Polishes -L'Oreal - Pro Manicure - Mango-Get-Em 410
ashleyanders 12/3/2011 7:38:00 PM
What it Claims: "Strengthen nails with a high-shine finish. Pro-Manicure’s unique, patented No-Streak Professional Brush is flat, not round, so color goes on faster and smoother for even-looking coverage. Get a new kind of manicure that’s chip- and peel-resistant with color and shine that last for seven days. Enhanced formula with Pro-Keratin helps build stronger, healthier nails. No formaldehyde, toluene, or phthalates, so manicure is as healthy as it is beautiful." Claims: True or False? 1) Strengthen nails: Undetermined 2) High-shine finish: True 3) Goes on fast and smooth: False 4) Chip/peel resistant: Mostly true. 5) Lasts for 7 days: False Packaging: Pretty much an Essie design knock-off. Aside from a lack of an embossed logo and a slanted cap, it's pretty much the same aesthetically speaking. The biggest difference is that the brush is far bigger, which I think is definitely a huge plus in L'Oreal's favour. Overall, easy to open and close, although the bottle is a bit small, which makes it feel a tad awkward when using it. Consistency: This is such an iffy formula. I love that it's a cream and that the colour shows up as an almost subtle neon coral-pink, but the formula is not ideal. I'd say that it's a thicker formula, as it doesn't spread as easily as I'd like unless using thicker layers. Even then it still doesn't go on entirely even, including when you reach up to three coats (although it's pretty well opaque by then and most of the unevenness settles down). It doesn't flood the cuticles and dries well enough, so it's not a fail on all aspects. I do love the colour though, although I'm not exactly sure where the mango comes in other than as a play on words (as there's obviously no hint of mango-yellow in this). Wear time: I find that I can get decent wear with this, but because of the formula the minor tip wear I do get (and sometimes a few minor chips here and there, nothing serious or consistent though) by around 5+ days of wear will make the nails look worn in a really strange way. Like... not smooth wear, usually almost like very smoothed chips but definitely not actual chips. Bang for your Buck: 11.7ml or 0.39 oz at around $7.00CAD at Shoppers Drug Mart. I feel as though the price is decent for the amount given, and if it works well for your nails then it will be a nice dupe to some of the slightly pricier brands. Final Consensus: It has such great potential due to the lovely shade and good packaging, but it's just not the best polish out there. Formula isn't completely unworkable, but it will require a bit more attention to ensure enough polish is applied to prevent patchiness - an adequately desirable finish can be attained, however. Gorgeous colour, but do not pick this up as a cheaper dupe if you've been eyeing a similar shade in a pricier line. - Pros: affordable, easily accessible, nice packaging, gorgeous shade, mostly good wear time - Cons: formula is not ideal, wear can look a bit funky on the tips, requires at least three coats. Overall Rating: 3/5 Price: 2/5 Packaging Quality: 3/5 Would you buy this product again: No.
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Eye Shadow -Make Up For Ever - Yellow matte #002 
ashleyanders 11/25/2011 10:00:00 PM
- Skip down to 'Final Consensus' for short summary of overall thoughts on product - What it Claims: "The unique texture of MAKE UP FOR EVER Eyeshadow is due to its high pigment density, which makes them last and last. You can obtain maximum coverage with the Matte texture; the Semi-Matte has a silky satiny feel; and the iridescent shades give a transparent sheen." Claims - True or False? 1) High pigment density: Mostly true. 2) Long-lasting: True. 3) Silky, satiny feel: False. Packaging: Comes in a sleek and slim black compact, with a slender window running down the lid allowing you to see the shade. The lid flips open and stays closed with a magnet. I find that the plastic, perhaps because of the sheen, gives off a bit of a cheap appearance, but otherwise I do like the packaging. I've never had issues with durability or it breaking in any way. One thing that I'd like to see changed though is how far back the lid opens. It only opens to a 90 degree angle, and I'd prefer it to open completely, as the lid can easily close when you don't want it to. Consistency: Not an amazing formula, especially compared to other MUFE shadows, but it is acceptable for my standards. This shade is almost a canary mustard yellow, very bright and completely matte. In certain lighting I find that it's not very visible, but in others it's very obvious. It looks best when layered in order to maximize coverage, and a primer is a must. Wet application will also help intensify the colour. The feel of the shadow is a bit powdery, definitely more likely to cause some fallout when applying. It can also look a bit chalky, but if it's well blended and well layered, it's not very obvious, especially once the skin's oils have mingled with the powder a little bit. Because it has a sheerer initial application, it works very well as both an all-over shadow and as an overlay shadow to help brighten up or mattify certain looks. It blends out pretty well as well, no real harsh lines. Wear Time: Like all other MUFE shadows, I have no issues with wear. It lasts until I remove it, the colour remains vibrant, it doesn't cause fallout during the day, overall works well. Bang for your Buck: This shadow and others in this line come in at $19.00USD for 2.5g. While it may seem expensive at first, these shadows can last quite some time with regular use. However, I find that when compared to their star powders, these shadows are used up faster and more product is used, yet this one provides less product for the same price. Final Consensus: Not an easy shade to pull off for everyone, but if you think you can handle this type of shade, definitely check this colour out. It's not a perfect formula, but it offers good coverage if you take a bit more time to work with it, lasts all day, and is definitely going to stand out! I've not seen many similar shades in easy-to-access brands, so take a look and see how you like it. Overall Rating: 4/5 Price: 3/5 Packaging Quality: 3/5 Would you buy this product again: Yes.
