Treatments -Avon - Reversalist Serum
icaria 8/29/2012 8:16:00 PM
I'm surprised by all the glorious reviews this procuct is getting. This has only about 3% glycolic acid. Not enough to realy make any kind of difference on ones skin. The glowing effect & tightening imression are simply brought on by cosmetic pigments. Highly fragranced. Thankfully, I got this for free because I was working for the company.
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Mascara -LUSH - Eyes Right Mascara
icaria 8/5/2012 10:44:00 AM
This mascara passed the test of a horribly hot & sticky humid day with high marks (44Celsius). Using a blow dryer with my lash curler to curl them once the mascara was applied, they kept their shape a good 7 hours! It's a thin formula so if you want thick lashes you'll have to be patient. I applied 3 coats waiting for the mascara to dry between each. In the morning this could be a drag since it takes at least one minute to dry. Silky, no lumps and a nice deep black. It didn't melt eather in the heat and was easy to remove. The reason why I removed a lippie is the brush which is a bit too short and will take some getting used to. At $18,95 CAD the price is very reasonable considering I was never able to get such results with any drugstore brands. The one I was using was Estée Lauder Sumptuous which is also nice but sometimes did make clumps.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -The Body Shop - Body Butter Shea
icaria 8/4/2012 12:36:00 PM
I'm wondering why I haven't tried this before. On & off, for years I've used the Cocoa Butter body lotion as well as the Creamy Body Wash and love them both. Not so much the Body Butter. Thick, it leaves a tacky film at the surface of my skin. The fragrance, well that's the most disapointing aspect. Smelling this in the jar I find the fragrance similar to the other 2 products mentioned but on my skin it's a completely different odor. It almost smells like plastic, quite weird and very unpleasant. Even though it is very thick, I didn't find it more moisturizing than the body lotion. Good thing I bought the small container.
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Moisturizers -Origins - Ginger Gloss Smoothing Body Oil
icaria 7/22/2012 4:03:00 PM
I'm so disapointed with this product. I love scented oils and use them in place of alcohol based fragrances. Of course I don't expect the smell to last all day but at least a couple of hours. Although I have oils from Nuxe and Lierac and both fragrances do last all day. Origins' ginger fragrance is divine but lasts barely 30 minutes and as far as moisture goes, I find it minimal. Next time I'll probably go for the Soufflé. $23.50 CAD is not that expensive, but still is a bit much for what it is.
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Lotions/ Creams -Cerave - Moisturizing Cream
icaria 6/22/2012 1:07:00 PM
I'm so sorry about this review! I know this is a very popular moisturizer. 2 weeks ago I purchased a tub for $19 CAD (regular price is around $22). I needed to get a thick, unfragranced moisturizer for my DD who had gotten a nasty sunburn on her upper body. Once her skin had calmed down, she started using this 2x a day for about 4/5 days. She ended up peeling very little & I believe it was partly responsible. She would have peeled more without it. I decided to try it myself & so for a week I used it every night instead of my HG, Avène Cold Cream. To get the same effect on my skin, I had to use double CeraVe. It may be a superior formula due to the ceramides & hyaluronic acid but as far as deep moisture, for me, it simply can't compete with Avène. Since I have to use double, it would come up more expensive, about $44 instead of about $34 for Avène. I will keep a tub around, mainly for my DD, but not for me.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Caudalie - Vinoperfect Complexion Correcting Radiance Serum
icaria 5/28/2012 11:01:00 AM
Sadly this serum clogs me. It's probably the squalane. I've been using it on & off for a little over a month & know I will get no benefits from it. At this point I don't even know if I'll be able to use it on my neck & décolleté. Yesterday, a couple of minutes after applying it, I ended up with a bit of uticaria on my neck. This could be caused by the glycerin wich is high on the ingredient list. It does have a nice texture & is surprisingly moisturizing for a serum. Someone with combination/oily skin may not need to use anything else under their sunscreen. If you don't have cloging or allergic issues, you may get good results like so many others have. Unfortunately, it's not for me.
