Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Viviscal
Ponchy 11/26/2012 7:53:00 PM
I have been taking this product twice a day for a year+ and my experience is that while it did make all (facial, etc.) my hair grow faster it absolutely did not thicken the strands at all. As I take a high quality women's multi, two high potency omega 3's, and 5,000 mcg biotin each day it is hard to say what percentage of my hair growth is due entirely to Viviscal.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Aphogee - Two-Step Protein Treatment (formerly Treatment for Damaged Hair)
Ponchy 3/3/2012 5:00:00 PM
Wow! All the other reviewers who raved about this product were so right. I don't even recognize my own hair today after using this for the first time ever. Soft, smooth-looking hair. I didn't realize what a damaged mess my fine, thin hair was from over-bleached hi-lights. I have found a new hairdresser and a new HG hair product: Aphogee Two-Step. **Thanks to the Hair Board for recommending this product as well as all those experts who wrote detailed reviews of it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Perfect Formula Pink Gel Coat
Ponchy 2/11/2012 12:31:00 PM
Huge disappointment. I've been using a month and my nails are no better than when I use any other regular clear polish. Definitely NOT hardened or strengthened at all. I repeat NOT ONE LITTLE BIT HARDER OR STRONGER! The only positive I have for this is that it wears a awhile without chipping- both alone and under polish....but then so do a lot of polishes that don't cost $30. Save your money...don't buy this. (Background: I have tried many other strengtheners both high-end and drugstore brand. This Gel Coat is the worst of the bunch.)
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Styling Products -Phyto - Phytovolume Actif Volumizing Spray
Ponchy 4/12/2010 8:54:00 PM
I have such fine hair...and now its thinning too. This spray-in volumizer is the best product I have used to add body to my hair. And I have tried them all...high-end products and drugstore products. No shampoo, conditioner, or mousse can do for my hair body-wise what this does. All day long and until I wash it out the next morning this stuff really gives my hair fullness. The only downsides are the smell (ick!) and the cost. But it works and so it is my HG hair product for volume/body.
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Pressed Powders -MAC - Blot Powder - Light
Ponchy 4/12/2010 3:56:00 PM
Blah. Yes, it blots my face but it looks chalky on. I now only use it to spot "blot" sides of nose, eyelids, and forehead if I am wearing bangs. OK...it keeps the oilies at bay but it makes me look ugly while its doing so. I'll stick with my Shu Eumura "loose powder" for the future even if it does make a mess of my make-up bag occasionally.
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Mascara -NYX - Doll Eye - Water Proof - Extreme Black
Ponchy 4/12/2010 3:51:00 PM
So far "Doll Eyes" you are my HG mascara. Forget my over-priced and flaky/clumpy DiorShow...adios Maybellines...bye-bye all versions of Lash Blast...tata Lancome (regular) Hypnose. I found you for only $7.99 and I can't believe the high-end look you give me. My lashes are LONG(!) but not wirey at the ends but are full-looking. One coat alone makes my eyes really stand out and I wear glasses! You don't flake on me or rub off under my eyes even though I wear a very moisturizing eye cream. Not too thin and not too thick in texture you apply like a dream to boot!! Even your mascara tube is cute with that little doll eyes pic. I love you "Doll Eyes"...you little HG you!!!!!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Garnier - Fructis Body Boost
Ponchy 4/12/2010 3:35:00 PM
All I can say is: What body? This product (along with the "matching" shampo) did nothing to add body to my hair. Zero. Zip. Nada. Too bad too as it does smell nice.
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Top/Base Coats -Unlisted Brand - Trind - "Nail Repair"
Ponchy 1/1/2010 7:41:00 PM
NAIL REPAIR (Basecoat/Treatment): For "Breaking, Peeling, & Splitting Nails": I received both Trind's "Nail Repair" and "Nail Balsam" as a gift from a dear friend in the Netherlands. This review is for the "Nail Repair". Prior to receiving them I had never heard of them...and truthfully only gave them a try because they were a gift from this wonderful friend. I was, at that point several months ago when I received them, happy enough with a qtica nail strengthener I was using. Well...thank goodness for friends who know a thing or two about nails! I have become so devoted to the "Nail Repair" in particular I haven't done a manicure without it in months and have had to get another bottle. My nails, which in the first 2/3 of this year were splitting and peeling and breaking, now have to be cut as they grow so long....and no peeling or splitting at all - not once in months! Now, mind you, I do a manicure every 5-7 days so I don't think I could blame the nail polish remover -Onyx purple- I use for my peely/splitting troubles. Was it all the extra hand-washing...or what? I do not know. But what I do know is that my nails now look nice enough to wear just a clear coat of the "Nail Repair" if I like...no color needed to hide my peely/dry/split nails. And they are so strong (strong, not hard if that makes sense)they must be cut/filed each week. As a great additional benefit (a really great one!) this product seems to help my mani last a long time and prevents staining. Although I have received "Trind" exclusively as a gift(s) from my generous Europeon friend I see it can be ordered directly from Trind as well as several online retailers if you are looking for it and don't have someone to send it to you as a gift. It is not inexpensive but it is Good...Really Good(!)...if you have dry, peely, or splitting nails:-)
