Scrubs -Aquolina - Chocolovers Creamy Body Scrub
Cygentte3 2/28/2007 5:42:00 PM
I got a generous sample packet of this in a swap, and I squirreled it away, saving it for the perfect pampering occasion. I expected it to have a rich, chocolaty scent, and I was incredibly disappointed to find what it actually did smell like.
Rather than smelling like rich, hot chocolate or a decadent German chocolate cake or a piece of hard, pure, dark chocolate, this smells like the kind of pre-packaged, mass-produced, sickeningly sweet chocolate snack cake you'd find at the end of the aisle in a convenience store. Completely unappealing. I only gave it two stars because the texture of the scrub itself was pretty pleasant. I would not repurchase.
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Lip Treatments -Blistex - DCT for lips - Daily Conditioning Treatment SPF 20
Cygentte3 2/4/2007 10:53:00 PM
This lip balm has its pros and cons. On the plus side, it does feel good while it's on your lips. It's not overly greasy and doesn't slide all over the place. It has SPF, which is definitely a plus. It also works pretty well under lipstick if you apply a light layer.
On the negative side, though, is the fact that it doesn't really moisturize all that well. My lips will feel alright for a couple hours after I've had some on, but then I have to reapply in order for my lips to not feel dry. Other lip balms don't have this effect on me. Also, the fact that it's mentholated seems very gimmicky and pointless to me. I'd consider using it again for its SPF properties, but for moisturization, I'll stick with Aquaphor.
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Eye Shadow -Bobbi Brown - Shimmer Wash Eyeshadow - Fawn
Cygentte3 1/26/2007 3:02:00 PM
I've recently fallen in love with Bobbi Brown eyeshadows, and this is one of the reasons why. Fawn is a beautiful warm plummy taupe. The dominant colors are brown and plum, but there is a silvery sheen to it that makes me think of it as a taupe. The shimmer is in no way frosty, but is rather a lovely sheen, brighting up the eye area. Much like all BB eyeshadows, it can give you a look that is professional, sophisticated, and sexy, all at the same time. The texture is lovely, soft, and easy to blend. I would repurchase.
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Loose Powders -Laura Mercier - Secret Brightening Powder
Cygentte3 12/28/2006 11:37:00 PM
I've said it before, and I'll say it again - LM makes the best products for giving you perfect (looking) skin. The Secret Brightening Powder is no exception to this rule.
This product is meant to be used undereyes, in conjunction with the Secret Concealer. If anyone has been having problems with the Secret Concealer working wonders for them, that's because they're not using this too. The Secret Concealer gives great coverage for undereyes, but this powder (patted on top with a brush) sets the concealer, and adds a very slight luminescence which makes you look awake and alert. This isn't a shimmer or glitter product - just a brightener as the name suggests.
I never really thought undereye concealer was all that important (I don't really have a very dark undereye area) until I started using this. Sure, my undereyes didn't look bad before, but now they look fantastic, and I have the Secret Concealer and the Secret Brightening Powder to thank. I'll definitely repurchase, but you need to use so little each time, I doubt I'll have to for at least 2 years.
I Use the Secret Concealer in 2, and the Oil Free Foudnation in Warm Ivory,a dn the lighter shade is perfect for me.
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Lip Gloss -MAC - Corps De Ballet Lipglass
Cygentte3 12/28/2006 10:38:00 PM
People are right about this being similar to VGV, but there are a few notable differences which makes this actually nicer (and I really like VGV).
Corps de Ballet is more shimmery than VGV, and plummier. There are less brown tones to it as well. Definitely a neutral/YLBB look, but it's amped up by the shimmer. Very pretty. Not worth stocking up on IMO, because VGV is still around, but in a hypothetical world where MAC didn't make everything LE, I'd repurchase this in a heartbeat.
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Conditioner -Frederic Fekkai - Glossing Conditioner
Cygentte3 12/28/2006 12:32:00 AM
Don't get me wrong, I love certain Frederic Fekkai products. The glossing cream is a total HG for me. I also really like the Sheer Hold Hairspray. Both of those items are worth the high FF prices. But this conditioner is just NOT worth the money FF charges.
For the pricetag, I expected that a little would go along way and that they bottle of conditioner (I got the larger, 16 oz size) would last me at least 3-4 months of regular use. But, like other, MUCH cheaper conditioners, I had to use quite a bit of this conditioner to moisturize my hair. At the time I was using it, my hair was only about shoulder length, so I would have thought I would only have to use a little. However, I had to use a pretty sizeable amount each time I used it (about half a handful). I ended up using up the bottle in just a couple months, and I wasn't even using it more than once or twice a week, using other conditioners in between.
I have very curly hair, on the dry side, but healthy. For those with hair like mine, this is NOT the conditioner for you! It moisturizes, but you have to use way too much conditioner each time to make it worth buying. This is not the type of rich conditioner I was hoping it would be. I'll never buy again.
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Cleansers -Neutrogena - Oil-Free Acne Wash Foam Cleanser
Cygentte3 12/16/2006 8:58:00 PM
I know this isn't a "winner" here in P'ville, but it really works great on my skin. I have combo/oily, somewhat breakout prone skine, and this keeps me pimple-free, and helps clear my blackheads too.
