BB Cream -Maybelline - Dream Fresh 8-in-1 BB Cream
Thaxter 9/29/2012 6:35:00 PM
I went ahead and tried this product in the light/medium shade. I love it. I wear it every day to work, and it glides on effortlessly over my moisturizer and is very blendable. It gives a dewy, soft finish to the skin and lasts a long time. It hides (doesn't accentuate) wrinkles, minimizes pores, and gives a sheer but balanced overall tone to the skin. It's extremely moisturizing, and for that reason may not be so great for oily skin. The color blends in so well that it really seems to accentuate the complexion without calling attention to itself as "foundation." I can layer on a different, more matte foundation on top of this if I want extra coverage for any reason, and it all seems to work well together. I love that this product does not contain parabens. I have very sensitive skin and this has not irritated it in the slightest, after a few weeks of every day wear. Recently I stopped at the drugstore to get an extra bottle of this, and my best friend, who was along, decided to buy a bottle too, without any coaching from me. This was notable because my friend has never worn make up in her life! I guess she must have taken note of my skin and decided that makeup was worth a shot after all. Mabelline seems to have tapped into HG status with this wonderful product, and I hope they keep this one around for a long time!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Ponds - Deep Cleanser Cold Cream
Thaxter 6/20/2012 5:52:00 PM
This is NOT the Ponds cold cream that my mother and grandmother used. After Unilever bought this, they added chemicals to the product. Here are the list of ingredients of the new "classic" Ponds: Mineral Oil, Water, Ceresin, Beeswax, Triethanolamine, Behenic Acid, Fragrance, Ceteth 20, Cetyl Alcohol, Carbomer, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Methylparaben Of DMDM Hydantoin, note: A study found "An increase in the use of DMDM hydantoin in cosmetic products will also inevitably increase the risk of cosmetic dermatitis in consumers allergic to formaldehyde." Yep, that's right. Unilever has added a formaldehyde producing chemical to your grandmother's cold cream! We all know that parabens are bad. But what about Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate? "Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate is used as a preservative in cosmetic formulations; it is acutely toxic by inhalation and should not be used in products that can be aerosolized or inhaled." You will have to use the NEW Ponds cold cream while holding your breath, I guess. What about Triethanolamine? it is a: Known human immune system toxicant Human skin toxicant - strong evidence Human immune and respiratory toxicant - strong evidence In short, Ponds Cold Cream is now a toxic soup of chemicals. Our grandmothers and mothers did not have to put up with this kind of poisoning. Why should we? UPDATE: For those ladies looking for the **original, classic** formula of Pond's Cold Cream that your grandmother used, I've found a drugstore substitute. It's RITE AID Deep Cleansing Cold Cream. The ingredients are: Mineral oil, water, beeswax, ceresin, sodium borate, fragrance, carbomer. And this is cheaper than Pond's. Thank you, Rite Aid!
14 out of 16 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -Revlon - ColorStay Whipped Creme Makeup
Thaxter 6/17/2012 1:57:00 PM
I bought this first in Warm Golden, hoping to get a match, but it was waaay too dark on my pale yellowish skin, so I took it back and exchanged it for Buff. Buff is a better match, but doesn't get close to matching my skin. The consistency is very thick and creamy, and a little goes far in covering the skin. I liked the way it gives a flawless and polished finish to the skin. Like others have said, the effect is really beautiful, almost as if your face has been airbrushed. The heavy glass pot is elegant and classy. I think that a pot is the best way to dispense a thick cream foundation like this, as you can so easily control the amount with a brush or sponge, which is, of course, easily cleaned. I took off three lippies because of the limited color range and the difficulty in cleansing this product from your skin. It appears that Revlon is finally beginning to formulate sophisticated chemical products that compete with expensive brands. The success of this product as well as the lip butters attest to the talent and ingenuity of their chemistry department in formulating exciting new products. However, Revlon color analysts seem stuck in the distant past, perhaps the 1950s, when there were only a few shades for a few skin types. Buff would be great on certain Asian skin types, but for me, it's just too grayish and pale. And there's nothing in between Buff and Warm Golden for we paler yellow toned ladies with green veins (even though there are tons of us out there, as evident by the comments). Years ago, in the early 80s, I was talking to a makeup artist in Paris, where I was visiting, and he told me then that the only American drugstore brand that would not pull pink was L'Oreal. I always think of him when I go to the drugstore now, seeking yellow-based foundations with minimal success. Maybe one day Revlon will enter the 21st century and expand its color range. Until then, I cannot buy this foundation again, even though I love the effect of the formula. There's no point in buying a foundation if you can't find a good match for your skin tone. Finally, note the ingredient list above. This is nearly all silicones, as well as lots of other chemicals. Silicones sit on your skin so that it cannot breathe. It's just like putting a thin coating of plastic on your face. This creates the "flawless" and polished look that everyone loves -- Revlon has basically created a thick tinted primer here. Trying to wash this off at night is tough. I had to cleanse for three rounds, using cream cleanser, bar soap, and then bar soap again. It also took three rounds in my ultrasonic cleaner to remove the product from my brush! Maybe there is a special makeup remover for silicones, but I like using water and a cream cleanser at night, and this just didn't come off easily using water and soap. I really wish this product had worked for me, because, like I said, the effect is lovely. I'm going to get a refund and invest in a more expensive foundation that has a warm color range and will wash off at night with minimal effort.
