Phenamina
Member Since: December 15, 2020Reviews
Sunday Riley Good Genes
So funny!! at first glance I thought this was an exfoliant to use in the shower and wash off; then read the packet a little more closely - and saw it was a serum type product. Firstly - it’s SO hard to review a product off a one-use sample, but... +
So funny!! at first glance I thought this was an exfoliant to use in the shower and wash off; then read the packet a little more closely - and saw it was a serum type product. Firstly - it’s SO hard to review a product off a one-use sample, but based on just that, I would have to say I quite liked it :) Its definitely pricey $112-162CAD at #Sephora but I do like it’s pthalate/paraben free. It’s a white lotion type and felt gentle and quite moisturizing (I don’t know why I assumed it might tingle or even burn being a treatment). I feel like it did leave my skin better than before I used it in appearance, more even and in feel, moisturized. (especially compared to the Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum which is the last treatment type serum I had bought a full size and have rated one-star as it did nothing for me) I wouldn’t buy it off this one use, BUT if I was offered more, I definitely I would like to try for a few days to see if the promise of the sample bears out! #Skincare #Beauty #Junkie -
Hair Food Avocado & Argan Oil Shampoo
When I received these #complimentary #samples I wasn’t sure from whom... Nevertheless delighted I did as I would never have discovered this product but for that. I was delighted the bottles I received were each 90ml (which side note is happily... +
When I received these #complimentary #samples I wasn’t sure from whom... Nevertheless delighted I did as I would never have discovered this product but for that. I was delighted the bottles I received were each 90ml (which side note is happily just under airline limits, and would be easy to refill these bottles from a full-size) I have long thick hair so one use sample packets or even hotel size mini-bottles are not enough for one hair wash, this is actually enough for two for me! The packaging itself is quite attractive, bronze with touches of green and I love attention to detail like that :) The scent is lovely, light and delicate but not too fruity or floral (I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it is) I absolutely rate this 5 stars from a 3-pronged perspective - I LOVE LOVE LOVE that this is a clean product (no parabens, mineal oils etc) as I have been trying to transition to them, secondly I looked up the price and a full-size bottle is only $7.99CAD at Shoppers Drug Mart so incredibly reasonable, especially a quality one (I was half expecting this would only be available Sephora) and lastly and most importantly it’s efficacy!! It absolutely did what a good #shampoo does, lots of lather (which sometimes you don’t get from a clean brand) and left my hair feeling clean without feeling dry or like it had any residue left on my locks! I loved that there are nourishing moisturizing ingredients like avocado and argan oils (as my hair can tend to the dry side) and they have other flavours as well for additional options for your needs. I highly recommend giving Hair Food a try!! #Haircare #Beauty #Junkie -
Hair Food Avocado & Argan Oil Conditioner
I received these #samples #complimentary in the mail as a lovely surprise. When I received them I wasn’t sure from whom I had received them... Nevertheless, delighted to get them - I would never have discovered this product but for that. I was... +
I received these #samples #complimentary in the mail as a lovely surprise. When I received them I wasn’t sure from whom I had received them... Nevertheless, delighted to get them - I would never have discovered this product but for that. I was delighted the bottles I received were each 90ml (which side note is happily just under airline limits, and would be easy to refill these bottles from a full-size) mostly as I have long thick hair so one use sample packets or even hotel size mini-bottles are not enough for one hair wash, this is actually enough for two for me! The packaging itself is quite attractive, bronze with touches of green and I love attention to detail like that :) The scent is lovely, light and delicate but not too fruity or floral (I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it is) I absolutely rate this 5 stars from a 3-pronged perspective - I LOVE LOVE LOVE that this is a clean product (no parabens, mineal oils etc) as I have been trying to transition to them, secondly I looked up the price and a full-size bottle is only $7.99CAD at #Shoppers Drug Mart so incredibly reasonable, especially a quality one (I was half expecting this would only be available Sephora) and lastly and most importantly it’s efficacy!! It does what a #conditioner is meant to do, (which sometimes you don’t get from a clean brand) and left my hair hydrated and less tangled. It’s just the slightest touch lighter a conditioner than I usually go for (I like a heavier thicker one as my hair is thick too) I wouldn’t say it’s as light as the Dove ones for thin/fine/light hair, if you need that, a standard weight conditioner. I loved that there are nourishing moisturizing ingredients like avocado and argan oils (as my hair can tend to the dry side) and they have other flavours as well for additional options for your needs :) . I definitely recommend giving Hair Food a try!! #Haircare #Beauty #Junkie -
Knorr Taste of Korea Korean BBQ Seasoning Blend
This was an amazing accidental find!! Happened across it at Walmart Canada and the price point got me (was on sale from $4 or so down to $2.50) so gave it a whirl and so glad I did :) I only use half the pack for 2 chicken breasts so makes it even... +
This was an amazing accidental find!! Happened across it at Walmart Canada and the price point got me (was on sale from $4 or so down to $2.50) so gave it a whirl and so glad I did :) I only use half the pack for 2 chicken breasts so makes it even better at only $1.25 a use. It comes in a resealable bag which is an additional great detail and much appreciated as the consumer. I use it as a marinade - mixed it with some oil, soy sauce and a few other things, tossed it and the chicken all in a bag, left it in the fridge overnight and then grilled on the BBQ (propane) the next afternoon and it came out AMAZING!!! Flavourful, moist and looked beautiful too with a lovely red hue. It’s a gem of a find - it’s not too spicy (esp if you use half the packet) and has Korean Gochugaro chili in the mix, which as an authentic ingredient might be harder for some people to find or you might not need that much to buy a whole container, so this is perfect, easy and accessible. I am not a Knorr connoisseur, but I will be loyal to this product. I highly recommend you give this a try if you happen upon it (even at regular price) or go out especially for it and give it a go :) ours was inhaled, served alongside a green salad and some rice, but I think leftovers will hold up really well, if there’s any left :) and would make for a great lunch the next day as well! #Foodie -
Arbonne Setting Pretty Translucent Loose Powder
I love this powder!! (I believe rice based) light and doesn’t feel like it sticks or cakes with my foundation. It’s one I would recommend and repurchase (having tried others I haven’t found one better) Arbonne can be a little expensive but... +
I love this powder!! (I believe rice based) light and doesn’t feel like it sticks or cakes with my foundation. It’s one I would recommend and repurchase (having tried others I haven’t found one better) Arbonne can be a little expensive but this one is totally worth it (if they haven’t changed the formula) #Makeup #Beauty #Junkie -
The Body Shop Hemp Body Butter
First time buying a body butter from The Body Shop chose this one since my sis-in-law had it and supposedly great for extra dry skin needs. The Price was great! There was a 2 for $30 promo and I used my $10 birthday discount so got 2 (bought the... +
First time buying a body butter from The Body Shop chose this one since my sis-in-law had it and supposedly great for extra dry skin needs. The Price was great! There was a 2 for $30 promo and I used my $10 birthday discount so got 2 (bought the British Rose Body Butter as a gift for my mom) there was also an unexpected additional 15% off the hemp one; so the total was $16.85 and $19 Canadian after taxes - normally the body butters are $21 each so about a $30 savings :) The scent is lightly herbal - if you like a prettily perfumed product this may not be for you, it’s more a natural scent from the ingredient but for me the scent is fine. The colour (may not show fully in the pics) is a light blue green I would describe it as a subtle algae hue, which I think is very fresh and lovely. It does meet its name, solid in the tub but melts like butter, when you put your fingers on it (I have since tried their coconut body butter and that is softer, easier to get out of the pot) I don’t know how easy it will feel to do your whole body after a shower, for me it would be too annoying to dig it out of the container to cover my full body - also it’s 200gm so not sure how many full body uses I would get. This is the first product from their hemp line I have tried and would say give it a go - from an effectiveness perspective, which is the most important, I think it’s solid. I have been using it on my hands, based on that, takes a bit to absorb but seems do well one it’s taken. My hands have been raw after doing dishes and starting in on our dry cold fall weather here feel soft and supple and effects stay/last for a long time. It’s also of note I have a tendency to get a small patch of eczema/psoriasis on part of one finger and I really do feel this product is helping in healing and protecting for that. #Skincare #WinterCare #Beauty #Junkie -
