Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - Salux Nylon Japanese Bath Towel
annachristina 4/19/2013 10:56:00 AM
I buy these from a local shop in Chinatown for about $5. I love, love, love the way they exfoliate. They are pretty large, so I cut one in half and use one of the halves for my body and cut the other half in half and use those two pieces on my face. I don't get ingrowns anymore, my lotions sink in better, my skin is smoother and brighter, my KP is under control, and my shaves seem to be smoother and last longer.
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Fragrances -Narciso Rodriguez - Narciso Rodriguez for her
annachristina 4/9/2013 3:45:00 PM
Sadly, I get no woods or earth or rose or anything. What I do get is Degree aerosol antiperspirant. I wanted to like this so much. I tried it with different soaps and body washes, but it never came out right.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Unlisted Brand - Summers Eve - Feminine Wash
annachristina 2/23/2013 5:57:00 PM
I've used this for at least 10 years. I started because my mother and cousins used it when I was a kid. I was in the Army and when you spend weeks on end in the field or sit in Iraq for months with minimal access to running water, you will take all the cleansing you can get. This wash and the wipes have kept me feeling fresh when my only shower was a bottle of water and a flashlight. I now work out for 2-3 hours a day and get waxed regularly, but I don't like the way body washes and soap feel on my nether regions, so I still use this.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Palmers - Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E Moisturizing Gel Oil SPF 15
annachristina 2/23/2013 4:29:00 PM
This gel oil is absolutely amazing. The scent is pretty strong, a chocolatey, cocoa butter smell with a bit of perfume. It doesn't bother me, but it could bother you if you like to wear perfume or are hypersensitive to scents. With that out of the way, I don't have a problem with the consistency and it absorbs in under a minute if you don't use too much or maybe my skin just drinks it up. I'd go with trying small amounts and increasing if you don't see a change in moisture retention. This is nothing like the Johnson's gel oils from a few years back, those just stayed shiny on top of my skin. It's about $8 for 7oz/200ml which isn't bad considering that I use far less oil than I do lotion. I'd been looking for a body lotion with SPF and, while this is just 15, it fits the bill nicely for me. I only use this in the morning when I'm fresh from the shower and my skin stays well hydrated throughout the day with no itching or dry patches. I'm so glad that I purchased two bottles.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Ponds - Dry Skin Cream
annachristina 2/17/2013 9:15:00 PM
My skin is oily, but still use this: At night on my neck and chest because I can't find a cream that I like. On my face after getting out of the pool because the chlorine dries me out. Before skiing to protect my face from the cold. On my face and body after going out on the boat or being on the beach and in the ocean. My skin gets tight from the wind, salt water, sun exposure, and sunscreen. One my knees, feet, and elbows when they feel extra dry. On my face at night after partying just a little too hard. I remove my makeup with the original cold cream, wipe with a hot towel, and rub some of this into my face before putting on my eye mask and hitting the sack. The smell is inoffensive and it sinks in very quickly with no oily residue. I don't use it around my eyes because I wear contacts and I'm scared of anything near them.
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Lipstick -MAC - Matte - Diva
annachristina 2/12/2013 8:58:00 AM
This lipstick is a beautiful vampy red on me. I use it when I want a break from NARS Fire Down Below. Even though both get me compliments. I met a friend for lunch and she said Diva made me look like I was 'up to something'. It's matte, but I stay hydrated (drink lots of water) and baby my lips (mask every night, sleep with lip treatment on, and use lip balms before putting anything on my lips), so I don't have a problem with it drying my lips out.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -L'Oreal - Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base
annachristina 2/11/2013 2:10:00 PM
This is my second primer (first being Rimmel) and I adore it. I got it from Ulta, held on to it for about six months, and finally used it this past summer. Love. It makes my skin smooth and matte, minimizes my pores and doesn't change the color of my makeup or take too long to dry. I smooth a bit on with my fingers and my skin is transformed and ready for whatever type of foundation I put on.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Tom Ford - Black Orchid EDP
annachristina 2/9/2013 1:07:00 AM
I love this during the winter. It's deep, dark, spicy, SEXY and unexpected on a woman. This isn't a little girl's perfume, nor is it anything I could smell on a grandma. All that's needed is a little black dress, no cleavage required. One spritz goes a looooong way, so this bottle should last forever. My boyfriend got this for me as a birthday gift, but maybe he shouldn't have because this scent makes men follow me like lost puppies. My only gripe is that I don't love the bottle, but that's rather petty on my art and it won't prevent me from buying another bottle.
