3/5 Archives – Page 2 of 2

First Impressions with MOR Emporium

October 9, 2019
Hi Everyone!

Last month, I received a box from Calissa with 3 products and today, I’ll be reviewing the MOR Emporium Trio of Treasures. The trio includes: a soapette, hand cream and perfume oil. They sent over the Lychee Flower scent. It looks like Calissa doesn’t have the Trio of Treasures, but they do have the soap and candle in the lychee flower scent as well as a variety of other products from the brand.

First of all, I love the beautiful design on the products and the tin is such a cute little container.

All 3 products smell very strongly of lychee especially the perfume oil and hand cream.

Hand Cream

Enriched with Vitamin E, Shea and Cocoa Seed butters for smooth, soft and perfectly perfumed hands.

I don’t like using scented hand creams, so I gave it to my mom to use. She tried it on and she said the cream felt very nice and moisturizing, but it was a bit too strong for her. So, she ended up giving the cream to my grandma who loves scented hand creams.

RATING: 3/5

While it is a nice scent and the hand cream itself is nice, the scent is so strong that you wouldn’t be able to wear it in an office.

Perfume Oil

Bountiful with Rosehip, Vitamin E, Sweet Almond Oil and flourishing with fragrance for silky-soft skin and perfectly perfumed pulse points.

The perfume oil is a rollerball and as soon as I applied some to my wrists, I could instantly smell the lychee. The product felt very nice (not too oily). After a while, it started to mix with my body chemistry and faded a bit after I washed my hands. By the end of the day, it smelled quite nice. Personally, I love fruity fragrances, but this one is a bit on the sweet side for me.

RATING: 3.5/5

Soapette

Housed in a collectable tin, each precious Soapette creates a decadent lather that leaves skin brilliantly refreshed.
- Enriched with nourishing Shea Butter and Vitamin E
- Velvety Triple-Milled soap for a smoother, creamier and more luxurious lather
I think the soapette is my favourite product. It smells like lychee, but when you walk into the bathroom, you can’t smell it. You can definitely smell it when you use it though and it’s the most subtle of the three products. I’ve been using it for a few weeks as the soap on my sink and it hasn’t softened (like some soaps I’ve tried). There’s still quite a bit left.

RATING: 4/5

All of these products were nice, but if you have a sensitive nose like I do, you probably won’t like these. If you don’t mind stronger scents and you like lychee and sweet-smelling products, you’ll like these products.

If you would like to make a purchase on Calissa.com, use code 10FRIENDSOFCALISSA to get 10% off! (This is not an affiliate code, just a code for you to get a discount!)

Check out my other posts on products I’ve received from Calissa!

Love,

*I was sent this product by the team at Calissa. All opinions are my own.
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Review | Dr. Paw Paw Original Clear Balm

September 27, 2019

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m reviewing the Dr. Paw Paw Original Clear Balm. I picked it up at Winners for $4.99. I had heard good things about Dr. PAWPAW, so I thought I’d give it a try.

Our main ingredient is fermented Pawpaw, the fruit of the plant Carica Papaya. The Pawpaw has been found to have natural healing qualities and is believed by many to be the finest natural medicine yet discovered.

This genius product has a variety of uses, from skin protector and moisturiser to nappy cream and lip finisher. The balm also has healing properties and can be used on sun burn, skin irritations and as a hair conditioning treatment – whatever your use for it, we guarantee you will be delighted with the satisfyingly smooth finish!

It’s great that it’s fragrance-free, cruelty-free and vegan.

Unlike lip balms, it doesn’t have a lip applicator, it’s just a regular tube (see below to compare two lip balms with smooth applicators). So, it doesn’t glide across your lips nicely (it’s actually a little rough). I usually pat it onto my lips or squeeze some onto my finger and then apply to lips.

It’s nice as a lip balm (I don’t think it’s anything super special). It adds a bit of sheen to the lips and moisturizes them like Vaseline. However, it doesn’t taste gross like Vaseline. It doesn’t taste like anything. Usually I use a very small amount, so I hadn’t noticed any smell before. After squeezing some out onto the spoon for a picture, I noticed it smells similar to Vaseline.

