Skincare — Page 14

Aveda Stress Fix Body Creme Review

April 29, 2014

Did you know that April is Stress Awareness Month? Although it’s almost over, stress-relieving products are sure to come in handy year round. Aveda has just launched a Stress Fix line, including the Stress Fix Body Creme I am sharing with you today. I am definitely feeling stressed lately, as finals week is here! I have been using this creme daily to relax a bit after doing homework or studying.

Aveda Stress Fix Body Creme Review (2) — Aveda Stress Fix Body Creme

This ultra thick, rich body creme is one of the thickest body butters I’ve come across. It includes organic shea butter, sunflower oil, and sea algae to provide skin the most hydration. The scent is organic lavender and clary sage, which are both proven to de-stress the body. They are natural essential oils, which are best for true aromatherapy. I’d say this is best to use at night, because lavender is a great sleep aid. I like this creme because although it is super moisturizing and feels like a lot of oils are inside of it, I don’t feel like my legs have a greasy residue for hours, it sinks in quite quickly!

Aveda Stress Fix Body Creme Review (3) — Aveda Stress Fix Body Creme

If you’ve been having some stressful days, or just love the scent of lavender, you’ll love Aveda’s Stress Fix line, containing body creme, body lotion, soaking salts, and oil concentrate. Treat yourself to a Stress Fix bath & massage after a hard day’s work, your body will thank you!

Aveda Stress Fix Body Creme is available online for $50.

**This post contains products that I have received for free– for more information, please read my Disclosure Policy**

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm Review (Black Tea & Blackberry, Grapefruit & Ginger, Natural Mint & Shea Butter)

April 28, 2014

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 Grapefruit & Ginger, Natural Mint & Shea Butter, Black Tea & Blackberry Review — Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm (SPF 25): Black Tea & Blackberry, Grapefruit & Ginger, Natural Mint & Shea Butter

I recently got some of these lip balms in a giveaway I’d won and was so excited to try them! Jack Black is a men’s grooming brand, but their Intense Therapy Lip Balm has become a blogger and YouTuber favorite in recent years! This lip balm comes in different scents, has SPF 25, and features ingredients such as avocado oil & shea butter to hydrate lips.

The 3 flavors I have are: Black Tea, & Blackberry, Grapefruit & Ginger, and Natural Mint & Shea Butter. I definitely have a favorite of the three. There is a balm for everyone! This lip balm is the best I’ve tried so far. My old favorite was Nivea’s Kiss of Moisture, but this is so much more hydrating. I haven’t had a single day of flaky lips since trying this out in the beginning of the month! Bold lipsticks and all. It has that petroleum jelly-esque feel, without the petrolatum/mineral oil, which is a yucky acne-causing ingredient. I had some bumps on my lips from trying a different balm and this helped fix them quickly! I can even feel it on my lips in the morning after sleeping sometimes.

Black Tea & Blackberry– This scent is my favorite! It is subtly fruity, and does smell like tea. I like this one because it doesn’t bother me taste or smell wise, which the other 2 do.
Grapefruit & Ginger– I don’t mind this scent, it just bothers me once it’s on my lips. The citrusy grapefruit tastes a bit soapy, because these are scented, not flavored.
Natural Mint & Shea Butter– I love the scent of mint, but I never really love minty lip balms because they burn my lips. If you’re a fan of the tingly sensation that lip balms like Burts Bees give you, test this one out.

These balms retail for $7.50, which is pretty expensive for a balm, but it’s worth it. The only gripe I have is that my tubes seem to only be filled around halfway, which is strange to me, because smaller packaging would be a lot more eco-friendly and portable.

Paula’s Choice Skincare Review | Dermstore.com

March 6, 2014

I’ve been meaning to write a review on my Paula’s Choice skin products for a few weeks now, but I just not got the time to write it up, finally! I got these products in early February and have incorporated them in my skincare routine and fell in love. I have heard of Paula’s Choice before and have always heard great things, so I was excited to put them to the test.

Paula’s Choice RESIST Weekly Resurfacing Treatment w/ 10% Alpha Hydroxy Acid ($30)
Paula’s Choice RESIST BHA 9 For Stubborn Imperfections ($40)
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant with 2% Salicylic Acid ($23)

Paula’s Choice RESIST Weekly Resurfacing Treatment with 10% AHA revitalizes dull, tired skin. Glycolic acid and antioxidant-rich botanical extracts help diminish the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots, restoring a youthful, radiant complexion. It boosts collagen production to firm and promote healthy, resilient skin.

This is the first product I tested out. I apply it with a cotton pad after washing my face at night and then finished my nightly routine with moisturizer. In the morning, I woke up with the softest skin I have ever had! I mostly notice a change in my forehead, because I had stubborn tiny bumps that wouldn’t go away. After using this for a month, my forehead looks better than ever! I use this about once a week, maybe every 10 days. It does tingle a bit, but it isn’t uncomfortable. If you only get 1 product, get this one!

Paula’s Choice RESIST BHA 9 for Stubborn Imperfections improves the look and feel of your complexion. Its BHA 9 formula allows for a sustained release of salicylic acid to help diminish white bumps, unclog pores, refine rough skin, and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles without irritating your skin. Ideal for all skin types struggling with stubborn imperfections.

I decided to get this product to act as a nightly spot treatment for any acne I have. I wasn’t impressed at first, but now I really love it. I have had quite a few instances where I get a pimple and it won’t go away. When I use BHA 9, it is either gone or a lot smaller the next day. The only gripe I have is that the consistency is very runny and the pump is hard to use with such a runny product. Since the product is effective I put up with it!

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant boosts the skin’s tone and texture to enhance a natural glow. Salicylic acid exfoliates and promotes faster cell regeneration to minimize the appearance of blemishes, redness, large pores and wrinkles. Green tea soothes inflammation and shields against free-radical damage.

I use this product daily to aid in preventing acne, and it acts as an exfoliant as well. I apply it in the same way as the Weekly Resurfacing Treatment, and it helps maintain the great results that I got with that product. I don’t feel any tingling with this product- it isn’t very strong. I think this is a great product to have if you have issues with acne, but if you don’t, stick with the 10% weekly treatment. I featured this in my February Favorites because I think it has really prevented a lot of my acne. I get hormonal breakouts, which products can’t prevent, but other than that I’ve been blemish free, besides the few times I naively decide to try a new skincare product. Now I know not to fix something that ain’t broke in the first place!

I am definitely a big fan of these Paula’s Choice products- I really hope to try more in the future. Reasonably priced & super-effective. Not only do they have skincare, they also have a great makeup line. I am definitely going to repurchase these products on Dermstore.com whenever I run out! If you’re a Paula’s Choice Fan too, let me know what products I should try next!

**This post contains products that I have purchased with a gift card provided by DermStore.com– for more information, please read my Disclosure Policy**

Radical Skincare Instant Revitalizing Mask Review

January 10, 2014

Radical Skincare is a new brand to me, but they look very promising! The founders are two sisters, who launched their brand after creating a miracle product for rosacea. I was sent their Instant Revitalizing Mask to try, and it’s honestly the coolest & most unique mask that I’ve tried!

A fun-to-apply skin soothing, intelligent mask that foams, pops, and gives radical radiance in minutes while providing hydration, vitamins, and energy to your skin.

The reason why this mask is so unique to me, is because it feels like no other mask. It applies sort of like a serum, it’s a thin consistency at first, and then it starts to foam up on your face. After a few minutes, the mask starts to pop, and it is the strangest feeling ever! It feels tingly and almost tickles your face. I was so astonished the first time I had tried it- I had to demo it on my hand to my sisters! The mask smells great too, very citrusy, as you can see in the ingredients.

Water, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Perfluoroisohexane, Cocamido Propyl Betaine, Glycerin, Acrylates / Palmeth-25 Acrylate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Polyhydrostearic Acid, Carrageenan, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Tropaeolum Majus Flower / Leaf / Stem Extract, Phospholipids, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Niacinamide, Lecithin, Beta-Carotene, Allantoin, Camellia, Sinensis Leaf Extract, Coffea Robusta Seed Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Santella Asiatica Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sorbitol, Mica, Sodium Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride, CI77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ethylhexylglycerin, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Salicylic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Geraniol

Radical Skincare Instant Revitalizing Mask Review (2) — Radical Skincare Instant Revitalizing Mask

After washing this mask off, my face was left smooth and glowing. I will note that this first time I used this I had a bad reaction- my face turned bright red! I mustered up the courage to try it again and I had no issues with it, so don’t be afraid if that happens to you. I have no idea why I turned into a tomato after using it the first time. This mask is super fun to use, and is worth buying just for that reason! It is sold at Sephora for $65, and will last you a long time. I am obsessed with this mask- check it out and see how innovative it is for yourself!

What’s your favorite face mask?

**This post contains products that I have received for free– for more information, please read my Disclosure Policy**

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Cleansing Micellar Water Review

January 6, 2014

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Solution Micellaire Water Micelle Solution Sensitive Skin Makeup Remover Review — Bioderma Sensibio H2O Solution

I have been hearing rave reviews of Bioderma’s Sensibio Cleansing Water for so long now, and was curious to try! I recently won a giveaway of a bottle from one of my favorite bloggers, Jessica from BEAUTEZINE…so now I have it in my possession! I’ve been using it for about a month now and it’s really nice to remove your makeup in a gentle way. I mentioned it in my 5 Skincare Products I’m Loving Right Now video, so you can see a demo of me removing my makeup with Bioderma there! A few noteworthy points about Bioderma…I don’t really love the scent, I can’t detect what it is, but it doesn’t smell like anything nice. I find that it removes eye makeup well, but on occasion I’ve had it appear like all of my makeup is off and then I wake up with mascara under my eyes in the morning. I wouldn’t say it is any better than my beloved wipes…I think it’s nice, but not something I’d repurchase or consider a holy grail product!

Have you tried Bioderma?

**This post contains products that I have received for free– for more information, please read my Disclosure Policy**