The Body Shop Hawaiian Kukui Rich Nurturing Body Cream

I got this Body Shop Hawaiian Kukui Rich Nurturing Body Cream in a holiday gift set, and I finally pulled it out to use it. Like most Body Shop body creams, this is richly scented – overwhelmingly so at first. But it’s a gentle sweet floral scent that’s comforting and easy to get used to.

The cream is a blend of shea butter, cocoa butter, and the Kukui Oil. The result is a rich moisturizing cream that sinks into your skin and moisturizes for at least 12 hours.

You can see how thick and rich the cream is. I was happy to have this mini size, as the usual jar is 350mL and would last forever. Which isn’t a bad thing, because this cream really is lovely.

$36 for the regular size. Mini not sold separately at this time.

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Ren Overnight Glow Dark Spot Sleeping Cream

Ren is a skincare brand that’s new to me – and I’m so impressed by some of their messaging and values. They are working towards making all their packaging recyclable, so the lid that you on this jar is made of recycled plastic and is also recyclable, so when you’re done using the Overnight Glow Dark Spot Sleeping Cream, you can recycle the lid with your plastics, and the glass with your glass recycling.

Besides that, I’m really loving using the Ren Overnight Glow Dark Spot Sleeping Cream. Have I seen that some of my dark spots (freckles, really) have disappeared. No. But I felt like I woke up with brighter skin the very first time that I used this cream.

The major ingredients in the Ren Overnight Glow Dark Spot Sleeping Cream are encapsulated Algae and Phytoglycogen, two natural ingredients that are proven to fight pigmentation in your skin, so this cream will lead to brighter skin over time. I use it in conjunction with whatever I’m already using on my skin because I see it as more of a brightening moisturizer. It seems to work well with my acid toners, especially.

Ren says that this cream is rich and hydrating but I didn’t find that to be true. If I was having a dry day with my skin, I found that I still woke up with dry skin in the morning, and I actually found that this cream was a little bit mattifying which I didn’t mind.

If you’re into that sort of thing, this cream is labelled as “Clean” at Sephora.

$64 at Renskincare.com.

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My Holy Grail of Primers

I first tried Urban Decay’s Primer Potion (eye shadow primer) when I was at the airport. I figured that if it could hold up for an 8 hour flight, then it would be good for everyday too.

Well it didn’t let me down. I had often suffered from creasing eye shadow, especially on long days, and this is the only thing that’s stopped that, and trust me, I’ve already tried everything else out there.

Fast forward 11 years, and this is STILL the way that I prep my eyelids for shadow, liner, or whatever else is going on!  The fact is that it just makes my makeup better, and I like to think that I was using it before anyone else, but since this blog has united me with so many other beauty fans, I now know that EVERYONE loves this too!

Some people complain that the amount in the tube is too little, but I’ve found that a little goes a long way. You just take the wand and literally dab a smidge on each eyelid and then blend it using your finger. The potion doesn’t leave a colour and your eyeshadow will go on nicely afterwards and will even be more pigmented.

These days, I actually like to put some face powder as a base on top of the Primer Potion, and then go to my eyeshadow.  It blends better, and the colour is more subtle, which is what I’ve been enjoying more of lately.

Oh, and I use the original – I find that my shadow smudges and creases a bit more with all the others so this one is my favourite.

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Dior Eye Reviver Palette 001 Illuminating Neutrals

Here’s a blast from the past this morning – Dior no longer has these eye palettes and has redone it’s Backstage Pro collection but this palette was classically great.
Dior illuminating neutralsThis spring, Dior released its own version of the neutral eyeshadow palette.  Called Eye Reviver Illuminating Neutrals, this is a group of shimmery taupe/grey shades of eyeshadows that can be used to create a host of looks.  The palette steps it up from others available by including a black gel eyeliner so that you really can create an entire look with just this palette.

The palette has classic Dior touches: the compact is slick and shiny, the shadows have raised D lettering on them, there’s a full-sized mirror inside, and one dual-ended brush, along with an eyeliner brush.

All the eyeshadow shades have amazing pigmentation.  A little bit goes a long way, and they are silky smooth so they blend quite easily, especially if you use the lightest shade as a base and layer the other shades on top. The third shade from the left really reminds me of MAC’s Satin Taupe which was a limited edition smoky shade that came out a while ago, but remains a collector’s item to this day.