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Polishes -Sephora - Sephora by OPI - Rumba Romance
ashleyanders 11/23/2011 10:19:00 PM
What it Claims: "Sephora by OPI Nail Colour, a line of 54+ trend-setting shades, puts the final touch on fingertips and toes with a top-quality formula you have come to expect from OPI. The long-lasting, chip-resistant polish ensures flawless results with each application, and its green ingredient list excludes DBP, toluene, and formaldehyde." Claims - True or False? 1) Long-Lasting: True. 2) Chip-resistant: True. 3) Flawless results with each application: Mostly true. Packaging: As the packaging is quite similar to the original OPIs, I will simply compare. The caps are a smooth, matte black with a slight grit for grip. The Sephora by OPI caps are rounded off unlike the original OPIs, and I find that this roundness makes for a more comfortable gripping. The shapes of the bottles are more or less the same, but the Sephora by OPI bottles are more rounded. The smoothness of the shape is similar to that of China Glaze polishes. The Sephora by OPI brushes are much smaller than the originals, which I find offers better control and less streaking. With the original OPI pro-wide brush, I always end up with streaks, and with the creams it's almost impossible to apply. Aesthetically, I find that it looks better, especially with the typography, and functionally, I prefer the Sephora by OPI bottles to the originals. Consistency: Not super opaque, but not sheer in any way; I only need two coats. However, I find it hard to get it to cover the tips of my nails properly, even when I make sure to push a lot of product in that area (may have been a base coat issue - will update). Fine warm micro-glitter, but I'd prefer chunkier glitter for this shade/formula. It goes on very smoothly with minimal brush stroke lines. The colour of this is definitely what's going to make or break this polish, as it's definitely not a shade that can easily be pulled off by everyone. I have neutral-warm skin, and I do find that this shade does clash a bit with my skin tone. It's a very strong, metallic orangy bronze, almost a bit of yellow in some lights. I do think that a shade like this would look great over dark shades (black or very dark reddish purple would be great), but I find that it goes on too opaque in one coat for it to work well as a sheer overlay over other polishes. This may be a matter of just applying super thin layers, but in that case it would be hard to apply and could result in weird blotches of colour. Wear Time: I can usually get pretty good wear with this polish, as with the other glitter Sephora by OPI polishes I own. Whether worn on its own or over other polishes, I can easily wear it up to a week before tip wear starts to bother me. That being said, because I have a hard time getting the tips properly covered in the first place, it does seem like tip wear can happen sooner than I'd like. I don't think it chips all that much, at least not with every wear and nothing super bad when it does happen. Bang for your Buck: These bottles retail for about $9.50USD on the Sephora website for 15ml. When I bought this (sometime in 2010 I believe), it was about $12.00CAD. I know a lot of people complain that the price is too high, but I don't personally have any issues with the price for the amount given, especially since one bottle can easily last many years. Because I prefer this formula overall to the original OPIs (which I find to be too thick and gloopy), I feel that the price is justified. Final Consensus: An interesting shade for sure, not something seen in many brands. But it's definitely harder to pull off for some, and not a perfect formula. I'm really on the fence about how I feel about this polish, but I do think that the pros outweigh the cons for me, and something about this shade does keep me from disliking it. If interested in this shade, I recommend swatching in-store before buying to save yourself any potential hassle of having to return it if it doesn't suit you. - Pros: Easy to apply, decent wear, unique colour, pretty finish, nice packaging and brush - Cons: Only available through Sephora, formula doesn't apply perfectly over entire nail, hard to pull off for some skin tones, not sheer enough to easily use as an overlay shade Overall Rating: 3.5/5 Price: 2/5 Packaging Quality: 3/5 Would you buy this product again: Yes
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Polishes -Quo - Quo by Orly Nail Polish - Chestnuts Roasting
ashleyanders 11/6/2011 4:58:00 PM
What it Claims: "A fast drying, long lasting, high gloss nail polish." Claims: True or False? 1) Fast drying: True 2) Long lasting: True. 3) High gloss: True Packaging: The polish has a long black rubberized handle, which feels very comfortable in one's hands and makes opening a breeze. A large Q is stamped on the top of the lid. The bottle itself is a clear glass that is slightly rounded on all four sides, and the brush is on the slimmer side; wider than Essie but definitely slimmer than OPI. I've never used Orly polishes, so I cannot compare the brushes. One nit-picky thing to note with the brushes (does not affect my application/use) is that not all of the brushes are cut evenly. Check the bottles beforehand if this will bother you. Consistency: This is the 3rd Quo by Orly polish I've tried, 2nd cream formula, and it's definitely a winner. Runnier than the other cream, it still offers wonderful coverage. No streaking (even on the first coat), no flooding, just a smooth and super glossy finish. On its own, it dries quickly, and with my top coat I had my nails on both hands done and hard within 10 minutes altogether! The colour is not one I'd normally go for. It's a light to medium warm brown with red undertones, almost like a light milk chocolate. It does look much prettier on the nails than in the bottle, but I think that if the formula had been thicker or gloopier, it would have ruined the appeal entirely. It dries down maybe half a shade to a full shade darker than the bottle, and also pulls warmer on my skin than in the bottle. It may be worth trying on cool skin tones, as the colour in the bottle does look like it'd suit multiple skin tones. Wear time: Seems to have a good lasting time, at least 4-5 days before tip wear gets a bit noticeable. But it could still be worn for a good week without wear being obvious. No chips that I could tell, overall wears really well! Bang for your Buck: 14ml or 0.48 oz for $10.00CAD at Shoppers Drug Mart; purchased on sale for $7.00CAD. This is definitely a pricier offering, although most who shop at Shoppers will know that Shopper's brands are often on the pricier side compared to other drug stores. Seems to be similar in price and product amount as brands such as OPI, so it's definitely not a big splurge. Final Consensus: I'm glad I picked this one up instead of putting it back, as I really quite love it. I normally choose taupes, greys, or super light pastels as neutrals, but this is definitely a nice warm addition to my growing collection, and I feel as though it's a shade that can work well year-round. The colour isn't too intense and it goes on thin enough to be worth looking into if browns aren't quite your thing but you'd like to experiment a bit. - Pros: great packaging/handle, very fast-drying, nice brush, pretty colour, only takes 2 coats for opaque coverage, goes on completely smooth. - Cons: Pricey for a drug-store brand, only available through Shoppers Drug Mart, brush may not be cut even depending on the bottle. Overall Rating: 5/5 Price: 2/5 Packaging Quality: 5/5 Would you buy this product again: Yes.
