Conditioner -L'Oreal - Hyaluronic Power Moisture Hydrating Conditioner
LenaOfDC 2/19/2013 2:06:00 PM
I've been using this for about a week now because I have lower back length thick, wavy hair that was beginning to become a real pain due to tangling whether I wore it natural or blowdryed straight. I attributed this to dry hair so I switched to this shampoo/conditioner combo and my hair has zero tangles now...even after using scarves and sweaters this week my hair is smooth as silk at the end of the day. It's a bit heavy feeling for my taste but considering I was using a volumizing shampoo/conditioner before I just need to adjust to having a little more weight as compared to zero. I'd recommend it for those with dry, tangley hair.
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Eyeliner -Sephora - Jumbo Liner 12HR Wear Waterproof
LenaOfDC 2/7/2013 2:08:00 PM
I loved the creamy texture of this pencil and I LOVED the bronze color. For the entire 3 days I used it, it was great to line both my upper and lower lids and finish with mascara for a quick routine in the morning. But towards the end of the day I found my eyes to feel "filmy" and they just felt dry, itchy and just plain irritated. I couldn't wait to take my contacts out when I got home. I used a new mascara the same day I started using this so, to figure out which was causing the problem, today I wore only the mascara and no more irritated eyes. Returned it on my lunch break. It's too bad because the color looked great on my neautral/yellow skin tone.
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Pressed Powders -MAC - Mineralize Skin Finish Natural - Medium Plus
LenaOfDC 10/2/2012 10:21:00 PM
I bought this on Saturday and am now writing this on Tuesday. When I bought it my skin was completely clear. I now have..wait for it...9 pimples. 4 on my forehead, 2 on my temple, 1 on my upper cheek and 2 on my lower cheek. That's all I have to say about that.
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Styling Products -Matrix - Sleek Lisse Blow Down Leave-in Cream
LenaOfDC 7/27/2012 9:05:00 AM
I'm not sure what exactly to say about this product or if I'll buy it again. I use this with the matching shampoo and conditioner. Good: I like this because I can blow dry my hair straight and it'll hold its style the next morning. My hair won't get all the kinks and bends, etc. that it will normally aquire throughout the night and I can quickly run a straightener on my ends and be good to go in the morning. Bad: am I just imagining it or does this make my hair come out? I swear when I run it through my hair I come up with around 5-10 long strands on my hand. I would normally blame the shampoo and conditioner but this doesn't happen when I don't use this product. Overall, I'm a little disappointed because I thought this product would be like the orange bottled smoothing cream which I could use on wet or dry hair and this product you can only use on wet hair because it is on the sticky side for a white cream. The previous formula felt very moisturizing as this one just smooths and straightens. My main concern is the hair coming out when I pull it through my length.
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Sunscreen -Neutrogena - Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 100+ with Helioplex
LenaOfDC 7/19/2012 9:11:00 AM
I don't know how much protection this sunscreen actually offers because I had tons of freckles on my face upon returning from the pool. Leaves a heavy feeling on the face and a heavy, dry feeling on the hands (so much so I have to wash them after applying). It sometimes stings upon application and it must be harsh on the skin because it stings when I wash it off with my CeraVe cleanser, which is extremely gentle. I'm going to try something else. I can deal with all these things if the product actually worked but the freckles say it didn't.
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Skincare - Face -NADS - Facial Hair Removal Strips
LenaOfDC 6/25/2012 9:56:00 AM
I have been waxing my upper lip using various brands and methods for around 16 years now and have NEVER had a problem. These unfortunately tore the skin off my upper lip in one use - it's bright pink exactly where the strips were, perfect edges and all. I look disgusting and am very embarassed to be at work like this. I have coated it in antibiotic ointment, hopefully it won't scar.
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Lotions/ Creams -Bath and Body Works - True Blue Spa Shea Cashmere Hand Cream
LenaOfDC 6/22/2012 10:00:00 AM
I bought this yesterday and will be exchanging it today. It smelled ok in the store but now it's very overpowering. And someone else said it before but I'll reiterate - it softens your hands but it doesn't moisturize. My cuticles are flaking within seconds of rubbing it in and my hands still feel dry. It's like you're just coating them with a dry, velvety texture. This also leaves a light shimmer on your hands and nails which I don't like at all. I had great results with L'occtiane hand cream but didn't care for the smell or price but it's the only thing I can find that actually keeps my cuticles and hands moisturized. Guess I'll go back to that.
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Mascara -Christian Dior - Diorshow Black Out Mascara
LenaOfDC 6/18/2012 4:11:00 PM
Gave me raccoon eyes by the end of the day and dried up in around 4 weeks - and I don't even wear makeup every day and when I do it's light. Normally a tube of mascara will last me months. I wish I hadn't of thrown the box away so I could return it to Macy's. What a waste of money.
