dr. jart premium bb multi-action skincare + makeup, spf 45

When packing for a recent trip down to Las Vegas, I was about to toss the Dr. Jart Water Fuse Gel BB into my makeup bag, but decided I didn’t want to bring the clunky 1oz container with me.  Then I had the brilliant idea to break into my Dr. Jart sampler from my December Sephora purchase.  Because I had (incorrectly) assumed that it would be nice and sunny in Vegas while we were there, I picked the one with the highest SPF, which happened to be the premium BB.

After finding the Gel BB pretty ho hum, I didn’t have high expectations for this one.  As a result, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this BB cream.  When I first squeezed some out of the tube, I was a little concerned as the cream had a grayish tinge to it, which I though in turn would make my skin look dull.  As soon as I put the BB cream on, however, any trace of concern faded away.  The BB cream, which comes in one "universal" shade, blended easily into my skin without excess blending.  It provided medium coverage, which is more than any of the other BB products that I have tried to date – it did a great job covering up my freckles and would work well on minor imperfections.  The cream provided a semi-matte finished that lasted well into the afternoon, which was great for me, as my forehead typically starts to look like an oil slick by noon.

The staying power of this product is strong.  Maybe even a little bit too strong.  As I was travelling, I opted for the lazy route and used cleansing cloths (Pond’s was the choice for this trip) at night.  I ended up having to use two cleansing cloths (both sides of each) to remove the BB cream to my satisfaction.  When I used the BB cream at home after the trip, I went through two rounds of cleanser in order to pass the toner test (i.e., no makeup residue on toner-soaked cotton pad when used after cleansing).  Considering I don’t actually need to apply very much of the product (not even a dime-sized dollop), I was quite surprised that it required so much effort to remove.

As with other BB formulations I have tried, I did not notice any improvement to my skin condition, even though the product is supposed to be infused with white gold for skin brightening and anti-aging benefits.   

Verdict: Even though the cream seems to stick to me like glue, I really like the coverage, finish, and overall feel of this product and would definitely consider repurchasing in the future.  ~1.4oz tube, C$47

  

the body shop cocoa butter moisturizing stick

One of my sisters-in-law gave this to me for Christmas with nothing but great things to say about how it prevented her from getting stretch marks until her final month of pregnancy.  I had read enough pregnancy-related books to learn that there's really no miracle product that will fully prevent stretch marks from forming (come on, people - it's a baby - how can there be no stretch marks?!), but since I had this tube in my hot little hands, I decided to give it a try anyway.  

The moisturizing stick comes in a deodorant-like twist-up container.  It's got a creamy white colour and has that very identifiable cocoa butter scent.  Also similar to deodorant, it left whitish stains on the black lounge pants that I've taken to sleeping in.  According to the Body Shop website, the product contains Community Trade cocoa butter, which is an excellent moisturizer that melts at body temperature, is rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants, and is recommended especially for dry skin and pregnant women. 

For almost every night for 2.5 months, I dutifully applied this to my stomach area at night before going to bed.  Even though I'm not crazy about the smell of cocoa butter, I didn't mind the scent - probably because the product was kept well away from my nose and shielded by my clothing.  I wasn't convinced on the product's ability to "melt at body temperature", as it didn't apply smoothly.  Plus, this product goes on colourless and is pretty lightweight, which made it hard to gage how much I had put on or if I had missed any spots.  It did feel moisturizing when applied, although any such effects seem to disappear by morning.

Verdict: Now in month 7, I most definitely have stretch marks on my stomach (surprise).  Sorry ladies - no miracles here.  I'm going to have to take a pass on purchasing this one.  ~75g, C$16

pencil me in eyeliner

This is my very first review for a product received through my Beauty Box 5 subscription.  This pencil was part of my January BB5 box.  

First impressions: I loved that the pencil had a built-in sharpener.  The standard-sized sharpener works well for other pencils as well (I’ve used it with my Cover Girl gel eyeliner).  The colour I received was lapis, which is a navy blue colour.  My current collection of cosmetics didn’t include a liner in this colour so I was happy to give this one a try.

As with most other pencil eyeliners, I prefer not start with a sharp point as (i) it requires a lot more precision to apply the product on my lashline, and (ii) doing so greatly increases the risk of poking myself when applying (I am no eyeliner expert – lack of control during application is one of the reasons I have shied away from liquid liners).  The colour applied smoothly without any tugging, and the colour was true to both the swatch below and to how the product itself looked.

This is where all my positive comments end.

Wow, did this product ever smudge!  I applied the liner to my upper lash line only, but within 10 minutes of application, the colour had spread to my lower lash line as well…and not in that flattering, smoldering way, but in a messy, I-look-like-I-just-had-a-good-cry way.  I was not about to leave the house with navy blue raccoon eyes, so I took off all traces (or so I thought) of the colour with eye makeup remover and went sans eye makeup instead.  Imagine my dismay the next morning when I woke up, looked in the mirror, and saw little navy blue (albeit in a lighter shade) crescent-moon shapes under my eyes.  The liner has staying power, I’ll give it that, but the fact that it took two rounds of eye makeup remover to completely take off the product made it very unappealing. 

Verdict: I hate wasting beauty products, but the pencil (I’m keeping the sharpener) will have to be retired (i.e., tossed) as part of my March finished goods.  I will definitely not be purchasing this one again.  ~US$6.99

covergirl liquiline blast eyeliner

This was a drugstore impulse purchase from awhile back – it was after I had already purchased the Clinique quickliner and was looking for a comparable (but less expensive) product in different colours.

Unlike the quickliner, this version is not automatic, so sharpening is required (for hygienic reasons, it is recommended that pencil liners be sharpened before each use, but I’m not much of a stickler for that).  That in itself was not a deal breaker, but for me, the lack of pigmentation was.  I purchased the liner in violet voltage, which, in stick form, is a dark purple.  When applied, the shade that appears is much more muted, requiring a few extra passes over my lash lines to build up to a darker shade.  This certainly takes away from the fool-proof and convenience factors.  In addition, I find that the “gel” formula does not glide on as smoothly as I expected – it felt more like a regular, non-gel liner.

In terms of staying power, I have no complaints.  Assuming you don’t rub your eyes constantly throughout the day or have a good cry, the colour will stay put for the entire day. 

Verdict: For its price point, this is a decent product, but as it is not an automatic liner and it pretty much offers the same feel as a regular ol’ pencil liner, I’d rather buy a regular Bonne Bell or Wet’n Wild pencil liner for a fraction of the price.  I will not be repurchasing this in the future. ~C$9     

revlon colour burst lip butter

This was one of my Boxing Day purchases at London Drugs. I know this product has been available for quite some time now, and there are a number of positive reviews on this product. I had wanted to try this out for some time, so as soon as I saw that the price was right, I snapped one up in fig jam.

The container looks like a standard lipstick tube. However, because the base is very narrow, I actually find it difficult to snap the lid off. On a positive note, I’m pretty confident the lid will stay in place in my purse. The colour I chose is a brownish shade. It glides on easy and is true to how the colour looks in the tube. The design of the product isn’t very conducive to getting the colour right to the cupid’s bow on the lips, but it’s nothing a lip brush (or pinky) can’t fix. I wasn’t crazy about the colour when I first put it on as I’m convinced these brownish tones make my teeth look more yellow than usual (thanks to years of daily coffees, caffeinated or not). However, I was pleased to see that after either blotting the colour with a tissue or letting it wear down for a couple hours, the colour fades to a nude colour that I find much more flattering. The product is very moisturizing during the first hour of wear, but as with most other lipsticks or balms, this disappears over time. 

Verdict: Goes on strong but colour fades to a nice muted colour that sticks around for a few more hours, which is more than I expect from similar products. I would purchase this again, but in a different (more pink) shade. ~C$6.99

ponds cleansing cloths

About a month ago, I was having a pretty bad day and went to Walmart in search of a little retail therapy.  After walking up and down the aisles of their makeup/skincare section, I didn’t really see anything that I wanted to buy.  At the last minute, I noticed the Ponds cleansing cloths on sale and decided to pick up a pack for a recent trip.

Even though the environmentalist in me cringes a little at the waste that cleansing cloths creates, I prefer to use these when travelling for convenience – beats lugging eye makeup remover, cleanser and a headband along on every trip.  Plus, my travelling has been pretty limited these days so I don’t really have much of an opportunity to use these anyway (that’s my justification and I’m standing by it).

The cloths come in a pack of 30 and are very moist.  Very.  As in, when I pulled one out of the package, moisture from the cloth dampened the package and actually affected the stickiness of the package seal (a quick wipe did the trick - I assure you the package is fully resealable).  Each cloth is quilted and has tiny little holes in it, the purpose of which is unclear to me.  The cloths were not heavily perfumed, which I always appreciate, and felt soft on the skin.  An added bonus was that no rinsing was required – this is important to me because I’ve tried other cleansing wipes that do require rinsing with water afterward and to me, that pretty much defeated the purpose of having these cloths. 

Verdict: These cleansing cloths did exactly what they promised – removed makeup, dirt, and other unsavouries from my skin at night.  I would definitely purchase these again for travel. ~30-cloth package, C$7.97

eucerin daily protection spf 30 moisturizing face lotion

Before Eucerin hit the shelves of Canadian drugstores, I had already seen the brand in countless magazines being touted as “dermatologist recommended” (reminds of Cetaphil, another product that seems to be highly recommended by dermatologists).  On a trip to the U.S. last year, I saw this product at Target and decided to give it a try – you can never have too much sun protection, right?

2 pumps of the product out of the container is about the right quantity for my face.  The lotion comes out and goes on white, so a bit of blending is required to make sure I don’t walk out of the house with any white streaks on my face.  I like that the lotion is lightweight, so it absorbs into skin within a reasonable timeframe and does not leave my skin sticky.  The lotion is non-comedogenic, which means it doesn’t clog pores and therefore has not caused my skin to break out like heavier sunscreens have in the past.  However, because it’s not as thick as other sunscreen/lotions I’ve tried, I’m not entirely convinced I have the full broad spectrum SPF 30 protection as advertised on the bottle.  In addition, I didn’t find this product moisturizing (and certainly not for 24 hours, as the website.  I would probably save this to use in the summer when my skin is not as parched. 

Verdict: ideal for warmer/less dry climates – I would repurchase this for spring/summer daytime use, but if I know I’m going to be out in the sun all day, I would probably add another layer of sunscreen on top just for added protection. ~4 fl oz bottle, US$6.99  

beauty box 5 – february 2013

My February BB5 box is here - this one took a little over 2 weeks to get to my home.  According to a communication BB5 had sent out earlier, this box is a little different for two reasons: (i) it's their one-year anniversary, and (ii) they are responding to subscriber feedback and requests for larger sample sizes.  

Here is what I received in this month's BB5 box (amounts listed are the sample values based on full-size retail value and are listed in USD): 

1.     H2O+ bath aquatics shampoo.  1.25 fl oz sample, $2.06

2.     Tree Hut shea sugar body scrub in Tropical Mango.  5.5oz sample, $2.29

3.     Brush Guards.  Variety 3-pack (xs, s and m).  $4.13

4.     Coolway boost hair treatment/staightener.  1 oz sample, $4.99

5.     BB5 foldable brush compact with mirror.  Value unknown.

6.     iTrain $50 gift card.      

That last product can be used to purchase workouts (mp3 or videos) from the iTrain website.  I see myself using it to acquire 1 or 2 new yoga workouts.

I was a little meh about this month's box.  I would have preferred more cosmetic products, but it's always a bit of a tossup when it comes to these subscription boxes.  The approximate retail value of the products in this month's box (I'm not going to include the iTrain gift card because that is no beauty product) was $13.47, which, when compared to last month's box, doesn't seem like much of a deal.  Larger sample sizes are a nice change, but I'm looking for variety and quality in this subscription.  As long as they're not sending out foil packet samples, quantity isn't terribly high on my priority list.

Here's hoping next month's box will be a little better!

Product reviews on the above skincare/hair products to follow.

 

 

peter thomas roth: the mega-rich collection

On a recent business trip to Toronto, I snagged an upgrade to the business executive floor at the Hilton, which, based on my understanding, had the following benefits: (i) access to the executive lounge on the top floor, which meant free non-alcoholic beverages in the evening and breakfast in the mornings; (ii) wi-fi in my room at no additional charge; (iii) bathrobes in the closet (which I never touch); and (iv) upgraded bath accessories, including mouthwash and this set of Peter Thomas Roth products.

I had heard of this brand before but had never tried anything from its product line. After doing a little digging on the Internet, it turns out that the Mega-Rich collection is designed in collaboration with and distributed by the Hilton hotel chain. However, a number of the products are available for purchase by the public. 

Here’s a quick run-down of the products tested:

• Massage soap: I'm not fond of these massage bars because I don’t feel any tension-relieving benefits from having used them. The shape of the bar did not work for my hands – anytime I tried to get a firmer grip on the bar, the round shape would cause it to slip right out of my hand. As a regular bar of soap, I had no complaints – it rinsed clean without that tight, dry feeling after and left a pleasant scent. I did not take a picture of the soap, but here is one off the PTR website.  

 

• Shampoo & conditioner: Both the shampoo and conditioner claim to be chock full of nutrients such as biotin, vitamins C & E, and pro vitamin B5. Typically, I’m wary of putting anything “rich” or “mega-rich” in my hair since the name implies it’ll likely weigh my super-thin hair down. This was definitely the case in Toronto – I’m not sure if it’s the water quality or the humidity (relative to Calgary, of course), but shampoos don’t seem to rinse out of my hair properly in Toronto, so even freshly-washed hair feels weighed down and a little greasy. To put this to the test, I toted the shampoo and conditioner back to Calgary and gave it another try (using conditioner before shampoo, which I often do to ensure it doesn’t get left behind). The shampoo and conditioner felt moisturizing, but still weighed down my hair a bit, as it affected the amount of volume I was able to achieve through blow-drying afterward. With prolonged use, I can see this causing some buildup issues for my hair. However, using once or twice a week just to mix up the hair washing routine may provide some benefits, though personally, I would much rather use a once-a-week hair mask for that.
• Body lotion: Pretty standard – white, creamy, and absorbed pretty quickly after application. Moisturizing benefits seemed to last overnight when used before bedtime, but when used in the morning, my skin started to feel dry mid-afternoon. 

