Review: GHD Style - Root Lift Spray

Living abroad in Germany occasionally has its downsides. One of them tends to be me wanting to  repurchase a beloved, trusted product that sadly is only sold in North America. And when times get tough (aka none of my relations or friends back home are visiting anytime soon), I am forced to find alternatives. Such an occasion arose a while back when I found myself with an empty bottle of my holy grail hair product, the Sally Hershberger Supreme Root Lift Spray.

How good of a product is it really, I hear you ask? So good, that it's the reason I started this blog in this first place. Just to tell the whole world how awesome it is... #firstblogpost. Now, moving the nostalgia aside, I realized that I needed to find a substitute for it during my time here in Europe. So I searched far and wide... on the web that is, and finally came across something that sounded like it had full potential of being a dupe. 

And that my friends is the GHD Style Root Lift Spray. Essentially, these were my expectations of the product: it would lift my hairs roots (thus giving me MUCH needed volume), and as a lovely consequence of lifting my hair slightly, increase the time my hair stayed clean/non greasy. Sadly, it did none of that. Made hardly a difference to my hair. It would give it a hint of lift for the first hour and then just fall back down, flat as an ironing board. But that's not even the worst of it. It completely dried out my hair. It became knotty and dry, and thus breaking a whole lot more easily and just made brushing an absolute nightmare. Oh, and when you spray it, the smell is so strong and chemically that you end up having a coughing fit and sounding like a grandpa. Lovely. 

Honestly, I feel a bit stupid for having bought it in the first place when I eventually realized what the second ingredient was. Alcohol Denat. *Face Palms*. I had hoped that it wouldn't be that strong/bad, but it really was. For those of you who are curious,  there is zero alcohol in my holy grail Sally Hershberger spray. Juuuust saying ;). Needless to say, the next time I'm in Canada, I'm stocking up. Sorry GHD, it simply wasn't meant to be. 

If you have any recommendations for a root lifting spray, let me know in the comments! :)

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Review: Yves Rocher - Nutritive Vegetal Repair Cream Mask

I thought I'd get back into the swing of reviews and start off with a brand that I've always been fascinated with: Yves Rocher. Hard to come by in North America, but fairly available in Europe. I have fond memories of my mother using their products when I was younger, their cleansers always smelled aaamazing.

I had been suffering from dry skin when I was browsing the store and therefore my eyes ended up landing on this product. It was labeled as a hydrating mask, the ingredients looked ok, and it was on sale, so I hurriedly placed it in my basket and went on my merry way.

I'll spare you the details and just cut to the chase here: it was a complete flop. Zero effect on my skin. I put it on, left it on for 20 minutes, washed it off, and bam! Same old dry skin. It was as if it was never on my face to begin with!

And I have tried leaving it on for much longer and it still had virtually no effect. My skin did feel softer, but it still felt very parched. To me, a good hydrating mask is one that leaves your skin feeling so quenched that you don't even need to put on a cream afterwards. With the Nutritive Vegetal Repair Cream Mask, I instantly bolted for my moisturizer. Ah yes, the woes of a disappointing product...

But don't worry, this hasn't deterred me from trying out other products from Yves Rocher in the future. I know they have some gems out there. If you have any recommendations yourself, please let me know in the comments! :)

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Review: Sally Hershberger - Super Hydrating Super Keratin Spray

Ladies, have you ever asked a man in your life, whether it be your boyfriend or father, to get you something at the store, and they come back with something totally different? *nods understandingly*. Well, the same happened to me a while back. I had asked my dad to pick up my beloved Sally Hershberger Supreme Lift since he was flying to the States and Sally Hershberger products aren't sold here in Europe. Oh ladies, what I can tell you.... When you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself or send in a fellow female to the job.

So to sum up the story, I ended up receiving the Super Hydrating Super Keratin spray instead. I was disappointed of course, but I was also curious to try another product by Sally Hershberger. Sadly, it did not impress.

