Scrubs -Neutrogena - Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Power-Clear Scrub
flee43 11/28/2011 1:44:00 PM
In order to get a good scrub from this product, it is necessary to: 1) use a lot 2) use it twice a day and not to mix with other scrubs/cleansers It is also definitely necessary to use toner afterwards. Even after using it, morning or night, I always found leftover residue aka dirt on my toner pad :blegh:. And as you're using a lot, you'll find that you'll run through this product very quickly. While I never felt like I got a good scrub out of this, the one pro is that it doesn't dry out your face, leaving you with that skin tight feeling that has you running to get some lotion for relief. I decided to give this a try for a few months to allow my face to get used to the product, and while it eventually somewhat did, the initial use was not good. I realized that it wasn't cleaning my pores very well, resulting in ugly cystic acne that was appearing in areas of my face that were usually zit-free. I thought it was just stress but I found that after switching to a different cleanser my face hasn't had the same reaction and my face is better off without this. Sadly, I don't recommend this product. Again, the one single pro of not drying out your skin is great, but the cons of not really cleaning your pores? So not worth it.
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Scrubs -Queen Helene - Oatmeal N' Honey Natural Facial Scrub
flee43 9/8/2011 2:33:00 AM
I was eager to buy a product that was natural, kind to the face, but gave it the kind of scrubbing that it deserved. At first, I smelled it thinking that it smelled alright after a quick sniff. But when I arrived home, the smell was simply awful. Whether it was a bad batch or a sensitive nose (either one could have been the cause), I decided to brave it for the sake of clean skin. While I held my breath for most of the scrubbing process, the fine grains felt much like St. Ives, as many other reviewers have also mentioned, meaning, it felt a little rough to the skin. A little finer than St. Ives so there wasn't the feeling of "I'm rubbing sand on my face," but nonetheless, after I got out of the shower, my face felt a little tight. As I wasn't too fond of the smell and it simply lingered the rest of the night, I decided to return it. It would have also been nice to have a flip-cap but then again, a twist-cap wasn't really so bad. Just a preference. However, I can see how this scrub can be something to love. If you're fond of the smell (smells more like perfume than oatmeal and honey) and you're looking for a St. Ives-like feel, I would definitely try this out. Otherwise, I would look elsewhere or perhaps try the Mint version.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Cover Girl - CG Smoothers Tinted Moisturizer in Light to Medium
flee43 6/9/2010 4:20:00 AM
If you're looking for a tinted moisturizer that actually feels like a moisturizer, I definitely say that this is your best bet. In comparison to Wet N' Wild or Stila, it doesn't feel like actual makeup and really works to even out your skin tone. It also doesn't need extra shaking/mixing, and it doesn't bleed out oil either which is a definite plus. Of course, as it isn't a foundation, it doesn't really work to cover up the blemishes, but it really does give my skin a nice finish so I don't look so dead in the morning. My one caveat to buyers is that it can leave you looking pretty greasy. As summer is beginning to roll around, I can definitely tell that it's not doing wonders for my skin. So I would say that yes, great for Spring/Fall but as the temperatures start to rise, it might be time to put it aside or just set it with powder. All in all, great packaging so it doesn't spill everywhere and you're definitely getting more bang for your buck versus other high-end brands. Would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to even their skin tone!
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Masks -Queen Helene - Mint Julep Masque
flee43 10/28/2009 11:58:00 PM
This mask is awesome. It doesn't smell like sulfur or anything medicated that you would need for acne. Instead, it has a great toothpaste-mint smell and feels great on the skin. As you watch 15 minutes roll by, you can actually see oil coming out of your skin and in the mask. What's even better is that when I wash it off, it comes off easily. With my old masks, I usually had to really work at it to scrub everything off. To make sure I get everything, I just use a toner but even then, I don't see anything left over from the mask. The pores on my cheeks close up and my face feels super soft after use. I used to use the Arcona mask and it just smelled like sulfur and I got sick of it. I would have to say that Queen Helene works way better in evening my complexion and making sure to unclog my pores and blackheads. There's a lot for really cheap and I was just able to get it at Henry's. If you're looking for a mask that is natural and not harsh on the face, this is definitely a winner.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Neutrogena - Healthy Skin Anti Wrinkle SPF 15
flee43 10/18/2009 11:25:00 PM
I was really hesitant about using a product with retinol in it after hearing about irritation and skin sensitivity. But this product is AH-mazing. It's the first time I've used it today, and while I was expecting something thick and creamy, I got light and airy. A little goes a long way and my face doesn't feel greasy at all. My skin has stayed matte all day long and nothing else I've used that is anti-shine has done this for me. I might be a little shiny in places where I've put on concealer, but all in all, my face looks great. I can't say more about its anti-wrinkle properties since I just started using it, but so far, it works really well. If you're looking for a product that is light and will mattify your face (not just anti-shine, but anti-grease) you will love this moisturizer. It's pretty much fragrance-free except for a light clean smell. It is definitely worth the money. EDIT: I've been using it for several weeks now and my face still stays matte all day, and I rarely ever have pimples. I've been incredibly stressed with school and I usually break out in cystic acne or just have zits with their own zip code. But my face is clear and has never been better. If you're looking for something that will help with your acne, this is definitely a great and effective product. I still can't say much about its wrinkle properties because I don't really have wrinkles but my skin is much smoother and soft to the touch. I also thought my skin would be really sensitive to the retinol and I'd sunburn despite the spf, but I live in SoCal and haven't burned yet. I plan on buying this again and I hope they don't discontinue it.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Neutrogena - mineral sheers mineral powder foundation-fair to light
flee43 10/3/2009 7:48:00 PM
I was genuinely excited about this when I first bought it, despite it's high price of about $11 for what seemed to be a measly-sized product. I've been using it to tone down some of the high shine on my face. It kind of works but it kind of doesn't. If I brush it over my face several times, I can get enough of it to matte my face. But not too long afterwards, I'll look in the mirror and my face is back to high shine and definitely oily. I've noticed that it leaves bumps all over my face, which look like tiny pimples. I think it's the brush, which can easily spread bacteria all over your face if not cleaned. I think the packaging was a nice attempt to make things more convenient for consumers, but otherwise, I wouldn't buy it again. If you want something that really mattifies, don't buy this one, especially if you're acne-prone. It doesn't really tone down the shine and it just leaves little bumps on my face. I have some other Neutrogena products, but this one is just not for me.
