Moisturizers -Philosophy - Hope in a Jar - for all skin types
Kalya 4/2/2013 2:09:00 PM
this has got to be the worst cream, for the price paid. It has an unusually bad smell and after being applied, it caused some spots. I have usually seen these type of spots when I am allergic to some ingredient in a cream. Not recommended at all, for sensitive skin types. Oh, and folks, this has parabens and propylene glycol! I'd be willing to use even Desert Essence facial moisturizer over this cream. It costs a fraction of this cream and does not have these objectionable ingredients!
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Lotions/ Creams -Nature's Gate - herbal moisturizing lotion for all skin types
Kalya 3/28/2013 3:11:00 PM
I love this lotion. It is of the right consistency for my skin - not too watery and not super-thick like some of the methicone-free lotions are. Applying it can leave some white streaks that need extra rubbing in...that is typical of lotions not having methicones and I am okay with that. This lotion is silky and my skin totally absorbs this lotion. That is what I love about this lotion - skin actually gets nourished with all those beneficial oils, instead of the paraffin-based lotions which stay on the skin surface. It is difficult to get the lotion out of the bottle. Also bottle loses it's shape if I try to squeeze it to get the lotion out. The scent is wonderful, very herby/grassy (love that!) but too strong for my comfort. It does say 'phthalate-free' on the bottle but the fragrance is making my eyes water. It is expensive - small bottle for $11. Update 3/28 : 3.5/5, because of the extremely strong scent (that has caused my eyes to redden and water) but it definitely has improved and softened my skin. Sesame and avocado oils seem to be the winners :) This would be my favourite lotion, if the scent is toned down a bit but not changed as it really smells lovely.
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Lotions/ Creams -Nature's Gate - Herbal Moisturizing Lotion with Papaya
Kalya 3/28/2013 3:09:00 PM
Love this lotion too! Scent-wise, I prefer the Herbal lotion from this brand as the papaya lotion has a too-fruity scent. This lotion is also silky and my skin totally absorbs this lotion. That is what I love about this lotion - skin actually gets nourished with all those beneficial oils, instead of the paraffin-based lotions which stay on the skin surface. I am pretty sure this lotion, having papaya extracts, is super-good for the skin. A bit pricey but worth it.
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Conditioner -Nature's Gate - Herbal Daily Conditioning
Kalya 3/28/2013 2:56:00 PM
I am including my old review here. I may have misjudged this product after all. This is an amazing conditioner. My hair is thick, slightly on the drier side and voluminous. After using this conditioner and leaving it on the hair for a minute or two, I washed it off and let my hair air-dry. It does smell heavenly, btw! Scent is very strong but tones down in a week or two. The conditioner is not hydrating - at least for my hair, which is dry and crunchy, but it did make my hair very soft and shiny. Also the caramel brown colour does not look too attractive. I dabbed a bit of apricot kernel oil and aloe, to help further condition. Also I noted that if I use this conditioner often, it does cause some buildup that I am not happy about. I am still not sure about the hidden chemicals...there is something in the conditioner that causes my eyes to water, if I use it in excess. Overall, I am happy with this conditioner. Oh, and I usually use conditioner after shampooing with shikakai, so it is highly likely that the shikakai is also a factor in the good results! This was my old review -> ********************************** This conditioner has a wonderful herbal scent. That's about it.... Bad stuff - the product is brownish (like decaying matter) and does not do anything beneficial for the hair. At least I did not see any improvement - in fact, the hair has turned stringy and there is some dandruff/buildup on the scalp after 2-3 days of using this conditioner......noticed some extra hair loss than normal.... Scent is super-strong....the kind that makes eyes redden and water. I also suspect this has some hidden chemicals NOT listed in the label.
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Hair -Nature's Gate - Herbal Hair Conditioner
Kalya 3/28/2013 2:55:00 PM
I am including my old review here. I may have misjudged this product after all. This is an amazing conditioner. My hair is thick, slightly on the drier side and voluminous. After using this conditioner and leaving it on the hair for a minute or two, I washed it off and let my hair air-dry. It does smell heavenly, btw! Scent is very strong but tones down in a week or two. The conditioner is not hydrating - at least for my hair, which is dry and crunchy, but it did make my hair very soft and shiny. Also the caramel brown colour does not look too attractive. I dabbed a bit of apricot kernel oil and aloe, to help further condition. Also I noted that if I use this conditioner often, it does cause some buildup that I am not happy about. I am still not sure about the hidden chemicals...there is something in the conditioner that causes my eyes to water, if I use it in excess. Overall, I am happy with this conditioner. Oh, and I usually use conditioner after shampooing with shikakai, so it is highly likely that the shikakai is also a factor in the good results! This was my old review -> ********************************** This conditioner has a wonderful herbal scent. That's about it.... Bad stuff - the product is brownish (like decaying matter) and does not do anything beneficial for the hair. At least I did not see any improvement - in fact, the hair has turned stringy and there is some dandruff/buildup on the scalp after 2-3 days of using this conditioner......noticed some extra hair loss than normal.... Scent is super-strong....the kind that makes eyes redden and water. I also suspect this has some hidden chemicals NOT listed in the label.
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Lips -Chapstick - (All Flavors)
Kalya 3/26/2013 8:51:00 AM
Chapstick is actually a decent product for the money paid, especially compared to Burt Bees or some of the other highfalutin lip balms. I like the original (one that has camphor scent) and the peppermint flavors. I do not think it nourishes the lips in any way, but it does add a layer of protection from the cold and wind. I am just wary of the oxybenzene (?) or similar 'controversial' ingredients in this balm. One nice use I found, is to melt the lip balm on very low heat and add rose and vanilla essential oils. Voila! We have a low-cost rose salve ready! It smells sweet and feels good on the lips too. I use a mix of rose, lavender and vanilla (rose being higher percentage). Smells delicious. One could also add a little olive oil or apricot kernel oil, to make the balm thinner. Of course, I also have the original camphor scented balm handy!
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Lotions/ Creams -Burt's Bees - Soothingly Sensitive Aloe and Buttermilk Lotion
Kalya 3/22/2013 5:37:00 PM
I love this lotion and also the Baby Bee Buttermilk lotion which has slightly different ingredients (and is better)! Unfortunately, the Baby Bee Buttermilk Lotion product is no longer available. I like the scent of the buttermilk lotion and it seems very soothing when applied on the skin. It makes for a good moisturizer, all year around. Price is high, for the quantity, and this product is not easily available in stores :(
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Lotions/ Creams -Nivea - Original Lotion for Dry Skin
Kalya 3/22/2013 5:20:00 PM
Very basic lotion. It does not moisturize well. I prefer the thicker Nivea creme to the lotion, although it is difficult to apply and spread. This lotion left the skin dry about 2-3 hours after applying. Scent is good. Some areas where I had applied the lotion, became scratchy and itchy.
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Brows -Unlisted Brand - castor oil
Kalya 3/21/2013 7:56:00 PM
Castor oil is quite amazing - must say, one of the brilliant creations in nature! Thanks to the reviews of MUA folks, that I kept up the oil-cleansing regime with castor oil and another carrier oil. It has really helped clear my skin. With the castor and apricot kernel mix, I massage my face. After a few *impatient* minutes, I can feel some bumps rubbing off. I'd hope those are blackheads, tags and grime! In any case, the skin looks and feels clean and clear. The face is moisturized too.
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Moisturizers -Lacura - Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream
Kalya 3/21/2013 7:47:00 PM
The night cream is actually better than the day cream - at least for my skin, which is super-sensitive and irritable. This cream is not too greasy. I only use it on dry areas like the cheeks and neck. I usually do not put oil-based creams on the forehead and nose areas. The fragrance of this cream is pleasant, though slightly strong. Other than keeping the skin hydrated, I wasn't expecting any magic from the cream. So I must say that with low expectations, I am quite pleased with the night cream. The price is also good. I had bought Boots night cream which cost four times the Lacura cream, and ended with many spots and breakouts on my face. So far, Lacura has been safe. Keeping my fingers crossed.
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Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
Kalya 3/15/2013 8:40:00 AM
virgin cold-pressed coconut oil (and coconut milk) works wonders for the hair. It stimulates hair growth, makes the hair strong and prevents graying. For me, coconut oil is the best oil for hair. However, for my face (ultra-sensitive skin), this oil is too comedogenic. It clogs the pores on the forehead and nose. I don't think it nourishes the facial skin either.
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Treatments -Aura Cacia - Apricot Kernel Oil
Kalya 3/15/2013 8:34:00 AM
Apricot kernel oil, along with sesame oil and castor oil, is my favourite mix for the oil-cleansing regime. It works. Yes! All the nasty blackheads, grime and other imperfections are reduced or diminished. Skin is left soft and supple. Also the oil is easily absorbed into my skin, unlike oils like coconut or sunflower, which just stay on the skin surface. I am not sure if it does anything for fine lines or wrinkles - neither do I care, as long as the skin is healthy and clean. I believe the wrinkles etc issues are based more on a holistic diet rather than creams and serums.
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Moisturizers -Lacura - Q10 Day Cream
Kalya 3/14/2013 1:19:00 PM
I wanted to like this cream but sadly, after using this for 2 weeks, I am seeing small bumps under the eyes. It could probably be a reaction to the scent of this cream and hopefully a temporary thing! The scent is mild and pleasant. I do not know if there is some ingredient or the perfume in this cream that is causing the bumps. Otherwise, this cream is good. It creates a matte finish. I like the packaging and there seem to be some good ingredients in the cream.
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Toners -Thayers - thayers lavender acohol free toner with vitamin e 
Kalya 3/13/2013 8:46:00 PM
I was so hoping this would suit my skin. Unfortunately not and citric acid is the culprit, i believe. This caused medium-size bumps on the t-zone, mostly and also caused that area to become very oily! For the rest o the face area, it didn't do anything good. I think I may be allergic to the citric acid in this toner. Also it is quite expensive and much of the product leaks out of the badly designed bottle.
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Conditioner -Trader Joe's - Balanced Moisturizing Nourish Spa Conditioner
Kalya 3/12/2013 11:56:00 AM
I love this conditioner. I have quite thick hair and this conditioner makes my hair soft, shiny and clean. I use the conditioner alone....i.e. no shampoo before co. I use shikakai to wash my hair and the TJ Nourish conditioner as a finishing touch. One bad thing is the presence of parabens in this conditioner. Wish Tj can fix that by using an alternative natural preserving agent :(
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