Scrubs -Skinfood - Black Sugar Mask
hapapower 1/5/2013 11:39:00 PM
This is a superb exfoliant, and feels very nice on the skin. I leave this on for 15 minutes and never get the tight, uncomfortable feeling I get with other masks. Another bonus is that this mask smells divine! It is very easy to wash off this mask as it does not leave a residue. I am left with fresh, clean skin that looks healthy and is never, ever irritated. It also makes my skin super soft. I am a big fan and will definitely repurchase this gem for sure!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - A Gold Winter's Night
hapapower 12/9/2012 6:27:00 PM
Having recently gone through a move in which I forced myself to purge a majority of my makeup and whatnot, I swore up and down that I would not purchase any more nail polishes. But today I was at CVS and I noticed the Kardashian Kolor collection and A Gold Winter's Night caught my eye. I loved the dark gold, almost bronze sparkles, and I also loved the fact that the glitter was the long spiky kind and not the round or square type. But what really surprised me was the fact that the base was comprised of fine, round specks of rose/mauve glitter, and that there were these spiky blue/green sparkles. So different, so distinctive, which of course meant I HAD to purchase it. I have already given myself a pedicure and applied this color. As is the case with many glitter polishes, there isn't much color payoff. Because of this I would love to try two coats of this over a gold or green polish (or possibly even a rose shade) to see how the different glitter shades are enhanced by the base shade. But I do like it. With two coats it's a little washed out and translucent, but after I did two coats and let them dry for a half hour, I did one more coat then a top coat, and WOW. I LOVE it! The effect from a distance is a dark gold with teal specks which catch the light at certain angles. I think this will be very nice for the holidays and a welcome change from predictable gold or red polish...
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Da Bling
hapapower 11/25/2012 2:40:00 AM
I remember my hesitation at adding this shade to my collection, as it looked like a shimmery bright fuschia-pink in the pan and just not my cup of tea. As the months and years went by and I would scramble for a nice shade which would lend a gentle pop of warmth, I turned to Swish but didn't get the color payoff I wanted. Then one day I grabbed Da Bling by mistake and was rewarded with a decent color payoff, no garish or overly bright pink on my NC35 Eurasian skin, but a warm, believable blush of color which made the rest of the shades I had applied on my lids awaken as if by magic. I could see how on paler skins this shade might be a bit on the bright side, but only if a primer is used and a lot of e/s is layered to get the color payoff. I have never had this issue on my skin because I am darker, and am thankful for it. There are frequent occasions when I may notice a slight flatness or lack of dimension in my lid e/s application regardless of the shades used...Da Bling ALWAYS corrects this, without fail. I love this layered over the following MAC e/s shades at the inner to mid-lid: Texture Haux Ego BrownDown This also tones DOWN Cranberry and just makes it look feminine and lovely. LOVE love love this shade. HG status. I hit pan and have repurchased already.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -China Glaze - Make A Spectacle
hapapower 11/10/2012 5:36:00 PM
If you want a LOT of sparkle with multicolored glitter that isn't too chunky, CG Make a Spectacle fits the bill perfectly. The effect is at times pale green, then when your angle changes you see lovely gold and reddish-copper speckles. It is a very elegant effect which is tough to find in glitter nail polishes. I recently went through all my nail polish and did a purge (some purge...I still have about 60 bottles!) but this one definitely made the cut. If I ever lost this I would repurchase.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Tree Hut - Tree Hut Brazilian Nut Sugar Scrub
hapapower 11/6/2012 6:34:00 PM
This is hands down the most reasonably priced, most effective yet gentle scrub...the best part is that it smells absolutely INCREDIBLE. It is simply a delicious, yummy smell that lingers on the skin without being cloying. The real test for how amazing the fragrance was came when my man tried it. He actually tasted the stuff! This scrub has the perfect sized granules, not too big, not too small. I never get irritation from this product. The ratio of scrub to oil is also just right, so I never get thatoily mess at the bottom of the tub. I go to a tropical place every time I use this. I have also purchased this many times and will continue to do so.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -MAC - Matte Blush - Blunt
hapapower 9/18/2012 1:43:00 AM
Let me start by saying that Blunt is not a color I would wear on my NC35 skin. It looks muddy and dirty and draws in too much light. But when I do my makeup for bodybuilding shows and use a foundation (Bobbi Brown Warm Walnut) which makes me look more like an NC43, Blunt makes a fantastic contour powder because it shows up well without looking too dark, as long as I BLEND BLEND BLEND. I like applying Blunt as a contour, blending well, then layering a bit of Comfort MSF on top for a beautiful, bronzed look and a believable contour when onstage.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -MAC - Solar Ray
hapapower 8/8/2012 12:49:00 AM
This is a mineralized blush from the Heavenly Creature Collection and I have noticed it is already sold out on the MAC website. I am SO glad I snagged one of these! The base is a warm pink and the mineralized swirl is a GORGEOUS orange-gold frost. SR caught my eye when I was at the MAC Pro Store a few days ago, and I kept gazing at it. I was concerned that it would be too orangey and frosty when applied to my NC35 skin. In a daring move I purchased it without even swatching it on my skin. Well, I am thrilled to report that I have used this blush every day since acquiring it, and I am in love with the way this looks, so fresh and with that subtle hint of gold. So it turns out the orange did not translate that way on my skin. I just look like I have a healthy pink glow with a touch of sunkisses... I would repurchase this in a heartbeat if I had the chance!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish in Gold Deposit (Rococo)
hapapower 8/8/2012 12:40:00 AM
This is a lovely warm, glowy orange bronze shade and looks beautiful when applied LIGHTLY on the cheeks over a warm blush or when it is used as a highlighter. But the worst thing you can do with Gold Deposit is to use a moderate to heavy hand because you will end up looking like a gold disco ball! I made that mistake because I hadn't seen much of a bronzer effect, i.e., the brown tones were very subtle so I didn't think I had applied enough to my NC35 skin. Whoops! I got a glimpse of myself and saw that my cheeks looked like they had been rolled in a glitter factory! I guess that is fine if you want to look like a bronzed statue, but not if you want to look like a normal person. Even so, I love the glowy effect that GD imparts. I just have to remember to use a light hand.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -China Glaze - Pom Pom
hapapower 4/2/2012 4:47:00 PM
This is a super glittery plummy mauve shade which I got in a recent swap. Despite the intense concentration of fine glitter, Pom Pom still manages to be somewhat understated and completely wearable in a conservative setting. There is just enough pop for the shade to be interesting. Pom Pom also has excellent staying power and hasn't chipped at all since I applied it to my toes five days ago...I work out seven days a week, two to three times a day and wear sneakers frequently, so I almost invariably get some chipping or fading of my pedicure after a few days. not so with Pom Pom. I doubt I would ever hit the bottom of the bottle on this, but I like it enough to consider repurchasing if necessary.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Liners -MAC - Lipliner in Cherry
hapapower 3/15/2012 3:11:00 AM
Beautiful bold blue-red I got in a swap (thanks abbygal!) recently. I use it sparingly so as not to overpower the lippies I use over it. I love Queen's Sin over this, and I also like some of my other cool-toned reds over this. I haven't had any issues with smudging either. One day soon I would like to use it sparingly by itself, blot and then use a clear lipgloss over it to see how that would look. I think this would impart a nice stain on the lips.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -Chanel - Poudre Universal Libre
hapapower 11/12/2011 8:58:00 PM
My favorite loose powder was discontinued by MUFE (of course!), but I wisely jumped on Chanel's loose powder in Dore before I started using my last MUFE jar. My NC35 Eurasian skin is so reactive to powders that I am very particular. I am so pleased to report that this powder delivers on all counts: it is very fine, doesn't settle into pores, doesn't break me out, and leaves a beautiful finish which works for everyday use as well as for photo and video shoots. I thought Dore would be too dark, but it works nicely with my skin tone and gives it a touch more oomph without looking makeup-y. I also have Translucency 2 for when I want to go more neutral. The jar is enormous and goes a long way so even though this is a bit costly, it is worth the investment. I already have re-purchased this product and will do so again and again...this is my new HG!!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Body -Caudalie - contouring concentrate
hapapower 8/6/2011 11:14:00 PM
I have tried just about every topical treatment, massage, Rolfing and even some l-carnitine injections to get rid of the stubborn cellulite I have on my hamstrings. As a national level bikini competitor and fitness and bikini model, even a small amount of cellulite is a big issue in my industry. And at 45, despite a clean diet and a good amount of muscle mass and definition, cellulite remains my Achilles heel. So when a Sephora associate suggested I try this I thought, well, let's give this a whirl. I was VERY pleasantly surprised by this product. It definitely improves the appearance of cellulite especially when I use a sugar scrub beforehand. but then again, straight grapeseed oil also works pretty well. I also like the subtle herbal smell. What I love the most is that this is not the slightest bit greasy...lovely! I LOVE DuchessOfGrapes' suggestion about getting the ingredients and mixing them. What a savings! I will definitely try to do that when I run out of this product. But in a pinch I would run to a Sephora and buy this stuff again too...
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Teenage Dream (Katy Perry)
hapapower 3/23/2011 10:43:00 AM
I never would have tried this on my own as I shy away from pinks and I also can't stand Katy Perry. But my nail tech applied this to my nail tips for a fancy French manicure and I absolutely fell for the glittery, soft pink. It's so girly, yet because the pink is subtle, not over the top. It's more of a blush or flesh pink than a baby or bubble gum pink...thank goodness for a self-professed pink hater...I love the iridescent glitter specks in there too. It's what I would imagine Cinderella wearing on her nails. For me though, I don't think I would wear this over my entire nail...just a bit TOO girly for me. Definite repurchase if I ran out of this.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Baby's On Fire Dazzle Lipstick
hapapower 8/11/2010 9:28:00 PM
Oh my word. This sheer, soft ruby-berry sparkly number is off the charts! It's more ruby red than berry, but it's weird how it will look more like a warm red in some lighting then shift to a berry-ish cast...doesn't matter because it is all so pretty!! So wearable, with super fine glitter that is not gritty in the slightest...even with the glitter it is subtle and completely wearable during the day...Gives a shimmery just-ate-a-cherry-Popsicle look to my lips. The formula is very emollient and so I thought it would wear off quickly, but no...it lasts like a dream! And it is goof-proof, no mirror necessary with this one...its perfection reminds me of Strawbaby from the Fafi Collection which I totally had a fit over. I bought 7 Strawbaby's, and in similar fashion I snatched up 4 of BOF...is it something about baby in the nomenclature? Or just strange coincidence that these two shades make me feel all dreamy and happy? LOVE THIS!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Body -MAC - Bronze Body Oil (To the Beach 2010)
hapapower 6/30/2010 2:15:00 AM
This is a great shimmer oil which imparts very little color but leaves a beautiful glow to the skin. I used this on top of competition self-tanner and it looked amazing on stage! Ladies, you can't look to this to give you any true bronzing effect. if you just want a nice glow, this product will deliver for sure. It feels lovely and applies onto the skin evenly. I agree that this is a bit pricey, and I plan to use this sparingly. But I do love it!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No