Polishes -Hard Candy - nail polish
bellabambina 7/20/2003 2:24:00 AM
I have just tried this product in Complex--a pretty mocha shade which is a good neutral. It had merely OK staying power, chipping off after 3 days, but to be fair, I didn't use a topcoat so that could have explained it. It also doesn't seem to dry very fast, but I will try it again in some other shades I got and see how it goes. Sure, I like the packaging and pretty colors, but my feeling is you can get just as decent polish (minus the showy package) in pretty colors with other cheaper brands such as L'Oreal and Revlon. The price is downright nutty--$9 to $12 for a bottle. You can definitely find polish equal to (or better than) this, for a fraction of the price.
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Conditioner -Clinique - Clinique hair care dramatic moisture
bellabambina 7/17/2003 1:45:00 AM
I use this when my hair needs serious help (esp. in winter and other times when my very long hair is subject to dryness and tangling), and this soaks my hair in moisture. Hair may be a bit weighed down afterwards, but not as much as with other deep conditioners (I've tried others that made my hair look terribly limp--this isn't one of them). But usually I use the Super Condition by Clinique (the blue conditioner) which conditions just right for my usual needs.
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Liquid -Maybelline - Shine Free [DISCONTINUED]
bellabambina 7/17/2003 1:15:00 AM
Wanted to like this, but couldn't find a shade that was a good match for me unfortunately! Nice formula, great price, and it's even recommended by Paula Begoun; BUT the colors don't look right on me whatsoever; they are way too obvious and don't blend with my coloring. Neither of the two shades (one was Fawn, I don't remember the darker shade name) that were closest to my skin color looked right, so I gave up on this.
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Lipstick -Urban Decay - Ink Lip Stain
bellabambina 7/16/2003 8:47:00 AM
I found this to be an odd product; when I applied it (in Spank) to my lips, it looked very obvious (yes, like I drew on and filled in my lips with a magic marker) and the color did not go on evenly at all, but heavier in some areas and lighter in others (like when a magic marker deposits more ink in one place than in the other and you can tell). It was also pretty drying--I guess you need to put a gloss on top. Could be drying because there is alcohol in it--I found that out after buying (and applying) it; if I had known beforehand, I likely would not have bought it at all. Too bad, I thought I was going to like this but I'm not very impressed. I'll give it another try but these are my initial impressions, which count I'm sure. The fact that Paula Begoun picked these as a "Paula's Pick" makes me wonder if she is really evaluating all the new products with due care these days. I thought she would be the first to eschew a lip product with alcohol--I noticed she also gave UD's matte special sauce (which contains peppermint) a smiley face although she always says peppermint is an irritant. Hello Paula, what is up? ;) Update: I have tried this again and I do like the color on me (I am a light tan color), but same problem: drying. If I add a moisturizing balm on top it's better but my lips feel irritated, and I can't help thinking the alcohol is doing some serious damage to my lips. And after two days of use, my lips looked like prune skin even after I took off the stain--dry and wrinkled. Yecch. Another well-intentioned product that didn't turn out too good. Terrible idea to put straight-up plain old ALCOHOL in a lip product...kiss your healthy lips good-bye after this one (hello, chapped lips)!! LAST UPDATE: I finally returned this terrible product. Good riddance!!
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Polishes -Urban Decay - Nail Enamel
bellabambina 7/15/2003 2:41:00 AM
Just tried this in "Toxin." It's way too sheer when it goes on, that's my complaint. It's a deep purple (shimmery) in the bottle but on the nails it's very translucent. Don't know yet about wear, etc--will update. Update: well, it's still on. I had to put three coats to get the desired effect. Question: what is the deal here? I've seen gorgeous purple nail polishes from many other companies that don't take three coats to build a good color! Think I'll pass on other UD polishes.
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Lipstick -The Body Shop - Lipstick
bellabambina 7/15/2003 1:42:00 AM
Okay lipstick, no fragrance (which I like), decent price (when on sale!), very moist which is good for dry lips, not sure how long this would stay on-probably not long. Pretty sheer. Just tried Silvered Plum, have also bought other colors, will update when I try! Clinique lipsticks probably offer more "pow!" if you are looking for a similar product with more color, verve, and staying power/stain.
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Gels/Soaps -Aveeno - Skin Relief Body Wash Fragrance Free
bellabambina 7/13/2003 2:49:00 PM
I like this product, but for the amount of product per bottle, too expensive for my daily use. I'll stick with my Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bars until something cheaper comes along (which it probably won't--it's about $1 for one bar on sale, and the bars last a good long time)!!! Sometimes I get this if it's on sale but it isn't very economical, especially if you like to pile on the lather and suds like me and use a good amount each time you shower. I agree the bottle isn't the best either because even if you WANT to use less, when you squeeze it a whole bunch comes out. Also, this may be too moisturizing for some people--I don't feel as clean after using this as I do w/ the Dove Beauty Bar.
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Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Retin A
bellabambina 7/13/2003 3:31:00 AM
My personal experience is that Retin-A is super-nasty stuff and damn expensive to boot! It may help some people, but it wasn't for me! It is strong stuff so be prepared for some major drying, peeling, cracking, and oh yes, the rash of blemishes (that will certainly result in scarring) that the instructions claim are SUPPOSED to happen as a result of the skin "getting used to the treatment and the pores cleaning themselves" or whatever crap they tell you! I couldn't believe I was putting stuff on my face that made it 100 times worse!! After a week of this crap on my face and the resulting breakouts and peeling of my skin and lips I looked like I came from hell, or something. I had had enough--I was traumatized by the experience of using this bizarre product. Thank God I eventually got with Paula's skin care regimen. All I needed was a good irritant-free cleanser and effective BHA (unlike most of the stuff out there, Paula's does work) to take care of my blemishes and not some expensive pharmaceutical that the MD's tried to push on me. I only wish I had read Paula's books much earlier. BY THE WAY: My experience with dermatologists is that mostly they are 1) horribly uneducated and incompetent (Paula Begoun knows more about what's good for my skin than any MD I have ever been to), 2) they are in some instances practically like snake-oil salesmen (trying to sell you much-hyped products and services that DON'T DELIVER AS PROMISED and can even have side-effects and cause damage) and 3) a total waste of time. They are really just out there to make money first, even if they can't help you (because they are so clueless and incompetent)!! For example the so-called doctor I went to who prescribed Retin-A for me...if she had bothered to ask me only a couple of questions about my skin, she would have realized Retin-A was NOT good for my skin type, considering my medical and skin history and other factors. But she didn't because she wasn't a good doctor (AND, she did countless other things that didn't work or caused my skin harm). In fact, I've never even encountered a decent dermatologist. Paula Begoun is the one that solved my skin problems, and she's no MD, just a very smart woman!!! So if you see a derm, please be very very careful.
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Tools -Sally Hansen - No More Mistakes Manicure Clean-Up Stick
bellabambina 7/13/2003 3:21:00 AM
I got this seeing how it was on clearance but later I found I was charged regular price (gee, thanks, Eckerd)!!! Not too great. As other reviewers said, you can use a pointed cotton-tipped cosmetic stick (sold at Target, etc) dipped in nail polish remover; it's the same difference.
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Treatments -Sally Hansen - Creme Hair Remover for Face
bellabambina 7/13/2003 3:11:00 AM
This is what I use regularly for hair removal on face. It seems to be the one that works best for me. It removes hair effectively (not half-way like some others) and yet doesn't irritate or redden my skin like some others--all in all quite a miracle to have both features in the same product. I use BHA regularly (PC's 2%) and have no irritation with this hair removal cream (unless I put on the BHA right after hair removal, which I stupidly did once!!). So in my experience it can be used even by BHA users, but try not to use BHA on the day you do hair removal.
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Lipstick -Clinique - Chubby Stick (all shades)
bellabambina 7/13/2003 2:02:00 AM
Fun concept, but too drying on the lips by a long shot. I like the way it lines and like to use it as a matching lipstick as well, and I like the colors, but after a day's wear the lips can get pretty dry (at least mine do). So be sure to use a lip balm afterwards (like at night after wearing this).
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Treatments -Paula's Choice - Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant
bellabambina 7/13/2003 1:50:00 AM
(Note: This review refers to the liquid solution.) This is some amazing product...it actually DOES something unlike scores of mediocre or badly formulated blemish/acne products I have tried over my lifetime. For the first time in my life, I have no acne problems, in fact I have been told my skin is beautiful and glowing, and it's all thanks to Paula. I was even on Retin-a for a while, and that couldn't do what this does! Thankfully I am off the horridly irritating and drying Retin-A and on Paula's miracle product. My only gripe could be that it does leave a bit of a slippery feeling on the skin, but that dries off after a while, and if you apply a small amount (with fingers) it's less of a problem. It can be drying at first but I noticed after sticking with it for a while my skin adjusted beautifully to this. You have to see how many applications a day (or week) your skin needs or can handle and then adjust use accordingly. This truly is my HG and you can't beat the price for such an effective product IMHO. My skin is smooth, clear, and blemish-free!
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Cleansers -Paula's Choice - Hydralight One Step Face Cleanser - Normal to Oily/Combination Skin
bellabambina 7/13/2003 1:41:00 AM
Umm...ok, so I have found it necessary to change my review of this product (as of 7/05). At first I liked this cleanser, but lately I have noticed that my skin does not react well to it (am I just more observant now, or is my skin more sensitive?). This cleanser stings upon application and my skin has been erupting in strange reactive breakouts after use. It also seems to leave behind a sticky residue on my skin. I have now decided to switch permanently to Eucerin Pore Purifying Cleanser, which I have been using off on on over the last few years. My skin looks clear and calm when I use Eucerin, it feels cleaner with no residue left behind (rinses clean), and I highly recommend it for sensitive acne-prone skin. I can no longer recommend this PC Cleanser--sorry, Paula!!!
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Liquid -Versace - Oil Free Hydrating Foundation
bellabambina 7/12/2003 11:05:00 PM
I am not sure about this one. I just got it on sale as well, and the color is nice although too dark probably for me (had to guess at what color to get--I got 2006, probably should have went with 2005). My main beef is it is a little TOO dewy for my taste. I think if I go out and about with this on, my skin will get too shiny. Also I am not sure if it has enough sun protection (I think only SPF12). Finally, the cost is a little much, considering reg. price is something like $50. AND, I would have preferred a tube to a bottle. So I probably wouldn't get it again unless they change a couple things about it. Update: I have returned this to drugstore.com. I hope they refund my money promptly. It just didn't seem like what I was looking for, especially at the price of $25 (even at half-off, no bargain as far as I am concerned). And, I suspect I picked the wrong shade anyway--too dark.
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Moisturizers -Clinique - Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
bellabambina 7/12/2003 10:39:00 PM
Thankfully I have never bought this product. I have about 50 mini bottles thanks to the GWP. How useless is that--I can't even get the stuff out of the tiny bottles without some concentrated effort! Also, it clogs pores terribly and leaves a greasy residue. Yuck! The good news: I just received a Clinique bonus that DID NOT INCLUDE this product!!!! THAT'S AN ABSOLUTE FIRST!! Have they finally realized no one wants any more samples of this? HALLELUJAH!!!
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