Origins Ginger Skincare Review

I have had the Origins Ginger bath products for awhile but just recently started using them....and I am in LOVE!

The Origins Ginger Burst Savory Body Wash is so delicious and fresh smelling! It has a ginger scent but it is not overpowering. It does not smell like the ginger you cook with or like candied ginger. It smells like ginger mixed with a clean, crisp, fresh scent...yeah I know that sounds confusing but it's hard to describe! This lathers extremely well and leaves my skin feeling silky soft. The ginger fragrance lingers slightly, but does not interfere with any other fragrance you layer on afterwards.

The Origins Ginger Souffle Whipped Body Cream is also very luxurious. The scent is a lot stronger and longer-lasting than the body wash, so if you aren't keen on the smell this isn't for you. The texture is a bit thick and very moisturizing, which is why I haven't used nearly as much as I have of the body wash. This is better suited for the winter when I need a thicker moisturizer.

Overall, I love both but am most excited about the body wash. I know it is pricier than drugstore body washes but  it feels so good when I use it that I feel it is worth the splurge.

Have you tried either of these ginger products?

Will This Eye Cream Benefit Your Dark Circles? Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream Review

I was perusing the cosmetic counters a few weeks ago when the Benefit sales associate started telling me about the Benefit skincare line that was released last year. I had heard good things but hadn't tried anything. Until that day. So how did she manage to impress me? By telling me that Benefit is owned by Louis Vuitton, and you know LV is gonna spend the money to do research and put out a great product. 

I've never owned anything by LV, but it sounded pretty good to me. I played around with the eye cream in-store, and then decided to try it out.

Aside from the cute packaging, the cream itself is creamy and light. It feels nice on the skin and is a good base for concealer...I didn't experience any creasing when I wore this under my eyes with concealer on top. In terms of the effects, this did start to decrease the darkness of my under-eye circles, but (yes there is a but) it was not moisturizing enough for me. My skin is dry, and since the under-eye skin is naturally thin and dry that area needs extra moisture. My opinion is that this eye cream would be most effective for someone in their late teens and early 20s....those who don't need the extra moisture that is required with age, but just want to start taking care of their under-eye area and perhaps need help with dark circles.

Since this didn't work out for me I am on the search for a different moisturizing eye cream. Any suggestions?

February 2012 Favorites

This February I discovered a couple amazing new (to me) products, and fell in love again with some classics:

1. Lush The Sacred Truth Fresh Face Mask - I have used this before and it's definitely my favorite mask from Lush. Although I can't vouch for its anti-aging benefits, this leaves my skin super soft, moisturized and smooth, not tight and dry. 

2. Gud by Burts Bees Hand Cream in Floral Cherrynova - I love how fast absorbing this cream is, yet it still manages to infuse a solid amount of moisture in my skin. When I use this at night I wake up with super soft hands. I love floral scents and this smells soooo fresh and floral, but there are other scents available too. My full review of this line is here. 

3. Sue Devitt Gel-to-Powder Blush in Marion Reef - This blush is AMAZING! It has a velvet feel to it and it applies like a gel/cream but sets on the face as a powder. It feels so silky and lasts ALL day on me. I normally layer powder blushes on top of cream blushes but I don't have to with this because it is so pigmented and long lasting. I will do a full review soon. 

 

4. Nars Sheer Glow Foundation - This is such a popular product in the blogosphere so I just had to try it for myself. My verdict? It does live up to the hype! Nars has done a great job with the shade selection and the formula sets beautifully. Although it is called sheer glow, it has medium coverage and a natural finish. I will do an in-depth review of this product too, but so far I am loving it.

5. Kirkland Makeup Wipes - I have re-discovered my love for makeup wipes and these are by far my favorite. I love the thick texture, the moistness of each towelette, the fact that one towelette removes ALL my makeup (including mascara and gel eyeliner) and the price! Check out my full review here. 

