Review: Vichy Normaderm Skincare

Over a month ago, I was selected to receive a Vichy Skincare package on behalf of ChickAdvisor.  I’m always excited to be selected for campaigns by Chickadvisor, but I was a little more excited than normal for this one.  At the time, I was dealing with some of the worst skin I’ve had in years.  Specifically, I was experiencing constant breakouts and nothing I tried seemed to be helping – not even products that had worked before.  It was beyond frustrating and there were days where I didn’t even want to leave the house (as anyone who deals with problematic skin can understand!)

Thankfully the day before we left for our Vegas trip, my Chickadvisor package arrived.  Included were three, full-sized products from Vichy’s Normaderm line: the Deep Cleansing Gel, the Pore Tightening Lotion and the Corrective Anti-Acne Treatment. This line is specifically formulated for oily and acne-prone skin – ding ding ding!  Right after I received these products I started using them and I immediately ditched the skincare products I was using at the time.  Given that I’ve now been using them for over a month, the time has come for an in-depth review.

Vichy Normaderm Deep Cleansing Gel ($19.95 CAD for 200 mL)

From the website: This ultra-gentle soap-free, alcohol-free cleansing gel deeply cleanses sebum and impurities without over-drying or irritating the skin.  Its ingredients have purifying, anti-bacterial and keratolytic actions to prevent new imperfections from popping up.

Contains the following active ingredients:

• Salicylic acid: Unclogs and deeply cleanses pores.
• Glycolic acid: Has a keratolytic effect, which allows gentle peeling, as well as antibacterial properties.
• LHA: Gently smoothes skin texture and stimulates skin renewal.

My thoughts: At the risk of sounding like a tv commercial, the best way I can describe this cleanser is “gentle yet effective.”  It removes all of my makeup and leaves my skin feeling so soft and clean!  Given its’ active ingredients, I fully expected it to leave my skin feeling tight and/or dry afterwards, but I haven’t experienced any of that whatsoever.  Now, keep in mind it is the summer and my skin tends to be a little oilier than usual – so that could change come the winter months.  But for now, it’s working great.

My only complaint about this is that I can’t use this to remove my eye makeup.  Those active ingredients that help heal skin and keep it clear are best kept away from eyes so a second product is needed to remove eye makeup.  Is this really an issue?  Not really and it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make for clearer skin.  And if I’m being honest I have tried it on my eyes and it does take makeup off pretty well – but my eyes were definitely a little irritated afterwards.  So best to just not do it.

Vichy’s Normaderm Pore Tightening Lotion ($19.95 CAD for 200 mL)

From the website: This toner is specifically formulated for anyone dealing with frequent breakouts, dilated pores and excess shine. This formula combines soothing Vichy Mineralizing Water with glycolic and salicylic acid to unclog, tighten pores and purify the skin.

Contains the following active ingredients:

• Salicylic acid: Unclogs and deeply cleanses pores.
• Glycolic acid: : Has a keratolytic effect, which allows gentle peeling, as well as antibacterial properties.
• LHA: to smooth skin texture and stimulate skin renewal, without irritating the skin.

My thoughts: The fact that this is referred to as a lotion kind of confuses me – I honestly can’t remember the last time I used a toner, mainly because I never really saw any results with ones I’ve tried in the past.  In fact, I actually found they had adverse effects on my skin – my face would always feel extra dry and tight afterwards.  So I was a little skeptical to give this a try.  Turns out this has actually swayed my opinion of toners!  I use this after I wash my face with the Deep Cleansing Gel, and I love how refreshed my skin feels afterwards. Previously I was using a micellar water after cleansing to remove any last traces of makeup but I much prefer this because it does both that and refreshes my skin.  Unfortunately I can’t say I’ve seen any noticeable benefits in regards to mattifying my skin nor tightening pores – both are pretty much the same.  But overall I definitely like this more than I expected!

Normaderm Corrective Anti Acne Treatment ($29.95 CAD for 50 mL)

From the website: Normaderm Corrective Anti-Acne Treatment combines 1.5% Salicylic Acid, LHA, Phe Resorcinol and new Air Licium™ technology to treat and prevent all signs of acne: pimples, pore visibility, acne marks, shine and redness.

• Salicylic Acid + LHA: 50% more concentrated than our original formula to reduce pimples. Ingredients work together to quickly and effectively unclog pores without irritating the skin.
• Phe Resorcinol: New. Combined with exfoliating LHA, reduces acne marks thanks to its depigmentating properties.
• Air Licium: New Ultra-light aerogel helps reduce sebum production and pore visibility, giving the skin a soft focus mattifying finish.

