Toners -Biotherm - Biosource Softening Toner Alcohol Free
swampbird 3/30/2006 4:15:00 PM
excellent everyday toner! gentle, slightly moisturizing, and alcohol-free (non-drying). makes your skin feel clean and fresh, not tight or dry. i got the enormous pump bottle, so it was actually quite cheap for the amount i got!
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Moisturizers -Biotherm - Aquasource Non Stop (combination skin)
swampbird 3/30/2006 4:02:00 PM
i don't see the point of this. it's so "light" it hardly does anything. the alcohol makes the gel dry instantly, leaving your face dry too. =( also, the L'Oreal Hydrafresh moisturizer is almost exactly the same (they're made by the same company) and about a third the price.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Biotherm - Aquasource Non Stop (Dry Skin)
swampbird 3/30/2006 3:56:00 PM
this is my favorite moisturizer for winter! i have combination skin that's quite oily at times, but also flaky in the winter. =( this is the perfect solution. light, not greasy, but also very moisturizing where you need it. love the fresh scent, but not the icky pot. wish they'd make a pump version!
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Cleansers -Biotherm - Biosource Softening Cleansing Foam
swampbird 3/30/2006 3:43:00 PM
this is my favorite cleanser for winter! it's quite difficult to find a creamy, moisturizing cleanser that still lathers well and doesn't leave a greasy film on your face. well, this is it! this makes my skin feel wonderful - fresh and clean, but not tight or dry. also, i love the light scent. one caveat though, do not attempt to wash off your eye makeup with this. it hurts like a MF if you get it in your eye!! even so, overall it's a great product. you get a lot for your $$ since you only need to use a garden pea-sized amount each time. also, it's not upset my skin one bit even though i'm prone to breakouts. i'm surprised it's not reviewed more!
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Self Tanners -Clarins - Liquid Bronze
swampbird 3/26/2006 5:55:00 PM
great for subtle, natural color. love the light, liquidy consistency of this; it doesn't make my face feel greasy or breakout. the bottle is huge compared to other facial self-tanners, and you hardly have to use any at all. i think this will last me forever!
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Self Tanners -Neutrogena - Neutrogena Self Tanning Foam
swampbird 3/26/2006 5:49:00 PM
this is my HG self-tanner, and i've tried tons! the key is the light, watery "foam" consistency -- very quick & easy to apply/blend, dries almost instantly, and doesn't feel greasy like lotion in the summertime (yuck!!). the color is very natural, and it never flakes off, just "disappears" gradually. speaking of color, i much prefer the untinted/clear version of this -- the one with the "bronzer" in it is disgusting and rubs off on everything. anyway, this is overall a great product. i've used up several bottles of it and will continue to purchase!
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Lotions/ Creams -Dove - Dove SUNSHINE LOTION for normal or dark coloured skin
swampbird 3/24/2006 9:49:00 AM
this is a decent product for people who are afraid of "real" self-tanners. it's a pleasantly-scented lotion with just a bit of self-tanner, to build up a tan gradually. my main complaint with this is that it's greasy. i like using it on my legs, but it feels DISGUSTING on my upper body. clammy, sticky, eww. i'll keep using this on my legs, but will use something else (L'oreal Nutri-bronze, Nivea Summer Beauty lotion) on my upper body.
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Moisturizers -Olay - Olay Complete Multi-Radiance Daily Illuminating Lotion with spf 15
swampbird 3/23/2006 9:50:00 AM
i am addicted to this stuff!! i was really skeptical at first since i never buy moisturizer from the drugstore, but it's really great. i've been using it everyday! i love the soft, glowy pearl effect it gives your skin. also, it's very light-weight and doesn't make me break out. the fragrance doesn't bother me -- it just smells like generic, light/flowery shampoo. the pump bottle is sanitary and convenient, and i like that it's spf 15. overall, a good product!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Coty - Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker
swampbird 3/16/2006 4:24:00 PM
i only take the time to write negative reviews for perfumes i particularly detest. this is one of them. i can definitely see the comparisons to Narciso Rodriguez. at least on me, "Lovely" has that high-pitched, screaming top note of Clinique's Happy, where it immediately infiltrates and paralyzes the olfactory part of your brain, and you begin to think you might pass out... even better, it lasts foreeever. this perfume makes me want to run away from my wrist and cry.
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Fragrances -Lolita Lempicka - L de Lolita Lempicka
swampbird 3/16/2006 4:13:00 PM
the first thing i smell is "orange dreamsicle." yeech. not sexy to smell like a popsicle! this creamy-vanilla-citrus opening note disagrees with me in the same way that Trouble (Boucheron) does. fortunately, the vanilla-chocolate-wood drydown soon comes through, and it grows on me... the base notes remind me of a sweeter, more powdery Amorito (the Body Shop). i'll keep my "L" sample to try every now and then, but i prefer Amorito when i'm in the mood for this kind of scent.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Fusion Beauty - LipFusion Lip Plumping Gloss
swampbird 3/9/2006 6:56:00 PM
$40 for ground up, dehydrated fish skin? no thanks.
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Shampoo -Aveda - Scalp Benefits shampoo
swampbird 2/21/2006 8:42:00 AM
my scalp got so dry & itchy (serious psoriasis outbreak!) this winter that i thought i'd try this shampoo, even though it's hellaciously expensive here (about $20?). what can i say, i was desperate!! anyway, this really did the trick! soothed my upset scalp almost immediately and literally eliminated the psoriasis over a couple of weeks. miraculous! it's quite difficult to find an anti-dandruff shampoo that isn't *too* moisturizing, so i appreciate that this doesn't make my hair limp or greasy. my only complaint is that the consistency is a bit thin, so i find myself having to use a bit more than i'm used to. as for the smell -- i love the way most Aveda products smell! this one is "vetiver, rosemary, cinnamon" and the sage in it probably also adds to the scent. i can see how some people could find this a bit woodsy & masculine, but i love the earthy, spicy, Christmas-y feel of it, and find it to be very relaxing. will definitely keep this around to use a few times a week, especially in the fall and winter! =)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Nivea - Lip Care
swampbird 2/12/2006 4:36:00 PM
i bought this in the Cherry flavor and the color was absolutely heinous. it was nothing short of neon-pink on me. it worked just fine, but i couldn't bear walking around looking like a clown!! i ended up giving it away to my friend, hoping it would look better on her... unfortunately, it looked just as outright-silly on her. i could always tell whenever she wore it, and i felt soooo guilty i didn't know what to do. she seemed to like it, but i still feel bad about the whole thing. i should have thrown it away!!
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Lip Treatments -Nivea - Lip Care - Repair
swampbird 2/12/2006 4:28:00 PM
this stuff is magic! i bought this in indonesia and i'm kicking myself for not getting more of it -- i just can't find it in holland. =( very moisturizing, pleasant slightly minty smell, doesn't dry your lips out! i love it! will keep looking online! ***UPDATE*** Labello Med Protection (white tube) is basically the same thing (Labello & Nivea are both owned by Beiersdorf). yay!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Styling Tools -Mason Pearson - Handy Bristle & Nylon Brush
swampbird 2/12/2006 3:57:00 PM
what a wonderful Valentine's day present!! =) i just received a gorgeous ivory MP brush, and i absolutely love it. it definitely "cleans" your hair a lot more than other brushes since the bristles are much closer together. i was embarrassed by how much sweater lint and stuff came out the first time i used it!! also, i think the "Handy" size is really the perfect size. the little stumpy handle on the "Pocket" sized ones is a bit uncomfortable to hold, and the larger ones (such as the "Popular" size) are just awkward. who needs a brush the size of a dinner plate? the little cleaner-brush that came with it is actually very useful -- i even use it on my other brushes! one tip, though: MP brushes are almost literally half the US price if you buy them from the UK or Europe. my fiance bought mine from a wonderful shop in Amsterdam, but before that, i was seriously considering buying one from UK websites like hqhair.com or escentual.co.uk or from UK sellers on eBay.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No