Lotions/ Creams -Shea Moisture - Organic Raw Shea Chamomile & Argan Oil Baby Healing Lotion w/Frankincense & Myrrh
JenPhil1313 5/20/2013 1:35:00 PM
Another super effective, all natural, delicious smelling, and economical lotion from Shea Moisture. This is another one of my favorites. Not quite as rich as the raw shea butter lotion, but still on the thick & lush side. I typically use this all over my body and on the face I alternate using this with the raw shea butter lotion. I smoothed it on my husband's face after he felt irritated from shaving and he loved it. And raved about the smell. This is a warm, earthy, kinda vanilla scented lotion- I have never come across an all natural drugstore lotion that smells as good as this one. Can't say anything bad about it- it's all natural, uses free trade ingredients, no animal testing... plus it smells wonderful and can be used head-to-toe. No reason for everyone to not have a bottle of this on hand.
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Hair -Shea Moisture - Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
JenPhil1313 5/20/2013 11:20:00 AM
This whole product line gets a ton of love from me and this is the first product I tried that started it all! I decided to purchase this after I ran out of my L'oreal out of bed and wanted to try something that had richer ingredients. I was looking for a curl defining/texturing cream that would be nourishing & moisturizing to the hair as well as define my waves. I saw this at CVS and decided to give it a try. It was also a good value- you get a huge 12 ounces of very thick cream for $10 as opposed to 4 ounces for the out of bed that runs about $4-$6. It smells absolutely wonderful too! A warm and natural fruity-floral smell. I used it on my dry hair and soon as I got home and it immediately made my waves more defined and less frizzy. I now use it as part of my cocktail of products that I use on wet hair. Plus as a refresher/enhancer on my hair after it has dried. On wet hair, (after my leave-in and some mousse or gel) I apply this from ear level down (I keep it away from my crown and bangs because I prefer to have that area lay smoother) and scrunch and scrunch until my waves are very defined. Hair air dries with soft, smooth, and defined waves. In the morning, I scrunch in a little more into my dried waves to redefine them (plus add a most wonderful scent). Love this stuff and highly recommend it!
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Lotions/ Creams -Shea Moisture - Organic Raw Shea Butter Lotion
JenPhil1313 5/19/2013 9:21:00 PM
Thick and rich and delicious! Though I have been loving Paula's Choice Earth Sourced moisturizer, I ran out of it and wanted to pick up something more economical (i.e. larger size, less expensive) that was also easy to obtain at the local drugstore or Target. This fit the bill perfectly! My skin loves shea butter and that is the first ingredient in this lotion (even before water). I use this on my face as my nightime moisturizer after I have applied a treatment product (such as Retin-A or glycolic acid) and it works just beautifully. The next morning my skin is aglow and I have less flaking than usual. Sometime I layer it over my eternally beloved CeraVe lotion for some major moisture! This stuff works great, smells great, and is reasonably priced compared to a lot of other brands. A 13 ounce bottle cost me about $10 at Target versus paying close to $20 for 2 ounces of PC's Earth Sourced (don't get me wrong- I still love the PC stuff, I just needed a cheaper alternative). The price allows me to feel okay about using this over my whole body too.
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Conditioner -Shea Moisture - Organic Raw Shea Butter Restorative Condition
JenPhil1313 5/19/2013 9:04:00 PM
This is my HG leave-in conditioner! I used to use Giovanni Direct Leave-In, but when I ran out of that I decided to try this because I love this whole product line. One pump worked through my hair is enough for my medium textured, wavy, above the shoulder hair. It is not all that heavy considering the ingredients (lots of shea butter and coconut oil) so it doesn't make my hair feel weighed-down or greasy. But it does make my hair look better and feel softer. I love using this as a nourishing base before adding my styling products. As a bonus, this smells absolutely divine! Like an expensive (slighly hippie inspired) perfume. The scent doesn't last long, though, so if you don't care for it, it'll be gone quickly. The overall condition of my hair has improved since I started using this (about 6 weeks now)- it just seems shinier and healthier. I love that it's all natural and supports free trade ingredients. I am coming to the conclusion that my hair and skin just adore shea butter because everything I pick up from this line ends up being well loved by me.
