Treatments -Redken - All Soft Argan-6 Oil
brk008 10/1/2012 9:46:00 AM
I'm surprised by the reviews saying this product is too heavy. I have tried regular Moroccan Oil, which I liked somewhat, and Moroccan Oil light, which I didn't really care for. On the other hand, I really like Redken All Soft Argan Oil. I haven't gotten around to getting a haircut in months, and the summer has wrecked havoc on my hair. I received a sample of this product with an Extreme (dark blue bottles) shampoo and conditioner set. I found the texture to be thinner than Moroccan Oil, which makes it easier to spread through my damp hair. It makes my hair look very shiny, although not greasy, and minimizes the appearance of damage. I am nearly out of the sample (using it every other day for about 2 weeks) and I will be purchasing.
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Polishes -Essie - Stylenomics
brk008 9/13/2012 6:24:00 PM
My disappointment with the color itself came when I saw the actual bottle, not when I put it on. In the promos, it looks like a rich, forest green. In the bottle, it looks like a dark grayish green almost-black, which, unsurprisingly, it looks like on your nails. As one blogger wrote, you can tell it's not black, but you can't really tell what color it is. I took off 1 lippy for that, however, I don't think the polish should be judged too harshly because it was misrepresented in an ad. If you're looking for an "on-the-money, opulent green shade", you will be disappointed. However, if you're looking for a softer alternative to black with dark green undertones, you will be pleased. The formula is spot on- I put on a second coat, but depending on how anal or pressed for time you are, one would be sufficient. The polish dries to a glossy, shellac like finish. I put on a topcoat for extra chip protection, but again, depending on how anal or pressed for time you are, you could skip the topcoat. PS- Fellow Manhattanites, I suggest you stop by Optima Beauty on John St between Broadway and Nassau. It's a little hole in the wall, but Essies are $6, OPI $7 and it's an additional 10% off before 10am. (Disclosure: I have no affiliation with Optima Beauty whatsoever, except that I stop in there to buy a new polish at least once a week).
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Maybelline - Dream Matte Mousse
brk008 4/6/2011 5:44:00 PM
I was raised to be a total makeup snob, especially when it comes to foundation. One day on my way to school in high school though, I left my foundation at home (I used to do my makeup at school). Obviously all the department stores were closed so I ran in and bought a jar of Dream Matte Mousse. I remember really liking the way it made my skin look, and that was during my teenage acne phase. Recently, I had a bad allergic reaction to a product and realized my usual Almost Makeup wasn't going to cut it, so I went out and bought a jar of DMM again. Again, I really liked the way it made my skin look, but I felt like it looked a bit thick in direct sunlight (but then again I'm used to seeing my face with basically no make up on at all). One of the reasons I hate drugstore make up is I can never match it perfectly to my skin, and this was no exception, but it does blend pretty easily so once I put on bronzer and blush, it didn't look bad at all. OVERALL: I was really pleased with the way it made my skin look. It covered up the acne-like rash I had without looking like I was wearing a lot of make up. It blended well and layered well. The color I chose made my skin look a bit sallow, but was fine once I added bronzer and blush. It was not very long lasting, but had better staying powder with primer underneath. I don't mind the packaging, but some people might not like having to stick their fingers into the jar. I personally prefer the look of my skin almost bare so I probably won't continue to use this every day, but I will keep it stocked for bad skin days
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Cleansers -Kiehls - Ultra Facial Cleanser
brk008 2/7/2011 4:41:00 PM
Obsessed with this face wash, it's a definite HG for me. About a month ago I was wondering why my face was breaking out when my skin isn't actually oily and I'm on birth control, so my hormones are kept in check. Since I've had terrible reactions to certain skin care products, I began to wonder if maybe my skin wasn't "acne prone" so much as "very sensitive", so I decided to switch to a very basic cleanser to detox my skin. My sister loves Kiehls, and Paula Begoun rated the cleanser very highly, so I decided to give it a shot. I am absolutely in love. It gets all my makeup off; I really feel like my face is clean after using this, yet it doesn't dry my skin out at all. I have no more bumps, rashes or breakouts, even around the time of my period. Some people complained about the packaging, but I personally like the unisex, utilitarian look of the tube. Yes, it is an $18 face wash, but you hardly need to use any at all. I would highly recommend, and I will definitely be repurchasing.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -Unlisted Brand - Roux - Fanci Full Rinse
brk008 2/7/2011 4:10:00 PM
I had virgin medium brown hair but after a breakup (when else do women do stupid impulsive things with their looks?) I went to get my hair highlighted. I asked the stylist to give me highlights that looked natural and subtle, "just like my hair would look in the summer". I guess she made my hair look like it would in the summer .. if in the summer I went to a salon and got obvious, poorly blended, brassy highlights. (She told me after the fact that toner wasn't included in the service. Having a full 0 years of hair styling experience, I could have told her that you can't turn medium brown hair light brown without using toner, no matter how weak the peroxide is. However, this review isn't for the salon or the hair stylist, it's for Fanci Full). I found Fanci Full at Sally when I was looking for a way to remedy this situation. I got the Frivolous Fawn color. It did help blend in my highlights, but they're still pretty obvious at the hairline. My hair looks a little dryer, although that may just be the fact that it's 1) now chemically treated and 2) no longer brown (which reflects light better than blonde). Still, I like the idea of this Fanci Full stuff, and I'm encouraged by the other reviews so I plan to try a darker color to see if that gives me the results I'm looking for. For $5 a bottle, you can definitely buy a few shades and play around with different looks. I also plan to experiment with different application techniques since the one they suggest on the bottle isn't terribly effective. I'll keep you posted.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Lancome - Hypnose
brk008 11/28/2010 11:27:00 AM
After reading the other reviews here, I'm thinking maybe I just got a bad tube. I got Hypnose and the vibrating wand mascara from Lancome this summer when Nordstrom was having a buy two, get one free special on mascaras from any brand. When the lady at the store put Hypnose on me, I was so impressed. When I got home and tried it myself the next day, I was so unimpressed. For me, it clumped badly. And after just a few weeks, the formula started to flake. That being said, it did make my lashes look much fuller and much longer, and when I really take the time to put it on carefully, I can mitigate the clumps, If I could get the positive effects without the clumping and flaking, it would be an HG product. But given how happy I've been with BeneFit's Bad Gal Lash, I doubt I'll be spending the money on Hypnose again to see if the results improve.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -BeneFit Cosmetics - That Gal
brk008 11/28/2010 11:18:00 AM
I have the same feelings towards Benefit as I have towards the last guy I dated: both look so cute that I really want to believe that things are working with them, but they're just not. I got That Gal in the Fab Lane kit with Bad Gal Lash and Hoola, At $49 for the whole kit (all in full sizes), That Gal was more or less free. I have to agree with the majority of reviewers here: It's not that That Gal is a BAD product, it's just doesn't really do anything. Did it make my foundation last longer? A little bit. Did it brighten my face? A little bit. If I were being generous, I would call the effects "subtle". If I were being honest I would call them "almost non-existent". To be fair, I've had a bad breakout while using this product (not brought on by it- breakout started before I even owned it) and have had to use heavier makeup than I would normally. Perhaps under my usual foundation (Clinique Almost Makeup) the brightening effect would be more noticeable. If that's the case, I'll update my review. In the meantime, I plan on finishing the tube, but I won't buy more when it runs out.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No