Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Osmosis Pur Medical Skincare - Replenish
cowgurl 1/15/2011 11:09:00 AM
Super awesome and fun to use antioxidant serum -- it smells like candy cokes! Great ingredient profile, full of niacinamide. I was able to eliminate my niacinamide toner from my routine. This does not have C, but it does have some copper peptides. My antioxidant search is over. I have been using Osmosis for about 2 months and my skin looks awesome. I think I may have fulfilled my fantasy of using only one product line. I am absolutely convinced that this line has all I need and at a very good price for the quality. I was first turned off by the cost, but then when I compared the prices to Arcona,etc. I realized it is a smoking good deal. INGREDIENTS: water, phosphatidycholine, corn alcohol, niacinamide, glycerin, superoxide dismutase, L-glutathione, ferulic acid, CoQ10, tetrahydrocurcuminoids, spin trap, R-lipoic acid, astaxanthin, chlorella, trans resveratrol, GHK copper peptide, grape seed extract, curcumin, green tea extract, ginkgo biloba, essential oil blend WOW! I use the following from Osmosis: Cleanse - very gentle yet effective cleanser. Skin feels neutral after use, you need just one tiny pump Replenish - Super awesome-o antioxidant Shelter (ss) Calm - night treatment w retinaldehyde - stops my occasional breakouts Quench - moisturizer w antioxidants and shea The best part is that you need very little. The bottles are small, but they last a long time. I order from joella milan she has super awesome discount -- read her site carefully, she often posts some smokin' specials, a generous rewards program, combination of specials/rewards/discounts, and free shipping (tho not that fast). I recently tried Catalyst which seems to have some properties similar to that claimed by renovage and also has vitamin C in it -- the weird thing is that it has copper gluconate which according to some will make your face fall off if you combine it w C. Unfortunately, while I am still paranoid about face-loss, it is making my skin look great and has zapped a dry spot on my forehead! Osmosis actually does not manufacture Catalyst and they instead came up w a product called Skin Nutrition which is a powder they want you to combine w a C product to get it to work. Complicated. Osmosis supposedly has a similar product called Catalyst II that is a fluid not dry product, but I have not seen it sold anywhere yet (though it is featured in their booklet). I think I am going to order the Skin Nutrition and use it w/o adding C and see what happens. They say you have to use it w C, but C is so tricky. I prefer a routine without it. There is also Stem Factor which looks to be similar to TNS recovery serum, only not made w baby foreskin as w TNS. Finally, when my colorescience mineral ss runs out, I am going to replace it w Shade from Osmosis. It is only zinc based though it does have bismuth (FML!), but has a wider color range and hopefully a bit more cosmetically elegant.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Talulah - Oma Face Serum #1
cowgurl 1/4/2011 11:07:00 PM
Love this stuff! It is just right for my somewhat dry skin and has never aggravated my acne. This is the formula for acne skin. I am tempted to use the others. It so well formulated and smells delish. Great value and lasts a long time. Applies well to moist skin and dries matte. You need very little, so lasts a long time. I look forward to using.
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Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Osmosis Pur Medical Skincare - Quench
cowgurl 12/29/2010 6:02:00 PM
Yummy candy coke scented shea-based moisturizer w antioxidants -- how do I love thee? This stuff is so great. I normally diss Omosis for its terrible wasteful packaging, but this dispenses just the right amount of moisturizer which is surprisingly little. I apply to damp skin and it is soooo hydrating. Dries quite matte. Awesome-o From the label: water, shea butter, niacinamide, jojoba oil, cetyl palmitate, sorbitan palmitate, sorbitan olivate, glycering, hyaluronic acid, squalane, caprooyl Tetrapeptide -3, dextran, silk protein, L-sodium PCA, essential oil.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Osmosis Pur Medical Skincare - Calm
cowgurl 12/29/2010 5:51:00 PM
This is a review for both Calm and Renew: I've been trying the various retinaldehyde products from this line. I started w Renew, which is about 1% retinaldehyde. It has an orange spice (EO) fragrance, and does not have the yummy candy cokes scent of Replenish and Quench. That said, this is quite strong and although I am a retinoid user, I found I could not use Renew every night. Also, I got two mystery zits (that cleared in a few days) on my "mustache" line which I suspect was due to Renew. Renew gives a bit of a sting when applied, so I have my suspicions. This is why I ordered the Calm. Calm is for rosacea folks and so I think if you are at all acne prone, you may want to start w the rosacea line before heading over to the "standard" retinaldehyde treatments by Osmosis. The Calm does not sting at all when applied. All Osmosis retinaldehyde products are hydrophilic and packed with only essential ingredients and antioxidants which is why I switched from Avene products. I am so glad skincareman mentioned this line in one of his posts. Here is a basic list: Rosacea Line Calm .075% retinaldehyde Mend .050% Acne: Clarify .075 - probably comparable to Avene Diacneal Regular "anti-aging" Line Correct .050% Renew .125% Boost - .2% The Rosacea line is very dark and may give a yellow tone if not blended properly. It's got herbs in it and has a distinct but not horrific smell. I think it is quite similar to a Chinese medicine shop with a top note kind of like Alkaitis toner. the scent on my hands fades in about 20-40 minutes even sooner if I apply this mixed w replenish and quench. I apply this always on damp skin and I don't notice any color. My skin has been looking quite nice and is very smooth using this line. Check out Calm's ingredients: Purified Water, Glycerin, Phosphatidylcholine, Ethyl, Niacinamide, Willow Herb Extract, Wild Cherry Bark Extract, 1,3 Beta Glucan, Chlorella, Trans Retinal (.075%), Acetylsalicylic Acid, L-Lactic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Yellow Sandalwood Extract, Red Sandalwood Extract, Ulmus Fulva (Slippery Elm) Extract, Magnolia Biondii Bark Extract, Camelia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Grapefruit Extract, Propolis Extract, Chamomilla Reticutita Extract, Essential Oil Blend
