Misc Beauty Tools -Olay - Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System
flufffycloud9 4/9/2013 12:45:00 AM
Yet another glowing review :) A nurse that I work with strongly recommended this product to a client and since she has flawless skin, I ran out the next day to purchase one. I am normally pretty good about washing my face. I thought I got the makeup completely off. I thought I exfoliated enough. And I thought that I would always deal with at least 1-4 breakouts at any given time even though I'm 24 years old. It was just my bad skin. I am SO happy to be proven wrong! I've been using this brush for one week, twice a day (morning in the shower, at night to get off makeup), with St. Ives Apricot Scrub. The tool is the only thing altered in my beauty/health routine. My skin hasn't been this flawless since before puberty. No exaggeration. I finally have zero blemishes! *Glooooat.* On top of which, it's that time of month (and I'm not on hormonal contraception) so this should be impossible. Plus it's not solely clear skin (which is already a miracle), it's even and glow-y skin, too. Also: I have some horizontal expression lines in my forehead (genetics, ugh). Treatment has been Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle Moisture at night and Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle SPF 15 during the day for about 4 weeks, just on my forehead. Only in the past week, since using the brush, have my lines begun to reduce noticeably. And not just the Neutrogena but also my Cetaphil moisturizer sinks in so much more quickly and plumps my skin now. It looked/felt like a film before and now it looks/feels like perfect skin. (Using a moisturizer is important with this just like you would with any skin exfoliation. Derms recommend moisturizing within 5 minutes of showering/washing while your skin is still damp. My friend starting using the brush at the same time as me and is also on acne meds but not moisturizing. She mentioned her skin is drier with twice daily use. But we're sloughing off our skin's dead outer layer and the new skin underneath needs protection/sealing in the moisture. Like..basting a turkey.) I know there are a lot of great reviews for the Clarisonic Mia.. I looked into it too. I would definitely be willing to shell out. But has anyone else read the reviews on cystic acne/blackhead/whitehead/broken capillaries? A quality dermatologist knows there's no such thing as skin purging. And broken capillaries take forever and/or laser surgery to heal. Too scared. Gonna pass on the Mia. The Olay Pro X is beyond amazing for me, I will buy another if it breaks or I lose it. I will buy one for my mom and my brother in college. My tip though that one or two others have noticed: if you press too firmly with the brush and go over areas too often and too long, it can aggravate that part of the skin and cause a small whitehead. (Which can be scraped off with a clean fingernail or wash cloth and goes away immediately.) This did happen to me when I was too aggressive. I need to remember that the spinning does the cleansing for me and the brush will get my skin clean with gentle, light pressure for the minute of time that's recommended (I sometimes push it to 2-4 min, oops. But it's so fun to use, I can't help it.)
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -The Body Shop - Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil
flufffycloud9 7/3/2011 2:21:00 AM
Claims? • Honey-bronze glow >yes • Tan-enhancing shimmer >yes • Non-greasy finish >yes, surprisingly (it probably could do with a few minutes to dry before dressing) I am in love with the shimmer of this stuff! When applied, it's much more finely milled than it looks in the bottle. The gold shimmer is subtle. (Gold is good because studies show that a more yellow skin hue is rated as more attractive by both men and women- Dr. Stephens from Science News). The color itself is pretty dark, even on my summer-tanned skin so blending is important. There is no DHA in this product (yay!) so I didn't smell gross. The scent is not honey but some type of flower. Honey = bees + flowers so I guess that makes sense. Unfortunately mosquitoes also looove this scent. I got 4 bites while everyone else got none. The packaging is GORGEOUS but functionally sucks. The product is so annoying to get out. Also, while the ingredients listed below show that it's very moisturizing, I wouldn't recommend using it for that purpose since it's a 3.3 fl oz bottle. I used a body butter underneath and then smoothed it on to the bits that need highlighting. The ingredients're pretty impressive: 1. caprylic/capric triglyceride: aka fractionated coconut oil 2. isononyl isononanoate: skin conditioning