I'm always keen to try out hydrating sprays, mainly because I have yet to find one I genuinely really like. Unfortunately, this spray did the opposite of what it had promised. It made my hair feel dry and just unpleasant to touch, not too mention also harder to brush through. And as if that wasn't enough, it also made my hair get greasy quite quickly. Needless to say, a huge disappointment. I have a feeling it might be due to the keratin, but I can't say for certain.

So do I have anything good to say about this spray? Well... it smells nice and has a very nice fine spray that sprays evenly. Yup, that's pretty much. Nice fragrance and good packaging & spray, but with horrible effects. I do have a feeling though, that it might just be my hair. It might be the case that since my hair is so fine, it can't handle that much protein in a spray. So I can't be certain if everyone will have bad results with this product. But definitely something to consider if you're debating on trying it out.

Ah well, t'is the life of a beauty blogger. Also, if anyone knows a website that sells Sally Hershberger hair products internationally, please let me know! :)

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Review: Kiko Sun Lovers Blush in 'Ipanema Peach'

Sorry for the long hiatus everyone! One of those "life got in the way" moments, but I plan on making it up with a week of blog posts, every single day :). I thought I'd get back into the swing of things by showing you one of my absolute favourite products that I've been loving recently. 

One of the perks of now living in Europe is definitely trying out products by the Italian brand "Kiko". They have tons of amazing stuff, all for very affordable prices. I'd been kind of stuck in a rut with my current blushes and really wanted to find something new. I went into Kiko with the intention of buying a blush that costed no more than 5 euros (which they do stock plenty of), but of course, I ended up falling in love with the most expensive one there (13.90 euros), that is limited edition. Luckily, I have no regrets whatsoever.

The shade is called Ipanema Peach and it is just beaauutiful. It's essentially a blush, highlighter, and bronzer all in one. You have one side with a very beautiful warm pinky colour with a gold shimmer to it, and the other side with a warm bronzer with a hint of hot pink blush running through it. It's just stunning. And to add to it's glorious baked-blush self, it's also extremely pigmented, so a light hand is definitely needed with this product.

I'm all about the blushes with highlight at the moment. However, I'm not a fan of anything glittery. Thankfully, the shimmer is really fine in this blush so it just gives you a natural glow on the cheeks. I'm quite pale, but this blush still somehow works for me. Though I can see why the line is called "Sun Lovers" because this would look especially gorgeous with a tan. 

Also, can we have just a moment to awe at the beautiful packaging? A sturdy rose gold compact that somehow manages to look high end. And a huge mirror to go with it. What more could you want?

This blush will definitely be a staple of mine during the summer. So I'd like to know, what are your favourite products from Kiko? Any recommendations of what to try next would be much appreciated :)

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Review: Kiehl's - Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

Fellow beauty lovers: have you ever bought a product that seemingly everyone seems to love, but it just didn't quite work for you? Yup, I'm having one of those moments.

Behold, the loved Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado by Kiehl's. Everyone claims it as their holy grail eye cream, saying that it fixes any kind of dryness around the eye area. My under eye area had been feeling slightly tight during the past few weeks and so I finally bit the bullet and purchased the not so cheap eye cream (25 euros/15ml).

What can I say? It's just not that moisturizing. I kind of even wonder if I just got a bad batch or something because everyone raves about it being a very heavy eye cream, whereas for me it barely did the job. The texture of this cream is quite thick and even a bit rubbery, which makes it slightly difficult to apply without tugging your skin. It made my eyes feel a bit softer to the touch, though still a bit tight to be honest, and the effects would only last a few hours. My eyes are also usually quite sensitive to creams, so I was happy at least to see that I had zero irritation or reaction from this particular eye cream.

Honestly, I have affordable night creams that work better than this stuff. I honesty don't know why this is the case since everyone else seems to love it so much. My under eye area isn't even that dry, just a bit dehydrated. I even checked to see if the formula had been changed but that doesn't seem to be the case.

If anyone can solve this mystery, please let me know! Until then, the conclusion of this review will remain as a disappointment. What are your experiences with the Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado by Kiehl's? 

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Review: Herbal Essences - Bee Strong Conditioner

If you've been a long-time reader of my blog, you will then already know that I've been on the quest for a holy grail conditioner. Well folks... the search is over! Say hello to Herbal Essences's Bee Strong Conditioner. It's cheap (2.99 euros) and works like no other conditioner that I have ever tried.

Now, I'm sure that everyone has a different definition of what a conditioner should do, but for me the main points to be hit are the following: significantly prevents tangles, doesn't make my hair oily, and of course makes my hair feel soft. Oddly enough these points are easier said than done, especially with very thin knotty hair. I've tried countless amounts of conditioners, from low end to high end, and none of them made a difference to my hair.

But this conditioner just hits all the points. It smells delicious (sweet and fruity), actually reduces the amount of tangles I get, and makes my hair feel softer than usual. And the best part is that it does all that without making my hair super greasy. Total win, right?

Now I know you're all thinking the following question: "But does it moisturize your hair?" and to answer that naive question, no it does not and that's because no single conditioner will actually put moisture into your hair. However, it will keep whatever moisture your hair strands have in and prevent the strands from drying out so quickly. Only hair oils, such as Coconut Oil can put moisture into your hair. If you want further details on this explanation, check out my post here. It's all about the myths of Silicones and other haircare-like details.

Short and simple review, conclusion being: I love it! I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who suffers from knotty hair. It works and doesn't break the bank!

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Review: Clinique - Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm (vs. Emma Hardie)

I think we can all guess what happened just from the title of this review. Yep, I ran out of my Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm (review here). As tragic as it was, I had to move on and find a replacement. Of course, I was tempted to just repurchase it but the price tag scared me away. So when I heard that there was a cheaper, but just as good version of it by Clinique, I swooped in right away.

Let me just start off by saying I much prefer the packaging of this balm. The Emma Hardie one was constantly cracking all over and just breaks very easily, whereas this one is a beautiful purple and very sturdy.

This cleansing balm does everything a cleansing balm should do: removes all makeup effortlessly, cleanses the skin, helps clean out pores and reduce the size of them (particularly on your nose), and doesn't strip the skin from any moisture. It also has zero fragrance whatsoever, whereas the Emma Hardie does have a fragrance, though a very pleasant one. Personally, I think the Clinique one is better suited to those with sensitive skin because there really is nothing in the ingredients that could possibly cause a reaction. The Emma Hardie balm does contain essential oils, which might irritate the skin of some people, though I myself never experienced any reaction.

So the question is: is it better or just as good as the Emma Hardie cleansing balm? The answer is no. And I only have one reason for saying this: it doesn't add moisture to the skin. The Emma Hardie can be used as a moisturizing mask, whereas the Clinique balm just doesn't really moisturize the skin. It does leave the skin feeling soft, but you instantly feel like you need to slap on some moisturizer after using it.

Though it does have two perks over the Emma Hardie balm - it doesn't stain towels. And secondly, it will last you a lot longer because it's much more solid. You literally have to rub your hand in it to melt it a bit so some oil will come off, which allows you to then apply it your face and massage it in.

I completely agree with Caroline Hiron's thoughts on it (link here), it's a really good cleansing balm, but it doesn't give you that "Ahhh" feel when you put it on like the Emma Hardie does.

But still, really awesome cheaper alternative! I'm quite shocked that I like it because I generally have a huge dislike for Clinique skin care products. They're usually way too harsh, which in turn makes my skin react, and tend to do more harm than good *cough* 3 Step System *cough*. This is the first item of theirs that I have used and actually liked, so bravo to Clinique! Though the one big down side to it is finding it. I don't know why, but Clinique has made this task very difficult. I could only purchase it online on Douglas, since for some reason they don't actually sell them in the stores.

But do be sure to try it out if you can! 

