Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Faith Hill 
rebeccacribb 11/29/2009 12:55:00 AM
I actually love this perfume! I have to be very careful with perfumes, and any scented products, because of their migraine-inducing, allergy attack-invoking qualities, so this really is a big deal for me. Previous reviewers described the notes, but the most predominant note that stays with me is magnolia. I'm a southern gal and LOVE the smell of magnolias. I will admit, to me it smells a bit like bug repellant at first, but it quickly dries down into a very soft, clean, warm scent, but not like foody perfumes. I wouldn't have purchased it based on how it smelled sprayed on a card, but something made me test it on myself while shopping and the scent is totally different on skin. This is not cloying on me, it lasts about 4-6 hours, but I don't like really strong perfumes that stay on even after a shower so this is perfect for me. Another reviewer who didn't like this scent described it as cloying like Eternity and Sand & Sable, which strangely are other scents I have found that I like and can use without side effects and are not cloying on me. So I guess perfume really is a personal experience. This is a very soft scent, so it's probably not appropriate for work if you want to feel authoritative, but my husband and family love it and it's great for evenings/weekends. I'm not big on packaging as long as it's functional and I don't care about it being a celebrity scent as long as it smells good on me, but I must admit I do love the clean lines of the bottle and the little black grosgrain bow, looks very elegant on my dresser. The gift sets that are out now for Christmas are inexpensive. I also sometimes first spray Jessica Simpson's Fancy and then Faith Hill, to add in a little bit sweeter vanilla/amber base. My husband actually asked me what I had on the first time I did this, and told me I smelled really really good, and he never asks what I'm wearing! :0) Overall, I am very pleased with this purchase!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Body -Unlisted Brand - Pears - The Original Transparent Soap
rebeccacribb 8/5/2009 1:52:00 AM
I can't believe I've never reviewed this! Pears soap is the only product I go out of my way of to make sure I have a huge stock on hand at all times, and I literally panicked a couple years ago when Walgreens stopped carrying it, until I found it in Rite-Aid. I have used Pears soap on my face and body for about 5 years. I have very sensitive skin, slight rosacea on my face, easily irritated itchy dry body skin, and this has never bothered me. I normally can't tolerate any fragrance in products, but the Pears fragrance has never given me a headache or irritated my skin or allergies, and the scent does not linger on my skin. But if you don't like herbal scents you won't like the smell of this soap. It rinses clean without leaving a film like soaps with tallow do (like Dove). It also lasts a really long time and doesn't get all mushy (like Dove). It is cheap, less than $1 per bar if you buy it in the 3-pack at Rite-Aid. The only thing that bugs me about the soap is the shape when it's brand new, it's difficult to hold until it wears down to a flat surface on both sides, but to me this is a minor inconvenience for all the positives. LOVE THIS SOAP! One note, a lot of MUAers say glycerin aggravates seborrheic dermatitis, so if glycerin bothers your skin, don't use this soap.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Elizabeth Arden - PROVOCATIVE WOMAN
rebeccacribb 8/5/2009 1:32:00 AM
I didn't purchase this. A woman I work with gave me a tester. For me this is migraine in a bottle, and smells very sharp and unpleasantly, sickeningly sweet. Unfortunately for me, the woman I work with practically takes a bath in it every single day! She doesn't smell bad, it just gives me a terrible headache and aggravates my allergies. I am going to ask her to stop wearing it to work because it's making me so sick. UGH!
