• CUCNZN Blackhead Remover Suction Black Peeling Mask

    Review | CUCNZN Blackhead Remover Suction Black Peeling Mask

    Hi Everyone!

    I recently bought the CUCNZN suction black mask (the one I bought is currently unavailable, so I found a new link that sells two bottles instead of one, which I think is a good deal) from Amazon.ca and I must say, wow! It works much better than any nose strip I’ve ever used, but, man, does it hurt to peel it off. I did a full face mask the first time I used it and it pulled out some hairs and quite a few whiteheads. I used it a second time just on my nose area (like a blackhead strip) and it definitely pulled out more the second time because I steamed my face with some hot water before using it. Make sure your face is dry after steaming it, because the mask won’t dry as well. And also make sure that when you apply the mask, don’t get too close to your eyebrows or hairline (put on a hairband) because it will rip off any hairs in its wake!

    The best way to apply this is with a disposable makeup sponge. Even though your fingers will give you a more even layer, this sticks to your hands like tar and it just spreads around when it’s wet and it will take a while to get it off your fingers and under your nails. So definitely don’t use a nice makeup brush to apply this because it will be ruined. The easiest way is to use one of those triangular sponges or cheaper round sponges you can get at Walmart or a drugstore.

    Before peeling the mask off, check that the mask is completely dry because otherwise, you will have to scrub it off your face if it’s still sticky and your face may get a bit red and irritated from the scrubbing. Don’t leave it on any longer than you have to since it’s basically like putting glue on your face, your skin isn’t getting a chance to breathe. When you peel off the mask, do it slowly, I know it’s painful and you would think it hurts less to peel it off like a bandaid, but if you do it too quickly, it won’t grab those whiteheads and blackheads. If you need to, pause for a bit and then continue when you’re ready. I know my eyes have teared up a bit, and I had to stop for a second to catch my breath. Even from peeling off the mask, my face gets a bit red after.

    ORIGINAL RATING: 4/5

    UPDATED RATING: 2/5

    This is not worth the money! Get a peel off mask instead or use something long-term like AHAs or BHAs to get rid of blackheads and whiteheads.

    If you do decide to buy this, avoid your hair and make sure you don’t have any spots that can drip down. Make sure you apply a thin, even layer that will dry and peel off easily.

    Love,

    jen

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  • First Impressions with Laneige Hydration Trial Kit

    Hi Everyone!

    Last month, I decided to get into the Korean skincare game, so I started my research into which brands and products to try. Since everyone’s skin is different and it’s hard to go by what other people like and dislike, I decided to just look at some of the products on Sephora and buy a trial kit from the best sellers list. I didn’t want to pay $50 for a bottle of serum that I may not like, so I thought a trial kit with travel size bottles was the best option. I decided to go with the Laneige Hydration Kit that comes with six different products (pictured below- taken from google). It was $38 CAD ($75 value according to Sephora) for:

    – 1 oz Multi Cleanser
    – 1.6 oz Power Essential Skin Toner
    – 1.6 oz Balancing Emulsion for Normal to Dry Skin
    – 1 oz Water Bank Serum
    – 0.6 oz Water Bank Moisture Cream
    – 0.6 oz Water Sleeping Mask

    My nose is very sensitive to smell, a strong smelling moisturizer can give me a headache or make me feel sick. The Laneige products in this kit have a very light scent, and it’s one of the few moisturizers I actually like the smell. Some ones I’ve tried have been too floral or too strong.

    I’ve been using these products for about a month now and I have to say that my face does look brighter and feel more hydrated. It definitely takes longer to do my nightly skincare routine now, I was previously only using cleanser and putting on moisturizer. Adding the extra steps has definitely helped my skin feel softer and hydrated.

    I like the Multi Cleanser, it has a light scent like the other products. There are micro-cellular beads that gently exfoliate, it makes your skin feel clean. I know that the beads are very gentle, but I only use it once a week so that it’s not too abrasive on my skin. My skin is very sensitive, so I don’t want to use an exfoliating cleanser with beads too often, especially not on my face.

