• VII Code

    VIIcode O₂M Oxygen Eye Mask for Dark Circles | #Sponsored Review

    December 3, 2023

    Hi Everyone,

    This post is sponsored by VIIcode, a skincare brand that focuses on eyes. A few years ago, I reviewed their VIIcode O₂M Oxygen Eye Mask for All Night Repair (read my review). Today, I’ll be reviewing the VIIcode O₂M Oxygen Eye Mask for Dark Circles.

    These individually wrapped gentle oxygen eye masks are designed for continuous 8 hour use overnight. They contain a natural, alcohol-free, non-irritating formula and are completely safe to use.  Each mask is infused with a potent blend of nourishing ingredients that work hard to reduce dark circles and puffiness so you wake up looking youthful, refreshed and well-rested.

    VIIgarden website

    Ingredients: Aqua, Glycerin, Cellulose, Carbomer, Mentha Arvensis, Butylene Glycol, Cellulose Gum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Triethanol Amine, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Allantoin, Tartaric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vitamin E, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia, Aloe Barbadensis, Algin, CO-Q10, Sodium PCA, PEG-40, Betula Alba Extract, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Sorbitol, y-PGA, Citric Acid, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Propylparaben, Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride.

    VIIcode recommends wearing the patches for 6-8 hours. On the back of the pack, it says to “let the masks work their brightening and hydrating magic no more than 8 hours, then remove.” Make sure to follow their instructions, since you don’t want to have any irritation (especially to your sensitive under eyes).

    Comparing these to the All Night Repair masks, these also have a cotton-y side and the other is like a gel-like membrane. It’s been a few years since I reviewed the All Night Repair ones, so I don’t know if they’ve changed the shape. The ones for Dark Circles are symmetrical, while the All Night Repair masks had one side that was slimmer. I prefer the symmetrical ones since it covers more surface area. Also, I like that both eye masks aren’t scented.

    To apply, your skin should be clean and dry.  Make sure to put them on carefully because repositioning them will make them less tacky on the sides and they might lift while you sleep. I tried wearing them both before bed and overnight. Some people might wear a sleep mask to bed, I don’t so I’m not used to having anything on my face while I sleep. While wearing them, you can definitely feel them on your face, but it’s not uncomfortable. They aren’t like pimple patches where you can’t feel them once you put them on. I can definitely tell they are on since they are quite big and right under my eyes. So when you move your face, you can feel them.

    If you’re wearing them to sleep and you’re a side/stomach sleeper, I would make sure to take them off a good amount of time before you leave the house, they left a mark on my face once or twice. Like when you wake up from a good sleep and realize you have a line on your face from your duvet. 

    I like that these are dry eye masks. They won’t slide down your face and because of the cotton-y side, you can wear them to bed without getting serum/product all over your pillowcase. The gel makes them stay in place, but they aren’t so sticky that it leaves a sticky residue after. It just feels tacky like you applied some eye cream, but it goes away once it absorbs into the skin and feels smooth. I didn’t get a chance to try, but I think makeup would apply nicely after wearing the masks overnight. 

    The gel of the eye masks makes them feel nice and cool. These would be great to use during the summer. Sometimes I throw my sheet masks into the fridge to cool them down, so I tried putting a pair of these eye masks in the fridge for half an hour. On the initial application, they felt quite cold. After a few seconds though, I got used to the cold and it didn’t feel that much different from the eye masks at room temperature. I also found it a bit harder to peel the backing off when they were cold (the gel seemed stickier), so I prefer keeping them at room temperature. 

    RATING: 3.5/5

    I think you would have to do more than 6 treatments to know whether these help in the long-term. You would have to be using them for a few months instead of just a few weeks. A box of masks comes with 6 pairs which is only enough for three weeks if you use them twice a week.

    I think I prefer the All Night Repair Masks since I don’t have dark circles. For me, these are more of a self-care item than a treatment since I’m not trying to target dark circles or wrinkles. 

    Check out VIIcode’s socials: Blog | Shop | Instagram

    Love,

    *This post was sponsored, but all opinions are my own. Links are NOT affiliate links.

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  • L’Oréal Paris | My Hits & Misses

    July 31, 2023

    Hi Everyone!

    It’s been a while since I’ve posted on the blog. It’s also been a while since I’ve done a Hits & Misses post. So here are my thoughts on L’Oréal products. Some of the products I was gifted and marked with a *.

    Check out my other Hits & Misses posts!

    MAKEUP || Primers | Foundations | Powders | Concealers | Brows | Mascara

    SKINCARE || Eye Creams

    BRANDS || Bobbi Brown | Burt’s Bees | Maybelline | Nude by Nature | NYX | TULA | Volition Beauty

    Before you read this post, please remember that we all have difference preferences and skin types. These are MY hits, misses and likes. You might love something I don’t like or dislike something I love.

    HITS

    Voluminous Original Mascara – This is one of my favourite drugstore mascaras. I like the wand and it’s a good price. 

    Rouge Signature Liquid Lip Colour in I Create 416 – I love this shade and it’s a pretty comfortable matte liquid lipstick. Sometimes I’ll put a bit of gloss on in the middle.

    Colour Riche Shine Lipstick in Varnished Rosewood 904 (read my review) – I bought this one for my mom, it’s a really pretty shade and has a nice shine.

    LIKES

    Bambi Eye Mascara* – I liked this mascara, the shape of the tube made it a bit difficult to open. I don’t have dexterity issues, but someone who does might have trouble opening it.

    Telescopic Intense Lash Length Original Mascara – This is the gold tube one. It works well for bottom lashes.

    Brow Stylist Boost & Set Volumizing Brow Mascara (read my review) – This brow mascara was okay. I liked the small brush, but it made my brows feel crunchy.

    Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream Anti-Redness (read my review) – My mom uses this anti-redness bb cream and it works well. I wish it came in different shades because it’s too brown for me. It also doesn’t smell that great.

    Color Riche Collection Exclusive Lipstick in J Lo’s Nude 370 – I used to looooove this lipstick. I didn’t really love the scent of the lipstick (I think it was the same as the regular Colour Riche lipsticks – either a baby powder scent or a bit floral). I went through 3 tubes of this until I decided to try other products. I prefer lip tints and balms or liquid lipsticks these days.

    Color Riche Oil-Infused Nail Lacquer in 554 Carmin Parisien* – Gorgeous shade and the brush works well. I could do without the rose scent of the polish though. I prefer the regular Color Riche Nail Lacquer (if they still sell that).

    Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Day Moisturizer Fragrance-Free* – This is the only skincare product I’ve liked from L’Oreal because it’s fragrance-free. It did a good job as a moisturizer too, but it’s almost the same price as a non-drugstore brand. So I’d rather use a serum or moisturizer from another brand. 

    Revitalift Triple Power LZR 7-day Treatment Replumping Ampoules* – These were interesting. I would prefer if they sold it in a bottle because it’s expensive for these 7 capsules.

    Le Colour Clear Toning Gloss* – I haven’t coloured my hair in years, so I can only judge the claims to make your hair shine. It did make my hair look very shiny and healthy.

    Dream Lengths 8-second(es) Wonder Water Lamellar Rinse-Out* (read my review) – It detangled hair well, but it didn’t last very long and it was expensive.

    MISSES

    Unfortunately, a lot of the skincare products has a heavy fragrance that gives me a headache, so I was unable to test how well the product actually worked. The serums were all quite tacky which I didn’t love. Here are 3 of their Revitalift serums that were too scented to try: 

    • Revitalift Derm Intensives 12% Pure Vitaminc C, E + Salicylic Acid Face Serum* – smells like that solution to clean the hair tools at a salon
    • Revitalift Hydrating Smoothing Serum* – smells like hairspray from what I remember
    • Revitalift Triple Power LZR 0.3% Pure Retinol Night Serum* – I may be mistaken, but I could’ve sworn that all of the serums had fragrance in them. Maybe there was another reason I didn’t like this one because it claims to be fragrance-free on the website

    Pure-Sugar Scrub for Oily Skin (Kiwi) – When I first tried this, I liked it, but I don’t really use scrubs on my face anymore because of my sensitive skin.

    Pure Clay Masks (Charcoal Brightening Mask for Dull Skin, Red Pore Minimizing 7 Exfoliating for Rough Skin, Green Mattifying Face Mask for Oily Skin)* – As I’ve gotten older, I’ve stopped using face masks as often out of laziness. I prefer to use a mask that I don’t have to clean off. Also, clay masks can make my skin feel dry and tight and I don’t need my skin to be drier (especially in the colder months).

    Concealer Infallible Full Wear, One-Swipe Complete Coverage Matte Finish – This one is too thick for my liking and just made my under eyes look cakey.

    Colour Riche Ultra Matte Lipstick* (read my review) – These were a bit too matte for my liking. I probably could’ve added a gloss or balm on top, but the shades I tried weren’t ones I would’ve personally chosen. So maybe if I had tried a shade that I like, I would like them better.

    Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara – This is going to be a surprise for some people, but I do not like this mascara’s wand shape. I need a more cone-shaped wand or one that’s wider in the middle, not thinner. 

    I have an Excel sheet of products I’ve tried and whether I would repurchase them or not. I have a few L’Oreal products that I said I wouldn’t repurchase, but unfortunately, I didn’t write why lol, so these fall into that category:

    • Voluminous Original Primer – I could’ve sworn I tried this, but I can’t find it in my records anywhere. I know I tried a mascara primer, but I didn’t want to splurge on one, so I got this one. I remember not liking it because it made my lashes feel so heavy once I put mascara on. It was either this or the Tarte Opening Act Lash Primer.
    • Excellence Crème – I’m pretty sure I’ve used one of their hair colours. I don’t dye my hair often, but I tried a few box dyes a few years ago. So I don’t really have a reference for which ones are good
    • Dream Lengths Shampoo with Keratin and Castor Oil & Dream Lengths Conditioner* – All I wrote in my Excel sheet was “scent was too sweet”
    • Extraordinary Oil Shampoo Fine Coconut Oil – I’m guessing that I didn’t like the oil in it or I didn’t like the coconut scent.
    • EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Strengthening Shampoo & Conditioner* – I usually stick to regular drugstore shampoo brands in bottles (sometimes I will occasionally buy an expensive one and use it for special occasions). I think I didn’t love the scent of this and it was expensive
    • Stylista #BeachWaves Texturizing Mist – I don’t like the feeling of a hair texturizer
    • Stylista #Curls Defining Spray – I remember this being quite fragranced

    I’ve tried a few discontinued products as well:

    • Sublime Soft Micellar Gelee Eye Makeup Remover (read my review)
    • Infallible Pro Contour Palette – This was the first contour palette I tried. I didn’t know what I was doing back then lol. I do remember the contour shade being a good ‘shadow’ shade though
    • Infallible Le Rouge Lipstick in 337 Refined Ruby – This was a pretty red (blue-red, not an orange-red), very shiny too

    While I’ve tried quite a bit from the brand, it also doesn’t seem like a lot once I’ve written it all down. I haven’t tried much of their face makeup, but I don’t feel tempted to try much from the brand. I have considered trying their foundations, but then I just end up trying other brands. Especially since drugstore prices have gone up and they’re comparable to brands at retail stores.

    Love,

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