Misc Beauty Tools -Aveda - Large Paddle Brush
youwillneverfindme 11/1/2012 4:19:00 AM
I loved this brush when I owned it, it was amazing. I left it at a special someone's place for him to use on his long hair; he loved it so much (and I loved him so much), I just let him keep it. It easily sorted through my long/tangled, messy, dense waves without breaking my hair and massaged my scalp at the same time. HOWEVER, before you run out to buy this, you should try Conair's version: Similar chic/natural design, same amazing performance and feel, better feeling bristles (some claim that the Aveda's bristles dig into their scalp...ouch!), and less than half the price of Aveda's (Conair about $7, Aveda about $20).
UPDATE: I lost my lovely Conair dupe during a move so I repurchased the Aveda brush. However, I like the Conair so much better (the feel of it in my hand, the more gentle bristles), that I repurchased it to use instead.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -TiGi - Bed Head Manipulator
youwillneverfindme 11/1/2012 4:03:00 AM
Love it. I've loved all five Bed Head products I've tried, but this stuff is like, the ultimate HG hair styling product and makes my hair so well behaved. Everything from adding volume/thickness at the roots or to my ponytail, to taming fly-aways, defining my waves and adding texture, this is IT. No greasy mess, no difficulty combing through my hair at the end of the day, no gooey, sticky mess if I get caught in the rain. Just lovely, well behaved, polished hair with just a touch of added shine.
I don't find that this adds any “hold”...but I don't really need a product with hold (i.e. hairspray) when I use this. My hair just kind of stays together beautifully and effortlessly.
Yes the product is messy (I would much prefer this gooey, sticky stuff in a tube rather than the pot it comes in...but once it's worked through my hair, there's not a hint of the original texture of it in the pot), and the scent is so-so (kind of a strange mix of laffy-taffy and...coconut?) but light and pleasant enough that if it could be smelled by someone ultra-close to my hair, I wouldn't be shy about it. Around $19 from the salon (but can be found online for much cheaper)...will undoubtedly repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Styling Tools -T3 - Featherweight 
youwillneverfindme 11/1/2012 3:31:00 AM
EDIT: I've needed to edit this review for a few months now. I hate this dryer. Dry time takes FOREVER, it looks "cheap", and it's not light enough to be called "Featherweight", especially when needing to hold it for so long. It does make a small difference in the end result for my hair, but I so rarely use it mostly due to the dry time, it's been a virtual waste.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
THE SHORT: Doubtful repurchase...I'm too interested in what other high end dryers will do for me. This is my first high end dryer and the results are good (much better than my "expensive" drug store dryers), but I was hoping for something more, honestly. A few hours after I've used the featherweight, my hair settles down and becomes more healthy looking, but I was hoping this T3 would do better at helping to control the freakout that my hair seems to go through with dryers (poofy, frizzy). Dry time, noise and weight of the dryer are all roughly equivalent to about a $60ish dollar drug store “ion”/”tourmaline” dryer. I do have to add, that for a $200 dryer, I think T3 cheaped out on the aesthetics of the dryer...nice looking, but it just doesn't look as expensive as it is. Ladies with dry/damaged/poofy/frizzy hair, this won't replace your flat iron.
MY HAIR: Damaged, bleached, colored, bleached, colored, BSL (and growing), poofy and frizzy tight waves. Fine/dense etc etc.
THE POSITIVES: The blowout I get from this is decent: frizz and poof are substantially reduced.
THE NEGATIVES: Price, obviously, at $200, this is an investment. It doesn't dry my hair any faster, the weight and noise are about average as well.
EXTRAS:
-Do use the nozzle.
-Do learn how to use a round brush for a blowout (youtube).
