Lips -Palladio - Tinted Lip Balm
nanshi 3/29/2013 12:22:00 PM
I'm pretty pale and my lips generally take on pigment very well. But every now and then, my lips tend to pale out and tend to make me look like a listless zombie. So I generally need some kind of lip color on a daily basis to give them a bit more life and flush. Enter this product! I have little complaints about it and what it says it can do. It imparts color, imparts moisture, and stays on my lips quite well. In fact, as the moisture absorbs into my lips, it leaves a pleasant stain (about 1-2 hours after initial application) that is quite pretty. The only problem I really have with this is that it is pigmented. Like sheer-lipstick or lip butter type of pigmented. Unlike general tinted lip balms, a noticeable amount of color comes off when you wipe your lips or drink out of a coffee cup. I still keep this around for when I want something a bit more vibrant, but I'm afraid I've conceded that I can no longer use it as a "lip balm" and keep it more as a "sheer lip color" in my makeup back.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Cerave - Facial Moisturizing Lotion - PM
nanshi 9/27/2012 11:35:00 AM
the texture of this lotion is closer to a gel-cream or an opaque serum. It goes on smooth and dries down very quickly... like a gel. I obediently put this on at night, and while my skin does wake up looking a little parched, that's easily remedied by a quick application of a day moisturizer. Altogether, my skin has not adapted to this cream, it's very light, and goes on smoothly and you only need a bit (i use two pumps for my whole face but I think you may be able to get away with one pump). It doesn't have any disturbing fragrances or any other kinds of properties that I think would irritate sensitive skin (unless you are allergic to a specific ingredient in the list). Disclaimer: I do have pretty good skin on a daily basis so it's not as though this would work miracles on me anyway. But as a good basic and affordable nighttime moisturizer with some beneficial ingredients, I like it a lot!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Nivea - A Kiss of Flavor Cherry
nanshi 10/10/2011 5:05:00 PM
All right. I've been using this for a few days now -- and I can officially say it. I really really like this! It imparts a nice pinkish red flush to my lips that comes out looking baby-pink on my lips. Instead of just sitting on my lips like most balms do, it actually settles into the skin after a a few minutes leaving my lips feeling moisturized and healthy -- not taut or greasy or oily. I didn't realize that balms were actually supposed to sink into your lips until I started using some of the other Burt's Bees lip balms (pomegranate oil, not the original). Anyway, I can't say if this is a good dupe for those expensive lip balms, but I can say that it is very pleasant and I love using it (not that I have to very often!).
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -The Body Shop - Vitamin E Moisture Cream
nanshi 8/31/2011 10:49:00 AM
I have pretty normal skin. Facial skin is best treated as "sensitive" no matter what the condition (oily, combination, dry, etc). I am a big big fan of The Body Shop's Aloe Night Cream but it's summer over here and the night cream is on the thick side (but absolutely great for winter and colder/dryer days). I had a travel size of the Vitamin E Moisture Cream lying around and started to use that because my cheeks were feeling a little parched. A little bit goes an extremely long way and the texture of the Cream is silky and watery; a bit like a gel like someone else said. I put it on my skin and it dries almost immediately to the touch (use just a little bit!) but it keeps my skin hydrated and flexible. I also credit the vitamin E in the cream to helping clear up a small persistent acne scar that just wouldn't really go away. All in all, I definitely think that this was a stellar purchase and I have bought the full size and will probably continue to use it during the day. The balance works out well for me because I don't like the Aloe Day Cream as much as the Vitamin E, so I use the Vitamin E during the day and the Aloe Night Cream.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Rimmel - Lasting Finish - Just So
nanshi 7/19/2011 9:21:00 AM
Great color. I'm Asian, currently quite tan, with a pretty neutral skin tone (rosy cheeks with faint golden undertones, dark eyes and hair) and this color is definitely a MLBB-pink. The color, on me, looks like a cross between a lighter pink and a rose color. It looks very natural (basically, the color matches the undersides of my lips so you don't get a line of demarcation between my lips and the insides of my lips when I smile) and really brightens up my whole face in that subtle "Oh, did you do something new with your hair/makeup today?" It looks much darker in the tube than it goes on though, so don't be scared to try it (I initially thought it was a deep wine-red color so I didn't buy it and it wasn't until I found swatches that I realized it is a much lighter color). Price is really good for the quality. It's a bit drying, so I just top it off with a little bit of lip balm to give it some healthy sheen and then just go with it. All in all, definitely highly recommend. The only con is that I really don't like the way Rimmel packages their lipsticks. I would prefer a plastic wrapper of some kind like most other brands do. So if you are purchasing, make sure you take your time to inspect the lipsticks to see that they're "clean."
