Liquid -Ultima II - Wonderwear Longwearing [DISCONTINUED]
tommicat10 6/14/2007 10:44:00 PM
Well, this is it, my very last foundation review. Promise!!! I ordered this from BeautyRose, sight unseen, over a week ago on the advice of a friend. I came home from work today and there it was. This Wonderwear is a 'Got to look Perfect, Sunday go to Meetin, I'm a Princess, Look Ma No Flaws' kind of makeup. It almost makes you look TOO pretty, if there is such a thing! Why on earth do they have this stuff hidden away at BeautyRose?? Don't they want us to be pretty???? Is Ultima II fading away or what? You can't get it at Ulta anymore or in no actual store, only BeautyRose. Wonderwear is a long lasting foundation, that if applied properly, erases all flaws and makes you look like you ought to be wearing a tiara or something. It's that good! I'm saving this stuff for special occasions, for times when I want to pull out all the stops, but not for everyday wear. It's made for oily skin but mixed with alittle moisturizer it also works for drier skin. I haven't given this foundation a true test run yet, but I'll do it soon. I hope they don't discontinue this stuff. It's better than most other longwearers, in my opinion. EDIT: I don't know why this happened, but it started turning orange on me. Boo hoo! It's now fallen from the pedestal!
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Liquid -Neutrogena - Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup SPF 20
tommicat10 6/13/2007 10:40:00 PM
I generally like Neutrogena products but have never bought their foundations. CVS had the color Buff Blush on sale for half price, because it's apparently been discontinued. I had a Neutrogena coupon for $3.00 so I got this foundation for $2.99. I tried it on and was pleasantly surprised. This discontinued color matched my skin almost perfectly. That never happens. I wore it today and found it had many redeeming qualities. It's thin but covered red cheeks very well, didn't sink into pores or lines and made my skin glow. It felt and looked natural. I can't stand a heavy feel anymore. At my age, I've discovered that less is more. I did use a little bit of powder, which I probably shouldn't have because it looked alittle bit cakey after about 5 hours. I don't know if that was the fault of the foundation, powder or my application technique. Even with this little flaw, this foundation had more going for it than not. I've used much worse and for alot more money, too. I went back to CVS and bought the last 2 half price bottles because I like this foundation and the discontinued color. It's not perfect but it's not bad either. I'm not young, but still have oily skin and hate the rich, oil laden foundations that are supposedly formulated for women my age. EDIT: Wore this for the second day in a row. Five people today told that my skin (not makeup) looked great. WOW!!!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Aveeno - Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser
tommicat10 6/11/2007 9:58:00 PM
I bought this awhile back as a result of Dr. Baumann's book. She recommended it for oily, sensitive skin. I bought the Calming lotion and cream also. I liked the way this cleanser foamed up and cleaned my skin. It felt alittle drying but I use other products that moisturize. After about 3 days using this product my skin started burning and got really inflamed (roseacea flare). Since this was the only new product I was using at the time, I assumed it was the culprit. I stopped using it and the irritation calmed down after a few days. It's a good thing I have friends and family who love the products that I can't use. They really clean up. My daughter loves this cleanser.
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Liquid -Revlon - Age Defying Light Makeup with Botafirm SPF30 [DISCONTINUED]
tommicat10 6/11/2007 9:45:00 PM
I was lurking around CVS today and found this makeup on clearance for 50% off. I've used the regular age defying makeup with botafirm before and I didn't like it. I'm finding the older I get, the lighter makeup formulas seem to be less aging. So many foundations look heavy and cakey on me anymore. I got the color Fair (Clair). I thought I was getting Buff, oh well! I'm assuming these colors have been discontinued since they're on clearance. I put some on and actually like it. I think it's more than a tinted moisturizer, but not by much. I think it looks natural and fresh. If my skin was as oily as it was when I was younger, I don't think I would have liked this product. It would have been way too moisturizing. It actually covered the redness on my face better than I would have expected and I like the 30 spf sunscreen. For $6.50, I think I got a bargain. I like this much better than some of the higher priced foundations I have. I definately recommend this product for anyone wanting a more natural looking makeup with sunscreen. EDIT: I spoke too soon. It started turning an orangey color on me.
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Liquid -American Beauty - Perfect Lighting Line Smoothing Foundation SPF 15
tommicat10 6/11/2007 5:02:00 PM
Tried this on at Kohls. Looking in their mirror, it really looked good. About an hour later I got in my car and looked in the rearview mirror. OMG, my face was soooo shiny. It felt greasy and heavy. I can't tolerate that at all. This foundation is oil free it sure didn't feel it. I think if you have dry skin and want a great deal of radiance, this could work for you. But if you have the least bit of oil, I would reconsider. Probably not a bad foundation, but it's certainly not for me.
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Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Aquanil cleanser
tommicat10 6/11/2007 4:34:00 PM
I was out of my Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser so I went to the drugstore to buy some more. I saw that Aquanil cleanser was on sale, $7.99 for 16 ounces. The label stated that it's soapless, lipid-free for sensitive skin, non-comedogenic and fragrance free. I have an oily T zone and roseacea and use cleansers for sensitive skin. I thought this cleanser would be similiar to Cetaphil or Neutrogena and it is. But I think I like it better and would definately buy it again. It's moisturizing and makes my skin very soft. It's not a great makeup remover so I washed my face twice to get the makeup off. It smells alittle bit medicinal but I don't care. While it's on sale I think I'll buy another bottle. It's so mild and soothing. Love it!!!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Afirm 3x by Medicis
tommicat10 5/30/2007 10:58:00 PM
Afirm 3x is a retinal product recommended by Dr. Baumann in her Skin Type Solution book for particular skin types. I ordered this from her website, not really knowing what to expect. I have been so sensitive to so many products, that I expected to experience irritation from this one. It's .6 % pure retinal in a microsponge base, which is supposed to make it less irritating than retinals contained in other kinds of delivery systems. When I first tried it, I felt some stinging and slight burning but I started out slowly and now I use it every night without experiencing any irritation at all. As a matter of fact, I find I am much less sensitive to other products that were previously very irritating before I started using Afirm. I have only used it for about 4 weeks so I am holding off giving it a final rating. I understand it takes months for retinals to do their work. So far, I think there is less redness in my face, fine lines around my eyes and diminished and my skin has more of a glow. My pores are still large and probably will be forever. My skin is softer and maybe more refined. I will report again in a few months, in order to give a fair rating. It's too soon to tell right now. UPDATE: I'm almost out of my first tube and will need to buy a new one soon. I think this retinol product is helpful but not strong enough to perform any miracles. Like most retinol products it's a little bit drying, but that's to be expected. I've used this every night religiously but will eventually try something stronger. I think my pores are definately cleaner but they certainly haven't shrunk. I use Paula's Choice 2% BHA liquid in the mornings in conjunction with the Affirm 3x.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Philosophy - the supernatural airbrush canvas
tommicat10 5/22/2007 11:19:00 PM
A friend of mine gave me this in the color Natural because it is too light for her. I really didn't expect to like it at all. I already use Merle Norman mineral makeup or Everyday Minerals on a fairly consistant basis. To my surprise, I like this product, alot actually. I even like the sponge applicator that everybody seems to hate. I got great coverage and my large pores look less obvious. What a surprise! I used a primer and this makeup lasted all day. The color was right and I didn't get that disco shiny look that I expected, but more of a glow. Not bad.
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Liquid -Estee Lauder - Double Wear
tommicat10 4/25/2007 9:33:00 PM
Gather around, girls, I have some motherly advice for you, and YES, I am old enough to be your mama!!! If you should decide to buy Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation, please ask for samples and try the color(s) in daylight, home, office and wherever you hang out, BEFORE you commit to a purchase. Department store lights are tricky. Oh, yes they are!! And Estee Lauder colors can be unforgiving! It's not like mineral makeup, where your natural skin color nuances show through. Part of the key to getting this foundation to look like it's supposed to, is finding the correct color. IT'S CRUCIAL!! In the store, it's almost impossible to tell your color match, if you even have one. EL neutral colors are peach. When did peach become a neutral?? Their warms are very yellow and their cools can be very pink. The lights skew the colors tremendously. I was matched four different times with different sales associates and all four of them told me the colors they picked were perfect for me(four different colors). I eventually picked color #5, got a sample and it was a match, even though I was told it wouldn't be. Let this be a lesson, girls. Learn from my mistakes! I like this foundation, right now anyway (I'm pretty fickle). It covers my natural skin color(beet red) very well and actually makes my super sized pores look downright dainty. I'm rating it a four.
39 out of 42 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
CD/Books/Movies -Unlisted Brand - The Skin Type Solution - Leslie Baumann MD
tommicat10 4/15/2007 9:39:00 PM
I saw this book in the library and checked it out. I took the test to determine my skintype, out of the 16 possiblities. I ended up being Oily, Sensitive, Nonpigmented and Wrinkled(OSNW), exactly what I would have guessed. Several of my friends also took the test and their results were also predictable. The interesting thing is that Dr. Baumann's description of your skintype and what it involves is very accurate. It explains why so many products I've tried did nothing but upset my skin. I thought if I used the same products as my friends who had poreless skin my skin would eventually become poreless too. How crazy is that?? Many of the current products that are available today are for the dry, resistant, non-pigmented, wrinkled skin type, where as some other types are underserved. This book is FULL of very interesting information. I wouldn't hesitate to buy this book to use as a reference for myself and others. Highly recommended. EDIT: Still really like the book. It has been very helpful to me. After time though I've found that I disagree with some of her recommendations but am very happy with others. My skin is still oily but is drier due to using her recommended retinol product. I'm pretty much sticking to her recommended program. Because of her I'm at least on the right path.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Aveeno - Ultra-Calming Night Cream
tommicat10 4/14/2007 7:30:00 PM
This cream really helps sooth my irritated sensitive skin. I don't consider it very moisturizing, but I bought it more for it's soothing properties. I had bought the ultra calming lotion and liked it, so I thought I would try this also. The only thing I dislike about it is the strong smell. It goes away quickly though, thank goodness. EDIT: I just changed this cream to a 5. I love it. RE-EDIT (5-17-07) - This cream was soothing, but now it burns my skin as soon as it makes contact.
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Moisturizers -Aveeno - Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer SPF 15
tommicat10 4/14/2007 7:21:00 PM
I saw that this product was recommended in Dr. Leslie Baumann's Skin Type Solutions Book for my skin type - OSNW. Several days ago my face felt like it was on fire. My Rosacea was rearing it's ugly head, like it always does this time of year. I was in Target and thought I might as well buy this stuff since the feverfew in it is supposed to be soothing. I bought it and rubbed it on my face immediately. I felt a nice cooling sensation and my face calmed right down. I couldn't believe it. I wasn't crazy about the smell but it went away. I just read the reviews here and many people say it irritates their sensitive skin. I have to say it really helps me. I carry it in my purse and reapply a few times during the day, just for the cooling sensation. I like it so much I bought the night cream yesterday. I like it too. EDIT: I just changed this to a 5. I love it. It doesn't burn my skin and is not greasy. I use it everyday and will definately buy it again. Dr. Leslie Baumann' advice has really made a difference in the condition of my skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Neutrogena - Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream
tommicat10 4/3/2007 2:14:00 PM
I tried this product a long time ago and my sensitive skin burned so I got rid of it. After doing some reading about retinoids, I decided to give it another try. I used it last night and there was no bad reaction. I woke up this morning and after one night my skin looked so much better, more refined, smoother and not as red. I couldn't believe it. I'm going to use it as long as it doesn't burn. I'm extremely impressed with the results in such a very short time. It's almost too good to be true. CORRECTION: This is not the product I previously used. I used the Healthy Skin Anti Wrinkle/Anti Blemish cream. It's something different all together. The Anti Wrinkle cream does not contain the salicylic acid that the other formula has. Sorry.
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Powder -Physicians Formula - CoverToxTen50 Wrinkle Therapy Face Powder
tommicat10 3/28/2007 10:13:00 AM
Physicians Formula CoverToxTen50 Wrinkle Therapy Face Powder sounds like the miracle product we've all been waiting for!! It reportedly reduces wrinkles over 50% in 10 minutes, up to 90% in 10 hours and after 10 days skin should be up to 90% visibly smoother. WOW!!! HOW CAN IT DO THIS, YOU ASK?? WELL, it has GABA, a muscle relaxant naturally found in the body and BV-OSC, an active form of Vitamin C that helps enhance collagen synthesis as the 2 main ingredients, along with a bunch of other stuff. They've got these pretty bizzare looking before and after pictures on the box. You can get a visual on how this woman looks after using this product for 10 minutes. Sometimes before and after pictures look so fake!!!! By the pictures you could have sworn the woman had a facelift or some other major cosmetic surgery. I consider myself a rather intelligent, discerning person who would never fall for such hype. Oh no, not ME!!! Yeah, right. I scarfed this stuff up immediately, plopped down my money and ran out the door, waiting for my miracle!!! Like, how often do you get a miracle for a mere $10.00?? I put the powder on, anxiously awaited for 10 minutes and looked in the rearview mirror. Did I look better, 20 years younger, WHAT!! WHAT!! No, no miracle yet, but I did look a little bit better. Maybe it was a placebo effect. I don't care. This powder made my face feel tighter. No, not like botox but tighter still. Oh yeah, if you buy this stuff exfoliate and moisturize first. It feels a bit drying but I'm not complaining. Ten dollars, ten days, a miracle!!!....... I'll get back with you then!!!!!! EDIT: Well, it's been over 10 days and I can't say there have been great improvements in wrinkle reduction that was promised on the box this powder came in. No, I don't resemble the after pictures, not even close. BUT, I have to say this is a pretty good powder in a general sense. It gives a nice smooth and polished look, so I'm going to give it another lippie.
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Crème -Maybelline - Instant Age Rewind Cream Foundation [DISCONTINUED]
tommicat10 3/23/2007 8:48:00 PM
This is an amazing foundation. I can't believe it comes from a drugstore, not that drugstores can't have wonderful products, too. The coverage is one of it's best features. It really covers large pores and makes them look almost nonexistant. It smooths right over wrinkles also. It looks so wonderful on, in a glowing, radiant sort of way. I find that even with combination skin this does not increase oil production. It lasts all day, but a few powder touch ups don't hurt. It really gives a look like a highend foundation, I think. I tried this for the past few days and received several compliments. That was nice. I am sensitive to how products feel on my skin. This feels alittle bit heavier than I'm used to wearing but a lighter feel is just my preference and does not detract from the foundation's quality, in general. The only problem I can see is that there may not be enough shades to match some people's skin. For example, the lightest shade is a pale pink and the next shade up is a very yellow based shade that is quite abit darker. The third shade is a darker very pink color, etc. Where does that leave the more neutral skinned gals? I could see where finding the correct color could be a problem for some. But all and all, a pretty nice foundation.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No