Conditioner -Carol's Daughter - Black Vanilla Leave-In Conditioner
Russel 4/4/2013 10:16:00 AM
I purchases this primarily to detangle my hair post-washing. It does absolutely nothing to help with this-- spraying water in my hair would be equally effective (and cheaper). It's a 1 for this reason. However, the small is lovely. If you'd like to refresh your hair mid-day, this is an excellent hair perfume.
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Sunscreen -Neutrogena - Clear Face Sunblock Lotion SPF 55
Russel 8/10/2012 10:08:00 AM
I've been very impressed with this. I have sensitive, clog-prone, and combination skin, which makes finding a good sunscreen a constant problem. Many turn my face into a stinging, bright red, clogged, oily mess. The ones that don't tend to have a lower SPF levels. I find this to be a great compromise. I have no abnormal break outs after 2 weeks of use. There is mild stinging when I first apply, but it lasts very just a minute or two. The finish is very nice, and I've had no issues applying foundation or powder over it. Plus, it was around $10. I have half-empy bottles of sunscreen that cost many times that.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Bobbi Brown - Extra Spf 25 Tinted Moisturizing Balm
Russel 2/6/2012 11:46:00 AM
After a few months of trial and error, I determined that this is causing large, deep, painful break outs. However, without the break outs, I would have liked its sheer but buildable coverage, SPF 25, and the color selection. The tub packaging struck me as just unhygienic enough that I feel uncomfortable passing the remainder along to a friend to use.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Pixi - illuminating tint & conceal
Russel 5/10/2010 11:07:00 AM
This is a fantastic TM. I have sensitive, acne-prone skin that tends to turn liquid foundations or TMs orange. I've been using this for approximately 3 months now and haven't had any adverse reactions. No clogged pores, not cysts, no orange-by-noon face. I consider this something of a miracle product. Edited to add: I repurchased this and found it to be too orange. I bought the same color I had been using. When I compared it to my old tube, I could see this difference in the shade. I'm not sure if it was temporary problem or not, but I thought it was a little too pricey to play color roulette.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -BeneFit Cosmetics - BADgal Lash
Russel 2/28/2009 10:03:00 AM
Initially, I love this mascara. The big, fat brush applied the mascara quickly and thoroughly. The look I got wasn't so much bad girl, as going to work girl, but I liked that. It dried up really quickly, though, and started to flake after a few hours on the eyes. Then, it was hello raccoon eyes. This is a complete deal-breaker for me. I'd give it a 5 for this first work or two that I wore, then a 1 after that.
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Eye Shadow -Bare Escentuals - Get Started Eyes Kit
Russel 2/4/2009 7:23:00 AM
I wouldn't say this kit is horrid, but it's just not much for the price. The colors are fairly standard ones that you can get elsewhere for less. The endurance isn't that great, and they fade out after a few hours. The BE people need to take lessons from the Benefit people on how to write instructions. The little guide just shows some eyes with arrows and actually doesn't provide much guidance. After playing around with them, I can get a decent look, but nothing special.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -BeneFit Cosmetics - Primpcess [DISCONTINUED]
Russel 1/13/2009 6:16:00 PM
This kit is wonderful. I have used it almost every day. I've been looking for a subtle, yet flattering, eye color set for quite awhile-- something that makes me look better and nice, but not necessarily "made up." This kit works wonderfully. The lesson is easy to follow, the colors are long-lasting and flattering (at least, on pale-skinned, blue-eyed me), and the entire set is fabulous for travel. The concealer is a little dark, but is great on some my darkest circle areas (I then cover it with my erase paste), and the eye bright in the little tub is a miracle worker. I like the mascara a lot. It provides fullness without stiff lashes (I hate having stiff lashes). As the kit is a limited edition, I probably won't be able to buy it again, but I do plan to purchase each of the colors in it again.
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Treatments (Eye) -MD Skincare by Dr. Dennis Gross - Lift & Lighten Eye Cream
Russel 12/3/2008 1:07:00 PM
I received this as a Sephora sample and am getting ready to relegate it to the garbage bin. It doesn't do much-- no lift, no lighten, no above normal moisturizing. Overall, it's proof of what some people on the SC board say-- there's no need for a separate eye cream if you have a good moisturizer.
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Liquid -Make Up For Ever - Face & Body Foundation
Russel 12/3/2008 11:25:00 AM
Performance-wise, I can see why this foundations has its fan. My skin looked like itself, but better--- an elusive look for me. However, I propose renaming this Cystic Acne For Ever F&B Foundation, as it clogged up my skin as nothing has before.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -Bare Escentuals - Mineral Veil
Russel 10/27/2008 11:21:00 AM
Mineral Veil is one of my true HG products. I'm not too fond of the BE foundations or concealers, but MV is wonderful. It's the only product I've found that can keep my face oil free for hours on end. Plus, it doesn't turn orange on me (which is rare indeed). I'm on my third jar and plan to keep using it.
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Liquid -Revlon - Beyond Natural Skin Matching Makeup SPF 15
Russel 9/2/2008 10:25:00 PM
Why don't I love this as much as everyone else? I used it for about a week, and every day though, "hmm... this doesn't really look like anything." One day, I decided to put it on just half my face-- the two halves looked the same! I can get a little more coverage by applying multiple layers, but then it looks like I have make up on, which seems to defeat the purpose of line. I really wanted to like this, but I just can't. Update, 12-3-8: I kept using this because I had it, and it's starting to grow on me a bit. My normal foundation applying technique-- building layers-- does not work with this, but just slapping a whole bunch on at once seems pretty effective if I take care to watch for unsightly orange-y steaks. Still not the best foundation, but it does not seem to contribute to break outs and provides decent, if not full, coverage.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Sally Hansen - Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy l/s
Russel 6/22/2008 12:26:00 PM
I purchased soft orchid, which is lovely purple pink shade that works well on my pale (NW20) skin. I went to Ulta to purchase the foundation after reading the good reviews and bought this because it was BOGO 50% off on the Carmindy line. I am actually shocked that this has become my go to lipstick. The color is dark enough to look polished, but subtle enough for every day. I might even call it a cross between a gloss and really pigmented lipstick. It's decently moisturizing, feels nice on the lips, doesn't have any shimmer that makes it inappropriate for serious functions, and doesn't dry out my lips or become tacky after repeated applications. It doesn't work any miracles-- the staying power is only average, my lips don't look magically bigger, and I do need a little moisturizing an hour or so after I apply-- but this does perform the basic duties I've been looking for in lipstick and have had a very difficult time finding.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -C.O. Bigelow - Lemon Body Cream
Russel 6/22/2008 12:16:00 PM
I loved this body cream... until I realized I developed red, itchy bump (or contact dermatitis, as the doctor diagnosed) wherever I put it.
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Conditioner -Organix - Nourishing Coconut Milk Conditioner
Russel 6/12/2008 2:01:00 PM
Why did I succumb to BOGO and buy this without checking the reviews first? This conditioner really did nothing for my hair, It didn't help with tangles. It didn't add shine, volume, or softness. It's almost as though I didn't even use a conditioner. It does smell nice, though.
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Treatments -Lumene - Vitamin+ Radiant C Beauty Drops
Russel 6/12/2008 1:58:00 PM
Rating this is difficult. For the first 2 weeks, I very much liked it. My skin looked smooth, even, and glowed. Then, nasty clogged pores took over my face. They began to clear up after I discontinued use and began a rigorous course of BHA and AHA. I would never use these again and regret trying it. However, if you are not clog prone, you may find this product quite nice.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No