Skincare - Body -Unlisted Brand - Surgi-Wax Microwave Hair Remover
cowgurl 9/12/2006 2:44:00 PM
Brazilian: Very pleased with my first try at waxing. There were a lot of choices, but I decided I didn't want to deal with wax and strips. It got off every hair and just curious to see how it deals with shorter regrowth. This wax is strong, so I suspect it could do a good job. I do recommend that you apply when the room is cool, or that you use an ice pack to set the wax. It was hot and humid on the day I tried it and it was impossible to get off the more sensitive areas. I had to waddle over to the refrigerator for some ice! If you are going totally commando, you will need an entire jar. Otherwise, it could last you about two times. Paid about 5.50 -- what a bargain. I didn't make to much of a mess and figure I'll do a better job next time. Also, don't forget some oil to get stray wax off your skin.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Zia - Fresh Papaya Enzyme Peel
cowgurl 7/2/2006 12:33:00 AM
The first time I used this, I broke out. However, since then, I put myself through the riggors of lactic acid peels and have no problem at all with this. Truly, it seems that if you have acne prone skin, you will break out after beginning any peel regimine that's worth its salt. I think this is a very gentle peel and so I'll probably continue with the lactic acid peels, only much less frequently. I do like being able to do other things while I have this on instead of worrying and watching the timer, as with the lactic peel. This gets your skin clean, and gets rid of flakies and dryness. A great compliment to my regimine to fight acne, yet protect aging skin -- and better, it's natural. Recommend very much. UPDATE: Oops. I'm jumping ship for MyChelle's Incredible Pumpkin Peel.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Deodorants -Alba Botanica - Clear Enzyme Deodorant Stick
cowgurl 6/25/2006 8:49:00 PM
I bought the Tea Tree travel size of this product for use on a trip to San Antonio in June. Bad idea. It did not work at all and left me and all my clothes mighty 'ripe.' On my way back to LA, I picked up Baux non-aluminum deodorant by L'Occitane at the airport and went right for the bathroom and put it on. I went from smelling like I had been sleeping in a dumpster, to smelling great for the rest of the trip and also when I woke the next day. I guess the best thing about this and similar deodorants is that they will force you to try something better. All these natural non-aluminum brands need to learn that they need to add something that works to both effectivey kill bacteria and mask any odors without being overwhelming. Until they do, I won't be purchasing deodorant again from Alba.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Deodorants -L'Occitane - Baux Stick Deodorant
cowgurl 6/25/2006 8:39:00 PM
This product claims to fight bacteria and that it has a scent that lasts all day. I agree, except to assure that the scent is not overwhelming, but very pleasant. For those looking for a deodorant that works and which does not contain aluminum, I highly recommend this. I have doled out a lot of money looking for a deo that controls or at least effectively masks odor and am very happy with this purchase. I got it at the L'Occitane store at the Houston airport and REALLY needed it after traveling all day through humid cities wearing only a health food store brand deodorant. I refuse to wear deodorants with aluminum so have given up on wetness control, but was frustrated that all the products I tried stopped working after only a few hours. It really works all day. The scent is woody, so it is a bit like using your boyfriend's deodorant. Many women are concerned about the effects of aluminum, so it's just lame that the only one I've found that works was designed for men. UPDATE: I bumped this up to five stars, from 4. It really works and so it's worth whatever I paid for it. I think it was about 15$.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Youngblood - youngblood mineral makeup
cowgurl 5/27/2006 3:05:00 AM
Love this. But be careful. If you want to try mineral foundation, try the sample packet or have a pro pick one for you, or sample one in salon or shop, because the colors can look terrible if you don't pick just the right one.) I picked a color from the sampler that I was sure would be good for me and it made me look like a zombie. Then I tried another that looked too dark and it turned out to be the perfect color. I guess this is because there are no binding agents in here, so picking the right color is the hardest part about the purchase. The best part is that you need very little, it lasts forever, it's sanitary, and the coverage is fabulous. I can't believe how it covers blemishes!! The sunscreen is an added bonus. I don't know how this compares to other brands, but I am very content and wish I knew about this sooner. I don't recommend buying online until you find your color, but you can go to the Youngblood site and find a retailer near you.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Unlisted Brand - Lamas
cowgurl 5/26/2006 8:34:00 PM
Super pleased with this purchase. I've been looking for a replacement for Aveda's Curessence and think this is it. The trick is to find a shampoo with protein and this line gets it from Soy. I feel that this shampoo is helping me restore strength to my long hair (in my search for a replacement, I had a lot of end damage from "conditioning" shampoos that only dried out my hair) and the smell of this is very high-end and calming -- it makes me not want to leave the shower! Cost was about 9USD for about 12 oz and I bought it at Whole Foods.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Kinara Lactic Acid Hydrating Serum
cowgurl 5/24/2006 3:21:00 PM
I have tried a lot of products for my adult acne. I even bought a Zeno. It figures that after that expensive purchase, I'd find something that works better. For the first time in my life I'm free of hormonal breakouts, and cysts! All I'm left with are easily clearable blackheads where blemishes (that's putting it gently) would otherwise have formed. I started using Lactic Acid home peels and noticed a dramatic improvement in my skin. But then I realized I need something I can use every day to get a more reliable result. This is probably one of the only lactic acid serums out there. It also contains glycolic acid. The consistency is perfect, thick, crystalline, non-oily and stays that way. It drinks right into the skin. I think I can stop purchasing and praying -- this is the one that works. Fortunatley for me, I live in LA, so I can swing by the Kinara Spa and buy it without paying shipping and handling (you can buy it online). One bottle is 60$ and lasts me about a month and a half since I use it upwards of 2 times a day. It smells great too. I am sensitive to perfume, but I love the floral-fruity smell of this (which dissipates, but is great while you are applying it). Because it is a real joy to use, unlike other "acne" products (which is how I view this), I use it consistently and therefore I'm getting results. Basically, my skin is both clearing up and becoming more even-toned. What more can I say -- if you have pesky breakouts that you just can't control, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!! UPDATE: One bottle is lasting me just over two months and I use this 2x a day, sometimes upwards of 4x a day when I come home after an errand and wash off my sunscreen. I can't speak highly enough about this. UPDATE: I have seriously edited my skin care routine and find this too expensive. Skin Biology has a similar serum, LacSal with 8.5 percent lactic acid for about 20$ and I'd give that a try if I find myself in the market for a lactic serum....
