Lotions/ Creams -Curel - Curel Continous Comfort Lotion Fragrance Free
toyarosie 2/8/2010 8:56:00 AM
Although I am still keeping an eye out for a lotion that doesn't contain petroleum, I have to admit I do like this product. It absorbs nicely and leaves my skin fairly moisturized. It doesn't bother my eczema at all, which is my main concern. It's not my HG but I just repurchased another bottle so it's definitely fitting the bill for now!
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Cleansers -L'Oreal - Skin Genesis Deep Purifying Foaming Cream Cleanser
toyarosie 1/13/2010 7:40:00 PM
Ok, I sort of love this product. It's been exactly a week that I've had this now and my skin looks great! I actually think the smell is nice, I don't find it too strong at all. I have ezcema - although my face is less sensitive than my body - and I haven't had any irritation issues. AND it's been a very very cold week, and my skin doesn't feel drier at all from using this, which is actually sort of odd since it has the clay in it. In any case...This cleanser makes my skin feel wonderful, and I can visibly see the difference - it looks smoother and has that youthful glow you always see in the ads (where they use an 18 year old to promote a product that promises youthful results - go figure). I know that at 27 and a nonsmoker/avid sunscreen user, I should have fairly radiant skin anyway, and for the most part it's not too bad...but I really notice I've got that 'lit from within' thing going on ever since I have been using this product. It really does reveal 'fresher' skin, as it states! The actually physical scrub component is very very gentle, IMO, but just enough to feel like it's not useless. I don't find the wash stings or tingles at all when I use it, and it rinses away well. I use Cetaphil over my entire face first just to essentially remove my makeup, before using this (avoiding the eye area). Rinse, et voila! Clear, soft, smooth skin! I had planned on buying the Microdelivery wash that Philosophy has, but this is MUCH cheaper and I'm sure works every bit as well! Definitely a repurchase, and in terms of skincare, that's saying something, because I'm always off hunting for something better :)
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Eye Shadow -NARS - Habanera Duo
toyarosie 1/5/2010 8:00:00 PM
Sadly, I am not a fan of this product as many other reviewers are. I should have tried it on before buying it, but I am friendly with the SA at my local NARS counter so I trusted his opinion. I really like the shimmering purply shade of this duo, although like the previous reviewer mentioned, it isn't easy to blend and the color payoff isn't ideal. But it gives a nice subtle smoky look nonetheless. My real issue is with the highly metallic pale aqua shade - I cannot figure out how to wear this for the life of me. I apply it soft, heavy, well-blended - but it just isn't for me (and my skintone). It definitely has that 80's feel for sure. I am going to try it in my inner corners and see how that pans out...but to spend $15 (one half) for a rare inner highlight...just not worth it, for me. A shame, since this is my first NARS shadow too! Note: Whoever put up their picture for this product, is a genius - your picture was what sold me on this product in the first place! Unfortunate that I can't replicate your look :) EDIT: Ok, so I tried the inner highlight - not bad, certainly created some interest in what could be a regular old smoky eye - however, I tried it layered over an electric blue shadow last night and YOW! Totally awesome. It gave it a great iridescence that made my eyes totally pop. I'm not giving up on this duo yet! Up to 4 lippies :)
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Mascara -Maybelline - Volum Express Mascara
toyarosie 12/15/2009 4:14:00 PM
This is one of those products that is sort of wishy-washy...I don't have any problems with it - it doesn't smudge, applies extremely easily, and gives my lashes some length and a bit of volume, but overall it really doesn't do anything outstanding. For $7.99 on sale, I don't care, but I don't think I would repurchase. As most of you fine ladies, we are always on the hunt for a great mascara, and while this one is good, that's about all it is - just good. Ho hum. Edit: Ok, this has turned from just ok to pretty crappy, pretty quick. Clumps galore! I tried rinsing the brush out completely and starting fresh but no dice. What a waste.