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Polishes -Nicole - City-Pretty Rose
rebeccacribb 5/27/2009 11:45:00 PM
On my light skin, this is a very bright pink, which I happen to like a lot on my toes. I don't think I'd ever use this on my hands. But tonight I put 2 coats of City Pretty Rose and topped it with a coat of OPI Hawaiian Orchid, which is a very sheer purply-healthy pink that I normally use on my nails, and it looks sooooo pretty! I can't even describe the color, but it toned down the brightness of City Pretty Rose and it looks so shiny. Although I do like City Pretty Rose all buy itself with a shiny topcoat. I would definitely repurchase, and I like the shape of the bottle. I think the Nicole polishes last about the same amount of time as OPI (about 2 weeks on my toes), although they aren't quite as shiny as OPI in my opinion, but still much much better than other drugstore polishes I've tried. To me City Pretty Rose is a cool color, and definitely so when topped with Hawaiian Orchid, but I am able to wear both cool and warm colors as my skin is pretty neutral, only slightly peach/yellow. I think this color might not look right on someone who is truly golden.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Auric Blends Egyptian Goddess
rebeccacribb 5/27/2009 1:00:00 AM
HOLY GRAIL! I got this from Whole Foods so I was able to try it out while in the store, and it was pretty cheap. I think like $7.99 (it's been a while since I purchased it)? I love the roll-on perfume and it has never leaked in my purse. I didn't even realize Egyptian Goddess was a musk until I read other reviews, and now I am really surprised I like it, as most musks I have smelled are way too strong and headache-inducing. To me Egyptian Goddess is a softer scent than Aphrodesia. I have noticed both guys and girls ask me what 'soap' I use when I wear this and tell me I smell really good, so I just assumed I smelled clean or something. I don't really associate it with sexy but maybe it is more than I realized. I certainly do attract a lot more attention when I wear it! I would repurchase but I think this will last forever since you only use a very small amount and I rarely need to reapply. Love!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Auric Blends Aphrodesia
rebeccacribb 5/27/2009 12:41:00 AM
HOLY GRAIL! I got this from Whole Foods so I was able to try it out while in the store, and it was pretty cheap. I think like $7.99 (it's been a while since I purchased it)? I love the roll-on perfume and it has never leaked in my purse. Aphrodesia is my favorite of the Auric Blends scents, but I also like Egyptian Goddess and Honey Almond. No headaches and no sneezing, and lasts a long time without being too strong. I get different reactions from people though about Aphrodesia. Some say it smells like baby powder, which I don't think it smells like that, but my husband says its just plain sexy. I think it smells sweet and clean, not like candy, just clean and fresh and feminine. I never thought I'd be able to use perfume due to my allergies/migraines, but this stuff is truly wonderful. It's so nice to be able to be feminine without it making me sick!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Neutrogena - Pure & Free Baby SPF 60
rebeccacribb 5/27/2009 12:28:00 AM
AWFUL! I would give this 0 stars if I could. Methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone are two of the most sensitizing preservatives currently used in products, according to my ALLERGIST. It took me years to figure out this is what is in shampoos and conditioners that was causing my scalp to burn and itch, which literally cleared up within a week of using products without those preservatives. And now it's showing up in products targeted to babies and those with sensitive skin. I cannot even use this on my body without a rash. Shame on Neutrogena!
8 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Chanel - Allure for women
rebeccacribb 4/22/2009 11:33:00 PM
I second ninamichaela's review below. For me, this is migraine in a bottle! I can't even describe how it smells because of the pain I was in, just very sharp but somehow overwhelmingly floral at the same time. This is for the EDT version though, so I am curious if the parfum is better, because I do actually like the scent when I smell it while it's in the bottle. It's only when I spray it that it turns into something else, even if I only spray it in the room (I put some in a small spray bottle I had). The packaging is horrible. Why would you not have an EDT in a spray bottle? Like other Chanel fragrances, this will last all day and all night and possibly all week. LOL I had serious trouble getting this stuff off of me, even after a shower and a serious scrub! I do like other Chanel scents, like Coco Chanel and Chanel No. 5, so it's just this one that does me in.
