Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Medicis - Dysport
etherpowered 5/14/2012 9:57:00 PM
This is the Botox competitor. Same wrinkle zapping effect, but cheaper, longer lasting, and... it kicks in sometimes within 24 hours. But BEWARE - when the drug manufacturer Medicis lists "headaches" as a possible side effect, what they really mean is a multiple day/skull pounding/give birth to a Greek goddess from your cranium... headache. My forehead looks amazing, but next time I go back for Dysport I know to what to expect, and to take pain medication. Some other details to note: I have added before and after pictures so you can see my results. In the first you can see the deep forehead creases. I also had my "11" lines between my eyes done, they are not that bad, but the esthetician suggested I do this as a preventative measure. I had my injections done at Urban Dentistry and Laser Spa in Austin. I had a Living Social deal, so I paid $199.00 for my forehead, and then went ahead and threw down another $118.00 for my 11s. Dysport needles are about the size of acupuncture needles, so the injections are almost painless. There was only one injection that stung. The whole procedure took about 5 minutes, if that. I experienced no bleeding, bruising or swelling at the injection sites, but then again the needles are so tiny, that's not surprising. The main difference in my facial expression is that the ends of my eyebrows tend to have movement, while the central part of my forehead and in between my brows is paralyzed. So - I've had to learn to keep my upper face relaxed - otherwise I get the dreaded "bat" look. This is because I tend to raise my eyebrows a lot when expressing emotion, and the central paralysis of my upper face has thrown my eyebrows and their arches off kilter somewhat. Medicis does not offer a "Brilliant Distinctions" program like Allergan, but they do offer a $50.00 rebate for using their product. I've had a great result, and I rated this product very highly, however - I don't want to recommend or not recommend. The decision to use fillers and Botox/Dysport is a serious and personal decision. Do your research.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Acne.org - Treatment
etherpowered 5/3/2012 12:09:00 PM
This tube is large enough to slather on myself and the delinquent high school students smoking dope outside my window. It's a good deal for the money, and it works, but if you do not counter this treatment with moisturizing/hydrating products, you will end up with skin like sand paper. I take vitamin e and fish oil caps internally, and then I do an oil cleansing once a week to counter the drying effects of bp. I also use apple cider vinegar to balance my skin out, as well. Acne sucks, the treatments suck - as we all know it's about consistency and maintenance. And this is coming from someone who has been on Accutane....twice. One of the most effective non-Rx bps you can buy, if you can balance the side effects.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -BRTC - Jasmine Water BB Cream SPF 30 PA++
etherpowered 5/3/2012 11:57:00 AM
I almost can't believe it. A face makeup that doesn't turn me orange, flake all over my skin, or look like a mask. Ok, I'm sold. As with any bb cream, it's always a mystery what will come out of the tube, since these products are labeled in other languages and are manufactured in Asian countries. I got out my foundation brush and got to work. No orange tint, good coverage, and moisturizing! Best of all, I still had my natural looking blue white vampire skin looking back at me. The drag queens call the process of setting foundation as "cooking". This stuff needs to cook. The setting process for this BB cream really does take longer, and it's impressive to see how it oxidizes over 10 minutes. The coverage is light, but it still manages to cover imperfections, while letting your natural skin tone come through. I have applied it with both my fingers and a brush, and either way works. There's only been a few times when I've had to use concealer with this bb balm. Otherwise, my erase paste is sitting in a drawer. At the factory they must have forgotten to add the jasmine scent to my tube, because it has no scent that I can detect. Maybe my next tube will be different. In any case, I recommend this to any acne prone pale girls - but take that with a grain of salt, of course. Foundation is always a crap shoot. Decent SPF in this one - it's deflected the Texas sun - that's impressive!
6 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -L'Oreal - Opulent Organza #812 (Infallible Lipstick)
etherpowered 4/7/2012 11:55:00 AM
I had to go snatch this one up after seeing it in Harper's Bazaar... the case itself looks more expensive than the regular L'Oreal lipsticks. It's a good everyday lipstick, a peach/nude color that gives a touch of color and would probably compliment most skin tones. Good go to lipstick if you're feeling like doing a sparse makeup job for the day.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Turmeric
etherpowered 3/25/2012 1:58:00 PM
Take two Turmeric caps and call me in the morning (to tell me how great your skin looks). You don't have to use this on your face. Two caps a day will work just as well. Indian people have trusted this forever to deal with skin issues. Freida Pinto, anyone?
15 out of 19 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Xtend-life Age-defense active day cream
etherpowered 3/24/2012 5:47:00 PM
This company brags on and on about their magical products - bah! For the price, this cream contains way too many cheap chemicals. It does sink into the skin nicely, though. And I saw my skin tone improve, somewhat. But personally I think it's unethical to spew all this health and wellness nonsense all over your website when your products score a "4" on the EWG database. I can take some solace knowing that every time I get suckered like this, I learn a little bit more about cosmetics.
