Cleansers -Bonne Bell - Ten-O-Six- Deep Pore Cleanser
SleepIsTheCousin 5/17/2013 9:10:00 PM
So this is that like alcohol stinging nightmare pungent toner they used back in the day. I have incredibly dry and dehydrated skin, but I use this right when I wake up after I've done some serious nighttime moisturizing with oils and creams. I made the mistake of using this in the winter and paid the price with tight, red skin. It definitely stings blemishes but its your basic Salycic Acid toner. Like I alluded to here, DON'T USE ON SUPER DRY SKIN unless your skin is dry and you have seriously seriously moisturized recently or you plan to really moisturize after. This is not something I would use on super blemished skin, either (think - cystic acne and more than 20 bumps - severe acne). This helped keep my acne at bay in the summer/fall when I get over my winter bouts of cystic. I have bought twice now and am not disappointed. THIS IS STRONG... this is not for the weakling skincare user.
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Scrubs -Clean & Clear - Morning Burst Facial Scrub
SleepIsTheCousin 5/15/2013 11:14:00 PM
I like this and have bought it in the travel size many times over. I like travel sizes because they are hygienic. I use it in the shower after I have used a lot of makeup so I don't use this daily.
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Bronzers -Cover Girl - Trublend Bronzer in Golden Sunrise
SleepIsTheCousin 5/14/2013 1:13:00 AM
Deviated from this for a couple years because I was longing for department store and designer makeup... But the truth is that this stuff rocks. Its definitely for a "younger" crowd as my mom would say - that being its incredibly shimmery and can come off as orange with too much. This isn't supposed to be used too much, its supposed to be lightly used. I like it because I feel like it makes my often matte and cooler foundation more warm and more like my natural skin tone. I wouldn't say this is my go to bronzer per se but its like a shimmery powder that gives your skin color. So much product that you'll have one pot forever. Don't use the idiotic puff, use a brush.
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Scrubs -Aveeno - Skin Brightening Daily Scrub
SleepIsTheCousin 5/14/2013 12:51:00 AM
The smell is fantastic and the beads are just right. Unfortunately my really dry and acne prone skin did not benefit from this scrub and the exfoliation was just enough to reveal new blemishes but not enough to slough dead skin away. I used this for three months (went thru the entire thing) and find my face is better without it. Not a bad product, its just that Aveeno chemicals don't work with my skin. Will not be repurchasing.
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Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Ziana
SleepIsTheCousin 5/8/2013 1:03:00 AM
So I had a horrifying bout of acne these past five months - basically cheeks to temples and chin/mouth. I have always had acne on my forehead. Literally the worst beauty crisis I've ever had. I have great skin everywhere but my face and its incredibly frustrating. Onset and exacerbation was lo and behold caused by my birth control, LOESTRIN. I didn't get bad side effects from Loestrin other than a horrifying face full of acne - but that was obviously enough for me to stop it. I basically self-treated until going to a Derm finally, and was prescribed Ziana in the PM + Clinda/Benzoyl (basically differin but generic) in the AM. I feel like retinoids are probably good for you if you have oily skin, but if you have dry skin prepare to moisturize! I have severely dehydrated skin (not flaky, just sensitive and clog-prone) and Ziana has really just done nothing for my acne so far. Its clear that this causes "purging" - actually, it made my acne worse - but its not, in any way, making my skin any better. In fact, I'd say that it is making my skin worse. I have gotten fine wrinkles under my eyes because of this and my temples have become somewhat of a rougher and leathery type of skin. Redness is very clear and my face changed colors. Yes, I used a good amount and used it everyother night. Yes, I used SPF daily. I'm careful with my skin and chemicals. I just don't think Ziana is the right one for me - and I'm upset. I don't think I can make it through this "purging" period, beacuse its not really purging to me - its more like changing the entire texture of my face. I absolutely will update soon if anything changes or what my derm says or if I find I have been using it wrong. :/
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Moisturizers -Ponds - Rejuveness Anti-Wrinkle Cream
SleepIsTheCousin 5/8/2013 12:38:00 AM
I'm pretty impressed with this product. Usually ponds clogs my pores but this is an entirely different kind of Ponds. Definitely recommend for undereye wrinkles... make sure you wear that SPF in the daytime tho!
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Scrubs -Tree Hut - Coconut Lime Scrub
SleepIsTheCousin 5/7/2013 12:26:00 AM
I hate to be the person that lower this rating! It's just so average for a body scrub. I am tempted to try the other more "natural" scents... maybe its the coconut lime that bothers me? There are so many better scrubs out there... perhaps this is a steal because of the $$$? Definitely affordable. I still think the tub is unsanitary in the shower and you shouldn't have this product for more than a month with the way that it is packaged and the fact that you'll be using it in the shower. I don't feel like I am getting any softer skin with this... its not beady enough to exfoliate skin properly and the microbeads do literally nothing. For the price - its alright. But I won't be buying again.
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Lip Treatments -Smith's Rosebud Salve - Smith's Rosebud Salve
SleepIsTheCousin 5/6/2013 9:12:00 PM
This is literally the biggest gimmick of all time. This is one of those products that have paid to be in magazines and "in celebrity's makeup bags" but is not really useful whatsoever. I've used this and the Strawberry salve for more than three years until I sadly and apprehensively finally realized that I can't convince myself any longer that this does anything for my lips. It doesn't. Actually, it dries out the lips. And it gets your lips addicted so if you stop using you will have dry lips. Interesting texture and the pots are basically useless and unsanitary if you actually use a lot (which i find people never do).
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Lotions/ Creams -Nivea - Nivea Soft Moisturizing Creme
SleepIsTheCousin 5/6/2013 12:10:00 AM
This is my all time favorite product of ever. If they ever stop making this I will personally take it upon myself to sue whoever is responsible.
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Lotions/ Creams -Nivea - Body Smooth Sensation Daily Lotion for Dry Skin
SleepIsTheCousin 5/6/2013 12:05:00 AM
I trust in Nivea products to the utmost. This is a great condensed and milkier version of the original, with a slightly non-Nivea smell, in my opinion. Soaks in easily, pump is incredibly useful and efficient, and is generally pretty nice. I'm a lotion junkie so I won't buy this again in the near future because I love trying new ones. But I would recommend as a normal lotion to anyone with normal to dry skin. This is no miracle product, though.
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Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Extra Virgin Olive Oil
SleepIsTheCousin 5/5/2013 11:59:00 PM
Holy. Grail. I have been suffering from really terrible hormonal cheek acne from my bout with Loestrin (since stopped that and gone onto Gianvi) and it has been a really painful process to the point where my skin is severely damaged from my cheeks to jaws to chin. I am in the recovery phase currently where I still have a blemish here and there (4 on my face at a time) but very bad scarring. This helps so much to moisturize my face and lighten redness/scarring. I've seen my skin go from dull and red (due to retinoids which I've since stopped) to bright and moisturized. I realized by using this product that the problem with my skin is that its TOO DRY and then it overproduces oil, causing acne and exacerbated by the progestin in Loestrin. It has been a very serious battle... let me tell you. I use a gentle cleanser (Purpose) and then mix EVOO with my Nivea Soft moisturizing cream and put it on my face with a Q-Tip (being extra careful because hands can have bacteria). So happy with its moisturizing effects and that it doesnt clog my pores. I can say that I avoid my nose when using this because I noticed that oils can make blackheads look bigger. EVOO has completely cleared up my forehead... I can't wait to see how far it'll take my skin in this recovery. A blessing.
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Moisturizers -The Body Shop - Vitamin E Moisture Cream
SleepIsTheCousin 5/5/2013 11:49:00 PM
Yeah, not into it. Used as an eye cream and as a face cream and it dried it all out in the sneakiest and subtlest way. I used this for a month and it is sub-par. I really wanted to like this.
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Hair -Unlisted Brand - Original Sprout - Deep Conditioner
SleepIsTheCousin 5/2/2013 8:29:00 PM
I mean this is hands down the best conditioner ever. It has restored my hair, smells amazing, and is so so so healthy for you. I love this entire line, although I find that sulfate free shampoos really difficult /unenjoyable (and I love my shower time) to use on my long hair. I would still recommend the entire line to people trying to go organic. I will continue to recommend this especially to pregnant women and babies/children. - Obviously an incredibly expensive line but worth it. A little goes a long way and smells amazing.
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Hair Color -Unlisted Brand - Sun-In - Highlighting Spray
SleepIsTheCousin 5/2/2013 8:21:00 PM
I have been dying my hair with sun in since the 9th grade. I have naturally dirty blonde hair. It definitely grows out and makes my hair a million colors, so its not the classiest thing in the world but it goes from this natural sunkissed summer hair to a darker blonde in the winter. I've been using it so long, though, that the ends of my hair are now bleach blonde. I'd recommend spraying your roots instead of your tips since the product will inevitably drip to your ends. Really great and I'll continue purchasing this. I have actually seen my hair become nicer with sun-in and when I don't use it in the winter my hair is definitely yuckier. I'm sure I'll start getting it professionally highlighted when I'm older and need to be a bit classier.
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Skincare - Face -Johnson & Johnson - Purpose Cleanser
SleepIsTheCousin 5/2/2013 11:34:00 AM
YES. Thank you Jesus for allowing me to finally get something that is helping me heal. Have had such a terrible bout of severe cheek acne (hormonal... due to Loestrin... grr) and everything that I used just exacerbated and dried out my skin even more... thats never good. This is gentle enough, lathers so well, and feels clean without having that tight feeling. I'm happy and will be repurchasing. I'd recommend a very light cleanser to dry and acne prone skin types like mine. Also, I do not use this cleanser to take my makeup off. I take it off before I cleanse.
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