Polishes -Sally Hansen - Xtreme Wear Cherry Red
jessical5183 6/24/2012 4:33:00 PM
Amazeballs. I'm going to attempt to describe the color.... slightly bluish/purplish? It's a bit of a deeper red than others. It's absolutely gorgeous and doesn't offend the eyes as much as some reds can. It seems to blend into the skin better, and fade into the background, rather than steal the show. It feels "warm"..... not in tone, but in "oomph". Paired with a sweater in the fall/winter, it's a cozy red. Does that make sense? It's not a bombshell/diva red. Don't get me wrong, it's very, very red. But not alarmingly so. I find with my skin, it really makes my hands look gorgeous and healthy. I literally sit and stare at them and think "Wow. Hello. I didn't know you were there." I am fair-skinned with rather "ruddy" tones in my hands around my knuckles and nail beds. So a common problem I have is that polishes will make me look sickly if they contrast with this appearance too much. The skin on the tops of my hands and on my fingers is normal, but if I have the wrong nail color, my knuckles and nail beds will make me look diseased. I think this is why I keep coming back to reds. They always compliment the ruddiness that appears in my hands and can almost completely wash it out. I find this to be the case with Sally Hansen's Cherry Red. It makes me feel "normal". It's so difficult for me to wear many colors, which is a total bummer for me because I LOVE painting my nails. I find myself coming back to this color and L'Oreal's "Apple of My Eye #430" over and over again. Sadly, these reds are not the most appropriate for everyday use in a corporate environment. Damn the prudes. I find this formula to be very easy to work with. It's thicker than some, and when I've been pinched for time, I've been able to get away with just one coat. It's very opaque. I always prefer 2 coats of any color - no more, no less. And this is probably the only one I've ever let slide with just 1. With 2 coats, it's simply divine. It can take a bit longer to dry than some. I always use INM Out the Door to complete my manicures, but this polish takes a bit of time to reach full dryness where it can't be smudge or imprinted from pressure. I think that's just because it's a thick formula. I would never fault it for that, though, because it's really my best friend and I'm loyal to it. But if you're looking for something that dries super rapidly, this *may* take a little too much time for you. I hate to say that, because I don't want it to deter anyone from trying it out. I mentioned in a previous review of L'Oreal's Apple of My Eye that I have no clue what color I am in MAC to reference a skin tone for you all. They've never been able to accurately match me, I think because I'm a neutral. I'm not a makeup artist and I don't have the best eye for undertones (anyone else helpless on this like I am?), but I have found a perfect match in Graftobian's HD foundation shade "Prima Donna". That probably helps no one. Sorry. :-( But I DO know a match when I wear it, and this red is so, so beautiful. I'm almost out of it, so will have to repurchase soon. This color may not look the best on warm undertones, because looking through the bottle, there are definite hints of blue/purple. But don't take my word for it. I think it's worth a shot for everyone. I can't say much about packaging, because I'm not the type who's picky about that sort of thing. But it is very basic and unimpressive for those of you who want something flashy. To my eye, it certainly appears to be a cheaper item. Whatever. It's not as if you'll be pulling this out a 5-star restaurant for touch-ups. I can better understand the need for fancy packaging with lipsticks, but certainly not with polish. It's 0.40 fl oz, which I find is around the average. I've had this polish for almost a year and have gotten a ton of use out of it. I still have 1/2 the bottle left and will need to purchase some paint thinner soon, as I find my older polishes are all thickening up a bit. That's par for the course, though. Can't fault the product for that. I will buy this product over and over again. I'm totally addicted to reds, especially when I find one that suits me. I highly recommend it!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -L'Oreal - Pro Manicure - Apple of My Eye - 430
jessical5183 6/24/2012 4:08:00 PM
