Styling Products -Unlisted Brand - Macadamia Natural Oil Reviving Curl Cream
CWHF 2/8/2013 4:49:00 PM
I have very curly somewhat fine hair (3c/4a mix). I don't normally use a styling product but this was on sale BOGO with another product I wanted to try so I picked it up. I was very pleasantly surprised by the results; it gives me wonderfully defined (but not super tight) glossy curls that hold up to second and third day hair without weighing my fine hair down. I use it on soaking wet hair after rinsing out my conditioner (Jessicurl Aloeba) and a little goes a long way; if you overapply I suspect you will have big problems. I usually 2 small (dime to nickel sized) puddles and scrunch and smooth it on and let my hair air dry. I have gotten more compliments on my hair since starting to use this that I have in years. I suspect it is not very moisturizing on its own, so be sure you are using a good conditioner paired with this. It seems to wash out easily (I follow a low poo regimen with Kinky Curly Come Clean). The only negatives for me are the smell (very strong chemical perfume-y smell but fortunately fades quickly) and the packaging. I got the travel size and it is so hard to flip open. I will solve that by getting the larger pump size next time. The price is fair because a little goes a long way; for the travel size I have been using it regularly (3-4 times/wk) since late December and 7 weeks later still have at least half a bottle left. Worth a try for curlies.
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Hair -Kinky Curly - Knot Today leave-in conditioner
CWHF 11/17/2009 6:45:00 PM
I am a woman of color with tightly coiled curly hair. This conditioner is one of my staples (the other being Jessicurl Aloeba). It is a great detangler for me as well as in warmer months a great leave in; in winter/cooler weather I need something a bit heavier to add to it. I get great shiny curls when I use this. Nice smell as well, very natural, slightly fruity/coconut, but it doesn't linger long. I have repurchased several bottle of this as well as Come Clean, the shampoo from the line.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast
CWHF 6/13/2009 10:40:00 AM
I am a huge fan of Cover Girl's Lash Exact so I thought I would give this raved about mascara a try. Unfortunately it was not a good mascara for me. My major issues were flaking and smudging (one of the worst mascaras for this I had ever used), irritation (this formula when flaked into my eyes really made them water and feel uncomfortable and I don't have remarkably sensitive eyes), plus I found the brush gave me clumpy spidery lashes more so than big lush lashes even from the start that only got worse as the tube got older. I am going back to CG LE, but it was fun to try it out. Just wish it would have worked better for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Philosophy - Amazing Grace Firming Body Emulsion
CWHF 6/6/2009 5:55:00 PM
I received a generous freebie of this from Sephora last month. I was skeptical, as I am usually a fruity/lemony/foodie kind of gal, with scents and figured this would be awfully girly and floral (which is fine if you are into that). Well, I finally tried it out and found out it is actually the perfect spring/summer scent. It smells clean (but not detergent like) with a hint of floral and a bit of sweetness that is not at all cloying. My husband (who can be a little oblivious) ever since I started using it has been commenting frequently about how great I smell but he has no idea what's different. Perfect strangers (men and women) have walked up to me to compliment me on how wonderful I smell. which has never happened to me. Even coworkers have commented on it---one of my colleagues described it as the unperfume, meaning it just seems you smell great, not that you are wearing a fragrance. It doesn't firm but it does moisturize and I use it for that wonderful scent. For my body chemistry, the lotion alone actually has fairly good lasting power; my husband can still smell it on me in the evenings and I only apply it in the morning to my legs and a bit on my arms and decolletage. I actually went out today and bought the big bottle, I love it that much. Definitely worth getting your hands on a sample if you can.
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Blush -MAC - Goddess -Raquel Welch Icon Collection
CWHF 2/11/2009 3:55:00 PM
This blush is my holy grail. I am a GGG (NC43 MAC, MUFE Duo Mat 209). It is a lovely coral with warmish peachy pink undertones. It looks bright in the pan, but gives me the most natural healthy pop of color. Apply with light hand. I can rarely bring myself to use another blush, it makes me look that good. I wore it on my wedding day, and everyone said I glowed. I would get a back up if I could. If you can find it, snap it up.
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Lip Treatments -Fresh - Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15
CWHF 11/20/2008 7:09:00 PM
I am admittedly a lipbalm junkie. I picked this up at Sephora F&F 2 years ago, chiding myself for spending so much on a lipbalm ($22.50 USD minus the F&F discount). However, I fell in love and am on my 3rd tube. It has a lovely sugary lemon scent and hydrates my lips well without making them overly greasy. I use it under lipsticks and gloss and it works well for that as well. I only wish it were cheaper. I stock up on it with the F&F sales so I can get the best price. It would also be nice if there were not so much product left after you completely swivel it to the top and it flattens out; I make sure I get my money's worth by scooping that chunk into a jar to use but I don't get the nice sanitary stick application that way. I also like the fact that the tube is very snug with the screw top; no way this lid is falling off or ruining your purse.
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Masks -LUSH - Catastrophe Cosmetic
CWHF 12/28/2007 4:18:00 PM
I am a fan of the bio-fresh masks and my previous favorite was brazened honey which is a lovely exfoliative mask. Unfortunately, I think that mask was not designed for long term use and it turned on me giving me irritation. The LUSH SAs recommended this mask to calm my skin back down and it worked very well. It is a much more gentle exfoliation than Brazened Honey. I love the blueberry-ish smell (though it is a bit perfume-y it is very pleasant) and it spreads easily and as usual the tub gives a generous amount. I am using it 2 times a week (currently on my second pot) and my skin is returned to clarity with a bit of a glow. Only downside is you must rinse really well to get rid of the residue; careful if using it in the mornings you don't miss a patch. Definitely will continue to repurchase.
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Powder -Make Up For Ever - Duo Mat Powder foundation
CWHF 11/21/2007 10:38:00 AM
MUFE Duo Mat is my holy grail foundation. For reference I am a GGG. I have hunted for years for a foundation that would match and flatter me and last a reasonable number of hours. I tried liquids, powders, mousses, drugstore and high end (notably MAC where I am NC43ish in range, Prescriptives antelope in their virtual skin). Every foundation was off and didn't match me; I definitely have difficult undertones to match. I finally decided to jump to pressed powder foundations given the ease of use, controlled application and less oxidizing to orange (a problem I have with liquid foundations invariably). After raves here, I went to sephora and was matched to 209 which was a perfect match for me, not too pink, not too yellow. I love the coverage---it can be light or it can truly be used to cover blemishes well. I apply it with a brush usually or use a sponge for heavier application on blemishes and my skin looks so good and not masklike or cakey. I did my own makeup for my wedding and used only this for foundation, no concealor and my skin glowed. Best of all it lasts several hours on me even without touchups. Fantastic product. I hit pan on my first compact on my wedding day and bought my next one when I came home from my honeymoon. I only wish you could refill the compact; it would be less wasteful.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Zoya - Yasmeen
CWHF 8/24/2007 5:16:00 PM
This is easily the most beautiful purple nail polish on me ever. It is a bit warm with a lovely shimmer and just such lovely intense punch of color. I love it on my toes.
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Masks -LUSH - Brazened Honey face mask
CWHF 8/24/2007 5:06:00 PM
This face mask is a miracle worker for me. I had noticed my skin looking dull and splotchy and decided to try this mask as I had not been treating my skin very well. It really exceeded expectations---I am on my 4th tub (a tub lasts about a month if I do every other day masks). I am glowing; I admit I have been wearing very little makeup lately as I am just really happy with my skin. It exfoliates beautifully, minimizes my pores and I honestly do think it has helped fade my dark spots (used in combination with sunblock of course). It just makes my skin look so healthy and even. Addendum 12/28/07: Unfortunately, my honeymoon with this procuct ended. I think this is really a mask to be used for acute skin issues and then switch back to something milder. I was using it 2-3 times a week for about 4 months and it turned on me with irritation and cystic acne. Fortunately, I switched to the milder Catastrophe Cosmetic mask which calmed my skin down again. If my skin gets dull again I would try a pot again though but not use for an extended period of time. It is still a good mask.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Orly - Chantilly Peach
CWHF 7/11/2007 3:18:00 PM
Chantilly peach is a very lovely pearly peachy pink color. Initially I worried it would be too frosty and too cool toned, but this was really flattering on my nails (GGG here). The color changes with the light or surrounding colors, tending to be more peach/gold or more pink in different scenarios. It looks great on me (warm toned) but would look good I suspect on most people as it tends to be neutral and again flatters the colors placed near it strange as that sounds. Very work appropriate. Would definitely repurchase were I to run out. Picture in indirect sunlight: Chantilly Peach
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Fed Up
CWHF 6/4/2007 6:41:00 PM
This color makes me love my nails. It is very sheer with just a hint of shimmer with a peachy tone to it that makes my nails look healthy and glossy. Amazingly, it does not apply streaky at all (I have this problem with a lot of sheers). One of the few shades that I can wear a single coat of it and love it. Quick, easy to apply, easy to wear, and gorgeous (and of course work appropriate). What's not to love?
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Polishes -Lippmann Collection - No More Drama
CWHF 5/25/2007 11:35:00 PM
I'm a GGG and I must say this is one of the prettiest colors I've tried. It is a medium deep caramel to milk chocolate color with very pretty fine shimmer of gold with hints of bronze and a few sparkles of copper. Easy to wear, lasts well, work appropriate. One strange observation: it is one of the prettiest colors I have seen under fluorescent light, which makes me enjoy it even more at work.
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Gels/Soaps -LUSH - Karma soap
CWHF 5/22/2007 5:19:00 PM
I adore this soap, and I honestly don't know why. I am normal the most anti-patchouli/earthy scents person you could imagine but I find the scent of this soap positively intoxicating. It is warm with citrus notes and musky earthy notes that I can't place but just tickle my toes. I wish the fragrance lingered longer and the soap lasted longer; a 100g chunk which I diligently removed from the shower to a dry draining soapdish only made it 3 weeks. However, I will repurhase this frequently as smelling it makes me really happy.
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Polishes -OPI - Marooned on the Magnificent Mile
CWHF 5/22/2007 5:15:00 PM
OPI scores another winner with this saturated midtone red cream color with burgundy undertones. It is relatively neutral and I suspect it would be flattering on just about anyone. Great OPI formula wears forever on toes. Nice classic color, works for a vintage vibe as well as more modern look. Looks lovely in a peeptoe sandal as well without being too over the top. Extremely wearable and work appropriate.
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