Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Homemade Vitamin C Serum
Jaynne 6/16/2013 6:35:00 PM
I do a simple distilled water and vitamin c crystal potion, which I prepare every few days and put in a repurposed opaque serum bottle and store in the fridge. About 1/4 tsp powder to 3 1/5 tsp water. After cleansing at night, I dispense a few pumps and pat on my skin, then follow with fresh refrigerated aloe vera juice. I leave that on until it dries and then put on my evening moisturizer. Done. Amazingly positive difference in my skin. I bought my L-ascorbic acid crystals from the pharmacy, about $10 for 100 grms. I keep the crystals in the fridge. I read somewhere that one thing women over 50 should absolutely do is to add a Vitamin C serum to their skin care routine. I am evidence of that good advice. What a joy that I have an inexpensive, potent, and absolutely fresh way of delivering that!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -DermOrganic - Leave In Treatment with Argan Oil
Jaynne 5/26/2013 5:33:00 PM
All I can say is AMAZEBALLS. I have a more detailed review under the Masque, because I also have the Shampoo, Conditioner, Masque and Leave in. Oh, I wanted to add about this product: As I applied it to my damp hair I could actually feel my hair changing texture, from delicate and 'breaky' to strong and healthy. WOW! Awesome sauce!!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -DermOrganic - Masque Intensive Hair
Jaynne 5/26/2013 5:30:00 PM
My hair is thin, coloured, and fried and dried. I use flat irons and hairspray and have seen some unhappy damage due to overuse. My hair is normally shiny, but has zero body. When I read the excellent reviews for DermOrganic products, I just had to try them. I have already got a mini-salon of products. Some of products I have and have used for improving my hair are Loma Pearatin, Pure Argan Oil (from Egypt), One and Only Argan products, coconut oil, olive oil, mayo masques, Chi Silk Infusion, L'Anza Neem Oil ($$$!), Davines Miracle Conditioner, Wen, etc. etc. etc. I've not seen DermaOrganics in our stores before (Canada) so as per another reviewer, I tried Winners and they had the set, which included the giant sized bottle of Shampoo and Masque, and a smaller bottle of the Leave-in, plus they sold a separate giant bottle of the conditioner. I paid under $50 for the box set, and under $20 for the conditioner. I tried them right away and OMG, it's Amazeballs! I didn't open the box before buying it and was really surprised that Masque was the same size as the 'poo. So this is going to last me a long time (if all goes well). I washed with the shampoo and then put about 1 Tsp of the masque in my chin length hair. I covered with a plastic cap and applied heat from my blow dryer for about 3 minutes, then wrapped in a turban and let it sit for about 30 minutes. It took no time to rinse out - it was like my hair absorbed most of it. I applied about 6 drops of the Leave In then I just dried it very casually with the blow dryer. I cannot believe the amount of BODY that I have! My hair is actually bouncing. It's shinier, sleeker, glossier, and feels amazing. I only hope that it doesn't build up, dry out, or gunk up my scalp, because that is usually what happens when I use a rich, moisturizing, or volumizing set. Right now my scalp feels very clean and maybe a little 'tight', so I'm going to keep using these products to see how it evolves. But right now I can say, wow!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Great Lash Mascara
Jaynne 5/21/2013 2:24:00 PM
I'm with the perplexed masses. Years ago (like 40!) when I first tried this mascara it was because it was the only mascara going and everyone used it. It was in every hip gal's makeup bag. I also remember years of us gals with racoon eyes after outdoor concerts, rain soaked shopping trips, dances, emotions, etc. That was the look because that is what this mascara behaved like. I tried it again once or twice over the years (man I wish I had stock in this product) because I'll see it has once again hit the top 10 lists of makeup artists (sheesh) and each time I'm amazed and perplexed that this piece of crap wasn't dropped a gazillion years ago. Companies have a new mascara out almost every other month that have way more potential to be a favourite than Great Lash, and they discontinue and reformulate those others all the time. And yet Great Lash is like some sacred cow - they don't even update the goofy colours (which were very 'mod and hip' back then, but nauseating now). And the formula - it's so whatever - and a mess under the eyes. Since that is a major issue for me with most mascaras, Great Trash is just another under-achiever and doesn't get great reviews from me.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Lubriderm - Daily UV Lotion
Jaynne 5/12/2013 6:27:00 PM
