Hey everyone! Today we are going to compare two different cleansers: one by Clinique and another one by Fresh to see which one works better!
Clinique Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser - It is a daily cleanser and a scrub that will give your clearer as well as soft skin. This cleanser can be used on all skin types except for those with sensitive skin. The full size retails for $27 for 4.2 fl oz/125 ml and you can purchase it at Sephora, Clinique (online and/or at a counter,) as well as at Mecca if you live in Australia. It did a great job at removing my makeup but it feels strange to remove my makeup with this cleanser with the tiny exfoliating beads. It will definitely be used as my morning skin cleanser because it worked well on my skin!
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser - This product is for all skin types including sensitive. This comes in two sizes and the travel size costs $20 for 1.7 fl oz/50 ml. The larger size will run you $47 for 5.1 fl oz/150 ml of product. The size shown in the photo was part of the Fresh Skincare Power Players set that is sold on Sephora's website. I have used it in the past and I found it to be gentle on my skin. It is nice to use and did a fairly good job at remover my makeup at night!
Update: The larger size now retails for $49 on the Sephora website.
The verdict is that I like them for different purposes and they both performed well on my skin! I prefer to use the Clinique Pep Start in the morning and the Fresh cleanser at night to help remove all of my makeup.
Until next time,
STAY CLASSY
Berrz
FTC: This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. The Clinique Pep Start Cleanser was a free gift from Sephora and the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser came in the Power Players Skincare Set. All prices are in CAD dollars unless stated otherwise. Some links are affiliate.
Smile Brilliant: Use code beautybyberrz for 5% off your entire order MagicLinks: I use MagicLinks for all my ready-to-shop product links Uber: Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue
Hope's: Get 15% off your first purchase *LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR YOUR AUTOMATIC CODE!
Hey everyone! I'm back with another Empties post today and wanted to share with you all of the products that I have used up for the month of February! Let's dive in!
Hair
Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Bodybuilding Volume Shampoo & Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Bodybuilding Volume Conditioner (40 ml each) - I got this on Black Friday on the Sephora web site and I really do like the smell. I thoroughly enjoyed trying this out but my hair is getting longer and therefore I need to use more product. I noticed that the duo did make my hair more soft! One bottle has quite a steep price tag of $40 CAD for 8.5 oz or 250 ml. I don't think that I would commit to the full size but I did like the travel friendly tubes!
Face
LaNeige Good Night Kit - Water Sleeping Mask (15 ml) & Multiberry Yogurt Repairing Mask (20 ml) - This was purchased on the Sephora web site for $8 CAD and it is a great way to try-out two products! I loved the smell of the Yogurt mask and it made my skin feel very fresh as well as soft after using it. The Sleeping Mask was honestly really great to use and it absorbed into the skin quickly. It left my face very soft the next morning and I actually featured it in my Most Reached for Face Masks & Sleeping Masks post.
ARZ Rose Water (300 ml) - I love using Rose Water to tone my face at night and this is the second bottle that I have gone through. I managed to use the entire bottle up before the expiration date which was next month and needless to say, that was very successful! I have an entire blog post dedicated to The Benefits of Rose Water and the best part is that you can purchase it at your local grocery store for around $3!
Murad Ultimate Hydration Duo - 2 Target, Hydro-Dynamic Quenching Essence (5 ml) & 3 Hydrate, Hydro Dynamic Ultimate Moisture (7.5 ml) - This was featured in my Sephora Black Friday Haul and it was selling for $20 CAD online with a $28 value. This was nice to use and try-out however, I would not buy the full size. I no longer had acne-prone skin and my skin is not problematic. Murad is a great brand and I have nothing negative to say about them. There are just different moisturizers on the market that I prefer and sometimes I just want to put on a moisturizer in the morning without having to worry about applying the essence as well. The moisturizer was thicker than I originally thought but it worked well for me in the winter time when I applied it in the morning. The duo did make my face noticeably smoother and softer though. I did also appreciate that they included a lot of information inside the box about the products as well as the ingredient list. Also, I know the Murad Step 3 Face Cream is full in the photo, but I took the photo before I finished it this month.
