Hair -Unlisted Brand - Coconut Oil
Remykat 4/28/2013 1:36:00 AM
It doesn't get any better or cheaper than this. My hairdresser recommended coconut oil since I get ombre color done regularly. My hair has been in good shape lately, or so I thought. Just a 30 minute leave-in treatment was enough to take away dandruff and leave my hair completely moisturized without being weighed down. I now use it once a week. My flakes are gone, the ends are softer and well-behaved, and my color seems brighter. I use refined organic coconut oil (the refining eliminates the scent for the most part. Didn't know that, I just was going for the cheapest jar!) Here's what I do: 1. Make sure hair is dry! 2. Saturate scalp through to the ends. Add extra to where to might need it. If you have dandruff (which I do if I drink.. think it's the dehydration), add extra to your scalp. 3. Leave on for as long as you like, and use any method for it to sink in. 20 minutes with a shower cap, overnight in a bun, one hour under a dryer, whatever. It all works. No, it will not be greasy because... 3. When you shampoo it out, do NOT wet hair before you put on the shampoo. Concentrate on the hairline, and you're good to go. I shampoo 3 times with a sulfate-free shampoo, and I don't have to wash again for 2-3 days (the usual for me.) 4. Bask in the complements!
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Styling Tools -Farouk CHI - Ultra Chi by Farouk
Remykat 4/21/2013 9:53:00 PM
Stopped working less than 9 months after the purchase. The store did not accept an exchange or credit and referred me to the company instead :( It wasn't a contact point issue with the cord because I was very careful with the storage. I am so bummed because this was a good iron. I hope I just got a lemon. My first CHI went 8 years strong, my Sedu less than 3, and now this. Keep your receipt, ladies.
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Polishes -OPI - Live And Let Die
Remykat 11/15/2012 11:56:00 PM
I'd recommend getting the mini set before committing to this deep green. Although the description says it's black, it's most definitely a black-evergreen with gold micro glitter. With its cool undertone and warm sparkle, it ends up reading as a neutral. The green isn't so obvious as to clash with your clothes either. In sum, this is a wearable color that's a little more updated than other black shimmers... however, I rated this a 3 because I had tip wear on the 2nd day, and because I cannot see it work for any other seasons besides fall and winter.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Redken - 7 Velvet Gelatine Silk-Infused Gel
Remykat 11/12/2012 11:48:00 PM
My hairdresser uses this on me, and to my delight, I've been able to recreate the same blowout at home when using this gel! Velvet gelatin cuts down my drying time, adds volume and just a smidge of hold... it's as if it gives my hair a "memory" of the style, allowing me to wear it for 3 days with virtually no breakdown. This reduces frizz but adds no heavy gloss (hence the "natural shine" description), which means hair looks and feels cleaner for longer. While this product isn't perfect (strong cologne-type fragrance, pricey), it's a great tool in achieving a professional look, even for very curly hair.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -BeneFit Cosmetics - They're Real
Remykat 10/6/2012 7:59:00 PM
I'd been on the hunt for a good mascara for a while. Every brand I've had failed this summer and just slid right off halfway through the workday. I bought this because the SA said it would not flake or run, but I could still wash it off ( water resistant). I've gotten great results with it, but the clincher was this week. Stressful 11-hour work days, 99 degrees (in October, I know), and had to put our beloved pet to sleep. I cried and sweat buckets, and They're Real did NOT budge. Very grateful I have one less thing to worry about.
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Polishes -OPI - Deutsch You Want Me Baby 
Remykat 9/17/2012 12:16:00 AM
I found this shade to be a lovely, fiery, wearable orange. The finish has great dimension to it, much like a foil or metallic, but without the streaks. It also avoids being glittery and gel-like (IMO the downfall of China Glaze's "Riveting" from their Capital Colors collection). Red/orange nails seem retro to me, but the finish really updates it and makes it modern and fun. On week 2 of my pedi and it's lasting fine. Just added a top coat of "Only Gold for Me" and the hex glitter makes it a bit on the wild side :)
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Makeup Brushes -Urban Decay - Good Karma Powder Brush
Remykat 9/2/2012 10:17:00 PM
I'm not sure if this is still made... but it is NOT the optical blurring brush. It's much more full, with longer, soft bristles. I use this with liquid foundation (UD Naked, to be exact), and it's changed my look for the better. I'm not a heavy-foundation girl, but I can stipple and buff this to make a sheer-medium or heavy look. It also allows me to blend away that tell-tale jawline mark. Can't believe I didn't discover this sooner!
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Liquid -Urban Decay - Naked Skin
Remykat 9/2/2012 10:10:00 PM
I was looking for a product that wouldn't melt in the 100+ CA heat. This does all right. I was able to find a good shade match, and the blurring brush (separate review) allowed me to buff this on an achieve a truly natural finish. It still requires a blot midday (T-zone) but had more staying power and a better finish than anything I'e tried lately.
