Sunscreen -Badger - SPF 30
glitteralex 1/3/2013 2:57:00 AM
Let me start out by saying I hated this product for a good 6 months....all the usual complaints; must knead the tube to get product out, product gooey and thick, skin white, pet hair sticks to face, ruins dark clothes, etc. However, I stuck it out because I had bought a case of the Baby formula with chamomile and it is very natural and PC. So....fast forward 6 months to noticeably smoother skin. Here is the protocol: 1) Wash face and keep hair off face and clothes away from face 2) Apply antioxidant serum of choice. Let it absorb. 3) Put a pea-sized amount of Badger in hands and warm product up until all the bumps are melted. 4) Pat and gently smooth all over face, neck & eye area. 5) Let dry for at least 10 minutes before letting clothing touch face or applying foundation over it, which I do. It works very well as a primer with my La Mer foundation. Another few notes: This works excellent on dry skin, in dry climates, and in the cold weather. If you are acne-prone or live in melting hot weather, likely this will be too gooey for you. Also, I am a fan of laser treatments and peels. This sunblock is brilliant for post-peel use, as the chamomile soothes and the natural ingredients do not irritate the skin. In this case, melt the product really well in your hand and pat on- no rubbing until skin is healed.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyes -MyChelle - MyChelle Ultimate Lash & Brow Serum
glitteralex 1/3/2013 2:37:00 AM
I have been using this product for over a year and FINALLY I have results. My top lashes are about 20% thicker and 35% longer. I use the product at least 4x/week on upper lashes. I do apply to the lower ones as well, but less religiously since this product does sting if you get it in your eyes (I have VERY dry eyes and they are sensitive). The results are not unnatural or dramatic, like Latisse, but very subtle, which I like. The price point of $50 for a small tube is pretty steep, though, and so I don't use it on my brows, only the lashes. You will need to be patient with this product and make the investment of 2-3 full tubes and nightly treatment in order to get results, bit at least it is not filled with chemicals and will not change your eye color!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Epris perfume by Max Factor
glitteralex 8/18/2012 4:43:00 AM
Review is for the pure perfume, from a previously unopened vintage bottle. Dark color indicates oxidation although there is no evaporation. A sweet and boozy entrance, with lots of Benzoin, Carnation, & Jasmine, blends seamlessly into a mincemeat pie of spices-Cinnamon, Nutmeg, powdered Ginger- enveloped in Damascan rose, all anchored by what I am sure is natural Beeswax and Patchouli. The collision of notes calms nicely within about 15 minutes, when Oakmoss serves as the canvas for muted versions of the previously screaming notes. A beautiful perfume for the holidays. Despite the designation as a Chypre, I do not get any citric notes in the top; perhaps they are degraded in my bottle. The longevity and concentration are insane; a mere drop lasts close to a day. At $10 for a mini of perfume, this is not to be missed!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - Nu Brilliance
glitteralex 1/19/2012 10:41:00 PM
The heavy suction died after the first FIVE minutes of using the machine. The motor is obviously of very poor quality. The plastic casing is junky as well. Also, this machine does not sandblast you like true dermabrasion, but instead scrapes off your skin with the equivalent of a metal pumice stone ("synthetic diamond"). This is not good for delicate areas where you don't want to tug on skin . I will go back to my exfoliating scrubs/peels and my Panasonic pore cleanser for collagen stimulation. Returned it to Sephora.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Cartier - Baiser Volé
glitteralex 1/13/2012 3:49:00 PM
Brilliant! An assertive and dry citrus, never too sharp or acrid, meets the skin like a refreshing dip in a stream lined with blooms of heady jasmine and wild mint. The contrast of the moist, green base and the powder of the flowers is in perfect harmony. After a bit, wild lilies float by... one, then another, then a few at a time, enticing us to smell them as their marine pungency lilts past. Their aroma adds to, but never usurps, that of the wet green mint and jasmine. Then, a beautiful surprise- a soft breeze blows the the warm vanilla of the lily pistils over us in a shower of magical orange dust. Even a day later, the dream of the Baiser Vole stays with us as a lightly spiced cloud of indoles. Baiser Vole is simplicity at its best: high quality ingredients, perfectly dosed, flowing into one another like the pastels of a watercolor. Each new phase builds upon the previous, finally delivering to the wearer a delicate, but not reserved, floral citric gourmand. Sillage and longevity are both excellent. Baiser Vole can be worn anywhere; its politeness is perfectly suited to public places, yet tenacious enough to last through an evening party or a night's slumber.
