Shampoo -Redken - Hair Cleansing Cream
Darcy49 4/5/2010 9:15:00 PM
Left my hair soft, but still had a lot of body and it looked and felt great. I really wasn't expecting much, so I was very pleasantly surprised. Wish it cost less, but if it keeps delivering such good hair days, I will probably buy it again.
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Cleansers -Garden of Wisdom - Jen's Green Tea/Shea Cleanser
Darcy49 8/5/2009 4:24:00 PM
If you're looking for fancy packaging and a laundry list of ingredients, then this is not for you. However, if you're looking for a basic, non-irritating cleanser then you should give this a try. I have been sampling a few of the GoW products, and I have to say that I like this cleanser quite a bit. No, it doesn't perform miracles, but it does a great job at getting my skin clean without unnecessary additives and/or preservatives, and so far my rosacea-prone, hyper-sensitive skin seems to like this product. I have to say that at first I thought it was a bit too much ... it lathered up a lot more than I like. However, when I reduced the amount that I use to a ridicuously teeny tiny (less than pea-sized) drop, I found that it worked very well. If you find it too drying, maybe you're using too much product. Seriously, I barely use any at all, yet it still lathers well and thoroughly cleans my skin. Given that, I can see where a 4 oz. bottle would last for several months. (I have only tried the 1 oz. so far b/c I want to sample w/o getting stuck with a bigger bottle if it doesn't work out, but even my small sample bottle looks as if it's going to last at least 6 weeks, using it 2x/day.) I have also used GoW's Heather Blossom cleanser, which I also really like. The HB cleanser doesn't lather much at all, and it is very calming (the oatmeal, I guess). Sometimes I use the HB in the a.m. and the GT in the p.m. I think the thing I've found the most interesting so far is that my pores seem to be getting less clogged, and I have been able to get rid of some persistent blackheads that were around my nose. I'll continue to use these 2 cleansers for a few more weeks to see how they hold up, but honestly, so far so good.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Unlisted Brand - Oatmeal
Darcy49 8/2/2009 10:18:00 PM
I learned this from the women at GoW's website: To 1 cup of boiling water, add 1 tablespoon of oatmeal. Stir it up, then let it cool to room temperature. Then, wash your face with the liquid. I generally wash with a little bit of the liquid and some of the mushy flakes, then soak a cloth in the remaining liquid and put the cloth over my face for a couple of minutes. I don't rinse off afterwards, just use the cloth to remove any visible oatmeal. (I do this before bed.) This has been a lifesaver more than once when I've managed to get my skin red and irritated. The oatmeal water really, really calms irritated skin, especially if you leave a very fine film on overnight.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Paula's Choice - Skin Perfecting 1% BHA Gel Exfoliant
Darcy49 4/26/2009 10:14:00 AM
Great product. I had tried PC's BHA products a few years ago and did not have any luck ... they broke me out and made me itch. I have been using Mario Badescu Botanical Facial Gel (cleanser) and have seen great results (rosacea gone, almost never a blemish), but was still having trouble with blackheads, especially around the nose. On a whim, I decided to try PC's 1% BHA gel again, and I'm glad I did. I had some initial small breakouts, which was disturbing since my skin has not been breaking out for quite a while, but I stayed with the PC b/c 1) I clearly noticed way fewer blackheads on and around my nose, and my skin felt incredibly smooth and 2) the breakouts could have been caused by a RoC serum with lots of silicones that I had recently tried out. Breakouts have subsided, skin is clear and smooth, and blackheads are greatly diminished. Price is very good, especially considering how little I need to use. Packaging is clean and functional ... I really don't care if the bottle is super-duper pretty if what's inside works. (I'm not trying to impress anyone with my skin care containers.) EDIT 05/20/2009: When, when, WHEN will I learn? "On a whim" is never a good idea when it comes to my skincare routine. I was plodding along with the Mario Badescu Botanical Facial Gel (cleanser) and my skin did not have any breakouts ... a few blackheads, yes, but breakouts, no. But of course, my skin was lacking a "glow" and I thought I looked tired, so "on a whim" I, once again, tried PC's BHA. BIG MISTAKE. HUGE! My skin looks like total crap right now, it's red and it hurts. Seems to work at first then, BAM! my skin goes to crap in a heartbeat. WILL NOT be using this ever again.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Mario Badescu - Botanical Facial Gel
Darcy49 9/27/2008 11:42:00 AM
I used this product for a little over year, going through 2 large bottles, and it worked pretty well. I did notice that after I had used it for a few months that I was getting quite a few blackheads in the nose area, but other than that, it kept my skin fairly blemish-free and didn't seem to aggravate or turn my skin red. Unfortunatley, this Spring I decided that I wanted to try to get more of a "glow," so I tried one of RoC's creams, as well as samples of Paula's Choice BHA and AHA. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Since then (and the huge breakout that came along with my experimentation), my skin no longer tolerates the MB-BFG. Of course, this is after I just bought another 2 huge bottles of the stuff, so I sent it back. Sadly, b/c it was 5 days past the 30-day return deadline, MB 1) refused to refund my credit card, 2) took forever to issue a "store" credit (and failed to ever e-mail me back to even let me know that they HAD issued a credit), and 3) arbitrarily took a 10% "restocking" fee off my store credit amount (nothing on the website about a 10% "restocking" fee). Given the way the return was handled, and the fact that most of the samples I've tried have been too highly fragranced, I don't think I would ever try another MB product. I realize that they got back 2 big bottles of product, but still ... a 10% "restocking" fee? That's kind of lame, IMHO.