    The skin toner smells great and doesn’t feel sticky after applying (like some other ones I’ve tried).

    The balancing emulsion and water bank serum are my faves. The only thing I don’t love about the emulsion is that there’s no pump for the travel size bottle and it’s like getting ketchup out of a glass bottle (the full size version comes with a pump).

    The water bank moisture cream is a bit thicker than I’m used to, I think I will only use it on the areas of my face that tend to get dry.

    The water sleeping mask is meant to be used once or twice a week and washed off in the morning. I’ve only used it a few times, I don’t mind it, but I’m not sure I would buy the full sized-version.

    RATING: 4/5

    I give it a 4/5 because I didn’t like all the products in the kit, but liked the majority of them.

    Thoughts: Out of the six products, I would definitely buy the full-size versions of the toner, emulsion and serum. Since I already have other cleansers that I use and I think the emulsion and serum hydrate my face enough that I don’t need the moisture cream or the sleeping mask.

    What products are in your daily skincare routine?

    Love,

    jen

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  • Review | COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches

    Hi Everyone!

    I recently found the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches on Amazon and read some reviews about how good they are, so I thought I’d give them a try. I also picked up the Clear Fit Patches which is a thinner version. The Acne Pimple Master Patches were $6.65 CAD (free shipping) on Amazon.ca for 24 patches (3 different sizes). To be honest, I would prefer if they sold it by size. I don’t really use the small ones that often.

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    The thin clear hydrocolloid patch feels similar to a hydrogel sheet mask in texture, adhering your skin strongly. It’ll stay on through showering and washing! It treats breakouts by eliminating infection and bacteria, which is what causes them in the first place. It’s able to breakdown debris from blackheads and absorb gunk from whiteheads overnight, so you won’t experience a harsh dry patch from using this. It even helps flatten and heal cystic acne faster!

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    I had an underground pimple, you know, the ones that hurt but haven’t reached the surface yet, so I put a small-sized patch on the spot after I washed my face and went to bed. When I woke up, I noticed the patch had turned cloudy (it starts off a bit translucent). I peeled it off and it was no longer an underground pimple. The pimple had come to the surface and the patch had absorbed some of the pus. It left a small hole where the pimple had been, but it healed within a few days (less healing time than if I had aggravated it by squeezing it out).

    To my surprise, the patches stick really well (make sure the area is clean and dry before putting it on). I read that people sleep with the patches on and I wondered how they would stay, but once you place it on, you can barely feel it and they stay in place.

    RATING: 5/5

    I give these a 5/5 because they are amazing and actually suck up all the liquid from your pimple. I will definitely be buying these again!

    Check out my This or That posts comparing the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches to other acne patches:

    COSRX vs. Rael | COSRX vs. Nexcare

    I’ve also tried out the COSRX Clear Fit Patches, click here to read my review.

    Have you tried acne patches? What’s your fave brand?

    Love,

    jen

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  • Carry-On Travel Essentials

    Hi Everyone!

    I thought I would share a list of travel essentials to pack in your carry-on for long flights. Since I haven’t travelled a whole lot, I searched what other people suggested to pack in their carry-ons and most of the items were things I usually carry in my purse every day. For my carry-on, I bought a mini backpack from Forever21. I would suggest getting a backpack that has a zipper closure so that when it’s underneath the seat, the flap doesn’t accidentally open and nothing falls out. If you prefer RFID blocking bags and anti-theft bags, Travelon sells bags that don’t look old ladyish (like some anti-theft bags out there). Both M and C have a Travelon crossbody bag and I just recently purchased a small one as well.

