Hair -Pureology - HydraWhip Light Moisture Hair Souffle 
shyviolet 8/13/2010 10:29:00 AM
I got a couple of samples of this. It said it was for fine hair, and my hair is coarse, dry and processed, so I didn't think it would do much. To my surprise, it worked a miracle. I do not even recognize my hair. It is the softest it has ever been, glossy-shiny, feels light as a feather and even my parched highlights look silky and like they were just done. Not a sign of frizz or flyaways. I had to grab the package and scour for cones (trying to avoid those) - the only one I saw on there was amodimethicone which from what I understand is water-soluble anyway? The smell of this is heavenly, it is worth it for the smell alone - but really this is one of the best things I have used. I can only wash my hair every few days - usually the first day it is soft but by day 2 it is crispy again - this made my hair stay soft and tangle free until the next wash. Normally when I brush my hair in the mornings, it takes a while, starting at the bottom and working through tangles - then it is a poof ball when I am done. After I used this stuff my hair brushed out easily in the mornings and looks like silk. Love! I used this with the Pureology Hydrating shampoo.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Removal -Sally Hansen - Hair Remover Wax Strip Kit for Face, Brown & Bikini
shyviolet 6/21/2010 1:19:00 PM
Lo and behold - it works! I bought another wax strip kit previously and it did absolutely nothing, so I did not have high hopes for this. It is really easy to use - but I am thinking part of my success with this might be attributed to the temperature - it was 90 degrees and humid when I tested this. I did warm the strip between my hands anyway, but just saying, if it was cold and my hands were cold, it might not be quite as effortless. Anyway, I was impressed at how sticky the wax actually was (the one I tried before was basically like Scotch tape). And it hurt coming off - which is a good thing - it got something! Sure enough, it removed all the hair, and I actually had no trace of redness with this. I will be using this from now on in place of my honey pot wax. So much less hassle than getting out the strips, heating the wax etc. And I love how portable this is - can easily throw it into the purse for travel or emergency wax jobs (hey it happens lol). so yes, if you are going to try it out, make sure you heat it properly, smooth it on well, and I even press it onto my face with my hand a bit to heat it more. It takes all of 10 seconds. Wonderful, really. Hope you like it as much as I do.
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Conditioner -Unlisted Brand - Generic Value Products GVP Conditioning Balm
shyviolet 6/16/2010 10:01:00 AM
HG. I was using Biolage balm before because it is cone-free and leaves my super-long, thick, relaxed and highlighted hair pretty soft and shiny. After reading raves about this product, I decided to give it a go. I am floored! I can't believe I was paying 3x this for the Biolage. I don't know if it is me or what but this actually feels slightly thicker than the Biolage - which I actually like even better. I leave it in for a few minutes (I use it with Biolage hydrating shampoo - but will try the GVC version of that when I run out). After I rinse, I take a quarter-sized amount and distribute through my hair as a leave-in. My hair comes out shiny, lots of slip, less breakage, and those frizzy highlighted pieces are calmed and smooth. Additionally, the scent lingers in my hair - it is a beautiful clean scent. I am not going to take any stars off for the bottle, yes it's not an attractive packaging, and you have to turn it upside down and shake it to get anything out of it. But with the quality of this product, if it came packaged in plastic ziplocs, you'd still be getting a huge bargain.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Laura Mercier - Caviar Eye Liner - Black
shyviolet 5/2/2010 1:47:00 PM
When I first tested this on my hand, I thought I'd hate it. It looked very muted, not nearly enough color. Perfect for someone looking to subtly enhance their lashline or a soft look, but I like to actually line my eyes. I tested this on my eye with an angle brush and though I kept going over and over the line, I just was not getting the intensity I was after. With a WET flat brush, I was able to get a perfect cat's eye on the top! I was never able to do one with gels or anything, but this texture is really unique - it looks so natural yet smoldering at the same time. If you mess up at all you can just touch it with your finger to smudge the line a bit. Any intensity I might build up does not last, it fades quite a bit my the end of the day, but I don't mind that so much on top. So yay for the top. The bottom was another story. It disappeared on me despite layering it on. I use this on days where I have a little extra time, but then I need another black product for my waterline/ lashline. This is a great 'base' and whatever I layer over it looks good. So without water, this is a no-go. But with the water - great! But you'll need something else with it if you want a strong black that will stay all day. If you like subtle, I think you'd love it.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Zirh - Zirh Clean
shyviolet 4/18/2010 10:29:00 PM
This smells like citrus but not like an herbal natural citrus, more like Mountain Dew. But I do like anything citrus for the face and a combination of citrus with a little minty tingle is just heaven. I really enjoy using this and look forward to the texture and scent each night. My skin is milia-prone does really well with AHAs. Other reviewers mentioned that it can be drying but for me, I sort of need a cleanser that really cleans without leaving any film or residue on the skin. I use this at night only and follow with a bit of jojoba oil or my Jurlique night cream (the only one that does not break me out) and I don't think it is drying out my skin. And the price is actually really good - 8 ounces for under $20! I am a tough sell with skin care, rarely find anything that works so I usually just bounce from product to product, but I would repurchase this one.
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Scrubs -Murad - AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
shyviolet 3/15/2010 9:36:00 AM
When it comes to skin care, I'm stingy with the 5's but this is great. First of my skin loves BHA/AHA's. I am prone not so much to acne, but to milia. I can't use any moisturizers unless I use a BHA product with it or else my face is a bumpy mess. I normally use Paula's Choice BHA lotion (amazing stuff). I got a deluxe sample of this from Sephora and was reluctant to try it. I thought that the few seconds it would take to cleanse, would not be enough time for any BHA action to work, so this product would be useless. This is smooth going on and has little tiny grains (very few) that gently polish. It feels great, rinses clean and my skin feels perfect afterward. My moisturizer glides on perfectly afterward. I think this would be a bit much to use daily - the directions say 3x per week which I think is just perfect. This can replace my BHA lotion on the days I would use it, saving me a step, so yes, this is a great product IMO and would definitely repurchase.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Tarte - Natural Lip Stain - Charmed
shyviolet 3/11/2010 8:20:00 AM
I might have rated this a 4 or even 5 if it was labeled 'tinted lip balm' instead of 'stain'. The color is just gorgeous on my olive skin - the perfect light, face brightening yet natural pink I am always looking for. It does feel moisturizing going on, like a tinted balm (not sure about this 6000% nonsense). So when it first goes on, it feels balmy and soothing, is a beautiful shade of non-garish Barbie pink, and has a healthy, glossy sheen that makes your lips look dewey and moist. About 30 minutes to an hour later, the sheen is gone, but color remains. A couple of hours later, the color fades significantly, just like a tinted lip balm. After maybe 5 hours or so, it is all gone. This stuff is not really a big deal to reapply. No mirror needed, just slick it on and reapply it. But I do not like when products do not hold up to their claims. So, I am keeping the one I have. I do find myself reaching for this several times a day (and if it were really a stain, it should only be once!) This is a beautiful pink, its easy and fun to use and makes the lips look and feel healthy. BUT - this is NOT the product I reach for when I need a lipcolor to stay for a god portion of the day - this is what I bring with me if I plan on reapplying every couple of hours. I have been trying a lot of stains lately and have been undewhelmed. Berry shades seem to do ok, but pink stains that actually stay, in a non-drying formula, are hard to come by. If I really need a Barbie pink to stay all day, I prefer a pencil with regular lip balm on top throughout the day. B.E. Buxom lip pencil in Las Vegas is similar to this color and stays for much longer. With a little balm on top, you've pretty much got the same product. The other thing that works well is to get a really bright fuchsia lipstick (WnW or some other cheap brand works just fine). Load it on and let it sit while you do your other makeup, brush your hair or whatever. Then blot it well with a paper (takes more off than tissue) and use a really good lip moisturizer on top. There you go, pink stain that lasts most of the day. So in a nutshell, this is a good product as a tinted lip balm - it just does not do what it says it does.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Makeup Remover -Yves Saint Laurent - Instant Pur Instant Eye Make-Up Remover
shyviolet 3/3/2010 10:27:00 PM
This is waaaaaaaay too expensive. BUT - it does the job. I normally use jojoba oil to remove my eye makeup at night. I love jojoba because it removes every last trace and leaves my eye area conditioned. The only issue with jojoba is it does leave some residue so if you are going to do your makeup again right after, it might smudge. The YSL remover gets off every last trace in a few swipes, leaves the eye area soft but not greasy at all, ready for your next eye 'do, but moisturized enough that the area does not become red or irritated (unlike many other eye makeup removers). I like the bottle and love the clean-looking aqua color and do not mind shaking the blue and clear liquids together. I actually enjoy using this product. I got a huge sample of this when I purchased another ridiculously expensive YSL item. As much as I like this, this is a real luxury item and I don't think I would purchase this again for myself.
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Lipstick -Bare Escentuals - Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Stick in Las Vegas
shyviolet 2/27/2010 2:57:00 PM
I find myself reaching for this every day, and on the days I do not put it on in the morning, I end up grabbing it by the afternoon. Why? Because it stays put better than almost all of my other products. It does not plump, I don't know where they got that description from. But it goes on smooth, stays put, leaves a slight pink stain when it is gone and does not dry out the lips. On my olive skin, it is a perfect, face-brightening, Barbie pink. Instantly makes me look healthy and I like the mildly minty taste.
