thepinksimsboard
Member Since: December 13, 2009Reviews
Rimmel London Lash Accelerator Mascara
Love this stuff! Nice smooth consistency that applies easily and evenly. The bristles are the kind that you can see individually (I can best describe them as the little spikes), not the clusters (fibre-style bristles). They are short, stiff and... +
Love this stuff!
Nice smooth consistency that applies easily and evenly.
The bristles are the kind that you can see individually (I can best describe them as the little spikes), not the clusters (fibre-style bristles). They are short, stiff and widespread - easily separate and comb your lashes while applying with this brush.
HERE'S THE KICKER: My lashes looked so long with this mascara! Long and natural, tapering rather than bulking up on the end and cutting off bluntly at the end.
Washes off without too much difficulty, as well, using just my facial cleanser (yes, 1 guilty plea of not using makeup remover before my cleanser).
Bottom line: this is my new go-to drugstore mascara!
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L'Oreal Paris Nutri-Shimmer Crystal Instant Miracle
This product is meant to be used in the shower, between your shampoo and conditioner. The tube promises "immediate transformation, breathtaking shine." I didn't get either of these benefits. When I saw this product in store, I was attracted to... +
This product is meant to be used in the shower, between your shampoo and conditioner. The tube promises "immediate transformation, breathtaking shine." I didn't get either of these benefits.
When I saw this product in store, I was attracted to the thick, creamy texture with shimmering micro-glitter - "pearl micro-crystals," to quote to package. Let me be the first to call myself a sucker.
This product did absolutely nothing for me. My hair is in decent shape normally, so I thought I would see some improvement, rather than having severely damaged hair and hoping for a miracle. It was no more shiny or hydrated. This treatment didn't do any damage, but definitely wasn't beneficial in any way.
Bottom line: wasted time, water, and money.
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Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips
I really, really wanted to like this product. Especially with all the patterns and artistic prints out there now. I tried colour 160 (Electric Shock), a solid, bright yellow. This is what I found... The Good -No drying time - as soon as you're... +
I really, really wanted to like this product. Especially with all the patterns and artistic prints out there now. I tried colour 160 (Electric Shock), a solid, bright yellow. This is what I found...
The Good
-No drying time - as soon as you're done sizing, applying, and shaping them, you're on your way.
-Bright, opaque colour.
-Simple removal - the colour comes off easily with regular polish remover. There seemed to be a thin white layer in contact with the nail, but it removed easily as well.
-Neat and tidy application - no risk of spills or stains, or "colouring outside the lines".
-DPB, toluene, and formaldehyde free.
The Bad
-Application - takes almost as long as painting your nails and letting them dry anyways.
-Execution - These did NOT go on as easily as I thought (and I like to think I'm pretty good with things like this). And I even had help from my mom. The biggest problem was that the actually polish would not release from the clear plastic strip!!! The instructions say they should just peel off. But in reality, I had pry and plead with every one to get them off. Sometimes, the strips ended up stretched and the edges were therefore slightly rippled. Boo.
-Durability & longevity - "Lasts up to 10 days"?? I guess "up to" IS pretty ambiguous. I got 2 days before I had my first chip, and 5 days before they absolutely had to go.
The Ugly
-Stretching to fit - The instructions say to "gently stretch strip for a perfect fit," with a small asterisk that warns you to avoid over-stretching. I was well-aware of this footnote, but it did not help. There is little stretch in the strips, and pulling more than about a millimetre WILL leave you faint lines in the polish.
-Misalignment - There is potential to choose the wrong size or shape, and apply the strip crookedly.
This product is a little bit pricey, in my opinion, and not nearly as convenient as I'd hoped. If it would've lasted 10 days and looked really, really good, I might consider going through the trouble again. Given my experience, I would rather paint my nails and do my own nail art. And for the price, I'd much rather buy a bottle of high-quality polish and get multiple uses out of it.
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hello® seriously friendly mouthwash - pink grapefruit mint
I would recommend this product for people who are sensitive to strong mouthwashes. It has a lighter, sweeter flavour that still left my mouth feeling refreshed. Quite enjoyable! As far as effectiveness, I cannot comment on whether my oral health... +
I would recommend this product for people who are sensitive to strong mouthwashes. It has a lighter, sweeter flavour that still left my mouth feeling refreshed. Quite enjoyable!
As far as effectiveness, I cannot comment on whether my oral health got better or worse while using this product, since I just used it for a few weeks and didn't notice any drastic changes during that time. I will say that the lack of the alcohol-induced after-burn from my regular Listerine probably played on my mind a little bit, since I wouldn't say it was as satisfying as the hard stuff. But, the company claims the product is 99% natural - and that's always a benefit.
