Top/Base Coats -Sally Hansen - Hard As Nails- Natural Tint
chayaNY 5/23/2013 7:28:00 PM
Some high end companies are offering a similar product for a lot of money. I've not tried those, but I have used this and recall when several years ago magazines touted this as a great "bare" but still "finished" nail look. I used this all the time when I only wore my nails very short with no colored polish per se. I liked the effect of this a lot. I did see a slight pink tint, it did emulate the look of healthy, polished nails. I stopped using this when I began to wear pollish more often. Another reason is its hard to find where I live. I've tried to make my own version and while its not difficult to get a similar look, I admittedly liked this better.
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Foundations -New York Color - Smooth Skin Liquid Makeup
chayaNY 4/25/2013 12:06:00 PM
I read some great reviews here and it was on sale (bogo) making it even cheaper since I was already getting some NYC nail polish. I've got very dry skin and redness on my cheeks. This looked quite natural, non cakey (I use a moisturizing sunscreen), and have medium coverage but is buildable. I applied with a dampened sponge but find lightly tapping over a redder area provides more coverage without that thick, they can see you're wearing foundatio from a mile away, look. It is very thick as everyone has said, I use a clean cotton swab to get it out of the bottle. I bought nude which is slightly too dark and pink for my very fair, olive-yellowy, skin. When I bought it Nude was interestingly in two places in the display, the name, not just a misplaced product. However yesterday I saw a lighter shade in a display at another store which I will likely try too. For now I use bronzer as the weather warms up so the shade isn't as issue, but the lighter one would be great for fall/winter. Overall I'm very impressed because my biggest issue with foundation is that cakey, dry, spakcled look even if you apply a light coat of it. I hate that so much I've taken to wearing no foundation and just spot concealing. But that's so time consuming and laborious compared to just dabbing on a foundation. Granted I still have a few redder spots I need to go back over with a concealer, but this foundation covers enough that I don't need to spot conceal as much yet still looks like skin in bright day light. I do wish the shades leaned more yellow, I find it really hard to get yellow (esp fair yellow) type shades in the drugstore which seems a problem many have in general, not particular to this brand. For what its worth I googled and tried to find out if this product is gluten free, and it seems so. I have not called the company yet but will post back when/if I get a more definitive answer but it seems a list I found of NYC products with gluten did not contain this foundation. Don't take my word for it if this is an issue for you. It is for me and as I transition to gluten free products I'll be mentioning it more in my reviews. Great price and worth trying because I don't have a Sephora nor Ulta in my borough of the city and so its not easy to always get samples nor return high end products that didn't work out. Hope this was helpful:)
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Treatments -La Roche Posay - Rosaliac AR intense
chayaNY 4/17/2013 10:04:00 AM
Less a review, more initial impressions since I've just used this twice. I don't have Rosacea, however I have underlying medical conditions that can cause facial redness. For the most part it was under control and my skin was the clearest it had been in a while. Then came Spring. Along with flowers blooming and trees growing lush with leaves are allergies that come from all the lovely flora and fauna. Happens like clock-work yearly and naively thought this year I'd bypass all that since my skin was so well behaved. Yeah, no. Its been worse than ever, red, itchy, bumpy, drier, just since last week when pollen counts went up. I've tried all the usual products in my calm skin arsenal to no avail. I've tried cortisone and antihistamines as well. Then I got a sample of this and while its not a miracle I'm witnessing, its the only product I've seen make any difference this past week at all. Its a cloudy, light somewhat pinky-peach-ish, liquid that has a little viscosity to it. It spreads easily but is not emoillient. I have read some say they looked oilier. I have very dry skin and for me this is not moisturizing enough on its own. That said its okay if it does what its meant to, I can use it as a "serum," under moisturizer, or pre-then wait a while to moisturize. It has made my skin feel calmer, quelled to a good extent, that hot, itchy, irritated feeling I've had all week. My cheeks are still pink, but less so red than yesterday morning for ex. It only stung at the corner or my mouth where my skin was cracked but not at all otherwise. I've tried another product in this line, the "non intense" version. I didn't experience any ease of symptoms and felt they were possibly exacerbated. I'm only using a sample sized tube now and have about 3 more "doses" left. If this continues to provide some relief I'd buy the full sized product. There is no spf so keep that in mind, no obvious scent I can discern. Will update in a few days..
