Review: Tresemme #ReverseYourRoutine

I've always liked TRESemme products - ever since I was in college, and even now too. I've always liked how they gave my hair a silky smooth texture. Not to mention that they are quite affordable as well!

So thus, I was super excited when Influenster gave me the chance to try out TRESemme's new line - the ReverseYourRoutine line. This line of products basically consists of a pre-wash conditioner followed by a shampoo.

This box is awesome!

Nice packaging. I wish I had hair that was as great as this lady's.

So many cards!

I started using the products, but unfortunately I was not used to using conditioner first followed by shampoo. I was afraid that my hair would become all gnarly from the excess amount of shampoo. However, I was pleasantly surprised! This product is great. It makes my hair feel silky smooth and at the same time doesn't leave silicone gunk in. I would definitely use this at least every other day.

Not to mention, it's extremely affordable as well!

I received this product from Influenster for review purposes; however, all opinions are my own.

Review: Ralph Lauren Tender Romance Perfume

I'm super grateful for receiving this sample from Influenster to try - the brand new Ralph Lauren Tender Romance perfume!

Receiving this in the mail really cheered me up - I had been having a dismal day and boom! Something awesome popped up in my mailbox.

According to Sephora, this fragrance has the follow scent notes:

"Ginger, Pear Accord, Bergamot, White Magnolia Accord, Jasmine, Ginger Lily Accord, Cashmere Woods Accord, Benzoin, Musk. "

This product /does/ smell super awesome and romantic. I tried it on and it was florally as well as fruity, but not overly done. I think I might even wear it to my wedding!

*This product was provided to me for review. All my opinions are my own.

Old Post- Memebox

I bought a Sunscreen Memebox in June of this year... and here are the products...

This is just for those who are interested and want to learn more about Memebox!

Basically, Memebox are boxes of curated products that are from Asia. They ship promarily the US and shipping is FAST.

They offer pretty good deals. Memebox sells boxes as well as individual products.

Here's what I got from them before...

Highly suggested! I got all of this for $45 - when the ampoule itself retails for $25. and other products for at least $10 each. w00t!

Review: Secret Key Multiple Cell Night Repair Ampoule

 I know guys, I haven't posted a review in a long, long time.

(whoops I know, sideways)

 What have I been doing? I've been on rotations, trying to get through high-stakes exams (both written and practical), learning medicine (in general), taking care of my family, wedding planning, etc. Lots and lots of stuffs.

Also, on a side note - I feel like I need more and more sleep all the time. When I was in HS, I could stay up a lot and be fine the next day. Same thing in college. Now? I can barely function properly. I need a lot more sleep. Sound like aging? Yup.

Anyway, I want to review a product I got from Memebox. This is a product that is called an ampoule - similar to a serum, that is meant to be put on after essence. This Asian product is a dupe of Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair. I had previously tried Estee Lauder's serum, but unfortunately it is super super expensive ($92 for 1.7 fl oz on Sephora). So therefore, I decided to go with something that also seemed good.

Pros?
- Price ($25 for a bottle, 1.7 fl oz)
- Packaging - similar to Estee Lauder, although there is no pump, at least if you don't touch the tip, it can suction out product pretty cleanly
- Longevity - I've been using this product for several weeks and have barely made a dent in it!
- Makes my skin feel soft, supple and smooth
- Can be used in daytime and nighttime

Cons?
- Hard to find in US - find on Amazon and other 3rd party websites
- Difficult to recycle packaging - glass packaging (for eco-friendly consumers)

Bottom line - I think I'd like to buy this product again. This is a very nice product for a good price, a good size for a serum that seems to work super well. Yay!

 Here's how my skin looks after application. What do you think? Pretty clear? (no makeup on whatsoever)

Stuff I've used up + mini-reviews

I don't normally do these posts often (because it takes me quite awhile to use stuff up) but here's a list of recent products that I've finished as well as my thoughts on them.

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EOS Lip Balm in Strawberry Sorbet - this is quite nice of an addition to the (giant pile of) lip glosses/balms I currently use. It's very light-weight and tastes/smells like strawberry shortcake. It's also very pretty, does not make my lips feel gritty, and glides on smoothly. The downside is that the bottom of the product is very hard to get out - I literally had to cut apart the bottom plastic holder using scissors and scoop out the product into another lip balm stick (think Chapstick tube) in order to use all of the product up without any waste. Kind of inconvenient. Also, although the packaging is cute, it is a bit hard to store in a bag or other place with its cylindrical design.

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Yes to Grapefruit Naturally Smooth Lip Balm - this is also a light-weight lip balm that has kept my lips quite happy over the course of a few months. It's got a slightly heavier feeling than the EOS lip balms but also provides more moisturization to the lips. The grapefruit smell is very appealing (perhaps not the people who take meds messing with the Cytochrome P450 system though... grapefruit essentially cancels out the meds' effects... more on that later). I received this product a PR campaign/giveaway. This product costs $2.99 a pop and honestly doesn't last that long (much less than the EOS lip balm) so I can't say it's truly efficacious when it comes to pricing.

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Kipling Large Organizer Brownie Wallet in True Blue - I received this wallet as a birthday present from a dear friend 4 years ago and have used it steadily since then. Recently though, the wallet started coming apart (the inside walls/shells became flimsy) and also, the wallet became stained and gross due to stuffs I've put in my purse over the years. I tried washing the wallet but it just came completely apart. It's a very good nylon wallet with 12+ pockets, a coin compartment, and a TON of space for bills, ID cards, and other stuffs. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who doesn't want to store his/her checkbook but wants to store just about everything else in it. It was definitely worth it as it costs $26 on Amazon and lasts for years (4 years in my experience).

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ELF Studio Tone Correcting Powder - I bought this powder 4 years ago and, despite regular use, only recently finished it. That's a long time! This $3 product has served me well over the years, helping correct skin tone and balancing out the yellow sallow/reddish/bluish areas of my skin.

Here's what it ended up looking like at the end:

 

  I had to throw this product out because (1) It was loosing its sanitary purposes and (2) it was not working very well as a (not finely milled) loose powder product. It was also getting hard to store because the powder was coming off and making "poofy clouds" everywhere whenever I used it. I did like it though, and it had a good run.

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Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara Mini - I received this product as part of a Sephora gift with purchase awhile ago. This mascara is the best non-waterproof mascara I have ever used. Seriously. It gives a ton of volume as well as length, and doesn't give crazy racoon eyes at the end of the day. I guess the thing is that high-end non-waterproof mascaras work better than their drugstore counterparts (at least in my recent experience). It is quite pricey though - $20 for the full-size product on Sephora's website.

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Avalon Organics Vitamin C Renewal Vitality Facial Serum - I purchased a pack of 2 on Amazon. (Amazon is the place to go!) I had seen this product on shelves at Whole Foods but for the longest time hesitated to purchase the product due to its rather pricey price. Honestly, I'm kind of ambivalent about this product because (1) at the beginning it made me break out due to its long list of oils and other ingredients and (2) there are other, more pure vitamin C products out on the market. Granted, I do like the fact that the product was not tested on animals (do humans count as "animals" in this case?). I'm not exactly sure whether it makes my skin have less wrinkles and other anti-aging effects (as evidenced by the amount of wrinkles on my forehead) but it does provide a power boost for my sunscreen every morning.

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Tree Hut Shea Moisturizing Shower Wash in Brazilian Nut - this product literally reminds me of chocolate. Breathable chocolate in body wash form. Given my chocoholic tendencies, I love it. I bought this product on sale at Kroger for $3.84 a pop and really enjoy the moisturizing texture and tasty aroma. This product is usually pretty pricey for a drugstore body wash (around $7.50 a bottle) but honestly at the discounted price, it is definitely worth it.

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Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion - this is one of the best waterproof eyeliners I've ever used. It is very matte black and stays on a long time. I like using this in my waterline as well as as an over-the-eye eyeliner when wearing glasses. It also brings ton of color output when tightlining. I got this as part of an Ipsy bag quite awhile ago. The product is super creamy and glides on like butter. I've even used it to apply Halloween makeup on dpod_the_owl (dressed up as a pirate)! It is a pricey product at $20 a pop, but I honestly think it's worth it.

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Neutrogena Make-up remover Cleansing Towelettes - These little buggers are very good at removing makeup. Even waterproof makeup. They've been very useful during my recent travels and also are pretty soft on the skin. The downside is that they're pretty hard to store as (1) you have to put them upside down in order for the cloths to retain their moisture and (2) the top sticker to keep the wipes inside the pack is pretty flimsy (think baby wipe boxes to keep baby wipes from getting dried up). They're pretty cheap at Costco at $14-18 for 114 wipes so honestly, as long as you store them upside down, they're a bargain.

