Gels/Soaps -Burt's Bees - Citrus & Ginger Root Body Wash
Helena101 7/5/2009 9:48:00 PM
I bought a sample of this a year or so ago and fell in love with the scent. I finally splurged on the full-sized bottle recently. I just love this product. The aroma is so fresh and juicy--smells like real oranges, not fake. It is a treat to use it in the shower in the morning. It actually helps to get me up and going. I love the fact that it is natural and I'm not putting harmful chemicals on my skin or down the drain into our ecosystem. I am being more mindful of the products I use and realizing that it all has to go somewhere--usually into our water supply! The price is not bad for a natural product and the packaging is okay. I would prefer a pump bottle as well but at least the cap is not screw-off anymore as one reviewer noted. I find this to be gentle to my skin and does a good job in the summer of getting waterproof sunscreen off. It does NOT lather well without a poof of some sort, however. That is the only drawback but a small price to pay for the natural ingredients. I plan to keep buying this as long as they make it!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Jane Iredale - PureMoist LipColour SPF 18 in Brett
Helena101 6/15/2009 9:03:00 PM
I absolutely love this lipstick. It's half-gone and I've only had it a couple of months. That's unusual for me. I hardly ever use up a lipstick. Part of the reason is that this goes on like a really smooth balm; the other reason is that I use it daily. It has a wonderful smooth, moisturizing texture. I love the vanilla mint scent. And the color is fabulous. It looks dark in the tube but really goes on very sheer, and you can build the color up. But it will not get scary on you. A single coat gives a rosy, MLBB look. A second coat brings it up a notch to a gentle rosy berry tone that is really flattering. This is the red that you want for daytime! It looks great, never dark, dragon-ladyish, or garish. Just natural, pretty lips. I think this is kind of like the Laura Mercier Sexy Lips line in terms of concept/color. I will definitely repurchase! P.S. the packaging is nice and the case gives a nice solid click when you close it.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Sexy Hair Concepts - So Pumped Volumizing Mist
Helena101 5/16/2009 10:20:00 PM
My stylist uses this on me all the time. I bought a bottle and used it up to the last drop--something I rarely do with a cupboard full of products in my bathroom. Just bought my second bottle today. I love this stuff because it really does help give my fine hair more volume and it doesn't weigh it down or make it stiff or crunchy. My stylist uses it while my hair is wet as a prep spray,and that is how I use it, too. I do use it dry from time to time but usually more as a styling product after shampooing. It is pricey but sometimes you can get BOGO at some salons or find it at TJ Maxx. Love it!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Giovanni - Natural Mousse Air-Turbo Charged
Helena101 5/4/2009 6:57:00 PM
Love this product. I have fine, abundant hair with very slight bend/wave. Basically unruly and flat at the same time. This mousse is wonderful--it gives it a lot of volume and control, lasts all day, smells great, and is environmentally friendly. I love the pump dispenser, the fragrance, and the price--much cheaper than salon products. I will buy this again and again. Highly recommend!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Almay - pure blends lipgloss
Helena101 3/29/2009 4:54:00 PM
I am returning this package to the store. It does indeed smell as if Almay is using rancid almond oil in their product. Probably using some sort of cast-off from the food industry and turning it into lipgloss. Horrible odor. No pigment at all. I love natural products and use Jane Iredale, Ecco Bella, etc. so I realize that sometimes natural products appear a little different or require mixing if they separate a bit. But this is too much. Just yucky quality. If you want a nice drugstore, natural lipgloss, try Burt's Bees. They have a squeeze tube one that is lovely and smells like grapefruit. Don't waste your money on this one!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Victoria's Secret - Heavenly Bloom
Helena101 3/20/2009 9:18:00 PM
This is a very nice floral. It surprised me since I wasn't really expecting to want to wear it. It was RIS brand new, and I actually dithered about whether or not to open it or give it away as a gift (it was sealed). My curiosity won and I tried some. The first whiff is very floral--fresh floral. It reminded me a little of MJ Daisy, which I own and love. But it was a little less complex than Daisy, and I thought maybe it was going to be boring. However, less than an hour after applying, I began to notice the most heavenly aroma. There is a very sweet, soft, sandalwood type of drydown that is really nice. These are the notes: Top notes: yellow freesia, sparkling mandarin, honeydew melon, pear blossom Middle notes: magnolia flower, jasmine petals, blooming gardenia, apple flower, apricot nectar Low notes: blonde woods, musk I def. get the freesia, melon and pear. Magnolia, "blonde woods" for sure. The musk not so much (I love musk so I am hopeful it will appear another day). Overall, a very nice, light, gentle scent that shouldn't offend anyone. I think it is saved from being an ordinary floral by the woods and musk, along with the fruitier notes of the apricot and apple, although I'm not sure I can detect them separately. I'm not sure I'd purchase again, given how long it takes me to get through a bottle of scent and the fact that it is limited ed., but def. worth trying. If you love it--stock up!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Kimberly Sayer of London - Ultra Light Facial Moisturizer SPF 25
Helena101 2/20/2009 12:41:00 PM
I bought this as an all-natural replacement for my OoO Complete, which I had used for years. This is actually not that much more expensive than OoO, when you factor in that the bottle is twice as big. My OoO Sensitive Skin SPF 30 was almost $14 a bottle for 2oz. at CVS, and this is $32 for almost twice as much product. So, it's really not that bad a price, esp. given the quality of the organic ingredients. This is a light, but nicely moisturizing lotion that sinks in quickly, doesn't feel greasy, and smells like fresh lemons when you first apply it. My skin hasn't had any breakouts in the month that I have been using it. In fact, I think my skin looks better than ever since I've begun using this. For the record, I am 42 years old and have normal/combo skin. Used to be oily, but as I've gotten older I'm more normal/dry with oil sometimes in the T-zone. I don't typically break out, unless I use a product that disagrees with my skin. I will definitely repurchase, although I will have to see if it has enough SPF for me in the summer months. The texture is great but I tend to use very high SPF in summer, so this may not be enough. For winter/early spring, though, it's absolutely perfect! * Editing to say that I used this for several months through the late winter and early spring with no problems. Loved it. As May wore on, though, I felt that it was too moisturizing for my combo skin, and I also like a higher spf in the summer, so I am switching to something stronger (currently Shiseido SPF 55) although I would like to find a natural/organic replacement. I still use the Kimberly Sayer around my eyes and neck, though, as the moisture is needed there and I don't like putting chemical sunscreens near my eyes. I still highly recommend this product and will go back to using it exclusively in the fall.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Ellen Tracy - Tracy
Helena101 1/31/2009 6:01:00 PM
I was hoping for the almond milk, sandlewood, and musk notes to really play out. They never arrived on me. Just a sweet floral. Reminds me of Jontue from the '80s. Not for me. Very sweet, floral, headachey on me. Not good!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Ecco Bella - Flower Color Powder
Helena101 1/30/2009 10:05:00 PM
I love these shadows. I used to use primarily MAC, Nars, and Stila until I switched to all-natural cosmetics. I was not expecting these to work for me. I was pleasantly surprised to find them to be extremely high-quality. In fact, I would put them up against Nars or MAC anyday. They don't offer the same color selection, but what they do have is great. These shadows glide on very easily. They blend well; stay put, and look lovely. I have Khaki, which is a nice muted khaki-green-beige; Clay, a muted cocoa nude; Heather, a soft vanilla yellow; and Earth, a dark brown. I've been very happy with them all. The recyclable packaging is admirable, although for everyday use they really don't work that well. The little cardboard boxes are hard to open and close. I took a tip from another MUA'er and swapped for a Cat Cosmetics palette. These shadows fit PERFECTLY into one of these palettes! I am itching to buy more of these shadows! Don't hesitate to buy. These are high-quality and best of all, have no harmful ingredients!
