The Face Shop, Mango Seed Cleanser and 3 sheet masks...

About five weeks ago a branch of The Face Shop opened at the Eaton Centre in Montréal and I was pretty excited about it, why you ask? Simply because it was new to discover, I knew nothing about the brand! A beauty junkie just had to do what a beauty junky does... try a few offerings!

I purchased a cleanser (I needed a new one) and three sheet masks, these I was really curious about.

Mango Seed Cleansing Foam...

This cleanser was about $12.00 if I remember correctly. In need of a new one I figured why not give it a shot plus, it smelt soooo good in the store.

How does it perform? Ordinary.

This is a weird foaming cleanser. Going from Vichy to this one gave me the opportunity to compare the textures and The Face Shop is kind of gooey and somewhat harder to rinse off than Vichy. On it's own with only my fingers it's not that effective. With a small manual brush it does an ok job but wow does it lather! I barely use a pea size and have to rinse and rinse and rinse... Then there's the tightness! I have combination skin which means my t-zone can be pretty oily and it gets worse when it's hot. The Mango Seed Cleansing Foam made my face feel dry like no other even on my t-zone!

Do I recommend The Face Shop Mango Seed Cleansing Foam? Depends entirely on your tastes and skin type.

On the tube it's described as "A moisturizing cleansing foam that helps eliminate impurities without drying the skin"... One would think it would be good for normal to combination skin but not so if you ask me. In fact I'm not sure I would recommend it for someone with oily skin. Over drying could only mean overproduction of oil. When stripped, the skin overcompensates and this cleanser just might have adverse effects but that's just my opinion based on my experience.

One more note, used on a daily basis this tube will start looking horrible in no time since the information is not printed directly on the plastic but on stickers glued on it.

The Face Shop Mango Seed Cleansing foam will end up in either the shower or in a pump for hands in the kitchen. Sadly it's a no go for me.

The Face Shop Sheet Masks...

As mentioned I purchased three, two of which were $2.00 and the third $4.00. Now I don't remember which one was the most expensive but let's just say, it's not that important.

So far I've used two and I'm not sure I'll be trying the third anytime soon. I didn't like either the "wetness" nor the fact that I had to lie down 12 to 20 minutes with a cold dripping cloth on my face. Now I know why The Face Shop sells extra sheets because it's clear that in each packet you have enough product for two sheet masks.

The Face Shop Blueberry Face Mask...

"This nourishing mask sheet contains blueberry extract with softening properties for younger-looking skin."

Here goes for my first experience... I removed the mask from the pouch quite surprised at how much product/serum was on it. A few seconds after placing it on my face it started dripping in my hair and down my neck. A weird feeling came over me and I realised after a few minutes that I didn't like it. I didn't like the the cold wet sensation, there I said it!

I kept it on as directed, 12 minutes and was I glad to remove it! Then I proceeded to gently massage my skin to get the last of the serum to help it penetrate but after what seemed like too many minutes I went for a tissue. I left my skin as is, not applying any moisturizer over it since I figured it must have gotten enough of that. My face felt slightly sticky and it did so in the morning as well due to the glycerin which is way too high on the ingredients' list if you ask me and then there's the castor oil and yes you do feel it's thickness on the skin, even the next morning!

The Face Shop Firming Mask Sheet...

"Contains black malt extract to improve skin elasticity and clarity"

My second experience... Not much different than the first except maybe it felt a little more greasy and I had to keep it on 20 minutes! This one had less serum in the pouch so it is a one use deal and I didn't like it much either. It felt pretty similar to the Blueberry mask but with a more herbal fragrance.

The Face Shop Red Ginseng...

"This mask sheet contains red ginseng extract to energize and nourish tired skin."

This one I haven't tried! I don't feel like it, not one bit! I used the first two in the same week, the first on Monday and the second on Friday if I remember correctly and by Sunday I had two clog pores and a little pimple on my right upper cheek close to my nose stuck around for days! I almost never break out and as for clog pores, they are a rare occurrence. I still have those two pesky clog pores and they don't seem to want to go away two weeks after using them. Since these masks were the only new thing in my routine I know where these imperfections are coming from.

My skin doesn't like glycerin when it's high on an ingredients' list and as for castor oil, well, given the fact it's highly clogging for many let's just say I tend to stay away from it. Then there's the algae extract in the Firming Mask... Not the best either for some.

The Red Ginseng sheet mask also contains glycerin which comes second and again with the castor oil... Not gonna try it anytime soon. One thing is sure I'll wait for my skin to be completely clear and even then I'm not sure I'll risk it.

With these few purchases I wasn't wowed by The Face Shop which reminds me in a way of Yves Rochers boutiques but with a fewer offerings. I may eventually try other items but for now my curiosity's been satisfied.


Have you tried any skin care or makeup from The Face Shop, if so, what did you think and/or liked?

Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF20...

Oh my! What can I say?

I'm not sure but I think this is my 4th small jar of this moisturizer. It would seem that ever since it came out Clinique really, I mean really wants to make us get on board with this one by giving one away in every single gift with purchase.

I must say at this point that this is in no way a bashing post! This is my own personal experience with one product from the brand. I have used several of Clinique's offerings over the years that I was quite pleased with. We just can't all like the same things.

I don't know if it's a best seller, I don't know about the reviews, I don't know if people like it! I simply haven't looked it up and will not comment on the claims since I haven't used it long enough.

What I do know it that it's not for me. It's thick, smells like sunscreen and leaves a shiny finish on my skin as if it didn't "want" to penetrate, to sink in. There's also a mild irritation that's unpleasant which doesn't last long but is quite annoying.

This moisturizer was only good for my décolleté and that was on days when the area isn't irritated. I had a major sunburn a few years back and so I have to be careful about the products I use. Still, even there it didn't feel very nice.

I tried, I really tried last year to like it. I used it for about three weeks when I was out of my regular Avène day moisturizer. I had thought the few jars of Clinique Even Better would take me through summer but no. I gave up and purchased a BB cream.

Do I recommend Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF20? Not really. 

If you have normal/combination skin I don't think this is for you and if you have oily skin you should truly stay away but if you have dry skin it may suit you if you get past the sunscreen smell. You do know that to get the full SPF protection you must use 1/4 tea spoon on your face and at least the same on you neck? Having to use that much of this moisturizer was a nightmare for me. It truly didn't work.

In my view this one is more for dry to very dry skin unless it's used during winter when the weather is really cold. I did try it a few weeks ago, on a Saturday and it was still a no go for me. It left my skin super shiny and I had to use a ton of powder to neutralize it. After a few hours I could still feel it at the surface of my skin.

Skin care is such a personal thing and if this is a moisturizer you use and like then I'm glad. Sadly it's not for me and so my little jars are going in the throw away bin since I don't think I'll bother with it on my décolleté next summer. I'll just use a regular sunscreen.


Ingredients:
Active: Octisalate (5%), Avobenzone (3%), Octocrylene (2.7%), Other: Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Nylon-12, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Behenyl Alcohol, Myristyl Myristate, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Cetyl Esters, Butylene Glycol, Polyethylene, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Yeast Extract, Betula Alba (Birch) Bark Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Trametes Versicolor Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat Bran) Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Juice Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Extract, Peg-6, Cholesterol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Di-Ppg-2 Myreth-10 Adipate, Steareth-21, Caffeine, Sodium Rna, Cellulose, Acetyl Glucosamine, Simethicone, Tromethamine, Sucrose, Di-C12-18 Alkyl Dimonium Chloride, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trisiloxane, Linoleic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Metabisulfite, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Betaine, Trehalose, Hexylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide


If you are clog/acne prone, have sensitivity issues or tend to have allergic reactions make sure to patch test first. Know that for some, problems can take up to a month to surface.


What was the last skin care item you purchased (or received) you were disappointed about?

Recent Empties...

My routine is pretty basic so I don't do these types of post very often. What I experiment with the most are cleansers, lip balms and mascaras as you can see in the pictures below but I did empty a few treatments that are staples of mine.

All of these I truly loved. Biotherm Pure-Fect was purchased for my daughter but I tried it and it really is a good cleanser. I would definitely consider it again for next summer since it's more for combination/oily skin. Biotherm an Marcelle micellar waters, well, excellent! I wouldn't hesitate on recommending either of them and they both take care of eye makeup brilliantly. Caudalie Foam Cleanser (a product I forgot to review) was a great cleanser although the fragrance was slightly on the chemical side. For some reason I always ended up tasting it, a little nasty if you ask me. Still it's an excellent option and it too I would recommend.

