Powder -Neutrogena - Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation SPF 20
redheadjane 5/21/2013 10:37:00 AM
After suffering from Perioral dermatitis due to a cyclopentasiloxane and silicone allergy in liquid makeups, I'm so happy to have found this makeup. It's affordable and easy to find. Matches my skin very well and covers well. It's sheer to medium but I would not build it up too much. This makeup is helping my face heal. The ingredients are very safe and I have had no reactions to it at all. No itchiness, no irritation. For me that is a bonus. I do think it is slightly drying but my skin is a little fragile and dry right now. Using a non silicone primer has helped it go on even smoother (Korres Anti-aging primer is a nice non-silicone one). I would say that if you have very sensitive skin or need a quick powder to even out your skin for daily wear this is a excellent drugstore formulation (Which is rare to find). I do think the Maybelline mineral makeup is a better finish but it makes me a itch a bit, this one does not. the finish is matte which is good for oily skin, I'm more dry so I use a Mineral illuminating on top and it looks great, natural and my skin can breathe!!
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Foundations -Unlisted Brand - cyclopentasiloxane
redheadjane 5/21/2013 10:30:00 AM
Cyclopentasiloxane is the main reason I have a bad outbreak of Perioral Dermatitis. I had never considered that silicones were the cause of outbreaks before until I went months using pure mineral makeup with clear skin and then I decided to buy Smashbox 15 hour foundation and Tarte (Yes, the supposed Safe cosmetic Company) Amazonian clay. It took me months to figure out that this is why I was having an outbreak that would not go away no matter what. Talk about depressing. I don't care if it is listed as a "safe" ingredient, it's still a silicone and those who have problems with Silicones breaking them out, causing skin reactions, rashes etc need to steer clear of this ingredient. The scary thing is that it's in a lot of hypoallergenic face creams and a lot of the natural brands are using them for a silky feel. Even Vanicream which is for the uber sensitive skin types has it. It explains why that also caused a reaction with me. So read your labels ladies. This ingredient is fairly new to the market of cosmetics and hair care and I just want to warn other sensitive and reactive types that this could potentially be a problematic ingredient for you. I am logging my Perioral dermatitis experience on my notepad with tips and natural treatments and ingredients to avoid. This one is now on the top of my list.
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Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Sea Buckthorn Oil
redheadjane 5/16/2013 6:16:00 PM
I am currently using the Sibu brand of seabuckthorn seed oil. the fruit is actually better but it's hard to find locally. This still heals skin really well and fast. I absolutely love adding this to rose hip oil and oregano oil for PD outbreaks. It absorbs into my skin really well and brings balance to combo skin overnight. It's not really that oily for an oil. It makes a wonderful under eye moisturizer. I hate heavy creams as they tend to make me breakout and have very sensitive skin that reacts to products. This is now my nighttime moisturizer and I could not be any happier. I've used it both in a essential oil mix and by itself. It smells kind of like fresh cut bamboo. It's not the best smell but it is very tolerable. It makes my skin so soft and smooth and no zits. It heals compromised skin very quickly and is recommended for those with thin skin, Rosacea, acne, Perioral dermatitis and eczema. It definitely helps calm my skin during a PD outbreak which I am going through right now.
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Skincare - Body -Unlisted Brand - Boiron Calendula Cream
redheadjane 5/16/2013 6:02:00 PM
If you have Perioral Dermatitis, run don't walk and go and get this cream or the gel. It will save your face like nothing else!! I've used both Boiron's Calendula cream and calendula Gel. I do prefer the gel as it goes under makeup very well. I have flare ups about every 3-6 years since I was 20. This last bout was very bad as I have a compromised immune system. Both the cream and gel were life savers for me. I can actually leave the house without being embarrassed. This stuff heals amazingly well!!! If you suffer from PD. Get a non sls, paraben free cleanser, Fluoride free/SLS free toothpaste, shampoo/Cond and soaps. Then get this cream or the gel and just apply it four to five times a day and you will heal very fast. See my notepad for more help with PD. I would give this ten stars if I could.
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Treatments -Burt's Bees - Parsley Blemish Stick
redheadjane 5/14/2013 5:29:00 PM
I've been fighting what I now know is perioral dermatitis on my chin and nasal area for 6 weeks now. I've done all the things recommended..No SLS in any of my products, no petroleum products, eating yogurt, yogurt mask (they do work), using natural skincare. I was tired of looking at these two huge lumps and decided to try this since it has essential oils in it that kill bacteria and fungus. PD is thought to be triggered by candida/Fungus. I gave it a shot and wow, after six weeks this nightmare is finally getting better with just two uses of this blemish stick. I know the roller ball is unsanitary. Take out the ball and use a qtip, it's really worth it if you have PD bumps. It stings a bit, smells a lot like licorice. But I think I'm going to stock up on this for the future. PD almost always comes back. It takes years of diet changes and getting your stress levels under control but topically, this so far has not been beat by anything else I have tried.
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Liquid -Smashbox - Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Fdt.
redheadjane 5/10/2013 5:56:00 PM
I really liked this makeup at first. It's a medium but buildable coverage, the color was a deadon match for my skin. But the longer I wore it I noticed how bad my skin got. I mean really dry and cystsic nodules popping up. It got to point that I had to stop and seek help from my dermatologist. After doing a review of the ingredients we figured out it was the sunscreen components of this makeup that broke me out badly. I'm going on 6 weeks now of trying to get my face cleared up with lots of moisturization and Tazorac as a spot treatment, I also have to now use great caution with any makeup with sunscreen in it. I'm very dissapointed in this makeup. The Ingredient list is very comedegenic. Some are "5" on the come scale. Reminds me of MAC makeups. So if you breakout from MAC you may very well breakout with this too.
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BB Cream -L'Oreal - Youth Code BB Cream Illuminator
redheadjane 5/5/2013 10:03:00 PM
This is not a BB Cream. I wish all the big names would stop touting their so called BB creams as BB creams, cause they are not. If you have used a real Korean or Japanese BB cream you know what I am talking about. I bought this because I needed a Sunscreen plus moisturizer that would not break me out. I am actually using this under Mineral makeup and it works fine for that purpose. I would call the finish on this semi-natural and dewy. A little too oily even on my dehydrated face. I think as a Mineral makeup primer, it works fine. I need less minerals, So it's basically a tinted moisturizer/Sunscreen and not a BB cream. I won't be buying it again. I'll stick with Skin79 or Missha for a real BB cream. I'm giving it a 3 because it's a decent primer and it does seem to blur some flaws on my face. This is not for oily skin at all. Drier types may like it.
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Treatments -L'Oreal - Youth Code Regenerating Skincare Serum Intense Daily Treatment
redheadjane 5/5/2013 1:12:00 PM
I'm actually really surprised that I like this. After reading reviews beforehand, I saw how mixed they were and was ambivalent about buying this. But I looked at the ages and skin types of people that actually liked this serum and they fell inline with my Combo (But on the drier side), somewhat dehydrated aging skin. I do get hormonal cystic outbreaks but my derm told me that products don't typically lad to hormonal cysts, that's an internal thing. Acne from products tend to be white bumps, papules, not cysts. So I took the plunge. Armed with a $10 Extra Bucks from CVS, plus $3 off coupon. I ended up paying like $3 for this. So it was a bargain for me. This has dimethicone in it which is more suit to drier skin and dehydrated skin. If you are very oily and have acne breakouts easily then I would suggest that you stay away. I think the targeted consumer for this product is 30-55, which is the age range I fall in. I have a few fine lines and in the last year have developed two lines on my forehead which really makes me unhappy (Bangs hid wrinkles..lol). So I was really looking for something to help with the texture and softness of my skin and help keep moisture in my dehydrated skin. I'm chronically dehydrated due to medication I take, diet can only do so much so I need products that hold moisture in my skin. This one fit the bill. It's has a nice slip die the silicones, it did not break me out, it has made the texture of my skin smoother and my fine lines pretty much gone. My forehead, not so much but I think I just need extra help in that area. I do look more youthful when I regularly use this. I've gotten compliments from my BF and he never ever says anything about my skin. So I will take it that it actually works like it advertises. It doies need daily consistent use. Once you stop using products with actives in them, your skin will revert back to the way it was beforehand. There are no miracles in skincare except maybe Retin-A and Vitamin C which still take consistent use. Keeping your skin moisturized, getting good sleep (On your back), eating right and protecting your skin from environmental damage is all you can do. I think for a drugstore product with a fairly inexpensive price tag, this is a bargain serum that does work for some people. Not all products are going to work for everyone. But this works very well for my somewhat sensitive, dehydrated/Combo Hormonal skin. I really love this product and I even went and purchased the moisturizer because of how much I like this. PROS- Skin smoother due to silicone content Fresher more awake looking face Helps with minor hyper pigmentation, acne red marks are soothed. Helped heal a small zit I had overnight Looks good under makeup and replaced my primer Overall softer look to the face within a week and even more noticeable as time goes by with consistent use. Cons- A little pricey for a drugstore but coupons can be found online Might break out those that are truly acne prone from products Sensitive to silicones will want to stay away Targeted toward drier skins, may make oily skin more oily. Update: I had to stop using this due to Perioral Dermatitis outbreak. I don't hink it caused it but it did not help. I am no chucking all my Unnatural and chemical laden face products so this is going in the trash now.
