Review: Montagne Jeunesse - Chocolate masque

My thoughts and experience:  
They had me at chocolate... seriously! I like the idea of the single packs because they're less messy, travel friendly, and a great way to try out the product without having to purchase a whole thing. Once opened, it contained a thick whipped-cream-like mixture. It was super easy to spread on my face and smelled like semi-sweet chocolate. There was left over in the pack, almost enough to share the mask with someone else.

 [yummy]

I left it on for about 30 minutes to let the mask completely dry. It got a little messy while I was washing off the chocolate masque. Afterwards, my face felt really soft and hydrated. I definitely will be purchasing more of these in the future. I've seen that they have a bunch of different ones at Walmart.

Ingredients:

Retail Price: Starting at $1.39

Where to buy: www.montagnejeunesse.com; Walmart, most drugstore chains.

Have you tried any of their masks before?

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me. I am not affiliated with the company, nor was I paid to do this review.  All reviews on SiSi Sparkles are my honest opinion, whether it was purchased or provided. See full disclaimer here.

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Review: Lily Fresh Skin Care combination/normal trial gift pack

My thoughts and experience:  
Trial/gift packs are always a great way to try out something new. I recently discovered the brand when I was looking for an organic line of skin care products. The Lily Fresh Skin Care combination/normal skin pack includes the

• Seaweed Balancing facial cleanser
• Balancing facial toner
• Oil-free skin conditioning serum
• Rejuvenating Enzyme mask
• Balancing facial lotion.

It's amazing that their products are handmade in their own organic farm in the United States, 100% pure and vegetarian, and contains no synthetic chemicals. The clear bag it comes in is perfect for traveling.

The facial cleanser is a very gentle and mild one. It didn't lather well, nor did you need alot of it. It has a herbal scent to it, which definitely woke me up in the mornings. This was a great morning cleanser for me personally; I needed something more for my end of day cleansing. My face felt really moisturized after using this cleanser.

I love the balancing facial toner. It was easy to use and worked very well. Another toner that helps balance my skin after cleansing. It was gentle and didn't sting at all.

The oil free skin conditioning serum is different than most serums I've tried. I used it mostly at night. It was not oily at all, and yet, my face felt extremely soft the next day. I was tempted to lather this stuff on, but honestly, a little goes a long way.

The rejuvenating enzyme mask is great! It smells like brown sugar and maple syrup; I was so tempted to eat it. It feels like a sugar scrub that you leave on. I left mine on for over 30 minutes, and used a warm towel to wipe it off. My face felt really smooth afterwards, and my pores looked smaller.  

The balancing facial lotion is super light and effective. I was definitely not expecting this to be moisturizing enough because of the texture of the lotion. It's lightweight and milky-like. It leaves a strong after smell, hubby made a comment when I use this stuff. 

Overall, I think this is a great travel size kit and also a good way to test out their products. The price may be a little bit, but it's organic, pure, and made in the U.S. I am definitely interested in purchasing some of the full size products. 

Retail Price: $25.99

Where to buy:  www.lilyorganics.com

Disclaimer: This editorial sample was sent to me for review considerations from the company or a PR firm. I am not affiliated with the company, nor was I paid to do this review.  All reviews on SiSi Sparkles are my honest opinion, whether it was purchased or provided. See full disclaimer here.

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Review: Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray

My thoughts and experience:  
I received this in my Beautyfix Summer 2012 box and I have been using it for some time now. Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray is a great alternative to make up primers. Just shake the bottle, and spritz a light mist after you apply your make up. I usually do 3-4 sprays all over my face. I've worn it on bare skin and over make up. It helps control some of the oily parts of my face, so that my make up last longer. Don't get me wrong, I still blot my nose throughout the day, just not as often. It helps make up stay in place for atleast 8 hours. If you use powder or mineral foundation (like me), it helps to set it so it doesn't look cakey. I can easily tell the difference without it!
The only downside is the smell to it, it has a strong scent. I got used to it after a while, but I still find myself trying to hold my nose from taking a whiff of it after spraying.

Overall, this is a great product, and I would definitely repurchase it! It's a miracle in a bottle.


Ingredients: Water, SD Alcohol 39-C, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ethylhexyl Isononanoat, Sodium Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, PVP, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone PEG-7 Phosphate, Glycereth-5 Lactate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Methyl Methacrylate Cross Polymer, Fragrance.

Retail Price:  $19 for 2 fl.oz. | $29 for 4 fl.oz. | $39 for 6 fl.oz.

Where to buy:  www.dermstore.com

Have you tried this product, or similar?
 
Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me. I am not affiliated with the company, nor was I paid to do this review.  All reviews on SiSi Sparkles are my honest opinion, whether it was purchased or provided. See full disclaimer here.

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Review: Everyday Minerals blush - Girl Friday

My thoughts and experience:
I received this mini blush in my Beauty Box 5 and was really excited about it. I'm a huge fan of Everyday Minerals, ever since I found my perfect foundation shade. Girl Friday is a very soft, girly, and matte plum shade. The mini jars come with a lid and holds about 1.7g of powdered blush. Simply sprinkle some on  the lid or a paper towel and swirl your blush brush until you get enough color desired. I really don't need alot of it because the color is pretty pigmented.

[L:swatched once | R: swatched 3x]

It applies smoothly on my cheeks. The lasting power is about 6 - 8 hours for me. I like the matte in it, because it can be used everyday for work. I would definitely recommend this!

Ingredients:

Retail Price: $6.99 for mini size (1.7g) | $10.99 for big size (5.5g)

Where to buy:  www.everydayminerals.com

Have you tried Everyday Minerals' blush?

Disclaimer: This editorial sample was sent to me for review considerations from the company or a PR firm. I am not affiliated with the company, nor was I paid to do this review.  All reviews on SiSi Sparkles are my honest opinion, whether it was purchased or provided. See full disclaimer here.

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Review: Almay Moisturizing eye make up remover pads

My thoughts and experience:  
I've been needing another eye make up remover, so when CVS has a sale on these, I decided to give it a try. Almay moisturizing eye make up remover pads come in a bottle of 80 pre-soaked pads, which makes them really convenient if you're traveling. They're completely fragrant free and hypoallergenic. The pads have a very greasy and oily feel to them. I'm not sure if this is the moisturizing property of it(?)

I only use them at night because I would definitely have to wash off the oily residue left behind. I do find that oil based eye make up removers take off makeup easier and are more gentle on the eyes. I had no issues with these on my eyes as a contact lens wearer. I use one pad to remove eye make up on both eyes. It takes off eyeshadow, water proof mascara and eyeliner too with ease.

Overall, I think it does an amazing job removing make up with ease. I really wish it wasn't so oily. If you're looking for something to take off eye make up at the end of the day, I would recommend these. They're so cheap too! I bought the oil free ones too, I can't wait to try them out.

 [before]

[after]

Ingredients: Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum) (Mineral Oil), Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, C12 15 Alkyl Benzoate, Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Extract, Cucumis Sativa (Cucumber) Fruit Extract (Cucumber), Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben

Retail Price: Starting at $4.99

Where to buy:  Most mass retailers and drugstores, www.drugstore.com

Have you tried this eye make up remover? Do you have a favorite drugstore one that you use?

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me. I am not affiliated with the company, nor was I paid to do this review.  All reviews on SiSi Sparkles are my honest opinion, whether it was purchased or provided. See full disclaimer here.

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Review: The All Natural Face Vegan Mineral Eyeshadow - Orange Ice Storm

My thoughts and experience:  
This vegan mineral eyeshadow in Orange Ice Storm is one of the goodies I received in my Beauty Box 5 in July. It came in a small zip lock bag with an eyeshadow sponge wand. The eyeshadow is in a small jar with a sifter and lid.

Orange Ice Storm is a very shimmery, metallic silver color when applied. I can't help but notice that the color in the jar looks different. In the jar, it looks like a light peachy shimmer color. It applies smoothly and is easy to use. Just shake some of the eyeshadow through the sifter onto the lid. I think this is a great color to use on the inner corners of your eyes or you can also use it on your brow bone as a highlighter.

 [natural light, no flash L: swatched once R: swatched 3x]

[with flash, L: swatched once R: swatched 3x] 

The mineral eyeshadow lasts about 6 hours (with use of primer) before it starts to crease. This color in particular is pretty pigmented.

Overall, I think this is such a great price for vegan mineral eyeshadow. I will consider purchasing another color to try out!

Ingredients:

[simple ingredients!]

Retail Price: 5 gram jar - $3.50 | 10 gram jar - $6.50 | sample - $0.35

Where to buy: www.theallnaturalface.com

Have you tried anything from The All Natural Face?

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me. I am not affiliated with the company, nor was I paid to do this review.  All reviews on SiSi Sparkles are my honest opinion, whether it was purchased or provided. See full disclaimer here.

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Review: Gap nail polish - Mint

My thoughts and experience:  

I just recently discovered that GAP sold nail polish, did you know that?? I finally gave in and got one, because I had a $5 GAP gift card that I received from an app called Wrapp. Anyway, so I only ended up paying $1 for this!

The bottle is super cute, it's like a squaval with a shiny top. I was a little surprised about the brush because it felt really cheap, was fatter than most, and bristles poked out some. A little bit disappointing, I was expecting a little more from GAP.  But nonetheless, I digress.

The formula dries really fast and the scent was not very strong (always good in my book!). The color is a simple, clean, opaque and creme mint color.  Even one coat was fully opaque, but because because of the brush, the formula seemed to streak and drag. I applied another coat along with a top coat to even it out.
My manicure lasted about 5 days before I saw the first chip!

Overall, I like the formula and color alot, but the brush killed it for me. For me, it's a 50/50 because of that issue.

Ingredients:

Retail Price: $6

Where to buy: Gap stores

Have you tried any of the GAP nail polish and what did you think??

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Review: Kiehl's Ultra Facial oil free toner

My thoughts and experience:  
I purchased this toner in conjunction with Kiehl's Ultra Facial oil free cleanser. And I must say, they go  very well together. I decided to give this "normal to oily skin type" toner a try because of the warmer and more humid Summer months. It's completely oil free, fragrance free, paraben free, and silicone free!

After washing my face, I dabble some of this toner onto a cotton ball, and wipe my face clean. Toners can be used to help minimize pores, remove any excess make up that your cleanser missed, and even out your skin. This toner helps prepare your skin for the moisturizer step and helps absorb it better. I love that this toner removes excess residue without sucking the moisture out of my skin. I have noticed my skin feeling more even toned (less bumpy) after using this product for the last couple of weeks.

Overall, I think Kiehl's Ultra Facial oil free toner is a great addition to my everyday prep step. I would definitely repurchase this again!

Ingredients:

Retail Price: 8.4fl oz for $16

Where to buy:  www.kiehls.com

Have you tried this toner? How did it work out for you? Do you have a favorite toner?

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me. I am not affiliated with the company, nor was I paid to do this review.  All reviews on SiSi Sparkles are my honest opinion, whether it was purchased or provided. See full disclaimer here.

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Review: Angelo David Salon Premier Volume Spray

My thoughts and experience:  
Angelo David Salon Premier Volume Spray is a miracle spray for my hair. I have long, thin black hair and this spray does wonders for it. As you may know, I am a very simple kind of girl. I don't own any hair dryers, curlers, or straighteners. I'm a wash - air dry - go - kind of girl. Now that my hair is long (down to my back), it starts to feel really flat.

After getting out of the shower, I towel dry my hair and evenly mist it all over. Then, I comb it and let it air dry on its own. When it dries, I can definitely feel a huge difference in my hair texture - more volume, stronger, feels healthier, and softer. Without it, my hair feels the opposite of that! I've already gone through almost the whole bottle, and I can definitely feel the difference without this stuff. I'm hooked!

This is something that I would definitely purchase again in the future.





Ingredients:

Retail Price: $18.50 (4 fl oz)

Where to buy:  www.angelodavid.com
For every one bottle sold, $1 will be donated to fight against lupus at www.lupus.org

What about you? Do you use any kind of hair products to help boost hair volume? Thanks for reading.

Disclaimer: This editorial sample was sent to me for review considerations from the company or a PR firm. I am not affiliated with the company, nor was I paid to do this review.  All reviews on SiSi Sparkles are my honest opinion, whether it was purchased or provided. See full disclaimer here.

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Review: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil Free Cleanser

My thoughts ad experience:  
I wasn't too sure that this cleanser would work for me because it said it was for "normal to oily" skin type. When I was at Kiehl's, the sales associates recommended that I give this a try since the Summer months are hot and humid. He said if it didn't work out for me, I could always bring it back and try a different cleanser.

I only use a really small amount (a dime size) of this because it lathers so nicely. It does such a wonderful job of getting rid of any make up and oils. I like that the cleanser has no scent to it. I was really surprised that it left my face feeling extremely clean without drying out my face. I usually get dry cheeks. 

I'm really glad I decided to give this a try for the Summer months. I love that it is also oil–free, paraben–free, fragrance–free, colorant–free!!This is definitely something that I would repurchase, considering how well and thorough this cleans. You only need so little, it goes a long way!

Ingredients:

Retail Price: $19.50

Where to buy: www.kiehls.com 

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me. I am not affiliated with the company, nor was I paid to do this review.  All reviews on SiSi Sparkles are my honest opinion, whether it was purchased or provided. See full disclaimer here.

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Review: Anastasia Beverly Hills - She Wears It Well palette

My thoughts and experience:  
I received this palette along with 5 face chart cards. Anastasia Beverly Hills' She Wears It Well palette is a gorgeous neutral palette containing 6 shimmer shades and 3 matte shades of eyeshadows. The exterior is like a "leather type" material, and looks very chic. The palette is closed together by a magnet.

