Lotions/ Creams -Jergens - Ultra Healing Lotion
ChaiBliss 2/24/2005 1:34:00 AM
This is probably one of my all time favorite drugstore brand lotions. In fact, the only thing I can think of that I like just as much is Aveeno's baby lotion. The Ultra Healing lotion is indeed a healing emollient that feels subtly light to the touch but rich once blended into the skin. I have sensitive, extra dry skin (and psoriasis and eczema - lucky me!), and not once has this lotion caused any irritation. I can't say that it heals my eczema outbreaks, but it does seem to slightly soothe psoriasis patches. However, I use this primarily as a facial moisturizer. Yes, Jergens on my face. And yes, it works! I've been asked so many times why I do this, and let me tell you - I haven't had such soft facial skin since I was a baby. The nicest part is that it really seems to last, so my face feels soft and supple throughout the day. It also makes makeup much easier to apply, and hasn't caused any breakouts. For a gal whose skin freaks out at the mere mention of anything new, this lotion has been a pleasant surprise. And it's cheap! Need I say more?
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Lotions/ Creams -Olay - Moisturinse in shower body lotion-extra dry skin
ChaiBliss 10/17/2004 2:53:00 AM
This stuff wasn't bad, but it's not something I would consider buying again unless Olay decided to reformulate it. My skin is exceedingly dry, and it's always nice to have some extra moisture, particularly in the throes of a hot shower (which is terrible for my skin but which I totally can't resist)! In theory, this is a great idea. It has a nice, creamy consistency and spreads smoothly and easily over my skin. It's especially wonderful on just-shaved skin, making it feel like silk. My problem with this is that it's just not moisturizing enough for problematic, dry skin, even though one would be led to believe that the extra dry skin formula would be just the thing for it. My own extra dry skin always needed a healthy coat of moisturizer after I was done showering, regardless of how much of the Moisturinse I used. The scent is really pleasant, mild and inoffensive, so even if your skin is sensitive, you might be okay trying this out. I wouldn't recommend it as your sole moisturizing agent, though!
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Lotions/ Creams -Laura Mercier - Vanilla Creme Puff Body Butter
ChaiBliss 9/11/2004 3:18:00 AM
Love this more than words can really express. I've often wished LM would create a moisturizer to go with the lusciously scented Vanilla Creme Puff shower gel, and was over the moon when I found it at BG a few weeks ago. The scent is a tiny bit different from the shower gel - it lacks that authentic creme puff scent that is so potent in the gel - but it's close enough that I still adore it. The scent is sweet, fairly mild, and warm, with a slightly buttery undertone. I can't put up with anything too buttery sweet, but this does well on my skin and smells positively dreamy. The butter itself is thick, as you'd expect, with an easy to blend consistency. It sinks in immediately and leaves my skin unbelievably soft! If you love vanilla, don't mind dropping some extra cash on a body butter, and want something new for the cooler months, give this a try.
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Foundations -Maybelline - Dream Matte Mousse
ChaiBliss 9/11/2004 3:04:00 AM
Just when I thought I would never get over the discontinuation of my beloved L'Oreal Cover Expert concealer and Nivea TM, I ran across this product. My initial interest stemmed solely from the fact that the foundation was a mousse formula. I managed to find what I thought was an accurate color match (Pure Beige), and was pleasantly surprised to find that the color blended perfectly and looked completely natural. I've noticed that when I first apply this, my skin almost looks a little too flawless and perfect - sort of pristine in an odd, airbrushed manner. I'd never complain about perfect looking skin, but those initial couple of minutes don't look as natural as you'd expect perfect skin to look!
Fortunately, it settles quickly, and my skin still looks flawless, with the difference being that it looks natural at the same time. I've been using this for a couple of months now, and my dry, sensitive skin is in great shape, which I'm really thankful for. The absolute best thing about this amazing foundation, besides the dreamy, whipped consistency (which feels heavenly to the touch and totally creamy and soft when applied), is the fact that it's made my makeup routine so much quicker. I don't need concealer at all anymore, because this covers up my circles and blotches so effectively. It lasts the entire day without budging.
It might be wise to apply this over a moisturizer, particularly if your skin is on the dry side. It's easier to blend in this way, and it also seems to help prevent some mild pilling. It's been a while since I've raved about anything, so this gets all the raves I've been storing up for months! Coming from someone who's never worn foundation with any regularity, that's saying a whole lot.
