The Face Shop Real Nature Sheet Masks (Lemon, Avacado, Rice, Honey) Review

 

 

 

 

So I've recently fallen in love with sheet masks after trying a really nice one from Shopper's Drug Mart. So I went to The Face shop and picked up three different kinds of their face masks and for $2CDN each, getting a whole slew wasn't too bad.

Claims for the Lemon Mask: This mask illuminates your skin and gives you a flawless complexion! Enriched with lemon extract with brightening properties, it will even out your complexion in an instant!

 



Claims for the Honey Mask: Get radiant and illuminated skin in an instant with this Honey Face Mask. The honey extract, with its nourishing properties, reveals younger looking, invigorated skin.

 

 

Claims for the Avacado Mask: Improve your skin's suppleness and elasticity with this Avocado Face Mask. Rich in nutrients, the hydrating serum contained in this mask is perfect for dry or very dry skin.

 

Claims for the Rice Mask: The Rice Real Nature Face Mask offers you a dazzling, even complexion. Known for its brightening properties, rice extract helps reduce the appearance of age spots and illuminates the skin.

 

So all of these masks have virtually the same list of ingredients save for the addition of their respective extracts (ex. Lemon extract in the lemon mask, rice extract in the rice mask). I leave these masks on for the longest period of time I can and then remove them, patting the excess into my skin. The effect of these masks are all the same to me; my skin ends up looking moist, fresh and very even. 

 

One thing I really don't like about these masks is the high alcohol denatured alcohol content. Alcohol denat is extremely drying and damaging to skin but is often used in skincare to give a product a lightweight feel. When I figured out that these masks had alcohol denat in it I stopped using them.

 

So in short; they do leave my skin hydrated, and even looking - even if that result doesn't last very long - it's doing more harm then good. I can't recommend these for that.

 

Likes:

 

1. Hydrating

2. Makes my skin look even

3. Residue feels light on skin

 

Dislikes:

 

1. Large alcohol denat content

 

C- 

Thayer's Unscented Alcohol-Free Unscented Witch Hazel Toner

 

 

 

I have a weird experience with toners. One of the first toners I used was the Proactiv toner which I burned through in about three weeks. I was new to this mystical world of toners and my combination skin loved the moisture and the way it would reduce the oil on my face.

 

 My last experience was with a Clean and Clear toner for sensitive skin that burned my face so amazingly I stopped using toners all together.

 

Then I stumbled upon the Thayer's Rose Petal toner online and ordered it, but then I happened upon the Unscented variety at a local health food store and picked it up. I was looking for a gentle toner that would give my combination skin some hydration without stinging. The alcohol free Thayer's sounded like it would fit that bill.

 

Claims from the Thayer's website: You Won't Smell It, But You'll Surely Feel It.

THAYERS® Alcohol-Free Unscented Witch Hazel and Aloe Vera Formula Toner has all the replenishing, revitalizing magic of our scented varieties, but is undetectable by the nose.

 

I found this toner online for $14.79 at Well.ca but currently at the time of writing this post all of the toners and astringents are on sale for about two dollars less. I found this Unscented Toner at a local health food store for $11.39.

 

I love how much product comes in this bottle which makes it so cost effective. The label is nice and gives the bottle this lovely old fashioned apothecary feel. The nozzle that dispenses this product isn't very good and a lot of toner ends up splashing out. I fitted this bottle with a spray nozzle so I'm not too heart broken.

 

The product does have a smell (just the natural smell of the product because there's no added fragrance) but it's not incredibly offensive or very lasting. It smells exactly like Maybelline's Dream Fresh BB cream. Literally the exact same. So if you've got a bottle of that BB cream and you don't like that smell and find it intolerable, then you probably won't be able to deal with this. If I were to attempt to describe it I would say it's a sharp sort of warm, slightly tart scent.

 

The feel of the toner itself is very nice. It doesn't feel hydrating at first, it feels a lot like water but once it dries I noticed my skin didn't feel tight but comfortable. My skin had this beautiful, dewy glow to it and felt hydrated to the touch. My skin felt incredibly soft and slightly sticky. My pores were also less emphasized.

 

If I get the toner on the lines of my lips, my lips feel sort of tingly and numb so I try my hardest to avoid getting the product on my lips. That's along with the smell is one of the only downsides to this toner.

 

I use it as a spray and it's a very refreshing and hydrating mist. When left to dry on the skin, my skin is left with this soft hydration. With too much spritzing my skin looks rather shiny but that's after multiple sessions of all over my face.

