Reviews

Review: Corioliss Pro Ceramic Flatiron & Giveaway

June 7, 2010 by Kim S. / blog, Giveaways, Reviews / 23 Comments

For years I have relied on my Hot & Hotter ceramic gold flat iron. I was sent the Corioliss Classic Pro Flat Iron (1”) by Missiko. Missiko specializes in the sale of professional hair straighteners, and some of the best hair dryers. They have a great selection of ceramic flat irons to choose from, including T3, Croc, Chi and more.

In between my weekly salon visits, I tend to curl/flat iron my hair myself, especially if the humidity or rain attacks my curls – leaving me with flat hair, which I hate! There are also times when I end up having to wash, wrap, and curl my hair myself if my hair stylist is unavailable. Having the perfect styling tool(s) is essential for me to have.

Before I start my review, I just want to point out how beautifully packaged this flat iron was when I received it (See above). Faux roses, vanilla scented candles, a sachet with hand sanitzer and Misikko branded emory boards (nail files), Hanna Shine Shield, Misikko branded heat proof pouch/mat. This did not change my review of the product in any way.

Corioliss Classic Features:

– Ceramic plates for negative ions and hair-healthy far infrared heat, creating shiny, frizz– free results

– 1″ plate size for easy styling of short to medium length hair

– Straighten, flip or curl

– Heats up in less than 6 seconds

– Adjustable temperature from 140°F to 410°F – great for all hair types

– Convenient on/off switch

– 1 year manufacturer warranty

– Swivel Cord

My thoughts: (Rating: 3 out of 5) To really put it to the test I ended up using this flat iron on my sister’s hair since her hair is very coarse & dry. I applied some of K. Beam’s hair butta to her hair prior to styling. The results were good, but not great. I actually get better results from my Hot & Hotter ceramic flat iron, which I paid $36. Her hair is shinier (see photo), I believe it’s from the hair butta that I used prior to curling it. Her hair did have body afterward though.

My sister also complained of a “snatching” feeling when I was flat ironing it. I’ve seen this in other reviews too. But, no hair was being pulled out (that I could see). I did notice that the panels didn’t line up perfectly, that usually happens with a flat iron that has had years of use.

UPDATE: Day #2 My sister said her hair is still straight & flowy. She went jogging yesterday too.

Before

After

Pros: It’s light weight. It has a swivel cord, so that you are able to curl your hair from different angles.

Cons: Heat settings; I’m used to my flat iron having a dial with different numbers for the different levels of settings for heat. This one only has two, 140°F & 410°F (you have to guess the other settings that are in between). It does get VERY hot. So be careful not to leave it sitting on your counter top unguarded. The price is another big gripe for me. If I were to spend $200 ($89) on a flat iron, I want it to straighten my hair well. It did it’s job but not as great as an iron that price should work.

Note: Flat iron’s are not recommended for daily usage on your hair since it can cause irreversible damage, which will in turn result in what us bloggers call a “big hair chop.”

Tips When Flat Ironing:

1. Make sure your hair is dry since wet hair is more susceptible to damage than dry hair (unless you are using a wet-to-dry flat iron).

2. Properly moisturize your hair & use a heat protectant product.

3. Use the lowest heat setting possible that will get the job done. Don’t use the highest setting just because it’s there because you will end up with fried, smelly hair!

Giveaway Time!

The generous people at Misikko has offered to giveaway one of their Corioliss Classic Pro Flat Irons ($200 Value) to one of my blog subscribers/followers.

Rules:

Please read them carefully, not following the rules will result in a disqualification

Requirement: For any of your entries to qualify, you MUST be a public follower of my blog via Google Friend Connect & follow Misikko on Twitter.

1.) Will end on June 20, 2010; 11:55 pm EST . Winner will be chosen at random. They will have 24 hours to respond to me with their mailing information.

