Mally Beauty

     Another discovery made by watching a TV shopping network. Surprise! I'll admit I was first put off by Mally Roncal, (the personality, developer and entrepreneur) as she is a bit in your face at times. I watched a few presentations, but didn't order. Then one night, Mally was on and she started telling a funny story about motherhood, and I instantly warmed to her. It was that night I ordered a starter kit to see what all the hype was about.

     About a week later, my order arrived and I was surprised to see that everything was full sized. Often when you get a "starter kit," what you are actually getting are small trial sizes. So, already I was very happy. I was excited to try the Volumizing Mascara, as I had seen what it did to the models and read wonderful reviews. I tried it on my own lashes and was impressed. The blush was another great find, a subtle, but buildable blush pink. The eye color was a shimmery bronze shade that made my dark brown eyes pop. The eyeliner, Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Liner in midnight was a lovely shade. Not traditional black, but I swear there's a hint of navy in it. Then there's the lipgloss. Look, there is always going to be a loser in the bunch, and in this kit it had to be the lipgloss. It was an extremely pale shade of pink/peach. When applied on me, I looked like I had white frosting on my lips. Not a look I was going for, as I felt like a Jersey Shore chick. Anyhow, all in all I liked the products...So, I kept the kit.

     Seeing as I loved most of the products, I went forth and ordered the Poreless Perfection Foundation SPF20 W/ Brush. I ordered the item in a medium shade, and was super excited when it finally arrived. Well, my hopes were dashes, as I opened the compact, and noticed how orange the color was. Still, not put off by that, I went ahead and applied to my face. BIG mistake. I seriously looked like a Jersey Shore girl, all orange and not flattering at all. I quickly washed my face, repackage the product and sent it back. Not a good color match, and after researching I noticed others complained about the color combinations too. Glad to know it was not just me.

     Still not deterred, I went ahead and ordered another kit, called Mally Just Heaven $73.56 on QVC . It consisted of--

0.07 oz Evercolor Endless Eyeshadow in Sunglow, a bronze-brown; includes 0.03 oz powder and 0.04 oz cream shadow--exclusive to QVC until 1/1/12!

0.12 oz High Shine Liquid Lipstick in Just Heaven, a sheer peach shade--exclusive to QVC until 1/1/12!

0.18 oz Effortless Airbrush Blush & Highlighter in Afterglow and Purelight, a peachy-pink blush with golden highlighter--exclusive to QVC until 1/1/12!

0.39 fl oz Volumizing Mascara in Black

0.35 oz Visible Skin Bronzer in Lighter or Deeper--exclusive to QVC until 1/1/12!

0.5 oz travel size Perfect Prep Primer in Glow

0.01 oz Automatic Liner in Black Navy

Double-ended shaping brush

Zippered makeup clutch:

     So, eager to try this entire kit out, I washed my face clean, and started applying. The eyeshadow was too dark in my opinion. It made me look very washed out, and did nothing for my eyes. I applied the primer, and then used my BE foundation. Not very impressed. It really didn't look like I had done anything different. My large crater pores were still there, totally noticeable. The blush and highlighter duo, was flat as well. It did not make me look fresh or radiant, instead I looked very muted. Next, I applied the bronzer and that was awful. I looked like I had soot on my face. I had higher hopes for the navy liner, but again it fell short. The color looked very cheap on me. The lipgloss again, was another miss. Way too light. I feel like this kit should have been marketed to women of color or those with very tan complexions. Anyone with light or medium skin tones is not going to be complimented by these colors. The only product I did like was the Volumizing Mascara, which I already had a new tube of, so keeping the kit for the one item wasn't a very smart decision. RETURNED.

     Again, I watched another presentation where Mally was showcasing her Evercolor Poreless Face Defender. Described as being a clear powder, I was intrigued. I never liked the way my face looked mid-way through the day when I applied powder to cover up the shine. It always looked heavy and thick. So, I was curious to see what a clear powder could do for me.....When it arrived, it was already late in the afternoon. I thought it was a wonderful time to try it out. I opened the compact, and used the giant sponge applicator and patted the product onto my shiny face. I was surprised by how muted it made my oily skin, not in a bad way. It really soaked up the shine. It even appeared to some how shrink my pores. It's a strange product because it's not at all a powder. It's a gel formula. Kind of reminds me of a deodorant consistency. The only thing I did notice was I had to pat the product into my skin well, or else it would leave small spots of white residue. It's a good product, but for $36.48?? I'm not so sure. It worked well, did everything Mally said it would, but the price is hard to eat up for one item. One item that I will only use occasionally, once a day. Yeah, I'm on the fence about it. Being a stay-at-home mom, where I wear minimal makeup daily, is making it hard for me to justify keeping this product. I think it would be awesome for a woman who is on the go all day, meetings, dinners, etc...But for me, not so much. I think a better route for me would be to use the blotting sheets. I think I may have to go the more economical route and return this product.

