Reviews by Friends of richelmore

PattyTherre says "A great value but I wish the primer wasn't so chalky colored." about e.l.f. Studio Lip Primer & Plumper

PattyTherre — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:58:31 GMT

Quick View: e.l.f.'s studio line is a little pricier than their dollar cosmetics but by only a couple of bucks. This dual use product is just $3.00 and works fairly well. I don't love the nude color of the lip primer though. It is a bit chalky looking.

My Take on e.l.f. Studio Lip Primer & Plumper

This little stick costs $3.00. One one side is a natural/nude lip primer that you apply before using lip color to help make the color cling and last and to fill in little lip lines. On the other side is the nearly clear plumper than can be worn over the primer, alone, or over lip colors.

The plumper has cinnamon in it which boosts circulation, giving lips a temporary look of fullness and a flush of color. I like the cinnamon scent and taste and don't mind the slight burning sensation I get when I use the plumper. It's very common for plumpers and this one isn't nearly as bad as many other plumpers.

I often will use the primer, apply the plumper and then color or do it the other way around and...

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PattyTherre says "Helps protect sensitive teeth and precious tooth enamel." about Sensodyne PRONAMEL Anti-Cavity Fluoride Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth

PattyTherre — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:58:33 GMT

Quick View: I have a few teeth that are super sensitive. I like Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste very much but I also worry about brushing away the enamel on my teeth which, at 45, is a concern. I switch my use of toothpastes fairly often but I do like Sensodyne PRONAMEL Anti-Cavity Fluoride Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth. It helps keep my teeth stain free, reduces my sensitivity and protect my tooth enamel.

My Take on Sensodyne PRONAMEL Anti-Cavity Fluoride Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth

This toothpaste comes in a few fresh flavors and all are great for freshening my breath. A four ounce tube is around $5.00 so this is pricier than usual toothpastes but, if you have sensitive teeth, you know it is worth the extra cost.

The toothpaste is not abrasive so it doesn't cause tooth enamel loss which is really important as we age. It has ingredients to gently reduce tooth sensitivity and it truly works. My dentist says it is only brand made that actually works for sensitive teeth and I believe...

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PattyTherre says "It's a Miracle that I like this pink frilly, girly scent!" about Lancome Miracle EDP Perfume Spray

PattyTherre — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:40:17 GMT

Quick View: I am not a fan of floral fragrances and shun most classic scents. However, after trying Lancome Miracle EDP Perfume Spray, which was given to me as a gift by a friend, I realize that a little bit of a frilly scent can work for me. This is a sexy, very feminine scent that I like for a nice change of pace.

My Take on Lancome Miracle EDP Perfume Spray

My review entitled My Top Fragrances: Fresh, Clean, and Sexy! really says it all about my preferences. I don't like florals and I prefer fresh, clean, or citrus scents. When I was sent a 1.7 ounce bottle of Miracle, I didn't even like that the box was pink. That, to me, seemed like the scent would be very floral and maybe even a rose scent. I like roses but hate wearing their scent on me.

I was mistaken though. Lancome Miracle EDP Perfume Spray really doesn't have a marked floral scent. More, it smells sweet and feminine. It's definitely a girly scent but not at all classic or overwhelming. It's hard to describe the actual scent...

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MikeMaroon says "Finding Hope in The Worst Kind of Personal Tragedy." about Steven Curtis Chapman - Beauty Will Rise

MikeMaroon — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:21:39 GMT

May 21, 2008 was to be a special day at the Chapman home in Franklin, TN. Steven Curtis and Mary Beth were about to celebrate both their daughter's engagement and the high school graduation of their eldest son. Then, something horrible happened. As one of their sons pulled into the driveway he didn't see his little 5-year old sister Maria. His vehicle struck and killed her, leaving Christian music's most successful singer/songwriter to cope with unspeakable pain, the loss of one child and to father another through heart-numbing guilt. I myself have a 5-year-old little girl and the thought of such a thing is something I cannot bear.

Beauty Will Rise is Mr Chapman's love letter to his lost little girl and a raw look at him working through his pain. With sparse arraignments and acoustic guitar, he publicly wrestles with pain only a father who has lost a child can experience.

