Styling Products -Sunsilk - Hydra TLC 24-7 Creme
zekey 3/9/2010 7:30:00 PM
This works great on my fine, wavy, blonde hair. I have tried several leave-ins and this is the one I will always use as long as they keep making it. It doesn't weigh my hair down and leaves it soft and with good body. I read on the Nouveau Cheap blog that the entire Sunsilk line is being reformulated and re-packaged. So if you no longer see this pink bottle in stores, that is why. For details see: http://nouveaucheap.blogspot.com/search/label/Sunsilk (not affliliated).
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Lipstick -L'Oreal - Color Riche 209 Simply Rose
zekey 8/4/2009 5:13:00 AM
I rarely buy lipsticks that have rose in the name- I guess I think they will be too cool-toned for me. I am fair skinned with warm-neutral undertones. This l/s is beautiful. It does not get any attention on MUA so I was happy to see the positive review below. In a comparision with MAC Hug Me is it lighter and doesn't have as much beige in it. But Simply Rose does have a bit of warmth though I wouldn't wear it with an overly warm pink blush- maybe a neutral pink. It is a smokey eye lipstick, esp. if you want your lips to have a touch of pink/rose but not outright nude-pink. I have medium pigmented lips and this does not wash me out. I think it could look a little bit 1960's Twiggy, ie washed out lips, if worn on darker pigmented lips. Simply Rose and L'Oreal's Silk l/s are the only L'oreal l/s I own. Both are underrated. See the review for Silk too!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -L'Oreal - Melting Gel
zekey 7/21/2009 7:03:00 PM
I have fine, curly hair but lots of it. I never ever have found a gel that did not become crunchy no matter how little I used. And this has been a problem for years. I just wanted something to define my curls and waves - I don't have tight curls so didn't need something too strong. This is the best gel. I use a nickel-sized amount, rub it in my palms and do the scrunch. No flakes, not too heavy and best of all NO CRUNCH. I was astounded. I recommend this but maybe not for people with thick or coarse, really curly hair. Also, on Paula's review site (Beautypedia)- she mentions that when used for heat styling, this has a slight tendency to ball up and flake before hair is dry. I don't use heat on my hair so it is not a problem for me. I also love Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancer, BTW.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Sally Hansen - Inspired By Carmindy Natural Beauty Your Skin Makeup ] [DISCONTINUED]
zekey 4/30/2009 5:24:00 PM
I bought this due to the reviews on this list and after reading Paula Begoun's positive review. It seems that it is best for normal to combo.-oily skin (exfoliated of course). The frosted bottle is annoying b/c I can't tell how much is left. So I always have a backup on hand. I bought ecru beige which is a perfect match. The first few times I tried it, while it didn't FEEL heavy or greasy, my face looked oily. I didn't put it up for swap b/c I loved the color match so much and wanted it to work...you know- magical thinking -one day maybe it will work for me! Recently, I decided to give it another try. I read the bottle and (dumb me!) realized that I wasn't shaking it before use as the instructions say. So now I shake it well, pump out a tiny bit on the back of my hand, dot a little around my face and blend it in with my Everyday Minerals Long Handled Kabuki brush. (I don't use EM, but the brush is excellent!) I apply Maybelline Dream Matte Pressed Powder over it with my LM velour puff and it is perfect. COMPLETELY different results than before. Even finish, great color match, not heavy, not fake looking. Can be light or medium coverage. Anyway, if this foundation is looking too sheeny/shiny on you, try giving the bottle a good shake before applying. EDIT: I am giving this 5 lippies as I wear it every day. It is so easy to apply and looks very natural. I love it!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Lancome - Blush Subtil Sheer - Sheer Peach Organza
zekey 9/27/2008 5:49:00 AM
I have fair-light skin (not pale) and I was having trouble finding a peach blush that isn't too pinky or too orangey on me. (I have enough warm-toned pink blushes- I want peach!) Peachykeen, a, true peach blush, according to MAC's website, was too orange. But Sheer Peach Organza has been perfect. I use my Nars Yachiyo brush for this and it looks just like what I was hoping for- a peach glow but without shimmer. Not pink, not orange. I wear this w/ Sonia Kashuk's lipstick in Peach Blossom or Chanel's Genuis lippie and I feel fresh and peachy. (Try these lippies if you have find that peach lippies look more pink than peach on you, another problem I have.) Anyway, those of you who have trouble finding a good peach powder blush, give this one a try. The GWP sizes are often on ebay for a very reasonable price and come with a shimmery coral shade called Coral Shimmer.
