Shampoo -Garnier - Pure-Clean
BCbabe 5/10/2012 10:17:00 AM
I bought this for my kids. I loved that it was 'biodegradable', 'no silicones, no parabens, no dyes' but I'm not loving the results. My daughter's hair looks dirty much faster using this than with anything else. A more appropriate name would be "Pure String" because that's what it does to my daughter's hair - it makes it looks stringy and gross. No repurchase from me.
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Polishes -Color Club - Blue-Ming
BCbabe 5/9/2012 12:38:00 PM
Ahh, finally! THIS is what I wanted China Glaze For Audrey to be. I've been on a hunt for the perfect light clear aqua ever since and after going through half a dozen "light aquas" that ended up being chalky, muted or just made my hands look dirty, Color Club finally releases Blue-Ming which has a clearer pop of colour and is far more flattering to my skintone. It's about time. Thank you, Color Club! I would definitely get this one again.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Nails -Unlisted Brand - Roux Clean Touch
BCbabe 3/13/2012 1:51:00 PM
I've already reviewed this under "Hair" but it really deserves a listing under "Nails" as well, as it works amazingly well at removing nail polish stains. You know those polishes... they're usually blue or sometimes green (but can be other shades as well)... the ones that stain like the dickens when you try to remove them? Finger Paints Blue Raspberry Taffy was my latest problem child. I could not believe the horrid staining on my skin and nails. Out came the Roux Clean Touch. Squirt some on a felt square (it's 'scrubbier' than a cotton pad) and scrub away, and you'll be surprised how quickly it works at removing virtually everything. I only had one tiny spot on one nail that needed a buff from a buffing block, but other than that, I was *clean*. No more bleach, no more peroxide or lemon juice or whatever else might help "a little"... this stuff works. I found mine at Sally in the hair dye aisle. Comes in two sizes at a reasonable price. It's meant for removing hair dye stains BUT it does so much more, and it's gentle on skin.
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Moisturizers -Coastal Scents - Raw Virgin Coconut Oil
BCbabe 3/7/2012 1:57:00 AM
Not to be confused with regular (and edible) virgin coconut oil, or the fractionated version. (I love and use all 3 forms). This here is in a more raw, unrefined state. The scent is not that sweet coconut scent you might expect. It's much more earthy, so be warned, (though my husband can always smell the coconut when I use it...) but it's benefits are worth it. No heat or chemicals are used in it's extraction so it's very pure and natural. It also has a very long shelf life. According to the website: " Its main components are: lauric acid, myristic acid, coprylic acid, palmitic acid, oleic and linoleic acids. Raw Virgin Coconut Oil can be applied to skin and hair directly to protect from sun and wind damage. Raw Virgin Coconut Oil is high in natural antioxidants and protects skin from damaging free-radicals. It also helps keep skin firm and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Raw Virgin Coconut Oil can help heal and repair the skin and make the skin smoother and more evenly textured by removing the outer layer of dead skin cells." The packaging can be a bit of a bother, seeing as the product is in a soft-ish solid state. The cap of the bottle has such a tiny hole that had some problem getting it out of the bottle. I removed the lid and squeezed it into an empty body butter jar. (To get the remainder out I can simply put the bottle in a bowl of hot water to liquify it). It pretty much melts on contact with your skin. I found it might be a bit 'lumpy', not that there were lumps in it, but I guess parts melted faster than other, but once it's smoothed onto your skin, the lumps just melt and disappear. I like to use this at night and my skin seems more even toned and the oil more normalized. I seem to get less oil breakthrough during the day. I also like to run about a tsp. through the ends of my hair the night before I wash it, for added conditioning. It's also an awesome body moisturizer as well, especially on your legs right after shaving. It makes your legs so smooth! It's really multi-purpose and I love that it's so natural. It's found in the "Project Ghana" section of Coastal Scents and to be honest, I bought it and wasn't quite sure how to use it, so it sat in my closet for months before I tried it out and not I can't live without it.
