Bath Treatments -Aveeno - oatmeal bath
Blubird23 11/26/2011 1:56:00 AM
I love these oatmeal baths for when my eczema gets especially itchy, usually in the winter. I haven't had much luck with Aveeno lotions but this bath seems to really help soothe my itching. I just wish the effect would last a little longer, it seems to only help for a few hours. Overall I like this product and have puchased it many times.
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Moisturizers -DDF - Ultra Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew
Blubird23 11/22/2011 11:46:00 PM
This is a nice moisturizer for summer or for someone with oilier skin. I dont use this any more in part because my skin has gotten drier and in part because I've been using CeraVe PM which has more beneficial ingredients and as a plus is cheaper too. This is one of the few moisturizers I can use on my very acne prone skin so it gets points from me for that reason but I also think it's a pretty good formula. It delivers nice light moisture for those who need some but not too much. I'm not crazy about the bottle because you can't tell how much is left in there but it has a nice sanitary pump.
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Eyeliner -Clinique - Brush-on Cream Liner in Deep Brown
Blubird23 11/22/2011 11:27:00 PM
I really like this eyeliner. I have been trying out brown eyeliners after a few years attempting to use black and never getting the effect I hoped for. This liner goes on smoothly, lasts throughout the day and doesn't smear (I use it on my upper lashline) I like the color, it's dark enough to emphasize my eyes without being too harsh. The brush it comes with is, as others have mentioned, terrible. It seems cheaply made and it's way too flat and wide for my taste. I actually kept the brush from a Maybelline cream liner and I use that or an ELF angled brush to apply this liner.
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Lipstick -Revlon - Colorburst Lip Butter
Blubird23 11/20/2011 8:47:00 PM
I blame MUA for making me want these. They were so raved about I had to try them. My coloring: pale, I think about an NW20 with pigmented lips that color shows up on easily. Most of the "universally flattering" lip colors I've tried like Clinique black honey or NARS dolce vita end up looking too orange-ish brown and dark on me so I do better with sheer pinks for an MLBB look. These lip butters vary in pigmentation from color to color so I found them pretty unpredictable in how they look on lips vs. in tube and kind of of hit or miss. These have a great texture and they do moisturize a little but won't be enough for super dry lips. Very faint vanilla scent, nice shine and very soft consistency (yes, like butter.) I ended up buying an embarassing amount of them thanks to sales and BOGOs: Strawberry Shortcake: This one just did not work on me. I was hoping it would be a sheerer neutral pink, kind of like MAC's petting pink tinted lip balm, but it's not. It is a milky, cool/bluish, Barbie pink, and more opaque than I'd wanted. Like other reviewers mentioned it kind of sits on your lips and emphasizes any lines or dryness. Sugarplum: One of my favorites, a sheer plum with not too much brown, much sheerer on than it looks in the tube. Peach Parfait: A sheer peach with some subtle glitter. Looks like a less pigmented, less chunky- glittered version of NARS Orgsm gloss on me. I didn't like the Orgsm but I like this one. Berry Smoothie: My other favorite, a sheer berry, cool toned, pinker than sugarplum but just as wearable. Sugar Frosting: A sheer, frosty, pale pink. It a little too pale for my lips, and I wish it were a bit shinier. It needs to be worn with more dramatic eyes or it will wash me out. Creme Brulee: A shimmery beige that is a bit more opaque than sugar frosting. Did nothing for me. Washed me out and made my lips disappear. I returned it. Sweet Tart: I was hoping for a sheer bright pink and I think that's how most people would describe this color but it was a bit too opaque and fuschia for me. I returned it. Candy Apple: A pretty, sheer orangeish red. I was worried it might pull too orange on me but it's an easy to wear red for those (like me) who are a little scared of bright makeup. Pink Truffle: A very pretty pink/brown, semi sheer and a true MLBB color. I really like this for work, it's subtle and polished looking and easy to reapply without a mirror.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Aveeno - Natural Protection Mineral Block Lotion SPF 30
Blubird23 11/19/2011 11:51:00 PM
I'm shocked by all of the good reviews for this. Are people using enough? You need 1/4 teaspoon for your face to get the full amount of SPF from a sunscreen, and 1/4 tsp of this product made me look like a mime. It is probably the least cosmetically elegant physical sunscreen I have ever tried and I didn't even have very high expectations. I didn't expect this to work for everyday, I bought it to use for running and other outdoor activites where I dont really care how my face looks, I just want to keep my melasma from getting worse and try to avoid early aging and skin cancer. All of that being said I would have tolerated looking like a freak if this hadn't made me break out. Unfortunately, like every sunscreen I have ever tried it did begin to clog my pores after a few uses. I usually keep my face sunscreen rejects to use up on my body but this one went straight into the trash.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Tarte - Park Avenue Princess
Blubird23 11/19/2011 11:26:00 PM