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Polishes -Quo - Quo by Orly Nail Polish - Turquoise Moonlight
ashleyanders 11/6/2011 4:12:00 PM
* Any uploaded images are photographed to be as true to colour as possible without any later retouching/editing (other than the tags). Monitors will alter the colouring of the image, so be sure to check out multiple photographs if possible to get the best idea of the true colouring before making a purchase! Claims: True or False? 1) Fast drying: True 2) Long lasting: True 3) High gloss: True Packaging: The polish has a long black rubberized handle, which feels very comfortable in one's hands and makes opening a breeze. A large Q is stamped on the top of the lid. The bottle itself is a clear glass that is slightly rounded on all four sides, and the brush is on the slimmer side; wider than Essie but definitely slimmer than OPI. I've never used Orly polishes, so I cannot compare the brushes. One nit-picky thing to note with the brushes (does not affect my application/use) is that not all of the brushes are cut evenly. Check the bottles beforehand if this will bother you. Consistency: Before mentioning the formula, I just have to say that this colour is gorgeous.This is a darker, blueish greenish colour, almost like a dark turquoise emerald, with lots of fine glitter (mostly silver or green glitter I think); it looks absolutely amazing against my fair skin. In some lights it's bluer than in others, the glitter gives it such a nice dimension as well. Although it is glittery, it isn't chunky, and feels no different on the nail than a normal cream does. It's about a medium thickness consistency, spreads easily on the nails, and goes on completely opaque in two coats; one coat, while pretty, is not as rich as the two. Absolutely no streaking, no flooding, nothing unpleasant with the formula other than it seems to take a little while longer to dry than I'd like, but still does dry fast. It's also incredibly glossy, which does look quite gorgeous with this formula; it does, however, also look insanely pretty with a matte top coat, as it really brings out the shimmeriness and green tones to the polish. Wear time: After 3-4 days, I see the tiniest of tip wear on a few fingers, but it doesn't look much different than when I first applied it. No chips of any kind. I'm sure the glitter helps with this. Bang for your Buck: 14ml or 0.48 oz for $10.00CAD at Shoppers Drug Mart; purchased on sale for $7.00CAD. This is definitely a pricier offering, although most who shop at Shoppers will know that Shopper's brands are often on the pricier side compared to other drug stores. Seems to be similar in price and product amount as brands such as OPI, so it's definitely not a big splurge. Final Consensus: Gorgeous colour. If you don't live in Canada and love the colour, check out Orly's Halley's Comet if you can find it. One of the only dark blue colours I've found to work with my skin tone and my tastes, the formula is great, the finish is amazing, there's really not much to dislike about this polish. Highly recommended as a fun colour that I think can easily work year-round, as well as one that can be used layered with others to change things up. - Pros: great packaging/handle, very fast-drying, nice brush, pretty colour, only takes 2 coats for opaque coverage, seems to have good wear time, wonderful finish, super glossy, smooth, easy to apply. - Cons: Pricey for a drug-store brand, only available through Shoppers Drug Mart, not as fast-drying as I'd like, brush may be uneven depending on the bottle. Overall Rating: 5/5 Price: 2/5 Packaging Quality: 5/5 Would you buy this product again: Yes.
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Polishes -Quo - Quo by Orly Nail Polish - Lilac Lust
ashleyanders 11/2/2011 5:46:00 PM
Claims: True or False? 1) Fast drying: True 2) Long lasting: True 3) High gloss: True Packaging: The polish has a long black rubberized handle, which feels very comfortable in one's hands and makes opening a breeze. A large Q is stamped on the top of the lid. The bottle itself is a clear glass that is slightly rounded on all four sides, and the brush is on the slimmer side; wider than Essie but definitely slimmer than OPI. I've never used Orly polishes, so I cannot compare the brushes. One nit-picky thing to note with the brushes (does not affect my application/use) is that not all of the brushes are cut evenly. Check the bottles beforehand if this will bother you. Consistency: A little thick for my tastes, which I found made it a bit harder to work with for a smooth finish. That being said, it went on opaque with just two coats and still dried very quickly (faster than the thin Essie polish I was also using), and once I applied a top coat it looked a lot smoother. I'm just not too fond of how it looks around the edges, as it doesn't smooth out completely there. Streaking does somewhat show through, but nothing obvious. Quite glossy as well, but not too much. The shade is something I really do like, despite it not suiting my warmer skin tone perfectly. It's definitely a lilac, but it pulls slightly pinker and darker on my nails (half a shade to a full shade) than in the bottle. A cream finish without any shimmer or sparkle. After having the polish on for a longer period of time, I did find that, while not a perfect formula, it did start to grow on me and left me liking the finished results more and more. Wear time: While I only wore it a few days, I saw no obvious issues in wear. It remained shiny, it remained smooth, it did not peel, it didn't chip, and it didn't get noticeable tip wear. Bang for your Buck: 14ml or 0.48 oz for $10.00CAD at Shoppers Drug Mart; purchased on sale for $7.00CAD. This is definitely a pricier offering, although most who shop at Shoppers will know that Shopper's brands are often on the pricier side compared to other drug stores. Seems to be similar in price and product amount as brands such as OPI, so it's definitely not a big splurge. Final Consensus: This is such a great colour, although not one that will look great on all skin tones. Despite it not being a 100% suitable match for my skin tone, I do still like the contrast against my skin, and while the formula isn't perfect, it did start to grow on me the longer I had it on my nails. I found it easier to work with than OPI (a brand I'm not fond of), and overall the finished result is nice enough to warrant a repurchase. I also love how fast it dries. If I find a dupe for this with a smoother formula, I'd likely pass this one up, but if you are looking for a nice vibrant lilac in Canada, might as well check it out. - Pros: great packaging/handle, very fast-drying, nice brush, pretty colour, only takes 2 coats for opaque coverage, seems to have good wear time. - Cons: Pricey for a drug-store brand, only available through Shoppers Drug Mart, consistency can be a bit tricky to work with, minor brush strokes/streaking in finished result, brush may not be cut even depending on the bottle. Overall Rating: 4.5/5 Price: 2/5 Packaging Quality: 5/5 Would you buy this product again: Yes.
