Cleansers -Yes To Carrots - Yes To Cucumbers Face Cleanser Towelettes
itsKelCeeEee 6/18/2013 10:11:00 AM
Wow, I love these wipes, and I'm surprised that my opinion's in the minority. I use these at night when I'm too lazy to wash my face (sadly this happens a lot) and keep a pack in my purse in case my face just feels icky during the day/I wake up somewhere feeling like Kesha. They do leave a strong tingling feeling, but not on my eyes, and to me it makes the wipes feel effective so I don't care. I also love the ingredients, and how my skin doesn't feel sticky after use. The price is about 6-7 dollars per pack of 25 wipes, which could be better but could be worse. My all time favorite wipes, the body shop's tea tree face wipes, are like 12 dollars for one pack, and these make my face feel just as refreshed and lovely, so I'd consider them my knockoff brand. Also, Target sometimes sells the value pack of 45 wipes for the price of the regular pack so...good deal. I have repurchased ample times and will continue to do do, especially with this summer heat making my skin crazy.
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Shampoo -Victoria's Secret - So Sexy Nourishing Shampoo
itsKelCeeEee 5/5/2013 7:50:00 PM
Okay, I just have to say I was completely caught off guard by how much I wound up liking this shampoo. I waltzed into Victoria's Secret to see if there were any good bra sales going on (there weren't) and ended up stumbling across their buy 2 get 1 free hair care sale. I hadn't even known Victoria's Secret also manufactured hair products so I was ecstatic to discover them...as well as kinda miffed since I'd just managed to kick my obsession with buying hair products, but I digress. ANYWAY, I bought this shampoo along with two conditioners (the one from the color treated line and the one from the balance line) and carried my 26 dollars-less butt home. When I went to wash my hair I couldn't help but feel nervous since my hair usually doesn't fare too well with shampoos that involve sulfates (or with much of any shampoo for that matter); they leave my hair feeling too squeaky, too stripped, too tangled, and nearly begging for tropical rains to quench it. This shampoo did no such thing. It lathers beautifully, smells absolutely WONDERFUL (and this is coming from someone who doesn't like too many scents), rinses clean without leaving that residue feeling behind, and...it didn't leave my hair feeling like a crackly mess! Yes my hair still tangled but it wasn't as nearly as bad as with previous run ins with shampoo. Instead, my hair felt soft and smooth. This is an accomplishment considering I hadn't even used conditioner yet (and for me, conditioner is NOT an option. It is mandatory). I will repurchase this, because I've splurged on plenty of hair products more expensive than this that I barely even liked, and you don't need to use much for it to be effective so it lasts awhile. I also like the smell and the performance. As for the packaging, I'm not a fan, but that's more of a complaint for the conditioners (ya'll know how THICK that stuff is for it to come out that flimsy bottle?!) since the shampoo's thinner. Overall, I would recommend this one to anyone with...hair. ;)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Freeman - Pure Ambition Purifying Facial Clay mask with Avocado and Oatmeal
itsKelCeeEee 4/10/2013 3:28:00 PM
I bought this after I ran out of my Queen Helene Mint Julep mask; it had been my first drugstore facial mask and I loved it so much it made me want to try more. I like the way this mask goes on; its texture is very smooth and it makes the product spread very easily. It has a pleasant, soft smell and it leaves my skin visibly brighter and softer after I rinse it off. It's fairly easy to rinse off although it will be more resilient on oilier areas of the skin, so just make sure you rinse those parts well. After I rinse if off I can see little white spots where the mask has purged my skin, which lets me know it works effectively. It's also the perfect time to pop stubborn zits and extract blackheads, at least for me, without messing up your skin. All in all I'd say this is a very effective mask at a great price. So, after all that's said and done, why'd I only give it three lippies? That would be because, unfortunately, the fumes from this mask irritate my eyes horribly, even though I specifically don't apply it anywhere near my sensitive eyes area and even if I'm in a well vented area. It's tolerable enough (for me at least) where I can use this once a week until I run out, but unfortunately I'll be leaving this one on the shelf when I see it in stores. Despite this, I'd highly recommend it for anyone who doesn't have a sensitive eyes area.
