Makeup
- BeautyJunkieAmber » See my profile
- Points: 11770
- Reviews: 231
Here are all my reviews:
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I've become obsessive over the medicated tangerine flavor this fall! I feel like it's really working to prevent excess lip chapping now that the weather is getting colder and artificial indoor heating is trying to dry out my lips even more. But EOS is helping them put up a pretty decent fight so far! I like that this one doesn't have a thick, goopy feeling and that it's got zinc in it. (In the new medicated tangerine flavor.) Zinc supposedly helps with preventing cold sores, and so far, so good. The sphere shape really helps it glide on easily, and it definitely doesn't get lost in the bottom of my purse or makeup bag--I can always spot it pretty easily! To be completely honest, the only thing I'm not liking about this one is that it's difficult to locate right now because EOS can't keep up with demand. I hope that changes soon, I'd like to buy a few more!
December 8, 2010
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First—they smell SO good. If you’re not a fan of fragrance in your products, you may wish to skip these because they’re cucumber-scented. But fans of cucumber—you have hit pay dirt my friends! I don’t know what I like more though, how soft the wipes are as I glide them across my skin, or the fragrance. Tough to say, but I did just open the container to smell them again! I don’t have any redness or irritation when I use these (they’re alcohol-free), and once the moisture dries down, my skin just feels cool and soft. Since these are also oil-free, they don’t leave a grimy film behind (like the wipes I was using prior), so I’m a pretty happy camper right now. These aren’t heavy-duty makeup removers; so if you’re relying on these (and just these alone) to remove foundation, mascara, the whole nine yards, you could wind up a little disappointed. I can’t really depend on these to remove the bulk of my eye makeup on their own, unless I’ve worn a light application that day. They’ll get it started, but they won’t finish the job. Anyone who prefers to take off all of their makeup with a wipe and call it a night, these probably won’t be the pre-moistened facial towelettes for you. These work great for me at removal on those lighter-makeup days or before cleansing, and they’re super refreshing. When I’m sitting here with bare skin, feeling all gross and oily—I love using them to freshen up and soothe my face. These are kind of like “skincare wipes†to me. My skin just feels very comfortable after using them and I can’t say that about many others, as these are enriched with green tea, aloe vera, cucumber extract, and dead sea mineral salt. In the land of facial towelettes, I really think Yes To Cucumbers is on an island with only a handful of brands producing wipes with more skin-therapeutic qualities to them. If you don’t require heavy-duty makeup removal, have sensitive skin, prefer to take a more natural route with your products, or just like the idea of a gentle cucumber facial towelette… you probably should pick one of these bad boys up.
December 8, 2010
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BareEase & Cream is a bikini wax prep-kit created by a Beverly Hills anesthesiologist that contains a 4% lidocaine topical cream to help de-sensitize the area and relieve some of our pain-anticipating anxiety. BareEase requires some strategic planning since you’ll need to apply it about 30 minutes prior to your appointment, but can start numbing in as little as 15 minutes and reach it’s peak in about 45. While I know the product wasn’t created for this–I also used some prior to a threading appointment on my upper lip, where it helped curb some of the involuntary nose-twitching and tears that escape from my eyes I usually experience, which was a very welcome relief. (It might be tempting to use near the eyes, but please don’t!) You may find the tube a little small at 0.3 oz for $24.99, but for those of us who don’t go by the motto “pain is beautyâ€, it could be a price you’re willing to pay.
November 16, 2010
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Have you ever had the chance to visit a Bliss spa? It doesn’t matter if you’re at Bliss in Dallas, South Beach, or Singapore—they all have this incredible, distinct scent wafting through the air. You could walk me past their front door blindfolded and I would still know where I was, based on the scent alone. You always know you’re at Bliss because it just smells like Bliss! I’ve always wanted to capture that dewy fragrance in a candle and burn it at home, so I just about flipped out when I spied Bliss Eau de Toilette at Sephora. This signature fragrance was inspired by the unmistakable essence of their spa locations. I picked up a rollerball for $18 (a 1.7 fl. oz spray will set you back $54) and I cannot get enough. It’s more like aromatherapy to me than a perfume to be perfectly honest. While this isn’t going to wind up my signature scent anytime soon, I adore the crisp cucumber and fresh greens mixed with violet and lily to boost my mood when I’m in a funk. It’s very summer-y, unique, and super fresh. I think this is something that fans of cucumber melon body mists would enjoy—but steer clear if you aren’t fond of them. I probably wouldn’t purchase the full size, but it’s kind of nice to have a rollerball around to roll on my wrists when I just need to chill out.
November 16, 2010
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Right away, you can spot the blue-green micro-beads and see that this is a creamier texture. This formula is kaolin-clay based so it’s really helpful in pore-purification due to kaolin’s oil-absorbing benefits. The micro-beads feel pretty small and aren’t overly abrasive, and I’m pretty sure that they’re polyethylene (a standard ingredient in many physical exfoliating products with “beadsâ€) since I see it in the ingredient listing. For my particular skin’s liking, I wouldn’t be able to use this in both my morning and evening cleansing rituals because I found it to be just a little drying outside of my t-zone area after a few uses. This may actually be excellent news however for someone who is constantly struggling with oily skin. On the other hand, I would be able to use it on alternating days as a mild exfoliation treatment or as an oil-absorbing mask in my t-zone area once a week–so it definitely is a 3-way multi-purpose product. One of the things I really enjoyed when using it as a quick purifying mask was a little bit of a cooling sensation. You’ll find menthol and peppermint leaf extract in the ingredients, which I love in skincare treatments for that very reason. In my experience with trying out the Resurfacing 3-Way Cleanser, it wasn’t the best choice for a facial cleanser from the Skin Renew collection for me–my skin actually preferred The Brusher Gel-Cleanser, and your skin may be completely the opposite.
