Lipstick -Palladio - Herbal Tinted Lip Balm in Brownie
jlclerf 10/14/2011 8:27:00 PM
This is a great tinted balm that I find myself reaching for again and again. It has a smooth (but not slick or glossy) texture and a non-obtrusive scent (very faint vanilla). I wear a regular lip balm under this, but it's probably not necessary as I find this product to be fairly moisturizing on its own. I love the color of this - a somewhat opaque rosy brown shade with no shimmer. As the balm wears away on my lips, it tends to leave a subtle stain behind that actually ends up being flattering for me. Packaging is not much to look at (standard chapstick-type of packaging, only in black plastic) but it is quite sturdy. No SPF, but the balm I wear underneath this takes care of that. I find this product to be comparable in quality to Laura Mercier's Hydratint balm in Mocha Tint, but for a quarter of the price. Highly recommended!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Removal -Unlisted Brand - Schick - Hydro 5
jlclerf 9/2/2010 4:06:00 PM
I thought this was a good razor at first, but when I found that my legs, underarms and bikini area had stubble only an hour (!!!) after shaving, I decided that there are much better products out there. I liked their idea of protecting the moisturizing bar (or Hydro strip) by covering it with a mesh, and it did help provide a smooth, nick-free shave. The razor was able to get a somewhat closer shave on my thighs than it could on my calves, which is the complete opposite of my experience with all other razors. I'm not sure it matters, since the "immediate stubble" problem is a deal breaker for me! The handle is pretty good - lots of rubberized surface so you won't drop it easily. I did find it to be a little bulky, but I have small hands and am used to the thinner handles of the razors I usually buy.
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Lotions/ Creams -Udderly Smooth - Hand Cream
jlclerf 8/31/2010 12:49:00 PM
This hand cream didn't do much for my dry hands. It's a watery formula that actually did have good staying power, but didn't do much moisturizing. This also left my hands quite greasy, so I only used it at night. It didn't have much of a smell, just a generic floral fragrance. I liked that there are few ingredients and that you got a lot of product for your money. The packaging is pretty basic - just a squeeze tube with a flip-top lid. I can't justify buying it again, especially when any basic body lotion would do a better job!
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Eyeliner -Milani - Liquif'eye Metallic eye liner pencil -black
jlclerf 7/29/2010 5:28:00 PM
I don't generally like pencil eyeliner, but this one is a winner! It applies really smoothly, and doesn't catch (and leave blobs of eyeliner) on my eyelashes like other eyeliners do. The color is really saturated and rich - it really does look like a liquid liner. The lasting power is phenominal. It lasts all day and doesn't come off without soap and water (or eye makeup remover). I haven't tried using it on the waterline yet, but I predict it'll do just fine. This is a great liner for a great price - I'm glad I decided to try it! UPDATE: Okay, well maybe this isn't as great as I initially thought. It does actually catch on my lashes and bits of it fall in my eyes throughout the day. I'll have to downgrade this to 4 lippies. Can't beat the staying power, though.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Lollia Relax Eau de Parfum
jlclerf 4/1/2010 7:06:00 PM
Fragrance Notes: Lavender, White Orchid, Tahitian Vanilla, Bee Blossom Honey, Indian Amber. This is the first (and probably the only) lavender-based fragrance I'll ever buy. I don't really like the smell of lavender in perfumes. I usually find it to be a cold, somewhat medicinal or masculine smell. This is not at all the case with this fragrance. I smell the lavender when I first spray it, but it's a softer, rounder lavender scent, probably due to the honey and vanilla notes. The dry down is nearly all honey and vanilla, but the lavender sticks around a little bit, grounding the fragrance and keeping it from becoming too sweet or generic. I don't smell the orchid or amber at all. Lasting power is great - it usually lasts 5+ hours on my skin and much longer on my clothes. The bottle is lovely - asymmetrical rectangular glass with painted flowers in white and pink and a metallic gold cap.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Merlot - Moonlight Radiance Natural Grape Seed Night Cream
jlclerf 4/1/2010 12:18:00 PM
I bought this to use as a daily moisturizer, but ended up using it as an eye cream. As a general facial moisturizer this didn't work for me because it caused break outs. As an eye cream this has been excellent, especially under makeup. This moisturizer is somewhat light, non-greasy and acts more like a gel than a cream. It doesn't have any silicones in it, but somehow manages to leave a satiny, non-oily finish on the skin. It smells pretty good - definitely like grapes, but it's kind of a synthetic grape scent. The packaging is pretty bad - a large plastic tub and twist-on top made of some of the cheapest materials possible. I probably won't buy this again, not because I hate it, but because I'm using this exclusively as an eye cream and it'll be a long time before I run out
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Lotions/ Creams -Korres - Japanese Rose Body Butter
jlclerf 3/31/2010 9:03:00 PM
This may be expensive, but it sure is worth it! I don't usually care for Korres' body butters, but once I caught a whiff of this one I knew I had to have it. I'm not a big fan of rose scents in skincare or perfume, probably because I've smelled so many that are just unnaturally harsh. To me, a rose should smell like the ones I've smelled in gardens just after the rain - sweet, somewhat crisp, very slightly green, but always soft. Soft is what is missing from so many rose scents out there, but Korres has captured it in this lovely moisturizer. It smells very delicate, but manages to have phenominal staying power. It's sweet without being cloying and crisp without being sharp. The moisturizing capabilities are great too. My skin is soft and smooth, but not greasy or sticky. The packaging is nice to look at - a plastic tube that stands on its top, with some stylized roses printed on it in shades of red and pink. Overall, a wonderful product!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - Dr. Teal's Deep Amber Vanilla Body Lotion
jlclerf 3/31/2010 8:53:00 PM
The scent of this is a dead ringer for Bath and Body Works Sensual Amber body lotion. I don't smell vanilla in this at all, instead only a soft and warm amber scent. It's not at all overwhelming or cloying. The formula of the lotion is somewhat light and perhaps not all that moisturizing. There are some good ingredients in this (ex. shea butter and cocoa butter), but they are found toward the end of the ingredients list. I like how it sinks in fast and leaves a smooth finish, not sticky or greasy. The packaging is really great - a cobalt blue plastic bottle with black pump. The price is beyond reasonable - about $8 for 13.5 oz.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Satin Taupe
jlclerf 3/30/2010 1:40:00 PM
I thought this would end up being one of my favorite eye shadows, but unfortunately it looked really bad on me! Right now I'm pretty pale but it's a neutral pale without a lot of pink or yellow undertones. On my lids, Satin Taupe was a bruisy reddish pink. It looked like someone had punched me in both eyes. I tried to make it work by applying it more lightly, more darkly, and with a lighter shade to sheer it out, but I didn't have any luck! I thought the texture was okay, it wasn't very soft though. It was blendable with no small amount of effort. The packaging was good - a black plastic pot with windowed flip-top lid. I can see why this looks good on a lot of people, and I'm disappointed that it didn't turn out for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -NYX - Iced Mocha
jlclerf 3/30/2010 1:24:00 PM
This is one of the best eye shadows I have ever used. The color, texture and value are all superb! I'm happy to have found this product, since I couldn't find a way to make MAC's Satin Taupe eye shadow work. On me this is a somewhat taupey golden brown with subtle gold shimmer, not at all green or gray - perfect for accenting my green eyes without looking like I'm trying too hard. I wear this as a wash on the lid and crease, with a little bit of Stila eye shadow in Wheat in the crease and blended up. The result is a nearly perfect neutral eye. I find this eye shadow to be very soft and blendable with decent color payoff. The packaging is great - a black plastic square pot with flip-top windowed lid. The price is right too, about $4. This is definitely a brand that's earned my respect.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Laura Mercier - Hydratint SPF 15 - Mocha Tint
jlclerf 3/30/2010 1:03:00 PM
This has become one of my go-to lip colors. I don't like the feeling (or the look) of a conventional lipstick, so I'm always on the look out for a good tinted balm. I especially love this one for its texture and color. It manages to be moisturizing without being too slick or too waxy. I do usually wear a regular lip balm underneath this, but it's probably not necessary. I find that this isn't particularly glossy either and that's good (if I wanted to wear a gloss, I would buy one)! Staying power is better than I expected. I only need to apply every four hours or so. It won't last through a meal, but hardly any lip product does. I really like the color! I don't look good in so many of the pinks and plums that are flattering for nearly everyone else, so this reddish brown is just perfect for me. I like the packaging too - a chapstick style tube in shiny brown plastic that gives this balm a classy look. I think this product would work for almost anyone! UPDATE: I still really like this, but I hardly ever wear it anymore. I've switched to Palladio's Herbal Tinted Lip Balm in Brownie, and am really happy with it. It has more of a plummy tint to it that just looks better next to my pale skin, and the price is a fraction of what the Hydratint costs.
