Top/Base Coats -Revlon - Quick Dry Top Coat
toyarosie 5/10/2012 8:22:00 AM
I picked this up after getting SO frustrated with how quickly Seche Vite went from AWESOME to a thick, goopy mess. I've had it for 6 months or so now, and the bottle is *just* running out - and I do probably two manicures a week at least. Its STILL of a thin consistency, not AS thin as it was, but definitely easy to apply (just hard to reach the bottom of the bottle!). I don't like Revlon polishes as a rule, but this quick-dry top coat is pretty stellar. Doesn't dry as fast or as shiny as Seche Vite, but I'll take the slightly longer dry time over tossing half a bottle of Seche out just because it becomes unusable! And this cheaper, too :)
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Lotions/ Creams -Clinique - Turnaround Body Smoothing Cream
toyarosie 6/3/2011 10:03:00 AM
Amazing. Made the rough skin on my thighs smooth overnight. I can exfoliate that area with different scrubs, just a shower pouf, whatever, and nothing works to smooth the skin. This is so easy and effective, and it doesn't irritate my ezcema in the least. HG! The only problem is that the cap is hard to get open - but that's just more annoying than anything else.
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Scrubs -Arbonne - Awaken Sea Salt Scrub
toyarosie 3/7/2011 3:00:00 PM
I bought this due to the good reviews, but I just wasn't wowed. I found it cumbersome in the shower to use, and I while I felt moisturized afterward, I didn't feel a whole lot smoother. It had a nice smell and it felt good knowing you were using all of those essential oils on the skin, I'll grant it that. But in terms of effectiveness, I can't really testify to that. I was eager to finish it - which, if I had been using it regularly, would have happened fairly quickly. I probably only got 10-15 uses out of it, which I think is poor. Overall, not impressed.
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Lipstick -MAC - Dare You - Cremesheen
toyarosie 3/2/2011 3:13:00 PM
One of the best reds I've ever encountered for my skin coloring (sort of like Halle Berry)!! I wear this to work often and never feel like my mouth is screaming for attention. I find red can be tricky with darker skin and fuller lips, but this is the perfect shade that compliments my skin tone beautifully. Good wear if I'm not eating/drinking, but it does transfer easily. I don't mind reapplying though :) I would definitely buy this again if/when I run out!
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Styling Products -TiGi - Bed Head - Foxy Curls Contour Cream
toyarosie 2/25/2011 3:02:00 PM
Amazing. I've been using this product now for about 3-4 months and *might* be through half the bottle, and I use it almost every day! You really only need half a pump (I've got super curly hair that DEVOURS product but even for myself a full pump is too much). Aside from the longevity of this, it smells amazing and it works. I use this with Aveeno's leave-in treatment and my hair is controlled, with hardly any frizz, and feels soft and bouncy to the touch. Without a leave-in, it works almost as well. I just like to add the extra hydration to my dry hair, but it's not really necessary. Coincidentally, when I started using the product my face broke out and then turned to a rash, and I was scared that it was due to this - but it turns out I was just over-exfoliating. I've got my skin under control now and this product doesn't harm my skin in the least. I will repurchase again and again!
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Lip Treatments -Jack Black - Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 - Lemon & Chamomile
toyarosie 12/28/2010 6:45:00 PM
Yummm! I love the smell of this balm. Plus, it makes my lips feel so soft, not sticky at all, and I love the look of my bare lips with just this product. I don't really have much else to say about it - it's excellent. I can't think of any drawbacks. I don't know if its the BEST balm ever in terms of moisturizing/treatment, but it doesn't do anything negative and in all other respects (consistency, feel, smell, SPF!!) it gets top marks from me! And reasonably priced at $10CDN (from Sephora). I am definitely going to repurchase!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Full 'N Soft Mascara
toyarosie 12/22/2010 10:53:00 AM
After doing a friend's makeup and using her Full'n'Soft mascara with ease on her eyes, I thought I'd pick one of these up to try it out. Can't say it's my favorite...it does what it claims - lashes are soft and feathery - but that is NOT what I wanted at all (so I guess it's my own fault!). I find that for some reason this mascara makes my lashes go every which way, which is weird because my lashes aren't tangly at all. I guess that's how they achieve the fullness but I just find it rather irritating. It doesn't do a ton for length either. Essentially this mascara isn't entirely at fault but rather I choose it for the wrong reasons, so that's something to take into consideration. In any case, it's a more natural looking mascara so if that's what you're going for, you'll be pleased. But as for being 'voluminous' (which is what I assume they meant by 'full'), it doesn't quite fit the bill.
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Lotions/ Creams -Curel - Sensitive Skin Remedy
toyarosie 12/13/2010 4:57:00 PM
I am always keeping an eye out for skin lotions/creams that don't have petroleum/mineral oil in them, but it's a hard task! Additionally I have eczema so it has to be hydrating enough for my skin, especially this time of year. Last winter I used Curel's lotion in the old blue packaging and while it didn't irritate, it is chock full of skin smothering ingredients. Works great for barrier protection but doesn't actually treat the lack of moisture in the skin. Enter this year's new product - Sensitive Skin Remedy. It's in the new white packaging with the rest but it's in a tube form and is only about 220mL for $10(ish) CDN. Not super cheap but doable. It doesn't have any mineral oil or the like, and it actually a ceramide-based cream which they say helps to desensitize the skin. It works! My eczema is considerably tamed, with only a few small patches on my shoulders from wearing wool (stupid, I know) - and makes my skin feel soft and hydrated without being sticky or greasy. No scent either. 100% this is my new HG moisturizer. I haven't found one yet that's been as successful as this one is. Hallelujah!
