Eyes -Unlisted Brand - Careprost~Generic Brand Latisse 
scridsrolls 10/2/2012 1:48:00 AM
Bought my Careprost from inhousepharmacy.biz with no issues and got a good working product. :o)
General comments: I have been using this product for over 4 months now. I apply this nightly with the method suggested by other MUAers; by placing one drop in the cap's well and using a brush dipped into the drop (only one drop is needed for both eyes.) Instead of a makeup eyeliner brush, I actually use a very fine artist brush that I bought from Michael's. This way, I get the product directly into the lashline and no where else on my eyelid. (I have avoided that "pink puffy" line along the eyelid that some people experience.) I am extremely careful about application--I don't think it's a good idea to get this stuff into your eyes if you don't have glaucoma. I dab the product into the lash line twice and this completely uses up the drop. Then I wash and dry the brush and cap after use--every time.
First month: The first two weeks I used this, my eyes were red and rather dry. The constant redness subsided after several weeks but I still notice that my eyes become a bit red everytime I use Careprost. I use it on most nights, so I don't have to worry about going out in public with slightly red eyes. The first month, I didn't notice much of a difference. I am half-chinese, so I naturally have the typical sparse, short lashes. I wasn't so much interested in developing length as I was thickness. However, after about 4 weeks of use, I noticed that *some* of the lashes were *definitely* several millimeters longer. Encouraged, I pressed into month 2!!
Second month: By the end of the second month, my lashes were *definitely* looking impressive. Several millimeters of growth on most of the lashes by this point. I was floored. This stuff....actually works!! I had never had lashes this long, ever. I had tried falsies in all sorts of styles and many types of mascaras, but these were mine, all mine!! Still not as much thickness as I would have liked, but the length made them noticeable. I began to notice that the treated lashes began to curl a bit, and some developed a "kinky" sort of look.
Third month: By this time, my lashes were getting...I'll just say it...ridiculous. I would never, ever have dreamed of using that word for *my* pitiful eyelashes. I always wore thick eyeliner to try to make up for my lack of a lashline, but by this point I ditched eyeliner *completely.* I began to notice a little extra thickness, and lashes growing in the INNER corners of my eyes, near the tearduct....where lashes have never grown before. Oddly, the lashes towards the inner corners of my eyes (those on the actual lashline) grew the longest, and not the ones on the outer corners. I actually had to let up on application towards the inner corners of my eyes, as these were getting so long it began to look silly. I also had to let up on mascara application, as my eyelashes now looked so long that they just seemed fake with too much makeup on them.
Fourth month: Lashes have not grown longer than they were in the third month. I was hoping to have developed at least more thickness by this point, but they seemed to have reached a "standstill." Overall, I have gained 4-6 millimeters total on lash length from when I started, I kid you not.
The WORST thing about using Careprost is that it seems to get your lashes on the same growing cycle. So they all seem to shed at the same time. I noticed this was the worst after 4 months of use. Clumps of them would fall out for days at a time, so while the few I had left were extremely long, one eye would have more lashes than the other, and both would be super gappy. This is very frustrating. You just have to be patient and let them grow in all over again.