Tarte FRXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser (0.22 oz) - This is honestly a great way to exfoliate your face and it does come in a stick form which makes it super convenient as well as not nearly as messy as other products! I like the purple packaging and to be honest with you, I thought that this was going to be a gimmick but I can honestly say that it is not! This is a gel stick and it is fragrance-free in-case you were wondering. If you want to leave it on for a little while longer, there is the option to use this as a mask! This product is amazing and I am so glad that I tried it out! It was part of the Ready, Set, Glow! Skincare Kit from Tarte on the Sephora web site that retails for $21 CAD. I did feature it in my blog post talking about my 3 Favourite Exfoliators for the Face.
Estee Lauder New Dimension Shape + Fill Expert Serum (7 ml) - I purchased this at the Estee Lauder Warehouse Sale and I also wrote a blog post sharing with you, which items I purchased. I really did like using this serum at night and it absorbed into my skin very quickly. This is marketed to all skin types and the scent isn’t overpowering at all! I really did look forward to using this product as part of my PM skin routine and the bottle is gorgeous!
Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream (7 ml or 0.24 fl oz) - This claims to both moisturize and nourish the skin. I would definitely agree and I absolutely love the scent as it smells like fresh roses! It is a cream-gel that has both rosewater as well as rose flower oil inside. It is marketed to have a lightweight texture but I would disagree and say that it is more on the thicker side. I would only use this cream in the morning during the fall or winter months because it is quite dense. I have more oily skin and this cream is definitely not targeted towards us oily skin ladies! This travel sized cream came in the Skincare Power Players Set from Fresh that was purchased on the Sephora web site for $30 CAD during Black Friday even though this was not a Black Friday special. The full sized version retails for $50 CAD on the Sephora web site and you are receiving 50 ml or 1.6 fl oz of product inside the beautiful jar.
GLAMGLOW YOUTHMUD TINGLEXFOLIATE Treatment (15 ml or .5 oz) - I purchased this for $15 at the Estee Lauder Warehouse Sale. I had tried a sample of it and I really enjoyed using it! This little jar will give you between 3-6 uses which is great for being able to try-out the product without committing to the full size product which retails for $79 CAD on the Sephora site for 50 ml of product. I personally prefer the GRAVITYMUD Firming Treatmentmask which is a peel off mask that changes colour once it is on your face. This mask can get rather messy because it contains pieces of Green Tea Leaves that fall into the sink when your wash it off. It did make my skin feel very soft after use but I wouldn’t commit to the full size version. It contains other great ingredients like French Sea Clay and Volcanic Pumice Rock. This mask does also help exfoliate your skin as you are supposed to rub it in circular motions when removing it.
Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask (20 ml) - This was also part of the same aforementioned Fresh Skincare Set. I liked the scent and there is a tingling sensation when the mask is applied and you only need to wear it for 5-10 minutes on your face. I have taken this directly from the Sephora site, “Black tea ferment, also known as Kombucha, is an advanced antioxidant that helps to defend against wrinkle-causing free radicals while softening, smoothing, and enhancing luster. The formula is further enriched with lychee seed extract, known to support natural collagen, firming polysaccharides that help to smooth the skin, and jicima root juice, notable for its hydrating and nourishing properties.” However, when I seen their price tag online on the Sephora web site, I almost choked. For 100 ml of product, this mask retails for $112 CAD! Honestly, I liked the mask but not enough to spend that much money on it. Over a year ago, I did use a sample of their Black Tea Age Delay Cream that I featured in my September Empties and did like it, but once again, it is more on the expensive side as it retails for $115 CAD for 50 ml of product.
Ole Henriksen The Clean Truth Cleansing Cloths: Brightening (10 cloths) - This came as part of the On-the-Glow Essentials set that was purchased during Black Friday. You are getting 10 quilted cloths that have both Vitamin C and Coq10. They feel great on the skin and do a wonderful job at removing my makeup but the larger pack contains 30 cloths for $19 CAD. There is no way that I am going to be spending that kind of money to use a cloth for only a few seconds to help remove my makeup and then throw it in the trash. These are great and my only complaint is the hefty price tag.
