Hair -John Frieda - Luminous Color Glaze-Clear
mamckeeman 4/22/2012 3:16:00 PM
Didn't deliver the glaze shine it promised. Made my hair feel gunky with build up and the next day I had to clarify. At least it didn't damage my hair. Not really worth the time or the $10, imho.
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Shampoo -L'Oreal - EverCreme Intense Nourishing
mamckeeman 2/18/2012 5:33:00 PM
I used to be a salon brand only girl, and I've been a die-hard co-washer for the last 6 months. Shampooed with the mildest shampoo once every 6 weeks or so just to prevent buildup, and I HATED the way my hair felt after shampoo. I loved the results I was getting with co-washing in terms of hair growth and health, but it seemed like no matter what I did, I couldn't get any body into my hair. I just looked like a fine, flat mess all the time. Enter L'Oreal EverCreme. No sulfates, no silicones...100% amazing. This shampoo is wonderful. I only need a quarter-sized amount. Start at the roots and scalp, lather through the rest of my hair and rinse. This gives a WONDERFUL thick lather and doesn't make my hair feel like straw before conditioning. Ingredient list has all the good stuff and none of the bad. I get great body from this and my hair feels hydrated and nourished, even during February in Indiana. For sure a salon quality product at drug store prices. Doesn't fade my color. I have NOTHING bad to say about this product or the matching conditioner. Will definitely re-purchase and use frequently between conditioner washings.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -L'Oreal - EverCreme Intense Nourishing Conditioner
mamckeeman 2/18/2012 5:27:00 PM
I used to be a salon brand only girl, and I've been a die-hard co-washer for the last 6 months. Shampooed with the mildest shampoo once every 6 weeks or so just to prevent buildup, and I HATED the way my hair felt after shampoo. I loved the results I was getting with co-washing in terms of hair growth and health, but it seemed like no matter what I did, I couldn't get any body into my hair. I just looked like a fine, flat mess all the time. Enter L'Oreal EverCreme. No sulfates, no silicones...100% amazing. The conditioner is very thick, but because it's not full of silicones, it doesn't weigh your hair down. My hair feels GOOD after this stuff. Lots of body, lots of shine. This really is a salon quality product. Have already re-purchased, and will continue to use this several times a week between co-washings.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Top/Base Coats -Sally Hansen - SalIy Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat
mamckeeman 2/11/2012 6:03:00 PM
I can't live without this product. Literally sets in 30 seconds and saves fresh manicures from minor mishaps. Nails are dry to the touch, but definitely still tacky underneath. Gives me some freedom to move around right after polishing. I will say that this product has a tendency to get gooey quicker than you might think. I find myself buying a new bottle every 2 months or so, because once it starts getting gloppy there's no turning back. You do need to apply it thickly, or you run the risk of an uneven coat since it dries so quickly...there's no time to go back over it with the brush. Once it's on, it's done. Keeps manicures looking nice for at least a couple of days longer than any other top coat I've found, and it's got a very nice gloss.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Wen by Chaz Dean - Re-moist
mamckeeman 2/11/2012 1:44:00 PM
Very, very moisturizing. Love this stuff for winter days when my hair is in desperate need of serious moisture.Great as a deep conditioner. I've never used it as an overnight treatment. Honestly 5 mins or so in a hot shower seems to do the trick.
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Hair -Wen by Chaz Dean - Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner
mamckeeman 1/1/2012 2:08:00 PM
I LOVE WEN! My hair was SUPER damaged after a perm and repeated coloring. Even after 3 years of growing out and trimming regularly, my hair wasn't the same. Saw the WEN product on QVC and was horrified at the amount of money it cost and worried that the results wouldn't justify it. I first tried Sally Beauty's knock off product, Hair One, which dried out and damaged my hair and caused lots of breakage (See my other review for more details) and then switched to more standard conditioner washing with silicone-free conditioners. Then, my boyfriend's mom gave me WEN as a birthday gift. I gotta tell you, I'm in love. My hair is moisturized, sleek, shiny, and unlike a lot of reviewers, I don't get the greasiness they speak of. I can go 2-3 days between washes. It's certainly a lot more work in the shower than standard shampoos and conditioners, but it's SO worth it. It does have one silicone- amodimethicone in the ingredient list, but I think that's one of the water-soluble silicones. The packaging gets to be a pain because when you get to the end of the bottle the pump stops working and you find yourself banging the bottle on your hand trying to get the last of the product out...but for me that's a small price to pay for amazing hair. I will say that conditioner washing with Suave or V05 products is certainly a cheaper alternative at about $1 a bottle, and it's almost as effective. But I find that those products tend to leave my hair limper and feeling much more fine than WEN does. With WEN my hair is manageable, soft and feels thicker to the touch. Waiting on a shipment of the new Winter scent now. Can't wait!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Clinique - Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief
mamckeeman 1/1/2012 1:54:00 PM
I've got VERY sensitive, acne-prone, combination skin and eczema. Trying to find a good product that's oil free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and generally fragrance free is virtually impossible. Combine those requirements with looking for a good moisturizer for winter months, and you may as well forget it. I live in Indiana, where winters are pretty harsh and very dry. I have LOVED this product for years. I use it after my Proactiv regimen, and find that it puts just the right amount of moisture back into my skin and keeps me from feeling "tight" under my make up (especially since I use Bare Escentuals and there's no moisture there...). If you have particularly dry or chapped skin, I would caution you against this product. It probably wouldn't be moisturizing enough. It's very lightweight and soaks in quickly. If you're looking for something more long-lasting and "comforting" to your skin, this isn't it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Pro Activ - 3-Step System
mamckeeman 11/7/2011 10:57:00 PM
I don't know where I'd be without this line! I've suffered from heinous acne since I was about 13, and I have VERY sensitive skin. Have to use oil free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and often fragrance and nickel free products. I did what we all do at 13 and tried Clearasil, Noxema, Neutrogena...all the drug store brands. Those products worsened my acne and caused me to break out in hives and would actually cause HORRIBLE irritation. So then I'd try other products to "fix" it, and I'd end up dried out, broken out, red, embarrassed, in pain and ashamed to show my face in public. By 15, my family doctor started prescribing me various antibiotics to control the acne, which worked for a time, but eventually the breakouts would return. By 16, I was seeing a dermatologist and not ONLY taking pills, but also putting topical Clarithromycin on my face (which burns and smells awful) AND using STRONG topical benzoyl peroxide for spot treatments. It controlled the acne, but still left me with dry, irritated patches and it was just a lot of work. At 20, someone FINALLY turned me on to Pro-Activ about 6 months before my wedding. 2 weeks into it, my face was CLEAR. I'm now 27, and still using Pro-Activ religiously twice a day. My skin has never looked or felt better. The horrible acne and painful, embarrassing bumps are GONE! Just before my period, I still get a pimple or two, but thanks to the Refining Mask and the Advanced Blemish Treatment, they usually clear overnight and are nothing compared to what they once were. About a year ago, I thought perhaps that it was my age that was finally making my skin clear...that maybe the Pro-Activ wasn't necessary because I was past that adolescent, hormonal part of my life. I couldn't have been more wrong. Stopped using the products for 1 week and immediately the acne came back. Couldn't start using it again fast enough. I've heard people say it's done nothing for them, but it's the ONLY thing that has worked for me. If you've got problem acne, it's worth the $20 starter kit to see how you fare. You'll know if you love it or hate it by the end of the bottles, believe me.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Aussie - 3 Minute Miracle Deeeeep
mamckeeman 11/7/2011 10:44:00 PM
I gotta tell you, I LOVE this product. It's super-moisturizing, awesomely detangling, smells great and leaves my hair super-soft. Bought it on a whim one day because my hair is super fine and repeatedly color treated, and my ends were starting to look like frizzy, fried hay. While it doesn't do anything for the long-term condition of your hair, it DOES serve as a great "fix" when your hair needs a drink and a good de-frizzing! It can't repair the damage, but it sure does hide it well. I took off one lippy because it's chuck full of silicones. I've been CO-washing for about a month now (YAY!) and LOOOOVVVEEE the way my hair has improved with a good trim and no more shampoos or silicones. Makes me sad that this is a product of the past for me, because I just can't justify the use of silicones to hide damage anymore. I'd rather have legitimately healthy hair. So, I WOULD buy it again if I were ever going to use shampoo again. Great price for a great product.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Eucerin - Aquaphor Healing Ointment
mamckeeman 11/3/2011 12:21:00 AM
AMAZING! I've got very fair, sensitive skin that's acne prone, and I've also got eczema. This product is a WINTER MUST for my skin. It's a little oily and definitely takes a minute to get used to, but it's saved my skin so many times it isn't even funny. Great for burns, rashes, itch, hives, eczema...you name it. It's moisturizing without clogging up my pores (of couse, I don't use it on my face) and it's got the texture of an ointment without being too heavy. Love it, and don't know where I'd be without it.
