Conditioner -DermOrganic - Daily Hydrating Conditioner
used2Baileendq 5/23/2013 6:43:00 AM
LOVE DermOrganic stuff- ALL of it. I've been using the shampoo and masque and happened to find the daily hydrating conditioner recently at Marshall's. It's GREAT! DermOrganic is my holy grail hair product line- the Argan oil serum, spray, shampoo, masque & hydrating conditioner are all AMAZING, ime. I have coarse, relaxed AND BKTed hair and this stuff leaves my hair silky but not weighed down. Smells great too.
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Fragrances -Yves Rocher - Neroli
used2Baileendq 5/7/2013 5:44:00 AM
Received this on Saturday. Shipping was a bit slow directly from YR. The juice itself: I got a mini as well as a full bottle (which was on sale for half off, so I paid about $40). I tried the mini first, and had a very poor opinion afterwards. It smelled EXACTLY like B&BW Cotton Blossom. Not bad, but not something I would wear in public. In fact, I used to wear CB in the warm months before bed after a shower. In any case, I opted to keep the full bottle to use in the same way. HOWEVER, for some strange reason, the juice in the full bottle doesn't smell anything like what's in the mini. Odd, I know. The FB has definite a definite neroli top note (unlike the mini) and has a powdery, crisp yet *slightly* sweet white musk base. The notes are as follows: Top Notes: Bitter orange, Petitgrain, Bergamot Heart Notes: Orange blossom, Neroli Base Notes: White musk. The bitter orange is present for a split second, the petitgrain (the oil that is extracted from the leaves and twigs of the bitter orange plant- the same plant that gives us neroli and orange blossom) lasts for somewhat longer. The bergamot is present (to my nose, anyway) almost all the way until the end. Neroli lasts for a bit longer and the musk remains as described above. All in all, this is an unoffensive scent that, in my own mind, is in the same category as Musc Bleu (albeit a neroli and MUCH cheaper category). Clean and safe. A good day perfume for spring and early summer. I would not wear this during very hot weather or at night when I want something that is sultry.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -DermOrganic - Leave In Treatment with Argan Oil
used2Baileendq 1/25/2013 7:59:00 PM
I have NO IDEA what DermOrganic puts in their products (I'm thinking a pact with Satan?!?) because this product, along with the shampoo, hydrating masque and treatment spray are like NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING else I have ever used (and I'm 43 and have searched my entire life for HG products). Right about now, I am fretting that they will discontinue or change the formulation of their hair products. (If anyone from the DermOrganic is reading...PLEASE DON'T. This stuff is like finding my follicular soul-mate!) I have relaxed. colored AND BKT'd hair and my hair feels like silk, is not weighed down, and shiny. This isn't a coating either, like with my Moroccan Oil products. This is legit silky, hydrated hair.
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -DermOrganic - Sulfate-Free Conditioning Shampoo
used2Baileendq 1/22/2013 9:11:00 PM
HOLY EFFING CRAP, MUA. This review is for both the shampoo and hydrating masque to save time. ***Please note: I am in no way affiliated with this company, nor do I have any vested interest in any hair care products other than as a consumer.*** RUN…don’t walk…RUN to get this stuff. To start: I have relaxed, colored AND BKTed hair. I work out vigorously 5x a week , so I wash my hair 5x a week. I blow my hair dry 2-3x a week. As you can imagine, my hair is (WAS!) dry and fragile. I have been sulfate-free for some time now, with the exception of the times I relax and BKT my hair (You need the sulfates to get all the relaxer out of your hair and you need sulfates to clarify your hair before the BKT…obviously I do these things separately.) I have tried SO MANY sulfate free shampoos and “moisturizing” conditioners. NONE- ABSOLUTELY NONE- have even come close to what the Hydrating Masque and shampoo from DermOrganic has done for me. I tried the Masque first, on a whim. I was completely floored by the results. After blow drying my hair was buttery soft and silky feeling. I figured it was a fluke , but by later that night, when my hair felt just as amazing, I was convinced I had to go buy another bottle. So the very next day off I went, and picked up the shampoo to go along with it. To be honest, I expected the shampoo to be mediocre. (It couldn’t possibly be as wonderful as the Masque…could it?) Well, I was WRONG. The results with the two combined have been astounding. If you had told me about it in advance, I would not have believed you (but I would have tried it anyway, LOL). So, the NEXT day I got the Spray Therapy. Amazing! When I am finished with my Moroccan Oil I will be ordering the Leave In Treatment. The ONLY possible downsides to these products are the following: One is the price. It’s not exorbitant, at least not compared to some luxury hair care items, but it’s not cheap. You know what? I don’t care. For hair this amazing, I will gladly pay the price ($36 for the liter of the Masque and $30 for the shampoo) for hair this healthy and shiny. The other is the smell of the Leave-In-Treatment and the spray. It’s a bit “cherry cough syrup” but the scent, thankfully, does not last. So, ladies with dry or chemically processed hair…GET ON IT. Just don’t buy them all or I will cry.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -DermOrganic - Masque Intensive Hair
