Moisturizers -Neutrogena - Combination Skin Moisture Oil Free
StephB 8/8/2003 1:59:00 PM
I like this moisturizer for the summertime when it's really hot and humid. But I can't use it in the spring, fall or winter because it doesn't moisturize enough and causes my normal/dry spots to flake a bit. In the summer, though, it's very nice. It keeps my face from getting as oily as it normally would at that time of year.
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Skincare - Face -RoC - Retinol Actif Pure eye treatment (cream)
StephB 8/8/2003 1:50:00 PM
This is the first eye treatment that has truly made a difference in those little fine lines right under my eyes. I just turned 28 and was starting to see some hideous (to me anyway!) lines underneat my eyes. I tried several eye creams and gels only to be disappointed that none of them did anything. This actually erased them! My eyes look like they did when I was 22! It wears well under makeup too. A little goes a long way so a tube will last forever. I highly recommend this product to anyone who is starting to see the beginnings of little fine lines. **EDIT** I took off some lipsticks b/c I think my skin got used to this cream after a while. I ended up having to switch creams b/c my little lines started showing up again for some reason.
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Concealers -MAC - Studio Finish Concealer
StephB 8/8/2003 1:46:00 PM
After reading the other reviews, I'm wondering if I have an older formula of this item. Mine is very creamy and nice. I use it to conceal my (very dark) undereye circles and any red spots I may have. It works wonderfully and looks natural since the color matches perfectly. It lasts forever - I've had the same container for like a year and a half and I'm still not near the bottom! EDIT: I still have this same container, but have found that it's not that great under the eyes. I tried Paula Dorf's Total Camouflage and now realize how dry MAC's concealer truly is. It accentuates my little lines under my eye area and looks cakey as the day goes on. I still use it on the occasional blemish, but will never again use it under my eyes.
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Other -Tom's of Maine - Peppermint Baking Soda Toothpaste
StephB 8/8/2003 1:44:00 PM
Tom's of Maine is all I use anymore since regular toothpaste tends to break me out right below my mouth. When I first tried this, I thought it was pretty gross tasting. But the insert said to give it a week before you give up on the taste. I'm glad I did because I like the taste now and other toothpastes taste way too sweet and fake. Best of all, I stopped getting breakouts below my mouth!
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Powder -Aveda - Dual Base Minus Oil
StephB 8/8/2003 1:34:00 PM
This used to be my favorite powder foundation until I discovered Body & Soul. It applies nicely and looks very natural and doesn't break me out. However, I do find the need to reapply later in the day as it seems to wear off. The shades are not as yellow toned as I like and I'm exactly in between two shades, Aster and Linen. I'm also not a huge fan of the packaging. Overall, I think it's a good foundation but there are several drawbacks which kept me on the hunt for a Holy Grail. EDIT: I removed one lipstick b/c I tried using it for a few days. I now realize (after trying Body & Soul's and Laura Mercier's powder foundations) that this one wasn't quite as good as I thought it was. It looks more chalky than the others and just doesn't wear as nicely. I also don't like the shade selection at all. It's a nice powder foundation, but not perfect.
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Powder -Body & Soul - Two In One Powder and Foundation
StephB 8/8/2003 1:27:00 PM
I've now gone through about 5 of these. I have combination skin that breaks out easily. I have not had any breakout problems at all from this foundation. So far, this is my HG powder foundation and possibly my HG foundation of any type. It glides on nicely and wears well. It never looks cakey or orange. The yellow toned shades suit me perfectly. I'm a MAC NC35 and wear 5. I almost think I could go darker as B&S's shades tend to run very light. When you apply it wet you get seamless, completely natural coverage that blends into the skin perfectly. Applied dry, it still looks lovely and natural but a little more matte. Great product!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Kiehls - Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
StephB 6/15/2003 10:23:00 AM
This is a lovely eye cream. It's not greasy at all and really smooths and moisturizes the undereye area. It also hasn't given me those little clogged pore bumps under my eyes that I've gotten from other eye creams. There is a technique to applying it. The only reason I can guess that people don't like the texture is because they're not applying it properly. If you don't do it right, it will sort of "stick" to the skin and not spread out. You are to put some cream on your finger and gently pat it around the eye area. Don't attempt to rub it in at this point. Wait 10-20 seconds and then pat some more. That's all you need to do. It will then sink in. I can wear this under makeup just fine!
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Eye Shadow -Laura Mercier - Eye Colour
StephB 10/2/2002 11:16:00 PM
Laura's shadows are some of the best on the market, IMHO. They don't flake all over your face when you apply them. They're well pigmented, blend easily and last a long time. If I could replace every shadow made by another brand with Laura's, I would. I don't like the packaging color but it's durable and does what it's supposed to do. It's better than cardboard! LOL! On a side note, if you have blue eyes, try lining with her Deep Night shadow. It makes them look amazing.
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Eyeliner -Laura Mercier - Cake Eyeliner in all shades
StephB 10/2/2002 11:14:00 PM
I agree with the others. This liner is one of the best I've used. I have Mahogany Brown and it stays put and doesn't look to harsh (the way liquid liner can). If I want a more smudged look, I apply a dark brown shadow over it and smudge. But this stuff looks great and lasts well on its own!
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Lotions/ Creams -Kiehls - Creme de Corps
StephB 8/12/2002 1:22:00 PM
I love, love, love this lotion. I never bought myself a full bottle, though, because of the price. I've always had deluxe sample bottles. My lovely sister sent me a Kiehl's giftbox for my birthday and a full sized bottle was in it! It's not too greasy and doesn't take much time to sink in when you apply the right amount...you don't need a ton to get the job done. My skin feel so incredibly soft when I use it and has a lovely sheen to it. I don't really like the scent but it seems to disappear quickly. I've tried almost every lotion on the market and NONE have made my skin feel as soft and moisturized as Kiehl's CdC. I would love to know which drugstore moisturizers the other reviewers are referring to b/c the pricetag kills me on this. That would be my only reason for not repurchasing. I do use it daily which could get quite expensive. But I love it, so I just may keep buying it.
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Treatments (Eye) -Kiehls - Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
StephB 8/12/2002 1:06:00 PM
My sister gave this to me as part of a Kiehl's gift she had put together. I'm 27 and have started noticing some small fine lines under my eye area. The consistency is really strange. It feels really watery and sort of "sticks" to the places when you put it on. I don't even know how to explain the consistency. I find that when I pat it on my eye area and let it set for a minute, then blend it into the skin, it warms up and sinks in a lot better than just trying to apply and blend it all at once (like normal eye creams). A little goes a long way with this product. I've been using it for a week now. My fine lines seem to be nicely plumped up after application. Concealer/makeup applies quite nicely over it as well. I use a bit more at night and less during the day. You can really customize this product by how much you put on. If you apply a bit more, your under eye area will appear sort of wet looking - this is fine at night b/c I like super-moisturization then. During the day, simply apply a bit less and it will blend in. Overall, I like this eye cream. It's more moisturizing than many others I've tried and is one of the only ones that's actually made my little fine lines almost disappear (while wearing it).
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Cleansers -Kiehls - Gentle Foaming Facial Cleanser
StephB 8/12/2002 12:57:00 PM
I usually use Purpose/J&J Head to Toe. This winter, my normal cleanser started to dry my skin out a bit. I needed something even more gentle, non-drying and non-filmy that wouldn't break me out. I'm really not even sure how or why I even tried this cleanser. Since it's for dry to normal skin, I would have automatically assumed it would break me out. I'm glad I did try it though. Contrary to the name, it does not foam. That took me a while to get used to. It's a creamy cleanser that cleans well, yet leaves no film (like Cetaphil did). My skin feels so nice after washing - not stripped at all. My skin has been very clear with no breakouts or increased blackheads. I was a bit concerned with being able to use it in the summertime but it's still working out quite nicely. In face, I'm on my second bottle! I think I've found my holy grail cleanser.
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Blush -LORAC - Powder Blush All colors
StephB 5/2/2002 11:38:00 PM
I have LORAC Pink blush. It looks like a very scary bright hot pink in the pot. But once on, it gives the perfect pink flush. It's nice for spring and summer. It's my staple pink blush. I've had several ma's ask me what blush I've had on when wearing it. It's very nice, very blendable and wears very well.
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Gels/Soaps -Laura Mercier - luxury soap - au lait
StephB 5/2/2002 11:29:00 PM
This is one of the best scents I've ever smelled. It's nice and clean but has just a general pleasant scent that, once opened, makes your whole bathroom smell heavenly! I love that the bar is so large and that it makes my skin so incredibly soft. However, I do think that $18 is VERY steep for a bar of soap. Would I purchase again? You bet - I've had too many complements on how nice my bathroom smells! It truly wakes me up in the morning.
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Lip Liners -Laura Mercier - Chestnut lipliner
StephB 5/2/2002 11:23:00 PM
This is THE best "your lips but better" lipliner. It has no orangey tones like the infamous MAC Spice, but is a true "lips" pink brown. I like the face that if I can adjust the intensity to be darker (by pressing harder) or my natural lips shade (by pressing really lightly). The consistency is very nice as well. I'll gladly pay $16 for the perfect lipliner!
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