2.) Open to all US & Canadian Residents Only

3.) Must be 18 or older OR have parent’s permission to enter this giveaway

4.) Blogs created just to advertise this giveaway will be blocked & entry disqualified

(I do check your blogs, so please don’t take me for a fool)

5.) LEAVE 1 SEPERATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY MADE

(Meaning, if you have 5 entries, leave 5 separate comments)

How to Enter

1. Blog about this giveaway with links to Misikko and this giveaway post on your blog or personal website. Please leave a link to your post.

Extra Entries

1. Join Misikko Newsletter +3 Entries

2. Place the 1st picture above on your side bar that links back to this post & post link in the comment section below. +1 Entry

3. Subscribe to me on youtube +1 Entry & post your youtube name as a comment below. +1 Entry

4. RT Enter @makeupkimporter Pro Flat Iron Giveaway & win a Corioliss Ceramic Flat Iron from @misikko (daily tweet +1)

(Make sure to leave separate comments every time you tweet. 1 tweet per day)

5. Become a fan of my Facebook Page +1 Entry

Good luck!

FTC Disclosure: The product reviewed was sent to me by a company for free. I was not paid for this review, nor am I affiliated with this company in any way, shape or form. This is my honest opinion/review.

Review: First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser & Ultra Repair Cream

May 27, 2010 by Kim S. / blog, Reviews / 3 Comments

Lilli Gordon, CEO & founder of First Aid Beauty (FAB) started this skincare line to cater to the needs of individuals who suffer from serious skincare problems, and are tired of searching for the perfect remedy.

“FAB products blend therapeutic action with luxurious textures and smart packaging and delivery systems. No longer do individuals with tough skin conditions have to sacrifice luxury and beauty, nor do they have to tolerate greasy creams and bland formulas. (source)”

Select products also boast FDA-approved over-the-counter formulations that target specific skin issues such as eczema and acne. The result is true first aid beauty and a collection of products that may be used safely by even the most sensitive skin types.

The first product from First Aid Beauty I will review is the Face Cleanser – Daily Treatment with FAB Antioxidant Booster ($18).

Description:

A MILD FACE CLEANSER THAT FEELS LUXURIOUS
FAB Face Cleanser gently cleanses the skin, removes surface oils, make up, dirt and grime. Its whipped texture transforms into a rich cream when blended with water. It is infused with a powerful botanical antioxidant blend that works hard to scavenger free radicals.
WHO SHOULD USE IT?

FAB Face Cleanser is ideal for sensitive or irritated skin, skin that is undergoing treatment, or as a gentle alternative for healthy skin.

BENEFITS

Preserves the natural oils that protect the skin. Calms redness and irritation. PH-balanced to maintain the natural acidity of the skin. Daily use will result in fewer flare ups and reduced skin reactivity.

FEATURES

No Parabens, Harsh Chemicals or Colorants. Safe for Sensitive Skin.

Key Active Ingredients:

1. HEAL AND SOOTHE: Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
2. COMBAT FREE RADICALS: FAB Antioxidant Booster
3. MOISTURIZE/BARRIER PROTECTION: Glycerin

My thoughts: (Rating: 4.5 out of 5) I don’t really have any complaints about this facial cleanser. I have been using this product for the last three weeks. Prior to that I have been using Clean & Clear’s Continuous Control Acne Cleanser (Read About It Here) to stop breakouts. After using FAB’s cleanser, I noticed that I was getting the same results as I was getting with the Clean & Clear product, just without all of the burning & stinging. I used this product twice a day – in the morning & evening; this product left my skin feeling fresh & clean without over drying it or leaving it feeling greasy. This product is also an effective makeup remover as well. I also love the consistency of the product; it’s like a mousse. It’s also highly concentrated, so you only need a little.

I gave it a 4.5 out of 5 because of the price. I think it’s a little expensive, which may not bother some people. I would like to try their acne/blemish control product.

Another product that was sent to me for review was their Ultra Repair Cream (6 oz for $27).

