yves rocher goodies

I know I’m meant to be using up, and not adding to, my skincare/makeup collection, but I recently had a moment of weakness, caved, and made a purchase.  Online shopping is dangerous!

It all started with a recent weekend getaway to Banff.  My sister had brought along a little travel-sized bottle of shower gel (Yves Rocher Italian Mandarin) and my husband had commented that he really liked it.  I immediately pounced on that and thought it would be a great Valentine’s Day gift (or a part thereof).  Once I got home, I looked at the company’s online store and couldn’t find this product available.  After sending an email and receiving a response from the company’s customer service, I found out that the product was considered seasonal and was no longer available for sale.

Undeterred, I decided to look for a reasonable substitute and found one in the form of YR’s Florida Orange shower gel.  It received great user reviews for the scent, and since my husband had been drawn to the citrus notes of the Italian mandarin version, I thought this might do.  So I promptly ordered two bottles. And then some other stuff.

My mom used to order quite a bit of stuff from YR back when I was younger.  Occasionally, she would let me pick 1-2 of their discount (i.e., $5 or under) products with her order, so I loved poring over the catalogs that came in the mail.  So yes, YR does hold some nostalgia for me, which is partly to blame for this recent purchase.

Here is what I ended up with:

• Florida orange shower gel x 2
• Ultra matte shine reducing moisturizer
• Fresh mask with lemon zest
• Ovale lifting anti-slackening coutour lift care for eyes - this was a "surprise Valentine gift" that came with my order
• Foil samples of (i) Serum Vegetal wrinkles & radiance dazzling cream; (ii) Pure light light & luminous foundation; and (iii) Sublime skin BB cream in medium.  I likely will not be reviewing these due to the miniscule quantities available for use. 

I’ve been pretty good in exercising restraint when it comes to these kinds of purchases, but hey, we’re all bound to slip up once in awhile.

Product reviews to follow. 

 

dr. jart water fuse gel bb

The dry winter conditions here have been wreaking havoc on my skin and the Physicians Formula bb powder I’ve been using has not been helping, so I decided to break out one of the Dr. Jart versions from my December Sephora purchase and give that a try.

According to the description on the Sephora website:

Inspired by the memory foam mattress, shape-memory polymers have the ability to return from a deformed state to its original shape. The Water Fuse Smart Gel BB retakes shape once applied to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and enlarged pores, while also providing flawless coverage. Infused with powerful antiaging and anti-inflammatory ingredients, it brightens the complexion, corrects skintone, and naturally covers blemishes. 

Upon opening the package, I was surprised to find a little plastic spatula enclosed.  The spatula made a bit more sense after I actually touched the bb gel.   It’s a bit like dipping into a pudding cup – if you’re not careful, you may end up picking up too much of the gel.  I’m a fan of the spatula, as it allows you to pick up just the right amount of the gel, and provided that the spatula is cleaned daily, it’s probably a more hygienic way to preserve the product.

The gel goes on smoothly, without any cooling sensation (which I was half-expecting from a gel product).  Because the coverage is so light, the gel just melts into my skin and does not require excessive blending.  That being said, this product, when used alone, will not cover up any blemishes or other imperfections.  Personally, at a minimum, I want these bb products to at least cover up my freckles – something this product could not deliver.

However, there are some redeeming qualities to the gel.  Given its texture, it’s a cinch to apply in the morning.  It doesn’t dry out my skin like the powder formulation did, nor did it feel cakey.  In terms of lasting power, it stays put for quite some time, especially when a layer or translucent powder is dusted over top (which also helps with oil control). 

Verdict: I liked, but didn’t love this product.  Given that it’s a bit pricier than other versions I’ve tried, I don’t think the incremental benefits over the Maybelline version I’ve used outweigh the additional costs.  Plus, now that there are all these CC (color control) creams hitting the market, I would much rather give those a test run to see how they measure up.  I likely will not be purchasing this product again.  ~1 oz jar, US$36

 

nivea mint & minerals lip balm

I have to admit I’m a bit of a lip balm addict, but not by choice. Part of dealing with the dry conditions in Calgary is trying to stay hydrated by guzzling water and/or other beverages throughout the day, especially when I’m in the office. Unfortunately, due to the limited staying power of most lip balms, I find myself having to reapply many times throughout the day. I shudder at the thought of how much lip balm I’ve consumed over the years.

The one that’s been sitting on my desk for the past few months is the mint and minerals edition from Nivea. I had initially picked up the mint flavor over others as I (incorrectly) presumed that the lip balm would leave that nice, tingly feeling when applied.

