• nume rise and prime hair primer

    First Impressions with NUME

    October 28, 2021

    Hi Everyone!

    Today, I’m reviewing the NuMe hair products: Classic Curling Wand and Rise And Prime Hair Primer.

    Hair Type(s): Safe for all hair types, including thick, curly, frizzy, and damaged hair.

    Features

    • 100% tourmaline ceramic barrel
    • Clipless design for crease-free curls
    • Heats to 410°F in seconds
    • On/off power switch with indicator light
    • Far infrared heat
    • Negative ion conditioning technology
    • Fully rotating swivel power cord
    • Ergonomic design

    19mm barrel for tight ringlets, 25mm barrel for glam curls, 32mm barrel for beach waves

    • includes a heat-resistant styling glove
    • Far infrared heat – sends a gentle heat directly into the hair follicle and out to the cuticle to protect strands over time.
    • Tourmaline ceramic – offers a smooth, friction-free surface to reduce breakage and naturally conducts far infrared heat and negative ions for healthier heat styling.
    • Negative ion conditioning technology – maintains moisture and eliminates frizz by sealing the hair’s cuticle while boosting shine.

    The classic curling wand also comes in 6 different colours: Black, Pink, Turquoise, Blush, Mint Green and White. The 19mm only comes in Black and some of the colours are currently sold out.

    Currently on sale for $62 USD, regular price is $89 USD.

    HOW TO

    Curl: Wrap small sections of hair around the barrel for three to five seconds. Catch the curl to cool and set, then release. Wear the heat-resistant styling glove for added protection. 

    I chose the 32mm barrel curling wand in black. Personally, I prefer beachy waves because I look older with curls. Also, my hair is stick straight, so it usually doesn’t hold a curl really well.

    This is my first time using an actual curling wand. I’ve only used curling irons with clips. I’d say my hair is pretty thick, but it styles my hair well. I get the waves that I want. I tried using it without applying hairspray because I wanted to see how long the waves would last. I did my hair early in the afternoon and it still had some waves by the evening.

    Pictured is right after curling my hair. I ran my fingers through it to soften the waves. I will try to take a selfie and post it on my Instagram.

    RATING: 4/5

    This curling wand is their most basic one. If you have thinner hair, you may want to choose one that controls the temperature. They have the Magic Curling Wand (retails for $129 USD).

    I wish it had a bit of a stand so that the wand part doesn’t touch my desk after I’m finished using it. Since it’s a bit top heavy, the barrel touches my desk. Luckily, I have a silicone mat heat protector. The fingers of the heat protecting glove are really long. I don’t think anyone’s thumb could be that long. 

    Protect and nourish your strands without weighing hair down. Use Rise and Prime Hair Primer on its own as a base prior to heat styling or on its own as a leave in conditioner.

    Directions: Apply a generous amount onto wet or damp hair directly out of the shower. Use before heat styling for added protection or on its own as a leave in conditioner.

    • Hydrolyzed Silk replenishes hair with amino acids, improves against breakage and forms a protective barrier
    • Sunflower Seed Oil, an antioxidant with fatty acids, rich in beta carotene which moisturizes and controls frizz and prevents thinning of hair; packed with vitamin E and oleic acids which helps nourishes and softens hair
    • Honey Extract prevents drying of hair; natural humectant, keeping hair lustrous and moisturized
    • Isoparaffin enhances texture

    Ingredients: Aqua, cyclopentasiloxane, dimenthiconol, phenyl timethicone, polyacrylamide, c13-14 isoparaffin, laureth-7, hydrolyzed silk, helianthus annus (sunflower) seed oil, honey extract, parfum, phenoxyethanol, methylisothiazolinone, citronellol, linalool.

    RATING: 3.5/5

    Straight out of the bottle, the scent is a bit strong for me. It’s a bit sweet for my liking, but once you dry your hair, it’s very faint. It felt like my hair dried faster after using this and my hair feels and looks silky smooth.

    This was a great first introduction to NuMe hair products for me. I would definitely consider buying other products from their collection.

    Have you tried NuMe hair products? Which are your faves?

    Love,

    *Product was sent to me for review. Links are affiliate links. Information in italics taken from the Nume Hair website.

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  • L'Oréal 8-second Wonder Water Lamellar Rinse-out

    Worth It? | L’Oréal 8-second Wonder Water Lamellar Rinse-out

    October 25, 2021

    Hi Everyone!

    Today, I’m reviewing the L’Oréal 8-second Wonder Water Lamellar Rinse-out. This was sent in a box from L’Oréal for TIFF.

    A new generation of hair treatment. Our liquid formula disperses instantly on wet hair. It works in 8 seconds and visibly transforms hair from the first use. With moisturizing agents and amino acids, our formula targets damaged areas of hair, forming thin layers called lamellas that smooth the hair’s surface with no weigh down.

    How to Use: Apply directly to wet hair. 2. Massage for 8 seconds. 3. Rinse out, avoiding contact with eyes. Frequency of use: Use 2–3 times a week on wet hair after shampoo. 1 dose for fine to medium hair. 2–3 doses for thick to curly hair. Add 1 more dose if you have long hair.

    Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Myristyl Alcohol, Aqua, Parfum, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Tocopherol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydroxycitronellal, Phenoxyethanol, Arginine PCA, Behentrimonium Chloride, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Isopropyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Citronellol, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Amyl Cinnamal. (F.I.L.: C241530 / 1)

    L'Oréal 8-second Wonder Water Lamellar Rinse-out

    This smells nice and even smells good the day after I use it. At first, I thought the smell would be too sweet and give me a headache, but it’s not. I usually prefer fruity scents. I’m not exactly sure what scent this is (I’m bad at identifying scents, sorry!!) Like the instructions say, when you squeeze it out onto your hand, it feels warm.