used2Baileendq 1/22/2013 9:09:00 PM
HOLY EFFING CRAP, MUA. This review is for both the shampoo and hydrating masque to save time. ***Please note: I am in no way affiliated with this company, nor do I have any vested interest in any hair care products other than as a consumer.*** RUN…don’t walk…RUN to get this stuff. To start: I have relaxed, colored AND BKTed hair. I work out vigorously 5x a week , so I wash my hair 5x a week. I blow my hair dry 2-3x a week. As you can imagine, my hair is (WAS!) dry and fragile. I have been sulfate-free for some time now, with the exception of the times I relax and BKT my hair (You need the sulfates to get all the relaxer out of your hair and you need sulfates to clarify your hair before the BKT…obviously I do these things separately.) I have tried SO MANY sulfate free shampoos and “moisturizing” conditioners. NONE- ABSOLUTELY NONE- have even come close to what the Hydrating Masque and shampoo from DermOrganic has done for me. I tried the Masque first, on a whim. I was completely floored by the results. After blow drying my hair was buttery soft and silky feeling. I figured it was a fluke , but by later that night, when my hair felt just as amazing, I was convinced I had to go buy another bottle. So the very next day off I went, and picked up the shampoo to go along with it. To be honest, I expected the shampoo to be mediocre. (It couldn’t possibly be as wonderful as the Masque…could it?) Well, I was WRONG. The results with the two combined have been astounding. If you had told me about it in advance, I would not have believed you (but I would have tried it anyway, LOL). So, the NEXT day I got the Spray Therapy. Amazing! When I am finished with my Moroccan Oil I will be ordering the Leave In Treatment. The ONLY possible downsides to these products are the following: One is the price. It’s not exorbitant, at least not compared to some luxury hair care items, but it’s not cheap. You know what? I don’t care. For hair this amazing, I will gladly pay the price ($36 for the liter of the Masque and $30 for the shampoo) for hair this healthy and shiny. The other is the smell of the Leave-In-Treatment and the spray. It’s a bit “cherry cough syrup” but the scent, thankfully, does not last. So, ladies with dry or chemically processed hair…GET ON IT. Just don’t buy them all or I will cry.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Bobbi Brown - Pot Rouge NEW FORMULATION
used2Baileendq 3/1/2012 7:34:00 AM
This review is for the BRAND NEW FORMULATION(Spring 2012) of the Pot Rouge. I currently own Velvet Plum, Pale Pink, Pink Truffle, 2 Blushed Roses, and Chocolate Cherry in the old formulation/packaging. I LOVE them and I was excited about the new colors and the new formulations. So I tried Calypso Coral in the new formulation/packaging and I liked the way it looked so I brought it home. The new packaging has a flip top with a mirror- an improvement over the old screw tops. However, when I opened the package at home, I realized that the NEW packaging only has .13oz and the OLD packaging has .38oz. I PAID THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR BOTH..... Given that, and the fact that the new formula is much sheerer (thus less color payoff- you have to use more product) IT'S GOING BACK. I'm pretty insulted that BB would think this is okay to do to her customers, frankly. I will begin the search for my new HG cream blush anew.
21 out of 21 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Unlisted Brand - DevaCare No Poo No fade Zero Lather Cleanser
used2Baileendq 8/7/2011 11:35:00 AM
I have coarse, curly hair that I relax and BKT every 3-4 months. I go to the gym every other day for 2 hours. I SWEAT when I go to the gym, so washing my hair (not just rinsing) is a must. I've been using sulfate free shampoos but they still stripped too much moisture from my hair. I had used Deva Low Poo (in the green bottle) before but it left my scalp itchy- must've been a reaction to an ingredient. On a whim I decided to try the Deva CARE No Poo. I really like it for post gym days. I still need to alternate with shampoo (sulfate free) OR clarify about once a week or so (still working out how often this will have to happen). The one drawback to this product is that I feel as if I have to use quite a bit to get my scalp really clean. However, the health of my hair is not something I skimp on, so if this product continues to leave my hair soft I will re-buy.
