This or That | Cleansing Balms

November 3, 2022

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m comparing the eight cleansing balms I’ve tried so far. I have tried two others, but they are no longer available.

Previous posts on cleansing balms:

This or That | Banila Co vs Heimish

This or That | Clinique vs Pixi (no longer available)

Glow Recipe

These are the cleansing balms I will be comparing (in alphabetical order):

Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm (Original)
belif Aqua Bomb Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm*
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm
Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Smoothing Enzyme Cleansing Balm
Heimish All Clean Balm
The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm*
Juno & Co (Juno Skin) Clean 10 Cleansing Balm*
Youth to the People Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm*

Ingredients for the cleansing balms:

Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm (Original)

Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, PEG-10 Isostearate, Synthetic Wax, Onsen-Sui, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fragrance, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Angelica Archangelica Root Extract, Malpighia Glabra (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Polydiethyleneglycol Adipate/IPDI Copolymer, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Acrylates/Methoxy PEG-15 Methacrylate Copolymer

belif Aqua Bomb Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm*

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Peg-10 Isostearate, Polyethylene, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Water, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil, Myristica Fragrans (Nutmeg) Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Methylpropanediol, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Stellaria Media (Chickweed) Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Equisetum Arvense Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Nepeta Cataria Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Leaf Extract, Baptisia Tinctoria Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm

Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Polyethylene, Peg-5 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Water, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol

Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Smoothing Enzyme Cleansing Balm

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Sorbitan Oleate, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Polyethylene, Aqua/Water/Eau, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Seed Oil, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Papain, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Fragaria Ananassa (Strawberry) Fruit Extract, Alkanna Tinctoria Root Extract, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Maltodextrin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Levulinic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Metabisulfite

Heimish All Clean Balm

Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Polyethylene, PEG-8 Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Water, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Freesia Refracta Extract, Rose Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Extract, Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus (Daffodil) Flower Extract, Lilium Tigrinum Extract, Iris Versicolor Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene, Citral, Linalool

The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm*

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Oil, Candelilla Cera (Cire de candelilla), Silica, Sorbitan Stearate, Tribehenin, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour, Aqua (Water/Eau), Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil

Juno & Co (Juno Skin) Clean 10 Cleansing Balm*

Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Synthetic Wax
Polysorbate 85, Fermented Japanese Pearl Barley (Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate), Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate), Water, Butylene Glycol

Youth to the People Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm*

Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Wax, Polyglyceryl-2 Sesquicaprylate, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Water/Aqua/Eau, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica (Prickly Pear) Stem Extract*, Aristotelia Chilensis (Maqui Berry) Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum (Goji Berry) Fruit Extract, Moringa Oleifera (Moringa) Leaf Extract, Opuntia Tuna (Prickly Pear) Flower/Stem Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower (Neem) Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Ocimum Basilicum (Holy Basil) Flower/Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis (Red Algae) Extract, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tocopherol, Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Fragrance/Parfum, Limonene. *Certified Organic Ingredient

For me, they all performed about the same. I don’t wear waterproof mascara or eyeliner, so I can’t say how well these cleansing balms work for those. I cleanse with a regular cleanser after using the cleansing balms, so I don’t mind if there’s a film from the cleansing balm.

Texture

Youth to the People (YTTP)’s cleanser is the most crumbly and it’s not as emollient as the others. Due to the texture being more crumbly, it didn’t remove my makeup as well. I had to work it in longer than the others. The Inkey List one comes in a tube, so it’s a more runny texture. I have to make sure to massage the tube first before squeezing any out. I was sent the Juno & Co cleansing balm and it came melted . They sent me a new one, but I’m worried about how easily it melted.

Comparing the textures to food: The YTTP one is like mashed potatoes (with nothing added in). The melted Juno & Co one was like melted butter that had cooled down a bit (still runny, but not completely liquid). The new tub I was sent still wasn’t as solid as the other ones.

Packaging

The K-beauty cleansing balms come with spatulas, while most of the others don’t come with one. Glow Recipe wins for best packaging since it comes in a glass jar that closes nicely. I wish the spatula could fit inside the jar, but I understand why they have a larger one since the jar is quite deep. I keep all of my spatulas in a little glass container, but it’d be nice to have it in the jar if you travel. The Youth to the People one also comes in a glass jar, but when I unscrew the lid, it doesn’t feel as smooth as the Glow Recipe. The Clinique, Heimish and Banila Co. cleansing balms come in sturdy, plastic containers. When you open the lids of the Heimish and Banila Co balms, there is a spatula inside. The Juno & Co one is a cheaper container that I sometimes have trouble closing if the inner lid isn’t perfectly aligned. The Inkey List one comes in a tube. This is my least favourite packaging since the cleansing balm is already more emollient than the others. I would not travel with the Inkey List or Juno & Co ones. A few times, I’ve had to wash off both of them because the products got onto the packaging.

