Review: Origins VitaZing SPF 15 Energy Boosting Moisturizer

I am late on the bandwagon for this product. I remember it being hyped up a lot on youtube back in the summer. A few months back The Bay in Canada had a promotion for Origins, this product was down to $35 CAD (down from $44) and you got 3 free samples with it too (of a choice of three groupings). I am always down for free samples and a discount, so I couldn't give it up. This was my first time trying anything from Origins, so it was nice to be given a few sample treats as well.

Review: Reviva Labs Glycolic Acid Facial Cleanser

I don't post a lot of skincare reviews here because I am not well versed on the topic. Skincare varies greatly from person to person. The products that are best suited for you will depend greatly on what skin type you have, and what kind of care you need (how healthy your skin is). Skincare is a completely different beast than makeup, with makeup you base if you like it or not on how pretty it makes you look, but skincare is based on how well it improves your skin. Makeup results are instant while with skincare it takes a routine, and time to see a change. My skin is quite dry, I find most products suck all the moisture of it and make it even drier, leaving it feeling uncomfortable, which in turn makes the makeup that I apply to it look not so great. That's why proper skincare is very important.

I became interested in Reviva Labs recently, they are a skincare company that uses all-natural ingredients in their products. I was sent some products to review, I got to choose the products that interested me, which was very nice of them. The first product that I began using was the Glycolic Acid Facial Cleanser. This product comes in a small plastic bottle with flip top cap and retails for $12 for a 4oz or 118ml. It's a "hydophilic (water activated) cleanser that contains no oils or soap substances that remain on skin and interfere with the glycolic action."

Review: Hard Candy Skin Illuminating Primer

I have another Hard Candy review today, for their Sheer Envy Skin Illuminating Primer. Previously, Hard Candy only had one primer, the one that comes in the white bottle, but they recently came out with two new ones, Skin Illuminating Primer (this one) and Skin Perfecting Primer (I have that one too, it comes in a pink bottle). They come in a 36g 1.3oz bottles. These retail for around $8 at Walmart.

Review: Clinique All About Eyes

Eye creams are a bit of a mystery to me, I haven't used many so I don't know what I like just yet. However, being in my late 20's now, I think it's crucial that I start using one. On the recommendation of a couple of people, I purchased the Clinique All About Eyes eye cream recently. This retails for $37CAD for 15ml (0.5oz). I think this is the most I have ever paid for something so small, but as with any eye cream, it will last you forever since you only need a tiny amount everyday. I had a $10 off $50 coupon for The Bay, click here for that, so I used that, and purchased the new Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer as well (loving that and will review soon!).

Clinique's website describes this as "Diminishes the appearance of eye puffs, darkness, fine lines. Lightweight, non-creep, cream/gel formula actually helps hold eye makeup in place. For use morning and night, under eyes and on the lids." I think this product is good as a starter eye cream, if you are still young and not worried about wrinkles yet. The thicker version, All About Eyes Rich mentions diminishing the appearance of fine lines, but when I swatched that one it seems much thicker to me, so I passed on it.

For myself, I was looking for something to hydrate and moisturize my eyes, since they get dry and tired looking. Also, every eye cream seems to irritate my eyes, makes them water and makes me break out. So I wanted something very light, and this eye cream is definitely that. The packaging I am not a fan of, I prefer something with a pump or squeeze tube, I have a couple of eye creams from Garnier and The Body Shop that I prefer over this.

The texture is like a gel, similar to the Moisture Surge but more opaque. It feels very light and absorbs quickly into my skin. It makes for a good base for under-eye concealer, I know you aren't supposed to use face cream under your eyes. Of all the times I've bought stuff from Clinique, this product was never included in a gift with purchase, if it were I would of probably passed on buying the full size. I think this is just okay, nothing spectacular and just average for what it does, I think you could find something comparable for a lot less money in the drugstore.

Have you tried Clinique's All About Eyes? What's your favourite eye cream?

Review: The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost

Today's review is The Body Shop's Vitamin C Skin Boost. I want to start out by saying that they've reformulated and repackaged the entire Vitamin C line, so if you try to pick this up, it will look different and the product itself may be different too, I have not tried the new one. Here is a link to the new product. The Skin Boost is meant to "create instant smoothing radiance with a silky smooth finish. it's an ideal skin pick me up to enhance your glow." This product contains Amazonian camu camu berry (new version has this), which is konwn to have one of the highest contens of vitamin C in nature. Vitamin C is meant to brighten, encourage collagen production, improve elasticity, soften skin and protect from environmental aggressors.