My thoughts: This is the final product in this 3 step skincare process and if I had to pick a favourite, this would be it.  I LOVE this stuff.  I apply this product twice a day after using the Pore Minimizing Lotion; it feels moisturizing but not greasy.  It tingles a bit when I apply it but to me that just means that the active ingredients are doing their job. It doesn’t take long to soak into my skin, which I really appreciate, particularly in the morning when I’m applying foundation.  After it soaks in, my skin feels exceptionally soft, supple and moisturized. And the best part is, I see results. My skin hasn’t looked this great in months – I’m experiencing less breakouts and scars from previous breakouts are healing.  Again, I can’t say I’ve seen tightened pores and/or any less oil than usual but it’s been doing exactly what I want it to do – clear up my skin and keep it clear!

 

OVERALL:  I can honestly say that my skin has never looked clearer and felt more healthy and smooth after using this line.  My breakouts have been drastically reduced and scars from my previous blemishes are fading away.  I’m not using any other skincare products (aside from a micellar water to remove my eye makeup) so I have to give the credit to Vichy for getting my skin back on the right track.  The only true drawback I for forsee with these products is the fact that they do contain fragrance.  It is a light, fresh and clean scent, but it is still fragrance and that can cause irritation for sensitive skin.  Thankfully that’s now something I’ve experienced (despite having super sensitive skin) but it is something to be aware of.

I’m so thankful I was able to give these a try – they’ve totally transformed my skin!  Even though my one month test period is up, I will still continue to use the entire line and I will be purchasing them on my own dime as I use them up.  I actually want to do some further investigation on the other products in the Normaderm line as well.  They’ve hooked me in! If you’re struggling with acne, I’d highly recommend you give them a try yourself!

Have you tried any of Vichy’s skincare products?  If so, let me know below!

Special thanks to ChickAdvisor and Vichy Canada for sending me these products to try!  These products were sent to me for review purposes but all opinions are my own.

Sephora Haul & First Impressions!

Did you participate in the Sephora sale?  I did and although I didn’t get everything I intended (as usual) and made a few impluse purchases, I generally stuck to my shopping list.  Here’s what I picked up:

L’Occitane Almond Smoothing and Beautifying Supple Skin Oil – $52 CAD:

From the website: A quickly absorbed indulgent body oil formulated with more than 50 percent almond oil to help skin feel firmer, smoothed, and hydrated.

I first heard of this from Youtuber Brianna Fox, I believe she mentioned it in a monthly favourites post.  She said it was great for using after you’re out of the shower and it leaves your skin soft and smooth.  I mentioned it to my Mom and she said she uses it and loves it.  Since my skin has been feeling exceptionally dry lately, I decided to treat my skin.  The price was a little hard to swallow but I figured if it was that good, it’d be more than worth it.

First impression:  I’m not sure about this quite yet.  The oil itself is lovely – it absorbs quickly as it claims, it smells beautiful and my skin feels supple, soft and smooth afterwards.  However, the packaging is my biggest gripe.  The oil is housed in a beautiful thick glass bottle with a spray pump – normally this wouldn’t be an issue but it takes quite a bit of effort to push the pump down and that combined with my oily hands feels like a disaster waiting to happen.  I was using this every other day but I’ve since cut back to every 3rd day because I’ve already used about 1/5 of the bottle.  Given the price I can’t really justify buying a bottle of this every month and I was hoping it would last a while.  So while I like this, I think next time I’d try the Almond Milk Concentrate instead.

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation – $47 CAD:

From the website: A lightweight, full coverage hydrating foundation infused with tarte’s Rainforest of the Sea™ complex.

I kept hearing everyone and their dog rave about this foundation and when I saw it in store, I couldn’t resist.  The packaging was beautiful, the shade (light neutral) was a perfect match for my skintone and the coverage looked amazing.

First impression: I obviously still have not learned my lesson to not buy foundations without trying a sample first.  I have sensitive, combination skin with an oily t-zone and dry, dehydrated skin everywhere else.  There are very few foundations that work for me, and unfortunately this is not one of them.  A few minutes after applying it, I loved how it looked, it literally made my skin look flawless.  Then it set, and that’s when the problems began.  It highlighted every dry patch and pore on my skin, and as the day went on, it only got dryer.  I tried applying it with various beauty sponges and foundation brushes, with primer, without primer and I just couldn’t get it to work.  On top of that, it was making me break out (not that that’s anything new).  So I unfortunately I had to return this which was disappointing.

