Primer/ Corrector -Philosophy - The Present Clear Makeup
violet04 12/8/2008 2:01:00 PM
The main problem I have with my skin is that it gets shiny and I need to blot at least a couple of times during the day. My dream primer would keep the shine at bay and keep my makeup looking fresh at the end of the day. I got this as a sample from Sephora and I used it for several days. I used it in place of my regular moisturizer and then put my foundation on. By itself, I really didn't notice any difference in the way my skin looked. It does have a lemony scent like other reviews described. I noticed that right after I applied my foundation, it looked a bit smoother, but the primer didn't prevent my makeup from fading during the day. During the day, I noticed that I still had to blot the same amount as usual and it caused me to break out. A little does go a long way. I still had plenty left in the sample packet, but I tossed it since it made me break out. I didn't buy this to begin with, but I would not purchase a full size bottle of this.
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Styling Products -John Frieda - Frizz-Ease Dream Curls
violet04 7/30/2008 3:41:00 PM
I have fine hair that has a little bit of natual wave to it. It would be categorized as Type 2 from naturallycurly.com. I have been blowdrying and straightening my hair for years, but just recently decided to embrace my hair's natual state. I used wear my hair in an angled bob that I had to style with a flat iron. I had my stylist cut in lots of layers to help bring out the wavy-ness in my hair. I've tried Dream Curls several different times, but I just have not had good results. I spray it thoughout my hair and ry my hair with a diffuser on a low setting while scrunching my hair. I have found that the product really doesn't do anything to enhance the waves in my hair. It just makes the layers kind of flip out at the ends instead of making my hair wavy. I also doesn't really provide any hold during the day. I would not buy this product again and much prefer Redken Fresh Curls (which I have also reviewed).
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Styling Products -Redken - Fresh Curls scrunch gel
violet04 7/30/2008 3:38:00 PM
I have fine hair that has a little bit of natual wave to it. It would be categorized as Type 2 from naturallycurly.com. I have been blowdrying and straightening my hair for years, but just recently decided to embrace my hair's natual state. I used wear my hair in an angled bob that I had to style with a flat iron. I had my stylist cut in lots of layers to help bring out the wavy-ness in my hair. To style my hair, I just a tiny amount of Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream and then spray Redken Fresh Curls on my hair. I also flip my hair upside down and spray some more of the product. I dry my hair with a diffuser on a low setting while scrunching my hair. After that I curl a few pieces with a curling iron and use hair spray. Fresh Curls does a great job of enhancing the waves in my hair and keeping the hold throughout the day. This is definitely an HG product for me and works well for my hair type and styling method. If I use too much product, I notice a bit of "crunchiness" in my hair, but otherwise my waves stay put during the day and don't fall flat. This is a great product! I have also tried John Frieda Dream Curls, but for me that doesn't even compare to Redken Fresh Curls. I did another review for John Frieda. I have already re-purchased this product and will continue to do so! ETA: I added a picture to my profile to show what my hair looks like after styling. The picture was taken several hours after I had originally styled my hair.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Maybelline - Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Foundation ] ] [DISCONTINUED]
violet04 2/21/2008 1:52:00 PM
This has become my HG foundation! I am Indian, with a medium-dark complexion with yellow undertones and my biggest challenge is finding foundation in a good color match for my skin. I bought this in Honey Beige and it's a great match for me. My skin tends to be lighter in the winter, so I will definitely find a darker shade for use in the summer. This provides medium amount of coverage and stays matte during the day. My skin still looks natural, but just more polished. I use this with Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder as a primer and it says put during the day. I have previously used L'Oreal True Match and got a decent color match, but it used to fade during the day and look strangely splotchy during the day. I have had none of those problems with the Maybelline foundation. I will definitely buy this product again!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Kenra - Volume Spray - Super hold finishing spray
violet04 1/4/2008 9:06:00 PM
This is my HG hairspray! I have longish, side-swept bangs and this spray does a great job of keeping them in place, while still providing a natural look. I was able to find a travel size at my local Beauty First store so I'm able to keep one in my purse if I need any touch ups during the day.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Redken - Glass
violet04 1/4/2008 2:47:00 PM
I have fine hair, with some natural wave. When my hair was longer I would blow dry it with a round brush only. It's shorter now and I straighten it with a flat iron.With both those ways of styling my hair, I always finish with Redken Glass. I put a tiny, tiny drop on my fingers, rub my hands together and run my fingers over parts of my hair that need to be smoothed down . It is expensive, but a little definitely goes a long way. My hair looks super shiny and smooth. I find this to be a great finishing touch for my hair.
