Skincare - Body -Jason Natural Cosmetics - Cocoa Butter body lotion
Bellona 6/17/2011 2:01:00 AM
I find this lotion very moisturizing and keeps my skin soft all day, and never dry or ashy. It absorbs quickly and doesn't irritate my skin, even the eczema on my hands can tolerate this. I like that it's a natural product, and contains some good ingredients. However, I can't give it full marks because it is way too fragranced. I think it's in poor taste when a company that is supposed to be "natural" adds artificial/chemical fragrance to their product. The smell is too strong, and lasts a long time. Fortunately I don't find the smell bad, so I don't mind it. Really, my boyfriend loves it for his skin so that's why I will repurchase. And it doesn't rank bad on the Skin Deep site for toxicity etc.
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Treatments -Amore Pacific - Stabilizing Serum
Bellona 6/17/2011 1:42:00 AM
After reading the reviews here I thought that perhaps this serum would alleviate some of the redness in my cheek and nose area. I have mild rosacea, and have just finished a round of IPL treatments that has helped tremendously. I am looking for a skincare product that will reduce my overall remaining flushing, and calm down my skin when it flares up. I went to Holt Renfrew to get some samples, and am writing this review based on sample packs that lasted me a week. I applied nightly, and did not see any immediate reduction in redness at all. When I woke up in the morning my skin did look calm and clear though. I found the scent WAY to strong for a product designed for sensitive skin, and that tuned me off a bit. I also found that this irritated my skin a bit and gave me a few red bumps. I will not be purchasing the full size, and am off to find something else that will help my flushing red skin.
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Treatments -Moroccanoil - Morrocan Oil Treatment
Bellona 6/13/2011 2:15:00 AM
I love this hair oil!, I'm on my third bottle. I love the new pump version, it really controls how much you are using. It's amazing applied on wet or dry hair. My thick coarse wavy hair just soaks it up, and afterwards its soft and shiny and way less frizzy! The smell is nice, it doesn't linger on which is fine with me, I prefer my perfumes to smell and not my hair etc. Overall, i will continue to buy this as it's the best hair oil/serum I have ever used, and I've used them all. I apply it on my damp hair after I've washed it and then again when it's dry to smooth it down. I reapply daily when I'm styling and in between washings. It amazing. I highly recommend. 19/06/12 EDIT - I had to knock this down to 3 lippies. The smell really started to irritate me and I actually found the oil wasn't really moisturizing my hair, just kinda sitting on top. So I don't buy it anymore and have found some better ones out there.
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Cleansers -Alpha Hydrox - Foaming Face Wash
Bellona 6/13/2011 1:57:00 AM
I found this to be just an ok cleanser. I see from the reviews that most people love it, but this wasn't the case for me. I have sensitive skin with mild rosacea and a tendancy to get tiny bumps/pimples. Pros: it didn't make me break out and it felt like it was really cleaning my skin. Cons: the smell, even though it's fragrance free it still stinks kinda like cheap plastic and it was a bit too harsh for my sensitive skin. For a cleanser with AHA I prefer Glymed much more. But overall, I think this type of cleanser is just to strong and irritates and dries my skin.
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Shampoo -Aveda - Dry Remedy 
Bellona 6/13/2011 1:39:00 AM
I love this shampoo. It works for my long, thick, coarse and wavy dark hair. I don't do along of processing to my hair, just some permanent color to cover my odd grays. Regardless of processing, I've always had coarse dry hair. I can go days without washy and it never gets greasy. If your hair is similar I think you may love this shampoo too. Even my boyfriend loves it (he shaves his head bald, but says it moisturizes his scalp and keeps his skin feeling good). The smell is Aveda. I personally like it. I was suprised to read reviews that it doesn't lather. I once worked in the salon/spa industry as a sales rep for a distributor that carried lines like Joico, Pureology, Lakme, Davines, etc. And what I learned from the pro's there was that you should only wash your hair every second or third day. When you do wash, shampoo twice and that way you get a good lather and clean, and will need less conditioner after. I follow this method and always get good results. This shampoo moisturizes and nourishes my hair. It's worth the price in my opinion.
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Brows -Anastasia Of Beverly Hills - The Essential Brow Kit
Bellona 6/11/2011 11:02:00 PM
After having my eyebrows butchered every time I went to get them done, I finally asked my hairstylist where she got her's done and she led me to this kit. I've tried everything, waxing, threading, tweezing freehand etc. And went to some so-called professionals who shaped my brows like tad poles etc! This kit was perfect. The DVD explains exactly what to do, the brochure shows you step by step to refresh if you forget, and ALL the products work great. I use the medium stencil, and even though I fall between the medium and full, I get a perfect shape every time I follow this without touching the "tops" of my brows. I love it! It saved me time and money from going out to find someone to do my brows for me. The products inside last forever as well. I highly recommend.
