Toners -Clinique - Mild Clarifying Lotion
just_like_gold 4/26/2006 5:41:00 PM
Four years ago, in 7th grade, I used the Clarifying Lotion 2 to cure up my pre-adolescent acne. I've never used Clinique again after that experience. These days, my acne's pretty much been beaten into submission -- however, I read the reviews of this and decided to try Clinique again. This is, as all the other say, .5% salicylic with aloe. I can't handle 2% concentrations of salicylic, and it's hard to find ones lower than this, so I was excited. This is a mild green liquid-gel that has no fragrance. No alcohol, no really harsh astringents. To me, this is the consistency of watered-down shampoo, not quite formed, but not water. Goes on easy, and dries fast on me. I have an oily t-zone with normal cheeks, and my nose has several of those deep, only-visible-up-close blackheads, and I hope this gets rid of them. Will update in a few days to see if this broke me out or wreaked any other havoc on my face.
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Shampoo -Nature's Gate - Tea Tree Oil Shampoo
just_like_gold 4/25/2006 6:23:00 PM
I have a lot of fine hair that tends to get oily if my shampoo is too heavy. All winter I used L'Occitane Olive Daily Shampoo and it worked great for my mildly dehydrated, easily-weighed-down hair. However, in the summer it's too much for me, because my roots get oilier. This is a blue opaque gel that smells like a rosemary mint blend. Feels cool and fresh, although I experience no tingle or coolness. I still wash my hair every day, because it's habitual, but I feel okay about using this so much because it lacks the harsh ingredients of normal shampoos. This is also convenient because the bottle is HUGE for the price - 18 ml for $6.00 - and I feel comfortable using a lot because it's not costing me anything. My hair always feels super clean and full of volume when I use this, and my boyfriend loves how my hair smells freshly washed. If your hair is oily and can't handle summer, try this out, I don't think you'll be disappointed. I got mine at GNC.
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Conditioner -Redken - Body Full
just_like_gold 4/25/2006 5:55:00 PM
I'm a strange candidate for this product. I have medium-textured hair, and a ton of it, but it has a tendency to get teenage-oily on me halfway through the day. I've currently switched shampoos in an effort to keep my hair from getting oily (winter shampoos screw with my hair in the summer) and am now using Nature's Gate Tea Tree Oil shampoo. I also needed a new, super lightweight conditioner to alternate with a medium conditioner. This has a creamy texture, kind of pearly, and has a strong herbal smell. I only leave it in ten seconds. It's a bit tough to comb out, but this keeps my hair from getting oily! Fantastic. I have noticed that after a few days I need to put some moisture back in, mostly because the shampoo I use is intentionally a little drying, and I'm thinking about getting the Aquage Equalizing Detangler for that purpose. This is really great for people with oily or flat hair, because NOTHING has ever kept my hair grease-free in the summer like this has. Will update if something changes.
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Sunscreen -Hawaiian Tropic - Oil Free Faces Bronzing Sunblock SPF 25 Sheer Reflections Formula
just_like_gold 4/22/2006 3:29:00 PM
Perhaps I am weird, but I use this on my body and not my face. On my face it looks a little too dark right now because my body is not tan. However, on bare arms or legs, this looks fantastic for a quick boost of color. In the summer I will probably use this on both face and body. I have used it on my face before, with no breakouts or excessive oiliness. This actually makes a great nighttime product too -- the SPF isn't really necessary, but the great slightly-shimmery bronze glow is great. I like the pump bottle, but it takes a lot of work to get it started. About $6 at Ulta, by the regular face sunscreens.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Body -Dove - Ultimate Clear Antiperspirant
just_like_gold 4/18/2006 10:47:00 PM
This is the best, and I feel proud to push this into the Top Ten -- it deserves its slot. I know natural deodorant is supposedly 'good for you', but you only live once and life is way too short to be smelly and wet. That said, I hate the large majority of anti-perspirants too-- Secret (in all forms) mixes with odor and smells like body fluid, Mitchum is sticky, Soft & Dri is not soft or dry, Arrid is crumbly, Degree is streaky like no other and Dove in general has absolutely no protection. If you have tried Dove before and hated it, you owe it to yourself to try this again. This bears no resemblance to a Dove deodorant. This is a solid clicky stick that is not crumbly. Goes on smooth after a shower, NO irritation (Dove is at least good at