Blush -Everyday Minerals - Launch Party
sarah2202 5/4/2012 6:12:00 PM
I got the sample size for free with my order. As a pasty white girl this blush on its own is not for me. I can mix it in with my Waffle Cone to use as blush/bronzer, with about a 2:1 ratio WC to LP. It's nice as eye shadow. I mixed it in with some moisturizer to give my skin a glow and it is fantastic for that purpose! It looks like I have a nice tan. It will take a lot of product to add significant color but it's really nice.
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Blush -Alima - Satin Matte Blush in Apple Blossom
sarah2202 4/19/2012 2:24:00 AM
I got a generous sample of this with my last order. From the baggy it didn't look like it'd show up on my skin, even though I am PPP. When I tried it on, I was pleasantly surprised! What a natural flush it gives. It's not chalky at all and is really easy to blend. I'm going to add this to my cart in my next order.
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Powder -Alima - Satin Matte Mineral Foundation
sarah2202 4/19/2012 2:22:00 AM
It gives me good coverage for my acne scars. This doesn't emphasize dry spots as much as other mineral foundations have done for me. Fantastic finish! I don't look overly matte. It's very natural and flawless. I'd been using Everyday Minerals for the past 6 years but decided to give Alima a try. I'll never go back to EDM!
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Bonne Bell - Barq's Root Beer Lip Smacker
sarah2202 1/20/2012 2:50:00 AM
Smells amazing! So authentic to Barq's root beer. Doesn't impart much color, which is perfect for me. I bought the 8-pack of cola Smackers, solely for the Coca-Cola one. I thought 8 would last me for so long, but I can't help myself from opening a new one every week. Out of Coca-Cola, Sprite, and Barq's, Barq's is my favorite so far.
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Skincare - Body -Johnson & Johnson - Head to Toe baby wash
sarah2202 6/3/2011 2:25:00 AM
This is a great, versatile product that I will always have on hand. For me, its' most important function is as a feminine cleanser. Pros: -I do not think this is a moisturizing product (as someone mentioned), but it is not stripping. -Dirt cheap -Can be used as face/body wash and a brush cleaner. The formula is the same as Purpose. -Pleasant smell, not overpowering, very clean -No residue No cons. I usually buy a large bottle and decant into smaller ones as needed. I paid $3 for a 444 mL bottle.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Neutrogena - Cleansing Bar - Acne-Prone Skin Formula
sarah2202 5/21/2011 7:07:00 PM
Dries my skin out and therefore causes more acne. Doesn't make my skin feel clean. Very basic, nothing special. If you are dealing with acne and want an effective cleanser, try a bar of sulfur soap. Sulfur soap is the one cleanser that my skin agrees with and actually calms down my skin. The Neutrogena bar is cheap and available everywhere but for me it's not worth buying again.
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Lip Gloss -The Body Shop - born lippy - strawberry
sarah2202 5/17/2011 1:41:00 AM
Smells nice for 5 minutes, then it becomes nauseating to me. Doesn't moisturize my lips well. I got this as a gift with purchase and am now using this as foot cream.
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Shampoo -Sebamed - Anti-Hairloss Shampoo
sarah2202 5/11/2011 8:28:00 PM
This review is for the Anti-Hair Loss version. It's a clear white gel with a minty scent. $20 CDN for a 200 mL bottle. Let me start by saying that my skin and scalp are VERY sensitive. I find most shampoos too harsh. Even baby shampoo dries out my scalp and hair. I used a small amount of this shampoo every day for about a week and I liked it. I liked the way my hair felt afterwards, clean but not stripped. My hair loss seemed to slow down immediately. There were lots of baby hairs sprouting along my hair line, which is exactly what I wanted. I was in love! However, after about 5 days I noticed at least 10 huge pimples on my scalp, particularly along my hairline. The bottle says that your scalp may be irritated by initial applications, so I suppose the irritation caused my pimples. I stopped using it and for the past few days have returned to my favourite shampoo ever, Selsun Blue 2-in-1. I use this about once a week without any problems. Would not buy again because of the horrible breakout it caused. PSA: For women experiencing hair loss, you should be aware that there are many possible causes including but not limited to: Folliculitis (fungal or bacterial), DHT on the scalp, seborrheic dermatitis. In my case my free testosterone was through the roof. I got this under control with the pill but I recently learned that folliculitis is another issue for me (people who have been on antibiotics for acne, like me, are particularly susceptible to this type of infection). Update: I've noticed that this seems to cause my hair to fall out at the roots. Strands will fall out that have about 2mm of white coating (like myelin), with a squiggly 1mm long piece of black hair at the end which I am assuming is the root. Normally when my hair falls out, there is just a little bit of the white coating at the end - the root is still in my head. Scary stuff..
