Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Coppola- Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy Treatment
puffnugget 7/16/2012 1:37:00 AM
I deleted my original review and DIY guide to Coppola Keratin treatment. I wanted to be more accurate. I leaned through the FDA website that this product has been banned in Australia, Canada, Cyprus, France, Germany, and Ireland due to its levels of formaldehyde these countries find unacceptable. The FDA does not regulate this product. Coppola can make any claims they want -- calling it "safe", "good for the hair", and "all natural". It also claims that it lasts 3-5 months. For me, it is closer to 4-8 weeks. Before I go on, I am disclosing that I still use this treatment. I know the risks. I accept these risks. And as an untrained professional, I do it in my own WELL VENTILATED bathroom. For less than $50/treatment, I buy all the products and tools on Amazon. Seriously, thats how unregulated it is. Then I follow all the instructions posted on YouTube and on the bottles: Shampoo 2-3x, dry, apply product, wear a plastic cap, remove cap, blow dry, and flat iron. Simple. The results seem to last longer when I do it myself. What does the treatment actually do? I call it embalming the hair. The aldehydes seal and bond the keratin to the hair after heat is applied. The results are gorgeous but... The high heat required to embalm the hair might make the hair shafts explode causing split hairs right in the middle of the strands and at the ends. The hair feels smooth but nonetheless is damaged. 400-450 degrees is recommended. For perspective, my oven's highest temperature is 450 degrees. To minimize the damage, use the lowest heat setting recommended for your hair type. I use 400-410 to flat iron my fine textured hair. While flat ironing, do not get close to the scalp. If product is on the scalp, it might get embalmed. Embalming your hair is fine because it is already dead. But your scalp is living. A possible reaction is that your hair will fall out from the embalmed follicle. Which reminds me... Oprah did a whole show on hair falling out after keratin treatments. To avoid trauma, I apply product on the hair at least 1-2 inches from the scalp. If it touches the scalp, you might embalm it or you might irritate it to the point of needing a steroid shot. Do not use anymore product than required. If you use more, you will be inhaling more noxious, carcinogenic fumes. Also, your hair will feel like dried dirt during the 72 hour wait period. If you use "just enough", your hair will feel smooth and soft during this time. The 72 hour wait period is required because it takes at least 48 hours for the product to bond to the hair. 72 hours is the time when everything is completed bonded. If you wash it before this time period, you might wash out the keratin. I think the "no clips, no pony tails, no ear tucking" rule is pointless. This is not a straightening treatment. "May leave an indentation", ha! I braid my hair for the 72 hour wait, and my results are not anything different from when I played by the rules. I get smooth, no frizz hair. One steadfast rule from Coppola: Do not use while pregnant or nursing. Really, and they claim this product is safe? The product works. My hair looks great. It is extremely shiny. I get so many compliments from strangers. Little do they know that under the embalmed exterior are dead ends. And maybe I'll get lung cancer later on, the reason I took off 2 lippies. Now you know the risks. You can make an informed decision.
11 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Chanel - Double Perfection Compact
puffnugget 5/28/2012 10:25:00 PM
When the SA applied this to my bare face, my skin looked flawless. The color was a perfect match. An hour later however, it began to look cakey and accentuated my big pores. So sad. Such promise. No issues with sensitivity though.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Shiseido - The Skincare - Day Protective Moisturizer SPF 15
puffnugget 11/3/2011 11:30:00 PM
I bought this because I wanted SPF in my moisturizer, to prevent wrinkles and stuff. It softens my skin just fine but after a few days broke out my skin. All SPF moisturizers I have tried never seem to work out. I'll be going back to Shiseido Bio Performance, which has been an absolute dream.
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Mascara -Too Faced - Lash Injection
puffnugget 7/24/2011 5:18:00 PM
As I usually agree with the masses, I am surprised that I am in the minority. Lash Injection is the best mascara I have used. It curls and lengthens - really curls and lengthens - without the goops and clumps. My lashes look amazing, naturally beautiful. I have average length, straight, snuffaluffagus lashes. With Lash Injection, I look like a Latisse ad. My results appear similar to what is pictured above. The product is drier than most mascaras; hence, less clumping. I use DHC's Deep Cleansing Oil to wash my face. The mascara comes off, no problem. I have similar results with Cover Girl's Lash Blast, but Lash Blast tends to flake off during the day. So, I stick to Lash Injection. I buy the sample size ($9.50) because it seems to last just as long as the regular size ($21).
