Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - Supre- Hempz Herbal Moisturizer
rastaxcore 4/5/2013 12:27:00 AM
This is my HG summer moisturizer. Since I tend to get in the sun it's nice to have something tailored to that. It has a fresh smell, almost like bubble gum? Not cloying or unpleasant though. I'll keep buying this as long as they keep making it -- although not at the tanning salon, because that's where it goes from $ to $$$.
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Lipstick -Illamasqua - Box (matte)
rastaxcore 10/6/2012 10:29:00 PM
I say I would buy this again because in addition to being a good shade of red for my complexion (cool, extremely pale, dark hair) I can tell it's going to last longer than creamier lipsticks. It's a dark cool red and it's VERY highly pigmented. Pros: lasts longer than other lipsticks, doesn't take very much to get full color, the color itself is gorgeous and very matte. Cons: it can be dry so you should ideally exfoliate and use a balm on your lips about half an hour before applying, it can also wear off unevenly, making you look like you're wearing dark lip liner but nothing else. I carry a creamier red from Revlon, Certainly Red, around for touchups. But I've gotten a lot of compliments on this.
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Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Retin A
rastaxcore 10/6/2012 10:23:00 PM
I started the .025% recently and now that most of the peeling and burning has subsided, I'm already noticing a difference. I got it to nix any breakouts in the making as well as to prevent wrinkles. Back in the day when I was 13 this came in a greasy, nasty ointment that didn't seem to do anything for my acne. I don't think it's as effective with hormonal acne as environmental, since mine was brought back on by central air and heat after years of using neither. The new skin is sensitive and reddish but very soft and the dryness is subsiding a bit. I'll add to this when I'm completely in the swing as far as results, but so far this looks promising. Not cheap, but not nearly as expensive as the less effective OTC retinols.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Lady Gaga - Fame
rastaxcore 9/11/2012 2:03:00 AM
When I sniff this I think -poison candy-. It's the kind of fragrance that's going to smell very different on different people though. For me it starts out very fruity but has some depth to it (I smell belladonna throughout) and fades into a sweet, woody musk. Almost like honey dripping off of precious wood. I got the rollerball and I am in love with it, this is the perfect winter scent. I picture this as the kind of perfume a mysterious, elegant villainess would wear.
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Fragrances -Pacifica - Tibetan Mountain Temple Perfume
rastaxcore 5/20/2012 1:57:00 PM
I say I'd buy this product again but it's so strong you don't really need to. I've had the same bottle for three years now and although I only wear it in the fall and winter, it's very unique. It's almost smokey, like a bonfire and incense in the woods, but still feminine (although a guy could easily pull this scent off too). It smells clean and not perfumey at all, although you don't need much. It's a nice lingering touch.
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Styling Products -Ouidad - Climate Control Gel
rastaxcore 2/20/2012 11:41:00 AM
I got a deluxe sample of this from Sephora, I'd heard so much about it that my expectations were mixed. I have very long, naturally wavy hair that tends to go flat on top when I let it dry into its natural texture. I used this before blow drying and unlike most gels, it left virtually no residue and seemed to make a difference in the overall smoothness. When I used it in combination with a serum and let my hair dry naturally, it didn't leave it stiff or crunchy. I am going to get another bottle when my sample runs out since I need something I can use in the summer, I rarely use heat styling when it's that hot out. The gel is pretty thin so I'm not the biggest fan of the packaging, its pretty hard to get out of the bottle for me. Since this doesn't seem to provide much hold or structure it's unlike most gels, it probably isn't enough on its own for very thick or coarse hair. Still, it's worth trying if you're looking for a way to make friends with your naturally curly or wavy hair.
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Treatments -Phyto - Phytokératine Serum
rastaxcore 12/23/2011 6:18:00 PM
I was really disappointed with this one. The reviews on Sephora were great so I expected to see a major difference especially since it's a Phyto product. Honestly, this just seems like regular hair cream, not a serum. My hair is long, to the middle of my back, but it takes 5-6 pumps to get the job done. Aside from some slight frizz control I can't say I've noticed a difference. The smell is a generic "cherry almond" -- I don't mind it but it's not a selling point. Save your money, get some Fekkai hair cream instead.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -BeneFit Cosmetics - b right total moisture facial cream
rastaxcore 12/23/2011 6:03:00 PM
I got a deluxe sample of this and when I first felt how rich it was, I expected it might break me out. I was pleasantly surprised -- it left my skin soft and smooth without any zits or irritation. It's fairly heavily scented but I found it pleasant. The packaging looks good but it's not very practical or sanitary, the glass jar and stone lid is really heavy. I wound up buying the full size version and you definitely get a lot, it's pricey but worth it. I only use this at nights or during the day when it's especially cold, a little also goes a really long way so if it's too heavy you might want to try using less than usual. I'm using it for prevention so I can't say whether it makes a difference with wrinkles or signs of aging.
