Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - Face Secrets Facial Cleansing Brush
BonChicBonGenre 10/22/2009 5:10:00 PM
I just bought this at Sally's and am *thrilled*! I couldn't find the long-handled version from The Body Shop (which was too rough, anyway) and chanced upon this at Sally's. I figured for $1.99, it couldn't hurt to try it out. It is so soft and not scratchy at all! I used to have to run the TBS brush under very hot water to soften the bristles, but I don't have to at all with this one. It is perfectly soft. It's soft enough that it doesn't scratch my skin, but textured enough that it really foams up your cleanser and feels like it's helping to gently exfoliate. I've tried the Shiseido face brush (with the little massaging nubs) and thought that the Shiseido brush was too soft - it was akin to just rubbing cleanser on with your hands, I felt. I like a brush that feels as though it's getting make up off, and as far as I'm concerned this the perfect texture. The only complaint that I have about this is that there is a narrow little hole at the end of the handle, but no rope looped through for you to hang this anywhere in the shower. And the hole is too narrow to thread it onto my shower caddy, so I have to place it somewhere in the shower. A minor complaint, but there it is.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -The Body Shop - Exfoliating Skin Towel
BonChicBonGenre 10/19/2009 9:36:00 PM
When I saw this at The Body Shop I laughed out loud. These are the towels that my family has been using forever. My mom used to buy these from the Asian grocery store - three in a pack for about $3. They are great because they foam soap up and exfoliate your skin really nicely and then dry completely very quickly, so bacteria don't accumulate. I use this at the gym, and when I'm done showering I pop it into the centrifuge for swimsuits and it's dry in a few seconds! I'm sure that my genes are mostly responsible for the skin on my body, but I gotta brag a little bit and say that when people accidentally brush up against my arm, they actually recoil in surprise and compliment how soft my skin is. :) I credit using these washcloths my entire life for that.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -The Body Shop - Facial Brush
BonChicBonGenre 10/19/2009 9:31:00 PM
This product with the long handle is dc'd, I believe. They have replaced this with a brush with a little knob on the other side instead of a handle. Unfortunately, my brush with a handle fell out of the shower caddy and broke in half at the head and I had to replace with the one with a knob instead of handle. Here's the thing with these face brushes - the plastic bristles are too harsh/hard. But the one with the handle could be softened by running under *EXTREMELY* hot water for a few seconds, softening the bristles. The one with the knob cannot be softened because you burn your hand, even if you run the water onto the side of the head. :(
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Ecotools - Powder Brush
BonChicBonGenre 10/19/2009 7:34:00 PM
I've had this for a few years and it just isn't full and fluffy enough. If you were to cut a cross-section of the ferrule, it would be in the shape of an oval, not round, so the brush itself is kind of flat. As large as the handle and as long as the hairs are, I'd expect this to be appropriate for applying powder, but because it isn't very full, it's better suited for applying blush. I've been using this everyday and making it work, but when I have more funds and time to research, I'll be investing in a better brush.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Burt's Bees - Fig Lip Shimmer
BonChicBonGenre 2/8/2009 8:56:00 PM
This is such a weird consistency! I swatched all of the testers and thought this one didn't look too crayon-y. The swatch was a sheer plum-brown and reminded me of Black Honey. When I put it on, it looked very pretty and didn't make me turn orange the way Black Honey does (score!). But when I looked again a few minutes later I had crayon-clown mouth. I looked like a little kid who got into mommy's makeup bag because I had pressed my lips together a few times. I'll keep this around, but I'll have to apply with a mirror and be careful not to rub my lips together too often.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Original (UDPP)
BonChicBonGenre 10/26/2008 9:36:00 PM
I agree with every other positive comment about this product. I want to add that it is also perfect for when you want to apply eyeshadow wet as a liner. Whenever I had tried that tip before it had never worked, but after UDPP I can apply *any* eyeshadow as a liner and it *stays* all day. (update) I just went swimming and my eyeshadow stayed on! This stuff is incredible.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Wet 'n' Wild - polish
BonChicBonGenre 6/23/2008 8:27:00 PM
I was really surprised by the negative comments on this polish so I decided to do a little experiment. I gave myself both a manicure and a pedicure using a brand new bottle of WnW Crystalic nail color in 474B (aka Royal Red). I first coated my nails with WnW base coat (which I have also reviewed) and then put on two layers of this red polish, allowing in-between drying time. I found the brush to be kind of awkward to handle and the texture to be a little too slick/watery. I ran out of my quick drying top coat so I topped the polish with regular Sally Hansen 10-day clear nail polish. On Day 1 I knicked several of my nails with a knife while chopping veggies, so I just spot covered those. On Day 4, both mani and pedi looked great, but my fingernails were getting that dull sheen, so I put another coat of clear to gloss them up and as additional protectant. On Day 6 my manicure began to wear and chip around the edge of the fingernails, and on Day 8 they looked ratty. But my pedicure lasted through Day 10 - no chips, no dull sheen, they looked great! I was even tempted to not get a pedicure for my sister's wedding because we were running out of time running wedding-related errands. I haven't noticed the polish getting thick but, previous bottles have lasted at least a few months before getting unmanageable.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Top/Base Coats -Wet 'n' Wild - Matte Finish base coat
BonChicBonGenre 5/21/2008 7:52:00 PM
I'm surprised WnW base coat isn't liked on this board. I've been using this stuff for years and have never had a problem. It applies evenly and dries to silky matte finish really quickly; by the time I've applied to both hands, it's time to apply the polish. The silky dried texture, in my opinion, helps the polish adhere better. When I don't use this, my polish chips off quickly. I have used more expensive base coats, but haven't found them to be so much more effective. And in my opinion, you have to use a top coat and apply a top coat every few days to really keep your manicure looking nice.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Everyday Minerals - Angled Blush & Contour Brush
BonChicBonGenre 2/27/2008 12:07:00 PM
This is the littlest blusher brush that could. It's designed to apply a sweep of color from your apple to your temples, but with a little blending it can apply color to just the apples, as well. The trick, IME, is to apply the blush in short little strokes instead of long sweeps, and then blending. The length of the brush from end to tip fits in the palm of my hand. I cleaned immediately upon receipt as I do all of my brushes. No dye washed out and even though the bristles are synthetic it still dried within 12 hours. I've used this to apply MAC Hushabye and then blend Light Flush over it, and it always turns out just great for my simple blush needs.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Clinique - Colour Surge Butter Shine Lipstick
BonChicBonGenre 2/4/2008 7:01:00 PM
I bought my first Buttershine about a month ago and have worn it at least 20 times. I totally don't get it. I thought this would have a gel-like, smooth consistency, and be moisturizing. When I put it on, nothing about the consistency surprised me - it felt just like any other sheer lipstick that you can buy. The circumference of the barrel is just too thick, though, to be packaged in this slant top applicator. The slanted flat top is too wide to apply straight onto your lips without making a clown face. And then the weirdest thing about this is how drying it is on my lips. Whenever I wear it, my lips turn really flaky by the end of the day, even when I wear it with balm. It's a pretty product, right down to the packaging, but I doubt I'll spend $15 on this again.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Clinique - Butter Shine - Crushed Grape
BonChicBonGenre 2/4/2008 6:58:00 PM
This was my first Buttershine and I gotta say, I totally don't get it. This particular color is a nice, cool, deep berry/wine shade that is pretty flattering on me, and goes on sheerly as I expected. But otherwise, this product just doesn't make any sense to me. I thought this would have a gel-like, smooth consistency, and be moisturizing. When I put it on, nothing about the consistency surprised me - it felt just like any other sheer lipstick that you can buy. The circumference of the barrel is just too thick, though, to be packaged in this slant top applicator. The slanted flat top is too wide to apply straight onto your lips without making a clown face. And then the weirdest thing about this is how drying it is on my lips. Whenever I wear it, my lips turn really flaky by the end of the day, even when I wear it with balm. It's a pretty product, right down to the packaging, but I doubt I'll spend $15 on this again.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -MAC - Sheertone Blush - Hushabye
