Moisturizers -Yes To Carrots - Day Cream
rossjen 3/28/2013 1:27:00 PM
I purchased this cream at the beginning of Fall to help my skin cope with the constant humidity changes of going between cold outdoors and indoor heating. My usually oily skin was getting flaky, red, and constantly feeling tight, and my usual moisturizing with oils was just not cutting it. What threw me the first time I used it was the size of the jar: It looks deceptively small when you pull it out of the box, but there is quite a bit of product in it. This is a white cream that looks pretty thick, but it does not feel heavy going on the skin. About a pea size is all I need. There is salicylic acid listed in the ingredients, but I am not sure how effective it is in terms of clearing up the occasional clogged pore or the flaky skin I've been dealing with. I don't believe it has broken me out nor caused my skin to react in any way. It has soothed my skin pretty well, and the moisturization is alright also, but I don't know if it would be rich enough for extremely dry skin types.The scent is the typical powdery scent of the other Yes to Carrots products, which is the most tolerable of the Yes to line's scents to me. I do think that this cream is a touch overpriced for what it is, so I'm unsure if I'll repurchase.
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Makeup Brushes -Ecotools - Bamboo Buffing Brush
rossjen 2/1/2013 8:41:00 PM
While browsing for stippling brushes at Ulta last month, I wound up finding and purchasing this brush instead, and have not been able to put this down ever since. I don't know very much about quality high-end makeup brushes, but to me this brush feels incredibly soft and luxurious, and the dense bristles distribute both my mineral foundation as well as bb creams very evenly and smoothly, no streaking at all. I find the size of it just right for controlling the application, and it is easy to hold and maneuver. None of the bristles have shed on it either. I only own Eco Tools brushes, and they have not disappointed me yet, and I am so happy to have found this brush to add to my collection.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -Etude - Etude House Precious Minerals Bright Fit BB cream SPF 30
rossjen 1/28/2013 2:56:00 PM
I bought samples of this in the lightest shade, 02. What mainly attracted me to this one was the promise of no parabens. I've had some very good luck with asian bb creams in the last year in terms of their texture and shades matching me pretty well. As for coverage, I'd classify this one as medium to full, I need a pea-sized amount to cover my acne and redness. It is easy to apply too much, and it does look obvious when I do, so use a light hand with this one. The finish is slightly glowy, but I don't find it particularly moisturizing. It is on the liquidy side, but it applies very well with a buffing brush, which is my preferred method of applying bb creams lately. The caveats for me were that even the lightest shade is slightly off on my skin, leaning too yellow. I can get away with it, but I am actually one of those who prefers the greyish bb creams, as they somehow adjust to my skintone better. The other issue I had with it was the lack of oil control, most noticeably on the nose and forehead areas. I don't know how this bb cream would fare in the warmer weather. I really wish this could have worked out better for me, but it falls short.
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Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Argan oil
rossjen 1/27/2013 7:45:00 PM
I am relatively late jumping on the bandwagon with the seemingly never-ending argan oil craze. I finally succumbed to trying it after seeing it in everything from shampoo to skincare. I wound up purchasing the Studio 35 Beauty brand from Walgreens, which lists only argania spinosa kernel oil, at a reasonable price of $15 for 1.7 oz. It is a very light-weight oil that doesn't feel overly greasy, so major props for that. The brand I bought has absolutely no scent. I am only reviewing it for the purposes of skincare, since no oil has ever worked on my fine hair, no matter how light-weight it claims to be. I do find it to be adequately moisturizing (although on really dry skin days, this is not enough by itself) for my body and face, and I don't think I've broken out from it at all. Am I absolutely in love? Unfortunately, no. I just find it too similar to other oils that perform pretty much the same functions (jojoba, almond, and camellia oil), and I just don't see a huge difference in the condition of my skin. I definitely wouldn't pay what some companies are asking for the same amount of this oil, which in my opinion, borders on the insane. I recommend doing research for cheaper options online and in health food stores.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Derma E - DMAE Alpha Lipoic C-Ester Serum
rossjen 12/3/2012 11:47:00 AM
