Lip Treatments -Clarins - Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm
bloomingiris 7/9/2012 1:58:00 AM
This was the only lip balm that worked on my super dry/ chapped/ peeling lips. Pregnancy somehow made my skin really dry, including my lips, and this lip balm made my lips better within 2 days. Will definitely repurchase.
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Lip Treatments -eos - Smooth Sphere Organic Lip Balm in Honeysuckle Honeydew
bloomingiris 7/9/2012 1:55:00 AM
Not as moisturizing as I had hoped. Didn't really help with dry chapped lips. Cute packaging and easy/ fun to apply though. The sweetness from stevia is a nice touch too.
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Powder -Laura Mercier - Foundation Powder
bloomingiris 3/31/2012 10:01:00 PM
This was a total disappointment, especially give the price. The puffs provided were already way below the expected standard. Sponge puff was not the good quality, fine-grained, dense type. Very floppy and felt rough on the skin. The cloth puff was even worse--it felt rough on the skin and was sewn to look like some asymmetrical rectangle. How did that even pass the QC? The powder gave a light-medium level of coverage, but didn't do much in terms of oil control. The WORST part was that just after 2-3 applications using the sponge puff provided on clean/dry face, the surface of the powder became grainy. Super disappointed and would never buy again.
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BB Cream -Etude - Etude House Precious Mineral All Day Strong BB Cream
bloomingiris 3/31/2012 9:46:00 PM
I used to apply this on top of my sunscreen and felt that it looked too thick and was slightly difficult to spread on the skin. However, I tried mixing this together with my sunscreen (Biore UV Perfect Face Milk, white bottle) and it worked perfectly. Just the right amount of coverage, very easy to spread, and gives a healthy and natural glow. All I needed after that was a light layer of loose powder, and my skin looks fresh and matte all day long. I'd only need to blot about 2-3 times a day at most. I use 2 parts sunscreen to 1 part BB cream (about 1 pump) and it was enough for my face and neck. Have tried this method with other BB creams/ tinted moisturizer but Etude's sheer silky skin works best for my skin color as it has a pinkish hue.
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Pressed Powders -Lancome - Maqui blanc miracle
bloomingiris 3/31/2012 9:40:00 PM
I thought the puff that came with the product was a nice gimmick. The sales staff said to use the sponge side to apply the powder, then the velvet side to blend. However, that didn't really do anything to make the powder appear better on my skin. So I used it in another way--on areas where I only needed a light layer of powder, I used the velvet side. On areas that needed more coverage (over freckles), I used the sponge side. Overall though, this powder wasn't impressive. While the texture was nice and smooth, it didn't help with oil-control at all. I had to blot again after 2-3 hours. Also, the powder didn't stay on all day and my skin ended up looking patchy after half a day.
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Gels/Soaps -Softsoap - Body Butter Coconut Scrub
bloomingiris 3/31/2012 9:34:00 PM
Very moisturizing, washes off well and just the right amount of scrub for a 'daily shower' product. The scent was not authentic coconut though, so don't expect to get 'transported to an exotic paradise' while using this.
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Moisturizers -Clinique - Super Rescue Antioxidant Night Moisturizer
bloomingiris 3/31/2012 9:24:00 PM
Like the fact that this night cream came in a tube--so much more hygienic than tubs and more convenient to use. I put a thin layer on after using Origins' Plantscription Serum at night. It's quite thick and slightly greasy, but it didn't cause any break out. Gave my skin a nice moisture boost--skin feels supple and soft in the morning. Another plus is that it's a fragrance free product, so it doesn't offend my oversensitive pregnancy nose. Overall, I think it's a good basic moisturizer, but probably isn't enough for wrinkle prevention/ reduction.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Clarisonic - Mia
bloomingiris 2/24/2012 11:02:00 PM
I've been using the Clarisonic Mia for about half a year, and I am absolutely addicted to it. Blackheads are almost gone, pores appear smaller, and skin looks clean, fresh and glowing. I have used both the normal brush head and the one for delicate skin, and much prefer the latter.
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Treatments -Origins - Plantscription Anti-aging serum
bloomingiris 2/24/2012 10:17:00 PM
I am just about to finish my 2nd 50 ml bottle and have just bought 2 more to stock up. Have used this day and night (about 3 pumps each time) in place of a moisturizer for the past 4 months, and my skin really hasn't looked better. Pores appear smaller, skin has gotten very soft, smooth and glowing, and sebum production in the T-zone seems to have diminished as well. The best part was that I stopped getting pimples ever since I started using this product--might be due to the salicylic acid in it. I also used to be VERY oily, having to blot every 2 hours or so, but now only 2-3 times a day would suffice. In terms of anti-wrinkle properties, I didn't really have any to start with so I can't comment on that (am 29 and have been using sunscreen religiously since college). One down side is that it's not moisturizing enough to be used alone as a night time moisturizer, so for wrinkle prevention I think I'd need to use another moisturizer on top of it.
