Shampoo -L'Oreal - EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner
rperrin 4/27/2012 9:39:00 PM
From the first time I tried a cleansing conditioner, I knew I found a working option for at least every 2 of 3 washes. I have long, color-treated hair that used to be straight, but is increasingly coarse & kinky due to grays. My roots do get oily, yet I only wash my hair a couple of times a week due to cervical spine pain (hair does get used to it and adjust...). I've tried Wen and several versions of Sally's One, and think they both work well. Neither brand has any suds, yet EverCreme does have just a bit. If your hair has product in it or is dirty, you will not have any suds at all... Best application method: 1. Wet hair THOROUGHLY! Repeat throughout washing. 2. Don't get annoyed by the pump. Just push it down about 7 or 8 times in a row, then apply section by section to whole head adding more water as you go. 3. If you aren't getting any suds (again, you will never feel much...), rinse it out and start over. Second time around you will feel some suds and once you've applied to all hair, including the lengths, leave it on for a few minutes. 4. Rinse very well. Pay special attention to scalp, hairline, back of neck and around ears - just like a regular conditioner. 5. Every 3rd or 4th wash, switch your shampoo! Good luck. : )
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Milani - Eye Tech Extreme
rperrin 4/5/2012 2:18:00 PM
Milani just added another amazing high-end product at drugstore pricing: Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Liner in Blackest Black. It's not an exact dupe to my favorite and now discontinued YSL Easy Liner - it's better! It's a darker black, contains more product and it's about 1/4 of the price if you find it on sale. Done deal! The flexible felt-tip makes it very easy to apply a very fine and straight line and it's waterproof. If you wear liquid liner or would like to try wearing liquid liner, you should buy this today!
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Brows -Milani - Brow Tint Pen
rperrin 4/5/2012 1:35:00 PM
I have used various pro artist versions of these felt-tip brow markers, and I have to say they are fantastic! Milani, as a brand, is stepping up it's game! It comes in Natural Taupe and Dark Brown and applies like a felt-tip liquid liner. If you use it to lightly draw wisps of "hair", as opposed to a line, you will love it. It's very long wearing and will be replacing my more expensive brands as the brow marker to buy! Love it! (And check out the new Eye Tech Extreme - wowzers, black liner love!!!)
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Philosophy - high-flavor Lip Shine in Rainbow Sherbet
rperrin 10/27/2010 11:02:00 PM
Yum. Just saying... I love many of the flavored lip shines and this is my new fave! The only way they could have made this better would be to add a touch of peachy-pink color. (Philosophy folks - are you reading this? Add a touch of color similar to NARS Orgasm or a pale-mauvey nude like BECCA Sheer Lip Colour in Yasmina...) to make it look like a true swirled Rainbow sherbet.
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Eye Shadow -Becca - Eye Tint in Pewter
rperrin 10/27/2010 9:37:00 PM
As a makeup artist and lover of all products that work to create a smoky eye, or at the very least a contoured eye, this is a new fave. Now, please let me say that I do work as a National Artist for BECCA. However, I've used their products for years and only review the products that "speak to me" or my "must haves"... lol Pewter is a "must have"! I do think the name could lead a buyer to believe it's a metallic or deep silver shade, but it's more of a sheer, satin black than anything else. Not shimmery or metallic in anyway... On my fair skin with fairly oily lids, it's an amazing water-proof base for a smoky eye, or to give depth to a lighter shade of powder shadow. And it's the perfect replacement for a pencil liner to create a soft-smudged look along my lower lash line (would work well on most skin tones). A couple notes about the Eye and Beach Tints: Yes, they can be a bit watery or squirt out separated. This happens when they are new, if they've been in the heat or sat around for a while. The easy fix is to shake them well before opening, then discard any of the watery product. Don't try to mix it in with the color, as it will just make the color too diluted. But it's a small price to pay for a creme shadow that will last for ages without drying in a pot after a couple of months. I don't know that the tubes are my favorite packaging, but it's so much better than heavy glass pots. I have two tubes - one in my kit and one in my makeup bag. My personal tube is barely touched after 7 weeks of heavy use, and the tube in my kit is used even more heavily (at a couple events every weekend, for at least 5-6 people per event) and it's still going strong!