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -The Body Shop - Lip & Cheek Stain
nanshi 3/25/2011 11:21:00 AM
This is my go-to product almost at all time of day. I don't really wear blush, so I use this as a lip stain. What I like about it is that the color is faint, but noticeable and very natural (at least on my lips). It builds up in intensity, but because it's not completely opaque, it never tends to look overdone. Also, the formula is quite very liquid and light so it doesn't look as obvious as some stains can. Some people might complain that it's bad because there's one color, but I think that's part of it's charm. It's versatile and not completely opaque which means that it blends in with your natural tones better. I buy this all the time and when it goes on sale, I tend to stock up. I wear it every single day. It's a great way of giving your face a little life! I highly recommend it and I like it a lot more than those debuting drugstore lip stains (but that's why this is a tint!).
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Tarte - Picture Perfect Eyelash Curler
nanshi 3/3/2011 11:33:00 AM
I don't know if I'm going to be holding onto this only because I don't generally enhance my eyelashes at all (short and somewhat wispy)... but I think this is great! I've gone through Shiseido, Shu Uemura, several drugstore brands, Sephora brand, and I can say I like this one the most. Why? Because this one doesn't catch my puffy mono-lidded Asian eyes. For me, it's not about the "flat" almond-curve of my eyelids, it's more about the fact that I have a monolids and therefore the skin on my eyelids gets pinched VERY easily by most eyelash curlers, including the beloved Shiseido and Shu. For some reason, the curve of this curler isn't deep enough to catch my eyelids.. which is a good thing! So far I like it quite much! But I will admit -- it doesn't get to the "base" or your eyelash... but that's where the pinching comes in for me, so I guess you really can't win...?
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Aveeno - Daily Moisturizing Lotion
nanshi 11/25/2010 7:05:00 PM
4.5 stars, really. Price varies because you can buy it in multiple sizes at multiple locations, with or without coupons or discounts or sales. So... take the "price" factor with a grain of salt. I have sensitive skin. I'm allergic to nickel (including rivets on jeans), have eczema or contact dermatitis (or both!), and occasionally get nasty reactions to bug bites.... not to mention your run-of-the-mill "random" rashes. Long story short, I had a nasty rash flare-up due to some soap which in turn flared up my nickel sensitivity and cause a huge huge huge disgusting rash to break out all over my torso. I had used Aveeno before in the past with good results (basically, I knew it was fragrance-free, had soothing colloidal oatmeal, and was good for sensitive skin and had a relatively quick dry-time), so I went to pick up a bottle of this very basic lotion. Very few ingredients, and yes, keeping my skin moisturized and supple with this light lotion had played something of a role in keeping my rash issues to a minimum. The dry time is relatively quick. It leaves a slightly tacky feeling, but nothing extreme and I can put on clothes over it without feeling anything more than "well moisturized." Overall, this definitely meets my specifications for a daily lotion and I will happily repurchase.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -The Body Shop - Lip & Cheek Stain
nanshi 11/17/2010 4:12:00 PM
I only have the original Pink-Rose shade. I love it! I don't wear makeup on a daily basis, but when I wake up in the morning, my lips have a tendency to look dead and pale and oddly colored. They warm up *sometimes* but I realized with this stain, they instantly warm up. I would buy an extra tube to carry around as a backup, but just haven't bothered yet. It gives my lips a lovely slight-deeper-than-baby-pink flush that pairs great with balms and clear glosses.The consistency is a very solid gel with mild moisturizing properties. It dries relatively quickly, but not so fast (nor so watery), that you can't smooth it around a little for an even application. Staying power is okay, sometimes if you get it in the creases of the inside of your mouth, it tends to rub off there because it stays "wet," but it's very subtle and nothing like rubbing off real lipstick or gloss. A good solid product from TBS.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -The Body Shop - Grape seed glossing serum