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Hair Styling Tools -Babyliss - Pro Nano Titanium Portofino Dryer
used2Baileendq 7/24/2011 9:25:00 AM
Well, color me SURPRISED, lol! I have naturally VERY curly, frizzy "ethnic" hair (for lack of a better term) that I relax, color & BKT about every 3-4 month. It's also about bra strap length. I've used every blow dryer imaginable- T3, Sedu, Solano, BaByliss, etc. I gave up on my search for the perfect blow dryer years ago, and became a proponent of "it's the technique, NOT the tools," Well, I WAS WRONG, OKAY?!? This blow dryer (1) took a full 10 minutes off my drying session and (2) left my hair feeling like I had done a deep conditioning treatment (I hadn't). Seriously, my hair was soft, silky, & healthy feeling, I wouldn't have believed this if I hadn't experienced it. This dryer has ionic generator and an AC motor (they last longer than DC motors, but tend to make the dryers heavier, however, the Portofino is NOT any heavier than, say, a drugstore blowdryer). It also comes with FOUR attachments- three concentrator nozzles and a finger-diffuser. One thing you should know, if you believe that a blow dryer has to get super hot to dry your hair well (a fallacy)- this dryer isn't *super* hot, but the air flow and ionic technology really do make up for any lack of heat. For me, this is a blessing for my hair, since I like to spare my hair the super-hot tools when possible. I have two other professional hair dryers that won't be seeing the light of day for a LONG time!
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Organix - Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy
used2Baileendq 7/4/2011 8:25:00 PM
I do wish people would realize that this is for the SHAMPOO, not the treatment! In any event, I have a BKT in my hair (NOT the Organix kind, btw) and this shampoo is pretty freaking good! It cleans without stripping and has no sulfates (which is a harsh surfactant and can strip both color AND a BKT) and it's free of sodium chloride, which will strip a BKT. It smells amazing, although the scent doesn't linger- a shame, imo. I will be picking up the conditioner tomorrow.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Donna Karan - Pure DKNY
used2Baileendq 3/25/2011 4:55:00 PM
Tried this when it first was released. it sounded like the perfect non-perfumey perfume for me. Alas, I got a HUGE dose of...CUMIN?!?! Is there even cumin IN this? In any event, I ended up smelling like I had rolled in a vat of BO. Back to Sephora it went.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Guerlain - Cologne du Parfumeur
used2Baileendq 2/27/2011 5:11:00 PM
I was on the hunt for another spring/summer fragrance, and came across this in Saks. This is a lovely, very light unisex fragrance from Thierry Wasser. The notes are as follows: orange blossom, lemon, bergamot, rosemary, lavender & musk. This starts out with a lovely lemon/orange blossom that is clean but nowhere near screechy. The mid-point was *very* reminiscent of 4711, but where 4711 gets vaguely musty (vetiver does this on me sometimes) Cologne du Parfumeur remains crisp, and the muskiness begins to make its presence known. There is nothing "dirty" about this musk, either. It's a white/clean/airy musk that stays that way until it disappears. Staying power is always a question with colognes, of course, and this is no exception. However, for a cologne, it lasts an amazingly long time. I liberally sprayed myself and manged to be non-offensive AND remain smelling pleasant for a good 4 hours. In the interest of full disclosure, though, I *did* mist my clothing as well, something I do regularly with lighter fragrances. This is a perfect scent for a hot summer's day or even a crisp spring day. It's nowhere near sexy- or even sweet and feminine. It's an "I live in a citrus grove and shower with finely milled soap" sort of scent. Cologne du Parfumeur isn't widely available, a blessing in that I won't be smelling it everywhere, and a curse because running out (a definite possibility with a cologne) means hunting around quite a bit. A similar story is the price point- 100ml will run you just about $100. This is the smallest size available to my knowledge. This is great in that the local college girls won't be wearing this ad nauseum, but my wallet is whimpering in anticipation of having to replace this lovely scent.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -Graftobian - High-Definition Glamour Color Creme Foundation
used2Baileendq 2/2/2011 4:26:00 PM