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Umberto Giannini - Collagen Pre-Shampoo Treatment
rperrin 10/27/2010 7:59:00 PM
This is one of the newest additions to the Umberto Beverly Hills line, and I tried it out for the first time last night. I used to be a Keratin Treatment junkie and have let my hair go back to natural recently, partly because of timing and partly because I missed my volume. The one thing I missed greatly was the health my hair had when I was using the Coppola Keratin, so when I was working as a freelance artist for Target's new beauty department launch they pointed out this product during our walk-through and had it in our pods/work stations. It was $10 and if you purchased it you got a bottle of their new dry shampoo as GWP. Bargain! I tried out the Pre-Shampoo treatment last night, and am very impressed. I almost didn't need a conditioner! I used my usual L'Oreal EverPure Smoothing shampoo, which is always a nice start. I will edit my thoughts on it when I use it a few more times, but so far so good! If you want smooth, hydrated hair but can't afford the price or don't want the added chemicals from a Keratin treatment - give this a shot! EDIT 4/4/2012: I used the product one more time, then never again. My hair felt horrible after I second use. Not sure why, but maybe I used it too soon after the first time. Gave it away!
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Mascara -Maybelline - Volum' Express The Falsies
rperrin 6/9/2010 12:55:00 AM
Added this mascara to my kit for some real wow factor after reading about it. I may have been the 1st to buy it from my CVS... Cool bendy brush that's the brush head version of a spoon. I've only used it in my kit with disposable wands, so I can't rave about the applicator yet, but my client raved about how lush the model's lashes looked on set today. Which means I've achieved success so far! Will update when I get my own tube. : )
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Make Up For Ever - HD Concealer
rperrin 2/23/2010 12:36:00 AM
I love the entire MUFE HD line. All of it - from concealer to foundation to powder. Can't wait to try out the new HD blush, and have heard that there is a water-proof eye shadow coming out soon! It makes me very happy! I pride myself in using the best products from a wear-ability standpoint, which means I am always trying out the newest makeup technologies. So I was thrilled when I got to play with this concealer during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week - Swim, last July (it wasn't on the market yet)! I love the way it looks on my face and under my eyes - it doesn't accentuate fine lines (I'm 39 years old). Unfortunately, it comes in a wand container with a rubber spatula shaped applicator, so MUFE loses a lippie. I feel like companies choose wands because they only hold a bit of product, forcing the consumer or artist to return frequently to repurchase. The only pro to the wand is that it's more sanitary than a pot, for sure. But I can live with all of cons due to the amazing finish and wear. Plus it photographs beautifully! Enough said!
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Kiehls - Creme de Corps
rperrin 2/22/2010 11:52:00 PM
This is my personal, winter holy grail body moisturizer. You see immediate results from this product, but you will also see long term results. If your skin cracks in the winter, this is one of the few lotions or creams that will actually make a difference. I especially love the difference it makes to keep my toes and heels very soft! If you are unsure of this purchase, ask for a sample as it's very pricey for a body lotion. Nothing more to say - love it!
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Lip Gloss -Victoria's Secret - Beauty Rush Lip Gloss in Piece of Cake
rperrin 2/22/2010 11:32:00 PM
I'm a nude lip junkie! This gloss is a pale, pearly pinky-peach nude, smells like yum, tastes like yum and looks very nice on the lips. However, use sparingly and on exfoliated lips. This gloss will look splotchy on chapped lips, but is very moisturizing. It can be a little on the thick and sticky side, but I will definitely repurchase - both for myself and my kit! It's a winner, but not a holy grail!