I got this at Ulta when they had a special on it for only $15. I thought it was worth a try, I'd seen great reviews that said it was a perfect color for fair skin and didn't break anyone out. The color was more subtle and a bit cooler than other bronzers I've tried but it almost didn't show up well enough. When I used the right amount, it looked great but too much looked unnatural and a little muddy. It does have some shimmer but it's pretty subtle, I really only noticed it when I got some glitter fall-out. This took a while but eventually it broke me out like all bronzers I've tried. I recently patch testing hoping I was wrong but I am probably going to end up giving it away or throwing it out.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Tarte - Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Dollface
Blubird23 11/19/2011 11:15:00 PM
This blush broke me out horribly but I'm giving it 3 stars because if I didn't have such annoying skin, I would probably own several of these. I got dollface, which looks like a pale, milky pink in the container but is a gorgeous natural flush on my fair, neutralish skin. I was worried it would be too cool and chalky but it was the perfect pink on me with almost a tiny bit of peach. The finish was very smooth for a powder blush and it did stay on a long time although I don't think it was quite 12 hours, maybe 7 or 8. Unfortunately, after a week or so I started getting horrible breakouts on my cheeks and had to return it which was a shame because I really liked this blush and had planned on getting more colors.
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Cleansers -DDF - Glycolic Exfoliating Wash 5%
Blubird23 11/19/2011 11:00:00 PM
I got a very generous 2 oz. sample of this when I bought my DDF sulfur mask at Ulta. The first time I used this on my face, I broke out in 2 or 3 new cysts a day later. A lot of things break me out but the glycolic wash was the only new thing I had tried so I thought that it was probably the cause. I tried it once again, this time on my back and chest where I have more tolerant skin and usually use another chemical exfoliant and I got 2 cysts on my back within a day. I sometimes get mild breakouts of small pimples on my back but never large cysts like these. I gave up and gave this product to my mom who doesn't have any skin issues other than normal aging and she loves it and would repurchase, so I think this isn't a terrible product it just didn't work for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Laura Mercier - Secret Camouflage
Blubird23 11/19/2011 10:30:00 PM
This is a good concealer with excellent coverage but it's not for everyone. I've bought this twice, the first time was years ago when my skin was going through a good phase and I was rarely breaking out. An SA at Nordstom talked me into getting this with my LM foudation. I didn't really need it then so I ended up throwing it out mostly unused when it got old. I think the key to this concealer, and the reason it gets such mixed reviews, is that you have to really need it. If you need very full coverage that stays in place, this is a lifesaver. If you dont have fairly serious skin issues to cover up (acne marks or other pigmentation, very dark circles), you wont like this. It is very heavy, dry and matte and there are many other options out there (smoother texture, nicer finish) for those that just want medium to light coverage. I decided to try this again a few months ago because I really needed a good concealer for hormonal acne. This time I used a different brush (wider than the LM one) and I have learned to blend it better so I am liking it more. It's great for covering blemishes, and the dryish texture can be hard to work with but is actally better for covering acne becase it stays in place. It comes with two colors to customize to your skin (I have the #2 shade) but I dont really mix them. I use the lighter part for under eyes because it's yellower and it works nicely as long as you moisturize the eye area very well first (I dont have dark circles so I dont need much.) The darker, pinker shade matches my skin pretty well so I just dot some on a zit with a brush and then lightly buff it with mineral foundation.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Full 'N Soft Mascara 
Blubird23 11/19/2011 9:34:00 PM
I was really surprised by how much I like this mascara! I love it for an everyday mascara. It's great for a "your lashes but better" look- it lengthens and thickens some, dries soft and doesn't clump. Also it doesn't mess up curled lashes like so many mascaras do and this is important because mine grow straight out, almost down and I have to curl them or I look like I dont have any. If I want more drama I do a coat of this and then layer a lengthening mascara over it, and that seems to work well. This is a great mascara to have on hand for days when you want work appropriate or more understated makeup. I use the blackish brown color and I think Maybelline does this color perfectly. I am fair skinned and blond so black looks too harsh on me for everyday looks but the blackish brown helps define my eyes and gives me a polished look.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Burt's Bees - Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil
Blubird23 11/19/2011 9:07:00 PM
I have never been a huge fan of the original Burt's lip balm but I really like this one. It is less waxy than the original, kind of oilier feeling but I like that. Unlike some other reviewers I also like the scent. This moisturizes really well and leaves a very subtle shine and tint.
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Treatments -Burt's Bees - Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream
Blubird23 11/19/2011 9:02:00 PM
This is pretty good stuff, it really moisturizes and leaves my cuticles looking better, even when they are dry and ragged. I also don't mind the scent, it's kind of earthy and herb-y and lemony. It has a waxy feel rather than being greasy and absorbs pretty quickly. The container is ok- it's just a tin but I haven't had any issues with the lid falling off or anything. The product seems to last a long time but honestly I don't use it as much as I should. I have repurchased this a few times.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shave Products -Kiss My Face - Moisture Shave
Blubird23 11/19/2011 8:48:00 PM
This is my HG shaving cream and has been for many years. I have dry, eczema prone skin on my legs and underarms and I've tried tons of shaving products and nothing comes close to this. This product doesnt exactly lather but it does kind of expand and get thicker and creamier when you rub it around between your hands. It is very moisturizing and soothing and really helps with the eczema patches on my legs. I get very few shaving bumps from using this, unlike with other products. Moisture shave is not quite as soothing as it used to be since they reformulated to take the parabens out but I guess as a "natural" product company they felt pressured to go paraben free. Personally I dont buy into the paraben scare, there is simply not enough evidence that they are harmful and my skin does so much better with products that use parabens as preservatives. The newer formula is also much creamier, it used to get kind of a strange texture and separate. I used to use the mint or the lavender scents and they're both nice but I now prefer the unscented because of less potential for irritation. It also comes in patchouli and maybe other scents but it's hard to keep track because some have been D/C'd and most stores don't carry all of them. This may seem pricey compared to a regular shaving foam but it comes in a generous sized 11 oz botttle and lasts much longer. Plus it is sooooo much better than a foam or gel.
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Cleansers -Cetaphil - Gentle Skin Cleanser
Blubird23 11/19/2011 1:58:00 AM
I started using Cetaphil as a teenager when my dermatologist recommended it (almost 20 years ago!) and up until recently I've always had a bottle on hand even if I wasn't using it every day. I began to notice that my skin really didn't like this anymore and that the weird bumpy feeling I got when using it and flushed face afterwards were not normal. When I started researching and learning more about skincare I learned that the ingredients are really not that gentle and there are much better formulations out there. That being said this worked well for me when I had younger, tougher skin. Also, I see a lot of reviews where people mention that this doesn't remove makeup well. I've never had a problem removing makeup with Cetaphil but the key is to apply it to a dry face and massage it around, then rinse (or tissue) everything off, when you wet your face before you apply the cleanser it doesn't work well at all.
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Treatments -Mario Badescu - Drying Cream
Blubird23 11/19/2011 1:33:00 AM
This didn't work for me, in fact I noticed more breakouts in the areas I used this. I returned it and got the buffering lotion which I like but dont love. Smells terrible but I could have tolerated it if it worked for me.
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