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Here are all my reviews:
  • Fekkai Blowout Hair Refresher Dry Shampoo
    4.0

    Fekkai Blowout Hair Refresher Dry Shampoo

    Nice fragrance but ineffective! :(

    I have long thick hair and frankly, it is just a PAIN to wash my hair every day! I usually wash every other day or every two days, so a dry shampoo is essential in my beauty routine. (My roots tend to get oily and my ends dryer.) I have been using a dry shampoo from Suave for a few years now and just haven't found anything better. I was curious when I received this product in my Target Beauty Box for the Fall; I have never purchased a high end dry shampoo so I thought well, maybe it will work better! This product really reminded me of the recent dry shampoo line from Herbal Essences; it is mostly clear due to the higher alcohol content and less powder being used (which alleviates the "white roots" frustration that so many people have). My hair is brown and I personally PREFER the powder; alcohol can reduce some of the oil in a pinch (I have been known to even use body splash!) but in my experience, powder mixed with alcohol is more effective. Sure, it is frustrating to have to brush it out or shake my hair, but not only does the powder give a better texture, but it actually absorbs the oil 100 times better. I did like the fragrance of this product so if you are looking for a hair "perfume" this might be a nice one! I was shopping out with my mom and I thought she was using a new shampoo and it turned out to be me! After that, I couldn't stop sniffing my hair. LOL But as far as a dry shampoo, this one I will not be repurchasing.

    December 21, 2014

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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  • Clinique Superdefense Age Defense Eye Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 20

    This is a really nice sunscreen from Clinique, and a big kudos to them for putting this product in a tube to stabilize ingredients! (Clinique has historically put eye creams in a jar.) This moisturizer is made with a non-chemical sunscreen which is why I wanted to purchase it to begin with; after using chemical sunscreens that burn my eyes, I have only purchased the non-chemical sunscreens made SPECIFICALLY for the eye area. Sometimes sunscreens would burn right away, other times it would be HOURS later. My guess is that my oily skin would transfer the sunscreen and cause irritation. Clinique claims that there are "skin-friendly brighteners" in the tube that give an instant effect, but I honestly didn't notice that. However, there is a white cast that I can see with this sunscreen and if going for a minimal make-up look, you may not even need a separate concealer. I am not really a fan of the white cast and I do wish it would absorb better; I have been testing it and it takes about an hour for the cast to disappear. I squeeze a tiny bit out and dot it under my eye area and under the brow and where my crow's feet would be (if I had it!). I like the fact that it isn't OVERLY moisturizing either so I have had no issues with concealers or mascara sliding. I would probably purchase this product again; it is nice and works well, but I do wish there was something about it that blew me away but there really isn't. The ingredients are good and it works. I guess that is all we can ask for! :)

    December 21, 2014

    2 of 3 people found this review helpful

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  • Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy Damage & Color Repair Nourishing Daily Conditioner

    I just rated the shampoo and now onto the conditioner! The conditioner really isn't all that impressive. It is thicker in consistency than a lot of conditioners, but I still didn't find it all that moisturizing, especially for a product geared for colored and/or damaged hair. The packaging for both the shampoo and conditioner is terrible; I got so frustrated trying to squeeze the product out that I ended up tossing both before I was done, which I really hate to do. I can't help it; I am a frugal girl! :) The best way to get product out for this bottle is to keep it turned upside down, otherwise, it is just too much of a pain to bother with. For me, I usually wash my hair over the side of the shower tub, so my bottles are all over the place. I use them and toss them back in the tub. LOL This is definitely not a bottle that will work that way! It really needs to be turned upside down, but then the label is upside down too. They really should market the bottle differently, or better yet, design a totally different bottle. It didn't leave my hair noticeably soft or tangle free and the fragrance I wasn't crazy about; it is a cross between a "clean" smell and a "floral." It also didn't make my hair any more resilient than it was before, which is a claim on the bottle; I thought I would see a bit less fallout and I didn't. I would not repurchase.

