BridgetJones
Member Since: March 17, 2019Reviews
PanOxyl Acne Body Spray
In exchange for an honest review, courtesy of Butterly® and Shoppers Drug Mart®, seven days ago, I received an awesome, free, full, retail-sized canister of this new product from PanOxyl®—one of the top brand names in effective OTC acne... +
In exchange for an honest review, courtesy of Butterly® and Shoppers Drug Mart®, seven days ago, I received an awesome, free, full, retail-sized canister of this new product from PanOxyl®—one of the top brand names in effective OTC acne treatments. I'm always appreciative to receive and excited to try new products, but in this particular instance, I feel that Butterly® and Shoppers Drug Mart® should have launched this campaign later in the year... when the weather is warmer, less clothing is worn, more skin is shown, and people are more likely to seek treatment for chest or back acne that can be caused by sweating or sunscreen! Today is March 25th. I live in northern BC, where it's been no warmer than 10ºC this week (and as low as 1ºC)... this isn't sunscreen and sweat season! (I don't go to the gym either!)
I can't will or conveniently conjure up a mild breakout on my chest or shoulders! I have had no breakouts to treat, am not inclined to break out at this time of year, and there's nothing for me to prevent or treat until possibly June! Yet I'm expected to post an honest review of the product within 14 days of receiving it (or be penalized by Butterly®).
Have I tried the product? Yes, a few times. I appreciate that there is a locking mechanism on the nozzle, and the product is propelled at any angle when applying. Will I continue to apply this product unnecessarily for an entire 14 days, wasting product that I'll likely need in a couple of months? No.
With 2% salicylic acid to gently exfoliate skin (preventing acne-causing bacteria and oil congestion), alcohol to kill bacteria, niacinamide to calm inflammation and regulate oil production, and Vitamin C to stimulate pigment and scar-correcting collagen (brightening dark spots or reducing red scarring): a great, effective formulation to quickly, conveniently, and effectively treat acne breakouts on one's chest, back, and shoulders, preventing the occurrence of more breakouts.
I wish I had received this product to try in the SUMMER months, when it will be necessary to use, and that I weren't limited to 14 days (after receipt) to post a review. I'll have a better idea of the product's effectiveness during sweat-inducing warmer weather, but... now is not the time nor do I need to use the product.
I can see it being effective and convenient—both for summer holidays AND those who regularly hit the gym, wishing to apply the product post workout shower.
- Product gifted by Crown Labs (Canada).
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PanOxyl PM Overnight Spot Patches
At 50 and in perimenopause, there are still times when I experience the odd hormonal blemish or two on my chin, nose, or cheek. Thankfully, breakouts are rare, and after receiving a sample of PanOxyl PM Overnight Spot Patches® from Butterly® and... +
At 50 and in perimenopause, there are still times when I experience the odd hormonal blemish or two on my chin, nose, or cheek. Thankfully, breakouts are rare, and after receiving a sample of PanOxyl PM Overnight Spot Patches® from Butterly® and Shoppers Drug Mart, I found myself waiting and almost hoping for a blemish to errupt, so I could honour my agreement to review the product online. As fate would have it, I woke with a couple of small, headless blemishes on my chin last week, as well as a tiny, reoccurring inflamed bump from ingrown hair on my left cheek! Despite the product being indicated for nighttime use and because I was home for the day, I applied a patch to each of the imperfections during the daytime.
First impression: the patches are virtually undetectable when applied to my fair-to-light, neutral, Caucasian skin tone. They blended into my skin so well, that I FORGOT I was wearing them, and went out in public wearing them—with no one at the store (Shoppers Drug Mart!) giving me a double-take or strange looks. The patches were INCOGNITO, camouflaged into my skin tone. (I'm 50. I don't want whimsical, "cute" blemish patches or attention-attracting ANYTHING on my face!) The patches blended so seamlessly onto my skin and into my skintone that I didn't remember to change or remove them for 32-33 hours! They stayed in place, seamlessly, even though I showered twice after applying them!
