Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Steamcream
Cokioki 1/8/2013 1:24:00 PM
This is my 3rd pot of this multi-purpose cream. It's lightweight, yet nourishes skin pretty well and if you add a drop of body oil (almond, jojoba, whatever you have at home) it really makes skin glow. But I'm sad to see parabens in it and triethanolamine, which are suspect ingredients, when the rest of the ingredients are great. I'll finish this pot and then I'll try find something without the parabens and triethanolamine. Also, if you use this as a body moisturiser you'll finish this pot very quickly.
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Toners -Ren - Clarifying Toning Lotion
Cokioki 5/27/2012 9:04:00 AM
This is a new product from Ren and it's a part of the combination skin range that they have. It's a toner with exfoliating properties so it's a bit like Clinique's lotions (3 step regime). As well as lightly exfoliating the skin this toner is supposed to minimize pores and keep skin looking less oily. I have just finished this toner and I have been using it once daily since mid April, 1,5 months. This is the first Ren product that I haven't enjoyed using as much as some of their other products. I ran out of this product very quickly, 1,5 months using it once daily, the size being 150 ml. It didn't make my skin less oily and didn't minimize my pores. The only good things about this toner was that it did exfoliate gently and that the ingredients are better than Clinique's toners. I won't repurchase. Ingredients: Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Water, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Water, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Leaf Extract, Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract, Passiflora Quadrangularis Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract, Alcohol Denat., Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Bisulfite.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Ren - Photoactive Sun Veil SPF15
Cokioki 5/1/2012 4:51:00 AM
I received a smaller size of this sunscreen by REN with my latest order and have been using it 7 times, until I had finished the tube. With skin care I really dislike premature reviews but since the main purpose of this sunscreen is to protect skin from harmful rays, and not to treat it in any way (you're supposed to wear your moisturizer beneath) I think it's OK to write a review about it after 1 week. Some days I've worn a moisturizer beneath this and sometimes I've worn the sunscreen by itself just to see if there are any differences. - Firstly, this sunscreen does NOT leave a white residue on my face even though it contains zinc oxide. - It does NOT feel sticky on my face even if I apply it generously. - I did NOT notice any big differences in my skin when I wore a moisturizer beneath (so I guess you can decide if you want to wear something beneath the sunscreen or not, it's up to you!) - It did NOT make my skin dry or dehydrated (my skin is combination so if you have dry skin you might want to add a moisturizer. At the same time I found the sunscreen had a nice, creamy texture) - I DOES protect against both UVA and UVB rays All in all I really like this sunscreen. It hasn't caused my skin to breakout, it was very comfortable to wear, good ingredients and not too expensive. I won't repurchase though because the spf isn't high enough. SPF 30 is a minimum for me. I know a lot of people have contacted REN through facebook about this so hopefully they'll make one with a higher SPF in the near future. Ingredients: Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Zinc Oxide, Oleyl Alcohol, Camelia Oleifera Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Glycerin, Yeast Amino Acids, Sorbitan Olivate, Sucrose Palmitate, Myristyl Myristate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tricalcium Phosphate, Oryzanol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Isostearic Acid, Parfum* (Fragrance), Morinda Citrifolia Extract, Linalool, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Limonene. *100% natural fragrance - parfum 100% naturel
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Ole Henriksen - African Red Tea Face Mist
Cokioki 4/28/2012 6:36:00 AM
This feels really good on my skin, like another reviewer I spray this mist 2 times into my hands, then rub them together and aplly to my entire face using a patting motion. My skin looks instantly brighter, not sticky, and it's packed with antioxidants. I wish it wasn't so expensive here in Sweden, but I've found it on the internet for a much lower price. The reason I give this 4 lippies is because I wish the bottle wasn't clear (I have a feeling the antioxidants wont keep very well if it's see-through). My skin is combination and acne prone (teenager) and this hasn't affected my acne in anegative way. Also, I find this toner minimizes pores, especially on my nose. I've been using this for 4 months now and I've used up 1/2 of the bottle.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -NARS - Falbala
Cokioki 4/26/2012 3:51:00 PM
Falbala seems to look great on both darker and paler skins. I'm nc25 and I think one reviewer has nc42 :) It's just lovely. Falbala is a perfect mix between bronze and pink and doesn't leave your lips looking ''muddy'' because of it's subtle shine. The colour is buildable so it can be worn during the day as well as during an evening out. This is my everyday lipstick and I like it with my MAC lip pencil in 'morning coffee' (I think it's pro longwear). Morning coffee is similar to Falbala, but a touch more brown which gives my lips definition without looking like Pamela Anderson during the 90's. The reason I give this lippstick only 4 is beacuse of the lasting power. It only lasts for 2 hours and definietly won't survive a meal. Otherwis it's great and it keeps my lips moisturized and looking great in a natural way.