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Giorgio Armani - Armani Privé - Rose Alexandrie
glitteralex 1/5/2012 1:35:00 AM
Rose Alexandrie is very low on fixatives, and not particularly concentrated, so wears quite differently in dry areas like the wrist vs moist areas like the inner arm. It is almost impossible to appreciate this scent unless the body or the climate is humid. The primarily Bergamot citrus top morphs into a tart tangerine after a few minutes. Shortly after, the fragrance enters Candyland for a bit, as the tangerine and rose briefly merge. I love the idea of rose and mimosa, but here the mimosa does not feel round and full as an absolute should. Good quality Mimosa reminds me of the Rousanne grape- full, slightly waxy, voluptuous, but dry. Here it is stingily used. As for the supposed star of the show, instead of being the anchor note, the Rose is abysmally shy- so much that I feel the scent has been ill-named. The moderately pleasant drydown is a waxy fresh combination of the Mimosa and the enduring Bergamot. All in all, this is a very simple scent, not terribly artistic, interesting, or high quality.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Yardley - Narcissus eau de toilette
glitteralex 12/8/2011 2:05:00 AM
I am not terribly familiar with Yardley fragrances, but this scent presents as the soliflore it claims to be. The opening has the waxy round scent true to the narcissus flower....I don't get any of the orange mentioned by castorpollux in the review above, but my bottle has been hanging around for quite some time so possibly these notes are damaged. I don't find the sweetness of the hyacinth either, but, then again, Yardley says about its floral fragrances: " Each featured one or two key linear notes that remain constant throughout the scent, softened with subtle top, heart and base notes. The result is harmonious and exquisite." Possibly the supporting notes to the Narcissus are used very sparingly and are not intended to be noticed? The base is quite dry and definitely unisex. Sorry if this review is also dry, but I can't say anything about this scent moved me. Longevity is decent. "Narcissus" is not on the current Yardley website, so I assume it has been discontinued.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Ren - Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask
glitteralex 11/22/2011 3:59:00 AM
I became interested in Ren products when my husband brought me home some from a trip to Europe where they are offered in hotels (!). I have dry skin with hyperpigmentation, and I am always looking for a good peel to prep my skin for either Retin-A or products to reduce discoloration. I prepped with the Clarisonic, then applied the Ren masque while my skin was still damp. It smells heavily of citrus and is the consistency of honey. After just a few minutes, I felt a tingling that indicated the product was working to exfoliate. I would say it is almost as strong as the Mychelle fruit masques. I left it on my face and neck for 10 minutes, then ran some more of it over my eye area, lips, and ears for an additional 10. I would not suggest more than this, as the peel can irritate beyond that. After rinsing, my skin was very dry. I treated with a 0.050% Retinoid and followed with a moisturizer. My skin feels tight, clear, and is slightly pink. It feels similar to a 20% peel from the dermatologist's office. All in all, I liked this masque/peel and would purchase a full size.