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Pressed Powders -Physicians Formula - Mineral Wear Mineral Face Powder
chayaNY 4/16/2013 12:46:00 PM
I used this for a while as my foundation because it has more coverage than most ds mineral powders. I loved that about it and the ease of a solid compact powder vs the mess of a loose one. But over time I realized this did not do my mid 40's dry skin any favors. Nothing like catching yourself in a rear view mirror for a little makeup reality check huh girls?!:) I'd have loved it when I was younger though I am more yellow toned and this runs pink, a little bronzer sorted that out when I did use it. All in a all a good product that just wasn't suited for me
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Demeter - Wet Garden
chayaNY 3/28/2013 10:29:00 PM
I agree with others on how realistic this fragrance is. Its very aptly named. I realize that while its admirable such a complex array of scents can be duplicated so well, I don't want to smell like a wet garden. With several fragrances in this line I feel the same way. Spot on and yet, I don't want to smell like Dirt for ex. There are many scents in life that are enjoyable to experince; I love how onions smell when carmelizing on the stovetop, or garlic wafting from the kitchen through the air. But while I enjoy those scents and that of a wet garden too, while i appreciate the labor and artistry that went into creating Wet Garden, ultimately I don't want to smell like one. Btw, fragrances never last on me but this lingers eternally! Maybe its me but I would never call this scent short lived.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Top/Base Coats -New York Color - Extra Shiny Top Coat
chayaNY 3/11/2013 11:41:00 PM
I'm spoiled by super fast top coats now. Alas, there is no going back. This is a more old fashioned kind we just used to call "clear nail polish," back in the day when doing your nails meant alloting half of that day immobized so the dang stuff would finally dry. But this still serves a purpose. I like to use it to thin out too goopy thick polishes. It leaves the polish less opaque, more like a "jelly" type look. Works well for that since its cheap and easy to find
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Treatments -Jordana - Nails Be Long Lengthener
chayaNY 3/2/2013 10:42:00 PM
"TFF & DBP Free," made in USA, .5fl oz, 15mL e, "Basecoat. Apply to clean,dry, bare nails. Reinforces, supports & ultimately lengthens hard-to-grow short nails." I can only speak to it working as a basecoat. Its very similar to the more costly Milani Smoothe Base Coat in that its matte, grips the polish over it and dries very quickly. Like the review below states the surface is not as smooth as a bare nail. None of these matte, grippy type basecoats are smooth like bare or shiny ridge fillers. It cost 99 cents so well worth it. I don't love grippy bases myself but many do and this is a good option.
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Concealers -Unlisted Brand - Aging-Generic 
chayaNY 3/1/2013 1:33:00 PM
I'm taking the "going kicking and screaming approach," and highly reccomend it. It involves sunscreen, lotions and potions, and a minor pact with a guy in a red suit, with pointy ears and tail. Shhh
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Wet 'n' Wild - I Need a Refresh-Mint
chayaNY 2/27/2013 12:49:00 AM
I like Wet n Wild polishes best of any drugstore brand. The color here has been compared to various high end similar ones. Kudos to WnW for that. Its a lovely shade that if it had black veining, would resemble certain natural turqoise stones. You can achieve opacity in one coat. The formula is creamy and shiny though I always wear a top coat. The brush is great for some, with my narrow nails I preferred the original brush this line had. I got this originally for my niece but truth be told I had to swatch it and now its on both hands;). I'm in my mid 40's and often feel like a poodle named Pepe an older neighbor had when I was a kid because he always had bright colors on his narrow little nails too. I Think is really pretty but maybe better for a pedicure on me. If you have a ring with a turquoise stone this shade or close, that would striking to wear together. Great value and I'm sure Pepe would approve.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Wet 'n' Wild - Color Icon Trio - Sweet as Candy
chayaNY 2/16/2013 11:45:00 PM
I got this when it first came out. I believe its been reformulated since. I. Like the colors but I have large lids, dry skin, so this is too frosty for me. Also the pink shade is too bright for me. Its a lovely trio so this is one of those breakups when ya have to say, "its me not you. You were great."