emollient 3. mica: colorant, sometimes used for shimmer 4. silica: mineral that helps product glide on smoothly and adhere to skin 5. bertholletia excelsa seed oil: brazil nut seed oil, skin conditioning emollient 6. persea gratissima: avocado oil, occlusive skin conditioning (shown in rabbits to be an eye and skin irritant) 7. fragrance 8. beeswax: multiple uses, including skin conditioning emollient 9. tocopheryl acetate: combination of acetic acid and vitamin E, skin conditioning 10. benzyl salicylate: an ester of benzyl alcohol and salicylic acid, multiple uses, for fragrance, for UV light absorber, known human immune system toxicant, known allergen 11. honey: humectant (holds onto water particles) 12. amyl cinnamal: fragrance, jasmine/floral scent 13. linalool: used in fragrances for masking 14. tocopherol: multiple uses, antioxidant, in fragrances, occlusive skin conditioning 15. hydroxycitronellal: used in fragrances, known human immune system toxicant, known allergen 16. geraniol: used in fragrances 17. eugenol: used in fragrances, known human immune system toxicant 18. benzyl benzoate: multiple uses, in fragrances, solvent, antimicrobial, preservative, can cause allergies 19. citronellol: used in fragrances 20. mica 21. iron oxides: colorant 22. titanium dioxide: multiple uses, colorant, opacifying, sunscreen, UV light absorber, safe when applied but not inhaled
12 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -Clinique - Gentle Light powder [DISCONTINUED]
flufffycloud9 5/31/2011 10:11:00 PM
My local Clinique counter carries this powder in four shades: 02-Glow 2 VF- the lightest; would also make a good highlighter for medium skinned girls 03- Glow 3 MF- has yellow undertones; the girl at the counter recommended this for summer instead of the shade lower; it matches my skin tone so I can dust it over my full complexion when I want 04- Glow 3 Neutral- ? I don't understand this color name but in person it has pink undertones (so it's the only one I haven't worn) 05- Glow 5- the darkest shade; accidentally applied by the counter girl because it was mislabeled; strangely did NOT show up bronze on my lightly tanned skin This is a beautiful sheer product that adds a nice glow to my face, not matte but not dewey either. Someone said 'it's like skin but better' and I agree. It's also versatile- I can dust it over a fully made-up face or just over primer & concealer for a less heavy look. If you go with the latter, I'd suggest setting the concealer parts with pressed powder (one great tip I use is to always set my concealer!). They almost shouldn't call this a powder because I feel like it reverses the typical flat powder look. The applicator brush is scratchy and makes the powder feel coarse. I use a Sonia Kashuk brush that's the same head size. And for on the go, I just load up my pressed powder puff and bring the compact. Sample first! I really like it, I'd buy it again... even at $23, it's a LOT of product and will probably last me a year easy with everyday use.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Eucerin - Aquaphor Healing Ointment
flufffycloud9 2/17/2011 2:56:00 AM
I use this product to moisturize my face. Wait! Don't stop reading, it seemed like an awful idea to me at first, too. However: I now feel like the "after" of a skin care ad. This is the only product that I have been using to moisturize my face for 5 months now. It is amazing! My skin has morphed into a beautifully smooth and clear surface. I can't remember my last blemish. I apply a thick layer at nighttime after cleansing thoroughly (twice to wash away makeup then a third time lathered with a washcloth to exfoliate) with my Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Face Wash. I re-cleanse in the morning and immediately apply a very thin layer of Aquaphor to damp skin which moisturizes while providing a surface for my mineral makeup and setting powder to adhere to. Aquaphor has been the only variable in my routine. In case you're thinking, "oh she must have changed something," no. My diet continues to suck (full of sugar) and I drink barely any water. This is the only product that changed; makeup, face wash, everything else has stayed constant. But when I started using this product religiously, my face cleared up. Once a week I may find a small blackhead (drastically less than before) which (after cleansing the skin) I extract and then slather on a layer of Aquaphor to protect the pores and it's healed by morning. The dead skin just exfoliates right off in the AM to reveal gorgeous smoothness underneath. I don't understand how it works to keep my skin clear and healed; maybe it's regulating my oil production? Regardless, I am so happy and will use this till I'm 80.
