origins ginger rush intensely hydrating body cream and whipped body soufflé

My husband went a little crazy at the Origins counter this past Christmas. It all started one day at his office when every so often, he would catch a whiff of something that smells like gummy cola bottles. Oddly enough, the smell came from a hand cream that one of his coworkers used – an Origins product in ginger rush. He (correctly) guessed that I would also like the scent, so he picked up a number of products for me as part of my Christmas gift (reviews on other Origins products I received will follow when I get around to using them).

Given the size of the intensely hydrating body cream (this was a gift with purchase, not the full size listed below), I’ve tossed it in my purse and have been using it as a hand cream. The cream is quite thick and I’ve found that a small dab (about the size of a frozen pea) goes a long way. The scent is delicious – for some reason, it does smell like gummy cola bottles (the sour variety) and while it provides a burst of the scent when first applied, the smell disappears after a few minutes. The product is rich – even that pea-sized dab feels a bit greasy after application but should be fine when properly used as a body lotion.

The whipped body soufflé comes in a tub and reminds me of cold cream. As a “whipped” product, the texture is lighter than the body cream and is more readily absorbed by skin, which I prefer. I typically slather some on at night before going to bed and it keeps my skin reasonably moisturized throughout the night. When compared to Aveeno, which I normally use, the body soufflé is probably not as rich, so this product may not be great for people with extremely dry skin. 

Verdict: I’m usually not a fan of purchasing department store body creams and moisturizers as I think they can get very expensive, but I would purchase the whipped body soufflé again as a treat. ~Ginger Rush intensely hydrating body cream (limited edition) 6.5oz, C$40.50; Ginger Rush whipped body souffle (part of limited edition trio) 3 x 125ml, C$47

clinique liquid facial soap

Over the past couple of years, my Clinique gift with purchase collection has been accumulating steadily. As part of my plan to clear my beauty stash, I’m making a conscious effort to use up these products one by one. On a recent trip to Toronto, I packed a sample size of Clinique’s liquid facial soap. When I travel, I typically pick up a pack of cleansing wipes for convenience, so bringing actual face wash was a first for me.

The sample I had was mild, which is intended for dry-combination skin. My sister had previously used Clinique’s 3-step skincare line. Back then, I don’t think the liquid soap alternative was available, as I recall a big bar of soap in a green plastic container sitting on our bathroom counter for months at a time.

The smell of the liquid soap is exactly how I remembered the bar soap to be – like glycerin. I used this product for 6 nights in a row and still had quite a bit left over in the 1oz tube. A quarter-sized dollop was more than enough to create a good amount of foam to cover my entire face. Once rinsed off, my skin did not feel tight or dry (but it also did not feel moisturized), and a quick swipe of toner on a cotton pad proved that any traces of BB cream I had on during the day had been removed. 

Verdict: the Clinique version does the job, but the smell of the product is not enticing and I find the Aveeno foaming face wash (a full bottle of which is sitting there waiting for me) is more moisturizing and equally effective at removing makeup at the end of the day. Where a drugstore brand yields comparable (or better) results versus a department store brand, the drugstore brand will always win in my books. Because of this, I will not be purchasing this product. ~6.7 fl oz, US$16.50

As I accidentally left the tube in my last hotel bathroom, I couldn't take a picture of the sample size I had, so here's a pic of the full-size version from the Clinique website.

 

the body shop vitamin e body lotion

I used to really like The Body Shop products when I was younger (their lip balms and pink grapefruit soap were favorites for many years). However, with the entrance of Fruits & Passion and Bath & Body Works, as well as the abundance of drugstore varieties available, I haven’t made a purchase from The Body Shop for over 10 years.

This was part of a gift I received from my bridal shower. I’ve been using it on and off, but since assigning myself my new year’s task, I’ve stepped up my usage so I can finish off the bottle and move on to something new. This product contains vitamin E derived from wheat germ oil. It has a light, pleasant scent that reminds me of Keri Lotion. The texture is similar to what I associate with most lotions (i.e., runny). Both the consistency and pink colour remind me of calamine lotion.

I’ve been generously applying this product post-shower each morning. The thin consistency makes it easy to apply and quick to absorb, which is great for my speedy morning routine. However, the same characteristics probably limit the product’s endurance – it’s definitely not a 24-hour moisturizer.

Verdict: Given the fact that I’m trying to finish the bottle off as soon as possible, you have probably figured out that I don’t intend to repurchase this product. Other than the brand, there really just isn’t anything special about it. ~250ml bottle, C$16

 

c.o. bigelow lemon & pomegranate lip cream

Up until about 8 years ago (my math may be a little off, but this should be close), C.O. Bigelow was a brand I only read about in U.S. magazines. However, after the likes of Bath & Body Works and Sephora started making their way into Canada, it became a lot easier to get my hands on these products.

The lemon & pomegranate lip cream was something I picked up at Bath & Body Works last year - there was a 3/$10 sale going on and because it was such a good deal (these usually retail for C$7.50 a pop), I picked out 3 different lip products. I didn't get around to opening this one up until pretty recently, and once I did, I kind of wish I hadn't!

