Product Review! Pré de Provence 100% Shea Butter Extra Dry Skin Treatment

It is product review time again everyone!

Today I will be reviewing a wonderful product that I've used for a couple of years now.  I am not entirely sure why I have not written a review for it, but here it is!  Pré de Provence 100% Shea Butter Extra Dry Skin Treatment is the review for the day.

If you have dry skin you know how much of a problem it can be to relieve that.  Most of  the time you go out and by lotions and creams in an attempt to relieve the inching and discomfort.  For some odd reason I have ridiculously dry skin on my hands and scalp.  I used to carry around hand creams and use them like nobody's business.  However, when working with fine jewellery that does not bode well.  The residue gets under your rings and fingernails which can make your skin turn colours if the chemicals in the cream react with the metal of your jewellery.  Not good.  Even worse is that it gets on the merchandise.  Large gems and rings tend to show fingerprints and it gets worse if you have lotion or hand cream on your hands.  Even if you do not work in the jewellery business you end up getting fingerprints everywhere and dropping things because your hands are slick.  Finding a product that does not leave a slick, greasy, or oily residue is very difficult.

The good news is that Pré de Provence 100% Shea Butter Extra Dry Skin Treatment does not have very much of a residue of any kind.  It is wonderful!  Best of all, it does not really have a smell to it.  This means that it will not mix funny with your perfumes or colognes.  As the name says, it is not a lotion or a cream.  It is a butter.  Yep, you read that right.  Since it is a butter it absorbs into the skin better in the same way that your kitchen butter will absorb into your food.  Also, because it absorbs into the skin and does not stay on the surface you do not have to keep reapplying  it over and over and over again.  It also does not get everywhere like some creams and lotions will because it has a thick texture. 

So, the bad thing about this product?  Well, honestly it is a bit expensive.  Granted, because you do not have to apply it as often it lasts longer than most lotions and that sort of makes up for it.  Even so, when I purchased my most recent tube of it I spent $13 for the small tube!  It seems a bit ridiculous for what it is.  Since it works though, I do not mind that much.  Also, the thick texture is a bit of downside.  Wait, I thought you said that was a good thing.  Yes, it is a good thing because it does not get everywhere and it is easy to close the tube back because it does not run.  That is also a down side because it is sort of difficult to get it spread over your hands.  You might also end up getting too much because you feel that in getting more it will be easy to spread.  Not true.  Using more will only give you that much more that you have to spread out.  So, in that sense it is not very good.

Overall, it is a good product.  I would recommend it to anyone.  I always keep a tube of it in my purse and am more than happy to share it with my friends when they ask for some.

Hope you found this helpful!  Until next time!

Stay beautiful and amazing!

Links of Interest
http://www.predeprovence.com/index.htm

Product Review: Sinful Colors Nail Colors

Oh My Goodness it is Product Review Time!

So, I have not done a product review in quite a while.  Some of you have sent me messages asking me why.  Well, here is the answer:  I like to actually use the product for a bit before I review it.  I want to give it a fair shot.  That means that unless I have a really bad allergic reaction to the product, and I avoid things that contain things I am allergic to like nobody’s business, I will use an entire bottle/tube/box/whatever-it-is-packaged-in before I review it.  Today I will be reviewing Sinful Colors nail colour.

A question that you may be asking is what is Nail Enamel?  Nail Enamel is similar to Nail Polish and Nail Lacquer in that they are painted on the nails.  The difference comes in how they dry.  Enamel dries from the outside in, Lacquer from the inside out, and Polish dries like regular paint in a fairly sporadic way.  There are pros and cons to each and depending on what you are doing, depends on what you want to use.  If you have all the time in the world, go for just the regular Nail Polish.  If you want a good product and do not have a lot of time for drying go with the Nail Enamel.  However, if you have a couple hours to spend on your nails then go for a Nail Lacquer.

So, what exactly is Sinful Colors?  Sinful Colors is a Nail Enamel that is made in the United States.  You can buy it at numerous stores like Wal-Mart, Target, and Walgreens.  It comes in so many different colours it is sort of ridiculous.  I have a lot of different colours.  They are known more for their ridiculously bright colours, but they also have plenty of neutral colours as well.  They also have top coats and base coats.  They also have glittery colours, mattes, pearls, and the standard cream.  They also have a new gel type nail enamel that is available only at Walgreens.  Some places also sell the Magnetic nail polish as well.  Here are some of the colours that I own.