Hope you all had a great February! I am glad it's over because that means we are one month closer to spring and warm weather! Oh, and in other news, the Too Faced Vintage Sale started today so check out the Too Faced Website for some great deals on soon-to-be-discontinuted products and sets.

Classic Cheap Thrills That Work! Rosebud Salve Review and Swatch

I've been talking about dry skin remedies a lot lately, but I can't help it...I'm obsessed with trying to cure my dry, cracked hands! One product I keep in my purse at all times is the classic Smith's Rosebud Salve:

This is one of those all-in-one miracle salves that will cure just about anything. I use it mainly on my lips and my knucles.

The salve itself is pink in the tin that goes on clear. It smells of sweet roses, but it is not very strong and it does fade quickly. It is non-sticky, but since it is a balm it is thick and does take a couple minutes to dry down. The look is slightly glossy, but not super shiny. Rosebud Salve is very moisturizing and really does cure dry skin quickly. 

Swatch of Rosebud Salve

I love Rosebud Salve, and at $6 for 0.8oz, you can't beat the price for a salve that cures just about anything. There are more fragrances available, such as Strawberry and Minted Rose, but I prefer the original rose version. I think you can find this at some drugstores but I pick mine up from Sephora. If nothing else, I think this is especially great for travel, since it is not liquid, and it works in a pinch to moisturize lips, hands, and you can even lightly dab it on your face if you suffer from extreme dry skin while in the air. The scent is also subtle enough that it won't bother your fellow travelers. =)

Do you use Rosebud Salve? 

Just Finished

I finished a few products in the last few days so I want to share with you my thoughts.

1. Bath and Body Works Body Butter in P.S. I Love You - I picked this up in one of the semi-annual sales and I think it is an older formula of body butter and a discontinued fragrance since I can't find it on the website anymore. The body butter itself is extremely thick...so much so that it was hard to spread on the skin so I ended up using a lot of it each application. It also took a couple minutes to absorb in the skin, although that is the case with most body butters. I remember B&BW re-vamping the body butter formula last-year so I think it has improved, but I haven't tried the new one. On the other hand, this fragrance was very lovely! It is a mix of rose and amber, but not overwhelming. I really hope they bring this scent back!

 

2. Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser - I received this as a sample and it is good, but nothing amazing. The exfoliating beads are very small, and the cleanser didn't remove all my makeup, so I didn't feel like I was getting a good clean or a good scrub. This may be a good exfoliant for sensitive skin, but it didn't do anything for me. 

3. Origins Starting Over Age-Erasing Moisturizer with Mimosa - This is one of the brand's best-selling anti-aging moisturizers, but I didn't find any improvement in my skin. When I went on my Bahamas cruise last month I wanted a small jar of moisturizer and I had this in my stash and it was only a 1 oz. jar so I decided to use it up.  This has a bit of a citrus scent, which is nice and refreshing, but most anti-aging cremes are very moisturizing and this definitely was not moisturizing enough for my dry winter skin. This is supposed to be effective for all skin types but based on my experience it may be better for oily-normal skin types. I didn't see any improvement in my fine lines, in brightness, or any other aspect. I also wish this had SPF. I really like Origins products (I LOVE GinZing Eye Cream), so I am tempted to try out the other lines of moisturizer and recommendations are appreciated.

4. The Body Shop Hemp Hand Cream - This is a nice hand cream, but I HATE the packaging. I despise the foil-type tubes because they are rigid and get holes very easily. The cream is nice, but after trying the Gud by Burts Bees Natural Hand Creme, I am glad this is finished because the Gud one is sooo much better at moisturizing my hands. 

5. MAC Eye Brows in Lingering - The Eye Brows pencils are twist up, thin, brow pencils that make it easy to draw or fill-in brows. I really enjoy the ease of this pencil, but it gets used up pretty quickly, so now I prefer using a brow powder or shadow and an angled brush. If I was made of money I would definitely re-purchase this. 