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Conditioner -Paul Mitchell - the Detangler
itsKelCeeEee 3/26/2013 1:18:00 PM
I like this conditioner! It's a lot thicker than I'd expected (which is always a plus for my thirsty hair) and the scent is soft. I always feel like I use a bunch of it every time but upon examining the bottle I'll realize there's still a lot left, it's that rich. However, I wouldn't recommend using it with Paul Mitchell's shampoos, as they're quite drying and although this is a great detangler it doesn't do the best job at replenishing the lost moisture. I like to use it with my sulfate free shampoos though, so it leaves me with soft, smooth (who the hell can say they have smooth kinky hair after a product?!), detangled tresses. My 4.99 bottle of Tresemme Naturals can detangle just as well if not better, but I don't care, I'll still repurchase this. It's a great quality product.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Paul Mitchell - Awapuhi Shampoo
itsKelCeeEee 3/26/2013 1:12:00 PM
I like this shampoo, but honestly it's doesn't do anything that a drugstore shampoo couldn't do. It cleans my scalp nicely and the smell isn't offensive or lasting, but it can be drying. Then again, I usually use sulfate-free shampoos due to having super dry, coarse hair, so it's not much of a surprise. I feel like Paul Mitchell's one of those brands that (some) people use more for the name than its effectiveness, because it's just so mediocre. Luckily I received my current bottle as a Christmas gift, so I'll finish off the bottle and probably won't repurchase. On a positive note, it has decent ingredients compared to many other brands, and you don't need much to make a lather, so it lasts and it's cost effective. Those are about the only pros I can think of.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Neutrogena - Naturals Multi-Vitamin Nourishing Moisturizer
itsKelCeeEee 3/26/2013 1:06:00 PM
I was surprised at how much I ended up liking this moisturizer! The first time I applied it after washing my face with the line's cleanser I was worried that it would clog my pores since it seemed to go on so thick. However, it absorbs into the skin and makes it feel refreshed without turning it into an oil slick. With consistent use it also lightens scars and evens the complexion. It's one of my favorite moisturizers and I'm glad I got it. As great as it is, though, it has a couple minor setbacks. For one, the price is ridiculous for the small amount of product you get. I consider this to be "minor" because you need so little with each use that it'll last awhile, so you're not rebuying some 13 dollar moisturizer every month. Also, watch the hole where the product dispenses from, because the moisturizer likes to clump around it for some reason. Also, I can't imagine this working for summertime since there are so many oils in it and my face gets super oily in the summer. However, I will try it, and if what happens is contrary to my review then I will edit it. For what it is, though, I recommend it. Also, if you're thinking about getting this line's night cream, just get this. The ingredients are basically the same, you get more product, and the night cream is just smaller and more expensive. You're welcome. ;)
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Unlisted Brand - CURLS curl creme brule / cream brulee
itsKelCeeEee 3/20/2013 4:44:00 PM
I actually like this, even though I was wary at the small bottle for the amount you pay. I have a lot of hair. I mean A LOT. It's extremely curly/kinky, around bra strap length, and drinks up moisture like there's no tomorrow. I don't use gels (too drying) so I'm always down to try a curl cream that promises "defined curls with no hold". While I do enjoy this product for the smell (vanilla-ish baked goods like) and the packaging (I'm a sucker for bright labels), there are a few hang ups. For one, I can only use this on freshly washed hair. There is no exception. If it's dry my hair'll suck it up instantly and it'll be as if I never used any product. If it's damp, it'll give me moisture...for a bit. My best results definitely come from when I towel dry my hair, apply it in sections and seal with a small amount of sweet almond oil. It keeps my curls defined...with no hold. Good deal. It can run pretty expensive at 10.99 for 8oz, but you can get it from Sally's with a beauty card at a discounted price. If I find a curl cream I prefer I'd drop this like a hotcake, but for now it does what it says so I'll stick with it. :)
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Lotions/ Creams -St. Ives - Intensive Healing- Advanced Body Moisturizer
itsKelCeeEee 1/20/2013 12:41:00 PM
It's...nice. I usually buy this brand's Oatmeal & Shea Butter lotion; it offers insane moisture to my dry, easily irritated skin, that actually lasts. Therefore, when I saw the whole "24 hr. moisture" gig on the bottle of this one I was like "Well, I'll give it a try..." The smell is light and minimally offensive (it's supposed to be fragrance free?) and the lotion is thick, going on the skin quite smoothly. I do like it. However, it doesn't offer me nearly as much moisture as my usual lotion, and it's useless for me in this winter weather; if I put it on in the morning by nightfall my legs are dry and itchy all over again. It also isn't good for extremely dry, cracked skin. It won't do much to solve that. It's okay, but definitely not St. Ives best.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Giovanni - Smooth as Silk
itsKelCeeEee 1/16/2013 12:01:00 AM
I am absolutely in love with several of Giovanni's conditioners (Tea Tree Triple Treat, Direct Leave-In, 50:50, Smooth as Silk) and wanted to try and use a shampoo/conditioner combo from the same line, so I opted to try this shampoo. I've tried the 50:50 one which is perfect for clarifying, but it leaves my hair way too dry for me to use every wash. So, I went for this one. I've only used it once so my opinion may change, but it doesn't leave my hair too silk-like. I already have low hopes for getting through a shampoo without my hair feeling like Brillo Town, so I was really banking on that "silk" factor. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem any better than my sulfate containing Tigi Oatmeal and Honey shampoo (I love that shampoo). I'll give it a few more tries and see what it does for me. And btw, they've recently changed the formula, and the new formulation no longer has silicones. So at least that was a plus for me. I added a lippie for their smart idea to take such a cheap filler ingredient out of their product.
