Shampoo -Shiseido - Tsubaki (White) Damage Care
lemonz4us 6/18/2013 3:25:00 AM
Overwhelming fragrance, left my hair dull and matted I guess it was a step down from pureology. Gifted this to a friend
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Deodorants -Lavanila - The Healthy Deodorant
lemonz4us 6/11/2013 8:51:00 PM
This smelled really nice but it didn't last at all If i didn't do anything all day, i wouldn't smell badly but let's be real, no one lives like that in reality. If i moved around or god forbid, sweat ! this would wear off as if i had not put on deodorant at all, like AT ALL; i would still smell sour if i were sweating with no deodorant on. it also left white marks and powder in my armpit hair (i'm male). i ended up returning it. I think i'll just buy the grapefruit fragrance instead. If this does work for you, however, good news for you, Lavanila lowered the price of the full size from 18 to 14$
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Fragrances -Trish McEvoy - Blackberry and Vanilla Musk #9 EDP
lemonz4us 6/3/2013 10:58:00 AM
I have to say... this is a very lovely scent. But i'm not rating the scent based on how well i like it. It's the kind of balance of sweet and somewhat fruity (tart blackberry) that i love in fragrances. I don't care that this is for females(i'm male), i love it and will wear it, it's really nice for winter ! when you'll be warm indoors. I have gripes about this though, the packaging for the largest size is awkward. It's insanely expensive at 85$ for the full size, and it has little to no staying power, after 4 hours i can barely smell sweetness if i dig my nose into my wrist. I expect a more pricey designer fragrance to stay more. Several dupes are out there but this is a unique fragrance in that the dupes are close...but not quite exact to the original. (i personally suspect the fragrance creators purposefully made the fragrance non-lasting so they could call their formula "unique" so people would buy it more ) bathed and infused makes a far less $$$ dupe, the closest to the original
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Lotions/ Creams -Carol's Daughter - Carol's Daughter Almond Cookie Lotion
lemonz4us 6/3/2013 10:49:00 AM
It says ... Naturally conditions, moisturizes and hydrates while nourishing dry skin with antioxidants. 15% shea butter, cranberry oil, olive oil, macadamia oil, jojoba oil, soybean oil, and vitamin E. Paraben-free. No parabens. No petroleum, mineral oil, or artificial color. I have to admit this does moisturize well, it makes my skin feels smooth and silky but oh MY GOODNESS the scent !!! it's sooooooooooo bad Out of the tube it smells like heavily artificial almond, very cheap and gross, and it dries down to smell like something of mix between play-doh and baby powder I'm sorry, but due to this, it's a no-go from me. Fragrance is the 4th ingredient !!!!!!! Water, Shea Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Fragrance, Olive Oil, Beeswax, Cranberry Seed Oil, Macadamia Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Soybean Oil, Tocopherol, Sclerotium Gum, Octyldodecanol, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 60, Disodium EDTA, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol
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Sunscreen -Shiseido - Urban Environment Oil-Free UV Protector for Face SPF 42 PA+++
lemonz4us 5/14/2013 12:29:00 AM
i can't believe we have to pay 30$ for 1oz in the US for something you can find in Japan or other parts of Asia for around <10$ complete highway robbery, i see what you did there, Shiseido well played, well played.... Alternatives, any of the ds japanese ss like biore UV face milk or something a little pricier like Sekkisei Sun protector (35$ for 2oz)
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Accessories -Unlisted Brand - Solotica Hidrocor Mel contact lenses
lemonz4us 5/4/2013 4:40:00 PM
These lenses are actually yellow . They turn my dark brown eyes a beautiful natural looking green. Nobody can tell they're not my real eyes . The only thing is these really suck out the oxygen from my eyes after a few hours, so they're not for long wear. I use a ultra sonic contact lens cleaner to clean these every week. And I've had them for 3 years. They're still holding up. They were very expensive I purchased from wrlens I also have the ice ones, which are white to turn my eyes gray
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Pressed Powders -Guerlain - Meteorites Voyage
lemonz4us 5/1/2013 8:56:00 PM
Broke me out everytime I used it, not cysts but irritated red skin . Didn't illuminate my face like the raves on the board, doesn't control oil, emphasized dry spots. I think I'll try the teint rose meteorites original instead , I returned this and bought a bronzer instead
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Sunscreen -Shiseido - Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion + Broad Spectrum Spf 50+
lemonz4us 4/29/2013 11:30:00 PM
Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 7.4% Octocrylene 3.0% Titanium Dioxide 1.7% Zinc Oxide 19.3% Inactive Ingredients: Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Isopropyl Myristate, SD Alcohol 40-B, Isododecane, Polymethyl Methacrylate, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polybutylene Glycol/PPG-9/1 Copolymer, Xylitol, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-10, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Ectoin, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Isostearic Acid, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Methacrylamidolauric Acid Copolymer, Silica, Alumina, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Talc, Alcohol, Trisodium EDTA, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, BHT, Syzygium Jambos Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance. 39$ for 3.3oz/100ml Haven't tried this yet, the amount of isopropyl myristate in here scares me (5/5 for acne causing on cosdna) it was pretty white cast-y on the back of my hand, will update later Update: I tried this, although I didn't break out or have any stinging, the white cast left by this sunscreen was absolutely unacceptable. I would at least be okay with it, if it went away after 30 minutes. But even after two hours the white cast was still there. The lotion settled into my stubble too, leaving me with a white moustache and neck.(I'm male) this kind of cast is unacceptable, especially for the price tag. For the same price or cheaper I'd get no white cast with sekkisei sun protector or replenix sunscreen spray. This is going back.. Shine control was very poor btw, much UNLIKE traditional japanese sunscreens . Sorry shiseido, a miss imo ...
