Lotions/ Creams -Cerave - Moisturizing Cream
candycakes 2/10/2013 11:39:00 PM
THIS TUB IS CRACK IN A JAR. OK, so I know eveyone's skin is different, so I can only speak for myself. I have dull, sensitive, extremely dry skin that tends to get splotchy because I also have pityriasis alba. The fact that I have a skin condition particularly upsets me because I like to sunless tan, but tend to get spotty. Everything I tried just never seemed to help and I thought I'd have to give up getting sprayed forever so I wouldn't look like a leopard. One day my dermatologist recommended this product but I was skeptical because of the flimsy packaging, so I bought it and put it aside. I had Cerave PM and AM but both weren't working as well for me, I felt like my skin would drink them up and then still be thirsty for more. One night I was running out of my Cerave PM so I decided to just take a chance, opened this jar and slathered it on my face. I just kept layering it and my skin kept soaking it in until it was full, and I went to bed. Three words - Oh my GOD. The difference the next day was unbelievable. My skin texture was so much smoother, nicer, and although it wasn't COMPLETELY evened out, the skintone was much better and the patches were less! I think repeated use will help calm down my PA even more because I just started using it a nightly week ago. But let me tell you this stuff WORKS. I use it moreso for my face because I like to play around with body butters that smell nice, and it doesn't clog my pores or make me break out at all. PLUS as a bonus, when I spray tan I apply this after washing my face, it doesn't strip it off! At least in my experience, my tan actually looks more balanced and doesn't fade patchy. Again I can only speak for myself, but if you have really dry, scaly, sensitive problem skin I don't think you can do better than Cerave moisturizing cream when it comes to the drugstore circuit. It's packaging is ugly yes, but you can put all the bells and whistles on a product to make it cute and if it doesn't work IT DOESN'T WORK. See if you can get a sample of this from your derm if you don't want to hop right in, but I honestly can't recommend it more. I think I've found my HG of moisturizers, at LEAST during the winter time (for both day and night.) I'm not going to vouch for all CeraVe products because I've been underwhelmed by pretty much everything else, but this one ... oh man, this one. Let's just say I'm feeling a lot better about my skin these days.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Self Tanners -Jergens - Natural Glow- Face
candycakes 9/7/2010 12:07:00 AM
This has got to be by far the most overrated self tanning product on the market. I am Asian and have an olive skintone. Not only did this product STINK horribly, but it also made my skin splotchy (and yes, I was sure to exfoliate at least once a week to make sure I got the best results) Onto the most important part of the review - it didn't give me any color. At ALL. I would consider myself having a medium skintone, so I bought the medium/dark face tanner, but it did nothing but make me break out along my hairline. Into the garbage can for me.
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Mascara -Maybelline - Volum' Express The Falsies
candycakes 8/28/2010 5:23:00 PM
***EDIT***: To add even MORE thickness, I use this combined with Maybelline's Volum' Express Colossal mascara in waterproof and my lashes have never looked thicker or prettier :) Maybelline did SOMETHING right with their mascaras (after Great Lash, which was a disaster IMO) by creating these mascaras. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Maybelline, and please never discontinue The Falsies/Colossal! . PRAISE THE MASCARA GODS, I have found my HG mascara. No. Joke. . Ok, I am a lash junkie. I've tried it all - higher end mascaras, drugstore brand (which I tend to stick to) and trust me I need all the help I can get. I'm Asian, and as you may know we tend to have short, sparse lashes that point stick-straight down. Yeah. They're difficult to work with. But I tell you, this mascara does wonders for me though, I even weened off false lashes BECAUSE of this mascara. I used to wear falsies EVERY day - I wanted that lush look so bad. They were my security blanket - until I saw a commercial advertising this. Of course I didn't expect my lashes to look like the models', they're obviously wearing falsies in those pictures, but I thought I'd give it a go. . Boy I was SURPRISED! The brush is not shaped like a regular volum' express, but it curves upwards. Here's my method - I apply the mascara by wiggling the wand a little at the base of my lashes and then wiggling my way up. This evenly distributes the mascara. Then I add a couple coats to add some more thickness. I'd say it adds more thickness than length but I am more about thickness than length to be honest, too much length on my eye shape looks unnatural. This mascara does the job!! I mean, for my wimpy lashes I couldn't ask for more!! . SPECIAL NOTES - In order to get the effect I do, however, I use these tools - the Shu eyelash curler, Shiseido's The Mascara Base (this is CRUCIAL! No matter what mascara you use this adds so much more to the effect) and I buy this in waterproof. And viola! BAM POP WOW lashes!
