Styling Products -Garnier - Wonder Waves Wave Enhancing Spray
modegirl 9/1/2012 8:26:00 PM
I rated it highly because for the money there is not alot of products that work as well as this one does. However, it thoroughly dries my hair every single time I use it. Therefore, it isn't a go to product nor will I repurchase because I have another (of course more expensive product) that works way better. I bought this one because it was well reviewed and am always looking for something less expensive. This of course is good to have/know about in case I just can't afford my favorite, Paul Mitchell Styling Glaze. It's been 10 years and a line change; it's still love<3.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Unlisted Brand - Mineral Fusion - nail lacquer
modegirl 7/14/2012 8:09:00 AM
I bought these on sale at Whole Foods. This is a natural cosmetics line which I'm really beginning to like - the colors are really modern - many of the natural companies emphasize pinkish purple colors. Mineral Fusion nail lacquer struck me first with gorgeous peacock teal, true lipstick red, a vamp type color and amethyst purple (w/ glitter). However, I was looking for a nude - I have been on the hunt for a high functioning nude forever - my requirements: must not show cracking, somewhat sheer, color to work well with my GGG skin, and hopefully, natural. I selected two - Sandstone and Precious Pink; the Sandstone is camel tone and the Sandstone is a ballet pink type that usually looks awful on me but since they are 2/$10, I took a chance. I am in disbelief that this 'natural' polish actually outperforms my OPI and Essie in this regard. Maybe it's just that it goes on pretty sheer to begin with, but with base, two coats and a topcoat and I have barely had a chip or even that telltale cracking that I detest with the nudes in 5 days! Super flexible polish! The tips of my nails are ever slightly 'worn chipped' but it doesn't show as it looks gradual, so I'm able to wear these much longer. I usually have to take nail polish off immediately as chips bother me. Now I can't wait to test out the more jewel tones...
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Eyeliner -Unlisted Brand - Honeybee Gardens - Eyeliner, Blue Jean
modegirl 3/8/2012 3:25:00 PM
Just threw this into the trash yesterday. I often vacillate between trying great products with excellent reviews from 'makeup' brands and products from 'organic/natural' brands in an effort to be more eco and health conscious. This is one of the 'healthy' choices that really bombed. I bought two colors, black and Blue Jean. This could be the same review for both. The color is highly pigmented and goes on pretty smoothly, if a little dry. The Blue Jean is a gorgeous 'medium-dark wash' blue, like indigo. Well, it does smudge quite a bit if worn on it's own without some kind of eye base product, pretty much melts around your eyes after an hour. Also, a bit irritating in my contact lens wearing eyes. But the very worse thing about this...it gave me tiny (and painful) pimples on the inner rim of my eyelids! I don't actually line my inner rims either. I've had this pencil for 6 months now; used it half a dozen times and half the time I did get those pimples. I sharpen each time before use, so it's not like the bacteria on the surface - if it is, how much more sanitary can you get REALLY except sharpen, and toss out old product? Plus this is supposed to be a 'good for you' kind of product - but don't know if that's really the case here. Plus, it's not exactly inexpensive though it's Made in China and the paint on the pencil (smallest peeve) had already flaked off by the time I threw it out. I'm going back to my Cargo High Pigment pencil.
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Lips -Revlon - Just Bitten Lip Stain -- Plum Wicked
modegirl 1/12/2012 7:49:00 AM
It's funny that I just wrote a review for Revlon's Just Bitten with Balm, and then I saw this...I owned this and I hated it. This roll-on applicator put on too much and unevenly, whereas the marker pen version gets it right. I threw this one away before I had used much of it because it was just too much hassle to put it on my finger and then apply - I generally hate anything that requires fingers to apply.
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Lips -Revlon - Just Bitten Lip Stain- Twilight
modegirl 1/11/2012 2:47:00 PM
Twighlight ended up exactly as I pictured it BASED ON the DISPLAY swatch; but the outside case is completely misleading! I was looking for a lipstain that is inexpensive and 'gothic' plummy and this suited the bill perfectly. I didn't have any problem applying, but the applicator does seem a little 'harsh' feeling. Also, the balm part broke as soon as I opened the cap; could have been an off tube, but I didn't see on first look if the balm could be extended???? If not, it's not alot of balm they give you. I pressed it back in, and it seemed ok but I'll probably be using a different balm/gloss over it. So lippy off for less than ideal packaging. Based on my previous experience w/ lipstains, I only apply when my lips are not chapped, and it helps to give lips a light brush with your toothbrush before applying to give it a smooth even surface to 'stain' onto.
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Lotions/ Creams -Barielle - Total Foot Care Cream
modegirl 1/1/2012 11:28:00 PM
I don't know how they do it, but this cream for feet tops all the others I have tried. It also tops raw shea butter slathered on and worn with socks overnight. With Barielle, I just put a little on and put on socks overnight and in one night makes a difference with cracking heels, and in a week worth of nights can actually change them. Last summer was the first time that my heels actually cracked in my whole life, so I didn't know what to do. Well, MUA recommended this highly but I usually use only natural products so I tried alot of those until I finally tried this one. I don't really the like the smell, but once the socks are on, I barely notice it, and it works and doesn't seem the worse in chemical warfare, so it's a keeper...!
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Polishes -Unlisted Brand - Brucci Nail Hardener
modegirl 9/25/2011 12:25:00 PM
I used to use this brand on a regular basis. In NYC, it is found in any Duane Reade and lots of other corner drugstores. It's under $3 regular price and does wear pretty well. I don't know if it is hard to get elsewhere. The color selection is limited, but I wanted to say that I couldn't believe I've found my perfect beige/nude in Brucci after trying at least 3-4 within OPI and Essie (OPI is generally my favorite), but none of their extensive color works! I think their "Bare Essentials" color is the exact pink/nude as Christian Louboutin nude shoes, which is a beautiful nude color that work with alot of skin tones even if it ISN"T your NUDE per se. It goes on a little on the sheer shade and 2 coats is perfect to have coverage w/o getting too "pasty" looking. Only took off a lippie because I am spoiled by the wide "power" brushes on OPI. The brush on Brucci is the older classic tiny brush...don't like it :( for reference, I am a MAC NC35, yellow toned medium
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Eyeliner -Wet 'n' Wild - Mega Liner Liquid Eyeliner (864) Amethyst
modegirl 9/25/2011 12:08:00 PM
The W&W Mega Liner product is a terrific product for cost and use GENERALLY. I love the black one, and the Amethyst color (purple) looks really nice in the tube and the brush is actually a little better than on the black one I have, but the liner itself is Terrible! It goes on watery and unsaturated. Will not buy again. I see by the reviews though that every color is different, so I'll look into the other colors. Only thing is the Aquamarine and the Blue look so light and frosty. I am more interested in deep eyeliners like a dark cobalt blue or forest green; hope they do some other colors!
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Eye Primer -LORAC - Behind the Scenes Eye Primer
modegirl 8/30/2011 9:13:00 AM
This is the best eyelid primer I have used/found since my beloved Lumiere one was discontinued. I have rather unlined olive skin, but around my eyes I'm beginning to have a tendency to show very fine lines mostly when wearing eye makeup. LORAC's does the trick not to exaggerate those lines by allowing eyeshadow to trickle into the creases AND it doesn't look like white face paint on my lid's. It goes on very sheer and lightweight. I thought to give it a 4 because of the cost, but think that for how little you have to use, it's still cost effective,compared to many of the ones out there. I think I may prefer it to the Lumiere, but that was $7 for a tube that was twice as big. It also doesn't seem to irritate my eyes. I am both a contact lens wearer AND have hyper-sensitive eyes.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Lavera - Sun 20 UVA Sun Milk
modegirl 7/22/2011 9:14:00 AM
This is a different product from the Lavera 20 Anti-ageing Sunscreen. I made a mistake and bought this one after reading the rave reviews of the other one. Don't make the same mistake! This one goes on thick and white as well, but the difference is that it will not mattefy. It stays on as a thick oily coat on your skin. After some time it will appear less white. I gave it 3 lippies because it appears to be a decent and safe natural sunscreen, just nothing extraordinary. Natural sunscreens mostly seem just like this, and I am constantly looking for the light feeling matte safe and effective one.
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Polishes -OPI - Black Cherry Chutney
modegirl 7/18/2011 2:39:00 PM
Vamp with Shimmer. I prefer it to Chanel Vamp because the shimmer makes it look nice long after the top coat loses the new manishine. Goes on smooth and lasts, like most OPI polishes.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Dzing
modegirl 7/17/2011 1:08:00 AM
When this scent first entered our house, it was purchased by DH and he loved it. I thought it smelled like cardboard and cotton candy; intriguing, but not sexy. I've spritzed it on here and there blended with other scents for depth and it smelled phenomenal on our Pomeranian. Well, we've got 25% of the 100ml bottle left, and last week I spritzed it on casually and went to the movies. In the movie theater, I thought what's that great smell and realized it was ME. It used to smell just too powdery for me, but over the years it seems my body chemistry has changed (post kid) and now I get leather, specifically, very good leather such as that of a new Balenciaga moto bag (I love). It's not the scent (although the bottle is 4 yrs old) because my DH says it still smells the same on him. I am now obsessed with it and am purchasing the 3.4 oz bottle. I love L'Artisan scents - they aren't the most long lasting scents but they are really in the traditional of perfume (relying heavily on the ingredients which are expensive and natural), and they have some very unique scents in their stable. I think it'll be different on every person (like every scent right?) but in itself it's a very unique scent by a parfumeur who has a cult-like following; very unusual scents. Whether you'll like it or want to wear it is another matter.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Obagi - C-Sunguard SPF 30
modegirl 7/16/2011 8:58:00 PM
This was given a very good rating by EWR (Environmental working Group) 2011 best sunscreens. Although it is not water resistant, it is a very effective and safe sunscreen to use. So far I've been using this for 2 weeks, and it is easy to apply and remove - and it doesn't give me whiteface. As I have medium to tan skin, so many of the natural/safe sunscreens containing zinc oxide do. The finish is also on the matte side and it doesn't dry out my face, though I think I did get a little bit of a breakout from this near my hairline - can't be sure it's this though. It's been very hot in NYC and that could be it as well. EDIT: 7/2012 - still works fine, but I just went to EWR to select more body sunscreens and saw that this has been downgraded from a decent 2, to a 3. When I first reviewed, this was the only mass available one that is cross referenced on MUA as a good everyday facial sunscreen, but now there are a few new ones that i will try because of this.
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Polishes -OPI - Give Me Moor
modegirl 11/16/2010 3:35:00 PM
I'm pretty disappointed in this one. OPIs can really vary with opacity - this one is one of those sheer ones that takes 3 coats to get a good dark nearly black opacity. I find that the more coats it takes seems to magnify my mistakes :-P It's a very purply rather than wine color in my opinion. Blueish tone purple with very little red at all. This is OK but won't buy again.
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Brows -Wet 'n' Wild - Brow & liner pencil
modegirl 8/11/2010 10:58:00 PM
I have been using this for years - it's my favorite hands down for cost and color. I have black hair and brows and use the Mink Brown which is a blacker brown than Dark Brown (which is still a little red for me). The only drawback is that I hate pencils and having to sharpen every 3rd time I use it. But this will continue to be my favorite until I find a cheap brow kit where the brush it comes with can do a good job. Until then, I need to keep sharpening this pencil (99 cents, a bargain!) and toting my angled stiff brush with me.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No