I've generally had good luck with Derma E products in the past, and picked this up when I saw a really good deal on it. With the cold weather transition, my skin has been irritated, red, broken out, and generally giving me a hard time, more so than usual. The biggest thing I have been battling though is massive dehydration, which I thought could be somewhat alleviated with a serum. I would describe this more as a light, smooth-textured lotion, not really a serum consistency. It sinks in quite nicely, and it does not feel tacky on the skin. I use this once a day after cleansing my face at night. I find it gives me enough hydration alone, and I don't apply anything else on top of it. Although I have only been using it about four weeks now, I think that I am starting to see a change for the better. My skin looks more even-toned, the redness is slightly reduced, and my breakouts have not been aggravated with this. I can't wait to see if this improves down the line. I think Derma E can tend to be overlooked in the vast array of skincare products out there, but I think they have some wonderful products that won't break the bank and perform really well. I am extremely happy with this serum, and will buy it again.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -E.L.F. - Studio Tinted Moisturizer
SPF 20
rossjen 11/28/2012 11:27:00 AM
Even though I read reviews on this product and checked swatches online, I was somehow still convinced that I could make this work when I bought it. I guess I deserve it, being attracted to the sleek looking tube this is housed in, along with the cheap price. I have pretty fair skin with an olive undertone, and the porcelain shade is simply too yellow. It looks absolutely frighteningly orange when it comes out of the tube. The only positive thing about this is that it blends very nicely. I continued blending it in but it was still completely obvious that it was too yellow for me, even with a very small amount. As for being labeled "tinted moisturizer", I think the moisturization is is not even that great. It looked patchy in places (most noticeably on my forehead), so I needed another moisturizer underneath, which defeats the purpose. I think I was also sensitive to something in the product, since my cheeks began to itch through the day. I noticed a slight fresh smell (not really cucumber, more on the sweet side, like almonds) that faded pretty quickly after I applied it. This reminded me more of a primer than a moisturizer, as it only slightly evened out the redness in my skin. Sadly, this is a major dud for me.
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Lip Treatments -Nivea - A Kiss of Flavor Strawberry Tinted Lipcare SPF 4
rossjen 11/17/2012 3:44:00 PM
In comparison to the Nivea Cherry Lipbalm, this one worked out much better for me. The color is still quite bright for a lipbalm, but the berry tint is a bit easier for me to pull off, and the color doesn't wear off and leave a ring around the edge of my lips. The application is also much smoother (the balm feels very slippery and oily, not waxy at all). As for hydration, it does seem to moisturize my lips for about 3 hours before the effect wears off, which isn't bad. I wouldn't call the strawberry scent realistic, but it is quite nice, just more in a "candyish" sort of way. It's not love for me, but it is a marked improvement over the Cherry version.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Body -Unlisted Brand - Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel
rossjen 10/28/2012 10:30:00 PM
Although I don't use it all the time, this is is a nice little multi-tasker to have around for me. My history with aloe vera has not always been a positive one: Pure aloe gel with no additives, as well as aloe juice, have both caused a sunburn-like reaction on my face, but this one strangely does not, even with the additives it contains. It is nice mixed in with my face moisturizer or body lotions. More recently I've applied a quarter-sized dollop on my damp hair after shampooing, and it has been great at providing some moisture without weighing it down and controlling the static and fly-aways I'm prone to with the drier air setting in (I'm a bit lazy with using conditioner, so this is a nice alternative). Do not apply this too close to your eyes, or they will water. Effective and it's cheap to boot. Provided you are not sensitive to aloe, I think this is worth checking out.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Revlon - ColorBurst Lip Butter in Peach Parfait
rossjen 10/24/2012 6:49:00 PM
Since I don't own anything in my lipcolor arsenal remotely resembling peach, I though this was a good place for me to begin. And since I already owned one Lip Butter and loved the formula, it was an easy choice to pick this one up, especially since it looked so gorgeous in the tube. On me, this is anything but peach. It looks exactly as pictured in the arm swatch photo above, an extremely shimmery pink, and while it is not horrible, I don't like the way this looks on me. I do feel said shimmer slightly on the lips, but it doesn't bother me that much. What does irk me is that if there is even a hint of dryness on my lips, it will be enhanced tenfold with this color. So overall, I'm having a difficult time warming to this. It is being retired until Spring in my makeup drawer. I'll be sticking with Pink Truffle. Edit: I'm trying to wear this more, but it is just not working. If anything, it has been looking more patchy and dry, and the glitter has even started to irritate my lips. Ugh, sorry to say this turned out to be a massive fail on all counts.