 

Besides the wide variety of colour there are some other great things about this Nail Enamel.  First thing is that it has a relatively quick drying time even for nail enamel.  I will paint my nails and I am pretty much good to do whatever I want to in about five minutes.  Also, because of the wide variety of colours and quick drying time it makes doing nail art an easy job.  I love doing nail art with this stuff.  The colour goes on very evenly and has a very smooth consistency.  I have not any problems with the enamel running when I do my nail art.  It is not runny and it is not so thick that you cannot brush it on easily.  It makes it very easy to work with.  I have never had any problems with the brush.  On other nail products I sometimes have problems with the brushes.  Either they are too big, too small, or they fall apart and I end up with parts of the brush in my nail polish.   It is also really easy to use toothpicks or smaller brushes to do details on nail art.  In terms of price, it is fairly inexpensive.  The store where I usually buy it has it for about $2.  Once applied, I have not had a problem with it chipping even without putting a top coat on.  I work with my hands a lot so that is pretty important to me when using a nail colour.

The negatives are few on this product.  The first thing that comes to mind is that sometimes I have problems getting the blue shades off, but most blue nail polish type products.  I also find that the reds make my fingers turn red. As I am removing the red nail colours.  While I do like the all different types of nail enamels that they have the pearl colours go on a little see through.  That is not as much of a problem since it dries quickly and you can paint several layers pretty quickly.  Also, if you really like a shade you might pick up a few bottles of it because they discontinue shades to release new ones.  However, since they are not very expensive it is really easy to pick up a few bottles. 

Overall, this is a great product and I would recommend it to anyone that asks.  I do not have any major complaints compared to other nail colours.  So, if you are looking for a wide selection of colours that is amazing quality with a low price this is the product for you.  I love it.

Well, I hope you found this review informative!  I had fun trying all the different colours.  Also, the different colours have pretty fun names.  I adore this product and hope that you will too!  Below is a link to their website.

Stay lovely and beautiful everyone!

Sinful Colors on the Web

Product Review: Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner

Grüße!

It is product review time again! I know it has been a while since I have done this, but I have been super busy and relying on my old favorites in terms of makeup and various other beauty products. However, I have been trying out some gel eye liner.  To be specific, I have been using Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner. So, without further ado, let us get on with the product review!

So, you may be asking what is so great about a gel liner. Well, a gel liner is sort of that in between a pencil and a liquid in terms of texture and consistency. Some of the other gel eyeliners that I have used for costuming and various other projects have a slightly oily texture to them. Maybelline’s does not! In fact the formula is completely oil-free! This means that you do not have to worry about it falling or smudging for about 24 hours. Have I tried to wear it for 24 hours? Yes, for the purpose of this product review I did. I usually do not wear my makeup for 24 hours.  I always wash my makeup off before I go to bed since leaving it on for long periods of time can clog up your pores. I have found that gel liners go on smoother than liquid eye liners. Not that I have anything against liquid eye liners. I use those the most after all. However, for a gel eye liner this is the best I have found. It goes on very smooth and you do not have to fight with it like some of them.  Best of all? It comes with its own liner brush so you do not have to go out and buy your own if you do not have one. Also, it comes in 4 basic shades: Blackest Black, Brown, Charcoal, and Eggplant. On occasion you may also be able to find the older shades such as Sapphire and Forest. Here is what Blackest Black looks like after wearing it for about 24 hours.

 

Are there any bad things? Of course. There are always downsides to products. If you are not used to putting on liquid eye liner then you may have problems with the gel liners of any kind, not just the Mabelline. Also, when it says it stays on for 24 hours it means it. While it is great that it stays on well, it is not so great that it does not come off easily. On Mabelline's website it says that it comes off easily with their brand of makeup remover. However, I have had allergic reactions to their makeup removers and cannot use them. So, I end up having to scrub it off with the eye makeup remover that I can use. Not fun, but that is how it goes. Although it says that it can be used by people with sensitive eyes that wear contacts, if you wear it for more than about 5 hours it starts to make your eye water. At least it does for me. I have to go and touch it up to make sure that none is about to fall into my eyes or get close to my eyes period. My last problem is the brush that it comes with. I have more problems with that brush that I just gave up and started using that brush as my eye brow brush. I prefer to use a slanted eye liner brush. They work much better than the one that Mabelline provides.

Is it a good product? I would say so. It works well for what it is and it also helps if you are trying to learn how to put on liquid eye liner. It works as an in between step. Also, it stays on well and does not clump like a lot of the ones that I have tried before. It comes in the basic colours that everyone needs, but if you are looking for other shades you may have difficulty finding them. Overall, it is a great product. I would recommend it to anyone that wants to use gel eye liner. There is also enough in the pot so that it lasts a long time and you do not have to go out and buy new all the time.

 

Hope you found this helpful! Until next time!

Product Review! "Walk the Line" Eyeliner by Hard Candy

Hallo neue Preußen!

It is product review time! Today I will be doing a review for a liquid eye liner. The particular eye liner being “Walk the Line” by Hard Candy. This is the stuff that I talked about in my previous post. Well, let us get to the review shall we?

