Eye Primer -Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Original (UDPP)
polarpooch 4/18/2013 2:42:00 PM
add me to the list of converts on this primer. tired to get away with something cheaper, but UD eye primer just does what no other primer can do: locks down eye shadow color on the oiliest lids all day...and then some. i like the new packaging better, too--easier to conserve product when it doesn't have a wand. like everyone else with oily lids, i would put on eyeshadow and it would just slide off in a few hours. i gave up on eyeshadow, especially since none of the other eye primers i tried were worth a darn. till this one. it's a darn near perfect product. my ONLY complaint is that if you use any of the long wear eye crayons (like sephora or UD sells), blending can be very tricky once the primer sets, because the eye color becomes hard to move. but with some work, you can get around the problem. it's a DREAM for powdered eye shadows, too. HG eye product to be sure!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Wen by Chaz Dean - Cucumber Aloe Cleansing Conditioner
polarpooch 6/13/2012 9:48:00 PM
this was simply the worst idea i ever got suckered into buying. common sense says this will not work on fine, thin hair with oily scalp. but no...i got conned by the presentation and now i feel stupid. this left my hair incredibly dirty. i followed instructions to the letter and rinsed, rinsed, rinsed...and rinsed again. yuck. my midday my hair was dull, heavy, oily and dirty looking. worse, it got horribly tangled. also when i combed the product through as instructed, huge amounts of my hair came out. i haven't ever lost hair like this with any product. it took me two washes with garnier intense cleanse to get the buildup out of my hair. and the smell is horrible. it's cloying and smells kind of like a cross between fake cucumber and baby powder funk. gross. i'm sticking with shampoos that make sense now--and don't cost a freaking fortune for what amounts to 6 or 7 uses--and don't promote hair loss. chaz dean needs to be honest with women with hair like mine and say : just don't bother...this is not for you! (***update: all wen cleanser products contain chamomile extract. allergies to chamomile are very common. given that nothing else on the labels seems to make sense for what could have caused the hair loss, i wonder if it's the chamomile. BTW...if you google "wen hair loss", you'll see LOTS of entries on this problem)
4 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Moroccanoil - Moisture Repair Conditioner
polarpooch 6/11/2012 10:45:00 PM
this conditoner has been a godsend for my fine, thin, dry, processed hair. i just recently got a bottle of this from my stylist. HOLY CATS. this conditioner is out of this world WONDERFUL. it smells great, but it also conditions my hair without weighing it down...and gives it an infusion of hydration and strength. the conditioner and shampoo together they make my hair fuller, thicker looking, soft and bouncy. yes...bouncy! :) i'm starting to even LIKE my hair. have been using it for two weeks and so far, no buildup. also, it doesn't strip my color. pricey, but worth it. the scent is divine. i love this stuff. am going to try the volumizing version, too and report back.
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Shampoo -Moroccanoil - Moisture Repair Shampoo
polarpooch 6/11/2012 10:41:00 PM
this shampoo has been a godsend for my fine, dry, processed hair. (and i have to deal with dandruff in the winter/spring.) now that summer is here, i can try other shampoos and only use the dandruff stuff every few days. i just recently got a bottle of this from my stylist. HOLY CATS. this shampoo is WONDERFUL. it smells great, but it also cleanses my hair without stripping it and even hydrates it. i also use the conditioner which gets an even bigger WOW, because of how great it moisturizes my hair. neither of the products weighs my fine, distressed hair down...and together they make it fuller, thicker looking, soft and bouncy. yes...bouncy! :) i'm starting to even LIKE my hair. have been using it for two weeks and so far, no buildup. also, it doesn't strip my color. pricey, but worth it. the scent is divine. i love this stuff. am going to try the volumizing version, too and report back.
