Simple Eye makeup Remover

Clean and no residue!

I really, really like this eye makeup remover. I've had problems with these products before because they've made my eyelids greasy and have actually made my eyelashes fall out. With the Simple makeup remover, none of that happens! A little bit goes a long way, and it removes my makeup easily. My eyes FEEL clean. I use a variety of products and there hasn't been any problems removing any of the makeup. Pencil liner, gel liner, crayon liner, cream shadow, powder shadow, etc. All of it gone! And I don't have tons of eyelashes on my cotton pad after wiping my eyes down. I HATED that about other products. This removes my mascara completely but doesn't weaken my eyelashes. The price was very fair and a little squirt goes a long way. I will definitely purchase this product again and again.

October 15, 2012

Olay Regenerist Intensive Repair Treatment

Buh-bye Eye Wrinkles

I was asked to test this product and I have seen some improvement. I'm in my early 20's so I probably wouldn't have tried this product if I hadn't been given a sample. I saw the price tag -- holy smokes! But I guess that's pretty comparable to other anti-aging products. I have a very "cheeky" smile so my whole face bunches up when I'm smiling, which happens a lot. So I am already getting some laugh lines and wrinkles. I've been using this product every night before my moisturizer on my under-eye wrinkles and in my laugh lines. I saw improvement after only a few days, especially under my eyes. My skin tightened up, showed far fewer wrinkles and creases, and even my skin tone evened out. I was sick and sleep-deprived for 2 of my 8 weeks of testing the product and nobody could tell I was sick. So that was pretty impressive. I didn't see the same level of improvement anywhere else, though. Laugh lines will probably always be there thanks to the way I smile, and I didn't see much of a change of my few forehead wrinkles when I tried the product there. I'll keep using this product for under my eyes, but I probably wouldn't buy it on my own. I've had similar effects with my under-eye skin with other products, and for a lot cheaper.

October 15, 2012

Aussie Stylers Heat Protecting Shine Spray

Great product, awkward spray nozzle

I really like this heat protecting spray. I could actually feel a difference in my hair when I first used it. I blow dry my hair every morning, and this has helped keep my hair from drying out. I don't have any heat damage, and I can get a smooth, sleek blow-out every morning with very few frizzies. The smell doesn't bother me. I honestly don't smell it anymore once my hair is dry. The spray nozzle is SO awkward, though. Rather than a mist, it's a jet of liquid. I have to hold the bottle far away from my head so I'm not saturating just one part of my scalp. I usually run my hands through my wet hair and comb it afterwards to try to dispense it evenly. The packaging is the only bad part to this product.

September 12, 2012

Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy Total Care Nourishing Shampoo

My new favorite shampoo

I bought a sample size after I saw all of the commercials, and I'm so glad I did. I go back and forth between home (soft water) and my dorm room (hard water) and this is the only shampoo I've tried that has helped my hair feel as good in hard water as it does in soft water. I wash my hair daily (I hate the feeling of 2nd day hair!) and I can use this product everyday without making my hair dry. A little bit goes a long way. The scent is pretty good. It doesn't smell as good as other products I've used, but it doesn't smell bad, either. It smells like a hair product, rather than the produce aisle. I've been turning friends and family on to this shampoo, and even had a sis-in-law who admitted to buying some after she sneaked a bit of mine in the shower.

September 12, 2012

Herbal Essences Hydralicious Reconditioning Shampoo

Rehydrates, but not for Daily Use

I really do like this product, but I don't use it daily. Even though I know I'm not supposed to, I shampoo daily because I can't get over the dirty feeling of having 2nd day hair. I also haven't found a dry shampoo that doesn't make me feel like a hot, greasy mess. But shampooing everyday, even with gentle shampoos, sometimes leaves my hair feeling dry. I picked this up to use once or twice a week to give my hair an added bit of moisture. And it worked! Used in combination with my regular shampoo and conditioner, this shampoo helps me keep my hair feeling clean, but moisturized. It smells GREAT (and honestly, what Herbal Essences product doesn't smell great?). I have medium length hair, and a little more than the size of a quarter lathers my whole head. I can't really comment on the residue problem that other users have had, because I don't use this on a daily basis. But for once or twice a week, I'd recommend it.

