Top/Base Coats -Seche Vite - Dry Fast Top Coat
cadbury 3/24/2013 9:24:00 PM
What I like about it - it is definitely fast drying, and adds a thick, plasticky smooth coat over nails that can make them look like gel. My last manicure lasted two weeks with no ships, only tip wear. What I don't like - it discolors lighter nail polishes, ie a true white will be slightly yellower with Seche on top. This is not too noticeable enough to be a deal breaker. Others have noticed how badly this smells. I think 3 free polishes smell so much less, but even my old chemical laden polishes don't smell this bad. I feel like since using this, my nails are in worse condition when I remove my polish. Top coat is something I need to use liberally, so ideally I would like an affordable 3 free topcoat that gives nails a glossy, gel like look and lengthens wear. SV is okay, but on the look out for something better.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Badger - Cuticle Care
cadbury 3/24/2013 9:02:00 PM
I bought this based on online reviews. The skin around my fingernails has been a bit wrinkly and dry looking for some time. Using this has made a difference to the overall look of my fingers. I was pleasantly surprised that it absorbed so quickly. The tin closes properly but is easy to open, and in colder temperatures swiping your fingers over the product will make it soft enough to use. It has a citrusy smell which does not linger too long. It looks like it will take some time to finish this product, which makes it good value.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Sally Hansen - Hard as Nails XTremewear in Golden-I
cadbury 3/24/2013 8:56:00 PM
I purchased this color as I was looking for a gold foil that was not too yellow or too dark. On me, Golden-I is straight up bronze, not gold as it looked in photos. Depending on the lighting it can look anywhere from almost silver to olive-bronze. It does have a great mirror shine and foil effect. The good news is that although I didn't expect it to be this color, the color is so neutral and reflective that it still looks good on my skin tone. I have chosen no to repurchase for now, because I think I can find something better in a similar price range.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Neutrogena - Combination Skin Moisture Oil Free
cadbury 3/9/2013 10:06:00 PM
Sadly, this has been reformulated and now contains cyclotetrasiloxane and cyclopentasiloxane. If you are sensitive to silicones, check the ingredients packaging before buying to check whether you have an old or new batch. Within a week, I was broken out from the new formulation (which is when I checked the box and saw the new ingredients). I rate the old version 4/5; the new version 2/5. I have been using this since 2005. It's the only thing I have found that doesn't irritate or cause any problems for my sensitive combination skin. Because my skin is highly reactive, I just needed a simple product that would provide moisture without irritants (for me) like alcohol and mineral oil. This did that, and never had problems interacting with other products or cosmetics. I also used this around my eye area with no problems. It was also easy to find, and affordably priced. Very disheartened to find a replacement as it looks like slim pickings. :/ If I do find something similar, will update.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -Unlisted Brand - Herbatint - Permanent Haircolour Gel
cadbury 2/28/2013 3:29:00 AM
Trying to use something more gentle on my hair, I decided to try this. As reviews mention, colors run darker. If you look on the Herbatint website, they will tell you to go 2 shades lighter than you normally would. Don't get caught up with the names, because "dark blonde" may be light brown, "chestnut" may be dark brown, etc. In order to get a dark brown, I chose 5N Light Chestnut. The N colors provide the best grey coverage, and it is recommended you use one or mix it together with a non N shade to achieve proper coverage. The product has no scent, which is great. It is also easy to mix the two together, and once mixed, they make a gel that does not drip. After my first coloring, some white hairs were completely uncovered, some were covered and some were yellowish. After the first wash, more were yellow and more were visible. I usually color my regrowth every two weeks, but this was so poor it was if I hadn't bothered at all. I waited and recolored after two weeks. My regrowth was double what it normally would be in some places, because the dye didn't take last time. From the second time I used it, it started working fine. I'm glad I gave it another chance because it is lasting just as long as my previous hair dye - I am using sulfate free shampoo which may help. I will stick with this if it will keep my hair healthy.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - High Linoleic Safflower Oil 
cadbury 2/28/2013 3:18:00 AM
