shagtownlady
Member Since: March 22, 2009Reviews
Maybelline New York Colossal Volum' Express Mascara
I got this in Waterproof Glam Black. It seemed like there were a few variations of this at the store, (like 3x, 4x, 5x volume, etc) so I just chose the one with the highest number! (7x) So, after trying this I am impressed. It gave my lashes tons of... +
I got this in Waterproof Glam Black. It seemed like there were a few variations of this at the store, (like 3x, 4x, 5x volume, etc) so I just chose the one with the highest number! (7x)
So, after trying this I am impressed. It gave my lashes tons of volume, definition and length. The 'mega brush' is simple, not too big and in my opinion works well! Sometimes I find waterproof formulas to be a bit thicker and can make the lashes stick together, but this actually separated them well.
Sometimes I like to have a thick dark lash, so I might have to try layering this a bit for that look, or just using something else. Otherwise this is a really great mascara for daily use. And the price is awesome (I paid $6.76), for a mascara goes on smoothly and delivers on the volume.
-
Proactiv Daily Oil Control
This is a decent product for those with oily skin. I've been using this almost every day for the past few weeks, (along with the Proactiv system) and it works really well. I don't know if it's because I'm using the whole line of... +
This is a decent product for those with oily skin. I've been using this almost every day for the past few weeks, (along with the Proactiv system) and it works really well. I don't know if it's because I'm using the whole line of products, but there's definitely been less shine on my nose/forehead.
You have to make sure to shake the bottle, because the product separates really easily, but other than that it feels nice. It has a really light feel, and it disappears into your skin instantly. The one thing I would change is the scent - at first it's just like the other Proactiv products, but it also has a hint of something like hair dye, or another chemical. Thankfully the scent fades away pretty quickly, but that's still kind of a gross scent for something that goes on your face!
Overall, I would recommend this for helping reduce shine on your skin, especially as it helps to set your makeup nicely.
-
Annabelle Cosmetics Kohl Eyeliner
I got this a few months ago, thinking it was a soft shimmery gray but the name is actually Black Pearl (115). It is a bit different than the shade I was expecting, but still nice! It's kind of a charcoal shimmer I guess. When I first tried this... +
I got this a few months ago, thinking it was a soft shimmery gray but the name is actually Black Pearl (115).
It is a bit different than the shade I was expecting, but still nice! It's kind of a charcoal shimmer I guess.
When I first tried this out I noticed it felt really dry compared to other eye liners I've used. Because of this, it doesn't seem to 'glide' on like other products either, but I can live with that.
I've tried smudging this to make a kind of smokey effect, but it doesn't work well. It comes off, but doesn't really move around, which is a good thing anyway if you don't want raccoon eyes halfway through your day/night.
For the price and the staying power this has, I would recommend it. But I don't think I will buy again, personally - I think I prefer something that feels softer.
-
Bonne Bell Eye Definer Eyeliner
My friends and I used to buy this constantly back in high school! It was pretty much always in our bags and we thought it was pretty awesome stuff. It's a good product for a good price with lots of colours to choose from. Now that I've... +
My friends and I used to buy this constantly back in high school! It was pretty much always in our bags and we thought it was pretty awesome stuff. It's a good product for a good price with lots of colours to choose from.
Now that I've experimented alot more with different products and brands, I would still buy this eye liner even though there are better ones out there. This does tend to smudge and comes off very easily. (But that's also a plus when you're new to eye makeup!)
I've tried a few of the different shades but mostly stuck with the Black Shimmer. It's a decent black liner with some tiny shimmers that makes it great for going out/special occasions!
Overall I don't buy this often anymore, but definitely recommend it. It's cheap and does a good job!
-
GUESS Women Eau de Parfum Spray
I was given this recently and wasn't sure how it would fair once I actually put it on. Even though it seems kind of different from most perfumes I would choose for myself, I really like it! To be honest, I'm not sure what it smells like to... +
I was given this recently and wasn't sure how it would fair once I actually put it on.
Even though it seems kind of different from most perfumes I would choose for myself, I really like it! To be honest, I'm not sure what it smells like to me - the description has a lot of things I love though, like bergamot, tangerine, peach, musk, cedarwood, etc. But all of those scents really mingle together, and I can't necessarily distinguish anything specific yet other than the musk and a bit of the zesty sweetness from the fruits when I first spray it. (Once it's been on for a while longer, some of the different notes will probably come out more.)
I looked up the price ;) and it's good for something like this. It's modern and kind of hot but still soft and pretty.
-
Crest 3D White Whitestrips 2-hour Express
I always have trouble with white strips, so these were a bit harder to deal with since you have to leave them on for 2 hours. But, if you're looking for a whitening product to use at home this is a good one. The strips stick to your teeth very... +
I always have trouble with white strips, so these were a bit harder to deal with since you have to leave them on for 2 hours. But, if you're looking for a whitening product to use at home this is a good one.
The strips stick to your teeth very well which is good, but also partly why I found them kind of difficult to put on. Once they touch your teeth they are stuck there so you have to be precise. The strips also seemed a bit too long for me, which is another reason why I had to be extra careful with them.
Waiting with them on for 2 hours was kind of hard for me! Plus the info says not to drink/eat/smoke/sleep with these strips on. But that's not a huge issue at all, especially if you use these at night or another "down" time.
I definitely got some sensitivity as well (which I do already have) but it only lasted for a little while afterwards. My teeth were noticeably whiter, not a lot but at least a shade or two! So these definitely work.
I like the idea of being able to do this at home, and you basically get a year's worth of product as well (if you're the only one using them). The sensitivity is always going to be a deterrent for me with these products, as well as the fact that I don't really like having the feeling of the strips on my teeth, but the results are there, and I would recommend this product for those who want to whiten at home.
-
Aveeno Fresh Essentials Anti-Fatigue Eye Roller
I have to say thank you again for giving me this product to review! It came at a really good time too, since I've been getting a bit less sleep these past few weeks and the bags under my eyes can get pretty dark. To be honest, I didn't... +
I have to say thank you again for giving me this product to review! It came at a really good time too, since I've been getting a bit less sleep these past few weeks and the bags under my eyes can get pretty dark.
To be honest, I didn't expect huge results from this (like banishing puffiness/dark bags) so I'm not disappointed. This doesn't affect the darkness around my eyes at all, and it only helps with puffiness a little bit. But aside from that, this product does deliver a decent cooling sensation, and that definitely helps wake me up when I'm still feeling tired. The coolness lasts for at least a minute and it perks me up while also being kind of soothing.
I like the size of the bottle this comes in - it's perfect for throwing into my makeup bag or purse and not taking up any room. Plus the roller ball makes this convenient and mess-free, you just swipe it on and go. The gel/serum goes on pretty evenly and sinks in fast, leaving pretty much no visible trace of it being there so you don't have to get any product on your hands.
I was kind of surprised by the scent of this - it has a sweet smell that reminds me of berries, and it lingers for a little while. I do like it, but at the same time I could also do without it.
The price of this is a bit high for me to actually purchase for myself, considering it doesn't give any amazing visible results. I do like how the product feels though, and the convenience of it. I would recommend to others and/or buy this for sure if it were a bit cheaper, just to use as a little pick me up when my eyes feel tired, but I don't think it actually "reduces the look of puffiness or dark circles" very much like it claims.
-
Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Hypoallergenic Facial Towelettes
These came in little travel packs of 10 for a few bucks, which is cool if you want to try them without buying the bigger size (I think it comes in a pack of 30 wipes). The scent is kind of heavy, since it's a wipe and it's going to linger on... +
These came in little travel packs of 10 for a few bucks, which is cool if you want to try them without buying the bigger size (I think it comes in a pack of 30 wipes).
The scent is kind of heavy, since it's a wipe and it's going to linger on there a bit. But it's nice, if you like cucumber scented products. The cloths are large and feel really soft - gentle but also good at removing makeup and oil.
This cleanses well, getting rid of whatever's on my skin as well as not leaving any residue or making my skin feel dry or tight after. Plus they're supposed to be almost 98% natural and biodegradable.
The packaging says soothing, and the website also says for sensitive skin. I kinda disagree, since it does contain fragrances. But for my combo skin, they're definitely ok to use.
These are great for throwing in your purse or keeping on your nightstand, and I love that this travel pack is available so you don't have to commit to a whole bunch of these wipes before knowing if you'll like them.
-
TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo
This is great for freshening up. It's similar to other brands (like Batiste) but for me, doesn't look or feel so powdery in my hair. The scent reminds me of hair spray, really, but it's not terrible and I can't smell it on my hair... +
This is great for freshening up. It's similar to other brands (like Batiste) but for me, doesn't look or feel so powdery in my hair.
The scent reminds me of hair spray, really, but it's not terrible and I can't smell it on my hair afterwards anyways. It makes my hair feel a bit less greasy and flat when I use this - I skipped washing my hair for a day and used this instead, and my hair felt ALMOST the same as usual. There is still a bit of that powdery feeling of course, and it did not make my hair "full of bouncy body" (lol) like it says on the bottle, but the results were still good.
It recommends using the Fresh Start Refreshing Mist if you want more shine after using this. I think a tiny bit of any kind of shine spray would work too, but I'd like to try the Refreshing Mist next anyways!
Overall, I really like how this gets rid of some of that unwashed feeling, and doesn't make my hair look or feel as weighed down with powder as other brands. The scent isn't the best but it doesn't last long regardless, which I like (since all of the other products I use are scented).
This is decent if you want to freshen up the texture of your hair and kind of neutralize any unfresh scents, but I would look somewhere else if you want something that has a long lasting, perfumey smell.
-
Sally Hansen Crackle Overcoat
I'm already hooked on the black OPI shatter, but hearing about these Sally Hansen versions got me really interested and I had to see how the two brands compare. First of all, the PRICE is exceptional! It is at least half the price of the other... +
I'm already hooked on the black OPI shatter, but hearing about these Sally Hansen versions got me really interested and I had to see how the two brands compare.
First of all, the PRICE is exceptional! It is at least half the price of the other crackle/shatter/etc polishes, and there are some really cute metallics here too. I got the Vintage Violet (02) which is a shimmery purple, but the gold is on my list to get next for sure.
I find it's best with these crackle nail polishes to experiment first on a few nails and with different colours underneath, and kind of practise applying it before you commit to giving yourself a full manicure. Alot of other reviewers seem disappointed at first with how these can differ, according to how thick or thin you apply it, how fast or slow you put it on, and what polishes are used underneath (as well as whether you put a shiny top coat on afterwards too, which makes a huge difference IMO).
I tried this over top of a corally-pink, a pure white, a sheer silvery/purple and also just a clear coat. (It says on the site not to apply to bare nails.) They all looked great, but there was also a difference in how each one made the crackle overcoat appear. For example, the white shade obviously made it pop, and made the crackle seem more of a gelly than a shimmer. The silvery/purple makes it look darker and deeper and of course brings out the metallic more.
Also, the more evenly and QUICKLY you apply this polish, the better it tends to crackle. If not, it tends to crack between where the brush strokes are. (It doesn't seem to be as forgiving as the OPI, which I think has a better texture).
I recommend putting on a clear top coat as well once this has dried - for the shades I've used, it just perfects the whole look and makes the texture stand out, since these polishes tend to dry to a really matte finish.
To me, this is just a cheaper version of the OPI Shatter, but with different shades to choose from - in fact, I like the Sally Hansen shades better for this season, since they're alot brighter (I love dark polish but it's kind of too much for daily wear in the spring or summer).
Overall, I love these polishes and will be buying more for sure. You should definitely try these Sally Hansen ones out if you're interested in the look!
-
Looking for more?
Check out our other review websites:
