Top/Base Coats -China Glaze - Fast Forward Top Coat
mualibertad 9/25/2011 9:11:00 PM
I always thought base coats were close to useless because nothing I've tried - Sally Hansen, etc - really seemed to make a difference. I bought this after reading the reviews on here and am now devoted for life to this product! It really DOES make nail polish last longer and prevents chipping and flaking. This, along with Seche Vite top coat, are indispensable to my nail polish collection.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Lady Like
mualibertad 9/25/2011 9:04:00 PM
This is the current queen of 'work appropriate' in my nail polish collection. It really goes with almost everything. It goes on smooth and rich and is long lasting. I use it with China Glaze base coat and Seche Vite top coat. Definite repurchase!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Sephora - Rouge Cream Lipstick
mualibertad 11/3/2010 12:10:00 PM
I have this in Bewitched R24, a cool purple grape. I have light olive skin tone and it looks great. A nice bold departure from reds and brown. Very nice texture and staying power. Definitely something to try in whatever shade the next time you are at Sephora. Only $12 bucks which beats buying lipstick at the drugstore that it can't even swatch beforehand.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Other -Unlisted Brand - Zinc
mualibertad 5/23/2010 5:01:00 PM
If you have struggled to manage acne, you should try zinc. I've had acne my whole adult life and this is the product that has given me clear skin and ended my reliance on products such a Neutrogena On-the-Spot. This decreases oiliness, GREATLY reduces blackhead, and has totally eliminated my acne. I take 50 mg every night after dinner. I started at the beginning of this and saw results within a couple of, but dramatic results were evident after 30 days. This is amazing and I will never be without it.I know that it works because I got complacent and stopped taking it in the last month, and I saw a decline in my skin within a couple of weeks. (I first read about zinc on acne.org)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -FingerPaints - Blank Canvas Cream
mualibertad 4/3/2010 7:19:00 PM
I bought this as I've been on a quest to find a dupe for my love - Sally Hansen Pure Putty. If you love the SH, you will probably love this, even though it is not a dupe. The SH is more of a greyed out pink. (sigh) I love that this is a pale color, but applies solidly, so two coats is plenty to get the bottle color. This is classic and pretty and I can see this becoming one of my favorites.
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Polishes -FingerPaints - Putty in My Hands
mualibertad 4/3/2010 7:14:00 PM
I'm so sorry to see bad reviews for this because I love this and can see it's going to become on of those work-appropriate staples. There's been a lot of talk about mannequin hands lately. If you are olive skinned or medium toned skin color, this may be the polish to achieve that look for you. I have light olive skin and it looks lovely on my hands, not too peachy not to brown. It reminds of cafe con leche/cafe au lait. Just warm,cozy and lovely. I think this would be great for women of color. If you are pale, this may not be great on you.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Nails -Orly - Nail Rescue
mualibertad 4/2/2010 9:19:00 PM
This product really works well at holding together split or broken nails and lasts through several polish changes if you use a non-acetone remover. When it's time to remove it, use an acetone based remover. I rated this a three because the glue is clumpy and hard to work with and there is a learning curve if you simply rely on the printed directions. The powder can be messy to use. Nevertheless, I would definitely buy this again, because it is much better than the wraps or tea bag method. This is what I've learned in using this that might help you: 1) Don't dip your nail into the powder (as instructed). Instead, apply the glue, then take a pinch of powder between your thumb and forefinger and 'sprinkle' the powder onto your nail, as if you are adding some salt to a recipe. After you've covered the glue area with powder, tap your fingertip on a hard surface and the excess powder will fall off. I prefer this method because dipping your nail with wet glue into the pot causes the glue to compress and creates ridges which are much harder to file down. 2. 2 coats will make for a real strong mend, and you don't have to worry about hurting your nail bed when you smooth the ridges. 3. Make sure that you let the glue and powder dry completely before trying to file. I even will repair the nail before bed and file down the next morning. 4. The mended nail requires more filing/smoothing than you would think. It is possible to get it really smooth, so keep at it, but watch your nail bed. As you file, wipe your nail with a damp cloth to remove the filings. This will help you assess how smooth the surface has really gotten. 5. You can cover the whole nail, or just a small area, but if you get good at smoothing, it's probably best to cover the whole nail as it makes for a stronger repair job. Hope this helps.
