Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - EXTRA VIRGIN Coconut Oil (All brands)
oooHUNTRESSooo 4/13/2013 7:11:00 PM
This review is only for my experiences in using coconut oil on my HAIR. My hair is naturally fine. I have an oily scalp and my ends are prone to drying, but nothing crazy. I've used coconut oil as a weekly pre-wash treatment for a few months and it has made my hair so silky smooth and shiny. I put a small bowl with oil into warm water, melt it and spread it all over my hair. I just don't put it directly on my scalp. I try to leave it in for at least a few hours, preferably 4-6 hours. It is a bit hard to wash out, especially if I use a sulphate-free shampoo, but I do find that 2-3 good shampooings take everything out. From the first use I noticed my hair was getting softer, but the real results came about a month or two later. I have never had such healthy, shiny and silky hair. It's so easy to comb it out, I practically have no split ends and the general condition of my hair is pretty great. I haven't tried using it on my face or body because my skin is oily and prone to breakouts and the stories of big acne caused by this oil have scared me enough. And besides, I have a good skincare routine that helps keep my acne at bay (thank you Paula's Choice 2% BHA lotion). However, I will keep using and repurchasing it for my hair because the results have really been stunning. Also, I always check to see I am buying the virgin, unrefined, cold pressed version.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Chanel - Blush brush 4
oooHUNTRESSooo 2/6/2013 4:22:00 PM
This is a new edition of their blush brush. I think it came out sometime in 2012. I'm not sure what the hair is made of, but it's definitely natural, probably goat. The brush itself is dense, pliable and very soft to the touch, but not as soft as synthetic brushes. However, it applies powder products so much better than synthetic brushes. For reference, I used the Ecotools blush brush before, as well as the Everyday Minerals kabuki. Both were nice, but Chanel is excellent. Not because I'm a snob who only thinks expensive products are better, but because this really blends my blush better, makes my powder less cakey and generally distributes all powder products in a different way. With synthetic brushes, it was hard to blend blushes, but with this even the most pigmented ones (e.g. Illamasqua) go on like a dream. My powders used to look a bit heavy on my face, but the Chanel brush helps me use less products which in turn makes powders look more natural and even blurs some of my minor imperfections. Also the size is excellent for so many things: blush, bronzer, contour, powder. The only downside is that it sheds. The first week it shed about 10 hairs in total, then it started losing one hair per application and after about 2 -3 weeks it stopped. The loss is not so big that it became less dense, but it's still very annoying, especially because this is not a chep brush by any standards. I'm not sure I would recommend it. Although it performs wonderfully, I still think there might be some equally good, non-sheding brushes out there.
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Makeup Brushes -Sigma - E20 Short Shader (was SS214)
oooHUNTRESSooo 2/6/2013 4:05:00 PM
I wouldn't really describe this as a must-have brush, but it's still very nice for detailed work. I use it for highlighting my browbone, applying eyeshadow on my bottom lashline or smudging eye pencil. It's especially good for connecting the outer corner of my bottom and top lashline. My eye is rounded and I have long lashes so this can sometimes be a bit tricky because I can't see that outer part really well, but this brush helps make a precise line. I've had it for a few months and washed it several times, both with soap and makeup remover, but no hairs fell out. It's not the softest brush in the world, but I noticed no scratching or irritation whatsoever. Also, it hasn't lost its shape at all. All in all, I would recommend it to those who use a lot of eyeshadow and like more elaborate looks or do makeup on others. As I said it's not an absolute must have for everyone, but I really enjoy using it and it has proved to be quite handy on a lot of occasions.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -Maybelline - Dream Matte Pressed Powder
oooHUNTRESSooo 2/6/2013 10:19:00 AM
Wow, such a great powder for a low price. I got this about a month ago and have been using it every time I do my makeup. It sets my foundation wonderfully and leaves a silky matte finish which doesn't look too flat. I am a fan of mattifying products because my skin is very oily, but this does not make me look dead matte. I use a few hydrating products which can make me look a bit shiny. This is where this powder comes in. It cancels out most of the shine, but not all of it so I end up with a satin matte finish which lasts several hours without becoming a shiny finish. Mind you, someone with less oily skin could probably last the whole 8 hours without needing to touch up. If I use all matte products undreneath, the effect is more flat. This powder is not super finely milled, but this doesn't bother me because it translates very well to the face and doen't look powdery at all. If anything, it even helps to blur out some of my minor imperfections. It's also woth noting that I always use it with a brush made of natural hairs. This seems to blend it a bit better and I don't apply as much product as I would with a synthetic brush, which might make this look a bit cakey. It doesn't give any substantial coverage. If you used it on its own, perhaps it would even out the skintone a bit, but that's all. Redness and other discoloration needs to be covered with foundation/concealer. For reference, my shade is Sand Medium 0-1, but I think they changed the shades recently. This color suits me quite well, and I am somewhere around MAC NC20-25 and Revlon Colorstay 180. However, considering that this does not give much coverage, I think I could have gone with the lighter shade as well.
