Sunscreen -Neutrogena - Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 30
historian12 5/20/2013 10:13:00 AM
This is a good, effective sunscreen with a nice finish. It's ideal for oily or combination skin. I'm very fair skinned and I wore this on a trip to Egypt, where I had much more sun exposure than I normally do. I not only didn't burn, I didn't even tan. I've been using it for years and never had any problems with it. My only complaint about it, is that you really have to rub it in, or it can leave a whitish cast. Also you should wash off the palms of your hands after you are done applying it, otherwise you can accidentally get it on your clothes and it will leave white marks. Other than this, it's great!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Skin79 - BB Cleanser
historian12 4/30/2013 10:23:00 AM
I bought this product just because I thought it looked rather fun. First it does do a very good job removing BB cream. It comes out of the can as a whitish gel and you spread on your face. It then turns into a creamy foam, sort of like shaving cream. You can feel the bubbles tingling on your skin. Then you work it into the skin and rinse off. It does leave my skin nice and soft and hasn't caused any breakouts. There are two reasons I wouldn't buy it again. You can't use it in your eye area--it says specifically not to on the box, so if you have eye makeup on, you'll need a separate eye makeup remover. I prefer a one step product. Second, the can tends to leak, which wastes product. Still, it was fun to try, and if you don't mind having to use a second product to remove your eye makeup, you might want to give it a try.
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Deodorants -Unlisted Brand - crystal rock
historian12 4/18/2013 3:24:00 PM
I'm surprised that anyone finds that this works--I guess maybe it just depends on one's individual body chemistry. This did nothing for me--and I mean nothing! I could have just as easily splashed water on my underarms, it was that useless. Also, if you drop the crystal, it will shatter. I want to be eco-friendly, but I have yet to find any more natural alternatives that work.
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Shampoo -Unlisted Brand - Nizoral AD Shampoo
historian12 3/19/2013 11:15:00 AM
I've been dealing with dandruff for several years now and I've tried everything: Head and Shoulders, Selsun Blue, T-Gel, T-Sal, and Tea Tree Oil shampoo. I'd left this for last, as it is pretty expensive, but I read the glowing reviews, so I had high hopes for it. I used it faithfully for three months, but there was no difference in the condition of my scalp. On the plus side, it was less drying to my hair than the Tea Tree Oil shampoo I had used (Trader Joe's), but it still didn't help the dandruff. I guess I'm going to have to break down and go to the doctor.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -E.L.F. - Studio Blush Mellow Mauve
historian12 2/25/2013 5:18:00 PM
I think this an absolutely amazing blush for the price. It wears longer than many more expensive blushes I have tried. It's very pigmented and builds well. It goes on very true to the color in the pan and does not oxidize. It comes in a very sturdy, travel-friendly case. The case even has a mirror, which for $3.00 is incredible. This is definitely a re-purchase for me!
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Blush -NYX - Red *Updated Color*
historian12 2/14/2013 2:48:00 PM
I love this blush! It is a beautiful deep blue-red. Some people say it is a dup for Nars Exhibit A, but I think that is more of an orange-toned red. I put that I would purchase this again, but I doubt I will ever hit the pan--it's not a color you would want to wear everyday, and you really have to apply it sparingly. It is really pigmented! That said, it looks absolutely gorgeous on, and I cannot recommend it enough. For reference, I am MAC NW15.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - Skin Bleaching Gel
historian12 1/31/2013 5:42:00 PM
I am absolutely amazed by this product! I had been using Paula's Choice RESIST Clearly Remarkable Skin Lightening Gel with no results--I went through an entire tube--and I was afraid skin lighteners just didn't work for me. Then I bought this in .5 oz size just to give it a try. In a week, I could see a very definitely lightening of my acne scars! My whole skin tone looked more even and clear. It seems to exfoliate nicely. I've been using it for three weeks now and marks that I've had for years are disappearing! This product is more expensive than the Paula's Choice product I was using, but the performance so many times better that it is definitely worth the money. I cannot recommend this enough!
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Treatments -Garnier - Sleek and Shine Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment
historian12 1/31/2013 5:33:00 PM
I decided to try this product after reading all the rave reviews here. I have thick, coarse, wavy hair, which I blow dry then use a flat iron on--it's cut in a bob. My hair is very dry. I've been using about a quarter sized amount on my damp hair before blow drying. It just doesn't seem to do more than any other silicone product I've used. Looking at the ingredient list, all the plant oils are listed AFTER the fragrance, so there can't be that much of them in there. The price is great and the bottle is very convenient, but it just doesn't add that much shine for me. Edit: After using this product longer and trying genuine Moroccan Oil, I decided to come back and give it another star. I found it made my hair softer and easier to manage than Moroccan Oil. I still can't give it five stars, because it doesn't make my hair as shiny as I would like, but I am surprised it works better than the brand name stuff.