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Ecco Bella - FlowerColor Lipstick in Napa Grape Frost
Helena101 1/30/2009 3:50:00 PM
My new favorite lipstick. I bought this b/c I am switching to all-natural products. This color is nothing like the name suggests, as a PP mentioned. It's really more of a nude-pink color. It is a perfect replacement for my MAC Twig lipstick. It's a little lighter, but that's okay. It is a lovely, natural, MLBB color that can be worn anywhere. It's very flattering to my complexion and eyes, and it wears well. I love it with a hint of gloss on top. The packaging is classy and simple--black rubberized plastic that looks elegant. I will repurchase this!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Unlisted Brand - Honeybee Gardens Truly Natural Mascara
Helena101 1/23/2009 4:57:00 PM
Finally--an all-natural mascara that works on my long, skinny lashes! This goes on well without clumping. Smooth, easy application. I do need to wipe the brush first, but I do that with all mascara, esp. when they are brand-new. I would compare this favorably to any drugstore brand, and even some high-end brands. It makes my lashes look longer, darker, and prettier, without screaming "I'm wearing mascara!" The advertising is true--you CAN apply a second coat without bothersome clumping in order to build more volume. I will repurchase again and again. It's wonderful to have a safe mascara without nasty chemicals that really performs. Very reasonable price, too. 8.99 on the website, plus shipping. I saved even more by purchasing from an eBay seller who only charged 1.00 shipping. I'm a very happy camper!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Jane Iredale - Pure Pressed Blush
Helena101 1/19/2009 10:18:00 PM
I purchased this blush in Barely Rose because I am switching to all-natural products. I had previously been using Nars blushes. I'm really picky about my blush and find that with my complexion,I need a particular level of pigment and just the right amount of coolness for my rosy complexion. Jane Iredale's product is a really high-quality blush with nice pigmentation and ease of application. The shade is a soft rose, and for once, I can wear a shade like this and have it show up on my NC20 skin. Most lighter shades just don't show up at all. This is a very nice, soft, gentle color that looks pretty and gives that light rosy glow. I'm very satisfied with it and would def. repurchase. It is a little pricey, even compared to Nars, but it should still last a long time. I'm willing to pay a little more for a blush that doesn't contain toxic ingredients.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Mata Hari
Helena101 1/7/2009 8:25:00 PM
Once again, Mr. Nars comes through for me. I don't know why I even bother with other blushes, because none of them work on me. I am only an NC20 but most blushes don't show up on me at all, and if they do, they are garish or too bright. There is something about my skintone or undertone that just washes blushes out. Mata Hari is a gorgeous, clear, sweet pink on me. Thanks to the high pigmentation, you truly only need a touch of it to get a beautiful flush of color. This wakes my face up more than any other product. It makes my eyes bluer, my skintone more radiant. When I'm wearing this I feel so pretty! It seems to distract from the minor flaws that begin to accumulate as you hit your 40s. The fine lines and duller skintone isn't as noticeable. I'd go so far as to say it takes 5-8 years off! And it doesn't even look like you're wearing blush if you apply it correctly. Would def. repurchase. Nars blushes are the best. My other favorite is Sin. I'm looking forward to trying others as I can afford it. They're pricey but well-worth it. My Sin has lasted me over 2 years!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Nature's Gate - Jojoba Shampoo
Helena101 1/4/2009 8:39:00 PM
I bought this for my childrens' hair, as they need a really gentle product, esp. my daughter. She has baby fine hair that snags and tangles easily. I wash their hair at night in the tub. I had bought some L'Oreal kids' shampoo on sale--by the end of that bottle her hair was driving me nuts. Even if I applied Nexxus conditioner afterwards, her hair would be staticky and a mess in the morning. I bought the Jojoba shampoo and conditioner and her hair improved dramatically. It is silky and shiny, doesn't tangle, and smells wonderful. It also works well on my son's hair. He doesn't have bedhead in the morning anymore. Think I might steal the bottle in the morning and try it on myself! I also like the fact that it has less crap in it than the mainstream brands. Loving this.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Satin Lipstick in Twig
Helena101 12/30/2008 11:06:00 PM
After many years of reading about Twig and trying various low-end knock-offs, I finally bought it last month. It was worth the wait and it does live up to the hype. I find it to be a perfect neutral, classy, go with anything shade. I have dark lips and many neutrals don't show up on me at all. Twig is just a shade or two darker than my lip color. It instantly perks me up and looks just right anywhere. It is not that special-looking in the tube, but when you put it on....wow. I particularly like it with a dab of gloss (Prrr looks nice). Love it and will repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No