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Lip Treatments -Sally Hansen - Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy Moisture Plump Lip Balm in Sweet Plum
rebeccacribb 4/5/2009 3:54:00 PM
I absolutely hated this product, and I have never returned lip products as I can usually find some way to make them work, but this one went back to CVS. The smell gave me a migraine and the taste absolutely turned my stomach. Also the packaging is terrible. It's impossible to get the cap back on without getting it all over the outside because the lipgloss doesn't retract all the way down. I often touch up lipcolor in the car and don't want to have to worry about looking at it while I'm driving to make sure I get the cap back on right. Even in the house I couldn't get the cap on without nicking the lipgloss. I agree with previous reviewers that one of the colors is the same as Clinique Black Honey, but if you compare the oz. and price, Clinique's is not that much more and fragrance/taste free!
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Moisturizers -Weleda - Almond Soothing Facial Lotion
rebeccacribb 3/24/2009 4:56:00 PM
I looked for a long time to find this product before finally locating it in Walgreens. I must say I am really disappointed that a product marketed for sensitive skin contains alcohol and fragrance (plum oil), and it turned my face angry red and blotchy/scaly after using about a week. I am using it up on my feet because I don't feel like taking it back and having to explain why it didn't work since so many people seem to have good results with this. I think $20 an ounce is a bit expensive for a plain moisturizer with no actives, but I guess it's comparable to department store pricing for moisturizers. I don't like the metal tube because it cracked and product is oozing out the side, and I don't know that metal is more environmentally friendly than recyclable plastic. I can't use any of Weleda's other facial products because they contain ingredients like linalool, geraniol, limonene, and fragrance from essential oils, which irritate my skin. I so wanted to like the Weleda line because it appeals to my want-to-be natural/earthy/simple sensibility, but I've accepted that natural products are usually not good for my sensitive, dermatitis-prone skin. Normally I would give a product at least a 3 if the reason it doesn't work is my finicky skin, but in my opinion, there really is no excuse to include alcohol and fragrance in a product marketed for sensitive skin when there is a ton of research supporting the irritantcy of these ingredients to sensitive skin, so I give this product a 1.
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Primer/ Corrector -Clinique - Redness Solutions Daily Protective Base
rebeccacribb 3/18/2009 11:32:00 PM
UPDATE 5/26/09: I can't use the recommended 1/4 tsp of this without looking green (it doesn't blend) and it started irritating my skin, so I'm dropping it down to a 2. I think my skin doesn't like silicones, and this contains a lot of silicones. I'm currently using Real Purity zinc oxide SS and will review after I have used it for a bit longer. Although I don't like rest of the redness solutions line, I am liking this physical sunscreen so far. One thing I am concerned about is I don't know if applying it sparingly (which I tend to do to avoid caked up green tint on my face) gives the full SPF15 protection. The green tint does a great job of cancelling out redness and blotchiness and makes my face just a bit pale, which I don't necessarily think is a bad thing. It's probably the color my skin would be without rosacea/irritation and is how it looked when I was younger with less sun damage. It makes me appear a little shiny but powder alleviates that easily. I haven't used this in summer yet to see if it does protect from the sun (the freckles don't lie!). But it doesn't irritate my skin and and works well under makeup, so 4 stars for now.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Weleda - Almond Face Cream
rebeccacribb 3/18/2009 11:04:00 PM
I looked for a long time to find this product before finally locating it in Walgreens. I must say I am really disappointed that a product marketed for sensitive skin contains alcohol and fragrance, and it turned my face angry red and blotchy/scaly after using about a week. I am using it up on my feet because I don't feel like taking it back and having to explain why it didn't work since so many people seem to have good results with this. I think $20 an ounce is a bit expensive for a plain moisturizer with no actives, but I guess it's comparable to department store pricing for moisturizers. I don't like the metal tube because it cracked and product is oozing out the side, and I don't know that metal is more environmentally friendly than recyclable plastic. I can't use any of Weleda's other facial products because they contain ingredients like linalool, geraniol, limonene, and fragrance from essential oils, which irritate my skin. I so wanted to like the Weleda line because it appeals to my want-to-be natural/earthy/simple sensibility, but I've accepted that natural products are usually not good for my sensitive, dermatitis-prone skin. Normally I would give a product at least a 3 if the reason it doesn't work is my finicky skin, but in my opinion, there really is no excuse to include alcohol and fragrance in a product marketed for sensitive skin when there is a ton of research supporting the irritantcy of these ingredients to sensitive skin, so I give this product a 1.
