mamaluv
Member Since: September 8, 2006Reviews
L'Oreal Paris Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara
I have been using this mascara quite a bit during the holidays, waiting to give my feedback because - to be honest - I was still on the fence about it. Pros: * compared to bare lashes, I would certainly say that my eyelashes looked close to... +
I have been using this mascara quite a bit during the holidays, waiting to give my feedback because - to be honest - I was still on the fence about it.
Pros:
* compared to bare lashes, I would certainly say that my eyelashes looked close to double in length. No other mascara I have tried thus far is as lengthening as Double Extend, not even close.
* my lashes are wonderfully soft and the mascara washes off very easily (best is to splash your face several times with warm water before washing or take it off in the shower). I never need to follow up with eye makeup remover.
* there is no obvious smell to the product and it's reasonably easy to apply.
Cons:
* I don't mind to put my mascara on in two steps, but the dark coat clumps easily.
* it's not very volumizing, so my lashes look long but a little sparse. The clumping makes it even more obvious.
Overall I definitely recommend this product. It's not my top choice but I will probably keep a tube on hand for special occasions.
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BCBG Max Azria Cable Knit Cowl Neck Sweater
I received this sweater as an early Christmas present and absolutely love it! It's trendy enough that I feel fashionable, but neutral enough that I'm confident I'll be able to wear it until it's worn out. I have it in dark plum... +
I received this sweater as an early Christmas present and absolutely love it! It's trendy enough that I feel fashionable, but neutral enough that I'm confident I'll be able to wear it until it's worn out.
I have it in dark plum, which is a purple-tinted charcoal color. I believe it's also available in black. A slim fit with just enough length to flatter the waist, it's warm and very comfortable to wear.
The regular price on this sweater is around $180 US, but it's on sale now for 50% off. I recommend it!
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Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner
I have come back to this brand of toner several times over the years. It does the job, but I'm not so sure my pores were all that different (ie. "refined") compared to most other brands. Right now I'm loving a new toner from the Exuberance... +
I have come back to this brand of toner several times over the years. It does the job, but I'm not so sure my pores were all that different (ie. "refined") compared to most other brands. Right now I'm loving a new toner from the Exuberance Beauty line, but I imagine that if I can't buy the Exuberance I'll probably go back to Neutrogena. For the price, it works pretty well. -
Kung Fu Panda Movie
We rented this movie over the weekend and it's run pretty much nonstop since we cracked open the case! Very funny and sweet, with a moral to the story (of course) and great little details that take a few viewings to catch them all. Jack Black... +
We rented this movie over the weekend and it's run pretty much nonstop since we cracked open the case! Very funny and sweet, with a moral to the story (of course) and great little details that take a few viewings to catch them all.
Jack Black is fabulous in this movie, a real standout in a pretty big cast (also stars Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu and Jackie Chan). The writers and technical team did such a good job infusing Po with Black's personality - one of the best portrayals Dreamworks has done in a while, in my opinion.
As with just about every family movie since Toy Story and beyond, the complex characters and subplots are a little out of reach for most kiddies. I personally don't really like this trend of writing for the adults in the audience because it has brought overly mature themes to a genre that is supposed to cater to the whole family, including the tots. (Shrek 2 comes to mind, but don't get me started ;)
I definitely recommend it, but don't expect Junior to get as much knee-slapping out of it as your cousin Mike.
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MAC Cosmetics Lustreglass in Instant Gold
I received this gloss to review and have pretty much worn it every day since. It has a beautiful gold-champagne tint and wears well alone or over a lipstick. It has a pleasant smell and virtually no taste to it, and is less sticky than most other... +
I received this gloss to review and have pretty much worn it every day since. It has a beautiful gold-champagne tint and wears well alone or over a lipstick. It has a pleasant smell and virtually no taste to it, and is less sticky than most other brands I've tried.
I definitely recommend this gloss!
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Afterglow vegan Kabuki brush
Afterglow Cosmetics carries a full line of organic, vegan makeup and accessories. I received a kabuki brush, makeup bag, and mineral foundation (separate review) to try recently. I must admit that until now I've depended on less expensive... +
Afterglow Cosmetics carries a full line of organic, vegan makeup and accessories. I received a kabuki brush, makeup bag, and mineral foundation (separate review) to try recently.
I must admit that until now I've depended on less expensive brands and found them to be 'good enough'. I was very pleasantly surprised to see how much better these quality products worked for me! The kabuki brush is gloriously soft and applies the foundation evenly. The case pictured here is the travel size with a convenient keyring attached; mine is a little larger and will fit my essentials nicely.