14 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Stila - Yumberry Crush
scridsrolls 8/6/2010 1:13:00 AM
At first, I hated this. There were the usual click-pen woes, and I felt that this applied extremely unevenly. I tossed it in the back of my makeup drawer and abandoned it for several months. APPLICATION: Upon a revisit, I found that this was exactly what I'd hoped for, but a little learning-curve was necessary to getting the best performance out of this. Once you get the brush tip "charged," the trick is to keep the brush full of stain but not gushing, so that it's ready to use next time. I click it twice before using it, once or twice while applying, and twice after I'm finished. Too much product in the tip will not give you the control you need to apply this. With that said, my technique is to *always* exfoliate my lips with a damp washcloth prior to using, then let them dry completely. If you don't, you risk uneven application. I then lightly tap the product, blending lightly as I go, around the perimeter of my lips, filling them in last. It helps to do several very light layers to control how evenly this appears. If you attempt to just glop it on all in one swipe, it will probably not look very natural. Let your lips dry completely. This is very drying when worn alone. You really need to layer this with other products. So I always dab a bit of lipstick over this, or some emollient lip balm such as Korres lip butter. Topping with gloss also works, especially if you've fudged the application a bit and it looks a tad uneven...top it with a shimmery gloss. COLOR: The color is a sheer bright berry pink, with a very subtle pearly finish. You can create very lovely lit-from-within-berry-stained lips using this and layering it lightly with a great reddish berry lipstick. LONGEVITY: For me, this lasts most of the day. Longer than anything else I put on my lips. It does wear unevenly, and eating/drinking exacerbates the issue. I choose to top it with sparkly gloss once it gets to this point, rather than to try to reapply it. Overall, if you hated this at first, give it another try. I'm glad I did.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Silk Naturals - Kisser Slicker in Nectar
scridsrolls 10/23/2009 12:20:00 AM
Clinique's Black Honey is a best selling color, and for good reason...it looks like that fabulous "my lips but better" color on so many women. Silk Naturals has attempted a dupe of it in their organic solid lip glosses, which are wonderful...they are very emollient and moist, mostly all natural, and have a very good color payoff.
I tried these side by side on my lips; black honey on one side of my lips, nectar on the other. "Nectar" does look like Black Honey...but it is actually a bit darker/more pigmented. The texture is different too....it's softer and more emollient than the lip-balm texture of black honey. More like a lipstick and less like a balm. For some, this may be reason enough to rejoice. Overall, it's a very successful dupe; I'd suggest giving it a try. I give it 4 lippies because it's not a "perfect" clone. The owner of Silk Naturals says that Nectar is limited edition; it may not be around in the future. Which would be a shame, because it's a really great color.
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Powder -Silk Naturals - Mineral Foundation
scridsrolls 10/23/2009 12:07:00 AM
Quick Overview: I've been using mineral makeup for about five years now; started out using Bare Escentuals and then switched to Every Day Minerals...which I truly loved. But I'd heard a lot about Silk Naturals, and EDM did away with the old free sample program they used to have which made me mad, so I switched...
Packaging: I ordered the Warm Gold kit in Medium coverage. I also threw in a sample of Ebony (peach/pink tone) to mix with the gold color. A little tulle bag arrived with a small pouch of pure white powder, and even smaller baggies of the colors. The kit also comes with a smidgen of perfecting powder to try, an empty container with a sifter, and a tiny, tiny little scoop for measuring. Plus instructions. The pouches seemed small to me, like there really wasn't $12 worth of foundation to be had. Overall...not impressed, but it's the makeup that counts. So I continued on. :o)
Mixing Process: I'd never mixed my own fdn before, so it was an interesting experiment. I got it mostly right on my first try, after being very skeptical about reading other reviews of ladies who'd said the same thing. I thought, "first try, yeah right, can't be that easy." But I guess I got lucky. I adjusted it slightly afterwards. I think mineral makeup is very flexible and the color doesn't have to be exactly perfect for it to still look good. It was almost comical using the minuscule little scoop they included, and when I mixed up the amount the instructions suggested, the sifter container wasn't even a third full. TAKE NOTE: As other reviewers have mentioned, this foundation really does appear lighter in powder form than it will on your face. It DOES DARKEN slightly after 5-10 mins or so; not oxidize or turn orange, but just blends with the oils in your skin and darkens a bit.