September 29, 2010
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This is a unique mineral-rich peel-off facial mask, and the first of it’s kind from the Japanese skincare line—known for their preservative-free and botanically based product formulas. The purpose of the product is to help refine the look of pores and reveal a bright and smooth complexion after peeling off. The product dispenses from a tube, and you might be shocked by it’s appearance and texture. Montmorillonite clay contains 67 beneficial minerals and contributes to it’s unique color. The “feel†of the mask in it’s liquid form is a thick and gooey glue-like texture. When applying the mask, I have to make sure I apply it in a thick, even layer. The first time I used it, I didn’t have it coated very evenly on my face which made it a little bit difficult to peel off completely. You might wish to keep this in mind with your first use in order to achieve the full “peel-off†experience. It takes about 15 minutes to dry completely on my face, and it dries down to a shiny, rubbery appearance. I have no experience with liquid latex, but for some reason the sight of my face made me think I had painted my face with it! It could take a little bit longer to dry on your skin, depending on your climate and how thick you apply your mask. It’s almost like I can see impressions of every single little hole left behind from all of my ginormous pores when I look at the mask I've peeled off! There’s a completely fascinating “eww!†factor involved with this product for sure. Results: I will say that while it does not remove all of the debris that’s clogging up my pores in one shot, there are often a few spots visible on the mask after I remove and carefully inspect it (of course!) that are indicitive of the trapped sebum and gunk that plague my complexion. I’m happy to bid that junk adieu! My skin definitely feels softer and smoother after use too. I’ve come pretty close to removing the mask in one piece by starting at my forehead, babying it around my temples, and then pulling down very carefully—and each time I use it I challenge myself with how few pieces I can remove it in, the least is two. It’s kinda fun in my own demented way! Words of caution: I’ve experienced a few ouchie-dance moments when I’ve applied it too close to my hairline and I ended up pulling some of those baby hairs while peeling it off, and let’s just say that wasn’t fun. I definitely recommend being mindful of the peach fuzz on the sides of your face too. This mask definitely adheres to the skin and causes some pulling when removing it, so I wouldn’t recommend applying it to any peeling or broken skin.
September 15, 2010
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While this formula didn't quite make it 10 whole days on my nails, it didn't start to show any signs of stress until day 3, and did not actually chip at all until day 5. When I say signs of stress, I mean wear and tear on the tips of my nails which was most likely the result of typing. When it did begin to chip, it was more like little nicks versus the huge, peeling chips that just sign the death warrant on my whole mani right then and there. I will say this formula is different, it's kind of like it's rubberized–-and remains pretty flexible which I'm sure prevents it from chipping as easily as other polishes. I used the same base coat and top coat I generally use for my at-home manicures, so I didn't do anything out-of-the-ordinary special for Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro. I would repurchase this polish in the future.
July 25, 2010
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The textures of the glosses were pretty smooth, even for the shimmering shades. There wasn’t any gritty feeling at all, which surprised me for how sparkling Pulse and Baby Pout are. I would say it’s a medium weight formula–it’s not thin, but not too thick so it’s just right. For flavor/fragrance, I detect a very slight vanilla-ish fragrance that quickly dissipates. While these aren’t considered to be long-wearing, they are better than the average gloss. What I was most impressed with was the crazy shine these throw off! They’re full of dazzling shine-inducing polymers that don’t leave the lips dry or sticky. Longer wear and a little more fragrance/flavor would have scored this gloss more stars.
July 25, 2010
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First, I think the tiered brush is fabulous. The shape allows me to grab several lashes at once and doesn’t miss the tiny ones on both the inner and outer corners. It’s a nice glossy black that doesn’t look dry, and I had zero flaking. It lengthened, thickened, curled, and defined my lashes with little effort on my part other than applying a few coats. I haven’t been using it long enough to speak to any of the treatment benefits, but my lashes do not feel brittle or dry after makeup removal. I’d love to see what the end result is after several weeks of use, as Dior has a patented ceramide formula in Extase, SR 38. A single swipe on my top lashes had me sold, but two was great, and three was perfect with no eyelash curler required. With continued use, DiorShow Extase might be well on it’s way to becoming one of my HG mascaras.
May 22, 2010
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If you think about an orchid's lifecycle itself, it's a pretty resilient plant. It takes a lot to kill an orchid and the flowers do last much longer than those of most other plants. Their genetic makeup is geared for longevity due to their unique cells. Why I'm pointing this out is because Orchids Oil does contain real orchid oil (with a few other ingredients) to improve hair health over time with consistent use, instantly add shine, and reduce frizz. Eventhough my fine hair wasn't the ideal candidate for this product (it's geared for more coarse or curly hair types), I was extremely satisfied with how lightweight it was when used on my hair wet as a styling product, or when used on my hair dry as a finishing product. I also used it as an overnight scalp treatment and it reduced scalp tightness and itching. I can't say for sure whether my hair is actually healthier because I don't have a way to quantify that claim, but it does appear healthier to the eye immediately after using. It feels soft, it reduces frizz, and adds great shine when used in moderation. Meaning--don't use a lot if you have fine, limp hair! I think the orchid oil is what makes a point of difference when compared to other smoothing and shine serums, and I'm curious to know if we'll be seeing more orchid oil used in the beauty industry to boost the longevity of the health of hair and skin! It would have earned a perfect score from me if I didn't find it a little difficult to get the product out of the bottle. I think the nozzle could be improved, or maybe it could be in a squeeze bottle to make it a little easier. But that's just me!
May 22, 2010
