Cleansers -Simple - Exfoliating Facial Wipes
Vac513 3/14/2012 2:20:00 PM
I had to add this review because I didn't see one for the Simple Exfoliating version of their wipes, only the regular Cleansing Wipes. I absolutely LOVE the exfoliating wipes - the texture of the wipes is great for gently scrubbing off makeup and dead skin. The wipes themselves are really big, which is perfect when I've been wearing a lot of makeup, but since I don't most days, I usually cut them in half to save money. As for the formula of the cleansing solution, I really like it. It seems gentle to me, and it doesn't sting when I use it around my eyes. After using these wipes, my skin feels fresh, clean, and well hydrated. I haven't broken out at all with these wipes, and I really think that they have actually improved my skin a lot due to the exfoliation. I hardly ever get clogged pores anymore now that I use them 3 or 4 times a week. YMMV, of course... My skin is on the dryish side with a slightly oily t-zone, and is prone to clogs and patches of dry skin. If your skin is like mine, they are definitely worth a try!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -Clairol - Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10
Vac513 10/6/2011 11:22:00 AM
I used the Perfect 10 in Lightest Cool Brown for my review. For reference, my hair was previously a darkish strawberry blonde color that had too much orange for my liking. It wasn't super noticable, but there was a definite orange tint, which is why I wanted a cool color to counteract it. My hair is also rather dry and porous, and is rather wavy. Anyway, as for the application, I rather liked the comb attachment, although I didn't use it for the whole head. I felt that the comb helped me to get my roots better than I normally can on my own. After color was on my roots, though, it didn't really help much as I tried to pull the comb through the rest of my hair. It just wound up getting tangled, so I took it off and used the other attachment and my hands to work it through the rest of my hair. This dye was a little messy, but not really any messier than most other brands of dye that I've tried. It's just more of a liquid than a cream, so keep that in mind and protect the counter and your skin. I left the dye on for 6 minutes instead of 10 because I didn't want my hair to get too dark, plus I took a little longer than I figured most people might putting the color on my hair. Once I got into the shower, it took about the average time to rinse out of my hair. I then used the conditioner (which I really liked, by the way), left it on for 3 or 4 minutes, and rinsed. My hair color is now EXACTLY what I wanted it to be! I'm so thrilled. It's a neutral medium brown color with just a tiny bit of gold. The cool tones did an excellent job of evening out that yucky orange, and truth be told, this color looks like my natural hair color, only a bit darker. I've never found a light brown dye yet that doesn't make my hair pull somewhat warm, but this one did the trick. It's lovely and rich. I agree with another reviewer who said that Perfect 10 leaves the hair with tons of dimension. After a few washes, the subtle highlights come out. It's lovely, even better than I think my stylist could have done! Since I've only had my hair dyed for about a week, I don't know about fading yet. If it does occur, I may have to modify my review. But so far, I am THRILLED! This stuff is worth the extra cost in my book!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Unlisted Brand - Curly Hair Solutions - Curl Keeper
Vac513 7/29/2011 10:44:00 AM
I can see why this would work well for people with really thick, curly hair, but on my 2a-2b wavy, fine hair, it didn't work well at all. No matter what amount I used (I tried a ton vs just a little, hair soaking wet & hair slightly damp, etc), it just pulled my waves right out as they air dried. I then just decided to try using this first, and then using a spray gel afterwards. At first, that seemed like a good combination, but after my hair fully dried, it looked SUPER fried by mid-day. We're talking hair like straw fried. My hair doesn't look nearly that dry with only the spray gel on it! So, I've decided this just isn't for me. I get a lot better results with my homemade sea salt spray (a squirt of Suave naturals conditioner, a tablespoon of sea salt, and 8oz warm water mixed in a spray bottle). Ah, well. :) I shouldn't have given in to the hype!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Acne.org - Cleanser
Vac513 6/7/2011 4:53:00 PM
Best cleanser ever! I've used this for years. It cleanses gently while removing all traces of dirt and (most) makeup. The only thing I ever need to get out the makeup remover for is stubborn eyeliners, and then I just use this to wash away the remover residue. I love this cleanser; it's truly the best value out there, and it performs GREAT!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Boscia - Skin Perfecting Primer
Vac513 5/16/2011 4:15:00 PM
I really, REALLY like this primer. FIrst, it is the only primer that I've tried which doesn't break me out. In fact, I honestly think that it does a good job of keeping me from breaking out, which is utterly amazing. Secondly, it spreads easily and dries quickly, and it doesn't make my skin feel heavy or slimy. I haven't noticed any problems at all with balling up under makeup, either. Third, it really does help my makeup to last all day. I definitely notice a difference from when I wear this versus when I don't. It does a great job of keeping my skin matte, but not dried-out looking. I simply look fresh and naturally pretty all day. I love it! The only con about this product is the price. It's actually on par with other primers, but still, $28 per tube is pretty expensive to me. Regardless, I'm sure I'll keep buying it because it's the only primer I have found that works without breaking me out. If only it were about $10 cheaper!
