Cleansers -Dove - Beauty Bar - Sensitive Skin
bellabambina 7/21/2003 1:46:00 PM
Thumbs up! See my review under "Gels/soaps: Dove Beauty Bar." I use this on my body (not on my face).
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Sunscreen -Paula's Choice - Essential Non-Greasy Sunscreen spf 15
bellabambina 7/21/2003 1:32:00 PM
The reason I don't use this much is it really isn't "non-greasy", as it does leave a distinct shine after application. Maybe they should call it "Super Greasy." LOL!! Also, it makes me break out. But it works for the arms and legs at least, and I also put it on my neck and chest, which get a direct hit from the sun when driving in summer. I haven't found an excellent sunscreen for my facial skin, so I try to avoid the sun and stay in the shade as much as possible.
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Lipstick -Clinique - Different Lipstick - Tenderheart
bellabambina 7/21/2003 3:51:00 AM
Well, I actually didn't purchase this one either (GWP!!) but I do use it and will continue to do so as a great everyday lipstick which is very moisturizing (but needs to be re-applied very frequently). It's a good neutral on my slightly tan-colored skin that helps me look polished.
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Polishes -Clinique - Glosswear Nail Enamel
bellabambina 7/21/2003 3:46:00 AM
Me no likey!! :) Enough said!! Okay, maybe I can say more. I think Clinique made these nail polishes as an afterthought. They don't dry particularly fast, and I don't remember being very impressed by how long they lasted on the nails either!
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Lipstick -Clinique - Long Last Soft Shine in Sugar Bean
bellabambina 7/21/2003 3:43:00 AM
Me likey!! I thought this was a really great lipstick--nice neutral shade, nice creamy glossy formula. Very sexy but subdued at the same time.
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Lipstick -Clinique - Superlast Cream lipstick
bellabambina 7/21/2003 3:39:00 AM
This was OK. I liked the plushy creamy feel and the long wear, but mine (I bought two) had an odd chemical smell that grew over time. Don't know what that was about! And yeah, it did get drying after a while.
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Lipstick -Clinique - Long last Lipstick - Bamboo Pink
bellabambina 7/21/2003 3:33:00 AM
This is an OK lipstick in my opinion: I like the texture, but unlike so many here, I am not crazy about the color. Perhaps because of my coloring (I have dark eyes and hair and light tan skin), I look better in brighter colors and this is just a tad too dull and a bit too pale to look really good on me--it just looks sort of OK. I do swipe it on occasionally for the heck of it, but it surely isn't one of my personal favorites. I wouldn't have picked this to purchase--got it in a GWP.
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Treatments -Paula's Choice - Skin Perfecting 1% BHA Lotion Exfoliant [REFORMULATED]
bellabambina 7/20/2003 11:54:00 PM
Excellent product, although I tend to use the 2% most often as I find it works best for my skin. I like the 1% if I am looking to take a step down from the 2% (like if my skin feels dry--I esp. like the 1% in winter and it is perfect then). However, personally, most of the time it is too creamy and my skin needs the clear 2% solution. But the 1% works well in its own right and leaves skin smooth too. It depends what your skin's needs are--but this is an excellent product. I don't find any problems with the packaging-it comes in a 4 oz plastic squeeze bottle with unscrewable cap.
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Lipstick -Almay - Lip Vitality w/kinetin
bellabambina 7/20/2003 11:43:00 PM
A really nice lipstick which seems to knock off Estee Lauder's Pure Color Lipstick packaging. The lipstick inside reminds me a bit of a (less heavy and glossy) Futurist EL lipstick, however, as there is no fragrance and it has SPF (although this is actually better w/ complete UVA + UVB protection). They have some gorgeous colors and I was able to stock up with some rebate offers and sales on this product when it first came out. I'm not disappointed by any of the colors I got, nor the texture. It isn't all that long lasting (a bit too moist for that), so you will have to reapply often, but really nice regardless. Caveat: after some use, my Almay Kinetin lipsticks have all basically fallen apart into a smushy mess in the tube. Apparently, doesn't keep its shape. So enjoy it while it lasts, then try using a lipbrush to apply if the stick gets deformed.
