Lip Gloss -Wet 'n' Wild - Natural Blend lip shimmer in Berry
jennylynn 11/27/2011 1:53:00 AM
I am a self-professed chapstick snob and addict. And though I love the idea of tinted lip balms, I generally find that they generally fall short on two counts: 1) they are not tinted enough, and leave my deathly-pale lips looking like-- deathly pale lips, and 2) they are somehow chalky and flakey, and must be completely removed and re-applied every hour or so. This is not the case with Wet & Wild's Natural Blend tinted lip balms. I love the slight minty scent, but find that it doesn't at all irritate sore lips. These babies are more hydrating than even more expensive tinted balms I've tried, and fade smoothly and naturally, with no rough, dry after-finish. I bought nearly every color in the line, and while I favor some over others, the Berry is a natural complement to my extra-pale yellow-toned skin. I find the narrow stick easy to store and carry, and have had no trouble with the basic chapstick-style tubes at all. Brava, Wet & Wild!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast
jennylynn 9/21/2008 1:11:00 AM
I'm forever searching for my "perfect" mascara: fairly inexpensive (I'm on a budget); non-smudging ("thanks" to oily skin); easy to remove (I lose enough lashes as it is!); just-better-than-natural-looking (I want an abundant, feathery look-- no spikes); applies well in only one coat (I'm just plain lazy). Cover Girl's Lash Blast fits all of my criteria well: runs about $6; doesn't smudge & smear; makes my lashes look full & separated; and its bizarre but efficient brush applies a generous one coat without leaving you with clumps & clusters. Only one complaint: am I hearing folks say "no flakes?" When this stuff DOES come off, I find that it definitely comes off in little inoffensive chunks/flakes, rather than in smudges & smears, and thus I doubt that it would work well for contact wearers. But for someone like me who fears oily smearyness rather than a few loose flakes, it's a keeper. Added bonus: I actually have some grip problems due to MS, and both the tube and the wand are nice & chunky, easy to open, and are hefty enough that they're not prone to being dropped. Anyone with arthritis problems would probably appreciate this "user-friendly" feature, too. I don't plan on buying anything else for a while! But then again, I never do...
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Lip Treatments -Nivea - A Kiss of Flavor Cherry
jennylynn 9/11/2008 12:25:00 PM
Meh. I was prepared to love this, given all of the hype I'd seen, read & heard. Turns out it's simply O.K. Provides a sheer wash of color, and a subtle, inoffensive hint of scent/flavor. But the texture is really quite hard, waxy & classically Chap-stick-y. It's not particularly moisturizing, and if your lips haven't been well-exfoliated you'll end up with some nasty tinted lip-flakes. When I tried to remedy the situation by applying my favorite balm underneath, I found that the color spread unevenly & "shifted" when my lips touched. I'm not sorry that I bought it; I'm just not sure that I'd give it a hearty thumbs-up. I much prefer Cover Girl's Lipslicks, at nearly the same price.
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Lipstick -New York Color - Ultra Moist Lip Wear Retro Red 308B
jennylynn 8/25/2008 2:09:00 AM
I've been searching for a red-but-not-fuschia, red-but-not-orange screaming-loud red. I'm on a super-strict budget, and while the Ruby Woo I tried at the MAC counter was close to what really wanted (besides being just a tad too dry and too blue-toned), I decided to hold off & check the NYC lineup. "Retro Red" turned out to be a winner! Good heavens, this stuff is bright-- so don't say that I never warned you. It goes on very smoothly & fairly moistly, and leaves a bit of a stain behind; so make sure that you get it where you want it the first time. With a steady hand and a tissue on hand to quickly swipe any "coloring outside the lines," you end up with an intense, barely-blue-toned fairly neutral red. I prefer to blot it well and then reapply, followed by a final blot. I tend to swipe my lips together alot during the day (I can't stand dry lips!), but after a day of mushing and swiping, I found that the color had stayed almost completely in place. If I add a balm over the color, however, I end up with the [expected] occasional smear you'd get if you used almost anything but a true stain. Final vote: a near-match for MAC's Ruby Woo (on me); long-lasting color; and a price you just can't beat!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -New York Color - Ultra Moist Lipstick in Dubonnet #325
jennylynn 8/25/2008 1:52:00 AM
I'm a yellow-toned PPP who loves this product. I love red lipsticks anyway; but I'm on enough of a budget that I just can't afford to experiment w/anything that costs more than, well, about $1 a tube! Bought this initially to wear in a play, but find myself wearing it almost every day now. On me-- with my unpigmented lips --it's a nice, deep, warm rose-y-red. Not bright, fire-engine red, but not a warm fuschia, either. Yes, it feels quite smooth on application, and almost feels more balm-y than it does old-school lipstick-y. But I like that! No need to apply a balm underneath to keep things smooth. I love this stuff, and will continue to keep a tube in my bathroom, my purse, my back-up purse, and my makeup bag until (and we all know that it's inevitable) it's discontinued, curse the day...