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Treatments -Ren - Hydra-Calm Youth Defence Serum
Cokioki 4/11/2012 10:23:00 AM
I've been using this Hydra-Calm Youth Defence Serum since January 5th 2012 and I really like it. I purchased it in Sweden, Boras, at the pharmacy Doc Morris, and I paid 545 SEK (£38) for a 30 ml bottle. In my bathroom cabinet I also have the Max moisture concentrate, hydra-calm cleansing milk, hydra-calm cleansing gel and ultra-moisture cleansing milk. I've been pleased with all products so far and use them in rotation. I got into the brand REN because I grew tired of using serums with silicones in them. REN has a great philosophy and on their website they list ingredients that they DON'T use in their products: "REN products do not contain potential irritants including: glycols and diglycols (such as propylene glycol), PEG's, PPGs, urea, D.E.A, T.E.A, PABA and other synthetic sunscreens, aliphatic alcohols/hydrocarbons, phthalates, fumarates, amines, alkanolamines, synthetic AHAs/BHAs, polyacrylamide, metacrylate, elastomer, poloxamer, styrene, vinyl, polyquaternium, synthetic chelating agents, nylon, nitriles, nitrates, nitrosamine releasers, bromates, fluor, aluminum and alumina etc." On to the Hydra-Calm Youth Defence Serum. I am 18 years old and I've been struggling with acne since I was 12. My spots aren't extremely many but I have 7-8 at all times and I get blocked pores too. My skin type varies depending on the season but now that winter is turning into spring my skin is becoming more oily (oily t-zone, normal cheeks) instead of being oily yet dehydrated which is how my skin behaves during winter. I prefer a serum to a moisturizer although most brands, including REN, recommend you use both serum and moisturizer to get the most out of the ingredients. The Hydra-Calm Youth Defence Serum is a white-coloured fluid. It's not runny nor thick, it's something in between. The packaging is great with a pump and you can see how much product is left in the bottle. I have been using this for 4 months now and even though I haven't been using it night and day I feel I can give an honest review for this product. Its main purpose is to calm, protect and improve sensitized skin and being a girl with acne and an oily t-zone I find it works for a lot of different skin types. 1 pump of the serum is enough to use on your face, an additional pump for your neck if you want to. The skin absorbs this serum very well after I've massaged it into my skin for 15 seconds. It doesn't leave a residue afterwards on top of the skin. It has NOT affected my acne in a negative way which is fab and it keeps my skin balanced (not making it more oily, but keeps it soft and hydrated). I still have 2/3 of the serum left so the price (£38) doesn't feel so bad in the long run. The serum keeps my skin soft and supple whenever I use it, and I've never woken up to greasy skin if I've been wearing this during the night. Why haven't I given this 5 lippies? Well, I really want to make sure this is the best product and I might rate it higher in a years time or so. You may wonder how come a teenager like me with spotty skin uses this serum when there are skin care products more suited for my type of skin. I find most products geared towards spotty skin to be either too harsh or ineffective and my skin care philosophy is all about looking beyond those nasty spots and to take care of my skin whether it be oily, normal or dry. If my spots are really red and "angry" I find this serum calms them down a little and the serum has not made my spots any worse. I recommend the Hydra-Calm Youth Defence Serum to people with sensitive/acne skin. If you're neither sensitive nor spotty I can't see why you would need this serum. Compared to the Max Moisture Concentrate that serum is mory hydrating than this Hydra-Calm serum. They both sink into my skin equally well.
