curlysue10
Member Since: November 5, 2008Reviews
Dove Nutritive Solutions Daily Moisture Conditioner
I have curly/wavy hair that tends to be on the drier side. It is long and medium thickness. I wash my hair at night and have been drying it in a microfiber hair turban as I sleep. Because of this process my hair has become curlier, but is... +
I have curly/wavy hair that tends to be on the drier side. It is long and medium thickness. I wash my hair at night and have been drying it in a microfiber hair turban as I sleep. Because of this process my hair has become curlier, but is slightly more textured and can sometimes appear dry and frizzy as a result.
I am not especially loyal to any particular conditioner for some reason - I never do find that any of them make significant differences to my hair. Because of this I have used MANY over the years. I tried Dove conditioner in the past and remember finding it thin and ineffective. This improved formula is thicker and certainly did feel like it made a difference in my hair after just one use.
The bottle claims to make both short term and long term improvements to your hair. I can absolutely agree that it makes short term improvements as my hair was smoother and more manageable after one use. I only wash my hair about every 4 days so I feel like I didn't use it long enough to comment on the ability to make a difference in my hair's condition and texture long term.
For anyone who uses the "no poo" method of hair care (i.e. not using shampoo and only using conditioner) I feel that this conditioner would be suitable for you. I tried this once and my hair felt moisturized but my scalp also felt clean.
The scent is a light clean scent that doesn't linger after your shower. Overall I really like this conditioner and will happily keep using it.
-
NEUTROGENA® HYDRO BOOST Whipped Body Balm
I have normal skin and am extremely faithful to my Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion. It is one of the few beauty products that I always repurchase when it runs out without thinking twice. That said, I do enjoy the luxury of a good body butter or... +
I have normal skin and am extremely faithful to my Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion. It is one of the few beauty products that I always repurchase when it runs out without thinking twice. That said, I do enjoy the luxury of a good body butter or balm every now and then, particularly one that offers a nice scent.
The scent of this product is probably my favourite part. It is a nice, light, clean scent that lasts on your skin and is very pleasant without being too strong.
The body balm itself is smooth and almost gel like in texture. It absorbs surprisingly fast for something so moisturizing. I find that it is just SLIGHTLY sticky to the touch, even long after it dries. This is perhaps the only unpleasant thing about it, though I don't find it bothersome enough to have stopped using it.
It is labeled as being for "very dry skin" so I actually think I will like it even more in the winter. If you have used any of the Neutrogena Hydro Boost sunscreens (which have been my go-to this summer) this smells exactly like those, and the texture and feeling it leaves behind is identical to that as well.
Overall this is a good product, and a great price for the value (I think it will last a long time too because a little goes a long way). I would recommend it to a friend and would consider repurchasing.
-
Joico Hair Shake Liquid-to-Powder Texturizing Finisher
This is one of those little dream products that you didn't know you needed in your life. I have slightly dry, frizzy-ish wavy/curly dark hair. As such I usually gravitate towards products that are smoothing rather than ones labeled... +
This is one of those little dream products that you didn't know you needed in your life. I have slightly dry, frizzy-ish wavy/curly dark hair. As such I usually gravitate towards products that are smoothing rather than ones labeled texturizing.
This spray was a pleasant little surprise. They call it a "plumping powder into a versatile mist" that is supposed to build texture and volume without leaving a residue. I can honestly say that this is just what the spray does. You apply it onto dry hair which made it ideal for reviving my curls on the second and third days after a wash. You only need a couple of spritzes and it doesn't leave your hair sticky at all.
I have found myself using this product regularly since receiving it and will certainly repurchase it when it runs out. LOVE!
-
Garnier BB Cream 5-in-1 Miracle Skin Perfector (Combination to Oily Skin)
I tried Garnier's BB Cream years ago when it first came out. I imagine this is a new and improved formula from back then but unfortunately my skin reacted the same way now as it did the last time I used it (not well!) The "skin perfecting"... +
I tried Garnier's BB Cream years ago when it first came out. I imagine this is a new and improved formula from back then but unfortunately my skin reacted the same way now as it did the last time I used it (not well!)
The "skin perfecting" coverage is great. I find it to be ideal for that no-make up look; you can wear it like a tinted moisturizer without anything else on top and get medium coverage from it. It offers a nice matte finish which many people will love (I prefer a more dewy look). The finish also FEELS matte which is nice, especially in the summer heat. I also used it once under my mineral foundation and found that the two blended together effortlessly and provided a good full coverage look that wasn't too heavy.
My one complaint is that although it says it is non comedogenic and won't clog pores, it causes me to breakout like crazy. I wish this wasn't the case but it happens every time.