I like this product a lot because it smells amazing and gives this perk up to your skin. If you like the smell of oranges you will like this, I know some people may find this too strong. It comes in a heavy container with a pump that can be sealed (I love products with pumps).

The consistency of this is a clear gel. It absorbs into your skin amazingly fast and leaves a matte finish. I just want to keep adding more and more of this because it feels so refreshing on. And it makes my your skin super smooth. I suppose it's marketed as a moisturizer, but I think of it more as a primer which has the added benefits of Vitamin C, which is good for your skin. If I use this alone, it isn't enough moisture for my face (I have dry skin). I have also read that this has broken some people out with small bumps, so beware if you have sensitive skin, although personally I have never had any issues with The Body Shop skincare.

When I run out of it, which won't be for a while, I will definitely try out the new, reformulated one, until then I will keep sniffing and loving this one.

Have you tried anything from The Body Shop's Vitamin C line?

Review: Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser

Since I have dry skin it can be very difficult to find a cleanser that is good for my skin, one that does not strip away moisture while still cleaning. I have a ton of skincare products and still hasn't found what really "works" for me. I trust Neutrogena as a skincare company and have tried many of their products. Recently I picked up this Extra Gentle Cleanser. I've used up about 3/4 of the bottle and think I can now write a review.

This comes in a white bottle with an awesome pump that locks. I got this for about $11 as a bonus with the Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle Moisturizer (review on that later). It says on the bottle that it "adds moisture every time you cleanse". Also it's fragrance-free, hypo-allergenic and dermatologist recommended. On the back it says how it's a non-soap formula which adds moisture back to your skin, so skin retains resiliency and suppleness. It's rich and non-irritating, and does not leave a residue that can clog pores. I think this all sounds super duper! It sounds like something that would be excellent for those with dry skin. But we all know that companies make products sound better than they actually are, or maybe I am just skeptical.

How did it perform for me? I actually really like this. It did not make my skin feel tight, irritated and red like a lot of other cleansers do. Normally I have to apply moisturizer or cream right after I wash my face because it feels so agitated, or else I will be very sorry the next day. I don't think it "adds moisture back to your skin" as a cleanser should not really take moisture away in my opinion. A cleanser that is right for your skin type should cleanse it gently while not irritating and stripping moisture in the first place. But I do appreciate that this cleanser does not leave my skin feeling terrible afterwards, and that is a plus for me.

As you can tell in the picture above, the texture of this cleanser is quite rich, but it has a milky feel to it. It does not lather at all and has no scent. It is a very basic cleanser, it feels like you are cleaning your face with lotion, leaving it soft afterwards. That's a giant glop on my hand but once blended into the skin you can tell it's quite watery and light. It says in the directions to apply this in circular motions on a wet face and then rinse with lukewarm water. Or it may also be used as a "tissue off cleanser". Actually after putting it on my hand I did remove it with a tissue (instead of washing my hand) and it came off easily and left my hand feeling smooth and no residue was present. So perhaps a better way to use this would be to remove it with a damp cloth, that way you don't irritate your skin with water. I think I may try that out from now on.

I would give this cleanser a go if you have dry or sensitive skin, it is very gentle as the name suggests . I use this as a everyday cleanser, but also a few times a week I exfoliate using the Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Power Clear Scrub, which is a favourite of mine. I also want to point out that I do not use this to remove my makeup, I always remove my makeup with Neutrogena's Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover and then wipe all my face makeup off with the Kirkland Brand Cleansing Wipes, then I wash my face with a cleanser to remove any remaining residue. I do not know if this would take all your makeup off on it's own, because I do not use it for that purpose.

Have you used this Neutrogena Cleanser? Did you like it?

Review: L'oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base

I like primers because they are a quick and easy step in between moisturizer and foundation application. Since I have dry skin, what primers do for me is allow my makeup to apply more smoothly and evenly, providing a nice base. I was curious when L'oreal recently came out with their Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base. At first I was skeptical of this product, the packing is weird and it seems very different to what I am used to in a face primer. I saw Linda Evangelista's face on the advertisements (above pic is a little sample card I got in a magazine) and thought, she has a ton of makeup on, that is totally not her just wearing the base alone. Then I read glowing reviews on many blogs and decided to try it out anyway. This retails in Canada for about $13-$17 CAD, depending on where you get it. I got it for $8 with a $5 off coupon. What happened was the coupon suckered me into buying this.

