Product Review: CosRx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser

 Product Review: CosRx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser

Have been meaning to try this product for a while now. I am now halfway through the tube so I thought it was time to review. This is a gel cleanser that smells of tea tree. It is a low ph cleanser designed to be gentle on skin. I do find it to be gentle and not too stripping. It is supposed to be low foaming, but I do find it foams quite nicely. My main complaint is the packaging. It is a thin gel and just opening the tube it tends to spew out even without squeezing the tube much. This would be so much better packaged in a pump. 3/5 for me. Would repurchase if they changed the packaging. 

Where to buy: Ulta (link), Amazon (link)

Product Review: CeraVe Eye Repair Cream

 Product Review: CeraVe Eye Repair Cream

I re-purchased this product on a whim off Amazon because my eyes were suffering dryness and irritation. I had used this a long time ago and can't remember why I never bought it again. CeraVe is known for their ceramides in products and this is no different. It contains a few ceramides, niacinamide, and sweet almond oil. I find it to have a nice thick cushiony feeling and it really moisturizes. No irritation either. This really helped the dryness on my eyelids. Price point is good too, at $10-11.

Where to buy: Amazon (link)

FabFitFun Fall 2020 Box Review

 FabFitFun Fall 2020 Box Review

I haven't reviewed a FabFitFun box in awhile. I skipped over the Spring box and forgot to review my Summer box. This is my review for the Fall 2020 box. I am pretty happy with this box as it has a majority of products I will use.

(L to R: Vitamasques, Spongelle Body Buffer, Beauty Crop Glow Milk, Anastasia Beverly Hills brow gel, Stila duo, 8 Other Reasons hair clips, Volition Beauty Green Cream, Daniel Stone Room Spray)

Vitamasques Multivitamin Mask Set

This brand is new to me. This set contains 5 sheet masks. The set retails $30 and is made in Korea. It says: nourish your skin with vitamins B3, B5, B6, C, and E when you use these ultra-thin, fiber sheet masks. Can't wait to try these. 

Spongelle Body Wash Infused Buffer in Sweet Cedarwood

I believe this is a popular product on FabFitFun because I have seen these before. They do sometimes sell them in the add-ons section. It's a body buffer infused with body wash. The scent of this one is good. Looking forward to trying it to see how it works. The product claims to be multi-use.

The Beauty Crop Glow Milk

This brand is also new to me. This is their glow milk highlighter. I may or may not use this. It says it contains argan oil and coconut oil. It comes in a small dropper bottle. I also saw in the FabFitFun magazine they make smoothie crayons for lips. I may pick those up with the FabFitFun discount code provided. In case you wanted to know, its code "FFF30" for 30% off your entire purchase. Valid until 8/1/2021. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel

I have used this product in the past. Anastastia Beverly Hills is a known for their brow products and this one is a winner. Who couldn't use some clear brow gel?

Stila Eyeliner and Mascara

I wanted to pick the Unccomon James storage canisters instead of this duo, but they were all out of stock. This was my second choice. I have used the Stila eyeliner in the past and it is a best seller. Super black with a felt tip, it is long lasting and easy to use. I have never used this mascara before so looking forward to trying.

8 Other Reasons Hair Clips

Really happy I got these. These are super cute and I have been curious about 8 Other Reasons brand. 

Volition Beauty Celery Green Cream

For me, this is the highlight of the box. I choose this product as it has been on my wishlist. The cream retails for $55 which offsets the entire cost of the box ($49.95). It says "celery" cream, but the scent is more like cucumber. It is a a gel cream. Excited to try this.

Daniel Stone Santal Noir Room Spray

Not really excited I got this. The options were this room spray, a pumpkin spice scented room spray from the same brand, sleep mist, and a hair mask from NatureLab.  I would've preferred the hair mask for sure. 

Add-Ons

I got quite a few add-ons this time around. I picked up the other popular Volition Beauty product, the Strawberry C Serum. And I got also two Verso products - their retinol serum and hydration serum. All these products were discounted by 60%. 

That pretty much sums up my fall box.

Where to buy: FabFitFun (link)

August 2020 Favorites

 August 2020 Favorites

(L to R: Alpha H Vitamin C Serum, Neutrogena Bright Boost SPF 30, Kiehl's Blue Herbal Spot Treatment,
By Terry Baume de Rose)

Alpha H Vitamin C Serum: just started using this recently. Purchased mine from CultBeauty. Alpha H is a beauty brand from Australia, I believe. They are more well known for their liquid gold AHA serum rather than this vitamin C serum. In addition to vitamin C, this serum includes grapeseed extract and hyaluronic acid. It feels smooth and not sticky. Absorbs quickly. I didn't find this to sting my skin at all.  

Where to buy: Alpha H website (link)

By Terry Baume De Rose: I finally took the plunge and got this lip balm despite the high price point, $60 yikes. I did get a discount, so I only paid $45, but still a cringe-inducing price. Its a super thick rich balm that smells like amazingly like roses. Been using this at night for my overnight lip balm and it definitely keeps lips moist and supple. 

Where to buy: Dermstore (link), Verishop (link)

Neutrogena Bright Boost Moisturizer SPF 30: this is a newer moisturizer from Neutrogena. Their bright boost line also includes a gel cream moisturizer. This is super lightweight, almost like a milk sunscreen and absorbs quickly. It has a light fresh scent. I do prefer to layer this with a vitamin C moisturizer. 

Where to buy: Amazon (link), Target (link)

Kiehl's Blue Herbal Spot Treatment: been using this for awhile. This is my second tube. It's a gentle spot treatment for breakouts. Has an herbal scent and contains salicylic acid as its main acne fighting ingredient. It works pretty well.

Where to buy: Sephora (link), Kiehl's website (link)

PMD Clean Review

PMD Clean Review

(PMD Clean in Pink)

So I recently got the pink version of this in my summer Causebox welcome box. I've been using it for about 2 weeks now. The PMD Clean retails for $99 but Nordstrom has it on sale for $66 in their Anniversary sale right now. It comes in three colors: pink, teal, and navy. One side has soft silicone bristles for cleansing your face, the other side is a texture sided designed to help massage in serums. It is waterproof and uses a AA battery instead of charging, like the Foreo Luna. It also does not stand up by itself. It comes with a small plastic stand that enables it to stand up by your sink. The device is waterproof and has 4 vibrating modes.

Below, a look at the box description. Product comes with a one year manufacturer's warranty. 

A closer look at the device itself. The cleansing side has small soft nubs. Massaging side has ridges. Bottom comes unscrewed for the battery. Device is waterproof. Includes small plastic cup for standing.

Bottom line, I think I prefer the Foreo Luna over this device as I feel I can get a little more pressure and better cleansing with it than this. 

Where to buy: Sephora (link), Ulta (link)

July 2020 Favorites

July 2020 Favorites

(L to R: Kate Somerville Bio-Mimicking Peptides Serum, BeautyStat Pro-Bio
Moisture Boost Cream, BeautyPie SuperActive Capsules, Clinique All About Eyes Rich)

BeautyStat Pro-Bio Moisture Boost Cream

The jar for this is a little small at only 1 oz., but the product works well with a light vanilla-y scent. It contains mostly ceramides for moisture. It is a tad expensive at $50, but I got mine for a steal from FabFitFun add-ons for $21. Would I pay the $50 again for another jar? Probably not. 

Where to buy: Violet Grey (link), Skinstore (link)

BeautyPie SuperActive Capsules Pure 3% Resveratrol + Exotic Fruit Oils

These are my second go at the SuperActive Capsules. The other ones I tried were the vitamin C ones. These are the same shape. Price is $65 for 30 capsules, but if you have a BeautyPie membership it is only $13. These have a silicone texture and the capsules are a bit small. One barely has enough product to cover my entire face. I do wish these were bigger.

