Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category
Monday, July 19th, 2010
I was really excited when I got the opportunity to review Babushka’s Beauty Secrets Old World Tips For A Glamorous New You.
I love trying homemade beauty products, and the fact that the book was written by an esthetician, Raisa Ruder, made this book even more interesting to me. After all, you expect an esthetician to know what works for skin, and what might be damaging. I loved the stories about Raisa’s Babushka, which means Grandmother in the Ukraine, who had her own kitchen beauty business mixing up skin products tailored for the women seeking her services.
Raisa has compiled some of her Babushka’s original recipes, tweaked some of them to make them better and easier for her clients to use, and added some of her own recipes to make a book full of easy to use home made beauty recipes.
Babushka’s Beauty Secrets provides a list of must have tools and an ingredient list for the well stocked kitchen. Although there are some ingredients in the recipes that I don’t have in my house right now, almost all of the ingredients are available in my local supermarket, and should be easty for me to find.
Most of the recipes are actually recipes I’d try - although some of them are a little scary. The Tea Time Bath Recipe calls for 1/2 cup dried flower petals, and says “get them from old flowers in the house.” I don’t know about you, but I try not to keep dried flowers in my house.
After a bad experience trying to get mayonnaise out of my hair, I’m a little skeptical about the I’ll take mayo and mustard recipe, which combines … mayo and mustard and cayenne pepper. I did try to get my husband to try that one, but he wouldn’t. He doesn’t need to grow his hair out though, so it’s probably a good thing he didn’t try it.
I really enjoyed reading the stories, and the information about what certain recipes were supposed to to do.
I also love that the beauty recipes are relatively easy, and combine eassy to find ingredients, with ingredients that are already in most househoulds.
There’s nothing like getting ready for a nice pampering evening, and realizing you have to run to the store to get the ingredients.
If you like Babushkas and making your own beauty recipes, I definitely recommend that you check out this book.
Disclosure: Samples from the company or the representing PR agency were provided for this review and for this giveaway. The opinions presented in this review are my own.
Posted in Beauty, Reviews | No Comments »
Friday, June 11th, 2010
My husband and I have been using Suave Naturals® Mango Mandarin Refreshing Body Wash, which I recieved to review as part of Suave’s Catch a Moment of Bliss Campaign, for about 2 1/2 weeks.
The first day the body wash was in the shower, my husband comes out of the shower saying “I like the new shampoo!”
I looked at him skeptically, and said “What shampoo?”
He replied “The orange stuff.”
When I told him that it was body wash, he said “That’s why my hair feels funny.”
In his defense, there were several bottles of suave shampoo and conditioner in the shower, and this was the first time we’d used Suave body wash at home.
Jeff’s hair is coarse, and thick, and the body wash really didn’t make his hair look any different than usual.
There’s no way I would try this body wash on my hair, and Jeff hasn’t used it as shampoo again, but if you’re looking for a good smelling body wash/shampoo that smells like mango mandarin, and you don’t have temperamental hair …
We also liked this as a body wash.
The citrusy fragrance smells really good in the shower, and the smell doesn’t linger on my skin.
I’m sure you’ve seen the Suave ads that say it has the “Same great fragrance appeal as Bath & Body Works.”
This is really relevant to us since Jeff is allergic to something in some of the bath and body works products, so I can’t use them any more.
It’s nice to be able to use something that smells great, and doesn’t break the bank.
Suave as also nice enough to provide a Suave Naturals® Mango Mandarin Refreshing Body Wash for me to giveaway to one of my US readers.
Since this is part of the “Catch a Moment of Bliss Campaign” just leave a comment about something that makes you feel blissful or something that makes you happy to enter.
The giveaway will end at 12:00 AM June 26, and the winner will be posted by the following Monday.
The giveaway is limited to US entries, the winner will have 3 days to contact me with their mailing address or a new winner will be chosen. The body wash will be mailed from Suave.
*Contest closed, congratulations to Jessi*
Disclosure: Samples from the company or the representing PR agency were provided for this review and for this giveaway. The opinions presented in this review are my own. I was not financially compensated for this review or the giveaway.
Posted in Beauty, Reviews, Giveaway | 8 Comments »
Friday, April 23rd, 2010
Cosmetique Beauty Boutique Blockbuster
I’ve been using the blush on the far right of the Cosmetique Beauty Boutique Blockbuster($25) since I got it. I love the color, and it’s sheer enough that I can get a light flush or build it up when I want a more intense color.
