Moisturizers -Dr. Alkaitis - Day creme
mistar 9/27/2010 3:33:00 PM
Wow. This cream is perfection in a pump. And for someone who has broken out from the best of the naturals (100% Pure, Suki, Arcona, Hauschka, and others), that's saying something. In fact, I had almost given up my quest for a natural skin care line when I found Dr. Alkaitis, and I am SO happy I did. This is a lightweight cream that glides on smoothly and absorbs quickly. I use powder over it, and my skin glows all day without ever looking oily. The scent is light -- slightly herbal, slightly sweet -- and it feels soothing going on. This, along with the night cream, has healed my breakouts, brought my combination, acne-prone skin into balance, and restored my faith in a skin care line that can actually deliver on its claims. Bravo, Dr. Alkaitis!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Dr. Alkaitis - Organic Night Cream
mistar 9/27/2010 3:21:00 PM
It's been a long time since I've been moved to review a product. But Dr. Alkaits' Organic Night Cream (along with everything else I've tried from this line) has inspired me. I have been interested in trying more natural products, but my acne-prone skin has rebelled against everything I've tried (Arcona, Suki, 100% Pure, Dr. Hauschka, and various health food store finds). Here's where Dr. Alkaitis comes to the rescue. Not only hasn't this cream broken me out in the weeks I've been using it, but it's been healing the blemishes I had from the aforementioned skin care lines and has done what so many companies have promised but never delivered on: it, along with the day cream and the toner, has brought my skin into balance. As for the cream itself, it's on the rich side, but it absorbs into the skin nicely and feels smooth and soothing going on. I find the herbal scent to be relaxing, which is a plus before going to bed. Applying this cream is an experience I actually look forward to, and I have never felt like that about my nighttime skin care ritual. In terms of packaging, the cream comes in a pump dispenser that is easily controlled. I am so grateful to have found a product that not only keeps my skin hydrated without making it oily or breaking it out but is healing to the skin and a luscious delight to the senses to use. This and the day cream are the best creams I have ever used, without a doubt, (and I've used many!).
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Lea St. Barth - Jala St Barth
mistar 6/3/2004 7:20:00 PM
I was just commenting to my DH in the car after a tennis match (well, it was less of a match and more of a relay of retrieving my errant balls from the far corners of the court), as I continued--in the compulsive way I usually do--to sniff my wrist, that this scent reminds me of one I wore in the 80s, namely Tatiana. Then I came to read what others had to say and noticed I wasn't alone in this comparison. However, this isn't by any means an exact replica, but it does evoke a similar lushness, probably due to the jasmine. This is also a bit lighter, which helps when you're playing sweaty tennis under the sun, but it's still heady enough, in a wonderfully tropical way. With all due respect to previous reviewers, I can't imagine how anyone could possibly get musk or chocolate from this scent; the only thing this fragrance shares in common with Lea is that they're made by the same company. And personally, I'm glad they make both. :o)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Estee Lauder - Pure Color Lip Vinyl
mistar 11/15/2003 6:12:00 PM
I got this as a GWP, and I must say that I love it! I have the berry shade, which is a vibrant pinkish red (I guess that's berry), and it looks lovely on my PPP complexion (while the color is vivid, it's still subtle enough to wear anytime). And speaking of vivid shades, I was amazed at how pigmented this product is--it seems like a cross between a gloss and a lipstick, taking the very best aspects of both: moist but not sticky, long-lasting, and color-intense. I will definitely be checking out their other shades!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -MAC - Pro Longlash
mistar 9/13/2002 11:59:00 AM
This mascara is FABULOUS--I think it may be my all time favorite (better than Lancome, Lauder, Px, & all others in that range). It builds loooong lashes quickly, doesn't clump or smudge, comes off easily, and is $9.50. MAC rocks!!!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Urban Decay - Lip Gunk [DISCONTINUED]
mistar 8/30/2002 8:00:00 AM
I love UD lip gunks! Their staying power is fabulous, the colors beautiful, they taste delicious, and they're less tacky than Mac lip glasses (I like lip glass, but my long hair always gets stuck to my lips when I wear it--it's very alluring, let me tell you) . Plus, they're less expensive than Mac, Chanel, and Stila, thus making them The Best, IMHO.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Liners -Cargo - Reverse Lipliner
mistar 8/29/2002 9:24:00 AM
