Moisturizers -Shu Uemura - Phyto-Black Lift Firming Anti-Wrinkle Crea
kitsune 12/7/2010 5:09:00 PM
I love the texture of this cream, and the clean botanic scent, as well as how quickly it absorbs into the skin leaving no greasy residue. How sad, then, that it does not moisturize as much as I would expect from a night cream (especially one intended for more mature skin) and I have determined that it breaks me out.
Background: I am in my 30s with fair "normal" skin -- it was more firmly "combination" when I was younger, but has settled with age into neither dry nor oily, typically with a little shininess about the nose and forehead late in the day. I have lines under my eyes that are more prominent when I am dehydrated and/or under-moisturized, and have suffered with "uneven" skin tone my whole life. I do not break out much anymore, but do suffer blackheads and clogged pores, and a larger pimple or two before my period.
Recently, I seemed to be suffering many more breakouts than usual, battling a number of small pimples and whiteheads all the time. I wondered if it was the Phyto-Black to blame, but decided it was a recent shift from Yaz to a generic that was responsible. I'm back on Yaz, however, and took a break from the Phyto-Black to investigate. My skin has been largely clear, as I remember it being before...up until today. For the past 2 nights, I've gone back to using the Phyto-Black Cream before bed...and for 2 days I've watched carefully as I developed an increasing number of small pimples.
Unfortunately, not only has it become clear that the Phyto-Black was responsible for my recent breakouts, but I've realized it's not even particularly moisturizing. I've been getting a bit flaky around my mouth and under my nose thanks to retin-A and the dry winter weather, and actually need the moisture (as I didn't so much in the summer) -- and I've been waking up in the morning after using Phyto-Black at night to see no improvement in these conditions. I've not noticed any particular "brightening" or firming effects, and largely the cream just seems to not do much for my skin. I don't expect miracles from a moisturizer, but I can get similar (in fact, better) results from less expensive moisturizers like Dr. Hauschka's Rose Cream or even Weleda Skin Food. Even if it did not cause breakouts, I'm afraid this Shu moisturizer is just too expensive for something that underdelivers, and I cannot recommend it.
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Mascara -Maybelline - XXL PRO 24HOUR BOLD
kitsune 11/28/2010 9:37:00 PM
24 hours my ass.
This is a bit fiddly -- a double-ended tube that you unscrew from one end to apply the black primer (brush attached to cap) and on the other to apply the "topcoat." I worry that the lettering will wear off the tube & then I'll be wandering lost in the woods, unsure which end to apply first, but that's neither here nor there.
I actually quite like the results of the "primer" -- very precisely defined, if not very voluminous lashes. When I apply the topcoat, my lashes often get a bit clumpy, and the mascara is actually *so* black that it looks rather fake. I don't mean fake in a kind of awesome "gosh, am I wearing false lashes?!" way -- but an uneasy territory neither big occasion dramatic NOR softly realistic. I don't feel that this mascara holds a curl particularly well, which is additionally irksome.
However, of all the sins this mascara has committed against me, the worst is its CONSTANT SMUDGING. For something that claims 24 hour wear, it comes nowhere close. Full n' Soft WP doesn't smudge on me...and yet this does. Every time. Within an hour or so of application, and regularly all day. I wipe away the smudges beneath my eyes, and by the next time I get a glimpse of myself, new ones have appeared. It *never* stops smudging. I do not wear this on my lower lashes, and have been testing this in non-humid, non-sweaty fall weather. My eyes are not watery. I have tried it while wearing primer potion on my somewhat oily lids & without. It smudges. It always smudges. To hell with you, "24 Hour Bold" mascara. For natural, defined lashes I recommend Maybelline Full n' Soft Waterproof, and for more dramatic and *actually* longwearing mascara, L'Oreal's Beautytubes. THAT stuff will not budge, I promise you.
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Fragrances -Robert Piguet Fragrances - Fracas
kitsune 12/20/2005 6:53:00 PM
Please bear in mind that though I've become a perfume lover, I'm still terrible at *describing* perfumes! :)
Received a sample of this from a generous swapper. Oddly, at first I thought this reminded me of a cheap local perfume I bought on vacation when I was a teenager. However, I thought that perfume was frangipani based, but most reviews peg Fracas as distinctly tuberose and the scent is the same. Finally it occured to me when writing this review that I was confusing the memory of that vacation perfume with a different tropical vacation floral memory -- the scent of leis, which I know are often made from tuberose or gardenia. That was it, EXACTLY. If you've ever worn a lei, you'll definitely know what I'm talking about!
Fracas is very, very floral, very *sweet* (flower-sweet, not like sugar or vanilla) -- and very strong. Someone mentioned it smells a bit creamier than a tuberose, and I must agree -- it does have a touch of creaminess that I believe is closer to a gardenia. Either way, the perfume is completely dominated by the overwhelming single floral punch, and to me is completely one-note. I can smell nothing but that "lei" scent, and *boy* can I smell it! I love my scents heavy, but this is too much for me. On me it feels syrupy heavy -- thick, overpowering, and inescapable.
Because of the odd scent-memory I have associated with this, I find it oddly compelling, but I don't know that I will ever seriously wear it unless I'm feeling lazy, darkly tan, and just coming off a swim in the ocean for an elegant moonlight dinner by the beach. I can't think of it as anything but humidly tropical. For those who love it, a good point is that it seems to last *forever*. :) For those who don't, the bad news is it lasts *forever* -- by the end, I almost felt a little sick!
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Treatments -Clarins - Total Double Serum multi-Regenerant Age Control Extra-Firming Serum
kitsune 11/20/2005 12:58:00 AM
I LOVE this stuff. I do not use it every day, as I suspect it has a slight tendency to clog my pores if used too often. I use it as an "emergency" (okay, or "minor issue" or "I feel icky") solution. Whenever I feel my skin is looking dull, dry, stressed, or like I haven't been getting enough sleep...it's time for Total Double Serum!
I use two pumps, rub my palms together, and pat over my face. The experience should certainly not be horribly oily for anyone using the correct amount and technique -- my skin looks & feels slightly shiny when I first apply, and mere *moments* later the serum is completely absorbed, leaving my skin soft, hydrated, and supple. This really revitalizes my skin like nothing else. It's my "secret weapon" for stressful weeks & post-plane travel. I find myself reaching for this a lot more now that winter (and the accompanying dry air & wind!) is here.
I don't see any effect on minor wrinkles etc.(and don't expect to), but it brings a noticable radiance and suppleness to unhappy skin. It restores the "glow." It's never broken me out, but I sometimes *think* I see a little more clogging/blackheads when I use this for several days in a row, so I play it safe and don't use it every day. Has a pleasant slight herbal/botanical sort of scent I associate with Clarins. Costs $79 per bottle & I'm still using the one I bought in May 2004 (review written 11/19/05).
For reference: I'm in my early 30s and have normal/combo skin, some very fine hereditary lines beneath my eyes, and the beginnings of a little creasing around the eyes when I smile. My skin is not sensitive. My skin gets clogged easily & I will break out from products that are too emollient.
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Fragrances -Gucci - Eau de Parfum
kitsune 7/31/2005 11:12:00 PM
Gucci EDP #1. I am *terrible* at picking out notes in perfume, so my apologies in advance!
For some context to my opinion: DKNY Chaos used to be my signature scent (I find it a bit too sweet & heavy now), one of my current faves is Prada EDP. I've been recommended Angel, but HATED it -- it was *far* too sweet and *fruity* on me. Ugh, the syrupy apricot! I dislike bright, flowery, "girly," watery, or citrusy scents. The light unisex trend of the 90s (CK One, anyone?) was a nightmare for me! Spicy, warm, heavy, sexy -- that's the stuff for me!
On me this is just *delicious*. It's heavy and sweet, but not cloyingly so. It makes me think of thick, smoky honey (though of course it does not actually smell like honey). It's a warm scent, without even a touch of lightness or brightness to it -- however, it's not as "dark" as Prada or DKNY Black Cashmere (nor is there any cedar in it, for that matter -- or patchouli, as far as I can tell). Thankfully there's none of the fruity syrup touch that Angel has, nor do I detect a similarity to Lolita Lempicka, but LL is odd for me -- I've never smelled the supposed similarities in it to my faves that other people have.