    December 21, 2014

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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  • Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy Damage & Color Repair Nourishing Shampoo

    I bought this after hearing a You Tube blogger raving about it (my first mistake!). This shampoo is made for colored/damaged hair. It is thicker in consistency but that doesn't necessarily equate to moisture in the hair as a result of using the product. I didn't find it to leave my hair super soft or tangle free. I also wasn't crazy about the fragrance; it's a cross between a "clean" and "floral" smell. I have used other Clear Scalp products and none of them have actually done anything for my dry or flaky scalp (the ONLY thing that has helped is Nizoral), so ir you are looking for that, you may be disappointed. Also, it claims to make hair more resilient so I thought I would see a bit less fallout maybe, but I didn't - just a side note! The packaging on the other hand is terrible. I have a tendency to wash my hair over the side of the tub, so shampoo and conditioner bottles can get thrown all over the tub and this isn't the type of bottle for that. After using maybe 1/2 the product, it required "Hercules" hands to squeeze out the remainder which is hard to do when your hands are wet and/or soapy. I am petite and have small hands, so not so conducive for me. :( The bottle tends to slip! This is the type of bottle that needs to be turned upside down so the product can always be on top of the cap so it is ready to come out. However, this then makes the label upside down. While a small flaw, it is still a flaw. I normally would give this product a 7, but due to the packaging I gave it a 6. I actually threw out the shampoo and conditioner earlier because it became too frustrating to get the product out. That is never a good thing and I don't like wasting money! I wouldn't re-purchase.

    December 21, 2014

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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  • Philosophy Iced Gingerbread Cookie Duo
    4.0

    Philosophy Iced Gingerbread Cookie Duo

    My first Philosophy experience!

    UPDATE 12/21/14: I have come to the conclusion that this product is just much too thick for the packaging that it comes in. I became so frustrated with the product not coming out of the bottles, that I ended up tossing out the lotion and recycling the bottle (the lotion wasn't a great scent anyway) and putting the body wash into a hand soap pump by the sink; however, even this pump is having a hard time distributing the product. I definitely wouldn't use the body wash as a shampoo; I just don't thick the consistency would leave hair very clean or soft. I actually think it would work best as a bubble bath. Upon further examination, it wasn't separated at all but rather very "swirled" like what you would see in a moisturizing soap or a bubble bath. Honestly, I am just so disappointed in this product that I don't think I will be purchasing any of the body lotions or shower gels from Philosophy in the future. Also, to add, the body lotion was just as moisturizing as BBW. The consistency is thicker than the BBW lotion but not quite as thick as the cream, but it should be in a tube. It would be SO much easier to use both products if they were in a tube................................ Every Christmas I have been wanting to try a Philosophy holiday product! And every year, I keep putting it off; I don't know why. I think maybe the price was a little intimidating?? Anywho, I picked up this set online for under $30 and I thought it would be a great way to try out TWO products. The set comes with 8 oz of body lotion in Sugary Cinnamon Icing and 8 oz of Spiced Gingerbread Cookie shower gel. First, I have to preface that I am a fragrance JUNKIE! It is like crack for me. LOL (Not that I know what crack is like!) I have at least 40 large candles in a stock pile all year round, and at least 12 fragrances shower gels and body creams in my bathroom at any given time. I am not necessarily PARTIAL to Bath and Body Works, but I love their 3-wick candles and I tend to stock up at their outlets, semi-annual sales and of course, the coupons! I have honestly never met a fragrance that I have hated; just some that I love and some that I like. However, there is something about this body lotion that is such a turn off. Although moisturizing (and just as much as BBW), it smells a little bit like Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing or maybe even Maple Cream Cheese Icing; it doesn't fit the name of the fragrance on the bottle and there is something slightly sour or tart (hence the cream cheese?) in the fragrance. It doesn't appear old in any way, but just an observation with the scent. The shower gel, in my opinion, has a strange consistency. It just wasn't as fluid as I imagined it would be. I shook the bottle but it still seemed a bit separated. I love gingerbread but this fragrance just wasn't spot on either. Lastly, the packaging is horrible. For how expensive this product is (compared to drugstore AND BBW), I have to constantly shake the bottle to be able to get product out. I squeeze it and a bunch comes out, but then it stops and I have to squeeze again and nothing - and this is when the product is more than 3/4 full so there should be no issue with product coming out of the bottle. I have never had this issue with any other lotion. I would definitely not purchase this set again and if I do purchase another Philosophy product, it will definitely be in store where I can test the packaging AND the fragrance.

    December 21, 2014

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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  • Rimmel London Fix & Perfect Pro Primer
    4.0

    Rimmel London Fix & Perfect Pro Primer

    Possibly for dryer skin? Not for me :(

    This is a beloved primer and seems to have a cult following! Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me. My skin is combo/oily in the summer and combo/dry in the winter. This primer just felt really heavy on my skin. I would recommend it for someone who has normal to dry skin, or someone that may be using a moisturizer that is still leaving their skin on the dryer or tighter side. In addition to that, I really didn't find it mattifying and if you have large pores like I do, this provides very little coverage, if at all. My current picks are: Garnier 5-Second Miracle Blur, NYX Pore Filler and Maybelline Baby Skin- they will all "blur" imperfections, provide coverage for pores and smooth and prep skin for concealer and foundation. For me, this just seemed like an added step that didn't add anything to my routine.