    RATING: 3/5

    It was cool to try out, but I wouldn’t purchase this on my own. I’d rather spend the money on a conditioner. It does detangle my hair well, but at $10 a bottle (for a 200 mL per bottle), I don’t think it’s worth it. Each time, you’re supposed to use 20 mL which means you only get 10 doses out of it (fewer if you have thick hair). I would say I have pretty thick hair and it’s also pretty long at the moment, I’ve only used the recommended 20 mL. 

    If you’re wondering about the other products that I was sent in the TIFF box, the Gourmaïs popcorn was good. I was sent the Intense Caramel & Salt Flower flavour. It had the perfect balance of salty and sweet. 

    I did not like the Gruvi Alcohol-free Dry Secco. I’m not much of a drinker, so please take that into account. It did taste like wine though if you’re looking for a non-alcoholic option and don’t want to get ginger ale or sparking grape juice. It had a bit of an aftertaste that I didn’t like.

    As for the other products, I think most people have tried Lindt Lindor chocolates, I’ve already reviewed the Lash Paradise mascara (read my comparison review) and I had to stop using the Revitalift Triple Power LZR 0.3% Pure Retinol Night Serum. I know it can be common for peeling to occur for retinols and you’re supposed to wait it out, but my cheeks were so peely, I had to stop.

    Love,

    *This product was sent to me to try. Links are NOT affiliated links. Description and ingredients in italics were taken from the L’Oréal Paris website.

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  • skinceuticals Blemish + Age Defense

    First Impressions with SkinCeuticals

    October 4, 2021

    Hi Everyone!

    Today, I’m reviewing two products I received from SkinCeuticals. I know I included these in my empties posts, but I thought I would do a separate review. I received the Blemish + Age Defense Potent Treatment for Aging Skin and Phlorectin CF. I had heard of @skinceuticalsca before, but didn’t know a lot about the brand. Their mission is to “provide advanced skincare backed by science.” Thanks to @bnation_bicom and @skinceuticalsca I get to try these two products out.

    Their products come in simple packaging which I don’t mind. While it’s fun to take pictures of pretty skincare bottles, I’d rather spend my money on effective products than pretty pink/blue/purple packaging.

    SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense Potent Treatment for Aging Skin

    Skin Type: Oily, Combination

    Skin Concern: Acne, Aging

    Blemish + Age Defense is an oil-free, targeted approach for aging and blemished-prone skin. This first-to-market acid blend uniquely combines 2% dioic acid with an optimal alpha- and beta-hydroxy acid formulation to reduce the formation of acne and clogged pores, while improving the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and uneven skin tone.

    Ingredients

    Active: Salicylic Acid 1.5%.

    Inactive: Alcohol Denat., Water, Methylpropanediol, Glycolic Acid, Diisopropyl Adipate, Octadecenedioic Acid, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Citric Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyquaternium-10

    Retails for $112 CAD on the SkinCeuticals.ca website

    RATING: 4/5

    I did notice that my skin looked better while using this and it didn’t make my skin too dry or too oily. Since my skin is already dry, I made sure to use a hydrating serum with it and I only used it on my problem areas instead of using on my whole face (to save product). 

    I used a couple of drops morning and night. I like that it doesn’t have a scent. When you first put it on, you can smell the Alcohol in it (that’s the ingredient that’s listed first), but the alcohol smell dissipates after applying it. Unlike some other acne care products, this treatment doesn’t feel as tacky as other products I’ve tried and I like that. It’s one of the few products I’ve tried that has salicylic acid that hasn’t made my face red and/or itchy after using it. I can’t say how well it works for anti-aging since I don’t have wrinkles or fine lines. Before using this product, I have had a bit of texture on my forehead, I don’t know if it was from products I was testing out or diet (or maybe a bit of both). While I used this product, my forehead cleared up.

    Skinceuticals Phlorectin CF

    Phloretin CF features a patented unique combination of 2% phloretin, 10% pure vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid), and 0.5% ferulic acid for enhanced protection against atmospheric skin aging – environmental stressor damage and premature signs of aging caused by free radicals from infrared radiation (IRA), UVA/UVB, and ozone pollution (O3). In addition to antioxidant protective benefits, Phloretin CF visibly enhances the appearance of discoloration, reduces fine lines and uneven skin tone.

    Skin Type: Normal, Oily, Combination

    Skin Concern: Discoloration, Acne, Aging

    Ingredients: Aqua/water/eau, dipropylene glycol, alcohol denat., ascorbic acid, butylene glycol, triethyl citrate, phloretin, ferulic acid

    Retails for $190 CAD on the Skinceuticals.ca website

    RATING: 2/5

    This product isn’t really geared towards my skin type since I have dry skin. I didn’t like the smell of this one. It smelled sweet like brown sugar. It also made my face feel tacky the whole day and I didn’t notice a huge difference in my skin either. Even if this was a more reasonable price (it’s $190 CAD for 30 mL), I wouldn’t purchase because of the scent.

    I think I would consider using SkinCeuticals products when I’m a bit older since they are quite expensive. I might consider repurchasing the Blemish + Age Defense serum again.

    Have you tried SkinCeuticals products? Did you think they were worth the high price?

    Love,

    *Products were sent to me for review. Ingredients and descriptions in Italics were taken from the SkinCeuticals.ca website.

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