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Other -Vaseline - Petroleum Jelly with cocoa butter
itsKelCeeEee 1/11/2013 1:45:00 AM
I really, really like this stuff! It can be used for an assortment of reasons: lip balm, moisturizer on elbows/knees/any other extremely dry spots, eye make-up remover, eyelash moisturizer, under eye cream, cuticle moisturizer, a nightly treatment for feet...the possibilities are endless. Well unless you try to eat it, obviously. The smell is lovely and subtle enough where you don't smell it all day, the container it comes in has a cute flip top for easy access, and the price is extremely reasonable. Best of all it lasts forever, even if you find every reason in the universe to use it such as I have. My bff put a container in my Christmas gift set and I'm not even halfway through the one I have now so I'm excited for how cost effective it's gonna be for me. When I DO run out though, I am going to repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Unlisted Brand - Proclaim - Argan Oil Intense Hydrating Masque
itsKelCeeEee 1/9/2013 1:40:00 AM
I bought this product browsing Sally's one day, partially because it's supposed to be a Moroccan oil dupe (I think?) and partially because I've been trying to find an HG drugstore deep conditioner to replace my Jessicurl Weekly Deep Treatment (I can only get it online, and a homegirl is too lacking in the $$$ department to be paying all that shipping). I used it after washing and combing out my hair and applied it generously in sections before twisting those sections, putting my hair in a shower cap, and promptly falling asleep for three hours. When I first put on the deep conditioner I was really wary because it didn't seem to make my hair feel softer or help melt away tangles like I'm used to my other products doing, so I told myself I might just have to leave it on longer and accept its lack of "slip". Well, I'm glad I did! When I rinsed the product out my hair (all of it) my strands felt significantly softer, my cuticle felt smoother, and this is literally the ONLY product ever where I've been able to let my hair air dry without any use of leave-ins or oils. I am very happy about that. Unfortunately, I'm taking off a lippie because the smell isn't all that pleasant (although it does fade relatively quickly when you rinse your hair out) and its lack of detangling properties. I also won't be repurchasing just because I am so used to my deep treatments being able to detangle. Regardless, I have no issues with how it makes my hair feel, and don't mind using it up until the jar's done with. Also, in case anyone reading this is as boojie about product ingredients as I am, there's a silicone in this, but the benefits of this deep conditioner even outweigh that "con" for me, so I would seriously suggest trying this if you have thick, curly hair, or hair that is thirsting for some extra moisture.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Organix - Vanilla Silk Serum
itsKelCeeEee 12/31/2012 1:33:00 PM
This serum is the bomb dot com. I find it hilarious that it has such low reviews, but I feel bad for the product's rep because the main ones reviewing it are people whose hair was not ideal for this serum. I'm talking to you, fine haired, straight haired ladies (and gents?). Now my hair is the furthest from fine and the furthest from straight that there is, so this stuff is perfect. I use it before a blow dry and then use a little more before I flat iron, brushing it through my hair with my denman and working section by section. It smells wonderful, it leaves my hair feeling silky smooth, helps detangle, and adds shine while legit holding down the frizz. It has me whipping my hair back and forth like I'm in a loreal commercial. This serum is cheap, at $5.99 before tax, and you don't need much (I have never been able to get away with "dime sized" amounts of any product in my life until this) so it lasts a while. I highly recommend it for my fellow curly-kinky, thick haired ladies, but for those with finer hair textures, I'd advise you to pass on this because it really can weigh hair down. It is my favorite serum of all time though, and I definitely plan on repurchasing.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Farouk CHI - Chi Iron Guard
itsKelCeeEee 12/31/2012 1:20:00 PM