13 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Victoria's Secret - Beauty Rush Cocoalicious
mualibertad 3/4/2010 12:44:00 PM
As people have mentioned, this is a warm bronze-brown color with some shimmer (not glittery). It looks great with my olive skin tone, but also is favorite of my cool toned, light skinned blond friend. The color enhances a nude lip and is very work-appropriate. I tend to use this several times a week and have been through at least two tubes. The packaging is a bit cheesy and you do need to reapply often, but I do love this stuff for its color, finish and texture!
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Polishes -Sally Hansen - Maximum Growth Nourishing Nail Color in Pure Putty
mualibertad 2/21/2010 10:09:00 PM
This is my favorite pale nail polish. Hard to believe, I know, but I get compliments from strangers every time I wear it. I've gone through two bottles. The second bottle is near empty and I've had trouble finding this color in stores. As someone mentioned, it's always sold out! I have olive skin tone and it is the perfect color for me.
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Polishes -Rimmel - Lycra Wear 10 +Minerals #403 Hypnotise
mualibertad 2/10/2010 10:45:00 AM
Buy this if you want an affordable but rich looking color. It's a deep bordeaux, but not so dark that's it's vampy.I'd say it's a very classic color, the kind of color you'd find in a Chanel collection. The first coat will go on thin, but a second coat will give you the color on the bottle. I definitely will be buying more in this line, and this color if I need more. This is my favorite color right now - many compliments from men and women when I wear it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -China Glaze - Fifth Avenue
mualibertad 1/16/2010 10:02:00 AM
This is a classic mauve/lilac/pink color (please see other reviews for a better description!). It's probably not considered a cutting edge shade, but in my opinion it's a staple color and one of my very favorites. It's bright and peppy without being tacky or loud. It looks great on my Latina/light olive skin. I'm new to China Glaze, but very impressed with the price, quality of the color, and durability. My last mani, China Glaze Innocence lasted a week without chips! (seche vite top coat)
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Polishes -China Glaze - Innocence
mualibertad 1/9/2010 6:04:00 PM
Lovely color that's been well-described in other reviews. Totally classy polish that's great if you prefer pale nail color or work in a conservative or corporate environment. I recommend three coats to get to the color on the bottle. While you could find a similar color in a cheaper line, they are not likely to have such a nice, rich finish that says 'expensive salon manicure'. Will become a staple for me.
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Makeup Brushes -Essence of Beauty - Smudge
mualibertad 1/7/2010 3:17:00 PM
This is a must-have if you wear liner, especially liquid liner, or use shadows to line. These are reasonably priced and of great quality. The perfect size and consistency to create a 'clean' smudge.
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Makeup Brushes -Everyday Minerals - New Flat Top Brush
mualibertad 1/7/2010 3:13:00 PM
This brush can't be beat. Great price and quality. Love the perfect fullness and soft bristles that don't harm my skin. If you use mineral foundation, this is the brush to have. It really, really changes how the foundation goes on. I sometimes will load some powder on the brush and then give it a little spritz of water before swiping it on my face. It gives a lovely liquid makeup look this way. HG for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Rimmel - 60 Seconds Extreme Nail Polish - Torrid
mualibertad 1/5/2010 10:19:00 AM
I have mixed feelings about this polish, but it is a re-purchase, here's why: Pros: The color is fantastic - as deep as a Chanel color. Gorgeous, vampy, but not trashy. One coat will give you the true color. Cheap as dirt. Dries fast. Cons: Terrible, matte finish. I stopped using it because of this, but could not bear to throw it out because it is such a gorgeous color. I just re-applied it with a top coat of Seche Vite. Use this with a really good top coat (I use seche vite) and it will be it's a must-have color.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No