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Honey
flufffycloud9 5/12/2010 2:13:00 AM
Honey to moisturize the face can be nice.. but Aquaphor Healing Ointment is better. Honey on my face seemed like a good idea but the stickiness (even when mixed with aloe vera) and how it sometimes made my face red and itchy (but only sometimes and in certain places?) made it an unsustainable beauty regimen. It can gently lighten your hair though (with the right ratio) and is yummy so still yay for honey!
12 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Alexis Vogel - Dare
flufffycloud9 5/10/2010 6:23:00 PM
(Yippee! You can still the original of this product on Ebay. I just received 2 from jennb_1125. So I'm set for this product for like 5 years :) This review is for the original Dare by Alexis Vogel (NOT makeupconnection). This came with my kit in 2004 and lasted me for 2 years until I broke the shadow & the remaining third spilled out. I went without it for 3 sad years, trying countless other brands & never finding one I liked as much. Just the other day, I thought to look on Ebay & found a couple of the originals! And now I've stopped wasting money, the search is over :) Color: I'm sorry to disagree with other reviewer, but Milani Spice is just not a replica for this. I know because I own both. Spice IS quite pretty but it is a more intense color- browner & with more glimmer. I do love Spice but don't expect it to be spot on. Dare is a beautiful color- pigmented but not harsh, very buildable. I'd recommend using a light hand to start off. (Tap brush into eyeshadow, then tap excess back into pot.) I LOVE how it is not sparkly. I'm not sure how Alexis Vogel did it, but they managed to formulate an eye shadow that have sheen without sparkles. Subtle and beautiful. Texture: SILKY. Wow, I never really understood how the term could be applied to eyeshadows until I tried this one. I'm amazed how a powder can go on like butter. Adheres very well, I don't use primer when I'm using this shadow. Stays all day. Packaging: The lid is annoying. I wish it snapped or something instead of screwing. Hard to line up sometimes but at least it never falls off. My own klutziness has spilled this and the blush (same container) all over. Learn from my mistakes and don't let it rattle around in your makeup case or it will slowly disintegrate into powder and make spills 10X more likely. Note: Sugar Sparkle Dust perfectly compliments this shadow- After Dare is applied, I dab a dot on with a damp finger- the inner center of the lids, blended a wee bit into the crease. And swept along the brow bone of course with a little brush.
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Styling Products -Farouk CHI - Chi Iron Guard
flufffycloud9 10/3/2009 2:36:00 AM
I also really like this product on damp hair. (On dry hair before flat ironing, it ends up looking stiff and motionless unless I can get just the right amount and combing and it's just too complicated and finicky a science. Who has time for that.) Minus a lippie for not suggesting this technique on the bottle. Bad Farouk CHI. Shame. So for use on towel-blotted & damp hair, I detangle with a wide-toothed comb first & then 4-6 sprays (not a lot above ears) not too close to hair. I spray it while moving the bottle, keeping the nozzle like half a foot away. Blow-dry with fingers and with same comb. Between palms, slick half a dime sized amount of CHI Silk and run lightly over freshly blow-dried hair (not at roots). Even without the Silk, this really helps my over-processed, fine, straight hair look and feel like it's in much healthier condition. Also nixes my straight hair's newfound tendency to wave slightly in weird places. Unlike when I blow-dry using other products. Stupid damaged hair.
