Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Topix Replenix Green Tea Serum CF
atlas84 12/17/2011 11:49:00 PM
This is a very nicely formulated serum for the money. It is a lightweight, brown gel that goes on smoothly and absorbs instantly into the skin. The amount of green tea is quite considerable in this (which is why its brown). Since green tea has proven antioxidant properties, you can count on this to do its job in that aspect. The caffeine and chamomile give an extra boost to this serum's anti-irritant properties. I found when I used this, I got light hydration and a slight calming effect if my skin was irritated. I'm considering incorporating this into my daily routine.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Glycolix Elite Ultra Lite Facial Cream
atlas84 12/17/2011 10:31:00 PM
I started using this moisturizer last fall, as I needed a moisturizer to use in the AM and also with Retin-A Micro at night. Texture is perfect; no greasiness, absorbs almost instantly, actually need very little to make your skin feel moisturized and supple. After about three weeks of use, I had a serious breakout on my chin, so I stopped using it. (Pointing the finger at the squalane in this, don't think I have used many products that have that particular ingredient.) After that cleared up, and a several week hiatus from using moisturizers, I am reincorporating this into my routine. So far, so good! No breakouts thus far. (I am chalking up my breakout experience to stress at work, it's been very stressful lately.) Jury's still out on this one. Its texture, ingredient listing, and price tag are just what I was looking for. That said, it just might lead to breakout city for me, but maybe I'll keep it on hand for the other areas of my face since it work so well. I hope this is an exception to the old axiom: If it's too good to be true, it probably is. Will post an update when I can make a definitive conclusion.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Dickinson's Witch Hazel
atlas84 12/17/2011 9:57:00 PM
Having used witch hazel off and on since my teens (about 10 to 15 years), I just can't tell if it makes a difference for me. The alcohol content has a slight astringent effect on my skin (more combo/oily, oilier in summer than winter) which is fine. However, I don't see any tangible of benefit from using it. I recently had a minor breakout and picked some up to help treat it, not sure if the witch hazel helped but after my breakout cleared up, I didn't see any further improvement with my skin. Even tried after shaving and didn't see any positive benefits. Now, that's not to say that witch hazel as an ingredient does not help me (do not know for certain), I'm just presenting my experience using Dickinson's witch hazel. Think this is something I will keep on-hand but not regularly use in my routine. Although it's not something I reach for often, I do like the smell of it. A nice, light earthy-herbal smell, not unpleasant to me at all.
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Fragrance -Chanel - Allure Pour Homme
atlas84 12/17/2011 8:41:00 PM
Chanel Allure pour homme exudes class and elegance. This is a men's fragrance, but without some of the strong, forceful harshness given off by many colognes; it retains a subtle, quiet femininity to it. (Note that I am not entirely opposed to strong men's fragrances. I'm a fan of Kouros, TdH, A*Men, Drakkar Noir, etc.) Allure is not boring or dull. Rather, it is bright and crisp, while maintaining a high level of sophistication. The bright, citrusy opening gives way to a peppery middle, which in turn gives way to a spicy, creamy base. This is the stuff I'd want to wear while drinking champagne, since the color and smell reminds me of it. For me, this is more suited to wear during the day from spring to early summer. Highly recommend.
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Fragrances -Tom Ford - Grey Vetiver
atlas84 12/17/2011 8:33:00 PM
Spritzed this on at Nordy's the other day. Smelled exactly like Guerlain Vetiver with an ever-so-slightly cleaner drydown. A no-go for me.
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Fragrances -Guerlain - Vetiver
atlas84 12/17/2011 8:32:00 PM
This is supposedly one of the classic, defining vetiver scents. However, I have to say I'm not all that impressed. Guerlain Vetiver just smells "unclean" to me. Admittedly, I am no vetiver aficionado or expert, but this stuff smells stuffy and dated to me, sort of like what and old male librarian would smell like (I have worked in a library, so I would know this well). I get a bit of spicy pepperiness in there (which I like), but it ends up being disappointingly dull in the end. Being somewhat new to fragrances, going to try and experience a few other vetivers out there to compare and see if maybe this particular note is just not right for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Hermes - Terre d Hermes
atlas84 12/17/2011 8:26:00 PM
I'm a fan of citrus smells, but need to have some depth with it (like a spicy or woodsy accord). Having read the reviews and descriptions of this popular scent, I was dying to try it. Citrus opening? Yes. Woodsy drydown? Intriguing. Searched high and low all over town to find this and when I finally did, I grabbed the tester and spritzed some juice on my arm. I took a big sniff. It was all I hoped it would be and more. Okay, maybe that is a bit dramatic, but TdH far out performs so much of the fragrances marketed to men these days. This is a great scent that is nice for office wear (I've worn it to work and it gets a thumbs up), a casual night out, and even formal events (wore it to a wedding recently). For me, this is better for warmer weather (spring/summer). Wore it on a cold day a while ago and it had no power.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrance -Yves Saint Laurent - Kouros
atlas84 12/17/2011 8:18:00 PM
YSL Kouros is one of those love it or hate it scents. I will say, my initial impression was that it smelled horrible, just like a urinal cake and nothing else. However, deciding to give this a second chance was well worth it. I adore this stuff. Kouros commands ones attention with its strong incense-y opening, but becomes much softer over time, yet still powerful enough to remind you it's still there. The dry down is warm and spicy with a bit of sweetness. Each time I've worn this I get nothing but compliments from people who've never smelled it before. I think YSL stopped marketing the EdT in the US, so this is not available in stores at the moment. However, that could change.
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Lotions/ Creams -Paula's Choice - RESIST Skin Revealing 10% AHA Lotion
atlas84 12/17/2011 7:44:00 PM
I bought this lotion to use in conjunction with the PC 2% BHA Weightless Body Treatment to help treat some body acne and mild KP I have on my arms. This was an OK glycolic acid body lotion. To its credit, it has the correct pH to be effective and a nice consistency, and it absorbs well, but after using the entire tube I can't quite determine if it was worth it or not. I did see a bit of improvement with the KP on my arms. Still think this is far more effective than the usual drugstore offerings (like AmLactin) and would consider repurchasing, but I'm going to test drive some other AHA lotions first. I've seen reviews complaining about the smell. Any lotion that has glycolic or lactic acid (two common AHA ingredients) will smell a bit rancid. Glycolic acid is derived from sugar (usually, and other natural sources) and lactic acid is derived from sour milk. You do the math. I didn't think it smelled that bad, and it definitely wasn't so bad one could not become accustomed to it over time.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Paula's Choice - Weightless Body Treatment with 2% BHA
atlas84 12/17/2011 7:35:00 PM
I bought this a while ago to help with body acne and mild KP on my upper arms. Having now used the entire tube, I don't think it made much of a difference. I saw a greater difference with the PC 10% AHA lotion, at least with the KP. I liked the texture of this lotion and it absorbed nicely. For me, seems a decent shampoo or body cleanser with at least 2% BHA works better to help combat those two conditions for me. Also, from my experience, BHA penetrates better when it is in a less occlusive base.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Jack Black - Performance Remedy Oil-Free Sun Guard SPF 45
atlas84 9/22/2011 7:24:00 PM
This is the first Jack Black product I've bought and is one of the best sunscreens I've tried. It has effective sunscreen filters that agree with my skin (zinc oxide, octinoxate, and octisalate), no fragrance, and a lightweight silicone base. This stuff just glides onto your skin and sinks in quickly without any white residue. As a guy I often go a few days without shaving. Even with a few days of stubble this still blends right in and no clumping or white residue on my face. One caveat of wearing sunscreen on the face is the greasy or shiny cast that develops during the day. I had none of that using this. The finish was nice and matte all day. My face gets oily as the day goes on but did little to affect the finish. I do think that you need to use an oil cleanser to remove and the end of the day. I once tried washing my face twice with my usual cleanser (CeraVe Foaming) and don't think I got all of it off. Will also add that I wore this daily for a little over a week and had no breakouts at all. Probably because I do well with silicones. Overall conclusion, a great everyday sunscreen with reliable protection (8% zinc oxide) and a terrific finish. Clearly this was made for men in mind, but there's no reason women can't use this.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Gold Bond - Ultimate Deep Moisture Softening Body Wash with Shea Butter
atlas84 9/18/2011 7:13:00 PM
I waited to use the entire tube of this stuff before writing a review. I'm able to conclude this is good stuff. I have an aversion to most of the "moisturizing" body washes out there because they either leave my skin with a greasy feeling or cause me to break out on my body. Bought this stuff since it was on sale and had a $2 off manufacturer's coupon attached to it. The skin on my body can be on the dry side, so I felt "Why not?" After a month or so of use I can say this stuff left my skin very soft, smooth, moisturized, and healthy feeling, without any greasiness or breakouts. Plus, the moisture lasted all day. WIN! Packaging is pretty standard for a body wash, the tube is somewhat easy to handle even when wet and has a flip cap opening on the bottom. No turning it upside down to get the last bit out. Has a nice, pleasant fragrance that is somewhat overpowering at first, but I grew accustomed to it over time and it does dissipate quickly. Highly recommend if you need a body wash that moisturizes well, leaves no greasy residue behind, is widely available, and doesn't cost much.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Gold Bond - Ultimate Softening Skin Therapy Lotion Shea Butter
atlas84 9/18/2011 7:02:00 PM
Nice! I've been using this for a few weeks in lieu of my usual go-to lotion, Aveeno Daily Moisturizing. I felt this lotion helped my hands retain a bit more moisture than Aveeno did. It's a bit thicker than most lotions but rubs right in with no greasiness. I used this on my hands mostly at night (I wash my hands often during the day) and woke up each morning with soft, moisturized hands. Also applied this to my shoulders (driest part of my body) in conjunction with the matching Gold Bond body wash, and was left with soft, smooth skin. Have to say, I'm very impressed and may switch to this from Aveeno.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Shiseido - Extra Smooth Sun Protection Lotion SPF 33 PA++
atlas84 7/31/2011 8:16:00 PM
I think I've finally found the best sunscreen for my skin. This Shiseido sunscreen goes on smooth, looks matte almost all day, and does not irritate my skin at all or cause breakouts. I was a bit worried at first since SD alcohol is high on the ingredient list and my skin doesn't like it much, but I experienced none of the stinging or burning that comes with applying that ingredient to my face. I'm also a bit wary of some fragrances in products, but this one has a very pleasant, almost spicy smell that I actually like (guy here, products can't smell too feminine). This sunscreen's protection from UVA and UVB rays is very good as well. I apply it to my face and neck and this year, I got very little color on the left side of my neck (where I tan the most easily). Definitely a keeper and I'll gladly continue to pay the hefty price tag to use this.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Topix Pharmaceuticals Resurfix Ultra Gentle Cleanser
atlas84 7/31/2011 8:07:00 PM
I just finished a bottle of this cleanser. I've seen this recommended on the skin care board for oily, sensitive, acne-prone skin so I figured I'd give it a try. My face felt clean and soft after washing and I didn't get that tight feeling characteristic of cleansers that dry out parts of my face too much. I'm going to stick with my Cerave Foaming Face Wash for now since this cleanser has to be ordered online and is a bit pricey for just 8 ounces, but will put this down as a good cleanser for those with my skin type.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No