Review

Curél® Itch Defense® Review

October 30, 2011 by Tara Rufo 2 Comments

With so many different brands of lotion on the market it can be overwhelming to decide which one will best fit your specific needs. Of course you will read each bottle in an attempt to figure out which one will cure your symptoms, but ultimately you’re taking a chance on something that you hope will work. I’ve been given the opportunity to try Curél’s® Itch Defense® lotion and am here to share my findings with you.

Curel Itch Defense Lotion

First, here are some important things you should know about Curél® Itch Defense® Lotion (this information has been provided to me):

1. 1. The breakthrough formula rebalances four essential components of healthy skin which includes the following:

· Ceramides: Restores skin’s barrier function and regulates skin’s ability to hold moisture

· pH Levels: Brings pH to a healthy level to bring skin back into balance

· Moisture Levels: Contains humectants to boost moisturization and emollients to leave skin feeling protected

· Cellular Turnover: Minimizes dry, flaky skin and smoothes skin surface balancing the dry skin cycle

2. 2. Used to relieve dry, itchy skin. It helps to control flare ups and helps to keep irritation from coming back by rebalancing the skin.

3. 3. It has passed 8 different safety tests. It is dermatologist-recommended, pediatrician-tested, and allergist-tested. It has been granted the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance™.

4. 4. Is safe enough to use on babies 6 months and older.

Less is definitely more when it comes to this lotion. The first time I used it I had so much lotion on my body that when I got into bed my sheets started to absorb the lotion. This had absolutely nothing to do with the lotion itself, I just used way too much. Luckily, the lotion didn’t alter the color of my sheets or leave any stains behind.

Every time I use this lotion I am amazed at how it works. My hands had gotten dry to the point where I could see my skin starting to flake. I applied Curél’s® Itch Defense® Lotion and instantly felt the relief. How the lotion feels when it is first applied is a bit hard to describe – originally I thought it felt thick and that it was going to be greasy, but the more I rubbed my hands together I started to realize that it’s quite lightweight and very moisturizing. My skin absorbs the lotion and there is no greasy film or stickiness left behind. Only soft, smooth hands. I can’t stop rubbing my hands together because they feel so soft! I also don’t have to wait for my hands to dry before touching anything which is a huge plus! Although scented lotions can be fun, I am glad that this one is fragrance-free. I’d rather use a lotion that does what it says it will than one that smells yummy and under performs.

I think Curél® Itch Defense® Lotion works like a charm. I don’t suffer from eczema or overly dry, itchy skin, but my skin is quite sensitive and it tends to go out of whack when the seasons change. This will definitely be my go to lotion for the winter! This lotion isn’t something that you use once and you are automatically cured of your skin dilemma, but I can see how it can fix your skin after continued use.

For $7.99 you get 13fl oz of lotion and I think it is worth every penny! I definitely recommend this product to anyone who suffers from dry, irritated skin regardless of what causes it. Click here to find where to buy Curel® Itch Defense ® lotion and other products by Curel®.

I hope that my review has helped you in your decision to buying lotion. If you have used this product please leave a comment below as I would like to know what you think about this product.

*FTC Disclaimer* This product was given to me, free, for review. I am not affiliated with this company nor am I receiving any compensation for my review. Everything posted here is my honest opinion.

Mineral Brilliance Eye Shadow Mosaics by Black Opal

August 12, 2010 by Tara Rufo 6 Comments

Ever heard of Black Opal? Because I hadn’t, but I’m so glad I do now! I was given two eye shadows to try out Gold Galaxy (the yellow and brown mosaic, far right) and Zanzibar (the purple mosaic, far left) which are pictured below.

Let’s get started with the review!

Black Opal states that these eye shadows are “safe for even the most sensitive eyes.”

The benefits of these shadows include:

hypoallergenic
oil free
talc free
paraben free
fragrance free

I am a HUGE fan of these shadows! They are beautifully pigmented and they don’t feel heavy or cakey at all.

Gold Galaxy looks kind of weird at first glance because of the yellow and orange shadows, but the other three colors work so well to blend these colors nicely. I love using this palette for a more natural look (think classic pinup style). The lightest color (I like to call it sand) is perfect as a highlight color. If you tend to go for a more neutral eye, then this palette is a must have!

Zanzibar could look intimidating for those who are experimenting with color, but trust me it isn’t so scary once you start playing with these shades. I love this palette because I can do so much with it. If I’m looking to do a purple smokey eye I can opt for a light or dark purple, even a black. If the color is too dark you can always tone it down with the lighter purple or even the silver. You can even do a smokey eye with the silver and black or the silver and purple-brown color.

