Treatments -La Roche Posay - Effaclar Duo
sjbrodwall 10/2/2010 7:00:00 PM
A pharmacist recommended I try this cream when she filled my prescription for Differin. I'm so thankful, because my skin is clearer now than it has been my entire adult life. The cream seems a little heavy at first, but it absorbs well. My extremely-sensitive skin sometimes stings a bit when I apply it, but usually only if I've over-exfoliated. Although it's expensive, a little goes a long way--I've been on the same tube for a few months now. I think this might be my HG skin cream--I highly recommend giving it a try. Given the price, though, it'd be smart to see if you can score a sample before investing.
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Treatments -Neutrogena - Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Gel
sjbrodwall 3/9/2008 2:48:00 PM
Didn't appear to have any effect on my skin whatsoever, outside of a slight burning sensation. A disappointment.
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Treatments -Dermalogica - Concealing Spot Treatment
sjbrodwall 3/6/2008 12:08:00 PM
I thought there was something wrong with the product when I first opened the package, but after reading and following the directions I was extremely impressed with this spot treatment. It's one of the best concealers I've tried in that it gives excellent coverage--lots of pigment--but doesn't make me feel like I need to be wearing foundation or primer or anything else with it to make it blend. It also seems to work really well at drying up zits at the same time as it conceals them. I recommend it--it's well worth a try.
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Eyeliner -Unlisted Brand - Artemis Imports - Ember Eyes Kohl in Fez Kohl (Charcoal Black)
sjbrodwall 9/3/2007 3:11:00 PM
The real deal. It's six bucks for 20g, which will last nearly forever. You should purchase a container and applicator at the same time, though, since it comes in a little plastic bag. I have green eyes, pale skin, and light red hair, and the charcoal black is perfect for me. It's incredibly easy and fuss-free to apply, and fades beautifully into the next day. Depending on how I apply it, I can vary the intensity from a light grey to a deep, stunning black. I almost always get compliments on my makeup when I wear this. As for whether or not it's lead free, it doesn't say on the package, but you could ask Artemis before purchasing it.
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Shampoo -Nexxus - Exoil
sjbrodwall 9/3/2007 2:08:00 PM
I'm not sure there's much of a point in reviewing this product since it's discontinued, but just in case--this is the best clarifying shampoo I've ever tried. It gets out all the grease without destroying my hair. It leaves my hair shiny, soft, and full. It simply does what it claims to do. If you find a bottle, do pick it up--you won't be sorry.
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Top/Base Coats -Seche Vite - Dry Fast Top Coat
sjbrodwall 9/3/2007 2:04:00 PM
HG, no question. This is a product that does what it says it does--it dries your nail polish FAST. Like, in less than a minute. You really have to work to mess up your nails after you've used this stuff. It's shiny, and it's long-lasting. It's also true that it does thicken up quickly, so I do recommend purchasing the thinner along with it, but regardless, it's worth the price. I cannot recommend this stuff highly enough.
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Misc Beauty Tools -The Body Shop - Tea Tree Oil Facial Blotting Tissues
sjbrodwall 9/3/2007 1:58:00 PM
I have to echo the other reviews: these feel like toilet seat covers, and it takes several to do the job. They're too small and not particularly absorbent, and it doesn't seem to me that there's any tea-tree oil to speak of in them. It's a good idea for a product, but this is a poor execution.
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Masks -The Body Shop - Tree tea oil nose pore mask
sjbrodwall 9/3/2007 1:54:00 PM
Where to start? The texture of this stuff is extremely weird. It smells OK and didn't sting going on, but it was really difficult to get off my hands after I'd applied it--that should have been my first warning. It took forever to dry. When I went to remove it, I could hardly get hold of the edge to pull it off, and it HURT. I'm extremely tolerant of pain, but this was ridiculous. The parts of the mask that hadn't completely dried had to be forcefully scrubbed off my face. Adding insult to injury, the mask didn't extract anything from my pores. Such a waste! I tried it once more, just to give it a second shot, making sure that it'd dried completely everywhere. It was still extremely painful to remove, and still had no effect. Steer clear.
