Treatments -Avene - Diacneal Acne Treatment [DISCONTINUED]
rational 8/19/2005 3:07:00 PM
I'm using Diacneal for the anti-aging property of the active ingredient, not for acne treatment (my skin is not acne-prone), and I love it so far (after two weeks). I have normal-to-dry, non-sensitive skin with some enlarged pores, redness, and roughness around my nose and some very faint fine lines under my eyes. After using this treatment every other night, the skin around my nose has become much smoother and less red, and i think the pores look smaller. Foundation goes on much more smoothly and I only need a tiny bit of it around the nose now. Other posters have explained how this treatment works so I won't belabor the point; I just want to point out that it works much better for me than both the RoC retinol product and green cream (level 6). Both these other two irritated my skin (especially green cream) and I didn't see as much result. Very reasonable price considering that it comes in a 30ml tube. I ordered from feelbest.com, selected the second cheapest shipping option, and it got to me within a week. Many thanks to those who introduced this product to me!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Makeup Remover -Maybelline - Expert Eyes Moisturizing Remover for waterproof Eye Makeup
rational 8/19/2005 2:50:00 PM
Greasy to the extreme, ineffective, and generally exasperating. Couldn't wait to throw it out.
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Eye Makeup Remover -Neutrogena - Oil Free eye makeup remover
rational 8/19/2005 2:47:00 PM
Gentle and effective on waterproof mascara, no stinging, slight oily residue that washes off easily with normal cleanser. Love it!
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Hair Styling Tools -Conair - 1875 Ion Shine Hairdryer
rational 8/3/2005 2:00:00 PM
i have naturally straight, fine hair, slightly on the dry side. this dryer weighs my hair down a lot, which looks greasier at the end of the day. it also takes much longer to dry my hair. maybe this is better for taming frizz, but it really doesn't fit me. it's also heavy and unwieldy.
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Liquid -NARS - Gel Fraicheur
rational 12/28/2003 4:57:00 PM
it's so hard to find a good foundation that meets one's individual needs. i have good (normal to dry) skin in general and need a foundation with medium coverage for around my nose (pores, some redness) and underneath my eyes (dark circles but not too bad), exact color match, and easy and even application that doesn't accentuate my pores. nars gel fraicheur fits the bill wonderfully. this is marketed as a tinted moisturizer, but it's really a lightweight foundation and doesn't moisturize (which is great for me, because i'm very particular about my sunscreen and moisturizer). it's completely non-greasy but doesn't feel dry. the coverage is sheer initially but very buildable; unless i really mess up my sleep schedule, i don't need a concealer for my dark circles. the color alaska is an exact match for my pair skin with some yellow undertones. it doesn't settle into my pores and make them really obvious, nor does it highlight the flakiness i sometimes have. this foundation does dry fast, so make sure to use a *very* small amount and blend quickly and carefully and then repeat if necessary. after it dries, i set it with loose powder and it doesn't budge all day. i should say that my skin is overall in good condition, so i can't say for sure if this foundation is for everybody. for me, however, it's perfect. (the bottle can be messy, but i store it in a box upside down, so the content won't leak out.)
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Misc Beauty Tools -Japonesque - Mini Heated Eyelash Curler
rational 12/28/2003 4:45:00 PM
i ordered this heated curler with great expectations from ulta.com. i was hoping that it could give me a natural, long-lasting curl and replace my shu umera curler, which sometimes doesn't get all my lashes. this mini curler comes with batteries, is reasonably priced, and is easy to use, but sadly enough it can't curl my lashes at all. i tried both with and without mascara, and it simply can't lift up my short, straight asian lashes. i don't have particularly stiff lashes, but maybe this needs longer or really soft lashes to work. i had to return it and go back to my shu.
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Mascara -Maybelline - Sky High Curves Extreme Length and Curl [DISCONTINUED]
rational 12/28/2003 4:40:00 PM
this is a fast drying formula, which is good for me because my curled lashes tend to get wilted by wetter mascaras (jane's, for example) and humidity. as a result, my lashes stay curled a little better. it doesn't really give you fuller lashes, just longer, but now that i use shiseido's primer, i get additional volume. it doesn't sumdge on me, unless i apply too many coats. the tube dries pretty fast however, but overall this is a decent mascara that meets my expectations.
