Lip Gloss -Vincent Longo - Ultra Shine Gloss Sophia Rose
stanzi 9/13/2011 7:59:00 PM
I received this gloss as a GWP, and I'm really happy with it. It's a soft pink-rose shade, a little bit on the warmer side, with a peachy-gold shimmer. It would probably suit a wide range of skin tones; I'd love to see it on an Asian woman, an African-American woman, etc. (I'm personally a brunette PPP.) It has a smooth finish without stickiness, and it enhances matte or creme pink/rose lipsticks as well as giving a pretty gleam when used on its own. My only reservation is that I don't enjoy the vanilla fragrance. Otherwise, very nice!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -LUSH - Colour Supplement
stanzi 2/21/2011 5:57:00 PM
I purchased this product in the Light Yellow shade, which turned out to be a very good match for my skin. (It's more neutral than yellow; the Light Pink shade is very baby-pink!) As a foundation, it's not bad; it has a fairly "green" ingredients list, and it looks natural and fresh for a while, but it doesn't last well on my oily skin. (Dry skin types might have better luck.) On other hand, it's an excellent under-eye concealer for me! It applies easily with a fingertip, blends smoothly, and looks natural. I'd buy it again for this purpose!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -100 Percent Pure - Fruit Pigmented ultra lengthening mascara
stanzi 2/21/2011 5:52:00 PM
This is one of the better natural mascaras I've used. I like the packaging, the smaller size option, and the brown shade. Actually, I'd give it a three-and-a-half lippie rating. It does clump slightly, so I need to use a lash comb after it dries. However, it does have a lightweight feel on my lashes and doesn't seem to flake. It's not a dramatic lash look, but then again, I don't really go in for dramatic makeup in general. I just wish it were a bit less clumpy and a *bit* more noticeable on my lashes.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Alaffia - BEAUTIFUL CURLS Curl Reviving Tonic
stanzi 2/21/2011 5:49:00 PM
I've been using this product as a finishing product after my regimen of applying Beautiful Curls Curl Defining Gel and drying with a diffuser; I just mist a few spritzes over my hair and scrunch it into the ends very lightly. I also keep a small travel bottle of this product at work so that I can "refresh" my hair in the late afternoon or before going somewhere else in the evening. It manages to counteract mild frizz and revive my hair's volume at the same time. A little goes a long way, and the bottle lasts for ages.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Fyrinnae - Koala
stanzi 2/21/2011 5:44:00 PM
I'm getting too old for most of Fyrinnae's bright and sparkly shades, but Koala works nicely as an everyday shadow for me when applied lightly, and makes the transition into evening if I add an additional layer. Other reviewers have described its cool, plummy taupe shade very well. I like the fine shimmer that doesn't sprinkle onto my cheeks throughout the course of the day. This shadow works best over a primer (UD and LORAC are my favorites), but that's true for many shadows.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Alaffia - BEAUTIFUL CURLS Curl Defining Gel
stanzi 2/21/2011 5:41:00 PM
I'm halfway through my tub of Beautiful Curls Curl Defining Gel, and I'll most likely purchase a new one. This product is like a combination of a gel and a cream, with a light vanilla scent. I work a quarter-size amount into my hair (wavy-curly, untreated, just past my shoulders) and then dry my hair with a diffuser, touching it as little as possible. This product gives my hair good wave/curl formation without weighing it down. (On humid days, I'll use a little less Curl Defining Gel and add a dab of Phytodefrisant for extra frizz-fighting.) I dislike having to stick my fingers into the pot; I wish this product were packaged in a wide-mouthed tube instead, but that's my only complaint. I think it has actually improved the condition of my hair a bit!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Alima - Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow in Nigella
stanzi 8/22/2010 8:56:00 PM
I've really enjoyed my Nigella sample and just might buy a full size jar. I have pale neutral skin, dark brown hair with some grays, and dark brown eyes. This shade is flattering, a grayish medium violet with light shimmer. I can wear it during the day, or in the evening with heavier liner for emphasis. I wish it were a bit more strongly pigmented, but otherwise, I think it's lovely and very on-trend for this fall.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -John Masters - SPF 30 Natural Mineral Sunscreen
stanzi 8/22/2010 8:54:00 PM
I've been using this product all summer, and I'm very satisfied with it. It absorbs easily, and a little goes a long way. It doesn't leave a ghostly white finish or white deposits in my pores. It has a very light, natural scent. It truly does prevent sun damage (I have very fair skin, live in the NYC area), and it didn't give me any breakouts (very important!). Neat, practical packaging; reasonable price, for this high quality formula. I wish it were a bit more "matte," but I do have oily skin, so that may be asking too much. Also, it's been a very humid summer. I'm guessing it will turn less shiny on my autumn/fall face!
