wpggirl
Member Since: April 10, 2010Reviews
Marcelle Essentials 1st Wrinkles Day Cream SPF 15
First of all, I would like to thank the PRC for sending me this product. I was excited to try it out and see for myself what kind of results I could get. I have used Marcelle products in the past and have found them to be of decent quality, albeit... +
First of all, I would like to thank the PRC for sending me this product. I was excited to try it out and see for myself what kind of results I could get. I have used Marcelle products in the past and have found them to be of decent quality, albeit a tad overpriced in my opinion. Clocking in at 27.50 CDN for MSRP I would say now that this product is also somewhat overpriced, but to be fair you do get a lot of product in the jar.
When I got the jar in the mail the first thing I noticed was that the container was heavier and I really liked that. The packaging was well done and looked clean and smart. One thing that I should mention about the product though is that although the jar is nice and heavy duty, the lid is made of flimsy plastic and 2 days into having it I dropped it into the sink and the lid broke, so it doesn’t seal perfectly anymore, not enjoyable.
The cream is fairly lightweight and you don’t need to use a ton of it to get good coverage. It seemed to come off a bit greasy on my skin, but not so much that I wouldn’t continue to use it. I’ve only been using it for about 2 weeks now and although initially I had a spot or two in the first week they were small and didn’t persist.
After using this product for two weeks I would say that it is a fine face cream but not something I would buy again. For the price, I would use Aveeno Ultra Calming or Positively Radiant which actually costs about the same or a bit less if you get it on special. This is a good cream, but I feel like I can do better for the price.
Once again, thanks to the product review club for sending me this cream to try, I much appreciate it and look forward to hopefully trying more product for you in the future.
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Essie Nail Polish
This is a very necessary review. In my mind, there are two kinds of necessary reviews: really good ones, and really bad ones. This is a case of a really good review. I have been looking for a 'go-to' formula of polish that is really... +
This is a very necessary review. In my mind, there are two kinds of necessary reviews: really good ones, and really bad ones. This is a case of a really good review. I have been looking for a 'go-to' formula of polish that is really consistent and performs well. I was thinking that perhaps I would have to settle with decent or passable polishes for the rest of my life.........
I actuall picked up an Essie Polish on sale at Shoppers. It is regularily a little on the pricey side for me at 11CDN regular. But it goes on sale for 3 or more bucks, which is nice and definitely more within my acceptable price range for non-luxury brand polish (I will admit that I can see myself splurging on when my budget - or Bay Card allows. =)) I can say now, though that I would say that for the right shade I would, without hesitation, pick up another shade (or two, or three, or four...).
My first imbibement was the shade Pink Glove Service. This shade actually proved to be a dissapointment in terms of shade and pigment, but that was my own fault, but the formula was to die for. It looks like a jellyish pink shade in the bottle but is essentially clear on nails. It was a mid-read on my part because after the fact I should have known that it would have been clear based on the bottle shade.
After the Pink Glove Service experience I wanted to try out some other Essie products and I picked up To Dry For, a quick dry top coat that I reviewed and loved. I was wanting to add some more shades but the one in particular that I wanted I couldn't find in stores and hadn't gotten around to picking it up on E-Bay. It was Lapis of Luxury. A cornflower creme that was so pale denimish and smooth I just couldn't resist. I wanted it instantly. It was part of the Resort Collection so it wasn't included in the usual Essie range and the shoppers that I get Essie at didn't seem to have it. I wound up this past weekend going to Shoppers and took a walk around the beauty counter cashier display and found the whole Resort Collection (I may have to go back for more). They also had the spring collection and there was a striking shade of red called Rouge Nouveau. It's a deep red with both orange and blue undertones so it compliments many skin tones - even my pale hands that usually do not enjoy oranges. They were also on sale for 6.99CDN a piece. Boo yah. Could it get any better? Yes - I was using my mans bank card so he picked them up for me! Yooo Hoooo!
I'll tell you now about the polish party that was had when I got home. So much fun. Lapis of Luxury was everything I wanted in terms of shade and finish. I did two coats initially then To Dry For, but I found the next day that it was still a little streaky so the next time I applied I used three. Not a problem as the Essie formula dries well. Red Nouveau is a total knockout. Totally vampy but fun at the same time. Two coats does it great, no problem.
