Conditioner -Alterna - Caviar Age Protectant Conditioner
jferrarese 1/21/2008 2:37:00 AM
I love this conditioner (officially Anti-aging Moisturizing Conditioner)! I've been hedging for a long time now whether I should buy or not and luckily received a shampoo/conditioner free sample. The second I opened the shampoo sample pack under the shower, I fell in love with the smell! I can't sell the smell, though, because every person gravitates to different smells. I prefer the soapy, fresh, light "green" and "aqua" type smells so this shampoo did it for me. The shampoo works great and then there is this. I put it on and my hair instantly gets "slick" as it should once a conditioner is added. I tend to leave it on for several minutes while I go about my business in the shower and when I rinse, my hair has a nearly slippery feel. It's incredibly easy to comb out and this conditioner really helps me deal with the frizzies. As a previous reviewer mentioned, my colour treated hair feels like virgin hair after using the shampoo/conditioner duo. I'm happy about the lack of sulfates in this product and after several uses I'm noticing not only a difference in my hair but in my scalp. I have a tendency to get flaky - it's not dandruff but I have a very delicate scalp that dries out easily and "gets angry" at hair products, including conditioners, very easily. Well, apparently this doesn't upset it and I've noticed a better scalp as well. Even my husband has started using this conditioner - and he never uses conditioner. I see a difference in his hair too. Normally it's rather "course feeling" but now it's silky smooth and not bristle-like at all. He needs hardly any product afterwards as it also helps him control the "frizzies". I'll be buying the 1 litre size when this 8 oz bottle is finished! Please note: I'm switch to Fekkai Technician every 3 shampoos or so in order to keep the product working. Just FYI. UPDATE March 08: I've stopped alternating altogether. I love this conditioner (and shampoo) and I love what it does to my hair. I've never had it so easy with my hair - which is thick, long, colour treated and wavy with a strong tendency to go frizzy on me. What is most exceptional about this is my scalp health - that is tremendous at this time. I suffered from dry scalp and would flake or get what mimicked an allergic reaction after colouring my hair (very red, angry, itchy and after a day would start peeling - like after a sunburn). That's all gone. It really is amazing because I've tried everything out there and nothing did the trick. Fekkai was the closest but after this stuff, Fekkai feels like I'm using drugstore stuff.
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Shampoo -Alterna - Alterna Age Free Caviar Shampoo
jferrarese 1/21/2008 2:30:00 AM
I love this shampoo! I've been hedging for a long time now whether I should buy or not and luckily received a shampoo/conditioner free sample. The second I opened the sample pack under the shower, I fell in love with the smell! I think that's the hardest sell to make in the review, because every person gravitates to different smells. I prefer the soapy, fresh, light "green" and "aqua" type smells so this shampoo did it for me. Then the washing...it suds up nicely and rinses well. The proof is in the results, my hair is baby soft and just simply lovely and shiny. I have chemically treated hair but it's not fried, this will keep it that way. I'm happy about the lack of sulfates in this product and after several uses I'm noticing not only a difference in my hair but in my scalp. I have a tendency to get flaky - it's not dandruff but I have a very delicate scalp that dries out easily and "gets angry" at hair products, including shampoos, very easily. Well, apparently this doesn't upset it and I've noticed a better scalp as well. It's so nice, in fact, that my husband is now using it too - and it's rare that he ever "steals" my stuff! I'll be buying the 1 litre size when this 8 oz bottle is finished! Do note: I'm switching to Fekkai Technician every 3 shampoos or so in order to keep the product working. Just FYI. UPDATE March 08: I've stopped alternating altogether. I love this shampoo and I love what it does to my hair. I've never had it so easy with my hair - which is thick, long, colour treated and wavy with a strong tendency to go frizzy on me. What is most exceptional about this shampoo is my scalp health - that is tremendous at this time. I suffered from dry scalp and would flake or get what mimicked an allergic reaction after colouring my hair (very red, angry, itchy and after a day would start peeling - like after a sunburn). That's all gone. It really is amazing because I've tried everything out there and nothing did the trick. Fekkai was the closest but after this stuff, Fekkai feels like I'm using drugstore shampoo.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -MD Forte - Facial Lotion II
jferrarese 11/24/2007 2:46:00 PM