 

Likes:

 

1. Hydrating, glowing effect it gives the skin

2. Doesn't sting

3. Large bottle

4. Affordable price

5. All natural, simple, small ingredient list

 

Neither like nor dislike:

 

1. Smell

 

Dislikes:

 

1. The tingly feeling it gives my lips

 

A-

Freeman Feeling Beautiful Sweet-Tea and Lemon Peel-Away Clay Mask

This mask allured me on the premise alone. A peel off clay mask? How could that possibly work? As soon as I saw it in stores I snatched up a tube just to see what it would be like and it's easily become one of my favourite Freeman masks.

Claims from the Freeman website: Charm skin with a little southern comfort in the form of Sweet Tea spritzed with a squeeze of refreshing Lemon! Our peel-away clay mask delivers the cleansing, oil-absorbing benefits you expect from clay…plus the all-over toning and refining perks of an easy-to-peel-off mask! Antioxidant-rich Tea and Lemon Fruit Extract calm for the ultimate in toning and soothing benefits. Perfect for normal to combination skin.
This mask retailed for about $4.29 at Wal-Mart. Thankfully this mask unlike the Honeydew and Chamomile sleeping mask made it into stores.

What I love about this mask is that its a hybrid of a clay mask and a peel off mask. You get the oil absorption of a clay with the more tightening of a clay mask. It is really and truly a hybrid of both with a high concentration of Bentonite clay.

The mask smells really nice. It's got a very subtle iced tea fragrance with a hint of lemon. It's not strong but it's very pleasant. At first this mask smelt exactly like the Cucumber peel off mask but the more I smell it the more I realize it's got a scent all it's own.

The mask is a creamy orange colour. Unlike Freeman's peel off masks, this one has clay in it and it shows. The mask is very runny but also thick a bit like glue in consistency. It makes it a little difficult to apply and spread but the thickness insures the mask doesn't run all over the place once you apply it. This makes it very easy to target specific spots.

As with most clay masks, I don't apply it all over my face. I just apply it where I feel I get especially oily - my nose and forehead - along with my cheeks which have large pores. On the face the mask feels wonderfully cool. No stinging. As the mask dries it hardens a little which reminds me a bit of clay masks but not as tight. When the mask is ready for removal, the edges lift up a bit and then you pull gently from there. There were a few little spots where the mask didn't peel away but that came off when I rinsed my face with warm water.

Heads up: this mask hurts a little when you pull it off. Considerably more so then the Cucumber Peel off mask Freeman offers. I think it might be due to the clay. But it's not enough to bother me or to make my skin red so I'm fine with it. I find that when I apply a thicker layer it comes off with less pain but the caveat there is that I have to wait longer for it to dry.

The results are worth the slight pain. When I peel off the mask my skin looks mattified, smooth and poreless. I love how velvety my skin looks and feels after this mask.

I like this mask more then I like traditional clay masks because I feel like clay masks leave my skin much drier then this peel off mask does. In addition to that, I have to rinse so much longer to make sure I get all of the clay off of my skin.

I really enjoy using this mask and I can see it's going to become a weekly staple in my skincare regime. I definitely would repurchase this mask!

Likes:

1. How easy this mask it to apply and remove
2. The matte, soft and poreless look this mask gives my skin
3. How innovative this mask is
4. How affordable this mask is

Dislikes:

1. It's a little painful to remove

A

Freeman Feeling Beautiful Banana-Oat Instant Smoothing Mask Review

I have undying faith in Freeman and I couldn't resist this latest offering. With the promise of exfoliating AHAs and moisturizing banana and oats I had to get it. And I was curious as to what sort of texture this mask would have as well!

Claims from the Freeman website:
Whip up a little skin nourishment with our sensational facial smoothie! Deliciously-fragrant Banana-Oat blend smacks of softening ingredients for gorgeous skin. Highly active Alpha Hydroxy Acids rapidly exfoliate dull skin cells and reveal a softer, smoother, more radiant complexion. Antioxidant-rich Bananas nourish freshly exfoliated skin with minerals and antioxidants to keep bumpy skin issues away. Soothing Oat works double-time to nourish and keep skin calm, cool and collected. Perfect for all skin types.
Directions: Apply to cleansed face. Avoid getting product in the eyes, mouth, and nostrils. Leave on for up to 7 minutes, or rinse thoroughly as soon as skin feels sensitivity. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and pat dry. Follow immediately with a moisturizer.

This mask also comes with a lot of warnings! I get the feeling I'm dealing with something very powerful and also a little dangerous! On the packaging and on the website Freeman says "[w]arnings: Prior to first application, perform a patch test on the inside of your arm, 24 hours prior to applying to your face, to check for potential irritation. Do not use on skin that is sunburned, irritated, sensitive or within 24 hours of waxing. Not recommended for users of any topical or orally-prescribed acne, Vitamin A derived, skin exfoliation medications. Slight tingling, mild itching or some temporary skin redness are normal reactions to a highly-active exfoliant. Rinse off immediately if product causes discomfort, discontinue use and consult a physician. This product contains alpha hydroxy acids that may increase the skin's sensitivity to the sun and the possibility of sunburn. Use sunscreen and limit sun exposure for one week after use."