What I love the most about these palettes is that you really do have several options when it comes to how you want to do your eye shadow. This means more for your money and who doesn’t love that? Speaking of money, these palettes cost $8.95 which I think is a great deal.

If you’re wondering whether or not they truly are great for sensitive eyes, wonder no longer. They are! I haven’t had any problems with these shadows at all.

The Mineral Brilliance Eye Shadows come in two additional shades Caribbean Blue (second from the left) and Rain Forest (second from the right). You can purchase these shadows as well as additional cosmetics from Black Opal on their website as well as major drugstores (like CVS).

I recommend these shadows 100% I just absolutely adore these palettes and I think you will too!

**Photo courtesy of Creative Media Marketing**

Filed Under: Legacy Blog Tagged With: Drugstore Brand, Eye Shadow, Mineral, Must Haves, Review

Smashbox’s Summer Collection for 2010

July 9, 2010 by Tara Rufo 22 Comments

Smashbox Cosmetics launched a new line for the summer called Naked Beauty. The basis behind this line is barely there colors that are meant to enhance your own natural (naked) beauty. The collection includes: eyelid primer, bronzer, blush/highlighter combo, and eight mini lip glosses.

I’ve heard of Smashbox Cosmetics, however I’ve never used their products until now. Needless to say I was very eager to be able to review this collection; so let’s get started.

Photo Finish Lid Primer in Golden Nude ($20) This is the second eyelid primer that I’ve tried and it is simply gorgeous. The color is a perfect golden nude with a hint of shimmer. You can use it as a base for your eyeshadows or wear it alone for a more natural look. The primer really helps to keep your shadows in place which is extremely essential during the hot months. Just dab a bit onto your eye (or finger) and gently rub/pat it to help blend it over your eyelid.

Halo Hydrating Perfecting Bronzer ($39) I tend to not use bronzer because I am so fair skinned; even in the summer I can’t achieve a tan. However, I gave this one a shot. I love that it gave my face that sun kissed glow and it didn’t feel heavy or cakey on my face which is a huge plus. According to Smashbox Cosmetics, this bronzer helps to fight the signs of aging. What woman wouldn’t love this? To use, just twist the container to release the desired amount of powder for a single use. Apply to your cheeks, bridge of your nose, and your forehead. Think of places where the sun naturally kisses your face.

Naked Beauty Lip Gloss Collection ($25) These mini glosses are very sheer, but they look and feel great! The shades in the collection include: Nude (pinkish brown with little shimmer), Bare (very sheer light pink), Exposed (bubblegum pink), Sun Kissed (shimmering brown), Naked (shimmering light brown), Buff (light peach), Pure (sheer hot pink), and Natural (sheer mauve). Each tube of gloss is 0.04 fl oz. Please note, the description of each shade is my personal description not Smashbox’s.

High Lights/Creamy Cheek Color in Naked Beauty ($26) Having never used a cream blush or highlighter I am a big fan of this duo. I feel as if I have more control over the application as well as the intensity of the color. The creamy cheek color is a pretty sheer red that gives your face a beautiful flushed look. Simply apply the creamy cheek color to the apples of your cheeks and blend outward. Then apply the high lights to the top of your cheek bones, down the bridge of your nose, and anywhere else the sun naturally kisses your face.

Overall, I am a big fan of this collection. Although this line is pricey, I think the quality speaks for itself. This collection is absolutely perfect if you’re looking to achieve a natural, beachy look for the summer. I recommend this collection 100%.

If you have this collection or some products from it, I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions.

Smashbox Cosmetics can be found on their website and at Sephora, Ulta, and now Nordstrom.

**Photo courtesy of Tractenberg & Co.**

Filed Under: Legacy Blog Tagged With: Blush, Bronzer, Lip Gloss, Primer, Review, Smashbox Cosmetics, Spring/Summer 2010

Hard Candy’s Sheer Envy Tinted Moisturizer

June 30, 2010 by Tara Rufo 11 Comments

I’ve always thought about trying a tinted moisturizer, but I never really looked into which one to buy. Making a decision can be pretty confusing since there are so many brands out there.

I received Hard Candy’s Sheer Envy Tinted Moisturizer and decided to write a review on it.

The packaging is wicked cute. I love what Hard Candy has done to their line in regards to all of its packaging. It is quite funky, but girly at the same time. I love that the bottle is see through that way it is easy to tell when the product is running low instead of having to guess. The flip top cap also makes it easy to squeeze out the product and recap it without the hassle of screwing the cap back on while you have product on your hand. Lastly, I love that the font is bold and easy to read so that I know exactly what the product does and how to use it.

