Polishes -OPI - A-Rose At Dawn...Broke by Noon
merleskaya 9/8/2004 2:59:00 PM
Great shimmery slightly silvered rose, perfect for summer toes!
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Treatments (Eye) -Kiehls - Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
merleskaya 8/24/2004 6:30:00 PM
Eye cream isn't a product that enthralls me, though I've been in the habit of using it since my 20s. I've tried everything from L'Oreal to EL, though nothing more high-end than the latter. I'm now over 40; this is THE only eye cream I've bought multiple times. It's not full of techno ingredients, it has a heavy, buttery texture and it sits there for awhile before sinking in. Not everyone will consider those attributes positive. But I believe it has played a key role in keeping my eye area wrinkle-free the past several years. Which is not to discount 20 years of cumulative eye cream (and sunscreen!) use, a habit that has kept away all but the faintest small smile lines away from my under-eye area. I don't use a lot of Kiehl's products, but this avocado concoction is truly a favorite "can't be without" item. (As an aside, for you Fresh Young Thangs who wonder if using sunscreen and eye cream in your 20s really pays off later, I can assure you: It does!)
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Frost Lipstick in New York Apple
merleskaya 8/23/2004 12:30:00 PM
Gorgeous shimmering cherry red with pink tones. Sets off cool-toned skin beautifully, absolutely gorgeous with a muted eye.
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Lip Gloss -MAC - Lipglass in Prrr
merleskaya 8/18/2004 1:37:00 PM
I'll start off by saying I normally don't wear pale lip colors because they make me look dead. I thought I'd try this at the counter because I know it's so popular, and I love the name. I tried to be objective, but yep...there was Death itself with lips all a-Prrr staring back at me from a little black MAC mirror. YMMV totally. Prrr's certainly worth a try, but it has a lot of white in it; if you're used to more pigmented lips but want something lighter as change of pace or to punch up liner or lipstick, I'd suggest Nymphette (which I love) or Gold Charm!
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Conditioner -Modern Organic Products (MOP) - Leave-in conditioner
merleskaya 8/18/2004 1:17:00 PM
This is one of my all-time favorite hair products. I have short wavy medium-textured hair that's color treated and this stuff is the best at keeping my color true for a long time and my hair in great condition. I shampoo every other day, but I use this on my ends every day, no matter what. It doesn't compete with other styling products and it doesn't make my scalp flake. As with the MOP Styling Tonic, I've been through multiple bottles and will continue to use as long as they do the job.
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Hair -Modern Organic Products (MOP) - Glisten pomade
merleskaya 8/18/2004 1:13:00 PM
Though I tend to prefer styling creams, this is what I use when I want a little more hold with my texture. Unlike most pomades, it's not waxy or greasy at all; in fact, it has an interesting springy gel texture and a fresh scent. I need less product than I do with other pomades and, most happily, it doesn't make my scalp flake.
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Styling Products -Modern Organic Products (MOP) - Styling Tonic (conditioning fixitive spray)
merleskaya 8/18/2004 1:08:00 PM
I have wavy hair of medium texture and a sensitive scalp that tends to flake rebelliously with many styling products. This for me is the perfect "refresher" on the every-other-days I don't shampoo. Makes my hair easy to style and sort of brings life back to any product appled the previous day. Best of all, no scalp flakery! I've used up several bottles worth of this product, that's how much I like it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -MAC - Select Tint SPF 15 ] [DISCONTINUED]
merleskaya 8/17/2004 12:20:00 PM
Great stuff, especially for days when all I need is a little something to even things out and give me a bit of sun protection. Goes on best with a foundation brush or fingers; a sponge just drinks it up. I might dab a bit of concealer under my eyes and dust on a bit of powder, but I usually don't need to do anything else during the day (unless it's super-humid). I have sensitive skin that leans dry in winter and oily in summer; I usually wear NW20 in MAC foundations, but took an NW25 in this one. Getting out the last bits could be interesting, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
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Lip Gloss -Chanel - Glossimer
merleskaya 8/17/2004 12:15:00 PM
I really wanted a Glossimer based on all the positives and swapped for a mini Pulsar because I like a bright lip. I know now that Glossimer is one product I can totally cross off my lust list. Pulsar is a gorgeous color, but I cannot stand the Glossimer texture. To me, it's very melted-jellylike and runny, just way too slippery. I'll get my use out of the mini by lining and filling in with a pencil, but for wand gloss, I'll stick with EL Pure Color, Clinique Glosswear, MAC Lipglass or Neutrogena.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Chanel - Aqualumiere - Tobago
merleskaya 8/16/2004 4:03:00 PM