This mask retails for about $4.99 at Wal-Mart.

The texture of the mask is that of a gel with a yellowish translucent colour. It smells really nice. It smells like juicy tropical fruit with a strong banana note but it's a little too tangy to be straight up banana. It's pleasant but not overwhelming.

The first time I used this mask I applied it all over and it burned my face quite a bit! So I rinsed it off and my cheeks were visibly red.

I tried the mask again later on, only applying it to areas where I needed exfoliation like my cheeks, my forehead and the top of my nose. Thankfully there was no burning but there was a slight tingling sensation all over. I only planned on leaving it for seven minutes but after three or four my face felt like it was on fire.

So I rinsed it off and applied a moisturizer and sure enough my cheeks and forehead were bright red. My skin did feel very soft though! When I woke up the next morning all of the redness was gone and my face did look very smooth so the mask did live up to it's claims of smoothing skin. Freeman did say that some redness is normal when using highly active exfoliants so I'm not too worried.

I will say that I don't like how it feels and looks like the mask is irritating my skin but I do like how smooth it makes my skin feel. I wouldn't use this in the day, only in the night because I wouldn't want to walk around with red skin. I wouldn't repurchase this mask because there are easier and more gentle ways to get smooth skin without all the drawbacks.

Likes:

1. The smell
2. How smooth it makes my skin feel
3. It doesn't dry out my skin
4. It's affordable

Dislikes:

1. How it makes my skin red
2. How it feels like its burning my face
3. The increased sensitivity it may cause in my skin

B-

Clean and Clear Hydrating Gel Moisturizer Review

 

 

I am so glad Clean and Clear decided to put out such an innovative product. I trust my skin to Clean and Clear, so I had high expectations for this product! Needless to say as I am on my second tube, it has impressed me that much!


Claims from the Clean and Clear Canada website: From the refreshing MORNING BURST^® collection comes CLEAN & CLEAR^® MORNING BURST^® Hydrating Gel Moisturizer. This ultra-lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer helps wake you up with an invigorating fragrance and leaves skin feeling immediately replenished. It’s formulated with water, not oil, and contains a unique blend of cucumber and green mango extracts. For clean-feeling and refreshed skin, use this facial moisturizer daily.

This moisturizer retails for $7.77 at Wal-Mart. This cleanser does have a light gel texture. It's a pale, translucent, turquoise gel. It smells lovely; like cucumber melon candy.


It feels so moisturizing on skin and absorbs right away without feeling heavy or the need to rub the product into the skin for ages. It feels very light and makes my skin feel hydrated and fresh. I do add a heavier moisturizer around drier areas on my face (it's winter the area around my mouth and beneath my nose get very dry) so I would say this moisturizer isn't for super heavy moisturizing but would be perfect for spring and summer. I love this moisturizer and I would use it forever.

Likes:

1. How soft it makes my skin feel!
2. How light it is!
3. Doesn't grease up my already oily t-zone

Dislikes:

1. Not deeply moisturizing
2. No SPF

A

Nivea Lip Butter Blueberry Blush Review

 

 

 I've purchased this lip balm twice now. First the Vanilla Macadamia nut flavour where I was impressed with one thing but not the other so I tossed it. I like Blueberry Blush a lot more.

Claims from the packaging: The moisturizing formula of NIVEA Lip Butter contains chea butter and almond oil and provides moisture and long-lasting care. This indulging formula with blueberry aroma restores for sensationally soft lips and leaves a soft shine of colour.

This lip balm retails for $2.82. It comes in several varieties in Canada: Original, Vanilla Macadamia, Raspberry Rose and Blueberry Blush. The lip butter comes in a pot format and comes with 16.7g in the tin so there is a lot of product.

This lip butter is wonderfully soft and creamy. Once I bought a lip balm in a tin and it was ROCK SOLID. I was thoroughly confused. I always assumed pot lip balms were always softer because they weren't waxy enough to stand in a tube, but that's not always the case. This lip butter certainly couldn't stand in a tube. It's very melty.

The lip butter is a pretty pinkish plum but ends up translating to white on my lips if I put on too much. It doesn't leave any pigment on my lips but I suppose that's because my lips are pigmented.

The scent is heavenly. It smells like a yummy blueberry smoothie. A lot like EOS blueberry smooth spheres in scent. The scent only lasts for a while on my lips before fading and I wouldn't mind if it stayed.

The moisture on this lip butter is incredible. Even after you wipe it off your lips still retain moisture. It just feels really nice and creamy on lips and I love the way that feels. Like my lips are wrapped in a hydrating blanket. And when I wipe it off my lips look very smooth, soft and plump for a hours after the lip balm is off so the claim of the moisture being long lasting is definitely accurate.