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Styling Products -Clairol - Herbal Essences Set Me Up Mousse
JenPhil1313 5/19/2013 8:56:00 PM
Great stuff! Reduces frizz (majorly!), greatly enhances waves, provides hold and a little bit of shine. After my leave-on conditioner, I use a big blob of this raked all through my hair (and I often add some of the set me up gel on top). Hair air dries exactly in the style and shape I want it to. It does dry rather hard- but a gentle brush through eliminates that. Best frizz reducing product that I have come across (as I don't use anything with 'cones).
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Lotions/ Creams -Shea Moisture - 100% Organic Shea Butter with Frankincense & Myrrh
JenPhil1313 5/8/2013 3:43:00 PM
Seems pretty ANYTHING I buy from this brand is outstanding and this product is no exception. This is a solid mass of raw shea butter that has some essential oils in it (it has kind of a "hippie" smell that I rather like). This is definitely the type of uber-rich product to use sparingly on super dry areas. Interestingly enough, right after I got this, I used it right away on some patches of dermatitis I have had around my ears and on my forehead for several months... and this cleared those patches up almost instanteously! This product is recommended as a healing and soothing agent and it has very much proven to be so. I plan on using this on my cuticles, elbow, and any other super dry patches that I have. I may even try a little in my hair.
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Primer/ Corrector -Unlisted Brand - Monistat - Chafing Relief Powder-Gel
JenPhil1313 3/9/2013 1:36:00 PM
I just got so tired of my face looking a bit greasy after sunblock application... and my makeup fading off too quickly that I decided to give this a try. I picked it up at CVS because I had a 20% off coupon (and their return policy it great- I figured if I hated this, I could always return it). The morning after I bought it, I felt quite skeptical about it. I squirted out some clear thick goo and thought to myself- oh, this is definitely being returned. But then I smoothed it over my face and it immediately turned into liquid power and literally instantaneously all shine and greasiness disappeared. I have never been so impressed by a product. My face looked smooth and matte (but not dry). I was thrilled. I can now pile on the greasiest sunblocks and if I just smooth this on afterwards, any shine disappears. And this glides on like liquid silk. My makeup holds up better and applies more evenly when I use this too. It provides a dry, smooth foundation for application. Wonderful stuff!
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Styling Products -Clairol - Herbal Essences Set Me Up Gel
JenPhil1313 2/14/2013 3:28:00 PM
I am surprised at the bad ratings. This is my HG hair gel and I have been using it consistently for about 2 years now. I apply it to wet hair after I have applied my leave-in conditioner. I use quite a bit of it as I have very wavy, somewhat frizzy hair and I also have some cowlicks around the hairline. After I distribute this evenly through my hair, I comb my hair into the exact position I want it to dry in. This does turn very hard after awhile- but that's what I want- my hair dries in exactly the style I combed it into. My cowlicks & frizzy crown area are smoothed down and my waves at the ends are brought out. I wash my hair at night, apply this, let it dry hard, because that's what holds the style into place... and then in the morning, I comb or brush it out thoroughly. All hardness disappears and I am left with smooth, shiny hair that is in the exact style I want it to be in. I know that's not how everyone wants or needs to use gel, but this works great for me!
