Skincare - Face -MyChelle - Deep Repair Cream
lilliebet 3/21/2008 8:13:00 PM
This is a very tentative review as I have only had this product for a few weeks. It is a very thick formula with a rather odd scent - yeasty with hints of lavender. I got it as a present because someone knew I love my Incredible Pumpkin Peel from MyChelle and also believe in their business. As someone with easily congested skin there is no way I would use something this thick all over my face. So I use it around my eyes and on my neck and chest at night. I wanted to write this review because a few months ago I noticed my first ever sunspot - on my cheek. I was really bummed out because I have very very few lines or signs of aging -this is the first one! However, after having applied this cream to it for a few weeks, it really is fading. It's not gone entirely but it is much less noticable. I will give an edit in a few weeks, but for now it looks like it really might have some effective properties on the cellular level besides just moisture...
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Shampoo -Bath and Body Works - Aromatherapy Volumizing Shampoo - Lavender Vanilla
lilliebet 1/21/2008 12:43:00 PM
I have been having a bad run of hair products lately, and this shampoo is part of it. I generally do not care for BBW products to begin with, my local one just had a screaming sale where I got a bottle of this for 5.00. Generally I find their products to be dressed-up rip offs of other more expensive lines, and I really don't like their misleading labeling about animal testing. They also seem to feel the need to throw in synthetic, perfumey, fake smelling elements to almost all of their products (like Sensual Amber - how is that scent even remotely amber?) Soapbox aside though - I LOVE the Jasmin Vanilla shampoo and conditioner because I do find thatr scent to die for and it does stay in my hair all day. Very sexy. This shampoo though, strips my color and does NOT clean my hair. I don't have time for 2 lathers in the morning. Will not repurchase.
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Treatments (Eye) -Burt's Bees - Radiance Eye Cream with Royal Jelly
lilliebet 1/21/2008 12:35:00 PM
I was looking for a good easily-absorbed eye cream that I could use both day and night. I really liked the old Royal Jelly eye cream but in the end found that it was just too thick. I used the Radiance night cream before and really liked it, so I thought I would give this a try. It's only been a few days but here are some initial thoughts: A little dab will do ya! Although it does finally absorb better than the old Royal Jelly, if you use too much you will need to stand there pat-pat-patting for a good while. Overall though, the consistency is very nice. It does have reflective particles that make the whole eye area appear brighter which is great for me because my main complaint isn't bags or lines but darkness. Time will tell if it has an effect on the lines, but with so many great ingredients, I don't see how it couldn't help. I will edit in a few weeks.
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Shampoo -John Frieda - Radiant Red Anti-Fade Shampoo
lilliebet 12/15/2007 12:46:00 AM
Yikes! This did NOTHING for my hair color - I feel like I might as well have been using handsoap on my freshly colored red hair. That wouldn't be so bad except for the fact that it really does NOT get your hair clean. My cute short haircut has never been more lank or clumpy. Yes, clumpy! There have GOT to be better options out there. It is hard enough keeping red hair red, you don't need to look like a grease monkey too! I really like the Brilliant Brunette line so I thought this was a sure thing, but sadly, no.
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Fragrances -Pacifica - Vanilla Vera Cruz
lilliebet 12/2/2007 8:08:00 PM
I am a big fan of both Pacifica and Vanilla, so I was really psyched when I found a bottle of this on sale. But I have to agree with the other reviewers: PLAY DOUGH!! I wore it to the courthouse the day my fiance and I went to apply for our marriage lisence, and that experience lwill forever be marked by my fiance leaning over to kiss me and saying "Wow - you smell like play doh!" UGH! I gave it to my sister and it happens to smell really nice on her, but personally I give this NO lippies! One of the biggest disappointments to date.
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Fragrances -LUSH - Karma
lilliebet 11/6/2007 10:26:00 PM
Yes, indeed. It is true that this perfume is not for everyone. Even though I am a huge fan, I thought FeySparrow's description was hilarious, and I can see how this fragarance would turn some people off. Having said that though, I do love Karma. It has depth, body, and intrigue. It is not something you spritz on before work just to smell pleasant. It is completely rock and roll. I know everyone says "hippies" in reference to this perfume, but to me it evokes skinny jeans tucked into stilletto boots, bad-a** leather gloves, a Chrissy Hynde-esque shag, and riding around town on the back of your hot Scottish boyfriend's motorcycle.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Earth Science - Apricot Intensive Night Creme
lilliebet 10/21/2007 1:12:00 AM
I first bought this cream to make it through my first winter in a very dry climate. As someone whose skin can't tolerate very thick creams, at first I was worried about the consistency. But it absorbs so well it wasn't an issue - I could even skip the eye cream. The best thing about it is that it is NOT oily. I am currently making my way through a pot of BB's Marshmallow Vanishing cream, and although it's a good moisturizer, there's just an oiliness to it that is unappealing. I may have to ditch the Burts and come back to Earth Science...