Origins Three Part Harmony
This is a great product! It’s super rich and moisturizing which I want, esp in Canadian winters! If you have oily/blemish prone skin this might not be for you (it’s a rich cream vs a gel water type formula) It’s luxurious and even taking that... +
This is a great product! It’s super rich and moisturizing which I want, esp in Canadian winters! If you have oily/blemish prone skin this might not be for you (it’s a rich cream vs a gel water type formula) It’s luxurious and even taking that into account it does absorb well and not leave a greasy feel (but takes a few minutes) I personally wouldn’t use this under makeup just at night. The packaging is pretty - I like the wood grain lid. If scent is important to you, I wouldn’t say this is perfumed more an earthy fragrance assuming because it’s a clean beauty product which is what I wanted. I believe I paid about $90CAD at shoppers so it’s not the cheapest but definitely a solid product that I am liking more and more as I use it and definitely I could see myself buying again! #Skincare #Beauty #BeautyJunkie -
Nexcare Acne Absorbing Cover
I kept seeing this concept product online and was curious about it - then I started growing a single little friend on the side of my face and thought this would be the perfect time to give into temptation and try it! Fair warning - super long review... +
I kept seeing this concept product online and was curious about it - then I started growing a single little friend on the side of my face and thought this would be the perfect time to give into temptation and try it! Fair warning - super long review lol (It was $20CAD at shoppers) so grabbed it at Walmart for $12 which seems to be the average price for a 36 piece box (same on Amazon but I don’t have prime so thought it would arrive after I could use it lol) there are two sizes and I do wish there were more of the larger ones; I think the smaller ones will be less useful (but perhaps I will be proven wrong as I work my way through the pack) I applied the larger size to my blemish which was a whitehead, more a hormonal one in my case, have read it doesn’t work on cystic acne; but then also read lots of reviews of people with cystic acne who find it effective and really liked it! I am not sure if it would work on all blemishes equally, but will keep playing with these. I admit I was a bit skeptical of if these would work as hopeful and excited as I was to try them out. I did a bunch of research as I wasn’t sure how it could draw the stuff out through unbroken skin - some people said it did and some said they open/pop the zit then apply the dot. I would have appreciated some additional notes from Nexcare on the box about that - mine was closed when I applied the first one (not sure if it was drawing stuff to the surface or it was naturally moving up since it had already been developing for about 2-3 days) Instruction-wise you are to apply it to clean skin with clean fingers so I had cleaned the area with a little rubbing alcohol and let it dry (also thought that might help it adhere a little better) Its a skin tone dot, so from certain angles super subtle and you can’t even see it on, apparently you can also use it while wearing makeup (to be applied under the makeup, but I think it might show due to the slight thickness?) I have to say it adheres and stays on super well!! I I was quite impressed with that factor - I had that one on for about 8 hours and it didn’t slip or start to peel at all, after that time tried to pop it under the patch, don’t think that worked. One huge added benefit is it did stop me from picking or playing with the blemish at all!! It really reduced my urge to do so, which I am famous for doing - so I do believe just that alone makes this product super helpful to prevent scarring. When I removed the first one I did pop the tip and then apply then second one which I left on over night (recommended) assuming it’s meant to be on 8-10 hours. I was curious how they worked so had done a little googling - apparently hydro colloidal patches are magic that have been around since the 80’s as wound dressings - it comes split into two packs each inside a sterile outer pouch (I did read one person say they dried out before they could finish them, so maybe good to share with a friend? I haven’t had them long enough to speak to that) the sticky side (it is kinda hard to tell when you open the pack which it is, I would have appreciated an indicator to make it easier and me more confident I was doing it right) is “coated on one side with some mixture of pectin, carboxy-methylcellulose, and polymers that absorb fluid. When placed over an open wound, they pull the fluid out, encasing it/forming into a gel.” Taken from an Amazon review by MirasReviews (to provide