L'oreal's Studio Secrets Professional Perfecting Base (which is really long name, I am going to refer to it as "base" in this review) is described on the L'oreal website as "instant smoothing results. Get the perfect skin texture, instantly and all day. The silky, lightweight formula glides onto skin and minimizes the look of pores and fine lines. Skin looks and feels smoothed and resurfaced. The result, a unifed matte finish that's flawless. Suitable for all skin types, dermatologist tested, non-comedogenic." Notice how it does not say that this base will help your makeup to stay on longer? I find almost every review of this product mentions how the user's makeup stayed on longer. I generally do not find that any primer actually helps my makeup to stay on longer, however, since my dry is dry I don't have the issue of my makeup disappearing or sliding off.

This product comes in a cute, small glass container, it's 0.5oz of pale pink whipped mousse consistency. The texture reminds me of cake icing. It doesn't feel like the primers that I am used to like Smashbox Photofinish, Gosh Velvet Primer, ELF Minreal Primer, Monistat Anti-chafing or Revlon Smoothing Primer, and also not like MAC's Prep and Prime lotion consistency. Here starts my first issue with this product, the texture of it and the size. Since this base is a thick mousse consistency it is harder to apply than a liquidy clear primer, at least for me. I have to work more at getting this even and blended, which bugs me. The packaging, despite being cute is not practical at all, I have to dig your fingers in to apply this, I would much rather a pump. I have short nails and even despite that, this stuff gets in my fingernails.

Second, the size, many reviewers have stated that this is affordable, cheaper than other primers on the market, I tend to disagree. The MAC Prep and Prime (non-spf version) is $30 CAD for 1 oz (on left), and this is $15 CAD for 0.5oz, so you're actually paying the same. I know it's deceiving. I feel like I am using more of this product than I should because I am digging my fingers in, and if I apply it with a brush, some of it gets eaten away. Whereas with MAC Prep and Prime I would do one pump (or two at most on extra dry days) and done, I know exactly how much I've used and need.

For dry skin, this just doesn't work for me, if I don't blend it in perfectly I notice that I get a film of it in areas of my face. As I said at the beginning of this review, primer should not have to take a long time to apply, and that's what bothers me about this product, it is tedious. Most of the reviews that I have read on this are from those with normal or oily skin, I would interested to see how other dry-skinned girls thought of this. In terms of performance like minimizing pores and fine lines, I think it did okay. Leaving my skin smoothed and resurfaced? It did feel nice on my skin, as far as resurfacing, I don't know how it could possibly resurface your skin. I would not re-buy this, it looks pretty in my bathroom amongst all the other products that I do not use. Nothing "magic" about this for me.

Have you tried L'oreal's Studio Secret Magic Perfecting Base? What did you think?

Review: Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Power Clear Scrub

I rarely do skincare reviews because I am no skincare expert and I am still looking for what works and improves my skin. But this product from Neutrogena is one that I enjoy very much. I have dry skin and most cleansers/exfoliators dry it out excessively and do more harm than good. My skin gets dry in areas, but I do break out as well, along my chin mostly. I bought this product a few months ago after reading great reviews of it. Most of the stuff I have used from Neutrogena has worked out well for me so I was hoping for this one too. I don't remember how much this was, probably about $10 CAD at drugstores. There is an entire line of this acne-stress stuff so you can get the whole routine if you are interested.

This product claims to: 'clear oil instantly, fight breakouts and gently exfoliate without over-drying. Creamy formula with skin smoothers, including green tea and cucumber. Softens skin while microbeads exfoliate. For the treatment of acne.' I know skincare is tricky because one product may work for one person and then not the other. We all have different needs and skin types. This does contain 2% salicylic acid which is the acne fighter in here, 2% is pretty standard for drugstore products. It has menthol too which leaves your skin with that minty fresh feel. I did use the grapefruit acne-stress scrub before and I found that it irritated my skin and I wasn't a fan of it, despite it being pink and smelling really great!

Here is what it looks like, a thick green consistency with small blue-green beads throughout. I only use a pea-sized amount to cover my entire face and then rub in circular motions, leave it on for a a minute or so (hoping that helps the salicylic acid to absorb) and then wash it off. This product smells good and is gentle on my skin.

The best part of this product for me was that it did not dry out my face. I use it 3x a week and my skin does not feel tight or dry afterwards, which is a huge thing for me. Now the packaging suggests that this "helps prevent acne even before it emerges", this is a hard one to judge because you do not know if zits were going to come out before they do. If you regularly get zits and this helped you out, please let me know below. I am not a good judge of that because I break out in one area, my chin and it's quite problematic, using this product solely for a week or two now, I haven't found new monsters on my face.

Have you used this product? Did it work for you?

Review: Clean and Clear Persa-Gel 5

This is like a miracle worker for destroying acne flareups. I have used several spot treatment products such as Clean and Clear's Advantage Acne Spot Treatment and Neutrogena's Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Spot Gel, but this one has given me the best results. This product is described on the Clean and Clear website as "This #1 pharmacist-recommended acne treatment contains maximum strength Benzoyl Peroxide acne medication. The unique formula goes to work immediately, releasing the medicine deep into the pores where pimples start." It contains 5% Benzoyl Peroxide, which is a medication that helps fight acne-causing bacteria, and helps to eliminate and prevent acne.

I have to admit, I have had more acne in my mid-late 20's then I ever did in my teen years, and the majority of it is on my chin. I have an area on my chin where they always pop up, and it's a constantly healing while new acne forms type of disaster area. It really bothers me because I generally do not break out anywhere else and my skin is quite dry. Dry skin gets acne too though, believe it or not. And the zits on my chin are the painful, under the skin types that linger. I have read that many women in my age group experience the same problems and apparently it's caused by hormones. I am not currently on any birth control and have not been for years, so I don't know what is causing it. I have tried peppermint tea (read that helps somewhere), wash my face twice a day, exfoliate regularly, and do not wear makeup unless I need to. I think maybe the cause is how I constantly switch my products around, I should really stick to one skincare line or product and let my skin adjust. I am not dermatologist though, I am just learning on my own. If anyone here has pointers, please let me know.

Anyway, now that the nastiness is over, Clean and Clear Persa-Gel 5 for me is a wonderful product. This was about $8 at Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada. It has 5% Benzoyl Peroxide and as far as I know, in Canada we don't have the 10% available over the counter. I would of tried that one instead, does the 10% work better? The Persa-Gel comes in a squeezy tube, the product itself is a white substance, I just squeeze out a tiny about and dab it on the monsters and blend it in. I have read that people use this all over their face everyday, I've only used it for spot treatment. Is it safe to use all over your face? seems like it would dry out a lot.

I got a new one of those under the chin pimples (to add to the collection) and put this on over night. In the morning, the swelling and size went down a lot, it's still there but greatly improved. The only thing is, this will dry out the area around the zit. I noticed once it dried, it left a kind of white powdery residue, which is definitely a downside to this product, but if you use it at night, this isn't a problem at all. I did find that after using it for a few days, the zit would bleed too, not sure if that is normal. If I push down on it too, I can feel fluid inside which is what is still causing the zit to be there. With repeated use, the zit will clear up altogether I think. Skincare is a very personal thing and varies person to person, but for me, this product works.

Have you tried this product? What is your favourite acne-fighting product?

Review: MAC Prep and Prime Skin Base Visage

I like foundation primers, especially since I have dry skin I like adding something to give my skin that extra slip. I find my makeup stays in place just fine, but my issue is applying it on a dry, dehydrated face can be difficult and products tend to stick to some areas more than others, leaving patchy areas. Using a foundation primer helps my makeup apply nicely. There are many primers on the market, most of which have a silicon base. One of the first primers that I ever used and still prefer is the MAC Prep and Prime Skin Visage. This retails for $31.50CAD on the MAC Cosmetics website and is described as "an ultra-fluid lotion formulated with special-effect silicones. Calms and soothes the skin, blots away excess oil, and evens out skin redness. Improves the laydown and application of foundation or powder."

The product comes in a 30ml sleek, black bottle that has tiny mutli-coloured shimmers all over it and a light rosy scent. I love the pump on it, you just need 1-2 pumps for your entire face and it gets the job done, no wastage and clean application. I've had this for over a year and do not think I will run out it anymore soon because you need so little. The product itself is a white lotion-like texture with shimmers in it as well. The shimmers are a neat effect but you won't see them on your face since you are applying foundation or powder overtop of this. It blends very easily and smoothly.

