Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Pampers Natural Aloe Touch Baby Wipes (Unscented)
FireWeaver 7/1/2010 2:02:00 AM
As an FYI, I actually bought the Life store brand at Shoppers Drug Mart instead of Pamper's because it's cheaper, but I thought it's better to post on this item instead of having a singular review on another item. I was super skeptical when I first decided to spent $3 on this on the advisement of the cosmetics attendant at Shopper's Drug Mart. I didn't think that it could take off waterproof makeup. I was certain it would be more hypo-allergenic and all that, just wasn't sure of the clean job. Holy! It worked just as good, perhaps even better than any makeup wipe I've ever paid 10 times as much for! It's far gentler too since it's for babies, and I love how it's unscented. The price is obviously unbelievable for the amount you get. This is one of those moments where you realize where the makeup industry is making the most money. Go ahead, make the switch. Save yourself some cash.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Mary Kay - Mineral Foundation brush
FireWeaver 6/28/2010 1:11:00 AM
I had another natural goat hair kabuki brush prior to this one that was dome shaped but I just could not get over how prickly it was. I was hesitant to give this a try at first since my friend, who was the distributor, said it was horse hair. But I find it really soft and nice, which is rare since my face finds many, many things scratchy. It certainly does shed though and has yet to stop. It's one of those small irritations I could do without, but $10 for a brush is pretty cheap these days so I suppose I can deal with it. It hasn't broken on me and it doesn't look as poorly made as other reviews have claimed in my opinion. Packaging could be better...like a hard case to keep it in. I find it gets pricklier if it isn't cleaned, so make sure to wash it either with brush cleaners or shampoo and warm water every so often. It works better at picking up powder and spreading it evenly across your face when clean too. This is one of those brushes that prove that you don't have to spend $50 to get a good use out of it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -H20 - Face Oasis Ultra Hydrator
FireWeaver 4/18/2010 1:28:00 AM
I won this in an H20 online party, but I'm reviewing based on if I had paid for it. I was pretty excited to try this since I've tried to original Oasis and also the Shine Neutralizer. The texture of this one is very different. The other two had a very strong gel consistency. The ultra hydrator has a more liquid consistency with little nourishing beads. I liked the consistency of this one better because it didn't leave a film like seal that the gels did. I felt less nervous in putting more onto my skin. The beads may or may not be nourishing, but they are difficult to crush unless I put more pressure on them, and I certainly don't rub my face that hard. Sometimes, if I don't manage to strategically pop them, they'll just fall off when the lotion is rubbed in and there is nothing for the beads to stick to. It's slightly irritating. I have never minded their jar packaging. My hands are clean after washing my face and I'm thinking that the outer layers of the lotion on my hands don't actually touch my fingers. It's also a nice cylinder so it's easy to get all the product. The shape of the Yves Rocher ones that I've used have a narrower top, which makes it very difficult to get everything. Now...I don't think it moisturizes as much as it claims it does. When I used the original Oasis, my aesthetician did remark that my skin was less dry. But since using the ultra, she actually has told me that my skin was still dry. It may have been because I don't use the product as much to save money, but even so, I did cover my whole face. Overall, I wouldn't try it again unless I do note a bigger difference in my skin over the next couple weeks where I'm going to increase applications to see if the dryness was due to lack of application vs quality of the product. It's too expensive and the jojoba oil I bought seems to be really helping...and it's far cheaper.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Bath and Body Works - Black Amethyst Lotion
FireWeaver 12/16/2009 11:38:00 PM
I received this as a gift from my sister for Christmas. This is the first Bath and Body Works product for me. Stunning outlook, that black, purple and gold packaging, all in a convenient tube that is pretty durable in my purse (and my purse packs a wallop). At first the scent is really strong, and I was skeptical from the beginning too. I'm really sensitive to musky strong scents and the name Black Amethyst along with its seductive packaging said all that. So I don't smell my hands at all when I first put it on. After a few minutes though, it fades away to a surprisingly pleasant scent that's not musky at all. I don't think it smells like old lady. I'm pretty familiar with that scent to the point that when I smell it, all I see if pinky salmon lace. This smell does not invoke those visual conditions. black Amethyst smells less powdery than old lady, and a little stronger/darker as well. It's a great moisterizer. Occasionally, my hands get nasty dry from cleaning or other things and the smallest dollop moisterizes my hands wonderfully. So...very grateful to my sister.
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Conditioner -John Frieda - Radiant Red Color Last Conditioner
FireWeaver 11/22/2009 12:40:00 AM
I gave the shampoo two stars because at least it lathered up and washed my hair. I have no clue what this thing did. Whatever it was, it was NOT condition my hair. I sincerely doubt leaving a residue that made my hair limp and greasy after a day is conditioning. I had to use a regular shampoo/conditioner once because I forgot the duo and my hair was amazing afterward. It was cheap stuff I was using too, which showed just how badly this stuff was doing to my hair. Like the shampoo, did not hold colour. Turned my bright vibrant red into this strange copper. Not worth a penny of the $10. My friends told me the Pantene would ahve been a better deal, which annoys me to no end because I had been debating between the two.
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Shampoo -John Frieda - Radiant Red Anti-Fade Shampoo
FireWeaver 11/22/2009 12:35:00 AM
So I just dyed my hair red for the first time and I used Frieda's frizz free stuff before and liked it. I did not like this at all. I really wished I bought the Pantene instead; my red headed friends told me later that was the better choice. All it did was act like a shampoo. Did not hold my colour; my vibrant red turned a strange copper instead, totally lost my colour. And my hair went greasy in only a day and always hung strangely limp. At first I thought it was the weather but I had to wash my hair with another shampoo and conditioner one day and my hair totally was amazing afterward. So...totally shampoo's fault. Not worth the 10$ one bit.
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Skincare - Face -Shiseido - Facial Cotton
FireWeaver 10/25/2009 12:48:00 AM
I never thought I'd be writing a review about cotton pads! :3 My mother purchased these for me when I needed some new cotton pads and she wasn't sure what to get me. I never wanted to splurge them despite being tempted to try and see if they were worth the $8. This was the softest cotton I have ever felt in my life! It was so silky smooth that I had to keep rubbing a few times just to make sure I wasn't just being sleepy and not paying attention to the texture. A little large, wish they were the size of the disc cotton pads Shoppers Life Brand Quilted/Luxury brand. I have tried to cut them in half but then they become just a little too narrow for my tastes. Also, unfortunately, they peel apart when I rub a little longer, leaving residue on my skin just like low quality cotton. Not saying this is low quality cotton by any means, but the quilted cotton pads with the sewn/sealed edges don't leave little rubbed off pieces behind. So one lippy off for that and the size. If they used the money they save by making the pads a little smaller and then stitching the edge, perfect.
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Skincare - Face -Yves Rocher - Pure Calmille Gentle Alcohol-Free Toner
FireWeaver 10/25/2009 12:23:00 AM
I am extremely picky about giving anything a five, and I had this sitting at a four for awhile, but seriously, I have not found anything wrong with it. Not even exaggerated claims. I picked this up after reading all the rave reviews here. I have extremely oily, but dehydrated skin that love to break out in cysts and blackheads. Here is how a little sypnosis of my journey with this gem: Price: Dirt cheap! $7. I think that's one of the best prices I've ever seen without being compromised for quality. Packaging: Has that whole cheap plastic look. But I like the silhouette, and it has not burst on me once and I've taken it everywhere for travel; I'm quite abusive too so I need durable containers that can survive airplaine pressure and suitcase cramming. I squeeze a dollop on my cotton pad and wipe the excess with the same pad so I don't waste anything. So even though the packaging isn't super convenient, I'm not too bothered by it. 5 months since purchase, I've used it anywhere from 2-3 times a day, and it's STILL not empty. The Toner: A clear milky texture. I recall being a little taken aback by the scent at first, but now I hardly notice it. In fact, I had to take the bottle in my hand right now and smell it because I couldn't even recall if it did have a scent. More or less alcohol free; it has propylene glycol but I can't smell it (I can usually smell alcohol in so-called alcohol free toners and then prove it by looking at the ingredients). Claims: Simple, practical beauty tool. 2 in 1 cleanser and toner. What it did: Exactly as it says. I took it camping as a cleanser substitute when I couldn't wash my face and it kept my face acne free for 3 days. It tones my face without any exaggerated promises (I have not really seen any toner do all the things it claims. This one does its basic toning. Good.) It visibly takes off any extra dirt, makeup or oils as well. My skin has a non-sticky, matte texture (almost like a cotton weave) once I'm done using it, which I like very much. It's about as unoily as my skin feels for the rest of the day. Conclusion: It did not promise anything more than what it did (unless we debate the ingredients, I always wonder about things like 100% pure chamomile extraction). Gives me a nice (and when needed, swift) cleanse and tone and even leaves my skin feeling matte with a nice touch (which almost no toner does). Very happy. Why complain about a good thing? :)
