2012 12:14:00 PM
I'm on the fence with this...I kinda really like it and I kinda wish it did more. I have the POM fragrance and it smells heavenly! It can be used on skin all over too as a moisturizer (very light), and oddly enough it helps with any skin issues you might have. It feels nice on my hair when I use it on dry hair (like to refresh between washings), and I love the smell!! It gives my hair some life and volume without being stiff like the volumizing spray. I love that it's completely safe, non-toxic, and not tested on animals. You can use it and feel good in knowing you're not putting something harsh or damaging on your hair or skin. The only thing is I kind of expected it to give me a little shine or something??? ...I dunno... I just thought it would either be more moisturizing, like noticeably so, or would add some shine or more bounce... Don't get me wrong, it's kind of a great multi-tasker, but it doesn't excel at anything--like, nothing about it really blows me away. The price is a little out there considering how quickly you could go through a bottle if you used it for the millions of things it can do. I mean, if you use it like a body spray you'd be out in no time. Overall, it's a nice product if you can afford it, but it doesn't really do alot for your hair--It does work nicely on skin, so that's kind of a plus. Don't know if I'll repurchase after this bottle's gone.
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Styling Products -Wen by Chaz Dean - Volumzing Treatment Spray
smileandactnice 7/24/2012 12:07:00 PM
I'm with the other posters--this product isn't spectacular like the commercials promise. I find it average at best. If you use it lightly on wet hair it does give nice lift and volume, however you have to be very careful not to spray even one squirt too much or else you will have crispy hard hair, even if you blow dry afterwards. It makes a decent hairspray, again if you only use a tiny amount. I think for the price, it's a pretty good buy because if you use it properly, using just a tiny bit, it should last a v-e-r-y long time.lol The smell isn't great either...It isn't sweet and pretty like the POM, and for a lavender it's kinda sharp and harsh with that usual menthol undertone. The only good thing is if you use it the right way (i.e. not very much) the smell dissipates quickly. The only real downside for sure is that it tends to be drying on the hair. It isn't so noticeable if you use it on wet hair, but on dry hair (instead of hairspray) it can get kinda drying. I don't know if I'd buy it again or not...If it came in a POM fragrance I'd probably get it, but this bottle's gonna last me forever at this rate! lol
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Liquid -Unlisted Brand - IPKN -Luxury eau de perfume foundation
smileandactnice 7/19/2012 9:19:00 AM
I've been buying some new prods from NeoBeauty--an online retailer of Asian cosmetics and skincare. I'm not Asian--I'm Swedish as can be, but I found great reviews for Shiseido eye cream, so I just splurged and bought a bunch of stuff from NB. So anyways, they sent a sample of this foundation. I was not at all sure--a foundation with perfume? Sounds like a zit waiting to happen, but I figured I'd try it anyway. This isn't really a liquid, more like a real light cream or mousse type foundation. It blends really nicely and goes on smooth. Being Caucasian, I figured it would look stupid on me, but the lightest shade is the one they sent (they musta known lol) and it looks pretty damn good!lol It blends out evenly and the color is faint--more like a tinted moisturizer. It also helps plump up the skin and make you look younger and more rested (believe me, if it can do that for me it can do it for *anyone*!LOL) I have to say I really really like it and am going to buy the full-size product now. My skin has a pretty glow to it...I'm very very fair, but the lightest shade goes on no problem and gives me just the faintest hint of color--not chalky,not yellow--just a bit of glow without being fake--oh, and it's light enough and blendable enough that you won't get that demarcation line at your jaw where the makeup ends and your neck begins.lol Oh and being it's fragranced, which seems kind of bizarre to me--the fragrance is actually really really nice! Some non-scented products have weird icky smells but are good for your skin because they don't have fragrance...But this fragranced foundation has a really soft, pretty smell. It doesn't compete with your perfume and isn't overpowering. I think it's just from whatever herbs and flower extracts they use in the formula. I don't think it's unpleasant in any way. Overall, I love this foundation and am very happy they sent me a sample. I'm definitely going to buy this when I run out. Oh, and the actual full-size bottle--Cute as can be!! Very elegant and nice product to have on a vanity top. Kool! :)
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Treatments -Dr. Jart+ - Most White Make Light Emulsion
