Sunscreen -Shiseido - Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion SPF 55 PA+++ [DISCONTINUED]
everfallen 5/3/2009 4:45:00 PM
I've been using it for a year now, and it is the best sunscreen I've used. I have tried many products, ranging from Lancome to Neutrogena. Most products are too heavy for my face and clog my pores. I also don't like products that leaves a greasy, thick feeling. This does not. It's a light product with very strong sun protection. Most light facial sunscreen lotions seem to have spf 15, which I don't believe gives enough protection. I feel much better knowing that I have spf 55 on my face, as the sun is the primary factor that causes skin aging. Though it's designed for both face and body, I use this on my face only as it's rather expensive. However, a bottle does last a very long time for me, so the price is well worth it.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Makeup Remover -Neutrogena - Oil Free eye makeup remover
everfallen 5/3/2009 4:36:00 PM
I have used Lancome Bi Facil for years. I recently discovered this Neutrogena product on MUA, and decided to try it. I find it pretty much identical to Lancome's, except for the packaging. The lancome product has a much smaller opening so you don't pour too much out at once. But Neutrogena has a much smaller price tag. I will be buying this product from now on.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Shu Uemura - Eyelash Curler
everfallen 5/3/2009 4:08:00 PM
I LOVE this curler. Its shape fits the Asian eye much better than curlers from other brands. I can get all my lashes very close to the root with this product. I have had other curlers in the past before discovering this product. I actually have compared this curler side by side with a few other brands. If you ever do that, you will see that the shape is different, esp the part of the metal that rests on your cheek bones. The curlers from other brands seem to be made for eyes that are more protruding. Unfortunately, most Asian eyes don't protrude enough for those.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Bliss Labs - Fabulous Foaming Face Wash
everfallen 9/5/2008 6:13:00 PM
This is my everyday cleanser. I have combination skin with oily forehead, nose, and chin. The first time I tried this in a W hotel, I noticed how clean my face feels afterwards. I've been using this for a year now and am very happy with it. once or twice a week, I will use an exfoliator (olay's microdermabrasion kit) to get rid of dead skin cells. This routine has kept me acne free and foundation/powder optional. I am a frequent traveler so I really appreciate all the travel size products bliss makes. The price is not cheap but acceptable. I have been and will be buying this product again and again.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Olay - Quench Body Lotion Extra Dry Skin
everfallen 6/17/2008 9:19:00 PM
I am not a big fan of the shimmer and the smell, but if you have tree bark skin, this is the best lotion. If it were scent free and shimmer free, I would've given it a 5. It really does an amazing job moisturizing. I've used expensive brands like creme de la mer, but I think this olay product actually does a better job. And it's so much cheaper than la mer.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -St. Ives - Apricot Scrub Blemish and Blackhead Control
everfallen 5/11/2008 6:09:00 PM
This is a basic exfoliator that's very affordable. The scrub is on the rough side, so people with sensitive skin may find it a bit uncomfortable. I keep a bottle for use on my body, not my face.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast
everfallen 5/11/2008 5:54:00 PM
Pros: I love the plastic brush. Unlike traditional brushes, it doesn't clump (on the brush and on my lashes when used correctly). It adds volume and a little bit of length. I would recommend using less in each coat to avoid clumping. I do both eyes without redipping. Some people don't like the size of this product. I actually find it pretty easy to use. Also, it's pretty cheap compared to department store brands. Cons: It does flake a tiny bit, but it doesn't bother me too much. I just brush it off. To get the dramatic look, you will need multiple coats using a small amount of product in each application. It takes a bit more room in my make up bag due to its large size, but I can deal with that. Conclusion: This is the best drugstore mascara I've used. I will probably stick to this on a daily basis. When I feel like splurging, I will go back to my YSL.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Self Tanners -Shiseido - Brilliant Bronze Quick Self-Tanning Gel
everfallen 5/11/2008 5:32:00 PM
I first bought this in light based on the recommendation of the sales associate. I have since gone back and bought a 2nd bottle in medium. Here are my pros and cons. Pros: This does not come out orange on me (both light and medium). It might come out differently on different skin tones. I am Asian with medium skin. It's fairly easy to apply, especially the light, which is almost impossible to mess up. You have to be more careful with the medium. If you work on rubbing it in evenly, you should not experience any streaks or spots. It dries in 15min as stated on the bottle. I can sleep on white sheets without it rubbing off. It gives you color very fast. I put this on at night after I shower, and I am tanned when I wake up the second morning. The light gives me pretty good color with 2 applications. The medium only takes 1 (but the light is harder to mess up). Cons: I am not a fan of the fake tan smell, but I can deal with it. It does go away if you shower the 2nd morning. The gel feels a bit sticky, even after it dries. Again, that goes away after a shower. At $28 a bottle, the price is also not cheap. You have to wear gloves to apply or you will have funny looking palms. It will not wash away with soap and water. Conclusion: I wish this stuff didnt smell, wasn't sticky, and had drug store prices. But the bottom line is that it works. Until I find something better, I will stick to this.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Makeup Remover -Lancome - Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Make-up Remover