I'm almost out of this stuff!! Noooooo! Funny story - I am lucky enough to have a boyfriend who is willing to grab me the occasional ladies' item if he happens to be out and I'm in dire straits. So he's actually the one who picked out this color for me. I asked him in a pinch to please pick up a red polish for me, and this is what he came home with. And, coincidentally, it easily sits in my top 3 polishes of all time. I have fair skin, and this polish is GORGEOUS. It's not tacky or overdone. And in a weird way, it has a very luminous, almost (I stress, *almost*) neon finish. Don't be offended by that. I just mean that it really glows. I only ever have to apply 2 coats of this. One coat is fully opaque, but I would never leave it at that, as it looks too unfinished and "thin". But 2 coats is perfection. As other reviewers have said, applying it really is fool proof. One gripe I have, which I won't take off a lippie for, considering it happens to pretty much ALL polishes that are as old as this bottle I have - it's globbing up. I still have 1/2 a bottle left and applied it to my nails last night and it took me 3x the amount of time because I kept having to close it, shake it, maneuver it to get the paint on the brush, and re-dip the brush over and over because I couldn't get a coat on a single nail without it becoming a sticky mess halfway through. So I would have to dip, paint one side of a nail, dip, and paint the other. I hear from nail techs that a drop or two of paint thinner works wonders to combat this problem (don't EVER use polish remover for this, ladies! Big mistake!), but I don't own any. I may have to add that to my arsenal in the future. (Note to self.) As I said, I still have 1/2 a bottle left and I don't want to waste it. But I love this polish so much, and I've owned it now for about 8-9 months, so I won't discredit it for something I don't feel it should be blamed for. I love it too much. When it's new, the formula is very, very smooth. No globbing, not too thick, doesn't spill or runoff into the folds of the nails. It's just great. And it dries rather quickly. Probably in 1/2 the time of other polishes I own. I always use a coat of INM Out the Door over all of my polishes, but still, they all dry at different speeds depending upon the formula. This one is probably fully dry in 30-45 minutes.... meaning I can't dent it on accident with too much pressure. Other polishes I own can take 1-1.5 hours to reach that point. Know what I mean, ladies? Just when you think it's done, you go to bed and wake up the next morning with sheet/hair imprints on your beautiful manicure. Not cool. That doesn't happen with this polish. I've mentioned in another review (see Rimmel's Pink Bliss) that I often repaint my nails, so I don't find that lasting power is ever an issue for me, as I usually don't wear polishes long enough to have to worry about that. But I did wear this for several days over Christmas last year and I kept getting so many compliments and was so busy during that week that I didn't have a chance to keep on top of my polish, and this lasted like a gem. I don't care about packaging, but I find this bottle to be attractive. It's sleek and it reminds me of the shape of Essie bottles a bit. But it could look like a horse's a** and I wouldn't mind. As long as whatever is inside gets the job done. What I do love about the packaging is the handle - there's a slight "dip" in the back of the handle that seems perfectly aligned for my thumb, so that I can get a really good grip on it while I'm painting. Almost like the grooves you'll find on steering wheels. I'm not sure if the company intended this or not, but I love it. I feel like I get much better control with this design. I keep coming back to this color. I am totally addicted to reds, as they really compliment my skin tone. My other favorite is Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear in #160 "Cherry Red". That one is slightly deeper in color than this L'Oreal polish, but I use both of them over and over again. I could live in these forever and be happy. I don't have the best eye for matching colors to skin tones, and I've never been correctly matched to a MAC color in my friggin' life (I think I'm neutral, so I walk out with NC or NW depending on the tech and the lighting), so I can't say for sure what color I am with MAC. If anyone uses Graftobian HD foundation, I'm a near-perfect match with their neutral shade "Prima Donna". My hands are closer to "Bombshell", because they're lighter. But I'm quite fair. Sometimes a red can look awful on me, but Apple of My Eye is just amazing. Everyone should give it a try at least once. It looks STUNNING in the sunshine, as well. It's so fresh and bright and pleasant without being tasteless. It's very elegant and would be gorgeous for a formal dinner, cocktail party, night out. With a good top coat, it really glistens. Hope this review helps!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Rimmel - Lasting Finish Pro Enamel~Pink Bliss nail polish
jessical5183 6/21/2012 6:20:00 PM