Upon their easy removal, all traces of the two blemishes on my chin were gone—no bumps, no puss-filled head, no redness, no irritation—just smooth skin, with faint traces of pink. It was also easy to remove the patch I'd placed over an irritated, inflamed (ingrown) hair follicle on my left cheek—the salicylic acid had gently exfoliated the area enough that the tip of the coarse hair had finally poked through, able to be gently tweezed out . The inflamed hair follicle was no longer dark pink-red, but soothed to a faint shade of pink, and the inflammation no longer existed. There was no irritation from the product or the adhesive.
I wish these had existed during my teens and twenties—more than half a lifetime ago. They would have been SO helpful to help impede and reduce the painful, headless, cystlike, "underground" blemishes I'd occasionally get on my chin—perhaps bringing them to a head or reducing inflammation more quickly. (I learned to use a VERY fine tipped, sterile hypodermic needle gauge, acquired from pharmacists, so I could very delicately but more deeply penetrate into the CORE of those headless, painful cystic pimples—relieving pressure, giving embedded, clear or white/yellow pus the opportunity to drain through the microfine, deeply lanced puncture, never waiting in pain for days, hoping the cyst would come to a head—I drained them myself, skillfully, without scarring, bruising, or spreading the infection under the skin!) I used to work as a makeup artist, mostly in retail settings, and if PanOxyl® PM Overnight Spot Patches® had been available on the market then, I'd not only have worn them myself, personally, even to/at work (because the patches are almost undetectable on my skin), but I'd also have recommended the patches to clients and friends!
Thank you for the opportunity to try the sample, PanOxyl®, Butterly®, and Shoppers Drug Mart®. I'm sorry that I don't have photos (or me wearing the patches) to post with my review, but the patches blended SO seamlessly with my skin, I could barely see them and FORGOT to capture a selfie before I'd removed and disposed of them!
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Promensil Perimenopause
As a newly minted, 50-year-old woman who began noticing symptoms of perimenopause nearly nine years ago and is seemingly midway through the year of menopause, I was appreciative to receive a sample of Promensil® Perimenopause formula, courtesy of... +
As a newly minted, 50-year-old woman who began noticing symptoms of perimenopause nearly nine years ago and is seemingly midway through the year of menopause, I was appreciative to receive a sample of Promensil® Perimenopause formula, courtesy of Promensil® (Pharmacare/PAC Health [Canada]) and Butterly®, in return for a review of the product.
Having noticed more severe symptoms in recent months—particularly insomnia and sleep interruptions, I was desperate for some possible relief; lack of quality sleep can cause and/or exacerbate a myriad of other issues and symptoms!
Full disclosure: I have ADHD, for which symptoms increase during puberty and... menopause. Likewise, I'm currently grieving the recent loss of a loved one who succumbed to cancer in late June. (I other words: I feel crummy!) Grief, anxiety, and depression can have psychosomatic effects on a person, as well as their sleep, and lack of sleep can exacerbate symptoms of preexisting conditions.
"Six of one, one half dozen of the other!"
The parcel from Butterly®, containing a one-month supply of Promensil®, arrived via CanadaPost on November 4th (a week before CanadaPost workers began their strike), and I started taking the tablets as instructed: 1 daily, for 30 days. I did so every morning.
A 30-day supply is NOT enough to form an opinion or determine if the Promensil® Perimenopause formula is (or is not) effective. As per the directions and claims on the bottle, it can take a few weeks to a couple of months to assess the product’s benefits. “You should be able to assess the benefits of taking Promensil® after the first 4 weeks. Thereafter, take Promensil® daily to maintain benefits.”
I think the product *might have helped improve my quality of sleep within the past few weeks—I wasn’t waking up as much or as often as I had been before introducing the daily Promensil® Perimenopause product. However, during the same time as I was taking the daily tablets, I also began taking two Jamieson® Calcium-Magnesium tablets (calcium: 333 mg, magnesium: 167 mg per tablet), paired with a small amount of chromium every evening, about an hour before bedtime!
F.Y.I.
Calcium
helps the body use tryptophan, an amino acid that helps the brain produce melatonin, a sleep-inducing substance. Calcium deficiencies can cause sleep disturbances, especially REM sleep. Magnesium
Helps regulate the central nervous system, which can improve sleep quality. Magnesium deficiency can cause chronic insomnia and frequent nighttime awakenings.
Was it the Promensil® Perimenopause product that helped to improve my sleep? The Jamieson® Cal-Mag supplements before bedtime? A combination of both? Did the seasonal shift with shorter days and going into hibernation mode influence anything?
I don’t know. Only time (without Promensil®) will tell!
The Perimenopause formula retails for $36.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart, and it's allegedly sold only on Shoppers' e-commerce site (not in stores). Though there is a $10 printable coupon on Promensil® Canada's website, the printable coupon is intended for use IN-store (where the Perimenopause formula isn't sold)—the $10 coupon cannot be deducted from any online purchases made on SDM's website. So... no savings there!
As per the price, lack of savings, and my lack of certainty of the product's effectiveness, I am not willing to shell-out $37 for a product that might not be worth the expense, and is not financially feasible to purchase for continued use during the expensive Holiday Season. (Please plan your marketing campaigns better, guys!)
- Product gifted by Promensil.
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DAP Alex Plus All Purpose Acrylic Latex Caulk Plus Silicone 300 mL White
I received a free tube of this product from Butterly. Having never caulked anything before, this was an introduction to caulking for yours truly! My first impression was negative the caulking gun that I'd intended to use turned out to be broken, and... +
I received a free tube of this product from Butterly. Having never caulked anything before, this was an introduction to caulking for yours truly! My first impression was negative the caulking gun that I'd intended to use turned out to be broken, and thus delayed my use of the caulk for a few days until I could find another one to borrow. My next impression: the tip of the applicator was difficult to cut—I don't own anything beyond kitchen scissors (no industrial knife here!), so it was a struggle for me to cut the tip, having inadequate hand strength to do so! The product itself was fine—minimal odour, no lingering scent, easy to clean up AND easy to scrape/trim edges of sloppily applied, dried caulking.
I don't think I'll caulk again anytime soon, but DAP's product made the clean up process a lot less messy than it might have been.
- Product received for free from DAP in exchange for an honest review.
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PanOxyl PM Blemish Brightening Patches
Last week, a lovely blemish erupted on my face, leaving a dark red mark because I picked at said blemish (bad girl!). The perfect opportunity to use the Panoxyl Blemish Brightening Patch samples recently sent to me by Butterly! The Spot Fading... +
Last week, a lovely blemish erupted on my face, leaving a dark red mark because I picked at said blemish (bad girl!). The perfect opportunity to use the Panoxyl Blemish Brightening Patch samples recently sent to me by Butterly! The Spot Fading Complex of Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid (?), and Vitamin C was said to "improve the appearance of post-acne marks in just 10 days". There were only 4-5 patches in the sample, but there WAS significant improvement after using them! Will I go out of my way to buy them? No, because I have other serums which do the same thing(s), without the need to stick patches on my face. I think they're likely better suited for younger skin, and imagine that the acne-treating patches are likely good, too. But not for this 49 soon to be 50)-year-old woman!
- Product received for free from Crown Labs (Canada) in exchange for an honest review.
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Temptations Lickable Spoons - Tasty Chicken/Savoury Salmon Flavour
Thankfully, I received a sample of one spoon AND a coupon for a free box of four, so I used the coupon for a box containing four of the salmon/chicken combo. Each "spoon" has half of each flavour in a jelly/paté textured disc of sorts. The peel-off... +
Thankfully, I received a sample of one spoon AND a coupon for a free box of four, so I used the coupon for a box containing four of the salmon/chicken combo. Each "spoon" has half of each flavour in a jelly/paté textured disc of sorts. The peel-off mylar lids are fussy, and the contents of the spoon are disgusting. Instead of offering the product in its spoon, I put the contents on a plate. The first disc, my cat licked 1/4 of the chicken side; the rest went to waste. She wouldn't touch it, nor would our frequent feline visitor/neighbour. I've tried giving both cats another spoon (each) tonight, and ... both turned their noses up, walking away. The contents went into the garbage. I have one spoon remaining, and it too will likely be rejected.
It's a product FAIL, and I'm glad I didn't pay a single cent for my box of four. The ONE positive: the spoons are washable and can be put in recycling. The contents: into the garbage can.
We'll stick with the squeeze tube lickable treats.
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Life Brand wax strips legs & body
When buying Life Brand products from Shoppers Drug Mart (or any of the house brands sold at Loblaws-owned companies) I know that if the products don't meet my satisfaction, the company offers a money-back guarantee. Therefore, when I purchased a box... +
When buying Life Brand products from Shoppers Drug Mart (or any of the house brands sold at Loblaws-owned companies) I know that if the products don't meet my satisfaction, the company offers a money-back guarantee. Therefore, when I purchased a box of Life Brand Argan Oil Wax Strip (40 ct) from SDM last week, I knew the only thing I'd lose was ... well, the hair on my legs. All whilst saving a bit of money for purchasing a store brand over name brand Veet, Nair, or Parissa.
Indeed, the product DID remove the hair on my lower legs (I used 6 dual-sided strips), but not without frustration, skin irritation, or less-than-perfect results. (I know how to use home waxing strips; I'm not a novice.)
1. The PINK strips are difficult to separate/pull apart, even when warmed between hands for a minute. REALLY sticky!
2. The strips are made of weird plastic material.
3. There's a strong scent of ... cherries (or something sweet). Yuck! I prefer something neutral-scented, not sweet—especially if the scent lingers!
4. My legs were itchy, irritated, and red for two days after using the strips. Red from irritation, not pulling out the hair.
As guaranteed, I was able to return the unused portion of the box for a full refund at SDM the following day (with receipt), applying the approx. $20 to purchasing other items within the store.
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No Name Spaghetti 900gr
In this day and age of massive price increases at grocery stores, I am seeking less expensive alternatives to name-brand products. Therefore, when purchasing a bag of NoName Spaghetti, I thought, "How big of a difference can there be?" Boy, was I... +
In this day and age of massive price increases at grocery stores, I am seeking less expensive alternatives to name-brand products. Therefore, when purchasing a bag of NoName Spaghetti, I thought, "How big of a difference can there be?"
Boy, was I wrong! There IS a big difference in the quality, taste, and texture! I like my pasta al denté. I cooked it for the minimum time suggested, and it turned out mushy. I thought perhaps it was due to being added to a sauce that I hadn't reduced to thicken. Nope. I cooked another batch last night, for 8 minutes, and ... spongey, gluey goop. It went in the garbage. There are no savings in buying this lower-quality product if it's barely edible and is thrown in the trash.
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Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair® Retinol Oil
Disclosure: I received this FREE, retail-sized treatment product from ChickAdvisor, approximately 10 days ago. My shared opinions of Neutrogena® Rapid Wrinkle Repair Prep Oil are my own, and I receive no monetary compensation for nor am affiliated... +
Disclosure: I received this FREE, retail-sized treatment product from ChickAdvisor, approximately 10 days ago. My shared opinions of Neutrogena® Rapid Wrinkle Repair Prep Oil are my own, and I receive no monetary compensation for nor am affiliated with any skincare or cosmetic brand. I appreciate having been chosen as a candidate to review this product. (Thank you!)
I am not loving this product, unfortunately; I am, however, ambivalent about its effectiveness, because the product arrived in the mail about 10 days ago, and such isn't long enough to notice visible, positive changes in my skin. Had I been able to use the product for at least 4-6 weeks before posting a review, perhaps my opinions and results would be different. (I will continue to use the product, then post updates/an addendum later.)
First impression: the product reminds me a lot of Kate Somerville's Quench Hydrating Serum. (KS sent me a full bottle in 2006 as gratis when I opened a retail account for Essential Day Spa's website; it was the first time KS had been offered to Canadians.) The texture, slippage, and absorbency are VERY much like Somerville's Quench, but at significantly less than Somerville's retail price of their product.