-Do buy from a store with a good return policy.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Clarisonic - Clarisonic PLUS Sonic Skin Cleansing System
youwillneverfindme 11/1/2012 3:09:00 AM
THE SHORT: Probably the most expensive beauty investment I've ever made...and I would not repurchase this model (I would buy the Mia, however). Yes, there is a slight (oh so slight) improvement in my skin, but is it worth the $230ish price?--No. If you have trouble prone skin and can keep the Clarisonic from irritating it, you might see better results If, like me, you have decent skin to start with, the Clarisonic Plus may not make enough of a difference to warrant the price. If interested in a Clarisonic model, I would strongly urge you to consider the Mia, unless you know for sure you need all the speeds of the Plus. I also made the mistake of buying this from a place that I can't return, so since I'm “stuck” with it, I will continue to use it.
MY SKIN: 32 years old, light/borderline fair with pink undertones and prone to rosacea which flairs when hot, if I eat incorrectly or as a reaction to sunscreen...I categorize my skin as “combination”. So far I'm wrinkle free with minimal sun damage, although I see a few shallow wrinkles starting on my forehead that don't spring back as easily as they used to. Mostly smooth but susceptible to couple small pimples due to hormones once a month. Pores on nose/inner cheeks can get clogged (no blackheads) and are easily treated with BHA a couple times a week. I use the “sensitive” brushhead.
THE POSITIVES: I do feel like this aides in a “deep clean” and that my skin might be a little more “glowy” than without using this. I also feel like my skin might be just the smallest bit smoother so that treatments and makeup just glide on. I can't say for sure if any of these are true however because the results are so slight and I already had good skin to begin with. Obviously no one else as noticed, but I am complemented on my skin from time to time.
THE NEGATIVES: The price and needing to find a cleanser that works with it, and your skin, and for me, my skin routine has become more extensive.
MY ROUTINE: *Before I start, it should be known that I take a bcp, which I credit for my clear complexion.*
Before Clarisonic: Cold cream applied and tissued off twice a day. 2x a week I use Paula's Choice BHA lotion.
Using Clarisonic: Cold cream applied and tissued off the days that I don't the Clarisonic. Clarisonic used with Cetaphil's Oil Control Foaming Face wash 3-4x a week, followed by Paula's Choic BHA lotion 2x a week and Recovery Moisturizer, before bed.
EXTRAS:
-I bought the “Plus” model....I don't know why. I don't feel like the extra settings really matter all that much unless, perhaps, you are using this on your body. I have used this on my upper arms to combat KP, but thought having to change out the brush head (although super easy) was sort of tedious...I did notice a slight improvement in my skin, even if only because it seemed to make the BHA treatment more effective. If I had researched a little more, I would have just bought the MIA.
-Save the little brush head protectors if you travel.
-longevity of one charge was nice. Using it only a few times a week, I could last for weeks on one charge.
-If you buy, make sure you buy from a store with a good return policy. Nothing feels worse than spending a lot of money on a product that doesn't work out for you.
-Give this enough time to make a difference...I'd say a good month and half/two months...and make sure you have the right brush head (there are many models, from a delicate brush for super sensitive skin, to a body brush).
-Keep in mind that for most, this won't be a miracle product and that results will be slight. Even still, for the skin obsessed like myself, you just may be pleasantly surprised.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Estee Lauder - Double Wear Light SPF10
youwillneverfindme 5/11/2012 4:06:00 AM
Love this. The look it gives my skin is beautiful and it lasts throughout my sweaty workday on a medical unit...somehow, despite the rough day at work, my skin keeps looking marvelous...I'm just slightly “dewy” after work...which is an unknown thing to this oily skin prior to DoubleWear Light. The fresh application gives a just this side of matte, satin finish...more matte than my natural, shiny skin, but not *matte*. As one who is finicky about foundations or concealers looking cakey or mask-like, I'm impressed with this stuff, I can't feel it on my skin, and on days off/bumming around the house, I look in the mirror and am surprised at how pretty my skin is...then I remember I'm wearing DoubleWear Light :P
I apply intensity 1 (nw20ish here) with my fingers as a light-medium coverage foundation just around my nose and out to my temples to hide my rosacea. The finish is flawless...somehow letting my natural skin show through while covering up the redness beneath. Even on days my skin is slightly on the flaky side (oh the perils of oily, rosacea skin), DoubleWear Light seems to even things out beautifully. Photographs marvelously as well.