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Clump Crusher mascara
oooHUNTRESSooo 12/30/2012 8:22:00 PM
Really loving this product. This is my first covergirl mascara so I have no idea how it compares to others, but this one is a true treasure. It separates my lashes and lengthens, but still gives volume after 2 layers. It doesn't smudge, but it's easy to take off, i.e. it doesn't require heavy rubbing. I love that it has 13 ml so it will last me a long time. It's very black and manages to curl my lashes as well. But be warned, my lashes are not stick straight and are easily curlable. And of course, clumps are nowhere to be found. I can apply 6 layers (but I don't do that) and I would still get decent separation. I will definitely repurchase it and I dare say I give it a silver medal for my best mascara award (right after bourjois volume glamour ultra black). If it stays this good, it might even make it to the very top!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Body -LUSH - King of Skin Body Conditioner
oooHUNTRESSooo 12/6/2012 4:15:00 PM
I was hoping this would be a lot better than it is. First of all, the smell is nothing special. I expected it to be warm and inviting, but instead I got a bland mix which doesn't invoke anything special and is generally just blah. The moisturizing properties are nice and they are the only reason I gave this a 4. My skin feels nice and soft afterwards. However, it doesn't fully absorb and a residue is left so I have to wait a while before I can get dressed. I can imagine someone with very dry skin liking this better than I do. I apply it in the shower after washing and then rub it in very well. I am careful not to apply too much, but still enough that it coats my body evenly. Then I give myself a final rinse which doesn't remove the butter, but just makes it spread more easily. Also, a little does NOT go a long way. I used it 3-4 times and already it is obvious it will not last a very long time. All in all, I expected something a lot more inviting. If moisturizing is the only thing you're interested in, there are a lot of products which offer more and cost less. Will not be repurchasing.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Paula's Choice - Clear Targeted Acne Relief Toner with 2% Salicylic Acid for all skin types
oooHUNTRESSooo 12/6/2012 4:03:00 PM
I have the extra strength one. My skin is oily and prone to blackheads and blemishes, but no big inflammations. I've been using this for a month and I can honestly say this is a holy grail product. Nothing has ever cleared out my skin like this (except for hormonal contraception). I started noticing results after a few days. My skin was becoming less bumpy, blackeads started to diminish and blemishes became less prominent. Today I have no blemishes. Not one. I still have some red marks, but not bumps at all. My forehead and chin used to have regular annoying visitors, but this toner took care of them. I religiously use it twice a day, pour it sparingly onto a cotton pad and massage for a minute. I wait until it absorbs (about 15 minutes) and then continue with moisturizer. The downside is that it's a bit drying. The weather is now getting a bit colder so my skin needs more hydration than usual. I always make sure I moisturize well after this. I use Avene Hydrance Legere and my skin stays supple and blemish-free. I cannot stress enough how happy I am that I found this toner. If it continues being this good, I will repurchase it forever. In case of any changes, I will be sure to update this post.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -LUSH - Jumping Juniper solid
oooHUNTRESSooo 12/5/2012 1:16:00 PM
Did not like this at all. It made my hair squeaky clean, i.e. it dried it out like crazy. It didn't help with the oiliness at all. The price is too high for the amount you get. Storing this product is very messy and time consuming if you don't have their shampoo bar tin (which also just makes you spend more money). I really wanted to like this, but it just didn't work for me. I will definitely not be repurchasing it and it has put me off trying any other Lush shampoo bar. Very disappointed.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Maybelline - Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner
oooHUNTRESSooo 12/5/2012 1:02:00 PM