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Burt's Bees - Burt's Bees Lip Shimmers in Champagne
candycakes 3/27/2010 3:04:00 PM
ICK - of all the BB's lip shimmers this is my all time LEAST favorite. It probably just looks bad on my skin tone because I have a tanner, warm skin tone. It's obnoxiously jam-packed with a TON of glitter - so much it's blinding! And the jarring white-pink color is just not flattering at all. I think it's probably better to be layered over another lipstick if you want to lighten it up. The only redeeming factor is like other BB's lip products, it's moisturizing + the color stays on.
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Lip Gloss -Burt's Bees - Burts Bees Lip Shimmers
candycakes 3/27/2010 3:00:00 PM
I LOVE these lip shimmers - they do the job better than some lipsticks. They are moisturizing, the color stays on for most of the day, and I adore the tingly minty feel on my lips! I have a warm skintone and I own papaya, nutmeg, and peony at the moment. Peony is my favorite for an everyday look (for the spring and summer), but papaya and nutmeg are stronger colors - more to be worn for nights out. I just took off one lippie because I am not crazy about the shimmer in these products. They're not overwhelming (with the exception of champagne) but not great either. Either way, I hope that BB's makes more colors - maybe something matte and neutral? For now I'll continue to buy and buy these - I still have a lot of other colors I want to check out!
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Lips -Burt's Bees - Lip Shimmer- Papaya
candycakes 3/27/2010 2:47:00 PM
This is DEFINITELY a strong color - Papaya is a red-orange with a copper gold shimmer. It is a stronger version of Nutmeg, in my opinion, and definitely not for the faint of heart. I would wear this as a red lip for a night out - not something for the everyday, even though it flatters my warm skin tone. Like all other BB's lip products, it's moisturizing and stays on for a long time, plus I love the minty tingly feel it gives my lips.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Burt's Bees - Lip Shimmer in Peony
candycakes 3/27/2010 2:45:00 PM
I really love this color - it's my new spring/summer lip staple. I have a warm skintone, and peony definitely is flattering on me (I think this is a universally flattering color) it's rose pink with a hint of shimmer to it, and like all other BB"s lip products - does a STUPENDOUS job at moisturizing and staying on for a long time. I wear this everyday to class because it's neutral enough, but still gives me a hint of color.
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Lips -Burt's Bees - Lip Shimmer in Nutmeg
candycakes 3/27/2010 2:38:00 PM
Nutmeg is a more sheer version of papaya - both lip shimmers have reddish-orange and gold undertones, but I actually prefer nutmeg for something that can be worn every day. I am Asian and have tan olive skin, and it compliments my skintone. I LOVE these lip shimmers, they are the only lip products I can find that give me color for extended periods of time AND moisturize my lips. Plus, I love the tingly minty feel of them. Definitely stocking up on these!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -TRESemme - Tres Two Ultra Fine Mist Hairspray
candycakes 3/13/2010 12:06:00 PM
Definitely does not do the job. I purchased both this and the extra hold hairspray, and although this smells better than the other, it doesn't hold my style for even 30 minutes. I have Asian hair that doesn't hold for very long when styled but this hairspray did not help it at all. It doesn't really make my hair TOO crispy, but it does make my hair look dirty - leaves a sticky residue, causes buildup. Going in the trash.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -TRESemme - tres two extra hold hairspray
candycakes 3/13/2010 12:02:00 PM
I honestly don't know what the hype is about this hairspray. I have Asian hair, so holding a style is already difficult enough (for those of you not familiar, Asian hair tends to fall flat easily when styled no matter how much hairspray is sprayed) but this spray just turns my hair into a big, crunchy mess. After styling, I have to be extremely careful with how much of this product I spritz into my hair or else it turns crispy SO quickly. Ick. Not to mention, my hair falls flat within 30 minutes. Creates a lot of buildup, flakes a ton, and doesn't smell too nice. Maybe it works on other hair textures, but with mine it's a no-go unfortunately.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyes -Ardell - 109 false eyelashes
candycakes 1/23/2010 11:09:00 PM
I am Asian, so it's harder for me to find lashes that look natural on my eyes without looking really fake. Ardell 109s are a good find for the price. I have to trim them to fit my eye shape. They are dramatic enough to look nice and noticeable, but still natural-ish. The only reason why I took of one lippie is it's not as natural as I'd want them to be. You can still tell they're fake. I've since switched to Ardell Accents in 301 and they are PERFECT for my eyes. I don't think I'll be using 109s again anytime soon because of my new discovery (thank you CVS!), but 301s are kind of hard to find, so if you can't then just trim them to make half lashes and they're lovely!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Cover Girl - TruShine - Nude Shine 470 [DISCONTINUED]
candycakes 1/23/2010 11:03:00 PM
I ADORE the color of this lipstick, it's the only nude drugstore lipstick that looks good on me. I have pretty pigmented lips and am about an NW25 skintone (yellow undertones), and this color goes on as a gorgeous darker pink/nude. However, it's so drying on my lips, and the color fades after 30 minutes max no matter how many layers I put on. If only they changed the formula so it would last longer! The only reason I would buy it again is because of the color...it's perfect on me.
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Eye Shadow -Bobbi Brown - Eyeshadow - Black Plum #27
candycakes 6/29/2009 4:41:00 AM
This eyeshadow is a beautiful and goes on silky. I would say this isn't truly a "black" at all, it is definitely leaning towards a smokey brown-plum color. I wear it every day to add definition to my lids, it's gorgeous.
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Eyeliner -Almay - Amazing Lasting Eye Pencil
candycakes 6/29/2009 4:36:00 AM
I have this in the black-brown and black color. I use black brown for a natural, every day look and I LOVE the way it makes me look. It goes on creamy and smooth and the coloring is perfect. I wear contacts so it's also great for contact lens wearers (like it says on the packaging!) The only problem is, it doesn't stay on for long on me. It smudges within a few hours (2-3) but I tend to smudge out my eyeliner to create a smokey, natural everyday look anyway. The only thing that kind of sucks is it doesn't stay on my waterline very long, but I don't expect that. Reapplying isn't so bad. I love this liner and keep it in my purse at all times <3
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Mascara -Maybelline - Volum' Express The Colossal Waterproof
candycakes 6/29/2009 4:25:00 AM
Two words: HG MASCARA. It comes in a cute little yellow tube with blue lettering, and the tube is strangely almost identical CG's lashblast.... :P but it doesn't matter. Lashblast is a good product, but this...THIS is SERIOUSLY my holy grail of all of the mascaras I've tried, and I've tried high end and low end mascaras. (you can check out my reviews for proof!) These made my wimpy Asian lashes lush, gorgeous, and thick. They don't do much for lengthening, but that's not really the look I go for anyway, I'm more for density. If I want length, I'll reach for my falsies. But these take my lashes above and beyond, and are *perfect* for a natural everyday look that's still glam. I could not be more ecstatic about this, I am in LOVE!! Will repurchase over and over again as long as they keep making this beautiful product!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No