Lips -Pixi - Brilliance Balm
Enneagram1 11/18/2012 11:05:00 PM
This tinted lip balm truly colors one's lips. It stays on a long time (longer than many lipsticks), and the color remains even after the glossiness wears off. Supposedly, the color on one's lips is based on the skin's PH, and I found that the Radiant Rose color has a bit more pink on my lips than it does in the crayon package. It is a good color for my very fair skin. Bitten Berry is a beautiful darker shade that provides a more dramatic look, but this color does not tint my lips as much (once the gloss is gone) as the Radiant Rose does. The packaging looks like a crayon, but it is really a twist-up container, so no sharpener is needed. This product seems to condition my lips like a true lip balm.
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Lip Treatments -DHC - Lip Conditioner
Enneagram1 3/16/2012 8:26:00 PM
This is my go-to lip balm whenever I can go without sunscreen. It glides on smoothly and it REALLY moisturizes one's lips. I like that the tube is narrow so that I can identify it in my purse without even looking (and don't confuse it with my lipstick). I am such a fan of this that I stock up when it goes on sale as 2-for-a-better-price. (For those who are DHC fans, you may wonder which is better...this lip conditioner or their Vitamin C White Stick...I think this lip conditioner is better.) The only negative about the packaging is that there is SO much product left in the tube once it appears that you have "used up" the product. Don't be fooled into throwing away the tube at this point...there is still another 1/2 to 3/4 inch of product in there that you can recover.
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Sunscreen -Unlisted Brand - Suntegrity All Natural Moisturizing Face Protection SPF30
Enneagram1 3/16/2012 8:15:00 PM
I'm sure that this is a great product for most people, but it made me break out. I have REALLY sensitive skin, so most people won't have this issue, but it has something that disagrees with my rosacea. The packaging is GREAT. It has a pump that allows precise dispensing of the sunscreen so that there is no waste. The product looks great and feels great on my face. It has no "unwanted" ingredients and meets my requirements for safe ingredients. I wanted it to work. I tried it several different days, but each time I had little white bumps on my face by the end of the day. If you don't have super-sensitive skin, you can likely use this product. Unfortunately, I can't.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Yves Saint Laurent - rouge volupte perle- 103 Rose Petillant
Enneagram1 3/16/2012 8:07:00 PM
I have both this color and #104. I like the shimmery look of the Rouge Volupte Perle colors, and these two are nice, somewhat subtle, pink colors. The Yves Saint Laurent lipsticks have a slight fragrance, but it is not distracting. They do not last on your lips any longer than an "average" lipstick, but I definitely find them to be more hydrating. The Rouge Volupte Perle packing is similar to the Rouge Volupte packaging except that it doesn't show the color of the lipstick, so you can't quickly determine WHICH color you have pulled out of your purse (if you hold more than one color in your purse at a time) without reading the bottom of the tube or opening it up. (Then again, the tube is rather heavy, so you likely won't want to carry more than one at a time.) I personally find the tube decoration to be a bit gaudy, but I really like the lipstick.
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Moisturizers -Arcona - Peptide Hydrating Complex, Hydrate AM/PM
Enneagram1 3/16/2012 7:49:00 PM
This product is rather expensive, and I would not have tried it but for the fact that I received a free sample. I really liked how it makes my face feel and look, so I just had to purchase a full-sized product when the sample was depleted (even though it is the most expensive product I put on my skin). I am on my second purchase of this, and am still in love with it. It provides my skin with the perfect amount of moisture, and it hasn't caused my rosacea to flare up (no breakouts or redness at all). It has a slightly perfume-y yet very pleasant smell, and the pump packaging is great. I only use a very little of this each morning and each night on my face and neck. I didn't want to love this, but I really do. I can't imagine not having this in my daily routine.
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Sunscreen -Unlisted Brand - Goddess Garden Facial Sunscreen 30 SPF
Enneagram1 8/6/2011 6:09:00 PM
I have very sensitive skin and have to avoid chemical sunscreens. This sunscreen is working very well for me (been using it for a month now) and has not caused my oily skin to break out with blemishes or turn red. The sunscreen starts out white but dries clear and is not noticeable. This is now my favoriate facial sunscreen.
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Lip Gloss -Kiss My Face - Sheer Organic Shine (SOS)
Enneagram1 5/1/2011 2:58:00 PM
Kiss My Face is a company whose products I generally find to be as good as or better than its competition. So, when I saw this in my local organic food store, I bought this lip gloss on a whim hoping it would be "great". It is not great, but it is "OK". The color coverage is very good; the color on my lips is exactly the color in the tube (unlike some other brands that are so sheer that no color comes through once applied). And I like the peppermint and the gloss. But, this is not a product that you can apply once and have it stay on for a long time (at least not if you are talking and using your lips). I like the color sufficiently that I will likely buy this again, but it wasn't any better than other lip glosses at the same price.
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Shampoo -John Masters - Lavender Rosemary Shampoo
Enneagram1 3/26/2011 8:18:00 PM
This shampoo does a nice job of cleaning my fine, oily hair without irritating my sensitive scalp. It lathers up nicely, has a very subtle, pleasant scent, and does not cause any ill effects to my hair (e.g., it is not drying, doesn't cause my hair to be full of static electricity in the winter). It has no sulfates or other irritants. I don't have anything bad to say about it except that it is a bit more expensive than some other shampoos when purchased in an 8 oz bottle (but I learned that I can purchase a 35 oz bottle for a price that is 30% cheaper per ounce).
