Moisturizers -Juice Beauty - Organic Facial Moisture Concentrate
Mere828 1/17/2012 3:47:00 PM
What I LIKE: It's USDA Certified organic and a wonderful serum for your skin. No harsh chemicals. In a sanitary pump rather than a pot. Nice design/packaging. My skin felt soft after using it. Fresh/clean/organic scent. What I DISLIKE: Product in bottle doesn't last very long at all for the $36 price point. I went through this very quickly. Not a particularly oily serum, so you need a lot to cover your whole face when applying. I think it's misleading to have "moisture" in the title, but I thought it was a moisturizer at first, but it's really more of a serum to wear UNDER your moisturizer or at night (which I when I primarily used it.) -Although my skin felt softer after using this, it didn't brighten my skin or have any special anti-aging effects like some serums do. I give it a 4 because its a good product and for the right person into organic skincare, this could be a really great product, but for me, it was just OK!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Juice Beauty - Organic Facial Rejuvenating Mask
Mere828 1/17/2012 3:37:00 PM
-Would like to give a 3.5 rating, but it's not quite a 4. I purchased this because it was on special & It's USDA Organic and not a lot of cosmetics are, which I *LOVE* the fact that it's organic - thats a huge plus. So for a certified organic mask, this is nice. But, compared to other masks I've tried (more expensive, but higher quality) like Bliss and Ren, this doesn't really measure up. -Pros: Packaging is cute, in a sanitary pump container. Light & airy gel feel upon application. Leaves a tingling feeling and my skin feels tighter when I'm wearing the mask. -Cons: My skin looks/feels *slightly* more rejuvenated, but I didn't notice a *huge* difference. It doesn't wash off very easily. The gel sticks a bit to the skin so you have to scrub it off. -If you're into organics and are interested in ingredients that aren't harmful, I would try this out, you may like it for a 1-2x week mask refresh. I personally wouldn't repurchase it because of the price/value ($32.) It's *OK*/*SO-SO*.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Brows -Laura Mercier - Eye Brow Gel-clear
Mere828 1/17/2012 2:20:00 PM
-*MAYBE* would buy this product again - I'm on the fence about this one because: -It's a great, light gel that holds brows in place *decently* but it's not the best, HOWEVER, it's the first high-end gel I've tried, that doesn't leave my eye brows "crispy" from the gel drying. I think that's the reason why it doesn't work 100% like other brow gels. -There are trade offs with brow gels, in my opinion because the ones that really hold your brows in place are always the ones leaving them crunchy because the gel is almost glue-like. That is not the case with this product. -I like it because it's light and not heavy, but its not quite enough hold for what I'm used to. I would recommend it to someone who's never used a brow gel before and wants to lightly shape your brows. Or to anyone with really lightly colored or thin eyebrows as well!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Christian Dior - Diorshow Mascara
Mere828 1/17/2012 2:14:00 PM
-Not worth the $25 price tag. If you're willing to spend good $ on mascara, I would get a different one. Got this in chestnut/warm brown. Nice shade, but didn't do anything for me in terms of volume and curl. Although it did lengthen. And there are *no* clumps! -I'm bummed because I really wanted to like this as my first dark brown mascara; maybe the black has a different "wow" effect, but this one didn't do anything for me! I didn't feel like it thickened my lashes at all. I do somewhat like it as an everyday mascara (or even if it was cheaper!), but it's nothing special in my opinion.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Kiehls - Midnight Recovery Concentrate
Mere828 1/17/2012 1:47:00 PM
-Not especially impressed with this. Received as a trial size in a Kiehl's skincare kit. It was a good value because it came with other full-sized products, but I wouldn't purchase it in the full size. I'd rather spend MORE money on a better serum and here's why: -I strongly dislike the "eyedropper" bottle, it makes it difficult to apply to your skin because it's so watery that to apply it DIRECTLY to the face, it's difficult to rub it in fast enough. If you put the dropper contents on your skin first, most of the serum gets on your hands and not enough on your face. -I didn't see any results. I'm not sure what the long-term effects are of this. I've had great serums and not so great serums. This one didn't do anything for me. Of course, the trial bottle only lasts about 2 weeks, but I think I should have seen some sort of improvement by then, but I didn't. -I do like the face that its not oily whatsoever. Some serums are, but this one is of good consistency. I gave 3 lippies instead of 2 because it was basically free and the texture is nice, but isn't a must-have product for me by any means.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Royal Apothic Roll-On Fragrance: Extract of Earl Grey
Mere828 1/17/2012 1:29:00 PM
