Lip Gloss -E.L.F. - Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Maple Sugar
Sanzibar 5/3/2011 3:21:00 PM
These Luscious Liquid Lipsticks are my favorite product by E.L.F. I use these every day. It has a very smooth texture, tinted but sheer and gives the lips a nice shine. It isn't gloopy, sticky or drying and I don't mind reapplying. It's an ideal item for me because I prefer to focus on my eye make up and wear neutral lip colors. Maple Sugar is a perfect pink/brown neutral for me. There may not be a ton of product but these are so cheap I can easily stock up. I keep them in my desk at work, at home and in my make up bag. It's so sheer & flattering, I'm planning to try many more colors.
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Blush -E.L.F. - Studio Blush in Candid Coral
Sanzibar 5/3/2011 2:51:00 PM
I bought this blush based strictly on the reviews. With cool toned skin and pink undertones, I thought this would be much too orange for my complexion. Instead, it's a much more neutral color and very flattering. The shimmer isn't over the top for me. I apply my blush with a light hand and I don't mind reapplying a later so I can't speak to staying power. I'm sure this could be easily layered for even more color if that's the look you're going for. Easily one of my best purchases from E.L.F.
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Hair Styling Tools -Conair - Styling Essentials Pillow Soft Rollers
Sanzibar 5/3/2011 12:23:00 PM
My hair is long, thin, layered, straight, dry and color treated. I try to keep heat styling to a minimum but I can't just wash and go either. Hot rollers don't hold a curl in my hair. Velcro rollers work ok but I can't sleep in them. I bought 2 sets of these foam rollers several years ago so but I didn't use them often. I don't know why I stopped because they are great. Probably because I thought the next curling iron or set of hot rollers would be better. The best thing about them is you can easily vary the type of curl you get. You can also use a setting spray if you want. Using them on very damp hair and sleeping in them will produce the tightest curl. Using many rollers and and wrapping small sections of twisted hair tightly will produce springy coils. Using them on nearly dry hair, wrapping larger sections of hair more loosely and sleeping in them will give you big, loose curls. The curl really lasts too, even in my very difficult to curl hair. The rollers don't take long to put, just wrap & twist, in but I don't think they'd be very effective without leaving them in overnight. The downside is they obviously don't work as quickly as heat styling appliances. The other short fall I see is that the cushion part of the roller is fairly short which I compensate for by just using more rollers. They produce curls, not volume so I often set the top of my hair in large velcro rollers. They are very comfortable to sleep in and easy to remove. I bought mine at Walgreens and I just saw them on sale, $6 for a set of 18. Sometimes, old school works better. It may take some experimenting to find out what works in your hair but I definitely think these are worth a try if you have the time.
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Concealers -Ulta - Secret Weapon
Sanzibar 5/3/2011 11:13:00 AM
Because I have horrible dark, purple-blue under eye circles I am always trying new concealers. I bought this on sale at Ulta in both the fair and light shades. The fair is a good color match and I can use it alone but the light actually works better for me because it seems to have a yellow tint. After moisturizing and applying primer, I pat this on under my eyes lightly with my fingertip. It has a very creamy texture which blends easily. It's heavier than a liquid concealer but lighter than a stick version which seems the best consistancy to me. It covers well, not perfectly but I am still learning to work with it. If I use the light though, I must even out out the color with foundation or a little fair concealer. My favorite way of using it now is to set this with fair mineral concealer powder (I'm using E.L.F.) applied with a concealer brush. Yes, there is some settling in my fine lines but I haven't found anything yet which doesn't do that so I won't blame the product. I think this concealer is definitely worth a try so I gave it 4 lippies for the texture, fine packaging and the price for which you get a good amount of product, in my opinion. It should blend easily to cover other areas of the face too but my primary use is for undereye circles. The major downside is the very limited color selection, only 3 last time I checked.