This stuff is TERRIBLE! Or at least, it's terrible for me. First of all, the instructions tell you to line your lips and then blend out--not smart when you're working with a lipliner that lists its first ingredient as titanium dioxide (it's virtually WHITE--with a slightly peachy cast to it--though it's supposed to be flesh-colored I guess). (I am fair-skinned, btw.) The end result: a scary-looking perversion of a milk mustache ringed around my entire mouth. YUCK. Having gotten that far, I thought that maybe I just needed to apply some lipgloss for a miraculous transformation, but alas, it looked ridiculous, and I had to remove it immediately. And my final rant about this is that I don't see how this would be any better than any other liner in preventing feathering, making lips look fuller, etc. I'll be "reversing" this one right back to Sephora.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Urban Decay - Naked pleather pencil
mistar 8/27/2002 5:52:00 PM
Wow - this is something that truly lives up to the hype: a smooth, moisturizing, opaque pencil that acts like a lipstick in its staying power yet leans toward gloss in its shine. Feels fabulous on, and the color is beautiful on my fair skin. Plus, it comes with its own sharpener!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Bobbi Brown - Lash Glamour Lengthening Mascara
mistar 8/24/2002 2:09:00 PM
Perhaps I'm suffering from user error, as I am clearly in the minority here when I say this stuff is terrible. The corkscrew wand is ridiculous--it does nothing to separate or curl the lashes--AND it clumps! The only positive thing I can say is that the packaging idea is clever. But not clever enough to save it from its insurmountable flaws. I'm sticking with my E.L. More Than Mascara from now on.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Urban Decay - Guardian Angel Moisturizer [DISCONTINUED]
mistar 8/23/2002 2:01:00 PM
This stuff is great! My skin will use any excuse to break out, and I am happy to report that I have been using this (in the oil-free version) all summer, breakout-free! It's wonderfully light, absorbs immediately, and has an SPF 15. Just about every other high-end SPF breaks me out, so this is a real find, especially considering the price! For the winter, it may not be moisturizing enough, so perhaps I'll try the other one then.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Aveda - Dual Base Minus Oil
mistar 8/22/2002 4:32:00 PM
This my favorite powder/foundation ever! The coverage is quite impressive and smooth, better than some liquids I've tried (i.e,. Mercier's tinted moisturizer, Px's various foundations) and it doesn't break my acne-prone skin out at all. It has zero of that heavy foundation feeling (or look) I dislike so much--I can't feel it at all. And I like the sleek little magnetized case that goes with it, too!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -MAC - Studio Tech
mistar 8/8/2002 4:35:00 PM
This looked good on but broke me out terribly, so I took it right back. It would probably be good though for someone who's not blemish prone -- certainly not me.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Prescriptives - Traceless 
mistar 8/8/2002 4:32:00 PM
It's interesting to see the range of comments here, and it only goes to show that you really have to try things on yourself. Based on the majority of reviews here, I went to the Px counter prepared to buy the Unmakeup, but the MA suggested Traceless. So, she did half of my face in Unmakeup and the other in Tracless without telling me which was which. One side (Unmakeup, as it turned out)looked cakey and accentuated my pores, whereas the other (Traceless) evened out my skin tone and minimized my pores! My skin has some acne scars and is quite blemish-prone--far from perfect--but this is the best foundation I've tried. I should say, however, that I don't like the feel of heavy foundation, but with this, I don't think you need it.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -BeneFit Cosmetics - Flamingo Fancy [DISCONTINUED]
mistar 8/7/2002 10:44:00 AM
This product is great for warming up my pale skin during the summer months, especially since I'm allergic to self-tanners. There are, however, two drawbacks, though not insurmountable: it is difficult to blend, and it can rub off on clothing. To remedy this I mix it with a regular body lotion and massage it in completely; then I wait 15 minutes or so before putting on my clothes. And unlike some others, it lasts all day on me. I've already repurchased.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Stila - Lip glaze
mistar 8/7/2002 10:38:00 AM
I have to agree with the majority of comments on this one -- an over-priced, unimpressive gloss that gave me instant buyer's remorse. Even the sweet scent disappears immediately. And to think I could have bought two lipgunks for the same price . . . . Alas.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No