Also for a multi-tasking product it would be nice to see the addition of some SPF (though I'm sure this would only make the breaking out problem worse for some users).
Overall this is a good product that does what it says it is going to do. I would actually recommend it to a friend (with normal, non-sensitive skin) because it is a good product, it is just not for me.
-
COLAB Dry Shampoo Extreme Volume
I have naturally wavy/curly dark hair that I proudly only wash twice a week. As such, dry shampoo is a staple in my hair care routine. i have used every kind of dry shampoo you can think of, from the high end to the drugstore brands. Many of... +
I have naturally wavy/curly dark hair that I proudly only wash twice a week. As such, dry shampoo is a staple in my hair care routine.
i have used every kind of dry shampoo you can think of, from the high end to the drugstore brands. Many of them smell good but the white reside they leave behind is hard to get out. Some don't smell that good in the first place (who wants to actually SMELL like they have dirty hair?) Others work for the first half of your day but then your hair looks greasy by the afternoon. I am happy to report that this product does none of those things. It smells good, is easy to brush (or even finger comb) the white residue out and the results last throughout the day.
I wear wear my hair down probably two days in a row before either doing a messy bun or using my curling iron to make large waves. This dry shampoo works well in all of those styles.
My one and only complaint is that the reside it leaves behind on your scalp does sort of feel like build up. I have not known any other dry shampoos to give me this sensation but (sorry for the gross graphic details here) I found that if I scratched my head throughout the day I would end up with blackish reside under my nails. YUCK.
Overall I would certainly repurchase this dry shampoo or recommend it to a friend. It does what it claims to do and does it's job well. It is also a great price for the bottle compared to many other brands.
-
CND SolarOil™ Nail and Cuticle Care Pen
I am obsessive about having perfect nails and this oil is a great companion to my existing hand and nail skin care routine. It features an easy to use pen that clicks up the oil into the brush tip. It makes it easy to deliver the right amount of... +
I am obsessive about having perfect nails and this oil is a great companion to my existing hand and nail skin care routine.
It features an easy to use pen that clicks up the oil into the brush tip. It makes it easy to deliver the right amount of product right where you need it.
My favourite thing about this pen is the scent. It smells like sweet almond, even an amaretto type scent - heavenly.
My only complaint about the product is that it says to store it upright. I suppose this is so that it won't leak, however I like carrying cuticle oil pens in my purse for when you're inevitably sitting in a meeting or something and look down to notice your sad, ragged cuticles. I can't really keep it in my purse for convenient on-the-go use if it needs to be stored upright.
Overall an excellent product that I would certainly recommend to a friend, and would absolutely repurchase.
-
Clarins Water Lip Stain
I am seriously in LOVE with this product. I don't think I have tried anything from Clarins before but considering how great this is, I am going to have to investigate their full line of products. I am going to quote from the promotional material... +
I am seriously in LOVE with this product. I don't think I have tried anything from Clarins before but considering how great this is, I am going to have to investigate their full line of products. I am going to quote from the promotional material here because it says it all:
"A formula rich in active plant ingredients and an ultra-sensory lip tint delivers customizable and long-wearing colour, for a kiss-proof matte finish and a barely-there feel"
Cue 100 emoji. Seriously. Everything it says there is 100% accurate. It certainly is "ultra-sensory" - it smells and tastes like a jolly rancher. It is customizable in the sense that you can layer the product to create a richer deeper colour (more on this in a moment). It is long wearing, no doubt about this (again more on this later) and finally, barely there is an understatement. I have never - EVER - worn a lip product that I forgot I was wearing. This lip stain truly feels like having NOTHING on your lips. Even if the rest of the claims weren't true (which I assure you, they are), it would be worth it for me just based on this.
The texture of the lip stain is just slightly thicker than water. The one and only thing I don't love about it is the brush. It is like a nail polish bottle with a nail polish brush and I found this a little bit tricky for application. It is slightly forgiving in that if you go "out of the lines" you can quickly wipe it away before it dries (or I used a micellar water on a q-tip after it dried) but I would rather have a brush that allows for more precision so I don't have to worry about this in the first place.
One coat gives you the kind of look that feels like perfectly blotted lipstick, but it stays looking like that for hours. The colour I got is "Violet Water" and it is a great berry colour on my olive/neutral skin tone. Think grape popsicle here. With more than one coat you can build the colour up so that it looks like a deeper, richer, more opaque stain while still being matte.
If you have ever tried LipSense products you will have a feel for what I mean here. I found that if you allowed each layer to dry before applying the next, the colour payoff lasted longer. Also, the first time I applied it I did so to only my bottom lip and pressed my lips together. This worked and gave me a nice mild tint, but I found that when I applied a layer to each lip separately and allowed it to dry before pressing my lips together, again the colour payoff lasted longer.
