Neutrogena Wave review

Price: I got mine for $9 on sale from Target... I think it's ~$13.99 from Walmart?

What they say: Now a breakthrough new power cleanser by Neutrogena that will transform your cleansing routine. Experience an extreme deep clean for a refreshed feel and remarkably softer skin.

What to do: Neutrogena Wave Is Water Resistant and Can Be Used At The Sink Or In The Shower. It's As Easy As Brushing Your Teeth. How to Use In Three Easy Steps: 1. Simply Attach A Disposable Pad to The Attachment Head. 2. Hold The Power-Cleanser Under Running Water to Activate Foaming Pad. 3. Turn On Cleanser By Pressing Power Button and Gently Massage Over Face. Avoid The Delicate Eye Area. Rinse Face Thoroughly and Dispose of Pad After Each Use. Replacing Batteries: Remove Battery Door By Gently Pressing The Latch. Replace Old Battery With 1-Aa Battery.

What's in it: Glycerin, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Peg-8, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Methyl Gluceth-10 Hydroxypropyldimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Citric Acid, Salicylic Acid, Menthol, Fragrance.

The good stuff:

• Relatively inexpensive
• Cute!
• Leaves skin feeling soft, smooth, and clean
• Seemed to improve my complexion
• Smells nice
• Tingling/cooling sensation

The low-down:

• Burns like hell if you get it in your eyes
• Does NOT foam
• Have to keep buying refill pads, pricey
• Contains menthol... a no-no ingredient for me
• Cooling sensation became unpleasant for me

My take: I was wary to buy this because Michelle Phan's claims that it just vibrates and you're better of scrubbing your face with an electric toothbrush. But since it was on sale, I figure what the heck, might as well try it. Overall, I think it is a decent product. All it does really, is vibrate :P But I will say that it did leave my skin looking nice/feeling nice. If only the refill pads weren't so expensive for so little!

I've pretty much come to the conclusion that every Neutrogena product in existance that claims that it is "foaming," DOES NOT FOAM. This is no exception. It foamed up a bit when I really scrubbed my face with it, but I don't really want to have to do that all the time. Also, it reaaaally burns if it gets in your eyes! :( Another downer is that it contains menthol, which really irritates my skin. Although the cooling sensation it gives off was nice at first, it did get a bit too strong for me in the end, even after rinsing off. All in all, I think it's a good/okay product, but it's not as revolutionary as it claims. I can get the same results scrubbing my face with a good cleanser.

Would I repurchase: No.

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Neutrogena makeup remover cleansing towelettes review

Price: $2.29 for 7 pack from drugstore.com

What they say: Ultra soft cloths Gently dissolve all traces of dirt, oil and make-up Even Waterproof Mascara Gentle, ultra soft cloths offer you superior cleansing and make-up removal. Gently and effectively dissolve all traces of dirt, oil and make-up Patent pending technology is so effective it easily removes waterproof mascara. Leaves skin thoroughly clean with no heavy residue, so there's no need to rinse. Use daily for clean, fresh, make-up free skin in 1 easy step. Gentle enough to use around sensitive eye area, even for contact lens wearers Ophthalmologist tested Dermatologist tested Allergy tested Alcohol free

Cloths measure: 7.4" x 7.2" (19 x 18.5 cm)

What to do: Gently wipe face with towelette, removing dirt and all traces of face and eye makeup. There is no need to rinse. Dispose of the towelette in trash receptacle (do not flush). After removing towelette, reseal pack.

What's in it: Water, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isostearyl Palmitate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hexylene Glycol, PEG 4 Laurate, PEG 6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Sucrose Cocoate, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Fragrance

The good stuff:

• Super soft texture
• Effective at removing makeup
• Did not burn eyes

The low-down:

• Left an oily residue
• Kinda pricey... I've used better for cheaper

My take: I really wanted to love these, but sadly, I was disappointed :( While they do a good job at removing makeup and I like the soft, gentle cloth . . . they leave behind an oily residue and I HATE that in a makeup removing wipe. Check out the bolded section in the product description. Key words: NO HEAVY RESIDUE. But there is still a residue, and I had to wash my face after. I'm glad I only got the 7 pack to test it out! I've definitely used better for a fraction of the price of the full pack. For example, I really like Epielle cleansing wipes (review here), which have like 30 per pack for only $2 AND they worked just as well at removing makeup, smelled good, and did not leave any residue. I find these similar to the Clean N Clear wipes (see previous link)... a no-go for me :(

Would I repurchase: No.

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Queen Helene Mud Pack Masque review

Price: $3.99 from drugstore.com

What they say: The Original Mud Pack Masque with Natural English Clay. Mud Pack Masque is the original old-fashioned, time-tested earth facial treatment with imported natural English clay, that will work wonders for your skin. It's a very effective pore cleanser. It helps tighten loose, sagging skin on your face and neck and relaxes tired face muscles to soften lines and wrinkles. Enjoy a Mud Pack Masque facial as a "pick-me-up" when you feel tired, when you're preparing to go out for the evening or before going to bed. Your skin will have a clearer, smoother, youthful looking complexion. No animal testing. No animal ingredients.

What to do: Cleanse your face and neck thoroughly. Apply Mud Pack Masque generously and wait about 15 minutes to allow masque to harden. Remove with warm water and a washcloth.

What's in it: Water, Kaolin, Bentonite, Glycerin, Zinc Oxide, Propylene Glycol, Iron Oxides (CI#77492), Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben

The good stuff:

• Inexpensive
• Lots of product
• Smooth texture
• Easy to apply & remove
• Cooling, soothing
• Made my skin look GREAT!!!

The low-down:

Uh... none?

My take: I LOVE THIS MASK. It worked wonders for my skin. I prefer it over the Mint Julep mask as that one is thick and sticky, more difficult to smear on; this one has a more fluid thick texture and is much easier to smooth on. It dries quickly and has a nice cooling feeling, not harsh at all. The smell may be a little bothersome, but I think it's tolerable. The best part was seeing my skin after removing the mask... OMG my skin looks freaking fabulous. Extremely soft, smooth & radiant. Reduced pores, tightened skin. LOVE!

Would I repurchase: Yes!

Dried:

Skin after: Uhmmm, LOVE?!

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Queen Helene Grape Seed Extract Peel Off Masque review

Price: $3.99 from drugstore.com

What they say: Clogged pores can make skin appear older. Grape Seed Extract contains a powerful antioxidant similar to that contained in Pycnogenol, a natural skin purifier that will help clean and refine your skin. Within minutes after application, Grape Seed Masque dries to a peelable film that lifts and draws out impurities from the pores. After the peel, the masque will reveal cleaner, revitalized younger looking skin. No animal testing. No animal ingredients.

What to do: Gently spread an even generous amount of Grape Seed Extract Peel Off Masque onto clean face and neck, avoiding eyes, brows and hairline. After 10 minutes, start at the jaw line and peel off in an upward motion. Remove any excess masque with warm water and pat dry. For best results, repeat twice each week.

What's in it: Water, Alcohol Denatured, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, PEG 75, Grapeseed Extract, Glycerin, PPG 12 PEG 65 Lanolin Oil, Benzophenone 4, Disodium EDTA, Diazolidinyl Urea, Fragrance, Ext D&C Violet 2, D&C Red 33

The good stuff:

• I like the initial scent
• Fun to remove.. to me at least XD
• Left skin feeling smoother

The low-down:

• Strong alcohol after-scent, burns eyes :(
• A little hard to apply, it's "goopy" thick & sticky
• Didn't leave my skin looking exceptionally different

My take: this is an OKAY mask. The best part to me was peeling it off XD It does smell grapey but after you start putting it on, it has a really strong alcohol scent that made my eyes burn/water. But it goes away... It's kind of hard to get an even application, as it's really goopy and sticky. So some parts may dry faster than others. After removal, my skin was softer, but it didn't really look any different.

Would I repurchase: No.























First applied.

