Styling Products -Unlisted Brand - Miss Jessie's Curly Meringue
MACAddiction 5/10/2011 11:33:00 AM
I use this on my 3c/4a African American naturally curly hair. I bought it a few years ago and am using up old products. I wouldn't repurchase. PROS: - EXCELLENT curl definer for naturally curly hair. This will not form curls if you don't have them, it merely defines them and provides moderate hold, especially if you use the shingling method described on Miss Jessie's website. - Leaves hair extremely shiny, even after dried, which is a plus for curly hair - Fantastic for twists!!!!!! CONS: - Extremely, ridiculously expensive compared to other curl definers on the market. - Ingredients are not natural or organic in the least. - Very goopy and messy to use when you are shingling (I always feel uncomfortable washing this stuff down my drains). - The product clearly sits on my hair - it doesn't penetrate. It's almost like a shell. - Hair dries hard and brittle - If you try to moisturize the hair after dried, the curls separate and become frizzy
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Styling Products -Carol's Daughter - Hair Milk
MACAddiction 5/4/2011 11:00:00 PM
I am on my second bottle for my 3c/4a hair, so I've used it enough to have an educated opinion. Although I wouldn't repurchase, here are the pros and cons. PROS: OK daily moisturizer for the top and sides of my hair when I wear curly buns/ponytails, decent moisturizer for roller sets (I don't use setting lotion on my natural hair roller sets). CONS: Don't like on my dry hair, doesn't form curls as nicely as Miss Jessie's Curly Meringue, seems drying over time, not as moisturizing as Qhemet's Burdock Root Butter Cream (my fave for light weight moisturizing), smell is just OK. Also, I have to reapply this daily, whereas with Qhemet, I can go longer in between applications. Packaging is OK, but I prefer plastic jars with lids as it is easier to get it out when the product is low, and I am more likely to recycle jars. EDIT: If I could give this zero stars, I would. I FINALLY used this garbage up, and started using a different leave in conditioner/moisturizer. The difference in softness was night and day. I will never repurchase this again, and I wouldn't recommend it to others in the least. I noticed that there is new packaging, so perhaps there is a new formulation, but I won't waste a penny to try to find out.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -MAC - Mineralize Blush - Improvise
MACAddiction 2/11/2011 8:15:00 PM
Beautiful mineralize peachy orangy gold sheer shimmery blush that looks fab on my NC45 African American skin. I wear this when I want a MCBB look, with a hint of color. One of my faves -- I reach for this OFTEN! I thought I'd only be able to wear this as a highlighter, but while it looks great as a highlighter, it also makes me look naturally glowing as a cheek color. I wear it as a highlighter with MAC Gingerly or MAC Eversun. Mineralize products are hit and miss for some people, but my skin can tolerate when properly moisturized. Picked it up at a CCO. Sounds like its L/E, but I would repurchase if I ever ran out and it were available. As with all MAC blushes, the plastic protector/cover can separate from the casing if you drop or handle heavily, which is annoying.
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Moisturizers -Aveda - Tourmaline Charged Hydrating Creme
MACAddiction 2/11/2011 8:04:00 PM
This was a dud for me. I was using the Aveda moisturizer in the green bottle mixed with Vitamin E oil, and wanted a single step for the cold winter days. It's probably best used as a night time moisturizer, and I do like it for the winter. However, it takes too long to soak into my skin, and it requires the use of way too much product. Generally, with Aveda products, you need less than more. With this one, I use way more than I expected. When I first apply it on, it has a whitish tinge on my whole face. I also don't like how make up looks with this underneath (particularly blush). On the positive, it gets rid of dry patches, and my skin is soft and has a nice glow (after it's soaked in). However, I will probably just go back to the lighter Aveda moisturizer and jazz it up with Vitamin E oil in the winter. Wouldn't repurchase.
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Blush -MAC - Cheek & Cheerful
MACAddiction 2/6/2011 2:26:00 PM
Bought this at Kenosha CCO. BEAUTIFUL natural light golden brown color on my NC45 cheeks. It is basically a me but better color that I wear with bold eyes. It probably would work well as a highlighter, but I use Bare Escentuals RSVP as the highlighter and this as a cheek color. It gives a peachy golden brown shimmer on my cheeks that is simply gorgeous. As the above reviewer said, looks great with Enchantress lip gloss. Highly recommend. As with all MAC blushes in the pot, be careful about dropping them, as several of my plastic protectors have separated from the casing.
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Blush -MAC - Sheertone Shimmer - Springsheen
MACAddiction 1/30/2011 12:20:00 AM
This is a beautiful peachy gold highlighter with just a hint of pink on my NC45 African American skin. It gives me a natural, dewy, glowy look without being over the top. It is not my main cheek color. Instead, I wear it right above the apples of my cheeks, blended into my main cheek color, so a little mixes onto the top of the apples of my cheeks. It is a beautiful highlighter with MAC Eversun or Gingerly or Bare Escentuals Sedona, and MAC Sweet as Cocoa to contour. It probably would look good with MAC Foolish Me too. I always use my 187 or 188 to apply a light layer. I have found that this blush applies more evenly for me when I have an almost invisible layer of powder on my face. If I were to ever use this up, I would definitely buy this again, as it is the main highlighter that I reach for. Just be careful about dropping, as several of my MAC blushes in the pot have plastic protectors that separated from the casing.