First things first, putting liquid eye liner on is a holy terror of a job! I spent a great number of hours practicing with a cheap dollar brand. That being said, I discovered that if I was sitting in a chair with arm rests or had something to rest my elbow on I could get it on with few mistakes since my arm/hand was stablelized. After putting this technique into use and having practiced getting it right, I felt comfortable moving up form dollar junk to the good quality stuff. I tried several, but in the end I settled on my favorite animal loving brand that also makes my favorite pencil liner, Hard Candy.

So, “Walk the Line” liquid eyeliner. What is so great about it anyways? One thing that I love about Hard Candy is that none of their products are tested on animals! They also have bright and fun colours in addition to the basics. However, the thing that sold me on this product was that it did not run or even smudge during my dancing. For those of you who do not know, I do tap, jazz, contemporary, ballroom, and jingle dress in terms of dance. If this stuff can last through jingle dress dancing in 105⁰F heat, it is amazing! See!

 

When it says it is long lasting, it means it. Also, the colour is pretty amazing. It stays true to the colour in the bottle when applied. I just cannot say enough good things about this product. The applicator makes getting good lines really easy and does not have bristles to get in your eye or out of shape.

Alright, so what are the bad things about this product? Well the first thing that pops into my mind is that it is really hard to get off. I mean really hard. I have problems getting it off with waterproof make-up remover. Some evenings, I do NOT recommend this at all, I wash my face and all that jazz only to have it still on so I leave it. I pay for it the later so, like I said, do not do it. The other bad thing is that the little applicator tip is, as mentioned above, one piece and is not a brush. That means that if it breaks you are pretty much screwed and have to go buy a new bottle of it or spend a long time trying to get the little thing that helps remove the extra liner from the applicator off of it so you can stick a different brush in it.

Other than that, it is wonderful. Would I recommend this? Yes! If you are looking for a long lastly, easy to apply liquid eye liner, this is the product for you! As long as you leave yourself time to scrub the stuff off your face in the evening, you are as good as gold. Gold is also one of the colours you can get. Just you all know. The good thing about this product is that you can get it at Walmart! Also, if you are lucky, sometimes you can find it on Amazon. 

I hope you all have found this review helpful! If you would like a review on any product you would like to try feel free to drop me a note!
Stay beautiful and sweet everyone!

Purity Made Simple Review

Hallo schöne neue preußische!

It is spring break where I am. I will be doing some traveling and going to meetings. That does not mean that I will not be blogging. Today I will be reviewing a wonderful product made by Philosophy; this product being Purity Made Simple. I hope this review will be useful for you all!

I am a girl that is very particular about how her skin looks. I do not like putting harsh chemicals on my face. I also have some allergies to some of those harsh chemicals. Even the stuff that is made for sensitive skin sometimes bothers my skin. What is a girl to do? Well, the good news is that there are products out there for you and me! Philosophy makes several wonderful face cleansers that do not have harsh chemicals in them. Purity Made Simple is just one of these great products.

Purity Made Simple is a great place to start if you are looking for a gentle facial wash. It removes your make-up and also has the benefits of a toner right in the blend. It works phenomenally well! I do not have as many random breakouts due to stress and various other things as I did before. That means less concealer wearing and the clogged up pores that come with that. It spells pretty pleasant as well. Actually, it does not really have a smell. Also, it is really easy to use. All you do is get your face wet, wash, and rinse. That is it. Nothing more required. Basically, you just wash your face like you usually would. I have never had better skin. Fantastic!

While I can sing nothing but praises for the product, I cannot do the same for the price of it. That is the only real downfall that I can find. It is fairly pricey. The price ranges from $12 to $65 The 16 ounce bottle that I have is $32. For comparison, the $12 bottle is only a 3 ounce bottle, so basically you are getting a sample size. That being said, I feel like it is worth the money. I have never known anyone that has had an allergic reaction to it.

Thankfully there are ways around the pricing issue! Signing up for the Philosophy website’s newsletter will earn you exclusive discounts and promotions not found by the average shopper. Also, Philosophy products are sold in several stores that are found in most malls. Dillard’s, Sephora, and some J.C. Penny’s sell this line of products. That means that they have sales and coupons that you can cash in on these expensive products. I have bought the $65 bottle for half price before at ones of these sales. Awesome!

Hope this has been helpful to you all! Until next time!

Bleiben Sie schön!

Hydrating Keratin Masque Review

Guten Morgen!

Today I will be doing a product review of a hair care product. Since it is getting to be spring and with spring comes humidity I figured that it would be good to review a product that says it will smooth your hair and reduce fizziness.  The product is Hydrating Keratin Masque made by Organix. This product will have different results depending on your hair type. Please keep this in mind. I am writing from what I have experienced with this product. That being said, on with the review!

