mamaluv
Member Since: September 8, 2006Reviews
John Frieda Precision Foam Hair Colour
Based on the reviews I read here, I was eager to try Precision Foam Colour. I'll be honest that I don't really love foam colour products in general. I am used to using creams and never felt like I was getting adequate coverage. However, I found my... +
Based on the reviews I read here, I was eager to try Precision Foam Colour. I'll be honest that I don't really love foam colour products in general. I am used to using creams and never felt like I was getting adequate coverage. However, I found my shade on sale recently and picked up a couple of boxes.
John Frieda Precision Foam Colour is a fantastic product. Simply pour contents of one bottle into the bigger bottle and gently tip 3 times to mix. The box actually warns against mixing vigorously. This was often a concern I had with my usual product, since I would mix for a long time "just to be sure".
Applying it is easy, and best of all, this product probably has the most tolerable scent of ANY hair colour I have used before. Often the chemicals are so strong that my eyes start to water and I cough a little. "No pain, no gain", right? No longer true. Of course, I still had my bathroom fan running during application. Just because it doesn't smell toxic does not mean you want to breathe it in undiluted. But as a result of the more pleasant scent, my hair once rinsed and styled did not have that lingering chemical smell. It smelled more like fresh shampoo.
As far as colour goes, it works as well or better than my usual product. I have very thick and long hair, and was able to get away with only one bottle (although keep in mind that I was mainly touching up my root areas and refreshing the colour in my lengths. Had I been making a drastic change, I would certainly have needed 2 bottles, just like any other product).
Really like John Frieda Precision Foam Colour. Thanks for the recommendation, chicks!
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CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Polish
I love nail polish and have quite the collection already, but for some reason had never tried CoverGirl Outlast. I had the opportunity to try Outlast during the #PanteneBeautifulHair event ChickAdvisor hosted last month and was immediately smitten... +
I love nail polish and have quite the collection already, but for some reason had never tried CoverGirl Outlast. I had the opportunity to try Outlast during the #PanteneBeautifulHair event ChickAdvisor hosted last month and was immediately smitten. The very next day I picked a bottle up at the drugstore.
I chose "Lasting Love" - an unapologetic Crayola-bright red that I adore. That's not why I chose Outlast, though. Just like other nail lines, they have a wide variety of colours and it usually depends on the mood as to which shade will attract me.
The reason I was drawn to Outlast was that it's designed to be base, colour, and topcoat in one. As a religious base- and top-coat applier, I was skeptical. However, Outlast stands up to its promise and delivers a high shine, long lasting, and strongly pigmented nail lacquer that really only needs 1 coat. I put on 2 coats out of habit. I guess the only downside (if it can be called that) is that because of the rich colour, it's difficult to apply a semi sheer layer. This is an all-or-nothing polish.
For the price point (and I often see it on sale too), this really is one of the better polishes I've used. I would definitely buy more shades of Outlast... if I can find the space in my beauty cabinet :)
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CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
This tub of moisturizing cream is a bit pricey at around $16 but it is certainly worth every penny. My kids have all had patches of eczema occasionally especially during the winter months, and CeraVe was one of the very few products that made a... +
This tub of moisturizing cream is a bit pricey at around $16 but it is certainly worth every penny.
My kids have all had patches of eczema occasionally especially during the winter months, and CeraVe was one of the very few products that made a difference. The fact that it's fragrance-free is really important to me as scented lotions tend to make our eczema worse. My daughter has some sort of blemish-y rash on her upper arms which I was told was as a result of dryness. She now uses CeraVe regularly and it is helping.
You can also use this as a facial moisturizer since it's non-comedogenic but I find it a bit rich for my combination skin. I am a big fan of CeraVe products and will buy it whenever I find a good sale or coupon. Recommended!
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Pantene Pro-V Ultimate 10 Collection
I have purchased Pantene many times in the past and the only reasons I've strayed were great sales or a new product I was curious about. So when I heard about the new Pantene formulation (with copper-capturing molecules), I expected to be just as... +
I have purchased Pantene many times in the past and the only reasons I've strayed were great sales or a new product I was curious about. So when I heard about the new Pantene formulation (with copper-capturing molecules), I expected to be just as pleased with the Ultimate 10 collection as I have been with Pantene all along.