So, no fruit, no cedar, and no patchouli. There is a hint of spice and while I'm not usually a vanilla fan, I suspect the heart of this scent is definitely warm vanilla. To me it smells like skin. Not skin itself, but the *idea* of skin. Softly sensual. I feel very sexy in this, but a *relaxed* sexy -- not femme fatale.
It feels heavy, but it doesn't necessarily pack a wallop for those around you. My husband tells me he can't smell it a few feet away even when I can smell it very strongly on myself, so I don't think it's as overpowering as I sometimes worry it might be. ;) As another reviewer noted, it seems to stay close to the body. I love this, but it can occasionally smell too strong *to me* and it definitely sticks with you. I spray only on one wrist, press my wrists together, and then press my wrists to the pulse points behind my ears. It's not like Chaos, which I could only *walk through*.
The packaging is great: the heavy square bottle is *gorgeous*, and has a wonderful heft to it. I love the way the amber liquid lies suspended in the thick glass like some secret elixir. :)
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Sunscreen -La Roche Posay - Anthelios Fluide Extreme SPF 40
kitsune 7/28/2005 10:33:00 PM
SPF 40/IPD 100/PPD 17. High UVA protection photostable European chemical-based sunscreen.
I quite like FE SPF 40 -- it *is* very "runny" so I do have to be careful when applying it (particularly as liquid will leak out of the bottle when I set it to the side to apply what's in my hands -- I've learned to tilt it at an angle). It doesn't leave me greasy as it appears to do for some, and I haven't had any problems with it under makeup. I do usually wear a primer, however, so that likely helps. I have noticed that if I overapply or put this on top of anything, I'll sometimes end up with the "eraser rubbings" effect, but otherwise it's not an issue. I have normal/combo skin prone to blackheads, minor breakouts & occasional lone cystic pimples, and my skin hates overly emollient products & too many silicones. This sunscreen hasn't caused any problems for me. Special Note: I am quite pale, though I seem to pick up colour easily. I tend to tan rather than burn like the truly PPPs out there, but after a day spent mostly outdoors, I'll often notice my nose has gotten a little pink. I have NEVER gotten a sunburn wearing this -- or even a *hint* of colour. That alone impresses me above and beyond any U.S. sunscreen I've ever used.
Important points:
1. The consistency of this sunscreen is so different from the thicker US sunscreens we're used to that I believe if you use the "recommended amount" of 1/4 tsp that's been drilled into our heads, you're going to end up overapplying, and yes, it will definitely look very shiny and won't absorb as well. FE is *very* thin and doesn't rely on physical filters, so I honestly don't believe the 1/4 tsp rule applies here.
2. I am convinced that the breakouts caused by this product are due to the fact that it bonds to the skin and thus is hard to remove, leading to clogged pores. I've diligently used a cleansing oil to help take this off every night since getting it, and haven't had more breakouts or clogged pores than usual. I also occasionally follow my cleansing w/a *mild* toner, and even wipe the pad across my upper chest, as I apply FE to any exposed skin, which includes my chest & neck. I travelled recently with this sunscreen but *without* my beloved cleansing routine, and I felt that my skin was getting a bit clogged.
3. It does have a high alcohol content to help it dry down. If you're sensitive to alcohol, I wouldn't recommend this.
4. I highly recommend applying your sunscreen and going about the rest of your routine for a few minutes to let it sink in before applying makeup -- you'd be surprised how much more manageable the "greasiness" gets!
Available for exorbitant prices ($40 for 50 ml I think) via Zitomer's and a few other select pharmacies (skincare board has all the latest sightings!), slightly more reasonably from European sites such as beautytarget.com if you're willing to deal with shipping. I usually order a few tubes at a time to make the shipping cost easier to swallow.
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Fragrances -Givenchy - Very Irresistible
kitsune 7/24/2005 12:48:00 PM
I remember when I first tried this -- it was a warm summer day, I spritzed and then pressed my wrists together...and for the next hour was strangely entranced by this creamy rose scent. I'm not generally a floral gal, so this was pretty surprising.