With this product, less is more. If you use too much, it feels greasy like Vaseline.

On the cuticles, this definitely makes my cuticles feel smoother. It doesn’t feel greasy at all on the fingers (it absorbs fairly quickly).

I didn’t try it on my hair because I knew I wouldn’t like it. I think it would just make my hair looks greasy.

RATING: 3/5

I like it, but I’m undecided on whether I would buy it again. I might consider the tinted balms because that would at least add some colour.

Have you tried Dr. Paw Paw?

Love,

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Review | Perricone MD Cold Plasma+ Face Serum

September 25, 2019
Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m reviewing the Perricone MD Cold Plasma+ Face that I received from Calissa.com.

A multi-tasking powerhouse, this advanced face serum concentrate promotes the 9 most visible signs of healthy, youthful-looking skin. Targets and dramatically improves loss of radiance, uneven texture, uneven tone, discoloration, redness, enlarged pores, fine lines, wrinkles and loss of firmness.

Apply liberally morning and evening on cleansed skin. Follow with a moisturiser.

Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Phosphatidylcholine, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Dimethyl MEA, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3, Tyrosine, Glycolic Acid, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Copper Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinyl Palmitate, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Ceteareth-20, Cyclopentasiloxane, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Polysorbate 20, Zea Mays (Corn) Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid

I will be honest and say that when I first smelled this from the jar, it kind of smelled like glue to me. It still smells a bit like glue, but it doesn’t linger.

I did a patch test on my arm and my arm felt super smooth after the product sank in. When I use it on my face, my face feels a bit tacky, but smooth.

This serum comes in a pot and it was a lot more fluid than I expected. From the picture on the website, it looks more creamy, but it’s actually quite runny. I also don’t love the pot because I have to use my finger to pick up product. It didn’t come with a spatula because it’s too runny. It says to ‘apply liberally’ and it’s very easy to get too much product. Since it comes in a pot, I use way more than I’m meant to because I dip my finger in and get a lot more than I need. I think this would be great in a bottle with a pump and it would be a lot easier to know how much to use.

I feel like this product isn’t targeted toward me since I’m under 30. I know it’s good to start using anti-aging products early, but this product is also quite pricey for someone in my age range. At $146 CAD for 30mL, this is a very expensive serum. Also, I started using this fairly recently (day and night) and I’m pretty sure I’ll finish the pot before the end of the year.

I will say that since I started using this, my face has been pretty clear lately. I only had a hormonal breakout on my chin.

RATING: 3/5

What I like:
- No added fragrance
- I’ve noticed that the redness around my nose and chin aren’t as noticeable
What I don’t like:
- The fluidity of the product + the jar (it could make a mess when traveling)
- The price
If you would like to make a purchase on Calissa.com, use code 10FRIENDSOFCALISSA to get 10% off! (This is not an affiliate code, just a code for you to get a discount!)

Check out my other posts on products I’ve received from Calissa:

Bali Balm Lemon & Black Pepper Lip Balm

Dr. Jackson’s Night Cream

Goldfaden MD Bright Eyes

MOR Emporium Lychee Flower Trio of Treasures

Perricone MD No Lip Gloss Lip Gloss

Love,

*I was sent this product by the team at Calissa. All opinions are my own.
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Review | Sudtana Bergamot, Coconut & Sesame Hair Mask Oil

September 11, 2019
Hi Everyone!

Today’s review is on Sudtana’s Bergamot, Coconut & Sesame Hair Mask Oil.

Our hair mask is made from 100% natural and organic ingredients sourced from local Thai farmers.

The bergamot, sesame, and coconut oils are cold-pressed so they retain all their nutrients.
- Traditional Thai hair mask contains a mixture of bergamot, coconut and sesame oils in the perfect ratio
- Strengthens your hair from the inside for more volume and bounce
- Prevents premature graying
- Nourishes, moisturizes, conditions and repairs heavy hair damage
- Keeps your scalp clean, healthy and infection free which promotes natural hair growth
- Nourishes and moisturizes dry, itchy and flaky scalps
One thing I don’t love about the mask is the jar. I found it quite messy to open and pour out the oil. I transferred the oil over to an old bottle with a pump. This also helps me figure out how much I’m using each time and I don’t have to dip my finger or a spoon into the jar to get the product out. I have long hair, so I use two pumps. I massage it into my hair and wait 10-15 minutes before washing it out. Usually I use conditioner, but I skip that when I use the hair mask.

