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Reviews

FSL Cosmetics: Purple Luv Lipstick (swatches)

January 10, 2011 by Kim S. / blog, Product Swatches, Reviews / 2 Comments

I won FSL Cosmetics‘ (Feel Good, Smell Good, Look Good) ‘Purple Luv’ ($18.50) lippie from Lauren’s Beauty Tips blog giveaway. I’m excited about this because I’ve heard so much about this brand from other beauty bloggers, and I love trying new items.

About the product:

FSL Cosmetics’ Lipsticks are all hypo-allergenic, and 100% free of parabens, phthalates and sulfates. They come in six different colors; Mz Berry, Vino, Chocolate Kiss, Pomegranate, Champagne and Purple Luv.

My Thoughts:

In my opinion, this is a perfect fall color for both light and dark skinned tones. In fact, SilverLips has it on in a post, and I loved it on her. Upon first glance I thought it would be similar to my favorite purple lipstick, Smoked Purple (MAC Pro), but Purple Luv is a lot more sheer and less intense, and has no shimmer. It also has a nice shine without putting a balm or gloss under or over it. Smoked purple is a an intense matte color. You can add as little or as much as you want to change the intensity of the color.

I like how the lipstick doesn’t feel heavy on my lips, and it makes my lips feel super soft. It also has a very light scent of chocolate. It’s definitely not overpowering. I hate wearing things on my lips that have a strong scent, and this is not one of those products.

I’d love to try their other products. My only issue is with the price. Yikes! I guess it’s worth it, especially since it’s free of chemicals and perfect for people who are allergic to ingredients found in most popular cosmetic brands. I’d also purchase because it’s a young black woman who started the business, which I support 100%.

Have you tried any FSL Cosmetics? If so, what are your favorites?

Review: Chi Ceramic Nail Lacquer Top Coat

December 5, 2010 by Kim S. / blog, notw, Reviews / 0 comments

I won some beauty products, and in the package were some Chi Ceramic Nail Lacquers by Farouk. Yesterday, when I did my at-home manicure, I used the CHI Ceramic Base & Top Coat Bonder instead of the Essie 3-way Glaze I normally use. It’s only the next day and my nails are ALREADY chipping. I didn’t take a picture before I did my touch-up, but I’m pretty sure that by tomorrow I’ll have a new set of chipped nails to show you. You can see before pics of what my nails looked like on yesterday’s NOTW post.

Description/Claims (source): CHI Ceramic Base Coat Bonder is a dual function treatment in one. It can be used as a base coat that provides ultimate protection to the natural nail against chipping and peeling. This unique base coat with built-in bonder fibers also acts as a linking agent to adhere ceramic nail lacquer to the natural nail for long lasting results with an incredible shine.

Cost: $7.49 on Amazon.com

Likes: I liked the high shine it gave and it didn’t take long for the polish to dry. I think that had to to with the use of their Instant Drying Drops.

***Note: The Instant Drying Drops work great with the Chi Base/Top Coat, however, it doesn’t allow other to coats to dry as fast.

Dislikes: It chipped way too fast for my liking. When using the Essie Three-way glaze, my mani’s usually last a week or more.

Do I recommend? I do not suggest purchasing this product since it doesn’t allow your manicure to last, and doesn’t live up to it’s claims. I’m glad I didn’t spend my money on it otherwise, I would be livid.

Have you tried any of their products?

If so, what did you think of them?

Review: Glycerin & Honey Complexion Bar

November 21, 2010 by Kim S. / blog, Reviews / 1 Comment

My face began to break out something crazy, hence the lack of FOTD posts and youtube video tutorials. I didn’t want to exacerbate the problem by putting makeup on irritated skin. My old skin care routine stopped working, and since I am pregnant, there isn’t much I can use. I had to wait it out until I reached the second trimester, which promised less hormonal breakouts/acne. It did for a while, then it started breaking out again.

The picture below is what my skin looked like when I was breaking out… It’s bad!

I started using BODY SERIES Glycerin and Honey Complexion Bar. After two or so weeks of using it, I can definitely see a dramatic change in my face. It’s almost as clear as it was pre-pregnancy.

Price: $4.50 (3 Bars in one Pack)

Where to buy: Glycerin & Honey Complexion Bar

Description: The perfect mild alternative for teens and those with sensitive skin. With two conditioners and a gentle. Rich in natural glycerine and honey. Biodegradable cleanser.

Ingredients: Sodium Tallowate, Sodium Cocoate, Water, Glycerin, Sucrose, Alcohol Denat. Sodium Stearate, Fragrance, Honey, Pentasodium Pentetate, Tetrasodium Etidronate, D&C Yellow No. 10 (CI 47005), D&C Red No. 33 (CI 17200).

My thoughts:

I love it! It’s affordable and it works. It’s mild, and non-drying. It doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals like salicylic acid (I can’t use) or benzoyl peroxide, which are used for acne. The scent reminds me of Neutrogena’s glycerin soap, either the gel or the bar. I also like that it can also be used on your body. If I need to exfoliate, I use it with one of those circular handheld exfoliators you can pick-up from a pharmacy for about $1.50. I hope to one day own a Clarisonic. Maybe that will solve my problems for good.

Do I Recommend: Yes! It’s so cheap it wouldn’t hurt to try. It worked well for me.

NOTE: Just because the product worked for me, does not necessarily mean it will work for you and your skin type. Please use caution and your own discretion before trying anything new.

Disclaimer: This is an honest review. I paid for the item mentioned in this post with my own money, and I was not paid for this review.

Review: Dyanna Spa Brazilian Wax

November 11, 2010 by Kim S. / blog, Reviews / 6 Comments

In my post last week, Still Searching… The Ultimate, Superb & Affordable Waxing Place I mentioned I would try Dyanna Spa since I read some good reviews from fellow bloggers. Needless to say, I tried this spot out, and I wasn’t impressed. Sorry! The job was done & yes it was painless, it was just not great. Plus, my waxer made me bleed.

Shobha Threading & Waxing is still #1

Why’d this place not impress me?

Things that bothered me…

Customer Service is extremely important, especially when you’re going to a place such as a spa because of the intimate services they provide. The front desk personnel, who is the 1st person you meet at any spa or salon should set the the tone for your visit that day. I must say, the woman I met last Thursday, November 4, 2010, barely looked at me, didn’t greet me, and was just cold. I don’t know if she was having a bad day or just doesn’t like her job, but that’s not my issue. Greet me with a smile & “Hello how may I help you?” So they lose points there.

Trimming -Usually, if someone has gone a while between waxes the place will trim you. Dyanna spa did not do that. The woman who did the wax at Dyanna just stated “Don’t wait so long next time.” No, lady you’re supposed to trim!

She left hairs! Before we began she asked me if I wanted it all gone. I replied ‘YES’ So, why did I still have hair in my crack?! When I go to Shobha they don’t leave one strand of hair. Usually, I’m given a mirror to see how the job went. They didn’t do that here. When I reached home, I of course examined myself, and noticed the left over hairs.

She used tweezers – After a wax is complete there may be a few stray hairs left that should be removed. Dyanna Spa used tweezers to remove the strays. I’m used to getting those strays threaded, which is more sanitary (and less painful) than using a tweezer that could have been used on who knows who.

No cold compress! There was no cold compress used after the wax, which I am used to. A cold compress relieves swelling and redness after the wax. I’m pregnant. Down south tends to be a whole lot more sensitive than when not pregnant. Something should have been used.

No anti-inflammatory cream (hydrocortisone) applied to help soothe skin. The only thing that the waxing lady did do was take a piece of tissue paper (the kind that protects the table) with baby oil on it to remove the excess wax.

No aftercare instructions. I know that I am not a 1st time waxer BUT, what if I wanted to be reminded about what I should and shouldn’t do after my wax. I mean I do have pregnancy brain so I forget a lot.

*Waxer I used at Dyanna Spa was Lana. Alla, who was recommended to me & I was told I was going to get wasn’t there.

Makeup By Kim Porter