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Treatments -Paula's Choice - Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant
polarpooch 5/28/2012 9:30:00 PM
i used this for almost a year after switching from my old alpha hydrox oil free 10% AHA. i thought it would be better for my oily skin. at first, everything seemed ok...it seemed to exfoliate nicely, with minimal irritation. somewhere along the line--several months in, everything went haywire on my face. i was getting awful, constant peeling that was just maddening. since i'd been using this for a while, i assumed it was something else i was using, or else the dreaded seborrehic dermatitis! i had scheduled an appointment with a dermatologist to finally deal with this...and decided to go off all my skin care for the week prior. suddenly, there was no more peeling. i cancelled my appointment and started adding products back in one by one. sure enough when i added the 2% BHA liquid back, i had awful peeling again. lesson learned. somewhere between starting this product and ending it, i developed a sensitivity to salicylic acid. i'm back on the alpha hydrox AHA with no problems. just FYI.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Paula's Choice - Shine Stopper Instant Matte Finish
polarpooch 3/18/2012 11:09:00 PM
i have extremely, insanely oily skin, so i am always realistic about "oil control" products. this one is pretty good. i didn't find it did anything under my makeup, so i tried applying it OVER makeup. that's when i realized its potential for my routine. i get oily about 2-3 hours into the day. when that happens, i blot with papers, then apply a pea sized amount with a sponge in my t-zone. it does keep the oil at bay for about 3-4 hours when i apply it. i usually blot one more time and apply again, and find i can get nearly a whole workday out of two applications (i work 14 hour days). it's much better than pressed powder, because it doesn't cake and cause color disruption. this makes my foundation last longer, too, because the oil is not constantly degrading my makeup. as an added bonus, it smooths over large pores, making them appear smaller. i have tried it all at this point, including "anti-shine" from smashbox. i like this a lot better. it's not a miracle, but it has certainly become an effective tool in my daily routine because it helps make my face look better with makeup. BTW, my 1-2-3 for oil-control makeup is ELDW light (doesn't degrade in the presence of oil), blotting papers (like PC papers or Clean and Clear) and this. it keeps me pretty much shine free all day.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Wet 'n' Wild - Color Icon Bronzer w/SPF 15 in Bikini Contest
polarpooch 2/19/2012 1:54:00 PM
I have a hard time finding a bronzer i can tolerate. most are way too shimmery and look ridiculous on anyone over 25. a lot are too orange/gold. this bronzer, though, is different. i got the color "bikini contest". it's NOT shimmery or frosty. it's NOT orange. it's a nice, brick/bronze color that goes on with the color of a tan with a touch of sunburn. maybe that sounds weird, but that's exactly what i was looking for. it is very highly pigmented, so the first time i put it on, i put on too much. when i reapplied a much lighter application it looked AWESOME. i'm 43, so at my age, you can't get away with the rave-girl teeny bopper look--OR the ridiculous orange-faced jersey shore thing. this looks VERY natural and very attractive. it just subtly ENHANCES, which to me is what a bronzer is supposed to do. the only other bronzer i liked was laura geller's "bronze n' brighten", which had a similar color/application. but the LG product is $35. THIS is $5 for a GIANT compact (i'm sure you could use this as a body bronzer, too). got it at walgreens. i'll be going back to grab a couple more just because you know they'll eventually D/C this. good stuff. and at $5 you can afford to try it.
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Paula's Choice - Skin Balancing Toner
polarpooch 2/12/2012 12:07:00 AM
i really, really like this toner. i have been using it for about two months. i think of it more as a treatment rather than a "toner". i have very oily skin and this does a nice job of helping keep it somewhat under control. that's saying something, because until this toner, NOTHING made a lick of difference. this really does seem to balance out my skin. most of the time this is all i even need for moisture in the morning. i love that it's loaded with antioxidants and niacinamide. it's water light. a bottle lasts a very long time. i also love her RESIST toner, but this one works better for daytime.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Estee Lauder - Double Wear Zero Smudge Lengthening Mascara
polarpooch 12/28/2011 9:44:00 PM
I love this mascara, despite the fact that it's overpriced. i have long lashes, but this mascara makes them jump off my face. The classic brush easily separates and volumizes lashes and gives impressive length. My lashes feel very soft and the mascara lasts all day. it's water resistant, too. It comes off easily with a water soluble cleanser. I love this stuff. best mascara i've used.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -Unlisted Brand - Xfusion Hair fiber
polarpooch 12/27/2011 10:39:00 PM
