Hair Color -Clairol - Brass Free Brunettes
horkusone 8/1/2011 9:30:00 PM
Ok this review is probably premature seeing as I just finished using it but I figure I can always go back and amend it if needed. I got this for two reasons: my hair seems to pull red no matter how many "ash" versions of color I buy and unlike the Natural Instincts that I normally use, it is a dry application. I have always hated the wet application of the regular NI since it makes it harder to see where all the gray is on my head. I have dark brown hair naturally but always get light browns to keep from going too dark so I bought Light Brown (6C) and now that I have dried and styled my hair, it seems just perfect. Not a hint of red anywhere and for that, I am so grateful. The application was super-simple, quick and although I did notice a weird whiff of fishy smell (like another reviewer mentioned), it faded fast. My grays are covered well but not completely so that kind of sucks but my real complaint is that when I started rinsing this out, my jaw dropped at how much my hair felt like straw! Seriously! I have a full head of fine hair that tends to be oily if it ever strays from normal. Most times I color my hair I find that my hair feels overly conditioned and NEVER dry. I could not get it rinsed and conditioned fast enough. After I used the included conditioner, it felt better but still not great. I went on to use my usual styling products (B&B tonic and B&B styling cream) and it still seemed dry. Not horrible but not what I am used to immediately after a color session. Time will tell if my regular shampoo and cond. will set it straight once again. I do plan on trying the color booster stuff in two weeks so perhaps I will update after that. For now I would say this stuff is not bad. The price is great and since I see no red/brass thus far, I would probably buy it again. I will update when I get an idea of how long the color lasts, whether or not it will change tones as it fades and if I can overcome the dryness it seemed to cause today.
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Lotions/ Creams -Nivea - Nivea Soft Moisturizing Creme
horkusone 7/2/2011 6:09:00 AM
This stuff is truly impressive. Every so often my hands will start to get very dry and the skin on my fingers will crack and peel. It feels awful to me - it is painful - and I hate for anyone to touch my hands because of it. I have used every type of moisturizers and lately even tried the same products used for cracked heels - with no relief. I have several little tubes and containers of hand lotion lying around that I pick up whenever I see them near the checkout at the drugstore. This travel version of this was one I just happened to have so I started using it just to relieve the overall dry and tight feeling in my hands. Within about 3 days, I noticed that the peeling was starting to fade and now - about 7 days later - it is completely gone. There is still some dryness but I cannot believe how much my hands have healed. I feel pretty certain that with continued use they will be back to being soft and comfy. I found the 6 oz jar for around 7 dollars and that is a great price especially for something that honestly works. My only gripe is the jar. It is kind of hard to get the top back on right after applying the cream but that is a small price to pay. This is great stuff - the smell is nice but not overwhelming and it takes only a couple of minutes to absorb.
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Polishes -Wet 'n' Wild - Megalast Nail Color
horkusone 6/27/2011 1:41:00 AM
It is amazing to me that of all the polishes available that are so expensive, this is one of my favorites in quality. For a mere 3 bucks I can get a bottle of polish that not only goes on as smoothly as silk but STAYS ON without chipping. The only complaint I have about this line is that the color selection is pretty limited and frankly, it is a bit hard to get off of my nails. Ha. What a great problem to have! I have a few shades of this but the one I go back to over and over is Bite The Bullet. It is a light purple but deeper than lilac or lavender. It is kind of a muted light plum, if that makes any sense. It is great to go with anything I am wearing and I never fail to get complements on it. It rarely chips - and I am rough on my nails - and two coats is just perfect. This is a winner - I just wish they would broaden the spectrum of available colors. BUY THIS ONE!
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Toners -Skyn Iceland - Arctic Face Mist
horkusone 11/23/2009 3:07:00 AM
I bought this on a whim with a bunch of other products from different brands. I thought it was expensive but I also thought it sounded like really good stuff. Boy, I was wrong. I hate the smell. It is sort of a fake ocean scent and it is really unpleasant to me. I wanted to get a refund but I waited too long and could not return it. So I decided to give it a try even though it reeks. It feels ok going on but it nothing special. What is special is that it dries your skin out!!! Awesome. A mere 30 dollars will buy you a complexion that looks worse than before you used the stuff. What a bargain! This one is going in the trash - now.
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Liquid -Illuminare - Fantastic Finish Foundation
horkusone 11/12/2009 7:47:00 PM
I am really enjoying this foundation and I want to say right off that this base goes further than any other one I have ever tried. I was not sure what color or what version I wanted from this brand so I ordered their sample pack. It includes all three types of foundation in all but two of the shades. I found that the Portofino Porcelain matches my complexion. I would have bet money it would be a lighter shade so it is a good thing I got samples! In the directions it says that you only put a tiny bit on your hand (or sponge, if you prefer) because a little goes a long way. If you buy this, PAY ATTENTION TO THAT STATEMENT. LOL. I put what I thought was a tiny bit on my hand I ended up with enough foundation to cover someone else's face. However, when applied properly, the coverage of this version is wonderful. It is a mineral make up so it feels light on the skin and it never makes my dry skin feel tight. It covers imperfections and evens out my skintone but never looks heavy or cakey. I do need to use a primer to rein in my pores but I wear primer all the time so no big deal. If you have medium to large pores and you do not normally wear primer, you might want to try to find one. It is a small price to pay IMHO for this great foundation. Bottom line: I love this and I believe it makes my skin look pretty. I would recommend this to anyone with normal to dry skin and I am even giving the darker shades to my sister. I want everyone to know about this hidden gem.
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Primer/ Corrector -Lumene - Crystal Radiance Skin Tone Perfector
horkusone 11/12/2009 7:20:00 PM
I bought this on ebay for next to nothing and did not expect too much but I was pleasantly surprised at how gorgeous it looks under my MUFE F&B foundation. It not only works as a primer to hide my pores, it subtly adds a glow to my entire face. Not shiny or oily and certainly not shimmery - just illuminating. I am quite happy with this purchase and I will buy it again.
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Stick -Max Factor - PAN - STICK
horkusone 11/12/2009 7:14:00 PM
I have always wanted to try this but I thought it would look way too heavy so I never bought it. However, I had some extra money while shopping online and came across this little wonder. They have stopped selling it here in Atlanta - I cannot find Max Factor anywhere! So, I figured now is a good time to get this and see what it looks like. I purchased #121 Nude Ivory with some hesitancy. Just for reference, I am fair - but not porcelain - with neutral undertones. Anyway, without being able to see a real example of the color, I always think the worst but this color is dead on! I went on to discovere that it is incredibly easy to apply (I do use a moisturizer underneath - there might be a bit of drag otherwise) and just a little goes a very long way. The coverage is full but it is NICE full coverage. Not cakey or thick looking at all. So all in all, this matches my skin perfectly, provides the expected full-coverage without caking up or settling into fine lines, is easy to apply and the perfect design for on-the-go. LOVE IT!
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Lipstick -L'Oreal - Infallible Lip Colour Duo
horkusone 11/12/2009 6:59:00 PM
I did not have any of the problems mentioned before me; no flaking, no drying, no clinging to teeth. I just have had a wonderful experience and I wear this nearly every day now. I wear color Lily #15 and it is a beautiful pink nude. This color is also fantastic for the smokey eye/nude face look! I thought that I was going to hate the packaging but I surprised myself - I love it. I love the way the individual tubes come up just far enough and the mirror really has come in handy. The lipstick stays on all day. I have only ever had that occur with one or two other lipsticks and they were a bit drying. This one is actually moisturizing a bit. I am not sure if the staying power comes from the sealant or the lipstick but either way, this stuff is absolutely terrific.
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Lipstick -Maybelline - Volume Seduction Lipstick
horkusone 11/5/2009 11:19:00 PM
Yay! I am in LOVE! I have such a hard time finding lipstick that I like that I am absolutely thrilled to have one that I LOVE! I bought this on clearance at Walgreens. There were not a whole lot of colors left and I got the last tube of Petal Attraction. I am a PPP with cool/neutral undertones and this color is perfection for my skin. Something funny here: I never buy plumping lipsticks or glosses b/c I have never heard good reviews about them. When I purchased this I had no idea that it was a plumper. So the next morning when I put it on, I thought I might be having a reaction to it. Haha. I finally looked at the sticker on the bottom and realized what normal people would have known all along. Oh and the plumping works! I noticed a difference within just a few minutes and felt a bit sexier as a result. : ) In addition to the working plump factor, the color stays put all day and is completely comfortable. It is not drying at all - most long-lasting lipsticks make my lips feel really dry and icky - and the color looks fresh well into the day. I worked for about 4 hours and then dropped by my house to freshen up and YAY... it was still there. I am really hoping that the clearance at Walgreens is not an indication that Maybelline has discontinued this lipstick. Oh I will be so, so sad!
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Concealers -Maybelline - Cover Stick
horkusone 11/2/2009 7:17:00 PM
I wanted to like this b/c it is so darn cheap but it holds true that you get what you pay for.I boought it to use it under my eyes (dark circles) and it sucks. I only gave it two lippies since it does cover but that and the price are the ONLY benefits. It is terribly drying and the last place I want to have that problem is under my eyes! After about an hour, all the lines under my eyes were waaaay exaggerated. The color is not bad. I have fair skin and bought the lightest shade and that is ok. The design is silly - it is way too drying to try to apply gently. Overall this is one of the worst concealers I have used. Definitely not for me or really for anyone I know!
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Misc Beauty Tools -Gillette - Venus Breeze
horkusone 11/1/2009 3:08:00 AM
I bought this hoping that it would really help with razor burn and to make shaving in the shower a lot easier. Well, it did both of those things until it fell apart - literally. I only had it a couple of weeks before the strips just broke off. Oh I was mad! I contacted Gillette (I hardly ever do that sort of thing) wrote them an email about what happened, that their razor design stinks and how disappointed I was about it. Surprisingly enough, I got a response from someone in customer service. She wrote me back and told apologized for the inconvenience and also said that she was sending me reimbursement that I would get within 3 weeks. It never came! I just sent her another email to find out what happened so I will have to see if she responds. So, this thing sucks and I would never buy it again nor would I recommend any one else buy it either! EDIT: I DID hear back from Gillette and I received appropriate reimbursement. Go Gillette! They made good on taking care of their customers and they have earned this one! I am adding another lippy for outstanding CS.
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Treatments (Eye) -MD Skincare by Dr. Dennis Gross - Lift & Lighten Eye Cream
horkusone 10/13/2009 5:53:00 AM
This is the best eye cream I have ever used for my eye area. I have hereditary (and VERY dark) circles and I also have the occasional set of bags under my eyes. Everything I tried before this was either drying, too greasy and/or irritating. To boot, not one of them did a thing for the circles and very few even addressed the bags at all. The consistency of this is definitely creamy but not overly thick - it is quite easy to dab it under your eyes without feeling like it is stuck to your skin or needs to be rubbed in. Conversely, it does not travel down the face or into your eyes. It absorbs VERY well but has never left my eyes feeling dry - and i have dry to very dry skin! This cream also has a light color to it that I would describe as flesh-toned. Because of this quality, you get an instantly brighter look under your eyes. It is not, however, dark enough to be used as concealer in any way. It does not cover but really just lightens. I can't say enough about the moisturizing aspect. It is really great In fact, I use this AM and PM and when I wake up in the morning, my eyes feel wonderfully moisturized but oddly enough - not greasy. It is like Goldilocks... just right. I have been using this for nearly a month now and I would say that I can see about a 35 - 40% reduction in the dark circles under my eyes. IMPRESSIVE! I feel like I look much more well-rested and I also feel confident that the skin around my eyes is being well cared for. As far as under eye bags, I only get them when I am very tired or have not slept well and since using this, I can honestly say I have not had any bags at all. The only complaint I have is the scent. I really don't know how to describe it except to say it is sort of... earthy but not in a good way. It really is no big deal as it fades very quickly. It is just something I noticed on my hands right after application and did not like it at all. The price on this is a bit steep for my budget. If I find a product that really works for me, I will spend the money. I have a "piggy bank" that is just for this kind of stuff and I will continue to save up for when I need a new bottle. Bottom line, I would definitely recommend it and I am very happy that I found it!
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Lotions/ Creams -Origins - Ginger Body Gloss
horkusone 10/6/2009 11:21:00 PM
Oh I was so disappointed with this stuff. I am totally in love with the Ginger line but this smelled kinda funny - both in the bottle and on my skin. It was still ginger but sort of icky. I tried a couple of times and once my bf told me that I smelled weird, I knew it had to go back to the store. It is great for moisturizing and the dry oil is great - no greasy feel at all. If it weren't stinky, it might have been my favorite!
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Lotions/ Creams -Origins - Ginger Cloud Body Balm
horkusone 10/6/2009 4:42:00 PM
I was surprised when I read the other reviews of this product. I am in love with it because it has got to be one of the best moisturizers I have ever used. I have dry skin that becomes wickedly worse in the winter. I would guess I have tried literally hundreds of lotions/creams/balms in my lifetime. None of them have worked as well as this one. I use it immediately after taking a shower or a bath and it is so good that when I take a shower the NEXT DAY, I can feel the silkiness still on my skin! I have never, ever experienced that. I will admit that the ginger scent is a little different from some of the other products in this line. However, it is still most definitely ginger and it smells great too. I will buy this even at the high price for as long as they make it. When they stop, I am sure I will shed a tear!
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Lipstick -Urban Decay - Sellout
horkusone 9/26/2009 9:19:00 PM
I got this as a sample with another purchase and at first glance, I thought it would be way too dark for me. I like sheer, subtle lipsticks and by all accounts, this was going to be anything but those things. However, I tried it and it is a beautifully sheer neutral! Yay! It works great for my skin tone and based on how moisturizing it is, I will definitely purchase the full size of this lipstick. I see that some have complained or commented on the scent. I actually only noticed it when I smelled the tube and not when I am wearing it. So it has been no problem for me at all. This is a great lipstick in a gorgeous color. I will repurchase but I took one lippy off as it seems I will be paying a premium price for it.
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