madeline.dm
Member Since: August 27, 2013Reviews
Garnier Fructis Volume Extend Instant Bodifier Dry Shampoo
I had such high hopes for this electric green can. The scent is nice, without being overwhelming, the spray is okay, but the results just aren't there. Not only do I get barely any volume to begin with, my hair looks flat as ever within an hour of... +
I had such high hopes for this electric green can. The scent is nice, without being overwhelming, the spray is okay, but the results just aren't there. Not only do I get barely any volume to begin with, my hair looks flat as ever within an hour of first use. Not worth it! -
Batiste Dry Shampoo Original Clean & Classic
Ahhh the classic. This stuff means business. It also means white powder and a pretty fake strong scent that'll linger. Fortunately, there is a version available formulated specifically for darker hair, which claims to not leave any white powder on... +
Ahhh the classic. This stuff means business. It also means white powder and a pretty fake strong scent that'll linger. Fortunately, there is a version available formulated specifically for darker hair, which claims to not leave any white powder on and around the hair. I haven't tried that particular version, but I may consider it in the future since I love how well Batiste deals with oil absorption. This is my go-to for when I wake up late, can't wash and style my hair, and need a dependable solution. Sometimes, it's just best to stick to what came first. -
Pantene Blowout Extend Dry Shampoo
This new dry shampoo from Pantene uses "natural tapioca" to absorb excess oils without leaving that white powdery residue. I do find that my results last considerably well throughout the day when I use this particular spray. My first bottle stopped... +
This new dry shampoo from Pantene uses "natural tapioca" to absorb excess oils without leaving that white powdery residue. I do find that my results last considerably well throughout the day when I use this particular spray. My first bottle stopped spraying very early on, so luckily I was able to swap it for a new one at Shoppers. At nearly half the price of its competitors, I feel a lot more comfortable using more of the product to really get a good boost of volume. Not too bad! -
L'Oréal Professionnel HairChalk
This liquid hair chalk is only available at L'Oreal Professionnel salons. The colour will last through 2 shampoos, on average. Each bottle retails for $25 and there are 8 colours in the range. I did try using the makeup sponge technique for... +
This liquid hair chalk is only available at L'Oreal Professionnel salons. The colour will last through 2 shampoos, on average. Each bottle retails for $25 and there are 8 colours in the range.
I did try using the makeup sponge technique for application, but it was a slight fail since the sponge ended up soaking up so much liquid that I couldn't get much on the actual hair. Therefore, I resulted to applying the product with my hands, using rubber gloves.
To be quite honest, I can't see this product showing up very well on darker hair. If you crave some vibrant highlights or lowlights, your hair would have to be a bright blonde for this product to work really nicely. Now, would I purchase this myself? $25 is a bit steep for a product that comes along with less-than vibrant results and a slight mess.
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Infiniti Pro by Conair Spin Air Brush
The Infiniti Pro by Conair® 2 inch Spin Air Brush is a very interesting product, combining the heat of a blow drier with a self-rotating round brush. Sounds like an absolute dream to me. Despite the fact that the results can be very nice, it's a... +
The Infiniti Pro by Conair® 2 inch Spin Air Brush is a very interesting product, combining the heat of a blow drier with a self-rotating round brush. Sounds like an absolute dream to me. Despite the fact that the results can be very nice, it's a real pain to get to that point. Such a great concept, without enough thought put into the design. The handle feels very cheap and the actual rotating mechanism can seriously lag. Not to mention its balding capabilities since it tends to rip your hair out if you aren't careful. The trick to avoiding the rippage is by sectioning your hair off into layers, and placing only a small section of hair on the brush at a time- only on the bristles, no where else. If your hair gets into the actual rotating mechanism, which isn't hard to do, it will be ripped out. Once you get the hang of it, the results are wonderfully smoothing! -
Biolage Exquisite Oil with Moringa Oil Blend
I've been using the Matrix Biolage Exquisite Oil and really enjoy its light, moringa flower fragrance. If you have longer, thicker hair, I would recommend using a heavier oil, such as coconut oil. Make sure to only apply about a quarter sized amount... +
I've been using the Matrix Biolage Exquisite Oil and really enjoy its light, moringa flower fragrance. If you have longer, thicker hair, I would recommend using a heavier oil, such as coconut oil. Make sure to only apply about a quarter sized amount of product to eliminate leaving an oily residue on your pillows. Your hair should be thirsty enough to absorb it all! If your hair is feeling dry and static-y though out the day, apply just a small amount (1-2 pumps) of oil to the ends for weightless shine and moisture. -