I like this primer most of all because it feels like a moisturizer and primer in one, and is unlike any other primer that I have. When I bought this product the Prep and Prime Face Protect, the SPF version was sold out, it's a bit more expensive, but I would recommend getting that one instead since it does have the SPF in it, the Skin Visage version does not. I think this is a great product and if you are looking for a new primer that does not feel like every clear, goopy one out there, this is the one for you.

Have you used any of MAC's Prep and Prime line?

Review: Neutrogena Oil Free Fresh Moisture

I have been going back to using this moisturizer lately as my daily moisturizer. The Neutrogena Oil Free Fresh Moisture is a really nice moisturizer, and I have not seen many reviews on it so here is mine. It's nice for summer because it has that cooling and fresh texture. A lot of people claim this doubles up as a primer too because it gives your face a nice base for foundation to adhere to.

I like this moisturizer most because it's blue! no really, I think that's cool, but I like the gel-like consistency that it gives. I find that some moisturizers you have to blend well or else you get that sticky wet consistency, but I find with this one you only need a small amount and it dries quickly.

Neutrogena is a brand that I trust for skincare because I have got good results from it in the past. This product is oil-free which means it won't leave that greasy feel on your skin. It feels like an ultra-light moisturizer meaning it gives moisture to your skin, but in a light and fresh way, does not feel thick or cakey at all. It doesn't however contain any SPF so please note that. I think it would be great for those with oily skin because it isn't a thick moisturizer, for me, with dry skin, it works well in the summer months when my skin isn't as dry as it usually is.

I can still find this readily in Canada, but I am reading that this may be discontinued? Please let me know if you have any information. I think it's funny that I find a product which I like and it's not being sold anymore.

Review: Biore Cooling Eye Gel

This was one of those spur of the moment type purchases, I didn't need it, but it looked interesting so I thought what the heck and bought it. Unfortunately this product does nothing for me, and despite it being packaged very cutely in a little pump bottle, it just sits at the back of my cabinet and doesn't see the light of day.

Biore's Cooling Eye Gel comes in a 15ml bottle with a pump and cap on top. Mine says renew on it, I think this is still the current version that is being sold at the moment. I found this in the clearance aisle of my Rexall Pharma Plus for about $8. I thought $8 was a lot to pay for such a small bottle, but eye creams can be experience and I read reviews that said this reducing puffiness under the eyes, so it sounded good enough to me.

According to the biore.ca website, this product is supposed to:
"Instantly enliven your eyes with quick-absorbing, non-sticky Bioré® RENEW Cooling Eye Gel. The formula's natural blend of golden root, yeast, and sugar beet extracts has been proven to depuff and brighten the eye area, while cucumber extract energizes and recharges.  RENEW Cooling Eye Gel quenches and immediately improves the appearance of fine lines as it provides an intense surge of refreshing moisture to the delicate eye area."

The product itself is a gloppy clear green gel with green glitterly. The sparkles are totally unnecessary and kind of irritating. This stuff does have a nice cooling effect once you apply it, but it did nothing for me. You are to apply a small amount everyday (for best results) and lightly blend it in under the eyes. I found it didn't absorb or sink into my skin very well and left this sticky yucky feel, making me want to wash my face afterwards.

This product did not work for me and was a total bust.

Review: The Body Shop Vitamin C Daily Moisturizer SPF 15

I have just about everything in the Vitamin C line from The Body Shop. I love the cirtusy, orange smell and how it feels refreshing and light on your skin. However, recently they reformulated this line completely and did not include a facial moisturizer! omg! I was really saddened to see this because this is definitely one of my favourite products from The Body Shop and why would they pull the moisturizer, it's one of the basic items in the line? Everyone needs a moisturizer. Edit: Now that I look at The Body Shop website, they did include a new moisturizer, with a higher SPF too, now 20, so maybe my store just did not have it, in any case, the sales girl didn't think they included one. So.. sign of relief there.

This moisturizer is really nice, it has a light texture, non-greasy and has an SPF 15, which is great for everyday. The ingredients include Glycerin, Orange oil, Panthenol, and Vitamin C. I feel like the moisturization lasts all day too and it makes for a nice base for your makeup. The scent is really what gets me though, I love it, but it does dissipate throughout the day, so you won't sell like an orange all day long. The package is quite small, it's a 50m (l.69oz) bottle. It comes with a fliptop lid, so you can squeeze out as much as you need (see pic above). The texture of the product is white and creamy (pic above), but it absorbs nicely. The formulation is like between a lotion and a cream. It's especially nice in the mornings because the scent kind of wakes up and re-energizes you.

