Posts Tagged ‘moisturizers’

Yuzen Winter 2015 edition review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
1

The winter Yuzen box is out and ready for holiday gifting! Check out the unboxing video on Yuzen’s YouTube channel and read more below.

Yuzen is $33 per quarter (with boxes sent Feb, May, Aug, and Nov) and comes with around 7 or 8 eco-friendly beauty, skincare, food/snacks, and home products. Boxes are sent quarterly with no option to skip, but you can get one-time gift boxes too. Sometimes there’s a waitlist to get the subscription. They do not offer a referral program.

yuzen november-january 2015 winter box open with pale blue tissue paper, piece of yuzen paper and info cardgreen yuzen november-january 2015 winter box contents in organza bagyuzen november-january 2015 winter box contents laid out yuzen november-january 2015 winter box info card inside listing brands in box yuzen november-january 2015 winter box info card back side listing brands in boxyuzen november-january 2015 winter box offer cards

sanitasOil Free Moisturizer: I’m getting quite the collection of their products! This will be my third and I’m happy to add it to my moisturizers. I definitely benefit from the oil-free ones since my face does get pretty oily. I like the lightweight feel of it and I did not detect a noticeable scent. It’s very refreshing to rub in! Use code YUZEN15-1 by 3/31/16 for 20% off at TheSkinFactor.

Co-PurFacial Scrub + Mask: The first thing I thought of was baby powder (of course). I really like how a dry version like this means that a small bottle can last a really long time. I was surprised it came out a greenish yellow and the smell reminded me of food – like a vegetable I can’t quite place. It’s oddly pleasant and a fun way to apply a mask while exfoliating. Use code 20%OFFYUZEN by 12/31/15 for 20% off at Co-Pur.

The Tea RoomGreen Earl Grey & Raspberry Rooibos dark chocolate: Whoa, this is new! I definitely taste the tea in these chocolates and it’s quite unique. I can’t pick which is my favorite – they both have their own appeal. The flavors are quite strong to me, so typically one small piece is enough to satisfy. Use code YUZEN415 by 1/31/16 for 15% off at The Tea Room.

21 drops 18 Sleep essential oil blend: I enjoy essential oils and certainly find this one relaxing. I haven’t noticed my quality of sleep to draw a conclusion, but last night I applied it and I did have pretty restful sleep. It doesn’t seem to help me get to sleep much faster though and my mind was still racing when I tried to fall asleep. Perhaps I should apply more? Use code YUZEN by 3/31/16 for 20% off at 21 drops.

Black Dahlia Lacquer – Red Spike Cactus: What a fun, funky name. I find this shade to be more on the pink side. There’s tiny bits of glitter to make it a very sparkly sort of look, kind of like twinkling holiday lights. Use code YUZEN by 3/5/16 for 20% off at Black Dahlia Lacquer.

Kimberly Parry Organics – Sweet Orange & Cranberry body scrub: Turns out this is a brand I’ve received from Petit Vour before! That was a facial cleanser that I quite like. I couldn’t find this scrub listed on their website, but it’s a wonderful sweet scent that is quite delicious. I love it! Use code YUZEN2015 by 1/31/16 for 20% off at Kimberly Parry.

SalusLemongrass organic lotion bar: This smells fantastic and feels so good! It melts on contact with your skin and just a little bit is enough to really moisturize dry skin. Since it comes in a reusable tin, it’s perfect for bringing along on travel. No need to worry about liquid lotion bottles that can’t be taken on planes! Use code YUZEN15 by 1/31/16 for 15% off at Salus.

Level Naturals – Menthol + Cucumber Shower Bombs: Whoa, menthol and cucumber is such a different combo. It’s all sorts of cooling and sinus-clearing, with a lightness to it. I actually like to just smell shower bombs and I don’t use them much. I’ll be keeping these around for their scent and might not get them wet for awhile. Use code yuzen10 by 12/31/15 for 10% off at Level Naturals.