Body
Peter Thomas Roth Strawberry Scrub - Fruit Enzyme Polisher (250 ml) - This was nice to use in the shower and who doesn’t love the smell of strawberries? I felt that I used this up fairly quickly and one bottle retails for $38 USD on the Sephora web site but for whatever reason, they do not sell the individual bottle on the Canadian web site, just the American Sephora. I got this in the Hall of Fame Kit that retails for $44 CAD which is such a great deal because the kit has a value of $120 CAD!
Dove Go Fresh Cool Essentials Antiperspirant Stick (14 g - travel size) - If you have been following my blog for a few months now, you will remember that I featured the aerosol version of this same exact scent in my September Empties. I loved the smell but wasn’t the biggest fan of the aerosol feature and that’s why I only bought the travel sized version in stick form. I also do not have to reapply the product nearly as much as I did with the aerosol can. I only apply it once in the morning and then I reapply if I am extremely sweaty or if I have been super active that day - that’s it. I really do like both the scent as well as the scent and I will be going to the store to purchase the larger version very soon!
Bath & Body Works
Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in Fresh Balsam (259 ml) - This is a great scent as it reminds me of a Christmas Tree and green is my favourite colour therefore, I was a little biased when I selected this hand soap in-store. The Gentle Foaming Hand Soap is my favourite formula that Bath & Body Works has in terms of their soaps.
Bath & Body Works Scentportable in Lavender Vanilla (6 ml) - This scent is perfect for fall and smells very clean! It isn’t one of my all-time favourite scents but it does the job and I have nothing negative to say about it.
Teeth
Exact Dental Floss Picks (36 count) - These are mint flavoured and they were extremely cheap at Real Canadian Superstore (RCSS.) They are great quality and can last you over a month if you use one floss pick every day. They work for my teeth and they are quite durable as they do not break or snap when using them.
David’s Tea Hot Tropic Cowabunga! Fruit Fusion (65 grams) - This honestly wasn’t my favourite tea and it had a weird taste that sugar couldn’t even help. The ingredients inside include: Apple, Mango, Raisins, Cinnamon, Coconut Chips, Star Anise, Vanilla and some others. The packaging is cute but I wouldn’t recommend this tea due to the taste.
Other/Miscellaneous
Equate Quilted Pads (100 count) - This was actually purchased from Wal-Mart in a 3-pack. These are excellent cotton rounds that do not break when you are using them. I also like the Up & Up brand’s cotton rounds from Target but since we no longer have any Target stores in Canada, these are my go-to!
Samples/Promo
Teeth
Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening Gel (1) & Desensitizing Gel (2) (3 ml) - I do have an entire blog post dedicated to my experience whitening my teeth to achieving a whiter smile in just 5 days using Smile Brilliant. This system really does work and I recently discovered it again after I was decluttering my space. I forgot how much that I really loved using it! The only thing I do not like is that the label on several of my syringes started peeling off which was annoying when using it because it just got in the way.
Oral B Complete Toothbrush - This was given to me by my Dental Hygienist and it gives my teeth a nice deep clean! Oral B is a great brand and I love the soft, gentle bristles on their brushes! I usually replace my toothbrush every 2-3 months as recommended because I like using a fresh, new toothbrush whenever I can!
Fragrance
Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Eau De Parfum (1.2 ml) - This perfume actually reminds me of a German perfume that my Grandma loves and buys every now and again. This is the first perfume by the duo and it comes in 6 different sizes which is amazing because not all perfumes offer that many options. The notes include: Sambac Jasmine, Centifolia Rose, Cattleya Orchid, Ballerina Freesia and Patchouli. It isn’t overly floral and it has a bit of spice to it which I like. It lingers throughout the day which is something that I look for in every perfume that I potentially plan on purchasing! I remember when Wale came out with the song Lotus Flower Bomb and I immediately thought of the fragrance!