I looked into what oils might work for my skin type to use for oil cleansing, and safflower and hemp were recommended for clog prone, sensitive skin with rosacea due to their high linoleic content. I used it for 3 nights, followed by by regular cleanser to remove the residue. Each morning I woke up to hard lumps that felt like cysts, but were whiteheads on top. Because they multiplied each day, I stopped using it. As soon as I stopped, I got no more lumps, and within 2 days my skin calmed down to normal. I also used this once on my hair before shampooing out, and was left with the same type of pimple on my scalp. I used it on my body for 3 days, on damp skin as moisturiser, and had no adverse reactions. It absorbed well and left no real smell. Sadly this didn't work for me, but I have found very few things do. I'm glad I tried it since it got so many raves, if only to rule it out.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Weleda - Skin Food
cadbury 2/13/2013 5:22:00 AM
Skin food is a thick moisturiser that I find hard to spread on its own. I use it on my hands, and I can definitely feel that it imparts moisture. The smell is not unpleasant, especially for a natural product, is quite fresh and dissipates quickly. It is really expensive for what it is, so although I chose 'yes' to repurchase for now, I wouldn't be surprised if I could achieve the same effect from a cheaper product.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Weleda - Pomegranate Regenerating Hand Cream
cadbury 2/13/2013 5:15:00 AM
This hand cream is not very moisturising. I do not find it greasy - it sinks in fairly quickly. It also has a very strong herbal smell that most people (including me) would find off putting - I would not use this in the company of others. I have never been consistent with using hand cream, as a result my fingers look more lined than they should. I have almost used up the tube and although it is better than nothing, I haven't noticed any long term benefits, the simplest of which would be better hydration. I cannot say whether it can help prevent age spots or sun spots. Weleda's Skin Food on the other hand is highly moisturising, very thick and hard to spread on its own. The only use I have found for the Pomegranate hand cream is to mix it with Skin Food to make it easier to spread. I would recommend Skin Food if you are looking for an all natural moisturiser, not the Pomegranate Regenerating Hand Cream. I also wonder why so many Weleda products, like this one, contain alcohol - does it help the ingredients penetrate better, or is it counter productive? I received this as a bonus gift when buying other Weleda products, and would not repurchase.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -Revlon - Colorsilk
cadbury 2/1/2013 2:16:00 AM
I have been using this product for more than a year now. I made the switch from L'Oreal Excellence because the dye never lasted long on my white hair (within 1-2 weeks it was like I had never colored it at all) even with use of color protectant products.The other reason I stopped using the L'Oreal is that they changed the proper gloves they used to give to the cheap thin plastic ones, but kept the price inflated (here it costs me NZ$24 per box). The Revlon is cheaper, and I had read raves on here for Colorsilk for years. I'll start with the positives. Colorsilk really covers white hair, and lasts much longer than the L'Oreal. (I also use a trick of applying the developer on the white hair directly before coloring, which makes the color absorb better and last longer.) When I color, I am able to only do the new roots and leave the lengths alone because the color lasts long enough they rarely need refreshing.In the past, using other branded hair dye, this method has afforded me healthier hair than constant dying root to tip. Ammonia free was also a selling point. Onto the negatives - I was used to coloring my dark hair to a chocolate or medium brown that looked straight up brown, without strong orange or any other tones. I find the colors closest to what I would use #41 to be way too orange based, and #47 to be too red/borderline purple based. The absolute deal breaker for me is that my hair, which was always soft and shiny with or without coloring, is now dry and broken. I've never had hair breakage or damage like this with another dye. I don't even lighten my hair by enough shades to get this kind of damage. It took some time for the damage to fully be apparent, but now I really can't deny it's existence. I don't blow dry or heat style my hair, I am quite low maintenance. I would expect that over time the ends of hair will start to weaken first. In my case it is the top layer of my hair that is worst off, perhaps because the dye has dried it out even more combined with sun exposure. I am not looking forward to how long it will take to grow out the damaged hair.... I have now read many other reviews that said this dye dried out their hair, and sadly for me this will be the reason I do not repurchase. I can say that I know someone else who uses it who does not seem to have as dramatic damage as me (she has also used it for less time), so it will vary based on hair type etc.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Shiseido - Sun Medic UV Day Protect Mild Cream SPF50 + PA + + +