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Mascara -Bourjois - Easy Waterproof Mascara
rperrin 2/21/2010 11:49:00 AM
I've worn this mascara for two days in a row, and so far so good! I only wear tubing formulas, so when I read this forms a film over your lashes I thought it looked promising. It is a little clumpy, but the truth about tubing mascaras is that all of them are a bit clumpy until you remove some from the tube... In other words, wiping off the brush the first few times you pull the wand/brush out and cleaning of the opening which acts as a reservoir with extra product coming out. I use tropical locations as a gauge on the wear-ability of products, and it is holding up in the sun and heat. A few reviewers have noted that it is hard to remove, but I've found it very easy in the shower or with lots of warm water. It doesn't come off in pieces like other tubing formulas, but seems to dissolve. I would definitely purchase again, but not for myself. I would use this product in my kit with disposable wands. I do like it, but my favorite mascara is Texas Lash from Cargo. It's $5 more, but I want it black as night and thick as all get out - and that's Texas Lash. If you like this formula but want something a little thicker or with nylon fibers, also try Imju Fiber Wig. All are winners! Or if you want a product that removes more easily, give Maybelline's The Collosal a shot. I use it in my kit and it's really easy to apply.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Shu Uemura - Cream Shadow in Black
rperrin 2/18/2010 12:48:00 AM
I am addicted to this cream shadow in black. It is very sheer, but build-able to an opaque finish and it's a matte, but not dull. When I apply this to my own eyes, I make sure to build the color heavily at my lash line and blend up and out toward the crease. It will set to a sweat and water-resistant finish, and once I apply a powder shadow over it - it stays on all day, into the next... I highly recommend it to anyone looking to create a smoky eye, or a nice smudged liner look. I don't use this in the water-line, but do use it along the lower lash line. For me, the only comparable cream shadow is Make Up Forever Smoky Black. But the MUFE shadow is extremely opaque and dries much more quickly. I love them both and have different uses for each. The other reason I use both of these products over others, is that they don't turn to a charcoal shade when blended - they stay black. It's almost as important as how long they wear... Orders for other shades are in my Shu wishlist!
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Hair -Sacha Cosmetics - Sally - Hair One Hair Cleanser and Conditioner
rperrin 2/1/2010 5:50:00 PM
I normally live in Chicago, but spend my winters working in Miami. In Chicago, my hair is straight and easy to manage (except in the humid summers). In Miami, it's a major puff of frizz... Last year, and twice since, I have had Keratin treatments done. It's finally worn off... After seeing an infomercial for Wen Hair Care, I did a little research and found reviews and ads for the Sally Beauty Hair One. I read through reviews and thought it would be great to try, since I have straight-frizzy hair, that's colored (40% gray), treated with Keratin and overall needing some special attention. My hair is long, past shoulders and fine (but a lot of it). I picked up the Jojoba/Colored Treated Hair version of Hair One. On first use I followed the directions and did not find it hard to use at all. After reading reviews here, I was a little nervous. But I already spend extra time in the shower conditioning my hair, so it was a piece of cake. You will not get any suds, but the cream will emulsify with water and your hair will feel very clean. My hair looks very shiny and feels great! It still needs extra smoothing, but until I redo my Keratin treatment, it will be a little frizzy! Update: It seems to get easier every time I wash my hair. If I use a conditioner after, it's actually too much. However, I do need a heavy serum to tame a bit. My scalp feels good and feels really clean. I am not sure why it leaves other people feeling greasy or like their scalp isn't clean, but I massage my scalp really well while cleansing... Again, this is the Jojoba formula.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Cremesheen - Creme d'Nude
rperrin 3/26/2009 3:39:00 PM
I really like the texture of the Cremesheen lipsticks. They are smooth, a hint of shimmer but very creamy. Creme d'Nude is great on fair skin, or if you wear other MAC shades like Myth, Honey love, Blankety or Viva Glam II. I use it on photoshoots when I need a nice nude lip that isn't too matte. Pair it with a nice bronze cheek and a stronger eye for a great overall look.
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Bronzers -Physicians Formula - Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Pressed Bronzer in Light to Medium
rperrin 3/23/2009 11:52:00 PM
I have this product in both shades for my kit, and have a compact all for myself. I love it on all skin types! Very pretty, though I don't notice a cumulative effect. It has dihydroxyacetone in it, but it can't be very much. I am normally very pale, but spent two months in Miami this winter. I started with the light-normal then switched to the normal-dark, as I got a little darker in the sun. Whenever I have worn it, pale or tan, people compliment my complexion. It has very little shimmer in it, which tends to look cleaner on adult skin. The only bronzers I can compare it to in quality are Bobbi Brown, though hers are matte. I recommend!
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No