The Essie brush is narrow, but I really like it and find that it compliments their formula well. I find that it does have good control and I don't end up getting polish all over my fingers. The bottle is simple but sleek. It's a pretty bottle - easy to hold in your hand.
The wear is good. I have been using OPI Start to Finish Original as my base coat with TDF as that was the only product I had. I have already reviewed the OPI STF and I can actually say now that it does get thick really fast. It just doesn't go on as nice as it did when I first bought it. I'm only about a quarter of the way through the bottle. I am hoping though, that wear is improved now that I've bought Essie First Base Base Coat and used it tonight with Lapis of Luxury. Since I've enjoyed so many other Essie Products I'm optimistic that this will extend my manicures. Usually my nails last about 2 days - which isn't good as many other people say that they get up to a week on their nails. I'm thinking that I'm just really hard on my nails and I do type alot in a day.
To conclude (finally) I would say that Essie Nail Polish is very nice and would certainly reccomend it.
Swatches courtesy of makeupandbeautyblog.com (Pink Glove Service), vampyvarnish.com (Lapis of Luxury and Red Nouveau)
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The Body Shop Nutriganics Smoothing Serum
I received this product as part of the product advisor club and much appreciated the freebie! I have used Body Shop products in the past but not recently. I have generally found their products to be of good quality but a little on the pricey side... +
I received this product as part of the product advisor club and much appreciated the freebie! I have used Body Shop products in the past but not recently. I have generally found their products to be of good quality but a little on the pricey side. This product retails for about 25 bucks CDN.
I have not made a habit of using a serum in the past. I am in my late 20’s and have found any other kind of “pre-moisturizing” lotion to be too thick on my skin and experienced breakouts. It just didn’t seem like a necessary part of my skin care routine. I was excited to try this product though, because it seemed lighter and more apt for younger skin. I have mostly normal skin with a pimple once in a while. I would say that my skin tends to be a little sensitive as many products have made me break out. I am medium fair with a few freckles. I have a few small lines around my eyes but no real signs of aging. I was hoping that this product would refine the tone and texture of my skin.
This product comes in a cardboard box which as I’ve stated in other reviews I have mixed emotions about. I like the box but I don’t like extra packaging. The product comes in an opaque tube which some people may not like because they like to see the product but I actually like the opaque container as then the product is protected from light. This product seems to have a lot of oils in it and I know that sunlight has a detrimental effect on the integrity of the product. I also like the pump because I don’t like wasting product and one squirt is the perfect amount to smooth over your face. The colour and print on the packing is very “natural” looking and appealing.
This serum feels light on the fingers and has a non-greasy feel which I was relived at because of the many oils listed on the ingredients. As I said earlier, one squirt is the perfect amount and applies smoothly and evenly on my face. The smell of the product is so-so but it doesn’t linger which is nice. The product is very quickly absorbed and leaves a non-greasy feel on my face. I still use moisturizer but I have cut the amount by about 1/3 as I don’t want too much thickness on my face and it’s Summertime which means I use less as the air is less dry. After applying moisturizer my face feels smooth and clean.
I resisted reviewing this product in the first week of getting it because I wanted to wait at least 10 days to really get a feel for how the results would be. I am actually very pleased with this product. No breakouts, my skin is actually smoother and the tone appears to be more even. This may also be because I have been out on my bike a bit and got some sun but I actually think the serum has something to do with it. I will probably stop using this product for about a week in a little bit just to see what it’s like when I stop it and I shall update at that time with additional details.
This product claims to be largely organic and natural and it seems like a more natural product but I am also one of those people who know that most everything, no matter how natural has some artificial emulsifiers and preservatives. It’s not something that is a real deal breaker for me but something I really like is that Body Shop products are not tested on animals.
To conclude I would say that I really like this product. I have a feeling that when it’s gone I will buy it again. I would also definitely try the rest of the line. Definitely recommend it. Thanks for the product to review!
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Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Nail Polish
I have been thinking about purchasing this product because the shade Gray by Gray is so delish. It's a slate gray/blue colour and it's really nice and I don't currently have a polish of this shade in my collection. My spouse sent me to... +
I have been thinking about purchasing this product because the shade Gray by Gray is so delish. It's a slate gray/blue colour and it's really nice and I don't currently have a polish of this shade in my collection. My spouse sent me to Shoppers to pick up some advil and I added this to the basket.
I found the price to be a little on the high side, especially for a SH polish. It regulars for 8.99CDN, I got mine for 2 bucks off. I usually don't spend that much on a non-salon product but I really wanted the shade so I went for it. I'm actually glad that I did.
The packaging is good, a squarish bottle with a rubberized rim around the bottom of the brush handle. I thought it was a nice touch. I must say that I wish that SH would change their logo/printing as it always comes off as dated. It seems like a small thing, and it is but I just think that if they redesigned their fonts it would add to the percieved quality of the product. I don't know - just a suggestion.
The brush is just like the brush for their Insta-Dry formula, it's a wide, thick brush that is flat and not round. Because I've had some practice with I'm pretty good with application. I will say that it takes some getting used to it. When I first tried the new brush I didn't care for it but it's just a different style of application and definitely cuts down on streaking. The formula goes on smooth and nicely pigmented. Two coats does it for a nice opaque finish. It dried in nice time, not super fast, but decently quick. I used Essie To Dry For as my topcoat which expedited the drying process. I used OPI Start to Finish as my basecoat.
As for the wear of this polish I'm going to have to update in a couple of days as I just applied it today and haven't had a chance to see how long it wears.
I love this shade, and I'm glad that it's part of my arsenal of polish (which I may add is getting quite large). So far so good. I would buy this product again but I did find it a little pricey for a SH polish. Look for update on wear.
I am posting a swatch that doesn't belong to me. It's from Lextard who has lovely nails and great reviews.
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Essie To Dry For Top Coat
I picked this product up at Shoppers today because I've been in the market for a quick dry top coat. I know that the drips work but ideally I would prefer to consolidate the process with my top coat. I looked at purchasing the China Glaze... +
I picked this product up at Shoppers today because I've been in the market for a quick dry top coat. I know that the drips work but ideally I would prefer to consolidate the process with my top coat. I looked at purchasing the China Glaze Quick Dry Topcoat but it was 12 bucks (still not bad), but I realized that I could get the Essie To Dry For at Shoppers on sale for 8.99 so I went with that. I also have brand loyalty with Essie as I like their formulae.
I like the bottle that Essie polish comes in. It's square and the brush reaches all the way to the bottom, which is good for value, cause if the formula holds up you can use it for a while. Essie nail treatments come in a box, which is a nice touch, but kind of unnecessary packaging. Nice plain labelling on the bottle, which I like.
I was optimistically skeptical as to how well this would perform. I even bought a new polish to try it with, Nicole Nail Ya Azalea, a deep red with pinkish microglitter. When I applied it, about 5 minutes later my nails seemed dry! I don't know if I would change or take a shower, but they were reasonably dry to the touch. It' s about 20 minutes later and I would feel comfortable doing just about anything, I'm pretty confident that they're totally dry. The finish is super glossy and super snazzy so I'm hoping that it wears well.
I'll be sure to update on how long this top coat wears, but I am enjoying it so far!
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COVERGIRL Smokey Shadowblast
I am so dissapointed with this product. To be fair, I don't know of many CG products that I've actually liked. I think it's the commercial that got me. Drew Barrymore looks good and it made me want the product. I purchased it at... +
I am so dissapointed with this product. To be fair, I don't know of many CG products that I've actually liked. I think it's the commercial that got me. Drew Barrymore looks good and it made me want the product.
I purchased it at Shoppers for 7.99 CDN on sale. Regular I think it was 10.99. The price was quite low but I must admit I don't like spending more than 6-8 bucks for drug store labels, especially CG ones since I have such a history of dissatisfaction.
The packaging is in a cardboard backed package, like many CG products. I like the tamper resistant factor, but I also like to hold the product in my hand before I purchase, I am slightly insane when it comes to product purchase, I know. The container is slick, a two sided twisty pen with the shadow on one end and the "liner" (I put this in parenthesis because I'm still unsure as to whether it could actually be called a liner - I would say more of a contouring colour). One thing that was small, but not so great was that the first time I used it I saw a small crack on the rim of the lids to one of the ends. Not enjoyable as one of my pet peeves with products with the dual dispensers is that the packaging breaks and then the product is finished. So it's looking like in the next month one of the lids for one side of my Shadowblast isn't going to fit and therefore get lost.