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Fragrances -Aquolina - Pink Sugar
rastaxcore 11/24/2011 2:20:00 AM
I've hemmed and hawed on buying this for years now and I finally did. The first time I ever smelled it I was overwhelmed by how gourmand it is, now that I know what to expect it's very pleasant. It's great on its own or layered over my usual Soap and Glory products. It smells like cotton candy when you first spritz it on but fades to a creamier vanilla base. This fragrance is unique and it manages to be youthful without being immature or plasticky smelling. I wound up getting a good deal on a big bottle on ebay so I probably won't need to repurchase, but if I had a smaller one I would.
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Treatments -Soap and Glory - Dr Spot Invisible Spot Fighting Gel
rastaxcore 11/14/2011 5:54:00 PM
I bought this as part of my Soap and Glory haul right before they stopped selling it at Target, it resurfaced in the last month and I've been using it to fight the acne and spots around my jawline. While it's worked, it's no HG product -- I could get the same results using a scrub but hey, why waste it? I do like the packaging a lot. It has a chemical smell but it's a chemical product so that's not surprising or necessarily unpleasant.
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Cleansers -Yes To Carrots - Yes To Cucumbers Face Cleanser Towelettes
rastaxcore 11/14/2011 5:51:00 PM
I got a few travel sized packets of these when I saw them on sale at Target, I really like them for my purposes. I wash my face first but there's almost always a little residue if I've been wearing eye makeup, so I use these as a final sweep before I put on any skincare products. The smell is subtle but nice and I haven't had any irritation at all. These probably aren't nearly strong enough to take off more than makeup remnants so it may not be the best choice for everyone. I like 'em though.
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Treatments -Sedu - Moisturizing Heat Protecting Boost
rastaxcore 11/14/2011 5:48:00 PM
I got this along with my flat iron, mine says volumizing rather than moisturizing but I think it's the same product. I won't even use it anymore, I'm so glad I didn't actually pay for this. When I spray it on dry hair it makes it brittle and tangled, I have no idea why it happens but it seems that I lose a lot of hair getting broken or ripped out when I try to comb it through. If I put it on sopping wet hair there seems to be no difference. This one is probably doomed to the cosmetics graveyard in my sink cabinet until my semi-annual cleanout, unfortunately.
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Foundations -Urban Decay - Surreal Skin Mineral Makeup
rastaxcore 11/14/2011 5:45:00 PM
I am really disappointed in this, I should have checked MUA reviews before buying. I had really high hopes because I like UD products but sometimes I fail to keep in mind that most companies don't make a foundation quite light or cool enough for my skin, and that's basically the problem I ran into with this one. For starters, the packaging is ridiculous, I had to abuse it to get any product to start coming out. Once it was on my face it was invisible for about half an hour, then before I even got greasy it started turning yellow/orange. It seemed to accentuate dry patches and I believe other reviewers saying that it enhanced the appearance of pores. I'm definitely sending this back and looking more scrupulously at my shade choices in any brand.
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Lip Treatments -Ole Henriksen - Fresh Lips - Stimulating Lip Treatment SPF15
rastaxcore 11/14/2011 5:42:00 PM
This stuff is okay, I got it in a Sephora sample bag of some sort last summer and have been working on it since then. It works fine as a lip balm but it doesn't last very long, you have to reapply often and there can be some buildup. The minty smell is very chemical, you can almost taste the sunscreen in it. I wouldn't repurchase since there are much better lip treatments out there for less cash.
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Lip Treatments -Jack Black - Intense Therapy Lip Balm spf 25
rastaxcore 11/14/2011 5:36:00 PM
I really love this lip balm, it actually sinks in if you give it time rather than sitting on top of your lips like a lot of products. It's all natural so there's no weird chemical taste or odor, the scents are also very nice -- I have the blackberry tea and lemon chamomile ones and will probably order the 5 pack from Sephora as stocking stuffers. It's a little pricey but despite the size these do last awhile so it's money well spent in my book. I can't really find fault with it, as long as Jack Black keeps making it I'll keep buying since I'm not a fan of lipstick.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No