Styling Products -DevaCurl - Mirror Curls
s_rae22 6/11/2010 3:35:00 PM
This stuff is horrible. I have been following the CG routine and wanted to give this a try hoping it would be a silicone free alternative to a shine/smoothing serum. I purchased it through Trade Secret and it was approx. $26.00 for 1.7 oz. of product. I followed the suggestions on the bottle and used 3 pumps. I immediately noticed how sticky it felt when I started to work in into my palms and it has a strange smell that I couldn't pinpoint. I distributed it through my hair starting around my ears and raked it through to the ends. My hair immediately felt sticky and stiff, but I proceeded to try and blow dry it straight. I had such a hard time getting the brush through it that I used my fingers instead. When my hair was finally dry, it still looked wet because it was so greasy. It was also weighed down, had no movement and felt almost matted. I returned the bottle first thing this morning. I couldn't even bring myself to try it on dry hair or curly hair. I've read some good reviews on it through naturallycurly.com so maybe it works for some, but not me. I also noticed that I couldn't get it all out using just conditioner. Maybe I needed more or something heavier, but the V05 wasn't cutting it. Ick.
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Styling Products -TRESemme - Fresh Start Dry Shampoo for Oily/Straight to Normal Hair
s_rae22 5/1/2010 3:06:00 PM
I should have read the reviews before I bought this. I have darker brown hair and when I use this, it gives my hair a sort of grey tinge and leaves little white flakes behind. I also find it to be sticky, sort of like hairspray. Might work for someone with light hair if you can get past the sticky feel. I will stick to my trusty Psssst.
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Cleansers -Physician's Choice - PCA SKIN pHaze 32 Blemish Control Bar
s_rae22 12/20/2009 3:58:00 PM
I hestitate to say this, but I think the Blemish Control Bar may be my new HG cleanser. I have sensitive, combination skin and have struggled with acne for 8 years. I have tried Retin-A, Tazorac, Differen, BP, Proactiv, Cetaphil, Purpose, etc., etc. My sister is a stylist and the salon she works in sells PCA products. I decided to give it a try since I could get a decent discount. I have been using it for a little over a month now and my skin has improved drastically. I used to get 2-3 new spots a week. This month, I've only seen 2 new spots. And one of them disappeared within a few days! It has also decreased the amount of clogged pores I have. My chin had been covered in clogs for the past year and now, there are only a couple of remaining clogs that I think need something tougher to take them out. I'm not sure what did it... the salicylic acid, the sulfur or just the handy little sponge that comes with it, but whatever it is, I like it.
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Polishes -China Glaze - Ruby Pumps
s_rae22 7/11/2008 11:19:00 PM
Love, love, love!!! I find this to be a cool red that works well on my pale skin. The glitter is just right; not too chunky or rough to the touch and long lasting. I must admit, since I painted my toenails last night, I find myself staring at them just because they are so pretty! This is definitely one of my fave nailpolishes.
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Mascara -L'Oreal - Voluminous mascara 
s_rae22 2/29/2008 9:44:00 PM
3rd time is a charm I guess! I'd tried this twice in the past and hated it both times and ended up tossing each tube after about a week of use. I thought I would give it another go when I saw it at Target for around $4.00 and needed a quick beauty fix. This time I noticed how full and seperated it made my lashes look and how truly voluminous they were. I also like how the wand didn't get all gooped up and need wiped off before I could use it. I don't know if I just got lucky with this tube or what, but I can say I like this stuff quite a bit now. Hoping it lasts!
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Hair Styling Tools -Sonia Kashuk - Bristle Hair Brush
s_rae22 2/29/2008 9:40:00 PM
I kept hearing this was a k/o of the Mason Pearson brush and thought I would give it a shot as the MP is out of my price range ATM. I haven't used it to blowdry, and won't as I have a paddle and round brush for that, just used it on dry hair. It doesn't tug or pull like some brushes and it makes my hair look shiny and fuller. On the days I use dry shampoo, it works well to get it removed from my roots, which is nice. It does smell a lot like new tires, but hoping that will fade over time. I think it was worth the money I paid for it. (about $14.99 irc)
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Hair Styling Tools -GHD - IV Styler (all sizes)
s_rae22 2/13/2008 12:43:00 PM
Purchased this through Folica.com for $240.00 w/free shipping, no taxes. Did not come with the heat pouch that Folica said it would. The iron itself is wonderful! Heats up quickly (well under 30 seconds) and beeps to signal it's ready to use. Smooths and straightens hair in one effortless swipe and it seems to keep it straight, although the summer humidity will be my true test. You don't have to clamp the iron down tight either, which was a shock to me at first b/c that seems so necessary with other irons. I swear my hair looks shinier after I use this as well, even when I'm bad and don't use heat protector. I have also tried the "summer waves" style that is shown in the DVD and it's so simple to do with this iron! For reference, I have color-treated, semi wavy/thick hair that is blown dry and flat ironed daily. I have used irons from HAI and Solia in the past and this one blows them out of the water.
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Mascara -Neutrogena - Healthy Volume
s_rae22 2/13/2008 12:34:00 PM
Got this BOGO at Walgreens after I saw it advertised in a magazine. I didn't hate this mascara, but it definitely wasn't the wonder product I hoped it might be. I already have long lashes, the issue is more that I have a hard time getting them to look full. It did a fine job of separating my lashes and on a good day it did make them look fuller, but it also flaked/smudged after a few hours of wear. I can't say it improved the condition of my lashes either, but I only used it for about a month before I moved on.
