Hair -Unlisted Brand - InStyler - TopStyler
Shakeitdontbreakit 5/10/2012 12:20:00 PM
I got these after seeing an infomercial in which they said they were sending me two sets for 14 bucks, but if memory serves I think it was closer to 50. Not sure, and really who cares at this point. I bought them because A. It seemed like an innovative, natural-looking way to give hair some curl/wave, and B. I figured these hot little clips just might serve some purpose and I should snag them before they're never seen again. As far as styling goes, they're ok. It might be me that's the problem, I just can't seem to do it right. BUT... I did indeed find a great use for them... For anyone who highlights their own hair, as I do (until a professional has to step in for disaster relief). My hair is very dark so in order to get truly light blonde highlights I have to apply heat. I use foils, but I'm not about to stand there with a blow dryer or even in a bonnet type thing (which I also have. Somewhere...). I mean, I'm not a slave for Chrisake. I heat the clips (duh), roll the foil small enough to be covered by it, and man does that speed things up and give me great results. No more brassy diy-looking orangey stripes at all. I'm so glad I have these clippies now. The end.
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Polishes -Wet 'n' Wild - Megalast Nail Color - Break the Ice
Shakeitdontbreakit 4/8/2012 4:57:00 PM
I have a hard time finding a polish I love - I like sheer, but not too sheer, white- but not too white- and a little shimmah nevah hurts. Add to the above criterion a polish with decent consistency and a good brush, due to the fact that when I paint my nails myself, they come out looking like I did them on the elliptical. Wet n' Wild Break The Ice is not too white - it's more of an ivory. It goes on like a dream, dries wicked fast (I don't know why-I can't help myself.I'm not even from Boston) and doesn't Break The Bank. Get it? BREAK THE BANK? BREAK THE ICE? Jeez that's funny. I love this polish. The end.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - Nu Brilliance
Shakeitdontbreakit 3/27/2012 3:51:00 PM
OK. I am writing a dreaded and much loathed "I've only used this once so far, but...." review, however I have a reason. First, I used to have something very similar but it was so awesome that it almost sucked my face off. So awesome it was taken off the market. I gave it to my best friend because she's my best friend. And she won't give it back. I have since been looking for a replacement, and this is as close as I've come. This seems to work well. I can't speak to the product's longevity due to the afore mentioned lack of use to date. Here is what I want to tell you: They sell this at Sephora fpr $240 or something. I got it on the AsSeenOnTV website under the name DiamondRadiance for 79 bucks. (see link at bottom of review) I'll update as I use it more, but just wanted to let anyone considering this purchase know. https://www.asseenontv.com/diamond-radiance/detail.php?p=368848&v=health-and-beauty_skin-care
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Mascara -Hourglass - Film Noir Lash Lacquer
Shakeitdontbreakit 2/5/2012 7:12:00 PM
I really hate to be a spoiler on this one but I don't get it. The main difference I see when I apply this over my mascara is that my lashes are clumpy. I'm not getting the super-black patent finish that others seem to be. I gave it two lippies because it's innovative. Which is why I bought it in the first place (for $28!).
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - LeahMargot LaCreme
Shakeitdontbreakit 2/4/2012 2:04:00 PM
I'm not sure where to start with this stuff. I would best describe it as a very emollient, no nonsense moisturizer and resurfacer. I love a creme that's a little on the "heavy" side, because I have dry skin that is not prone to breakouts. Although the friend who hipped me to it is prone to breakouts, and her skin has never looked better. Apparently it contains a good amount of salicylic acid, which clears skin and exfoliates. What I love most is that when I wake up in the morning, I feel and see a difference! My skin is so soft it looks like a baby's butt. And not just only because my face looks like a baby's butt. I did a frantic search and found the website. If you can afford it, I think it's really worth a try. I ended up buying it after they sent me a sample, and it has continued to improve my skin... I only use it every other night or so. I cannot rave enough!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Bath and Body Works - Volumizing Warm Vanilla Sugar
Shakeitdontbreakit 9/30/2011 11:54:00 PM
This review is not for the scent, but the product. I like the shampoo from this line a lot (volumizing) but never really used the conditioner, though I always bought it with. I finally used it in an attempt to shake things up and clear the decks a little (so many products, so few excuses to buy more!). Much to my surprise, this has become my HG! I will say, that I even loved this as a platinum blonde, although it was not moisturizing enough for every day. Now that I'm back to 'virgin' hair, it is absolutely perfect: not too heavy, leaves my hair glossy and soft and shiny! Try it - especially if you enjoy the scents - I love the grapefruit Mandarin (or something like that).
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Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - Plus White - 5 Minute Speed Whitening Gel
Shakeitdontbreakit 2/23/2011 12:00:00 PM
I have pretty white teeth, I think. I don't really know because as soon as whitening products came around I was on it. Heaven forbid I miss an opportunity to do something to myself. My uncle is an orthodontist and years ago I went to his office and forced him at gun point to mold custom plates for me and provide the professional gel that goes with. A couple of negatives there: 1. I never once woke up with the plates still in my mouth and 2. The whitening was uneven I think it's called a "rainbow effect". The worst part was waking up and fearing that I had swallowed the plates (very unsettling)-and the second worst was finding them under my bed covered in dust bunnies. Blech. Anyway, I have been using this stuff for a few years now (tried the strips/light thingie, etc) and it really is THE BEST. It's got the same active ingredient as everything else, and a decent amount of it. I use it every other day (I give it a break when I fear my teeth are starting to look blue). Apply it before I brush with a Q-tip and leave it on while I shower (10 minutes tops) brush my teeth afterward and we done. Easy, effective, and cheap. Great!
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - TRIA Laser Hair Removal System
Shakeitdontbreakit 1/10/2011 7:57:00 AM
For those of you looking for a quick wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am type of review-keep moving along. Not only from this review but from the product itself. This mofo takes some serious time and patience. Let's start with the basics: looks like a hair dryer, but instead of an air vent there is a dime-sized "laser" thingie. DIME sized. Now they tell you NOT to use on face or bikini area. They go on to explain the process of going over the LEG (ha!) area several times while overlapping dime sized applications and doing this weekly (or less) for several weeks before you START to notice a difference. Okay. A few things: A. I'm not going to live this long B. I don't WANT to live this long if this is what my quality of life will be reduced to. and C. REALLY?? Bitches, please. (That's the bitches at Tria, not my fellow and much treasured MUA'ers.) I'm not sure if they even go into why we shouldn't be using this on our faces and -ahem-other areas, but they have to be smoking some serious shit to expect me to spend a significant portion of my valuable time painstakingly "zapping" the hair on my legs one quarter inch at a time. And unless they come at me with some real solid reasons not to use this where I want to (my face, my bikini), like "coma, death, bloody bowel movements and the urgency to have them" I'm going for it. And I did. Here's what I have discovered: In order to insure that progress is being made, one must wait until there is enough stubble that the hair in question can be seen and grabbed by a tweezer. Then you gotta zap that hair mercilessly until it comes right out with just the slightest provocation from the above mentioned tweezer. If it puts up a fight, zap it a gain. And again. This is an - at maximum- 4 hair-at-a-time procedure but I do think it works. I got it on easy pay or something like that from one of the many fine home shopping channels available to us during these magical times. If you can get a deal like that (or not-totally your choice obviously) and you have stray hairs that sneak up on you - particularly your chin or upper lip, say go for it. Take a pain killer if you want to up the ante but don't like the ouch. I spend about 80 bucks on Brazilian bikini waxes and have started the process down there. It seems to be working much to the chagrin of my beloved waxer. 02/14/12 UPDATE: OK people: I have come to the conclusion that this thing just isn't worth the time/money/....no, that's it. Time and money. I gave it a fair chance and also lent it to two friends. One of them decided to go to a professional and NOW I see how laser is SUPPOSED to work. I know it's a lot more expensive, but after seeing the results I'm thinking the Tria was 400 bucks down the rat hole. 400 bucks better spent on the real deal.
21 out of 25 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -DermOrganic - Leave In Treatment with Argan Oil
Shakeitdontbreakit 11/30/2010 1:38:00 PM
I've embarked on the magical journey of turning my naturally dark brown/almost black hair to light light blonde. My colorist, who normally tells me not to "bother with any if this crap" when it comes to the products sold at the salon, handed me a bottle of this and looked at me as if she were handing sight to a blind man. I bought it of course. To echo the other reviews, this stuff is very most excellent. Because it is an oil and not a silicone, it really improves the hair's condition without just coating it, and in turn, there's no build-up. The only added input I can offer is for those who have color-treated (bleached) hair, which can be tricky. Especially if one is trying to maintain an ash blonde. I do not find that this product has a negative (brassy) effect, which is great. Life itself can turn bright ash or (gasp) platinum hair brassy, so even if this has a minor effect, it's a small tradeoff for hair that is in much better condition. I'm just sayin'.
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Treatments -Aphogee - Two-Step Protein Treatment (formerly Treatment for Damaged Hair)
Shakeitdontbreakit 10/29/2010 9:03:00 AM
There is nothing- NOTHING more sexy that sitting across from your date at a candlelit dinner watching him watching you as your new blonde hair falls out of your head and onto your decollete. However, I am sexy enough. So I decided to try to put an end to this lest there be men chasing after me in the streets. I went straight to the source, MUA. Though you never let me down, I must admit that after reading the accolades for this product I was sceptical. "These miracles just don't happen to me." I thought woefully as I read rave after rave. But they did. My hair has been dyed, fried and laid to the side. What was once a black glossy mane is now a bright light blonde "pouf" reminiscent of cotton candy in texture. I love it. Except the afore mentioned falling out of my scalp. Oh... and the fact that it looked... well.. fried. I only used the protein step and followed up with a Nexxus moisturizer (couldn't find the Aphogee conditioner intended for use after this.). I put it on (made a huge mess but that's how I do) and just kind of piled my now mid-neck length hair on my head. I used a blow dryer on hot/medium. Took about 15 minutes to get hard (insert stupid dirty joke here). Washed it out, applied the Nexxus, and actually combed that through and left it in until later in the day. My hair is amazingly improved. It is glossy (as glossy as bleached blonde dark brown/black hair can be) and feels like I can run my fingers through it without taking a good percentage of it with me! In regard to the scent (or odor) - this smells like overripe fruit. Not great but I've put up with worse for less. Thank you MUA and if you're thinking about trying this -do!
29 out of 29 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Maybelline - Superstay Gloss
Shakeitdontbreakit 9/17/2010 8:58:00 PM
I am pretty thrilled with myself for buying this (I guess I could say I'm thrilled with the product, but why not take the credit?) I have this in #103. I'm never too pleased with how gloss (on it's own) looks on me. It either does nothing or looks messy-never seems to look "polished' like it seems to on other gals. I also have issues with long wearing products because they are drying and start to look all gritty and weirder than regular lipsticks do, and in less time. Anyway, I put this on-the first part (color) and forgot all about it, what with being drunk and all. Then I remembered that I had yet to put on the second step (gloss). THEN I forgot about it AGAIN cause, well, you know. However, by the time I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I had sobered up enough to recognize A. Myself, and B. Myself in a VERY flattering, polished-looking gloss. This stuff really holds up but doesn't look lipstick-y. It truly looks like a gloss, which is what I was skeptical about. But lo and behold it delivers. Plus, for me, anyway, the fact that the color base is NOT a gloss, it remains more pronounced, so even a light shade like this one holds it's own. Yay.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Maybelline - Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Makeup
Shakeitdontbreakit 7/2/2010 1:17:00 PM
