Polishes -Revlon - Galaxy
brookebaird 9/21/2010 2:44:00 AM
What a disappointment. The formula is terrible. The glitter doesn't apply evenly and it has the roughest finish. I found tip wear after a few hours. Removal was messy. If you are trying to decide between Galaxy (more black) and Belle (more silver), go with Belle. Do yourself a favor, if you want a glitter buy Lippmann instead.
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Polishes -Sinful - Whats Your Name 
brookebaird 9/21/2010 2:38:00 AM
I had never tried this brand. I tend to be loyal to Essie, Zoya, and Chanel. However, I saw a counter display at the local drugstore and was intriged at the color options. I picked up 4 polishes at $1.99 each and figured if it didn't work out, the investment was minimal. This was my favorite of the 4 polishes. This color is a black cream with a super subtle teal shimmer (I don't want to call it a glitter because it's so much smaller, smoother, and easier to take off.) In most lighting, you won't see the subtle teal, however, in bright light and sunlight, you get a beautiful subtle surprise. The formula is thin to medium and three coats gives great coverage. I suggest a super shiny top coat (like CND Shiney) as it accentuates the shimmer. A nice surpise.
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Polishes -Orly - Plum Noir
brookebaird 9/21/2010 2:25:00 AM
What a great discovery. First of all, I always ignored Orly and went straight to Essie or Zoya. However, I was on the hunt for a rich purple that wasn't quite black. The sales associate picked this up and I was a bit surprised as it appears much lighter in the bottle (why a lippie is missing). After sampling 2 coats on tape, I saw that the color was rich and just what I wanted. I applied the polish at home and was really impressed. The top has an easy grip, the formula is great and 2 coats provided even coverage (but I prefer the way 3 coats look). The brush was great and the final result was fabulous. In sunlight, you see a rich plum where the purple takes center stage. Indoors it looks much more black/plum - it definitely has a vampy/vixenish quality. I should note it's much more flattering than OPI Lincoln Park after Dark. Who knew - Orly rocks! The best part has been the lasting power. With a top coat applied every 5 days, my pedicure last lasted almost 3 weeks. This is longer lasting than Chanel!
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Polishes -Chanel - Particulière
brookebaird 9/21/2010 2:12:00 AM
It's hard to find a mushroom/taupe shade that works with my skin tone and looks flattering. I am normally NC25-30 but most taupes look flat and give a "mannequin-hand" look. Chanel Particuliere is fabulous. The color is gorgeous with both a warmth and coolness that looks fabulous under any light. Like all Chanel polishes application is easy, the formula is fantastic, and the brush is great. My only fustration is that I would expect a $23 polish to wear longer than a $8 OPI polish - it doesn't.
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Polishes -Chanel - Le Vernis Nail Colour in Paradoxal #509
brookebaird 9/21/2010 2:06:00 AM
Chanel always leads the market with at least one "must have" color a season. Paradoxal is a beautiful purplish/grey color. Application is flawless. The brush is fantastic and the formula is great. Two coats over a base coat offer even coverage. I prefer to use a shiny top coat with this polish as it attract more light which flatters the polish. I love everything about Chanel polishes except the price point $23US and the lasting power is just average. For the price, you would except better durability.
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Polishes -Zoya - Kelly
brookebaird 9/21/2010 1:58:00 AM
Kelly is a beautiful creamy gray with blue/purple undertones. The color is unique and the formula is fabulous. It's easy to apply and 2 coats will give you great coverage. Coupled with a base and top coat, I got several days of wear without chipping. This line deserves more love and attention from me. I will try more.
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Polishes -Borghese - Stellare Notte
brookebaird 9/21/2010 1:53:00 AM
Overall, the Borghese line has not really appealed to me. At $8, it falls into the same price point range as OPI, Essie, Orly, etc... It's the high end of the spectrum for the drugstore. However, this one color is truly special. It has a duochrome finish which can look purplish, greyish, or teal-greenish depending on the lighting and angle of your hands. The color is fabulous, rich, and truly unique. The biggest drawback is the thin formula which require three coats to give a smooth finish that won't show streaks. With a topcoat, the wear is average. The color alone is why this gets such a high rating.
