clinique vitamin c lip smoothie

I feel like I’ve written an overabundance of reviews on Clinique products, but I blame it on the gifts with purchase I’ve accumulated over the years.  The Clinique lip smoothie in came in a GWP from early 2012.  I had tried a lip gloss in similar packaging (twisting the tube to release gloss through a brush applicator) by a different brand in the past and was not very impressed with the mechanics of the design, so I was a little wary of how the Clinique version would compare.

One of the issues with this type of applicator is that the amount of product that actually gets released is quite hard to control.  This is likely due to the fact that there is a significant delay (about 10 seconds, which in makeup time can be a lot, especially when my daily makeup application typically takes about 45 seconds).  In moments of impatience, I will give the tube a couple more twists, hoping to hurry the product along, which inevitably leads to a huge glob of gloss (much more than would be required for a single application) to eventually be dispensed.

Another issue with this type of applicator is that it does not travel well.  Throwing the gloss in my purse does not seem to be a great idea, as gravity causes the gloss to slowly leech out this way or that, resulting in a goopy mess the next time you take the cap off the product to use.

The packaging seems to be the product’s downfall, which is unfortunate, because the gloss itself is actually pretty good.  The gloss does not contain any scent or flavor.  It is moderately pigmented, so it provides a sheer-to-opaque wash of colour that doesn’t overwhelm.  The colour has moderate staying power – a faint tinge of the colour was left after my morning coffee.  While the gloss is slick, it doesn’t have that bubblegum-pop vinyl shine, which I appreciate.  

A quick look on the Clinique US site shows the lip smoothie is no longer among the brand’s lip offerings.  However, this product still seems to be readily available on ebay, for anyone who is interested.

Verdict: The applicator just does not work for me.  I like being able to toss a product in my purse and not have to worry about it making a mess the next time I reach for it.  I will not be making a purchase of this product in the future (even if it’s only $5 off ebay).  

benefit moisturize moisture prep toning lotion

This “deluxe sample” came in one of my Luxe Boxes back when I was a subscriber.  Given the travel-sized portion, I had always meant to save it for a vacation, but when it came down to packing, the clunky (but attractive) glass bottle never made it into my cosmetic bag.  Since I recently finished the Clinique clarifying lotion sample I had, I decided to switch over to this version.

I knew nothing about this product prior to using it, so imagine my surprise when I tried to pour some onto a cotton pad and out came this clearish, lotion-like substance.  Unlike other liquid toners, which are meant to remove lasting traces of cleanser and/or impurities and restore the skin’s pH balance, this version is supposed to prep skin for moisturizer.  I’m not crazy about the texture of the product – it’s slimy/gooey when applied, but it does absorb into skin pretty quickly.   

According to Benefit's website, the toning lotion contains vitamin E acetate, natural oat & meadowsweet, aloe leaf and yeast extract, all of which are meant to clarify/purify and sooth skin. 

After using this for about a week, I haven’t really noticed much of an improvement in the overall moisture content and elasticity of my skin – the Skoah face kream I’ve been using has taken care of most of the dry patches, so there were no other problem areas to improve.  

Verdict: When I want a “toning lotion”, what I really want is a proper toner, not an additional moisturizer.  I did not like this product enough to add yet another step to my nighttime cleansing routine, so this will be a no for repurchasing.  ~6fl oz bottle, US$30  

aveda invati exfoliating shampoo and thickening conditioner

Knowing my penchant for hair thickening and hair loss prevention products, my sister passed on a sample of this to me when she popped by for a visit earlier in the year.  I had seen the Aveda invati line widely advertised in magazines but had not taken the plunge yet since I still had a generous supply of Nioxin, Kiehl’s, and other shampoos in my collection.

The invati line consists of a shampoo, conditioner, and a scalp revitalizer (treatment).  The little sample kit I had only came with the shampoo and conditioner (and very tiny ones, might I add, coming in at a whopping 10ml each).

My first impressions of the product were not great.  Based on the ads, I knew the line contained turmeric and ginseng, so I was prepared for the “spicy” smell.  What I was not prepared for was the runny consistency of the shampoo, which flowed freely from the sample tube.  The shampoo did not foam up like most other shampoos, although the conditioner consistency was more like “regular” conditioner.  I noticed when using the shampoo and conditioner together that my hair felt pretty greasy after, so I also tried using the shampoo only, without any conditioner. The roots of my hair still felt a little greasy, so the shampoo does not feel like it rinses out clean.

To be honest, I didn’t end up minding the smell much – it reminded me a bit of ginger and while the scent does stick around for awhile, I couldn’t smell it unless I actually held a piece of hair up to my nose, so I’m pretty sure people in my vicinity would not have found it offensive.

The level of hair loss for me fluctuates by season, and right now, I’m going through a pretty good spell (i.e., not losing too much hair despite washing everyday).  Based on this, there was no drastic reduction of hair loss and/or breakage for me during the four days I tried out the shampoo and conditioner.

