Treatments -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - Triple Enzyme Peel (pre mixed)
bluemeanie 5/2/2013 7:23:00 PM
This is the 2nd MUAC product that irritated my skin. I know they make great products, I just seem to pick the ones that have ingredients that don't agree with my face. At all. And I find out too late. I'm not sure what I reacted to, but I won't use this again. My skin is very sensitive and reactive, so don't rule this out just because I had a bad experience. I recommend getting a sample size to start with.
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Moisturizers -Josie Maran Cosmetics - Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 40
bluemeanie 1/10/2013 7:15:00 PM
My skin is dry. I like this product very much for when I want a quick combo product (moisturizer+sunscreen), but I don't use it every day. When I tried using argan oil alone as a moisturizer for several days back-to-back, I had some breakouts. With using it only sporadically (2-3 days per week typically), I have had no problems. The scent strikes me as a bit fruity, which I like since I can't stand the scent of typical sunscreens. 2 squirts is enough for my face and then I do one more for my neck and chest area. The product comes out opaque white, but doesn't leave a white cast on my skin. It's fairly easy to rub in to skin. I would repurchase at this point.
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Treatments -Unlisted Brand - NCN Aqua Gel Exfoliator
bluemeanie 12/9/2012 3:16:00 PM
I purchased a 2.5 oz sample size of this product from NCN Pro Skincare website. Used it this morning for the first time. Very impressed! The product arrives with no instructions printed on it, but Nanci the owner has a link at the top of her page for instructions on all her products. I followed the instructions and great results. I read good reviews about a similar product (Cure Natural Aqua Gel) and was seriously considering purchasing that product from Amazon. Then a read a post on SCB here mentioning this NCN product. This product is very gentle and so effective. As I applied it, the product started to roll up into little "eraser-crumb"-ish bits, and I was really tempted to start rolling them around on my skin. But I waited the 30 seconds per instructions. Since the "crumbs" start so soon after application, I was wondering if it was the product alone causing this (not that it had a chance to exfo my skin yet!), but the product is an opaque blue gel with no clumps in it, so it wasnt' the product alone doing this. So I rolled it around. Really had a lot of the little clumps forming. Then I rinsed it all off. My skin was soft and I could see that the areas that previously had dry skin were gone. I moisturized afterward. This is a keeper for me! I recommend starting with the sample unless you are already familiar with this product or the Cure product; not because you may not like it, but the sample is very generous for the amount needed per use and a sample will last a long time. I will update this review if my opinion changes. PM me if you have any questions. This is the best exfo product I have used in a verrry long time.
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Moisturizers -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - AAA Skin Complex w/ CoQ10
bluemeanie 12/1/2012 10:37:00 AM
Very bad experience with this product which appears to be called "AAA Cream" on the MUAC site now. If I could rate it a zero, I would. My skin reacted poorly to this product. Twice. A month apart, so I am pretty confident that I isolated my adverse reaction to this product. I posted about it here http://www.makeupalley.com/board/m.asp?mid=150644398 including pictures there. As with all products, YMMV. I really wanted this to work for me; I have really liked and repurchased most of the MUAC products I've tried. I hope that others using this product will post positive reviews if this works well for them. Update: MUAC was wonderful to deal with on this and they refunded my $.
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Powder -Tarte - Smooth Operator Micronized Clay Finishing Powder
bluemeanie 11/24/2012 11:17:00 AM
I bought a full-size jar of Smooth Operator Finishing Powder during a tarte promo. Previously, I used BE Mineral Veil (Original or SPF25) for years. I just decided to try something new on a whim. The product smells like dust to me; totally unfragranced. Not a deal-breaker. It goes on whitish, but somehow mellows to match or blend with my various foundations that I use (Missha BB Cream, JI Dream Tint, Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage, to name a few). It seems to absorb oil and shine better than BE MV did for me. I get a slight healthy glow as the day progresses, but nothing oily that needs blotting paper as I used to do almost regularly with BE MV. I don't like the one little dinky hole in the center of the lid that lets powder through, but maybe that's a reminder that I really don't need a lot. Seems to be working. Also, if you keep the little plugger thing when you first open the jar, I guess you could replug the hole and take the jar when traveling. I would consider buying this in a solid compact if/when available. ETA: I read on QVC forum/FAQ area regarding this product that you press on both sides of the one sifter hole and it will release a good amount of powder. I tried this and it worked well, but I think it released more powder than needed for one application. But that just leaves some in the lid for next use. :)
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Eye Primer -Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Sin
bluemeanie 11/12/2011 2:25:00 PM
I like UDPP Original, but I am usually too rushed or too lazy to apply shadow on top of it, so the colored PP's interested me. My lids are oily after a few hours, no matter what I do, except when I use UDPP. I got a sample card from Sephora a while back and liked Sin best. I really don't wear shadow except for a few times per year. But since getting Sin, I wear it almost daily. I don't like that it applies foily/blingy at first. But within a few minutes, it settles on my skin and the foil/sparkle/bling settles down -- this is a good thing, in my opinion. The color is a glimmery "pink champagne", but it looks almost skintone on me; subtle after the shimmer settles a bit. I apply it with my fingertip, which is not very precise, but it works OK. Would not have touched this product if it was still in the genie bottle with wand applicator though.
