Eyeliner -Sephora - Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner
captainvegetable02 11/2/2009 3:27:00 PM
WARNING: do NOT use this eyeliner on your waterline!!!!! I thought this might be a cheaper alternative to MUFE Aqua Eyes, since every other "waterproof" liner I've ever tried still wears off quickly and/or smudges under my eyes when I use it to tightline and on my waterline. At first this stuff seemed great...it went on smoothly with a lot of pigment, and I loved the idea of not having to sharpen it. It stayed on my waterline much better than most other liners I've tried. Unfortunately, when it did start to come off, it flaked off into my eyes as opposed to just wearing off and disappearing. Flecks of it got stuck to my contact lenses and completely ruined my contacts - they tore while I was trying to clean them. I've gotten m/u stuck to my contacts plenty of times and I've NEVER had anything that stuck so badly it tore them! I went without my contacts the next day and decided to give the liner another chance, since m/u in my eyes doesn't usually bother me if I'm not wearing contacts, thinking I could keep the liner for glasses days. Well, the liner flaked off into my eyes again, and since there was no contact lens to catch it, this time it scratched the surface of my eye! It was horribly painful and I looked like I had pinkeye for a day or so until it healed (and I felt like I had something in my eye for days, which everyone knows is miserable). I took the liner back immediately and I'm back to using Aqua Eyes, which stays in place very well and has never irritated my eyes in any way. This Sephora liner may work great if you use it on your lashline as opposed to the inner rims of the eyes, but I wouldn't even risk that in case it still flaked off. Obviously, I'm never buying this again and despite it's pigment/lasting power I would give it a 0 rating if I could due to the fact that it injured my eye.
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Styling Products -Phyto - Phytodefrisant
captainvegetable02 10/20/2009 12:20:00 AM
I first heard about this product a few years ago, and I wish I had tried it sooner! I have lots of fine, naturally curly, somewhat frizzy hair. Despite the fact that my hair is only moderately curly, it's pretty resistant to straightening. I prefer not to use silicones and have gone totally cone-free in the past, but I was never able to straighten my hair when doing this because I couldn't fine a cone-free straightening product. When Living Proof came out a few months ago, I thought I had found my HG product until I realized that I go through it so quickly I can't afford to use it on a regular basis, so I finally got around to trying Phytodefrisant and I am SO glad that I did! I haven't quite gotten the hang of how much product to use with this stuff since when I apply it to damp hair as directed it seems to "disappear" instantly and I can't tell if it was distributed evenly. However, my hair does blow-dry much more smoothly than with most other products I've tried, and flat-irons more quickly and easily as well. I can tell it's doing a good job of moisturizing and heat protecting - my hair feels very soft and hydrated, and I haven't noticed any new damage since I started using it. I haven't used it in high humidity or wet weather yet but it seems to be doing a good job at preventing midday frizz-up. I took one lippie off because my hair seems to be more greasy and limp than usual on the 2nd day and I have to wash it more often, but this may be due to me using too much product - after more experimentation I'll update. Overall though I think this stuff is fantastic, and very reasonably priced for a tube that I can tell will last me for several months even though I have long hair.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Rene Furterer - Naturia Dry Shampoo
captainvegetable02 10/16/2009 7:39:00 PM
This product does work well as far as refreshing my hair so I can go an extra day in between shampoos, and doesn't leave too much powdery residue after brushing it out. However, I've used 2 cans of this and I'm lucky if I get 4-5 uses from each can. WAY too expensive for a product that only lasts a week or two...$48 a month or more on this stuff is INSANE. Thought it was a fluke with the first can but after I went through the 2nd one just as quickly I'm assuming this is normal (and I don't use an excessive amount). Also, I noticed with both cans that there seemed to be a decent amount left after the first couple of uses, and then it would be mysteriously empty a couple days later when I needed it again - and there's no one else at my house using it! It's like it just suddenly evaporated (and how it does this seeing as it's an aeresol can, I have no idea). Definitely not repurchasing again.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -BeneFit Cosmetics - B Spot [DISCONTINUED]
captainvegetable02 1/8/2009 12:09:00 AM
The scent is nice, but fades VERY quickly. I put it on no less than 5 different pulse points today and within a couple of hours it was COMPLETELY gone - and it wasn't just that I could no longer smell it on myself, it was completely undetectable to a friend of mine as well. I'm glad I got this for free because if I'd paid for it I would definitely return it, I don't like it enough to justify paying for something I have to re-apply a couple of times an hour.