As always, it was lovely getting to try out all these brands. I’ll be enjoying each and every one of them! What do you think of these products?

*Disclosure: As a super fan, I was invited to be the Yuzen Ambassador to help them spread the word about their brand. I now receive the boxes for free. I was not compensated otherwise and all opinions are my own, irregardless of my relation to Yuzen. I just happen to think they’re awesome (as does everyone else I’ve heard from). 🙂

Beauty Box 5 December 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

This was a great box that covered the essential face and nail care needs. I’ll be keeping all the items and I even started using some already.

Beauty Box 5 is $12 per box (or as discounted as $99 for an entire year, with an option in between) and comes with 5 cosmetic products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. You also have the option of buying it as a gift your box to a friend. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards products or boxes.

december 2014 beauty box 5 contents beauty box 5 december 2014 information card

Body Drench Lip Drench lip balm in Pomegranate: I just love the scent of this. It’s a bit tart and is sort of like a sweeter cherry. It’s super hydrating and a great lip balm to have in these cold months. My lips stay soft for hours it feels fantastic. While I enjoy the candy one we got awhile back, I’m liking this one even more.

Absolute! Nail Polish Remover Pads in Peach: These little pads are so small and thin, but they pack a punch. They’re great at getting nail polish off AND making my nails feel nourished afterwards. I’m a huge fan already. They sort of remind me La Fresh’s acetone-free nail polish wipes, which are pretty amazing. I just wish they were a little larger in diameter so it was easier to grab on and wipe.

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Moisturizer: I like this brand, so I’m happy to get this moisturizer to try. I don’t want to open it just yet so I use some of the other ones I have, but for future travel I’d throw this in my bag to use on my trip.

Nanacoco nail polish in Sapphire: They must really like this brand, since they’ve included their polish before. I wasn’t sure if I needed another glitter, but then I gave it a try layering it over that polish from the previous box and I love the winter wonderland feel it gives me. So perfect for winter. The varied glitter sizes and colors offer extra dimension to spruce up any nail!

Lucky Brand Lucky Number 6 fragrance: Well, every now and then I might want to have a perfume handy, so I’ll keep this. I also happen to like the packaging, which reminds me of cherry blossoms. The scent itself is very warm and floral. Generally something more mature for a gala or something.

The “merry & bright” theme is month is all about more practical items to take care of yourself. I’m all about that! This will set us off on a great start for healthy skin, hair, and teeth. Which items do you want from this box?

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Petit Vour September 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
0

Looks like they teamed up with Logical Harmony again (see last time) for this month’s selections. They also updated the look of their box! Not only is the color different, but the box is slightly taller and less wide than before.

Petit Vour is $15 per box (or as much as $30 for international subscribers) and comes with vegan beauty, skincare, and other personal care products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free boxes (email contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you if you sign up!).

new petit vour box with darker pink color

The box looks a little different now, with a darker shade of pink.

contents of petit vour september 2014 box with root science moisturizer, lily lolo mineral eye shadow, ellovi tinted lip butter, yarok leave-in conditioner, and info card with beauty & the box theme petit vour september 2014 box info card with item details collage of front and back of root science products info card

Root Science Skincare Facial Moisturizer – Whoa, I did not expect this to be an oil. Is that a new thing? Seems to be pretty popular nowadays. I don’t think I’d go out in the day with a moisturizer like this, but at night it’s a wonderfully healing option. This one has a somewhat nutty, lightly herbal smell. I love how rubbing in oil warms up my face.

Lily Lolo Mineral Eye Shadow in Mudpie – I wish I was into eye shadows, because I’m getting quite the collection of them. This will be going up for trade soon. I don’t think I would have used a color like this even if I did apply eye shadow. It’s so dark! I do like the branding though and I’d love to try something of theirs eventually. I really wish they would have chosen some other type of product since they already included eye shadows from this brand before.

ellovi tinted lip butter – I would have been more excited about this if I hadn’t received the lip butter from this brand in another box. Not counting that, this is a great product that I’m glad to have. I’m glad that I got the tinted version from them, so now I have both the plain and tinted ones to use! I’m a fan of tinted lip balms since it helps add a bit of color to my lips without being obvious and they’re very hydrating too.

