Mini BEAUTY Holiday Gift Guide

Holidays are upon us, decorations are either being put up or already up, people are likely blasting the holiday music playlists on their Spotify. This Christmas will be a different one from previous years as we are social distancing and only allowed to see family members within the household, Christmas parties won’t be as crowded as they usually are but I’m sure some of us are still buying gifts for our loved ones either mailing it or dropping it off to them. I’m sure most of us already know how challenging it can be shopping for some of our friends or family members. I wanted to do a cute little beauty gift guide for your family and friends. This is a budget-friendly one so it most certainly won’t break the bank.

YARDLEY Fragrances

These come in a beautiful range of scents to choose from. I know fragrance preferences can very subjective but I can assure you – there is a good range for you to select from. I only have 3 here to share with you today but YARDLEY does offer body sprays and fragrance mists. These beautiful perfumes are Eau De Toilette, Eau De Toilette means that the fragrance inside will be much more concentrated than your traditional fragrance mist, body mist and Eau De Parfum.

Here are the descriptions for each Fragrance:

All of these fragrances contain 90% naturally derived ingredients and a vegetable derived alcohol base. Cruelty Free and suitable for vegans.

Lavender

A beautifully fresh, light, elegant fragrance with top notes of bergamot and clary sage with a heart of calming English Lavender subtly combining notes of eucalyptus, geranium, jasmine, chamomile and violet, enhanced with deeper, warm base noes of wood, vanilla and patchouli.

ENGLISH ROSE

A refreshing, light floral fragrance with sparkling citrus and rose top notes and a heart subtly combining rose bud, magnolia, violet and cassis with warm woody notes, whilst patchouli and musks add velvety tones to the base.

LILY OF THE VALLEY

A light, feminine white floral fragrance with fruit pear accords in the top note and a beautiful floral bouquet heart that blends lily of the valley and freesia, enhanced with a pretty, musky base.

These are available on their official website are currently on sale £9.99 | $ 17 CAD, which is really affordable because you get 125ml of product for a really affordable price. Eau De Toilette fragrances are usually more expensive as the concentration is more potent and has a powerful longevity. Fragrances are often very expensive and marked up but I found these reasonably priced. You also can find their products at **Shoppers Drug Mart**.

You can find this beautiful set at Well.ca | Shoppers Drug Mart | London Drugs | Their Official Website.

Makeup tools, brushes and sponges will never go out of style or trend because a lot of us use these to apply on our makeup. These Real Technique Sparkle-On-The-Go brushes and sponge set is perfect for not only travelling but they don’t accumulate too much space and the brush handles can stand on their own. Growing up, I’ve used Real Technique sponges and I can confidently say that they’re just as good as beauty blenders. Real Technique sponges have soft and beautiful synthetic bristles. I really like the design for these and how compact they are. I think they would make an excellent gift for any makeup lover – beginner or intermediate, these will be loved.

That’s it for now, friends. Stay tuned until next time.

Pamper Yourself with Dr. Teal’s Vitamin C Line

After a long day of work, I’m sure most of us want to sit back, relax, and unwind. There’s really no better way to unwind than having a nice bubble bath. Growing up, baths were never a thing for me because my parents thought it was a waste of water. Only recently I got into them and let me tell you, it is a luxury! Not only it feels great and relaxing, but it’s also something you can enjoy from time to time. This couldn’t have come a better time because I recently received some bath goodies in the mail to share with you all!

If you haven’t heard of Dr. Teal’s before, they are an affordable bath care company and you can actually find many of their products in your local drugstore. Bath products can be pretty expensive and they can add up. I mean, look at Lush for instance! Sure, their packaging and products look appealing but the price tag for each item? No thanks! I’m all about looking for budget-friendly options.

I received their Vitamin C Foaming Bath and also the Vitamin C Bath Salts. Their Vitamin C line offers complete skincare and muscle pain relief. They have a wonderful blend of ingredients that can nourish, hydrate, and brighten the skin. The key ingredients are shea butter, aloe vera, Vitamin E, and also Vitamin C.

What are bath salts, what are they used for and how do you use them?

Epsom Salts are used to treating against minor aches and pain, they always can soothe tired muscles and reduce swelling. Deposit about 1 cup of Epsom salt in warm water and allow it set before going it when the bathwater is “ready”, it should feel silky to the touch.

