Makeup Brushes -Unlisted Brand - Home Made Brush Cleaner / Cleanser
bellatrix13 4/14/2013 6:32:00 PM
I was really hoping to be able to replace my Mac brush cleaner with something more affordable, but unfortunately this concoction left my brushes less than clean. I experimented a lot with different amounts of alcohol, dish detergent, and shampoo, but even after washing them three times, I can still see concealer/foundation residue on my foundation brush. Back to Mac for me, I guess...
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Lotions/ Creams -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - 5 Acid Body Peel
bellatrix13 12/30/2012 2:53:00 AM
I sprang for the full size bottle of this during one of the flash sales, and was a bit skeptical at first given the price ($52.50 before discount). However, I really like this product. It lives up to the promises to exfoliate and soften the skin, reduce "crepe paper" skin, and fade minor scars. It is very mild and does not cause my skin any irritation, but it is very effective. The peel is thicker and more gel-like in consistency than the facial peels. It has a strong smell that is similar to the smell of the facial mandelic acid peel. I usually apply it once per week right before showering, and leave it on for at least 10 minutes. I follow up with the MUAC glycolic body lotion. My main goal for this product was to reduce the damage to my skin after being careless and getting a sunburn while visiting New Orleans over the summer. I noticed afterwards that the skin in the center of my chest got a crepe-y appearance that it never had before, and I freaked. This peel has eliminated the crepe skin (for the time being), and my entire body feels so silky smooth after using it. I've also noticed that it helps with KP bumps on the backs of my arms.
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Lotions/ Creams -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - 15% Glycolic Body Lotion
bellatrix13 12/30/2012 2:22:00 AM
I like this lotion. It does seem to make my skin feel smoother, although I often use it in conjunction with a body peel so it's hard to isolate the effects accurately. Definitely avoid using it on areas right after shaving; it will sting like a mofo! I may repurchase again but haven't decided.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - 25% Mandelic Acid Peel
bellatrix13 10/3/2012 2:15:00 AM
This is a great product! I was scared to try it at first but so glad I did. It's my first peel, and I find it to be very gentle and effective. My skin has noticeably improved in texture and clarity since using it. The blackheads have cleared up on my nose (which I find to be miraculous) and my skin looks clearer and more radiant. I look forward to making this a cornerstone in my skincare arsenal. **Update** I was using this peel for 5 minutes every four days consistently for a few months, and started using the 8% beta hydroxy serum before the mandelic peel. Then I slacked off for 2-3 weeks, and could see a noticeable difference in my skin. It went back to being rougher, with less clarity, and overall looked like it needed some heavy duty exfoliation. The other day I resumed the beta hydroxy + mandelic routine, and peeled for the first time - I had a lot of dead skin cells built up! I waited 4 days, used it again, and this time didn't peel but my skin is back to the loveliness it was before I stopped the routine. I don't think I'll be without this combo again, unless it stops working miracles the way it currently is!!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -DERMAdoctor - Wrinkle Revenge 2 Cleanser
bellatrix13 8/6/2012 1:22:00 PM
I have been using this cleanser for about 2 weeks, and am very happy with it. I started using this right off, skipping the level-1 cleanser, since I have been using another AHA/BHA product for the past year or so. At first I was unsure how I liked this cleanser, because it seemed *too* gentle. However, the gentleness makes it the perfect cleanser to use with my Clarisonic. I first remove my makeup with a Dermalogica oil. Then I spread some of the cleansing cream on my face with a little water, hit it with the Clarisonic, and follow with an MD Forte glycolic lotion and a moisturizer with SPF. My skin looks so radiant and clear, and the texture is greatly improved. My sister has been using a similar cleanser from MD Forte for years, and her skin is amazing, so I will try this regimen for a while and see what it does for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Unlisted Brand - MACADAMIA Natural Oil - Healing Oil Treatment
bellatrix13 5/1/2011 12:56:00 PM
I have not reviewed anything in ages, but this product inspired me so I had to leave a review! I have super long (almost to my waist now) wavy hair that is damaged from being color-treated for years and years. I have searched far and wide for a product that would infuse my ends with moisture. I've tried at least 25 top of the line products, and nothing has worked even remotely as well as macadamia oil. Let me just say first that I *abhor* the smell of this product. For that reason, I rub it into my ends before I shampoo, then shampoo my scalp and rinse the shampoo out, then apply a yummy-smelling conditioner on top of the oil to kill off the smell a bit. After using this product for about a month (half the bottle), last night I styled my hair for the first time. Usually when I blow-dry my hair, my ends look like a puffy mess that nothing will fix. However, this time, they were soft, silky, healthy-looking and feeling and manageable - nothing short of amazing! I will buy this product over and over again, because it's the ONLY thing I've found that has truly worked. I can even forgive the frightful smell, because all of my expensive, nice-smelling products have not done a thing compared to this.
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Treatments -Kerastase - Masque Oleo-Relax
bellatrix13 3/19/2010 6:35:00 PM
Wow, I have to admit that I was skeptical about this product and was wishing I had purchased something else instead (it's been sitting on my shelf for about a year!) But with that said.. after using it twice, I am a true believer. It leaves my dry, damaged hair silky and shiny and manageable. I love the smell! I leave it on for up to an hour after shampooing, conditioning and towel drying. Love the results!
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Conditioner -Aveda - Blue Malva conditioner
bellatrix13 6/11/2009 9:35:00 PM
I am so pleased with this product. I have been using it for about a year to tone down brassiness but honestly I was never impressed with it and wasn't sure it was working. I would just put it in my hair in the shower and rinse out after 5 minutes or so. Now I'm in Korea, where toner is very hard to come by and even after getting my hair lightened and toned, it is still orange-y and looks awful. My desperation drove me to repurchase this product and I've been using it differently than before. This is what worked for me: I wash my hair, then towel dry it, then work a lot of the product in my hair, then cover with a shower cap and leave on for about 45 minutes. Then I rinse it out and follow up with a deep conditioner, since it's not enough on its own to condition my dry hair. Works like a charm!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -St. Ives - Cucumber, Melon & Vitamin E Moisturizing Body Wash
bellatrix13 4/24/2009 2:42:00 AM
I love this bodywash! I absolutely love the smell, and really miss it when I run out of it. It's got a nice texture, and my skin feels very clean afterwards. Like other posters, though, I didn't notice any moisturizing effects at all - in fact, I was surprised to see that the name of it includes that word. I usually put on lotion afterwards though, so it's not a big deal.
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Cleansers -Dermalogica - PreCleanse
bellatrix13 4/23/2009 11:08:00 AM
Wow, where has this been all my life? I have never used an oil as a cleanser, but it works wonders for dislodging blockages! I've been using it about a week now and could often feel hard little whiteheads coming free under my fingertips, so tonight I got inspired and tried something different.... I took a piece of plastic (think, credit card) and used it to "scrape" the blackheads out of my nose and chin (something I learned from the Philosophy oxygen mask) and WOW! I have never seen my nose so clear... even pore strips don't do this good of a job. There was a stubborn area on my nose that pore strips never did anything to, and now all those blackheads are gone! The oil just seemed to loosen everything right up. I was enjoying it so much and may have gotten a little carried away though, so we'll see if the irritation I caused goes away or causes a breakout. Either way, I'm so happy to be free of all that gunky buildup in my nose and chin!!! I took off one lippie because it seems to be tiny bit irritating, and leaves me face red for awhile, even when I use it normally. I use it at night for that reason, to let my face calm down afterwards. Oh, and I'm surprised so many other reviewers have success getting their eye makeup off with it. Even when I use an oil-based eye makeup remover first, some of my mascara is still left after using this oil! But I think that has more to do with my apparently heavy-duty mascara than the oil. I'm using a sample I got from Estee Lauder...
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Dermalogica - Daily Microfoliant
bellatrix13 4/20/2009 11:42:00 PM
I really love this exfoliator! I have the Clarisonic and was using it daily, but have noticed a build-up of skin cells even with that. Now I'm alternating between the microfoliant and the Clarisonic every day, and I have noticed a big difference. My skin feels so soft and smooth afterwards, and it rinses away and leaves a matte finish, which is nice since I tend to have oily skin. I think it might be too drying if I were to use it every day, but every other day seems to be perfect. It's pricy but I'm glad I decided to try it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -L'Occitane - Shea Butter Ultra Rich Hair Mask Cream
bellatrix13 4/19/2009 9:58:00 PM
This is a great deep conditioning treatment. I got it as a gift from a friend, and it lasted at least a year and a half, but I just used up the last bit last night (sad!). I slathered it into my hair, put a shower cap on, and let it work its magic for about an hour. Today my hair feels so different - my ends are fully moisturized and the texture of my hair is smooth and silky. The texture of the product is just right - it's nice and thick and tends to stay in the hair instead of slipping out. The smell is awesome, not too strong, and very natural. A little goes a long way, and it's definitely worth the hefty price tag, in my opinion.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -TheFACEShop - Pure Spa Water Bubble Cleansing Foam
bellatrix13 2/26/2009 7:58:00 PM
This is not a horrible cleanser - I like the fact that it's oil-free and helps control my oily skin. The foamy texture of it is wonderful. However, the first time I put the foam on my face, I felt like I was going to pass out from the overpowering scent of the product. It was an extremely unpleasant experience. I haven't gotten around to returning the product yet and am still using it, and I can appreciate the good qualities it offers, but I just make sure not to breathe when I first put it on my face!
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Cleansers -Cetaphil - Gentle Skin Cleanser
bellatrix13 12/20/2008 7:32:00 AM
I have really come to loathe this cleanser. I don't like the texture or color that isn't really a color... it doesn't foam, or do anything much on my skin. It's kind of watery and hard to spread. It doesn't feel like it penetrates the makeup or oils on my skin and I don't think it does a good job of completely removing makeup. Definitely will not repurchase!
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Eyes -Trish McEvoy - Finish Line
bellatrix13 9/23/2008 7:11:00 PM
I'm surprised to see so many bad reviews of this product because I don't plan to ever be without it again. It's awesome to be able to mix it with absolutely any of my eye shadows and get lovely colors of eye liner. It's a very unique product in that way. It makes a smooth, clean line provided you use the right angle brush (I use a Mac one). Maybe that's why some people weren't impressed by this product - they were probably using a crappy brush. But this is a solid product.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No