Eventually I was able to get my hands on a large sample and test it consistently, and I must say, I've never felt as good about it as I did that first day. On me it is a creamy, powdery rose -- and so singularly unremarkable that it hardly seems worth the bother. To my nose, it seems to lack any real nuance or sophistication -- ultimately it reminds me of cheap perfumes I might have worn as a teen. It doesn't smell "cheap" as in trashy -- but flat, sweet, and uninteresting to me.
I say this as someone who generally likes spicy, warm scents like Gucci EDP #1 or Prada, and it may also be my particular body chemistry -- but I did come around to liking Stella as a summer fragrance, so I feel it can't just be that it's a rose scent, and I even have a soft spot for powdery ol' Shalimar, so I don't feel the problem is the slight powdery note. Sadly, to me it just smells really generic & cloying.
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Lip Treatments -Clinique - Superbalm Tinted Lip Treatment in Grape Tint
kitsune 7/22/2005 10:32:00 PM
I received this as part of the four-balm set -- based on reviews, I had a feeling these tinted balms would be just my kind of thing, and they absolutely are! Even though my lips are somewhat pigmented, I feel washed out without any colour on my lips, and I often feel *dry* without a gloss or balm. I don't wear lipstick, and opaque glosses often feel like "too much" on my usually faux-natural face, so sheer tinted glosses/balms are my obsession!
Enter Superbalms! I LOVE these! I have warm colouring with my pale, pale skin -- I've not been colour-tested, but I'd say I'm in the NC20 range. Grape looks light/med purple in the tube, but does not look too "cool" on me at all.
The balm is *very* sheer, and applies nearly clear -- it provides just a hint of *slightly* mauve sheen to my lips that is very flattering. It feels *wonderful* on, and lasts for a good long time if I'm not eating or drinking. It doesn't feel like it is drying my lips out, but does as it says -- acts as a balm while providing the lovely look of a sheer gloss. My new HGs!
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Lip Treatments -Clinique - Superbalm Tinted Lip Treatment in Mango
kitsune 7/22/2005 10:29:00 PM
I received this as part of the four-balm set -- based on reviews, I had a feeling these tinted balms would be just my kind of thing, and they absolutely are! Even though my lips are somewhat pigmented, I feel washed out without any colour on my lips, and I often feel *dry* without a gloss or balm. I don't wear lipstick, and opaque glosses often feel like "too much" on my usually faux-natural face, so sheer tinted glosses/balms are my obsession!
Enter Superbalms! I LOVE these! I was a bit afraid of the Mango, as it looks pale orangey in the tube -- though I have warm colouring with my pale, pale skin, overly warm lip colours can look peculiar on me. I've not been colour-tested, but I'd say I'm in the NC20 range.
Well, I needn't have feared. The balm is *very* sheer, and just provides a hint of *slightly* peachy sheen to my lips that is very flattering. It feels *wonderful* on, and lasts for a good long time if I'm not eating or drinking. It doesn't feel like it is drying my lips out, but does as it says -- acts as a balm while providing the lovely look of a sheer gloss. My new HGs!
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Masks -Freeman - Pure Ambition Purifying Facial Clay mask with Avocado and Oatmeal
kitsune 7/10/2005 10:32:00 PM
First, I'm ashamed of the MUAers who implied in their reviews that people who said the mask burned or stung were *lying* or paid to write such reviews. Honestly!
Second, in my experience this mask *did* initially feel like it was "burning" -- this sensation lessened as I continued to let the mask dry, but it was very noticable and quite uncomfortable. In the first few minutes I actually considered washing the mask off, which is a rare step for me. I do not have sensitive skin and am not prone to "stinging" from various products. I can only imagine that for those with more sensitive skin, the sensation would be very unpleasant. I'm glad that many other people have never experienced the sting, but let's not be so rude as to discount the experience of those who have.