NYC In a New York Color Minute Quick Dry Nail Polish in Sunset Park Pink
This colour is absolutely ideal for my skin tone. It doesn't wash me out, nor is it too vibrant. Just the perfect shade of muted, sweet pink. The polish lived up to its name, seeing as how each coat (I applied two) dried quite quickly. I experienced... +
This colour is absolutely ideal for my skin tone. It doesn't wash me out, nor is it too vibrant. Just the perfect shade of muted, sweet pink. The polish lived up to its name, seeing as how each coat (I applied two) dried quite quickly. I experienced no smudging and the application wasn't very streaky. Not only was this creamy, near opaque finish easy to work with, the brush is also pretty great quality. This is a limited edition "Color Crush" shade from the City Bloom Collection. Zoya's Dot is a good high-end dupe. Dot is slightly cooler and less peach toned, which makes it a bit more vibrant on my skin. -
Schwarzkopf Dust It Mattifying Powder
This stuff works great, but be sure to use in moderation. Just have to sprinkle onto the roots where you want volume, then massage it in to pump up the hair. Tip: when using a texturizing powder, put a piece of tape on the sifter to block off the... +
This stuff works great, but be sure to use in moderation. Just have to sprinkle onto the roots where you want volume, then massage it in to pump up the hair.
Tip: when using a texturizing powder, put a piece of tape on the sifter to block off the majority of the shaker holes (see photo)
This allows for more precise placement and reduces wasting product. The Schwarzkopf osis "dust it" powder causes your hair to feel very sticky and requires a decent amount of "massaging" to properly work its volumizing magic. The result is comparable to teasing with a comb, but without the hassle and damage. It is truly worth the price, if you don't dump too much out each time.
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Revlon by Marchesa 3D Jewel Nail Appliques
Ease of Use: 5/10 I can't get over the thickness of these stickers. The trimming aspect is tolerable, but I can't stand how they peel up and snag at the corners. If I was the appliqué creator, I would make the strips more of a thin plastic layer... +
Ease of Use: 5/10
I can't get over the thickness of these stickers. The trimming aspect is tolerable, but I can't stand how they peel up and snag at the corners. If I was the appliqué creator, I would make the strips more of a thin plastic layer with a much stickier adhesive backing.
Lasting Power/Appearance: 6/10
These specific designs by Marchesa are simply stunning. They lasted for one week on my nails and the vibrancy did not change throughout. Again, the snaggy corners are my only complaint.
Packaging: 7/10
The boxes are always pretty for these nail strips, but the amount of cardboard is a bit unnecessary. I appreciate them giving extra nail strips to accommodate all nail sizes.
Price/Value: 5/10
$13 or so is a bit steep for one application of nail stickers. Although you can use them for one full manicure and about half of another one, I don't see this being amazing value since they do not last for a significant amount of time. It is an added bonus that you receive a reusable file and pusher with every pack. I would repurchase these nail appliqué strips if they were on sale.
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e.l.f. Cosmetics Essential Nail Polish Remover Pads
Well, am I ever happy to have ordered the e.l.f. Essential Nail Polish Remover Pads. I tried these handy little things when I was on vacation, and I was aboslutely blown away. They have a bit of an oily feel, yet dissolve polish so well. Although... +
Well, am I ever happy to have ordered the e.l.f. Essential Nail Polish Remover Pads. I tried these handy little things when I was on vacation, and I was aboslutely blown away. They have a bit of an oily feel, yet dissolve polish so well. Although the scent is a bit weird, the liquid they're saturated in doesn't evaporate as quickly as your typical polish remover. One small pad will successfully remove one hand/foot of dark polish and won't break down or rip. So technically you can get 12 uses out of a $2 container. If that isn't a steal, I don't know what is.
I haven't tried them on glitter polish yet, but I'll be sure to document my results if I do. I couldn't see them working very well on glitter since they don't contain acetone. That being said, my hands are left feeling clean and nourished after removal, with no dryness around my nails. The container weighs nothing and don't leak when travelling. I don't notice a real citrus scent, but they're definitely not as smelly as typical polish remover. Once the pads are finished, I'm sure you could even reuse the cute, small container for something else.
For just a toonie, these are now a must-have in my travel bag.
If you find yourself purchasing some e.l.f. in the future, definitely give these a try!
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