Moisturizers -Neutrogena - Oil Free Moisture - SPF 15
shalashaska 8/5/2009 1:52:00 AM
Oil-free? If you say so, Neutrogena. I bought this moisturizer specifically because it was oil-free. I have oily skin, and it's difficult to find a moisturizer with SPF that doesn't make me look shiny. Sadly, this moisturizer made me look shinier than ever before. I imagine that it would be okay for people with dry skin, but it's definitely a mistake for oily-skinned people like me to buy this. Unfortunately, I got it from CVS, which means I payed more than I ought to have. For a while, I thought I'd continue using it just so that it wouldn't go to waste, but it actually makes me look SO bad that I had to switch to Olay.
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Lipstick -Prestige - Pink Sands
shalashaska 8/5/2009 1:40:00 AM
I'm very picky when it comes to lipstick, so it's pretty rare for me to like a lipstick as much as I do this particular one. It's definitely pink, but it's muted enough that it actually looks rather natural on my olive-toned skin. I'm also very impressed by how well the colored portion of the tube actually represents the color inside. Furthermore, it has excellent staying power. It lasts through breakfast, lunch, and my eight-hour work day, which I think is pretty impressive. I can't think of anything negative to say about it; I'm definitely glad to have purchased this.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Clinique - Long Last Lipstick - Beauty
shalashaska 8/5/2009 1:29:00 AM
I feel like I've been struggling to find what I consider to be my perfect lipstick color for years, and this is it. It's very natural-looking on my lips -- more of a light coral color than a pink. I was kind of skeptical when I looked at it in the tube, so I was very pleasantly surprised when I tried it on. The staying power is not great, but it's mainly the color that made me fall in love with this lipstick. I will continue to use this lipstick until I can find a similar color in a longer-lasting lip product.
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Other -Ulta - Ulta- whole store
shalashaska 8/5/2009 12:12:00 AM
Today, after my last ever trip to Ulta, I filled out their online survey where I said I would not recommend their store to anyone, so the purpose of this review is to fulfill that promise. I recommend you don't go to Ulta. I don't have anything new to say about Ulta, I suppose. They do have a wide selection of products, but I don't quite understand why everything is so overpriced. Unless I need something obscure, I generally won't go there, as I can find the same products at other stores for less money. My biggest gripe with this store has to do with customer service. It's ranged from average to the worst customer service I've ever had. I've sometimes felt hurt and offended by the responses from employees in this store if I ask for products that they don't know about (which apparently means they're awful products) or for whatever reason don't approve of. I don't even want to go into specifics because it's just too annoying to think about.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Redken - Smooth Down Heat Glide ] [DISCONTINUED]
shalashaska 7/30/2009 4:53:00 PM
I can't understand why this product has gotten such rave reviews. It does help to control frizz, but only because it forms a protective helmet of sludge on my hair that neither humidity nor a jackhammer could penetrate. This stuff is disgusting -- it leaves my hair looking greasy, but it is hard to the touch. It's really difficult to work through my hair because it's so goopy, so I get little puddles that form in the spots where I initially apply it. My hair looks worse after using this product, and the fact that it's expensive adds to my disappointment.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Deodorants -Unlisted Brand - Degree Clinical Protection
shalashaska 7/15/2009 4:44:00 PM
I would have been better off keeping my $9 and stuffing the bills under my armpits to keep my clothing dry. This product stopped my sweating the first day that I used it, but it has not worked for me since then. It also did nothing to prevent odor even the first time I used it, and I have never had a problem with underarm odor with any deodorant. I have used deodorants that do not boast "clinical-strength" and do a much better job keeping me smelling fresh than this product did. It also tends to leak, and the fluid that seeps out of it is greasy and unpleasant, so you may want to hang onto the box it comes in so that you can use it to protect your furniture, travel bags, etc.