    December 17, 2014

    1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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  • E.L.F. Essential Soothing Lip Balm

    I usually use a lip balm with a sunscreen, but I opt for more economical options, without a sunscreen, when I am putting on my makeup. It is sort of my routine; I wash my face, brush my teeth, apply my sunscreen to my face and lip balm to my lips - then I start my makeup! This options worked really well for that. I purchased these for $1 plus 50% off during a Cyber Monday haul. I have tried Vanilla Creme, Strawberry Creme and Blackberry Creme. The only one that I didn't care for so much was the Blackberry Creme - the smell and taste was a bit intense for me, but not enough for me to toss. One of the things that I really love about this balm is that for the price, it is smooth and slick with a shine - so many balms are waxy, sticky or tend to "gather" in the corner of someone's mouth no matter how hydrated they are! LOL This one does not do that. I have only seen these online so I would only re-purchase if I was doing a haul.

    December 17, 2014

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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  • E.L.F. Essential Nail Block
    7.0

    E.L.F. Essential Nail Block

    Great budget option!

    I purchased this block when I was doing a Cyber Monday haul! I had a block that worked just fine but I had it for a long time and the corners were starting to fray. I wouldn't say this is an EQUAL replacement to my original, but it does work in a pinch. It is a bit smaller and more lightweight, but I love that unlike my original that only has 2 grits, this one has FOUR. I can buff, shine, file and more with this block. I checked back on the site to verify the price, and even though the product was shown in a picture, there was no option to purchase so I have a feeling it may be sold out in the short term. :( I want to say I purchased this for a $1 then I also got for 50% off! But even still, at a buck, it is a good deal!

    December 17, 2014

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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  • Carol's Daughter Monoi Repairing Hair Mask

    UPDATE 12/11/14: I just used this again last night and I really slathered it on! I used about a tablespoon and a half, maybe even two, and my hair was softer than normal. Maybe that is the trick??? .................. I recently came across a You Tube review on this product and really wanted to try it. The two products that I am most picky about are hair masks and mascaras; they have to REALLY perform for me to be impressed. Although, I thought this was a nice hair mask, it wasn't life transforming for me. The jar says it is recommended for fine, fragile and color processed hair; while my hair is color processed, it is thick and long. I use about a heaping tablespoon (or more) about once a week after shampooing and I leave it on for a good half hour. The jar lasts me about 2 months. It leaves my hair soft and more manageable, but not any more so than many other masks I have used. I am actually not partial to the scent; it has a very strong note of Gardenia (or something similar??) and it is too flowery for me. I would have rather had a coconut or "clean" smell. The smell would not deter me from the product, if it left me super impressed. After spending so much on this product (I think $30), I was telling my stylist how discouraged I was (maybe this is the 15th hair mask I have tried??) and she suggested using organic coconut oil instead, so I will try it and see how it works. This may work for you, so I wouldn't discount it. I am just super picky! BTW, I used the entire jar so it can't be that bad, right? :)

    December 11, 2014

    1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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  • CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with Sunscreen

    This is not one of the best sunscreens for the face that I have tried, but it does have its moments! For me, it is a sunscreen for the face that doesn't cause irritation or a burning sensation. Always a plus, right?? Also, it is under $20; at about $10 a bottle, you can buy 2 for the same price as so many other "drugstore" brands that supply moisturizing sunscreens. It also doesn't leave a white cast; however, on the flips side, it doesn't have the most "elegant" texture. I find myself having to almost create "effort" to get it to absorb - I wouldn't consider this a "light" or "airy" sunscreen. To further add to this, I actually would consider this a heavier sunscreen. My skin is oily/combo in the summer and combo/dry in the fall/winter. I can't use this sunscreen in the spring or summer months as it is just too heavy, so I really wouldn't recommend this to those with oily skin. (Sidenote: my mom has normal skin and she also found it heavy.) It also doesn't have any antioxidants, so those looking for just a basic sunscreen for normal to a bit dryer skin, this could be your match! (Sidenote: packaging has since changed!)

    December 11, 2014

    2 of 4 people found this review helpful

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