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -John Masters - Lavender & Avocado Intensive Conditioner
stanzi 8/22/2010 8:50:00 PM
I'm halfway through my second tube of Lavender & Avocado Intensive Conditioner, and I'm still very happy with it. I use it once a week in the summer, twice a week in the winter, to give additional moisture to my hair (wavy-curly, shoulder-length, somewhat dehydrated). If I use it every day, my hair ends up feeling a bit flat. The price is a bit high, but I feel like I'm getting a high quality product. The packaging is simple and handy. The product has a light lavender fragrance. All in all, very satisfying, and one of the three or four JMO products that I'll continue to buy.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Jane Iredale - PurePressed Eye Shadow in Bone
stanzi 2/27/2010 12:16:00 PM
I'm trying to integrate a few "green"-ish makeup items into my routine. Jane Iredale PurePressed Base (powder foundation) is one of my favorite products, so I decided to try a few other items from her line. I needed an everyday ivory/beige shadow to use all over the lid (with a wash of another shimmery shade over it), and Bone fits the bill. It's a soft ivory with no shimmer or sparkle, it's finely textured, it applied smoothly with an e/s brush, and it lasts through my workday (with UDPP underneath). The compact packaging is simple and tasteful, all good quality. I paid $17.50 at C.O. Bigelow, a bit high, but I know I'll use it down to the bottom of the pan.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Kiss My Face - Cell Mate-15
stanzi 2/27/2010 12:11:00 PM
I'm reviewing the most recent version of Cell Mate Facial Creme & Sunscreen SPF 10, the one in a sage-green box with a darker-green band. I don't love it as much as Pratima Neem Rose sunscreen (my HG), but I'm almost done with my tube and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a lightweight physical sunscreen with lots of natural ingredients. It doesn't sting or irritate my oily/pale/dehydrated skin, and it applies smoothly. I've noticed a slight whitish cast if I apply it over flaky skin areas; otherwise, fine. Two "cons": it does leave me with shine later in the day, and the price (I paid $21.99 at Ricky's) is too high. Best for cold-weather use, for me.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Lancome - Chris & Tell
stanzi 1/14/2010 2:25:00 PM
*PHOTOS at the end of this review* Lancome L'Absolu Rouge in Chris & Tell is the latest lipstick in the annual Pout-a-Porter series created with up-and-coming fashion designers. It's described by Lancome as "a delicious peachy coral," and that seems pretty accurate. Its a creamy matte, with no shimmer. This coral has a little more pink than many coral shades do -- you could also describe it as a "melon" shade -- but it still skews warm rather than cool. I'm cool-toned and very fair, and I had to apply this lipstick with caution. It would probably look best on someone with a tan or someone with warm/olive skintones. On my face, it has a tendency to look slightly too bright. I might need to revisit it in the spring and summer. In the meantime, I get the best results when I pat it onto my mouth *very* lightly with my little finger, for a stain-like effect. Also, lips must be smooth and well-conditioned under this shade, because it does tend to emphasize any flaws. To sum up: it's trend-setting, very fresh and warm-weather appropriate, not necessarily perfect for me, but worth trying if peaches and corals flatter your coloring.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Badger - Badger SPF15 Sunblock Lip Balm
stanzi 10/19/2009 9:10:00 PM
I really should have read some reviews before I picked this up. Yes, it's natural and has physical sunblock. BUT BUT BUT. It leaves a thick white coat on my lips; even if I apply it sparingly, and rub it in with my finger, my mouth still looks bluish-pink and this weird "base" throws off the color of the lipstick I'm wearing. Drat. I should have just bought another Jane Iredale Lip Drink, despite the cost.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -LUSH - Jungle Soap
stanzi 8/9/2009 7:17:00 PM
I bought Jungle Soap on impulse, because I needed to match the dollar amount for an item I was exchanging, but it turned out to be a good choice. This is the cutest-looking soap: it is molded to resemble a small tree, or a large leaf. It has a refreshing grassy, bamboo-like scent with a subtle woody base of vetiver and cedar. It makes a perfect hand soap for the bathroom or kitchen. I wish it didn't include SLS and propylene glycol (come on, Lush! get with the program!), but at least it feels in keeping with the "old" Lush products and scents, rather than all the dessert-smelling items that have been showing up in Lush stores lately. (Note: "100% of proceeds from sales of Jungle soap will be donated to the Rainforest Foundation.")
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -LUSH - Sugar Scrub
stanzi 8/9/2009 6:19:00 PM
I've been using LUSH products since 2002, and in my opinion, this is one of the most pointless things LUSH has ever created. I purchased a semi-spherical Sugar Scrub Sugar Scrub (that's the official name) because I liked its fragrance. It includes lavender, fennel, and ginger for an unusual, calming herbal blend that reminds me a little bit of the Absolution massage bar. However, when I got Sugar Scrub home, I couldn't figure out how to use it. It's too hard and too rough to be rubbed all over the body. Plus, if it got wet, it would dissolve in one use. I tried breaking it into quarters, or even into halves, but it is solid as a *rock*. In the end, I put it back into its paper bag and crushed it into fine bits with a hammer. I put the resulting scrub crystals into an old LUSH plastic container and I'm using it bit by bit the shower. So, now it's a medium-abrasion sugar scrub scented with essential oils.... but I could have made one myself. Kind of silly.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No