Fragrances -Dolce & Gabbana - Sicily eau de parfum
ravenavery 4/16/2010 4:00:00 PM
Had a sniff of this when studying in Berlin, and splurged for a bottle -- my student budget was not exactly extravagant. :) Six years later, I've worn a lot of other scents (JAdore is my other staple), but this is still my favorite and the one I identify with best. I'm not a perfume expert and can't list any of the notes. It's just lovely, fun, feminine but not girlish. I love it. It is indeed strong and lingering -- just use in moderation.
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Sunscreen -Philosophy - Shelter, sunblock SPF15
ravenavery 4/4/2010 6:02:00 PM
I looked for this under Tinted Moisturizer, which is what I thought it was when I bought it. MUA's classification as Moisturizer is more accurate -- there's really no color or coverage here, even though the product certainly looks opaque. I used this all day, every day on a vacation in Cabo, and I use it sporadically when I'm out in the sun. After using it by itself every day on vacation, I came home and discovered my skin looked awful! Could have been dehydration, sun damage sneaking past the SPF, or some other vacation-related issue, but I certainly did not continue using this alone regularly. I've since used this both over and under concealer or foundation, replying on Shelter just for its SPF (not for moisture or coverage). My normal sun-induced freckles haven't appeared, so I assume the SPF works!
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Makeup Brushes -Ecotools - Bamboo 6 Piece Brush Set
ravenavery 4/4/2010 5:55:00 PM
Love these brushes! The hold powder and shadow well, have lasted 2+ years, and clean easily. The texture is super soft and plush. They're weighted nicely and easy to control. I wish ecotools produced more -- I'd love a fluffier shadow brush for blending instead of just the flat shadow brush. Now that I'm writing this review, I think I may go out and buy more of these ...
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Lotions/ Creams -Burt's Bees - Radiance
ravenavery 6/30/2009 11:39:00 PM
Giving a 3 since I have used pretty much the full product (so must have liked it), but right now I'm feeling like this is a 2. The amount of shine in this is nice, but I won't repurchase. The lotion is very runny, not a great texture. It's actually hard to dispense from the tube without making a bit of a mess on the cap. I've also noticed, as the weather's gotten warmer, that this leaves my skin sticky. It doesn't seem to moisturize particularly well, so the only benefit is the hint of shine.
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Scrubs -Burt's Bees - Citrus Facial Scrub
ravenavery 6/30/2009 11:34:00 PM
I've repurchased many times. It's not the only scrub I use (also like Clinique 7-day scrub creme), but it definitely beneficial for my skin. My biggest reason for loving his product is the oiliness -- it exfoliates and moisturizes pretty heavily at the same time, which is ideal for me in winter. The scrubbing particles are a bit large, and pointy. If you're concerned about ripping pores (an aesthetician warned me of this!), avoid this product. I scrub fairly gently and have not had any problems.
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Treatments -Burt's Bees - avocado hair treatment
ravenavery 6/30/2009 11:30:00 PM
I used to use this once or twice/week, and it kept my hair in excellent condition (my hair is normally in good condition no matter what, so this isn't necessarily a miracle product, but it did help). To use, I run this through my hair from the ears down, about 15 minutes before shampooing (often before I even get in the shower). If you rush through your morning routine, this may not be a good option; but if you like to diddle around in the morning before showering, this is a pretty easy extra step. Smell is delicious! Texture is nice, very thick. Price is fine, IMO -- not a steal, but also not a ton of money for something that's basically a luxury.
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Lip Treatments -Alba Botanica - Terra Tints - Garnet SPF18
ravenavery 6/30/2009 11:24:00 PM
Nothing spectacular or horrifying about this -- OK texture, although not particularly smooth. Color payoff was decent, but didn't love this color and variety of shades is limited.
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Moisturizers -RoC - Retinol Actif Pur w/ SPF 15
ravenavery 1/24/2009 3:08:00 PM
Used this for a long time early in college, and started again recently (am 25 now). Have always had dry skin, and fine lines that have been noticeable to me since I was about 15. This moisturizes well, and I have actually noticed a reduction in the lines around my eyes. Does not feel greasy to me, but maybe because I'd prefer my skin to feel a bit moist instead of its natural dryness. Would consider repurchasing -- though it seemed super expensive when I first bought it, it's less expensive than other moisturizers I'd buy now (usually Clinique Moisture Surge).