My biggest complaint is definitely the packaging. The lid leaks, the measuring cap is hard to judge and worse to pour from, and the pouring spout is broad and prone to having drops run back down the neck of the bottle. I felt like an unfair portion of this bottle was wasted as a directed result of the poor packaging.
Bottom line, I would really recommend that people who use alcohol-free mouthwashes give this one a try. I would NOT recommend travelling with it - not my leaky bottle, anyways!
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Cottonelle Flushable Cleansing Cloths
These wipes are quite nice. They are not soaking wet, but have enough moisture to wipe messes from your skin. The wetness left on the skin was a feeling I have yet to adjust to. I have used wipes after going to the bathroom before, but still... +
These wipes are quite nice. They are not soaking wet, but have enough moisture to wipe messes from your skin. The wetness left on the skin was a feeling I have yet to adjust to. I have used wipes after going to the bathroom before, but still notice the wetness briefly after I finish up. It isn't uncomfortable or problematic - just noticeable, for me anyways. I cannot see myself using wet wipes exclusively, but they definitely leave me feeling cleaner in some situations when used in combination with toilet tissue.
I particularly like the size - sometimes I feel that using larger wipes is a big wasteful. They are a little thin, but did not rip during use. They also have a light, clean fragrance.
I was quite disappointed to not receive the new dispenser with my wipes. I have used Cottonelle wipes in the older style dispenser before, and have been disappointed to find that they dry out in their container. Aside from the preferable size of the Cottonelle wipes, they are pretty comparable to other wipes on the market, in my opinion. Therefore, if I should try the new style container and it does not seal well enough to keep the wipes moist for an extended period of time, I won't likely be loyal to this brand.
*Thank you to Cottonelle and the Chick Advisor Product Review Club for sending me this product free to try.
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Cottonelle Ultra Bathroom Tissue
This toilet tissue is very nice. It is soft and plush, and comfortable to use. It is quite absorbent, and therefore effective. And another thing I find important is for toilet paper to be strong - i.e., not shred and leave little bits on my skin... +
This toilet tissue is very nice. It is soft and plush, and comfortable to use. It is quite absorbent, and therefore effective. And another thing I find important is for toilet paper to be strong - i.e., not shred and leave little bits on my skin. This product leaves little evidence of itself or any mess behind. And because it is quilted and quite thick, you don't need 3 feet of it to get the job done.
The paper is rolled fairly tightly, and doesn't completely squish and deflate as soon as you grab it out of the cupboard.
My biggest complaint about this bathroom tissue is that is does not tear on the perforations. Very annoying for an "a-type" such as myself!
*Thank you to Cottonelle and the Chick Advisor Product Review Club for sending me this product free to try.
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Scunci No-Slip Grip skinny hair ties
I had never seen ponytail holders like this, so I decided to give them a try. They are one-piece, metal-free elastic hair ties made from a 'no-slip' material. It's a silicone/plastic-like material, like that which is often used to line elastic... +
I had never seen ponytail holders like this, so I decided to give them a try. They are one-piece, metal-free elastic hair ties made from a 'no-slip' material. It's a silicone/plastic-like material, like that which is often used to line elastic head bands these days, except with a more satiny finish.
Functionality
I like them. I they won't replace all of my hair ties, but they definitely serve a purpose in my hair accessory arsenal. Their purpose is this: to hold a comfortable, looser ponytail that I don't have to constantly tighten. They hold my hair pretty well, considering it is long, and heavy, and when my ponytail swings around, it tends to come loose with other ponytailers. I think they would work really well for girls with thinner, finer, and/or shorter hair.
I don't think I'll use them for sports or whenever I need a really tight ponytail. This is because I think it would be a pain to take out if you got it in there too tightly. And also, because I broke the first one I tried to triple-wrap right away.
Appearance
They look similar to classic fabric-covered hair ties. They come in an assortment of colours, except browns that would blend into brunette hair.
Removal
I can't take them out as mindlessly or easily as I do regular fabric-coated elastic hair ties, because of the no-slip material. If you just tug on it, expect to rip out a few hairs with it. I unwind it, backwards of how I put it in, to avoid causing damage or pain.
Final Verdict
Since buying these, I always have one in my pocket or purse, in case I want to throw my hair up into a loose, low-maintenance ponytail. Because they hold my hair better while wrapped looser, I think they'll cause less damage than wrapping a slippery fabric hair tie tightly. And that's always a good thing.
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Revlon Scented Nail Enamel in Coconut Crush
I love all things coconut. And I like a nice white nail polish from time to time. So I tried Revlon's Coconut Crush (340) polish that boasts a smelly shimmer for your nails. Application and Appearance Applies easily. It's a little thin, but I... +
I love all things coconut. And I like a nice white nail polish from time to time. So I tried Revlon's Coconut Crush (340) polish that boasts a smelly shimmer for your nails.