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Lotions/ Creams -Bath and Body Works - Pumpkin Body Lotion (Fall 2004 The Perfect Autumn)
ChaiBliss 9/11/2004 2:52:00 AM
I was really excited about trying out this scent, because I love pumpkin and because a friend (who's also a B&BW manager) informed me that this smells just like my beloved Pure Simplicity Pumpkin Mask, which is a pure, sweet pumpkin pie filling scent. I'll try not to hold it against my friend, but this smells absolutely nothing like that! I'm not even sure why it's called "pumpkin" - it needs to be renamed Spice! Scent problems aside, the lotion itself is the usual B&BW formula, which is pretty moisturizing but not anything to write home about. I'm clearly in the minority with my review, but I didn't find this appealing at all, sadly.
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Lotions/ Creams -Bath and Body Works - Black Raspberry Vanilla Lotion
ChaiBliss 9/11/2004 2:46:00 AM
Wow, this turned out to be something of a disappointment. I'd read that it compares to the lovely Trish #9, and for that reason alone I was tempted by this scent. One whiff and I was completely thrown by its tart, relatively bland fragrance. I purchased a tiny bottle to test out and have come to the conclusion that this is nothing more than a tart berry with a fancy name. If even the tiniest hint of vanilla were detectable, I think it would help soften this up a little bit, but as this sunk into my skin and settled, all I could really smell was that sharp berry note. Sure, I love to eat them, but I don't want to smell like them!
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Fragrances -Comptoir Sud Pacifique - Amour de Cacao
ChaiBliss 7/23/2004 11:24:00 PM
Amour de Cacao is heaven in a bottle. With strong, true notes of chocolate, orange, and vanilla that blend together to create the most sinfully delicious chocolatey fragrance available, it's one of those scents that is both fun and grown up at the same time. There are a few scents from CSP that are lovely but very youthful in nature, among them the popular Vanille Abricot. That's one I love but couldn't wear to a function. Amour de Cacao, however, is universal enough that I feel comfortable wearing it to anything. I love it in the cooler months, when suddenly it becomes much more than just a simple, sweet chocolate fragrance - it's a comfort that just envelopes my senses completely. A definite favorite - if they discontinue this, it would be a crime.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Boots - Natural Collection Lip Glaze
ChaiBliss 7/23/2004 7:49:00 PM
I could never rave enough about this fabulous Glaze, and I'm surprised I haven't reviewed it yet, since I've been using all of them for ages now! All three colours are gorgeous: Redcurrant, a brilliant shade of berry with a hint of red; Sugar Plum, a relatively sheer plum that looks quite natural on my lips; and Chocolate Caramel, my favorite of the bunch, a cocoa bronze. Besides looking great, these also smell amazing, just like their namesakes!
The formula for the Glazes is pretty similar to Stila's, but I prefer this for a number of reasons. Obviously, it's less costly, and it also seems to last longer than Stila's ever has. The colour selection could stand to be greater, but I'm so in love with Chocolate Caramel in particular that I can't even fault Natural Collection for not having more to choose from! If you can get your hands on these, you must. They're worth it for any gloss lover (which, incidentally, I'm not - I just happen to adore these)!
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Treatments (Eye) -Clinique - All About Eyes
ChaiBliss 7/23/2004 7:40:00 PM
I can't say this has diminished "the look of puffs, circles, shadows, lines" as it claims to do, but nonetheless, it's a pretty decent moisturizer that keeps my undereye area smooth and supple. What I like best is how easy it is to apply concealer to the area after I've patted the cream on. It settles to a very soft, velvety finish, and in fact reminds me quite a bit of the way my lips feel after using All About Lips (which, incidentally, makes my lips feel like suede). There's no scent to speak of, and though I react to almost everything in existence, this has been perfectly mild and gentle on my sensitive skin. Due to the fact that it's not very good at the anti-wrinkle thing, I wouldn't call this a favorite. It's just one I'd happily use tons of sample jars of!