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Eyes -Unlisted Brand - Roux - Lash & Brow Tint
flufffycloud9 6/28/2009 12:14:00 AM
UPDATE: Fading = 3 weeks or so. I have done this a total of about 10 times. Go slowly and carefully with a magnifying mirror. Wait 10 minutes after liquid No 1 and 10 minutes after liquid No 2. I like to do a second application for added drama. Love this stuff. REVIEW: I used this earlier today & was surprised how easy it was! My lashes were already black but the very tips were blonde (you could see the tips at a certain angle in sunlight). I needed a boost since I've stopped wearing mascara whenever possible lately (trying to my lashes healthy again). I applied twice, and now they look like they are wet all the time. Looks like a very thin coat of mascara. Definitely worth doing. I bought the black 40-application kit bc it breaks down to less than a dollar per tint job. Great deal considering salons charge $15-45. I will be repeating this whenever it fades. Be super careful applying this. Like I said, it was easy, but I really took my time with a lighted magnifying mirror. I did two applications for more oomph. Even doing 2 applications a month, this will still last me well over a year. TIP- let everything dry longer than suggested. I followed the directions exactly on my right eye and when I rinsed with warm water & bland soap & blotted with a washcloth, it looked like I was taking off mascara. Black smudges every time I lightly blotted for BOTH right eye applications. For my left eye, I waited about 10 minutes for each of the two layers to dry. Absolutely no black on the washcloth for EITHER left eye applications. So don't wash off all your hard work, wait about 10 minutes between coatings. TIP- As a another reviewer suggested, keep a Q-tip in the remover on hand. Use it carefully or you can tear up and get brown everywhere. I barely have to use it, but it whisks away the teeny bits of brown dye. TIP- Use Vaseline but you don't have to go crazy, a thin coat under the eyes and from the lids to brow bone is sufficient. The under-eye papers aren't needed. TIP- For application, use Q-tips or 2 clean LashStylist brushes. BOTTOM LINE- Liking the affect, liking the 40-app packaging. I would buy again in a few years when I run out. If you are looking for a subtle boost to a bare face (i.e. in bed, the pool, beach, summer days or rushed mornings), I'd suggest this.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Jolen Creme Bleach
flufffycloud9 6/22/2009 6:21:00 PM
YAY Just got done using this! LOVE! I noticed last week that my eyebrows were looking a bit harsh against my light honey blonde hair. My natural brow color is a dark brown & while they were lightened when I originally had my hair lightened, they had definitely grown in since then. Too stark. I didn't really know what to do about this a girl on another site suggested this product for remedying darker brows. I followed her advice- Do 1 brow at a time. (easier to time it) I just followed the instructions and mixed it up & spread it on with the little spatula, making sure the hairs got coated/caked. She suggested using a brow brush to apply if you're squeamish about the spatula. Leave on for 30-60 seconds then wipe off & check color. Reapply if necessary for another 30-60 seconds. Repeat with other eyebrow. It is CRUCIAL to apply this in intervals! I could so easily have overdone this & turned out with white or red eyebrows lol. But seriously, this technique was very easy and there was no feelings of scariness. 30 seconds at a time girls! You cannot go wrong I thought the packaging was adorable, cute little spatula & tray, pretty basic to mix. And there is sooo much product in this thing! I cannot see needing to buy another but if I run out in this lifetime then I would definitely repurchase. The experience was very good- super easy, no redness, no irritation, can't comment on the smell though cuz my nose is stuffed up. I imagine it smells like bleach duh Btw, my eyebrows are now (after 2 applications & a total of 1.5 minutes on each), a lightish medium brown, a great match for the darkest strands of my hair. Took me like 5 minutes total & gave me exactly what I wanted :)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Aveeno - Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer spf15
flufffycloud9 6/20/2009 8:42:00 PM
This was a gift in my Christmas stocking and while I will finish this bottle, I would not buy another. The only reason I don't like this product is the glitter. It took a while for me to realize it was my MOISTURIZER and not fall-out from a sparkle highlighter or bronzer. Because when the light catches this I can see definite individual sparkles. "Light diffusers," if you will. I think the packaging is great- travels really well, sanitary to use. The SPF is awesome too. This does not break me out either. (But just a tip- avoid putting this (or any moisturizer) directly on forming or formed blemishes.) Bottom line- good beach moisturizer or maybe for dinner at a low-lit restaurant when some sheer glimmer works well. Not really something I want to wear to class though because it seriously looks like I was never taught how to apply highlighter. Ugh
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Polishes -FingerPaints - Psychedelic Pop
flufffycloud9 2/12/2009 1:29:00 AM
Barbie pink, very bright, I love this color! Packaging is great- the FingerPaint brushes are really flat, wide-ish, sturdy, and don't gunk-up unlike some others (i.e. Essie). Staying power of this polish is amazing. I didn't have time for a base or top coat and just applied one coat of this before going to see my bf.. he was like "i don't like this color" (too bad, I love it) and tried to scrape it off with his thumb nail. He pressed HARD and not even a scratch, not even a nick, not even a ding. Hee! I think his ego was pricked though. But normally I do use a base coat with this to protect nails from yellowing. Polish gets a little less shiny/sorta matte when it dries so this definitely needs a top coat. I use OutTheDoor which I also really like. All in all, this is my top favorite pink nail polish :) lovely quality
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Polishes -Essie - Carousel Coral
flufffycloud9 12/18/2008 3:40:00 AM
This is exactly the color of Smashbox Beauty True Color Lip Enhancing Lip Gloss. Very cute, looks amazing on toes and against tanned skin. If I lost this, I'd purchase again.
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Polishes -Essie - Castaway
flufffycloud9 12/18/2008 3:32:00 AM
Barbie pink to describe this was spot on- it gives me a Barbie look, great with tanned skin. I love this color! It's pretty true to the bottle color... just a little darker/more intense on the nails. I used a base coat then 3 or 4 coats of this followed by 2 top coats. My nails are opaque and rock hard, haven't dented or chipped at all in 4 days so far which often happens with my nails if just a little by now. Sooo happy I found Essie! I will be purchasing many more colors. My only wish is that the brush was a little.... cleaner? and wider like OPI's brushes. Not a big deal because it didn't affect the gorgeous end result.
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Lip Gloss -Smashbox - Beauty
flufffycloud9 12/17/2008 8:47:00 PM
I really love the color and feel of this gloss. Goes GREAT with my tanned skin. I just wish it lasted longer. The color fades within 2 hours. I'd love to find this same shade in a lipstain or lasting lipstick because it is such a pretty color! If anyone knows of one that would color match this, please message me!
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Treatments -Sexy Hair Concepts - Big Sexy Hair - Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner
flufffycloud9 11/7/2008 1:05:00 AM
Loooove! MY HAIR: fine, lots of it, shoulder-blade length, coloured blonde, dry, easily tangly, ends burned (yes truly burned) from flat iron on too high heat, gets 'squiggly' and 'squishy' (from the damage) when combed wet, very prone to split-ends, looked & felt like straw (the same colour and everything lol) prior to below hair routine. USE: Daily to protect my damaged hair from blow-drying (though, thanks to the following routine, I nor anyone else can detect the damage through feel or appearance). Use in conjunction with daily shampooing w/ nickel size of Matrix Biolage Hydrating Shampoo & daily conditioning w/ quarter size dollop of Conditioning Balm left in 3 minutes. Squeeze excess water with towel. Comb/paddle brush out hair. I mist a spray of this Soy-Tri-Wheat Leave In about .5-1 foot from my hair and shake/backup my head into the spray, usually do this a total of 4 times for 4 total sprays. This seems best because the true roots don't get coated but it's distributed evenly through the entire rest of my hair. (I love how easy this thing is to spray, how fine the mist is, and how the bottle has a lot of product but fits just right in my hand and isn't cumbersome.) Lastly, I blow-dry with paddle brush alternately upside-down and right-side up until dry. This is all I do to my hair the entire day, no brushing or other products are involved. RESULT: Smells great when applied, scent disappears when dry. (Perfect for me, I'd rather put a teeny mist of Burberry Brit in & have it smell like that). No more squiggles in hair even when combed/brushed wet. Comb/brush slips right through wet hair. Super silky hair wet and dry. Stays soft, shiny, silky and detangled throughout entire day. Has bounce and body while still maintaining smoothness and suppleness... all of which my hair hasn't had since, well, ever. Examined individual strands today and could not find a single split-end. even though last trim was a month ago. Each strand is smooth and shiny and sturdy with blunt tips. Have been using every morning along with the above shampoo and conditioner for 2 weeks now. No build-up, just hair-salon (with the body & smoothness minus the stiffness) hair that I do not have normally. I will never stray from this. No other previous product (a countless #) holds a candle to what this combination has accomplished for my hair.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No