Lips -Revlon - Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain - Adore
minicapybara 9/30/2012 11:54:00 PM
I'll echo previous reviewers in saying that this colour definitely has an orangey tone on me, and I have very pale lips. Overall I'd describe it as orangey-brownish-red. It's not unflattering but isn't anything special, either. But I'm not basing my review on colours, which is subjective and could vary wildly depending on the user's natural colouring. My issue with this product is that for a "balm", it just doesn't feel soothing or moisturising enough for me. Granted I have dry lips, but I should think a balm would at least neutralize the dryness. This doesn't do that. I find it on the drier side, which made it harder to apply evenly (and I tried wearing my usual RoC Enydrial lip balm underneath - no dice). The colour does last without patchy fading on its own, but I can't really wear it comfortably without putting gloss or moisturising lipstick on top and THAT affects the longevity of it all. At this point is a bit of a "why bother" product for me, so I'm glad I paid only $6 CAD or so for it. It's great if this works for you as the price point is very acceptable; I only wish it worked for me.
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Powder -Clinique - Almost Powder Makeup SPF 15
minicapybara 9/30/2012 11:37:00 PM
A confession here: I bought this for no other reason than I wanted the GWP from The Bay. I don't use any foundation at all. After getting my rosacea skin treated with Gemini laser 2 years ago, all I wear is the Shiseido SPF 38 sunscreen for face and some concealer. Sure I have a powder for my extra-oily T-Zone but that's about it. However, as I was browsing for something that'll qualify me for the GWP without going ridiculously over the minimum purchase ($28.50 CAD if you want to know), I saw this product off to the side. It's basically a sunscreen powder, with 13% titanium dioxide and 2% octinoxate, and it's $31. Any additional physical sunscreen is good for me, so I took a closer look. Have to say the colour selection proved a bit disappointing for me; I'm on the light-medium side in terms of skin tone and there was literally ONE shade for me - 03 Light. Fair was too light and Neutral was too dark. Ultimately, this being a powder, I figured it wouldn't be too big an issue if the colour is a bit off. Time to go home with this little green compact and the coveted GWP (so cute - but that's another story). I applied this powder with my EcoTools bamboo bronzer brush - a dab of powder, lightly buffed on. I was a bit surprised to see some coverage coming out of this...granted it's sheer, but overall it definitely evens out my skin tone some. I DID notice there is a slightest white cast due to the titanium dioxide, but as someone who wears 9.4% zinc oxide daily, what's another bit of white cast? Nevertheless if that's not what you like, do keep in mind this potential. How does it wear? Not too bad, actually. It keeps shine at bay for my T-Zone for about 3 hours (and yes, for an oil slick like me, that's "not too bad"). It's a better record than the powder I was using, which is Physicians Formula Mineral Wear. No clogged pores from this, either...but then again I tolerate physical sunscreen ingredients remarkably well. To reiterate, if you haven't had good experiences with higher percentage of zinc oxide or titanium oxide, go for another powder. Overall I'm quite happy my desperation for the GWP brought me to this. I wish it were cheaper but hey, then I wouldn't have gotten my GWP (ha). Toss the sponge and use a good quality brush, and this is a "heavier" powder that just might give you enough coverage if you're going for a sheer finish.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Too Faced - Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner
minicapybara 5/21/2012 3:16:00 PM
Let me say first of all, that I don't bother with any eyeliner now without putting on Urban Decay Primer Potion first. I have very oily skin and of course, oily eyelids. If I don't blot at least couple of times throughout the day, by early evening my eyes would be stinging. UDPP solved that problem and I wouldn't go a day without it. Regarding eyeliners - I started off with Urban Decay 24/7, which was quite a bit better than any eyeliner I've tried up until then. Next came Carmindy's eyeliner...and it proved to be better than UD's (and cheaper!). Still, there was still some minor smudging at the end of the day, simply due to my oily skin. Too Faced, I have to say, turned out to be the "holy grail" for me (and I dislike throwing that term around lightly). Combined with UDPP, it stays on with no smudge for the entire day. The ultimate test came when I went trail running after work...right into a heavy downpour. I was soaked from head to toe, yet the eyeliner stayed on. Now that's just insane. I currently use "Perfect Black Orchid", which is described as "blackened plum" on TF's website. I think the description is apt, and yet does not look harsh against my skintone. I have "Perfect Brown" on standby once I finish my existing brown liner. I find TF's liner the creamiest and easiest to apply, though that means more frequent sharpening. It's not a cheap product ($24 CAD plus tax), but that's why I got them during my trip to Portland ($18 US and no tax). To me it's worth it as anyone with very oily skin can tell you keeping eye makeup from melting off is just about impossible...but this eyeliner for me, is certainly part of the solution.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -TRESemme - Fresh Start Dry Shampoo for Oily/Straight to Normal Hair
