Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - Upper Canada - Naturally Sweet Vanilla Fig Body Butter
BerlinerPooh 4/1/2013 2:35:00 AM
I purchased this body butter because the shop assistant assured me it was not at all greasy like the Body Shop butters and smelled divine. There was no tester available but I decided it could not be bad going by the brand name and lovely packaging. I also bought the Warm Honey Nectar version. I don't know if I have really weird skin but I was not at all impressed with these products! The smell was ok on both products but I felt like I was trying to rub soap on dry skin. The texture was very pasty and not it the least emollient ... a bit like zinc oxide cream. My skin felt sticky afterwards. I actually wrote to the company in the USA and asked them if this was normal. They told me that it was not and that the product was probably expired. I sent them the number printed on the bottom of the tub but never heard anything back. How is the average person supposed to figure out if a product is ok or not if there are no expiry or production dates clearly marked??? Here in Mexico this stuff is not cheap and you cannot just return it like in the US and Canada!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Makeup Remover -Neutrogena - Oil Free eye makeup remover
BerlinerPooh 3/1/2013 1:19:00 AM
Contrary to what the bottle claims, this product is most definitely NOT suitable for contact lens wearers! I am careful when purchasing eye make-up removers and cannot use anything oil based. I purchased a pack of two at Costco because it claims to be oil-free but I just used it and it feels very greasy and leaves a film on the skin. It got into my eyes and left my lenses blurry! None of my usual oil-free eye make-up removers need to be shaken before use and this one does. If not oil, what is that stuff floating around ... glycerine? On the plus side, if you do not wear lenses or do take them out before removing make-up (I can't see what I am doing without them :o) so I need mine on) then this product is excellent. I was wearing cream shadow, heavy mascara, eye liner and it was all gone in one sweep. No effort required there. I then sprayed some thermal water on a cotton pad and went over my eyes again to remove the greasy mess left behind. I also used it to remove my face make-up and thermal water after took care of the residue. My face now feels clean and very soft! I shall use it up for my face from now on but not sure if I will repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Yves Rocher - Pure Calmille Day/Night moisturising skin cream
BerlinerPooh 2/17/2013 3:14:00 AM
Found this terribly greasy and hated the way it felt on my face. Broke out the next day. Also, the smell is just awful! Can't even use it as a hand cream :o(
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -Garnier - Nutrisse Nourishing Color Creme in 535 Medium Golden Mahogany Brown
BerlinerPooh 1/23/2013 12:14:00 PM
Brown with a twist! Have used Garnier Nutrisse for years and have tried most of the colours and highlights kits with great results. I bought this colour in Germany last summer as 5.35 Golden Auburn Brown (now impossible to find for some reason) and I used it last week. My hair was a dark blonde with highlights and because it is winter and my skin is pale, I decided to try this one for a change. The result is a wonderful natural rich brown with auburn highlights. My hair is much thicker with lots of shine and this colour really suits my pale (yellow undertone) complexion with brown eyes. I live in Mexico City now and have been looking for the local or USA equivalent. Picked up Caramelo 57 Light Golden Mahogany Brown (made in Mexico) which has the same pic on the front and colour chart on the side. I hope it gives me similar results next time I colour ... fingers and toes crossed! I don't like the smell of the hair colour but it fades quickly and the condition leaves my hair nice and soft.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Organix - pomegranate green tea shampoo
BerlinerPooh 2/11/2012 10:23:00 AM