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Mascara -Shiseido - The Makeup Mascara Base [DISCONTINUED]
rational 12/28/2003 4:34:00 PM
this is, hands down, the best beauty purchase i have ever made. after reading several raves about the mascara primer one day, i couldn't wait to get this from sephora. and i'm so glad i did. this primer goes on my curled lashes colorless (maybe with a tinge of white), but it doesn't contain fiber so it's safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens users. you don't have to wait for it to dry before applying mascara (right now i'm using maybelline's skyhigh curves), and you can see the difference instantly. my lashes are markedly longer, fuller, and my curl holds better, which is a feat for my short, straight asian lashes. i used to keep trying different mascaras hoping for fuller, longer lashes; now i just use any mascara with this wonderful primer. it's also easy to remove. the price is high (i paid $19 but heard it was going to be $24), but it's definitely worth every penny.
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Sunscreen -Bioderma - Photoderm MAX Lait/Fluid SPF 100 PPD 31
rational 12/28/2003 5:30:00 AM
i need to thank the knowledgeable MUAers who turned me to sunscreens with better, more stable UVA protection than those available in te US. i read up on the pros and cons of different ingredients and decided that this photoderm MAX fluid is my best bet. i have to say that i'm very satisfied with the results. while i used to be diligent with sunscreen use, the DDF matte sunscreen and various neutrogena ones never really prevented me from getting a bit tanner during the summer. after i started using this, i didn't get a shade darker, and i feel a lot better because it's photostable. now the lotion is a bit greasy on the face during the summer (i have normal to dry skin) and hard to spread, but on the body it settles to a semi-matte finish. like other reviewers mentioned, this could be somewhat pore-clogging, but since i alternate between AHA/BHA and retinol for my night cream, i haven't had a problem with breakouts. overall i think it's a reasonable tradeoff for the long-lasting sun protection it offers.
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Lip Treatments -Blistex - Clear Advance
rational 12/28/2003 5:19:00 AM
i like this lip balm because it's cheap, easily available, and has broad spectrum protection (avobenzone). it's got a fruity taste that i neither like nor dislike. i don't find it more moisturizing than other lip balms, but this is one effective sunscreen that i'm going to use every day.
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Moisturizers -Paula's Choice - Hydrating Treatment Cream
rational 12/28/2003 5:12:00 AM
i've been using this cream for several weeks on my normal-to-dry skin that's not breakout-prone. i requested some samples from PC because my AH cleanser was drying me out, and the extra emollient moisturizer from PC just didn't feel moisturizing enough.i found the sample soothing and very emollient, so i ordered a full tube along with her skin recovery cleanser, which is much better for winter use. however, as the skin recovery cleanser is milder, my skin is not as dry and i find this cream a bit too rich and got a few milia on my cheeks. after a bit of experimentation, i found that i just need a very small amount of this cream for my cheeks, and i now warm up the cream on my fingertip for a while before gently massaging it in using my palms. the method seems to be working and i no longer get milia. this cream would be a good choice for those with dry to very dry skin.
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Cleansers -Paula's Choice - Skin Recovery Cleanser
rational 12/28/2003 5:05:00 AM
i have normal to dry skin and this is by far my favorite cleanser. it rinses completely clean but doesn't strip, and the lotion feels luxurious. probably doesn't remove full makeup well--i use my eye makeup remover beforehand--but it definitely cleanses well. this cleanser feels better and cleanses more thoroughly than her old one for normal-to-dry skin, and it's much better than the other board faves such as OoO sensitive skin wash (leaves a film behind yet feels harsh) or AH foaming wash (too drying).
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Eye Shadow -Milani - Marooned
rational 12/28/2003 4:55:00 AM
one of the more pigmented eye shadows of this line, this is a very pretty wine color with some gold shimmer. it makes a very nice smoky eye alternative.
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Lipstick -Milani - Royal Blush
rational 12/28/2003 4:51:00 AM
a gorgeous plum/fuschia color with sophisticated shimmer. it's very pigmented, so i just lightly swipe some on and press my lips together. long-lasting and not too dry. the quality of this line is quite impressive!
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Treatments (Eye) -Beauty Without Cruelty - Green Tea Nourishing Eye Gel
rational 9/26/2003 10:54:00 PM
i've been using this eye gel for six months and just bought a new bottle. it's got lots of antioxidants in it and is lightweight enough for eyes. i keep it in the fridge, and it certainly feels cooling and helps with my puffy eyes quite a bit. you only need about a small amount, about the size of 2 grains of rice. although it is sticky, it is absorbed in a few minutes, and i actually prefer this finish to the silicone-infused formulas that seem to glue my eyes shut. will definitely repurchase.
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