Here are all my reviews:
  • Vaseline Total Moisture Body Lotion

    I received this "mystery lotion" sample and was really looking forward to trying what I had assumed was a new lotion formula for which the manufacturer was seeking customer input prior to launching it in the marketplace. I still have absolutely no idea why the manufacturer would have TB do market research on an old and not particularly impressive product. However, as this was a "blind test" with an unbranded sample, those considerations did not affect my perception of the product while I was evaluating it. First, the pros: This lotion is light, absorbs quickly, leaves my skin soft and hydrated, and doesn't leave a greasy residue. All good qualities. Now the cons: The consistency was too thin for my taste. It didn't feel rich or luxurious like my favorite moisturizing lotions and creams. And while scents are totally subjective, unfortunately the smell of this lotion was a bit of a turnoff for me, a bit reminiscent of the jars of watery, translucent white, rosewater and glycerin creams from the drugstore that were commonplace several decades ago. However, neither of those issue would have been deal-breakers if the initial hydrating effects of this lotion had lasted for more than a few hours. I really wanted to like this product, but for me it just didn't perform to my expectations of a good body lotion. And now that I know which product I tested, I will add that it certainly doesn't live up to its "Total Moisture" branding. I wish I could find more to recommend about it, but I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to evaluate the sample.

    July 11, 2012

    8 of 16 people found this review helpful

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  • Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer With Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30

    I always try to use a different sunblock on my face than on my body, otherwise my face tends to break out. This one is perfect - lightweight, non-greasy, and it doesn't sting my sensitive skin like so many sunblocks do. Better protection than a moisturizer with SPF.

    April 11, 2012

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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  • L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Full Definition Mascara
    9.0

    L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Full Definition Mascara

    Great balance of definition and volume

    I've tried dozens and dozens of mascaras over the years, most of them high-end and pricey. The only ones that came close to meeting my needs were Benefit "They're Real!" and Dior "Diorshow," but what I really wanted was a cross between the two that would give me the definition of "They're Real!" and the volume of "Diorshow" and that also would hold a curl on my rather straight, downward-pointing lashes. Sick and tired of spending $25-$30 a pop to try more and more high-end mascaras that didn't quite meet my needs, I finally decided to try this highly rated drugstore mascara that had been recommended by a pro makeup artist in a TB article. WOW!!! Not only does this one hit the perfect balance between definition and volume, it also holds a curl! I'll never spend 4x the price of this wonderful mascara again on the high-end brands! I really hope they never discontinue this one.

    March 21, 2012

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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  • Sally Hansen French Manicure Nail Guides
    8.0

    Sally Hansen French Manicure Nail Guides

    Use with white polish pen on bare nails for best results

    I've never had good luck with this type of guide strip for French tips until I changed my approach to giving myself a French manicure. What works perfectly for me is to apply these strips to BARE nails, burnish them down with a fingernail so the strips stay firmly attached until I'm ready to remove them (and so that no polish seeps under the edges, especially at the sides), and then apply two coats of white nail polish using a felt-tip nail polish pen with white polish designed specifically for French manicures (I've also reviewed Sally Hansen's version of these pens). Apply both coats thinly and evenly. The tricks to getting a thin, even application are 1) to shake the polish pen VIGOROUSLY for about 10-15 seconds and then press the tip down FIRMLY against a folded piece of scrap paper (or a scrap of thin, hard cardboard) on a flat, hard surface such as a table, pressing hard enough for the ENTIRE FELT TIP to retract into the pen and maintaining the pressure for the full 30 seconds. Then draw a short line of polish on the paper to get rid of any excess polish. These tips will make all the difference, I promise! Allow the first coat of white polish to dry completely before applying the second coat, and allow the second coat to dry completely before removing the paper guide strips. Then apply two coats of very sheer pink or peach polish made specifically for French manicures, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly after it has been applied. When the second coat has dried completely, apply a thin, even coat of Seche Vite, dry it thoroughly, and enjoy your new fabulous-looking French manicure!

