Eye Shadow -Revlon - Illuminance Creme Shadow
ritzvin 7/11/2007 12:02:00 PM
I was happy when a drugstore brand finally made a cream eyeshadow. I can't wear powder shadows, as some of the powder tends to migrate into my eyes during the day, and really irritates my eyes when I'm wearing contacts - I don't have this problem with the cream eyeshadows. The colors are nice...each compact comes with a selection of a few subtle colors for the full lid, and 1-2 darker accent colors. They apply well with synthetic brushes (the type of fibers in concealer brushes). I have this in 'pink petals' and 'twilight'.
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Cleansers -St. Ives - Make-up Remover & Facial Cleanser with soothing chamomile
ritzvin 12/17/2004 12:49:00 PM
I bought this for $2-something at Target (at least now it's called "St. Ives Makeup Remover & Cleanser..w/ soothing chamomile). I was scared it would be like cold cream since the 2nd ingredient was mineral oil, but since the rest of the ingredient list looked normal and it said to rinse off (instead of tissue off), I decided to try it. I'm glad I did. It's a nice thick gentle non-lathering cream cleanser. I hate the usual watery types, and foaming cleansers are too drying. This stuff worked perfectly. It seemed to clean really well. It rinsed off easily and completely. I didn't feel the need to go over my skin with rosewater & glycerin either - it didn't need any extra moisturizer. My skin felt both clean and residue free, and soft and undry. Neither tight nor oily. It removes light-medium makeup; but those with medium-heavy makeup will still need to use a makeup remover or wash twice or follow with toner(I've found this to be the case with all cleansers though, including industrial-strength foaming ones, so I don't consider it a fault of this cleanser). I've been using this cleanser for several months now (and I don't normally rebuy products). It's my HG cleanser by far. No other cream cleanser has worked anywhere near as well as this one (and all of those were more expensive too). I also have acne prone skin, and my skin is now clear (combination of not needing moisturizer due to this cleanser, and my non-drying Rx topical antibiotic - klaron lotion). The packaging is nice too. It comes in a flip top squeeze tube, and is the perfect size to wield - not too big, not too small). It is also really cheap at under $3/tube. I can only find it at Target (none of the drugstores or supermarkets around me carry it).
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Concealers -Exuviance - coverblend multifunction concealer
ritzvin 10/15/2004 1:23:00 PM
When I need extra coverage I use this as foundation (and dab a bit extra onto really dark spots that need a bit more coverage). It looks a lot better than their foundation (which dries to a tacky finish and clings to setting powder like nothing else). It lasts through the day better than a lot of other foundations I've tried (though not all), and looks more natural than other high coverage foundations I've tried (such as coverblend foundation, illuminaire exra coverage, estee lauder extra coverage) though not as natural as some lower coverage foundations.
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Gels/Soaps -Dr. Bronner's - dr bronners assorted scented castille soaps
ritzvin 8/9/2004 3:17:00 PM
I love the smells of these. It's a great product for those that have become leary of all the chemicals and preservatives in drugstore products. This is the cheapest, widely available cleanser that doesn't contain parabens or anything else that has been linked with health problems or skin irritation. The main shortcoming is that they're drying on their own, but they work great if you add a lot of olive oil to them...then you get a thicker formula with a moisturizing lather. My skin feels great and doesn't need a moisturizer afterward this way. I only gave it a 4 bc of the need to alter it..it's WAY too drying for me otherwise. UPDATE: I can't use castile soap (any brands) on my face as they seem to clog my pores (I get hard clogs in my pores from them). I don't bother to add the oil anymore, as they don't seem to dry my skin out..maybe the lavender and almond formulas I've been using are more moisturizing than the peppermint. They also make decent hair shampoo, as long as you follow with a vinegar rinse.
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Gels/Soaps -Dr. Bronner's - Peppermint Castille Soap
ritzvin 8/9/2004 2:58:00 PM
yum. I love the refreshing scent and feel of this stuff. It's too drying on it's own, so I mix it about 2 parts Bronners w/ 1 part olive or grapeseed oil (olive for hand/body soap, grapeseed for face). After the addition of oil, it makes a nice moisturizing cleanser (without all the potentially harmful ingredients and preservatives in drugstore brands). My skin feels great afterward, and doesn't need moisturizer. update: I found I can't use castile soap (any brand) on my face or else I get hard clogs in my pores. This stuff does make yummy body wash though.
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Cleansers -St. Ives - Make-Up Removing Cream Cleanser
ritzvin 6/12/2004 10:53:00 PM
I bought this for $2-something at Target. I was scared it would be like cold cream since the 2nd ingredient was mineral oil, but since the rest of the ingredient list looked normal and it said to rinse off (instead of tissue off), I decided to try it. I'm glad I did. It's a nice thick gentle non-lathering cream cleanser. I hate the usual watery types, and I needed a break from "micro-beads" on my allergy dried skin (from rubbing my itchy, watery eyes and nose). This stuff worked perfectly. It seemed to clean really well. It rinsed off easily and completely. I didn't feel the need to go over my skin with my Nivea moisturizing toner either. My skin felt both clean and residue free, and soft and undry. I haven't tried it without removing some of my makeup first. It seemed like it would remove makeup though - and I will try it tomorrow. (I did try putting some lipstick on my hand, and put some of this cleanser, diluted with water on a cotton pad - it removed the lipstick in one quick swipe).
Since using salicylic acid/microbead cleansers weren't doing the job of keeping the acne at bay all month long, I've since moved on to a salicylic acid lotion regimen. I'm planning to use this as my daily cleanser instead of my old Olay renewal, since it's gentler. UPDATE: This is still my HG cleanser. I love this stuff.