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Ren - Pro Vitamin Conditioner
Cokioki 4/4/2012 3:22:00 PM
I really like this conditioner and it works well with my fine, long hair. It doesn't make my hair greasy, instead it feels soft and it really helps get rid of tangles in my hair. Even better is the fact that the ingredients are really good compared to other brands. I wish the bottle was bigger, only 100 ml, otherwise I really recommend everybody to try it. The perfume is hardly noticeable which is good for those who dislike strong perfume. Ingredients: Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Leaf Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Oil, Pimenta Acris (Bay) Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Limonene, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Panthenol, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Lactic Acid, Tocopherol.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Ren - Max moisture concentrate
Cokioki 2/25/2012 11:32:00 AM
So I've been using this max moisture concentrate since December 27th 2011 and I can honestly say it's a really great product. I purchased it in the UK, London at John lewis, and I paid £32 for a 30 ml bottle. In my bathroom cabinet I also have the hydra-calm youth defence serum, hydra-calm cleansing milk, hydra-calm cleansing gel and ultra-moisture cleansing milk. I've been pleased with all products so far and use them in rotation. For summer I will update my routine. I got into the brand REN because I grew tired of using serums with silicones in them. REN has a great philosophy and on their website they list ingredients that they DON'T use in their products: "REN products do not contain potential irritants including: glycols and diglycols (such as propylene glycol), PEG's, PPGs, urea, D.E.A, T.E.A, PABA and other synthetic sunscreens, aliphatic alcohols/hydrocarbons, phthalates, fumarates, amines, alkanolamines, synthetic AHAs/BHAs, polyacrylamide, metacrylate, elastomer, poloxamer, styrene, vinyl, polyquaternium, synthetic chelating agents, nylon, nitriles, nitrates, nitrosamine releasers, bromates, fluor, aluminum and alumina etc." On to the max moisture concentrate. I am 18 years old and I've been struggling with acne since I was 12. My spots aren't extremely many but I have 7-8 at all times and I get blocked pores too. My skin type varies depending on the season but now that it's winter my skin is constantly dehydrated and I get flaky skin, even though my t-zone remains oily, if I don't exfoliate and moisturize thoroughly. I prefer a serum to a moisturizer although most brands, including REN, recommend you use both serum and moisturizer to get the most out of the ingredients. If it gets really cold, I live in Sweden where -20 degrees celcius isn't uncommon, I use a facial oil to protect my skin. The max moisture concentrate is a white-coloured fluid. It's not runny nor thick, it's something in between. The packaging is great with a pump and you can see how much product is left in the bottle. I have been using this for 2 months now and even though I haven't been using it night and day I feel I can give an honest review for this product. Its main purpose is to moisturize skin and being a girl with acne and an oily t-zone I find it works for a lot of different skin types and if your skin mainly needs hydration I definitely recommend this serum for that purpose. 1 pump of the serum is enough to use on your face, an additional pump for your neck if you want to. The skin absorbs this serum very well after I've massaged it into my skin for 15 seconds. It doesn't leave a residue afterwards on top of the skin. It has NOT affected my acne in a negative way which is fab and it really does hydrate my flaky winter skin. I still have 3/4 of the serum left so the price (£32) doesn't feel so bad in the long run. The serum keeps my skin soft and supple whenever I use it, and I've never woken up to greasy skin if I've been wearing this during the night. Why haven't I given this 5 lippies? Well, I really want to make sure this is the best product and I might rate it higher in a years time or so. I recommend the max moisture concentrate to people with normal to oily/normal/normal to dry/and dry skin. If you have very dry skin I'd suggest the REN Rose O12 serum which has received rave reviews here on makeupalley (I have not tried this product). Last but not least I am so happy there's a brand like REN that creates really good quality skin care without a lot of bad ingredients like parabens etc. I find the products work very well and as long as you know your skintype I believe you will be happy too using REN products. Ingredients: Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Glycerin, Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Ximenia Americana Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Germ Oil, Phospholipids, Sorbitan Olivate, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea (Lingonberry) Seed Oil, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Penoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Parfum (Fragrance) Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Linalool, Limonene, Farnesol.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Boots - Botanics Organic Face Nourishing Cleanser
