Scrubs -Alba Botanica - Sea Enzyme Facial Scrub
bdurkey 3/26/2013 10:42:00 AM
I have been using the product for years. At this point, I think I take it for granted. I stocked up when they were on clearance at Target several years ago, I don't know if I would have used this for so long otherwise. My stash is almost gone, and I plan on trying something different. I am pleased that I have never had an issue with clogging in the tube (especially since mine are old) nor having the scrub go bad. It's a minimal, nice scent, very green and mineraly. The scrubbing particles are small and smooth enough to not irritate my skin even in the winter when it is very dry and sensitive, yet they are quite effective in making my skin feel smoother and clean. What I don't get is the super scrubbed feeling I get with Origins' Modern Friction that leaves me feeling like ALL the dead skin is off my face. I'll probably continue to use this since I've never had issue with it, it's affordable, and it's a great natural option for sensitive skin. Finding all of this in one product that is so easily available makes me feel lucky.
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Treatments (Eye) -Burt's Bees - Radiance Eye Cream with Royal Jelly
bdurkey 3/25/2013 6:06:00 PM
This cream was nothing special, but wasn't awful. It does what it claims by being moisturizing and smoothing out lines and puffiness. It does nothing for dark circles and the mica that's in it to "diffuses light to minimize the look of fine lines" makes your circles look darker and SOOO shiny making them look worse than if you had used nothing at all. To be fair, it doesn't claim to do anything for dark circles, but it shouldn't make the situation worse. However, it does claim this can be used day and night, and I don't believe that. It goes on thick and somewhat sticky and doesn't absorb well at all. I think this is manageable for night but I don't see me going out with my dark, shiny circles and I don't think it's possible to wear concealer over it. Plus, it is highly fragranced, which is suspect for a 'natural' product and anything that comes in a jar is unhygienic. I should have known better.
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Moisturizers -Jurlique - Purely Age-Defying Day Cream SPF 15
bdurkey 3/25/2013 5:34:00 PM
I think this moisturizer should only be used by those with very dry skin, I think anyone else would find it to be too moisturizing. At some points in the winter my skin is quite dry so, unlike the other reviewers, I found this to be a nice product. I found the scent minimal and pleasing and it absorbed quickly and completely. It comes in an aluminum tube, which I liked because I think it's effective in being hygienic, blocking the sun, and allowing you to get all of the product. However, I didn't feel as though there was in sun blocking properties. It only claims to have a 15 SPF, but there was nothing in the scent or texture to lead me to believe this. It's still a lovely product, but only to be used when my skin as at its most depleted.
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Mascara -Josie Maran Cosmetics - Mascara
bdurkey 3/25/2013 5:24:00 PM
I would consider this to be more of an eyelash tint rather than a mascara; it did nothing to lengthen, volumize, or curl my lashes. All it did was darken my lashes, and it didn't do that for long because it smudges and streaks more than any mascara I have ever used. The tube looks nice and I like the way the brush applied the mascara (it reminded me of a Maybelline mascara called Soft Eyes or Soft Lashes), but the mascara itself was worthless.
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Gels/Soaps -Molton Brown - Inspiring Wild Indigo Shower Gel
bdurkey 11/2/2012 11:28:00 AM
This unique scent is one of my favorites. It's warm without being foody, and sweet and floral while being somewhat masculine. It's good that I like the scent because this is heavily scented, I'm thinking of adding a fragrance free wash to this to dilute the scent and make it last longer. It suds up nicely without drying my skin, which surprised me since it was so heavily perfumed. The scent lasts on the skin, as well as the bathroom, for a good amount of time. I got this at TJ Maxx, so I can't really speak to the full price, but no matter the cost, it's worth it.
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Eye Primer -Too Faced - Shadow Insurance - Lemon Drop, Color Correcting Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer
bdurkey 11/2/2012 11:02:00 AM
I have very greasy eyelids and won't even bother to wear eye makeup without some type of primer. I've tried a few and the only way that they would work was if I used Benefit's SheLaq with them. Since SheLaq has been discontinued I've been desperate searching for a primer that worked on it's own; this is the first one that did. It goes on smooth, is easy to apply, and stays put while maintaining a nice texture. The packaging is great, hygienic and doesn't leak. I have permanent allergy eyes (which onetime cause a friend to remark that I looked, "like a pretty junky") and after trying this and the original this one looked much better on me, which surprised me since I have pink undertones to my skin. The price is the only reason why I will look for a replacement, but it's nice to know that I always have this as an option.
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Moisturizers -Earth Science - Almond-Aloe Moisturizer
bdurkey 6/21/2012 5:52:00 PM
I was looking for something greener to replace my Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturizer and this worked perfectly. My skin changes from normal in the summer to dry in the winter and this works for me year round. Its never too greasy and it never leaves my skin feeling dry. It absorbs quickly, has never irritated my skin, and I love that it's fragrance free. I also have never had a problem with the cap clogging, which often happens to me with this type of packaging. It's not able to combat my super dry skin, but most of the time it works fantastically.
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Cleansers -Lacura - Hydrating Facial Cleanser
bdurkey 6/8/2012 4:22:00 PM
I really wanted to love this face wash since my HG Dove is no longer being made. The price is great, it seemed like it would be moisturizing enough, and was easy to find. I really liked it on my skin while I was washing, it felt like my Dove wash, like a lotion with no suds, which is just what I want. However, both times I used this I got a huge zit both times. I think this is because the product is so highly fragranced. If they ever make a fragrance free version I'm there, but until then my search continues.
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Cleansers -Avalon Organics Botanicals - Q10 Cleansing Milk
bdurkey 5/30/2012 2:19:00 PM
I'm sitting, writing this review with plain yogurt on my face hoping that when I take it off I don't look like I had acid splashed on my face, because that's how I feel after using this product. It didn't hurt while I was using it, even let it sit on my face while I brushed my teeth. I rinsed it off, spritzed with some rose water, put my moisturizer on (which did have a little bit of retinol in it) and about three minuets later my face felt hot. I looked in the mirror and my nose and cheeks were bright red, like I had been burnt. I have never had a reaction this immediate or severe while using a product. I don't trust that this company can make products that won't hurt me, I won't be buying their stuff again.
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Gels/Soaps -L'Occitane - Verbena extra gentle soap
bdurkey 4/30/2012 2:02:00 PM
This is the best bar soap I have ever used. It doesn't dry out my skin at all, and that is a minor miracle since my skin is so dry. It doesn't foam up much, that's not important to me, and I think that's why it's able to be so moisturizing. The scent is fantastic, leaves me feeling very clean. Every friend I've had that's come to visit and used has gone out and bought a bar for themselves, I can't think of a better endorsement.
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Shampoo -Oscar Blandi - Pronto Dry Shampoo Spray
bdurkey 4/30/2012 1:28:00 PM
This product doesn't work at all. Does nothing to volumize or even absorb the oil from my hair. The smell is medicinal and strong. I've tried the plain and the one for brown hair and both were ineffective at doing anything but costing me money. I'm going back to baby powder.
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Lotions/ Creams -The Body Shop - pomegranate body butter
bdurkey 4/30/2012 12:03:00 PM
I love The Body Shop's body butters, but this one is awful. The scent is a sickly, sweet, and cloying and doesn't even have a pomegranate smell. It takes a long time to absorb and is VERY sticky. Once absorbed it does moisturize well, but nothing amazing. There are too many other good body butters at The Body Shop for me to consider giving this one another try.
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Lotions/ Creams -The Body Shop - Olive Body Butter
bdurkey 4/28/2012 3:45:00 PM
This is the best body butter The Body Shop makes, and I've tried most of them. This is the best body butter anyone makes. It's thick and moisturizing, yet it spreads and absorbs well. The scent is fantastic, not overpowering or cloying and mixes well with green and floral scents. This is the lotion that I travel with because I know that regardless of the season or my skin this will always work. I never let this run out, it is the only body butter that I have repurchased multiple times. This is the very definition of an HG product for me.
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Treatments (Eye) -Cosmedicine - Eye Specialist
bdurkey 4/28/2012 2:56:00 PM
I didn't find this product to be all that impressive. It was good at moisturizing, but nothing in terms of firming or reducing dark circles, so it was little more than an overpriced moisturizer. I liked the packaging and the scent was minimal. I bought this at TJ Maxx so my underwhelming results may be due to age. However, I doubt it and will try something else instead.
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Gels/Soaps -LUSH - Bohemian soap
bdurkey 6/13/2011 9:02:00 PM
This soap was so drying, which I wasn't expecting in the summer when my skin doesn't get that dry. Sometimes I'm willing to deal with dryness in exchange for some other perk, yet somehow this soap wasn't even sudsy or fragrant. I also never got a clean feeling when I used it. I threw it in the trash before I finished it, I have NEVER done that.
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