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Hair Styling Tools -Farouk CHI - Chi Ceramic Flat Iron by Farouk
violet04 1/4/2008 2:37:00 PM
I have fine hair, with some natural wave. I wear it in an inverted bob so I need to use a flat iron to style it properly. I first bought a limited edition red one from my hair stylist. It slides over my hair very smoothly and leaves it smooth and shiny. I wash my hair every other day and I only need a small touch up on days I don't wash my hair. The iron gets very hot, so I make sure to use heat protectant styling products. It would be nice if the iron had a temperature control on it. About a year and half after I bought it, the on/off switch suddenly broke. Luckily, it was after I had finished using it. I was always careful with it and I never noticed any problems with the switch before this happened. The warranty had expired, so I sent it back to Farouk with $35 so they could fix it. They weren't able to fix it, so they sent me a brand new one, which I was very happy about. The ceramic plates on the Chi are fantastic, but I hope they make the on/off switch a bit more sturdy. It took about about a month to get my new one, so I bought a cheaper flat iron (Helix Hot Tools) to use in the meantime. That one isn't bad, but I could definitely tell a difference in the plates. The Chi glides through my hair much more smoothly.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shave Products -Unlisted Brand - Lab Series for Men-Smooth Shave Oil
violet04 1/4/2008 2:22:00 PM
Writing this in behalf of my husband - this is definitely his HG shaving product. The first time he tried this, he was amazed how well it worked. It created an extremely smooth surface on his skin and he did not get any nicks, cuts or razor burn. It is expensive, but totally worth it. His skin stays clear and is extremely soft. I would highly recommend all Lab Series products!
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Lip Liners -Wet 'n' Wild - #666 liner
violet04 12/18/2007 2:14:00 PM
I found this at Rite-Aid and got the last one left! I am Indian, have medium-dark skin with a lot of yellow undertones. My top lip is darker than my bottom lip and I've never found a liner that matches my lips. When I wear the WnW liner, it shows up as a pinkish-brown. It was not too dark for me. I like to pair it with the Beauty Rush lip glosses from Victoria's Secret. I usually lean toward brownish colors for my lips, so this is a small step towards trying a different color. I'm more of an eyeshadow person that lips, so I don't spend too much money on lipstick, glosses, etc. This was the right price for my (minimal) lip color needs.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Smith's Rosebud Salve - Smith's Rosebud Salve
violet04 12/18/2007 1:56:00 PM
I don't think there is anything special about this product. To me, it's just like Vaseline with a bit different texture and different color. It works as well as Vaseline to relieve my chapped lips. This product is not special enough for me to make a trip to the beauty store to pick it up. I won't buy this again, b/c it's much easier to pick up a tube of Vaseline or Chapstick while I'm at the drugstore.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Clean & Clear - Oil Absorbing Sheets
violet04 12/14/2007 9:46:00 AM
I use these every day! They do a great job of absorbing the shine from my face (while not disturbing my makeup) and leaving me with a nice matte finish. I wish the price was a bit cheaper, but I try to look for them when they're on sale. I have bought them from Wal-Mart and Rite-Aid.
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Bronzers -Rimmel - Natural Bronzer - 027 Sun dance
violet04 12/14/2007 9:17:00 AM
This is the first bronzer I've tried, and I love it! I am Indian with a medium-dark complexion and yellow undertones and the color works well with my skin tone. I use it as a blush and it really perks up my skin, especially in the winter months when I tend to look more sallow.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Revlon - Colorstay 12-Hour Eyeshadow Quad "Coffee Bean"
violet04 12/14/2007 9:08:00 AM
The colors in this quad did not work with my skin. I am Indian with a medium-dark complexion and yellow undertones. The shadows were too light for my skin made me look washed out and tired. I only tried this at home once to see if the colors worked, so I did not test out the color-stay factor.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -L'Oreal - Bare Naturale Powdered Mineral Foundation
violet04 12/14/2007 9:02:00 AM
Me: Indian, medium-dark complexion, yellow undertones. Skin has some grayish scars from acne that need to be covered and has a tendency to get sallow. I bought this in the Classic Tan (470) shade. It does provide coverage and evens out my skin tone, but the color is a bit light. This only works in the winter when my skin is at it's lightest. I only use this foundation when I'm in a hurry, because I can apply it quickly. I use the brush that came with it and only use VERY little of the powder. Too much and my face looks ashy. My skin does have to be moisturized when I use this, otherwise it comes out looking too powdery. There are times when my skin feels a bit itchy after using it. I haven't noticed an increase in breakouts when using this. It is messy and I only use it over the sink in the bathroom since the powder has a tendency to fall. I won't buy this again b/c the color is not the best match for my skin. It works when I need to rush out the door in the morning or I'm feeling lazy and just want to quickly even out my skin tone.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No