Hair Styling Tools -Unlisted Brand - InStyler-Tre Milano brand
darkmuffet 4/13/2011 6:35:00 AM
This is an awful tool. I bought this for my daughter and I to use. I have fine, thin hair with enough body that I have odd little waves here and there. My daughter has fine hair but has a ton of it and her hair has so much body it is almost curly. We watched the dvd, applied thermal protector to our hair and used it. It does almost nothing to my hair in the way of style on the lowest setting. I tried the medium setting and it smooths out the waves a little but burns my hair a bit and leaves it kind of frizzy and fly away looking. I have not tried the high setting on my hair since the medium burns it. My daughter can get some straightening on the highest setting but certainly not a sleek, smooth look like advertised on the commercial and shown in the dvd. It does cause some burning of her hair on the high setting. It is ridiculously loud and the brush doesn't seem to do much more than pull out pieces of hair. It is way overpriced too. You can get a much better straightener at the same price. We bought her a Jilbere ceramic flat iron that works much better and cost less.
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Treatments (Eye) -Garnier - Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller
darkmuffet 9/14/2008 3:00:00 PM
I have slightly dark circles under my eyes and they tend to be puffier when my allergies are really bothering me. I didn't expect miracles with this, just minor relief. I didn't notice a difference though I didn't use this for more than a few days. It irritated my eyes making them red and causing them to burn. I don't like the packaging. If this lays on its side (which it will unless you keep the box) the serum leaks and causes a crust to form around the inside of the lid. Presumably you will be applying this to clean skin but you are still rolling this on your skin so whatever bacteria happens to be there will get inside the package and contaminate the remaining serum. Even if this had worked for me, I would have been unhappy with the crust that forms inside the lid and taken it back.
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Moisturizers -Clinique - Anti-Blemish Solutions Clearing Moisturizer
darkmuffet 9/14/2008 2:53:00 PM
I bought this for mostly for my daughter to use but I have some blemishes that come around monthly so I thought I could use it then. My daughter has combination skin and gets whiteheads on her cheeks and chin and blackheads on her nose and chin. She used this for a week after her morning cleanser and then tried it for a week after her nightly cleanser. While this eliminated the whiteheads she had, she broke out with large red cystic acne. I also developed some red blemishes after using this for a couple of days. I am giving it a 3 instead of a lower rating because it may work better for someone with a different skin type and because it did clear up the white heads my daughter had and it did provide some moisture to the dry areas of her skin. I wouldn't say it was worth it though due to the cystic blemishes. It is 16.00 for a tube here and that isn't too bad but you can buy a plain benzoyl peroxide cream for less.
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Shampoo -ARTec - KIWI Coloreflector
darkmuffet 9/9/2008 2:26:00 AM
I have fine hair that tends to hang pretty limp. My scalp gets lightly oily and my ends are pretty dry. My hair is sometimes color treated. This shampoo works really well for me and I have been using it for 2 months now. It seems to clean my hair and scalp without stripping it. When I blow it dry with my round brush, I get good volume that lasts through several hours without using any volumizer. I haven't noticed any irritation on my scalp and no breakouts around my hairline. I'll probably stick with this as my shampoo as long as my hair and scalp continue to like it. I use this in conjunction with Frederik Fekkai's Volume conditioner. My 13 yo daughter has been using it on her very thick, permed hair and it has worked well for her also. She has psoriasis of the scalp and this hasn't aggravated it. She has actually had less flaking since she started using this. It has a really pleasant smell that isn't too overpowering and is pretty reasonably priced.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Frederic Fekkai - Full Volume Conditioner
darkmuffet 9/9/2008 2:10:00 AM
See the shampoo review for my hair type. This is the first conditioner I have been able to use on a daily basis without it weighing down my fine hair. My hair is smoother and shinier and seems to be less damaged since I have been using this. Previous conditioners were just too heavy for me to use every day. I took a lippie off for the price but I will continue to buy this since it works so well for me.
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Shampoo -Frederic Fekkai - Full Volume Shampoo
darkmuffet 9/9/2008 2:06:00 AM
Edited because I typed the review for my other shampoo. I have fine hair that hangs flat beside my head with a slightly oily scalp and dry ends. It is also color treated. This is an okay shampoo for volume and it doesn't irritate my scalp. I do think it may be the cause of some breakouts near my hairline though. It hasn't caused my hair to hang or dry or be oily like some other reviewers and I did get some volume, just not enough to justify the cost or the (possible) breakouts. I love the conditioner though. It smells funny like my grandma's old Breck hairspray or Prell shampoo but the smell doesn't seem to linger. I wouldn't buy this again because it is very pricey for what it does.
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Treatments (Eye) -Mario Badescu - ceramide eye gel
darkmuffet 9/9/2008 2:00:00 AM
To start with, I prefer tubes or bottles to jars. This gel is difficult to get out of the jar as it seems to want to stick to itself. It doesn't seem to sink in at all and it is very irritating to my eyes and caused me to get a pimple under both eyes. I won't use this again ever.
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Treatments (Eye) -Mario Badescu - Hyaluronic Eye Cream
darkmuffet 9/9/2008 1:56:00 AM
I don't know that this would be a suitable day use cream unless you have very dry skin but I do use it at night. I don't normally like MB eye creams but I got a sample of this with an order and really liked it so I ordered it. I use this at night on my eyes and neck and upper chest. It feels a little heavy when you first put it on but it sinks in pretty quickly and seems to do a good job moisturizing those areas without causing any irritation or breakouts. My upper chest area has started looking kind of dry and crepe-y as I have reached my mid 30s and since I have been using this at night, the skin appears smoother and less dry. My eyes aren't as dry as my neck and chest but this gives me good moisture without feeling greasy and doesn't irritate my eyes at all. I gave it a 4 because it does moisturize and doesn't irritate me or break me out. It is a bit pricey and I don't like the jar, I prefer bottles. I will probably repurchase this unless a better cream at a lower price comes along.
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Lip Treatments -MAC - Prep + Prime Lip
darkmuffet 9/9/2008 1:46:00 AM
I love this! I drink a lot of water during the day and find that I am constantly re-applying my lipstick or going without. I also tend to have dry lips and darker colors really highlight the darker areas. I have only been using this for a couple of weeks but it has dramatically improved the staying power of my lipstick. I can apply this in the morning and have lip color until lunch time. I also notice that my lipstick goes on smoother and I can wear darker colors without showing off the dry areas of my lips and my lips feel moisturized while it's on. I don't normally have problems with lipstick feathering so I can't address that aspect. I think it is worth the price and I like the slim style tube. I would definitely recommend this and will be re purchasing unless something changes. It does have an odd smell but it isn't strong enough to bother me once I have it on.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Mario Badescu - Aloe Moisturizer SPF 15
darkmuffet 9/9/2008 1:38:00 AM
This may not have been the best moisturizer for my skin type to begin with but I really dislike it. I find it to be very thick and heavy feeling on my fingers and even more so on my face. It never sinks in, ever. It sits on my face all day and at the end of the day I can still wipe it off. I don't over apply normally and after the first time, I applied even less. This is the first time I have ever had makeup slide off of my face. My makeup truly came off my face like sweat drops. Bleah! I am giving it 2 lippies instead of one because it didn't break me out and it isn't highly fragranced.
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CD/Books/Movies -Paula's Choice - Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me 6th Edition
darkmuffet 9/9/2008 1:25:00 AM
I am reviewing the 7th edition and overall, I would say it is worth having. My gripes were minor compared to the amount of information in the book. I use this book in conjunction with reviews here and with common sense and previous experience with a similar product. I live in an area where we don't have all of the big lines or even some of the smaller ones so I find her reviews a helpful guide when I am considering an on line purchase or swap. If I want to try a product, I can look it up (if it's included) and see how it rates based on my skin problems or needs. Overall, I feel like this a great reference to have but shouldn't be considered the final word on a product. It is fairly comprehensive (though some companies that seem common were missing) as far as the companies and their products. It is easy to read the reviews and if you read the introductory chapters the reviews make good sense. She sums up her Paula's Picks at the end in one place which is handy (though you should read the reviews to be sure something will be a good fit for you) and the ingredient dictionary is okay. She even lists animal testing status for companies at the end for those who are concerned. I had a couple of issues with this book that are worth mentioning. It seems like once you get out of the drug store lines, there are several companies missing. I don't like the layout of her ingredient dictionary, there were too may "see blah blah" entries when looking for a particular ingredient and since she has issue with the term "comedogenic" she doesn't list whether something is a known comedone. My biggest peeve was that she reviewed her own line and gave it all a Paula's Pick. I don't feel like she can truly be objective and it seems a little unprofessional to review your own line in this manner. For the price, it could be a bit more comprehensive in product lines. Alba, Zia, Mario Badescu, Ahava, and Cargo are a few that were missing that I would like to see. I think what a lot of the people who give this book bad reviews are missing is the opening chapters. She does explain how she does her reviews and what they are based on and she cites her sources which are based on good research by credentialed people. She does state (as others have mentioned) that the chemistry of a product can work differently from person to person and that what works well on one person may work differently on another. She also says people should have their own opinion even if it differs from hers. Another potential issue for the people who don't like it is that they may try a Paula's Pick product without reading the review to see if it is appropriate for a particular skin type. I would probably purchase another copy in a few years if she put another one out because I like having something in my hands that I can mark in and carry around. In the mean time, I am considering subscribing to the Beautypedia to supplement the information in this book.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Liners -DuWop - Reverse Lipliner
darkmuffet 11/3/2007 9:47:00 PM
I purchased this 2 weeks ago after much deliberation and based on the reviews here. I love this! I wear a lot of lip gloss and this keeps it from spreading outside my lip line. When I dress up, I wear a dark red lip color and this keeps it from feathering. I have not had any problems with breaking out around my lip area and lots of lip liners cause me to break out so this was a nice surprise. It comes in a box with its own little sharpener which is nice. My main complaint is the width. Like other reviewers, I wish the pencil was a bit thinner. It is a bit pricey but worth it if you want to keep gloss from spreading or if you are like me and starting to have problems with lipstick feathering.
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Fragrances -Donna Karan - Be Delicious
darkmuffet 1/9/2005 2:10:00 PM
I love this scent. For me it is very clean and uplifting. I don't think it is a complex scent, but it is a very pleasant, clean fragrance. I can smell the apple when I first spray and as it dries down the apple sort of goes away. The dry down (for me) is a very pleasant, sweet scent without being cloying. I do not smell any similarities to VS pear glace. I have pear glace and smelled side by side with this. The only thing I can say is that they are both sweet. I have ordered a regular bottle of this but I can't really comment on the package because I have the sample spray. Once I get the real bottle I will update on packaging. Will definitely keep this one around.
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Fragrances -Lolita Lempicka - Lolita Lempicka
darkmuffet 1/5/2005 1:08:00 PM
I love this scent on me. I'm not great at picking apart notes but I can smell the anise and violet in this and I like it on me. My body chemistry makes most perfumes intolerable on me, not with Lolita Lempicka. The dry down is a little powdery but not overwhelmingly so. My husband loves this smell on me and I get complimented when I wear this. The bottle is very cute but the sprayer is difficult to work with. Mine seems to be a little off and sprays a little off to the side. Overall this is my favorite fragrance and can be purchased for less than retail at some reputable internet retailers.
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Fragrances -Lolita Lempicka - Lolita Lempicka Midnight
darkmuffet 1/5/2005 1:04:00 PM
I just received this and was very excited to try it. When I first sprayed it it was really strong and chemical smelling and I did not like it at all. After it dried down a little the smell was lighter and more pleasant, no more chemical smell. The final note on me seems to be musk. I love the bottle design but the sprayer is the same as on the regular bottle and sort of inconvenient to use. Update: after wearing this for a few more days I have decided that I really like this. The initial smell is still very strong, but as it dries down I pick up several variances in the notes (can't tell exactly what they are). It is slightly sweeter (in a rich way) than the original. I have gotten several compliments on this and my husband loves it on me. I now prefer this one to the original.
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