I did some research and found out that Vitamin C is an anti-oxidant that aids in fighting the signs of aging, and adds radiance to your skin. However, the Vitamin C content in this moisturizer is less than 1% and apparently for a product to work effectively it needs at least 10%. I spoke to a salesgirl at The Body Shop today, while I was looking at the new reformulated Vitamin C line and she told me that the new line uses natural camu camu, which "is a small red berry famous for being the fruit with the highest natural content of Vitamin C" (The Body Shop website). So maybe now the content will be higher? 

If can you still get this moisturizer, I definitely would recommend it. It can still be found at some Body Shop's in their clearance bins. I originally bought this years ago for regular price, which is about $20, and recently got two at like $6, and it has been reduced even further. I am going to scour The Body Shop's around me and see if they have any of these because I don't want to let it go yet.

Have you tried any of The Body Shop's Vitamin C line?

Review: Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller

This is one of those products that I would totally recommend AGAINST getting. It does nothing besides feeling nice, cooling and refreshing, temporarily when you apply it. This review gets right down to the point eh? I feel quite strongly about this product. I bought this ages ago, and it sits amongst the rest of my makeup mocking me.. haha you bought me, loser! You fell for my lies, sucker! Don't be a sucker, don't buy this gimmicky product.

I am not a fan of the packaging, it leaks and you have to keep it standing up (not travel friendly at all), so I put it with my makeup brushes. It didn't do anything for under-eye circles. In terms of application, I find that I had to hold the product upside down vertically to ensure that the product dispenses properly. I saw an advertisement on tv about it being Canada's best selling eye product or something, I bet the majority of those purchasers were disappointed.

This product is describes that it will "roll away under-eye puffiness and dark circles for brighter, more radiant eyes" (Garnier website). The idea behind the product is that the caffeine in the product is supposed to decongest, revive and tighten your under-eye area. The massaging roller idea is cute and I like that, but it just doesn't work, and it seems to tug at the skin too, which isn't cute. This is a type of product that a lot of people would buy, since it is appealing, but will be disappointed with unfortunately.

Also, if you do use this, you need to give it a chance, use it for a month or so to actually say if you saw results or not. I find that sleep, drinking lots of water, and/or cool tea bags on your eyes is your best bet to get rid of bags and puffiness under the eyes, and a good under-eye concealer, that is the route that I would go instead.

Have any of you used this product? Did you see results?

Product Rave: Kirkland Daily Facial Cleansing Towelettes

Wet-cleansing wipes are an effective and quick way to remove your makeup at night. I regularly use makeup wipes and have used a variety of brands such as Olay, Neutrogena and Almay, however I have been using these for about 5 months and they are awesome and a fraction of the price of all the others, I can't remember the exact price but they weren't more than $20 CAD.

Kirkland Daily Facial Cleansing Wipes can be bought at Costco, you get a giant box of 150 pre-moistened towelettes for really cheap and it should last you about 5 months if you use them everyday. In the giant pack you get: 4x 30 count packs (on left of pic above) with easy resealable flip top lids (so that they don't dry out), and 2x 15 count resealable travel packs (on right of pic above). The nice thing about getting different packs is you can use the travel ones for.. travel and keep the big ones for using at home. I find that with the full sized ones, you should lay it flat upside down so that any liquid saturates all the wipes inside, I feel like the ones at the bottom are usually the wettest.

These towelettes are quilted (on one side, and just smooth on the other) for deep cleansing and they contain chamomile, triple tea complex and Vitamin E. They have a fresh, clean fragrance, are oil-free, hypoallergenic, dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested. They are suitable for all skin types. It says on the package that they deep clean skin, thoroughly remove make-up, dirt and impurities, while leaving your skin refreshed, nourished and moisturized. No rinsing needed according to the box. They do not have a strange smell or anything.

