Makeup
- GigiSD » See my profile
- Points: 438580
- Reviews: 1103
Here are all my reviews:
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I'm thrilled to see pieces on Total Beauty state that exfoliation is absolutely necessary to maintain a good complexion. Many men age more attractively than their female counterparts simply because they exfoliate daily--with a razor blade each day as they shave! It is crucial to remove the upper, dead layers of skin cells on your face (otherwise, the build-up of dead cells can result in excess oil and clogged pores, leading to blemishes and acne. Dead cells also leave skin looking patchy, dull, and rough). Exfoliation deep-cleans and can dislodge blackheads and whiteheads without damaging delicate skin. Circulation is improved, and your complexion is left looking and feel smoother, finer, and more clear. Proper exfoliation opens the way for serums, creams, and moisturizers to penetrate more deeply, intensifying their effectiveness. There are some exfoliating agents to avoid--those with crushed nut shells. These can be jagged and cause tiny tears in the skin, creating irritation, damage, and places for bacteria to hibernate, grow, and cause problems. I was asked a year ago by another beauty site to critique 3LAB's "Perfect Cleansing Scrub." I generally could not convince myself to spend $62.00 for a product which would go from my face to the drain in a short time, but I was pleased with this product. It has a fresh scent and a creamy texture. Jojoba beads are very gentle to your epidermis as they clean and polish (no worries about damage with this). Allantoin kills unwanted bacteria, and Glycerin makes this a super-gentle formula for all skin types, especially sensitive skin. Skin is left smooth and silky; don't worry about this stripping natural oils or leaving your complexion taut. Use no more than twice weekly. One thing I enjoy doing is exfoliating my hands and elbows with the product I have leftover from my face. My hands are akin to satin and I've gotten every bit of the benefits from a product. Unfortunately, 3LAB's product loses a point because of the price.
April 19, 2013
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When I was a teen into my early twenties, I would slather my face and body with baby oil and literally "fry" my skin. The dangers of the sun's powerful and brutal rays were not fully known or discussed. My sister and friends all did the same thing. Later, we used tanning beds to keep a tanned look. But my experience with tanning beds ended early; I started to read more and more about the hazards. I began to embrace my porcelain skin. Actually, for most of the year I play it up with pink and rosy blushes and lipsticks. A few months of the year, I definitely feel out of my element when bronzed goddesses pass me as we vacation at the beach or even at the mall in the summer. "Beyond pale" just doesn't seem to make a statement then, especially when I'm sporting white linen clothing. An alternative? I do enjoy Jergen's "Natural Glow" products to give me a hint of color. In lieu of or in conjunction with that, I reach for a much-loved palette: ELF's "Golden Bronzer" ($3.00!). This four-color palette is available in "Cool" and "Warm" as well, but I find "Golden" the PERFECT way to highlight my skin in a way that is not overwhelming for fair skin. One shade is more of an illuminator than anything; another is slightly pink-infused and can be used as a blush. A third hue is a pure gold, and the fourth a slightly darker bronze. What I LOVE about this quad is that I can use the products separately to contour and highlight or swirl all four colors together for a perfect, gorgeous "sun-kissed" glow I normally cannot get, even if I were in the sun. The powders have a slight sheen to them, but not to the extent that they appear garish at all. I like the size of the compact (it has a full mirror but is sleek enough to slip into a slim purse or beach bag). This is good enough to compete with high-end bronzers. But why pay a fortune when you can get this quality at such a pittance?
April 19, 2013
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Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Face Moisturizer with Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid
Neutrogena Works SO Nicely!
Neutrogena has to be pretty sure of itself to claim that its "Rapid Wrinkle Repair" products work in just a mere week--BUT THEY DO! There is a good reason for it. The Neutrogena line is replete with potent ingredients. Sustained-Action Retinol penetrates skin and does indeed minimize creases quickly while diminishing the look of age spots. A Glucose complex accelerates skin's surface activity to boost the time in which this works. Hyaluronic Acid is a wonderful ingredient to plump skin and rejuvenate its overall look. This moisturizer is great for all complexion types. It is very lightweight, absolutely non-greasy, and is absorbed into skin in a very short time. I did notice a softening of the "parentheses" around my mouth in a week, along with some blurring of annoying furrows beginning around the bottom of my neck. My skin is clarified with this, and the overall look is brighter. My husband noticed the difference and tried it himself (and he normally kicks and screams when I suggest moisturizers). The other day he said to me, to my great surprise, that we were "out" of this moisturizer and asked me to pick some more up at the drugstore. It's made an overall improvement in his skin as well. This is excellent for those troubled with both acne and blemishes, as it will handle both. Well done yet again, Neutrogena!
