Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - EXTRA VIRGIN Coconut Oil (All brands)
jstastny 7/2/2012 11:08:00 AM
After reading so many positive reviews here on Coconut Oil and its many uses, I bought a jar in March for about $10 and started to use only as a nighttime face wash (to remove makeup, including eyes). I quickly moved on to use it as an under eye moisturizer (at night) and then also as my morning face wash. Four months in, I couldn't be happier with the results. My skin is by far more balanced than it ever was, and I say this as someone who has spent a good deal of time and money over the years searching for the best products for my skin. I have very sensitive, combination skin, with my nose being a bit more oily at times. It was common for me to have a few pores on my nose that always seemed open/bigger than the rest. I don't know how or why the Coconut Oil works, but without question my pores have shrunk and my skin is much more balanced. I always use a washcloth to remove/rinse from my face. I think some people go without but for me, I know that my face wouldn't feel clean if I didn't use the cloth. Beyond the great results, I love love love the low cost and how far one $10 jar will go. I don't think I have ever had a superior skin care product (that cost only $10) last for 4+ months, especially when used twice a day. While I do use it in the evening as an eye moisturizer (and very much like the results, no milia, skin is soft, etc.), I do find that it's a bit too greasy when worn with mascara. Maybe it's my application as I see others mentioning their use of it with make up. I have not used it as a full on moizturizer, though in the colder, drier months I used a few dabs to enhance my Jurlique oil where my skin was a bit dry. I also used it as a deep hair conditioner (twice alone and once with olive oil). I don't have anything positive or negative to say about that experience other than the recommendation that it be used as a pre-shampoo treatment rather than post-shampoo. Others may disagree but my experience was that it can be greasy as just a post-shampoo deep conditioner. It did leave my hair soft, but I was actually trying to remedy some issues with the ends of my hair that it turns out were perpetually caused by the type of cut I was receiving. I don't think any product could have resolved that issue in and of itself. I will try the conditioning treatment again now that my hair is back in line and will post back on results. My only "negative" comment is that as you get down to the last 1/3 of the jar, it is very difficult to reach the product. Not sure this is even a negative since it's not designed for this type of use and the easy solution is to just use a spoon or other utensil.
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Skincare - Body -Jurlique - ROSE hand/body lotion
jstastny 3/11/2012 12:34:00 AM
I really love this lotion. The scent is nice and though the lotion is quite thin/watery, it is surprisingly moisturising. I apply this after showering with the rose shower gel and my skin feels soft all day.
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Skincare - Body -Jurlique - Rose Shower Gel
jstastny 3/11/2012 12:31:00 AM
Simply decadent! This shower gel lathers into a very rich and creamy foam that makes me wish my shower would never end. I didn't entirely "love" the scent initially, but by the middle of the first use, I was hooked. It feels so indulgent. I use the rose lotion afte showering and my skin feels soft all day. Price is pretty high though.
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Conditioner -J.F. Lazartique - Vita_Cream with Milk Proteins
jstastny 2/11/2012 11:10:00 AM
My experience with Vita Cream with Milk Proteins has changed, though I'm not sure if my hair has changed or the product. This used to be a holy grail product for me and I would purchase 2-4 tubes every February when the product line would go on sale for the entire month. I tried to buy enough to last a full year. My hair is thick, longer, and somewhat coarse. Vita Cream always left my hair soft, shiny, and smooth. I used it on my niece who had almost waist length thick hair and my sister actually called me to ask what product I used in her hair because it was, as she called it, like golden silk. Really, the product was that good. But more recently when used I just didn't get the same results, nor any results that would warrant purchasing this product again. Not sure if anyone has ever over used or left a high protein based treatment in their hair for too long, which results in hair feeling anything but smooth and soft. Well that's how my hair came out with Vita Cream. I used to also use it as a smoother, mixiing a little bit with a shine serum and applying to dry hair, but again, my recent experience just didn't get the same results. I honestly don't know if it's my hair or the product, hence my middle of the road ratings. But I did want to share my experience for what it's worth to others.
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Eye Shadow -Sukí - Triple Cream Eye Definer in Amber
jstastny 6/23/2009 11:03:00 PM
I actually bought (3) different colors of the Suki Eye Definer - Amber, Bamboo and Bisque. I agree with the review below that the Amber color is great, really nice for summer. Bisque is nice too; Bamboo is just a tad too light for my skin. What I don't like is that my mascara sometimes ends up "smudging" in the cream shadow. I only wear a single light coat of mascara, and it's not even something that happens right away...it's later in the day. Maybe it needs a primer, but that starts getting more involved than I care to for applying a simple cream shadow, especially at this price. It is very easy to apply, goes on well, and gives a fresh, natural look. It is very easy to work with just one color and get a complete look.
