Varuza Centella Asiatica Calming Essence Mist with Peptide Review

I’ve been testing out the @thevaruza Varuza Centella Asiatica Calming Essence Mist with Peptide. It claims to soothe sensitive and acne-prone skin, relieve redness and irritation, alleviate acne, lift, and firm. 

The key ingredients are their Cica 4 Complex which contains centella Asiatica extract 30,000ppm, asiaticoside, madecassoside and madecassic acid. There’s also damask rose water, and several plant/root extracts among other ingredients. 

The spray is fairly light-not super-fine and smells lightly of rose. It feels like water-not viscous. I should also mention that the bottle has a 360 degree design to easily spray hard to reach areas like the back. 

To use, I spray on clean skin (face and body). It absorbs quickly leaving a semi-matte finish (deeper with more sprays). Not sticky or tacky at all. Leaves my skin lightly moisturized/hydrated and prepped for the rest of my routine. It also helped calm some redness and pimples. Overall, I’m enjoying this product and the experience has been positive. 

I received this product from 08liter.com as part of a campaign which offers free and low cost products for honest review.

Mother Made Deep Moisturizing Rich Snail Face Sheet Mask Review

 

I’ve tried several MotherMade @mothermade_global products, thanks to 08liter.com, and I’ve enjoyed them all. And the Deep Moisturizing Rich Snail Face Sheet Masks are no exception. It’s described as being anti-aging, super hydrating, and skin-restoring. 

The key ingredients are 10,000 ppm of snail filtrate ( no snails were harmed or stressed), adenosine, Natural Moisturizing Factor (a mix of powerful hydrating agents that help retain moisture, fortify skin barrier and maintain elasticity), and pomegranate ferment extract which is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. There’s also vitamin E, allantoin, hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica, aloe, ceramides, marine collagen, and chamomile flower. 

The cupra cotton mask is relatively thin but sturdy. And adheres and fits well. It’s saturated in essence but not dripping wet. And there’s no detectable scent. 

I’ve used them on clean toned skin, as well as after my serums, for about 20 minutes. Afterwards, my skin feels cool, very moisturized, hydrated, and looks slightly radiant. I didn’t experience any stickiness, tackiness, or irritation. My overall experience was positive and I’d repurchase these masks. 

I received this product from 08liter.com as part of a campaign which offers free and low cost products for honest review.

Mother Made All Green Tea-rouble-away Toner Review

Mother Made  All Green Tea-rouble-away Toner is described as an ultra-soothing, rich daily treatment to hydrate, nourish, and restore skin balance. 

The key ingredient is 83% of green tea water sourced from Jeju Island. There’s also a mild botanical AHA & PHA complex to gently exfoliate. And a blend of six sprouts extract (wheat germ, broccoli, cabbage leaf, alfalfa, radish, and rapeseed) to nourish skin with vitamins and minerals. 

The tea colored liquid is more viscous than water and there’s a barely-there herbal scent. 

I’ve been using it day and night on cleansed skin with cotton pads. And also using my hand to pat on more layers. It feel light, smooth, and gives an instant boost in hydration and radiance. Absorbs pretty quickly and leaves a dewy finish. Not stickiness, irritation, or tingling m. Leaves my skin feeling and looking hydrated, more plump, glowier, and more even-toned. I really enjoyed using this toner and would repurchase. 

I received this product from 08Liter.com as part of a campaign which offers free and low cost products for honest review.

Meditime Pore Tightening Corset Pack Review

 

Meditime Pore Tightening Corset Pack is a face mask that is designed to deep clean, tighten, and minimize pores. 

Some key ingredients are red bean powder, Amazon clay, and lotus extract. Also contains beta-glucan, sodium hyaluronate, and loads of plant/fruit extracts.

It has a very creamy smooth texture, light peachy color, and the scent is light, earthy, and herbal (reminds me of other clay masks I’ve used), not fragrant. I don’t notice the scent much when I’m wearing it. 