Gucci Guilty Eau de Toilette (1.5 ml) - Even though this is a sample, I hate that this doesn’t have a spray feature and that you have to carefully put some perfume onto yourself. Anyway, the notes are: “Geranium, Pink Pepper, Lilac, Peach, Amber, Patchouli.” The scent is described as, “Modern. Electric. Romantic.” I have heard so many different people rave about this perfume as it seems to be a favourite and I wanted to understand what the hype was all about. This would be a great scent to add to any perfume collection and it would be great to display on your vanity as the bottle is gold with the iconic G logo. It is a great sultry, sexy scent that is perfect for a night out on the town!
Alien by Thierry Mugler Eau de Parfum (1.2 ml) - I had never heard of this perfume before, but I had heard of Angel by Mugler in the past. This has a warm floral scent to it and the notes include: “Jasmine Sambac, Cashmeran Wood, Amber Gris.” The full sized version of this bottle is absolutely stunning and the purple with the gold accents really caught my eye! This is rather strong when you first apply it and 2 sprays is more than enough. It does fade down pretty quickly and it lingers throughout the day which I love! This is a warm, sultry and rather bold fragrance in my honest opinion.
Other/Miscellaneous
Royale Signature 3 Ply Kleenex (10 count) - These are great for having in your purse for all kinds of situations, especially for those unexpected emergencies! I always try to have a pack in my purse at all times. I love the 3 ply tissues and I already have a new pack in my purse!
Excel Naturally Sweetened Gum in Spearmint & Peppermint - I really disliked the texture of this gum. It was thick and it got tasteless as well as hard rather quickly. I couldn’t chew it for more than a few minutes. The taste is always consistent with Excel but I would recommend the ones in the packs where you pop out a piece of gum. I was glad to finish these up and wouldn’t even think of purchasing them in the future. My friends also did not like this gum at all.
Until next time,
STAY CLASSY
Berrz
FTC: This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. Items listed under the Samples/Promo category were items that I did not purchase on my own because they fall in either category. Some links are affiliate.
Smile Brilliant: Use code beautybyberrz for 5% off your entire order MagicLinks: I use MagicLinks for all my ready-to-shop product links Uber: Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue
Hope's: Get 15% off your first purchase *LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR YOUR AUTOMATIC CODE!
Hey everyone! I love a great facial moisturizer and I have been testing a lot out for you lately! I wanted to share with you a couple of my favourites.
Tarte Rainforest of The Sea Drink of H20 Hydrating Boost Moisturizer - I recently featured this in my January Empties and I was sad to use it up. This is a great gel moisturizer with a light scent. This is not greasy at all and I used it before applying my makeup.
Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream - This I would recommend using at night because it is a cream or I have been using it in the morning during Winter because my skin needs the extra moisture. I love the rose scent because it smells like fresh roses from a garden!
Until next time,
STAY CLASSY
Berrz
FTC: This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. Some links are affiliate.
Smile Brilliant: Use code beautybyberrz for 5% off your entire order Uber: Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue
Hope's: Get 15% off your first purchase *LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR YOUR AUTOMATIC CODE!
Hey everyone! I wanted to share with you an easy, go-to look that I have been wearing on most days! It only takes a few minutes and your skin will definitely be looking more luminous if you decide to try this out!
I have been using a hydrating cream that smells like roses that is from Fresh to give my skin the moisture that it has been lacking! It is pretty dry and very cold where I live therefore, I like to add some luminosity to my dull skin in the winter time. I also like to add some colour back into my face with bronzer and blush!
Products:
Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream
Skindinavia The Makeup Finishing Spray (Oil-Control)
Becca Backlight Priming Filter
Maybelline Master Conceal Camouflaging Concealer in #20 Light
It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Illumination Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer in Tan
ELF Pressed Translucent Powder
Pur Minerals Mineral Glow Powder
Sleek Blush in Pomegranate
ColourPop Super Shock Cheek in Wisp
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara in 01 Extreme Black
Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in 005 Nude
Maybelline Brow Precise Micro Pencil in Deep Brown
To top off the look, I used #930 Truffle Tease Lipstick by Maybelline which is a great nude colour!