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Hair Styling Tools -Unlisted Brand - Brush Strokes Oval Cushion Boar Bristle Brush
ashleyanders 11/2/2011 1:21:00 AM
What it Claims: "100% Boar Bristles stimulate the scalp and distribute the hair's natural oils. Excellent for Short to Medium hair lengths. Sturdy hardwood handle. Natural wooden brush utilizing smooth boar bristles. Helps seal split ends, add body, hydrate and condition hair while minimizing breakage." Claims - True or False? 1) Stimulates scalp: Undetermined 2) Distributes sebum: True 3) Sturdy handle: True 4) Helps seal split ends: Undetermined (leaning towards false) 5) Adds body: Depends. 6) Minimizes breakage: Undetermined (leaning towards true) Packaging: Pretty much came as-is, just a simple brush. Nothing to really discuss! Construction: A coated wood, which makes it ideal for cleaning. The bristle section is shaped like an oval, and the handle has a slight bowling pin shape. I find that it's a big awkward to hold, but it's nothing serious. The bristles are sturdy but on the softer side, which I chose because harder bristles cause me headaches. The brush I have is actually cut a bit unevenly at the bristles, so if you lay it flat and look at the bristles from the handle, you can see that the bristles don't quite curve evenly; the top of the curve is a bit to the side. There are a few bristles that are too long, but no other issues with the bristles. Doesn't hurt my scalp and doesn't seem to hurt my hair. The biggest down side is that it can take a while to dry after washing. Oh, and it also kind of smells a bit, which I think is normal for boar bristle brushes - the other one I previously bought also smelled, and it was a different brand and store. Wear and Tear: Other than a few lose bristles here and there, I've not had any problems. Because the wood is varnished, you can easily clean it with soap and water without worrying about cracks or breakage. I've also dropped it and not noticed any issues. The bristles don't seem to have worn down or splayed oddly, so overall it seems to be holding up well. Bang for your Buck: Purchased for about $10.00CAD at Sally Beauty Supply. Final Consensus: Not an amazing brush, but it does the job. I'm water-only, so I needed a good boar bristle brush that would be gentle on my scalp, since I use it daily. This does the trick without causing any issues with my scalp, and my hair doesn't seem to be negatively affected. The constant brushing actually is helping with growth! I do find that it can be a bit flimsy for thorough cleansing of my hair sometimes, but this can be remedied by brushing smaller sections for longer. Overall, it's a nice brush, and I'd repurchase. - pros: easy to clean, cheap, doesn't hurt hair or head, no bristle fallout, works well at distributing and removing excess sebum - cons: not always effective at thoroughly cleaning my hair, a bit of a smell, a bit awkward sometimes to handle, takes a while to dry after washing. Overall Rating: 4/5 Price: 1/5 Packaging Quality: 3/5 Would you buy this product again: Yes.
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Polishes -Essie - Chinchilly
ashleyanders 11/2/2011 12:53:00 AM
*This is primarily a first-impressions review, which I will edit once I've used the polish for a longer period of time. What it Claims: "A sleek granite gray. DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde free. For best results first apply a base coat to clean, bare nails. Then apply 2-3 coats of colored polish (depending on its consistency and thickness). For long lasting wear finish with a top coat." Packaging: Very aesthetically pleasing. Simple design consisting of a clear glass container, an embossed logo on the sides, and a sticker with the name of the polish on the top of the brush cap. There is no real information about the polish or brand, which can be seen as a downside to buyers; there is no sticker disclosing ingredients. The cap is easy to twist on and off, although the shape and size of the bottle makes cap removal a bit awkward for me. The brush is longer, thin and rounded, and does not spread/separate that much on the nail - this can be a bit annoying on wider nails. Consistency: I personally find this formula to be on the thinner, runnier side. I was able to get a completely opaque finish with three coats, so it's still one of the thicker formulas for the brand, but doesn't not feel thick on the nails. I didn't get any real flooding issues into the cuticles, and I didn't really notice any initial streakiness, even with the first thinner coat. Not a super fast-drying polish, but dried quick enough - maybe 3-5 minutes. A completely creamy shade without any sparkle or shimmer. Creates a nice shiny finish, but not over-the-top, which I prefer. It definitely has a warmer undertone to it against my skin tone, kind of a taupey dark grey. I'm not sure how this would work against cooler skin tones, but since it is a neutral it's probably worth checking out, as it may pull cooler against cooler skin tones versus warmer on warmer skin tones. Wear time: I only wore it for a few days, but after those few days I saw some minor wear and one chip (although the chip might have actually been the nail itself, not the polish). Bang for your Buck: 13.5ml or 0.46 oz at $11.00CAD at Shoppers Drug Mart. Definitely pricey, especially for such a small amount of polish. I do see this shade as being dupe-able, but the formula is quite nice, so I do feel like the price was worth it. Final Consensus: With initial application, I really like this shade. It's a nice fall shade, but doesn't feel completely gloomy. It works nice as a dark neutral, it can work well for casual or dressy attire, and overall it just seems quite versatile. Based on finish and formula, I'd repurchase; it is, however, a dupe-able colour (as greys are not uncommon among brands), so if the price seems too steep then hold off and check out cheaper/higher quantity brands. - Pros: nice packaging, beautiful colour and finish, no visible streaking, dries nicely, easy to apply. - Cons: Pricey for a drug-store brand, brush can be a bit small, takes 3 coats for opacity Overall Rating: 4.5/5 Price: 2/5 Packaging Quality: 4/5 Would you buy this product again: Yes.