Expensive, yes, at around $54 per tube. But just a tiny drop is all I need to cover the areas mentioned above...and the performance and finish is so perfect, it's worth every penny.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -China Glaze - Purple Panic
youwillneverfindme 4/3/2012 12:27:00 PM
I do not wear pink. No, I do not.
But I wear this. This 80's “florescent” pink...hot, deep electric pink. Wear it with a black outfit and your set of ten nails become this flashing neon sign, a statement that people comment on. With black heeled gladiator sandals?...yes, please. This is the hot pink color you see the punk girls wearing...in fact, my punk friend told turned me on to the color. My sorta punk/vampy self thinks this all sorts of awesome...on tanned skin or dayglow ghosts like myself.
True to all neon form: quick dry, needs a few coats, dries matte. The matte look is pretty cool and I think I prefer it with this color, but if you like shine, just add a top coat. I have no doubt I'll repurchase. IMO, this looks best on finger-tip length.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Unlisted Brand - Hand and Nail Harmony Gelish Gel Polish
youwillneverfindme 2/17/2012 4:04:00 PM
YES! Gelish is one of my top 5 beauty discoveries of all time. I daresay that a product is life changing, but honestly, as one who considers nice nails an essential but had issues maintaining a standard manicure...Gelish has sort of changed my life over the past 3 months that I've been wearing/applying it myself. I can't tell you how thrilled I've been to have gorgeous nails that receive complements that I don't have to re-polish every other day or worry about chipping or peeling! (I go about a week before the regrowth becomes too much for my liking.) I'll spare the intricate details of application and removal since other reviewers have done a lovely job explaining the proper steps. (I would like to add, however, that if applied and removed CORRECTLY, you should not be experiencing any damage to the nail. Many people like to *peel* Gelish off their nails: this WILL result in damaged nail beds!)
Just some points I felt were worth mentioning:
--As much as I love Sally's (I've probably single-handedly kept my local Sally's in business!), skip their Gelish for $14 for a mini bottle. I get my full 1 oz bottles off of Amazon for anywhere from $11 to $14 (for reference, a normal bottle of polish has about 0.5 oz of product).
--Given the above, Gelish ends up being less expensive, per ounce, than many mid to high end brands. If you factor in a UV light (around $30 on ebay) or a LED (around $50 on ebay), and the number of times one does their nails/lasting time...the system pays for itself quickly. My advice would be to get Gelish done at a manicurist to see if you like it, and if so, buy the system yourself for at home manicures...it pays for itself in 3 at home applications. (Oh, how I enable!)
--I use the foundation and top-it-off coats for a clear nail polish look. It's also lovely as a “basecoat” for regular polish if I happen to get tired of a nude look. Removal of the regular nail polish won't “hurt” the Gelish, although over time if this process is done over and over, it will eventually weaken/dull the glassy finish.
--Gelish adds reinforcement to my otherwise weak/thin/peely nails so that they're super strong and able to grow to whatever length I desire. (I usually like them oval shaped and a few mm past my finger tip.)
--Fast. The application process for both hands is under 10 minutes. With removal, (foil method with pure acetone) it's no longer than a full, regular manicure with dry time.
--For the standard, light, sheer milky pink, try one coat of Pink Smoothies...it's lovely and equates to Shellac's Romantique...both of which are very similar to (but more pink) than OPI's Bubble Bath.
--Gelish is thicker and stronger than Shellac. It's also less expensive and imo, finishes more glassy smooth. I prefer Gelish over Shellac because of the added strength it gives my nails, the price and the fact that I feel it lasts longer on me.
--Like with any polish, there is a learning curve...one well worth and not difficult to master.
--You don't need the pH bond or the stuff to wipe off the tacky finish after it's cured...regular alcohol on a cotton ball is just fine.
--Make sure you gently buff the surface of the Gelish before removal with 100% acetone and the foil method.