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Hair Styling Tools -Solano - HAI Convertable Flat Iron
s_rae22 8/31/2007 8:38:00 PM
Absolutely adore this flat iron! In the past I've used the HAI Stik and the Solia 1 1/4" iron. After my Solia bit the dust, I decided to try the raved about HAI Convertible. This iron definitely outperforms the Solia. It gets my thick, wavy, fine hair straighter quicker and at a lower temperature than the other 2 irons. I don't have any issue with tugging or ripping of my hair and I don't notice any breakage issues either due to overuse. I would purchase this iron again in a heartbeat. EDITED 2-29-07: After less than 6 months of use the ceramic started to peel off of this iron. I am in the process of returning it for a replacement, which I am told they will do. Still disapointed that it didn't last longer and that I have to pay to return the darn thing. Purchased the GHD Styler as my replacement and it kicks the HAI's butt.
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Treatments -Jan Marini - Bioclear
s_rae22 6/11/2007 10:09:00 AM
I have suffered from adult acne for the past 4 or 5 years, mostly hormonal and on my chin and jaw. When I got pregnant, my skin seemed to get worse in a matter of days. I decided to give this lotion a try after a recommendation. Within just a few days, I noticed that my spots were getting smaller and were less red. It also prevented new ones from forming. I only use it at night and then use a regular moisturizer during the day. I haven't had any issues with burning and I consider my skin to be somewhat sensitive. After 4 weeks of use, my skin looks the best it's looked in ages.**updated** I have been using this for about 6 months now and absolutely adore it. It has become a permanent staple in my skincare routine and I use it on a daily basis without any issues. It's more than worth the already hefty price tag as it's kept my breakouts to a minimum and also cleared up my skin texture issues. LOVE!
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Makeup Brushes -Smashbox - Face and Body Brush #19
s_rae22 10/30/2006 6:27:00 PM
I absolutely adore this brush!! I purchased it strictly for applying my MMU and it works wonderfully for that purpose. The bristles are amazingly soft and dense allowing the perfect amount of powder to be picked up and distributed. The chunky, longer than your average kabuki, red handle is very easy to use and so cute. The $52.00 price tag is a bit scary, but this seems like a brush that will last me years and thus, well worth it. I highly recommend this if you're in the market for a new kabuki...it definitely beats out the BE and Cat kabuki's I've used previously!
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Subtle Pigment
s_rae22 10/24/2006 9:01:00 AM
Definitely a dupe of Coco! I think the only difference between the two is Subtle is a little less silvery than Coco, but that could be my immagination trying to find differences to justify having two of the same pigment, lol. It's finely milled like Coco with no irritating glitter particles and just as beautiful. If you have one, you definitely don't need the other unless you're a taupeaholic like myself who cannot resist.
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Makeup Brushes -Cat Cosmetics - Cat's Kabuki Brush
s_rae22 10/15/2006 7:47:00 PM
This is my second Cat kabuki and sadly, my last. While the softness of the bristles can't be beat, the quality is extrememly poor. Both brushes immediately needed washing because I noticed a gray tinge to my skin after applying my MMU...it was the dye from the bristles. When I washed them, tons of grey/black came out. The first one I purchased got about two months of use before the bristles seperated from the head of the brush and fell out. There was no way to fix it so I just threw it out and ordered a new one thinking it was a fluke. The second one lasted through about 3 weeks of use and one washing with baby shampoo before it did the same thing!!! This is the only brush I've ever had do this and most of my brushes are at least 3 years old! Will not repurchase.
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Blush -NARS - Madly
s_rae22 1/27/2006 9:03:00 AM
Sadly, I do not like Madly : ( For reference, I am an NW20 in MAC, NARS Deauville or LM Blush Ivory and cool toned. This blush comes out as a sort of brown/beige on my skin. I see absolutely no pink and only a tiny hint of peach which almost looks orange depending on how much I apply. I would definitely not call this a seashell pink, at least not on my skin. I've tried this with my skunk brush and the MAC 129 brush and neither way makes it look any better. As far as pigmentation and lasting power, it's excellent. I typically love NARS blushes, I have about 10 that I absolutely adore so this is more of an issue of the color just being wrong for me. Definitely try it before you buy it if you can because I've heard this is a chameleon blush and the color really does vary on each individuals skin.
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Hair Styling Tools -Unlisted Brand - Jilbere de Paris Ceramic Tools Tourmaline Series Dryer
s_rae22 1/5/2006 9:39:00 AM
http://www.sallybeauty.com/shop/1630/345608 (link shows dryer information) I must say I was not impressed with this dryer. I had been using the Conair Silverbird dryer which has ceramic technology and kept hearing raves for styling tools that used ceramic and tourmaline, so I was curious. The dryer was $54.99 at Sally's and I thought worth a shot as it was not only ceramic and tourmaline, but also ionic. The first day I used this, I noticed that the location of the switches on the handle was a bit of a challenge. On the Silverbird, these are on the side of the handle, on the Jilbere dryer, they're on the front part of the handle. I kept hitting the hot/cold switch and it took me a a couple of uses before I could find a comfortable way to hold it without turning it off and on, etc. My actual drytime did seem cut down some. I typically take about 10 to 15 minutes to dry my hair using the Silverbird (I have thick, almost shoulder length hair with shorter layers) and this seemed to get it all dry in no longer than 10 minutes. However, this dryer got TOO hot for my liking. Even with the concentrator nozzle on, I felt like I was burning my scalp if I didn't keep the dryer in constant motion. When I had finished drying, I did feel that my hair looked shinier. I flat ironed as usual and used my new Solia iron and noticed how flat and almost stringy my hair looked. At first I figured a bad hair day, but then after using both tools three more times, there was no improvement. I then went back to my Silverbird and followed up with the Solia and instantly, my hair returned to normal. I have heard ionic dryers tend to cause flat hair and now I believe it. For me, this dryer was not a winner and I am returning to my trusty Silverbird. I think this might be better for someone with longer and coarser/frizzier hair. I will be returning mine to Sally's today.
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