I’ve been using a variety of the eyeshadows from this kit, and I’m also using some of the darker colors wet as an eyeliner. These shadows are long lasting, and haven’t disappeared or smudged on me, although I do get a little powder fallout in the palette when I use my eyeshadow brushes. I just tap the brush to keep the fallout off of my face, so it isn’t a very big deal for me.
I’ve mostly applied the lip gloss with my fingers so that it made a sheer stain, and I was very happy with the way it looked, and with that fact that I could apply it lightly, apply lip balm over it, and still not leave lip prints all over my daughter.
She’s just a wee bit young for lipstick yet 
.
If you apply your makeup on the go, you’ll probably like the mirror that runs across the top edge of the lid. It’s a little over 1.5 inches wide, so it should be big enough for you.
Sistina Cafe Colori Eyeshadow Collection
The Sistina Cafe Colori Eyeshadow Collection ($18) is absolutely beautiful. I love the image of a woman in a big hat, and the gold overlay separating the different colors.
The colors themselves are pretty, and long lasting, and they don’t have as much powder fallout as the Beauty Boutique Blockbuster does.
Madeleine Mono Special Effects Powder
I was a little hesitant about the Madeleine Mono Special Effects Powder ($15) when I got it. I’d never heard of it before, and I haven’t had too much luck with things that are supposed to add radiance or a glow to your skin.
I tried it one day when I was feeling like my skin was looking a little pale and not so perfect, and it really did make my skin look better. I was pretty surprised.
I’m definitely going to keep this handy for those days when I don’t think my skin looks as good as it should.
Princess Livia Define and Shine Lipcolor
Princess Livia Define and Shine Lipcolor ($11) combines a lip pencil with a matching lipgloss.
I tried the lipcolor in 06/Pink Cloud, and I like the striped silver design of the lip pencil, which applies smoothly.
Unfortunately, the lipgloss just isn’t the right color for me, so I haven’t really tested it adequately.
The gloss comes with a doe wand, which did have too much gloss on it when I first opened it, but after I removed the excess I didn’t have any more trouble with that. The gloss also has a slight sweetish fruity fragrance in the tube, but it disappears after it’s applied.
Giveaway
Cosmetique sent me doubles of everything, so one lucky reader will win everything that I reviewed here, an XL Cosmetique t-shirt (not pictured), and a pink metallic makeup bag with silver stars on the bottom.
The giveaway will end at midnight CST on April 30.
Winner will be chosen using Random.org, and announced by Monday, May 3. Winner will have 3 days to respond to my email with their shipping address, or a new winner will be chosen.
I’ll be shipping out the envelope with a prepaid Fedex label from Cosmetique, so US entries only please.
Please leave one comment per entry so that the entries will be counted, and make sure you use a valid email address so that I can email you if you’re the winner.
To enter, please leave a comment teling me of the items I reviewed you’d like to try the most.
For extra entries:
Tell me at least one other item that you’d like to try from Cosmetique.
Blog about the Cosmetique giveaway
Follow me on Twitter @mysticalbeauty
Tweet about the giveaway (once only, not once per day)
Subscribe to Mystical Beauty’s Musings via email - just fill out the form below.
Disclosure: Samples from the company or the representing PR agency were provided for this review and for this giveaway. The opinions presented in this review are my own. I was not financially compensated for this review or the giveaway.
Posted in Beauty, Reviews, Giveaway | 88 Comments »
Friday, March 5th, 2010
I received the 3 Lab “M” Cream, ($250) in the last Beautyfix Kit.
“M” Cream has a nice fragrance, that’s a little strong, so the ladies that are sensitive to fragrance might want to avoid this one, or at least try it before you buy it.
Although I don’t like strongly scented face products, this fragrance didn’t bother me at all even though it did linger on my face for a while.
“M” Cream is made from stem cells from the last three remaining Uttweiler Spatlauber Swiss apple trees, which were proven to slow down and delay the aging process.
The cream is moisturizing without being too heavy.
Unfortunately, I only used the cream for a couple of weeks before my skin started breaking out.
Nothing in my routine had changed, and although I think it might have been the “M” cream there is a chance that I could be breaking out more now that the “pregnancy glow” has worn off.
I had unusually clear skin for me while I was pregnant, and now it’s back to normal.