smileandactnice 7/19/2012 9:04:00 AM
All I can say is Wow!! My old products have begun to fail me for whatever reason--age, stress, etc... And I wanted something to lighten some sunspots and freckles. What I got was an amazing 'moisturizer' that does all that and more. It's lightening my sun spots-- even after the first use I could tell a difference. It's also refining my skin texture so pores are minimized--alot! And as an added bonus it lifts and tightens!! After my first use, I looked in the mirror a couple of hours later and, no lie, I looked like I'd 'had work done'!!! My skin was lifted, tightened, toned and my spots were much much better! It seriously looked like I went and had some botox, filler, and maybe a feather-lift all at once! And my skin had a nice dewy glow--not greasy, not shiny or glittery, just like I'd been to the spa or something. It was awesome! Just an fyi, my 'spots' aren't like regular sun spots...I got that 'pregnancy mask' back when I first got pregnant and it hasn't gone away. It's not super noticable, but if I've been in the sun you can see it more clearly and it's kind of grown since baby #2. It bothers me that I can't get rid of it, so I'm hoping this works. So far, it's lightened the newer spots below my cheeks and along the side of my face. My original 'freckles' are still on the tops of my cheeks but they're lighter and the skin there's all plump and nice, so they're not so noticable. It seems like in a few months, my complexion will be much more even with fewer spots. I really wasn't expecting much from this product--It's from Korea, I'd never heard of it or the brand, and I wasn't sure what it would do. But in all honesty, it really has alot going for it, so I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to smooth out their skin, lighten spots or just get back that glow you lose from being overworked and tired. Definitely a keeper!!!
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Treatments (Eye) -Shiseido - Bioperformance Super Eye Contour
smileandactnice 7/19/2012 8:52:00 AM
Since turning 40, my skin has kinda lost that 'glow' I used to have--I'm not sure if it's my age, stressful life or what, but I don't feel like I look the way I did even 5 years ago. So now I'm breaking away from my old tried and true stuff to venture into the 'age reversal' category...How time flies.lol Anyways, I've been looking for my HG of eyecreams ever since that damn Yves Rocher stopped making the Wrinkle Fighting Concentrate--go figure they stop making anything that actually *works*. So after going through six zillion products, I found on Beautypedia that this was one of their most highly recommended eye creams--Fab ingredients, good results, price wasn't too killer... So I bought some. The bottle is awesome at keeping the product fresh and the ingredients from losing strength. The little hole the eye cream comes out of has a stopper that keeps air from getting in--brilliant!! Can't beat the Asian companies packaging--we could learn a thing or two because they are all on the cutting edge of packaging. So the bottle gets a rave review. The eye cream is very moisturizing and does brighten on contact. Initially, if you use too much, it can look greasy--but either way, it settles in nicely and plumps up the eye area and really gives a pretty luminescence without being glittery or weird. For a age-specific 'lifting' cream, it does a good job of walking the fine line of being moisturizing *and* lifting, without being overly dry or tightening so much it just emphasizes wrinkles...Something alot of products just can't do...they wind up being either moisturizing with no lift, or lift and tighten but are very drying. This is a very nice balance of the two, so don't expect to have botox-looking eyes because this product won't do it. I love how nicely it helps my concealer to sink in and set without creasing. My eye area looks and feels plumper, more toned, and with a really pretty freshness that I haven't gotten from any products so far, including Kinerase. I think I paid around $48 for this...Considering the size of the bottle which I think is about 1.5 oz, it's a pretty damn good deal! Most eye creams are less than an ounce, so if you break it down at the cost per ounce, this is a very good deal. Only complaint is that Shiseido does test on animals--I do not agree with that, and hopefully we can work to stop it from happening in the future with the technologies being offered to them from PETA. Overall, this is a stellar product and one I think most people would be very happy with.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Self Tanners -Jergens - Natural Glow Revitalizing
smileandactnice 7/8/2012 4:46:00 PM