April 19, 2013
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Several years ago, when these shadows came in a deluxe compact with a pull-out mirror, I had a very difficult time getting anyone's attention focused on them. I was reviewing products for another beauty site and they thought that any shadow compact costing $5.00 could not possibly be worthy of a critique (so very wrong!). My friends would listen to me, smile condescendingly, and never try the shadows. Finally, I was doing calligraphy for a friend who was getting married. I had a new Urban Decay Palette "Naked" palette on my dining room table alongside a Wet and Wild compact in the same hues--beiges, bronzes, browns. My friend wanted to use neutral shadows for her wedding, and I had actually bought these for her because she forgot to shop for new makeup in her endeavor to make sure the ceremony would be perfect. I told her to take them. She thanked me and said, "I'm sure I'll be using the Urban Decay but I'll do something with the Wet and Wild." A few hours later she called me and said she preferred the Wet and Wild to Urban Decay! She liked the UD set, but she was totally amazed at how well Wet and Wild shadows complemented each other. Moreover, they are highly pigmented and texture is incredibly silky--very easy to apply and blend for a day, night, or perfect bridal look. Moreover, some of the colors are very unique and hard to replicate even with the priciest shadows. Hues with sheen are completely wearable and flattering; there are no large pieces of glitter to fall on your face and clothing when you use them. Ignore the applicator which comes with the sets and work with your own brushes for shadow perfection! I am very disappointed that Wet and Wild changed the compact. It is flimsy. They went from a very large mirror to no mirror at all. But, for such a small price, I'm done complaining. These are amazing!
April 18, 2013
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I'm completely and totally in love. With my husband, to be sure. But also with Yves St. Laurent's "TOUCHE ÉCLAT Radiant Touch." It was formulated to bring light and radiance to the skin and brighten the complexion. It is pricey, to be sure, but it is one of the things I will continue to splurge on--it works that well! This most silky product is available in a wide variety of shades. I like "Luminous Radiance" (a light shade for fair skins with pink undertones). If I'm having a problem with dark circles, I'll apply another concealer under eyes first and then this on top. The pink base makes me look more awake and refreshed. If circles are no problem, a swipe of this just enhances my complexion and leaves me appearing well-rested. I dab a bit between my eyebrows and touch it to the circles at the very top of my nose, next to my eyes. It's like adding light! Some women use it to contour the area around their lips to make them appear like they have a fuller pout. I like the gentle brush which is at the top of the tube, but never touch it to anything but newly-cleansed skin. You don't want to pick up germs and contaminate the product--especially at $40.00.
April 17, 2013
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I first discovered Benefit's "Lemon-Aid" when I was using their wonderful "Realness of Concealness" kit. I had learned in modeling school that yellow works wonders to disguise red, tiny purple veins, and discoloration in general. The texture is a bit heavier than a product like Too Faced's "Shadow Insurance" or UD's "Primer Potion," but I find it works beautifully. Your eyes appear refreshed with this and the coverage lasts for many hours. I went on to purchase "Lemon-Aid" separately, and a small container lasts a very long time.
April 17, 2013
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A friend and colleague of mine was recovering from cancer surgery and told me she uses no products with synthetic ingredients. I bought her this gloss as a little surprise gift and put it in her mailbox at school (of course, I purchased one for myself). This is quite moisturizing with Shea Butter, a multitude of oils (Sunflower, Castor, Strawberry Seed, Apricot Kernel, Black Currant, and Soybean, for starters), Beeswax, and Vitamin E. She and I both greatly enjoy the lovely shimmering colors (not overwhelming, just charming) and the hard-to-resist Peppermint scent, but we found ourselves applying constantly. If this would last longer, it would be a perfect ten!
April 17, 2013
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I completely wasted a set. I'm generally very good at precisely applying things, but either my nails are a very strange size or Avon's measurements are off. The "thumbs" were too small for mine; the polish meant for small nails were far too large. I tried to work with these, but they buckled. Far too much work; I'll go back to my nail polish bottle!
April 17, 2013
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Ah, my quest for the "ultimate" mascara continues (and will probably never end). I like the fact that you can try a small tube of this at Sephora for $10.00, and thus I purchased it recently. It is very black. Benefit claims that this is like "a sexy set of black false eyelashes . . . without the glue!" Hardly. It does a great job of tinting my lashes (though it doesn't have the same gloss as "They're Real!"). The giant, dense wand is wonderful, as it covers every lash. I just don't find that I get the same length as I do with Lancôme's "Definicils" or the wonderful volume I do with "They're Real!" I didn't have a problem with clumping or flaking, and this is a definite plus. This mascara is passable, but I can live without it. It isn't purse-friendly, except in the trial size.
April 17, 2013
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This lotion brings back wonderful memories of my mother. I bought it for her at Christmas and her birthday when I was a young girl just because I liked the look of the glass bottle (obviously it has changed). She was pleased with my choice of gifts. Now my husband purchases it for me and puts it in my Christmas stocking, Easter basket, etc., and we BOTH use it. It has Glycerin, Mineral Oil, and Allantoin, but never underestimate the power of Glycerin to soothe dry skin, do away with ugly patches, and more. Jergens® sinks right into my skin in a completely non-greasy way, leaving touchable skin behind, and the protection remains for nearly twenty-four hours. With continued use, skin looks and feels so much better. There is a large pump-size bottle of this next to the bed on my nightstand (also known as "the apothecary"). I use it for obvious reasons in the winter; my hands can actually function with this (no cracks on or between fingers). In the summer, it gives my arms and legs the "glow" of silky skin. The fragrance? The Cherry-Almond scent is absolutely luscious. I hope they never quit making this, because I'll never quit purchasing it. And at a price of around $4.99 it's a STEAL!
April 17, 2013