Too Faced Love Flush Blush Wardrobe -$45 CAD

From the website: A six-piece, high-impact blush palette with shades that last for 16 hours.

I’m a big fan of Too Faced products and I’ve yet to try their blushes.  I’ve also been wanting a blush palette for a while so this killed two birds with one stone.  I swatched each one in store and they all looked like shades I would wear regularly so I was sold.

First impression: So happy with this purchase!  All of the blushes have just the right amount of pigment so you don’t need to use a light hand but you can easily build them for a more intense look.  They have a silky soft texture and tend to last about 6-8 hours on me, depending on what I’m doing.  My only complaint would be the packaging – it’s beautiful but it’s cardboard so I won’t travel with this – despite the fact that it’s super light, I know it’ll get scuffed and scratched in a second.  That’s no where near being a deal breaker though, so if you’re looking for a blush palette, I’d suggest you highly consider this one!  Note: this is limited edition.

Tarte Rainforest After Dark Colored Clay Eye & Cheek Palette – $48 CAD

From the website: A limited-edition, colored clay eye and cheek palette for day to night looks.

I did a post a few months back on multi-purpose palettes as I was trying to decide which one I should buy.  I looked at a few options but ultimately narrowed it down to this one and Tarte’s Showstopper palette.  I ended up choosing this one because it had everything I was looking for (eyeshadow, blush, bronzer and highlighter) and the shades are on the cooler side so I felt it’d work better with my skin tone.

First impression: Another satisfying purchase!  This is a great palette, I’m so happy with it!  The eyeshadows are fantastic – super buttery and pigmented and I absolutely love the shades.  The blush, highlight and bronzer are also gorgeous.  I’m going to be traveling with this soon and will do a more in-depth review sometime in June so stay tuned!

Original Beauty Blender – $28 CAD

From the website: An edgeless, non-disposable, high-definition cosmetic sponge applicator.

If I’m being honest, I really did not want to buy another one of these.  Paying $28 for a makeup sponge kinda kills me!  But I’ve tried many of its dupes and I still like this the best – nothing applies my makeup quite the same.  My last one lasted me a year which I’m pretty sure is much too long but I took pretty good care of it. We’ll see how long this one holds up!

First impression: Still great!

Buxom Eyeshadow Bar Single Eyeshadow (No Faux) – $15 CAD

From the website: A primer-infused, powerfully pigmented eye shadow refill with intense color payoff.  Described as a iridescent snakeskin.

I’ve been eyeing this shade long before I even purchased my Buxom palette, and I’ve been waiting for it to come back in stock at my local store for months. Luckily there was one left when I visited and I couldn’t wait to get it home and try it out.

First impression: No Faux is a duo-chrome, warm-toned brown eyeshadow with a pale and dark green shift. I found the texture to be a touch dry compared to my other Buxom shadows, which was a little odd.  I’ve worn this several times since I purchased it and I love how beautiful and unique it is.  I do find this works better pressed into the lid rather than blended all over – the duo-chrome tends to disappears when it’s blended out too much.  Overall though, very happy with this purchase!

Tarte Tarteist Lash Paint (sample) – Full size $28 CAD

From the website: A jet-black, volume-packed mascara so anyone can master the tarte of the fringe.

I usually buy my mascara from the drugstore but this was a 100 point perk so I can never resist trading in a few points to try something new.  I’m pretty picky about what I look for in a mascara, so anything with a heftier price tag really has to blow me away to convince me to buy it.

First impression: Damnit – I love this!  This is an amazing mascara  – it’s super black and it adds crazy length, definition and volume to my lashes which is exactly what I look for in a mascara!  On top of that, it doesn’t flake or smudge.  My other favourite higher-end mascara is Too Faced’s Better than Sex and I think (I think!) I might like this better because thus far (knock on wood), I haven’t experienced any flaking.  The only drawback is the packaging – there’s no edge at the end of the tube to wipe the excess product off on, so it gets pretty messy pretty quick.  I think this is specific to the sample size though, the full size appears to be different.   If this continues to be awesome, I’ll be adding this to my full-size purchase list for sure!

Clinique Take it All Off Set – $17 CAD

From the website: A duo featuring a dramatic, black mascara and a creamy cleansing balm to remove makeup and refresh.