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Top/Base Coats -Nubar - Diamont Top Coat
Ponchy 1/1/2010 6:14:00 PM
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!! My HG Topcoat. No longer use any other:-) QUESTION & ANSWER: Is it shiny you ask? (Get out your sunglasses I say!) Is it quick dry you ask? (Is The Pope Catholic?) Do you get "shrinkage" you ask? (Never...nada...nope...not ever!!) Does it really last you ask? (Its like the Viagra of topcoats!) But is it expensive you ask? (Nooooooo!) How's the bottle you want to know. (Great shape and hard to tip over) LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this product! I have tried so many including Seche Vite, Poshe, Oh So Wet, Lippmann's, Spa Ritual, Sally Hansen, Duri, Barielle, NailTak, etc. Many were shiny and fast dry...none were as "Tough", "Long-Lasting", or prevented the dreaded "shrinkage" to the degree DIAMONT does. I like my mani to last 5-7 days and DIAMONT helps to make it so:-) I have converted many a disbeliever to this product my merely lending them the bottle for just one mani. ***PS - DIAMONT is not to be used as a Refresher (ie. like the Barielle extender product) just as a quick-dry Topcoat.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Nivea - Creme
Ponchy 1/1/2010 5:45:00 PM
**This review is for the Nivea Cream from GERMANY which I received as a gift from a dear friend in Europe. I have tried both German and Mexican brands and I can guarantee you they are NOT the same.** (FYI - You can order the German-made version from this reputable seller: http://www.germandeli.com/niveacreme75ml.html .) I am currently using this as a night eye cream for my 40+ plus very dry eye area. Described by many on MUA as the "Poor Man's La Mer" I have to say that it certainly lives up to its hype as an intense & effective moisturizer. Unable to use La Mer due to a seaweed/"sea broth" allergy I have found the German-made Nivea to deeply moisturize my poor winter-impacted (and let's face it: age-impacted as well!) eye area. It doesn't take much product either to do the job! When I apply this rose-scented cream to my eye area at night (about an hour or so before bed) I awake with moisturized/smooth/plumper-looking skin. No milea to report...and no stinging either. I have no problem with it migrating into eye area. My smile lines are less noticible too:-) Now, it is a bit greasy if over-applied (*which I sometimes do at nite if I have a few hours to let it all soak in before bed...due to feeling our PA winter weather get particularly cold/blustery/dry at times) but no more than the La Mer or many other nite eye treatments. I do not use it on the rest of my face as of now as I do not need intense moisture on whole face (I use CeraVe Cream on face in winter) but I would not hesitate to if I felt I needed to. Bottom Line: Love, love, love this stuff!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Cerave - Moisturizing Cream
Ponchy 1/1/2010 5:08:00 PM
Well, once again the SkinCare Board experts were not wrong about a product recommendation. Cerave Cream (available at drugstores) IS all that and a bag of chips!! I am in my 40's and have combo skin with sensativity, some adult acne, melasma, oily on T-zone and drier in other spots...esp in winter. I had been using Curel lotion on face as it was the only product to moisterize and soothe my face. The only downfall was it made my face greasy. Enter CeraVe Cream...after trying the Curel and prior to that all types of high & low end creams I had rejected (ie. Dior, MD Formulations, Kinerase, Juara, Kiehls, etc.)...this awesome CeraVe Cream sunk into my skin immediately with no greasy residue. It did not sting, it soothed immediately(!) and took away dry spots...calmed redness and lessoned the peeling of my Retin A Micro and Obagi Clear. It is perfect under both my sunscreen (Shiseido 55) and my make-up because it does NOT make either turn greasy or cause it to slip. But - to me - the biggest compliment is that after an 8 hour day of wearing it I don't want to rush home and wipe it off my face due to greasy/shiny feeling...because there isn't any greasy/shiny feeling! No pimples or clogged pores either:-) FINALLY, an HG face cream. Thank you SkinCare Board for this recommendation:-)
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Alberto Vo5 - Brush Out Hairspray
Ponchy 7/7/2008 3:05:00 PM
My HG hairspray. It holds well AND you can completely brush it out without ripping your hair from its roots! I would just die if they stooped making this! LOVE IT!
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Treatments -Mario Badescu - Drying Lotion
Ponchy 7/7/2008 3:01:00 PM
I wish I had stock in this product...I buy so much of it! I have used it for years to treat zits. I would not be without it as I have found it to be THE fastest way to get rid of a zit short of a cortizone shot from the Dr.. Its my HG pimple healer.
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Concealers -Laura Mercier - Secret Concealer
Ponchy 7/7/2008 3:00:00 PM
This concealer is THE concealer for long-lasting coverage of zits/skin imperfections other than under eye circles. And you can custom blend blend the color by mxing the appropriate amounts of the two shades that come in the case. (Good in case you tan.) I get no additional zits from this product and, again, have found it to be the most long-lasting concealer for imperfections like zits or red lines on the side of the nose. It's my HG zit concealer, period.
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Makeup Brushes -Sonia Kashuk - Eyeliner Brush
Ponchy 7/7/2008 2:54:00 PM
Love this "Bent" Eyeliner Brush! It is THE ONLY WAY for a rookie like me to apply my MAC Fluidline Gel Eyeliner. I would not be without it!
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