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Lip Treatments -Neutrogena - Instant Lip Remedy
sjbrodwall 12/12/2006 11:28:00 PM
Yes, it's like putting moisturizer on your lips--and for me, that's a good thing. It's not a balm or protectant--it actually moisturizes. Most of that waxy stuff or the stuff made of petroleum jelly just prevents moisture loss, and doesn't add any moisture back. This stuff sinks right in, leaving my lips feeling soft and hydrated. I'll sometimes use it at night followed by Neutrogena's Overnight Lip Treatment, which is more like a balm, to seal in the moisture. It may very well be my HG lip treatment.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Rodan and Fields - ESSENTIALS Gauze Pads
sjbrodwall 12/12/2006 11:06:00 PM
I tell ya, I felt like a chump for shelling out six bucks for 120 gauze pads to use for applying Rodan + Fields' million-dollar Unblemish toner. I bought them because the hype was that "these soft, lightweight, easy-to-use pads are Doctor-designed to absorb and apply just the right amount of prepare:toner to your face for optimal product usage." I always feel like cotton pads of any shape or weight waste more toner than goes on my face, though, so given that the Unblemish toner costs a million bucks, I figured I'd come out ahead in the end by using the gauze pads in order to waste less product. Well, the hype is true. I can get plenty of toner all over my face and neck using just a few drops on these gauze pads. Downsides are that they cost way too much for what they are--you can probably get the same thing at WalMart for a buck--they're just little square pieces of gauze folded into quarters, after all. Plus the packaging sucks--they're non-individually wrapped in what is basically heavy paper, when you open the package the whole lot wants to spill out, and there's no way of reclosing the package. I mean, jeez, spring for a recloseable plastic bag, will ya? Anyway, the idea of using gauze pads to apply toner is a good one, although I probably won't be buying them from Todan + Fields again.
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Styling Products -TiGi - Catwalk Curls Rock Curl Amplifier
sjbrodwall 12/12/2006 10:53:00 PM
OK, I've only used this stuff once. I want to try it again, but my first experience was so bad that I don't know that I can bring myself to do it. I used a small amount (one pump) of this glue-like substance on my bra-strap-length, wavy-curly hair after I'd shampooed. I distributed it evenly, and tried to rinse off my hands afterwards. I had to use soap! Granted, I'm not a major user of hair products other than shampoo and conditioner, but isn't it a bad sign when you have to wash your hands with soap in order to remove a styling product you've just applied? I went to bed with wet hair as I usually do and as has been recommended in these reviews. The stuff felt really sticky on my neck, and it actually left my pillowcase -stiff- (yeah, yeah, use a towel, I know. But still.). When I woke up, my waves were not even remotely defined. Some were actually straightened out, and my hair was looking frizzy, dull, and fried--not an easy feat to accomplish, as I don't have dry hair and don't heat style or chemically treat it. When I tried to brush my hair out it felt like frickin' tumbleweed. Not impressed.
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Shampoo -Kerastase - Elasto-Curl shampoo
sjbrodwall 12/12/2006 10:44:00 PM
I use this shampoo in conjunction with the Elasto-curl rinse-out conditioner, and occasionally the leave-in conditioner. It leaves my wavy to curly hair beautifully shiny--spontaneous compliment shiny--smooth and frizz-free with defined waves and ringlets. I haven't experienced any buildup whatsoever, but it is the case that my hair will look greasy at the end of the day when my body is in one of its oh-so-wonderful oilier phases. The normal-size product packaging is a real pain in the rump, with an oversized, clunky screw-on lid, but the salon-sized pump bottle is awesome. It'll set you back a major chuck of change though. All in all, I recommend it. The Elasto-curl series is the best curl-definition series I've tried, and I've tried a lot.
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Conditioner -Kerastase - Elasto-Curl rinse out conditioner
sjbrodwall 12/12/2006 10:36:00 PM
Mmmm, I love this stuff! It provides just the right amount of conditioning for my normal, wavy hair, and brings out beautiful, smooth ringlets. My routine doesn't involve anything more than shampooing with Elasto-Curl shampoo, using this conditioner, then sleeping on my hair wet, and my hair -still- has gorgeous curls and waves in the morning. Sometimes gorgeous enough that I could walk right out the door without even brushing out my hair! The only downsides are that this stuff is more expensive than gold, and the packaging--a tube with a clumsy screw-off cap--is really impractical. In any case, I highly recommend trying it. It works better and is easier to use than any other curl-enhancing product I've tried, by far.
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Cleansers -Cetaphil - Gentle Skin Cleanser
sjbrodwall 7/10/2006 2:47:00 PM
I can't see that this stuff really does much. I feel like I'd do just as well rinsing my face with water instead of using Cetaphil.
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Masks -DDF - Sulfur Therapeutic Mask [DISCONTINUED]
sjbrodwall 7/10/2006 2:14:00 PM
My skin isn't particularly oily, but it's extremely sensitive and I've got a lot of acne. This masque seems to do a great job of shortening the amount of time it takes for my pimples to go away. It also seems to leave my skin very soft, and does not irritate it in the least. I don't mind the smell, either, and I don't notice any smell after I've rinsed it off. Good stuff--it works for me.
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