Feisty Redhead
Member Since: August 22, 2007Reviews
NYC French Manicure Nail Enamel
For the price, this stuff is great. The color - Love Letters - is a very sheer milky pink. It's really nice for it's intended purpose (over tips painted white for a classic French manicure) and also really pretty on it's own. It goes on a little... +
For the price, this stuff is great. The color - Love Letters - is a very sheer milky pink. It's really nice for it's intended purpose (over tips painted white for a classic French manicure) and also really pretty on it's own. It goes on a little streaky if you aren't careful; but it's smooth and it has a shiny finish. It lasts about as long as most other nail polishes for me, which means I can get a few days of wear out of it on it's own, and paired with a good topcoat it easily lasts a full week for me without getting too beat up. Maybe not the best nail polish out there but it is surprisingly good quality for the price which can't be beat. -
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat
This top coat is ok, but doesn't really work the way you might expect it to. The name "Insta-dri" is misleading for what it does. You apply your nail color, wait two minutes and apply this top coat and your nail polish is (to quote the label on the... +
This top coat is ok, but doesn't really work the way you might expect it to. The name "Insta-dri" is misleading for what it does. You apply your nail color, wait two minutes and apply this top coat and your nail polish is (to quote the label on the bottle) "dry to the touch in 30 seconds." While this is true - you need to know that "dry to the touch" only means if you barely touch your nails they won't smudge. If you bump your nails on something (grabbing your purse, put a shirt/jacket on, open a can of soda etc.) they're still going to smudge big time. You still need to wait 15-20 minutes or so (depending on how many coats of color you put on and how thick they are, humidity - you might be waiting a long time!) for your nails to dry completely before you can just go about your day without worrying about smudging them.
What's good about the product is that it does help prevent chips so your nail polish lasts longer than it would without the top coat. But, it's supposed to be a quick-dry product and it doesn't do that at all. There are other products out there that will help your nail polish to dry faster than it otherwise would that are far better than this.
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Revlon Glimmer Gloss Nail Enamel
I really like this nail polish. Yes there are some sheer shades in the line, but there are more opaque shades too. I got Grapefruit Glimmer which is a sheer, sparkly pink. And I got Strawberry Sizzle which is a brighter shade of sparkly pink with a... +
I really like this nail polish. Yes there are some sheer shades in the line, but there are more opaque shades too. I got Grapefruit Glimmer which is a sheer, sparkly pink. And I got Strawberry Sizzle which is a brighter shade of sparkly pink with a very subtle blueish cast to it. It's one of the more opaque shades - two coats and it looks exactly as it does in the bottle. They are both fabulously sparkly without being glittery. They go on very smoothly and evenly. The finish is among the glossiest I've ever seen from any nail polish; even with just one coat the finish is super glossy. I love glossy, "wet" looking nail polish so this is a huge plus for me. I can't wait to try out more shades of this nail polish - sheer or not they're super pretty shades and the quality is pretty good for the price.
If you pick up a shade that ends up being too sheer for your preferences you can always try it over top of a darker shade and see how you like it as sort of a topcoat to add a little shimmer/high gloss to other colors.
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Maybelline Salon Expert Nail Color
I usually love Maybelline's products but this one, I have to say, is a major disappointment. I bought it in hopes it would be similar to their previous "Salon Expert" years ago that was the most incredible nail polish for it's price. But this is... +
I usually love Maybelline's products but this one, I have to say, is a major disappointment. I bought it in hopes it would be similar to their previous "Salon Expert" years ago that was the most incredible nail polish for it's price. But this is horrible.
I don't really notice much of a difference between the style brush this has vs. any other nail polish brush so no issues there. But the polish itself seems impossible. No matter what I do I can't get a smooth, even application. It streaks like crazy and if just getting one coat on to look decent isn't enough trouble, trying to paint on a second coat for a bit more color payoff is near impossible. It seems like the second coat of color wants to pull the first coat off - not pretty! I've never had such a hard time painting my nails. It seems like maybe the polish is just a bit too thick, perhaps a little polish tinner added to the bottle would help. I don't know.
The only good things I can think are it does dry fairly quickly; and at least it doesn't cost too much so I'm not out a lot of money for having tried it out. The color I got (Champagne Shimmer) is gorgeous but I'm honestly not sure I'll bother to use it too often; it feels like such a hassle to apply.
But bottom line - some very, very pretty colors in this line. But the quality of the product isn't worth it!
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AVON mark Shimmer Glossblossom Ripening Lip Tint
This gloss is quickly becoming one of my favorites! It goes on clear and after a few minutes develops a rosy pink shade. The color is a little brighter than I would prefer but it is still a very pretty color. It acts as a stain in that even after... +
This gloss is quickly becoming one of my favorites! It goes on clear and after a few minutes develops a rosy pink shade. The color is a little brighter than I would prefer but it is still a very pretty color. It acts as a stain in that even after the gloss wears off the color stays for several hours and holds up through eating and drinking pretty well. It can be applied lightly for minimal "just licked your lips" shine, or more heavily for a really wet, glassy shine. The texture of the gloss is really smooth and slick, not sticky at all and it leaves my lips feeling soft and moisturized. I think the tube is a little small for the price, but it's worth it. It's a great gloss to have on hand for those days when you're in a hurry to get out the door and can't spend much time figuring out what shade of gloss you want to wear. -
Streekers Instant Liquid Haircolor
I don't normally do anything with my hair that involves changing it's natural color, but lately I have wanted to do a little something fun but didn't want to do anything on a permanent level. A friend told me about Streekers hair dye, and I decided... +
I don't normally do anything with my hair that involves changing it's natural color, but lately I have wanted to do a little something fun but didn't want to do anything on a permanent level. A friend told me about Streekers hair dye, and I decided to give it a try.