I have fine, dry and frizz prone colour treated hair and have used the Shea Butter, Vanilla Silk and Coconut Milk shampoos (and matching conditioners) with great success. It is difficult (and expensive) to find Organix in Europe so I tend to buy it in bulk on line. I decided to try this for a change but so far, I am not impressed. According to the bottle it targets dry a brittle hair but it made mine feel like straw after I washed it. It was a mess of tangles after rinsing and the conditioner did very little to help the situation. My hair is dull and blah! So disappointed! It does smell very nice - fresh and fruity - lovely in the morning. I will probably give it away or make my husband use it :o)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Freeman - Bare Foot Scrub
BerlinerPooh 12/7/2011 7:51:00 AM
I have used the Freemans foot scrubs with pumice for many years and found them very effective at keeping my feet soft and fresh. I raved about these products to anyone who listened and often gave tubes away to friends; they loved this stuff too! I recently travelled to Johannesburg where I spotted a load of Freeman's products in one of the larger drugstores and promptly bought an armful of Bare Foot tubes to keep me going for a while. Now, the packaging has changed in colour/design somewhat since my last purchase (that seems to happen a lot with this company) but I never expected the product to change that much! I finished an old tube of Peppermint and Plum last night and started a new one from my recent purchase. The difference was unbelievable! The old one is creamy but very gritty and rough. Only a small amount was needed to work at getting the hard skin off. The new one is all cream and hardly any grit. I felt like I was massaging my feet with a slimy body lotion. It did nothing at all and adding more is hopeless. I now have to think up a way to use these up, perhaps by adding some sugar or salt, and once they are finished I am done with Freeman ... unless they bring the old formula back. Grrrrrrrr :o( One star for pretty packaging and one star for a nice smell!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Garnier - eye roll on with caffeine
BerlinerPooh 5/18/2011 9:53:00 AM
Garnier have brought out quite a few of these that seem to differ from country to country! My review is for Garnier Nutrionist Eye Roll-on in the green applicator with Caffeine and Provitamin B5. I seem to be one of the very few who actually likes this product! I have been using it for quite a while and although I cannot honestly say that my eye bags and dark circles are completely gone, I just love the ball! I keep mine in the fridge and use it as a pick-me-up first thing in the morning and after a long hot day out. On application, the cold metal ball it is very soothing for tired puffy eyes and I find it tightens the skin and helps with swelling. The liquid gel can get a bit sticky if too much is used but I find one swipe under the eyes and under the brow is enough; I usually let it settle before dotting on an eye cream with SPF. Take care : the product left on the ball from previous use can make the roller stick a bit, so it is important to go easy at first and avoid pulling on the skin. For the price this a very "cool" product and I will buy it again until something better comes along.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Clothes -Victoria's Secret - General Opinion
BerlinerPooh 12/13/2010 4:49:00 PM
I first came across a VS catalogue in 1994 and fell in love! I ordered from them several times over the years, moving from country to country and always delighted with the fantastic quality, superb fitting, fast shipping all over the world and first class customer service. I could not get enough of their bra tops and bought them in all colours of the rainbow, fab beach wear, beautiful rayon dresses, gorgeous knits, and the best underwear I had ever worn. Many of these items are still in my wardrobe proudly showing their "made in usa" labels looking almost like the day I unpacked them. I introduced several friends who soon became hooked and we used to spend hours making up huge orders to save on shipping. Their Colin Stuart shoes were elegant and well priced. They always had lots of choice in flats and heels, casual and formal, no matter the season. I still own 3 pairs of sandals which have seen me through many many parties in comfort and style. I do not think I will ever find shoes like that again so I treat them like they were Manolos ... with great care! Sadly, I only order once a year now, if at all. My favourite VS Cotton bra designs have slowly been discontinued, the shoes are trashy and the clothes even more so. The sizes are all over the place and the quality very disappointing. So long Victoria, it was nice knowing you!