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Hair Color -John Frieda - Precision Foam Color
Vac513 3/23/2011 1:05:00 PM
I can't believe no one has reviewed this yet, but I can't NOT post one in good conscience! John Frieda Precision Foam Color is a permanent hair color that claims to be easy to apply and gives salon quality results. Well, my experience leads me to question that second claim...
True to the first claim, John Frieda Precision Foam Color is very easy to mix and apply. You just dump the colorant into the developer bottle, tilt (don't shake) 5 times, add the foaming pump, and apply with gloved hands to dry hair. There is plenty of foam in the container to cover even long hair (mine is shoulder length, and I had a little left over). Application was really, really easy for me compared to other colorants - I usually have a hard time reaching all my hair evenly, but this stuff was super simple. Just glob it on and massage a ton. Then I set the timer for 20 minutes as per the instructions.
I wish I could say that my results were salon quality, but they weren't. Yes, my color was even, and it covered my grays... But sadly, the color that I chose, Dark Golden Blonde, was NOT the color that my hair turned out at ALL. I should've done a strand test; stupid me. But I did not, and my hair is now a light auburn with lots of red. I kid you not. Never in my life has a color completely missed the box representation so badly. And what's worse, is that on the box, the instructions read not to go more than 2 shades away from your natural color. THE COLOR ON THE BOX WAS MY NATURAL COLOR ALMOST EXACTLY. WTH, John Frieda? I would have been better off not using your product at all!
I have read since my hair disaster that the "golden" shades all pull red, so maybe that's the reason why this occurred. I don't know, but the other shades may all be true to the box. But seriously, if you're reading this, STAY AWAY from the Dark Golden Blonde shade - it is totally, completely off. Luckily, I don't look terrible with reddish hair, so I am not going to run out to a salon and fix it, but I'm not happy. Hopefully it washes out soon!
8 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Clothes -Victoria's Secret - General Opinion
Vac513 12/13/2010 12:24:00 AM
If you read the reviews here you're likely to notice a trend: young, thin girls love VS, and anyone above 25 with any curves whatsoever tends to think they're not great. I myself used to like VS during college, but now that I'm older, curvier, and more frugal, I can think of several other stores with much better quality merchandise for better prices. In fact, if I had to describe VS in just one word, I'd have to say "overpriced." Their clothes fit poorly across the board (sometimes I was an 8, sometimes a 14) , and their bras poke, fall apart, or have padding that borders on ridiculous. I'm glad that I found much better alternative places to buy my skivvies and clothes!
