SanjaMac
Member Since: August 10, 2013Reviews
Dior Creme de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm
I am ashamed to count all the little fancy jars around my house - By Terry, Nuxe, La Mer, Givenchy, Dior...I have pretty much tried them all and cringed at the checkout each time but obviously not enough since the little pots are multiplying &... +
I am ashamed to count all the little fancy jars around my house - By Terry, Nuxe, La Mer, Givenchy, Dior...I have pretty much tried them all and cringed at the checkout each time but obviously not enough since the little pots are multiplying & taking over my humble home.
Dior's Creme de Rose was a no-brainer for me because i adore rose scents and the vintage pot made me feel all warm & fuzzy...The texture is very balm-like, there is no stickiness or waxy feel, no weird flavor, the lips feel nourished and the lovely rose scent doesnt linger for too long (boo for me!). Instead of the typical glossy finish i would describe this as more of a matte subdued shine, making it ideal as a lipstick or gloss base.
One issue i had with this was the unexpected & surprising color change in the pot itself. When i first purchased it, the balm was a rosy pink shade but after a few months the colour transformed to bright yellow!!! I was told that the reason was oxidation of the rose oils, which are key in the formulation...There were no other changes - the scent, texture, feel and performance stayed the same but i cant deny that i was a little disturbed by the neon yellow shade.
It might seem like i am being petty but that's the only reason i wouldn't repurchase this again. Even though the color change didnt affect the effectiveness of the balm, I was put off to say the least. The price tag, the brand and rave reviews made me expect more. So even though i am happy i bought it, i wasn't completely wowed so i found myself using it less and less. Then again a few things can compete with my HERO By Terry Baume de Rose :)
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Dairy Queen Blizzard Cakes
Dairy Queen Cakes have always been the "best" picks when it comes to Ice Cream Dessert options for all kinds of occasions in our family. Whether it was a birthday, graduation or other milestone celebration, Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake was always the... +
Dairy Queen Cakes have always been the "best" picks when it comes to Ice Cream Dessert options for all kinds of occasions in our family. Whether it was a birthday, graduation or other milestone celebration, Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake was always the most requested option and really never dissapointed us in terms of taste, quality and obviously the personalization added major bonus points! I am not a fan of chocolate ice cream or fudge and despite the fact that the cakes had that component I always felt that eating the "white vanilla" part was worth it regardless! Craziness, right?
When I realized that Dairy Queen Cakes were now available in "blizzard flavors" I was over the moon and in a matter of seconds I already knew what my pick would be - Strawberry Cheese Quake, hands down!!! I was so excited about the news that I knew I wasn't about to wait for a "special occasion" to treat my crew to something that delicious so last weekend the DQ Cake was ordered, picked up, delivered and devoured in a simple and completely delicious "Happy Saturday" party!.
I knew it was going to be great - its a blizzard after all! I have never-ever had a sub-par ice cream dessert at the Dairy Queen so there was no doubt that we were in for a treat! However the blizzard cake was AMAZING and quite possibly the BEST dessert of our lives - so much so that I almost regretted sharing its goodness with everyone...A cake that made me feel greedy WOW!
It was creamy, true to its flavor, luscious, rich but not overly sweet, stuffed to the brim with strawberries, cheesecake pieces, graham crust crumbles and blended perfectly, beautifully designed and good to the very last drop!
I have a feeling that from now on every cake in our house will be compared to this Dairy Queen perfection - and it will lose no matter how its made or where it came from...But that's OK - it just means that all of our cakes will now have to be DQ Blizzard Cakes! And that is more than OK with me!
Go try it - absolutely no regrets here :-)
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Quaker Harvest Crunch Quinoa Bar
Snacking is very important in our household! Choosing healthy options for said snacks is a priority as well meaning that I am always on the lookout for something that satisfies both criteria. Unfortunately in my area the variety of natural brands is... +
Snacking is very important in our household! Choosing healthy options for said snacks is a priority as well meaning that I am always on the lookout for something that satisfies both criteria. Unfortunately in my area the variety of natural brands is extremely limited and what actually available is expensive and for the lack of a better term "plain weird".