--Darker colors require several thin coats. I think I use between 3 & 4 for Bella's Vampire and cure for one minute in the LED after each coat. For lighter, sheerer colors like Pink Smoothies, it's cured in 30 sec with the LED.
--If you have extra weak nails, or you just can't help peeling off Gelish and destroying your nail beneath: Gelish makes a product called "structure" to help add strength to the soak-off system. It's priced about the same as the other steps and you apply in between the foundation coat and the color coat. Keep in mind that you will need to supply your own brush to apply it with.
12 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -TiGi - Rockaholic Dry Shampoo
youwillneverfindme 2/16/2012 10:14:00 AM
Nope. A formula that is white and even turns light brown/dark blonde hair grayish in combination with a can that lets the product leak/evaporate makes an expensive product (about $19 at the salon) for only 3-4 uses. The slightly citrus/powdery scent is fine, nothing I'm overly crazy about but nothing overpowering offensive by any means and the product does it's job...that's if you can comb/rub away the white powdery effect it leaves on hair...making hair look dull (not just sopping up oil, but actually taking the shine away from hair (which is the nature of dry shampoos...but Dirty Secret makes hair so dull looking)). I've used Dirty Secret on my dyed black hair, as well as my natural level 7.
You can find this online for as little as $12-ish...the salon charged me $19. The white-ish look and slightly dulling aspects are effects that seem to be in the nature of dry shampoos each to varying degrees. Compared to my only other foray into dry shampoos (Pssssst! By Freeman, from Walmart and less than $5 a can)...Dirty Secret has much room for improvement. Other oily hair techniques I've used are using a face powder (oddly, a cheap Cover Girl compact seems to be the most effective option I've tried yet, if I have the time to apply it all over)...and Psssst!, which does what I need it to, is cheap, fast and something I'll probably keep on hand.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Moroccanoil - Moroccan Oil
youwillneverfindme 2/16/2012 3:14:00 AM
I ended up giving this away. It really didn't do anything for my hair, didn't make it more manageable or seemingly more healthy no matter how I used it (and I never seemed to be able to use enough on the ends to make a difference) but it didn't weigh it down or make it greasy. Granted, my hair doesn't respond to much to things like this and it tends to just drink this kind of stuff, so I suppose it isn't much of a surprise.
Packing is ok. The larger bottle is heavy glass with a reclosable pump bottle (yet mine still leaked). The smaller travel/sample size is also glass with a screw on cap.
This is coming from a fan of incense: the scent was something I enjoyed initially but it quickly became overpowering and gross...sort of a mildew, earthy, head shop kind of scent. (I'd far prefer something fresh smelling on my hair.)
My hair: bsl, very damaged bottom 2 inches, the rest is color treated but healthy, shiny, soft. poofy, fine waves.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Wen by Chaz Dean - Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner
youwillneverfindme 12/6/2011 3:17:00 AM
The Short:
I like Wen for the most part but won’t repurchase because the only thing it does beyond my usual shampoo and conditioner is make my hair softer. (And we aren’t talking about high class or salon stuff, I use Suave and Vo5!). That’s it.
The Long:
I like the idea of cleansing shampoos and co-wash, but to date, I’ve never had luck. Wen at least cleanses my hair, but I still need to wash daily due to oily roots. My ends are still frizzy and my waves/slight curls still need to be defined. Air drying produces “flat roots” that I must purposefully fluff to avoid a greasy look (even though they’re not greasy) and blow drying is the same as my normal shampoo/conditioner. I dislike how long it takes to use the product in the shower...I live in an apartment and have (maybe) ten minutes of hot water...the majority of which I spend working Wen in and rinsing. I like the re-closable pump for traveling but also dislike the price and the fact that I can't find it in a retail store, and I'm not a huge fan of the minty scent which seems to smell slightly medicinal to me.