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Tinted Moisturizer -E.L.F. - Studio Tinted Moisturizer
SPF 20
etherpowered 3/24/2012 4:52:00 PM
Pale girls- avoid! This will give you the dreaded orange face. Who cares if it works as a moisturizer? The tint is dreadful. I might use this on my arms and legs in the summer after I've gotten a bit of color and it's only because I have to use it up somehow. Try Sonia Kashuk's TM instead...not great, but better than this.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Nivea - Good-bye Cellulite
etherpowered 3/24/2012 4:47:00 PM
I bought this on sale, so I don't feel that bad that it probably doesn't work. Not that it matters, because at 43 years of age I have no intention of showing my backside in public anytime soon. I like the scent and it absorbs quickly, so I don't mind adding it to my morning regimen. I would buy it again, but only if it's on sale. I'm thinking the battle to destroy cellulite is best fought by the spa professionals of the world.
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Lipstick -New York Color - 309B Sheer Red
etherpowered 3/24/2012 4:40:00 PM
I'm one of those women that continues to buy red lipsticks and nail polishes even though I have waaaay too many already. I bought this without my usual pangs of guilt because it's a buck. Who knew the cheapest red lipstick I have ever purchased would be my favorite! This has blue undertones in darker light and appears more berry colored in the sun. It also has a strong artificial berry scent. No staying power - keep it by your desk because you'll need to reapply it constantly. A good red for pale dolls - doesn't overpower the face - I've been wearing this with no eye makeup and I've gotten some compliments!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -John Frieda - Luminous Color Glaze
etherpowered 3/24/2012 4:19:00 PM
One of the best hair products I have ever used. Turned my frizz into luscious, super shiny beach waves. I even gave a bottle to a friend with wavy hair and she loved it, too. Smells like chemicals and leaves the hair very dry. I wouldn't recommend using this more than once a week. Even shines up color treated hair!
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Gels/Soaps -Neutrogena - Rainbath Shower Gel
etherpowered 3/24/2012 4:16:00 PM
Smells like dishwashing liquid to me, and doesn't suds up enough for me. People seem to like this, though, so I think the scent is a personal preference. I'll finish the bottle, but I won't buy it again. This doesn't irritate my skin at all, though.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Eclos Cellular Activator Face Serum
etherpowered 3/24/2012 4:11:00 PM
I got suckered again by some elegant looking display at Target and the European-sounding brand name. I recently read the back of the tube and realized if this stuff actually did everything it claimed, every plastic surgery in the world would be out of business. Doesn't bother my skin, but doesn't do anything to it, either. I used this with my Zeno Line Rewind to see if that made a difference, and... nuthin. Use Reviva Labs Hyaluronic Acid serum instead.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Maybelline - Fit Me Foundation
etherpowered 3/24/2012 4:05:00 PM
This did nothing for me. It's impossible to use with foundation brushes, and it would not set on my skin. The lightest shade matched my skin fairly well, but left my skin with an uneven tone - accentuated dry patches, smears over the t-zone. It looks like I have something on face, which is a bigtime no no with foundation. Too watery for mature skin, too lacking in coverage, and no pump so be careful pouring this stuff or it will spill all over the place. Retin-A users - run for your life from this stuff- major flake pickup from this. In Maybelline's defense, I probably have waaay too many skin issues for a lightweight like this. Next!
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Concealers -Cover Girl - Olay Simply Ageless
etherpowered 3/23/2012 9:38:00 PM
I have a love/hate relationship with this concealer. It matches my vampire skin so well, and using a brush I can get it to cover every imperfection on my face. I also love the neat Willy Wonka spirals in the pot that are fun to mix together. I wish Cover Girl would be more amenable to using less parabens and refrain from animal testing. It bums me out. But yeah, it works...amazingly well...
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -BeneFit Cosmetics - Erase Paste in Fair
etherpowered 3/23/2012 9:15:00 PM
Patience is critical when using Erase Paste. It's not the kind of product that you can just dot on your face and go. However, it's one of the first concealers that has ever worked on my natural goth eyes. I use a tiny concealer brush and and dot the product on, and then spread it under my eyes. I let it sit for a bit, and then add more as I need it. Erase Paste doesn't necessarily work as well when you try to blend it, it's better to let it sit on the skin and set, and then pat it on the skin gently. It almost feels like I am painting this on my skin sometimes. The fair works for me which is remarkable because I have extremely white pale skin with blue undertones, so 90% of the concealers and foundations I've tried are too dark or too orange. I have no idea why Benefit included a spatula with this product, this is something that I strongly feel should be applied with a brush. For women with mature skin, remember to take your vitamin E and fish oil caps, this will prevent this sinking into undereye wrinkles. Oh and don't forget your blotting papers...this stuff must be oil based.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No