the non-irritation part). I have tested this for a full week in a variety of conditions before reviewing -- it can withstand a nervous wreck attack during a test, running around outside, sitting in a hot car, and going on a date. It doesn't streak up my black tops, or do so much as to even turn the armpits even a SLIGHT shade of gray-black. Absorbs fast, smells incredible (original clean is my scent of choice) and does not fade through an entire day. From shower to shower my underarms, previously a toxic wasteland only tamed by Certain-Dri, are as fresh as they were when I put it on. This works on all skins -- my sister's ultra-sensitive allergy skin, my mom's dry overshaved medeterranian skin, and my overactive teenage hormonal skin. You must try it. I cannot stress it enough. It took a few tries but Dove did this one right.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Olay - Moisture Therapy Cream- Sensitive Skin [DISCONTINUED]
just_like_gold 4/16/2006 1:44:00 PM
This is kind of a conditional review, however, I feel proud to push this great moisturizer into the highest-rated section of MUA Top Picks. This is a light-textured, fluffy white moisturizer in a jar. It has very little scent and is hypoallergenic, non-comodogenic, and made for sensitive skin. Moisturizers generally fail me because they get too oily or break me out really bad. While I've only just purchased this, and therefore am not sure if there will be problems, I really like it so far. It melts in really quickly and leave skin feeling soft, not full of residue. It's also only $6 at Wal-Mart. This is a fabulous day cream for those with sensitive, oily skin (see my notepad if you're like me), especially during the summer months when my L'occitane Olive Radiance is too heavy. Also, mix with Neutrogena Active sunscreen for a smoother-textured, better smelling sunblock/cream. DEFINITELY worth a try.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Matrix - Biolage - Detangling Solution
just_like_gold 4/15/2006 1:11:00 AM
I am very weirded out by the fact that this conditioner is blue. Other than that though, it's a good product. I use this in conjunction with L'occitane Olive Daily shampoo. My hair tends to get very oily in the summer and I needed a light conditioner for just the ends. This provides instant smoothness to my hair in the shower, and it makes it easier to comb. I also think it weighs down my hair less than the stuff I used previously. It doesn't really have a smell to it, a little earthy in the shower, but then.. nothing. It turns invisible. In a way I miss the afterscent of L'occitane Artemisia, but I can see how it's helpful to have a non-smelly conditioner when the weather's gross. I am giving this a heartfelt 5 for now, because it works, but if my hair reacts weird to it in the next few days then I will revise.
UPDATE 4/18/06: And then my hair reacted weird. I started to notice that it was getting weighed down, and a little too soft. Detanglers are supposed to be light, but apparently my hair is just too absorbant. My hair ended up getting heavy and greasy-looking after less than 24 hours and it didn't smell as fresh. Exchanged it for Redken Body Full, and hopefully that will be lighter.
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Makeup Brushes -Japonesque - Eye brush #230
just_like_gold 4/15/2006 12:52:00 AM
Best eyeshadow brush ever. I'm not into complicated eyeshadow at all, meaning I don't have separate brushes for lid/crease etc. This is perfect for me. I use this with BE Glimmers; I have four of them and had a very hard time applying them before I purchased this last summer with an Ulta coupon. The perfect size for an eyelid. Easy to clean, doesn't shed, supersoft squirrel hair that does not irritate my sensitive eyes. Picks up a ton of pigment. Plus, compared to other brushes, this one's cheap -- only about $16 regular price. Love love love love love.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Clinique - Cream Shaper for Eyes - Chocolate Lustre
just_like_gold 4/13/2006 7:56:00 PM
I don't like complicated eyeliner. I like to swipe, smudge a little, and go... no Fluidlines, no gels, nothing involving brushes. This is a great deep lustrous brown. I have medium brown hair, and huge deep brown eyes.. because of their hugeness, it makes black eyeliner sometimes look too harsh and too flat. This is a very wearable liner because it doesn't pull at all. Washes off easily with make-up remover. The only downside to this liner is that it's not retractable -- I love the ease of Quickliners, but they don't have the smooth, buttery texture of Cream Shapers. If Clinique bred the two they'd have the ultimate eyeliner, but I'm really happy with this one. I suggest everyone (even those without the need for a brown eyeliner, the other colors are extremely flattering as well) try these out just to witness the great texture.
