June 11, 2014: What's the worst product you've ever tried?

What's the worst product you've ever tried? It can be anything! (Makeup, skincare, grooming, etc.)

I've never tried anything that was so despicably bad, or that caused a terrible reaction or anything that would stand out as "the worst" in my mind, but the most useless product I am using right now is the Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening serum. I got a deluxe sample as a 100-point Sephora perk a while ago, and started using it in April to lighten a couple dark spots and I have seen zero change. It's useless. I'm still using it because I don't have anything else, and I don't plan to invest in a full-size similar product but it has been a total let down, because I have loved other Murad products I've used. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

ETA: Also want to mention that I continue to be disappointed with NEST fragrances. Every single one I've tried smells like B.O. on me.

I don't even know how that is possible.

I feel like my worst products are other peoples favorites. It's funny because I have a coworker who has the exact opposite taste in fragrance as me. I pretty much know if I hate a fragrance, she will want it. The new Dolce fragrance comes to mind. I hate it. People are raving about it. My coworker of course says she wants to buy it the second I say "omg I smelled that new Dolce stuff and it's awful."

Shalott said:

I've never tried anything that was so despicably bad, or that caused a terrible reaction or anything that would stand out as "the worst" in my mind, but the most useless product I am using right now is the Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening serum. I got a deluxe sample as a 100-point Sephora perk a while ago, and started using it in April to lighten a couple dark spots and I have seen zero change. It's useless. I'm still using it because I don't have anything else, and I don't plan to invest in a full-size similar product but it has been a total let down, because I have loved other Murad products I've used. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

ETA: Also want to mention that I continue to be disappointed with NEST fragrances. Every single one I've tried smells like B.O. on me.

I don't even know how that is possible.

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I'm with you on Nest. I didn't like a single one I smelled at Sephora. I don't get what the fuss is about.

Hmm I already said this on the HC item thread, but the Deva Curl low-poo did some awful things to my scalp.  It took almost a year to get things back to normal after one month of use. 

In the 1980's I had a nightmarish experience with Chanel skin care. I signed up for a full spa treatment at what was then the most high-class department store in Buffalo. The Chanel rep began her regimen and then put a mask on me, telling me she needed to leave the room for a few minutes and she would let me relax. In very short order my face began burning, and I don't mean in the mildly irritated way--I began screaming and was terrified to open my eyes because I felt the mask might be too close and get in there and do real damage. It took a couple of minutes for the rep to come in and remove the mask. My face was raw-hamburger red and swollen, and dear God the pain! I left the store with about $300 in free product that day (and this was in 1986 dollars) but I never trusted Chanel products again.

Lipstick from The Body Shop. Just... don't do it. Don't.

Mine would be the Drybar dry shampoo for brunettes. I read pretty good reviews on it but when I tried it, it made hair feel like straw. It was really gross & I ended up being like an hour late to work because I had to wash & blow dry my hair lol

Also I have to agree on the nest fragrances as well. I haven't liked any of the ones I've smelled.

The first thing that comes to mind for me is Neutrogena's version of Proactiv. Used it for about a week and no problems. Then all of a sudden my face felt like it was on fire. You know the feeling when you get way to close to a fire or grill on high heat? Yeah, that feeling. I grabbed my Clinique bar soap in hopes of getting some of it off my face. It didn't work. Afterwards, it looked like I just spent 12 hours under the sun in the tropics without sunscreen. By the next morning, my whole face felt like dry, rough, sandpaper.

Pantene comes in a close second. That just burned my scalp after a week or two of use.

Well, you know Dr jarts eye serum, well I used that and I got really bad eczema like conditions all over my eyes. And, my eyes went all burning and itchy. I hated it, but it got rid of my puffiness. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

I just did the Ole Henriksen's 3 step lemon peel and i do NOT have sensitive skin...I burned the crap out of myself!  Now, you might think when I took my lathered hands (step 2) and smacked them on my face only to 'feel the burn' that I would have stopped...oh no...being my first peel I was wondering if that was normal, or maybe I was just a bit too harsh with my application of step 1?  By the time I decided that no, it just was RUINING me and I needed to get it off, it was over a minute.  It's roughly 2:30am and I can't scream (and I would have) but pressing on, with step 3 being the 'soother,' I figured it would at least calm down my redness and pain.  Here again...oh no! Burn baby burn, burn! I can't recall a worse experience.

As a makeup artist I've tried a lot of bad shit, just about every "glitter palette" I've ever tried has been greasy and glittery and immediately it turns to crease crease city. The Claires glitter palettes just have a top layer of glitter and then it's just clear oily gel crap that primer can't even help. Hard candy is better but it's still made with gel stuff and it creases immediately. It sucks.

Maybelline Great Lash.

The JCat glitter palette that came in an Ipsy bag late last year comes to mind. I knew it wasn't my thing, but made the mistake of swatching it on my arm before tossing it. Bad move. I'm still finding glitter in the carpet. I don't know how a measly swatch and careful removal with makeup remover created that much glitter fallout. No wonder some of my friends call glitter "raver scabies."

Also, Dr. Dennis Gross One Step Acne Pads. I've loved everything else I've tried from DDG, including the extra strength peels, but the pain from these was unbearable. Luckily, the burning mostly stopped once the solution evaporated from my skin, so I'd fan myself madly while taking deep breaths and trying to calmly will my way through the pain after wiping these on my face. I did somehow finish the entire jar of pads (I was hoping my skin would "get used to it"...it didn't), but that was a $38 mistake I won't be making again. Didn't seem to make much of a difference in my skin, either. I think I'd rather get a tattoo removed. 

Lipstick from The Body Shop

Mine was nail strengthener from Nailtiques.  I had a crazy, severe reaction to it - horrible, shooting pains up my hands and arms.  I thought I'd have to go to the hospital, but luckily it went away after I removed the stuff.  Such a shame, because it has such rave reviews!

inimitable_d said:

Mine was nail strengthener from Nailtiques.  I had a crazy, severe reaction to it - horrible, shooting pains up my hands and arms.  I thought I'd have to go to the hospital, but luckily it went away after I removed the stuff.  Such a shame, because it has such rave reviews!

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Wow, I never knew that a nail strengthener could cause something like that. Glad you were able to figure out what caused your reaction and it went away.