I’ve been wanting to try Clinique’s Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm since last year and I finally decided I was going to do it.  I was happy to find this little set in that always dangerous area before the checkouts and I figured this was a perfect way to try it out without committing to the full size.  Plus it included a mini High Impact mascara as well.

First impression: So at first, I didn’t really like this.  Mainly because I wasn’t following the directions and applying it to wet skin, rubbing it in and then washing my face.  That did pretty much nothing to remove my makeup.  Then I re-read the directions and applied it to dry skin – and I was much happier.  This does work really well to remove all traces of makeup (including stubborn eye makeup!) but it requires patience as it’s a bit of a process.  I’ve found the way it works best is to really massage it to my skin (particularly my eye area), let it sit for a minute or two and then rinse.  The end result is my face is completely devoid of every trace of makeup and feels super soft and moisturized.  I’ve never had a cleanser do both of those things at the same time!  So consider me impressed but also disappointed that I didn’t buy the full size of this! I have yet to try the mascara so I’ll keep you updated on that.

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream with Super 7 Complex – $19 CAD

From the website: A daily age-defying moisturizer formulated with Fresh’s proprietary Super 7 Complex, proven to prevent the signs of aging, provide 24 hours of significant moisture, and boost radiance.

This was another impulse purchase – I had no intention of buying this but that darn checkout section got me again!  In fairness I did need a new day cream and I had forgotten about that prior to getting in line so this was a convenient option.  I haven’t tried much in the Fresh line aside from their Sugar Lip Treatments and Soy Face Cleanser.

First impression: The first thing I did when I opened the glass jar was sniff it and I was kind of disappointed with the cucumber scent.  It wasn’t strong by any means but I hate cucumbers and anything that smells like them!  It smells very similar to the Soy Face Cleanser, perhaps a little more muted.  However what really impressed me was when I applied this to my face – wow!  It’s a silky smooth, lightweight cream that just melts into my skin really nicely.  It’s really hydrating but it absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave behind that horrible tacky feeling that creams sometimes do.  So while it’s still pretty early to make the determination that this is my new favourite moisturizer, I have to say that it’s definitely impressed me so far.

If you read my Sephora Shopping List post, you’ll notice there’s a few items that I said I was going to buy that didn’t make it home with me, including:

Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Lipstick (Firebird): I swatched this in store and I was disappointed.  The colour is pretty but I thought it was going to be more unique. ]

Sephora Kiss Me Balm (Soda Pop): My store didn’t have this shade in stock so I’ll pick it up another time.

Escada Aqua Del Sol Fragrance: Apparently Sephora no longer carries Escada in-store, only online.  Given that the rollerball was sold out online, I couldn’t be bothered to place an online order.

Benefit Coralista Blush: Given that I purchased the Too Faced Blush palette above, I didn’t feel like shelling out more for an individual blush.  I still want to try this though, so it’ll stay on my ongoing list of products I want to try.

Bite Agave Lip Mask: This was something I REALLY wanted but my store was sold out of the clear version and I had no interest in the coloured options.  I was annoyed but I’ll pick it up at some point as I know it’s normally in stock.

My initial plan was to go in store and confirm what I wanted and place my order online so I could take advantage of ebates.  Problem being I was using a gift card to pay for my purchases and guess what?  You can’t use gift cards to pay for purchases online in Canada.  That REALLY ticked me off – like its 2016, why is this not possible?  So I ended up just purchasing everything in store and scaling back on my purchases a bit.

Would love to know what you picked up from the Sephora sale – please share with me below or link to your posts!

Thanks for stopping by!

Simple Skincare

I was selected for the Simple Skincare campaign via Chick Advisor a few weeks ago and received a package containing 3 Simple Skincare products.  I’ve never used any products by this brand, but I’ve seen their products in the drugstore and know that they are popular amongst bloggers and Youtubers.

When I received the products I first did a little research on the company; as someone with sensitive skin, I was pleased to learn that all of their products are free from dyes, artificial perfumes or harsh chemicals.  Instead they contain skin-loving ingredients and added vitamins and their products are all are hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and pH balanced (source)

While this all sounded great, I was interested to see if they’d deliver.  I’ve tried products meant for sensitive skin before, only to end up with breakouts, redness and irritation.  So needless to say, I’m pretty cautious about trying out new skincare and tend to introduce them slowly and sparingly.

