By Audrey Dao, on January 30th, 2012,
Rosebud Salve in a Tube ($6) A cult-favorite, multitasking miracle balm in a convenient tube format. This beloved multi-purpose essential not only moisturizes and soothes dry lips; it also calms and heals irritation, soothes the sting of minor burns, helps heal cuts, tames mangled cuticles, helps fix ashy elbows and knees, and minimizes diaper rash.
My Thoughts:
I know Smith’s Rosebud Salve is a cult favorite and almost everybody raves about it, but I might be one of the few people who didn’t find it all that great and just an average balm. I think I ended up disappointed because (1) the cost of the balm and (2) so many people raved and hyped it up. The Rosebud Salve reminded me of Vaseline, except tinted. I didn’t notice a very strong rose smell (which is good for me!) nor was it sticky or overly glossy. To me, this balm wasn’t all that moisturizing. I kept having to reapply more often than I would have liked. I think it lasted about a couple of hours before I had to reapply. I also didn’t notice an improvement in the conditions of my lips. It could be though that my lips weren’t in bad condition to start off with. Overall, Smith’s Rosebud Salve was a disappointment to me. I felt like it was overpriced Vaseline. There are definitely a lot of cheaper and better options available.
By Audrey Dao, on November 14th, 2011,
Clinique Take the Day Off Makeup Remover ($18) Totally tugless, two-way makeup remover speeds the departure of hard-to-remove eye and lip makeups. Dissolves and “lifts away” long-wearing makeup, even waterproof mascara. Non-irritating, non-stinging. Ophthalmologist Tested. Appropriate for contact lens wearers.
My Thoughts:
Okay. Wow. Absolutely amazing! Clinique’s Take the Day Off Makeup Remover is a gentle makeup remover that removes even the most stubborn waterproof makeup effortlessly. It doesn’t irritate or sting your eyes if you accidentally get it into your eyes. Take the Day Off Makeup Remover is moisturizing and doesn’t dry out your skin. Even though the makeup remover leaves your skin feeling fresh and clean, it does leave back an oily film. Of course this shouldn’t matter, because you end up washing it away when you wash your face. Is it my all time favorite makeup remover? No, not quite because of the oily residue. It does rank as one of the best I’ve ever used though.
By Audrey Dao, on July 25th, 2011,
This is an update for my review on I wrote for the Arcona Bronze Tinted Self-Tanner. Many of you wanted to know how long the tan lasts.
For me, I noticed the tan had disappeared by the end of the 2nd week. The change was very slow and gradual. The only reason I noticed the tan had disappeared was because I compared it to my real tan. I think it was able to last that long because I made a conscious effort not to use a scrub or to exfoliate.
I would still recommend the Arcona Bronze Tinted Self-Tanner. It’s the only self tanner I have used that provides a natural tan color and doesn’t reek of chemicals.
By Audrey Dao, on July 11th, 2011,
Arcona Bronze Tinted Self-Tanner ($32) Light, oil-free bronzer/self-tanner creates radiant, natural looking color without the sun. Bronzes as you apply it, then deepens to a natural glow. Enjoy natural looking results with effective, non-toxic DHA self-tanning ingredient. Hydrate and nourish skin with shea butter. Protect skin from free radical damage with vitamin E and grape seed extract.
My Thoughts:
I’ve never really had to use a self-tanner before. Living in Southern California, I’m almost guaranteed to have a tan all year long. Also, truthfully, I avoided using self-tanners because of all the horror stories and worries I had heard about and had seen:
- Looking orange and not natural
- Uneven and streaky
- THE HORRIBLE SMELL
- Too dark of a color
- Difficult and annoying application process
- Uneven fading
The Arcona Bronze Tinted Self-Tanner took all those worries away! The Arcona Self-Tanner had a thin lotion-like texture and was very easy to apply. I just applied it as if it was lotion. I had no difficulties blending and spreading so I didn’t have to use a lot of product. The bronze color appeared immediately and started to deepen soon after. After two thin layers, the bronze color deepened to a color that was a little bit darker than my real tan. The self-tanner also had a light shimmer to give my skin a glowing tan. Don’t worry, the shimmer is very subtle and isn’t noticeable except when in the bottle. Because the self-tanner dried quickly, I didn’t have to worry about it staining my clothes and furniture. I also noticed the Arcona Self-Tanner didn’t dry out my skin. It actually left it looking and feeling moisturized!
It’s been over a week since I applied the self-tanner and the bronze color is still present. It’s not as dark as when I first applied it, but it’s still noticeable. The bronze color faded gradually and quite subtly so I barely noticed it. The only reason I noticed it was because I compared it my real tan.
Overall, the Arcona Self-Tanner gave me a natural looking tan; not an orange tint in sight! My friends and family couldn’t even tell the difference between my real tan and the Arcona Self-Tanner. The best and most surprising feature of the Arcona Self-Tanner, besides giving your skin a natural looking tan, is the scent. There was no hint of a chemical smell. Instead, it smelled wonderful! If you hold the bottle up to your nose you can detect the refreshing scent. It reminds me of body wash/soap. The Arcona Bronze Tinted Self-Tanner ranks as one of my favorite all-time products, and I highly recommend it if you’re in the market for a self-tanner.
A little note: don’t apply too much at once. Start off with a light layer and then wait a few minutes for the bronze color to take effect. You can layer on more if you want a darker color.
Check out the before and after photo. You can also see it compared to a real tan! PS please don’t make fun of my pale legs. This is what happens when you don’t let your legs see the light of day for nearly a year!
By Audrey Dao, on April 26th, 2011,
Korres Guava Lip Butter ($10) A buttery balm that melts onto the lips and cheeks for a pretty touch of color. Korres Lip Butter gives lips a lovely, shiny finish and offers a natural flush when applied to the apples of the cheeks. Its shea-butter infusion conditions and heals lips and provides a softening touch to the skin.
My Thoughts:
I’m not sure I like Korres Guava Lip Butter very much. What bothered me so much about the Guava Lip Butter was the whitish tint it left behind on my lips. Guava is supposed to be a clear shade so I was quite surprised it was white. I also don’t like that it comes in a jar. I hate sticking my fingers into products. Other than those two complaints, Korres Guava Lip Butter provided my lips with lots of moisture and hydration. The texture is buttery, smooth and it smells so yummy! Because of the whitish color it leaves behind, I only use this at night. It works pretty well as night treatment for lips. I’m thinking I will like the other Korres Lip Butter better since they have a hint of color and won’t leave my lips looking so ghostly white.
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