Review- Ardell Fashion Lashes 126 Black

Our most popular lashes are lightweight, reusable, easy to apply, and the ultimate in comfort. They're made from sterilized, 100% human hair so they look and feel like your own. Ideal for first-time users, they come in Starter Kits that contain everything needed to apply lashes in three easy steps. In Black or Brown. Choose from 29 different styles.

Ok, so if you all remember me I was the one on this site who knew the least about products, and make up and everything. Since then I started working in a cosmetics department in a major department store. I have worn my fare share of false eye lashes, and even applied a VERY few to other's lids. I will tell you that I have only used MAC and Shu Uemura lashes, and so have never tried anything costing less than say $13. These beauties are AMAZING, and around $3 online. I have worn them twice, just to test their longevity for you and they have held up beautifully. The second day I have to say was less comfortable than the first, but I didn't clean the lashes, which they do recommend doing on the website. So I will clean them and on to round three......
I, personally have really long lashes, people often ask if I have lashes on when I don't.... Not bragging, just telling you if you have long lashes and you are really trying to glam it up go for something a bit more dramatic. If you don't have much in the lash area these are a perfect daily lash. They are really easy to apply. I used Duo lash glue (remember to let it get tacky 30 secs) and just slid them on. I assume they are so easy to apply because of the human hair they use, but I don't question perfection! They are so natural that when I wore them to work almost nobody noticed and had to get really close to tell that they were false (awkward). Buy in bulk with these because I am telling you you will want to wear them all day every day, and in my opinion you totally can! Fantastic product, and company. Go Ardell!

Deedlejuse Says: Sooooo, now I have tried a couple more of Ardell's 100% human hair lashes and I have to say I will never use any other kind again. They are all so comfortable and natural looking that people don't even know I'm wearing them, but can't help complimenting me just the same. I have now taken to telling everybody that they are real. Implying, of course, that they are really mine instead of just real. It's not really a lie right!?!

Review - Smashbox O-Gloss Gold

OK So I am a little confused. I couldn't for the life of me find this gloss on the website by itself. It might be a limited edition item. If it is, I would be really upset because I love it!
So the original O-Gloss works by reacting with your skins own chemistry while turning your lips a shade of pink. Its kind of a stain and a gloss in one. Ive noticed with both O-Gloss and O-Gloss Gold, that after the lip gloss is gone, there is still a bit of pigment left.
The gold version of this works the same way except it goes on gold and then turns into a shimmery pink. Some people could get taken aback at first, because the color is REALLY gold! Then it slowly fades to a gilded peach shimmer.
I really want Smashbox to make this a regular item. They have recently come out with O-GLoss Noir which goes on dark and then turns into a shade of berry. I really like this gloss and I am glad that there are different options.

Review- Browhaus Brow and Eyelash Bar SOHO, NYC

I have found a new (open 3 months) beauty spot in Soho that is out of this world!  It's actually two places in one venue, Browhaus for brows and lashes and Strip Ministry of Waxing and IPL hair removal. I've reviewed Strip in another review.



The venue is impeccably clean, welcoming and professional looking.  The staff is friendly and all of the technicians are sent to Singapore (where the chain is based) for four weeks or more for training.  Usually one has no idea what kind of training someone threading their eyebrows has, here you feel reassured.


I opted to get my woolly eyebrows done and an eyelash perm.  There are three options for brow grooming: threading, tweezing and threading and tweezing.  I got the latter.  The threading was relatively painless and very quick.  My brows were groomed to look natural but without all the excess, which is exactly how I wanted them.  Jade, my technician, knew exactly what I meant when I told her to leave them looking natural.


I then had the brow perm. and I have to tell you, I will be going back every three months until the day I die for this service.  My eyelashes look awesome!  It's a little known fact that as we get older our eyelashes get straighter.  Not to give away my age, but mine have pretty much flat lined (they were never that curly to begin with).  This makes me look like I've done my lashes with nothing on them and really opens up my eyes.  If you have lashes that won't hold a curl, or if you want your lashes to look their best all of the time, this service is for you. I'm in love with the results.  I'll admit I was a bit hesitant to get a lash perm as I'd heard it's risky, but I was put at ease by the fact that Jade sat right by my side for the entire time it took for the perm solution to work it's magic.  If anything had gone wrong, she would be right there to fix it.  Now that's service.


I will be revisiting the Browhaus again and again because I had such a positive experience.  I'm thinking about going for an eyelash tinting so I don't have to wear mascara.  Other services they offer are eyebrow lightening/darkening and something called "brow resurrection" for people with bald patches or over-plucked brows. It's a unique tattooing technique that creates individual brow hairs one by one in a pattern suited to your face.  (See the photos above).  I can't rave enough about this place!  Ask Santa to bring you a gift certificate!  I am!

Review- Smashbox Brow Tech To Go Pencil

Get perfectly polished brows on the go. Our iconic Brow Tech is now in a portable, travel-friendly version. The double-ended component includes an angled long-wearing waterproof pencil for precise filling and defining and a soft hold gel with a brow brush applicator to groom brows perfectly into place. With vitamin C & E and jojoba for added healthy-skin benefits.


I wonder how did my unruly brows ever survive, before coming across this incredible Smashbox Brow Tech to Go Pencil? Actually, they didn't, and that is why I am so thankful to have this wonderful brow kit with me everywhere I go. One end contains a perfectly angled thick pencil that lasts all day and for the brow-maintenance newbie, this makes defining and sculpting really easy to do and amazingly effective in creating well-shaped gorgeous brows. The angled pencil really glides on smoothly and you can have super sexy glamorous brows instantly! My brows can be tricky sometimes, sparse here and thicker there, so the pencil really helps to fill in areas that need more precise definition and still be shaped with expect care. Not only am I in love with the angled pencil, but the gel, does wonders to keep everything set in place and lock in a smooth refined look. This magic duo in one set is perfect for travel and does so much to create beautiful professional-looking brows with so very little effort - and if you're on the run a lot or if you happen to crave those gorgeous brows wherever you go- look no further, this is the one tool that truly does it!

