Styling Products -Unlisted Brand - Homemade Flax Seed Hair Gel
lotusfairy 5/19/2013 2:05:00 AM
I have made this a few times every couple of months to use as a styling gel. It gives amazing shine and curl definition for me as it is completely organic. I only make small batches and keep in the fridge for a day or two since I don't add any preservatives in mine and don't want to risk spoilage. I usually experiment with consistency and prefer it to be slightly liquidy. It has decent hold, but can be layered with another gel. If you want a tiny bit more moisture, you can try adding 100% agave nectar or real honey (avoid the one in the plastic bear bottle). You can also experiment with different hair oils to add. I like to switch between jojoba oil or grapeseed oil as they are both light enough to use on my hair without effecting clumping. It is a process to make I admit and comes with a bit of trial and error. I do suggest that you don't overcook them (10-15 minutes on medium heat, constantly stirring until you get the consistency you want) as they will be a pain to strain out. You can try using a pair of panty hose if this does happens but it will be very messy. Also wait for it to cool down before storing or using. I use a regular Tupperware container to store mine in the fridge.
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Lipstick -Wet 'n' Wild - Mega Matte 903C Just Peachy
lotusfairy 5/18/2013 4:11:00 PM
You have to be very careful applying this. I learned the hard way when I applied this straight from the tube. It exaggerated every fine line on my lips and will accentuate any dryness since it is matte. It also went on very streaky. What I did to remedy this was to first exfoliate and apply a moisturizing base (I just use any of my favorite lip balms), then dab a little bit until I get the color consistency I want. If I just smear it on,the color looks horrible on my medium skin tone. It washes me out. If I take my time and apply correctly, then I get a flattering nude-pink with a hint of peach color on my pigmented lips that looks great paired with a smoky eye. I gave it an extra lippie since it has decent lasting power. I wish this was more moisturizing as I don't care for matte formulations that much, but this is nice to play with. Best thing is that I only paid 2 bucks for it.
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Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Elasta QP Olive Oil and Mango Butter Anti-Breakage Leave-in Conditioner
lotusfairy 5/18/2013 1:40:00 AM
I really wanted to love this. After looking at the ingredient list, I saw this had started with some great ingredients followed by some iffy ones. It smells wonderfully fruity and the scent does last in my hair. This is definitely not CG friendly. It leaves no greasy residue despite the fact that is dominantly water, olive oil, mango butter, argan oil, and coconut oil. There is shea butter and soy bean oil but also dimethicone and phenyl trimethicone which I know for my hair need to be clarified out occasionally. Surprisingly this does not dull my hair which I was worried about. The disappointing factors are that it isn't too moisturizing for me and does nothing to take control of any poofiness I have. It does not leave my hair crunchy and my hair stays malleable. It doesn't weigh down my hair, but just leaves it looking unkempt. There is something in here that I feel is missing to make me completely happy. I'll keep this on hand when I bun my hair or put it up in a ponytail, but I will not repurchase.
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Eye Shadow -New York Color - Eye Shado Trio
lotusfairy 5/17/2013 2:24:00 AM
I bought the trio in Central Park Plums. The highlighter is a shimmery pink-white shade which looked nice above my brow bone and the inner corner of the eyes. The brown bone shade is a taupe color that pulls more gray on my skintone. The lid shade looks like a cranberry shade in the compact, but looked brown on my lids. All three shades were very hard to blend, did not have much pigmentation, and definitely have to be applied on top of a base. It also had very little staying power. I was very disappointed, but luckily I only paid $3.99 for it since it was on sale at CVS. I will not buy this again, but will keep this on hand for days when I want a light wash on my lids.
