retrodiva
Member Since: December 5, 2006Reviews
Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel by MD Skincare
I think I might be addicted to facial peels. A large part of my skin care routine is dedicated to the art and science of exfoliation, and I love trying out new ones. This product makes it very simple - two premoistened pads, one with the peel, and... +
I think I might be addicted to facial peels. A large part of my skin care routine is dedicated to the art and science of exfoliation, and I love trying out new ones. This product makes it very simple - two premoistened pads, one with the peel, and one with the neutralizing solution. Wipe the peel on first, let it sit for two minutes, then wipe with the neutralizing pad. Simple! What is really nice about this product versus what I've tried from drugstore brands is that it doesn't feel quite as harsh on the face. No awful "tight face" feel, even before moisturizer. My skin felt firmer and more healthy, so while I think the price is a bit on the high side, I do think it's a superior product. -
Benefit Cosmetics That Gal Brightening Face Primer
Let me start by saying that I am a huge Benefit cosmetics fan. Even though some of their products are a bit gimmicky, I love them, and continue to buy them over and over. I've never gotten into the colors, but that's because I'm not much of a... +
Let me start by saying that I am a huge Benefit cosmetics fan. Even though some of their products are a bit gimmicky, I love them, and continue to buy them over and over. I've never gotten into the colors, but that's because I'm not much of a neutrals girl, and they obviously do neutrals super well. But I need color! Lots of color!
Anyway. That being said, I think I have finally found the one product by Benefit that I just plain don't like. I'm forever looking for a decent foundation primer, and as soon as I figured out that I needed one badly, I turned to Benefit first. I grabbed That Gal because 1) it was Benefit; 2) it has the cityscape of NYC on it, and we all know that I heart NYC and 3) it was supposed to "brighten" my face as well as prime it.
I really don't like the twist up style of the product. If you happen to lose the cap (and please don't - you'll forever regret it), the product will dry out and you will not be able to work the product up out of the packaging. Currently, after 2 months, I am able to get one string of primer out of the package. Bear in mind there are probably 50 holes in the thing. I'm guessing they are all clogged up. I'm not sure. I don't want to pull it open and investigate. But don't lose that cap. Seriously.
But more than that, it just didn't have the brightening effect that I was looking for. I didn't see much of a difference at all. Maybe my face doesn't need brightening, I don't know. But if it did, this wouldn't be the product I'd reach for. I didn't find that it helped extend the life of my foundation, nor did it help achieve that flawless finish that I'm used to.
For $27 an ounce, I need a bit more performance. But don't worry Benefit, I still love you. I love your Eye Bright, EyeCon, Ooh la la lift, and just about everything else that you've ever made.
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Sephora Enchanted Eye Palette - Bronze
A nice selection of bronzes and greens. I picked this up because I was wanting a more neutral selection, and the colors seemed to go well together. Watch for glitter, however. Most of the colors do have a glitter element to them, and the rest have a... +
A nice selection of bronzes and greens. I picked this up because I was wanting a more neutral selection, and the colors seemed to go well together. Watch for glitter, however. Most of the colors do have a glitter element to them, and the rest have a shimmer. There are no mattes here at all. But the colors can all be mixed and matched, have a great staying power, and as always, Sephora gives you a very good product for a reasonable price. -
Lush Handmade Cosmetics
I've been wanting to visit a Lush store for some time. I had hoped to run into one while in New York recently, but just didn't find the time. So, imagine my surprise while walking through Tyson's Corner in DC, I came across a (quite small) Lush... +
I've been wanting to visit a Lush store for some time. I had hoped to run into one while in New York recently, but just didn't find the time. So, imagine my surprise while walking through Tyson's Corner in DC, I came across a (quite small) Lush store! Fabulous! Now I could finally see for myself what all the fuss was about, and I wasn't disappointed. Richly scented products all created by hand and with a nod to the environment doesn't mean that they aren't top notch. The salespeople are extremely helpful, and you can count on walking out of there with at least one free gift and one sample of different products. While there wasn't much browsing room, I was able to find what I was looking for quickly, and all my questions were answered politely and with good humor. I will definitely make Lush one of my stops each time I'm at Tyson's Corner. -
Ojon Rub-Out Dry Cleanser
I can't say enough good things about this product. Since my hair is ultra curly, having a blowout and a flat iron is something that I want to preserve for as long as I possibly can. This "dry shampoo" does the trick. It boasts the usual Ojon smell... +
I can't say enough good things about this product. Since my hair is ultra curly, having a blowout and a flat iron is something that I want to preserve for as long as I possibly can. This "dry shampoo" does the trick. It boasts the usual Ojon smell, which can linger - especially if used with other Ojon products. It is pricey, but you don't need to use much. In fact, using too much can make your hair look rather matte after a bit of time, so resist the temptation to keep spraying it on. Brush it out well, do a quick restyle, and you're all set for another day with clean hair and a preserved blowout. -
NoNo Hair Removal System
This is a really expensive beauty buy. But don't be fooled - it's not electrolysis. It is hair removal that might possibly eventually be permanent, but you will be using it as much as your regular razor. The key is that repeated use might damage the... +
This is a really expensive beauty buy. But don't be fooled - it's not electrolysis. It is hair removal that might possibly eventually be permanent, but you will be using it as much as your regular razor. The key is that repeated use might damage the hair follicle and prevent hair from growing back, thereby reducing the density of hair growth. It is easy to use, however, and does aid in the elimination of ingrown hairs, which as we all know, is the bane of my existence. The only downside besides the price? The small. The box says there is no smell, but there is. Burning hair off your body will always have a distinct smell, although you will quickly get used to it. -
Dior Addict Ultra Gloss
An absolutely beautiful gloss. I've never tried Dior Addict gloss before (although I am a huge fan of Diorshow mascara), and now I'm wondering why that is. My SA at the Times Square Sephora store suggested this to balance the smoky eye that I was... +
An absolutely beautiful gloss. I've never tried Dior Addict gloss before (although I am a huge fan of Diorshow mascara), and now I'm wondering why that is. My SA at the Times Square Sephora store suggested this to balance the smoky eye that I was working on that day, and I was lucky enough to get the last tube. Lots of reflective particles make this a super shiny gloss, and there is no stickiness at all. The only downside to it is the fact that you must reapply it often - or perhaps that's because I'm so used to my lip stains that I'm unfamiliar with glosses. At any rate, a great buy. -
Too Faced Eye Shadow Duo Totally Toasted
I bought this kind of on a whim, thinking that I needed some neutrals for fall. I had only tried the Lip Injection by Too Faced, never the other products, so I didn't have high expectations. So that means that I was very surprised at how smoothly it... +
I bought this kind of on a whim, thinking that I needed some neutrals for fall. I had only tried the Lip Injection by Too Faced, never the other products, so I didn't have high expectations. So that means that I was very surprised at how smoothly it went on, and how long it lasted through the day. It was highly pigmented with just the right amount of shimmer. Not overly glittery (like some shadows that I won't mention), but shimmery enough to give some glam, if you need it. The colors worked perfectly together, with the darker color complimenting the tan on the crease. I liked the shadow so much that I went and purchased a single shadow and one more duo the following week. Give it a try - I'm beginning to think that this company is under-recognized in the beauty market. -
St. Tropez Classic Self Tanning Bronzing Mousse
What I have read about this mousse is true - it does give a natural brownish tan, with no hint of orange. Application was easy due to the tinted mousse, as you could see any spots that you might have missed. Color developed within three hours, and... +
What I have read about this mousse is true - it does give a natural brownish tan, with no hint of orange. Application was easy due to the tinted mousse, as you could see any spots that you might have missed. Color developed within three hours, and the yucky DHA smell wasn't as bad as other products I have used. My only caution with this mousse is to use some latex gloves to apply it - it WILL turn your cuticles a strange brown color, even if you scrub well afterwards and use a tan remover. So do yourself a favor and use an applicator or gloves to put this on. -
Artemis Woman Heel Smoother
I stand on my feet all day at work. And since I refuse to wear "sensible" shoes, I find myself visiting the nail salon pretty often just to keep my feet free of dry, tough, calloused skin. Smooth feet are very important, especially in summer sandal... +
I stand on my feet all day at work. And since I refuse to wear "sensible" shoes, I find myself visiting the nail salon pretty often just to keep my feet free of dry, tough, calloused skin. Smooth feet are very important, especially in summer sandal season! Enter in this handy tool - used right after a shower, this smoother quickly and efficiently removes a good deal of that skin without any hassle at all. This keeps me out of the salon, so it has certainly paid for itself. Very effective, and worth the price. -
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