Review- CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser gently cleanses the skin while helping to maintain the right moisture balance. It is proven to prevent moisture from escaping (evaporating) from the skin’s surface.

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser provides gentle, effective cleansing while it restores and enhances the skin barrier. Its fragrance-free, moisturizing formulation is nonirritating and noncomedogenic (does not cause pimples or acne by clogging the pores).

I have to say this is one of the best facial cleansers I have ever tried!! It is so gentle and smooth and on the safe side for people with sensitive skin and/or for those who have super dry skin and are showing early signs of aging. Eek! At first, I didn't expect too much, but the power behind this cleanser is amazing! After just a few washes and within the first week, I noticed my tiny, pre-wrinkled, fine lines, are starting to fade and my skin is dramatically looking smoother and softer (more youthful, too) than before. I would actually pay a higher price tag for these results, but thankfully the cleanser is reasonably affordable and very accessible at major drugstores, that I can't help but fully embrace this wonderful skin-saver product! Also, as an added plus, the formula was created with a team of dermatologists and is recommended by skin experts and dermatologists alike. This is definitely worth a try, especially for someone who needs/wants a facial cleanser that is incredibly hydrating, gentle, and promotes youthful (say take away a few years!) healthy-looking skin.

Barbara says:

When it came down to it, I didn’t require much from an everyday facial cleanser—just that it effectively, but gently, remove dirt and not strip my skin. I’d tried cleansers that promised to moisturize but always felt my skin wasn’t really clean afterwards. CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser turned out to promise something completely different along these lines and a very nice promise it turned out to be, too.

This cleanser contains goodies you might find elsewhere, just not all in one product—ceramides to soften skin, cholesterol (great stuff for your skin, though not in your body!), and hyaluronic acid (the main moisturizing ingredient found in every top of the line moisturizer). PLUS, it’s an emulsion which means it’s easily able to penetrate skin and it’s time-released so that its protective elements keep on working throughout the day.
Even if you use ex-foliating cleansers and deep cleaning cleansers, you still need something perfect for plain old everyday use. CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser to the rescue. It can be found at a couple of chain drugstores and also ordered on the internet.

Review - NYC Cosmetics Extreme Lip Glider Lip Gloss

Color and shine on the go!

This high gloss formula smoothes & softens lips while indulging your senses in the scent & flavor of melon.

I like NYC Cosmetics. They are inexpensive and make a variety of products. This new lip glider is one of them. Down Town Brown is the color I have. It looks like a brownish-bronze color but it goes on very nude with a little bit of shimmer.

I like the fact that the body of this is slim and not short and stumpy like regular lip glosses. It fit in my makeup bag very nicely.

I wasn't crazy about the melon flavor. I wish they offered different flavors for the colors. Don't expect it to last very long. It averaged at about twenty minutes for me.

Overall, its OK when you consider the price and amount you get.

Trish says: Wow, I'm a huge fan of this lip gloss! It definitely exceeded my expectations and the melon taste didn't seem to bother me at all strangely. I tried it in "Carnegie Melon" which looks like a light rose shade. A little too light to wear alone for me, but when I used it on top of my lipstick, oh my, the shine and plumpness really came through and I'm overall very happy with the look! Maybe layering is the way to go with this gloss as it seems to add that extra pop, adding a fun and flirty look as well as feeling smooth and hydrating at the same time. For the price and high-shine glossiness, I would easily repurchase this when I run out! This definitely ranks among my favorite drugstore beauty finds!

Review- Strip: Ministry of Waxing, NYC Location

The name is a little odd but once it was explained to me, I kind of liked it. This is a Shanghai-based business and in China, government is run by ministries, not departments like it is here - thus Ministry of Waxing.  And if there was an official position of "Chief Waxer", Dejha at Strip would certainly get my vote!  When is the last time you felt relaxed while being waxed?  And how many of you go to waxing places that "double-dip" the applicator in the tub of wax?  Those are other people's skin cells in that wax pot!  Not so at Strip.  They have individual waxing kits hanging on the wall; that really put my mind at ease.  Plus, the space is super clean, inviting and sterile at the same time. Now granted, I have very high pain tolerance, but I barely felt a thing while Dejha waxed my legs except for the ankles and feet, which always smart.  Even that wasn't as bas as what I've become accustomed to.  Then onto the bikini.  Nothing fancy, just a clean up.  Can I tell you that it was so painless we didn't even miss a beat in our conversation!  They use a special soft wax for your more sensitive parts that hardens and doesn't use a muslin strip.  It totally makes all the difference!  Honestly I can't see myself going anywhere else for this service in the future.  Between the lack of pain, the cleanliness and the superior customer service, I'd feel cheated going to another waxer.  Keep your eyes on this place, it's going to be very popular!

Review- Mehron Cheek Cream

Colorful, Smooth and Long Lasting cheeks are applied with CHEEK Creams by Mehron. The Makeup Experts at Mehron have developed this super creamy CHEEK Creams that can be used as a blusher using their 80 years of experience producing Makeup for the Performers. CHEEK Creams are concentrated, making them easy to use for highlighting, contouring and lining the beauty of your cheeks. Don't hide your cheeks, accent their natural beauty with the effervescent colors of CHEEK Creams by Mehron. These CHEEK Creams are made to provide a smooth application over cream and cake bases. .3oz. $5.95.

I'm so glad Hillary introduced me to the Mehron makeup line! I absolutely love this Cheek Cream as it is so easy to apply and blend. (I use my fingers, as I am that lazy!) The color is so rich and nicely pigmented that I only needed a little to reach a desired effect. In the past, I've tried many cream blushes - from drugstore brands to expensive varieties- but this Mehron blush is a top contender, especially at such an affordable price and high quality! It's especially a great blush for a night out, but I also used it to blend in with my favorite daytime blushes for the office. By itself, the cream blush didn't seem to last all day long - but working it in with my everyday blushes, it definitely brought more life and color to the usual powder blushes I use during the day. I'm definitely a huge fan, and since it's so affordable, there's no guilt in trying a few different shades and adding more quality variety to your makeup kit! I'm totally hooked!

