Moisturizers -Burt's Bees - sensitive daily moisturizing cream
ddpanda 11/23/2011 12:23:00 AM
I was chosen to participate in the Burt's Bees Sensitive Skin campaign -This review is for the Daily Moisturizing Cream. This cream feels rich yet lightweight when applied to the skin. Although it's labeled as a "cream", it has more of a lotion-texture to it. It absorbs very quickly & leaves a nice, matte finish on the skin. It is fragrance-free but has a pleasant smell to it; it probably comes from the sesame seed oil & shea butter. It hydrates nicely without any greasy feel whatsover. I have relatively normal skin w/seasonal dryness so I'm not sure if this will be enough moisturization for those with truly dry skin. The downside to the product is not having an SPF. Since it's labeled as a Daily Moisturizer and there is a separate product for Night, some kind of physical sunscreen really needs to be included in this product (titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide). I posted on BB's Facebook Wall and posted this request, so hopefully, they will launch an SPF version. Otherwise, it's a lovely moisturizer and I'd recommend it to anyone, not just those who have sensitive skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Elizabeth Arden - Pretty
ddpanda 7/27/2011 8:58:00 PM
This is a lovely scent - so delicate. The notes seem to just "float" on my skin - the florals are so pretty but there's a nice creaminess to the scent that keeps it from being too sharp. It reminds me a tiny bit of Stila's Creme Bouquet with a lot less powderiness, though there is a slight powdery note. I also have the body lotion and it's just as nice as the fragrance. I love layering to help keep the scent lasting. When I wear this perfume, it lifts my mood and makes me feel happy and feminine. Pretty is the perfect name for it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Elizabeth Arden - britney spears CIRCUS FANTASY
ddpanda 4/9/2011 10:04:00 PM
Just found this gift set in Walmart tonight, digging through the beauty clearance section - somehow it got overlooked from Christmas. Had to go to Customer Service to get the price - it was 90% off (sold for $19.00 valued at $47.00). I paid $1.90 plus tax! LOL!! I'm not a big fan of BS fragrances - I only like Curious. Anyhow, I was surprised when I sprayed this on, I actually LIKED it. It totally reminds me of BBW's Forever Sunshine (which is a major favorite of mine), and Viva La Juicy. It's got that citrus note at the top but then when it starts to dry down, you get that warm, sweet praline and amber note. I'm reading that many say it doesn't have any lasting power, but I don't mind. It's a 1 oz. bottle and I'll carry with me in my purse So, would I buy this again? Sure, if I got it for such a steal again! But I'd never repurchase for full retail.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Paula's Choice - Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 15 & Antioxidants
ddpanda 3/11/2011 1:20:00 PM
First, let me start by saying that it irks me Paula does not keep us updated when she tweaks or reformulates a product. When this sunscreen came out a few years ago, I didn't like it at all. It gave a severe white cast, was greasy yet didn't moisturize very well. I just made a purchase from her site a few weeks ago and bought the Skin Recovery kit since it was cheaper to do that than buy most of the products separately that I needed to replenish. I figured since the SR Moisturizing Lotion SPF 15 was part of it, I'd might as well try it again. It is definitely NOT the same product it was a few years ago. Now, it is creamier and blends so much better. There is barely a white cast at first, but then blends in completely. And it's nicely moisturizing. The ingredient Octinoxate is not present in the formula, either - I'm pretty sure it was in there when it was first launched. I'm pretty sure that ingredient causes my skin irritation. So having removed that sunscreen ingredient is a big plus for me. This new formulation really works well for my skin. I don't feel like I'm applying a sunscreen product at all. It also creates a nice finish, making makeup application easier. The price point, though, is expensive, in my opinion. $20.95 is a bit high for something that needs to be applied liberally. I feel sunscreen products should always be sold at a lower price point because it needs to be replaced quite often. However, Paula frequently has sales, so if you stock up when she has 25% off sun products, you'll get it for only $15.71 (U.S. dollars). The other issue, that I'm pretty sure she's in the process of addressing, is the packaging. The pump doesn't work well at all and the plastic cap cracks and breaks after just a few uses. She's already changed the Skin Balancing SPF 15 and the new Moisture Boost Daily Restoring Complex SPF 20 was launched initially with a squeeze tube, so it's just a matter of time that the Skin Recovery one will be repackaged. And lastly, she could improve this by making it an SPF 20 or 30. But despite the small flaws in packaging and the SPF, I will continue to repurchase this product now. This new formula is very luxurious.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Kiss My Face - Face Factor-SPF30
ddpanda 3/11/2011 12:58:00 PM
UPDATE 3/11/11 - I just checked the Kiss My Face website, and they HAVE changed the packaging! And the price has remained the same - $12.95. Now this product will be perfect!! I am reviewing the current formula that contains Zinc Oxide. This is an outstanding sunscreen that is slightly thick when first applied, but blends in without any white cast or greasiness. It is loaded with really good antioxidants - something that is rarely seen in any drugstore or health food skincare sunscreens. It also is fragrance-free, another huge plus. My gripe is the packaging - the tube has the cap on the bottom and the opening is quite large. A lot of product comes out if you're not extremely careful. And because the opening is so big, I feel the antioxidants are being compromised because of the exposure of air. It's also a bit pricey for such lousy, cheap packaging. But despite that, I really like the formula and the high spf rating of 30, so I will repurchase. I just hope Kiss My Face realizes the poor packaging and redesigns it.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Bath and Body Works - Dark Kiss- Lotion
ddpanda 12/26/2010 2:45:00 AM
