Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - TRIA Laser Hair Removal System 
Paris334 2/4/2010 9:32:00 PM
I've had my TRIA for two months now. I've been a bit sporadic about using it so I can't even say how many treatments I've done in any given area but I'll go through the areas and make a guess. I bought this for $595 at Nordstroms (good return policy - just in case it was awful!) but later realized that I should have ordered it from them online since they participate in cashback programs. Oh well - it was still worth the money! I've had my eye on this since it came out - it was $995 a couple of years ago! Then it wento $795 and when I searched it again it was $595 - I knew it was time to jump in! I was able to register mine online instead of calling, which was nice. I also got the newest model that has 5 settings - I freaked out at first because it still shows 3 light indicators but now the bottom (only) light is lowest, the middle (only) light is low-medium, the top (only) light is medium, the bottom TWO is medium-high and all three on is high. So don't panic that you didn't get the newer 5-level system if you only see three inidicator lights! I've used this on my underarms, bikini area and (so far) one lower leg. Bikini area: I'd give this 10 lippies if I could! I've probably done 5-6 treatments (not so much following the "use it every two weeks for the first three months" guideline because it's really quick and easy on the bikini line - why not try to speed things up?!) I would say that 95% of the hair is gone here. After several days I can still FEEL some hair (and still a few strays that I can see) but the hair I feel is really fine and not visible. I am sure that TRIA will never take care of those because it works based on the darkness of the hair. (And I know what you're thinking - "I don't have any fine blond hair in the bikini area" - but I thought the same thing so maybe you do!) I am really, really, really pleased with this and if it was the only thing TRIA could do for me I would be very happy with it. Definitely worth $600 as treatments (not to mention years of touch-ups) would have cost me this much. I use it on medium-high setting for this but if it really hurts I'll bump it back to medium. I do believe I did closer in on medium-low at first as it got more painful as you moved inward. Underarms - I hate, hate, hate the fact that I'm giving the TRIA 4 lippies instead of 5 because I love it so much for my bikini area. But I haven't seen it do much for my underarms! I don't know why that is - I've done as many treatments and I use the same setting (medium-high) but it just keeps growing back. If there is less hair then it's not measurable enough for me to know it. And of all the weird things, it hurts a LOT more on my right underarm than on my left. So I often turn it down to medium on my right side. You might think my results are being impaired by that but the left side has the same results And I think it would be too painful on high. I am definitely going to keep trying with it, though - underarms are really quick so it's easy to keep going. This is the sole reason I'm not giving this 5 lippies - I assume that if it's not working for me here, then there are women for whom it won't work (here or other areas.) Legs: I've done all of my right calf now at least once with a couple of areas that have been done three times now. The areas that have been hit a few times look very good! I used this to do my knees, too, because shaving is so hard there. I figured that even if it doesn't work well (due to taking too long to do such a large area) then I'd be happy to not cut up my knees anymore! But I have been really impressed with my legs so I'm going to keep going on them. I also use medium-high here but I think in most areas I could bump it up to high. Pain factor - every once in a while it will hurt like h*ll. But usually it's either nothing at all or a small snapping feeling. It's almost like you can feel how hot the hair got (HOT!) My underarms hurt more than legs, right side more than left (what's that about?!) and my bikini area is not bad. I also think that the bikini area has hurt less and less over treatments, which makes sense. (If you're damaging the follicles and hair isn't growing, then there is no dark hair to absorb the light, therefore no heat, therefore no pain.) Also suggest that you do this only with FRESHLY shaved legs. I did a part of my calf the other evening that had been shaved that morning (about 12 hours before) and it definitely hurt more than other areas even though it still felt smooth. It wasn't unbearable at all - but definitely hurt worse. For this reason, I also recommend a good, clean, sharp razor - the closer the shave the less pain! I would so, so, so buy this again. I have been so happy with my leg results that even if I charge it so much that it wears out, I would repurchase (provided I continue to be happy and see these same results.) I realize that things will never be perfect - fine/light hairs that will never zap, they do grow back eventually, etc. But if it allows me to not have to shave every single time I want to wear shorts, to be able to toss on a swimsuit at a moment's notice, to wear tank tops whenever I want with minimal/less-often shaving then I am thrilled!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -China Glaze - Fortune Teller
Paris334 11/20/2009 6:54:00 PM
I hate to be negative but this polish is so not worth the effort for me! It is unique - it's pretty in a way but also weird in a way and it wasn't very shiny until I added a topcoat. I thought the glitter would be a little shinier without it. It chipped the very next day (those big glitter chunks create perfect chipping opportunities if they're too close to the end of the nail.) I agree with the previous review - it was IMPOSSIBLE to remove and totally not worth the effort to me. I used the artificial nail acetone thing from Target and scrubbed, scrubbed, scrubbed. Then I went to a makeup sponge, thinking it wouldn't rip up as much as a cotton pad and that didn't work AT ALL, then I moved on to huge cotton pads and just kept going until most of the glitter was gone (the polish itself was long gone) and then I used a cuticle pusher to essentially chip off the rest of the glitter. YIKES! There was glitter all over my bathroom after I was done. It wasn't as pretty as I thought it was be and it was a total PITA I had to touch it up every morning despite a great top coat. I won't wear it again because it's not worth the effort and it's not very pretty anyway (my opinion only, obviously!) Bummer - I wanted to love it.
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Eye Shadow -Almay - Pure Blends eyeshadow - 200 Ivory
Paris334 11/13/2009 9:40:00 PM
I got this on clearance so I can't complain but I wouldn't bother with any of the Almay Pure Blends shadows again. This is a really pretty color in the package but it is pretty much impossible to see when applied. I also bought 205 Cocoa on clearance and I feel the same way about that one. It's just OK and I find myself pushing them out of the way all of the time to get at other things. I essentially never use them.
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Eye Shadow -Almay - pure blends eyeshadow - 205 cocoa
Paris334 11/13/2009 9:38:00 PM
This is a no-go for me, too. I got it on clearance so I can't complain but I wouldn't bother with any of the Almay Pure Blends shadows again. This is a really pretty color in the package but it come out nothing like that! Perhaps I need to consider other uses for items that don't look the way I think they should according to how they look in the package (i.e. one reviewer said she likes it as a soft taupe color - I am just irritated that it's not cocoa! She's probably got a better outlook on it than I do but I wanted to buy a cocoa-colored shadow.) Anyway - I was disappointed by this - also got 200 Ivory on clearance and I feel the same way about that one. It's just OK and I find myself pushing them out of the way all of the time to get at other things. I essentially never use them.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - Cream Shadow Paint in Commanding
Paris334 11/13/2009 9:29:00 PM
I would buy this again in a heartbeat! As a previous reviewer said, it makes a good all-over lid color - I wear it with no other shadow (maybe a lighter brow highlight - I keep this color to on the eyeball only - if your ran it right up to your brow it would probably be scary - at least on me - I have a lot of space below the brow!) I just add liner and mascara and it's such an easy, gorgeous, professional look. It lasts like nothing I've ever seen - I wore it to bed one night and it looked pefect in the morning! I did get this on clearance and my Target doesn't have any of these little tubes left - I will be checking elsewhere to see if these still exist or if they're off the market for good. If they still exist, I'm getting more colors - you cannot beat the longevity of this! As for color - it's a beautiful pink/brown. I can see where it would be not good on some people and bring out red undertones. I really like it on my dark green eyes - it makes them look greener.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Flirt - Mousse Eye Shadow
Paris334 11/13/2009 9:19:00 PM
I bought four Flirt Mousse shadows since I like Flirt and the reviews here were pretty good. I reviewed Midnight Disco, High Maintenance and 24K separately since they all had their own color-specific reviews. As a summary - I don't really like these mousse shadows - at all. (I want to love everything so it takes quite a bit to disappoint me!) The colors are beautiful but I find that they go on light and are very difficult to blend - it just goops all over. And interestingly, the 24K is "harder" and not as wet/slippery as the others - but I've had them for a few months - maybe that one was not sealed properly and it's drying up. In addition to the three I reviewed separately, I also have Sand Castle. It's pretty but, like the others, goes on very sheer. None of them dry to a powder for me - they all stay a bit sticky before wearing off very quickly. I think that Sand Castle and 24K look almost exactly the same so if you are interested in trying these, choose one or the other. I will give these another shot UNDER shadows. I didn't think to try that so maybe they will serve a good purpose after all. I think they'll do well as long as they're applied as just one light layer, no blending.
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Eye Shadow -Flirt - I'm Whipped Eyeshadow Mousse in 24 KT
Paris334 11/13/2009 9:04:00 PM
I bought four Flirt Mousse shadows since I like Flirt and the reviews here were pretty good. This color is really nice but like all of the mousse shadows I bought, I find that the color goes on light. This one blended the easiest by far but it's so light that it's hard to really see. I wasn't expecting it to be so sheer. I have also found these shadows to wear off quickly. As I said, this is the best of the four but I would not purchase another Whipped shadow. (I am pretty brand-loyal and I really like most of the Flirt line so I wouldn't be discouraged from the line itself but apparently I am not going to like mousse-type things so I will stay clear of those.)
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Eye Shadow -Flirt - Whipped Eyeshadow Mousse in High Maintenance
Paris334 11/13/2009 8:59:00 PM
I bought four Flirt Mousse shadows since I like Flirt and the reviews here were pretty good. This color is beautiful but like all of the mousse shadows I bought, I find that the color goes on light and is very difficult to blend without looking like you're just shoving around the same little pile of shadow to different areas on your lid. It was really, really hard to blend evenly. And it didn't last at all. I am sad to be disappointed by this! I always want to love everything!
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Eye Shadow -Flirt - I'm Whipped Eyeshadow Mousse - Midnight Disco
Paris334 11/13/2009 8:55:00 PM
I bought four of the I'm Whipped Eyeshadow Mousse from the Flirt line - I have had good luck with the Flirt products. I am not digging the whipped shadows at all, despite the fact that I bought High Maintenace and 24K based on very good reviews here. I find this particular color (Midnight Disco) to be pretty light when applying and then things get worse from there. If you try to build or blend it gets messy looking - it isn't consistent and I struggle to make it look even/smooth. (I have found all of them to be this way, frankly.) It's like you just keep pushing around the same color to different places and it never really evens out. I have pretty much no experience with this type of shadow other than a tube of L'Oreal HIP cream shadow paint with I love beyond belief. So I don't think it's me. But I will keep trying with it before giving up entirely.
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Eyeliner -L'Oreal - HIP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner in Eggplant
Paris334 11/13/2009 8:49:00 PM
Love this! The color is gorgeous and it stays on very well. My understanding is that you are not supposed to put liquid or cream eyeliners on your waterline but I'd read another review of someone who did it so I tried it. It stayed on my waterline most of the day - by the end of the day it was pretty faint purple but it was still gorgeous and noticeable - just softer looking. Where it was applied to my upper lid it stayed very well. (I had no irritation from the waterline application but I'm not super sensitive to things like that.) I did not use the brush that came with this - I used a ELF studio brush - precision brush, I think. I forgot to use my cool Sonya Kashuk angled liner brush - doh! Will try that next time, though the ELF brush worked really well. Looked great on green eyes - usually my eyes are dark enough that people think they're brown - this made it very obvious that they were green. I would definitely buy this again!
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Eye Shadow -E.L.F. - Studio Single Eyeshadow Wild Wheat
Paris334 11/13/2009 8:43:00 PM
I really like this color - it's gorgeous. I agree with a previous reviewer, though, that the color doesn't deposit really well. I use it as a highlight since it doesn't get nearly as dark as the pan (which isn't terribly dark to begin with). I would probably not buy it again - it's a beautiful color but I'm guessing I could find a similar color as a highlight that shows up much better. (If it showed up much better it probably wouldn't make a very good highlight as it'd be too dark!)
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Eye Shadow -E.L.F. - Studio Line Single in Pebble
Paris334 11/13/2009 8:38:00 PM
Like all ELF studio line single shadows, you've gotta love the packaging. It's is very pretty and it's so handy to have the little see-through window when you're rummaging around! Very sturdy, too. Nothing cheap about it. This is a very pretty eyeshadow - sort of a dark brown/gray/almost-purple cast to it. It's what you think of as a rock/pebble - that grayish-brownish-purply color. So I suppose it's well-named! I have only worn this as a shadow once and I did like it. I wear it everyday, though, as a brow filler! It sounds weird but I have dark brown brows that almost seem black - whenever I put a brown shadow in there it looks too warm and I feel like it's very obvious. One morning I thought this looked very dark brown so I tried it - and I've used it every day since! It seems weird since it's a bit gray and a bit purple but it blends perfectly - the browns were too warm and light and looked really fake. So - I will most definitely wear it as a shadow again but this is worth way more than $3 as a brow filler for me!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -E.L.F. - Studio Line Single Eyeshadow in Amethyst
Paris334 11/13/2009 8:30:00 PM
I really like this shadow - I am amazed at how much color applies to the lid! It has great payoff! It is a gorgeous color, dark purple. It has a hint of shimmer in the package but I don't see it much when it's on. I paid the full price of $3 and I think it was worth every penny and more. If it had been $0.75 I would be ecstatis! Only negative - it did crease. I will try it with a primer next time. It is beautiful with green eyes - a coworker who never wears makeup told me how much she liked my eyes that day and that they really "popped." (I wore it with L'Oreal HIP cream eyeliner in eggplant - very pretty combo!)
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Polishes -Revlon - Dark Pleasures-Midnight Affair
Paris334 9/30/2009 7:10:00 PM
This polish goes on very nicely. It would be prettier if it was a bit more sheer as it comes out a little too dark for my taste and the shimmer is lost. I'm not into dark polish and I'm quite certain everyone thought I was wearing black nailpolish - you really have to look to see that it's blue. The shimmer is sort of lost on the nail, too, unless it's applied very thinly. I do give high marks for application. If I had been really careful I could have gotten by with one coat! It went on like a dream! I figured that would never happen so I wasn't careful on the first coat. I have found it to wear well - no chipping after three days, which is important on a dark color. I did overcoat it with NYC's Silver Starry Glitter (sorry - name might not be exact) last night and it's so, so, so cute like that! In that case, the dark blue looks perfect with the glitter on top!
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Polishes -New York Color - Long Wearing Nail Enamel - Starry Silver Glitter 105
Paris334 9/30/2009 7:04:00 PM
This is so cute! I picked this up at Target for $0.94 - how can you go wrong?! I was currently wearing Revlon's Midnight Affair and it's gorgeous over this dark blue color. Plenty of sparkle, easy to apply. Can't go wrong for the $!
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