Review - Beauty For Real Illuminating Lip Gloss

Want to make your lips look extra pouty and plush? This refreshingly cool lip gloss features a cutting-edge plumping formula that penetrates deep within the skin's surface to help you achieve full, luscious lips. Plant-derived antioxidants like green tea and grape seed extracts work to firm and renew while aloe vera and avocado oil soothe skin, giving you a softer, prettier pout.

The best thing I can say about this product is that my roommate S. has stolen it. I was informed by my other roommate T. that unless I specifically demand it back, I will not get it back, because my roommate S. is obsessed with it. This all started several weeks ago, on T's birthday, when we piled into a car to go to a bar we'd never been to before, but sounded cool (and was, indeed, cool). Because it was dark, I thought it a perfect opportunity to test out this lip gloss because it has FREAKING LIGHTS ON IT.

There are two little LEDs on the cap of the gloss, so when you turn it on and apply the gloss, your lips are illuminated. "But, Movie Maven," you may be saying, "the lights won't help me if I don't have a mirror." Well, guess what - there's a FREAKING MIRROR ON IT TOO. One side of the square container has a mirror on it.

The lip gloss is fine. Run-of-the-mill, nicely plumping (apparently a bunch of my roommate's friends also used it and declared their lips to be fuller...I'm not sure I actually want it back now), and in good colors. But let's be real here, ladies. The lights are the selling point, and they are freaking cool.

Trish says: The packaging is definitely cute and practical! I'm a huge fan of the boxy tube and mirror. I agree with Movie Maven, the gloss itself is pretty nice. The shade goes on really lightly and adds that little bit of plump and shine, but nothing too outstanding about it. I'm a sucker though for products in adorable cases, so even though the gloss itself doesn't shine the way I would want it to, I can't help but carry it around in my bag everywhere I go. It's always nice to have with me and handy too, especially if you're trying to apply lip gloss in the dark!

NYC Maximum Boost Volumizing Mascara

 

Build each lash from root to tip for maximum volume ... silicone resin "wraps" lashes for visible thickness on contact. Pro-Vitamin B moisturizes and nourishes lashes for silky smooth texture. Shorter applicator rod delivers precision control.

As with all New York Color products, the main draw here is the price: this stuff is like $3! What! And as with all New York Color products, it is fine for the money. I would not say it is the most volumizing mascara I have ever used in my life, but neither is it completely ineffectual. Some of my friends and I had an analogy comparing a dude one of them was dating to Au Bon Pain: he was nice enough, but she was really only dating him because he was around. Au Bon Pain is fine, but does anyone ever seek it out? It's not really a destination restaurant; it's just the place you go because it's around the corner and if you don't get some coffee and a freaking pastry in your body right now you might stab someone. But it's pretty good coffee, and pretty good pastries, and you'd much rather have that than a bodega coffee and a croissant in a wrapper.

This mascara is like Au Bon Pain: not a destination mascara, but definitely better than nothing (or Wet 'n' Wild).

Review - Sally Hansen Insta-Smooth PODS Creme Hair Remover For Face

• Hair Removal has never been faster, easier, more convenient!
• First ever individual-use pods with built in applicator, give you precise results every time.
• Snap, smooth, go!
• No touch application, no drips and no mess! Perfect for upper lip, chin and hairline.
• Compact & convenient portable pods go wherever you do - for instant use, easy disposal.
• Great for on-the-go or last minute touch-ups.

"Whoever reviews this is going to have to admit to having hair on their face," Hillary told us when she was distributing products. This implies that having hair on one's face is something one would not want to admit. Guess what, everyone: I AM A MAMMAL. So I have hair on me. That's how we mammals work. I also have live young and feed them milk (I mean, I could if I wanted to). I'm not this lady or anything (who, by the way, looks like she would be totally fun to hang with), but yes, there are follicles on my face.

But we live in a society where ladies with mustaches are shunned to live on some remote island (Sicily, I guess), so Sally Hansen has tried to make it really easy for us ladies to get that pesky mammalian trait off our pretty faces with these PODS. I'm not sure why PODS is capitalized in the name of the product; it's not an acronym for anything. Pretty Odd Depilatory...System? That's what I'm going with. Because ladies, these PODS are odd.

Essentially, they are sort of like a ketchup packet, but for hair remover. You snap the packet in half down the middle, where there is a little strip of felt that is intended to be an "applicator" for the depilatory cream creme. The main problem I encountered first was that the depilatory cream creme did not want to ooze through the felt strip; rather, it wanted to ooze out of the sides of the packet around the felt strip. I've attempted to draw some diagrams to clarify:

 

Figure 1 shows the POD, unbent, from what we'll call the "top." In Figures 2 and 3, the POD has been rotated 90 degrees so that we are seeing it from the "side," and the "top" is now at the top of the diagram, rather than facing us. The cream creme SHOULD ooze THROUGH the felt strip, but instead went everywhere else. It is not pink, I just like that color.

The good news is that once you wrangle this cream creme on to your face, it totally works great! It does just what it says it will do - removes hair - and it doesn't smell that bad, which is nice because it's under your nose, and it doesn't make your face red or anything like that.

But the key here is that the whole purpose of the PODS is to be more convenient if you are "on-the-go" or something like that. Okay, first of all, I have literally never been in a situation where I have been like "Oh NO!! I suddenly need to remove hair from my face IMMEDIATELY but I just DON'T HAVE TIME OH NOOOOO." That's just not really a thing that happens. So if this cream creme is essentially the same product Sally Hansen sells in a little bottle, there is no reason to buy these PODS, even if they are capitalized.