Let’s get into the reviews of each product:

MICELLAR MAKEUP REMOVER WIPES – $6.99 / 25 wipes

Gently cleanses skin, leaving it feeling instantly hydrated and refreshed, with no residue left behind.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua, Eau) (Solvent), Cetearyl Isononanoate (Emollient), Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5),Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Glycerin (Humectant), Sodium Citrate (Buffering Agent),Ceteareth-20 (Emulsifier), Cetearyl Alcohol (Emulsifier), Glyceryl Stearate (Emulsifier),Ceteareth-12 (Emulsifier), Benzoic Acid (Preservative), Dehydroacetic Acid, Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E)

I’m pretty picky about my makeup remover wipes.  I typically only use these when I travel or sometimes if I’m feeling particularly lazy after a night out.  My favourite makeup remover wipes are the Olay Gentle Clean Wet Cleansing Cloths because I can usually get away with using one to remove all my makeup (two if I am wearing heavy/waterproof eye makeup), they stay moist and they don’t irritate my skin or eye area.  So that’s what these were going up against.

I’ve used a half a dozen of these so far and I can say that they are on par with my Oil of Olay faves.  They’re really moist, so I have no problem with removing almost every trace of makeup.  If I’m wearing a particularly stubborn mascara or eyeliner I might have to use a makeup remover just to clean up around my eyes but that’s no different than what I experience with the Olay wipes.  The best thing is that I never experienced any dryness, redness, irritation or breakouts with these – my face just felt nice and clean afterwards! Overall, I’m happy with these and would repurchase these on my own.

REPLENISHING RICH MOISTURIZER – $10.99 / 198 mL

Leaves skin replenished and nourished all day long.  Contains Pro-Vitamin B5, Chamomile, Glycerin & Geranium.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua, Eau), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Polyacrylamide, Stearic Acid, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Caprylyl Glycol, Laureth-7, Allantoin, Pentylene Glycol, Bisabolol, Disodium EDTA, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Serine, Sodium Hydroxide, Urea, Sorbitol, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol

When I saw the word “rich” in this I groaned a little inside.  Me and rich moisturizers don’t usually get along.  I have combination skin so I don’t typically need a heavy duty moisturizer.  If my skin is feeling particularly parched, I’ll use a heavier moisturizer overnight so my skin has plenty of time to absorb it.

Surprisingly the consistency of this isn’t as thick and creamy as I expected.  It’s actually quite lightweight but once applied to skin it is quite emollient and definitely takes its time to absorb. Unfortunately I tried it out one morning and a few hours in my skin was looking pretty oily so this wouldn’t work as an everyday moisturizer for me.  I have used it overnight however, and it seems to work better for me that way.  So I’ll keep it on hand for those times when I’m needing some extra hydration.  I don’t think I would purchase this on my own though – I prefer skincare with active ingredients (ideally glycolic acid) and lighter moisturizers work best on my skin.  I see they do have a light moisturizer so I think that would probably work better for my skintype if I was looking for a moisturizer with inactive ingredients.

CLEANSING MICELLAR WATER – $6.99/198 mL

A perfect blend of multi-vitamins, skin loving ingredients and gentle cleansers to cleanse the skin while removing make-up. Skin is left feeling clean and hydrated.

Ingredients: Aqua, Hexylene Glycol, Glycerin, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, DMDM Hydantoin, Cetrimonium Chloride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate.

This box couldn’t have come along at a better time – I was close to finishing up my much-repurchased Sephora Action Cleansing Water and have been itching to try something new.  I had heard some good things about this Micellar Water so I was very interested to give it a try and see how this compared.  I’ve been using the Sephora version for years and I’m very happy with it. I like to use a micellar water in the morning in lieu of washing my face, and after cleansing in the evening.

I experienced 2 drawbacks with this micellar water; firstly, I felt like my skin was slightly oilier than usual by about mid-day when I used this in the morning.  Secondly, I prefer a pump-style bottle rather than a squeeze bottle as I find it’s much easier to dispense and I use only what I need.  Overall though I think this is a pretty good micellar water.  It removes makeup pretty well, leaves my skin feeling refreshed and doesn’t leave any residue behind.  I’m not sure it could replace my Sephora version but I’d pick it up if I was in a pinch.

Overall I was pretty happy with the Simple Skincare products I received.  Even if all the products weren’t a complete match for my skin type and typical preferences, I could easily make any of these work for me and be happy with the results.  Plus I love the fact that they’re from the drugstore and are reasonably priced.