10 out of 16 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Revlon - ColorBurst Lip Butter in Peach Parfait
Thaxter 5/28/2012 6:58:00 PM
At first I thought this was too sparkly, but I find I am reaching for it every day, above all my other shades and brands. I have several other shades in this line, but this is my absolute favorite and looks great on my pale yellow skin. It's subtle but still *there,* and I have noticed that other women in particular seem to notice this shade. Hope they never discontinue this incredible color, which has a hint of pink to the peach.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Colorburst Lip Butter in Pink Truffle
Thaxter 5/28/2012 6:20:00 PM
This product is terrific. Pink truffle is a wonderful everyday shade for work. This *almost* matches what I thought was my HG lipstick for life, Clinique's Pink Beach. It is really close in color but lacks the hint of frost that Pink Beach has. I have pale skin with yellow undertones and hazel eyes. As I get older, I want products that are subtle in color but still discernable and flattering. This lipstick perfectly fits the bill. I'm usually in a rush before work, and just slap this on and take off. Here is the amazing thing. I can get caught up in a day and never touch up my lipstick. When I get home, my lips still have a stain of color on them. That's the best thing about this -- it's long wearing and stays vivid all day. You will lose the creamy gloss over time, but the color stays on your lip, like a subtle lip stain. It outperforms more expensive lines such as Benefit and Clinique as far as wearability and performance. And it's nondrying. I also tried Peach Parfait. I've got to say I also love this color on my yellow toned skin. One swipe of this on a sunny weekend day and you're good to go. There is some glitter in this so go easy. I will be trying other colors in this line for certain. Other drugstore brands might want to look at the phenomenon of this product carefully, because like others here, I've grown to ignore all my other lipsticks! My only criticism is that the bottom feels a bit unstable and can sometimes be a bit hard to pull out. I think a larger base would allow better control in applying the product.
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Frownies
Thaxter 5/12/2012 4:51:00 PM
I've been using these for years. TIP: To get them to say on, don't wet the paper itself. Instead, just wet your skin. This provides just the right amount of moisture and this always works for me. I find I don't get the same bang for the buck in reusing a frownie more than twice, so yes, I do reuse them, but always prefer a fresh one. Some people say you can just use regular tape on your lines, but it simply doesn't work that way. The product itself is thick with a fairly thick natural glue on it, and you need that extra cushion from the thick paper to smooth out the lines. Given the results, this product is worth the expense.
10 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Aubrey Organics - White Camellia Conditioner
Thaxter 4/21/2012 3:53:00 PM
This is my favorite conditioner of the Aubrey Organics line. I use Herbatint natural hair coloring, which tends to leave my hair a bit dry. This conditioner just glides through like silk, or like a silicone conditioner -- without the silicone! It also deep conditions the hair shafts and leaves my hair silky and manageable. A problem I've had with other hair product is that after my hair was dry and I went about the day, the ends of my hair would frizz again and get coarse looking. With this conditioner, I have no more frizz, my hair looks shiny all the time and smooth, and it's manageable. Another perk from using this conditioner is that I don't need to use other hair products in my hair. This is enough -- it keeps my hair conditioned and shiny all day long. And I have gotten more compliments on my hair since I started using this product. The smell is heavenly and arboreal, and not too strong. The scent does not linger in my hair after it dries. I don't think this would be a good conditioner for anyone with fine, thin hair. This is a great condition for those with thick, dry, coarse hair. And if your color treatment has dried your hair, you'll benefit from this. This can also be used as a leave-in conditioner before shampooing. Well worth the $8 I spent for this online -- a little goes a long way! Ingredients: Coconut fatty acid cream base, organic aloe vera, white camellia oil, wheat germ oil; extracts of fennel, hops, balm mint, mistletoe, chamomile and yarrow; organic geranium oil, organic rosemary oil, organic sage oil, carrot oil and aubrey's preservative (citrus seed extract, vitamins A, C and E).