Full Ingredient List:

Bath Salts: Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt) Fragrance (Parfum), Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C).

Foaming Bath: Water (Aqua, Eau), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt), Fragrance (Parfum), Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, PEG-4 Rapeseedamide, Disodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone.

Add some foaming bath into your bath to make the experience more fun because who doesn’t love bubbles? I hope you guys give their products a try and if you’re not a fan of citrus or orange scents, they do offer other scents in their range like lavender, green tea, eucalyptus and etc.

That’s it for now, folks. Tune in to the next blog post. Until then, take care and stay safe during these uncertain times.

Dry Skin? No worries, I found the perfect trio

As many of you may already know, it’s currently winter transitioning to spring in Canada but it’s still extremely dry outside – My skin needs all the help it can get. I wanted to share 3 products I use back to back to ensure I never ever have to come across dry, reptile-like skin. The Bioderma shower oil and also the atoderm creme. I’ve been using Bioderma sensibio for many, many years but I have never ventured out to try out their other products until recently. They sent over these two for me to try out and let me tell you, I’ve already finished both the shower oil and atoderm creme.

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How to use: Shower Oil

So the concept of this is quite unique since I’ve never used any product like this before. You use this in the shower, apply it onto the skin and massage. It dispenses out like a silky, rich body oil but lathers up a little bit and becomes into a soft foam. The moment it comes into direct contact with the wet skin, it forms a strong protective barrier for the skin and you can visibly see and feel it when using it. I rinse the remaining product off my body and dry my body for the next step.

Once my body is dry, I apply a thick layer of the atoderm creme all over my body and ensure I massage the cream thoroughly as I do not want any white residue behind. If you own these two products, repeat these steps every single day after your shower and you will notice a significant difference in your overall skin feel. I am very guilty for taking scorching hot showers and drying the crap out of my skin and I use to be very guilty for neglecting my body and not applying creams after my showers. I’ve only started making the changes roughly 2 years ago and it has changed my life forever. No more dry skin days and also no more scaley, reptile-like skin because that was just gross.

3570800 I follow up with the atoderm creme and it’s just the divine. It’s a thick, whipped consistency that glides beautifully on the skin and moisturizes it while protecting the barrier. I never have to deal with reptile skin whenever I use these two together because they synergize so well together. The two main nourishing ingredients they use for this is vaseline and glycerin. This softens the skin while providing long-lasting moisture.

During uncertain times, I’m sure many of us are taking the extra precautions as needed to fight against this virus and protecting ourselves so I’m guessing some of you are on consciously washing your hands more frequently. I definitely am and not ashamed of it. However, I found that my hands got a lot more drier from doing so I’ve started to use the atoderm hand creme and let me tell you, folks, this stuff means business. It reminds me of the atoderm body cream except it’s a lot thicker and really protects the hands from any moisture loss. This little guy comes in 50ml but you need half a pea size for both hands and it should last you a while before you need replenishment. 72236

I’m so impressed by Bioderma’s products and I’ve been using their products for years. They’ve always surpassed my expectations and I will continue to purchase from them. If you’re in Canada, you can find their products at Shoppers Drug Mart.

HOW TO: Powder

You want to achieve that effortless, soft matte look without looking cakey, dry or have any of your lines emphasized? Look no further, my friends. I’ve done my fair share of trial and error with this medium and I’ve found a couple of ways where you can achieve this look and I’ll show you how to prolong the wear.

Technique #1: Baking (with loose powder)

Yes, as much as I adore that dewy, fresh glowy look. This technique is best to achieve long-lasting results. If you’re going to an event or you need your makeup to stay in place, definitely give this a try. Apply your liquid or cream foundation accordingly then go in with a separate makeup sponge and dab it in your loose powder then apply a generous amount of the powder throughout the face. Your face should look like you accidentally got some cooking flour on it. Fear not, leave the excess powder on your face for about 5-10 minutes for the product to warm up and seal your foundation into place. After 5-10 minutes, take a large fluffy powder brush and swipe off the excess powder, you should notice your skin looking so smooth, matte and almost doll-like. If you’re going to an evening event, definitely avoid any spf-based, white loose powder as they can cause flashback in photos. Opt for a tinted tone loose powder with a finely milled texture as it gives better and smoother skin results.