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Creative Nail Design - Solar Oil
BerlinerPooh 8/13/2010 5:03:00 PM
I started using this product on the advice of a nail technician who told me Solar Oil would help keep my newly applied acrylic nails flexible and care for my cuticles as well. I have been unable to grow my nails at all for many many years relying on UV gel enhancements to keep them looking decent. I happened to be in Johannesburg when I visited a nail salon a couple of months ago and it appears UV is a bit of a mistery there, so had to settle for acrylics. Anyway, I got a tiny bottle of the oil and applied it every evening while watching TV. Eventually my natural nails started appearing, the acrylics grew out and I continued to use the oil as I enjoyed the ritual. A few weeks later I noticed that my own nails were growing and not breaking! They had a nice sheen and the tips looked healthy, the cuticles were smooth and I had no hangnails; another irritating problem that disappeared. At some point I had to file them down as they were way too long! I attribute this to regular use of Solar Oil as I made no other changes in diet or lifestyle. Meanwhile I ran out of the Solar Oil and started using a bottle of Sally Hansen's Vitamin E cuticle oil that I bought ages ago. My cuticles are rough, sore and peeling once again plus my thumb nail broke earlier this evening. Eeek, I am ordering another bottle of SO, right now!!! Highly recommended :o)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Chanel - White Satin
BerlinerPooh 10/31/2009 3:45:00 PM
I am in the minority here but I am delighted with this! I was in Douglas during my holidays in Germany and fell in love with it, balked at the price, put it back and then returned the next day to purchase even though it is probably the most expensive polish I will ever own in my entire life :o) This is a very sheer barely there natural white, one coat makes my nails look glossy and "dressed", two coats look denser but still classy. I did a third coat today but it is still not completely opaque, just a little creamier. It's a great look for my current short nails. The SA at Douglas showed me how to apply it to prevent streaks and it works great! Take the brush and quickly swipe it down from cuticle to tip with a very light hand. Don't press down too much and avoid going over the same area again. I find this technique easy enough and am going to try it with my hoard of discarded pastel polishes. I have finally found my natural white HG polish and I hope they do not discontinue it! For the record this does not have a "satin" finish as suggested in the name. It's milky and glossy without shimmer.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -La Roche Posay - Effaclar A.I.
BerlinerPooh 10/6/2009 8:31:00 PM
I hardly get any pimples these days - thank you RoC - but when I do, this product really helps! I noticed its effectiveness for the first time when I squeezed (naughty me) a deep spot just under my jaw line because the lump was driving me mad. I ended up with a red inflamed blemish that just would not fade. Since I am allergic to BP and find most spot gels too drying, I decided to try this and within 3-4 days the redness was completely gone and the blemish faded to nothing. More recently, another cyst appeared in the same area - probably due to habitual use of my fist to support my head - and it felt like a very hard pea under the skin, with visible inflammation. I decided not to play with it and immediately began treatment with Effaclar A.I. twice a day, just on the spot. After 3 days it has reduced in size and cannot be seen at all. The lump is barely there when I touch it and I am confident this product will get rid of it in due course. I have had no undesirable side effects so far; no dehydration of the skin, no nasty residue, no itching or flaking. I do not detect any fragrance either. Although this is formulated for oily skin, I believe it is suitable for all skin types when used as directed. This is a spot treatment so only a tiny amount is needed; it lasts quite a while :o) Ingredients: Water, DI-C12-13 alkyl malate, cyclohexasiloxane, propylene glycol, aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, PEG-100 stearate, glyceryl stearate, cetyl alcohol, PEG-4 dilaurate, PEG-4 laurate, zinc PCA, sodium hydroxide, capryloyl salicylic acid, xanthan gum, acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, iodoproponyl butylcarbamate, PEG-4, fragrance.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Clinique - Moisture Sheer Tint [DISCONTINUED]
BerlinerPooh 7/13/2009 8:58:00 AM