My Hair:
In a state of growing out again: shoulder length, fine, normal thickness, huge body with waves all over and curls underneath, I straighten it frequently with a blowdryer and round brush and use a curling iron to polish off the style if needed.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Styling Tools -Conair - Infiniti Spin Air Brush
youwillneverfindme 12/6/2011 3:09:00 AM
Whew, $60 for this thing at Target...thank goodness I can return, which I will be doing after my third attempt using this. I feel like this is a bulky device that doesn’t have enough power to dry my hair in a reasonable amount of time (my normal blow-dry with a round brush is just under 20 minutes for shoulder length, fine, wavy, medium density hair). There’s a learning curve to using the two buttons to make the brush spin (it’s nice that it can spin either way for those of us that aren’t as ambidextrous as others), and you can always opt not to use the spinning feature, and simply rotate the tool with your wrist, as you would with a round brush (but then, why not just buy a less expensive air-brush at that point?) The tool is large, my small hand doesn’t fit all the way around the handle but I didn’t have an issue with the product’s weight, like a few others have mentioned. IMO, it’s not any heavier than a regular blow dryer. The tool comes with a cover to protect the soft bristles during storage or travel (I quite like this idea) and as another reviewer mentioned, the bristles are soft, and do a decent job at grabbing my hair (although, I could stand a little more grip to create more tension). The overall look of this brush is nice...nothing super amazing but certainly nothing childish looking or to be embarrassed about.
So a score of 2 because of the super long drying time, the bulkiness and the fact that it didn’t seem to smooth my hair or make it shiny (my expensive round brush and hair dyer do an excellent job and this hot brush just can’t compare).
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Burt's Bees - Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream
youwillneverfindme 6/20/2011 4:25:00 PM
This stuff is ok, I doubt I’ll rebuy. Since it seems to matter to people, I have the $6-7, silver tin. It’s quite hard and waxy, much more a balm than a cream and I don’t feel like it really absorbs into my skin, but it does seem to help unsightly dry skin (cuticles or calluses), I’ve also used this on my lips in a pinch. The lemon scent is a little on the heavy side but not disagreeable. As others have mentioned, the packaging is less than desirable; the lid is nearly impossible to remove if you’ve got the product on your fingers, and difficult to remove with clean, dry hands. HOWEVER, I’ve remedied this by pushing in the little knobs on the side of the tin with some pliers…not flatten them completely so that the lid falls off, but just smash them down a bit so that the lid isn’t so impossible to remove.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Mimosas for Mr and Mrs
youwillneverfindme 5/30/2011 8:08:00 PM
This needs 3 coats and even then, still looks slightly uneven so I won’t be repurchasing. Yes, using the “right” basecoat can help along with a very delicate application, but what a pain. The color is perfect, on my tanned nw25ish tips it’s a slightly dusky milky, cool toned light beige-pink. Bubble Bath might be it’s more clear cousin (meaning that there’s no duskiness to BB). OPI's bottles are such a pain as well, you *must* store them upright or else the brush becomes cemented onto the bottle. I’ll try to struggle through my bottle but I won’t repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - designer skin obsidian
youwillneverfindme 5/10/2011 6:24:00 AM
Being an indoor tanning newb, I splurged on what seemed to be one of the best lotions out there. I’m not disappointed but there is *no way* I’d pay the retail price. Would I buy again?...in theory, yes, but I think next time around, I'm going to try a different lotion...there are two others I have my eye on. OVERALL: I’m happy with this lotion for the price I paid…I would never pay retail for it. The color is nice, not too orange on my pale self, not a fan of the scent and the packaging is so gaudy. The warming sensation is nice, especially on those colder/overcast days, but for those who are sensitive you might want to try a sample pack at first and definitely, for everyone, be careful using this around the eyes. Definitely worth a try if you can find a deal. PRICE: 13.5 oz for $120ish at salons. $40 on the right website. I have been instructed *never* to buy lotions at salons because they’re so horribly overpriced. I suppose, like anything, if you don’t buy an item from a “reputable” dealer, you run the risk of something not being authentic etc etc etc. I would NEVER pay $120 