    March 19, 2012

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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  • Sally Hansen French Manicure White Tip Pen Fine Tip
    8.0

    Sally Hansen French Manicure White Tip Pen Fine Tip

    Regular-width pen works great for me

    I have tried other brands of French Manicure tip pens in the past. They tended to streak or go on a bit lumpy, and the felt tip always dried up quickly. So I switched to using white French tip polish (in a regular nail polish bottle) for many years. I tried using the curved paper guide strips to help me get a clean, even, nicely shaped inner edge, but since my nails tend to be a bit yellow I have to use two coats of the white polish on my tips, and when the polish dried and I pulled off the tape I usually ended up with a thick-ish ridge along the edge that had been taped. Then I went back to painting on the white French tip polish freehand, but even after doing it for many years I never got the hang of getting an even, balanced curve. Finally I decided to give a white polish pen another try. Unlike the previous ones I had used, this one was a flat, matte white, not pearlized. After I applied two coats of sheer pink polish on top, I was really surprised at how much better I liked the look of the plain white tips than the pearlized ones. And, unlike the previous pens I had tried, this one went on smoothly, thinly and evenly! I was getting pretty excited, but I still had the problem of not being able to apply the polish in an even, balanced curve that wasn't lopsided on some nails. So I bought another package of the curved, stick-on paper guide strips and tried it with the white "tip polish" pen. After applying two coats of the white polish and allowing each coat to dry, I peeled off the paper strips, not expecting much but hoping for an acceptable result. I was thrilled to see that my white tips looked as though they had been applied professionally, and there was no ridge at the edge of the polish! After applying two coats of sheer pink polish and a top coat of Seche Vite, my French manicure looked perfect. If you have trouble giving yourself a nice-looking French manicure, I highly recommend trying the combination of this nail tip pen and the self-stick paper guide strips (mine are made by Nailene). Note: It is important to shake the pen VIGOROUSLY and to hold the tip pressed down firmly against a piece of scrap paper for the entire 30 seconds recommended on the package.

    March 19, 2012

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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  • L'Oreal Paris EverCrème Sulfate-Free Moisture System Cleansing Conditioner

    I have tried several different shampoo/conditioner brands and formulas over the years and never found one I liked before this one. I still prefer the combination of my L'Oreal Eversleek sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner (I get better conditioning benefits from using that conditioner separately), but this is a great alternative for those days when I'm in a hurry.

    March 11, 2012

    5 of 6 people found this review helpful

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  • Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara

    I've read so many reviews that rave exuberantly about this mascara that I was anxious to purchase it and try it out myself. I was looking for length and volume and, I hoped, the ability to hold a curl after I curled my lashes. I must be the exception, because I found this mascara disappointing. It's a great, dark black color that provides lots of drama, but on me this mascara created "spider lashes" when I applied more than one coat. Very fake-looking and provided no fullness. Not sure why I had such a different experience than other reviewers.

    January 7, 2012

    3 of 3 people found this review helpful

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  • Redken All Soft Argan-6 Oil
    10.0

    Redken All Soft Argan-6 Oil

    Amazingly effective on frizzy hair!

    I received a sample of this product and was truly amazed to see how effective it was. I've used the pricey MorrocanOil hair products and didn't think there was much that could top them, but this one did! This oil is much less viscous than MoroccanOil hair oil and didn't leave my hair feeling greasy or heavy. I applied it both to my towel-dried hair and also just a tiny bit after I blow dried it and I was amazed at how soft and smooth it was without being weighed down. Wonderful product that I recommend highly!

    November 27, 2011

    3 of 3 people found this review helpful

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  • Trish McEvoy Bronzer Brush #37
    10.0

    Trish McEvoy Bronzer Brush #37

    Lovely, silky brush

    The hairs on this brush are so full, long and silky! They make even application of bronzer powder a breeze, and feel so luxurious on my face.

    September 23, 2011

    1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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  • Trish McEvoy Deluxe Travel Brush Set
    10.0

    Trish McEvoy Deluxe Travel Brush Set

    Travel brushes that do the job

    In my experience, very few "travel brushes" are worth owning. The quality of the hairs/bristles usually seems inferior, the brush heads seems sparser and just don't do the job of full-size brushes. Trish's are different.These are some of the most luxurious brushes you can own, in a convenient zippered case that protects them in your suitcase (or makeup drawer).

    March 14, 2011

    2 of 2 people found this review helpful

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