I’ve gone through almost every other neutral palette out there, but I can tell you that this one has staying power in my makeup kit – and that’s simply because of the size.  It fits in my makeup drawer compartments without taking up too much extra space, and that’s a definite plus for me.  I can throw it in a travel kit without it taking up too much space, and this has every shade I’d need for a neutral daytime look or a smoky evening look, so it’s great for touch-ups too.

Available at The Bay for $63.

Here’s the palette after I’ve made a dent in it – you can see how much the eyeliner is used.  I honestly didn’t love using it because it wasn’t as smooth as a liquid liner. I also didn’t use the lightest shades that much.

Here’s a swatch on my hand.  You can see that the light shades didn’t show up that well, but I could definitely pat them on if I wanted to use them as a base… which I almost never did.

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Reversa 3-in-1 Mild Gel Cleanser

If you’re into products that exfoliate the skin, you need to check out Reversa, the Canadian brand that specializes in glycolic products for the face and the body.

I’ve got a few of their products, but first for me to review is their 3-in-1 Mild Gel Cleanser – it has no scents or sulfates, which means that it doesn’t foam.  What it does do is dissolve makeup and then washes it away with water.  Although it’s a good cleanser, it doesn’t take off waterproof makeup but it’s not creamy either, so that’s probably why.  I find that if I’m trying to get a deep clean, I put this on dry skin and rub it in.  It does slowly dissolve all the makeup and then I wipe it off with a wet washcloth.  Then I do a cleanse again with it on wet skin and it really leaves my skin squeaky clean.

This cleanser is perfect if you have dry skin and want something gentle on your skin.  It won’t dry your skin out and will make it feel comfortable after washing, instead of tight and dry.

Because I use this cleanser as part of a two-part cleansing routine, I don’t mind that there’s a bit of residue or mascara left over after I use this once.  I use it again to get everything off, and wiping if off with a wet cloth means that everything really gets off.  I use a toner afterwards, and there’s literally nothing on it when I wipe it across my face.  That’s a sign that this really works!

And I love the pump bottle!  It means that getting product into your hand is super easy and convenient.

Pick it up at Shoppers Drug Mart for about $23 or you can order it online from Reversa.ca.

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KenzoAmour

I’ve known that Kenzo Flower is the best in the market since it came out, and it’s an absolute classic.  I just felt that I had to try both Amour and Flower to see the difference in them both.

Just from reading the description of Amour, I knew that it would be one that I’d like.  It’s a true oriental and has strong base notes of incense and vanilla.  It’s an oriental for those who love orientals.  It’s strong and you can catch a whiff of it as the day goes on.

I absolutely love it and if you like deep dark smoky fragrances, you will too!

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Bumble and Bumble Color Gloss in Clear

I kind of stan Bumble and Bumble these days.  They’re a brand that my salon carries, and they hook me up with little samples every time I go, and I’ve even been getting curbside deliveries from them, so I’ve kind of gotten into the brand.

Most recently, Bumble and Bumble launched the Bb Color Gloss and with all of us stuck at home, it honestly couldn’t come at a better time.  The idea behind the Bb Color Gloss is that you can refresh your hair color without taking the trouble of dying it.  It kind of seems to work in the same way as a toner or semi-permanent hair dye, and whatever color the gloss imparts will was out in 3 days.  That’s less than a week for me because I wash my hair every day.


The Bb Color Gloss comes in 5 colours: clear, cool blonde, warm blonde, brunette, and red. I wanted to try the cool blonde to tone my highlights, but it was out of stock when I was ordering so I got the clear instead just so I could try it.  Bumble and Bumble says that the clear gloss will add shine to your hair, so I had to try it. My hair is pretty shiny but the bottom can look dull and damaged so I thought I would try this.

As you can see, the Bumble and Bumble Color Gloss comes with a pair of gloves which is awesome.  You will definitely need those if you’re applying dye to your hair.  They’re actually pretty sturdy gloves, so I found that I could apply the gloss to my hair using those every time that I did it.

The gloss went on clear and was super easy to apply.  I only applied it to the lower half of my hair and put it in a bun while I waited for it to work.  I had to leave it in my hair for 20 minutes, and then wash it out with shampoo.