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Treatments -Paula's Choice - RESIST Clearly Remarkable Skin Lightening Gel
historian12 1/27/2013 3:08:00 PM
This product just didn't work for me. My red marks just didn't fade, even after going through an entire tube of it. It also didn't seem to exfoliate that well--I was still breaking out on my chin. I was disappointed, because I've liked a lot of Paula's products and the price was very reasonable. I've had much better success with MUAC Skin Bleaching Gel, but it's much more expensive. The packaging is also very bad. The product is extremely thin and runny. Luckily I followed the advice I had seen posted in some of the reviews on Paula's site. The reviewers suggested leaving the seal on the tube and just poking a small hole in it with a needle--this way you can actually control how much comes out. If you do use this product, I highly recommend following this procedure.
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Treatments (Eye) -Unlisted Brand - Dead Sea Premier - Eye Serum
historian12 1/27/2013 10:45:00 AM
First I'd like to say the product itself is great--it's the first eye serum I've ever used that actually diminished my eye wrinkles, and I've tried a lot of eye serums and creams! It's a bit greasy going on, but it absorbs in a reasonable amount of time. It contains several anti-oxidants and retinol, which are great ingredients. I doubt the dead sea minerals are there in sufficient quantity to do much of anything. Now for the bad. The container is horrible! It's a heavy, clear glass bottle with a pump, which holds 1.2 oz/35 ml. Sounds like a lot, doesn't it? First, you have to store it in a dark place to keep it stable, because the glass is clear. Second, it's too heavy to be portable. Third, the pump is horrible--it's virtually impossible to pump out just enough for your eyes, so you'll go through that 1.2 oz. in no time flat. You'll be much better off transferring it to your own container, or at least finding a different pump to fit the bottle, so you don't waste lots of product. A bit more advice. This product is sold at kiosks in shopping malls by very pushy salespeople. They will pretend they are giving you a great deal, but really they will charge you a ridiculous price. You can get this much more cheaply on Amazon or Ebay, and not have to deal with the pushy salespeople. I will definitely be buying this product again, but not in the mall!
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BB Cream -Skin79 - the oriental gold BB cream
historian12 1/26/2013 3:47:00 PM
I'm really pleased with this BB cream. I think it provides a nice, even finish and it wears all day long. I apply it with my fingers and set it with powder, as my skin is oily. The coverage is medium and it covers my redness quite nicely. The color is a very good match for my pale skin (NW15). I also love the SPF 25. I was pleasantly surprised by the cream blusher/lip color in the cap. I've never worn cream blusher before, as I always assumed it wouldn't last on my oily skin, however this wears really well! The color looks great on my cheeks, but I find it too pale for my lips. My only complaint is the packaging. It's definitely too large and clunky to be portable. The unusual pump mechanism for the BB cream itself can also be awkward to use. It can be purchased in a smaller tube, without the blusher/lip color though, if the pump and portability are an issue for you.
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Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream
historian12 12/17/2012 3:26:00 PM
Once you get over the idea that this product contains snail filtrate (snail secretion), you'll discover it's really a great find. Mizon contains 74% snail filtrate. Snail products are all the rage in Asia and I wanted to try one. However I have oily skin and it seemed like every product I came across was a heavy cream or was in jar packaging, which I don't like. After doing much searching on ebay, I found this product made in Korea. It's a clear, odorless gel and comes in a tube. Mizon's gel is perfect for oily skin. It absorbs right into your skin, leaving no greasy residue or tacky feel. It's supposed to help wrinkles and skin function in general. I'm not really sure it's helping on the wrinkle front, but my acne does seem to be healing more quickly since I started using it. The tube dispenses the product easily. The formula also contains some antioxidants. Mizon's Snail Recovery Gel Cream is very inexpensive and readily available on Amazon and ebay. If you are interested in trying a snail product, this is an affordable way to do it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Yves Rocher - Botanical Hair Care, Nutrition Nourishing Conditioner
historian12 11/26/2012 12:33:00 PM
This product is evil! As the previous reviewer stated, it should be given is zero! This is easily the worst conditioner I have ever used. I have extremely dry hair. This didn't condition my dry hair and it didn't detangle it either. It did, however, leave it a gooey mess. It was extremely difficult to rinse out, and I even had difficulty shampooing it out the next time I washed my hair.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -E.L.F. - Studio High Definition Powder
historian12 11/22/2012 12:38:00 PM
I used this powder for awhile, but ended up throwing it away. If you're not careful about how you apply it, it can leave a whitish cast to the skin. The powder also has a strange, plastic-like texture--I really can't describe it. It also does nothing to absorb oil. The package is also bulky and awkward. Now that I think back on it, I'm not sure why I used it as long as I did!
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Blush -Revlon - Powder Blush - Wine With Everything
historian12 11/19/2012 12:48:00 PM
I really like the color of this blush--it's really sort of a soft mauve than a wine color, but I can only give it three lippies because it just doesn't have staying power. It also takes a lot to build. If you are going for a very soft look, it would probably be suitable, but it just didn't work for me--I like something with more pigment.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No