Mascara -Bare Escentuals - Flawless Definition mascara
WhackyAki 4/25/2013 4:35:00 PM
I have tried the Volumising version of this mascara and really loved it. I had read good things about this one so I decided to try it, plus I really like this whole cosmetics line. Normally I really like the fine tooth combs as opposed to the big plushy ones so I figured this would be great, but for some reason this just doesn't "wow" me! I will start off by saying I have light and fine eyelashes, about medium thickness (pretty normal). I really like the feel of the formula, it's light, feels good on my lashes and I have zero irritation all day. No flaking, however I did notice some fade-out by the end of the day, it doesn't seem to maintain the same impact as when it's first applied. Now for the application. The brush is a great design, but either my lashes are too fine or the comb doesn't have enough teeth because I don't seem to be getting the kind of definition I am after. I do have clumping with this, and I find it a little hard to layer on. It holds a curl sort of okay, its not a super thick formula so it doesnt weigh down. I seem to get this on my eyelids for some reason, which is a first time for me. I did not notice any lengthening, which is too bad since my eyelashes are very light (almost see through) and need all the help they can get on the ends!! I think if you have thicker longer lashes, this is perfect, I can imagine how this would apply and it would be great. I really wanted to love this stuff! If you have thin, blonde, and/or fine lashes I would recommend the Volumising formula!
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Treatments -Kiehls - Midnight Recovery Concentrate
WhackyAki 2/1/2013 1:59:00 AM
I received a deluxe sample of this (4ml) and I did end up purchasing the full size bottle (along with the eye creme which I also love). I'll start off by saying I have very fair skin, sort of sensitive, but overall i'd say it's normal. I feel like my skin types are really prone to looking dull, at least mine is anyway, especially in the winter months (can you say borderline grey skin!)! I was really pleased with how brightened my face looked in the morning. The couple breakouts I had healed very fast. I am usually not sold on serums and other "miracle" skincare products as I have tried samples of dozens and dozens of serums from all sorts of high end labels and was never ever impressed like I was with this. Anyway, I like how I only need 2 drops and my whole face feels comfortable. I wouldn't say I feel insanely moisturised or anything, but for me it's a very nice balanced comfortable feeling. I think people who like a really moisturised creamy feel on their skin before bed might not like this, but I guess you can put your creme over this, haven't tried. I'm not a scent-freak, but this smells really nice. I did not find it overwhelming, but I wear and use essential oils a lot so maybe it doesn't affect me. It's definitely 100% a "natural" smelling product. Ask for a sample before you buy, sold me on it, I love it! **** I should also mention that the sample card I got said to pat this gently onto the skin and never smear it.. Not sure why the full-size bottle doesn't say, but maybe the people who find this greasy are smearing it too much into their skin? Dunno, try patting it on.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Kiehls - Cucumber Herbal Toner
WhackyAki 1/8/2013 12:28:00 AM
I'm not sure if I would purchase this one again.. I don't have sensitive skin or any breakouts at all but for some reason this really burns my skin sometimes. It goes away soon after a minute, thankfully. My skin feels and looks really nice after and I follow with Kiehl's Ultra Creme. Overall I think this does a great job, but because of the burn, I probably won't repurchase. I may ask for a few samples of other Kiehl's toners before I buy next time (this was my first time using their products).
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Styling Products -Pureology - In Charge Styling Spray
WhackyAki 1/1/2013 5:43:00 PM
(This is a review for the now discontinued In-Charge hairspray in the orangey bottle, they have since reformulated and repackaged) I'm a hairdresser and I've tried so many professional hairsprays.. I've bought this a few times for personal use and I am not the biggest fan. I don't mind the smell, it's more tolerable than others I've tried (I -hate- powdery smells!). The spray has a nice coverage, doesn't splatter, and emits a nice even mist with a good pressure. I mainly use hairspray to hold backcombing and to give my ends a bit of volume, so I can't really speak for how well it holds curls. This hairspray did not really keep my volume intact all day, I had to touch up my hair multiple times. I took off 2 stars because the lasting power is just not there for me. However, it has a great feel, it's brushable and does not feel crunchy. I also did not notice too much buildup over time and did not make my blonde hair brassy, which is a problem with a lot of hairsprays. So, if you're looking for a light hairspray, definitely try this, I just need a little more out of my sprays. I also can't fully comment on the price because I get it at cost, but I know it's very expensive at retail price and I think there are more affordable sprays that may perform better. 3/5!