Have you tried any of these? What are your thoughts?

This isn't just Good, it's Amazing! Gud by Burts Bees Body Care

By now you all know that I live in the arctic. Ok, well, it's Philadelphia, but for a girl who grew up in Southern California it feels like the arctic. With winter comes dry skin, and I since I have been using up on average one tub/bottle of creme a month, I am always searching for affordable, fragranced body cremes that provide a high level of moisture. 

I think I have met my new moisturizer love: Gud by Burts Bees Natural Body Care:

Gud is a new line that was introduced last month and all the products are natural, meaning they contain no parabens, no phthalates, and no petrochemicals. These products are also not tested on animals. I recently tried out 4 of the products: Body Lotion,  Body Butter, Hand Cream, and Body Spray.

The Body Lotion ($7 for 8oz) is by far my favorite of the bunch. It is extremely fast-absoring, so much so that after I apply on my body I don't have to wait at all before getting dressed. My favorite thing is how moisturizing it is! This lotion spreads easily, so you don't end up using a whole ton, and leaves my skin feeling like silk! It leaves my skin feeling soooo soft! Using this reminds me of that feeling you get when you shave/wax your legs and then wear pants afterwards...your legs feel so soft under the fabric. I tried this in the Orange Petalooza scent, a blood orange and floral fragrance, which is very citrusy. I really like it because it is very refreshing and awakening to use in the morning after my shower. I could still smell this on my skin 7 hours after application, but only when I put my nose to my skin. The fragrance is not so strong that it would conflict with a perfume. This is definitely a keeper! 

The Hand Cream ($8 for 3oz) was my second favorite product. I am a germophobe and obsessive-compulsive hand washer. That combined with winter means my hands and knuckles are in bad shape. The first time I used this creme was at bedtime and the next morning my hands looked like they belonged to someone else...they looked normal, not dry! This creme is fast-absorbing, non-greasy, and still very effective at adding and locking in moisture. I have been using a hand creme from a very well known body shop (oops, did that just give it away?) and this far surpasses that one. This fragrance, Floral Cherrynova, is a cherry blossom and almond milk scent, and is my favorite of all 4 scents. I love cherry blossom and this is floral, but not overwhelmingly so. 

The Body Butter ($12 for 6oz) was nice, but nothing spectacular. It is not as thick as other body butters, but it is still somewhat thick and slightly greasy. I have to wait a couple minutes after applying this before I can get dressed. It did moisturize very well, but I expect nothing less from a body butter. I also think that this would be better priced at $10. This scent Pearanormal Activity is a mixture of pear and acai berry, and I did not like this scent at all. I am not big on pear and the combo of acai berry was not pleasant to me.

Finally, I tried the Body Mist ($6 for 3oz). This is a nice, light mist that would be a great complement to any of the moisturizers. I really like vanilla so this scent Vanilla Flame, a rice milk and vanilla scent, was perfect for me. It lasted about 6 hours on me, which I think is pretty good. 

Overall, I was very impressed with the Gud line and will definitely repurchase the Body Lotion and Hand Cream. I may even try out the body wash and shampoo and conditioner. This line is currently available online at http://www.gudhappens.com, but can also be purchased in-store at Walgreens, Target, and ULTA. The fragrance Pearanormal Activity is available only at Target. Duane Reade should be getting them in the spring. I recommend buying in-store for the first time because the scents are very different and since scent is a very personal thing, it is better to try before you buy. Also, if you go to the website there is even a $1 off coupon!

Disclaimer: The products in this post were provided by PR for consideration. As always, the thoughts/reviews in this post reflect my honest opinion. 

Finished in December 2011

I didn't do a Finished in November post, as I didn't really finish anything, but I did finish a few things in December and I wanted to share my thoughts on those products.

