Misc Beauty Tools -Ulta - Super Blender Elliptical Sponge
BohemianMartini 12/7/2012 12:26:00 AM
Picked this up at Ulta thinking I was saving money on something comparable to the Beauty Blender. I was wrong. It was a complete waste of five bucks. I found it sucks up my expensive MUFE Face & Body, leaving me with a just a little to apply to my face. Not to mention how hard the sponge is. It feels soft, but I found way too firm to use on my face. It'd make great cushions for my couch though. Final verdict - worst sponge I've ever used. It's been relegated to my craft bin.
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Polishes -E.L.F. - Nail Polish
BohemianMartini 10/26/2012 2:31:00 PM
Crap. Complete crap. On a whim, I purchased a bottle of cobalt blue flecked with purple and blue glitter polish. It has a snakeskin cap and I believe it's part of the jewel tone collection. It has no name but a few numbers which match the numbers of every other bottle in the collection. The color is beautiful in the bottle. On the nail - the formula is streaky as all hell. To make matters worse, the brush was designed by someone who has obviously never painted a nail or a wall. What a crock of bull! First they short change you on the polish (0.304 oz) and then it's a bitch to get on because the brush is so damn awful. E.L.F. could come up with a nail color that is proclaimed as the 2nd Coming by nail guru's and sell it for 2 bucks and I still wouldn't buy it because the brush is so awful. Oh and coverage - I'll get back to that one when I finish with the 4th bloody coat. Verdict - pass on the E.L.F. and run to the WnW rack - those folks seem to know what they're doing.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Deodorants -Unlisted Brand - Crystal Body Deodorant Stick
BohemianMartini 10/26/2012 2:08:00 PM
Love this stuff! I've had my stick for well over four years and it's still going strong. I've barely made a dent in it. This is probably because I never put it under running water. As soon as I step out of the shower, I coat my underarm area with this - anywhere from 40 to 60 strokes per arm. I've never found it to be irritating - in fact, since I've used this stuff - I haven't had the dreaded winter itch. You don't get that gunky, heavy coated feeling under your arms from this stuff like you would regular deodorant. It feels and smells like you have nothing on - minus the B.O. of course. My favorite things about this stuff is that it doesn't clash with my perfume because it smells like nothing and it has NEVER left white deodorant patches on my clothes from changing. I'm one of those girls who changes clothes about 3 times before settling on an outfit in the morning. No more tossing clothes in the washer to get deodorant off! Another big plus is it doesn't contain any nasty ingredients that you don't need or want in your body (you know - the ones that may or may not cause cancer depending on who you talk to). I swear by this stuff year around. I actually purchased another stick to give to my sis to try. Highly, highly recommend.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -L'Oreal - Everstrong Reconstruct shampoo
BohemianMartini 10/18/2012 1:38:00 PM
I purchased this stuff along with the conditioner. I've been suffering from patchy dandruff, tightness and itching so I've been testing out shampoos to see what helps and what doesn't. I had great luck with my sulfate free face cleanser and based on research, I thought I'd give this stuff a try. While it slightly alleviated my symptoms - I noticed after about two weeks of use I started to break out on my scalp. I got couple of weird, big pimples - something I've never had before. I completely attribute it to this stuff - as after discontinuing use - they've gone away. In addition - the first few times left my hair extra soft and weightless, but by week 3 - my hair looked limp and tangly and well nasty. Since then I've been using a different shampoo/conditioner and my hair and scalp look and feel great. My verdict - complete crap.
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Shampoo -L'Oreal - Vive Pro for Men Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
BohemianMartini 10/18/2012 1:23:00 PM
Just finished my 2nd bottle of this stuff yesterday. I suffer from dandruff, tightness and itching on parts of my scalp. This stuff completely keeps it in check. I only shampoo 3 times a week - per my doctors recommendation and I avoid application of conditioner and mousse on my scalp. I lather it up on my scalp and let it sit for 2-3 minutes to let the zinc do it's thing. I paid 2 bucks for a bottle at Big Lots - so it was way cheaper than most of the other anti-dandruff shampoos on the market. Like the other reviewer commented - it is a men's product but smells much more like a ladies shampoo. I did like that it's a 2-in-1, as it much, much less drying than the straight anti-dandruff shampoo's on the market. My only hope is that I can find it again - as usually a big lot's purchase is a good indication of a product being discontinued.
