Masks -Dr. Hauschka - Facial Steam Bath
graphicfighter 6/26/2011 4:47:00 PM
I purchased the facial steam bath on a whim because I wanted a full spa experience at home with the cleansing clay mask and rejuvenating mask. When using the three products in a row, I can guarantee it's a real treat for your skin! However it takes time and it's just too much of a hassle for me. I love the product, but it just sits on my shelves uselessly because I never find the time to use it. People here suggested using it as a clarifying toner (1/3 steam bath + 2/3 mineral water) or as a spot treatment, which is what I'll do to finish the product.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Dr. Hauschka - Clarifying Toner
graphicfighter 6/26/2011 4:35:00 PM
Another amazing product from the brand that does everything it preaches. This is my HG toner. I use it as indicated in the morning and at night after the cleansing cream. It gets rid of the greasy film left after the cream and leaves your skin supple, soft and matte overnight. I found out it can be used to refresh your skin during hot days but also as a make up fixer. It's also a great addition with the cleansing clay mask. Works wonders and very versatile. My only complain would be the price and the packaging. It gets consummed pretty fast (3 months), especially if you spray it 5 or 6 times so that it covers your face evenly. Sometimes, either the spray gets clogged or it's just spraying not where you want it to spray making you waste the precious product. It takes a little while to figure out where to place it in front of your face to use it right, and I still fail from time to time. However, I read about a pretty savvy plan to spare on this product here in a Dr. Hauschka's Facial Steam Bath review. The reviewer pointed out that they were actually the same products/ingredients, except that the steam bath was more concentrated. By using 1/3 steam bath for 2/3 mineral water in the same bottle, it is said you'd obtain the clarifying toner. I have yet to try it, but I'm pretty sure it works! Overall, it's a fantastic toner and I'll repurchase over and over again.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Dr. Hauschka - Moisturizing Day Cream
graphicfighter 6/26/2011 4:11:00 PM
I used the moisturizing day cream in combination with the normalizing day oil, as recommended for the combination skins but I found that it wasn't efficient at all (check my normalizing day oil review). The cream is too heavy for my T-zone and it didn't help regulating the sebum at all. I haven't had any reactions from it, but I'm definitely not using it anymore since I discovered Dr. Hauschka's Melissa Day Cream (review coming soon when I can create the page product). Just like for the normalizing day oil, I'm finishing off the product on my body instead.
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Moisturizers -Dr. Hauschka - Normalizing Day Oil
graphicfighter 6/26/2011 3:51:00 PM
One of my biggest skin problem is its sebum regulation. I have a very oily T-zone and it's a bother when it makes my bangs greasy on shampoo day +1. Sadly, the normalizing day oil is one of Dr. Hauschka's products that doesn't hold all its promises for me. I used this product with and without the moisturizing day cream for a few months, as recommended for combination skin, but it hasn't greatly improved the oil production of my skin. Sometimes my skin would feel matter, sometimes shinier. There was no constant. Moreover, even if it's a dry oil, I found that it'd still leave a greasy film on my skin. It's not useless but not what I was expecting when you have to buy 2 products to get the effect of 1. It works for everything else though. My skin became almost pimple-free (if you exclude the before periods cycle), glowy and smoother. I think I haven't had this skin texture since my early days! Ironically enough, it just doesn't work as a normalizing oil on me. If you're a combo skin, I'd greatly recommend Dr. Hauschka's Melissa Day Cream instead (review coming soon on this HG day cream when I can create the page product). It didn't exist when I got to know the brand, which is why I first purchased this oil. Now that there's no way I'm going back to it after discovering the melissa cream, I'm finishing the bottle as an eye makeup remover.
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Masks -Dr. Hauschka - Rejuvenating Mask
graphicfighter 6/26/2011 3:28:00 PM
Holy crap! And grail. This mask is pure magic. It comes up in a small metal tube like many Dr. Hauschka's products and can be used in two different ways: let it sit for 15 mn as a mask, right after the cleansing clay + clarifying toner then dab it with a clean wet cloth; or due to its light texture, you can make it a 1 week intensive treatment as a thin layer under your day cream. Results are unbelievable! I'm usually a skeptical person when it comes to the classic before/after pictures, but trust me, this product is no joke. It has an amazing healing power on scars, redness and blemishes. Ever since I started using it, people have been asking me "Did you change something? Your hair? I don't know, you look really healthy lately". My hair? Nope. It's this mask. It makes your skin even, glowy and healthy (especially when you use it as a 1 week treatment). It's non-greasy and works very well with oily skin. If you poped a zit, the mask will make the scar disappear in 1/3 of the usual healing time. What more can I say? It's too fabulous not to repurchase, no matter its price.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Dr. Hauschka - Cleansing Clay Mask
graphicfighter 6/26/2011 3:02:00 PM
I have no other clay mask experience to compare it with, but it does its job wonderfully for oily and acne-prone skins. I use it once a week, usually before shower and let it sit for 10 minutes. I always find it funny how it makes my face all stiff after a few minutes and how I avoid to laugh when I have it on, ah ah! I have been trying it with and without the facial steam bath before but haven't noticed any major differences. Immediate results, however, are pretty impressive. The skin feels deeply purified and the pores are less visible (especially on my nose), which means significantly reduced. I believe the facial steam bath adds a little oomph to the mask, but it's just too much of a hassle for me. Again, I'm lazy and I hate to stay still so I'm no reference. The product is expensive but it's fairly covered by its luxurious packaging (heavy ceramic jar), the "ecolonomic" refill system and its efficiency. Would repurchase for sure.