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Treatments -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - Skin Bleaching Gel
sarah2202 5/2/2011 10:33:00 PM
I have sensitive, very fair, acne-prone skin that is currently riddled with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. I am trying to be gentle to my skin by using gentle products, as well as products that are as non-irritating as possible. I recently ordered the lactic acid peel and this skin bleaching gel. I've been using the lactic once a week for a month. On the other 6 nights I use sulfur soap followed by Dormer 211 lotion and tamanu oil. I told myself that I wouldn't use any other actives during the week. BUT I couldn't help myself and added this bleaching gel to my routine as well. I couldn't resist the promise that it would help PREVENT melanin formation from new zits. The idea that I could possibly prevent the PIH in the first place was new to me and seemed too good to be true. To sort of stick with my promise to keep things simple, I only use the bleaching gel on my chin (where most of my new pimples form) and my left cheek. I figured this would give me the added bonus of seeing for myself if this miracle gel would actually work, by eliminating any confounding variable (i.e. the lactic peel). I must say, I DO see a difference! I've only been using this at night about 3X/week (directions say to apply 2X/day), but the PIH on my left cheek has reached a colour I would call pink. The PIH on my right cheek is still a shade of brown. I'm not finding that my left cheek is any different in terms of scaliness or redness as a result of the treatment. So no irritation. I've also been using this on my back. For this reason, when I make my next order I will be purchasing the full ounce. I paid $14 for 0.5 ounces of product, which I consider a fantastic price for a product that works. Previously I was considering a whitening product by Biotherm (much more $$) but I will be sticking with this product. I started out with low expectations, having been let down by other brands so many times before, but I am now very impressed =) Love love MUAC. Shipping to Toronto was a PITA ($23 for $50 order of products) but well worth it! As someone who likes to try everything out there, when I run out of this product I will be buying Skin Lighten by Derma E. Will compare the two by the end of the year.
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Burt's Bees - Orange Essence Facial Cleanser
sarah2202 4/22/2011 12:30:00 AM
I have the sample size (0.5 oz) and I like this. It has an authentic, pleasant orange scent. It is a thick orange gel that does not lather. For reference, I have sensitive, acne-prone skin. I've had this in my cupboard for ~6 years. I was just about to throw it out because I figured it'd be rancid by now, but it seems fine to me so I'm going to use it up. I avoided using this because I used to hate non-lathering cleansers, but these days I loving oil-based cleansers. I wear mineral makeup and this is great for foundation removal. At first I expected this to remove my makeup, but require me to follow up with a gentle cleanser. It turns out this is enough on its own. Per the instructions, I rub it onto my dry face, then pat off with a hot cloth. My skin is smooth and hydrated afterwards. I started using this recently this spring and I don't even need to moisturize afterwards. I am liking this but if I were to try another Burt's cleanser, it would be the radiance one which gets better reviews here. Update: I think the few times that I did not follow this with a cleanser, I broke out. That's a dealbreaker for me so even though I will finish the small tube, I will not repurchase. A better mu remover that does not break me out is jojoba oil.
