Deodorants -DERMAdoctor - DERMAdoctor Ultra Brightening Antiperspirant Deodorant
leira 6/3/2006 9:31:00 AM
I just finished my first bottle, which took me 6 months. I'm looking for a good deodorant that will take out the darkening in my armpits, but after using this for 6 months, I didn't notice a significant difference. The good thing about this deodorant though is that it keeps body odor at bay which is very important if you live in a hot humid state. Since it's a roll-on formula, it takes a while to dry so I always put this on first after showering. I wish this was cheaper, because $28 is just a lot of money to be spending on deodorant that only partially works. I am now testing Fresh sugar deodorant which is half cheaper than this one (but still expensive than your average deodorant).
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Lip Gloss -Bath and Body Works - Goldie Tinted Lip Balm
leira 3/18/2006 11:46:00 AM
I love this tinted lip balm! I bought this during the BOGO promo at Bath and Body Works. It's very pigmented, glossy, and non-drying. These balms also wear well, and I love reapplying it because of it's balmy, moisturizing feeling. It lasts fairly well, probably about 2 hours. The two colors I got were Monk and Pippy. Pippy is a light beige color, very very similar to NARS Chelsea Girls. It's also very pigmented so it's probably nice to layer it on if you want to soften a matte l/s color. This is probably how I'm gonna use it because the color by itself just doesn't work with my skintone (medium tanned with slight olive tones). Monk, however, is a perfect rosy color for me. I absolutely love it, it's my YLBB color. When I wear it over my pigmented lips, it blends in beautifully and takes away the grayness off my lips. I'd say this is a neutral rosy color, and could be worn by anyone. I will definitely repurchase this balm once I ran out! The packaging is similar to Juicy Tubes, which I love because it's sanitary and I can control the amount of balm coming out fairly easy. The tube is also pretty with some drawings on it and has a silver cap on with a rabbit etched on top. Retails for $12 at Bath and Body Works.
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Lip Gloss -Stila - Vip Party - Set 2 (Holiday 2004)
leira 1/29/2006 2:57:00 PM
I am reviewing the Ginger/Praline and Currant/Fruit Cocktail duos (I gave the Guava/Mulberry duo away, looked too cool). I like Stila lipglazes because they wear off evenly and doesn't give me that dreaded white ring on the inside of my lips which looks like dried saliva, ugh. MAC lipglasses does that to me. And the lipglazes are not overly sticky and lasts fairly longer than your average gloss. On to the colors. On my heavily pigmented lips, Ginger and Praline appears to be just clear gloss that delivers high sheen. I liked this duo if I wanted to tone down a very matte lipstick, just adds a nicer feel to the lips and breaks the strength of a matte color. Currant/Fruit Cocktail is my favorite duo, I adore the pigmentation of Currant - a rich deep red, which I can imagine can be pulled off by cool or warm skin-toned girls. Fruit Cocktail is pink with golden shimmer, imagine NARS Orgasm with more pink in it. I love the smell of both of these lipglazes, especially Currant. The smell of Currant reminds me of some ayurvedic, Aveda-ish type smell, I can't just put my finger on it. Fruit Cocktail smells, well, fruity. Kinda sweet smelling but not overly so. I have finished Ginger/Praline and I'm now moving on to my other duo. If I run out of it, I'd probably by Currant if it's available.
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Scrubs -Tony & Tina - Herbal Daily Face Scrub
leira 1/18/2006 8:55:00 PM
This is a phenomenal scrub from the discontinued m/u line, Tony and Tina. I got this for $5 at TJMaxx and I'm glad I gave it a try. This is a daily scrub that does not dry your face but exfoliates gently and effectively. It is a large jar (1.7oz), and I wish it was packaged differently, like in a tube so it's more sanitary. However, the product inside is just wonderful. It contains honey, oat flour, cornmeal, kaolin, jojoba, glycerin and lavender. For reference, I have normal to oily skin with blackheads and large pores. Although it didn't get rid of my blackheads, I believe it helped keep my skin clear. This did not break me out at all, unlike other exfoliators (Biotherm, ya hear me?). The scrub granules are there but its not harsh because of the moisturizing properties of the ingredients. After rinsing, my skin felt smooth, vibrant, and not tight at all. I used this everyday and it lasted me months! This and Daily Microfoliant from Dermalogica are the most gentlest exfoliators I've ever tried. If you ever see this at your TJMaxx or Marshalls, definitely give it a chance and try it!
