Polishes -Sally Hansen - Hard as Nails - 720 Sturdy Sapphire
jinglecat 5/1/2013 7:06:00 AM
Now obsessed with blue polish, I snatched this $2 gem up at Dollar General for it's unique med deep level blue in a pearl finish. It is a thin formula and first coat is super sheer. This is a pro for fans of the versatile- you could easily make a topcoat of it to subtly morph another color below, or just 1-2 coats for a conservative look. The color builds so that by coat 3 you are almost totally opaque, but the product is not so dense that it can just peel or scrape easily off after it's dry. It is also very workable when wet, not getting gouged or streaked by the brush while you are applying.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Pacifica - Color Quench Lip Tint
jinglecat 4/1/2013 11:48:00 PM
most tinted balms i find are more tint than balm, but this seems to really marry the two aspects well. this is very much better than babylips for example, in terms of actually moisturizing the lips, but roughly comparable in terms of adding color and shine. less color payoff than revlons colorburst or maybellines colorwhisper- but none of the drying aspects of either. i have the guava berry and this keeps my lips feeling hydrated for quite some time after applying, which surprised me as it feels very sheer and lightweight. the color is a med. berry tinged pink, not as plummy/grapey as i expected based on package color, but very wearable for wide range of skin tones; a mlbb better type color. And it's a bit of a duo tone, with purple-blue flash. the fragrance is mildly fruity-waxy, and doesn't last. the package is enticing. it is slightly overpriced, but if they expanded the color range i would consider buying more.
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Shampoo -Nuance by Salma Hayek - Age Therapy
jinglecat 3/22/2013 11:16:00 AM
It has been a while since a beauty purchase has brought this much joy and satisfaction. This shampoo (and its matching conditioner) are an affordable luxury. First the fragrance: nutty, warm, slightly sweet, with notes of green; it smells like something real, and should be bottled as perfume. It continues to scent my hair after it is dry, but is not overpowering. The lather feels rich, rinses clean leaving hair feeling like you could skip conditioner. After using my hair is soft, shiny, with no loss of body. The price is around $8/10oz, so only a bit higher than most ds brands, but functions as well as or better than many hyper-inflated priced salon brands. all my love to you, Salma.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -Revlon - Photoready BB Cream SPF 30
jinglecat 3/14/2013 11:12:00 PM
this goes on smoothly and the color "light" is really looking good- matching & brightening without glitter or shimmer. then i lean into the mirror cause something looks odd- and it's the most horrific display of sinking into acne scars and pores ever! i have never seen anything so heinous on my face. and its kinda shiny too, btw. tried it again next day with different base products below and same craptastic results. and really, the only claim this can lay to bb status is some spf and moisturizing. there are no treatment ingredients like antioxidents or peptides. this is more like a tm for someone with nearly flaw-free skin.
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Foundations -Wet 'n' Wild - Coverall Cream Foundation
jinglecat 2/9/2013 11:26:00 PM
as i age, i am finding foundation isn't my friend anymore- making my fine lines and pores stand out more. this foundation goes on semi-matte, gives med very natural looking coverage. creamy whipped texture spreads easily with fingers, sets fast, but not too fast, is comfortable on, not heavy and doesn't move around on your face. doesn't sink into pores/lines much. easy tube package, but does tend to ooze into the cap. in the displays near me only showing 3 colors, that all look very similar. i took "light" and its a neutral toned med-light. would be worth ordering if you can't get your shade locally.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -C.O. Bigelow - Rose Salve
jinglecat 2/9/2013 1:45:00 PM
i have passed this tin up for years based on the really nasty looking samplers out at bbw- it just looks like overpriced pink petroleum jelly. but then i recently read the ingredients, and after the petroleum comes lanolin and squalane, two respectable emollients, so i bought, still not expecting much. this has saved my eternally dehydrated cracked lips and hands this winter like nothing else. it truly is a treatment for dry cracked skin, not just a cover-up. usually my cuticles are ragged and torn all winter, but not now. and my lips still feel moisturized even after the salve has worn off. the rose smell is divine, and more foody, less flowery. the tin package is an enormous pita that i struggle to open. the lid is very tough to pull off and usually must wedge a nail all around the rim to nudge it up and off. hate it so much that i am going to depot it into something with a screw top.