 

The balm comes in the standard twist-up Chapstick-like container. It’s blue in the tube, but goes on clear. I appreciate the consistency of the product when applied – it’s not thick and goopy, so one swipe across the upper and lower lips is enough. While the product delivers on the moisturizing end (as long as it stays on my lips, anyway), there is no tingly or other pleasant feeling. It smells like mint toothpaste, which I don’t mind, but the taste of product leaves something to be desired (think minty, but with a hint of petroleum jelly). 

Verdict: I still have a 4-pack of eos lip balms waiting to be opened and those are probably going to last for awhile. However, because I’m not crazy about the scent and the taste, I will not be purchasing this product again. ~4.8g tube, C$3.99

clinique rinse-off foaming cleanser

This came in one of the many Clinique gifts with purchase that I’ve accumulated over the last few years. I was originally saving this handy 1oz tube for an upcoming trip, but I caved and ended up purchasing cleansing wipes for the trip, so I have been using this at night as part of my cleansing routine. 

The back of the tube says that this face wash may be used with Clinique’s 3-step skincare products. I think this is meant to be used in place of, and not along with, the Step 1 liquid or solid facial soap. 

The face wash has a light, foamy texture, is light pink in colour, and has a pleasant scent. When it comes into contact with a bit of water or damp skin, it foams up and can easily be spread across the face. I like that this product washes off “clean” without leaving skin feeling tight and dry – this way, I always know when I’ve rinsed every last bit off my face. The face wash does a good job on makeup, but like many other face washes, it’s not quite enough to remove eye makeup. I would recommend that a separate eye makeup remover be used to take off any eyeliner or mascara before dipping into the face wash. 

Verdict: this is a close (albeit slightly more expensive) comparison to the Aveeno version that I’ve been using. I do like that “clean” feeling after rinsing, but I feel the Aveeno version is probably just a tad more moisturizing, which is something I need, especially in the winter time.  Drugstore brand wins again! ~5oz tube, US$19.50

aveeno positively radiant makeup removing cleanser

Ever since a bout of eczema when I was a kid (when the doctor recommended that I start using Aveeno body wash), I’ve been a fan of Aveeno products. There have been a couple disappointments (Aveeno Fresh Essentials Nourishing Moisturizer, which had a strong, artificial floral scent, and a shampoo from their haircare line that just didn’t do anything for me), but overall, their original body washes and lotions have really worked for me.

I started using the foaming face wash about a year ago and haven’t really stopped since. The bottle size is generous and lasts for a long time. The face wash is stored in liquid form but comes out as foam through the pump dispenser – I usually go with 2 full pumps for my face. The face wash feels good on the skin, does not sting my eyes, and rinses off easily. My only complaint here would be that it leaves some moisture behind (which is a good thing), but it makes it a little difficult to know for sure if all of it’s been rinsed off. A couple splashes of water and a quick wipe with the face cloth typically takes care of that.

This product does not dry my skin out and does a pretty good job removing makeup (eyeliner/mascara excepted – those should be removed separately prior to using the face wash). It has a mild scent that doesn’t overpower or linger, and overall, it leaves my skin feeling good. I haven’t had too many skin problems in the past and I think this product will definitely help maintain that. 

Verdict: great for my dry skin, great for removing makeup – I’ve repurchased this before and will happily do it again in the future. ~162ml bottle, C$13.49

beauty box 5 - delayed for february

I received the following in my inbox yesterday:

February Beauty Box Delayed Hey Beauties, We want to inform you that this month’s shipping will be delayed by a few days.  We’ve been listening to your feedback in wanting larger samples which allows you to truly get a sense if the product is right for you…and enjoy it longer.  February’s beauty box gives you just that—BIGGER samples!  Unfortunately, the shipping method we use to get you your goodies has a limit to the weight of the box and we’ve surpassed it.  In order to get you this special box, which comes with a gift from us in celebration of our one year anniversary, we’ve had to change shipping services.  You can expect to receive your shipment confirmation in the next business week.  We are truly sorry for the inconvenience, but we are certain you will not be disappointed.   If you have any questions or concerns, please contact info@beautybox5.com for assistance. Much love, BB5

My thoughts: a week in the grand scheme of things is not a long time to wait, so that's fine.  While I'm psyched that BB5 will be providing bigger samples (good value for money), it means it'll likely take longer for me to get through the product samples.  Since BB5 has now raised my expectations for the February box with this message, I'm hoping the "special" box will really deliver!

c.o. bigelow lavender salve

I picked this up a year or so ago as part of a 3/$10 deal from Bath & Body Works. I had previously tried C.O. Bigelow’s rose salve, which I did not like (mostly due to the heavy rose scent), so I was hoping a different scent would be an improvement since this product seemed to be a hit in magazines as a multi-purpose salve.