-A very calming tea-like scent, Royal Apothic describes this roll-on scent as: "The dried and prepared leaves of a shrub, Camellia Sinensis, from which a somewhat bitter, aromatic beverage is prepared by the infusion of hot water." -I like this because it *does* smell like tea. But not in an old-lady fresh herb-garden way, more like a young, new-age way (If that makes sense...). It doesn't smell *too* "natural" but not contrived either. I've never smelled anything like it before and it's very mild, which is why I bought it because I don't wear perfume. -I bought this from Anthropologie. Thought it would make a great everyday use fragrance that's not too overpowering. It's a very light tea/herb scent. A little pricey at $18 for a roll-on though. It has moderate to good lasting power. And I can actually smell this fragrance on myself long after I apply it and after I've used it for many days, so I always know how much I'm applying. -Rated a 3 for packaging quality though, because the lid over the roll-on ball doesn't screw in properly and sometimes leaks =/ Elegant packaging otherwise! And very convenient shape to keep in my purse or cosmetic bag!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Smith's Rosebud Salve - Smith's Rosebud Salve
Mere828 1/17/2012 1:14:00 PM
-HIGHLY recommend this in the TUBE rather than the pot. I would rate the pot a lot lower. The tube *so* much more sanitary and you don't get that sticky goopy-finger feeling after you apply lip gloss. -WHY people like this: It's a classic, elegant lip balm. It's like the basic lip essential that goes above and beyond. Not too sticky. Non-glossy but still gives your lips a healthy glow. CUTE packaging. All the benefits of a salve, without seeming too vaseline-like. It's very soothing. Easy, healthy ingredients. -It's not a miracle worker, but it's a great basic for everyday use. I've been using this 2x a day for a few weeks and have noticed a difference in my lips. It's not cheap. But it's not expensive either. I think I paid like $8 for this. -I would re-purchase. I think it's a good buy, but if you're trying to be more economical, there are other obvious, less-expensive options!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Bath and Body Works - True Blue Spa Apricot & White Tea Face Scrub
Mere828 1/17/2012 1:02:00 PM
-Cons: A bit *too* harsh for my own personal liking. I prefer microbeads or tiny granules as opposed to thicker scrubs, which is what this one is. For a face scrub, it's a bit too abrasive for me. Didn't seem to brighten my skin or improve the overall appearance, although I'm sure it did remove some dead skin because it's a stronger scrub. My skin didn't particularly have that clean feeling afterwards either - kind of disappointed in that! (+Some chemicals in it that I don't care for as well.) -Pros: Got it inexpensively in the travel size ($3.33) Comes in different sizes for traveling vs. everyday use. Smells fresh & clean. Packaging is cute. Got a lot of uses out of the travel size (probably about 10 face scrubs.) -Not too wild about this product unfortunately! I wanted to like it because it's cute packaging and really useful travel size, but it's too much scrubby-ness for the after-effects, which were slim to none!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -C.O. Bigelow - My Favorite Sport Balm SPF 15
Mere828 1/17/2012 12:31:00 PM
-I'm moderately obsessed with this! C.O. Bigelow's lip balms are amazing as it is, but this one has a double added bonus of having an SPF 15 AND is on a convenient key chain! LOVE this! Now I don't have to dig through my purse to find my lip gloss, it hooks right onto my keys. This alone makes it so convenient and easy to use! -SPF protectant is a huge plus to this product. I can feel it coating my lips upon application and this "protectant" feeling moisturizes my lips for hours. It has no taste, so it doesn't have that "mentha" scent that this other brand's lip products have, but that can be a good thing, because I think it's a great basic and doesn't remind me of minty toothpaste. -When the lip balm runs out, I'm going to keep the cap and continue using the keychain hook for other lip balms because I love it so much. Got this for $2 on sale - so glad I found this for so CHEAP!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Yes To Carrots - Yes To Cucumbers Face Cleanser Towelettes
Mere828 1/17/2012 12:20:00 PM
-I LOVE these! I purchased the 40-pack for CHEAP from Target, I think I had a coupon and got them for $4. I'm a huge fan of these because of the natural ingredients + it's so much easier to take your make-up off at night with a towelette! Wiping make-up off is MUCH easier than washing it off when you don't have time or are completely exhausted! -Note: If you wear heavy make-up, you're probably going to need a stronger cleanser than these. These are for people who wear basic make-up and non-waterproof (regular) mascara. I find these work GREAT for removing all of my make-up. -Fresh cucumber scent! Hypoallergenic, so they're VERY MILD. I did not experience a tingling feeling - I noticed some other reviewers did. Non-irritating for me. The packaging is secure (there's a cover/flap that you can snap open and shut) to keep the towelettes moist so they don't dry out! -I'm going to try the blueberry ones next because the reviews are better, but I DO like these cucumber ones and would highly recommend them for anyone who likes fast & easy cleansers!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Kiehls - Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
Mere828 1/17/2012 12:02:00 PM
-If I had bought this on its own, I would have given it a 2 overall rating because it's NOT worth the $27, but I bought it in a value kit with 2 other expensive full-sized products so it was a *decent* value. This is VERY AVERAGE. It's a great basic eye cream for everyday moisture, but the price is a bit high for the results. -It's a little thick, and doesn't absorb easily. NOT for oily skin. It's got a bit of a heavy texture and just sits around my eye area upon applying. -It *does* provide a good amount of moisture if you have a DRY eye area, however it does nothing for improving the overall appearance of my eye area over time. (Also, would give it a higher rating if it wasn't in a pot and in a more sanitary dispenser!) (-I find it's probably best NOT to use if you have delicate skin/sensitive eyes. I don't have any eye allergies or irritations, but for some reason, this product has occasionally made my eyes water - I don't know why, never had this happen before with an eye cream.) -It's comparable to something from Yes-To-Carrots in terms of value. Again, it's an average product, for an above average price, so if you're expecting a miracle eye cream for a near-$30 price tag - don't buy this one. You're better off spending $40-$50 and getting MUCH better results with something more higher end. I'm still using this, so I'll finish out the product and will not be re-purchasing unless it comes in a discounted Kiehl's value kit again.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Mrs Meyer's Clean Day - Aromatherapeutic Hand Soap
Mere828 1/17/2012 11:42:00 AM
-ALL of the Meyer's products are fabulous! This one included! I bought the BASIL Liquid Handsoap in the teal bottle. I LOVE how it's scented: it's calming and pleasant - like a light & airy herb-like fragrance. And I LOVE the packaging. The texture lightweight and doesn't have that dishwashing-liquid odor that a lot of kitchen soaps have. EASILY rinses off; doesn't leave any type of film or reside. My hands feel sparking clean! Non-drying and lightly moisturizes my hands after use! -Ingredients are all natural & recognizable. The product seems to last FOREVER. I've had the same bottle for quite a while now and haven't need to replace it too often. -This is one of the ONLY products I purchase repeatedly! I usually get bored with the same products and like to mix it up after I go through a bottle, but I love this so much, I keep re-buying it. -The bottle colors are great too, for matching them to your kitchen colors, which is what I did. I believe there are matching dish soap and counter top sprays too that come in this line. Highly recommended! Would be great to try if you have sensitivities/allergies!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Alaffia - Everyday Shea Moisturizing Body Lotion
Mere828 1/17/2012 11:14:00 AM
-Mildly disappointed in this product, (The matching body wash is much better in my opinion.) I bought them both together and started using them in combination and have noticed my skin *is* softer, HOWEVER... -This body lotion does not absorb easily (probably because it's completely natural & paraben-free/fragrance-free). When I get out of the shower and my skin is still damp, the lotion is very thin in texture and doesn't absorb immediately into my skin. It's difficult to rub in and sort of just sits as layer before I vigorously smooth it in. I know this is primarily because it doesn't have the added ingredients that most moisturizers have, but it can be a bit inconvenient. -That said, the ingredients are really harmless and the shea is pure & really skin-healthy. The bottle is economical & large (32 oz). You don't have to replace it too often and the pump is VERY convenient! The unscented version is mildly shea-smelling/naturally-smelling, but not offensive at all and if you like natural products you may like this. -Recommendations overall: For most people - eh. **I would say that this is not great for very dry skin - you're better off with a thicker cream.** I hadpurchased it mainly for the natural ingredients and packaging convenience. (Plus bought it on sale for $8 rather than the full $14 price.) But it didn't do much for improvement of my skin. It actually made it feel dryer than before use! It's not worth the full price at all unfortunately, despite the 32 oz.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Alaffia - Everyday Shea Moisturizing Body Wash
Mere828 1/17/2012 11:00:00 AM
-Bought for 3 important reasons: 1. Huge bottle w/ a convenient pump. 2. REAL shea butter that's close to the source. 3. NO parabens or weird synthetic fragrances added. It was on sale and I wanted to try a natural body wash out. -I REALLY like this body wash. Even though it's natural, it's certainly not lacking in terms of lather. It's easy to use, with the pump when you're in the shower & you don't have to fuss with replacing it so often because the bottle is HUGE. It's relatively unscented and moderately moisturizing. -(Note: If you have very dry skin and are used to using chemical-loaded washes, I would suggest something heavier. This would probably work best with normal to oily skin types.) -The scent is a mild shea scent. It's not completely unscented though, it does have that "natural" cosmetic fragrance to it, but it's completely "fragrance free" technically, so they don't add anything to it, which is great! If you're into natural & simple products, I would definitely give this a whirl! -(For reference this bottle is a whopping 32oz! I believe it's usually $14, but I bought it on sale from Whole Foods for $8!)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Sold Out Show
Mere828 10/11/2009 1:50:00 PM
Although I do like this shade now that I've used it and WILL use/buy it again, I gave it a 3 lippie rating only because it totally was not the color I expected. In the bottle, it looks like a very pale creamy pinkish hue, however, it is practically CLEAR. It shows up as just a clear top coat almost, I'd say 95% clear and 5% pastel pink. It also doesn't darken at all with multiple coats. It's a great color for both french manicures, and if you just want a shiny & clear top coat, but it doesn't have a whole lot of coloring. That said, it's actually a very nice basic, natural-looking polish for when you want a little bit of nail classiness, but not a specific color!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No