Mascara -BeneFit Cosmetics - They're Real
bowbat 5/11/2013 9:21:00 PM
Pretty darn good mascara. I curl my lashes then apply this -- it goes on easily, doesn't clump, makes my lashes look both long and full, and stays on all day. It is a little harder to get off than other mascaras I've used, but not dramatically so. I won't go so far as to call this my HG, but it fits my needs nicely (for now).
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Fragrances -Annick Goutal - Vanille Exquise
bowbat 5/11/2013 9:16:00 PM
I have to agree with the reviewer who called this "plasticky." This started out nicely on me -- a light, sophisticated vanilla -- but dried down to what I can only describe as Cabbage Patch Doll head.
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Fragrances -Diptyque - Do Son
bowbat 5/10/2013 7:48:00 PM
Received a sample of this today. It's a very cold tuberose - watery and medicinal. On me, the menthol aspect of the tuberose was so pronounced, I swear it cleared my sinuses. This may sound negative, but I actually found it appealing. Unfortunately, cold fragrances generally end up giving me a headache, and this was no different. If you don't suffer from that problem and like a more fresh, green tuberose, this may be the scent for you.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Fresh - Sugar Plum Lip Treatment SPF 15
bowbat 4/20/2011 3:43:00 PM
HG daily lip balm. It provides a nice bit of sheer color while leaving my lips soft, smooth, and moisturized. It's expensive, yes, but I've been using it several times per day for months now, and I'm not even halfway through the tube. (It's like that old Drew Carey bit where he says he just bought a lifetime supply of Chapstick, and holds up one tube.) For those days when lipstick seems too much but going without seems too bare (which for me is pretty much every day), this strikes the perfect balance.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Sally Hansen - Complete Salon Commander in Chic
bowbat 4/18/2011 3:01:00 PM
LOVE this color. It's a gorgeous, modern neutral gray-purple that looks great with everything, including my skin tone. My only gripe is that I find the way the brush is designed a little hard to use -- I end up getting a too-thick, clumpy coat or one that's way too thin. User error, though, I'm sure.
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Shampoo -L'Oreal - EverSleek Intense Smoothing Shampoo
bowbat 4/18/2011 2:49:00 PM
I bought this shampoo while on a quest for a more natural product that could tame my beastly hair without making my head break out. It scored on the taming part, but did cause break-outs and made my hair look a bit greasy. I ended up finding a different shampoo that worked for me (Kiss My Face Whenever), but I forgot to buy conditioner with it. So I decided to try the EverSleek shampoo as a conditioner. After shampooing with Kiss My Face, I sort of lightly smoothed the EverSleek over my hair -- not rubbing it in to a full lather in order to keep it away from my scalp (since it had made me break out). It worked beautifully! My hair ends up soft and smooth and (so far) frizz-free and, because I don't massage it into my scalp, I don't get the day-two greasies or break outs. Kind of weird, I know, but if you have the same trouble I did using this as a daily shampoo, you might want to give it a shot as a conditioner.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Kiss My Face - Frequent Use Whenever Shampoo
bowbat 4/18/2011 2:38:00 PM
I grabbed a bottle of this on a whim in Wal-Mart one day, and have been very pleasantly surprised. My hair is ridiculous -- super-thick, coarse, frizzy with oily scalp & roots but dry ends. I was beginning to think it was impossible to find a shampoo that would leave my hair feeling clean & soft without making my head break out. But this one does the trick! Add to that no offensive smell and natural ingredients, we've got ourselves a winner.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -Laura Mercier - Loose Setting Powder - Translucent
bowbat 2/3/2011 10:45:00 AM
J'adore this powder. A quick sweep of this atop my foundation keeps things looking fresh all day, even here in humid Florida. I do still need to touch-up a few times daily with either my MAC Blot Powder or blotting papers, but I have super-oily skin so that's to be expected. Sure, I wish it were cheaper, but it's a pretty huge container so I suspect it'll last a good while.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Lancome - Photogenic Lumessence Light Mastering & Line-Smoothing Makeup