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Styling Products -Paul Mitchell - Super Skinny Serum
MACAddiction 8/4/2007 10:33:00 AM
Me - African American, 3b/c natural hair that I flat iron when I wear straight. Gotta say, I like this better than Biosilk, which smells chemically artificial. In my opinion, all silicone oils are the same, but I like this one because of the pump bottle design. I also got buy 2 get 1 free at Ulta. The smell is absolutely heavenly. It completely replaces my Aveda purefume shining oil. I use it to mix with JF Lazartigue's cream moisturizer or Kiehl's silk groom to roller set and flat iron my hair. My frizzy curly hair is transformed into silk. Doesn't add an immense amount of shine, but all in all, it works pretty well.
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Polishes -OPI - Infatuation
MACAddiction 7/29/2007 11:58:00 PM
I agree with descriptions below - sheer peachy pink. One coat is a beautiful natural look on my NC45 skin. Two coats comes across as a pale opaque color. I can't say it is my HG, but as I am in to natural looking nail polish, it's something I would definitely reach for again. Can't say I'd buy it again, though.
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Polishes -OPI - Samoan Sand
MACAddiction 7/28/2007 7:09:00 PM
This is a beautiful sheer nude for my NC45 skin. I wear it on my toes, and it just livens them up. As with all OPI sheer shades, it is slightly streaky, so I can't imagine that one coat would look nice. However, 2 coats (and perhaps 3) topped with OPI's quick dry nailpolish gives a neat professional look that I can wear in all facets of my life. The brush is overly big, which I like. I would ordinarily find an Orly dupe, and I may try that next time, but this color is perfect for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Veluxe - Samoa Silk
MACAddiction 7/9/2007 10:12:00 PM
Me - NC45 African American with green veins. I absolutely love this e/s. It looks obnoxious in the pan, but is a perfect warm lid color for me. It is perfect as an eye brightener, particularly for one in the late 20s or the early 30s. I wear it with Naked Lunch as a highlight, SS all over, and Cork in the crease. Lovely, lovely, lovely. Also looks nice with Coral blush. I can wear this in my conservative work environment and it is a definite HG. If I want something slightly cooler, I choose Soft Brown instead. I buy it in the pan instead of the pot, which is less expensive and more portable.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Top/Base Coats -Orly - Top 2 Bottom basecoat and topcoat in one
MACAddiction 6/16/2007 9:22:00 PM
This is a great base coat. Good packaging. It works great with Orly and OPI nailpolishes. However, with other polishes, I get the annoying bubbling effect. I do not recommend this as a top coat, as it is not shiny wet looking enough.
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Polishes -Unlisted Brand - Nail Savvy Nail Enamel
MACAddiction 6/10/2007 8:18:00 PM
Top quality polish that rivals Opi and Orly in quality, but is only like 3.99 at Sally's. I had the sheer red for my natural nails (gives a sheer rosy look). I also love Mango, which is a neutral peachy pink lacquer which is perfect for my NC40-45 skin. The bottle shape is a bit odd, but the brush is fine. The consistency is perfect - allows me to clean up misses without Orly's overly thick consistency. I will try a few others before I make up my mind, but my Opi dependence might be over.
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Polishes -OPI - Friar Friar Pants On Fire !
MACAddiction 6/7/2007 10:20:00 PM
Absolutely love this. It is a true slightly metallic red with a very faint orange cast. It is red in ALL lights, natural and fluorescent, and doesn't turn into a pinky red or overtly orange red. It is my absolute HG red for the toes. I am generally not a red on the nails person, and I think it might be way bright for my nails, but then again my SO recently told me he loves when I wear red nails. But I digress. I prefer Spa Ritual's red and Orly's Haute red for my nails. OPI colors are definitely pro and last several days.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - I'm Not Really A Waitress
MACAddiction 6/7/2007 10:14:00 PM
I used to love this color. However, it is a very mature red. After revisiting this, I found it way too dark and not the true red that I wanted. I prefer Friar, Friar, Pants on Fire for that true, more youthful red. Wouldn't repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Java Mauve-A
MACAddiction 5/25/2007 12:14:00 AM
I agree that this is a YLBB for nails. It is a plummy, mauvy, light brown creamy polish. It probably isn't for everyone, but looks good on my NC45 African American skin. Plus, I'm a lawyer, so I tend to go for natural nails or neutral colors for my nails, and splurge on the reds on my toes (even if my toes don't see the light of day except for after work - sigh). I think this color is similar to MAC's Half n Half lipstick.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No