The one I recommend and that is super budget-friendly is the Maybelline fit me loose powder, this one is such a great product and I actually prefer it over the popular Laura Mercier one that the vast majority of the beauty community apparently loves.

Technique #2: Blotting (throughout the day with a pressed powder)

This technique will require you to bring the powder on the go with you so be sure to pack your pressed powder of choice with you. A lot of pressed powders come with sponge applicators and those can get dirty really easily so be sure to replace or wash your sponges often. I prefer to bring my separate beauty sponge or even a ruby-cell puff (you can find these in cushion foundations) because they give me the more precise application and you can use them by themselves or damp them if you like. I prefer to use them dry.

Technique #3: Powder application with a sponge

In my opinion, I find makeup sponge powder application the most effective and provides long-lasting results. As for large fluffy powder, brush application doesn’t seem to last as long. It’ll look fine for the first couple of hours then progressively get oilier and maybe your foundation might even break, separate throughout the day because the application technique wasn’t good enough to withhold your foundation. I have combination skin so my t-zone is always the one that separates my foundation so I need a really good application method to ensure that it’ll stay in place the entire day.

I hope these tips helped with your powder application troubles because I think I’ve had my fair share of moments where my foundation just broke in midday and that was not a good look.

HOW TO: Facial Oil

I’ve seen a lot of people on the gram and youtube apply facial oil in different ways and I find the methods I’m about to share may or may not work for you but these methods have been working for me for years. I first got into facial oils about 4 years and the very first oil I owned was the Fresh seabuckthorn and it was nice but I don’t think you should spend that much on a facial oil. Currently, I’ve been using the Beigic regenerating oil a ton and have been absolutely adoring it.

Technique #1: Warming it upon your hands

With clean hands, apply 2-3 droplets of the oil onto your hand and massage it until the product warms up and breakdown then gently pat the product through the face. I truly believe this allows better skin absorption rather than just taking the dropper and pouring the oil throughout the face.

Technique #2: Glowy skin foundation

This method will help you fake the appearance of glowy, radiant skin. If you have dry skin, fear not – this method may help you replicate the appearance of glowy skin without applying enormous amounts of products to achieve it. You can either use technique #1 and apply the foundation afterward or you can mix the facial oils with the foundation. I like to do 25% facial oil and 75% foundation or you can do half and half, depending on how sheer you want your foundation to appear. When doing this method, be sure to gently blot the face to reduce the appearance of excess oil – that way, you can preserve the foundation’s pigment.

Technique #3: Oils with actives

I like to apply vitamin C based oils on my face prior to applying moisturizer just because I prefer that method and I believe the active ingredients are likely to be delivered into my skin a lot easier. With a lot of trial and error, I believe this method works best for me. Feel free to share what works for you! I’m always so intrigued to hear how people apply their skincare steps and when.

[REVIEW] TATCHA EYE PEARL EYE TREATMENT

Tatcha is one of the most well-known Sephora brands and they’re famous for their luxury Japanese inspired skincare and beauty. I stumbled across this product early of last year and wasn’t initially fond of it but it definitely grew on to me as I was always looking for a new product to try out. Could this be the new big thing? Stay tuned to see what I have to say.

Claims

A tinted treatment that awakens eyes with a pearl-like luster, hydrates, and reduces the look of dark circles and wrinkles — instantly and over time.

This 2-in-1 makeup and treatment formula breaks upon application to deliver both refreshing moisture and natural coverage for a healthy, well-rested look all day.

Awakens: Light-refracting pearl pigments work with Akoya Pearl extract in an active skincare treatment formula to restore radiance by helping to address the three causes of under eye darkness: thinning skin, blue undertones, and pigmentation. The Pearl works to address dark circles, fine lines, and wrinkles by helping minimize glycation and the appearance of hyperpigmentation. It is boosted by niacinamide, known to visibly brighten and firm.
Smooths and Protects: Silk powder smooths the look of fine lines and imperfections, while a blend of botanical extracts protects from makeup and pollution that can cause signs of aging.
Anti-Aging Hydration: Lightweight cream powered by Hadasei-3™, a proprietary trio of Japanese anti-aging superfoods, and hyaluronic acid, which nourishes and hydrates for a plump, refreshed appearance.

