Primer/ Corrector -NARS - Pore Refining Primer - Oil Free
blackowlive 2/28/2013 12:19:00 AM
This is crap. It made my skin oily and my makeup melted off.
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Cleansers -Glytone - glytone mild cream wash
blackowlive 1/6/2013 1:40:00 AM
Huge thumbs up, this blows my Pai organic cleanser for acne-prone skin out of the water! An esthetician used this on me and then gave me a sample bottle to use after my last chemical peel to treat my acne scars. I'm shocked to find that it is actually helping my acne, because it's just a cleanser, not an actual med... I have tried so many different acne medications unsuccessfully (topical and oral) and have been really sick of constantly dealing with new blemishes and the marks they leave behind. My skin is VERY smooth as a result of using this, probably from the glycolic acid; it's even gotten rid of persistent little bumps on my chin. No other cleanser has done that (I now realize that Pai's cleanser is overrated. It may be gentle but I did NOT have results like this, and it wasn't improving my acne much after a while). It's only been about 3 weeks, but I hope the results continue. It's nice to have calm skin for a change.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Pai Organic Geranium and Thistle Combination Skin Cream
blackowlive 11/28/2011 8:42:00 PM
This and the rose cream moisturizer helped calm down and clear up my skin after months of frustration from trying every form of treatment- I was even seeing a dermatologist- and still breaking out. This is very gentle and non-irritating. You don't need to use very much. The ingredients are all natural; I think that's what made the difference for me. My skin is doing so much better now; I only get an occasional zit (and it's often around that time of the month). I don't know why more people don't know about Pai. Apparently Natalie Portman uses it, and she has beautiful skin. I'm going to continue to use this! *Update: This is a good product, but not worth the $50 they charge. I find I'm getting similar, if not better results from Cerave's moisturizer for oily skin (it's not even the one that's meant exclusively for the face, but it works so well)! This gave me good results initially, and then, one day, I realized it wasn't wowing me anymore. It's just a good, gentle moisturizer with natural ingredients. And at that price, it doesn't guarantee that your makeup will go on any smoother or wear better. Not worth it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Pai Camellia and Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser
blackowlive 11/22/2011 4:30:00 AM
This is the only cleanser that has helped clear up my acne!! I had horrible adult acne and I didn't realize that the cleanser and moisturizer I was using were actually making things worse. The cleanser was supposedly for acne-prone skin, and it's also made by an organic skincare company, but it was way too harsh. The moisturizer was recommended by a MA at Sephora; they said it was fine for acne-prone skin. It was not. Once I started using this (along with the Geranium and Thistle moisturizer), my broken-out skin calmed down within a few days. Now, I hardly ever get a zit anymore. I have been looking for a product like this for a LONG time. Even my dermatologist was surprised at how fast and beautifully my skin cleared up (I'd been prescribed various medications for my acne, for a year and a half now). *Update: I have to bring this down to 3 stars because it stopped working. While it calmed down my skin initially, my acne gradually crept up on me and my skin went crazy again. Since discovering Glytone's mild cream wash, this pales in comparison.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -MAC - #150 Large Powder Brush
blackowlive 9/16/2010 1:18:00 PM
There's nothing amazing about this brush. The bristles are rough and it started shedding after a while. It was really annoying because the hairs would shed on my face as I was applying my makeup- having little black hairs on your face is not very attractive! The brush fell apart after a while, with the bristles falling out in small clumps. A low quality, lousy brush. I upgraded after this one, and no longer purchase MAC makeup brushes.
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Blush -Kevyn Aucoin - The Pure Powder Glow in Shadore (Soft Pink)
blackowlive 8/15/2010 12:45:00 AM
I love KA and wanted to love this blush, but it goes on too blotchy and uneven. Really unflattering. The color does pop but apparently (according to reviews here) there are some pretty good dupes out there of this shade of pink. I bet they apply more smoothly so I may check them out. Will not repurchase this.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Laura Mercier - Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 - Oil Free
blackowlive 5/29/2010 5:14:00 PM
NOT impressed with this. Not once has it made my face look better. I have pretty good skin with the exception of some blemishes here and there. It took me a while to finally give up on it because I kept thinking I was somehow using it wrong... each time, I found the rest of my makeup (blush, for example) went on streaky and uneven. My face looked patchy. I used a good moisturizer underneath so I know it's the TM. I expected better for such a high price tag, but this is nothing special. I prefer regular foundation. In fact, this makes my complexion look worse than no makeup at all.