Where to buy: BeautyPie (link)

Clinique All About Eyes Rich

This is the rich version of the Clinique All About Eyes eye cream. Been using this because my eyelids have been so dry and flakey lately. It has done a great job at moisturizing them. No scent and this cream is thick, thick, thick. There are no other real frills to this cream.

Where to buy: Sephora (link), Clinique (link)

Kate Somerville Kx Active Concentrates Bio-Mimicking Peptides Serum

Got this off Mercari from someone who received it from their BoxyCharm.  It was a steal at only $17! Regularly, this is priced at $98. It's an amber colored serum that is pretty watery and absorbs quickly. It contains peptides for the skin. So far, I haven't seen an benefits but no downsides either. 

Where to buy: Sephora (link), Ulta (link)

May 2020 Favorites

(L to R: Cleen Beauty Grapefruit Water Gel Moisturizer, Glow Recipe Pineapple C Bright Serum,
Inuwet Lip Balm, Malin + Goetz SPF 30 Face Moisturizer)

Cleen Beauty Grapefruit Water Gel

This brand is new to Walmart and exclusive to Walmart. It's a clean beauty brand aptly called "Cleen Beauty". Their water gel cream is lightweight and smells like grapefruit. It's a decent size at 2 oz for $9.97. The gel absorbs quickly and the scent dissipates quickly as well. This product is pretty good, I would likely purchase again.

Where to buy: Walmart (link)

Glow Recipe Pineapple C Bright Serum

This product launched awhile back, but I finally got a chance to try it. It is a pineapple based vitamin C serum. It contains 3 forms of vitamin C! The serum smells strongly of pineapple - kind of like the syrup you get with pineapple slices. It is a little sticky and leaves a sheen on your skin. 

Where to buy: Glow Recipe (link), Sephora (link)

Inuwet Strawberry Lip Balm

Inuwet Strawberry Lip Balm

Inuwet is a French vegan brand retailing at Ulta. This particular bunny balm is part of the Paris balm duo. All their balms feature various fruity flavors and bunny characters. The balm itself is a white stick that applies clear. It has a strong strawberry candy scent - very artificial. The balm smooths on easily and is really moisturizing. Lasting power is okay. The products are made in France and best of all, vegan. 

Where to buy: Ulta (link)

Malin + Goetz SPF 30 Face Moisturizer

This has been my daily moisturizer and SPF for the last few weeks. This contains shea butter so it is pretty hydrating. It's broad spectrum SPF 30 and the tube says it's water resistant up to 30 minutes. The sunscreen in this uses chemical filters for protection. I like this product a lot especially because it does not cause any of the other products applied underneath to pill. 

Where to buy: Malin + Goetz (link), Nordstrom (link)

April 2020 Favorites

April 2020 Favorites

(L to R: CosRx One Step, Farmacy Lip Bloom, Gua Sha,
Kylie Skin Vitamin C Serum, Pond's Cleansing  Balm)

Farmacy Lip Bloom in Strawberry Basil: picked this up at a Farmacy Friends and Family sale. It is a glossy slightly sticky lip balm. It has a nice shine. Lasting power is okay. The strawberry basil scent is unique. Think this is only available on the brand's website.

Where to buy: Farmacy Beauty (link)

Kylie Skin Vitamin C Serum: Kylie Skin is now available in store at Ulta and I picked this up at my local Ulta. The size of this is small for the price, 0.7 oz for $28. It uses a stable form of vitamin C as tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate. It also contains vitamin E and ferulic acid. It's housed in a hefty pump bottle. This will probably go quickly for me. There is no scent that I can discern.

Where to buy: Ulta (in store only), Kylie Skin (link)

Pond's Cold Cream Cleansing Balm: this is an exact dupe for the Banila Co Clean it Zero cleansing balm. The shape of the packaging is the same and the sherbert texture and scent are also identical. The product works just as well as the Banila Co product, but is half the price at $10 instead of $20.

Where to buy: Amazon (link)

CosRx One Step Original Clear Pad: these smell lightly of tea tree. It contains a BHA and tea tree extract to treat breakouts. One container has 70 pads and they are all quite damp as the container has a lot of liquid. These won't dry out like the Trish McEvoy daily exfoliator pads I reviewed in January. I find these to be quite gentle.

Where to buy: Amazon (link)

Gua Sha: I purchased this green aventurine gua sha off Amazon. Use the contoured sides to massage your face and get lymphatic drainage. Apply oil prior to use to help the gua sha glide down your face. This video from Gothamista is a good guide to how to use: video. I also have a rose quartz one from SkinGym, not shown here.  

Where to buy: Amazon (link)

March 2020 Favorites

March 2020 Favorites

(Jason Naturals Cocoa Butter Lotion, Kypris Antioxidant Dew,
Vaseline Lip Therapy, Frank Body Lip Scrub)

I don't have too many favorites for this month, but here they are.

Jason Naturals Softening Cocoa Butter Body Lotion: I picked this up at Harmon's, although you can purchase online at the links below. The lotion is a little more liquid-y than I would like given the packaging. I think it would've been better in a  pump bottle because I am always afraid to squeeze out too much. It has a strong chocolate scent. The top ingredients are aloe, sunflower seed oil, and of course cocoa butter. It also contains avocado oil. The product is formulated without parabans, sulfates, petrolatum, and phthalates. I would say it is pretty moisturizing and keeps my skin hydrated. It absorbs pretty quickly and isn't sticky.

Where to buy: iHerb (link), Walmart (link)

Kypris Antioxidant Dew: this is an nice antioxidant serum in a glass dropper package. The bottle is so pretty. It is pricey at $90, but I managed to purchase mine off Mercari from someone who was selling theirs from a BoxyCharm box so I paid substantially less, only $36. It has a silky texture and absorbs quickly. No fragrance detected either. The antioxidants mostly come from various fruit and herb extracts.

Where to buy: The Detox Market (link), Nordstrom (link)

Vaseline Lip Therapy Cocoa Butter Stick: there are 4 versions of this new stick lip balm from Vaseline: regular, aloe, rosy, and cocoa butter. I picked up this cocoa butter one at Harmon's. It has a sweet scent and moisturizes well. It doesn't last too long though. The formula is reminiscent of Nivea's lip balm in the blue tube. The package and swivel stick are exactly the same. This product is made in Korea. The stick has a slight yellow tint because of the cocoa butter but it smells more sweet than chocolatey like cocoa butter. Definitely interested in picking up the other versions. 

Where to buy: Amazon (link)

Frank Body Lip Scrub: this is the original version. They also have one called "cherry bomb". This one contains sugar and coffee grounds to exfoliate. It smells super sweet with a nice coffee scent. It works well and leaves a slight moisturizing residue. Use on dry lips for the best effect.

Where to buy: Frank Body (link), Ulta (link)

New Vitamin C Products

New Vitamin C Products

Here is my updated vitamin c regimen.

Pixi Skintreats Vitamin C Serum: I love the smell of this serum. It has a nice fresh citrus scent, like grapefruit. It's great because usually serums that have the same ingredients as this one smell like hot dog water. The combo of ferulic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin E in serums like these is common and has that weird hot dog water smell, but this one doesn't. It includes citrus peel extracts that probably give the scent. It's slightly yellow and sinks in quickly imparting a nice glow. The price point ($24) for the ingredients is awesome too.

Where to buy: Pixi Beauty (link)

Beauty Pie Superactive Capsules Pure Double Vitamin C & Vitamin E: I am obsessed with Beauty Pie. Their membership prices are so great, its hard to resist the urge to add everything to your cart. These capsules contain a silicone based vitamin C serum. The active in here is ascorbic acid. I find the capsules to be rather small and they don't seem to contain enough serum to cover my entire face, so I like to mix it with the below moisturizer. 