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Hair Color -Garnier - Olia
redheadjane 5/5/2013 12:53:00 PM
Even though I am giving this a 4 it's more like a 3 1/2. I have been coloring my hair since I was 13. I'm now 41, so I'm no stranger to both box color and professional dyes. I typically go to Sally's and mix my own custom color. I picked this up because I wanted a more vibrant red but did not want ammonia in my hair color. I liked the oil infused concept so I thought I would give it a try. I used the Light Intense Auburn which is indeed a very Vibrant red. My hair was previously dyed with Preference which has always been my drugstore choice for dyes because the color on the box is typically the color I get. I was surprised by this dye. I do realize that some women don't like this dye for whatever reason. Dying hair is really all in the prep for me. Clarifying shampoo the day before to remove oil and deposits from hair care products is essential for getting dye to take well. 3-4 days before I dye my hair I do deep conditioning and a clarify. It really helps to get dye to take evenly when your hair has been previously dyed. This dye does have moisturizing properties to it which helped improve the condition of my hair. I think that was the biggest surprise of all. Most dyes (Except Vegetable dyes) make my hair dry and brittle. The color was vibrant, very vibrant but after about 4 washings calmed down to be a very beautiful red. After I dye my hair red, I always do a rinse with vinegar. It stinks but it helps lock in the color. After the vinegar, then I use the conditioning treatment and leave that on for about 20 minutes. Very little pink in the water. But I'm used to red dyes in general and it's not unusual for red to seep from your hair for a week especially when it comes to home dyes. I've had salon color that bled out. Red hair dye, no matter how permanent it says it is on the box is going to wash out twice as fast as other colors. The Molecules in red dye are very large and therefor do not penetrate the hair shaft deeply like a dark brown or a black .When you go red, there is maintenance involved. PROS: The Light intense Auburn-True to the color on the box, very vibrant red. I love it but it's not a color for everyone. Very moisturizing color formula (Ammonia free). This was one of the least damaging colors I've used. A week later it is still Vibrant which for reds is very good. Cons- Packaging is cute but the Bottle shape sucks. That bulbous round bottle is a pain to use, hard to hold onto. I have shoulder length hair and there was Barely enough of the dye to saturate my hair. I would say that you get far less in ounces after mixing than most hair color from drugstores. Costs typically more than most dyes. I found a coupon plus it was already $3 off at CVS so I ended up paying $9.99 for it which is now average for the higher end Drugstore dyes. Would I buy again? I'm on the fence. I love that it left my hair in good condition but as my hair gets longer I would need two of these to cover my hair and I think it's still cheaper for me to go to the beauty supply store and mix my own.
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Toners -Unlisted Brand - Dickinson's - Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner
redheadjane 4/29/2013 12:36:00 PM
I've bought countless bottles of Witch Hazel over the years. Not only as a Face astringent and makeup remover but it also calms down any kind of Skin irritation (Bug Bites, rashes, shaving bumps etc). It is a staple in my bathroom cabinet. I normally buy the el cheapo dollar store ones but I ran out and bought the Dickenson's Pore Perfecting one. I needed a replacement for my MUAC Pre/Post Peel which is essentially witch hazel. I do not find the alcohol in this overdrying. It is Natural grain alcohol rather Isopropyl or Ethanol which can be found in a lot of toners even the very expensive ones (Hello Clinique?). Acne Shaving bumps/Irritation Ingrown Hairs Incect Bites Sores, Swelling, Bruising Sooth and heal diaper rash Shrinks bags under the eyes Tightens skin (that is why it is used for hemorrhoids) Poison Ivy/Oak Chicken pox blisters You can also make this smell better by added an essential oil that is good for skin like tea Tree or lavender. I make my own toners and I use this as a base for my homemade concoctions. I cannot live without this.
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Powder -Silk Naturals - Mineral Foundation
redheadjane 4/27/2013 8:07:00 PM
Well, I'm going to have say this is a no go for me. I could not get the mix right even after scouring their forums. Every formula I tried just looked like dirt on my face. Just too ashy looking. I do like their blur and perfecting powder and will likely still use those but I think mixing your own foundation is just too much trouble for me personally. Warm Gold was suggested too me but It was just dirty looking on my face, likely too much olive toned.
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Liquid -L'Oreal - True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup
redheadjane 4/25/2013 10:59:00 PM
Well, I really liked the finish on this makeup. It does have the quality that some dept store foundations have in luminosity and pigment. I did have to touchup after about 5 hours of wear, so I would not call this an all day foundation. Unfortunately after using this for a month it clogged just about every pore on my face and I broke me out so bad, I still recovering 3 months later. I know it was the foundation because I tied using it again and within hours had two cysts form on my chin area. I don't think it was a coincidence. I could just be allergic to some of the ingredients. My skin is combo but more on the drier side on my cheeks and sides of nose and oily on forehead and chin. If you have acne prone skin or get cysts, I would avoid this foundation completely.
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Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Turmeric
redheadjane 4/18/2013 9:57:00 AM
There is a reason this is known as the "King of Herbs", It's amazing for just about every ailment that you have. I started taking this internally first using high quality curcumin. immediately I got relief from neuropathy and arthritis in my arms and legs. I am now at the point where I actually feel younger (No more aches and pains, I'm 40), have more energy, a glow to my skin, my hair is not super dry and brittle anymore. Turmeric has been used for thousands of years in traditional South Asian Medicine for everything from a pain reliever, skin disorders to even dementia and cancer. It's a quite powerful herb and it alone can kill off infections within your body and bring systemic inflammation down rather quickly. I cannot tell you how much this amazing herb has changed my life. 5 months ago I was suffering from Severe Debilitating fatigue, foggy brain, acne breakouts, unexplained skin blotches, heart palpitations, memory loss, joint and muscle pain, headaches and was gaining weight when I was barely eating 800 calories a day. I went to a Natural Medicine doctor and was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis along with Adrenal insufficiency and Chronic fatigue associated with it.. I was 40 but felt like 80. I started on a Natural thyroid hormone (Natur-throid) and Vitamin D-3 Supplements and I did improve somewhat but still suffered with extreme tiredness and skin issues. It was not until I introduced Turmeric orally did I see a dramatic difference in how I felt and looked. within days of taking 1500 MGs a day of Quality Curcumin, I felt renewed. I had so much energy and for the first time in a very long time could easily make it through the day without a nap or feeling like I was going to crash. Now, I did get some Die-off symptoms because I also started Oil of Oregano (Another amazing Herb, if you acne you need to try it). I always suspected that my main issue was a systemic Candida infection. Which are very hard to kill. It's a fungus caused by the overgrowth of bacteria in your body. Mine was likely caused by being on synthetic Antibiotics for my hormonal acne issues for extended periods of time. I basically caused more problems than the antibiotics would solve. I was a miserable wreck. Turmeric has been the key factor in my recovery. My skin still has issues from the damage done but I'm far better than I was months ago. It really is an incredible herb that can protect and heal you in the Toxic world we live in. I started using Turmeric Externally in masks. Turmeric, Greek yogurt, local honey with a bit of cinnamon is a excellent mask. I also mix Coconut oil or Olive oil and just the Turmeric and make a paste. I wear the mask for as long as I can and then use the paste with a little added liquid castile soap as a gentle scrub. My skin is remarkably better after three times of using as a mask. I was worried about yellow staining but found the yogurt as a barrier to that. Once I use a gentle soap after removing the mask the yellow is not that noticeable, just a trace that washes off next time I scrub. My skin glows, my pores look smaller, my skintone is more even and less inflamed. If you make a paste and put this on a giant pimple/Cyst overnight it will heal up super fast. those ones that like take residence on your face for a month are gone in a few days. Turmeric is now a must have for me in both my beauty care and Internal health care. I will never go without it ever!! It has changed my life!
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Other -Tom's of Maine - Peppermint plus Whitening
redheadjane 4/18/2013 9:33:00 AM
I was recently Diagnosed with Hashimotos thyroiditis and was told to eliminate all Fluoride form my diet (Water and toothpaste, Soft Drinks etc.). So Tom's was my first choice. Since switching I noticed that my teeth stay cleaner for much longer than regular fluoridated toothpaste and this one made my coffee stains disappear very quickly. It's actually pretty mild in taste and texture and I couldn't be more happier to use a good Quality natural product that I know is not poisoning me with Fluoride. A few times a Week I also post Rinse using Hydrogen Peroxide and my teeth are as white if not whiter than if I used Crest strips for three months. I have even had compliments on how white my teeth are now.
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Liquid -Kat Von D - Lock-It
redheadjane 11/29/2012 1:03:00 PM
I think I've tried every foundation out there and I have some faves but wow, wow, wow! this foundation makes my skin look flawless and it's far from that. I have acne scars, fine lines, Combo to oily skin and not only does this give me a nearly flawless face it also last much longer than any foundation I've used previously including Doublewear. I am a NC20 in the winter and NC25 in the summer. Light 48. It's says Medium to light which is about right. It does have a bit of yellow in it, as most foundations use yellow to neutralize any redness, which is something I need. It's part cream, part liquid. I just use my fingers and spread in sections. A little goes a long way as it's highly pigmented. It dries to a Matte and flat Base which is really good if you have an oily T-Zone. those with drier skin will want to moisturize well and use a primer. I don;t even need concealer with this makeup which is a huge bonus for me. The less steps I need to get ready, the better. this si as close to the perfect foundation for my skin type/Color I have ever found. It stays put (I wore it for about 10 hours and other than a little power on my nose, stayed all day)), lasts a long time and for a higher end foundation is definitely beating out the super expensive ones I have tried. I am in love and I plan to stock up!!
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