Our local Shoppers had a sale on these, BOGO free. My intention was to buy the SPF 15 lotion (the purple print) but they didn't have it. I bought the Shea and Cocoa butter version which I've just tried and like very much. However I digress, this is about the spf 15 version. I like it very much. it's a great lotion that delivers the lubriderm magic and gives a minimum sun screen protection for incidental exposure. However I have used this in Vegas and Mexico and was impressed that it was sufficient to prevent burning after a hours of incidental outdoor exposure without extra backup. Unlike some sun lotions, Lubriderm doesn't create issues - it goes on smoothly, absorbs quickly, doesn't leave skin sticky or tacky or shiny or with that coated feeling. It's a no brainer. I would use the lotion all year round because it works so well as a daytime body lotion, plus you get the spf.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Curel - Itch Defense Skin Balancing Moisture Lotion
Jaynne 5/12/2013 6:11:00 PM
A fantastic product, and so reasonably priced. Advanced ceremide formula makes this product really effective. it relieves the itchiness of my eczema prone (lately) skin, moisturizes right through any tough layers, is non-greasy, non-shiny (I hate shiny hands), and has a mild fragrance. Have already repurchased. Love it.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -NARS - Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
Jaynne 5/7/2013 8:18:00 PM
Overpriced crap. I've had this product for a while, having driven to the next city to buy it as we didn't have a NARS counter at the time. I have oily lids and my eye shadow colour usually slides off or smudges. What I don't like about this product: The Price. It was expensive and you just get a thin wand of product. The Container: This product is all handle, and little product. The wand comes out with just enough product to dab on one eye lid, but that's it. It all deposits on one lid with a dab and there's not enough for the 2nd lid, so you have to re-dip to get more. So instead I dab it on a finger tip and distribute evenly between two fingers, and then apply to each lid that way - so really not impressed with that. It's a joke considering it's all wand and the wand is unusable as the applicator. The Product: Today I realized I haven't used any lid primer for a while. I knew I wasn't impressed with my NARS e/s base from before, but couldn't remember why, so today I tried it again under a tri-colour application of Lise Watier eye shadows I applied a thin layer evenly to my lids, applied my colour and went to work. It's 4 pm and I checked my make up - the colours have almost completely disappeared and run together and I have those wretched oily lines of colour in my creases!! Wha?? I've been skipping foundation primer lately as well (just ran out of my Monostat Anti-Chaffing Gel), so today I used my Velvet Touch from DHC (a product I like very much) under my foundation and after a long day it looks great, but my eyes with the NARS is a huge let down - totally faded and slipped into creases. I may try VT on the lids. So, sorry - I simply can't justify this product - it's crap IMHO. Today I picked the Try Me Kit from Smashbox which contains a small Photo Finish Foundation Primer and Photo Finish Lid Primer - I'm not expecting much but I've wanted to give SB a whirl for a while and this is a great opportunity. I hope I don't like the SB foundation primer it too much because it's too expensive! Velvet Touch and Monostat - so far are my favs. Sorry for the rant, but I really hate overpriced products that don't work! I think primers are a lot like lip glosses - they almost all get high scores on MUA, so it's really a matter of preference and what works for you.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Focus 21 - Sea Plasma All Purpose Hair & Skin Moisturizer
Jaynne 4/28/2013 6:51:00 PM
Love Focus 21 Sea Plasma spray. It's basically a NA-PCA spray. You can buy it (as I do) at beautybasicsupply.com. They have great prices and you can buy the large refill and save even more. Such a deal for such a great product. I just ordered more Sea Plasma and this time Im also trying the Splash Spray. Like the other reviews say, Sea Plasma is a perfect, lightweight, all purpose skin and hair moisturizer. I use it after make up application to ensure a dewy application, and keep a bottle at my computer desk so I can just spray it on my face, skin, hair whenever I want. I love the smell. It smells heavenly to me. This stuff is da bomb...!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Cover Girl - Exact Eyelights
Jaynne 1/7/2013 10:36:00 PM
Oh my, this mascara turned out to be everything that I loath and try to avoid in a mascara. It is dry, it makes my lashes look like creepy spider legs, and it made my lashes hard, stiff, and crunchy. Trying to take it off was awful - it was like I had dried egg on my lashes. The only thing I don't know is if it migrates to the skin under my eyes - another loathsome mascara hate - because I didn't wear it longer than a hour. I was looking for an everyday mascara - no fuss. Wanted to get another Full and Soft but Shopper's didn't carry it any more. Bought this one on sale because I've used the CG Professional before so I thought this one might be fun to try. I bought the Black Gold for my Hazel eyes (I have gold flecks in my eye colour so I couldn't wait to see the effect- there was none). I loath when mascara makes my lashes all different lengths, coats them in a creepy spider leg look, and blunts them at the end. I want glossy, soft, tapered points and I want my lashes to maintain their relative length - not have one or two lashes stick out longer than any of the others - ugh!!! I couldn't comb out or brush out the dry clumpy coating. Even EVOO had a hard time getting it off my lashes. Forget it. I'm going back to Bourjois mascaras.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Kiss My Face - Ester C Serum
Jaynne 4/7/2012 3:11:00 PM
I bought this on sale at the grocery store, and have been using it for a few months, but unfortunately this stuff 'rolls' on my skin as soon as I put a moisturizer over top. Today I tried it again and let it dry, then applied my spf moisturizer (DermaGlow Nuvectin SPF 30 Moisture Cream). I've been using this moisturizer for longer than the Ester C from KMF, and never had a problem with it. But as soon as I put it on over top of the serum, it rolls off and I have to go and wash my face again. Now that it was so obvious that it was this product that was doing it, I used up the rest of the serum on my chest to get rid of it. Will not buy again.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Matrix - Total Results Color Care Miracle Treat 12 Lotion Spray
Jaynne 2/18/2012 5:16:00 PM
I have to review this in conjunction with the poo and con, because I've used this on it's own with other products and didn't get enough of a noticable result to post a review. But combined with the poo and con of this set, I liked how it worked. Even though this is the first time I've tried Total Results at home I have used this set a lot (poo con & miracle treat) b/c my hairdresser uses this on me every time I see her. She has nice shiny hair, and when I leave her salon, I have nice shiny hair. I've always had shiny hair, and I have a boatload of high end products and HGs, but noticed that I wasn't achieving the shine I get from her - but that didn't overly concern me - how often can one achieve salon results at home, right? I did buy the full size of the Miracle Treat and I rotate the use of it and thought it was an ok product but not exactly HG. You can read my review of the whole set under the Shampoo and Conditioner reviews. Now I can see how this product really works. I also use a bit after drying and styling on the ends.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Matrix - Total Results Color Care Conditioner
Jaynne 2/18/2012 5:08:00 PM
Not sure if I will buy again, but said yes (simply because I don't often buy the same shampoo and conditioner). Even though this is the first time I've tried Total Results at home I have used this set a lot (poo con & miracle treat) b/c my hairdresser uses this on me every time I see her. She has nice shiny hair, and when I leave her salon, I have nice shiny hair. I've always had shiny hair, and I have a boatload of high end products and HGs, but noticed that I wasn't achieving the shine I get from her - but that didn't overly concern me - how often can one achieve salon results at home, right? I did buy the full size of the Miracle Treat and I rotate the use of it and thought it was an ok product but not exactly HG. I finally bought the special box offering of the full size Shampoo, Conditioner and travel size Miracle Treat Lotion Spray for $18.50 (a good deal) from my hairdresser at Christmas time, and it's sat in my closet up to today. I've been loath to open up a new products when I have so much to choose from already, but I finally finished off my Kevin Murphy Hydrate Me Wash and Angel Rinse Conditioner (which I absolutely LOVE and will be buying the little square 'bottles' again soon), and decided even with other options still in my bathroom, I'd give this set a shot. I totally trust Matrix products, and as I first used the shampoo, it was nice and creamy and a pleasure to use. However upon rinsing I was shocked that my hair immediately balled up in a hard mass that clung to my head like balls of plaster and felt like they would break off if mishandled. I personally hate when shampoos do that. At least if it would get through that phase but end up with me being able to run my fingers through my wet hair, I'd be happy (like my old standby Paul Mitchell Hapuna shampoo does) . But this didn't and it just seemed completely contrary to a shampoo that was supposed to care for colour treated hair. So I moved onto the conditioner. I came out like a body lotion, very creamy. I couldn't believe that as soon as the conditioner touched my hair, the hair immediately untangled like magic without any work at all. This was interesting. I let it sit while I finished my shower, then rinsed it out. My hair felt nice. I then towel dried and followed with three pumps of my already-in-use Miracle Treat (save the travel size for just that). Then because I'm not going out today, I just ran the blow dryer through my hair without much thought to end results and styling. I have to say I was amazed. My hair seemed completely transformed - it must be using all three of the brand products together that worked so well. My hair was full of body and seemed really manageable. Bouncing and behaving, as the old saying goes, and so nice and shiny and soft. It's perfectly moisturized and conditioned and my scalp feels clean without being tight. However I have fine hair, and sometimes my first use of a product will make it seem like it's good for my hair, but ends up being drying or strips it of body. So we'll see. I will continue to use the set and see what the results are in the long term, as I'm still a little freaked about how the shampoo handled my hair - will be watching for dryness and loss of manageability. Otherwise - wow.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Matrix - Total Results Color Care Shampoo
Jaynne 2/18/2012 5:06:00 PM
Not sure if I will buy again, but said yes (simply because I don't often buy the same shampoo and conditioner). Even though this is the first time I've tried Total Results at home I have used this set a lot (poo con & miracle treat) b/c my hairdresser uses this on me every time I see her. She has nice shiny hair, and when I leave her salon, I have nice shiny hair. I've always had shiny hair, and I have a boatload of high end products and HGs, but noticed that I wasn't achieving the shine I get from her - but that didn't overly concern me - how often can one achieve salon results at home, right? I did buy the full size of the Miracle Treat and I rotate the use of it and thought it was an ok product but not exactly HG. I finally bought the special box offering of the full size Shampoo, Conditioner and travel size Miracle Treat Lotion Spray for $18.50 (a good deal) from my hairdresser at Christmas time, and it's sat in my closet up to today. I've been loath to open up a new products when I have so much to choose from already, but I finally finished off my Kevin Murphy Hydrate Me Wash and Angel Rinse Conditioner (which I absolutely LOVE and will be buying the little square 'bottles' again soon), and decided even with other options still in my bathroom, I'd give this set a shot. I totally trust Matrix products, and as I first used the shampoo, it was nice and creamy and a pleasure to use. However upon rinsing I was shocked that my hair immediately balled up in a hard mass that clung to my head like balls of plaster and felt like they would break off if mishandled. I personally hate when shampoos do that. At least if it would get through that phase but end up with me being able to run my fingers through my wet hair, I'd be happy (like my old standby Paul Mitchell Hapuna shampoo does) . But this didn't and it just seemed completely contrary to a shampoo that was supposed to care for colour treated hair. So I moved onto the conditioner. It came out like a body lotion, very creamy. I couldn't believe that as soon as the conditioner touched my hair, the hair immediately untangled like magic without any work at all. This was interesting. I let it sit while I finished my shower, then rinsed it out. My hair felt nice. I then towel dried and followed with three pumps of my already-in-use Miracle Treat (save the travel size for just that). Then because I'm not going out today, I just ran the blow dryer through my hair without much thought to end results and styling. I have to say I was amazed. My hair seemed completely transformed - it must be using the combination of products instead of my usual cherry-picking. My hair was full of body and manageable. Bouncing and behaving, as the old saying goes, and so nice and shiny and soft. It's perfectly moisturized and conditioned and my scalp feels clean without being tight. I will continue to use the set and see what the results are in the long term, as I'm still a little freaked about how the shampoo worked on my hair - will be watching for dryness. Otherwise - wow.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Top/Base Coats -Seche Vite - Dry Fast Top Coat
Jaynne 2/18/2012 4:34:00 PM
Yes, this is one of the best nail products out there. It applies easily and dries your nails super fast leaving behind a nice 'thick', soft and smooth finish with shine and depth - think "enamel tough". I love this stuff - and a bargain at Sally's with your club card.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -L'Oreal - Voluminous Million Lashes - waterproof
Jaynne 1/8/2012 2:21:00 PM
I bought this based on the reviews here but it didn't end up being a good product for me. I have fairly long lashes already but this mascara did nothing to make then look much longer or darker or anything. I bought the w/p version because I am so tired of flakes of black under my eyes from LashBlast my previous fav. I bought this product for a trip toEgypt and wanted it to stay put but come off easily at night, So I brought this, used it, but wasn't impressed with the actual look - no drama at all! It wouldn't build or lengthen, but it did last in the heat and dust and sweat, and came off easily enough, Just wasn't very wow. Nice container. I have a photo posted of my eyelashes using Bourjois Liner Effet Masc and a review on that, and really like that mascara for special occasions, but I'm going to buy it again and use it for everyday, UPDATE: I actually like this better than I first thought. It is the one I reach for daily because it is easy to put on, doesn't clump and I can get some length with it if I work at it. There still is no drama with it (oh well, I've eliminated drama from my life, so I guess that fits!). Stays put and then it comes off very easily at night - no problem. So I've upped it a lippy because it's a good, basic, everyday mascara, but not remarkable. Sometimes trouble free can be good enough! Will try something else before buying again.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No