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Treatments -L'Oreal - Pro Manicure Nail Polish - Quick Dry 120
ashleyanders 10/30/2011 2:30:00 AM
What it Claims: "Strengthen nails with a high-shine finish. Pro-Manicure’s unique, patented No-Streak Professional Brush is flat, not round, so color goes on faster and smoother for even-looking coverage. Get a new kind of manicure that’s chip- and peel-resistant with color and shine that last for seven days. Enhanced formula with Pro-Keratin helps build stronger, healthier nails. No formaldehyde, toluene, or phthalates, so manicure is as healthy as it is beautiful." Claims: True or False? 1) Strengthen nails: False 2) High-shine finish: True 3) Goes on fast and smooth: True 4) Chip/peel resistant: False 5) Lasts for 7 days: False Packaging: Pretty much an Essie design knock-off. Aside from a lack of an embossed logo and a slanted cap, it's pretty much the same aesthetically speaking. The biggest difference is that the brush is far bigger, which I think is definitely a huge plus in L'Oreal's favour. Overall, easy to open and close, although the bottle is a bit small, which makes it feel a tad awkward when using it. Consistency: Very thin, watery consistency. The packaging definitely doesn't seem suited to this type of product, as it's nearly impossible to tell whether the product is actually sufficiently covering the brush. An actual drop mechanism would be ideal. Seems to dry to the touch quick enough, but I wouldn't say it works any faster than polish on its own. It also did not dry hard, and when I'd wake up the morning after using it, I'd have marks on the nails. It has a bit of an oily feel to it as well, which makes sense considering mineral oil is a main ingredient. It also smells horrid, which I'd attribute to the rubbing alcohol. Leaves nails shiny, but that's about all it does. Wear time: The bottle claims that it should help with preventing chips/wear, but I don't think it had any effect at all. It simply felt weird on the nails due to the oiliness. Bang for your Buck: 11.7ml or 0.39 oz at around $7.00CAD at Shoppers Drug Mart. I feel as though the price is decent for the amount given, and if it works well for your nails then it will be a nice dupe to some of the slightly pricier brands. Final Consensus: Honestly, a huge dud. The packaging is nice, but that's all it has going for it aside from adding some shine to the nails. And to be quite frank, you'd likely find better or equal results with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and mineral oil alone. Doesn't do the job it's meant to do, and I think that the oiliness of the product transferring to my face caused a few issues with my face! Don't recommend. - Pros: affordable, easily accessible, nice packaging, doesn't disturb polish. - Cons: doesn't work, packaging it ill-suited for the purpose of the product, smells disgusting. Overall Rating: 1/5 Price: 2/5 Packaging Quality: 3/5 Would you buy this product again: No.
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Polishes -Essie - Sew Psyched
ashleyanders 10/30/2011 2:15:00 AM
What it Claims: "A cashmere-soft sage pewter. DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde free. For best results first apply a base coat to clean, bare nails. Then apply 2-3 coats of colored polish (depending on its consistency and thickness). For long lasting wear finish with a top coat." Packaging: Very aesthetically pleasing. Simple design consisting of a clear glass container, an embossed logo on the sides, and a sticker with the name of the polish on the top of the brush cap. There is no real information about the polish or brand, which can be seen as a downside to buyers; there is no sticker disclosing ingredients. The cap is easy to twist on and off, although the shape and size of the bottle makes cap removal a bit awkward for me. The brush is longer, thin and rounded, and does not spread/separate that much on the nail - this can be a bit annoying on wider nails. Consistency: A thicker consistency for an Essie polish, but definitely still runny. First coat went on slightly streaky, but by the second it was completely even and opaque. I found it easiest to apply the second coat by applying a thicker glob to the lower part of the nail, bringing it towards the center, and then going from the center up to the tips. Then I removed excess from the brush and gently brushed off any excess polish from the nail. Nice shiny finish with a super subtle shimmer; I think it's a goldish shimmer, but it's hard to tell. Colour-wise, it pulls about 1-2 shades darker on my nails than in the bottle, and in some lights almost appears to have a slight blueish undertone to it. I'm not quite sure what pewter is, but I guess I'd have to say that it reminds me of an olivey khaki green. This colour works wonderfully against my very fair, neutral-warm skin. I think that this shade pulls slightly warmer for a green, so I can see how it may not be ideal for visibly cool tones. Wear time: With a base, two coats, and a top coat, I got only very minor tip wear after four days. I only removed it because I wanted a more colourful nail. I tend to get this type of tip wear within the first 24-48 hours, and the tip wear did not worsen for the rest of the time I wore the polish. Overall, I'm betting it would easily have held up for at least a week to a week and a half in total before growth and wear started affecting the polish. Bang for your Buck: 13.5ml or 0.46 oz at $11.00CAD at Shoppers Drug Mart. Definitely pricey, especially for such a small amount of polish. I've not seen any other drug store colours like this one, and I do really like the formula, so I feel the price is justified. Final Consensus: This polish definitely appears to be a winner. Great coverage and colour (compared to a few other essie polishes I've so far tried), and I just love the finish! A great fall colour for those with warmer or neutral skin tones, and a nice option in place of a nude/neutral when you want a bit more colour without the brightness. - Pros: nice packaging, beautiful colour and finish, no visible streaking, dries nicely, opaque coverage with just 2 coats, long-wearing, no chips. - Cons: Pricey for a drug-store brand, brush can be a bit small, formula can be tricky to work with with initial use. Overall Rating: 5/5 Price: 2/5 Packaging Quality: 4/5 Would you buy this product again: Yes.
