Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Hands down the best shadow base ever

I have extremely oily eyelids, and this is hands down the best eyeshadow primer I have ever used. Other products I have tried include: Mary Kay Triple Action Eye Enhancer, Mary Kay Eye Primer, Illuminaire All Day Eye Color in Cafe Latte, Origins Underwear for Lids, and Clinique Touch Base in Canvas. Most recenly I have been using MAC Paints, and I was fairly satisfied, since they gave me 10 hours of crease-free wear. But UDPP lasts 12 hours. It's one of those few products that actually is worth all the hype. My eyelids are so oily that I'm amazed by these people who claim UDPP keeps their shadow perfect overnight, but still, 12 hours is enough for most days. I haven't had any problems with UDPP reducing shadow blendability. I make sure I use a very thin layer. Then I brush MAC Blot Powder over top. Finally, I apply my liner (MAC Fluidline) and my shadow, and everything blends together just fine. I also like to use UDPP on days when I'm not wearing shadow because it keeps my lids from feeling heavy with oil for 12 hours. I put off trying UDPP for a long time because it is hard for me to get ahold of. I either have to order it or drive an hour and half to the nearest city. But it's definitely worth such inconvenience, and I will purchase it again and again. Ingredients: Isodecane, Talc, Cyclopentasiloxane, Disteardimonium, Hectorite, Polyethylene, Trihydroxystearin, Triethylhexanoin, Isopropyl Lanolate, Sorbitan, Sesquioleate, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Dimethicone, PEG-40 Stearate, Propylene Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, Beeswax, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Methicone, Isobutylparaben. May Contain: Mica, Titatnium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Bismuth Oxychloride.

November 7, 2008

Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow Soft Shimmer

Nothing soft about this shimmer

I've tried several different shades of this shadow, and I think it's a bit misnamed. The shadow doesn't seem at all soft to me but rather quite frosty. I prefer matte shadows. On the plus side, this shadow does wear well. Ingredients: Talc, octyldodecyl stearoyl stearate, dimethicone, nylon-12, zinc stearate, octyldodecanol, zeolite, bht, sorbic acid, dehydroacetic acid, methylparaben, butylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben. May contain: mica, titanium dioxide, carmine, iron oxides, ferric ferrocyanide, chromium hydroxide green, yellow 5 lake, manganese violet, chromium oxide greens, ultramarines, blue 1 lake, bismuth oxychloride.

June 11, 2008

Chanel Allure Sensuelle Eau de Parfum

I didn't like it

This fragrance reminds me strongly of the cheap Avon fragrances my mom wore when I was a kid. So this isn't a fragrance I will purchase.

May 29, 2008

Olay Quench Daily Lotion

Nice lotion but I dislike the sparkles in it

I have normal skin on my body, and I found this lotion to be moisturizing enough even for my drier spots. I was suprised that it moisturized better than thicker lotions I've tried, and I loved how well it absorbed, though I'm not sure it would moisturizing enough for truly dry skin. I also appreciated that it was fragrance-free, since I'm very sensitive to fragrances. But like others, I HATE the sparkles. I like having a lotion on hand that is shimmery for special occasions, but for everyday, I much prefer a nonshimmery lotion. Since I have a more-than-abundant stock of shimmery lotions, I won't be repurchasing this lotion. Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Isohexadecane, Petrolatum, Isopropyl Isostearate, Dimethicone, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Aluminum Starch Octenyl Succinate, Polyethylene, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Sodium Acrylates, Behenyl Alcohol, Fragrance, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide, Ethylparaben, Dimethiconol, Disodium EDTA, Stearic Acid, PEG 100 Stearate, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Propylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Betaine, Sorbitol, Glycine, Alanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Arginine, Lysine, Glutamic Acid, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, C12-13 Pareth 3, Laureth 7, Sodium Hydroxide.

