Monday, December 31, 2012

Burt's Bees Radiance SPF15 day lotion



This is my everyday physical sunscreen. I don't use chemical sunscreens on my face, and now a days you have to buy a 'baby sunscreen' or from an all natural brand to find a physical sunscreen.
The website says this 'provides broad spectrum sun protection with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, SPF 15' 'helps reduce premature aging...' and is 'infused with royal jelly'.
I've used a lot of the products in the radiance line, so it was no surprise that I love this. It has a pleasant smell, like, citrus and floral. It doesn't smell like sunscreen at all. It's very light, not super moisturizing, but I have extremely dry skin, especially in the winter.
I bought mine at walmart, 2oz for $18, which isn't bad, but isn't great. I wish they had an equate brand of Burt's Bees. Anyway, for the price and it being a 98% natural product, I would say, get it. If you're in the market for a sunscreen this one is pretty great.
If you're very fair I would recommend a higher SPF.




Sunday, December 30, 2012

Patricia Wexler M.D. MMPi20 serum

I got this serum in a bath and body works grab bag type thing last year. But on the bottom of the jar it has her website I'm sure you could buy it there. Mine is .5fl and comes in a jar(which I hate! you can never get all the product out!) the actual "serum" is a pink gel, that feels very silky and emollient. The directions say " apply 2x daily- AM and PM. gently massage a small amount over clean face and neck avoiding eye area." I pretty much tossed the directions out the window, one, this "serum" is more like a thick creamy gel, I would never use this in the morning, my makeup would just slide off my face ;) so I only use it at night...as an eye cream. haha, it specifically says don't use around eyes, but I found it so rich i had to try it. and its perfect! it doesn't make me puffy, and it keeps my eyes so hydrated! plus the jar I got is so tiny, I could only see using a VERY small amount at a time for it to last. so eye cream it is.
It smells familiar, like...the pool? The jar doesn't list the ingredients and for the life of me, I couldn't find them online. It has just a hint of chemical smell, which is off putting, but I'm not a big stickler on 'paraben free, dye free, fragranc free, soap free, animal cruelty free, ingredient free, ect.' you get the picture. 


I think for the price(a very very steep $65 for 3.4fl) its not worth it. Ive been using it for about a year and have seen no difference. At best its a moisture mask, for an eyecream its so-so, it has no added benefits, like sunscreen, vitamin C or retinol(I'm assuming, since theres no list of ingredients and companys usually try and put that front and center) I'de say no go on this "Skin Regenerating Serum" way overpriced, and no results.


Friday, December 28, 2012

Maybelline XXL Pro Extensions Mascara



Let me start off by saying, I have naturally blonde hair, so my eyelashes are of course blonde, thin, and stick straight. Although I do have quite a bit of length, and enough volume. So now that you know about my "eyelash type" lets get on with the review. Originally, I purchased this mascara because Samantha Schuerman raves about it in almost all of her videos.I've been using it for about 6 months now, and I'm in love, I wore it every single day for the first month, but now its a special occasion mascara. It gives amazing volume, not a lot of length(for me) and it doesn't clump at all! 


This is a two-step mascara, with a white side and a black side. The white side is labeled 1, and it has little fibers that are supposed to "adhere" to the ends of YOUR lashes and give length. I'm gonna stop here and say, no...nothing about that is true, not only are there MINIMAL fibers, they don't adhere, and when they do its to the base of your lashes, which gives a weird spikey look. With that being said, the white side is very thick, it coats every lash and doubles its volume. I personally do two coats of the white and that's it. The black side is so-so, its not bad but it's not good. 



The white side has a tendency to not want to be covered, so I use a black as night mascara over top(loreal carbon black mascara in waterproof) instead. But it's gotta tell you something if I would continue to repurchase just for the white side. It's a bit expensive, about $10, but like I said, I have repurchased several times. I would recommend this mascara to anyone. I love it!