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Moisturizers -Cerave - Moisturizing Lotion
rebeccacribb 3/18/2009 9:53:00 PM
Thanks to all you MUAers for reviewing this! I tried Cetaphil and hated it. I also tried the CeraVe cream before and thought it was too greasy, but I never thought to try the lotion. I have been searching for a light everyday facial moisturizer that doesn't sting, irritate, or cause acne or me to feel like my face is 'smothered', and I think my search ends here! I have been reading a lot about the role that barrier dysfunction plays in dry skin, adult acne, rosacea, dermatitis, eczema - all conditions that I have. And ceramides are recommended for all conditions for barrier repair. This is fragrance-free (without that weird chemical smell) and non-greasy, my skin just soaks it up. I can even put several layers of it on without that greasy feeling or it balling up. The texture reminds me a lot of Complex 15 but that began stinging my skin and made me break out. The only thing I don't like is the parabens, but I'm so tired of looking for a non-irritating facial moisturizer that I'll let it go for this. Oh, and where else will you find a good facial moisturizer for less than $1 an ounce? This seems to be helping my dry, chapped hands as well. I really like the pump too. I guess this may be a 'holy grail' product for me!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Almay - TLC Truly Lasting Color
rebeccacribb 3/18/2009 9:36:00 PM
I love this foundation! I just realized today that I have been wearing it for the past 2 months, which is a record for me to stick with a foundation. I have it in Buff which is the color I wear in Revlon foundations. It's enough yellow to counteract the redness in my skin but it blends in really well. When I first put it on, I thought the coverage was too sheer because I couldn't tell I had it on, but then I realized it looked like my skin only better, and it lasts all day! It reminds me of what Clinique calls 'natural' finish, not glowy but not matte, just looks like what healthy moist skin should look like. If I want a bit more glow, I mix in a small amount of Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse in Porcelain Ivory. It is a very thick foundation so you only need a small amount. I dot it on my face then use a slightly damp sponge to stipple/pat it in. My face can't tolerate too much rubbing so this method really works for me and avoids that 'caked on' look. I find that it is buildable but I don't usually need that. I love the pump, it really keeps the product fresh, not messy, and I can pump out the perfect amount. Oh, and I like that this is fragrance-free! It's a little expensive for a drugstore foundation, but I just wait for the drugstore sales, then it's a good value. EDIT: One note, if you are fair, don't rely on this for sun protection even thought it says SPF15, although I like that it is physical sunblock only. I can't imagine anyone using the amount you would need to apply it as a sunscreen for SPF15 protection (generally 1/4 tsp I think?), it would be too thick and cakey. I wore it last weekend and was outside about 6 hours on a cloudy/drizzling rain day, didn't wear sunscreen because I forgot to pack it, and I got a pretty bad burn on my nose and cheeks.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Maybelline - Dream Liquid Mousse
rebeccacribb 3/18/2009 9:19:00 PM
Well, I really don't like this as a full-face foundation. I have dry, sensitive skin and it accentuates every dry spot and flake on my face (I know, I should exfoliate more but my skin just doesn't tolerate it). But what I don't actually like even more is that it stings a little and makes my face feel like it's 'sweating'. I'm starting to think my skin doesn't like cyclopentasiloxane. I also don't like the color selection. I bought the lightest shade, which is actually a bit too light for my whole face, but the next shade is too dark. Even so, I have found a use for it. I mix a small drop in with my Almay TLC in Buff and it brightens my face, just gives a hint of glow, without irritation. For that I give 3 stars. But I will not repurchase.
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