Cleansers -Ole Henriksen - On The Go - Exhilarating Cleanser
Cat1104 5/2/2013 12:39:00 PM
My skin: oily and easily dehydrated (lacking water, not oil), sensitive/reactive, clog-prone. Unfortunately, this cleanser didn't work at all for me. I tried it numerous times over a 14-month span. It does have a thick consistency that seems hard to spread; however, it turns into a super-sudsy foam when rubbed between *very wet* palms/hands. It cleanses well and washes away without leaving a residue, but it is incredibly dehydrating. It wasn't as bad during humid months (really most of the year where I live), but I found I couldn't use it more than two days in a row. It left my skin feeling tight and dry also caused some breakouts. My skin tends to break out when it's dehydrated/irritated. Will not repurchase.
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Cleansers -Fresh - Soy Face Cleanser
Cat1104 5/2/2013 12:02:00 PM
My skin: oily but gets dehydrated (lack of water, not oil) very easily, sensitive/reactive, clog-prone I have an ambivalent relationship with Fresh's Soy Face Cleanser. It's kind of pricey for the amount you get, and it contains so many parabens/preservatives. I'm not particularly bothered by parabens. Parabens keep mold, bacteria, etc from growing in products, but this cleanser contains so many of them. I counted at least 11 parabens/preservatives. Why so many??? I always wonder what kind of damage or sensitivity, if any, is caused by long-term usage of products containing parabens. On the other hand, this cleanser is very gentle and does not dehydrate my skin. In fact, it's the only gel cleanser I've tried that rinses clean yet doesn't dry out or irritate my skin nor does it irritate my eyes-- a HUGE plus to me. If it gets in my eyes, it doesn't burn at all. It has a gel consistency, but it doesn't get very foamy/sudsy. It does have a scent, but it's not an added synthetic fragrance. The scent comes from the natural ingredients. To me it smells like a combination of cucumber and rose. Soy Face Cleanser doesn't break me out, which is surprising because it contains a couple ingredients, specifically ascorbyl palmitate and retinyl palmitate, that tend to block my pores and cause breakouts in other formulations (concealers and creams/lotions). It also contains soybean oil, which can be problematic for some acne-prones, but interestingly it doesn't cause breakouts for me in this cleanser formulation. I definitely recommend giving this cleanser a try if you cannot find a foaming/gel-type cleanser that doesn't strip your skin. Of course, make sure none of the ingredients are problematic for you first. After trying many other cleansers, I always come back to this one.
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Treatments -Paula's Choice - RESIST BHA 9
Cat1104 4/5/2013 4:19:00 PM
5/1/13 UPDATE: Downgrading this to 1. It seemed to work well for me the first couple months (used sparingly), but I've had more pimples pop up lately in areas where I've used BHA 9, so I think it's the culprit. It didn't seem to be doing anything, so I used it several nights in a row and it really dried out my skin and caused more breakouts. I think the SA becomes ineffective after repeated exposure to air, so this might be better in the full-sized container afterall (if it's airtight), but I'm definitely not spending the money on it. ORIGINAL review: I tried PC's 2% BHA liquid a few times in the past with a negative reaction each time, so I'm not sure why I decided to give this one a try. I bought it with spot-treating in mind, and I'm actually quite surprised by the results. My skin is sensitive, oily/dehydrated, prone to clogged pores and occasional inflamed pimples that are sometimes cystic (hormonal as they usually happen around my period). After reading through the reviews, I think samples are the way to go. I bought 3 of them for under $13 shipped while there was a % off. A deluxe sample comes in a small .03 ounce vile, like a typical perfume sample. I put a clean fingertip over the vile opening and turn upside down to get some product on my finger, then I dip a clean eyeliner brush into what's on my fingertip and dab it onto any spots on my face. A little goes a long way; I've been using the same vile for almost 2 months with a bit left. I tend to use only as needed, and I've found it really does take down the swelling and sometimes the pimple is almost gone by morning. Of course, some pimples are worse than others and require more than one treatment, but overall this works well for me. I'm pleasantly surprised.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Macadamia Deep Repair Masque
Cat1104 3/30/2013 10:56:00 PM
My hair is medium thickness and wavy. I don't color it, but I do heat style once a week if at all. My hair often looks frizzy and dry, which I believe is mostly due to hard water. This stuff makes my hair soooo soft and healthier-looking. Love it.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Shiseido - Urban Environment UV Protection SPF43