Cokioki 2/7/2012 11:20:00 AM
I like this cleanser very much. It's fairly cheap, it's got some good ingredients in it (though it could be better, the organic claim isn't that fantastic). When I use this it leaves my skin very soft, very smooth, it's easily removed but......it leaves my face red after every use which is really sad beacuse I like it so much. I'm 100 % sure this cleanser is causing me the redness, I've been using it 3 times a week (can't use it more often cause my skin gets so red) and I have tried to get used to whatever ingredient that's in the cleanser that causes my skin to go red. I bought it 1,5 months ago and I've decided I can't use it no more:( It still deserves 4 lippies because it's a good cleanser for normal to very dry skin and I really recommend you try it even though it caused my skin to go red, perhaps my skin is very weird and everybody else's is normal. I wouldn't use it to remove eye makeup just so you know.
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Lotions/ Creams -The Body Shop - Chocomania Body Butter
Cokioki 1/31/2012 10:00:00 AM
I received a generous sample of this recently and have now been using it for 4 days. When I first heard about the chocomania range I was soo disappointed because I hate sweet scents and chocolate is one of them. I used it, and while it's pretty good at moisturising, though the 48 hr claim is not really true, I just could not get the sweet scent out of my head while I was wearing it. I wouldn't buy this but if you love chocolate then I recommend it because it's great for keeping skin soft and moisturised during these cold winter months.
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Moisturizers -Weleda - Almond Facial Oil
Cokioki 1/28/2012 9:15:00 AM
This is great and is very gentle for my spotty skin. I use it as a moisturiser on days when it's either very cold outside (oil protects against harsh weather conditions) or if I'm very spotty as I find this oil rather soothing. I always apply it to a damp face so that it absorbs easier. It doesn't make me greasy and it doesn't feel as rich/heavy as the body shop's vitamin e facial oil which I also like. 3 drops of oil is perfect for the face and neck. Some days I like to give my face a massage with this oil. I apply 10 drops of it to a thouroughly cleansed face and massage for about a minute. This feels sooooo good for my face and when I'm done I tissue it off and then apply a serum on top to seal in all the moisture. My face feels soft and smooth for two days. I haven't tried it as an eye makeup remover cause my mascara can be removed by only using water. Also, you get a lot of product for the price so it's not that expensive :)
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -LUSH - LUSH - Whole Store
Cokioki 1/22/2012 9:27:00 AM
All I can say is I feel sorry for people working at LUSH.If I walk past a LUSH store I can feel the incredibly strong perfumes out on the street. And yes, they're not particularly special except for the imaginative names they give their products
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Eye Shadow -BeneFit Cosmetics - Velvet eyeshadow- Fawn Over Me
Cokioki 1/3/2012 4:11:00 PM
very pretty colour and velvety texture. the colour is champagne with shimmer and works well during the day at work/school. The lasting power is so-so, I'm trying e/s primers to see if this stays put for longer.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -BeneFit Cosmetics - Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner-BIRTHDAY SUIT
Cokioki 1/3/2012 4:07:00 PM
Pretty colour, more shimmery than Benefit's powder eyeshadow in 'fawn over me'. It's good, lasting power 4/5, but I just never used it that often which is why this only gets 3 lippies. 'Fawn over me' is subtler but very pretty and I wore it during new years eve.
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Hair Styling Tools -Unlisted Brand - Tangle Teezer
Cokioki 12/13/2011 11:08:00 AM
This works great on me. It detangles my hair with almost no pain and it's so easy to clean. expensive though.....
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