What I LIKE about it - unlike other temporary one-day type dyes, it doesn't make the hair feel stiff or dry, and it doesn't flake off. You can apply the color, let it dry, and then brush and style your hair. The colored parts remain soft and shiny. It truly does wash out with just one shampoo, so there's no commitment to the funky colors.
What I DON'T like - it's kind of tricky to apply. The applicator looks similar to the doe-foot applicators that are in lip glosses. It is supposed to be quick drying, but I found it takes at least 15-20 minutes to dry completely. If you touch it while it's still wet, or if your hands are even the slightest bit damp and you touch where you colored, the color comes off on your hands. It's not a product to use if you are going to be sweating or if your hair may get wet, because it will come off with water and stain your skin and clothes. My biggest complaint is that the color I chose - purple - does not look purple once applied. It's a very pretty purple in the bottle, but looks more fuchsia once it's been applied - perhaps because my hair is red and this product is supposed to work best on blonde hair; but I still expected it to be a truer purple than it is.
Overall I do like it and it's a good, fun product for those who want to have a little fun with their hair color over a weekend but don't want to commit to anything long term.
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Herbal Essences All That Shine
I'll start by saying that I have very thick, coarse, wavy, naturally red, waist length hair that I do not color or otherwise chemically treat. I was not blown away by this product. It was very easy to use, but I wasn't fond of the chemically smell... +
I'll start by saying that I have very thick, coarse, wavy, naturally red, waist length hair that I do not color or otherwise chemically treat.
I was not blown away by this product. It was very easy to use, but I wasn't fond of the chemically smell that lingered on my hair for a couple hours after using it. After rinsing it out my hair felt very dried out and stiff, like straw. The conditioner did help my hair to feel a little more moisturized again but the ends are still a bit dry compared to their usual condition. I only noticed a minimal increase in my hair's shine, but nothing significant. I can get the same or even better shine with the use of shine serums that don't leave my hair feeling dried out.
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Hawaiian Tropic Ozone Sunscreen SPF 70
I admit to not using sunscreen as often as I should, because I can't stand the greasy, sometimes sticky feeling they all seem to leave on your skin. If it's not that, it's the horrible smell that lingers all day that gets on my nerves. But this... +
I admit to not using sunscreen as often as I should, because I can't stand the greasy, sometimes sticky feeling they all seem to leave on your skin. If it's not that, it's the horrible smell that lingers all day that gets on my nerves. But this stuff is completely different and I love it! Never again will I venture outdoors without my sunscreen! This is the highest SPF I have seen available in my area. According to the Hawaiian Tropic web site this same formula is also available in SPF 80, which I will be on the lookout for.
It is very lightweight - I even applied it to my face and by the time I walked to the front door for an afternoon in the sun it was completely dry and I couldn't even tell I had it on. There is virtually no greasy, sticky, yucky feeling left over from this like there is with other sunscreens. It has a different smell to it than other sunscreens too, and the smell dissipates quickly so you don't have to walk around all day reeking of sunscreen!
It's waterproof and provides both UVA and UVB protection. It is made with "SunSure Technology" which Hawaiian Tropic says means it offers more advanced UVA protection and longer lasting protection than other sunscreens at higher SPF's with less chemicals. More great reasons to love this product: it's oil free, non-comedogenic, and moisturizing.
This is a really great product and one I intend to make a staple in my skincare routine, and I highly recommend it!
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Almay Smart Shade Blush
I got a tube of this in a value pack with the smart shade foundation. The shade is "Berry". Unlike the smart shade foundation, this is not white from the tube. It does have a pale color straight from the tube, and little beads similar to those in... +
I got a tube of this in a value pack with the smart shade foundation. The shade is "Berry". Unlike the smart shade foundation, this is not white from the tube. It does have a pale color straight from the tube, and little beads similar to those in the foundation. It's lightweight and goes on very smooth and even and blends well. Immediately after applying it looked bright, as if I had used too much. But within a couple minutes it toned down and gave me a very subtle flush and looked light and natural. A little goes a long way, you only need a tiny dab. It can be layered to get more color from it if you want a bit more color payoff from it, while still looking natural. Overall I really like this product, it's great for days when you don't really want to wear makeup but your complexion needs a little pick me up. -
Almay Smart Shade Makeup
I'd been wanting to try this makeup for quite a while but kept putting it off because I was skeptical of how well it would really work. But I saw it in a value pack that included a tube of the smart shade blush, and figured since it was such a good... +
I'd been wanting to try this makeup for quite a while but kept putting it off because I was skeptical of how well it would really work. But I saw it in a value pack that included a tube of the smart shade blush, and figured since it was such a good deal I'd go ahead and give it a try. Finding foundation that will match my super pale pink undertoned skin is a tricky task and I was doubtful that the lightest shade was going to be light enough for me. But this product really surprised me! It looked a bit too dark immediately after applying, but within a couple minutes it had adjusted to match my skintone perfectly - no streaks, no yellow or orangish hue to it, not too pink like many foundations I've tried in the past - it just looked like my skin in a slightly better state than it is when I am not wearing any makeup. It is very lightweight and sheer, definitely not for those seeking moderate or heavy coverage.
The only negative thing I've noticed about it is it seems to accentuate my dry spots a bit, but not as much as other foundations and not enough for it to detract from the things I love about it. I suspect that putting on some moisturizer before the makeup will help take care of that, too.
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