Self Tanners -St.Tropez - Tinted Self-Tanning Lotion
jadkin 1/17/2008 4:54:00 PM
EDIT: this seems to wear off realllly fast. i just washed my face (i applied the product 6 hours ago!) and there were brown streaks running down my neck! my face looks noticeably LESS tan. sigh. so first of all, phew this was expensive. but after using it several times, i feel that its worth it. i live in Canada, and the search for this product was exhausting. cdn ladies, oh my goodness, you need to visit essentialdayspa.com. i purchased my nailtiques strengthener from there as well as the st. tropez lotion.. their prices are reasonable and the shipping costs are fantastic. check them out! they sell lots of difficult-to-find high-end brands. one constant complaint here is the transferability of the product.. but i have circumvented that easily by applying the lotion several hours before i go to bed. i slather it all over, let it set for a couple of minutes, then put some shabby pjs over top of it (long-sleeves, full pant legs). i watch tv with my roommates or bf until i'm ready to go to bed. the last time i used st. tropez, i slept in boxers and a t-shirt and there was no colour on my *white* sheets or *white* duvet. a second complaint is the staining of palms. i believe i read an earlier review here that saved my life, or so to speak haha! two words: BAKING. SODA. wash your hands intermittently while applying the lotion as to reduce the build-up on your palms. don't be shy... shake some soda onto your hands, wet it slightly with water to make a paste, and scrub-scrub-scrub, concentrating on your nails and in between your fingers. as a lazy beauty addict, i was constantly in search of a "right-away-tanner" (as i call them) with a nice colour that faded evenly and lasted for several days. i have found my HG tanner in st.tropez. one application is all thats needed to turn my pale skin into a nice caramel! no orange... just a lovely bronzed brown. like i just returned from puerta vallarta! because of this and my planned infrequency of use, the hefty price tag is justified! (i took one lippie off for the price... i am still a university student)
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Styling Products -Matrix - Vavoom Height Of Glam Volumizing Mousse
jadkin 12/30/2007 4:10:00 PM
nice, full hair. i've tried almost every volume product from the drugstore.. my hair is stubborn and i'm throwing in the cheap towel! i caved on a salon straightener and it looks like i'll be doing so for a volumizing product. about $16 from BSO in Canada... worth it, in my opinion. my long, flat hair is full for the whole day.
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Skincare - Face -Pro Activ - 3-Step System
jadkin 12/16/2007 5:05:00 PM
this totally RUINED my sensitive, oily skin two years ago. i had a chin covered in painful cysts that only stopped when i ceased using this stuff. blech. so many traumatic ingredients for your skin... benzoyl peroxide is very harsh to use all over my face; i only use it to spot treat now. accutane was the only thing that worked for me.
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Styling Products -Giovanni - Natural Mousse Air-Turbo Charged
jadkin 12/16/2007 5:00:00 PM
my brother and i had a good laugh at the name of this product, which i purchased due to the fact that its a cone-less product (no form of silicone included). i am currently on a quest to rid my hair from as many silicones as possible. this was pricey ($10 at zellers) and it came out like watery foam instead of the mousse that i was expecting. but it gave a natural fullness to my hair that lasted throughout the day. it imparts good hold, also long-lasting, and beautiful shine and softness, not stickey at all. so far, my cone-less mission has been very fruitful! will definitely purchase again, but i'd like to try some beauty without cruelty products as well. EDIT: ya, this didn't continue to perform as above. now that i've switched my s-and c- routine, i may try it again. but for now i'll stick with my vavoom. i've learned that cones are not the reincarnation of evil and should not be avoided as such by all.
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Conditioner -Nature's Gate - Chamomile & Lemon Verbena Moisturizing Conditioner for Dry, Damaged Hair
jadkin 12/16/2007 4:55:00 PM
along with its matching shampoo, this conditioner smells divine. i bought it from loblaws for approximately $6 after reading about the potential disadvantages of silicones in hair products on the long hair community message boards. it coats the hair and may end up blocking out moisturizing agents from other products that you use. most products from giovanni are also cone-less, as are burts bees. this conditioner smells amazing and leaves my hair very shiny and soft. my hair no longer feels heavy like it did when i used HE's "hello hydration" line. EDIT: ooh this TOTALLY dried out my hair.. i was on a "silicone free" kick and it really didn't work well for me. back to the cones...
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Shampoo -Nature's Gate - Chamomile & Lemon Verbena Moisturizing Shampoo for Dry, Damaged Hair
jadkin 12/16/2007 4:45:00 PM
such a wonderfully smelling shampoo! i am in love with the scent... not overly herbal and very refreshing! i bought this in my quest for a cone-less shampoo at loblaws (ontario, canada) for about $6. i was not disappointed with the results: my hair has never been shinier and it feels so soft, even within the first several uses. can't believe i used silicones for so long.. i am much more comfortable knowing that my hair doesn't have a film on it! my quest begins for cone-less EVERYTHING! EDIT: ya... didn't work out so well. my normally-soft hair completely dried out. such a bummer because i liked the idea of a clean hair shaft. too bad. i bought some new shampoo to remoisturize. i loved the smell of this, too :( i'll keep it to clarify
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Lip Treatments -Chapstick - Lip Moisturizer SPF 15 Original Flavor
jadkin 12/16/2007 4:42:00 PM
i bought this in a pack of three where a proportion of the sale price went to a breast cancer research foundation. i found this lip balm to be very good... and cheap! it smoothed my lips and didn't build up into a waxy film.. which is a difficult quality to find in a lip balm. i need spf lip balm whenever i go outside because i am prone to blistering and cold sores. will continue to purchase this product.. its my HG!
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Shampoo -Clairol - Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Moisturizing Shampoo
jadkin 12/16/2007 4:37:00 PM
as is the case with the matching shampoo, i didn't like this. both products contain dimethicone, one of the most difficult silicones to remove from hair (and therefore builds up on the hair shaft). silicone does serve to protect your hair, but it also doesn't let any other forms of moisture in. essentially, its a fake form of moisture. i switched to nature's gate moisturizing shampoo and conditioner (which smells divine; at loblaws), which doesn't contain any forms of silicone. my hair has never felt healthier.
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Conditioner -Clairol - Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Moisturizing Conditioner
jadkin 12/16/2007 4:35:00 PM
blech way too many cones for my liking (silicones). my hair never really felt clean with this... since switching to nature's gate my hair has much more life to it and loads of shine and moisture! ladies... if you notice the same thing, do yourself a favour and switch to coneless products. will certainly not repurchase.
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Styling Products -John Frieda - Frizz-Ease Extra Strength Hair Serum
jadkin 12/16/2007 4:33:00 PM
one must use this product with caution... if you pump too much into your hands to smooth through hair, you will most certainly end up with the greasies! i start out with a small amount and continue adding as i see fit. since i started using cone-less shampoo and conditioner (no form of silicone in either), this works much better since it only has to adhere to hair, instead of previous silicone buildup. blech. gives my hair a bit of healthy shine, too. all i need to be frizz-free! EDIT: since my cone-free s&c dried my hair out, this made my whole head a greaseball. weirded me right out. and it always seems like no matter how much more i add, my hair doesn't remain frizz-free. my search continues.
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Top/Base Coats -OPI - Start to Finish Base & Top Coat
jadkin 12/16/2007 4:30:00 PM
i didn't like this. i used it with opi nail polish and it made the colour chip and flake off, which never happens with opi. ridiculous. my only consolation is that i spent $10 on it... not a huge loss. still looking for a good top/base coat that will save my polish from tip wear as much as possible.
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Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Reversa - 8 percent Glycolic Acid solution for Oily and Acne-prone Skin
jadkin 12/16/2007 4:28:00 PM
this was recommended to me by my dermatologist to keep my skin exfoliated post-accutane treatment. i use it morning and night. my skin is sensitive and oily and this keeps it looking very clear. its about $30 at SDM, which is pricey, but it lasts for quite awhile. i use life brand gentle cleanser (cetaphil knockoff), this, straight camellia oil, life brand dermavive eye cream, and neutrogena sunscreen on a daily basis and my skin is clear. please keep in mind that i have done a course of accutane. i truly feel that reversa helps keep any whiteheads at bay, so i am more than willing to pay the price. my derm also mentioned that glycolic acid serves to exfoliate the skin, even skintone, and moisturize all at the same time; i certainly see these effects on myself.
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Treatments (Eye) -Unlisted Brand - Life Brand Diminish Eye Cream [DISCONTINUED]
jadkin 12/16/2007 4:24:00 PM
bought this for under $10 at SDM when it was on sale... i am a university student in canada... which pretty much = lack of sleep on a consistent basis! this stuff works in one week flat, when i apply it once at night. very effective. will continue to use... and save my tight money!!!
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Primer/ Corrector -Boots - Mattifying Make-up Base 
jadkin 12/16/2007 4:22:00 PM
i bought this on sale at SDM for $10. tiny bottle, but easy to squeeze and you can control how much comes out. you smooth it on your face and it almost has a grainy feel to it, but it mattifies your skin pretty much instantly. i use BE mineral foundation with MAC skinfinish powder on top and i have had no problems with this... it keeps my makeup looking fresh into the afternoon, and i have an oil-pump for a face! hasn't broken my sensitive skin out at all.
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Eye Makeup Remover -Marcelle - Gentle Makeup Remover for Sensitive Eyes
jadkin 12/16/2007 4:20:00 PM
oh just a fantastic product. i have really sensitive, oily skin and this worked beautifully. waterproof makeup is still difficult to remove, but regular stuff just slides right off. doesn't leave that gross oily vision afterwards and i have yet to be irritated by it. at shoppers, i believe i paid about $8 when it was on sale. lasted about 3 1/2 months, so its pretty good, price-wise.
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