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Lip Treatments -Burt's Bees - Beeswax Lip Balm
bloomingiris 4/26/2008 12:20:00 AM
This lip balm was not emollient enough to keep my dry, chapped lips moisturized. It also didn't glide on well.
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Lotions/ Creams -Crabtree & Evelyn - Jojoba Oil mositurizing body lotion
bloomingiris 4/26/2008 12:17:00 AM
I used to use this lotion when my skin was flaky and itchy from the winter weather. It worked really well--absorbed very quickly, and moisturized well enough to calm my skin down. I used this after using L'Occitane's shea butter balm (highest % of shea butter) to no avail. Was quite surprised that a lighter lotion could do the job better, but the sales person told me that how well a cream/ lotion moisturizes depends on how well it is absorbed into the skin, not how thick it is. I wouldn't buy it again because I've found a better cure to dry, itchy skin--extra virgin coconut oil. While it smells worse than Crabtree & Evelyn's jojoba oil lotion, it works a lot better. Faster results, and also much cheaper and more natural (no chemicals or any other additives.)
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Shampoo -Kerastase - dermo-Calm (Shampoo for sensitive skalps and dry hair)
bloomingiris 4/26/2008 12:01:00 AM
I have an oily scalp as well as coarse and thick hair. I have to use styling products on my hair everyday, so my perfect shampoo would need to clean out the styling products and the oiliness of my scalp while leaving my hair strands moisturized. I've tried several shampoos from Kerastase: oleo relax (too heavy and oily), bain mirroir (also too oily and makes my scalp itchy), bain divalent (for oily scalp and dry hair but still too heavy), and the other green colored one that I don't remember (also too oily). It was only until I tried Dermo Calm that my scalp felt just right and didn't itch at all. My hair was also really well moisturized to the point that I didn't have to use a conditioner at all. So this is my HG shampoo so far....highly recommend it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Pro Activ - 3-Step System
bloomingiris 4/25/2008 11:26:00 PM
I used this a while ago..it didn't work at all. Instead it dried out my skin, so I ended up with pimply PLUS dry, flaky skin. I think the key to clearing up the zits is to be gentle to your skin. Use a gentle cleanser that won't irritate the skin, tone with a gentle, non-alcoholic toner, don't over exfloliate, and use a topical spot gel (benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid). Make sure to use a non-clogging moisturizer, and perhaps a mineral powder foundation instead of liquid foundation/ pressed powder.
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Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
bloomingiris 4/25/2008 10:13:00 AM
I live in a tropical country (source of the coconuts, so I guess that makes it fresher?) and my extra virgin coconut oil comes in a pump bottle. It's warm here so it's in liquid form. =) I first bought it because I read about how someone with keratosis pilaris (red bumps on arms and legs) had wonderful results after using the oil. I just returned from a super cold winter vacation then--my skin was covered in itchy bumps and flaking. So I got the oil from the pharmacy and used it every night (the smell was too much for me to use during the day). After 1 week, my skin went back to being baby soft! My keratosis pilaris also got better, but not completely cured because I got too lazy and didn't use it daily. I still use it as a moisturizer at night some times when I'm not too lazy. The smell is quite nice, but a little too strong for my taste. It sinks into the skin quite well, but still leaves a film on my skin. I'd still buy it again and again though--cheap and good.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Dr. Hauschka - Cleansing Cream
bloomingiris 4/25/2008 10:02:00 AM
I started using this for about a week now. Having read the reviews from some users that this clogged their pores and caused pimples, I was pretty scared of using it. But I had someone buy 2 tubes from Hong Kong for me, and since the money has been spent, I figured I'd better use it. Somehow my tube was the salon version and twice the size of what most people get (100 ml). Like many reviewers said, it stinks like old yeast. The smell is really something you have to get used to/ bear. I use it in the shower on a wet face after removing my make up with a cleansing oil. Since the product doesn't have preservatives, I assume the shelf life is very short so I try to finish my huge tube as soon as I can, using about 1 cm (1/2 inch) length of cream each time. I'm not really sure what the press and roll method is exactly, so I just use my fingers to press the paste around my face then gently lift off. I made sure to use a toner after to remove excess dirt and oil. My face felt like there was a film of oil after cleansing, but after the toner it felt just right--soft and moisturized and clean. Although Dr. Hauschka's web site said not to use a moisturizer at night, I still decided to use a little (just 1 pump) since I didn't want to waste my moisturizer (L'Occitane's shea and organic cotton) that was preservative free and would expire in 6 months. Thankfully, my skin did not break out or 'purge' as the web site had warned, even though 1) it's that time of the month, 2) I have oily skin that I have to blot every 2 hours, 3) I live in a tropical country with 36 degrees celsius day time weather. In fact, a lot of my little comedones are now gone, and my skin is near flawless now. I am quite happy with this product, but the smell is really something. Seems like it gets worse after the tube is opened for a while too.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No