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Bronzers -GloMinerals - Glo Mineral Bronze
Bellona 6/11/2011 10:57:00 PM
Sadly, this broke me out with a horrible case of exzema on my forehead. I took it back to the derm's office to return it. I must be one of the few people in the WORLD that have a bad reaction to this bronzer. I would still suggest that someone give it a try, as it's mineral and contains no fragrance etc. Good quality product with pretty coloring and a nice blend of matte and tiny sparkly option. Just not for me :(
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Bronzers -BeneFit Cosmetics - HOOLA
Bellona 6/11/2011 10:55:00 PM
This used to be my HG bronzer I discovered Tarte Park Ave Princess in matte. I love a matte bronzer, as I find sparkle breaks me out and tends to look too much for day time. So I love that Hoola is matte. I also love the color is not orange at all. I just found it a tad too muddy. In the summer it worked well but year round it could get too dingy and not really brighten up my face. The packaging is lacking, the brush it comes with sucks and then the box is a bit tight if you like to use a large powder brush. If you contour it may be perfect for you though! I would say overall, it's a great bronzer if you have the right skin tone to pull it off.
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Lipstick -Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Volupte #26 Tender Peach
Bellona 6/11/2011 10:45:00 PM
I LOVE lipstick! LOVE LOVE LOVE. Seriously, did I mention I LOVE this?! It's the first lipstick in my life that I will ever actually go through a whole tube and then definitely repurchase. I can wear it year round, it always looks amazing. It's the most perfect versatile color ever, and if you have trouble wearing a nude (looking washed out or like you have concealer on your lips) then try this. It so creamy and goes on like butter. It lasts long enough, if I'm not eating or drinking it'll stay all night. It doesn't dry out my lips at all. It can be worn without any other makeup to perk up your face, or is the perfect compliment to a smoky eye on an evening out. Every single time I wear this I get compliments on it. Not to mention you will feed like a glamourous goddess every time you wip out the beautiful lipstick to reapply! And the mirror on the top of the case...genius. I could go on forever...but I'm just glad the rep from YSL recommended and tested it on me at Holts!
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Eye Shadow -BeneFit Cosmetics - Creaseless Cream Shadow/ Liner in Marry Up
Bellona 6/11/2011 10:33:00 PM
This is a beautiful shadow that I think would work easily on any skin tone/eye color etc. The shadow goes on smoothly, blends perfectly, and lasts all day/night. It doesn't fade or migrate. Gorgeous color on! It really makes eye stand out.
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Bronzers -Tarte - Park Avenue Princess
Bellona 6/11/2011 9:57:00 PM
I love this stuff! I think this is the best bronzer I've ever used...and I've been using bronzer since I was in high school...lol. I've tried everything, Benefit Hoola, Guerlain Terracotta, Bare Minerals, GLO minerals, etc. But this is the best. It's matte, waterproof and gives a perfect glowy tanlook to your skin. Perfectly golden-brown. It's not orange or muddy at all. It contains no sparkle (although I believe they have a version with shimmer to it if you prefer) and I love what the Tarte brand stands for (natural, vegan etc.). It's never broken me out, and I tend to get clogged pores easily, or irritated my sensitive skin. Plus, it's heavily pigmented so a little goes a long way. I have light olive skin and I can wear this year round depending on how heavy my hand is. Definitely a re-purchase!
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Styling Products -TRESemme - Anti-Frizz Secret Smoothing Creme
Bellona 6/11/2011 8:33:00 PM
I bought this at Shoppers on sale for $4.99. I think it's an ok product for the price. It smells ok (kinda cheapy smelling though), is non-greasy and the tube let's you control how much comes out. I don't think it really works for my long, thick, coarse, wavy hair. I played around with it now for a couple of weeks, but still can't get it to really do anything for me. It seems to just get absorbed into my hair not really smooth it down. Like another member mentioned, it's similar to Bumble styling creme. I'l stick to my Moroccan Oil line instead, I find it works better for me.
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Moisturizers -Bioderma - Sensibio AR
Bellona 6/11/2011 7:53:00 PM
So I guess I'm going to go middle of the road on this one. Cons - it clogged up my skin a little bit (maybe because it's not oil free?), not pimples, but more like little bumps. AND it didn't do one thing to help the flushed reddness on my cheeks and nose. Pros - it gives just enough moisture, feels somewhat soothing, is non-irritating and absorbs quickly. It's also fragrance free, an absolute must for skin care for those with sensitive skin especially.Overall, I've used this for two weeks, and today I'm returning it to Shoppers (thank goodness for their amazing return policy). I'm returning it because it didn't do a thing for my redness. I even used at night when I was experiencing a flushing flare up (too much red wine and not enough sleep) and NOTHING! It's supposed to "instantly reduce redness and the feeling of heat". I've been using it for two weeks and it hasn't diffused any redness in general either. So to me, it doesn't live up to it's claims.
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast
Bellona 6/4/2011 10:48:00 AM
I love this mascara and results I get from it, and it's a decent price. I would have gave it 5 lippies and said "yes" to re-purchase, but I just found out that Covergirl is owned by Proctor&Gamble, one of the worst offenders for testing on animals in the industry :( boooo. I'm going to try Estee Lauder Sumptuous next, as I read on their site and PETA's that they do not test nor use products that test...too bad, because lash blast delivered pretty much everything I ever wanted in a mascara. Besides the slightly bulky packaging, the product itself is wonderful, it gives perfectly separated & fanned out beautiful thick black lashes :(
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Lip Treatments -Burt's Bees - Beeswax Lip Balm
Bellona 6/4/2011 10:43:00 AM
I really like this stuff, but my bf loooooooves it! It's the only chapstick he likes to use. It moisturizes really well, and the minty smell and feel are refreshing and not overpowering. I think it's a good basic lip balm that is from a line that focuses on natural ingredients and minimal chemicals etc. so it's not harmful to be reapplying all day. I definitely will repurchase.
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