Styling Products -Unlisted Brand - Hask - Argan Oil
shalisirkay 12/13/2011 9:07:00 PM
I found this product on the shelves of my local Walmart. Since I love pure Argan oil on my hair and face, I thought I would give this a try. I used it on wet hair and let my hair air dry. I received so many compliments on my hair! My hair was so soft and shiny. Plus it looked good the next day too (not greasy). I never bought the Moroccanoil stuff because it is so over-priced but nothing else I've used has given me results like this. I'm gong o recommend this to all my friends!
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Eye Primer -Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Original (UDPP)
shalisirkay 3/30/2008 4:38:00 AM
This has become an absolute HG, indispensible product for me. I have oily lids and am MMM/GGG and colors never really showed up on me. But, UDPP makes my eyeshadow colors appear truer on my lids, and they LAST! Until I wash them off. My oily lids used to make all e/s crease and now I don't have that problem anymore. By the way, now I can wear all those pale colors for springtime! I converted a friend of mine with this simple demo- I put UDPP on the back of my hand, and then once it dried (in seconds) I applied a light eye shadow over it. Right next to it, on an untreated spot on my hand, I applied the same shadow. You can really see the difference- on the UDPP treated side, the color is more intense and does not rub off easily with a tissue. I know a lot of people don't like the wand, but I got a great tip from the Sephora SA- she puts a small glob from the tip of the wand on her fingertips and then applies that onto her eyes. I have only done it this way since she showed me. Would I buy this product again? I actually bought 2 back up tubes after the first time I used this product! And when those tubes run out, I will definitely re-buy!
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Polishes -Revlon - Blackberry
shalisirkay 3/14/2008 9:24:00 AM
This color on me (tan skin with yellow undertones) is a very warm, muted, coppery metallic red. More of the warm coppery layer comes through on me, and the color is really beautiful. By contrast, when I wear OPI's I'm Really Not a Waitress, more of the pinkish cooler red tones come out on me. I really love this color as it is very elegant and makes my nails look "dressed up". It's a sophisticated color for the holidays, and a great break from the usual metallic reds. I've layered this over dark red nail polish (a la Chanel's Vamp) and it looks great, like.... a darker, more mysterious cousin of itself. I might layer it over black nail polish next.... While I love to play around with different colors, Blackberry has a permanent place in my nail polish collection, so yes, if I ever do run out, I will definitely re-purchase. The quality is the usual Revlon- does not last as long as OPI and the formula is a bit gloppy, so you have to be careful when you put it on. But the combination of the color and the price makes it worthwhile.
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Polishes -OPI - Eat n Eggplant
shalisirkay 2/29/2008 7:09:00 PM
I bought this nearly 10 years ago to give to a friend, but never did. I finally got up the nerve to try the short dark nail thing and used EE. I was extremely pleasantly surprised because the color is a lot prettier on the nails than in the bottle. It has a base of dark brown with a deep eggplant purple (a reddish purple rather than a bluish purple) over it. In the sun, you can really catch the shimmer of gold and reddish flecks. Indoors, I see more of the brown and no shimmer, but you know the shimmer is there because the color is not flat. It is just beautiful. If you want a goth look, then I would not recommend this color. It is very sophisticated and does not scream out that you're trying to be trendy with the dark nail thing. In terms of the newer colors out today, it is not as red as Royal Rajah Ruby nor as dark and purply as Black Cherry Chutney. FYI, I used 3 coats to get the deep rich effect I wanted. It wears well and goes on well too. My bottle is so old, but the polish glided on as if it rolled off the assembly line yesterday.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Chanel - Barcelona Red
shalisirkay 2/28/2008 3:25:00 PM
Barcelona Red is a warm-toned red that is not garishly bright, nor deep and rich. It is right there in the middle. To my eye, it has a bit of orange mixed in- this is definitely not a blue-based red. It also has some gold glitter too, but this is very subtle and gives the polish more of a glow than a sparkle. I think this is a great color to wear to work or everyday, and will also lend your hands elegance for the evening. It looks good on my medium beige with yellow undertones skin. Yes, it is expensive, so I might not re-purchase. I love playing with nail polish and experimenting with different reds.
