Cleansers -First Aid Beauty - Face Cleanser
violet_avalon 5/21/2013 6:27:00 PM
This is not a terrible cleanser but I can't seem to like it. I'm used to more natural cleansers, that are non-foaming and have creamy textures. I expected this to be creamy but it looks like a soufflé, it's very airy and looks very artificial. And, once you apply it, it starts foaming up like mad, so you only need to use a tiny bit. One of the things I like about it is that it's easy to apply and to remove, it doesn't stick to the skin or leave residue. It cleans well. It's a little drying for me, because my skin is combination-dry, but I imagine it would be okay for normal skin types. And lastly, the smell: UGH. I love it when things are fragrance-free but this has a smell, it's not revolting, but it's a little like stale drool or something. Sorry. The FAB repair cream, whilst being scentless, manages to smell good but this would definitely be better with a light scent. I only use it occasionally because it's not a good fit for me.
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Lip Treatments -Burt's Bees - Nourishing Lip Balm with Mango Butter
violet_avalon 3/31/2013 7:07:00 PM
Another great lip balm from Burt's Bees. I don't find it as buttery as my favourite (Pomegranate), but it's almost as good as. Very easy to spread on the lips. I expected the scent to be stronger but it's lighter than the pomegranate, it's a very nice, not overly artificial scent of mango. It tastes a little sweet but not too fruity. For the number of times I use it each day, it lasts me quite a while. You really can't go wrong with BB lip balms, from my experience.
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Masks -First Aid Beauty - Instant Oatmeal Mask
violet_avalon 3/31/2013 6:59:00 PM
I love using this mask. Even though it has no added fragrance, it smells amazingly of oatmeal, possibly oatmeal cookies. It's so delicious, it makes me want to eat it. It has a very thick consistency, cream-coloured and with some tiny bits of oatmeal (I don't find them either useful or annoying). It's not difficult to remove, which is a big plus. The only reason I won't give this 5 stars is because I don't find it extremely hydrating. It's comforting but throughout the day I don't feel that my skin is feeling softer because I used this in the morning. To be fair, I don't have very dry skin so maybe other people will notice a bigger effect. Finally, I like the fact that it doesn't include phenoxyethanol or parabens.
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Moisturizers -First Aid Beauty - Ultra Repair Cream
violet_avalon 3/31/2013 6:43:00 PM
I use this cream mostly in my face and neck. Because it can be used all over the body, I expected it to be much thicker but it's only slightly thicker than a lotion. What I really like about this moisturiser: - Light texture but moisturising effect - A little goes a long way - No fragrance but still smells good (very light smell) - Very practical to use, really nice when you need some extra hydration throughout the day What I hate about this: - Phenoxyethanol very high on the ingredients list (11th in 24 ingredients). I hate this substance. - Often makes my face burn after I apply. It only lasts a few moments but it's still unpleasant. I'm pretty sure it's related to the high percentage of Phenoxyethanol. For this reason, I'm not sure I'd recommend this for people with sensitive skin nor would I use it in recently shaved areas, as they suggest.
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Cleansers -Mario Badescu - Seaweed Cleansing Soap
violet_avalon 3/11/2013 6:29:00 PM
I was given a trial size (30ml) of this cleanser to try and overall this works really well. My skin used to be combination-dry, but now it's mostly normal-dry. This has the great advantage of not drying my skin at all (skin feels less tight than when I used my previous cleanser Weleda's almond milk, which is for dry skin!). It's a green lotion with some exfoliating dark bits - which makes it look like a mint chocolate chip ice cream, but unfortunately it doesn't smell like that. I liked the scent in the beginning, reminded me of Body Shop's Seaweed cleanser but a bit more perfume-y. However, a few weeks later, the scent is starting to annoy me and I prefer my cleansers to smell very little. Other than that, the cleanser is very gentle, even the exfoliating particles, and has kept my skin in very healthy condition, not causing any breakouts or irritation.
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Conditioner -Paul Mitchell - The Conditioner
violet_avalon 2/26/2013 1:49:00 PM
This has been a pleasant surprise! First of all, I had no idea this was a leave-in conditioner when I bought it and, as I don't have much experience with leave-in conditioners, I was afraid it would make my fine, limp hair a greasy mess. I have to be honest and say that I don't enjoy the experience of using it. I get out of the shower with clean but super tangled hair, rinse it a little and apply this. It has a pretty light blue gel consistency and the scent is not terrible but it's not great either. I apply only a little blob, mostly to the ends of my hair and then I leave it alone for a while. Afterwards, I use the tangle teezer or a comb to untangle the hair and sometimes there is white residue from the conditioner that almost makes me want to rinse it, but I have to resist. Even though I get no pleasure from this application, the truth is the next morning (I wash my hair at night) my hair is super shiny, feels lightweight and looks great and healthy. It doesn't feel super smooth and it doesn't smell amazing but it looks the part and for this I really rate this product. In an ideal world, this would have less nasty chemicals and we'd have a perfect product. I mean DMDM Hydantoin *yikes*...
