Polishes -OPI - Pikaki Phakakta Plum
Mickster 6/16/2006 10:17:00 PM
Love ya fivezero...but I have to say Pikaki Phakatka Plum is great for me. I'm a warm neutral, and all the elements of browned plum, and blue flash come together to make a great look for me. It's a bit sheer, you definately need at least 3 coats for full coverage, that's the only drawback in my book. I would definately buy it again.
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Skincare - Body -Unlisted Brand - Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel
Mickster 6/16/2006 10:12:00 PM
Love this stuff. It's 100% pure aloe vera gel, and it has a zillion uses. Mostly what I use it for is sunburns, instead of water in my aspirin mask and to soothe irritated skin. I have used it as a hair gel in a pinch. You can get a giant lifetime supply bottle for a few dollars at any discount store.
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Polishes -Essie - Tri-Becca
Mickster 6/4/2006 5:36:00 AM
I'm hit or miss with Essie polishes, but this one is special. A pinkish purple creme which reminds me very much of a black raspberry shake. Application is smooth and streak free, two coats was sufficient for true to bottle color. I used this with Seche Vite topcoat and the shiney goodness is just stunning. If you are looking for a fun yet grown up work appropriate purple, this is it.
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Polishes -Lippmann Collection - Brown Eyed Girl
Mickster 6/4/2006 5:29:00 AM
Well, I had to have this polish for the name alone. My eyes are brown/hazel. But that said, it's a beautiful polish. Nice slightly reddish chocolate brown with a goldish shimmer (close color twins are OPI Romeo and Joliet, and Misa Chocolate icing). I'm a neutral/warm and it looked great on me. Lippman polishes are very high quality, the application is a dream, the brush is excellent and the polish glides on beautifully. The lasting power is very good, I had not the tiniest chip when I took it off after 3 days (I get bored too often to wear any polish longer than that). I used Brown Eyed Girl with a basecoat of Seche Ridge filling base and Seche Vite topcoat. While I think the polishes are excellent I do feel they are a bit overpriced, almost 3x what one can purchase other Salon brands for, but it's nice to indulge yourself now and again. Would buy again.
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Polishes -Lippmann Collection - Believe
Mickster 6/4/2006 5:23:00 AM
This is a beautiful polish. I'm a neutral/warm...so a silver can be a bit too cool for me and a yellow gold seems to warm. Believe is a lovely wheat colored gold that is just right (like baby bears bed I tell you!) It's a great understated neutral with a touch of bling. Completely acceptible for any occasion, and even the stuffy office imho. Lippman polishes are definately a very nice quality. They apply beautifully and last a very long time. I use Seche Ridgefilling basecoat and Seche Vite top with this and had no problem making the mani last 3 days (would have lasted longer I'm sure, but 3-4 days is my boredom limit). Do I think they are that much better than salon brands that they are 3x the price of some...not really, but, it's a nice indulgence for a quality product, and everyone should indulge themselves once in a while. I would purchase again.
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Polishes -NYX - Lime
Mickster 5/14/2006 10:45:00 PM
I absolutely adore this lime green creme polish. It's such a bright sunny fun summer color. So far I have only used it on my toes, but I think it's subtle enuf for tips as well. It's opaque and true to bottle in ONE coat and NYX's brushes really can't be beat for the price. They are nice and wide and very easy to handle. I'm a medium toned neutral to warm.
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Treatments -Barielle - Extra Gentle Cuticle Minimizer
Mickster 5/14/2006 7:53:00 PM
This treatment can be easily found at TJ Maxx or Marshalls almost every day of the week for $4.99; so don't pay full price. That said, this has become my HG cuticle minimizer/remover. I have switched to this from Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle remover (in the blue bottle). The SH remover was very harsh and I needed to find something more gentle. The Barielle was just the ticket. It takes a bit longer to use at about 4 min. opposed to SH's 1 min, but the results are even better. The SH had a way of drying my skin so that what cuticle was left was ragged and catchy. I often found myself trimming after using it. The barielle softens them up just the right amount that I can scrape off a bit of the ragged edge, and VERY easily push the remaining cuticle back. And, my cuticles are SOFT after using this product. This is an AHA treatment, where the SH is harsh peroxide; this I believe is where the difference in results lie. Needless to say, I am well stocked on this HG and will continue to repurchase. I like it so much I would happily pay full price if the TJM/ marshalls stock dried up.