Have you tried any Simple Skincare products?  What were your thoughts?  Let me know below!

Have a great day!

Lise Watier Hydraforce Hydra-Protective Comforting Creme

Last month I was selected to receive a product from Lise Watier’s newest skincare line HydraForce, courtesy of Glam Sense.  This line contains Gaspé Algae Extract, described as a “…survivor of harsh environments, the Gaspé algae has developed a highly efficient resistance system, enabling it to thrive in severe conditions. Its extract guarantees the skin’s global hydration, transforming it into a veritable defensive shield.” (source).  

I received the Hydra-Protective Comforting Creme, which is meant for normal to dry skin.  Unfortunately this wasn’t really a match for me as I have combination skin so I feel the Creme-Gel would have worked better with my skin type. I do tend to experience dry patches every once and while though so I decided to give it a try.  In addition to the creme, I also received a hydra-detect device that was meant to test the hydration levels of my skin (more on this later).

First up, I have to say the packaging is beautiful.  The jar is a thick, heavy glass and it feels and looks really luxurious and high-end.  The creme itself has a thick, rich and creamy consistency and after applying this before bed for a period of 2 weeks, I definitely noticed a difference in the hydration levels of my skin.

One thing I’m not a fan of is its’ strong, perfumey scent; I have very sensitive skin and I tend to stray away from skincare products that have added fragrance.  I think I could stand the scent more if it dissipated after applying, but it lingers for quite a while after.

This is also just a little too rich for my skin, at least right now. Not much of a surprise, given that it’s for normal to dry skin types. I think if we had more of a true winter here, this may work better for me as an overnight mask, used a couple of times a week.  This has been a very mild winter and we haven’t had much in terms of blustery winds or really cold, dry air so my skin isn’t in need of this level of hydration.  However I think if you struggle with dry, parched skin, this could work wonders on you!

Lastly, I have to say that I find the hydra-detect device a little..okay, a lot gimmicky.  Basically you download the Hydra-Detect app and hook the device up to your phone.  The device has a sensor which is to be place on different areas of your skin before and after applying the product, in order to measure hydration levels.  The problem is – I could only get this to work on my hand.  Its intended to test the T-zone and Cheeks but every time I pressed the device in those areas, it wouldn’t move past the “testing” stage and the results never came through.  So I found that frustrating but I wouldn’t depend on this to determine how hydrated my skin is anyway, because how accurate could this really be?  It did show that my hand was much more hydrated after applying the creme but of course it would be, and I don’t really need a device to tell me that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The price point for this product is $45 CAD for 45 mL; if I compare that to other higher-end skincare brands I’ve used, I find the price reasonable.

Overall, I think this is a decent product and would probably work well for those needing some serious hydration and moisture added back into their skin, assuming you’re okay with the fragrance.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Dicaprylyl Ether, Cetyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Leaf Cell Extract, Squalane, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Oleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Carbomer, Dimethiconol, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Peg-8, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium Edta, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Parfum (Fragrance), Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol

Cost: $45.00 CAD for 45 mL

Thanks to Glam Sense and Lise Watier for giving me the opportunity to try out this product!

London Drugs Haul & First Impressions!

So I stopped in London Drugs to pick up some new deodorant, and I walked out of there with all of this:

Because I totally needed 2 new foundations, another mascara, lip balm, a concealer, another face wash, night cream and eye cream.  I did need (ok want) another tube of the Jergens BB cream so technically that’s justified.  Must stay out of drugstores…or just stores in general.

Anyway, here’s the details on what I picked up:

Mitchum Unscented Gel Deodorant & Anti-Perspirant – $3.99 (SALE!)

I’ve discovered that the Dove dry spray deodorant that I’ve been using it actually irritating my skin and causing a rash – lovely!   I used to use Mitchum deodorant years ago and it seemed to work, so I thought I’d revisit it.  Bonus that it was on sale!

My first impression: I find this leaves a sticky residue after applying but once it’s dry it goes away.  No irritation so far either.  It seems to be doing its job so far.

 

Nivea Smooth Replenishing Cream – $2.49 CAD

Nothing super exciting here – just a small hand cream to throw in my purse.  This has macadamia nut oil in it which seemed interesting so I thought I’d give it a try.

