Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Luxe Black Cabernet
Jmberry 6/22/2012 5:46:00 PM
I was disappointed in this. I absolutely love Lash Blast Volume and Fusion and no matter what else I try I always come back to those mascaras. I thought this color sounded intriguing and I liked the pink tube so I picked this up on a whim. I find that as far as volume, length and definition goes this performs much like Lash Blast Volume and Fusion do, so no complaints there. The color is the big disappointment for me. For a shade called Cabernet I was expecting a rich ruby/eggplant tinged black. This looks like a plummy, metallic bronze on the brush and translates to a flat brown on my lashes. It didn't look terrible but it wasn't what I was looking for at all, not dark or dramatic enough for me. I use it occasionally just because it's around but I would not repurchase.
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Moisturizers -Cerave - Moisturizing Lotion
Jmberry 6/22/2012 5:35:00 PM
This is a very nice, basic moisturizer with many beneficial ingredients. I use it on both face and body with good results. However, despite the fact that my skin is quite oily, I actually prefer the richer Cerave Cream to this lotion. It seems more hydrating to me without being at all greasy or heavy. My hands tend to be quite dry and this lotion doesn't always feel like enough for them. I do like the large pump bottle and I think this product is well worth the price. I will finish my bottle but I would repurchase the cream instead.
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Cleansers -Olay - Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Aging Revitalizing Foaming Cleanser
Jmberry 6/22/2012 5:16:00 PM
This is a decent cleanser but not one that I would probably repurchase. Like the rest of the Total Effects line, the cost runs a bit higher than other drugstore products. I think it's justified as far as the moisturizers are concerned, which contain some quality ingredients. Not so much for a cleanser in my opinion. The product claims listed on the package are a bit ridiculous and not at all what I expected when I purchased this. I really just want a cleanser to cleanse my face :) This one foams up nicely, rinses cleanly and does a decent job of makeup removal, although it never quite got all my mascara (which isn't waterproof). It's not overly stripping. It has a pretty strong floral fragrance which I wasn't crazy about it. The packaging is perfect, a squeeze tube with a plastic film over the opening that prevents leaking. Overall I think this is worth trying for normal to oily skin but it didn't impress me enough to repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Banana Boat - Natural Reflect Baby 
Jmberry 5/31/2012 3:16:00 PM
This is a very decent sunscreen option from the drugstore. There are 3 products in this line, All-Purpose, Kids, and Baby. The formulas for all three are virtually identical, offered in the same sizes and at the same price point. The main difference is that the Kids and Baby formulas have 3.6% titanium dioxide as opposed to 2.8% in the All-Purpose (all three formulas have 4% zinc oxide). I was interested in using this for daily wear but it's a bit too heavy for me for that purpose (I can definitely feel it on my face). I save it for outdoor days and it's suitable for that. This sunscreen goes on very thick and white at first and takes some time to work in and absorb. Once it does it dries to a satin finish on my oily skin, not overly greasy. I can apply my cream foundation or mineral powder over this with no issues. It does leave a bit of a white cast on me although I'm pretty fair but it's not enough to prevent me from using it. This sunscreen seems fairly tenacious although i have not tested it in water. I have not burned or gotten any additional color while using this so I believe it's quite protective. I would repurchase this for outdoor use for myself and my 4 year old son. I have added the ingredient listing for this product as well as the Kids version.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Body -Unlisted Brand - Skintimate SkinTherapy Lotionized Shave Gel
Jmberry 5/24/2012 6:56:00 PM
I generally just use whatever body wash or bar soap I'm currently using to shave with but once in awhile I get the urge to try a shaving cream. I picked up this one (the dry skin formula in the pink can) because I liked the sound of it being "lotionized". My legs are very dry. This product starts out as a thick, pink gel and turns to a very thick cream. It feels luxurious going on and has a nice, light, powdery scent. It seemed like it would perform well but I swear it sucked every bit of moisture out of my already parched skin. Even a fresh blade would drag terribly. Very disappointed in this and glad it was cheap. I used up the can but I will not repurchase.
