{Beauty Testing} Lisa Hoffman’s Japanese Agarwood Fragrance Duo

.Japanese Agarwood was once “used as the centerpiece in Kōdō incense ceremonies to [help participants] achieve a higher level of consciousness and inner peace,” according to the Lisa Hoffman Beauty website. Lisa Hoffman (wife of actor Dustin Hoffman) uses Japanese Agarwood as the centerpiece for one of her 2-vial collection (retail value: $52)  which includes morning and evening scents. The Japanese Agarwood essence is intensified with bergamot and spiced ginger, creating a scent the website says, “inspire(s) feelings of clarity and warmth.” What did our FOF testers think? Did this perfume make them feel all warm and fuzzy inside?

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Neither the scent for day or evening appealed to me. I used the daytime and evening alone and then decided to mix them, but they gave me a slight headache. It was very strong. The scent is not for me. I definitely would not wear it again.

However, the packaging was unique, practical and eye catching. The satchel is great for a purse or even a pocket.

{click here to read all the reviews!}

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I usually don’t wear perfume because it gives me a headache, but this didn’t. The day fragrance was light, but warm with a rich undertone. The night fragrance was a deeper, more sensuous version of the day scent, which I really liked.

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I can’t put my finger on it, but there is something about the Japanese Agarwood fragrances that lift my spirit. It’s so crisp and fresh, when I smelled this, I was sent reeling back to the 70s when I was a wild, carefree, hitchhiking young woman. Those were the days I wore handkerchief halter tops and bell-bottom blue jeans with frayed hems and sensuality was the norm! I wear it every day and night.

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It came in such a beautiful package and I love the case. I tried both the morning and evening versions as well as mixing them together. It is a little bit heavy for my taste. I prefer something a little lighter and sweeter smelling.

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I could not stand it! Both the day and night fragrances [made me] smell like an old man. I asked others what they thought. My sister said it smelled like my dad who has been dead 10+ years and wore too much Polo aftershave.

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{Beauty Testing} 12 Benefits Hair Products

Paulmaier, the manufacturer of 12 Benefits hair products, promises that their Rapid Blowout Spray and Instant Healthy Hair Treatment ($24.95 each at Soft Surroundings) will “dramatically reverse the aged and damaged look and feel” of your hair by restoring the natural lipids that you lose when you shampoo and style. The Rapid Blowout Spray is formulated with Argan oil and “reduces blow-dry time, volumizes fine locks, adds shine and helps reduce damage from heat styling tools,” according to their marketing materials. The Instant Healthy Hair Treatment, which should be sprayed on to hair “from mid-shaft to ends,” “seals your color, smooths frizz and strengthens fragile hair.” Can this hair care duo truly do away with bad hair days? FOF product testers untangle the truth . . .

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For how long did you use these products?
I am still using the products [after several months]– they are a very generous size.

{click here to read all the reviews!}

Did you notice a difference in your hair?
I have a dry scalp and frizzy hair, especially when it is humid. Using heat styling tools has only multiplied my frizz. I noticed a difference after about three weeks. My hair is glossier, silkier and smoother. It swings a bit more. My sister asked me what I had been using because she noticed the difference in luster.

Would you recommend these hair products to a friend?
Wholeheartedly. The oil in the second product is so light, it never weighed my hair down.

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How long did you use the product?
Approximately 8 weeks.

Did you notice a difference in your hair?
Definitely! [It made my hair] soft and extremely shiny–a much more controlled look!

Was your hair dry or damaged before you started using the product?
Yes, very!

Did you see an improvement in the look and feel of your hair?
Yes. I was complimented by my hairdresser — she said my hair was in great condition.

Do you think the blow dry spray and healthy hair treatment are a good value?
They are much less costly than products I have tried that didn’t work as well. I would easily spend that amount on these products.

Would you use these products again?
In a heartbeat!

Would you recommend these hair products to a friend?
I have recommended them to a few of my friends who noticed a difference in my hair.

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For how long did you use the hair products?
Three times a week for four weeks.

Did you notice a difference in your hair?
Yes.

How did the products make your hair look?
Slightly volumized.

Were the directions easy to follow?
Yes.

Do you think the blow dry spray and healthy hair treatment are worth the value?
Not on my retiree budget.

Would you use these products again?
Probably not, although I would recommend them to others.

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For how long did you use these products?
I took these wonderful products to France for a 3-week vacation.

Did you notice a difference in your hair?
After the sun, wind and dry air, [my hair] needed help. This is a terrific product and I will be more than happy to use it from now on.

