Hair Styling Tools -Unlisted Brand - Cricket Friction Free Thermal Round Brush
euroasian 11/9/2012 11:44:00 AM
I don't normally get excited over a hair brush but this brush is really amazing. First, it never snags my hair because it is streamlined from top to bottom; no edges or parts sticking in or out. Second, the barrel is coated in ceramic, which does for your hair what a ceramic coated flat iron does; smooths out your hair, kills frizzies, and maximizes shine. Third, the bristles are made of a special "polymer"(?), that enables your hair to glide through. I never thought a brush could make such a difference to a blowout, but this proved me wrong. I was previously using the Ion series from Sally's, and while good, it just doesn't compare to this. I am seriously considering getting a few backups just in case, (you never know when a company is going to go belly-up, lol). Highly recommend.
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Styling Products -TiGi - hard head hair spray
euroasian 11/6/2012 2:02:00 AM
My latest and greatest hairspray! There isn't much more to say other than it holds my style with very little product, combs out easily, doesn't flake, and doesn't dull my hair. Plus, it doesn't stink. And you can always use the giant can as a weapon in a pinch.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Rusk - Clarify Shampoo
euroasian 11/6/2012 1:57:00 AM
My hair was starting to lose its luster and volume due to my fondness for hairspray so I picked this up on a whim (I'm a sucker for the colour purple). Thankfully, it worked wonderfully to remove the buildup. Mind you it took two separate washes, two days straight, to remove all the gunk in my hair. I actually prefer this milder formula, as I have tried various clarifying shampoos in the past and they were much too harsh. I love how I only need about a quarter-sized amount for my boob-length hair, as apposed to my usual palm full with drugstore varieties. My hair is once again bouncy and lightweight, thanks to Rusk. And while I'm not too fond of the scent (herbal-y) it doesn't bother me enough to stop using it. P.S. I have virgin hair so I'm not sure if this is okay to use on coloured or otherwise chemically treated hair.
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Styling Products -Nexxus - Maxximum Super Hold Styling and Finishing Mist
euroasian 10/5/2012 1:00:00 PM
My current favourite hairspray. It is VERY quick-drying, so make sure that's where you want your hair to be! (Okay, it does comb out well without flakes, but, hey, better to get it right the first time!) Yes, it can get a bit stiff, but that's what you should expect from a product with a name like "Maxximum Super Hold". If you don't want a stiff, strong hold then get something that says "flexible hold" or "gently holds", lol. I find the scent to be inoffensive and unnoticeable after a few minutes, and the finish adds shine and does not dull my hair like other sprays tend to do. Does its job and that's all I ask for. Update: Found my latest HG, TiGi hard head! Although I still love Nexxus, TiGi holds the same but with less product.
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Blush -Christian Dior - DiorBlush - Strawberry Sorbets 943
euroasian 9/18/2012 10:17:00 PM
I already have the peachy keen (is that the name?) colour, but wanted to try a pinkier blush. Having loved everything about the former, I chose to go with Dior again. This blush is my current favourite glowy-pink blush! Everything about it is perfect: the pigmentation, longevity, application, and packaging are amazing. Looks really natural and fresh, like you just did a few laps. I might just collect all the colours.
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Styling Products -Unlisted Brand - La Coupe - Volume Fix Firm Hold Hairspray
euroasian 9/12/2012 12:34:00 PM
I, too, have both the normal size and travel size because I love this stuff so much! I use it to hold my side bangs in place and to add volume to my crown when I haven't had time to wash my hair (eww!). Holds like nothing else I've tried; my hair is perfectly in place even in strong winds! I love how the mist is extremely fine and even. Just make sure to spray at least a good few inches from your hair or else it will make you look like you are wearing a hair helmet. Edit: I've been noticing the white flakes that others have mentioned. It has also started to smell like cat pee, and it's supposed to be unscented (perhaps it went south?) And it doesn't dry fast enough for me. I now prefer Nexxus' firm hold spray.