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Treatments -Avene - Eluage Cream 30 ml
icaria 3/29/2012 11:15:00 AM
I have been using this for a little over 6 months. I use it on face, neck & décolleté every night & on the eye area every other night due to sensitivity. It has 0.05% retinaldehyde & 0.50% hyaluronic acid fragments (aids in plumping), Do take note that Avène sells the strongest retinoids OTC. If you don't want to go with a Rx, look into this brand. Have a look at this list for more information: http://www.skinacea.com/products/retinoids.html All retinoids are shown by order of strenght from OTC to Rx. I'm using this to "keep what I've got" & prevention. I have combination skin & have no issues with it on my oily t-zone even if it's aimed at dryer skin. If you have oily skin, you might prefer to go for Ysthéal. I only use an average of 2 pumps nightly & when applied right after my witch hazel that I use as a toner, it spreads easily & sinks in right away. Like mcalcia stated below in her review, do not use this in daytime. Use at night & find a good sunscreen/sunglasses for daytime. No need to get Eluage eye gel. I believe it's a waste of money since it has half the retinaldehyde of the cream. I got a bunch of samples of it & after a few months found it pretty useless. This cream will not change your skin dramatically! It will help even out the texture & help maintain it's quality provided you protect it properly in daytime. Sunscreen is the number one anti aging product you can get. Our skin ages principally because of UV lights. I don't think I will ever go without this product. The only downside it the peach coloring. I don't understand why Avène put this in there, especially since it has no benefit to skin. Carefull if you have white or light colored pillow cases. This is the reason I took off one lippie.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Alpha Hydrox - Enhanced Lotion - 10% AHA
icaria 3/26/2012 10:49:00 AM
I must admit from the get go that I wasen't too impressed by the texture. Still I figured I'd use it for a while to see if it was as effective as the NeoStrata I was accustomed to. I don't think it is. It's almost watery when I put it on. This morning I woke up with two little pimples on my nose. This is not purging I know. I NEVER get 2 pimples at the same time. I get a tiny one once in a blue moon. Now, I have one on the tip of my nose (very elegant) & the other on the side. Yuck! I was so happy to finally put my hands on this & at $6 CAD it was like double whammy! Still, it's not a loss, I'll use it on décolleté, arms, hands & probably will repurchase for that purpouse since it's so affordable. Just not for my face. :(
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Cleansers -Olay - Total Effects Daily Cleansing Treatments
icaria 3/11/2012 4:37:00 PM
When at home, I prefer to use a regular cleanser. Cream of foam, depends on the season. These are a great option for travel. I do find that if I wear both sunscreen & foundation, I have to use 2 to cleanse thouroughly. Since I always follow with a toner, the residue is not realy an issue. These are nice & non drying. I would not repurchase simply because Olay is owned by Procter & Gamble. Animal testing is a big no no for me & I didn't know at the time of purchase.
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Makeup Brushes -Quo - Blush Brush
icaria 3/1/2012 9:41:00 AM
I had been wanting to try these for a while & purchased this one on special. Thankfully so. Not impressed. The hair is soft but it sheds easily & every time I use it, I end up having at least one broken hair on my face. Since I use it only for blush, this means it will not last long. I haven't had to clean it yet since I don't wear blush every day. I doubt it'll still be usable after that. Even at 40% off, these are still overpriced. Imo these belong at the dollar store.
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Toners -Unlisted Brand - Drugstore Witch hazel
icaria 1/28/2012 9:52:00 AM
Where has this been all my life? I discoverd this on Skin Care Board. When I first read the comments about it I was a bit suspicious. How could a product so cheap be so good. Especially with an alcohol base. I've been stearing clear of alcohol for years & had just purshased Clinique's Mild Toner that I ended up not liking very much. Got the witch hazel & Boom! The best toner ever! Even with the alcohol base, it's not drying at all. I have combination skin & my DD who also uses it has more normal skin. True it could be drying or irritating for someone with dry/sensitive skin but you won't brake the bank trying it & it's good to keep in your first aid kit. At about $3 CAD, it's a very little investment. Keep in mind that a toner is not a necessity, but for those of us who are used to using one, this is a great option.
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Liquid -Bourjois - Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation
icaria 1/28/2012 9:29:00 AM
Nicely surprised by this foundation. I truly didn't expect to find a nice formula for such a low price. Since I don't wear it everyday, I waited before posting a review. In every instances I used it, it looked very natural. I apply with my fingers & finish off with a brush to make it look more natural. It disapears, leaving a very natural coverage. I don't know yet how it will do in warmer weather, I may edit later on, but for now I can say that I quite satisfied. Even If I have to get a lighter formula for summer, I must say that since Bourjois was so affordable, it would be no biggie.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Shiseido - Eyelash Curler
icaria 1/28/2012 9:05:00 AM
I get good results with this but I still have to heat it with my blowdryer. My lashes are super straight & this is the only way I can keep the curl. The reason I gave it a 4 is simply because it's not quite curved enough for the shape of my eyes. I've bene using it since last spring & will likely start looking for a new one soon. Would I recommend it? Yes. It's a very well made tool with good quality pads. Realy nice if it fits your eye shape.
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Cleansers -Avene - Antirougeurs Anti-Redness Dermo-Cleansing Fluid
icaria 1/9/2012 10:42:00 AM
Soothing, mild cleanser. It removes everything. I use it on damp skin, massage a bit & remove with a damp cotton pad. I don't have super sensitive skin but like to stay away from harsh cleansers. Recently I've bene trying to find cleansing wipes but they all dry up my skin too much (I have combination skin). This is perfect for those nights when I don't feel like using a foaming cleanser. For summer, this will be nice for pre-cleanse when I wear sunscreen. I like using unscented baby oil for that as well, but sometimes I don't feel like dealing with removing the residue. Love the pump.
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Blush -Bourjois - Rose Ambre - 74
icaria 1/2/2012 9:25:00 AM
Lovely color for fall & winter. Buildable, has just enough sheen to it so that it looks natural. Adorable presentation, the compact (dosen't have the quality of high end, made of matte plastic) is easy to put in a small makeup pouch for retouches during the day. I must say that I haven't needed to reapply. Staying power is pretty good on me. Good affordable quality, I will liquely purshase a couple of other colors.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No