I’ve been using is a couple times as week on clean dry skin. It feels quite smooth and gentle. It does tighten but didn’t feel irritating. Plus I used a generous amount so it wouldn’t completely dry all over. I rinse with lukewarm water (the box suggests cold) after about 15 minutes. My skin looks and feels clean without feeling stripped. Also smoother, brighter, and pores slightly minimized. My overall experience was positive. 

I received this product from 08liter.com as part of a campaign which offers free and low cost products for honest review.

Beautree Blemish Calming Treatment Pads Review

 Beautree (@beautree.official) Blemish Calming Treatment Pads are exfoliating/toning pads that offer triple low irritation exfoliation with AHA, BHA, and PHA. They’re supposed to gently remove dead skin and waste, help with sebum and pore care, moisturize the skin. 

Some key ingredients are glycolic Acid, lactic acid, and extracts from five superfoods (broccoli, tomato, moringa, eggplant, and blueberry). There’s also centella asiatica, niacinamide, and allantoin amongst several other nourishing ingredients. 

The pads are dual-textured with one smooth side and the other embossed. Though they are very soft. And they’re highly saturated with more that enough solution for face, neck, and chest. The scent is mild, floral, a little powdery, and does not linger. 

I’ve been using the pads once or twice a day on cleansed skin. They feel very smooth and gentle. As I mentioned earlier, there’s a lot of product in the pad so it leaves skin rather wet. I pat and press to absorb. There’s some slight tackiness (which I have no issue with) and zero stinging or other irritation. Afterwards my skin feels lightly moisturized and hydrated. And over time I’ve noticed a slight improvement in appearance of pores and tone. Also a little brightening. Overall, I enjoyed using these pads and would recommend to anyone interested in gentle exfoliation.

I received this product from 08liter.com as part of a campaign which offers free and low cost products for honest review.

Celgen Pearl Moisture Solution Review

 I’ve been testing out the Celgen Pearl Moisture Solution. It’s a toner/face mist that claims to deeply moisturize and brighten the skin. It can be used before and/or after make up. 

Some key ingredients are energy water, gamma-oryzanol extract from the embryo bud of rice and hyaluronic acid. It also contains niacinamide, adenosine, pearl particles, among other ingredients. 

The pearlescent mist is very light and fine. And the scent is very mild, neutral, and does not linger. 

To use, I spray a couple layers on clean skin and pat. It absorbs pretty quickly and leaves a glossy/dewy finish. There’s no stickiness or tackiness. My skin looks brighter and feels quite moisturized and hydrated. In fact, I can use this without layering other skincare (besides sunscreen). Especially since the weather is now warm. It’s a perfect one-step moisture product for the summer months. And great for layering during any season. Overall, I really enjoy this mist and pleasantly surprised by how well it moisturizes.  

I received this product from 08liter.com as part of a campaign which offers free and low cost products for honest review.

Varuza I’m Real Natural Cotton Pads 300 count Review

I’ve been testing out the Varuza (@thevaruza) I’m Real Natural Cotton Pads 300 count. They’re premium eco-friendly cotton squares, made of 100% unbleached cotton, that has not been treated with chemicals like fertilizer/pesticides. So they have a natural beige color and tiny specs of cottonseed. The 3-ply square can be used alone or the layers can be separated to use as sheet mask (and other applications). They’re also lint-free. 

I’ve used the pads for several weeks and have enjoyed them. They’re soft but also strong and don’t fall apart. Very absorbent with zero lint so no fuzz is left on my face. I generally use them to tone and apply first essence, but I’ve also cleansed, and made diy sheet masks. I have not been wearing much makeup or nail polish these days, so I can’t speak on those. Though I feel like these pads can handle those easily. I’ve had an overall positive experience. 

I received this product from 08liter.com as part of a campaign which offers free and low cost products for honest review.

Vely Vely Artemisia Balance Essence Review

I had the opportunity to try Vely Vely Artemisia Balance Essence which claims to firm, hydrate, offer rich nutrition, improve skin barrier, even tone, and balance the skin. 

This essence is comprised of one ingredient, 100% Artemisia (aka Mugwort), which is known for its calming, soothing, and anti-inflammatory properties.  The consistency is like water-no viscosity. It’s golden brown in color and has an herbal scent that reminds me of chamomile tea. 

