LawyerGirl
Member Since: July 21, 2007Reviews
Proactiv Solution Kit
I purchased this about three years ago after seeing a friend get good results from using it. It works, I hadn't been following an acne skin care regime at the time. I've tried many other products since and Proactiv doesn't work any... +
I purchased this about three years ago after seeing a friend get good results from using it. It works, I hadn't been following an acne skin care regime at the time. I've tried many other products since and Proactiv doesn't work any better/worse than a lot of other less expensive generic brands. After using two full kits of Proactiv, I switch to other products. I currently use just a salicylic acid cleanser, an oil-free moisturiser day and night, and a 5% benzoyl peroxide solution on my face at night.
Pros: easy-to-use 3 step system, smells pleasant (except for the mask), lasts longer than the two month supply it's supposed to be
Cons: Relatively pricey, refining mask smells awful!!!, benzoyl peroxide will bleach certain clothes/bedsheets.
I found this commentary from the Derm Blog to be particularly enlightening about Proactiv and why it works:
"Do you use Proactiv®? [...] Proactiv was developed by two dermatologists; its success lies not in the actual product but in the way they have you use it.
It is an absolute truth that almost any acne treatment works and almost every acne treatment fails. It depends on one thing: Do you actually use it?
The active ingredients in Proactiv are the antibacterial benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid, a mild acid that helps skin exfoliate. These ingredients are available in generic forms at drugstores and supermarkets throughout America.
“You can get the same amount of benzoyl peroxide at a drugstore at a fraction of the cost and it will work as well, provided that you use it,” said Dr. Hilary E. Baldwin, the vice chairwoman of the dermatology department at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn.
So why do people buy Proactiv for $40 when they can do the same thing for $4? [...]
Proactiv encourages you to be, well, proactive about your acne. By dividing the treatment into a three step process, it helps teens (and adults) stay on the program. The creators of Proactiv understand that the key to treating acne is you must treat the acne; if you don’t use your products everyday, then they won’t work. This is surprisingly hard to do."
Bottom line? If you don't care about cost and you've got moderate acne; sure, go for it. Otherwise, go for the less expensive generic drugstore brands that contain benzoyl peroxide. They work just as well, you just need to make sure you're using it consistently.
-
Citizen Jeans
My favourite place to shop for denim online. They've got an amazing selection of brands, designs, washes. They do an awesome job of describing fit and sizing, which is especially important for online shopping. I also like how they providfe... +
My favourite place to shop for denim online. They've got an amazing selection of brands, designs, washes. They do an awesome job of describing fit and sizing, which is especially important for online shopping. I also like how they providfe several views of the jeans. Best of all there's free shipping and free returns, even to Canada! One final tip: check for discount codes (just do a simple google search) online to see if there are any active codes, there are usually a few out there that could save you a good amount. -
LUSH Coalface Cleanser
The coal specks in this soap act as a good exfoliator but the grains are too harsh to apply the bar directly on my face. I moisten both my face and hands first with water, rub the bar between my palms, and apply the lather onto my face. The best... +
The coal specks in this soap act as a good exfoliator but the grains are too harsh to apply the bar directly on my face. I moisten both my face and hands first with water, rub the bar between my palms, and apply the lather onto my face. The best thing about this soap though is that it really does leave my skin squeaky clean and is great for the summer when my skin does tend to get more oily. I always follow up with a moisturiser though so I haven't had the problem (I've read quite a few reviews on Make-up Alley) of this product being too drying. On the flip side, I can't say it really reduces oil on my face anymore than my Clinique liquid cleanser for Type III skin does.
My biggest peeve about this product though is the smell. Unlike the website's description of 'calming' and 'soothing', I was inititally very repulsed by the smell. True, after using it for about 3 weeks, I have grown accustomed to it. Nevertheless, I still don't find it pleasant, merely, tolerable. Fortunately, the smell doesn't linger and after rinsing, I am fairly content with how clean my skin feels. In the end, while a reasonable product to try, I would prefer my regular (less offensive smelling) liquid cleanser.
-
LUSH Honey I Washed The Kids Soap
This soap just melts in the shower producing a very light lather that leaves my skin feeling very smooth. It is a soap and will be a little more drying on the skin than say a body wash enriched with shea butter; I would compare it to Dove or Olay... +
This soap just melts in the shower producing a very light lather that leaves my skin feeling very smooth. It is a soap and will be a little more drying on the skin than say a body wash enriched with shea butter; I would compare it to Dove or Olay soap. A lovely feature to this product is the bees wax exfoliating layer which feels amazing when you run it over your skin! Do keep this product dry between uses though as it does melt instantly when it comes into contact with water and unfortunately does not last as long as regular soap. I'd like it better if the smell lingered on the skin but the fragrance doesn't linger much after you wash it off.
See http://lawyergirl-intraining.blogspot.com/2007/07/trial-worthy-lush-honey-i-washed-kids.html for full review.
-
Clinique High Impact Mascara
The best mascara I've ever purchased! I have thin/short lashes and this product remedies BOTH problems in just ONE coat. It plumps and lengthens my lashes beautifully. It has fabulous staying power throughout the day and I haven't had any... +
The best mascara I've ever purchased!
I have thin/short lashes and this product remedies BOTH problems in just ONE coat. It plumps and lengthens my lashes beautifully. It has fabulous staying power throughout the day and I haven't had any problems with it melting off or leaving flakes/smudges under my eyes even in the humid summer weather.
It is a little pricey just for mascara but this product usually makes up an item in the bonus gift sets at the Bay/Sears. It's a good idea to stock up on any Clinique essentials at that time and score this as part of the free gift. The sample size is large enough to last 3 months (the recommended shelf life for mascaras).
-
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream SPF 15
I don't even notice a difference in the texture of this cream over a one without an SPF. BIG plus! It works in a more direct way to combat wrinkles with retinol. I'm not really at a stage where I am worrying about lines/wrinkles (but it's never... +
I don't even notice a difference in the texture of this cream over a one without an SPF. BIG plus!
It works in a more direct way to combat wrinkles with retinol. I'm not really at a stage where I am worrying about lines/wrinkles (but it's never too late to start!) and can't comment much on this cream's effectiveness on them; I do notice that my skin feels really smooth and soft after using it (yes I know, most moisturisers are supposed to do that!!).
Other added perks: It's oil free so it's great from my t-zone yet moisturizes enough to keep the dry-proned areas (cheeks) of my face happy. It is a cream so it does have somewhat of a thicker consistency than lotions, it melts with body heat though and is easy to apply and definitely not sticky.
-
Looking for more?
Check out our other review websites:
