Moisturizers -Burt's Bees - Naturally Ageless Day Lotion
1Nell 4/3/2012 3:38:00 PM
*UPDATE* I have to take away two lippies and restress the smell and the irritation it caused my eyes...I have never had such a bad reaction to a moisturizer. It seemed to get worse with every use. And red, swollen, and watering eyes doesn't exactly make a person look younger--so the whole point of the anti-aging effect seems null and void. If you have sensitive eyes, save your money and do not buy this product! I switched to the Burt's Bees radiance day cream, and so far it is much better. --------------------------- I like this lotion. I definately agree that this leaves my skin looking more fresh and plump. It does also make the lines on my forehead less apparent. Don't get me wrong, this doesn't magically remove all your wrinkles, but it does appear to soften their appearance so that they don't seem so harsh. The lotion soaks in well and leaves what feels like a slightly waxy residue, which is very different, and not altogether unpleasant. I'm getting used to it and I imagine it to be a protective barrier to the elements. If you put it on at night, the waxiness is perfect when you want to give yourself a facial massage. It has the a slight slip without clogging your pores like oils can. The packaging is fantastic and I'm sure that when I've used the lotion up, I can reuse the bottle for something else. Now for the drawbacks...the smell is REALLY strong. I consider myself pretty easy going about scent, and normally I don't mind strong scents...BUT...since having a baby, my eyes have gotten more and more sensitive and this irritates my eyes like no tomorrow. I can't apply this near them because they hurt, run, and go red. I don't think I will bother trying the eye cream in this series if the lotion affects me this way. I would definately buy again for the quality of the lotion, though long-term I don't know if my eyes can handle it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bath Treatments -Burt's Bees - Apricot baby oil
1Nell 3/21/2012 6:27:00 AM
I stumbled upon this by accident and it is now my HG. I recently had a baby girl and a friend gave us the Baby Bee kit. I put the baby oil in her bath and she always came out smelling and feeling so soft. One day I "borrowed" the oil and slathered it all over my body when I was still wet after showering, and then patted myself dry. I was so impressed with how it moisturized that the next night I thought I would do the same to my face. My skin is very dry and I haven't found a moisturizer that really does the trick without clogging my pores. So after taking off my makeup, and washing with my REN face wash, I rubbed a few drops of the baby oil on my still wet face and patted dry. What a difference! It absorbed instantly and my face felt smooth and soft to the touch. Since it's winter here, and very dry, and I still need to use my moisturizer, but I only a very little. I can imagine that during the summer months, I could probably get by without any moisturizer at all, just sunscreen. I have very sensitive skin and this hasn't broken me out at all. In fact, I think the redness in my face has been reduced. The smell isn't overpowering at all, it just hints at its presence. I highly recommend for your baby AND you!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Clarisonic - Pro Skincare Brush
1Nell 2/3/2011 4:27:00 AM
I have waited a month to review this...the Clarisonic is AMAZING! It has saved my skin. My skin freaked out a few months ago and I broke out along my chinline and cheeks, where I have never broken out before (I'm 33). These spots were very red and painful. After debating and debating, I bought this and I'm so thankful I did. I have been using the sensitive brush, for one minute, every evening. My skin is clean, and with the exception of 2 very superfical spots on my chin that went away quickly, it is clear. It has taken about a month for all of the spots to heal, but now my skin is flat and there are no white spots lingering under the surface. I'm noticing that the residual red marks are also slowly fading. I'm on my way to see some of my friends and I'm taking my clarisonic with me so that everyone can give it a whirl. In closing, I would suggest using a moisturinzing cleaner. I have been using a REN cleanser for combination skin, but together with the clarisonic and current cold weather, it has been a bit drying. I'm switching to one of the more moisturizing REN cleansers. I also avoid the bridge of my nose and the sides of my nose since I don't want my occassional roceacea to flare up. I've also heard of people getting broken cappilaries in those areas from using the Clarisonic, and I don't want to risk it.