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Masks -Mario Badescu - Calma Mask
ChaiBliss 7/23/2004 7:34:00 PM
I'm really disappointed in this product. My first impression was of the horrible cigarette smell it imparted, but once I got over that (though I didn't, really), I had to deal with the irritation left on my skin after I'd washed this off. I understand it's meant for sensitive, troubled skin - which mine certainly is - but this didn't do a thing except make me feel sick to my stomach! I was left with a couple of bright red splotches. The smell really is impossible to get over, though. I can't believe MB has the gall to even sell this, it's so atrocious.
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Fragrances -Comptoir Sud Pacifique - Vanille Canelle
ChaiBliss 7/23/2004 2:33:00 AM
I wish this smelled as nice on me as it seems to on everyone else! Unfortunately, it was a complete dud. I've never had much luck with cinnamon-based fragrances, and here's another to add to the pile. Though it's touted as a blend of sweet vanilla and cinnamon, it is in actuality nothing more than a stick of Big Red. It's not unique at all, and doesn't really smell like what I'd expect from a classy, feminine scent (and from such a classy brand)! It does dry down to a very monotonous vanilla, and though I love CSP's Vanille scent, I'd rather just spritz that on than wait for the torturous scent of chewing gum to fade.
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Lipstick -Burt's Bees - Wings of Love lipstick
ChaiBliss 7/23/2004 2:27:00 AM
The Wings of Love lipsticks have a really lovely, creamy formula that keeps my lips from drying out. The colour lasts all day, in my experience, and I've discovered one of my favorite lipsticks in the line - Fig (formerly Honesty). It's a neutral, rosy-brown that's not too dark nor too light. It adds a splash of colour to my face and goes well with everything. The minty fresh scent is fantastic, too! I can't add much more to the positive reviews below, so I'll just say that this is something I'll definitely repurchase (unless it's really been discontinued)!
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Lips -Burt's Bees - Fig Lip Shimmer
ChaiBliss 7/23/2004 2:23:00 AM
This is one of those fabulous, everyday shades that's not particularly remarkable but is still totally great just for the fact that it goes well with everything. It's a fairly neutral rosy-brown, not too dark and a bit more on the rose side. It's one of my favorite "saves the day" lipsticks - the one I reach for when I'm in a huge rush and just need some colour. I love the minty fresh scent. The lasting power is good (no reapplications necessary for me), and I don't find it the least bit drying.
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Cleansers -Mario Badescu - cucumber cream soap
ChaiBliss 7/23/2004 2:01:00 AM
I've become a huge fan of this cleanser in recent months. It started with the small sample bottle I received from MB a year ago. I was highly impressed with how gentle, soothing, and creamy the soap was. I purchased a full size bottle and have been hooked since! I use this daily to remove my makeup, and my skin always feels incredibly soft and clean when I'm done. Used with water, it makes a passable cleanser, but if I want to really remove all my makeup (including eyes), I just massage the soap into my face, wet a cotton pad, and continue massaging that into my skin. It leaves my skin so much more supple than any drugstore cleansing cloth ever has. My staple was Clean & Clear's Pore Refining Cloths for a long time, but no longer. This soap has no scent, and produces a very mild lather. Don't let that fool you, though. It does an awesome job of cleansing!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Burt's Bees - Evening Primrose Overnight Creme
ChaiBliss 7/23/2004 1:55:00 AM
I am absolutely thrilled with this amazing moisturizer. Be forewarned that this contains lots of oils, is very slick and thick, and may feel like Crisco when you first try it. Because my skin is dry to the point of being nearly parched at times, a cream so heavy and rich feels wonderful. In the two months I've dedicated to using it, the condition of my skin has progressively gone from "okay" to "wow!" It's soft, supple, and feels completely different to the touch. I suffer from eczema and psoriasis, and this cream has even softened those spots and made my skin feel virtually new again.
As I mentioned, it contains tons of oils, among them Sweet Almond, Sesame Seed, Evening Primose, Rosehip Seed, Avocado, Rose, Lavender, and Ylang Ylang. It can't get much more natural than that! I should add that my skin is uber-sensitive, so much so that even the smallest thing can make my skin react negatively. I've had no reactions whatsoever with this. This does seem to be the kind of thing that could break a person out, though. If your skin doesn't really require such a heavy moisturizer, you probably will not benefit from it. If it's dry and sensitive like mine, though, you might find it to be a miraculous product. I will definitely keep purchasing this!
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No