Description:

DELIVERS EXCEPTIONAL HYDRATION AND PROTECTION WITH NO GREASY PETROLEUM
FAB Ultra Repair Cream is a thick, rich, emollient product that hydrates deep down with exceptional penetration. With the help of colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, soothing eucalyptus oil and ceramides, FAB Ultra Repair Cream provides immediate relief and visible improvement for distressed skin. Our Antioxidant Booster is there to defend skin from free radical damage. Ultra Repair Cream can be used all over the body and
on the face.

WHO SHOULD USE IT?
FAB Ultra Repair Cream is for anyone with severely dry, scaly skin due to harsh winter weather, aggressive cosmetic treatments or any of the following conditions: psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, irritant eczema, allergic eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, keratosis pilaris.

BENEFITS

Hydrates, calms and smoothes skin. Improves natural barrier function. Relieves minor skin irritation and itching due to eczema and other conditions.

FEATURES
No Parabens, Harsh Chemicals or Colorants. Safe for Sensitive Skin.

KEY ACTIVE INGREDIENTS

1. SKIN PROTECTANT: Colloidal Oatmeal
2. HEAL/SOOTHE: Allantoin, Eucalyptus Oil
3. COMBAT FREE RADICALS: FAB Antioxidant Booster
4. MOISTURIZE/BARRIER PROTECTION: Ceramides, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Squalane, Shea Butter

My Thoughts: (Rating 4.5 out of 5) If you know me you’ll know I am obsessed with creams & moisturizers for the body especially if they make my skin feel super soft. I love how this product made my skin feel. Due to this harsh winter weather we had this year in New York, my skin took a beating. Even though I exfoliate almost daily, my legs had a little scaly-ness to them. I was using this all over my body after showering, and within a few days (no joke) my skin was just as soft & smooth as a baby’s bottom, my feet too!

I like that it’s creamy, and it soaks right into the skin instead of sitting on the top. I even tried it as a facial cream a few times, and it worked perfectly even under my makeup. It didn’t even feel heavy or greasy. It has a very faint eucalyptus scent that fades almost immediately.

I only gave this product a 4.5 out of 5 because of the price. $28 seems a bit extreme for a jar of cream, but I guess it is worth it. I just can’t see myself spending that much on a cream though.

I do recommend both products to people with sensitive skin.

First Aid Beauty is sold exclusively at Sephora or you can purchase their products from their website First Aid Beauty.

Follow FirstAidBeautyon Twitter

You can also “fan” them on Facebook

FTC Disclosure: The products reviewed were sent to me by a PR Company for free. I was not paid for this review, nor am I affiliated with this company in any way, shape or form. This is my honest opinion.

The Makeup Show: ‘Perfect Skin’ Workshop with Jon Hennessey

May 21, 2010 by Kim S. / blog, Reviews / 10 Comments

(Picture Source)

I attended Jon Hennessey’s Perfect Skin Workshop ($135), which was held on Sunday, May 16, 2010 during The Makeup Show. I learned a great deal from him, which I will later explain in this post.

Description (SOURCE): Creating the perfect canvas is essential for every application. This event is a concentrated look at color correction, concealing, foundation and contour and how to perfect those techniques with various products. You will concentrate on developing an understanding of various foundation, powder and concealer types and formulations, their effects and versatility as well as exploring methods for shaping and contouring and shaping the face to bring out the rest of your clients features.

I just want to say Jon Hennessey is a very sweet, and nice guy. He is one of the best makeup artists out there. He also gave me a compliment on how great my skin was .:blushing:. and he also said that I should have been his model.

Director of Artistry, James Vincent gave a nice introduction to, as he put it, “the dreamy Jon Hennessey.” He also told us that he actually trained under Jon Hennessey when he first began.