I love this! Like the reviewer below me stated, I was also looking for an appropriate pale pink that would be suitable for interviews. I scoured every brand at Wal-Mart, holding up each color to my hands to see what would best suit my skin tone. The skin around my nails can appear somewhat red at times, especially after I've removed red polish (which I LOVE to wear, as you can see in my other reviews), so I need a color that will compliment that tone rather than contrast with it. I find that many pale colors make my fingers look "irritated" or sickly because they clash with the color of my fingers and bring out the red, making it appear as though I chew on my fingers, which I don't. This Rimmel polish is a great color for me! I've been on the hunt for something just like this for years. This is the first time I've ever tried a Rimmel polish. I've only just completed my first paint job with the color, so I can't yet speak to the lasting power of the polish, but that's not usually a concern for me, as I find that my INM Out the Door top coat is excellent for prolonging the life of pretty much any polish I've used. And besides that, I enjoy painting my nails frequently, so lasting power usually isn't a concern for me considering that I typically repaint my nails every 4-5 days. It was 95% opaque with 2 coats. I did opt to do a 3rd coat (which I NEVER do), only because I find that when I apply my INM top coat, the brush seems to "pull" my colors thinner at the base.... has this happened to anyone else? I didn't want that to happen with this Rimmel color, so I applied a 3rd coat to be certain that it would remain opaque. But it probably wasn't entirely necessary. Overall, I am extremely happy with this. The brush was excellent and very easy to control. I enjoyed it much more than some of the smaller brushes some brands use. The only reason I chose to give it 4 lippies and not 5 is because I found that the formula was almost *too* thick. It would run off my nails into the cracks and I kept having to clean the edges. Also, I had to close and re-mix the bottle a couple of times during application because it seemed that it might've been gooping up a tadbit. But I am extremely discerning, so don't forgo the chance to try this out just because of my fussy-ness. ;-) I highly recommend this polish! And you can't beat the price. ***UPDATE*** Ok, so I just tried out my 2nd paint job with this color. After the first one, which I reviewed above, I started to think I hated the polish and was all wrong about my initial impression. 3 coats made it look like I had thick milk on my nails, and they looked chunky and overdone. The color came out less pink and more white. It was really quite horrible. Also, each additional coat past the first one seems to lack the ability to "blend" with the coat below it, so I could really see the lines around the edges of my nails detailing where each previous brush stroke had been. YUCK! I only wore it for about 2 days and had to take it off. It was ghastly. I'm giving it another chance, though. This time, I tried just 2 coats. I also realized a better way to use the brush - it's chunky and holds a lot of product, so I think Rimmel intends for us to "push-n-pull", which fans the brush across pretty much the entire width of the nail (except for the thumb, of course). You have to work fast, because the formula goops quickly and is not forgiving. I've uploaded a picture of today's application with 2 coats. You can see that it's not fully opaque. There was some streaking, but it wasn't the worst I've seen. And in my initial review, I was worried that my INM Out the Door top coat would worsen the opacity, but in fact, it seemed to pull the polish together and make it appear more unified. Without the INM top coat, 2 coats of the Rimmel would've left it unwearable (in my opinion). I'll wear this for the next couple of days and see if I can tolerate it any better. I'll come back and give my final verdict (this review is already ridiculously long for a nail polish!). Overall, I'm not very happy with this one and can't seem to find the sweet spot where it does what I want it to. I'm dropping it down from 4 to 3 lippies today and may end up coming back to lower it yet again. *sigh*
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -H20 - Sea Pure Creamy Facial Cleanser
jessical5183 5/5/2012 12:41:00 AM
WOW. I love this stuff. I think it has played a MASSIVE role in helping to clear up my acne, no kidding. So, my "Mommy" - I say that endearingly because her Mommy love saved me with this product - found this stuff for me in the middle of the WORST acne episode I'd experienced in my life. I'd always had mild/moderate acne, and at some point in 2011 for whatever reason, it decided to cross over into the severe category. I wanted to die. It actually made me miss my milder acne, which I never thought I'd say. At any given point in time, I would have 20 active breakouts on my face and probably 30 new ones forming. I had it all over my cheeks, cheekbones, forehead, and chin. I would wash my face and spend 2 hours in the bathroom simultaneously dealing with eruptions and newcomers. Blood and puss everywhere. It was deep, throbbing, and PAINFUL. People.... I wanted to kill myself. If you live with this, you know where I'm coming from. I just about became a recluse. There was no covering it up. Everyone could tell. My face was just covered in bumps everywhere. My mother bought this for me at Christmas from Ulta. It was on some sort of clearance sale. And