Cost

In the table below, I’ve calculated the cost per mL for the cleansing balms I’ve tried. I also added others that are available on Sephora and K-beauty ones I want to try.

	Price (CAD)	Size	Cost per mL	Packaging
Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm (Original) - 100mL	25	100mL	0.25	plastic with spatula
Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm (Original) - 180mL	37	180mL	0.206	plastic with spatula
Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm	24	100mL	0.24	plastic with spatula
belif Aqua Bomb Cleansing Balm	48	100mL	0.48	plastic with spatula
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm (mini)	17	30mL	0.567	plastic, no spatula
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm	47	125mL	0.376	plastic, no spatula
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm (value)	62	200mL	0.31	plastic, no spatula
Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser	45	110g (110mL)	0.409	plastic with spatula
Farmacy Clearly Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm (mini)	30	50mL	0.6	plastic, mini probably doesn't come with a spatula
Farmacy Clearly Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm	46	100mL	0.46	plastic with spatula
Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm (mini)	30	50mL	0.6	plastic, mini probably doesn't come with a spatula
Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm	46	100mL	0.46	plastic with spatula
Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Smoothing Enzyme Cleansing Balm	42	100mL	0.42	glass jar with spatula
Heimish All Clean Balm	25	120mL	0.208	plastic with spatula
I'm From Fig Cleansing Balm	40	100mL	0.40	plastic with spatula
The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm (mini)	5.69	50mL	0.114	squeeze tube
The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm	13.99	150mL	0.093	squeeze tube
Juno & Co (Juno Skin) Clean 10 Cleansing Balm	21	85g (85mL)	0.247	plastic with spatula
Youth to the People Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm	45	100mL	0.45	glass jar, no spatula

Looking at the cost per mL, I was surprised which ones were more expensive. The Drunk Elephant one actually isn’t the most expensive one on the list.

The Clinique one was the first one I tried. I finished it before trying other ones, so I wasn’t able to compare them side by side. I liked it a lot because it doesn’t have a scent and I don’t remember it having a filmy feeling after using it. I will buy it again once I’ve finished my current ones and update this post with a final verdict. For now, I will exclude it from the ranking. My favourite is the Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Smoothing Enzyme Cleansing Balm. It is on the more expensive end, so for the lower range, I would pick the Heimish All Clean Balm. It doesn’t have any added fragrances and you get more in the tub (120mL vs 100mL for most of the other brands).

Have you tried these cleansing balms? Which is your fave?

Love,

Products marked with * were sent to me for review.

May-Oct 2022 Product Empties

October 31, 2022

Hi Everyone!

I didn’t realize I was so behind on my monthly empties posts! Here’s what I finished during the spring and summer!

Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve* – I wish I had known about this hand salve sooner. After trying it, I bought some for my family to try as well. My mom and sister get cracked hands in the winter. My mom said she had a crack on her thumb and it helped heal it faster than Vaseline. Whenever I forget to apply it, my hands are so dry. When I use this, my hands feel super soft.

Repurchase? I already repurchased it and I’m on my second tube.

How long does it last? I was sent the 200mL tube and it lasted 250 uses (most of the time, I used the same amount, but I used more in the winter). This last 8.5 months of daily use (applied at night only).

Dove Deep Cleansing Cucumber & Green Tea Hand Wash – If you’ve tried Dove Shampoos, the hand wash smells exactly the same. I’m currently using the Deep Moisture one. They are nice hand washes that don’t irritate my skin. They come in bottles with a pump.

Repurchase? Yes.

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion – This is not moisturizing enough for me in warm weather, so I can’t imagine it being enough in the winter time. I prefer the Cerave Moisturizing Cream or Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion.

Repurchase? No.

Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash – This is an unscented body wash that’s super gentle. It does have a certain scent to it (smell from the natural ingredients). I think it’s the oatmeal, but you can’t really smell it on the body.

Repurchase? Maybe.

