Masks -Freeman - Pure Ambition Purifying Facial Clay mask with Avocado and Oatmeal
clearady 11/21/2010 12:24:00 AM
So not worth it. Fail of a mask. Queen Helene's actually works, and for less money. This one made me break out -- go figure. Of all things, I'd think a mask would do anything but. It was horrible, and I think my experimentation with the majority of facial products has come to an end. That I can thank them for, at least.
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Deodorants -Unlisted Brand - Dr Mist Body Hygiene Flotation Spray
clearady 11/7/2010 2:00:00 PM
Excellent product. The only other natural deo that stands a chance to this is Avalon's. However, Avalon's has alcohol in it and it doesn't last as long. I've been using this for three months now, and unless I'm pounding the pavement in 90+ degrees, there is no smell to be discovered. Even when I do sweat profusely, I can only smell if I lift up my arms and check. No body, family, friends, or coworkers have complained of a thing. While I miss the scented Jasmine Orient that I used to use, I'm so much happier using a product with superb ingredients and such a beautiful blue packaging. This is the miracle you've been waiting for.
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Lip Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Karite Lips Shea Butter Lip Balm
clearady 11/7/2010 1:57:00 PM
I had preferred EOS vanilla balm to this. While I love the ingredients and in theory this balm should be HG, the things I disliked about it are as follows:
1. NO slip! really waxy (even though wax is on the bottom of the list). Even $3 Dr.Bronners provides better slip and moisturization.
2. For such "immense" moisturizers like they claim, where's the moisture? My lips weren't cracking, but they weren't as soft and supple as they should have been.
3. Ten dollars for a small little stick. Hardly any body sells this, no stores that I've been. A pain in the a** to find and buy and pay shipping for, I'm glad I didn't care for it.
This product deserves 3.5 stars, because it was better than Ren's $18 balm.
For those of you who claim it is HG, how many balms exactly did you try to come to that conclusion? There is far better to be had.
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Lip Treatments -Ren - Biomimetic Perfect Lip Honey
clearady 11/7/2010 1:51:00 PM
I am an avid fan of REN products, and I have tried their body lotion, love their facewash, tried their mask, their scrub, and I had high hopes for this lipbalm. Perhaps, if I were used to only drugstore brands (like Burt Bees, Carmex, or Aveeno), this would deserve a 4-star rating. It is, however, by no means a 5-star product, and is not worth the price tag. Even the insanely expensive La Mer, I'd recommend over this, because at least that one leaves you satisfied. This doesn't moisturize enough for one day. If any lip balm NEEDS to be applied twice in a day, it's a fail for me. I'm no fan of the tropic scent either since I've lived in Hawaii all my life. Pangea's is still the best I've ever found, and I don't know why I continue to try others. None could ever top that specific balm, not even the $70 By Terry.
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Lip Treatments -John Masters - Lip Calm
clearady 8/19/2010 3:53:00 AM
one of the best for sure.
i finally wrote down all the lip balms i've tried on a paper, and it is over 60 now.
i've bought or sampled at least three times every single one i've ever heard of.
from kiehls to burt bees to la mer to dr bronners to by terry to aveeno to dior rose balm to korres lip balms to ole henriksen etc, the list goes on and on. there are five out of that 60 that i will ever bother to buy again, because the variety we have nowadays in lip products allows me my high standards. price, ingredients, and results are the three major points i expose in lip products. let's discuss this particular one.
price = $7 @ Whole Foods not bad, still dr.bronners is $3. so it's a medium range of a balm. there have been far more expensive balms $45 and $70, but as an organic (not drugstore) balm this is on the lower end of price matters.
ingredients = excellent love that it has fancy oils like rosehip, wheat germ and hemp, but esp effective are the citrus oils. unfortunately, this balm lasts only 6 months and it will go bad. it melts easily because of the ingredients. so if you can't use it every other day, it's not worth buying.
results = great, not perfect. dr. bronner's, pangea's, and ole henriksen's are still better. if it weren't for dr.bronner's, i'd most definitely buy this. but the price and results are better than this, and the ingredients are similar and also excellent.
i will probably not buy this again, because of the 6 month usage requirement and the really liquid texture of it (probably due to the olive oil?), but this balm is definitely in the top ten of all the ones i've ever tried. a definite recommend.