Dried. I won't make explicit sexual references this time.. HAHA




























Peeling off:

LOL Pretty cool :P






















Skin after:

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Thanksgiving tag, Craft fair pix, Drugstore.com haul

Some clarification from my 10 beauty facts post:

• HG Status means "Holy grail" status! So I only consider a few of Neutrogena's products to be total must-haves for me =)
• Okay I kind of fibbed, well I don't own any MAC now, but I have tried in the past. I was not too impressed by their eyeshadows :X Yes, they are nice but I've used the same/better for a fraction of the price! I also tried one of their compact foundations... I don't know what it was but it was thick and sticky and cakey and I hated it. Of course, I would LOVE to try more MAC products in the future, especially their brushes and Studio Fix Fluid foundation + concealer, and lippies! But I wish it wasn't so pricy!

Emily (http://ohwowsorandom.blogspot.com/) tagged me to do her Thanksgiving "What are you thankful for?" tag! Really got me thinking...

What am I thankful for?

• My family & friends
• The Mister
• Happy, Muffin, and Mr. Turtle
• A roof over my head
• Warm blankets, hot water, & my space heater
• Food to eat!!! Especially comfort food... soup & icecream!
• Relatively good health (knock on wood)
• My car... even though the list of work to do is neverending
• My job & our family business
• $$$ to buy the things I want =)
• Scholarships!!!
• Music... can't live without it
• Good books
• Technology... even if Vista drives me FCKING NUTZ
• All you lovely blogger babes, of course (;

What are YOU thankful for?

Anyways, we labored over preparing and participating in the craft fair we went to, which was on friday & saturday. Here's what our booth looked like!






















I was really surprised! We did really well! :D It was super tiring though to be there the whole time -_- lots of work, but great rewards =) I did some shopping while I was there:

• Mini Konad stamper kit
• Konad Nail polish remover -- SMELLS SOOOO GOOD! Like strawberry candy ♥
• Super cute nail art stickers!

Also picked up some cutie earrings, since one of my DSK butterflies broke when I was taking it off =[

And here's my drugstore.com order that I got awhile ago. Been using a couple of the products lately... so reviews are in order! I really liked the Queen Helene Mint Julep masque that I bought awhile ago, so I figure I might as well try all their other products, since they are so affordable! Loving them so far!

• Queen Helene Cocoa Butter Natural Facial Scrub
• Queen Helene Oatmeal N Honey Natural Facial Scrub (Kalmo's review persuaded me!)
• Queen Helene Grape Seed Extract Peel Off Masque
• Queen Helene Mud Pack Masque -- MY FAVORITE!!!
• Cleo yogurt bar soap (red fruits)
• ELF Nail polish remover pads -- love these, need more
• ELF Shine eraser -- needed cheap oil blotting paper
• Neutrogena makeup remover wipes
• ELF Moisturecare lip color in Natural Blush
• ELF Brightening eyeshadow quad "Drama" -- been wanting this!

Been wanting this one for awhile now, as always, great pigmentation!

Natural blush is a hideous color on me IMO. It's like... a dull dusty rose/mauve color. It makes me look dead. I'm trying to love it... but I just don't -_- Doesn't look so bad in the pic.. but in real life, it's yuck-O. Too bad, since I actually can stand the texture, and the smell isn't too bad either. The finish is really nice! I think I'll try different shades next time.

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And here's to being honest.

This was originally my 10th beauty fact (thanks Lisa for sharing :D) but now it's just something I wanted to get out there because after all, I am a real person behind this blog, I have feelings, and I want to be open and honest with my readers. This is an extremely long post (vent/rant of sorts) so you don't need to read the whole thing, but I would like to hear how anyone feels about this topic =)

To put it bluntly, I am VERY self-concious about my appearance. When I was younger, I got made fun of and picked on a lot because I was always the shortest, puniest ASIAN kid in class. In addition to that, I had weird eyebrows, a f*cked up grill, full lips, small eyes + SEVERE dark circles (yep, had em from when I was young), and a stereotypical chawan-bowl haircut. To look at pictures of me then up until now is like looking at totally different people

↓ How my brows used to look =[ And apparently, 2005 was THAT BAD.




