I needed an spf-free, full coverage foundation for an event, so off I went to Sephora. When I explained to the SA that I didn't want any spf, that I wanted a flawless, full coverage foundation, he suggested an HD foundation. I thought this was a great idea, and sampled each and every HD foundation that matched my skin. Unfortunately, none of them worked, and some were outright disasters. (I am quite dry skinned.) I gave up on HD foundations and decided to try MAC's full coverage foundation instead. This, too, failed, as there are no Pro stores accessible to me. Fast forward several weeks later, and I come across my favorite You Tube makeup artist's positive review of Graftobian HD Glamour Creme foundation. I researched which colors would suit me, but was hesitant to even order samples, as the Graftobian foundation matrix seems to be lacking suggestions between NC35 and 50. It wasn't until Temptalia (bless her painted heart) put up her foundation matrix that I felt comfortable and ordered samples. The samples run $3.99 and the full size is $12.50 for a 1/2 ounce jar. The beats, HANDS DOWN, any other foundation I have ever purchased. I'm somewhere between NC35-40 and quite warm (yellow). I ordered Desert Sand and Winter Wheat from The Paint & Powder store. The samples they sent were meant to be "for one time use" according to the website, but they were in fact each enough to use 7-8 times for me. This brings me to my first review point for this foundation- it's SUPER pigmented. You simply don't need a lot to do a heavy coverage face. The product comes in a 1/2 oz jar. It's very creamy and very blend-able. The finish is semi-matte, which is new for me, as I normally prefer a dewy finish. However, I have mixed this with lotions to create a tinted moisturizer (word of caution here: some of the lotions darkened the foundation). I also did a side by side comparison with my favorite foundation (BB Moisture Rich in Warm Natural) and compared coverage, wear (over several hours) and skin tone matching. Graftobian's Desert Sand matched perfectly (although it is the barest hint yellower- fine by me as I have always felt that the BB fdt was not quite warm enough by a hair) and covered MUCH better than BB. They wore equally (both with primer and without). I do not normally set with powder, and I certainly would not with this foundation given its semi matte finish. Also, I don't normally prime my entire face and this left me feeling a bit dry with a traditional primer (LM), so I went back to Sephora got samples of silicon-free moisturizing primers. (I will edit this review with those results). The BB fdt did have a dewy-er finish. The best way I found to apply this foundation is with a damp sponge. I have noticed that it's easier to sheer this foundation out when the sponge is damper than usual. It's also quite easy to build coverage where you need it. (Less is more for me- I wear the sheerest coverage I can get away with and build only where needed- this keeps my face from looking like a mask and follows for all my foundations.) I ALSO tried this fdt out as a concealer. I followed my usual steps, applied eye cream, primed, applied my BB Corrector, then Graftobian HD creme, then set it with LM Brightening powder. It wasn't an utter failure, but my preference is still my BB Creamy Concealer. A side by side comparison demonstrated that the eye with the BB lasted longer. Another tip (for personal use) is to warm the product up on the back of your (clean & sanitized) hand and pick it up with the sponge from there, or dot your face (I dot my chin, nose, forehead & cheeks) and blend outward from there. I DO NOT stick my fingers or brushes in this foundation- I use plastic makeup spatulas. I also transferred some to a clean, sanitized sample jar to take on the go with me in case I need a touch-up. All in all, my best advice is to play with this to learn how it works best for *you*. Don't expect to plop it out of the jar and have it be a miracle product. Given the amount of product that you get for the price, and given the versatility of this product, it's well worth the time and effort to learn how to use it. Others have noted that the product contains ingredients that could potentially clog pores. This is true, but because it's a full coverage foundation, it's NOT an everyday product for me (my BB Extra Balm, BB Moisture Rich & BB Skin all have spf and are out-of-the-bottle ready for every day) it works just fine. I would not hesitate to purchase this again, although it's unlikely I will have to for a very long time. (As a side note- the Winter Wheat was too dark for me now, but now functions nicely as a contouring shade and will be perfect for me in the summer should I need it.) EDIT: I promised I would edit this after I had paired this foundation with a moisturizing primer. I used Korre's Quercetin & Oak Antiageing Face Primer on one cheek (my cheeks are the driest areas) and Tarte's Recreate Primer. (Both these primers are silicon free.) Boy, was I pleased with the results! The lower half of my cheeks have the largest pores on my face, and even there, my skin looked like a porcelain doll's and felt like butter. My skin still looked great 5 hours later (but did not feel quite as moisturized). I will definitely be getting Tarte's primer, as that had Jojoba oil in it.