As mentioned my skin care is on the boring side. For anti aging I rely on Avène. These three products contain the highest concentration of retinaldehyde available over the counter with the advantage that they are not as irritating once your skin gets used to them. Move effective than Neutrogena or anything you could get at Sephora. Ysthéal Cream was replaced by the Emulsion. This was probably my 4th tube of Eluage Cream and now I prefer the 1st mentioned. Eluage Concentrated Firming gel is a favorite due to the hyaluronic acid fragments in the formula which plumps the skin. I love this one for my forehead and as an eye contour. It's no longer available here but I have 2 backups.

Marcelle Xtension Plus mascara was ok but did require a bit of effort to hold the curl so I will not repurchase. Not a fail but not the best drugstore option. I've since then discovered L'Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes which for roughly the same price performs better on my lashes. Benefit They're Real is my HG mascara and so this one will be replaced.


Any Holy Grail product you've had to replace lately?


Sorry for the blurry pictures it's been cloudy here this past week and so they were taken inside.

Vichy Pureté Thermale Purifying Foaming Cream...

Last May I purchased Biotherm Pure-Fect Skin Cleansing Gel for Catherine and she really liked it. You must have guessed by now that she is slowly becoming one of my Ginny pigs for trying products. She's not into makeup, yet, but she does have a skin care routine. At 14 I'm happy to say that her skin is clear so I guess we're in control, so far.

I'm not going to have her experiment with moisturizers because I don't want her to mess with a good thing. She uses Avène Cleanance K at night and she rarely gets blemishes. Whether it's the treatment or her genes making a difference I have no idea so we won't take any chances.So far she's never had any issues with cleansers except for a Neutrogena (Pink Grapefruit) that was clearly too drying. She's used a few and seems to be slowly developing preferences.

Vichy Pureté Thermale Purifying Foaming Cream...

Is the latest I purchased for her. Paraben free it's geared towards sensitive skin and since the weather is cooling down I thought it would be not only gentler but less drying.

She doesn't like it!

She told me she didn't enjoy the fragrance nor did she like the texture which is like a thick creamy mousse. Biotherm was a clear gel.

This means I've inherited a cleanser. Good, in the shower it went! For some reason I love having a different one in there. :)

How does it perform? Good.

Truly it's a good basic cleanser and it's way superior than some of the recent ones I've tried. Although it does have a somewhat of a thick creamy mousse texture it is slightly drying so I'm not sure how someone with dry sensitive skin would fare with it. The fragrance? I don't know what Catherine's problem is but I find it very pleasant although I'll admit it's a little stronger than Biotherm was. As I've mentioned I keep it in the shower and a few times used it in the evening to remove makeup and it did a pretty good job. Using a micellar water after, I barely had any dirt left on my skin.

Would I recommend Vichy Pureté Thermale Purifying Foaming Cream? Yes and no.

It is a good basic no fuss cleanser but it is slightly drying and this can be an issue especially if your skin gears toward the dry side. Although I don't have any problem with it, the fragrance could appear a little strong for some. Catherine is not sensitive to smells in general so her comment did take me by surprise. If you have normal/combination skin I think this would be a good option.

Since it's not too expensive it's the type of cleanser that you could use for your body if ever it doesn't work for your face. It's about $18,00 for 125 ml (it will last long since little is needed) but it's often on special, I purchased ours for just under $13,00.

Reviews: 

Makeup Alley: 4.4 / 5 lippies for 14 reviews.
Beauté-test: surprisingly there are no reviews of this product at this time so I believe it's relatively new.

Ingredients:

WATER • GLYCERIN • POTASSIUM MYRISTATE • PALMITIC ACID • MYRISTIC ACID • POTASSIUM LAURATE • POTASSIUM PALMITATE • POTASSIUM STEARATE • SODIUM COCOYL GLYCINATE • LAURIC ACID • PEG-32 STEARATE • PEG-6 STEARATE • BUTYLENE GLYCOL • PENTYLENE GLYCOL • STEARIC ACID • PHENOXYETHANOL • TOCOPHEROL • DISODIUM EDTA • CAPRYLYL GLYCOL • BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII SEEDCAKE EXTRACT / SHEA BUTTER SEEDCAKE EXTRACT • FRAGRANCE

As with any other skin care, if your skin is clog and/or acne prone or sensitive make sure to patch test first.


Do you have an extra facial cleanser you keep in the shower?

Beauty Tips For Beating The Heat...

It's been pretty hot recently and depending on where you live it may still be sticky and uncomfortable. I've got a few tips that may help if not stay cool at least give you the illusion of freshness. I would have a hard time without my air conditioning but hey, I do have to go out so I can't escape the heat. I'm keeping my fingers crossed we don't lose our electricity like it's been the case in some parts following torrential rains. Believe me, I feel for you!

