Treatments -The Body Shop - Nutriganics Drops of Youth
stingrae1625 5/1/2013 11:32:00 AM
LOVE. This product has cleared my skin up, bigtime. I'm 31 years old and 35 weeks pregnant and during my second trimester, my skin freaked the #$@& out on me - dry/eczema patches, pimples, blotches...just bad. I bought this on sale to try because I love TBS in general and thought maybe this would help the eczema more than the pure argan oil I had been using. I can't say enough how much I love this stuff. I can't use it alone as a sole moisturizer, but it's a serum so it's not meant for solo duty anyway. I use this with the Nutriganics Smoothing Day Cream over it and my skin has gone from nightmarish to silky smooth and CLEAR! The transformation literally took less than a week and I don't think I've had ONE skin complaint since. I'm just about finishing up the first bottle of this and reordered another one last night along with the night cream to try out (was previously using this with the Vit E cream at night). So basically this stuff not only cleared me up, it did decrease the fine lines around my eyes, it controlled the eczema, eliminated blotches, it also moisturizes nicely (under another product, for me) and is completely invisible - no stickiness or greasiness at ALL. HG product for sure, this and the day cream. We'll see about the night cream!
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Moisturizers -The Body Shop - Nutriganics Smoothing Day Cream
stingrae1625 5/1/2013 11:04:00 AM
I'm surprised to see such negative reviews, but I know everyone is different. I am 35 weeks pregnant and my skin was going berserk before I started the Nutriganics line - dry/eczema spots, pimples, blotches, you name it. I started this and the Drops of Youth at the same time and my skin has become damn near perfect. Even without the DoY underneath, this moisturizer is enough for my finicky dry (but easily over-greased) skin and never makes me shiny. This is a HUGE feat, as I can almost never find one product to satisfy both requirements. (Used the seaweed line last summer but had to apply at least two layers to eliminate the dry spots.) I bought the trial size originally, then before that ran out, I ordered the big one...and I just ordered another trial size last night to bring to the hospital with me. Can't be without this stuff. It's literally perfect (for me, anyway). I also just reordered the DoY and the night version last night.
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Lip Gloss -Chanel - Rouge Allure Extrait De Gloss Imaginaire 56
stingrae1625 2/9/2012 2:52:00 PM
Bought this for my wedding after searching high and low for the right sheer coral color (looked at glosses, stains, and lipsticks). I actually found this by pure chance at the Chanel counter as I was passing through Macy's on my way to Sephora to look at Laura Mercier's gloss (don't remember which formula) in Meringue. Ended up with this one and I love it dearly. The black glass tube is gorgeous, the tapered doe-foot-type applicator is fantastic and the color is perfection. I don't like opaque colors, so the fact that this is sheer is great for me. It's a really nice coral color that doesn't lean red or orange like many do. It smells decent and doesn't taste bad like some glosses, although I wouldn't say that it's flavored by any means. It moisturizes VERY well and lasts about average if I had to guess (not all day). The consistency is very smooth and creamy...it's a pleasure to wear!
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Foundations -The Body Shop - All-In-One Face Base
stingrae1625 10/19/2011 1:12:00 PM
Love this stuff. I had never tried TBS makeup even though I have been using their skin care lines for years, but last spring they were having a "red bag" 50% off event, so I grabbed it at the recommendation of the SA. Actually, I grabbed two. haha. Anyway...lucky me, because I didn't get shiny once all summer while I was using this! Shade 6 is a perfect match for me, but it is their darkest shade and may not be dark enough for many people. It has enough coverage for me (I'd say light to medium) and looks completely natural, although it does cling to any really dry spots a little. it leaves a nice velvety-but-natural texture behind and absorbs oil as well as anything I've tried if not better. Even as a powder, it doesn't settle into fine lines or pores. The packaging is nice in my opinion, although i never use the sponge it came with so the bottom compartment for me is useless. The same compact has lasted me since April (so about 6 months) and it only cost $20...good deal! Plus, if you hit a sale, even better! Give it a try!
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Conditioner -Suave - Professionals Almond & Shea Butter
stingrae1625 2/10/2011 2:33:00 PM
I'm shocked that there are negative reviews for this, but I suppose everyone is different. I am absolutely in love with this stuff. I have used just about everything at one point or another, from DS brands up to Biolage and Paul Mitchell, and this is probably the best conditioner I have ever used...and it's $3.49 for the giant bottle!! SCORE! I have hair that is very long, straight, and can look very flat. This doesn't flatten or build up (and I use it every day with a sulfate free shampoo). I have been using this for nearly a year now (almost always with a sulfate free shampoo...I emphasize this because they aren't particularly clarifying) and my hair has looked plumper and shinier than ever. It's always moisturized, even in the heat of the summer. It seemed to help tame frizz some, too. It's nice and thick (although I have gotten a couple of bottles that were thinner...still worked as well) and it almost feels like you are doing a treatment to your hair every day. With hair as long as mine (mid- to lower back), it's hugely important that it looks vibrant and healthy...and it does! My best friend recommended this to me and I am so glad she did...it's a staple! HG!