The lip cream is clear, but thick and goopy. The smell reminds me of either grapefruit or wine gums (or maybe grapefruit wine gums) - not like lemonade and definitely not like the pomegranates I've had to date. The lip cream does have some kind of flavouring, as I can detect a hint of sweetness whenever I accidentally ingest some of it. Because of the tube applicator and the consistency of the product, I found it difficult to put on a thin layer, which is a shame, because a thin layer is all anyone really needs. Once on, the thickness, or creaminess, of the product can definitely be felt...until you take a sip of water or a bite food. Then, you can expect at least half of the lip cream you had on to come right off. Because of this, I felt the moisturizing effects of this product were somewhat limited.

Verdict: the thick consistency, lack of staying power and lack of moisturizing benefits mean I will not be purchasing this product again, no matter how much of a deal it is! ~14g/0.5oz, C$7.50

proclaim cocoa & shea butter hand & body lotion

I received this product twice (in different months) back when I was a Luxe Box subscriber – you can see why I didn’t bother to continue my subscription with those guys. I had never heard of this brand before and after doing a little bit of digging around on the Internet, it seems like this brand is more geared towards those of African descent. 

The tubes I received were full-sized products. The lotion is white and thick – I think calling it a cream would be more accurate than a lotion. The product smells like cocoa butter, which typically isn’t my favorite when it comes to scents, but the smell dissipates shortly after application. The remarkable thing about this product is that it absorbs very quickly. Super quick. I can slather some on my hands, leave it for 5 minutes, and then almost feel like I have to apply it again. Because of this, I didn’t find the lotion particularly moisturizing. On a whim, I also applied some to my face for a week. Although it didn’t make my skin break out (thankfully), there were no noticeable differences.

I’m not sure if this product can actually be purchased in Canada. I’ve seen it available online through some US-based sites, such as Sally Hansen. For those of you who want a fast-absorbing moisturizer but is not looking for heavy moisture, this would probably be a great (and economical) product for you.

Verdict: since I’m not crazy about the cocoa butter scent and it does not appear to be widely available in Canada, I would not purchase this product again. ~3oz tube, US$1.69

clinique super city block oil-free daily face protector broad spectrum spf 40

I have a pasty (I prefer “fair”) complexion and am pretty bound and determined to keep it that way, although beach volleyball in the summer typically wreaks havoc in the form of freckles and other sun spots. I’ve tried a number of facial sunscreens in the past and the common complaints typically include the following:

• Felt greasy
• Made my face shiny
• Did not work well with makeup when applied under (i.e., sunscreen before makeup)
• Caused breakouts

2 summers ago, I started using an oil-free version from Clinique daily. The creamy, tinted formula (which goes on clear) blended easily into my skin, absorbed reasonably quickly, and did not make my face one giant oil slick. On the negative side, it still didn’t play nicely with my tinted moisturizer (or BB cream), as attempts to blend the moisturizer on top of the sunscreen would result in one or both products flaking off in eraser-shaving fashion. Where I really try to minimize the blending action, the flaking is not as bad. However, I can see this being more of an issue when the sunscreen is used with heavier makeup such as foundation or concealer.

Despite the blending faux-pas (which I’m not sure I can avoid with any other product), I’m pretty happy with the texture and high SPF of the product. Once I’m through with this tube, I’ll likely experiment with a couple others, but this is one I would definitely go back to in the future.

Verdict: stronger sun protection without the greasy mess is a huge plus for me – I would purchase this product again. ~40ml tube, US$21

 

maybelline dream fresh bb 8-in-1 beauty balm spf 30

Over the past couple years, a bunch of BB (“beauty balm”) creams have sprung up across North America. It seemed like all of a sudden, magazines were full of advertisements for BB creams from any and all brands. For those of you who don’t know what BB creams are, this page will provide you with a detailed explanation of the product origin and benefits.

So far, I have tried a couple brands and based on my experience, I feel like they have only slapped a new name on tinted moisturizers before pushing it out to the masses. Other than light coverage and sun protection (that may or may not actually be there – I’m not exactly slathering this stuff on my face), I have not seen any additional benefits to my skin. After digging around on the Internet, I read that not all BB creams were created equally – apparently the North American versions were not as beneficial as the original formulations from Korea and other parts of Asia. However, having actually tried a brand from Korea and not seeing any incremental benefits, I am a little skeptical of these claims. In addition, my makeup artist from a friend’s wedding actually warned me about ensuring I remove every trace of BB cream from my face before going to sleep, as some of the Asia exports do not allow skin to breathe easily. A scary thought, especially when you are supposed to cover your face with the cream…

Out of the two I’ve tried, the Maybelline version is the better one. I purchased a tube of this product in the light shade. The consistency is like lotion, leaning towards the runny side. However, this allows the product to smooth on easily and is very blendable. The BB cream provides light coverage, which is just about right for my freckles. However, scars and other imperfections will require concealer or something more heavy duty underneath to do the job. I found that 1-2 pea sized drops were enough to cover my face – this is not a lot, which is why I have my doubts about the effectiveness of the SPF 30 it contains. I would suggest putting on some sunscreen underneath before applying the BB cream. This product also did not feel very moisturizing – dry patches would still appear later in the day when used without any other moisturizer. On the plus side, the product dries/absorbs to an almost-matte finish.

