Self Tanners -Unlisted Brand - mystic tan
tarapickholtz 8/24/2012 9:52:00 PM
My experience with the Mystic HD has been good! I've actually only gotten the light color. I always buy the deepest/darkest shades available from brands like L'Oreal and Neutrogena, so I was worried it would be a waste of my time getting the light, which is what they recommended for me when I was a first-timer. I bought the unlimited monthly package (for Mystic HD and Versa Spa), so I figured why not. Surprisingly, I got a good amount of color! Comparing Mystic to Versa, I can see Mystic being a little more orange, but it still looked very natural on me. Scent is pretty similar. I didn't do any of the add-ons for scents or moisturizer. It was easy to do. I don't do any special preparation either.. I moisturize at least once per day and that plus using the barrier cream on my hands and feet was enough. No streaks and it looked very even, and fast! The scent of all self tanners isn't great to me (unless it's a very low amount of DHA), but it wasn't terrible or anything. I'll be curious to try adding a scent sometime. I've taken body spray to mist myself right after though, and that helps some. Although I've been using the Versa more often lately, I would definitely do Mystic HD again. They are both pretty good!
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Self Tanners -Unlisted Brand - Versa Spa
tarapickholtz 8/24/2012 9:48:00 PM
I buy unlimited spray tans each month and have the option of Versa Spa or Mystic HD. Price-wise, it ends up being a much better deal since I go pretty often! I thought both were great, but my husband told me he thought the Versa looked more natural on me. I started with the light, which still showed up more than the dark airbrush spray self tanners you would buy at the store (i.e. L'Oreal, Neutrogena). It's so quick and easy! The machine also does a great job of spraying on very evenly. I haven't had any issues with that at all. I don't think any self tanners smell great (unless they have a very low DHA amount), but it isn't too bad at all. I actually just mist myself with some body spray afterwards and it seems to help blend it in. As far as any staining, I once wore a white bra to bed the same day as going (and didn't shower until morning to give it enough time) and I did have the tiniest amount of color that got on it. Other than that, I haven't had any other staining. Fades off pretty evenly. I also don't have to do any special exfoliating... just normal moisturizing at least once per day and then I use the barrier cream they offer around my hands and feet. Easy! I have enjoyed going and using the Versa Spa and plan to continue to keep going. I have yet to try the dark/deep color since I get good color with medium (I'm naturally fair).
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Brows -Maybelline - Define-A-Brow
tarapickholtz 8/24/2012 9:38:00 PM
Fantastic! I will never go back to brow powders. I bought this after reading the overall great reviews. I have dark brown hair but my eyebrows are naturally pretty thin and get sparse, so I have to fill them in. Since they are thin anyway, I use the taupe/dark blonde (I forget what the name is) and it looked really natural! Easy to use, goes on smooth, and love that it doesn't have to be sharpened. I also love that the twist up pencil is very thin, so you don't get too thick a line. Will definitely buy again!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Jordana - Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara
tarapickholtz 8/24/2012 9:36:00 PM
I am pleasantly surprised! Since it's so inexpensive and had great reviews, why not try it? I figured if I got a bad tube, it wouldn't be a big deal. Anyway, my lashes look great and I'll definitely be repurchasing. Some reviewers mentioned a dry formula, but mine seemed to be a wetter formula (I'd compare that part of it to Lash Stiletto, although I don't care for that mascara overall as much). Simple tube and brush. I was able to add lots of length and volume with 2 coats and my lashes really stand out. I also really like Prestige My Blackest Lashes and this one is somewhat similar for me, but it gives a little more drama. The only negatives are that I have to be careful to not get too much product and wipe off any excess or I'll get clumps and have to comb them out (no biggie, this is the case with most mascaras that don't have a spiky brush) and sometimes I get a tiny, tiny bit of smudging. The smudging will be the tiniest dots up near my eyebrow if it's a hot day and I'm outside sweating. No flaking at all on me. Overall, definitely love this mascara and the price is amazing. I was not expecting to be able to get super full lashes with it, but sure enough, I did :)
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Polishes -Essie - Sand Tropez
tarapickholtz 7/11/2012 1:51:00 PM
Love this nail polish! I hadn't tried any colors like this before, so I wasn't sure that it would be a good match for my tastes. I also worried that it would come out streaky, since it looks like a couple of people had those issues. After applying just 2 regular, quick coats, it looks fantastic! With the 2 coats, I got opaque coverage and a nice cool, neutral color. In different lighting, I've realized the color is pretty unique. It looks like a simple beige color most of the time, but sometimes in the natural sunlight, it gets more cool-toned, like there is a hint of lilac. I really like it and would definitely repurchase. I have never had any issues with Essie polishes and it's definitely one of my favorite polish brands.