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Cleansers -Yes To Carrots - Yes To Cucumbers Face Cleanser Towelettes
stingrae1625 2/10/2011 12:36:00 PM
Let me preface by saying that I am addicted to using wipes, and ONLY wipes, at night. I wear a light-medium amount of makeup (Chanel powder fdtn, waterproof eyeliner, mascara) and this takes off everything including the eyes. I have tried Korres (Pomegranate as well as Milk Proteins), Neutrogena (HATE!), Pond's, and a couple of store brands. While I absolutely LOVE the Korres ones, they are double the price for fewer wipes and the packaging is horrendous (they have the standard sticky flap, and tend to dry out even when kept in a ziploc bag). I did NOT enjoy the grease slick on my face after using Neutrogena and Pond's, and was not a big fan of the other generic ones I used (can't remember what store). These are fabulous as far as I am concerned. They work just as well as the Korres (more similar to the Pomegranate ones)...maybe better. They leave me totally clean with no need or desire to rinse, but they also don't strip my skin. I'll always need to moisturize, but these don't exacerbate that need. They do sting my eyes and cheeks a tiny bit, but that happens literally every time I use anything that exfoliates...and my normal moisturizer takes care of it immediately and it turns to a nice, cooling sensation. I personally love the smell. I liken it to putting a few cucumber slices in a glass of ocean water...I guess the Dead Sea minerals are what give it the saline smell I detect. I actually like the slight roughness of the wipe, as I feel like these have a more exfoliant property than the others I have tried. My skin is clear and glowy with these, and the price is definitely right. Add to that the relatively wonderful ingredient list and you have a winner in my book! UPDATE:: 10/18/11: still using and still loving. A definite HG product. I even bought the travel/sample size packs to put in the bathrooms at my wedding last month and they were a hit. I even saw my great aunt pull out a pack of her own at the beach to clean up her face before heading home. :) It's hard to believe that something that requires no water or "soap" can clean so well, but these do!
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Other -GoSmile - GoSmile Lemonade Smile Toothpaste
stingrae1625 3/21/2010 8:35:00 PM
Sorry to be the one to ruin the perfect buy again ratings for this but I just do NOT like it. First of all, it DOES leave an aftertaste, just not a minty one. It has a weird flavor, like if you bite the rind of a lemon (which I find particularly unpleasant compared to the fruit itself.) Also, it dries up really fast on the nozzle, so you end up either having to pick off the dried pieces, or brush your teeth with those bits on there. It doesn't "lather" up very well, with a manual or ultrasonic brush. I haven't noticed much of a difference in whitening, but I'll update if necessary. Loved the idea of this stuff, but it just isn't as pleasant as I thought it would be.
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Lotions/ Creams -Neutrogena - Deep Moisture Body Cream
stingrae1625 3/8/2010 9:40:00 PM
Wish this was in a tube, but otherwise I love it. It seals in moisture, just like the hand cream, which I tried and loved and decided to try this one as a result. The smell is very faint. The moisture lasts all day and sinks in fast with no greasy feel. Because it "seals", it does feel a little frictiony putting pants on freshly lotioned legs, but not too bad.
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Lotions/ Creams -Neutrogena - Deep Moisture Butter Cream Hand Cream
stingrae1625 3/4/2010 6:26:00 PM
I tried this on a whim because nothing seemed to be working for me lately, with the New England winter weather taking a serious toll on my skin. This is the BEST hand cream I think I've ever used. HG status for sure. I could do without the dessert scent, but it wears off pretty quickly and it beats the hell out of those cloying nasty lotion scents that seem to be ever-present in the other hand lotions on the market. It's a nice, thick texture that moisturizes unbelievably well and lasts through several soapy hand washes, although doesn't feel greasy at all. It's kind of miraculous how it does that. It sinks in fast and leaves a "sealed" feeling to your hands (probably the petroleum) but leaves no stickiness or oiliness. LOVE LOVE LOVE. My only wish is that it was slightly less expensive, although I LOVE the tiny size because it fits easily in my purse. I'll continue to repurchase and may even try the body version.