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm ($28 in the U.S./ €29.99 in Europe)

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Review: Bourjois - Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation

I have to admit, I've been a bit of a foundation-whore lately. I just can't stop. All of a sudden, I've just had the need to try them all, thinking that surely the next one will be 'the one'. I'm happy to announce, that the Healthy Mix by Bourjois really does deserve all the hype it receives. But is it 'the one'? No, but it's pretty close.

Let me just quickly sum up for the formula for all of you: it's a gel foundation (though feels just like a liquid foundation IMO), light coverage - though buildable to medium, and has a dewy, fresh finish. It feels incredibly light on the skin and like all french products, it smells amazing.

But why do I personally like it so much? Well, it looks like skin. And to be honest, I've never been able to say that about any foundation I've tried. And the finish is just perfect, it's still dewy-ish but not too dewy *cough* Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation *cough*, where I just end up looking like a disco-ball and need loads of powder. Any foundation that doesn't force me to use a powder is already very attractive to me.

And best of all, it doesn't make me extremely oily. The fact that a dewy moisturizing foundation doesn't make my oily skin into a greasy surface is just incredible. Therefore, I officially declare it to be suited for all skin types. However, I will say this: it doesn't have a great staying power for us oily girls (well... you can't have everything). But a setting spray or primer will fix that with no problem .

Now, I bet you're all wondering: is there something that I don't like about it? Sadly, yes. It's slightly too light coverage for me, meaning I need A LOT of pumps to achieve the medium coverage I desire, which is a bit of a waste of product. It's definitely not one of those foundations where "a little goes a long way". The Healthy Mix also transfers like it's nobody's business. Yikes.

So that is why I am totally in love with the Healthy Mix Foundation, but can't declare it to be my soul mate. Oh well, I shall find my true love one day.

What are your thoughts on the Healthy Mix Foundation? Has Bourjois stolen your heart as well? :) 

€14 / available here at ASOS

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Review: Nuxe - Reve de Miel Lip Balm

Over the holidays, I had acquired quite a few "frenchie" presents from a friend of mine who is currently living in France. Of course, they had to include famous french skin care products. So I thought I'd do a review on my most surprising favourite: the Reve de Miel Lip Balm by Nuxe. Now, I'm sure you're all wondering: why is it surprisingly a favourite? Well, it's because my whole life my lips have only gotten along with one brand of lip balm (Lip Smackers) and therefore the idea of any other lip balm working for me is simply ludicrous (link to my post on All About Lip Balms can be found here).

At first, I actually disliked the Reve De Miel. But now? I can't live without it!

Now to explain why I initially wasn't in favour of the product, it all begins with the texture. The main ingredient is beeswax, meaning it feels super thick, waxy, and sticky on the lips when you first apply it. But I have to admit, once you get use to it, it's not that bad. And it gets more smooth and less sticky as the product warms up on the lips.

However, once it sinks in (which I admit, does take slightly longer than my beloved Lip Smackers), it is amazeballs. It feels like it has moisturized not just the top layer of your lips, but several layers beneath too! It's what I would describe as a "deep hydrating mask", but for your lips! The effect of it also lasts for hours on end.

Though my favourite qualities about this lip balm are: it's clear (not tinted whatsoever), it's matte and won't give your lips that usual lip balm shine and therefore can be used underneath matte lipsticks, and it's kiss proof! No more boyfriend drying up my lips! The only downside I have with this lip balm is that it's in a pot and not in stick form, but that's just personal preferences.

Needless to say, it's downright amazing. And coming from me, aka the girl who is incredibly picky and fussy over lip balms, that's saying something.

Also, as a Canadian, I couldn't help but have a laughing fit when I read this on the packaging: "effectiveness tested in conditions of extreme Canadian cold". Mind you, I'm from the Vancouver, where we rarely get any snow :P.

I'd like to know: what's your holy grail lip balm? Have you tried any products from Nuxe? :)

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Review: Astor - Soft Sensation Lip Color Butter

Happy holidays! Hope everyone had a lovely christmas and that you're all looking forward to the new year :). I thought I'd do a quick little review on the "Astor Soft Sensation Lip Color Butter" for you all. They were a bit raved about here in Europe and I was curious to give them a go. Conclusion? I'm not a huge fan. But they are really good...