To use, I apply the essence (usually a couple layers) to clean skin with cotton pad and/or hands and pat. It’s absorbs quickly to a relatively matte finish. There’s no stickiness, tackiness, stinging, or irritation. Skin feels lightly hydrated and prepped for the rest of my routine. In the brief period that I’ve used this product, I’ve noticed smoother texture, minimized pores, and brighter skin. Overall, I’ve enjoyed using this essence and pleased with the results so far. 

I received this @velyvely_official @velyvely_global product from 08liter.com as part of a campaign which offers free and low cost products for honest review.

By Wishtrend Pure Vitamin C 15% with Ferulic Acid Review

I had the opportunity to try By Wishtrend Pure Vitamin C 15% with Ferulic Acid which claims help with brightening skin, preventing acne, boost collagen, recover skin from UV rays and antioxidant care.  

The key ingredients are 43% Hippophae Rhamnoides (sea buckthorn) Water,  15% L-Ascorbic Acid, 1% Ethyl Ascorbyl Ether, and 0.5% Ferulic Acid. 

The clear liquid has the consistency of water. And there’s a chemical-like scent that dissipates almost immediately upon application. 

To use, I apply about five drops to clean and toned skin and smooth/pat.  I want to mention that despite being water-like, it feels somewhat emollient on my skin. It absorbs quickly and leaves a dewy finish. Doesn’t feel sticky or tacky. I experienced slight tingling here and there, but nothing out of the ordinary (considering I’ve used other actives which sometimes tingle). So far I’ve noticed brighter, clearer, and glowy and more plump skin. The only issue I’ve had is with the bottle. No matter how tight I screw it, it’s slightly undone when go to use it again. Other than that, my experience has been positive, and I’m enjoying the results. 

I received this product from 08liter.com as part of a campaign which offers free and low cost products for honest review.

By Wishtrend Polyphenol in Propolis 15% Ampoule Review

I had the opportunity to try By Wishtrend Polyphenol in Propolis 15% Ampoule thanks to the 0.8liter try now campaign.

This ampoule contains propolis extract from the Auvergene volcanic region in France. There’s two polyphenols, catechin, and quercetin, which are antioxidants. Also contain cordata extract and zinc PCA to help soothe the skin and has antibacterial properties. Plus, there’s sodium hyaluronate, panthenol, and betaine to provide moisture.

The aim of this ampoule is to aid acne-prone skin, blemishes, sensitive skin, soothe, increase moisture and improve pigmentation.

The consistency is like a medium-weight serum but more watery. I didn’t notice much of a scent. I applied it (about half of the dropper) after toner, as directed. I smoothed and patted it on my skin and it seemed to absorb quickly. Also felt a little oily-then tacky. And left a sheen on my face which looked oilier later. So I decided to use less and less each time I used it. And even with using a pea-sized amount, my skin looked a little oilier than I prefer for my combo skin. Despite that, I did notice some slight improvement. Skin looked plumper, more glow-y, and my overall tone looks clearer.

All things considered, I think this is a nice hydrating product. I’ll keep using-I’m interested to see more results with continued use. Though, probably just at night to avoid an oily daytime look. I’d recommend this for dry skin; those with combo to oily skin can use sparingly and/or at night.

This item retails for $32 on wishtrend.com. I received this product from 08liter.com as part the try for 3.99 campaign which offers low cost products for honest review.

Dear, Klairs Fundamental Watery Oil Drop Review

Dear, Klairs Fundamental Watery Oil Drop is a water-based moisture serum that claims to provide hydration, anti-aging, anti-oxidant care, and help prevent moisture loss, like an oil, but without a sticky feeling. 

The key ingredients are Jeju green tea water, ferment extracts, ceramide, peptides, sodium hyaluronate, and rice and algae extracts. 

It’s clear, lightweight, slightly viscous, and feels just like the name, watery oil. I didn’t not detect any scent. 

I use 2-3 drops on my face, after cleanser and toner, day and night. It’s smooths over my skin easily and absorbs quickly. It leaves my skin feeling hydrated and looking plump and glowy but not oily. Also, I’ve found this to be a great lightweight moisturizer, for my combo skin, when the weather is very warm. I’d recommend for all skin types. 