Caudalie Vinexpert Riche Radiance Day Cream SPF10 / Review

After reading Mostly Sunny's review of Caudalie Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Fluid, which you can read it here, I figured I should write a review of the one I've been using recently.

Caudalie Vinexpert Riche Radiance Day Cream SPF 10

This moisturizer is indeed rich but not as much as I was expecting. Recently we've had some frigid temperatures recently and I needed a little more protection than the one provided by Avène Anti-redness, the tube I usually go to in the morning. As with all Caudalie moisturizers, the tube is on the small side. The good thing is, you don't need a lot since it's quite concentrated and so a little goes a long way.

Dry Winter Skin / Head to Toe Care

During the past few weeks I've compiled a list of tips and products to help you keep good skin this Winter. Contrary to last year, this time around in the North East, we've been hit with frigid temperatures and depending how you protect yourself from them when you go out and/or the way your living spaces are heated, you may be in need of some extra help.

These have already been posted but I thought it would be a good idea to have them all in one place.

Hiver (Winter), Alfons Mucha (1860-1939)

In these entries you will notice some repeats. This means that you don't need an arsenal of product. A few basics and you'll be set. You may even have some of them on hand and this translates into less spending. Always a good thing. :)

It's Cold! Emergency Skin Care.

Dry Hands!

Dry Winter Skin? Start With A Gentle Cleanser.

Winter Dryness Help / Body Skin 

Give Your Feet Some Love!


If you want to know more about Alfons Maria Mucha, one of the great Art Nouveau artists, click here.

It's Cold! Emergency Skin Care.

Love Canada in Winter... Not!!!

These days we're in a cold spell and what this means is that a few adjustments have to be made so that your skin won't end up paying the price.

Emergency care if you are taken by surprise

This happened to me two years ago. For some reason my facial skin got super extra dry. This was quite a surprise to me since I've always had combination skin that was more on the oily than dry side. I think what happened was a combination of stress and extreme cold. Our home heating system wasn't working properly and we ended up spending a few days at 19 degrees Celsius in the house. Not too comfy!

At night...

Get a milk cleanser or even unscented baby oil to remove your makeup. These will be less drying and you can simply finish off with a damp washcloth.

Kick it up a notch with your facial moisturizer. For this you don't need to go out and buy a super expensive cream. You can simply boost the one you already have with a few drops of oil. Again, baby oil can be used as well as argan, almond or even extra virgin olive oil. Any you have available. Just be careful if you are clog prone not to use too much.

On extra cold nights, petroleum jelly or Aquaphor can be used on damp skin. Yes, on your face.

In the morning...

On those frigid mornings you could consider using your night cream under your sunscreen for better protection against the cold. I personally find that foundation on those days doesn't work so well so I usually skip. By doing so, it gives you the possibility to use a barrier cream or something like Elizabeth Arden's Height Hour Cream before you go out. Note that petroleum jelly and Aquaphor can also do the job. You can wait to get to work before applying your powder and blush and it won't look too bad if you have to use one of these options again when you return home. If you were to wear foundation, well, it would be a mess.

The importance of a good sunscreen...

Ever noticed how sunny it is on those extra cold days? Unless your head is completely covered, you need to apply a good sunscreen. The reflection of UV rays on surfaces but especially on snow can play tricks on you so it's really important. Look into Bioderma, Avène, La Roche Posay, Ombrelle or Shiseido if you have oily skin. These all offer brilliant protection.

To help keep the moisture in...

You may want to consider something with hyaluronic acid which would help retain moisture. Two products to consider, the first Dormer 211 Hand & Face cream available in drugstores for about $13.00. The other, Hydraluron available at Shoppers Drug Mart for around $30.00. You can read about it on Daly Beauty here.

Finally to help avoid dry skin at home, a warm mist humidifier in your bedroom at night may make a big difference. They range from $30.00 to $60.00 and can be found in drugstores.

Finally...

These are the kind of days and nights where it feels good to warm up your hands holding a nice cup of hot chocolate.

Recipe for Double Hot Chocolate, here.

Getting skincare as a gift! Proceede with caution!

Most of us know  that cleansing, gentle exfoliation (preferably chemical), moisturizing and protecting our skin from harmful UV rays are the basis of keeping our skin looking good. Given the price of everything some of you may have asked for the latest serum or night cream for Christmas.

