Shampoo -Dove - Advanced Color Care for Lightened or Highlighted Hair 
kandy_rocks 9/24/2006 12:10:00 PM
I wish I had waited for a sample packet of this shampoo....it dries my hair & scalp horribly. I've tried using only the matching conditioner and it's okay, but if I use this shampoo, I'm fighting the urge to scratch my head all dang day...grrrrrrrr
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Makeup Brushes -Becca - #18 Foundation Brush
kandy_rocks 3/19/2006 1:40:00 AM
I truly like this foundation brush. I've owned & swapped away Chanel, MAC, Lancome & Estee Lauder's as they were more of a bother than they were worth as I still had to use my fingers to blend into my nose and in between my eyes, etc. If I had to use my fingers anyway, why bother with a brush right?
Then I acquired Becca's Creme Blush Brush and fell instantly in love with it so I worked out a swap for this foundation brush and I am so very happy with it!
It is the perfect length and weight, the brush head is thick enough, wide enough, firm enough and soft enough to apply & blend any type of foundation that I use. Tinted moisturizers to medium coverage liquid. It conforms to every area of my face & washes up quickly and easily too!
If you have tried the rest and not been happy, I highly recommend giving Becca's a try!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Sheer Lipstick- #10
kandy_rocks 3/19/2006 1:27:00 AM
I have to say that I adore this lippie! It's the perfect finishing touch to a natural look on my light cool-toned face. The texture & finish are perfect in my humble opinion and I am stocking up as I never want to be without this lovely MLBB shade!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Body -Dove - Dove Regenerating Night Lotion
kandy_rocks 1/24/2006 11:52:00 PM
This is one of the best products that I've come across during my on-going search for top quality body lotions/creams/gels available at drugstore prices.
I love the fragrance! In fact, since I do use this primarily in the evening before bed, I've come to associate this soft fragrance with bedtime. I think fragrance can be one of the most important factors when it comes to body lotions, because for me no matter how great it applies or performs, if it stinks I can't bring myself to apply it. I had to laugh at the description below and thank my lucky stars that all noses are not created equally. Dove's Regenerating Night Lotion has a soft, clean relaxing scent to my nose.
I purchased the extra large pump bottle after using a tester in store. It doesn't absorb instantly, but that's okay in the evening. It doesn't sit on top of the skin for long though. I even enjoy the tiny pink beads of shea butter that dissolve as I massage the lotion into my skin. It's not sticky at all and within a minute or two I'm blessed with velvety soft skin!
This body lotion deserves 5 lippies in every category that matters to me. I did give it 4 lippies for packaging as I can't tell how much is inside because the bottle color is a dark solid navy blue. However I love the pump! As for price, yes you can find cheaper drugstore lotions; but with weekly sales & coupons this product is well worth the extra dollar or so IMHO.
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Lotions/ Creams -Caswell-Massey - Lotil cream
kandy_rocks 1/13/2006 12:52:00 AM
This is without a doubt the absolute best cream for dry, cracked hands & fingers! My husband works with sheetrock every day and as you can probably guess...the chalky board literally sucks all the moisture from his hands. They are dry, cracked and sometimes bleeding. I've bought him everything from area drugstores and some etailer creams, all of which disappointed him in one way or another, sometimes in every way.
I received a small tube of Lotil Cream in swap and within 5 days his hands are smooth, soft and the cracks are almost completely healed! Seriously, I have known this man thirty years and have never seen his hands like this.
A lot of products have the term 'miracle' attached, this one truly deserves the label!
I am slightly upset that I can't find an easy source for it. His swap tube is almost empty and I would appreciate any advice on where to order, TIA!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Dove - Intensive Firming Lotion
kandy_rocks 1/8/2006 2:34:00 AM
I can't speak for this lotion's firming effects as I use it in rotation with other lotions and really don't give it a chance to firm anything even if it is possible to do so. While I adore Dove's Regenerating Night Lotion (Holy Grail all the way!) and Paula's Choice Skin Revealing AHA lotion, and my all-time love: Clarins Moisture Rich Body Lotion - I needed an in-between lotion. One that performs, but is economical.
Dove's Intensive Firming Lotion fits the bill as it has anitioxidants, sinks in beautiful, has a pleasant scent and a pump bottle.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Dove - Nutrium- Body Wash
kandy_rocks 1/8/2006 2:28:00 AM
I gave this body wash 2 lippies for packaging & it is moisturizing in that my skin isn't dry when I use it. However I can't wait to use it up as it has the strangest scent on me. It smells like sour milk or something that is past it's prime....
I've sniffed other bottles in the store and it's the same odd odor to my nose. I really wanted to like this body wash as much as I like Olay's Shea Butter one but I can't get past the strange fragrance. If only Olay's came in a bottle that doesn't fall on my feet I'd be all set...
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Liquid -Trish McEvoy - Even Skin
kandy_rocks 1/7/2006 11:37:00 PM
Love it! I received a small sample bottle in #3 and I'm amazed that this is not talked about more on the boards. For reference, I'm 47 with light cool-toned Normal to slightly dry skin.
Even skin does exactly what I want a tinted moisturizer to do without being 'dewy' or adding a 'glow'. The consistency is almost watery, definitely thinner than Becca's LSC or Origins Nude & Improved (both of which I am quite pleased with as well).
Where Trish's Even Skin stands out is how it feels once applied. This evens out my skintone, covers any red/pink areas yet sinks in imperceptibly and looks and feels like my natural skin! Best of all, it does not accentuate any dry areas or make smooth areas appear dry as some other foundations/tinted moisturizers have done in the past.