nanshi 11/12/2010 9:53:00 AM
I've been wanting a hair serum that makes my hair look glossy for the longest time. Due to The Body Shop's current holiday promotions, I decided to pick this up. I towel dried my hair and then squeezed about 3-4 pumps into my palm, rubbed them together and basically patted the serum all over my hair, concentrating on the ends, but I patted my hands on the upper parts of my hair too to give it a little bit of the serum. Then, I blow-dried my hair. Absolutely fantastically shiny, soft, and touchably silky hair. My hair hasn't been this glossy in ages (I have naturally black hair, so the gloss is REALLY important to give us that lovely sheen) and I just love the way it makes my hair look and feel! The serum itself is not sticky and is a bit on the thick side. It feels a little bit like a runny hair wax, but aside from that -- it's really good stuff. I will definitely be repurchasing...
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -The Body Shop - Aloe Vera soothing rich night cream
nanshi 8/10/2010 9:56:00 PM
EDITED UPDATE (original review below asterisk): After using this cream for about a month on just the small trial/sample size that you can get in the kit... I purchased the full size and I am happy to say that it agrees with my skin just as much as it did the first week I used it. My skin loves loves loves this stuff and I'm not afraid to wear it during the day and my skin is soft and smooth and glowing and pale. I have sensitive skin and it definitely helps calm it down. No, it doesn't heal breakouts, but it allows my skin's natural balance and pH to do what it's supposed to. It keeps my skin supple and paired with an eye cream, it's absolutely lovely. I recommend trying the sample/trial size first before committing to the full size because there is quite a lot there, but I can't recommend it highly enough.... * I've been using this for about a week now. Due for a review, I think. The cream is thick, rich, and soothing. It's dense but not greasy, creamy but not oily. It smooths on like a cream but then dries down for a gel-like finish. Okay, I think I might be exaggerating a bit, but it allows my face to feel smooth and alleviates any dry patches and it's comfortably moisturized... not oily or greasy. It's also superbly fast absorbing. My skin is glowing and pleasant when I'm done with it. I have light redness on the cheeks that this helps combat. No, it doesn't fade away the scars or the hyperpigmentation, but it certainly helps alleviate their harsh appearance. My skin drinks this stuff up. You only need a really really tiny bit. Anyone who thinks otherwise will probably have unfortunate oily mishaps with this. Otherwise... very pleasant dealings.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Equate - Complete Beauty Lotion with SPF 15 - Sensitive Skin
nanshi 6/29/2010 3:59:00 PM
This is probably my favorite day time moisturizer when I am rushing out the door and don't have time to put on thicker sunscreens and then oil-cleanse my fingers in order to get off the residue (no joke). So inevitably, I end up using this moisturizer EVERY SINGLE DAY because I am just that lazy, haha! Anyway, it's lightweight, doesn't irritate my eyes, offers good sunscreen protection for everyday use, this stuff is golden. The price and its availability isn't only the icing on the cake, but it makes it a much more feasible alternative than anything else you can buy on the shelves. With all these fans, the worst thing that could happen is you'll be out $6-7 (I actually get mine for around $5) and then you'll just swap it off to someone who actually does like using it (and with all these fans, you'll probably find some takers). Note: I do have normal skin which gets oily when I get sweaty, so for gals with severely oily skin, I can't say how well this will hold up!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -St. Ives - Collagen-Elastin Essential Moisturizer
nanshi 4/1/2010 1:04:00 PM
