Styling Products -Aveda - Light Elements Defining Whip
pmnixa 2/27/2013 3:37:00 PM
Love this on wet curly hair - adds a lot of curl definition and a not a lot of oil (Control Paste, Im talking to you). I use Be Curly Lotion, Confixor, then this Defining Whip..... scrunch!!
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Powders -Smashbox - Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder
pmnixa 2/26/2013 10:25:00 AM
I was looking for an all over powder to wear with light coverage for easy weekend days where I didn't want to wear a face full of foundation. I planned to wear this over concealer. I had a few problems. The main issue, and the reason this is a NO for me, is that it felt uncomfortable on my skin (slightly irritated/itchy). Also, the way I roll, I like to touch up concealer throughout the day - it gets rubbed off and what not... when I tried to add concealer over the top of the powder and blend, it did not work at all - caused a mess on my face. The lightest shade worked for me, but would not work for paler people. The packaging was top notch though - ingenious - 5 stars for it.... you screw the mechanism inside and it dispenses a bit of product, then it comes with a nice dense brush (unheard of!) to apply. No need to drop another 40 bucks on a brush. The coverage was actually higher than I had expected - it was light to medium.
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Length Water Resistant
pmnixa 2/19/2013 11:44:00 AM
I saw a lady at Target holding this mascara. She had rockin lashes, so I asked her if this product (the yellow tubed, water resistant CG Lash Blast) was good. She said it was... took it home, applied it (was another nufangled plastic applicator - I am afraid Im never going to get used to these) but I gave it a try anyway. It was very dry, and difficult to get any product on my lashes at all. I probably would have to do 10 layers to have it show up at all. The two nearly invisible layers I put on were very hard to get off as well. I used the generic of the Neutrogena eye makeup remover and it didn't come off at all. Used DHC Oil cleanser after that and after a lot of elbow grease it came off. FAIL!
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Mascara -L'Oreal - Telescopic
pmnixa 2/19/2013 11:40:00 AM
This review (Feb 2013) is for the Telescopic mascara in the gold tube. It has a flexible plastic wand applicator with teeny tiny plastic hairs. Anyway, it sucks. It makes my lashes clump together. The wand is so flexible the first time I put it back in the tube it bent. I was able to sort of bend it back. I tried different techniques (NOT putting on the top of my lashes, NOT runnig the brush back and forth horizinally). These are techniques I normally use to maximize application but I thought maybe I just needed to do the generic sweep over the lash instead, but that didn't work either - wet clumped together mess. EEW!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Giorgio Armani - Lip Maestro Intense Velvet Color
pmnixa 2/14/2013 8:08:00 PM
Bought this in 402 and it's an amazing gorgeous bright warm red. Goes on soft and slippery then settles into matte. However the effect isn't a thick matte - it's a glowy diffused matte. The color is very similar to YLS Glossy Stain in #9, however the glossy stain is a teeny bit less bright, and it's glossy, so the two are very different. It felt soft on my lips and didn't dry them out. The doefoot applicator tip had a lot of bend in it and also was very long. I felt as if it should have been a little smaller to maximize control while applying. I got this to replace my Guerlain Extrait in Colere - it's not quite the same shade, however the formula is much better. The Guerlain cracked and peeled. Another plus is the pricepoint - this product is a lot less expensive than the Guerlain. The packaging is a bit cheap, but I like that you can see the color through it, and if it doesn't leak and migrate up into the screw cap, I will be a happy camper.
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Lip Gloss -Laura Mercier - Bon Bon
pmnixa 2/7/2013 2:40:00 PM
I am a Chanel Glossimer girl, and super picky about glosses, but the LM glosses are quite nice! This one, bonbon, is a gorgeous milky peachy pink with no shimmer. It's not sticky, has a nice scent (vanilla). This one is opaque enough to offer some color on its own and it will be nice on top of coral lipsticks this summer. (as there is no shimmer). On a side note, ordered Bellini at the same time, and it smelled bad (had a strange scent bonbon did not have).... Also the way these are designed, it appears the gloss doesn't get on the wand and make a mess - love that....