My CVS had this in travel size so I bought it after my disaster with Sallys Airbrush Tan (long orange and ugly story there haha). I use it sparingly to enhance the bit of sun I got au natural. I love the sparkles! The smell is absolutely amazing! I used to be a self tanner addict but the stench finally got too much for me. This new fragrance is way way better than the old. I'd tried this stuff before but it stunk badly and made me splotchy. This new formula smells dreamy going on, and then settles into that familiar self tanner funk...its not bad though and way way better than before! I love too how smooth and nice this formula feels. It applies like a soft, smooth lotion...not sticky like alot of ST's. The texture really is light years ahead of most ST's out there. It gives me a nice, sparkly glow, and the sparkles wash off when I shower, so I'm left with pretty nice glowy skin. I only am buying the travel sizes though...I dont trust ST's anymore and God knows one missed exfoliation will turn me into an orange zebra.lol. So right now I'll just play with the travel size til I decide I'm going back to ST's or natural sun. The one nit pick is the tube. Although its cute and well made, it doesnt look different enough between formlas....Theres this one and some other that firms or whatnot...The revitalizing is the one I'm digging, so I have to read the bottles to make sure I'm getting the right one. Othet than that, I'm pretty happy overall with this stuff.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -L'Oreal - Magic Lumi
smileandactnice 7/1/2012 2:03:00 PM
I'm with the other posters--enough with the brushes already! I can use my own...I dont need one built in! Otherwise I do like this product. It lightens and brightens nicely. My HG is the one by Milani, but its always sold out, so I use this instead. It does brighten to a lighter shade than Milami...when I use this it does lighten up my eye area more than the Milani one, but its more sheer so it does less for concealing. I normally wear concealer over either product but use more with this since it has less concealer in it. Overall a great product but way way too expensive. I would stick to Milani only but they just dont make enough to go around!lol So this is a pretty good sub.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -L'Oreal - Visible Lift Smooth Absolute
smileandactnice 7/1/2012 1:51:00 PM
Holy jeebus and mary!!! This stuff is amazing!! My usual MMU isnt working like it used to....ok maybe its my skin.haha I just look tired now and my old faithful isnt cutting it anymore. So I bought this on a whim...CVS had a special promo and I had some coupons so it was cheap. I applied on top of my mmu and wasnt impressed...but that was just to test the color. So the next day I try it as my foundation and its brilliant! I applied with my fingers so it would blend...Im not entirely sold on the brush. Once you smooth it on though, it settles in and makes your skin look amazing! I looked in a couple of mirrors in the bathroom and outside in natural light and both times I gasped because my skin looked soooo good! No shadowy areas, no funky texture, just soft glowing skin...My MMU only wishes it could look this good!lol This is now my official forever fave prod! It holds up to high heat and humidity and looks flawless. I cant tell ya how nice it is to not look tired, and although I am very tired and overworked and stressed, my face doesnt show it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Brows -Unlisted Brand - DivaDerme - Brow Extender
smileandactnice 6/18/2012 4:35:00 PM
Just got this the other day and I can't tell you how much it sucks!!! I overplucked the brows I grew back using Ardell Brow formula--I know, dumb move....So now I'm back to scraggily and thin brows again. So I ordered this off Amazon...They had this lightest blonde color on sale for $14 so I was sold--Original price is like $38 or something ridiculous like that... There's the powder that has little fibers in it which cling and look like hair, and a gel that acts like an adhesive--the fibers cling to it wherever you put it. There's a cute eyebrow stencil in case you really messed up your 'real' brows, and even a remover to get the adhesive stuff off. Very complete kit! However, it doesn't actually work...It's a complete trainwreck! Wherever the gel goes is where the fibers go too, unless you make an expression with your face or go in the wind--then this stuff falls off in chunks! I messed around with it time after time, trying to apply it right, get it to look right, and it will never ever look right. This is one of the biggest wastes of money I've ever seen! The only, and I mean only good thing about it is the fine-tipped applicator...I used it with my regular brow powder to put my brows on...It also works if you run it along your brow pencil, so you can apply with the applicator instead of your pencil...The applicator works nicely to fill in sparse areas, but that's the only good thing about this product. So $14 dollars later, I've got an eyebrow brush and that's about it...the filler and adhesive are just junk. Don't waste your money--just use a pencil and a brow powder...This stuff is terrible!!