I know that's a confusing statement to make, but hear me out. They're essentially lip crayons, or lipsticks in crayon format. The formulas for each one are not identical. I know, weird.

The first one I bought was this hot-pink shade called Feeling Feline (#011). This one has a great formula, it's really pigmented and doesn't dry out your lips. The staying power is also incredible, it stays on your lips all day long without budging. However, the colour really doesn't suit me. So great product, but not for me.

But then I saw another shade, specifically a nude one. This one is called Caramel Envy (#003) and it swatches beautifully. However, the formula for this one reminds of the Revlon Lip Butters: very creamy and not incredibly pigmented, and it has glitter bits in it like "Peach Parfait" from the Revlon Lip Butters range. And again, the colour did not look good on my lips. And none of their other shades interested me.

The packaging is really nice though. I love that they made the lip crayons slanted on the top like a lipstick would be. It's just much more convenient than the typical round surface you get with lip crayons. The only downside with the packaging is that the text rubs off very easily (again, hardly anything to complain about).

So needless to say, they are really nice products. Sadly though, none of the shades suit me. However, I definitely suggest you give em a swatch if you see them because they are quite lovely :). I can't wait to try out more products from Astor! 

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Review: Garnier - Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream

(Lipstick swatch for reference of coverage)

I was about to do a post on "Things I've been loving lately", but then realized that one of the things in the post needed a whole review on its own :). And that ladies and gentleman, is the Miracle Skin Perfecter BB Cream by Garnier. Now, normally I stay clear from BB creams. This is mainly due to the fact that they don't offer enough coverage for me and tend to be not the best choice for those with oily skin. But then I kept hearing great things about Garnier's latest BB Cream. Essentially, it sounded like more of a foundation rather than a tinted moisturizer.

But what really sold me was this: UVA & UVB 20 Protection. I have found it so hard to find a foundation that has UVA protection as well, instead of just UVB (aka SPF). A quick explanation as to why both are important is that UVA rays age your skin (number one cause of premature aging), while UVB burns the top layer of your skin (aka a sunburn). So when I saw that the Garnier BB Cream had UVA and UVB protection, I had to have it!

Now for the finish it gives...

Even though it promises a matte finish, that's actually not really the case. I would say it's more of a velvet finish, which is my personal favourite because it looks quite natural since it's not too matte and not too dewy. It's also medium coverage (another favourite of mine!) and does a good job at covering up redness and any imperfections. It just looks wonderful on the skin, and the colour match is perfect for me.

Now don't get me wrong, there are a few drawbacks.
1) Packaging. I saw this because the bb cream is very runny, and with the tube you can accidentally squeeze out too much. A pump would be a lot nicer.
2) Application. When applied with fingers, it's flawless. When applied with a brush, you look orange. Now I'm not quite sure why this is the case, but it is a bit annoying. I think it might be that you have to work with thin layers (easier achieved with fingers), for it not to oxidize so badly.
And the final drawback: for those with oily or combination skin, your t-zone will become oily after a couple hours. This is probably the biggest negative aspect about this bb cream and I think it can't be helped because of the SPF in it. But I love it so much that I manage to keep calm and powder on (see what I did there? ;) ).

What's your favourite foundation or BB cream? :) 

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Review: Lush - Tea Tree Water

Have you ever had one of those products that you just couldn't make up your mind on? Yeah, I thought so. Well, this is definitely one of those for me. I wanted to find a nice toner and had heard so many great things about tea tree oil, so when I saw the Tea Tree Water at Lush, I thought I had ended my search! I mean it sounded great: anti-bacterial, reduces redness, great for those with oily or acne prone skin. Who doesn't want all that?

So I guess I'll just start with the pro's and cons of this toner.