BonChicBonGenre 2/3/2008 9:41:00 PM
I'm not a blush person. I mean, I love blush and I wear it everyday, but I'm not one of these people who has different blushes specifically for different seasons, or occasions, or outfits. I wear this blush, Hushabye Sheertone, everyday. It is a gorgeous very sheer berry color that suits my Asian NC30 skin tone (with yellow-olive undertones) absolutely perfectly. It looks like the color is coming from within, like a natural flush, instead of sitting on top of my skin. It looks very, very dark in the package but goes on very sheer and pretty. Last thing: it stays on allllll day without streaking or fading or anything. I love it and should I ever run out, would repurchase.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Alima - Foundation Brush 25
BonChicBonGenre 1/19/2008 3:09:00 PM
This brush really is unlike any other makeup brush I have ever encountered. It is incredibly dense and feels like you're applying your foundation with a big pouf of high quality velvet. The bristles don't seem to "hold" product like the natural bristle brushes. That is, you swirl it in the product and it picks it up, but then it releases it almost immediately onto your skin, so you have to apply a little at a time. It feels like the foundation is actually being buffed *into* your skin, instead of just being buffed on top of it. My skin almost looks creamy (I have acne scars) and it lasts all day. [6 MONTH EDIT: I've since noticed that the brush picks up and distributes more product when it gets a little older, and when the brush isn't too squeaky clean. I've also dabbed the brush into a spot of water on my hand and then used it to apply EM fdtn a little bit damp and have been *thrilled* with the results!] A note on cleaning: I clean all of my brushes first thing before using. When I washed this, a little bit of black dye came out, as the instructions warned. Because the bristles are so short, dense, and are synthetic, this brush takes a little longer to dry than my natural ones. I washed at night, shaped, and it was not completely dry the next morning. Once I spread the bristles a little more, it dried quickly. I'd say you have to give this at least 14 hours to dry, and perhaps flare the bristles a little to facilitate.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Milani - Rose Fetish
BonChicBonGenre 1/15/2008 7:16:00 PM
This purchase was one of the few times I bought w/o consulting P'ville first - I lucked out! I got at Walgreen's for only $4, and I find myself consistently reaching for this color. It's a perfect medium pink/beige color that looks good with just about anything I wear clothing- and makeup-wise; I can wear it with warmer toned clothing and makeup and cooler toned clothing and makeup. The lipstick is thick but smooth. I dot and dab it onto my lips and then blot and set with powder, and then dab some more on (this is my tried and true method for getting lipstick to stay). The only thing I don't really like about this formula is the smell. I'm *very* sensitive to smells and don't like the smell of this one. But as other reviewers have noted, the scent fades very quickly so it isn't as bothersome as other perfumed lippies.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Paul Mitchell - Super Skinny Serum
BonChicBonGenre 12/19/2007 9:14:00 AM
I bought this when I got my hair cut and this was the only good thing that came out of the salon that day (had to get my shredded hair recut and lost 4 inches). But discovering this *almost* made that experience worth it. For the record I am Asian and my hair is somewhat coarse. I bought this to keep at the gym but now think I should bring it home. I pump a tiny bit in my palms (the pump keeps the product hygienic), rub them together, and apply to my towel-blotted hair. I rub and comb it through and dry as usual. The serum smoothes any frizzies I might normally get but it doesn't weigh my hair down. And for some reason this product feels really clean; it feels less like a hair product than a leave-in conditioner. I don't feel like I have to shampoo before bedtime with this stuff, for some reason.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No