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Self Tanners -Neostrata - Self Tan
euroasian 9/12/2012 12:02:00 PM
I've found a self-tanner that is better (IMO) than St. Tropez! This is the ONLY self-tanner that I can just put on and leave the house with. It applies so smoothly and does not cling to dry patches like St. Tropez can. Now I don't have to tell people that I'm "working on my tan"; I can leave the house right after I've applied it. On the box it says the amount of DHA is 6.5%, which is the highest I have seen so far in an at-home self-tanner (St. Tropez has 5-6% I think). It also says it takes 3 hours for the tan to develop, as opposed to 4 hours with St. Tropez. The results are the same for both; a believable bronze that is buildable if applied daily for 2-3 days straight. I also love that it does not reek like most self-tanners do, which is surprising given the amount of DHA in it. I think I might just give away my St. Tropez since I can't bring myself to go back to it. Love this stuff! Regarding the change in colour from brown to green; I contacted the company because the tube I bought last year had turned green. They told me to stop using it and they were generous enough to send me a brand new tube! If fresh, like my tube is, it should look very much like chocolate pudding with no apparent green tint. P.S. The right-most picture in the line up is my tube, fresh from Neostrata's HQ, as of late 2012.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Self Tanners -St.Tropez - Instant Glow Face Lotion - Wash Off
euroasian 8/16/2012 11:15:00 PM
According to the Sephora website, this product is new and limited edition. I hope they decide to make it permanent as I am utterly in love with it. What this is is an instant self tanner/bronzer for the face. It is not meant to develop into a semi-permanent tan, like their mousse, for example; iIt is meant to be a washable tan, much like a bronzing powder, but more natural looking and skin-like. I apply it after my moisturizer or sunscreen, adding layers should I choose to go darker (I don't wear foundation, tinted moisturizer, or BB cream, so I can not attest to how it should be applied or how it feels with these products). It doesn't feel heavy on the skin; in fact, it feels like nothing (I have normal to combo skin in the summer). The colour straight out of the tube is a bit dark and intimidating, and it does give quite a bit of colour with one application (I go from NC10-15 to NC25-30 with one layer), so I imagine you could cut some moisturizer into it to make the colour a bit lighter. It lasts all day through sweating and leaves the skin a truly believable bronze colour. I dare say I might even love this more than using the mousse for my face as I do not have to wait for the tan to develop. I'm going to hoard this stuff and hopefully St. Tropez will get the message.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -NYX - Black
euroasian 7/30/2012 9:43:00 PM
I really wanted to love this, especially since it was so difficult for me to find a store that sells NYX in Toronto. Yes, it is the darkest, most pigmented black eyeshadow I've ever used, and it applies smoothly to boot. Unfortunately it has the most insane amount of fallout; I have tried various primers under it, including UDPP and TFSI, and I still get black specks of eyeshadow all over my cheeks by the end of the day. It has more fallout than some of my chunky glitter eyeshadows, and those are notorious for ending up on my face. A shame.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Deodorants -Unlisted Brand - Certain Dri
euroasian 4/28/2012 7:22:00 AM
The only thing short of Botox that has prevented me from perspiring. I have been sweaty all my darn life (one of my many charms) and I have had to throw out beloved tops and dresses because of it. I'm the type that sweats just thinking about my sweating problem. Oh, and during times of stress? Boy, it gets nasty! It has also limited my choice of fabric and colour so it was quite debilitating. I have used all the "clinical strength" A/P's, including Secret Clinical, Dry Ideal, and Ban. This has changed my life. I can now wear my blazers, leather jackets, etc. without having to wear a sleeved top or stick panty liners (yeah, that's right) in them. I only apply it once every 2-3 nights on the days I shave my pits in the morning (so my skin has a chance to settle down). I love that it is non-scented so it won't clash with my fragrance. And while I haven't noticed excess sweating in other areas yet even if it did happen I wouldn't trade this for the world. I have even turned my sisters onto this (one happy, sweaty family). I love you, Certain Dri!!!