The way I use these is at night, I sweep a wipe all over my face as my first step to take my makeup off. After that, I always wash my face with a cleanser or at least rinse with cold water. I don't like feeling like I have a film on my face and I like making sure everything is off before bed. Also, please note, I have read that these burn some people's eyes when they take their eye makeup off with these (and other moist wipes). I avoid my eye area when using these, I know it says they are ophthalmologist tested but, I have an eye makeup remover for my eyes, I do not use these, I want to avoid tugging the sensitive eye area as much as possible. These wipes are also good for spot cleaning your brushes. I would definitely recommend this product if you have access to Costco, I will repurchase these over and over again.

Have you used these?

I ♥ The Body Shop Body Butters (and Review)

The Body Shop has a nice deal on right now, the more you buy, the more you save. When you buy 1 item you get the 2nd for 50% off, buy 2 get 1 free, buy 3 get 2 free. This sale is on this weekend, but it has been on for some time I believe. My bf was looking for a present for his mom and so we went there, got her 3 items and got me 2 free! I love their body butters, so I picked up the Vitamin E one and a Vitamin E SPF 15 moisture lotion. I thought I would show you guys my body butters, I have racked up a small collection of them throughout the years. They are very moisturizing and smell terrific! They also come in many different scents, some are limited edition too. They retail for $20 CAD, but you get a large amount and The Body Shop has sales all the time. The only one I have re-purchased is the Mango one, which is one of my favourites. I have dry skin, so especially in the winter, these are fabulous. The large containers are 200ml, and the smaller ones are 50ml.

Top to Bottom: Cocoa Butter, Coconut, Strawberry, Mango, Vitamin E, Pomegranate, Rich Plum, Brazil Nut and Shea Butter.

Cocoa Body Butter: "An intensive, creamy all-over body moisturizer. It absorbs into the skin easily, helping to condition, soften and smooth the skin. Once you get over the indulgent tropical scent, slick this on and be transported all over again." The smell is nice, not too strong. Rich and kinda chocolate-y.

Coconut Body Butter: This is very tropical smelling to me, the best smelling one of my collection I think. Straight up coconut smell. I find this one is grittier than the rest, not as smooth, but still really nice. From the website "Drench your skin in a rich, intensive cream with a lush coconut scent that moisturizes for up to 24 hours and made with Community Trade pure organic cold-pressed virgin coconut oil." This one is for all skin types, normal to dry.

Strawberry Body Butter: "An intensive creamy all-over body moisturizer, with a sweet berry fragrance. It contains moisturizing strawberry seed oil and Community Trade shea and cocoa butter." The smell of this one doesn't really appeal to me, it reminds me of strawberry gum or something, but it dies down throughout the day.

Mango Body Butter: I have repurchased this one, it's my favourite of all of them. Apparently this one is the original body butter, according to TBS website. "Pamper your skin with a rich, deliciously mango-scented cream that softens and moisturizes for up to 24 hours," It's targeted to very dry skin. I find this one super moisturizing and I love the smell.

Vitamin E Body Butter: "For divinely soft skin. With nourishing Community Trade Cocoa Butter, this rich and creamy, all-over body moisturizer pampers your skin for up to 24 hours! Vitamin E smoothes skin and protects against environmental aggressors." This smells like soft rose petals, beautiful! I love the entire Vitamin E collection.

Pomegranate Body Butter: This one was limited edition, I bought it two Christmases ago, I don't think it's sold anymore. This smells soft and pretty, but more of a winter scent. 

Rich Plum Body Butter: Also discontinued, I got this last Christmas. The consistency is a lot thinner than the other butters that I have, which I like. And again, more of a winter scent.

Brazil Nut Body Butter: I have a mini of this to try it out. "An intensive, creamy all-over body moisturizer. It absorbs into the skin easily, helping to condition, soften and smooth the skin and prevent dryness. Contains moisturizing Community Trade brazil nut, shea and cocoa butter." This one is more on the thick and greasy side, good for winter. The scent reminds me of sugar coated nuts, and it's quite subtle.

Shea Body Butter: "Treat your skin to non-stop moisturization with a rich, intensive cream featuring the clean scent of shea." This one is targeted towards very dry skin. This one smells kinda sweet to me, not overly strong, just nice, this one is good for everyday use. If you aren't a fan of fruit smells, I would recommend getting this one.

I LOVE these butters because they are smooth, super moisturizing, but never sticky. They will last you forever. I have read that people say they dry up before they finish them, I don't see why that would happen. Keep the lid screwed on tight in a cool place and they will last. If you buy these, pay attention to the skin type it's recommended for, if you have normal skin, some of these may be too thick for you, but they work great for me.