PROS: Doesn't dry out your skin, has a spray so you can reach other parts of your body (such as your back), alcohol free, anti-bacterial, spray feels refreshing and cooling. 

Now for the cons...

CONS: Very little to no results.

I have used this toner for several months now and I just can't say I see any real difference with my skin. If anything I think I had more breakouts while using it than when I was not, but that might've been a coincidence with hormones, etc. The only thing I really like about it is using it for my back to prevent any spots there since it's a hard area to reach. But that's really about it...

I adore Lush and this is my first purchase from their skincare line, but I have to say I'm not that impressed with this product. It's not bad, but it's not great either. Though I have heard it work well with other people, so it could just be my skin type.

Have you tried out this toner? Has it worked for you? Do you have any good Lush skincare recommendations? :)

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Review: Maybelline - Fit Me Concealer

Now that exams and assignments have begun to pile up, my dark under eye circles have become a clear indicator of my increasing work load. With this in mind, I realized I was in desperate need for a good concealer. However, I wasn't keen on spending much (saving up for christmas sales!), so I did some research and ended up picking up the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer :). 

And all I have to say about it, is this: WOW. Not going to lie, I was quite blown away by the coverage and texture of this concealer. It's high coverage (will hide anything and everything) and feels creamy. It doesn't feel drying in the slightest and does a good job at hiding redness and dark veins. And a little bit really does go a long way with this concealer. 

The only complaint I have with this concealer is staying power. Sadly, it only lasts a few hours when it comes to hiding spots. However, it does thankfully last most of the day in your under eye area. I would definitely suggest using a primer underneath it, especially if you have oily skin. I have tried setting it with a powder, but it doesn't help much. Oh and another small complaint I have is the packaging: Love the form of application, but the wording on the tube rubs off so easily! Ah well, can't really complain much when the price is so affordable. 

So in conclusion, it's a wonderful drugstore gem that is a great alternative if you cannot get your hands on the concealers by Makeup Forever, Nars, or Collection. It is honestly worth the hype :). 

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Rimmel Apocalips vs Manhattan Lip Lacquer: DUPE!

Let's be honest with ourselves... everyone loves a good dupe, especially if we have no means of obtaining the original or it's too expensive. However, I think the case here takes the word 'dupe' to a whole new level.

A year after the Rimmel Apocalips were released, the European brand Manhattan released their own version. Needless to say, they are 100% identical. The packaging is the same, the formula is the same, the shade is the same, heck they even smell the same! I was quite shocked and appalled that Manhattan would have the audacity to completely rob Rimmel of their product, so I decided to do some further research. One can't help but be skeptical. 

And that's when I found it: Rimmel and Manhattan are owned by the same company. This fact put my mind to rest over the matter and answered my question about them both being manufactured in the UK. But I think there's no reason for Manhattan to sell the Apocalips, but rather Rimmel should just be available in every country ;) (*cough* Germany *cough*). 

The only difference is that there are few different shades available with each brand, but the one I picked up ('Red Rocks') is the exact same one as 'Celestial'. Though I have no clue why Manhattan would rename it to 'Red Rocks' if it's pink.... 

So now I want to know: have any of you seen 100% identical dupes before? :) 

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Review: GlamGlow - SuperMud

Hey everyone! I thought I'd do another review today on a very well known product: the Glamglow Supermud. A very expensive mask ($65) that everyone loves to use, even celebrities...

I'm going to start off this review by being very frank: I've suffered from terrible blackheads since I can remember, and sadly you cannot change the size of your pores since they are determined by genetics (thanks mom and dad). Mine are actually big enough to pass for freckles, no joke. I've tried everything to try and reduce them - from nose strips (ouch!), to facial extracts (double ouch!). Needless to say, I was getting slightly frustrated with my nose. So when I heard about this mask, I thought it would be the cure to all my frustrations. Sadly, I was very disappointed.

All this mask did was dry up my nose and kept my blackheads looking the exact same. Essentially the mask works by sucking up all the oil from your skin, but not any actual blackheads. I also tried it out as a spot treatment, but that also did nothing for me. There were a few occasions where my blackheads looked a tiny bit lighter than before, but those moments were not often. It's also quite hard to apply properly: you need to apply a thin layer, but not too thin and not too thick.

However, when my boyfriend tried it out (curiosity got the best of him), it actually worked quite well! I don't know if you need to have a certain size of pores for it to work, but it's definitely not a product that'll work for everyone. And it just diminished the appearance of the pores for him, it didn't actually remove any blackheads. If are you thinking about it buying it, I would definitely recommend first trying out a sample to see if it really works for you. It would also be more suited for those with very oily skin, not normal or dry.

Here are some pictures of the mask working. I was slightly embarrassed at the idea of posting them, but I figured it would probably be the most helpful for those who want an idea of how it works:

Before:

During:

After:

I hope this review has been helpful! Let me know in the comments what you do to treat your blackheads :). My current favourite method is using the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm.

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Review: Emma Hardie - Moringa Cleansing Balm

I have been waiting ages to post a review up on this oh-so hyped up cleansing balm! But as a proper beauty blogger, I wanted to give it a proper 2 month trial phase before giving a conclusive verdict. I had been wanting to get for ages, but only caved when my Clarins Cleansing Milk was empty and the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm had gone on sale on FeelUnique. After all, who can say no to a discount??

After several weeks of using this cleanser, I can officially declare it to be my holy grail cleanser. I know, big statement to make, but it's true! It is the ultimate cleanser because it acts as a cleanser AND as a moisturizer. It's just the perfect thing to use when you want clean and balance out your skin.

Yes, it is quite expensive ($56 full price on FeelUnique), but I do think it's worth every penny. I always look forward to using at night when I want to relax and pamper my skin. Every other cleanser on the market will strip your skin of moisture, whereas this one somehow cleans it and injects moisture back into the skin. This has really helped me with some dry patches I couldn't get rid of before, while also helping my face stay clear of spots. And the best part is that it's for all skin types (yes, even for us oily gals). I was very worried about using this on my nose in particular because the balm essentially becomes an oil when it touches your skin, but oddly enough it actually cleaned out my black heads rather than making them darker.

Also, I do have four tips regarding application for this balm:
1) If you want to avoid using it up quickly, make sure your face is damp before applying. You end up using less with this technique. 
2) If you want to get more moisture out of the balm, use it only a dry face. You will end up using up more product, but with this technique you get more benefits for your skin.
3) Leave the cleanser on for 10 minutes if possible, this way it also acts like a moisturizing mask. 
4) Wipe it off with a slightly damp towel or muslin cloth, and make sure to leave a little bit of residue so that you can just pat the remaining bit into the skin. 

What else can I say about this cleansing balm? It's amazing and it also smells amazing. Highly recommend it!  

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Review: Bioderma - Hydrabio Riche

Even though the weather has been warm lately, my skin has been feeling dehydrated rather than its usual oily/combination state. Since I had a lot of fate in Bioderma, I decided to give their Hydrabio Riche a shot. But sadly, it was not the cure I was looking for.

First thing I didn't really like was how it made my skin feel, it just didn't sink in nicely. My face felt slightly sticky and a bit tight. I didn't have that "ahhh..." moment that I normally have with a good moisturizer, as I would feel moisture sink into my skin. I didn't notice much a difference to be honest, it wasn't really moisturizing or beneficial to my skin whatsoever. I'd also like to note that Bioderma's moisturizers do contain mineral oil, which can be known to sometimes clog pores. 

It didn't break me out or do anything bad, but it also didn't really help hydrate my skin. Though I do really like the sleek packaging (comes with a pump). But I guess every brand, even Bioderma, has the odd not-so-amazing product :).

If you have you any suggestions for a good hydrating moisturizer, please let me know :).  

