Styling Products -Aveda - Pure Abundance Hair Potion
XtinaNC 9/10/2008 3:19:00 PM
Good stuff!! A new twist on the old cornstarch/baby powder trick for fluffing up fine hair. It's like powder with a grip. This powder emulsifies into a paste of some sort after you handle it a little bit (see other reviewers' comments on being careful not to shake the bottle up). For me, it's more of an extra than a basic everyday product; it costs too much to use on your whole head and thus I just use it as needed on certain spots. I use this in conjunction with Aveda Phomollient mousse. Best results achieved when I apply Phomollient to damp hair and blow dry, then use this hair powder on dry hair, give it a blast with the metal-barrel brush and hair dryer to fully fluff wherever I've put it, and then a light hair spray to set (hair spray not really needed, but I don't get a chance to touch up for 9+ hours at work, so it's more of a precaution). WARNING WARNING WARNING: using this requires practice. Too much, and you will look greasy and you'll have to wash your hair to remove it. Would have given 5 lippies, but the fact that it's not really transportable (will turn into a paste in the bottle if shaken up, so not travel-friendly) is a problem.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Aveda - Phomollient
XtinaNC 9/10/2008 2:57:00 PM
This product seems to be the best CONSISTENTLY pleasing hair volumizing mousse I've used. Like the previous reviewer, Phomollient isn't my HG, but it is the closest thing I've found so far....because it isn't boom, super-volume, but for every day use (I blow dry with a round brush; would be curious to see how it does when curlers are used), it's the best product I've found to add some lift to my baby-fine, thin hair without being sticky or feeling overprocessed. Keeps my hair pumped up all day long, and I don't experience "some days it works, some days it doesn't" that I do with most hair products. Also like that you can buy the refill for $1 cheaper if you keep your pump bottle, and refill it. Side note: when used in conjunction with the Aveda hair powder (can't recall exact name of that product) at my crown, it's even better!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Urban Decay - Liquid Liner in Gash
XtinaNC 3/7/2008 3:59:00 PM
RED eye liner? I am immediately drawn to oddly colored eye products but oftentimes they are too weird looking in practice, unless you party a lot and need something eye-catching. However, this liquid liner is beautiful. It is red and should NOT be worn by itself (made my eyes look tired and bloodshot), but it warms up to a wonderful metallic cranberry when worn on the upper eyelid paired with taupe or brown-based eye shadows, and is even fine for a conservative office. A good way to stand out without being gaudy and makes blue eyes stand out. I haven't tried this yet, but I bet it would look fabulous with a gray or black eye shadow as well. The formula goes on smoothly and is very easy to use--I normally use pencil liners--and lasts all day. Highly recommend.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Escada - Pacific Paradise
XtinaNC 7/30/2007 1:26:00 PM
I disagree with a previous poster who says that anyone over 30 probably wouldn't wear this; I'm over 30 and it's a great scent (my mom loved it, too). Great scent, tropical, fruity, and fun; kind of smells like a fruity drink--but awful staying power. I just can't bring myself to rate it poorly because it is a great scent, but the staying power is not good, at least to my nose. However, it's curious that someone smelled it on me while standing at my desk when I couldn't smell it anymore while sniffing my own wrist, so maybe it has some kind of "magic" quality, ha ha......that renders the wearer's nose completely immune to it after just a few minutes. Will probably buy again if I could get it cheaply; although I love the scent, the staying power doesn't seem to be good enough to warrant me paying full price since you have to buy the body lotion and body wash in order to remotely smell it.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Lancome - Tropiques
XtinaNC 6/25/2007 2:15:00 PM
They must have decided to distribute this more widely, because I bought mine in a local chain department store. It's a great fragrance! I give most all things tropical a chance....I WANT to like them, but often, I am disappointed with the tropical scents that have come out lately....they're just too icky-sweet floral and well, common-smelling, instead of exotic and lush. Tropique is different from the barrage of other tropical scents out there; maybe it's the vanilla and tonka bean notes that make it smell different, but I bought a full bottle upon smelling it for the first time. It's a more grown-up tropical scent that's reminiscent of an exotic island night out with someone special as opposed to a night out of barhopping and generic tropical fruity drinks. So if you are looking for tropical scents that aren't sickly sweet and smell just like every other person out there, this is a good one. Hopefully it won't get so widely distributed that it becomes that way.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -The Body Shop - Neroli Jasmine EdT
XtinaNC 5/22/2007 1:39:00 PM
I have the body wash, lotion, and perfume oil. The oil lasts much longer than anything else, and it is rare when I can smell a fragrance on my skin at the end of the workday. I love this scent; on me, it's a musky scent that has floral overtones and it smells exotic and sensual and unusual. Doesn't really smell like any other scent, so it's unique. I have gotten quite a few compliments on it. One word of caution, though; the oil has a stronger scent than the EDT and you have to be careful not to overload on the scent.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -The Body Shop - Seaweed Purifying Facial Cleanser 