I'm the first person to review it here. I can't understand why more people don't know about this amazing product....?? Mom was on my butt about using unnatural products and kept telling me I needed to get rid of the chemicals. I've said in previous posts that I'm not a member of the organic club, so I tended to ignore her. That's why she had to go out and buy the stuff for me herself. So I used it (free is more fun, right?) and wouldn't you know it, Mom was right. My skin started clearing up immediately, like magic. If I could buy a bottle of this for every acne sufferer in the world and dole it out like candy, I would. My heart sank when I saw that there were no reviews of this yet. I thought, "Noooooo, no one knows about it! How do I get the word out??" I hope more people will try it. I can't vouch for the rest of the line, but this cleanser is awesome. I don't know why. Obviously, as you'll see from my regime listed below, I'm not using ALL organic products. I still use chemicals. But there's just something about this cleanser specifically that really agrees with my skin. I use this with my Clarisonic. It is SO soothing and really provides a deep clean. My skin feels 100% completely emptied out of all gunk when I've used this, and it can really breathe. No squeakiness, no dryness, no stripping of oils... it gets you just to that point and doesn't mess it up. If you were to use too much, however, it may seem to do that... probably due to the citrus. If you read Paula Begoun (Paula's Choice), you'll know she hates plant ingredients. Don't listen to her. I was weary of using this for that reason, but this cleanser is amazing. It doesn't irritate my sensitive skin at all. (Oh gosh, I hope no one uses this based on my glowing review and has a bad experience with it, because I'll feel responsible.) I just hate - HATE - how expensive it is. And it's a pretty small bottle. And, I live in Canada. Luckily, I was able to find it on StrawberryNet with free shipping. Heck yeah! I'm on my 2nd bottle now and I plan to use it forever. Unless I find a miracle product that makes me look 16 again. ;-) Notes: 1. Don't use it for makeup removal. Use something first to remove your makeup - I recommend Olay's Gentle Foaming Cleanser for Sensitive Skin. Then use this. 2. Make sure you use a nice calming toner after. My absolute favorite right now is Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner. *swoon* It's just perfection in a bottle. So soothing, so gentle, absolutely will not irritate your skin for any reason. I just love it. 3. Then I apply my benzoyl peroxide. My fave right now is Clearasil Daily Clear Vanishing Acne Treatment Cream BP Plus.... this may only be available in Canada, I don't know....? The laws about BP vary between the US and Canada. It has 5% BP in it and I love it. It's so much better than the other BP treatments I've used so far. 4. Lastly, I apply my beloved Impruv Cream, made by Stiefel - the same folks who make PanOxyl, which I also love and use for my body acne when I shower. I use this cleanser day and night, same routine, even under makeup. It hasn't failed me. My skin is now 90% clear. No joke, people. I'll also note: at Christmastime, in conjunction with the H20 Sea Pure Cleanser, I started taking strong probiotics, zinc, and B-complex supplements daily. I would say the probiotics cleared up any intestinal issues I might've had that were causing my acne, and I worship them. If you don't know about them, read up. They'll save your life. And zinc is HUGE for acne. I may be on the way to perfect skin for the first time since I was 15 years old. :::knock on wood::: But supplements belong in a whole different post so I'll shut up now.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Neutrogena - Body Lotion Light Sesame Formula
jessical5183 5/5/2012 12:11:00 AM
Hate it. Originally, I thought I loved it. It has a great consistency, spreads easily, smells decent, and absorbs quickly. I felt like it was truly moisturizing my skin at first, and making it silky smooth, but it DOES NOT. Quite the opposite. I'm somewhat alarmed that so many people are singing its praises, because I feel like people should know NOT to buy this. I bought a massive 32oz bottle of the stuff based on the super high ratings it had received on this site. I was ecstatic to receive it. I am now 95% of the way through the bottle and I'm bummed. It's nice for hands - I'll give it that. It's perfect for a day hand lotion. But it has made my legs SO dry. Dryer than they would be without lotion.... that's not normal. I think it must have some drying ingredient(s) to blame.... The skin on my legs has become crepe-y, thin, flat, dull, and a nightmare to look at. I feel like it has aged my legs by 20 years. I'm not kidding. I definitely will not buy this again. Small red bumps have shown up on my thighs as well, like actual zits. No, they're not ingrown hairs. They're red bumps. The lotion is just icky. Repeated use seems to create