Cleansers -Fancl - Mild Cleansing Oil
Cat1104 3/17/2013 10:40:00 PM
My skin: oily, clog-prone, sensitive that tends to get dehydrated (not dry) easily. Several months ago, I patched tested this for 10 days with no problem. After using it on my entire face for three days, it caused tiny blister-like bumps all over my face and many clogged pores on my forehead and cheeks. Also, the skin on my face peeled like a snake. No amount of hydration seemed to help. It took my skin almost 2 months to recover.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Lancome - Cils Booster
Cat1104 3/4/2013 1:38:00 PM
Meh. I have stick straight lashes. An eyelash curler is a must for me. This product doesn't hold a curl at all in my experience; it takes the curl out. I have tried it with numerous mascaras and always get the same results-- straight/droopy lashes. I'm giving it 2 lippies because it does thicken my lashes somewhat; however, I expect mascara bases to hold curl as well. Unless you already have naturally curled lashes, I recommend passing.
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Skincare - Face -Ole Henriksen - Truth Serum
Cat1104 2/24/2013 10:28:00 AM
My skin: oily that tends to get dehydrated (loses water easily), clog-prone, sensitive/reactive I've been using this off and on since December 2012 and can finally say for sure that it doesn't work for me. I was using it for the antioxidant benefits and loved how glowy it made my skin. However after a few days of use, I'd notice some rash-like clogs on my cheeks near my nose and under my cheekbone area, so I'd stop using it and wait for my skin to clear up before trying it again. It clogged my pores every time and also made my skin peel. It does have a light orange creamsicle scent, but I personally didn't find it bothersome. In fact, the scent faded very fast. I noticed some reviewers complained about stickiness. I didn't find it to be sticky at all after it dried down. If it still feels sticky after it has dried, I think you are applying too much. A little goes a long way. One pump of the .5 oz bottle was more than enough to cover my entire face and neck. Despite not working for me, I still think it is a great product and would definitely recommend testing it if you're not sensitive to any of the ingredients.
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Concealers -Laura Mercier - Secret Camouflage
Cat1104 2/3/2013 12:44:00 PM
My skin: very clog prone, oily/dehydrated, sensitive. I purchased this to conceal hyperpigmentation and other spots around my face, not for under eye circles. Pros: -Compact has two shades, so you can mix to match your skin color -Waxy texture is great for concealing spots/hyperpigmentation and other minor blemishes -Excellent packaging, compact has mirror Cons: -Contains Isopropyl Myristate, which clogs my pores. Also contains Oleth-10, Retinyl Palmitate, and Ascorbyl Palmitate, which are also somewhat problematic for me. I'd conceal a spot and get new zits near it. Overall, this is an ok concealer. I didn't think it was anything amazing though. Beware if you're clog-prone/acne-prone. Will not repurchase.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Albolene cleanser
Cat1104 1/29/2013 5:02:00 PM
Skin type: sensitive, oily but dehydrated, very clog-prone. My skin loses water and gets dried out very easily. Oil-based cleansers tend to strip the moisture from my skin or clog my pores. This one looked promising. It has a small ingredient list, and the ingredients are generally considered non-comedogenic. Since this one doesn't have an emulsifier, I thought it could work for me by helping to seal in moisture if I didn't wash off the residue. I tried leaving the residue and washing it off. Either way, I broke out. Maybe I irritated my skin by over-washing; this is VERY hard to remove. When I didn't wash off the residue, perhaps it was too occlusive, causing my oily skin to clog itself... or maybe my skin just hates something in this (probably the mineral oil or ceresin).
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Cleansers -Shiseido - Ultimate Cleansing Oil
Cat1104 1/29/2013 4:38:00 PM
Skin type: sensitive, oily, dehydrated, clog-prone. By dehydrated I mean oily skin that lacks water (not oil) or doesn't retain water well. My skin gets dried out very easily, and this stripped it in one use. I used it one night and woke up to very dehydrated skin with irritation bumps (tiny red bumps) everywhere. Please don't forget to patch test first.
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Cleansers -DHC - Deep Cleansing Oil
Cat1104 1/29/2013 4:28:00 PM
I have very sensitive skin that is oily but dehydrated (lacks water, not oil). I found this way too drying for my skin. It caused irritation bumps (tiny red bumps all over) as well as some flaking skin and zits. I suspect my skin doesn't like olive oil or its derivatives though.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Arcona - Cranberry Toner
Cat1104 1/29/2013 3:37:00 PM
4/13/13 UPDATE: Downgrading this to 1 (was 4) because I did not realize how dehydrating this was to my skin until I started using Caudalie's Cleansing Water in place of it. My skin is soooo much happier. Will use what's left as a toner for my forehead and chin since cranberry has antibacterial properties, but I don't think I'll repurchase it. Original review: This contains the preservative benzyl alcohol. I'm not sure when/if it was reformulated, but it has contained benzyl alcohol for as long as I've been using it (8-9 months). I've updated the ingredients. It's low on the list but can still be drying/irritating to some skin types. I have sensitive, oily/dehydrated skin that is very clog-prone. I use this at night as a makeup remover, then I follow up with my regular cleanser. It doesn't remove all traces of makeup and sunscreen, but it removes enough so that my cleanser removes the rest in one wash. I use this because I can't use oil cleansers (too drying and clogging). It's a bit pricey for what it is, but I will continue to repurchase until I find something better. Ingredients: Agua (Distilled Water), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Rice Milk, Sodium Lactate, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Extract, Vitis Vinifera, (Grape) Seed Extract D-alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E), Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Essential Oils
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Sunscreen -Shiseido - Urban Environment Oil-Free UV Protector for Face SPF 42 PA+++
Cat1104 1/29/2013 1:31:00 PM
This dried out my skin and caused some irritation bumps. My skin is oily as well as dehydrated, so anything with alcohol dries it out easily. Also, this contains ethylhexl palmitate, which can be problematic for some acne-prones; I believe it caused some zits I got while using this sunscreen. Will not repurchase.
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Moisturizers -Ole Henriksen - Truth Creme Advanced Hydration
Cat1104 1/28/2013 10:46:00 PM
UPDATE: I can't use this at all anymore. I kept getting little bumps above my cheekbones, and it kept migrating into my eyes. Ow! Original review: My skin is sensitive and oily but dehydrated. I used a sample of this all over my face for a week, and it seriously brightened my complexion and helped my dehydrated skin. The texture is light and didn't feel greasy at all. A little goes a long way. LOVED it until the clogged pores and breakouts started. So disappointing because it made my skin glow and provided hydration without making it more oily. I cannot use this all over my face anymore, but it works wonderfully as an eye cream (applied not too close to the lash line though. This burns like heck if it gets into the eye). The orangish scent is similar to the Truth Serum, but it's not quite as fresh-smelling as the Truth Serum. This has a bit of a rancid/old smell to it. It's kind of off-putting at first, but it fades away and isn't too noticeable after a few minutes. This is a great moisturizer if your skin likes it, and you can tolerate the scent. I will use it up as an eye cream, but I won't repurchase since it didn't work for my face.
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Sunscreen -Skinceuticals - Physical Fusion SPF 50
Cat1104 1/28/2013 8:55:00 PM
I have sensitive (reactive) oily/dehydrated skin that is very clog-prone. This looked like it would be a winner based on the ingredients. I liked the tint, though it was a *little* dark for my skin tone (I don't use MAC makeup, but I believe I'd be somewhere between NC15 and NC20), and the non-greasy finish. It has an odd chemical scent, but I didn't find it too bothersome. However after a few days of use, it clogged, irritated, and dried out my skin, plus I felt a burning sensation for about 30 seconds after applying it. :(
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Shiseido - Urban Environment UV Protection Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 40 For Face/Body
Cat1104 1/28/2013 8:40:00 PM
3/17/13 Update: Really loving this! I use a couple drops of Trilogy's Rosehip Oil pressed into my skin before applying this and experience no dryness whatsoever. I have noticed it does leave a slight white cast on my, fair olive-toned skin--around NC 15-20, which is bummer but not a deal breaker. I wish it came in a bigger bottle for the price, but as someone who has very reactive skin that doesn't like most sunscreens, I'll repurchase regardless of price. ----- Original review: I've been using this for a few weeks, and it is the best sunscreen I've tried in a while. Most sunscreens I've tried clog my pores/cause breakouts or are too irritating. I have very sensitive (reactive), clog-prone skin that is oily but dehydrated (lacking water). This hasn't caused any breakouts. Texture-wise, it's on the thicker side, but it blends/smooths beautifully and dries down to a velvety matte finish. The matte finish may be a bit much for dry skin types, but it works well for my oily skin. I like that it easily removes with a daily cleanser (my skin doesn't tolerate oils/oil cleansers). The alcohol, zinc, and/or something else can be a bit dehydrating for my skin type (loses water easily), so I have to use a hydrating serum first to help prevent dehydration and flakes. It does have the usual Shieseido sunscreen scent, which may be bothersome to those who are sensitive to fragrance. It's 1.9 oz. and lasts me about a month and a half when using the recommended 1/4 tsp daily on my face. INGREDIENTS- Actives: OCTINOXATE 2.9%, OCTOCRYLENE 3%, ZINC OXIDE 10.6%; Inactives: water, isododecane, cyclomethicone, dimethicone, butylene glycol, sd alcohol 40-B, polymethyl methacrylate, laurel peg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, glycerin, disteardimonium hectorite, xylitol, methyl gluceth-10, peg/ppg-14/7 dimethyl ether, thiotaurine, scutellaria baicalensis root extract, arginine hci, onions spinosa root extract, ectoin, sodium pca, hydrogenated polydecene, hydrogen dimethicone, isostearic acid, benzophenone-3, trisodium edta, silica, polybutylene glycol/ppg-9/1 copolymer, alumina, triethoxycaprylylsilane, bht, syzygium jambos leaf extract, tocopherol, phenoxyethanol, fragrance, titanium dioxide
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Polishes -Sephora - Sephora By OPI It's Somewhere in My Purse 
Cat1104 8/27/2008 4:22:00 PM
It's Somewhere in My Purse is a medium-dark rose-tinged milk chocolate shade. It's somewhat muted (flat) but still beautiful. It goes on smoothly and has a glossy creme finish. This shade is perfect for those who are uncomfortable with vampy brown shades but still want something a little dark. It's definitely one of my favorites for fall.
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12 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Oscar Blandi - Pronto Dry Shampoo
Cat1104 8/27/2008 3:58:00 PM
Fantastic product! I usually wash my hair every other day, but sometimes I don't feel like going through the process of washing, drying, and straightening. This refreshes my hair nicely, plus I think the lemon verbena scent is yummy. I have dark brown hair (almost black), and this leaves no noticeable residue as long as I don't apply too much. A little goes a long way, so it's definitely worth the price.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Paula's Choice - Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant
Cat1104 5/11/2008 12:14:00 PM
I've tried many products that contain BHA, thinking that the constant breakouts were a result of purging or pore-clogging ingredients. I finally decided to give this one a try since it has such great reviews. I used it once a day or once every other day for 3 months. A few days into using it, I started breaking out with large, red cystic acne. I dismissed it as purging and stuck with it. Three months later, my skin has never looked worse. I stopped breaking out as soon as I stopped using this product, so I have come to the conclusion that my skin does not like BHA. I have no doubt that this works well for some people. My skin does much better with AHA.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No