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Hair Color -Unlisted Brand - Herbatint - Permanent Haircolour Gel
Thaxter 4/15/2012 6:52:00 PM
Wow! Where has this product been all my life?? I took the plunge and put a straight color of Golden Chestnut (4D) into my chin-length, greying hair, which had been dyed at the salon about four months ago. The result was a very rich brown shade which, in the sun, has a wonderful reddish tint. It is quite subtle. The shade was much darker than I would have thought, and had I taken the time to read all the reviews on the vitacost site, where I bought the dye, I would have gone toward a lighter shade. All the same, I just love it! Ease of application is amazing. Just mix two liquids in a plastic bowl and stir, or use a cheap plastic haircolor bottle and shake. The product forms into a light gel. I used a hard bristle toothbrush (couldn't find a tint brush at the drugstore) to touch up my temples and roots first, then finished my hair, which I had sectioned into three parts. The application went quickly, and it was easy to use a wide tooth comb to distribute all the gel through my hair. I hate messy applications, and this gel is a dream -- it doesn't glob, drip, or otherwise make life a hassle for you. After distributing the color, I piled my hair on top (the gel stuck nicely together), put on a shower cap, and set a timer for 40 minutes. No strong odor or unpleasant sting was felt. In the shower, this washed out like a dream. Again, there was no mess -- no pools of really dark color from drugstore brands, none of the grit of henna . . . just a lightweight gel that washed right out and didn't stain the tub, walls, or shower curtain. I used a LOT of conditioner and air dryed my hair. My luxurious color is so beautiful. Yes, it's dark for me, but since I've always loved dark brunette, I'm okay with it for now. I've already ordered my next two colors: light ash blonde and light golden chestnut, which I'll mix. When looking at the colors at the web site, bear in mind that the actual base color is the darkest shade you'll see in the samples, not the highlighted bright tresses illuminated by artificial light in the photos. So search out the shadowy part of the hues, and use that as a guide. Always go lighter than you think. This is an Italian brand, and their definitions of "blonde," "chestnut," etc. are very different than ours. I'll never go back to any product -- I love this. It also hasn't left my hair dry as others have said. I hope they never stop making this all-natural hair gel. Oh, and yes, it deeply colored ALL my grey! I'll check in in the future to give an update of wear over time. 9/1/12 Here's my update of wear over time. This color lasted a long time. I have taken to using Light Golden Chestnut, which still gives a rich auburn shade to my otherwise medium chestnut shade. This really covers my grey well and lasts over a month. Note that the grey hairs come out lighter than the nongrey hairs, and this works, as it creaetes a natural highlighting effect. Color stays rich throughout the month with minimal fading. This does leave my hair drier because it doesn't use silicones like the drugstore brands, but their conditioner, Royal Creme, works wonders (as does Aubrey White Camilla conditioner). No harsh chemicals, beautiful subtle shades, terrific coverage, long lasting, and no stains on your bathtub or sink . . . what's not to love? :)
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Ecco Bella - Flower Color Powder
Thaxter 11/21/2011 11:39:00 PM
I have four shades of this eyeshadow, and by far the one I love the most is Clay. It's the softest, barely there cool brown I have found, and I can wear it every morning to work all alone and not feel ever overdone. It is so wonderfully soft and blendable. I have sensitive skin around my eyes that easily breaks out, so finding this all-natural *pressed* powder was a god-send, especially after fiddling around with mineral fly-away powders for years. I also have smokey mauve (terrific sophisticated yet muted plum, great at night), vanilla, and earth, and they are all wonderful shades, but for everyday wear when I'm in a rush, Clay always wins. I have all my shades in one attractive magnetic holder. I ordered half tins of these shades from a vitamin shop online for less than I would pay in Whole Foods. Because of my great experience with this eyeshadow, I'm looking forward to trying other Ecco Bella products.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Aubrey Organics - Sea Buckthorn & Cucumber w/ Ester-C
Thaxter 9/3/2011 3:18:00 PM
I use this every day and absolutely love the light texture and clean scent. It doesn't break out my skin and is made with the same quality organic ingredients as other overpriced skincare lines. Last a long time and has a wonderfully fluffy but light golden slightly sparkly texture. I just love this! My only small problem is that sometimes this doesn't blend well with other makeups that have a lot of petrochems or parabens in them. It really is so light and pure that it doesn't seem to bond well with heavier makeups.
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Mascara -Maybelline - Lash Discovery Mascara
Thaxter 7/22/2010 3:42:00 PM
I love the tiny slim brush on this mascara wand. I have small eyes and sparse lashes, and this doesn't overwhelm application so that I end up looking clumpy and over coated. This is a great product. Thanks, Maybelline!
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