Aspasia
Member Since: April 15, 2008Reviews
Marcelle AC-Solution Purifying Foaming Cleanser
I started using Marcelle's AC-Solution cleanser when I realized that Proactiv was no longer working for me. I have fairly sensitive skin that tends to be oily and somewhat acne prone (I breakout maybe once a month but nothing major). I found... +
I started using Marcelle's AC-Solution cleanser when I realized that Proactiv was no longer working for me. I have fairly sensitive skin that tends to be oily and somewhat acne prone (I breakout maybe once a month but nothing major). I found this cleanser to be gentle on my skin and only a little drying. I expected it to be much more drying and it wasn't that bad (although my skin is oily so a little drying is never a bad thing for me). When I used this cleanser with the clarifying lotion (toner) and moisturizer from the same line I noticed a visible improvement in my skin within a week. I noticed that my skin took longer to become oily over the course of the day and I had fewer breakouts (and when I did breakout it was less sever than normal).
I love cleansers that foam up right out of the bottle and this cleanser does that. I find that that foaming action makes my skin feel more clean.
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Garnier Skin Renew Brusher Gel-Cleanser
I received the Garnier Skin Renew Brusher Gel Cleanser through the PRC. The first thing that surprised me about this product was that the brusher was not actually separate from the bottle of gel itself. I expected the brush to clip conveniently... +
I received the Garnier Skin Renew Brusher Gel Cleanser through the PRC.
The first thing that surprised me about this product was that the brusher was not actually separate from the bottle of gel itself. I expected the brush to clip conveniently into the lid, but be removable for use. Instead, the brusher was actually attached to the bottle and does not come off. To use the cleanser you have to twist the brush to open the bottle, tilt the bottle upside down, squeeze the bottle to dispense the gel onto the brush (there is an opening in the brush through which the gel dispenses), then twist the brush head to close the bottle, then use the brush (still attached to the bottle) in a circular motion over the face. At first this sounded kind of neat... then it became a pain (and I only used it for three days!). I hate the design of this product, hate it. It is cumbersome and awkward to use because you have to hold the whole bottle of cleanser while you use the brusher over your face.
The other problem is that the first time I used it I didn't dispense enough of the gel onto the brush at first. This meant that I had to stop washing my face, rinse the brush off completely (so none of the used soap or residue was on the brush), then twist the brush top open again to dispense more gel... If the brush itself was separate from the bottle of gel I could have easily opened the gel bottle and squeezed out more gel onto the brush without having to worry about the used gel (with all the makeup and skin residue in it) getting into the bottle of gel and contaminating the whole thing. What a pain.
I've used cleansers with a soft brush before and expected the brush on this product to be similar. The brush has plastic bristles (silicone maybe?) and are not nice and soft. They are a bit stiff and they "flick" quite a bit (spraying soap onto my bathroom mirror when I used it over my sink). They bristles also caught the hairs along my hairline and pulled at them which made using the product annoying.
I found that the gel itself cleansed my skin pretty well. The smell was a little stronger than I usually like, but it wasn't offensive. The gel removed all my makeup fairly easily.
My skin felt nice and soft after using the cleanser, and it seemed to exfoliate my skin gently without drying it out.
Garnier included a full size jar of the Skin Renew moisturizer with the Cleanser. This was a nice surprise! The moisturizer was quite a bit heavier than what I normally use, but I think I will continue using it at night only. The brusher gel cleanser is supposed to improve the effectiveness of my moisturizer, but I didn't really notice much difference here.
Overall, I found the product was disappointing. I think the design of the bottle with the attached brush to be its major downfall. The likelihood of the used gel filled with makeup residue and skin residue from cleansing getting into the bottle of gel by accident (by either not closing the brush fully or in trying to add more gel to the brush in the middle of face washing) seems very high. It's such a shame that Garnier didn't opt for a brush that could be stored on the lid of the gel bottle, but comes completely off the bottle for cleansing. This alone would have made me recommend this product.
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Biotherm Celluli Laser D.Code
I was selected to review this product as part of the PRC for Chick Advisor. I have never used any cellulite creams/removal systems before so I'm not sure how this compares to others, but I did find that it gave me minimal results. I used it... +
I was selected to review this product as part of the PRC for Chick Advisor.
I have never used any cellulite creams/removal systems before so I'm not sure how this compares to others, but I did find that it gave me minimal results. I used it morning and night for two weeks and noticed a minor improvement to the dimples on the back of my thighs. I was surprised that the lotion had any effect at all, but a minimal improvement doesn't seem worth it to me.