He said that, after he lost Maria, he honestly didn't know if he would ever write or sing songs again. ...

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PattyTherre says "Your face will look better if you start with a Tarte Clean Slate" about Tarte Clean Slate t5 Infused Natural Face Primer

PattyTherre — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:57:21 GMT

Quick View: I rarely apply makeup without using a primer first. I have a few faves but wanted to try a natural one so I chose Tarte Clean Slate t5 Infused Natural Face Primer to try. I like it! It gives my face a great canvas to apply makeup and doesn't clog my pores at all.

My Take on Tarte Clean Slate t5 Infused Natural Face Primer

This primer is clear and is propylene glycol free, preservative free, phthalate free, dye free, sulfate free, mineral oil free, fragrance free, and dermatologist tested. It has a load of good for your skin ingredients in it such as avocado oil, echinacea root extract, rosemary leaf extract, and Tarte's exclusive t5 complex which is a blend of five anti-oxidizing fruits.

All that is great but not if the primer doesn't work or causes breakouts. I pretty much stick to just a couple of primers that I know work for me so I was a little leery of what Tarte could do. The primer is clear and has a silicone base. That makes it slide over my skin and fill in little lines...

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MikeMaroon says "Play On, Carrie, Play On." about Play On [11/3] * by Carrie Underwood

MikeMaroon — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:26:01 GMT

It is my belief Carrie Underwood is the best singer to graduate from American Idol. She has an almost perfect voice and the range of Celine Dion. Loves ya Kelly. Respects ya Adam. But Carrie, she da man, er, woman. She really showcases those gorgeous pipes of hers on Play On, her third and definitely most pop-leaning album yet. Shania, watch your back.

And Ms Underwood went to the studio determined to hit a massive homerun this time. She very nearly succeeds. Bringing in the the ringers, like producers Mike Elizondo and Max Martin along with writers Brett James, Tom Shapiro, and Paul Overstreet, Carrie presents us with an eclectic group of songs that sometimes feels like pandering but mostly feels like a nice variety.

Kicking things off with her already huge radio hit, Cowboy Casanova, Elizondo imparts a juiced-up dance hall flavor that sounds like an attempt to bring back line-dancing. With Underwood's booming vocals, this "warning" song is sure to have urban cowboys...

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PattyTherre says "Very good results but way too runny and I need too much!" about Serious Skin Care First Pressed Olive Oil Hydra-Gloss Hair Conditioner

PattyTherre — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:45:59 GMT

Quick View: I like Serious Skin Care First Pressed Olive Oil Hydra-Gloss Shampoo and I also like Serious Skin Care First Pressed Olive Oil Hydra-Gloss Hair Conditioner but this somewhat pricey conditioner is very watery and I need a load of it to cover my long hair. I like the results but it's not worth the price when I run out so much sooner than I do the shampoo.

My Take on Serious Skin Care First Pressed Olive Oil Hydra-Gloss Hair Conditioner

This conditioner comes in an 8 ounce flip top plastic bottle. It looks exactly like the shampoo and it is really hard to tell in the shower which is which, the ONLY difference is the word Conditioner on the label.

Made with real pressed olive oil, this conditioner smells heavenly. It's a nice change from floral conditioners and very unisex. The consistency is almost like water though. It has a weird kind of blue green tint and it is super thin and runny. When I pour it into my hand, it leaks between my fingers and I lose some of it. I need a lot...

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PattyTherre says "Olive oil isn't just for cooking. It makes my hair shiny & soft." about Serious Skin Care First Pressed Olive Oil Hydra-Gloss Shampoo

PattyTherre — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:43:42 GMT

Quick View: I use olive oil products from The Body Shop, Wei East, and Serious Skin Care. I actually stumbled across a bottle of Serious Skin Care First Pressed Olive Oil Hydra-Gloss Shampoo in my big bin of shampoos and conditioners last week and started using it again. It is a good shampoo that makes my somewhat dry hair silky, soft, and shiny.

My Take on Serious Skin Care First Pressed Olive Oil Hydra-Gloss Shampoo

I found a bottle of this shampoo and conditioner and it looked like I had only used it a few times. I like The Body Shop Olive Glossing Shampoo so I decided to give the shampoo another try. I had no idea if I liked it before or not but I have so many different hair care products that they get rotated often and sometimes even forgotten about.

