Nails -Unlisted Brand - Dazzle Dry

pinklikecandy 5/9/2012 3:11:00 PM

What a great product! I bought this after searching for an alternative to gel manicures, which are too costly for me now. I'd always hated doing my own nails because I inevitably smudge or dent my polish. Dazzle Dry has received glowing reviews on blogs, so I bought the 6-piece kit, which included Nail Prep, base coat, top coat, and three colors. I was really skeptical about it at first, but to my surprise and delight, everything did dry rock hard within minutes. I applied three thick coats, but they dried thinly and I've had the same color on for two weeks now and apart for growth, my nails look as though I had just done them. The 6-piece kit cost $68 total and arrived within days. Each color is about $9 per bottle and I think they're only available online. Highly recommended!

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Nails -OPI - Axxium Soak Off Gel Nail Lacquer

pinklikecandy 1/12/2011 10:49:00 AM

I agree with j9falcon's review below; the damage from Axxium removal is because of impatient/inexperienced technicians. The soak-off process takes a while and should, if necessary, be followed by a cuticle pusher removal; I've successfully removed my own manicure at home without damaging my nails and I never have a problem at my salon. If someone had an issue with lifting, again, the problem is an inexperienced tech; if the gel polish touches the skin, it cannot properly bond to the nail.

I'm typically a DIY manicure person, but my love for Axxium has me back to the salon. I love having a manicure, but traditional polish manicures do not last very long on me because of the work I do; quick dry top coats pull back at the tips and look chipped; longwear top coats take forever to dry.

Enter Axxium; a pliable thin gel polish intended for natural nails. There's no odor; it's only a little thicker than traditional polish; it is more natural looking than acrylic; and the UV light cures it to a rock-hard, shiny finish that lasts on me until the growth gets too noticeable and I have to remove it. The only downside for me is that when I tried doing a fill at home using the corresponding traditional polish shade, the color did not exactly match and actually chipped off between the time of my at-home fill and next salon appointment; my Axxium stayed immaculate though.

I only get Axxium manicures; I had an Axxium pedicure, but there is no real need. I can get over a month's wear from a traditional pedicure anyway.

Please research the salon prior to getting an Axxium manicure done. The instructions are very specific. The tech should only use OPI products during the whole process and shouldn't have to mix their own formulas. Ask how the tech learned the process and if the salon has a tech who specializes in Axxium.

I pay $25 for this in Boston; $60 to get an Axxium manicure and pedicure. A regular manicure costs $12 at the same salon, but seeing as how I get at least two weeks of of shiny, chip-free wear from Axxium, it is actually a better deal.

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Eye Shadow -Shu Uemura - IR White 900Y

pinklikecandy 10/13/2008 1:01:00 PM

This is very similar to MAC Vanilla Pigment; however IR White 900Y is pressed and more golden and less pink than Vanilla Pigment.

I love this and use it daily. It looks especially nice paired with greens. I have repurchased this in the past and would certainly repurchase it in the future.

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Eye Shadow -Shu Uemura - ME Brown 850

pinklikecandy 10/13/2008 12:57:00 PM

This is a taupe shade that leans on the warm side. I love this and use it daily. It has a silky texture and has a metallic, almost wet-looking finish. It is in the standard clear plastic Shu packaging, which is to say, it is meant to be depotted into Shu palettes and costs $20 USD.

For cooler skintones, I would recommend Shu IR Brown 850. It is more silvery and a little less plummy.

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Primer/ Corrector -Cosme Decorte - Sebum Control - Matte Fresh

pinklikecandy 10/7/2008 7:07:00 PM

This is an amazing primer for oily skins. It is made by the higher tier of Kosé, a Japanese brand. The English description on the 40g tube describes the product as a "Matte lasting gel, turning into powder; oil-free formula."

I have oily, acne-prone skin. I usually use MAC Prep + Prime SPF 50 and that keeps me matte for 4-6 hours before I need to blot. So far, with this, I stay matte for 8-10 hours. It leaves a whitish cast on my skin, which is not a problem because I wear foundation over it. However, if someone wore this alone, it may pose a problem.

I was fortunate to receive this in an international swap, but from what I've seen from eBay, this goes for roughly $40-50 USD.