18 out of 19 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - Schick Intuition PLUS Razor
used2Baileendq 1/29/2011 5:20:00 PM
Great idea, horrible execution. I got this as a lark, as the drugstore was out of my usual blades. The first time I used it, I had to keep going over the same swipe multiple times. It was as if the shaving bar wasn't allowing the blade to reach my skin. The other thing I noticed was that the handle is VERY slippery. Could it had hurt to add some rubbery ridges on the handle? As I went to put it away, I noticed that there was a significant amount of water in the product, so I had to shake it several times. The second time I used the product the blades could reach my skin, BUT BY THE END OF MY BATH, THE BAR WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY GONE from underneath the blade. (Note that I did NOT let the razor sit in the water once I was done shaving- I put it in its holder on the wall.) While this is not the worst razor I've ever used (that honor goes to some cheap, unnamed, disposable razor that cut the hell out of my legs, this comes a close second for uselessness. I will not be repurchasing.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Narciso Rodriguez - Nr for Her Musc Collection
used2Baileendq 12/19/2010 10:23:00 AM
*sigh* How I wish this worked for me! I have owned NR For Her since it's debut, and although I wore it quite a bit for the first 2 years (as much as a fragrance fiend such as myself can regularly wear one perfume) it became screechy and headache inducing after a while and I had to stop wearing it. I still have the bottle and I occasionally reach for it in the hope that something in my chemistry has changed back. NR Musc Collection seemed like the perfect compromise between For Her and the Musc oil, which is barely detectable on me and very pricey for such a phantom scent. I have tried this scent multiple times, have had samples made at Sephora, all to no avail. The opening note is, after much racking of my memory, is *exactly* the scent of that stick of bubble gum one finds in a pack of baseball cards. That scent lingers for about 10 minutes and then this scent comes into its own. It is a clean, musky, warm PERFECT scent. It does NOT smell like perfume- only warm clean flesh. Fifteen minutes later, it's GONE. Nothing. No remnant or base notes linger. I asked my roommate to take a good whiff at a very close range and nada. Nothing on my clothing either, which I had also liberally spritzed. I suppose, looking on the bright side, this is money well-saved. ETA: 10/29/11- Well, I broke down and tried this AGAIN, hoping that my chemistry had changed enough to enjoy it. Guess what? IT DID! It not only smells great on me (clean, warm musk with a slight powdery.soapy feel- a bit dryer sheet-ish, true, but I LIKE!) but it lasts as well. There is still a bit of a hairspray/bubblegum accord in the first 15 or so, but it's not offensive, and the end result is worth it.
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Eye Shadow -Bobbi Brown - Metallic Eyeshadow in Forest
used2Baileendq 12/18/2010 6:16:00 PM
Oh, man. I just had THE BEST smoky eye done with all of three products (excluding mascara). I have deep set eyes, so regular smoky eyes (read: dark color in the crease, etc.) just serves to make my eyes recede even more. However, I *finally* had a chance to have the MUA at the BB counter at Saks Boston (Chantal- SHE IS AMAZING-go see her!) do my face with a party look. She used BB Metallic Long Wear Cream Shadow in Goldstone as an all over wash on the lid (applied with her finger), then she lined my upper lids with a thick line of BB Gel Eyeliner in Black (I was shocked at the thick line- it's something I would never wear on its own, but I have seen this on others) and then she took Forest Metallic e/s and blended it with the eyeliner halfway up my lids, so that it was gradated into the Goldstone e/s. This left my crease with only a wash of color and made my eyes seem less deep set. The *color* this left on my eyes was AMAZING. It made my medium brown eyes pop! (Did I mention there was NO primer used? Apparently "long wearing" is the right name for Goldstone, as nothing on my somewhat oily lids budged, creased or otherwise migrated.) Both Goldstone and Forest have a gold, finely milled glitter that is a "grown up" glitter. Given the amazing job she did on my eyes and the rest of the superb MU, I left feeling like a million bucks, and with Forest on its way home with me. It's no wonder Forest has a 5-star rating.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No