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Eye Primer -Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Original (UDPP)
bluemeanie 6/26/2011 6:50:00 PM
I have extremely oily eyelids. Shadow would either crease or disappear from my lids by midday. I only use eyeliner pencils and the lines would barely last past lunch time. I never bought UDPP in the tube with the wand applicator, but as soon as I saw it was in a tube without wand, I got it. I love this product. It will be HG for me. I squeeze a small dot on the back of my hand and then use ring finger to apply to eyelids, up to the brows and down to my lash line. My eye makeup lasts all day without changing color or creasing. I got it in "Original" shade. Matches my skin perfectly. Will definitely repurchase this!
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Tinted Moisturizer -Josie Maran Cosmetics - Tinted Moisturizer
bluemeanie 4/18/2011 9:28:00 PM
Not love for me. I haven't noticed the product separating when it comes out of the tube. I am barely squeezing the tube first to try to distribute the oil. I shake it too, but it seems like there's no liquid to shake. So I guess whatever I am doing in that regard is working. The product is thick and creamy. I was hoping it would be more opaque than my prior HG (Jane Iredale Dream Tint). It is. However, when I spread the product using my fingers, it reminds me of oil-based paint that I used to work with in art classes. Creamy with a bit of oil to it. I get gaps in coverage and it seems to highlight any little flake or uneven surface I have on my skin. Yes, my skin is a bit dry, but I think I exfoliate sufficiently except when I use this product. I am keeping the product because I like it for a change from JI DT, and I am determined to figure out how to make this product look as good as possible on my skin. I love using argan oil as a moisturizer, and I like that this TM has SPF30 vs. JI DT having SPF15.
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Makeup Brushes -Everyday Minerals - Eye Kabuki Brush
bluemeanie 1/30/2011 8:24:00 PM
I love this eye buki. I use it to apply BE Well Rested practically all around the eye area. The bristles are so soft, yet they let the powder cling well and give good coverage. I would buy another as a spare the next time I order from EDM. I also have a BE eye buki, but I think the EDM version has much softer bristles.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Palladio - Rice Powder Blotting Papers
bluemeanie 5/27/2010 7:46:00 PM
I'd read about this product on various sites and decided to try them in my last Sally purchase. Love! I've used blotting papers before (e.l.f., Clean & Clear, etc.) but the rice powder really helped to absorb oil and prevent it from re-forming. This is the perfect item to keep in handbag or office drawer. I use it after lunch and that's the extent of my midday makeup refreshing. I didn't even realize that this product comes in several shades -- Translucent, Natural and Warm Beige appear on the Sally's site at this point. I got Natural, not paying attention to the other options when I purchased. It worked well for me. Next time, I might buy one of each option available at the store to see if one works better than the other with my skintone. I am really impressed with this product. 40 sheets for about $4.00 may seem pricey on a per-sheet basis, but these worked really well so I will definitely repurchase in one shade or another.
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Conditioner -Terax - Crema
bluemeanie 2/17/2010 7:20:00 PM
I love this product. It prevents me from using my standard excuses for not doing a weekly deep conditioning treatment (no time, too much of a hassle, too messy, feeling lazy, etc.) I have repurchased this product in every size available and will continue to buy. The scent is not very appealing, IMO. Smells a bit like wet dog, but the scent dissipates quickly, especially if you use any scented styling products. The scent issue was far from a deal-breaker for me. I have very curly dry hair that is well below my shoulder blades when dry. And it's salt & pepper color, so the gray/white strands tend to make it even more dry. When I use Crema, my hair is soft and more shiny; does not feel brittle like it might break mid-strand (my hair normally does feel that way, fragile). With weekly use, I definitely see and feel a difference. I conditioner-wash only, so I first CO wash, then I apply the Crema and leave on for 5-10 minutes while I'm in the shower. Very convenient! When I am rushed, I have even added a bit of water to Crema in my palm and CO washed with the Crema (and still left it on enough time to get DT benefit). I didn't even know this existed until I saw recs for it on the hair board, so thank you, MUA! :)
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Treatments -Elizabeth Arden - Allergen - Prevage MD Anti-aging Treatment (1% prescription-strength Formulation)
bluemeanie 2/17/2010 7:00:00 PM