The performance of this product is one of my main complaints about CG products. It doesn't apply well. Not enough pigmentation so you have to go back and forth, back and forth to get some colour. As I mentioned earlier in this review, the "liner" side, isn't really a liner. It's a contouring secondary colour. This product would actually perform better if a kohl liner was used in conjunction with this. I never actually got a real "smoky" eye - more just silverish eyeshadow.
The wear of this product is just like another complaint I usually have about CG prodcuts. It doesn't wear well. It creases and travels and I felt the need to reapply and wipe under my eyes at noon.
Overall my satisfaction with this product is non-existent. I shall try a couple of other application techniques in the following days and update my post. But it's not looking good........
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Goody Ouchless Hair Elastics
These elastics are perfect for anyone who needs their hair out of the way. They are strong with no metal parts so they don't snag your hair and they last a really long time and keep their elasticity. I end up using mine for a long time, losing... +
These elastics are perfect for anyone who needs their hair out of the way. They are strong with no metal parts so they don't snag your hair and they last a really long time and keep their elasticity. I end up using mine for a long time, losing and finding them for about 6 months until I need to go and buy another pack because I've lost them all. Then I'll find them here and there and use it again for a couple weeks until I lose it again. The idea is to keep them around and in rotation. They are strong, without being cumbersome to use and they will hold your hair, no matter how heavy or thick. Definitely a keeper. -
Organic Surge Lavender & Geranium Hand Lotion
I wish there was a "Meh" option for Do you reccomend it? field. I find that the two options for You Betcha! & Fugheddaboutit! are too limiting. Ideally I would like to have three options, YB, FGABTIT & Meh. Meh would be reserved for products that... +
I wish there was a "Meh" option for Do you reccomend it? field. I find that the two options for You Betcha! & Fugheddaboutit! are too limiting. Ideally I would like to have three options, YB, FGABTIT & Meh. Meh would be reserved for products that "work" but that aren't mind blowing. I would put this product in the Meh category. It is really highly perfumed so it smells stong, but good - the smell is nice (IMHO). The cream is thick and coats hands adequately without being too greasy. Overall I found the final finish to be a bit on the waxy side and I didn't get the long after application moisturizing effect that I like. It worked fine but I wasn't crazy about it. I found that Aveeno Hand Cream works better than this.
The price is good, just over 5 CDN for a 75 ml tube. It probably goes on sale for less. It's funny because I read a review on this product from the founder of the website and she loved the Hand Lotion. Perhaps the lotion is somewhat lighter than the cream. I suppose this is why it's such a good idea to have these websites, so that we can share our opinions on products so that other people can make informed decisions on their purchases. I would say this is a decent product but I wouldn't write home about it.
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Revlon Glimmer Gloss Nail Enamel
I have to say that I really wanted to like this polish. I like the idea of the "Glimmer Gloss" Jelly Polish but this product has serious formula issues. The way the colour goes on it's hard to stay neat and it always ends up sloppy. I also... +
I have to say that I really wanted to like this polish. I like the idea of the "Glimmer Gloss" Jelly Polish but this product has serious formula issues. The way the colour goes on it's hard to stay neat and it always ends up sloppy. I also found this polish to be slow drying.
Anyways, I should say that many people like this product but it just didn't work out for me.
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Avon Nailwear Pro Nail Polish Cotton Candy
I got this product on sale from my Avon girl at work. I really wanted to love this polish because the shade I picked was just great - a bubblegum pink cream. When I got it (and I must say that Avon has some great stuff and I always get good... +
I got this product on sale from my Avon girl at work. I really wanted to love this polish because the shade I picked was just great - a bubblegum pink cream.
When I got it (and I must say that Avon has some great stuff and I always get good service when I order through my rep) I was really dissapointed in the formula. It covers okay with 2 coats, but it NEVER dries. I use OPI Start to Finish Base/Top coat and I often find that it helps my polish dry faster as the top coat dries really well and protects the finish from chipping or smudging really badly but even this polish made that impossible. The polish was still soft the next day! I can't wear this for more than one day ever because it looks worn and ratty. I am looking for a shade dupe for this colour as I love it but I know there is a better formula out there. I would pass, even though the price seems right.
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