Great product and has helped with my hormonal breakouts. Due to a massive shift caused by medication, my skin went from porcelain perfect to something resembling an angry teenager's. I got oily and blotchy and had pimples all over. This helped settle my skin w/i 2 weeks time. A few weeks later, there's a pimple here/there but you see it getting better on a daily basis. I could only hope it went faster but skin needs time to renew. This product isn't really a lotion. It's more like a serum. I put a moisturizing product on top. There is no other way. You need moisture with this. Packaging, as others mention, is rather cheap but sturdy. I don't care - it's about the content as I keep it in a drawer. But ok, it's definitely not counter top worthy.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -MD Forte - Facial Cleanser II
jferrarese 11/24/2007 2:41:00 PM
As with previous reviewers, I'm really impressed with this cleanser. Previous a great fan of Dermalogica's Special Cleansing Gel, my skin got wonky due to hormonal changes and I needed something to help with aging, acne and general skin dullness. After about 2 weeks, I see an enormous difference. I realise that this will continue until I'm 6 months on before I can truly judge the efficacy of this product. But that said, I feel as if "I got my old skin back." The texture is better and is easier to clean - there are way fewer breakouts. It's a keeper. As to the packaging, it is kind of ugly. But I don't care - I'm buying the product. If you really hate it, you can decant it into something else. For me, it's fine as it is stored inside a drawer. It is sturdy but very cheap looking. Total price - reasonable for what you get. A little goes a LONG way.
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Hair Styling Tools -GHD - IV Styler (all sizes)
jferrarese 11/14/2007 2:14:00 PM
I agree with the others...this is in fact the HG of stylers. It straightens, waves, curls, flicks...just be patient and learn how. Some techniques are easier than others. I've been using straighteners forever...first the metal, then the ceramic, finally the T3 Tourmaline and decided to splash out on this one as the T3 really only straightened (it was the 1 3/4"one). I was worried about the power of a 1" on my hair, which is long (bottom of shoulder blades) and thick, and unfortunately, at time, very frizzy. But I honestly wanted something that would straighten and curl AND have dual voltage so that I could travel and this seemed to fit the bill. And did it ever. Pulling it out of the box I was disappointed - I don't know, maybe I had raised expectations - it was just a small sized styler. Brief detour: this is usually the reaction I have with ALL my favorite things. Anyway, of course I used it that same evening - how could I not. And it was love...and it still is. What does this do - everything. It really curls or just "lifts" at the roots to give volume when you straighten. It straightens beautifully and because of it's shape, you can add a flick or curl on the end which will give you a similar result as when you get your hair blown out by a professional with a big round barrel brush. I've even gotten it to a science. This takes me approx. 10 minutes and my hair is "out of the salon" perfect. I even let it dry naturally and this styler whips it into shape in no time. One of the best investments I've ever made.
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Dutch Tulips
jferrarese 8/26/2007 10:25:00 AM
Love this colour - like the rest said: perfect, juicy mix of red and pink. This is a year-round favourite and just the thing if you are looking for a "neutral" or classic red or pink. You can wear it with any colour and it looks great on toes but also good on the hands, w/o being garish. A great fresh hue.
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Mascara -Yves Saint Laurent - Everlong
jferrarese 8/12/2007 12:17:00 PM
I love it! My HG is/was Chanel's Inimitable. Then I tried this...long, gorgeous. Almost falsies. Beautiful package and the black is very deep w/o being shocking. The jury is still out but I can easily see me alternating with Chanel if not replacing it altogether. If the "treatment" element really works (I've got to give it time yet), that will put this mascara over the top and into the HG book. EDIT: Still loving it BUT it does tend to dry out quickly - I know you're supposed to chuck mascara every three months (at the least) but by the 3rd month, this mascara is dry. I get that with cheaper mascaras as well - thus it doesn't go on as "lush." Chanel doesn't have that problem...
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Skincare -Dermanew - Total Body Experience
jferrarese 7/22/2007 8:05:00 AM
I agree with the previous review - doesn't do much, certainly not for the price. I wanted to love it and gave it a chance. It was rubbish, broke me out and I didn't find it was worth the hefty price tag. At the highest speed it is nearly impossible to hold, it vibrates in such a weird way that it numbs your hands or causes pins & needles so I couldn't proceed long enough at that setting. All in all, a waste of money. I'm sorry I ever purchased this.
