Other -Unlisted Brand - Baking Soda
jetsetcritter 5/25/2009 11:16:00 AM
This is GREAT for deep cleansing your hair (hint: buy the plastic refillable bottle for the shower, so then you can fill it again with the cheaper stuff in the cardboard box). Mix a tablespoon or two (depending on the length of your hair) in with your shampoo and lather. Wash your hair as normal with this mixture and get squeaky clean hair. Do this a couple times a week to fight build up of hair product, crappy conditioners, etc. I haven't found a shampoo that can do better than baking soda for this, honestly! And it makes your hair shiny and soft, too.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Laura Geller - Spackle Cream
jetsetcritter 6/26/2008 3:06:00 PM
I'm not really into primers, being hesitant to add any extra crap to my face that might break me out. However, I bought this stuff for my wedding day, hoping it would fill in some of my acne scars and make my pictures come out nicely. As my first experience with a primer, I thought it was ok. It is very thin and takes a few minutes to dry properly. Now that I have experienced other primers (Smash Box Photofinish and CARGO's Blu-ray) I can say with sincerity: Spackle is mediocre at best. I happen to LOVE the Blu-ray, especially because it is tinted and doesn't make me look like Siouxie Sioux like most other primers/mattifiers tend to do. Makeup doesn't glide on over Spackle like it does with my CARGO mattifier primer. It's just not that great. Period.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Cargo - Blu-ray High Definition Make-up Set
jetsetcritter 6/23/2008 6:58:00 PM
This review references the Blu-ray set sold exclusively through Sephora. It was $62.00 (with free shipping), which I think is a pretty good value for 5 makeup items. In the set you get the Cargo Blu-ray primer, the blush, the pressed powder and the mascara. I bought it after I got a sample of the blush/highlighter and then read the reviews of the Blu-ray products here. The idea of the product is to diffuse light so that your skin looks fresher, younger, etc. Let me first say that I love the mascara wand! It is a comb, not a twisty brush like the usual mascaras. This makes it easier for me to use, because I am a mascara klutz. Two coats of this and I'm done! The mascara itself doesn't clump if you let it dry between coats. It comes in black with the kit, so if you need a lighter mascara shade, you may not like this. I prefer brown/black but don't mind black. The blush/highlighter is the best part of the kit. I love the gentle pink glow. It is very light but you can build it a little deeper. You can also put another blush on underneath and use this to highlight you cheekbones and other spots on your face where the sun would hit. It gives a beautiful, ethereal type of glow. The pressed powder is meant to go over whatever foundation you use. I use BE foundation first and then this. They work well together and I have no problem combining them. The powder really does minimize flaws and gives a beautiful texture. It is a little pale, and I actually have a tan right now, so that isn't great. I have to add some bronzer color to the look underneath it to match my face to the rest of me. It'll be perfect for me in winter, though. It is a little bit drying so if you have dry skin, try to score a sample first to see if you like it. Or don't use it w/ the mattifying primer that comes in the kit. The primer is tinted, which I like. Other primers I have used tend to give me a deathly white look and are real heavy. This one makes my make up glide on and sets it perfectly. It says on the packaging that you can use it over or under the makeup. Again, it's a mattiffier so if you are dry it might make you drier. I used this makeup for an outdoor wedding in 90 degree heat and my makeup stayed perfect all six hours. Meanwhile, my sister-in-law's was melting off (hee hee hee!). That's when I fell in love with this stuff. I feel really beautiful in it and feel that it combines well with my other makeup products. I will def. buy again. The kit is a limited time only thing, though, so I probably won't get the same deal. My only complaint with the primer is that it is a small tube and I know I'll use it up very quickly. Maybe I need to stop squeezing so much out and conserve it!
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -NARS - NARS nail polish
jetsetcritter 6/18/2008 12:41:00 PM
I bought this nail polish because I really really liked the color (luminous bronze--named Bohemia). For $15, I'd expect better quality. I can't even put this on my fingernails, as it doesn't dry correctly and I end up screwing it up somehow. I've tried several times. I know it's humid these days and I tried putting it in the fridge, which helped with the consistency, but it still did the same thing. Too much money, not enough quality. It even chips on my toenails. Usually (since my toenails are not washing dishes and stuff) my pedicure lasts ages (i.e. at least one month or two) but this stuff is chipping already after only a week. I don't like it, no sir, I don't.
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Primer/ Corrector -Cargo - Blu-Ray High Definition Mattifier
jetsetcritter 6/18/2008 12:36:00 PM
I got this with the High Definition kit from Sephora and I love it! It's tinted so it doesn't make my face a pale mask, like other primers I have used. That's ok for winter but I'm actually tan this year and I want it to show through on my face! It mattifies beautifully and lasts forever. I went to an outdoor wedding the past Sunday and used this primer with my BE foundation and Blu-ray pressed powder and Blu-ray highlighter, plus my Laura Geller bronzer and even in 90 degree, humid heat my makeup stayed put all day and looked fantastic. Meanwhile, my sister-in-law's was melting off her face! Let's face it, I did feel a little superior. I should offer to give her a makeover! My only complaint is that the tube is kind of small and I wish you got more for the money. I may be squeezing out too much, though, so I have to mess with it some more.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - Ped Egg
jetsetcritter 6/18/2008 12:18:00 PM
The Ped Egg worked amazingly well for me. I have pretty dry, flaky heels that scratch on the sheets at night, which drives me crazy. I also have calluses at the outer big toe and little toe areas. Basically, totally normal, never pedicured feet. I've tried Neutragena Norwegian fisherman's lotion (or whatever the hell it's called. You know what I mean) and every other lotion you can think of (Burt's Bees avocado foot stuff is really good). The one thing that helped my feet completely was taking Acutane 3 times for my acne. I don't have years of unkempt build up because every time I was on Acutane for my face, all the other dead skin on my body would just slough right off. I highly recommend Acutane if you have acne, but I wouldn't take it just to take care of your feet. That would just be dangerous and silly. :) Sorry for the digression, back to the Ped Egg. It worked wonderfully and after only one use. I never use foot files and the like, but this was so smooth, it didn't hurt or really feel like anything. I kept on rubbing it across my heels for 10-15 min at a time and it left them perfect. Finished them off with the file provided with the Ped Egg and my feet looked sandal-worthy, just in time for a family wedding I had to attend (in a sun-dress and fancy white sandals!). And, major plus, my heels aren't scraping on the sheets at night. Whoo-hoo! I plan to use this once a week (probably more like once a month in reality) and I would def. re-purchase.