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Bronzers -Physicians Formula - Solar Powder SPF 20 Bronzer
just_like_gold 4/13/2006 7:50:00 PM
Finally, a bronzer I LIKE. I've tried bronzers all the time. They just don't look right on me because I'm so pale. However, this is the most subtley beautiful bronzer ever. A lot of why I like this is because it buffs on very smoothly, and doesn't look like powder at all. It's a subtle, peachy-bronze glow with a very tiny amount of shimmer. This does NOT clog my pores or make me look dirty, and this comes from someone who has this problem with almost every bronzer. Beautiful color and texture. I use a regular blush brush instead of the one that comes with it. This is a cute bronzer as well, it has a pretty design and high-quality packaging. Runs about $11 at Target. This is truly a great product for pale people who don't want to look fake -- this is the antithesis of the orangeosity of most bronzers, drugstore or otherwise.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -MAC - Microfine Refinisher [DISCONTINUED]
just_like_gold 4/13/2006 7:21:00 PM
My skin is weird. It can peel, or it can be hormonal and oily. It can be red or it can be pale. It can do whatever it wants, whenever it wants, and it freaks out if the wrong concentration of something disturbs its precious balance. I cannot use scrubs, at all. St. Ives ruined my face, and most other scrubs are just a disaster for me. This, however, is great. It's a white grainy mixture, the consistency of sandy toothpaste. You don't need to use very much. My favorite way to use this is to put some in my hand before a shower, rub it in a tiny bit at a time (otherwise it feels a bit scratchy) and then rinse it off with a washcloth. After I use it, I'm not flaky, I don't break out, and my skin feels clean and bright. I follow with my regular face wash. This does a really good job of getting rid of all the skin junk that builds up -- I use it a few times a week. Its only downfall is the tiny tube -- however, I find myself using less of this than any other scrub. Can be found at any M•A•C store/counter.
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Shampoo -Johnson & Johnson - Baby Shampoo with Honey
just_like_gold 4/13/2006 6:20:00 PM
The right hair type can really benefit from this -- my sister, who itches her scalp constantly (she's 13) loves this because it doesn't irritate her. This, however, made my hair gross and weird. I have oily roots with dry ends (fabulous combo) and I ran out of the ONLY shampoo I love (L'Occitane Olive Daily) so I used hers in the shower. Bad, bad choice. Should've used a clarifier. This made my roots frizz out like no other, and my hair felt crunchy, like pieces of it were broken and flyaway. I generally have pretty nice hair and people definitely noticed that something was wrong with it. I'm very picky about my hair products and this just was not a good fit. I repurchased the one I like and will not use this ever again.
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Bronzers -Sexy Hair Concepts - Aero Tan
just_like_gold 4/10/2006 5:45:00 PM
There is a definite trick to using this, and it can turn out hideously bad if not done correctly. I tried to apply this in the morning on dry, unmoisturized skin and I sprayed it directly on. It turned out orange, and it turned out splotchy. I was very unhappy. However, I think I know how to do it now.
1. Spray it on your hands. This is the best way to avoid that heavy color deposit right where you spray it.
2. It can get dry, so have an unscented moisturizer on hand, and start mixing moisturizer in after you've applied the bronzer to your body (especially legs). This is useful for dulling out the color if you're pale (which I am) and also for mixing it around the ankles and such.
I hope this helps some of you who have bad results with this -- after altering my application a few times, I can get it to look like a very believable glow on my legs.. I can wear skirts without being orange or pale. It just takes the edge off. The bottle is pretty big if you're pale and don't need much, but it is rather costly. It can be found at the big Ulta stores with the sunscreen/tanners. This is a much better product than Sally Hansen's, and much less orange in color, plus it doesn't look like the 'hose' look (caused by Sally Hansen's being a bit too matte and powdery looking). Great spring product.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -L'Occitane - Amande Cleansing and Soothing Shower Oil
just_like_gold 4/10/2006 5:37:00 PM
This is a shower product I might actually stick with. Normally I get lazy with shower gels, and I get tired of squirting it on to a puff day after day... therefore I tend to switch quite often. Also, I hate how most shower gels have smells that don't linger -- especially when it actually smells good. This is different. It looks runny in the bottle, but it comes out thicker like canola oil, and then it turns into a lovely foam. The scent is actually quite strong in the shower, but it dims to a subtle pretty, comfortable, sexy scent that lingers forever. My boyfriend sniffed me all day before he asked me what it was that smelled so good. This is also perfect for leg shaving -- I have really sensitive legs that break out in red bumps constantly, even from shave cream, but this actually turned out fantastically smooth. I do love L'Occitane, and I love their vintage and classy packaging, so I don't mind supporting their little company -- It is pricey at $20 a bottle, and my L'Occitane products seem to go especially quick, but once you've tried this, you won't go back.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Neutrogena - Oil-Free Acne Wash Foam Cleanser
just_like_gold 4/2/2006 9:36:00 PM
Wow, I used this 4 years ago when I was in 6th grade, and I cannot for the life of me remember why. I had really concentrated t-zone acne that year (thankfully I got it out of the way young) and I used this twice a day. I remember that it stained all my white washcloths ORANGE. Ick. I don't think this fixed my face at all. What finally did is prescription cleanser. It's also really easy to waste this product cause so much comes out.
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