Verdict: I wash my hair to get rid of the greasy feeling, not to add to it.  The shampoo and conditioner were pretty underwhelming, which is consistent to the results from other Aveda shampoo/conditioner lines that I have tried (rosemary mint, shampure).  That, when added to the heftier price tag of Aveda products, mean I will not be purchasing a full-size version of this product.  ~shampoo & conditioner, 200ml bottles, US$25 each

 

lancome bi-facil double-action eye makeup remover

I had a sample of this eye makeup remover kicking around as part of a Lancome gift with purchase from awhile back.  Up until about a year ago, I had relied on the ol’ scrub-with-a-washcloth method to remove eye makeup but realize now that it’s probably not the way to go in the long run since the skin around the eyes is more delicate than say, the cheeks.  Since then, in an attempt to preserve my youthful good looks (ha!) and to use up my beauty stash, I’ve been diligently removing eye makeup before my nightly facial cleanse. 

The Lancome eye makeup remover separates into two layers in the bottle – one is presumably an oil, and the other, some other form of liquid that is denser than oil.   The bottle is meant to be shaken up to mix together all that eye makeup-removing goodness (actual terms: the "bi-phase" formula) before use.  I liberally sprinkle this stuff on a cotton pad and dab along my eyes.

This product pretty much instantly dissolves eyeshadow, but takes a few firmer swipes to fully remove eyeliner.  This is the downside, because the product does sting if it gets into your eyes.  Nothing that a couple splashes of cool water can’t take care of, but still an unpleasant feeling nonetheless.  I can’t comment on its effectiveness on mascara (waterproof or otherwise) as I currently do not own any.  Because there is some kind of oil in the formulation, the product leaves behind a slight greasy residue that is easily removed with any facial cleanser.

Verdict: this product gets the job done, but the stinging factor is a major draw-back for me, especially since this product is marketed for sensitive skin and contact lens wearers (there is no way I would leave my contacts in when using this stuff).  I discovered a full-size bottle of this in my bathroom vanity, which was a mildly upsetting as I now feel obligated to finish using that before buying any other ones.  After that, though, this product will not make the list for a repeat purchase. ~4.2 fl oz. bottle, C$35     

beauty box 5 - march 2013

This month's BB5 box arrived late again - almost 3.5 weeks after shipping (for which I received no notification this time around...not impressed).  I can chalk up some of the delay to the Easter long weekend, but I am starting to get a little annoyed that each month, it seems to take longer and longer for the boxes to make their way to me.

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.     La Fresh nail polish remover wipes. 2 wipes, $1.33

2.     Brazen Cosmetics eyeshadow in Suburbia. 0.18oz (assumed full size received), $7.49

3.     Tree Hut moisturizing lotion in Tropical Mango. 2oz, $1.44

4.     H2O+ spa sea salt body wash. 1oz, $1.36

5.     H2O+ eye lift concentrate. 0.13oz, $9.88

I was a little underwhelmed by the dollar value of this month's box $(21.50) at first, but after looking at the products, I'm actually quite happy with the contents, as they are all products that I can get some use from (unlike a couple of the products from last month's box).  While I have a slight preference for more brand variety each month, I don't mind H2O+ products and have read pretty good reviews about the Tree Hut line so I'm happy to give these products a try.  The eyeshadow will be tough to love - I'm not terribly fond of loose powders as I tend to make a mess out of the application process, especially when the powder containers (including this one) do not come with a sifter to separate out a smaller quantity of the product for dipping into.  Nevertheless, an improvement over last month's box! 

Product reviews on the above to follow. 

skoah aha mask

Since my skin gym membership will expire later this year, I feel somewhat compelled to take advantage of my 10% product discount while I still can.  A recent purchase was the AHA mask.  Although Skoah does sell physical (granular) exfoliants, their overall preference seems to be to use a mild concentration of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) instead, which is supposed to be more gentle on skin.  When I go in for my facialiscious treatment, the staff typically uses a minty mask on me.  The minty mask has a higher concentration of AHA, which accounts for the tingly feeling that has become one of the highlights of the facial for me.  Unfortunately, the minty mask is not available for purchase, but Skoah does offer the AHA mask, which has a lower concentration of AHA, as part of its product line.

The AHA mask is a clear gel formula of which you’re supposed to apply a thin layer on your face (post-cleansing) and rinse off after 10-15 minutes.  Given that it didn’t look too messy and didn’t require much of a time commitment, I decided to try this out on a weeknight.  The mask has a familiar peppermint scent (reminiscent of the treatment-only version) and goes on smoothly.  I applied a thin layer as instructed and left it on while I played a couple games of Temple Run (latest mindless addiction).  There was still a slight tingling sensation when I first applied the mask, though not as much as the treatment-only version.  The mask felt pretty dry after 10 minutes, but rinsed off easily in the shower.

How did my skin feel afterward?  Pretty great, actually!  I took a close look at my skin and there were no dry, flaky patches even before putting on moisturizer.  While my skin wasn’t exactly glowing, it looked healthy.  A layer of hydradew on top to add some light moisture back to my skin completed my skincare routine for the evening. 

