Reviews By Type

Biore Ultra Deep Cleansing Pore Strips

Once upon a time, I worked for a shall-remain-nameless online retailer. While interviewing, I was handed the typical packet of "our-company-is-great" documentation, including a copy of the TIME cover featuring the Chairman/CEO as person of the year.

I was impressed. I marveled over his achievement.

I just couldn’t get past the fact that his nose was riddled with a horrid quantity of VERY visible blackheads.

Don’t be that guy! Biore Ultra Deep Cleansing Pore Strips are an incredibly effective, incredibly quick way to unplug even the most clogged of pores (including the pesky creases around the nose).

Valentino Rock ‘n Rose

Welcome to Raging Rouge’s first fragrence review! As mentioned previously, many of my European readers are interested in reading more about this fragrance. This review is dedicated to them!

Rose is the stereotypical note of an old-woman’s perfume. I never dreamed it could be made current, and haven’t seen it used in such a public-pleasing manner since YSL’s "Paris" in the mid-eighties. Don’t get me wrong… Many popular fragrences use notes of Rose, just not in such an overt manner.

Valentino’s Rock ‘n Rose perfume has proved the scent of rose can indeed be modern. In fact, that is what makes this perfume unique. This fragrence is a marriage of the classic and perhaps even stodgy scent of rose and the ever-so current notes of citrus and warm vanilla.

If you’re in the market for a new scent, definitely give Rock ‘n Rose a sniff the next time you’re in a favorite department store like Macy’s.

Global Goddess Beauty Shangra Lights Shimmer Lips

Longing for a neutral, girl-next door look? Well, move on then, because Global Goddess is not for you. Looking for sexy? Strong? Stand-out? You are in the right place.

To further explain the type of beauty that would select Global Goddess- I offer this… If you were to raid Queen Rania’s purse, I would bet you’d find Shangra Lights.

Shangra Lights Shimmer Lips consist of 4 sparkling glosses packed in a sexy tasseled brocade box. Each gloss is 0.428 ounces, so it’s actually not such a bad deal at $43. But… the glosses are currently on sale at Global Goddess Beauty for $32 (less than $9 per gloss)! Shipping is free for orders of $75 or over.

The four colors included in the set are: Enchantment (a neutral shade, very natural), Forbidden Fruit (a pink shimmering gloss that reminds me of my once beloved Versace "Lights on Lips"), Royal Gold (a sheer bronze), and Nirvana (a deep red). Even the neutral shades are far from ordinary. The sparkle makes them special, and they’re perfect for layering over a favorite lipstick, as well as wearing them alone.

Retailers of Global Goddess include Sephora, Amazon.com and Nordstrom. But the raging good deal on Shangra Lights is only available at their own site!

Jane Iredale Concealer

In the market for a new concealer, I decided to give Jane Iredale a try. I had read such rave reviews about Active Light under-eye concealer, I was just itching to try anything Jane Iredale.

Right out of the box, Disappear worked differently from any concealer I’ve ever used. In a tube form, the concealer can be applied using its patented sponge-tip applicator, or using a concealer brush. The liquid is layered on thinly until the desired coverage is achieved. I’m a stick-form concealer girl, so it took a couple of attempts to get the application right. Once I got the hang of it, I was hooked. Coverage can be as light or as heavy as you need it. Jane Iredale’s website even claims it can be used to cover up tattoos!

Additional benefit… It contains green tea extract, an antioxidant that also combats acne bacteria. A concealer that helps clear the very blemishes you are covering? Brilliant!

I snagged my Disappear at Caliderma. Purchase $125 or more and get 15% off with the discount code SPRING15. Discount does not apply to iS Clinical Product.

Why I am Throwing Away my 40+ Bottle Nailpolish Collection

I love my nail-polish, all 40+ bottles of happy, simple, fun color variation. I’ve applied them lovingly, and have organized them by color for easy access. I love sifting through them to pick out a color before heading to the salon.

I love them all, and I’m throwing them out.

Why? The story starts during my pregnancy, about two years ago. While pregnant, I did everything in my power to ensure that my baby was given a healthy environment in which to thrive. I gave up caffeine, discontinued coloring my hair, and stopped using any topical product that seemed sketchy. I wasn’t certain if nail-polish was safe, so I did some research. My research unearthed that a common ingredient in polish, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), is linked to birth defects. Temporarily, I decided to pass on my manicures, too.

Turns out, there are a minimum of three ingredients in many nail polishes that are harmful to both you and your unborn child; DBP, Formaldehyde, and Toluene. According to articles I’ve read on the subject, these three chemicals statistically increase birth defects, reproductive issues, and cancer risk. DBP is in fact banned from cosmetics in the EU, due to its dangers.

This post has completely ruined your relaxing manicure and pedicure ritual, right? Well, just when all hope was lost, I contacted someone at OPI. Thao Nguyen, a technical support person from OPI Products, Inc. gave me more information on OPI’s nail-polish formula. In response to customer demand, Thao said "OPI has began [sic] transitioning out of Formaldehyde, Toluene and DBP early last year and we expect that transition will be completed by year end." Thao also said currently the only OPI products that contain Formaldehyde and/or DBP are OPI’s nail strengtheners (all "Nail Envy" products), Start-to-Finish base/top coat and RapiDry Top Coat.

The news keeps getting better. The new OPI Formaldehyde, Toluene and DBP formula will be available worldwide. So, regardless of where you buy it, you can be certain your OPI polish does not contain these ingredients.

My 40+ faithful Polish soldiers will become casualties of war. I’m going 100% DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde free. On a positive note, it gives me a fantastic excuse to purchase the entire Australia collection. It’s already DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde-free.