problems. Dangit! Finding an appropriate body moisturizer is becoming a real chore for me. I'm allergic to shea butter. I have acne-prone skin ALL over, so I can't use anything greasy. Besides, even if I could, I hate greasiness. It makes my skin crawl. Especially when I put on clothes and feel like I'm transferring oils to my fabrics and then living in it for several hours. GAG. I have to feel like my skin can breathe, and oily textures do not lend to that. I loathe body butters, as I do not have 20 minutes to spend everyday on working a product into my skin. I want something that is quick and simple and gets the job done. I want my skin to be soft, supple, and deeply hydrated. Is that too much to ask? I've tried a lot of different products, which I have yet to review, but I wanted to pop this one up quick since I'm so miffed about it. Grrrrrr.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Smith's Rosebud Salve - Smith's Rosebud Salve
jessical5183 3/25/2011 7:18:00 PM
Had read about this in several magazines and had it on my list of "things to buy". Finally saw it at American Apparel over the past weekend and snatched it....instantly fell in love. I've been searching for something of this consistency for my lips - oily and hydrating, but not runny or greasy. I don't like balms or chapsticks for my lips, because they feel too petroleum-based for me and don't seem to penetrate for hydration. I bought the Rosebud Salve in the can and I actually love the can....it seems very vintage. I had the choice to buy the tube, but it seemed there was a lot less product in there and I found the can to be quite charming. I know, I know, people like to complain about the cleanliness of cans and jars, claiming they're unhygienic, but I just use a q-tip to apply. I've been using this on my lips and never in my entire life have my lips been as plump and smooth as they've grown this last week while using this stuff. It did everything I've always wanted a lip treatment to do, but have always been disappointed with other products. At night, I'll apply this to my cuticles, rub it in, then follow up with a good hand cream, and my hands and cuticles stay amazingly soft and moisturized. I've read where people say this should not be applied to chapped lips, but mine were chapped when I first bought it and within the first day, it had worked to dissolve the dry skin on my lips and reveal a fresh, soft new layer. Since then I've been using this daily and it's kept my lips amazingly supple. I can't believe it. I've never had anything restore my lips to this condition before. Everyone should give this a shot. Oh! I almost forgot to mention that I've been placing it on my dry elbows and poof - they're good as new. This product is awesome. I think I'm definitely an addict now.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Marcelle - Velvety Powder Blush
jessical5183 3/25/2011 6:37:00 PM
LOOOOOOOOVE. I've always had a hard time with blush because my skin tone is very weird and the wrong color on me can quickly turn into a disaster. I picked this one up in the color "Natural" a few weeks ago, just because at this point I'm willing to try anything. And as luck would have it, it turned out to be an HG for me. I have fair skin and was never able to find the right combination of colors to compliment my skin tone, but this blush finally pulled it all together. Up until this point, I'd been using Benefit's Hoola bronzer for contour and whatever blush I could reach.....they were just ok for me, but I wanted to do better. On top of loving the color, the blend is magnificent. It goes on smoothly, has great color payoff without being too heavy or densely pigmented, and it lasts. It's so easy to blend, so I never get that weird clumpy look that so many blushes can give. It's even and forgiving. Because I have fair skin, I can use this as a very natural-looking bronzer under my cheekbones and on my temples, and pair it with a nice pink blush on the apples of my cheeks for a very forgiving and flawless fresh look. Or, I can use it alone as a blush. It's versatile and works perfectly for me everytime. I can count on it, which I love. I highly recommend. I apply it lightly with my Sephora stippling brush for a soft application. Beautiful!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -BeneFit Cosmetics - HOOLA
jessical5183 3/25/2011 6:29:00 PM