Since I don't yet have a full-sized bottle I can't speak for the bottle, but have learned from the makeup board that it's in a pour type bottle, rather than a pump. This fact, combined with the astronomical cost for one ounce makes me wish I wasn't so impressed with it's perfomance....
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Trish McEvoy - Powder Brush #5
kandy_rocks 1/7/2006 11:27:00 PM
Okay ladies. Yes this is extremely expensive....but it is hands down the best performing, softest & most luxurious powder brush I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing.
I've tried Chanel, Estee Lauder, Profaces and Bobbi Brown. Trish's #5 picks up the perfect amount of powder, after a light tap or shake I apply either Becca or Chanel Loose powder and it's pure perfection. What I noticed most of all is that it does not feel like little needles on my eyelids! Chanel's powder brush performs just as well, but it was sharp on my eyelids.
I was very lucky to have received this brush in swap from a delightful MUA'er (hugs Rainwhenidie) but after owning this brush, if I ever needed to buy another powder brush I won't hesitate to purchase this one!
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Cleansers -Lancome - Mousse Confort- Foaming Cream Cleanser
kandy_rocks 1/7/2006 11:17:00 PM
I find Lancome's Mousse Confort Foaming Cream Cleanser to be an okay cleanser, however not for my Normal/Dry Skin as it's marketed for. After using this cleanser, my skin tightens up and dries up almost instantly.
With my current skincare regime my skin is actually more normal than dry, even though we are in the middle of the driest skin season here in Michigan. With my other cleansers (Estee Lauder Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming cleanser, Paula's Choice One Step N/D, Clarins One-Step Exfoliating or Dove) I am not experiencing the tight, dry scaly skin at all.
I gave this to my daughter who has combo skin & it reminded her of washing her face with bar soap. It was 'rubbery' feeling.
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Tools -Nailtek - Crystal File
kandy_rocks 1/5/2006 12:02:00 AM
I adore this nail file! Previously I used Diamancel #2 and the Nailtek Crystal file wins hands down (pun intended!).
First I should mention that my nails grow so quickly that I need to do my manicures weekly as the growth is quite noticeble at the cuticle. For this reason, I need to file & shape my nails frequently. I don't enjoy this task very much and I especially hate that nail debri that clumps up and gets stuck under my tips. Using this glass file has eliminated this completely! That's enough for me to LOVE this product...but it also makes the filed edge so smooth that my natural nails appear to be artificial. Crystal files claim to 'seal the nail edge' and this appears to be the case.
I have not tried any other brand, so this review may apply to glass files in general. However my Nailtek file was a gift but it came in a great plastic cylinder tube for storage! I highly recommend giving this file a try and my only regret is that I waited so long to do so!
((((Hugs the Mickster))))
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Clinique - Superdefense SPF 25 Age Defense Moisturizer
kandy_rocks 1/4/2006 2:12:00 PM
I'm sorry to say that I won't be purchasing SuperDefense SPF 25. I received a small GWP jar and based on the reviews here & Paula Begoun's raving review I was excited to try it.
Even though I have N/D mature skin, the sample I used was for Normal/Oily and I have to say that I truly enjoyed the way it made my skin feel upon application. It has a beautiful smoothing effect. This in addition to it's SPF25 and antioxidants seemed like a dream product!
The problems began when I applied anything over it. Pilling, major BIG TIME pilling. I tried four different foundations: Chanel Vitalumiere, Trish McEvoy Even Skin, Becca LSC & Origins Nude & Improved. All caused pilling which got tremendously worse upon a sheer application of loose powder.
I'm glad that I did not purchase this product & perhaps I should try the N/D version. If I ever get a GWP size jar of another formula and the results are better I will update this review. Until then, I will continue to enjoy my Lancome Bienfait Multi-Vital SPF 30.
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Eyes -Guerlain - Protective Base for the Eyelids
kandy_rocks 1/3/2006 10:57:00 PM
Dang it! I have N/D skin and it must be because all of the oil congregates on my eyelids! Even this much raved about eyeshadow base did not stop my eyeshadow from disappearing into the crease. The search continues....
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Lip Gloss -Giorgio Armani - Lip Shimmer #6
kandy_rocks 1/3/2006 10:52:00 PM
This is my first Armani Lipgloss and I received it from a delightful MUA'er. All I can say is WOW! I wear this cool cherry & cheery red by itself and it is the only 'red' that has ever flattered my face without screaming "look at my red lips!"
I love everything about this gloss. The brush applicator rocks! The consistency is smooth and applies easily and the staying power is the best of any gloss I've ever worn, and that includes Chanel, Shiseido, Laura Mercier, Bobbi Brown, etc.
For reference, I'm light cool-toned, dark blonde high-lighted hair. I will definitely be buying this when I see it getting anywhere near gone!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Chantecaille - Fig Lipstick
kandy_rocks 12/26/2005 10:42:00 PM
Fig is a deep rich berry shade that is darker & more dramatic than I usually wear. I noticed another reviewer stated that it is the lipstick version of Nebula Lipsheer and that is not the case for me. Where Nebula is a sheer rose berry on me, Fig is an opaque plum berry. I enjoy wearing this shade in the evening during fall & winter as it compliments my light cool-toned skin.
As with all of Chantecaille's lip products, the texture is superb. Smooth and slick, richly pigmented and feels more like a lip treatment than a lipstic. The packaging is smooth & sleek and as I've mentioned before, it's shiny surface can double as a mirror in a pinch!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No