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Yves Rocher - Sebo Specific Zero Blemish Pore Refining Care
FireWeaver 10/24/2009 11:15:00 PM
I wanted to love this so badly! I stumbled upon Yves Rocher products by searching through moisterizer reviews and I saw the Pore Regulation moisterizer with raving reviews. When I arrived at the store...Surprise! No such moisterizer as Pore Regulation (it seems that they change their packaging often) but they had this one, which seemed like the closest. I admit I'm one of those suckers for advertising...and all those Awards listed on it sold me. Plus it was far cheaper ($16) compared to the H2O ($50) I've been using. Here is how I arrived at my conclusion: My skin: Disgustingly oily; as in let's use two oil sheets and soak them through at a time oily. But according to my aesthetician, very dehydrated as well. So looking for a lotion that's water based to control oil and provide hydration. Price: Awesome. Yves Rocher has an umbelievable amount of deals online and in store, including giveaways with purchases, an amazing rewards program, etc. Items are almost always 50% off which is what I paid for the Moisterizer. Sales Rep: Said that this moisturizer I can use both day and night. I was debating on the Matte one but she said that it might not be moisturizing enough at night time. Packaging: I really don't mind jar packaging. I know people say it's unhygenic but I find that squeezing things out of tubes and watching residue crust over or swiping my finger over the tip over and over is just as unhygenic. My hands are always very clean after washing my face when I put on the lotion. Now the irritation I had with this jar is that the shape prevented me from being able to get at the last bits of it lest I scrape it with my nails, and I hate wasting. Lotion: Had this gel cream texture that was light and lovely. A fresh cucumber smell that made me want to put it on my face. What it did: Certainly not making my skin more beautiful as the packaging boldly claimed. I did not see my pores reducing either. No oil control either but I've never expected a miracle in that respect since I've never seen one moisturizer succeed at that. Conclusion: Worked like a moisturizer. Good price. Hydrated reasonably well without oil prevention. Great texture and smell. Did not do any of the things that it claimed, which immediately takes off a lippy for loss of respect. I would have given it a four it didn't have all those promises to live up to. If I didn't have a better option, I would probably go back to this. Trying the Hydra Specific line next..
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -The Body Shop - Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream
FireWeaver 9/2/2009 12:38:00 AM
I got this as a gift from a friend of mine so I can't say anything about cost. I can kind of guess though based on Body Shop products. I don't mind jar packaging, first of all. Most of my H2O stuff (before I became too poor to afford it for now) were jars and I never found that it became dirty or infected with anything. I wash my face and hands thoroughly before using the lotions and I usually dab in a way that a few layers are on top of my finger and thus my finger itself doesn't leave much residue behind. I kind of like jars because I can clear them out more. I was really edgy about the product at first because I have terribly oily skin which is prone to cysts, but I thought I'd try it anyhow because I ran out of moisturizer recently and I also though Vitamin E might help my scars a bit. I was really surprised by the texture. Sure it was creamier than what I was used to, but it had this silk texture to it. No joke, it felt like rubbing actual silk on my face. I've never felt quite a texture like it. Feeling that versus a crazy creamy texture made me feel a little more secure. My face does feel a little oilier than normal in the morning but it doesn't seem to be causing clogging or breakouts. In fact, I think my skin has been looking a bit better, but that may be a combination of factors including better makeup and day moisturizer. We'll see...
