Makeup Brushes -Ecotools - Recycled Retractable Foundation Brush
mz_simmonz 11/17/2011 10:10:00 PM
I bought this on sale at drugstore.com for less than $5 and it's been one of my favorite (and best) brushes yet. I usually have to apply makeup at work since I don't have time in the morning, and the fact that this is retractable is one of its best qualities. I have always used makeup sponges to apply my foundation (a mix of Missha's discontinued Moist Foundation and ever popular M Perfect BB cream) but applying with a brush gives it a completely different finish. My skin looks a bit dewey and very well blended with just the right amount of coverage, all of which I was not able to get with great makeup sponges. The slightly pointed tip confused me a bit but the instructions on the package states that you only use the tip to dot points on your face where you want to blend out from..then you use the sides in a gently sweeping motion to spread the foundation across your face. It works! The brush is soft and gentle, and it's very easy to clean. This brush made me an Ecotools believer!
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Conditioner -Rusk - deepshine conditioner 
mz_simmonz 5/31/2011 4:02:00 PM
This is a review for their Deepshine Keratin Care Conditioner. I got the full-sized bottle from Ricky's for $9.99. It was the cheapest keratin-based conditioner they had so I gave it a try. It isn't very thick, but it does coat my hair well. I was surprised at how long the scent lingered in my hair (smelled kind of like a coconut-vanilla blend) and even more surprised at how the water was running off my hair like a sheet. It cut drying time in half and it dried in almost a sheet-like matter. My hair wasn't completely sleek, but it was a lot less frizzy than it usually is when I let it air-dry. This is most shocking during a hot, humid NYC day. I gave it one lippie off because I feel like it leaves a bit of build up, I can feel a bit of it as I run my fingers through.
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BB Cream -MISSHA - M Perfect Cover BB Cream
mz_simmonz 4/11/2011 6:49:00 PM
At first I loved this BB cream. Great coverage, dewy, natural finish, and lasted all day without a primer or finishing powder. I didn't really think my BB would have an expiration date on when its effectiveness would diminish (Missha's Moist Foundation has lasted me for an entire year and never faltered in quality). Months later, It was thinned out, made my skin dry, and made me look ghastly, its oxidation power also died I guess. I am still pondering if I should purchase their darkest shade for summer and just use it up within 3 months but I'm just disappointed that I have to go on a long hunt for a new BB cream.
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Polishes -OPI - Black Shatter
mz_simmonz 4/11/2011 6:45:00 PM
I was very excited to finally have gotten my hands (er, nails) on Shatter. I should've just bought it cheaper off Amazon or something because I was shocked it came out to be $15 after tax. Well shame on me for assuming all OPI's were $8.50. Anyway, I tried it on at work and I was a bit disappointed. It went on dry and a bit chunky. The polish inside the bottle seemed "fresh" though so I doubt I got a crappy bottle. I put it on over sheer polish so maybe I will try this at home with some more flamboyant colors. Final verdict coming soon.
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Blush -NARS - Orgasm Blush
mz_simmonz 11/29/2010 1:06:00 AM
I tried this on several times at several different Sephoras on several different days. For $26 a pop, I wanted to be absolutely sure so I didn't have to bother returning it. Because of the lighting in each store, I get a different look each time..the first time I was delighted that Orgasm looked quite pretty on me, it gave me a very pretty flush. Another time it made me look clown-ish. The latest time I applied it was a week ago and it just sat on top of my cheeks, just not fitting in with the rest of my face. The sparkles just looked way harsh and gave it a cheap looking metallic-y finish. I decided to finally give up on Orgasm, which is disappointing because this product has been raved about for years in almost every beauty magazine. Oh well, guess I saved $26.
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Blush -Bare Escentuals - Blush in Golden Gate
mz_simmonz 11/29/2010 1:00:00 AM
Normally I research like crazy before I ever buy a product but with Golden Gate I literally just plucked it out of a million other blushes at Sephora, applied it, and bought it a minute later and never looked back! It's pretty much fool-proof, I've never had the feeling I over-applied as it is very blendable, you don't need a super expensive brush, any decent brush works with this high-quality product. This can be layered so you can make it dark enough to work as a contour but light enough if you only use one layer so it can be applied as a blush to the apples of your cheeks. Also looks pretty with shimmer/highlighting powder, it's super versatile. The only complaint I have is that it doesn't quite look right on me on my "pale days", instead of brightening my face up on my bad skin days, it just looks out of place and harsh, so I concluded that it only looks nice when you have a good base to work with, it adds to your overall look, it's not a fixer upper. Overall, a great blush, one of my fave BE products.
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Hair Styling Tools -Conair - Infiniti Cord Keeper Dryer
mz_simmonz 11/28/2010 11:48:00 PM
This review may be a bit premature since this is only my 2nd time using it but so far, so good. PROS: *just the right size *cord keeper *good dry time *not a bad price *comes with 2 detachable pieces: diffuser and concentrated air. Diffuser works great for me and I don't even have wavy hair, it gives me a bit of body. *not as loud as some other blow dryers *awesomely fun fuchsia color. CONS: *cord is on the short side so it's only good for those who have a mirror right next to the outlet *adapter is clunky *detachable units get REALLY hot, kind of alarming given that they are plastic.. But for me, the pros outweigh the cons here. My hair feels very soft and smooth right now, so I'll be keeping this dryer.
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Eye Shadow -Bare Escentuals - Glimmer/In The Buff
mz_simmonz 11/28/2010 11:04:00 PM
Bought this in the store on an impluse, thinking it was a shimmery peachy pink color but when I used it at home it was more of a foily-golden-peach (should've looked it up on the website first as this is how it is described). Damn the horrible lighting @ Sephora Herald Square! Anyway...it is a nice color, but if you have yellow undertones (like I do) you may need to layer it. It's a bit glimmery but even for a loose shadow, it does not get all over your face. I like it, but just not enough so I returned it today.
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Polishes -Essie - Chinchilly
mz_simmonz 11/28/2010 9:09:00 PM
I fell in love with gray nail polish ever since I tried one on from MAC a few years ago. However, it was a bit pricey and I tried to search for a more affordable alternative and none came close but Essie's Chinchilly. It's the perfect gray because it's GRAY. not silvery, not purple-ish, just gray. It may be neutral, but it is in no way dull. It's super chic and sophisticated and perfect for autumn or winter. It's fool-proof enough for a simple DYI manicure. I'm really bad with doing my own nails and it often turns out streaky but Chinchilly's formula is smooth and goes on very evenly. One of my favorite nail polish shades!
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Makeup Brushes -Coastal Scents - Destiny Precision Angled Liner Brush
mz_simmonz 11/27/2010 12:56:00 PM
Despite all the glowing reviews on the Coastal Scents website, I only agree w/the one that mentioned how much it hurt to use this brush. The bristles are hard! I tried everything from snipping the very tip off to dipping it lightly in water, it still hurts to line my lids. This does give you a very, very thin line but if you're a newbie at creme/gel liners I don't advice you to get this brush. Sure at $2.19 and barely anything for s&h it's tempting but I'd rather just shell out another $15 to buy a second angled liner from Sephora. I use Buxom's gel lashliner, btw so the blame is definitely not on the makeup as it works perfectly fine with my other brushes. Never again!
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Makeup Brushes -Sephora - Professionnel Platinum Angled Eyeliner Brush #23
mz_simmonz 11/21/2010 10:45:00 PM
Was kind of miffed at how pricey this tiny little brush was but realized it was sooo worth the money when I used it with my Buxom lashliner. It holds just the right amount of product and distributes evenly. Best of all, it's thin enough to define just what you want, but juuust sightly "weighty" enough to not make a shaky hand's work that noticeable. It works way better than the bent one from Coastal Scents and it's a step above the one featured by Buxom. Will prob use this one until I absolutely can't anymore, prob will wait for the next F&F to re-purchase.
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Conditioner -Organix - Rejuvenating Cherry Blossom Ginseng Conditioner
mz_simmonz 8/4/2010 3:18:00 PM
The 27oz bottle was on sale for $4.99 at CVS so I had to check it out. All their shampoos&conditioners smelled so nice but I picked this one, and I'm glad I did since the others got such bad reviews. This works like any other conditioner, the consistency was somewhat thick, but not as thick as I'd like, I prefer the ones that really coat my strands. It was easy to rinse out, and it left my hair smelling very nice. I've only used it once so I'll have to wait and see the long term affects. It's not an HG, but not a waste of money either, although I would not have bought if if it wasn't on sale.
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Lip Treatments -eos - Lip Balm Sphere - Sweet Mint
mz_simmonz 7/26/2010 6:10:00 PM
How cute is this little egg shaped lip balm?? It's not as cheap as the other drugstore brands, but it's still under $5. It works like any other lip balm, but I like the fact that it's smooth from the very first use. I hate how I have to "warm up" my other lip balms with my lips are finger pad before gliding it across my lips, but theres no issue with the little EOS. It's not a miracle worker, and I don't think Sweet Mint has SPF, but it's just so cute and fun to use. I'd probably collect them all just to have one in every color, but I still prefer my Burt's Bees and Vaseline.
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Skincare - Face -Clean & Clear - Morning Burst Oil-Absorbing Sheets
mz_simmonz 7/11/2010 11:26:00 AM
Got these as a free sample and I was pleased with how well the sheets worked. They have a very, very faint, pleasant face wash scent and leave my face matte and dry. The results are temporary of course, because the oil and shine came back a few hours later (it's humid here in NYC lately) but it's good for a quick refresher.
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Lotions/ Creams -Nivea - Good-bye Cellulite
mz_simmonz 7/8/2010 5:33:00 PM
I've been using this for about 5 months on and off. Honestly, nothing will really get rid of cellulite for good, you need to just work out and massage the area daily to achieve the best results. As for Nivea's product, it leaves my skin smooth and smelling nice. I don't mind using it as an all-over body lotion but it just takes awhile to fully absorb into the skin. I love the fact that it's a cool blue gel, it makes my skin feel dewy. Just wash your hands after applying because it leaves my fingers feeling slippery. I got a full-size tube at an event so it was free for me. I checked the price of it online and honestly, I would not buy it, especially since it's a drugstore brand, there are other body moisturizers available for under $10. I didn't expect a miracle product, so I wasn't too disappointed with this.
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