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Mascara -Maybelline - Full 'N Soft Mascara
Darcy49 7/4/2008 7:32:00 PM
Absolutely no brittle or "crunchy" lashes, and it washed off easily with my basic skin cleanser. Didn't notice much flaking either. However, I didn't see much in the way of the "full" part of "Full and Soft." Still looking for a nice mascara that makes my lashes fuller, adds a bit of length, doesn't dry out my lashes, washes off easily, and costs around $7.00. (Maybe such a thing doesn't exist.) 04/25/09: Deducted one lippie ... this mascara flakes and when I wear it I constantly feel as if I have something in my eye (which I probably do ... mascara flakes).
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Treatments -Skinceuticals - Hydrating B5 Gel
Darcy49 9/23/2006 10:47:00 PM
Tried this thanks to Tetrakis' comments on the boards and in her notepad, and I am so happy that I did. My skin has normalized after using this for about a month. Works well for my rosacea, and seems to moisturize enough for me even without a moisturizer over top. No breakouts, no clogged pores, no irritation from this product. My skin looks less red and just generally more even toned. I tried this with Basis soap, which unfortunately seemed to clog my pores ... I have since switched to Purpose bar soap (the orange bar in the blue box) and my skin looks great. The price is balanced out by the fact that I only use 2 or 3 drops at a time, and the Purpose is so cheap that all-in-all I'm not spending much on skincare. Simple, easy routine ... great looking skin ... doesn't break the bank. Finally! UPDATE 05/22/2009: After an unfortunate run-in with Paula's Choice BHA, my face was left broken out, rashy, and burnt. Since I've been using Mario Badescu's Botanical Facial Gel, I really hadn't had any major problems with my skin, and it didn't really need a moisturizer. So, I really hadn't thought about the B5 gel for quite some time, but when I had such a bad reaction to the PC BHA, I reached for the B5 gel. Oh my gosh, in 2 days, my skin was almost healed! Blemishes looked 100% better, burned spots were gone, and my skin actually looked normal again. Granted, I applied a LOT more than the recommended 2-3 drops, but OMG my skin is back to normal! Gotta love Skinceuticals B-5 gel!!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Purpose - Gentle Cleansing Bar
Darcy49 9/23/2006 10:36:00 PM
Who would have thought?!?! This works great for my rosacea skin. I've tried other soaps, but the oil in each always results in clogged pores (e.g., Basis, DHC, Dove, etc.). This little gold bar is a wonder! No oil, no clogged pores. I could do without the fragrance, but it doesn't seem to bother my skin so I put up with the scent. My normally hyper-reactive, easily reddened skin loves this stuff! No redness, no itching, no breakouts, no bothering my rosacea. Dirt cheap (especially compared to the MIR that I have been faithfully using at a cost of about $25 per bottle). This can be a bit drying on its own, but I follow up with 2 or 3 drops of Skinceuticals Hydrating B-5 Gel right after I wash, and I must say that my skin looks great! I'm actually stocking up on this stuff, just in case the powers-that-be decide to discontinue it. :)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -MyChelle - Cranberry Cleanser
Darcy49 8/6/2006 4:25:00 PM
I was really hoping to report good results but, alas, 'tis not to be. I had decided to try DHC's olive soap, looking for something with a little more cleansing "oomph" than my faithful MIR cleanser. (I love the way MIR feels ... very soothing for my rosacea skin, but after using it for awhile, I always get little blackheads ... I think it's a bit too gentle sometimes.) Anyway, hoping that the DHC olive soap would be pure and gentle, I decided to give it a go. The DHC made my skin bit itchy sometimes, which probably meant that it was a bit drying. It was okay here in very humid Pennsylvania, but when I went out to the arid southwest for a one week vacation, I came back to skin that was severely clogging up. . Anyway, I got back home and decided that I had to revert back to old faithful MIR, but wanted to alternate that with something that might clear out my pores. Thought Mychelle Cranberry Cleanser sounded benign enough. I was wrong. First couple of days it DID seem to clear out some of the blackheads that had been lurking, but now (after a week) I have a very red face, full of ugly redder(unhealing) blemishes and even more clogged pores. Lesson learned (again) ... I cannot use anything that contains shea butter or essential oils UNLESS I want my skin to break out. Back to MIR, hoping it will calm my skin down. Thinking maybe I just need to give up on cleansers altogether and just wash my face with plain water and a washcloth.