The product itself is awesome. The tint of the moisturizer is very sheer. I received it in tan and I am very light skinned, but this shade was just a bit too dark for me. So pay attention to this when you’re trying to pick out a color to match your skin. The moisturizer feels great, but I wouldn’t suggest using it alone if you have really dry skin.

My current foundation routine is as follows:

apply a small amount of moisturizer
apply Hard Candy’s Sheer Envy Tinted Moisturizer
apply foundation
apply powder to set foundation

This may seem like a lot to you and it very well may be, however my skin tends to dry out in the summer so I can take advantage of the extra hydration. Also, Hard Candy’s moisturizer doubles as a primer so it helps your foundation last all day long.

Overall, I’m in love with this moisturizer. I plan on purchasing one that is closer to my skin tone so that I can wear it alone on days when I don’t feel like putting on a lot of makeup. I definitely recommend this to anyone who has wanted to try a tinted moisturizer, but is unsure about which brand to buy.

If you’ve already tried this product or are planning on trying it I would love to hear your thoughts. You can view all of Hard Candy’s products on their website and you can purchase their products from Walmart.

**Photo courtesy of DNA Public Relations**

Filed Under: Legacy Blog Tagged With: Hard Candy, Moisturizer, Primer, Review, Walmart

Bodycology’s New Rich & Creamy Body Wash

June 16, 2010 by Tara Rufo 1 Comment

I was fortunate enough to be able to try out Bodycology’s New Rich & Creamy Body Wash; the one I am reviewing is called Refreshing.

According to their website, “Rich&Creamy Refreshing Body Wash is formulated with Green Tea Extract and Cucumber Essence for a crisp showering sensation that will leave skin feeling awakened and rejuvenated.”

I’ve used this body wash for a couple of weeks and I must say I’m quite happy with it. The name doesn’t lie either, it really is rich and creamy. What I find to be the best part about the formula is that it isn’t so creamy that it feels gross on my skin and it isn’t hard to rinse off. It leaves my skin feeling hydrated which I love because I have sensitive skin and sometimes the water can leave me feeling dry.

Another great feature is the pleasant smell of the Green Tea mixed with Cucumber. I can’t even describe to you how the fragrance works; it’s kind of something you have to experience yourself in order to fully understand. The scent isn’t overwhelming, but it isn’t subtle either. It is…well…it’s rather refreshing! Honestly, I would love to have this scent as a bath salt while taking a nice relaxing tubby!

Last, but not least, the body wash can be used as shaving cream. If you find yourself in the shower without it, just lather up the body wash and shave away!

There is only one down side to this product and it isn’t even the product it’s the bottle. It opens from the bottom instead of the top. Maybe it is just me being picky, but I prefer my body wash, shampoo, conditioner, etc to open from the top because water tends to seep in when the opening is on the bottom. I don’t even keep the body wash on the floor of the shower and water still finds a way to get inside. With that said, it won’t keep me from buying a bottle once I run out of this one.

I definitely recommend this body wash and I’m eager to find out what the other scents smell like. Bodycology can be found at Walgreens and Walmart for around $4.99 which is an excellent price for 18 oz. Check out their website for more information!

Filed Under: Legacy Blog Tagged With: Body Wash, Bodycology, Drugstore Brand, Review

Kim Brushes

May 28, 2010 by Tara Rufo Leave a Comment

Recently, I received two Kim Brushes to test out. I’ve used them for a few weeks now and have decided it is time to do my review on them.

The first brush I got is the E135 – an eyeliner brush. The website describes it as “An angular, flat brush, for application of internal or external eye-liner. Ideal for gel application.” The brush is made out of taklon and it is a small angular brush.

When I first got this brush I was a little disappointed when I looked at it. I thought the bristles would be tightly compacted so that the brush wouldn’t be so flimsy. However, after using the brush I was really impressed and really happy. It is so easy to use, I honestly feel like it does all of the work for me (and who doesn’t love that?)

The great thing about this brush is that it can create a thin line that is right along your lashes or it can be used to build a thicker line. I appreciate being able to do both. Another great thing is that you don’t need a ton of product on the bristles to get the look you want. I tend to use a small amount anyways and then add more as I go so that I don’t mess anything up.

I definitely recommend this brush to everyone especially those of you who are trying out gel/cream eyeliner for the first time or haven’t found that one brush that just does it for you. This one will!

The second brush I got is the E125 – it is also made out of Taklon and the brush is oval shaped. The website describes this brush as “An oval tipped brush, for creating a smoky look of the eye. Ideal also for precise lining of lip gloss.”

I thought it was kind of odd for a brush to be used on the eyes and lips, but as long as you clean it well before using it on either part you will be all set.