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Eyes -Unlisted Brand - Careprost~Generic Brand Latisse
puffnugget 1/8/2011 12:17:00 AM
I bought this from alldaychemist. The price beats the $100+ a US pharmacy charges. To start, I had dark, straight, medium length lashes. I didn't get the Claire Danes results, but I definitely see that I have more oomph than Brooke Shields. My lashes are longer and they curl! OMG, they curl all by themselves! When I wear mascara, it looks like I'm wearing falsies. My routine: Every 2nd or 3rd night, I shake the Careprost bottle and place ONE drop on a clean surface, like a mirror. I dip the brush in the solution as needed as I apply it along my top lash lines. I go over each lash line twice. One drop goes a long way. For the first two weeks, I used it every night. I had irritation and redness. Then my skin darkened a little. I backed off to every 2nd or 3rd day, kept it there, and the side effects went away. I noticed a difference in 4 weeks. My lashes were slightly longer. Very slightly. By 8 weeks, they were curling. I have been using Careprost for 5 months. The results aren't miraculous, but they are good. I can go without makeup and my eyes sparkle. I feel all doe-eyed. UPDATE 4/18/2011: I started using Careprost every night and my skin above my upper eyelashes darkened. I immediately stopped using the product as instructed by the pamphlet insert. In about a week, my skin dramatically lightened to almost normal. In about a month, my skin was back to normal. Unfortunately, my luscious lashes molted. They weren't kidding when they said if you stop using the product, the results go away. I'm back at square one. I still give it 5 lippies because the product works and I was warned about the side effects and how to handle them. I plan to try Carepost again, this time not upping my use to nightly. Every 2-3 nights works for me.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Shiseido - Future Solution Total Revitalizing Cream
puffnugget 2/15/2009 12:37:00 PM
I love the consistency. It feels like silk. The moisture is intense, with my skin left glowing, not greasy at all. The catch is that it causes whiteheads on my skin. I think it is too rich for me. It seems to be made for super dry skin or mature skin. My 50-something mother uses it and probably would die without it. She loves it. In 5-10 years, I'll try Future Solution again. Until then, I will stay with Shiseido's Bioperformance.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -La Mer - Creme de la mer moisturizer
puffnugget 2/15/2009 12:27:00 PM
I bought this in hopes finding a miracle anti-aging, scar-reducing, super moisturizer. I applied it night and day -- putting a pea-size amount on my fingers, rubbing to a liquid consistency, then patting it on my face, just as the SA instructed. What did I find? It wasn't very moisturizing. Just the opposite. My skin felt dry and with a sticky film coating. Undeterred, I continued to use La Mer. With in a week, I felt hard bumps growing underneath my skin. I have been battling acne for 2 decades, even pulling out the heavy Accutane ammo twice. I knew what these bumps were. They were CYSTS in the making. I immediately stopped using La Mer. With cystic acne, once a bump forms, no matter how small, it will come to the surface and take up as much space as possible. There is no stopping it. I lived with the consequences for at least 6 weeks. Before I returned the product to Neiman's, I looked at the ingredients. Mineral oil and Petrolatum were #2 and #3. No wonder! I was suffocating my skin with these cheap, crappy ingredients. They technically are not "comedogenic" but they create a unpenetrable barrier above your skin and lets it die underneath with whatever is trapped there too.
7 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -DHC - Coenzyme Q10
puffnugget 2/15/2009 12:01:00 PM
The consistency of Q10 is more of a lotion than a cream. Being so, I decided to try this during the day under makeup. It works perfectly. I had been looking for a moisturizer that does not cause breakouts or irritation for decades. And here it is. It smooths down flakes and dry patches. The downside is that it takes a few minutes to absorb, and I hate sticking my finger in the jar. Other than that, it's good stuff. (My skin is oily, hyper-sensitive, and acne-prone with 2 rounds of Accutane under its belt.) UPDATE 3/26/09: Discovered this does not work well for me in warmer weather. Got pimples. I'll go back to Mary Kay Hydrating Gel for Spring and Summer. Fall and Winter, Q10, we're back on.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - 8% BHA Serum
puffnugget 11/15/2008 10:42:00 PM
The day after I used this, I had one of the worst breakouts this year. I can't say that this product is 100% responsible, but it sure seems suspicious. Rather be safe than sorry, I will not use this again.
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Masks -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - 40% Lactic Acid Peel
puffnugget 11/15/2008 10:39:00 PM
I've been trying to control acne and smooth my skin for 20 years. Where were you, Lactic Acid, all this time? I went through 2 rounds of Accutane. Why didn't you save me then? It doesn't matter. I've found you now, use you twice/week, and shed away all my skin problems. Lactic Acid, you are my HG.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Eucerin - Aquaphor Healing Ointment
puffnugget 6/12/2008 5:42:00 PM
I use this on my lips. Way better than chapstick. It's basically like Vaseline but it stays put! Vaseline slips off in 15 minutes or less. Aquaphor lasts for at least an hour. More moisturizing and soothing too.
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Lotions/ Creams -Eucerin - Original Moisturizing Creme
puffnugget 6/12/2008 5:39:00 PM
I'm not sure why but Eucerin seems to dry out my face. Odd, because it's a cream. I prefer Moisturel or Cetaphil Cream.
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Cleansers -Purpose - Gentle Cleansing Wash
puffnugget 6/5/2008 8:30:00 PM
This is my backup cleanser. If I don't have my regular DHC cleansing products, I head to the drugstore and get this. Out of all the drugstore brands, this is the *only* one that does not break me out. I have ultra-super-sensitive skin and Purpose is mildly irritating (it takes a few days of use for my skin to get itchy), but when I am traveling and low on supplies, it's good enough. It removes basic makeup, although you'd need a separate eye makeup remover. It rinses clean without residue and without stripping. My skin feels really soft afterwards. I recommend that you give it a try. UPDATE 6/27/08: I used this for a few mornings and *BAM* I got acne from irritation. "Gentle as water" Ha!
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Cleansers -DHC - Washing Powder
puffnugget 6/3/2008 2:06:00 PM
The packaging reminds me of the "little people" toys. I love it. I also love the powder form. It's perfect for travel. I use this in conjunction with DHC's Deep Cleaning Oil. The oil takes off the makeup and dirt. The powder takes care of the rest. If used alone, it does a decent job of removing light makeup. It's not ideal for removing heavy foundation and mascara. With both products, my skin is left refreshed and clean. I have super-sensitive, acne-prone skin. This regimen works well for me.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Peter Thomas Roth - Chamomile Cleansing Lotion
puffnugget 5/23/2008 12:36:00 PM
I used this for a few months after Ulta and Sephora stopped carrying my staple, PTR's Foaming Fash Wash. It was supposed to have been an easy, successful transition. It gave me acne-like rashes. I kept my hopes up and continued to use it. Result: more acne-like rashes. I believe that I must be allergic to some of the ingredients.
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