Gels/Soaps -Carol's Daughter - Almond Cookie Body Cleansing Gel
Lola_B_10021 1/17/2008 6:21:00 AM
I received this as part of a gift set & unsure on price so I marked it halfway but the almond smell is unreal! Sweet, delicate and scrumptious I could smell like this all day. I love the natural (not nec. organic) ingredients although she does add fragrance if that is a concern. This bottle is chock full of healthy oils that go on the skin smooth, lather instantly and feel like a dream while leaving absolutely no residue or signs of oil. I usually apply a light body oil post-shower to combat mid-day ash/dryness but have found is totally not necessary w/this stuf it keeps my body hydrated which has always been a problem and led me down many a greasy product-filled street. The package is a sturdy (thank god) slim plastic, tube with a press-down cap that is easy to open and close and doesn't leak or clog due to properties of the bath gel. A definite buy-again!
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Bath Treatments -Burt's Bees - Vitamin E Bath and Body Oil
Lola_B_10021 1/17/2008 5:48:00 AM
I really liked the packaging, the retro heavy glass container and screw top kept product fresh and was very reusable. I'd been scouring for a non-flowery, non-perfumey, non-coconut-shea-nectarine etc. body oil. I'm a big fan of citrus scents and was not disappointed with this one. I use it on wet skin post-shower and have a light lemony scent and non-oily, moisturized skin. The almond is barely discernible so I guess it cuts the punch of the lemon scent which is great for me. This stuff absorbs immeditaley and didn't get on clothes. I even used it as a post-shampoo light conditioning oil for my hair. It was too thick for my mother who prefers an even cleaner scent but I can't wait to pick up another bottle.
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Lip Treatments -Blue-Q - Cute As Hell Pomegranate Lip Balm
Lola_B_10021 1/17/2008 5:38:00 AM
Xmas gift from my sister, presumably bought at a store like Exit-9 Gifts in NYC or another place w/'unconventional' treats. As a lip balm I was going to toss it because I hate their usual waxiness and uncanny ability to smother lips and prevent moisture from coming in but I tried it because they're the makers of the Dirty Girl line and I'm glad I did. The pomegranate smell is only in the tube w/no lasting effect on lips but the rich, buttery consistency ranks it right up there with my beloved Blistex Gentle Sense and BE Lip Savor Shea Stick. I was shocked at the effect. This stuff is long lasting and moisturizes like nobody's business. The texture is light, the opaque color in tube threw me off but the consistency is smooth, transparent and fabulous. Better even this product is billed as all natural though an ingredients list is conspicuously missing. You can find this distributed from Misery Boutique in NZ or gift stores like Uncommon Goods or Exit- 9. The only pain is the traditional lip balm packaging w/the annoying snappy cap you need to yank off and force back on, otherwise a fave!
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Lips -Bare Escentuals - Lip Savor
Lola_B_10021 1/17/2008 5:22:00 AM
I got this as part of a large & expensive thank you gift by BE staff for consulting work last year. And though not a foundation fan (as powder it's fine) I love this shea stick. The smell is divine, a light coconut (and I hate coconut!) scent that my husband loves to kiss off. The texture and feel has that light and incredible natural shea texture. As a RULE, I stay away from anything remotely balmish because my lips tend to get very dry and they just stick there like plastered wax but I have discovered the beauty of the moisturizing stick. I was in SF at the time and the combination psychotic weather and Accutane use made my lips a very scaly, chapped nightmare and this was my saving grace along w/Blistex Gentle Sense. The tube is exactly like their Buzz Latte a medium length wand that somehow never dislodges in my bag like all of my lipsticks, liners etc. It is not vegan as it contains beeswax, but hell I'm not vegan either! Even my product-phobic husband loves it. Creamy, moisturizing and so so light it glides on as if its at room temp all of the time. I noticed it's no longer on the BE website and am paranoid they've discontinued, so I need to root some more out fast. Maybe I'll try the Buzz Latte but can't imagine it could be better.
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Conditioner -Burt's Bees - Shea& Grapefruit Deep Conditioner
Lola_B_10021 1/17/2008 5:03:00 AM
While my husband loved it (he has very fine, shiny hair), I with naturally coily-curly dry hair wasn't impressed. It's only claim is a complete downsize of the floor cleaning products found in all drug store shampoos. I prefer creamier conditioner formulations and this is more shampoo-like. It felt normal which generally leaves me a little brittle. It smells nice though
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Conditioner -Aubrey Organics - Honeysuckle Rose
Lola_B_10021 1/17/2008 4:58:00 AM
Though I HATE the smell, I love the all natural ingredient list, the way this stuff leaves my very dry coily/kinky curls and of course the price. I like the formulation, great for deep conditioners it's just the damned smell! Going to try Anita Grant's all-natural Deep Condish in replacement though her stuff's expensive and British shipping fees are going to kill me, will post results. **UPDATE** 3/18/08 Downgrade to won't buy again...Now that I've found my HG Anita Grant Babassu Shampoo Bar and Chocolate Deep Condish I won't be going back to Aubrey, the suds, texture and softness of my hair now can't be beat
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Shampoo -Aubrey Organics - Honeysuckle Rose shampoo
Lola_B_10021 1/17/2008 4:52:00 AM
I used this product for a few months on my coily, very dry curls and stopped because the smell was making me gag. It is so sweet and disturbing that you almost forget the cheapy bottling and harsh texture of this shampoo. For something aimed at dry hair it left mine brittle and I usually just used the conditioner which has a creamier texture to cleanse. Wouldn't buy again. And in case you're wondering White Camellia smells exactly the same.
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Cleansers -Aubrey Organics - Green Tea & Ginkgo Facial Cleansing Lotion
Lola_B_10021 1/17/2008 4:46:00 AM
Surprised at other reviewers because I felt as if I were dousing my face in alcohol with this one. No matter what, the smell and slight sting of alcohol stuck with me and my skin isn't sensitive. The size and container are great but that's it, I can smell alcohol in the product, probably due to high levels of grain alcohol found in it which I generally steer clear of particularly in 'organic' brands. The formulation quickly lost consistency in bottle and is now only runny though I gave this up in favor of another product. I bought this because I blinked and was thinking 'Tea Tree' and not payng attention to "Green Tea', ah well. I like the Aubrey brand but I am very disappointed with this product.
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Moisturizers -Ole Henriksen - Pure Perfection
Lola_B_10021 1/17/2008 4:17:00 AM
I too got a Sephora sample and though I have exxon-valdez oily skin and this is billed as dry-skin/anti-aging I LOVED it. I was floored when I saw the fine lines around my mouth disappear swear to god. I am a prescription drug junkie and think cosmetic companies make up tons of crap for overpriced products that only stronger prescription formulations can effectively handle but in this case that's out the window. I'm still trying to fathom if my diet's changed, or whatever but have come to the conclusion that it was this stuff. It felt nice on my skin, no drying, or oiliness but My God the price! Canadian-pharmacy Renova is cheaper! I would grudgingly buy this again because I'm still flabbergast at the results and besides, the fine lines have returned since my teeny, tiny packet ran out. One lippie for extortionist price.
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Masks -Juice Beauty - Green Apple Peel
Lola_B_10021 1/17/2008 4:06:00 AM
Useless, useless, useless - the equivalent of putting custard on my face for 5 minutes. Part of a trial-size thank god! This stff didn't even have the decency to get sticky & mold to my face to let me know it was there. Don't buy I can not be convinced that pureed apple custard does anything for my face.
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Cleansers -Juice Beauty - JUICE BEAUTY CLEANSING MILK
Lola_B_10021 1/17/2008 3:57:00 AM
Received promotional size which came with convenient no-mess push n' snap top as opposed to regular size pump which would make me nuts. This does feel nice on my skin but virtually like a creamy lotion, I haven't noticed a breakout or any negative affects because I believe this isn't doing anything for me, good or bad. I noticed dry-skin reviewers seem to like it but for those of us with this consistency on our skin already this is a waste of time. The ingredients are commendable but this just doesn't DO anything. ***Edit***Have been using Accutane again (monumentally drying) and the light very moisturizing texture has worked very well
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Toners -Juice Beauty - Hydrating Mist
Lola_B_10021 1/17/2008 3:46:00 AM
Review on Sample-size only. I liked the compact packaging but this was only promotional, never tried Juice products before and am veering more towards natural and organic formulations though this toner includes ingredients like benzyl alcohol and tetrasodium EDTA. I thought idea of leaving a toner on skin to work with, instead of stripping, skin's natural moisturizers was incredible. I feel refreshed after spraying it and can be used for daily spritzes though I haven't. It smells like HELL, but doesn't linger and isn't bitter on your lips if you spritz accidently. I am using it with Juice's cleansing milk, but have no complaints other than the retail sale's price at $22 for 6oz of juice! I may buy again but am excited to try Anita Grant's Organic Brazilian Copaiba Oil known as an antiseptic and toner for acne prone skin and for an oily-skinned woman like me it's a risk using oil as toner but I'll get back to you.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Neutrogena - Neutrogena Tinted Moisturizer - SPF 15
Lola_B_10021 1/17/2008 3:20:00 AM
I like the dark, tinted color of the product which I believe more companies should get into to kill the white cream overhaul - as long as it works! This product leaves me oily and greasy-looking. I've never had any breakouts or negative side-effects other than the oil. The bottle is nice and the side-turn lock dispenser works great. Alas, though I like Neutrogena products generally, the low protective factor and oily effects make it a never-buy-again for me.
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Lotions/ Creams -Bliss Labs - Lemon & Sage Body Butter
Lola_B_10021 1/17/2008 3:09:00 AM
I received this as a promotional item and have the 1.7oz container which has a secure snap lid, short, medium-tube size perfect for travel. The smell is STRONG! I usually love clean citrus scents but was turned off at first by the car-tree/dishliquid fragrance that I thought I'd never want anyone to smell on me. Later I read Bliss's directions and figured it was more of a post-pedi treatment and have been using it that way. That said, the formulation is nice and creamy and amazingly NON-GREASY which is usually my bigest prob w/creams and butters, the finish is smooth and still moisturizing. Unfortunately, the price I saw for the 8oz size ($35) is too much for a product you could get anywhere else with less of a pungent smell. Great packaging for this sample size, a little too strong fragrance-wise but nice results - still wouldn't plunk down that kind of cash for this one.
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Treatments (Eye) -Neutrogena - Healthy Defense SPF 30 Eye Cream in Light
Lola_B_10021 1/13/2008 4:55:00 AM
Unfortunately not, and I love Neutrogena products. Was excited about the spf30 have been looking for sometime in a less expensive brand. It goes on INCREDIBLY dry and the tint has the opposite effect but actually leaves color on you which due to dry consistency is difficult to rub in and is frustrating when you're dealing w/an already fragile area. Skip this one, ditto for the face cream. **UPDATE** 3/18/08 *2* more lippies I began using this again w/my Origins White Tea Skin Guardian as a primer and am pleased w/the results, it countered the dryness and even the tint has me looking more refreshed and less post-mortum than I'd complained about before. I **could** buy this again but I'd like to try Khiel's spf 30 stick w/my own concealers before I do. All in all a solid purchase I think
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