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Deodorants -Secret - Clinical Strength
jennylynn 5/5/2008 11:56:00 AM
I---like many of you---am a heavy sweater. Sad, but true. I've tried everything from the skin-searing Drisol and Certain-Dri to the did-I-even-put-anything-on-this-morning Teen Spirit; but this stuff takes the cake. Not only is it gentle even on freshly-shaved skin, the creamy formula doesn't require drying time, smells pleasantly fresh, and really works. I don't apply it at night (as the package suggests), simply because I'm too gun-shy to not apply a deodorant-antiperspirant in the mornings. Instead I apply it right after I shower, and it still works brilliantly. I haven't noticed that it stains any more dreadfully than other antiperspirants, and seems to stain less than any gels or roll-ons, easily. I'll admit that the $8 price tag is a bit prohibitive; but then again, if it works, I'm perfectly willing to pay two or three times what less-effective antiperspirants cost. For me, this is a year-round must.
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Pressed Powders -MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish Natural - Light
jennylynn 5/5/2008 11:22:00 AM
For me, this powder's pros (wear, finish, staying power, gentleness) outweigh the cons (color selection, trickier application, no mirror). I'm a yellow-toned PPP with oily, flaky, sensitive skin with alot of redness and frequent breakouts (I know----very attractive). When it comes to foundations/powders I love a clean, semi-matte, very natural look. Easier said than done when you've got skin like mine, unfortunately. Most days I spend more time concealing than I do on all the rest of my makeup, put together! Though the Light is a bit dark and peachy for me (and initially really turned me off--- I have an unnatural fear of mask-y foundation), I found after a few days that I didn't mind the slight color difference. Maybe that's due to my gradually-improving swirl-with-a-brush application skills---who knows. But at this point, if I apply carefully I find that I need very little concealer once this powder is on. Coverage-wise, it serves me as well---or better---than any powder foundations I've used, though I know it's not technically considered a "foundation." Sometimes I'll add a light dusting of loose powder over this, and it seems to help it "set" even more. By afternoon I, of course, have lots of shine; but the difference here is that the makeup is not sliding off my face like it usually does. Instead I can carefully blot, and the tissue I've used has very little makeup on it. By evening I may have needed a bit of a touch-up around my nose & under my eyes (two of my concealer hot-spots), but in general I feel that my face looks remarkably fresh and recently-applied. Woo-hoo! (Those of you with oily, troubled skin will understand what a major accomplishment this is!) And now for the biggest selling point: my skin has improved dramatically since I began using this product, and I'm even in the middle of hormone-induced craziness. I kid you not, my scars are fading remarkably quickly without becoming re-aggravated, I've had no more cystic acne or major pimples, and my overall skin tone is much more even, with much less redness. I know that this is a common pleasant side-effect of mineral makeups; but I've never found one that came even remotely close to matching my skin tone until now, so I've not been able to experiment. All-in-all, a fabulous powder, a near-enough color match, improved skin, great staying power, and a slightly-painful-but-still-do-able price.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Jane - Shimmering Bronzer - Tahiti
jennylynn 3/26/2007 4:05:00 PM
What a great product! I've got deathly pale yellow-toned skin; and it's quite oily, which makes me wary of cosmetics that contain any type of shimmer. Add to that the fact that most bronzers look muddy on me, and it's a miracle I ever talked myself into buying this bronzer! Not to fear: on my skin, Tahiti is a barely-glowy, soft rosy-bronze, perfect for my PPP skin and subtle enough that it simply makes me look healthy. No glitter, no obvious shine. Stays on through most of the day, but sometimes requires re-application later in the afternoon---not unusual for me, since every cheek-color product I've ever used requires the same. I may need to stockpile this one. It's one I won't be getting tired of any time soon.
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Styling Products -Dove - Intense Frizz Control Anti-Frizz Cream
jennylynn 1/10/2007 12:26:00 PM
Hmmmm. Went through a whole bottle of this stuff before I felt like I could give it a thorough review. I have dry, color-treated, frizz-prone curly hair. (Could it get any worse?!) I'd hoped to find a moisturizing, smoothing cream that would calm the frizz; but I got instead more of a softening, calming cream that left my hair still frizzy, but soft-frizzy. In other words, it took out the crunch and the parched feeling, but left the frizz and pouf. My hair felt much healthier when I used this before my usual mousse/gel and Frieda's Brilliant Brunette Shine Shock finisher, but did little but soften on its own. That said, I have yet to find ANYTHING that can take care of my crazy hair on its own. Final Word: softens, but doesn't smooth; calms, but doesn't cure. A nice tag-along product, but no miracle worker on its own.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Wet 'n' Wild - 510 Light Beige Frost
jennylynn 1/10/2007 11:58:00 AM
I've been avoiding this product for years, since the word "beige" combined with my deathly pale skin = corpse. But I finally shelled out my precious $1 and picked up this pearl. It's fabulous! On my pale, basically untinted lips it's more a peachy, fleshy pink, which is lovely for a natural, fresh look. And it works well as a cream blush in a pinch, too. And no scary too-pearly glare, if applied with a light hand. Not particularly moisturizing or creamy in my opinion, but not "drying" either. Give this practically-free gem a try, for Pete's sake!
