Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Honoré des Prés Nu Green
adallago 6/27/2012 2:44:00 AM
I'm not so great at describing scents, but this screams lush, verdant and a little spicy. I loved it upon first sniff, and was thrilled to find it on sale one day. I quickly discovered to my disappointment that it has no staying power. The scent actually seems to disappear by the time I've walked out the door even after pumping about 6-7 sprays all over me. No one has ever said anything about the smell or asked me what perfume I was wearing...presumably because no one has ever actually smelled it on me! It just really is a shame because the scent is so perfect for me.
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Primer/ Corrector -Christian Dior - Total Radiance
adallago 11/16/2011 7:25:00 PM
HG concealer! (Even though I don't really think of it as a concealer.) I like it much more for the fact that it highlights and brightens like nothing I've ever tried before. The best part is that it's not glittery or pearlescent at all. I'd guess that this product has a high quality light diffusing agent in it that really works well to highlight, brighten and camouflage. Within 3 days of using this product, I receive 3 compliments from quasi-strangers that I looked "refreshed" and "radiant." :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Neutrogena - Oil-Free Acne Wash
adallago 11/16/2011 7:14:00 PM
I cannot use this product in the winter. It's ridiculously drying. My dermatologist recommended I use it with a buff puff every day, but I'd like to differ with his professional opinion! In the summer, however, when my skin gets oily, it's a last resort. I now use Peter Thomas Roth Anti Aging Cleansing Gel and love it. It seems to be modeled as an upscale version of this Neutrogena classic, down to the color. It provides all the benefits of this cleanser with barely any of the negatives.
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Masks -Origins - Dr. Weil Mega Mushroom Skin-Calming Face Mask
adallago 11/16/2011 7:08:00 PM
I'd say I'm pretty happy with this mask. There is a nice mix of soothing botanicals and emollients. I usually use it for a quick mask if my skin is feeling irritated after exfoliation. It really does do the trick after about 5 minutes. I gently wipe it off with a damp cloth and I feel much better. It hasn't caused any breakouts, either, which is a nice plus.
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Eyeliner -Sephora - Smokey Cream Liner
adallago 10/27/2011 7:20:00 PM
Love it. I've been using the smokey cream liner (black) for about a year now. I'm on my second pot only because I used tons of it on a Halloween makeup job last year. (Actually, I purchased it just for Halloween, but ended up wearing it every day because I really liked it.) There is enough product in the pot to last for at least a year (then again, I don't have a heavy hand.) I wasn't so great at application in the beginning. I've gotten better, though. On 90% of days I use the Sephora angled brush to draw my line. The other days I use a stubby little blending brush. Once you apply to the lid, you have only an instant to smudge. On my skin the liner does NOT budge a bit. I've never used such a long-lasting, waterproof liner. Oh, and it's pretty darn cheap!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Accutane (by prescription)
adallago 10/14/2011 12:38:00 PM
I never had terrible acne. But it would just never. go. away. Moderate, persistent acne is what my doctor called it. My treatment pre-accutane had consisted of clindamycin, Retin-A, Retin-A Micro (and ll the other delivery forms), tazorac, benzaclin, etc. I'm sure I'm forgetting some. Doryx (oral doxycycline) worked a bit for me. The cysts really didn't respond to any topicals, is what we determined. And after 6 years of this (and many scars later), I moved to a new city, got a new doctor, and he said Accutane was really going to change it all. Well, he was right. And I'm sorry that I waited so long, because I think I could have avoided a lot of misery and scars had a doctor had the guts to prescribe it for me. So many of them do not want to get involved with this controversial treatment. It's a shame. Granted it's a major pain in the butt, but it's doable. My derm's office was a 5 block walk from my apartment, so the monthly visits weren't too bad. And I'd make my phone call to iPledge on my walk to the pharmacy after my appointment. By the time I got to CVS, my name was in the system as authorized to receive my next month's supply. Just be sure to get on the good side of your derm's support staff. They will become your new best friends for 6 months. Gently persuade them to log in and complete their online forms before you even leave the office that day.
Now I just have the acne scars to deal with. Now that I'm 3 years post-treatment, the scars are EXTREMELY less noticeable than they were before. Lack of inflammation really is the key. It just takes time. I use Tazorac every day, along with AHA's and BHA's maybe once a week. I don't think I'll have to resort to a laser, but I might.
Oh also, I took the generic manufactured by Ranbaxy. One week my pharmacy switched me to another generic and I had a mild allergic reaction. I'd wake up every night itching and all sweaty and hot. I called the doc, and they had never heard of an allergic reaction to this manufacturer only. But the pharmacy switched me back (without too much red tape) and I was fine.
Also, I experienced some significant side effects, but those were fleeting (joint pain, seeing stars, dry lips). I just kept my Aquafor in every single pocket and I was fine. If I left home without it, I'd have to go buy a new tube, it was THAT essential. I used the Vichy 3-in-1 wipe-off cleanser during these 6 months because anything else was just too drying. That was my recipe for success.