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Yes to Grapefruit Correct & Repair Facial Wipes -  these makeup wipes are also very effective at removing makeup but they're a bit pricier than the Neutrogena ones. At $5.99 for 25, they are 24 cents each as compared to the Neutrogena ones (15 cents each). I personally don't like these as much because the grapefruit scent/chemicals burn my eyes when used around the eye area. Sensitive skinned people bewarned.

Okay, so there were the products that I used up recently. Feel free to give any of them a try!~

 (And if you do, please leave a comment describing your experience!)

~Lucy

FTC: The Yes to Grapefruit lip balm was generously given to me by Yes To via PR and a giveaway. All other products were purchased with my own money or gifted by family/friends. All opinions are honest and my own. I am not sponsored by any companies (although it would be nice to be sponsored!)

Victoria's Secret Sports VoxBox + Victoria's Secret In-Store Experience

FTC: I received these products as a part of the Influenster VS Sport VoxBox. All opinions are my own truthful thoughts.

The other day, I received a very pleasant surprise in the mail: The VS Sport VoxBox from Influenster!

Fresh out of box!

I'm super grateful for this opportunity to get to try this new product that Victoria's Secret launched.
Here's what it looks like!

Nice packaging

Unboxing

Individual parts

Sports bra + pants

Awesome coupons to be shared with friends + fam

What did I think of the products?
Sports bra:

• Super comfortable
• Provides good support during exercise
• Like the racerback style on the back
• Material wicks away moisture (sweat) from the body, keeping the wearer cool

Pants/leggings:

• A bit itchy!
• Too long for my petite figure :(
• Very good material for wicking away moisture from the body, keeping the wearer cool 

I also went to the Victoria's Secret store in an effort to try to exchange the pants for a pair that was shorter. The staff was very nice, but unfortunately they said that they could not exchange it because it was "purchased online" and thus could not be exchanged lest it came with a receipt (which it did not, since it came from Influenster). Oh well...

Bottom line:  I really like the sports bra, but the pants? Not so much - not necessarily because of the inherent design of the pants, but because I am just too short. They were not designed for a 5' 2'' person. Oh well...

Bottom line - I would definitely recommend the sports bra for anyone looking for a comfortable sports bra to work out in, and the pants for people 5' 6'' and taller!

~Lucy

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. 

Review: Beauty Blender

Yes, I gave into the hype. The Beauty Blender is known for being an awesome, fancy-schmancy sponge for applying foundation, BB cream, etc.

I don't use foundation. However, I had been going through a period of time where I was using BB cream, and I wanted to try something that would help apply the product more smoothly. I definitely understand that there are lots of Beauty Blender dupes, but from the reviews I had seen, the dupes did not seem to absorb as much water or other blend as well that the original did.

Thus, I decided to get it. Yes, the original price is $20 for a single sponge at Sephora (super expensive). However, on Amazon, I found the product as $23 for two. Not too bad of a deal! I decided to try it out, given the nearly 50% discount.

Upon soaking one of the beauty blenders in water, the sponge swelled up to twice its size. Wow. It was quite crazy.

 

Application was quite easy - I simply stippled a bit of bb cream onto my face, bouncing the sponge and easily blending it into the skin. It actually felt kind of fun working with the product.

Finished look

Pros:

• Smooth application of makeup
• Water-absorbing, so not wasting as much makeup as other sponges
• Pretty pink color

Cons:

• Must wash out after every use in order to prevent gross gunk from building up
• Must be careful with nails, else will rip the sponge
• Pricey

Bottom line - if you have some dough to spend and don't like using a foundation or stippling brush to apply makeup, I'd suggest this product to you (regardless of skin type). Yay!

Swimsuits for the competitive swimmer

One of my favorite hobbies is swimming, and lately, with my new gym subscription (LA Fitness rocks!) I've been getting back into the life of my old swim team life (many many years ago).

Today I'm going to give some advice for people who want to purchase clothing/equipment for competitive swimwear (not going to the beach). This is for people who want to swim on a swim team, swim in a pool several times a week, those who want their body parts covered while swimming (not a two-piece or something).

Here ya go!