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Top/Base Coats -Quo - Quo by Orly Polish Keeper Top Coat
ashleyanders 10/30/2011 2:02:00 AM
* Update August 2012: For whatever reason the top coat just doesn't want to work for me anymore. It still dries great and is fairly easy to apply but for some reason it keeps bubbling, whether applied over wet or dry polish or bare nails. This is after having thinned it out, so I'm thinking that the formula may simply not work well with nail polish thinner. Because the bottle thickens quickly enough I would not repurchase. * Update April 2012: After trying another top coat and not getting nearly the same results as this one, I've decided to give it another try. I believe that the shrinkage had more to do with my past base coat which I've since switched out. I'm testing out my original bottle and it is quite thick, but even so seeing how fast my nails dry and how smooth it looks makes the issue worth looking past. I'm hoping to buy some polish thinner soon which will hopefully solve these issues. Changed back to a "yes" for repurchasing, remaining a 4/5 rating overall. Will do an entire overhaul of review once I am able to buy some thinner and once I've used it more with my current base coat. What it Claims: "Fuses together with polish to create a powerful layer of durable lasting colour with a quick-dry, high shine finish." Claims: True or False? 1) Durable lasting colour: True 2) High-shine finish: True 3) Quick-drying: True. Packaging: The bottle came in a small cardboard box, which while looking neat and pretty is a bit of a waste. The top coat itself has a long black rubberized handle, which feels very comfortable in one's hands and makes opening a breeze. A large Q is stamped on the top of the lid. The bottle itself is a frosted glass that is slightly rounded on all four sides, and the brush is on the slimmer side; wider than Essie but definitely slimmer than OPI. I've never used Orly polishes, so I cannot compare the brushes. One nit-pick is that the brush may not be evenly cut on all bottles, so check beforehand if this will be an issue for you (does not affect application). Consistency: Definitely a thicker consistency, and I did find it to be a little trickier to apply initially, as all other top coats I've used have spread very easily and were much more liquidy. This is simply a matter of needing to use it more often to get a hang of application. No colouring, but it does initially lighten the shade before the coat completely dries, at which point it darkens up again. Dries and hardens very quickly, even on thicker nail polish. I've not yet used a top coat that hardened quickly (within 10 minutes I'd say), so I was quite pleased! Edit: It seems that after a while of use, the polish has thickened just slightly and is possibly causing some shrinkage. I've never experienced shrinkage before, but I'm fairly sure that this is what is occurring. I will be trying out a new top coat and taking comparison pictures. I'm not sure if this polished thickened (just a bit though) because of the formula or because the packaging was not tight enough to seal all the air out, but either way it does seem to be trickier to use now. It could be saved with polish thinner, but I don't know how that would affect the top coat's drying time. Wear time: So far, it seems to work very well at keeping the polish from chipping or getting any major wear quickly. I'm guessing it could probably help prolong wear for more than a week depending on the polish. Bang for your Buck: 14ml or 0.48 oz for $10.00CAD at Shoppers Drug Mart; purchased on sale for $7.00CAD. This is definitely a pricier offering, although most who shop at Shoppers will know that Shopper's brands are often on the pricier side compared to other drug stores. Seems to be similar in price and product amount as brands such as OPI, so it's definitely not a big splurge. Final Consensus: When first purchased, I really loved this top coat! I've never been one to care much for top coats or bother using them, but this one offered some great advantages to going sans top coat. Sadly, it seems that the formula has fallen prey to thickening and thus does not work as well as it originally did - I don't think I've had it for more than 2-3 months. I still would recommend it to others to try out and to see if they experience any differences, but overall I'll not be repurchasing. Overall Rating: 4/5 Price: 2/5 Packaging Quality: 5/5 Would you buy this product again: Yes
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Polishes -L'Oreal - Pro Manicure Nail Polish - Base Coat 100
ashleyanders 10/14/2011 12:46:00 AM
*This is primarily a first-impressions review, which I will edit once I've used the polish for a week or two. - Skip down to 'Final Consensus' for short summary of overall thoughts on product - What it Claims: "Strengthen nails with a high-shine finish. Pro-Manicure’s unique, patented No-Streak Professional Brush is flat, not round, so color goes on faster and smoother for even-looking coverage. Get a new kind of manicure that’s chip- and peel-resistant with color and shine that last for seven days. Enhanced formula with Pro-Keratin helps build stronger, healthier nails. No formaldehyde, toluene, or phthalates, so manicure is as healthy as it is beautiful." Claims: True or False? 1) Strengthen nails: undetermined 2) High-shine finish: True 3) Goes on fast and smooth: True 4) Chip/peel resistant: undetermined 5) Lasts for 7 days: undetermined Packaging: Pretty much an Essie design knock-off. Aside from a lack of an embossed logo and a slanted cap, it's pretty much the same aesthetically speaking. The biggest difference is that the brush is far bigger, which I think is definitely a huge plus in L'Oreal's favour. Overall, easy to open and close, although the bottle is a bit small, which makes it feel a tad awkward when using it. Consistency: A thinner consistency, but it's not too liquidy. When applied, I can visibly see that my ridges look significantly less pronounced, which stays true once the base coat has dried down. It also has a very subtle pink tinge, enough to affect your colour if it were used as a top coat, but it doesn't seem to deposit any obvious tint to the nails - I assume it mostly just helps brighten them up. Leaves a nice glossy finish, making it a good base to use if you wanted to go polish-less