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - 40% Lactic Acid Peel
cowgurl 5/7/2006 10:56:00 PM
This is a great find. Even skin tone, fewer breakouts -- but only gradual scar reduction. If you are new to peels, as I was, this is what I did: Start out at only one minute, as recommended. Then shoot for 2 minutes, then 3. After this, I was ready for five and I use 2x per week. Not sure if that's recommended, but it works for me at the 40%. The first three times, I got really red around the nose creases and even had some light topical bleeding there, if that makes sense. And that was just with one to three minutes of use. So be careful. Oddly, after only four uses, I was ready to leave on longer with no irritation -- though I do avoid the folds of my nose where you will probably always feel "burning." (Note, I was using AHAs regularly, and I still had this shaky start -- so don't be bold, you're skin will adjust in no time.) The 1 oz. seems like it will last me about 4 months at the rate I'm going, I use about three to four drops, so I think this is a great deal. People have actually commented about the way I look (rare for me) and I can tell they are wondering if I've had some "work" done -- I do live in LA! Highly Recommended. UPDATE: Only using this about once per week because I'm using a daily lactic acid serum. The 40% is still gentle enough for me to use both.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Peter Thomas Roth - Ultra Lite Anti-Aging Cellular Repair
cowgurl 4/20/2006 2:34:00 AM
This was a very disappointing purchase. There are mattyfying agents in here that "pill" and make this just miserable to use. For a treatment product, I'd expect something that absorbs better. Comes in a tub, costs 50$. I tried to use the balance as a hand cream, but it just pills right up in my hands and I wind up throwing the little ball in the trash. Would not repurchase this.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Other -Crest - Vivid White Toothpaste
cowgurl 4/19/2006 3:41:00 AM
I have braces and have become quite the connoisseur of toothpaste. I have not tried Rembrant or other top shelf whitening products, however, the Crest night and day formulas are highly rated. They are also fun to use because they squeeze out of the tube in two colors through what I could call a cake decorator-like divider. I go in to the ortho frequently for adjustments and have been asked what I do to keep my teeth so white. To me, that's a ringing endorsement of the product. And it's cheap -- you can usually get it for about 2.99$. I like the "flavors" and it gets your mouth and tongue clean without leaving it feeling dry. The night and day formulas are supposed to do two separate things. The night formula loosens stains on teeth while you sleep and the day formula whitens some more -- I do recommend trying them together.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Philosophy - Help Me
cowgurl 4/8/2006 7:30:00 PM
I love much of the Philosophy line. This is an excellent product but too expensive. You can pay 30$ less for the same formula by Alpha Hydrox. For me to purchase again, Philosophy would have to half its price.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Alpha Hydrox - Retinol Night ResQ
cowgurl 4/8/2006 6:33:00 PM
I second the positive reviews here. It's basically a gentle retinol alternative to retin-a (without the prescription) that I use to speed up the healing of blemishes. Though I'm sure it would work great as a daily nightime treatment and you don't need very much as it spreads easily. Philosophy has a similar product called Help Me for about 30$ more. Though I dare say they are exactly equal -- even the faintly almond scent is the same. Hmmmm. Pay 45$ or 14$ for 1.05 oz.? This is a no-brainer. UPDATE: I recently had a bizarre overall breakout, probably the result of a cold. I used this liberally (again, a little goes a long way) and it cleared out the problem and scabbies in about 5 days. I noticed a reduction in smile lines, too.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Giovanni - Smooth as Silk
cowgurl 4/4/2006 8:57:00 PM
This is a great all-natural shampoo. I have been searching for a replacement to Aveda's Curessence which I used as a one step shampoo/conditioner. I'd say this is better for smoothing, than hydrating, since it doesn't have substantial proteins. It would be great if you are going for a straight effect. It has a very gentle lather, but gets hair clean. It does leave hair silky, as claimed. It has a very unique consistency, like aloe vera. I have very long hair -- and I still rebel against conditioner, so I still need to find something a bit more hydrating. At any rate, I think it's a good brand that does what it says. Hence, I decided to begin a chain for this shampoo. I like the packaging, too. You can buy it at major health food stores.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Jason Natural Cosmetics - Natural Sea Kelp Shampoo
cowgurl 4/4/2006 8:45:00 PM
This is not a bad shampoo, so if you want a more natural choice, it's probably better than most. It's not hydrating enough to be used alone when you have long hair.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -DDF - DDF Dramatic Radiance TRF Cream
cowgurl 4/4/2006 7:34:00 PM
This product has too much perfume in it for a face moisturizer, so I haven't been able to use it often enough to note any result. I'm using it on my neck as a perfumed moisturizer. For the price, I would not repurchase. There are equal treaments out there for half the price. The packaging is a big waste, too. It's a small amount contained inside another bottle -- I guess to make it seem like you get more for your money? It makes a clunky rattle noise and the pump seems loose. Basically, it's cumbersome and doesn't dispese accurately enough for something that costs about 30 to 50 cents per squeeze.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No