Yarok Leave-In Conditioner – Looove this! My hair has never stayed silky for so long and had so much smoother ends. I sprayed some on after showering and let my hair air dry as I always do. It had great results and it smells good too, kind of lemongrassy I think.

Another great box with some really quality products that I look forward to using. I’ll be trading one item, but definitely using the others. Which products did you like best?

[This post mentions a referral program. Signing up and emailing contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Beauty Box 5 January 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
1

I received my very first Beauty Box 5 today! They were offering a deal of a free January box for getting their 3-month tier pricing ($30 total) and I was able to snag the deal while supplies lasted. That’s a wonderful deal!

Beauty Box 5 is $12 per box (or as discounted as $99 for an entire year, with an option in between) and comes with 5 cosmetic products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. You also have the option of buying it as a gift your box to a friend. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards products or boxes.

beauty box five held up by hand

The box was smaller than I imagined!

january 2014 beauty box 5 contents

Yes, I got purple gloves!!

beauty box 5 january 2014 information card

Info on the products with prices of their full sizes.

h2o+ Sea Lotus Body Wash: This unisex body gel smells fresh and clean. I actually like how it smells through the bottle more than straight up, so I hope that the scent that permeates is what would linger on my skin.

Nubar Vanilla Cuticle Oil: Mmm, this lovely vanilla scented cuticle oil smells wonderful! It feels great and absorbed well. I can definitely see this being very healing and good for your skin.

Swissco Bath & Shower Exfoliating Gloves: Woo hoo! Out of all the colors possible, I got the very one I would enjoy the most. Love that. I’m a huge fan of tools for beauty and skincare, so I’ll be appreciating these the next chance I get. I’ll put some of that body wash on and scrub down with them.

Jergens Daily Moisture Dry Skin Moisturizer: I’ve seen Jergens around all the time, but never tried it! I really like the scent of this lotion, which is slightly sweet and very calming. It’s a lighter formula than many others, which makes it absorb super fast. I can never have enough travel size lotions and this will definitely go with me on my next trip.

Epic Blend Hemp Coconut Lip Balm: I’m always hesitant when I first see anything with hemp, but then I talk myself down and try it anyway. The combination of hemp and coconut is interesting in a way I can’t quite pinpoint. The lip balm glides right on and leaves my lips well-protected. A good staple item to have.

That Awkward Moment Compact Mirror: This was a bonus item and suuuch good timing – I was just about to take a compact to work to keep at my desk. Now I have one on hand to bring in on Monday. In the mean time I’ve had fun goofing off and talking to Panda by looking at his reflection in the mirror. 😛

What do you think of the items in this box? Sign up for Beauty Box 5 if you’re interested!

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Juice Beauty Organics to Clear Skin kit review

laelene Posted in reviews,Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
1

juice beauty organics to clear skin kit box

Last week I officially completed one month on my new Juice Beauty regimen. I thought I’d share my thoughts on their products and how they worked for me. I got the 30-day kit and it included the Blemish Clearing Cleanser (4 oz), Blemish Clearing Serum (1 oz), Oil-Free Moisturizer (1 oz), Green Apple Blemish Clearing Peel (0.25 oz), and eco-bamboo washcloth. I used the cleanser morning and night, then applied the serum and moisturizer. At least twice a week I put on a layer of the peel and let it sit for at least 10 minutes. Sometimes I used the washcloth to pat my face dry and a few times I used it to actually wash my face with the cleanser. I figured that’d give me a deeper clean since it’d be sort of exfoliating.

juice beauty organics to clear skin 30-day kit products including blemish clearing cleanser, blemish clearing serum, oil-free moisturizer, green apple blemish clearing peel, and eco-bamboo washcloth

Overall I found the products to be nice to use, with light scents. A side benefit was that I actually motivated to use these products and stuck to the schedule. I’m pretty bad about consistently washing my face. I definitely enjoyed the cleanser and serum, but I felt like the moisturizer left my face a bit shiny, which was odd since it’s oil-free. I liked how the peel was not harsh though I can’t really tell if it helped or if the cleanser was already effective enough. I will have to try testing that next! I can’t say my skin cleared up, but I did notice that the overall condition of my skin was “calmer” if that makes sense. I still got a pimple here and there, but they were nowhere near as large as previous ones and they went away faster than usual.