I have curly hair. By this I mean I have stereotypical Jew-fro when it gets too humid, I am part Jewish so I say this in light. Anyways, I also have really, really thick hair. It’s ridiculous. I mean look at this. It is at its worst in this picture.

That is with high humidity. It is ridiculous. My hair is usually not that bad. Usually it just has some curl to it. However, with humidity it frizzes out. I had been looking for a product to help tame that mane without spending hours on end using a straightener which is horrid on your hair if you use them too often. After watching the news and reading about it in  various newspapers and medical journals, I have been a little afraid to try most things that have the words “Brazilian” and the “straighter” in the description. However, I have used several other Organix products before, I will review those a little later, so I decided to give this product a try.

Tada! OMG! That is me without taking a hair straightener to my hair. There is a little bit of wave to it, but wow! What a difference that made.

This stuff is really easy to use, if you have the time to not just hop in the shower and wash your hair. What you do is after you have washed your hair with your regular shampoo and conditioner, take some of the masque and rub it into your hair. Make sure that your hair is completely covered or you might get some random frizzy sections. Wait for between 3-5 minutes with it in your hair. So, shave your legs, or whatever during this time. Rinse the masque out of your hair. Make sure it is all out! I cannot stress that enough. If you do not, your hair will look greasy and heavy. Dry your hair or let it dry on its own. That is it.

This stuff works wonderfully. Keep in mind that if you have super curly and thick hair, it will not be straight as a pin. However, it will keep it from being unfrizzy and help smooth it. It makes straightening one’s hair significantly easier.  It is not a straitening product. It just helps it along the way. If you have fine hair it will defiantly be straighter. My friend that has super fine and super curly hair tried it and her hair was pin straight after she used it. Plus, it smells good in a coconuty way. My mother insists that it smells like tanning oil. I do not think it does, but oh well. It is really easy to use which is a plus. It does not require any complex instructions since all you do is use it like you would conditioner. Also, because of the oils in that it contains, it helps with dandruff and itchy scalp. This is wonderful during the winter or if you live in a very dry climate. In fact, I have not had a problem with an itchy head since I started using it. I find that great since where I live we usually have cold and dry winters. Another great this is that it is not horribly expensive for what it is and there is quite a bit in the jar. I still have the first jar that I purchased a couple of weeks ago.

That being said, I do have a couple of problems with it. My first problem is this: it says to leave on your hair for 3-5 minutes. I left it on my hair for three minutes and did not see any results. So, I left it on for five and had the same problem. Because my hair is so ridiculously thick I had to leave this stuff on my hair for a whopping ten minutes for it to have any effect on my hair. That seems a ridiculously long time to stand in the shower. This means that even if you just wanted to use it in the shower you really can’t unless you want to stand there for about half an hour or so. Some people might not have a problem with that. I do because I work and go to school all day. If you do not, well, that is great for you. My second problem is that there are some ingredients in it that I cannot pronounce.  That does not seem like a good thing. From the research on the product that I have done, it does not contain formaldehyde or any of its cousin chemicals. The fact that there are ingredients that I cannot pronounce makes me a little leery of how pure and organic-like this product actually is. I checked the website and could not find any information about what these unpronounceable ingredients are. I did eventually find out what they were after a ton of research. Behentrimonium Methosulfate comes from rapeseed. No, that is not a misprint, it is called rapeseed. Glyceryl Stearate comes from palm, vegetable , or soy oil. Cyclopentasiloxane is a silicone fluid that one finds in sunblock and deodorants.  Cetearyl alcohol works as a stabilizer for the product. Dimethicone makes the stuff not foam up when you use it. Ceteareth-20 though is what worries me a little. It is known to increase ones risk of cancer.  I am just going to stop with that one. That just kind of kills the deal for me. That and that it does have artificial colouring in it. However, one must ask the question of what does not cause cancer today? I mean they just told a couple of soda companies that they had to change their ingredients or put a cancer warning label on their sodas.

So, would I recommend this product? Ehh…Yes and No. Yes in the fact the fact that it does help smooth hair and make it straight. No in the fact that it has known carcinogens in it without a warning label on it. That being said, if you do decide to try it, use it wisely. Only use it as directed. Most things today have something that will increase the risks of cancer.  You see on the news almost every day that scientists have found something in some commonly used product that causes cancer. Even the sun causes cancer. Being alive increases your risk of cancer. If you are looking for a product that helps with your hair during winter or really dry weather then go ahead and use it. If you are just looking to straighten your hair, I would just use a flat iron and heat protecting spray made by Dove.

Hope you find this helpful!

Abschied!