     GRADE: B- Overall the products are good/fair. Some obviously better than others. The mascara is good and Poreless Face Defender is wonderful for the right woman. I think Mally makes great cosmetics for women of color too. Beautiful complimentary shades!

Tarte Glow Your Way To Gorgeous

     As I have meandered through places like Ulta, I remember seeing displays for Tarte, and thinking, 'Oh, that's different,' and continued walking by. Never really thought too much about it, that is....until QVC aired a few Tarte presentations. I was very impressed by the natural ingredients and the addition of Amazonian clay and maracuja oil, which shit, just that alone sounds impressive, right? I mean real clay from the Amazon? How exotic, ripe and fruitful will I look? And maracuja oil? I have no idea what it is, but sign me up. (Actually, it's an enhancing agent to allow the other Amazonian products to blend and absorb better.) Huh??

     Yeah, I ordered it. Not really sure what I was buying until it arrived. They call it an eight piece kit, but really as you can see from the (bad) photo, it's more like 11, (12 if you count the bag). Here's what comes in the deal-

0.42 oz Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in choice of Fair, Light, Medium, Tan, or Deep--Shades exclusive to QVC until 12/31/11

0.20 oz 12-Hour Wear Clay Blush in Peaceful, a soft rose--Shade exclusive to QVC until 12/31/11

0.10 oz Amazonian Clay Waterproof Cream Shadow in Shimmering Taupe--Shade exclusive to QVC until 12/31/11

0.056 oz Amazonian Clay SmolderEYES eyeliner in Fig, a plum brown--Shade exclusive to QVC until 12/31/11

0.24 fl oz Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara in Black

0.10 oz Lip Luster in Sweet, a peach pink--Shade exclusive to QVC until 12/31/11

Blush brush

Shadow brush

Sharpener

Carryall Bag

     First thing I did was add my moisturizer and SPF, (gotta have that ladies) and finally primer. This kit doesn't include a foundation, so I just rolled out my old Bare Minerals and dusted my skin. Next I applied the Maracuja Creaseless Concealer on my lid and under my eye, to cover by dark circles, (which I never had before my son:)). Then I added a bit of a neutral lid color, as I didn't really want to use the cream shadow on the entire lid. Next I added the Amazonian Clay Waterproof Cream Shadow, using a wonderful brush! I then broke out the Amazonian Clay SmolderEYES in Fig (a brown/plum color). I was hesitant about this color, because I have diverted from my usual black or dark brown eyeliner before and had never been happy, so this was BIG for me. And you know what? I loved it! I have very dark brown eyes, and loved how it brought out lighter flecks of brown, colors I had never seen using my standard staples. Truly an awesome product....So, getting back on track, I went in and did my brows, and then whipped out the Lights, Camera, Lashes. Now, here is another product I was eager, yet cautious in using. I thought I had just found another mascara to claim my ideal match, but I heard so many rave reviews about this Tarte product, that I was very excited to see if it lived up to the hype. Well? It did. I don't think my lashes have ever looked so lush and flirty before. Excellent, and when combined with the eye cream and liner, I looked pretty fuckin' good. I don't have high self-esteem, so this is saying great things. To be honest, I felt totally done at this point, but it occurred to me there was more to do, as I noticed I still had a few items I had not used. So, I added the 12-Hour Wear Clay Blush, the strange colored bronzer and lovely lip color, which is very cooling and slightly plumping.

     I think for never trying this beauty line before, I was blown away by the quality of the products. I pretty much loved everything, but had a hard time with the bronzer. It felt a little dark for me, but I might have been too heavy handed. Otherwise I am definitely NOT sending this kit back. I will be looking forward to purchasing other items, especially the Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation SPF15 (Apparently only available on QVC currently)! I am getting to the point in my life where I don't like adding strange chemicals onto my body, so I have been actively searching for something that is durable, long lasting and actually delivers on their claims. I am very satisfied with this kit, which is currently $54.96 on QVC.com, but I paid about $6 less and used the flex pay option. Still, it's a great deal when you consider all you are getting and the quality of the product is outstanding.