I sat in the front of the class; I was always taught that you can’t really learn much if you’re sitting in the back. I’m so happy I did this because I got an up-close view of Jon’s techniques. He’s a low talker, so sitting in the front, as close to him as possible helped. People in the back kept asking him to speak up. Next time, get to the workshop earlier. Do you know this girl had the nerve to fall asleep! Very rude…

Flawless makeup application begins with a flawless canvas. This was the purpose of this workshop; learning how to create a flawless canvas or perfect skin even when the person you’re working on does not have that. This applies for all exposed skin “from the ears to the toes.”

Jon’s Advice:

Really observe the face to notice naturally occurring colors; therefore, you will be able to know what to highlight/focus on, as well as what to conceal. You want to make sure to leave as much of the natural skin as possible. It makes the person look less made-up.

Concealer should be used as a last resort since it adds texture to the face. He builds up the necessary coverage 1st, and uses his #224 brush to add concealer to the areas that need it. Use a darker color to hide dark blemishes, such as tattoos he says, then blend out the edges with a color that matches the skintone. If you use a lighter color, the dark area will look grey.

“Your products don’t have to be expensive to be effective.” He does have products in his kit geared towards people who like labels. Also, technique is more important than the products and tools themselves.

When applying moisturizer to the face, it’s important to apply it with a brush 1st, to ensure even application of the product. However, it is just as important to touch the skin to get a sense of the texture of the skin you’re working on. As makeup artists “We deal with what’s there now, and try to maximize it’s potential.” Unless you’re an esthetician, you should not focus primarily on the person’s skin care, especially if you’re not the person’s personal makeup artist.

***If you’re working with someone who has dry/scaly skin (dehydration), you can take a warm face cloth to gently exfoliate the area prior to moisturizing.

We all know that buying makeup for your kit can be expensive. Jon stated that as an artist, you always want to do your best work & get to the point where major cosmetics companies give you products to use.

For print, you want to avoid using mineral makeup products, SPF, and shimmer/frost because of their reflective properties.

Contouring: take the depth of color into temples & hairline.

After his demonstration, we had the opportunity to show what we learned by applying the techniques he used on our partners. I was so excited to go to The Makeup Show I forgot my brushes! Good thing my partner had a set. Jon stopped by every “couple” to see how we were doing, and offered his advice, and corrected some people if he had to.

This was a great learning experience, and networking opportunity. I wish I was able to attend other workshops. I hope to next year.

Here are a few of Jon’s Favorite Products he uses to create a Flawless Face:

Jon’s Favorite Moisturizer: EmbryoLisse Lait-Crème Concentrè (24-Hour Miracle Cream). This is a great product because it has several uses, which I will explain in a later post. This is a makeup artist staple that has been around for years!

Jon’s Favorite Lip Balms:

1. Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Cream – Moisturizes, has a nice gloss, and a little tint. Can be worn alone or topped with a lip color. Too shiny for print or on-camera appearances.

2. EmbryoLisse Baume Secours (Essential Dry Skin Balm) – He says it’s great for mens grooming since it doesn’t have high-shine.

Jon’s Favorite Foundation: Face Atelier Pro

Jon’s Favorite Concealers: Laura Mercier Secret Concealer.

Jon’s Favorite Multi-purpose Product: Make Up For Ever’s 12 Flash Color Palette

Jon’s Favorite Setting Powder: Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics HD Hydrating Mineral Perfectinn Powder

Jon’s Favorite Highlighting Products: MAC Pearl Cream Colour Base, MAC Luna Cream Color Base, MAC Fauntastic (darker skin tones), or MAC Pearled Brulee Eyeshadow.

Jon’s Favorite Brushes:

1. Any of the Duo Fibre Brushes (MAC #187, MAC #188, MAC #130). He has several of these. They’re great for adding small amounts of product at a time, which allow you to build up the coverage gradually. It also allows you to have a flawless.

2. He also loves to use MAC’s #224 brush for applying concealer. This really works to help add a sheer, even layer of concealer for a flawless look.

3. Hakuhodo K008 Powder Brush ($60) – They have great brushes, but they’re a little bit expensive. Hakuhodo USA. Cheaper alternative he mentioned was this synthetic brush (hairs are as soft as squirrel brush hairs) by Kett Cosmetics Artist Roque Cozzette fromhis Divinity Collection.