May 27, 2008

Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer with Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15 - Normal

Not my favorite sunscreen

This was one step in my quest for a sunscreen that didn't irritate my sensitive skin, didn't break out my acne-prone skin, provided stable broad-spectrum protection, and was cosmetically elegant on my oily skin. I found this to be a bit heavy and sticky, and my skin seemed duller when I use it. Eventually, I found and fell in love with Shiseido SPF 55 Lotion. Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 6%, Zinc Oxide 3%. Inactive Ingredients: Water, Isohexadecane, Glycerin, Polyacrylamide C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG/PPG-20/20 Dimethicone, Steareth 21, Stearyl Alcohol, Sucrose Polycottonseedate, Behenyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetyl Alcohol, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Disodium EDTA, Steareth 2, Oleth-3 Phosphate.

May 20, 2008

Avene Retrinal

Love regular Retrinal but not impressed with this

I'm a huge fan of the regular version of Avene Retrinal. Using it in the past allowed me to eventually be able to use a prescription retinoid, which my skin could not tolerate before. I love that Retrinal comes in three strengths and is fragrance free. I am not, however, impressed with the Retrinal H.A.F. Gel formula, which has an overwhelming floral fragrance, doesn't spread easily on my skin, and leaves my skin with a distinct golden hue after application. At this point in my skincare evolution, I'm sticking with Differin Gel as my retinoid. Ingredients: Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Esters, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ceteareth-20, Glycol Montanate, Cyclomethicone, Ceteareth-33, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acrylates Copolymer, Bht, Butylparaben, Carbomer, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Propylparaben, Red 33, Retinal, Triethanolamine.

March 3, 2008

Avene Retrinal

One of the best over-the-counter retinoids available

After a bad experience with Differin because my derm didn't take time to explain how to start off using it gradually, I thought that I couldn't use retinoids on my sensitive skin. Then I heard about Retrinal, so I bought a tube. I started out using it every third night, then every other night, and finally by the end of the tube I was using it every night. While I didn't noticed any significant difference in my skin, it also hasn't irritated my sensitive acne-prone skin at all. In fact, using it allowed me to move on to Differin, which I use nightly diluted in a moisturizer, and I am seeing results with the Differin--smoother skin and fewer clogged pores. Without using Retrinal first, I'm not sure that I could have used Differin. I love that Retrinal is fragrance-free, but I do wish it were a bit lighter in texture. Nevertheless, it's a great starter retinoid, especially for those like me with sensitive skin. Ingredients: water, caprylic/capric triglyceride, mineral oil, glyceryl stearate, peg-100 stearate, squalane, propylene glycol, glycol montanate, peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil, bht, buylparaben, carbomer, disodium edta, phenoxyethanol, propylparaben, red 33, retinal, triethanolamine.

March 3, 2008

Sally Hansen Just Feet Visible Effect Foot Creme

Nice foot cream, but I don't like the smell

This is a pretty nice foot cream. It moisturizes well, but I really dislike the medicinal-minty fragrance that it has. I'll use it up, but I'll also look for another foot cream to purchase next time. Ingredients: Water, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Stearic Acid, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Shea Butter, Menthol, Peppermint Oil, Tea Tree Leaf Oil, Salicylic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Triethanolamine, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Imidazolidinyl Urea.

February 24, 2008

Sally Hansen Just Feet Deep Callus Foot Scrub

Works to soften feet

During the summer I developed thick, dry calluses on my heels for the first time in my life (maybe it's a sign of getting older). So I went to Walmart and bought this foot scrub and a Sally Hansen foot cream. I was surprised at how much the scrub dissolved my calluses the first time I used it. Using the cream as well increased my results, but the scrub is good even by itself. Ingredients: glycerin, sucrose, sodium chloride, olive fruit oil, polyglyceryl-3, beeswax, peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil, silica, hydroxystearic acid, grape seed oil, shea butter, tocopheryl acetate, retinyl palmitate, ascorbyl palmitate, tea tree leaf oil, panthenol, aminomethyl propanediol, phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, methyldihydrojasmonate, pentadecalactone, dimethylethyl cyclohexanol, phenylisohexanol, phenoxyethanol, blue 1, yellow 5.

February 24, 2008

Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover Maximum Strength

Too powerful

This is powerful stuff. It removes cuticles very well and very quickly, but it also always leaves my cuticles drier than they were before. I'd rather use a BHA or AHA product on my hands everyday to keep cuticles under control than use this overly strong product. Ingredients: Water, Potassium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tetrasodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate.

February 24, 2008