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Powder -Bare Escentuals - Bare Minerals ALL
jetsetcritter 11/23/2007 7:38:00 PM
I bought the BE starter kit after I found out my aunt was using it. I saw it in her bathroom and asked her how she liked it. After she told me she loved it, I had to buy it! She's 58 and I'm 33 but we have very similar skin. She's still extremely oily at 58 and looks like she's only about 42 years old. My skin is fair and slightly oily. After 3 treatments of Accutane I don't have the same kind of oil problems as before, but I also have reddish acne scars. It took me a few days to get the balance right with the makeup, even after watching the DVD tutorial. Aunt Sharon said the same thing, so I suggest either going to Sephora or ULTA and having them show you how to do it if you aren't particularly skilled at makeup application with brushes. This stuff makes my skin look terrific and I love it! You only need a little bit and it lasts forever, so the price isn't a bad value. The eyemakeup stays on longer through the day than any other eyemakeup I've ever used. I use the Clear Radience (which has a touch of pink tone) after the foundation and the tinted mineral veil and it gives a natural looking glow without artificial sparkle. If you want an even more natural look you can get Bare Radience, which didn't show up at all on my face. I like Clear Radience better but I gave my aunt the Bare Radience and she likes it. Overall, I've liked everything I tried from them, and the stuff is addictive. I suggest buying the kits if you don't already have brushes. It's a better value and a good way to build a brush collection while you add to your makeup collection.
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Treatments (Eye) -Bliss Labs - Baggage Handler
jetsetcritter 8/25/2007 9:22:00 AM
I love the cooling effect of this gel and it really does reduce any puffiness on my upper eyes; my problem is that I think I may have bought the wrong type of product for my needs. I actually have these sunken circles under my eyes; they aren't dark but it bugs me and I need something to puff them up! I get plenty of sleep and mostly enough water so maybe it's a genetic/age thing that just appeared. I do like it though and will keep it for when I oversleep and get that puffy look that doesn't go away for hours. Only problem with the packaging is that it is WAY too similar to my eyedrops that I use in the morning. I had the bottle of Baggage Handler on the bathroom counter when I staggered into the bathroom the morning after first using it. I grabbed it and started squeezing it INTO my eye! Thank God it's thick and didn't drip out. Obviously, I am a useless idiot first thing in the morning :) Anyway, that proves the point of the other user who said that she had difficulty getting the gel out of the bottle after using most of it up. It isn't a very flexible bottle and once you've used a bit of the gel it becomes harder to get it out of the bottle.
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Moisturizers -Cosmedicine - Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion
jetsetcritter 8/19/2007 9:43:00 AM
I have purchased this item several times and I am quite satisfied with it (only one issue: read below). I am fair-skinned, combination and slightly acne prone. My skin is much less oily after three treatments of Accutane and now that I am 32, but I still have oil issues. Actually, I didn't buy this product specifically for it's mattifying benefits but because I was looking for a sunscreen for my face that wouldn't make me break out. I am very sensitive to sunscreen and won't buy moisturizer combos w/SPF. However, I realize the need to protect my face so I decided to try this one. I wear it on the beach as my primary sunscreen and I also wear it under make-up at least once a week (not everyday and I am BAD BAD BAD for that, I know). Medi-Matte also makes my skin less red (I have acne scarring) and it looks better with the product on. I left out one lipstick for a rating, only because I do find that it is a little difficult to put my foundation on over top of this. I use Bare Minerals makeup and it tends to not blend as smoothly over this mattifier.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Prescriptives - False Eyelashes Plush Mascara
jetsetcritter 8/18/2007 6:43:00 PM
Mascara should not have to be time-consuming, and this product is just that--time-consuming! I have to put on one layer and let it dry completely, then two more layers, letting each dry fully. It doesn't give me enough thickness, but does give me length. I find that even though I let each layer dry and I comb my eyelashes between each coat that this mascara still clumps. I bought it on the recommendation of a plastic surgeon's wife who claimed in a magazine article that she "couldn't live without it." I figured, she'd know, right? Eh. It isn't awful but it doesn't work for me and I'm moving on to something better--as soon as I find it :)
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Lip Gloss -Philosophy - Mimosa Lip Shine
jetsetcritter 8/18/2007 6:38:00 PM
I really didn't like this product. I'm a lipgloss/lipbalm junkie and I found this stuff to be WAY too sticky and thick for me. My lips gummed together as I was wearing it! The fragrance is nice and it does have a nice shimmer but the texture of it disgusted me. I'd rather pay a couple dollars more and buy Lip Venom colored gloss.
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