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Concealers -Laura Geller - Real Deal Full Coverage Cream Concealer
smileandactnice 6/11/2012 11:14:00 AM
Holy frikkin perfection!! This is one amazing product! I tried ordering an LG sampler set and this was in it...I'd been wanting to try LG for a while but didn't want the commitment to a full-size anything. I'd heard great things about this concealer but was unprepared for how great it really is! I love that the flip-top seals so none of the product gets dried out and crunchy..great design there! The tiniest amount is all you need for perfect eyes. I have very pale skin and darkness around the inner corners of my eyes and that damn blue vein thing us pale-faces have going on.lol And this product covers all that, lightens and brightens the area without looking fake or heavy. OMG! I'm totally impressed! I've been using it during the day off and on to touch up when I'm tired and my makeup has migrated south(lol) and it works like a charm...instantly fresh and bright. She wasn't kidding when she called this the Real Deal...this is so far the best concealing concealer I've ever used!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Maybelline - Dream Nude Airfoam Foundation
smileandactnice 6/11/2012 11:06:00 AM
I love playing with makeup and switching things up so I figured I'd try this on a whim. I hadn't seen the commercials or anything, just came across it in the drugstore and decided to give it a go....so I wasn't sure what to expect--like, does it spray on or what??? Anyways, you shake it up and spray a clump onto the back of your hand. It comes out kinda like mousse like for your hair. The color is pretty light and deceiving--it goes on darker. I use a flat, teardrop shaped sponge(damp) to dab it on where I need coverage, and kind of blend it out. This doesn't cover very well, but it does give the skin a really nice feel. Once it dries though, if you apply a dusting of powder to set it, your skin looks luminous and natural not artificial at all. It doesn't cover entirely well, which is I guess the point of HD makeups--so it doesn't look completely fake on-camera...but for those of us not on-camera, it doesn't do a whole lot if your complexion isn't great to start with. I conceal, highlight and correct before applying and just dab this over. Once set though, it does give your skin a very smooth appearance and a very natural look. The colors though are a bit unnatural and look kinda freaky. I used the second to lightest and it goes on a little dark, clings to the skin so it doesn't blend thoroughly...but a little careful application with a sponge evens it out nicely. I like that it's light weight for summer, and it does give my sadly-pale skin a nice bit of glow. And so far, no breakouts and my skin feels very nice with it on. Oh, and when you rinse it off at night, your skin does feel much nicer than when you wear heavier foundations or even the MMU's...It's got some kind of skin benefits to it so that's a plus. The only downside I can see are the colors being unnatural, but they do blend out to something resembling human skin.lol And you really do need to set it with powder in order for it to actually work right. Not too expensive and the spray-mousse type bottle is kinda kitchy so I'd def buy this again. Hope they work on the colors though for the future because nobody I know is naturally any of the colors they have....
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Wen by Chaz Dean - Pomegranite Finishing Cream
smileandactnice 5/25/2012 10:27:00 PM
I love this!!! I think I'm becoming obsessed with Wen products lol. The smell is so gorgeous and fresh and sweet....awesome! And it really makes my hair smooth, baby --smooth!lol My hair really kinks up in humidity, and its been like a sauna lately, so I'm just about rockin a blonde fro.haha So I tried this and it really works great! Smoothes the fly aways, tames the frizz, and gives me nice chunky, wavy hair. It really does improve the texture of my hair, and gives it nice definition without being hard or sticky. You need to use just a little. My hair is fine, so most things weigh it down...this doesnt. I did have a little prob with my front fringe...instead of a 'Something About Mary' moment, i wound up with limp, lifeless hair when I used too much product. I wanted that hair swept over the eye look, but too much finisher made my fringe fall flat and feel icky. My friend tried it too and used too much, so her straight hair looked greasy and flat...So just use sparingly... The price is pretty great--$10 on eBay. The tube's pretty big--like 4oz or so, so if you use it sparingly it should last a long time. Oh and the tube is pretty cute --all colorful and nice. Definitely a good product from Wen! Worth every penny....