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Exact
jennylynn 12/13/2006 12:04:00 PM
Not only do I have oily skin, but when I smile my whole face scrunches up; so I'm always on the lookout for a mascara that won't smear or transfer. Otherwise, by the end of the day I look as though I have two black eyes. That said, I've really liked Lash Exact. The brush does ensure smooth, clump-less application; and the formula lengthens beautifully. I only use one coat, and it doesn't exactly provide instant bulk. But when I'm done I look as though I have naturally fabulous lashes, which is exactly the look I'm going for. Once again, Cover Girl provides a great, moderately-priced, smudge-proof mascara. Well done, you!
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Fragrances -Gres - Cabotine
jennylynn 11/25/2006 12:25:00 AM
Oh dear. I heard "green floral" and mercilessly haunted TJMaxx until I finally cornered a bottle---in an open box, no less!---and lightly swiped my wrist over the [unsprayed] atomiser. I breathed in deeply, dreaming of spring and freshness and light, and was instead knocked down by a stuffy, heavy floral one-two punch. I was honestly baffled, thinking I'd picked up the wrong bottle. But no: the only scent I can think of that might parallel Cabotine is my ol' not-so-green high school staple, Beautiful. Not subtle. Not fresh. And definitely not green. Watch out, ladies. This is certainly an elegant floral, but along the lines of the powerful original Vera Wang or the above-mentioned Beautiful. Not for the faint-of-florals. And more formal, heavily-draped sitting-room than bright, open sun porch.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Dove - Advanced Care Therapy for Severly Dry or Damaged Hair [DISCONTINUED][REFORMULATED]
jennylynn 10/2/2006 4:57:00 AM
(This review refers to the daily conditioner in the fatter, on-end bottle, and not the squeeze-tube featured in the picture above.) Boy, how I love this conditioner. My hair: naturally curly, greying, colored. In other words: dry, coarse, frustrating. Until now Aussie's Moist or 3 Minute Miracle were the best options in my middle-class-poor budget. But this baby has saved my life. It leaves my hair feeling luxurious, thick, soft and smooth. I'll even often use a bit on the ends of my wet hair, or on the little "fuzzies" around my face, as a leave-in under a mouse, gel or creme styling product. The fragrance is clean and refreshing, but does stick with you; so if you're bothered by scent, this one'll leave you bothered. My daughter---whose hair is straight, thick and heavy---loves this because she can get a comb through her wet hair with hardly a tangle, something no other conditioner has been able to do for her. Bathtime is no longer a "MOMMY YOU'RE HURTING ME!" shouting match. Peace at last. I can't recommend this enough---unless you have fine, flat hair and are looking for volume. If that's the case, look elsewhere.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Dove - Therapy Repairing Treatment for Severly Dry or Damaged Hair
jennylynn 10/2/2006 4:48:00 AM
Hmmm. Wanted to love this. Didn't so much. My hair is naturally curly, greying and colored, which translates to dry, coarse, and just plain unruly. I've been loving the Dove Advanced Care Therapy Conditioner(thicker dark blue bottle, stands on lid), which leaves my hair feeling silky, healthy and strong. Oddly enough, the supposedly richer, deeper Repairing Treatment (in squeeze tube) leaves my hair feeling pretty tangled, rough and dry. I've had similar results with Queen Helene's Cholesterol (though I know others have loved it); and on the other end, I've had much, much better results with Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle and Moist conditioners. Go figure. If you're not a gambler, I'd not invest too much hope--or money--in it, though like the others I love Dove's broad-spectrum beauty definition and ads.
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Polishes -Wet 'n' Wild - 424 Black Creme
jennylynn 10/2/2006 4:32:00 AM
I had to laugh when I read that bottles of Chanel's latest black polish are selling for +$100 on eBay, when you can get the same look---and nearly the same qualilty---for $.99 at your local discount/drugstore! I'd read Black Creme's praises dozens of times, and finally gave in when my daughters wanted a "Starry, Starry night" look for Halloween. Good heavens, this stuff applies well! One coat was much richer and more opaque than I'd hoped; and two looked positively cosmopolitan. (We added the W&W silvery-sparkle clear coat for the "stars" effect, and the result was brilliant!) Though I'm probably a bit old to get away with black toenails without looking like I've got some terrible fungus problem, I'm sure tempted to try this on my hands some day when I'm feeling dark, brooding and passionate. However, that combination of emotions is one I don't often feel in unison. Overall: love it. Save yourselves hours haggling on eBay, and enjoy feeling smug when your friends ask you how you ever got your hands on the Chanel!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No