I have been waiting for the honeymoon stage to end on this one, because I prefer to read reviews with some time-tested validity, and I have to watch myself on that. Before I go into my psychotic, self-indulgent background story, I'll cut to the chase: I have been blessed with my mother's skin, which is flawless. My skin IS dry, so keep that in mind. Even with dry skin, I can see how this might be a better winter product. BUT: I frikkin' love this. I love the applicator thingie because it's easy, it gets into the area around my nose, under my eyes (and acts as a great primer for concealer). The coverage is, I think, truly what I would describe as moderate. It feels like nothing but it does indeed cover a bit as opposed to just "evening out". I got it on a drugstore run with a bunch of friends (2) after some totally acceptable social drinking. One of them needed purell or claimed to, at least, so we had an excuse to go to CVS and get everything but. The only reason I state that fact is that I kind of grabbed whatever shade seemed to best suit my complexion through one eye. I got Pure Beige. It is a bit dark for me but blends well and adds a nice warmth. I now "roll" it over my face where I would normally put bronzer (around my temples over my cheeks/ nose/forehead), and down the sides of my neck. I blend and apply concealer. The result is an even, warm, polished look. It doesn't slide off anymore than anything else would when you sweat like I do (think pig). OH! And one great thing is that powder can be applied over this (even B.E.) without it looking dry and... um... powdery. It settles in nicely and just sets it. For the humid summer months, anyway. I read one or two reviews that found this not to blend well. I get it... I smooth it in like moisturizer, and it still provides decent coverage. That said, if you want the kind of coverage that you just lay down like a coat of paint (been there many times and will be again I'm sure) this is not that. It doesn't "dry" to a finish. It keeps moving until it's in. Speaking of, I really like the Vichy Dermablend tube foundation for that, if you can get a decent shade. So there you go. I can safely say that I would introduce this to my parents, as opposed to questioning my own judgement and calling it names while my friends tell me they always thought it was a total jerk. Time-tested. Lunatic approved.
13 out of 16 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Body -Avon - Bust-Sculpt
Shakeitdontbreakit 6/25/2010 7:44:00 AM
Okay.... let's face it. My breasts are damn near perfect. I mean these girls are the talk of the town. But seriously: It was late, I was lonely and Avon was having some awesome online sales. Bust Sculpt? Totally ridiculous. Still, I can't help myself. I love bogus claims. They make life worth living. That said, there really is not much to add. Except this: Thanks to this tube o' boob lube (I'm not drunk, by the way) I am more diligent about moisturizing my decollete. For what that's worth. Would I recommend? If you get it on sale and would like an excuse to feel yourself up - yeah. Why not?
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Liquid -Paula's Choice - All Bases Covered Foundation SPF 25
Shakeitdontbreakit 6/14/2010 2:25:00 AM
I expect more from Paula's products because she seems to know everything and clearly uses that knowledge in her skin care lines, which I am very pleased with. Her cosmetics however, not so much. I tried a sample of this foundation in a few shades and each seemed to be compromised by the sun protection (think white zinc oxide mixed with your regular foundation). Come on Paula! If you can't live up to your own high standards, then do us all a favor and skip it. Stick with the good stuff (love her antioxidant serums, friends have had great success with her acne fighting line and matte finish serum). Her cleanser and self tanner? Only totally awesome! Have yet to find success with any of her cosmetics. Don't think I'll be trying anymore.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Fresh - Soy Face Cream
Shakeitdontbreakit 1/22/2010 2:55:00 AM
You know when something smells SO BAD that you don't even want to breathe it in through your mouth? Me too. And now, thanks to this sample I received from Sephora, I know what it's like to be covered in a smell that bad for an hour or so until it finally dissipates. And I'll tell you something else, since I'm being honest here: I have never had a good feeling about Fresh. A not so Fresh feeling, if you will. BUT - because I've only owned one of their products - the Umbrian Clay bar (not bad but kind of nervy for that price. All the B.S. in the world won't make mud not mud.) I felt that my feelings were unfounded. I have, however, sampled some of their products and, though none of the others left me desperately reviewing the orifices available on the human body in order to find an alternative route to aspiration without involving my head, I have never been impressed. When it comes to skin care, or anything, really, I am all for the latest developments of our modern world. I want stuff that was made in a lab, not discovered under a rock somewhere in Greece. Or used centuries ago. If something works well, you don't have to go searching for it. It's still around. And while I'm not totally incredulous of the potential benefits of certain plants and oils, I really don't need to take a bath in sake. As for my anti-aging regime, I don't give a flying rat's ass what they did a thousand years ago. They did all kinds of crazy things back then. Give me stuff from the future. Not the past. Especially if it's as gimmicky as the Fresh line tends to be.
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