Granolas and cereals are a great option to consider and the fact that a brand like Quaker has released these "healthy" bars is commendable, especially when you consider that there is no compromise between nutrition and taste.
I feel like Quinoa has become somewhat of a "trendy" healthy ingredient so I wondered whether it was just hype and marketing that has pushed it up the food chain. However I kept an open mind!
The Quaker Healthy Harvest Quinoa Bars impressed me so much so that after trying these for one day I went and purchased more boxes right away. These bars are chewy but still crunchy and the sweetness of the chocolate itself balances the taste perfectly. The Quinoa is tasty and really adds to the "fullness" factor so I feel satisfied but not stuffed - perfect for lunches, hikes, work breaks, picnics and fooling your kids in to snacking responsibly.
After trying these I would have to say that Quinoa Bars are our new favourites and since they are so readily available means that they are likely to remain on our grocery list for good :-)
Well done! Try them - no regrets :-)
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Dermalogica Skin Clearing Wash
This cleanser turned out to be a perfect match for my skin despite the fact that my initial experience with it was less than stellar and i almost passed it on to someone else! When i first used this I was really surprised that a Dermalogica product... +
This cleanser turned out to be a perfect match for my skin despite the fact that my initial experience with it was less than stellar and i almost passed it on to someone else!
When i first used this I was really surprised that a Dermalogica product preformed so-so badly! It was a mess - not only did i feel it dried out my skin but the texture alone was a total turn off as well (goo is putting it mildly!). No matter how much i rinsed after each wash i could never get rid of the filmy residue left behind :-( I was disappointed to say the least and to make matters even worse i had purchased the JUMBO size so i thought i was stuck with yet another skincare "find" for the back of the bathroom cabinet (the black hole!).
Enter the Clarisonic Mia (amazing)! As i was experimenting with different cleansers that would work with my MIA i remembered the Clearing wash and decided to put it in rotation (for scientific purposes lol).
WOW!!! I was stunned! This time around the Clearing wash felt completely different - it foamed up lighly, rinsed easily and best of all my skin was calm and glowy after each wash :)
It might be that when i was using it with my fingers it wasnt able to emulsify or i could have been using too much? Who knows? And Who Cares? As long as it works i am not questioning it :)
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Mavala Double Lash
Bottom Line People - This Stuff WORKS!!! I have tried almost all lash treatments available and this is by far the most effective one! I am not a big fan of the mascara-like wand applicator since i am super paranoid of contamination...and eye... +
Bottom Line People - This Stuff WORKS!!!
I have tried almost all lash treatments available and this is by far the most effective one! I am not a big fan of the mascara-like wand applicator since i am super paranoid of contamination...and eye infections are not pretty! However the results and the fact that the price is more than reasonable (so i dont feel bad about replacing the bottle every couple of months) make it easy to overlook that minor "flaw" of an otherwise amazing product. I suppose one can also use disposable wands each time too!
I know that Mavala claims that results can take 2-3 months to be noticable but honestly i saw changes within the first few weeks. I cant say i have ever used anything else that exceeded its own promises like that :) My lashes are "lushier", longer, stronger and even the small gap on the bottom lashline is getting filled in with new baby strands. Yay! And once i put mascara on the effects are even more magnified :)
I am one happy customer!
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Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Hydrating Treatment Mask
eing a skincare junkie, always looking for the next "it" treatment and trying promising "miracle potions" left and right - I sometimes get my complexion in trouble :( My bathroom sink is littered with all kinds of cleansers, scrubs, toners and... +
eing a skincare junkie, always looking for the next "it" treatment and trying promising "miracle potions" left and right - I sometimes get my complexion in trouble :( My bathroom sink is littered with all kinds of cleansers, scrubs, toners and exfoliating treatments...its a disaster area that i am always trying to organize, downsize and arrange in some kind of order...Resistance is futile and i am messy so its always a work in progress!
So when i go overboard with exfoliation, AHA treatments, acne creams or simply get a mysterious rash (yuck!) this mask is my HERO! No matter how much i mess up Skin Recovery always soothes any redness, flakies or mini-burns. Its gentle, not greasy, fragrance-free and thanks to the gel-like texture it feels great on the skin so much so that i often forget that i have it on my face. Thats no easy feat!