4. Mascara Fan Brush – Perfect for applying mascara with precision, especially if you’re doing tight beauty shots.

I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed the workshop.

Your comments/feedback are greatly appreciated & welcome.

Review: The Makeup Show New York – May 16th

May 17, 2010 by Kim S. / blog, Miscellaneous, Reviews / 2 Comments

I attended the first day of The Makeup Show on Sunday, May 16th. I arrived at 10:30 am armed with $200 cash, and my cards (separate post for the haul). I left around 4pm, and I did stay within my budget ( a little lol).

The very first booth I stopped by was Smashbox since it was right at the entrance. They had good pro kits (highlighter sets, lipgloss, bronzers, correctors etc) at discounted prices, and if you had a Smashbox pro card, you were able to get an additional 10% off. Not bad. They, like some of the other companies allowed you to sign-up for their Pro Discount Program’s on the spot. I ran into my very first college roommate, Lisa Hayes at this booth as well. That made my day because she was a sweet heart, and she was always great at doing makeup, and it’s always good seeing people doing what they love and are excellent at. We also ended up at the same workshop.

I shopped from 10:30 – 2pm, which was when the workshop I signed up for began. I will do a separate post/review on the workshop later this week. I jsut want to say Jon Hennessy is so cute .:lol:. and is such a nice man.

All of the booths were busy, however, the following booths were CRAZY!

1. Inglot – They have highly pigmented eyeshadows at an affordable price. Another plus about their products are that you have the ability to create your own palettes; you can create a 4, 5, or 10 palette with either round or square eyeshadows. The prices range from $20 -70. This booth was so crazy I had to go and come back (big mistake). When I came back, it wasn’t any better. I ended up staying around to make my palettes & that ended up taking a full hour and some change (NO JOKE!). they ran out of the “Freedom Palette” trays, so you had to wait around til someone was finished in order to start your own. I only bought two, so imagine if I bought more, how long it would have taken for me to get it back. The guy at the booth said 15 minutes & my palettes would be ready… it took more like 30. Next year they need a better system. the staff working this booth weren’t too nice either. I guess they were stressed dealing with all of the people.

2. Crown Brush – This booth was crazy because they have extremely low -priced brushes! They are a private label brush company but they also sell directly to the public. If these brushes look really familiar to you it’s probably because etailers you already know of sell their brushes! I know Coastal Scents does, and many others too.I bought a mascara fan brush for $2. I finally ended up purchasing a new brush belt, which was $15.

3. Face Atelier – This booth was crowded not only because they have great products, but they also debuted their five new shades for women of color. I was able to pick them all up for $90, which was a Makeup Show only deal. I’ll have to swatch & review in another post. the staff working this booth were very nice & helpful.

4. L’Oreal – I didn’t get a chance to stop over there but, it was crowded.

5. Make Up For Ever – The line for Make Up For Ever was SUPER long. I didn’t even try to go there. Plus, the discount they were offering (40%) is the same I get now anyway. I can always head to the city to their boutique if I needed anything.

6. Alcone Co – Make up artist supply haven based in New York City. I bought a pack of their great wedges, which was $16. I also picked up a bottle of spray brush cleaner by Beauty So Clean for $20. There were other booths similar like Naimies, Frend’s Beauty Supply, Makeup Mania, and Nigel’s Beauty Emporium.

Overall, I had a great experience at The Makeup Show. This was a great opportunity for networking, and learning. I really wish I was able to attend today. I ran into a lot of people (hey Tysh from Addicted2MU and AmeriTrini from youtube). There were still a lot of youtubers, MUA’s, bloggers, and twitter peeps I wasn’t able to meet yesterday. Also, there are MAJOR sales going on today; Stila lowered their prices – everything is 50% off, and YB Cosmetics is having buy one get one deals.

Please stay tuned for my haul post, and my workshop review.

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