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Review: Garnier Fructis - Nutri Repair 3/Oil Repair 3

I thought it would make the most sense to next review the conditioner from Garnier's new Nutri Repair line, since having last reviewed and praised the Miraculous oil (link here). I had really high hopes for this conditioner since I was so in love with the leave in oil. Sadly, it was not meant to be...

Every single time I tried using this conditioner, my hair would end up being ridiculously oily and I'd end up having to wash it AGAIN. To me, a good conditioner is suppose to soften and condition your hair without making it oily. The only way I can use this conditioner is if I take literally a dime size and mix it with water. And I'd still have to use a second conditioner along with this one. It's just not worth it...

I think the only real use for this conditioner would maybe be a hair mask (though that would have to be washed out REALLY thoroughly). The main fruit oils used for this conditioner are olive oil, avocado, and shea-butter. I like all the ingredients except for the shea-butter, which I think is actually what causes my hair to become so oily.

Shea-butter is very very thick and is meant to only be used to moisturize very dry parts of your body. It's a key ingredient for things like foot cream, so it's very heavy duty stuff. It's far too heavy to be used on hair, especially thin hair like mine.

It's a shame it didn't work out, but I still love and adore the Miraculous Oil :). Have you tried anything from Garnier's new line? 

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Review: Garnier Fructis - Miraculous Oil (Moroccan Oil Dupe)

So lately I've been battling to find a conditioner/hair product that would leave my hair feeling soft, preferably longer than just 2 hours. I don't expect anything other than natural oils (such as coconut oil) to actually 'condition' and nourish my hair, so I was quite surprised when I did see an improvement in my hair with this drugstore oil by Garnier. It's called the "Miraculous Oil" and I have to say... it really is something close to a miracle.

 First off, let's start off with the fact that is has a pump ladies and gentlemen! So already a big thumbs up for packaging. Now, what does it actually do? Well, it works as a hair softener and detangler. I apply it to wet hair (definitely don't recommend using it with dry hair) and it just leaves my hair feeling incredibly soft, much softer than any conditioner can achieve. And you don't have to worry about it making your hair oily! Best part is the effect lasts 1-2 days.

Another big plus is the huuuge reduction in tangles with this oil! I use to have awful knots in my hair, but thanks to this, I've barely had any! I've also noticed a reduction in split ends from using this over the few months :).

I'm calling this the Moroccan Oil Dupe because I think it's a great and cheaper alternative, and to be honest... I actually much prefer the Miraculous Oil over the Moroccan Oil! The Miraculous Oil actually contains real Argan Oil, whereas the Moroccan Oil just consists of multiple silicones. It also smells a lot nicer. The scent is very light, sweet, and fruity, whereas I find the Moroccan Oil's scent to be very overpowering.

Overall, I am in love with this hair oil! I honestly cannot recommend it enough :). 

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Review: La Roche-Posay - Thermal Spring Water

Hello, everybody! Hope you're all doing well :). I thought I'd start off with my latest summer essential: La Roche Posay's Thermal Spring Water.

I know it may seem silly to buy something like this. You're probably all thinking "It's just water, isn't it?". My answer to that is yes and no. It is water, but it's water that contains Selenium, which just means that the water is packed with antioxidants.

The water is suppose to sooth, tone, refresh, and soften your skin. I can firmly say that it really does do all that! I personally use it before and after cleansing, to help soften my skin and then follow with a moisturizer. What I really like about it, is that it doesn't leave your face feeling really tight and dry like normal water, instead it just feels slightly softer and refreshed. I also noticed it does reduce redness, so it's great for those with Rosacea. And as a plus, my skin has definitely been a lot clearer while using this. Oh and it's also supposedly anti-aging (yay!).

Not only is it a great skincare item, but it's also an absolute joy to have during the hot weather. A quick spritz of this and you already feel a whole lot cooler. Not too mention, it's a very fine and gentle mist so you won't feel like you're squirting yourself with a water gun. You can also either buy the full size bottle ($10), or a mini (around $4.50) so you can carry it around in your purse!

A definite must have! What's your summer essential? :) 

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