Hourglass Aura Sheer Lip Stain

Yes It Stains, Now How Do I Get It Off??

This is a serious lip stain. If you're going to give it a try, make sure your lips are buffed and moist and your lip application skills are up to snuff. Once this stain is on you'll need a sandblaster to get it off! Well, maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but only slight. The good news is it really stays on. The bad news is that it really stays on your fingers or anything else that gets in the way while you're applying. I like Hourglass, they make good products. This is a good product. There are just too many downsides for me. Maybe for some very special occasion where I needed my lip color to really stay put for 12+ hours, but the drying effect and the other trade offs make this a no for me. I ended up throwing out my tube with probably 90% of the product still in it.

June 3, 2015

Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder A.M. Tropical Vitamin C Powder

No Brightening Only Irritation..Throwing Out Right Now

I had fantastic results with Dermalogica's Map 15 Regenerator, which is a powder-to-emulsion Vitamin C. I could put Map 15 directly under my eyes with no problems or irritation. When my sample ran out I wanted to purchase the full size product but I could not justify the $85 price for a non-essential skin product. In seeking an alternative I found Philosophy's Turbo Booster C Powder assuming it would have the same effect. I could not have been more mistaken. First, the powder gets all over the place. I can see now why Dermalogica is a "powder-to-emulsion". The powder is difficult enough and if it stays a powder, forget it, it's everywhere! Unlike Dermalogica's Map 15, the Philosophy Turbo Booster C burns when it touches my skin. Silly me thought I could "get used to it" but I abandoned the product within 2 weeks. I never saw any change in my skin where with the Dermalogica there were results within the same timeframe. Approximately 6 months later I took the product out again determined to find some use for it (maybe on my hands?). I was disappointed to fine that the Vitamin C had now spoiled. The powder had changed color in spots. We've all read the damage you can do to your skin with spoiled Vitamin C (free radical damage). It's too late to get my money back so straight in the garbage it goes! What a waste of money! I rarely feel like a product is completely useless but here it is.

June 3, 2015

Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial

Not As Good As Korres Greek Yoghurt Version

I've repurchased Korres Greek Yoghurt Advanced Nourishing Sleeping Facial multiple times. When I feel like my skin needs a treat this is my go to. The result is plump moisturized skin the following morning. There is a slight milky yoghurty kind of scent to it but it is so faint I don't notice it after a few minutes. So when I received a nice sized sample of Korres Wild Rose & Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial I was excited to try it. It was an immediate let down. The Wild Rose version did not melt into my skin in the same was the Greek Yoghurt version does. The scent, which might make a nice rose perfume, was too overpowering for a face product. The following morning my face did not have that same plump appearance as it does with the Greek Yoghurt version. I tried the Wild Rose version multiple times then gave up and stuck it back in the drawer. Recently, I pulled the Wild Rose sample tube back out and used it on my hands. Amazingly, I did see some results there so I ended up using the remainder of the tube on my hands. My conclusion is that these two sleeping facials from Korres are not just different scents but truly different formulations. I will continue to use the gentle Greek Yoghurt version but I will never be purchasing the Wild Rose Vitamin C version. My advice would be to get samples of both to try for yourself before diving into a full size pot.

June 3, 2015

Lush R&B

Works Well But Oh That Smell

I've tried many Lush products and I'm a fan more often than not. I cannot get over, for example, how soft my hair is after using Lush's Marilyn hair mask or how nice my face feels when I use Lush's Brazened Honey mask. These are Lush products I'll continue to buy and use. With my dry curly hair I'm always on the lookout for anything to fix the frizz and dryness. On separate occasions, Lush associates have given me generous samples of Lush R&B leave in treatment. Each time I've tried it over the past few years I come to the same conclusions: 1) The product looks and smells pleasant while in the container..it looks like something I'd like to put on my hair 2) At first touch, my hair instantly shows improvement 3) It is very, very easy to overdo it and look greasy 4) The product never truly soaks in, at least in my hair. I can always "feel it" on the surface of my hair when I touch it. I don't like that feeling. It feels "heavy". 5) Here's the big one - that smell. That slightly sweet, slightly herbal, slightly oily/chemical-like smell. It never leaves. I put the R&B on approximately 24 hours ago and I can smell it on my hair right now. The smell will not leave until I wash it out. It interferes with my perfume and anything else I'd prefer to smell like. There are too many other leave in treatments out there to try, I will pass on this one.

June 3, 2015

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

Now I Get It!!!