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Eye Shadow -Bobbi Brown - Chrome Eyeshadow in Pewter
toyarosie 12/15/2009 4:10:00 PM
Fab color! I find silver is a very difficult shade for me to wear, but because this isn't a true silver shade (obviously - it's pewter!) it looks AMAZING on my caramel complexion. I just bought this yesterday and so I have only worn it once, but I know I am going to get tons of use out of it. You can wear it with just black liner and mascara, or use it additionally with just about any other shade(s). The wear on it wasn't perfect, I found after 5 hours it had faded, but I think if you either a) use UDPP or b) applied it wet it would be perfect. BTW applying it wet makes it very metallic so better for evening, but so gorgeous! It's $26CDN but it is such a huge shadow so I think it was a fair value. And the packaging is hot :) If I ever needed to buy it again, I would!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Clarins - Sun Wrinkle Control Eye Contour Care SPF 30
toyarosie 11/25/2009 9:22:00 AM
This is a great product! I have been using it for a while now and just realized that I haven't written a review. It in one of the few products I have that I know I will continue to purchase over and over. It is undervalued in my arsenal, but that is because it is just too easy! It has a high SPF, it NEVER irritates my eyes, and it absorbs quickly and easily (does not affect my makeup application whatsoever). It's also got that whitish cast from the SPF which actually lightens under my dark eye area. It's a no-brainer and I hardly have to think at all when applying. And it's actually a fair price - I think I paid $35 CDN with tax and have been using it since May. I am sure that I will have it for a year; it *might* be half gone. And because the bottle can be stored upside down, I never have any problems getting it out of the tube. I have absolutely nothing negative to say!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Stila - Gumdrop Lip Glaze
toyarosie 11/6/2009 8:38:00 AM
Although I'm not a huge fan of the lip glaze products, I love this one! It is a great color on my AA caramel coloring, bubblegum pink but not too cool-toned, and smells like cotton candy - so delicious! Good staying power, not too sticky (although I find with the glazes that you have to use a fair bit of product, or layer, because otherwise it feels a bit glue-y). One other thing that irks me about the glazes is the applicator and click-up mechanism - arrgh! When will companies realize that this method sucks? You click forever before anything comes out, and when you do it too much, it glops everywhere. Yuk.
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Lip Gloss -MAC - Chromeglass in Prize Shine
toyarosie 11/6/2009 8:07:00 AM
I hate to say 'no' to repurchasing this product, but the fact is, it's not the most wearable color ever (metallic medium purple shade with a hint of pink - very cool-toned). I know it's discontinued so writing a review is somewhat useless, but it's such an interesting product I couldn't resist. When it came out, they had an AA model wearing it, full-on (which is a feat as it's very opaque and very intense!), and it looked amazing! I am also AA so I snapped it up, thinking it would be great to wear out at night etc. However, I found no matter how I wore it, it looked garish and scary. I went back to my local MAC counter, and they suggested I tone it down with a pale nude gloss - Plushglass in Wildly Lush, in my case. Boom, it looked HOT. It gave just a hint of purple which looked really pretty and showed up awesome in pictures. I wore that combo OUT...but as the case was, I used more Lush than the Prize Shine, so when that was gone, I stopped using the Chromeglass once again. Every so often I would pull it out and try to work with it (it really is a unique product) but was mainly unsuccessful. However - today I was in a mood, and I tried yet again to find a good combo within in my stash, and lo and behold - dabbed on the lips and topped with Stila's Lip Glaze in Gumdrop - yes!! It's snowing today and so the cool-tones look perfect. I'll be rockin' this out all Winter :)
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Cleansers -Bioderma - Sebium H2O
toyarosie 10/29/2009 11:00:00 AM
I said 'yes' to buying this product again, but I am unsure...I just can't get used to the fact that somehow, it truly is cleaning my skin by just swiping a cotton pad over it! I haven't had any issues with breakouts AT ALL and I've been using it for several months now, so I guess it's working. I think it's mainly psychological. However, if I use a toner afterward, there is still residue showing on the cotton pad, so I'm not sure that it's cleaning the skin entirely? But as I said, I haven't been having problems so my concerns aren't exactly justified. One other thing, I don't like using this on my eyes. It doesn't irritate my eyes themselves, but I have to rub a bit to get all the mascara off, so I do feel a slight bit raw around the eye area afterward. Usually I use something to get most of the makeup off around my eyes first.