I haven’t even managed to use half of the products so these sizes can actually last 2 months! I would definitely consider repurchasing the cleanser, serum, and peel, but not the moisturizer. I’d rather use a moisturizer that works better for my skin and doesn’t leave a shine. I do love how all of these products are so gentle, yet mostly effective. I didn’t have to resort to crazy harsh chemicals that would dry out my skin like many products I used in my teens. I love that it is an organic solution for acne-prone skin like mine. I want to try out some of their other products as well, like the Blemish Clearing Mask, Blemish Be Gone spot treatment, and Blemish Clearing Powder.

Naturopathica skincare regimen

laelene Posted in reviews,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

Awhile ago, I mentioned the Naturopathica skincare set that I had won. I got the products for normal to oily skin, since I’ve been dealing with breakouts for quite awhile. It includes the Oat Facial Polish, Rosemary Oil-Reducing Moisturizer, Aloe Cleansing Gel, and Plant Stem Cell Serum. The first two you use in the mornings and the last two you use at night. All of these products are really soothing and gentle on your skin. I haven’t been following the regimen strictly, but nonetheless I’ve seen impressive results!

naturopathica holistic health skin care regimen kit for normal to oil skin

naturopathica oat facial polish, rosemary oil-reducing moisturizer, aloe cleansing gel, and plant stem cell serum

First is the Oat Facial Polish, which I actually got a deluxe sample of in my Yuzen Spring box. It is smooth and creamy, with bits of oat and jojoba beads to gently exfoliate your skin. It feels very moisturizing and I swear I can feel it seeping into my skin to hydrate it. After washing my face with it, my skin feels so soft and supple. It’s quite refreshing!

naturopathica rosemary oil-reducing moisturizer swatch on fingerThen there’s the Rosemary Oil-Reducing Moisturizer that is a nice light formula. It also absorbs well into the skin and feels rather healing. It’s apparently an astringent blend, but it doesn’t sting at all! I never knew astringent and gentle could coexist in one product, so this is great. I love the light feeling and how it’s not oily at all – perfect for my combination skin. I use this to prevent my face from overproducing oil and it definitely calms things down.

naturopathica aloe cleansing gel swatch on fingerMy absolute favorite product of the set is the Aloe Cleansing Gel. At first, I didn’t really pay attention to it. It was just a soothing face wash that was calming and gentle on my skin. But then I noticed that I was about to break out one day and after washing with the gel, nothing happened. I have NEVER found a face wash that does that. Amazing! Since then, I’ve been washing my face with it exclusively, since I always seem to have a new breakout about to happen. Now I can actually prevent breakouts with a sulfate-free cleanser. It’s my new holy grail.

naturopathica plant stem cell serum swatch on fingerRounding it all up is the Plant Stem Cell Serum, which is a bit richer and thicker than the moisturizer. It’s organic and meant to slow down the signs of aging. At this point I don’t exactly have wrinkles, age spots, or other signs of aging, so I can’t tell if it’s working. All I know is that it, like all the other Naturopathica products, is smooth and gentle on my skin. It absorbs well and feels great! I feel confident that I’m giving my face some great preventative care when I apply it.

All in all, I am SO glad I was able to try these products. I probably wouldn’t have thought to buy the kit for myself, but now that I’ve tested the products, I am definitely going to be a Naturopathica customer as my current products run out. I’ve got my eye on some of their other items that I’d like to try as well!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...