Treatments -Shea Moisture - Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque
Akear 5/25/2011 2:38:00 PM
I just picked this up and after two days I loved it so much I went and bought two more. I have very dry but fine naturally curly hair which I tend to blow out probably too much. My hair has been really damaged lately and this has made it super soft but I still have the volume I like. It does not have ANY slip for me at all so apply this and let it sit while I shower then I swish in some Kinky Curly Knot Today and comb it out. I find a detangler really essential in addition to this or I am super tangly after using it. I then leave in a nickle-sized glob targeting my ends. My hair is so happy with this.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Self Tanners -L'Oreal - Sublime Bronze Clear Self-Tanning Gel
Akear 3/14/2011 4:43:00 PM
I don't write many reviews but I just got back from returning this to CVS and felt compelled to warn against it. I like gel-type self tanners for the drying time and this one said it was "gradual" so I assumed it would be fairly light. I find the buildable self tanners best for me because I am super pale and they are more forgivable. Anyway, this went on seemingly fine although it is clear so you have to be careful. I did a very light application and at first the smell was great. I have become fairly immune to self tanner smells but this one woke me up in the night and was so, so bad I am going to have to wash my sheets to get it off them. I could have forgiven that had I not also woken up orange and splotchy. I was late to work due to the long time spent trying to exfoliate in the shower. It was not gradual for me at ALL. I applied as I normally do on exfoliated skin free of lotion using latex gloves and then I walked around in the buff until it dried and wore loose clothing after. In fact, in spite of this supposedly being a fast drying gel it felt quite sticky for way longer than my Jergens foam or my Sephora spray which I will go back to now. Anyway, I was happy I could return it and this was the last time (unless they have some sort of breakthrough) that I attempt a Loreal self tanner. I am sure they work great for some people but I've just had too many bad experiences. I was hoping something new would change that but not so.
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Sunscreen -Peter Thomas Roth - Instant Mineral SPF 30
Akear 6/6/2010 7:44:00 PM
I am a huge fan of this powder. I work outside most of the time and so sunscreen is a big deal for me. I also get fairly dirty and I like this because I can wipe my face off and reapply my sunscreen easily. The packaging is a trainwreck though. I don't like the brush and it is impossible to wash it. So...I bought a sifter jar from Sephora and whenever I get a new container of this I immediately unscrew the bottom and empty it into the sifter. That way I can use my own brush that I can wash when I want. Other than that a great touch up sunscreen product. I have bought time and again and will continue to do so. Would prefer the product to be repackaged though, until then I will do it myself!
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Lipstick -Urban Decay - Confession
Akear 2/22/2010 2:55:00 PM
I like the shade of this even on my super pale, cool toned self. I sheer it out to a matte stain and it really perks me up. That said, it is drying although I have very sensetive lips (can't go anywhere near MAC lippies or glosses) and this does not bother me except for needing a balm. What I cannot stand and will keep me from repurchasing is the stupid dagger on the end of the tube. I am busy and disorganized. I need products that can travel and be tossed in a bag and I need to be able to root about in that bag for them on the go. The stupid dagger has shredded the lining of one bag already. I put it in its own little makeup case which worked when I rememembered to do it, but then I wouldn't zip it and it would fall out and scratch whatever else was in my bag. There are no less than 427 other dark vampy lip shades that can be sheered out into a nice stain that do not come with daggers. This was not unique or fabulous enough to justify the inconvenience, and sadly has turned me off of UD lippies regardless of how fabulous they are...NO lippie is going to change my life enough to justify the ripping of the lining of my favorite bag because of their *I'm so edgy* dagger... Yes I am bitter....