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Mascara -Estee Lauder - Projectionist High Definition Volume Mascara
ravenavery 12/28/2008 3:16:00 PM
Love the way my lashes look with this -- very long, fairly full. Other mascaras that give me the most fullness, like Diorshow, are the most prone to clumpiness. Projectionist gives a good amount of fullness, not the most, but without clumps. The brown is a bit lighter than I'd like, but wearable. The black is black. I love the stiff bristles on the brush; makes it easy to get into the base of my lashes. Packaging: The pointy tube takes up more space than necessary in my drawer.
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Conditioner -Aveda - Annato Conditioner
ravenavery 8/20/2008 4:23:00 PM
Love this!! I have to use a large blob (maybe half an ounce?) for my mid-back-length hair, and leave it in at least 5 minutes. You can't skimp on time or product and expect it to work as well. But it does work -- today a girl I see regularly at the gym asked if I'd changed my hair color (nope, just used this product), This conditions wonderfully and adds fantastic color to my already-dyed hair. I alternate this with normal conditioner, and the added color from this lasts through a couple normal shampoos + regular conditioning. For the amount you need to use, this is a bit pricey -- but it's totally worth it to make my color look fantastic through the full the 8 weeks I go between real colorings. Plus, because I own both Annato and Clove shades, so I can give my hair an slightly different tone whenever I want. :)
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Treatments (Eye) -Bliss Labs - Baggage Handler
ravenavery 8/11/2008 10:52:00 AM
Mixed reviews from others, so hopefully this is effective for some lucky people! Not me. See photos of before and after on a particularly baggy day -- no results. Tested another time on less baggy eyes, still nothing. Packaging is actually pretty good, and price would be fine if it was effective, but I'm swapping.
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Bronzers -LORAC - TANtalizer Body Bronzing Luminizer
ravenavery 5/21/2008 4:32:00 PM
Update! I've used this multiple times since I first reviewed, and my opinion is much more positive. When applied carefull to avoid streaks, this makes my skin looks pretty fantastic. The scent is still unappealing to me, but fades. Rec'd in a LORAC bronze set from Sephora, and this was my least favorite product from the package (which inc shadow, blush, mocktail gloss). Squeezed tube and the wrong end burst open, spraying product across my wall. What a mess and a waste! Not a great first impression. The scent seemed excellent for a second, but I got sick of it quickly. Lots of dark pigment for my pale skin, but can look good if I'm careful to avoid streaks. I usually mix with a plain moisturizer, as this has more sparkle than I'd wear to work. I could see wearing it out at night, or even during the day on a date or something.
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Moisturizers -Aveda - Tourmaline Charged Protecting Lotion SPF 15 Oil-Free
ravenavery 5/11/2008 2:38:00 AM
"Found in nature" does not necessarily mean healthy or safe! Used happily all summer. Then when cold weather made my skin more sensetive, this product began to sting when I applied. Painfully. I switched to another product for winter, and have found this again now that weather is warmer and skin is less high-maintenance -- have been using for about a week with no interesting results. Not a fan of how a speck of product dries in the dispenser after every use -- I just imagine all those specs of wasted product adding up to at least a few dollars of this expensive bottle. This product is pretty thin, so a tiny bit covers full face. I'll prob use up full bottle, but won't re-purchase.
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Treatments (Eye) -Aveda - Tourmaline Charged Eye Cream ] [DISCONTINUED]
ravenavery 5/11/2008 2:33:00 AM
I've been using consistantly for at least a year -- the fact that it's alsted so long is the only real positive. I can't tell that it's done anything to improve my fine lines, or that it provides any superior base for my undereye concealer. Will keep using, since I have no serious other needs and this was pricey, but I'll try soemthing else next time.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - Schick Intuition razor
ravenavery 5/11/2008 2:30:00 AM
I love this! Have purchased and used only this razor for the alst three+ years. I have fairly sparse (though dark) leg hair, almost no underarm hair, so I can't say how this works for more hirsute ladies. For me, the shave is close and thorough, and this is much easier to use than razor+creme. I love that I only need one product, and packaging is pretty minimal. I buy in packs of 6 refills, shave 2-3 times/week, and each refill lasts me maybe 3 weeks. Easy to travel with, and excellent for the gym. Cons: If you let the razor/creme cartridge sit in water, it'll disolve pretty quickly -- I make sure to rinse and lightly shake dry after use, and store in cover, upright (so I know it's not sitting in a puddle).
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