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Hair Color -Garnier - Nutrisse Permanent Creme Hair Color
mamckeeman 11/3/2011 12:16:00 AM
In an attempt to save money, I've given up going to the salon for professional color. My hair is naturally a very light ash brown, fine and fairly thin. For the last several years, I've kept it dyed to a 4NW. When I gave up salon color, I also started looking for more natural, less damaging ways to care for my damaged, color treated hair. First I tried ColorSilk because of the great reviews on MUA. Out of the box, it gives great results, but after a few weeks it fades and turns brassy (which is to be expected since it's semi-permanent). I love going natural, and loved the idea of a no ammonia dye like that...but frankly I love permanent color more. After reading reviews of different DS brands available, I decided to go with Nutrisse because next to ColorSilk, it seemed to be the most loved among reviewers. I was not disappointed! Out of the box, the product smells chemically (it's going to...it's got ammonia in it...), but not offensive. The directions were easy to follow. The gloves included were pretty stinkin' good for a drug store find. The color went on easily, and because it's a creme, I had no issues with running, splattering, dripping, etc. Didn't burn my scalp like many brands have in the past, which was nice. Left it on 30 minutes, hopped into the shower to rinse. I didn't have any of the issues that some users have had with the water never running clear (that seems to be limited to Reds...I used Medium Natural Brown)...it actually rinsed out much easier than many. And although I wasn't impressed at first with the texture or amount of conditioner they included, I was impressed with the results after I washed it out. The color is beautiful, vibrant and shiny and shows some of my natural highlights. No visible rootline, no unevenness from roots to ends. It feels soft and well conditioned in spite of the fact that it's permanent and ammonia ridden and I half expected my hair to feel crunchy and in dire need of a deep condition afterward. Overall, I'm very pleased with my result. Would have given it 5 lippies, but frankly the ammonia level is what knocked one off. If you're looking for drug store color, as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't get any better. Will update in a few weeks with how the color held up.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Sacha Cosmetics - Sally - Hair One Hair Cleanser and Conditioner
mamckeeman 10/20/2011 8:34:00 PM
I have very fine, stick straight hair. It's not normally greasy, but does have a tendency to get dry on the ends. I'm normally a salon-product only kind of girl, but after seeing the ad for Wen on QVC, I was really intrigued by the concept of a cleansing conditioner. I just couldn't justify the cost of Wen for the amount of product you're supposed to use with every wash. So, I looked for alternatives and found this product. I bought the full size bottle of the jojoba formula for color-treated hair. I followed the directions on the bottle to a T the first time. I loved the tingling sensation of the menthol and the process in general. But the product didn't detangle like it said it does. It doesn't give that "slip" that I love in a good conditioner. When I was done, my hair felt tangly and dry and I had to work REALLY hard to get it brushed smooth. After a few days of playing around with it (washing every other day), I figured out that to get the moisture I wanted in my hair, I needed to leave it in for more than the recommended 3 to 5 minutes. I needed more like 15 to get the effect I wanted. But no matter how long I left it on, I STILL had to fight with tangled mess when I got out of the shower. Even combing the product through in the shower made me feel like I was damaging my hair because even at the root it was tangled. Once the tangles were finally combed through, the after-effect was generally positive. My hair was manageable and didn't feel residue-y like many have said. But I can't say the results were any different than shampoo/conditioning. After going through a whole bottle, my suspicions are confirmed. Hair One caused a good bit of breakage, even though my hair normally has reasonably good elasticity and isn't prone to breakage. Will not buy again because of the damage it did. Still, I loved the idea of co-washing and not using harsh detergents on my hair. So I kept searching and found more traditional co-washers out there who use the cheapest conditioners (like Suave and V05) that contain no icky silicones to cleanse their hair. Several days ago I gave it a shot (cost me $2 for a bottle of Suave Coconut and a bottle of V05 Champagne Kiss) and I have to tell you that it put Hair One to SHAME! NO trouble getting a comb through, felt amazing, used less product, hair is just as clean and a hundred thousand times more moisturized. PLUS NO BREAKAGE!! And didn't take me 30 mins in the shower like Hair One did because I only had to leave it in for 5 minutes. If you want to try co-washing and don't want to pay for Wen, stick to silicone free cheapie conditioners and do your research! I'll never shampoo again.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Unlisted Brand - Nutra Nail Gel Perfection 
mamckeeman 10/15/2011 1:35:00 AM
Bought this product on sale for 9.99 (regular retail is 10.99) simply out of curiosity. I'm a die hard OPI fan and have natural nails...no acrylics, etc. I'd heard about the gel craze and thought this might be a good way to try it out and see if I could add some strength to my weak, peeling nails (which have been that way all my life). Also thought that because of the gel, the manicure might be less likely to chip. Applying the product is very simple. It comes with 3 bottles (activator, color, and cleaner). The activator is clearly the gel portion, and it goes on smoothly although it smells like nail glue and sticks to your skin much like nail glue would, so be very careful to NOT get it on your skin or cuticle. After the activator comes the color, which is nothing like any other polish I've used. It sort of spreads into the activator...make one swoop down the center of your nail and it bleeds into the activator. Another coat of activator, and another coat of color, and you're done. Couldn't be simpler, and it really does dry in 5 minutes like it says. MUCH faster than the 30 minutes I normally allow myself for a mani (base, ridge filler, 2 coats of color and a top coat). But the results were mediocre. The gel should be self-leveling...but I still had ridges. The color was beautiful, but it chipped the 1st day. And taking it off was a real chore. Had to use the acetone/foil method to remove the product after 2 days, which was hell on my nails. Really disappointed that my mani didn't last longer, and that it took me forever to get the product off. Will not use again or repurchase. Sticking to my OPI...but it might be good for folks who just can't sit still long enough for 5 coats of standard polish to dry and still want a professionally manicured look.
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