Purchased this in lieu of my beloved Souffle de Teint from Clarins which has become difficult to find in Germany. I hate that! Anyway, the lady at the Clinique counter recommended it for my skin type (oily/combination. enlarged pores and somewhat sensitive) in the colour "Beige" which suits me fine. She applied it using a cosmetic sponge and I was plesantly surprised with the result! Have been using it for about 6 months now and cannot complain; it does exactly what it says on the packaging! It's easy to apply and just disappears into my skin. I usually blend with fingertips and then go over lightly with a makeup sponge to finish. Unlike foundations I have tried (and hated) in the past, my pores actually appear reduced and my complexion looks smoother with a natural healthy glow. I don't need to use a lot and looking through the tube with a backlight, seems I have just under half left, so good value I think :o) I like that it has SPF15 and stays put all day, no oily/dry patches or colour changes either. It is moisturising enough on it's own for me during warmer weather, but perhaps insufficient for very dry skins. I occasionally breakout (once a month!) and did not find this product irritated or clogged my skin at all. It does not provide complete coverage of course so I do apply a little concealer to the one or two blemishes that might show through. I do try to avoid using it around the eyes as recommended by Clinique. The packaging is ok, the tube is soft enough to get the product out without waste. I hardly notice the fragrance, it's barely there to my nose. Will repurchase!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -The Body Shop - Moringa Body Milk
BerlinerPooh 7/12/2009 5:35:00 PM
I live in Kigali (Rwanda) and see Moringa trees everywhere. They don't look impressive at all and I wouldn't plant one in my garden but here they call them "The Miracle tree"! Next time I see one in flower I shall stop and have a sniff :o) With regard to this lotion ... I just love it! I am the sort of person who enjoys airy floral scents like Amazing Grace and Pure White Linen in the warmer months. This fits me perfectly and I don't feel the need to wear any fragrance after application as the lotion is perfumed enough. It does seem potent at first but it mellows quickly into a lovely clean gentle smell. The texture is very light and the spray is concentrated so it does not go all over the place. I squirt into my hand and apply; it absorbs instantly and leaves my skin feeling cool and velvety :o) Will definitely buy more!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Waltz
BerlinerPooh 7/3/2009 5:08:00 PM
I purchased this hoping to replace my favourite "naked white" nail polishes (discontinued by Lancome and Helena Rubinstein) but once again, after years of searching for the one, am still looking! I mainly use this type of sheer varnish for a white on white french manicure as it makes my nails look healthy and well groomed. One coat on the tips, then again over the entire nail and I am good to go ... usually :o) Although I did not find Essie particularly expensive I was hoping for a decent quality product from this brand. I was disappointed! This polish is impossible to apply without streaks and I found the brush too thin and sparce; it does not spread the varnish evenly, making the lines very obvious. I actually thought the thinner brush would be better for tips but apparently not. The final all over coat just made my nails look really nasty! I had to remove and start over several times, always rolling the bottle around to ensure it was well blended but it made no difference. The only way I got it to work was to forego the base coat and carefully but swiftly sweep Waltz on the tip, let it dry and go over with a clear top coat. The result was just ok, not the professional finish I had hoped for! I will not repurchase as it is no better than cheap drugstore brands I have tried in the past. Edit 31 May 2011 : I have upgraded this product from 1 to 3 stars since my last reviews. I discovered it hidden away in a drawer after 2 years and decided to give it another go. I was surprised after all this time the consistency is like new! Applied over tips after Mavala Nail Shield (the one with fibers) and it went on smoothly ... no streaks. I then used a clear varnish, another swipe of Waltz over the tips and finally a clear top coat to finish. The effect is a very natural and classy French. Must note though, still looks uneven and streaky applied to the entire nail. The brush is too thin for this I think but it works very well on tips even though I was not particulary careful. :o)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Rimmel - eyeshadows
BerlinerPooh 5/1/2008 6:24:00 PM
Well, I like Rimmel eyeshadows and own three monos in Spun Gold, Dusk and Smokey Quartz. These are my "everyday" shadows because they are practically mistake proof, go on quite sheer but have a slight satin finish which I like. I prefer my eye makeup to look neutral during the day and these do the job perfectly. I was once browsing at the Dior counter and the SA asked me what e/s I was wearing because it looked very natural and the tones really suited my colouring ... she was surprised when I told her! I like the small compacts, no silly brushes and wasted space. I am not very adventurous (or skilled) when it comes to make-up application and Rimmel's Colour Rush range was made for people like me :o)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No