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Fragrances -Issey Miyake - Florale
annachristina 2/9/2013 12:53:00 AM
I normally detest florals, but this one is light and springy and I swear I can smell the original (my HG) as a base. This isn't sharp or powdery or cloying, but it is wholly feminine without smelling like something I've smelled before. I keep a rollerball in my bag, but I'm finding that I don't need touch ups.
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Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Jamaican Black Castor Oil
annachristina 2/2/2013 3:07:00 AM
I buy the Tropic Isle brand from amazon for about $7 for an 8oz bottle. I use this on the edges of my hair only. It's too thick and heavy to put anyplace else. It has a syrupy texture and is very viscous. The scent reminds me of nuts and wet earth. I spritz my edges with some water, rub a bit of this between my hands and work it into my edges before putting on a headband and tying on my satin scarf. I do this every night and my edges are no longer dry and rough looking.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Aphogee - Keratin and Green Tea Restructurizer
annachristina 2/2/2013 2:58:00 AM
I use this after I swimming three times a week for about an hour. My hair is colored and highlighted, so I use this to strengthen my strands and keep them on my head as opposed to on the floor. I wet my hair with plain water before hitting the pool to lessen the potential damage of the chlorine. I put my hair in a bun and make sure to tuck my ends under. I wear two caps (one lycra, one silicone) to keep my goggles on and for a bit of added protection. My hair haaaaaates protein under normal circumstances, so I normally stay far, far away from it, but this isn't too heavy. CHI Keratin Mist is supposed to be similar from what I hear/understand. After getting out of the pool, I wash my hair with a neutralizing shampoo and follow up with a moisturizing shampoo (Herbal Essences) before applying conditioner (Pantene). I pull the conditioner through with a shower comb to spread the product and detangle, and do my normal shower routine before rinsing. I wrap my hair in a Turbie for a few minutes before sectioning my hair off into four quadrants. I pin three sections back and work on one section at a time. I apply a thick moisturizer (Elasta QP Olive OIl and Mango Butter), spray three pumps of this onto the section-one at my roots, one misdhaft, and one on the ends. I comb through and seal with a bit of oil before styling. Moisturizing your hair when using any protein is key to prevent the protein from drying your hair out and making it brittle and causing it to break off. You can use this with heat; however, I don't have a dryer at the gym and I'm trying to go without heat styling for the year, so I'll put a shower cap on and wrap my hair with a scarf to let my body heat do the work. I'm going to try it with my steamer to see if that gives me different results.
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Lipstick -Revlon - Colorburst Lip Butter in Pink Truffle
annachristina 1/28/2013 1:33:00 AM
I am in LOVE this color. It's MLBB pink with a hint of gloss and NO sparkle. I look like a Noxzema ad version of myself when I combine it with MAC Face and Body, Maybelline Full n Soft mascara, and a light layer of blush. Perfect for spring!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Cover Girl - Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm
annachristina 1/21/2013 10:08:00 PM
I picked this up at Target in Cocoa Twist (#270)Target for about $7. It will be perfect for a spring or 'no makeup' face. It is also the perfect base for Mac Creme in Your Coffee. There is a slight cinnamon-y smell that kind of reminded me of Rimmel lipsticks, but not as strong. The formula is smooth and creamy and there is NO GLITTER. It lasts about 2-3 hours, but is really easy to reapply. The product comes in a charcoal colored twist up tube with a plastic top to indicate color within.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -E.L.F. - Studio Lock & Seal
annachristina 1/17/2013 8:58:00 PM
I don't use this on my eye shadow. I use it on my LIPS. 1. Exfoliate and moisturize lips. 2. Line lips, apply a layer of lipstick and blot. Apply second layer of lipstick. 3. Apply thin layer of Lock & Seal. I use an old lipstick brush. Wait for it to dry. Yes, I have to keep my lips apart for a bit. That doesn't bother me because my lipstick stays on. Red lipstick. Pink lipstick. Orange lipstick. Brown lipstick. All the lipsticks stay on my lips and I just have to take my lip gloss with me and reapply that as needed. This works way better than the Lancome stuff that I bought (which doesn't work, by the way) and is far cheaper (only $3).
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -MAC - Lustreglass - Spring Bean
annachristina 1/16/2013 8:46:00 PM
Green in the tube, caramel on my lips with minimal sparkle. I put it over bright colors (orange, red) to tone them down just a bit. I've used it since 2002/2003. Sadly, I can't buy it again because it's been discontinued.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No