4 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Real Purity - Hibiscus lipstick
glitteralex 10/14/2011 2:03:00 PM
Nice, smooth sheer application that can be built to opaque. No scent, lots of shimmer, a cheery pink-rose. Very retro 80s. This is the more polite sister of Coral Berry by Real Purity, something I might actually wear if the rest of my face was subdued. See pic for lipstick with no other makeup on a light olive complexion.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Real Purity - Coral Berry
glitteralex 10/14/2011 12:32:00 AM
This is the ultimate fluorescent bubblegum pink. Like many all natural lipsticks, it needs to be built to achieve the full effect...and what an effect! Perfect for teenagers, strippers, and runway models, but ridiculous for the rest of us. No scent, nice, creamy, opaque application. Excellent for what it is, but not terribly practical. See photo, no makeup except the lipstick.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Unlisted Brand - Primitive Natural Makeup lipstick in Mali
glitteralex 10/12/2011 1:50:00 AM
Another creamy, dreamy lipstick from Primitive. This color is similar to Morocco, but a bit more grey-pink, and has a light shimmer (barely noticeable). I would call this an adobe color. Mali possesses both warm and cool tones, with incredible color even when moderately applied. This color is suitable for just about anyone, and perfect for daytime.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Unlisted Brand - Primitive Natural Makeup lipstick in Morocco
glitteralex 10/11/2011 4:47:00 PM
Like all Primitive lipsticks, this is a creamy semi-gloss and HIGHLY pigmented. That means that one coat, which you can still almost see through- will give you lots of color. While this color isn't for me, it is a true terracotta and would look perfect on medium and darker skin tones. Primitive lipsticks are soft, so go gently on the stick, or it will break at the bottom.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrance -MyChelle - Splash for men
glitteralex 10/11/2011 1:20:00 AM
This is the perfect "cologne" for men who want something that is soothing yet discreet. Mychelle uses both Clove Leaf Oil and Eugenol, which lend a slightly spicy/sweet feel to this splash. Geranium adds a little zing to the spice component, and Rose gives just a touch of velvet. Clary Sage and Mandarin add a fresh feel. The Glycerin is noticeable, and adds a slickery feel to the liquid. This light scent is very pleasant and unisex, and can be used as a base for my "all natural deodorant" regimen*, although it won't work quite as well as Weleda Deodorant since there is no alcohol to kill the BO germs. In Splash, Witch Hazel water is the base. The side bar reads: "Tone and refresh your skin with ingredients such as organic aloe vera, shea butter, ginseng and chamomile. Packed with powerful anti-inflammatory ingredients that reduce sensitivity and sooth irritated skin." Price was $17 at my local HFS. *Wash underarms very well. If possible, use a Clarisonic with body attachment. Let underarms dry well, then spray with Weleda liquid deodorant. Use this liquid to apply the crystal rock. Once dry, follow with a powder of some sort. I prefer Honeybee Gardens all natural. **you could replace the Weleda with this Splash cologne, and it would be less irritating but also a bit less effective. If you want to be really aggressive, you can apply rubbing alcohol instead.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Zoya - Zsa Zsa
glitteralex 9/23/2011 2:41:00 AM
I don't usually wear reds, but have been eyeballing this one at WF for a while. I liked the fact that it has nice dimension, and a good balance of orange and blue in it. It is more on the cool side, for sure. One coat covers, but is a bit too bright. Two coats is DIVINE- luminous, high gloss, classy with a little vamp. This could be worn year-round if you are a Red Polish Person, but I will use it primarily around the holidays. Formula is thin-medium consistency with excellent coverage and smoothness.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Darphin - Camomile Aromatic Care
glitteralex 9/15/2011 5:28:00 AM
This is a highly concentrated oil with a strong herbal aroma. The "Active Ingredients are listed as: Key Ingredients: Organic Chamomile and Sage Essential Oils, Sunflower Seed Oil, Jojoba and Sweet Almond Oil I also suspect a large dollop of Roseemary, which is a natural preservative. Sadly Darphin does not list all ingredients on its site, so we don't really know what's in it. I do know that Darphin uses natural "actives" in synthetic bases, and with questionable preservatives, although hopefully that is not the case here, because I very much like the consistency and absorbability of this product. It hydrates nicely, leaving skin immediately dewy, and in the morning my face looks revived and less red. I also use this in the eye area without any reaction.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No