1. The Body Shop Body Butter in Passion Fruit - This isn't a permanent scent, but I think it comes around every spring and summer. I usually like the formula for Normal/Dry skin, but this was a bit greasy and took a few minutes to absorb in the skin, which is why I didn't use it up in the summer and waited till winter to finish it. I do like the scent of tropical fruit so I loved the passion fruit fragrance. I really enjoy Body Shop's body butters so I will continue using them, but will skip this one due to the greasy texture. 

2. MAC Lightful Ultramoisture Creme - Do I really need to explain my love for this? I have raved about it many times on the blog. 

3. Bath and Body Works Ile De Tahiti Moana Body Wash in Tiare Flower - This is one of those discontinued lines from Bath and Body Works that occasionally pop up during the semi-annual sales. I LOVE the scent of Tiare Flower, more so after I smelled it everywhere during my honeymoon to Tahiti, but it is just so fresh, floral, and exotic. I think I have one more of these in my stock, but I will be using that preciously as it is my last.

4. Bliss Body Butter in Lemon + Sage - This is the most moisturizing body butter I have used....and I have used a LOT. It is quite pricey, at $28 for 6.7oz, but it really does lock in the moisture in the skin and keeps the skin soft until I shower the next day. That being said, I think I would only re-purchase this as a treat, or if I was loaded, since I think Body Shop and other brands make good body butters that are more affordable. My original review is here. 

5. Stila One Step Correct Face Primer - I have used this in many looks both here on the blog and for others and I have talked about it many times. In summary, I really enjoy this primer. It is my favorite non-silicon face primer and you can read my original review here. 

Did you finish up anything lately? If so, what was it and would you repurchase?

Mario Badescu Seaweed Night Cream Review

A lot of beauty bloggers have raved about Mario Badescu's acne control skin care, and I have always been intrigued with the brand because it seems effective yet affordable. I recently had my first encounter when trying out a sample of the Seaweed Night Cream. 

This is touted to be a non-greasy, oil-free moisturizer that provides heavy duty moisture with ingredients like seaweed, collagen, and hyaluronic acid. It says it is for skin types C (combination), O (oily), and S (sensitive). However, I felt this moisturizer was in fact a bit greasy and would be best suited for dry skin. In fact, I really liked how well this moisturized my super dry winter skin. 

Don't let the green color deter you. This stuff is pretty good...if you have dry skin. A few days ago I had some dry patches on my skin and I used this all over my face and within 2 days the dry patches were completely healed! That being said, this creamy is VERY thick and it is a bit greasy so it takes time to absorb in to the skin. This is not for everyone but I think it would work well for those with super dry skin, especially in the cold winter months. 

Have you tried anything from Mario Badescu? 

November Favorites

My favorites during November revolved around the fact that winter is here and my skin is drier than the desert. I can finish a tube of moisturizer faster than I can finish a Starbucks holiday drink...and you know I love my gingerbread lattes (and caramel brule....my new fave).

1. Lush Sweet Lips - I use a plethora of face scrubs to exfoliate my skin, but when it comes to my lips I rely on this old fave. It makes my lips super soft and tastes like chocolate! I recently found out from a Lush rep that you can actually lick this stuff off your lips! It is all natural so it can be consumed....though I wouldn't just scoop it out and eat it.

2. Make Up For Ever HD Blush in shade 7 - Again, due to the dry winter air I am trying to use creamier products on my face. This MUFE cream blush blends easily in the skin, lasts all day, and doesn't clog or settle in my pores, and it looks very natural. I can build it up for intense color or layer a powder blush on top. My initial review and swatch are here.

Testing IO Beauty Skincare

I have been very mean to my face lately. Between trying to use up different moisturizers and the sudden change in weather from summer to winter, my skin has taken a beating. Two weeks ago I started using my ol' faithful MAC Lightful Deep Ultramoisture Creme. Within 3 days of using this moisturizer I noticed a HUGE difference in my skin...it was hydrated, the sallowness had faded, my skin with brighter, and it felt super soft and smooth. This stuff is the only moisturizer that really moisturizes my skin without feeling greasy, absorbs quicly, and brings life back in to my skin. At any moment in time, I ALWAYS have a jar of this moisturizer on my dresser.