Would you use these products again? Would you recommend these hair products to a friend?
Not only did I enjoy these products, but I loaned them to friends traveling with us on the Vantage riverboat. All of their reviews were totally positive too.

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Leave a comment below to be entered for a chance to test ResVitále Collagen Enhance ($39.99).  Twelve women will receive this product to test.

By entering this contest you are agreeing to test and submit a written review of this product to FabOverFifty and send a photo of yourself to accompany the published story.

(See all our past winners. See official rules. Participants will be chosen at random from all those who leave a comment. Contest closes December 9, 2011.)

{Product Testing} Peptide Wrinkle Concealer Duo Wand by Clientele

Clientele, claims that its Peptide Wrinkle Concealer Duo Wand (retail value: $30) will “lubricate away crow’s feet,” “protect the delicate tissue around your eyes,” “fight the appearance of wrinkles,” and, if that’s not enough, “It’s a wonderful base to hold eyeshadow fresh all day.” Each stick comes in two shades, neutral and tan, and contains a “special peptide” promising to “erase your age” without overdrying skin. But what did our FOF testers think?

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Were the directions given to you clear and understandable?
The directions were clear and understandable but not complete. The product was thick and sticky and I felt like I had to pull my skin too much to apply it.

How quickly did you see results?
After about 3 days of use, I stopped using it on my eyelids and instead, just used it over my outer eye creases. The cream filled in the creases immediately.

{click here to read all the reviews!}

Did the product meet or exceed your expectations?
I used the product for 3 weeks. I don’t believe it actually improved my skin, it just temporarily filled in the wrinkles.

Would you use this product again?
No.

What could make this product better?
I’m not sure. It was just a temporary cover-up and I would like to see something that would help to soften lines and wrinkles more permanently.

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Were the directions given to you clear and understandable?
The directions were understandable, and the concealer was very easy to use.

How quickly did you see results?
I used the concealer now for two weeks and noticed great coverage immediately.

Did the product meet or exceed your expectations?
This product exceeded my expectations. I love using it on my eyelids [as a primer] and it makes the eyeshadow I apply in the morning last until evening.

Would you use this product again?
I would definitely use this product again.

What could make this product better?
I have no improvements. It works just as it is.

What was your overall experience with this product?
Positive. My crow’s feet are diminishing and unlike other concealers I’ve tried, it does not give me a white-eye effect. I do not feel it is greasy or too heavy. I am very pleased with the results and will definitely purchase and continue to use it in the future.

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Were the directions given to you clear and understandable?
Yes.

How quickly did you see results?
Immediately.

Did the product meet or exceed your expectations?
In some ways, yes, others, no. It was a little greasy and hard to blend in, almost the consistency of sunscreen. At first I thought even the neutral shade went on too light but after it settled in (and I blotted the greasiness), I noticed that it gave very good coverage to my seriously dark circles.

Would you use this product again?
Possibly, if they made some changes to the ingredients.

What could make this product better?
Perhaps they could use an emollient other than petroleum so it would be less greasy.

Please describe your experience with this product.
Besides that it was greasy and hard to rub in, I was pleased with the results and excited that I might have found an even better concealer than the expensive one I currently use. But, unfortunately, after a few days, I began to develop psoriasis on my eyelids (an off-and-on problem, that I haven’t experienced in many years). It seems that putting petroleum products on my eyelids has caused psoriasis flare-ups. I didn’t check the ingredients prior to using the Clientele product, but after the flare-up, I checked and, sure enough, discovered that it was petroleum based. Once I stopped using it, the psoriasis quickly disappeared. If this company would switch their formula to an organic emollient base, such as beeswax or plant oils, I think this product would be a winner! But in the meantime, I will stay away from it because of the reaction my skin had.

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Were the directions given to you clear and understandable?
I was initially confused by the instructions. “Apply under the eye. When absorbed, used the handy sponge applicator or wand to gently pat concealer under eyes.” This lead me to believe there were two products; the one that I apply under the eye and the concealer to pat on after the first was absorbed. Once I asked and got that straightened out, I was okay.

How quickly did you see results?
I never did see it “lubricate away crow’s feet.” However, it did give me a nice unblemished base under my eye to work from.

Did the product meet or exceed your expectations?
The product was not what I expected. It was too thick and sticky for my skin type. However, I didn’t expect it to absorb into my skin as much as it did, so it ended up okay. It was also very white, and made me look a bit scary until I applied some foundation.

Would you use this product again?
I would not go out and purchase this, but I will most likely finish using what I have.

What could make this product better?
A lighter texture and consistency.