The staying power on these shadows are about 8 hours (with primer) before I start seeing creases. The shimmer and matte colors have little to no fall out when applied. I find that the matte colors tend to blend easier than the shimmer colors; they both apply smoothly. The colors in the palette are very versatile, which is probably my favorite thing about this palette. They can worn dry or wet, and you can wear them alone or mix it up for a bolder look.

 

 L-R: Trophy, Glow, Latte, Foxy, Sunset

 

 L-R: Frosting, Onyx, Almond, Toffee

The brush that comes with the kit is a little small to use as an eyeshadow brush. It makes a decent eyeliner brush or even for blending in the creases. The added mirror is a nice little extra for people on the go.

Overall, I love this nude/neutral palette. The prices come to $3.78 per shadow which is very decent! It's a great palette to add to your collection if you like simplicity and versatility. I can do super easy looks for work in a matter of minutes.

Ingredients:

Retail Price: $34

Where to buy: www.anastasia.net, www.sephora.com

What do you think about this neutral palette?

Disclaimer: This editorial sample was sent to me for review considerations from the company or a PR firm. I am not affiliated with the company, nor was I paid to do this review.  All reviews on SiSi Sparkles are my honest opinion, whether it was purchased or provided. See full disclaimer here.

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Review: Lisa Hoffman Night & Day Vitamin A & C Serum

My thoughts and experience:  
The first time I tried this was when I received my first Beautyfix kit. I instantly fell in love with it because it was extremely moisturizing. Seeing as I have really dry cheeks, this was really helped keep them soft. I couldn't afford the full size of 1 fl oz (30ml) for $95, so I opted to get it again on my second Beautyfix kit. I received this 0.5 fl oz size in my kit.

The serum is inside a silver bottle. After using it about 2 weeks, the pump stops working. I had a really hard time getting product out, so I pulled open the top part of the pump. Come to find out, it's a very small pump which only reaches to 1/3 from the top of the product. I have to turn the bottle upside down and then pump for serum. I'm not sure if this is a known issue or if I have a defective bottle. But you know how usually things that pump have a tube that goes to the bottom of the bottle? Well this one doesn't have that. If I hadn't open the top, I would have just tossed the thing because I thought it was empty!

When you use the pump to get the product out, it comes clear, thick, and greasy. The serum is very rich. When applied on my face, it goes on smoothly. I rub my face a couple of times to let it absorb. It looks greasy on my face when applied, which is why I never use this during the day time. After about 10 minutes or so, it settles and I don't look oily anymore. It feels velvety smooth to the touch.

When I wake up, my face feels so soft, moisturized, non-greasy, and plump. I love it! If it was not for the expensive price tag on this, it would be part of my regular night routine. So right now, I just hope I will see it again on my next Beautyfix kit.

Ingredients:

Retail Price: $95 for 1 fl oz (30 ml)

Where to buy:  www.dermstore.com

Have any of you tried this product? What do you think? Did you guys have issues with the pump?

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me. I am not affiliated with the company, nor was I paid to do this review.  All reviews on SiSi Sparkles are my honest opinion, whether it was purchased or provided. See full disclaimer here.

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Review: Revlon ColorStay 16 Hour Eyeshadow

Retail Price:Starting at $7.49

Where to buy:  Most mass retailers and drugstores, www.revlon.com

My thoughts and experience:
This four quad eyeshadow by Revlon is very versatile. You can achieve both day and night looks easily. On the back of the quad, it gives you an idea on how you can incorporate all four colors into look. To be honest, the one time that I followed it, I turned out looking like a drag queen with raccoon eyes (LOL!). So after that experience, I just decided to do my own thing and use two colors at a time.

The pigmentation of the colors are ok, I wouldn't say it's the most pigmented nor the worse. The colors applied smoothly, but I did find myself having to dip my brush back into the eyeshadow a couple of times to get the desired result. There was little to no fall out when I use it. Here are some swatches done on my arm:

[I used a Q-tip to swatch this, I went over it a couple of times so you can see the color]

The staying power is about 6-8 hours before I start to see it get messy. Keep in mind, I do use a primer with my eyeshadow because my eyelids are super oily.

Overall, I think you get what you pay for with this eyeshadow quad. I've used it a couple of times on my short and lazy days because the colors are easy to match up and go well with each other.

What about you? Have you tried any of Revlon's quad eyeshadows?

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me. I am not affiliated with the company, nor was I paid to do this review.  All reviews on SiSi Sparkles are my honest opinion, whether it was purchased or provided. See full disclaimer here.

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