Until next time,
STAY CLASSY
Berrz
FTC: This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. Some links are affiliate.
Smile Brilliant: Use code beautybyberrz for 5% off your entire order Uber: Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue
Hope's: Get 15% off your first purchase *LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR YOUR AUTOMATIC CODE!
Hey everyone! Black Friday was on November 25th this year and I know this haul is going up late, but better late than never right? I made 2 orders on the Sephora web site because they had some really great deals! I was able to preview the sale on the app which was very helpful and it ultimately helped me decide on what to buy! What I Purchased:
Murad - Ultimate Hydration Duo ($20 CAD) - It says on the box that you are getting a $26 value for only $20. This is a great way to try-out the brand before committing to the full sized version of a particular product. I have heard rave reviews about this brand and wanted to try-it out for myself!
Ole Henriksen - Try Us, Love Us! On-the-Glow Essentials ($18 CAD) - This bag has a $35 CAD value and you get three great products! These items are great to travel with and I am excited to try-out this brand as I have been hearing a lot of great things recently! I have only tried out samples from Sephora in the past from the Ole Henriksen brand.
Boscia - Pink Peppermint Blotting Linens ($6 CAD) - I have purchased their blotting sheets in the past and they usually retail for $13 CAD. This was less than half the price and I had to take advantage of this great bargain! The packaging is super cute and limited edition.
Nest - Eau de Parfum Travel Spray Trio ($16 CAD) - This trio has a value of $80 CAD. I really loved the packaging and I don't know much about this brand to be honest with you! I plan on putting these three travel sprays in rotation in my purse!
Alterna Haircare - Caviar Volume Trio Kit ($13 CAD) - This set was valued at $37.50 CAD. I am excited to see how these three products work on my hair! I have never tried it out but have heard many bloggers talk about this brand!
Fresh - Skincare Power Players ($30 CAD) - This is a $36 value and it was not a Black Friday special but I wanted to take advantage of this great buy anyway. I have been wanting to try out the Seaberry Oil for quite some time now and there is a Rose Face Cream that I am very excited to try-out!
I wanted to purchase the Philosophy Peel Duo Set but that sold out very quickly as well as the Sephora Rose Skin Trio. They had the Purity Cleanser on sale for Black Friday and Sephora brought back the Purity Made Simple Cleanser for Boxing Day for $15 CAD which is more than half off! It was the same price on both big shopping days and it is currently sold out right now on the Sephora web site. It is the one with 360 ml or 12 fl oz.
Until next time,
STAY CLASSY
Berrz
FTC: This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. Some links are affiliate.
Smile Brilliant - Use code beautybyberrz for 5% off your entire order Uber - Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue
Shop Hope's Online - Get 15% off your first purchase *LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR YOUR AUTOMATIC CODE!
Hey everyone! This is going to be a rather large empties post as you can see that I have gone through quite a few products this month. Get a snack and a warm beverage and let's get started!
Face
Yves Rocher Smoothing Cleansing Milk - I like using this in the morning. It really doesn’t do a good enough job at removing my makeup (in my honest opinion,) and this really helps to hydrate my skin. I found an interesting article for you to read on the different botanicals.
Aveeno Ultra-Calming Makeup Removing Wipes - I really did thoroughly enjoy using these! They did a great job at removing my makeup and were gentle on the skin. Also, the cloths were very soft on the skin. I will definitely be repurchasing these wipes in the future! My only complaint is that when there were 2 or 3 makeup wipes left, the closure to open and close separated from the pack. This is turn slightly dried out those last few wipes but not severely.
Dr. Jart+ Brightening Infusion Hydrogel Mask - I have an entire review on this hydrogel mask, but I found it nice to try-out once, and it will not be replacing my go-to sheet masks from The Face Shop. This mask is: on the more expensive side, it is slippery on the face, you need to lie down when it is applied and it is great for people with dark circles or those with an uneven skin tone.