     On a side note: If you are a fan of True Blood, check out the official Tarte website, as they have a collection of makeup inspired by the show!

GRADE: A-

My Addiction Revealed....

     As you might guess I am a TV home shopping whore. Some people search the program guide for brilliant movies and shows, I navigate for beauty products. Really, it's no wonder that I find myself watching both HSN and QVC in my (rare) spare time. I was never a TV shopper. Seriously. It wasn't until a year ago, that I started casually tuning into the presentations, watching with great interest and skepticism. Honestly, I used to think the people who watched those channels were old women or stay-at-home moms, who had nothing better to do. Well, I guess I am part of my own cliche. I'm a stay-at-home mom alright, but there are so many things I should be doing, instead of watching a new and innovative beauty launch.

     For the longest time I have been ashamed to talk about my addiction, for fear of being judged or ridiculed. But, I felt it was time to come out of the closet to discuss some of the most impressive products I have had the pleasure of trying. While not all have been stellar, I feel like it's my duty to all women to disclose what I have discovered, good or bad. See, some  of the products sold on these networks are not available at local department stores or beauty retailers. They are only contracted with HSN or QVC and that's it. So, I felt like starting a blog reviewing everything I have tried, not just from the shopping networks, but from brick and mortar retailers as well. This is truly a labor of love, and I am not really sure where it will take me, but if I can give a little knowledge and comedic relief....I feel like maybe I have done something useful.

WEN Cleansing Conditioner Cucumber Aloe By Chaz Dean

     So, for a few years now I have had the pleasure of being up late at night (baby feedings, changings, illness....you know, all the lovely shit no one tells you about BEFORE you get pregnant!) and catch the WEN infomercials showcasing healthy, shiny, hair without the use of lather. The ads would feature a few B and C list stars, who proclaimed amazing results, just by conditioning their hair, no shampoo. A few times, in my weakened sleep deprived state, I almost logged onto the site and ordered the stuff. Still, there was this little voice that kept saying, "RIP OFF!" Needless to say I never ordered. Well, a few weeks ago I finally made myself sit through an entire presentation of WEN on QVC. Of course all the models had beautiful hair, all professionally blowout and perfect. I remember being a little irritated too, because at the time my hair was looking pretty shitty from too many highlight jobs and bad shampoos. I was searching for something non-abrasive and healthy......low and behold, WEN came on and seduced me. It was a long drawn out seduction, one which led me to research the QVC customer reviews and ponder and debate about whether purchasing WEN was the right move for me. At the time, QVC was selling the large gallon size, which retails for over $200, but QVC price was $160, split into six Easy Payments. The host and Chaz all commented on how long the product would last, and how ***you would be saving $$$ at the salon!*** Whoo-hoo! Chaz had me hook, line and sinker.

     Okay, here's the main reason for me buying this product. I am picky about my beauty products, but I have been told I am even worse when it comes to my hair. Now, I would beg to differ, but this came from a former hair stylists mouth, so I think she must know a thing or two about demanding clients. I never thought I was difficult, in fact most of the time I allow my hair stylist to do what they think is right for ME. Anyhow, I go pretty faithfully to my new hair stylist about every 6-7 weeks. The problem I have is how pricey it has become. Before, when I had a REAL JOB (stay-at-home mom doesn't count, you know!) forking out $100-$140 for a color and cut was chump change.  Now, surviving off one income and thanks to a recession, bankruptcy and foreclosure, I practically cry handing over my card when the service is completed. Don't get me wrong, I love my stylist, and what she does, it just hurts having to pay so much $$, when I know that I have to pay for preschool tuition, insurance, gas, rent, food, and utilities. The guilt is huge when I walk out of the salon. And you know, it shouldn't be that way. I, like many other mom's out there put myself last on the list of priorities, so getting my hair done should be like a payment for services rendered on raising a child. Even my husband encourages me to continue going, he says I deserve the treat, and it will not break us. It's just I know we are no long a two income family, and the financial problems of our past are still so fresh I panic when paying full price, on ANYTHING. So, when Chaz mentioned the way the cleansing conditioner helped retain color longer, I jumped on the computer and ordered.

