Tools -Unlisted Brand - Swissco Emery Glass Nail File
sspearls 3/21/2012 2:26:00 PM
I love this nail file! I wish it was double sided but I will live with just one side. My nails are moderately thick and shaping them is very quick with this nail file. It's a tad expensive but it will last forever if I don't break it or lose it (its my second one because my first one vanished). I think the reviewers who didn't like this must not have been using it correctly-- don't saw back and forth and you can go as slowly as you need to. File towards the middle, one side then the other. I don't use clippers anymore, I just file my nails every couple of days and they stay smooth and well shaped.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -NYX - NYX 111 Lollipop
sspearls 3/21/2012 2:02:00 PM
Very pretty medium peach nude color. The color pay off in this one is very pigmented. In the tube I assumed it would be frosty based on the way it looks but it comes off similar to a satin finish. Its one of those colors that are flattering on everyone. I have very pigmented lips and it does a good job of covering them up. I think it's a shade darker than the photos on MUA show.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -NYX - CRYSTAL SODA
sspearls 3/21/2012 1:54:00 PM
This is such a pretty sheer, sparkly lip gloss! Nyx megashine glosses tend to be very pigmented but this one is on the sheer side. It's a peach color in the tube with gold reflex that is very flattering on the lips. It has a candy scent that I like and very little taste. For reference, I have very pigmented lips and I don't see much color pay off.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -NYX - Round Lipstick - Iconic
sspearls 3/21/2012 1:48:00 PM
Pretty rose-nude with a touch of mauve. For me this is MLBB. The texture is soft and smooth like other Nyx round lipsticks and the color is quite opaque. The lipstick color reference in the bottom is a shade more brown than the actual product so I was pleasantly surprised. I can see myself reaching for this when I need a conservative lipstick. It's also great under a lip gloss.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -NYX - Round Lipstick in Pumpkin Pie #630
sspearls 3/21/2012 1:44:00 PM
I guess I was expecting something more opaque, based on my experiences with other Nyx round lipsticks. I just got this one in the mail and it feels very much like a slick lip balm on my lips. It's also very sheer and since my natural lip color is pigmented, it settles into the lip lines and shows every imperfection. The color itself is a pretty beigey peach and it looks nice with lip gloss over it. I have dry skin and I like moisturizing lipsticks but this one feels like it would slide right off. With a lip liner it's improved but it's not something I see myself reaching for. I'm sad because the swatches look so pretty on other girls! I guess my hunt for a nice matte peachy-beige continues.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - First Dance
sspearls 9/23/2011 2:13:00 PM
This is a great starter jelly red-- it's saturated and rich and it's not "too much" anything. It also doesn't lean too far to pink or to orange so would work for a variety of skintones. It hits all the criteria for perfect staple red. The jelly finish means VNL will be hard to avoid, but it doesn't bother me when it's a red for some reason. Maybe because so many red polishes are jellies so I'm used to seeing it on other people? If I had to classify it, I'd say it's cool toned but I don't find it unflattering on my NC45 skintone. It's not unique at all so if you've already found your HD red, you might pass on First Dance. Mine is China Glaze High Roller but I reach for this one when I need something more subdued. There's not a thing wrong with this color.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -China Glaze - High Roller
sspearls 8/17/2011 11:55:00 PM
It's hard to find a good red. It's almost as bad as finding a good red lipstick-- they're too bright or vampy, too orange, too pink, too blue. When you find the right red though-- oh oh oh, it's magic! I'm NC45 and this is a gorgeous vintage Americana red on me. It's jellyish but applies like butter with that great China Glaze brush. If you're tan and yellow toned like me, this is a great red. It's on the brighter side of the scale of reds but doesn't get trashy. My search for the right red was over when I met High Roller. I hope you have the same luck.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -LUSH - B-Electro
sspearls 8/17/2011 11:39:00 PM
I got this shower gel a couple of years ago in a forum LE sale. I've been loving it this summer. It's got that liquidy consistancy that a lot of Lush shower gels have. I use a mesh pouf so it doesn't matter how thick or thin it is. It takes getting used to because a lot pours out at a time. I specifically came here to review it as a shampoo-- I use it this way to clarify and even without blow drying my hair today feels voluminous and luscious. I paired it with a volumizing conditioner. I've been shaking my hair back all day and I can't stop touching it. I wouldn't go out of my way to purchase this as a shampoo but since I already love it as a shower gel having it as a 2 in 1 is awesome. I love the smell too. It's an herbal citrus, not too tart or sweet. It doesn't smell like cleaner at all. If Lush brings it back definitely check it out.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tools -Unlisted Brand - Ruby Stone Crystal Nail File