    • earphones (even though they may provide earphones, those obviously aren’t the best quality and they tend to fall out of my ears)
    • iPod/tablet (for reading ebooks) or a book
    • lip balm
    • travel-size hand cream/moisturizer
    • tissues
    • chewing gum
    • toothbrush with a travel-size toothpaste or mouthwash (these Slim Sonic Electric Toothbrushes by Violife are super cute and you can buy replacement heads for them!)
    • facial wipes (and maybe feminine wipes depending on how long you’re travelling)
    • black/blue pen (for filling out those landing cards!)
    • Tylenol or Advil
    • Gravol
    • nail file (emery boards can be bought in packs and won’t get confiscated like metal nail files)
    • phone charger and a travel adapter
    • travel pillow
    • cozy blanket scarf!! I bought mine from Old Navy and I would’ve preferred it to be thicker for the plane. Luckily, on British Airways, they supplied blankets for all four flights we took to get to Mauritius (we chose layovers in London instead of Paris). If you don’t want to use the free ones that the airlines provide or pay to use one, a blanket scarf will keep you super cozy.

    I made the mistake of buying a white and black one and then I wore all black on the plane. My pants, sweater and my hair was covered in white fluff by the end of the flight!

    And obviously, don’t forget your passport and boarding pass!!

    Love,

    jen

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  • My Sister’s Wedding Dress and My Maid of Honour Dresses

    Hi Everyone!

    For those who have been waiting to find out what my maid of honour dress and my sister’s wedding dress looked like, here they are! I’ve provided a link to my sister’s wedding dress so you can see what it looks like: Allure Bridals in Style 9068 (Ivory). My maid of honour dress was After Six by Dessy Collection in Style 6704 (Sapphire). I took off the bow at the neckline because I didn’t like it.

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    Since I was the only bridesmaid, C let me choose whatever dress I wanted and I would definitely wear this again. I absolutely love the colour of the dress and the flowiness of the chiffon. I was always planning to have an updo for my hair because it’s so hot in Mauritius and didn’t want my hair to stick to the back of my neck. Also, in my opinion, having your hair in an updo is an absolute must with a mock halter neckline. The one thing I wasn’t crazy about is that there’s a seam at the bust where the inner satin material comes together and there’s a bit of pointiness in the boob area. There was nothing the seamstress could do to make it lie flatter across my chest. When I originally tried this dress on, it was about 5 sizes too big, so the pointiness wasn’t noticeable because there was a lot more material and also it was clipped in a way that pulled it tighter.

    My makeup looked flawless and I got a tiny breakout on my chin which the makeup artist was able to mask.

    I’m not really sure what happened with my updo, it wasn’t exactly what I asked for, but as long as the front view of my hair looked good, it didn’t matter as long as it stayed up the entire night. I hate hairspray, my hair felt like a helmet because there was so much of it. Also, I prefer when the top of my ears are covered with hair, it looks more relaxed/romantic.

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    For the reception in Toronto, I wore the blue dress for the first half of the reception. The right picture above is from the Toronto reception, I liked my hairstyle much better this time. I don’t know why I’m holding the microphone so awkwardly, my wrist is at a weird angle. I changed into my second dress for the shoe game and dancing. Unfortunately, that meant no professional shots in the purple dress because we took pictures before dinner. It also means that most of the pictures are a bit fuzzy in my second dress, so I don’t have any good ones of me wearing it. The second dress was by Alfred Angelo (which went out of business- the store I got both dresses from is also out of business). I got the style 7359S in Viola. Pictured below is the dress in a wine shade.

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    For accessories, I wore a pair of simple crystal earrings, a sparkly bracelet, a criss cross ring that my sister got for me on Etsy as my bridesmaid gift and Michael Kors T-Strap Berkley Sandals in Silver.

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    Love,

    jen

  • Review | Tangle Teezer The Original Detangling Hairbrush

    Hi Everyone!

    I’ve previously posted about a detangling brush that I got from Claire’s which I accidentally got too close to a hair dryer and melted…and I also had a brush from Forever21, but hadn’t tried it yet. Since that post, I tried the one from Forever21 and it was so hard that it hurt to comb my hair with it. The one from Claire’s wasn’t as hard and didn’t hurt when I combed my hair. However, the Claire’s detangler was quite small and didn’t have any grip to it, so I dropped it a few times.