cadbury 6/1/2012 7:46:00 PM
I am one of the many who have not been able to find a sunscreen they can tolerate. I was previously using Elta MD which clogged and broke me out after each use due to isoparaffin, but up til that point I used it because I had not found another ss I could use, and breakouts are more temporary than sun damage. I am always on the look out for sunscreens, across all markets - Euro, US, and Asia. I found the Sunmedic line, which is made by Shiseido, and chose this product to try. This is Japanese, possibly sold in other Asian countries, and online. The actives are zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and octinoxate. I wore it daily for a week, and compared to the Elta this did not give me major issues. My skin felt normal after removing it, not raw like with some sunscreens. I was able to wear it during the week without waking up to any new pimples overnight. (I don't know its long terms clogging effects though). For those of you that can easily take your pick of many cosmetically elegant sunscreens, you might not like this one. But for people who struggle to find protection that won't cause you more skin problems, give it a try. For me, this is the best ss I have found so far with all my limitations (mineral oil-free, alcohol free, cyclops free, mica free etc) and I will stick with it til I find something better. There are several other products in the line, as well as another Shiseido line called 2e, which has some products with identical ingredients. Update - after further wear, I have more observations about this product. It is highly mattifying - usually I have to blot a few times in the day, with this my nose in particular was very oil free. This makes it a good makeup base. I am sensitive to titanium dioxide, so I knew it was a gamble to try this product as titanium dioxide is one of the ingredients. I did get a lot of angry clogs in areas I would never break out, from the titanium. If you do not have this sensitivity, then this may not be a concern. I can not wear it for this reason, and also because the next time I wore it for a week or so, my skin became irritated the way it does with all sunscreens. Thus I would not repurchase. The protection was excellent though and I think I am the exception, not the rule. I would recommend it to people with less (or different) product sensitivities to me to try. note - Japanese sunscreens don't put the percentages of ingredients, so you can only go by the PA and SPF ratings for how well they protect. Ingredients(these are translated from the japanese, which can be found by googling the product on rakuten or other japanese sites): Water, Cyclomethicone, ethylhexyl methoxy cinnamate, butylene glycol, Pentaerythrityl tetraethylhexanoate, dimethicone copolyol, glycerin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, xylitol, Dextrin palmitate, Aluminum hydroxide, stearic acid, Sodium metaphosphate, BHT, tocopherol, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide This product is listed on cosdna if you want to examine the ingredients
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -MAC - Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50
cadbury 3/29/2012 6:25:00 AM
I was mainly trying this for the sunscreen properties, as I have no need for a primer. Like other reviewers, mine also separated, so that it came out as a clear oil like substance and a white cream. When I applied it, it felt like I was putting a layer of oil on my face. Once applied, it felt fine, but it did not help my liquid foundation go on smoother. In fact, my nose looked cakey instead of smooth. My main issue with it is this: after removing with oil cleanser followed by cleansing wash, I moisturised as usual. When I felt my face a few minutes later, it had a sticky, greasy feel to it. I double cleansed again, and thought everything was okay, but after some time the greasy feeling returned, less than the first time but it was still there. I did not want to over wash my face, so I left it alone for a few hours. I blotted with oil absorbing papers, but I was still left with a layer of something on my face. Going into trying this product, I was wary of the amount of silicones and knew that I was taking the risk of breaking out. If that was the reaction I had, I would not have too much of a negative perception of it, as I can break out easily. Instead, I was not expecting the quality of this product to be so strange, especially for the price.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Christian Dior - Addict High Color (all)
cadbury 3/12/2012 4:28:00 AM
