Toners -Natura Bisse - NB-Ceutical Tolerance Toner
Bellona 7/1/2012 4:32:00 PM
I bought this toner to use in conjunction with the rest of the NB Ceutical line. I am currently using the cleanser, toner and moisturizer. I am absolutely in love with this line, and only wish I had discovered it long ago. The toner has a high concentration of green tea extract, as can be seen from the dark brown color. It is immediately calming and soothing on my skin. It helps with any irritation as well. I don't particularly like the spray, as I feel I waste product. I played with it for a while trying to make sure it didn't spray too much, and really got just on my face. But after awhile I gave up and now I just spray it in my palms and then press it onto my face gently. This works really well and I don't waste the product on cotton pads/balls. I'd highly recommend this line to anyone with sensitive skin that battles redness, irritation and needs hydration. It's truly an amazing line and I would at this point not try anything else. I'm convinced of the Natura Bisse brand, it really works.
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Moisturizers -Josie Maran Cosmetics - Argan oil
Bellona 6/20/2012 10:02:00 PM
I bought this to use in my hair, hoping it would moisturize and tame my frizziness. It does moisturize, but does zero to fight frizz. It also works wonders as a cuticule oil, and I've tried it on my lips too with good results. Overall, its a nice all-purpose oil and I love that Josie Maran products are social and eco friendly. So if it's in your budget then give it a try.
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Conditioner -Pureology - Super Smooth Conditioner
Bellona 6/20/2012 9:59:00 PM
I used this in conjunction with the super smooth shampoo, but returned them both in exchange for the Nanoworks line. I love Pureology products but just not this line for me personally. I found that it didn't moisturize enough for my hair. The smell was amazing but I felt like I needed to use way more than I should have to condition my hair. And I didn't get any smoother texture when dry, it did nothing to help my frizzy top layer of hair. I'd still recommend the line, as I love Pureology, but this one didn't work for me.
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Shampoo -Pureology - Super Smooth Shampoo
Bellona 6/20/2012 9:54:00 PM
I'm a die-hard Pureology lover. I used to work for a company that distributed it in Canada, and with my discount I got hooked on the line. Now the retail price tag hurts a bit, but I still find the performance worth the price. I liked this shampoo, but I returned it in exchange for the Nanoworks line. I used this for a month in conjunction with the super smooth cond. It smells amazing and lathers beautifully. I love that it's sulfate free and all the other goodness that goes along with this product line. However it didn't moisturize enough for me, and did nothing for my frizzy top layer of hair. I also agree with a few other reviewers comments that it doesn't feel like it's cleaning 100%. I'd still recommend someone to try it, but it sadly didn't work for me.
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Mascara -Almay - Get Up and Grow
Bellona 6/17/2012 3:02:00 PM
I received this mascara in a free sample pack of full-sized Almay products. I've never tried Almay before and doubt I would have bought this (I tend to stick to more natural eco-conscious products like Tarte etc.). Overall, this is an "ok" mascara. The formula is a bit on the drier side, which I like. It allows for easy layering and build-up. I find the brush/wand easy to work with. Pros: - good consistency - no clumping (even with 3 coats) - very rich black color - lengthens and thickens decently Cons: - extremely hard to remove - smudges and flakes - seems "heavy" and doesn't hold a curl I won't be buying this or replacing my usual mascara for this one.
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Treatments -Natura Bisse - C+C Vitamin Complex
Bellona 6/9/2012 5:51:00 PM
If you want glowing, clear, luminous and perfect looking skin then I'd suggest you give this a try. I got a sample from natura bisse counter at The Bay when I went to buy the nb ceutical line. The sample has lasted me over a week using every night. Each morning I wake up to better looking skin. It evens complexion, brightens up your skin, gives a healthy glow, and best of all is not irritating to my super sensitive skin. I'm impressed by the entire Natura Bisse line, and this product is no exception. I'd recommend it to anyone who needs to enhance their complexion and get glowing healthy looking skin.
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Cleansers -Philosophy - Purity Made Simple (Real Purity Cleanser)
Bellona 5/31/2012 1:14:00 AM
I got a sample of this from Sephora. It's just ok to me. I needed to use alot to get my makeup off, and I don't even wear foundation or concealer! Just bronzer and mascara. Yet it didn't feel like it was cleaning my skin. The pros: - no fragrance, so no irritation at all and great for sensitive skin - left my skin feeling good, not tight or dry - after using enough it did feel clean Overall, a nice cleanser, just not enough to wow me away from my usual one and make me switch. I feel like I'd go through it fast having to use so much.