minicapybara 1/8/2012 1:40:00 PM
I've had this product for a while now and have tried to make it work from time to time....and I have come to the conclusion that it simply doesn't work. If I hold the spray a bit close then it gives me gunky white layer that cannot be fully brushed out even after giving it some time to "dry". If I hold it further away then it gives me nothing, but possibly oilier looking hair. The whole point of this product, I presumed, is to allow people with oily scalp like me a bit of respite between washes (I wash my hair every other day). Well TRESemme needs to go back to the drawing board with this one, big time. It does not in any way serve its purposes, and the potent scent does not help, either.
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Shampoo -Live Clean - (Exotic Nectar) - Argan Oil Restorative Shampoo
minicapybara 12/23/2010 2:22:00 AM
I'm still not sure what possessed me to buy this when I've been very happy with the Green Earth shampoo and have been for couple of years. Perhaps it was the fact it came packaged with a leave-in conditioner and was only $5.50. At the time of purchase I had just cut off the permed ends of my hair so other than semi-permanent colour, my hair's untreated. Boy was I not impressed with this shampoo first time I tried it - it left my hair lanky and heavy, which is quite the opposite from what I get from the Green Earth version. I figured it's because I have an oily scalp and this is too much of a moisturizing shampoo for me. The scent I didn't particularly liked, either...it's a nutty, sweet cream scent, but at least it doesn't linger. I shelved the shampoo and was contemplating on giving it to someone with dry scalp/hair to try. Then fall came around and I got my hair digitally-permed again (yes I do this once a year now). One day I just grabbed this shampoo and gave it another try: bingo. My curls are definitely more defined, shiny and soft than when I use Green Earth. It's not making my scalp oilier, either. I find it easier to rejuvenate the curls (by damping them slightly and finger curl them) after I mess it all up sleeping overnight. So now I get it...if you have processed hair and/or scalp on the drier side, you just might like this shampoo. It'd also help if you're in colder climate. Maybe that's when the "restorative" property kicks in. Nevertheless, when the season gets warmer and I once again cut off the old curls, Green Earth is still my shampoo of choice (which now comes in a large 750ml pump bottle).
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Treatments (Eye) -Estee Lauder - Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex
minicapybara 10/7/2010 2:39:00 PM
I received a deluxe 5ml sample of this product when I purchased the Night Repair serum, and thank goodness I didn't shell out money for it because...it's certainly not worth the amount they charge. "Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex" really is just a thick gel-cream that only satisfies the basics. For your information, I do not have crow's feet, but do have some tiny wrinkles around the inner corner of my eyes. There's also a slight discolouration under my left eye. This product goes on easily and can keep the eye area moisturized without being greasy, and as we all know, moisturized skin looks more "plump" and therefore, appears less wrinkly. That's all there is to it. No dramatic changes and no miracles. I've been using it for over a month (5ml sample is plenty - only a dab is needed per eye) and you can't convince me this does more for the skin than simple Vaseline, except for a more elegant finish. And the jar packaging is not at all great; for the consistency, a squeeze tube would be far more hygienic. Consider this retails for $62 CAD per 15ml, why not pony up an extra dollar and get yourself the Night Repair Synchronized Complex serum for the face? Now THAT'S an impressive product. And I dare say it'll be fine to use around your eyes, too.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Baby's On Fire Dazzle Lipstick
minicapybara 8/6/2010 1:05:00 PM