All of the products have a light, citrus scent, which I enjoyed. While it was nice to have the opportunity to give this brand (or at least, this particular product line) a test drive, it did not “wow” me enough to want to purchase the full-sized versions. 

Verdict: better than your garden-variety hotel toiletries, but to me, not worth seeking out after the hotel checkout. ~massage soap, 100g (3 bars total), US$17; shampoo & conditioner, 8.5oz bottles, US$18 each; body lotion, 8.5oz bottle, US$18

dior serum mania

I made February Dior serum month - I had a couple Dior serum samples that I’d accumulated over the past year or so that have largely been untouched, so I thought I would give them a try.  As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t expect these serums to work miracles on my skin because (i) I’m not really at the age where the difference would be noticeable and (ii) thankfully, my skin is not in too rough shape to begin with.  However, I do believe in the preventive and protective properties that serums tout – it’s never too early to start thinking about how we’ll look 10, 20 or 30 years down the road.

Here are my thoughts on the Dior serums I tested.

1. HydrAction Deep Hydration Radical Serum – my sister swears by this product, as she’s repurchased the full-sized version several times after first trying it.  The serum is clear and the texture of the product was more gel-like (vs. the runnier Biotherm version I had previously tried).  The product went on smoothly, but there was a faint alcoholic smell (which dissipates after a minute) that I wasn’t crazy about.  My skin did feel a bit more moisturized than usual when I followed up the serum with my usual moisturizer.  According to Sephora and Neiman Marcus, this product appears to no longer be available.
2. Capture Totale Multi-Perfection Concentrated Serum – this serum was orange in colour, gel-like, and had a pleasant scent (reminds me of those vitamin E gel capsules they sell at drugstores).  The serum applied smoothly and sank into skin quickly.  I actually really liked the way my skin felt after applying this – smooth and soft without being sticky.  Other users have commented that this serum lightens any pigmentation on skin, but I didn’t see any such effect in the 1.5 weeks I used it.  It’s a bit pricey (US$145 for 1 oz - gulp), but this is my favorite out of the lot.

On an additional note, I'm not a fan of the Dior website as I find it a bit hard to navigate.  This is somewhat disappointing for what's supposed to be a prestigious brand.

Verdict: I still have a couple other serums to test drive, but so far, the Capture Totale would be the front-runner for a full-sized repurchase, despite its hefty price tag.

finished goods - february

I can't believe how quickly the month of February has flown by!  Looking at my collection of empties for the month, I feel like I didn't make as much progress as I had in January.  I'm gradually making my way through various products, but sometimes, even those deluxe sample sizes take some time to get through.

Here is what I finished this month:

• Dior hydraction deep hyration radical serum
• Dior capture totale multi-perfection serum
• Cake desserted island supreme body mousse - just like the one I had previously reviewed, but in a different scent
• Clinique rinse-off foaming cleanser
• Skoah klearity mask
• Peter Thomas Roth mega-rich shampoo
• Clinique quickliner for eyes in smoky brown
• eos lip balm in honeysuckle honeydew (not pictured)

 

clinique quickliner for eyes

I purchased this eyeliner on a whim awhile back at the Clinique counter in Holt Renfrew.  I was actually looking for something relatively inexpensive but useful to make up the amount I need to spend in order to get the gift with purchase being offered at that time (sad, but true, though in my own defense, Holt Renfrew typically has the best gifts with purchase so I didn’t want to miss out). Little did I know that this eyeliner, which was more or less purchased as an afterthought, would make it onto my list of favorites.

The automatic (translation: no sharpening required – you simply twist the top of the eyeliner to release more product, similar to a lipstick) eyeliner is available in a range of shades that are meant for everyday wear – no crazy colours here.  I typically shy away from black liner and am inexplicably drawn to purple liner, but this time around, I decided to be different and went with smoky brown.

There are a number of reasons why I really like this product: (1) the point on the liner is not too sharp and not too blunt, so it’s perfect for drawing a slightly smudgy, but still clean-looking line; (2) the formula goes on smooth and does not tug on the eyelids when being applied; (3) the colour stays put – it does fade a little as the day goes on but most if it sticks around, as I still need eye makeup remover to take it off at the end of the day; and (4) I love not having to sharpen the liner.

I have tried a number of other drugstore automatic liners (Cover Girl, Bonne Bell, Annabelle) but found either the colour itself or the lasting power of the liner to be lacking.  As shown in the photo, I’ve made it through the entire product, which would make it the first eyeline I ever finished.  Enough said. 

Verdict: easy application, staying power, and a nice, natural-looking colour selection means I will definitely be repurchasing this product again in the future. ~US$15