Tinted Moisturizer -LUSH - Colour Supplement
bluediva 8/10/2012 4:15:00 AM
Love this stuff! I'm a cool-toned PPP who can't find a match in most foundations (aka pasty in summer, approaching undead in winter). It has a lovely texture, ideal for dotting on with clean fingertips and gently blending in. But unlike a tinted moisturizer, the coverage is buildable and can become quite opaque. Finish is low-shine but a bit dewy, end result is very natural, but with good coverage where needed. When applied lightly, it's also a great primer/base for eye makeup. I love that it feels breathable and not caked-on. The oatmeal and honey seem to calm down my redness-prone T-zone. For a more matte look, I finish with a dusting of loose mineral powder (from Buff'd Cosmetics) and the end result holds up for hours on a warm day. Win!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Makeup Remover -Almay - Oil-free eye makeup remover liquid
bluediva 8/10/2012 4:00:00 AM
I had to use this for a week while staying at a friend's house. It hurt my eyes, was very drying, and smelled like acetone. I actually had to ask to make sure she hadn't filled the bottle with nail polish remover instead of make-up remover. (Definitely not. Yay! I'm not blind!) After a few tries, I decided it was better to not wear eye makeup than to keep using this remover. Sure, I have kinda sensitive skin, but this was especially unpleasant. There are many drugstore products that are much better. Or if you want a quick eye-makeup remover, use warm olive or coconut oil. it stings a tiny bit, but gets the job done and won't irritate your skin.
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Powder -Unlisted Brand - Buff'd Cosmetics - Original Mineral Foundation
bluediva 3/9/2009 6:30:00 PM
As others have said, GREAT mineral foundation, and I'm happy to order from this small Canadian company (www.buffd.com). >>>> I'm a PPP and have tried several brands of mineral make-up, ranging from drugstore up to premium brands (MAC and Bare Escentuals) and my biggest problem was that nothing was pale enough! And seriously, MAC's stuff was just too shiny. Buff'd offers an astounding selection for of tones, including very fair tones, a pure white, and a colourless mattifying sericite powder that is great for applying over or under foundation to vary coverage and matte-ness. I like the original and concealing foundations in Fawn. Illuminating Canvas dust is also gorgeous on fair skin - best bronzer I've ever tried. The website provides good descriptions of products. Products are all talc-free, and all ingredients are listed and described on the site. BTW, invest in a good quality body or kabuki brush for any mineral foundation - cheap brushes just don't work.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Fruits & Passion - The de Rose Eau de Toilette
bluediva 10/25/2008 4:53:00 PM
I've been looking for a soft simple rose scent for awhile. This is a lovely one! There's a tiny (tiny) hint of grapefruit in the dry-down that keeps this fragrance from getting musky, powdery or cloying. I wear it alone, or mixed with a green or lavender scent to add a soft base. I find this only lasts for 2-3 hours on me, but I apply it lightly. (If you want a long-wearing rose scent, invest in a tiny bottle of pure rose oil!) I have the little 0.5oz bottle of this fragrance and I'm very happy with the packaging. The slim tube-shaped bottle comes in a snug snap-shut suede-like jacket, which protects it nicely in my bag. The pump mechanism dispenses a very light, even spritz, so I can get an easy pick-me-up without dowsing my car in fragrance. Overall, a classic fragrance that's feminine without being cloying, and very versatile! Highly recommended!