Coverage/Application: I used my EDM flattop brush to apply the foundation. The fdn buffed on very smoothly. But it didn't seem finely milled to me; seemed somewhat grainy. The coverage was fair for a medium strength powder, but it didn't look like natural skin. Just seemed...powdery over my discolorations, freckles, and red areas. I've given this a solid week before reviewing it, and I still feel the same way about it. I have combo skin; slightly oily/acne-prone tzone, with normal to dry/flaky cheeks. It's very annoying. This does pretty well in oily areas, though it caked around my nose which tends to get oiliest. However, how it handled the dry areas of my face is what pushed this to an average rating for me. I exfoliate and moisturize thoroughly, but this fdn amplified every microscopic flake. It made my drier areas look painfully dry, and caked up around my greasiest areas. It didn't look "natural," it just looked like make-up.
Longevity: This lasted a good while, it didn't fade away except in oily areas after blotting several times throughout the day. Didn't get any darker or anything like that as the day wore on.
Overall, this fdn seems to work well for most folks, but it didn't give me the "flawless skin" look I was going for. It was just too powdery...maybe not finely milled enough, or just not suited to folks with dry skin. Sigh!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Fresh - Sugar Rose Lip Treatment SPF 15
scridsrolls 8/24/2009 4:27:00 PM
Intrigued by all the fuss about this product, I splurged on it. And I mean splurged, as I NEVER spend more than 10 bucks on something for my lips.
Packaging: This is why I gave the product 4 stars instead of 3. Super sturdy, elegant packaging. Tube is a frosty rose-pink color, made of metal, I think. Heavy. Cap screws on which I like. The box it came in was very cute.
Application: Lip treatment does indeed have a "lemon cake" smell...it's most apparent when applying it and the scent fades very quickly on the lips. I like it; feels very "fresh," lol. Has a very faint lemony taste; not noticeable, really. Color is a bright pink in the tube but applies as a soft pink wash on the lips. Don't buy this for the color; you can get this type of look for your lips for $3 at the drugstore using any tinted lip balm. But it has other redeeming qualities. Texture is soft and smooth; not too shiny or glossy.
Longevity: The product remains on my lips for a good while, though the color and sheen does fade, when I rub my lips together I can still feel the lip treatment there. It does moisturize and improve the look and feel of lips. I like what it does for my lips, and I love that it's made of many natural ingredients and doesn't have silicones in it, as I'm allergic to them.
Would I buy it again? For this price, absolutely not. I bought it more for the "experience" of applying a luxury lip balm. It smells nice and looks nice on the lips, and it's pretty to look at in the tube. But as others have said; there are many other products out there than will moisturize and add even more color than this for much less money.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Clinique - Almost Lipstick - Black Honey
scridsrolls 8/21/2009 12:04:00 AM
There's been a lot of buzz around this best seller from Clinique for many years, and it's not hard to see why. I received a sample of this in the ugly plastic green packaging, and that alone deterred me from using this for a while. Plus, it looks very, very dark in the tube. However, once I did try it...I was hooked. I wouldn't care if the tube was cardboard; I'd still wear this color.
I. Love. The. Texture. I am a tinted lip balm kind of a girl..I don't like how heavy lipstick can be, and I don't like glossy/unnatural looking lips. This glides on smoothly and is very much like a fancy tinted lip balm.
I also *love* the color...big time. It's ...so perfect, on so many people. It's a reddish berry color with a touch of brown in it. But it's sheer, so very workable. A great "your lips but better" color. The color is buildable, so you can apply it as a sheer wash, or more heavily for more pigmentation. It wears very well too...it does tend to fade rather quickly but it leaves a nice stained appearance behind. I don't rate many items with 5 stars, but this is certainly worth them all. I'll be buying this again.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Styling Tools -Revlon - Ion Select Hot Air Brush
scridsrolls 6/29/2009 11:49:00 PM
Who else is hair-styling impaired?? Am I the only one who finds holding a dryer in one hand and a brush in the other difficult, and straightening hair section by section with a flat iron too tedious? I needed something simple...a one-handed tool. A hot air brush. Ok, I can brush my hair. So I figured I'd give this a try.