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Polishes -Sally Hansen - Complete Salon Manicure Nail Polish
brookebaird 9/21/2010 1:45:00 AM
I am impressed with the color options which are more chic than what you see in a typical drugstore line. However, the formula and brush don't live up to it's price point. I found the application was less than desirable. The color went on streaky and took three coats to produce an even result. Additionally the brush is too wide and has an odd shape. I found that it was difficult to control and left too much residual polish on my skin and cuticles. I prefer a more narrow brush. I would suggest OPI,China Glaza, or Zoya. They are in the same price range but offer easier application and better staying power.
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Candles -A Zaftig Woman - Yuzu
brookebaird 5/31/2010 12:57:00 AM
I finally found my summertime tart option. The Yuzu scent is fantastic. It opens with a strong aroma (combination of grapefruit and lemon/lime) that has tremendous throw. Most citrus scents remind me of household cleansing products. Or they are so subtle that you forget they are burning. This is a fresh, clean, scent with a lot of intensity. A great balance. My only complaint is that I always hate their tart packaging. It reminds me of unwrapping a Reese's peanut butter cup housed in foil. I much prefer the packaging at LOL. I will try ordering a candle (in a metal tin) next time as I have fallen in love with the scent.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Smellbent Blimey Limey
brookebaird 5/31/2010 12:44:00 AM
Blimey Limey opens with a crisp, sweet lime-ade note. The lime becomes truer as it develops and settles in with a clean musk base. It's very fresh and well suited for warm weather. I find that most lime scents disappear after a couple of hours; however, this formulation offered in an oil has better lasting powers - 6+ hours. Also, this is one of the few lime scents that doesn't smell like a margarita, a caipirinha, or tequila with lime (as most have an alcohol note that accompany the lime). It also doesn't smell like a typical cologne. It's use of lime is new to me. I think part of the attraction is that this triggers memories of a lime aftershave my father wore in the late 70's. I have no idea what it was but it brings back fond memories.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - SmellBent Prairie Nymph
brookebaird 5/31/2010 12:28:00 AM
I have to say that this line is an undiscovered gem. Fun, quality fragrances at a great price. I can see many people loving Prairie Nymph but it just doesn't work on me. The opening is an effervescent carnation, clementine, and beeswax that smells almost like preserves or marmalade. While it lasts 20+ hours (not kidding), I smell too much honeyed beeswax and a subtle musk for most of it. I am not a honey fan as it just seems to sweet for me.
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Fragrances -Penhaligon's - Extract of Limes
brookebaird 5/31/2010 12:20:00 AM
While this opens with a blast of citrus and green, it quickly loses its brightness. It develops into a more subdued sweet citrus cocktail scent and then disappears entirely after 2 hours. So disappointing. I have colognes that last much longer than this EDT.
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Fragrances -Demeter - Lime Pick Me Up Spray
brookebaird 5/31/2010 12:14:00 AM
On my skin this is a tart lime; however, it is accompanied by alcohol. My mind keeps conjuring up white tequila with lime or a Brazilian caipirinha. I was hoping for crisp and refreshing, not smelling like someone spilled a cocktail on me. I can say that the lasting power is better than most limes - Floris and Penhaligan's.
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Deodorants -Unlisted Brand - Certain Dri
brookebaird 5/30/2010 3:53:00 AM
I should mention that I never needed this type of product growing up in Southern California. However, moving to Texas and experiencing my first summer changed things. I tried everything to reduce the perspiration and found that I could wear my clothes (mainly suits at that time) just once before they had to be cleaned. This is the product that saved me at least $100 a month on dry cleaning. It lives up to it's promise. I still apply it nightly on days where I don't shave my underarms (you will experience stinging on freshly shaved skin). It works wonders. There is nothing else in the drugstore that works as well.
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Cleansers -Cetaphil - Gentle Skin Cleanser
brookebaird 5/30/2010 3:46:00 AM
This is my go-to cleanser for a bare face. I love that's it's so mild and leaves my skin feeling clean and fresh without stripping it. I use this in the morning as part of my sking care regime. I should mention that this is not designed to take off makeup so I don't use this in the evening. I would love to have just one cleanser but have never been able to find the one HG cleanser that will do it all at this price point.
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