Where to buy: Beauty Pie (link)

Primark P.S. Daily Brightening Moisturizer: I picked this up on a whim the last time I visited Primark. It is their in-house brand called P.S. They make a matching serum which I have already used up. The moisturizer was super cheap at $2 for 1.7 oz. This too has an amazing scent. It smells like fresh oranges. This one uses a more stable form of vitamin C than ascorbic acid and I mix one pump with one of the superactive capsules before applying to my face. It's a light gel moisturizer.

Where to buy: Primark in store (link)

Product Review: Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer

Product Review: Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer

I've been using the Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer as part of my night time skincare routine. The primary ingredient in this is shea butter which makes it great for dry winter skin. Omega 3, 6, & 9 help to repair the skin barrier. This is fragrance free. The pump is a little finicky when dispensing product, but keeps the product sanitary since you don't need to dip your fingers into a pot. I would say the cream is thick, but absorbs quickly with no greasy feel or shine. It has a whipped texture. The cream also has ceramides and cholesterol. 4/5 stars.

Where to buy: Paula's Choice website (link), Amazon (link)

Current Vitamin C Routine

Current Vitamin C Routine

(Top to Bottom: No B.S. Vitamin C+E Serum, Bliss Bright Idea
Vitamin C + TriPeptide  Eye Cream)

My current vitamin C routine includes No B.S. Vitamin C+E Serum for face and Bliss Bright Idea Vitamin C + Tri-Peptide Collagen Protecting Eye Cream for the eyes.

No B.S. Vitamin C+E Serum: So this product contains vitamin C and E, but also other great antioxidants such as green tea and pomegranate. It also contains hyaluronic acid and ferulic acid to boost the vitamin C. It does have a thickish jelly like texture instead of a watery one. It absorbs pretty quickly and does feel moisturizing. I didn't feel any stinging with this despite ascorbic acid being the second ingredient. At $40, would I repurchase this? Maybe. I do prefer more watery vitamin C serums over this serum's texture.

Where to buy: Amazon (link), No B.S. website (link)

Bliss Bright Idea Vitamin C + Tri-Peptide Collagen Protecting Eye Cream: This is a new Bliss product that was released in the last month or so. It has a fluffy whipped texture. This one retails for $24 and is available at Target. The form of vitamin C in this is 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid. It contains a plethora of beneficial skin ingredients. I find it sinks in pretty fast and is decently hydrating. Additionally, it's cruelty free and vegan. A matching moisturizer and serum are also available. 

Where to buy: Amazon (link), Bliss World (link), Target (link)

January 2020 Favorites

January 2020 Favorites

(L to R: Thank You Farmer Water Sun Cream, LilyAna Naturals Retinol Cream,
InkeyList Q10 serum, La Mer Eye Balm, Trish McEvoy Daily Exfoliator)

Thank You Farmer Sun Project Water Sun Cream SPF 50 PA+++

This is a lightweight gel sunscreen. Applies smoothly with no greasy residue. PA+++ is the highest UVA rating. I would note, I have noticed this product does sometimes pill when layered over other products. Price is reasonable at $22. 

Where to buy: Amazon (link), YesStyle (link)

LilyAna Naturals Retinol Cream

This retinol cream is an Amazon bestseller. It contains lots of natural ingredients including aloe, hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, and shea butter. The container is a pump style package and the cream hydrates without being greasy. I haven't found the retinol to be sensitizing to my skin. 

Where to buy: Amazon (link)

InkeyList Q10 Antioxidant Serum

This is another Inkey List serum. It contains Co-Q10. Co-Q10 is an antioxidant that helps the body to produce collagen and elastin. This is a small size at 1 oz and a squeeze bottle. The serum applies smoothly with no greasy residue. It also contains squalane for hydration. It's super affordable at $6.99.

Where to buy: Sephora (link)

(An inside look at La Mer Eye Balm)

La Mer Eye Balm Intense

This is one of La Mer's eye creams. The other eye cream they offer is called the eye concentrate. This eye balm is the thicker of the two eye creams made by La Mer. It's a thickish green hued cream. It absorbs pretty quickly though. It's not shown here but this cream includes an applicator with a metal ball on the end so you can apply the cream and the applicator has a cooling effect. This is pricey though, retailing at $225. I think I'm unlikely to purchase this again as I don't see anything too special about it.

