Misc Beauty Tools -Rodan and Fields - Macro Exfoliator
triplemom 2/17/2013 6:23:00 PM
I'm usually skeptical of hype. But this is one product that has earned its accolades. This gadget has a diamond tipped head, much like the microdermabrasion machines dermatologists use. You only need to use it once a week for 5 minutes, and it claims to remove 5 million skin cells per session. But unlike microdermabrasion, it doesn't scrape off your skin. It uses gentle suction to remove skin cells and gunk. I thought my Clarisonic -- along with retin a --was doing a good job of that. But the Macro took it to the next level. I used it on friday night and woke up saturday morning to radiant, even-toned skin. I was so impressed that I took some pictures of me wearing no foundation(see my profile). This is huge -- I don't like walking to the mailbox without foundation, and here I am putting my pic online for all to see! I'll be 50 in September (wow, is that painful to write!) so this thing came at the right time. I want to disclose that I'm a very new Rodan and Fields rep, and this is the first product of theirs I've ever tried. But I'm a longtime MUA member (see my reviews on other stuff.) Anyway, thought I'd share my experience. The results are supposed to be cumulative, so maybe I'll look younger by the time my big 5-0 comes around. I can only hope! UPDATE 3/27/13 I have used this tool 4 times now. My skin continues to get better and better after each use. I'm really thrilled with this thing and I highly recommend it in your anti-aging beauty arsenal!!!
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Pantene - Expert Collection Age Defy Conditioner
triplemom 1/19/2013 7:11:00 PM
Despite the hype, I wasn't expecting much from this product. However, I trusted the beauty gurus at Allure and Good Housekeeping enough to give it a whirl. And holy crap, I'm so glad I did! For reference, I'm 49 (ugh) and my hair started going prematurely gray when I was 17. So I have plenty of silver strands, but since I color and highlight, I don't really know -- and don't want to know -- how many. Also, about 5 yrs ago I experienced a traumatic event which led to a lot of hair loss. Thankfully, most of that has grown back but I was left with dull, brittle hair. Enter Age Defy. (I am speaking for the shampoo and conditioner together.) After my first use I'm like, what? Shine? My hair hasn't been remotely shiny since I was pregnant 7 yrs ago, despite every argan/macadamia nut oil/silicone product there is. I thought it might've been my imagination or hopeful thinking, so I refrained from coming to MUA review site to praise this product. But after using this for 3 weeks -- it replaced my Pureology $30-a-bottle shampoo and conditioner -- I have come to the conclusion that this line really lives up to its hype. I've used Pantene products before, but this is NOTHING like any of their other lines. It's not like I have my 23-yr-old hair again (let's be real) but it is significantly softer, more manageable and shinier. I just bought the masque today and will review that later. Great product line.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Bare Escentuals - Bare Minerals ALL
triplemom 11/4/2012 9:44:00 PM
I work at a makeup boutique and Bare Minerals is, by far, our best-selling foundation. When it works, it's beautiful. I have found that Bare Minerals is particularly flattering on younger skin. These girls just glow when I apply BM on them. But after age 30,it's hit and miss. I am 49 and this stuff looks terrible on me. My skin is normal, oily in tzone and I don't have many lines or wrinkles -- but BM seems to settle in my pores and accentuate my skin's flaws. They recently came out with a compact version that I think may be more universally flattering. It's more hydrating than the loose powder. That said, no powder foundation is your friend if you have dry skin. Go with a moisturizing liquid, or at least a cream-to-powder formula. And wear a primer underneath!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Self Tanners -Jergens - Natural Glow Foaming Daily Moisturizer-Medium Tan
triplemom 5/25/2012 7:03:00 PM
I'm reviewing the new Natural Glow Foaming Daily Moisturizer-the one that claims to have no self-tanning odor. This is the only self-tanner I will use from now on because it truly has NO scent. It's a miracle. I shun self-tanners in general b/c I hate their metallic, nasty smell and the heavy, takes-10-hours-to-dry consistency. Ugh. This foam is truly odorless. However, being a foam, it doesn't really moisturize, hence the 4 out of 5 lippies. I need to exfoliate more, :). The foam itself is a little runny, more like a lotion with whipped air in it rather than a mousse. But I like the fact that it dries almost instantly and I don't have to walk around naked for 30 minutes for it to dry, hoping my kids won't burst into the bedroom and I won't catch sight of myself in the mirror.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Miracle Skin Transformer SPF20
triplemom 11/25/2011 11:34:00 PM
I started working at makeup boutique in August 2011 (love my job!) and we sell the MST, along with the concealer. They are both fabulous products but you need to know how to use them. I was underwhelmed when I first tried the MST. While it felt like silk on my skin, it did not provide the coverage I was hoping for and I was pretty disappointed. Luckily, the owner of the store gave me a full tube so I could experiment with it. I've found that this works best as a primer/sunscreen UNDER your regular makeup. And while it seems expensive, you don't have to buy a primer, a sunscreen or a moisturizer (unless you have very dry skin). This is it. The slight tint evens out your complexion to set the stage for your foundation. It will give you a flawless complexion under a powder foiundation like gloMinerals or Laure Mercier. I haven't tried it under a liquid foundation on myself, but have used it doing makeovers in the store and it is equally impressive. The concealer reflects light and it has the silky consistency of the primer. I'm a picky consumer and I don't like some of the products our store sells, but I love these two. (And no, I do NOT work for MST or write fake reviews!)