for a while. Dries down fast as well; by the time I've applied the base to all of my nails on both hands, the nails on my first hand are almost entirely dry, meaning it dries down in less than 5 minutes. I don't think it makes the polishes dry any slower or faster when applying multiple coats, as the first and second coat of polish averages a drying time of about 5 minutes or so each (which occurs regardless of what base I'm using or if I'm painting bare nails - exception is for very thin polishes that will dry within a few minutes), with a third coat always taking substantially longer to dry. Wear time: I don't think this base does much to prolong the wear of polish on its own. It really depends on what you pair it with as a top coat. I used this first when paired with a matte top coat, and I got minimal tip wear in 5 days of wear, without having wrapped the polish around my nails. This time around, I went without a top coat and it did not wear as well. I do, however, believe that it does help the polish remain on the nail longer than if it were done on bare nails or on too-thin bases. Bang for your Buck: 11.7ml or 0.39 oz at around $7.00CAD at Shoppers Drug Mart. I feel as though the price is decent for the amount given, especially since it's a base coat that only requires one coat per use, meaning it you will still get relatively good use from it for a good while. Final Consensus: While I've not had extensive use with this base (am testing it out with different polishes), it so far seems to do what I look for in a base: make my nails look smooth to prevent any obvious ridge marks, leave my nails shiny, and dries fast. I haven't experienced any negatives such as peeling or bubbling, so it could very well be a matter of the base not meshing well with the top coat being used. I'm not really too picky with my bases, so I'll likely repurchase. It doesn't wow me, but I like it so far. - Pros: nice formula and consistency, nice finish, doesn't colour the nails (despite the minor tint), dries fast, affordable, great brush, easy to use - Cons: May not prolong wear of polish by a significant amount Overall Rating: 4/5 Price: 2/5 Packaging Quality: 4/5 Would you buy this product again: Yes.
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Top/Base Coats -GOSH - Matt Effect Top Coat
ashleyanders 10/8/2011 11:47:00 AM
Update August 2012: I'm going to have to change my rating down to a 3 and I would no longer repurchase. This was my first matte top coat so I wasn't sure if the finish wearing away was normal, since I know that mattes don't tend to wear as well. I purchased the NYC matte top coat and after 2-3 days of wear I noticed no difference in the matte finish and the wear was quite good overall. This is worth looking into if NYC isn't available in your area or if you are a fan of GOSH but it's nothing spectacular! What it Claims: "Quick drying, glossy, strong. The perfect nail lacquer is developed on the basis of the most recent cosmetic and environmental know-how within its type of products. GOSH Nail Lacquer has a consistency that is easy to apply. Well covering, strong, and with a beautiful shiny and lasting finish. Formaldehyde and Toulene- free. " Claims: True or False? 1) Quick drying: True 2) Strong: True 3) Easy-to-apply consistency: True 4) Lasting Finish: False. Packaging: Very simple design: cylindrical shape extending to the lid/cap, clear glass with a simple GOSH label printed on the side, and a sticker giving you the name as well as the ingredients. The sticker has to be completely removed from the bottle though to see the ingredients, and there are no added directions. The lid/cap has a satiny plastic finish in black, and is comfortable in the hands. Easy to open and close. The brush is long and wider, similar to OPI brushes but somewhat smaller. I very much like the size of the brush, and it splays out easily when applying the polish. Consistency: The top coat has a clouded colouring, slightly grey. This does affect the colour of the polish, but only slightly; it seems to lighten the shade, but this could simply be a result of the mattefying effect and not its colouring. The formula has a nice consistency in that it's not too thick or too watery, but it is definitely on the thinner, liquidy side. I did not notice it disrupting the polish I'd previously applied. It initially applies with a normal shiny finish, and over the course of a few minutes begins to dry down and mattify. The finish is a slightly velvety matte as opposed to a completely flat matte, and leaves the nails feeling smooth. Dried down quickly, leaving my nails nice and hard within about half an hour, depending on the number of polish coats and thickness. Wear time: It definitely wears quite well in terms of chips and tip wear. After testing it out on a few polishes, I found that I could easily get up to a week of wear before any more noticeable tip wear showed up or before I got tired of the colour. However, the matte effect does not seem to remain as noticeable over time, going from a nice velvety matte to a more satin matte, although I don't know if it's the polish itself or simply a matter of how it was used. It still has an obviously matte look compared to using a normal top coat, but probably not ideal for those wanting long-lasting, truly matte finishes. Bang for your Buck: 8ml or 0.3 oz at $5.00CAD at Shoppers Drug Mart, on sale. Original price was $7.00CAD. The price itself seems low, but the amount given is definitely on the smaller side, and I'd definitely prefer either an even lower price or more product. As I've not seen any other matte top coats here, I am willing to pay the price for the amount given. Final Consensus: A nice top coat to play up one's polish looks without having to worry about buying separate matte shades. Easy to use, provides acceptable results, but it definitely does seem to lack slightly in the longevity of the truly matte effect. A good option for those who cannot get their hands on other well-known matte top coats or simply want a less flat matte! - Pros: nice formula and consistency, gives a pretty finish, doesn't streak or disturb the polish, dries fast, holds up well on the nails, great brush - Cons: slightly expensive for the amount given, matte effect can fade slightly with wear. Overall Rating: 4/5 Price: 2/5 Packaging Quality: 4/5 Would you buy this product again: Yes.
