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?

Koh Gen Do Oriental Plants Essence Review

In my constant search for my holy grail skin care routine, I ventured into the world of Japanese skin care and tried the Koh Gen Do Oriental Plants Essence. This serum is supposed to hydrate, firm, and provide balance to the skin, and contains a laundry list of natural and botanical ingredients. As I have mentioned before, I am on a green product kick, so naturally I was excited to try this out.

The texture of the serum is very liquidy, so it is easy to spread across the skin, and you don't need very much at all. That is a good thing, considering this 1.35oz bottle costs $107. Pricey, yes, but it will last you a loooong time.

In terms of results, I used this everyday for 3 weeks (refer to some previous posts to learn my philosophy on how long I need to use skin care to tell if I like it or not). I did not have any adverse reaction, but I also did not see anything amazing. My skin did feel moisturized, it did feel firm, and it was not dull. I still did not have that glow that I like, so I was not completely loving this product. I have a feeling this is one of those products you have to using for an extensive period of time to see results, so I am tempted to keep using it. Let's see how that goes, since I am such a product jumper.

Kajal Couture Rating: C

Kajal Couture Overall Opinion: The product itself is moisturizing, absorbs quickly into the skin, and feels great on. In terms of results, I did not get what I expected, but I have hope this will do more if used regularly for a longer period of time. It is very expensive though so I am not sure that I would repurchase unless I saw some miraculous change in my skin.

As a side note, when I received the product in the mail, I wasn't sure exactly how to use it, whether I had to rub thoroughly into the skin, or just let it absorb naturally. As you can see below, the instructions didn't help because they were all in Japanese. Thankfully, Koh Gen Do now has a website that provides English directions on how to use each product.

This product was provided to my by PR. For additional information, please refer to my Disclaimer.

Korres Ginger and Vitamins Foundation Review

I recently made my first venture into trying out Korres products, and let me tell ya, I am a very happy camper!! I had been on the Korres site many times, and always wondered what to try out. I read many a review before I decided on a couple products. The first that I will review for you is my favorite of what I got: the Ginger and Vitamins Foundation SPF 15:


This is a light-medium coverage foundation, and if you use a wet brush or sponge to apply it, you can sheer it out for a light finish. The product is so weightless on the skin, that it feels like tinted moisturizer. This foundation provides a very natural look, it does not look caked on, or give the appearance that you are wearing foundation, and that is what I love most about it. It is not oily or greasy feeling, but at the same time it is not matte, it gives a very natural, dewy finish. Of course, topped with a powder, you can achieve a very matte look. I bought the shade LF4 and I am usually an NC30 in MAC, and the LF4 matches me perfectly. Here is a swatch:

On the left side is a tiny droplet squeezed directly from the tube, the middle is a droplet blended out slightly, so you can see how lightweight and liquidy it is, and the right swatch is blended out. Keep in mind that is my hand, which is why the foundation does not blend naturally and the color does not match.

This has become my new daily use foundation and I love it! Rarely do I feel that a product is worth every cent, but with this one I do. The other plus is that this foundation is actually good for your skin! It is Korres so it is made of natural ingredients, it has ginger to tone and clarify the skin, and Vitamins C and E to prevent the visible signs of aging! And if that wasn't enough, this baby has SPF 10 in it too! I mean, it's not a lot, but its better than nothing, especially if your moisturizer doesn't have SPF in it. If I had to point out a negative, it would be that after you apply this foundation, you have to let it set a minute or so before applying other face products. For me, that is not hard because I either wait till it dries, or I move on to my eye makeup. Either way, it is definitely worth that extra min or so because the finish is so great.

If you are interested in trying this out, they do have it at Sephora, but if you order online like I did, I heard that the even number shades (LF2, LF4, and LF6) are for people with golden/olive undertones, and the odd number shades (LF1, LF3, and LF5) are for those with pink undertones.

Kajal Couture Rating: A

Kajal Couture Overall Opinion: Great foundation for those that want a natural look without looking like you are wearing foundation. Feels great on the skin and it is actually good for your skin too! I highly recommend this one, and it starting to become a favorite of mine.

I was so pleased with this that my next Korres plan of action is to try out their face primer...let's see if my wallet agrees.

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum

I recently tried out the Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster and so far so good! It is a liquid, orange colored serum that is supposed to brighten skin and help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. I like that it is loaded with tons of antioxidants and natural ingredients like Vitamins C, E and Grapefruit Extract, so you know that you aren't putting a whole lotta crap on your face. The smell is a wonderful citrusy fragrance that does fade once the product is absorbed. The only negative is that it is slightly sticky, but the product absorbs quickly and so does the stickiness, so it really isn't that big of a deal. I have only used this for about 10 days or so, and I do see a bit of brightness in my skin. I am not so sure about the anti-aging effects, but it has rave reviews on Sephora, and I tend to trust Sephora reviews. I have been using this at night before I use moisturizer, but you can use this either day or night. The price is a bit hefty at $48 for 1oz, but I do find that a little goes a LONG way since this product is a liquid. With gel consistency serums, I end up using more because they don't spread out very well on the skin. Have any of you tried this? What anti-aging products do you recommend?