Moisturizers -Clinique - Superdefense SPF 25 Age Defense-Combo Oily to Oily
nklaw 10/7/2009 10:17:00 AM
I use this as my day moisturizer with Super Rescue Antioxidant Night Moisturizer at night. I've been really happy with this -- no irritation, no breakouts, and it doesn't make me too shiny during the day. I also like that it doesn't have any fragrance. You can just barely smell the sunscreen, but that's all. The only thing I'd change is the packaging. It is in a jar, and I'd much rather have it in a tube like the Super Rescue for nighttime. However, the jar holds a TON of product -- I bought my jar in mid to late June and still have at least 1/3 to 1/2 of the product left at the beginning of October, and this is with daily use! Would definitely buy again.
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Moisturizers -Clinique - Super Rescue Antioxidant Night Moisturizer
nklaw 10/7/2009 10:14:00 AM
I've been using the Combination Dry formulation of this moisturizer and have been very pleased. My skin is normally combination to oily, but I'm on Tazorac right now, so I need a little more help at night to counteract the retinoid dryness. Even though it's not naturally dry, my skin is very sensitive to chemicals/irritants and will burn/turn red/flake/break out at the drop of a hat if it doesn't like something in a skincare product. This moisturizer does a nice job of rehydrating and hasn't caused any irritation or breakouts. I also really like the tube packaging. It's a very flexible tube, making it easy to squeeze, and the tip puts out a precise amount of moisturizer. It's sanitary and easy to control. I'd love for it to cost less, but the tube seems to be lasting me a long time, so I guess I don't mind ~$40 every 3 or 4 months!
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Styling Products -Bumble & Bumble - Straight
nklaw 10/5/2009 11:05:00 AM
It's all right, but nothing special. I bought it when I had long hair and wasn't at all happy with it -- too thick to work through long hair if you use sparingly, but if you put too much, it gets your hair all gunky. But I pulled it back out when I chopped all my hair off (pixie cut) and was pretty happy with it for short hair. I wouldn't buy it again -- there are other products I like better for this -- but I liked it well enough to finish off the travel size tube on my short hair. Didn't seem to be harming my hair, anyway.
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Styling Products -Joico - Silk Result Straight Smoother
nklaw 10/5/2009 11:02:00 AM
LOVE THIS! It smells wonderful (husband noticed and commented on it) and does exactly what I wanted it to. My hair is short, naturally wavy, and currently color treated (darker). I often need to blow-dry it straight and needed a product that would protect it from heat, help with styling, and add shine/hold. This product does all of those things wonderfully, and a little goes a long way. I don't even need to get out my Chi when I use this. I was almost never able to replicate that "salon blowdry" look, but I pretty much can when I use this stuff. It leaves my hair soft, shiny, and not at all sticky.
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Cleansers -Caudalie - Instant Foaming Cleanser
nklaw 10/5/2009 10:56:00 AM
I wanted to love this face wash -- it smells SO good and it seemed to be getting all my makeup off. Unfortunately, I ignored what my skin was telling me and kept using it for two weeks despite clear warning signs (face felt tight and sometimes felt like it had a film on it after washing). This cleanser dried my skin out soooo painfully and gave me the single worst breakout I have ever gotten from a skincare product. I had thought that a new moisturizer was the culprit, but it was definitely this cleanser, as the symptoms kept going after I had already returned the moisturizer. A week later, I'm still trying to get my skin rehydrated, although new pimples stopped forming almost immediately when I quit using this cleanser. Thank goodness I only bought the $8 "travel size."
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Styling Products -Jonathan - Silky Dirt
nklaw 10/4/2009 2:41:00 PM
I really like this for what (I thought) it was advertised for -- giving hair separation at the ends and calming flyaways. I use this VERY sparingly and mainly just at the ends of my hair to give it that "piecey" look. I also put a tiny bit on palms and very very gently run them over the top of my head to pat down flyaways. It works great for both of these things. However, I do NOT think this is a product that would do well at all if I put a large amount through my whole head of hair (as it sounds like some of the unfavorable reviewers did). This product has a heavy and somewhat sticky texture, so I can't imagine that would work well at all.
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Shampoo -Kenra - Platinum moisturizing
nklaw 10/4/2009 2:34:00 PM
My naturally wavy hair did not like this AT ALL. I bought it because I love Kenra's Volume Spray and thought I'd try a sulfate-free shampoo on my color-treated hair. I used the "Normal" variety and it made my hair coarser, more tangle-prone, and more difficult to style. Paired this with the Mango Butter (companion) conditioner, which also did not impress me.
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Styling Products -Kenra - Volume Spray (aerosol)
nklaw 10/4/2009 2:28:00 PM
This hairspray has the best hold of any I've ever tried, hands down. You put this stuff on and your hair will STAY PUT. I don't know what it does with long hair, but it's a godsend for my short hair.
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Mascara -Max Factor - 2000 Calorie Extreme Lash Plumper [DISCONTINUED]
nklaw 10/2/2009 6:00:00 PM
LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT. My HG drugstore mascara. I have been a mascara snob for years (Diorshow) because I couldn't find a drugstore mascara that measured up. I tried this on a whim in an attempt to find a less expensive alternative. This mascara layers beautifully -- I can put on a quick thin coat for day, or multiple coats for a more dramatic night look, and it looks great either way. It adds both length and volume without creating that "spider leg" look. It lasts all day without crumbling or smudging underneath my eyes. It also holds up pretty well to moisture. I've had no need to try the waterproof formulation because this one works great already. I also love the mascara brush -- it is one of the new rubberized types and it REALLY helps avoid the clogging/gunkiness that can occur with other mascaras.
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Lip Gloss -Chanel - Glossimer
nklaw 10/2/2009 5:51:00 PM
This product is my HG lip gloss! I always use glosses because I can't stand the feeling of lipstick on my lips. Although it's expensive (~$30 US), a tube of this lasts a LONG time, even with regular use. Because it is heavily pigmented, a little goes a long way. It also has great staying power, meaning you don't have to reapply constantly. Glossimer has stayed on my lips through eating, drinking, etc. I'd estimate it lasts about half a work day on average -- apply in morning before arriving, then reapply after lunch. Many of the Glossimer colors contain varying degrees of shimmer. Some are probably a bit much for a conservative office, but I bought one yesterday that has almost none. These glosses are probably about "medium" in terms of stickiness and shine. Also, one of my favorite things about this product is that my lips feel very soft and conditioned after I use it. My lips chap very easily, so that is a big plus for me.
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Moisturizers -Caudalie - Vinopure Matte Moisturizing Fluid
nklaw 6/26/2009 3:35:00 PM
I tried this in a sample jar from Sephora because I wasn't willing to spend the $50+ on it without trying it first. I had very high hopes for the "mattifying" effects here because the SA went on and on about what a strong mattifier it was. My skin seems to LOVE this lotion (it's so soft!! no breakouts!), but it definitely doesn't mattify at all. I have combo-to-oily, relatively acne-prone skin and I'm shiny with this stuff in no time. I gave this a 3 because it's a perfectly good moisturizer for combination to oily skin, but it really isn't a mattifier. I put "wouldn't buy again" primarily because it costs wayyyyy too much considering I'd also need to buy a separate sunscreen and mattifier.
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