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Cleansers -Dr. Hauschka - Cleansing Cream
1Nell 12/30/2010 5:25:00 AM
I threw myself into Dr. Hauschka, trying loads of their products, thinking that it was going to be my HG line...but alas, no. This cleanser is horrible! I followed the instructions to the "t" and yet the granules made my mild rosacea flare up and left a nasty-feeling film on the surface of my skin. Afterwards, my skin felt irritated and dirty. And don't get me started on the smell. I'm moving on to greener pastures.
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Bath Treatments -Dr. Hauschka - Lavender Bath
1Nell 12/30/2010 5:17:00 AM
I added this to my morning/evening cleansing routine, as recommended, and the next day I broke out in deep, painful spots. Never again! Smells good and would add it to a bath, but NEVER to my face.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Ren - Mayblossom and Blue Cypress Facial Wash
1Nell 12/30/2010 5:03:00 AM
I love this cleanser! My skin has freaked out the past two months and I've broken out on my chinline and cheeks for no apparent reason. I was getting a bit desperate and thought that I would totally revamp my skincare approach. I bought this along with a couple of other REN products. This cleanser has left my face soft, at the same time as drying out the spots that I had. It has only gone a week, but my skin is already much better! This is quite thin, but you don't need much, and I'm sure it will last quite awhile. It doesn't lather up like other cleansers, which is positive! (Cleansers that lather are much more drying). I will repurchase...again and again!
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Treatments -Ren - Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask
1Nell 12/30/2010 4:45:00 AM
Amazing stuff! I have never had a chemical peel, at home or otherwise, because I don't want to make my skin even more sensitive than it is. Since this seemed like a more natural option I took a chance, and now my skin is as soft as a baby's butt. The first time I used this, I used it two days in a row. The first time left my skin flakey. It seemed that it hadn't finished the job (probably because my skin was in such bad shape), so I thought a folllow-up the next day was in order. After the second time, I couldn't believe the results. My skin is smoother, I had a couple of spots that immediately started to dry out, and my makeup went on so much better. I'm already looking forward to next week when I can use it again! The mask has the consistency of honey and smells like orange sherbet. It tingles a bit, but not uncomfortably. I am going to completely convert to REN products. I also tried their facewash and moisturizer and I can't believe the difference a couple days have made in my skin texture. If only they had a makeup line too!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Trilogy - Rosehip Oil
1Nell 9/3/2010 3:08:00 PM
I love this product. I apply 3-4 drops at night instead of a night cream and I wake up with soft, healthy looking skin. I have to admit that it took a few weeks before I saw a difference, and then one day I woke up and realized that the splotchy redness I had had before was gone and my overall skintone more even. I know some people have complained that it smells like cooking oil, but I would liken it more to the smell of hay, which I don't find offensive in the least. It reminds me of the smell of late summer in the countryside. I can't imagine ever giving this stuff up! UPDATE: I've stopped using this because I've noticed that it makes my (mild) Rosacea flare up. I highly recommend for those that don't have this particular skin problem.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Dr. Hauschka - Rose Day Cream
1Nell 7/30/2010 10:30:00 AM
This really does help to calm red, reactive, sensitive skin. However, I feel that it works much better as a night cream, particularly if you have a breakout or need to apply to otherwise irritated skin. This is because the cream is far too thick. It is nearly impossible to rub in and doesn't really soak in, rather it sits on the surface. Not good as a makeup base, in other words. I tried a sample of the light version, and feel that it is much better for my skin. I will keep this and use it in the evening if my skin breaks out, is irritated or sunburnt.
