Moisturizers -Clinique - Repairwear Intensive Night Cream
nobiki 10/9/2004 5:23:00 PM
i tried this one time because of the great reviews by people with sensitive skin. i loved the texture, i felt it sank in quickly and didn't seem to irritate my skin immediately. i didn't like the lid, though, i found it hard to screw on and off.
sadly, when i woke up the next morning my skin had the typical red flush i am so familiar with, and by the evening i had sprouted 3 pimples on my forehead where i almost never break out. it took a few days for the flush to subside. *sob*
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Powder -Shiseido - Sun Protection Compact Foundation
nobiki 7/20/2004 1:45:00 PM
this is one of the only foundations i've ever used up and repurchased. it has spf 34 PA+++ and comes in a turquoise blue plastic compact like shiseido's sunscreens. the compact has a separate area for the foam sponge, and includes a mirror. you buy the powder as a refill, which also include a new sponge ($23.50US), and buy the case separately ($6.50US). when i first bought this at sephora, you could only buy it as a set.
i usually apply this with the sponge damp, although it can be used as a dry powder foundation or just a powder. i find the wet sponge gives a more sheer coverage with less caking. i used sb01 last time, but now it was called sp01. i wish it came in more foundation-type shades (ivory, beige, ochre).
also, i think they've changed it up a little bit this time. the spf is higher (i think it was 32spf before) and the shades look a little different. in the compact the sp01 looked very dark and slightly orange, and it goes on just a little dark for me. i used to be a mac c2, but i think i'm getting paler. i also have combo sensitive skin and this didn't cause any sensitivity before. i'll have to wait and see about this new stuff, the ingredients are scary - fragrance, talc, silicons... also, i have NO CLUE whether or not the sunscreen ingredients in this really work as a powder, although obviously this will need to be reapplied periodically if you're outside - i personally wouldn't rely on this as my ONLY sunscreen if i were going to a beach or something.
Ingredients: octinoxate 6.9%, titanium dioxide 15.3%
petrolatum, talc, polymethyl methacrylate, nylon-12, silica, hydrogenated c6-14 olefin polymers, synthetic wax, sorbitan sesquisostearate, phytosteryl/octyldodecyl lauroyl glutamate, zinc myristate, stearyl glycyrrhetinate, thotaurine, dimethicone, methicone, glycerin, tocopherol, bht, ethylpraben, fragrance, mica, iron oxides.
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Skincare - Body -Johnson & Johnson - soothing Vapor Baby Bath
nobiki 6/26/2004 12:29:00 AM
a house staple. i use this constantly for my son, it's about the only foaming bath product i've found that doesn't irritate his skin (he has dry sensitive skin w/eczema) PLUS it helps clear up his nose (also has allergies) so he can sleep more easily. because i use it as a bubble bath it gets a little expensive, but much cheaper than the aveeno oatmeal bath packets. boring packaging, but i decant it into a spiderman bath bubble bottle so he thinks it's fun.
however, it is a little TOO strong for my sensitive parts, so i don't use it. maybe i soak too long. i prefer the bubble bath from origins.
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Skincare - Face -Jo Malone - Face Refining Serum
nobiki 5/10/2004 4:39:00 PM
i received a sample of this from neiman's, but i never could figure out what this is for. i gave '3's to both price and packaging because i can't comment about the full-size version.
i used about 3/4 of the bottle over a month, it made my face greasy and i didn't see any improvement in skin tone. i have combo/sensitive skin, so i had to be careful about when i used this, and with which cleanser (cetaphil yes, foaming gel no). i wouldn't buy this, it is nothing like my cdlm serum.
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Moisturizers -Olay - Complete Defense Daily UV Moisturizer SPF 30 (Non-Sensitive Formula)
nobiki 5/10/2004 12:52:00 AM
i was hoping i would like this, but should have bought the sensitive skin version to begin with. i found the regular version heavy, chalky, and it burned my skin when i put it on. however, if you like your sunscreen less runny, this would be a good bet because the sensitive skin versions, both spf30 and spf15, are definitely runnier.
on the plus side, i like the bottle, and it did its job well during the 3 weeks i used it.
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Moisturizers -Olay - Complete Defense Daily UV Moisturizer SPF 30 - Sensitive Skin
nobiki 5/10/2004 12:47:00 AM
i am pleased with this product, but not ecstatic. i've been using the spf15 version for sensitive skin for months, and i was pretty happy with it. but as summer comes to hot humid houston tx i needed more sun protection.
i have combo sensitive skin, acne-prone but not breakout-prone (does that make sense?) and very fair skin with redness, probably rosacea. i tried the regular complete moisturizer spf30 and it was too heavy, too thick, and it burned when i applied it. i used it for about 3 weeks.
i finally broke down and bought the sensitive skin version, and hooray, it is more like the spf15 version i liked than the non-sensitive spf30 one i didn't. it is more lotiony, less sunscreeny, it doesn't burn when applied, and so far it hasn't caused more than normal acne.
i found this very expensive compared to the spf15 version, but still much cheaper than comparable department store products. i like the pump bottle, and while i hate not being able to see inside i understand it protects the sunscreen from breaking down so i live with it.
definite repurchase, at least for summer months. the only problem is it doesn't always dry down completely, esp. if it's humid. it's not a problem if i use a liquid or cream foundation, but it can be a pain if i want to use powder. -1 lipstick for that.
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Lip Gloss -Mary Kate and Ashley - Color X2 Lipgloss and Color
nobiki 4/13/2004 8:57:00 PM
even after using several MKA products i was surprised at how good these things are. each product was $3.99 at the wal-mart and contains .04oz of each product. not much, but still very cheap. the slim design of the tube makes it easy to carry and easy to use, and in 2 weeks i haven't had the cap fall off the lipstick or the gloss leak.
the colors are nice and apply easily. the lipstick feels moisturizing, but it does accentuate the lines in my lips. enter the gloss, a creamy non-sticky gloss that adds a hint more color and leaves it shiny. it lasts for a while of regular wear, maybe 3 hours, and it can survive a slice or two of pizza if you're not super messy.
there are only two problems with these. first, the colors of the lipstick are nice but very frosty on me, so i always need to add some kind of gloss. second, the only color information is on the package. i know i bought blush and natural, but nowhere on the tube does it tell me this.
also, the glosses aren't all the same. for example, the blush gloss is a gold-pink with glitter. not huge chunky UDish glitter, but it's there. otoh, the natural gloss is a nice neutral shimmer. they can be used alone, but look better on a lipstick.
this would make a great lip item to keep in a gym bag or at work to add on top of a boring matte lipstick. i will be buying more soon.
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Gels/Soaps -Molton Brown - Invigorating Ginseng Shower Gel
nobiki 1/8/2004 5:15:00 PM
i was using a 1oz sample size of this, so i can't comment on the price or packaging quality of the item. the sample bottle had little nubbies at the top to help you grip it, so i would think that would bode well for the regular size packaging.
that said, i thought it was an average shower gel. it was nice and foamy, but very drying to my skin, even parts not normally subject to dryness. it wasn't foamy enough to use as a bath gel, really, as the foam didn't last very long, but it was therefore very suited as a shower gel because it rinsed easily and completely.
the smell was blah. it smelled like generic mens' cologne. not too strong, so it wasn't overwhelming, but it just didn't grab me. this would be good for a shower for two, esp. if your SO dislikes the floral scents of most other shower gels.
wouldn't purchase this, and i probably wouldn't use it again even if i ended up with another one as an extra.
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Scrubs -Bliss Labs - Lemon Peel
nobiki 11/19/2003 10:22:00 PM
it has a strong clean lemon scent, and can be overpowering if you have a tiny shower like mine. you rub dollops of this on your body before taking a shower. i found the cream got sticky after a bit, so it made it very difficult to rub on me without getting it wet. plus, it didn't seem to wash off very well - i definitely needed more soap to get rid of the residue.
so i tried using it when my skin was already wet and warm. it was a little better that way, easier to rub around plus i wasn't sitting there being cold.
i would have been satisfied with this if i had never tried the drugstore totally juicy grapefruit sugar scrub - better smell, it dissolves well, and it was more scrubby so i didn't have to spend quite so long away from the hot water.
i won't repurchase this, but i did use the entire tube. i liked the bottle, but i did have a tendency to drop it when trying to get more out, so i gave it an average score.
also, if you used this as often as recommended, you would go through a tube a month, or more. especially if you wanted to do your entire body. it would get very expensive.
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Shampoo -Garnier - Fructis Fortifying Shampoo - Fine Hair
nobiki 10/6/2003 3:16:00 PM
i have super-long thin hair, with oily scalp and dry ends. i used the shampoo & conditioner for fine hair, it is GARBAGE. the King of Garbage, bow down!
the bottle is nice and slim, with a pop-open dispenser. and it is shaped differently from it's companion conditioner so you don't accidentally use the wrong one. the shampoo itself is creamy and thick with a good smell. it goes on easily and lathers well.
and then? well, it only kind of rinses out, but it still leaves my hair dry and puffy. now, all but the most humectant shampoos do that, so no big deal, that's why i use a conditioner. but adding the conditioner doesn't help.
but does it improve fine hair? well, if your definition of body means the hair stands away from your scalp more, sure it does that. but it does it by giving me unruly frizzies and fly-aways, at least until the strands break off.
i really tried to like this, i used about 3/4 of the bottle, but i can't force myself to finish it, i just can't stand my hair breaking off and tangling, and having to wash it daily. and i don't use anything else, not hot irons or blow dryers, no gel or hair spray. nope, it's the fructis.