     The product arrived really quick and eager as I was to try the product, I knew it was important to carefully read the directions. I did, and followed them to the T. I will tell you one thing, while I was in the shower, my scalp felt amazing and cool. Mind you this was during an awful heatwave here in California, so when I finally washed out the remaining product, my head felt cool and clean. Fast forward a few hours as I let my hair air dry, and I was blown away by how great my hair felt and how good it looked. The color even looked better, I can't fully describe how well it worked, except to say it did, and I LOVE IT.

     A few weeks after starting WEN I went back to get my hair cut (only). Normally I love getting my hair washed professionally, but this time was a let down. I think I have WEN to blame. After leaving the salon I noticed how hard and rough my hair felt... totally the opposite of WEN. That night I washed my hair and rejoiced at the beauty my hair had become. I never want to use another product to wash my hair. I am so spoiled and snobby because of Chaz and his wicked creation, but I don't care, this shit is awesome!

     SPECIAL NOTE: One thing I urge anyone who is looking into buying WEN is to make sure you purchase the correct formulation for your hair. Most people buy Sweet Almond Mint as it's dubbed as a "universal" treatment, but I read a few negative reviews about this cleaner, especially if you have an oily scalp and dry ends, like me. That's why I selected Cucumber Aloe, and I am so satisfied.

GRADE: A

SECOND DISCOVERY: Today during an unexpected "bath time" for my three year old son, he decided to try WEN for himself. I was very worried because he's only three, and has problems remembering to close his eyes, so I never thought to try it on him. He has a lot of scalp build up, or what might be termed as "cradle cap". (Yeah, he's three, but still has it...) Anyhow I gave up using conventional shampoos like Johnson and Johnson, because they only left more residue and added to the problem. So, needless to say he hates bath time, as it consists of me scrubbing his scalp with a comb, to pull off the build up. Not fun at all. Today he took some initiative and applied WEN to his hair and while I was concerned, I was also curious. So, I grabbed the comb and began running the product through his hair and was amazed by how easily the build up came off. No excessive scrubbing and no complaining from my son. He loved WEN and when bath time was over, he scalp looked great. NO OTHER product I have tried, (and I have tried so many) did what WEN was able to do with one application! Amazing. Just another reason for me to love this product. Oh, and it did not burn his eyes when it was rinsed. He also has very thin, curly hair and it looks beautiful!!

RetinoSyn-45 Review in Progress

     RetinoSyn-45 on HSN? Ever heard of it? I discovered this new skincare product while flipping through my program guide searching for something good to watch. I tuned in for the broadcast and was pretty amazed by the clinical trial claims and photos. What I didn’t like was the price. Retailing at $175, but offered to HSN customers at $97.50, I was not completely convinced. Which is why despite the great presentation, where the co-founder explained how the revolutionary age-erasing serums were created— I did not log in and order. I had to mull over all the info that was given to me. You see, the system is broken down into three phases. 1st phase is a low dosage of the serum, you apply it only at night for two weeks, then you move on to the 2nd phase. Again, introducing a slightly higher dosage and applying it for two weeks. Lastly, the 3rd and final phase, where the content is much more concentrated, and you continue to apply for the remaining two weeks. Once you complete the 45 days of use, that’s it…. You are done. And, there is still product left over to use later on in the year. The company suggests using the kit only twice a year, applying a maintenance serum for the months in between. I thought all of this over and during the final presentation I caved and ordered. HSN also offered a great deal, 4 flex payments and a 60 day money back guarantee! (The normal return policy is 30, so the company is actually allowing you to try it for free and return it if you are not satisfied.) The 60 day return window is almost unheard of, but it seems that both HSN and QVC are jumping on the bandwagon and listening to their viewers, especially when they are selling products that take at least 30 days to see results. So, it was a very excellent offer.

     Well, I am currently in phase 2 of the treatment, and I am seeing some results. One thing I am glad I did, was to take photos of myself before I began. Seriously, without the pictures I would probably think my skin looked better, but not too remarkable. Looking back at my before pics, from just three weeks ago, I see a huge change. Most notably my skin clarity, texture and a few lines around my eyes. I really bought it to treat these terrible crinkle wrinkles I have under my eyes. I am only 32, but I had an awful sunburn in my early teens, and I swear those fucking wrinkles came on at age 14. It’s an insecurity of mine, so for the past year especially I have been scouring and trying any new treatment on the market. I am cautious of how much better my skin will get in the coming weeks. I suppose it’s due to the fact that I have tried so many other brands and never saw any of the claimed results. I will update this blog later on, and give a full review of the product when I have completed the 45 days of use.

