Anabel
Member Since: September 24, 2010Reviews
The Body Shop Blue Corn 3 in 1 Deep Cleansing Scrub Mask
the little blue tub that could :Average at $16: My sister loves this stuff. It has been in her beauty regimen since I was very little. I know this because I used to snoop through all her stuff. *Big grin* Now that we're both older and... +
the little blue tub that could
:Average at $16:
My sister loves this stuff. It has been in her beauty regimen since I was very little. I know this because I used to snoop through all her stuff. *Big grin*
Now that we're both older and I'm no longer such a brat, she tells me her beauty routine, or lets me otherwise observe. She uses this mask about once a month, so the little tub is quite the value. The mask cleanses, exfoliates and moisturizes (that's 3), leaving the skin clean, smooth and balanced (that's 3 more, so it's like a 6-in-1).
We've established it does a lot. My sister recommends it; that's reason enough for me. How about you? By the way, did I ever mention that my sister and I were tested and we both have higher than average intelligent quotients? Ummm, ya. Just throwing that in your face.
Sometimes I laugh out loud when I read the ridiculousness I share with you.
Photos are on my blog.
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Caudalie Vinoperfect Night Correcting Cream
the caudalie challenge :Pricey at $79: It can be overwhelming to find a specialized crème/serum, and I have it mind to create a chart. I love charts. Until then, I went into Sephora in September 2010 to pick up another bottle of Clinique, but got... +
the caudalie challenge
:Pricey at $79:
It can be overwhelming to find a specialized crème/serum, and I have it mind to create a chart. I love charts.
Until then, I went into Sephora in September 2010 to pick up another bottle of Clinique, but got sidetracked by a huge display for Caudalie. I decided to give it a try.
In my usual obsessive manner. I tracked the results to see what, if anything, this product did. This is the only way I can evaluate any product. It requires patience and diligence, two things I have in surplus.
The price point is high (as is the case with almost all specialty crèmes, grumble, grumble), but my Sephoraoda convinced me. She told me that this product is more specific to helping minimize discolouration and scars than the Clinique. She said it would also boost the overall appearance of my skin leaving it more radiant and luminous. I will be the judge of that.
September 2010 to January 2011 progress photos on my blog. See the results for yourself.
I said before, and I’ll say it again. Some things are worth their weight in dollars. This is one of those things. But think now that the worses reminders of my rash are gone, I'm starting back on the Even Better routine. Thank you Caudalie. Love A Happy Customer.
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Clearasil Vanishing Acne Treatment Cream
Medicinal Ingredient: 3% w/w Sulfur and 2% w/w Rescorcinol :Average at $7: Works well to dry up and heal pimples Can be used everyday in morning and evening When I think back to my teenage years, I think about all the times I participated in... +
Medicinal Ingredient: 3% w/w Sulfur and 2% w/w Rescorcinol
:Average at $7:
Works well to dry up and heal pimples
Can be used everyday in morning and evening
When I think back to my teenage years, I think about all the times I participated in under-age drinking in a park in my middle to upper middle-class neighborhood where spoiled kids ran rampant terrorizing people and got their kicks out of slumming and being dumb. So glad those days are over…
During all that nostalgia, I also think about Clearasil and Oxy?!?! I have NO idea why. Maybe because the trials and tribulations of adolescence includes paying close attention to commercials and ads depicting relatable teens. Honestly, that may be reaching, but those commercials have stuck with me over all these years. I was really lucky I didn't need to worry about zits, as they were called back then, but then if I had, maybe I wouldn't be going through a second puberty right now.
The point of my story is that Clearasil has been around a long, long time. It was helping teens back in the 1980s, and it helps me now.
Longevity is a testament to the quality and efficacy of something, anything, and everything. In this case, this blue and white tube has been a staple in my bathroom for more than ten years. I always have it around, whether it was for the once-a-year pimple, or more recently, the every two-week break-out. I use it once a day, from the moment I wake up, before I put on my make-up...
I couldn't resist.
Love it.
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Beauty Line
cheap and cheerful, really :King Street: The mani-pedi world is a two-player fight. In the red corner we have cheap and crass (usually)Vietnamese-run nail shops, or as I like to call them “chop-shops”. And in the blue corner we have the... +
cheap and cheerful, really
:King Street:
The mani-pedi world is a two-player fight.
In the red corner we have cheap and crass (usually)Vietnamese-run nail shops, or as I like to call them “chop-shops”.
And in the blue corner we have the "shishipoopoo" spas.
The cost differential is steep. For example, Lux Spa in Yorkville is where I like to get some shishi in my poopoo. It's a nice treat, but it’s also $35 plus tax and tip (or more for their other treatments). Whereas the chop-shop cost a mere $10 no tax.
Who wins? No one really. I think the age old maxim - you get what you pay for - applies here. Of course, if you suffer from obsessicure (Definition: The obsessive-compulsive need to get a manicure and/or pedicure at least biweekly, if not more), by default you need to go cheap and hope that the chop-shop doesn't make mincemeat of your fingers and toes.
Or...
{cue music}
You could go to Beauty Line. From the prices it sounds like your average “cheap” mani-pedi bar, but inside, it's not as toxic - cleaner, nicer, better ventilation and service.