My hair feels soft and smooth after using this hair mask. I usually prefer hair masks that have the consistency of conditioner because it’s less messy. It has a citrus-y scent from the bergamot (I don’t really smell the sesame or coconut). Since I have combo skin, my scalp can be both dry/itchy and oily at times.

RATING: 3/5

The hair mask is on the pricey side, but it should probably last a while. This is a nice hair oil mask and it’s great that it’s 100% natural and doesn’t have any added fragrances. In addition to the hair mask, Sudtana also sells other products that are all natural: facial oil, toner, mask, and body oil.

Check out Sudtana Skincare’s Instagram!

UPDATE: They’ve changed the packaging of the hair mask to a bottle with a pump!

Love,

*This product was sent to me by Sudtana.
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First Impressions with Fourth Ray Beauty

August 6, 2019

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m be reviewing two products that I purchased from Fourth Ray Beauty. I was making my first order from Colourpop and thought I would give Fourth Ray a try. I love the packaging of their products – simple and clean. I decided to try the Rainfall 2% Hyaluronic Acid Serum and the Matcha Face Milk.

Rainfall 2% Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Instantly drenches skin with hydration, immediately delivering replenishing and plumping benefits for a more bouncy, youthful-looking complexion.

RATING: 4/5

I love Hyaluronic Acid. This serum was very nice, but I did notice that it pilled sometimes if I used too much. Eventually, I figured out the right amount and I would also apply it to a slightly damp face. I also layered cream on top by pressing it in (making sure not to accidentally rub) which prevented pilling as well. I would definitely consider repurchasing this serum.

Matcha Face Milk

A creamy, lightweight moisture booster to refreshen tired skin. Formulated with Matcha Milk, Jojoba Milk, Rice Milk, White Tea, and Kale, this formula will quench your skin with antioxidants for a more energized complexion.

RATING: 3/5

I like the texture of this face milk and it makes your skin look radiant. It dries down after a while. I love matcha – the taste and the smell, but this doesn’t really smell like matcha to me which was disappointing. I don’t really love the smell of this and for that reason, I wouldn’t repurchase this one.

I do want to try their other face milks – they released a bunch of products after I purchased the matcha one. I would definitely try some of their other products next time I make an order.

Love,

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Review | L’Oréal Brow Stylist Boost & Set Volumizing Brow Mascara

July 16, 2019

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m reviewing the L’Oréal Brow Stylist Boost & Set Volumizing Brow Mascara in Dark Brunette. I originally bought this because I thought it was the one that Kathleen Lights said was one of her faves. I remembered her saying ‘brow stylist’ and bought the one I saw at the drugstore. It turns out that she likes the Brow Stylist Plumper. The plumper one has a similar brush to the Benefit Gimme Brow while this brow mascara has one of the skinniest brow brushes I’ve ever seen. Since it was from the drugstore and I couldn’t return it, I tried it out.

The art of brow made easy. Our 1st gel mousse formula easily glides onto brows to boost volume and set for a natural to thicker look. Designed with an angled skinny brush to style brow hairs and for precise application. All day wear. Ophthalmologist tested. Suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. Available in 4 shades.

It’s more expensive (when you work out cost per mL) than the Anastasia Brow Gel.

RATING: 3/5

The Dark Brunette shade was good shade for my dark brows. It kept my brows in place well, but they felt crunchy. It never rained when I wore it, so I can’t say how waterproof it was, but when I used setting spray, it never ran down my face. Also, it didn’t flake either (even though it was crunchy).