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Masks -Mudd - Original Masque
ritzvin 6/7/2004 9:07:00 PM
gaaah..I don't know what is in this that does this, but somehow vapours or something from it rise up to my eyes while applying it, and makes them bloodshot and teary. It only burns my skin if I apply it to skin that is dry in the first place, so my skin is normally fine ith it. The burning of my eyes is too much for me though. The clay seems to have good drawing power, so I am continuing to use it until it is used up, but I will definately not be rebuying it. Like I said, I have yet to figure out what ingredient could possibly be doing this.
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Pressed Powders -Clean & Clear - Invisible Shine Control Powder [DISCONTINUED]
ritzvin 5/16/2004 2:48:00 PM
WAY too much blue tint in this. made me skin blue-ish white. people thought I was on my way to a vampire larp ;-(
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Sunscreen -Neutrogena - Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 30
ritzvin 5/14/2004 11:33:00 AM
I've never actually used this product. When I saw it was so highly rated, I considered buying it. Then I checked it out further, and learned that it has no UVA stabilizer. (http://www.geocities.com/sunscreen_review/eng.html is a good place to check before buying a sunscreen..the site gives information about the different active ingredients needed in a sunblock). Since I want a higher spf mainly for the days when I'll be out in the sun for many hours (like fairs in the summer, renaissance festivals, etc), it's important that it will last more than 2 or so hours. Since I wear makeup, reapplication while I'm out is not feasible. I will NOT be buying this. UPDATE: to clarify what I said above -> this contains Parsol, which protects against UVA, but doesn't contain any of the ingredients needed to stabilize the Parsol and keep it from degrading in the sun.
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Sunscreen -Neutrogena - Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 30
ritzvin 5/14/2004 11:32:00 AM
I've never actually used this product. When I saw it was so highly rated, I considered buying it. Then I checked it out further, and learned that it has no UVA stabilizer. (http://www.geocities.com/sunscreen_review/eng.html is a good place to check before buying a sunscreen..the site gives information about the different active ingredients needed in a sunblock). Since I want a higher spf mainly for the days when I'll be out in the sun for many hours (like fairs in the summer, renaissance festivals, etc), it's important that it will last more than 2 or so hours. Since I wear makeup, reapplication while I'm out is not feasible. I will NOT be buying this. UPDATE: to clarify what I said above -> this contains Parsol, which protects against UVA, but doesn't contain any of the ingredients needed to stabilize the Parsol and keep it from degrading in the sun.
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Cleansers -Clearasil - Total Control Deep Pore Cream Cleanser
ritzvin 3/18/2004 11:36:00 AM
This is the facial wash I keep going back to when I try other things. It's the only locally available, reasonably priced cleanser to combine everything I'm looking for in a cleanser: it's a lotion type cleanser (easy to rinse off, no foam on hairline) with fairly gentle scrubby particles for exfoliation (which my skin seems to need). It also has a small amount of salicylic acid, and doesn't dry out my skin. Every other exfoliating wash I have tried has either not washed very well and not removed makeup and/or has been difficult to rinse off. Skin feels nice and refreshed afterward.
Update:The formula is nearly identical to Olay's daily renewal cleanser, which is cheaper and menthol-free =) (the salicylic acid content may differ, since Olay lists it in the ingredient list instead of separately as an active ingredient -- it probably has at least 1% though considering how high up it is in the ingredient list). I've been using this instead lately and like it. I didn't change my rating of the the clearasil cleanser though, since I still do like it.
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Liquid -Maybelline - Wonder Finish
ritzvin 3/9/2004 10:58:00 AM
Surprisingly high coverage, yet more natural looking than many of my other foundations. It was extremely quick to apply. I've never been able to smooth a foundation on as quickly as I got this one on. As I applied it I could see the imperfections that my normal foundations don't cover disappear, and I barely had to use any concealer at all over it. The finish is nice. It's a bit more pinkish than I would like, which is why I only gave 4 lippies. It also didn't break me out. UPDATE: I stopped using it. The color was too wrong for me, even though it was a nice foundation. I would definately recommend those that can find a good color match give it a try, but alas Maybelline doesn't make too many products for us fair-skinned gals. It didn't last quite as long as I would have liked either, but nothing really ever makes it through the complete workday.
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Polishes -Sally Hansen - Chrome Nail makeup
ritzvin 1/21/2004 11:02:00 PM
I have this polish in pure crystal, and I love it. It takes 2 coats (not 3 like some of my othe rpolishes); and lasts a bit longer than my cheaper nail polishes.
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Polishes -Sally Hansen - Nail Prisms
ritzvin 1/21/2004 10:58:00 PM
I have it in turquoise-opal. It looks awesome. The color changes with angle. This polish also lasted longer than normal (it lasted almost a work week when my polish is normally chipped by day 2). I also only needed to apply 2 coats (some of my other favorite polishes require 3 coats to look consistent).
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Shampoo -Garnier - Garnier Fructis Shampoo/ Conditioner for Normal Hair
ritzvin 1/15/2004 11:22:00 AM
This was the best 2-in-1 I had ever used. No other 2-in-1 detangled as well as this one, or left my hair as shiny. Unfortunately, high silicone products like this one dry out my hair now that I wash it only every 3rd day (my hair is tailbone length), and I've stopped using it. I definately recommend that those looking for a 2-in-1 and who wash their hair every day try out this product. Their fine hair conditioner makes a good accompanying leave-in as well.
UPDATE:I've found that following a non-silicone children's 2-in-1 with a dilute vinegar rinse does an excellent job af detangling my hair..better than this stuff did back when I used to use it (and the good results of the vinegar lasts for days), so I would no longer recommend this to even the daily hair washers.
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