XtinaNC 3/13/2007 4:22:00 PM
I got the "cream" version of this product in a bottle. I like that it's natural, and that it does not dry my skin in the spots where oily-skin products can dry it, but that's about it. This stuff just does not get my face clean. I wipe on a toner after washing my face with this product and I still get a lot of dirt and makeup that the cleanser left behind! My face has broken out more while using this, so I think I'll go back to my Estee Lauder combo-skin cleanser instead. Not to mention that you have to use a LOT of the cleanser per washing.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Aveda - Sap Moss Conditioning Detangler [DISCONTINUED]
XtinaNC 6/15/2006 4:20:00 PM
I like the scent, and it does moisturize my shoulder-length, extremely fine hair (but I have to leave it on a bit longer than other conditioners). My biggest complaint is that I have to use GOBS of it and it's too expensive. Would re-purchase, though, as a treat to myself or it I found it on sale.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Clinique - Colour Surge Impossibly Glossy - Cherry Apple
XtinaNC 5/12/2006 3:52:00 PM
THANK YOU CLINIQUE, FOR THIS WONDERFUL SHADE OF GLOSS!!! Can you tell I love this stuff? I am fair, have sandy blonde hair and blue eyes, but somewhat dark lips. This color is perfect....most colored glosses don't show up on me at all, even the dark ones, but this one is a perfect shade of pinky red that is just enough color without looking gaudy or overdone and goes well with almost any eye shadow color. Wish it lasted a little longer, but the staying power is better than some other glosses. It's not sticky like some others and that may be why....a good tradeoff, if you ask me. I can't wear most lipsticks because they dry my lips out, so I've tried a LOT of glosses. Will definitely repurchase this product and probably in other colors, too. Two very enthusiastic thumbs-up!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Bath and Body Works - Brown Sugar And Fig all Items
XtinaNC 5/12/2006 3:28:00 PM
I love this! It also smells (at least to me) almost exactly like the new Ralph Lauren fragrance, "Hot" and it lasts longer. This scent smells exotic, a little musky, and mysterious. Good for evening although I also wear it during the day. I don't detect a lot of food smell to it, but rather an overall warm scent. I use the cologne in conjunction with the lotion and body wash and it has OK lasting power...by day's end you really need a refresher squirt for the evening.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Bath and Body Works - Japanese Cherry Blossom-lotion
XtinaNC 5/12/2006 3:24:00 PM
I love the whole Cherry Blossom line, and although this one smells nice, funnily, Japanese Cherry Blossom has a very weak smell. The other two scents in this line have a strong scent, but this one is very weak (hard to smell even if you sniff the bottle!) and does not last. Oddly enough, most of the sales associates have said that this scent is supposed to be fairly strong.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Bath and Body Works - Moonlight Path Body Splash
XtinaNC 5/12/2006 3:18:00 PM
Ewwww...don't care for this one at all. Both my mother in law and sister in law wear this scent and it's their favorite, but I think it smells too old-lady for my taste.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Burt's Bees - Super Shiny Grapefruit and Sugar Beet Conditioner
XtinaNC 5/1/2006 4:43:00 PM
The shampoo that goes with this is fairly good, but I did not care for this conditioner. I have oily roots, dry ends, and fine/thin hair. You have to use gobs of it for it to work at all, and even when you do, it only works for me if I leave it on a very long time (i.e. 10 minutes while I'm bathing/shaving). Just not enough moisture for my fragile hair.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Burt's Bees - Super Shiny Grapefruit and Sugar Beet Shampoo
XtinaNC 5/1/2006 1:43:00 PM
I have medium length, thin, baby-fine, extremely oily at the roots but dry on the ends hair. First, I was surprised that this did not make my hair oily at all (since it does contain oils, I was skeptical!) but did a very good job cleansing it and lathers well, although upon first applying it, it feels a bit heavy and gummy. However, unless I use a dry-hair conditioner on the back of my hair after washing, the shampoo is too drying. Like the natural ingredients, scent, and cleansing power but be prepared to use a heavier duty conditioner if you have fragile hair.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Calvin Klein - Euphoria
XtinaNC 1/9/2006 2:21:00 PM
I LOVE the smell of this perfume; it's not as foody as many that have come out lately. I like a more exotic scent and all the food ones just weren't cutting it. However, as much as I love it, it just does not last. When I spray it on in the AM, I can smell it, but my husband can't smell it at all (he can smell other perfumes fine). Two hours later, I can't even smell if it I scrub my wrist across my nose. I'm giving it 3 lippies for scent, but no more than that since it doesn't last. I got a bottle for Xmas and I'm thinking I'm going to return it, as much as I hate to. It was $80 and for that, a perfume should last longer than a couple of hours. I read on some of the other reviews that people experienced varying degrees of vanishing scent....while some only experienced partial loss, I experience a complete loss of scent...not a trace left. I guess it's all a person's body chemistry, but this is the first perfume I've ever had that did not work for me.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No