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Toners -Paula's Choice - Earth Sourced Purely Natural Refreshing Toner
JenPhil1313 1/13/2013 12:51:00 PM
I seriously LOVE this stuff!! I never thought a toner could make such a difference in the state of my skin- this stuff makes me glow. It is chock full of antioxidants and it is soooo soothing on the skin when used as a toner after cleansing. I also use this as a serum/moisturizer in the morning sometimes. This toner is unique in the sense that it has a slightly thicker consistency- almost gel like. I think that using this in the morning as a light moisturizer really gives my skin a nice protective antioxidant boost before I apply my SPF. I am about to go order a backup of this. I hope (please!) that she continues to make this one forever. (note- I have been using this for a little over 4 months now and it has not caused any breakouts for me)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Got 2 Be - Glued hairspray
JenPhil1313 12/2/2012 2:59:00 PM
Best hairspray in the world! Period. End of story. The ONLY hairspray I will ever purchase from now on. Because it works and it's actually quite versatile and leaves hair looking soft, shiny and natural. I rarely feel the need to use hairspray... but when I do have the need to use it, I want (need!) it to work. This provides anywhere from a firm to a "glued in place" hold depending on how much you spray on. A gentle mist over the hair will provide a firm (but natural) hold that lasts all day and looks shiny and natural. If you really spray a lot on, this will seriously hold like glue- which can be a good thing if you have taken the time to get your hair into a fancy style and need it to last. What amazes me most about this hairspray is that my hair looks soft and shiny -and not hairsprayed- when I use this. And it doesn't make my hair look or feel dry. I am really impressed. This is the most amazing hairspray I have encountered.
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Hair Color -Redken - Shades EQ
JenPhil1313 11/7/2012 12:18:00 AM
I think I found my replacement for my beloved discontinued Clairol 2nd Nature! I tried this two weeks ago and so far the results have been VERY similar (if not indentical) to the results I used to get with the 2nd nature. No hot roots and natural, shiny color that has not turned brassy at all. I used blue-violet based browns and ended up with a nice, dark, rich neutral shade of brown that lacks any orange/gold tones. Two weeks have gone by and the color looks as good (actually I think it looks even better because it has softened a bit) as it did on the first day. My hair seems smoother and healthier too. My hair was a bit brassy and dried-out looking after using Clairol Soy 4Plex and using this has restored my hair to smoother, shinier, and totally brass-free state. Very impressed thus far. I most definetely plan on using this again next month. UPDATE: I am just a little bit past the 4 and a half week mark and the color still looks lovely and has not turned brassy. It has faded a bit, of course- but it still looks quite shiny. It has faded in such a way that there doesn't appear to be a visible root line. Quite impressed so far. When I am not feeling lazy, I have to do a touch-up soon! UPDATE: I am at the slightly over 5 week mark and the color still looks great! No brass and it is still shiny. No obvious root line (though if I look very closely, I can see some dappled greys coming in). It looks so good that I don't want to touch it up- I don't want to ruin it! I think I'll be able to push this until at least the 6 week mark. So awesome for a demi!
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Blush -Sue Devitt - Studio Blush in Belize
JenPhil1313 10/8/2012 5:45:00 PM
Lately I have been reaching for this blush everyday and I have majorly "hit pan" on it. This is a lovely, soft plum-pink. The color shows up rather well and holds up very well for such a soft color. I love layering this color over a cream blush. It sofly intensifies whatever the cream blush color is without greatly altering it. This is just a tad too light, I think, to wear on its own- but when I wear blush, I ALWAYS layer a powder over a cream, so this works almost perfectly for me. I will most likely be repurchasing it soon. I didn't give this a full 5 stars, because I wish it was just a little more pigmented. But, it is a really stellar blush.