I wanted to see how long the product would last without having to reapply and my best estimate is around four hours. I found that eating does diminish the colour ever so slightly (especially greasy foods) and talking a lot does as well. I applied lip balm and gloss over it a couple of times and was pleasantly surprised to find that this actually extended the wear instead of breaking the colour down.
I am over the moon about this product and not only want to repurchase it but want to look for the other colours as well. I would absolutely recommend it to a friend. Any lip colour lover will love this product!
-
Bourjois Twist Up The Volume Mascara 24HR
This mascara features a twistable brush that allows you to customize it either for thickening or lengthening. What a unique idea, I honestly can't believe no one has ever thought of this before! I generally gravitate towards thickening mascaras... +
This mascara features a twistable brush that allows you to customize it either for thickening or lengthening. What a unique idea, I honestly can't believe no one has ever thought of this before!
I generally gravitate towards thickening mascaras. For reference my two loves are (drugstore) CoverGirl LashBlash and (luxury) Benefit's They're Real Mascara.
I like this mascara but I don't love it. After playing with it for a few days, trying a few different looks, I found the process that works best for my needs. Instead of just using the thickening or lengthening brush on their own, I found that starting out with the thickening brush to coat my lashes, followed by the lengthening brush to separate them worked the best.
I did find that it flaked ever so slightly as the day went on, but not horribly. I tend to like mascaras after they have been exposed to air for a couple of weeks and have thickened a bit (just me?) so by that standard I have to wait and see if my love for this product grows. As of right now I find that it is a little sticky and wet, and my lashes clumped together a bit more than I like and am used to with my other two FAVE mascaras.
I will certainly continue to use this mascara and would consider repurchasing. I would recommend it to a friend to try, simply for the unique experience of using the twist up brush.
-
Vichy Pureté Thermale Perfecting Toner
I am a complete skin care junkie and use a number of products on my skin each day. For reference, I have slightly sensitive, slightly acne-prone skin. My skin care routine in the morning consists of a cleanser, serum, and lotion while in the... +
I am a complete skin care junkie and use a number of products on my skin each day. For reference, I have slightly sensitive, slightly acne-prone skin. My skin care routine in the morning consists of a cleanser, serum, and lotion while in the evening I use a micellar water to remove my make-up, followed by a cleanser, AHA product, serum, and lotion. In general I use Simple, Aveeno, Cetaphil, and Body Shop products on my face.
As I generally use a micellar water to remove my make-up on a daily basis I do not tend to use toner but for the sake of trying this product out I decided to forego this step to use toner after I cleansed instead.
I am very happy with this toner overall. A little goes a long way so the bottle will last for quite a while - great value! I love the mild, pleasant scent but can see how this may bother some. My skin felt clean and tingly after I used this, it did not sting at all. It felt really gentle which I appreciated (that horrible astringent stinging feeling is the reason I don't generally love toners). My favourite thing about this one is that I swiped it over my eyelids to get some of the residue left on my eyes from my mascara and it not only took it off but didn't sting at all! What a win!
I received this toner free to try from the Product Review Club. I would consider repurchasing and would definitely recommend it to a friend.
-
Vichy Mineral 89 Skin Fortifying Daily Booster
I am a complete skin care junkie and use a number of products on my skin each day. For reference, I have slightly sensitive, slightly acne-prone skin. My skin care routine in the morning consists of a cleanser, serum, and lotion while in the... +
I am a complete skin care junkie and use a number of products on my skin each day. For reference, I have slightly sensitive, slightly acne-prone skin. My skin care routine in the morning consists of a cleanser, serum, and lotion while in the evening I use a micellar water to remove my make-up, followed by a cleanser, AHA product, serum, and lotion. In general I use Simple, Aveeno, Cetaphil, and Body Shop products on my face.
I was super excited to try this serum as part of the Product Review Club because I trust Vichy as skin care experts and I feel confident in the fact that they promote their products as being hypoallergenic and good for sensitive skin.
This serum did not disappoint. The gel like texture soaks into skin quickly and does not leave any sticky residue. When I first started using it I used it morning and night but did find that this was a bit too much for my skin (it initially caused a tiny bit of redness around already irritated parts of my skin) so I reduced it to only once a day, with my night time routine. I used it for several weeks straight and am pleased to say that I have been receiving compliments on how glowy, healthy and radiant my skin looks (not kidding, all of these words have been used). I don't think you can get any more definitive proof of the effectiveness of a product than this!
Super happy overall and would definitely repurchase and recommend to a friend.
-
Looking for more?
Check out our other review websites:
