January 26, 2006

REVIEW: Conair Satin Finish, Instant Heat Ultra Slim Straightener, 3/4″ CS4CS

For a frame of reference, I also own a Conair Instant Heat large barrel curling iron which is what I have been using to straighten my hair (I know it sounds weird but it can be done – you just run it down your hair instead of rolling your hair up on it.)

Conair Satin Finish, Instant Heat Ultra Slim Straightener, 3/4″ CS4CS
PROS: It heats up quickly for those times when you’re in a rush. I like the slim design because you can easily get up close to the root of your hair. It’s easy to get the ends straight.

CONS: I thought it was going to heat up hotter than it does – the settings on this go up to 25, the setting on my curling iron by Conair goes up to 20 – both seem to heat to about the same level. It takes just as long if not a hint longer to straighten my hair. There is a piece of plastic after the heating plates to keep them from pressing together too hard – it’s easy to close it on your hair accidentally which hurts (I usually don’t notice that this has happened until I start to slide it down my hair sometimes pulling hair out. Big design mistake in the product I think.)

Would I buy it again? No.
Will I continue to use it? Anyone want to buy it from me? I’ll sell it cheap… Probably not since I can straighten my hair to about the same extent with my large barreled curling iron and I don’t pull hair out accidentally with it.
Would I recommend this to anyone else? Probably not – it’s ok but I would probably try a different straightener if I had the chance. I’m still looking for a straightener that will give me that almost unnaturally straight look without having to spend a really long time getting there.

I’ll probably review the Conair large barrel curling iron that I use later in case you’re wondering. 🙂

January 11, 2006

Fashion Video on the Web

If you’re obsessed with tech, you probably already know about Google Video. But did you know there was an entire set of fashion videos there? It looks like mostly runway shows but there are some pretty big names there like D&G. At the time of this post there are 121 videos, the longest one looks to be a little over 6 minutes but most of them are around the 2 minute mark (and with google video, you can play the entire set back to back … and you can also send a link for a specific video to a friend using the “send link” button on the right of the video you’re playing.)

Warning, may be addictive and time consuming:
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=in_label%3Aowner%3Dfashion_tv

January 9, 2006

REVIEW: Too Faced Liquif-Eye Smudge & Water Resistant Liquid Liner

I saw this in a magazine at some point and thought it was possibly the best makeup tools I had seen for awhile. I sought it out and initially found it at Sephora.com but then I also found it at beauty.com which was more convenient because I was making a drugstore.com purchase (and they ship together with beauty.com.)

PROS: it does do what it says it will do (though make sure you realize it says WATER RESISTANT not waterproof.)
CONS: very expensive for what you get. The “brush” is really a semi-flexible foam tip, a little rough.

At first I thought this was a really great product BUT then I started playing with my eye shadow and found that I could accomplish the same effect with the proper makeup brush wet down with water! (Use one edge of your eye shadow since you are wetting it down which could make it hard to use without water.)

If it were waterproof instead of just water resistant then it would have the bang for the buck that I was expecting. If you don’t have a steady hand or don’t have some good makeup brushes to work with, this product might still be for you (though I would recommend trying a wet makeup brush – angled or maybe a lip brush if you don’t have one specifically for eyeliner – before you buy this.)

Rimmel makes a really nice deep black eye shadow that I’ve been using for my eyeliner lately.

Would I buy it again? No, definitely not.

December 28, 2005

Great deal from E.L.F. cosmetics

I wanted to post this one on the main page as well as the promos page because it’s such a great deal (because not only would you get $5 off, as of this post, they also have a free lipgloss with any purchase as well!)

Redeem this coupon at checkout using coupon code SLEIGH
and receive $5.00 free towards your purchase.
e.l.f. cosmetics

With all cosmetics at just $1, that’s 5 free new products!!
offer expires 1/1/2006

Se.l.f.ish