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this product yet. It's actually one of my favorites because of the *heavenly* scent and the fact that the moisturizer is light, soothing, and simple. It's a good thing that a jar is huge and inexpensive because this is something I intend on keeping as one of those basics or staples that you just...keep around. Basically, it's a simple simple moisturizer. I don't actually believe that there is enough "collagen" or "elastin" in it to actually affect your skin. What it does do is moisturize, go on light and easy (with a nice slip), and keep your skin looking dewy and hydrated-- but not oily and greasy (at least on my skin). I primarily like using oils on my skin (Bio Oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, rice bran oil, shea butter, etc) but for some reason, I have these stubborn dry patches that the oil just cannot penetrate deeply enough. It seems as if the only cure for them, really, is a creamy moisturizer. So that's where this comes in. It also doesn't have the thick feeling that it's just *sitting* on your skin and not really penetrating. It might be a little insufficient in the wintertime, but I would just say put on an extra layer. As for the summer time -- use a little less... It's great for layering with other products because it's very light (it's denser than a serum, but not significantly so). All in all, love it. Hope they never discontinue it because I intend to always have a tub handy.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Body -Unlisted Brand - Egyptian Magic Healing Cream
nanshi 7/1/2009 7:37:00 PM
I put down a "No" for the repurchase ratings -- but it's more of a "maybe." Frankly, this stuff is a GREAT lipbalm. Honest. I received a very generous sample from a very sweet swapper here on MUA because I was incredibly reluctant to purchase a full size tub considering the price and the generally-mediocre reviews that EM gets. It's a bit hot here so my skin doesn't need nearly as much moisture as it usually does, but I used it at night for awhile and would wake up with enlarged pores (a typical sign that a moisturizer & I don't mix). This was bewildering because my usual moisturizer is raw shea butter and there is no way that could be less oily than EM. But I went through a bout of dry, cracked and chapped lips and they were peeling and almost-bleeding and ick (y'know, the works). I usually just use Vaseline on them, but I was wary this time because of the "bleeding," technically these were open wounds and I didn't want to potentially irritate them any further. So I used EM and... well... they healed overnight. Very very good stuff for that. Maybe I have to play around with the application process some or do something else to figure out if this works for me, but as of right now (and it seems that this is fairly consistent across the board): it's just a very plain product. I didn't expect it to do miracles, but I didn't expect it to do nothing. But I saw virtually no differences from using raw shea butter (and the shea butter is a fraction of the price). If I didn't have the experience of using shea butter (because, frankly, it is quite possibly one of the best moisturizers I have ever used), I probably would think EM is quite good, to be fair.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Unlisted Brand - Unrefined Shea Butter
nanshi 5/17/2009 10:31:00 PM
I buy this from an online seller (nasabb.com) and I get a small 4oz. tub for around $13 shipped and they whip it for you so it comes delivered in a consistency similar to generic body butter (or so. Thicker than lotion but not quite a dense as a cream, a la Nivea Creme). It's already softened and I primarily got this because shea butter (unrefined/raw) has natural sunscreen properties (Vitamin F, I think it is?) and it also is completely natural and about as pure as you can get and a little goes such a long way. I work out at the gym and do other things that open up my pores and make me sweat (ie. yard work) and usually I can't be bothred to take off sunscreen. I've always been concerned with the chemicals going into my skin while I'm in the hot tub after a workout or just while I'm on the machines sweating it up. With this, I know there's no chemicals, so it's not nearly as worrisome as the other things -- and no breakouts caused by this either! It's inexpensive, but don't expect it to do miracles. It makes your skin softer and helps keep it hydrafted but it won't erase marks. But it might help plump fine lines. Works great all over. Hands, feet, neck, arms, legs, etc.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No