bowbat 2/3/2011 10:41:00 AM
This stuff is really lovely. I have oily yet aging skin (delightful combo), and this foundation handles both problems beautifully. My skin looks, well, luminescent -- glowing without being shiny. The product applies easily using just my fingertips and a little goes a long way. I use less than a pea-sized amount for my whole face to get the coverage I need. Possible HG; time will tell.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Coty - Harajuku Lovers by Gwen Stefani - G
bowbat 2/3/2011 10:35:00 AM
Smells like coconut Lysol.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Paul Mitchell - Super Skinny Daily Treatment
bowbat 10/13/2010 11:43:00 AM
Like another reviewer, I purchased the Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Daily Shampoo and Daily Treatment without reading reviews here first and have lived to regret it. I have thick, coarse hair, and these products managed to make it even bulkier while also leaving a sticky, gummy coating on it. I tried them twice, and made sure the second time I used less product and rinsed my hair super-super-well. No change. I also made my husband feel my hair and he, who is usually clueless about these things, said, "Your hair feels kind of... glue-y." Product: fail. Will not buy again, will not recommend.
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Shampoo -Paul Mitchell - Super Skinny Daily Shampoo
bowbat 10/13/2010 11:42:00 AM
Like another reviewer, I purchased the Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Daily Shampoo and Daily Treatment without reading reviews here first and have lived to regret it. I have thick, coarse hair, and these products managed to make it even bulkier while also leaving a sticky, gummy coating on it. I tried them twice, and made sure the second time I used less product and rinsed my hair super-super-well. No change. I also made my husband feel my hair and he, who is usually clueless about these things, said, "Your hair feels kind of... glue-y." Product: fail. Will not buy again, will not recommend.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Stila - one step makeup [DISCONTINUED]
bowbat 9/5/2010 5:47:00 PM
I decided to try this product after I ran out of primer. I didn't have any illusions of grandeur -- I figured there was no way it could do the job of all four different products (primer, foundation, concealer, powder) -- but if it could at least server as primer & foundation, I'd consider it worth the money. It passed that test with flying colors. In fact, it even does a pretty fair job in the concealer department. I still use a bit of concealer under my eyes and on spots, but I could go without and look just fine. It definitely does not replace powder -- at least for me. I have oily skin and live in Florida, so I have to have my MAC Blot Powder. I do find myself using it less with this, though. One odd thing is the consistency, which was mousse-like when I first purchased it, but after a few uses became liquid. Not sure if that's how it's supposed to be or what, but it works fine either way.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -TiGi - Bed Head Control Freak Shampoo
bowbat 7/6/2010 9:31:00 PM
I've been using the Control Freak shampoo & conditioner for about two weeks now, and have found they leave my hair noticeably smoother while reducing the frizz. It's also much easier to blow-dry and flat-iron my hair. Two things prevent this from achieving HG status, however. (1) It seems to leave a film on my hair after three or so uses. That's probably typical of a smoothing shampoo, though. I just wash once a week with a clarifying shampoo to counteract it. (2) (and this is the big one) The smell. God in heaven, the smell. It's not so much that it smells like pineapple... it's that it smells like *regurgitated* pineapple. LOUDLY. The fragrance peeps at TiGi dialed this one up to 11 when they should've stopped at 4. Luckily, it doesn't smell that loud and horrible on my hair, but jeebus... it's enough to nearly make me gag while shampooing. So, really maybe 3.5 lippies.
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Conditioner -Bumble & Bumble - Seaweed Conditioner
bowbat 6/25/2010 8:57:00 PM
I really like the Seaweed Shampoo and wanted to love the conditioner, too. Unfortunately, I find it too thin -- it's really more of a detangler than it is a conditioner. If it were more nourishing it would be perfect.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No