My review is on Prevage MD (1% idebenone) that is available from certain skincare sites and dermatologist offices; it's not about Prevage (0.5% idebenone) available at Sephora, dept. stores, etc. I bought a 1 oz. pump bottle of Prevage MD from my new derm last month -- for about $125.00. His assistant said that I should test it out on my arm first, use it, and if it didn't agree with my skin that I could return it for a refund. That was nice. I figured no risk so I tried it. I did the arm test (underneath forearm, near where elbow bends) and it went fine. Derm told me to ramp up slowly; he suggested using it sparingly on face every 3 nights for a week, then every other night the 2nd week, then every night from 3rd week forward. Did this. Again, no probs but I did feel a slight tingling/warming sensation after putting it on each time. Did not bother my skin and it looked and felt fine in the morning. All was going well after that 3rd week, so I figured I wanted to try using Ziana one night and Prevage MD on another, alternating. I love Ziana so wanted to keep it in my routine. After a couple weeks of doing this, my skin started to get very red on my forehead and upper lip area, with some red bumps. I also had excessive tiny flakes on the red areas and elsewhere on my face; exfoliating did not help that much. The bumps were not pimples, they were bumps of irritation -- I know, lame description there. That being said, I felt compelled to keep trying to make Prevage work for me, because I noticed an improvement in skintone and age spots definitely faded for me. I actually went out several times during the day without makeup (yes, still wore sunscreen) and my skin looked good. The product is supposed to give noticeable improvments after about 8 weeks of use, IIRC from my derm, the Prevage MD site, and the pamphlet my derm gave me. But due to the irritation in conjunction with Ziana use (I am not giving up Ziana because it helps my light acne and lines) I am going to pull back on my use of Prevage MD. I may only use it 2x per week at night to see if that gives me any benefit. At the very least, I will use up the one bottle I have. I will try to update this review after a few more weeks, to give more info on the status of my skin irritation, and to see if the skintone/discoloration improvements I noticed are maintaining even with reduced usage. ETA 2/25/10: Earlier this week, I could not take it anymore. Odd that after 5 weeks, gradually weaning up to using every night and then cutting back to every other night (because I like Ziana too!) that my skin would start reacting. Forehead, skin on upper lip and my neck (which only got what was left on my hands) were red, rought and raw. Has taken 2-3 days to try to turn my skin around. Upper lip has little flakes and peels = fugly, but I have to get through this for my skin to heal. I am taking a major break from Prevage MD, for obvious reasons. I will post back with more info if I decide to try it for one night after all is healed for a while, or if I find out that it was not the Prevage MD after all (I also changed my morning moisturizer around the same time as starting the Prevage MD). ETA 3/2/10: The problem was not with my morning moisturizer. My skin has healed from the Prevage MD over-exposure. Continuing to abstain from Prevage MD for a long time.
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Polishes -China Glaze - Stellar
bluemeanie 2/3/2010 8:22:00 PM
I love nudes and neutrals, but this one was too blingy for me. Two coats give opaque coverage. IMO, this is a very "loud" nude. I prefer more understated nudes/neutrals. It's a pretty polish, just not for me.
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Skincare - Body -Unlisted Brand - Boiron Calendula Cream
bluemeanie 2/3/2010 8:18:00 PM
This is a HG product for me. I use it on cuts, scrapes, zit fixes gone wrong, rashes, irritations, waxing mishaps, etc. It's very soothing and has a slightly floral smell (from marigolds, IIRC). It's a white cream in a metal tube. I find this to be as effective for me in healing all of the above as triple antibiotic ointment. This product also comes in an ointment, but I prefer creams to ointments (less greasy, IMO). For my first tube of calendula cream, I tried Nelson's brand; Boiron is more effective for me. Seems to work faster and it has a higher concentration of the active ingredient than Nelson's -- at least it did the last time I bought Nelson's a couple of years ago.
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Treatments -Garden of Wisdom - Garden of Wisdom Pineapple Wine Exfoliating Gel
bluemeanie 2/3/2010 7:50:00 PM
Correction: product is actually called Pineapple/Wine Enzyme Gel Disappointed in this product. I'd read on the GoW forum that this product "eats the flakies". For me, it created more flakes. I highly recommend buying a sample before plunking down $ for full size. I tried a sample and thought that the flakes I was getting were part of my exfo process. Fine with that, except they should not be so prominent that even after toweling off, appling moisturizer and makeup that the flakes still show through. The full size is reasonably priced for the amount of product you get, plus you don't need a lot for each application, so it will last. It comes in a tub; not my preference for container (I'd rather see it in a tube) but I understand that a tub is an easier package to put a "homemade" product in. I used this in the morning, left it on 20 minutes and then washed off. I like that the product is a clear gel with a hit of pink (the wine?). I think it smells nice -- sort of mild grapefruit scent. I could feel a bit of a tingling as it dried. Dried in 20 minutes and it feels very stiff on the skin when it dries. Then I just washed it off in the shower. This product seems to be popular on the GoW forum, but it did not work for me. I hated the increase flakes. I only exfo 2x per week but after using this, I feel like I have to use a scrub the next day to get rid of the flakes. I won't repurchase.
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