Where to buy: Sephora (link), Nordstrom (link)

(What the Trish McEvoy exfoliator pads look like)

Trish McEvoy Daily Exfoliator Pads

These exfoliating pads are alcohol free and contains mostly BHA in the form of willow bark extract, the natural equivalent of salicylic acid. It also contains witch hazel, aloe, and chamomile for a soothing effect. One side of the pad is textured, while the other is smooth. These are pricey per pad though. It is $67 for 40 pads which comes out to $1.67/pad. There is a larger size retailing for $98 for 60 pads, but that only gets you down to $1.63/pad. To get the most mileage after using this on my face I swipe the pads on my elbows and feet. These are also fragrance free.

Where to buy: BlueMercury (link), Nordstrom (link)

Those are my favorites for January 2020. 

Product Review: Puristry Restorative Facial Oil

Product Review: Puristry Restorative Facial Oil

I discovered this brand at Anthropologie although it is no longer sold there. This product can be purchased at the brand's website. This product is USDA certified organic. The Puristry Restorative Facial Oil costs $55 for 1.7 oz. It's a nice heavy weight glass bottle that looks nice on the vanity. It has a pump. The oil contains a blend of fruit oils and has a fruity scent, slightly reminiscent of pineapple. I would say the oil is medium weight and it absorbs  pretty quickly. Based on the ingredients below, it has a lot of antioxidants because of the fruit oils. It is cruelty free and vegan.

Ingredients: Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Organic Rosa Moschata (Rose Hip) Seed Oil, Organic Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Ribes Nigrum (Blackcurrant) Fruit Oil, Organic Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Fruit Oil, Organic Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Organic Nigella Sativa (Black Cumin) Seed Oil, Organic Bergaptene Free Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Organic Cedrus Atlantica (Cedarwood) Bark Oil, Organic Vetivera Zizanoides (Vetiver) Root Oil, Organic Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, Organic Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil

Where to buy: Puristry website (link)

Product Review: Dr. Dennis Gross C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Eye Cream

Product Review: Dr. Dennis Gross C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Eye Cream 

This product contains some really great ingredients: amino acids, vitamin C, niacinamide, ceramics, peptides, and antioxidants. Too bad it really irritated my eyes. As you can see, I only used about half the tube. At $65 for 0.5 ounces, this is way too expensive to be sensitizing the eyes around my skin! It comes in a pump style tube and is a orangey color. There is no scent and it applies easily. It moisturizes okay, but again the fact that it made the skin around my eyes irritated makes it a no go. Thumbs down from me. 

Where to buy: Sephora (link), Dermstore (link)

Product Review: Aveeno Almond Oil Blend Oil Mist

Product Review: Aveeno Almond Oil Blend Oil Mist

This is an hair oil mist. It has a really nice scent, although I can't quite put my finger on what the exact scent is. Spritzing it on doesn't leave hair too oily, although it says "oil". I use it prior to blowdrying to protect my hair or post blow dry to add some shine. I wouldn't rely on this for the "deep hydration" it says on the bottle though. If you're looking for hydration use coconut oil or a hair mask.

Where to buy: Amazon (link)

Product Review: REN Skincare Vitamin C Gel Cream

Product Review: REN Skincare Vitamin C Gel Cream

I actually finished this product a while ago, but here is my review. REN Skincare is a clean beauty brand. This Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream is priced at $48 for 1.69 ounces. It's a lightweight gel cream that absorbs quickly and easily. It has a citrus scent. The packaging is an airless pump which helps preserve the antioxidant properties of the vitamin C. It contains vitamin C in the form of ascorbyl glucoside and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. It also contains vitamin E in the form of tocopherol. It contains various citrus fruit oils that give it the scent. I love the smell of this. Two thumbs up. Would repurchase.

Where to buy: Sephora (link), Dermstore (link)