My first impression: I’ve only used this once but it seemed to work fine.  Not too thick, standard drugstore lotion perfumey smell and my hands felt moisturized after.

e.l.f HD Lifting Concealer (Fair) – $3.99 CAD

If I could find a concealer that doesn’t settle into the fine lines around my eyes that would be great.  I liked the sound of this one (lifting?) and it was cheap so I figured it was worth a shot.

My first impression:  Creamy texture, a good colour match for my skin tone but I’m not seeing much staying power with this unfortunately.

 

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous Foundation (Classic Ivory) – $9.99 CAD (SALE!)

I’ve been wanting to try this foundation for a while because everyone raves about it.  Lately I’ve been wearing Covergirl’s Ready Set Gorgeous foundation and I included it as a love in my June Loves & Letdowns (review here) but it’s always good to have options.  Plus this was on sale this week so I thought I might as well pay a little less for it if I was going to try it.  I have read some comments about this causing breakouts which worries me a bit because it does have sunscreen in it.

My first impression: I’ve used this once so far and it probably wasn’t the best day to test it out for the first time.  Basically I was sitting directly in the sun for 2.5 hours straight so it just melted right off my face.  I’m not sure any foundation would have withstood those conditions so I’ll try it out under some more normal conditions and I shall keep you updated!

Marcelle Flawless Skin Fusion Foundation – $18.99 CAD 

This was a total impulse buy and one that I hope I don’t end up regretting!  I was just about to leave the cosmetics area and I noticed this on display. Given the price, I normally would have just walked away but there was a $5 manufactures coupon for it so I took the plunge. I’ve never tried any of Marcelle’s products before and I didn’t realize that they are a Canadian company, which I’m always happy to support.  The weird thing is I can’t find anything online about this foundation AT ALL.  Maybe it’s just because it’s so new but it seems weird that Marcelle wouldn’t have anything about it on their website at the very least?

My first impression: So I’ve only used this twice but so far, I REALLY like this.  I’d describe the texture as almost serum-like and it’s very lightweight.  I find it leaves behind a slightly dewy finish and it feels like its light coverage but it covers really well!  I’m going to continue to use this for the rest of this week and cross my fingers that the love just continues!

EOS Visibly Soft Coconut Milk Lip Balm – $3.99 CAD

Okay, I’ll admit that I was not fond of the original EOS lip balms that everyone else seems to go crazy over.  I tried them once and found them waxy and not at all moisturizing.  I read online somewhere about the newer versions being a vast improvement over the originals, so I purchased the coconut milk version.

My first impression: So far, so good!  This smells absolutely amazing and it’s definitely moisturizing!  I’ve only used it a handful of times but I’m kind of loving it already!

Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream (Light) – $11.99

I just did a full review on this in my Used & Abused post (read it here).  Love this stuff!

 

CeraVe Skincare Essentials Pack – $19.99 CAD

I’ve been wanting to try a few CeraVe products for a while now – specifically their eye cream and AM moisturizer.  I went and took a peek at the eye cream and it was priced at $22.99 (eek!).  I was about to walk away when I saw this display of these skincare essential packs that included the coveted Eye Repair Cream, Foaming Face Cleanser and the PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion.  It was on sale for $19.99 (marked down from $29.99) so I snatched it up immediately because #nobrainer.  Even at $29.99, this is a fantastic deal, given that the eye cream retails for $22.99 alone!  I’m so tempted to go and buy another one but I know that I need to try these out for at least a couple of weeks first to ensure that I actually like them.

My first impressions: I’m liking the cleanser – not super moisturizing but not drying either and it takes off the majority of eye makeup which is really rare!  The eye cream – meh, doesn’t seem to be doing anything fantastic but its early days!  Same with the PM moisturizer but I’ll keep using all of these and do a full review in the near future.

Covergirl The Super Sizer Mascara (Very Black) – $6.99 CAD

I’ve heard some super good things about this mascara and I’ve been dying to try it.  It’s not one I would normally try because I typically like the traditional bristley brush mascaras, however I was intrigued by the reviews that said this was great for volume.

My first impression: The brush takes a bit of getting used to as you have to twirl it through your lashes as you apply it. As a result I find it end up getting mascara on my top water line which is a little annoying.  However this definitely provides some serious length and I’d say a reasonable amount of volume.  It does get a bit clumpy but I was able to use the brush to comb them out a bit which I thought was pretty cool!  I picked this up in Very Black and it is indeed, very black!

Have you tried any of these products?  If so, leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts – I’d love to hear them!

Thanks for reading!