It can dry out your skin, but I only use it once ever two days, and have not had that problem again. I would repurchase.
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Cleansers -Purpose - Gentle Cleansing Wash
Cygentte3 12/16/2006 8:54:00 PM
I know that there are tons of raves for this product, but it wreaked havoc on my skin. According to the title, it's "gentle," but nothing could be further from the truth.
I have combo/oily skin, somewhat breakout prone, and this stripped *all* of the moisture from my face. I went from being combo/oily, to having dry flaking skin. And as soon as I stopped using this product, my skin went back to normal. No other cleanser has done this to my skin. It wasn't breaking out when I used it, but I'll take a couple small pimples over the way this made my skin hurt. And now, I don't even have to deal with the pimples since switching to Philosophy Purity and Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash.
I will never use this again. Not even worth the low price tag IMO.
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Lip Gloss -Neutrogena - MoistureShine Lip Soother Cooling Hydragel - Glisten
Cygentte3 12/4/2006 11:14:00 PM
I got this as a swap extra, and as nice as it was to receive it for free (thanks to whoever sent it to me!) this product isn't even worth keeping for no money IMO.
In the tube, it looks like a lovely melon/peach color, but it goes on completely clear. It claims to be a "lip soother," but it has no moisturizing characteristics. I also find the "cooling" effect to be quite annoying - it's basically mentholated and makes your lips tingle. Just because your lips tingle doesn't mean they're getting moisturized, so it seems very gimmicky to call it a "Cooling Hydragel."
I would definitely not repurchase, and will not even bother using up the tube that I have.
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Lipstick -Stila - Marissa
Cygentte3 11/24/2006 12:41:00 AM
I've had this lipstick for almost a year, and it remains in regular rotation in my stash. The color is a slightly nude peach-pink (more on the pink side) with shimmer. The shimmer is neither gritty nor frosty. It is well pigmented, so works well for those of use who have pigmented lips.
Works well with my coloring - NC20, Stila 20 watts, neutral-warm LLL with brown hair and eyes.
Also, the new packaging is lovely - an aluminum tube with stars on the tube itself, on the part that you twist. Quite cute, and no need to worry about the mishaps that people used to have with the cardboard packaging.
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Lotions/ Creams -Vaseline - Aloe and Naturals
Cygentte3 8/16/2006 2:44:00 AM
This lotion is alright, but it's really just mediocre. It smells pleasant enough but nothing exciting. I find the texture of the lotion to be too runny/watery. I also feel like it isn't particularly moisturizing. I finished it because I didn't want to waste it, but I wouldn't repurchase. I think various other Vaseline lotions and creams are much more moisturizing.
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Lip Gloss -Stila - Lip pot in Fraise
Cygentte3 8/16/2006 12:55:00 AM
Don't get me wrong, I love Stila. It is without a doubt my favorite brand, but this product is not one of their best. I'll give it credit where credit is due - the texture is lovely. You don't have to press hard to get as much as you want on your finger and on the lips it feels moisturizing and smooth.
However, the problem I have with these lip pots is that many of them seem to have little to no color to them. I can get moisturizing lip balms with similar texture for much less money, so if I'm paying $16 for a balm, I want it to add color to my lips. This particular lip pot adds no color to my lips at all, unlike the lovely Cerise.
I'm giving it a two lippie rating for the lovely packaging and the great feeling on the lips. If you want soemthing that adds color to your lips though, either get a different lip pot, or just go for another product.
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Moisturizers -Stila - Petal Infusions Moisturizer Hydratant for Oily Skin
Cygentte3 7/9/2006 11:13:00 PM
I got a deluxe sample of this product with a Stila order a little while ago, and I've fallen in love with it. I have most of my HG skincare items already, but I needed a night-time moisturizer for summer. I was looking for something light and oil-free but still moisturizing since I don't want my skin to get dehydrated in the sumemr heat. This fits the bill perfectly. It's light, leaves my skin silky smooth, and hasn't caused any breakouts (and I don't have perfect skin, so that says something). The scent is lovely and the packaging is cute - a pale blue with a flower design.
It's also cost-effective IMO because I had the .24 oz sample for 3 weeks and used it ever night. I'm definitely repurchasing now that I've run out.
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Polishes -OPI - Double Decker Red
Cygentte3 5/30/2006 9:54:00 PM
This is a fantastic red from OPI. I consider this a truly neutral red; it's neither overly cool nor overly warm. It's a cream shade, so it has absolutely no shimmer, but it has a beautiful shine to it. It lasts wonderfully. I've had it on my toes for a week now with no signs of chipping. It's a wonderful color for either tips or toes, but I think it will be my pedi staple for the summer.
I'd definitely repurchase.
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Polishes -OPI - Dusk Over Cairo
Cygentte3 5/19/2006 11:11:00 PM
I have a much higher opinion of this than everyone else. I absolutely LOVE this color. On me, Dusk Over Cairo is a shimmery (but not frosty) muted coral. It definitely leans more toward peach than pink on my skintone (MAC NC20/Stila 20 watts/Neutral-Warm LLL).
I suppose that ther are other colors similar to this out there in other brands, but this color is so flattering on me that I have to give it a 5. It lasts wonderfully on me. No streaks, no clumpy weird texture. It applies beautifully and dries quickly.
A must-have for me.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No