Decent. Not an HG for me. I don't love it or hate it. When I first bought it, for the first week, it made my skin itch like a beast. No breakouts or anything, no rash or bumps, but it itched soooooo much. I'm assuming that's from the heavy talc in it. Eventually that went away, though, when my skin got used to it. Thank goodness I didn't have any flareups. I have very fair skin, so this is a difficult color for me to pull off, even as a contour. I tried to make it work every which way I could, just because so many other people love it. I finally gave up when I'd received one too many comments that my cheeks looked "dirty". No way, Jose. That was all I needed to hear to retire this stuff indefinitely. If I happen to get a bit of color in the summer months, I'll pull this back out again. It's very very pigmented so one must be very careful when applying it. Use a light hand. Don't use a dense brush. And maybe use this prior to powdering your face, so that maybe your setting powder will diffuse the color of the bronzer a bit. It's really intense and very tricky to get right....at least for fair-light skin tones. I imagine anyone medium and deeper would love this. It has no shimmer, and it lasts. In itself, it's a great product. Just not the best color for us all. I've resorted to using my Marcelle Velvety Powder Blush in "Natural" as my bronzer now. It works perfectly with my pale skin and I can use it as a contour or a blush, depending on my needs.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -GloMinerals - GloLoose Base
jessical5183 3/25/2011 6:20:00 PM
I'm surprised this company is still in business. They have HORRIBLE customer service. Each order I've made has required repeated attempts on my part to get in touch with anyone at their offices for help in tracking my packages. They are largely unavailable and unwilling to help if/when you're finally able to get a live person to speak with you. Unbelievable. As for the product itself, it's no different from any other mineral foundation. You get a bit more product than most, but for the price??!!! Agh! It's outrageously priced. I can't imagine how they justify charging their customers so much, especially when the service isn't there to back it up. I could just scream. I know we're all familiar with this type of disappointment in a company. The mineral foundation is pigmented much differently than the color swatches you'll encounter on their site. And if you write them asking for help in determining your skin tone, forget it - you will never hear back from ANYONE. On two occasions, as is recommended on their site, I sent in photos of my bare skin in daylight, because they claim that their "Glo Girls" will color match your foundation for you. HA! The Glo Girls never got back to me. Waste of time. The foundation is mediocre at best. It has a highly reflective quality that will show up in photos and make your face appear incredibly oily. Also, after about 4-5 hours of wear I started to notice that it was breaking down and melting off of my face. This was even after I'd applied it over a primer. I'd pay $15 for it at most. If you're content with whatever brand of mineral foundation your'e using now, and perhaps are considering trying out gloMinerals, I would not recommend that you waste your money, especially because you may never get it back if you end up not liking the product and want to return it. I was unable to match my color correctly and when I contacted them to see about returning it, they blamed the error on ME, saying it's not their fault that I didn't pick out the right color. !!! I am flabbergasted. Watch out, people. I'd just sidestep these folks altogether and try someone else out. I will never consider their brand for repurchase again after my horrible experience with them.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -L'Oreal - L'Oreal Elnett Extra StrongHold UV Hair Spray - 11 oz.
jessical5183 3/25/2011 6:05:00 PM
What in the world?? I don't understand how L'oreal gets away with charging out the wazoo for this product. A bit presumptuous, if you ask me. I'd always heard good things about this spray and finally decided to fork over the cash for it a couple of weeks ago. It does what a spray should, which is to hold your style. And I will admit that it goes on without leaving your hair crispy or crunchy. It doesn't weigh my hair down, and it leaves my freshly curled tresses quite light and bouncy. I do like that about it. But the real problem came the next day after each use.....I noticed that within 12 hours my hair had gone from healthy and shiny to EXTREMELY dry and dehydrated. It was certainly due to this product. I have never in all of my years had my hair in such bad shape. It took 3 or 4 rinsing sessions with a good deep-moisture treatment to restore my hair's health and vitality. I couldn't believe how quickly my hair had declined. Be careful with this, ladies. It's a wolf in sheep's clothing. It will lure you in upon application, because it does work splendidly.....but the next day, your hair will by dying of thirst. I'm afraid to ever use it again. And the price is OUTRAGEOUS. L'Oreal is seriously delusional about this one. I'd rather stick to my trusted Salon Grafix formula, which is just as dependable and 1/4 of the price.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -St. Ives - Soothe - Aloe & Chamomile
jessical5183 3/25/2011 5:55:00 PM