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Conditioner -Unlisted Brand - Melvita - Conditioner for Tired Hair
violet_avalon 2/9/2013 2:41:00 PM
A really nice, light, natural conditioner for hair that doesn't have too many "special needs". This comes in a simple transparent bottle (easy to use), it has a lotion-consistency and smells quite strongly of geranium (at first I didn't like it because it reminded me of rosemary, but now I really enjoy it). The scent will not linger much in the hair afterwards but it smells clean and healthy. As with other natural conditioners, you will not feel its effect on your hair when it's wet, as it doesn't have silicones that make the hair instantly smooth. But it has some detangling power and after it's dry it leaves you with bouncy, shiny hair. For reference, my hair is normal, slightly oily, very fine and this helps to give moisture and life without weighing it down at all, so I'm pleased with it. I bought a 200ml bottle for around 7€ but it is now slightly more expensive (9€). It lasts quite a while for me, so I'd say it's worth the money. **** 99,79% of the total ingredients from natural origin 11,95% of the total ingredients from Organic Farming
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Shampoo -Unlisted Brand - Eubiona
violet_avalon 1/28/2013 7:16:00 PM
This is my 3rd shampoo from Eubiona and it won't be my last. Eubiona is a natural, ecologically-certified brand from Germany. There are 5 different shampoos responding to different hair concerns but the main ingredients in all of them are the same. What usually varies are the plant extracts they contain - for instance, the Repair Shampoo has Argan oil and burdock root extract. All the shampoos smell the same too, it's a light and fresh scent, of natural origin. These are my regular shampoos: very gentle but really effective. Easy to lather, which is usually a problem with natural shampoos. My hair is very fine and slightly oily and the results are shiny, light and healthy hair. And, on top of that, the guarantee that the shampoo is biodegradable in 48 hours, it's amazing to know that after that period there will be no traces of the shampoo in nature. It is also certified CO2 neutral. I manage to buy these online for around 6€ and I think that's a pretty good deal for someone looking for an all-natural yet effective shampoo. Some stats for you: 100 % of the total ingredients are from natural origin 12.42 % of the total ingredients are from organic farming 99.3 % of the plant ingredients are from organic farming And the ingredients: water hydroalcoholic of burdock root extract, burdock root extract*, coco-glucoside, lauryl glucoside, sodium coco-sulfate, pomegranate hydrolate*, natural glycerin, glycerine fatty acid ester, gentle tenside, apricot kernel extract*, orange blossom extract*, argan oil*, lecithin, wheat protein, sea salt, betaine, PCA glyceryl oleate, natural humectant sodium PCA, milk acid, alcohol, mix of essential oils, limonene, linalool, citronellol
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Treatments -First Aid Beauty - Facial Radiance Pads
violet_avalon 1/26/2013 2:11:00 PM
I've recently discovered this brand and I'm extremely impressed with the products! This was a part of a trial set with 2 other products - it does not come cheap in Europe, but I got a nice discount. These pads are not for cleansing, they are a mix of toner and exfoliant. I've been using them regularly in the mornings, as at night I only use Avene's Ystheal. The pads are extremely soaked so, like other reviewers, I cut them in half and the thinnest tissue is enough for my face and neck. The pads are extremely gentle on the skin, I've never felt any irritation, never had any redness. Afterwards I moisturise and the skin feels incredibly soft, clear and bright. I think it has helped to keep breakouts at bay, even though this has no BHA, but in conjunction with the Ystheal it probably explains why my skin has been looking so radiant. I will probably have to repurchase, hopefully with another discount :-)
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Lip Treatments -Yes To Carrots - lip butter
violet_avalon 1/26/2013 2:01:00 PM
I've got this in Sweet Fig, which is the one with SPF 15. It's a wonderful lip balm: moisturising, protecting, scented but not too strongly (much milder than Burt's Bees balms). Although the product is completely white, it does not leave a white cast and, as far as I can tell, having used it at the beach, it does protect my lips from the sun. It's also extremely natural, as it does not even give a shine to the lips, it's almost like you're wearing nothing which is a plus for a lot of people. I'm really happy with this!
