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Member Since: May 6, 2011Reviews
Ardene Aco Nailpolish
I'm no nail polish aficionado, but I've tried a good number of nail polishes in my day, and this nail polish definitely stands out - it is the worst I've ever tried! I won the ACO Fairy Dust as part of a contest, and the first thing that stood out... +
I'm no nail polish aficionado, but I've tried a good number of nail polishes in my day, and this nail polish definitely stands out - it is the worst I've ever tried!
I won the ACO Fairy Dust as part of a contest, and the first thing that stood out to the me was the tacky glitter and the extremely hard to read ingredients list. It just screams that it was cheaply made -- other dark polishes that I own have the ingredients printed in a light color, instead of going dark-on-dark and confusing the consumer. While it seems that ACO polishes are 3-free (or perhaps higher), I'm not exactly sure, as its ingredients aren't posted anywhere, and I'm unable to clearly read more than a handful of words on the ingredients list on the polish itself.
I was also unimpressed with the brush -- it's not thin but easy to apply like Julep, nor thick and goes on easily in one swipe like Rimmel. It's just a thin, hard to manage brush. Of course, I haven't been impressed with many nail polish brushes, so if you're good at doing your nails with even the worst brushes (and still keen on purchasing ACO polishes after reading this review), this shouldn't be too bad.
But the thing that made this the worst polish ever was the smell. I am well-acquainted with the traditional chemical-y nail polish smell -- it smells really bad, but I can stomach it. However, this one is beyond anything I could ever have imagined! It's like you open 20 nail polishes at once, and add some melting plastic and a couple of gluesticks to the mix! Seriously, if you can, open this at the store before you buy it to see for yourself! In fact, I think that I will toss this straight into the garbage (though I'm not sure if that's a safe way to dispose of this surely-toxic substance!), yet I've never contemplated doing that to ANYTHING I've owned.
So basically, there's nothing positive that I'd say about this product. (Btw, for those who are curious, the Fairy Dust looks like purple glitter, but it's just a clear polish with some glitter, plus horrible consistency.) I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. And to those who are still determined to try ACO polishes, don't say I didn't warn ya!
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Rimmel London Pro Base and Top Coat Nail Polish
This is the first (and only) basecoat and/or topcoat that I've purchased (about a year ago). I was hesistant to review this product now since I have no basis for comparison yet, but I figured that since I can't justify going out and getting another... +
This is the first (and only) basecoat and/or topcoat that I've purchased (about a year ago). I was hesistant to review this product now since I have no basis for comparison yet, but I figured that since I can't justify going out and getting another basecoat and/or topcoat before I'm done with this product (which will take another year or not), I shall review this product now. :)
Firstly, I bought this product on a whim at Shoppers. If you want to save a few bucks, don't do that! I've seen it a few dollars cheaper (for $3-4 instead of the $6-7 that I spent) at various drugstores.
Price aside, the thing I really liked about this product is its brush. It's really wide and I'm able to cover my nails with 1 swipe -- 2 at most. (My thumb, however, needs 3, just to even things out.) Because I don't need to go over my nails multiple times with the brush, everything's much simpler and quicker and there's no excess mess. Though occasionally, some dust particles are brushed onto my nails along with the polish, and I'll need to swipe at my nail a few times to get rid of the particle. This product is easy to apply and dries very quickly -- within minutes.
I like to use this product alone, or under glitter polishes. Alone, I usually use 1 or 2 coats, though with two coats it's easier to see that the polish is peeling after a few days. By the way, this product definitely doesn't hold up for 10 days -- I consider myself lucky if the polish isn't peeling or showing signs of wear after more than 3 days. Under glitter polishes, this product makes removing the glitter polishes a lot easier.
I don't own any particular dark polishes, so I've never experienced any stains on my nails due to them and I can't say how well this product protects the nails against darker polishes. My nails aren't brittle or damaged either, so I don't know if this product has any magical nail-healing abilities.
So all in all, this product isn't super amazing, except for its wide brush. I don't think I'd repurchase this product (I'd love to try out other basecoats topcoats), though for people who haven't experienced a wide-brushed polish, I'd definitely recommend this product to them!