Full List Of Ingredients

AQUA/WATER/EAU, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, DIPHENYLSILOXY PHENYL
TRIMETHICONE, DIGLYCERIN, GLYCERIN, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, DIMETHICONE,
SILK POWDER, HYDROLYZED SILK, SERICIN, HYDROLYZED CONCHIOLIN PROTEIN,
SACCHAROMYCES/CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF/CLADOSIPHON OKAMURANUS/RICE
FERMENT FILTRATE*, NIACINAMIDE, ROYAL JELLY EXTRACT, LONICERA
JAPONICA (HONEYSUCKLE) LEAF EXTRACT, ROSA CANINA FRUIT OIL, GERANIUM
ROBERTIANUM EXTRACT, CAESALPINIA SPINOSA FRUIT EXTRACT, PERSEA
GRATISSIMA (AVOCADO) OIL, PRUNUS ARMENIACA (APRICOT) KERNEL OIL,
MACADAMIA TERNIFOLIA SEED OIL, KAPPAPHYCUS ALVAREZII EXTRACT, SODIUM
HYALURONATE, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, PROPANEDIOL, SODIUM CITRATE,
HYDROGEN DIMETHICONE, PEG-9 POLYDIMETHYLSILOXYETHYL DIMETHICONE,
DIPENTAERYTHRITYL TRI-POLYHYDROXYSTEARATE, DIMETHICONE/PHENYL
VINYL DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, DIMETHICONE/PEG-10/15
CROSSPOLYMER, SODIUM CHLORIDE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE,
ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, NATTO GUM, MICA, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE,
PHENOXYETHANOL, ALCOHOL. [+/- TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES
(CI 77491, 77492, 77499), SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE]
* HADASEI-3

How to use:

The container looks like it’s a pop open kind of jar however you need to twist the lid for it to come off. With clean fingers and clean face, apply a small rice grain amount of product on each under eye and massage the product to breakdown on skin. Please be gentle with also massage it until you see the product breaking down evenly into almost like a lightweight paste then pat it on like an eye cream.

My Thoughts

I really think this is a very revolutionary product because it’s an under-eye treatment that acts as a concealer that contains brightening and also hydrating benefits to provide the skin long-term and longlasting results. I personally found this so easy to use and the skin on my under eyes instantly looked brighter and smoother. I could actually get away with just using this and some powder for the day. I’ve tested this with makeup and how I prefer to use this is I would apply on my skin first then I go in with foundation to complete the look. I normally do foundation then concealer but because this is an under-eye treatment with hybrid concealer properties, I find it works best when applied directly onto fresh, clean skin.

Initially, I was not convinced by the marketing for this product and what it did but throughout time, I gradually became more intrigued by the concept of it. Christmas came around and I got a Sephora gift card as a gift so I decided to pick this up to try for myself. There was a lot of mixed reviews on this when it first came out, some people were saying it’s lifechanging and it truly brightened the skin under their under eyes significantly and some said it was cakey, crepey. From my experience from using this product, you only need a rice grain amount of on each eye then you must break down the product and blend evenly throughout the skin. I truly do believe some of the negative reviews are due to user errors on using the product because all you need is a rice grain amount for each side. Another part of me believes that those who struggled with dry, cakey issues from using this product are likely not moisturizing that region enough therefore whatever you apply on top of the dried region of skin, it will reflect that way as well.

The reason why I speak so highly of this product is that I watched a lot of demo and review videos to have a better understanding of what exactly this is and how to use it prior to purchasing it. It is a very expensive product so I want to know what exactly I’m doing prior to purchasing it. I wouldn’t speak highly on any product if I didn’t believe in it and this is very likely going to be a repurchase because it’s just fantastic and there’s so much product in it.

Before & After

Overall

Texture: 5/5 – The consistency appears to be a lightweight cream with a skin tone pigment and as you massage it in your skin, you will notice that it’s breaking down the product and pigment so it spreads more easily into your skin. It also has this hydrating factor to it because of the Koya pearl extract in it.
Scent: 5/5 – Doesn’t really smell like anything to me, maybe like a really, really faint floral scent.
Price: 4/5 – Arguably this could very much be expensive for many people and to be quite frank with you, it was expensive at the first glance for me as well but when I used the product and understood what it did for my skin, I was so impressed and honestly, I think this is definitely an item worth splurging on because it’s such a delicate and effective formula, I’m absolutely blown away how it’s brightened and also smoothened the skin under my eyes.
Performance: 5/5 – Amazing, this product definitely wowed me and I really like what they did with the formula and I found my skin looking so much brighter and smoother right after applying it on. It’s almost like silk! No concealer, no eye cream has looked this nice on my skin. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve tried a lot of products and liked them but this has such an incredibly finely and well-developed formula where it almost looks like your skin! It doesn’t look like you’re wearing makeup or have some concealer on.
Packaging: 5/5 – It’s Tatcha, are you kidding me? They have the best looking packaging and very aesthetically pleasing.
Overall: 5/5 – Love it, would buy more of it, would repurchase it the moment I finish this. I have no complaints with this products and hope to see more awesome products from Tatcha.

Available on: QVC |Tatcha | Sephora

HOW TO USE: A BEAUTY SPONGE

I’m sure you read the title and you probably got confused because it’s such a straight forward thing and most people use them specifically to apply liquid/cream foundation on. What if I told you there are other ways to use your beauty sponges as well? You don’t need to have the original beauty blender, there are blend of dupes out there that are just as great such as the QUO, Shop Miss A, eco tools, Real Techniques, and etc ones. Listen, if you love your makeup brushes, continue to use them. I’m just sharing my opinion and experiences with using a beauty sponge and how it’s worked for me!

Products you can use:

Powder: Yes, you can apply on powder using your beauty sponge. For this method, it doesn’t need to be wet because you’ll be doing the complete opposite of what you’re trying to achieve, a more matte appearance. Use a dry beauty sponge and apply a generous amount of powder onto it whether pressed or loose and apply the product directly onto your face. You’ll be surprised how effective this is and how even the application is compared to a brush application. I’m not too fond of using makeup brushes because they have a very splotchy application, you’ll have some oily regions and some matte, which is not a cute look. Don’t be afraid to come back in with a beauty sponge for touchups. Some of us get oilier than others and it’s fine to go back in to smoothen your skin’s appearance.

Cream blush: Who said beauty sponges were limited to one kind of product? I wear a ton of cream blushes and some can be more challenging to apply than others. Now, the best technique I like for cream blushes is usually using the warmth of my fingers and warming up the product so it blends easily but you can also use a sponge for more an even application. Apply a small amount of the cream blush and dot it on your face then use the sponge to blend.

Concealer: Whether it’s liquid or cream, application with a beauty sponge is most ideal with this step because the application is not only the easiest (user-friendly) but best. I absolutely hate brush applications with concealers and find it a very old school. Brush application often comes off as harsh and does not evenly distribute product out, it often emphasizes lines around the face because there’s just too much product there. Nobody wants a cakey, crepey looking concealer.

Liquid Highlighter: I don’t care what people say, liquid highlighter is definitely for more intermediate makeup users because it’s not as forgiving as a powder highlighter, if you apply too much, you’re likely going to end up looking like the tin man. The trick for a beautifully distributed, beaming highlight look is to dot a tiny amount of product on both cheeks and use your damp beauty blender to soften the look and blend. You can use your beauty blender dry for this however I find damp beauty blenders help melt the product better into the skin for a seamless beaming look.

Other ways you can use your sponge:

Makeup mistakes

We are all guilty for making small to big mistakes, no one’s really off the hook here. Even the most professional MUAs make mistakes because that’s how we learn and maybe we’re just having a bad makeup day. Eyeliner seems to be the most common thing to mess up because you can be a pro but if you wing it out too far, it’s too thick or it’s lopsided/doesn’t match the other eye, then you’ll need makeup remover to fix it. Once you remove the error, use your beauty sponge with the remaining product from the foundation and apply it to the area that doesn’t have makeup. It’ll save you a lot more time than going back with a “precise concealer” brush because sometimes it looks super obvious or we apply way too much product to conceal that specific region.

Cleaning

You don’t need to buy those beauty blenders solid soap cleaners to clean your beauty sponge. All you really need is a good cleansing oil. Yes! You can use this to remove your makeup off of your face and also your makeup sponge. You’ll also notice you’ll waste less product because you only need a small amount of cleansing oil to thoroughly clean your sponges. The one I enjoy using is the Fourth Ray BFD Cleansing oil and it’s amazing for removing off my waterproof eye makeup gently.

I hope these tips helped you and hope you get more use out of your beauty sponges! Feel free to comment below if you have any questions.

3 Easy Steps To Achieve Glowy Skin

I would like to confidently say that my skin’s overall appearance has tremendously changed for the better in the past 4 years of my skincare journey and a lot of what I did was trial and error and learn more about my skin. The biggest thing I want to share with you is to not follow other people’s routines step by step. If you’re interested in hearing more on my journey definitely check out this blog post I wrote early of last year.

Have a structure and elaborate skincare routine. Which means you don’t necessarily need 9 step routine. I personally can get away with a 6-7 step routine and it works for me. I don’t think it’s possible to achieve that skin glow with just 3 products (cleanse, tone, moisturize). I’ve tried this a handful of times and it just didn’t do enough for my skin. What I do is double cleanse, use a hydrating toner, brightening/resurfacing serum, hydrating serum, moisturizer, facial oil/sleeping pack. If your skin is moisturized, it will reflect that. If your skin is dry and dull, that means you’re not doing enough for it and you need to change up your routine. You also need to be consistent in order to see results, stopping/pausing on your skincare routine can potentially change the outcome for your skin.
Exfoliate, this is obvious but it also is very tricky. Many people including myself have exfoliated in the past and it can truly compromise your barrier and cause irritating. My skin can only tolerate chemical exfoliators and I can only use them once a week. If I really need it then I’ll exfoliate once more at the end of the week. The exfoliator I’ve been using a ton is the Paula’s Choice BHA Solution.
For makeup users: Choose radiant, illuminating makeup rather than opting for matte. When you use matte products, you’re doing the complete opposite of what you want to achieve. For oily skin babes, you need to be aware that when using illuminating products, you will likely need to touch up and blot more. I prefer using bb creams with dewy finishes, cream blushes, soft highlighters and tinted lip glosses/balms. I’ve been using a lot of illuminating bases lately and the one I’ve been adoring and I find very comparable to the Mac Strobe Cream but for a fraction of the cost has to be the Peach-C Peach Glow Base Cream.

I hope that was straight for you and helped you get a better idea of how to achieve that skin glow. Have yourself a wonderful week and good luck on your skin glow journey!

KLAIRS MIDNIGHT BLUE YOUTH ACTIVATING SERUM &VITAMIN FRESHLY JUICED DROP SERUM

Good Morning, my friends! I hope you’re all having a fantastic 2020 so far. Laura from Lifestyle Magazine reached out to me and offered me a wonderful product set that Wishtrend has and it’s called the 2 Step Recovery Set. This set includes the freshly juiced vitamin drop serum and the midnight blue youth activating drops.

Product Claims

EGF (sh-Oligopeptide-1) and bFGF (sh-Polypeptide-1)The body itself produced substances called EGF and bFGF. Both ingredients are key factors that keep the outer and inner parts of the skin firm and smooth and are crucial in the skin’s elasticity, gloss, and skin tone.

Ingredients:

sh-Oligopeptide-1, sh-Polypeptide-1, Butylene Glycol, Vaccinium Angustifolium Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Chlorphenesin, Guaiazulene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine

My thoughts

I’ve been using this serum for about a month now and I see a significant difference in my overall skin texture and appearance. When using this serum, I noticed that my skin was a lot smoother to the touch and also my smile lines and the wrinkles on my under eye appeared less prominent. I’m in my mid-20s and although my lines are not easily noticeable, I do see them developing. I do recommend this for those who are in their early 20s because I think early prevention is key. I mean, why wait till it happens when you can take action now to protect your skin. I have a few scars from picking my pimples and I noticed they appeared a lot more light when using this.