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Shampoo -Clairol - Psssssst Instant Spray Shampoo
flee43 8/20/2009 1:26:00 AM
I've tried this a few times so I could start de-oilifying my hair on days I didn't wash it. And so far - it's not all that bad. You just have to be sure to cover all of your oily areas and brush it out so it's evenly dispersed throughout your hair. When I sprayed it on, you could definitely see a white powdery substance, but it disappeared right away when I brushed it out. Afterwards, the greasy strands of hair are gone and you can see non-greasy hair! And I have pretty greasy hair and it's black so the oil is very noticeable. I'm still getting a hang on trying to spray where my hair needs it the most because I seem to be missing oily spots so uh you still see it. But the most important thing for me is that it gets rid of the worst of it without looking like I didn't shower for days or something. The one thing that had me taking off a lippie is that it doesn't do anything for my hair volume-wise. My hair is still limp and there isn't exactly a volume factor that amps up my hair. But it doesn't say it's a volumizer so I should just invest in a volumizing spray. I'm just slightly reluctant to get one since my hair is oily enough just after one day without washing and definitely doesn't need anything more to weight it down. Otherwise, the spray does what it says and I think it gets me through the day. I noticed that I might have to spray it several hours later to cover up the oil, but again, it depends on where you sprayed it and if you combed it evenly through your hair, I think. Definitely still experimenting. Also, it's unscented so no weird smells emanating from your hair! Yays. I would recommend this if you're just looking for a dry shampoo at a low price that will get you through your day until you actually have the chance to wash your hair.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Almay - Clear Complexion Blemish Healing Spot Concealer
flee43 8/13/2009 10:30:00 PM
I was originally using the Maybelline Mineral Sheers Concealer, which was working for me very well. It didn't clog my pores or break me out while covering absolutely everything it needed. But, I decided to try Almay's because this contained Salicylic Acid and I'm trying to mostly cover my acne and old scars. I've only tried it a couple times so far and I'm glad that the color that I picked out (Light/Medium) was the right pick on the first try. I had Sand with Maybelline which blended well but I did have a harder time choosing which shade I was. I mean, I think sand and I'm like, "Uh..." Almay's concealer covered well and I'm glad that this is probably a product that will be better for my blemishes in the long run. It blends in quite well and I do like the wand. To make sure it doesn't look oily on my face, I put foundation over it as well. But for the parts where I don't use foundation over the concealer, I haven't noticed any increased oiliness and my face can get pretty oiled up. Overall, I think it does the job and I would definitely buy it again.
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Brows -Revlon - Colorstay Brow Enhancer
flee43 8/11/2009 5:57:00 PM
I bought this yesterday and it definitely does its job of filling in my brows (I have seriously sparse Asian brows). I'm glad that this thing came with a spoolie brush because it really helps to blend it in and make sure my brows stay in place. All in all, I'm definitely liking it. The highlighter is a nice touch but not necessary. I wish they would have put the spoolie brush on the other end instead. Otherwise, great product and easy to wash off too!