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tools -Urban Decay - Grind House (sharpener)
euroasian 4/1/2012 2:48:00 PM
I use this for all my eyeliner pencils, UD or not. It has not broken the tips off and can sharpen the creamiest pencils without prior chilling. I love that I don't have to sharpen my pencils over a trash can since it has a compartment to house the shavings. It's also pretty sturdy; I've dropped it numerous times on the bathroom floor and it hasn't broken yet. Would repurchase if necessary.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Bobbi Brown - Bronzing Powder in Light
euroasian 3/28/2012 12:55:00 PM
The label on mine says "Golden Light", but I'm assuming it's the same thing. I bought this a few weeks ago so I'm assuming this might be the latest name. For reference at last check I am NC10-15 (I don't use MAC face products.) This is my daily bronzer. It is matte on the skin but not dull or powdery-looking and applies smoothly and evenly. The colour is a beautiful golden tan colour that is not too red, orange, or yellow. This really is the colour that I come back with after a sunny vacation (yeah, yeah, I know...tanning=bad). It lasts all day on my normal to combo skin and does not oxidise or change colour. I also love the packaging as it comes in a sturdy case with a large mirror and I have not had any issues with the hinge. Definite repurchase.
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Bronzers -NARS - Laguna
euroasian 3/28/2012 12:47:00 PM
Definitely lives up to the hype. It is truly a believable tan. Applies smoothly and evenly, never blotchy. The payoff is a beautiful golden tan on your skin. I think this product is pretty much a universal colour for pale to medium skin. The only teeny issue I have is that I can't wear it as often as I would like to due to the shimmer; I tend to wear it at night as I do not like shimmer in my day products. (Then again who can tell if you're tan or not at night, lol). This and Bobbi Brown's bronzer in Golden Light are my two favourites.
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Treatments (Eye) -Avene - Eluage Eye Contour
euroasian 3/16/2012 4:34:00 PM
I have been using this for a bit over a month and I feel that I have been using this long enough to do a review. My skin: I have pretty tough skin that rarely breaks out and is pretty much insensitive to most products. The only thing that has ever broken me out was Neutrogena's day lotion (the basic one with spf). I had a few fine lines under my eyes which is why I sought out this product. I had hoped it would work to remove (or reduce) them in order for my undereye concealer to apply more smoothly. During the first 2 weeks I noticed, like others, that the skin around my eye area was actually more dry and crepe-y than before, and my concealer was actually causing the flakes (eww!) to be more apparent. I stuck it out and by the 4th week I noticed that the lines that show up when I smile were greatly reduced. (Please keep in mind that I am in my late 20's so I don't have many lines, nor are they particularly deep.) I no longer worry about my concealer settling into the fine lines when I smile, and the application is much smoother now. I haven't really noticed a great reduction in the darkness of my undereye area but I have been applying less concealer to cover them up. I only use this during the night, and during the day I use the Clarins spf 30 eye cream. (Side note: This has to be the most sanitary packaging I have ever seen. There is no noticeable "hole" for the product to be dispensed, but when I tried to pump some out it came out of a tiny slit. There is no chance of any product "back-washing" in to the bottle. Also, I don't know why people would want a transparent bottle; the opacity protects the ingredients. You'll know you're out when you're out.) Finally, contrary to popular belief (and misinformation), the eye cream does NOT have the same concentration as the face cream or gel. If you visit the Avene site it is clearly noted that the eye cream has a concentration of 0.015% of retinaldehyde, while both the face cream and gel have a concentration of 0.05%.
7 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Brows -Shu Uemura - H9 Hard Brow Pencil - Seal Brown
euroasian 2/18/2012 1:34:00 PM
I don't know how I've ever lived without this. It is absolutely perfect in every way. The colour, consistency, and longevity is amazing. I can do my brows SO quickly now, and they last through rain, sweat, and everything else. I really appreciate the special shape that it is cut (courtesy of my Shu SA), as it makes it a lot easier to use than traditionally cut pencils. The colour matches my brows perfectly and it just looks so natural. The pencil is also really long; I think it's about 50% longer than most eyeliner or eyebrow pencils (the length reminds me of Wet 'n Wild pencils). If this colour doesn't work out for you it comes in two other colours (at my counter, at least) so I highly recommend trying them out.
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