Cleansers -Neutrogena - Deep Clean Oil-Free Cream Cleanser
lucyem 4/9/2013 9:21:00 AM
I had been using Paulas Choice for years on my sensitive combo skin. The past year my face had gone downhill fast. Scars, lots of bumps, white heads under the skin, blackheads etc. PC's 2% BHA was doing nothing. I was diagnosed with Sebaceous hyperplasia on top of it all. One day I looked really closely in a magnifying mirror after cleansing and realized my PC cleanser was doing NOTHING. My pores were so clogged. I quickly looked on here for a decent cleanser I could buy locally and this product rated in the 80% would use again with a good number of reviews. Ran to the drugstore and picked it up that day. Washed my face once and the difference in that mirror was huge. Pores were actually clear! No wonder my face was going downhill, my cleanser was doing nothing and the BHA's were unable to help. I have been using this cleanser now for over a week. My face is clearing up a lot. Bumps I thought would never go away are clearing up. Little whiteheads are disappearing, even the ones under the skin. Blackheads are clearing up. I am very very pleased. I do have 2 cons. One is the smell. Kind of icky. But I can deal since the results are worth it. The other is that it is drying. I am careful to moisturize really well. But with my combo skin and moving into summer I expect that will not be an issue soon.
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Cleansers -Paula's Choice - Moisture Boost One Step Face Cleanser
lucyem 4/4/2013 6:09:00 PM
I have been a long time Paula's Choice user. And I think my days are over. I had been using this Cleanser for a while in addition to PC's 2% BHA liquid and could not figure out why I was having so many blackhead issues not to mention white heads under the skin surface. I upped to the Resist line and broke out in nasty large acne. I spoke to PC and was told to go back to the moisture boost. Well the bad acne went away but my stubborn blackheads were there. It made no sense to me until I washed my face one morning, looked into a 12x magnifying mirror and my pores were totally clogged. I did some quick checking of reviews, ran out and bought a Neutrogeena cleanser that was well rated. Used it, looked in the mirror right after and bingo my pores were much cleaner. In other words the Moisture Boost does nothing. Obviously the BHA was not able to even keep up. Or perhaps my face would be even worse if it were not for the BHA. I don't know. Sticking with the neutrogeena for now. Moisture boost into the trash. Oh and I have combination sensitive skin.
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Moisturizers -Paula's Choice - RESIST Cellular Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 25
lucyem 2/8/2013 4:32:00 PM
Caused me to break out. I am a big fan of pc but this product was not a winner with my skin. I stopped using it, eventually convinced myself maybe it is not the problem. Tried a second time and broke out again. I have sensitive skin on the dry side. Felt a lot like a sunscreen and not very moisturizing.
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Cleansers -Paula's Choice - RESIST- Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser
lucyem 11/19/2012 10:46:00 AM
I have been using a daily facial cleaner and 2% BHA by PC thanks to reviews on here. My skin looked great. But as I hit midlife I wanted more help with anti aging. So when the resist line came out I was like cool - just what I needed from a skin care company that I love. I used the cleanser for about 6 months. My face deteriorated. More face acne, more little white bumps under the skin, more neck acne. I kept thinking it was my shampoo which is Aveda and something I had used for 10+ years with no issues. One day on vacation I realized - duh maybe my resist cleanser and moisturizer? I went cold turkey on resist. My face cleared up, my neck did as well. I then moved back to my old PC daily cleanser and 2% BHA. My face is worlds better. I feel like an idiot. I just never thought the new cleanser could cause so much acne. As they say "if it aint broke don't fix it". I am a redhead with sensitive skin.
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Powder -L'Oreal - True Match Super-Blendable Powder
lucyem 7/6/2012 8:28:00 AM
As a cool redhead buying any foundation or really any makeup has always been a challenge. The best matches are from companies that make shades for us cool people. I had some time to kill and was playing with the matching system in the drugstore. Got a good match and decided to "splurge" and try the powder. Wow! was I ever glad I did. One of the best matches for my skin tone ever. It goes on lightly, not too thick which is fine with me. Helps even out my skin tone and blots out the shine. Compact is small enough to pop into a tiny purse to go. Will certainly buy again!
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Shampoo -Pureology - Nanoworks Shampoo
lucyem 9/7/2011 4:19:00 PM
The price is obscene. Seriously just too much. That being said I used the shampoo and conditioner once and was hooked. I had been very ill, had some bad coloring incidents, and my hair even a year later was still dry and frizzy. I used it once and my hair was the softest it has felt in years. The frizz, even on a humid rainy day was manageable and not it's normal horrible self. For now I will suck it up and buy it again. I do love the smell and usually I do not like most shampoo smells. Not too perfumey and not too chemical. Kind of on the sweet side. Because of the price I will still experiment with other brands. Maybe even try a different shampoo with just the nanoworks conditioner and see how it goes.