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Lip Treatments -eos - Lip Balm Sphere - Summer Fruit
BCbabe 3/7/2012 1:04:00 AM
Kitschy packaging, mediocre moisturizing benefits, but nice fruity scent. These little lip balm 'orbs' seem to be popping up everywhere so one day while passing a display (with only one left) I decided to give it a whirl for $3.50. I want to give it a 2 1/2 lippies because it's not *that* bad but it won't replace my RoC Enydrial balm any time soon. Packaging is cute but rather bulky, and what happens when you get half way through the product? The applying surface would start to get pretty wide and messy, wouldn't it? I think the creators must have thought it was an original idea, but certainly not practical. The scent is the one thing it has going for it, like fresh peaches or nectarines. Aside from that, it's got all the allure of a mouth full of cotton candy... the thrill disappears pretty fast.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Orly - Fancy Fuchsia
BCbabe 1/24/2012 3:57:00 PM
Exactly what the other two reviewers stated... Barbie Pink! Really pretty girly colour that is borderline neon. I love how it doesn't wash my skintone out, but makes me look a little tan. I did have a bit of an issue with application since it was a little streaky and gloppy at the same time? I added thinner which definitely helped (Beauty Secrets brand at Sally). I probably could have gone with 2 coats but did 3 for good measure and I adore the results.
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Eyeliner -E.L.F. - Cream Eyeliner - Plum Purple
BCbabe 10/15/2011 7:34:00 PM
I stumbled across this the other day at Winners in Canada. There were a black and a gunmetal one already out of their packages and bastardized... gosh, why do people do that?? I found ONE that wasn't opened and it was Plum Purple and it was too pretty not to try for $4.99. The shade is a gorgeous deep, well, plum purple. (A fitting name!) Not quite deep enough for my taste to line with but just add a darker pencil liner underneath (which I tend to do anyways) and it's perfect. Fairly creamy, and I agree with the reviewer that said these are not quite as creamy as MAC but similar to the Maybelline ones. I would definitely buy these again, in fact I hope to find more (untampered!) colours at another Winners. ps - I didn't try the brush it comes with since it's an angled liner though perhaps I should give it a try. I prefer the tiny concealer type brushes like the one from Quo, or the MAC 211.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - Dazzling Khaki Chrome Shine
BCbabe 10/15/2011 7:22:00 PM
I'm trying to remember how I stumbled across this little gem. I think I was doing a search for Fyrinnae swatches and found a swatch of THIS. I've heard of Erika F and seen pics and read the raves. It sounded right up my khaki-lovin' alley but it wan't available in Canada. When I found the pics of the L'Oreal equivalent, I did a search and found some on Amazon.uk and quickly ordered since there were only 6 left at the time. Well, now it's here and I've worn it for the past few days and it's true love. First off, if you don't like sparklies, you won't like this. It has a lot of very find sparkles but that's partially why I got it because it's so pretty! The shade is a cool khaki/taupe/grey. It's actually a little more pigmented than I thought it would be, but I don't have the Lancome version to compare, but I'm quite happy with the pigmentation. And I must add... I'm glad I ordered 2! Would I buy again? I already did. :)
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Self Tanners -Clarins - Delectable Self Tanning Mousse with Mirabelle Oil SPF 15
BCbabe 10/9/2011 1:54:00 PM
I'm also surprised at the negative reviews. I really, really like t his, especially for my face! The scent, the whipped texture, the colour... I was using this on my face and body during the summer and I love the beautiful texture. It blends (or should I say melts) in beautifully, gives a nice golden tan shade (though on me I wish it would go darker, hence the 4 stars). I only noticed a 'streak' one time, but the texture is lovely and you just have to be diligent to rub it in evenly. Any self tanner will streak if applied incorrectly or in too much of a rush. Anyways, since summer is over and the shorts are put away, I use this just on my face and chest, sometimes arms, and it helps keep my tan going. On my face, I was initially hesitant to use it due to the moisturizing texture and the Mirabelle Oil BUT if anything I feel less greasy using it. Weird but true, but Clarins does carry a line of face an body 'oils' for all skin types so they seem to be pretty on the ball with this type of product. I'll sometimes use this twice a day, morning and night, and there have been no skin issues whatsoever and in the morning my skin feels *SO* soft, it's amazing. I already have a 2nd jar set aside for then this one runs out.