The packaging was nice. The tube itself is a nice size and the product dispenses easily and in manageable quantities (never too much). The lotion isn't too runny or too thick. The smell was light and fresh and I didn't mind it. The thing I did mind was that the lotion had a lot of shimmer to it. This shimmer stayed on my legs and my hands (and rubbed off on my clothing and sheets). It was really annoying, but then again I don't like running around looking like a bedazzled fairy.
The $79 price tag for this product (plus tax) is way too high given the minimal results I experienced. I'm glad I had a chance to try it because there is no way I would spend close to $100 for 200 ml of cellulite cream (unless it really really worked wonders).
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L'Oreal Paris Collagen Filler Lip
I was really disappointed with the L'Oreal Paris Collagen Filler Lip. I received this as part of the PRC and used it every morning for a week. I don't have any visible lines or wrinkles around my lips to begin with, so the line filler for... +
I was really disappointed with the L'Oreal Paris Collagen Filler Lip. I received this as part of the PRC and used it every morning for a week. I don't have any visible lines or wrinkles around my lips to begin with, so the line filler for around the lips did nothing for me. The lip plumper tingled a bit when it went on and that was it. There was no noticeable plumping of my lips at all. Unfortunately this product was very disappointing. The one redeeming factor was that it did make my lipstick last a bit longer and it moisturized my lips nicely (which is great during the cold dry winter).
The packaging is great and it's nice to have the two products in one. It fit nicely in my makeup kit and was no longer than my powder brush. The applicator tips on the product(s) work well for dispensing the product right where you want it around your lips, and for applying and rubbing it into the lips.
The price for this is completely unreasonable. I have never purchased any kind of lip line filler or plumper before, so I have nothing to compare it to, but $24.99 for 12ml (6ml of the filler and 6ml of the plumper) seems outrageous to me.
I did pass along two of the six full size samples I received to my mom. She does have fine lines around her lips, so maybe the filler will provide her with noticeable results. I will be sure to update my review with her thoughts once she's tried it.
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Vaseline Sheer Infusion Body Lotion
I received the Vaseline Sheer Infusion (Vitamin) as part of the Product Review Club. I was eager to try it out as I've always been a fan of Vaseline moisturizers. I have to admit that I was initially put off by the smell as it seemed too strong... +
I received the Vaseline Sheer Infusion (Vitamin) as part of the Product Review Club. I was eager to try it out as I've always been a fan of Vaseline moisturizers. I have to admit that I was initially put off by the smell as it seemed too strong for my liking. When I actually used the lotion, the smell softened quite a bit and had a mild citrusy scent. This isn't the type of scent I normally like, but it was pleasant enough.
The lotion itself is a lot lighter than other moisturizers. When I rubbed it into my legs there was no sticky residue and no greasy feel almost instantly. I didn't even feel like my hands were greasy and did not need to wash them off after applying the lotion. Although the lotion made my skin feel smooth, it wasn't the same soft feel that I get with a heavier lotion. I guess the trade off here is a grease-free lotion that doesn't feel like it has an intense moisturizing quality. Despite this, my legs stayed smooth all day long and my dry winter skin did not re-appear. This must be because the moisturizer actually does sink deeper into the skin resulting in a longer lasting moisture in the skin. After using the moisturizer for a full week I have to admit that I'm starting to love it. I like that my skin isn't sticky after applying it and I find that my skin stays moisturized for longer than with a greasy moisturizer.
The packaging is awesome too! I love that the bottle is a little smaller and more of a sleek design. The lid flips open easily and is easy to close properly (unlike other Vaseline moisturizers). The only downside is that the bottle is too small. It is a lot less moisturizer than other Vaseline products and it costs more. Unfortunately this means that it is not the best value. The Sheer Infusion is a 200ml bottle for $8.49 and the Vaseline Intensive Care Lotions are $8.99 for a 600ml bottle. The bottle size and shape is convenient for carrying around in a bag or purse, but the moisturizer lasts all day so there isn't much need to carry it around (except to the gym). It certainly would have been nice if the bottle held as much moisturizer as the other Vaseline products, especially given its higher price.
I am glad the Chick Advisor PRC sent two bottles of it so I can share it with a friend! I can't wait to hear how she likes it.
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Breyers Double Churn Chocolate Cheesecake Frozen Dessert
I was selected to sample this ice cream (along with Dark Chocolate Velvet and Banana Cream Pie) as a member of the Product Review Club. I received a sharing package with the coupons in the mail that included three little ice cream bowls and three... +
I was selected to sample this ice cream (along with Dark Chocolate Velvet and Banana Cream Pie) as a member of the Product Review Club. I received a sharing package with the coupons in the mail that included three little ice cream bowls and three sundae spoons. The packaging of this kit was absolutely adorable! I was super excited to try the ice cream once I had the kit in my hot little hands.