This mask is very cheap ($3-4 USD), and easily found in drugstores in the U.S. It's green, and has a very smooth easy-to-spread texture, unlike my beloved QH Mint Julep Mask (which is literally like trying to get clay out of a tube). It has a very strong, very powdery smell -- for me, this was unsettling, but not unbearable. The mask did fully dry without any problem, and, as I said, the stinging did dissipate. Was very easy to wash off (QHMJ often requires the help of a washcloth).
After washing the mask off, my skin felt soft to the touch and looked refreshed. No apparent irritation, and to my happy surprise, my skin was not dried out at all. There was no obvious immediate reduction in blackheads, but that would be a miracle indeed. The next day: doesn't seem to have miraculously cured any breakouts (to be fair, I don't really have an "active" one going -- am just in the recovery stage from the last), but didn't seem to cause any either.
I'll further update after trying this one or two more times, to better get a sense of if it "works."
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Lip Treatments -Unlisted Brand - City Lips Collagen Lip Plumping Treatment
kitsune 7/10/2005 4:40:00 PM
I must add my voice to the praise for CityLips. This is the first lip plumper I have tried, or really felt compelled to try. I'm not really into irritating my poor tender lips, and I want something a little more long-lasting and even beneficial for my lips. I don't have thin lips, but I've lost a little volume as I've gotten older & I prefer my lips when they are slightly on the plumper side (post spicy food or kisses!).
Enter CityLips! Reviews prompted me to buy a tube, and I must say I've been very pleased with the results. This does not seem to be an "instant plumper" like some of the glosses using irritants like cinnamon oil, but a more slow-acting *treatment*. The first time I used it, I did notice some slight numbness, but that sensation has not repeated itself after the first few uses. It absolutely did not sting in any way. It does seem to increase bloodflow slightly, as my slightly pigmented lips did appear a touch pinker (and have continued to do so as time has gone on). My lips did *feel* a bit bigger after 30 minutes or so, but I couldn't say for certain if they were -- I think that feeling was the result of the numb sensation. However, the next day I woke up to smooth lips that weren't crying for balm (I must have lipbalm with me at all times), and seemed very slightly "fluffier". After a few more uses, I could say for certain that my lips appeared more full. The results were most obvious in my upper lip, which was undeniably plumper. The results were not gasp-inducing dramatic (which I didn't expect), but there's definitely been an improvement. I've continued to use CityLips clear treatment in the AM and before bed, occasionally using beneath my gloss during the day if I feel dry, and my results have only improved with time -- now even when not using the product, my lips retain the slightly fuller appearance that CityLips first provided. While the results last between treatments, I've found that if I neglect treatment for more than a few days in a row, my lips do seem to begin to return to their pre-CityLips state.
No topical treatment will give you Angelina Jolie lips, but in my experience, CityLips has provided a better version of my own lips -- plumper, smoother, soft, and moisturized. I'm also quite pleased with the fact that if I'm using CityLips regularly, I will often find that I've gone a few hours without balm or gloss on my lips without feeling uncomfortable, which is rare for me. I personally believe the product works simply by promoting the retention of moisture in the lip tissues, but that is hardly a bad thing. The price is a bit cringe-inducing, but acceptable if it works for you. The tube is really pretty terrible, in my opinion -- the brush is not the best choice, the tube is prone to leaks, and it's obvious that it will be difficult to reach all of the product in the end. Regardless, I would buy it again, and I believe it will likely become a staple for me.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Christian Dior - Maximeyes [DISCONTINUED]
kitsune 11/28/2004 11:59:00 AM
I have this in purple -- it's scary bright just out of the tube, but on my dark lashes it provides just a little kick. What I had been hoping for out of Ultimeyes "Aubergine." I like this better than when I first started using it, but it's still not great. It fans out lashes nicely and after a coat or two does lengthen a bit -- the ultimate effect is nicely dramatic (but still wearable for day) on my long, dark, straightish lashes. I have "thick-but-fine" lashes -- meaning the hair is fine, but I have a fair amount of it - and the "fan" effect is flattering & sufficiently dramatic on my lash type. However, this mascara has two *major* drawbacks. First, it has a tendency to create clumpy crispy spiderlegs after more than 2 coats. Second, and far worse, it definitely FLAKES. It's been a while since I've used a mascara that flaked on me -- honestly, I almost got the idea that the industry had fixed that problem! ;) Guess I've just had good luck until recently. I had an Avon freebie mascara I opened around the same time when I couldn't find the Maximeyes one day, and frighteningly enough, it actually looks better & performs better. No flaking, holds a curl better, and no clumps. It doesn't offer as dramatic effect, but is overall a better mascara experience. Sad. I think I'm learning my lesson about Dior mascaras, one expensive disappointment at a time.
