Cleansers -Darphin - Purifying Foam Gel
parapara01 8/21/2010 3:53:00 PM
Pros: Scent Foam Package Cons: Price Conclusion: Yes this is ridiculously expensive cleanser, but its Darphin so when you're looking at their products (or Revive, Sisley, La Mer....etc) you have to through caution to the wind. This is a bad-ass cleanser. I'm not kidding ladies, its fine lather that leaves you squeaky clean and actually helps keep breakouts under control. I used this a ong time ago and initially I found it very drying. Then several months later I decided to give it another go, and I fell in love. I used in the shower mostly, so I find this type of packaging (the cap never comes off completely) handy. I never used the toner that accompanies this, but the serum + matte lotion smell almost identical to this. I would only buy it again if I got it for 1/2 the price, and I would only recommend it in the instance or if someone was looking for worthy splurge. Otherwise if you truely suffer from acne or oiliness I'm sure there are for more effective products at a better price point... Although I must mention that the purifying balm is exceptional at treating some types of acne.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Neutrogena - Ultra Sheer Water Light Daily Face SPF 45
parapara01 8/21/2010 3:28:00 PM
Pros: Portable Protection Cons: Too Moist Conclusion: This summer I decided to switch it up and instead of buying my trusty Dry Touch 30 or something far more expensive, I thought I'd take a plunge and try this new product out because it looked just like the Chanel/Clarins ones that everyone raves about and I hoped that it'd give me a great semi-matte finish compared to the Dry Touch. The first couple of weeks that I used it I loved it. It was very fluid, and my skin agreed with it. It left a satiny finish which I loved initially, but as the summer progressed this just kept looking oilier and oilier. This is a great idea, but didn't wow me.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Dermalogica - Clean Start Kit
parapara01 8/21/2010 3:18:00 PM
Pros: Effective Non Drying Scents Price Packaging Cons: The Scrub/Mask! Conclusion: I don't think that I would have ever looked at these products if I wasn't recommended by a friend of mine. This line was very effective for me, and I have very combination skin and occasional breakouts on my cheeks and above my eyebrows. It lasted me just over a month with twice daily use, and by the time I neared the end of the kit my skin had totally calmed down. No spots anywhere, and my skin was way more balanced. In terms of the individual products in the kit: 1 - Cleansing Gel: citrusy and produces a fine lather (nothing too soapy)... it was wonderful 2 - Toning Mist: nothing special, used it regularly, pleasant + not sticky 3 - Day Lotion: also smells amazing, it has an spf 15, and although it says it produces a matte finish I didn't have that experience. It absorbed instantly and it was light enough for me to layer my other spf on top. 4 - Bedtime Gel: the night time treatment, which I also loved because it had treatment and although it was a gel it was moisturizing enough. I never had to layer anything on top of it and in the morning my skin looked great! 5- Scrub/Mask: this is a 2-in-1 and found the grains to harsh for my skin, but the clay base was nice and very cool on the skin and left you feeling refereshed. Would definatly buy it again to use for travelling purposes, but as my regular routine I'm looking elsewhere. Highly recommending this one to not just the teens/tweens but also to adults who want effective treatment and a great price!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Shiseido - Facial Cotton
parapara01 4/21/2010 11:14:00 AM
Pros: Size Quantity Feel Cons: None Conclusion: The Shiseido facial cotton is a luxury that I can't compromise on. I love the way that they feel on my skin, and that they don't pill or shed the way most other facial cotton does. They are very absorbent and very very soft. At $8 CAD you do get a lot of squares to warrant the price. Alternatives: Laura Mercier Cotton Squares - I've heard really good things about these ones also. I'm sure cost a little more but I believe these ones are unbleached organic cotton (but I might be wrong)... Cle De Peau Facial Cotton - I'm not even going to touch this one, because we all know its the same product in a different box.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Eucerin - Dry Skin Relief Foot Cream
parapara01 4/21/2010 11:04:00 AM
Pros: Unscented Price Texture Effect Cons: None Conclusion: This is the review for the Eucerin Foot Cream with 10% Urea. This product did everything that I needed, deliver lots of moisture and comfort without being too oily. I use it very sparingly, otherwise it can feel greasy and gross. I pumice my feet every couple of days and this pairs well with the exfoliation. I sometimes wear a sock to sleep with the cream and my feet have never looked so great, I can't wait for the summer! I may buy something different next, but I highly recommend this product.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Eucerin - 10% Urea Lotion
parapara01 4/21/2010 10:57:00 AM
Pros: Unscented Bottle Cons: Effect Texture Conclusion: During the winter months I have the driest skin on Earth, and this did very little to alleviate that. I don't want to say this is expensive, but this is pricey for a drugstore body lotion. I found that it was very greasy, and it took ages for this product to absorb, which was surprising because the 10% urea foot cream from Eucerin absorbs very well. Anywho I will not be buying this one again, there are cheaper products at the drugstore that are better formulated. Or I could just spend a little more and buy a luxurious product.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -L'Occitane - Amande Delicious Paste
parapara01 4/21/2010 10:45:00 AM
Pros: Scent Texture Result Cons: Packaging Conclusion: This is the most delicious body scrub I have ever used. It melts on to your skin and rinses off like a milk, just like the Shower Oil. The scent of the Amande products is what has me coming back, but they do also deliver soft, smooth skin! The price is steep, but it does last quite awhile since the product spreads really well and the grains don't melt while your buffing the skin. I wish they included a scoop with the scrub, I was lucky that I had the scoop that came with the L'occitane orange body scrub. The only thing that drives me crazy is that the Amande Milk + Paste come in these heavy glass jars. They look great, but the thought of breaking the jar in the shower is always going through my head. They might want to go back to the drawing board on that one.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Deodorants -L'Occitane - Purifying Roll-On Deodorant
parapara01 4/21/2010 10:33:00 AM
Pros: Scent Alcohol free Low aluminum Cons: Price Too mild Conclusion: When I went to get some a shower gel at L'occitane I convinced myself to get three bottles of this! I'm now halfway through the last one. I LOVE the scent its so fresh and green, and goes well with the Almond Shower oil, Verbena, and the matching Aroma shower gel. It feels cool when you apply it, and I love that its a roll on. It can be a bit sticky, but it keeps you dry for days when you're not active or the temperature isn't too high. That being said, I do find that I'm not so fresh by the end of the day though. The masking scent disappears throughout the day, and at this price that's unacceptable. As much as I like the glass container I don't know that its totally practical for everyone. Anywho, I'm on to the next one.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Kinerase - Clear Skin Moisture Light [DISCONTINUED]
parapara01 4/21/2010 10:24:00 AM
Pros: Packaging Texture Result Price Cons: None Conclusion: I've gone through almost my first bottle and this has HG potential for me. I love it because its very fluid and fast absorbing but still gives me that same softness and supple feeling in the morning that I would get from heavier creams or more aggressive products (like glycolics). It also has kept my skin under control. The existing blemish that I had healed much quicker and I haven't had any new ones forming. I wish it would act on the discolourations as well, but this is still amazing. And for something that has an equal amount of kinetin to the lotion and cream, this is much cheaper; this is a real winner! Alternatives: I believe this product has an equal amount of Kinetin to the original lotion and cream, but the texture and anti-acne ingredients differentiate it.... The lotion is awesome if your just combo, but if you get spots this is better solution.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Kinerase - Kinerase C6 Peptide Intensive Treatment
parapara01 4/5/2010 4:59:00 PM
Pros: Ingredients Unscented Cons: Pump Texture Conclusion: I can't remember why I bought this, but I ended up regretting it once I tried the C8 version. Although I don't need a lifting affect for my skin, I love using anti-aging products. I used this mostly on my neck and lips to tighten, smooth and even the tone but I saw almost no improvement. I wish that the pump was opaque like the other Kinerase products to protect the ingredients, and the pump is awful. I can't get the last bit of product from the bottom of the bottle and sometimes the pump comes off. Anywho will continue to try other Kinerase products and I think it was good idea that they came out with a new formula. Alternatives: New Kinerase C8 - has a nicer citrus scent, its a milky white fluid that sits nicer on the skin and the bottle is opaque! I'm sure its more effective than the previous formula as well.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Darphin - Purifying Aromatic Clay Mask
