Pressed Powders -Revlon - PhotoReady Powder - Translucent
pmangelo 1/2/2013 9:35:00 PM
Chalky, nasty brush, cheesy little mirror...and it broke me out. Ugh, into the trash you go.
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Styling Products -Shu Uemura - Kengo Feather
pmangelo 12/29/2012 11:17:00 PM
Not the worst product I've ever used but, for the price, it should be one of the best, so the "meh" rating will likely preclude a repurchase. I really dislike the scent, which is reminiscent of men's aftershave, and it gets gummy if I try to go a day between shampoos.
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Treatments -Kerastase - Oleo-Relax Serum
pmangelo 12/29/2012 11:11:00 PM
I'm growing out my pixie -- and, although my hair is fine and straight, I've got cowlicks all over my head so manageability can be a real issue. Love that this serum tames flyaways and cowlicks without making my hair flat or greasy looking. I've always tended to be frugal with beauty products but this is absolutely worth the splurge!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Kiehls - Amino Acid Shampoo
pmangelo 1/13/2012 10:43:00 PM
Pros: - The scent is absolutely divine -- coconut but not overly sweet. Arrgh! - Made my hair shiny, soft and manageable. Cons: - $16/bottle is ridiculous -- felt I had to hide the receipt from my husband (who generally doesn't say anything about what I buy/spend) - Activated my dormant SLS allergy to the point that I had huge, bright red peeling welts on and around both eyes. Now forced to use the aesthetically barren Free and Clear to address the flare-up. So sad...when I got the free samples at 6 Columbus Hotel in NYC, I felt so posh and pampered. Guess I was destined to use $3/bottle shampoo after all! :-(
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Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Naked Palette
pmangelo 1/13/2012 10:29:00 PM
Until I bought this palette, I was a drugstore-only cosmetics consumer -- now I am ruined forever :), thanks to the terrific colors and pigmentation. Given the quality, this is really a great value -- I also have Naked 2 and think the two palettes compliment each other nicely.Clearly, this is a gateway product...because I also have become addicted to the primer that came with these shadows!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Brows -Maybelline - Define-A-Brow
pmangelo 1/13/2012 10:25:00 PM
Nice, natural look at a terrific price -- very pleased with the way this fills the thin spots in my brows!
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Top/Base Coats -Essie - No Chips Ahead
pmangelo 1/13/2012 10:22:00 PM
Pros: - I've never had a regular (non-shellac) home manicure last this long -- it really does protect against chips! - Its super shiny finish is long lasting -- I've had people ask if it's shellac. - Does not seem to dry my fragile, brittle nails like other products can Cons: - Takes for-flippin'-ever to dry. Basically, you cannot apply it after 2 p.m. or you will have sheet marks. For nighttime manicures, apply your colored polish in the evening and then apply No Chips Ahead just before you head out of the house, with some dry drops. Your nails will be dry enough for the office after a 20-minute commute and thoroughly dry by bedtime. - Very pungent nailpolish scent. Overall, I don't think this product deserves the low ratings it's received -- you just need to know when and how to use it to get the great results it's capable of delivering.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Makeup Remover -Neutrogena - Oil Free eye makeup remover
pmangelo 1/13/2012 10:09:00 PM
Pros: - I am allergic to just about everything, including SLS and formaldehyde - and this proved not irritating at all. - Thoroughly removes even stubborn Colorstay liner and waterproof mascara. Cons: - They say it's oil-free but, damn, it sure feels oily! - Kinda expensive for a drugstore product. Just started using a couple of weeks ago - not sure if I will buy again although the lack of irritation might bring me back with a coupon.
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Polishes -Creative Nail Design - Shellac UV Polish System - 14-Day Wear
pmangelo 7/29/2011 7:36:00 PM
Amazing! I have awful, thin nails that curl and split, and a terrible short nailbed. Shellac is a miracle product - my nails are long and strong, with no splitting or curling. Hooked for life! Update: After getting shellac manicures every two weeks for 4+ months, my nails cried "uncle." Actually, I don't think it was the shellac as much as the acetone soak...regardless, though, my nails were soft and peeling for weeks, requiring intensive babying to keep from disintegrating. I'd still get a shellac manicure if I had something special coming up -- a wedding or a vacation -- but for everyday, it's back to Essie.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Lilly Pulitzer -- Beachy
pmangelo 12/26/2008 7:17:00 PM
I was with my DD when I first smelled this...her reaction was, "oh my gosh, there's a perfume that smells like you!" I am a big Lilly fan for summerwear, and love the clean, fresh smell of Beachy, especially after dry-down. Long-lasting, too. I'm in love.
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Polishes -OPI - Russian Navy
pmangelo 12/20/2008 8:56:00 PM
On a whim, grabbed it from the technician's rack before my pedicure, just because the color shimmered so beautifully in the bottle. This is a perfect pedi color -- dramatic and sexy, yet ladylike. This may become my go-to shade...
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Moisturizers -Clinique - Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
pmangelo 12/9/2008 9:50:00 PM
Wow, what a crappy moisturizer. Unbelievable that DDML still sells...truly awful moisturizing properties, yet completely occlusive. I was irritated, flaky and red...and plagued with years of cystic acne after a few weeks of use. To me, it symbolizes the racket that is Clinique. You may have labcoats, Clinique, but your product sucks!
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Masks -Queen Helene - Mint Julep Masque
pmangelo 12/7/2008 10:21:00 PM
I'm always looking for something to help tamp down oil, especially in the summer, but this product just didn't wow me. If anything, I think it stimulated oil production...my skin would feel terrific right after rinsing the mask away but, an hour later, I'd be as shiny as ever. My DD broke out terribly after using it, too. Between us, there is still half a tube left, and it's probably headed for the trash.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Clean & Clear - Oil Absorbing Sheets
pmangelo 12/7/2008 10:18:00 PM
LOVE THESE! At 45+, I am still a friggin' oil well during the hot, humid summer in the South...these things are my salvation. The packaging is not the best, but they get the job done for a great price.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Neutrogena - On the Spot Acne Treatment Vanishing Formula
pmangelo 12/7/2008 7:07:00 PM
Works well when used in combination with a salicylic acid product, but ineffective in combatting breakouts on its own, especially during the humid summer months.
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