I honestly didn’t notice that much of a difference in my hair after using the gloss.  Actually, after the first time of washing, I felt like my hair was frizzier and drier than ever, so it didn’t seem to do anything good for my hair.  After the second wash, things were better, but my hair definitely seemed to be doing much better after the third wash.  Ironically, I think I ended up washing out most of the gloss with the Bumble and Bumble Sunday shampoo which is the most potent shampoo in their line, and one that I would normally not use if I had color or toner in my hair.  I had enough of it left for just 1 shampoo, so that’s what I used and my hair was back to normal.

Even though I didn’t have a great experience with this, I’ll still try the cool blonde version and I think it will work to get the brassiness out of my hair!  I think if you’re going to put a gloss in your hair, the effects are just better if you’re using one with colour.  It can tide you over until you see your actual colorist to get your hair done.

$42 in salons and online.

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Pixi Skintreats Glow Tonic To-Go

This is the perfect acid product for when you’re new to acids and are trying to get into them gently. You don’t want to use something harsh – that’s 10% or more – because it will leave your skin red and irritated, but you want some smoothness, and you want your skin to be more clear. Well, that’s what the Pixi Skintreats Glow Tonic To-Go pads are great for.

These pads are soaked with a solution for just 5% glycolic acid, and aloe vera, so they’re super smoothing and leave your skin feeling fresh. Over time, they’ll help exfoliate your skin, getting rid of any bumps and old acne scarring. For best results, use them once a day and make sure you’re using sunscreen during the day to protected that new skin that’s out.

There are 60 pads in this jar – so if you’re using them daily, by the time you get to the bottom of the jar, you’ll have seen if the glycolic acid is working for you, and if it is, you could try using something stronger. If your skin barely adjusted to these, and you could only use them a few times a week, then stick with them.

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart. $24.

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Evan Healy Rosehip Treatment Facial Serum ROSE

Rosehip oil is a great oil for all kinds of skin, but I will say that it’s a little heavier than squalane oil and some other oils out there. Rosehip is high in antioxidants so it does help skin function better and is “antiaging”, so you can use it day or night.

Evan Healy’s Rosehip Treatment Serum (I tried it in the Rose) is a beautiful oil that you should use as the last step of your skincare routine. Because this is an oil and not a watery serum, you want to use it to lock in moisture that you’ve added into your skin instead of letting it evaporate.

The oil smells absolutely amazing – like lush roses that works with the rosehip’s actual scent instead of trying to mask it. The entire Evan Healy line is meant to help you work with the natural cycle of nature, so it’s nice that their oil also gives you a sensory experience that you can enjoy when you use the product.

You can get this oil online on their website. $34.95.

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Glossier Hand Cream

If you want 10% off, here’s a code for you to use!  http://re.glossier.com/8a0fd65b

Glossier’s hand cream is here, and they donated the first 10,000 units to front line workers during the Coronavirus Pandemic. And first things first: the beautiful packaging is totally recyclable. When you’re done with the cream, you can pop off the top, rinse out the container and throw it with the rest of your recycling. I keep seeing comments that this is a big container for a bit of cream, and that plastic is no good, but you can recycle this, and it seems a lot better than a lot of other hand cream options out there!

The Glossier hand cream is not greasy.  It absorbs into your skin quickly and then stays there hydrating it. It has meadowfoam seed oil, and a special matrix that forms a shield around your skin so that moisture doesn’t keep getting out. I mean, you’re going to have to reapply it once you wash your hands, but that’s ok.

I gotta say that the Glossier Hand Cream is good, but what I like best about it is the scent.  It’s addictive, that’s how good it is. They say that it’s based on Glossier You and I haven’t had that, so I can’t be sure how closely it matches.  But the scent along is why I keep reaching for this cream and reapplying.  I love how good this smells. It’s got notes of pink pepper, ambrette, and musk, with top notes of iris.  They say that they’ve made the hand cream scent a little lighter and fresher than the original You perfume, so that it’s easier to wear on your hands.

You can get the cream for $22 on their website.

If you want 10% off, here’s a code for you to use!  http://re.glossier.com/8a0fd65b

 

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