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Liquid -Rimmel - Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation
tarapickholtz 7/6/2012 9:00:00 AM
I am pleasantly surprised! I bought this due to the overall good rating, but wasn't expecting to care much for it. I figured it would be just average and I would probably only use it this one time. I was using a different foundation but needed a darker shade after my vacation and decided to give it a try. This stuff blends on super well and offers great coverage (medium coverage or could make more coverage depending how much you apply) and feels nice on. I HAVE to finish with powder though. If I only apply the foundation, it feels a little too dewy for my liking. Once I put on powder, I don't feel it at all and my face looks so smooth. Seems like a good amount of product in the tube too. I have combination skin and am acne-prone, and this has been a good match for me. I would NOT say it lasts 25 hours, but it lasts considerably longer than my old foundation. Usually by the end of my workday, my foundation has started wearing off. I need a powder touch-up, but that's about it all day! Someone commented how well-rested I looked the other day too... and I definitely didn't get much sleep, so it must be the makeup. It doesn't cause any breakouts for me unless I don't wash it off at night. It is awesome for combination skin and I am sure goes well with normal.... and it definitely does better on oily sections than my usual makeup. My skin on my face doesn't get too dry after moisturizing, so I can't say how that goes. Great price! I think I paid around $6. I highly recommend this product. Remember, just keep your receipt and if it ends up not working for you, just take it back. I don't really buy Rimmel products, but I would definitely repurchase this.
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Eyes -E.L.F. - Natural Lash Kit-Black
tarapickholtz 5/31/2012 11:25:00 PM
What a great bargain! You can't beat the price, so I think these are great for anyone starting out with false lashes or just wanting to experiment. I've definitely noticed that some sets look a little "off" and have some crushed lashes, so definitely check them out closely before purchasing. Once I even purchased the "natural" set and got the "dramatic" ones they offer, or something in between. Another thing to look out for is the glue. Sometimes I get a good tube of glue, other times it was dried up and could not be used. I typically pick up at least a couple of pairs when buying these, just in case. What I really like doing with these is cutting them in half and applying to the outer corners of my eyes for a more natural look. They apply well and blend in great, while adding some extra length and volume. My lashes look great and long, but not overly dramatic when doing this. I have to say that I prefer the Ardell brand, but I would still purchase these again since they are a great price! Definitely worth checking out, but perhaps not the best ones out there.
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Eyes -Ardell - Fashion Lashes - Stunning
tarapickholtz 5/31/2012 10:51:00 PM
These are so pretty! I wanted a glam look for a Halloween party and these were great. With false lashes, I sometimes have trouble applying them depending on the specific pair and brand, but these were not bad at all. They also stayed on pretty well. Would definitely purchase again if I'm looking for something similar! I really like the demi wispies for when I don't need the rhinestones. PS - My picture does not do them justice! I would definitely say they are more stunning in person!
