• dermalogica special cleansing gel

    Review | Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel

    August 7, 2020

    Hi Everyone!

    Today I’m reviewing the Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel that I purchased during a Sephora sale. After a year, I finally finished the 500mL Kiehls cleanser. So, now I’m back to using this one. I did try it out for a week or so just to see what it was like and I got a breakout (which was unrelated to the cleanser).

    Soap-free, foaming gel cleanses all skin conditions. Refreshing lather thoroughly removes impurities, without disturbing the skin’s natural moisture balance. This iconic cleanser, which contains naturally-foaming Quillaja Saponaria, gently rinses away toxins and debris to leave skin feeling smooth and clean. Lightweight and mild enough to use every day, it also features calming Balm Mint and Lavender extracts to soothe the skin.

    Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Cymbopogon Winterianus Herb Oil, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Betaine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Capryloyl Glycine, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Methylpropanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA

    dermalogica special cleansing gel

    It is gluten free, cruelty free, vegan and has no artificial colours or fragrances. I can smell a hint of the mint and sometimes lemon.

    I purchased the 16.9 oz/500 mL bottle which is normally $87 CAD, but with the Sephora sale, it was $74. I wish the pump could dispense the perfect amount of cleanser like the Kiehls one. The Dermalogica cleanser pumps out a lot and I only need half a pump.

    RATING: 3/5

    The cleanser is okay. It’s gentle and my skin doesn’t feel stripped of its oils after using it. I haven’t had any breakouts from using it, but I don’t find it particularly special. Also, I don’t think it’s worth the high price tag. I would rather repurchase the Kiehls Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash (even though it isn’t meant for my skin type).

    Have you tried Dermalogica products?

    Love,

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  • dr paw paw oroginal multipurpose soothing balm with natural paw paw

    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 | Clionadh Cosmetics Mother of Pearl Highlighter

    June 14, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    Last weekend, I attended Indie Expo Canada (independent beauty brands showcase their products- it’s mostly Indie nail polish brands). The majority of the vendors sell nail polish, but some had essential oils, wax, bath bombs, etc.

    From one of the vendors, Clionadh Cosmetics, I picked up an absolutely gorgeous highlighter that you can also use as eyeshadow or on the body, but it’s not intended for the lips. I got the Mother of Pearl highlighter (which is on sale right now for $13 CAD). It’s stamped with a seashell impression. The products are 100% Vegan and Cruelty-Free and 100% Talc and Paraben-Free.

    The Mother of Pearl highlighter is part of the Tropic of Capricorn Collection (a set of five summer-inspired marble highlighters).

    Mother of Pearl: A five-toned marble consisting of grey-silver, pastel pink, green, blue and peach. The end result is a frosted pink-lilac with pearlescent notes of blue and silver.

    I got home and tried it out and realized it was scented. You can choose to order scented or unscented. It smells like those sweet tart candies. Since I don’t love scented products that are sweet, I think I’d choose the unscented.

    I did two swatches with my finger: the top one is what it looks like normally and the bottom one is when it’s wet. Unlike other highlighters and eyeshadows I’ve tried, it sort of sheers out if you wet it. So, if you want the maximum payoff for this highlighter, don’t wet the brush or your finger when applying it

    RATING: 4/5

    This highlighter is so pretty and I love the marble effect when you mix the colours. I also love to support my fellow Canadians, especially when it’s an independent brand. A lot of the times, it’s just easier to buy the mainstream products from the drugstore or Sephora because they’re so easily accessible and you see their ads when you scroll through Instagram and Facebook. Indie Expo Canada is a great way to find new brands. I also picked up some nail polishes which I will review in the coming weeks.

    Love,

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  • Review | Milk Makeup Liquid Strobe Highlighter

    May 28, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    While I was at Winners, I picked up the Milk Makeup Liquid Strobe Highlighter in Beam for $10! It is a shimmering liquid highlighter and beam is a gold shade. It has interesting packaging because you click the bottom to dispense it (like the YSL Touche Éclat pen) and it’s a rollerball.

    20180524_175144(0)

    Swipe along cheekbones, eyes, collarbone, or wherever for shimmering dimension and shine. Goes on easy with a rollerball as quick and on point as you. Crushed pearl elixir-infused formula gives a long-wear effect.

    It has coconut and avocado oil and it’s vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, oil-free and talc-free. I don’t smell any coconut though.

    20180524_175546

    RATING: 2/5

    I wouldn’t pay full price for this liquid strobe highlight. If it was just the gold illuminating highlight, I would give it a 4/5 because then you could mix it with foundation to give you a beautiful glow. Unfortunately, it has glitter which gets chunky (so if you mixed with foundation, your face would be glittery) and that doesn’t look good as a highlight. When you go to blend it into the skin, your finger absorbs the gold illuminating part and you’re left with the glitter. So, if you do use your finger to blend it out, be very light with your hand (use your ring finger). It dries down tacky too. Similar to the Livin’ the Highlight from the Jennifer Lopez x Inglot collaboration, this would be better as a body highlight since it’s a bit chunky.

    Love,

    jen

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