Moisturizers -First Aid Beauty - Ultra Repair Cream
jbow 7/13/2012 3:49:00 PM
After buying moisturizers that cost over $30 for 1 oz, I wanted to find one that is less expensive with more product. I saw this moisturizer and initially bought the 2 oz. tube to try and was so impressed, I bought the jar, which is a great price for 6 oz. The consistency is light, and you do not have to use much product on the face. I've been using this for about 3 weeks now and I noticed that my face has improved in texture and is not as irritated as before - so much so that I don't have to put makeup on to hide the irritated areas. One night, I felt like my face was starting to break out in an area, so I put a dab of this cream on it, and in the morning, it was back to normal. Note that this product has eucalyptus oil in it so if you are sensitive to this, then it's not for you. Also, I recommend the Ultra Repair Cream over their Daily Face Cream, which is similar in ingredients but probably not as concentrated (and more expensive). I tried a sample of it and thought it was very similar. I have used the Ultra Repair Cream under makeup (don't slather it on, just use a light coat) and it was fine.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Korres - Milk Proteins Foaming Cream Cleanser
jbow 7/13/2012 3:30:00 PM
I had been using Philosophy Purity which is alright but my face never felt clean enough. I read the excellent reviews of Korres' Milk Protein cleanser and decided to try it. I have used it for about 3 weeks now and it is by far the best cleanser I have tried to date. I only use a pea sized amount and it does the job each time. It is gentle and smells good - hard to describe the scent, kind of vanilla-like. I use other Korres products and am happy with them, so it does not surprise me that the cleanser is so good. I wish I used it earlier!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Alba Botanica - Sea Kelp Facial Toner
jbow 4/27/2012 5:58:00 PM
After using the old formula for the past year, I bought the new, reformulated version and have used it for the past week. The scent is stronger but it is not a bad scent (pleasant,actually) and it disappears once applied to the face. I have not noticed any other differences - it still feels the same on my face and performs the same. Since it doesn't break the budget and still works as well as the old formula, I will continue to use it. Always use a good moisturizer after applying the toner - it does tend to be drying. I use it at night after a shower every other day (or as needed, if your face feels blah) and since I started using it, it helps prevent breakouts.
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Liquid -Korres - Wild Rose Foundation
jbow 12/14/2011 7:46:00 PM
After reading reviews on this foundation, and how it works better with yellow undertones (which I have), I finally decided to try this product in WRF3. It was frighteningly yellowy orange when putting it on for the first time, but it eventually changes into your skin color. The great thing is that it is buildable, so you can layer on until you're happy and not feel like you have layers of makeup on your face. The finish is great - my skin looks brighter and healthy, especially in the winter when it tends to get dry and dull. It is easier to use your fingers to do this. Some have complained about the packaging, but I actually like the bottle because I can control how much comes out of it - versus the pump, where if you pump out too much, you can't put it back in. The price is reasonable too - I also use Lavera and 100% Pure liquid makeup and the Korres is comparable in price. I use Korres Vitamin E primer with the Wild Rose Foundation - the key is to use the primer otherwise it will likely melt off in a few hours. Overall, a great product!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Korres - Quercetin & Oak Concealer Correcteur
jbow 12/14/2011 7:30:00 PM
I've been using this concealer for a week now and it's the best that I've used so far. It is creamy and goes on smoothly. I've used it with the Korres Wild Rose Foundation and with Lavera's liquid foundation and it works nicely with both. You must use primer for it to last all day - I use Korres' Vitamin E primer. As for dark circles, it slightly conceals under the eyes - I would give it a 5 if it could fully conceal!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -eos - Lip Balm sphere -medicated tangerine
jbow 10/27/2011 4:15:00 PM
I bought a 3 pack of the tangerine balm from Amazon. It has a slight medicine smell when you open the sphere, but the tangerine smell comes out more after you apply it on the lips. I love the tangerine scent! It is moisturizing as well. The packaging is cute but not very practical.
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Lipstick -Lavera - Lavera 26
jbow 10/19/2011 5:13:00 PM
I am a fan of Lavera's cosmetics (makeup foundation, eye shadow in particular) and was very disappointed by their lipstick. The Berry Violet color is pretty but it's too dry by itself and you need a moisturizing lip balm as a base. The staying power is not good either - the color seems to dissolve in a half-hour! I later bought Korres' Mango Butter lipstick and what a difference - that is my favorite lipstick.