I have this in the EDT, as well - it is GORGEOUS. I never tried the body spray, so I can't comment on that. I am so impressed with BBW these days; the quality of their products have really jumped to a higher level. This lotion smells exactly like the EDT and can be worn all by itself - it has good staying power on me. It's creamy and hydrating without any sticky feel - absorbs beautifully on my skin. The berry notes are not artificial like BS Midnight Fantasy - that perfume reminds me of children's Dimatap cough medicine - that fake, grape note. This is so much richer, sexier, warmer - again, absolutely gorgeous! With the amazing sales BBW has been having the past few months, you can't complain about the price, either. I love this so much, I have a backup of both the EDT and the lotion. I hope this remains in their line indefinitely!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Bath and Body Works - Dark Kiss
ddpanda 12/26/2010 2:42:00 AM
I have this in the EDT (and the lotion) - it is GORGEOUS. I never tried the body spray, so I can't comment on that. I am so impressed with BBW these days; the quality of their products have really jumped to a higher level. This EDT has good staying power on me, too. The berry notes are not artificial like BS Midnight Fantasy - that perfume reminds me of children's Dimatap cough medicine - that fake, grape note. This is so much richer, sexier, warmer - again, absolutely gorgeous! The bottle is beautiful, too! With the amazing sales BBW has been having the past few months, you can't complain about the price, either. I love this so much, I have a backup of both the EDT and the lotion. I hope this remains in their line indefinitely!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Olay - Regenerist DNA superstructure UV cream SPF 30
ddpanda 3/10/2010 11:20:00 PM
UPDATE: 3/11/11 - I stopped using this quite a while ago. The fragrance was too much for me. Plus, over time, I found it did irritate my skin. I have since found better sunscreens - Paula's Choice Moisture Boost Daily Restoring Complex SPF 20 for warmer months, and Paula's Choice Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 15 or Kiss My Face Face Factor SPF 30 for colder months. I really like this. I don't normally use Olay products and I most certainly don't do chemical sunscreen. I always found them too irritating for my skin. But my instincts told me to try this product and I'm glad I listened. I had no sensitivity to this moisturizer. It didn't sting at all, even around my eyes. It is fragranced, but not nearly as bad as some other Olay products. It has a nice consistency and blended well on my skin. It didn't feel or look greasy or tacky, I was surprised how well my skin kept hydrated. It feels so nice on my skin; it definitely does not feel like I'm wearing sunscreen. It worked very well under my Bare Minerals and it seemed to make my makeup last better throughout the day. I'm still in shock that I'm loving a chemical SPF. I will definitely repurchase - I got mine off of ebay for less than $10 - will try to buy it from ebay again. But I love this so much, I might actually be willing to pay full price.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Paula's Choice - Moisture Boost Hydrating Toner
ddpanda 10/26/2008 1:55:00 PM
My best friend told me about Paula's products. She let me try a few items for a about a week or so. I was surprised that the product I liked the best was this toner. The toner removed the normal redness and tight feeling I experience after I wash my face. I even use it around my eyes. After applying it, I only need a tiny bit of moisturizer (Clinique) around my nose and on my cheeks. I love that it doesn't have any perfumes in it. I have purchased 2 bottles of it because even my boyfriend likes to use it after he shaves!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Bath and Body Works - Aromatherapy Jasmine Vanilla body lotion
ddpanda 8/23/2007 11:09:00 AM
Overall, I think the entire Aromatherapy line is good quality. This scent in particular is potent. You don't even need to use the body spray. The scented lotion carries the fragrance all day long. I also think it's more hydrating than most of the BBW products. Funny enough - am I the only one that thinks this smells like an EXACT dupe of Lolita Lempicka???? I don't love Lolita but I don't mind having this in its place - it's a much cheaper alternative!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Christian Dior - Midnight Poison
ddpanda 8/21/2007 10:46:00 PM
I've had a bottle of this for a few weeks now and have been periodically trying it out. I've tried it on very hot days and then again on days that are cooler, figuring the notes would wear differently. There really isn't anything bad I can say about it - it IS a really nice fragrance - but just not for me. The initial spray smells quite a bit like Angel but it doesn't stay that way. The dry down on me is really nice, close to the skin and warm - the patchouli is not overpowering because the amber softens it. I did not find this scent cloying or synthetic. However, there is a note in the dry down that makes it smell too masculine for my tastes. It reminds me of a blend of Addict and Dune - both of which smell really great but I do not own because they don't suit my taste. I still prefer Hypnotic Poison, Dolce Vita and the original Poison. MP wears very well on my skin and I can smell it hours later. So it really is too bad I didn't fall in love with it. It really worked so well with my chemistry. Sadly, I finally decided to returned this perfume tonight to Sephora. I know my review is not very descriptive but I just had to add it because I think anyone who likes Dior fragrances or deeper, stronger, more seductive masculine fragrances should definitely sample this one.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Guerlain - Insolence
ddpanda 6/14/2007 12:37:00 AM
Saying this fragrance is awful is simply an understatement. The sickly, sweet smell reminds me of the deodorizer they use in public bathrooms. Actually, it smells exactly like urinal cakes they use in men's public restrooms. The entire ad campaign was off-kilter; Hillary Swank is too mannish to be representing a Guerlain fragrance. And the name Insolence is just a ridiculous word for a perfume. Webster's definition is as follows: INSOLENCE (n) - Bold rudeness or disrespect. Why would they choose such a word that invokes such a negative connotation??? Guerlain really disappointed on this one!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No