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CD/Books/Movies -Paula's Choice - Don't go to the cosmetics counter without me 7th edition
zekey 5/27/2008 6:26:00 AM
I am a subscriber of Beautypedia and for the most part agree with Annie B's review below. I use the website to get an idea about a product- that is for which skin type a particular foundation or moisturizer is best for; and knowing about ingredients which may cause breakouts for blemish-prone skin or if a powder is best for oily or dry skin, etc. Using this site AND the MUA site has helped me to save money and be much happier with the products I purchase. I, too, don't like that Paula rates her own products. I do think it is questionable as far as her ability to be objective is concerned. After all, she does use peer-reviewed scientific articles and data in her research about effective skin care. Though, obviously she isn't a scientist, I have and do rely on her ability to relate this info. to me as a consumer and that does mean trying one's best to be objective. It is why Consumer Reports magazine does not accept advertising. Anyway, despite this, I find that it is really worth the money to learn which sunscreens and foundations have both UVA and UVB protection b/c I cannot always read through all of the ingredients on the bottles. I will say that I have learned not to believe the hype of what a product says it can do. I can use Paula's info. so that I can have realistic expectations about products. This is a big money and time saver! I do sometime return makeup but mostly it is b/c of wrong color choice and not due to poor product performance. Like the reviewer below, I am annoyed at P's lack of reviews for Tarte, NYX, and other lines that have been around for a while now. I will say, the Beauypedia site has helped me find lower priced substitutes for some of Paula's own products! (Though I do stick with a couple of her skin care products.)
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Avon - Beyond Color Line Softening Mousse Foundation
zekey 5/5/2008 6:54:00 PM
**edit: This fdt. has made me very lazy! I find that I use it everyday with my 187 brush which helps me apply a nice light layer, evens out my skin and hides some small red spots. I like that I don't have to touch any of the fdt. with my fingers as the brush fits into the jar perfectly. I highly recommend trying this with a skunk brush! After applying with that brush, I go over the application very gently with another brush just to smooth it all out well. For summer I have been using powder over this just on my forehead which becomes more oily in the heat. (Living in the pacific northwest, our heat is dry, not humid.) I don't have problems with this makeup turning oily- I do get a glow but nothing gross. I am very surprised that I like this Avon product so much. I tried it in my search for my HG fdt. and so far this is what works even though I do have a couple of higher priced ones in my stash. I think it works on skin that doesn't have dry spots b/c it would emphasize them. But on on my combo-oily skin it is quite lovely. IMO, an under-rated fdt.!! I agree with Fifi_kitten on this review. I read Paula Begoun's review of this - I don't always agree with her but her info. helps me know what to expect from products. So I was looking for something like this- light coverage, for combo-oily skin. I apply this with my MAC 187 brush which fits nicely into the jar opening. It also helps this to go on smoothly- not too heavy and caked. I always put some moisturizer on my dry areas. I use nude which matches well and I don't even use powder some days and still don't look so oily. I just blot once. But obviously those with more oily skin would probably want to use powder. (I haven't tried this in warmer weather yet.) I have tried some high-end foundations and for some reason, some of the more reasonably priced products work just as well for me. It all depends on knowing what the product can do and can't do and which types of skin it is best for. And reading MUA helps!
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Prestige - MultiTask Wet/Dry Powder Foundation
zekey 3/11/2008 7:06:00 PM
I loved the coverage- with a sponge it has more coverage than some of the other powder founds. I have tried. The color- good, neutral (warm ivory). It was somewhat oily after a few hours - so maybe this would be good for someone with normal to combo./ slightly oily skin. I think it would make dry skin look too dry. The only problem - it made me breakout. I did have high hopes b/c all of the other aspects were good esp. for the price.
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