Hillary says: I did say someone was going to have to admit that they have hair on their face, but I also lumped myself in there.  You'll never actually see it, but I too have hair on my face (atop my lip specifically).  I mow it down with whatever weapon is handy at the time, which is currently these pods.  I have to agree with Maven, they aren't as handy as they seem.  They do, however, keep the cream from invading my fingerprints so that I don't have to wash like 10 times to get the weird feeling off them (I feel that way about all depilatory creams).  On the down side, sometimes they squirt out the side & I end up using enough cream to remove a waxed, handlebar mustache.  Given the option, I would go with the new Odorless Sally Hansen Depilatory for faces as it comes with it's own spatula & doesn't smell 1/10th as much as a regular hair removal cream.

Review - Talika Instant Manicure

When added to water, this effervescent powder enables you to whiten and clean your nails in just a few minutes, giving you the benefit of oxygenation power and the rich cleansing and nutritional values of plant extracts.
Your fingers are delicately scented, you [sic] nails are protected with and [sic] imperceptible film and their tips become whiter use after use. Cuticles are made more supple and the skin around the nail is thoroughly cleansed.

In this review, I hope to channel the good people over at The Impulsive Buy. Their product reviews are a sight to behold.

It took me a while to try this product, because I so rarely have naked nails. My nails, like me, like to be clad in bright colors at all times. But I decided to give them a little rest and a little spa treatment with this Instant Manicure.

Before you go getting all excited, this is not really a manicure. It is part of a manicure, yes, but the name is misleading. Basically, you take this little packet of powder, throw it in a bowl, fill the bowl with warm water, and get to "wiggling" your fingers. (They used the quotation marks first; I am just being consistent with their conventions.) The first thing that happens is EFFERVESCENCE. As anyone who's ever drank (drunk? drink...en? and I was an English major, people) Schweppes knows, effervescence is just a fancy name for bubbles, the kind you get when you plop, plop, fizz, fizz or when you make one of those volcanoes with vinegar and baking soda.

So basically I figured I was going to be soaking my fingers in a bowl of Alka-Seltzer. But to my great delight and surprise, it smelled a fair bit better than Alka-Seltzer, AND it fizzed for a longer time. I didn't really notice a huge difference in the whiteness of my nails, but that's a really weird thing to be vain about. Almost as weird as eye whitening (the weirdest of all whitenings). But it felt nice on my fingers and even once the fizzing had stopped, the warm water was a lovely green color, like this:

So I sat there for a while, watching a syndicated episode of The Office that was on our DVR, with my fingers in a bowl of warm water that reminded me of Yellowstone National Park, until I realized that was a really weird thing to be doing.

The end result was that while my cuticles did feel nice and soft, it wasn't any more soft than if I'd taken a shower or done the dishes, and for $33 for 8 of these treatments, I can just stick my hands in some warm ginger ale.

Pros: Effervescence. Single-serving packets. Baking soda volcanoes. Soft cuticles. The Office on TBS and on my DVR. "Wiggling."

Cons: Costs $4 per single-serving packet. Needing Alka-Seltzer because you ate too much. Eye whitening. Being a weirdo with their fingers in a bowl of turquoise water.

Sultana says: I've been growing my nails lately so I was excited to try this. The bubbles were fun and it wasn't a long process but I honestly didn't see any results. My nails weren't any whiter and my cuticles looked exactly the same. At $4 a pop, I would skip this.
Perhaps you would need to use this continuously to see long term results. I think the price is a bit too high to maintain.

Hillary says: I have to totally disagree with the ladies on this one.  Although I'll admit, I sort of cheated.  I liked the fizzy feeling and after the "suggested" amount of time I noticed my nails were a little whiter (just a tad).  So I sat and I wiggled and I sat and I wiggled for at least 3 to 4 times the recommended 3 minutes.  Lemme tell ya, I had some gleaming white nails when I was done.  I don't know why the say to leave your fingers in for such a short time, because if you are willing to sit there & wiggle, eventually these little packets do wonders.  I'm currently a little compulsive about nail polish- the second it chips I either fix it or take it off (my teacher told me that chips scream unprofessional in the world of Make-up Artists').  So that's stuck in my head and I rarely paint them anymore.  But as long as they are super-white, I no longer care.

Review - Mehron Celebré Precious Gem Powders

Shine on with Celebré Precious Gem Powders developed by Mehron, Innovators of  Extreme Beauty Makeup. Celebré Precious Gem Powders are luminescent, radiant, sexy, glowing powders that will add a jewel like luster to your skin.These sparkling powders are made with a soft, silky powder that can be applied from head to toe for any occasion. Add a beautiful shimmer to skin for parties, dinners, professional performances or romantic evenings at home.

I have mentioned before that I think I was a drag queen in a past life. These Mehron Precious Gem Powders belong to that past-life drag queen. I need to think of a name for her to go with my burlesque name, Busty Springfield, and my roller derby name, Deathel Merman.

Now, Mehron, as you may know, is a professional stage makeup company. This means their products are SERIOUS, y'all. Like - you wear this stuff when you are doing a Broadway show or an America's Next Top Model Photo shoot. In almost any other context, Mehron is TOO INTENSE. I think this is true of these Precious Gem Powders, which are available in all 12 birthstone tones. I got Diamond (April), Garnet (January), and Topaz (November). They are sparkly, yes. And you get sparkles just about everywhere when you try to use them. So just be aware of that. I'm going to try mixing them with a little baby oil or something next time I use them, so I don't end up covered in sparkles. But they are VERY intense and would be good for Halloween (for normal people) or for Saturday night (for drag queens or straight girls who wish they were drag queens).

I do want to point out that Mehron, in their copy on the website (see above), suggests that this shimmer is good for "romantic evenings at home." I want to know whose idea of romance involves being covered in spark--

...oh, right. Those people.

50% Off a Beauty.com Gift Card- $15 for a $30 Gift Card- Hurry!