The Inkey List Omega Water Cream* – This gel cream was okay. I didn’t think it was anything special. I was hoping it would be similar to the Sonia Roselli Water Balm where it beads up like water, but it was different. I didn’t like the smell of it. It had this wet smell.

Repurchase? No.

How long does it last? 2 months.

Youth to the People Triple Peptide + Cactus Oasis Serum* – I really liked this serum, but it seems like I finished it fairly quickly. The pump also tends to spurt product out (I don’t know if I had a defective one, but this also happened with the Retinal + Niacinamide one). Comparing this to a Volition Beauty serum with the same amount, I finished the YTTP serum a month faster. With the Volition serum, I was able to control the amount by doing a half drop, but you can’t control the amount with this pump (can’t do a half pump).

Repurchase? Yes.

How long does it last? The 30mL bottle lasted about 3 months of daily use (once a day, I mostly used one pump per use).

Volition Beauty Skin Rhythm Balancing & Clearing Serum* – I was a bit skeptical about this one being able to help deal with hormonal acne, but when I used this, I noticed that my acne during that time of the month wasn’t as bad. I did still get some hormonal breakouts every now and then, but I think this definitely helped.

Repurchase? Yes.

How long does it last? I used the 35mL bottle for 5 months. For the first month or so, I was only using it at night, but then I started using it twice a day. A small drop was more than enough for each use and I would only apply it on my problem areas (nose, chin, jawline). It lasted 210 uses.

Volition Beauty Yaupon Tea Glow Awakening Moisturizer* – I didn’t really notice a huge difference in my skin. It was kind of similar to the celery green cream to me. Both are nice, but I probably wouldn’t buy it. I prefer the volition products that come in bottles: serums and oil.

Repurchase? Probably not.

How long does it last? About 3 months. It’ll last longer depending on how much you use. I feel like I used quite a bit for each use.

The Inkey List Tranexamic Acid Hyperpigmentation Treatment* – I didn’t notice a difference to my dark spots, but this gel wasn’t bad. My skin was pretty clear when I had this in my routine so I can’t say if it helped with new dark spots.

Repurchase? Maybe.

How long does it last? 2 months.

Bolden Skincare Hydrating Cleanser* – It’s a nice cleanser, but I didn’t see anything special about it.

Repurchase? No.

Bolden Skincare Awake Under Eye Patch* – The eye patches were a nice selfcare item, but I didn’t notice my under eyes being brighter or anything. I think I would need to use them regularly for a longer period of time.

Repurchase? No.

How long does it last? It depends how often you use them. You could finish the pack of 10 in a week and a half or it could last a couple of weeks if you only use them every few days.

PanOxyl Creamy Acne Wash – 4% Benzoyl Peroxide* – This was a nice acne wash with benzoyl peroxide. While it wouldn’t clear acne super quickly, it did help bring some painful underground ones to the surface. I would only use this on areas where I needed it. At 4%, it was gentle enough that it didn’t make my skin red and irritated.

Repurchase? Maybe.

How long does it last? About 4-5 months. I didn’t use it daily, but I used it when I needed it.

PanOxyl PM Overnight Spot Patches* – I did not like these. Read my This or That post on Acne Patches.

Repurchase? No.

How long does it last? It lasted about 3 months (I had some bad breakouts this summer).

Nacific Fresh Herb Origin Spot Patch – These were good, but they are on the more expensive side (cost per patch). Again, check out my This or That post on Acne Patches to see a cost per patch breakdown of the pimple patches I’ve tried.

Repurchase? No, there are others that are cheaper.

Herbal Essences Tealightfully Clean Shampoo – I liked the fresh, clean scent from this shampoo.

Repurchase? Yes.

Dove Daily Moisture Shampoo – My go-to shampoos are drugstore ones. I sometimes splurge on higher end ones or hair masks/treatments, but I don’t use those as often. I don’t style my hair that often and I haven’t dyed it in a long time, so I don’t need anything special for my hair.

Repurchase? Yes.

The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub* – I really enjoyed this one. I don’t really do treatments with my hair since I don’t do much to it (don’t curl or straighten much, haven’t dyed it in a long time). I would do this scalp scrub every so often and I did notice that my scalp felt cleaner after using this scrub. It was gentle and I preferred it much more than a sample of the Drunk Elephant one I tried.

Repurchase? Yes.