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Garden of Wisdom - Base Cream
Enneagram1 3/17/2011 12:28:00 AM
This moisturizer looks a bit odd in the jar (light blue in color and not smooth, almost slightly grainy), but it actually works rather well. It takes a little while for it to really sink into my slightly oily skin, but it does a good job of providing all-day moisture to my skin (which needs it in the winter), but it is a bit too heavy/moisturizing for me to use in the summer. This is the ONLY moisturizer I have found that does not irritate my skin to any degree. (I am using the version that does not have wax.) The product contains a minimum of ingredients, and none that are on my "bad and avoid" list. This moisturizer is not going to win any prizes for pretty packaging, but the important thing is that it works wells and does so without irritating my super-sensitive skin.
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Foundations -Unlisted Brand - Sterling Minerals Foundation
Enneagram1 3/17/2011 12:07:00 AM
I have been using Sterling Minerals Delicate Rose Petal mineral foundation for about 3 weeks, and it has caused no irritation to my super-sensitive skin. This mineral foundation has light-to-adequate coverage, but not sufficient coverage for those who have blemishes. I had some blemishes when I began using this foundation, but it has really calmed my skin ...to the point where I have no blemishes and no visible redness (for the first time in about 10 years). This foundation causes NO itching at all, which is unusual for me and quite a relief after all of these years of trying to find the perfect foundation. The company provides reasonably-priced samples on their website so that I could find the right color for my complexion. The product has a very slight odor, likely a result of a little jojoba oil in the foundation. The packaging is ideal! The jar has a sifter top covered by a turning "cover" (a bit like a spice jar lid) so that a user can completely control the number of holes available for the product to drop through. The jar has a lid that covers the "turning cover", so the whole thing is sealed well between uses. I think I have FINALLY found my HG mineral foundation!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Carol's Daughter - Tui Herbal Shampoo
Enneagram1 12/17/2010 8:09:00 PM
I read the other reviews, and I think Carol's Daughter must have changed the formula somewhat recently. I found that this shampoo lathers as much as one that contains SLS. The shampoo indicates that it is for "normal to dry" hair, so I was a bit concerned that it would not do the job on my rather oily scalp. But, I was surprised to find that it really cleans my hair and scalp (and with no irritation, a plus for my super-sensitive skin). It has not dried out my hair or scalp so far (having used it daily for 8 days). The one aspect of the shampoo that I find slightly odd is the scent. It is an herbal shampoo, but I swear it smells like beer! The good news is that the smell does not linger on your hair after you have rinsed it out. The price is less than I was paying for a salon shampoo, but it is not as cheap as the "grocery store brands". I try to avoid sodium lauryl sulfates, and I noticed that this is made with sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (an ingredient with which I was not familiar), so I was a bit concerned until I researched it. But, it appears that sodium lauryl sulfoacetate is rated a "1" (low hazard) by the EWG Cosmetics Database. I will be buying this again!
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Cleansers -DHC - Deep Cleansing Oil
Enneagram1 5/26/2010 8:19:00 PM
DHC's Deep Cleansing Oil has been my HG make-up remover for several years. It consistently clears off makeup, sunscreen and the oil that my skin manufactures throughout the day. It works best if I keep my hands dry prior to applying it. I rub it around my skin to loosen all of the grime, and then use warm water to rinse it off. Don't mix it with water on your face until you are ready to remove it if you want it to be most effective at cleaning. I use another cleanser after using this oil, and it works well for me. It has never irritated my very sensitive skin, even after years of use. The pump container works well and keeps the oil from dripping or leaking. I keep a large container on my bathroom counter and bought the little 1.7 ounce version for my travel bag. I am not a fan of DHC's other cleansers, but I love this cleansing oil!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Aveeno - Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer SPF 15
Enneagram1 5/8/2010 1:36:00 PM
My face is very oily, ultra-sensitive and suffers from rosacea. Even though I have oily skin, I have a problem with dryness in the winter, so I need a moisturizer. This moisturizer goes on smoothly and settles into a nice finish with no shine. I had high hopes for this product, but I found after a week or so that it actually made my rosacea worse, so I discontinued using it. I am not sure which ingredient was the problem, but I was really disappointed because I generally like Aveeno's products.
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Makeup Brushes -Too Faced - Retractable Kabuki Brush
Enneagram1 5/8/2010 1:29:00 PM
Those other reviews are right! I bought this brush after reading reviews of various retractable Kabuki brushes on this site. But, I hesitated before buying. Could a travel make-up brush REALLY be worth $$$? YES! As others have noted, this brush is bunny-fur-soft, PLUSH with more densely-packed bristles than any other travel brush I have ever seen, locked into a durable, too-cute-pink metal package. It applies mineral foundation beautifully, and the cap closes tightly so there is no worry about the cap separating from the rest of the brush in your purse.
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Moisturizers -Eucerin - Redness Relief Perfecting Lotion with spf 15
Enneagram1 5/8/2010 1:06:00 PM
This is a great, light moisturizer for ultra-sensitive rosacea skin. I have oily skin, and this moisturizer provides the perfect amount of moisture without creating a shiny or oily look. The green tint offsets my redness perfectly, but I do find that I have to work a bit to blend it in where I have large pores d(ue to acne scarring) to avoid seeing green "sitting" in those larger pores. I have been using this moisturizer for over 2 years, and am very happy with it. The SPF of 15 is acceptable, but I wish it were SPF 30, which is why I give it only 4 lippies instead of 5. I periodically purchase other moisturizers hoping to find one with more natural ingredients that does as good of a job as this one, but I inevitably come back to the Eucerin Redness Relief; it just can't be beat as far as my face is concerned.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No