    I got a Tangle Teezer brush for my birthday. It’s the original detangling hair brush for $20. I asked for the black one since I didn’t like the colour combos of the other brushes. Originally, I thought these were too expensive, but I have to confess that I like it.

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    The Original can be used on wet or dry hair and is suitable for all hair types and textures. It banishes tangles, knots and helps prevent breakage and damage thanks to its unique two-tiered system technology – the long teeth detangle and the short teeth smooth the hair cuticle for healthier-looking, glossy hair.

    It’s a lot bigger than I thought it’d be, but that’s a good thing because it is ergonomically shaped to fit in the palm of your hand. I like to use it to detangle my hair after a shower to get out the knots and then I use a regular paddle brush to dry my hair (don’t want another melted detangler on my hands…especially at these prices). I would definitely recommend it for anyone who is willing to splurge a bit. Just remember not to get it too close to the heat!

    RATING: 4.5/5

    I give it a 4.5 because even though it’s shaped to fit your hand, it’d be better with a handle (they now have combs with handles too).

    UPDATE: They come with handles now and I won two in a giveaway! I am absolutely loving it and would rate them 5/5!

    Love,

    jen

  • Topbox | July 2016

    Hi Everyone!

    I got my first Topbox in the mail and enough time has passed that everyone should have received theirs, so I wouldn’t be ruining what’s inside for anyone. Topbox sends a spoiler alert email anyway saying what’s inside the box, but since Canada Post was possibly going on strike and the delivery of the boxes may have been delayed, Topbox was sweet enough to include a bonus item as a thank you for waiting. I must say, the container that the makeup comes in is so cute. I even like the pattern. As soon as I opened the box, I could smell the hand cream’s scent.

    The contents of July’s box were:

    • The Face Shop Character Face mask (Pig-moisturizing)
    • Be Delectable Ultra Nourishing Hand Cream (coconut and cream)
    • Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
    • Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo (Sea Buckthorn Berry- Obliphica)
    • Starlooks Gem Pencil Eyeliner (GP5B- Ultra Turquoise)

    I’ve used TheFaceShop’s character face masks (pig- moisturizing) before, so that one wasn’t a big deal for me. They’re moisturizing and my face feels soft after using them.

    The hand cream has shea butter, coconut oil and aloe vera. I’ve used shea butter hand cream before and I find that it smells really nice in the bottle, but once I use it, it smells different. Maybe because my body oils and chemicals are changing the smell, or it’s just how it smells once it’s outside of the bottle, but either way, it always smells nicer in the bottle.

    I’ve heard of the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, but I never pay more than $15 for mascara because I would prefer to have multiple mascaras for different uses (lengthening, volumizing, etc.) than only have one mascara. Since I usually stick to drug store brand mascaras like Maybelline and L’Oreal, this mascara was a treat for me, even if it is a travel size one. I compared it with another mascara I have (right now, I actually have about 6 mascaras and most of them were free- I got them from Sephora promos and Beauty Insider points). I believe I used Make Up For Ever’s Smoky Extravagant mascara on one eye and the Better Than Sex Mascara on the other. What a difference! I liked the Too Faced Mascara much better because 1) it didn’t look clumpy 2) my lashes felt super soft 3) When I used my finger to feel the lashes, no mascara came off on my finger (it did for the Make Up For Ever mascara). I probably wouldn’t splurge on the Too Faced mascara, but I definitely see why people love it.

    This was my first time trying dry shampoo, so I read up on how to use it. I absolutely love the smell of the shampoo and the little can it came in is adorable. It’s great for travelling and you want to freshen up a bit after a long drive or something. Given the normal price tag, I would never buy it, but, similar to the Too Faced mascara, I see why it’s popular.

    I got a bonus eyeliner in ultra turquoise. It has a bit of sparkle to it. It’s really pretty on and great for a night out. It’s not waterproof, so the colour smudges easily, but the sparkles stay on your skin. I was cleaning the swatch off my hand and the colour smudged off easily, but the sparkles went all over my hand where I had rubbed it off. There’s still a few sparkles that I missed with the soap on my wrist right now.