The shampoo comes in an 8 ounce plastic bottle with a flip open lid. It's green and lathers richly. The scent is like olive oil. It's rich, bold, and unisex. I really love the scent. It's a nice change from the frilly floral shampoos I...

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PattyTherre says "Closest thing to real Uggs I have found and under $25.00!" about Xhilaration - Electra Suede Boots

PattyTherre — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:57:06 GMT

Quick View: I have two pairs of "real" Uggs and love them. I wanted at least one more pair this year but my budget's tight. I couldn't justify spending so much on more boots. I tried lots of different "Ugg-alikes" but they all fell way short of the real thing. However, Xhilaration - Electra Suede Boots are VERY similar to Uggs in many ways. They are closest thing to the real thing I have found and I only paid $22.00 for mine on sale at Target.

My Take on Xhilaration - Electra Suede Boots

Thse 8" shaft suede boots look very, very similar to Uggs. They come in Gray, Chestnut, Sand, Brown, and Black that I saw. Online, they are selling out and only have Chestnut and Gray left at Target.com. I bought the gray pair at first. They were on sale for $22.00 and it was an impulse purchase.

However, I soon realized that these boots were super warm and super comfortable. Uggs has sheepskin lining whereas these boots have faux fur. Otherwise, it's almost impossible to tell these apart from real Uggs....

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PattyTherre says "I really don't see much whitening with Crest Vivid White Night." about Crest Vivid White Night Toothpaste

PattyTherre — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:52:46 GMT

Quick View: I am a tough case when it comes to whitening my teeth because I drink loads of tea every day and have since I was a teen. On top of that, I enjoy Diet Coke and Pepsi daily as well. They stain teeth badly and getting those stains off is no easy task. It doesn't appear that Crest Vivid White Night Toothpaste is going to do more than other whitening toothpastes for me.

My Take on Crest Vivid White Night Toothpaste

This toothpaste comes in a 4.1 ounce tube, smaller than typical toothpaste tubes. It promises to loosen stains at night so that you can brush them away in the morning. I love that concept but then on the tube, it says to brush teeth morning and night with the toothpaste so is it a night product or an anytime one?

The toothpaste tastes fine. It is minty and fresh and does a good job cleaning my teeth and freshening my breath. After I brush, I do seem to have slightly whiter teeth but I think that is just because I do a really thorough job brushing at night and my teeth...

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PattyTherre says "For $1, I get the same results as with pricey pet odor sprays." about Powerhouse Pet Odor Neutralizer Spray

PattyTherre — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:42:08 GMT

Quick View: Until very recently, I probably went into any type of dollar store a total of maybe five times ever. I didn't think they had anything but junk. However, times are tough and I'm bargain hunting these days. I was at my local Dollar Tree store when I saw a bottle of Powerhouse Pet Odor Neutralizer Spray. I bought it for the heck of it but found it's a very good product for the price. It works as well as pricey odor neutralizers and has a fresh scent that lasts.

My Take on Powerhouse Pet Odor Neutralizer Spray

This spray comes in a 13 ounce plastic bottle. It says it is safe to use on furniture, fabrics, and in the air. The scent is billed as "clean and fresh" which it actually is. It smells like fresh laundry right out of the dryer only stronger.

I have a dog and two cats. Along with the pets comes odors from two litter boxes (I have a girl's litter box and a boy's litter box and the cats never use each other's.) and odors that a little, messy dog cause. I have been buying brands...

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AnnaBanana says "Not my favorite tuna salad, but very good and convenient too!" about StarKist Tuna Salad

AnnaBanana — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:51:59 GMT

One of the more intriguing subjects to surface over on the discussion boards this week was "Tuna Sandwich" in which the writer wanted to know about our individual preferences for tuna salad. This odd topic rang a bell as many people have perked up and responded. Apparently tuna salad is something a lot of us get pretty passionate about. Alas, it does require a certain amount of work which isn't difficult but may not always be convenient. For times like that, someone has invented StarKist Tuna Salad which is "Sandwich-Ready" chunk light tuna mixed with other ingredients including water chestnuts, celery, dill pickle relish, onion powder and egg yolks and packed in one of the familiar blue foil pouches. This is not like the tuna salad I make (which is my favorite, naturally) but it's pretty good and very convenient. A person could easily take this to work, along with a couple slices of bread, and throw together a fresh sandwich in the office kitchen at lunch time.

