Skincare - Face -Biore - detoxify daily scrub
xt73 4/17/2009 4:05:00 AM
Not exactly what I would call a scrub, but it does make for a nice gentle cleanser. I agree with over reviewers that the little beads are few and far between --- definitely not effective for exfoliation. That being said, it is surprisingly foamy for a creamy appearing cleanser. A little bit goes a long way. (In fact, when I was down to the last little bit of the tube, I put some water in with and it frothed up enough for another week's use!) I personally love the smell. It is fresh and clean. It also washes cleaner than I would expect for something that looks so creamy. Doesn't leave my face feeling tight. I have been using it daily in the shower for the last few months. I've even converted the boyfriend to using it. So if you are looking for a scrubby exfoliator, look elsewhere. But if you just want a creamy non-drying cleanser that doesn't feel grimy (and smells good), this is worth a try. Oh yeah: I don't know what version was reviewed as having a pump, but the 3 tubes I've owned have all been a tube with a flip-top cap like a shampoo bottle.
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Cleansers -Boots - Botanics Moisturising Deep Clean Foam
xt73 7/25/2008 10:25:00 PM
Strangely, I have combo skin but have never had problems with this cleanser drying out my skin. I tried it thanks to other MUA reviewers, and I love it. I am actually trying to use up a large bottle of Philosophy Purity Made Simple now that I have this cleanser. So sad I spent all that money on the Philosophy stuff. I like this stuff so much that I just bought my second bottle. The first one lasted me about 2-3 months. I do like the smell, which is light and clean. My boyfriend even started to use it once I bought it. I have not noticed any new acne (but that might be due to my use of glycolic acid lately.) It might dry out your face if you are scrubbing it with a washcloth, then rinsing. If I just lather up and massage my face with my hands then rinse, I have not had any problems with drying. You also don't need a whole ton to get enough lather. It is inexpensive, which is really nice too.
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Shave Products -Ren - Tamanu High Glide Shaving Oil
xt73 7/25/2007 7:48:00 PM
This stuff is fabulous. Pricey, but worth the splurge if you are very sensitive. Tamanu oil has anti-inflammatory properties, which prevents red bumps and razor burn. Also, it goes on clear, so you can avoid certain spots that you know are bumpy or irritated. I started using this when I began shaving my bikini area. You only need a couple of pumps, which is good because it's really expensive compared to a drugstore shave gel. Thankfully it comes in an economical pump that doesn't distribute too much. I don't use it on my legs or underarms because those areas are less sensitive. It smells really good -- kind of organic and slightly oriental/woodsy. It washes clean but still leaves my skin soft and well moisturized after shaving. Definitely is an upgrade from some of those shave gels that leave your skin feeling taut or squeaky. I've had the same bottle now for a couple of months and it is still going strong despite almost daily use. Combine this with the Schick Quattro for Women and it's the ultimate shaving duo.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Crest - Crest Premium Plus
xt73 7/25/2007 2:44:00 PM
I have traditionally had sensitive teeth, so sometimes these will make my teeth ache. But then I don't use them in the regularly prescribed way. I've tried the paint on gunk, Rembrandt toothpaste, Pearl Drops (in the old days). These DO work, but can definitely hurt if you are sensitive already. I've had people ask me if I do Zoom whitening before after using just one of these. But here is the trick: FLOSS before you put the strip on. The place your teeth will get the most yellow is in the crevices near the base of your teeth. If you get all the plaque out of there before you apply the strip, it will be able to get to these areas. After flossing, swish out your mouth and then slightly wiggle the strip at the junctions between your teeth after you apply it with a fingertip. This really allows the whitening gel to get into those crevices. Okay, I know it says leave it on for a half hour. I've left them on overnight before without getting terribly sensitive. I think the reason is that I've started using ACT, which is that fluoride mouthrinse that reduces cavities. My dentist recommended, and I think it's working. I have rather weak enamel, and my teeth are less sensitive. NB: if you are not a habitual flosser, my method will probably give you horrible problems because your gums will bleed or you might already have gingivitis causing your pain/receding gums. Receding gums will uncover the sensitive part of your tooth (dentin) that is not covered by enamel. Flossing regularly will also make your teeth look whiter because your gums will look healthy and pink next to your teeth instead of whitish/pale. I'm actually a doctor, so I swear I'm telling the truth.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Talika - Heated Eyelash Curler
xt73 7/25/2007 2:33:00 PM
Waste of money. Thought it would take out the extra step to heat my lash curler, but it takes a really long time for the thing to heat up and it doesn't work no matter how much I squelched my lashes. Save your cash and just heat your metal eyelash curler-- no batteries to replace and so much easier. See my Shu Uemura curler review for tips.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - Schick Intuition razor
xt73 7/25/2007 2:28:00 PM
Pros: easy to carry on trips when you don't want to also pack shaving gel/cream. Cons: bulky, difficult to see where you are shaving (no precision shaving here -- but fine for underams and legs), takes a while to dry out when you want to pack it back up to go. It tends to hold water after using it, so try to shake it out to let it dry before packing it. Otherwise, you will reduce the little emollient block to a goopy mess.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Shu Uemura - Eyelash Curler
xt73 7/25/2007 2:18:00 PM
Great, as billed. A little more costly than other drugstore brands, and dose mostly the same thing. The main difference is the consistency of the rubber used in the pad. The models that have the white, softer rubber may crimp lashes instead of curl them. Still my favorite, although I have multiple versions of the "lesser" curlers that I still use as backups. (i.e. in my travel bag, purse, at boyfriend's house.) As I've mentioned elsewhere: to get the most curl out of your lashes, heat the curler with your hair dryer for a few moments before using. I swear it makes my curl last all day. Just make sure to test the temperature on the back of your hand before using it on your eye. I use the low heat setting on the dryer to prevent scalding my eyelids. Also, use Talika Lipocils as a "hair gel" for your lashes. But let it dry before you curl, otherwise the curl will just fall out. It looks like I'm wearing mascara, even though I'm not; that's saying a lot for my skimpy little Chinese lashes. This is great on long work days, as I tend to unintentionally rub my eyes and I'm very prone to mascara raccoon eyes with my oily lids.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Sephora - Heated eyelash curler
xt73 7/25/2007 2:15:00 PM
USELESS. I am asian with stick straight skimpy lashes. This is hard to use, and ultimately doesn't work. My trick to keep my lashes curled all day: heat your standard (metal) last curler for a few seconds with your hair dryer, then curl your lashes. I use Shu Uemura's curler at home (and a Maybelline one I've had for years, which has been relegated to my purse for touch ups.) I swear it works better than just about any curling mascara you can find. It lasts even longer and is more dramatic if you apply Talika's Lipocils before you curl. Wait for the Lipocils to dry first, then it acts kind of like hair gel to set the curl. If you try it while wet, or try applying Lipocils after curling, your curl will flatten out. **Make sure to test the temperature of the lash curler on the back of your hand before putting it anywhere near your eyelid! I only use the low heat setting on my hair dryer to prevent burning myself.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - Schick - Quattro for Women
xt73 7/25/2007 2:07:00 PM
Like most, I used to be a faithful Venus fan. But since I started doing laser hair removal on some....um...rather sensitive areas (TMI?) I discovered that the Shick Quattro works better and with less irritation/nicks. Maybe it has to do with the little wires that cover the blades to prevent nicks. Or maybe it's just the 4 blades. I still use the Venus for my legs and underarms, since I have a ton of replacement blades left. P.S. I think there is a distinct difference between the disposable version (entire razor is disposable) and the disposable blade version. The disposable blades seem to be sharper and much less irritating than the disposable razor form. I don't know why. (I bought a pack of disposables to leave at my boyfriend's apt. They pale in comparison.)
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Styling Products -Pureology - Root Lift
xt73 6/24/2007 4:47:00 PM
Definitely works well on my oily/limp roots. I like the nozzle that I can spray right at the roots. Not too sticky or stiff. Much better than any other root lift/volumizer I have used to date. (Have tried: Amplify, Pytovolume, Vavoom, BigSexyHair, Aveda, Bumble&Bumble, Sebastian....)
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Treatments -Dr. Brandt - Pores No More
xt73 6/24/2007 4:41:00 PM
Works well for mattifying. Smooth consistency and feels creamy, not sticky. Not too drying either. Makes my skin look smooth and matte. Only drawback is no SPF, but that is probably why it feels so nice and doesn't have a white residue. Works well when mixed with a tinted moisturizer (one with SPF to make up for the lack of sunscreen.) I have tried Bobbi Brown, MAC, and Laura Mercier tinted moisturizers; all with good results mixed with Pores No More. Much better than Cosmedicine's MediMatte.
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Conditioner -Pantene - Brunette Expressions Conditioner
xt73 6/24/2007 3:23:00 PM
Makes my hair sleek and tangle free. In response to comment about weighing hair down: DON'T put conditioner on the roots, only on the ends. Works great for the price and keeps hair soft and manageable. Tip for summer: bring some in a small bottle to the beach with you and put it on your ends before you swim to prevent tangling (especially in the ocean.) With a wide toothed comb or your fingers, knots will fall out. If needed, you can add more when you are trying to detangle after swimming. Also, you can just wait until after swimming to apply...but if you do it before you go to the beach/pool, it will condition your hair while you are in the sun, and probably protect your hair from chlorine and salt. I've also used this as a shaving cream in a pinch. It's slippery texture that works for detangling the hair on your head also prevents razor nicks!
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Conditioner -Pantene - Pro-V Restoratives Time Renewal Conditioner
xt73 6/24/2007 3:18:00 PM
Update: 1/2010. Still love this, and don't know why I strayed to more expensive stuff. (See my review of Warren Tricomi....) Going back to it again! __________________________ Generally, I really like Pantene conditioners. I have used all sorts of expensive (Kerastase, Terax, etc.) conditioners and keep coming back to Pantene. It is so much cheaper, but works well --- even better than Terax crema despite the hype! Okay, kerastase is great but so expensive. This stuff prevents damage despite my highlights, blowdrying, and all other manner of destruction I subject my hair to. (Even works in the dead of winter when I go skiing in freezing dry air and then sit in the jacuzzi with my hair in the chlorine.)
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Treatments -Aveda - Brilliant Damage Control Spray
xt73 6/24/2007 3:14:00 PM
Helps detangle and supposedly helps prevent highlights from fading/heat damage. It smells good and doesn't weigh hair down. I use it in conjunction with Garnier sleek&smooth on the ends for extra conditioning and detangling. Between these two, my colorist is always surprised how healthy my ends are despite highlights every 8-10 weeks. (I also use Pantene Time Renewal conditioner. It's cheap but works great.)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Aveda - Blue Malva Shampoo & Conditioner
xt73 6/24/2007 3:10:00 PM
LOVE this stuff. It smells like almonds and keeps my highlights from getting brassy. (I only use the shampoo, as my colorist told me I don't really need the conditioner.) You only need to use it 1-2 times a week. I've been using it for a few years now. I suppose it would work even if you don't get Aveda highlights, but I discovered it only after I started getting my hair done at an Aveda salon.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No