And I AM very pleased. My hair has many hair care concerns, so it was always a challenge to find a good "one size fits all" hair care line for me. I have colour treated, heat damaged, long (and prone to split ends), and dry with medium-heavy volume that tends to frizz. Just about the only thing I DON'T need in a hair care line is volume since I have enough of that naturally.
Ultimate 10 checked off all the boxes on my hair care needs. My hair is light and bouncy, shiny, and very manageable. Most of all, I'm over the moon about the BB Creme treatment that is part of this collection. I still used a heat protection product before styling to be on the safe side.
The scent of the product is very pleasant and now on Day 2 I can still detect a faint fragrance. I can't say that about the other products I've used. And just for reference, I have tried all sorts of brands at all different price points. Even compared to other Pantene formulations I used before, Ultimate 10 is my favourite overall.
I received this collection free from Pantene to try, but it will definitely go on my shopping list when it runs out. I recommend it!
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Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
I agree that this book had its great moments. In a nutshell, the author takes a year to "discover herself" and travels to three exotic locations in her search. I thoroughly enjoyed her Italy stay, but she lost me after that. I also found myself... +
I agree that this book had its great moments. In a nutshell, the author takes a year to "discover herself" and travels to three exotic locations in her search. I thoroughly enjoyed her Italy stay, but she lost me after that. I also found myself frustrated with some of her opinions/decisions.
This is a library loaner, not a buy-and-keeper. Entertaining enough, but not for everyone. I also should say that autobiographies are not my genre anyway, so someone who loves them will probably enjoy this book more than I did.
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Bossypants by Tina Fey
Yes, as the other reviewer said you will laugh out loud when you read this book, or you'll be doing that weird silent nose laugh thing which is equally silly looking, especially if suddenly you snort-laugh some snot loose (not that I speak from... +
Yes, as the other reviewer said you will laugh out loud when you read this book, or you'll be doing that weird silent nose laugh thing which is equally silly looking, especially if suddenly you snort-laugh some snot loose (not that I speak from experience).
This is the only autobiography I have read more than one chapter, so on the one hand I can't compare it to other bios. On the other hand, it's saying something that this autobiography-hater read this in 2 days and is still laughing about it months later!
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Aveda Stress-Fix Concentrate
Woo wee, I love this product! It's an aromatherapy product in a roller-ball applicator you can apply to your pulse points whenever you're feeling stressed. Roll it onto your wrists and take a deep sniff, massage it onto the occipital area (ie. the... +
Woo wee, I love this product! It's an aromatherapy product in a roller-ball applicator you can apply to your pulse points whenever you're feeling stressed.
Roll it onto your wrists and take a deep sniff, massage it onto the occipital area (ie. the top) of your neck, or roll it onto your upper shoulders and stretch.
I find this product to be more effective for releasing situational stress than say scented hand lotion or a scented candle. Maybe it's because the fragrance smells purer than when mixed with the lotions or waxes in other products? The only downside is that the fragrance dissipates after a little while, about 1/2 hour. But maybe that's a good thing if you don't want to smell like lavender all day long.
It's a wonderful little pick-me-up you can throw into a gift basket (which is how I received it) or have in your purse for on-the-go.
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GVP 1-inch Curling Wand
Curling wands are a new product for me, but I've long been dissatisfied with traditional curling irons. I have never quite mastered the crimp-free end result without completely frying the ends of my hair, so when my daughter asked for a curling wand... +
Curling wands are a new product for me, but I've long been dissatisfied with traditional curling irons. I have never quite mastered the crimp-free end result without completely frying the ends of my hair, so when my daughter asked for a curling wand for Christmas, I gladly bought one with every intention of using it myself.
This particular model has a clunky name (GVP = "Generic Value Products") and nondescript design, practically guaranteeing obscurity except for those who are already familiar with the brand (and I am). Despite the name, it is a higher-end tool. For about $60 CAD ($50ish in US) at Sally Beauty Supply, I picked it up and we are very impressed with the results!
Curls are the perfect diameter with lots of bounce, shine, and staying power. It comes with a heat resistant glove, but don't get too cocky. It's not like you can grab the wand by the hot end with it; this is more for those accidental milli-second touches.
The wand has 2 settings (high/low) for different hair types. My daughter and I both have medium thick, medium coarse hair that likes the low setting.
We love this curling wand and I definitely think it was worth the investment.
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iRobot Roomba
If you have not tried the Roomba yet, you really don't know what you're missing! The concept is pretty simple: it zips around and vacuums your floor, then docks itself to recharge when it's finished. It can be programmed to clean every day at a... +
If you have not tried the Roomba yet, you really don't know what you're missing!
The concept is pretty simple: it zips around and vacuums your floor, then docks itself to recharge when it's finished. It can be programmed to clean every day at a certain time. There are several settings, including a spot cleaner that's really handy if you've swept some dirt into a pile or only want a small area cleaned. My unit also comes with a remote control if you want to manually direct its path.
It's kind of mesmerizing to watch, and my kids think it's hilarious when it "chases" the cat. The cat is less impressed.
Pros:
- This really is as simple as pushing a button and walking away. So easy to start when you leave the house in the morning!
- The disposal compartment easily clicks off the machine and you dump the gunk into your trash. No bags to buy or fuss with.
- My model (the 770) has 2 HEPA filters which minimizes dust and other particulates being recirculated into the air.
- The Roomba can handle most floor surfaces including tile, vinyl, hardwoods, and carpet. If you have a really long shag, it can slow the machine down and use up more battery life, but it still gets the job done.
- it fits under most furniture depending on your pieces. Our bed frames and sofas are all a couple of inches off the ground so it can scoot under there easily. No more dust bunnies!!!
- when it's finished, it sings a little tune to let you know the cycle is complete. It sings a different song for a full trash compartment or if it gets stuck under something or clogged.
- the brushes easily pop off the unit to be cleaned. It comes with a special tool to pull long hair off the spindle. In comparison, I have to use a screwdriver to open my regular vacuum head in order to clean off the spindle.
Cons:
- It does not vacuum as thoroughly as a proper vacuum cleaner (just can't have the suction that a more powerful upright or canister unit will have with a larger motor).
- It's not as smart as the commercials imply. I have seen it repeatedly vacuum the same spot over and over again while continuously missing another spot. However, if you let it do a cycle every day, it keeps your floor much cleaner than you probably do with a once-a-week regular vacuum. It will eventually get to that uncleaned spot.
- it will fall down the stairs if you don't use the Virtual Wall to block it. The Virtual Walls only have a range of maybe 8 feet, so if you have a large area you need to block off, you might need to put up a physical barrier as well. For this reason, I usually only have it do one or several rooms at a time. Obviously, it can't do the entire house in one session.
Overall:
For the price you pay, you can probably buy a decent standard vacuum instead (depending on the Roomba model - mine was one of the best ones). I would not replace my proper vacuum with the Roomba. However, the convenience factor really does make my weekly household chores so much easier. I was also fortunate to have credit card points I needed to cash in, so I got mine for free!
Definitely a good gift idea for "someone who has everything"! I have had mine for about 2 years and it runs nearly every day. No issues yet, and I'd most likely buy it again if it ever broke on me.
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Annabelle Cosmetics CC Cream Instant Perfecting Base
I have the opportunity to try many different beauty products, so it's easy to be a skeptic since in most cases there's always something newer and better being released. I was in love with a certain BB cream all of last year and when I received this... +
I have the opportunity to try many different beauty products, so it's easy to be a skeptic since in most cases there's always something newer and better being released. I was in love with a certain BB cream all of last year and when I received this CC cream from the brand to try I didn't even take it out of its packaging for the longest time.
I am over the moon about this CC cream. Now that I'm in my mid-30s, my biggest skin issue is not blemishes but uneven skin tone. I have some yellowing around the mouth, some sun spots on my forehead, and what I think might be a little rosacea thrown in the mix as well. I used to use several products on different sections of my face to balance the hue.
This CC cream not only makes a big difference in balancing the colour but goes on with what looks like a transparent finish. It's designed "for all skin tones" and - at least in my case - does not appear to add colour to my skin in the same way my first BB cream did. It really just tones down the pigmentation here, adds a little pinkiness there, and I'm left with very natural looking skin. Best of all, it's a gorgeous matte finish.
I will definitely keep using this product, especially at this price point. Great job, Annabelle!
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