Treatments -Unlisted Brand - vivite travel kit
azcohn 7/3/2012 3:15:00 AM
At a bit over 10 bucks on Amazon I wouldn't exactly call this a splurge but, on the other hand, it's kind of a luxury to spend money on tiny products just because they're cute. I mean, the individual products have mixed reviews and I'll probably never buy the full sizes because they're on the pricey side so I'm not sure what I was thinking. That said, I'm saving the tiny cleanser for future travel so I can't review it now (it's the smallest of the bunch and I'm guessing there's enough product for three or four washings at most so I'll have to make it a short trip); I like the eye cream (and it's the most generous of the products); the serum doesn't seem to be doing anything and it's almot gone; and the jury's still out on the night cream, so I'll review it separately later. Altogether, a nicely packaged, emphasis-on-small travel set of mostly high-quality products, which I won't be repurchasing.
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Scrubs -Queen Helene - Aloe Vera Facial scrub
azcohn 7/3/2012 3:00:00 AM
So cheap and yet so effective. Not overly abrasive, yet it smooths my skin and really does seem to shrink pores (and mine are big). Strange that of all the QH scrubs, this one has the fewest reviews, even though I think it's one of the best scrubs out there. UPDATE: The novelty has worn off; I don't like this at all, and I've stopped using it.
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Cleansers -Basis - Basis Cleaner Clean Face Wash
azcohn 7/3/2012 2:48:00 AM
Exactly what it says it is - basic. It's a good, basic gel cleanser, which cleans my face thoroughly and not harshly. It doesn't leave my skin soft (I just use moisturizer afterward) or my pores smaller, but it also doesn't overly dry out my skin or leave it feeling too tight. I doubt I'd buy again, even though it's really inexpensive (one of the cheapest, decent cleansers out there) but, on the other hand, it'll last me a long time since I rotate it with another three or four cleansers and scrubs. No bells and whistles, but it gets the job done.
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Liquid -Estee Lauder - Double Wear (old formula)
azcohn 7/1/2012 5:28:00 AM
Superb product! I've been using a Clinique foundation, which I stopped liking and which was discontinued, so I decided to switch to EL DW based on the reviews. I asked a sales assistant to pick a shade and she went with Fresco, which was spot on. She applied it, along with a little blush and lipstick, and a few minutes later I met a friend whom I hadn't seen in a few months and she was blown away by how "young" I looked (and no one has ever told me that before - even when I WAS young). Since then, I've applied it myself, with a foundation brush (also new for me), and - even with my total lack of application skills - it looks smooth and natural (and it covers and lasts as advertised). I'm also happy with the color (which I never would have chosen for myself so I'm glad I went into a store and didn't buy online). My only problem is the bottle/brush combo - I can't figure out how to actually get to the product with the brush - but I'll deal with it and probably keep using DW forever.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Ecotools - Bamboo Foundation Brush
azcohn 7/1/2012 5:19:00 AM
My first foundation brush (after 40-plus years of using foundation) and I can't imagine what took me so long. I don't wear makeup all the time, so I didn't want to invest too heavily in a brush, and this was cheap yet highly rated. I used it for the first time with a new bottle of Estee Lauder Doublewear (also a new product for me) and the two together made for a a really, really great, smooth look (I credit mostly the make-up itself so I'll review the DW elsewhere). Glad I bought this and I'd definitely buy it again. Great value!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Estee Lauder - Pure Color Crystal Lipstick- Crystal Pink
azcohn 7/1/2012 5:14:00 AM
Like others, I received this with a GWP and it's not bad at all. I wear mostly pink lipsticks so this fits right in with my collection. It reminds me of MAC's Sweetie, which - for some reasons that I can't quite put my finger on - I like much more (it's one of my all time faves). I don't know how much I'll use this (again, because I have similar shades that I like a tad more), and I doubt I'd have bought it myself (and I'm sure I won't buy it again) but it goes on really smoothly (like an expensive lipstick should) and just that earns it its four stars. You can't argue with quality.
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Lipstick -Maybelline - Super Stay 14 Hr
azcohn 7/1/2012 5:07:00 AM
I bought this in Ultimate Blush and I have to disagree with the negative reviews. I have plenty of experience with "long lasting" lipsticks and most of the first-generation lippies of this sort (the kind with the double applicator - lipstick plus gloss) were drying and inconvenient. This Maybelline lipstick may not last 14 hours but I rarely need lip color to last that long. I need it to make it through one meal or a wedding or something along those lines - 6 hours at the most - and this baby made it to the finish line. (I also experimented by putting it on before I went to sleep and after 8 hours of smushing my face into the pillow, etc. my lips were still pink and moist in the a.m.) The color is nice - lively pink with just a hint of sparkle - perfect for a special occasion (a little too sparkly and light for every day). It has a funny sweet candy-ish smell, which I kind of like. This is my long-laster of choice for now, until something better comes along (at a similar price).
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -L'Oreal - Colour Riche Lipstick
azcohn 7/1/2012 4:56:00 AM
I got this in a color that doesn't seem to be listed here so I'm putting this review under the general Colour Riche category. The color is Berry Royale and the lipstick itself has a little "tear drop" of serum in the middle, though nowhere on the tube does it say anything about serum. In any case, this is a great subtle pink that I can see wearing anytime I want a little color. The lipstick goes on very smoothly, though it has a crayon-y smell that many lippies have unfortunately. I got this lipstick when I recently went on a lipstick-buying tear, buying online (based on reviews) and in stores. All five new lippies were different shades of pink but there are subtle differences between them, which makes me think I'll use some more than others. This one is a little on the boring side but when I need something understated and low-key, with a hint of color and a comfy feeling on my lips, this will be just the ticket. I doubt I'll buy again but I also doubt I'll ever hit pan.
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Lipstick -Maybelline - Color Sensational 165 Pink of Me
azcohn 7/1/2012 4:43:00 AM
I recently went on a lipstick-buying tear, buying online (based on reviews) and in stores. All five new lippies were different shades of pink and Pink of Me was my least favorite. Somehow, it's a tad aging, even though it's sooo similar to other shades of pink that I like more. I think it may be too intense or too purple-tinged, but it's just not going to be the one I reach for any time soon. The consistency is nice and I got it for a song, but this lipstick just doesn't do it for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Colorburst Lip Butter - Berry Smoothie
azcohn 7/1/2012 4:39:00 AM
I recently went on a lipstick-buying tear, buying online (based on reviews) and in stores. All five new lippies were different shades of pink but when I saw this lip butter in Berry Smoothie I knew I had to have it. At first I thought it was too sheer but on second glance (and after applying a second layer) I was in love. Perfect berry color and somehow different than the similar shades bought at roughly the same time. It doesn't last very long (none really do, though my new Maybelline 14 hour Superstay is the longest lasting by far), but when I just want a swipe of color to go to the store or to mingle with society (where no eating or drinking is involved), this will be my go-to color. Package is a bit hard to open, hence the four stars. I'll never have an HG lipstick because I'll always be on the lookout for something better, but, color-wise, Berry Smoothie is a keeper.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Elie Saab-Le Parfum
azcohn 4/22/2012 2:33:00 AM
Maybe it's not fair to base a review on a paper tester in a magazine but I reacted so badly to this perfume that I have to say something. (There were other fragrance testers in that magazine that were fine so there is some basis for comparison.) Bottom line, this overwhelmingly floral perfume smells something akin to bug spray - I had to shower and throw the magazine in the trash before I could get it out of my nostrils. Ugh.
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Shampoo -Dove - Damage Therapy: Daily Moisture with Micro Moisture Serum
azcohn 3/26/2012 4:10:00 AM
I don't really believe there's a big difference between shampoos, but I bought this because I recently spent a lot of money on highlights and I wanted to try to preserve them and keep my hair in decent shape. This seemed to be doing the job but - again - I figured any shampoo (especially one that was geared to protecting colored hair) would do the trick. But then I went on vacation, and for a week I used the hotel-supplied shampoo (the no-name brand in the cute little bottle). And that's when I realized that this Dove shampoo really did make a difference and that my hair was a lot smoother, softer, and shinier after I use it. So thumbs up to this shampoo - it does what it claims to do.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Lustre in Sweetie
azcohn 3/25/2012 4:53:00 AM
I went into my local MAC to buy my first MAC lipstick, armed with a list of nine shades, culled from the MAC website and MUA reviews. I was looking for an everyday pink lipstick. So, one by one, I tried them all on. The popular Syrup, along with Capricious and Fast Play, was too "nude" - a concept I don't get - and made me look washed out and dead. Amorous, Chic and Sophisto were nice but too dark for my purposes (the latter was a dupe for Black Honey, which I have and love). Brick O La was too red. Craving looked beautiful in the tube but they didn't have a tester so I didn't risk it. That left Plumful, a Lustre that is quite gorgeous. But right next to it was Sweetie - not on my list but too pretty to ignore. I tried it and it was love at first sight. I wasn't at all in the market for a frosty lipstick (or so I thought) but the frost on this one added an extra bit of light that I couldn't resist (but it's still fine for every day). The color itself is a just-right pink/berry (very similar to Plumful, actually). As others have mentioned, the lustres don't last very long but if you know that going in you won't be too disappointed (that said, however, I probably won't buy another Lustre unless, by the time I finish this tube of Sweetie, I don't find something I like more). I've used Sweetie every day since I bought it last week and I love it every time.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -L'Oreal - perfect clean for sensitive skin
azcohn 3/14/2012 7:05:00 AM
I bought this mostly because it was on sale and because I liked the idea of the little scrubby brush. The cleanser itself is ok; I alternate it with other products and so I don't depend solely on it to clean my face, and I don't use it frequently enough for it to do too much damage. As for the brush, well, it's kind of... dumb. When I use it, I just keep thinking, "Hey, I have a job, I can afford something a little more sophisticated than this!" It feels nice and I think it's probably accomplishing more than when I use my fingers, but I'm not seeing any significant results. So maybe I'll spring for a Clarisonic - or, knowing me and my cheap tendencies, an Olay Pro-X (or TBS facial buffer) - and relegate this rubber scrubby brush (and the product) to my "could do better" pile, right next to the "you get what you pay for" pile.
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Lotions/ Creams -Aveeno - Active Naturals Eczema Care Moisturizing Cream
azcohn 2/29/2012 5:26:00 AM
I bought this and the A-derma Exomega cream for my daughter who has chronic eczema. They both work to a certain extent - she likes this one a little more because it smells better and because it isn't as goopy (it's also much less expensive). Neither cream permanently solves the problem (does anything?) but she's considerably less itchy and scabby, which is a big accomplishment. I'd buy it again.
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