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Sunscreen -Unlisted Brand - Elta MD UV Pure Broad-Spectrum SPF 47
lemonz4us 4/27/2013 8:13:00 PM
Incredibly silky and lightweight feeling, it spreads in amazingly. The bad thing is, it leaves an opaque white cast, very noticeable. It's also pretty drying so dry skins beware It's very water resistant so it'd be great for the beach or days where you'll be running etc. Its 22.50 for 4oz I think i'll stick with the 8oz lotion, spf 30 version, this is too drying for my arms (dry body skin to begin with) use a good moisturizing lotion underneath or body butter. This needs an oil cleanser to be removed. I think ill reserve this for days when I'll be out for extended periods . The spf 30 lotion is better for errday use . Use an aox lotion like replenix lotion or olay quench underneath for added protection Edit: this is way too opaque and white . Coppertone waterbabies is more 'elegant' and has more zinc to boot
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Deodorants -Unlisted Brand - Baking Soda & Corn Starch
lemonz4us 4/27/2013 1:39:00 AM
Not for me, sorry to be the lone dissenter here. I mixed this up with 1/4 a cup of baking soda, 1 cup of corn starch and 1/2 cup of coconut oil. This stuff is hella sticky! mixing it is kind of a pain. In its defense, i don't smell, i just smell like coconuts, though my armpits are kind of wet. What i don't like about this, and why i'm giving it a bad review, is because it leave a white powdery residue in my armpits and gets caught and stuck in my armpit hair (i'm male)
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Sunscreen -Shiseido - Extra Smooth Sun Protection Cream For Face SPF38
lemonz4us 4/24/2013 4:20:00 AM
I'm actually pleasantly surprised by this sunscreen. I put a "no" for repurchase because it's discontinued and reformulated . I found this at Marshall's for 20$ It goes on smoothly like the name states , doesn't leave a white cast(nano zinc) like the 55 cream did and kept me matte all day. It's a little tough to spread on the neck though. To remove this, like any silicone water -resistant sunscreen , an oil cleanser must be used or expect breakouts . Even discounted at 20$ this is very pricey... Edit: I'm lowering this down to a 3 . It leaves a white cast in my stubble (especially moustache and goatee area --after about 4 days of not shaving)i usually have this problem with thick sunscreens. I don't think the liquid would settle in this manner. Eh
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Conditioner -Pureology - Hydrate Conditioner
lemonz4us 4/17/2013 10:31:00 PM
This conditioner is amazing, it's super pricey, so I usually use it sparingly, and only when i can afford it. It hydrates without the aid of silicones, and only uses a water soluble one. so it's meant to be used with a sulfate free shampoo (hydrate shampoo), but i just use whatever i have lying around. the shampoo is very very concentrated and i only need a small pea sized amount to condition my whole head, (i am a male, and my hair is medium ish length) if you're a woman with longer hair you may need a pearl sized amount. but a little goes a longgggg way. It has rosemary and peppermint oils in it which stimulate blood flow to encourage hair growth, so if you put this near your scalp, you kind of get a two-in-1 conditioning treatment and hair growth stimulation!! which actually saves you money in the long run. This also contains a UV filter to help shield your hair from sun damage, a win ! there's one thing thats a bit annoying though, but its just me; the cooling sensation is pretty nice but during winter the last thing i want to feel is cold on my scalp, especially when i rinse with cold water anyway. That might be a little unsettling for those of you who have temperature sensitivities. This conditioner gives MASSIVE slip to my hair, and makes it super soft, but never weighs it down, despite the fact that i have very fine, almost thin hair. The only thing that gave slip this great to my hair was Joico's Intense Hydrator but the amount of keratin in that is too much (daily) for my virgin hair now, was great back when my hair was highlifted and bleach highlighted. I suggest you first try the trial size at Ulta for 7.50 , and if you really like it buy the liter size for 64$. You get the most product for your money, i could easily seeing the smaller 8.5 oz bottle lasting me through the rest of the year, so imagine the liter. Overall a great conditioner, a bit expensive, but totally worth every penny!