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Treatments -Ion - Anti-Frizz Solutions - Extreme Moisture Nurturing Creme
BohemianMartini 10/18/2012 1:05:00 PM
On my 2nd bottle of this stuff. I initially got it for free as my free product with renewal of my Sally's card. (I think I paid 40 cents difference.) Just to be sure - I'm reviewing the stuff that's in the blue and white bottle with a cap at the bottom. I have dry, curly medium length hair. I shampoo with an anti-dandruff 2-in-1, 3x's a week. I always follow it up with this stuff applied only to my ponytail length of hair, but never my scalp and leave on for about 5 minutes. I comb it out (wide tooth comb) in the shower (the only time I brush my hair) to help preserve my curls and rinse with cool water. My hair always come out nice and shiny and filled with big bouncing curls. It never fails - my SO always asks me if I'm wearing perfume or scented lotion - nope - it's the conditioner. I often receive compliments on my curls and I completely attribute it to this stuff. I can notice a huge difference when I use a different conditioner. My curls turn into waves and are much less defined. Dare I say this stuff is HG for me. Between this stuff and the occasional coconut oil are all the conditioning my hair needs. Better than my old Joico K-pak any day of the week.
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Cleansers -Boscia - Purifying Cleansing Gel
BohemianMartini 10/18/2012 12:40:00 PM
I received a 5oz bottle free when I purchased my Clarisonic Mia. I decided to use the whole bottle before reviewing. Definitely a nice foaming cleanser even though it's sulfate free. The smell could be a little better - it smells pine-y. I have very sensitive, combo skin with rosacea on my cheeks. This cleanser never aggravated my skin. Though it was slightly drying - but completely tolerable. Every once in a while I did feel a little tightness - but I attribute that to my Mia. I use MUFE foundations with primer and I when I did try to wash it off with this cleanser - I didn't feel it did a great job removing make-up. Using white towels - I still had a little make-up on my face. Would I repurchase - yes. Why - because it never once caused flare-ups or irritated my skin like so many others, and my skin hasn't looked as good in a really long time. While not my HG, it made an excellent cleanser to be used with my Mia. At $26 bucks a bottle - which lasted me almost a year (about ten-eleven months), it really is a great price for a HE cleanser.
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Lipstick -Revlon - Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain - Honey
BohemianMartini 8/24/2012 9:40:00 PM
Another great product from Revlon. I picked this up for $6.49 @ my local CVS - with a $4.00 in-store credit bringing the total to $2.49. I absolutely adore the color. It reminds me so much of my favorite Chanel Glossimer in Giggle. Definitely a MLBB look. The texture is very light - very similiar to Nivea's balm - not at all waxy like chapstick. The staying power is pretty good. It has a slight sweet minty scent that does fade pretty quickly. A really great DS alternative to pricier HE chubby sticks. Highly recommend! Can't wait to pick up a couple more.
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Lotions/ Creams -Eucerin - Aquaphor Healing Ointment
BohemianMartini 8/14/2012 5:50:00 PM
HG Status! Who needs chapstick! This stuff slathered on my lips at night leaves me with perfectly soft lips all day. I've tried it applied very lightly over moisturizer under my eyes - leaves my under eye area perfectly moisturized and less poofy. Just love this stuff!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -Make Up For Ever - HD High Definition Loose Powder
BohemianMartini 7/2/2012 7:51:00 PM
Over my foundation - it's worthless and a waste of money. Under my foundation - it's a magical mystical combination when used with MUFE primer. Literally, applied with my big fluffy brush over my MUFE primer with my Duo Mat foundation - my skin is a dream. I used to apply this over my foundation and bam! 3 hours later - I was a greaseball. Long story short, one day I applied this under my foundation with MUFE primer and voila! Tons of compliments on my skin! I highly recommend trying it under your foundation before you return it! I think you may be pleasantly surprised. =)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Make Up For Ever - HD Microperfecting Primer
BohemianMartini 7/2/2012 7:21:00 PM
My original review is listed on the - neutral 0 version of this product, but I thought I should list it here as well. ~ HG status! I don't know or care what MUFE puts in this stuff but applied in combination with the HD powder and my Duo Mat Powder foundation, my skin is near perfect. I've tried other primers - and all the others (like Bodyography and Smashbox) give you that smooth baby bottom soft texture - nice at first but too heavy leaving my face like the top of an x-tra cheese pizza.. This is how this stuff is different. It's more like a moisturizer with a dash of primer in it. Long story short, I received a deluxe sample from Sephora. One day having run out of my usual moisturizer I decided to try out my sample. I smeared some on and applied some HD powder over and was out the door. But I looked in the car mirror and realized I looked like death - so I smeared on some Duo Mat (literally) on top and was off. Later that day - at work - (keep in mind I work in a ginormous gov't building - so the lighting is terrible and makes everyone look awful) - I had numerous co-workers stop by my desk to tell me how nice my skin looked and wanting to know what I did to make my skin look so nice. Keep in mind I ALWAYS use my duo mat. The only thing different was that I used the primer and put HD powder under my foundation instead of over. (I remember another MUA'er swearing by HD powder under not over foundation.) 