Polishes -Zoya - Felicity
caroline7502 5/3/2013 12:44:00 PM
I really like this color. I have pale/cool skin, and it looks more traditional / old fashioned on me from a distance. I work in a very conservative office, and this is *perfect* for my work. It doesn't stand out or cry for attention, but I also got compliments from people who actually look at my nails. I like the gold shimmer in it, keeps it from being boring. The formula was very nice—typical of most Zoyas. It applied evenly and wasn't thick or gloopy. It lasted 5 days without chipping (although I really attribute that to my BC and TC).
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Polishes -Orly - Rose-Colored Glasses
caroline7502 4/12/2013 1:27:00 PM
This is such a great polish for my "off" days. I wear it all the time in between my more bold nail polish days. With 2 coats my nails look very professional. The application is smooth, it doesn't streak, and it's not too thick. I just love it. I get complimented on my nails when I wear this. Usually I only wear it for a day, so I don't apply it with a BC or TC and it still looks great!
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Polishes -Zoya - pandora
caroline7502 4/2/2013 2:59:00 PM
I like this neutral OK. I'm quite pale and cool-toned. It is probably too close to my skin tone... Definitely gives me mannequin hands. It works for the office, though. I work at an ultra-conservative place unfortunately. The formula is very nice—easy application. My one complaint is that I don't get the metallic that shows in the bottle on my fingers.
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Polishes -Zoya - Sooki
caroline7502 4/2/2013 1:19:00 PM
LOVE this red. It's perfect for cool toned people like me. The formula is amazing too... opaque with one thin coat. Couldn't ask for more. My boyfriend commented on how good it looks, and he never comments about my polish. Amazing.
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Skincare - Face -Garden of Wisdom - Rosehips Seed Oil
caroline7502 3/4/2013 9:15:00 PM
Love this. I use it under my eyes under my usual cream. It plumps my fine lines and makes me look refreshed. I don't go without it. It also helps my hand eczema. I wish I could use this to moisturize my entire face, but sadly it's a bit too rich for my combo skin. Clogs my pores in my t-zone.
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Lip Treatments -eos - Lip Balm Sphere - Sweet Mint
caroline7502 2/26/2013 3:34:00 PM
I actually refused to try this lip balm for the longest time because it seemed like such a silly and not-very-functional packaging design. I purchased this a week ago on impulse after hearing great things about it on the SCB. Packaging aside, this is a very nice lip balm. It's more hydrating on my lips than the original Burt's Bee's mint lip balm, and you still get that nice tingle. It tastes nice too. When used exclusively, my lips seem adequately hydrated and smooth. I will repurchase, but these folks need to come up with something better for packaging. They claim it "precisely" glides on lips. Seriously? It's actually quite hard for me to keep this just on my lips. Maybe my technique is off. I don't get how this is more precise than a tube.
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Cleansers -Garden of Wisdom - Heather Blossom Cleanser
caroline7502 2/18/2013 3:48:00 PM
I have been using Burt's Bee's acne gel cleanser (the one w/ SA & smells like pinesol) for three years. This definitely started to take its toll on my skin. I started looking for something a bit more gentle, and aimed keep my acids as a treatment step instead of in the cleanser. I ordered this in the GoW Cleanser sampler pack, along with the Antibacterial Creamy Cleanser and the Fruity Exfo cleanser. This is most certainly my favorite one out of the pack. Upon first glance, it looks a bit off-putting: a dark brown chunky jelly. Looks can be deceiving, though... It smells SO heavenly, and the heather blossom scent lasts for a while after cleansing (even after all the other steps in my routine) which is awesome. You only need a little bit to get a nice lather going . . . a dime size maybe. It lathers up nicely and removes all of my MMU. It feels a bit chunky due to the oatmeal, but does not feel like it is exfoliating (to the extent that one would need to alternate it with a non-exfoliating cleanser). I find that it takes a while to rinse off without a washcloth or microfiber cloth, so I use a clean cloth to gently take it off and splash with water afterwards. After rinsing it leaves my skin feeling fresh and clean. I don't get any tight, dry, waxy, sticky, or stripped feelings. I love that the first ingredient is oatmeal, and not far down is heather blossoms + heather honey. I wouldn't recommend this if your skin isn't ok with glycerine, as it is the second ingredient. It also is mildly sudsing, so it might be too much for people with very dry skin. I bought the 4oz size and it comes in a squeeze tube, so don't let the sample pots fool you. =) . Also, I pulled the label off my tube. My hands are wet when I use this cleanser, and I was tired of the ink rubbing off on my hands.
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Lip Treatments -Burt's Bees - Nourishing Lip Balm with Mango Butter
caroline7502 2/10/2013 11:35:00 AM
I am such a lip balm junkie...haha. I love this one! It's the most moisturizing BB's lip balm. It lasts the longest (before needing another application), smells the best, and provides the most long term benefit for my lips. When used exclusively, my lips look and feel really great. =) This is my backup cheap (ish) balm to my rather expensive HG (Karite lips vanilla lip balm).
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Lip Treatments -Burt's Bees - Rejuvenating Lip Balm with Acai Berry
caroline7502 2/10/2013 11:31:00 AM
This is my least favorite Burts lip balm. Initially it feels nice, lots of slip. Gives my lips a nice feel and appearance for a bit. But within 30 minutes or so after application, my lips feel dry again. Also, when I used this exclusively, my lips got significantly drier overall. Another good thing about this balm is that it smells good. I won't repurchase, but will finish my tube.
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Toners -Garden of Wisdom - Basil Leaf Hydrosol
caroline7502 2/8/2013 10:49:00 AM
Great hydrator! I use this in between steps (after acids have been doing their thing for 20 minutes, before serums, etc.) and also to set my mineral makeup. It's also good for chest area, this + lactisen gel + bha ph 3.2 have tremendously helped my chest acne. This is the only hydrosol I've tried from GoW. I plan on trying other hydrosols, but this one is definitely a keeper. =) BTW, price has risen over the past few years, 4oz is now $13.20.
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Toners -Garden of Wisdom - Coco-Fen Clarifying Tonic
caroline7502 1/22/2013 5:02:00 PM
This toner is awesome. It isn't supposed to be a miracle product; it's just a toner. It does what it needs to do: balance the PH of the skin. It smells WONDERFUL. I can smell both Fennel and Coconut. Sometimes after exfoliation this toner can make my skin tingle for a minute or two, but nothing uncomfortable. It leaves my skin feeling smooth and prepped for hydration. I think this is a great replacement for homemade vinegar toners for those who don't mind paying $13 for 4oz. I don't think that's asking too much considering it's made with Fennel Hydrosol, Manuka Honey, and Coconut Vinegar. I tried making my own with ACV, distilled water, and a drop of lavender EO way back when, but was never happy with my results (smell and strength wise). Thus, the CocoFen tonic is awesome for me.
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Eye Shadow -Almay - Pure Blends Eye Shadow in Sage
caroline7502 2/16/2010 9:49:00 PM
I liked this green ok. The pigment isn't very strong at all...you have to use a lot to get a noticeable color, but when it shows it's very pretty. Looks good with hazel eyes and cool skin tone. It also pairs quite nicely with the Pure Blends lavender color.
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Cleansers -Burt's Bees - Natural Acne Solutions - Purifying Gel Cleanser
caroline7502 2/16/2010 5:14:00 PM
Well, I certainly didn't think I'd be writing a positive review about this product the first time I tried it. The smell is awful...just like pinesol *gag* sometimes I feel like I can taste it lol. Anyways, I really do like the results I've gotten from this cleanser. Every time I stop using it (I've tried a few times because of the smell) my blackheads come back, so it must be doing something positive! I work up a good foam by gently rubbing my face for a minute or so, then let it sit for an additional minute before washing it off. It works well with a microfiber cloth. It is very watery though, so be careful squeezing it out. It takes my makeup off well, but does leave me a bit dry. Considering I don't use a moisturizer on a daily basis (because every single one I've tried clogs my pores) the drying effect can be a bit harsh. I just use plain honey as a cleanser instead whenever I notice my face getting too dry. I just repurchased my second bottle...although I think in the long run I'm probably going to find something better. I'm on the hunt for a creamy cleanser with the same blackhead/clog fighting power...and also natural. Oh, speaking of natural--this product contains Phenoxyethanol which I usually try to avoid.
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Other -Unlisted Brand - Zinc
caroline7502 1/6/2010 11:40:00 AM
This has been a godsend for me. I've always had troubling cystic acne on my chin. I've never been too keen on taking BCP because of side effects and whatnot. So, I just decided to deal with my hormonal chin acne. But it was more than just a breakout around my time of the month. It was all the time! When one cystic-huge-mother would go away, another would come up. They were all on my chin and lower cheek/jawline. I tried changing my diet, since cystic acne is usually an internal problem, but that didn't work either. Then one day on the skin care board, I saw someone mention zinc for chin acne. I did a lot of research on other boards and acne.org reviews on zinc, and it seemed to work for most people. I thought hey, why not? I swiped up a bottle of Zinc Gluconate 50mg for under $5, and started taking one daily. I was worried about my multivitamin containing 15mg of zinc as well, but when I run out of this bottle I'm going to go out and find a 30mg supplement so I don't have to worry about overdosing. My multi also has copper, which I think is sufficient enough for me to not have low levels. Definitely take your multi at a different time of day than the zinc. The copper and other minerals in it can compete for absorption. I've also *heard* that it's better to take the zinc an hour before you eat or 2 hours after (for better absorption as well). I try to take mine a few hours after dinner. It doesn't really bother my stomach...and I have a weak one. I remember once or twice I felt like I might puke but never did, and the feeling went away in less than 5 minutes. I am NOT joking when I say I saw immediate results. I didn't get another cystic pimple after I started taking these for at least 3 weeks. This is huge for me, considering I usually would get 2-3 new cystics a week! Then my time of the month came, I had a small breakout (1 cystic), and then continued to look great after that. Any other small pimples I get (probably from products) heal very quickly. My skin also seems less oily. It's amazing. I've been taking them now almost 3 months. I haven't gotten any new cystic pimples since the last one I mentioned (even during my cycle). I've also incorporated 4000IU of vitamin D3 per day for my acne as well. This has helped a lot, too. I highly recommend this (and D3) to anyone that suffers from the type of cystic chin/jawline acne that I used to have. (update 2/3/13) I still take 30mg of zinc every single day. Please don't let people worry you into thinking you can easily get zinc poisoning. Just make sure you take a multivitamin containing copper too—at different parts of the day.
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Skincare - Body -Trader Joe's - Body Scrub
caroline7502 1/4/2010 8:48:00 PM
This is a review for the Lavender Sea Salt Scrub. I like this scrub. I use it *before* shaving my legs and afterwards my skin is so soft and silky smooth. The texture is nice, the salt is not too abrasive (the grains are teeny tiny). It is a bit greasy...careful applying it in the shower...it's hazardous on the floor of your tub x_x It smells awesome, but I love pretty much all things lavender scented hehe. After I had gotten about 3/4 of the way through the jar, it had gotten hard and very hard to get out. But still love it nonetheless. I like the flip top jar, too. It's very handy in the shower.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No