everfallen 1/1/2008 3:28:00 AM
This is the best eye make up remover I've tried. It does not irritate my eyes, and removes ALL my eye make up. The only con is that it's a bit too oily. Update: I recently discovered that Neutrogena makes a product that's pretty much identical to this, but at a much cheaper price. So I am switching to Neutrogena.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Olay - Daily Facials Express- Sensitive Skin
everfallen 1/1/2008 3:24:00 AM
This is my default make up remover, and have used it for years now. I've tried many similar wet clothes from other brands, but always came back to this. I also tried Lancome Bi Facil Double Action Eye Make Up Remover, which was great as an eye make up remover, but too oily for the rest of the face. This wet clothe is cheaper and more convenient for travel. It removes all my make up, even stubborn mascara. I've tried both the sensitive and the normal versions. The sensitive version leaves my skin less prone to pimples, and is less harsh on my eyes. However, it's not perfect. I normally wash my face after using this product to get rid of any residue so I don't break out. Also I find this product just a tiny bit irritating on the eyes.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Neutrogena - Combination Skin Moisture Oil Free
everfallen 1/1/2008 2:46:00 AM
I used to like this A LOT. It was a very light, basic moisturizer. It did not irritate my skin like some of the other heavier products. It also did not leave any visible residue. The price is very reasonable and a bottle lasts a long time. The pump bottle is functional and convenient for portion control. I think Neutrogena changed the formula at some point. The packaging is also different. The new version is thicker than the original, although it's not thick enough to clog pores and irritate my skin. However, I do find that sometimes the new version has a white residue, which is rather annoying if you have to be seen in public.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Olay - Regenerist Microdermabrasion and Peel Kit
everfallen 12/31/2007 5:46:00 PM
After seeing the commercials on TV and reading reviews on the web, I decided to try this product. After the 1st use, I was sold. My skin has never felt so clean before. Sometimes, after face wash/ exfoliator/ masks/ face and nose strips, I still feel residue on my face (left over oil or dead skin cells). This product left me feeling completely clean. To be honest, I was quite surprised. I have been using it twice a week for the past 3 weeks, and have noticed that my skin is more smooth and radiant. I haven't been using it long enough to see any effects on discoloration/spots yet (will update later). I have not gotten any acne from using this product, unlike some of the other reviewers. I didn't feel the crystals were too rough. The serum didn't burn. My face did feel warm and turned slightly red during the session. However, the redness went away minutes after use. One thing very important is to moisturize after each use, or it will leave your skin feeling dry. Also, I'd like to point out that this product does not have the same strength as a professional spa microdermabrasion session. But it can be used more often and has a much smaller price tag (about $1 per use for this product, where a spa microdermabrasion is about $75-$100 per session). So overall, I am very happy with this purchase and will buy again when I run out. Update: I have been using this for a few months now, and am almost done with the jar/bottle. For those of you thinking of trying this, this is not a miracle product, but rather, a great exfoliator. I don't know if this product actually corrects flaws in my skin, but it keeps it really really clean. I've converted my bf into a fan. This is now our default exfoliator. Update: I still think this is a great product but I don't need to use this any more since I've been put on prescription Retin-A by my dermatologist. Retin-A is a much more powerful agent in terms of getting rid of old dead skin cells and generating new ones. It would be too harsh for my skin to be on both Retin-A and this product.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Yves Saint Laurent - Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils
everfallen 1/23/2007 4:06:00 PM
This mascara does not clump. It does a really good job separating each lash, adding volume to my sparse Asian lashes. With one coat, I didn't see the false lash effect. But with multiple coats, it becomes very dramatic. Yet, it left my lashes softer than other mascaras have. The trick is to not use too much mascara in any 1 coat. Like the instruction says, you are supposed to do both eyes without dipping the wand back into the bottle for more. For me, 1 coat is good for everyday wear (not too dramatic for work). Multiple coats will be good for going out at night. I think this also adds a little bit of length, but not much. As for curling, it holds my lashes up all day. But again, I curl before and after I apply mascara, so that probably helps with the staying power. The only con is that it's rather expensive, at $28 a pop. I think Cover Girl Lash Blast is also a very good mascara, with a much smaller price tag. So I am not sure I will be buying YSL over and over again.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Physicians Formula - Eyelightner (Brightner)
everfallen 1/23/2007 3:54:00 PM
pros: it's a drug store buy, so it's pretty affordable. the product package was nice, with a long skinny handle, which is easy to use. the felt tip is very skinny, and a bit stiff, which i don't mind, since it gives precision. cons: the color "metallic black" is very misleading. the color is more like washed up black, or grey. it feels like someone had added water into liquid liner bottle, and diluted the black. you will have to apply multiple times to get a dark black color. i didn't really see any "metallics" in there either. no sparkle/shine of any sort. this is not a product that i will purchase again.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No