This item retails for $31 USD on wishtrend.com.

I received this product from 08l.com as part the try for 3.99 campaign which offers low cost products for honest review.

My First Deciem - The Ordinary Order!

I got my first Deciem order some days ago and I'm really excited to try everything. They have several different lines but I got items from the super popular The Ordinary line. This line offers  a range of items from facial oils, acids like AHAs, BHAs and retinols, vitamin serums, foundations, and more. All at extremely budget friendly prices. I'm talking $5-$7 bucks for many of the products.

I heard about this line pretty much when it launched and I was definitely intrigued. However I didn't purchase right away despite the affordability. I just kinda made a mental note to try it someday. Well that mental note wasn't needed because I've been seeing and hearing about the line ever since. It was (and is) on all the blogs, YouTube, social media, magazines, and online beauty publications, and more. With many rave reviews to boot. 

So naturally I became more and more interested in trying some of these products. And one day, I decided to place an order. Well, just so happens that the items I wanted were out of stock. Not for just a day or two, but for weeks and weeks. Meanwhile, these same products were available on amazon and eBay for double and triple the price. Shout out to the resellers! 
So I signed up, on The Ordinary's website,  to be notified when the items were in stock.  After a few weeks I got emails stating that the items I wanted were available. HOORAY! I ordered right away. I got four items:  Glycolic Acid 7% Solution , Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2%, Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA 2% Spheres, Alpha Lipoic Acid 5%.  The total cost for my order was $27.80; that's a fraction of the cost for many skincare products that contain these active ingredients. Plus shipping is free if your order two or more items. 

My main skincare goal right now is re-texturizing. And all of these products pretty much address this issue. Of course, I can't use them all at once-using acids together and/or with vitamin C is not recommended. This can cause major irritation. Also, when using a bunch of new products at once, it's harder to tell what's making a difference. For better or for worse.  So I started (for no particular reason) with the Glycolic Acid 7% Solution during my nighttime routine. And so far, so good. I've been using it for about three weeks and I'm seeing some results with smoother and brighter (less dull) skin. I'll be switching these products out soon and taking note on how each of them work for me. And perhaps I'll come back with reviews. Stay tuned!

Have you tried this line before? If so, how are/were your results. 

Dr. Sponge Konjac Cleansing Sponge Review!

Have you heard of Konjac cleansing sponges? They're suddenly all the rage in the beauty/skincare world, though they've been around for some time. What are they? Well, they're cleansing sponges made from the  Konjac root  and they're noted for their gentle but effective cleansing and exfoliation.

I first saw these sponges a few years ago on an Asian beauty site. And though I was intrigued I didn't buy them. Then, last year sometime,  I was browsing on AbesMarket.com and Dr. Sponge konjac sponges were on sale (about $6.99), so I decided to give them a try. There were several varieties including original, aloe vera, lycopene, charcoal, green tea, pearl powder, and lavender - I chose aloe vera.

Once I got my sponge, I used it for a couple months according to the instructions. Please check the video to hear my thoughts about this product. And let me know if you've used this product before and how you liked it.

Beauty Bargain Find: Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Calming Facial Mask

Today's beauty bargain is Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Calming Facial Mask. I purchased it at Marshalls for $4.99. I wasn't going to buy it at first. In fact, I did not buy it the first time is saw it. Besides, I had a sample of this at home. I also had a $20 for $40 deal (from bloomspot.com) to redeem on Yestocarrots.com. So I figured I would just wait and buy it online.

Then I walked into Whole Foods which is in the same shopping center as Marshalls. I saw the same mask there for $14.99 O_O so I made a beeline back to Marshalls and got the mask. I guess I was expecting the regular cost to be around $8. Especially since most of their other products are in that price range. I was so wrong.
FYI, the mask is also $14.99 on the Yes to Carrots website. So, I'm glad I decided to buy it  at Marshalls. Also, And I believe the reason for the discount was a defective box; it didn't close all the way. Otherwise the product was/is in perfect condition.Win for me!

Have you found any beauty bargains lately?


