Shampoo -L'Oreal - Advanced Haircare - Total Repair 5
SaraLee2 3/17/2013 11:13:00 AM
I have thin, fine, color treated hair. I have been test driving this, and Pantene's Age Defy. This won, hands down. I used each for a full 6 days in a row. On day one I used a clarifying shampoo, then 6 days of this shampoo. Same routine with the Pantene. I always used the same conditioner (DermOrganic...love that stuff!) and the same styling products (Redken 07 Layer Lift & Gelatine) so that it was only the shampoo that changed. Every day I used this was a good hair day. Something that I've never experienced. I've always had to switch 'poos every couple of days or my hair goes flat, frizzy, and unmanageable. Not with this. Every day my hair looks full, smoother, and easier to style and manage. It stays looking good all day long. It lathers well, rinses clean with no coated feeling, but not so clean my hair feels stripped. I did like the scent of the Pantene a little better. They are both a fruity kind of scent and that one's just a touch better. For the price its kind of amazing how well it works on my hair.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Pantene - Expert Collection Age Defy Shampoo
SaraLee2 3/17/2013 10:50:00 AM
For reference I have thin, fine, color treated hair. I have been test driving this, and L'Oreal's Advanced Total Repair 5. This one lost. I used each for a full 6 days in a row. On day one I used a clarifying shampoo, then 6 says of the shampoo, always with the same conditioner (DermOrganic...the best!) and the same styling products (Redken 07 Layer Lift & Gelatine) so that it was only the shampoo that changed. I had only one good hair day with this...the first day I used it. After that my hair was just flatter with less body, and harder to style and manage, and looked more wrecked, flat, frizzy, and rat-like by the end of the day. It lathers well and I do like the scent of this one slightly better.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Nivea - Lip Butter
SaraLee2 3/14/2013 1:46:00 PM
I bought the Vanilla Macadamia flavor from CVS. I love the little tin. Easy to open and stays shut in my purse. Its a very rich, thick, white cream that smells delicious, tastes slightly sweet but neutral, spreads easily, moisturizes very well, and lasts for about 2 hours. The only thing I don't like is the white cast. If I put just a tiny bit (and you don't need much really), then it melts into lips and doesn't leave the white cast. But thats hard for me 'cuz I'm a slatherer. I load up on the lip goo so I have to watch it. It also changes the color of lipstick if applied over, lightening it significantly so that a red lippie turns pinkish, orange turns coral, etc. This can be a good thing if thats your intent. I seriously doubt I will buy this again as I rarely use it, reaching most often for Vaseline Lip Therapy in the tiny jar, but I will miss the scent when its gone.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Unlisted Brand - Topix Replenix Eye Repair Cream
SaraLee2 2/19/2013 10:22:00 AM
I've been using the same eye cream for several years, but continued to try others on occasion, only to end up disappointed. I finally bought this based on the ingredients (lots of peptides but not hex-6 which I prefer not to use anymore) and reviews. I am quite happy with the results, and have switched to this full time. First of all I love the packaging. The twist up pump is fun and unique. I don't know if it keeps the cream any fresher, but it feels like it would. The cream is thick with a yellow tint that melts easily into skin with no tint at all. Its the most moisturizing eye cream I've ever used but miraculously it doesn't migrate into my eyes and make my contacts blurry like so many other creams do. I use it all around eyes including lids, then pat the remaining around my mouth, and on the one sided 11 between my eyes. I massage a tiny pea size between my ring fingers and pat it around until absorbed. I've been using that crease between my eyes as a measure since its so prominent. After 2 months of daily use, that 11 is noticeably more shallow. The fine lines around my mouth seem to be less, and my eyes are smoother. My concealer (Cinema Secrets) glides on over it without pilling and it doesn't make it settle into fine lines as the day goes on...it acts like a primer and keeps the area around my eyes fresh all day. It sells for $75, but I get it at skincarerx.com and use the MUA coupon for 20% off all the time (MUACOUPON20). HIghly recommended.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -DermOrganic - Masque Intensive Hair
SaraLee2 2/18/2013 10:54:00 PM
I have shoulder length, thin, fine, brittle, dry, frizzy, color treated hair. I change shampoos all the time depending on what my hair is like that day (or maybe I just haven't found the right one yet), but I use this conditioner consistently. Its fabulous. Its the only thing that smooths my hair, adds moisture, doesn't weigh it down at all, and doesn't start to build up over days of use. I love the scent. It smells fresh...like the Canus Goat Milk lotion if you know what that smells like. The ingredients are great and the results even better. I now buy the huge 34 oz size for about $28 and use one pump per use so it lasts a very long time. There just aren't any downsides to this conditioner for me, and with my hair, thats really impressive.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Redken - Layer Lift 07
SaraLee2 2/18/2013 10:29:00 PM
I have shoulder length, thin, fine, flat, color treated hair. I use this along with Redken's Velvet Gelantine and my hair has never looked better. I use it as a root lifter, spraying directly on my scalp, above the ears, in about 10 different spots, massage it in, then use the Gelantine from root to tips and style as usual. My hair hasn't ever looked this good.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Redken - 7 Velvet Gelatine Silk-Infused Gel
SaraLee2 2/18/2013 10:23:00 PM
I don't even know how to begin to describe this. I am still in awe that it works like it does on my shoulder length, super fine, dry, frizzy, color treated hair. My hair looks like I just came from my stylist every day, shortens drying time, adds volume, and reduces frizz. I first use Redken's 07 Layer LIft as a root lifter, then about a nickel size, rub it between my palms to melt it and run it through damp hair from roots to end, then style as usual. My hair has never looked better, even in my youth. Great line of products.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Kate Somerville - HydraKate line release face serum
SaraLee2 1/1/2013 11:15:00 PM
Everywhere I look this gets rave reviews. I was so excited to try it. Unfortunately this is definitely one of those YMMV products as it did absolutely nothing for me. My skin did not like it at all. Not only did it have zero affect on even the finest of lines, it dried out my skin horribly, leaving it flaky, dull, and listless. With the name "hydra", I thought it would at least be a decent moisturizer. :( I read the instructions over and over, and tried it on numerous occasions with the same horrible results every time. I would definitely get samples before forking out the money for this one.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Penny Talk
SaraLee2 8/5/2012 11:08:00 AM
This is gorgeous in the bottle. Truly the color of rose gold. Its one of the few polish colors that looks almost the same in the sun and with indoor lighting...just like rose gold jewelry. Its very metallic with no glitter or shimmer. What I really really hate about it is it shows every single little tiny flaw your nails might have. I used filler first (Essies Protein Base Coat) which has never failed to make a smooth surface no matter what polish I'm using, but not with this one. I put on two coats the first time and it was too much. So I tried again with only one coat and 2 coats of top coat and that was definitely better, but you could still see every flaw. I have a ridge on one toe that runs the entire width. Usually you can't see it at all, but with this it looks like the Grand Canyon. I've never had this happen before with any type of polish. I did keep it on for a week and it didn't peel or chip at all so if you can figure out how to make it smooth, it would last a decent amount of time. I gave it to a friend of mine, she had the same experience. Too bad 'cuz the color really is unique.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Avon - Reversalist Night Cream
SaraLee2 7/8/2012 9:02:00 PM
I loved this rich, thick cream, right up to the moment it broke me out like a 12 year old boy. I am very clog prone, but rarely break out unless its from a product. I used this nightly for 8 days, when 3 cystic, painful bumps appeared. It took weeks for them to go away and I still have a purple mark from one. I believe it was the heavy amount of cones that was the culprit, but I wouldn't try it again to find out.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Self Tanners -Unlisted Brand - Caribbean Solutions Beach Colours Natural Self Tanner
SaraLee2 6/10/2012 4:08:00 PM
THE best self tanner I've ever tried and I feel like I've tried them all from drugstore to high end. I'm on my 3rd jar and just love it. The color is entirely natural looking without a trace of orange. While the skin on my face and chest is medium (BB Natural), the skin on the rest of my body is very pale since it rarely sees the sun. I also have vitiligo (white spots) that is abundant, especially around bony areas like my ankles, shins, hip bones, etc. I don't try to avoid these areas with self tanner 'cuz its just impossible. As a result the white spots show the true color of the self tanner and the majority turn my white spots orange. Sooo not pretty. This doesn't. It actually turns them skin color and blends them nicely into my 'normal' skin color while turning the rest of my skin a golden brown.
The product is a white, medium thickness cream that comes in a plastic jar. On the days I use it, it leaves my skin very moisturized and I don't have to use other body lotions. Would prefer squeeze or pump tube, but its a minor issue. When rubbing it in, it turns really white at first and you have to really rub it in for a while before it disappears and absorbs. It takes about 10 min to cover my entire body and I really have to work at it. I thought I was going to hate it the first time I used it 'cuz it just took for-EV-er to rub it in. But then the color was so smooth and even, I saw the genius in having to rub it in so completely. You can see exactly where you've missed or not covered evenly, and there are absolutely no streaks whatsoever. I highly recommend using enough to make a white layer. I tried it the 2nd time not using as much so I wouldn't have to rub it in so much and the color payoff wasn't as good. They recommend using for 2 days, then off 2 days. This works perfectly, but if you can't get to it, it wears off very evenly without splotching or looking weird...you just start getting lighter all over. I initially used it 4 days in a row the first time, but days 3 and 4 really didn't add much additional color, which is probably a good thing. The full color develops in about 2-3 hours on me. My legs look tanned and toned and I feel very comfortable going without stockings, even to the office.
I tried using it on my face, and while the color was decent (not as good as the rest of my body but thats typical for my face), and it didn't break me out, it did seem to start clogging pores so I stopped, but I'm easily clogged so might work just fine for others. I have combo skin, but it didn't make my skin any oilier than it normally gets mid-day. I applied it after applying my normal skincare products (Nia24 routine), skipped my usual moisturizer (this is pretty moisturizing) and letting them soak in completely, then my usual tinted sunscreen (EmerginC) over it, and it worked well with no pilling or other issues.
The scent is very tolerable...just a mild self-tanner scent, but predominately a fruity, tropical scent with only the fruitiness lingering slightly for a few hours. Not enough to clash with perfume. It takes a while to dry/soak in. I use a blow dryer to get it to dry a little more, but even then it feels slightly tacky for a long time, but if I touch my skin it really isn't...its more of a sensation. Even with the perceived (imagined?) tacky feeling I can get dressed and the color does not transfer to clothes. Not even if wearing white. I used to have a tan colored bra I'd wear on the days I applied self tanner 'cuz it would ruin the white ones, but thats not the case at all with this. It has never discolored anything.
I buy this at Vitacost.com for a $12, 6oz jar. One jar applying 1-2 times/week lasts about 2 months. Highly recommended. Ingredients are listed in the section above.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Bare Escentuals - READY Blush
SaraLee2 5/28/2012 1:23:00 PM
I got this is The One...described as a nude pink. I thought it would be great for those days I don't want to look totally pasty, but don't want to appear to have blush on either. I have medium beige skin and my natural flush is sort of a rosey nude. Well this color did absolutely nothing for me. Bobbi Brown's Blushed Rose in creme, or Dessert Rose in powder blush is much better and in the same color zone as this. This just has a little too much of a subtle purple undertone to it I think...and its throwing it off for my skin tone. I also didn't like the formula all that much. It doesn't go on as smoothly as I'd like, and the color was gone by mid-afternoon. The packaging was also annoying as its that soft cushy like material that shows every fingerprint and is a dust magnet making it look old almost immediately. Overall I was disappointed in this one.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Alterna - Bamboo Smooth Kendi Oil Dry Oil Mist
SaraLee2 5/27/2012 8:14:00 PM
i'm on my second bottle of this and like it very much after I learned what worked best on my fine, thin, frizzy, dry hair. It didn't work for me spraying it all over, no matter how much or little I used. It really did nothing. So I started using one spray just on the ends of the section I'm getting ready to flat iron. Its a very fine mist so it goes where you want it to. It fused to my ends, eliminated the frizz, and made my hair hang straight and soft without making it greasy. The iron seems to fuse it into my hair, eliminating the oiliness and smoothing the frizz. I love the fruity, woody scent. Now I can't be without it and use it whenever I flat iron.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Beauty Without Cruelty - Moisture Cream, Skin Renewal 8% Alpha Hydroxy Complex
SaraLee2 5/25/2012 11:50:00 PM
This is extremely effective for clearing pores and keeping them clear. I have large pores that are easily clogged, but not break out prone. Its frustrating trying to keep the blackheads away without going to extreme measures which usually leads to a bout of picking at my face with the after effects lasting for days. This has stopped all that. I only use it once or twice a week at night, and then only on my T zone. It keeps my pores clean and clear, and makes my skin smooth without drying it out. The scent isn't strong, kinda citrusy/pine needle-ish in a medicinal way, but its not offensive and fades in a few minutes. Its a medium thick, white cream that is kinda hard to get out of the squeeze bottle, but I'm glad its not in a jar. Its super reasonable at $12 for 4 oz since I only use a pea size a couple times a week. Best price is usually at Vitacost.com.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Alterna - Bamboo Volume Plumping Strand Expand
SaraLee2 4/3/2012 3:21:00 PM
UPDATE: I've switched to Redken 07 Layer Lift with much better results. ORIGINAL: According to Alterna, this is designed to plump and volumize hair while protecting color. Its a white lotion that smells very light and fresh. Comes in a 4oz pump bottle which is a good idea, but the bottle I got only pumps out a tiny bit at at time so even with my medium amount of thin hair, I risk getting carpal tunnel every morning trying to get enough out of the bottle. That being said, I work about a quarter size this through damp hair from tips to roots, comb through, and style as usual. It detangles beautifully, smooths hair without weighing it down, doesn't dry it out or make it greasier, gives gentle volume and fullness, and...the best part...keeps my hair fresh for 2-3 days. I've never been able to go more than 1 day without washing, mostly because it just becomes so unruly, sticking out all over the place, but with this, it looks fresh and controlled for days. $22 at drugstore.com
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No