Like the rose salve, this one comes in a small round tin. The size of the tin is pretty deceiving though, as this staff seems to last forever. I guess the product longevity really depends on how it’s used – I typically slather it on my lips at night and once in awhile also use it on cuticles. I imagine if this was used on rough heels and elbows as well, the salve would disappear at a faster rate.

The salve is a light purple shade in the tin, but applies clear. It has a thick, petroleum jelly-like consistency that probably accounts for its staying power. It has a light lavender scent that I typically don’t notice a few minutes after application. As this is the last thing I apply before I go to bed, I don’t end up ingesting much of the product, so to me, it does not really have a discernible taste.

According to C.O. Bigelow’s website, the salve may be used as needed on lips, face, cuticles, elbows, knees, or other chapped or dry skin patches. The thought of putting something so heavy on my face is a little scary, so I have yet to try that. 

Verdict: I like that the little tin of salve lasts for a long time and the salve is great in the winter for my lips. I would consider repurchasing this again, but will probably hold off on doing so until next winter so I can use the rest of the year to dip into my eos lip balm stash. ~22g tin, C$7.50

clinique clarifying lotion 2

Another remnant of my Clinique gifts with purchase – I actually have 2 of these that I need to get through.

This product is part of Clinique’s 3-step skincare system. The "2" in the name is intended for dry/combination skin.  I have never used the full 3-step system at once, but because of these sample sizes, I have now tried all of them (liquid facial soap, this clarifying lotion, and the dramatically different moisturizer) at one point or another.

Right off the bat, I didn’t think I was going to like this clarifying lotion at all. As soon as I opened the bottle, a very strong, alcoholic smell hit me, and I was immediately concerned that maybe I shouldn’t be using it – after all, my skin is already dry (in some areas) due to our lovely Calgary winter conditions – applying anything alcoholic just did not seem like a good idea.

Nevertheless, I gave the clarifying lotion a try. Surprisingly, it didn’t prove to be too trying on my skin. However, whereas I had expected this product to act as a toner (remove any remaining traces of makeup/impurities from my skin and restore its pH balance), I found it was more of an astringent (basically, a heavier-duty toner).

Verdict: I definitely prefer my Skoah glow tonik to this product. The strong, alcoholic scent knocks me out a little every time I use it, so after going through my 2 sample bottles, I will not be purchasing this product. ~6.7 fl. oz. bottle, US$13

finished goods - january

As mentioned in one of my earlier posts, 2013 is the year I am going to try to use up as many products in my current beauty/skincare collection as possible. Here is my progress so far, all from the month of January:

Shown below:

• Dial showel gel - pretty run of the mill. I liked the scent so I would probably buy again sometime in the future
• Cake it's a slice supreme body mousse
• Proclaim cocoa and shea butter hand & body lotion
• Frederic Fekkai brilliant glossing shampoo and conditioner
• Aveeno foaming face wash - a regular in my collection (review to follow)
• CO Bigelow lemon & pomegranate lip cream
• Maybelline dream fresh bb 8-in-1 beauty balm spf 30   

Not pictured:

• Biotherm blue therapy serum
• Clinique liquid facial soap - unfortunately, I didn't actually get to finish off this one as I accidentally left it at the hotel in Toronto
• Vidi Vici brilliant bb cream

beauty box 5 – january 2013

The BB5 boxes ship from the U.S., so there is a bit of a time lag from when the U.S. subscribers get their box and when I eventually receive mine. Since (i) I can’t help looking at the spoilers posted by the U.S. subscribers and (ii) BB5 actually emailed out the informational insert for January’s box once they found out the incorrect ones had been included in some, there wasn’t much of an element of surprise when I opened up the box. I’m ok with that though – getting a nice package in the mail is good enough!   

Here is what I received in this month's BB5 box:

1.      Ferro Cosmetics Desert Rose Blush. Sample size, no specs provided, US$17

2.       Perfumies Solid Perfume Stick. Full and sample size, 0.07oz, US$7

3.       Pencil Me In Eye Pencil. Full and sample size, 1.8g, US$6.99

4.       Model Co Colourbox Lip Pencil in Pomegranate. Full and sample size, 1.6g, US$18

5.       It's a 10 Miracle Hair Mask. 2 x 13ml sample packs, US$2.10 (based on Amazon)

That final product was a “surprise 2012 favorite”, meaning it’s one of the products that was included in a 2012 box. In my opinion, that looks like a way to use up excess inventory, but as I wasn’t a subscriber in 2012, everything is new to me and I’m just fine with that.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the value and contents of the box. The approximate retail value of the products in this month's box was US$51, which is a great return on investment based on the $8 + change I paid. Plus, since I'm a little bogged down with skincare products at the moment, the cosmetics are a welcome addition.