Is this available only in Canada? I'm curious as to why it hasn't been reviewed yet. Anyway, tried it on a whim and it's nothing special. Just your ordinary, everyday body lotion. It goes on easily and absorbs quickly and is not at all greasy or oily, so that's nice. But after a few hours my skin feels dry again. This has a ton of mineral oil in it (why do companies keep using this crappy ingredient??), and is water-based. Not a fan. Definitely wouldn't buy it again. It's basic and would probably be most suitable as a summer lotion for people without concerns of dryness and flaking. I'm looking for something that actually transforms my skin, because after a couple of years of (shamefully) using a tanning bed and going without lotions after my showers, my 27-year-old skin needs some intense treatment. This is not the lotion to do it. Don't expect much from this if you intend to buy, it's nothing to write home about.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Makeup Remover -Estee Lauder - Gentle Eye Makeup Remover
jessical5183 3/25/2011 5:47:00 PM
Hmmm, I was going to review this positively until I read the other members' complaints and then I realized....yeah, it is kinda crappy. They're right. I'm torn now. I've been using this for a long time. I used to watch my grandmother and my mom use it, so for me it was one of those "staple" products that I didn't think twice about owning. I've never been one to hunt around for eye makeup removers, because I was younger and wasn't concerned about being gentle with my eyes. Usually I've just depended on my regular face wash to get the job done. I use this now and then when I have stubborn products on my eyes that won't rinse off, like if I went out for the night with dramatic eye makeup on. I would never have thought to complain about it, but I saw what other people were saying and yes, I agree with them.... it doesn't work quickly. You have to either soak a cotton pad with it and let it sit on your eye for 10-20 seconds and then remove, or you may even feel tempted to rub your eyes while using it (eek!! don't ever do that). And, like others, I have also had the occasional moment when it got in my eyes and burned. But I've always blamed myself for that. I never thought to complain that the formula might be too harsh for the eye area. (major FAIL!!) Now that I think about it, this really isn't anything to rave about. I'm sure being in the 21st century, there are much better options out there for us now. And besides, I've got my DHC Deep Cleansing Oil and Bioderma Sensibio H2O to depend on for thorough makeup removal. So, while I came here intending to give it 4 lippies, I think I'll leave it with only 2. It's not a fool-proof, easy product that we can depend on, so I say don't waste your money. Find something that works quickly and efficiently, as our products should.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Mario Badescu - Alpha-Grapefruit Cleansing Lotion
jessical5183 3/25/2011 5:38:00 PM
Love this stuff. Hmmmm, I don't know that I'd say it does much, but it's what it doesn't do that I love, which is that it doesn't break me out. I stumbled upon Mario Badescu's products years ago when I was desperate to try new things to treat my out-of-control acne, and I've been hooked on their line ever since. This is just one of the many Mario Badescu products I've used for years and have grown to love. It never breaks me out, which is #1 most important to me when reviewing any product. It is very soothing and calming as it claims to be. I am quite religious these days about making sure that my face is deep-cleaned at night, so sometimes once I've removed my makeup and cleansed my skin, it can be left feeling a bit raw. This toner ALWAYS restores the balance back to my skin and makes it feel refreshed. It will never do anything for your face aesthetically, meaning, it won't change the appearance of your skin. But it's great for those of you who need to restore the pH balance back to your face. I dunno. Maybe I could remove this from my regimen without missing it, but I just love it too much and it's always been a pleasant step each night as I'm preparing for bed. It's gentle and refreshing, and feels like an old friend. Nothing spectacular, but dependable. I will continue to use it for a long time.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -DHC - Deep Cleansing Oil
jessical5183 3/25/2011 5:28:00 PM
Yep, like everyone else I thought, "Oil? On my oily face? Are you people insane?" Just goes to show, I guess, that we can make friends of our enemies.....mine being grease. I'd been reading about oil-based removers for years, and vowed never to try one. Why would I, I thought, when I can get an oil-free cleanser that works just as well? I didn't want to even risk causing my skin to break out, so I held off. Well, as I get older and try more products on my acne-prone skin, I'm realizing that most cleansers geared towards people like me are most often quite damaging to the skin and only serve to exacerbate the issue of breakouts. They're drying, they strip my skin of nutrients and cause it to look dry, tired, dull, and aged. So, with much hesitation, I