How long does it last? It took me 10 months to finish the 150mL bottle, but I honestly don’t know if I used too much or too little each time. I’m pretty sure I used too much lol. I didn’t use this frequently so if you used this every couple weeks or so, it would only last a few months. Over the 10 months, I used it about 15 times. If you use quite a bit, it would last at least 6 months (using it every 2 weeks).

Spot any favourites in my empties list?

Love,

Products marked with * were sent to me for review.

Read More

Eye Creams | My Hits & Misses

July 19, 2022

Hi Everyone!

This is basically a repost of the blog post I wrote in May 2019, but I’ve added added new eye creams I’ve tried since then and also organized them into Hits, Likes and Misses. I’ve written a mini review of each eye cream I’ve tried and also said if I had a reaction to it or not.

Check out my other Hits & Misses posts!

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

BRANDS || Bobbi Brown | Burt’s Bees | L’Oréal | 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

DearKlairs Fundamental Nourishing Eye Butter – I like this eye cream. Based on the name, I thought it would be a bit creamier/heavier, but it’s a bit like a gel cream. At first, I was on the fence about repurchasing it since the Cerave Eye Repair Cream is a bit similar (and Cerave is a bit easier for me to purchase). After checking the cost per mL though, this one is actually cheaper because there’s more in the tube. So I think I would get this one instead. I’ve already been using it for about 8 months (once daily) and there’s still quite a bit left in the tube. I was using this one as my PM eye cream, but I think I would prefer using it as an AM and using one of the thicker ones at night. At the time, I was using the Pixi Botanical Collagen Eye Serum which is a bit tacky, so I preferred using that one during the day, so naturally, this one became a part of my night routine.

Reaction? No reaction.

Cerave Eye Repair Cream with Hyaluronic Acid & 3 Ceramides – When I first started using this, I was a bit underwhelmed. I thought it would moisturize my under eyes more. I’ve finished the tube now and I changed my opinion about it. I liked this eye cream.

Reaction? No reaction.

Youth to the People Dream Eye Cream with Vitamin C and Ceramides – I’ve been enjoying using this eye cream. I have been using it at night, while I used the Cerave Eye Repair Cream during my morning routine.

Reaction? No reaction.

Pixi Retinol Eye Cream* – I enjoyed this one and my under eyes didn’t feel dry after using it. The tube also lasted a long time (8 months of using it twice daily).

Reaction? No reaction.

Pixi Botanical Collagen Eye Serum* – If you like a more gel-like eye cream, this one is quite nice. If you prefer a cream, the retinol one is good. It is a little bit tacky, so I liked to use this one for AM.

Reaction? No reaction.

LIKES

Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment – If I remember correctly, this one was similar to the Youth to the People one in terms of how thickness. It was a good one for my night routine.

Reaction? No reaction.

Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector – In my 2019 blog post, I said this was my favourite eye cream I’ve tried so far. I’ve tried several sine then and this one has been bumped from its top spot. Although it made my under eyes feel smooth, it didn’t really hydrate as well as other eye creams. When I initially purchased this, I had bought it from a warehouse sale for about $20-25 (15mL tube). I purchased it during the Sephora sale more recently and not only have they raised the price, they’ve also made the tube smaller (8.5mL). While I used the new tube, I found that I didn’t have the same love for it as I did four years ago. Also, I can no longer justify the price, especially when I don’t love it as much as I once did.

Reaction? No reaction.

Volition Beauty Helix AM/PM Eye Gel (read my review) – I think I would’ve liked this more if I had tried it in the summer time. It’s more of a smoothing eye gel than a hydrating or moisturizing one. They’ve also changed the packaging. I tried it in a pot, but now they have it in a bottle with a pump.

Reaction? No reaction.

belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb – I had a sample of this one and I enjoyed it. Although I’m not crazy about the slight scent to it (natural fragrance, it’s not scented).

Reaction? No reaction.

Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel* (read my review) – Even though I gave this a pretty high rating in my review, I found that my eye would twitch occasionally when I would use this so I had to stop using it. I also didn’t love the tackiness of it.

Reaction? Occasional eye twitching from caffeine.

Goldfaden MD Bright Eyes Dark Circle Radiance Concentrate* – I received this from Calissa.com when I was receiving boxes from them. While I did like this eye cream, it’s not really as accessible to me as the other eye creams I’ve tried. I don’t know if it would cost an arm and a leg to pay for shipping or duties. It was a nice eye cream, but it wouldn’t be worth it for me.

