Powder -Laura Mercier - Mineral Pressed Powder SPF 15
manhattanite 1/13/2012 8:12:00 PM
I didn't like this powder at first...but now love it. I think the problem a lot of people have is that they're trying to use this like a regular powder instead of a mineral product. Use it sparingly and you should be just fine. One generous swipe with the provided sponge should be enough to do a whole half of your face! Start at the periphery of your face and work in (or at least I do when I use this). This powder builds well. I have a hyperpigmented spot on a cheek due to an acne scar that I can cover by building the product over it. I personally wouldn't use a brush with this. I understand that some people say this works, but this product is expensive and that would use it too quickly. Plus, I remember reading something about brush application and the resulting inhalation of mineral products not being good for people. Shade matches are fine when used properly IMO. The finish isn't shimmery like a lot of mineral products can be. I haven't had an acne breakout since using this product. I probably like the other LM powder foundation better because I can get it in a shade with a stronger yellow undertone; however, the shades for this product are still pretty good and, again, I have less breakouts with it.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Napoleon Perdis - NP Set Pasarella Powder Foundation
manhattanite 1/5/2011 3:01:00 PM
Good stuff. Damn good shade match. Good, buildable coverage. Beautiful finish. Does not break me out at all (which is unusual for me and foundations). It's pricey...but worth it.
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Top/Base Coats -China Glaze - Strong Adhesion Base Coat
manhattanite 1/24/2010 11:00:00 AM
Impressive! I used this as a base coat, then used one coat of OPI color and then used this product again as a top coat. After 1 week, not the slightest chip...in my PEDI! It's winter so I'm wearing closed toe shoes which always cause chipping. Not the slightest with this product. Not the shiniest top coat but not dull either and I'm willing to sacrifice the shine for the staying power. Highly recommend!
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Mascara -L'Oreal - Telescopic Explosion 
manhattanite 11/17/2009 7:59:00 PM
Just aweful! I guess it makes sense that a mascara with a brush 1/4 the normal size would suck. I wanted to believe that it makes application easier...but it really doesn't. My main problem with this mascara was major clumping! If you buy this, also be sure to buy an eyelash comb. Otherwise, you'll have tarantula eyes.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Ojon - Restorative Hair Treatment
manhattanite 12/27/2008 1:02:00 PM
The new snake oil! My recent trips to Sephora have had me thinking about how women are just 'lay downs' (see Malcolm Gladwell's Blink) for beauty products. We'll believe and buy anything without really investigating if we are getting our money's worth. If we took the time to do so, we'd see that we're often just throwing our $$ away. Don't get me wrong. There are some products that work. However, has anyone tried Fresh's Strawberry Fields? It smells like absolutely nothing! But this water in a bottle costs over $30. WTH? Ojon's Restorative Hair Treatment is probably an even worse lay down. READ THE INGREDIENTS! Just like Carol's Daughter products, it's cheap stuff with not so subtle scents and an enormous markup. The major ingredient in Ojon's treatment is palm oil for goodness sake! Over $40 for palm oil! The others: lecithin - keeps ingredients from separating and is a surfactant; citronellol - found in citronella oil; tocopherol - since when does a bottle of Vitamin E cost $40?; ascorbyl palmitate - ditto for vitamin C; citric acid - gives bath bombs their fizziness, cheap; perfume - from the smell, I would guess mostly sandalwood oil. So, unless you believe that tree bark extract or serenoa serrulata (aka saw palmetto, available at any drugstore but unlikely to have any effect on your hair) will magically restore your hair, I wouldn't waste money on this crap! You can get a similar effect by using a cooking oil in your kitchen (e.g., olive, vegetable, corn, palm) and you can even mix it with an essential oil fragrance that you'll actually like.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Olay - Definity Color Recapture with SPF 15
manhattanite 8/13/2008 1:18:00 PM
The packaging is certainly interesting. You can see the swirls of tinted foundation and moisturizer suspended in a gel. The problem is that the products do not blend together well at all. I had problems with the ingredients coagulating when I applied the product to my face. While I understand this is a tinted moisturizer, the "tint" is nonexistant and doesn't show up at all. This is not a product for those with oily skin! How this product made it past the development stage is a total mystery to me? Fail.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No