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Tarte - EmphasEYES waterproof clay eye shadow & liner
Vac513 10/14/2010 8:25:00 PM
I love this stuff. I have it in the bronze color, which works really well on my hazel eyes. I think it's really similar in color to my Laura Mercier eyeliner pencil in Brown Copper. But here's the difference- I took TWO NAPS today with this stuff on, and it did not budge ONE BIT. My perfect cat eye is still amazingly perfect, even after two naps! And this is without any primer at all, not even any eyeshadow. Crazy. The reason that this product only gets 4 lippies and not 5 for me is that like several of the other reviewers, my eyeliner is starting to dry out and is cracked in the pot. I've had it for about 3 months now and have only used it about 5 times, so this is lame. But it isn't completely dried out, and I can still use it so far. If this changes soon, I'll update this review and take more lippies off... The staying power is so amazing that even with it drying out quickly, I am still in love with it for now.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Neutrogena - Acne Stress Control Night Cleansing Pads
Vac513 8/8/2010 7:20:00 AM
I can't believe no one has reviewed these gems yet. I should preface this review by saying that I have extremely fair combination skin that can be VERY picky. A lot of products either dry me out excessively, or just don't seem to be very effective. Neutrogena's Acne Stress Control Night Cleansing Pads do neither of these things. For reference, I purchase mine for around $7.00 at Wal-Mart. I started using these pads a little over a month ago now, and they are really quite fabulous. I don't use them every night - they are pretty strong, and I think that would cause peeling. I use them about every other night instead, and perhaps a little less when my face feels dry. As a disclaimer, I do NOT use these to remove makeup like the package indicates you can do - I would never expect a wipe to get it all off. Instead, if I am wearing makeup (which I hardly do anymore because my skin is so much better!), I take it off with a gentle cleanser and then allow my face to dry and wipe it down with these. I would NOT recommend using these to remove eye makeup. Anyway, the real benefit in these babies is their great BHA formulation. It has done a FABULOUS job of clearing out my pores, and in conjunction with PanOxyl cleanser every other day, I am 100% acne FREE. I used to have lots of little flesh-colored bumps all over my forehead, and those are just GONE now. My skin looks better than it has in years. In case you are curious, I use Cerave PM as my moisturizer, which I also think has really contributed to my great results. The niacinamide in it seems to really calm and improve my skin texture and tone. So what I will do is wipe my face down with one of these pads, then wait 30 - 45 minutes, then rinse my face and apply a dab of moisturizer. Works like a charm. Oh, and one more thing: I also tried the Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Hydrating Treatment a while back and that did NOT work for me. In fact, I think it made my clogged pores worse. So if that didn't work for you, this one may be a much better alternative.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Head and Shoulders - Intensive Solutions 2in1 for Normal Hair
Vac513 6/23/2010 11:28:00 AM
This is by FAR the best dandruff shampoo I've ever used! I use it 2 or 3 times a week in conjunction with Aussie's Awesome Volume conditioner. I personally like the smell, and it leaves my hair clean but not overly stripped. It seems to do a great job about removing products without drying out my hair. But best of all, my dermatitis & dandruff are GONE! Just gone. My hair is shiny and bouncy now with no flakes or itching. I am thrilled with this shampoo and will use it forever if they don't discontinue it!
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Treatments -Moroccanoil - Morrocan Oil Treatment
Vac513 6/15/2010 12:27:00 AM
Broke me out like no other! :( I had forehead bumps that wouldn't go away until I quit using this. It made my hair feel soft, but nothing is worth 40+ flesh colored bumps on your forehead. I've since found better results anyway with Sally's Generic Value Products brand Silk Therapy (a knockoff of Biosilk that works just as well), which doesn't break me out at all. Now my skin is 100% clear again, and my hair is just as soft. :)
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Cleansers -Mario Badescu - Acne Facial Cleanser
Vac513 6/14/2010 11:59:00 PM
I've used this product for so long now (over a year), I can't believe I haven't reviewed it yet. For me (acne prone PPP with combination skin), this product is a staple in my skin care routine. It doesn't break me out, it cleanses gently but thoroughly (but I don't wear much makeup), and it doesn't dry out my skin. And that's really about it. It honestly doesn't do a great job of preventing my acne - I use Panoxyl Foaming Face Wash with 10% BP 1x every other day for that - but since the Panoxyl dries my skin out if I use it too much, I wind up using this cleanser most of the time. It keeps my skin clean and definitely doesn't make it worse. Plus, it works well in conjunction with my Cerave PM moisturizer (which I LOVE). Is it amazing? Not really. Does it do what I want it to do? Yes, which is why I will probably keep using it. Note that I personally hated the MB Enzyme Cleansing Gel, which broke me out HORRIBLY. This one works much better for me.