Cat1104 3/30/2013 10:24:00 PM
UPDATE 4/11: Upping this to 4 lipsticks instead of 3. After using this for 2.5 weeks, I really like it. It hasn't caused any breakouts or clogged pores, which is amazing because everything clogs me (oily/dehydrated, sensitive, clog prone skin). I think my skin was a bit irritated when I first tried it, which explains the initial itchiness. I haven't experienced any itchiness since then. It doesn't t really cover any spots, but I find it evens out my skin tone so that all I need is a little concealer. It does give my skin skin a bit of a glow; not a shiny/luminescent glow but rather a hint-of-color kind of glow. I'm still not completely satisfied with the color, but it's so sheer that it blends nicely, and of course, it works as a makeup base as well so I can put foundation over it if I wanted. I find it's not as oil-controlling as the Urban Environment SPF 40 CREAM, but this tinted version doesn't contain any zinc like the SPF 40 Cream. Will definitely repurchase. ORIGINAL review: I haven't been using this long enough to give it a proper review, but I thought I would post a swatch of shade 1 with some comparisons. I'm not 100% happy with the color. I find it a bit too peachy for my fair olive skin (around N15-20), but it's wearable if I blend onto my neck (don't like doing this) or use bronzer on my neck... sort of gives me a bit of color/slight orange glow. Shade 2, which looked more neutral, seemed like better fit for my skin tone, but it was too dark. I think #2 would suit N25-30 skin better. This can be used as makeup base and is easily removed with a daily cleanser when worn on it's own. It does have fragrance, but I don't notice it after the product has dried. So far, I'm not sure how I feel about it. I think it annoys my sensitive skin (makes my skin itchy). Will update later. Swatch:
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy Damage and Color Repair Deep Nourishing Treatment Mask
Cat1104 3/22/2013 3:54:00 PM
This treatment did not impress me at all. It claims to deeply nourish the scalp and hair as well as repair visible signs of damage in only 3 minutes* (*refers to visible signs of damage). The texture is thick and comparable to a moisturizing conditioner, and it smells like shampoo/conditioner (not sure how else to described the scent). I've never colored my hair, but I do heat style it sometimes, so I have some damage and dryness. My hair isn't fine, but it isn't coarse either. It is naturally wavy. If I do nothing with it, it can look somewhat frizzy and dry. Unfortunately, this product didn't do anything positive for my hair. I used this once a week, sometimes twice a week, until I finished the 6oz tube. Of course, I was not expecting to see visible results in three minutes, but I expected it to at least make my hair feel soft and moisturized. My hair didn't feel any softer nor did it look any smoother or healthier. It actually made my hair feel drier. Will not repurchase.
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Cleansers -Cetaphil - Gentle Skin Cleanser
Cat1104 3/21/2013 6:33:00 PM
My skin: oily/dehydrated (lacking water), sensitive, clog-prone I'm not entirely sure how this is "gentle" unless by gentle they mean it doesn't cleanse well. It has cetyl alcohol, sodium lauryl sulfate, and stearyl alcohol, which are irritating to my skin. Every time I used this, I felt a burning sensation. I think this might be ok for someone who doesn't wear makeup and isn't sensitive to any of the ingredients, but it doesn't work for me at all.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Boscia - Purifying Cleansing Gel
Cat1104 3/21/2013 6:17:00 PM
My skin: oily with a tendency to become dehydrated (lacking water), sensitive, clog-prone This seemed like a great cleanser at first, but with continued use, it dried out my skin. Also, I think I am sensitive to some of the botanicals in it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Philosophy - Purity Made Simple (Real Purity Cleanser)
Cat1104 3/21/2013 4:53:00 PM
My skin: oily/dehydrated, sensitive, clog-prone This removes makeup well, but I found it too drying and irritating for my skin type. My skin got very dehydrated, causing it to produce more oil. It's supposed to be ok for sensitive skin, but it has quite a few irritating essential oils. I don't recommend for very sensitive skin, but your results may differ.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Fusion water resistant
Cat1104 3/19/2013 7:38:00 PM
This is terrible! It's supposed to be a volume plus length formula, but it did neither for my lashes (stick straight and on the thin side) and it doesn't hold a curl at all. One of the worst mascaras I've ever tried!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Waterproof
Cat1104 3/19/2013 7:33:00 PM
I quite like this mascara. I have stick straight, thin lashes, and this mascara adds volume as well as holds curl. It doesn't really add any length, but it's not supposed to. Overall, it's a great drugstore mascara that I'll continue to repurchase.
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Lotions/ Creams -Pacifica - Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter
Cat1104 3/19/2013 7:10:00 PM
I'm not a fragrance-loving type of gal. Many times I avoid fragrances because they give me a headache, but this scent is heavenly if you like fruity or citrus scents... it does smell sweet as well though. The scent is not long-lasting, which is a plus for me, but I can certainly understand how it could be a bummer for some. Pacifica describes it as "blend, juicy and spicy Blood Orange is offset with subtle Strawberry and Raspberry notes and grounded in fleshy Mandarin and Italian Sweet Orange." I think that's an accurate description; although, it kind of smells like mango to me too. It has vitamin e, kukui nut, macadamia nut and rosehip seed oils combined with shea and mango butters, which is plenty moisturizing for my skin, but I don't have particularly dry skin due to living in a warm, humid climate, so I can't say whether it would be moisturizing enough for severely dry skin. As long as I don't use too much, it soaks in quickly and doesn't leave a greasy residue. I purchased the 8 oz tube from Target for $14.99. Loooove it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - Mandelic Acid Toner
Cat1104 3/18/2013 1:24:00 AM
I have oily/dehydrated, clog-prone, sensitive skin. I'm prone to clogged pores that sometimes become inflamed, specifically on my chin. It seemed as though I always had a cystic breakout on my chin. Once it healed, another one would pop up, so I always had at least one cystic pimple on my chin. I've been using this toner for three months and don't get cystic breakouts on my chin anymore. Anything that pops up is very small and goes away quickly. I have tried this on other areas of my face for clogged pores, but it's too dehydrating and causes flaking and irritation, which leads breakouts for me. I only use it on my chin and occasionally forehead every other night, sometimes less frequently depending on how my skin is reacting.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Tatcha - Skincare Sample Set
Cat1104 3/18/2013 12:21:00 AM
My skin: oily, clog-prone, VERY sensitive and gets dehydrated easily (loses water). The presentation is lovely. The packaging for the full-sized products looks so elegant and beautiful. All the samples have clear and easy to follow directions. However, I did not like that full ingredients were not listed on anything (sample and deluxe sizes; I'm not talking about full-sized products), only key ingredients are listed. I had to google to find them. All of Tatcha's products are formulated without mineral oil, synthetic colors, synthetic fragrances, sulfate detergents, parabens, glycol, PEGs, PPGs, DEA, TEA, or phthalates, which supposedly makes them non-irritating and non-sensitizing. While this may be true to some extent, I don't recommend this for *truly* sensitive skin (hypersensitive or those with compromised moisture/lipid barrier) types or acne-prone/clog-prone skin. I found that many of the products contain *potentially* (everyone's skin is different. what clogs me, might not clog you, etc) pore-clogging and/or irritating ingredients such as isocetyl stearate, alcohol, cyclopentasiloxane, algae extract, papain, talc. Also if you're sensitive to coconut derivatives (caprylic/capric triglycerides) or olive derivatives (squalane/squalene from olive), not that these are bad ingredients - they aren't but they cause problems for some, stay away as the Brightening Serum and the Moisture Rich Silk Cream contains one or the other. I did not try all of the products due to them having ingredients that are problematic for me. However, I did try the cleansing oil and the rice enzyme powder, both of which contain algae extract by the way, and they simply did not work for me. My skin felt very dehydrated and tight after use, but I am prone to dehydration. I believe it also caused some rash-like clogs on my cheeks. Everything has a light natural scent, not really floral but slightly medicinal or herbal. I don't know how to describe it. At first it's pleasant to me, but then it's kind of sickening despite being light. The oil blotting papers are pretty with the gold flecks, but less expensive ones work just as well if not better in my experience. I do love the beauty of them though and will probably repurchase (blotting papers). I have no doubt that this line works beautifully for some skin types. It does have many nice ingredients, but many of them aren't right for my skin. Overall, a huge disappointment to me because I really wanted it to work for my skin... have read many good reviews. Customer service is awesome. I recommend checking the ingredients before using if you're highly sensitive. As always, patch test first.
7 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Shu Uemura - Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/O
Cat1104 3/17/2013 11:29:00 PM
My skin: oily, clog-prone, sensitive that gets dehydrated very easily. I used this 6 or 7 years ago with no problem. For whatever reason, I stopped using it. I tried it again recently, and it caused tiny red irritation bumps all over my face. I suppose my skin has changed over the years and has become very reactive to oils. Over the past year, I've tried many oil cleansers to remove tenacious sunscreens. They all leave me with irritation, clogged pores, breakouts, and flaky skin. I'd like to give this 1 lippie, but I'm giving it 2 since it worked for me once upon a time.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No