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Moisturizers -Garnier - Garnier Pure moisturiser (oil control)
sarah2202 4/19/2011 2:29:00 AM
I paid ~$10 for this on sale at Shoppers Drug Mart. I have oily skin that is dry at the same time. This does a good job of mattifying. After I apply it, my skin feels drier then it was before. It did not make me break out. The scent is a bit strong (I would prefer an unfragranced product) but it doesn't bother me. This is a so-so product. I wouldn't buy it again because I can't use it under my makeup as the box claims. My mineral makeup ends up looking cakey.
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Makeup Brushes -Everyday Minerals - New Flat Top Brush
sarah2202 4/18/2011 11:06:00 PM
I have 5 of these brushes and they are the best I have ever used. They are perfect for MMU. It allows you to get heavier coverage than the kabuki. I wash after each use. They do shed a bit sometimes (2 hairs per wash), but it's no big deal. My oldest brush is ~5 years old and I can't tell the difference between the ones I opened first and the ones I opened last year. I wash these with whatever shampoo I have on hand but I find that baby wash is the best. I recently bought an EcoTools bronzer brush which receives rave reviews here. People claim that they use it to apply MMU, but I really don't see how that is possible because it is much too fluffy. I only use it for bronzer, which is what it is meant for. EDM's flat top is much denser. I can apply blush and foundation with it, making it more versatile than the EcoTools. It is also super soft (as soft as EcoTools). I also tried the flat top from Make Up Artist's Choice and found it quite scratchy and it cost more $. So out of the 3, I would choose EDM hands down.
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Gels/Soaps -Neutrogena - Body Clear Body wash
sarah2202 4/18/2011 4:59:00 PM
This dried out my skin horribly and I broke out with more acne. This cleanser should probably be paired with a moisturizer because I have a feeling it disrupts the skin's moisture barrier. I used this in the summertime because that's when I wear more revealing tops, but I don't use moisturizer in the summer because it gets really hot and a moisturizer would be potentially pore-clogging. I did however use it in my hair and it was a fantastic shampoo. I think I have SD and this alleviated my itchiness and dandruff, as well as made my hair super soft and a little bit lighter in colour.
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Cleansers -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - Green Tea/Pomegranate Cleanser
sarah2202 4/15/2011 5:43:00 PM
I bought the 30 mL bottle to use with my peels. The scent is very mild and pleasant. It seems to be gentle and non-stripping. The little bottle is very cute and I will be re-using it once I have used up the product. Bottom line: It's a decent basic cleanser but nothing special. There are cleansers out there that would suit me better, for example ones that contain AHA/BHA or sulfur.
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Masks -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - 40% Lactic Acid Peel
sarah2202 4/15/2011 5:39:00 PM
I have used this peel once a week since April 2011. I have a lot of PIH all over my face which is what I bought this peel for. My skin used to have a very smooth texture, until I started on BCP last summer. Since then I haven't been able to get my skin to be baby smooth and soft no matter what I've used (RAM, glycolic acid toner). I had given up on the idea that a topical product could make a dramatic difference in my skin. That is, until I tried this peel. I have noticed slight improvement in my PIH but it is still too soon to expect much fading. My skin is back on its way to the condition it used to be. I have barely made a dent in the 1/2 ounce bottle. I pour some out onto a spoon and use my fingertips to apply the peel. I imagine it will last another 18 uses. The pH prep that came with the peel (.5 oz) will only last ~4 uses, but I believe you can replace this with witch hazel so I won't re-buy the pH prep. The price is amazing, especially when you consider how many treatments you get out of it. I live in Toronto and paid $24 for shipping (total order was $75 including S&H) but this was still a great deal to me. I am loving it and will continue to update. ----------- Update Nov 21.11: Still loving the lactic peel! After 1x/week usage since April, I still have about 30% of the 15mL bottle left. Amazing value. I look forward to using this every Sunday because it makes my face feel sooo clean and my pores feel decongested. I apply a thin layer with my fingers and leave it on for about 15 minutes, then neutralize with baking soda. I don't use the pH prep at all. Once I've rinsed everything off, I can scrub the loose dead skin off with my fingers - a super satisfying thing to do lol. My skin is always really smooth and I wake up with a glow the next morning. It's helping fade my PIH. <3
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No