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Styling Products -Aveda - Phomollient
bluediva 8/28/2008 8:34:00 PM
Great light-weight volume boost for fine hair. Not quite my HG (I'm still searching for that) but it's it works really well. It's kinda expensive (like most Aveda products) but it works well! And it's got safe ingredients. I find it's great for perking up my baby-fine hair the day after I wash it. It does get sticky if you use too much, but 2-4 pumps rubbed into damp roots and worked through hair before blow-drying gives great volume without feeling like there's anything in my hair.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Sumptuous Olive (Veluxe pearl)
bluediva 6/19/2008 1:11:00 PM
Lovely gold-bronze-green with a smooth, blendable texture and excellent mix/match potential. I'm a PPP gal (NC15 or lighter) with green eyes, and I get compliments when I wear this color. I find it turns slightly orange on me, so I tend to layer it over Sweet Sage Fluidline or Flourishing Matte^2 e/s to keep it more green-bronze. (Ideally, I'd like to find a bronze that doesn't go orange, so I will not repurchase.) It goes well with neutral-toned metallics (like Silver Ring e/s), and can be used to add a touch of antiqued warmth to grey or smokey looks. Definitely try this one in the shop, but it's a great color for fair skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Deodorants -Unlisted Brand - Ombra Mild Deo Roll-on
bluediva 6/19/2008 12:59:00 PM
As far as natural deodorants go, this one is very effective and cost-effective. It's a clear liquid roll-on in a glass bottle. The list of ingredients is not entirely natural, but it contains no aluminum, and is pH5.5. I have sensitive skin, and this does not irritate me, although I never use it after shaving. I stick to natural deodorants, but I waitress, so I need something that is effective and long-lasting. This one works, and lasts all day, but mostly because it's an alcohol-gel formula with a heavy dose of fragrances. The smell is strong and fresh, sort of like Irish Spring or Lever2000 soap. I don't mind a deodorant that makes me smell like I just hopped out of the shower, but if you don't like this smell, you won't like this product. It contains Farnesol (a fragrance additive that can irritate sensitive skin) but does not bother my skin. It also contains chamomile oil (aka ormenis multicaulis) and a few other essential oils, plus other added fragrances. I mostly use Zaja Naturals deodorant sticks, but when I need something stronger, I reach for this.
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Conditioner -Unlisted Brand - Escents Aromatherapy Hair Defense Leave In Conditioner
bluediva 2/10/2008 6:58:00 PM
I love this conditioner! I have shoulder-length fine wavy hair, It's fragile, and prone to static, so I always need a leave-in conditioner. Most leave-ins make my hair limp and stringy (and Ojon costs too much!). This is a light, milky leave-in that adds shine and contains chamomile and rosemary essential oils (quite high up in the ingredients list). I apply while hair is damp, before styling. It's also great protection before re-styling my hair in the evening. No mineral oil, no parabens, and cruelty-free. And I LOVE the scent! Escents sells this product's essential oil blend as a fragrance called Haven and I an addicted - clean but not soapy, and very subtle. The 4oz stubby plastic spritzer bottle is sturdy and portable, but I wish it came in a bigger size. BTW, Escents Aromatherapy is a Vancouver-based company with shops in Canada and parts of Asia, but they sell everything is on their website, too.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Makeup Remover -Boots - Botanics Soothing Eye Makeup Remover
bluediva 11/28/2007 3:42:00 AM
Not "botanical" or "natural" by any means. This stuff works well at removing waterproof makeup, but it's loaded with petroleum-based products that are quite toxic, and the "botanical" stuff is way down on the ingredients. I should have read the label before buying this on the recommendation of the sales clerk. Yes it works well enough to merit 4 lippies, but the main ingredients are so bad that it gets knocked down to 2 lippies.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Idol Eyes
bluediva 11/14/2007 11:20:00 PM
I have pale skin and green eyes and this has just enough lavender to compliment green eyes without being obvious about it. Yes the glitter is rough and chunky, and just for that I will not repurchase. BUT when I have time to foil my e/s, this is my favorite. Also nice as a sheer sparkly wash over a smoky eye look. Definitely better over a creamy base, whether you use concealer or a cream color (like Fluidline). I often use Idol Eyes to upper lid, paired with one or more of the following below: Silver Ring e/s, Blue Storm e/s, Macroviolet Fluidline, Lithograph Fluidline.