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Scrubs -Ren - Guerande Salt Exfoliating Body Balm
toyarosie 10/13/2009 8:03:00 PM
I hate to mark that I wouldn't purchase this product again - I want to note that first because I think many people will LOVE this balm, it's just that for me with my ezcema, its a bit too much. Very unfortunately, because I think otherwise its a fantastic scrub. My skin feels ridiculously smooth and moisturzied after use (definitely follow the instructions and use dry before getting wet in the shower/bath). I don't find it that messy, it rinses well off the skin, and it doesn't make my tub too slippery. I do notice that I have to use a fair bit each time, so if I were an avid exfoliator (which I cannot be due to my ezcema), I don't think it would last too long. I've had it for a month and a bit now and I'm already well through have the jar - and that's only using it once a week at most. At $37US that's not extremely cost effective. But admittedly, if I were able to use it more frequently and not have any issues, I'd probably pay the cash, because overall its a wonderful scrub, far superior to others I've tried!
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Polishes -OPI - Here Today ... Aragon Tomorrow
toyarosie 9/28/2009 9:14:00 PM
As others have commented, tricky first coat, which is odd for OPI. I like the look of 3 coats so that there isn't any transparency. Overall, however, I'm not a huge fan of this polish. It's ok, not gross-looking, but not really 'attractive' either. Or even fun so that you don't care that it's not pretty. I've got a caramel-colored complexion so I thought it would be really comlimentary, but not so much. I'm using it often to use it up because I suspect this green craze won't last long and then it'll be a waste. But I would suggest trying out one of the multitude of other fabulous shades out there this season and give this one a pass.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Eucerin - Calming Creme Daily moisturizer
toyarosie 9/25/2009 11:31:00 AM
This product is pretty good...although I wonder if I'm not the right kind of person to use it, because I don't find it a miracle worker on my skin or anything. I think it's probably a lifesaver for those with dry skin. I have ezcema so that's why I wanted to try it, and at least in that regard it's pretty effective - its unscented (necessary) and hydrates well, except I still get dry patches on my elbows. I think the trick with this product is to use it right after the shower/bath, because it does contain mineral oil which will lock the moisture OUT of your skin otherwise. So I'm not totally gaga over the product but I will still give it 4 stars because it essentially does exactly what I bought it for - provides moisturization without being greasy, and doesn't irritate my sensitive skin. Oh, one thing I don't like is the flip-top cap - only because it sticks!! It can be quite difficult to open :S
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Lotions/ Creams -Bath and Body Works - Tough Love
toyarosie 9/8/2009 12:14:00 PM
Interesting that there are so few reviews of this product...anyway, you aren't missing anything!! This product is essentially useless. I only purchased it because they were out of the Heel of Approval and I wanted to take advantage of the 2 for $20 deal. I figured this would be similar just not as moisturizing. Unfortunately, it's not even that good. I don't find it exfoliates whatsoever, and while I don't think it smells as bad as the other reviewer mentions, it definitely doesn't smell good. I wouldn't be as concerned if it worked, since it's on my feet, but it just adds to the major 'crap' factor of this product. It truly doesn't do anything. It's extremely fluid so it pours out of the tube far to quickly, and doesn't moisturize or exfoliate or do anything at all. What a WASTE!
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Treatments -Biosilk - Silk Therapy
toyarosie 9/8/2009 12:08:00 PM
Not really diggin' this product...I have a feeling it is more useful for those who blowdry their hair and/or straighten it - which I do not. I imagined it to be like most other serums that would just tame frizzies, add shine and keep hair soft and smooth. However, I find it makes my super curly hair feel tangled and dry. It works better if I mix it with some styling lotion in my hand first before application, but still nothing great, or even good. It does help keep my styling products from making my hair crunchy, slightly, but that is not enough of a WOW factor to change my opinion of the product. And I'm not really a fan of the smell either - which wouldn't matter if the product worked, but it doesn't. Boo!
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Conditioner -Victoria's Secret - So Sexy Nourishing Conditioner
toyarosie 9/6/2009 7:45:00 PM
OH GOD, this product....it's a real shame, I think if it didn't have the most overpowering floral scent EVER, I might actually really like it (really thick and moisturizes well)...However, I can't stand the smell, it makes me feel ill every time I use it. I've taken to holding my breath in the shower when it comes time to apply - which I always leave for last because the scent lingers something fierce. Everyone else has commented on how great it smell which baffles me because I find it revolting! Like cheap floral perfume, but much stronger. Ugh. I knew better when I smelled it in the bottle but I thought 'How can so many MUA'ers love the scent? Maybe it smells better out of the bottle.' Um, no, it smells worse. I tried to return it but no luck. Now I'm trying to pawn it off on my friends. I guess I'm just one of the only not a fan :(
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