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - Oral-B Pulsonic
Akear 1/19/2009 8:48:00 AM
Miracle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let me just be upfront, I smoke, drink lots of coffee and red wine. Things have been dramatic lately so I'm smoking a lot and drinking a lot of wine, and then I need a lot of coffee in the morning. I bought this on a whim, in slight desperation because I have an interview this week. I have a spot between my two front teeth that always stains and a crevice on one of my front teeth that also stains. I bleach the living daylights out of my teeth with trays and gel from my dentist that cost and arm and a leg and I am so self concious about the stains that I bleach until I am in pain. Everything budges but those areas. Last night I bought this little miracle on a whim thinking it might help a little. Keep in mind I have been doing dentist prescibed bleaching for 6 months! Well, I took it out and used it for 2 minutes concentrating on my trouble spots, when I rinsed my mouth I noticed the stain on the suface of my tooth was GONE, something my bleaching trays haven't budged. So, without much hope for another miracle, I used the little "between teeth" attachment and attached the nitemare between my two front teeth and it was like I used a magic eraser! It is GONE!!!!! About $500 dollars and tons of time and sensitivity later without perfect results and I all I needed was this little $50 toothbrush. This is the single best purchase I can remember making in recent history and absolutely one of the best things that has happened to my self esteem.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -Maybelline - Dream Matte Pressed Powder
Akear 10/15/2007 9:24:00 PM
I have never repurchased a powder before. Powder has always been my never-ending quest, but I am now on my THIRD compact of this.For the most part, I've always preferred loose powder but I work 12 hour shifts now and needed something I could carry in my bag. I bought this on a whim in "cream" and my relationship with powder changed immediately. I use this EVERY single day, and I use to hardly ever use powder. First, the color matches are really good for me. Cream has been great, but I also have a backup of "fair" for winter. Next, I have NO shine with this, even on humid days and over an unfortunately greasy sunscreen. As the weather gets cooler and my skin gets drier I get flaky, but this powder is not accentuating that like others have. I have actually been wearing this on its own most of the time - something else I've never done w/ a pressed power aside from Studio Fix. The coverage is perfect, but ironically I can also touch up as many times as I want during the day and I don't get cakey!!!!!!!!!!! I can't find anything wrong with it and I like I said, I've never liked one powder so much that I repurchased and I'm 3 compacts into this with a backup :) The only thing I sort of don't like is that the mirror is a little awkward in my opinion, and if you don't put the puff powder-side up on the mirror the mirror gets gross. I also immediately toss the sponge it comes with and use better quality ones that I buy seperately. GREAT product.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Philosophy - Hope in a Jar - for all skin types
Akear 10/13/2007 10:20:00 PM
I am really not a fan of this. My skin tends to be dry, but not complicated. I can get by with a wide variety of creams and lotions. This really did nothing at all as far as moisturizing goes. My skin isn't even really that dry right now. If that were the only issue I would finish the jar, but I also have a few little pimples (which I never get). But honestly, the last straw is the fragrance. Even when I keep it far away from my eyes it makes them water. I'm NEVER super sensetive to fragrance like lots of people. This is pure stink. It smells like something from one of the dissections in my undergrad biology lab. Blech.
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Mascara -Maybelline - Lash Stylist Mascara ] [DISCONTINUED]
Akear 10/8/2007 4:14:00 PM
I wear mascara everyday but I am by no means picky about it, except that I like waterproof formulas. That being said, this was the first mascara i have ever thrown out. Normally, even if it isn't the greatest I've tried I'll make it though the tube - this was horrible on me. I was intrigued by the brush design, but this was thick, gloppy, hard to control and clumped like there is no tomorrow. I had these goopy spiked lashes and the formula smeared everywhere. I am a "if I buy it I'm darn well going to use it" kind of girl, so I tried this many different ways - applying less, more, letting it dry, not letting it dry, following with a lash brush, wiping the brush off a bit, etc. Every single time it was unwearable, not just not so good, but unwearable.
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Sunscreen -Neutrogena - Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Sunblock Gel SPF 30
Akear 7/2/2007 7:52:00 PM
I just got back from the store, where I had to go to buy *another* sunscreen to replace this one. It balled up and flaked something fierce. I had to actually wipe my arm with a towell to get all the balls off and I had flakes all over my shirt. I made the mistake of touching some papers with my arm and the ink smeared all over me I guess from the alchohol). It was also FAR more shiny on me than either the HT oil-free lotion or the BB sunwear 50. I tried to use it on my face but I had to actually hold my breath while applying because the alcohol was choking me :( I'll use it in a pinch, but only in a pinch.