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Other -Unlisted Brand - Colgate MaxWhite Toothpaste
lotusfairy 5/16/2013 2:48:00 AM
I was looking for the MaxFresh but instead bought this. I have the flavor in "Crystal Mint." It has a light aqua base with "mini bright strips" suspended in it. I like that you can see how much toothpaste is in the tube in the back and that it has a flip-cap. I would have to say that I love this and I have tried many toothpastes. It makes my mouth feel cleaner and fresher, doesn't irritate my gums, doesn't cause any staining or discoloration, and I have noticed gradual whitening of my teeth. I will have to buy the MaxFresh to see how it compares to this, but so far I love it. I bought my tube from Walgreens for about four dollars.
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Shampoo -Unlisted Brand - Denorex Extra Strength 2-in-1
lotusfairy 5/16/2013 2:20:00 AM
I buy this for my hubby, but I occasionally use it as well. It doesn't have the best smell- reminds me of old tires and gasoline which some may find cloying and strong. It gives an intense cooling, but invigorating sensation on the scalp due to the menthol and can be quite drying if used alone despite the fact that it is a 2-in-1. I usually follow with any of my favorite conditioners and my hair comes out looking soft and clean with no residue. I use this mainly to get rid of any build-up on my scalp (I use a lot of styling products) and the rare itchiness I may get from using a product with PVP high in the ingredient list, which I try to avoid. My hubby doesn't mind the smell and it helps with mild flakes and itchiness for his scalp since Head and Shoulders stopped working for him. The one thing that impresses me the most is how controlled my hair looks after using this. The dandruff shampoos I have used in the past left my hair flyaway or dry feeling. This one doesn't. I like that I can feel it working and it gets the job done. I wouldn't use this everyday, but for every now and then it is perfect.
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Lip Treatments -Burt's Bees - Honey Lip Balm
lotusfairy 5/15/2013 7:01:00 PM
I am very disappointed that this didn't fully work for me. Application was not smooth and it felt more waxier than the original. It did keep my lips looking supple so I am glad I didn't waste my money entirely. The smell is a bit obnoxious to my nose. It reminds me of diaper ointment. Plus as others have noted, the scent is strong and does linger for quite a bit. I think I will sick to the original and hurry to use this one up but unfortunately will not repurchase.
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Other -Crest - Pro-Health Toothpaste
lotusfairy 5/11/2013 5:15:00 PM
I should have read the reviews before buying this. While I think this does a good job of cleaning my teeth, it does irritate my gums a bit. I have not noticed any staining or peeling thank goodness. I do find this an average toothpaste. I usually follow up with the matching mouthwash and I think that has helped get rid of the filmy aftertaste this leaves. I will still use up my tube until something better comes along.
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Styling Products -Johnson & Johnson - No More Tangles - Spray Detangler
lotusfairy 5/9/2013 5:42:00 PM
I bought this originally for my dd who is currently 22 months old. Her hair has been growing a little longer though it is not yet shoulder length. She wakes with a bedhead and sometimes the back of her head gets fuzzy. This smooths out the fuzzy bits and smooths out her hair without being sticky or heavy. I really like the smell and it is not too strong. On my 3b hair, it comes in handy when I am feeling lazy and need something to tame and get out the knots at the nape of my neck without having to wash my hair. It is not the most moisturizing product for me, but it does the job. It also doesn't dull my hair or cause any build-up. I will continue to repurchase.
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Scrubs -Tree Hut - Tree Hut Brazilian Nut Sugar Scrub
lotusfairy 5/8/2013 8:41:00 PM
I loved this! It smells delicious and gives a good scrubbing without irritating my skin or leaving an oily residue behind. It made my skin feel very soft and brighter, especially on my legs and feet where my skin is drier. Also helps as a prep for skin before shaving, self-tanning, or waxing. I wish this came in a squeeze tube instead of a jar. I step away from the shower head and apply. When I am finished exfoliating, I just step back into the shower and rinse. The best thing I like about it is how affordable this is. I think I paid around six dollars for mine at Walmart which is a bargain since this feels like it should be worth more. I definitely want to try other scents, but so far this is my favorite.
