Polishes -Essie - Ballet Slippers
corinneb 3/5/2012 6:21:00 PM
I own--and love--dozens of Essie polishes. Unfortunately, Ballet Slippers is not on the "love" list. It's way too sheer/watery to be opaque, yet too streaky to be worn as a sheer polish. I used Perfect Formula's Pink Gel Coat as a base, applied 4 thickish layers of Ballet Slippers, and finished with Seche Vite top coat. I still have spots on my nails that are not opaque. Ugh! So frustrating. It would be a beautiful, milky pink if it the formula didn't suck. Definitely a shade that doesn't live up to the hype for me.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Volume
corinneb 4/3/2011 5:20:00 PM
Mascara is so personal. Every woman has different expectations, so it's hard to find a mascara that is universally loved. I've tried a million brands, from drugstore to high-end, and CoverGirl LashBlast Volume in Very Black is my absolute favorite. This formula thickens my already-long lashes, and the brush keeps my lashes perfectly separated. One coat, and it's perfect. Even my husband noticed how great it makes my eyes look. It also doesn't smudge or flake on me like other formulas. I'm so glad I found this product!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Bare Escentuals - Bent Eyeliner brush
corinneb 9/25/2008 7:16:00 PM
This is my HG liner brush! I love a very thin line on my upper lid, and this brush makes it virtually foolproof to accomplish. My lashes look fuller and the line looks natural.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Bare Escentuals - Passionate Plum
corinneb 9/25/2008 7:14:00 PM
I love this shade! I have dark brown eyes, and never would have thought to use a plum/violet color. I pair it with Soul and Grace, and my eye makeup has never looked better.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Bare Escentuals - Buxom Lip Gloss in Trixie
corinneb 9/23/2008 7:24:00 PM
I have to admit that I was skeptical when, on a recent visit to a Bare Escentuals store, the sales associate pulled out a tube of bright pink gloss as a recommendation. I tend towards nude pinks, so I didn't think that this color would work for me. Imagine my surprise after applying when I saw sheer, glossy, perfect lips, not the pink mess I was imagining. I absolutely love this gloss! Like the others have said, it doesn't plump, per se, but it does fill your lips in and make them appear fuller. I don't like wearing lip stick, since I have a tendency to wipe it off, so having a tinted gloss is perfect for me. I will buy this again and again!
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Lip Gloss -Bonne Bell - Lip Smackers
corinneb 9/23/2008 7:14:00 PM
I love Lip Smackers! I am completely addicted to lip balm, and have been for 15 years. Lip Smackers is by far my favorite balm. I was on Accutane earlier this year, and it's the only product that helped keep my lips from peeling & cracking. It worked much better than Aquaphor and more expensive balms. I love the variety of "flavors," and I love that it makes my lips feel slick and smooth rather than sticky or waxy.
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Eye Shadow -Almay - Intense i-Color powder shadow Trio for Browns
corinneb 8/9/2008 7:53:00 PM
I'm a bit eyeshadow "challenged," so I was excited to see a trio of colors specifically coordinated to accentuate brown eyes. I also liked that it had a diagram to show you where to apply the various shades. The biggest downfall is that the colors are not very pigmented. The lavender shade is too pale compared to the brown, and the colors mix & fade within an hour of being applied. I also dislike that there is only one tiny applicator for three colors. All in all, love the concept, but the execution needs work. I'm grateful that this set showed me which shades work for my eye color, so I'll be purchasing those colors in a different brand in the future.
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Treatments -Sally Hansen - Cuticle Massage Cream with Apricot Extract
corinneb 5/22/2008 5:36:00 PM
Like some others, I thought I got a "bad" pot when I first opened the package. I was expecting to see cream, not fluorescent orange wax. Initially, the top layer was hard, so it was difficult to get any product out of the tub without scraping it with my nails; however, now that I've used it a bit, it has softened and it's easier to apply. I have terrible cuticles and tons of hangnails. When I use this product faithfully and stop picking at my nails, my cuticles look healthy and perfect. Once I got past the weird texture, I really liked this cuticle cream, and would definitely purchase again. EDIT 6/2008: There are definitely two different formulas of this product. My original review above must have been for the old formula. I repurchased today after misplacing my old pot, and I was very surprised to see a pale apricot-colored cream, rather than the bright orange wax of the original. The texture is silky and much easier to reapply. The scent hasn't changed. I'm definitely happy I repurchased!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Arbonne - Awaken Sea Salt Scrub
corinneb 5/7/2008 12:44:00 PM
I am NOT someone who gives 5 star reviews to all Arbonne products, so I really mean it when I say this is my favorite product. It smells great, exfoliates beautifully, and leaves my skin glowing and moisturized for hours. My favorite way to use is it on my legs for shaving. After exfoliating, I rinse off the exfoliant, which leaves enough oil to shave my legs. They end up super smooth and gorgeous. My only caveat is to keep some shower cleaner or windex nearby. My tub gets REALLY slippery with this product. I spray it with windex followed by hot water, and it comes clean in no time.
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Shampoo -Arbonne - Daily Self-Adjusting Shampoo
corinneb 5/7/2008 12:33:00 PM
Right off the bat, the texture of this shampoo kind of threw me for a loop. As another reviewer mentioned, the texture is slimy and globby, which was kind of weird. The next thing I noticed after the texture was the scent. I'm used to feminine scented shampoos, and this one is pretty masculine. It reminds me of pachouli. I don't use other products when styling my hair, so the strong "hippie" scent lingers until the next wash. Others seem to love that scent, so it may not be a negative to most. Texture and scent aside, this shampoo & conditioner left my hair feeling great! If I can get past smelling like a man everyday, I will definitely repurchase.
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Foundations -Arbonne - Mineral Makeup Foundation
corinneb 5/7/2008 11:38:00 AM
I like a lot of Arbonne products, but I'm not particularly impressed by their Mineral Makeup Foundation. The color is great, but the coverage is minimal at best, and isn't nearly as good (in my opinion) as Bare Minerals. I also didn't care for their kabuki brush as well as the one that came with my BM set. I'll stick with Bare Minerals in the future!
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