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Lipstick -NARS - Spanish Red
shalisirkay 6/29/2007 3:05:00 PM
I am partial to MAC's lipsticks, but since I discovered NARS, I am falling in love with this line! I have Gipsy, and now I just bought Spanish Red. It is a deep burgundy wine red on me. Not a true red, but beautiful and sophisticated none the less. If I want to bring out more of the brown tones, I use MAC Mahogany lipliner. Also good with NARS Salsa lipliner to bring out the wine tones. Plus, it is not as sheer as Gipsy, so the color is more saturated. I don't find that my lips dry out either, so it feels very comfortable on. FYI, I am a MAC NC 43- medium skin with lots of yellow undertones.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Cosmedicine - Medi-morphosis Self Adjusting Exfoliator
shalisirkay 6/29/2007 2:56:00 PM
I got sample packets of this at Sephora. I wash my face first with Purity by Philosophy. Then I use this scrub. I did not find that the grains dissolved away, but I also don't have the patience to keep scrubbing until they do. I use it for a minute and then I rinse it off with cool water. My face feels smooth and hydrated. I love it! I have noticed a difference on the effect on my skin between this and other scrubs/microdermabrasion systems. My skin does not feel dry or tight after using Medi-morphosis, unlike with other scrub/microdermabrasion products. Once my samples run out, I will definitely spring the money for it. FYI, I have combo-oily, acne-prone sensitive skin.
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Treatments -Cosmedicine - MegaDose Skin Fortifying Serum
shalisirkay 6/29/2007 2:43:00 PM
First, I will tell you that I have combination-oily acne-prone skin that has gotten very sensitive after my daughter was born. I had used Differin gel successfully in the past (pre-pregnancy) and wanted to use it again because I had broken out really badly. Well, I gave myself a really bad chemical burn on my skin, using Differin gel in the evening and Proactive in the morning. My skin was red, peeling and it just HURT! I went to Sephora to ask them to recommend something and the SA gave me samples of MegaDose serum, saying to use it at night and to not worry about the slippery feel of the product (meaning that its slip was not from oil, but rather from silicone). Well, I tried the product and I am so impressed! The SA had put it on my skin in the store and immediately my skin stopped hurting. I have been using the product for 6 nights in a row now, and all of the redness and dry patches are gone. My skin feels and looks healthier than it has in ages and even the acne is diminishing. My skin is smooth, plump and firm. I cannot say enough good about this product! It saved my skin and now, I am just waiting for it to get rid of the discoloration on my chin from the chemical burn. The discoloration has already diminished somewhat, and I am confident that as I keep using the product, it will go away. I got samples of Cosmedicine's other products yesterday, so I cannot wait to try those out. By the way, the smell is very earthy. I agree about the vitamin smell. I am not offended at all. I think the reviews of its smell are way over-exaggerated. Plus, a little goes a long way, so despite its high price, I will buy this product after my samples run out.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -NARS - Gipsy
shalisirkay 6/21/2007 2:40:00 PM
I bought this on my everlasting search for the perfect red lipstick. I am medium complexioned with yellow undertones and most reds look fucshia on me. Gipsy is a sheer, warm red with some brownishness to it (almost like a sheer brick). It is not a true red but it is lovely nonetheless. I wear it alone, or sometimes with MAC Mahogany lipliner to bring out more of the brownish tones. Alone and sheer, it makes your face look finished without being overly done up. With lipliner it is more dramatic. Either way, it is beautiful.
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Lip Gloss -MAC - Viva Glam VI Lipglass
shalisirkay 6/21/2007 2:27:00 PM
This is a terrific plummy pink with cool undertones. This was purely an impulse buy because I usually don't wear pinks- I have a medium complexion with yellow undertones and sometimes pinks look awkward on me. However, MAC Viva Glam VI lipglass looks wonderful. It seems to magnify what little pink I have in my lips, and the sparkles add dimension and interest. I have another pink lipgloss from Victoria's Secret and that one just looks clear on me, so I really appreciate the way MAC's lipglass shows up on me. Super on its own for a natural look, as well as paired over just about anything else. Of all the pink glosses one could buy, I feel better buying the one that helps people who are HIV+.