For what it's worth, this was voted as Harper's Bazaar's Best all-day Mattifer for Oil Control / Pore Refining in its 2007 Beauty Awards.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you?   Yes     No

Powder -Cargo - Cargo Blu-Ray High Definition Powder Makeup

pinklikecandy 9/14/2008 12:04:00 PM

Beautiful sleek black packaging, but I could not get this product to work for me. It didn't break me out, but it was not as good at mattifying than MAC Blot. It was finely milled and had a nice matte finish without looking overly flat. If my skin was less oily, I would repurchase it.

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Blush -Jane - Blushing Glow Blush

pinklikecandy 9/14/2008 12:00:00 PM

This is a glittery peach shade; it's less pink than NARS Orgasm. The blush itself is not good quality: coarse and not packed into the pan very well. I also find the large glitter particles to be very garish. I would not repurchase this.

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Blush -Milani - Double Impact - Wine & Roses

pinklikecandy 9/14/2008 11:54:00 AM

This has long been discontinued, but I luckily found a wig store that still had a few in stock. This is cool-toned, plum on one side and and pinkish lavender on the other. I was a little hesitant about this since my skin is a warm C3, but buffed on with a skunk brush, it gives me a cool pink flush. This is very pigmented, long-lasting, and easy to blend.

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Lip Treatments -L'Occitane - 10% shea butter anti-drying lip balm

pinklikecandy 9/13/2008 3:35:00 PM

I'm surprised at all the negative reviews that this item received; I have had a generally positive experience. I found it to be moisturizing and my tube was not grainy; I am only giving it 3 lippies on account of its flavor/scent and price.

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Gels/Soaps -Blue-Q - Get Real Natural Lemon Soap

pinklikecandy 4/24/2008 9:41:00 PM

I love this product! It lathers well and leaves my skin feeling nice and clean without drying it out or scratching like the Get Real Mint soap.

I got this at my local health food store for $4 and have repurchased it several times over.

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Gels/Soaps -Blue-Q - Get Real Natural Mint Soap

pinklikecandy 4/24/2008 9:29:00 PM

Ouch! That was my first reaction to trying this soap. When I took it out of the box, I was confused because it had no visible grains, but they are certainly there! I felt like I was rubbing sand paper all over my body and my skin is not even remotely sensitive. I had to use it with a very light hand lest my skin be rubbed raw. It does lather very well though. The fragrances is not very strong and fades as soon as your rinse off.

It's 4.5 ounces and vegetable based with jojoba beads as the exfoliant and avocado butter to moisturize. I got this at my local health food store for $4 USD.

Unless your skin is extremely scaly, you probably should not try this product and you should never, ever try this on your face. I recommend the Get Real Natural Lemon Soap to those who are looking for a soap/scrub.

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Gels/Soaps -100 Percent Pure - Honey Almond Foaming Shower Gel

pinklikecandy 10/29/2007 1:19:00 PM

This smells absolutely wonderful in the bottle, but that's about as far as the scent carries. I had the 100% Pure Pineapple Shower Gel and it filled my whole bathroom with its scent. This Honey Almond is not nearly as strong. It does foam nicely without drying out my skin though. But for $13, I would prefer something with a stronger scent like the Korres Almond Shower Gel.

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Lotions/ Creams -100 Percent Pure - Lemon Shea Body Butter

pinklikecandy 10/29/2007 1:16:00 PM

This is an extremely effective moisturizer; it is a bit greasy though. I used way too much the first time. It is solid in the jar, but body heat melts it down to an oil that is much easier to smooth over the body. I only use this in the winter after shaving my legs and it keeps them from getting dry and itchy. I would definitely repurchase this.

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Gels/Soaps -100 Percent Pure - Lime Shower Gel

pinklikecandy 10/29/2007 1:14:00 PM

Even though the scent is all natural, it still smells like cheap candy. It foams up nicely despite having a watery texture, but the fragrance is terrible.

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Eye Shadow -Morbid Makeup - Bloody Mary Rebel- Red

pinklikecandy 10/29/2007 1:07:00 PM

I primarily apply this with a skunk brush as a blush. It goes on as a lovely sheer fuchsia color; it is a surprisingly natural flush, like after one has been exposed to the cold. The packaging is not very good; the pan had become separated from the pot even before I had opened it. That was actually quite convenient for me as I had planned to depot it anyway. This pan is the same size as Milani, Jordana, Jane, and Cat Cosmetics blush pans, and Prestige and Missha eye shadow pans and so will fit in a Missha or Cat Cosmetics palette.

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