About the mask from yestocarrots.com:

"Yes To Cucumbers Calming Facial Mask gives your tired skin that gentle moisture boost you've been searching   for, leaving your sensitive skin soft, silky, and polished to perfection! Going green isn't just a trend, it's an important way of life! And what better way to start going green, than with something everyone will recognize - your beautiful face! "

Beauty Bargain Find: Sophyto Phytotherapy Anti-Aging Care Kit

I love a good bargain! Don't you? And I recently found a fantastic bargarin at Marshalls. I was checking out their beauty aisle, as I always do,  and came across Sophyto Phytotherapy Anti-Aging Care Kit. If you have not heard of Sophyto, it is an all natural and organic skincare line free of artificial fragrance, color, fillers, and parabens.
Here's more info about Sophyto* via their website:

   " All Sophyto products are based in the advanced science of phytotherapy. This holistic approach 
     to skincare harnesses the healing power of botanicals and other powerful bioactive ingredients to 
     naturally nourish and restore skin's youthful glow. Every Sophyto anti-aging product delivers 
     professional results, yet is formulated with pure, natural ingredients."

I was already familiar with this line before picking up the kit. In fact, I've tried the products before thanks to a small sampler that I got from SaffronRouge.com (they no longer carry Sophyto). And I liked what I sampled but never bought full sizes because the prices were more than I was willing to spend. So when I saw this kit in Marshalls, I picked it up immediately. And then I saw the $12.99 price tag; I couldn't believe it was so inexpensive. You can't even buy one of their travel-sized items for under $10. And the kit is currently selling for $34.45 on Amazon.com. So this was a steal indeed. Glad I picked it up.

Oh, and I must say that I understand Marshalls sells some (not all) products that are overstock, irregular, discontinued, nearing expiration, etc,... The items in the kit expire next year and I just noticed a typo in the ingredients list. So that might explain the discount.

The kit contains the following:
Ph optimizing restorative toner (100ml/3.381 fl.oz) currently sells for $15 on dermstore.com
Anti-aging Antioxidant Serum (30ml/1.014 fl.oz) currently sells for $49 on beautysage.com
Marine Peptide brightening treatment (30ml/ fl.oz)  currently sells for $30 on beautysage.com

*The Sophyto website is based in the U.K. so prices are in pounds which is why I referred to Beautysage, Amazon, and Dermstore for U.S. pricing.

New Natural Mineral Makeup and Skin Care from Pacifica!

I've been a fan of PACIFICA.for some years now. I've used their soaps, lotions, solid perfumes, candles and loved them all. I have a little stock pile of their solid pefumes in my fragrance stash collection  from a couple years ago. They still smell great. So when I saw that they were introducing mineral makeup and skincare products to their line, I was really excited to check it out. I looked the new items on their site and they look really interesting. Plus they're relatively affordable

The color line includes lip tints, multi-use shimmers, an eyeshadow palette, and a bb cream which claims to adjust to your skin tone. The skincare line includes a foam  face wash, cleansing wipes, and day/night cream

I'd love to try it all, of course, but I'm most interested in the shadows, and  lip tints in Sugared Fig, Blood Orange and Coconut Nectar (shown below l to r) . I think the shimmers would be cool  too. They are multi-purpose colors for eyes, lips and cheeks. I also need to see if that bb cream really adjusts to your shade. I'll be pleasantly surprised if it does

Lip tints

.

     


Radiant Shimmer                                                            Alight Multi-Mineral aBB Cream

Wander Lust Beauty Set.

I''ve seen Pacifica sold in  Whole Foods, Sephora and Target so I hope that these new items will be available there. That way I can see them up close and personal. Otherwise, I might get one these Wanderlust Mineral Color Sets to start. I'll keep you posted.

Have you used any of Pacifica's products before?

Note: They currently have samples of  all of their solid perfumes for $2

Photo sources: Pacifica.com

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links for which Favoritethingsetc will receive a small commission if products are purchased from the link. 