parapara01 4/5/2010 4:48:00 PM
Pros: Mild Effective Scent Texture Cons: Price Conclusion: Love this! The Daprhin clay mask is one of the softest most gentle clay masks I've encountered. This is shocking since I've had bad experiences with several other Darphin products. I like leaving this mask on for at least 15 minutes at time, and I found that it stays nice and soft without making my skin feel tight or dry. Once I rinsed it off, I felt refreshed. The scent isn't too strong, the creaminess makes it easy to spread, and the tube is very convenient. I would probably buy something different next because I have yet to find a mask that I'm loyal to but this comes very close. Alternatives: Shiseido Purifying Mask - Very similar soft text, but not as effective Caudalie Purifying Mask - More natural, better scent and price, also non drying
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyes -Talika - Lipocils Eyelash Conditioning Gel
parapara01 4/5/2010 4:26:00 PM
Pros: Effective Mild Cons: Applicator Conclusion: So its been about two weeks since I started using this consistently. Already I'm noticing that my lower lashes look fuller, and my eyelashes aren't falling as often. Although I usually wait until I've finished a product to review, I had to share how much I love this. As much as I hate the wand I will definitely buy this again, because these new lash growth products scare me.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -RoC - RETIN-Ol+ Day Intensive Anti-Wrinkle Moisturiser
parapara01 4/5/2010 4:14:00 PM
Pros: Texture Ingredients Package Cons: Awful Scent Conclusion: I liked that it has the retinol, with stable uv filters and low concentration of glycolic in this product. That combination is what triggered my interest. I wanted something protective that would improve the texture of my skin without being too aggressive. This did a great job of making my skin smooth while giving me that critical satiny appearance. Occasionally I would find that my skin was slightly congested, so this cannot be applied as liberally as a true sunscreen would. I actually wish I bought the Neutrogena equivalent for this product (there has to be one for sure!) because this isn't cheap, but it is an excellent product nonetheless. Alternatives: I cannot name one specific product, but there are several Neutrogena retinol based cream with SPF at a fraction of the cost.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Avene - Cleansing and Make-Up Remover Micellar Lotion
parapara01 4/5/2010 3:53:00 PM
Pros: Price Effective Scent Cons: Slight tackiness Conclusion: This is an excellent product, it served its purpose very well. I used on the nights when I didn't want to wash up as a no-rinse alternative, and I also used it as a toner. It has that standard Avene scent, and it did not sting my eyes at all. I've tried a few Micellar waters (which I've ranked in the alternatives), and this is a great option but there are better so I probably will not buy it again unless its on special. I think I might try the Bioderma or Lancome next... Alternatives: Of all the micellar waters I've tried this is how I would rank them, including this one: 1. Darphin Azahar/Nuxe 3-Rose - the BEST ones! Great scents, thorough, and the least tacky (Darphin has an edge in terms of the scent and Nuxe has the edge on price) 2. Avene Micellar - very good, but not as good as the other two 3. Caudalie Cleansing Water - love the scent, but it's super sticky
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Avene - Eluage Corps
parapara01 3/5/2010 8:50:00 PM
Pros: Hydrating Texture Packaging Cons: Irritation Conclusion: I found a bargain on eBay awhile back and ordered two bottles of this stuff since it has yet to be released in Canada. Initially I liked it alot. I found it dried quickly enough, and was not too oily or sticky. I also liked the way my skin started to feel after a week or two. When I started using the second bottle though I started to get itchy skin. I started using it less often and alternated with Nivea SOS balm, to help with KP like bumps I developed on my legs. This is the first time I had such a reaction to any body product, but nonetheless I still feel like this product delivers. ....Oh and the standard Avene scent that this has will not conflict with fragrance.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No