Treatments (Eye) -Garnier - Nutritionist Regenerating Eye cream
rvmc 7/16/2009 6:51:00 AM
Bah. How silly I was to buy this without reading the reviews. I didn't expect it to get rid of my undereye circles - genetic, have had them all my life - but I didn't expect it to make them WORSE! It pills horribly, it has a weird glittery sheen to it, and it irritated my eyes. And hooray, the hollows under my eyes are worse since using it. I'd used half the tube, hoping in vain it was something else causing them to worsen, but as soon as I stopped using this product they went back to how they were before (i.e. not as bad). Am using the rest of the tube on my dry elbows, and it seems to work ok on them, so if you've been dumb like me and bought this rubbish and still have some left - chuck it on your elbows. I'm going to sink in the cash to buy Trilogy eye cream. Should have bought it after the excellent results with the sample I had, but silly me, bought this tube of horror instead. To end it on a positive note: it comes in a nice tube. There ya go.
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Styling Products -SAMY - Straight Relaxing Creme
rvmc 6/27/2009 11:14:00 PM
As per the last review, this product is "eh". I use it on wet hair if I want to slick back an updo. Tried using it to blowdry+straighten but it really just does not work for me that way. Goes a bit like gel when you just apply it over an updo, but doesn't flake out at all. Packaging is good, pump gives a decent amount out, not too much, not too little. Easy to use. Maybe I'm using it wrong or something, but it certainly doesn't make my hair look like the website pictures. (Aside from the fact that I'm ugly and have the worst hair ever.)
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Treatments -SAMY - Beyond Repair Hair Masque
rvmc 6/27/2009 11:09:00 PM
To sum this product up in one word; "meh". It's not terrible but it's not fabulous. Cost $25NZ for the jar which is ok, and you don't need to use a lot so it's lasting a while. I'm not sure that it's repairing my hair at all - probably just coating the ends - but it does feel pretty nice afterwards, and considering I have the most horrible coarse hair ever, it's a step up. Not a fan of the jar. It's difficult to scoop it out while holding the lid while trying to not get water into it while putting it on your hair! Much prefer a bottle. Overall it's ok... don't expect a miracle, but if you've got only moderately damaged or coarse hair, it might be ok for you. Smells nice, suppose that's a plus.
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Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Benzac AC Wash
rvmc 6/21/2009 3:26:00 AM
Have been using this for about a month as I have terrific blackheads and new pimples every day. It's working very well with getting rid of the blackheads, and has started to reduce the size and number of pimples I get. It's very gentle despite the benzoyl peroxide, and has a mild exfoliating effect, which is very beneficial to reducing the blackheads. It does make my face rather tight but a light moisturiser does the job nicely. Overall very impressed and will be repurchasing for as long as I can. Luckily this is available on the shelf at the pharmacy in NZ and is not terribly costly. Awesome.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Neutrogena - Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 45 with Helioplex
rvmc 6/21/2009 3:19:00 AM
The thing which I was buying this for was the high SPF - not much of an ozone layer in NZ so it's pretty important. I was pleasantly surprised at the texture, which is smooth and easy to apply. The smell is nice. Goes on evenly and sinks in fast. Easy to apply makeup over, doesn't pill. Packaging is good too. Overall very impressed, will be repurchasing this for as long as I can =)
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Treatments -LUSH - h'suan wen hua conditioner
rvmc 6/7/2009 6:39:00 AM
I bought some of this because I figured my hair needed a bit of moisture. The ends have been tangling together a lot and I was hoping this would help. Wrong. The first thing I noticed about it when I got it home is that they must have had old stock on the shelves or something (without a reduced price) - because it said it expired two days after the day I'd bought it and was packed two months ago. Thanks guys. So I figured I may as well use the whole thing as it was due to expire anyway. Put it on, stuck a shower cap on, left it for two hours. Rinsed it out, shampooed, conditioned. Result: my hair felt like I'd put paint thinner through it. Smelt like the paint we used to use in preschool, the type you mix up from powder. Not a fantastic smell (which has lingered after four shampoos). Didn't do a single thing for my hair, and was a fantastic waste of money. I may as well have burnt $20. It was rubbish. I'm sick of Lush being so popular when it's overpriced garbage. It might be handmade but it's chock-full of parabens and SLS so it's nowhere near natural. Stuff this, I'm just going to put eggs on my hair next time, it's a damn sight cheaper and at least I know it works.
