Eye Shadow -Maybelline - Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Shadow in Bad to the Bronze / on and on bronze
bandabug 4/26/2013 11:46:00 AM
Simply excellent. This color gives you perfect Kristin Scott Thomas eyes -- sophisticated, elegant, and effortless-looking. It reminds me a bit of my much loved Clinique creme shadow in the shade "Uplighting", but I like this Maybelline one better for two reasons: It's much cheaper and it is packaged better. The Clinique shadow dries out before you use it up because it's in a little flip-top compact. I much prefer a screw top pot. The color is so beautiful on blue eyes and applies very easily with a sweep of your finger. Add some mascara and you are set! I love this shadow!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Pantene - Expert Collection Age Defy Conditioner
bandabug 1/27/2013 10:03:00 PM
I'll cut to the chase -- I love this stuff! I have been using the Age Defy shampoo & conditioner together for the past few weeks and it just does wonders for my hair. I've also used the conditioner on its own, with a different brand shampoo, and the results were still superb. For reference, I have very thin, fine, chin-length blonde hair. I'm 41 and my hair is changing -- becoming more dry, losing it's luster, just getting more "blah"-looking. I am always on the prowl for conditioners that promise to restore body & bounce. I've had various, but extremely limited, favorite brands over the years. This product from Pantece beats them all. I don't have any idea what's so special about it, I just know it makes my hair look full, shiny, soft, easy to style, and healthy-looking. I am stocking up! I hope all you ladies who struggle with dull & thinning hair try it for yourselves. As a side note: I also purchased the Age Defy thickener and used it for about a week, but I was not completely happy with it -- I will post a separate review for that product.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -Maybelline - Dream Fresh 8-in-1 BB Cream
bandabug 11/28/2012 11:23:00 AM
I like how light and smooth this BB cream is and I appreciate it's ability to even out my skin. However, I couldn't find a good color match. I have fair/med. skin with yellow-neutral undertones. I have the fair/light shade and it somehow gives my skin a lighter cast, even though the coverage is very sheer. The next shade up doesn't suit me, so I guess I'm out of luck. Unlike other reviewers, I didn't experience any problem with greasiness, etc. The finish holds up all day. So my advice would be to give it a try. If you can find a match, you'll probably like it.
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Scrubs -Queen Helene - Cocoa Butter Scrub
bandabug 11/24/2012 9:26:00 PM
This stuff is great! I wish I had known about it sooner -- I've would've swapped out my trusty St. Ives for this scrub in a heartbeat! I love how fine and even the exfoliating grains are...very similar to sand (as other reviewers have noted). Works like a dream and leaves your face feeling moisturized, not raw and tight. Also a great scrub to use on rough, winter-dry hands; leaves them soft and so much better-looking. I will be using this product as my HG exfoliater from now on!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Beyond The Zone - power lift
bandabug 10/9/2012 10:02:00 PM
In a word: awesome. This product does wonders for my baby-fine, stick straight, increasingly thinning, chin-length, blonde hair. I can't believe how well it performs! Usually, decent volume comes at the expense of softness and/or texture. Power Lift, however, gives my hair the perfect amount of body and superb strand separation -- no crunchiness, no residue, no dark roots, no stickiness. And the best part is that the effect lasts and lasts! I don't even have to tuck my hair behind my ears to keep it managable (that's nothing short of a miracle for me). It's also easy to apply and smells nice. I'm going back to Sally's to buy more because if they discontinue it, I will weep!
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Mascara -New York Color - Instant Lash Mascara
bandabug 5/30/2012 9:59:00 AM
Thanks to MUA, my faith in cheap cosmetics is growing by leaps and bounds! First, I tried Jordana's cheapo mascara and was totally blown away and now this $1.00 (yes, a single dollar) offering from NYC has me doing a double-take. Granted, if you're looking for volume & pop, the Jordana mascara is the better choice. But this NYC mascara gives incredible length and definition (hence the comparisons to Lancome's Defincils)! The brush is thin and really allows you to grab every lash. The formula applies thinly, so if you're wanting lots of noticeable color, you'll need to apply a few coats (or just stick to one coat of the Jordana). It's amazingly light on the lashes and clump-free. I would definitely reach for this one on those days when you want a bit more of natural look. No smearing, even after a full day, and it removes easily. If long, feathery, soft-looking lashes are what you crave, this is a must-try! You can find it at Walmart.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - B Beaute- eyelash curler
bandabug 5/19/2012 9:57:00 PM
Like the previous reviewer, I bought this curler based on the rave reviews. Not sure why...I was already very happy with my Shu U. curler, but curiosity (and the belief that we can always build a better mousetrap, so to speak) got the better of me. I've tried and tried to get it to work for me -- no dice. It leaves the lashes on the outer corner of my eye completely uncurled! I wind up with 3/4 of my lashes looking curled and the last 1/4 are oddly pin straight. I've tried applying it at slightly different angles, re-adjusting the rubber pad, etc., but nothing seems to change my result. Disappointing purchase and I'll stick with my trusty Shu from now on.
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Hair Color -Clairol - Radiance Colorgloss translucent deposit only color
bandabug 5/14/2012 10:15:00 AM
Second time was the charm for me. To begin, I have dark blonde hair with neutral/warm undertones. I have been brightening it for years via highlights or at-home demi-permanent color. Sometimes I splurge on salon color, other times I grab a box of either Revlon highlights or Clairol Natural Instincts. Well, Natural Instincts has changed its formula and I don't care for it anymore. I'm also watching my pennies, so salon color is out. I decided, based on the good reviews, to try Radiance Colorgloss. The first time, I used 2 oz. of the 10N Lightest Natural Blonde color, 2 oz. of clear gloss and 4 oz. of developer. This combo resulted in a ridiculously huge quantity and I only used a small portion of it on my chin-length, fine hair. It was also of a very thin, watery consistency. I left it on 5 mins. and while my hair looked very shiny, I couldn't really discern a color difference. So....I trot to the drugstore and buy a highlighting kit. I got distracted (bad girl!) while timing the color and the highlights turned too light against my dark blonde hair. I lived with it for a few days and decided I really needed to tone things down somehow. I went back to Sally's and bought more 10N Lightest Natural Blonde, hoping that the highlights would pull a little darker and blend a bit better. This time, I used just 1 oz. color and 1 oz. developer. I skipped the clear gloss altogether. The mixture was much thicker (obviously less diluted) and, therefore, the color actually had an effect. My hair looks great! It's also extremely shiny and feels better than the results from the first batch. The highlights are much more natural-looking and blend with the rest of my hair. It looks much better than many of the professional color and/or highlighting jobs I've gotten over the years! It's also affordabel -- yay! I will continue using Colorgloss as long as I keep getting this kind of result. Thanks to everyone who took the time to review this product and provide helpful tips & information. :)
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Unlisted Brand - Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion
bandabug 5/2/2012 9:41:00 AM
I hate to be the voice of dissent, as I had very high hopes for this product. For reference, I have straight, fine, thin, blonde hair. I was hoping to find a good, inexpensive volumizer and, based on the reviews, decided to take a chance on this one. Well, I used it 3 times and won't be using it again -- I just can't make it work for my hair type. I tried using less, using more, all to no avail. It leaves my hair TOO controlled and stiff...like I used hairspray to style my hair. My hair is already so fine -- it needs lift AND movement to look its best. Also, it made my dark blonde roots look darker (yuck.). So, as a volumizer, I was not sold. However, ladies with thick and/or unruly hair would probably have great success with it. It definitely adds hold and definition to your style! It's cheap ($4.99 at Walgreens), so if your hair is a different texture and you are on the prowl for a new styling product, it's worth a shot.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -E.L.F. - Studio Minty Lip Gloss
bandabug 4/4/2012 1:49:00 PM
I'd like to echo satinsheets' review. I purchased this gloss in "Nashville" on a whim at the Dollar Store for, you guessed it, a dollar. Wasn't expecting much...I just liked the look of it. Surprise! It's now my favorite gloss to use over lipstick. Because the nude color is translucent and the shine is fairly subdued, it bumps a flat lipstick color up a notch without altering the actual color. Unlike several other reviewers, I happen to love the minty effect -- it's just a fresh, clean mouth, sort of mint. It doesn't irritate or sting my lips in any way. The gloss itself looks pretty, but if you're looking for lots of pigment or over the top shine you should probably look elsewhere. Lippie off for packaging (be careful how you close this one in your makeup bag -- the wand cap doesn't always line up correctly). Good stuff cheap!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Jordana - Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara
bandabug 3/14/2012 9:55:00 PM
I'm prepared to heap more praise on this terrific (and CHEAP!) mascara. Always on the prowl for the next best mascara, I happened upon the reviews for this one from the Jordana line and thought what the heck. I'm thrilled to report it's a keeper, ladies. Prior to this one, I was using Prestige's My Biggest Lashes. It, too, is a very good drugstore mascara -- affordable, doesn't smear or clump, etc. However, I wear contacts and it had a tendency to transfer onto them. :( This Jordana mascara is not only several dollars cheaper, but I like it better (the wand isn't as full and I'm able to really coat all my lashes without getting a bunch of product on my eyelid). It lasts all day and I haven't had any trouble with clumping, smeaing, or contact irritation. The only slight, and I do mean slight, drawback is that it takes a wee bit more effort to completely remove. I'll be returning to Walgreen's to buy more for sure!
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Lotions/ Creams -Gold Bond - Ultimate Softening Skin Therapy Lotion Shea Butter
bandabug 2/15/2012 9:26:00 PM
First things first...I live in Maine. Winters are cold & long here. Skin takes a serious beating! My hands are ALWAYS an embarrassment to me...cracked, peeling cuticles, dry patches, etc. I think I've tried every highly recommended hand cream out there (eucerin, aquaphor, neutrogena, vaseline creamy vaseline, bag balm, just to name a few). Some creams worked better than others and would provide a bit of relief, but this stuff is the best, hands down (pun intended). I use it after washing my hands and before bed and it has made a noticeable difference in the everyday feel/appearance of my skin. It isn't greasy or tacky -- it just leaves my hands comfortable and ultra-soft. I don't mind paying a bit more if something actually works, which is why I will happily shell out 10 bucks to replace my tube once it runs out. It's been such a wonderful relief to find this product -- thanks to MUA!
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Misc Beauty Tools -E.L.F. - Mechanical Eyelash Curler
bandabug 2/11/2012 10:00:00 PM
I would've given this curler one lippie due to the fact that the pads fall out each and every time I pick it up or put it down (annoying!!) and also because the pads themselves don't last for beans. The pad that came with my curler split within a week of using it! It didn't come with a replacement either -- grrr. So, in this instance, you certainly get what you pay for. But the 2nd lippie is based on the actual ergonomic design of the curler itself (which is, actually, quite nice). All said...I can't recommend this product.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Colorburst Lipstick in Rosy Nude
bandabug 2/5/2012 11:22:00 AM
Sign of a great lipstick? Ripping the package open in the car, putting it on in the unforgiving natural light of day (sans makeup and sporting my glasses & a ponytail, no less) looking in the rearview mirror and immediately thinking to myself, "YES!" That's what happened with this one and the icing on the cake is that it lasted for a very long time with an even fade. As other reviewers have mentioned, I have been searching for a shade like Rosy Nude for years and have *finally* found it! For reference I am a fair-med., warm/yellow toned, blonde. This shade just "works" on me -- not too pink, brown, orange, rust (you know the drill.). Bonus: It makes me look pulled together and healthy. The formula feels expensive and applies beautifully, too. HG!!!
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Brows -Wet 'n' Wild - kohl/ eyeliner/ brow
bandabug 12/17/2011 1:10:00 PM
I am reviewing this pencil as an eyeliner, not a brow filler (I use Maybelline's Ultra Brow for that). I think this is one of my faves to line my eyes solely based on the color. I'm a fair-skinned blonde and it's tough to find a brown to line my eyes that doesn't look harsh or overwhelming. As I age (I'm 40), I have to wear more makeup to look put together, but it has to be softer-looking -- I can't get away with the stronger colors of my youth, alas. My makeup has to work harder to define my features & brighten my face while simultaneously giving the impression of a light hand. This taupe liner is just dark enough on my lower lash line to fit the bill. I use a slightly darker brown on the top lash line. I really like the effect of this lighter brown color; it's just right for my blonde coloring and looks like it "belongs" on my face (if that makes sense). I felt compelled to take one lippie off because it needs to be sharpened regularly to maintain a nice point; it's a soft consistency and you do go through the pencil quickly from all the sharpening. But c'mon, it's Wet & Wild...you can stock up.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No