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Styling Products -Oscar Blandi - Pronto Gloss Instant Glossing Cream
blackowlive 5/15/2010 5:18:00 PM
Great product! My hair looks blah and ordinary when I don't use it. I really like it. Doesn't add any grease or weigh down hair and is easy to use, which is important to me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -L'Oreal - L'Oreal Professionnel Color Guard System Vitamino Color Shampoo
blackowlive 1/19/2010 1:46:00 AM
This shampoo is pretty good, but always left my hair feeling dirty and oily when I woke up in the morning. I'm not sure that it preserved color, I couldn't really tell. I eventually ran out and don't plan on repurchasing.
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Palettes -Urban Decay - Book of Shadows [DISCONTINUED]
blackowlive 6/13/2009 1:08:00 AM
If you are an Urban Decay fan you need to try this palette! I am so impressed with it: the color selection is gorgeous and the quality is up there. Very glamorous! Better than MAC IMO. I am actually excited about wearing eyeshadow again after recently feeling uninspired by most of my eye makeup. *Update: I'm so glad I bought this! These wear especially well over UD Primer Potion. I love using Midnight Cowboy on my browbone, it adds a whole new dimension to my look. I have deepset eyes and any combination of shades paired with Midnight Cowboy & Definicils mascara makes my eyes look awesome!
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Crème -Elizabeth Arden - Flawless Finish Sponge-On Creme Make-up
blackowlive 6/4/2009 6:49:00 PM
Great foundation that goes on smooth and gives your face a beautiful glow. I love how my skin looks after I apply it! I have combination skin and haven't had any problems with ths. Some foundations cake in areas and melt in my T-Zone, but this wears much better than most (I've spent hours outside on humid days and found it perfectly intact later, which is rare for me). It is easy to apply too, I use a MAC foundation brush to apply and blend so I can control the coverage. I avoid using the sponge, as this could cause breakouts. The color options are surprisingly good: not unnaturally pink, orange, or yellow, which is hard to find if you have pale skin like me! I've tried A LOT of foundations and this is one of the best so far.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Tarte - Cheek Stain in Flush
blackowlive 1/28/2009 5:05:00 PM
Great blush! I normally use powder, KA's pressed powder blush which is high quality but doesn't apply evenly. An MA at Sephora showed me this blush, Flush is truly an ideal shade for my porcelain skin. It wears beautifully and the color really pops, but not in an over the top way. It brightens up my whole face like a natural blush but better. This is a quality product, I highly recommend it. Plus it smells great and is fun to apply.
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Cleansers -Kiss My Face - Exfoliating Face Wash
blackowlive 8/17/2008 2:17:00 AM
Good price and excellent quality. My face feels great after using this and is not as oily afterwards. I am impressed!
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Pressed Powders -Christian Dior - Diorskin Pressed Powder
blackowlive 8/4/2008 12:57:00 PM
I wanted to like this product because Diorskin is so alluring in the advertisements, but the actual product fell short of my expectations. My face got oily and look caked minutes after applying it. The color is too orangey pink. I found, oddly enough, that I looked better with no makeup on at all with fresh looking skin than I did wearing this powder. I couldn't wait to take it off!! Poor color match and the quality is lousy for the price.
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Conditioner -Rene Furterer - OKARA, Protect Color 2-Phases conditioner
blackowlive 6/16/2008 8:27:00 PM
Great product that leaves my hair manageable and light-feeling. It detangles and conditions and preserves color without weighing it down. This was what I was looking for in a conditioner and it's more convenient than a cream conditioner. It doesn't take very much, I think this will last a while. I use it with my Okara shampoo. *Update: This does a good job of preserving color but I wish it was a bit more moisturizing.
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