Previous reviewer is right in that this is indeed a very wearable red (definitely not over the top during day time work hours) with a touch of berry tint in it, at least on my lips. The glitter aspect is very subtle and actually gives a bit of metallic sheen to the finish. To my surprise, the formula is very comfortable on my dry lips...and that has been the main reason why I shunned MAC lipsticks in the past - dryness. This formula, for whatever reason, applies smooth and feels moisturizing without being greasy. The colour stays on for several hours through casual snacking and drinking, and I don't see any major shifting and smearing of the colour and glitters. What a surprise this should be the collection where I finally find a good red lipstick from! Worth a look.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Clarins - Sun Wrinkle Control Eye Contour Care SPF 30
minicapybara 5/30/2009 5:49:00 PM
Now that I've got my oily/sensitive/rosacea skin covered with Topix Glycolix Elite sunscreen SPF30, I need a lighter product to use around my eyes. Needless to say it cannot contain chemical sunscreen ingredients, so Clarins got it right with this baby here. It's 8.1% titanium dioxide, more fluid in texture than the Topix Glycolix (17% zinc oxide), fragrance free, and doesn't leave much stickiness behind. The slight white cast that comes with mineral ingredients can function to brighten up (somewhat) dark undereye circles, if you have that. I was originally leary of the "botanical extracts" Clarins love to boast about so much - I have allergies and know plants are not always my friends. I'm pleased to say, however, that whatever plants in here aren't causing me any problems. It's $31 CAD for 20ml. Worth looking into if you need physical sunscreen around your eyes. Wear it along with a pair of decent sunglasses and you're good to go for the summer.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Unlisted Brand - Topix Glycolix Elite Sunscreen SPF 30
minicapybara 5/30/2009 5:18:00 PM
Oh my. FINALLY a sunscreen I can use on my face. This is no small achievement, consider I have pale, thin and sensitive skin with mild rosacea and freckles. "Kind of like Irish skin!" my dermatologist quipped...except I'm Chinese. What a cosmic joke. I haven't been able to find any physical sunscreen (forget about chemical ones entirely) that feels good on my face without aggrevating my rosacea-related breakouts, so up until recently I've had to rely on mineral foundation and a hat. A month ago I started a course of doxycycline to treat my rosacea before getting Gemini laser sessions to rid of the telangiectasia. My dermatologist warned me I simply MUST wear a sunscreen on my face during treatment and beyond. Not finding local products that fit the bill, I finally relented and ordered this online, which together with shipping came to about $38 CAD (I lucked out and this slipped by customs without extra duties.) This is a somewhat thick lotion housed in a nice pump bottle. We're talking about 17% zinc oxide here, so there's bound to be a white cast when applied. I couldn't care less about that since I'm pale to begin with anyway. And seriously, I get a bit frustrated reading reviews that would dismiss a physical sunscreen primarily due to the white cast it leaves behind - people need to research and accept what they are buying, which is MINERAL-based sunscreen. White cast kind of comes with the territory. Still, the white cast really is minimal consider the high percentage of zinc oxide, and I much prefer the "zinc" look than burns, rashes and just plain bad reactions from the sun. This sunscreen spreads easily, and even has some mattifying properties on my oily skin - I actually don't need to blot as much throughout the day compared to when I'm wearing just mineral foundation. Best of all, this sunscreen WORKS. I keep my sun exposure to minimum, but I do know my skin stays relatively cool when I do go under the sun, and at the end of the day I'm not seeing any redness. If anything, this product seems to soothe my skin. Is it the zinc? Green tea extract (well how much of THAT is in there?) Ultimately, who cares. It's great. Couple of things to consider if you want to give this a try: 1) Again, 17% zinc oxide. You CAN feel this on your skin. Maybe you ARE supposed to feel it else you probably don't have enough on. I don't even wear mineral foundation on top because that is too heavy a look for me, but a light dusting of EDM's Natural Reflections finishing powder to beef up sun protection some more works very well. it can be a bit difficult to wash it off at night, but with my mild Spectro Jel cleanser, washing twice then going over with an equally mild toner have been enough; I'm not seeing clogged pores. 2) Price. Canadians, you probably have no other options than ordering it online from the US. Shop around a bit and pray you don't get dinged by customs and Canada Post. To me though, $38 for something that works so well for my skin (...and it's 50ml)? I can live with that. All in all, this is worth a try if you have impossible skin like mine. I'm glad I found this because this goes beyond being a "beauty product"...it's a medical necessity for me.
11 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Joe Fresh Style - Tinted Lip Balm in "Pomegranate"
minicapybara 4/10/2009 5:35:00 PM
New to Superstore is the "Beauty" divison of its in-house brand, Joe Fresh Style. The display unit is impressive and there are testers for virtually everything (well, until they get lost). Not in need of any cosmetics, I turned to the only item I'd buy for "want" - sheer lipstick, or its equivalent. In this case, it's a "tinted lip balm", and I believe the name perfectly describes what this product is, as you will see. $8 gets you a shiny silver tube, which widens at the cap end. Inside the "bullet" has a blunt slanted end and a translucent "conditioning" core. "Pomegranate" appears to be a bright, bright red, but imparts just a sheer layer of light/medium mauve/pink. If you have very pigmented lips then I don't know how much of the colour would show up, though on my pale lips it's certainly a very natural "blush" of a colour. The finish is a very subtle shine - this is in no way a lip "gloss". My lips are prone to dryness and one application keeps them moisturized and comfortable for hours with no build up. Think of it as your favourite lip conditioning product with a touch of colour...hey, that's indeed a tinted lip balm! In that regard, there is no false advertisement here. Very decent. Now for the perhaps-not-so-decent: Packaging - I find the packaging unecessarily bulky and unwieldy. This could've been made in the mould of Nivea lip balms (their Hydro Care version is my lip balm of choice) or even Chapstick, and it would be much easier to carry around. Price - $8 CAD really is not that cheap for a tinted lip balm, consider their regular lipsticks are only $6. I happen to think this should be priced at $4 to $5 at most, but maybe someone needs to pay for the packaging... Scent - This has a pungent sweet scent that does linger a bit after application. I can't figure out exactly what the scent is...artificial pomegranate? I understand scent is a very subjective thing and you may find it appealing. However if you're like me who prefers scent-free products, "sweet fake pomegranate" is not a plus. I'm a bit torn on whether I'll buy this again; a nice tinted lip balm fits in perfectly with my makeup style, which is "light and natural" (never mind my light hand probably came about because I have neither the skill nor the patience for anything more elaborate), but this product isn't spectacular enough to warrant the price tag. Oh, maybe one day they'll come out with a version with SPF, then $8 might be easier to swallow, but until then, I'd wait for sale or coupons.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Marcelle - Clay Mask with Kaolin
minicapybara 2/22/2009 10:14:00 PM
This is one WTF product...I've tried several clay or mud-based masks in my lifetime, but never one that dries to such ridiculous tightness. Oh, the application is smooth and the texture right out of the tube is indeed "rich [and] creamy" as it claims. It spreads easily and the light greyish green clay dries to an almost clear finish. Except, it dries so tight that I look like I just had a facelift of the worst sort. The instruction says to keep it on for 10 minutes, but quite frankly I don't know how anyone can put up with it for that long - I have to rinse it off at about 3 minutes. Is this some kind of joke product from Marcelle? Who knows? Here's the kicker, though: the mask rinses easily off and does leave my sensitive but oily skin quite smooth. Furthermore, the mask seems to help in reducing little bumps and minor chin breakout which I'm very prone to. At least whatever blemish that's there seems to heal faster. This mask can be had for under $10 CAD for 100ml sometimes when on sale. I do think this is worth a try for oily skin people as any clay-based mask might be too drying for others. It's just too bad there's no "put your mask on and go lie down and relax" with this, but as part of the arsenal against blemish and excessive oils, it's doing just fine. Besides, you probably can use this in lieu of a REAL mask on Halloween Night if all else fails... Ingredients: Aqua, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel), Bentonite, Kaolin, Glycerin, Cellulose Gum, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Allantoin
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Blistex - Lip Infusion
minicapybara 1/1/2009 12:43:00 AM
I can't believe I'm saying this but, I'd rather use Chapstick (which I've always find waxy and anything but comfortable on my lips) than wasting another moment with this strange product. Lip Infusion - infusing my lips with what, exactly? A thin, watery oil that's gone within 10 minutes and leaves my lips drier than ever before? The cloying vanilla-like scent actually doesn't bother me as much as the fact that this product seems to be doing the precise opposite of what is should do, and that is to keep my lips moisturized, protected, while imparting a bit of shine. Nope. None of the above. Blistex should really review this product and figure out why it was approved for sale in the first place. I'm just glad that I didn't pay for mine since it was a free promo sample.