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Scrubs -Freeman - Plum & Pumice Foot Scrub
toyarosie 12/7/2010 11:20:00 AM
Sorry, but I just can't get down with this product. I remembered using this before like, 10 years ago, and LOVING the smell - which I still do. However, I don't find this does much of anything in terms of exfoliation, at least not on the soles of my feet. I haven't used it in conjunction with a pumice stone, but to me that's sort of rating the product inaccurately - I bought this to use INSTEAD of a pumice stone or foot file, and on its own its just not effective. When I use it I have to do it on dry feet for it to feel like it's done any work, and I don't even have 'trouble' feet - they're relatively smooth and I only have a bit of tough skin on my heels and outsides of my feet. Regardless of how economical it is, this gets a pass from me.
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Conditioner -TRESemme - Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner
toyarosie 12/7/2010 11:06:00 AM
This is by far the best drugstore conditioner I have ever used! Possibly the best daily conditioner I've used overall, too. And on top of that, it's silicone-free, hypoallergenic, and dye-free. I just find that amazing considering that it truly works - my dry, uber curly hair feels amazing after I use it, and really hydrated, not just that false 'moisturized' feeling when your hair is just left with a slippery film. Pleasant smell, and comes in a HUGE bottle, for relatively cheap, so that's another bonus! My hair is infinitely easier to control and it gets less frizzy overall. For the first time in a long time (or ever?) I can see myself repurchasing a product :) They just don't make 'em like this!
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Polishes -China Glaze - Peace on Earth
toyarosie 10/24/2010 8:20:00 PM
Awesome awesome awesome. I love this polish! Not only is the color flattering on my skin tone (NC 45) but the application was amazing - buttery and smooth. One of the easiest polishes to apply that I've come across. It's a warm, golden-toned olive shade, with subtle shimmer, that is unique but (for my skintone at least) is still entirely office-appropriate. At first I thought it was an odd shade for a holiday collection, but now I think it totally works, probably because of the golden tone. I can't comment on the wear just yet as I've only had it on for a day - will update soon. I suspect it'll be similar to other CG polishes, which I usually get about 5 days wear with minimal chips or wear. A keeper!
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Polishes -China Glaze - Ingrid
toyarosie 10/14/2010 7:32:00 AM
When I saw the swatches of this product online, even though I thought it looked quite pretty I wasn't sure if I could pull if off on my skintone (about a NC45). However, when I checked it ou in person, lo and behold - this was actually quite a lovely brown on my brown skin!! Usually they blend in too well, or clash, or just look blah, but this was extremely wearable for me and not boring at all. While the golden shimmer isn't really noticeable in indoor lighting, it gives enough depth to the polish that it still adds a little something special, regardless of lighting. This is an ideal work shade - I felt I looked very professional and polished with it on, which I loved - an impressive point considering that's not usually the look I want to achieve :P The application was great, two coats, and the wear is probably one of the best I've had in a polish - absolutely no chips and only slight, SLIGHT tip wear until day five when I JUST had the smallest of chips on two nails only. Highly recommend!
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Polishes -Chanel - Le Vernis Nail Colour in Paradoxal #509
toyarosie 10/7/2010 7:48:00 AM
Well, I got sucked into all the beautiful swatches of this color online, and while I'm not over-the-moon with the color in the end, I still am glad I bought it. Of course, the beautiful pink microshimmer doesn't show up in most lights, which was the biggest draw for me - but the general murky purple color in itself is unique and beautiful. Its office appropriate, but edgy enough that you don't feel boring. Application was easy - two coats to opacity. I actually haven't had any real wear issues, it's held up pretty well - I'm just starting day 5 and besides a few very minor, hardly noticeable chips on a few nails, it still looks good. And one hand I didn't apply a top coat till day three (forgot!). So I'm pleased overall. I could understand those reviewers who found it chipped quickly - to pay $23 for a polish that doesn't last would be extremely irritating. I just didn't find that to be the case in my instance!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -American Apparel - Peacock
toyarosie 10/2/2010 8:47:00 AM
Deep teal blue creme. When I bought this shade, it was one of the first in my Fall polish shopping frenzy, and I thought I was going to LOVE it when the season turned. However, I wore it this week and while it's a pretty shade, it just seemed blah compared to all the other polishes I bought! On my caramel coloring it was neither flattering nor unattractive. I think on someone with fair to medium skintones it would be quite striking. It goes on very creamy and is pretty much opaque in one coat - I used two just because I like the way polish looks better with two. By day five there were only tiny chips in a couple nails, so it wore well. I rated it a 4 because it is a good polish, but I just wouldn't buy it again because it didn't do much for *me* in the way of color...
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Polishes -Rimmel - Lasting Finish PRO - Burgundy Flirt
toyarosie 9/23/2010 9:12:00 AM
Just bought this last night so I'll have to update on the staying power. As for the color, its pretty much just what I was looking for - a dark, blood red - perfect for Fall. Two coats make the red (I agree with other reviewers that I wouldn't call this 'burgundy') more prominent; a third coat and it's pretty deep and a bit more brown. Depending on my mood/preferences that day I'll play with the color intensity. My skin tone is somewhere around a caramel color and it's quite flattering. It's nice and glossy so you could probably skip a top coat if desired. The wide brush reminds me of the brushes for the quick dry Sally Hansen line - a bit awkward but it does cover the nail nicely when you get used to it. For less than $5 CDN (regular price), you can't go wrong :)
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