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Conditioner -Garnier - Hydra Recharge conditioner
lotusfairy 5/8/2013 7:46:00 PM
The scent of this is amazing and I love it! It is very fruity and tropical-smelling. I could not stop sniffing the bottle in the shower lol. It has a creamy consistency and baby blue color. When I applied it to my hair, I could tell that it had really good slip and felt moisturizing. Unfortunately, It made my hair very pouffy looking when my hair air-dried. Perhaps I need to try it with the matching shampoo to see if I would have better results. On a good note, my hair was still left soft and I didn't lose much curl. I will keep playing around with this but I don't think I will repurchase as it didn't blow me away. I think I will stick with the 1 minute treatment instead.
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Eye Shadow -Unlisted Brand - Shany eye shadow palette
lotusfairy 5/8/2013 7:36:00 PM
I had an Amazon gift card and decided to use it on this. I decided to try the neutral eye palette and received it within three days which is incredibly fast. It was wrapped with multiple layers of bubble wrap and comes in a sleek looking black case that has a decent sized mirror and two eyeshadow applicators. The eyeshadows themselves are on the small side, but are richly pigmented and have good staying power (I tried them without an eye primer). Some of the colors go on the lid looking very similar like some of the pinks and beiges but it is not a big deal breaker for me. The black was is a bit hard to use because it was the only shadow in the palette that happened to shatter and I had to carefully apply it to my eyelids with a stiffer eyeliner pencil to keep it from falling on my cheeks. There are a mixture of matte and shimmer shadows in the palette and they were easy to blend. Overall I am very happy that I decided to give this palette a chance. I now want to try the brighter shades next.
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Styling Products -L'Oreal - EverStyle Smooth and Shine Creme
lotusfairy 5/5/2013 4:28:00 PM
I have yet to use this as a blow-dry cream but I love this as a frizz reducer and smoothing agent. It really helps to keep down frizz and flyaways for me without feeling greasy or heavy. It has a honeyed vanilla smell and agree that it is basically the same scent as the Evercreme line which I really like too. My hair feels soft and doesn't look dull. I have never tried the Nectar Thermique which some say this is a dupe of, so I can't compare.
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Cleansers -Alba Botanica - Hawaianna 3-in-1 Towelettes
lotusfairy 5/5/2013 12:16:00 AM
I thought these were great. It has a light tropical-like scent and doesn't irritate my skin. I thought it did a good job of removing foundation and leaving the skin soft. The only complaint I have is that it cannot be used on or near the eyes which is a bummer since I wear eye makeup occasionally and like to use cleansing towelettes to remove stubborn eyeliner and such. Other than that, these have the right amount of moisture for me and don't break me out. The towelettes themselves are not overly drenched. They have a good amount of product in them. My face does appear slightly brighter when I use them so I guess the enzymes do an adequate job. What I do notice is that my face feels more even. There are no rough patches around my nose and mouth so that's a plus. Overall, I would buy these again.
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Styling Products -TRESemme - Curl Care Flawless Curls Curl Enhancing Mousse
lotusfairy 5/4/2013 7:57:00 PM
Application is definitely key here. Some things I have noticed when using this: You have to use on wet hair, you have to have a base of either a styling cream or hair oil to counteract the drying effect since this does contain alcohol, and you don't need to use a lot. A golf ball sized amount is perfect for even my thick 3b curly hair. I think it smells lovely and seems to do a great job of boosting my curl pattern. My hair is left soft and defined which is hard to do. The shine was very good and had some nice compliments from strangers. My hair maintained its volume without feeling sticky or weighed down. Walmart had a good sale on this and I was able to get a big can. I think it provides decent hold. There was some crunchiness in some areas but nothing that can't be scrunched out with a bit of water. As for frizz reduction, it was ok. I noticed it took care of frizz initially but then as the day wore on, I had some halo frizz. A little hairspray took care of that. Overall, I think this was average. I have tried better mousses from other brands, but I do like this for lazy days.
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