Paul Mitchell Super Sculpt

Still battling frizz

This has a thin, watery texture so that it is easy to work through your hair and hard to go overboard. I love the smell which smells a little like apples but mainly just clean. I've only used this to scrunch into my hair to define my waves. It works well for this. This product has very little hold, so your hair never gets crunchy, but I've found it didn't control frizz well. By the end of the day, my waves were lacking shape. I will not repurchase. If you're interested in trying this and saving money, Sally's Beauty Supply sells a GVP (Generic Value Products) version of this with identical ingredients at a fraction of the cost.

December 4, 2011

Herbal Essences Set Me Up Max Hold Gel

A steal

What a great gel! I use this to scrunch into my hair to really define my waves and it works. Holds the style very well. It can dry a little crunchy but that wears out by the end of the day or can be scrunched out easily. For the most part, this isn't a problem. I've even had a friend grab my waves with envy and proclaim, "How does your hair dry like this? You don't even have gel in it!" So yeah, it does NOT make your hair feel producty. Also, this gel smells amazing; floral and clean.

December 4, 2011

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure

Good drugstore find

I freely admit that I use both base coat and top coat with this nail polish, so maybe not the best test run. I do think it dries shinier than a lot of formulas, making top coat less necessary. Didn't have problems with chipping but again, I use top coat like my life depends on it. Formula spread on the nail easily and smoothly and dried smoothly. Only took me two coats to be completely satisfied with the intensity and coverage. Specifically, I have only tried the color "Right Said Red." I had no issues with drying time. The brush is unusual at first and took practice (it is flat and has a curved end). Because it is relatively inexpensive, has varied color options, and is easy to find (or has been for me), I absolutely recommend trying.

November 22, 2011

Kate Walsh Boyfriend Eau de Parfum

Yum

I think if you are interested in this fragrance you will just have to try it on yourself first. It happens to work with my chemistry really well. It smells rich and sexy. I love it! I'm normally drawn to florals and citrus, but this is so unusual and delicious that I instantly fell in love.

November 19, 2011

Benefit Benetint

Adequate

I think this creates a really nice flush. I put it on after foundation (if I'm wearing any) but before powder. Then I layer powder blush over it so it looks "lit from within," if you will, but has enough color for my tastes. I may be a bit of a blush fiend! I've been happy with this, but the price is still off-putting. I may repurchase, but I will try other liquid and cream blushes first. I do love how it looks on my lips, but it completely dries them out so that it's not worth it. Wouldn't recommend putting this anywhere near your lips!

November 19, 2011

Benefit Dandelion

Great for pale girls

This is my blush! Even in summer, my skin remains on the pale end of the spectrum. This looks like a beautiful, natural, pale pink blush. There's a lot of product in the container so it lasts a while. I find this to be plenty pigmented. Only takes one swipe across each cheek for a pretty blush all day.

November 19, 2011

NARS Blush

Good, not great

I bought this in Org*sm, because how could I not? The color is great, very pigmented, blendable. It takes so little to get a good flush going that this product lasts FOREVER. That helps to justify the price. But the color doesn't quite match my skin as well as others have. Since it's so pricy and the formulation hasn't completely blown my mind, I won't be repurchasing in another color. I didn't think it this outperformed the Benefit blushes I usually use.

November 19, 2011

Crest 3D White Vivid Toothpaste

Destroyed my mouth

This toothpaste doesn't leave your mouth feeling fresh, like it doesn't have enough flavor or clean very well. I wouldn't know if it whitens because it tore apart my mouth and gums causing me sensitivity and shooting pain. I had never had problems with sensitivity before using this toothpaste and my mouth still hasn't fully recovered (over a year later). Do not buy.

November 5, 2011

Colgate Optic White Toothpaste

Fresh and white

I received a tube of this to review. I often use whitening toothpastes but the only other "strong" one I've used was Crest 3D White and it destroyed my mouth and gums. Avoid that one! This Colgate caused me no increased sensitivity (which I'd never had at all before using the 3D White...). I've been using this twice daily for two weeks now and my teeth are definitely whiter. As the packaging promised, I did notice whitening within the first week. Best of all, this leaves your mouth feeling super clean and fresh. Would absolutely consider purchasing in the future.

November 5, 2011

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

Underwhelming

I don't want to burst the cult favorite bubble, but this is not worth the money. I do like the feel and it removes makeup fairly well. That said, so does pure olive oil. I understand that plain olive oil won't rinse as cleanly as this does, but that hardly seems enough to account for the price difference. I don't feel like this is helping to remove "pore cloggers" more than any normal cleanser. Really, I think Clinique's Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser is more effective. I also think this, although not problematic for oily skin (like mine), is more suited to dry skin.

October 6, 2011