For years I've heard the Shu Uemura eyelash curler is THE BEST; heard about its' strong cult following, etc. My Revlon eyelash curler did just fine though, it curled my lashes, what else would I need?? Well, after about a decade, My Revlon started looking tired. Yes, I could just put in fresh pads again, I mean the mechanics were working fine and all, but I wanted more...I wanted that gorgeous smokey-eye flutter lash look I'd seen in all the magazines (and sometimes in person!). I quickly found out my favorites haunts no longer carry Shu Uemura so I would have to resort to tracking it down online. I found the curler on Amazon quickly enough and for a decent price but then I read things like "not the real thing" and I grew concerned. Before long I discover you can order the curler directly from Shu Uemura US and get the real deal for maybe $2 more. SOLD!! And free shipping thanks to retailmenot and a free sample cleanser too....BONUS!! So the curler arrived today. Nice packaging, but out of the box the curler seemed a little...flimsy?? There was a lot of play in the mechanics. I expected a much tighter tool. I'll try it anyway I thought. WOW! What a difference! As soon as you clamp on the curler it is a PERFECT fit! The tool lines up and gives just the right amount of pressure. You can get super close to your lashes and create as strong or relaxed a curl you'd like. My old Revlon was starting to pull lashes out. I don't see that happening at all with the Shu Uemura. So glad I finally took the plunge! Especially as you get a bit older - I am in my mid 40's - the right tool can make a significant difference towards a fresh look. I really feel this curler will make a positive impact in the quality of my makeup look. Get one for yourself, you'll be glad you did!

July 12, 2013

Burt's Bees Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment

Looks Like Caterpillar Guts..Smells Like It Too..

First, the sight of this stuff..I enjoy a natural looking product, but this looks so bad, I thought it had expired in the tube. It looks like green slime, caterpillar guts, you name it, yuck! The smell, in my opinion, is sickly sweet and artificial smelling. I have very dry ends and this just sat on top of the hair shaft, it did not soak in at all. I washed it out immediately after applying it, I could not get it out of my hair fast enough. Like many Burt's Bees products, some are a hit and some are a miss - this is a big miss! I am glad it worked well for some ladies, as for me, I'll stick to my Wen and Monoi Oil.

December 31, 2012

Benefit BADgal Lash

Not Loving This

I received this as a free sample. It trumps my Estee Lauder hands down. Still getting used to the oversized fat mascara brush, not so sure I'm liking that, it feels like I lack control with such a fat brush. There isn't a ton of flaking (big problem with Estee Lauder), but I'm not so impressed with how Bad Gal goes on. I think there are better mascaras. I'm going to try Lancome next.

November 26, 2011

Benefit Dandelion

Wow Wow Wow!

I've been looking a bit "tired" lately and researching blushes. I'm very, very pale and most blushes look clownish on me, so it's been a long project. I have Nars Orga*m The Multiple on hand and Smashbox's Shimmer (also used Prism before this). While both are great alone or together, the shimmer effect can make me look a little "old" under the retail day lights at work. I'd had Benefit's Dandelion on my short list for a while, and when Sephora's 500pt included it, I went for it. Wow, wow, wow!! I've never experienced a more natural looking, brightening blush ever. No shimmer whatsoever so it looks like your skin, only blushing. I guess it fades over the day, but the fade is so natural it doesn't bother me (and I bet with a primer, there's probably no fade...haven't been wearing a primer lately). You can really layer this one on to get exactly the depth you want. Love the wide brush that comes with it - I could not think of a better brush to use, it's perfect. I wear both alone - for a totally natural look - and layered with Nars Orga*m (under powder foundation) and Smashbox Shimmer (over pownder foundation and Dandelion blush). Either way works really, really well. I imagine this would look good on all skin tones, but for you pale-ies out there, give it a try! Also, if you feel Benefitis too "young" and you've moved past this line, this is one to look back and give a try. I haven't used Benefit since my 20's. I'm in my 40's now and I'll definitely reconsider the line after this :)

August 11, 2011

DDF Intensive Holistic Lightener

Great For Sensitive Skin, But Maybe Not As Fast Working As We'd Like

On the one hand, I love that the product is gentle and I had no negative reactions. On the other hand, I wish it worked just a bit better. The results come very slowly, and I did not get all the results I wanted. Do I need to buy multiple bottles of this stuff and work with it for a long time? No, I need something that works within a reasonable time. I don't forsee a second purchase, bit I don't feel ripped off either. It was an "okay" product.

January 27, 2011

Chanel Ultra Correction Lift Plumping Anti-Wrinkle for Lips and Contour

Does Everything It Says It Does

The price is prohibitive for me, so I use it sparingly, but it feels so good on! And it really does contour and plump and all the things it says it does. Between this and my Dermologica Lip Renewal Complex, my lips are healthier than they've ever been.

January 20, 2011