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Cleansers -Ponds - Deep Cleanser Cold Cream
Sanzibar 4/21/2011 12:55:00 PM
I tried Pond's classic cold cream last summer for the first time. While it effectively removed make-up, it just felt too heavy for me. My basic cleansing routine is Dove soap followed by witch hazel and then moisturizer or night cream. I remove my eye make-up with a natural oil ... Vitamin E or sweet almond. Lately, I haven't been happy with my skin's appearance. I've been playing around with new make-up and wearing foundation more than usual. I decided to try the Ponds again. I massaged it into my skin, let it work for a couple minutes and then wiped it all off with a tissue. I still prefer the oils for eye make up remover. I rinsed my face with warm water, dried and applied my witch hazel toner to make sure my face was clean. My face felt velvety soft but not greasy. I applied my night cream as usual with no problems. I'll stick with my Dove & witch hazel routine for mornings but I will be using Ponds when removing heavier make-up at night. It's a bit more expensive than I remembered though you really don't need to apply a lot. I like jars because I can use every bit of product. Sanitary concerns can be eliminated by just washing your hands. Right now, it's a definite re-purchase for me.
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Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Proclaim - Natural 7 Oil With Argan Oil
Sanzibar 3/9/2011 10:16:00 AM
I prefer body oils to body lotion but I have some requirements for them. This one meets them all. It softens my skin, absorbs easily, does not leave my skin feeling greasy, and has a light but pleasant scent. I apply it daily after my shower but I've used it long enough now, I have skipped a day and my skin still felt soft. I like that this oil is light enough, I can apply my scented body lotion over it and it still works with my skin. My skin is looking better overall and my nails are in very good shape compared to how they were. The k.p. on my upper arms has not disappeared but I do think the bumps are smaller and not as red. It comes in a bottle with a pump spray which is more convenient than the flip tops most oils come with. I may spray a little on my body but I usually just spray it into my palm and apply all over. I haven't tried it in my hair yet. I will definitely buy it again. 5/3/11 UPDATE: I've now used this in my hair several times and I love it. Like any oil, you only want to use a very small amount and I don't use on my roots. I can use it as a leave in conditioner in wet hair. On dry hair, I rub a small amount between my palms and rub lightly over my hair, concentrating on the ends to control the frizziness and dryness. It leaves my hair shiny and soft. This is really a great, economical product with many uses.
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Mascara -Physicians Formula - Plentifull mascara
Sanzibar 2/24/2011 2:23:00 PM
I bought 2 of these on sale at Ulta in black. Typically I prefer waterproof mascaras but since I've heard they're bad for your lashes, I'm trying other formulas. This is an ok mascara. Leaves my lashes soft. No clumping, smudging or flaking. It lengthens my lashes well but I don't get much volumizing with it. Some volume, just not as much as I expected from the product description. The curl fades during the day. Naturally the first day I wore it I got teary eyed. Does not hold up to tears at all ... lol. I use it this way to make it work for me. I curl my lashes & then apply 2 coats of this. I top it off with a coat of waterproof mascara. It holds the curl much better. Still no flaking or smudging and I feel like it's easier on my lashes. I'm not sure if I'd re-purchase or not. I've made it work but I still wish it gave me more volume.
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Blush -E.L.F. - Studio Cream Blush
Sanzibar 2/24/2011 2:10:00 PM
I bought this in Tease, a dusky peachy/rose color. It works well for my fair/cool toned skin. The texture is hard to describe because it feels somewhere in between a cream and a powder. It's different from any other cream blush I've tried as far as the feel. It's definititely buildable and it lasted the day for me. The packaging is clunky but you do get a lot of product. I make sure I seal it tightly after use because I'm concerned it will dry out and be un-useable. If it doesn't dry out in the container, I'll up this to 5 lippies.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Unlisted Brand - Summer's Eve - Bath & Shower Gel for sensitive skin
Sanzibar 2/24/2011 1:54:00 PM
I don't know why I ever stopped using this. I recently re-purchased and won't be without it again. I think it should be a HG for every woman. It provides gentle & effective cleansing for sensitive skin. Other soaps can be irritating for me. For some reason, ordinary soap doesn't seem as effective to me when it comes to freshness. and I've found nothing to control odor like this one does. It's one of the few products I don't think I'd want to try in the generic version because I'm so satisfied with the original. This is an area where I don't want to risk any irritation. My only complaint is I wish I could have bought the unscented but it was out. I got some floral scent which I really don't notice much, I just prefer unscented.