Personally, I prefer other brow gels like the Colourpop Boss Brow Gel, Diorshow Bold Brow or the Benefit Gimme Brow. Before I retired the Bold Brow, I did a side-by-side comparison and it just felt waxy and crunchy compared to the Bold Brow. See the brush size difference in the picture below:

Brow Stylist (left), Bold Brow

I did really enjoy that the brush of the L’Oreal brow gel was so skinny. You can also use it to fill in your brows like you would with a pencil or a brush because it has such a thin brush. I’ve currently replaced it with the Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows.

What are your fave drugstore brow products?

Love,

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First Impressions with Derma Roller System

June 18, 2019
Hi Everyone!

I was sent some products from Derma Roller System to try out. I’ve always wanted to try a derma roller. I always see them at Winners, but since they’re only like $10, I feel like those aren’t made with stainless steel. Keep reading to find out what I think about derma rollers!

Derma Roller

The patented, award-winning Derma Roller System® provides a natural way to improve the appearance of skin. By painlessly rolling 200 gamma-sterilized stainless steel needles over your skin, the Derma Roller creates tiny microchannels to stimulate and trigger the skin’s natural healing process and increase collagen and elastin production (the two proteins that help make up the structural components of skin).

Performing treatments with the Derma Roller once every few weeks results in visibly firmer, smoother, and younger-looking skin.

The Derma Roller has been clinically proven to help treat common signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles, cellulite, scars (including acne scars), and stretch marks, providing smoother skin and promoting hair growth (when used with Minoxidil 5%).

Benefits
- Improves the appearance of acne scars, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and wrinkles
- Firms skin
- Evens out skin tone
- Increases the effectiveness of topical skin care
- Great for all skin types
I chose the 0.5 mm size because I thought it’d be best to start with the smallest size. They also sell 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5mm. Below is a chart from their website to show you what the benefits are of each needle size.

I’ve been using the derma roller for a few months now and I think I’m noticing a difference in my skin. On my nose, I have some little ‘pits’ from being bad and squeezing out whiteheads. I noticed that after a few weeks, one of the larger pits looks smaller. I will admit that the dermaroller kind of hurts because you are poking skin with tiny needles. I don’t apply any pressure. I’m rolling it over my face or body with the lightest touch. I’ve used it on my leg where I have a dark spot from eczema and I think it has lightened it a bit.

To clean it, I place the derma roller inside a cup and pour in some isopropyl alcohol (just enough to cover the head of the derma roller). I let it sit for about 30 minutes (as instructed).

RATING: 4/5

DermaC+ Anti-Aging Serum

A powerful anti-aging serum highly concentrated with vitamin C (creates elastin and collagen) and vitamin E (antioxidant and moisturizer) to minimize the appearance of deep wrinkles and reduce the look of age spots and discoloration.

RATING: 3/5

The anti-aging serum smells nice from the Hyaluronic Acid and doesn’t feel too tacky. I like that it doesn’t pill like one of my other Hyaluronic Acid products. However, it’s not that different from other skincare products on the market.

Love,
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REVIEW | Oceà Natural Skincare Ocean Mineral Complex Masque

April 2, 2019

Hi Everyone!

Today, I have a review for a clay masque. I was generously sent the Ocean Mineral Complex Masque by Oceà Natural Skincare.

At Oceà we have one very simple goal: to shift the skin care industry to natural, safe, and effective ingredients that eliminate the need for harsh chemicals.

The masque comes in a glass pot and the masque itself has a whipped texture. It doesn’t have much of a smell, if anything it smells faintly of clay.

Deeply healing clays of Kaolin are infused with detoxifying ocean minerals to naturally clarify and exfoliate your skin.

Seaweed, Kelp, Irish Moss and Spirulina naturally restore your skin’s firmness and elasticity.

Safflower, Sweet Almond, Rice Brand and Grapeseed oils then provide the deep hydration your skin deserves!

This natural and organic product is gentle enough for all skin types and can be used several times per week.

RATING: 3/5

Since I have dry skin, I liked that this clay masque didn’t make my face feel dry after. My face felt nice and soft after using it, but I don’t know if it did anything to be honest. It didn’t exfoliate or bring out impurities like some clay masks I’ve tried. I like that it comes in a glass jar so I can re-use it after I finish the masque.