I was the wallflower that no one took notice of unless it was to make fun of. So I became a tomboy. I roughed it with the guys and was usually treated like one. But secretly I wanted to be girly. I started wearing makeup around 8th grade. I looked horrible. But back then, I thought I look awesome (haha). I yanked out half my brows because I hated the ends and they never grew back. So yes, I do have to draw on the ends of my eyebrows every day. Strangely, I get lots of compliments on them :S I got braces, but today I still hate the way my teeth look. Some people think I have nice lips, but I hate them. I have given up on trying to get rid of my severe dark circles and I still have this constant nagging to yank out my eyelashes whenever I'm bored/stressed.

At this point in time, I feel like I've "grown into myself" so to speak. Now, I need to wear makeup to feel PRESENTABLE, not pretty. I envy those girls that can look beautiful without makeup. Who can wake up in the morning and be satisfied with their appearance, as I am not one of those people. I cannot follow "asian" makeup tutorials because they just don't work for me. I've had to find my own way of applying makeup, and it's still a struggle to this day -- which is why I don't do many tutorials / FOTDs / EOTDs. I do appreciate all the kind words I've received from you lovely ladies though, it really warms my heart and it's nice to hear if I am able to help people in any way (:

~ ~ ~

Anyways, on to my main point here. I've been hearing here and there the little issues of people being hated on for being supposedly superficial, fake, vain, etc. just because they have a blog/youtube where they can freely express themselves through words AND pictures. Lots of nasty words are said that are truly mean and hurtful. Now, this has never happened to me HERE on blogger (and hopefully never will) but I have gone through this BEFORE. It is not a pleasent experience and it really made me question myself and increased my already low self-esteem.

I really wonder what goes through these people's heads before they leave such nasty comments? "I'm jealous of this girl, so I'm going to bash her?" Or "I just don't like girls who post so many pictures of herself so I'm going to say something mean." Hiding behind a computer screen and harsh words is not a way to make up for their own personal flaws nor should it be done just because they have nothing better to do or think it's funny. The people behind the pictures have feelings. They are real people.

Just because they post pictures of themselves doesn't mean they're saying "Look at how hot I am! Be jealous of me! When you're done drooling, post lots of comments about how superior I am in beauty to everyone else!!!" They're usually trying to teach you something, show you something, showcase a product, etc. It's unfair of such rude and careless people to assume that everyone who has a beauty blog/youtube is a narcissistic bitch.

Which leads me to this point:
"Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

You never know what someone has gone or IS going through before you decide to judge them. Which is why the little remarks can often lead to bigger things (who knows, maybe even the end of one's life). It was already difficult for me to have to go through teasing when I was little. And then, an even worse relapse to be taunted yet again, when I finally started feeling comfortable with myself. Although now, I am able to hide my feelings better, receiving a spiteful and negative comment from anyone really hits hard, which leads to depressing days of much over-analyzing.

Judgement is usually quick, but by no means should it be passed with one glance. The things I tend to hear about myself usually includes: snobby, stuck up, slutty, rich bitch. Which is really hurtful because it's the exact opposite of who I really am. I don't come from a financially endowed family. I consider myself lucky that I'm going to college. I'm extremely shy and socially awkward, so I tend not to talk to many people I don't know. I keep to myself. And I'll admit, I've made share of stupid, misguided mistakes in the past, but that does not determine who I am now. Which leads me to another truthful quote:

"Your character is who you are. Your reputation is who people think you are."

I'm going off on a tangent here...... but in the end, what I'm getting at is that I really wish that people will try to be a lot more careful and compassionate with their words and judgement; even though it's only words, they are more powerful than than you think. And my advice to all girls -- Try your best to be confident, NOT conceited.

*Phew*! Sorry for this semi-depressing rant. Just wanted to get it off my chest. Thanks, if you've gotten this far =)

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10 Beauty facts

Lisa from Shop N' Chomp did this awesome tag on 10 beauty facts about yourself! So I "stole" this tag from her hehe =)

Anyways, here's my 10 beauty factoids - - -

1. From time to time, I get ONE BIG JUICY PIMPLE in the WORST place. Right now, it's smack dab on my left cheek (on my face :P). I only get it in horribly noticeable places, like on the tip of my nose, the middle of my forehead, between my eyebrows, or on/in my eyebrows. In addition to being huge and disgusting, it lasts forever. TMI?! And for the record, no spot treatment has EVER worked for me more than once!!!