This brush is awesome. It is really small so it works perfectly to get color right into your crease without overdoing it with the shadow. Again, the bristles on this brush aren’t tightly compacted, but I don’t think it matters much with this brush either.

It also works really well to apply lip gloss. I tend not to use brushes for my lip gloss because I never really found the need for one, but I’ll probably use the E125 as my go to lip brush.

Overall I’m quite impressed by these brushes. Unfortunately, the website doesn’t provide the prices of the brushes so I’m not sure if the price reflects the quality of the brush. You also can’t order the brushes online, however if you want more information you can email them here or go to their website to check out their products.

Kim Brushes has brushes for the eyes, face, and even nails.

Filed Under: Legacy Blog Tagged With: brushes, Review

Ava Anderson Eye Makeup Remover Review

May 10, 2010 by Tara Rufo 9 Comments

Ava Anderson Non-Toxic is a line of skin care products in which all of the ingredients in every product scores a zero on the Cosmetics Database toxicity scale (although the lip scrub is listed on the database as a “1″).

Ava, who is only 15, launched her line of skin care products because she wanted all women to be able to use products that contain genuinely safe ingredients.

When I received the makeup remover in the mail it also came with 2 pages of Ava’s products with a description of each product. The description of the makeup remover pads is as follows:

“Ava Anderson Non Toxic Makeup Remover Pads will gently wipe away your eye makeup with ease. Lightly wipe the eye area and watch makeup disappear. Natural, non-toxic ingredients work to break down cosmetics to make what can be a difficult job, easy! No alcohol to dry your delicate eye area skin.”

However, the website also states that you will need about 1-2 pads to remove your makeup….I wish the product list I got said this.

The packaging is really simple, but it is easy to read the ingredients which is always a plus. I was quite disappointed once I opened the container…the makeup remover pads are tiny, especially for such a large container! The size of the pads remind me of the ELF makeup remover pads that you can get for about $1 at Target.

The pads do smell lovely and taking off my makeup was really easy. If you just wear mascara you’ll probably get away with using just one pad for each eye. However, if you’re like me and you love to play up your eyes with color you’ll need at least two pads. I even tried to use the front and back of the pads, but it’s almost as if the makeup bleeds through to the other side so it doesn’t work as well.

Another great thing about the pads is that they don’t sting my eyes, dry them out, or leave any oily residue. So that’s a huge plus!

There’s 50 pads in each container…if you’re lucky and can use one to remove all of your makeup then these pads will last you almost two months! However, if you need 2 or more pads per use, you will be ordering them more frequently.

Here’s a quick break down of my pros and cons:

Pros:
Smells yummy
Removes makeup easily
Doesn’t irritate my eyes
Doesn’t leave my eyes or skin around my eyes feeling greasy or dry
All the ingredients are really good for your skin

Cons:
The pads are very tiny!
Can only buy online
The cost is $14.95 so not exactly budget friendly especially when you have to pay S&H

Overall, I give this product a B+. If you don’t mind purchasing your makeup remover online and don’t mind the price tag then I definitely suggest trying this product for yourself!

Filed Under: Legacy Blog Tagged With: Ava Anderson, Makeup Remover, Review

Urban Decay Primer Potion Review

March 15, 2010 by Tara Rufo 2 Comments

Urban Decay’s Primer Potion (UDPP) has got to be the most raved about primer for your lids. It retails for $18 at Sephora for 0.34oz and it comes in three shades: Eden (matte nude), Original (sheer nude), and Sin (shimmering champagne).

Packaging: I understand wanting to make the bottle match the name and looking at the bottle it is really cute, however I despise the packaging! The wand to apply the primer has been redesigned since it first came out so why can’t they change up the rest of the bottle? Personally, I don’t like the wand either; I think it is much easier to get the product off of the wand and apply it with my finger. Urban Decay should hold a contest for its fans to design the new bottle for it’s Primer Potion; anything will be better than what they have now.

Product: I love the primer! I haven’t used any other primer except for my foundation and my concealer, but this primer really makes a huge difference! Not only does my makeup last for hours, my eyeshadow becomes more vibrant.

Overall: Even though I love the product the bottle has me so annoyed that I probably won’t buy it again. I don’t think the frustration is worth $18. Not to mention I’m not even sure if I’ve used up all of the primer because there is no way to see inside of the bottle.

*Stay tuned! I am planning on de-potting my primer potion to see if there’s more product inside that the wand simply can’t get to. If this is the case then I will take pictures and make a blog that explains how to de-pot your UDPP.*

Filed Under: Legacy Blog Tagged With: Primer, Review, Urban Decay