STATS:

The contents...

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LauraBelle says "Keeping It Safe, Sleek, and Looking Good" about iFrogz - iPhone 3G & 3GS Luxe Case

LauraBelle — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:19:03 GMT

When you dump a lot of money into something, you want to make sure you keep it protected. I had a great protective cover for my first iPhone. It was rubberized, and while it wasn't the best looking one out there, I felt it kept my iPhone protected. Not that I plan on anything happening to it, but if it would fall a short distance from the couch to the floor or something, it was always okay. It kind of bounced.

Yet once I got the new iPhone 3GS, I was warned that the old covers might not fit very well. Rubberized, it was able to stretch around the newer phone quite well. However, I found the most annoying thing with my new phone. Unlike my old one, it seemed ultra sensitive to pressure. I couldn't talk on the phone without my ear accidentally hanging up on someone, muting them, putting them on hold, etc. It was quite frustrating, for me as well as whoever I was talking to. I couldn't figure out why the touchscreen was so much more sensitive than my old one. Researching on the Apple website,...

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LauraBelle says "Unique Packaging!" about Target Brand Anti-Aging Wipes

LauraBelle — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:31:04 GMT

Now that I have completely fallen in love with using facial wipes to clean off makeup and wash my face at the end of the day or when I'm traveling, I decided to get more exact about the process and use a specific brand that would help me more than another. I was using more generic wipes before and have now decided to try anti-aging wipes for myself and acne wipes for my teenagers.

Again, when I can use Target Brand or generic, I will, as I find they usually work just as well, so if I can save money, why not? I picked up a package of the Target Brand Anti-Aging Wipes. They say on the package that they are comparable to the Anti-Aging Wipes from Olay. What really attracted me to this package, though was the unique dispensing method. Instead of having a hole covered up with a a replaceable flap to draw more wipes, it has a hard place flip-lid enclosure. It keeps them all fresh throughout the whole whole package!

As for the wipes themselves, they have a slight texture to them, just enough...

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LauraBelle says "Fit a Little Better, But Still Not Like a Glove" about Always Slender Ultra Thin With Flexi-Wings Pads

LauraBelle — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:13:15 GMT

Of the different products that you find and grow attached to, feminine hygiene products rank right up there. I have been using the same pads for years, Kotex Ultra Thin. I just prefer them and don't like the others that I find. Yet, I find them less and less these days, so I think they may be phasing them out, that is the ones without wings. Pads with wings just never seem to fit right, but more and more it seems the options at the stores are with wings, rather than without. I finally bit the bullet and started trying some different brands with wings, to see if I could find something I liked and that fit well. I have found Always Slender Ultra Thin With Flexi-Wings Pads, but I think what I like most is the the Slender feature, and not the rest of it necessarily.

My thing against Always pads has always just been the wings. They just never seemed to fit me right to be comfortable and keep what needs to be contained ... contained. I saw these on the shelf at the store, and thought maybe it...

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AnnaBanana says "I was a bad girl, and it was fun!" about Pub Cheese Cheddar with Jalapenos Cheese Spread

AnnaBanana — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:34:20 GMT

The other night, as I shopped at Trader Joe's, I felt a little guilty even reaching for Pub Cheese Cheddar with Jalapenos Cheese Spread. I may have felt guilty but I was a bad girl just the same and lofted the tub of spread into my bright red shopping cart with reckless abandon. Sanity had returned by the time I got home and it was a while before I actually got around to using this wonderful product. Now all I can say is that this is one occasion when I didn't regret being a bad girl.

Pub Cheese Cheddar with Jalapenos Cheese Spread is distributed by an outfit I had never heard of before ... Lactalis USA Commercial, Inc. It is rather like Kaukauna Cheese Spread except that it has a lighter, more whipped quality and is also vested with juicy hunks of real jalapeno peppers. To me, this was pleasantly warm and spicy but then I like things spicy. If you prefer milder foods, this may not be for you.

STATS:

Two tablespoons are considered to be a single serving which contains 70...

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LauraBelle says "More Than Just a Funny Movie" about The Invention of Lying

LauraBelle — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:55:00 GMT

What I was surprised to find watching <em>Invention of Lying</em> was the theology question it presented. I just suspected a safe little movie about people who didn't know any better than to tell the truth all the time. It was something that made me think, and that was something I just wasn't expecting.

Ricky Gervais stars as Mark, a somewhat ne'er-do-well type of guy. He goes on a blind date with Anna (Jennifer Garner), and as is the custom in the strange land they live in, she is brutally honest about what she thinks of him and her expectations. She tells her mom on the phone, right in front of him, that she won't be sleeping with him and that he has a fat, frog face. This strange world they live in is one where no one can lie. Everyone always tells the truth.

Not only can they not lie, but fiction hasn't been invented either. This means all movies are basically documentaries. Mark works as a screenwriter, but struggles, because he's been asssigned to to the 13th century, and enough interesting...

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AnnaBanana says "Ya gotta watch that fine print!" about Campbell's Select Harvest Chicken w/Egg Noodles Soup

AnnaBanana — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:07:17 GMT

I have fallen into the habit of making my soup which means that I pretty much know what goes into what I have been eating. Perhaps this is why I got a little careless about label information. At any rate, I haven't totally given up on commercially prepared and canned soups and had become interested in the new Campbell soups I had been hearing about. When Peapod put them on sale for $1.67 each, I went for them faster than a dog lunging for a Pupperoni snack. In my haste and exuberance, I didn't even spare a glance at the nutritional information which Peapod conscientiously posts for all the products they sell.

Yesterday for lunch I tried Campbell's Select Harvest Chicken with Egg Noodles Soup. With no small difficulty, I pried the metal lid back, replaced the plastic cover, and microwaved for two popping, banging minutes. I don't know what other eager soup-eaters' experience has been like, but I enjoyed this soup. In my bowl at least, there were impressive chunks of...

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LauraBelle says "Could Shave Until I'm Raw And It Wouldn't Be Close Enough" about Noxzema triple blade Disposable Razors

LauraBelle — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:17:24 GMT

We all know disposable razors aren't the best, but occasionally it's nice to find a brand that does well, despite the fact you can throw it away when you're done with it and grab a new one. Unfortunately, this is not the case with Noxzema Triple Blade Disposable Shavers.

I've been saddled with the unfortunate circumstance of having to shave my legs and underarms daily. Because of that, I look for a razor that will keep up with me and not have me showing a 5 o'clock shadow. When it's bikini season or I'm going on vacation, I want better than a disposable, but for just standard everyday use, a good disposable razor works well. I've been using Bic Soleil for that purpose and sometimes it was hard to remember it was disposable and that I could just throw it away.

In need of more disposable razors, I saw the Noxzema razors in the store and thought I'd give them a chance. It's a trusted brand in skincare, so I thought they'd be great. I was wrong. The minute I get done shaving under my arms...

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PattyTherre says "After being a Poser, I decided to Dress 2 Impress. I look hot!" about JK Jemma Kidd Air Kiss Shine Lip Gloss - Dress 2 Impress

PattyTherre — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:46:15 GMT

Quick View: I liked JK Jemma Kidd Air Kiss Shine Lip Gloss in the shade Poser so much that I bought the shade Dress 2 Impress and like it as much or even better. This gloss is really good stuff and worth the $16.00 a tube.

My Take on JK Jemma Kidd Air Kiss Shine Lip Gloss - Dress 2 Impress

This lip gloss is available only at Target stores and target.com as is the whole line of JK Jemma Kidd cosmetics. There are some of her cosmetics online at one high end site but they are different than what Target carries. Jemma Kidd is a British makeup artist who brought her line to the US and I have to say, so far everything I tried is really, really good! And pricey.

After I tried JK Jemma Kidd Air Kiss Shine Lip Gloss in the shade Poser, which is a super flattering deep pink, I started getting the urge for the deeper red hued shade, Dressed 2 Impress. I had seen it at Target and it looked too red for me but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to try it and, like any cosmetics junkie, I...

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