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Hair -Wen by Chaz Dean - Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner
smileandactnice 5/18/2012 3:54:00 PM
I wrote a pretty scathing review of the fig fragrance CC not too long ago, but my bff swapped me her sweet almond for my fig. I was really really nervous to try it but she assured me it was much gentler than the fig. So I tried it and she was right. My scalp didn't tingle or burn this time. There was just a nice cooling sensation. I used it the new way they say--half for my first 'shampoo' and half for the second part where it 'conditions'. I did the comb through and all that stuff. I also rinsed with cool (not freezing) water, as opposed to my usual hot wash/rinse. This time I used my fave leave in conditioner, a little argan oil for shine and dried as usual. My hair came out just stunning! Very full, considering this conditioner thingy...I was afraid I'd have limp hair. The shine is actually the best thing--phenomenal! And I can comb without any tangles. Styling went really well this morning. I used a spritz of thermal protector first and a jumbo curling iron to do big beachy waves. My hair looks and feels amazing--I can't stop touching it and flipping it all around.lol I used a good regime before that made my hair look great, but today is just simply a good hair day :) A few notes... The almond CC is a thinner consistency than the Fig...It has more slip to it too. The smell isn't overpowering but I still am not very fond of it--I don't really like to smell like menthol or rosemary--I wish it smelled like anything from Charles Worthington, but for the shine and bounce, I'll take smelling like a greek salad.lol I think doing two washes makes it work good too. That way you cleanse your scalp, rinse and then really give it to the mid-shafts and ends so they'll get good and treated. One complaint though that it does tend to run and it stings like crazy if you get it in your eyes...I am highly allergic and sensitive though so it could just be me. This particular CC is ideal for breakage like I get around my hairline from flat ironing and high-lift tints. The hairs are now so soft and moist, and they behave nicely instead of sticking up like crazy.lol One other tiny nit pick is the label on the bottle. For the high-end feel this product is supposed to offer, the label is kinda crappy. I've only had it a couple days and my bff a week or so before that, but the label is already wrinkling and looking like it's going to peel off. Not to be petty, but for what this stuff costs, you'd think they could find a decent water-proof label...I mean it's just sitting in the shower, not soaking in the tub, you know? Overall this sweet almond CC is just fabulous and I love it!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Vera Wang - Lovestruck
smileandactnice 5/15/2012 3:17:00 PM
My husband bought this for me last mothers day. It was the ginormous bottle with lotion gift set...It musta set him back a pretty penny, because the perfume itself is really pricy!!! I love the smell--It's soft and pretty and not overwhelming. I love how it blends with my body chemistry. The scent lingers all day but isn't overpowering. I absolutely love love love the bottle too--so pretty!! The only negative thing I could say is the price is insane--like $75 for the 3 oz bottle or whatever the big size is. You can't even get a discount online anywhere. I have to say though, the bottle lasted me a good year or almost... I used it only alternating occasionally with my signature perfume, Halo. When I can force myself into spending this much money on perfume, I'm going to get another bottle and be happy :) Until then, I'll just use up my Halo and keep dreaming...
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Milani - Multitasker
smileandactnice 5/11/2012 2:07:00 PM
Absolutely the best touch-up powder on the market! I gently blot with a tissue when I'm oily in the mid-afternoon, and lightly dab a bit of this powder on my oilier areas. My skin looks like I just applied my makeup! Makes me look totally revived and pulled together. Works great on hot, humid days. It controls shine really really well without being cakey. The color selection is phenomenal and the price is great! Pair it with that Milani HD corrector and your skin will be magic!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No