I have to say that the Chocolate Cheesecake was my least favourite of the three flavours. I was really disappointed. I love cheesecake, so I expected to love this. The cheesecake part of the ice cream was really tasty. It was light and smooth tasting. The chocolate part was terrible. I can't even describe what the combination tastes like other than just plain bad.
This ice cream would be heaven on earth if it was a fruit flavour with the cheesecake (raspberry, strawberry, mango, or something along those lines), but the chocolate combination is terrible.
This ice cream is not worth the $8.99 price tag. Very disappointing indeed.
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Breyers Double Churn Banana Cream Pie Frozen Dessert
I was selected to sample this ice cream (along with Dark Chocolate Velvet and Chocolate Cheesecake) as a member of the Product Review Club. I received a sharing package with the coupons in the mail that included three little ice cream bowls and... +
I was selected to sample this ice cream (along with Dark Chocolate Velvet and Chocolate Cheesecake) as a member of the Product Review Club. I received a sharing package with the coupons in the mail that included three little ice cream bowls and three sundae spoons. The packaging of this kit was absolutely adorable! I was super excited to try the ice cream once I had the kit in my hot little hands.
The Banana Cream Pie Double Churn ice cream is hands down the best of the three flavours I tried! I loved every bite of this ice cream! I had very high expectations for this flavour and I was not disappointed. I'll start with the flavour. The banana taste in this ice cream is not overpowering, but just right. It really tastes like fresh bananas, but a soft flavour. The graham cracker pie pieces are delicious and add just the right amount of sweetness. The flavour was soft and sweet, but not fake or syrupy. This ice cream was actually quite refreshing.
The texture was also amazing. It was super smooth and light. It was nice and creamy and didn't have any grittiness to it. It just melted like heaven in my mouth.
This ice cream is better than the best. It is the best ice cream I've had in a long time. It is well worth the $8.99 price tag.
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Breyers Creamery Style Dark Chocolate Velvet Frozen Dessert
I was selected to sample this ice cream (along with Banana Cream Pie and Chocolate Cheesecake) as a member of the Product Review Club. I received a sharing package with the coupons in the mail that included three little ice cream bowls and three... +
I was selected to sample this ice cream (along with Banana Cream Pie and Chocolate Cheesecake) as a member of the Product Review Club. I received a sharing package with the coupons in the mail that included three little ice cream bowls and three sundae spoons. The packaging of this kit was absolutely adorable! I was super excited to try the ice cream once I had the kit in my hot little hands.
The Dark Chocolate Velvet Double Churn ice cream is to die for! I can't express how amazing it is. From the very first bite I was swept away! I'll start with the flavour. The chocolate taste in this ice cream is intense. It just the perfect amount of chocolate and just the right flavour of chocolate. It didn't taste overly sweet or syrupy. It satisfied my chocolate craving just perfectly. It did taste pretty close to dark chocolate without the slight bitterness that I find with most dark chocolate. It was delicious!
The texture was also amazing. It was so smooth and fluffy (can ice cream even be fluffy?). It was nice a creamy and didn't have any grittiness to it. It just melted like heaven in my mouth.
This ice cream is better than the best. It is better than any other chocolate ice cream I've had in my life. It is well worth the $8.99 price tag.
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Maybelline New York Lash Stiletto Mascara
The first thing I noticed about this mascara was the awful smell. It really stinks, literally. I decided to try it out anyway despite the offensive smell. This mascara separated and lengthened my lashes very well. I loved the way it made my lashes... +
The first thing I noticed about this mascara was the awful smell. It really stinks, literally. I decided to try it out anyway despite the offensive smell.
This mascara separated and lengthened my lashes very well. I loved the way it made my lashes look super long. Even with two coats I didn't get any clumps. The brush isn't super large but it is on the long side (more than an inch) which was a little awkward at first. I only tried this mascara on my upper lashes because I rarely ever wear mascara on my lower lashes.
The only downside to this mascara is that after a long day of wear it started to flake and rub off on my upper eyelids. I seem to always have this problem with Maybelline mascaras. Granted that this mascara didn't start rubbing off until at least 9 hours after I applied it (it usually only takes about 4 hours with other Maybelline mascaras), but it was still annoying. Perhaps a waterproof formula would stay on better. I wish this mascara didn't flake and rub off because if it weren't for this problem it would become my new everyday mascara.
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Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant and Anti-Perspirant
This deodorant is a little different in that you are supposed to apply it at night. I was worried that showering in the morning would be a problem but it wasn't. The deodorant did work very well through the day. Sometimes I reapplied a bit in... +
This deodorant is a little different in that you are supposed to apply it at night. I was worried that showering in the morning would be a problem but it wasn't. The deodorant did work very well through the day. Sometimes I reapplied a bit in the morning after the shower, but it wasn't necessary. Works great! -
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