I find it a bit hard to comment on the staying power of this product – the coverage is so light that it’s not very detectable when I apply it in the morning, never mind after hours of wear. However, cotton pads used to remove the product at night still contain quite a bit of the BB cream’s tint, so based on this, I assume the product stays on quite well.

Verdict: Based on the reasonable price and the ease of applying this product, I would purchase this one again. However, I would use it as any other tinted moisturizer - this product is definitely not a miracle worker. ~30ml tube, C$9.99

vidi vici brilliant bb cream

My sister (also a bit of a beauty junkie) and I decided we both wanted to give the Asian BB creams a try, so we purchased a tube of Vidi Vici’sBB cream to share. I had never heard of this Korean export before, but my sister had seen it in advertisements. Its presence in Canada is relatively new and the products are not yet widely available. The BB cream was purchased from a Vidi Vici boutique in Markham (First Markham Place). Based on the price of the various products, I would compare this brand to Shiseido or Estee Lauder – definitely a department store brand, but not quite a luxury product.

I squeezed some of the BB cream out from the original tube and gave the rest to my sister, so the container shown in the photo is not part of the original packaging (the box, however, is). The consistency is similar to the Maybelline version – on the runny side, closer to a lotion. When I first opened the tube, I was a little blown away by the strong scent of the cream – a mix of flowers and baby powder – I found it a little nauseating. This product only comes in one shade, which is lighter than the Maybelline version I purchased. It must have been intended for people with porcelain skin – even on my fair skin tone, this product required a lot of blending to make sure I didn’t end up with lighter-colored splotches all over my face. While this BB cream provides a bit more coverage for freckles and other skin discolorations, I feel it also did a great job (note the sarcasm here) of highlighting every bump and dry patch of skin on my face. While my skin looked good from a distance, the same could not be said from up close. The product doesn’t feel heavy, but somehow I still ended up with the feeling that I had makeup caked on my face – not pleasant. It does provide a matte finish, but part of that is likely due to the fact that it is not very moisturizing (I typically apply a bit of moisturizer or use my Evian facial spray later in the day).

Verdict: I did not like this product mainly due to the unnatural finish and strong scent. I was a little disappointed in my first experience with Korean BB creams and hope that the next one I try will deliver a better performance. I would not purchase this one again. ~40ml tube, C$45

crabtree & evelyn rosewater antibacterial moisturizing hand gel

I received this product as a gift for my bridal shower back in 2011 from a friend that loves the Crabtree & Evelyn brand and clearly wanted to get me to try their products. I thought that this product would be great for keeping at my desk at work because of the antibacterial properties – who knows how many germs or other bacteria have accumulated on my keyboard, mouse, and miscellaneous files?

I was very disappointed in this product for a number of reasons. The texture of the product is greasy and takes quite a bit of rubbing in to absorb. Half a pump is probably enough for both hands. Just to experiment, I pumped a pea-sized drop onto a scrap of tissue paper to see what would happen and the gel just sat there – didn’t absorb into the tissue paper at all. Although I may be biased on this point because I’m not a fan of how rosewater smells, the scent of this product just didn’t appeal to me, and it lingered for quite some time after application. I’m also a little suspicious of the “antibacterial” properties of this product. Unlike most drugstore antibacterial gels, this one did not come with an expiry date so I’m not sure if this product actually does much in the way of sanitizing.

Verdict: Unappealing smell, greasy texture, questionable antibacterial properties – I definitely will not be purchasing this product again. ~250ml, US$15

*Freebie Alert* - even though I’m not a fan of this product, there may be some of you out there that wouldn’t mind giving it a try. If you live in the Calgary area and would like to arrange to pick this up from me at some point, leave a comment to connect. 

sephora goodies

At last, my much-anticipated Sephora purchase has arrived. I initially placed the order online (my first online purchase from Sephora) back on December 21, but due to the holidays, the delivery time took a bit longer than expected. This is somewhat understandable, as the products ship from the U.S. and need to clear customs before being sent on through Canada Post. I liked ordering online because the products I purchased were accompanied by samples – once I hit the minimum to receive free shipping, the samples were definitely a bonus over purchasing the products in store. In addition, there were a few things in the order that were not available in the Canadian stores.

