Treatments (Eye) -Skyn Iceland - Icelandic Relief Eye Cream with Biospheric Complex 
spiritkc 10/23/2012 8:42:00 PM
It's overpriced but the tiny jar lasts way longer than you think. Icelandic Relief never, ever stings or burns my very sensitive eyes. I've been using it for at least 5 years and once in a while I try something different and regret it. The consistency is very light without being too liquid-y or being hard to apply near your eyes. It has just enough body that you can tap it into your skin without having to rub like crazy. I use it under makeup and it's always far easier to apply foundation near my eyes where I've used Icelandic Relief than anywhere else. In the winter, I admit to using it around my nose where I get really bad flaking. I've even used it over makeup in a pinch to correct foundation flaking with great results. It's expensive, but the packaging is stylish and the jar has a pleasant weight to it that makes me feel like I'm doing something serious and special for my skin every morning.
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Moisturizers -Ole Henriksen - Herbal Day Cream SPF 15
spiritkc 10/23/2012 8:37:00 PM
I tried this product and it had a great consistency and absorbed very easily into my skin. I'm not sure that it gave me the amount of moisture I needed, and the scent (to me) was really off-putting. I didn't finish the container, but at least it was only a small sample-sized one.
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Moisturizers -Philosophy - Miracle Worker Miraculous Anti-Aging Moisturizer
spiritkc 10/23/2012 8:32:00 PM
I really wanted to like Miracle Worker because I love most Philosphy products, but I was totally "meh" about it. First, the texture is a little weird. It's very light and whipped, but it has a kind of iridescent sheen that reminded me of old-fashioned diaper cream, and I had trouble getting over that. It's either unscented or has a weird clinical scent- I couldn't quite figure out which. I know an unscented product is good for sensitive skin and is supposed to prove that it's a "serious" cream, but the lack of a nice-ish smell made my evening moisturizing routine a little depressing. Yes, it moisturizes, but I didn't notice a big difference between Miracle Worker and something like drugstore Olay cream, so I'm going to stick with Philosophy Help Me and their washes but look elsewhere for a moisturizer.
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Skincare - Face -Philosophy - Help Me
spiritkc 10/23/2012 8:28:00 PM
I keep buying this when I run out, which says a lot. The packaging doesn't thrill me because the tube looks sort of sad and used-up after the first couple of uses, which is tragic if you like to play with your products and line them all up to admire them. I noticed that my lines and red splotches were really helped by this when I first started using it. Now I don't know if I'm really seeing any difference, but my fine lines and splotches aren't getting worse and I've been going through the sort of surprising early 30s aging that reminds you that 25 is long gone, so it has to be working.
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Other -Neutrogena - Oil-Free Sunblock Stick SPF30
spiritkc 10/23/2012 8:22:00 PM
I would buy this product again if I could find it! It never seems to be in stock, even during the very hottest part of summer in Texas. Whenever I see it in a store I buy a few because they're hard to find. There are generic versions and kids' versions that are pretty similar, but I prefer the nice citrus-y scent of the original. I use this on my ears when I'm doing high-exposure outdoor activities and keep it for ski trips so I can apply sunscreen to my face without having to get my hands or gloves messy. It's best for avoiding age spots and icky discoloration on the tops of your feet and the backs of your hand. I swipe a little on the backs of my hands every time I go out the door, and the difference in the condition of my hands and my arms is making me think that maybe I should be more careful about putting it on my arms, too! I never have to worry about washing sunscreen off my hands or leaving suncreen-y fingerprints on my car doors or purse.
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Sunscreen -Ombrelle - Lotion SPF30
spiritkc 10/23/2012 8:17:00 PM
I really like the consistency of the SPF30 in the bottle (not higher SPF in the tube) and wear it for everyday exposure. It's easy to apply and not too hard to rub in, so there's no icky white mess. What I don't like about this is that I've never seen it in the U.S. so I have to get it when I'm in Canada. Also, it's not great for outdoor activity. It can't sustain swimming at all and during running it ends up sweating right off. Supposedly the formulation gives it broader-spectrum protection than equivalent SPF in sunscreen like Neutrogena, but I'm not convinced that it's worth it in during higher-exposure activities like sports or swimming, so it's just what I wear when I get ready in the morning to prevent extra freckling and general sun damage.
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Sunscreen -Kiss My Face - Face Factor-SPF30
spiritkc 10/23/2012 8:11:00 PM
I only buy this because the L'Oreal Ombrelle SPF for face isn't available in the U.S. It's very runny and the cap tends to fill up with spillage, which is frustrating and messy. It's not hard to apply and takes less rubbing in than other similar products, but I still get the whiteish, ghost-y look if my skin is really dry when I apply it or if I don't spend 5 minutes rubbing it in with my fingertips. Also, it tends to slide off in the water from the beginning and I end up with a white line at my chinline if I wear it while running. It's healthier than chemical sunscreens, I guess, but I'll replace it as soon as I find something better.
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Scrubs -Alba Botanica - Sea Enzyme Facial Scrub
spiritkc 10/23/2012 8:08:00 PM
They've changed the packaging slightly from what the photo shows, but if you are in the Alba section of your drugstore it looks similar enough that it shouldn't be hard to find. This is the one product that my boyfriend and I share and use up all the way to the end every time. We actually buy more of it, which says a lot since most facial scrubs aren't spectacular enough to justify not getting to try something new once you run out. First, I really like the scent- it's not artificial smelling, doesn't smell like acne washes made for teenagers, isn't fruity, and doesn't linger. The texture is a typical fine-grained scrub. It's not coarse and it's not too runny so you don't lose product in the shower the way you might with other face washes. I have enlarged pores and get occasional cystic acne and blackheads. I also have fair skin that gets a lot of freckles and red splotches. I think it's helped even my skin tone out a lot and really kept my adult acne in check. This is the only scrub I've tried that gets nasty mineral-based sunscreen off completely without totally removing all my skin. I use it daily in the summer but every other day in the winter. My boyfriend has enlarged pores, is very acne-prone, and can get very oily by the end of the day. This is the only over-the-counter product that has calmed his skin and not led to future breakouts from overdrying and clogged pores. And he actually likes it enough to use it consistently, which really helps.
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Eyeliner -Laura Mercier - Kohl Pencil in Brown Copper
spiritkc 10/23/2012 8:00:00 PM
I've gone through 9 or 10 of these pencils (using them all the way down to the nub, not losing them) and have worn Brown Copper faithfully, as my everyday eyeliner, forever. For literally years. It's really easy to apply, but I have to make sure I have a fully loaded eyeliner brush or else it picks up what I've already put on and I get gaps in coverage. Also, I noticed that some reviews have mentioned that it lacks staying power. With my last pencil, I noticed that it seems to slide off my eyes and disappear a lot faster than I remembered. I've relocated to a different climate, which might be responsible for some of that, but I'm wondering if the product formula was changed and affected its staying power? I can't wear eyeliner on my waterline, so it's my upper lashline where I see it smearing away. Usually by the end of the day I have very little color left. I still love the consistency for application and the deep brown color looks great for fair skin that can't handle a harsher true black.
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Moisturizers -BeneFit Cosmetics - b right total moisture facial cream
spiritkc 10/23/2012 7:55:00 PM
I first received a sample of this with one of those big Sephora sample gift packs where you get 6 or 7 moisturizers or skin care products to try. I flirt with other moisturizers and creams and always regret it and come back to Total Moisture. Total Moisture is light and goes on easily. It's not a thick cream but it's not runny or easy to spill, either. It's very moisturizing without being heavy or hard to rub in, and it has light scent that doesn't scream 'flowers! unicorns! girl experience!' but is still enough to make putting it on feel a little bit fancy and special. The texture- and honestly, the results- reminds me of Clarins Multi-Active Night Youth Recovery cream, but BeneFit Total Moisture is a lot cheaper. I don't love the package of BeneFit products or way the outside of the glass jar feels. I wish it was a little more low-key- but I know people love their fun packaging and it doesn't keep me from buying it over and over.
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Moisturizers -Bliss Labs - The youth as we know it
spiritkc 10/23/2012 7:42:00 PM
I really want to like Youth as We Know It and probably buy it every 4th or 5th time I get new moisturizer, which is representative of my love-hate relationship with this product It feels great at night when my skin is really dry after too much sun, scrubbing, wind, or cold. I don't like the scent, though, and the texture doesn't work for me. Unless I put on the exact right amount, any bit of excess ends up sort of peeling up in little chunks that flake off my skin. Sometimes I end up having to gently brush a towel across my face to get the excess off. Given the choice, I wouldn't buy this if I was looking for just one expensive moisturizer that I could consistently. I always have to have other ones to rotate for days when I just don't need so much stuff on my face.
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Primer/ Corrector -Cover Girl - Simply Ageless Corrector
spiritkc 10/23/2012 7:32:00 PM
I can only use this in the summer when my skin has a bit more moisture in it. It has a light, pleasant texture that's not too thick or pasty like some undereye concealers. When my skin is drier and in winter, though, I have a lot of trouble applying the concealer and avoiding creasing/flaking. I have to use a lot of moisturizer to ease application. Other than that, it is a great product and it has totally replaced the much more expensive Laura Mercier concealer I used to use.
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Tinted Moisturizer -NARS - Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer
spiritkc 10/23/2012 7:28:00 PM
Finland was the color that most closely matched my skin but something between Alaska and Finland probably would be better as I lose summer color. I liked the texture of this product going on far better than Stila's tinted moisturizer and Too Faced tinted moisturizer. However, on certain days regardless of whether or not I wear pore concealer or primer or sunscreen underneath, the product seems to settle in the pores of my cheeks. While it still matches the area between the pores, somehow it looks noticeable and lighter in color where my pores are. I've tried just primer to see if that helps, but the results have been inconsistent. I'm not sure if it is a problem with the consistency of the product or matching the color tones of my skin, but it is frustrating to have to watch during the day to make sure my pores aren't being inadvertently highlighted.
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