I am typically a wash-n-go type of person. I don't really use hair products...I have thick, naturally wavy hair and somedays it's just so blahhh. I like a sleek look now and then, so after sad bouts with the hairdryer and flat iron, I gave Revlon's hot air brush a try. Ok, it's cheap...not just pricewise but quality wise too. I doubt it will last long. The plastic is flimsy and the bristles on the brush are too soft to effectively "brush" my thick hair. They barely go through it all. Did I mention this tool is LOUD?? I use earplugs when I use this, I'm serious. I use it on high, so it's louder, but I don't feel that it gets hot enough on low. I use the Ion switch on high, but I don't really see anything special about it's "ionizing" feature.
The bristles do more to "smooth" the top layer of my hair than actually brush it. But after some effort, I must say, this does smooth hair. I think styling products make a big difference, though. I haven't tried this without them. I use Sunsilk straightening shampoo and conditioner, as well as their 24/7 straightening creme. I also use John Frieda's heat protectant/anti frizz spray. I am pleased overall with this method of straightening my hair. It won't get it as slick as a flat iron will get it, but for styling-challenged folks like me, this may be the tool to use.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Almay - Pure Blends Eye Shadow in Sage
scridsrolls 5/19/2009 12:17:00 AM
Cheapy packaging; white laminated cardboard with a magnetized flip lid and a little plastic window, but I'm ok with that. I was initially impressed with the eyeshadow, as I've tried many other drugstore varieties that don't compare to this. I didn't find it chalky, like the first reviewer stated, though it wasn't necessarily silky like expensive brands. It can be a bit difficult to blend but I just brush it on with a soft eyeshadow brush until I get the coverage I need. It has a strong smell. This can be applied as a soft mossy gray very lightly, or you can get more of the brighter sage color by stroking it onto your lids with your fingertip. Shadow applies pretty much true to color, and doesn't seem to crease. However, it does fade and by the end of the day the shadow (and I applied it heavily for more color) had faded to a gray color.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Biore - Pore Cleansing Strips - Nose
scridsrolls 5/17/2009 4:21:00 PM
Not very effective, overall. Like some reviewers have said, they work impressively well the first or second time...but they often do NOT work well. Applying them "correctly" does seem to be an art. I have very, very small white blockages in my nose pores. I have tried these strips repeatedly to try to remove them (the little clogs give my nose a "rough" appearance and feel, and enlarge my pores, so I am desperate to remove them.) I do all the tricks...taking a warm shower, heating my nose with a wet, hot washcloth prior to using a stip, and even exoliating with salicyclic acid, but most of the little clogs will not come out. I have experimented with different ways of pressing the stip down and even the amount of water on my nose, but nothing really seems to do the trick. These can be painful to remove and will definitely cause some tears if you remove them slowly, which seems to be the most effective way of removing clogs. They do damage your skin and will leave your nose very red and itchy/stinging for a while. It's worth a try, but don't expect excellent results every time. Guess I'll try the Ultra ones, even though they're more expensive. If those don't work, I'm giving up on pore strips for good.
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Eye Shadow -Silk Naturals - Eyeshadow (All)
scridsrolls 4/26/2009 11:31:00 PM
With the exception of some of the cream/highlighter shades, I've not been impressed at all with Silk Naturals eyeshadows. The color payoff does not seem to be very strong, and they are quite "powdery," and can be difficult to blend, because they are so soft. You are more apt to wipe away the eyeshadow with your brush than spread it evenly. The color on the eyes is different from what you may swatch on your hand, and the website swatches do not look that way on your eyes, from my experience. I've tried both light shades and darker ones...the darker ones tend to be more disappointing. They often apply on my eyes as a thin, powdery, hard-to-blend gray, with a hint of whatever color they are supposed to look like. The more I try to blend them, the more they disappear from my eyes completely. Perhaps these shadows will work if you use some sort of a primer to help them adhere to your lids, or apply them with something other than an eyeshadow brush, but I can't really get any color payoff out of these eyeshadows.
