Treatments -Philosophy - Resurface Kit - The Microdelivery In-Home Vitamin C Peptide Peel
JettNY 6/20/2008 12:33:00 AM
This stuff decimates blackheads. I mean it literally knocks them out of your pores. I scrub the microcrystals in Step 1 on my nose, while just kind of "spreading" them everywhere else my face. My nose is very resistant and is the exclusive home of the lovely blackheads on my face - so it gets scrubbed! I use other strong AHAs and BHAs in my daily routine, plus Differin at night. My skin's already quite used to harsh products, and the Microdelivery peel is a harsh product. I wouldn't really recommend it for sensitive skin...at all, ever, or in any situation. Using this peel twice a week keeps my skin incredibly soft, reduces breakouts and, as I said before, utterly destroys blackheads. I highly recommend it. One word of caution, though: It takes off your nail polish. It's that strong.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Biotin (All brands)
JettNY 6/20/2008 12:24:00 AM
Taking 5 mg (5,000 mcg) of biotin absolutely made my nails grow in stronger and my hair grow faster. I'd been using Nature's Bounty Hair, Skin and Nails formula on and off for years. It contains 3 mg if you take the 3 pills you are supposed to every day. I didn't commit to really taking the 3 pills, and therefore the daily 3 mg, until earlier this year. I started noticing hair growing more quickly and I had to pluck my eyebrows more often. I was also breaking out a little bit more, but didn't associate it with the increased biotin. When I ran out of Nature's Bounty I started taking a regular multi and Solgar's 5 mg biotin tablets. Hair continued to grow faster, my eyelashes looked thicker, I had to pluck my eyebrows more often, and my face started to break out like crazy. I finally made the connection and researched it and apparently biotin makes some- but not everyone - break out in large doses such as these. I quit taking the biotin two weeks ago and my skin's almost totally cleared up. I'll miss these strong nails, but I can't deal with breaking out! So the deal is that large doses of biotin really do make for thicker hair and stronger nails, which is why I gave it two lippies. Unfortunately, for me and for some others, it also leads to bad breakouts.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Aveeno - Positively Smooth Moisturizing Lotion
JettNY 6/20/2008 12:12:00 AM
I love this lotion and have noticed a difference in hair over time. It's a bit finer and lighter, although I don't know how much I can attribute to my epilator. Unfortunately, I can't find it at any of the local stores anymore and fear they may have discontinued it.
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Concealers -Neutrogena - 3-in-1 Concealer for Eyes
JettNY 6/16/2008 12:18:00 AM
I don't use this for under my eyes- it's just too thick - but it's perfect for concealing zits. The yellowish base evens out redness and the consistency is thick enough to cover acne. So I hate having to use it, but it always works well. Because this product is so thick, I recommend using a makeup sponge to apply -- it helps even it out a bit.
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Pressed Powders -Too Faced - Absolutely Invisible
JettNY 6/16/2008 12:14:00 AM
In order to avoid product overload do NOT use the included sponge - use a brush instead. I learned this the hard way. The color of Absolutely Invisible is a good match for my pale skin, but I would recommend this for most people. It isn't really invisible. This powder keeps my skin matte for hours - and that's saying something. I don't think any of the vitamins can actually penetrate the skin and the "Environmental Protector" line is dubious. But if you're pale and want to keep your skin matte, Absolutely Invisible might just be perfect for you. And I love the packaging!
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Lipstick -Christian Dior - Dior Addict Ultra-Shine Sheer Lipcolor in 570- Shiniest Raspberry
JettNY 6/16/2008 12:07:00 AM
This is practically hot pink on my pale skin. I probably shouldn't wear it, but I get tired of wearing sheer copper-pink glosses all of the time. The texture of this glosstick (don't know how else to characterize it) is so creamy and moisturizing and light, I feel as though I'm wearing a gloss. However, it packs more pigment and more staying power. If your lips are on the fuller side as mine are you should be aware that this gets a bit smeary and might make you look like a clown if you apply too much when you don't have a mirror and have had a couple of martinis.
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Mascara -Maybelline - Define A Lash
JettNY 6/15/2008 11:54:00 PM
No. Just no. This doesn't define my lashes so much as cake them in a black liquidy goo that I have to wipe with a tissue in order to fine my lashes again. Why does Maybelline have such inconsistent quality in its mascaras? Great Lash is horrible, horrible awful flakey nightmare. Full & Soft is beautiful and better than many department store mascaras. Define A Lash is misnamed and gooey. I can say this, it's not flakey, but that's only because IT'S GOOEY. Oh, and trying to stuff the rubbery, flexible tip back into the tube is not my idea of a good time. If you want defined lashes at a good price try Cover Girl's LashExact. Define A Lash gets 2 lippies because at least it's not Great Lash.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Make Up For Ever - Aqua Eyes Bronze 10L
JettNY 6/15/2008 11:47:00 PM
Beautiful gold-copper with slight shimmer. Make Up For Ever is a serious, high-quality, high-pigment line in general and this liner is no exception. I have the tiny pencil from the 4-pack and it's lasted me many many months. It glides on very smoothly and doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes. The eyeliners from MUFE are the best I've used.
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Eyeliner -Urban Decay - 24-7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Baked
JettNY 6/15/2008 11:43:00 PM
Really pretty dark copper color with a bit of shimmer. The fact that this is coppery without being red is impressive. Of all the 24-7 Glide-On pencils I've tried from Urban Decay, I have to say this one glides on the best. I'm not really sure why the others don't glide on as well, though. But break out your serious eye makeup remover for this eyeliner or you'll be wearing it at Sunday brunch and your friends will think you haven't bothered to wash your face. It has staying power. One more con, it does seem to irritate my eyes a little bit. Overall great product, though.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Jan Marini - Bioglycolic Facial Lotion
JettNY 6/15/2008 11:30:00 PM
What a refreshing ingredient list -- nothing but Deionized Water, Glycolic Acid, Ammonium Glycolate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Comfrey, Indian Plantain, Vegetable Hydrolysate, Amino Acids, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben True, there are parabens. But the first four ingredients are water, glycolic, more glycolic and hyaluronic acid. I don't know the actual percentage of glycolic but I'd imagine it's rather high considering the place o the ingredient list and the fact that it stings my extremely resistant skin (just a bit, and only for the first few seconds). The hyaluronic is good for adding a bit of moisture, and the glycolic is an effective, wonderful skin-clearer. This product is expensive, $45 for only two ounces, but the ingredients are of such high quality that I believe it's worth it. This review is for the Bioglycolic Facial Lotion without SPF. It comes in a glass bottle with a recloseable pump top.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Maybelline - Dream Matte Mousse
JettNY 6/15/2008 10:52:00 PM
The lightest color is too dark for me. Maybelline, I'm pale but I'm not *that* pale. Besides that, the texture is extremely uneven. I had similar problems with the Maybelline mousse eye shadows -- the spread is terrible. In addition, the packaging is unsanitary. Continually sticking even the cleaning finger into a pot will introduce all sorts of nasty bacteria.
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Eye Shadow -Stila - Kitten
JettNY 6/15/2008 10:32:00 PM
This color is lovely on my pale skin and not too shimmery. It makes me look awake even when horribly sleep-deprived, has good staying power and a nice, spreadable texture. But seriously Stila, when I spend $18 on an eye shadow, I expect a compact.
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Moisturizers -La Roche Posay - Anthelios SX Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15
JettNY 6/15/2008 10:13:00 PM
NOT FOR OILIES OR ACNE-PRONES. It's great that there is an LRP Mexoryl product available in the States and for a relatively cheap price, but I'm disappointed that this sunscreen contains a known pore-clogger. Isopropyl Palmitate is a 4 out of 5 on the comedogenicity scale and it's one of the inactives. Besides the pore clogging, which is a dealbreaker for me, my experience with this was pretty good. It has a pleasant, light scent and does not sting at all. It's quite moisturizing. But please, if you're oily or acne-prone, I recommend staying far away. Neutrogena and Aveeno both have photostable options that aren't as pore-clogging, at least for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Neutrogena - Age Shield Sunblock Spf45
JettNY 6/15/2008 9:52:00 PM
This is my daily sunscreen. I use a large amount and it doesn't make me break out, it has a fairly high PPD, it's photostable and that's good enough for me. Like others, I've experienced some burning but it is minimal. I don't find the product oily as others have. I suggest this sunscreen for finding the PPDs of a lot of U.S. sunscreens: http://www.makeupalley.com/user/notepad/ussunscreenppds The PPD for Age Shield is apparently 14.3. Slightly less than LRP's Anthelios SPF 15 Daily Moisturizing Cream, but it doesn't contain horribly pore-clogging ingredients as that one does :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Eucerin - Aquaphor Healing Ointment
JettNY 6/15/2008 8:37:00 PM
My lips are terribly sensitive and have this tendency to get raw and read and swollen. It looks like I've had a bad collagen lip job or something! Anyway, Aquaphor has healed my lips when nothing - not fancy products, not any DS lip balm, not Vaseline - would. And it does this without clogging the skin around my lips (I'm messy like that).
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