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Crabtree & Evelyn Sweet Tea Lip Tint
I bought this with another C&E;product as an impulse buy during a sale, and I regret purchasing both of them. Even though this only cost me $4, it's so terrible that I don't know how anyone could buy them at regular price, if at all. When I first... +
I bought this with another C&E;product as an impulse buy during a sale, and I regret purchasing both of them. Even though this only cost me $4, it's so terrible that I don't know how anyone could buy them at regular price, if at all.
When I first smelled it at the store, it seemed the least offensive out of all the lip glosses, and I was really excited to buy it. However, after applying it to my lips at home, I found that although it smelled nice, on my lips, it was a whole different story. Yes, it's a bit minty and sweet, but there's this chemical or plastic taste too that makes me want to wipe it off immediately. It's also very sticky and doesn't do anything for my lips except make it shiny. I've had it for a year now, and I've only used it twice - both within a month of purchasing it (I remember it distinctly due to my bad experiences each time).
Pros:
- It makes my lips shiny
- It has fairly nice packaging
Cons:
- Everything else
It's unfortunate that I had such a bad experience with this product, but now I know that I should always thoroughly research everything I buy - no more impulse buys for me! As for this product, I would not recommend it to anyone.
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Bath & Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar Body Lotion
Although this is one of the few B&BW;scents that don't smell "too much" to me, it's not very moisturizing. It applies easily, but it doesn't seem to "sink in" and actually moisturize my skin. It feels as though it just sits on top of my skin and... +
Although this is one of the few B&BW;scents that don't smell "too much" to me, it's not very moisturizing. It applies easily, but it doesn't seem to "sink in" and actually moisturize my skin. It feels as though it just sits on top of my skin and gives off the vanilla fragrance, since when I wash it off, I can feel the layer of moisturizer come off. However, it seems that the scent remains, which isn't as annoying with this one as it is with other B&BW;lotion scents, but since I prefer unscented products, it still bothers me. Also, I did some research and found out that the ingredients for this product aren't that great either - it contains cetyl and ceterayl alcohol, as well as a few parabens!
If you love scented things, and don't mind letting your skin absorb some junk, then you could go and buy this product. However, I wouldn't recommend this product to anyone.
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Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15
I bought this since I wanted a daily moisturizer that would also protect me from the sun. However, my face became red and puffy and my hands developed a rash after I applied this protect. So if you're allergic to chemical sunscreens, stay away from... +
I bought this since I wanted a daily moisturizer that would also protect me from the sun. However, my face became red and puffy and my hands developed a rash after I applied this protect. So if you're allergic to chemical sunscreens, stay away from this product! I realized am allergic to all chemical sunscreens, to a degree, and my reaction to this product tends towards the severe side of the scale. (I also tried using it again, just to confirm that I am indeed allergic to it -- silly me -- and yup, I'm definitely allergic to it.)
My allergic reaction aside, the actual product itself isn't that terrible. The consistency is creamy but light, and can be easily spread. The price is also pretty good for the amount of product, and had I not reacted to this product, I may have bought it again.
I guess that I would recommend this product to people who are not allergic to chemical sunscreens, but the low SPF does worry me a bit, as any type of product containing sunscreen ingredients should be reapplied often for maximum effectiveness, and lower-SPF products should be reapplied even more frequently.
On a side note, there is something funny about this product, actually - its ingredients. On the bottle, it only shows the active ingredients (avobenzone and octocrylene), but none of the other "inactive" ingredients. This is the only product that I've encountered so far that doesn't list all of its ingredients on the label...
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Veet Ready to Use Wax Strips
I bought Veet's EasyGrip Ready-to-Use Wax Strips with Aloe Vera on sale, so it was a good deal. I've seen this wax on sale at lots of places - Walmart, the Real Canadian Superstore, London Drugs, etc - so don't feel as though you have to buy from... +
I bought Veet's EasyGrip Ready-to-Use Wax Strips with Aloe Vera on sale, so it was a good deal. I've seen this wax on sale at lots of places - Walmart, the Real Canadian Superstore, London Drugs, etc - so don't feel as though you have to buy from Shoppers at their really overpriced price.