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Bronzers -Too Faced - Chocolate Soleil
lemonz4us 4/17/2013 9:38:00 PM
Great scent, nice texture but this turned orange on me, very orange. not a fan of that look, i even used a very light hand, maybe i should go for the lighter one? right now i like guerlain light in 01 blondes and regular terracotta in 04
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Sunscreen -Unlisted Brand - Topix - Replenix Ultra Sheer Physical Sunscreen Spray SPF 50
lemonz4us 4/17/2013 9:24:00 PM
My HG sunscreen! for now.. lol I, like many of you am constantly on the search for a HG sunscreen that will keep my skin burn and (my preference) color free. Previously i had been using chemical very high ppd sunscreens like Bioderma max lait, but for some reason my face and neck were always a shade darker than the rest of my body, despite sun avoidance and protective measures. This past summer i switched to all physical, or at least physical based. I started with kose sekkisei sun protector and noticed my skin had lightened up, it was too pricey to keep buying though. i tried this sunscreen from the skin boards recommendations and i love it, i haven't looked back and now continue to recommend this myself. here's why: This sunscreen is weightless, a silicone base that goes on like nothing, leaves no white cast, and stays matte all day.If you have no problems with silicones, you should absolutely try this sunscreen. Plus it has 12% zinc oxide and a lot of healthy skin loving antioxidants like green tea, resveratrol, vitamin c , vitamin e, co-q10 to further shield your skin from UV damage and free radicals. This sunscreen comes in a pump spray bottle with little shaker ball inside, you need to shake it before you use it and spray into your hands first, then apply to your face and other areas. The lovely suchetab measured out that you need 8 sprays for you face and 8 for neck, i usually apply the neck area amount to my ears too, and use 4 more for the back of my neck if it's going to be exposed to the sun (i'm male) You get 4oz, for 38$ which is about 10$/an oz . Most cosmetically elegant sunscreens only come in 1 or 2oz. it lasts about 2-3 months with daily use for me. i usually stock up during sales with 20% off coupons. Quick tip. If you live in CA like i do, you can order from lovelyskin . They don't charge you sales tax and ship for free on any order. I've ordered from dermstore before but they charge me sales tax which basically negates the 10-% sale on favorites for me. Dermstore is based in California (the warehouse is) The bad : ~This sunscreen can be kind of drying(it's meant for the body after all...), others have noted this to be overly drying, i don't find it so. My skin is normal, so it gets a little dry in winter, and slightly oily in the t zone in summer. I definitely need a light moisturizer (cerave pm) under it in winter, but in summer all i need is my serum underneath (SN Awesome Sauce) ~It needs to be removed with an oil cleanser, because of the silicone base, i haven't tested using just cleanser to remove it but i don't want to chance it, i use mineral oil as a precleanse to remove this ~ Topix the company doesn't reveal the order of ingredients, they list them in alphabetical order , lame for those who are sensitive to high amounts of silicone ~ not readily available, has to be ordered online, a bit annoying Overall, this sunscreen is awesome, i've repurchased this about 6 times, and will continue to do so until i find something that has more zinc, at an equal or cheaper price. I definitely recommend this Zinc Oxide 12%. Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Biotin, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Polyphenols, Cetyl PEG/PPG 10/1 Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Isostearate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Purified Water, Resveratrol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q-10)
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Styling Products -Joico - K-Pak Color Therapy Restorative Styling Oil (New 2013 Formula)
lemonz4us 4/17/2013 8:36:00 PM
The newly reformulated Joico oil, much improved from the old version, has peptides (Joico calls this their Bio Advanced Peptide Complex) to restore hair to its former glory . I find that this is on equal or better performance than Moroccan oil, YES finally ! This has so many one-ups over moroccan oil, it contains a lot of antioxidants to restore hairs health and shield it from UV damage and free radicals, and it contains an actual UV filter to prevent more sun damage , in the form of Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (avobenzone) and it's HALF the price of Moroccan oil for the same amount. the new bottle is a gold cap and at the bottom there are a lot of hexagonal molecules on the package. I like that the fragrance in this is incredibly subdued, straight out of the bottle it smells identical to the color therapy shampoo and conditioner, a bit fruity and sweet, but in my hair i can't smell anything, this is great bc i love to follow with scented hairsprays in my hair. but what i don't care for is that after about maybe 9 hours? if i smell my hair it usually smells dirty, as though i haven't washed my hair in 4 days (i'm sure you all know that smell) maybe my body chemistry just doesn't mesh well with it, but overall the fragrance isn't grossly overwhelming like moroccan oil. I'm glad that they included dimethicone in this, my hair really likes that silicone, it hates dimethiconol though. ymmv. So i use this as i use all my silicone serums, i towel blot my hair, add my leave in conditioner, then follow with a pump or 3( if you're a lady you may need much more) of the oil and rub it between my hands, then put it into all my hair root to end, (all hair needs to be protected from heat) These silicone serums contain silicones that surround the hair and shield it from heat (so in that sense anything with silicones can act as a heat protectant) then i blow dry my hair till it completely dry and my hair is completely soft and shiny. If i do flat iron *which i almost never do anymore* i'll get a bit of this oil, and put it on the dry areas of my hair where im going to flat iron, and continue till my hair is straight. For reference i am male, with fine, almost thin, medium-ish length dark brown hair Seriously gals, (and any guys reading this) this may be a replacement for moroccan oil, see my review on that for more info. I've only been using this since dec. 2012(4 months so far), so i need a few more months to decide which one i like more, keep an eye out !
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