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Unlisted Brand - Osmosis Pur Medical Skincare - Shelter, Sunblock Moisturizer SPF 29 
cowgurl 12/8/2010 12:17:00 AM
This sunscreen has a short and sweet ingredient list. It's pleasant to use and has lots of antioxidants in it. You don't need a separate moisturizer. I pretty much second the review below. The only spankings to Osmosis it it's packaging. Sooooo wastefull. There is a way to get the cap off to use the product that's left, but for a natural line, its packaging is very naughty. Otherwise, I recommend.
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Toners -Dr. Alkaitis - Organic Herbal Toner
cowgurl 3/6/2010 9:34:00 PM
I like a toner for use in spreading my moisturizer. I love the smell of this toner and it has all kinds of goodness in it. This has a sweet scent with hints of myrrh which is anti-bacterial. Very soothing. It is crazy expensive, but I have seen it on sale before. I'd give it five stars but for the price. Of this line, I think the toner and the night cream are well worth a try. Also, just FYI, if you compare the ingredients of this toner to the soothing serum, it is virtually the same, but it has more extracts. The only extracts the soother has that are not in the toner are a brown algae extract and boswelia which may help to relax fine wrinkles. The soother also has a sweet citrus, while the toner has the bitter variety. So, if you want the serum for some reason other than the algae and boswelia, then the toner is a good bet. Also, here are the ingredients listed in their common names (not the fancy names on the bottle): Into a base of organic Aloe Vera gel*, Witch Hazel and organic grain alcohol* (from the fermentation of organically grown grains), the following organic and wild-crafted herbs are blended: Greater Nettle*, Wild Chamomile flowers°, Myrrh°, European Elder blossoms*, Marsh Mallow*, French Lavender flowers*, Curacao Orange*, Benzoin°, Rosemary*, Wild Fennel° and Balm Mint*. Grapefruit* and Lemon* extracts. Sea Oak°, Atlantic Kelp° and Pearl Moss°. Also added are natural vitamin B and vitamin C complexes and 100% pure Essential Oils.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Dr. Alkaitis - Organic Eye Cream
cowgurl 3/4/2010 4:15:00 AM
I like the idea of something this natural for the eye area, but that's where my praise ends. 100% pure is much better and for a better price. Of this line, I like the night cream & toner best.
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Moisturizers -Dr. Alkaitis - Day creme
cowgurl 3/4/2010 12:51:00 AM
I received this in a swap. So glad I got to try it, but I'm not a fan of this day cream. I don't find it absorbs well and it makes my face feel encapsulated. I have a hard time understanding why people claim this is easily absorbed. Even when I apply this with the toner for a lighter effect I wind up looking like my face is covered with glossy acrylic. For sure you need a powder to pull this off as a day cream. The scent is pleasant, sweeter than the night cream but similar. I am using it as a night cream. Speaking of night cream, I think I prefer the night cream --it absorbs much better for some reason. If I had to choose between the two, I'd just go with the night cream since, comparing the ingredients, the only thing this day cream has that the night cream doesn't is Hypericum (St. John's wort), and the night cream has several more extracts, some jojoba, and retinol, so I'm not too sure you need both. And for some reason, it is less shiny! The one thing I can say about this is that it does not break me out. Someone posts on the green board that she uses unrefined shea butter on acne prone skin -- thought that was weird, but seems to be true.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Dr. Alkaitis - Organic Purifying Facial Cleanser
cowgurl 3/2/2010 11:55:00 PM
A castile soap. Made my face irritated and itchy. I have used it again with my clarisonic and rinsed well with washcloth. Your skin may build a tolerance to the itchiness, but I used it after a soccer game the other day and it irritated my eyelids. I like that it has herbs in it, but the castile just doesn't work for me -- the problem is that I keep reaching for it because I love the texture, color and aroma of it. I do feel like this is a good cleanser -- it may be worth a try. But looking at the price, I think one could easily take a pass.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Deodorants -Unlisted Brand - Now Foods Deodorant Cream
cowgurl 2/26/2010 1:19:00 AM
Yes it is good. This stuff works for several days, even through at least one good shower and shave. This is the perfect choice for someone who is hiking or trekking and can't get to a shower -- or apply deodorant. Nothing worked on my sweaty Euro self, yet I only apply this about every other or third day and still stay fresh as a spring day. THE DOWN SIDE is that this cream cannot be applied right before dressing, especially if you are wearing black or colors. The zinc white will get all all over. Therefore, I apply at night and shower and shave in the morning thereby elimiating any transfer-- yet it still goes on working. It's magic.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -100 Percent Pure - Pink Grapefruit Shower Gel
cowgurl 2/14/2010 1:49:00 PM
Too runny to compare with other, more hydrating body washes. Won't last very long and is frustrating to use, despite the delicious scent. Truly a money down the drain product.
