• First Impressions with Glow Recipe

    June 7, 2018

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    Hi Everyone!

    I recently made a trip to a couple Winners downtown and I scored a mini travel size pack of the Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask and the Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser.

    Both products have AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) and it warns you that it can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, so make sure to apply that sunscreen!

    Check out my review on the Vichy Idéal Soleil Anti-Shine Dry Touch Lotion!

    20180606_213635.jpgWatermelon Glow Sleeping Mask – It smells so refreshing (it obviously smells like watermelon) and I love that it doesn’t feel sticky on your face after you apply it. A lot of sleeping masks and skincare serums and essence are sometimes tacky after you apply it and it doesn’t go away. After a few minutes, the mask absorbed into my skin and made it feel soft and smooth.

    It can be used in two ways: as a sleeping mask or a wash off mask. As a sleeping mask, you apply a layer on your skin as the final step in your skincare routine before bed. Pat gently until it is absorbed into the skin. In the morning, wash it off. As a wash off mask, spread a thick layer on your face and after ten minutes, rinse off with lukewarm water.

    The Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask is a luxuriously bouncy, breathable sleeping mask that smoothes and perfects skin, overnight.

    This pillow-proof formula acts as a radiance-boosting hybrid hydrator, formulated with soothing, amino-acid rich Watermelon Extract, hydrating Hyaluronic Acid, and pore refining AHAs that work while you sleep to gently exfoliate and clarify.

    RATING: 5/5

    20180606_213809Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser – It smells good and it has a gel-like texture that’s similar to a peel off mask before it dries. It makes sense that it’s thicker than other cleansers because it can be used as a wash-off mask. I tried it as a cleanser to remove my makeup since it claims to be ‘makeup-melting’. Similar to a cleansing balm, it removed all of my makeup. It even removed my mascara (which wasn’t waterproof), but I always get raccoon eyes with regular cleansers. When my face was still wet after I took off the makeup, it felt silky and after I patted my face dry, it felt super smooth.

    An unexpectedly bouncy makeup eraser + cleanser that deeply hydrates skin, eliminating the need for a hydrating toner.

    Blueberry extract delivers antioxidants. Gentle AHA unglues dead skin cells and clarifies. Hydrating suds microfoam, melting makeup and prepping skin to maximize the efficacy of skincare.

    It can be used as a cleanser or a wash off mask. As a cleanser, you create a lather and massage gently onto your face and rinse thoroughly. As a wash off mask, you apply a generous layer to your dry skin and rinse off after 5-8 minutes.

    RATING: 5/5

    Before I tried it, I didn’t think I would consider buying the full size, but after using it, my opinion has changed. There are so many great cleansers that are a fraction of the price, but this one can remove makeup, cleanse your skin and be used as a mask.

    Have you tried Glow Recipe products? What are your faves?

    Love,

    jen

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  • First Impressions with Laneige Hydration Trial Kit

    January 20, 2017

    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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