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Blush -Bare Escentuals - Warmth All Over Face Color
shalisirkay 11/16/2005 4:18:00 PM
Warmth is terrific- it adds a very natural sun-kissed glow to my skin. I never use a bronzer because my skin is naturally tan, but Warmth is not like a bronzer- you just look like you got a little sun. The key is to apply it with a VERY LIGHT HAND. I started using BE's blush brush to apply it, because the BE salesgirl told me that if I use the same brush to apply the foundation, I will end up darkening my foundation. Now with the smaller brush and a lighter touch, I get a great look. I layer Glee on top at the apples of my cheeks for a natural blush look.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -Bare Escentuals - Mineral Veil
shalisirkay 11/16/2005 4:13:00 PM
I love the Mineral Veil. I find that it makes the pores around my nose disappear, like an eraser. I also use it under the foundation (and again on top) to minimize my oiliness and shininess. It's a great, light powder that really sets your look.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Bare Escentuals - Bare Minerals ALL
shalisirkay 11/16/2005 4:10:00 PM
I bought the kit off the informercial (you get an extra brush and a little cosmetics bag, as opposed to buying it at Sephora) about a month ago and I just love it! I use the Medium Beige 2.3 and sometimes the Medium 3.0 (which is pinker, but still forgiving). You only need to use a tiny amount, as I learned through trial and error. It gives me a great finish and I get lots of compliments on my skin whenever I wear it (then I 'fess up and tell folks it is Bare Minerals). It really gives you flawless, beautiful-looking skin. After a month, I have gotten the routine down to about 5 minutes- I have oily skin so I use the Mineral Veil first, then the foundation, and then I use BE's blush brush to sweep on the Warmth and Glee (which I use as a blush, and on natural-makeup days, as a lipcolor). I finish up with another swirl of Mineral Veil (it erases the look of pores) and I am good to go for the whole day. I don't get shiny, and after a month, I have not had any breakouts. In fact, my skin is better than when I started. I've watched the informercial for years, and am now kicking myself for not using this product sooner. By the way, I used to be a MAC Studio Fix fanatic, and find that Bare Minerals gives me a more natural, luminous look. UPDATE: I have now been using Bare Minerals for 2 months now, and I will NEVER switch to anything else! My skin doesn't break out, and I look very natural, but better. I discovered a new way of wearing the foundation- when I'm in a hurry, I mix some of the foundation into my moisturizer, for a tinted moisturizer look, and then follow with a swirl of Warmth, Glee and Mineral Veil. This line has become my HG for foundation, blush (I use Glee) and bronzer (Warmth). I also like that I can use the products in multiple ways, one my eyes and lips as well as my face. It makes the higher price a little more bearable because the makeup goes further.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Sally Hansen - Maximum Growth Nourishing Nail Polish
shalisirkay 7/7/2005 2:11:00 AM
I bought this in Vanilla Whimsy, a pale pink that gives me the natural, pinkish nail color that I have been looking for forever! What I love about this polish is that the color goes on very smoothly and in addition, somehow, the polish smoothes itself out so you have very professional-looking results. The brush fans out nicely, delivering a smooth and even coat of polish. I have never gotten any streaks or unevenness, which pale polishes are very unforgiving of. I find that it is no different than my OPI polishes in terms of drying time or high glossy shine. With respect to the negative reviews, I can only imagine that they changed the formula because when I bought this particular polish recently, it came with a sticker that said "Patented Formula" and further "Salon Brush".
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Lip Gloss -Rimmel - Vinyl Lip - Snog
shalisirkay 7/1/2005 12:07:00 AM
I am a woman of South Asian descent with yellow undertones (MAC NC43) and this gloss really works for me. I just love it! Worn alone, the color is slightly deeper than my own lips, like MLBB. I like that the consistency is not thick and gloopy, and it is not frosty or shimmery, making it great for work. I think the other MUAers described the color really well, so I won't bore you. I did find that the gloss lasted for several hours, but I did use lipliner underneath it (Victoria's Secret lipliner in Sweetness). I am really impressed with how well this lipgloss worked, and I am looking forward to trying out the other colors in this line.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No