2. I am addicted to collecting lip balm/gloss. The dumb thing is though, that I tend to buy buy buy and then not use any of it -_-



3. I'm totaly with you Lisa, I suck at applying falsies! If I were better at it, I'd wear them every day! ↓ TOOK ME FOREVERRRR TO DO =(



4. I am a lover of Neutrogena, but only because a select few of their products have HG status!



5. I range between being a budget and brand buyer.






6. My skin is mineral spoiled. EDM has been my go-to for over 2 years.



7. I own NO MAC! Yes, I am serious!



8. I love bright, funky nail polish. I almost always have my nails did =)



9. At nighttime, I ALWAYS take my "face" off, no matter what. Lol.



10. This will come in my next post . . .

Has everybody done this tag already? I wanna know your beauty facts!!

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Presenting Tanimoto Dharma Designs + SURPRISE GIVEAWAY!!

Hello all, hope you're having a nice weekend! This has been something in the works for a very long time now, and finally, I would like to present you all to our...



TANIMOTO DHARMA DESIGNS WEBSITE! and
TANIMOTO DHARMA DESIGNS STORE!

I don't think I've ever mentioned too in depth about this, but my our family business (my dad's) is Tanimoto Gallery and Framing. If you're ever in Hilo, come visit us!! 296 Kilauea Ave, downtown Hilo, between Asami's and Two Ladies Kitchen =) Tanimoto Dharma Designs is the brainchild of my dad. Some background info HERE.

I designed the layout of our website and I am extremely excited and proud that we have come this far!!! This has been a tedious but definitely rewarding labor of love for all of us. It has been my dad's dream to get our message out there, and we are finally able to share our creations with everyone! :D His goal has been to spread the Dharma: universal messages that inspire, motivate, enlighten, and bring happiness. We hope to do that through our handmade artwork.

Which brings me to my...

SURPRISE GIVEAWAY
to celebrate the opening of our online business!

We would like to give one lucky winner either:
Your choice of ONE Wabi-Sabi Cat
6 1/4" x 7 1/4" x 5/8" (Length x Width x Depth)
Click here for more choices!

- OR -

Your choice of THREE Muffins!
frames: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
keychains & magents: 2" x 3"
We have the ones you see below (bent acrylic frame) or you can choose keychains or magnets. You can mix and match but only pick three please =)
Click here for all the choices!



The Muffins are my pride and joy and I really hope you enjoy them as much as I do. They are perfect desk buddies! We have sold OVER 500 Wabi Sabi Cats here in Hilo, and some of them have even gone on to the mainland! Lots of attention, love, and care is put into making each item (: I would know, because I put them together!

If you would like to enter, here's the rules!

1 ENTRY:
Leave a comment on THIS POST ONLY stating which item(s) you would like AND your email address (if you don't have a blog) so I can contact you if you win. EXAMPLE: I would like the "Original Wabi Sabi Cat!" or I would like one "Muffin frog" keychain, one "Muffin Panda" desk buddy, and one "Muffin Cow" magnet... or whatever you want! :D Again, please remember you can only pick one Wabi Sabi Cat OR three Muffins.

2 ENTRIES:
Repost about this giveaway on your blog. Title it "Erynn's Surprise Giveaway!" or something like that. Please include a link to our website AND store, as well as the rules and some pictures of the prizes. Leave another comment on this post with the link to your post! Of course, this is not required, but it is MUCH APPRECIATED!!! (: AND it will get you another shot at winning (;

3 ENTRIES:
Leave another comment on this post giving some suggestions of what you'd like to see more of! Example: animals to be made into muffins, different ideas for cats, ideas for new products, etc.

So you can have a total of three entries (: Winner will be chosen by random.org. Giveaway ends on December 12th! Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy our handmade creations!

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