In general:

• The best swimsuits to buy are those that are made with 100% polyester. This is because swimming pools are usually disinfected with tons of chlorine or bromine. The swimming suits sold in most stores are made of lycra, spandex, nylon and polyester. Lycra and spandex suits get eaten up pretty quickly by the chlorine and bromine (trust me, I've ruined several swimsuits this way). The ones that are sold in most stores (e.g. Walmart, Target, even Academy and Sports Authority) are made of lycra/spandex. This is because those made with these fabrics usually feel nicer/softer to the touch, and give a great fit as well.
• The ones that last the longest are usually made of polyester. As this website details, polyester suits are super resistant to chlorine and will last longer. Nylon-Lycra suits are also super popular, but the lycra in those suits will break down/fade more quickly than a polyester suit, and the nylon will break down with sun exposure.
• Cotton swimsuits - these are rare to find nowadays, and they are not form fitting and will weigh a person down. (Think about it - when you're running/exercising, cotton socks and clothing become weighted down with sweat. What about all of that water that the swimsuit becomes drowned in when it is submerged full-on in water?)
• Polyester is a super durable material that will last a long time. Even with prolonged exposure to chlorine or bromine, it will retain its shape and color. It is a good material for everyday training.
• For a very comprehensive comparison of swimwear materials, go to this link.

I'm currently in training to get myself back into my old fit self, and I wanted to invest in a good swimsuit for everyday/multiple day training. For those who wish to purchase a swimsuit for lots of swimming practice, I'd recommend:

Women's:

1. Speedo Women's Race Endurance+ Polyester Flyback Training Swimsuit - this is an excellent swimsuit that is made of 50% polyester/50% PBT  (polybutylene terephthalate). As seen on the Amazon link, it's super awesome for resisting chlorine damage and fading. From personal experience, it also dries super quickly. The only caveat is if you want to order a Speedo suit, you need to order a size up - for some reason, all Speedo suits are known to size smaller than most other brands.
2. Speedo Women's Solid Logo Flyback Swimsuit - This is also a good option for those who occasionally swim. It is made of 85% polyester/15% spandex, so keep in mind that the spandex will break down faster than the polyester. Of course, keep in the mind of the sizing up caveat.
3. Speedo Women's Geo Diamond Actionback Pro LT Swimsuit - similar to #2 in fabric, this swimsuit offers more patterns for those who may want more of an aesthetic appeal.
4. Speedo Women's Quark Splice Pulseback Endurance Lite Swimsuit - similar to #1 with more patterned colors and color blocking.
5. Dolfin Aquatard Womens - for those who want more coverage (swimsuit with a "shorts"-like bottom), this suit is made of 100% polyester and is great for competitive swimming.
6. TYR Sport Women's Solid Durafast Maxback Swim Suit - made of 53% polyester/47% polyester PBT, this is a great suit with wide straps that fits well and provides lots of support for the chest (high-cut).
7. TYR Women's Fusion 2 Aeroback Swim Suit - similar to #6, but with 79% polyester/21% lycra.
8. TYR Sport Women's Alliance Durafast Splice Diamondback Swim Suit - lots of different color block options, made with 53% polyester/47% polyester PBT.

Men's:

1. TYR Sport Men's Solid Durafast Jammer Swim Suit -  Made of 53% polyester/47% PBT, this swimsuit is a pair of fitted shorts that will be very durable in chlorinated/"brominated" water.
2. Speedo Men's Quark Splice Endurance Lite Jammer Swimsuit - made of 51% PBT textured polyester/49% polyester, this swimsuit will also be very durable and also comes in several colors.
3. Nike Team Techno Camo Brief - Competitive Swim - I don't know too much about the stereotypical "Speedo thong" (so-goes the slang) but this brief is made of 81% nylon/19% spandex and comes in lots of patterns.
4. Speedo Men's Kinetic Zag Endurance Lite Brief Swimsuit - also a brief but made of 51% PBT/49% polyester, so more resistant against chlorine and bromine.
5. Speedo Men's Male Solid Lycra Bathing Suit - again, similar to the two above, made with 78% nylon/22% lycra
6. TYR Sport Men's Poly Mesh Trainer Swim Suit - this swim short is made of 100% polyester and is considered to be a drag suit (swimsuit that adds more drag, aka more friction/fluid resistance in the water).
7. TYR Sport Men's Square Leg Short Swim Suit - similar to the other swim shorts but made of 80% nylon/20% lycra.
8. TYR Sport Men's Alliance Splice Jammer - lots of color blocking options, made of recycled fabric(80% recycled nylon/20% Xtra life Lycra®). Lots of color-blocked options available. This is the eco-friendly choice?

Bottom line - pick whichever swimsuit best fits your needs. I personally really like one-piece swimsuits of this sort (yes, even to the beach, yes, I'm boring) so see what you like!
P.S. In general - remember to size up for swimsuits!

I'm back! + Monthly Favorites

I've been gone for quite awhile but I've come back into action!

Yes, it's been awhile, so I'll add in a new post with some of my monthly favorites (of all sorts).

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Elta MD sunscreen - goes on super smooth, does not make me break out, and has a high SPF!

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Dariya Hair Fringe Grip - super useful for holding onto hair (get those strands out of the way) when applying makeup

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 Coastal Scents 12 Piece Brush Set - Great for travel and super affordable ($18 for 12 brushes)!. The brush hair is extremely soft. The only downside is that there is some brush fallout (hairs coming out) when washing and that when first opened, the brushes smelled a bit funky (chemical scent). After a wash though, they were fine =D

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 Hario Chacha Kyusu Maru Tea Pot - Made of glass with a large net to brew tea!

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Avalon Organics Vitamin C Renewal Vitality Facial Serum - super awesome facial serum for prepping my face. Also sold at Whole Foods

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Etude House Dear My Blooming Lips - #OR204 Bashful Coral - Recently I've been getting into Korean cosmetics, and this is an interesting product I purchased. It's got a beautiful color and the packaging is sooo cute!

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Nature's Gate Daily Cleansing Herbal Shampoo - This shampoo is sulfate-free and contains all kinds of goodies to cleanse hair and make it smell good!

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Simple Protecting Light Moisturizer SPF 15 - this is an old favorite of mine. It is one of the best sunscreens that has minimal scent and does not give a cakey, thick feeling typical of the stereotypical sunscreen. I've recommended it to several friends and they've all enjoyed using it.

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Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in Coconut Lime - This is also an old favorite of mine. It's a great body scrub for desquamating/exfoliating skin (especially areas that are shaved/epilated) and also has a fantastic smell!

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Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat - I've tried several top coats and so far this has been my favorite one! It helps dry nails super quickly and also gives them a nice glossy finish. I've noticed that my manicures have lasted 2-3 days longer than usual with this top coat.

So there you go! 10 monthly favorites. See ya around!

Review on high-end acne skincare: Peter Roth

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FTC: I purchased both of these products with my own money. I am not compensated for this review.

Lately I've been pretty curious about high-end skincare products. Thus, why not try two at the same time?

Peter Roth's BHA 2% Acne Wash and Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel seemed to have good reviews, so I decided to try them out. 

Ingredients:

BHA (Beta-Hydroxy Acid) 2%:

Salicylic Acid 2.00%, Water (Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Allantoin, Panthenol (Pro Vitamin B5), Quaternium-15, Methylparaben.

Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel:

Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Propylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid (Beta Hydroxy Acid), Glycolic Acid/Arginine, Peach Fruit Extract, White Oak Bark Extract, Lemon Fruit Extract, Lime Fruit Extract, Linden Flower Extract, Grapefruit Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Citrus Bioflavonoids, Allantoin, Methylparaben, Quaternium-15, Red #40, Yellow #5, Fragrance.

My first impression: My skin definitely took some time to get used to both of these products, particularly the BHA than the anti-aging. This is ironic because initially the BHA wash made my skin break out - just the opposite of what it was intended to do!

Here are my thoughts:

BHA face wash:

Pros:

• Got rid of acne (eventually)
• 2% salicylic acid for combating acne

Cons:

• Made my face break out initially
• Ingredients: SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate) was present - not a very good sign for such a detergent to be present
• Cost - $35 for 8 oz, that's perhaps 4-5 times the price of a drugstore face wash that has similar efficacy at the same size. This means I can get 1.5 years worth of product for the price of this product itself. Not so good.

Anti-aging cleansing gel:

Pros:

• Did not make me break out
• Brightened and illuminated my skin
• Cleared up my face

Cons:

• Ingredients - also had SLES
• Cost - Once again, $35 for 8 oz. Enough said.

Overall, I liked the anti-aging cleansing gel better than the BHA face wash. Despite this, I do not think I would purchase the anti-aging cleansing gel due to the cost and the fact that I can find a similar product at drugstore price for the same efficacy and results. I would recommend the anti-aging cleansing gel to those who can afford it and want illuminated skin, though!

Review: bliss Lemon+Sage Body Butter

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FTC: I received this product as a deluxe-sized sample from Sephora (with purchase). I am not compensated for any reviews.

During the winter I am constantly searching for a good body butter, oil, cream, or thick moisturizer of some sort. Whenever I curl up in bed without a moisturizer, my skin feels scaly and dried up, as if I were a shriveled up prune that had baked in a dessicator for hours.

So thus, when I received a deluxe sample of this from Sephora, I was very eager to try it out.


Ingredients:

Water, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Isopropyl Myristate, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Stearate, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Sorbitan Tristearate, Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Algae Extract, Tetrasodium EDTA, Carbomer, Ethyl Acetate, Cyclohexane, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Calluna Vulgaris Extract, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citral, Limonene.

What did I think of it?

Pros:

• Glided on super smoothly onto my skin
• Did not feel sticky or leave a sticky residue
• Had a light lemon scent that was not too strong
• Moisturized my skin very well and was very emollient
• Did not give me body acne or make my skin erupt in a rash

Con:

• COST. $29 for 6.7 fl oz. I could buy Tree Hut Coconut Lime Body Butter, a body butter with similar efficacy and liking for a quarter of the price. I did find this body butter as part of a holiday gift set (perhaps 3 of these body butters for perhaps around $35) so if I were to buy that set I might actually consider getting the full price, especially since I do like this product, and especially because it is not sticky.

Bottom line, I guess I'm waiting for the next big holiday special for this :3

Review: fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream with Super 7 Complex

FTC: I received a sample of this product from Sephora.

This product is one of a series of samples I recently received from Sephora. It is an interesting product made by fresh, a company known for their awesome lip balms and chapsticks. So, how well did the company make their skincare products?

Ingredients:

-Super 7 Complex: Fresh’s proprietary age-defying, hydrating, and radiance-boosting blend of seven super-charged ingredients: Lotus flower extract, blue-green algae extract, hibiscus fruit extract, fig fruit extract, vitamins C and E, and vegetable glycerol. 

-Maca Root Extract: Enhances luminosity and cell turnover. 

Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Betaine, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Steareth-21, Phenoxyethanol, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sorbitol, Dimethicone, Sodium Pca, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Limonene, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Caramel, Algae Extract, Citric Acid, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Citral, Potassium Sorbate, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Sorbic Acid, Tocopherol.

I looked at the list of ingredients, and the top 10 include the everyday, run-of-the-mill water-based ingredients - glycerin and fatty alcohols for emollient properties and hydrations, with propylene glycol for better skin penetration. All of the "special ingredients" featuring the "Super 7 Complex" are actually toward the bottom of the list, so honestly I don't know how much of a difference it would make in the overall product.

Pros:

• Emollient, helped hydrate my skin
• Did not break me out

Cons:

• Felt really thick - as if I were piling paint or foundation on my skin
• Price - $42 for 1.7 oz!

Honestly, while it does do a good job of moisturizing my face without making me break out, it does just as well as most drugstore moisturizers with the kick of the 7 extra ingredients which inherently would most likely not contribute too much given their limited quantity of percentage in ingredients to make up the whole product. So thus, I will pass on getting the full-sized version of this product.

Influenster: Gillette Venus Embrace Sensitive VoxBox

I was extremely fortunate to be chosen by Influenster for its latest VoxBox series. In case y'all didn't know, Influenster is a company that sends out new products to bloggers, vloggers, consumerists in general who have a voice - to try new products and spread the word about them.

Thus, when I received this product from Gillette, I was super grateful and excited!

Unboxing

In the box

Front

 

Back

Side

I thought about showing y'all how it worked, but honestly then I realized it'd be pretty gross showing body hair being shaved off. (Eww....)

Anyway but I think that it would be helpful to talk about the product. Gillette is a brand that is known for its great shaving/skin products. For many years I used a Gillette Venus Breeze razor for my underarms. It served very well during college and no matter what shaving cream I used, I always got a smooth shave. (That is, until the blades ran dull) Then, I tried around different methods, like tweezing, depilating, and epilating. All had different results.

So when I received this product in the mail, I was super excited to try this out. An updated version of the original Gillette Venus!

What did I think?

Pros:

• Super silky, smooth, close shave (even with a body wash as shaving cream!)
• Ergonomic design
• Came with 2 cartridges with 5 blades each
• Also came with a suction cup razor holder (shower-friendly and less likely to rust!)

Cons:

• Not really so far. The one thing that annoys me the most about razors is that when they dull, they don't really hurt me at first - they just make me get ingrown hairs more easily, leading to bumps that are unsightly and not fun.

Bottom line, I do really like this product. I hope the razor blades last quite awhile and hold up!

FTC Disclaimer: This product was provided for me complimentary by Influenster. All opinions are my own.