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Crème -Dr. Hauschka - Translucent Make-up
1Nell 7/4/2010 4:12:00 AM
I'm slowly moving more and more over to the Dr. H line. That said, this make-up didn't do anything for me. I need more coverage to even out the tone of my skin and cover up imperfections. I also like the smell of most of the Dr. H products, but this one was overwhelming...probably because I was caking it on too thick trying to get the coverage I wanted. Even if it wasn't my thing, it didn't break me out and I love that is all natural. I now use the Dr. H bronze concentrate in my my moisturizer, which I think does the job perfectly! (I then use a drop of Sensai foundation around my nose to cover up any extra redness.) I'm giving the translucent make-up a 3. If you already have good skin, I think this would compliment your complexion.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Dr. Hauschka - Mascara
1Nell 6/30/2010 6:12:00 AM
This is a good basic mascara! Like everyone else says, it doesn't add volume or too much length, but on the other hand, it doesn't clot or flake like a lot of volume and length mascaras do. In this respect, this mascara is very reliable for everyday use and looks natural. I will definately repurchase and am looking forward to buying and trying out the DH volume mascara for nights out. UPDATE: I was at a festival and a wedding last week, and this mascara did not hold up. At a music festival, you want to apply and not think about it again for three days. In the hot sun, this was gone within two hours. At the wedding, I cried like a baby, and as a result looked like a raccoon when I left the church. So I'm downgrading this to 2 lippies and recommending to everyone NOT to wear this on special occassions. It's a good basic mascara on the days you don't have anything special planned.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -The Body Shop - Lip & Cheek Stain
1Nell 6/29/2010 10:13:00 AM
Love it! This gives me such a healthy glow. I will NEVER use powder blush again! I highly recommend.
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Bronzers -Dr. Hauschka - Translucent Bronze Concentrate
1Nell 6/28/2010 6:52:00 PM
Amazing Stuff! I have wanted to move towards less and less makeup for some time. It's an evil circle--using makeup to cover up imperfections and thus causing imperfections. Thinking that tinted moisturizer would be the solution, I have been wasting money on one after the other and desperately turned to Makeup Alley for help. I bought the Translucent Bronze Concentrate last week after reading the reviews, I haven't got the best skin, but nowadays you wouldn't know it. I mix this into my moisturizer, apply foundation only to the areas around my nose and chin where my complextion is more red and needs a bit more coverage, give it a few minutes to soak in and set, and wha-la...my skin looks better than it has in years. What's even better is that I think it may even be improving my skin. I realize that since I've just fallen in love, I could be imagining things, but it seems that the overall tone/color of my skin is better, and I only have to use VERY LITTLE foundation on my "problem" areas. Maybe one day I can wean myself off the foundation completely! If you really want to finish off your natural look, use Body Shop's cheek stain.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Kanebo - Sensai Fluid Finish foundation
1Nell 1/28/2010 12:30:00 PM
I AM IN LOVE! The best foundation I have EVER used. The last two years I have used mineral powder makeups and no matter the brand, it dried me out, made me chalky, and had to repeatedly be reapplied throughout the day. I wanted to like it because it was supposed to be good for me. So it was with some hesitation that I decided to go back to a normal liquid foundation. After reading all the reviews for the Sensai Fluid Finish, I finally gave in. It was the best makeup decision I have made in years. It goes on smooth and holds all day. My skin is uneven, sensitive, with a few spots and redness and I didn't need any concealer at all! On top of that, it looked natural and was moisturizing. It's pricey, but you get everything that you ever wanted or needed in a big bottle that is bound to last for quite sometime. This is worth every penny.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Avene - Light hydrating cream, for normal to combo sensitive skin
1Nell 1/27/2010 4:57:00 AM
I started out with the rich hydrating creme which broke me out along my jawline, so I switched to the lighter (oil-free) version. What a difference! It goes on light, absorbs easily, and leaves my skin soft. I've been using this in combination with other Avene products too, and my skin has never been this soft! The only drawback is that lately it's been around -10° C and I can feel that it hasn't had the staying power, but I can't blame the moisturizer for freakish, sub-zero weather. Therefore I'm giving this 5 lippies and am going to try to compliment it with the hydrating serum on those extra cold days.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No