Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Lemon Juice
Kately 12/16/2010 1:10:00 PM
I think this has made the biggest difference in my skin. I've been using this for about a week in the form of a toner with green tea, aloe, basil, and acv. It has really improved my skin by lightening dark marks, balancing out my skin, reducing breakouts, offering a mild peel, minimizing the appearance acne marks, and reducing redness in my skin. I tried diluted lemon juice only before and that wasn't as effect as this tonic for my skin. Absolutely love this and can't wait to see the full results after a few more weeks.
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Nature's Gate - Mineral Sunblock SPF 20 Light Melon Scent with Acai Extract
Kately 12/7/2010 2:44:00 PM
I own this in the giggleberry scent. It smells so good. I also found this at the 99 cent store so it was dirt cheap. I looked up reviews on MUA before purchasing and figured for the price, it was worth a try. I'm really glad I did because it feels relatively light compared to other sunscreens, it has physical sunblock, and it hasn't broken me out yet. I really love the size of this tube because it's so easy to throw in my purse and carry with me. I def. use sunscreen a lot more frequently since finding this brand. I actually have repurchased. I liked this so much that I bought a second tube to have another. All in all, a really surprising find.
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Masks -Unlisted Brand - Nu-Pore Collagen Essence Mask
Kately 9/12/2010 2:47:00 AM
This is such a fantastic beauty find! I bought it on a huge fluke at the 99 cent store. For 99 cents, I thought there wasn't too much to lose if I didn't end up liking this. There are two masks in each package. So you get two treatments. I got the Pomegranate (benefits include firming, moisturizing, antioxidant) and Natural Herbal (benefits listed are restoring, purifying, moisturizing) mask. They recommend you use this about 2-3 times a week. I've used one box so far and after using one mask, I was SOLD! This is just as wonderful as the collagen masks that you get a facial. You can use this as either a cooling or warming mask. I've only used it as a cooling mask since it's the summer and it feels like an extra treat to have something cooling on your face to get rid of that heat from your skin plus I think it temporarily closes my pores so they appear smaller. This mask has a wonderful tightening effect. Yes, you might have a mild tingling sensation but I like it. I mean it's not bothersome although if you have sensitive skin, you may want to keep this on for a shorter amount of time and possibly rinse it off. My skin is a bit sensitive but I am able to leave this on for about 20 mins and I don't rinse it off. The instructions are to apply this after cleansing and applying toner. After unfolding the mask, gently apply the mask to fit the contours of your face. The mask doesn't really fit my face exactly and the eye holes are a bit awkwardly cut, at least for me anyway. You leave this on for 15-20 mins and then peel off the mask and massage the remaining serum on your face. To use it cold, you put it in the refrigerator. It gets cold pretty quickly, I think I had this in the refrigerator maybe for 5-10 mins and it was nice and cool! I think using this cold also may help to reduce puffiness. To use it warm, you soak this in the package for 2-3 mins in 122-140 F water. I experienced results right away, my skin felt tighter and more plump. My complexion also seems more brighter. Since this plumps up the skin, I think my very fine lines and scar are less visible. I would definitely repurchase this! I know some items at the 99 cent store can be a hit-or-miss, but these were a surprising hit. The packaging really keeps these masks moist and full of the amazing collagen serum. I will keep reusing this once a week as long as the 99 cent store stocks it!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Milk
Kately 7/9/2010 1:38:00 AM
So I was reading up on acne and lightening scars and I came across an article that suggested putting milk on the skin as a mask. Well I tried it and I think this is amazing! I haven't used face cleanser in over a week. This stuff is just so great and you can easily find it in your refrigerator so no need to buy something extra. Plus a lot of times, I have leftover milk in the fridge that would otherwise sit too long. The funny thing is that if I consume too much dairy, it breaks me out. I first applied it to clean skin like toner using a cotton ball. The thing I noticed was how much dirt was on the cotton ball! I let it dry typically for about 20 mins to an hour, then I rinse it off with a microfiber cloth. My skin is so soft and I am pretty sure my overall complexion is definitely brighter! The best part I just noticed today is that it removes waterproof mascara!! I think it's the fat in the milk that works to break down the waxiness of the mascara. Overall, this is a HUGE breakthrough. It's like an all-in-one product that works as a cleanser, makeup remover, toner, mask, and skin brightener. Swipe it on, let it dry, rinse it off with warm water, and it's like a miracle. You can also use this on your entire body for soft skin. The lactic acid is so gentle on the skin too so even though it's removing all this dirt and oil from your skin, it's not dry or stripping in any way. I use whole milk but I suspect that reduced or fat-free milk might work as well. This is the best discovery ever!! EDITED (8/27): Still loving the milk as a cleanser/makeup remover/toner. Usually with 3 cotton balls, I can remove everything on my face, which includes foundation, waterproof mascara, eyeliner, sunscreen. This is great for a hot day because milk helps to cool down the skin. My pores are definitely tighter and my acne is drastically improved. I read somewhere that dry milk also works great as a cleanser so I may purchase some organic dry milk as a backup for when there isn't any fresh milk in the house. Absolutely love this as it's cheap, easily accessible, and works fantastically to do the job of multiple products!!!