There are two locations, but I’ve only gone to the King Street one. After five visits I am sparing five minutes to tell you about it because each time I’ve been happy with quality and longevity of my $10 (plus tax and tip) manicure. (A manicure and pedicure is $35.)
Might I recommend that while you’re waiting, you ask for a 10-minute massage ($10). Nails drying, shoulders relaxing, woosahhhh.
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Pure Nail Bar
disappointment runs rampant :Various: Not impressed. It’s like finding Paul Walker on the internet and then discovering he's actually Napoleon Dynamite. That said, if I knew I was getting Napoleon I'd be happy, but if I was expecting... +
disappointment runs rampant
:Various:
Not impressed. It’s like finding Paul Walker on the internet and then discovering he's actually Napoleon Dynamite. That said, if I knew I was getting Napoleon I'd be happy, but if I was expecting someone else, well, you can see where the disappointment comes into play.
Pure Nail Bar is your run-of-the-mill mani/pedi chop-shop, but they hold themselves out as a classier nail bar. Not the case. I like chop-shops, but at chop-shop prices. Sure they have Sex and the City playing, but the decor and furnishing are not well-kept, the staff is prickly, and the mani chipped within a day. So, if you can get what Pure's selling but for less money (Harmonie is an option), wouldn’t you rather do that?
In the alternative, you can pay a few dollars more than Pure and relax in the lap of luxury at some other spa (Absolute and Le Petit come to mind).
I don’t always get what I want, but you can learn from my mistakes.
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Yves Saint Laurent Touche Blush
Dior is dead. Long live YSL! Even with its hefty price tag this blush is the best purchase of the year (so far, after all, it's only January). I love the puff applicator, and #2 is a pretty, peachy-pink pigment. That’s a lot of Ps, here’s... +
Dior is dead. Long live YSL!
Even with its hefty price tag this blush is the best purchase of the year (so far, after all, it's only January).
I love the puff applicator, and #2 is a pretty, peachy-pink pigment. That’s a lot of Ps, here’s one more, it’s perfection.
***
**Editor's Note: portions of this review have been removed in accordance with the ChickAdvisor review policy
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Philosophy's Help Me Retinol Night Treatment
Philosophy's Help Me is less irritating, evidently because they stabilized the substance in the cream using a "microsponge technology®" - whatever that means?!?! It won Allure's editor's choice for best anti-aging treatment. Now... +
Philosophy's Help Me is less irritating, evidently because they stabilized the substance in the cream using a "microsponge technology®" - whatever that means?!?! It won Allure's editor's choice for best anti-aging treatment. Now that's something I understand. Help Me is now a permanent part of my sleepy time schedule. A little on my problem areas and then it's off to lalaland. Wake up and start again.
Full review at: http://gracefulglutton.blogspot.com/2010/11/help-me-by-philosophy.html
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The Body Shop Vitamin C Eye Reviver Duo
According to the saleswoman, the Vitamin C in the Eye Reviver Duo comes from the camu camu berry in the Amazon which is reported to have the highest contents of Viatmin C in nature. Her superfluous details went in-one-ear-and-out-the-other, I liked... +
According to the saleswoman, the Vitamin C in the Eye Reviver Duo comes from the camu camu berry in the Amazon which is reported to have the highest contents of Viatmin C in nature. Her superfluous details went in-one-ear-and-out-the-other, I liked the stick...it was a happy orange. So I bought it.
I must say after using it for a week it’s pretty neat. It’s like Benefit’s Ooh lala lift meets Garnier’s rollerball. The only caveat being this: if either end of the stick were to stand alone, it would fall short of the mark. But someone was clever enough to package it together.
For the price and benefits, I like it. It’s soothing and revitalizing...exactly what Vitamin C should be.
Full review at: http://gracefulglutton.blogspot.com/2010/12/vitamin-c-eye-reviver-duo-by-body-shop.html
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Sephora
Sephora.com has way more than the stores, but the store itself is an hour of fun and then some. Staff are knowledgeable, although there are never enough Sephorites around - maybe there are just too many shoppers...Regardless, when you finally get... +
Sephora.com has way more than the stores, but the store itself is an hour of fun and then some.
Staff are knowledgeable, although there are never enough Sephorites around - maybe there are just too many shoppers...Regardless, when you finally get service, they are full of answers and suggestions..that's all I need from a beauty advisor.
It's also the land of try before you buy...and I think we all know that samples are a beauty junkies' best friend.
They have a reward card: http://gracefulglutton.blogspot.com/2010/07/sephora.html.
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Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder
Laura Mercier created all these Secret products to go together – what an ingenious ploy. I'm not sure about the entire collection, but this and the Camouflage are worth every penny. Dust this ultrafine powder onto your face to minimize... +
Laura Mercier created all these Secret products to go together – what an ingenious ploy. I'm not sure about the entire collection, but this and the Camouflage are worth every penny. Dust this ultrafine powder onto your face to minimize imperfections and create a lightweight finish. It’s can be an alternative to powder and used as a highlighter. I wouldn't invest in this for everyday use.
Full review and photos: http://gracefulglutton.blogspot.com/2010/08/other-laura-mercier-secret-brightening.html
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