     Honestly, right now I am happy with the results, and I am only halfway though. So, if you are at all curious, I don’t think it would hurt to check this product out for yourself. As I mentioned, HSN is the only one currently selling RetinSyn-45, and offering the great flex payments too. Try it out and let me know what you think! I am eager to hear from other people!

no!no! Professional Hair Remover Review

     Okay, so a few weeks ago I was watching HSN, (Which I love!) and they were running this amazing Today Special on the no!no! 8800 Face and Bikini Professional Hair Remover. I, like so many others out there saw the infomercial that ran featuring a few top soap stars, claiming amazing results. I mean, these women came out and declared to a national audience that they were indeed hairy beasts. Who, in their right mind would ever admit such a thing? (Granted I am sure these ladies were paid well for their candid admissions.) Needless to say I was interested, but skeptical and never ordered from the actual infomercial airing. However, fast forward to last week and I turn on HSN to see all these different women, shaving various parts of their bodies, arms, legs and faces. Hell, they even had a few men in there for good measure. Anyhow, even the hosts commented on how well the device worked, and since they were offering 4 flex payments, I couldn’t refuse. What women wouldn’t love to be free from shaving? It’s a chore, and a hassle. Sure, there are other options like waxing, but that shit hurts and laser removal would be the ultimate, but it’s too pricey. So, no!no! seemed like a really amazing alternative to ridding me of the awful task of shaving.

     About 4 days later the product arrived and I immediately read the directions carefully, (Surprised by the lack of instructions too.) and charged the device. About six hours later I began my first round of hair removal treatment. I decided to start with my legs, which I gave a break from shaving for about three days prior because I knew the machine worked best when there was a little more hair growth. I sat down in my bathroom and got to work. First thing I noticed was the really pretty neon blue light and a light buzzing noise. I made one pass down a specific section of leg and stopped, went back, felt my leg and still noticed how much stubble was there. I thought, ‘okay, I’ll make another pass.’ Went back and did it again, stopped and checked……..still hairy. Getting a little frustrated I went on and did both legs twice, and then used the buffer to work off the excess (i.e. the original stubble). After using the buffer, my legs of course felt soft and smooth. Total time to complete both legs? About 40 minutes. A lot of time, still I figured the results would be worth it. However, one thing I didn’t count on? My bathroom STANKING and me too! In the instructions included it is mentioned that the smell of burning hair is a good thing, it’s a sign the product is doing the job. Yeah, burning hair is one thing, but to have the smell saturate your clothes, hair and skin is another. I walked out of the bathroom and my kid (3 years old) started sniffing me saying “Stinky!!” It got worse as I had to pick up my mom unexpectedly, and when she climbed into the car she asked, “What is that smell? Burnt hair?” Yeah, I felt like an asshole.

     So, one would think I would have packaged it up and sent it back, right? Oh, no. Not me. I decided to give it a few more tries, sticking to my legs. The next day I did it again, as all the smooth skin had been invaded by pesky stubble. Went to work, going in small controlled sections, when I started getting zapped by the machine. I thought I had hit a bump or bone, but I never really knew what happened, except when I moved the machine away from my leg, I saw a burn. The continued over and over again. I re-read the manual which stated if this occurred it was probably due to me not using the right speed. Anyhow, I could never manage to get the thing to glide back over my legs. So, by the end of day 2’s attempt, I had burnt myself a total of 17 times! And, of course the machine did not remove any stubble, so I used the buffer to smooth things out. Okay…. this shit went on again for two more days. Here’s my gripe: I get that this thing doesn’t work overnight. I get that it takes time. But I KNOW there are other products out there that do the same thing, without burning, or making you grow yourself into a fucking Sasquatch. I thought with the price at the end, being well over $200, there would be a better result. Instead I was left with small burns all over my legs and dark stubble still standing proudly, as if they had won some kind of war. Well, they did win. I sent the hair remover back today. Some may say I didn’t give it enough time, but 40 minutes a day is not something I can schedule. Factor in the repeated burns and the amount of length the stubble should be and it was a no-no for me. I am really disappointed, because I wanted to like no!no! and have it work. But sadly, it just didn’t do anything, and certainly did not warrant me eating the $200 cost. So, I will continue on and search for another product. (I know of one I want to try, I am just waiting for the price to drop down!)

     NOTE: I encourage anyone who is interested in this product to please try it for yourself. Just because it did nothing for me, doesn’t mean it will not for you. Especially if you go through a company like HSN that has a great return policy, you really have nothing to lose!

GRADE: D