Aside from the soothing properties i have found that this mask works even better when paired with either a clay or deep cleansing mask. The purifying effects derived from the cleansing mask are complimented by the hydration of this one. It seems to restore skin balance after any treatment, soothing, moisturizing and softening the complexion almost instantly.
Did i mention that this is also priced very reasonably and using light layers insures that a tube will last you a long-long time!
I will hoard this always! Just in case they discontinue it or needlesly change the formula :( Paula's Choice i am once again your #1 FAN!
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LUSH Buche de Noel Cleanser
This was a complete impulse purchase, spurred no doubt by the Holiday excitement, yummy smell and the fact that i was really-really hungry :) Unfortunately this is just one more product that i am hooked on and cant get easily year-round. Grrrr! I... +
This was a complete impulse purchase, spurred no doubt by the Holiday excitement, yummy smell and the fact that i was really-really hungry :) Unfortunately this is just one more product that i am hooked on and cant get easily year-round. Grrrr! I know that this being a seasonal item makes it a "IT" product right now but i really wish LUSH takes the hint already and makes it permanent offering (along with the Snow Fairy shower gel!)!
Most people compare this to Angels on Bare Skin and i will agree that they are definitively related but i think at best they may be cousins...The texture is similar of course but the Buche de Noel is definitively more gritty and smells so-so-so much better. Just like ABS this cleanser is kind of messy to use but practice helps so after a few tries i am becoming a pro. A pinch in the palm of my hand, mixed with a few drops of warm water is all it takes but make sure to apply it on each face area individually. Gentle massage is all my skin can take otherwise if i scrub too hard abrasions are sure to follow. I also love that it rinses easily and doesnt leave my skin red and blotchy like some of the other LUSH cleansers (Coal Face i am looking at you!).
The reason i love this so much is because it actually reminds me of another staple in my skin care cabinet - Dr.Hauschka's Cleansing Cream! Must be the almonds but LUSH obviously smells much better :)
This doesnt leave my skin dry but i think it might not be suitable for the very-dry skin types, it exfoliates nicely but doesnt replace a facial scrub so it can be used daily although i wouldnt recommend it 2x a day - just once is enough!
The only bad thing is that it makes me crave sweets every time...and i dont know how to bake..or cook..really...
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Philosophy The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash
First of all - Philosophy and me have never been able to get along! Pretty much every single product i tried by them caused some kind of a problem so eventually i gave up on the brand and purposly avoided everything they made...even the yummy... +
First of all - Philosophy and me have never been able to get along! Pretty much every single product i tried by them caused some kind of a problem so eventually i gave up on the brand and purposly avoided everything they made...even the yummy smelling stuff!
Enter the Microdelivery wash!!! I received my first bottle as a Christmas stocking stuffer a few years ago - grateful and gracious as always i thanked my Mom and proceeded to push this way-way back in the bathroom cabinet. During clear-out time i stumbled on the bottle again and decided it to pass it on to a cousin who was eager to try anything beauty-related (ahhh to be 15 again!). I dont know what posessed me to try this but i am very happy i did - i liked it so much that its now a staple cleanser, used almost daily and luckily clarisonic compatible :)
For reference my skin is combination dry, clog-prone and has some rosacia in the cheek/nose area. So for me this worked like a charm - cleanses beautifully, lightly exfoliates, smoothes, plumps, does not dry out, does not cause breakouts, reduces blackheads and best of all rinses of very easily (i have a weird thing about rinsing!). Its so gentle that i can use it with the Clarisonic or alone on a daily basis and has never caused any irritation or additional redness.
I suspect the low ratings on this are related to expectations one may have of this based on the name itself. If you expect dramatic results overnight then this is not for you - this will exfoliate and refine your skin but it does take some time to appreciate. Its not a peel or a strong chemical exfoliant so it wont blow your socks (or your face) off with a single use but if you treat it as a refining daily cleanser then it will deliver everything it promises. Give it a week or 2 - results will surely follow!
I am so happy with it that my Philosophy ban is relaxing a bit - although i would never give Purity or Hope in a Jar a try again, i might be open to trying the Vitamin C peel...or the Banana Nut Body Wash :)
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