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Lip Treatments -Korres - Lip Scrub
jbow 10/19/2011 5:01:00 PM
I bought the 3 pack deal from Sephora and love the lipstick and this scrub. I don't have overly dry lips but this product seems to work great for exfoliation. Once or twice a month, I scrub the lips after a shower and put on some Korres guava lip butter afterwards. My lips are noticeably smoother the next morning. Since I only use it a couple of times a month, the product should last for some time. I would buy this again.
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Lipstick -Korres - Mango Butter Lipstick in Fuschia 54
jbow 10/19/2011 4:54:00 PM
I bought the three pack from Sephora (containing Fuchsia, Cinnamon, and the lip exfoliator) and wished I had tried this lipstick earlier! Definitely my favorite lipstick so far - moisturizes and the color stays on for quite some time. The fuchsia is a bit bright so I put a little bit on each lip to spread out. It also has slight sun protection with SPF 10. What I also love is the smart and solid packaging - it's heavier and has that "click" so that you know it's closed. Great product!!
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Moisturizers -Korres - Wild Rose 24-Hour Cream
jbow 9/21/2011 6:21:00 PM
I'm the friend who got Maybelle hooked (see 4/14/11 review). I love this moisturizer - not heavy, not light, and doesn't have a weird smell. My skin drinks it up in the morning and it leaves it soft all day. Sephora had a great 2 pack deal earlier this year and I stocked up.
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Moisturizers -Weleda - Skin Food
jbow 9/21/2011 6:18:00 PM
I've been using Skin Food as a face moisturizer for the past 2 to 3 years. I have sensitive skin and this product moisturizes like no other and does not cause breakouts. It is too heavy for under makeup use, but sometimes I use a very very small amount if my skin is dry.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Maybelline - Line Stiletto liquid eyeliner
jbow 9/21/2011 6:03:00 PM
I was looking for an eyeliner and bought this on a whim as it was on sale at the drugstore. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to use and the staying power. I can put this on in the early morning and it will be only slighly smudgy in the early evening. The only downside is that it takes forever to dry so you need to have extra time for this, otherwise it will smudge. For this reason, I don't wear it everyday but will wear it when I can carve out some extra minutes of drying time.
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Liquid -Lavera - Makeup Fluid
jbow 9/21/2011 5:45:00 PM
As I am sensitive to drug-store brand foundations, which make my skin sting, I am giving this a 4 since this has been the only foundation my skin has tolerated for the last few years. The current foundation is a great improvement as it covers better than the previous formula. However, it is still not the best in coverage and all-day wear but it feels great on the skin and I have never had any negative effects. The new pump packaging is also an improvement. A month ago, I tried 100% Pure's Healthy Skin Foundation and that has been my new favorite. The 100% Pure can become cakey if my skin is dry, so I still use Lavera on those days, or mix the two. It is pricey but it lasts about six months of usage (at least for me).
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Mascara -Urban Decay - Skyscraper Mascara
jbow 9/13/2011 8:13:00 PM
After years of avoiding mascara because drugstore mascaras disappointed me too much, my friend introduced me to the Skyscraper mascara and I've been using it since. I don't need dramatic looks - just wearing it for everyday and to enhance my thin lashes. It is expensive but I don't mind the splurge.
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Mascara -100 Percent Pure - Fruit Pigmented ultra lengthening mascara
jbow 9/13/2011 7:54:00 PM
In the past, I had such a hard time finding a mascara that I like that I just avoided wearing it because it was always clump. A few years ago, my friend introduced me to Urban Decay and that has been my fave since. I started getting into 100% Pure products a few years ago too (I have sensitive skin) but never tried their cosmetics because I was always skeptical about the staying power of organic cosmetics, from prior experience with other brands. At a recent visit to the 100% Pure, there was a special promotion that involved this mascara and the pearlstick cream eye shadow pencil. I balked at the price (though it is cheaper than UD mascara), but I liked the eye shadow pencil and was willing to risk it. Well, I love this mascara. It smells good (yes, it smells fruity!) and it does not clump. It also doesn't feel like I'm wearing any mascara because it is so light. It tends to smudge when you're exposed to heat. The salesgirl also told me that the tube tends to dry out quicker. I'm usually careful in not pumping mascara tubes and using the twisting method when closing, so we'll see.
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