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Viktor & Rolf - Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb
triplemom 11/25/2011 10:35:00 PM
I love this fragrance, but it turned from pink to orange and got nasty smelling in less than 2 years. I keep my fragrances away from sunlight and in a cool place -- I have 25 or more, but only this one turned bad in such a short time. I thought I didn't like the scent anymore until I went to Sephora today and took a whiff. Oh yeah, that's how it's supposed to smell.
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Treatments -Clinique - Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector
triplemom 5/22/2010 7:27:00 PM
I had high hopes for this product. I have a lot of sun spots and hyperpigmentation on my face (as well as a few spots on my hands) from years of sun worshipping. Unfortunately, after a good 4 weeks of use, I saw no results. They give you a colored chart to measure your skin spots before and after treatment, and mine stayed the same. Lots of money for nothing, I'm afraid. Maybe it works on acne scars but it did nothing for my hyperpigmentation.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Rimmel - Fix and Perfect Foundation Primer
triplemom 8/22/2009 5:14:00 PM
I was pleasantly surprised with this product, especially after reading the bad reviews here. But I can understand the orange factor if you have really fair skin. I'm fair/medium with yellow undertones so this disappeared into my skin and even gave my skin a little coverage. I have tried more expensive primers (Smashbox, MUF) but I actually like this one the best!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Sin
triplemom 7/9/2009 10:34:00 PM
I really wanted to like this. My eyelids are kind of dark, so the original UD primer didn't help me with that. I had high hopes that the Sin primer would work. However, it is more like an eyeshadow than a primer. If you want a light, sparkly, lid, this is nice by itself. If you want to put a matte shadow over it -- or even a shimmer shadow of another color -- forget it. The sparkles tug on the shadow, making it go on unevenly and competing with the color (don't try pairing this with a matte lavender eyeshadow!) While the packaging is way cute, the dispenser leaves an annoying amount of primer on your eyelid. Overall, I'm disappointed....still searching for the perfect eye primer!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Removal -Unlisted Brand - Smooth Away hair removing pads
triplemom 7/9/2009 10:26:00 PM
I don't think this product can replace shaving or other hair-removal systems. What it DOES do, at least for me, is make my shaved legs feel much smoother. Most days when I shave my legs, there is still some little stubble/bumps after shaving. I use this to get rid of those and I end up with very smooth, silky legs. I have not tried it on my face (use retin-a so that would be a disaster) or my underarms. Bikini area too sensitive. But for getting rid of the stubbies, it works great.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Got 2 Be - Guardian Angel Heat Protect N' Blow Out Lotion and Gloss Finish
triplemom 4/23/2009 7:03:00 PM
I've been using this in conjunction with L'Oreal vive pro Smooth Gloss Anti-Frizz cream and the result is amazing. My frizzy, dry, damaged, thin hair looks incredibly healthy, bouncy and shiny with this concoction. And I've tried everything from John Frieda to Kerastace. This combo is incredible. I'm on my 5th shampoo/blowout with these products and I'm blown away each time! My hair stylist is the only one who can make my hair looks this healthy.
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Styling Products -L'Oreal - Vive Pro Glossy Style- smooth gloss serum
triplemom 4/20/2009 4:35:00 PM
I ran out of my NO FRIZZ and didn't want to shell out the money to replace it, so I bought this instead. I have to admit I was pretty skeptical, as I'm usually not a fan of L'Oreal hair products. This is the exception. I have shoulder-length damaged, colored/highlighted hair that's probably mostly gray underneath. (I don't really want to know). I've tried many, many anti-frizz products but have never been really satisfied. This product is great. With damp hair, I first spritz a little Got2b Guardian Angel heat protect/blow-out spray, comb it through, then use about a quarter sized dollop of this and do the same. My hair looks bouncy, swingy, and frizz is almost gone. I really like this stuff.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Hermes - Elixir des Merveilles
triplemom 11/10/2008 10:54:00 PM
I'm still trying to decide on this. My friend wears it and it smells great on her. When I first sprayed it on at Sephora, it smelled like bug repellant. As is warmed to my skin, however, it turned into something lovely -- creamy and warm, really delicious. It's perfectly balanced with the "sweet" orange/chocolate notes toned down by earthier notes and a hint of citrus. Sandelwood is not overpowering, as it can be in some scents. It provides a bit of structure, but is quite subtle. I have a sample from Sephora so I'm going to see how it wears in the next few days. Overall, though, I am really liking this and the staying power is fabulous.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Shiseido - Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow
triplemom 8/20/2008 8:02:00 PM
I rarely write a review, but I had to on this one, as I love this eyeshadow. (And I have a bajillion of them in my drawer. Seriously, I have a problem). Anyway, I purchased Gold Lights, after much hemming ahd hawing, and when tried it for the first time, the other day, I was underwhelmed. But I used it again today as a base shadow and used a powder shadow in the crease, and it looks stunning. I was a little worried about the cream formula, as I have had bad luck with creams creasing in the past. And the shimmer was also a concern, as I am
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Sally Hershberger - Supreme Lift
triplemom 5/15/2008 4:38:00 PM
I used this product this morning and I was really impressed. My hair used to be really thick, but over the years it has gotten thinner, and this stuff really gave it the oopmh I was looking for. My hair not only looks thicker and has more volume, it feels thicker, too. I used it with the volumizing shampoo b/c it was buy one, get one 50% off at Walgreens.
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