Texture: 4/5 – Is really runny and can be challenging to work with if you’re one of those people who like to apply product straight from the applicator to the face. Ideally, you should mix a couple of drops in your moisturizer then apply throughout the face. This is the easiest way of application.
Scent: 5/5 – There is no scent to this, which is excellent for those who have sensitive skin.
Price: 4/5 – This is kind of expensive, it retails for about 38 CAD for 20ml of product. I do however think it is worth it for the price because how gentle it was on my skin and I noticed a huge difference in my overall skin appearance and texture.
Performance: 5/5 – It did exactly what I expected it to do and works amazingly with other products. One of my biggest fear of serums is that they are not compatible with my other skincare products. I personally found this worked wonderfully with my existing skincare routine.
Packaging: 5/5 – Great. The dropper is fantastic and works nicely; it’s really easy to control dispensing out the desired amount of product.
Overall: 5/5 – I like it! I’m going to repurchase this and I would recommend this to anyone whose looking for a mild and gentle anti-aging product.

Product Claims

Energize + Rejuvenate Skin with highly concentrated, non-irritating and sustainable Vitamin C
Excellent for all skin types
Brightens complexion, hydrates, balances and refines skin
Free of alcohol, parabens, and eco-friendly + cruelty-free

Ingredients:

Water, Propylene Glycol, Ascorbic Acid(5%, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Centella Asiatica Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Illicium Verum(Anise) Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi(Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polysorbate 60, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Orange Oil Brazil, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Camellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Rheum Palmatum Root Extract, Asarum Sieboldi Root Extract, Quercus Mongolia Leaf Extract, Persicaria Hydropiper Extract, Corydalis Turtschaninovii Root Extract, Coptis Chinensis Root Extract, Magnolia Obovata Bark Extract, Lysine HCL, Proline, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Acetyl Methionine, Theanine, Lecithin, Acetyl Glutamine, SH-Olgopeptide-1, SH-Olgopeptide-2, SH-Polypeptide-1, SH-Polypeptide-9, SH-Polypeptide-11, Bacillus/Soybean/Folic Acid Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol

My thoughts

This has to be one of the most effective Vitamin C products I have ever used and also really gentle on the skin, I personally did not experience any sensitivity from using this. Now that being said, the strange thing is the claim it’s for all skin types but I see a pesky Lavender oil right in the center of the ingredients list. As many of you may know, I’m not against artificial fragrance but I did, however, have some issues with essential oils. Essential oils have irritated my skin in the past so I like to precautions when using products with them. I’m actually quite surprised I didn’t have any irritation when using this because it’s so high up in the ingredients list. Most products I use have a very low dosage of it and usually appear near the bottom of the ingredients list. I cannot say I would recommend this for those who have extremely sensitive skin for both artificial and natural fragrances however I can say those of you who are not sensitive to fragrance and are looking for a fantastic brightening product, definitely check this out. I’ve used this 3 times in the past and I came back to this because I knew it would work for me and it still does!

Texture: 5/5 – it has a lovely dry oil-like feel and can be applied directly onto the skin or mixed in with other products during application. If you’re scared of it being sensitizing/too strong for your skin, mix this in with a moisturizer to dilute the product then apply.
Scent: 4/5 – Almost has no scent to it, it has a super faint scent but it quickly goes away. Minus 1 point for the 2 essential oils. Skincare doesn’t need to smell good, it just needs to work.
Price: 5/5 – Pretty reasonable pricing if you ask me. One of these takes me about several months to finish and you don’t need a lot of the product.
Performance: 5/5 – Works like a charm, I would recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a nice brightening product because this is really effective and gentle on the skin. You shouldn’t have any burning or warming feel when using this.
Packaging: 5/5 – It’s straight forward, the packaging is attractive. The dropper works really nicely and I’m glad they chose a very stable Vitamin C. Initially, when I first tried this years ago, I was kind of nervous that it would oxidize because a lot of my Vitamin C products don’t last beyond 1-2 months. This actually lasts for a while, I personally didn’t see any oxidizing until 8-9 months down the road, which is fantastic. Even though this has stabilized Vitamin C in it, I still would suggest you store this in a cool, dark place to ensure the product does not oxidize.

Thank you Soak Lifestyle & Wishtrend for this wonderful collaboration and amazing set. I hope you guys give these products a try and please share with me how they worked for you.

Available on: Wishtrend
Use Code: 37F5B97C and get 10% off your purchase.