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Scrubs -St. Ives - Apricot Scrub
chayaNY 2/12/2013 11:27:00 PM
I used this as a teen though I had no acne, just blackheads. I mistakenly believed they could be scrubbed away so the harsher the scrubbing the better. I used to love this stuff, it was in all the teen magazines too. I loved the idea more than the performance as it didn't do much for my skin. As an adult I realize scrubbing with irregular shaped, hard little bits is too abrasive for me.
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Treatments -YBF Cosmetics - Face Primer
chayaNY 2/12/2013 12:59:00 PM
This is a yellow toned primer that is not unlike many silicone type primers in feel and performance. I only use these type of primers over my mu to mattify certain areas and minimize the look of pores. I got this 2x with ybf kits, basically a freebie. I've never tried under mu but plan to and will update if necessary
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Lip Treatments -Nivea - Lip Butter
chayaNY 2/10/2013 5:31:00 PM
I often mention I have a dry skin condition in my reviews because I have little to no function in any of my moisture glands-if something helps me that says something. My lips have been a particular problem for a decade. I produce no natural moisture barrier on them any longer and when left bare even momentarily, they're painful, sore, burn, then peel and crack. Its not as glam as I make it sound. All the usual suspects have come and gone as they've failed to help but I try new things and rely on certain balms I know won't make things worse. This winter I've also had angular chelitis(sp) the painful, chronic cracking at the corners of my mouth due to the lack of moisture barrier and vitamin deficiency also caused by my med condition. I suffered from Oct till Feb with little to no improvement though supplemets have helped a bit. But comfort wise? Nothing helped me feel better till this. I only have the Vanilla Macedamia so I will only be reviewing that. Its a thick white cream in a small tin. It reminds me very much in both scent and texture of the much higher priced little tins of shea butter by L'Occitane but for the sheen on the Nivea product. There is almost the same gently sweet but not cloying, butter-creamiess to it. Unlike some lip products in a tin, think Rosebud Salve, this isn't a thin, almost oily substance. Its rich and for me, immediately soothing, comforting. But the big surprise was my not having to reapply ten thousand times a day as I do with most lip products because they wear off and again, I can't go without a balm on my lips. Its partly yes that the thicker viscosity helps it to last longer, as it wears off it still provides "slip," so you still feel its on even if the layer is by then virtually undetectable. Additionally it soothes my lips enough so they can go bare a little bit here and there, just minutes for now, but still. I misplaced my little tin and have not gone out due to blizzard conditions so am in a bit of a panic! Its been 2 days almost and I'm back suffering though less than before and even with my vitamins the corners of my mouth are cracking yet again. I'm going to stock up, word of warning by virtue of my liking a product it will likely be discontinued! Lol, am going to try the other flavors/scents but have only seen this in one store and only 2 scents. Hope this is a perm nivea product, I trust the line, my family has used it for generations. Despite some not liking the tin, I use clean hands and when out use my germ killer. The tin is easy to open unlike Burts Bees tins or the aforementioned Rosebud Salve. Now if I could only find mine!
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Other -Unlisted Brand - Baking Soda
chayaNY 2/10/2013 1:58:00 AM
Very useful household product. Deoderizes fridge and freezer for pennies. Pour some down a clogged sink drain, a little vinegar and boiling water, and often the clog breaks up. Nice for scrubbing the tub (well on our old pre-war tub anyway). Can be used in any number of diy cleaners, google to find ratios. For skin? Not mine; I have a compromised natural moisture barrier and could never use anything so abrasive on it. I don't think ph wise that its helpful for skin either. I know many disagree but this is my opinion and experience. Always have some on hand, can help put out a small fire even (call for help if necessary of course!), but not a skin care product in any way. I will repurchase, hate when frozen yogurt tastes/smells like frozen fish;(
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Lip Gloss -Revlon - Peony Colorburst Lipgloss 008
chayaNY 2/4/2013 12:42:00 PM
I got this by mistake because I thought I had chosen a Super Lustrous one. My bad as everyone seems to love the SL formula and I really wanted to try it in a light-ish-go with everything color like this. I still have not tried the SL glosses but am not impressed by this. I only wear gloss so by now know what works for me, this doesn't. Here's why, its not pigmented even for a light shade. Not so great lasting power due to being of thinner consistency. Just average and I expect a little more from the brand. Its fine if you like a not too thick gloss, but while not terrible its simply a mediocre product to me.
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