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -Origins - All or Nothing Pressed Powder
Kately 6/24/2010 8:16:00 PM
Wow, I had to come here after I saw that it was $25! I cannot believe that it's that expensive. I wonder if they raised the price. I bought this about 3 years ago. I've actually bought this twice so that means I've spent $50 on translucent pressed powder. Yeah, I really cannot believe I'd spend that much. Anyway, this is a great pressed powder which is why I probably bought this again without batting an eye to the price. It blends perfectly and is great for sucking up the oilies. Not sure if I'd repurchase for the 3rd time as there are probably better pressed powder for cheaper. Really love the compact it comes in, very durable and chic!
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Cleansers -LUSH - Aqua Marina Cleansing Roll
Kately 4/3/2010 1:34:00 AM
I am kind of in disbelief that this has such high ratings on MUA. I got a sample of this twice. The first time I used it, I didn't like it since it was hard to use. It's pretty difficult to break down into a paste. I ended up getting a different cleanser from Lush. A year went by and I was using different cleansers and came back to Lush one day and a different SA recommended Aquamarina so I thought why not since it was recommended to me for the second time. So I took home my second sample, well this was a really bad idea. It made me break out big time after just one use. My skin had been pretty clear for a while too. It was definitely the seaweed in this. Again the same as last time, I found it hard to make this into a paste as it is difficult to break down from its clay form. The smell also makes me want to gag. It's a shame too because I got a really generous sample. I'm sure this is good for someone else's skin since it has such great reviews but if you have acne-prone skin, I would be cautious about using this.
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Cleansers -LUSH - Dark Angels
Kately 4/3/2010 1:11:00 AM
I have a love/hate relationship with this. I love that it is both a scrub and a cleanser in one. I hate that it is so hard to wash off! I think this is great for oily/combo skin, it reminds me of Coalface, but it's not as drying and it has the added benefit of having ground charcoal in it to exfoliate your skin. The downside is that the charcoal can be really scratchy. It is also impossible to rinse off. Even if you use a face towel to wipe it off, you will still need to go through maybe 2 to 3 cotton balls with toner to completely remove this. I think it does help with acne and fighting oiliness, but the fact that it is so hard to remove makes this something I would not repurchase. Also, it's kind of harsh for everyday use. I do lovee the smell though, smells like licorice.
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Mascara -Smashbox - Lash DNA
Kately 3/30/2010 6:20:00 PM
I am at a toss-up between whether or not I would actually buy this product. I got it as a freebie from Sephora. I actually really liked this mascara to be honest especially since I didn't pay for it. I'm not sure if I would spend the extra money on this as I am pretty happy with d/s brands and prices. I use Fiberwig mascara as my regular mascara which is great for lengthening but doesn't do a thing as far as volume goes. So I actually use my Fiberwig as a primer to lengthen my lashes and then I've been using this for volume. I do admit that the wand is very scary. It's almost half the size of my eye. It's just really large! Plus it does require clean-up after application because it smudges outside my eye since application can be tricky with the large wand. The thing is it really does give me a lot of volume. I would say it doubles the volume of my lashes which is great! It reminds me of Max Factor's 2000 Calories except I think I like this a bit better since I was never a huge fan of 2000 Calories. I find this less drying than Max Factor's. But I do think there are definitely cheaper/better alternatives. This wasn't a bad mascara to me, it's average and it performs pretty well. It was great as a freebie but I'm not sure if I would actually repurchase.
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Treatments -LUSH - Grease Lightning Spot Cleanser
Kately 3/23/2010 3:15:00 AM
If I were to review this 4 months ago when I first started using this I would give it a 5 star review. It was really great in the beginning. The aloe in it really soothed my irritated skin and brought down the redness. The tea tree in it was strong enough on pimples but gentle on skin. After a while, I would say it stopped working. I used this as both a spot treatment and to prevent pimples where I know I tend to get pimples. The thing is now I have cysts on my face. I'm not sure if it's this or the Lush moisturizer I use, but I have a feeling that this is the culprit. I thought that none of the ingredients would be bad for my skin, but then I looked over the ingredients again about a week ago and saw that it contains sea water. I really avoid algae and similar products that contain high iodine contents because they really wreck havoc on acne-prone skin. Too bad because I think this stuff was really nice, gentle, and effective. It didn't get rid of pimples for me overnight, but it really helped them from not getting as irritated and swollen like they did before. But after 4 months, I would say this product is just kind of neutral on my skin. It doesn't seem to be really helping my pimples anymore, not even as a spot treatment, plus I am sure the sea water is what is giving me cysts. I haven't had a problem with cysts in about 2 years.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Grapeseed oil
Kately 3/18/2010 6:01:00 AM
I think I might be a grapeseed convert. Years ago, I was trying to go an all-natural skin routine so I started using olive oil on my acne-prone skin. The thing is olive oil was way too rich for my skin and gave me cysts and breakouts. I stopped using it and my skin started getting better. Flashforward to today, still have the acne-prone skin, but I think it's more under control now. So I decided I wanted to try all-natural route again and was researching different skin oils on MUA boards and I kept seeing people mention grapeseed oil. Right now, I'm trying to get through about two and a half containers of moisturizer, so while I would like to switch over entirely to grapeseed oil, I'm still using the other stuff I have as not to waste it. I do like how my skin feel like with grapeseed oil. It feels kind of sticky but when I wake up, my skin feels pretty normal. I marked packaging down because it's not very skin-use friendly but then again, it's food grade grapeseed oil and not found in the cosmetic aisle. I worry about cleanliness and contaminating my bottle of grapeseed oil even though I wash my hands right before I apply this. I also sometimes take this internally, it tastes a lot like olive oil and it's a light green. It's too early to say if it's doing anything positive, but I hope so. I have two cysts on my cheek right now, I'm not sure if it's the grapeseed oil or not, but i really like this so far. I think as soon as I'm finished with my moisturizers, which might be a year from now HONESTLY, I hope to use this exclusively. Until then, I use this every so often, mostly as a nighttime moisturizer. I have high hopes for this oil and my skin.
6 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Decleor - Cleansing Gel (combination & oily skin)
Kately 3/18/2010 5:50:00 AM
This cleanser was suggested to me by the lady who does my facials. It is a good morning cleanser that I use once in a while. It isn't harsh, it doesn't strip the skin of oil. I haven't used this at night in a long time, but I remember it not being very effective at removing makeup or dirt that accumulated on my face during the day. It doesn't foam or anything either. It pretty much stays a gel even on wet skin while lathering. I think it rinses pretty clean. When I read the description on the back, I remember thinking it leaves behind some oils, but maybe I'm wrong. I haven't read the back of the product in a long time. The one thing I really love about this product is the smell. It has this nice herbal smell. I don't think it helped or hurt my acne-prone skin. Overall, it's a great neutral cleanser that would be great for a morning cleanser. A couple of drawback is that it is very expensive but a little goes a long way. Another thing I'm not too crazy about is how the product can gum up in the cap, particularly the opening. If you have the money and you're looking for something that is neutral on your skin, by all means, this is great; however, for my acne-prone skin, I really was hoping it would do something for the amount of money I spent. It does feel pretty luxurious on the skin, but then again, maybe it's the price tag.
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Palettes -Urban Decay - Urban Ammo Eye Palette
Kately 3/3/2010 5:11:00 AM
This palette is fantastic. There are a couple of colors I never use, like Shattered and Mildew (blue and green) and the purples. The other colors in the palette I really love, especially Smog and Oil Slick. Smog is such a great crease color. This is definitely my go-to palette. I really don't feel like I need to dig through my eyeshadow collection to find the perfect lid, wash, and crease color because it's all in this palette. I even use Polyester Bride as a bridge highlighter!
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Misc Beauty Tools -Revlon - blackhead remover / extractor
Kately 3/3/2010 5:01:00 AM
This is a piece of junk. The thing is it's hard to maneuver. It also leaves indentations on your face. Do not use on soft areas of your skin. I was trying to extract a pimple on my cheek and it ended up scooping out my skin. I have this huge scar on my cheek now that still hasn't faded after 2 years. It's really deep and long too. I wished I had never bought this. Definitely do not use this on areas of your face that are noticeable.
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Too Faced - Natural Eye Kit
Kately 2/2/2010 1:14:00 AM
I kind of am in love with this palette rt now. I agree that it is sort of bulky but it reminds me a bit of a powder box. If you open the bottom compartment (pull the little ribbon), there is a dual-sided makeup wand, one side is a sponge-tip applicator and the other end is an angled brow brush. Both pretty useless. I do wish it did come with a mirror though. I love a majority of the colors. I don't really like the two Day colors except for the contour shade. Unlike most people on here, I really love the Fashion shades and I would wear it for a regular day look. I see myself using the Classic and Fashion all-over shade most, follow by the Classic lid color (Push-Up) and any of the contouring shades of the three looks. I think the contour shades are amazing. I could even see myself using the Day contour as an eyebrow powder since it's a matte dark brown. All-in-all, great buy.
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Gels/Soaps -Trader Joe's - Lavender & Chamomile "Cleanliness Next to Godliness" Hand Soap
Kately 12/19/2009 6:48:00 PM
This is my favorite hand soap ever. It's really concentrated. I like to dilute it by half. The smell is so fresh and relaxing. It's really inexpensive too. I have probably bought abt 4 bottles of this stuff and I will keep repurchasing until they discontinue it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No