bonniepang
Member Since: January 7, 2016Reviews
The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Facial Wash
I really enjoy the refreshed, tingly feeling I get from using this cleanser. I even enjoy the tea tree scent; psychologically, it makes me believe that it's working. I haven't noticed that this cleanser alone has "given me clearer-looking skin" as... +
I really enjoy the refreshed, tingly feeling I get from using this cleanser. I even enjoy the tea tree scent; psychologically, it makes me believe that it's working. I haven't noticed that this cleanser alone has "given me clearer-looking skin" as it claims, but I think it does control my oils, to an extent. I have combo/oily skin and do not find that it is over-drying; however, I would think twice about using it too often during the winter. As a makeup wearer, I think there are better cleansers that leave my skin and pores feeling cleaner, although this cleanser does not claim to remove makeup. The cleanser does not foam or lather very much. Otherwise, good value when bought on 40%/50%-off days. A bottle can last you a few months. -
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
I first tried using this product in 2013 upon the recommendation of my dermatologist. It is the original basic mild cleanser (vs. simple, spectro, etc.). If you're suffering from acne, I've read and heard from others that the continued use of a very... +
I first tried using this product in 2013 upon the recommendation of my dermatologist. It is the original basic mild cleanser (vs. simple, spectro, etc.). If you're suffering from acne, I've read and heard from others that the continued use of a very simple and mild regime has many benefits and can clear your skin over time (ref: acne.org). Since I wear makeup, I find that this cleanser doesn't do enough for me. I don't expect it to remove makeup, but I do expect it to give me a clean and fresh face, which I don't find. It cleans away the dirt but nothing more. Thus, it's hard for me to see results. I also feel like the formula has changed recently compared to when I first used it in 2013. Nonetheless, since dermatologists recommend it, I'm sure that there must be long term results from daily use. The value is great, but the effectiveness, I'm not so sure about. I would still recommend it to those that don't wear makeup. -
Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser
I've always heard that charcoal does wonders for your skin. Unfortunately, this cleanser doesn't live up to that hype or its claims for that matter. It claims to be give you results after just one use, and draw out and trap 2x more dirt and... +
I've always heard that charcoal does wonders for your skin. Unfortunately, this cleanser doesn't live up to that hype or its claims for that matter. It claims to be give you results after just one use, and draw out and trap 2x more dirt and impurities than a basic cleanser. In my opinion, this is an average cleanser from the drugstore. It doesn't contain any additional advantages or benefits than the cleanser on the shelf next to it. I don't find that it draws out any more dirt than the cleanser I previously used. While its not a bad cleanser, I think it is a branding/marketing strategy used to capitalize on the charcoal beauty trend. I enjoyed the packaging though; very convenient with the pump. -
Clinique Liquid Facial Soap
Price is good. Product is OK. Lots of pros and cons. I'd recommend knowing your skin type before purchasing. Step 1: The Liquid Facial Soap bubbles up (as opposed to a milky, foamy texture) and leaves the face feeling clean. While it gets the job... +
Price is good. Product is OK. Lots of pros and cons. I'd recommend knowing your skin type before purchasing.
Step 1: The Liquid Facial Soap bubbles up (as opposed to a milky, foamy texture) and leaves the face feeling clean. While it gets the job done, however, my face oftentimes feels stripped of all its moisture. It smells like what you'd imagine a typical soap to smell like. Overall impression: generic, nothing special. I've switched back to a different cleanser.
Step 2: This is my holy grail toner. It's always worked for me so I've never switched to a different one. I soak a cotton pad with it, and almost always find leftover makeup, oils, or dirt remaining. Overall impression: works well. This is the only step of the 3-step system that I still use.
Step 3: Unfortunately, when purchasing, I bought the system with the lotion (as opposed to the gel). I have combo/oily skin and I find that my face ends up greasier than when compared to other moisturizers. Overall impression: I'm sure the gel would have worked much better for me.
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Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser
As a daily makeup user, I'm always looking for new makeup removers. My general routine consists of using makeup wipes to remove my eye and face makeup, and then following up with my Clarisonic and another liquid cleanser. Pond's Cold Cream... +
As a daily makeup user, I'm always looking for new makeup removers. My general routine consists of using makeup wipes to remove my eye and face makeup, and then following up with my Clarisonic and another liquid cleanser.
Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser works most similarly to cleansing oils in the sense that it's suppose to dissolve your makeup after rubbing it in, however, differs because it does not change from an oil-to-milky texture. Instead, the Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser starts out as a cream and changes to an oil texture in order to break down the makeup. I find that this makes the whole process of removing my makeup a greasy mess and more troublesome as there is a film of oil left on my hands and face. I find myself having to use soap to wash my hands before using multiple pumps of liquid cleanser to remove the oil and residue left on my face. I don't find that this product is more effective than other methods of removing my makeup, however, I think it's a great and affordable alternative during the winter months when your skin is dry, as this cleanser provides moisture back to the face and little goes a long way. For the sake of convenience, I'd stick to my old methods of removing makeup.
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Batiste Dry Shampoo Divine Dark
I've used a variety of dry shampoos in the past, including various Batiste products, however, this is hands-down my favourite dry shampoo of the bunch. The price, quality, and effectiveness of the Dark and Deep Brown Dry Shampoo beats out the... +
I've used a variety of dry shampoos in the past, including various Batiste products, however, this is hands-down my favourite dry shampoo of the bunch. The price, quality, and effectiveness of the Dark and Deep Brown Dry Shampoo beats out the competition for all dark-haired individuals like me. Found at $6.99 at occasional Winners/Marshalls/Home Sense stores, this dry shampoo sprays out a dark powder to the roots, which reduces the amount of grey cast a white-powdered-dry-shampoo would normally show. The way I find it works best is to use it the night before, right when you're about to sleep. I find that it stops the amount of oil-buildup while you sleep, rather absorbs it, so that in the morning, you're ready to go. The only downfall I find with this dry shampoo is the smell. I can't quite describe it, but it doesn't necessarily give the clean and refreshed scent that some dry shampoos leave you with.This smell lingers, but if you're able to overcome it, I think the benefits beat out the downfalls. Overall, I highly, highly recommend this product, and will continue purchasing it for years to come.
I received this product for free as part of the ChickAdvisor Product Review Club.
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Nair™ WAX READY-STRIPS Legs & Body
I think if you're in the market for wax strips, these are definitely great quality drugstore wax strips to try. Unlike many "ready-to-wax" wax strips, these truly do not require any rubbing, etc. in order heat up the wax. This, in turn, saves time... +
I think if you're in the market for wax strips, these are definitely great quality drugstore wax strips to try. Unlike many "ready-to-wax" wax strips, these truly do not require any rubbing, etc. in order heat up the wax. This, in turn, saves time and the hassle of ensuring that there aren't any missing sections of the wax that may be pulled apart on the other side of the strip. With a one-sided strip, I'm able to reuse it about 2-3 times effectively before moving on to a new strip. While waxing isn't my preferred method of hair removal due to ingrown hairs, it did leave the waxed portion hair-less for about a week. This obviously varies by person - since I normally shave, hair tends to grow back faster. I'm sure that someone who normally waxes would notice a slower regrowth period. If you tend to have thick, coarse, stubborn hair that is usually hard to wax, I wouldn't recommend these wax strips. Otherwise, I think they're great to test out. -
Maybelline New York Dream Velvet Foundation
My first impression of the foundation after application was that it left a grey cast on my face and didn't cover my dark spots. However, after finishing the rest of my makeup, I liked how I looked overall. I tried it a second time with a different... +
My first impression of the foundation after application was that it left a grey cast on my face and didn't cover my dark spots. However, after finishing the rest of my makeup, I liked how I looked overall. I tried it a second time with a different applicator (not the Dream Blender) the second day, and still felt that it left a grey cast, but this time the coverage was much better. It is a medium coverage foundation. Based on its advertised benefits, it definitely is a matte/soft-matte finish. Unfortunately, if you have oily skin like I do, I find that between 4-6 hours after application, you'll notice oils seeping through. A quick touch-up tends to do the trick. The foundation doesn't seem to cling to dry patches/spots like the L'Oreal Infallible 24-hour foundation does, which is a plus. It claims to be a hydrating foundation, but when I think of hydration, I think of a luminous and healthy complexion - qualities I don't associate with this foundation. Other cons: I'm not a huge fan of the mousse-like consistency very much (much prefer liquid). In addition, a little does not go a long way. I find that I use a lot more product. It also does not look natural or skin-like - you can tell you're wearing makeup. Regardless, I think this is a good everyday foundation and I would recommend it to others.
Coverage: Medium
Consistency: Mousse
Shades: 12
Finish: Soft-matte
SPF: None
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Maybelline New York Dream Blender
Sometimes I feel like drugstore brands release products to mimic products that are trending. Sometimes these beauty products are a little gimmicky. This is how I feel about the Dream Blender. While I can't confirm that the Dream Blender is suppose... +
Sometimes I feel like drugstore brands release products to mimic products that are trending. Sometimes these beauty products are a little gimmicky. This is how I feel about the Dream Blender. While I can't confirm that the Dream Blender is suppose to mimic the Beauty Blender, I can say for certain that the two are incomparable. I use my Beauty Blender by I soaking it under running water and squeezing out the excess water. It expands to double the size and blends makeup like a dream. Unfortunately, when I soak the dream blender under running water as directed, water does not absorb into the hard sponge. When it does, it sits just under the surface, and does nothing in making the sponge softer. While I like the handle, it makes no difference in the application process. The most important part of this product - the sponge itself - is hard and stiff. I don't feel like it truly is blending the makeup into my skin. Rather, while I'm patting the makeup with the sponge, it seems to just sit on the surface of my skin or absorb into the sponge. The shape seems to be a great size for blending under the eyes, but again, it didn't do a good job blending out my concealer. Overall, I did not like the product, nor do I recommend it. I think cosmetic wedges do a better job at blending out makeup. -
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup SPF 20
I picked this up while I was in the states and have never been more impressed with a drugstore foundation. Hands down, one of my TOP 3 drugstore foundations. I really do think it lives up to its claims of making your skin look healthy, natural, and... +
I picked this up while I was in the states and have never been more impressed with a drugstore foundation. Hands down, one of my TOP 3 drugstore foundations. I really do think it lives up to its claims of making your skin look healthy, natural, and luminous, yet not greasy. It blends into your skin flawlessly and leaves a very smooth complexion. The coverage is medium, while the consistency of the foundation is average-to-slightly thicker. Thus, a little goes a long way. I used it as an everyday foundation. It was my go-to. If anyone knows where I could get my hands on this in Canada, let me know. I would like to stock up!
Coverage: Medium
Consistency: Runny-thicker
Shades: 14
Finish: Dewy/Luminous
SPF: 20
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