Reaction? No reaction.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream for Eyes (read my review) – Unlike the Hydro Boost Cream for the face, this didn’t have a smell and it wasn’t tacky at all, but it just didn’t ‘wow’ me.

Reaction? No reaction.

Lkins Skincare Vitamin C Eye Gel* (read my review) – This was a nice gel texture, but it just wasn’t hydrating enough. I have really dry under eyes.

Reaction? No reaction.

Saturday Skin Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream (read my review) – This one didn’t do much for me. It didn’t hydrate my under eyes as much as I needed it to and I didn’t get any reaction from it.

Reaction? No reaction.

OLE HENRIKSEN Banana Bright Eye Crème – I liked this eye cream, but after hearing about the lawsuit for allergic reactions for this eye cream, I decided not to risk re-purchasing it.

Reaction? No reaction after using the travel-sized pot.

MISSES

Tula Multi-Spectrum Eye Renewal Serum (read my review) – It seems like they’ve renamed a lot of their products. I believe this was renamed: Instant De-Puff Eye Renewal Serum. Both my mom and I tried this eye renewal serum. We both felt itchy using it and it wasn’t allergies or anything because we were using this in the winter time.

Reaction? No physical reaction (appearance-wise), but eyes felt itchy.

Origins Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream to Depuff and Brighten (read my review)

I’m not a huge fan of the smell of this. I accidentally bought this instead of another product – I meant to get the Ginzing moisturizer. A little goes a long way and while this does brighten the under eyes, you have to be careful not to use too much or it looks too white. I was using this off and on because I got one spot and I wasn’t sure if it was the eye cream or something else. I stopped using it until it got better and then I used it again and I’ve had a bit of texture under the eyes since. So, I won’t be using this anymore.

Reaction? Got a milium (singular of milia) and also got red bumpy spots

Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado (read my review) – I’ve been using this for about a while now and I’ve been using it on and off because whenever I use it, I get 1-2 red spots under both eyes. Also, it has a weird texture that’s almost glue-y. If you use too much, it doesn’t blend in very well, but if you use a very small amount, it absorbs into the skin and almost feels like water.

Reaction? Red spots under eyes whenever I used it.

Kiehl’s Eye Fuel* – After my reaction to the Creamy Eye Treatment, Kiehl’s messaged me asking if I would like to try a different product and I chose the Eye Fuel. THIS MADE ONE OF MY EYES TWITCH SO MUCH.

Reaction? Eye was twitching like crazy.

	Price (CAD)	Size (mL)	Cost per mL
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream for Eyes	26.99	14mL	1.93
Lkins Skincare Vitamin C Eye Gel	22.99 USD ~ 30 CAD	15mL	2
Saturday Skin Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream	25 USD ~ 32 CAD	15mL	2.13
Saturday Skin Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream	46 USD ~ 60 CAD	30mL	2
Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado	70	28g ~ 28mL	2.5
mini Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado	44	14g ~ 14mL	3.14
Origins Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream to Depuff and Brighten	44	15mL	2.93
mini Origins Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream to Depuff and Brighten	36	10mL	3.6
belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb	60	25mL	2.4
Cerave Eye Repair Cream	27.99	14.2 g ~ 14.2mL	1.97
Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector	59	8.5mL	6.94
Goldfaden MD Bright Eyes Dark Circle Radiance Concentrate	55 USD ~ 71 CAD	15mL	4.73
Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wakeup Eye Gel	8	15mL	0.53
Volition Helix AM/PM Eye Gel	70	15mL	4.67
Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter Eye treatment	51	10mL	5.1
Youth to the People Dream Eye Cream	62	15mL	4.13
Tula Instant De-Puff Eye Renewal Serum	76	15mL	5.07
Pixi Botanical Collagen Eye Serum	34	25mL	1.36
Dear, Klairs Fundamental Nourishing Eye Butter	31	20g ~ 20mL	1.55

Here are some eye creams that I want to try:

Cetaphil Optimal Hydration Eye Serum
COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream
I’m From Ginseng Eye Cream
PURITO Centella Green Level Eye Cream

I’ve been looking for eye creams that don’t have caffeine because my right eye keeps twitching whenever I use eye creams with caffeine.

What’s your fave eye cream?

Love,

Last updated Aug 2023

Products marked with * were sent to me for review.

Review | Youth to the People 15% Vitamin C + Clean Caffeine Energy Serum

September 5, 2021
Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m reviewing the Youth to the People 15% Vitamin C + Clean Caffeine Energy Serum.

Elevate your morning routine. This first-of-its-kind clinical-grade 15% vitamin C serum is boosted with clean, plant-derived caffeine from superleafs yerba mate and guayusa to immediately brighten, visibly reduce morning puffiness, and hydrate.
- 15% Vitamin C Complex: Visibly brightens to reduce the look of hyperpigmentation give skin a firmer appearance
- Yerba Mate and Guayusa (Clean Caffeine): Naturally high in caffeine and antioxidants to visibly depuff and contour
- Passion and Dragon Fruit: High in antioxidants to help scavenge for free radicals and replenish moisture
How to Use: In the morning, apply 2-4 pumps to cleansed face and neck. Follow with Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream or Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream. With daily use, this super dose of antioxidants helps reduce the look of hyperpigmentation, even skin tone, and visibly firm.

Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Squalane, Triethyl Citrate, Gluconolactone, Citric Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Benzoate, Lauroyl Lysine, Passiflora Edulis (Passion Fruit) Extract, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Ilex Paraguariensis (Yerba Mate) Leaf Extract, Ilex Guayusa (Guayusa) Leaf Extract, Pullulan, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Mannitol, Hylocereus Undatus (Dragon Fruit) Fruit Extract, Ergothioneine, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Oil, Calcium Gluconate, Silica, Potassium Sorbate

It retails for $90 CAD (1.0 oz)

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RATING: 3/5

I like that it comes in a glass container with a pump. The spout has a bit of a lip on it where the serum tends to collect and dry down. So I often have to use my finger to wipe it clean which I find a little annoying. Also, I don’t know if I have a faulty pump, but instead of pumping out smoothly (I can hear it make a sound) onto my hand, sometimes the product spurts out.

I’ve been using it for a while now and I haven’t noticed anything different in my skin. To me, it just feels like a serum which is quite expensive for $90. I haven’t noticed any pilling with the products I use, but this serum can make your face a bit tacky. Most vitamin C products I’ve tried have a citrus scent, so I was surprised when I smelled this serum. It smells like ginger, but it’s a light, pleasant smell that isn’t overpowering. Considering the price, I wouldn’t purchase this when I’m finished this bottle.

What’s your favourite Youth to the People product?

Love,
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March 2020 Product Empties

March 31, 2020

Hi Everyone!

Here are my empties for this month:

Rael Miracle Patches – Love these!

Repurchase? I will continue to buy these, but I am interested in trying out different patches.

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Pore Perfecting Cleansing Gel* (read my review) – It was a good cleanser, but it’s a bit expensive.

Repurchase? Probably not.

Nanacoco Foam Cleanser* – This cleanser claims not to dry out your skin, but I already have quite dry skin and it made it feel so tight. Maybe if you have oily skin, it would be okay.

Repurchase? No.

Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate & Glow Face Oil (read my review) – This is an expensive face oil and I had only seen good reviews on it. I was excited to try it. There is a scent to it, but it’s pleasant. I first used this last year, but then I got a bit of a breakout and stopped using it. I didn’t know if the breakout was from the oil or from my diet. I started using it again and I started breaking out again. I stopped using it and my skin got better. I think this face oil is too expensive anyway when there are so many other affordable options.

Repurchase? No.

Nars Liquid Blush in Luster – This was a beautiful liquid blush.

Repurchase? Maybe.

Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in Sailor – This was the first time trying a Colourpop eyeshadow for me. I decided to try only one and see if I liked it. I did enjoy the creamy texture, although it panned so quickly. I didn’t love the shade, Sailor. While it’s a gorgeous shade, I didn’t love it ON me. I think I would prefer a darker colour next time.

Repurchase? Not in the same shade, but I would consider buying the Super Shock Shadows again.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara – This is a nice mascara, but it’s not my favourite. I got this in a set.

Repurchase? Maybe.

What did you finish this month?

Love,

Products marked with (*) were gifted to me.

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Review | Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate & Glow Face Oil

February 21, 2020

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m reviewing the Superberry Hydrate & Glow Face Oil from Youth to the People. I purchased this during the Sephora sale last year. I tried it in September and then I had a breakout (unsure if it was from the oil, my diet or something else I was using). I stopped using it and then I started using all of these other products that I wanted to review. I’ve started using it again. Keep reading to find out what I think about the oil!

This ultra-enriched, flash-absorbing face oil packed with rare super berry antioxidants that leaves skin velvety soft, hydrated, and glowing. Intensely hydrating prickly pear and squalane oil lock in moisture with the help of omega fatty acids and high levels of vitamin C.

Maqui, the most antioxidant dense fruit in the world, is combined with açaí and goji, creating a potent antioxidant elixir. Our perfected balance of jojoba and sunflower oil illuminate and revive dehydrated skin without weighing it down.

Ingredients: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Dicapryl Carbonate, Simmondsia Chineses (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Opuntia Tuna Extract(Prickly Pear), Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract (Acai), Lycium Barbarum (Goji) Extract, Aristotelia Chilensis (Maqui) Fruit Extract, And Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract , Squalane Olive, Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E), Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil*, Linum Usitatissimum (Flaxseed) Oil*, Borago Officinalis (Borage) Oil*, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil*, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil*, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil*, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil*, Natural Fragrance, Amylcinnamyl Alcohol, Citral, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool.

*Certified Organic Ingredient

It comes in a glass jar with a dropper (which I will be keeping after I’ve finished using it). It’s vegan, no there’s no animal testing. It doesn’t contain dimethicone, but it does have natural fragrance. It has a scent that is familiar to me, but I can’t quite place it. I think it smells like a candy I used to eat?

RATING: 2/5

My skin doesn’t look very glowy with this oil. I just don’t think it’s worth the high price tag. My face has been very dry from the weather and it’s not providing enough hydration for me. Maybe in the spring/summer, it would be okay for my dry skin. There are other oils that I prefer that don’t have any fragrance and are much more affordable (e.g. The Ordinary, Good Molecules).

I stopped using it again and my skin is looking better. I haven’t changed any other skincare products in my routine so I know it’s this oil that’s causing the breakouts. I know it’s a waste, but I started using it on my hands and feet to finish the rest of the bottle.

I haven’t tried much from the brand, but I did like the Superfood Air Whip Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer.

Do you love this face oil?

Love,

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July 2019 Product Empties

July 30, 2019

Hi Everyone!

I have quite a few cleanser empties this month! I use several at a time (one for morning, one for night). I also switch them up to test different ones out for a bit so that I can post a quick review on Instagram. I also have a few makeup empties for you this month, keep reading to see what products I’d repurchase!

Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning Gel Cleanser – I didn’t love the herbal smell of this cleanser. It cleansed well, but I’d rather use Cetaphil which is unscented.

Repurchase? No.

Pixi Glow Tonic Cleansing Gel* – This cleanser was okay, I tended to squeeze out a lot more than I needed because the cleanser was more liquid than other cleansers I’ve used. The scent of this cleanser reminded me of kitchen cleanser because it smelled like lemons.

Repurchase? No.

Youth to the People Superfood Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer (read my review) – Love this moisturizer! It’s clean at Sephora and has no added fragrance which is great for my sensitive skin.

Repurchase? Absolutely!

Holika Holika Pig-Nose Clear Black Head Massage Gel – I wouldn’t say this worked super well for blackheads, but in the beginning, it worked okay as a peeling gel for my nose. It would moisturize my nose and also get rid of some of the dead skin.

Repurchase? Maybe.

Holika Holika Golden Monkey Glamour Lip 3-Step Kit – I really enjoy this 3-step lip kit. It turns chapped lips into smooth, ready for lipstick lips. First, you exfoliate your lips and then put a lip mask on and follow up with some honey to moisturize. Personally, I could do without the honey. I’d rather just put some lip balm on my lips because the honey is so sticky.

Repurchase? Yes.

Mizon Apple Smoothie Peeling Gel – I enjoyed this peeling gel. It sloughed off dead skin well and it was a good price for the amount. I’ve used others that work a little better, but this is a gentle one that’s inexpensive.

Repurchase? Maybe.

Rael Acne Healing Patch (read my review) – I love these!

Repurchase? Yes.

Lancôme Miracle Cushion Foundation in 025 Beige Naturel – I really enjoy this cushion foundation. It’s a lightweight, buildable coverage. The shade is a bit off though – it looks a bit orange sometimes, so I might have to find a better shade match.

Repurchase? Yes.