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Hair Color -Clairol - Soy 4Plex Liquicolor professional hair color
JenPhil1313 10/6/2012 11:58:00 AM
Recently, I was due for a root touch up and discovered that my beloved hair color Clairol 2nd Nature had been discontinued and no longer available at my local beauty supply store. The Clairol website and the salepeople at the store recommended the Soy 4Plex liquid color as a replacement. I figured, oh well, I've had good luck with other Clairol hair products (and I just really needed to get something to do my roots anyway!) that I decided to give this a try. I mixed together equal parts 4A light ash brown and 3AA medium ultra cool ash brown and used 10 volume developer. Initially, as I was mixing up the color, the odor was almost overwhelmingly strong. But after a few minutes of mixing, the chemical smell lessened somewhat. I applied it as I normally do- to the roots first, left it on for about 35 minutes and then mixed what was left with conditioner and put on the rest of my hair for another 5 to 7. This didn't burn my scalp or cause any itching or irritation. This color seemed to take a little longer to rinse out than the Clairol 2nd Nature though. After a light shampoo and some heavy conditioning, my hair felt no better, no worse than before I colored. This did not leave my hair dry or tangled and did not cause any more hair loss than what is typical for me. It was a fairly uneventful retouch. The color did seem to come out a teeny bit lighter and a teeny bit redder compared to the results I used to get with the 2nd nature. I am content with the color, but I am curious to see how it fades and holds up over the next couple of weeks. I will update my review (either upgrade to 5 stars or downgrade) depending on how the color holds up or fades (or, God forbid, turns brassy) over the next few weeks. As of now, I am thinking I would most likely stick with this brand in the future. I may want to use the 4AA light ultra cool ash brown (as opposed to just the ash brown) if it gets brassy or want less red. But, as of now, I would say using this brand gave my very good results and a stress-free retouch experience. UPDATE** Now that almost two weeks have gone by, I have to say that I am NOT impressed with this hair color and would not use it again. My hair seems to be very dry and I noticed I have experienced some breakage. My hair was in rather good condition before using this- now I need a lot of moisturizing products to make it look smooth and shiny. My hair looks a bit dry and has kind of a dyed look to it. The color also seems to have faded a bit and is showing a touch of brass. I am spoiled! I never had this issues with their Second Nature brand. Oh, how I wish they would bring that back! Internet searches of places selling that brand has brought up nada for my shade. I plan on doing at least one Aphogee 2 step protein treatments and then in a few weeks, I'll probably try Redken Shades EQ. Sucks that I am back to searching for a haircolor that works for me. :(
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Blush -Revlon - Photoready Cream Blush
JenPhil1313 10/4/2012 8:18:00 PM
Blush is my favorite make up product. I wear it every day without fail and feel it is the one make up item that makes the biggest difference in my overall appearance. I have cool, fair skin and am partial to rich and vibrant pinks, plums, burgandys, and reds. I saw this cream blush in the color flushed and was excited to try it. After a few days of trying this out a few different ways, I have to give it a thumbs down for several reasons. First of all, the color is so light and sheer and it takes many layers to build up any noticeable color. Any powder blush layered on top seems to negate any color provided by this blush. Plus it tends to look a bit drab and washed out. And this has the shortest staying power of any of the cream blushes (or lipsticks that I use as cream blushes) that I own. I often wear other brands of creams blushes (or lipsticks as blush) that hold up through 8, 10, or 12 hour days. Sometimes, even after a nap, I'll still have my artifically rosy cheeks. But this blush would completely disappear after a few hours. I gave it more than one shot, too! Sorry to say, this is not recommended! Try ELF cream blushes or Ski Bunny by 3 custom colorists (or a Revlon lipstick for that matter!) if you are looking for vibrancy and long lasting color.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Paula's Choice - Earth Sourced Antioxidant-Enriched Natural Moisturizer
JenPhil1313 9/5/2012 7:26:00 AM
Generally speaking my skin has never responded well to Paula's products (not sure why!)- but I have finally found one that I love. I absolutely love the texture of this moisturizer- it is rather light and silky. Its texture is somewhere between Complex 15 (which is watery) and CeraVe lotion (which is light but creamier); it also reminds me a bit of Clinique's Dramatically Different. After I smooth it on I swear my skin just drinks it right up and my skin feels and looks so hydrated and dewy. For such a light lotion, this does an even better job of making my skin feel moist and supple that some of the richest creams I've tried. I use this at night and in the morning, my skin still looks moisturized and practically glows. I haven't been this impressed by a simple, basic moisturizer in ages! Dare I replace my beloved CeraVe?? I might have to.
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