I hope if works as well for you!
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Tazorac
adallago 10/14/2011 12:22:00 PM
I've been using Tazorac .1% gel since I was 19 years old, which was (sadly) 12 years ago. Wow, has it been that long?? I had moderate acne/enlarged pores that didn't seem to respond to the other treatments (clindamycin, retin-a, doxy, benzaclin, etc). I've probably been through 8 tubes of this stuff in that time, and I don't plan on stopping any time soon. I credit it with halting much of the early aging signs that most friends my age have been exhibiting for a while. My derm has agreed that my skin definitely looks younger than my age might suggest. I can't believe that my most of my friends in their early thirties don't use a retinoid. I always tell them to get on the Taz! I started out using the moderated contact method. I'd apply the gel after washing, and then rinse it off after 1 minute. After 2 weeks, I'd leave it on for 2 minutes. After 4 weeks, 3 minutes. I worked up to 5 minutes/night. After that I could leave it on over night almost every night. Every so often, though, I experience intense stinging while I'm lying in bed. I just rinse it off, and the irritation goes away. I can't really explain why that happens now and then, but it's not such a big deal. I wasn't always a big Taz fan though. As a 24-year-old, it really didn't help much with my acne. I stuck with it through all that time, though, and I'm glad I did now. I took a break at age 28 to go through 6 months on Accutane. That really did the trick, and my skin barely breaks out since then. Now I turn to the Taz' to help with scarring, freckles and fine lines around the eyes. My doctor approved of my using it very close to my eyes so that I can get at the crows feet and crepes before they form. At times (in the winter) that's been too irritating. But I'd say after 12 years I'm pretty immune to the side effects. One winter I got a pretty bad sunburn from a week's vacation in the Caribbean. That was the first time I ever saw the tiniest frown wrinkle on my forehead. For the next 6 months I very, very diligently applied my Tazorac every night to that area, and it really has greatly diminished. I never thought frown lines could respond like that to a topical. Lately I've been focusing my energy on the crows feet and eye baggies. The crows feet are pretty much nonexistent, which thrills me. I wish the freckles on my cheekbones would fade more, though. I am going to start some intense vitamin c treatments to see if I can change that. My only fear with this stuff is that I've become immune to it, having been using it for so long. But I'll just keep using it: better safe than sorry! Highly recommended :)
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Kiehls - Coriander Essence
adallago 9/14/2011 2:01:00 AM
Ah, I love this stuff. It's an approachable scent, but complex and a little old-timey. Everyone here comments on the summery vibe. Weird. I get a totally different image: spicy and warm against crisp greens. Like a glowing candle on a snow-covered porch in the middle of winter. I'll have to resmell with thoughts of summer in mind. It could be that I began using this during one of the coldest January's on record and it reminds me of those days! Also, I do find that men really like this scent. It's pleasant, yet intriguing. Sexy but not girly.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Kiehls - Creme with Silk Groom
adallago 9/14/2011 1:52:00 AM
HG for my very thick, unruly, wavy, long hair for the past DECADE. I wouldn't think of buying anything else at this point. Many people who know me think that I have naturally straight, silky hair. Those are people who have only seen me post-Creme. Just a TINY bit of this product and a 15-minute blow out transforms this mass into something manageable. My first bottle was a gift back in 2002. I had been using Aveda Brilliant, and thought that was pretty good. But after Creme, I've never even bothered trying anything else. The first few times I used entirely too much, and I thought it would just be too incredibly greasy. I cut down to a raspberry-sized dollop, and it worked great. Now that I don't use very much, a large-sized bottle lasts me almost 9 months. This product ends up being quite economical when you consider how long the bottle will last! I could see that people with finer hair would hate this product. It can easily weigh down the hair. I don't mind the scent, but I am getting tired of it after 10 years...and the bottle could definitely be better.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Vichy - Purete Thermale Demaquillant Integral One Step Cleanser 3in1
adallago 8/17/2011 1:06:00 PM
I began using this while I was undergoing treatment with Accutane. My skin was way too dry and sensitive to use my normal cleanser. I liked it immediately! It leaves my skin very soft and comfortable. It removes most of my eye makeup, but I don't wear very much. Now that I'm wearing waterproof mascara and eyeliner, I find that I have to use a qtip and a little dedicated eye makeup remover to finish off. That's not really a problem for me. I tried switching to Cetaphil cleanser because it was cheaper and I thought I'd like it just as much. I was wrong. The Cetaphil didn't leave my skin as comfortable as the Vichy. Now that I'm not on Accutane anymore I still use the Vichy cleanser, usually in the evenings. In the morning I like something more intense and exfoliating. I'm even using it in the summer and it is not causing any breakouts. I'm on my third bottle, now. I'm usually a product hopper, but I keep coming back to this one.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No