Cleansers -Cetaphil - Gentle Skin Cleanser
leira 10/31/2004 3:17:00 PM
My skin is normal to oily. This cleanser has been a standard in my bathroom for almost 5 years now. I was first introduced to Cetaphil by my dermatologist when I had a weird skin allergy on my face- the skin was flaking and scabbing. We suspected it was from something I ate, and she gave me a cortisone shot and some samples of Cetaphil and Aquaphor. I asked her if I could wear anything else on my face and she said no. Just wash with Cetaphil and put Aquaphor on the flaking skin. And a couple of days later my skin was back to normal. I use this cleanser when my skin is acting weird (i.e. allergies) and I have to use something really gentle. It leaves my skin soft and moisturize, not the drying tight feeling that I sometimes get from other cleansers. However this is not an advisable cleanser if you wear make-up or sunscreen, because this will not remove any of that at all! You need something else for that. But this product is great for someone who has sensitive skin and cannot tolerate a lot of products on their face.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Stila - Amber Lipstick (Fierce Femme)
leira 10/30/2004 1:20:00 PM
I love this lipstick! I have mmm/ggg warm yellow-toned skin and it is perfect! I like this shade better than Clinique's Black Honey, it's not as cool although that shade also works for me. Amber is a rich deep berry shade with no detectable blue tones. It is sheer but you can build up color with a comparable berry lip liner. I love that it is moist and doesn't dry up my lips. I also have very pigmented lips and this covers it up nicely without looking heavy. Imparts a soft shine, almost reminiscent of Vincent Longo lipstick stain texture. I don't really mind the packaging, it's cardboard but it the outside has a leather feel to it. I just hope that this one doesn't spoil, because this is a limited edition l/s for the Fall.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Sally Hansen - Daily Lip Moisture Gloss
leira 10/5/2004 7:45:00 PM
I have this in Clear Honey, and I'm almost done with it! I really like this - it's the clickable type of gloss probably similar to Stila Lip Glaze packaging but definitely cheaper. The brush is very efficient, and gives an even application to the lips. This is a gooey, moisturizing and very long lasting gloss. I took a shower and the gloss was still on my lips! It's not very pigmented though, so it's probably best over a lipliner or lipstick. Gives decent amount of shine and it doesn't irritate my lips at all. In fact when my lips are chapped or dry, I put this on because the moisturizing properties really lasts. I hope they make this in more pigmented colors, not just browns.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Full 'N Soft Mascara
leira 10/5/2004 7:22:00 PM
I'm adding another rave to this great product. I really like the brush - it's thick and full of bristles which enables it to grab all my lashes and coat every single one of them. I have thick lashes, but straight, and I have the worst trouble of keeping my oily lashes from smudging my glasses. I have this in the regular formula and it does not smudge nor clump on me. This is a great mascara if you want a "your lashes but better" look. It will not lengthen nor add volume, but define your own lashes and make them darker and luscious in a natural way. I only wish that it can hold curl better, because sometimes it gives me awesome curly lashes, and sometimes not. Not sure if I need to perfect my lash curling technique with my Shu Uemura curler, but until then, I'll be using this on a daily basis. Oh, and this is very easy to remove, I don't lose lashes at all when I remove it with my cleanser or eye m/u remover.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Aveda - Brilliant Damage Control Spray
leira 10/5/2004 7:09:00 PM
I have very thick, coarse wavy/straight Asian hair and forever on a quest to look for products that can soften and fight the frizzies for my hair. This product is NOT a leave-in conditioner and I don't know why I thought it was, but it's supposed to provide protection from heat damage. I use this prior to straightening my hair and together with Aveda Light Elements Finishing Solution, I think it protects my hair because I don't get split-ends (however I don't straighten everyday, probably once a week).But I also found another use for it as a light hairspray. I find that it gives my hair a bit of hold when I spray it on my hair and air dry it, and I really like that it's a spray so when I need to touch-up my hair, my hands doesn't need to get messy and sticky with product. I might repurchase unless I find a better product. It's not the greatest, but not the worst either.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -mark - Glossblossom Ripening Lip Tint
leira 9/5/2004 12:27:00 PM
I have heavily pigmented lips, and I am always skeptical about products who makes such unusual claims that can better my lips, such as this one. Fortunately I got this in a swap, and was excited to try it out. The tube packaging is excellent, similar to Juicy Tubes or Clinique SuperBalm, with a slanted tip. The gloss is clear inside the tube, and spreads evenly on my lips. And now I had to wait if it was going to turn "pink" on me, and it sure did. Not a shocking, unusual pink, but my lips but better pink. Since my lips are pigmented, this gloss took out the grayness of my lips, and turned it into a luscious juicy pink that looks so natural. I admit that I like this better than the Clinique Superbalm (I've tried Raspberry and Mango), because it actually gives my lips color, lasts longer, and feels more moisturizing, and it's cheaper too! I'm gonna try to get some more of these so I can stock-up, and unfortunately all my other glosses and balms would have to wait their turn because I predict I'll be using this more than my other expensive brand ones.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Deodorants -Tom's of Maine - Natural Deodorant
leira 9/5/2004 12:18:00 PM
Let me start off by saying, this is a deodorant, if you are looking for something to control your sweat in the pits, well this is not the product. However if you're looking for a natural way to control your body odor, well, read on! I just finished my stick of Honeysuckle so I guess it's ok for me to review. I've been using this deodorant for almost a year now. I was looking for a deodorant that wouldn't stain my armpits, and wouldn't smell funky after a couple of hours. Although this did not control my sweat, I'm pleased that it didn't smell sour like others do after hours of using it. I like how it didn't leave any white residue on my pits, and kept it relatively dry, since I move minimally anyway at work. For those who are mostly physically active, perhaps this would not be the best option for you. Also this does not contain alum, for those who are allergic or are concerned about it for health reasons. I'm on my second stick now, trying out Calendula, and I'll be sticking with Tom's of Maine deodorant unless I find something better.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Makeup Remover -Clinique - Naturally Gentle Eye Makeup Remover
leira 8/29/2004 9:41:00 PM
Not the best, but not the worst either. Just finished my whole size tube of this so I thought it's time to write my review. My eyes are pretty sensitive and would get allergies if I use anything too strong or too fragrant. So I thought I would give this a try, and there are two things that I like about this - packaging, since it's in a tube it has less of a chance to get bad stuff inside, and that it's in a cream form. Other than that, there are a lot of things that needs to be improved. It does remove eye make-up, but not all. I usually just use mascara, and have recently been using normal formulas but while I was using waterproof mascaras, it was such a pain to remove it with this. It would leave dark smudges under my eyes and I would need to go over the smudges, thus tugging the delicate skin around my eyes. Also, when it gets to my eyes, it stings a bit, so I'm not sure where the "gentle" part of this m/u remover comes into play. I will continue my search for an effective eye makeup remover, and I guess I'm just glad that I finished this tube, and can now move on to better products.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -LORAC - Cover Up C5
leira 7/18/2004 10:15:00 AM
This is a perfect match to my medium-tanned Asian skin. I've had this little pot for almost 2 years now, I'm not sure if that's good (if it affects quality of product at all) but you can tell it's totally worth it if it lasts you that long. I use this for covering up blemishes and I swear it can heal my little pimples! Most concealers I've used either aggravate the pimple or cake around it, but this one blends in my skin evenly. I also use this on my under-eye circles and although I don't use it regularly, I've never had any irritation with this. This is not a heavy concealer, meaning it doesn't look cakey when applied. Not too keen on the pot packaging, it's not very hygienic in my opinion, but then again it's not like you would be sharing concealers in the women's bathroom! A definite repurchase, if I ever ran out!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Aveda - Light Elements Smoothing Fluid
leira 7/10/2004 10:01:00 AM
Before I straightened my hair, I use two pumps for the ends and the back of my hair, and then one more pump after I straightened it to polish the look. This and the Phytologie Relaxing balm are the two products I used that gives me sleek straight hair with no build-up and no weighing down. I used to have to wash my hair everyday because of product build-up, but now I can wash every other day, even every 2 days!! You only use so little of this, so I doubt you can finish a 3.4 fl oz bottle in 6 months. I have very thick hair and have been using this since April and now its July and the fluid in the bottle has only gone down quarter of an inch! Highly recommended if you already have straight hair and just want to have a polish look or if you have wavy coarse hair like me that you iron straight.
UPDATE 11.07.2004 - I think I like Aveda's Brilliant Emollient better than this, it has a nice smell and works better with my very thick coarse hair. So I'll probably put this up for swap! :)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Phyto - Phytodefrisant
leira 7/10/2004 9:52:00 AM
This review is for the Phytologie Phytodefrisant Relaxing Balm in an annoying metal tube. I have very thick, coarse and wavy hair and since I started straightening my hair every 2 days, I use this together with my Aveda Light Elements to create that sleek straight look that I can never achieve just by blowdrying alone. But the real kicker is this- on days that I don't want to straightened my hair, I wash it at night, squeeze out excess water with microfiber towel, and then put the relaxing balm at the ends and in the back and comb through. In the morning I wake up with glorious curls that are so shiny and wavy, not even the Florida humidity and heat can bring it down! So, if I have the extra money I will definitely buy this, but I received this in a swap and hope I can get one again! It doesn't weigh down my hair, no build-up, and it just makes it so healthy and shiny! My only gripe is the metal tube, and because the product is a bit runny, I always have to put up the tube against the wall on my bathroom counter or else it will probably leak.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Shiseido - Super Mild Shampoo fruity/floral
leira 6/30/2004 7:55:00 PM
First off, my hair is thick, wavy, coarse, wiry, not colored but dry on the ends. This shampoo is AMAZING. It cleans your hair without stripping off the natural oils and leaves a lovely scent that doesn't reek after you dry your hair. I could use this everyday and I know my hair wouldn't dry out but since I've used this I'm able to wash my hair every other day without fear of getting flakes or oily scalp! I purchased this during my recent trip in California, and it is available at most Japanese grocery markets, in Japantown and Mitsuwa grocery stores. If you can get the conditioner as well, go get it! It's just as great as the shampoo! The bottle is huge and it comes with a pump (bottle is white and has pink writing). I got both conditioner and shampoo on sale for $14.99. So far this is the BEST shampoo I've tried for my thick Asian hair, and I've tried many - Bumble and Bumble, Aveda, etc.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Eyeko - Strawberry Fat Balm
leira 6/5/2004 5:44:00 PM
Since I purchased this a month ago it has not left my tiny makeup bag. This gives a nice flush to my medium tanned Asian skin, does not feel heavy/oily or look greasy and is great on my combination skin. Some find it drying so perhaps moisturizing lips/cheeks prior to using it might help. On my lips, it turns into a reddish-brown color and since I have thick lips, I have no problems with the chubby stick. My only complaints is you get very little for the money but other than that it's a great product. I love the packaging, but not the size of the balm. Oh, and the strawberry scent is heavenly, just like real ones do! If you try out the fat balm and it doesn't work out for you, I would be happy to take it out of your hands (jk!) :) By the way, it was so hard to get this in swaps so I caved in and purchased it, and I'm glad I did!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Stila - Peony Convertible Color
leira 6/4/2004 10:22:00 PM
I was fortunate enough to have received this in a swap, and boy am I glad I tried this out. First off, the packaging is adorable, and this being my first Stila product, I was totally sold just on the whimsical pink compact with mirror. The blush is a light mauve color and its in cream form, but after blending it on my cheeks with my fingertips, it turns into a nice peach/pink blush that looks so natural. A co-worker even commented on how my skin was glowing one day and I attribute that to this blush! It might last me a long time too since I rotate it with other blushes and I hope I don't ran out because it is a bit expensive. By the way, I have medium-tanned combination Asian skin, with oily t-zone. This blush was not oily at all and didn't settle on my pores or irritate my skin.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Revlon - Super Lustrous - Coral Glow
leira 6/4/2004 10:12:00 PM
I love this color! Really brightens up my MMM Asian medium tanned skin! It has a bit more shimmer than Nude Lustre, and it is a delicious warm orange color but pretty just the same! This might be an LE and I was so happy to find the last tube at Walgreens! It's pigmented enough to even out my duotone lips. I was about to invest my hard-earned cash on high-end l/g but I think the quality of Super Lustrous glosses are comparable, if not better! Its definitely cheaper, and the packaging cannot be beat!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No