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Scrubs -Earth Science - Apricot Gentle Facial Scrub
lilliebet 10/21/2007 1:07:00 AM
My Earth Science products are the workhorses of my beauty routine. Simple, non-fussy, non-glamorous, cost-effective, and most of all - effective on my skin! I keep this scrub in my shower and use it every morning. It makes my skin clear, smooth and glowy. My skin gets congested easily and needs alot of exfoliation (I also use a prescription exfoliant as well as an at-home glycolic peel). This one does an excellent job. The consistency is very dense - the abrasion particles are tightly packed. But it does suds up a little which allows for even application all over my face. There is no over-powering fragarance and not alot of mysterious synthetic indregients. Most definitley my HG scrub. I will splurge on haircuts, eye cream, and perfume, but with Earth Science there's no need to drop major cash on this beauty routine staple.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Derma E - Glycolic Facial Cleanser with Marine Plant Extracts
lilliebet 9/3/2007 1:45:00 PM
Could it be that I have finally found my HG cleanser after all these long years? For the record I am 31 (so obviously at a point where my skin is turning a corner in terms of needs), and combo skin that is very very sensitive, irritated easily and quite acne prone. I used to use the DE microdermabrasion scrub (when I got it for free as a bodycare buyer) and really liked it. I was looking for a cleanser with glycolic acid in it to help with not only cleansing pores and shuffling off dead skin cells, but with overall radiance as I get older. This is the ticket! You massage it into dry skin, then remove with a puff or washcloth, then rinse many times (which is a step I feel is often overlooked in cleansing routines). It's been about 4 months, and my skin is so much smoother and I have far less breakouts than ever before (disclaimer: I also started using Finacea and Clindamycin from the derm in order to help address acne - but I have used them in conjunction with other cleansers before with not so stellar results). I am on my 3rd bottle and can no reason to ever stray.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Stila - Midnight Bloom
lilliebet 9/1/2007 5:18:00 PM
I bought this from Sephora based mostly on the bottle (sucker!) and the gardenia endorsements. I used to live in the South and it reminded me of the night-blooming flowers that were so heady and intoxicating. It reminds me of garters, silk slips and stockings, and brick red lipstick. It's kind of a throw-back scent, like what you'd wear for an illicit romp with a lover. DEFINITELY not for everyone - not a universal scent at all, and I can totally see how some folks were completely turned off by it, it was much sweeter than I had anticipated. Test first!
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Fragrances -Givenchy - Very Irresistible
lilliebet 9/1/2007 5:10:00 PM
This was the first 'adult' perfume I ever bought (before then it had mostly been essential oils, Body Shop perfumes, etc). I lusted after it for quite some time before finally shelling out for it, and I am very happy I made the investment! I normally tend towards vanilla-y, musky scents, but there is enough sexy in the florals of VI that makes it work. I had never even thought of a rose scent before reading these reviews. Yes, it certainly floral, but I find that the scent changes all day long, and it is super long lasting - all I need for the day is one spritz. This is my day time perfume - great for the office as well as a special occasion. And of course the bottle is precious!
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Eye Shadow -Wet 'n' Wild - Ultimate Expressions Eyeshadow Palette - Paradise Cove - 397 [DISCONTINUED]
lilliebet 9/1/2007 4:59:00 PM
If it weren't for the MUA reviews of this product I probably never would have tried this palette, but scooped it up yesterday on an impulse. I have to say I am very pleasantly surprised! The colors are very very soft and blendable, as well as highly pigmented. There is a bit of shimmer, but I don't find it overpowering. I have pale skin and green eyes, and using the pale colors on the left with the darker plum from the middle really makes them pop! Perfect with a pale pink blush and honey lip gloss. I am going to look like summer well into winter with this little beauty!
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Treatments (Eye) -L'Occitane - Immortelle Eye Balm
lilliebet 8/26/2007 3:31:00 PM
Sorry L'Occitane. Anyone with a grip on product/ingredient knowledge will know that the only real difference between this eye cream and Jergens is the price. I know L'O is all about their "stories" and of course Immortelle has a nice ring to it, but just because the plant doesn't wilt forever doesn't actually mean it's going to do jack to human skin. Eat right, get plenty of sleep and use SPF 15 - much cheaper than an Immortelle habit.
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Styling Products -John Frieda - Brilliant Brunette Runway Straight Smoothing Milk
lilliebet 8/11/2007 3:52:00 PM
I really like this product. I can actually skip round-brushing my hair if I use this before blow drying, which is great because I am starting to get really split ends from all the heat styling. I can imagine that if I did round brush/ iron after this my hair would be amazingly smooth. But most mornings I am getting ready at the gym so I like to have as little as possible to do. The trick is not to apply too much, or it will make your hair waxy. I apply about a dime-sized amount to both sides of my hair, particularly the ends, then gently blow-dry straight down. Voila! Shiny, swingy hair. I do agree with other MUA's about the smell....not so great esp. considering the other products smell so good! But I can't really smell it when it's dry.
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Styling Products -Aveda - Pure Abundance Hair Potion
lilliebet 8/11/2007 3:44:00 PM
With crappy packaging and an INSANE price, I don't want to like this tiny bottle of weird powder, but I do....An aveda stylist used it on me while creating a high-volume hair style for me after a recent cut and i just loved the way it held up the roots of my hair and provided volume for my otherwise fine limp hair for hours! Of course I almost died when I went to pay for it. But an avowed product junkie won't argue with quality. It does take some getting used to, like other MUA's have said, it's hard to apply just the right amount. I use it to create a 60's-ish sex kitteny Bardot kind of bed head. I hold up a few sections of dry hair around the top of my head, then sprinkle it on at the roots, but not right on the scalp. Then I back comb a little bit, and gently comb the sections back. I still have volume at the end of the day. I've really never found anything like this. '
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No