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Moisturizers -Cerave - Facial Moisturizing Lotion - PM
Vac513 6/14/2010 11:47:00 PM
I love, love, LOVE this product for my extremely fair, acne prone combination skin! It doesn't break me out at all, and it does a great job of hydrating without making my skin oily. Also, it evens out my skin tone as well (which is important for a PPP - any redness stands out like a traffic light). I use this both morning and night in conjunction with Mario Badescu Acne Facial Cleanser (most of the time) and Panoxyl 10% BP Foaming Cleanser (once every other day). It keeps my skin from drying out and keeps my acne at bay. Right now with this regimen, my skin is 100% clear. LOVE this moisturizer so much, I went out tonight and bought a backup. :)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - PanOxyl 10% Foaming Face Wash
Vac513 6/6/2010 10:03:00 AM
EDIT: It's been over a month since I started using this, and it has cleared up my acne 100%. I have a perfectly clear face now for the first time in ages. LOVING it, especially in combination with my Cerave PM moisturizer! (end edit) For reference, I am a 25 year old female with mild to moderate adult acne. Panoxyl is the only thing (and I tried everything - retinoids, sal. acid, AHAs) that cleared up the tiny, skin colored bumps on my forehead! I'm so thrilled with it for that that I could hug it. I've been using it about once a day for three to four weeks now, and they're completely gone. All my other acne has decreased about 90%. I will say that during the first week, I did have a little purging, as two cysts popped up on my chin. However, with the Panoxyl and some 2.5 bp cream, they went away within a day or 2. Since then, my skin just keeps getting better and better. Be SURE to use a good moisturizer after using this (I use Cerave PM), and don't over use it - it's a harsh cleanser, which is why it works, but it can easily make you peel if you overdo it. Just start out slow, use only a tiny amount as instructed, and it will probably help your acne, too. :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -L'Oreal - Excellence Cremelights Highlighting Kit
Vac513 4/22/2010 1:39:00 PM
EDIT: It's been a couple weeks now, so I thought I'd update. The highlights have toned down just a bit since I first colored, but the color is GORGEOUS now - no toner required. My hair is healthy, shiny, and happy. I'm even more thrilled than I was! :) (end edit) If you are looking for gentle, natural-looking highlights you can do from home, I'm convinced that the professional version of this (the yellow box version from Sally's) is your absolute best bet. Read on for my personal experience with Cremelights - but remember, YMMV! :) I have previously colored hair that I've been slowly working back to its natural color, which is a neutral dark blonde. Now that it's pretty much there this spring, I was getting tired of the mousy look that dark blonde hair has when it's all the same color throughout. Thus, I decided to put some highlights in, but I was scared. I am not an expert on lightening hair by any means. A friend recommended that I try the Touch On Highlights from L'Oreal, so I tried those on the very crown and front of my hair. Unfortunately, I didn't leave them on quite long enough, so they were brassier than I would have liked. Plus, I really had wanted more subtle, natural highlights throughout my hair, not just on the top. So off I went to Sally's for a demi permanent toner, which luckily turned those highlights a darker, buttery blonde. It was something, but not really what I was looking for, so I looked to MUA. That's when I found out about these Excellence Cremelights. I decided to wait a week to highlight again to give my hair some time to recover, but I went and bought the Cremelights, a mixing bowl, a brush, and a highlighting cap from Sally's so I wouldn't chicken out. Once I had the stuff, the waiting game was difficult, but I held out. Once a week had passed, I put on the highlighting cap and pulled SMALL strands of hair through every other hole (I think this is key to a natural look - pull large clumps of hair out, and it's not going to look natural). Near the front, I pulled hair out of a few extra holes, but not all. My hair is shoulder length and I didn't think I'd need the whole box, so I mixed 1/2 of the developer, 1/2 of the highlighting cream, and 1 packet of highlighting powder (the kit comes with 2) together with the brush until it was a nice, creamy paste. I then applied it to my hair. The consistency was great... No dripping or anything. I then let the color process for about 10 minutes and I scraped some off the strands in the front. As I expected, the previously highlighted sections were taking the processing FAST, so I gave them about 5 more minutes and washed out the cremelights in that area only. I kept checking the back and sides of my hair every 5 minutes, and I hopped into the shower after about 25 minutes of processing time to wash out all the lightener. I did lose a tiny bit of hair when I pulled off the highlighting cap, but it was probably 5 to 10 hairs max. I then applied a deep conditioning treatment and let it sit for 5 minutes, then rinsed. I was nervous as I blow dried my hair, but I have to say that once it was dry, my hair looked GORGEOUS. My hair now has a dark blonde base with a gorgeous, shimmery medium neutral blonde throughout. In the front, those buttery golden highlights from the Touch On highlights blend BEAUTIFULLY with lighter neutral blonde pieces. It's so lovely, I haven't even had these results from a salon before! My hair is very soft and doesn't seem very damaged. I am thrilled. I'd highly recommend Cremelights to anyone who is going for a natural look.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No