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Conditioner -Davines - Love Conditioner
jstastny 5/17/2009 1:58:00 PM
This review is for Love Curl Enhancing Conditioner, a GH on my list. I have long, thick, somewhat coarse wavy to curly hair, and I have never had the "natural curly" results that I get with Davines. This conditioner leaves my hair soft and bouncy, never weighed down. I have actually gone to bed with it in my hair and woke up with it dried in, and then just styled accordingly. It still didn't weigh my hair down. I use this with their curl shampoo and curl serum, and the combo is great. This is actually the first line of products where every product that I have purchased has delivered as promised. The cost is rather high for the entire line, but I have never wasted or left unused any of the products. One thing I have discovered is that the "curl" line of Love also garners nice results if I dry and style my hair, but when I use the "smoothing" line and then go for the natural curly style (still using their curl serum), I don't get the same curly results. Also worth mentioning here (until I write the review for the Dede leave-in spray conditioner) is that I think the line is presented as natural, but it really is not. My face is very sensitive to ingredients like paraben and lanolin, and I have switched all of my skin care/cosmetics to fully organic lines and have not encountered any of the irritations, milia, etc. since making that change more than a year ago. What I noticed with Davines, specifically with the Dede spray (which contains paraben), is that I sometimes end up with a "hot spot" irritation near the top of my cheek bone where my hair might brush against or lay on my face. Don't know if it's just when my hair is wet and touches...I haven't focused that intently on the cause/effect other than recognizing it is associated with the product. Just mentioning for those extremely sensitive. The results are good enough that I just try to be more aware when I am using it and as much as possible, keep my hair off of my face. My final comment is on packaging. The products are packaged in very simple plastic containers, no fancy marketing, just clear plastic with a white label. I actually prefer this kind of packaging, especially when paying so much money, because I don't feel I am paying for fancy packaging...I (assume) I am simply paying for quality product. I hope that revenues can then be directed towards product development (eliminate the paraben someday), etc. rather than maintaining high overhead for unnecessary "elements". Hope this comes across the right way. I am not coming down on those who enjoy the presentation. I guess I just prefer a "Shaker" approach to certain things. Simple, quality and functional. Having said that, I agree that especially with the conditioner, the packaging can be a pain because you have to open the lid and scoop out the conditioner, make sure you click the lid back in place, etc. But I just got used to it.
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Cleansers -Dr. Hauschka - Cleansing Milk
jstastny 2/9/2009 4:49:00 PM
I had a very bad experience with this product that literally left my face itching and burning (the burning would wake me up at night) worse than when I started with it (to address an irritation from another product). I read one of the reviews below and now wonder if it was the grains (I am usually good with products that have no lanolin or paraben and could not figure out why I had this reaction). I even used the sensitive skin ampules to try and soothe my face, but after a few weeks of use I figured that the product was irritating my skin (duh). I ended up trying the product again maybe a month or so later (after my skin calmed down) and the problem started all over again, so I tossed it. While I know of two other people who had the exact same reaction that I did, I also know others who have used this product and loved it as much as some of the reviewers here. Ultimately I switched all of my skin care and make up to other organic lines (Suki, Talulah, Nvey Eco) and have never had this problem again.
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Cleansers -Sukí - Suki Naturals - Moisture Rich Cleansing Lotion
jstastny 2/9/2009 4:34:00 PM
I have purchased this product more than once (for my very very sensitive skin), and while it is non-irritating, it definitely requires more than one wash to clean your face (sometimes more than two). I liked it at first because I began using it after a serious reaction to Dr.Hauschka and I was just happy that it did not leave my face burning and itching. It might be in the method of use (cloth versus washing with your hands), but at times it leaves a milky film that is not very easy to remove. A bummer at any price but especially at $30/bottle. Suki has other decent products, but for cleansing my face, I switched to Talulah Forest Mint Creamy Cleanser (another organic product) and it is fab! I can even use it on my eyes. I don't see any reviews for this product yet, and apparently I need to write 20 reviews before I can add a new product. So, barring anyone else writing one first, my Talulah review is forthcoming as soon as I finish 19 more reviews! Given the many years (and dollars) that I have spent on make up and skin care, 19 seems like a low number!
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