Application and Appearance
Applies easily. It's a little thin, but I suspect that has something to do with the added fragrance. If I look closely, I can see streaks in the application, but they're not glaringly obvious. 2 coats gives a finish that is still a little sheer, with a nice shimmer.
Scent
It's by no means overpowering, but it really does smell! I wouldn't say it's a true coconut smell - a little perfumey, if that makes sense. But, it really does have a scent. In my experience, the fragrance gets weaker by the second day, though, and is nearly gone in a couple more days. And - full disclosure here - I felt kind wierd smelling my fingertips! Unless you're a chronic nose-picker, you probably won't smell this as much as you'd like.
Durability
I find this polish gets more nicks than others. It doesn't necessarily chip from the end more than average, but I had noticeable little scratches and gouges on the surface. Again, maybe the finish isn't as hard, due to the added fragrance...?
Note: I did not use a top coat for fear that it would mask the scent.
Removal
Can be easily removed with standard remover.
Bottom line
The scent is a neat novelty; the colour is average; the quality is just alright. It delivers scent as promised, but you could just paint your nails up all nice and pretty and use smelly hand cream, too.
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Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Prosperity
I was curious to try this "high-end" nail polish with the rubberized finish. I first heard about it here on CA: http://www.chickadvisor.com/article/would-you-wear-illamasqua-rubber-nail-polish/ Here's my final review: Application This nail colour... +
I was curious to try this "high-end" nail polish with the rubberized finish. I first heard about it here on CA: http://www.chickadvisor.com/article/would-you-wear-illamasqua-rubber-nail-polish/
Here's my final review:
Application
This nail colour applies pretty easily. You can achieve a smooth, uniform finish with 2 coats.
Appearance
This particular colour is very opaque. I love this rich purple shade.
The "rubberized" finish is not as matte-like as I would have expected. It is somewhere in-between matte and gloss finishes, like when you apply a matte finish top coat to regular polish and it starts wearing off and getting shiny the next day (does that happen to anyone else?).
Durability
Unimpressive. Chipped on the second day. I did not apply a top coat, however, because it would have ruined the semi-matte finish. It's a bit of a 'catch 22' if you ask me - you have to choose between the rubberized finish you paid so much for, or long-wearing (nay, normal-length-wearing) colour.
Removal
Removal is easy, as with normal nail polishes. But, I used more cotton pads than normally, because while the colour dissolves and wipes easily from the nail, it spreads to your skin and can stain if you're not careful.
Verdict
Skip it, based on the short wear alone. If I'm paying this much for nail colour, I want it to last more than a day.
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Sally Hansen Smooth and Perfect Color Care
My shade: Dune (03) I bought this polish because I was looking for a nude shade that I could wear while my nails were in recovery. I polish and use my nails a lots, and sometimes, they just need some down-time between manicures. Usually, I just... +
My shade: Dune (03)
I bought this polish because I was looking for a nude shade that I could wear while my nails were in recovery. I polish and use my nails a lots, and sometimes, they just need some down-time between manicures. Usually, I just apply a strengthening or nourishing base coat (like OPI's Nail Envy) and let that slide for a couple days. But, as a self-proclaimed nail polish and home manicure fanatic, I can't deny that that's just ugly.
So when I saw this line that claims it allows nails to breathe and promotes "stronger, healthier nails", while masking my broken, battered nails with pretty pastels, I had to try it.
Application
The wide, flat, rounded brush style allows you to apply polish quickly and evenly. Bonus: it dries faster than your average nail colour, I found.
Appearance
I love this colour *for nude polish*. I applied two coats, and it looked like I have even-toned nail beds by nature. I could see the distal edges (white tips) and a hint of the lunula ("moons" near the cuticle) of my nails, which adds to the natural look. It provided enough colour to hide my minor imperfections, but did not cover the bruising in my pinky finger nail bed that I've had for 6 months since slamming the little guy in a drawer (to be fair, I could see a shadow of it through some of my more opaque polishes, too).
This polish dries smooth, hard, and ultra-shiny. It chipped a little, but it wasn't really noticable because of the nude shade. Bottom line: Great finish, but don't buy this polish if you want bold, traffic-stopping colour.
Effectiveness
My nails were feeling a bit hard and stronger while I wore this Colour Care polish. They still peeled, but not as bad, and it may have been because I didn't buff before I painted. I'm not really sure if I would say this polish "allows nails to breathe" as it claims, but I didn't hear them gasping for air, either (haha).
Removal
In a review on the Sally Hanson website, I read that this polish is hard to remove. I'm not sure what that girl was using, because I didn't have any trouble at all.
This polish is perfect for what I wanted: subtle colour for when my nails are recovering from the abuse I put them through on a regular basis. I'm not sure I would by it in any of the more colourful shades, because it's very sheer.
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