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Lotions/ Creams -John Masters - Blood Orange & Vanilla Body Milk
cowgurl 2/2/2010 12:37:00 PM
I got a sample of this and really like it. I was worried the scent would turn plasticky, but it's fine. I have a sensitive nose and, for example, won't tolerate a lot of the philosophy scents due to their fakeness, but this is not like that. The scent does linger for a long time, so I don't think I'd use it every day. It's also maybe not something I'd repurchase, but I have to second a lot of the info in the review below. If I had a choice between this and most of what they sell at WF, I might actually go for it. I like the ingredients and the fact that it sinks right in.
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Masks -Korres - Yogurt Velvety Moisturizing Mask [DISCONTINUED]
cowgurl 12/3/2009 10:21:00 PM
I first gave this a bad review. It was one of those deals where I just had to write about how bad it was -- it burned my skin the first time I used it. It wasn't a velvety situation. I felt confused. Then I felt bad. Maybe because I logged on and saw it was one of the reviews of the day. Took the review down. Tried the product again. This time, I left it on all night. The next day, face boo boos diminished. Skin perfectly hydrated and no greasiness. I think it is fair to say that this product delivers exactly the right amount of moisture - no more, no less. If it burns you, stick with it (no one else here wrote about the burn -- but it's there baby). I am about 99% of the way there to placing the letters H-G- on this review. The packaging makes me mad. I have to use a plastic dipper and then close the lid on the jar again. Lame. Nevertheless, you need only a tiny amount and, frankly, if I had to choose between the cream and the mask, I would only buy the mask. I have put it on at night and then messed around the house all day the next day only to find that this keeps on moisturizing but not making me greasy. That is outstanding. You get a great deal if you buy the kit. Would I buy it again? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. INGREDIENTS: Aqua, Yogurt, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Steareth 2, Isononyl Isononanoate, Macadamia Nut Oil, Olive Oil Unsaponifiables (Olea Europaea), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil (Sweet Almond), Steareth 21, Xylitylglucoside, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Shorea Robusta, Panthenol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Anhydroxylitol, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Beeswax, Dehydroacetic Acid, Hydroxycitronellal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3 Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Linalool, Magnesium PCA, Manganese PCA, Perfume, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium PCA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Xylitol, Zinc PCA
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Korres - Yogurt Cream (Yoghurt Cream)
cowgurl 11/20/2009 12:34:00 PM
I find this cream soothing. I have been torturing my skin with some heavy sloughing with retinols and ahas.Oil moisturizers were then just too irritating. This works great for me to calm my skin down and stave off flakes. It is actually very moisturizing in that I believe it provides just the right amount of moisture, no more, no less. It does what it claims. Korres is not as natural as I'd like it to be, but this cream works. It's the only dairy product I use. The fragrance is light on the milky side -- but still it reminds me a lot of a typical euro department store face cream smell. I hate fragrance and have no problem with it. I use a scoop to dispense. Detest the packaging. Bought this in kit and Korres website seems to have the best deals with coupon codes and free shipping quite often. In this way, the cream and the mask run me about 15-16$ each. Not bad!! INGREDIENTS: Aqua, Yogurt, Butylene Glycol, Steareth 2, Isononyl Isononanoate, Macadamia Nut Oil, Mannan, Olive Oil (Olea Europaea), Unsaponifiables, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil (Sweet Almond), Steareth 21, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat Starch), Xylitylglucoside, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Triethylhexanoin, Butyrospermum Parkii, Anhydroxylitol, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coumarin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Hydroxycitronellal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3 Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Isoeugenol, Linalool, Magnesium PCA, Manganese PCA, Panthenol, Perfume, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium PCA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Xylitol, Zinc PCA
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Korres - Wild Rose Foundation
cowgurl 11/20/2009 12:22:00 PM
I received two small sample sizes of the WRF3 and have been using it as a concealer. It is quite yellow, but it's working now since I have a soccer tan left over from summer. Unfortunatley, even though I can tell this is pretty good stuff, I have never tried it over my entire face as the fragrance is overwhelming. I'm not sure why no one else has commented on this. I just don't feel one needs to apply perfume to the face and Korres has lost a customer because of this.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No