credit) They are non-medicated and also seals the area which has the added benefit of preventing bacteria and such to help ward off infection. The dots feel soft to the touch and comfortable; I don’t feel like I am aware I am wearing it, as well they are also are non-drying, breathable and not made of latex if that is a concern. When I awaken and removed my second one this morning it worked!! Looked exactly like the pics of other peoples that I have seen online - it had sucked out whatever and the white stuff had been cleanly absorbed into the patch. The actual blemish on my face was flat and not angry (how it normally would be if I had simply popped a blemish) I was happy and impressed with how the skin wasn’t swollen as it usually is! As of now it feels like it has closed and honestly healed way better than without and to the point it would be days later already! I definitely recommend trying this product and brand - the price point and effectiveness, to see if it works for you - might take a little playing with as I did. It was definitely 10x a better blemish experience than without! :) I am also intrigued by and would like to try the brands that use microdarts like ZitSticka, Dr. Jart and Peace Out to deposit ingredients such as salicylic acid etc into the blemish, the latter two I didn’t see on the Sephora Canada site #Skincare -
Burt’s Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm with Kokum Butter
This would be my most recommended drugstore one to anyone (I am not a chapstick/blistex person and didn’t even want to try EOS after the reports of reactions people were having when they initially launched, I think they may have since changed... +
This would be my most recommended drugstore one to anyone (I am not a chapstick/blistex person and didn’t even want to try EOS after the reports of reactions people were having when they initially launched, I think they may have since changed their formula? I know lots of people love it, but I still shy away from it) This product is simple and does exactly what it says it does - it’s incredibly moisturizing (so much so I am not sure you could use it under lipstick but I haven’t tried) I use it when my lips feel winter dry and chapped and it’s very soothing and healing. I wouldn’t say all burt’s bees lip balms are created equal, I bought the pink grapefruit scented one, since I love anything with that, but I didn’t think it worked well, ended up not liking the fragrance and gave it away, so I am specifically recommending this one from their product line. I do find I use it a few times a day but at about $6 for one or around $12 for a 3 pack at Shoppers it’s a solid product and good value! I was having a bad time with my lips and this wasn’t doing the trick so I did just pick up the sugar therapy lip treatment from Sephora, I realize that is a totally different price point at $34 (which I normally wouldn’t spend on a lipbalm but I was desperate and it did the trick, so now I may start to...) these are the only two I would recommend and why I gave this 4 stars as I am going to review the sugar one and its earned 5 stars from me, I will still keep buying this Burt’s Bees and gifting it as well! #Lipcare #Skincare #BeautyJunkie -
Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment
This is the best lip balm in the world in my opinion!! I was using Burt's Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm with Kokum Butter (which is a great product just did a review and gave it 4 stars) but I don’t know why my lips have been brutal, so with... +
This is the best lip balm in the world in my opinion!! I was using Burt's Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm with Kokum Butter (which is a great product just did a review and gave it 4 stars) but I don’t know why my lips have been brutal, so with the Sephora #Rouge 20% off sale I grabbed this (having gotten a sample 2 pack as the birthday gift one year - I didn’t care for the Rose one that came in it) $34 is more than I would normally be willing to spend on a lip balm, but I was desperate and remembered it being so good, with the discount it came to $27CAD before taxes. I did ask if I was better off to try this or the one in the pot and they said this and glad I did - it was almost medical for me at that point and this was magic!!! So soothing right off the bat and healing on the first day (I would say by the second day my lips felt like close to normal for the first time in weeks) It has a lovely light scent that is delicate and most definitely not overpowering, that draws me further to the product. I like clean packaging and the screw lid on this little powerhouse and highly recommend it if you are suffering from dry cracked burning chapped lips (esp in winter) I will definitely be re-purchasing this and will be a go-to for me!! #Lipcare #Skincare #BeautyJunkie -
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