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Toners -Clinique - Clarifying Lotion #3
bellabambina 7/20/2003 4:08:00 AM
B.P. (Before Paula--that is, before I discovered Paula's Choice), I let a Clinique lady at Bloomie's persuade me to buy this (C.L. in #3) to help my acne-troubled skin. All I have to say is, BAD STUFF! Don't go there!!! If your skin is sensitive or has blemishes, it will probably make things far worse. Skin will try to survive the bad effects and may succeed for a while in withstanding the assault of irritation, but this doesn't mean you have license to torture it with Clinique Clarifying Lotions!! After watching this stuff slowly destroy my skin and worsen it considerably I took it back for a refund. By the way, the only thing I will do now with samples of Clarifying Lotion #2 that they give out every so often in the GWP's, is wipe my feet off to refesh them in the summer--but I almost feel my feet will even sue me for abuse! It is one of Life's Great Mysteries to me, how there are some people out there who find this product to be beneficial. In my experience it is one of the worst things on the beauty market today and I would never let it near my face again, ever.
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Polishes -OPI - Nail Polishes
bellabambina 7/20/2003 3:10:00 AM
I wouldn't purchase this or use this in a million years (I got some in a promotion) because it unfortunately contains dibutyl phthalate, a chemical that is suspected to be linked to health and reproductive problems (see www.nottoopretty.org for details on the latest research), as well as FORMALDEHYDE (yecch) and toluene (double yecch). I think OPI should realize its customers deserve better than that, get with the program, and change their formulation (as have Hard Candy, Urban Decay, and many others). p.s. UPDATE 4/05, even Avon/mark has changed its nail polishes, now they don't contain DP either, good move!!)
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Lipstick -Origins - Lasting Lip Color - Sweet Temptation
bellabambina 7/20/2003 3:02:00 AM
I am giving this 2 lipsticks instead of ONE because the color is pretty; I'm giving it ONLY two because I don't like the way it FEELS although it LOOKS great! The mint burns and stings and chaps and dries my lips. If I wanted the feel of toothpaste sitting on my lips all day, well, I would smear toothpaste on!! What a stupid lipstick--irritating and drying. Like I said, feels TERRIBLE!! I can see why now they were GIVING these away (got it as a free promotion)--I sure as heck wouldn't buy one!
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Mascara -Clinique - Naturally Glossy Mascara
bellabambina 7/20/2003 2:59:00 AM
Have not purchased, only used from GWP's (I buy enough Clinique shampoo to keep them in business)! Decent mascara which looks natural and light. I have been told I don't really need mascara (I am lucky to naturally have dark, lush lashes) but when I feel like swiping some on to feel more polished, this is a good one that I reach for.
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Polishes -L'Oreal - Jet Set Nailpolish
bellabambina 7/20/2003 2:40:00 AM
Well, they came up with Jet Set Shine which is the revamped version of the original Jet Set...I have to say I saw no difference except they made the bottle smaller and yanked out all the funky colors like blue, yellow, black, metallics, etc in favor of the more standard pinks and reds (I guess they feel that "normal" is back in). I had no real complaints with the Jet Set original polishes, usually they would go on well and dry fast and stay on a decent amount of time. I think one problem some users may have encountered is old polish. The reason the stuff is 75% off is they are trying to clear it out since Jet Set Shine has taken its place. That probably also means it is quite old--and old polish usually is clumpy and won't go on well! You might want to add a drop of thinner to it to get a better texture. I really liked Jet Set and had bought almost every shade because I found it dried so fast and went on well. I much preferred it to Revlon's Top Speed, for example. Also it doesn't contain those yucky phthalates or formaldehyde and toluene (all harmful chemicals) like OPI and other brands do.
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Polishes -L'Oreal - Jet Set Shine
bellabambina 7/20/2003 2:33:00 AM
Decent stuff--the new line of fast drying polish from L'Oreal. Like with all polishes, one can't afford to be sloppy when using any polish it seems--a crucial rule seems to be to go lightly and not apply too thick a coat or you will get dents and such--I REPEAT, ONLY APPLY A THIN LAYER AT A TIME OR IT WON'T LOOK RIGHT, NOR WILL IT DRY FAST! When applied carefully, it goes on pretty nicely and stays on nicely. I find the light shades work best for chip-prone fingertips, while I enjoy darker colors on toes; all are pretty in this line. With topcoat, doesn't chip too fast and dries quickly. Good price esp. when on sale.
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