I just came across a site called TaDa.com & today until 4 AM PST they are offering $30 Gift Certificates for $15.  But wait, you also get Free Shipping!  The only downside is it is either one per household or one per person (the site says 2 different things).  But still, 50% off!  Woo-hoo!

Review - Softlips Pure Hydrating Lip Butter

Softlips Pure 100 Percent Natural Lip Butter contains no preservatives, phthalates, parabens, sulfates, mineral oil or gluten. Hydrating shea butter and beeswax provide soothing relief for very dry lips. Also contains SPF 15 protection.

First of all, Softlips, does your website REALLY need to be some sort of Flash bonanza? People just want to learn about lip balm, not be hypnotized by rotating lip balms. It's too much.

Second, I did not actually try this product. Sometimes, a girl has a lot of Softlips products, and one day, her boss is like, "oh man, my lips are DRY," and she gives her boss one of the Softlips products with the stipulation that said boss will try the product and report back to her. Which is what my boss did.

"It smells really good, and it tastes good too, but not too good," she said. "You know how sometimes, you really like how your lip stuff tastes, and then you lick it all off, and then your lips are just as bad off as before? This one doesn't do that. So that was good."

I told her I knew a girl in high school who liked to eat chapstick. Like, straight-up EAT it, out of the little pots it came in. Gross! Then I asked her if there was anything she didn't like.

"It has sunscreen in it, which is good, but I feel like it's just sort of sitting on top of my lips and not getting absorbed in, you know? Like it's coating them but it's not treating them, if that makes sense."

I think it makes perfect sense.

Review - Prive Intensive Mask

What's not to love about Prive? As Hillary states in her previous post, they recycle and they have great products. I recently had my highlights redone and my hair was fried. I needed a good deep conditioner. Thank God I got this just in time. As soon as you open the container, you can tell that this stuff is all natural. It has a blend of carrot, lemon and eucalyptus oils to leave your hair super moisturized.
Use it after shampooing or try it as a deep conditioner with some heat from a blow dryer. Either way, you will be as thrilled as I was with the end result.
Soft, smooth and silky hair.

Review- Privé Salon NYC

First of all I want to say that Privé Salon is gorgeous! The picture doesn't do it justice; it looks very classy and clean. Also, from the second you walk in, the staff is super-attentive. Third, and this is a big one, they are eco-friendly! How much do I love that?

The salon is attached to the Soho Grand Hotel (which also looks very swank). I was greeted very promptly by the receptionist who took my Privé Rejuvenating Shampoo and Conditioner bottles to be recycled. They are still undefeated as my absolute favorite shampoo and conditioner. The receptionist walked me back to meet my hairdresser, Brittany, and I knew by her haicut I was in for a good haircut myself. Brittany & I discussed what to do with my hair; I was clueless, but she knew exactly what I needed. She cheerfully chatted with me during the shampoo and haircut- a must for me- all the while giving my long layers the care they so desperately needed. Even when I did my hair at home days later, I didn't see any split ends sticking out (which is hard to achieve with layers). Brittany cut my bangs with the skill of a surgeon, taking off a little at a time until they were just the right length. Overall I am more than happy with the haircut and the whole salon experience.

Note: Brittany works two weeks in NYC, then two in Miami Beach at Privé, then back again.

Melissa says: I saw a picture of Hillary and was like, "who did her hair?" It looks amazing! The first thing I thought is that I must find out where she went because I'm sold. With Hillary's new look and this review, I must make my way to Privé!

Review- Dinair Advanced Airbrush Seminar in NYC

This two day course was one of the best learning experiences I've had since starting my journey to become a make-up artist. I now officially consider myself a make-up artist who specializes in airbrush thanks to what I've learned from Dina (the company's owner and THE pioneer of airbrush make-up) and Julie (my instructor). The thing is, once I tell you everything I learned you'll think it was all done at a break-neck pace and that I wouldn't retain any of it; but it was taught gradually and thoroughly at a pace which was easy to follow.

For this advanced course, you need to have taken an intro course or have a good working knowledge of airbrushing foundation and operating an airbrush. There are two prices for the course, one includes a Dinair mini-compressor, the other does not. I highly recommend the Dinair mini-compressor even without a course as it weighs almost nothing and is capable of performing any task you ask of it (for a reasonable amount of time). I actually carried mine back and forth to school every day because I found I could fine tune it much better than the school's industrial strength machines. I also want to note that with this compressor and a and a brief introduction, anyone could use this machine.

We learned how to airbrush just about everything that could be airbrushed! I was spray tanned and I spray tanned someone else, we learned how to make patterns using stencils AND we learned how to make our own stencils. The stencils were also used when we learned body painting and a make-up application of an entire face using airbrush- I mean everything down to the eyeliner and mascara (bet you didn't know you could do that with an airbrush? I know I didn't). And of course we perfected our foundation techniques.

Go to YouTube and type in "dinairairbrushmakeup" and watch some of the tutorials. You'll see that it isn't as scary to airbrush as it seems! Also click here to see a list of upcoming classes & cities. If all of their classes are as good as mine was, it's well worth the price of admission.

Review- Intraceuticals Clarity Treatment Gel

A lightweight, non greasy gel to calm, clarify and hydrate. An anti-inflammatory blend to reduce irritation and reduce excess cell build-up. Apply to all areas of face twice daily, prior to hydration gel and moisture binding cream or as directed by your skin care professional.

I'm highly impressed with how nicely this Clarity Treatment Gel works. I'm the type that usually likes gels anyways, especially lightweight ones that glide easily onto the skin and absorb gently as well. The Intraceautical Clarity Treatment Gel soothes and calms my skin, while also providing a nice and clear surface to apply moisturizer, makeup, foundation, etc on. I also noticed that my skin looked younger too, as the gel really covers and smooths any fine lines. By providing a super clear surface and more youthful looking skin, this gel seems to work wonderfully in so many ways! It is on the pricey side though, so if you're someone who is obsessed with having super clear skin and don't mind investing a bit, then this is a really good one to try!

Review - Batiste Dry Shampoo

Batiste Original Dry Shampoo, with a refreshing fragrance, revitalizes greasy, dull and lifeless hair between washes. Instantly leaves your hair feeling clean, full of body and smelling beautiful. Quick and convenient to use wherever you are.

When I am faced with the decision to wash my hair or do just about anything else, I tend to go with the anything-else. I don't know why I drag my feet when it's time to wash my hair, because I have such a greasy head that it's basically a daily necessity, but I do. And then I go to work and I feel dirty because of my greasy head. It's a bad scene.

This morning when I arose, I was faced with a decision. Of three possible activities - washing my hair, being on time to work, and making out with a cute boy - I had time to do only two. I picked the latter two. So my hair was dirty. BUT! I had this Batiste Dry Shampoo!

Now, I think the intended use of this shampoo is more of a "I've been at work all day and now I'm going out to dinner and I don't want my head to look all greasy" situation, but using it in the morning pretty effectively dialed down the greasiness of my head-suit, enough for me to put on a scarf and not look like a total hobo. You spray it on, massage it in, and brush it out. Simple. I've tried it a few times before today, and each time, my hair stays less greasy all day until I have a chance to wash it.

The main issue I have with this dry shampoo is that the scent skews a little to the "manly" side of things, which I think can be sexy on some girls, but I don't know how well I can pull that off. It also comes in a scent called "Blush," which I guess was Julia Roberts' wedding scent in Steel Magnolias. The can of the "Blush" scent is pink and flowery, while the can of the Original scent is charmingly retro, like a motorcycle jacket Ewan McGregor might have worn in Down with Love. This ends my tribute to gay, gay movie references in this review.

Overall, I would say this is a good idea for:
- people with brushable hair (my curly-topped friends, maybe not so much)
- people with less-greasy hair than me (would be super-effective)
- people who think the can is cute (it looks really cute on my shelf)

It comes in a little can so you can try it without much commitment. I would recommend you give it a shot, even if you're skeptical.

Sultana says: I have this in Blush which is in fact very flowery. Its almost too flowery! I have gotten into the habit of using dry shampoos recently. I've been told that over-washing your hair is never a good thing. I recently had a Brazilian Blowout which lasts longer if you don't wash your hair too often.
This one is better than others I have used because it doesn't leave a powdery residue behind.
I concur with my fellow blogger that the size of the bottle is small enough that you don't have too commit too much. I definitely say give it a shot as well!

Hillary says: I am the perfect consumer for this product! I use dry shampoo all of the time some good, some eh, but if I have to recommend one that gives the most bang for your buck it's Batiste! I have this in Blush & in Regular (I got one free with a rebate). I like both scents, but they are not so overpowering that the scent alone would make or break this product for me. I love the fact that it doesn't leave a white residue on my head (oh yes, some do) & it really does make my hair look clean. I have long, vaguely dry hair & this works perfectly on a 2nd or 3rd day after washing. Before I found Batiste I was buying my dry shampoo at Sephora. Who knew that at $5-$6 a can this stuff can compete with the big boys?

Trish says: To be honest, I'm pretty hooked on this Batiste Dry Shampoo too!! Especially on the weekends, when I need to run errands and don't have time or (energy) to wash and style my hair just to go to the post-office, this has been reliably my go-to rescue. I admit, I'm terrified of looking as if I have dirty hair - even from just wearing too many hair products - so a dry shampoo that works- and is easy to use- is simply a beauty must! This Batiste Dry Shampoo does the job, makes my hair look cleaner and fuller (sometimes even more so than after a shower) and is so handy and convenient as well as affordable! I really can't think of any reason not to want to have one around. It's that charming, really! Also, I tried the Original Scent which was good enough for me. Not too overpowering nor wimpy!

Review - NYC Color Wheel Mosaic Face Powder

NYC New York Color Mosaic Face Powders are ultra sheer soft, natural pressed powders. Made up of four harmonizing hues in the right combination of colors to enhance skin tone. When the four neutral colors are blended together, they create a perfect single shade that balances and enhances all skin undertones. Choose from six great palettes for every skin brightening need.

I never really understood the purpose of a mosaic pressed powder or loose powder. Like - if you're going to blend all those pigments anyway, what is the benefit of leaving them separate? Why not just blend them to begin with? I couldn't find an answer in my research, so I'm going to say it's because it looks pretty. Because it does!

I tried this NYC New York Color Mosaic Face Powder in the Pink Cheek Glow hue, and I think I've found my new favorite cheek color. It's a great blue-pink for those with cool undertones (that would be me), but olive-skinned or darker ladies may want to try the peach or the mocha versions.

Like most of the rest of the NYC line, the main draw here is the price. I found it online for as low as $3.60, and it's a fair bit larger than most blush compacts you'll find. It's serviceable and stays on admirably, and it's a good value, which I like, since I'm cheap. (Or maybe just Midwestern.)

Note: when I was searching for this on Google Shopping, this happened:

I...don't know what this means. But I do think it's hilarious that the movie is cheaper than the powder.

Review - Mehron LIP Color Cream in Bubble Gum

The intensely rich colors of L.I.P. Cream are on the cutting edge of extreme fashion Makeup. The lavishly exciting colors of L.I.P. Cream offers full long lasting coverage with a built in hydrating cream to keep your lips smooth and supple. L.I.P. Cream is made using a creamy conditioning formula developed specially by Mehron.

Dang, y'all. I mean...DANG. Mehron is NOT KIDDING AROUND with this stuff. When they say "lavishly exciting," they mean LAVISHLY EXCITING. So this is some lip color from Mehron, a brand of which I've heard because I have bought my share of stage makeup (what what Mallatt's in Madison, WI), but many laypeople have not.

