Well, I am one big product junky. I love trying new things. Naturally, when I find something that works really well, I want to share it with the world! Listed below are things that I have tried and am just dying to recommend. I will just dump everything on this one page because I'm too lazy to make a link for each of them and all that fancy stuff. So here goes Kyssma's Free Advertisement.
P.S. I just added some "Red Alert" items. These are sucky stuff you want to clamp your purse tightly under your armpit when you come across them.
Cold-Eeze
This is the best! I have been recommending Cold-Eeze to people since after the first time I tried it. I came across it through word of mouth advertisement as well. It is used to "reduce duration and symptoms of the common cold (cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, sneezing, nasal drip, hoarseness)" This stuff really works, especially when taken at the very first sign of cold. There are a couple of different flavors to choose from. It works really well for me. My dad complains about it numbing his tongue, though. It doesn't bother me at all.
Neutrogena Body Oil (Light Sesame Formula)
This stuff is awesome. I just got it not too long ago. It was brought to my attention by my bf. He was buying it and told me how good it was. I smelled it, and I hadn't been able to get the smell off my mind since! I finally got it, used it, and totally fell in love with it. It is now on my can't-live-without list. I normally don't like anything perfumey at all. When my body smells perfumey, I feel dirty (I don't know why) This oil, though, smells really light. It's the rare clean type of smell that I don't mind on my body. It is used after bath or shower when body is still damp. (Note: I normally HATE stuff like that. It's a pain to air-dry my body, and I don't like to get my towel all oily if I pat dry. With this oil though, you body basically dries up right away) I can't tell you enough how much I love this product. It goes on very light and disappears in your skin leaving it super silky. Try it and you will love it.
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage
What can I say about this. Everyone is raving about it. It's what Cameron Diaz (and several others) will not leave home without. I gave it a try, and I have to say it is as good as it sounds. The price is really reasonable considering how long it will last you. The key, though, is to get the right shade. At first I let the counter person pick the shade for me, and it was wayyy too light. It was so horrible that it was funny. Everything I tried to hide ended up standing out. I finally had to go back and get an exchange. Once I got the right shade, I was a happy camper. It is best applied with a brush. I didn't get my brush from LM, though, so I don't know what to tell you about it. Mine is from Sephora for a lot cheaper.
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup
This is a very good liquid makeup for a very reasonable price. (available at all drugstores) It works really well for me. It doesn't make me break out. It has SPF20, which is really high. The label says it is hypoallergenic/ non-comedogenic/ non-acnegenic/ fragrance-free/ dermatologist developed. When it first came out, they were raving about how it would actually improve your skin condition. I'd like to say that it does. I can't be so sure about that because I'm always trying new things. Who knows which one of them actually did the job. As far as I can say, it is one awesome makeup. It goes on smooth. It doesn't crease or cake up. It seems really light, but has good coverage to it. It also layers really well if you want even more coverage.
I have tried many others, including Prescriptive's Custom Blend, which is supposed to be really good. I wasn't crazy about it. I like this Neutrogena much better.
Clinique Deep Cleansing Emergency Mask
This mask is way awesome. It works fast when you are in a hurry. It deep cleanses my face and unclog pores really well. It's almost like my face's de-stresser. It can be a little drying, but what I find is that if you follow it with light moisturizer (I use Oil of Olay Original Beauty Fluid), my face comes out perfectly clean and moisturized. Though it does say that it's for "oily, pore-clogged, skin under stress", so I don't know how it will work with dry-skinned people. I myself have sorta combination skin.
P.S., Ink
Check them out online here. It has been recommended to me online by a fellow isca user. It saved me a lot of money on photo cartridges. They have products for about every single brand out there.
Dove Sensitive Skin Moisturizing Body Wash (Unscented)
I use this for my face. It's surprisingly good for the skin. My friend recommended it a long time ago. Though, she was one of those "I have never had a zit in my life and my skin glows naturally" type of girl, I thought she was crazy. Body wash? On your face? You must be out of your mind! But it works. It doesn't dry out your face, and it doesn't make you break out either. It's really gentle on skin, but it rinses off dirt and makeup really nicely. Try it out. I hear a lot of raving about Basis Comfortable Clean Face Wash and tried it out. It's supposed to be really gentle and what not. I used it for a while (2 tubes), then I tried Dove. I switched and never looked back.
Oil of Olay Original Beauty Fluid
I like this. I like how it feels so light on my skin. You apply it, and it just disappears! I had used it forever. Then being the product junky that I am, and a little "boring" Oil of Olay was, I switched and tried many other things for many years. Finally dicided to come back to Olay, but I had to try the "Olay Complete" (fragrance free) which has UVA and UVB protection/ SPF 15/ Vitamin A enriched. Well, sounds good doesn't it? Everything you need in one product. Well, it sucked. It made me break out in small bumps. I think it's the sunscreen. Can't be sure, but I heard it would help if you use another moisturizer under it. Well? Then what's the point? So here I am. Back to the Olay Original Beauty Fluid and happier than ever. I think it's about time I settle down in the moisturizer department.