This is the only gel liner I have tried, but it's so good I have no desire to buy any other ones. The color is very black and the brush that comes with the liner is excellent. It allows for very precise application and is quite fuss-free. I can create bot thin and thick lines and making the wing at the outer corner poses absolutely no problems. Lasting power is amazing. I have worn it in extreme cold an heat, for 4 or 12 hours and it never even moved. My only complaint is that it dries out before I am able to finish it. After about 8 months I noticed it was getting hard to apply it and it started to tug on my lid slightly. By 12 months it became unsuable and I had 1/3 left of the product, but I still had to throw it away. I am not sure if the packaging is to blame or the product itself is simply prone to drying out, but I would have liked to use it all up, instead of having to buy a new one before the old one is done. However, the price/quality ratio is very reasonable so I won't hold this against it. I wholeheartedly recommend this both to beginners (because of ease of use and the included brush) and more advanced users (because of very high quality).
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Christian Dior - Diorskin Forever Flawless Perfection Fusion Wear Makeup (new - 2011 version)
oooHUNTRESSooo 11/21/2012 8:42:00 PM
I am very happy I didn't buy this foundation. I expected it to be wonderful, but got an average formula that does not nearly deserve its price. It's full of alcohol so it looks dry once applied and as the day goes on, it keeps looking even more dry, but also more oily. It sounds strange, but my skin is very oily and dehydrated so this foundation doesn't mattify enough and makes my dehydration even worse. The shade selection seems to be nice. I was matched to 020, which is a light neutral and although I am slightly yellow, this colour melted into my skin seamlessly. The coverage is somewhere around medium, depending on how you apply it. Fingers achieve lighter coverage, and a dense synthetic kabuki makes it a bit more opaque. But this is nowhere near e.g. revlon colorstay or estee lauder double wear. It feels light on the skin and it didn't make me break out. Also, it didn't melt off my face. If it didn't have so much alcohol, it would be a wonderful choice for normal to oily skin. But this way, I don't recommend it to anyone.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Kerastase - Bain de Force
oooHUNTRESSooo 11/14/2012 9:26:00 PM
I had such high hopes for this product as I have heard many great things about it. And partly, they were true. My hair became less prone to split ends and generally healthier looking. However, the big no-no for me was that it became greasy a lot faster. My hair is usually oily, but with this I couldn't last 24 hour without washing it. I normally wash it every other day, but this just made it go very greasy very fast. I have no idea what caused it because I don't recognize any silicones or oils which are the usual culprits. Nevertheless, I am very sorry this did not work out for me because everything else, except for the price, was pretty great.
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Lotions/ Creams -Korres - Vanilla Cinnamon Body Milk
oooHUNTRESSooo 10/26/2012 4:53:00 PM
This is my favorite body milk. Let me just warn you that the skin on my body is not overly dry, but mostly normal with a hint of dryness, especially in the winter. It's very moisturizing, but doesn't leave an oily residue so it's excellent for those days when you have to get dressed immediatley after applying your body cream. The smell is divine - I don't notice much vanilla, but mostly clove (surprisingly) and some cinnamon. It's not what I expected, but it's still wonderful. Very warm and wintery, it would be too sweet for summer. When I smell it, I think of drinking hot chocolate and reading a book under a warm blanket. Quite comforting indeed. It makes my skin silky soft and the effect lasts until I take my next shower. This is NOT one of those products that make your skin looking good for just a few hours. Also, doesn't contain alcohol, parabens or mineral oil. I very much like the fact that it is nourishing thanks to sweet almond oil and shea butter, among other things. Will definitely repurchase this as it has impressed me quite a lot.