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Treatments (Eye) -Natura Bisse - The Cure Sheer Eye
Bellona 5/29/2012 11:04:00 PM
This is a pretty exceptional product imho. It serves as an eye cream/treatment that moisturizes and has anti-aging benefits, while simultaneously covering up any lines, circles or imperfections and giving a perfect dewy look. It instantly blends and adjusts to your skin tone, so all skin colors should be able to wear this. I love it because it replaces two products in one - eye cream and my YSL touche eclat concealer/highlighter. It doesn't sit in my lines or flake up against dry skin like I found the YSL touche eclat to do. However those who wear heavier coverup may find the coverage too light. It's affordable and the hygienic pump bottle should last a long time. It's one of the those products that you see instant results with while it continues to work and improve long-term.
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Hair -Wen by Chaz Dean - Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner
Bellona 5/27/2012 3:56:00 PM
I bought the 16oz bottle which lasted me about a month, using it 2-3 times per week. I have wavy hair, down to about mid-back or just under breast length in the front. My hair is medium thickness, a bit on the coarse side (ie. my individual hairs are thick but I don't have tons of strands, if that makes sense?). My main issue with my hair is it's dry and the top layer is unbelievably frizzy. I don't over process, and just cover my greys with a permanent color & 10vol every 2 months or so. I don't bleach or lift ever. So it's not processing that makes it dry, it's just how my hair is. Seriously, I could go 5 days without washing and still it wouldn't be oily! So therefore, what I'm about to say here will totally go against what other reviews have said...WEN wasn't moisturizing enough and didn't do a thing to help my frizz. I know it sounds crazy since many reviewers complained it made their hair greasy. When I read that I thought perfect! Maybe this will be my HG lol. But no. It's not. I'll be moving on to something else. I used WEN exactly as instructed on the bottle, using 20-30 pumps, tried the "2 washes" method as well, and used a pump as a leave-in at the end. Here's the pros and cons. Pros: - nice light scent - rich formula, easy to use, doesn't run - cleans well - can easily comb through hair after - moisturizing if you don't have very dry hair Cons: - doesn't help the frizz at all - bottle goes very quickly, one month for 16 oz Overall I would still recommend WEN, I think it would be great on the right hair types.
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Treatments -Neostrata - Rosacure Anti-redness cream
Bellona 3/30/2012 12:56:00 AM
After using this for almost a month, I'm ready to review but having a hard time rating this. The whole purpose for me purchasing this was to reduce the diffused redness and flushing I have across my cheeks and nose area. I've been getting IPL treatments which helped immensely with the broken capillaries and redness. But I still can't get rid of it 100%. If this cream does help with redness, for me it was very minimal. Almost un-measurable or noticeable. Now for the pros: - didn't irritate my skin further - didn't break me out or clog my pores - soothed my skin, didn't make me feel hot or irritated - fragrance free - dries quickly Cons: - it really didn't reduce the redness enough to justify using it - didn't hydrate my skin very well I may finish the tube and use it just across the area that is red, as I read some reviews that said over 4 weeks to see results. But if that doesn't impress me I won't repurchase.
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Polishes -Creative Nail Design - Shellac UV Polish System - 14-Day Wear
Bellona 3/30/2012 12:49:00 AM
I honestly think that any bad experiences are caused by improper technique by the nail technician. I've had them done twice. My first experience I bought a groupon at a local salon and had them done for V-day. By the end of the first week they were lifting at the bottom. It was SO irritating washing my hair, cuz my hair would get stuck in between the shellac layer that was lifting and my nail. I hated them. They chipped like crazy and generally looked like crap by week 2. I them called the salon to get them taken off and they couldn't get me in for days, so I made the mistake of trying to take them off myself. The result - peeled a layer off my natural nail. YIKES! ] So I gave it about a month for fresh growth and forked out the full price of $45 Canadian at my fav spa. And the results is dramatically different. I LOVE it! I'm at week 2 and have no lifting or chipping at all. The color looks great. I'm really hard on my nails and yet they still hold up. My only complaint would be that you can really see the growth space near the cuticle. I read another reviewer who suggested you get the nail tech to get in really close to your cuticle and I agree. When I go back for my next application I'm going to ask her to do just that. But other than that, I love it. I don't think I'd go back to regular polish and may spring for the home system. Shellac has allowed my nails to grow and they seem stronger with the polish on top than bare nails (my nails have a tendency to peel). For the extra $5 cost on top of a regular mani I'd say it's totally worth it! :)
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Bronzers -Dr. Hauschka - Translucent Bronze Concentrate
Bellona 3/27/2012 7:04:00 PM
I ordered a bottle of this on ebay after reading all the amazing reviews on MUA. I was looking to pare down my morning routine, I'd been applying retinol cream, tinted moisturizer, sunscreen, bronzing powder...too much! So when I ran out of the tinted moisturizer I ordered this. It was impossible to find in the store in my city for some reason, so I ordered on ebay. I've used it every day for a week and I love it! I put it on after my retinol cream, kind of pressing and rubbing it in. It gave my skin a lovely glow that lasted all day, was easy to wash off at night, didn't break me out or irritate my sensitive skin. It smells fine, nothing strong or chemical etc. It has no shimmer, doesn't streak or look unnaturally orange. I'm so glad I took the advice of MUA and got this.
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Primer/ Corrector -Clinique - Pore Refining Solutions Instant Perfector
Bellona 3/5/2012 12:20:00 AM
After 15 years of using the Pore Minimizer T-Zone Shine Control product, Clinique went and discontinued it! :( After freaking out and running to the Clinique counter to see if they replaced it I found they revamped their Pore Minimizer line, now calling it Pore Refining Solutions. They currently have only 2 products in the line, and so I was told that Instant Perfector replaced my favorite t-zone shine control. I was sceptical at first, and since I'm prone to redness in my nose and cheek area I selected the "invisible bright" shade. I'm SO happy to say that it works even better that the discontinued product I was faithful to for so many years! The packaging is better, with a slimmer tube and nicer look. It goes on smoothly and perfectly. It really does live up to its name - it instantly takes any shininess away, making my pores invisible and smoothing my nose, forehead and cheek area where I put it. It lasts all day, and the bright shade is perfect to highlightly ever so slightly. I love it and am so happy that for once, a discontinued product was replaced with something better!
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Moisturizers -Darphin - Intral Balm
Bellona 2/16/2012 11:55:00 PM
I bought this after reading the reviews on MUA and I'm so glad I did. My skin gets really dry in the winter, almost so much I can't use my retinol daily. I also have extremely sensitive skin prone to rosacea. I have eczema as well. I struggle with diffused redness across my nose and cheeks, and although it's getting better with IPL treatments, I need a moisturizer that works to soothe my skin, reduce redness, and moisturize. Intral balm does the job perfectly. It doesn't break me out, I just make sure to use a small amount and warm it between my fingers before applying. I also layer this over the camomile oil from Darphin, with I also love. Overall, I'm very impressed. It's been about 2-3 weeks and my skin is no longer irritated or dry. The redness is controlled, and my skin feels calmer throughout the day. I love the scent as well. 06/10/2013 - EDIT - I have to take off one lippie here, as this balm doesn't hydrate enough for me. I think it made for protecting the skin from outside elements while soothing, but doesn't really moisturize and aid in hydration. I still use it, but it has to be either on top of the darphin oil or another moisturizer.
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Lotions/ Creams -Eucerin - Aquaphor Healing Ointment
Bellona 2/16/2012 11:42:00 PM
This stuff is AMAZING! I only wish I had bought this years ago. Recently, an allergic reaction caused my lips to swell up, and then crack and bleed/ooze. Nasty, I know :( I tried EVERYTHING to heal them and protect them. Every time I'd eat or drink it would sting and worsen the situation. I used burts bees chapstick, body shop cocoa butter stick, and everything else I could get my hands on. Finally, after reading on MUA I came across this and bought it. I recall hearing about it in mags or other blogs, but never bought it. Within 3 days my lips were healed and back to normal. Amazing. I'll never be without this now. It even works on my eczema patches, and I would imagine anywhere else you need it! Truly an HG product.
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