Surprise! You got what you wanted all wrapped up with a pretty bow under the Christmas tree! Maybe you were very good this year and one of your loved ones gave you a complete skin care regimen.

Oooh! Such excitement, you've been waiting for, like, forever to have good products, to finally have a good routine.

That night you just can't wait to go ahead and start. You're on the road to glorious skin. Cleanser, scrub and  a mask? Oh well why not do all? Toner, serum, moisturizer, eye cream... Yay! You're done! It took you a while but 30 minutes later you're out of the bathroom feeling like a princess!

So now it's been what, 9 days or so of this new routine? Hmm! Your skin is not looking much better than when you started. It may in fact look a little more clogged, even a little irritated!

Oh my, is that a new pimple?

Huh???

Now that's not suppose to happen, is it?

Unfortunately for many, yes!

You had made a list! You knew these products where made for your skin type for you did "try" them at the store on your hand! The sales lady asked you all the appropriate questions, even "looked" at your skin up close for a proper "analysis"...  These where definitely the right formulas for you. Also they were pretty expensive and the more you pay the better the products... After all you do know that "you get what you pay for".

Sadly even if the products you received have outstanding formulas and cost an arm and a leg it doesn't mean that they will do anything for your skin. Everyone is different.

On top of that, the holiday season is probably not the best time to start a new routine. Often during that period, some of us eat more sugar and junk food, drink a little more alcohol than usual and sleep less. All these have incidences on our skin. If you are sensitive, have rosacea, are clog prone and/or acne prone and start using several new products at once it can definitely wreak havoc on your skin.

Barely 9 days in, you're facing a wall (you don't want to look in the mirror)!

What to do? Stop everything!

Go back to what you where using before and wait for your skin to get to it's pre-greatnewskincaregift shape. Let it calm down, stop the food excesses and try to get some rest. Once that's done you can introduce one new skin care product at a time and it would be more than preferable to patch test first, especially if you have skin issues.

I know, I know, b.o.r.i.n.g!!!

Sorry but it's the best way to go about it. Some will know right away, in less than 24 hours, if a product clogs or/and breaks them. For others it can take a week or even as much as a month. For irritation, rosacea flare up or an allergic reaction, often it's practically instantaneous.

Skin care can be so tricky, especially for someone with issues. There can be a lot of trial and error before you get a routine fit for you and it will not necessarely be all products from the same company.

Oh and if you see a bunch of little pimples popping out, it's not purging! Many sales associates use that term to convince us to continue using their company's products hence avoiding returns. Purging, as my friend Laura keeps telling people on MUA's Skin Care Board, occurs 98% or the time with prescription strenght products like Retin-A for example. With a strong Rx retinoid skin can indeed get worst before it gets better. Over the counter products whether it's from the drugstore or the department store rarely have the high enough concentration of actives required to cause that type or reaction.

Irritation, could be caused by over exfoliation. Remember that cleanser, scrub and mask? Whether you did use them all at once that first night or not, you've probably been using one or two of them everyday. We tend to overdo this in the hopes to get glowing skin, fast! It doesn't take long for our skin to show its discontent. Do note that some just can't use scrubs and do better with a gentle washcloth for manual exfoliation.

Did you get a Clarisonic? Everyone wants one! Well almost everyone. You've been salivating over one for so long, especially since it's on so many must have lists. If you did you may want to read my article about it, here.

Clarisonic can be great for some but horrible for others.

Fortunately, not everyone has to take these cautionary steps. Some can just go ahead and get great results from the get go. So far, I've been one of those. My skin is now a little more sensitive and a little less oily but rarely reacts to skincare. I don't know exactly which ingredients clog me but when I start using a new moisturizer I usually know right away, by the next day actually. A few little bumps are what I get. As soon as I stop, they disappear after a few days.

This article is a "just in case" round up of what can happen. This is not to scare anyone into trying new skin care far from it. Our skin changes, either with the seasons, environment or simply because of aging (argh!) and so we do have to adapt, choose more appropriate products. Trying one at a time and patch testing should help make the process less agravating.

Let's hope we all keep good skin in the New Year!


Art credit:
Hopeless: That's the way it should have begun! but it's hopeless!
Roy Lichenstein, 1963
Silkscreen on paper
Collection of the University of Saskatchewan, Purchased 1970

Clarisonic, screen shot from Clarisonic's website.