I'm an NW20-25 with brown eyes and hair, and I like bright cool pinks, so I was attracted to this right away. It's a cool vibrant berry pink with color payoff...it's not totally sheer. Like the other Aqualumieres, it feels weightless and goes on like a dream. It doesn't last forever, but because of the deep pink, a tint remains after the shine wears off. Keep in mind that this shade definitely has fuchsia tendencies if that's a concern. But for a high contrast look (pale skin, softly done eyes and centerpiece lips), this is gorgeous.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Mary Kay - MK signature eye color, rose mist
merleskaya 8/11/2004 5:40:00 PM
I'm a MAC (NW20, brown/brown) and Stila girl for the most part shadow-wise because I can find long-lasting high-quality neutrals that can be moved around between standard-sized palettes. I usually wear taupes and mauves; this to me is a unique shade. I use it often because it's so easy. It's a medium rose shimmer with a beige-y spin on it that makes it the single most adaptable shadow I own. It's unbeatable on the lid with MAC Shroom as an all-over wash. I do NOT like the MK shovel-shaped pan that makes it suitable for a perfect fit only in an MK palette. I stuck a magnet on the bottom and plopped it into my ancient Stila 9 pan. (It's not the most aesthetically pleasing arrangement I've ever seen, but I don't want to buy a palette for one MK shade.) The closest I've found to a shade like this is MAC Girlie, but Rose Mist is just a bit deeper and less frosty.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Clinique - Glosswear for lips in Kissyfit
merleskaya 8/10/2004 6:17:00 PM
Have this in a GWP and it's almost gone, so there's my opinion right there! Looks Barbie-bright in the tube but goes on a soft medium bright cheerful pink. I've worn it almost all summer as my easy default sheer pink; I'd hoped the Revlon SL in Pink Kisses would be an adequate replacement, but no. The smell hasn't been an issue for me. I like the very subtle shimmer, too.
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Lipstick -Estee Lauder - Pure Color - Sangria
merleskaya 8/10/2004 5:27:00 PM
This is one of my very favorite reds (and I have a lot of them). It's more of a muted red with some very subtle goldish dimension to it. I'm NW 20-25, brown eyes/hair and I feel comfortable wearing this color both day and night, though I add a bit of gloss (Pure Color in Praline) for the evening. As I've mentioned in other reviews, I really like the Pure Color lipsticks (I own Fig, Hot Kiss, the LE Elizabeth Pink and Pink Crystal), but I know the fig-based fragrance isn't for everyone and there are some who prefer really long-lasting lipsticks. I don't mind reapplying at all, particularly when I can pull out a case as gorgeous and elegant as the retail PCs! YMMV, as always, but I'm a devoted fan!
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Lip Gloss -Cargo - Lipgloss
merleskaya 7/26/2004 3:21:00 PM
I really like the Cargo gloss duos despite my issues with Cargo packaging. They truly *are* different from other glosses like Lipglass (which I like for different reasons). The Cargos are good for moisturization and a shiny slip of color or as a liner boost. I haven't found anything cheaper that I like as much for these two purposes. They aren't heavy hitters in the texture department and they do indeed require frequent reapplication, neither of which bugs me when the mood strikes. Walla Walla (deep sheer purpley plum/sheer shimmery plum-leaning pink) was my first; I've since acquired Hong Kong (sheer red/very sheer nude), Pago Pago (bright raspberry/tangerine) and Turra Murra (shimmery sheer wine/bordeaux). I'm a NW20-25 w/ brown eyes and hair and I adore them all. I've written to Cargo about the sticky lids (though the Turra Murra doesn't have this problem). The only thing I've found that works is prying with a letter opener, which leaves little flanges around the edges of the compact. I don't think I should have to pry open a $19 lipgloss. (Yikes! These were $15 when I bought my first one in 2002.) It's been mentioned, but I'll reiterate: these tins may look like they contain an overly generous amount of product, but in reality, we're talking about a large round tin fitted with a two-compartment plastic riser/shelf that holds two flat-but-wide tins of gloss. (I've dissected the packaging.) Don't believe for a minute that the gloss goes to the bottom of the metal tin. It doesn't, and that's galling. You'll reach pan sooner than you think; I've reached pan on 3 of my 4 duos and I don't use these all that often! However, that said, I love the actual gloss product and will always at least try out new shades when they debut.
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Lip Gloss -Estee Lauder - Pure Color Cool Gloss-Cool Lollipop
merleskaya 7/6/2004 6:02:00 PM
I'm a big fan of the Pure Color glosses and was eager to try out the Cool line. I crave color on my lips, so I chose Cool Lollipop. While it's a pretty-enough medium corally-pink, I can't say I'm blown away , nor do I detect much of a coolant effect. The texture is thinner, more slippery than the other Pure Color glosses I've worn; it requires extra-careful application to avoid the dreaded lip bleed. Bottom line: I wanted to like this a lot. I don't.
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