September 12, 2012

Maybelline New York Fit Me! Blush

Good for daily wear

I don't tend to wear a whole lot of blush or foundation, so I wanted something that gives me a natural glow without looking like I have a whole lot of makeup on. I have fair skin, so I bought this in the light mauve. I don't mind the brush it came with, but I tend to use my own fluffy blush brush. It goes on really light so I can build color where I want it. I know that's a complaint with other reviews, but I like that. Other products go on so dark so quickly that I have to wash all of my makeup off to start over. This blush gives me the right amount of sheen with just a touch of color. It's perfect for at the office or just daily wear. I might get something more intense for formal or evening wear, but for me, it's the perfect daily blush. It lasts all day, too. Makes me look like I have a healthy glow with a touch of color. I will definitely buy it again.

June 19, 2012

Maybelline New York Full 'N Soft Washable Mascara

Found my new favorite

I LOVE this. I'm so glad I went searching for a new mascara on this website because otherwise I wouldn't have checked out this mascara. I usually don't buy Maybelline products, but that's probably going to change really soon. I have long, dark eyelashes that have a pretty nice natural curl to them. I don't tend to use an eyelash curler, both because I'm a wee bit nervous about metal contraptions near my eye, and I'm scared of causing damage to my eyelashes. So I tend to leave them alone and let my mascara tame them during the day. I HATE spider lashes, clumpy lashes, flaky lashes... you get the picture. But this does exactly what it says it does. It gives me full, soft lashes. I love the applicator brush because I can go over my lashes several times and it applies the mascara evenly. It gives me just the right amount of coverage without making my lashes clump together. I've actually had an easier time separating little groups of lashes than with other brushes. The mascara lasts all day and doesn't smear onto my fingers if I for some reason have to touch my eye. It washes off really easily with eye makeup remover. I've noticed when I wash it off that I'm applying less mascara to my eyelashes, but they look far better than they did with other products. I really like that. Going to be buying this again and again.

June 19, 2012

Rimmel London Glam Eyes Trio Palettes

Pretty colors, but not as vibrant on my eye

I bought this eyeshadow in the light pink, bright blue, and gray-blue colors (I can't find the name!). I was REALLY excited for the bright blue. It's dark, vibrant, and so eye-catching in the package. But when I apply it dry, it goes on smudgy and really muted. Even after applying several layers, it still doesn't show up as bright as it looks in the compact. And I have really pale skin, so most eyeshadows tend to look really vibrant anyways. The pink is a really nice base shadow, and it gives my eyes a nice sheen. That one goes on pretty smooth. The saving grace for this product is that I can create a really pretty wet liner out of the two blues. The bright blue makes an AWESOME looking eyeliner when I apply it wet with an angled brush. And the gray-blue gives me an intense look without being too severe, like when I wear black eyeliner. Plus, the blues coordinate really well with my blue eyes and gives me a break from brown (which I tend to wear a lot!). My other problem with this is that even when I prepare my eyelid for eye makeup, I still end up with a colored crease from where my eyeshadow-eyeliner has smudged. These are fun colors to play with wet, but not as vibrant dry. I won't buy it again, but I will enjoy it while I have it.

June 19, 2012

Rimmel London Fix & Perfect Pro Primer

Not bad, not bad.

I've been having trouble finding an inexpensive primer I like, and this one may just fit the bill. I apply it over my moisturizer, and I found that I get better results when I use a moisturizer with a lower SPF. This is more because anything with a lot of sunscreen makes my face look and feel more oily. The primer spreads really well; I get more concentrated primer around my T-zone and I can gradually blend it in to the outer parts of my face. I was worried initially because it felt slightly greasy on my face when I first applied it. But I waited, let it dry, and the feeling was gone. My makeup goes on very smooth on top. It didn't really make my pores disappear, but they're pretty large so i wasn't expecting much there. It does help my makeup last longer throughout the day. I don't reach the end of the day with all of my makeup intact still, but it's sure longer than other formulas. I knocked another star off for the packaging -- It's simple and looks good, but I prefer pumps for primers. It's easier to get the same amount of primer every morning and you can use the product down to the last drop. Not so with stiff, plastic, crimped tubes. In general, I like the primer. I may buy it again.

June 19, 2012

Arbonne Made in the Shade Self Tanner

Works pretty good

I am very pale with freckles, so tanning puts me at an even higher risk for skin cancer. I don't like feeling pasty in the summer, though, so I bought this self tanner. In general, I like it. My skin did get a few shades darker and it looked pretty natural. I really liked that it also included SPF, so I could go out in the sun with it if I wanted to. I did not like applying it, though. No matter how many times I washed my hands, I wound up with a rust color between my fingers. I also found the same color behind my knees sometimes, even after I had let the tanner dry. I ended up mixing the tanner with another lotion to spread more evenly and that seemed to work. The product was very light and mixed well with lotion. It also didn't have a nasty self-tanner smell that other products tend to have. It just smelled like sunscreen!

June 12, 2012