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Tinted Moisturizer -E.L.F. - Tinted Moisturizer Spf 15
violet_avalon 1/26/2013 12:59:00 PM
I quite like this little tube! True, it has practically no coverage at all, but I find that it evens out my skin tone a bit and overall it gives me a glowy, healthy look. I bought this in light beige which is a perfect tone for my skin (in bourjois foundations; I use the ones ending in 2 (62, 72...). I prefer to use this after I've moisturised because I find it doesn't blend very well by itself. I often moisturise with sweet almond oil and this goes on top like a treat, but it does make me look very dewy so it might not be for everyone. I don't find the scent very strong, it's a nice chocolate orange that doesn't linger much. And it comes with an SPF which is really handy (but on thw downside prevents me from using it when I wear a stronger SPF because I don't want to mix sun filters). For this price, I think it's a nice product just for the luminosity it gives to the skin.
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Cleansers -Weleda - Almond Cleansing Lotion
violet_avalon 1/24/2013 6:23:00 PM
This is a lovely cleansing lotion! Very gentle and soothing on the skin, cleans well and it's very easy to remove, which is a big plus for me. It is fragrance free but it smells lightly of almonds. It's not stripping or irritating and my combination-dry skin loves it. I use a different cleanser to take off make-up, but this one works perfectly well if I've only used some tinted moisturiser. I've been using it for a month twice a day and I still have some left but it's only 75ml, Weleda should probably consider making bigger sizes. The packaging is not very user-friendly but I respect that the company maintains these aluminium tubes instead of plastic ones. I also value that the ingredients are natural and respect the environment. I bought mine for around 5€ here in Europe. It's a really great deal if you can get it for around this price. I plan on repurchasing.
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Lips -Burt's Bees - Tinted Lip Balm Red Dahlia
violet_avalon 1/23/2013 12:45:00 PM
I'm a huge fan of Burt's Bees lip balms but this failed to impress me. As a general lip balm, it's okay if you don't need something very moisturising, it's light and smells/tastes pleasant enough. I picked this shade because it was the darkest one but you can barely see it on my lips, except when I accidentaly over-apply and it goes out of the lipline. So for the extra money I don't think it's worth it. I also don't understand the excess packaging with that pointless cardboard tube and the plastic tube inside is so ugly. Wouldn't buy again.
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Treatments -Avene - Ystheal+ Creme
violet_avalon 1/19/2013 2:39:00 PM
This cream has completely transformed my skin, so here's my rave: I'd been suffering from mild but very persistent adult acne for a few months: I had one or two new pimples every day, sometimes small, others painful and bigger, and some persistent blackheads on the sides of my cheeks. Nothing I did made any difference until I started using this. After a couple of days, I already noticed the difference in the texture of my skin: much smoother, no bumps underneath, no clogged pores. My skin is slightly dry and at first I didn't find this moisturising enough but now my skin seems to have got used to it. When I wake up my face doesn't feel tight but there's also no excess oil produced. I've been using this for almost 2 months now and I still haven't got rid of all the pimples, but now they are restricted to a few days (probably hormonal) and they heal significantly faster overnight (when I use this). What's more, I have visible sebaceous filaments on my nose that used to get super clogged but I never had that problem anymore. My skin is luminous, smooth and I keep the rest of my routine really simple because I trust Ystheal to do the job. Now I'm only afraid of what might happen if one day I stop using this :) For around 20 euros you can't get anything better! (oh, if only it wasn't peachy coloured - it does stain my pillow-cases a lot!)
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Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Fruit & Seed Oil Blend
violet_avalon 9/4/2012 6:33:00 PM
This is the 1st rosehip oil I've tried so I cannot make comparisons with others, but I adore this one. I've used up my first bottle in less than 3 months, but I used it not only in my face but also in my upper arms where I have some scarring that I'm trying to heal. Obviously, you cannot expect scar-erasing results immediately, particularly from a non-chemical product. But it has helped marks from minor blemishes on my face disappear quickly. This comes in a glass dropper bottle, has a very orangey tone and smells divinely of rosehip, it reminds me of tea. I've kept this in a cool, dark place and it has shown no signs of alteration. What is important to know is that this oil is not obtained by the cold-pressed method like most other oils. Instead it used CO2 to extract the oils and this procedure helps to preserve its proprieties better, so it doesn't go bad as quickly as others (this makes the fact that the bottle isn't air-sealed irrelevant, from my experience). I've used it during Summer months and I didn't find it too oily for my combination-dry skin; in fact I sometimes used more than 3 drops for my face. I also find it helps if your skin is moist when you apply it. I definitely plan on buying another one of these and I probably won't be tempted to buy any cold-pressed rosehip oil because I suspect it won't be as good as this one. As for the price, it is rather expensive and I might not have bought it in the first place if I hadn't found a great promotion online.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No