Sunscreen -Unlisted Brand - BurnOut - Clean and Clear Zinc Oxide Sunblock
FlawedAngel 3/15/2013 11:34:00 AM
I was thrilled to find an all physical SS that had such high Zno content (18.5%) that had no white cast. And it's true, it really has no white cast. I was really hoping to be able to wear this daily on my face under m/u wtihout looking greasy or having a white cast. While this worked great as sun protection, and does have no white cast, it really is not cosmetically elegant. First, after applying my face immediatly got a tight, dry feeling. Except it looked and was sticky as heck. Forget trying to put m/u over it! Way too sticky and drying to apply any makeup smoothly over. I used this up as a body sunscreen. I'm giving it 3 lippies b/c it is too expensive for a body sunscreen and not comfortable or attractive on the face.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -St. Ives - Intensive Healing- Advanced Body Moisturizer
FlawedAngel 3/12/2013 2:36:00 AM
This is my go to body lotion in the warmer months. While it is described as "Intensive Healing" lotion, I'd say the texture is more light, almost gel consistancy. However, it hydrates my dry skin very well. I think there has been a reformulation with added fragrance, but it is a subtle pleasant scent IMO. It is very fresh and unisex, without being sharp, a bit like fresh cut grass. It is quite similar to the smell of St. Ive's Fresh Skin facial moisturizer. It comes in a huge pump bottle ($3.00-$4.00 range), which though very clean and convienent does cause some product waste. Love that this hydrates so well and has a pleasant scent that layers well with clean Spring/Summer frags. I find it freshents my Winter juniper based edt to make it Summery. Have repurchased many times.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -St. Ives - Naturally Indulgent Coconut Milk & Orchid Extract Lotion
FlawedAngel 2/26/2013 5:46:00 AM
Love this lotion. It is hydrating and has a delicious smell. I don't smell coconut really, but rather something more vanilla, similar to BBW Warm Vanilla Sugar. But unlike BBW, this stuff doesn't make me feel ill, and the scent is lighter. It layers wonderfully with gourmand fragrances (love this with a vanilla body spray!). It is such a comforting smell to wear to bed on a cold Winter's night. And of course this is super hydating to my always dry skin. It is always quite cheap ($3.00 range for a huge bottle). Pump packaging clean, but does create product waste. Bottom line: I love this for the cooler months and always keep a bottle of this on hand.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Yes To Carrots - Yes to Carrots Conditioning Lip Butter with SPF 15
FlawedAngel 2/12/2013 11:17:00 AM
I have this in Fig and Pomegranite, and I have repurchased this product many times. No, not because it is so moisturizing and makes my lips feel so great. I buy it to get stable, reliable sun protection for my lips. Who wants wrinkly lips? Almost every chapstick in the d/s now contains some kind of spf, but something folks forget is that these are chem filters. Fine on your face because they have time to absorb. You're supposed to apply them 20 mins before going outdoors. But that's not how we use and rely on lip sun protection. We apply lippie spf products all the time, indoors, outdoors, just whenever. Furthermore, we have likely smudged or licked all the product off before it has had a chance to absorb and offer its label protection. Not so with mineral blocks like Zinc and Tio2. You can apply and they are effective immediatly. I love that this lippie is so cheap and has 6.5% Zinc as its active. It does leave a bit of a white cast on my lips (that's the zinc), but I offset with a lipstick over it. I don't use it indoors as it's not really cosmetically flattering or moisturizing. But it is great sun protection for my lips and that's why I buy it. If I'm going to be in the sun I apply and reapply and my lips never feel chapped or burned. Great product, cheap price. Will repurhcase for as long as it's available.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Silk Naturals - Vitamin C Peptide Serum
FlawedAngel 2/8/2013 10:17:00 AM
I am writing this review after using a full 1 oz. bottle of this over about a month. I bought it because I was seeking a Vitamin C and peptide serum that was not hugely expensive. After extensive searching, I can say Silk Naturals' claim is quite true that other company's products containing both these actives are incomperably expensive. This stuff was cheap for SC ($15.95+shipping). Okay performance: I definately felt the exfoliating effects of the vitamin C. My skin felt dry and a bit stingy as I got used to using it. This surprised me because the C formula used here (MAP) is supposed to relatively gentle. My skin didn't even react this way when I started using tretinoin cream every night (dry, mature sensitive skin here). This issue resolved though. I have some hyperpigmentation from sun damage and melasma, and though I can't say that specefic areas pigemtation have identifiably lightened exactly, the overall look and texture has improved. I have an overall more "glowy" look, with more event tone and texture. As to any firming and other significant changes, I think that as with any anti-aging topical, the benefits are long term and more preventative and than reversing. On the down side, this serum actually gave my skin a tight, dry feeling (for oily skinned, I guess this is a good thing). It does work fine under SS and m/u though. I use it under my SS during the day, and sometimes under PM night moisturizer when I am not using tretinoin cream. At this point I would repurchase given price, potential benefits and lack of significant negatives. Pump packaging okay, but quite cheap and easy to squirt out way too much messily.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -Cover Girl - AquaSmooth SPF15 Make-up
FlawedAngel 1/31/2013 11:22:00 PM
Well, I never thought I'd find myself buying a CG foundation since I have't tried anything CG since I was about 15. However, affter a big disapointment with an h/e fndt I was desperate for one that worked without splurging. If you get a good one, cream to powder foundations are notoriously easy to apply, so I thought I'd seek one out at my d/s. I was immediatly pleased to see that AquaSmooth has 9% Tio2 as it's spf. The addition of a stable mineral spf is always enticing to me. Anyway, I bought it in the lightest shade (Ivory 705). For referene, I am NW10. The coverage can be built up to solid medium without looking cakey. It is easier to apply than powder foundation and the finish much silkier looking. It lasts maybe 4 hours in regular indoors temps without touch-up. The good thing is that this stuff is incredibly easy to touch-up if you carry a compact with you. Packaging: It looks like a mini blue spaceship or some kind of ancient contreceptive container. I wish it were smaller and the sponge included bigger. I tried wearing this fndt for a few days and finally decided that much as I liked the ingredients, finish and ease of application the shade was simply wrong for me_ too dark and too yellow. I think this fndt wouldn't work on complexions lighter than NC15. But for the price and the quality of product I am giving it 5 lippies because I am sure it would work out great for many ladies.Oh, and no weird CG smell either.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Queen Helene - Queen Helene Whipped Cleansing Cream
FlawedAngel 1/9/2013 12:47:00 PM
This product works great if you want a cleaser that is really and truly moisturizing. I use a small blob massaged across my face with warm water, light swipe with a tissue or saluxe clothe, and this stuff removes even the most tenacious makeup. Feels like a tradtional cold cream, but it contains sodium borate, which is probably why it removes product so efficiently. It does leave a serious layer of residue, which feels moisturizing and leaves my skin very soft. However, I don't use this on nights I use skincare products w/actives b/c I think it probably leaves a barriar film. Smells strongly of jasmine, which doesn't bother me, but may bother some. I'm an esthetician and I like to use this for facials on clients with dry/mature skin. Comes in a huge tub. Hate this. Tube packaging much preferrred. Still a great product for estheticians though b/c it feels and smells very luxe, but actually costs about $5.00 at Sally's. Will repurchase though I certainly don't like to use this every night.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Make Up For Ever - Liquid Lift Foundation
FlawedAngel 1/4/2013 8:03:00 AM
For reference, I am NW10 (hard to match!) and no.11 was a perfect shade match. The next palest shade is #1, and it is significantly more yellow. That said, I have mixed feelings about this foundation. Applied carefully, I get high medium coverage, very evened skin tone, and barely the need for concealer. The finish is actually more matte than dewy, which is interesting because this formula has the reputation of being moisturizing. MUFE F&B is lighter coverage, lighter feeling formula with a more dewy finish. Surprisingly, Liquid Lift is just okay, but not great on dry skin IME. It is best applied over my regular day moisturizer. Also, I have no problems layering this over my SS either. It is quite tenacious and lasts all day without even a setting powder. Okay, the cons: Application is tricky and the formula is not actually very buildable. I would like to apply more to my forehead, however you can't use more than a little bit (I'm talking drops) on any given area or you will look truly cakey. Forget the dotting on all over with a q-tip and then blending all at once method. I've found I have to work quickly and carefully by facial area. This is because the foundation immediatly adheres to any texture flaw on your face, from peach fuzz to a dry patch. So in using this on my forehead (where I have some skin discoloration), I can only apply a small amount and I have to work very quickly with my fingers to spread and blend, which seems to warm up the formula and make it more workable for a short time. I have to be careful to not apply too much or I will end up with it quickly caked in my hair line or any stray light hairs above my eyebrows. It also dries and looks streaky if you don't blend super fast. The final finish is not what I hoped. It looks a tad mask like in fact. No dimension or glow. Because of this and the difficulty in applying, I won't be repurchasing. I think I will experiment with with Koh Gen Do's Moisture formula in 001 next. This will not be for a while though because a 1 oz bottle of liquid lift will last a very long time.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Neutrogena - Extra Gentle Cleanser
FlawedAngel 12/27/2012 7:17:00 AM
I do like this cleanser. It has the consistancy of a light lotion. It is soap-free and does not lather, yet I would not call this a traditional cream cleanser because it is not as rich feeling. I like that it leaves my skin feeling clean, but not tight and dry. I definately think this is a good product for sensitive, dry and/or mature skin. For reference, I am not acne or clog prone, so I can't speak to whether or not this will work on finicky skin. Love that this is truly fragrance free, and the clean pump packaging is also great. On the down side, I find that that even if I use a wascloth rather than just massaging in with my fingers, i find patches of makeup left of my face after cleansing. Of similar qualities but more efficient is St. Ives Makeup Remover & Facial Cleanser ($3.99 at Ulta). It is a bit richer, but removes all my SS and makeup. I use the Neutrogena cleanser on days I don't have much product on, however if you are looking for something gentle that will remove all traces of product, this is not it. Wish I could use it everyday, but on days I am wearing serum, SS and heavy fndt, this doesn't work. I get it for $7.99 on drugstore.com (NA) and I definately suggest it to those looking for a light, non-drying, non-soap cleanser.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Japonesque - Go Curl Eyelash Curler
FlawedAngel 12/13/2012 11:12:00 PM
I fell back in love with this after a year long separation, much pinching, lash loss and dollars spent on more costly lash curlers. Since I started using Careprost, my lashes got seriously wild. I mean, nothing worked to curl them. I tried the famous Shu curler, no lasting curl, the Chanel curler, pinched and no lasting curl, the Tweezerman Pro, pinched, lash loss, hardly any curl. And I have not mentioned the d/s fails. I had sworn off this little gem from Japonesque b/c I was sick of replacing it every year or so. Yes, it's true, the spring mechanism seems to break after 9 mo-1 year of daily use. But it creates the most perfect, lasting, painless curl ever! And it never causes lash loss. So I ordered 1 from Ulta ($11.00) and it was still as effective and easy as ever in spite of my new crazy long lashes, so I have just ordered 3 more. The the design is open-cage and for whatever reason the shape totally prevents pinching and allows for precision curl. Also, small size and flat design is perfect for travel. Yes, they don't last forever, but they are cheap enough and the results good enough that I am not subtracting any lippies. LM makes one that looks nearly identical but it is totally useless (zero curl!) and costs $17.00. Sephora also makes one, but I haven't tried. Great design, neat little curler, will continue to repurcase even though I wish one would last forever!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Christian Dior - 5 Couleurs Designer All-In-One Artistry Palette - Nude Pink Design 508
FlawedAngel 11/23/2012 11:37:00 AM
Wow, this is both beautiful and amazingly useful. I really wanted an all-in-one type palette for travel that would include liner. After some epic BB fails and lack-luster LM experiences, I finally sprung for this after hearing how wonderful the regular Dior quints are. The colors are pretty, but it is the texture that is truly amazing. Each of the shadows have a creamy texture and even though they are all powder. The base shade is an ever so slightly shimmery champagne. I wear it alone often. The center shade is a warm, peachy pink. The darkest colour is the ombre shadow and it is simply amazing, like a more buttery version of MAC's satin Taupe. Then there is the pale shimmer, a gorgeous, delicate pink. So beautiful! It does truly glitter, but this can look lovely especially for evening wear. I freely admit to using neutral glitter in the day though (so fire me!). But yeah, if you are a glitter-a-phobe, this entire palette is not for you. I find that a bit of shimmer livens up the eyes, but I know some hate it and prefer only mattes. Now, onto the liner: there have been some lippies off for this, but let me just say it works quite well for me. I apply with a MAC 210 and it creates a smooth, fine line. It applies more as a warm light brown, while it looks darker in the pan. I am a little concerned that the gel liner will dry out b/c I doubt the compact is as airtight as the pots that gel liners usually come in, but we'll see. The little diagram it comes with showing where to apply the shades kind of reminds me of the cute Japanese palettes I've seen pics of but can never actually access IRL. Anyway, beautiful, useful palette, well worth the $55.00.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyes -Unlisted Brand - Careprost~Generic Brand Latisse
FlawedAngel 11/8/2012 7:39:00 AM
I have used Careprost for a few years now, so I think a review is in order. According to my dermatologist who sells Latisse in his office, the two products are truly identical in every way except the packaging. So if you're comfortable with Latisse, Careprost is most certainly equivalent. Now, here are the results I've gotten: my lashes pretty much doubled in length. They are not thicker or darker mind you, just longer. In fact sometimes a lash or two gets so long, I actually have to trim it! On the down side, they seem to grow in a bit straighter and at odder angles that makes achieving a uniform curl more difficult. Also, my eyelids are slightly darker, which I correct with MAC paint pots in Bare Study. But from what I've read, darkened lids are a pretty normal side effect and if that possibility bugs you, this product may not be for you. It's important to note though that this is reversible. When I stopped using Careprost for a few weeks when traveling, my lids lightened right back up. As to starting off, in the first 2 weeks of using it, my eyes felt very itchy and were red in the morning. I slowed to every other night and used some OTC anti-redness eye drops for a bit, and the problem resolved. I now use it every night with no issues. Also worth noting, this stuff helped immensely with restoring my brows after I over-plucked them badly. Within 3 weeks I went from the dreaded tadpole brows to a nice shape, with evenly filled in hairs. At night I would just apply in the shape I wanted my hairs back, and voila I am no longer a fugly eyebrow freak. For $11.00 this is most certainly a 5 lippie product because it does what it says for a very cheap price. I suggest ordering the $12.00 bottle at least once though because the application brush that comes with it is perfect as it creates zero product waste (big issue with regular Latisse). As to ordering, I've found dealing with ADC to be not worth the headache, so I go through a reliable 3rd party vendor who is very honest and has done many group orders. Well worth a few extra bucks for peace of mind! Bottom line: If you've ever wanted Latisse, but not wanted to spend the money, I highly recommend Careprost.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Bobbi Brown - Desert Twilight
FlawedAngel 11/4/2012 2:05:00 AM
I usually don't write reviews on products I hate, but I felt one was called for here. I have rarely been so underwhelmed by a product in my life and I feel stupid for even buying this shizzle. All the shades look lovely in the pan, and I thought they would be perfect neutrals for my pale skin and blue eyes. But wow, how this formula sucks! I mean, these shadows are dry, lacking pigment, and the shimmer ones have fall out. Oh and I think some of the shadow pans are actually even crooked in the palette:/ I gave this two lippies instead of one because the Chocolate Mauve is quite pigmented and decent as an e/l and the Navajo is a good pale neutral for brow bone or inner lid brightening/highlighting. Also the packaging is cute. But for $60.00, truly I should have gotten more than two OK shades and a cute compact. I am actually deterred from buying anymore of BB's LE travel sized compacts ever again because her formula for these seem so problematic. Too bad because if these colours actually worked, this would be a great little travel palette.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -St. Ives - Make-Up Remover & Facial Cleanser FRESH SKIN
FlawedAngel 10/19/2012 2:33:00 PM
I loved this cleanser. Took of all my m/u without leaving my face feeling tight and dry. I just spread a quarter sized blob across my dampened skin and massaged. To get offany residue, I finished by gently using a salux cloth. Love the tube packaging as it allows for no product waste, great ingredients, cruelty free, cheap price. My one huge complaint is that this is available nowhere. I would buy this again, but it is now no longer on drugstore.com or in any of my local stores. So I've had to switch to other cleanser:( Using Neutrogena Extra Gentle atm. I really wish St. Ives would be more consistent in their lines and where they are stocked. They are constantly being DCed or becoming HTF.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Estee Lauder - Advanced Night Repair (Serum)
FlawedAngel 10/9/2012 3:12:00 PM
I used this product consistently for a year, so I think a review is in order. I love how it hydrates and smoothly applies (even under m/u). The hydration aspect was what I noticed was the most beneficial effect. This is probably due to the hyaluronic acid content. Honestly, I am not sure if it did anything for evening skin tone, or had any other anti-aging benefits. But this is not a complaint. Few anti-aging products can show immediate results in pigmentation, tone, wrinkle prevention etc. Anyway, though my experience with this serum has been positive (no complaints), for the price I am looking for something with peptides in it. While I appreciate the antioxidant properties of ANR, I think PC's Resist serum is comparable at least as a night treatment (it doesn't sit well under m/u). So, no I won't repurchase at this time as I'm on the hunt for a good peptide serum. But I may yet return to it at some point in the future.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No