Teeth
Colgate Total Whitening Toothpaste Gel - I think that I am going to stop featuring these in my empties because it is just getting repetitive at this point and it really isn’t even my favourite toothpaste.
Equate Flosser Picks - These did the job and did not break when I was using them. They are very inexpensive and you can purchase them at Wal-Mart.
Hands
Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in Oh Snap! Jolly Gingerbread - I have featured this several times in the past and I really enjoy using this scent around the holidays.
Other/Miscellaneous
Nature’s Bounty Hair Skin & Nails Gummies with Biotin (80 count) - You already know how much I love these gummies and I talk about them quite frequently. I have an entire dedicated blog post to this fabulous product for you to read.
Cotton Rounds (100 count) - These are made with 100% pure cotton and I purchase these at Wal-Mart. These are my go-to and my current favourite cotton rounds with the exception from the ones sold at Target.
Bath & Body Works Scent Portable in Caribbean Escape - I have purchased this scent in the past and I really do enjoy it! It brings me back to my time spent in Jamaica! This is a pleasant and nostalgic scent for me that I will continue to repurchase for years to come.
Samples/Promo
Makeup
Makeup Forever Ultra HD Fluid Foundation Sample Pack (4 shades) - In my last Project 10 Pan (Round 5,) I feature a deluxe sample in the shade 117=Y225 (marble,) and the verdict was that it was a great match for my skin tone, however, it made me feel too greasy despite blotting as well as powdering throughout the day. I only like it mixed with another foundation. I used the lighter shades mixed in with another foundation and the darker shades were used for contouring. Shades included in the quad were: 117=Y225, 127=Y335, 128=Y415 & 177=Y505.
Too Faced Shadow Insurance - I used this products years ago and it didn’t work for my eyelids at all. The tube I had actually went bad and it started leaking everywhere. Now, I was hesitant to try this out again but I did and I received good results this time around! I don’t know if they reformulated this product but my shadows did not crease on my eyelids and I am very happy about that because the old tube I had would crease on me in a matter of minutes!
Skin Care
Kate Somerville EradiKate To-Go - I had never used anything from her line before and I was going in with an open mind. I do love the concept behind this product, the name is very clever and the packaging was fun! I understand where they were coming from with this product but it didn’t WOW me. It was easy to snap the swab at the blue line, but the pink product reminded me of ointment that my mother dotted on me with a cotton puff when I was a child when I had the chicken pox. I also expected a form of liquid to come out after I snapped it but that didn’t happen. In my opinion, the cotton swab is too hard to put on a pimple and on acne prone face. Again, I wanted to love this product and it is great for taking when travelling, but I did not like it sadly.
Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil - I have used this product in the past and I really enjoyed it! I like to apply this before bed but you can also mix it in with your moisturizer if your skin is very dry. I received this in my Sephora Sample Bag that I redeemed online using the promo code: PARTYON after spending over $35 CAD. Check out my Challenge Video that I created using all Sample Sized & Travel Sized Products!
Face Masks/Sheet Masks
Pure Derm Sheet Mask - This lovely smelling face mask is infused with Collagen and Vitamin E. It made my face feel soft and smooth after use! Fresh Vitamin Nectar Vibrancy-Boosting Face Mask with A Vitamin Fruit Complex - Let me start off by saying that if you favour a face mask that goes on smooth, then this is not the one for you. If you are allergic to citrus, please do not use this mask because it contains lemon and orange! There was a cooling sensation on my face when I did wear this mask. I also want to mention that it is recommended on the back to remove this product with a wash cloth. I tried using just warm water and my hands, but when the mask dries on your face, the chunks are hard to get off. You really need to use a warm wash cloth to remove everything completely off your face. It can get a bit messy as there are chunks that can be hard to spread, but I quite enjoyed using this face mask. My skin felt fresh, smooth and very soft after-use. I am not completely sold on purchasing the full size because I am not a huge fan of the chunks in the product, but I did thoroughly enjoy using my sample from Sephora!
Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask - This helps clear pores and it advises to use this once a week. This is for all skin types and helps with: dryness, dullness, uneven texture and also, it helps with your pores. They use Bamboo Charcoal which acts similarly like a magnet to help draw out anything clogging your pores. Another key ingredient is White China Clay that absorbs environmental toxins. Lastly, it contains lecithin which is a fat essential in the cells of your body. You can find lecithin in foods such as egg yolks as well as soybeans. Lecithin helps dissolve impurities in this particular face mask and flushes out: dirt, debris as well as environmental toxins which can make the face look less radiant thus clogging pores. This mask is more on the messy side and I recommend applying it with a brush because it goes on thick! I also suggest removing it with a warm washcloth.
I want to address the obvious that this sample is not opened in my photo but I will be using it either tomorrow or the following day and it will be used up before December 1st. I am quite busy and wanted to get up this Empties Blog Post while I can!
Moisturizers/Eye Creams
Philosophy Renewed Hope In A Jar - This was also a sample that I received from Sephora. It was one of the 3 free samples with every order that you can pick-out for yourself. I feel like it did do a good job at hydrating my skin and I applied it in the morning before I applied my makeup onto my face. It did not break me out and it did not leave my skin more oily than it already is.
Tarte TarteGuard 30 Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion - I did enjoy applying this on my face and I love that there is an SPF of 30! The product does go on white but it sheers out when you massage it into your skin. I am going to look into purchasing a full bottle of this product! I also do like the packaging!
Juice Beauty Green Apple Age Defy Moisturizer - I have never heard about this company until I received a sample of their moisturizer! I am going to take a guess and say that they are an American company because we don’t have any green apples in Canada and the ones that are for sale in the stores, are Granny Smith apples imported from the USA. The scent of this is rather unique and I quite like it! I used this in the morning before I applied my makeup and it absorbed quickly into my skin. The formula felt luxurious and this is more on the thicker side. I want to say that I do have extremely oily skin and I can’t give credit to this product alone, but when using this in conjunction with other beauty items, my face was not oily! I did not have to do my regular blotting and powdering my shift half way through the day!
Tatcha Supple Moisture Rich Silk Cream - This is a gel cream that claims to work on: normal combination and dry skin. It doesn’t state that it works on oily skin. You only need a dime size amount of product for your entire face. A little goes a long way. It is extremely lightweight, does not feel heavy whatsoever, it absorbs well, it feels luxurious and it had a pleasant smell to it! The full sized version retails on the Sephora web site for $180 CAD for 1.86 oz/55 ml of product. Yes their products can be costly, but there is a great reason behind this! They have a partnership called ‘Beautiful Faces, Beautiful Futures’ which allows them to send a girl to school upon purchasing one of their skin care products. Ingredients in this cream includes: green tea extract (which is a powerful antioxidant,) Okinawa red algae extract (good for long-lasting moisture retention as well as texture improvement,) and also Japanese rice bran extract (an age old multi-tasking ingredient that is a great antioxidant which offers nourishing moisturizing benefits. I received this in my Tatcha Kyoto Cleanse Set that I purchased on the Sephora web site which I featured in my latest haul!
Olay Eyes - Ultimate Eye Cream - This is great for people who have: dark circles, wrinkles and puffiness. I only get puffiness underneath my eyes sometimes and this product didn’t completely eliminate that, but it did help. This is the second sample of this particular product that I have tried out and I still am not sold on it. It is a standard eye cream in my honest opinion.
Cleansers/Makeup Wipes
Nivea Creme Care All-in-One Facial Cleansing Lotion (x2) - This product claims to be able to take off your makeup and I would disagree with that. I was really working this product into my skin and it just helped loosen the makeup - it didn’t remove it well. I feel like this is a similar situation with my Yves Rocher Smoothing Cleansing Milk as I like to use it in the morning and not at night to remove my makeup.