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Treatments -Neutrogena - Oil-Free Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment [DISCONTINUED]
oooHUNTRESSooo 7/11/2012 3:07:00 PM
Neutrogena claims this product both fights acne and moisturizes. The first claim is true, but the second isn't. I wouldn't really describe this as a drying treatment, but my skin definitely doesn't feel moisturized. And I'm quite oily and not prone to dehydration in the summer. This doesn't bother me because it's currently very hot and I am in no need of moisture, but I'm not sure I will continue using this in the winter or if I will have to combine it with something that actually does give a bit of water to my face. As far as the acne fighting part goes, it does what it promises. After a few days of using this, I have felt less bumps when touching my face, my pores became less clogged, which resulted in an overall improvement of the look and feel of my skin. Mind you, I am not too ance-prone. My cystic acne and painful inflammation days have, hopefully passed, never to return again. I am, however, prone to small bumps and my pores get clogged very easily, although I clean my face regularly, without being too harsh. The only real problem I have with this treatment is that it stops working after a few weeks. This is not uncommong for me. All treatments containing either AHAs or BHAs become less effective over a short period of time so I have to switch between the regularly. I am currently combining this with Avene Cleanance K, which is an AHA-based treatment. Every 2 weeks, I stop using one, and switch to the other. This has been working excellently, I have very few bumps and my skin has been reacting very well to this regime. This treatment doesn't aggravate my skin, it's not irritating and it smells very nice and fresh. All in all, I would recommend it for people who don't suffer from dehydration and want an effective BHA product.
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Bronzers -Stila - Stila Sun SPF 15 Bronzing Powder - Shade 01
oooHUNTRESSooo 5/9/2012 8:34:00 AM
I find this bronzer works very well for me. I'ts finely milled and quite soft. It's also not too pigmented, which makes application easier and less fussy. The shade is not too dark for my NC20/25 skintone and looks natural when applied. However, the undertones are most certainly warm, even slightly orange. This doesn't bother me because my skin leans towards the yellow side, but the more pinkish girls may find this looks muddy or unnatural on them. Also, I mostly tend to use it with warmer blushes because it can clash with cooler pinks or plums. All in all, I am very satisfied with this product and reach for it often in the summer months. It's not as big as some other bronzers which I find is a good thing especially when travelling. It would probably be too light for those with a darker skintone, but it's excellent for us who are fair/light/medium with yellow undertones.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Illamasqua - Tremble
oooHUNTRESSooo 5/5/2012 11:07:00 AM
This is currently my favorite blush. As other reviewers have described it, it's a warm pink leaning on the peachy side. Illamasqua's description of this shade (warm lilac pink) is quite misleading because there is nothing lilac in this product. The pigmentation is amazing. I need the smallest amount to make my cheeks look beautifully and naturally flushed. I'm not sure if this would go well with cooler undertones because it is an obviously warm shade, but for us yellowish girl, it's a gift sent from heaven. The color is also quite versatile. I find I reach for it both during the day and evening and I combine it with a number of eye colors. I have yet to find a look which this blush doesn't complement. It is matte, but not a flat kind of matte. There is no luminosity, but I guess the vibrancy of the color makes it not look dull. As for the staying power, I have no complaints. I would go out at 8 in the evening and it would still be there at 4 am. However, a bit of fading can be noticed, but nothing terrible. It does have some fallout, but I think that's because it is extremely finely milled. It really feels like silk. And I find it hard to understand why this isn't as hyped up as Katie or Hussy. It's far more versatile and wearable on more skintones.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No