Before Veet, I had used Parissa's Wax Strips, but after receiving the Veet sample pack, I decided to try out Veet. Whereas I could only squeeze out 2 waxes per strip with Parissa, with Veet, I could do half a dozen, or more - amazing! The first 2 waxes with Veet are the easiest, but after that, if you press/rub down well enough (I use the side of a comb), you can do another 5 waxes, with the same effectiveness.
As with the claim of "up to 4 weeks of smoothness", I've NEVER had that with ANY waxing experience. The hair is back within a week, and I'm pretty sure that my technique isn't to blame - I've watched videos, followed instructions, and have waxed many times. I think my hair simply breaks most of the time, or I haven't waxed diligently enough to sync up the growth of my hair (if there is such a thing). Also, despite its claims, these wax strips aren't very effective at removing short hair, so it's hard to achieve perfect smoothness with waxing alone.
I have yet to try other waxing products as I've discovered the joy of shaving, but if I had to go out and buy more wax strips, I would definitely go back to Veet. I've heard that between Veet and Nair, Veet wins out, and based on my experience with Veet, there's no question for me. Just try to have another type of wax-removing oil at hand (I love Parissa's oil) as Veet's "Perfect Finish Wipes" are a joke - they're rough on the skin and it's hard to fully use up the oil, causing you to open another Finish Wipe. As such, you'll definitely use up the Finish Wipes before you use up the wax strips.
Tip: use a blowdryer to heat up the wax before you peel them apart - it's easier than rubbing them between your hands and warms the wax better this way.
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St. Ives® Timeless Skin Mineral Clay Firming Mask
This was the first mask of any kind I've tried, and so I was surprised at the "tightness" I was feeling when I had the mask on. It didn't bother me too much, except that I felt kind of awkward since even with the smallest facial movement I would... +
This was the first mask of any kind I've tried, and so I was surprised at the "tightness" I was feeling when I had the mask on. It didn't bother me too much, except that I felt kind of awkward since even with the smallest facial movement I would feel a tugging sensation on the mask. This product has a minty scent, and dries really quickly. In fact, if you want a think layer, just spread it on thick in one go - in my experience, if you go back to retrieve more product after spreading on a thin layer, that thin layer will have already dried by the time you're ready to layer more product on top of it, which does make the second layer very effect (at least in my opinion).
The first time I tried this product, I was very happy with the results. My skin felt cleaner, softer, and smoother than before and this product also seemed to have gotten rid of a lot of blackheads around my nose. But after using it a few more times afterwards (a few weeks or months apart), I've come to realize that this product doesn't seem to yield ANY noticeable result. Sure, it still makes my skin feel cleaner, but it doesn't seem to have drawn out impurities like clay masks should. Nor does it do anything for the blackheads around my nose.
I think that after I finish using up this tube, I'll try the Queen Julep mask, and then if that one proves to be a disappointment too, then maybe my expectations are too high, and I'll come back to edit this review. But right now, I'm not feeling the love for this product, and I don't think that I would recommend this to anyone.
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Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 15
I first tried this product from a sample packet for a few days, and found it unnecessary for my skin at that time. My skin is pretty much normal, except it's a tad oiler on the forehead and a bit drier on my cheeks, so usually, I don't need these... +
I first tried this product from a sample packet for a few days, and found it unnecessary for my skin at that time. My skin is pretty much normal, except it's a tad oiler on the forehead and a bit drier on my cheeks, so usually, I don't need these kinds of extra-creamy moisturizers.
But then I went on vacation, directly applied some chemical sunscreen to my bare skin for a few days, and the skin around my cheeks started peeling! (I was also applying another new type of moisturizer to my skin after the sunscreen, but it didn't seem to be very moisturizing, at least not against the sunscreen.) I was horrified and I no clue what to do, until I remembered that I brought a deluxe sample of this product with me on this trip (it was actually supposed to be a gift with a few other items). I applied this product in the morning and before bed, and within a few days, my skin was back to normal. I was amazed.
I think this product resembles a cream more than a moisturizer, and to this day, its overall consistency and smell reminds me strongly of kids' sunscreens (because I haven't encounted a kids' sunscreen with an elegant, smooth, and matte finish). This product is on the thicker side of moisturizers/creams, and leaves my face very oily-looking afterwards. I didn't mind this too much on my vacation, but back home, I think that if I were to use this product, I'd use it only at night, or I'd just smear it on my cheeks during the day - not my entire face. My skin doesn't seem to absorb this product very fast, and even after a night's sleep, if I put my finger to my face, my finger kind of "sticks" to my skin. However, I only need about a pea-size amount to cover my entire face, which is good, considering its price.
On a side note, if I use this product a few hours after using my chemical sunscreen, there is this tingling feeling, which I'm assuming is some ingredient in the sunscreen reacting with some other ingredient in this product. But my face hasn't shown any outward sign of a bad reaction - to either the mixing of the ingredients or to the ingredients of this product itself - which is always a good sign. In fact, I'm kind of surprised that this seemingly very thick and greasy product hasn't made my sometimes-unpredictable skin act up! (My facial skin is relatively low maintenance, but it always reacts, to some degree, with any kind of chemical sunscreen.)
I would definitely recommend this product to a friend! (If you're hesistant about the price or its results, you could head over to your local Kiehl's and ask for some samples.)
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Aquafina Plus+ Vitamins 10 Cal
I used 2 coupons to get the Fuji Apple Pear and Acai Fruit Punch for free, and thank god that I didn't use my own money to buy them, since they tasted terrible. The drinks give you a taste of flavor that's FAR from satisfying and then leaves you... +
I used 2 coupons to get the Fuji Apple Pear and Acai Fruit Punch for free, and thank god that I didn't use my own money to buy them, since they tasted terrible. The drinks give you a taste of flavor that's FAR from satisfying and then leaves you hanging. It's like a plate of chicken that's barely seasoned, which, trust me, tastes absolutely disgusting. The lack of adequate flavoring may be due to its 10-calorie limit, but I'd prefer a higher calorie allowance, or no flavoring at all (yes, plain water would be MUCH better). However, I am not a person who is concerned with my diet, and I love sweetened things, so that might explain my low rating. I rarely drink these kinds of "flavored water", but I remember vitaminwater being much tastier; though a bottle of vitaminwater has 100 calories, so drink with caution if you're worried about your diet! I would not recommend this product to anyone, but if you really like the idea of "10 Cal", then I suppose you could add some artificial sweetener or honey to this product and see if that tastes better (I have not tried this out). -
Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light Conditioner
I received this product for free as part of the ChickAdvisor Product Review Club. I really don't understand why we have to review the Aqua Light Shampoo and Conditioner seperately - maybe some people only use the shampoo? - and it's hard for me to... +
I received this product for free as part of the ChickAdvisor Product Review Club. I really don't understand why we have to review the Aqua Light Shampoo and Conditioner seperately - maybe some people only use the shampoo? - and it's hard for me to say which result is linked to which product, but I'll try my best.
Like its accompanying shampoo, this conditioner has a really nice scent - the kind that says "clean" and "fruity" and makes me wish that I were the one using it if I smell it at the showers at the pool. Its texture is like any other conditioner, though I think this one is easier to spread around (I used to need A LOT of conditioner to cover all of my hair, but then again, I had long hair back then). The first time I used it, I was impressed since usually, when I wash off the conditioner, all the bubbles block the drain, but that time, it didn't happen at all! But then I used it again, and this time, it was like the average conditioner, which was a bit disappointing.
Like I mentioned in my review of the Aqua Light Shampoo, these two products made my hair silkier, lighter, and more manageable the day after sleeping with wet hair. I'm pretty sure the fact that my hair was more manageable was mostly due to this conditioner, and so in that regard, I'm pretty happy.
If you have normal, low maintenance hair like I do, I don't think that you'll notice a huge difference with this Aqua Light line. I'm more inclined to buy this conditioner in the future due to my hair being more manageable, but I'll have see how long my hair can last without washing and not looking greasy. Its regular price isn't that great either, so I think I may only come back to this product in a few years (after trying out at least another half a dozen shampoos conditioners).
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