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Toners -Beauty Without Cruelty - Aromatherapy Balancing Facial Toner
lucyem 7/7/2011 5:53:00 PM
I love this toner for use in the summer. It helps clean and sooth my face after working in the hot summer sun. I was having some blemish issues and actually see an improvement since using this.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Bobbi Brown - Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer (Spring 2011)
lucyem 6/12/2011 11:14:00 AM
The Bobbi Brown clerk had me dab it on like foundation but it goes on so thick that it drove me crazy all day. I am not used to a lot of make up. I found that if I put it on with my fingers/hands like a moisturizer and then dabbed at places I wanted more coverage and to even it out worked much better for me. I tried using a regular foundation powder on top to set it but found it was too dark and orangey. So I tried a Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Pressed Powder over it with a big brush and what I got was perfect. I have combination skin and I keep the powder on hand to touch up oily spots as needed. I am very happy with this and will keep using for the summer months. Not sure what I will do in the winter when my face gets more fair from lack of sun. I am a NW20 at Mac. I use this in the extra light tint which is good for the summer months when I see a little sun. I am using the pale yellow pressed powder.
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Mascara -Bobbi Brown - EXTREME Party Mascara
lucyem 6/12/2011 10:59:00 AM
Pros: Looks nice on, gives a little length and definition to my eyelashes. Cons: Half way through the day it flakes just enough to make me look like I put eyeliner under my eyes and I have to clean it up Big Con: price is too high
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Foundations -Just for Redheads - Flawless Foundation
lucyem 5/9/2011 8:39:00 AM
As a redhead I just had to try this. The full name of the product is Flawless Mineral Foundation and I bought the color Royal Bisque. I am not a sheet white redhead, nor am I one who tans. I am on the pale side and have freckles and I look like I have pink and yellow undertones to my skin. In my quest for a foundation I find most are too yellow or white. This powder goes on with a decent coverage for a powder. The color is such a good match for me that in a short while I have a hard time telling if I have it on without running a wet cloth over my skin. It certainly evens out my skin tone. I have not broken out from this product which is a big plus. My only complaint is the compact itself. The price is higher then some powders and you get less in the compact. Maybe that is my imagination but it certainly looks like it. Also the little space for the sponge applicator is a pain to get down and I end up fighting with it if it gets pushed up without the sponge to keep it from going too far.
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Treatments -Paula's Choice - Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant
lucyem 4/1/2011 11:09:00 AM
I have used the 2% BHA gel for a few years and love it. But I was having issues with dryness especially in winter. It was recommended to me to switch to this product. Well suddenly I was having blackhead issues again. It did nothing for me and possibly was creating issues. I switched back to the gel and my face cleared right back up.
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Shampoo -Aveda - Color Conserve
lucyem 12/14/2010 8:57:00 AM
I color my hair at an Aveda salon so picked this up to try. I love Aveda's philosophy and have used many of the products successfully in the past and still presently use the madder root conditioner. Well it took me a month to realize the absolutely horrid breakouts behind my jawbone were due to this product. I stopped using it and the problem cleared up. I mentioned this to my stylist and she commented that some people can react to some of the natural products. Maybe a random root or herb. As for the shampoo itself the price was OK. No different then buying Loreal Everpure, though I can find coupons for that and do not break out :) As for how it was in my hair, well like the price it was no different then anything else I have used. Obviously I would never buy it again.
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Shampoo -Beauty Without Cruelty - Rosemary Mint Tea Tree
lucyem 8/28/2010 12:51:00 AM
The first couple of weeks I really liked this shampoo. I like the refreshing smell and this did not strip my colored hair. But then I noticed my scalp starting to really itch. Then I realized I had dandruff for the first time in years. I went back to my old shampoo and a few days later dandruff is gone.
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Mascara -Boots - Extravagant Lashes
lucyem 3/22/2010 10:16:00 AM
In my quest for a better mascara I decided to try this new product from Boots. Average price, average mascara container. Color I bought was brown/black. I open the mascara, pull out the wand and stare at it. It is a big old square applicator. It is 1/4 inch and yes square. The so called bristles are more like square hard rubber with large gaps. At that point I should have tossed it but I decided to try it. I ended up with a big mass of clumps on my eyes. The wand is wide enough that on me it hits the skin around my eye while I try and apply it. If I pull it away from my skin the bristle rubber thins are too far apart for mascara to get onto all my eyelashes. Does Target take returns on things like this? Waste of money.
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Moisturizers -Boots - No7 Advanced Hydration
lucyem 2/19/2010 12:55:00 PM
I found this product to be just OK. My skin is very dry, especially now in the winter. I have been looking for a daily moisturizer with SPF. My first impression was that the smell was odd. A perfumy cold cream smell. It works very well on my cheeks and neck. But my forehead is greasy by afternoon. I will keep looking for something that works better for me.
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