sspearls 8/17/2011 11:28:00 PM
I am constantly losing my crystal files so after seeing this at a local mom and pop drugstore I snagged it for $2.49 USD. I had two peeling nails from using a disposible emery board after losing my Swissco nail file (the Sally's is 30 min away so I can't just hop over and get a new one). I was able to file it all the way down and I love that the file is shaped with a square edge, making it simple to run along the inside of the free edge to get any rough spots. My tear shape ended Swissco doesn't do this as easily. Compared to the Swissco, it's more gentle but it creates more dust. I think it's a great bang for the buck, I love that I can put it in my purse without worrying about it breaking, and I get the same smooth, matte feeling from using a crystal file. I would definitely recommend this. The package looks like it hasn't been changed in 50 years and to me that's a plus.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Don't Mess With OPI
sspearls 5/16/2011 10:36:00 PM
Such a great green! It's not too bright and not too murky which makes wearable all year long. It's just a great grass green. It leans slightly blue which makes it more wearable for my yellow-orange tone skin. pretty much applied itself. I wish every nail polish had a formula as good as this one. I think it's similar to other more famous greens so if you're happy with those you don't need this one, but if you are trying to decide which green to get this one gets my vote.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Big Hair...Big Nails
sspearls 5/16/2011 10:31:00 PM
At 3 coats this was the color of Watermelon Jolly Rancher candies but I added a 4th coat and it lost a bit of the pinkness to it. It's still a very juicy color and I love the sorbet finish. I find it a little milkier than other jellies, which doesn't mean you still can't see my smile line after 4 coats, but it does seem a little less squishy than others. Surprisingly took a long time to dry but that might have been because it was raining and I didn't have my faithful quick dry top coat. Applies like butter. Makes me want to run out and get the rest of the Texas sorbets. It's great on my NC45 skintone. it will be fantastic on nubbins!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Nubar - Pink Lily
sspearls 5/16/2011 10:26:00 PM
I got this nail polish because I didn't have an opaque pastel pink in my collection. It's a baby pink with hidden silver shimmer. I found the formula streaky but it evens itself out on the 3rd coat. All pastels are hard to work with like this. It has a pretty good wear time-- I wore it for 4 days before I got tired of it but it didn't chip or show excess tipwear. It's warmer and lighter than China Glaze Something Sweet and it is nice on my NC45 skintone.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Orly - Moondoggie
sspearls 12/23/2010 12:40:00 AM
I love this shade of purple-- it's warm and has a pretty shimmer. The review below me has described it pretty accurately. It's a purple that leans raspberry. The formula is nice and smooth but I wish it was more opaque. I need 3-4 coats to get a nice rich color and like many shimmers, it needs a top coat to make it glossy. It's lovely on the hands or feet and is in my rotation year round.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -China Glaze - Silver Lining
sspearls 12/15/2010 3:48:00 AM
Silver Lining is a dense silver glitter in a clear base. The glitter particles are quite small and as far as I can tell, round. but at this size it doesn't really matter. For no vnl this glitter comes in at 3 coats, which is amazing to me. You could get away with 2 if you wanted to. If you want silver disco bally nails this one is perfect. The consistency is nice and even. I've been wearing it for 3 days with SH quick dry top coat and it looks as good as the day I applied it. Its a pretty basic silver glitter but the application and density make it the top in its category.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -China Glaze - Cleopatra - Glitter
sspearls 12/15/2010 3:39:00 AM
Cleopatra is a mostly gold glitter with great density. like a lot of ChG glitters it packs in the glitter so you can get full coverage if you want (probably would take 4 coats, which is good in my book). It has small particle warm gold glitter with a smattering of holographic micro glitter. I wouldn't say it's a must have if you have a serious nail polish collection already but this is only my second gold glitter and it's a keeper for me. If you're looking for a gateway glitter look no further.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No