Here’s what I purchased:

• Ole Henriksen 3 Little Holiday Wonders (serum, night gel, creme) x 2 
• Dr. Jart BB The Original BB Set  (4 mini BB creams)
  
• Dr. Jart Water Fuse Smart Gel BB Cream
• NUDE Skincare ProGenius Treatment Oil (sample) 
• Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture (sample) 
• Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking (sample) – this was actually supposed to be the Tarte Maracuja oil, but it looks like I received a last minute substitution
• First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser (sample)

The sample sizes are not the “deluxe” samples that typically come in beauty boxes and will likely be finished after one use, so I may not end up reviewing these as it’s pretty hard to provide an objective review from a single use. However, reviews for the purchased products will most definitely follow in the coming months.

I'm pretty excited to try out these products, since the Dr. Jart BB creams and Ole Henriksen products received very excellent reviews on Sephora. In addition, I noticed that the Dr. Jart Smart Gel BB Cream is no longer available for purchase on the site, so I'm glad I snapped it up back in December.

 

This adds quite a bit to the stash that I am aiming to mostly or completely get rid of by the end of this year - looks like I’ve definitely got my work cut out for me...

clinique all about eyes serum de-puffing eye massage

I received a sample size of this product in a Clinique gift with purchase. I had seen a whole bunch of these "rollerball" eye products become released over the last couple years by various drugstore and department store brands, but had not tried one yet.

According to the website, this product is supposed to massage away bags, refresh and hydrate puffy eyes, and brighten the eye area immediately and over time. I've been using this product on and off over the past couple months for the really rough mornings (which seem to be increasing in frequency lately). The serum glides on smoothly due to the metallic rollerball, and I do love the refreshing feeling of the cold metal on my face in the morning. Although this product does take care of undereye bags, I have not noticed any brightening effect on my eyes - the dark circles still remain. Caffeine-sensitive folks should note that this product does contain some amounts of caffeine.

Verdict: I like the serum and the applicator, but I would probably want to try out one or two of the drugstore versions before buying a full-sized one from Clinique. ~full-size version (volume not specified), US$28

cake it's a slice supreme body mousse

I received this mini (66ml) bottle from my sister as part of a gift pack from Cake. When I first opened the bottle up and took a whiff, I knew I wasn't going to enjoy it because of the scent. This product smells (and therefore, once applied, will make you smell) like an orange Creamsicle. If you've read my earlier posts, I'm generally not a fan of food-scented beauty products, which pretty much includes Cake's entire product line.

As I don't like wasting products, I'm determined to use up this product anyway, as fast as I can. I have discovered the best way to do this is to slather this on generously on my lower body. I have been doing this for the past few nights and have been going to bed smelling like a Creamsicle. At this rate, I think I'm on pace to finish up the bottle within a week from now.

This product contains vitamin E, mango butter, and an assortment of oils (aloe vera, macadamia, coconut). As it's chock full of moisturizing goodies, this product leaves my legs well moisturized into the morning hours. It has a fairly typical body lotion consistency and absorbs quickly into skin. However, for me, the strong orange-vanilla (which I can still faintly detect in the morning) is more than enough to deter any future purchases.

Verdict: a good moisturizer for those of you who don't mind smelling like an orange frozen treat. I, however, will not be purchasing this again. ~250ml / 8 fl oz, $C22

fekkai brilliant glossing shampoo and conditioner

I can’t remember exactly how I came to acquire this sample but I think it may have been passed on from my sister. The labels for both the shampoo and conditioner list olive oil. From past experience, any hair product that contains enough of any oil worth mentioning has not worked for me, as my hair is too fine to hold up to the oils and typically just ends up looking greasy. However, given that the sample size only contained about 3 uses, I figured I would give it a try.

Both the shampoo and conditioner have a pleasant, fruity smell. Unlike other oil-containing shampoos and conditioners I have tried, these seemed to rinse out clean. Although I typically don’t blow dry my hair after washing to avoid heat damage, I wanted to see how the shampoo and conditioner would hold up after blow drying vs. air drying.

Days 1 and 2, blow-dried: my hair seemed to take a bit longer to blow dry than usual. There was plenty of movement in my hair for most of the day, but it started to feel a bit greasy, especially on day 2. 

Day 3, air-dried: probably because of the oils having accumulated in my hair, as well as the fact that it was left to air dry, my bangs refused to cooperate in the morning and my hair felt slick during the day.

As for the “glossing” properties of the shampoo and conditioner, I didn’t notice much of a difference. However, as my hair is stick-straight, it reflects light very well so I typically don’t have an issue with the shine factor. Because of the oils in these products, I could understand how coarser or curly hair may benefit from a bit of gloss – oil will pretty much make anything shiny!

Verdict: Both the shampoo and conditioner sat heavy in my hair, weighing it down and giving the appearance of the greasies even after being washed. I won’t be purchasing this set in the future. ~Shampoo and conditioner, 8oz, US$25 each

shu uemura gloss unlimited

This trial-sized lip gloss is one of the samples that my sister passed on to me. I think this is the first Shu Uemura product I have ever used. This brand originated from Japan and has quite a following – apparently the eyelash curler is something of a cult favourite.