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Eye Shadow -Silk Naturals - Brimstone- Smokey Purple Copper MAC Slate clone
scridsrolls 4/26/2009 11:27:00 PM
With the exception of some of the cream/highlighter shades, I've not been impressed at all with Silk Naturals eyeshadows. The color payoff does not seem to be very strong, and they are quite "powdery," and can be difficult to blend, because they are so soft. You are more apt to wipe away the eyeshadow with your brush than spread it evenly. The color on the eyes is different from what you may swatch on your hand, and the website swatches do not look that way on your eyes, from my experience. Brimstone looks to be a lovely shade of earthy plum, but applied on my eyes as a thin, powdery, hard-to-blend grayish purple. The more I tried to blend it, the more it disappeared from my eyes completely. As a liner, I couldn't even see it. Sorry; I haven't tried MAC's slate shade, so I can't say as to its clone capabilities. Perhaps these shadows will work if you use some sort of a primer to help them adhere to your lids, but I can't really get any color payoff out of this eyeshadow.
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Eye Shadow -Silk Naturals - Sage Eyeshadow
scridsrolls 4/26/2009 11:23:00 PM
With the exception of some of the cream/highlighter shades, I've not been impressed at all with Silk Naturals eyeshadows. The color payoff does not seem to be very strong, and they are quite "powdery," and can be difficult to blend, because they are so soft. You are more apt to wipe away the eyeshadow with your brush than spread it evenly. The color on the eyes is different from what you may swatch on your hand, and the website swatches do not look that way on your eyes, from my experience. Sage looks to be a lovely shade of light earthy green, but applied on my eyes as a thin, powdery, hard-to-blend gray. The more I tried to blend it, the more it disappeared from my eyes completely. Perhaps these shadows will work if you use some sort of a primer to help them adhere to your lids, but I can't really get any color payoff out of this eyeshadow.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Silk Naturals - Twilight Eyeshadow
scridsrolls 4/26/2009 11:20:00 PM
With the exception of some of the cream/highlighter shades, I've not been impressed at all with Silk Naturals eyeshadows. The color payoff does not seem to be very strong, and they are quite "powdery," and can be difficult to blend, because they are so soft. You are more apt to wipe away the eyeshadow with your brush than spread it evenly. The color on the eyes is different from what you may swatch on your hand, and the website swatches do not look that way on your eyes, from my experience. In the swatch, Twilight appears to be a stormy sky blue, although the circle picture of the eyeshadow is closer to what it really looks like. However, on the eyes, it doesn't even really show up as blue...it looks like a light or medium gray, kind of powdery, with a hint of blue. Not what I thought it was.
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Lip Gloss -Silk Naturals - Sheer Gloss in Soft
scridsrolls 4/26/2009 11:05:00 PM
Jane Austen, anyone? This is a petal-soft, subtle wash of pink that is neither matte, nor artificially glossy. It's romantic and very natural, the way I imagine the ladies of Austen's time to be. I love this gloss, though it doesn't seem to last very long--it's whisper soft, with very little pigmentation, so I suppose that has something to do with it. Quite moisturizing. Very little scent and no taste, plain, unassuming packaging. But I love it anyway.
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Lip Treatments -Korres - Lip Butter - Pomegranate
scridsrolls 12/24/2008 1:55:00 AM
Wow.....
This lip butter is light and fresh, since it's made of natural ingredients, not weird synthetic stuff...and you can tell. It smells lightly sweet and has a very subtle sweet taste. It comes in an unassuming plastic tub...could be cuter, but it works. The color of the gloss looks to be a coral-infused rose, but it applies very sheer...looks coral/peachy on my lips with a hint of pink. Pomegranate implies a deep red stain but this is very wearable. Leaves a natural, soft, yet buttery shine to your lips. It really moisturizes the lips too...kick your chapstick to the curb...while I think $9 for a tub of lip moisturizer is a bit steep, this stuff is worth every penny. Doesn't last too long...seems like it "soaks" into the lips a bit and fades faster than something slippery like a gloss.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No