I am used to using retinol products at 44 (I really like Deciem's The Ordinary 2% Emulsion!), but am unsure if the Neutrogena® retinol serum or glycolic cleanser which led my chin to break-out in a fashion which it hasn't done for YEARS. (Yes, I am aware of what the "purging" process is.) I don't need or want a zitty chin at 44, thanks!
Sure, it smoothed and hydrated my combination skin. However, I honestly didn't notice a difference in texture (other than chin zits). Again, if I'd used the product for more than a month, perhaps I'd be able to provide more personal insight of any changes in my skin—its sun damaged, pigmentation issues, in particular.
I feel that ChickAdvisor and its sample suppliers ought to allow, bare minimum, 4-6 weeks of use by those who are sent anti-ageing/repair products to review. A 30ml bottle of treatment oil, when used twice daily as instructed: should last 3 months—adequate time for a product (with less active ingredient percentages) to be effective. Please keep this in mind when sending such products to others in the future, ChickAdvisor!
(Yes, it tingled and caused a bit of peeling on the first day of use.)
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Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Prep Cleanser
Disclosure: I received this FREE, retail-sized cleanser from ChickAdvisor, approximately 10 days ago. My shared opinions of Neutrogena® Rapid Wrinkle Repair Prep Cleanser are my own, and I receive no monetary compensation for nor am affiliated with... +
Disclosure: I received this FREE, retail-sized cleanser from ChickAdvisor, approximately 10 days ago. My shared opinions of Neutrogena® Rapid Wrinkle Repair Prep Cleanser are my own, and I receive no monetary compensation for nor am affiliated with any skincare or cosmetic brand. I appreciate having been chosen as a candidate to review this product. (Thank you!)
As a 44-year-old woman who's very familiar with skincare & cosmetic products, as well as having worked for two medical spas over 20 years, I have been fortunate to try many cleansers circa 2000–2016, particularly—prestige, cosmeceutical, and medical grade. Likewise, I have tried more than a few drugstore brands over the years (including Neutrogena®).
The purpose of a cleanser is to lift, suspend, and remove makeup, dirt, grime, and oil. I try to spend as little as possible on products which I will wash down the drain, knowing that my 13-year-old Clarisonic MD (given to me by original Clarisonic, before L'Oréal's buy-out) will effectively remove all of the above, as well as gently exfoliate my skin—even if used with a mild Castille soap (i.e. Dr. Bronner's). I try to not over-exfoliate my skin, as doing so compromises my skin's moisture barrier and leads to dehydration. IF I'm inclined to wear a face full of makeup (which I haven't been over the past couple of years), I double-cleanse with an oil or micellar water (usually Garnier), followed by the Clarisonic, using a Castille-based soap.
PERSONALLY, as a mid-40s woman with combination skin prone to dehydration, I'm not likely to purchase Neutrogena® Rapid Wrinkle Repair Prep Cleanser, because my skin is already prepped, exfoliated, and I don't like washing money down the drain. What I've been using for years: works, and I'll stick to my personal routine!
Despite removing dead, keratinized cells from my skin (2x day), I didn't feel it was necessary to cleanse morning & evening—just evening. Over-cleansing and exfoliating = dehydration and crêpiness. HOWEVER, I did appreciate the product's effectiveness when applied to my nose, deep cleaning my pores (which can appear as blackheads). I didn't like the texture of my skin after cleansing; I felt a bit of film/residue left behind.
The cleanser doesn't lather, and I question what Neutrogena® is using (in lieu of plastic) as the physical exfoliant (paired with the glycolic base).
This isn't a "yay" or "nay" from me—just a "meh!". I will add: a 36-year-old friend (who's not into skincare nor has a routine) tried a bit of the cleanser and noticed much more smoothness and suppleness. She hasn't used exfoliant before, and therefore, noticed the smoothing effect that the glycolic acid & grains had on her (surface) dryness. SHE loved the cleanser! Therefore, though it's not a product for me personally, I think it would be effective for others seeking an effective, affordable exfoliant.
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