Please describe your experience with this product.
This product reminded me of the ‘pancake makeup’ that actors wear. I felt like I was preparing for the stage rather than my daily life. I am sure the product is wonderful for the right skin type, but the area under my eyes is thin-skinned, and this was simply too dense. The consistency made it hard to get just the right amount on my eyes and I needed to spend a lot of time blending it.
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Were the directions clear and understandable?
Yes.

How quickly did I see results?
I did not notice any results.

Did the product meet or exceed my expectations?
It neither met or exceeded my expectations.

Would I use it again?
No, I would not.

What could make it better?
If it was creamier so that it went on more smoothly. Also, I wish it did not get lighter in color as the day went on.

What was your overall experience with this product?
I found this product hard to use. It was quite firm and was hard to apply. When I tried to dab it on my skin with the applicator, I felt like it was pulling. I tried patting it on with my finger and this worked slightly better, but I found that it was going on much too thick.

Also, it kept getting lighter in color as the day went on. A couple of hours after I applied it, I looked like I had pale circles under my eyes. As an eyeshadow base, it was okay.

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Were the directions given to you clear and understandable?
I felt the directions supplied were very confusing. They contained directions for two different products–wrinkle treatment and firming eye cream. After reading it several times, I wasn’t quite sure how to use it, or what to expect. The fact that the cream had two compartments with what seems to be the same product was also confusing.

How quickly did you see results?
I do not feel that there were any lasting effects with this product.

Did the product meet or exceed your expectations?
No.

Would you use this product again?
Probably not.

What could make this product better?
Better directions and a more spreadable consistency. I was not able to easily blend it into my skin.

Please describe your experience with this product.
The product did not blend very well on my skin. Once I was able to blend it using a combination of my finger and the sponge provided, it did provide some coverage of fine lines and brightening under my eye. However, I can’t say there has been any permanent reduction in fine lines and crow’s feet.

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Were the directions given to you clear and understandable?
No. Visually, I couldn’t tell the difference between the two compartments and there was no labeling on the box. Of course, I eventually figured it out, but for $30, I’d hope for more clear instructions.

How quickly did you see results?
I really didn’t see a difference at all.

Did the product meet or exceed your expectations?
I had hoped this 2-in-1 product would be better than others I have used, but it wasn’t.

Would you use this product again?
I don’t think I would purchase this product and prefer what I was already using.

What could make this product better?
This product would be a lot more user-friendly if the compartments were labeled!

Please describe your experience with this product.
I really did want to love this…

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By entering this contest you are agreeing to test and submit a written review of this product to FabOverFifty and send a photo of yourself to accompany the published story.

(See all our past winners. See official rules. Participants will be chosen at random from all those who leave a comment. Contest closes December 1, 2011.)

{Product Testing} Lash Food Eyelash Conditioner

JB Cosmetics promise that their Lashfood Nano-Peptide Eyelash Conditioner ($80) is “clinically demonstrated” to “provide the appearance of longer, thicker lashes” and “transform frail and brittle lashes to become healthy and strong.” All in just 3-6 weeks. They also claim “all natural” ingredients including Biotin, soy protein and a proprietary nano-peptide complex.  Sounds, lash-tastic. But what did our FOF testers think?


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How long did you use the product?
About 3 weeks.

Did this product work for you?
I cannot see a difference in photos, however, when I put my glasses on last week I noticed that my eyelashes were rubbing on the lenses. My husband took a very close look and stepped back in surprise. My eyelashes appeared fuller and longer.

{click here to read all the reviews!}

Would you recommend it to other FOF members?
Yes. I already passed it on to a friend.

Any negatives?
I had no side effects save a slight burning for a few seconds if a small amount got into the eye.

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How long did you use the product?
3 weeks.

Did the product work? What changes did you notice?
I think it actually made my lashes healthier and softer which I think made them feel thicker. They seem to be a bit thicker. My eyelashes did not fall out as much.

Would you use it again?
I would, however I felt the applicator was very difficult to use because it was so thin. If they had a thicker brush it would be easier. I almost had to put my glasses on to see that the serum got where it needed to be.

Would I recommend it to others?
Yes, if they had the applicator thicker.

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Did this product work for you? Did you see a difference in your lashes?
I was using the product for a few days and my eyes would tear and burn. I think I may have a mild allergy to something in this product. [Discontinued use]

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Did this product work for you? Did you see a difference in your lashes?
Surprisingly yes. I tried Latisse on my left eyelashes and Lashfood on my right, not expecting any results from Lashfood. When I looked in the mirror 2 weeks later I was confused as to how the right lashes seemed longer than the left. I did not know it was supposed to make my lashes grow.