So that lasted a week.

Until, I was sent a moisturizer and booster product from IO Beauty, a new skincare line from Beauty Expert Sue Devitt and Nutrition Expert Tanya Zuckerbrot. They have a 4 product regimen they are promoting, which includes a treatment concentrate serum, moisturizer and eye cream, and a Beauty Booster concentrate that you apply to your skin AND ingest. Basically, this system is supposed to provide good skin care from the inside and outside.

Finished in October

I am not going to do a monthly favorites post for October because there was really only one product I kept using, MAC's Face and Body Foundation, so I will do a separate review of that. But I did manage to finish 3 products last month:

1. Philosophy Purity Made Simple - My Holy Grail (HG) cleanser. This is the only cleanser that removes ALL traces of my face makeup, doesn't leave my skin feeling dry or like it has a film on it, and it just works. I professed my love for it here.



2. Phyto Phytodefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm - The last time I got my hair cut my stylist gave this to me to try out saying it is the best for calming frizzy hair. She is African American and swears by this product, and I thought if it works for her hair, it will definitely work for my hair! Wrong. My hair is really dry and this stripped all moisture from my hair, and it didn't add any softness. I didn't notice my hair being any straighter with this compared to my beloved Moroccan Oil, so back to the oil it is!

Finished!

As mentioned previously, I am on a kick to finish up my half-used products, and I was successful at finishing 3 things last month:

1. Aura Science Phase One Withdraw Mask - This is a clay mask I picked up a few years ago from Victoria's Secret. I heard that they only sell the Aura Science line in a few states in the US. Personally, I have not seen it in California or Pennsylvania in recent years. I kind of wish they would bring it back because I really liked this mask. A thin layer all over my face and neck really helped shrink my pores and tighten my skin. It was non-drying, but the pore-shrinking effect made me believe it did deep clean all the gunk in my pores. This mask also left my skin super-smooth and soft. Oh well, I will have to find another one....any recommendations?



2. Fresh Soy Face Serum - I had heard great things about the Fresh Soy line, so when I needed a new face serum, I decided to see if it was worth the buzz. OMG, this product smells like rotten cucumbers! I can't believe I actually used up this whole bottle. Really speaking, I would have returned it but I couldn't find the receipt, and couldn't bear throwing it out, so I just used it in the morning when I knew I would be wearing makeup after my skin care so the smell would get covered up. Aside from the smell, I don't think this serum did anything great for my skin. It didn't reduce the size of my pores, and I didn't notice any brightening effects. I don't think it hydrated my skin very much, and I definitely didn't notice any anti-aging effects. My skin was softer with this serum, but that is about it. I highly recommend that you stay away from this product and the whole Soy line.

3. MAC Select SPF Moistureblend Foundation - This is another product that is now discontinued. This foundation was replaced by the Mineralize Foundation SPF 15 that comes in a compact. I really liked the Moistureblend formula so I had a couple back-ups and the one I just used up was the last of my stock. I used it sparingly, mostly when traveling, but I loved it because it was so easy to use and blended in with my skin flawlessly. It looked like I wasn't wearing makeup at all, and it was very hydrating. I guess now I will have to venture out and try the newer Mineralize version.

Have you used any of these products? Have you finished anything recently?

August Favorites

Here are the products that I kept reaching for in August:

1. MAC Fix+ - This was unexpected. I have never really used Fix+ on myself, but after trying out the Urban Decay All Nighter finishing spray and not liking it, I decided to see if Fix+ would make a difference in my daily makeup routine....and it did! What I like the most about this product is that it takes away that cakey makeup look so your skin looks like skin. Of course, it helps that this feels so nice when misted on the face and it helps set makeup so it lasts all day. I have been using up the rose fragrance one that I had picked up during the Rose Romance collection.