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Treatments -Trilogy - Age Proof Nutrient Plus Firming Serum
rvmc 6/3/2009 10:23:00 PM
I got a couple of samples of this product at the pharmacy when I bought the gel cleanser. A 5ml sample lasted about a month (using it morning and night) which certainly bodes well for it lasting a while. I've got an oily, blackhead-prone T-zone with normal cheeks. This serum didn't clog my pores at all and does give a lovely tight-but-not-too-tight feeling. I used it under my eyes as well as I have dark circles which seem to sink into my face a bit, and it even made them look a bit better! It's probably targeted at older people - I'm 24 - but I don't think there's really too early an age to start using things like this. Had a look at the packaging in the shop and it looks rather well made - like it won't fall apart and will dispense a good amount of the serum. Am going to purchase a bottle on payday after having such good results with the samples. Bonus points for being from the same city as me, nice to know the products I use come from a few kilometres away! **Edit: have been using this for a while now, and wow. It has improved my skin tone, doesn't clog my pores, and generally brightens up my face. Highly recommended!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Dr Lewinns - Puressence
rvmc 5/27/2009 4:33:00 AM
Skin type: oily t zone, normal cheeks. I wanted to like this stuff. It seemed like it would be the perfect thing for my skin-still can't shake the oiliness but am in my mid twenties so want to start thinking about age care. It smells strange, a lot like the intense citrus when someone is peeling an orange next to you. But, smell doesn't stop me using a product. The texture is quite light, and when you put it on your skin, it feels very strange, almost dry but oily, if that makes any sense at all. Unfortunately it seems to pill a lot even if you use the tiniest amount - and you need to use a lot anyway in order to cover your face as it doesn't spread very well. The pump bottle is quite nice, dispenses a decent amount of product without it going everywhere. Has one of those vacuum bases which lifts up as you use the product so you can use every bit of it. No SPF, which is pretty silly for something which is meant to help prevent ageing. Cost $NZ60 which is quite high for a moisturiser. Not terribly impressed with this, and still have a lot left... hmm.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Garnier - Clean Detox Anti-Dullness Foaming Gel
rvmc 5/27/2009 4:26:00 AM
Skin Type: oily T zone, normal cheeks. I wouldn't say this cleanser "detoxifies" skin at all, but it does a pretty good job at cleaning it without stripping it. Quite a strong fragrance but that doesn't really matter to me. The bottle is just a simple pump action, sturdy, easy to use. You don't need to use a lot so it lasts quite a while, and is very good value for money - about $NZ14 at the supermarket. Overall a pretty decent cleanser, just don't believe the "detox" part!
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Cleansers -LUSH - Angels on Bare Skin
rvmc 5/25/2009 3:58:00 AM
I prefer to use this as an exfoliant and then use a very gentle cleanser afterwards as I don't much like the slight film of oil. I generally mash some baking soda in for a little extra exfoliation. It's reasonably pricey in NZ too. Overall I suppose it's ok but nothing fantastic. Some of the oil leaked out from the paper when it was in my bag on the way home which wasn't too nice. I keep it in one of the black pots I had a fresh mask in, and that seems to work ok. Probably won't repurchase seeing as it's so expensive, I'll most likely go for Trilogy exfoliant next.
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Moisturizers -L'Oreal - Happyderm [DISCONTINUED]
rvmc 5/20/2009 10:34:00 PM
They seem to have discontinued this in NZ, because I haven't been able to find it anywhere for a while, which really disappoints me as I used to LOVE the stuff. Has a fantastic fragrance, didn't clog my pores, worked as well on the oily parts as the normal parts. I highly recommend this if you can get a hold of it as it's a very underrated moisturiser! Oh how I miss that little pink bottle :<
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Toners -Garnier - Synergie Pure Pore Purifying Astringent
rvmc 5/20/2009 10:31:00 PM
My skin is combination, oily t zone and normal cheeks. Pros: Does provide a rather cooling effect Kind of helps with minimising pores Reasonably cheap and lasts a long time You can feel your skin tightening a bit under it Cons: Very pungent smell Can sting quite a bit Overall it's not too bad. Not a fantastic wonder product (at least not for me), but not terrible either.
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Sunscreen -Neutrogena - Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 45 with Helioplex
rvmc 5/20/2009 10:28:00 PM
I like the fact that it's SPF45, especially in NZ where there's a distinct lack of ozone layer (you need to wear sunscreen even in the dark of winter). I've got combination skin (oily T zone, normal cheeks) and while it doesn't exactly "mattify", it doesn't make me too oily either. Price was ok, $NZ20, will probably stock up when they have it on special at the supermarket. Texture is good, pretty smooth application, doesn't really smell, and doesn't give that white cast that most sunscreens do. Packaging is good, a sleek tube with a screw cap, means it can't come open in your bag like flip tops can. Overall a pretty decent moisturiser with SPF, definitely worth a try.
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Skincare - Body -NADS - Hair Removal System - No-Heat Hair Removal Gel
rvmc 5/20/2009 10:23:00 PM
I want to start this by saying that if you want a professional wax job, then get one, don't expect it from a home kit. I bought this on special at the supermarket for $NZ20 having given up on the awful Veet plastic strip things. Followed the instructions, and it worked fine. Didn't need to microwave it at all. Spread a thin layer, patted it down, ripped it off, patted where I'd waxed to help with pain, voila. Took me a while to do my legs as I'm not an expert at doing it, but it certainly had good results, and it's a lot easier if you take a painkiller half an hour earlier! Tip for making it work better: Before waxing, wrap your legs in hot towels for a few minutes, then dry them off. Opens up the follicles and makes it considerably easier to wax. My only complaint is that they only give you ten cotton strips. Come on. I had to buy a separate pack of 25 extra strips to make it worthwhile.
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Scrubs -Unlisted Brand - brown sugar scrub
rvmc 5/20/2009 5:35:00 PM
I was disillusioned with the cost of facial exfoliants (even at the supermarket) and decided to go through the pantry instead. I mixed some brown sugar in a plastic container with a bit of foaming cleanser, mashed it up a bit, and scrubbed my face. Better than any "pre-made" exfoliant I've found, for sure. Considering $NZ3 of brown sugar would last you... uhm... six months or so... that's pretty frugal. And you don't need much cleanser either (alternatively you could use olive oil to mix with it). I've found is it's useful to do the following: -Use a gentle facecloth to remove it from your face -Don't press too hard when scrubbing -If you have combination T zone like me you will benefit from cleansing your T zone separately afterwards. I like to use Trilogy balancing gel cleanser for this. PROS: Dirt cheap Can be used on face and body Completely natural Washes away cleanly Non-toxic CONS: ...?
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No