11 hours later - at 1 in the morning - my skin still looked freaking awesome. It didn't look like I was wearing any makeup - just like I had great skin and texture. I thought it was a fluke - so I tried the same combination a few days straight. And I got more compliments. I used up my sample and repurchased it (in the travel tube - I didn't feel like breaking open a full size bottle like I did the sample to get the last 30% of product). Love it! I highly recommend trying it in the following order - bare skin - primer-hd powder-foundation. Hands-down easier and better results than if I'd used my KA SSE. And that should say everything. =)~
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Primer/ Corrector -Make Up For Ever - HD Microperfecting Primer in 0 Neutral
BohemianMartini 7/2/2012 7:15:00 PM
HG status! I don't know or care what MUFE puts in this stuff but applied in combination with the HD powder and my Duo Mat Powder foundation, my skin is near perfect. I've tried other primers - and all the others (like Bodyography and Smashbox) give you that smooth baby bottom soft texture - nice at first but too heavy leaving my face like the top of an x-tra cheese pizza.. This is how this stuff is different. It's more like a moisturizer with a dash of primer in it. Long story short, I received a deluxe sample from Sephora. One day having run out of my usual moisturizer I decided to try out my sample. I smeared some on and applied some HD powder over and was out the door. But I looked in the car mirror and realized I looked like death - so I smeared on some Duo Mat (literally) on top and was off. Later that day - at work - (keep in mind I work in a ginormous gov't building - so the lighting is terrible and makes everyone look awful) - I had numerous co-workers stop by my desk to tell me how nice my skin looked and wanting to know what I did to make my skin look so nice. Keep in mind I ALWAYS use my duo mat. The only thing different was that I used the primer and put HD powder under my foundation instead of over. (I remember another MUA'er swearing by HD powder under not over foundation.) 11 hours later - at 1 in the morning - my skin still looked freaking awesome. It didn't look like I was wearing any makeup - just like I had great skin and texture. I thought it was a fluke - so I tried the same combination a few days straight. And I got more compliments. I used up my sample and repurchased it (in the travel tube - I didn't feel like breaking open a full size bottle like I did the sample to get the last 30% of product). Love it! I highly recommend trying it in the following order - bare skin - primer-hd powder-foundation. Hands-down easier and better results than if I'd used my KA SSE. And that should say everything. =)
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Top/Base Coats -Poshe - 4 in one treatment base coat
BohemianMartini 3/14/2012 1:13:00 AM
This review is for the base coat in the blue bottle. I purchased it at Sally's - can't remember what I paid. For starters, the bottle leaks. This is the first nail polish bottle I've ever had leak. I was cleaning off my counter, put everything into a grocery bag for sorting and by the time I got around to going through it - I found the bottle stuck to a receipt (thank goodness!). 2nd - this stuff peels off my nails within a few days. Every few months I try it again - thinking maybe it won't peel this time but it does! Every-freaking-time! My whole manicure lifts on an edge and the next thing - the whole sheet of polish is peeling off. Waste of money.
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Mascara -Maybelline - Volum Express The Falsies Flared
BohemianMartini 1/2/2012 7:47:00 PM
I hate this stuff. I found the wand and the size of the handle far to big and clunky. It feels like a giant kid's pencil in my hand. The mascara itself applied decently enough. It is a very heavy and thick formula. My lashes are pretty good at holding a curl with most mascaras but this stuff was just too much. My lashes straightened under the formula. Within two hours, mascara was flaking off onto my cheeks. It looked terrible. I hate throwing away make-up, but I know I'm NEVER using this crap again.
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Blush -NARS - Ninotchka
BohemianMartini 11/15/2011 12:34:00 AM
Wow. I'm so out of the loop - I had no idea that this was discontinued. But good news I've found a pretty close - not close enough to call a dupe - but close enough to mention on here blush. For reference - I'm a MUFE F&B 34. I love this blush. It's a wonderful matte shade that can do double duty for contour/blush. I mentioned in a palette review that this shade definitely reminds me of MAC Harmony. I decided to swatch it just now on my hands and they are definitely in the same family in terms of hue and shade. When heavily color swatched on my hand, Harmony is more plum. I decided to try them on my cheeks - the true test - and they looked pretty darn similar. Unless you're really going to pack it on, Harmony may be pretty decent substitute for someone lemming this blush.
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