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Self Tanners -Banana Boat - Sunless Tanning Creme - Deep Dark
tarapickholtz 4/3/2012 10:51:00 PM
I've been using airbrush self tanners (Loreal, Coppertone, Neutrogena) for a while but just wasn't getting a deep tan. Even though it looked natural and the products worked well, I just wanted more color! After reading all the good reviews on this product, I decided to give it a try. It was a great price.. definitely a bonus! I have to agree that the smell isn't too bad. Yes I do think it still smells like a self tanner, but for being one that gets you a deeper color, it is pretty mild. It's tinted, so definitely be careful about getting it on your clothing. I applied it before bed and wore pajamas in a darker color while it developed. The tint makes it easy to know where it was applied, which is very helpful with a lotion. After one use, it definitely gave me more color than my airbrush self tanners, yet still looked like a natural tan. When applied 2 days in a row, I definitely have a nice tan. It doesn't look orange or fake on me at all. For reference, I'm pretty fair and typically wear one of the "ivory" colors or ones just above that in my foundation and powder. My only complaint is that using a lotion just takes longer to apply (airbrush was done and dry in 5 minutes tops) and it's harder to reach my back. Since I like the product, I would be willing to look for some kind of applicator. The tint barely got on my pajamas.. much less transfer than other tinted self tanners I've tried in the past. The scent gets a little stronger as it develops, but definitely not as strong as most. I also didn't wash my hands until completely done applying, so I got a tiny bit of "orange hands" but not enough for anyone to notice. I did also have a little bit of settling into my pores on my legs, but I didn't have a smooth shave and this was probably why. I was able to very lightly shave the next day and the light spots went away... and I didn't shave off the self tanner... another big plus! Most others I use come off completely when shaving. Great product! Definitely worth the $6-7. Will be buying again unless I find something better!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Suave - Keratin Infusion Leave-In Conditioner
tarapickholtz 3/18/2012 10:07:00 AM
Awesome product! I am really liking the matching shampoo and conditioner too. After my shower, I like to add a bit of this product to my damp hair. It really makes it even softer and gives a nice scent. I can tell that this line is going to help with my slightly damaged, dry hair. I also really enjoy the super low price! The dry shampoo worked really well for me too, but I got a defective can that had a tiny leak. For now I'll be passing on that product (hopefully they fix it soon!) but I'll definitely be using the other products. I have heard at least a handful of bad reviews on the 30 day treatment, so I think I'll stick with the ones I've tried :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Suave - Keratin Infusion Color Care Conditioner
tarapickholtz 3/18/2012 10:04:00 AM
I love this conditioner (and matching shampoo)! I really don't have anything negative to say about it. The obvious pro is it's very low cost and availability at drugstores/grocery stores. Both the shampoo and conditioner have been wonderful for my hair. I used to highlight a lot in the past and have dry ends that tend to split pretty quickly. I've given my hair a break for a long time and have it a solid color, but it still needs lots of conditioning. This product does an awesome job without making it greasy. I also like the scent. My hair feels very soft and well conditioned. I think that over time, this will really help with split ends too. I also recommend the leave-in conditioner!
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Shampoo -Suave - Professionals Keratin Infusion Color Care Shampoo
tarapickholtz 3/18/2012 10:04:00 AM
I love this shampoo (and matching conditioner)! I really don't have anything negative to say about it. The obvious pro is it's very low cost and availability at drugstores/grocery stores. Both the shampoo and conditioner have been wonderful for my hair. I used to highlight a lot in the past and have dry ends that tend to split pretty quickly. I've given my hair a break for a long time and have it a solid color, but it still needs lots of conditioning. This product does an awesome job without making it greasy. I also like the scent. My hair feels very soft and well conditioned. I think that over time, this will really help with split ends too. I also recommend the leave-in conditioner!
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Shampoo -Suave - Professionals Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo
tarapickholtz 3/18/2012 10:01:00 AM
Very sad! I really liked this product a lot. It worked very well and I liked the scent better than the other dry shampoo Suave offers (which smelled nice, but the tropical scent was just too strong for me since I'm sensitive to scents), but I also got a defective item. I'm bummed out to see that there are a good number of others out there who have gone through this as well. I would gladly repurchase later on if Suave gets the containers fixed up better. I tested out my dry shampoo the day after washing my hair. I lightly sprayed only certain areas of my roots that needed it. I used very little product. I did see a little bit of whiteness on my hair, but it easy blended in when I used my brush. It worked perfectly! This is why I'm still rating it an overall 3... great product, but with a lot of defective cans out there. After using such a small amount of product, everything seemed pretty normal with how much product seemed to be left in the can. I go back to it about a week later and it feels very light, like barely any product is left. I had this happen with a dry shampoo made by Tigi, except for the first can seemed to be okay and the second was the defective one. The worst part about the defect was that I woke up this morning to a clanging sound in the bathroom. I got up quickly and went in there, only to find the dry shampoo in the sink (it had been sitting on the counter)! After reading more about the issue, I hear that Suave has mentioned that there is a pinpoint leak in some cans. I guess the small leak was enough to make the can shift off it's spot on the bathroom counter. Hoping I can try it again later on! On a bright note, it's very inexpensive. I paid just under $3 for it at the grocery store. I'm pretty sure I threw away my receipt, so at least I won't have a lot of money wasted. I do recommend this product, but keep your receipt just in case you run into the same issue!