BOO, garbage. under 'would you buy this product again' i would like to add 'hell, no, you couldn't PAY me to put this stuff on my hair again'.
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Conditioner -Garnier - Fructis Conditioner for Fine Hair
nobiki 10/6/2003 3:12:00 PM
i have super-long thin hair, with oily scalp and dry ends. i used the shampoo & conditioner for fine hair, it is GARBAGE. the King of Garbage, bow down!
the bottle is nice and slim, with a pop-open dispenser from the bottom so it's not difficult to put conditioner on with wet hands. the conditioner itself is creamy and thick with a good smell. it goes on easily and coats well.
and then? well, there's a joke about hairdressers telling you something 'retexturizes' your hair, meaning it changes the texture. but it does NOT imply changing for the better, and that is exactly what this conditioner does. it does make my hair dry and straw-like, and it does leave a film.
but does it improve fine hair? well, if your definition of body means the hair stands away from your scalp more, sure it does that. but it does it by giving me unruly frizzies and fly-aways, at least until the strands break off.
i really tried to like this, i used about 3/4 of the bottle, but i can't force myself to finish it, i just can't stand my hair breaking off and tangling, and having to wash it daily. and i don't use anything else, not hot irons or blow dryers, no gel or hair spray. nope, it's the fructis.
BOO, garbage. under 'would you buy this product again' i would like to add 'hell, no, you couldn't PAY me to put this stuff on my hair again'.
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Treatments -Natura Bisse - Essential Shock Concentrate
nobiki 9/20/2003 2:38:00 AM
i only had a sample of this, but it did last a long time (over a month). it is a very splooshy gel, similar to cdlm serum. however, it is smellier (-1), stickier (-1), and it causes my face to break out (-1). when i say smelly, i mean stinky old fish smell.
also, i didn't see much of a difference on my face other than pimples. cdlm moisturizes and calms, this stuff just kind of sat there.
HOWEVER, when used on my neck, watch out! it did cause a slight tightening in my jawline, the neck seemed more toned, and the skin had fewer dry lines. i still have the chicken-skin (i know, i'm a mess!) but i blame bad genes. so +1.
i would not repurchase, despite the neck improvement, because if i wasn't careful about application, i ended up with jawline pimples. that is a stress i don't need. it did show me that the skin on my neck is NOT the same as on my face, so live and learn.
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Lipstick -MAC - Viva Glam II
nobiki 9/20/2003 2:33:00 AM
my HG for nude lips. i have repurchased already because i had a brain freeze and i sold the old one thinking i could recreate it with other products. wrong! after several months of trying, i bought another.
it gives me a bit of color without being TOO pink, TOO taupe, TOO grey. just right. and it's not completely drying, yet not shiny like my other HG l/s (chanel sunbeige, now discontinued) so i can wear it to interviews. it is also nude enough not to compete with lip liners or lip glosses, and it can even act as a base under less forgiving lipsticks (like those super matte ones).
i have warm coloring, and many others of similar tone have said this is very hard for them to wear, so warm yellow people be warned. but on me, i guess my natural lips are so unpigmented that this works very well.
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Loose Powders -Urban Decay - Universal Powder
nobiki 8/11/2003 2:30:00 PM
this is a staple powder for me. i am pale, with redness around my nose & cheeks, but i am also yellow-toned, so this works out great. i have to agree this isn't 'universal' except as a highlighter or brightener.
however, the quality isn't top rate, it is a little chalky, and the packaging is stupid. what is up with the stupid star design? it just gets in the way. i find the top difficult to screw on sometimes, so i might be decanting this into something else. the puff is cute, but silly, so i use a brush.
it's not super cheap, but it's not super expensive. i would say it is average price for an average product. t. leclerc is still much better, but it is 2x as much.
while i love to use this on it's own, it is just a loose powder after all. i use BE bisque as a concealer for the bad boys still seen. but overall, it tones down the redness and makes me seem like i have normal skin.
i hate to admit it, but i think it might be causing a little sensitivity. i'm going to do another test run and report back. that will decide whether i would repurchase or not.
UPDATE: yes, indeed, after several months of off-and-on use, this does cause sensitivity if i use it for several days in a row. no clue why this is. i still have it, but i don't use it often, only when i really need it. sad sad biki.
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Lotions/ Creams -La Mer - The Body Serum
nobiki 8/11/2003 2:22:00 PM
hmmm, i usually love all things la mer, but this was disappointing. i was using it on my chest, and i didn't think it made one bit of difference. apparently, i should have been using it on my legs for razor bumps.
i was using a deluxe-sized sample, so i can't comment on the actual packaging, but there are better body treatments out there.
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