Review: Naked 3 Palette

During the time around my first board exam, one of the ways I cheered myself on was by buying/trying new things. The epilator, a set of paints, etc were all on board.

I realized that for clinics, I would've liked to have a variety of neutral eyeshadow shades to choose from for daily looks. I wanted to look for high-quality eyeshadows that would stay on for an extended period of time (helped by eye primer, of course). Something affordable would be nice, but at the same time I let myself have a splurge.

I bought the Naked 2 palette awhile ago but I had never used it. I realized that with the cool, taupey shades, my warm skin complexion would just clash and create a calamity of a bad makeup canvas result.

Thus, when I realized the rose-toned hues of Naked 3 came out, I decided to try to get it. How did I finance this? I sold my Naked 2 palette as well as another palette I also had (both brand new).

Thus, I was able to shell out the $52 for it.

By the time I finally accessed UrbanDecay's website, it was already sold out. Unfazed, I waited a few weeks until it went on sale at Sephora. Boom. Bought it.

A few days later, it came in the mail.

Whole package

Taken apart into 3 pieces

The actual eyeshadow box

Sample primers - all 4 kinds from Urban Decay

This is, in total, about a month's worth of primer (at least according to the package)

The beautiful shadows

Some awesome samples that came along

Swatches? Honestly there are tons of swatches online that people can look at. (Click these links for swatches from Temptalia and FrmHeadToToe) What I can tell you about are the shades:

Overall, I really liked the palette. 

Pros:

• Rosey-hued tones: Look nice on my skin
• All of the colors are there for variety
• Packaging. It's very sturdy and is definitely travel-friendly. 
• Full-sized mirror for application help is definitely good on-the-go.
• Super pigmented: just a little bit for a TON of color.
• Brush: the dual-ended crease/shadow brush is definitely not a flimsy sponge applicator but rather the real-deal.

Cons:

• Fall-out: only the shade Dust (second from left) gave me trouble with fall-out. Annoying.

I know price is usually a heavy factor in my reviews but I thought about it, and honestly, the price is not bad.

The entire package cost $52. Subtract that with the $26 brush (for prices on the actual UD brushes click here). $26 left. $26 divided by 12 eyeshadows = $2.17 per eyeshadow. And that's a full-sized eyeshadow. That's comparable to Maybelline eyeshadow single prices. Not bad of a deal at all.

I highly recommend this product for anyone who (1) likes neutral shades, wants a variety, (2) wants to collect UD products, (3) enjoys rose-toned shades, and/or (4) wants to find a good deal for high-end makeup at drugstore prices. Ultimately, I think this was a great purchase and I look forward to lots of good use from this palette for the rest of medical school and beyond. I hope it works and lasts well!

Review: Korres Greek Yoghurt Advanced Nourishing Sleeping Facial

Source
FTC: I received a sample of this product from Sephora.
All opinions are my own.

I've always wanted to find a product that nourished my face, protecting it from winter's harsh storms and drying weather. Thus, I was super happy when I got a significantly-sized sample of this product from Sephora during an order. w00t!

Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Trihelptanoin, Alcohol Denat., Behenyl Alcohol, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Simmondsia Chinensis (jojoba) Seed Oil, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Glyceryl Stearate, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Acacia Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Wax Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Distarch Phosphate, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Galactoarabinan, Xanthan Gum, Fragrance (Parfum), Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Yogurt Powder, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterols, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Carbomer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract.

This product touts the facts that it is "paraben, sulfate, and phthalate-free". Also, it stated that it uses "Greek yogurt" as its "magic ingredient" for moisturization and hydration of skin overnight. Well, since hydrating factors such as glycerin and fatty alcohols are listed in its top ingredients, this does seem to go true. Yogurt powder, however, is listed later on, (rather, much later on), so I'm not exactly sure about the Greek yogurt promise.

During the relatively small amount of time I was able to use this product, I definitely saw:

Pros:

• Very hydrating
• Non-sticky
• Made me feel refreshed
• Did not break me out
• Even made my skin feel tighter and younger

Cons:

• Price! Seriously, $45 for 1.35 oz. That's absolutely crazy

Honestly, this product is great. It gives me, however, the same effects as Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion but at 87X the price. I do like this but I think I'll go with Aveeno.

Review: Philosophy Time In a Bottle

Source
FTC: I received a sample of this product from Sephora. I am not compensated for any reviews.

You know that phrase that goes Tempus fugit? For those who don't know Latin, it means Time Flies.

And boy oh boy does it fly.