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Gels/Soaps -Unlisted Brand - Olivella - All Natural Virgin Olive Oil soap - Fragrance Free
clearady 8/19/2010 3:45:00 AM
Better than Kiss My Face's for sure, more moisture, little less lather, and a little higher price. However, my Soap for Goodness sake's olive oil bar is still better than this. KMF oilve oil bar = 4.0 Olivella olive oil bar = 4.5 Soap for Goodness sake olive oil bar = 5.0 still, better lather than the best one, and less of a price. i'll keep this on hand for when i workout, since i'm tired and need the lather right then and there. if the John Masters bodywash works out though i may not buy this again.
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Lip Treatments -Jack Black - Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 - Lemon & Chamomile
clearady 8/8/2010 5:11:00 PM
i love this! who'd ever expect Jack Black to make some of the highest quality products? not me. haha one of the best balms i've tried with SPF. way better than Fresh's, since Fresh's has petrolatum. this ingredients list is flawless. moisture is great. price is eh. but it's worth it. i have two on hand of this particular version because i hate mint!
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Lip Treatments -Weleda - Everon lip balm
clearady 8/8/2010 5:08:00 PM
i fear for the lady who labeled this as her HG. couple words for that one: ever tried Pangea's lip balms? Jane Iredale's lip drink? La Mer? By Terry? how about just Aveeno's? Smith's rosebud? all those are undeniably eons above this. even Dior's rose balm was better with moisture, and it actually smelled like roses! save your money, and if you need a low-priced option of this, Nivea's blue tubed one is far better, goes on smooth, really moisturizes and no offensive scent. cheaper too. However, if quality is a must, check out Ole Henriksen's lip salvation, Pangea's lemon rose balm, or Dr.Bronner's lemon lime. This particular balm is average at best. Maybe it's just me. Maybe my standards are too high. Well, that's not about to change anytime soon.
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Toners -Unlisted Brand - Organic Apoteke - Balancing Rose Toner
clearady 8/3/2010 3:24:00 AM
What a literally perfect product. I got introduced to this four months back when I was browsing Whole Foods rose products and some lady said "you really need to try this" and misted it over my back (Aaah! just lovely). Ever since that meeting, I found myself never leaving my WF without spraying it over my face.
I had been eying this toner in my ebay Watch list for a long while (2+ months). Somehow, $28 for a toner seemed just a tad too pricey (despite the appealing Rose in the title haha), and there was always something i wanted more with that thirty dollars.
I am so glad I finally buckled down and shelled out the mula $$$. I did not know what i was missing out on, truly!
This is a phenomenal product by every means, and if you notice the other reviews (all 5.0, note), they stated that toners can seem superfluous (which nearly everyone can see eye-to-eye to) and also see that one woman is on her "3rd bottle". Obviously, this is an amazing product if she's paying around $30 for a seemingly superfluous step in the cleansing system. But this is not just an extra cleansing step for a deep clean like most toners can seem made for (though it does remove any extra dirt if necessary), but it softens/soothes your skin, prevents breakouts (yeah, i said/stand by it), and upon waking (when using only this toner and JM rose face wash as cleanser), the results are very noticeable, comparable to many pricey serums but with flawless ingredients and no oily after feel. I've tried many toners, from drugstore to high end to organic, and never have I been so impressed nor noticed a difference with use and early on at that (so definitely worth the mula, not superfluous, and completely in a class all its own)! I have never met a toner with such pros and glowing qualities and it's almost magical and too good to be true (since it's rose scented, and lingers for longer than plain rosewater too :D), but no, if the Suki toner doesn't perform a miracle for me, I will be a lifelong owner of this and only this toner. I can't see my shelf without this beautiful clear bottle. If you have blemishes, mature/dry skin, just buy it and you'll thank me later. there is no way you can use this and not notice a difference; i can't say that about any other toner (and i've tried at least 20!).
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Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - Episilk Hand and Body Lotion
clearady 8/3/2010 3:13:00 AM
What a jewel. Found this while scanning the shelves of my local health food store, and so glad i tried the open tester. Consistency is like that of my favorite Allergenics. I still prefer my Allergenics to this, but i'll keep this on hand, because it's just delightful and easier to get than my Canadian Allergenics.
no scent, like the other. and excellent ingredients, just like the other as well. try it if you can find it :)
One 8 oz will run you $20, but Allergenics shipping costs make it equally expensive, so it's worth it to me. not thick, just soothing. i love these lotions!
