Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Oyin Black Soap and Honey Gentle Cleansing Foam
mizsockmonkey 4/28/2007 7:35:00 PM
While I've tried and loved other Oyin products, I have to say I'm not wild about the Black Soap & Honey Cleansing Foam.
1. Runny, watery consistency. This comes in a "foaming" pump bottle, and I've never figured out why people like those. To me, it means watered down product, and I'm not so lazy that I can't just create a lather by rubbing my hands together with thicker product.
2. Ineffective cleansing. I never felt like my face was truly clean after using the Oyin black soap cleanser. I always had traces of makeup left behind. I prefer a cleaner clean, although those who have sensitive skin & require super-gentle cleaning may disagree.
3. I just didn't think that what I got was worth 12 bucks.
Overall, I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it, and at 12 bucks a bottle I won't be repurchasing. Sorry, Oyin!
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Skincare - Body -Unlisted Brand - Oyin Funk Butter Unscented
mizsockmonkey 4/28/2007 7:29:00 PM
I'm not sure if I'll keep using this or not, but I will say this: Oyin Funk Butter, unlike many natural deodorants, actually works. I don't know how they did it, but it works. It keeps me unsweaty and unfunky as well as or better than drugstore anti-perspirants that contain potentially harmful ingredients. I have this in Black Cedar Fig, which is subdued, understated, earthy and gorgeous.
The only bad aspects have already been noted: It comes in a tin, which would be fine if it were more solid but it's fairly creamy/sloshy. You must rub it in with your fingertips, which I personally don't mind but I can see how some people might. It STINGS like a mother on freshly shaved pits, so beware. (i think it's the baking soda.) So yeah, my own personal jury is still out regarding reorder, but it is by far the most effective natural deodorant I've used.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - Oyin Whipped Shea Pudding
mizsockmonkey 3/10/2007 9:45:00 PM
I made my first order from Oyin not too long ago, and I was definitely pleased. The Oyin whipped shea pudding is described on the website as follows:
This rich, dense moisturizing cream is Oyin’s first product. It’s a mixture of rich botanical butters & oils like shea butter, cocoa butter, and castor oil; blended with plenty of pure aloe vera gel and spring water for lightness & penetration. The result is superior, rich, penetrating moisture in an all-purpose, head-to-toe product. You may have noticed that it’s listed under both hair and body products!
I can't rave about it enough. Naturally I use it on hands and body, but I also use it on my face at night and though it's super-moisturizing, it's not heavy or greasy. I also rub it between my palms and use it on my hair. I have curly hair and do a modified no-shampoo routine, and this stuff doesn't build up and leaves my hair incredibly soft.
I only got the 2 oz. size in my first order, but next time I'll be ordering a much larger tub. Oh, and the smell (light vanilla-chocolatey) is divine and not overpowering.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -The Body Shop - Sparkling Plum
mizsockmonkey 10/2/2006 7:21:00 PM
This polish is part of the new Body Shop fall 2006 line, which you can see on the Body Shop website. The photo from the website, which I posted, really doesn't do this polish justice. It's a deep, almost-vampy purple plum, which has a ton of bronzey-gold microglitter flecks. It's really beautiful in the sunlight, not quite blingy but definitely eyecatching.
The polish is a bit pricey at 7 bucks USD, but I'd buy it again (and I probably will go back and pick up a backup in case this color goes away when the fall stuff leaves the stores). The color is beautiful and the wear is good too.
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Polishes -Orly - Talk Dirty
mizsockmonkey 9/16/2006 9:47:00 PM
I. Love. This. Love it! A perfect neutral, dark vampy brown. Chocolate that got stomped in the dirt. I'm going to go through a lot of this.
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Lip Gloss -Christian Dior - Addict Lip Gloss- A Bite of Toffee-313
mizsockmonkey 9/13/2006 5:53:00 PM
Too expensive.
Did I buy it?
Yes.
But still... too expensive.
C'mon. 23 bucks? For something to make my lips shiny? I'm a sheep. Me in Sephora (to self): "shiii-ny. Shiny!... Pretty."
Dior has challenged me mentally.
