Conditioner -Johnson & Johnson - Johnson's No More Tangles Leave-In Conditioner
ShalimarMoon 5/28/2013 10:51:00 PM
I have mid-back-length, fine hair that is mildly tangle-prone. I thought I'd try this product to reduce tugging on my hair when I comb through it. But this doesn't make my hair easier to comb through, and it's horribly over-scented. I usually love scented products, so when I saw other reviewers saying this detangler is strongly scented, that didn't deter me from buying it. Well, they were right. I used only a small amount and my husband came into the bathroom saying he could smell it from the living room. I washed my hair because I didn't want to go around all day smelling of super fruity gasoline. Won't use again.
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Lip Treatments -Alba Botanica - Terratint SPF 15 lip balm
ShalimarMoon 4/17/2013 9:59:00 PM
I got this in the "Bloom" color, happy to find a mineral-based SPF lip balm that's tinted so it won't make my lips pasty white. But I'm disappointed in this product. It's waxy and doesn't leave any discernible color, and it's got a sickeningly sweet artificial flavor. I would consider buying the Terratint in Blaze (the darker red tint) but not with this flavor.
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Moisturizers -La Roche Posay - Anthelios SX Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15
ShalimarMoon 3/9/2013 11:31:00 PM
I've tried dozens of sunscreens over the years (chemical and mineral--you name it), and this is the best. I had some mild sun spots for years that had resisted retinol, glycolic acid, peptides, etc. I went through a whole jar of Clinique Even Better SPF 20, and it brightened my skin a little but didn't reduce the spots or even out my skin noticeably. Then I switched to Anthelios SX. A couple weeks later, I noticed that my skin was looking more even. It got more even over the following weeks, and now, a few months later, my sun spots are much diminished. I believe this product simply protects from UVA rays more effectively than other sunscreens, and that is all a sunscreen needs to do to improve one's skin. It is a bit sticky, but also highly moisturizing. Happily, it's gentle enough that I can use it around my eyes, although it will sting if it actually gets in my eye. But I work out and sweat a lot while wearing it, and it doesn't travel into my eyes. As others have reported, it can cause breakouts. It gave me small pimples here and there for weeks, but the improvement in my skin tone made me want to use it anyway, and eventually the breakouts stopped. I have only moderately acne-prone skin, however, so I can see that this product is not for everyone. But if you can tolerate it, it's a very effective sunscreen.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Neutrogena - Age Defense Anti-Oxidant Daily Moisturizer SPF 20
ShalimarMoon 11/4/2012 9:45:00 PM
This soy-based moisturizer had an effect on me similar to that of a hormone cream. I'd been using it for a couple weeks and, not making the connection, was wondering what the heck was happening to me. My moods were all over the place and my appetite had gone way up. I got worse and worse, intolerably so, before I finally realized it was something affecting my hormones. This is familiar to me, as I am extremely sensitive to ingredients that affect hormones, such as amino acid supplements. But I hadn't changed anything over the previous few weeks -- except for switching to this Neutrogena moisturizer. I remembered that soy is the third ingredient in it, and did a little googling. Apparently, Neutrogena has altered their soy ingredient to make it more effective (according to a webmd.com article). I wondered if they altered it to the point where it has a marked estrogenic effect? I can't know for sure, but I stopped using the lotion and each day after I stopped I felt noticeably better. Now, a week later, I'm back to normal. I'm not willing to try the lotion again to confirm my reaction to it, but wanted to put the word out in case anyone else has a similar experience with it. An estrogenic effect can have serious implications for many women.
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Skincare - Face -Neutrogena - Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle Moisture Night
ShalimarMoon 8/15/2012 9:07:00 PM
I'm on my third tube of this cream, and loving it. My skin has never been smoother and clearer. When I first started using it, I found it a little drying, but I adjusted in a few weeks. I also peeled after the first week or so of using it, but after that, my skin looked better than ever. The slight "orange peel" texture on my chin became less pronounced. And now, after using this for a few months, I can see the wrinkles around my eyes ever so slightly improved. It's not a miracle, and takes time to work, but it does work. Also, it made a couple milia under my eyes disappear! One of the milia was pretty large, too. Retinol works.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Cerave - Facial Moisturizing Lotion - PM
ShalimarMoon 12/21/2011 4:14:00 PM
I was looking for a simple, gentle moisturizer to alternate with/layer over my retinol cream, and this product is perfect. It's soothing and caused absolutely no breakouts or irritation (usually I have to get used to a new skin product and get a few pimples at first). It's not greasy -- absorbs right away. I emailed the company to find out where this lotion and the Hydrating Cleanser are made, and they responded that these products are made in San Antonio, TX. So that's good. Also, they don't test on animals.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Alba Botanica - Coconut Milk Facial Wash
ShalimarMoon 12/21/2011 4:01:00 PM
I love many of Alba's products, but not this one. This cleanser did not rinse off easily, it stung a little, and it made my skin red and irritated. But I'm giving it two stars rather than one because it smells nice, has natural ingredients, and is not tested on animals. Maybe I'm just allergic to one of the ingredients. At least I can reuse the pretty pump bottle. If they improved the product, I would buy it again.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Cerave - Hydrating Cleanser
ShalimarMoon 12/21/2011 3:57:00 PM
Finally, a moisturizing cleanser that actually is hydrating but rinses off easily and doesn't break me out. My 40+ skin needs more moisture these days, but I still break out at the drop of a hat, so I'm happy to find this. The texture and weight are similar to hair conditioner; this does not lather. I don't wear makeup so I can't speak to whether this removes mascara, etc., but it washes away my sunscreen just fine.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Organix - Moroccan Argan Oil Renewing Treatment
ShalimarMoon 10/5/2011 10:27:00 PM
The shampoo and conditioner work well together, and reduce frizz on my long, slightly wavy hair, while leaving it light and soft, no greasiness. The conditioner soaks right in -- it's amazing. I put on a lot, and my hair eats it up. It smells great too. No sulfates, etc., which at first I was skeptical of (the other natural shampoos & conditioners I've tried were just awful) but now I appreciate, because this stuff works without a bunch of chemicals I don't need. Note, the Argan Oil S&C work much better than the Shea Butter S&C for frizz. I didn't like the Organix Shea Butter line. I do like the Brazillian Keratin Therapy line (esp. the incredible scent), but prefer the Argan Oil.
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Gels/Soaps -Nubian Heritage - African Black Soap
ShalimarMoon 7/19/2011 11:08:00 PM
I've been using this for a few weeks and it does help acne without overdrying. I use it only on my problem areas (T zone, etc.). It smells amazing! But I'm taking off two stars because of the large clumps of oatmeal in this soap. I don't know why anyone puts oatmeal in soap. It's not fine enough to exfoliate properly, and only scratches the skin, which is not good for it! I try to pick the lumps out but it doesn't work well. Not sure whether I'll buy this again. I might, if I don't find another kind of African black soap.
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Sunscreen -Clinique - Super City Block SPF 40
ShalimarMoon 5/7/2011 10:54:00 PM
I would love this if it applied more easily and stayed on better. City Block is non-greasy and non-sticky, only slightly shiny, and is completely non-irritating, although it's slightly drying on my cheeks. Since it doesn't go on well over a moisturizer (it streaks and pills up), I just use it on my T zone and use another sunscreen on my cheeks. City Block is pigmented to compensate for the white cast of the minerals, but goes on sheer.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Revlon - ColorStay Blemish Concealer with Soft Flex
ShalimarMoon 5/7/2011 10:32:00 PM
I've been using this blemish concealer for years. I wish I didn't still have to deal with blemishes, but occasionally I do, and this concealer hides them nicely. I dab it gently with my pinky finger to make it blend in. The trick is to dab, not rub, and use as little product as you can. It stays on all day.
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Lipstick -Revlon - Superlustrous Lipstick - Demure (LE)
ShalimarMoon 5/2/2011 9:43:00 PM
This is my favorite lipstick of all time. It's super moisturizing and soothing, with just enough color (warm pink) and just enough shine to make my lips stand out a little. I'm 46 and find that any lipstick that's too dark, or too cool in tone so as to recede, magically adds ten years to me. And a lot of lipsticks make the creases in my lips stand out more. So I'm loving this Demure lipstick, which is sheer and ever-so-slightly pearly. My only gripe is that the cap won't stay on so I can't carry this in my purse! Argh. But I love it so much I'll probably buy it again anyway.
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Sunscreen -Lavanila - The Healthy Suncreen SPF 40 Face Cream
ShalimarMoon 3/19/2011 1:05:00 AM
This is not quite my HG sunscreen, but it's become my HG daytime eye cream, being the only SPF product I can wear anywhere near my eyes. It does leave a barely discernable white cast on my fair skin, but that's a good thing under my eyes, where it brightens up dark circles. I'm not sure how well it would work on dark skin, but it mostly absorbs so it might be ok. What I love about it is that it's moisturizing enough to plump out my fine lines, and gentle enough not to bother my sensitive skin or my eyes. It contains Hyaluronic acid, and, happily, no parabens or nanoparticles. I do sometimes wear it on my face as well as my eyes, but it is a little sticky/heavy--haven't really decided whether I like it on my face or not. Still, I will definitely buy again, as it's absolutely worth it for my eyes alone. Edit: I eventually found this to be drying on my eyes, probably due to the minerals. I started using Clinique SPF 30 instead.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Avon - Solutions plus Total Radiance Eye Gel
ShalimarMoon 3/19/2011 12:45:00 AM
This actually reduces the puffiness under my eyes. Recently I tried a more expensive eye cream, and my puffiness returned, so I went back to the Total Radiance eye gel and it again reduced the puffiness. It's not a miracle, but it does help noticeably.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No