Lip Gloss -Revlon - Creme lipgloss [DISCONTINUED]
delenn 4/6/2009 2:32:00 PM
Now I understand why reviews are all over the place for this product. I have tried 5 of them to date. There is tremendous variation in quality among the shades, ranging from a glittery $2 hooker look to quite elegant.
Be aware that this is packaged in a click pen applicator with a brush tip. Some people hate this type of packaging, but I actually like it. I have learned how to control the amount of product that is dispensed.
The shades I've tried are Sassy Mauve, Play It Up Pink, Just Blushed, Strike a Rose and Pink Cami. I bought, but have not opened and will be returning, Slip Into Pink -- I can see lots of glitter through the transparent part of the tube. For reference, I have NW15 skin, almost black hair, brown eyes and highly pigmented lips.
The best of these, in terms of quality, is Sassy Mauve. It is very, very similar to my 2 Chanel Creme Glosses. It is thick, quite pigmented, not sticky, and has little scent, with some shine but no shimmer, sparkles or glitter.
Play It Up Pink is similar in quality, but a bit more scented than Sassy Mauve. Just Blushed is almost as good, but not quite. It seems more scented than Play It Up Pink. I think this shade would be easy replicated in other brands, so I would not repurchase this one. I would definitely repurchase Play It Up Pink and Sassy Mauve.
The losers among this lot are Pink Cami and Strike a Rose, with Pink Cami being the very slightly better of the two. I cannot recommend either of them. They have very little pigment, tons of glitter, and look like a coating of a cheap, clear or transluscent white gloss on me. They are very sticky and have a strong, unpleasant scent.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Deodorants -Unlisted Brand - Certain Dri
delenn 8/6/2008 10:38:00 PM
I received a packet of trial sized Certain Dri pads with a CVS order and tested one out last night. I used one pad and applied just as directed, a few strokes under each arm at bedtime. My skin was not broken or irritated, I had not recently shaved and I had not just bathed. This product is not for me. An hour after application, my armpits were so itchy that I had to get up and wash the product off. I can't comment on effectiveness as an antiperspirant/deodorant, obviously, but this should be used with caution by those with allgeries or sensitive skin.
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Highlighters -Yves Saint Laurent - Touche Eclat No 1
delenn 2/9/2008 8:01:00 PM
Me: Skin tone is PPP, MAC NW 15, skintype is Baumann DSPW (dry, somewhat oily T-zone, sensitive), age is 54.
This is a miracle product for me. My lids are somewhat hooded, and can look crepey with powder eyeshadows or any shimmer or frost. This is perfect for opening up my eye area, yet gives a completely natural look. I apply it as a wash all over my lid, from lashline to browbone, at inner and outuer corners of eye, dab just a touch under the eye, then tightline with gel eyeliner, and that's it -- no additional eyecolor or mascara. Voila! Instant wide-awake, polished look, and my brown eyes just pop.For reference, I don't use foundation or any other concealer.
Doesn't dry out my eye area or sink into/accentuate lines in the least.
The click pen is a bit annoying. It takes some practice to get the right amount dispensed onto the brush. Once you become used to it, it's easy. The brush is exceptionally soft, and doesn't irritate my lids at all, even though I use RX retinoinds on them nightly.
The price is high, especially for such a small amount of product, but I will definitely repurchase. It just makes a huge, huge difference in my appearance.
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Lip Gloss -Lumiere - Lumi Lips - all
delenn 2/6/2008 9:07:00 PM
I ordered these in a 10-piece trial kit. Due to a mistake on their web site at the time I ordered, Lumiere very kindly sent me 10 full-sized products rather than the minis. I feel lucky, indeed! I ordered these in nearly every cool or neutral toned pink, plum or berry shade Lumiere makes. For reference, I am a PPP, MAC NW 15 with nearly black hair and brown eyes. I'm happy to say that in Lumi Lips, I've found my HG lip color product! These are beautfiul. They come in a glass tube with a pull-out, doe-foot applicator. There's some sort of device inside the tube that prevents too much product from coming out with the applicator at any one time. These are elegant! They are not at all sticky, feel creamy and moisturizing on the lips, and have decent staying power for a gloss. They actually stay on my lips for 3-4 hours, depite the fact that I sip water from a straw all day. They have good color payoff and varying degrees of shimmer. They all have a shiny finish, some more than others. I particularly like to wear these applied on top of lips that have been filled in with a lipliner, such as a MAC Cremestick or Avon Glimmerstick. These are sheer. I now actually prefer these over a lipliner to my previous HG Chanel Aqualumieres. I will definitely repurchase!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Mary Kay - Enriched Moisturiser Formula 1
delenn 11/1/2007 1:19:00 AM
INGREDIENTS: Water, C12-15 Alkyl Ethylhexanoate, Propylene Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Glycereth-26, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Imidazoladinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben.
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Hair Color -Clairol - Loving Care ] [DISCONTINUED]
delenn 10/14/2007 4:05:00 AM
For reference, I have short, thick, coarse hair that tends to be dry. It's somewhat wavy, and naturally 100% white now, with post-menopausal thinning.
Background: I starting going gray at age 19, and had been coloring with permanent, dark brown haircolor (L'Oreal Excellence) for about 25-30 years before becoming utterly sick of the process. As my natural color become more and more gray, any incoming roots would start to appear more and more obvious against my dark brown color. In addition, the color buildup on the remainder of my hair became pretty intense. I'd find that, just 2 weeks after using permanent color, the contrast of silver roots with almost black hair made me look like a skunk. In addition, my hair had become quite brittle and dry.
No longer wanting to suffer through this process, and have to touch up the roots every two weeks, I took the plunge and ditched the permanent color altogther. I let the gray grow out for as long as I could stand it (about 1-1/2 inches) before deciding that gray is just not me. (I hated it.) So I picked up a bottle of Loving Care in dark brown.
I now use this product exclusively to color my hair. I apply it, put on the plastic processing cap that comes in the box, and leave it on for much longer than the instructions say -- a full hour. For the first 1/2 hour of that time, I also use a heat cap (the "microcap" from Jessicurl.com.) Then I rinse it out and condition as usual. I don't use the conditioner that comes in the box, as I like my Jessicurl Too Shea! better.
Much to my shock, this completely covers my grays, and leaves me with nice, rich, soft, dark brown hair! It fades away evenly, so I end up with no skunk stripe or color banding. It's supposed to last for 6-12 shampoos. I only shampooo my hair twice a week, with a very gentle, non-stripping shampoo (Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream.)
Once a week, I make up my own color depositing conditioner, using 1 tsp Loving Care and 2 tsps Too Shea! conditioner. I apply this in the shower, after shampooing, leave it on for about 5 mins while I wash, and rinse out. This really refreshes the color, helping it last longer. I do a full-head reapplication of Loving Care about every 4-6 weeks.
This is so easy to use. No mixing, no sectioning the hair, no applying just to roots, no noxious odor -- I just smush it all through my hair as if it were shampoo. Since ditching permanent color for this, my hair has been the softest, healthiest and most full of moisture it has in eons. Will definitely repurchase!
22 out of 22 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Jessicurl - Jessicurl - Too Shea Extra Moisturizing Conditioner
delenn 10/13/2007 1:08:00 AM
For reference, I have short, thick, coarse hair that tends to be dry. It's somewhat wavy, color-treated (I'm naturally 100% white now), with post-menopausal thinning.
A lovely MUAer turned me on to this product a few months ago. It has since become my HG conditioner. Before I started using it -- along with Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream as a shampoo -- my hair had become horribly dry and brittle. After asking around and doing some board searches, I decided to try a moisturizing, silicone-free conditioner.
After just one use, my hair was noticeably less dry. Now, it's just full of moisture, soft and not weighed down at all. It feels so much healthier than it had been.
This is a very thick, white cream that's packaged in a tub (for most sizes). The 2-oz trial size comes in a flip-top squeeze bottle, from which the thick product is very difficult to dispense. The liter size comes in a big bottle with a pump top. A little bit of product goes a long way -- it's quite rich and moisturizing.
A wonderful added bonus for me is that Jessicurl offers all her products in a "No Fragrance" option. This is a godsend for me, as my nose and skin are very sensitive to fragrance. Most haircare products are just so, so scented. These no-scent products are a rarity in haircare, IMO.
Note: This conditioner is definitely not just for the curly-haired. As mentioned, my hair is just slightly wavy. I do think it would be too heavy for anyone with fine hair that's easily weighed down.
Despite the fact that I use the unfragranced version, I can smell the rosemary in this. It doesn't bother me, and doesn't linger in the hair. Some might condsider the odor of the herbs to be "funky". I'm fine with it.
This product is available at jessicurl.com, curlmart,com, and in some brick-and-mortar shops. It comes in a variety of sizes, ranging from a 2-oz trial size to a 1/2 gallon. It retails at Jessicurl for $12 for 8 oz and $38 for a liter, to give you an idea of pricing. I bought my most recent bottle at curlmart.com with a 20% off coupon.