this stuff is awesome. i have thinning hair at the crown, and picked this up in "light brown". using the dispenser (yeah, it'll cost you an extra $15, but it's worth it), i am able to totally fill in all areas of thinning. it looks natural and real even up close. what it is is keratin fibers that attach to your hair/scalp using static electricity. the effect looks like you have real hair density at the roots. i have no trouble with this "rubbing off". i can even brush my hands through it and not disrupt the effect. i like the fixative spray and it's cheap enough, so i'll keep getting that, too (though it's really just non-aerosol hairspray). this was $20 for the large jar, $15 (one time) for the dispender and $6 for the spray. i think it's a very small price to pay for filling in those embarrassing thinning areas on your scalp. oh, and this is the exact same stuff at Toppik, just branded under the name "xfusion". Either one will work. Trust me, though, get the dispenser. you can easily find this stuff even cheaper on ebay. if you've tried everything else for thinning hair, give this a try. UPDATE: i tried this on my 74 year old mom. her hair is very, very sparse now, and she has lots of scalp showing, though she does color. when i was done using the xfusion, it looked like she had a whole new head of hair. she looked 15 years younger. she's sold now, too.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - rogaine for men foam
polarpooch 11/19/2011 10:04:00 PM
I started using Rogaine Foam for Men, 5% minoxidil after the 2% formula for women didn't work, and the liquid form made my scalp itch. This works very well for me. I had thinning on the top of my head at the crown. I'm only 43, so it was quite distressing. In a matter of months, my hair started to fill in and thicken up. I now almost can't notice any thinning. I tried all the 'natural' treatments (including pre-natal and "hair growth" vitamins), and they were all useless. None of them helped to start the regrowth process. Only Rogaine worked for me. The label says women should not use the 5%--but that warning is only based on the very slight risk that the 5% concentration could (but quite likely won't) increase UNWANTED hair growth on the face. I have been using it for 4 months now, and noticed no unwanted hair growth. Many hair growth forums for women recommend this product, too. BTW, the foam is NOT available in generic, so this is a bit on the spendy side. Also, the instructions say that once you stop using it, your hair thinning problems will return. I would recommend this. edit: one thing i would like to add--because maybe it's not obvious-- this WILL help stop your hair from falling out. i have so many fewer strands in my brush and all over my bathroom. it's quite remarkable. UPDATE: good news! i just saw a generic version of this at walmart. their brand "equate" lists the same ingredients as rogaine foam. price is about 1/3rd less expensive. i plan to start using this version when i run out of my name brand stuff.
14 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Maybelline - New Instant Age Rewind
polarpooch 9/8/2011 12:29:00 PM
i was mortified when they DC'd the instant age rewind double concealer. it was the only concealer i had ever really loved--and this replaces that product. well, it's ALMOST as good as the old version. it's a little less opaque than the original product, but it still has the same fabulous, crease-free finish that does not set into fine lines/wrinkles. it doesn't list a sunscreen rating, so i'll assume that, unlike the original, it does not have the same SPF (that's too bad). it glides on easily, and sets FAST, so be ready to blend right away. i use a foundation brush to get a good, diffuse blend with this. it lasts nearly all day. the colors at my store were pretty limited, and it seemed only fairer and fair-medium tones were targeted with this product. i chose the yellow-based "neutralizer", which seemed to help blend away the minor dark cast i have under my eyes. this isn't going to get it done for ladies with serious dark circles. it's not not pigmented enough. but the rest of you should give it a try. it's often on sale, too, at my local walgreens.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Estee Lauder - Double Wear Light SPF10
polarpooch 8/5/2011 9:56:00 PM
HOLY GRAIL FOUND. I have been searching for 10 long years for a foundation that can last me through my (LONG) days at work (12-14 hours). I have VERY oily skin and nothing I've tried has not degraded on my face by the end of half my day. Till now. EL DW Light is the first makeup that did not break down on my face half way through my day. Better than that, it lasted my whole workday and still looked pretty darn fresh at the end. I did still have to use my oil blotting papers, but still...wow! The coverage is lovely and light. Sheer/Medium to Medium coverage. I am using Intensity 2.0, which is the second lightest shade and the color match is perfect. It sets fast, so you have to work fast to blend it in. It is not a moisturizing makeup (which is why I got it), so wear a moisturizer if you have dry skin. Honestly I still can't believe I finally found a makeup that lasts on my face all day. One irritating daily battle is now behind me! Excellent!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Maybelline - Super Stay 24 Hour Concealer
polarpooch 8/1/2011 9:52:00 PM
oh what a SHAME! this concealer SHOULD be perfect. it goes on smooth, has very little slip and blends into a creaseless, smooth finish under your eyes--and is opaque enough you can use it on blemishes. it lasts all day. BUT...BUT, the colors are just so awful. damn! all the colors are all just too pink. talk about a wasted effort by maybelline. i hope they rethink the colors and i'll definitely buy again. otherwise, hopefully i can find my favorite instant age rewind stocked somewhere soon.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Clinique - Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup
polarpooch 8/1/2011 9:47:00 PM
I wanted a makeup that would tackle my oily skin problem--I don't have acne. I thought this might do the trick as it got raves from oily skin gals, and it contained a little alcohol in the ingredients. It IS a good makeup. It goes on super smooth, and blends in nicely. The color match was great. The makeup sets to a nice, matte finish. But it was had no more or less staying power than any other makeup I've tried. I was blotting about 4 hours into the morning. I really like it, and may continue to buy it, but there is nothing magical about this makeup for women with very oily skin like mine.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No