2. Korres Body Milk in Jasmine - I love Korres body butters in the winter and the body milk moisturizers are PERFECT for summertime. They moisturize the skin very well, are lightweight, non-greasy, and absorb in the skin immediately. I like the fragrance of Jasmine so this one suits me well, without being too overbearing. 

3. Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense Lipstick in 26 - The Rouge Artist Intense formula is amazing. These lipsticks are opaque in just a single swipe! No need to keep applying to get a rich color. There is an amazing shade selection, but I really like this one because it is neutral and goes with everything. I highly recommend these, especially because they are long wearing and at $19 bucks, they wont break the bank.

 4. MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Faux Gold - I normally don't go for MAC's mineralize shadows, but this was just too pretty! I have been using it a lot this past month on my lid with nothing else. It looks great on its own, works for both day and night looks, and is just one of those easy shades that goes with everything. See this shadow in action here. 

What products did you reach for in August?

Zing Your Under Eye Issues Away - Origins GinZing Eye Cream Review

I know I was supposed to review this a month or so ago.....but you forgive me, right? ::Puppy dog face::

I have been using this Origins GinZing eye cream for the past 3 months and I LOVE it! This is one of my favorite products that I discovered this year. It is a caffeine-infused eye cream that is supposed to de-puff under eye circles and help firm the under eye area. 

The cream itself is very lightweight and blends easily - no tugging or harsh rubbing required. The cream does have a bit of iridescence to it, but it is not appear shiny.

Originz GinZing Eye Cream dabbed on skin and then blended

I only need a small amount of this cream to cover both eyes:

I simply take the amount pictured above with my ring finger and dab it under each eye, then rub it in gently so it gets absorbed. Before I get in to the efficacy of this cream, the things I like are that it does not have a weird fragrance, it gets absorbed in to the skin pretty quickly so you can apply makeup right away, and since I only need a small amount one tub will last me 6+ months (I have been using mine for 3 months and I still have more than half remaining). 

Under eye area with nothing on

Under eye area with Origins GinZing Eye Cream

Under eye area with Origins GinZing Eye Cream and MAC Pro Longwear Concealer

You may notice that since the cream has some luminescence, it does help brighten the under eye area. Thus, if you don't have dark circles you can probably skip concealer. However, the reason I really love this eye cream is that is really does help de-puff the under eye area AND it reduces the appearance of fine lines. But wait, there's more. GinZing Eye Cream is the PERFECT base for concealer. GinZing helps prevent makeup from creasing and fading....and concealer glides effortlessly on to the skin. What more does a gal need from an eye cream? 

I think this is the perfect eye cream for daytime (or both day and evening), and I am now intrigued to try out more Origins products. Any recommendations?

Costa Rica Cooldown: Korres Yoghurt Cooling Gel

I knew the hubby and I would be spending a lot of time in the sun in Costa Rica so I took this along as an after-sun treatment:

This Korres Yoghurt Cooling Gel is an after-sun moisturizer that helps moisturize and cool the face and body. It is very refreshing and cooling on the skin, and the effects are better if you put this in the refrigerator before application. Although it says it is a gel, it is more of a combination gel and lotion:

Left: drop of the gel from the tube, Right: blended out

This moisturizer is very soothing on the skin, and when I applied it twice over my husband's sunburnt neck, the redness disappeared after one day! He didn't even peel! I didn't try this on my face because I am so particular with facial moisturizers, but it really gives a refreshing, cooling, and calming feeling when applied to the body. The only negative about this is that it is slightly sticky. If you are sensitive, then you might feel the stickiness all day. If you are not too particular, it will go away after a few minutes.

Kajal Couture Rating: B+

Kajal Couture Overall Opinion: I really liked how this felt on my skin and loved that it helps heal sun burns and rashes. I am not a big fan of the sticky factor but I think most after sun gels are somewhat sticky.

Stay tuned....tomorrow I'm posting a few pics from our trip!!