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Eyeliner -Chanel - Le Crayon Kohl in Black Jade
LenaOfDC 6/13/2012 9:07:00 AM
I wanted so badly to like this eyeliner but it did not stay in place! I looked like I had a black eye or had been sleeping in my makeup within an hour of application. I gave it 3 weeks and ended up returning it - it was just too expensive to go to waste. When I returned it I put a swatch on my hand and as it turns out Clinique has a waterproof eyeliner called Ivy and it's IDENTICAL in color and only $13.
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Cleansers -Cerave - Hydrating Cleanser
LenaOfDC 6/13/2012 8:53:00 AM
I had to stop using my salicylic acid acne wash (I used it to prevent ocassional pimples, I don't have acne) because I started using retin-a for fine lines. I was recommended this product and I was deathly afraid it would break me out but so far it has been wonderful. I've been using it for around 2 months. My skin feels very soft and moisturized after I use it and not as dry and "squeaky clean" as it did with the acne wash. I don't wear anything but concealer for dark circles, mascara and a little eyeliner on my top lid so I'm not sure how this would be if you regularly wear a full face of makeup. My hunch is not that great. Only complaint is the packaging. I wish the pump could be used in a different direction other than to the side (turning it forward locks it). Seems like it should be opposite. I noticed this when I was traveling. I've also noticed that the very few hormonal pimples I've gotten have healed in half the time they did before and I attribute this to less chemicals and aggravation but I could be wrong. But it works for me and I think I'll use this forever and ever.
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Moisturizers -Neutrogena - Rapid Wrinkle Repair Moisturizer
LenaOfDC 5/10/2012 9:29:00 AM
I love this stuff! I do not have acne but I'm sensitive to heavy product and will breakout if I use something my skin doesn't care for. This did not break me out at all. I'm 26 and I've been using this for about a month both day and night and so far my skin looks clear, even toned, plump and fine lines have softened on my forehead. This stuff sinks in immediately and wears extremely well under makeup, although I only a Chanel concealer to even my tone. This product does not cause my pores to look large like some oily and heavy products do. My forehead is a bit oily towards the end of the day but I think it's due to the warmer weather and my skin adjusting. Skin is very soft. The scent is very pretty - my husband always tells me I smell good after I put it on. The SPF isn't noticable, in a good way. My only quelm is that you can't see how much product you have left but retinol is light sensitive so it can't be put in a clear bottle. When I run out of this myself I'm buying both the night and day version so I don't run out of one before the other (I'm a little OCD like that). I highly recommend it. Update: I bought the night version to use in conjunction with the day version but I found my face to be way too greasy the next day and I've been breaking out a little right above and between my eyebrows - not a good look. Also my skin was a little reddish. I stopped using anything at all at night after I wash and using only the SPF 30 version during the day and skin is back to normal. I'll keep this routine. Also, and to those questioning why in the world anyone under 40 would be using this: an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. That and the true benefits of retinol are based on long term use, not knee-jerk correctional use.
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Fragrances -Calvin Klein - Euphoria
LenaOfDC 5/10/2012 9:04:00 AM
Every time we go to Europe my brother-in-law's gf asks us to bring her this perfume since it's very expensive there. I never bothered to try it but this time we bought her a gift set and it came with a mini - which I ended up keeping for myself! It smells wonderful. I normally wear Light Blue, which my husband loves, but I hate that it doesn't last for more than an hour. This one is rich and deep and is sort of musky but when you smell your wrist it smells floral. Very strong - I sprayed it like I normally put on Light Blue and really over did it - but it's sexy.
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Eyeliner -MAC - Penultimate Eye Liner - Rapidblack
LenaOfDC 5/8/2012 1:15:00 PM
This eyeliner is easy to put on but it doesn't have good staying power. I find it melts off on my top eyelid near the inner corner so that within an hour I only have eyeliner on the outer half of my upper eyelid and a mess on the inner corner of my lower eyelid. The color isn't that dark unless you do a few coats. I will not be repurchasing.
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Foundations -Christian Dior - Nude Compact Gel - Natural Glow Creme-Gel makeup
LenaOfDC 5/8/2012 9:13:00 AM
It was very annoying to constantly flip up the clear sponge tray to apply the makeup while looking in the mirror. Very poor design. It goes on nice and is easy to blend but sadly, the day after I bought it I woke up with a huge cyst on my cheek, near my mouth. This is unusual for me so I know it was this makeup. I returned it.
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Concealers -Chanel - Correcteur Perfection Long Lasting Concealer
LenaOfDC 5/8/2012 8:53:00 AM
What a wonderful product! I purchased the 20 shade but I may need to exchange it for 1 shade lighter. I am using this just to brighten up my under eyes and even out a few areas of freckles from the sun (they aren't dark) and the ocassional blemish. It is a great alternative if you're like me and don't like wearing foundation. You can put it where you need it and it's smooth and silky enough to spread out and even your skin tone. It does not sit in fine lines or look dry, even in my under eye area.
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