Chi Machine
You have to try this. I mean it. I hear about how the "original" Chi Machine is the bomb, and how nothing else can compare to it. (The original being that Sun Harmony one from Japan.) The one I use is called "Oxypump" ordered from T.V., which is the lowest on the chi machine hierarchy. (It is 98 bucks, the lowest price in the market, while the Sun Harmony can run you over 600.) I like it ok. I don't know how the expensive one compares, so I can't tell you about that. I guess if you have the dough, go for it. It's totally addictive. I used to get on it everytime I went to bf's house, so he now lets me keep it at home. heh. It's like an exercising machine or whatever. Like you just lie there and get your exercise. But for me, I just love how it feels after the session when you feel like the blood is flowing crazy all over your body. They call that Chi Rush. It's fun.
Proactiv 3-step Solution
I actually haven't tried it yet. Just got it today, but I wanted to say, GOD DAMN THOSE BOTTLES ARE TINY! I will get back with you on the result.
Okay, I'm back with the result after using it for 2 weeks. This stuff is pretty good. Try it if you want to get rid of bumpy stuff on your face. The price is pretty good even if the bottles are small. *heh* A set will last you 2 months.
Update: I think this is a good product to have even for people with no real skin problem. I almost never use it, obviously, because I have other more exciting stuff that I have to use. Heh. But it's nice to know that whenever my skin goes nuts, there's something that can and will keep it under control. Since I only use it on an as-needed basis, a set lasts me forever.
Take your time chewing your food
Well so this is not a product. Actually you could say that it is. See, a long time ago, there was this mail order book thing. It was supposed to be a secret on how to lose weight while eating everything you want. I just got so curious I had to buy the book. I thought that I would just read it and return it since it came with a money back guarantee. Heh. So basically the book went on and on about healthy diet and whatnot. The *real* secret they were selling was that you are supposed to take a long time chewing when you eat. The book talked about how when the food is in your mouth is the only time you can enjoy the taste of it, so keep it there as long as possible! If you chew for a long time, you get full faster, and you actually feel like you ate a lot. I think it has something to do with food mass in your stomach. Anyway, personally I am the slowest eater in the world. I can't eat fast even if I rush. Lately I just figured out that I actually chew my food longer than other people. Also I have talked to a nurse I worked with. She was telling me about wanting to lose weight and nothing worked, so I told her about this. She said, "Yeh, I heard. You are supposed to chew at least 10 times per bite *sighs*" After that, I tried counting my chew per bite, and I found out that 10 is NOTHING! I don't know how many times she normally chews her food, but for me, 10 is like swallowing things whole! Anyway, my point is I bought the damned book out of curiousity. If you could use the tip, go for it. Remember, all the joy of eating is when you could actually taste the food. So prolong it and chew chew chew! *heh*
Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian L. Weiss
This was a great book for me to read. It reminded me of the
big picture. It made me more content
with life. I'm not going to say much about it except that I hope it does
the same to you. I have recommended it to some people, and it seems to
have the same effect on them. So check it out.
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer
Did I say I was settling down for Oil of Olay as moisturizer? Hrm...I guess I was .... LYING!
Well, I tried Creme de la Mer from La Mer. Boy, that shit was EXPENSIVE. One of the most, if not the most expensive line available, in fact.
Of course I only bought a sample size which actually lasted me a while. After I ran out, I was contemplating buying a small portion of it since I wouldn't use it everyday anyway. Well, while I was contemplating, I came across Kiehl's Ultra Moisturizer sample when I bought their lip balm (which is great too.) I tried it out, and oh, I fell in love!!! It's seriously the best moisturizer I have ever used. It feels similar to the La Mer (according to ME, so La Mer fans, no need to beat me up for it if you disagree, but do give your input!) It's lighter than La Mer and much much MUCH cheaper. I bought the biggest bottle which is the best deal and gave my sister half of it. Still have plenty to last me a couple months AND then some left to give away even more :-) Kiehl's is really good with giving out samples too, so take advantage of it. They have some really great quality stuff.
Oil of Olay Moisturizer Again
Well, now that I have found my new favorite moisturizer, once again I have to find use for my left over Olay. Since I have short hair now that normally flies wildly until I put some sort of balm in it, I have been using Kiehl's hair cream to tame it down. It's wonderful, but can be a little heavy for my straight hair. I tried using Olay, and it worked out perfectly. Weird but true. It tames down the fly-aways without weighting down the hair or making it greasy looking. It is absorbed well into your hair the same way it is with your skin.
Victoria's Secret Shoes
I'm not a real big fan of Victoria's Secret in general, but I totally adore their wonderful selection of shoes, boots, and beautiful heels. The prices are absolutely reasonable, too. Look what I just bought for 20% off. Heehee.