Verdict: Solid results in 10-15 minutes.  A dollop of the mask goes a long way, so the tub I purchased will probably last for quite some time.  I can see myself using this once a week without any problems.  I’m pretty sure I will be picking up one more tub of this mask before my membership runs out.  ~60g/2oz tub, C$35

 

sally hansen magnetic nail color

Since I started playing volleyball again, I’ve basically kept my nails short and polish-free (not worth the effort to paint if they’ll start chipping 10 minutes into my weekly games).  Even so, it’s always hard to walk by the nail polish racks at the local drugstore without taking a peek – those colours are just too tempting.  I caved for the crackle nail polish fad a couple years ago and more recently, I caved for the magnetic nail polish.  Since the Sally Hansen version was on sale at Wal-mart for about $5, I picked up a bottle in Kinetic Copper and decided to give it a try.

The concept is simple but the results look pretty impressive (in magazines, anyway!).  The nail polish contains metallic particles.  Once applied, a magnet is placed in the vicinity of the still-wet polish – the magnet causes the particles to shift, creating a pattern in the nail polish before it dries.

The polish itself was a little on the thicker side, but still required 2 coats on my nails.  Positioning the magnet, which is built into the nail polish cap, took a couple tries (and also caused a couple smudged nails) to get the hang of it.  Even though the cap has a little bridge built in to rest on your finger as the magnet hovers over the polished nail, there’s definitely room for error.

The result?  Metallic brown polish with golden arcs.  The effect looks pretty nice, although I can’t help but wonder how much better it would have looked if my nails were actually a decent length.  User reviews I’ve read online seem to indicate that the polish does not have much lasting power.  I found it to have as much staying power as most other “drugstore brand” polishes.  Applying a top coat every other day made my DIY manicure last for about 8 days before it became really obvious that my nails were outgrowing the polish (keep in mind that I’m not very dainty when it comes to my hands). 

Verdict: I’m more of a “slap it on and go” kind of girl when it comes to nail polish.  Even though I liked the finish of the polish, I’m not sure it was worth the extra effort, which means I probably will not be repurchasing this in the future.  ~0.31 fl oz bottle, C$7.99   

finished goods - march

It's pretty scary how quickly another month has gone by.  Since work has been pretty crazy and I've been coming home with just enough energy to make some dinner, eat it, and then get ready for bad, the reviews are a little fewer and further between, but as I still have quite a few products to go through, I have my work cut out for me.

Here are the finished goods for the month of March:

• Clinique clarifying lotion 2
• Coolway boost (not pictured) - see Note A
• Pencil Me In eyeliner in lapis - See Note B
• The Body Shop cocoa butter moisturizing stick
• Ponds cleansing cloths
• Peter Thomas Roth mega-rich conditioner 
• Bath & Body Works shampoo and conditioner - see Note C
• Cake velveteen hand creme in vanilla snow woman  
• The Body Shop vitamin e body lotion       

Notes

A - from my February BB5 box.  Given that my hair is already stick straight, there was really no purpose to using this product, so I passed it on to a friend. 

B - from my January BB5 box.  I had to chuck this one - the eyeliner just didn't work for me.

C - these were hotel-sized bottles from a hotel stay in Canmore.  Smelled great but didn't do a whole lot for me, which is consistent to my general experience with Bath & Body Works products.

I already know April is going to be a slow month as I'm working away on a number of full-sized products, but any progress will be better than none, as long as I don't keep adding to my stash! 

 

skoah gel kleanser

This was a purchase from my last skincare “workout” at Skoah.  The downside of having a different “trainer” each time I go is that they usually recommend different products which may or may not actually be good for my skin, so I usually take their recommendations with a grain of salt.  However, since my skin has been misbehaving recently (oily enough to cause breakouts, but dry on the top layer, making extractions very, very difficult), I decided to switch over to a gel cleanser to see if it would make a difference.

The gel kleanser is oil-free and claims to be free of harsh cleansing agents such as sodium lauryl sulfate (a foaming agent common used in shampoos, soaps and other cleansing products) and alcohol.  It’s actually intended for oily skin, which initially made me raise an eyebrow (I would throw myself in the combination skin category).  The gel is light blue and has a fresh, clean scent that I recognized from my Skoah facials.  It does not foam or lather up when rubbed into skin, but does leave behind a white film to let you know if you’ve missed any areas.  The product rinses off relatively easily with cool water.

My skin felt pretty good after using this product – it didn’t leave my skin feeling tight, but clean and refreshed.  It removes makeup well (except for eye makeup, which I typically remove separately before face cleansing anyway).  I have not had any new breakouts since switching over to this cleanser – so far so good. 

Verdict: I’ll need to use this cleanser for a little longer to see if it has any long-term benefits for my skin.  However, I can see myself alternating between this one and the Aveeno cleanser between seasons.  ~8 fl oz bottle, C$25