Fragrances -Bath and Body Works - Japanese Cherry Blossom EDT
LizM9 1/4/2009 6:31:00 PM
This is a positive comment from someone who generally despises Bath and Body Works. This fragrance lacks their trademark "hairspray undertone" that smells to me like it's in every single product they have. This one is light, sweet, and very delicate. I do find it to be a fairly simple scent - it doesn't really evolve and unfold on your skin, just stays mellow, understated, and feminine. The staying power, I must admit is pretty weak. It doesn't wear off on me as with some of the other reviews, but it dies down into a sort of soapy, clean version of itself eventually. If BBW could blend a little extra oooomph into the formulation, they would have a devotee. The body cream however, has great staying power and is pretty knock out sexy, IMHO.
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Fragrances -Ralph Lauren - Notorious
LizM9 12/20/2008 5:03:00 PM
I smelled this in a magazine scent strip and fell in LOVE with the fragarance - I rubbed it all over me neck and reveled in the scent all day. I loved it so much I told my husband it was the only thing on earth I wanted for Christmas. Thank goodness I tried it on myself at the perfume counter, because up-close this perfume is HELLATIOUS. it just smells like cough syrup, or something they put in medication or a cleaning product to cover up the horrible scent of something else. I wanted to love this SO badly and I have no idea why the scent strip smelled so completely different from the bottle, but my god. It's bad from start to finish, in fact I am going to go take a shower to get this Hall cough drop dry-down off of me. Beautiful bottle, love the ad campaign but for, this was just notoriously BAD.
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Sunscreen -Clinique - Super City Block SPF 40
LizM9 12/19/2008 9:19:00 AM
Love it! A great alternative to heavy, white sunscreens, but with excellent sun protection and very, very, moisturizing. A nice light whipped consistency, it imparts an almost imperceptible tint that vanishes quickly, and leaves a healthy glow. Most importantly: Does not break me out! Wonderful staple product, decent price, great performer.
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Treatments -Burt's Bees - Naturally Ageless Serum
LizM9 11/26/2008 9:44:00 AM
Oh my!! This is a brilliant product, and now a bit of an obsession for me. This is what it's done for my face in 2 weeks: Diminished fine lines around my eyes, eased sunspots, eased blotchiness, and plumped and smoothed my skin overall. I have never been able to use an oil along my jawline or on my chin before due to breakouts, but this oil just moisturizes and tones my skin - no breakouts! I know have a quality of skin that I have never had before, and never thought I would have at 32! It has the added side effect of making me want to take better care of skin as well - drink more water, eat less sugar, etc., because I just want to hold on to the radiance that it imparts. I use it twice a day - in the morning right after I get out of the shower and my skin is plumped up and receptive, and then at night before I go to bed. It sinks in amazingly well for such a thick oil - no greasiness on the pillowcase. It also smells nice - not at all like it's companion eye and face lotion which are much stinkier. I am giving a bottle of this to my mother for Xmas. Yes, 25.oo is a little pricey, but when something works this well, it is worth every penny. It's made my skin flat out beautiful, and nothing, NOTHING has ever done that before! I do have to concentrate on not knocking the bottle over or dropping it when i apply - it's such a wee little thing - but I like the dropper idea. This is a great serum that goes well under makeup and pampers your skin wonderfully.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Pixi - Cheek Gel Blush
LizM9 11/22/2008 5:45:00 PM
I never saw myself paying 20.00 for a tiny bottle of cosmetics at Target before - but I am glad I did! This is a great product - definitely the best cream/gel blush I have ever used. It really does give you a post work out glow, and stays looking natural all day. It does take a bit of practice before you find your perfect amount, but it is worth it, and I use so little at a time I know this tube will last a while.
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Loose Powders -Prescriptives - All Skins Powder
LizM9 9/27/2008 1:32:00 PM
Definitely my HG powder! I have never used a loose powder before that provides such complete coverage - I can skip foundation! It doesn't last ALL 9 hours at work, but I still look good when I get home. This plus the Camoflage concealor = good skin day!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Nexxus - Hydra Sleek
LizM9 8/10/2008 3:02:00 PM
If you have fine hair - use this lightly because it really will make your hair silky - and we all know what too much of a good thing is like in that department. However, as with all Nexxus conditioners that I have tried, it does what it says it will - and it really helps detangle my snarly hair so I don't have to use another product or rake at my head. And it smells AWESOME. I think alot of these products are really best for people with coarse/frizzy, seriously damaged, or curly hair. But when I can get my ration just right, it does the trick.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Nexxus - Heat Protexx
LizM9 8/10/2008 2:57:00 PM
I have to say that I really like Nexxus products, and this is no exception. I am growing my hair out from a short cut, and blow dry every day. I decided to start using this to protect my hair as it gets longer - and it's great! I have fine hair, so it is easy to over do it with this spray (that is why I subtracted one overall lippie), but generally if I use maybe 4-5 sprays for my whole head (focusing on the ends) and then comb through it does the trick. My hair is very soft and shiney, the ends aren't rough and ragged, and it smells great! The price is right and the packaging is very cute. A word of advice - keep the little choker that goes around the trigger when you buy this so you can travel with it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Olay - Complete Defense Daily UV Moisturizer SPF 30 - Sensitive Skin
LizM9 8/10/2008 12:17:00 PM
I also used the classic SPF 15 for years, as has my amazing-looking mother. A few years ago, I stopped using P&G products in an effort to use more green products. However, I have found that faithful use of natural SPF products just hasn't cut it, and I have even developed sunspots on my cheekbones while using them. I was testing out Skinceuticals SPF 30, which was certainly good sunscreen, but was just too thick and smothering for my skin (also costs twice of what this Olay costs). My dermatologist recently recommended this sunscreen specifically, so I decided to give it a shot, and I am very happy with it! It makes my skin very soft and dewy, and hasn't broken me out (which is saying alot). It does take a little extra blending in, but it imparts a very smooth texture to my skin which is perfect under makeup. At 32 and living at 7,000 feet, I really need a powerful daily sunscreen. I will update later, but for now I give this an enthusiastic thumbs-up for being an effective, moderately-priced sunscreen that my skin can tolerate on a daily basis. EDIT: Yep - still love it! Hasn't broken me out at all and keeps my face smooth and soft all day. Time will tell how well it's sun protection properties actually work, but so far so good!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Prescriptives - Colorscope Lipstick
LizM9 8/10/2008 2:12:00 AM
I have the Colorscope in Nude Cream, because I really like to do the smokey eye/pale mouth makeup thing (if you are into that look, try the Iron Grey or Void eyeliners from PX - beautiful color). I really like the minimal packaging, and this Nude isn't one of those wimpy matte nudes that instantly settle down into every line and fissure on your lips. It really does maintain it's creamy consistency, and does provide a nude mouth without making you look washed-out or unhealthy. However, I TOTALLY AGREE with the other MUA'ers that the scent and taste of this are AWFUL! So strange - chemically - horrid, seeps into your mouth over the course of the day. Just not worth it! I will continue my quest...
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Yes To Carrots - Can You C Me? Eye and Face makeup remover
LizM9 8/3/2008 11:39:00 AM
I picked this up because I just started using a very strong Retin-A, and my regular glycolic cleanser is now too harsh to use in conjunction with it. I thought this would be a good alternative, because despite having some funky ingredients in it like propylene glycol, it has a long list of pampering oils as well, like avocado, jojoba, sesame, chamomile - and some other healthy ingredients like propolis. It has a very soft and creamy texture, a faint scent, and seems to do an excellent job at cleaning my face. I massage it into dry skin, and then remove with a warm wet washcloth. It's like an updated cold cream for this generation, and is extremely gentle. I don't know if I could use it all the because I do like that squeaky clean feeling you get from foaming/exfoliating cleanser, but I think this is just the thing for dry or (as my skin is now) very sensitive skin.
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Fragrances -LUSH - Potion Perfume
LizM9 8/2/2008 1:22:00 PM
YAY!!! I was So excited to see this in a solid perfume. I was a huge fan of the lotion, and was pining for a perfume in this lovely, spicy, oddly sexy, totally unique scent. It is somehow fitting that this is in a solid perfume and not a spray - the scent is rich and evolves with your chemistry and body heat. I think I paid 13 dollars for the tin, and use so little at a time that this will probably last for years. This take the fragarance of a sweet, common little flower and sexes it up with spice and curves. As with most LUSH products, I believe there is that element of scent that will turn some people off - in this case, those who prefer a more singular note of carnation. The extra dimensions of spice are what set this apart. And as with other LUSH this will not make you smell like the girl in the next cubicle who is wearing some boring permutation of the latest Calvin Klein/ Estee Lauder/whatever fragrance.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Avalon Organics Botanicals - Avalon Organics CoQ10 Wrinkle Defense Cream
LizM9 2/28/2008 11:12:00 AM
WOW! I started using this cream about 4 weeks ago. I have always been hesitant to use a nightly moisturizer because of my nasty adult acne - I usually just use a perscription acne treatment at night. However I am 32 so I have been trying to find a lotion that I can use for wrinkle prevention. I used to work at Whole Foods years ago and I remember someone telling me when this line came out that an added bonus was that it is actually good for acne. It's true! My skin looks AWESOME! I am SO happy with this product. I even stopped using the acne treatment at night (still use in morning though - it's a strong exfoliant so I figure it's good for wrinkle prevention). My skin looks smooth and plump, and it's the clearest it's been in ages. I even stopped wearing foundation everyday which is huge for me. I have NO idea how COQ10 works, but I am now a devoted fan of this line. It's in a pump, it absorbs easily (I finally got used to the smell and now I like it), and over time it makes your skin glowy and clear. Official ALL TIME HG MOISTURIZER! As I finish up my other products, I will replace with the COQ10 line. I know I sound like a raving maniac, but you know that feeling when you find that product that fixes your biggest-bummer skin problems? My only regret is that I passed this product up so many times over the years.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Great Lash Mascara
LizM9 8/17/2006 5:21:00 PM
I bought this when I couldn't find my old standby - Voluminous. Whereas Voluminous really does make my lashes lush and fat, this one seems to have the opposite effect - my lashes look skinny and pointy and too defined. It is a really inky formula that transfers to the same spot on the upper and lower lids of my right eye and I can't figure out WHY! It just clumps up right there, and there are only so many ways one can put on mascara. So why have I continued to keep using it for at least 2 months now..? Well, I stopped using it on my lower lashes at all, so that helps...I guess I'm just cheap, and I do like how dark it is, good pigment, But when this show it's over, it's over.
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Lipstick -Almay - Lip Vitality w/kinetin
LizM9 8/17/2006 5:11:00 PM
I don't think I'd ever bought an Almay lipstick before, but I got #04 (brick-y. warm red) and I love it! It goes on so smooth, moisturizes, and STAYS! I love it that it's got SPF, and the see-through bottom in great packaging. The color is a little bold for everyday office life, but great for going out, special occasions, whenever you want to make a statement: woman to be reckoned with. Just a wonderful lipstick...may go get another one after work now that I'm thinking about it!
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