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Concealers -Almay - Bright Eyes Eye Base + Concealer
shalashaska 7/15/2009 4:05:00 PM
I bought this in order to cover dark circles under my eyes. At the very least, this product does accomplish that much. However, I will never buy it again. It looks very cakey and settles into the fine lines under my eyes. I find that I have to adjust it periodically throughout the day to keep it from looking grimy, and the skin around the eyes is just too sensitive for that kind of repeated contact. It's not so awful that I won't continue to use it until it runs out, but after that, this product and I are history.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Burt's Bees - Very Volumizing Pomegranate & Soy Shampoo
shalashaska 7/15/2009 3:54:00 PM
This may be the best-smelling shampoo I have ever used, but unfortunately, that is the only positive thing I can say about it. It was nearly impossible to work up a lather with this shampoo, and as a result, it was very difficult to work it through my hair. My hair felt extremely knotted after using it, and I was not very confident as to how well it was cleaning my hair because it was so difficult to use. It took nearly a hand-full to get the right amount of shampoo for washing, and at that rate, I went through the bottle very quickly. As far as how my hair looked -- I wouldn't say that it was especially good or bad. It certainly did not do anything to add volume. I generally like Burt's Bees products, so this was a disappointment.
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Shampoo -Unlisted Brand - Naked Naturals Shea Butter and Avocado Smoothing
shalashaska 7/15/2009 3:48:00 PM
I bought this shampoo because I wanted to try something without any of the harsh chemicals that strip hair of its natural oils. Many other sulfate-free shampoos I've used do not work up a very good lather. I expected the same from this shampoo the first time that I used it, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that it did work up a good lather and was easy to work through my hair. This did not make my hair, which is already dry and frizzy from heat styling, dry and dull as it did for some others. My hair was very smooth after using it, and I've actually gotten a lot of compliments since switching to this shampoo. My hair still has room for improvement, but overall, I'm pleased with this product.
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Scrubs -Burt's Bees - Peach and Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub
shalashaska 7/15/2009 3:37:00 PM
I really like this scrub. The little particles are very hard indeed, which may irritate those with sensitive skin, but I don't find it at all harsh on my skin. It works better at removing makeup than the other scrubs I've used, and if I use an astringent or toner after this scrub, there is rarely any foundation left for them to remove. It does leave an odd film behind after use, which makes it seem that it is difficult to wash off. To me, it feels especially moisturizing, though, so I don't mind. It hasn't done anything for my blackheads and blemishes that puts it head-and-shoulders above other scrubs, but it doesn't contain any sulfates, which is something I do like about this product.
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Mascara -Maybelline - Full 'N Soft Mascara 
shalashaska 7/15/2009 3:16:00 PM
I have long, dark, and full lashes to begin with, so I bought this mascara looking for something that would seem natural but just help my lashes pop when I'm wearing eye shadow. It definitely keeps my lashes "soft," not flakey or cakey. It doesn't, however, make them any fuller. That doesn't bother me, but those who are looking for more dramatic eyelashes may want to skip this product. It does, on the other hand, lengthen my lashes quite a bit, actually, which can make already long lashes look spidery, so I find I don't need to use very much of it to get it to look right. I think this product is better used for achieving length than volume. *** I had to edit this review to say that I don't use this mascara anymore because it has begun to irritate my eyes. My eyes are itchy and watery on the days I wear it, and it doesn't look good enough to justify the discomfort, so I'd rather have bare lashes. On the plus side, even though I don't use the waterproof version, it doesn't get smudgy and messy as my eyes water. ***
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Masks -Queen Helene - Mint Julep Masque
shalashaska 7/15/2009 2:58:00 PM
I was actually surprised by how well this worked. I have an excessive amount of blackheads on my nose, and I've never been able to find anything that made a noticeable difference. This product helped in a way that no other has, but it by no means worked any miracles. I still have quite a few blackheads, but there are not nearly as many as there were before using this. It did nothing for my pimple, but that's not what I bought it for anyway. It has a nice minty smell, and I like the cool, tingly feeling of it on my skin. I wish it didn't contain any parabens, but for $4, it's a decent purchase.
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