The Beaut Scoop

Toxin-Free Products

2010-08-18T00:28:00.003-04:00

I recently came across this website that lets you type in the name of your beauty product and then it rates the product based on how good/bad the ingredients are. Check it out for yourself and see how your favorite products score.

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

Super Volume Mascara - By The Body Shop

2010-04-07T01:25:00.007-04:00

In general, I've always liked The Body Shop products. One day I was going out to dinner and I was in a rush so I did my makeup in the car while my husband drove. I noticed I forgot my mascara. Mascara is the one thing I wear the most so I had to get some. :) Luckily there were shops close by and we had a long wait for our table. Since I didn't have mascara and I was running low anyway, I went to see what I could find. The Body Shop was the only place nearby that sold makeup. The sales rep led me to their Super Volume Mascara. He told me it was their #1 selling mascara and that they're usually out of it. The brush is very unique, it's spiraled and the bristles are medium-short in length. The formula is good because it didn't clump like some volumizing formulas do, however I've gotten more volume out of other brands. Also, it doesn't smudge much either. I was glad I forgot my mascara that day because I never would've tried it otherwise.

Bad Gal Lash - By Benefit

2010-04-07T01:16:00.007-04:00

BAD gal Lash by Benefit is a great mascara. I love the over-sized brush. The volumizing formula is nice and it thickens lashes very well. It comes in small and large sizes.

205 Brush - By MAC Cosmetics

2009-11-24T18:26:00.010-05:00

One of the girls at the MAC counter talked me into trying this brush. You can use it for applying your mascara by putting the mascara directly on the brush or you can use it to separate your eyelashes after applying mascara. I prefer to use it for separation. The bristles are softer at the tip and get more coarse toward the base of the brush. As long as you keep the brush clean, it works great.

MAC Cosmetics - Artists In Action

2009-11-24T18:09:00.004-05:00

MAC Cosmetics have a lot of excellent products. They also have some great make-up artists who work with them. On their website you can find a few "how-to" videos where they show their "Artists In Action". So go check it out, learn some new techniques, and enjoy!
http://www.maccosmetics.com/makeup_artistry/video_powerbrow.tmpl

Incoco How To Video

2009-09-03T12:34:00.003-04:00

Here are the how-to videos for the dry nail polish. I don't file mine I just fold the strip tightly over the end of the nail then gently tear excess away.

This one is for the French Manicure. They also have just the tips available for purchase.

Nail Patch - By Sephora

2009-09-02T08:30:00.001-04:00

Here is another dry nail polish I've tried. It worked great as well. They are normally $10 at Sephora but a few colors are on sale for $5. They lasted a long time and came off easily with nail polish remover. A tip is to warm them by rubbing them back-and-forth in your hands before taking them out of the silver package, that way they bend more easily.

Dry Nail Applique French Manicure Tips - By Incoco

2009-09-02T08:20:00.002-04:00

I like the look of French tips, but I have a hard time getting the lines straight when I paint them on. Well, thanks to Incoco I don't have that problem anymore. These are great! They are easy to apply. You just pick a size that fits your nail, rub it on, then bend the excess over the top of your nail and it comes off...then, if you want add a clear top coat and there you have it, the perfect french tip! You can pick these up at Walgreen's and they're even on sale...$2.99 instead of $3.99, plus if you use the $1 off coupon, that's $1.99, even better!

Dry Nail Applique - By Incoco

2009-09-02T08:08:00.001-04:00

I just discovered dry nail polish, and I love it...since I'm the type who spends forever painting my nails only to end up bumping or nicking my nails before they're dry. One of the brands I've tried is Incoco. They're great! And if you go to their website you can get step-by-step instructions and tips on how to best apply them. They're easy to apply and they come off with regular fingernail polish remover. No more waiting around for your nails to dry! :) They also have a coupon for $1 off at Walgreens. These are definitely worth trying and cheaper than getting your nails done...plus they have a lot of fun, cool colors.

Guest Review - Cloud 9 Blowout by Brocato

2009-07-23T14:58:00.011-04:00

My hair girl told me about Brocato's cloud 9 blowout a couple of cuts ago but I don't always take product recommendations from stylists - who knows what their motivations are. After noticing that my hair girl uses this every time she cuts my hair I figured there must be a reason for her loyalty so I bought it. I use it while my hair is damp and not only does my hair feel stronger, smell great, and dry faster, I don't have to use a gloss when I'm done. It's an all-in-one that produces great results. - by LG

GHD IV Styler by GHD

2009-05-14T00:28:00.011-04:00

I've had a CHI for a long time and I've loved it. I'd logged a lot of hours with it so I decided it was time to get a new one. I had heard good things about GHD (which stands for Good Hair Day) and I liked the color of this one so I decided to give it a try. The things that stood out to me about this flat iron (besides the color) were:

- It's ceramic.

- It heats up to its maximum temperature in seconds (seriously like 25 seconds, I timed it).

- It locks in moisture, natural oils, and hair color for total hair protection.

- It's equipped with built-in integrated circuits and platinum heating elements arranged in a mesh grid pattern which covers the entire aluminum plate; these features ensure a constant temperature throughout the styling process, without hot and cold spots.

- It has a built-in micro-processor embedded into one blade—this monitors and regulates the temperature of the blades and it stays at the ideal temperature for straightening hair so it doesn't get too hot.