Love,

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First Impressions with Bali Body

March 8, 2019

Hi Everyone!

Today, I will be doing a first impressions review on some Bali Body products that I received from the brand. It’s an Australian brand…I think I’m getting contacted by Australian brands because I follow quite a few Australian beauty accounts on IG lol.

I love the pastel matte bottle for the bronzing lotion and the rose gold and champagne-y gold tubes of the BB Cream and Lip Balm are so pretty.

If you live in Canada like I do, it took exactly two weeks to arrive from their distribution centre in London.

Before I start the reviews, I’d like to mention that just because certain products don’t work for me, it doesn’t mean that they’re bad. I’m just very sensitive to certain scents (especially coconut) and these products all have a scent.

Coconut Lip Balm with SPF15

A Coconut Lip Balm with SPF15 to hydrate and plump the lips while providing long lasting protection.

This natural lip balm is packed with nourishing oils to smooth & repair dry & cracked lips day or night.

RATING: 3/5

I like that it comes in a squeezy tube with a plastic tip. As far as lip balms go, this is quite expensive when I’m used to buying Vaseline. This does feel very hydrating and makes your lips look very glossy, but not sticky. I would definitely throw this into my makeup bag to apply during the day. The coconut scent is a bit too strong for me to use at night time, but it’s okay during the day. I also don’t like the taste of it (not that I’m purposely eating it lol, but you know when you accidentally lick your lips or maybe you’re eating something and taste your lip balm).

BB Cream with SPF15

A multitasking beauty cream that combines hydrating skincare benefits to protect, correct and perfect the skin.

Treat your skin in one easy step with this light-weight ultra-hydrating BB cream that provides perfect natural coverage instantly, while giving a healthy dewy glow.

They have 4 shades: Fair, Natural, Tan and Dark

I received the shade Natural and after reading reviews, I was excited to try this BB Cream.

RATING: 2/5

I don’t have a lot of luck with BB Creams on their own. I need more coverage than what BB Creams offer because I have dark spots from acne. So, this isn’t the type of base product I’m looking for, but if you want a very light coverage with SPF, you’ll love this BB Cream.

Bronzing Lotion

This antioxidant-rich moisturiser will provide a hint of tint while smoothing the skin with Vitamin E and natural oils.

Enriched with organic caramel extract to provide an instant bronzed glow.

This product isn’t a self tanner. It’s a lotion that’s tinted to give you a temporary bronzed look. It will wash off in the shower, so I wouldn’t go to sleep with this lotion on.

Before using, make sure you exfoliated the night before because you want it to go on nice and smooth. It’s also better if you aren’t too hairy wherever you apply it. I applied it on my arms and the bronzing lotion was kind of collecting around my hairs. It dries pretty fast, so make sure to blend it in evenly. If you are wearing this, do NOT get it wet. A drop of water got on my arm and it obviously left a water drop in the ‘tan’.

RATING: 3/5

My skin felt moisturized with this lotion. But I have a very sensitive nose and I wasn’t a huge fan of the scent which smells like coconut and almond. It looks very intimidating when you squeeze it out of the bottle, but once you blend it out, it gives you a nice, bronzed glow. If you are pale like me, you will definitely see a difference. Personally, I think I would prefer to use a self-tanner that will stay on for a while instead of just a few hours.

Final Thoughts

I always love trying out new brands and I’m always grateful when I am sent products for review. While these products didn’t work for me, there are a lot of positive reviews on the site and other blogs that rave about Bali Body’s products.

Love,

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First Impressions with OUAI Haircare

December 5, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m doing a first impressions review for two OUAI products I picked up at Sephora: Texturizing Hair Spray and the Wave Spray. When I first heard of the brand, I thought it was pronounced Ou-Ai…anyone else?? I’ve been searching for a texture spray that helps my hair from looking frizzy and gives me volume. I bought the texturizing hair spray in a Sephora favourites kit and I thought I would give the OUAI wave spray a try as well. Let’s get started on the reviews!

Texturizing Hair Spray

Like dry shampoo and hair spray had a baby—this ultra-lightweight hair spray builds incredible volume and texture. Packed with volcanic minerals to absorb oil and refresh hair.

Wave Spray

A weightless texture mist for effortlessly chic, undone hair. Infused with rice protein to add hold and memory for that “just got out of the ocean and my hair dried perfectly” look.

Both sprays have the same mix of fragrances listed:

North Bondi: Bergamot, Italian Lemon, Rose De Mai, Magnolia, Lily, Blackberry, Violet, Cedar-wood, Amber, Patchouli, Sandalwood, and White Musk.

I prefer the Wave Spray to the Texturizing Spray since it comes in a plastic bottle instead of an aerosol can.

RATING: 3/5

I’m rating them both the same. They both work well to texturize and give some volume, but I had to dock off points for the fragrance. They’re a bit too perfume-y for me, so unfortunately, I will be giving the texturizing hair spray to my friend and returning the wave spray.

What’s your fave texture spray?

Love,

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First Impressions with Saturday Skin

November 14, 2018
Hi Everyone!

Today, I am reviewing a few Saturday Skin products that I purchased during the Sephora sale. I got the No Bad Days kit ($48 CAD) that includes 4 travel-sized products:
- Daily Dew Hydrating Essence Mist
- Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream
- Featherweight Daily Moisturizing Cream
- Rub-A-Dub Refining Peel Gel
I’ve seen this brand on Instagram and I wanted to try it. I love the pink packaging that they use. Although, it can be quite tricky to photograph without washing out the pink or making the SATURDAY SKIN labels illegible.

Daily Dew Hydrating Essence Mist

Hit refresh. Concentrated extracts of kiwi and grape quench and nourish, drenching skin in a veil of moisture.

RATING: 4/5

It’s a 2-in-1 product – a toner and an essence. I like that it’s not scented. With the travel-sized bottle, it disperses the liquid so well that you could spray your whole face in one spritz. Originally, when I saw the price for the full-sized bottle, I thought it was expensive, but it’s almost the same as MAC Fix+ or the Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist. It even comes in a larger bottle than those two mists.

Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream

Brighten up. Date Seed extract illuminates and refreshes the area around the eyes.

RATING: 4/5

I like the consistency of this eye cream and I like that it doesn’t smell like anything. It feels a little bit tacky after you’ve applied it, but it’s not as bad as another eye cream I tried once. My under eye area can get dry sometimes and this has helped to keep them smooth.

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So excited to have a new product for #texturetuesday ! I can't wait to try this out! #saturdayskin #skincare #skin #discoverunder5k #sephorahaul #nobaddays #dailymoisturizingcream #canadianbeautyblogger #torontoblogger

A post shared by Jen (@jencatbeauty) on Oct 30, 2018 at 2:55am PDT

Featherweight Daily Moisturizing Cream

This lightweight formula still packs a punch. Avocado protein extract strengthens skin’s own moisture barrier, sealing in hydration to protect and soften skin.

DERMATOLOGIST TESTED. NO PARABENS, SULFATES, SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCE OR SYNTHETIC COLOR.

RATING: 3/5

I like that it’s lightweight and doesn’t make my face feel greasy or tacky. I don’t like the smell of this cream; it’s not scented, but it has this plastic smell. I don’t know if it’s from the tub it comes in or if it’s the product itself. I’ve seen other reviews that mention the smell, so it’s not just me.

Rub-A-Dub Refining Peel Gel

Start over by gently rubbing dullness away. Natural cellulose lifts impurities from the skin and aloe extract soothes skin. Packed with papaya and bromelain (pineapple) to help remove impurities.

RATING: 4/5

This product made my face feel nice and smooth. While I did like it, there are similar products on the market that are cheaper. I prefer to spend more on skincare products that stay on my face. Since this product is a peel, I’d rather save some money.

I’m glad I got this kit to try a handful of Saturday Skin products. Although if I had bought the individual items, I’d be able to return them easily. I’m not sure how it works with returning a kit…are you even allowed to return kits?