All in all, a little more expensive than I would normally spend but well worth it! A must-have for anyone careful about buying only organic and vegan products.
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Nair Cire Divine Visage No Strip Wax
I agree with the positive comments. This product works noticeably better than Sally Hansen, and if you buy it on Amazon it is a really fantastic deal. DIY waxing is always messy and takes longer than I'd like. It's tough to get the temp... +
I agree with the positive comments. This product works noticeably better than Sally Hansen, and if you buy it on Amazon it is a really fantastic deal.
DIY waxing is always messy and takes longer than I'd like. It's tough to get the temp just right and you will probably have to reheat once or twice during the process to keep it at the proper consistency. I always get that rash-like irritation after waxing or epilating - this is normal, and as long as it goes away after 24 hours you shouldn't be worried.
I'd sure prefer to run out to the salon every time I need grooming, but since I can't afford to, this is a decent alternative. I wish there was a larger supply of the wipes/azulene oil with the package, but you can find it sold separately or just use another good quality oil (I like the JR Watkins line in lavender or lemon) to clean off the remaining wax and soothe the area. Doesn't work quite as well, but it's better than nothing.
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Doi Chaang Single-Estate Signature Coffee
I am a long-time shopper of fair trade coffee and have tried everything from Starbucks Fair Trade to the varieties found at Ten Thousand Villages. Before that, I was a bit of a coffee snob and always bought quality beans (never the vats of... +
I am a long-time shopper of fair trade coffee and have tried everything from Starbucks Fair Trade to the varieties found at Ten Thousand Villages. Before that, I was a bit of a coffee snob and always bought quality beans (never the vats of pre-ground econocoffee ). I must honestly say that I can't taste the difference between conventionally produced coffee and the fair trade variety, especially given the subtle differences you always notice depending on the roast and area of origin. In this case, why wouldn't I continue buying fair trade? Exactly.
Doi Chaang coffee is just as flavorful and rich as all the other brands. I would certainly buy it again! The only problem is the availability - I don't know where it's sold near me and the local Costco carries my usual brand. It's a pain to have to go out of your way :(
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Debbie Meyer GreenBags
I was always on the verge of ordering each time the infomercial aired, and one day I finally couldn't resist any longer. Not that I think holding on to strawberries or celery for 2 months is such a great idea, but it can be inconvenient to buy... +
I was always on the verge of ordering each time the infomercial aired, and one day I finally couldn't resist any longer. Not that I think holding on to strawberries or celery for 2 months is such a great idea, but it can be inconvenient to buy in very small quantities - was my rationale.
The bags appeared to work really well. I tried out broccoli, zucchini, bananas, grapes and strawberries in separate bags, some on the counter and others in the fridge. They all maintained a beautifully ripe color and the only issue I had was that I had to wipe out the inside of the bags frequently to remove the sweat moisture (I had not prerinsed anything, according to the instructions).
However, when I got around to eating them, they were all in various stages of rot - from the inside and on bottoms where they pressed against the counter or other items in the bag. I suppose the ethylene absorbing chemicals couldn't get there and they were, in a word, vile. SUCH a disappointment.
Not one to let one bad experience derail my money sparing determination, I tried them again - this time consuming the produce much more quickly (i.e. stuffing myself with it all, thereby negating the long-term storage aspect, but what the heck I was trying to give them a fair shake), but found that the bags that I reused (and supposedly they can be reused up to 10 times) were just a hair better than utterly useless.
NOT worth it. Not even close. If you have to eat it all that quickly, you should not be buying in bulk. In fact, my Tupperware FridgeKeeper for fruits veggies work just as well or better, and it really is reusable.
I must, grudgingly, admit that they work considerably better than leaving the fruits/veggies in the store packaging or in a sealed Ziploc bag. So I haven't chucked them out, but will not be buying replacements any time soon.
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Something Blue by Emily Griffin
This has to be my favorite Emily Giffin novel (so far - am still working my way through). It's a companion book to her previous "Something Borrowed" - the same story told from two different perspectives, although the main plot in this story is... +
This has to be my favorite Emily Giffin novel (so far - am still working my way through). It's a companion book to her previous "Something Borrowed" - the same story told from two different perspectives, although the main plot in this story is set a few months later. There are some spoilers relating to "Borrowed", so be sure to read it first.
It's the perspective of the selfish BFF who has spent her life trampling on her friends to get what she wants.... until suddenly she can't. Alone and pregnant, she must come to terms with her situation and face her flaws. Her journey to 'become a better person' might have you groaning before you crack the book open, but her story is told in an authentic and touching way. Predictable plot? Maybe. But well worth the read anyway.
I recommend it!
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