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Skincare - Body -Unlisted Brand - Adidas 24hr Control Absorbent-Deo
bluediva 11/4/2007 2:53:00 PM
This is an effective aluminum-free and paraben-free deodorant that doesn't leave white marks, doesn't require drying time, and it's cheap and easy to find! For me, it holds up great for 8 hours on its own, but stays strong for 12 hours when Crystal Deodorant Rock is applied underneath (as mentioned by kak513 in her review 3 down from mine). I use the Icy Burst scent, and it's pretty mild, blends in well with most my perfume. I wish they made an unscented version, but oh well. I decided that I don't want to clog up my pores and lymph nodes with aluminum or parabens. I weaned myself off antiperspirants 3 years ago, then began my quest to find an effective organic deodorant. After trying 8 different kinds of natural and organic deodorants, I've learned that Crystal Deodo-Rock products work best, and natural products need to be used in combination (usually with crystal rock) to get odor protection that lasts more than 4 hours. Seriously, I don't always have time for that, so I use this Adidas stuff instead and I'm a stink-free girl all day. This product is not organic, but it's aluminum and paraben free, which is better than most deodorant products on the market.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Flourishing - Matte2
bluediva 10/25/2007 7:37:00 PM
PIC BELOW! I'm a PPP with green eyes and reddish hair, and this shade works well for me! The new Matte^2 (or Matte2 or whatever) shadows have a gorgeous smooth, rich texture that blends beautifully. Flourishing is a smoky dark grey-green moss color. I have found that the Matte^2 shadows blend well on their own or with eachother, but they do not blend well with other types of shadow, including other Mac shadows. They give great coverage on their own, but they seem to absorb any other shadows applied on top of them, and pave right over any shadows applied underneath. I will be buying 2 more shades in Matte^2 so I have something to blend with. BUT Fluidlines work great as a base for this, and give good coverage over top for a liner.
13 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -SoftLips - Naughty Red (tinted)
bluediva 10/11/2007 3:13:00 AM
Nice deposit of sheer color from a super-slim Softlips tube. This is much less moisturizing than the untinted versions of Softlips, and it has a slightly waxy flavo, but I don't find it unbearable. The red is a light cherry red, but it's a warm-toned red on me, and I prefer cool-toned reds. Great to wear when waitressing b/c you don't need a mirror to reapply and it gives a subtle color boost without being obvious. Still, it doesn't really retain moisure and there's lots of cheer lip colors out there with more color choices.
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Lip Treatments -SoftLips - Aromatherapy Lip Balm - Indulge
bluediva 10/11/2007 2:56:00 AM
Lovely rich balm for lips, smells great, doesn't melt off lips but also isn't too waxy or stiff. A tiny dab will do you. But my gripe is the dabbing. I prefer formats that don't require dipping my fingers into a little tub of product. If they put this product into a chapstick-style package like the Softlips lip balms I have loved for so many years, this would be my favorite lip balm. But for now, it's the delux yummy balm that I keep at home and only apply when I have freshly washed hands. Oh, and in case your wondering, it doesn't look at all yellow on your lips, even though it's a sunny color in the pot.
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Hair Color -Clairol - Nice n Easy - Gray Solution
bluediva 9/9/2007 2:36:00 AM
I applied this on a friend's hair, and we were both very impressed with the results. As other reviewers have said, actual results are one shade darker than the box illustration shows. Light Brown (6) gave a very natural, neutral-to-golden brown and provide very consistent coverage over fully grey areas AND naturally colored sections. (My friend has very grey streaks at the temples, and very little grey elsewhere, but the temples are stubborn and very noticable.) We were both very impressed with this brand. It provides better coverage than similar shades in Hydrience, Feria, Excellence, or regular Nice N Easy. Did not damage hair (and the after-color conditioner has an amazing tropical fruit smell) and didn't stain scalp too much either. The paste is thicker than most d/s hair colors, and applied well with NO dripping. And only 20 minutes for full saturation on greys! Awesome product, highly recommended.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No