Almay Skin Stays Clean Foundation
You know what I say? I say SCREW NEUTROGENA! Well, not entirely. It's just that this Almay foundation
is now my absolute favorite. I read about it in a fashion magazine where they mentioned it as one of those drugstore must-haves.
Being me, I dropped the magazine as soon as I finished the sentence, ran to a drugstore, and bought me a bottle. I'm glad to report that I have finally found the perfect foundation (for now, at least.) It's the best foundation I have ever used. It goes on light but layers well and doesn't look as heavy as layered Neutrogena. It stays clean all day long and feels like it disappears into your skin. It doesn't cake up or get greasy even towards the end of a long day like Neutrogena Healthy Skin sometimes does. Also, maybe this is just me, but while Neutrogena has more color choices, it was difficult for me to find a match. My guess is that most shades have pink undertone. Even the more yellow ones that I could find have pink in it and look ashy on skin compared to Almay's shade (I use sand #05) which appears cleaner.
Physique Contouring Lotion
I'm absolutely in love with this product. I read about it from the same article mentioned above. Apparently it's a little difficult to find. The Walgreens and Targets that I went to didn't carry it. They had everything else in the same line but not the lotion. I had already given up when I ran into one at Walmart. My first impression was its weird smell. It's got a nice floral smell BUT with a hint of this plastic-like smell to it (maybe the stuff that's supposed to straighten the hair?) Fortunately, the smell disappears after it dries, leaving just the floral scent. The article talked about its muti-functions as a leave-in conditioner, shine booster, styling aid, and straightener. Stuff that's not even mentioned on the bottle. I tried it on dry hair and fully expected it to leave that slightly greasy residue that all hair products do. To my surprise, it disappears within minutes with no residue or wetness whatsoever. The hair is much smoother and more manageable, and it smells great too!
Olay Daily Facials (with betahydroxy)
For the longest time, I thought I was too smart for this one. I told myself, "Why would I want to buy a bunch of throw-away wash cloth when I can just use one and save money? Duh?" Then I found out that it won some kind of outstanding product award, so I decided I had to try it at least once! Well, I fell in love. It's really a super all-in-one product, and it's good at what it does! The cloth is nice and soft, so it gently (and effectively!) exfoliates. A huge difference from my old wash cloth which was much MUCH harsher to the skin, making it more sensitive and prone to breaking out. This is a truely must-try item. It definitely got rid of dry patches and flakes on my skin as long as I moisturize afterwards. My skin used to be normal-to-oily-with-dry-patches, and if I used the wash cloth, it would get sensitive and break out. Now that I'm using this every other day, it's not doing that anymore! There are a bunch of different ones, but I got the one with betahydroxy, and I ain't switching!
Olay Cleansing Emollient
I bought this at the same time as the Daily Facials above. I use this on the days I'm not using the other one and in the morning. It feels SO nice on the skin, especially in the morning when you don't really have to worry about dirt on your face. I totally love the smell. It's a smell of clean and fresh face! It's very gentle and doesn't dry out the skin. I still use light moisturizer after it though. I just love love love the feeling of it on my face.
Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask
As the name suggests, this product is a 2 in 1. Use it everyday as facial cleanser or
2-3 times a week as mask. Try it, you must try it! I ran out of my Clinique
(mentioned above) a while ago. My wandering eyes made me
buy many MANY new mask to try. Oh, what my poor face had to endure just to find this and tell you about it! I grabbed this one during one of my grab n' run sessions at a drugstore. I didn't notice that it was also a cleanser when I bought it. Duh. Anyway, THIS THING IS AWESOME!!! I've never used it as a cleanser, so I don't know what to tell you there. As a deep cleansing facial mask, this is awesome. To me, it works like the more expensive Clinique Deep Cleansing Emergency Mask, only a lot cheaper, and you can get it at any drugstore. Try it once, and you'll love it. I used it on my boyfriend. Being a boy, he had to pretend like he didn't notice the difference, but I'm so sure he knows his face is glowing!
The Blue Drawing Paste from Kiehl's
I don't like this one. I heard a lot of good things about it and had to try it. I was disappointed. I knew it would be sticky, smell bad, look ugly on face, but they also said it would work! Well, it didn't do a damn thing for me. It doesn't "draw" anything. The grease just came from the greasy paste itself! Ick! Well, hopefully I didn't use it right, and someone can tell me the secret. After a long time, I still have a near-full pot sitting in my fridge.
The Green Sea Mask Thing in an Orange Tube You'll Know When You See It and Your Eyes Start Watering
This thing hurts my face! I've used some bad mask, but this must be the worst!
It also lets out some kind of vapor that BURNS my eyes. And no, I'm not stupid enough to put it around my eye area, but the vapor is so strong I have to keep my eyes closed even when I do my cheeks. Applying a facial mask with your eyes closed is not much fun, either. To quote my boyfriend (I tried it on him while he was sleeping), "OW!!! What the hell?! This burns!" Hehe. home