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Moisturizers -Burt's Bees - Radiance Night Creme
flee43 8/11/2009 5:29:00 PM
I just bought this yesterday based on the good reviews that I read about the night creme. A lot of people mentioned the smell of the product so I was slightly disappointed that when I went to check it out at the store, the container was plastic wrapped. But, I went ahead and bought it anyway hoping that I could finally get some good night creme. I was using just regular day lotion for my face so I would wake up with really oily skin (and I already have oily skin so you can imagine what this looks like, yikes). When I tried it last night, the smell was what I first noticed. It smells like an old-school fragrance and it's strong when you put it on, but the smell is overall, pretty bearable. The creme went on light and didn't see a sheen on my face like I usually do. And when I woke up this morning, there was definitely not a lot of oil on my face. Usually, I put a finger on my face and I'm like, "OH, jeez," but it was noticeably less oily. This was just one night's testimony so I'll be updating this at the end of the week to see if I notice anything else. All in all so far, I do think that this is a good night creme that feels light yet it's moisturizing all at the same time. Knocked off a lippie because of the fragrance but this creme is definitely better than just regular day lotion at night. EDIT: After several weeks, there is still noticeably less oil on my face in comparison to other lotions that I've used at night. I definitely think it helps with my zit situation but I'm also using it in conjunction with cream for my blemishes so that might be it. My complexion is much clearer after using this which is a definitely plus. I'm looking into other night creams that don't have the same high price tag as this one, but overall, I do recommend this for people looking to find a light night creme.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Maybelline - Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Concealer
flee43 8/1/2009 6:43:00 PM
I used to use foundation to cover up my blemishes but I noticed that my face was definitely amped up in shine afterwards. That was when I decided to shop for an actual concealer. I bought a Neutrogena concealer first, but I ended up buying it in a totally wrong color. When I went to try my sister's Mary Kay concealer to see if that would work, it just did not blend well at all. Seeing as the liquid foundation worked but was too shiny for my tastes, I heard about Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer so I decided to try it out. It definitely covers my blemishes pretty well and I'll put some foundation on top to make sure it stays or so that my face doesn't get too oily throughout the day. It hasn't made me break out and it blends very well with my skin (mine is Sand). I'm still looking for a good concealer with Salicylic acid in it to help with my acne issue, but since this doesn't make me break out, this works great in the meantime. The only issue that I have with this is the packaging. When you start to run low, a lot of the concealer gets stuck to the walls of the tube and it's impossible to get some out! But what's nice is that even though it's a small tube, it lasts you absolutely forever.
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Toners -Alba Botanica - Hawaiian Hibiscus Facial Toner
flee43 8/1/2009 6:35:00 PM
I just bought this a few days ago based on the reviews here and so far, so good! I had this large zit on my cheek for some time and I felt like after I used it, the size and redness went down. I also noticed that the pores on my cheeks that usually look prominent or more open seemed to have a smoother appearance. I'm not breaking out either although I did notice that I found one or two zits after using it. My sister, who is also trying it out, believes that it's probably the toner bringing out the impurities of our face. But we are also both acne-prone so getting a new zit or two isn't exactly new. My skin so far seems more smooth and glowy and I'm enjoying it. I use it in the morning and at night after I wash my face and am definitely noticing a difference. With the way the product is going so far, I would definitely say that I would buy this again! EDIT: After using this for several weeks, I can definitely feel that it takes away extra bacteria or shampoo/facewash residue after a shower but otherwise, the toner can't fight the hormones or the uh the consequences of lack of sleep/ bad eating habits. Otherwise, it definitely does its job of clearing the skin of the bacteria that would probably causing my face more trouble than it already is. I'm sure once the monthly zit breakout from the period ends, my face will be back to its semi-normal self. I still feel that my complexion has cleared since I've used this though, so I still recommend this toner!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Aveeno - Clear Complexion Cream Cleanser
flee43 7/29/2009 4:45:00 PM
I use this twice a day and it has made the non-acne areas of my face much clearer. But in terms of preventing and getting rid of zits, the cleanser hasn't helped much in that department. Otherwise, the cleanser is gentle on my face (in comparison to St. Ives) and I like that I'm using something that isn't crazy aggressive since I already put so many other creams and chemicals on my face for the acne. All in all, it keeps my face smooth but doesn't prevent the acne. I'm still searching for other cleansers but in the meantime, I would buy this again.
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Moisturizers -The Body Shop - Seaweed mattifying moisture lotion SPF 15
flee43 7/29/2009 4:19:00 PM
After using it, I would definitely say that my face isn't as oily (in comparison to using other lotions or just leaving my face as is) and it smells great. It's not that bad of a moisturizer and I love that it has SPF 15. But it's also not that great in terms of mattifying my face. When it gets humid, this lotion can't fight against the elements so my face ends of being incredibly shiny (summer = no no). It lasts for a good while but the price is a turn-off. Despite buying this twice before, I wouldn't buy it again. Nice moisturizer but not for keeping the shine down.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Stila - Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15
flee43 7/5/2009 10:46:00 PM
It feels great but I don't see a noticeable difference when I put it on. I mean, I can see it at first but once I rub it in, it's like the product was too sheer and it was useless to put it on in the first place. I'm not sure if it's evening out my skin tone or I just bought the wrong color (I'm using Tone). I thought I was pretty pasty white so Tone should have been a good one. When I use it though, I don't get any oilier and I haven't seen any breakouts (which I'm definitely prone to). The product is expensive in comparison to Wet N Wild tinted moisturizer which is drug store cheap. If you mix different colors I guess you could probably get a better color to match your skin tone.
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