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Liquid -Giorgio Armani - Lasting Silk UV Foundation SPF20
stingrae1625 1/15/2010 10:16:00 PM
I've worn this fdtn 6 out of the last 7 days and I love it. At first, I wasn't convinced that the color was right, but it does seem to be a pretty perfect match so long as I don't wear my Chanel DP powder over it (the Chanel shade is slightly orangier and was giving my face a weird shade). I wear shade 021 Linen in Dior Nude and a combo of Sweet Almond and Golden Medium in Everyday Minerals and in this I was matched to a 5.5. I wear shade 2 in Face Fabric, for comparison. I would say that my skin is dry but will tend towards shininess pretty easily. Lasting Silk UV doesn't make me shiny at all. It covers everything up but somehow still doesn't look like you are wearing makeup. It does cling to really dry spots but does not settle into lines or pores. I think you could get away with not wearing any powder over this, but I've been wearing BE Mineral Veil over it and I'm not sure it's even a good thing...I'm waiting for my Luminous Silk Powder to arrive by mail, so once that gets here, I'll see how that tops it off. Most makeup does tend to disappear on me by the end of the day but this doesn't...it really does last! I've tried two different brushes for application and I prefer a regular fdtn brush (Sephora's Professional Fdtn Brush; the other one I used was Sephora #55 Airbrush). Scent isn't noticeable, either, which is a plus. So far, no irritation or breakouts. As of right now, I'd say this is worth the money and something I will repurchase! If I change my mind, I'll be back to let ya know!
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Treatments (Eye) -Korres - Evening Primrose Eye Cream
stingrae1625 11/26/2009 10:20:00 PM
I got a small tube of this with the Rose Regimen kit. I was a little wary based on the reviews, but I have to say that I love this cream. I am starting to get superfine little lines around my eyes, and this has basically erased them in three short weeks!! Pretty damn impressive!! I haven't had any irritation, and I'm pretty sensitive. It sinks in quickly, so it's easy to wear during the day under makeup as well as at night. I'm loving the results. I was skeptical that anything would really be effective, but so far this is doing great things! Smells like roses, but not too strong, and nice tube packaging. The full size tube is GIANT for an eye cream, and the cost is on par or lower than most others despite the way bigger size. Kudos, Korres!
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Polishes -OPI - Parlez-Vous OPI?
stingrae1625 11/1/2009 1:49:00 AM
great polish. applies a little bit tricky, but looks good once it's on and it lasted for ONE WEEK when i did it myself with start-to-finish as the top and base. i've never had a manicure that lasted for 7 full days with NO chips, even from the pros. i was totally amazed by the lasting power when i thought about how long ago i had put it on. i'd describe the color as a grayish lilac...very pretty and subtle. my mom who's 53 even had me put it on her toes, she liked it so much!
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast
stingrae1625 11/1/2009 1:45:00 AM
i held out on buying this product for a longggg time because i don't tend to like DS products, particularly not cover girl for some reason (goes back to high school and i can't even explain it!). anyway, when maybelline discontinued sky high curves i went on a search. i ended up settling with bare minerals flawless definition. i didn't like it at all at first but it got to be ok after it dried up a little. my sister came home one day with lash blast and i tried it a few weeks later. i loved it, but hated the waterproofness of the one she got. i bought it for myself in non-waterproof and i gotta say - LOVE IT. it makes me look like i have super thick fringe and it doesn't straighten out my curl (huge for me...i have very straight lashes and need to curl them and most mascaras just pull them straight again). i wish i had tried this sooner, but i'm glad i finally did and i can see why it's so popular. love it love it love it! and i LOVE the brush! it's big, but it's easy to get used to i think, and it never comes out of the tube gunky at all. Bingo, cover girl.
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Cleansers -Korres - Pomegranate Cleansing & Demake Up Wipes For Oily & Combination Skin 
stingrae1625 11/1/2009 1:36:00 AM
The wipes themselves are awesome, it's because of the packaging that I only gave it 4. I thought after first using these that they were great, but they're just wipes, and i was sure that cheaper ones would be just as good. I've since bought cheaper ones and let me tell you...you get what you pay for! These really clean but don't dry me out at ALL and i'm prone to dryness. they also don't leave any gross greasy residue like the neutrogena ones i got. after those ones, i feel like i HAVE to wash my face or i'll break out (i did use them once without washing and didn't but they just don't make me feel clean). the smell of these ones is also awesome. what i've decided is that since the packaging doesn't stay closed (i took a hint from a previous reviewer and stored them in a ziploc baggie), that i'll stash the next pack in the box that came with the neutrogena ones. i'll def be rebuying these once i use up the cheaper ones. :) love korres!!
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Gels/Soaps -The Body Shop - Brazil Nut Soap
stingrae1625 6/27/2009 9:05:00 PM
love this soap. it smells fresh and pleasant, though not necessarily like a nut. it cleans and lathers very well but doesn't dry out my skin, which gets very dry very easily. i tend to get a lot of rash-like irritation from body washes with sulfates, so i've reverted back to using this exclusively.
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