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Polishes -China Glaze - Primavera
Mickster 4/23/2006 11:30:00 PM
High gloss bright summer reddish pink. I'm a neutra;/warm and the color is devine on me. Perfect for summer tips or toes. Application is delightful, wear is excellent.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - La Paz-itively Hot
Mickster 4/23/2006 11:18:00 PM
I didn't know I needed and HG hot pink, but I found one. This polish is so bright and happy, you just can't be in a bad mood while wearing it. I'm a neutral/ warm and this looks GREAT on me. It seems to have a shimmer in the bottle, and it goes on in a very forgiving way, as a shimmer may, but it looks like a beautiful cream when it dries down on my nails. It's a delightful light hot pink with a slight bluish cast. I have my nails super short and it looks absolutely perfect! The wear will vary with different base/topcoats. I used poshe base and superfast drying top, and it lasted fine. Mild tipwear on day 2 which is usual for me. But I didn't have any chips until day 3 and that was all my fault (using my nails as tools again).
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Dirty Girl - Performance Enhancing Lip Gloss - Spiced Tea Melody
Mickster 4/22/2006 2:32:00 AM
I love this stuff OH SO MUCH!!! The taste is devine. Like a nice spicy chai. gives my lips a tiny tingle. Makes my mouth taste fab, and the texture is to DIE for! Not a bit sticky, slippy and emollient! The tube is tiny but that's good, because it fits anywhere! This gives a great nude but slightly browned color to my lips.
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Treatments (Eye) -Mavala - Double-Lash
Mickster 4/20/2006 2:40:00 AM
I can't believe it works...I was intrigued by this one for a while and was able to get it in a swap. I honestly didn't think it would work. It does! My lashes have always been fine, normal, nothing special...now I have long beautiful fringy lashes! I think the main reason it works is simple conditioning. Softens up my lashes and brows so the hairs don't break off so easily. I have been using this fairly religously for about a month. I have been using it on my eyebrows that I have been trying to grow out to change the shape a bit, seems to have helped there also. Will definately repurchase!
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Treatments (Eye) -RoC - Protient Lift
Mickster 3/29/2006 2:08:00 AM
OUCH!!! I love the ROC retinol Correxion eye cream, so I thought this new line by them would be good. I was oh so wrong. I have sensitive skin, so I'm sure that doesn't help, but this stuff just HURT. I used it for a week, just to be fair, and it did not cause any breakouts or major skin reaction, but it burned everytime I used it (every other night). And then everything else I used for a week afterwards burned, even the most gentle cammomile cream. Needless to say, I won't be finishing the tube, or purchasing again. update- I don't know what posessed me, but I decided to try it on my lips since it didn't work on my eyes. It gave me a cold sore after 2 days of use. This stuff is just plain EVIL.
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Styling Products -TiGi - Cocky
Mickster 3/21/2006 1:37:00 AM
I wear my hair 1" long and spikey. I have tried one zillion products to get just the right spike without being able to see right down to my scalp thru my fine hair. This is it. Gives my hair a nice chunky volume and the lasting power can not be beat! I love the pineapply smell also. It's a bit more expensive than some things I have used, but the tube is a nice large size. Only complaint is the big cone shaped cap, I travel nonstop, and it doesn't like to fit into my travel bag so well. I Edit- I'm removing one lippie. I have dyed my hair black and find that I get white fibers showing in my hair at the end of the day :(
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Tools -Unlisted Brand - Swissco Emery Glass Nail File
Mickster 3/12/2006 12:42:00 AM
Great product for the price. These files can be found at Sally's beauty supply for $5, or less with a sally card. They are one sided glass files, so not as fancy as some of the 2 sided, but they get the job done, and they get it done well. The perfect choice for your first glass file, or as a backup in your purse. Glass (or crystal) files are washable and can be used forever with proper care. The pro's of filing with glass are smoother nail tips, less peeling, and precise and fast shaping.
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Lotions/ Creams -Alba Botanica - Alba Hawaiian Kukui Nut Body Butter
Mickster 3/11/2006 11:19:00 PM
Not the best smelling stuff I have ever met, but it works great for it's intended purpose. Very excellent moisturizer. My skin is so dry and flaky this time of the year (even here in Cali) and this stuff is just a dream. Generally halfway thru the day I'm itchy and flaky. This keeps me moisturized all day and all night. Will definately repurchase.
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