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Styling Products -Alterna - Alterna Bamboo Smooth - Kendi Oil
WhackyAki 12/28/2012 4:50:00 PM
I'm a hairdresser, so I've tried ALL the serums! This one was just okay. I have light blonde fine thick hair with dry, split ends and have had a hard time growing my hair out because of my ends. I bought this at my distributors as soon as it was released. At first I really did love this stuff, it made my hair really soft and manageable and protected it. After about half a bottle it was just kind of "meh" for me... I didn't notice any improvement in the length or condition of my hair. Of course, hair can't be miraculously repaired and rejuvenated, but the point of a serum is to protect the ends from heat, tangling together, brushing, etc. My main problem with this is that it was not weightless and after prolonged use it actually made my hair dull and weak. I have found a much better serum and do not recommend this.
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Treatments -Kevin Murphy - Young.Again
WhackyAki 12/28/2012 4:38:00 PM
I'm a hairdresser, so I've literally tried every single serum out there! Well maybe not every one, but you know what I mean. I've had really dry, breaking ends for the last couple years, and this is the only serum/treatment that has actually helped them. I have noticed a huge improvement in the shine and condition of my hair from root to tip. My hair has had a really hard time growing past my collarbone, and only since I started using this it's stopped breaking and getting longer. The formula is truly weightless, I can apply on damp hair and then after it's dried. I can also go all day without my ends tangling together. Like I said, I've tried all the "trend" serums, like moroccan oil, argan oil, etc, but I can 100% honestly say nothing works like this. I have noticed no buildup yet, which was starting to become a problem with a few other serums. I've been using this for about 2 weeks and I'm very excited to see what my hair will be like in a month or two's time!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Kiehls - Ultra Facial Cream
WhackyAki 12/27/2012 12:57:00 AM
This is one of the best creams I've ever used. I really love that this is virtually scent-free. I live beside Alaska so the dry cold really can do a lot of damage to your skin. So far using this cream this winter I have no dry spots! The only downside is if you put too much on your skin really gets oily. I use the tiniest amount - really only enough to cover the tip of my pinky. I like to emulsify the cream in my hands before putting it on my face. I took one lippie off because it can be finicky to get the right amount without getting oily, and once in a while my skin burns. But other than that I think this is my HG cream for winter time!
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Mascara -Smashbox - Full Exposure
WhackyAki 12/27/2012 12:39:00 AM
(I'm writing this based off a sample size) This mascara is pretty good. There was zero clumps and it seemed like a really nice coverage from root to tip, which was a nice change since I usually find myself brushing extra mascara on the tips of my lashes. In terms of "volume", I have used better.. I would recommend this for people wanting maybe a medium amount of volume, instead of a full out false-lash look. Since I have blonde fine lashes, I look for maximum volume - which ends up looking more medium haha! Anyway, the brush seemed excessively large.. I'm not sure if this is some sorta visual trick companies do to make people believe it's going to give you huge lashes? I find huge brushes coat more of my eyelid than my eyelash but this was surprisingly alright. My favourite part is this mascara feels incredibly light, it's not hard or thick feeling so it's great for layering on.
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Fragrances -Narciso Rodriguez - Narciso Rodriguez for her
WhackyAki 12/25/2012 3:41:00 PM
This is one of my all-time favourites. I don't really wear a lot of perfume or consider myself a scent pro, but I absolutely love this. I guess I would call this scent kind of "dark", it's definitely not bright and bubbly. Another reviewer nailed it on the head saying this is for women and not girls. I've never liked really floral, fruity, or sweet scents on me so this is perfect. Give this a try if you like muskier, subtler smells
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Fragrances -Burberry - Brit
WhackyAki 12/17/2012 11:15:00 PM
On a scale of 1-10 of how often I wear perfumes, I'm like a 1. I really don't wear a lot of it because most scents bother me or give me allergic reactions, plus I know a lot of people are sensitive to scents so I sometimes feel uncomfortable wearing perfume in public. This fragrance, along with Burberry Classic are my two HG perfumes because I feel like they are light enough and not very offensive smelling. I'm not sure why these don't bother me but I feel very comfortable wearing this in public.. All the Burberry scents I've smelled are not in-your-face at all, and not stuffy. Give this a try if you're usually sensitive and want to wear perfume! It's also good to note that my bottle is pushing 4 or 5 years and it has stayed fresh and not gone bad on me..
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Burberry - Burberry Classic EDP
WhackyAki 12/17/2012 11:09:00 PM
This is one of the only perfumes that doesn't bother me and give me allergic reactions. My mother is severely allergic to scents and this surprisingly doesn't affect her at all.. I really don't wear perfume or particularly know a lot about it, but I think it's a really unique scent and it's not too "in-your-face". My bottle is a couple years old and hasn't spoiled or gotten funky, so that's a bonus if you're not a frequent fragrance wearer. I'm always a little scared to wear perfume in public because I feel like it generally bothers people, but this I can feel a little more comfortable wearing.
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Polishes -SpaRitual - Wellness
WhackyAki 12/17/2012 10:41:00 PM
This is such a great pinky nude! Usually my problem with nudes is they apply so streaky and you need multiple coats to get an even coverage, but not with this one. I was hesitant to buy this because I've been so disappointed with similar colours, but it looks like I've found my HG nude! This is really awesome with French tips if you're into that, or it's great on its own. It evens out any ridges and gives a nice healthy colour that doesn't look too fake pink. The formula is really nice, as with most SR polishes. Try it!
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Concealers -Bare Escentuals - Correcting Concealer
WhackyAki 12/16/2012 11:01:00 PM
I really like this concealer. I don't have any major skin issues other than the odd blemish, so I can't speak for any heavy concealing/correcting that some other people might need. I use this along with the BM Matte foundation and I really enjoy the look of my skin. I used this under my eyes and didn't notice any caking, HOWEVER when it's applied heavier it does look a bit cakey after a full day. It really does not take a lot. For blemishes I lightly touch the brush into the concealer and thats it. I don't work it into the brush or anything. So, for really light non-heavy-duty correcting you might like this! Just remember that a little is really a lot.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Fresh - Black tea age delay eye cream
WhackyAki 12/16/2012 5:12:00 AM
I received this as a sample, and from what I have noticed, my eye does look brighter and more supple. I should mention before I say anything else that I am not trying to fight wrinkles, my skin is not "mature".. I have noticed that the dark circles and just a general "blah" around my eye area have gone away. I don't have a problem with the smell (people are saying it smells like pickles..? ok..), and I didn't notice any irritation. Would I pay $75 for this? Nope, but it was awesome to get as a sample and I'm curious to see if the look of my eye area looks worse if I stop using this..
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Lipstick -MAC - Viva Glam Nicki
WhackyAki 12/15/2012 1:44:00 AM
This colour is really fun, it totally caught my eye at the counter and was really curious to try it on. The makeup artist at MAC did the whole lip: liner, lipstick and matching gloss, and it initially took me by surprise because of how bold it was. After a couple seconds I thought, wow this is such a nice colour for my skin tone! I have to say I prefer this applied lightly, and with a more neutral eye makeup. I also think it's important to note that this is definitely more of a spring/summer shade.. It's the middle of December right now and it's not really hot pink season if you know what I mean. I'm excited to see how this pink will look with a bit of a tan and some summery outfits. As a couple people mentioned on here already, yes this can be very clownish-looking if you're not careful. But, this is a fun lipstick to try if you want to play around with bold colours!
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