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Liquid -Neutrogena - Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup SPF 20
Sanzibar 2/24/2011 1:39:00 PM
I've been trying a variety of different makeup products to find what works best with my drier mature skin. I wanted to try a liquid foundation but I had no idea which one to choose. After reading the reviews I decided to try the Neutrogena. My face is fair in the winter and somewhat darker in the summer. Since I couldn't find the exact shade I thought looked best, I decided to try blending two. My reasoning was I can adjust the color as necessary. I got #20 & #40 and I think the match is very good. So far I've only applied with my fingers but I think a damp sponge would be better. I applied primer first and I set the foundation with powder and I haven't noticed it rubbing off alot. To my eye, the coverage is light to medium and looks natural. My skin hasn't broken out and it hasn't felt any drier. I couldn't decide on a rating since I don't really have much to compare it to but I'd go for 4.5 stars. I would repurchase this as the color worked, it's a decent product and it's reasonably priced.
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Masks -Queen Helene - Mud Pack Face Mask
Sanzibar 2/12/2011 11:16:00 PM
After reading all the rave reviews about this mask, I had to try it. It was a bargain at Sally's and the tub will last me quite awhile. I prefer the tub to the tube. I don't see any problem with contamination as long as your hands are clean. I've had my tub about 6 months and there's no sign of it drying out either. The mask has a perfumey rose scent which I happen to like. Maybe because it reminds me of something my grandma would use. After using the mask, my skin is left feeling smooth & soft. It's also gentle enough I can use it a few times a week. My skin definitely looks better after I use this and I will re-buy.
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Masks -Queen Helene - Mint Julep Masque
Sanzibar 2/12/2011 10:58:00 PM
This is one of those products which I wasn't sure was doing much for my skin, until I stopped using it. At 50, my skin isn't quite as prone to breaking out as it was when I was younger. I will still get pimples if I don't cleanse my skin thoroughly. After reading all the great reviews, I bought a tub at Sally's. I didn't mind the scent, it felt good on my face and I did think my pores appeared a bit smaller after use. Today I realized the pores on my nose weren't looking so great. I remembered I hadn't used this for a couple weeks so I got it out again. My face felt clean & smooth and I did see smaller pores again. It's gentle enough I can use this a couple times a week. It may not perform miracles but it definitely does it's job. The tub was cheap and will last quite a while even though I apply it quite liberally to my face & neck. I won't be forgetting to use it again and I will re-buy. I alternate it with QH's mud mask.
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Treatments -The Body Shop - Peppermint Cooling Foot Rescue Treatment
Sanzibar 2/12/2011 10:42:00 PM
As a moisturizer, this is ok but not the greatest. It is a wonderful foot treatment though! Walking the dogs nightly in this weather means wearing heavy boots while I trudge through the snow and over the ice. By the time we get home, my feet are sore & tired. After applying this peppermint foot cream, my feet feel refreshed and relaxed. I would buy it again for that reason alone.
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Concealers -E.L.F. - Tone Correcting Concealer
Sanzibar 2/9/2011 1:06:00 PM
This really doesn't qualify as a concealer for me. The color match wasn't bad. It just doesn't work to cover up my dark, blueish/gray undereye circles. I got a little coverage but nothing lasting. I thought the packaging was fine but it did dry out rather quickly in my opinion. Cheap but not worth another try for me. Still on the search for the ideal concealer.
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Hair Styling Tools -Revlon - Revlon Ionic Hot Air Styler Kit
Sanzibar 2/8/2011 11:18:00 AM
I think this is the same Revlon styler/dryer I have. It's white with a bristle brush attatchment, a small hard plastic bristle brush and a concentrator. Also has the ion feature. I paid about $30 for it at Target last summer. I always let my long hair dry in my hair towel for an hour or two before I dry & style. If I don't have much time, I will partially dry my hair with my regular hair dryer and then finish up with the styler. I only use the bristle brush attachement. My hair is too long for the smaller one & I have no need for the concentrator as my hair is not wet, just damp. I always use the ion feature and my hair is less frizzy & it is shiny. I can finish drying my hair & styling in about 10 minutes. I get really nice body, some wave & curl in my hair and it looks great. It's much easier for me than working with a dryer & round brush. BUT ... I gave it a high rating because I love how my hair looks after I use this. The noise is horrendous. I can only use it on the low setting as the noise is at least tolerable then. It works for me because I'm using it to finish my hair rather than completely dry it. I still would probably buy it again but I wish they could do something about the noise factor!
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