    I can’t wait to see what’s in next month’s box!

    What beauty subscription boxes have you tried?

    Love,

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  • Review | Holika Holika Natural False Lashes

    Hi Everyone!

    I recently bought some false lashes from Holika Holika (a Korean beauty store). I have to say that getting natural ones made such a big difference! I bought ones at Forever21 and the bands weren’t flexible and the lashes looked unnatural. The ones I got this time were great- although you couldn’t tell a huge difference with them on, it added volume and a little bit of length to my lashes. In pictures, it was hardly noticeable, but in person, you could tell it added a bit of length if you compare one side with no lashes. Here’s a picture of what they look like in the packaging:

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    They were $4 and I figured that a Korean store would have lashes that would look better with Asian eyes because I don’t want the super long ones that look fake, but I just want to add a bit of length and volume, which these did. The band size of these lashes were so much more comfortable than the other ones. I think I would prefer the individual lashes or the accent lashes (where you put them at the outer edge of your eye) because I felt the band poking me in the eye even after I cut them to size. I think I will have to cut them a little more so that it doesn’t do this. I have the Shu Uemura lash adhesive from my sister.

    So, there is my updated review on false lashes. It’s best to get the lashes that are more suited for your natural lashes. If you’re going for a natural look, the wispy ones are good, but if you’re going for a glam look, then you can get the super long ones to add length to your lashes. I have to say my opinion has greatly changed with the new set of lashes, and although I wouldn’t do it everyday like some people, I would consider getting false lashes for special occasions.

    Update: April 21, 2017

    Like I said above, the Holika Holika ones don’t really add anything to my lashes. My lashes are full, but not long. So the natural ones pictured above would be good if you want a natural look and have sparse lashes. I’ve tried the Ardell lashes, I went with the Natural Multipack 110 (4 sets). I think if I bought new ones, I’d get the accent ones or one of the glamour styles instead of the natural ones.

    RATING: 4/5

    I give it a 4/5 because they are super natural and flexible, but they didn’t add any length to my lashes. They’d be good for anyone whose lashes are sparse (mine are fairly full, so I need length more than volume).

    Love,

    jen

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  • Review | CHI 1 Inch Tourmaline Ceramic Hair Straightener

    Hi Everyone!

    media-20180126wewr.jpgI just splurged and bought a Chi hair straightener from The Bay, I got the hot pink 1 inch Tourmaline Ceramic hair straightener. I don’t love hot pink, but it was a better price than the Chi Air from Shoppers, which is about $119. From the picture on The Bay’s website, it looks like there is a display and buttons on the side, but it does not have either and I also did not receive the Silk Keratin Infusion like it said, but oh well. It looks like the Chi Original, the on/off button is on the inside and has an LED light. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a lock, but that’s okay because I can just put something around it for when I store it. I just quickly tested it out and OMG, it goes through my hair so smoothly…something that my Toni and Guy straightener does not do. The Toni and Guy one straightens smoothly but when I’m flipping the iron to curl my hair, it just doesn’t run as smoothly as the Chi. I was a little disappointed to find that it didn’t have a display or temperature controls…but I guess it’s what I get for the price I paid. The Chi straighteners with displays and temperature controls are more expensive than $99 CAD. I have no complaints so far- I’ve only used it for about five minutes to test out how well it curls and straightens my hair. I’ll keep you guys updated on any complaints/cons about the iron if they come up.

    The Toni and Guy ionic hair straightener I have is from Shoppers. It has a display and you can adjust the temperature and the ion levels. I’m not really sure what adjusting the ionic levels does, and I never really cared to look it up, but there are three levels. The straightener can also be locked and has an LED display. What always drives me crazy for this straightener is the fact that the buttons are on the top and when I’m curling my hair, my hand is always adjusting the temperature and ion level as I spin the iron. This is one of the reasons I wanted to get a new one with controls on the side or the inside.

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    RATING: 3/5

    I give it a 3/5 because it doesn’t have a lock to keep it closed and you can’t adjust the temperature. But I like that it’s super smooth and my hair doesn’t get caught on the plates or edges. I would definitely purchase a different CHI straightener that has all the features I want: lock and buttons to adjust temperature.

    Originally, I bought an Infiniti Premier Conair 1 inch wet to dry straightener. It was $49 at Shoppers, I tested it out, but didn’t like it. It has dial on the side to adjust the temperature which was a plus. The smell of the plates was terrible and the top plate had a dip in it that tugged at my hair. It straightened okay, but the smell was too much for me. So I will be returning this one…next time I know to splurge instead of save on hair straighteners.

    What hair tools do you use?

    Love,

    jen

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  • Review | The Original Makeup Eraser

    Hi Everyone!

    I recently bought the makeup eraser cloth from Amazon for $18.99 CAD. It’s a super soft reusable cloth that contains no chemicals- you just need to add warm water and it removes makeup. I watched a Buzzfeed video where the ladies tried it out and decided I wanted to try it out for myself. I bought mine on Amazon. I was too lazy to go out and get one at Sephora and I was making an order on Amazon anyway. I ordered the pink one, but they have black and blue ones too.

    #1 reusable makeup removal system in the world. Erase all your makeup with The Original MakeUp Eraser and water! Erases all makeup including waterproof mascara, eyeliner, foundation, blush and more. The MakeUp Eraser is also reusable, machine washable and will last you 3-5 years.

    I put on a full face of makeup including foundation, concealer, waterproof mascara, eyeshadow and some waterproof eyeliner from Sephora (the eyeliner I have is quite hard to wash off, even with makeup remover). So I ran the plush cloth under the tap and began wiping my makeup off. Like the ladies in the Buzzfeed video, I was surprised at how well it worked taking off my makeup. It did not remove the Sephora eyeliner and all my mascara, but everything else wiped off easily. It’s probably great for travel when you don’t want to bring too much makeup remover and don’t have too much eye makeup on. To clean the cloth after, I just used some soap and the makeup washed off and I threw it in the laundry with my clothes. For the darker eye makeup stains, I had to use a dab of makeup remover. For me, I think I will only use it when I’m just wearing foundation, concealer and light eye makeup because even though it removed some of the mascara, it didn’t get all of it off, so when I have dark makeup on my eyes, I would need to use makeup remover too.

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    RATING: 4.5/5

    I give it a 4.5 because even though it claims to remove waterproof makeup, it requires a bit of rubbing and I’d rather just use the cloth to remove my face makeup and use eye remover makeup instead of rubbing at my eyes. It does cut down on the amount of makeup remover you need though. I love using the Clinique Sonic System Purifying Brush after using it because it removes the makeup that I missed with the cloth.

    Check out my Pros/Cons post on Different Makeup Removers!

    Check out my Dupe It Out Review where I compared this cloth with a dupe!

    Love,

    jen

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  • Face Masks and Cleansers

    Hi Everyone!

    Korean face masks and make up products have become increasingly popular in the past couple years. I haven’t tried a lot of Korean make up products yet, but I absolutely love the charcoal sheet masks which I bought from a kiosk and cleansers from The Face Shop: Rice Water Bright Cleansing Foam, Herb Day Cleanser 365 Spearmint Cleanser (for Men) and Phyto Powder Foam Cleanser- Charcoal.

    I alternate between the two cleansers everyday with a facial brush and my skin feels refreshed and squeaky clean after. As for the sheet masks, you look like Hannibal Lecter for about 20 minutes, but they are great in bringing out impurities and cleansing pores. They are affordable and good for my skin because I get break outs every now and then. I like to use the charcoal sheet masks every couple weeks. The character (animal) ones from the Face Shop creep me out, I scared myself in the mirror when using the pig one. Even though they creep me out and I got it for free, it did a good job moisturizing my skin.

    Love,

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