finally decided to try out the DHC Cleansing Oil. I'm so glad I did. Even upon first receiving it, I didn't like it. But I was using it all wrong. Now that I've gotten used to it, I have fallen in love. I am always depending on this and/or my Bioderma Sensibio H2O to remove my makeup at night. I prefer the DHC Cleansing Oil, because I can use my hands and don't need any cotton pads (as I do with the Bioderma), and it removes every last speck of my makeup in one go (including eye makeup). The Bioderma is quite pricey and I find that I need to use 2-3 cotton pads with it to get off all of my makeup, and then an extra cotton pad or two with my Estee Lauder eye makeup remover to get off the rest of my liner and mascara. No bueno. With the DHC Cleansing Oil, I only need to use a couple of pumps once on my whole face, massage it in gently, then rinse with warm water, and voila - ALL of my makeup is off, and my face feels baby soft and super clean. Now normally, I will take off my makeup and THEN use a cleanser to clean my face. A lot of people don't realize they need to break this up into two steps - it's all too common for women to depend on one product to both remove their makeup and clean their face, but it just doesn't work that way, and then you're left with unclean pores and, eventually, zits. But with the DHC Cleansing Oil, I always feel like it's unnecessary to follow-up with a cleanser. I still do, mind you, but I wonder if maybe I don't need to. ?? That's how well it works. I'm in love with it. It it so easy to use, it feels so soothing and pleasant, and it NEVER breaks me out. So ladies, for those of you who are scratching your heads like I did and wondering how it makes sense to treat oil with oil, trust me - you will not encounter any issues with this cleanser breaking you out. Just make sure that you get off all of your makeup and use a good cleanser so that your pores are empty. I've really stepped it up with my skincare in the last few months, this being one of the great additions. I'm so glad I made the leap. This is how I use it, always at night: 1. DHC Deep Cleansing Oil to remove makeup 2. Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel to wash my skin (with the Clarisonic) 3. Mario Badescu Alpha Grapefruit Cleansing Lotion to tone 4. Dermaglow Radiance Glycolic 10% Gentle Peel Solution 5. Dermaglow Radiance Glycolic Smoothing Moisturizer Voila, magnifique!
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Unlisted Brand - Dermaglow Radiance Glycolic 10% Gentle Peel Solution
jessical5183 3/25/2011 5:07:00 PM
Only 3 reviews so far?? I am absolutely stunned. This product is SO effective, I think most women would pay $100/bottle if they knew how well it works. I'm not joking. ESPECIALLY for people who are battling acne scars and dull skin. This must be a well-kept secret. I never would've known about it until I stumbled upon it when I moved to Canada. Let the cat out of the bag, people. This product is to die for. I cannot believe what it does for my skin. I feel like I'm cheating nature. I use this at night after I've washed my face and applied toner. I realize this is called a toner, but I feel it's more of a treatment that should be in its own category. I put a bit on a cotton pad and spread a thin layer all over my face, then follow up with the Dermaglow Radiance Glycolic Smoothing Moisturizer (it was a sample included with the toner when I purchased it). WOW. I've almost got perfect skin from using this. Even my boyfriend has been commenting on how much my skin is glowing. The results obtained with this are so rapid and so noticeable. And having great, smooth, supple, glowing skin is the best beauty treatment you can achieve. It will make everything else you put on your face easy and breezy. I use less of every other product I own, because my skin is doing so well lately due to this toner. It is pricey. I hate that about it. But it's WELL worth it, and I don't say that for many products. And the fact that it's available in local drugstores here in Canada just blows my mind. Ladies, I recommend that everyone try this, no matter what your skin type, no matter what your age. Try it for at least 2 weeks and you'll be hooked. The product can last a long time if you make sure not to waste it. And the power of it is only amplified if you make sure your skin is deep-cleaned prior to application. The more you use it, the less you need. Also, when paired with the sample of Glycolic Smoothing Moisturizer I received, it works even better. It does NOT dry my skin out a single bit. It does sting a bit upon application, but that goes away after about 10 minutes tops. Make sure that you give it time to sink in, because it's a thick liquid - almost a gel - and it could seem quite sticky for 10-20 minutes. I would NOT recommend that anyone use this under makeup. The consistency doesn't lend to proper makeup application. I'd stick to using this at night.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No