It even comes with 2 nice hair clips and a carrying case. I've noticed a difference in my hair since I started using this flat iron...it feels and looks healthier which definitely gives me more "good hair days". :)

Curling Creme by (Curly) Sexy Hair

2009-03-15T23:58:00.008-04:00

When I want to wear my hair curly, I like to use curling cremes instead of gel or mousse. I find they leave your hair looking more natural. Curling Creme does a good job of controlling frizz and defining as well as moisturizing hair (this product is made for those with naturally curly hair). On top of that, it smells great... it smells like green apple.

Super Sexy Wave Spray by Beyond the Zone

2009-03-15T23:47:00.006-04:00

I found this product at Sally Beauty Supply. I wasn't expecting much but I was pleasantly surprised when I used it. It's supposed to give you "beachy" waves, but since my hair is naturally curly it helped keep my hair curly and not frizzy. It's made for naturally straight or curly hair. It's nice because it's not sticky and it doesn't leave your hair crispy or weighed down. I use it along with Curly Sexy Hair Curling Creme. I put the Curling Creme through my damp hair first, then I spray on the Wave Spray, then I diffuse it, and if I need to, I spray a little more of the Wave Spray on when I'm done. It has a fruity cent to it, which is just OK. Another good thing about it, is that it's inexpensive. When something works and is inexpensive, it's a great combo. :) 4 1/2 scoops.

Play Dirty by (Short) Sexy Hair

2009-03-15T23:13:00.008-04:00

I discovered spray wax a few years ago when a stylist used it on my hair. And I have to say, I love it. I've used it on my hair at all lengths. "Play Dirty" is good because it is not heavy on your hair and it smells good (kinda fruity). I like it because you can use it in many different ways. With it's medium hold, you can lift your hair and spray it at your roots to add volume, you can spray it on the ends to add separation, and you can spray it all over to add dimension and shine. This product isn't sticky and it doesn't build up on your hair. And, you've guessed it, 5 scoops! (I would also like to try Paul Mitchel's spray wax, but every time I go to buy it, it's sold out which I'm assuming means it's pretty good as well).

Professional Heated Lash Curler by Sephora

2009-03-01T22:54:00.009-05:00

I tried this eyelash curler because using your blow-dryer to heat up your manual eyelash curler was just too time consuming, and dangerous (had one too many burns... well, I had one burn and that was too many). :) Anyway, this seemed to be a step in the right direction. It does curl your eyelashes, but you need to learn how to use it to curl them. You place the comb directly on your lashes starting at your lash line. Then, gently lift and comb lashes into the desired shape (as you would with a mascara brush) but do this slowly so it has time to heat your lashes. You can repeat until you achieve the desired curl. The positives about this product are that it heats up fast, it curls your lashes (even the tiny ones at the corners) and it's nice and small. The negatives are that the batteries seem to die fast and it takes a little longer to use that a traditional eyelash curler. I like the idea of a heated eyelash curler. I've been thinking about trying a different one, that's a bit pricey but if it works well... :) But I give this one 3 and 1/2 scoops... Not too shabby.

Pronto Dry Shampoo Spray by Oscar Blandi

2009-03-01T19:59:00.012-05:00

This stuff is pretty cool. It's great to have for those days when you're in a hurry or just don't want to do your hair. You just spray it on your hair at the roots, wait a few seconds for it to dry, rub it in with your fingers, then brush it out...or if you're in an even bigger hurry, just spray it on a natural bristle brush and brush it through your hair. It soaks up oil, removes product buildup, and boosts volume so your no one will know you didn't take the time to do it. :) I has a nice lemon verbena scent, very fresh. Two tips I have are to make sure you shake it before you spray it, and don't over-apply. My only complaints are the price and that it doesn't come in a bigger bottle, because I go through it pretty fast. :)

Shadow Insurance by Too Faced

2009-03-01T19:34:00.007-05:00

I tried this eye-shadow primer because of a suggestion from a Sephora employee. I usually like my primer to have a little color/shimmer to help bring out whatever color I wear over it, but since my favorite one was discontinued by Lancome I decided to give this one a try even though it is matte and has really no color. I'm glad I tried it because it works really well. You can apply it with your finger but I prefer to use a concealer brush. This primer does a good job of keeping your eyeshadow from creasing. I also like the fact that it's in a tube instead of having a wand or being in a little jar like some primers because it dispenses really well. The only negative about this product is the fact that there's no color to it, but that's just personal preference. So it gets 4 and 1/2 Beaut Scoops. Good work Too Faced.

K-PAK Deep-Penetrating Reconstructor by Joico

2009-02-24T01:14:00.011-05:00

There are many reasons why this reconstructor is so great. First of all, it smells great. I has a tropical coconut fragrance. Next, it actually does what it says it'll do: improves strength, texture, and appearance. I started using this product about 5 years ago when my hairstylist suggested it to help repair my highlighted hair. I've been using it ever since... I definately recommend it. I give it 5 out of 5 Beaut Scoops!

Welcome!

2009-02-09T22:31:00.002-05:00

I love beauty products! I don't really know where I developed this love because I was a real Tom-Boy growing up...Maybe I just have this unconscious need to make up for lost time. I developed this site so I could have a place to review all the products I've used. And, hopefully someone out there finds it helpful because sometimes I have a hard time finding reviews of different products I'm interested in. Feel free to add your 2 cents to my posts. Welcome, and enjoy!