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Conditioner -Live Clean - (Green Earth) Invigorating Conditioner
minicapybara 10/12/2008 4:09:00 AM
I'm by now a devotee of the Green Earth shampoo, and for my last bottle, a travel-size version of the corresponding conditioner was included. I'm not certain why a conditioner needs to be "invigorating"; this product, too, has the claim of rejuvenation of hair and scalp through lavender and eucalyptus. If you have oily scalp like I have, you'd know there's very little point in using a conditioner anywhere near the scalp...mid-length and down is where it should go. So nevermind the invigoration of my scalp...how does it do as a conditioner? Somewhat inadequate, I'm sorry to say. It's most definitely not moisturzing enough for the ends if you have long hair. It's not even that great as a detangler, but I'll give it credit for being easy to rinse. I ended up buying the "Clean Air" volumizing conditioner from the same line and THAT worked well. I'd say if you need minimum moisture and are seeking a very light conditioner with little chance of build up, this might be a decent product. For my thick and coloured Asian hair (not yet permed when I was trying this out), it's just doesn't quite cut it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Live Clean - (Green Earth) Invigorating Shampoo
minicapybara 10/12/2008 3:48:00 AM
I believe "Live Clean" is a Canadian line, and being relatively new, the line is not quite widely available everywhere, but it's getting there. The "Green Earth" shampoo and conditioner are probably meant for oilier hair and scalp, as they claim to use "lavender and eucalyptus to stimulate the senses and invigorate circulation in the scalp". Um, okay. To me this is a nice shampoo, with a light pleasant scent, that lathers up VERY easily, rinses cleanly off and leaves my oily scalp refreshed. It doesn't overstrip my hair at all, even though I now have coloured AND digital-permed hair. No build up from it, either. I'm on my third bottle and that in of itself is a bit of a surprise - for something that claims to have no SLS and DEA, it works and feels like a regular shampoo. I'm not militant about having everything 'natural" and "organic", so I won't get into any discussion about what kind of chemicals this line still uses, but if you're looking to avoid SLS and add some organic ingredients, the entire Live Clean line is worth checking out. By the way there are 4 types of shampoo/conditioner: Green Earth, Clean Air (volumizing), Fresh Water (moisturizing), and Pink Fire (for coloured/treated hair). Live Clean recently came out with body washes and hand soap also. Having used the body wash I can tell you it's just as good as the shampoo. I buy the shampoo on sale for about $5.50, and it usually retails anywhere from $6 to $8.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Aveeno - Positively Ageless Rejuvenating Serum [DISCONTINUED]
minicapybara 10/4/2008 8:47:00 PM
I'm on my second bottle of this "serum" - yes, it's really not so much a serum but a light lotion - and will soon be looking to buy my third. What's making me a repeat customer? Rejuvenation and the cessation of aging? Of course not. What this is, is a lightly moisturizing product that does not irritate my sensitive, oily, acne-prone skin with mild rosacea. It takes care of the occasional dry patches, and provides an almost-matte base for my mineral makeup. It does not interfere with any other skin treatment I use, and causes no breakouts whatsoever, even on the notorious chin area. One caveat is the scent...it's stronger than I'd like (and I prefer scent-free products to begin with), but I quickly got use to it as the scent doesn't seem to linger for long anyhow. On sale this serum can be had for around $20 CAD, and I won't complain about the price point because one bottle is good for a long while (by my usage anyway). The pump dispenser allows you to control how much product you want to use. Elixir of youth this isn't, and I don't care how much shiitake mushroom extract Aveeno wants you to believe is in this product - you're far better off EATING those shiitake mushroom - but a good, soothing moisturizer/makeup base? It is.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No