Because this is stage makeup, this is typically a) thick and b) highly pigmented. This Bubble Gum LIP Color Cream is no exception. It. Looks. Bananas. This is the type of color you would see in a fashion editorial and be like "no one could ever wear that in real life" and then the next day you SEE a girl wearing it and you're like "maybe I could wear it" and then you get it and put it on and you're like "oh god what have I done, I look like a coatcheck girl at the Copacabana, but not the real Copacabana, the one in Wisconsin Dells* where you can get a Mai Tai for like $3."

What I'm saying is: you should probably not wear this color. I don't think there are any people that should. The lip cream itself is fine. The Bubble Gum color is crazy.

*two Wisco references!

Bioré Skincare and Physique 57 Offer Free exercise Classes & More

WHO: Bioré Skincare and Physique 57


WHAT: Sign up to experience a dynamic exercise method designed to rapidly transform your body, learn how to reduce your chances of getting post-workout blemishes, and receive a free sample of Bioré Makeup Removing Towelettes to use. All sessions are absolutely free.

HOW: To reserve your spot, please register for the class at www.biore.com/usa/physique57tour. Walk-ins will be welcome, if space allows. Attendees will receive a sample size of Bioré Makeup Removing Towelettes and a coupon towards a future purchase.
If you’re unable to attend a class, you can sign up for the chance to be one of the lucky winners to receive a Workout Essentials Kit, including the Bioré Makeup Removing Towelettes, a Bioré-branded exercise ball and mat, and a Physique 57 DVD.

WHEN: Biore will offer 3 classes in each of the below cities:
9/23 – Miami
9/28 – Seattle
9/30 – Portland
10/5 – Chicago
10/7 – Austin
10/13 – Philadelphia
10/14 – Washington, DC
10/19 – San Francisco
10/21 – San Diego

Review - Mehron Glosstone Lip Shine

Glosstone by Mehron is a proprietary blend of rich, healing ingredients such as Aloe Vera and Vitamin E, infused with specially made color pigments for a sheer glow with vibrant shades. Glosstone adds a pure glossy glow to your lips which highlights the beauty of all skin tones. Glosstone is available in three sheer, vibrant shades to add a distinctive glow and shine to your lips. Mehron, the Leader in Theatrical Makeup, produces Glosstone with the same lasting durability as the Professional Theatrical Makeup. The current sheer Glosstone shades are: Pearl Frosted, Gold Frosted and Clear. Glosstone will also heal and protect your lips and skin from environmental and oxidation damage caused by pollution and the sun.

I will always be excited to try a new lip gloss! I was very intrigued with this since I have never heard of Mehron before. Basically, its professional theatrical makeup made in the USA. They have a lot of crazy costume makeup but they also have regular makeup. The glosstone lip shine only costs $5.95. The color I have is Gold Frosted. Its a pretty gilded color. One that would compliment any skin tone. I used it over a lip stain and it really made the color pop. Its a bit on the greasy side but it didn't make the stain itself come off any quicker. That was a big plus for me. I also wore it alone and the end result was a pretty gold glow.

Melissa says: This lipgloss is great. I'm not a girl that wears to much color but I like a little gloss to pep up my look. I have it in clear and I wear it alone or mix a little color in. The best part is that it doesn't try out my lips. It's been my go-to lip gloss for a few weeks now and I highly recommend.

Review- Alba Botanica Gentle Acai Renewal Scrub

Sometimes your skin needs a little wake-up call. Scrub gently with this fine blend of Açaí Nut Powder, emollient-rich Cupuaçu Butter and Andiroba Oil to effectively soften and rejuvenate dull skin.

This scrub was exactly what my skin needed for summer. My normal-to-combination skin goes into oil overdrive in the warmer months, leaving my face looking like an oil slick. Its pretty much either walk around looking like a greaseball or over-cleanse and just have dry, blah looking skin. Luckily for me this amazing scrub gently sloughs off dead skin, deep cleans my pores and keeps it smooth and soft. I use it three times a week now, and will probably scale back ones the weather cools off. If your skin isn't as oily as mine, using it once or twice a week will definitely do the trick!

Trish says: This facial scrub rocks! For someone with combination/oily skin, I really love how well this cleanser exfoliates, leaving my skin brighter and clearer than before. Also, I noticed that not only were my pores much clearer, but my skin felt so much softer and smoother. I am definitely pleased with the results and feel this is a great choice for someone who wants an exfoliating scrub that truly works at an affordable price. A definite future purchase for me.

Review - NYC City Duet Eyeshadow (Island Sunset)

Put on your shades, guys, because these eyeshadow duets? ARE BRIGHT. I don't know how the pink and purple up there are showing up on your monitors, but on mine they are nowhere NEAR as bright and vivid as they are in person. For a budget-ish drugstore brand like NYC, these pigments are surprisingly bold and deep. The line comes in several other wowie-zowie color combinations with punny New York-y names (Upper Zest Side being my favorite, I think, both color-wise and name-wise).

I wore the fuchsia on my top lid and used the purple as more of a liner for the debut of these shadows. These are definitely cool colors, not for ladies with a lot of olive undertones. They stayed put admirably, though I only wore them out for the evening, not all day and into the night...I could see them just starting to rub off when I got home. The nice thing about them being so heavily pigmented was that it was easy to adjust the intensity of the color to suit my needs. Cheap, and available at your local drugstore? What's not to love?

Review - Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy Forever Stay Pencil (Deep Jade)

I won't lie, y'all: I love Carmindy. I love her ever-cheerful disposition, her childlike belief that anyone can be beautiful, and her hair like yellow cornsilk. She is a delight on What Not to Wear, unlike Clinton and Stacy, who are occasionally just a little too shrill even for me. (Though Stacy knows her a silhouette. MORE BELTS, I SAY.)

In any event, Sally Hansen has a new line of products "inspired" by Carmindy, so I'm not sure if that means that Carmindy called them and was like "I just want everyone to be SO PRETTY!" and the Sally Hansen people were like "YES! We can make them pretty!" and Carmindy was like "Great! Bye!" and that was it, or if they actually worked to develop this line with her or what. But so far, I like what it's produced.