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Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Dickinson's Witch Hazel
jlclerf 3/30/2010 12:44:00 PM
I think this is one of the best products I have ever used, and so simple! I have somewhat sensitive, combination skin that is prone to breakouts on my chin and jawline. I apply this morning and night after washing and drying my face. While I'm sure it removes any residue that my cleanser doesn't get, that's not really why I use it. What impresses me is how good it feels on the skin, and how fresh and toned my skin looks after using it! My pores look tighter and my skin looks energized without becoming red or irritated. In the year that I've been using this, I've found that I don't break out as often, and when I do the blemishes aren't as large and painful. I don't like the smell - to me it smells stale and smoky. It took me about a month to get used to that awful scent. Once it dries though, I can't smell it at all. The packaging is really good - a clear plastic bottle that you can squeeze, flip top lid with a very small opening at the top. It would be difficult to spill or otherwise waste any of this but if you did, it's only around $5 for a huge bottle. I've repurchased a number of times and will continue to do so!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Burt's Bees - Beeswax Lip Balm
jlclerf 3/30/2010 12:21:00 PM
Years ago when I used this item, I thought it was good. Not excellent, but sufficient. Now that I've found my HG balm (Jack Black), I understand that this product is actually not very good at all! It does have decent staying power, but somehow it fails to actually moisturize the lips. I usually like a waxy balm, yet I find this one to be excessively so. The mint scent is pleasant and tingly. The packaging is okay (plastic tube that you twist from the bottom to dispense). I won't repurchase.
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Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Extra Virgin Olive Oil
jlclerf 12/15/2009 7:42:00 PM
I have a difficult time finding a moisurizer that won't break me out, so I decided to try Extra Virgin Olive Oil for a while. I would put a few drops in my hand, mix with a couple sprays of water, and then apply to my face morning and night. For about a week, it worked well. My skin was happy - glowing and moisturized with no blemishes in sight. Then one day my skin decided enough was enough. I woke up to find a number of large, swollen, painful, cystic-type blemishes. I was horrified, and had only the olive oil to blame (I hadn't switched any other part of my regimen and it wasn't stress). So I stopped using it, and eventually the blemishes healed, though I still have scars from a couple of them. I won't be trying this again.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Weleda - Everon lip balm
jlclerf 12/15/2009 7:18:00 PM
I decided to finally try this balm, and I found that I really like it! Everon Lip Balm is a waxier type of lip balm that does a good job of moisturizing while also acting as a buffer between your lips and the elements. I tend to use this balm on dryer, colder, windier days - days I know that my lips will need an extra boost of moisture and protection. It also works as a primer before applying lipstick - goodbye clear lip pencil! I think the scent is nice - to me it smells like a mix of honey, vanilla or coconut, and roses. The packaging is pretty good - a rigid plastic tube with a long rigid plastic cap. The price is not bad at all, especially for an item that does what it promises.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No