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Cleansers -Dr. Hauschka - Cleansing Cream
graphicfighter 6/26/2011 2:19:00 PM
Dr. Hauschka's cleansing cream is a product hard to get used to, which is why I'm giving it mixed ratings but do read on to understand why I would buy it again (and again). I was on Suki's skincare regimen when I bought this, because I ran out of cleanser and didn't want to renew Suki's range. As much as I wanted to love Suki, it just didn't work for me, on top of being extremely expensive -- but that's for another review. I have never been attracted by Dr. Hauschka before and if I didn't hear an aquaintance's praises, I'd still be clueless about the brand. After reading about their holistic approach, I decided to give a first try at it. I was looking for something natural, at best organic, for my combo skin (very oily, acne-prone, mild rosacea, you name it all). This would do. Oddly enough, the first impressions really put me off. To begin with, the smell: there's a strong scent of alcohol, which I think is being used to replace chemical preservatives. Then when I first tried it on with the "press & roll" motion it requires, I thought "there's no way I'm doing this twice a day". I'm a lazy person and I come from a no-skincare-regimen-for-26-years so it was a lot to ask me! Finally, the result: I felt like my face wasn't cleaned at all. Worst, the cream left a greasy film on my face and hands. Way to go for a first Dr. Hauschka experience! I kept on using it religiously every morning and night until the tube was empty not because I was convinced, but because I hate to throw out things... and what a surprise! Even if I was still partly using Suki's products, without knowing it, a real improvement in my skin appearance showed up: more even, a tad bit less oily and I noticed a significant decreasing of zits which was my major concern (sudden change of my skin 2-3 years ago, unknown reasons). Considering these changes didn't occur when I was using Suki's cleanser, I assumed it was all Dr. Hauschka's magic. For all the bad impressions I first had, mark my words: you get used to it. The presence of alcohol? Didn't provoke any reaction on my sensitive skin. The roll & press motion? I don't know for other people, but it just takes me a few seconds and I don't let the cream sit. As for the unclean feeling, the clarifying toner gets rid of the greasy film and it's a good proof that the cleanser is actually very gentle and doesn't stripe all the moisture from the skin. To people complaining about its price: you just need a small nut of the product to do all your face. If you do so, the cleansing cream lasts around 3 months (at least for me). I admit we have it cheaper in Belgium (around 10€) but considering its efficiency, it's really worth its price... but honestly? It's not that expensive compared to other organic cleansers. The only two bad points I could point out are its misleading name and packaging. Although it's a cleanser, it's in no way a make up remover. Prepare to plan an extra step in your skincare if you're wearing make up on a daily basis (not my case though). Also, if you accidentally roughly bend the tube, it might get pierced like those old ointments metal tubes and compromise its safety so you have to be careful when pushing the product out. What about now? I'm going on my 4th tube already, combined with the whole range (check out my other reviews soon) and this product was the first baby step to restore my skin! I'm proud to say it's my HG skincare. Honestly, I was desperate when my dermatologist and gynaecologist couldn't find the reason why my skin started acting up after so many years of good behaviour so I can't stretch enough how this brand saved me and turned me into a skin-confident person again. Now that I think about it, my lifetime skincare belief of "less is better" was bound to meet their approach one day or another. I will definitely repurchase this product until I die.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Rene Furterer - Naturia Dry Shampoo
graphicfighter 5/26/2011 5:22:00 PM
Rene Furterer's Naturia has been my one and only dry shampoo for a year now but if it actually does everything it promises (leaves your hair fresh and fluffy the whole day and even day after), it runs out really fast! I'd say 8-10 uses to the most. When you know it costs 25$ a bottle, it makes you want to wash your hair more often to save it for the days you really need it... which actually defies the purpose of a dry shampoo supposed to be perfect for a quick on-the-go fix. I still sticked to it all the while knowing this because it is formulated without parabens/sulfates/petro-chemicals/phthalates/triclosan. Its ridiculous price per use eventually had me think twice again when I finished my spray this morning, thus setting out for the cheaper alternative brand "Batiste" which doesn't look bad on the composition. They're 1/3 of the Naturia's price and comes in variety of smells and finishes. I will voice my reviews and will edit this back as soon as I know whether it can live up to Rene Furterer's Naturia efficiency.