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Hair -Klorane - Dry shampoo
captainvegetable02 1/6/2009 2:10:00 AM
Love this stuff! I've tried many dry shampoos and this is the only one that not only WORKS but that I also have no other issues with. I've tried Ojon (works but leaves white residue, clogs easily, tends to liquify halfway through a bottle and just spray white splotches everywhere, and the not-so-great smell lingers all day), Oscar Blandi (the aeresol kind, it did nothing but leave white residue), Rene Furterer (works but smells like cat pee), and T3 (works but the results only last a couple of hours, and the color in it - I used the dark tone - got under my nails when I re-styled my hair). With Klorane, I use the aeresol kind and it actually makes my hair look clean without leaving any white residue after I brush it out, and I have very dark hair. It lasts all day as well, I don't have to touch up every few hours, and there's virtually no scent to it at all. I will definitely repurchase this over and over!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Gillette - Venus Vibrance
captainvegetable02 10/23/2008 12:36:00 AM
I was hesitant to try this for the longest time, thinking the vibration was gimmicky, but after several recommendations (and the fact that it's pink) I broke down and bought it after my last Venus died (dropped it in the shower too many times and the blades wouldn't snap on anymore, oops!). For one thing, I love that this one came with the wall stick-on shower caddy. The original Venus no longer comes with one from what I can tell, and I didn't care for the Breeze or Divine. I love being able to store my blades with it in the shower and the fact that the caddy protects the blade from just sitting, in water puddles, on the shelf in my shower. Now for the really important part...this thing gives me the BEST shave I've ever gotten, hands down. The vibration means I don't have to press down as hard, or really at all - the razor just glides over my skin and I get a super close shave in just one stroke, even in hard-to-reach places. Even w/my 2nd favorite blade, the regular Venus, I still have to go over some places 2-3 times. The vibration definitely seems to help exfoliate as well. The heavier handle (due to the battery) makes it easier for my clumsier hands to hold on to (not sure why, it just does), and it has plenty of rubber grippy things to help as well. Finally, the blade lasts FOREVER - or at least it seems to so far. I've had this thing about a month and I'm still on my first blade. Usually I have to change the blade after about 3 leg/bikini shaves plus 12 or so (about 2 weeks' worth) armpit shaves. I think I've shaved my legs about 5 times this month (hey, it's October!) and I'm still getting the same shave I got from the very first use. I don't know if this is due to the blade (which is not that different from the regular Venus blade, just a couple of extra moisture strips), the vibrating handle, or a combination of both, but I love it! I have several regular blades though, so when I finally have to change this blade we'll see if I get the same results. Other reviewers seem to do fine w/other blades, so I have no doubt they'll work just as well. Overall, here's my ranking of all the Venus razors I've tried so far from best to worst, except the new Embrace w/5 blades (and I'll be trying those next, with and without the Vibrance handle): 1. Vibrance 2. Original Venus 3. Divine & Disposables 4. Breeze This is definitely my HG of razors thus far. I'll update w/results of trying other blades, and whenever the battery runs out. Editing 1/04 to add: I'm still using up my last few regular Venus blades, and while I get more use out of them w/the Vibrance handle as opposed to a regular handle, I still don't get quite as good of a shave as I did with the Vibrance blade. The Vibrance blades are a bit more expensive, but I will definitely be using them from now on, especially since they last so much longer.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Gillette - Venus Disposables
captainvegetable02 10/23/2008 12:19:00 AM
These are great disposables! Not quite as good as a regular Venus razor, but I'll definitely re-buy these next time I travel since I like to take us much disposable stuff as possible to lighten my luggage for the trip home.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Gillette - Venus Divine
captainvegetable02 10/23/2008 12:14:00 AM
Out of all the Venus razors (save the new version w/5 blades, haven't tried it yet), this is my second-to-least favorite, just one above the Breeze. The extra moisture strips are nice on the first shave, but they get dried out after only one use which causes them to catch on the skin (even with shaving cream) and leads to more nicks and cuts. I didn't get any closer of a shave with this than with a regular Venus blade.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Gillette - Venus Razor
captainvegetable02 10/23/2008 12:10:00 AM
This is the best basic razor out there, hands down. I've tried almost every Venus razor available (and I'm reviewing them all, the one I haven't gotten to yet is the latest version w/5 blades) and this is my second favorite after the Vibrance. Gives a nice close shave, and fewer nicks and cuts than any other brand of razor I've tried (and I only still get them because I'm terribly clumsy). My only complaints are that that razor doesn't seem to come with the stick-on wall shower caddy anymore, which I have always used and loved since it keeps the blade protected and allows you to store your new blades in the shower (taking off one lippie for this and the fact that it's just not the BEST razor I've tried). The price isn't bad either, considering that the blades last quite awhile - on average I get 3 leg & bikini shaves plus about 2 weeks of armpit shaves from one blade.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Gillette - Venus Breeze
captainvegetable02 10/23/2008 12:04:00 AM
I've tried almost all the Venus razors, and this was by far my least favorite. The very first time I used it I thought it was great because it lathered really well and I got a quick, close shave, but when I tried to use it a second time the shave gel bar had hardened and wouldn't lather up again. I had to use shaving cream anyway, and the hardened gel made it much more difficult to shave - and by the 3rd shave with the blade it was cracking and falling off in chunks. Plus the added surface area on the blade made it much more difficult to navigate around smaller nooks & crannies. I love Venus razors but this is an overpriced piece of junk. I'm sticking with my Vibrance!
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Fragrances -Juicy Couture - Viva La Juicy
captainvegetable02 9/10/2008 3:25:00 PM
I don't know enough about fragrance notes to try describing this fragrance, but I do know that it smells fantastic. :) I get tons of compliments when I wear this, and it LASTS. I put on 2 squirts and I can smell it all day. Not constantly, but every now and then I catch a decent whiff of it, which to me is perfect. I hate it when I put on a perfume and a couple hours later I can't smell it at all; that defeats the whole purpose to me. I'm terribly embarassed that I like this fragrance so much - I despise everything Juicy Couture for being tacky, overpriced junk, but their fragrances work so well for me! Oh well...I will definitely re-buy this if my tastes in fragrances are the same by the time the bottle is empty.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bath Treatments -LUSH - Butterball Bath Bomb
captainvegetable02 7/19/2008 2:03:00 AM
I love this bath bomb! It's not the prettiest (no colored water or floating flowers) and it doesn't have the best scent (I hardly noticed any scent at all), but it made my skin super soft and hydrated - I didn't need to use any lotion! - and it didn't make a mess in my tub. If you want a bath bomb that makes your skin feel great without all the frills, I would highly recommend this one.
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Mascara -Tarte - Lights Camera Lashes
captainvegetable02 6/3/2008 12:19:00 AM
I've finally found my HG mascara! I couldn't even begin to name all the mascaras I've tried over the years, and I finally have one that I can't find anything to complain about. My lashes are very long but not especially thick - I do have a lot of them but they're somewhat fine textured. So with most mascaras, the best I can usually get is a long feathery lash look, which is nice but if I try to put on enough coats to get decent volume I get HORRIBLE clumping. Lights, Camera, Lashes! gives me AMAZING volume and I never have problems with it clumping...quite the opposite, actually. I simply adore the rubber-bristled brush, it seperates and defines my lashes and it isn't too big so I don't end up with smudges trying to apply it. I can just keep adding coats to my heart's desire and I never get clumps. It does give some length too but doesn't have any fibers or special lengthening properties, with I like since I don't need any length added and lengthening mascaras usually give me weird little clumps on the end of individual lashes that I have to pick off. So to sum it all up, this mascara is fantastic and I can't find anything wrong with it - I even think the packaging is really cute and I find the price to be reasonable.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -TheBalm - Sexy Mama
captainvegetable02 3/16/2008 6:06:00 PM
This is my favorite pressed powder. I have combo/oily skin, and it gives my skin a really smooth, matte finish (either over liquid foundation or alone) without looking cakey or powdery and helps keep oiliness at bay. I have very fair skin and this does not add any color for me, whereas other supposedly "translucent" powders are occasionally too dark. I don't know how well it works on darker skin tones though. However, I'm not exactly in love with the packaging. I do love anything with pin-up girls, which is half of what sucked me into buying this to begin with, though I prefer a sturdier plastic compact to cardboard one. But it does stay shut with a magnet since it doesn't snap shut, and it does stay closed in my bag. However, the mirror is also a bit cheap (things look slightly distorted in it) and it doesn't come with a sponge or any kind of applicator, so if I carry this with me I have to carry a brush. I prefer my powder to have an applicator that is stored in the compact for convenience. My other complaint about this is that it seems to be a fairly small amount of product...IIRC, I've had this about a month (maybe a month and a half?) and I've already hit pan. However, I usually have so many products going at once that it's hard for me personally to judge how fast I go through things, and I have been using this daily, a few times a day, since I got it - so it may just be that I've forgotten how fast I actually go through powder! But at $18, I consider it to be fairly inexpensive for such a great powder formula, so it's not breaking the bank for me to replace it often. Overall, I really do like this and will continue to repurchase.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -BeneFit Cosmetics - Do It Daily SPF12
captainvegetable02 2/14/2008 3:23:00 AM
After using this product for a couple of weeks, I'm still a little on the fence about it. I have oily but very dehydrated skin, so I have a very hard time finding a daytime moisturizer that works - I need something lightweight and oil-free, but still super hydrating. I use Dear John at night (reviewed separately), which works very well, and Do It Daily as my daytime moisturizer. Overall I do like the product. I really like the texture of it and the fact that it absorbs quickly. Some days I feel like it isn't quite hydrating enough, so I don't think this is a good product for all skin types as it claims - it's definitely good for skin that's oily all over, or normal skin that isn't dehydrated. Combo skin would probably need more moisture in dry areas, and it probably wouldn't work at all for skin that's dry all over. Despite the fact that this leaves me lacking in hydration a tiny bit, I almost always follow up with a tinted moisturizer of some kind, which adds just enough extra moisture, or if I'm not using a TM I mix a tiny bit of my Dear John in with it (but just on those dryer days). I'm also keeping in mind that it's still winter, so I'll have to see how this does in summer to know how I really feel about it. The other thing that bothers me about this product is that it only has an SPF of 10 (not 12). The TM I use with it does have additional sunscreen, but I would prefer to have enough SPF in my regular moisturizer because I'm not good at remembering to add sunscreen if I'm not wearing any makeup. It also sometimes stings a tiny bit when I put it on (especially if I've used a scrub that morning), which I believe is a minor sensitivity I have to the chemical sunscreen, but there's no redness or lasting irritation. The tube packaging is fine - my favorite packing is a jar, but this isn't really a thick enough product to warrant a jar, and given the choice between a pump bottle or a tube I'd choose the tube. I will most likely re-buy this product despite it's drawbacks since I want to see how it works for me in different seasons and it's very affordable.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No