for a bottle of lotion…La Mer or Designer Skin! PACKAGING: Gaudy to the point it’s embarrassing, which is inexcusable for a $120ish bottle. Wide and flat and just a bit smaller than my open hand, it’s a black bottle with black glitter with iridescent silver glitter sprinkled here and there. There a thick plastic shrink wrap over the glitter with the label/ingredients printed on it. Over this plastic wrap, there is a hanging, plastic plaque glued to the bottle with “Obsidian, Designer Skin, 30x bronzing matrix” printed on it, a black twine hangs the plaque around the neck bottle. All this extra packaging (the shrink wrap, the plaque) got in the way, not to mentioned cheapened the overall appearance of the bottle; I ended up ripping it off so that it was just the bottle with glitter…my mistake, the glitter, of course, comes off everywhere. *sigh*. I would have much preferred classy, sleek packaging (something akin to Chanel or MAC) without all the fanfare. I like the way the bottle fits in my hand and the easy to grasp, black, screw on cap, but that’s about it. SCENT: Fake peaches, *very* fruity and not subtle…your perfume will compete with this. I don’t hate the scent, but I don’t like it either, you’re stuck with it until you wash it off. USE: I only use this on the parts of my body that seem to have difficulty tanning/hanging onto a tan: the tops of my feet, lower legs, tops of my arms, chest, neck and face (yes I use it on my face…some people would recommend otherwise). Because this lotion has bronzers in it (read: self tanners), you need to leave it on for at least 4 hours after you tan. CONSISTENCY: Silky, hydrating, light as air lotion…such a nice finish and it leaves my skin feeling lovely. I wish my day to day body lotions felt like this. COLOR: A nice, somewhat convincing bronze, not too orangey but it’s no substitute for the outdoor sun (no lotion + sunbed is going to give you the kind of color that natural sunshine will). It’s taken me 3 uses to see reasonable color change (I attribute this to my skin and coloring, see “about me” if interested). In 2 weeks, I’m darker than I have been since I was a kid and my difficult to tan areas (feet and lower legs) are almost the same color as my stomach, back and upper thighs (the parts that *everyone* tans darker and faster on, it seems). The warming effect is nice…I could do without to be sure, but it just adds to the tanning experience. The bronzers do wash away as typical self tanners do, just note that they don’t last as long as your suntan.
ABOUT ME: Tanning newb. Celtic ethnicity…I’m pink and pale (nw15 in my natural state). I’m difficult to tan (usually starting out with a sunburn when I’m super pale and then gradually work up tolerance) and when I do tan, I tan with a real peachy color in the natural sun. It's taken me about two months of indoor tanning for me to build up to "tan for me" status, a color I'm happy with for the warm months, but for those that tan easily, I'm no where near as dark as you may get. MAC nw25ish now.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -China Glaze - Crackle Glaze - Black Mesh
youwillneverfindme 5/10/2011 4:49:00 AM
I was part of the crowd that didn’t understand the insanity for crackles, and truth be told, I still don’t, except for the black crackle over nude…my favorite is a pearly nude, like China Glaze’s Heaven. Chic and modern in an avant-garde, post-apoc kind of way, rivetheads and goths, you *need* this.
I favor the look that a medium-thin application yields; longer slivers mostly running the length of the nail instead of the chunkier cube-like appearance that a thicker application yields. Experiment with the application until you find the result you like but note, your application technique will change as the bottle dries out. Finish with a top coat if you’d like, worn alone, the black has a grungy matte look.
The polish does seem to dry out quickly, both in the bottle and on the brush hence, application techniques will vary depending on your preferences and how goopy the nail polish is. I’ve used this polish for a few weeks so far (6 applications, due to experimentation, not wear of the polish) and will update as application changes due thickening/thinning (when thinning a polish, use an actual thinner like Salon Secrets from Sally’s, not a nail polish remover).
Wear, of course, is subject to the polish that you have on underneath the Black Mesh. Obviously, chips sort of add to the look. Dry time is super fast, under five minutes. The crackle effect does not work on naked nails...you must have a coat of polish underneath (at least, it doesn't work on my naked nails).
Roughly $5 and lately, is part of my favorite look. I love Black Mesh and hope ChG makes this a permanent part of their line.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No