Either way, I wasn’t willing to take the risk that it was the “M” Cream breaking my skin out, so I’ll continue to use the cream as a very expensive hand cream.
If you’ve tried “M” cream, what do you think about it?
Have you heard of anyone else breaking out from it?
Disclosure: Samples from the company or the representing PR agency were provided for this review. The opinions presented in this review are my own. I was not financially compensated for this review.
Posted in Beauty, Reviews | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
I received the Hard Candy Just Nails in Rumor Mill ($6 at Walmart) to review.
The color is a deep purple, that looks black in the bottle.
I tried this polish on my toes, and I was a little surprised at the color because it looks so dark that I really thought it was going to be black.
I used this polish without a top coat or a base coat (horrible I know) and the polish applied easily without streaking.
It lasted for several days on my toes before it started chipping, which is normal for me.
I wish I could get a manicure or pedicure to last for weeks, but I haven’t found anything that worked, even when I am a good girl and I use a top coat and a base coat.
What have you found that works?
What do you think about Hard Candy’s polishes?
Related Posts:
Hard Candy Plexi Gloss Arm Candy Lip Shine Review
Sparitual Nail Lacquer in Airhead Review
Disclosure: Samples from the company or the representing PR agency were provided for this review. The opinions presented in this review are my own. I was not financially compensated for this review.
Posted in Beauty, Reviews | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
I got the Age Defyer Eye cream from Cures by Avance ($50) in the Beautyfix.
My eyes have been a little on the dry side lately, so I’ve been using it morning and night for about 4 months.
The eye cream applies smoothly, and my makeup goes over it without any problems as long as I wait a few minutes before applying my makeup.
Although it is supposed to help with aging, wrinkles, and dark circles, since I am not having trouble with those problems I can’t comment on that.
Overall I’ve been pleased with this, and I’ll keep using it until it’s gone, but I don’t think that I’ll repurchase it because of the price.
If you’ve tried the Age Defyer Eye, leave a comment and let me know what you think about it, or let me know what your favorite product for the eye area is.
Disclosure: Samples from the company or the representing PR agency were provided for this review. The opinions presented in this review are my own. I was not financially compensated for this review.
Posted in Beauty, Reviews | No Comments »
Monday, February 8th, 2010
I was sent the Aromaleigh Color Infusion Botanical Lipstick in Perfect ($6.95), and the Gothic Lolita Nourishing Color Creme ($6.65) in Lollypop and Melancholia to review several months ago, and I really like them.
The lipstick is moist enough that I don’t need to wear lipbalm with it, although I do have to reapply it every couple of hours. Since this is probably less often than I normally reapply lip balm, the frequent reapplications aren’t a big deal.
All of the lipsticks have wearable colors that go on sheer, but are buildable for more color.
Aromaleigh’s Color Infusion Botanical Lipstick in Perfect is described as a medium toned and wearable pink lipstick.
Gothic Lolita Nourishing Color Creme in Lollypop is cherry red, while Melancholia is a deep wine.
It’s fun to be able to wear colors like Lollypop and Melancholia, that I normally don’t wear because I feel like they’re too much for my pale skin tone.
With Aromaleigh’s lipsticks, I can apply the color until I get the shade I want, and I don’t have to worry about it being too dark.
It’s also nice that the sheer lipsticks don’t leave really dark lipmarks on my little Sweet Pea.
I’ve had to stop wearing almost all of my lipsticks unless I’m going out, because I don’t like getting lipstick all over her.
The only things that I don’t like about the lipsticks are the tube for the Gothic Lolita Norishing Creme - it’s like a regular chapstick tube, and I have to be a little more careful when I’m applying it so that I don’t get it outside of my lip lines, and the fact that I do have to apply it a little more frequently.
It’s not usually a problem but when I’m somewhere and I know that pictures are going to be taken, I hate having to disappear to fix my lipstick.
If you’ve tried Aromaleigh’s lipsticks, leave a comment and let me know what you think about them.
What are your favorite natural lipsticks?
If you’d like to read more about my Aromaleigh experience, check out I have a new favorite blush! Aromaleigh Gothic Lolita Rouge Review.
Disclosure: Samples from the company or the representing PR agency were provided for this review. The opinions presented in this review are my own. I was not financially compensated for this review.
Posted in Beauty, Reviews | No Comments »