The Forever Stay Eye pencil does not stay on forever. But it stays on a good long time, to be sure, and I really like how smoothly it goes on. It's almost as good as my fancy-pants eyeliner pencil I want to keep forever and ever. This is just a good basic eyeliner from a trusted company with a spokesperson I like, in colors that work well for lots of people. The deep jade I tried was a nice, more-blue-than-yellow green that worked well for my hazel eyes, and I can see working well for green-eyed ladies or dark, dark brown-eyed ladies. Basically, if you're satisfied with the eyeliner you currently use, it's not worth switching to this one. But if you're looking for something new, give it a try!

Review - Ultra Moist LipWear (Sheer Red)

I'm not much of a lipstick wearer, most of the time, though the other day I did say in my Facebook profile that I wanted to be the kind of girl who wears lipstick. A friend of mine - a lipstick wearer since, like, birth - commented that I just needed to find the right shade, and I'd be set. Well, this might just be that shade.

New York Color, or N.Y.C. for short (or NYC in this review, because I don't want to put periods between all the letters), is a drugstore brand that, as I see it, sits somewhere below your Cover Girls and Maybellines, but slightly above your Wet 'n' Wilds. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Wet 'n' Wild, but you know that stuff is cheap. NYC is slightly better on all fronts.

This lipstick feels less...coat-y than a lipstick normally does to me. It feels like, if it were a piece of fabric, it would be a gossamer chiffon scarf instead of the double-knit polyester feeling I normally get when I put on lipstick. This is not to say the coverage or color is less than a lipstick should have, just that it feels lighter. Of course, the trade-off is that you have to reapply fairly regularly, but it's cheap, pretty, and feels moisturizing. Not too shabby, NYC.

One caveat, however - on my monitor, the color looked NOTHING LIKE the actual lipstick - the real product was much brighter, bolder, and redder. But since you can only buy this at drugstores, you should be able to assess it better in person.

Review - Montagne Jeunesse Dead Sea Anti-Stress Face Tonic

Dead Sea Anti-stress Face Tonic with Dead Sea Minerals
This masque is so relaxing, it makes you feel very calm. Sometimes we really need some me-time and this masque leaves you feeling very pampered. Packed with real Dead Sea nutrients and minerals your skin is left moisturized & re-hydrated.

• Suitable For Vegans
• Gluten Free
• Dairy Free
• Nut Derivative Free

I am usually very tired during the weekdays because I have a two year old who loves to go to sleep at 1 am! Most of the time I am completely wiped out when I get home after work. One day last week, I was especially tired and I needed a little "Mommy Time". I decided to try the anti-stress mask/tonic. I think the best part of this mask, is the fact that its no fuss. You don't have to worry about putting too little or too much because it's already put together for you. The mask is in the shape of a face with a thin paper-like layer. This is a big time saver and a huge plus for me.
I got lost in 10 minutes of tingly, relaxing bliss. It felt so cool and nice on my skin. I felt relaxed and soothed. I love that this is free of a lot of allergens so I wasn't worried about putting this on my oh so sensitive skin. The end result, my face looked brighter, felt softer and I felt great!
Although the mask is free of many allergen causing ingredients, they still ask you to do a quick skin irritant test by applying some of the tonic on your underarm. I didn't see this.....it was there clear enough but I was just so eager to try it! Thankfully, I wasn't allergic! YAY! Also, they ask that you remove the piece that covers the lip and apply it to your nose. Again, didn't read that part. So I left it on my lips. Oddly enough, my lips felt softer and smoother afterward so I was happy!
I am very into this company. Best part ladies, go to the website and they let you sign up to have a chance to review new products and have an opportunity to win some as well! I can't wait to try some of the foot products!

Review- Youngblood Hi-Def Mineral Powder

Youngblood's Hi-Def Hydrating Mineral Perfecting Powder is a breakthrough in Hi-Def makeup. This innovative, multi-tasking formula keeps skin balanced by hydrating and refreshing skin, locking in needed moisture while naturally absorbing excess oil and mattifying shine. The high-performance, ultra sheer powder invisibly conceals imperfections for a perfect, camera-ready finish - whether you're going to the movies or starring in one.

I tried this powder in Warmth, a flattering blend of peach and gold that blended beautifully with my skin tone. My skin is pretty normal, with some oily patches in my T-zone, and this powder kept those areas shine free, and matte, but still gave my entire face a natural, healthy glow. If you're of a fair complexion you may want to opt for the translucent version, since I'm not sure the color of this powder will agree with you. Overall this mineral powder sets your makeup beautifully, giving the skin almost an air-brushed effect, while still feeling incredibly light. I've never used mineral makeup before, but I think I'll be making a permanent switch!

Review - Bella Bronze Chamomile & Goat's Milk Self-Tanner Face and Body

This creamy self-tanning blend from Bella Bronze is a delicious way to obtain a sunkissed glow for face and body. The streakless, easy-to-blend formula features moisturizing, soothing and nourishing extracts of golden chamomile, virgin olive oil, shea butter, goats milk and fig

In retrospect I might have done a bit more research before choosing this Bella Bronze Self Tanner. All in all I really liked it, although you can definitely tell that the lovely olive skin is not naturally mine. If you are not as pink skinned as I this will be your favorite companion. It doesn't streak, stink, or fade quickly. It builds really nicely, and any normal yellow toned lady will LOVE this self tanner. I did have one issue with streaking when I put it on relatively carelessly, so please take your time with the exfoliating and applying. I think if you are pink and white, as I am you probably have the same issue with self tanner not looking very natural. Its a fact of life for us with uber pale complexions. Otherwise this is a very good self tanner and for the price ($29) this tube is brilliant. I am pretty sure it will last you and entire summer, even if you applied every day (not that you will have to.) Anything is better than a real tan....but this is better than most!