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Liquid -Physicians Formula - CoverToxTen50 Wrinkle Therapy Foundation
Akear 3/30/2007 11:35:00 PM
This is the first PF product that has completely failed me. I like the mineral powders and the mineral liquid foundation. This was an "emergency" purchase while I was out of town. I had recently discovered the liquid mineral and liked it but had a full tube so I thought I would try this for something different. I normally don't wear liquid foundation and if I do I just use it under my eyes or on blemishes. I prefer just to wear some powder most of the time but I was having a bad skin day. This was awful. Regardless of my bad skin day, I applied this and then went into the bathroom of the nearest Starbucks and washed it off - bad skin was better than this cakey mess :( The color match was good, but unlike the mineral liquid it sat completely on top of my skin, was streaky, and dried me out within seconds. It was almost like applying a tinted clay mask. Anyway, when I got back home I tried several methods of application - fingers, brush, sponge, thining it out with moisturizer, etc. Nothing works. It still looks and feels like a clay mask. I tried again today to use it on my undereye circles from allergies and a blemish on my temple, but once again didn't make it past the door with this on my face. You know it is serious when I would rather leave the house with nasty circles and a huge blemish because the cover-up is worse! I normally love PF products. I have never been dissapointed before. This just didn't work for me - still my favorite d/s line for powder and MMU tho.
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Styling Products -Jessicurl - Rockin Ringlets
Akear 3/14/2007 11:25:00 PM
I have been forcing myself to use up my bottle of this and I'm almost finished with it. I was so sure I was going to love this, but I just can't get it to work for me. I've tried less, more, layered under and over a number of things. The only reason I've been so persistent is that I'm determined to use it up. I also don't think that a product is right for me if I have to work so darn hard to get it to work. It just seems to do nothing at all for my 3a hair except add another product and if anything, it seems to make my hair dry and frizzy. I also seem to be less able to get second day hair when I use this.
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Conditioner -Jessicurl - Jessicurl - Too Shea Extra Moisturizing Conditioner
Akear 2/25/2007 5:47:00 PM
This is my favorite deep condish, although I still think I prefer OneC for my normal daily condish. I have this in Citrus Lavendar and I love the scent. It really does give me the softest hair ever and feels quite luxurious. I also like it as a leave-in under my gel (which is my primary use for it - OneC in the shower, then this as a leave-in). I hate the tub packaging. In fact, I just dumped about half a brand new jar in the shower when I knocked it over the other day :( Will definately buy again tho, it is a really, really good condish!
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Styling Products -Garnier - FRUCTIS Sleek and Shine - Leave-in Conditioning Cream
Akear 2/24/2007 10:38:00 PM
I *almost* threw this out. I tried it a couple of months ago on wet hair and it felt sort of tacky and gunky. I'm naturally curly and I generally follow the CG routine but I am okay with the a-cone for the most part (my OneC has it) and use Jessicurl hair cleansing cream to remove it... So, I've been using this for second day hair the past few days, or a bit scrunched into dry hair as a finisher or during the day to perk up my curls. It is working great on dry hair for me, so glad I didn't toss this!
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Sunscreen -Shiseido - Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 55 PA+++ [DISCONTINUED]
Akear 2/24/2007 9:05:00 PM
This product has changed my relationship with sunscreen! I must admit that I usually rely on moisturizer with suncreen in it and sometimes had used Neutrogena Dry Touch, but I've decided that I need to be much more serious about protecting my face... I was skeptical at first because I don't like feeling like I have gunk on my face and my skin in dry but gets pretty shiny too. This is my favorite skincare product ever! It doesn't feel like I have anything on, not filmy or shiny. I apply over my moisturizer and it actually seems to mattify me, acts almost like a primer. I dust a bit of MMU over the top and it literally makes my makeup look better, for longer! Expensive but worth ever penny!
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Lip Gloss -MAC - Barbie-Happening Gal
Akear 2/16/2007 11:56:00 PM
I love this so much! I never buy lippies because my BF hates anything on my lips so much that it isn't worth the fight. I don't even know why I got it, I was just drawn to it! I usually just wear balm or a clear lipgloss with a little sparkle and I pat out the glossiness. I'm a NW20 and this is the best lippie I've tried in so long. My BF even likes it, not just tolerates it, but actually really likes it!!!!!!!!!
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