Pressed Powders -Stila - Sheer Pressed Powder
jezseeca 7/8/2010 11:25:00 PM
Well, i wish i didn't have to write a bad review, but here goes: To start with, i am NC20/25 olive and the medium color in this powder was a PERFECT MATCH. sigh. but then the itching started. and then the breakouts. within 30 min i had three breakouts on my cheek and they didn't go away until i washed off the powder. Turns out, this has corn starch --which is great at absorbing powder, BUT when it gets any moisture trapped underneath (which is the point of a blotting powder, right?) it harbors BACTERIA and FUNGUS. yikes. no wonder i got itchy! had to treat my face with a long microdermabrasion scrub and a AHA/BHA peel afterwards, just to get it back to normal. oh and tea tree oil. So, even though it was the perfect color, texture, finish *cries* --it is not worth it to screw my skin, which i go to great lengths to take care of. Too bad. (For the record, i remember years ago loving Stila's IPF in 40 watts, but that too caused breakouts). I would give it a ZERO, but i have to admit the colors and finish are remarkable.
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Treatments -Derma E - skin lighten
jezseeca 5/17/2010 5:00:00 PM
LOVE IT. This is the best cream. I use it 2x a day, and it makes my skin tone much more even (even more than vit C!) and best of all, it is the perfect primer before m/u! i just love the texture of my skin now. this cream is the perfect moisturizer for combination skin! Especially in this dry Denver air. I wish i had found this earlier.... It's also great for getting rid of scar marks quickly (within days for mine, i noticed a big difference!) and i love that all the ingredients are natural and good for you. Definite HG. Now all i use for skincare is Aveeno's Calming facial cleanser, a glycolic acid toner with AHA/BHAs and this treatment. and my skin is so much happier.
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Neutrogena - Ageless Restoratives™ Anti-Oxidant Booster Serum
jezseeca 2/14/2010 8:17:00 AM
Absolutely love this. I've been using this twice a day and I already saw results after a few days. No irritation or clogged pores, whatsoever from this. It really does even my skintone, making it more luminous and smooth. Works amazingly well after a home-microdermabrasion scrub!!! According to Dr. Leslie Baumann's book, my skin is OSPW, and i find that this serum works so well that i don't even need a regular moisturizer after, but for gals who are quite dry, they might need one. I also only need one pump of product--that's plenty-- and i massage it in for about 30 seconds and it's totally absorbed. It wears very well under m/u too (no pilling whatsoever). Excellent, effective product.
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Cleansers -Ponds - Clean Sweep Cleansing and Makeup Remover Towelettes
jezseeca 2/12/2010 11:19:00 AM
I actually use the generic version of these from Walgreens, which are much cheaper and just as great. i use these as a m/u remover (to take off mascara, concealer and blush) BEFORE i cleanse. Works great. I just wish they were a little more wet, but it is still pretty darn good. Very soft and effective formula.
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Cleansers -Aveeno - Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser
jezseeca 2/12/2010 11:14:00 AM
WOW. i absolutely love this. This is the sort of cleanser that is so wonderful that it makes me want to toss any other cleanser i own in the trash. This is definitely my new HG! It really reduces redness (from inflammation) and leaves my skin really calm, soft, and clean. It is gentle, but it really does clean well. I should state that i wear concealer, mascara and blush, and i use Pond's clean sweep m/u remover towelettes first, but this cleanser always removes the leftover residue with ease. This is the first cleanser that leaves my skin both clean and really comfortable (no need for me to moisturize after, which is unusual for me!). Even after the first use, i noticed it really improved my skin and started healing a breakout. i love the clean scent and the foaming action too. Just wonderful. EDIT: took off one lippie, simply b/c it wasn't removing all my m/u. i got tired of having to use a m/u wipe first. now i just use Olay daily facials and it's just one step. so much easier and now i don't have to wash my face in the morning.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Revlon - Matte Powder Blush in Rose Rapture
jezseeca 2/9/2010 8:46:00 PM
A beautiful, natural-looking neutral pink. Looks great with my green eyes and NC20 (light olive) complexion. I usually apply a light dusting of bronzer on my t-zone first, and then use this blush on the apples of my cheeks. it really brightens me up. Definitely an HG blush for me (which is hard to find). i especially love that it is matte with no sparkles or shimmer--just natural color that u can layer as sheer or build up for more pop. love it!
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Lip Liners -L'Oreal - Crayon Petite - Warm Corals
jezseeca 2/3/2010 2:42:00 PM
Absolutely love this. I have it in #760 "timeless coral". it's like my lips, but better! i have olive-green eyes and NC20 light olive skin and strawberry-blonde hair and this is just the perfect lip color! i wear it more like a lip-stain, however, smudging it in the center of my lips and then topping with a clear lipbalm like carmex. love it, love it, love it. HG for everyday.
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Stick -MyChelle - Cream Foundation
jezseeca 1/22/2010 2:01:00 PM
I absolutely love this. It is winter, so I am NC15/20-ish and the palest color "Ivory" is a perfect match. (note: if you are alabaster, snow-white pale, this color would be too dark for you). I think the next one up ("Porcelain") would match NC25-30 gals. "Ivory" is a very nice neutral color (not too yellow, not too pink) and suits my light olive skin very nicely. I love the formula! It is soooo easy to blend! You can control the coverage between light and medium. It really gave me a polished, natural look and the only concealer i required was for my dark under-eye circles. Still, this foundation erased a good 50% of my dark circles, and quite frankly, if it had erased them completely, then it would have been too opaque for the rest of my face. So, I am extremely pleased. The finish is not dewy, but not completely matte either. I would call it "natural matte". Of course, this could change depending on what moisturizer you wear underneath. I love that this is a natural product with no silicones or petroleum--it feels so good on my skin, like a treatment that is good for me! Very lightweight to wear. This is my new, everyday foundation because i just love it. I also love how it is a stick--- so easy to apply! Then just blend with clean fingers.... and you're good to go.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Sonia Kashuk - dual coverage powder foundation
jezseeca 8/30/2009 5:39:00 PM
well i don't say this often, but this just flat out sucked. i get very frustrated with misleading names! Dear Ms. Kashuk, this product should NOT have the words "coverage" or "foundation" anywhere in the name!!!! This is a very light, finishing powder. that is all. no coverage. no color. just a finishing powder. if that's what you want, then great. but if you are buying this with the hopes that it is a powder foundation (like Stila IPF, or Benefit Hello Flawless or MAC studiofix) then you will be angry like me! honestly, it's not even that great for a finishing powder--- it reminds me of that round Covergirl compact all the girls wore in the 1980s in Jr High. Ugh. Bad, bad, bad. (p.s. for reference, "Linen" is far too light for NC20. it's more like NC10-15)
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Cleansers -Neutrogena - Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser
jezseeca 8/30/2009 5:32:00 PM
i just love this. to be honest, the first week i used this i didn't. there are three tricks to really make this cleanser work optimally: #1: use enough. although it seems like you only need a dime-amount, use a nickle. #2. add a little water, just a few drops, to get the lather going. #3. work it in your skin for a good minute. And one more thing too-- it took about a week of use before i noticed it evened out my tone. but after that-- wow! improved clarity, softness, really even tone. So much improvement that i wear less foundation now (only concealer here and there.). i wear moisturizer afterwards as well (neutrogena ageless). all in all, i just love this. no irritation, no dryness-- just fresh, clean skin. great find!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -The Body Shop - bronzing powder
jezseeca 5/15/2009 7:38:00 AM
Beautiful. Just beautiful. Shade #1 is perfect for my olive NC20 skin. The first bronzer that has come to entirely replace blush for me. The result: lovely and natural! i love that it is matte too! i use this on my hairline, t-zone, and even in the crease of my eyelids (with an e/s brush), down my neck and collarbone. It is beautiful! The first bronzer that looks natural on me! Not muddy at all. Just radiant! It really makes me look like I spent the afternoon in the sun, in other words, it gives me the exact color that I would have if i had been in the sun. Normally bronzer-powders are a color that my skin could never turn, but not this one. i am so happy i found this! I also love to use it with TBS bronzing brush, with the bronze handle. It's very soft and lasts forever! The compact is so elegant that it really makes it a pleasure to use. It lasts quite a while too! i use it generously everyday for the past 3 months and i'm barely halfway. I will definitely buy again because this has become my HG.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Neal's Yard - 100% Rosehip Oil
jezseeca 5/15/2009 7:29:00 AM
Wow. Truly amazing. I am on my second bottle of this lovely oil and my only regret is that i didn't find it sooner. It's a miracle oil!!! In less than 3 days, i noticed that sunspots and old scars were dramatically reduced! (a good 50%!) This works better at evening out my skin tone than any Vitamin C serum has ever done. And it has softened fine lines as well!!! My skin looks a good 5 years younger, plumper, firmer, clearer, softer, brighter, soothed. I love love LOVE this oil. It is a dry oil, so it absorbs in very easily. I only use 3 drops, but i use it in the morning and night. I replaced the top with a pump that Neal's Yard sells separately, and i just do a tiny half-pump per use. It works GREAT on old break-out scars and sun freckles. Truly a miracle-worker. And i have had no adverse reactions whatsoever. I think the key is to remember you only need 2-3 drops and any more than that becomes too much for your skin to absorb. The price is so cheap as well! 1 bottle for around 10 pounds that lasts 3-4 months with 2x/day use. I actually use it in other areas too, like on old shaving scars on my legs and knees and have had excellent results as well. The fragrance is not rose at all, but more like green tea, in my opinion. Not herbal smelling, but fresh. I think it's lovely. Works amazingly well in the undereye area too!!! See my notepad for my whole routine. When i move out of England this summer I will be taking 5+ bottles with me definitely.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -Unlisted Brand - Naturtint Permanent Hair Colorant
jezseeca 4/22/2009 9:23:00 AM
Wow. This is my new HG haircolor. I used the Copper Blonde color and it gave me beautiful, luminous, multi-dimensional, healthy color! I was so worried and nervous that the color would be flat but it wasn't. it was lovely! I normally use L'oreal Excellence (for the past 10 years) and this is FAR BETTER. my hair was softer, looked shinier, healthier, and the color was much more pretty. The conditioner that comes with the kit is truly miraculous. it really turned my hair into silk. One note: with the L'oreal Excellence, i usually had to leave the color on an extra 10 minutes over the 20. But with this one--- i actually went less, under the time. 15 on roots and 10 on the rest of my long hair and the results were perfect. It colored my light brown roots so much better than the L'oreal Excellence did. Very vibrant, yet natural color. Copper Blonde is like a rich strawberry blonde. really nice for green eyes and NC20 skin. I'm so glad i took a chance on this! i'm very, very impressed. *****EDIT***** well, 4 boxes later and now i hate it!!! the reason? THEY CHANGED IT!!!!! every time in the past it would be so lovely, a true copper blonde (like a light red), and now it is dark and brownish! took 2 weeks in the sun to lighten it to a light auburn (which still had barely any red). UGH. why do they always change the things that i love??? still a great formula (good for hair, etc), but if you want the Copper Blonde shade, expect it to be a medium golden brown with barely any red in it at all.... despite the redhead on the box!) :( *****EDIT: well i put this back up to 5 stars!!! when i last used this i was pregnant, and i think that effected the results. i tried this color again and it was gorgeous.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Burt's Bees - Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream
jezseeca 4/11/2009 4:49:00 PM
i love this sweet little tin! the smell is just lovely--a creamy lemon. does a great job at softening cuticles and keeping nails healthy. i love to use this on my toes after a pedicure to help maintain color and prevent chips! :) i always take this with me on holiday too. it's comforting
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Liquid -Maybelline - Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Foundation ] ] [DISCONTINUED]
jezseeca 4/7/2009 11:37:00 AM
Meh... not a bad product, but definitely not spectacular and definitely not HG worthy. i think this is only exciting if you happen to find your exact color match , but even then it's not so great. does have a "make-up look" so reach for this if you want that. and not if you want a natural look. if you need to grab something quick, then by all means head for this--but otherwise, it's nothing special.
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