I've noticed this fact especially recently in the last few years. Med school has been very time-consuming and stressful, and my face shows its effects. People have always stated that I have a youngish-looking face and that although I look like "I am in high school" I could say that I was "30 when I am 40", and that I will enjoy it in the end.

Honestly though, I think time is catching up with me. Med school is med school. Stress is stress. And honestly, it shows. 

In (a perhaps futile) effort to limit this aging, I have been trying different serums and other anti-aging products. Thus, when I received a generous sample of this product from Sephora, I was super excited to try it.

Ingredients:

Water, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethylsilane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Peg-8, Butylene Glycol, Polyethylene, Glycerin, Dimethiconol, Methoxy Peg-18, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract, Angelica Archangelica Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Peel Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Plankton Extract, Ptfe, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 60, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Hydrolyzed Soy Flour, Retinyl Palmitate, Propylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Micrococcus Lysate, Bacillus Ferment, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Maltodextrin, Trisodium Edta, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Disodium Edta, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sorbic Acid, Adenosine, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Parfum/Fragrance, 1,2-Hexanediol, Silica, Xanthan Gum, Ascorbic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Alcohol, Acetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Bht, Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).

A cursory glance reveals that there are a lot of vitamin c-based ingredients as well as silicone protectants and retinyl palmitate. I understand that these sort of serums are normally supposed to be worn underneath sunscreen but because this product contains retinyl palmitate, I would recommend against it as this can increase the chance of skin cancer. Arghs.

Anyway, onward with the review!

What did I think of it after a week's worth of use?

Pros:

• Very soothing product
• Not sticky, very moisturizing
• Did not break me out
• Made my skin feel tight and hydrated (even if it was temporary)

Cons:

• Retinyl palmitate issue (addressed above)
• Price. A whopping $74 for 1.3 fl oz!

Honestly if I had a lot of dough I would think that this baby is worth shelling out the bucks for. But unfortunately in my case the price is a doozy. Thus, onward with the next product to review!

Review: Crabtree & Evelyn Hydrating Aloe Vera Body Lotion

A long time ago, my mom bought this lotion for me. She told me that it would one day come into great use.

Thus, when I saw it sitting there just a while ago, I thought, why not? Why not give it a go?

Photo source
FTC: I received this product as a gift from my mother. I am not compensated for this review.

Ingredients + Functions (according to CosDNA):

Ingredient	Function	UV	Acne	Irritant	Safety
Water	Solvent
Glycerin	Solvent Moisturizer		0	0
Fragrance	Fragrance
C12-15 alkyl benzoate	Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Sweet Almond Oil
Avena sativa	Anti-allergic
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Dimethicone			1	0
Cetearyl Glucoside	Moisturizer Emulsifier
Polyacrylamide	Antistatic
Laureth-7	Surfactant Emulsifier
Caprylyl Glycol	Moisturizer Emollient
Panthenol	Moisturizer		0	0
Allantoin	Anti-inflammatory Anti-allergic		0	0
Squalane	Antistatic Moisturizer Antioxidant Emollient		1	0
Oleth-10	Emulsifier		2	1
Tocopheryl Acetate	Moisturizer		0	0
Bisabolol	Anti-inflammatory
Tropolone
C13-14 Isoparaffin	Solvent Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer
Benzophenone-3	Sunscreen		0	0
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide	pH Adjusters			5
Citric Acid	pH Adjusters
BHT	Preservative
Hexyl Cinnamal	Fragrance
Limonene	Solvent Fragrance
Butylphenyl Methylpropional	Fragrance
Linalool	Fragrance
Benzyl salicylate	Sunscreen
Citronellol	Fragrance
Citral	Fragrance
Oakmoss	Fragrance
Geraniol	Fragrance
Prunus Amygdalus	no matched results
Cetearyl Glycol	no matched results

Pros:

• Extremely hydrating
• Absorbed almost immediately into my skin
• Smelled really nice, relaxing, smoothing
• Did not make my skin break out into a rash

Cons:

• Potential allergies to fragrances for people with especially sensitive/sensitized skin
• Price ($48 for 16 oz)

Bottom line, although this is a nice product, I don't think that it's extremely remarkable as a high-end lotion. The Olay Quench Firming Body Lotion is so far my favorite, and it is more affordable as well ($9 for 13.5 oz). And that lotion has anti-aging properties with its high concentrations of niacinamide. Bottom line, although I like this Crabtree & Evelyn product, I won't be purchasing a full-sized version of this product.