One thing I'm not big on is the fact that it's in a pot. It's not hygienic as you have to dip your finger into the product and onto your lips to apply. So generally I keep this lip balm at home or I wash my hands thoroughly before applying.

Despite that, this lip butter is a giant win in my book. I don't own a lip balm which is as thick and hydrating as this in my stash. I love it and use it daily.

Likes:

1. It's very hydrating!
2. The creamy texture is lovely
3. The blueberry scent is delectable
4. Affordable
5. It's not as white as the Vanilla Macadamia flavour

Dislikes

1. Pot format
2. Gives off a white cast

My Winter Skincare Routine!

This winter the skin on my face has become remarkably dry! I've always had combination skin and I still do have some serious grease on my nose but everywhere else is incredibly dry! So here are the products I use to combat my dry skin and to leave my skin glowing and healthy.


1. Clean and Clear Sensitive Skin Deep Cleaning Cleanser: This cleanser gets my skin clean and fresh without drying it out at all. I love the inclusion of salicylic acid to keep acne at bay!


2. L'Oreal Paris Sublime Soft Gentle Micellar Cleanser: I can't extol the virtue of this micellar water enough. I leaves my skin soft and clean without feeling drying.


3. L'Oreal Paris Ideal Moisture Dry Skin Day Lotion SPF 25: This is the day lotion I've always been looking for; one that doesn't make my skin grey! This starts out white but as you smooth it onto your skin it ends up clear which is perfect for my NW45 skin tone. A lot of companies act like those of us with darker skin don't need sunscreen but anyone's skin is susceptible to damage. This day lotion is incredibly hydrating on my skin and I love how soft it leaves my skin feeling.


4. Clean and Clear Persa-Gel 5 Acne Spot Treatment: I dab a bit of this cream onto my acne spots twice a day and they dry up really quickly! This has helped me reduced the length of any pimples which is always appreciated!


5. Clean and Clear Night Relaxing Cleanser: This is a great cleanser to remove makeup or to use with a facial brush that leaves skin squeaky clean.

6. Nivea Lip Butter in Raspberry Rose: Such a fantastically creamy treat for lips! I love how thick and hydrating this lip balm is. So perfect for the winter!

L'Oreal Paris Sublime Soft Gentle Micellar Solution Review

I've heard that Micellar cleansers are popular in Canada and Europe, but I hadn't heard about Micellar cleansers until US beauty bloggers started talking about them! They sounded totally gimmicky to me - Water? This "water" is supposed to clean my face? Okay - so I decided to try it out. I could only find two at Wal-Mart (this L'Oreal one and another Nivea one) and I ended up picking this one because it was on sale, cheaper and had a smaller ingredients list.

So what exactly is a micellar cleanser / water / solution? In the simplest of the simplest terms; micellar water is a liquid that removes dirt and impurities without the need for rinsing due to molecules in the solution called micelles. You can read up on the science behind micellar waters here; http://colinsbeautypages.co.uk/what-is-micellar-water/.



Claims: Beyond makeup removal, the Gentle Micellar Solution cleanses and removes all traces of makeup from the face, eyes and lips in one step. So gentle, it is suitable even for sensitive skin.
Removes makeup and soothes. No rubbing, no rinsing, fragrance free and hypoallergenic. Removes makeup and soothes. No rubbing, no rinsing, fragrance free and hypoallergenic.

I purchased this cleansing water for $6.42 on sale at Wal-Mart but regularly it retails at Wal-Mart for $10.96. To use, you dispense it onto a cotton pad and apply it to your face and then go off about your day. The product has the texture of water but it forms bubbles very easily. It smells exactly like dish soap! Weird but whatever. It's colourless as well.

They say you can use this as a makeup remover but I use it after I wash my makeup off to get off any traces of product. I also use it in the morning to gently cleanse my face.

What I really like about this micellar cleanser is that it showed me which cleansers are actually doing their job of cleaning. I wash my face at the end of the day and then apply this micellar cleanser and I've noticed certain cleansers that I thought were doing a great job of cleaning wasn't doing any cleaning at all, and there was a lot of product coming off onto the cotton swab.

On the skin it feels very much like I was applying water. I was a totally unimpressed at that point until I took the cotton swab off of my skin; there was the dirt! This was after I washed my face! I thought it was clean! It wasn't a lot of dirt but it was enough for me to be impressed.

Sublime soft? Definitely. Once my skin is dry it feels so soft. It feels really soft. Not necessarily moisturized (I wouldn't skip my morning moisturizer) but I do like the fact that it doesn't make my skin feel tight.

In short; I like how gentle this on my skin, how soft it makes my skin, and the fact that it can get those last traces of makeup. I really like this cleanser and I'm looking forward to trying other micellar solutions!

A