The lip gloss looks to be pretty standard - a tube with a sponge-tip applicator (makes application nice and easy to control). This particular shade (wine) is a sparkly rose-pink in the tube but is not sparkly once on, which is great, as I personally think glitter and sparkles are a bit too grade school for me. I think the resulting colour is quite pretty and natural looking. The texture is creamy without feeling too heavy or sticky. The gloss smells sweet – reminds me of wine gums – and has no discernable taste. The only downside to this product was that the colour didn’t last very long – after a small cup of coffee at the car dealership while waiting for my oil change, the colour and sheen were both gone.

Verdict: While I like the colour of the product, I think the same results can be achieved with a drugstore brand lip gloss from Cover Girl or even Bonne Bell, so to me, it’s not worth paying the premium to repurchase.~full-size tube (specs unknown), US$23

skoah pep talk body lotion

If you’ve been reading my earlier postings, you may be thinking “another Skoah review?” One of the perks of going in for a Skoah facial is that you’re supposed to find a sample of one of their products waiting for you in the treatment room to take home. At the Kensington location which I usually go to, they’re not very consistent about leaving out the samples, but on my last visit, I did find a bottle of their pep talk body lotion sitting on my pillow.

This lotion contains natural coconut esters, sea kelp algae and other plant extracts to sooth and hydrate skin. It has a creamy white texture and a pleasantly mind peppermint scent. I tried this on my hands and did not feel the tingling sensation that the product promised. However, when I applied a more generous quantity to my feet, my toes definitely felt a little tingly afterward. As the description on the website promised, the lotion absorbed quickly and did not leave a greasy finish.

Verdict: overall, it’s a solid product, but as I would prefer to only use this product on my feet, I probably won’t purchase this product separately, but instead, make do with the other moisturizers in my arsenal. ~240ml / 8fl oz, C$15

biotherm blue therapy serum

My sister received this sample (among others) from Shoppers Drug Mart along with a purchase last year and promptly passed it on to me since she’s been amassing quite the collection of product samples. After leaving it in my cosmetics bag for several months, I decided to finally give it a try.

One of the issues I had with this serum sample was the size – it’s a tiny 1 ml packet that resulted in just one use. Even if I had applied the product sparingly and stretched it out to two uses, that still would not have been enough to determine whether or not the product is effective and if it’s right for me.

The texture of the product was runny – it went on smoothly and seemed to absorb quickly. However, the serum had a very masculine smell to it – like men’s cologne. The scent was fairly strong, as I could still noticeably detect it about half an hour after first applying. The next morning, my skin seemed fine – no more or less moisturized than it had been the day before.

Seeing as I didn’t really have enough information to formulate much of an opinion on the product, I went online to see what others had to say. On the Biotherm website, there were a couple reviews posted and both were positive. The reviewers said the product was great for diminishing acne scars and dark spots. People also seemed to like the esthetics of the bottle (which I think is silly – how a bottle looks has no impact on how the product within works and really should not factor into the buying decision). One of the reviewers commented on the scent as well, but unlike me, she didn’t seem to mind it.

Verdict: Miracle product or not, the smell of this product is so off-putting the potential benefits are just not worth it to me. No thanks! ~30ml, C$65
 

skoah klearity mask

Over the past few weeks, a number of pesky blemishes have appeared along my forehead along my hairline. I was a little perplexed because nothing in my primping routine had changed – my shampoos, conditioner, moisturizer, makeup, and sunscreen were the same ones I had been using regularly. I’ve pretty much chalked it up to pregnancy hormones but still wanted to do something about it. On my most recent visit to Skoah, my “trainer” (yes, that’s what they call them) suggested I try leaving their klearity mask on overnight. As I mentioned in my earlier post, Skoah is great about letting you try out a product before buying, so I was given a small but generous sample size to take home.

I’ve been applying a thin layer of this mask on my forehead every night before bed, underneath a layer of face kream or hydradew mask. After 5 days, the congestion has noticeably improved – even though there is still a smattering of blemishes, they are smaller and are not screaming red.Needless to say, I’m pretty impressed, as 2 weeks of using the Neutrogena spot treatment beforehand had not yielded any results. I’m going to keep using the sample to see how or if it all eventually clears up.

The klearity mask contains Skoah’s “blemish blaster blend”,which is supposed to decrease sebum production, fight breakouts and control bacterial growth. A look at the ingredients listing shows a bunch of ingredients that I’m not familiar with, but hey, if it works, I’m not going to question anything.

Verdict: I’m quite happy with this product so far, but since breakouts are a bit of a rarity for me (knock on wood), I think it will take too long for me to get through the entire 2oz tub, so I probably won’t purchase this product unless my skin takes a turn for the worse. ~60g / 2oz, C$40

cake satin sugar glistening dry shampoo & body powder

I went through a dry shampoo phase where I tried out 4-5 different kinds of dry shampoo sprays/powders in an effort to avoid washing my hair daily to preserve my already-thin hair. The best one that I’ve come across to date is the powder version by cake. Even though I have pretty much given up on trying to find the “perfect”dry shampoo, I do use this one once in awhile when I rush out of the house without having washed my hair.

The powder comes in two shares – light and dark. I chose the dark tone for my dark brown hair. As per the directions on the tube, you’re supposed to shake some out, work it through your hair with your fingers, leave on for a couple minutes, then brush out. It is really important to make sure you don’t just drop a clump of the powder in your hair, especially if you have light-coloured skin, as the powder really shows up against anything that is lighter in colour. On the plus side, the powder does blend into my hair colour, unlike other dry shampoos that start off white but turn dark hair into a grayish mess. The application is a bit of a messy job, so I would recommend doing so over a sink.

Once in, the powder leaves a cake batter scent that tends to linger. I’m generally not a fan of smelling like any type of food, especially when I’m out in public, but I don’t believe the smell is overpowering enough to affect other people in the vicinity, unless they happen to be standing right next to me. In terms of staying power, I usually squeeze a few hours of good hair time before my hair starts to look greasy, flat and lifeless again. This is already miles ahead of most of the other dry shampoos I have tried in the past. Because of its limited life, I typically only use this product if I need to go out in the morning and know I won’t have time to wash my hair until later in the day.

This product also comes in spray form, but since I have had issues with the nozzle clogging up in other dry shampoo aerosols, I won't be trying it out.

Verdict: does the job for a few hours in terms of fighting bed head and the greasies.  I would purchase this again when the container I have finally runs out. ~50g / 1.7oz, C$20

revlon balm stain

I’ve had my eye on these balm sticks for awhile but had refrained from purchasing mainly because I had a whack of other lip products to get through. These were on sale at London Drugs for Boxing Week so I went and picked up in crush to try out. There weren’t any testers in store – based on the exterior of the pencil, I had expected a berry colour with blue undertones. It ended up more of a wine colour with brownish-undertones, which wasn’t great for making my teeth look any whiter. Thankfully, the colour wasn’t too overwhelming. While the colour felt moisturizing as it was being applied, the “balm” part of this product did not last, as I found myself putting on lip balm later on in the morning.

I’ve read some other reviews that swear the colour will last for 6+ hours. However, after a round of morning coffee and sips of water at my desk, the colour had more or less disappeared about 3.5 hours after it was first applied. I actually found myself to be somewhat relieved – if a lip colour actually stained my lips for a full day, I would be concerned about not being able to take it off properly at night.

Verdict: not bad for the price point, but would probably sacrifice a bit on colour and choose something more moisturizing next time. ~2.7g stick, C$8.99, available at various retailers.

 

new year, new...task?

Hope everyone had a great holiday season. Even though I worked during the non-stat holiday days between Christmas and New Year's, I still feel like I had a pretty decent break.

While my husband was occupying himself with setting up the TV stand for his new toy last night, I decided to go through my cosmetic/skincare collection. When I had everything out on the bed, I was aghast. Yes, folks, that truly is the appropriate word for how I felt when I saw the pile of unused/partially used goods lying there (I'm too ashamed to post a picture of the mess). After a bit of purging, I was still left with what probably amounted to a year's worth of beauty products. I'm kind of thinking my brand new subscription to Beauty Box 5 was a little premature...

I'm usually not one for making New Year's resolutions or setting goals, but thought I would set myself one simple task to clear this mess: get through my beauty stash by the end of the year! This is going to mean using up all of what I currently have, and trying to use up most of what I will inevitably acquire throughout 2013 (including my pre-Christmas order of Ole Henriksen products from Sephora, which has yet to arrive in my mailbox). To get through this, I'm really going to have to limit any new purchases and commit to using up what I have. It will be interesting to see how well I do this time in 2014. On a positive note, I will have lots of products to review over the coming months. Wish me luck!

benefit posie tint

This is a product that I received months ago back when I was a Luxe Box subscriber, but something that I didn’t start using until recently. As a teenager, I loved Benefit products – not so much because I could afford them (I made exactly one purchase – Dr. Feel Good balm, which didn’t quite live up to expectations) – but because I loved poring through their colourful and often witty catalogs.

I never tried the much-heralded benetint, but was intrigued to try out this version of the lip and cheek stain. The colour in the tube was almost a flamingo pink with a dash of orange thrown in, but once on, the colour was a sheer wash of pink that looked fairly natural. As with other tints, if you don’t work quickly, you may end up with an unwanted pink splotch on your face.

I typically don’t like to layer on a lot of blush (my assistant thought I was flushed from fever or some other illness when I accidentally put on a little too much one day), but felt like more was required to be applied in order for the colour to last. The fact that the stain didn’t wash off my fingers easily after application was another downside.

Verdict: a solid product that’s easy to use and has some staying power, but as I personally don’t like working with stains, I will not be purchasing this product. ~12.5 mL 0.42 US fl. oz, US$29

cake velveteen hand cremes

My sisters-in-law gave me a gift set containing 3 hand creams by cake. Each 100ml tube was a different scent:

milk made: white, contains whole milk and marshmallow extract, smells like marshmallow fluff
vanilla snow woman: tan colour that goes on clear, contains the same ingredients as milk made, smells a little bit of gingerbread spices and vanilla.
un-sweet: white, meant for extra sensitive skin.

 

I keep the milk made tube on my desk at work and slather some on whenever it occurs to me to do so. The formulation is not overly thick and absorbs quickly. The scent tends to linger for a few minutes afterward. I’m still undecided as to whether I actually like the marshmallow fluff or other edible scents, but as the smell dissipates after awhile, it’s not a deal breaker. The moisturizing benefits typically last for a few hours, or until my next hand wash.

I’m not very fussy when it comes to things like body lotion or hand cream. In fact, I typically gravitate towards the Aveeno lineup
as it worked wonders on my skin when I was an eczema-ridden pre-teen. While the sweet scents and cute packaging of the cake creams have a certain appeal around the holidays, it’s not something I would be tempted to purchase during the rest of the year.

Verdict: nothing special, so I will not buy again when I’m through with these three. ~each lotion contains 3.4 fl oz (100ml) of product and retails separately for C$18

eos lip balm

eos (stands for “evolution of smooth”) products have been available in Canada for the past year or so. Back when I first started to notice the colourful ads in magazines, eos lipbalms were only available in a few places (Shoppers Drug Mart, well.ca, Indigo). Now, they seem to have hit the mainstream – I’ve seen the products anywhere from Wal-Mart to Costco.

My husband first got me the eos lip balm in summer fruit (reminds me of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum) as a stocking stuffer last Christmas. Although I didn’t particularly like the texture at first – it felt waxy – it grew on me, and here’s why:

- The waxy texture provided protection and moisture,which made it perfect for Calgary winter weather (translation: cold and dry)
- When left in my purse to be used when I was out, one container lasted for over 4 months
- It contains the benefits of a lip balm container but without the messy (and bacteria-breeding) fingertip application
- The round, chubby shape of the container made it a cinch to find in my purse

I’ve since moved on to try the honeysuckle honeydew flavor (a little more artificial – not one I would buy again) and it provided similar benefits. I’ve been eyeing the multi-pack available at Costco and found one in my stocking this year (pictured). eos also carries a limited line of other products (shave cream, hand lotion, body lotion), which I haven’t had the opportunity to try yet.

Verdict: will definitely buy again (and again) – their lip balms definitely beat Chapstick. ~C$3.99-4.99 available at various retailers

beauty box 5

Ok - given that I did not have a great experience with Luxebox after the initial few months, I thought I was done with beauty box subscriptions. However, after reading a couple reviews on recent BB5 boxes and being caught in a moment of weakness, I signed on for a year of Beauty Box 5. Yes, all this after I gave my sister heck for signing up for Top Box after unloading a bunch of her beauty samples to me on my list trip back to Toronto.

In the end, what made me do it?

Price: $100 for an annual subscription consisting of 12 boxes - you can do the math, but that works out to just over $8 per box, including shipping.

Packaging: BB5 has a slightly more environmentally-friendly approach when it comes to packaging - small cardboard box and a little mesh bag. No fancy ribbons, paper fillers, personalized stickers or any other bells and whistles. I'm in this for the products - not the packaging.

I'm looking forward to receiving my first box over the next month or so - watch out for additional reviews!

skoah facials & select products

Ever since I moved to this city, I have been searching far and wide for a place to get a good facial. I had started going to a day spa earlier on, but for the prices they charged, it seemed a waste to just pop in and out for a facial, which is what I typically do. After trying Skoah out a couple times, I decided to invest in their fitskin membership – 8 facialiscious facials to be used in a year for $500. At $62.50 a pop, it is $37.50 less than purchasing each separately. The fitskin membership also comes with a 10% discount on Skoah products. Besides the price, I thought investing in the membership would force me to schedule regular appointments instead of the haphazard one every few months. I’ve been on track for a facial roughly every 6 weeks since joining, so that strategy appears to be working.

The Facial:
Based on the 3 times that I have gone so far, the facialiscious typically contains the following:

- Cleansing and toning
- Mask #1 (for me, typically the AHA mask)
- Foot/calf massage
- Extractions - from reading other reviews, there have been complaints that Skoah does not do enough extractions – I suppose people feel like they’re getting their money’s worth more so when they’re being poked and prodded at. I’m fortunately to have
relatively clear skin so the gentle extractions at Skoah are typically sufficient.
- Mask #2
- Arm/hand massage
- Cleansing and toning, round 2
- Serum, moisturizer, eye cream and lip balm application

Time allotted for the entire treatment is 90 minutes but it usually ends up being closer to 80, plus 5-10 minutes downtime for the estheticians while the masks are at work. Although I miss going to the Chinese day spas in Toronto, where the estheticians never leave the room and you’re being worked on the entire time, the price point at Skoah (and the fact that it has multiple locations) is very reasonable. Although there is “no pressure” to buy their products, one particular esthetician I’ve had twice at the Kensington location definitely laid on the pressure, to which I’ve had to say a firm “no”. The other two that I’ve had at the same location were perfectly ok with not making a sale.

Although I’m trying to use up my fitskin membership, Skoah typically has holiday-themed facials throughout the year. These are typically in the $60-80 range but are shorter in duration.

Verdict: good place to go for a quick but relaxing facial. I’m not sure I’ll be able to commit to the full fitskin membership for another year, but would definitely pop in once in awhile.

The Products:

Occasional high-pressure sales tactics aside, I have purchased a few of their products to try out. Skoah offers a solid return policy - 60 day exchange or refund with receipt (cosmetics and discounted products excepted). I haven’t had to return any of the products I’ve purchased yet.

face kream
This is a cream-based moisturizer containing olive oil, shea butter, sea kelp algae and hyaluronic acid. It has a pleasant scent, doesn’t feel greasy when applied, and a little goes a long way. I was worried the cream might be too heavy for my skin, but it seems to be working for me in spite of the cold, dry climate here.

Verdict: definitely a keeper for the winter months! ~2oz, C$40

hydradew mask
This is a gel-based mask containing glycosaminoglycanes (from vegetable skins!), sea kelp algae and other plant extracts. Unlike most other masks, which are meant to be left on and rinsed off shortly after, this can be left on skin overnight and removed in the morning. This stuff smells good enough to eat – just like a juicy honeydew melon. Just opening the jar and taking a whiff makes me happy. I don’t think it’s as moisturizing as it claims to be – after slathering on a thin layer and letting it soak in, my skin felt a little bit tight, so I still had to apply some face kream afterward. This mask does absorb into the skin quite quickly, so I can apply right before bedtime without worrying about leaving half of it on my pillow.

Verdict: would be a keeper if it felt a bit more moisturizing. I will use up what’s left in my jar, but will not purchase again. ~2oz, C$40

glow tonik
Skoah does not believe in manual (granular) exfoliants, preferring to use AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) instead. The glo tonik contains AHA and is meant to be used 2-3 times a week with either a cotton pad (for more thorough toning) or spritzed directly onto the face (haven’t tried this yet). I was advised to use this stuff on my T-zone everyday (which I have not been doing). The first few times I used it after purchase, there was a slight tingling feeling, which is supposed to indicate the AHA is working. However, that disappeared after the first week of usage. I don’t think it exfoliates as well as it claims to, as I still wake up in the morning with a few scaly patches on my nose.

Verdict: the bottle seems to last forever, but as it does not exfoliate as much as it claims to, I will likely be trying something else when I’m done with this one. ~8 fl oz, C$35

face balm
I received a sample of this from one of my facials (Skoah is great about letting you try before you buy). Like the face kream, a little balm goes a long way. However, the smell and texture is a bit too rich for me – I liken it to putting on petroleum jelly. It goes on shiny and takes a noticeably longer amount of time to absorb. I think this product would be great for parched skin or for people that are outdoors for long periods of time, but it’s not for me.

Verdict: I will not be purchasing this product (and likely will not be finishing up my sample either). ~3oz, C$50

the colour workshop eyeshadow palette

Every year around the December holiday season, I see advertisements and displays for these massive cosmetic palettes made by the Colour Workshop available for what appears to be very reasonable prices. I’m a firm believer in “you get what you pay for”, but I have to admit, I’ve always been tempted to pick up one or two of the kits just for the variety of colours. The only thing that’s stopped me so far is the fact that I know very well that I won’t get full use out of the kits – just like I have yet to get full use out of any cosmetic item that I’ve purchased (yes, it’s a bummer to be practical). When I was at Wal-mart a couple weekends ago, I saw a small, 20-colour eyeshadow palette on sale for $5, and finally gave in to temptation and bought it.

My husband commented on how much the palette looked like an iPhone – I hadn’t even noticed because (a) I don’t own an iPhone and (b) I couldn’t care less what a compact looked like – I’m much more drawn to what’s inside anyway.

I tried it out the next day for a holiday dinner. As I pretty much expected, the colours are not highly pigmented  and go on quite sheer. However, this did mean that they were very blendable. In terms of staying power, there wasn’t much: I caught the end of Notting Hill on TV right before we left for the dinner and after shedding the obligatory tears at the happy (or is it sappy?) ending, a reapplication was required. However, after reapplying, the colours stayed put for another 3-4 hours. When applying the shadows as eyeliner instead, the colour seemed to stick around much longer.

Pros: inexpensive, contains a good variety of usable colours, sheer enough so that all the colours can be made work-appropriate; the amount of each is small enough that I think I’ll actually get through the palette this time.

Cons:colours are not highly pigmented (look elsewhere to create a dramatic look), only 4 applicators provided for 16 shades; lid of palette is not attached to the bottom, so even though it is sized like an IPhone, it is definitely not as convenient to carry around and use.

Verdict: While I’m sure I’ll get some good use out of this compact, I don’t think I will be purchasing this or  any other product by The Colour  Workshop) again. ~16-shade palette, $5, available at various retailers