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Lise Watier - Eye shadow Quartet "Les Peacock"
FireWeaver 7/4/2009 1:03:00 AM
I got this item in a swap, and I'm pretty satisfied overall. I don't use all the colours together, but tend to treat them as individual pigments to use with my other shadows. Personal taste perhaps...using the pink and then the teals makes me feel like a watermelon. For certain days, the matte bone colour works pretty well as a base. I tend to go for more shimmery since sometimes a very matte light colour looks more like lotion that didn't get rubbed in, but it does function well when blended in properly. I love the pink (and I hate pink) because of it's darker, Victorian like hue, which gives my eyes a pretty elegant look. The light and dark teals work well together on different sections of the eye, and give off a very nice pearly effect that changes in the light. I would only say that it's a little hard to tell how even it's being put on because of that sometimes. The light teal I have to be careful with because it's really light when it first goes on, and if I'm not paying attention, I can go too far. I do wish the dark teal did look more like it does on the palette though. I like getting stronger colours BECAUSE they are stronger. But perhaps it's better that it can look more natural, and then with more layers it gets stronger. Allows more variety. I have experimented with more layers yet, but I will soon.
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Cleansers -H20 - h20 cleansing water
FireWeaver 7/4/2009 12:52:00 AM
I got this along with the rest of the Oasis package, so I'm not too sure how much it costs, but if it's like any of the H20 products, still probably a lot. It's pretty decent. At first I had problems getting it to foam up. I don't follow the directions on the container because it doesn't look like it's doing anything at all when I just apply to my face with my fingertips. I pour it onto my face sponge and then use the sponge on my face. It foams up much better and then I see it working away. It's a pretty gentle but effective cleanser that does remove dirt and makeup (I can see it on my sponge). It has a mild, marine-like smell to it. Actually, I'm not really sure what it smells like...it's different but not offensive. The reason I'm not buying it again is because I already have a set regime with a clay soap bar at night that's far cheaper, but I would not rule it out if it came my way again in some sort of deal.
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Lotions/ Creams -Nivea - My Silhouette Redefining Gel-Cream
FireWeaver 7/3/2009 6:23:00 PM
I'm on my second bottle of this. Mind you, my thighs and hips don't have the orange peel look, but it looked like it may have been heading there. I think it did some minor improvements, but I have not seen any major change; but minor improvements are better than the absolute lack of any change from far more expensive products. I might try the cellulite cream instead after this bottle though since I have to tackle the pockets of fat sitting happily on my hips more than anything else. It might do more than the silhouette.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Quo - liner/brow brush
FireWeaver 7/3/2009 6:09:00 PM
I don't use this very often since I have a liquid liner and I don't fill in my brows very often. The times I do though, the precision is quite good; the angle really helps me change how precise I want my work to be. As for brows, this certainly is much better than the brush I was using before. Prior, I was using something that looked more like a liner brush since my logic was, "the smaller, the tighter detail". But this brush is dense so it's not floppy like a fine liner brush is and thus also allows for better precision. Quite a nice product.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Shiseido - Eyelash Curler
FireWeaver 6/28/2009 2:14:00 AM
My first eyelash curler, so I'm writing this with no comparison point. I researched this one and the Shu one for quite some time and then took the plunge and bought this one. I have to say I like it. I curls my lashes and they look far better than my struggles with trying all the time to get a curling mascara that could do the job without a curler. I was scared of curlers from a bad experience when I was younger and because a friend kept telling my my lashes would fall off. I have few enough as they are (Asian lashes D:) but that has not happened. I'm pretty sure that rumour is caused by those who misuse their curler and tug them out. They don't fit as perfectly as I want though. I wanted a curler that could fit Asian eyes and I think mine are a bit rounder and larger than the standard Asian. I have to do my lashes in two sets, because if I try to get them all in at once, then the curler will pinch my skin. Sometimes it still does even if I do two sets. Nothing's perfect though and this does it's job, so I'm satisfied. I do warm it up by tucking the head between my pantline and skin first so that it has a slight heating effect. Works better.
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