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Lipstick -NARS - Flair
pmnixa 12/11/2012 4:16:00 PM
Even if you like super bold shades like I do, you don't necessarily want to wear them every day. That's where this lipstick comes in - it's not as serious as a full on red or dark red opaque lip can be. Flair is a sheer slightly shimmery berry red that is more dark than bright. The scent is slightly herbal. It doesn't dry my lips. A great polished look for a day at work. Some similar lipsticks: Chantecaille Dahlia is similar but glossier. NARS Gypsy is also similar, but it's a little lighter, it's more warm, and doesn't have any shimmer.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Don't Touch My Tutu!
pmnixa 12/10/2012 5:01:00 PM
The search for that perfect sheer natural polish is a tough one - too streaky, too pink, too peach, too sheer, too opaque, etc etc..... Don't Touch My Tutu was one I would have though looked too white in the bottle. When applied, it's a milky white with a hint of pink/beige. Gorgeous. Goes on very easily with no streaking. (3 coats for perfection). Lovely!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Pedal Faster Suzi!
pmnixa 11/5/2012 12:17:00 PM
I was waiting for OPI to do a light cool baby pink shimmer, and here it is! It's a 3-coater for opacity, which is not ideal, but works. The shimmer is iridescent which is lovely and works well (if frosty, this shade could look dated).
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Lipstick -L'Oreal - Colour Riche Lipstick -- Volcanic
pmnixa 9/12/2012 1:28:00 PM
The Loreal Color Riche line is the only DS lipstick I will wear (only the creme versions too). I don't want to sound like a spoiled brat, but I'm picky, and whether it's high end or low end, I have high expectations! Orange is a trend right now, one that I have tried a few times with only minimal luck (that means you, Chanel Exotic). Volcanic is a beautiful orange - I don't find it too warm on me, and it's not neon by any means, there aren't any icky brown tones to it, the formula is divine (rich and creamy), the smell is lovely (similar to my all time favorite lipstick, the Guerlain Rouge G), it doesn't dry my lips, the finish is a bit glossy, it's balmy (not sticky). Don't be afraid to try this one!
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Lipstick -Chanel - Hyde Park
pmnixa 8/1/2012 11:08:00 AM
This bright coral pink rocks. The thing that is unique about it is that isn't still relatively light of a shade. It's not too dark. (IE something like a Guerlain Girly or a MAC Impassioned are bright coral pinks too but they are darker toned). Very nice creamy consistency, soaks into the lips somewhat (not waxy or slippery). Good pigmentation and staying power. No glitter or shimmer. Good job Chanel! I gave a 4 for packaging bcs I have had RAs break on me in terms of the fancy pants push bottom thing.
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Lipstick -Chanel - Rouge Allure - Exotic
pmnixa 7/31/2012 10:25:00 AM
I consider this the orange I have been looking for. Very similar to Guerlain Gipsy, but Gipsy is slightly frostier (more gold frost) and a little warmer. DCed but found it on ebay. Also Guerlain Rouge Auto in 141 is similar too, but that also seemed too warm for me and also perhaps a little lighter. This RA seems to have a bit more slip than others I have tried. (not my favorite thing, but OK).
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Polishes -OPI - Color So Hot It Berns
pmnixa 7/27/2012 9:43:00 AM
Mamma Mia! It's actually not that easy to find the perfect red creme. For a warm red creme, this is it..... wish I could find one just like this only slightly darker/cooler for winter.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Neutrogena - Visibly Bright Daily Facial Cleaner
pmnixa 7/18/2012 11:45:00 AM
I have very acne prone skin and this doesn't cause problems for me at all. The product I was using was Topic Resurfix Ultra Gentle Cleanser. I stopped using that and started using the Neutrogena cleanser and noticed my skin improved - more glow, smoother, softer. I believe the occurrence of breakouts is lessened with the Neutrogena also. I use a baby washcloth to rub the cleanser in and exfoliate. In the morning I follow it up with just a LRP SPF15 moisturizer and at night I use Avene Triacneal (glycolic/retinol). The Avene is powerful so it's really all I need for a treatment item and the rest of what I use is very mild. Perhaps the people experiencing breakouts are experiencing purging? I find this to be an awesome cleanser and the price is right too... I'd pay more for a decent cleanser but I don't have to this time!
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Knight Divine
pmnixa 7/17/2012 12:47:00 PM
Awesome shimmery dark grey with some blue. Perfect for lid shade for smokey dark grey eye. (as long as you are Ok with it being tinted slightly blue). Love this with Silver ring or Electra in inner corner and just a plain old black liner.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No