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Self Tanners -L'Oreal - Sublime Bronze Pro Perfect Salon Airbrush Self-Tanning Mist
tarapickholtz 8/3/2011 3:15:00 PM
Just bought this self tanner yesterday and so far I am really liking it! I prefer the airbrush misting type sprays because I find them MUCH easier to apply than gels or creams. They make it much easier to reach your back since you don't have to rub them in or try to reach awkward spots. I noticed that this product said that it didn't have a self tan smell. As with any self tanning products, I don't expect them to have ZERO smell, because pretty much any of them will have at least a light smell. This one had just that... a very light self tanning smell, which was much less than many other products I've tried. This is a big plus for me! Although I wouldn't say it smells good, I don't feel like I completely reek and need a shower. The smell doesn't change much as the color develops. My color looks very natural. I applied it last night and decided to spray on more today. It definitely looks realistic. I sprayed it pretty lightly, so I'll be layering on a few coats for a darker tan. It went on so even and looks very nice. I like that it's clear so it won't stain my clothes. As I sprayed it, it didn't make my skin super wet and had more of a cooling feeling. Because of this, it dried super fast (5 minutes or less for me). I applied it in the shower so I wouldn't make the bathroom floor slippery. I did apply lotion FIRST, so I'd imagine it would be darker without it. I just use lotion every evening after my shower and I think it helps the self tanner go on very evenly too. The packaging is good and sprayer works very well. I had used a different brand where the sprayer would almost "spit" some of the product out where you would get droplets on your skin. This mist was very fine and even and didn't do that. Very easy to use! I had been a fan of Ocean Potion Ever Glow because it smells nice, but it's a gradual tanning lotion that doesn't give a lot of color and it's also hard to find after the summer. I also like Neutrogena Micromist, but after I read the good reviews on this one, I decided to give it a try. Both worked pretty well for me, so I can't say which is a favorite just yet. I'm giving 5 lippies since it's a great product! Like I said, no self tanner seems to smell perfect, so I don't really count off for that (especially since this one is a light scent). I paid around $9 at my grocery store. I do wish it were cheaper since I will probably use it quickly, but that's still reasonable since some airbrush-type products cost much more!
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Volum Express The Falsies Flared
tarapickholtz 7/22/2011 1:09:00 PM
I'm not sure of the big difference between the Falsies Flare vs. regular Falsies, especially since both are supposed to fan out and lift your lashes. I had tried the regular Falsies and thought it was decent, but did have some clumping and it wasn't an HG mascara for me or anything. I had others I liked more! After hearing good things about this one and seeing its cute packaging, I decided to give it a try. It was also a good price at Target. The brush seems to be pretty similar. I noticed right away that it does smell kind of strong. I can usually smell it even after applying for a little bit, until it dries completely. I have smelled worse mascaras though. I was immediately able to get my lashes to look great with lots of length and volume! I usually let my lashes dry completely and then curl them (after the mascara is no longer tacky so it doesn't stick), but after doing this, I had a ton of flaking. I was pretty disappointed and it was very annoying to have flakes falling into my eyes and around my face all day. I was ready to go return the mascara. Then I decided to try skipping the curling. It worked MUCH better and I have very few to no flakes. Unfortunately I can't get as much lift and curl as when using my lash curler, but I suppose it's still more than a regular mascara. I apply two coats on top and one on bottom and would agree that it makes my lashes look very pretty! It also works better for me to apply the second coat before the first dries completely, or else you risk flaking. If I were able to curl them with my lash curler, I get even more of the false lash look. Overall I'd recommend this mascara, but I'll probably buy Prestige My Blackest Lashes again next time, which seems to be one of the best ones for me. This one doesn't flake if I curl my lashes after applying the mascara and I can layer on more coats even throughout the day without clumping. With Falsies Flare, I didn't seem to have an old looking tube like some buyers. When I opened the tube, the product seemed pretty normal. I have had 1-2 times when I got a clump of mascara that went onto my lashes, but it was easy to comb through.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No