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Eyeliner -Milani - Infinite Liquid Eye Liner
BCbabe 10/8/2011 6:16:00 PM
Wow, is this just MAC Liquidlast liner in a cheaper packaging? It totally reminds me of this! I have lots of shades of MAC Liquidlast and the second I opened this baby up, it reminded me of it. Somewhat thick, densely pigmented, almost a liquid plastic-y consistency, but boy does this wear well! It isn't the easiest to apply due to the thickishness (?) of it. Careful near your lashes when you apply this because it can cause some lashes to glue together if you're not, but if you have the patience and want something that will last through anything including a heavy workout or swimming, give this a try. I only saw the black at Fred Meyer when I went but I know there are more shades out there. For the price, this is a steal.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -MAC - Fluidline - Avenue
BCbabe 9/26/2011 11:55:00 AM
Avenue is gorgeous. When I first stepped into the MAC store, I was actually looking for the Genuine Treasure Paint Pot, but they were sold out. Sadly, I looked around for something else to capture my interest (I hadn't come all this way for *nothing*, LOL!) and found the Fluidlines. Avenue, having been used, looked like a dark metallic bronze in the pot due to the load of tiny gold microglitter. When you first look at a new unused one, it just looks like a dark cool brown, but dip your brush and you'll see the tiny sparkles. On the eyes though, it's a softer, less metallic look with a very subtle glimmer. Definitely suitable for day and a nice softer alternative to black. It would be nice if MAC kept this one as a core shade because it really is lovely.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Joico - K-Pak Intense Hydrator
BCbabe 9/14/2011 10:39:00 PM
I love, love, LOVE this stuff! Thanks to the reviews here I decided to hunt this down and give it a try and it does not disappoint. I have long, almost waist length hair. It's fine, blonde, and there's a lot if it, with a naturally wavy texure that I flat iron 2-3x/week. I'm picky about the condition of my hair and this, used as a bi-weekly treatment is awesome at helping retain softness, moisture and manageability. Unlike the deep penetrating reconstructor, which has a weird banana-like smell and texture that just wants to slide off your hair, this is thick and rich and much easier to work with. I leave it in for at least a few minutes before rinsing and it works great as a detangler too. I seem to get less split ends when I use this as well, so it's definitely something I want to keep using. I only wish I'd discovered it sooner so I wouldn't have wasted my money on those bottles of stuff that I now don't want to use.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Perfection Volumizing Mascara
BCbabe 9/14/2011 10:15:00 AM
I'm surprised, it's not bad! CoverGirl isn't typically the brand I run to for *anything* but I was given this one to try so I had nothing to lose... It gives decent volume and length and the colour is nice and dark (you'd hope so for blackest black) and it doesn't take a lot of effort to get it to show up (as in, you don't need to dip a meeellion times to get anything onto the brush and onto your lashes, AKA most Almay & Revlon mascaras). I wouldn't call this a HG but for every day it does the job and does it well. The formula is good... I just need a little more volume and va-voom.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Revlon - Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara
BCbabe 9/9/2011 3:19:00 PM
Meh! I'll start off by saying that I tried the original Grow Luscious... twice!... and tossed it both times. The brush is *huge* so you'd think you'd get a lot of volume but it didn't work for me at all. Maybe I'm just unlucky because it seems every mascara from Revlon I ever try is dried out before I even open the package? Onto the Plumping version. The brush reminds me of a larger Lancome Definicils brush - has the same kind of straight taper. The formula, miraculously wasn't dried out and it did apply well but really didn't produce the volume I wanted. It clumps my lashes together a bit but not too badly. It's not horrible but it's not stellar either. I would not buy again.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Lancome - Hypnose Doll Lashes
BCbabe 9/6/2011 9:50:00 AM
Disappointing to say the least. The brush is what does it in for me. The bristles on the wide end are too long and don't even seem to pick up any mascara at all. You'd think by looking at the brush that the smaller tip would get the tiny inner lashes and the larger end would plump up the outter lashes and that is so NOT the case. I had to go over my outter lashes with the smaller tip to get anything on them at all. Strange concept of a brush. The smaller tip is good for the little lower lashes and you can get it to work for you top outter lashes but what a waste of 1/2 a brush. Regular Hypnose is much better.
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