Ingredients: de-ionized water, (Grape) Seed Oil, Emulsifying Wax, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Soy Wax, Hyaluronic Acid, (Avocado) Oil, (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Stearyl Alcohol, (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Glucose, Glucose Oxidase, Lactoperoxidase, (Shea Butter), Vegetable Glycerine, Sorbitol, (Vitamin E), Bees Wax, Methyl Cellulose, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba (Gura Gum), Allantoin
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Deodorants -Unlisted Brand - Lafe's Deodorant Spray
clearady 8/3/2010 3:06:00 AM
What a disappointing product! I guess I had unrealistic expectations for this one. I truly believed this particular deodorant was superior to all other organic ones, and with good reason (look at the reviews on vitacost, and even the ladies on MUA who didn't like this, still gave it 5 stars?). People claim it really works, and I had been hoping for just that. I could do without the heavy price tags of some organic deodorants, and also the ingredients, this seemed too good to be true. and it was. no big loss though, since it was only $4 on vitacost. but what a bummer. like people stated in other reviews, it literally is like spraying water under your arms and it says to spray 5-6 times under each arm. Result: water running down your boob. Not only that but, half way through the summer day and you don't smell like nothing (no scent) anymore. Such a shame, since i'm not going to spray myself continually with something that wets like water throughout the day. This really works, but only if you don't move all day and stay in the AC lol i wouldn't dare think of taking it to the gym (the ultimate test). don't get me wrong, i don't have anything unusual or strong when it comes to body odor, and as much as i had wanted to say this worked, it didn't. within a week, it's useless. what's the point of keeping a deodorant that cuts down your scent by only half? all or nothing, right. and also, it's inconvenient and cumbersome to apply. took way too much time. epic fail.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Jurlique - Skin Balancing Face Oil
clearady 8/3/2010 2:58:00 AM
When people go coconuts over this particular product, they do so with very good reason. Jurlique's products rarely cease to impress me, and you are guaranteed quality upon investment in such. I could go over all the pros of this particular one, and the single con: price, but i won't.
Long story short: If you have oily skin in any way, you need to be holding this bottle.
Enough said.
Ingredients: (Safflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride; (Avocado) Oil, Macadamia Oil, Rosa canina Fruit Oil, (Jojoba) Oil, (Shea Butter) Oil, (Evening Primrose) Oil, (Soybean) Oil, (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Calendula officinalis Flower Extract, Althaea officinalis Root Extract, Rosa gallica Flower Extract, (Daisy) Flower Extract, Echinacea purpurea Extract, Viola odorata Extract, Viola tricolor Extract, Symphytum officinale Leaf Extract, (Carrot) Root Extract, Vitamin E, Retinyl Palmitate, Beta-Carotene, Fragrance (Parfum)*, Benzyl Alcohol*, Cinnamyl Alcohol*, Citral*, Eugenol*, Coumarin*, Benzyl Salicylate*, Geraniol*, Linalool*, Benzyl Benzoate*, Citronellol*, Hexylcinnamal*, Limonene*.
* From Natural Essential Oil
4 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Kiss My Face - Olive Oil Soap
clearady 7/30/2010 4:09:00 AM
PERFECT! simple, only three ingredients, no added fragrance/chemicals.
almost exactly like my Soap for goodness sake (only that one is a tad more moisturizing). same ingredients. half the price. way better lather.
on a side note, i don't keep this in the shower. i keep it outside so it won't "melt", and it does well like this. huge bar for $3. you have nada to lose. if you value simplicity, quality, and organics, this is the product you've been dying to meet all your life!
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Conditioner -Hamadi - Shea Rice Milk Conditioner
clearady 7/30/2010 12:14:00 AM
I am completely floored by the reviews to this amazing product. It is in no way a one star product. I have tried so many organic/green/natural conditioners/shampoos that i've stopped keeping track. But this one stands so high above all the others.
Admittedly, quite pricey at 28 or so dollars, but easily found for $24 (Amazon). The only other conditioners that can compare are John Masters citrus neroli ($18) and The Healing Seed's Orange Blossom ($13) and so it is on the higher end of things, but comparatively to the insanely priced, but also great Nature Girl lemon thyme rinse ($52), this looks like a great bargain.
The scent isn't amazing. There really isn't much of a scent at all, and I don't mind this. I'd rather something come unscented than chalked full of chemicals or artificial fragrance (parfum).
After I rinse this out, my hair doesn't have a single tangle, which is lovely.
The best thing though is that the next day, my hair is full of bounce and natural wave. What sets this above most all the other (green) conditioners I've found is that my hair doesn't get greasy two days later. I live in Hawaii and have super fine hair (but a lot of it) and it is easily weighed down by the humidity and my naturally oily scalp, but not so with this! Saves me extra baths, time, shampoo, and hair powder! I am in absolute love with this product, and the only thing I'd change about it is the price. It is a five star product all the way, and I have the experience to back that claim. And the hair ;)
Ingredients: Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methylsulfate (Rapeseed Oil), Shea Butter, Oryza Sativa Milk:, (Water, Rice, Canola Oil, Tricalcium Phosphate, Sodium Chloride, Flavor, Chondrus Crispus (Darrageenan) (Carrageenan), Retinyl Palmitate, Ergocalciferol, Vitamin B12, Orange Peel Oil, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Castor Seed Oil, Sage Oil, Ylang Ylang Flower Oil, Rice Amino Acids, Water, Lecithin, Glycerin, Vitamin B5, Vintamin E, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol.
In light of the ingredients, the reason I believe this works so darn well is the fact that it has cetearyl alcohol (also found in Redken All Soft, Phillip Kingsley Elasticizer, and many other great hair conditioners), Ylang Ylang Flower Oil (found in Healing Seed), Castor Oil, Vitamin E, Rosemary Leaf Extract and Orange Peel Oil are big stand outs as well. Of course, most green conditioners do start off with aloe juice. Overall, excellent ingredient list, and only ingredient I'd take out is the last one.
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Treatments -Ren - Omega 3 Overnight Lipid Renewal Serum
clearady 7/24/2010 9:24:00 PM
Of course, me being the way I am, I couldn't just be satisfied with my Ren rose synergy serum, I had to see if this one was comparable or ever yet, better! So i bought it.
I have many serums, a john masters one, an awake one, another Ren one, caudalie's vinoperfect one, etc. i love serums. i have oily skin, and serums work the best with my skin instead of against (like how a lot of moisturizers tend to be so).
Now, since this is from Ren, I'll compare it to the other Ren serum i know of.
Price: Rose synergy is around $80, this one around $60. so win for the omega overnight. also, the rose serum is a little over one ounce, whereas, this is close to 2 oz. so more for less.
Consistency: somehow i prefer the rose's consistency. this one just goes on like straight vegetable oil, or some other thin oil.
Smell: ren's rose synergy really does smell like rose, and this slightly of fish. not a blatant fish smell, and it goes away after a couple of minutes, but still not completely pleasant. both come with no added fragrance which is a huge plus!
Packaging: I DEFINITELY like the rose synergy packaging better. this one comes in a plastic bottle, whereas the rose comes in a glass. but besides the fact of the look of it, the rose one's pump is a lot easier to manipulate the amount, but this one just squirts out, and is really difficult to be precise with.
Color: not that it matters, but rose one is dark yellow brown, this is light light brown/white fluid.
Ingredients: both have excellent ingredients list, but Ren's rose is more indepth, harder to replicate, and easier to justify.
Results: most importantly of course, is the results. perhaps it is unfair to compare the two as ren's rose is supposed to go OVER a night serum (but i use it as a night serum) to lock in moisture and this is just a plain serum, however, the results for the rose synergy serum are undeniable and my skin really glows much the day after use. this one, not so much. it is still soft (though not as soft as the rose) and supple, but not amazingly so.
because i love rose and i'm a sucker for quality, i'm sticking with my Ren rose serum, but if you can only afford the omega one, it's not to be passed up because comparing it to other high end/drug store serums, those won't stand a chance.
caprylic/capric triglyceride (from coconut oil), wheat germ oil, vanilla extract, camelina sativa (gold of pleasure oil), rosehip seed oil, plankton extract, bisobolol (from chamomile), 100% natural fragrance ~ linalool, limonene, vitamin E
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No