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Lotions/ Creams -Bath and Body Works - Le Couvent des Minimes - Skin Softening BODY BALM - Honey and Shea
leira 1/15/2006 10:57:00 AM
After finishing my big giant tub of this balm, I just had to add my raves for this product. At first whiff, it smells like honey, and the consistency is almost that of honey, which I love! It is very moisturizing and not as troublesome to apply, it's like lotion only a bit thicker. Washing it off your hands is not that hard either, but I'd rather rub my hands on my knees or elbows instead of washing it off. There are only two things that I don't like about this product - the packaging (its in a big plastic tub with a lid that I wouldn't rely on if you were traveling with it), and the price (it's a whopping $28 but if you happen to chance upon it during a BBW sale like I did, you can get it for $10). So I will only buy this if it were on sale, but if you have the urgency to splurge for your winter dry skin, then this balm is definitely something worth trying out. Oh, and you can buy the trial size too if you don't think you can commit for a full size one.
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Moisturizers -Aura Science - Phase Two Infuse Night Treatment
leira 1/9/2006 8:46:00 PM
At the most recent Victoria's Secret sale, I went in hoping to find this moisturizer. I've just finished the whole jar, all 1.7 oz of lightweight, non-oily, non-clogging goodness and was hoping to get another one for a good price. At $30 a jar, it can cause a major dent in the budget, but during VS Sales, some Aura Science items are usually discounted at 75% off. But luck was not with me, and now here I am, writing my review before I toss this empty red jar away.
For reference, I have normal to oily skin, prone to breakouts.
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Palettes -Paul & Joe - Pochette D Soire - Evening Bag Facecolor Palette
leira 12/18/2005 3:27:00 PM
I waited so long to get my hands on this palette, and when I finally got it, it was mediocre at best. Palette has 5 facecolor powders that you can either use as blush or eyeshadow. (a pastel violet, a pastel mint green, a light pink, a bronze brown, and a deep chocolate brown). I thought that maybe the browns would have better pigment but nope, it just turned muddy on my lids. I've had some better luck with their single facecolor powders, so I had to let this palette go. Cute packaging, but not worth the $38 I paid for.
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Lip Gloss -Paul & Joe - Boite A Bijoux-Jewelry Box Lip Color Palette
leira 12/18/2005 12:44:00 PM
I so wanted this palette to work for me. Being a Paul and Joe fanatic, I purchased this during the Sephora FF, along with the limited e/s palette, and I agree with the reviewer below. The colors on this palette are so sheer that they didn't change or enhance my lipcolor at all. Granted, I have very pigmented lips but I've had some P&J l/s that were sheer but had just enough pigment. The packaging is adorable and I wished they sell these just by itself so I can use it for my facecolor powders. But other than the packaging, this product is a big disappointment and I would rather invest in one or two P&J lipsticks that I can use than a palette that I have no use for at all. Lesson learned, do not get suckered into buying a product that has nice packaging. I love most of P&J products but sadly, this one is a big flop in my book.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Tarte - Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Mosturizer (Smooth Operator)
leira 12/16/2005 8:41:00 PM
I will join the positive reviewers here in saying that I also love this foundation! It does not have that oily feel to it after 3 hours of application and although I still have to blot a couple of times a day, this foundation doesn't make me look shiny at all! I use the color Disguise, and I'm an MMM/GGG. My face is already darker than my neck so this color balances it out. I have never had any major breakouts since using this foundation, AND it has spf! Plus, the tube packaging is just perfect as you don't pump or pour too much out of it. The foundation does starts drying down on your skin once you put it on so you have to work with it quickly. It's a very sheer coverage so if you need more coverage this will not work. For example, I have big pores around my cheeks and I apply concealer to that in addition to the Tarte foundation. This foundation would be absolutely perfect if it were a) in a bigger tube OR b) less expensive. I prefer B :)
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Conditioner -Shiseido - Super Mild Conditioner (FT)
leira 12/16/2005 8:35:00 PM
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this conditioner! I bought this along with the mild shampoo (see my review) and they are both fantastic! This conditioner doesn't weigh down my already thick and heavy hair. It coats my hair but rinses very well, it doesn't have that "waxy" feel to it after you rinse. I don't know if this has silicone or not (the writing on the bottle is in Japanese) but it really is one of the best kept secrets in an Asian market's beauty aisle :)
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Highlighters -Giorgio Armani - Fluid Sheer #2
leira 11/5/2005 11:36:00 AM
I like the idea of a highlighter, but I found this particular champagne color not really working with my skin tone (MMM/GGG with yellow/olive tones). I also found the shimmer slightly more chunky than my other fluid sheer (#3). I like the sleek packaging and hygienic pump but as others have mentioned you may have to be careful when pumping it out because it does have a tendency to pump out more than you may need it to. My trick to control that is to place your thumb on the top and your index finger at the base of the pump so that only a drop the size of a pencil eraser nub comes out. If these were cheaper I'd probably try more colors but unfortunately at almost $50 a pop I can't afford to.
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Lipstick -Vincent Longo - Lip Stain in Cherry
leira 11/4/2005 7:15:00 PM
I love this lipstick, in fact I love all VL l/s stains! Cherry works wonderfully for my overly pigmented lips. My lips has that slight grayish tone and Cherry takes that out and makes it look luscious and shiny without the obvious blinding shine of a lipgloss. A perfect color to use at work. And I love how balmy it feels, and how it doesn't dry my lips. The l/s fades evenly leaving me with a light reddish stain. I'd say this is a more cool red than a warm red but because of it's sheerness, it still works with my MMM/GGG slight olive skin tone. One word of caution though, the packaging of this l/s needs some work! The l/s just breaks off the base even though I keep my l/s in a cool place. So if you're reading this Mr. Longo, can you please improve on that? I already have two broken l/s that I tried to put back together because these l/s are not cheap!
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Mascara -Max Factor - Lash Perfection
leira 11/4/2005 7:09:00 PM
The pros: Beautiful dark black color, brilliant brush that gets to each lash, adds length, and does not smudge (although easily removable by my MAC cleansing oil). This is the only mascara that I've used that does not smudge, and it's not even waterproof! However, I was quite disappointed that it did not hold the curl and that's very important for me. I might have to try and layer this with another mascara that does give me a curl so I can finish the tube. For reference, I have thick but straight Asian lashes that tend to droop down if I don't use an e/l curler. I'm beginning to think this mascara only works for a particular type of lash because everybody raves about how this holds a curl but maybe it's too wet/heavy for my thick lashes.
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Mascara -Max Factor - Lash Lift Mascara
leira 11/4/2005 7:05:00 PM
Unfortunately this mascara did not work for me. It smudged by the end of the day and it didn't give my lashes the "lift" that I thought it would give. And I think they need to update the packaging, it looks very dated (in my opinion). For reference, I have thick but straight Asian lashes that tend to droop down if I don't use an e/l curler.
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Eyeliner -English Ideas - Liner Last
leira 10/8/2005 3:46:00 PM
If you have tried every conceivable way to make your eyeliner last with no success, then you have to try this one. For reference I have tried UD Primer Potion, LM Eye Basics, Almay lasting concealer, visine, etc... I have just about given up on using eyeliners but this made all of my e/l last, be it pencil or gel. I like the tiny brush because it allows me to precisely apply the needed amount just on the eyeliner itself. I don't streak it across, I kinda pat the tiny brush along close to my lashes where the e/l is. Fortunately I found my HG eyeliners from NARS (the ones in the bottle) so I don't think I can ever use this up!
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