Blush -NYX - Stick Blush
historian12 6/15/2013 7:26:00 PM
This is an amazing blush! I have it in Magnolia. I had been searching for a long time for a dup for the blush that comes in the lid of SKIN79's The Oriental Gold BB Cream, which they do not sell separately. I'd looked at all kinds of HE blushes, but then I happened upon NYX's stick blush at Ulta. Magnolia is almost a perfect match! Now for the blush itself. I find it very easy to dot on and blend. It also wears for 8 hours! It doesn't make my skin sticky or greasy. It just needs a light set with powder. Magnolia is a bright pink, but it blends nicely, so it doesn't look clownish. The container clicks firmly closed, so you don't need to worry about it coming open in your purse. It is an absolute steal for the price.
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Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Naruko Raw Job's Tears Supercritical CO2 Whitening Morning Yogurt
historian12 6/14/2013 11:30:00 AM
This is hands down the best product I have found for lightening discolorations and red spots. I had been using MUAC's Skin Bleaching Gel, but this is even more effective and it's more pleasant to use. It comes in a pump container, which is nice and hygenic. It's easy to control how much product comes out. The bottle holds 50ml/1.75oz, so it is a reasonable size. I think the price is fair, considering the amount you are getting. It is a very light, slightly moisturizing cream, that absorbs easily into the skin. It has a light scent from the ingredients, but no added fragrance. I use it only in the morning. I have combination/oily skin, but it does not seem to have made that any worse. Overall the evenness of my skin tone has noticeably improved since I started using this product. It's neither greasy or drying. I think this would be suitable for most skin types, unless you are sensitive to some of the plant extracts it contains.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Cat Cosmetics - Orgazzle
historian12 5/30/2013 5:21:00 PM
This is really an amazing blush--it's a deeper shade of pink than Cat's other powder blush, Whiskers, and it has just a slight gold sheen. It is very pigmented, yet still buildable. It wears for hours without a touch up. It's advertized as a universally flattering shade, and while I can't speak to that, it looks really lovely on my NW15 skin. I was worried when I first got it, because it does look very sparkly in the pan, but it just imparts a soft shimmer. It comes in a refillable compact or you can buy it in just the pan and put it in one of Cat's palettes. Nice for the environment! I think Cat Cosmetics doesn't get the love it deserves. The products over all are very high quality. They are definitely pricier than drugstore lines, but her site has sales occasionally and their customer service is excellent.
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Blush -NYX - Desert Rose
historian12 5/25/2013 7:23:00 PM
I really don't know why people waste money on expensive blushes when NYX makes ones of terrific quality, in a wonderful array of colors. I bought Desert Rose on a whim--I was just struck by how pretty the color was in the pan. It's a gorgeous matte burgundy-pink. It's a truly unique color. I was worried it would be too dark for my NW15 skin, but it just needs to be applied with a very light touch--this blush is really pigmented! It also lasts and lasts! It's my third NYX powder blush and I continue to be delighted with their products.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
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.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
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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