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Shampoo -Pantene - Aqua Light Weightless Nourishment(silicone free clear liquid, not the 2 in 1)
Jmberry 5/19/2012 9:08:00 AM
This wasn't a bad shampoo but not the best for my hair type (baby fine, color treated). I used it with the matching conditioner. I love the clean, fresh smell of both. As advertised, this definitely did not weigh down my hair at all but it wasn't moisturizing enough. After shampooing my hair felt stripped and rough. The conditioner helped balance it out some but not enough for me. This feels like a clarifying shampoo to me which I don't need (I use very little in the way of hair products and shampoo every day). I also noticed much more fallout than with my previous shampoos. I switched back to L'oreal Evercreme Nourishing shampoo and conditioner and my hair is much happier. I would recommend this to people with thicker hair who love the squeaky clean feeling but I wouldn't repurchase.
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Sunscreen -L'Oreal - Sublime Sun Advanced Sunscreen Liquid Silk Sunshield For Face SPF 50
Jmberry 4/28/2012 11:37:00 AM
I didn't like this as much as I thought I would but it's not a bad product. It just wasn't a good fit for me. This sunscreen has a very thin, milky consistency with a slippery feel due to the silicone content. It's quick and easy to apply, absorbs well, and wears nicely under makeup. I like the bottle too, sturdy and flat with a screw on cap that makes it easily portable. This sunscreen has good, stable protection and is one of the more cosmetically elegant options at the drugstore. What I didn't like about it was that it left my face unpleasantly greasy (i am very oily, though) and it stung my eyes unbearably. For those reasons I would not repurchase but I think it's worth checking out for normal/combo skinned folks who don't have issues with chemical sunscreen filters. I am using up my bottle on my neck, arms and backs of hands (which it's great for).
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Dickinson's Foaming Facial Wash
Jmberry 4/26/2012 4:54:00 PM
I stumbled across this cleanser in Walgreen's one day. I like witch hazel, it seems soothing to my skin so I snatched this up. There was a creamy cleanser also but I'm quite oily and usually prefer foaming. All of the bottles had coupons on them for a mail in rebate that reimbursed you for the entire price of the product so that sealed it for me. This is a clear liquidy gel with no added fragrance, although it does have a faint witch hazel smell. It's not nearly as strong as pure witch hazel so don't let that put you off of trying this. I found this cleanser to be soothing, pretty gentle and not excessively drying with minimal lather. It doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes at all. I use a makeup remover prior to this so I can't say how well it works in that department. In terms of performance I would say it's pretty similar to Purpose, but less drying. I paid $6.99 for 8 ounces of product which is pretty generous, even for the drugstore. I would recommend this to others with normal/combo/oily skin looking for a gentle but effective facial cleanser. I tend to switch up cleansers often but I would not be averse to repurchasing this. I have added the ingredient listing as well.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast 24 HR Mascara
Jmberry 4/10/2012 7:40:00 PM
I really like this mascara for the most part. It gives me the same all-around perfection I get from Lash Blast Volume and Fusion, tons of length and definition. I got this in Blue Black and the color is lovely. It's very soft, brightens up my brown eyes and gives them a nice glow. This has never flaked or smudged on me with good reason. As others have noted, this mascara is most definitely waterproof and does not say so anywhere on the package (but of course, that is where the "24 hour" claim comes in). I never buy waterproof formulas, it's not a necessity for me and they tend to irritate my sensitive eyes. Unfortunately, this mascara was no exception. I had terrible irritation the first time I wore it but it's ok now as long as I am very careful and take my time applying (so it doesn't end up in my eyes or on my contacts) but still less comfortable to me than a non-waterproof formula. I didn't find this difficult to remove with grapeseed oil and a damp washcloth, the same things I use to remove all makeup. I would really like to try the Black Gold color so I put that I would repurchase, but I do wish that these shades were not waterproof.
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Lip Treatments -Merlot - lip moisturizer w/ spf 15
Jmberry 4/10/2012 6:18:00 PM
This is one of the worst lip balms I have ever tried. No foul odor, no offensive taste, but somehow less moisturizing than nothing at all. I wouldn't repurchase and I will probably end up throwing it away. Big fail for me. At least it was cheap.
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Cleansers -Simple - Kind to Skin Refreshing Wash Gel
Jmberry 4/4/2012 9:44:00 PM
Eh, I'm just not crazy about this. I picked it up because it was getting raves on the skincare board. Super cheap, plus I had a $2 coupon so that sealed the deal. I can see why many would like it. Gentle, non-stripping, non-irritating, sulfate/fragrance/dye free. But the texture is really off-putting to me. In a word, slimy. It rinses clean (I use it in the shower) but feels like I imagine rubbing half-set Jello on your face would. This doesn't lather much (which is part of why it's so gentle and I'm sure some folks would like this) but I'm quite oily and prefer a bit of lather. I don't think this would remove makeup if that's a concern. Its worth checking out for combo/normal to dry sensitive skin types. I will finish my tube but would not repurchase.
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Crème -Cover Girl - Simply Ageless
Jmberry 4/4/2012 8:02:00 PM
I absolutely love this product, so much so that I felt compelled to rewrite my review after recently buying this again. I tried it not long after it was released and liked it, actually repurchased multiple times. That was about the time I discovered MUA and began trying different foundations. Recently I picked up Simply Ageless again on a whim and immediately wondered why I ever strayed. Classic Ivory is a perfect color match for me. Because it's a cream formula it's super quick and easy to apply and blend. I don't need much for medium coverage, so one compact lasts me months. This product leaves my skin looking smooth, glowing, and most importantly, still like my skin. Just better! I'm very oily so when it's warm I dust a bit of silica powder on top and that sets it beautifully. Despite being so oily, it wears very well for me throughout the day without melting off or changing colors. I love that this has niacinamide, an ingredient my skin really likes, and physical sunscreen in the form of 5% titanium dioxide (a nice added bonus to whatever sunscreen I'm using underneath). I've yet to label any product as HG but this one has earned it. Highly recommended.
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Styling Products -John Frieda - Frizz-Ease Sheer Solution
Jmberry 4/4/2012 7:28:00 PM
I love this stuff! I've always liked the original Frizz-Ease Serum so this caught my eye when it was released. My hair is very fine and prone to frizz so I always use some sort of gloss or shine spray before blow drying to tame it a bit. This product is a dual phase one that you shake together to mix. The instructions say to use 10 drops to start with. I use a bit more, about a dime size (my longest layers are jaw length). This is a very lightweight serum which doesn't weigh my hair down but keeps it smooth all day long, even through a full day of rain. It smells like a mixed drink, fruity and alcoholic, but it's not offensive to me. I like the packaging, a sturdy plastic bottle with a flip top cap. I'm really pleased with this and plan on repurchasing, and I think it's definitely worth checking out if you are a fan of the original Frizz-Ease looking for something just as effective but more lightweight. I have added the ingredient listing as well.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Eucerin - Aquaphor Healing Ointment for Lips
Jmberry 4/1/2012 8:57:00 PM
This is one of the best lip products I've ever used. It is very similar to regular Aquaphor but for me, trumps it in two ways. One, it's more moisturizing/longer lasting. Two, it has a slant tip applicator. Why the folks who manufacture Aquaphor neglect to put one on the little tubes I don't understand. This lip formula is a little thicker. It has no scent or taste that I can discern and leaves a nice sheen on my lips without being sticky or overly glossy. The feels of this lasts much longer than almost anything else I have tried, so I don't have to reapply often. My lips feel smooth and hydrated. I would definitely repurchase and recommend to others looking for a no frills lip balm that does what it's supposed to do.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Garnier - Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream
Jmberry 4/1/2012 7:58:00 PM
I like this moisturizer. It's definitely more of a gel than a cream, and definitely better suited to oily skinned folks like myself. I tried this when it first came out and gave up on it because it seemed irritating. I really loved the texture so I thought I would give it another try and purchased it again recently. For whatever reason my skin is tolerating it fine this time around. This product is very lightweight. I find it just hydrating enough for me. For dry or even normal skin, this may not be enough moisture. It feels cool and refreshing, very nice during warm weather. This has a pretty strong, cucumber sort of fragrance which I don't mind. I like the glass jar packaging, very luxe for a drugstore item, and at around $6 it's very affordable. I would probably avoid this if you have sensitive skin due to the strong fragrance and the high alcohol content, but I would recommend to others looking for a simple, lightweight moisturizer.
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