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Fragrances -Bodycology - spiced berry kiss
jinglecat 2/5/2013 9:11:00 AM
another fab body spray from Bodycology, who seem to take most of their scent profile cues from bbw, but often render them more appealingly and far more inexpensively then bbw. The spiced berry is dupe-ish for the super artificial "dark kiss." the blackberry is very forward in the bodycology, with a nice spice background. get over the opening blast of berry and sugar and this settles into a nice warm berry that actually lasts a very long time. while it doesnt smell exactly like real berries, it also doesn't carry those harsh synthetic notes that tire the nose so quickly. it's playful/fun, yet not immature.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Revlon - Provence
jinglecat 8/21/2012 7:58:00 PM
this one kicks ass. the color is a pale lavender with a hint of grey undertone.(irl it seems a bit paler than the pic above to me) it is classy sophisticated and fun. plus it lasted a week on me, with yes a few minor dings on the tips, but i am really hard on a mani and rarely can wear anything that long. I took it off and put it right back on again, another first for me. (so many nail colors, so little time, why repeat? because this one is soo gorge and appropriate to all occasions!!) the brush is the wider type with the curve, but it is soft and you can apply this with one coat and get a sheerer effect with minimal streaking because the brush is that good. it is a bit pricey than the average ds nail, but if you get it at walmart will be around $5.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Precious
jinglecat 6/16/2012 2:57:00 PM
these are slightly expensive for ds imo, but i bought 'precious' because it looked like my ideal nude, and i can not pass up a good nude lippie. the package looks like a chubby pencil, but turns out to be a twist up- a major plus. (i almost didn;t buy it because i did not want to hassle sharpening). my only complaint on package is cap does not really lock on, so easy to come off in a bag and make a mess. the texture is smooth and soft, not greasy and gives a high satin gloss. also has a light minty aroma that fades fast. i loved it initially, but looking at it after about 15min i see it had oxidized to a very orangey clay color on me- not a good color on my skin tone at all. it also had dynamite staining effect in the same terracotta color, that lasted all night after the glossy part had worn off. damn shame.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Bodycology - Enchanted Forest
jinglecat 4/26/2012 10:48:00 AM
jasmine and nutmeg combine to make a very feminine verging on powdery scent. the nutmeg really damps down the sometimes too bright forward noted jasmine can have and makes for a very balanced composition- classic even. the formula is hydrating but never greasy, and the scent actually lasts and i find it is nice to layer this with other scents i have to add different character. its very inexpensive so this is a win in every measure.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Bodycology - Coconut Lime Body Mist
jinglecat 4/26/2012 10:40:00 AM
sweet, fresh, beachy tropical that captures coconut without being too synthetic (like anything coconut from bath and body works). this is a lighthearted fragrance with a medium silage that dies down quickly. good thing its so inexpensive and the small size is very portable to freshen up on the go. on a related note, i grabbed the matching body lotion too- but the fragrance in the lotion does not match up to the spray at all and actually smells terrible on the skin.
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Polishes -Wet 'n' Wild - I Need a Refresh-Mint
jinglecat 3/6/2012 10:33:00 PM
This is my third color in the new long wearing polishes WnW has released. The formulas in general are quite good for a $2 polish, and many of the colors are exact dupes of colors in the Spring 2012 long wearing L'Oreal line. The polishes do not have the same ease of application/ brush quality/ staying power of L'Oreal, but for less than half the cost, these are highly recommended. The color is Robins Egg intensified, and very Springy. I can easily get 3 days chip free, doing dishes by hand every day, but some of the tips do thin out a bit. The biggest problem these have is the brush- the bristles are stiff and have zero taper (each bristle i mean, not the overall shape of the brush) so every stroke cuts deep grooves in the finish, requiring more finesse in application. The brush is so wide it practically does my entire nail in one swipe, so get it right the first time and you're good, because this gel-like formula does not like to be overworked. (Streaks multiply, lumps form, first coat emulsifies and gums up below the second- you know the drill.) Still, think it's a great product for the money.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Keys - Soap Solar Rx Brioad Spectrum Sunblock
jinglecat 2/20/2012 3:53:00 PM
I love the nano sized zinc particles that are the ss for Keys. Nano sized particles means no whitening, and an enhanced uv screening. (smaller particles of more uniform conformation= smaller gaps between particles; which means less opportunity for uv to reach skin) You should apply this by first smoothing all over the face and then patting it on to even the product over the skin, rather than rubbing it around. (Rubbing any physical ss to try and work it into the skin can result in gaps in coverage.) The finish is matte; the feel not at all greasy. I use a moisturizer below and my skin feels firm yet supple, and this controls oiliness all day long in T-zone for me. The surface is somewhat tacky to the touch, and imo less than ideal, especially as a base for foundation either cream or powder. A layer of silicone base primer over the Keys makes a better surface for mu. One big cosmetic benefit to the Keys is how much it improves the appearance of my skin. I have large pores and fine lines lip/eye zone. Foundation mu seems to emphasize those textural flaws so much that I find I look older wearing foundation than without. The Keys has a way of diffusing the light so that my skin surface looks smoother overall, and that makes a big difference in the mirror! I would rate this 4.5, because the tacky surface is a bit of a pita, but not a deal breaker given the other benefits. A waterproof version would be on my wishlist too.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -Garnier - BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector - Light/Medium
jinglecat 1/9/2012 9:17:00 AM
the texture of the cream is mousse-like and it spreads thinly over the skin. this does give a slight tint that evens tone a wee bit, but the biggest effect it imparts is "glow," like a low-power highlighter. for my skin texture (orange peel cheeks, fine lines upper lip and eyes) it is a disaster. plus it has a strong synthetic fragrance, and feels filmy/itchy on my face and not particularly moisturizing either. if you wanted a highlighter, this would be a great value for the amount of product you get. it is not my idea of a bb cream or a tinted moisturizer.
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Polishes -New York Color - In a New York Color Minute Quick Dry Nail Polish - Park Ave 246
jinglecat 11/22/2011 10:05:00 AM
No reviews yet for this "It" color? wow- it's a gem. Color is that elusive mix of gray, plum and brown that magically compliments all of those colors, and is not too cool or warm. Two coats is perfect creamy bottle match. Wear is quite good for 3-4 days chip free through gardening with gloves on and hand washing dishes etc. A client grabbed my hand recently and demanded to know what polish this was! There are alot of similar colors around, but this one shines for it's price ($2!!) and its perfect neutral stance that can be worn by so many skin tones and match any wardrobe.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No