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Blush -NARS - Orgasm Blush
graphicfighter 5/14/2011 5:54:00 PM
Ranked HG material by many, I just had to grab it for myself and find out what all the fuss was about. The brand not being sold in Belgium, I had - like many products I own - to buy it online and rely on existing reviews to make my choice. When ASOS launched NARS on their website this year, including the famous ORGASM blush, this was definitely a sign (free shipping + 20% discount coupon, how could I resist?!). And to crown it all, I found out a few days after I placed my order that ASOS restricted the shipping of this product to UK only... lucky me! Honestly, I don't have many experiences with blushes so I can't really compare or confirm its status. I can, however, admit it's a very good product, providing you know how to use it: it can be as very pigmented as subtle! I'd strongly recommend using a kabuki brush along the apples of your cheeks for a glowing/healthy look, then lightly finishing off on the apples. When the color sinks after a little while, the name "orgasm" suddenly makes sense. The golden sparkles shining within the peachy pink blend perfectly with the skin, leaving what I'd describe as the closest to a natural "orgasm" flush effect as you could get. In terms of staying power, I don't feel the need to reapply during the day but it might depend on the color intensity you want to achieve. It also looks like it'll last for a while, even on a daily basis, since you need just a dab of it to bring color to your face. The packaging is classy and elegant: matte black, soft to the touch (I'm guessing silicone here) with the white NARS letters on the cover. When you open it, there's a little mirror facing the blush making it handy for outdoor touch-ups and a transparent sheet decorated with the NARS letters in black to protect the makeup. My only grip would probably be the price - even if I had a mad discount - and the composition. I really wished the product was at least free from parabens and other nasty chemicals... alas I assume you can't have it all.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -eos - Lip Balm Sphere - Sweet Mint
graphicfighter 9/30/2010 6:34:00 AM
This has to be the cutest lip balm I've ever seen in my life. I must admit it was quite the reason why I purchased it, on top of the fact it was organic. Once again, it's a product that can't be found in Belgium, so I ordered it from a UK store. Shipping was a bomb but still cheaper than if I got it from USA. Onto the efficiency of the product itself: I found it to be less moisturizing than any other drugstore lipbalms I've tried before, especially to repair heavy dryness, however perfect for a daily use at night AND under lipstick - should I add it's the only way lipsticks be it Lancôme or Chanel wouldn't dry my lips like crazy by forming an organic primer-barrier from all the nasty ingredients in the high-end lipsticks I use. Now about the flavour, if you're mad about mint like I am, this is the lipbalm for you! It's sweet yet tingles your lips for a little while after you put it on. I've been using it daily for 6 months now and I think the product could last if not 6 more months, a whole year again. Overall I found it to be the perfect daily lipbalm companion and would repurchase over and over considering its value/efficiency.
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Treatments -Biore - Pore Cleansing Strips - Nose
graphicfighter 9/30/2010 5:48:00 AM
Biore can't be found in Belgium so I had to order these online (actually found them on eBay UK). The first time I used a nose strip, I found it to be decent but overall not that impressive. 3 days later, I reapplied one after taking a hot shower and the result was even worse. Nothing came out from the tip of my nose and barely from the wings, and it's not like it was free from blackheads since I could still pop them by hand. The bad surprise came a few days after my second try: my nose started to peel like I got sunburnt! I guess that my skin is too sensitive for these... Because my boyfriend was curious about it, I had him try them on: results were amazing, two times in a row - and his blackheads aren't even that dark! So my opinion is quite on the fence, as the product seems to work differently depending on your skin type.
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Misc Beauty Tools -The Body Shop - Tea Tree Oil Facial Blotting Tissues
graphicfighter 9/29/2010 4:31:00 PM
I tried 3 different blotting papers so far, trying to look for something if not organic, at least natural and this one is by far the worst I've tested efficiency-wise. I have very oily skin and it took up to 3 papers to blot my whole face... with a 65 sheets conditioning, no need to say I was out of paper in less than a month! Moreover, the effect didn't even last the whole day; when applied at noon, my face went back to shiny by the evening, sighs. A pure waste of money.
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