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Blush -Sonia Kashuk - Cheek Sheers Sunkissed 02
Darcy49 8/23/2005 3:27:00 PM
Well, the color was absolutely beautiful, but it literally disappeared into my skin in about one minute. At $7.99 for a little itty-bitty tube, this went back to Target the very next day (to the apparent disdain of the girl in the returns department ... guess they don't have many people bringing back cosmetics, or maybe the profit was coming straight out of her own pocket?! ... I'll have to think long and hard before I buy cosmetics from Target again). Hey Target, if you're listening, two words ... cosmetic testers!!!
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Toners -Mir - Mir Skin Refresher
Darcy49 6/13/2005 10:52:00 PM
I wasn't that crazy about this when I first tried it. However, after using just the MIR Cleansing Gel for about 2 weeks, I decided to try the tiny bottle of Skin Refresher that had been included in the sample kit. I am so glad that I did! It has become very humid where I live, and this feels wonderful on ... very cooling and soothing. I also think that it works as a great adjunct to the cleanser. It is absolutely non-drying and makes my skin feel clean and refreshed. I also use this as a quick cleanser and pick-me-up when I come home from playing tennis ... gets the salty sweat off my face without having to do a full-out water wash.
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Cleansers -Mir - Cleansing Gel
Darcy49 5/26/2005 5:17:00 PM
Finally, I have found my HG cleanser! Non-foaming, very gentle cleanser that is perfect for my rosacea skin. Has calmed my skin and, for the first time in a long time, my face is not red! Skin looks more hydrated than it has in ages, yet my pores are not becoming clogged. Basically, I am no longer stripping and drying my skin when I wash it, which has allowed my skin to begin to heal itself. Lovely, lovely product. Worth every single penny!!! INGREDIENTS: Water, rosa damascena flower distillate (rose water), sucrose cocoate, PEG-60 almond glycerides, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, camellia oleifera leaf extract, chamomilla recutita (Matricaria) extract, glycerin, disodium EDTA, carbomer, benzophenone-4, triethanolamine, imidazolidinyl urea, methylparaben. UPDATE 12-19-2005: Just have to say that I strayed from this for awhile this fall because I was experiencing some clogging. I am now back using the MIR cleanser and toner and, again, I must say I LOVE THIS PRODUCT. My skin has calmed down and is beginning to look wonderful again. In hindsight, the clogging was most likely caused by a sunscreen I used. Regardless, nothing makes my skin feel as good as MIR cleanser. I will not stray again. :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Zia - Fresh Cleansing Gel
Darcy49 5/24/2005 3:13:00 PM
Non-foaming, non-drying and felt cool and soothing but unfortunately this began breaking me out after about 3 days use. Continued to use for 2 weeks, but the breakouts got worse. Caused blemishes in areas where I normally do not break out (cheeks and eyelids!). INGREDIENTS: Deionized water, PEG-7 glyceral cocoate, methylcellulose, sucrose cocoate, xanthan gum, glycerin, sea algae extract, sodium copper chlorophyllin, essential oil of ylang ylang, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, tetrasodium EDTA.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Mir - Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser
Darcy49 5/18/2005 4:18:00 PM
LOVE this! Leaves my skin feeling wonderfully clean and smooth, without any dryness, redness or itch. Doesn't aggravate my rosacea. Absolutely NON-FOAMING and fragrance free (although I must say that the rose distillate makes this smell - slightly - like Dove soap). Kind of pricey if you're in the U.S. due to the lousy exchange rate and the cost of shipping (neither of which MIR has control of, by the way ... her pricing is very reasonable), but if you have rosacea or hypersensitive skin, this is well worth the price! INGREDIENTS: Water, rosa damascena flower distillate (rose water), hydrogenated jojoba oil (solid jojoba beads which do not break down or disperse on the skin), sucrose cocoate, PEG-60 almond glycerides, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, camellia oleifera leaf extract, chamomilla recutita (Matricaria) extract, glycerin, disodium EDTA, carbomer, benzophenone-4, triethanolamine, imidazolidinyl urea, methylparaben.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Mir - Mini Mini Mir
Darcy49 5/12/2005 4:36:00 PM
I've been using it about 1 week and, I must say, I love it ... so much so that I have already ordered the full size Cleansing Gel. I have rosacea and the cleanser has truly calmed my skin and the redness is going away. The cleanser is non-foaming and gentle ... does not leave me dry after washing. (It's supposed to be non-fragranced, but I swear it smells like Dove soap.) The scrub is wonderful as well ... same ingredients as the cleanser with the addition of tiny jojoba beads. The moisturizer is lightweight and is absorbed instantly ... not crazy about he fact that it has silicones, though, so I probably won't order the full size. The toner is nice but doesn't really seem to "do" anything ... I think it might be nice during the summer when it's humid out and your skin needs a little refreshment. Overall, an absolutely wonderful line! My only complaint is that, because of the exchange rate right now, the cost is fairly high. That said, however, the cleanser is the best thing that I've used so far for my rosacea, so I guess I'll just have to bite the bullet on the cost.
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