My Free Samples From Mario Badescu

Hi all! Just a quick post to show you the free samples I got from Mario Badescu. I simply went to their website, filled out this questionnaire to determine which products would be best for. Next I was shown the recommended items for my skin type and given the option to purchase them. I did not buy anything though. I just left the site. Then a few days later I received an email asking me if I wanted samples and how to get them. And of course I wanted some. And about 10 days later, I got them. I was recommended 9 products and received 8 samples (their popular drying lotion was not included). They also included a product guide and an application to show how to use the products.  I have not tried them yet but I'll be testing them soon. I'm not sure if they're still doing this but give it a try. If you have already sampled these or use the line, please
let me know how you like it.




Here's what I got:

Collegen Moisturizer
Cucumber Tonic Mask
Drying Cream
Enzyme Cleansing Gel
Hyaluronic Eye Cream
Seaweed Night Cream
Special Cucumber Lotion (not shown)
Strawberry Face Scrub

One Love Organics Sample Pack

I recently purchased One Love Organics' sample pack  ( $3.95 with free shipping)  and I have been using them out for the past few days.

The sample pack contains 5ml each of OLO's Easy Does It Cleansing Foam, Brand New Day
 Microderma Scrub and Masque, Skin Savior Waterless Beauty Balm, Morning Glory Brightening Complexion Booster, and Love Springs Eternal Youth Preservation Serum. And although their websites says that the samples are single use, I've used them about 3 times. And I think I can get a couple more uses out of them. A little seems to go a long way and  I'm pretty light-handed when applying skincare.

 So far, I  like the products and have noticed some slight results (smoother, brighter)  in my skin. I think my favorites are the Skin Savior, Morning Glory, and Loves Springs Eternal. They feel great going on and I love the way they smell-no commercial fragrance, just essential oils.  I'd love to buy full sizes of these products but the prices are a little out of my budget. So, I'll probably check out one of the gift sets they have available. I'll keep you posted!



About One Love Organics from their website:


 "One Love Organics is a natural, ethical and environmentally driven cosmetics company created by skilled cosmetic artisans. Our products are hand-made and hand-filled, using only the highest grade of ethically sourced raw materials to ensure the most effective, luxurious and guilt-free application.

Our philosophy is focused on a few supreme products—not up-selling a medicine cabinet full of mysterious jars. We give skin what it needs, using only ingredients that provide direct benefits. (Hint: water isn't one of them.) And because our products are so pure, they work for everyone in the family, from the newest babies to greatest of grandmas."


Note: I did not use the OLO's cleanser to remove my makeup. I took makeup off first then used the cleanser.

A New Fave Etsy Shop: Beija Flor Naturals

One of my new favorite Etsy shops is www.beijaflores.etsy.com (also Beijaflornaturals.com) which is filled with natural/vegan/vegetarian products for skin, hair, and body. I first learned about Beija on...can you guess...? Yup! Twitter again! @CaliBeijaFlor and I (@jazjewelz) were/are following each other (and please note that I follow all Etsy tweeps who follow me). And she made a tweet about one of her products. This product was the Amazon Antioxidant Treatment (4 Brazilian Butter Blend Plus Acai) which is a non-greasy moisturizing balm for face, body, and hair. And although I don't usually put straight oils or butter on my face, (because I had really oily skin in the past) except to remove makeup, I really wanted to try this product. So I ordered it along with the Agave Aloe Polisher w/Rosemary which gently exfoliates face and body.

Amazon Antioxidant Treatment



Agave Aloe Polisher w/Rosemary


When I received my order I tried the Amazon Antioxidant Treatment (on my face) that very night and the following night. And I must say that I really liked the results. It was moisturizing but not greasy at all. I did not experience any breakouts or any oiliness. And my face looked great in the morning; skin was smooth and glowing. Then, a few days later, I tried the Agave Aloe polisher which was really nice on my skin and not harsh at all like some other exfoliate rs/polishers. Overall I really liked both products especially the Amazon Antioxidant Treatment and I will definitely by more from this shop. In fact there are a few items I have my eye on now. Here they are:

Acai Mango Light Face Lotion

Cali Peach Pomade and Body Balm

Creme Brulee for Kinks, Curls, and Coils

Licorice Root Scalp Elixir

Follow Beija Flor Naturals on Twitter (@CaliBeijaFlor) for deals, specials, and discounts.