Bobbi Brown Nude Finish Illuminating Setting Powder – This is a translucent pressed powder that’s supposed to give you a glow from within like the Hourglass Ambient powders. I’ve swatched the Hourglass ones before and they look beautiful, this Bobbi Brown one just looked like I had shimmer on my face.

Repurchase? No.

Catrice Light Illusion Loose Powder in Yellow Matt – I didn’t like this powder. I wanted to try a banana powder, but I prefer translucent powders.

Repurchase? No.

Wet N Wild Megaglo Highlighting Powder in Precious Petals (read my review) – This is a cult favourite for good reason. I was only able to get my hands on the shade Precious Petals which was too dark for my skintone, but it was still beautiful. I used it a lot as an eyeshadow instead because it was just a bit too golden for me.

Repurchase? Yes, in a different shade.

Love,

items marked with * were gifted to me.

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First Impressions with Youth to the People

July 9, 2019

Hi Everyone!

During the Sephora sale, I purchased the Youth Mini Travel Duo which includes a mini of the Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser and the Superfood Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer. I’ve seen Youth to the People all over Instagram and finally decided to try it to see if it’s worth the hype.

With 100% vegan ingredients, YTTP is a clean brand at Sephora.

Clean at Sephora is formulated without: Sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, triclocarban. All skincare, hair, and makeup brands with the Clean Seal have less than one percent of synthetic fragrances.

Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser

A daily green juice cleanse for your face with cold-pressed antioxidants to remove makeup and prevent build-up in pores, while keeping skin’s pH balanced.

RATING: 4.5/5

It makes my face feel really clean. I’ve been trying to use it only twice a week at the most since it’s so cleansing. Would I repurchase the full-sized? Possibly. While it is a great cleanser, it’s also quite expensive for the bottle that you get. I do like that the full size comes with a pump, so it’d be a nice reusable bottle for hand soap or something.

Superfood Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer

A multifunction, lightweight face cream loaded with superfoods—kale, spinach, and green tea—and hyaluronic acid to moisturize skin.

RATING: 5/5

I really enjoyed the moisturizer! I like that the smell isn’t too strong and doesn’t linger. My face feels nice and hydrated. I’ve been using it day and night mixed with my facial oil and I think I would definitely buy a full size pot of this cream.

I am definitely interested in trying out more products from Youth to the People. I love that it’s clean and also they products come in glass containers which are so useful to reuse!

What are your faves from Youth to the People?

Love,

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June 2019 Product Empties

June 28, 2019

Hi Everyone!

I tried a few new skincare products this month and I also managed to finish some makeup products that I’ve had for a while. Keep reading to find out which ones I’d repurchase!

Fourth Ray Beauty Rainfall 2% Hyaluronic Acid Serum – I enjoyed this HA serum. It smelled nice and kept my face looking dewy. If I used too much, I found that it would pill, but I eventually found the right amount to use each time.

Repurchase? Yes.

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color in Bare Pink – This is a pretty beige pink shade. While it is beautiful, it isn’t my fave lipstick.

Repurchase? Maybe

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 10 Light – This is a great concealer.

Repurchase? Yes.

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray – I wouldn’t say I’d never buy this again, but I feel like it doesn’t make my makeup last that much longer than it normally does.

Repurchase? Possibly.

Tula Pro-Glycolic 10% PH Resurfacing Gel – This is a great, gentle toner. It is more expensive than liquid toners, but it was very gentle on my skin.

Repurchase? Tula no longer has a Canadian website, but I would buy again if I could.

Tula Illuminating Face Serum – I’m so sad I’ve finished this because it’s a great serum. It helped make some dark spots on my cheek go away a lot faster than I expected.

Repurchase? Definitely would if I could.

Youth to the People Superfood Face Wash – I just wanted to try the mini of this cleanser because I’ve heard good things about it. I think it’s almost too cleansing for me because my face feels kind of dry after using it. It’s definitely not an everyday cleanser for my dry skin, but I would use it maybe twice a week (especially since it’s so pricey).

Repurchase? Maybe.

Nature Republic Soothing & Moisturizing Aloe Vera Foam Cleanser – This cleanser had a smell that reminded me of something from my childhood, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. This was an okay cleanser, I don’t hate it, but don’t love it either. It’s one of those squeaky clean cleansers that are maybe a bit too cleansing.

Repurchase? No.

What were your empties from this month?

Love,

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