I'm surprised the reviews aren't so good for this product. I got 652 provocative pink, which is a pink-coral. It brightens my face and is a very wearable, pretty color. I was looking for color more than a sheer shine, which is why I avoided the other sheerer lines of Dior Addict lipsticks. I was looking for a lipstick similar to Revlon's coral reef lipgloss. The main rec was Nars Niagara, which I bought, but it is more of a straight pink on me (albeit in the same color family). Provocative Pink is brighter, and has more orange, so is a closer match in my opinion, but not an exact dupe. I sometimes use Niagara as a base for this color. The ads claim that this cancels the color of your lips to give you a true color. I have to say that the lipstick is pigmented, so while I am not sure if such technology has been implemented, it does cover my natural lips without being masklike or cakey. It has a slight sheen, and although there is tiny shimmer in the tube, it is not shimmery on the lips. The wear is surprisingly good for such a soft lipstick, lasting through food and drink for me, leaving a nice stain behind. I don't know how long this would last compared to a regular stick lipstick, but I suspect it will finish faster due to soft texture and amount in the tube. I would definitely buy again, and am looking at other colors - but would probably only buy at a discounted price.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Weleda - Everon lip balm
cadbury 3/9/2012 5:57:00 PM
I was previously using Dr. Bronner's lipbalm in Natural. The Weleda is a very solid balm, it does not apply easily if the temperature is cold, and I find you have to apply quite hard in order to get some on your lips. The good thing about the texture is that it makes a great primer for lipstick, as a reviewer mentioned below. I was surprised at how good it looked, so this gets points for that. It has a faint rose smell, which is much better than the strong herbal scent of Dr. Bronner's. It is also slightly bigger (costs a couple dollars more where I am). As for the performance, my lips are moisturised, but it's more like this protects from dryness as an external layer, not moisturising the lips themselves from the inside. Update - I have repurchased this at least four times. I find that using this makes it easier to exfoliate my lips, and I've had less problems with both dryness and peeling once I switched to natural lip balm, and this in particular. Although it's not the cheapest, it's also not exorbitant, so I will continue to repurchase unless I find something better
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Brows -Kanebo - KATE designing eyebrow N
cadbury 1/15/2012 12:57:00 AM
I'm actually reviewing the brow powder and contour powder in Kate's brown collection BR-4. This set also comes with three eyeshadows, in shades of brown, but I will focus on the brow product. (There is no listing for any of the brown collection palettes, but since it is not a new item I have not made one.) I have a dark brown eyebrow powder and taupe contour, the packaging and product itself looks the same as designing eyebrow N. Kate's brow powder is always mentioned in Japanese magazines, not just in paid advertising but as a popular product used by a lot of real people in and out of the fashion industry. Even knowing its popularity, I was still surprised at it's performance. It's quite silky to the touch when you put a brush or applicator to the surface. I have very dark brows, with a few gaps that I usually fill with dark brown pencil. This powder is a great color if your brows are black. Also, this wears well, with no flaking or moving around my face, even after sweating. I highly recommend it, and no longer use brow pencil! I have not used the contour powder, and probably won't, but will review if needed. Would definitely buy again.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Canmake - Nudy Glow Rouge
cadbury 1/10/2012 6:12:00 PM
I bought mine when they came out in Japan in 2009. I wanted a creamy, opaque pink lip gloss, so I got 02 Strawberry Milk. It is hard to find these kind of colors at drugstore prices, even today. It also has no scent, and wears well. Like other reviewers have said, it is hard to wear on it's own. The colors are milky and opaque, so it can look patchy or unflattering. It is best when used over lipstick.When I want to soften a color, or add creaminess, I put this on top. It looks amazing on top of orange, red, and pink. If I want less shine, I just blot lightly and retain the color without too much shine. I don't have a problem with the packaging or applicator, but it probably would be better if it dispensed less product each time, as you don't need a lot of this. Canmake as a brand is hit and miss for me, as some of their products are great, while others are low quality for a low price. For this lipgloss, I chose 'yes' to repurchase (although I don't know if I can ever actually finish this) because for it's price it really does serve a purpose, the color is a great find in a drugstore brand, and it allows me to create new color variations with my existing lip products.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No