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Polishes -Essie - Turquoise & Caicos (Resort 2010)
ashleyanders 10/8/2011 12:44:00 AM
- Skip down to 'Final Consensus' for short summary of overall thoughts on product - What it Claims: "A flirty and pretty tropical aqua. DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde free. For best results first apply a base coat to clean, bare nails. Then apply 2-3 coats of colored polish (depending on its consistency and thickness). For long lasting wear finish with a top coat." Packaging: Very aesthetically pleasing. Simple design consisting of a clear glass container, an embossed logo on the sides, and a sticker with the name of the polish on the top of the brush cap. There is no real information about the polish or brand, which can be seen as a downside to buyers; there is no sticker disclosing ingredients. The cap is easy to twist on and off, although the shape and size of the bottle makes cap removal a bit awkward for me. The brush is longer, thin and rounded, and does not spread/separate that much on the nail - this can be a bit annoying on wider nails. Consistency: A thinner, slightly watery consistency, although one of the thicker consistencies for the Essie line. I generally prefer thinner formulas, so this is a plus for me. It starts out sheer and streaky, but with three coats it is completely smooth (unless application was shaky and/or slow). Application 100% affects how this polish turns out. When I first tried it, I waited 10 minutes each coat. This resulted in streakier nails. I've just applied it again tonight in a different manner: applying every coat, from base through to top coat, without pause, going from one finger to the other on each hand. This has resulted in very smooth nails. The finish is quite glossy and creamy, absolutely no detectable shimmer, but it doesn't show up entirely opaque after numerous coats - this is definitely a slightly sheerer polish. I find it also takes a while to dry, even with a fast-drying top coat. It dries fast, but doesn't harden fast. The colour looks great against my warmer fair skin tone. It is a slightly darker turquoise, but soft like a bright pastel. In some lights it shows up with more green tones against my skin, perhaps because of my own warmer skin tone. Wear time: When I first tried it, I got a few days of wear before the tips wore a bit. I did not experience any chipping however, and I will report back here after wearing this new application for a while! Bang for your Buck: 13.5ml or 0.46 oz at $11.00CAD at Shoppers Drug Mart. Definitely pricey, especially for such a small amount of polish. So far, the colour seem to justify the price. I like the thinner formula despite it potentially not being as long-lasting as-is as I'd like. Final Consensus: A fun, bright shade that can spruce up any outfit, and I see this shade working well for a number of skin tones; it would likely look very pretty against more tanned or olive skin. The formula isn't perfect, but for the most part it's quite a solid polish. Probably not an easy polish to dupe for the shade, and I definitely think that this and the final results (when applied right) make it a great polish and a great introduction for newcomers to the brand! - Pros: dries relatively quickly, true to the colour in the bottle, relatively easy application, smooth finish when applied properly, nicely glossy without overdoing it. - Cons: slightly thin brush, can be streaky if not applied a certain way, does not become 100% opaque with even 3 coats, can take a while to dry. Overall Rating: 4/5 Price: 2/5 Packaging Quality: 4/5 Would you buy this product again: Yes.
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Hair Styling Tools -The Body Shop - wood wide-tooth detangling comb
ashleyanders 7/22/2011 4:29:00 PM
** Staple product in my hair care routine; can be equated to HG status. What it Claims: "Get uptight hair to cooperate with this gentle, wide-toothed must-have. Just make sure to always go gentle on wet hair." Claims - True or False? 1) Gentle on hair: True. Packaging: Cardboard wrapping around the middle which is kept in place with adhesive. The adhesive took a little while to remove completely and eventually all residue wore off with regular use. Construction: Made of uncoated wood, meaning it cannot be used in water. The top/handle of the comb is 1-2 inches tall and about half a centimetre thick, offering a good grasp. I've not had any issues with the comb slipping. The edges, including the wooden teeth, are rounded off; with my sensitive scalp, I experience no pain or soreness when the comb is used daily and right up against the scalp.The teeth are separated enough to allow for cleaning in between with a q-tip or washcloth, although because it is made of wood, deep cleaning may not be very feasible. The comb is about the length of my hand, which makes it a good size for quick and easy combing. Wear and Tear: My original comb snapped in half after I used it in the shower for a number of months. Despite this, the two halves still work just fine on their own, and while both still retain mild hair gunk residue due to being unable to wash with soap, it has not had any effect on my hair. Barring use in water, this comb is definitely durable and will likely only need replacing if the wood starts getting too dirty to clean, but likely wouldn't need replacing for many years. Bang for your Buck: $7.00CAD. Even if replaced yearly, that's less than 10 bucks a year. Final Consensus: This comb works great on my thicker, curly/wavy hair. It de-tangles without pulling on the hair, doesn't seem to be causing any damage, helps to remove loose strands easily, and can even be gently used on dry curls to soften them up without destroying them. Also wonderful for sensitive scalps that cannot handle conventional plastic or metal combs/brushes. The only gripe I can see with the comb itself is that the description would make it seem as though it is meant to be used on wet hair, but such use would very likely contribute to potential cracking. - pros: nice size, comfortable use, doesn't irritate scalp, doesn't snag/pull hair, affordable, works well for combing out knots - cons: cannot be used in shower, more difficult to clean. Overall Rating: 5/5 Price: 1/5 Packaging Quality: 3/5 Would you buy this product again: Yes.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No