Since this is a first impressions review, I will continue to use these products and update you on any changes. Based on my initial thoughts, I would repurchase 2 products from this kit: the Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream and the Daily Dew Hydrating Essence Mist.

Have you tried Saturday Skin products? What were your thoughts on them?

Love,
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First Impressions with Living Proof Full Dry Volume Blast

November 9, 2018

Hi Everyone!

This is a first impressions review for the LIVING PROOF Full Dry Volume Blast from the Sephora Favorites Party Hair Kit.

Here’s the description of the product on Sephora:

An instant, long-lasting volume and texture spray designed with lightweight ingredients that won’t weigh hair down.

This product contains patent-pending “expandable, textured-aero-spheres,” called ETAs. They are lighter and bigger than industry-standard ingredients, so they deliver big volume and texture without weighing hair down.

How to Use: Section the hair. Holding the canister 10 inches away, lift and spray from roots to ends. For a desired root lift, you may also spray just the roots. Repeat until the imagined style is achieved, making sure to shake the can between each spray. Tousle the hair with your fingers, then spray onto the finished style for added texture and hold.

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REVIEW // the 1st first impressions review for the Sephora Favorites Hair Kit – LIVING PROOF Full Dry Volume Blast. I've only used this once, and I used it on a cold day, so I don't know how this product would perform on a hot day. I have thick hair, so keep that in mind too. I went to sleep with my hair in braids yesterday and I used the spray today to add some volume and boy, did it add volume. My hair looked like Hermione's in the first harry Potter movie. It gave my hair texture without feeling tacky or gritty. It has no parabens, sulfates or phthalates. The product itself was great, but the smell is way too scented for me. It smells like perfume and was starting to give me a headache, so I put my hair in a bun to keep it away from my face and when I took out my Gummiband hair cord, my hair felt really soft and smooth. For me, it loses 2 points for having such a strong smell. Plus, it kind of worries me that it says the product is extremely flammable on the Sephora website. I will be giving this to my friend because I won't be using this again. RATING: 3/5 #review #rating #beauty #hair #sephorafavorites #partyhair #discoverunder5k #hairstyling #canadianbeautyblogger #saturday #livingproof

A post shared by Jen (@jencatbeauty) on Nov 3, 2018 at 6:09pm PDT

I’m going to start by saying that I’ve only used this once. I would’ve liked to have tried this a few times before giving my first impressions review, but the scent of this is so strong, it gave me a really bad headache. I tried this out on a fairly cold day, so I can’t say how well this performs on a hot day. I also have thick, long hair, so I can’t say how it performs on thin hair.
The day before using this, I slept with braids in my hair. I used the spray to add some volume and boy, did it add volume. My hair looked like Hermione’s in the first Harry Potter movie. It gave my hair texture without feeling tacky or gritty. It has no parabens, sulfates or phthalates. The product itself was great, but the smell is way too scented for me. It smells like perfume and was starting to give me a headache, so I put my hair in a bun to keep it away from my face and when I took out my Gummiband hair cord, my hair felt really soft and smooth.

RATING: 3/5
The night I used it, I washed my hair because it gave me such a terrible headache. The next day, I could still smell it in my hair. For me, it loses 2 points for having such a strong smell. Plus, it kind of worries me that it says the product is extremely flammable on the Sephora website and it has Butane in the ingredients list. I will be giving this to my friend because I won’t be using this again.

Have you tried this styling spray? What did you think of it?

Love,

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Worth It? | Microfiber Hair Turban Towels

October 26, 2018
Hi Everyone!

I bought a 2-pack of Hair Turbans from Winners for $10. They’re from a brand called Tru Spa. I thought I’d give it a try because my hair is long and I dry my hair all the time. I don’t do much else to my hair, so it’s okay for me to dry it all the time.

Gently dry hair faster with extra-absorbent TRU SPA Turban Hair Towels. Soft microfiber absorbs moisture to cut down on blow drying, while keeping hair up and away from face.
- easy to use
- one size fits all
- perfect for all hair types
- reduces blow drying time
- simply twist, flip and button
- for use at home, gym & more
As I was looking up hair turbans online for this post, I realized I’m an idiot and I was using them BACKWARDS! I had been putting the button in the front. I used it twice and each time I was like, “this is so difficult…this must be better for people with shorter hair”…nope, just using it wrong.

Lol, you would think that it would’ve occurred to me that when you do a hair turban with a regular towel, the twist is in the FRONT. But, no, this did not occur to me. I did notice that it did absorb a lot of water from my hair (even when I was using it wrong). In my defense, I have seen pictures of hair turbans where the button is in the front. The hair turban is about 10x lighter than a regular bath towel. It’s probably better for my hair line too because I’ve worried my heavy towel has been pulling at my hair and changing how my hair lies on my head. I already have a fairly large forehead, I can’t afford to have a receding hair line.

Once I started using it correctly, it did dry my hair a lot faster because it wasn’t bunched up into a ball on top of my head. It works well if you come out your hair before putting the turban on.

RATING: 4/5

I give it a high rating because it does work well, but do I think they’re worth it? No. I think it would be better to just buy some microfiber material at a fabric store and maybe make them yourself or buy microfiber towels. At $5 a turban, I don’t think these are worth it.

Love,
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Review | Stila All Over Shimmer Powder

May 9, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m reviewing and swatching the Stila All Over Shimmer Powder in Kitten. I picked it up from Winners a while back and I was so excited because I’ve never tried any Stila products.

All Over Shimmer Powder in Kitten

Introducing a gorgeous all over shimmer powder with Kitten and a pale iridescent pink. This multi-purpose powder instantly enhances the complexion with a fresh, radiant glow.

Inspired by light, Stila’s All Over Shimmer Duo in Kitten creates a luminous, youthful glow. Packaged in a convenient compact with mirror, this powder can be used as an eye shadow, highlighter, cheek color and décolleté.

I use the light one as highlight and the dark one for my eyes. It’s a pretty pop of colour for the inner corners of the eyes, but I don’t use it on the lids. For me, it’s not the right colour for a blush and the darker shade is too bronze for highlight for me.

RATING: 4/5

It was great for the price (less than $15, I believe), but I don’t think I would’ve paid the full price for it. I have swatched Stila Heaven’s Hue Highlighters though, and they are absolutely gorgeous. I would buy those at full price because they come in a pretty package and bigger pans.

What’s your fave Stila product?

Love,

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Review | The Face Shop Clean Face Clear Away Spot Treatment

December 28, 2017

Hi Everyone!

If you have acne-prone skin like I do, you probably know about Kate Somerville’s EradiKate Acne Spot Treatment and Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion. Last year, I bought The Face Shop’s Clean Face Clear Away Spot Treatment thinking it was a dupe, but it contains different ingredients. The EradiKate and Drying Lotion contain sulfur, whereas the Clean Face Clear Away Spot contains salicylic acid and tea tree extract.

It works in the same way as the Drying Lotion and EradiKate, you use a q-tip to pick up the sediment at the bottom and dab it onto your problem areas. Because it doesn’t have sulfur, the smell isn’t nearly as strong, it smells more like rubbing alcohol and tea tree oil.

I bought the acne treatment for $17 CAD for 18 mL (at the time of purchase last year, price may have gone up).

A special care product that instantly soothes and controls breakouts

Contains Tea Tree Extract that soothes the acne and purify the skin, and Salicylic Acid that removes dead skin cells effectively

Provides soothing effects and controls the excessive sebum production with Calamine Powder

Prevents inflammation, pigmentation, and anti-aging concerns such as wrinkles and dehydration

To compare, I have the EradiKate (I’ve never used the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion). I have acne-prone and sensitive skin, so my skin gets very dry from products that contain ingredients like benzoyl peroxide.

I wouldn’t suggest using this overnight because after a few minutes, it hardens and gets very flaky. If your face makes the slightest movement, it will start to flake off.

RATING: 4/5

Obviously it doesn’t work as well as the EradiKate, but if you’re looking for something gentler than the EradiKate or Drying Lotion, this is a great alternative because of the salicylic acid.

What acne treatments do you use?

Love,

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