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Polishes -Sephora - Sephora by OPI - Only Gold for Me
Remykat 7/16/2012 1:22:00 AM
This polish has resurrected some of my least-used shades. It's packed with micro and hex glitter. On the first coat, you'll probably get 4-6 hexagonal pieces on the nail and light smattering of micro. Usually, I stop there. This look AMAZING over black (like a starry sky), but I also use it over turquoise for a robin's egg look. Removal for any hex glitter is a pain, so use the foil method for less scrubbing and scratching. Usually, I avoid Sephora polishes like the plague, but this one is utterly beautiful, and worth the $10.
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Lip Gloss -Bare Escentuals - Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Cream Lip Polish in Mudslide
Remykat 7/5/2012 12:52:00 AM
I wanted a nice, classy color for a job interview. I know gloss is considered a no-no, but I love Buxom's formula (minty without being irritating, non-sticky, great color payoff, good staying power), so that's what I was set on buying. Now, Mudslide looks so drab in the container-- muted, brown, blah and boring-- but oh! so lovely on the lips. It gives a healthy, pink, youthful shot of pigment without being young, fake or (shudder) glittery. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by this one... Oh, and I got the job. ;)
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Lips -Revlon - ColorBurst Lip Butter in Peach Parfait
Remykat 7/5/2012 12:29:00 AM
The glitter killed it for me, as it did for every other person giving a negative review. I didn't find it uncomfortable or scratchy, but just juvenile-looking. It's the other end of the frost-spectrum. Shame, because the color is just perfect otherwise.
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Eyeliner -Physicians Formula - Shimmer Strips Gel Creamliner - Glam Collection - Brown Eyes
Remykat 7/5/2012 12:24:00 AM
This purchase was inspired by You-Tube. The gal did a ridiculously beautiful date-night look with a gold lid, bronze crease, and black liner. This set had all three! So I copied away. Then, she put loose shadow on top to set and highlight. So, I did too. And then the wrinkles that SHE didn't have showed up on me ;) Long story short, this set does work for me. It stayed through the day and into date night with hubby. For day, I just do the bronze liner with gold in the inner corners and maybe a little black to wing on the outer corner. The colors also look good as an all-over color. You'll want to use a different brush for a more precise line.
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Hair -A/G - Fast Food Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Remykat 7/4/2012 11:55:00 PM
This stuff is frikkin amazing. I got it as a sample in the salon, and I couldn't believe how luxurious and moisturizing it was. I was unfamiliar with the brand, and when I checked the price, it was definitely an "aspirational" type of product-- as in a splurge, a treat, NOT for every day use (am I made of money?). And THEN, friends, I see the liter sale at my favorite orange-bedecked store, and oooohhhh, it's on. The formula is thick with a juicy, satisfying lather than defies its coquettish sulfate-free-come-hitherness. You get some muther-loving bubbles out of this. You WILL get clean hair that is not stripped of essential moisture. Scent? Pretty sweet, on the verge of too-too, but a nice change from that pretentious camphor/patchouli smell that every SLS-free product seems to have. I can't say enough about this stuff. This shampoo, in conjunction with its leave-in counterpart (seriously, have you seen those reviews?) has changed the quality of my hair. No more I-wish-had-good-hair. Pony up the 15 bones and go for it. ;)
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -A/G - Fast Food Leave On Conditioner
Remykat 7/4/2012 11:36:00 PM
So amazing, so expensive, so buy it on sale (when U-know-who does the liter deal!). I use a pea size amount to a dime size. I rake it thru damp, towel-dried hair, concentration on the ends, back of the head, and face-framing pieces (in other words, the most damaged areas). I comb thru, let it sit, and then blow dry straight (or, on curly days, I just leave it in and do a coat of gel [Ouidad] on top, sometimes mixed with more conditioner). I have stopped using most of my straightening creams and gels because my hair is just behaving better now. Stumbling upon the sample of this was one of the best things that happened to my hair in quite a while :) Oh, and don't get me started on the coordinating shampoo, gurrrlllll.
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Treatments -Reviva - 10% Glycolic Acid Cream
Remykat 5/7/2012 12:53:00 AM
I like glycolic acid as an alternative to retinol. It gives me the exfoliation without as much dryness. This cream is such a deal. It comes in a 1.5 oz. tub, and it will last you quite a while. Reviva says that you should do their 5% lotion first, but I skipped that step, 'cuz I go rogue and stuff. No harm done, but I have pretty tough skin. This tingles upon application, which surprised me because my 25% peels don't even sting anymore. I add a thick moisturizer over the top on my drier areas like cheeks and temples. I'm not noticing any improvement in "fine lines," but the clarity is definitely there. Screw you, adult acne! I just made you say my name!
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No