Would you use it again?
Yes

Would you recommend it to other FOF members?
Yes

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How long did you use this product?
30 days.

Did this product work for you? Did you see a difference in your lashes?
I can’t say that I have noticed a change. I started getting milia on my eyelids so I stopped using it.

Would you use it again?
I would not use this brand again and I would not recommend it to other FOF members. However, I did discover a lash enhancer called Amplif that has promising results.

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{Product Testing} Dermelect 3-Step System

There’s plenty of controversy surrounding the use of human stem cells; now claims have surfaced that plant stem cells can make human skin look more youthful. To whit, a slew of new products made with plant-cell extracts hit the market of late, including Eclos cleansers and creams, Lancôme ‘Définicils Precious Cells’ Mascara and Dr. Brandt Pores No More Anti-Aging Mattifying Lotion. We took a look at  Dermelect’s 3-Step Stem Cell System (retail value: $193.00), made from Alpine Rose stem cell extracts. The Swiss Alpine Rose is a wonder-flower that resists oxidation, thrives at mile-high altitude and extreme temperatures, and can have a lifespan of up to 100 years. According to Dermelect marketing materials, the flower’s stem cells can “stimulate skin’s protein production and boost facial skin stem-cell activity.” They go on to say, “A 17-day study showed that Alpine Rose stem cells reduced the appearance of wrinkles by 45% and complexions were 54% more radiant.”  Sounds promising, natural, revolutionary…But what did our real FOF testers think? Find out, below, and then comment to test out our next product!

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We’re the directions given to you clear and understandable?
Perfectly [understandable].

How quickly did you see results?
After 10 days [using the product], I stopped wearing foundation completely. My skin looked so good, I really didn’t need it.

Did the product meet or exceed your expectations?
My expectations for beauty products are pretty low. It is rare, in my experience, to find a product that actually does what it purports. This one did.

{click here to read all the reviews!}

What could make this product better?
If they could be combined into one product, it would be a plus. I am fond of streamlining and efficiency.

Please describe your experience with this product:
I received these three products on a day I really needed a boost. I began using them faithfully and quite enthusiastically. Due to the price point, I did not want to like any of these.

However, these products made my skin look and feel better–soft, creamy, even….and I had very good skin to begin with. Although I prefer an all-in-one product, these were delightful, they smell lovely and are a pleasure to use. There was more than enough product in each container to last for two months.

Would you use this product again?
Absolutely. Will I buy them [for myself]? I am undecided. I plan to switch back to my former skincare method for a while in order to really test the difference. [Until then,] I do recommend these products. THANK YOU FOF for allowing me to test-drive these!

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Were the directions clear and understandable?
Yes, they were clear. The directions say to spray the ‘Step 3’ product on my face which I didn’t particularly like. The directions didn’t indicate if instead, I could just spray it into my hands and then, press it on my face. This might need to be clarified.

How quickly did you see results?
I saw results within 2-3 weeks. My face looked fresher, more moisturized and had a “dewy” finish, Before, it was dry and dehydrated. People commented on how nice my skin looked and asked me what I was using! They said they couldn’t believe my age.

Did the product meet or exceed your expectations?
I am always a little skeptical of new products but these Dermelect products are the real thing! My aging skin both felt AND looked better…fresher, more youthful, more moisturized and my foundation looked better after using the products. I even went out in public without makeup, which is pretty unusual for me!

Would you use this product again?
Yes, definitely.

What could make this product better?
Again, I didn’t like spraying my face and getting the product in my eyes and on my lips. I’d also imagine the price will be difficult for many people given the economy.

Please describe your experience with this product:
The serum and cream were my favorites and they made my skin feel instantly better! The scent, packaging and feel of the products were as good as any of the very high-end products I have used!

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We’re the directions given to you clear and understandable?
Yes.

How quickly did you see results?
I did not see any results.

Did the product meet or exceed your expectations?
No.

Would you use this product again?
No, I would not use them again.

What could make this product better?
If the products actually did what they are supposed to do.

Please describe your experience with this product:
My experience with these products was okay. My skin was a little red and irritated for the first two weeks after using them. Living in Colorado, I need moisture. These products really dried out my skin.

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Leave a comment below to be entered for a chance to test  SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic Product Testing. Contest closes November 17, 2011.

By entering this contest you are agreeing to test and submit a written review of this product to FabOverFifty and send a photo of yourself to accompany the published story.

(See all our past winners. See official rules. Participants will be chosen at random from all those commenters who answer the question.)