Alright, this product has a lot of negative reviews, and I can see why because I experienced most of the complaints with previous uses: sticky, dry, crunchy hair. Hair that became wet again from how concentrated the mist is. However, all these issues were fixed with two things, and they were hair serum and mechanical usage. On average, I probably straighten my hair 2-3x a year. My hair is healthy but is naturally dry and porous, extremely dense and thick, coarse, kinky-curly, and reaches my bra strap when straight (only shoulder length when curly though). Needless to say, the process of straightening it is time consuming and varies widely. Salons usually have to straighten my hair three times just to get it "bone straight", so I'm not exaggerating. But anyway, the first few times I used this heat protectant it left my hair feeling dry, fried, and crunchy. I could tell it wasn't a complete dud of a product though, because when I washed my hair afterwards there was no hint of heat damage so at least it delivered on that much. So, I blow dried and flat ironed my hair last night using this and decided to change up the routine. I sprayed a couple spritzes onto my damp hair section by section, combed through it with my denman, added a bit of serum, and blowdried it. I repeated the same steps with flat ironing, except instead of spraying it right at my hair I sprayed the bottle about 3 times into my palm, rubbed them together,and applied it with my hands. It defeats the purpose of a spray bottle but hey, it works for me, and my hair was left soft, sleek, and smooth. I also didn't feel like I was frying my hair because there wasn't any of that sizzling that can happen when your hair has too much product/ is too wet for the flat iron. So, since i figured it out, I like it. But, as far as repurchasing goes, I do know that there are probably better heat protectants out there for a fraction of the price, so I'll pass. I have no problem finishing this bottle though, and since I rarely use heat on my hair I'll probably have it for a long time.
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Lotions/ Creams -Vaseline - Total Moisture Cocoa Radiant
itsKelCeeEee 12/19/2012 3:58:00 AM
I love this lotion so much. It's moisturizing without being greasy, and I can never get sick of the smell. It leaves my skin with a glow, especially if I use the same brand's cocoa butter vaseline with it. Non-clogging, improves skin over time, and does what it says it'll do on the bottle. Yup, I can dig it. I will (and have) repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -AMBI - Even Clear Skincare Foaming Cleanser
itsKelCeeEee 12/19/2012 3:51:00 AM
I bought this facial cleanser after my younger sister showed it to me in Target and told me that it had helped her breakouts heal and faded acne scars within weeks. We have pretty similar skin, combination-oily, with hers being a little more acne prone on the cheeks and mine misbehaving on my forehead and chin. So, I couldn't help but feel a bit hopeful when I saw that her complexion was definitely (and obviously) clearer, with a more even skin tone and no acne. I picked up this cleanser hoping to get the same results. However, I also use this in conjunction with their fade cream (for oily skin), so results may vary. This cleanser is the truth. If you have darker skin (I only say that because darker skin is more prone to hyperpigmentation and acne scars) and you're looking for something to fade stubborn scars, this is the cleanser that will do that. If you want it to even out your complexion and help get rid of acne, this does that as well. I've been using it every morning (with the fade cream) for exactly a month and my skin is noticeably brighter, my scars are significantly lighter, and...well, it does what it says it will do. It doesn't dry my skin out, but I don't know how it would be if I used it twice a day and not once. It's wonderful at removing makeup. Also, the price is reasonable. It's an HG now for me and deserves five lippies. BTW, if you use the fade cream with this, don't be a smart ass like me and try to use it over your entire face instead of just on the scarred areas (what the directions say to do). My face has gotten a bit lighter overall, even to the point where my makeup doesn't blend quite right if I'm not careful (I might have to go get some more in lighter shades :-\) so yeah, keep that in mind.
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