Will repurchase again and again.
INGREDIENTS: Water infused with Lemongrass, Nettle, Burdock, Kelp, Marshmallow Root,Horsetail, Basil, Bay Leaf, Oregano, Rosemary, Peppermint, Sage, and Thyme; Aloe Vera Juice, Behentrimonium Methosulfate and Cetearyl Alcohol, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Avocado Oil, Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Oat Flour, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Fragrance. (The "no scent" version does not contain fragrance.)
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Jessicurl - Hair Cleansing Cream
delenn 10/13/2007 12:55:00 AM
For reference, I have short, thick, coarse hair that tends to be dry. It's somewhat wavy, color-treated (I'm naturally 100% white now), with post-menopausal thinning.
A lovely MUAer turned me on to this product a few months ago. It has since become my HG shampoo. Before I started using it, my hair had become horribly dry and brittle. After asking around and doing some board searches, I decided to try a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo.
After just one use, my hair was noticeably less dry. Now, it's just full of moisture, soft and not weighed down at all.
This does not have the consistency of a typical shampoo. It's a thin lotion, with a low amount of lather. I find I need to use more of it than of a traditional shampoo. I apply it to my scalp, massage in, and run the suds through to the ends of my short hair. I find that it cleans quite well -- I have no complaints in that dept.
A wonderful added bonus for me is that Jessicurl offers all her products in a "No Fragrance" option. This is a godsend for me, as my nose and skin are very sensitive to fragrance. Most haircare products are just so, so scented. These no-scent products are a rarity in haircare, IMO.
Note: This shampoo is definitely not just for the curly-haired. As mentioned, my hair is just slightly wavy.
This product is available at jessicurl.com, curlmart,com, and in some brick-and-mortar shops. It comes in a variety of sizes, ranging from a 2-oz trial size to a 1/2 gallon. It retails at Jessicurl for $12 for 8 oz and $38 for a liter, to give you an idea of pricing. I bought my most recent bottle at curlmart.com with a 20% off coupon.
Will repurchase again and again.
INGREDIENTS: Water, Decyl Polyglucose, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Vegetable Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Avocado Oil, C 12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Oat Flour, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Fragrance. (The "No Scent" version does not contain fragrance.)
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Mary Kay - Mary Kay Creamy Cleanser Formula 2
delenn 10/13/2007 12:18:00 AM
(This product is listed twice in P'ville -- once with parentheses around "Formula 2" and once without. I am placing this review under both listings.)
MY SKINTYPE: Baumann type DSPW; dry, sensitive, with a somewhat oily, blackhead-prone T-zone.
This is a very gentle, unfragranced, mineral oil-based creamy cleaner. It comes in an opaque, white plastic bottle with a screw cap and a small hole in the top from which to dispense the product. It's a somehwat thick, white cream, very easy to spread.
This has become my HG cleanser in the past few months. It removes everything, including makeup and sunscreen. It does not sting my face at all, even when dry and irritated from retinoid use. I have been using it nightly in place of my usual favorite, a homemade cleansing oil.
I apply a thin layer all over a dry face and neck, massage in for a bit, and rinse off with water. It rinses quite easily, leaving my skin smooth and soft, with no filmy residue.
It's quite inexpensive. Through a Mary Kay rep, or online at marykay.com, the cost is $12 plus tax. for 6.5 fl. oz. I usually buy mine on eBay, where it's plentiful from sellers with great feedback, and cheaper, with no added tax.
Will definitely repurchase again and again.
SIZE: 6.5 fluid oz.
INGREDIENTS: water, mineral oil, propylene glycol, gyceryl stearate, triceteareth-4 phosphate, cetearyl alcohol, ceteareth-20, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, carbomer 940, methylparaben, triethanolamine, DMDM hydantoin, xanthan gum.
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Cleansers -Mary Kay - Mary Kay Creamy Cleanser Formula 2
delenn 10/13/2007 12:15:00 AM
MY SKINTYPE: Baumann type DSPW; dry, sensitive, with a somewhat oily, blackhead-prone T-zone.
This is a very gentle, unfragranced, mineral oil-based creamy cleaner. It comes in an opaque, white plastic bottle with a screw cap and a small hole in the top from which to dispense the product. It's a somehwat thick, white cream, very easy to spread.
This has become my HG cleanser in the past few months. It removes everything, including makeup and sunscreen. It does not sting my face at all, even when dry and irritated from retinoid use. I have been using it nightly in place of my usual favorite, a homemade cleansing oil.
I apply a thin layer all over a dry face and neck, massage in for a bit, and rinse off with water. It rinses quite easily, leaving my skin smooth and soft, with no filmy residue.
It's quite inexpensive. Through a Mary Kay rep, or online at marykay.com, the cost is $12 plus tax. for 6.5 fl. oz. I usually buy mine on eBay, where it's plentiful from sellers with great feedback, and cheaper, with no added tax.
Will definitely repurchase again and again.
SIZE: 6.5 fluid oz.
INGREDIENTS: water, mineral oil, propylene glycol, gyceryl stearate, triceteareth-4 phosphate, cetearyl alcohol, ceteareth-20, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, carbomer 940, methylparaben, triethanolamine, DMDM hydantoin, xanthan gum.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Unlisted Brand - RevitaLash
delenn 6/9/2007 2:47:00 AM
UPDATE: 10/14/07 Stopped using this altogether a month ago, just to see what would happen. My lashes still look great. The "eyeliner" effect on my lash lines has disappeared, which is unfortunate, as I liked it. Will resume use when and if my lashes begin to get sparse again.
UPDATE: 8/1/07 Still using every 3-4 days for maintenance, with no
change. And still on first tube! Happy.
I've been using this product for 15 weeks. For the 1st 8 weeks, I used it nightly; since then, I've been using it once every 3rd night, for maintenance. I apply to both upper and lower lash lines, exactly as you would apply eyeliner, and dipping the brush into the product for each row of lashes. I'm on my 1st tube, and still have product left (not sure how much, as the packaging makes it impossible to see what's left in the tube).
I had had long, lush, dark lashes when I was young. I never even considered using mascara back then. My lashes became sparse, short and lighter colored with the advent of perimenopause, some 5 years ago. The bottom lashes were barely visible. Mascara became a necessity to have my lashes show up at all. (I don't usually wear makeup, so hate this, and just don't bother.) I used Ardell Lash Accelerator nightly for a full 3 months about a year ago, with no effect whatsoever.
To my great surprise, the Revitalash really works! After 1-1/2 weeks of use, my lashes were clearly, measurably longer. After another 1-/12 weeks, I saw even more growth. After that, there was a steady, consistent increase in length. My lashes also became darker. The product causes a thin dark line to appear and remain at the base of the lashline -- liket a fine, light application of soft black eyeliner. As I look better with eyeliner, but do not like to wear makeup, I love this effect!
I don't believe my lashes have become any thicker or denser, but they appear that way, from a combination of the increased length and darkness, and the aforementioned dark line at the base. I'm thrilled! My eyes really pop, now!
After the 1st 8 weeks, I was satisfied with the length and appearance of my lashes, and decided to cut back to using only every 3 days, so as to save $, not have them grow any longer, not have the dark line at the base get any darker, and because I do worry a bit about what the "secret ingredient" that causes the lashes to grow actually is. This has worked well for me -- I've had no decrease in lash length, etc.
I have experienced no stinging or any other ill effects from this product. The ingredient in this that causes the lashes to grow is rumored to be a prostaglandin that is used in an RX eyedrop for glaucoma. I'm always careful not to get any product in my eye, just in case. So far, so good.
I will definitely repurchase!
12 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - Facial Hair Removal Spring
delenn 3/3/2007 6:45:00 PM
UPDATE: 8/1/07 Still using on upper lip, about once every week or two. Still happy.
I bought this for my upper lip and chin hair after beginning to use an RX retinoid (Avage=tazoretene .1% cream). Previously I had been waxing these areas, but was advised not to do so while on a retinoid. As I didn't want to have to keep stopping the retinoid for 3-7 days before each waxing, I decided to try Epicare.
As further background, prior to beginning waxing I had either plucked or shaved these areas. Plucking felt like slow torture, shaving left unsatisfactory stubble; waxing was a happy compromise. There are no facial hair-threading places in my area, so I have never tried that.
The Epicare is a long metal coil with a plastic handle on each end; picture a very short jumprope made of metal coil. You hold the handles, bend the device into an upside-down U-shape, and put this against your skin where you want to remove hair. You twirl the handles (each in the same direction) while moving the arc over the hair area. The coil catches the hair and pulls it out of the skin. Twirl the coil in the opposite direction to release, and repeat, until the area is hair-free. (There is a video demo at facialhairthreading.com that shows the procedure. I bought the device from this site.) It's quite simple and quick to use.
On my hair, at least, the entire process takes less time than waxing, but the time actually spent removing the hair (as opposed to preparing and applying the wax) is definitely longer. Thus, it hurts more. That is, with wax, the only painful part is when you rip it off quickly, a whole large section at a time. With the Epicare, only a small area of hair is pulled out at once, so the painful part takes longer. And I find myself having to go over a given small area several times to get all the hairs. The upper lip, as you might expect, is much more painful to do than the chin area.
Overall, this device is quite effective, and I will continue to use it. The process is fast, convenient, and not at all messy. Because the painful part takes longer than waxing, I would still prefer to wax my upper lip, and would do so if I were not using a retinoid. For the chin, I actually prefer the Epicare.
One tip: don't wait too long between uses. Removal is less painful when the hair is shorter. The device is so easy and convenient to use, that doing it as frequently as you feel necessary is no problem.
My skintype: Baumann's type DSPW, dry, sensitive, somewhat oily T-zone prone to blackheads.
17 out of 17 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Albolene cleanser
delenn 2/23/2007 8:50:00 PM
UPDATE: 8/1/07 Still using and loving this, but less often now that it's hot summer. (I'm less dry in the summer, so can use just cleansing oil on most nights right now.) Will go back to nightly use in winter for sure.
his review is for the Unscented version of Albolene Cleanser.
Ingredients:
Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Paraffin, Ceresin, Beta Carotene
Price: 12 oz for $10.49; 6 oz for $6.99
This cleanser has become my HG for winter use this year. I've been using it nighly for about 2-1/2 months, after becoming especially dry and irritated from the weather and Avage use.
This is a translucent, oily balm that's packed in a tub. It's fairly solid in the jar, but liquefies to an oil consistency when applied to the skin. It's thinner, lighter and "meltier" than vaseline, Aqaphor or Paula's Choice Lip and Body Treatment Balm, and not waxy like the PC, for reference.
I massage this onto a dry face, taking care to to spend extra time on areas that are flaky or irritated. The flakes roll right off, and the balm feels quite soothing.
I do not tissue this off, nor wipe it with a cloth; instead, I apply a bit of either Aquanil Cleanser or Fancl Mild Cleansing oil on top of it, swipe that around quickly, and rinse everything off. It rinses cleanly for me this way, and leaves my skin feeling comfortable, soft and hydrated.
I will definitely repurchase.
My skintype: Baumann type DSPW; sensitive and dry, with a somewhat oily, blackhead-prone T-zone.
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Eyes -Ardell - Brow & Lash Growth Accelerator Treatment Gel
delenn 2/22/2007 1:16:00 AM
I used this nightly for 3 months. Unfortunately, I had no results whatsoever; my lashes look exactly the same now as they did before I started. I applied to both upper and lower lashes of each eye, from lashline to tips, dipping the wand in the product for each row of lashes -- so I was using plenty of product. On the upper lashes, I applied both from underneath the lashes, as you would mascara, and from the top. Nada. On the plus side, it's very inexpensive and lasts forever -- I still have about 1/4 -1/3 of the tube left. But -- it didn't work for me. *sigh*
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -La Roche Posay - anthelios sx spf 15
delenn 2/16/2007 1:04:00 PM
UPDATE: 8/1/07 Still using this almost every day, even though it's hot summer now, and I'm less dry. It leaves more of a sheen on my skin now than it did when it was cooler out, so I sometimes use LRP DP 40 Spray instead, for it's matter finish. Always end up going back to this one, though, as it keeps my skin so moist and soft. Will certainly be using daily again when it cools off here.
This is a very emollient, gentle sunscreen for my DSPW (dry, sensitive, blackhead-prone in T-zone) skin. I'm finding it perfect for winter use here in the Midwest, when I'm extra dry from the combination of tazorac use and the weather.
It has a creamy consistency, no fragrance, does not sting, spreads and blends easily, leaves no white cast, and dries down to only a slight shine. A light dusting of powder would easily get rid of the shine; I don't feel the need to bother with that.
It's nicely moisturizing on it's own -- I wear no oisturizer under it. I do apply a full 1/4 tsp to face each day. Have been using for about 6 weeks, now, and love it.
I don't wear makeup, so don't know how makeup would look over it.
SPF is 15, PPD is 15.
Approved by the FDA for sale in the US; available at some CVS stores and online.
Ingredients:
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 2%, Ecamsule 2% (Mexoryl SX),Octocrylene 10%.
Inactive Ingredients: Carbomer 940,carbomer copolymer type B, cyclomethicone, dimethicone,edetate disodium, glyxcerin, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, isopropyl palmitate, methylparaben, phenoxyethanol, propylene glycol, propylparaben, purified water, stearic acid, stearoyl macrogolglycerides, stearyl alcohol, trolamine.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No