Treatments (Eye) -Olay - Regenerist Eye Derma-Pod
alyria 11/9/2012 2:17:00 PM
I thought these were a very innovative product from Olay. The cream was lightly fragranced, tinted pale pink and soothed my dry lids after cleansing. It provided basic moisturization - I didn't notice any particular smoothing, firming or anti-wrinkle benefits. I loved how sanitary these one-time use pods were and how I didn't have to mess up my fingers to apply. They were super easy to use. The sponges weren't the softest, but you get what you pay for. I didn't find them rough, just not super soft. I liked that the sponge doubled as an applicator and as a massage/exfoliating tool. Even though the sponge soaked up much of the product, I still felt that I got decent mileage out of each pod. There was plenty of product for each eye. The downside is the pods are very environmentally unfriendly. Would have preferred if they came in a clear cylinder that I could store in my bathroom vs. a slide-open box that wasn't very practical. Unfortunately, I believe these are now discontinued, so though I would re-purchase, I won't be able.
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Shampoo -Unlisted Brand - Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy
alyria 9/10/2012 11:29:00 PM
Caveat: I just used this product for the first time but I was so impressed I wanted to write a review immediately. I purchased both the shampoo and conditioner in Strong Lengths. Love the scent - best I can describe it is fruity clean. I smell crisp green apple but it's not overly fruity. The shampoo is very rich and super lathery. The conditioner is sooo buttery smooth; I'd compare it to room-temperature thick greek yogurt. Best of all, as I rinsed it away I could feel how smooth my hair was. As a consistent after-shower hair brusher, I couldn't believe how much less breakage I experienced after only one use! I'm so excited to continue using Clear!
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Hair Styling Tools -Unlisted Brand - Tourmaline Featherweight/Travel Hair Dryer (Original and Bespoke versions)
alyria 5/13/2012 3:34:00 AM
I was terribly disappointed with this hairdryer. I have the T3 Featherweight. For the promises it made at the price I paid, I expected more. Compared to the 8+ year old inexpensive Conair 1600 watt hairdryer I'd been using, they were comparable in drying time, weight, sleekness and airspeed. The only difference is the T3 gets way hotter - to the point where my scalp feels like it's being burned. At least my Conair had heat settings, while the T3 does not - just a cool shot switch. I didn't notice particularly shinier and sleeker hair, which the technology in the T3 promised. I also didn't see any improved drying time, even with the higher temperature. Overall, I would not recommend this hairdryer. You can get the same performance for a fraction of the price. There may be better performing expensive hairdryers out there, but don't spend your money on the T3 Featherweight.
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Cleansers -Nivea - Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes Dry/Sensitive Skin
alyria 2/2/2012 11:34:00 PM
I bought these primarily because I already love the scent of the pink-packaged Nivea products: a soft, floral scent with a hint of fresh citrus. Somehow, the scent is calming and soothing and refreshing all at the same time. I found these wipes a lot drier than the average makeup removing wipe, which I didn't love. They weren't bone dry, but I wouldn't describe them as soaked or damp. The cloth wasn't super soft to the touch since it was on the dry side - I would compare the texture to a dryer sheet after it has been tumbled in the dryer. However, the cloth was extremely gentle on the skin and didn't irritate at all. The wipe was effective at removing face makeup, consisting of primer, concealer, liquid foundation, pressed powder and mineral foundation (yikes!) I use a separate eye makeup remover. What surprised me the most was that there was no residue at all after removal! I didn't feel any slipperiness or that dry-oil texture that sometimes remains after using a wipe. I normally follow with a cleanser, but with these wipes I won't have to. These were priced about $1 CDN lower than other major brands, for the same 25-count pack. I would buy them again because I love the subtle scent, they are gentle on the skin and remove makeup effectively with no residue.
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Treatments (Eye) -Kiehls - Abyssine Eye Cream
alyria 1/18/2011 9:54:00 PM
A nice eye cream, but nothing special. No miracles performed here! I can't attest for the claims: "deter the effects of aging on the skin while providing instant moisturization and diminishing the look of fatigue." The almost gel-like light cream is moisturizing. Spreads easily and evenly and absorbs VERY fast, so for those of you who use eye creams in the morning before your make-up, I would recommend this. There's no residue and nothing weird happening with your makeup when applied overtop (ie. pilling, flaking.) Comes in your basic screw-top little jar. I would recommend it but most would pass because of the steeper price tag. I don't think it's worth the money, but I would buy it again.
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Polishes -OPI - Nice Color, Eh?
alyria 9/21/2007 1:34:00 AM
This polish applied like a dream. I found it had much better pigmentation than any other OPI polish I've tried thus far, and it was so foolproof to apply! It just slid across my nail easily without a streak in sight. While I prefer applying 2 coats of polish, this one would have sufficed with just 1! Nice Color, Eh? is a great colour to transition from summer to fall; a very rich berry-rose with silver shimmer.
Click continue to view a picture of Nice Color, Eh? taken in direct sunlight, 2 coats.
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4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -J. R. Watkins - Lemon Cream Hand & Body Lotion
alyria 9/8/2007 5:26:00 PM
Mmm. If not for any other reason, you should buy this because of its lovely scent! It brings to mind a fluffy lemon cake. Or Nilla wafers! While it smells "foody" at first, the lemon notes come forward as it absorbs into the skin so you are left with a fresh lemon scent with a hint of rich cream. Quite subtle and not at all overwhelming.
This is affordable at $8 CDN for 11 fl. oz. (325mL.) I found this at Shopper's Drug Mart. My one gripe is that the pump does not dispense a lot of lotion so it takes several pumps to achieve a decent amount. Also, the bottle is easily tippable (but it's plastic, so no big deal unless you're prone to clumsiness as I am.) The moisturizing properties of this lotion are average. The texture of the lotion is like a fluffier Elmer's Glue - not at all runny, but still spreads and absorbs easily.
Again, what really makes this lotion stand out from any others is its delicious scent and that is what makes it a must-buy! I will definitely be purchasing again.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Tutti Frutti Tonga
alyria 8/11/2007 3:11:00 AM
A truly pretty colour! This is a perfect ballerina pink with a frosty/pearl finish. I don't notice the peachy-ness the other reviewers have, instead I see a tiny hint of lilac. This is basically a pale pink version of another favourite polish of mine, MAC Abstract. The pearl finish does induce a bit of streaking but the Pro-Wide brush really helps with that problem. I recommend 2 coats, the first one thin and the second thicker. As always, great OPI quality - polish that dries in minutes and stays chip-free for days even for a frequent hand-washer like me.
Included is a picture of me with 2 coats of Tutti Frutti Tonga over 1 coat of OPI Natural Nail Base Coat. Please note that this picture was taken in direct sunlight, so indoors the polish is more pink.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Bubble Bath
alyria 7/25/2007 4:15:00 PM
All I've ever wanted was to achieve Giada De Laurentiis's (of the Food Network) beautiful nails. I swear I watch the show just to eye her impeccable manicure. Well.. I FOUND IT! OPI Bubble Bath, my new favourite polish. I'm a new OPI customer and I have to say that I will never go back to drugstore polish ever again. The Pro-Wide brush makes for quick application and less risk of streaking, the polish dries so fast - in only a minute or so, and it doesn't chip for days and days! This is a feat because I'm a frequent hand-washer and my nail polish usually chips the following day.
Bubble Bath is gloriously streak-free. I find to achieve the perfect Giada-esque shade, you need 2 coats. I apply mine over OPI Ridge Filler, which helps the polish adhere and smoothes out the nail surface. Also, because Ridge Filler is a translucent milky colour itself, it provides a nice base for Bubble Bath. The colour is a lovely, milky shade with the slightest hint of pink. I wouldn't necessarily associate it with a bubble bath.. I'd have called it "Vanilla Milkshake". It looks beautiful on my hands indoors, but unfortunately in the sunlight it makes my skin look rather ashen. Not so much that I'd take off a lippie, though.
I'm including a picture of me wearing 2 coats of Bubble Bath over 1 coat of OPI Ridge Filler. This photo was taken in direct sunlight.
27 out of 29 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -L'Occitane - Milk bar soap
alyria 7/19/2007 7:08:00 PM
One of the best soaps I have ever used. My favourite! Beautiful packaging and unique square-shaped (in 100g size) cream-coloured bar with L'Occitane's logo etched on. This and the 20% Shea Butter Hand Cream are my favourite L'Occitane products, but although I adore the hand cream's scent I think I love this one even more. The Milk bar soap just smells like luxury: a lovely blend of creamy milk and shea butter. It lathers up well, and leaves my hands squeaky-clean without over-drying! I also like that the scent lingers subtly, smelling clean. Even the paper wrap packaging is pretty (and also recyclable!) The combination of this soap, L'Occitane's Shea Butter Hand Cream and Nail & Cuticle Cream have left my hands soft, nourished and never looking better! At $8.00 CDN for a 100mg bar of soap, I can't say that is affordable but it is so wonderful that I have to urge you to give it a try. L'Occitane offers great gift sets too, so maybe start hinting for your next special occasion..
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Samples -Everyday Minerals - Free Sample Makeup Kit [DISCONTINUED/REPLACED]
alyria 7/19/2007 1:29:00 AM
General comments:
Everyday Minerals is my new HG make-up! I am so incredibly impressed with the quality of their foundation powders - they provide smooth, even coverage that looks positively airbrushed, they have a wide shade selection, and you can't beat their prices. For a sample kit, you can select 3 foundation shades, 1 concealer and 1 blush. It's FREE - all you have to pay for is shipping!
Packaging:
I gave the packaging a rating of 4 instead of 5 because some of the powder spilled in transit. The samples come in small, screw-top 2.5g containers (please correct me if this is wrong) and EM says they are good for 3 - 6 applications, but I got up to 10 uses from one jar! Everyday Minerals is very generous with their samples - each of my sample containers was PACKED to the top. I found the jars to be too tiny to use with my kabuki brush (I use Bobbi Brown's Face Brush, which is in my opinion the best kabuki brush out there) so what I would do is pour a little bit of the powder into my palm, and swirl the brush into the powder to coat the bristles evenly.
Shades:
For my NC30/NW25 skin, I found the Medium Beige Neutral (Matte) to match perfectly. Medium Beige Summer (Matte) was entirely too orange and Medium Beige (Matte) was a little too light. For a concealer, I would recommend Spring which is a close match, since Intensive Medium turned out to be way too chalky-white! I was disappointed with my Girl's Day blush, which is a warm pink-red hue with tons of golden shimmer. Very pretty, but too over-the-top for everyday wear. Too much shimmer!
Other notes:
- On hot, sweaty days, I found that the foundation made my forehead itchy! When I scratched or rubbed it would cause the foundation to come off.
- I didn't find the staying power to be anything to write home about. Granted, it's powder and I also have extremely oily skin. My skin still had that airbrushed look by the end of the day, but I still had to touch up with pressed powder.
- Bonus: The foundation powders have SPF 12.
- You may be concerned about EM accentuating dryness/flakiness. I didn't find that anything looked worse after applying foundation, but it didn't look better either. What I did was do a quick exfoliation with a scrub or damp washcloth and put a rich, moisturizing cream onto the dry patches. I then used a lighter hand to buff the foundation onto those areas.
- I find that using a light hand with the foundation is much better because you can build layers if needed instead of coating your skin in one thick layer. In fact, being generous with your foundation actually makes your skin look worse! I find the powder settled into creases and had that cakey look that you get using Bare Escentuals.
- I have had SIGNIFICANTLY less breakouts ever since using this foundation. I can practically feel my skin being able to breathe.
In conclusion:
Would I buy again? Yes, and I already have! It took me 2 sample kits to find the right shade and even being in Canada I only had to wait about 1 - 2 weeks for delivery. Everyday Minerals is SO affordable and believe me - your skin will never look better after using their foundation. Oh, and you can pay with Paypal! I know I sound like a walking commercial but I've been recommending EM to so many people I almost feel I should be paid for my word-of-mouth advertising. So, shoo! Go get your sample kit!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Got 2 Be - 2 Sexy Voluptuous Volume Mousse
alyria 6/21/2007 12:12:00 AM
I have thick, wavy-permed hair and absolutely love this stuff. I've gone through probably 4 or 5 bottles now. I squirt a little into the palm of my hand, and it does this neat little fizzing action and then it GROWS! Don't be deceived by the fizzing, however - the mousse has a great creamy texture, very unlike other "crunchy" mousses I've tried. I always squirt a generous amount into my palm, wait for it to rise, and then dispense bit-by-bit through my hair. This mousse doesn't liquify AT ALL in my hands, either! This also means that a little goes a long way, not that that matters too much since this stuff is super affordable. Defines my waves but doesn't leave my hair stiff or crunchy at all. And volume? Definitely!! I apply to damp hair upside down. I get volume at my roots and I notice a significant increase in overall volume as well. HIGHLY recommended!
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Treatments (Eye) -Elizabeth Arden - SkinSimple Eye Priority Cream
alyria 5/19/2007 12:41:00 AM
I was looking for a rich, moisturizing eye cream and this certainly satisfied that. Price tag was also very reasonable. I don't know about anyone else, but mine smelled.. industrial. I can't think of a better description, but it definitely didn't smell like something you'd expect nor want to put anywhere near your face. On the plus side, for something so creamy it does absorb quickly. Sleek little pot considering it's so low on the price-factor. While I applaud the packaging for being airtight, never try to open the pot with greasy lotion-covered hands - it won't work. I would recommend to anyone who wants a basic, moisturizing, affordable eye cream. As long as you can stand the smell.
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Polishes -Sally Hansen - Natural shine
alyria 5/18/2007 11:18:00 PM
Neat stuff! This was an impulse buy; to be honest I wasn't sure what made it different from any other nail polish. I purchased this in the pink tint. First of all, it's a lot more watery in texture than regular polish. Secondly, you don't get a hard, shiny coat - instead, your nails are left with a soft shine as if you used a nail buffer. What I love is that it dried in literally seconds! I also like the brush which has short, stiff bristles that fan out very nicely. Thumbs down for the packaging, though. The bottle is tall-ish and made of really flimsy, light plastic and because the liquid inside is also of a light consistency, I nearly knocked the whole thing over each time I brushed off excess polish at the opening. Not to mention the danger of the stuff just sloshing out. There was absolutely no tint on my nails but I don't mind since it's supposed to look natural. Overall? I would repurchase! My nails look well-kept and healthy in a natural, I'm-not-wearing-polish way.
P.S. A layer of clear nail polish over the Natural Shine looks FANTASTIC. My nails have never looked so smooth and glossy!
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Lotions/ Creams -Nivea - Nivea Hand Intensive Nourishing Care
alyria 2/20/2007 12:50:00 AM
I immediately fell in love with this hand cream the moment I first tried it. It has a very rich texture, but not too buttery and not greasy at ALL. Consistency like Cool Whip. Spread lighter than margarine - yes, margarine, not butter (but again, not greasy!) and absorbed into my skin IMMEDIATELY. A pea-sized amount is enough to nourish my hands completely. I was able to pick up items such as a pen and experienced no slipperiness whatsoever. NO residue at all! My hands feel softer after only 1 application!
Has the fresh Nivea signature scent which is really pleasant and not too strong at all. Scent sticks around but fades subtly, leaving behind a whiff of clean citrus with a hint of floral.
I purchased the 30mL (1 fl. oz) sample-sized tube for $1.99 CDN which, when you do the math, works out to around $6.50 CDN for the regular-sized 100mL (3.3 fl. oz) tube. Not dirt-cheap but definitely affordable. The petite blue and pink tube and easy flip-top cap that won't fly open in your purse means that it can be toted around easily.
This product is HIGHLY recommended! I'd use it all day and at night; it isn't too heavy for frequent use and is moisturizing enough for nighttime duty. My other favourite hand cream is L'Occitane's Shea Butter Hand Cream which is a little more greasy and more expensive, as well. This product is just as great for a fraction of the cost, so what are you waiting for? Go give it a try!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No