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths (x2) - I seem to keep getting these as samples but I am not complaining because you already know that I like this product very much and have bought it in the past. These are great wipes for taking off your makeup and as it suggests in the name, they are very gentle!
Sephora Express Eye Makeup Remover Wipe (x2) - I received these as samples and they were very gentle on my eyes as they did not irritate or burn my eyes. The wipe was thin enough and not thick. In my opinion, it was the perfect size as you can unfold it all the way if you wish. However, it did not fully get off my eye makeup underneath my lower lashes. I was going over it quite a few times and it wasn’t coming off which was annoying. I had to go in with a Q-Tip and my YSL Eye Makeup Remover to fully get everything off.
Hair
Schwarzkopf Omega Repair with Omega Oil Shampoo (x2) - The scent of this was lovely and more importantly, I love how it worked on my hair. The formula is described as rich which I would have to agree with and they use Ultime-4-Complex which includes a combination of: pearl essence, panthenol, refined protein and keratin.
Schwarzkopf Omega Repair with Omega Oil Conditioner (x2) - I wasn’t aware but this product was developed with Claudia Schiffer! This was a great conditioner for me hair and this product is targeted to those with damaged or depleted hair.
Body
L’Occitane Milk Concentrate with Almond Milk - I have used another one of these samples in the past and I love how it feels on my skin! It is very moisturizing and nourishing!
Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion in Cocoa Butter - I have tried this product in the past and I honestly wasn’t a fan. Now that I’m trying it again, I like it slightly better but not enough to go out and purchase the full sized version. It smells great and it is moisturizing but I do have psoriasis and I need to be careful when choosing skin care products especially for my hands.
Carprina Fresh Goat’s Milk Soap with Shea Butter (x2) - I received two samples of this product and I really did enjoy using it! My skin felt very smooth after use and it did not irritate my psoriasis! I felt very skin afterwards and left a nice subtle smell that lingers for a awhile after.
Fragrance
Versace Bright Crystal Eau De Toilette - I have used one of these samples in the past and I really liked the scent! The notes are: Yuzu, Iced Accord, Pomegranate, Peony, Magnolia, Acajou, Lotus Flower, Musk and Vegetal Amber. The main groups of notes consist of: flower, fruity and musk.
Marc Jacobs Decadence Eau De Parfum Spray - This scent is described as: sultry, luxurious and indulgent. Marc Jacobs really did a great job at advertising this product because I specifically remember last year when this was all over the tv commercials and I seen a lot of in-store demo-ing to show this product off that was mainly done in department stores such as The Bay.
Revlon Love is On Fragrance - I really wasn’t expecting anything much from this scent but I actually really enjoyed it! I will be looking out for the full sized version in stores!
Food/Beverages
Starbucks Hot Cocoa Double Chocolate - My friend gave this to me and it is very indulgent! On the packaging, it tells you to make it with hot milk. The only thing that I didn’t like is that even though I kept stirring it throughout I was drinking it, there was a lot of the powder leftover at the bottom. I would just go to Starbucks to purchase their hot chocolate instead of buying their mix.
Ozery Bakery Morning Rounds Muesli - I tried these out in the past and they weren’t my favourite. This time around, I put my morning round in the toaster and it made a world of difference! I absolutely love these now! It is filling and very flavourful. I did not add anything to it and I will definitely be purchasing these next time I am at the grocery store! I ate mine in the afternoon with a bowl of soup!
Nutri-Grain Fruit & Nut Medley in Harvest Blueberries & Mixed Nuts - This was an awesome snack! It was chewy and soft! The flavours were delicious and I would definitely purchase a box of these bars! This was one of the items included in my SampleSource Fall Box.
Also, I have decided to start taking multiple photos and breaking it up into categories (like I do with the subtitles,) for easy visual reference. Meaning that I would take a picture of all the skin care items that I used up that month which would be followed with my opinions and I would do that for every single category.
Until next time,
STAY CLASSY
Berrz
FTC: I purchased some products and others were given to me or were samples. All opinions are truthful and I am not paid to speak about any of these products. Some links are affiliate.
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