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Hair -Oscar Blandi - Crema Hair Balm
jferrarese 7/22/2007 8:01:00 AM
It's a toss-up. In the beginning, I LOVED this product; it smelled great and worked well. Then I started using in continuously, not alternating with Fekkai's Technician, bought my second set of bottles (both shampoo/conditioner) and now...I'm less thrilled. Seems to work less well now. Still, I love the smell and how soft it left my hair - can't say anything about frizz because I don't blow dry my hair but rather let it dry naturally and then use a straightener so it's not evident. The frizz is more than with the Fekkai Technician, however. UPDATE: 4 months later and I'm even less in love. I was already borderline when I reviewed (after falling deeply in love with this conditioner - and it's partner shampoo)...now I'm having the hubby finish the bottle (and that should say it all). What I still LOVE is the smell, but it just doesn't leave my hair as baby soft as Fekkai Technician. Technician is still the HG...you sometimes stray only to find out you had it good to begin with! So I'm taking away one lippie and giving it only 3...
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Masks -Bliss Labs - Steep Clean
jferrarese 3/17/2007 3:03:00 AM
I agree with the previous review. It is very expensive, doesn't come out of the tube as it should, smells fantastic (so much so that I actually wanted to like it), but doesn't do a thing. Save your money for something that is worth the hefty price tag!
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Shampoo -Frederic Fekkai - Technician Shampoo for Dry Hair
jferrarese 11/25/2006 3:33:00 AM
I've strayed and tried other products but this is by far the best. It just is. Period. I love the smell, the results, everything about this product but the price. That said, you don't need a lot of product to get the job done nor does Fekkai recomment lather rinse repeat. Just lather and rinse. So you do use less product and it goes a long way.
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Shampoo -Frederic Fekkai - Protein Rx Reparative Shampoo
jferrarese 11/25/2006 3:31:00 AM
Love the results - smooth, soft hair with little frizz. Not crazy about the smell - very tropical and it LINGERS. Despite that drawback I continue to use it (alternating with technician from FF), because of the results. Enough said.
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Conditioner -Frederic Fekkai - Protein Rx Reparative Conditioner
jferrarese 11/25/2006 3:29:00 AM
I alternate between this and the Technician. This is a very good conditioner that leaves my hair silky soft and smooth and which helps my hair break less as well. My only "peeve" is the smell, it's not bad but it's just not my style. Smells all tropical, pina colada-like and I'm not a fan of that family of smells. Despite that I continue to use it but if you are really not a fan of this warm type of smell you might want to consider using something else because it lingers well into the next day. But if you love it, great; this stuff really leaves your hair perfumed.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Frederic Fekkai - Technician Conditioner for Dry Hair
jferrarese 11/25/2006 3:25:00 AM
I love this conditioner. The smell, the results...I'm prone to frizzies and this really controls them - I notice the difference between this and any other conditioner I've used so far when I let my hair dry naturally. It dries smooth and silky instead of looking like I stuck my finger in a socket (which my hair unfortunately can look like using the wrong product).
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Treatments -Dr. Sebagh - Pure Vitamin C powder cream
jferrarese 10/28/2006 7:00:00 AM
The jury is still out on this one. I first bought the Dr Sebagh First Experience set and initially liked the Vitamin C powder enough to repurchase full size. Moving forward...I don't know. I'm not entirely convinced that this is doing much for me and it's expensive enough that I should be noticing. Sometimes I think it's possible that I"m not using enough product but it's hard to tell because the packaging is rubbish and dosing is difficult. I prefer the SkinMedica Vitamin C Complex, which til now is superior to all I've tried. If it ain't broke don't fix it - I had an itch to try something new. It's ok but I'm going back to what worked. EDIT: I gave up altogether on this product. Despite its high price, I ended up chucking the last vial of C in the trash because I was just lying around unused. This isn't a product that was effective for me, and certainly not for the price! I had much better luck with the SkinMedica C product and Skinceuticals CE Ferulic and Phloretin products (Phloretin - I'm loving it!).
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No