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Palettes -Sephora - I-Wish
mizsockmonkey 9/13/2006 5:47:00 PM
You know, this is actually a pretty great palette if you're cool-toned like me. It's dirt cheap for what you get (especially compared to comparable palettes from other lines). It contains a dusty pink blush, gold highlighter powder, three shadows (plum, pink, and gold) and three glosses (sheer plum, sheer red-gold, and sheer bronze). I was worried the blush wouldn't be highly pigmented enough, but it's actually very nice. It goes on smoothly and blends well. The highlighter is pretty - takes only a touch to get a lot of shine and isn't glittery, which is nice. The shadows are a little more ehhh - the plum is good and very versatile, but the pink isn't very pigmented and has noticeable chunks of glitter, which I don't like. The gold is fine. Nothing out of this world, but fine. The real stars of this palette are the lip glosses - I love all three, particularly the sheer red-gold. I wish I knew if this was available separately because I can see myself running out of it pretty soon. All the glosses are gorgeous and I would definitely buy them in full sizes. My only beefs are with the only-okay shadows and with the packaging - there are "looks" described with instructions on the back of the palette itself. That's nice - but the colors are described by number (i.e. sweep Shadow #4 all over lid) and you can only see which number is ascribed to each color on the OUTER box which the palette itself comes in. Um, don't most people throw the outer cardboard packaging away? I know I do, and now I'll never know which shadow is number 4. Boohoo. Guess I'll never be able to achieve the Sephora "angelic" look. Oh well. Anyway, despite the shadows being only okay, I'd definitely purchase this palette again. It contains a lot of colors I generally wear, so it's great to slip into a purse for any kind of touchup you might need during a night. And did I mention it was only fifteen bucks? I thought it was a typo when I was at Sephora, considering their baseline price for most palettes of this sort in other lines tend to be in the $25-30 range. If you like the colors, pick one up!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -OPI - Avojuice in Grapefruit Juice
mizsockmonkey 5/27/2006 1:22:00 PM
This could make a nice, light body lotion for the summer, but as a hand lotion it's a dud. Thin and barely moisturizing. I like the smell, though - but I can't imagine why it's so expensive.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Coty - Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker
mizsockmonkey 5/22/2006 6:00:00 PM
Blah. A low-rent version of Narciso Rodriguez for Her that doesn't last longer than 30 minutes.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Marshmallow
mizsockmonkey 5/12/2006 4:19:00 PM
A beautiful non-stark, shimmery white, great for French manicure tips. This is great for DIY French mani beginners like me, because the white is sheerish and buildable, which means that if you mess up it isn't very noticeable. I like it a lot. I have to say I don't care for Essie packaging, though. I think the true colors of the polish don't show through the bottle as well as they do with other brands. Plus the bottles are just sort of blah.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Comptoir Sud Pacifique - Vanille Peche/Peach
mizsockmonkey 5/11/2006 3:42:00 PM
I'm kinda amazed. I actually really like this. Thought I'd hate it. I got a sample in a swap, and I have to admit that, upon first spray, Vanille Peche smells exactly, and i mean *exactly* like a Trolli Gummi Peach. You know, the rubbery sugary peach-flavored candy rings that come in a little bag? It's almost uncanny. But then, after a minute or two, the candy smell is gone and a light, fruity vanilla with a hint of spice comes wafting up. I think it's a really nice scent for summer if you're into peach. Despite the negative reviews, try to sample this one before you write it off.
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Hair -Biosilk - Rock Hard Gelee
mizsockmonkey 5/11/2006 12:04:00 PM
I heard about this gel on NaturallyCurly.com (a godsend for people with curly hair - check it out if you haven't). Anyway, I'd been using Dove gel, which suuuucked, and due to the reviews I read on NC, I picked some of this up at Target. The pros: It provides a really firm hold for curly hair and minimizes frizz. Holds curls really well and lasts all day - easy to refresh with a spritz of water, too, if your curls start to look droopy.
The cons: It's a tad pricey (though to be fair, a little goes a long way), and it CAN be stiff and crunchy. I guess that's why they call it Rock Hard. When I let my hair dry naturally after using this, i find it to be quite crunchy, BUT it's very easy to scrunch dry hair and make the crunchies go away. Once you scrunch away the hardness, you get pretty, well-defined, soft curls, which is really nice. I find that I get really good results with this when I mix it - generally I use half 100% aloe vera gel (from Trader Joe's) and half gel. Using it full-strength tends to make things a bit *too* crunchy for my liking. I'd buy it again (and have - just purchased my 2nd tube).
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Paula Dorf - Candy Apple Cheek Color Cream
mizsockmonkey 5/8/2006 5:16:00 PM
My HG blush. I first discovered Candy Apple while on a search for the perfect red lipstick. While at Beauty and Main, I asked the MA for help finding a lipstick that looked good with my coloring (pale and rosy with light brown hair) - red lipstick never looked good on me and I couldn't figure out why. The MA explained to me that many people made the mistake of under-doing the rest of their face when applying a strong lipstick, so she put Candy Apple on my cheeks and then applied the lipstick. Needless to say, I walked out with the Candy Apple. I can't say enough good things about it. It looks a little intimidating in the pot - a dark wine color. I'd have sworn it'd be too dark for my pale-ass self. However, it goes on sheerly and really gives a just-in-from-the-cold flush. It's really beautiful! Nice texture too - smooth and easy to apply. It's a little pricey, but it goes a long way and is worth every cent. (and now I can wear red lipstick.)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Trader Joe's - Gardeners Hand Cream
mizsockmonkey 5/8/2006 1:37:00 PM
A great everyday hand cream. Light, herbal scent - not overpowering, so won't clash with perfume. Also contains a light sunscreen - SPF 8. The real selling point for me is how quickly it sinks in - it's very moisturizing but sinks in very well, so that my hands aren't all slippy and slidey after applying. I keep a tube at my desk to apply after handwashings. It works, I like it, and I'll definitely repurchase. Plus, as with most Trader Joe's products, you can't beat the price. I think it was something like 3.99 for a big 8 oz. tube.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Sally Hansen - Diamond Strength Cuticle and Nail Oil
mizsockmonkey 5/8/2006 12:39:00 PM
Picked this up on a whim at Target. This cuticle oil comes in the typical rounded Diamond Strength line bottle with a silver cap. The oil itself is lavender-colored and smells wonderful (for me, the best part of the oil). It's a soothing lavender scent with hints of baby powder. This is a nice, light oil for during the day - I keep a bottle at my desk and apply a couple of times throughout the day. Works like a charm. Very nice!
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