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Eyeliner -Wet 'n' Wild - Mega Eyes Creme Eyeliner - Black
shyviolet 2/27/2010 2:45:00 PM
The only difference between this liner and the higher end liners, is that this comes in a plastic tub, and the others are in glass. Seriously. And I've tried them all. This stays on MUCH longer than the Bobbi Brown gel. My HG creme liner is the Bare Escentuals Lashliner, which costs 5 times as much, and this is comparable to that I was shocked when this little $3 WnW gel performed almost as well. It just slightly faded on my waterline, but was totally still there. It does not smudge, it might fade slightly at the end of the day, but it will not give raccoon eyes. The first time I used it I tried the little brush that came with it. The brush is not totally horrible, it is usable in a pinch but gives a thicker line. When I tried this with my Laura Mericer flat brush, and even my cheap-o Maybelline angle brush - it came out fantastic (and will minimal effort). This is a very intense, rich black - that sort of look that you can never achieve with a pencil. I can just push it into my lashline and waterline for perfect definition, or do a more dramatic Bollywood eye just as easily. You can smudge this a but with your finger before it sets if you'd like. If you are thinking of trying a creme liner, do not waste your money on more expensive brands, it doesn't get much better than this!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Star Violet (Veluxe pearl)
shyviolet 2/25/2010 9:13:00 PM
I looooove this shadow! The name of the shade almost scared me away. Pinks, violets, plums and even browns never worked for me (I have olive skin and dark shadows and plums made me look dead). I was surprised to see that it was almost reddish in the pan - yuck! If it weren't for MakeupAlley where I could see what it looked like on, I would never have even tried it. The color ended up being a shimmering wash of face-brightening pinkish beige-y rosy plum. The only violet I can see in here is maybe a hint in the way it shines. They shine is awesome, like a beautiful glow. A very classy looking color, also very easy to work with. I can wear it alone, putting the color all over my lid almost up to my brow bone and it looks awesome. I'm usually a 1 shadow at a time girl, but I also like this with MAC Mystery. It is like a really special, glow-y neutral eye that is beautiful and natural enough for day, but can be festive enough for evening. Amazing! Anytime I tried this sort of color before it made my eye area look sunken, but this does the complete opposite for some reason. I never feel the need to repurchase shadows, but this one is truly special and I would totally get it again.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Liners -Yves Saint Laurent - "Lip Liner #10 Rouge Rouge
shyviolet 2/15/2010 3:33:00 PM
This color is described as "True Red". It is the perfect, bright red, glamourous, hollywood starlet, wake up your whole face, elegant yet fun red. I wear this liner all on its own (no lipstick on top needed), with a little lip moisturizer and it gives a perfect red pout that lasts. I originally bought this for a single occasion. Since I was only wearing red lips for one night - I first went to the drugstore to find something red but did not find anything that did not make me look like a little girl playing dress up. Red is one of those colors that you have to get just right. I fell in love with this red immediately but felt sick to my stomach over the price. $28 for a lip pencil!! But - this is truly 'my shade of red'. I feel like I need no other makeup with this. Where other reds made me self- conscious, this true, bright red makes me feel very glamorous. I am a mom of toddlers who I am constantly kissing so red does not make it into my daily life. BUT - I am still able to use this as a stain for everyday! I put it on, blot it heavily one time on a tissue, apply my regular lip moisturizer and I've got a rosy, natural 'I just came in from the cold or had a popsicle' hue that lasts all day long with no creasing of dryness. It just makes my lips look beautiful and healthy. At first, I thought $28 for a lip liner was disgusting, but now I see that this perfect red is actually a versatile product, with superior performance that never fails me, and you totally get what you pay for!
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Eyeliner -Unlisted Brand - Shahnaz Husain-Shaeyes Herbal Kohl 
shyviolet 2/1/2010 3:38:00 PM
Darnit I really wanted to like this. A black crayon with natural ingredients to soothe the eyes - whats not to love, right? Well, I put this stuff on the upper and lower lashline and not even 10 minutes later I was Alice Cooper. Cleaned up the mess, took a look 20 minutes later and raccoon again. I tried it again today, I put my beloved Prestige Waterproof liner on one eye and this on the other to see the difference, and the eye done in kohl is a mess while Prestige is still going strong. I wouldn't say this is more intense black than other liners you can get that actually do stay on. You might like it if you prefer a very smudgy look, but for me its a no-go.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Alba Botanica - Coconut Cream Lip Balm
shyviolet 1/22/2010 10:23:00 PM
Hands down the best lip moisturizer out there. Super moisturizing, gives the lips a nice dewy look, never pills or causes lips to peel and tastes AMAZING. I always stay stocked up on these.
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Treatments -Estee Lauder - Advanced Night Repair (Serum)
shyviolet 1/14/2010 11:01:00 AM
I am not a big skin care person, a little jojoba oil and cetaphil and that's about it. But my mom absolutely raves about this stuff so I wanted to try it. It feels good going on and gave me face an initial glow. When I woke up in the morning, my face was just radiant - hydrated, clear and my complexion looked so even. My undereye concealer glided on easily. I love it. I get milia from everything (which is why I usually just stick to jojoba and cetaphil) and I have not used this long enough to say if it gives me a problem, but I will update if anything changes.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No