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Mascara -Christian Dior - Ultimeyes
kitsune 9/25/2004 1:56:00 AM
Love the packaging, hate the product.
My first high-end mascara purchase, and a bad experiment. Bought this in Aubergine, which didn't seem to have any effect on my dark lashes. I didn't expect *purple* lashes, but this looked like plain dull brown on me.
I actually had a tube of Maybelline Full & Soft on hand that I could compare to this accurately, just to be sure the haze of memory wasn't confusing me -- applied side-by-side, Full & Soft was VASTLY superior.
The main selling point seems to be the separation & length. To be clear, you still have to wipe the wand, and this *will* start to create minor spiderlegs if you make the mistake of exceeding 2-3 careful coats. Not a big deal though, as it's less clumpy than most. Noticed no lengthening.
My biggest problem with it (and it was big!) was that it was like an iron for my lashes. I thought Max Factor Stretch & Separate straightened my lashes quickly? Well, I'd seen nothing yet! Almost *disturbing* how quickly this mascara took the curl out of my lashes. Every morning with this one was a struggle.
I give it points for not smudging at all, which is great, but this is not a mascara I'd ever buy again, even for half the price. Full & Soft *also* separates nicely, doesn't clump or smudge, and unlike Ultimeyes, keeps a curl ALL DAY.
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Lip Gloss -mark - Glossblossom Ripening Lip Tint
kitsune 8/4/2004 9:39:00 PM
I LOVE GLOSSBLOSSOM!
I'm a "polished natural look" kind of girl, but...I am also a)a lip balm addict and b) look sickly without any color on my lips. Because I feel silly when I am overly polished/made-up, I can't stand lipstick, but live for colored glosses -- most of which I find too fussy or too bright. In desperation, I've taken to layering Eyeko fat balm (which has great color, but can be dry) beneath a glossier topcoat of a clear balm I can apply with my fingers.
This gloss is thick and smooth, no stickiness, and very shiny. It comes in a small slant-tip applicator (which is great), and has a slight watermelon candy smell. On my lips, this transforms into a very natural warm rosey pink, slightly darker than my lips are naturally -- the epitome of My Lips But Better. This is everything I want in a gloss -- it feels smooth and moisturizing on my lips (not dry or tacky), it's sheer and glossy, has some natural but flattering color, is a cinch to apply, and can be tossed in my pocket if need be. It's what I'll reach for over and over again to "perk" my face up without fuss. If I don't declare this my holy grail in a few weeks, I'll be surprised. ;)
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Treatments (Eye) -Kiehls - Imperiale Repairateur Moisturizing Eye Balm
kitsune 7/19/2004 11:01:00 PM
Eh. This is, as other MUAers have noted, a very mild, very emollient basic eye balm in a small pot. I wouldn't really say that come morning this proves more moisturizing than other balms I've used, though it will seem so on first application. It has a *very* greasy feel, and must be applied sparingly. I didn't find that it caused me any milia, but I did notice that it migrated away from my immediate eye area to the area just beneath my eyes on either side of my nose -- and I noticed I consistently would develop small whiteheads/clogged pores in that area after using this balm. I don't really feel that this balm provided any special benefit for me, though I think it would probably be very soothing follow-up balm for someone using Retin-A under the eyes, or some other very irritating agent. The greasiness and the possibly related whiteheads are enough to turn me off, especially given the fact that it doesn't seem to provide more long-term moisture for all that. That said, I'm now "repurposing" this as an excellent nighttime LIP balm, which I think it wanted to be all along. ;)
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No