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Fragrances -Pacifica - Mexican Cocoa Spray Perfume
rossjen 10/10/2012 11:18:00 AM
I you enjoy spicy/warm scents, then I'd say there is a good chance that you will like this one. I was fully expecting a foody and sickly-sweet chocolate scent when I spritzed this on, and was pleasantly surprised when this was not the case. It is not sugary, there is a nice warmness that dominates through, and the chocolate almost fades completely into the background. I find it really comforting and lovely, but it is difficult to describe unless you smell it yourself. What has always kept me away from most chocolate scents is the tendency for these types of scents to smell almost "dusty", but this does not happen with this perfume. So why the comparatively low rating? The lasting power of all the Pacifica sprays I have tried is all of half an hour, which is devastating to no end. I understand that natural perfumes will not have the lasting power of traditional ones with all of their stabilizers, but these fade into oblivion on me almost upon the first spritz. Maybe I'll try a layering approach, but I'm not ready to give up on this yet.
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Mascara -Maybelline - Full 'N Soft Mascara
rossjen 10/5/2012 8:29:00 PM
This is the only mascara I've purchased for a number of years now. My lashes are dark, long, and thick, so most of the time I'm only looking for a bit of length and enhancement, not volume. This mascara fits the bill on both counts. My lashes look fluttery and slightly enhanced, nothing too crazy. If you're looking for extreme volume, this is not the mascara for it. I have not had this clump on me at all, and it really does make your lashes feel soft and in no way stiff. I can build up to two light coats without any problems. It also washes off easily with my normal cleanser. The only downfall: I have had this (the non-waterproof formula) smudge on me in extremely hot weather, but that won't deter me from continuing to buy it. It is the best performing mascara for me that I can easily get at the drugstore.
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Eye Shadow -Maybelline - Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Shadow in Bad to the Bronze / on and on bronze
rossjen 9/29/2012 6:48:00 PM
Holy heck, this is gorgeous. Initially, I was apprehensive about the whole "bronze" name, thinking it would be too warm or reddish-toned, but this is a lovely neutral taupe with nice shimmer. I think it would look good on anyone. I've only tried it on its own, and it applied smoothly, did not crease on my oily eyelids, and just plain did not move. For someone like me who is not the best at applying eyeshadow, this is the perfect wash of color that I can apply quickly, add mascara and some liner, and be done. I love the glass packaging as well. These are a must-try, and if you're at all on the fence about what shade to purchase, make it this one.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Palladio - Tinted Lip Balm
rossjen 9/21/2012 4:27:00 PM
Being a lip balm junkie, I had to look into these after seeing some swatches. I've passed by the Palladio displays countless times without a second glance, and boy am I sorry I didn't find these little gems sooner. Bronzy Pink was the one that appealed to me the most. Sadly, it did not look like the online swatch once it was applied. I don't get a any pink at all from this, just very shimmery, golden bronze-nude. Very lovely color, but just not flattering on me. I'll be getting a brighter color next time. While the shade is not a hit, the formula is pretty much what I want most tinted lip balms to be: Very good color payoff, incredibly smooth application (no patchiness to be seen), extremely moisturizing, good lasting power, and a wonderful vanilla scent that makes it fun to apply. Thanks for introducing me to a drugstore gem, MUA!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Yes To Carrots - lip butter
rossjen 9/21/2012 4:09:00 PM
I bought this in berry. This is a very nice lipbalm with a fresh berry scent that fades pretty quickly. It applies smoothly and doesn't feel overly waxy or greasy, which makes it a nice base for lipstick. The moisturizing ability sticks around for a couple of hours, but might not be enough for you if your lips are very dry. For a more natural brand, this lipbalm is a nice one.
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Fragrances -Aquolina - Pink Sugar
rossjen 8/17/2012 9:41:00 PM
Whew, if you want sweet perfume, I don't think you can do better than this one. Sampled this in store, and the description of cotton candy burning slowly on a stove is spot on. There was nothing complex about this scent at all. Completely doesn't do anything with my chemistry, and is all around overbearing. At least I can finally say I tried it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No