Product reviews on the above will follow shortly. 

plain ol' liquid soap

Plain Ol’ Skincare is owned by one of my husband’s coworkers, who runs this small-batch skincare business on the side. The business has a nice background story – the founder moved to Calgary several years back, was forced to load up on moisturizers and other skincare products to deal with the dry conditions in this area, was appalled at the list of unidentifiable ingredients in those products and eventually decided to make her own. My husband brought home 2 bottles of the liquid soap to try and his coworker threw in a sample of lotion (which I have not used yet).

Plain Ol’ products are fragrance, colour and dye-free, and the liquid soap is no different. It has a slightly yellow tinge (likely from the glycerine content) and is on the runny side. The ingredients listed include water, olive oil, canola oil, coconut oil, potassium hydroxide, vegetable glycerine and castor oil. The all-natural goodness of this product makes it different from your traditional liquid soap in a couple ways:

• No fragrance whatsoever, except for a tinge of glycerine that takes some getting used to.
• No bubbles or other foaming action, even when used with a bath sponge or mesh. I found that this made it a bit difficult to gauge exactly how much to use.

I’ve been using this daily for over a week now and have gotten used to the scent (or lack thereof) and consistency. I haven’t seen any significant changes in my skin. Even if there was an increase in the moisture content, I am more likely to chalk it up to the fact that I’ve been moisturizing like crazy (to use up the Cake and Body Shop moisturizers). 

Verdict: I like the idea of using all-natural products and love the idea of supporting the fledgling, startup businesses. However, the girly side of me still wants a bit of scent and some foaming action, so I will not be purchasing this again. ~500ml bottle, C$6

*The ink on the label of my liquid soap started to run and blur, so I have borrowed a photo from Plain Ol's website.

physicians formula super all-in-1 beauty balm powder

This was a gift from my sister on a recent Toronto visit – she had purchased it for full price but it was eligible for a mail-in rebate so it only ended up costing around C$10. I hadn’t seen any beauty balms in powder form (Physicians Formula claims it is the first ever BB powder) so I was very interested in giving this a try. The product claims to provide 10+ benefits, but I counted 10 on the website (unless "priming + filling" was actually meant to be 2 separate benefits). The product does provide SPF 30 (through the use of titanium dioxide), which is always a plus for me.

 

The BB powder comes in 2 tones – I ended up with the light/medium shade, which was probably the right one for me. Similar to other Physicians Formula face powders and blushes, the compact includes the actual product with a compartment for the brush hidden underneath. I had previously owned both the blush and translucent powder compacts, which were similarly constructed, and found it to be cumbersome and a little messy, since some of the product would become loose through use and therefore spill out when the powder compartment was flipped up to access the brush. I’ve used the BB powder for about a week now and the powder has stayed pressed, so there was little to no mess when I flipped it up to get to the brush. 

The applicator is interesting: it’s definitely a brush as it has bristles, but once it’s been dragged across the powder, it feels more like a makeup sponge during application. It has a narrow design, which warrants a little extra attention as you may end up with a line of BB powder if you don’t blend it in enough. There are some advantages to the narrow design though, as it allows more control when working around eyebrows, nose, lips, and the hairline.

The powder has very light coverage - doesn't do a whole lot for my freckles, and it definitely will not cover up pimples or anything with a reddish tone so it does not eliminate the need for concealer. In fact, Physicians Formula recommends on its website that the BB powder be used with the concealer and BB cream in the collection. One thing I was a little surprised about was the fact that the BB powder did not have the mattifying (i.e., oil absorbing - spell check is giving me a hard time on this one) effect that is commonly associated with powder products. A few hours after application in the morning, my face starts to feel as grimy as it would with a tinted moisturizer or BB cream. This may just mean I need to invest in some blotting papers to use throughout the day, but at the same time, I thought the powder formulation would help a little more with oil control than it actually did.

Consistent to my thoughts on other BB products that I have tried, I am still skeptical of the skin-improving benefits these products tout – after a week of use, I have not seen any marked improvements in the condition of my skin (definitely not to the extent that Physicians Formula claims here). 

Overall, I was a little meh about this product – it feels light, blends in pretty easily, seems to last for most of the day, and doesn’t irritate my skin. However, the only reason I thought the BB powder would prove to be superior compared to creams (oil control) did not come to fruition. As I end up having to apply translucent powder on top of the BB powder to help ward off the greasies, this product doesn’t streamline my morning routine. In addition, it just seems redundant to put BB powder on top of BB cream. 

Verdict: this product would be good for people with flawless (or close to flawless) skin, especially given the reasonable price. However, given the choice between this and the Maybelline version I’ve already tried, I would still stick with Maybelline. ~8.3g, C$19.95/US$13.95