Rovectin continues to make an appearance & I am more than ok with it. Won’t spend a long time speaking on the brand as the name basically speaks for itself, however, this is one brand I hold close to heart due to their journey & the relation with... +
Rovectin continues to make an appearance & I am more than ok with it. Won’t spend a long time speaking on the brand as the name basically speaks for itself, however, this is one brand I hold close to heart due to their journey & the relation with cancer in general. If you have not read their “About Us” section on the website yet, you really should. Thank you to Rovectin & 08 for sending the Lotus Water Cream (*this is not my first time using this cream). I consider this a gift from the God’s bc it agrees with my skin so well. When I accidentally piss off my face this is one of the “recovery “ products I reach for when I’m wanting a light, gentle & simple routine to help with my barrier. The squeeze tube arrives with a safety pull off tab under the screw off lid. Stickers are included within the packaging (wish more brands provided “open date” stickers). Water Cream dispenses out nicely & able to control exactly how much I want to dispense (used roughly the size of a quarter for both face & neck). Love the use of the Lotus Water Extract (75%) for the instant hydration & possibly helping irritated skin. No detectable scent. Spreads easily along, no issues with piling or layering other products (I used this after some other Rovectin products). Like the watery appearance that this gives when applying and it feels amazing when applied directly after getting out the shower. I did layer an oil…sometimes I applied after letting the cream dry or mixing the two together & this left my face feeling soooo soft and smooth that my little guy kept rubbing my face while giving me kisses which rarely ever happens. Didn’t leave behind a weighted, greasy after-feel. When I hear the term “water cream” this texture & format of the Lotus Cream is what comes to mind. This makes for a great moisturizer to use during the day, especially in the Summer…during the winter I prefer denser creams that actually have a bit of weight to them in my night routine. This is still worth the buy for a nice morning quench. You can find this 2.03oz/60mL Water Cream on the Rovectin website for around $20.
*Finally snowed a good amount here so edited the product photos with “winter/gingerbread vibes”…felt like our usual winter season wasn’t happening this year bc it’s been pretty warm since before Christmas up until recently. VB
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There is no denying that Rovectin makes some great products, but, sometimes this brand creates what I like to refer to as a “powerhouse” of a product that agrees w/my skin & actually shows noticeable results. The “Forever Young” Biome... +
There is no denying that Rovectin makes some great products, but, sometimes this brand creates what I like to refer to as a “powerhouse” of a product that agrees w/my skin & actually shows noticeable results. The “Forever Young” Biome Ampoule is one of those products. As far as the name goes…I believe aging is a privilege that many do not get so I’m not really big into the industry pushing products marketed as being an “anti aging” miracle that is going to keep you looking young, eventually time will catch up with us all and that’s not a bad thing. Those age spots that will show on our hands that we cannot fully prevent will have earned their right to appear…it shows that we lived. With that said…here’s my thoughts on the product. Packaging arrived a bit bent up, but, didn’t harm the stickers inside so that’s all that matters. Bottle itself is a thicker, durable glass with a dark blue hue & slight transparency to see the Ampoule. Pipette seems to reach right at the bottom of bottle. Bulb does nice pulling & Ampoule reaches a little short of a full tube (you can see the product fill line, it’s cloudy like the Ampoule). Thicker format w/friction when it comes to running. Tad bit gooey upon tapping. Glides easily & doesn’t require much pressure to ensure absorption, although this one does take a minute to fully absorb. 4 drops does both face & neck. No tacky/sticky after-feel whatsoever once dried down. I definitely notice a difference on the overall texture of my skin, especially along my cheeks. This feels almost moisturizing and the hydration provided is like no other w/all the humectants. The formula with this one though & it’s price point is what made me a fan. Being infused as a dual-biotic containing a 7 layer complex for a price point of around $35 regular retail for 1.7oz/50mL is well worth it (you can also find it on sale at times). Now, for the dislike. This Ampoule globs up all over the threading bc no matter how careful I am trying to insert that pipette, the Ampoule always pushes out over the top. I wish companies would pay attention to small details like this bc once you actually look at how much has accumulated over time…it’s quite a bit going to waste so I try to clean the threads after each use & apply the excess on my hands. Will definitely continue using this. -
If you’re not a fan of fragrance some Badescu products may not be for you bc some are heavily scented with this one being in that category (listed as fragrance, linalool, limonene). I personally prefer scented products & usually never react unless... +
If you’re not a fan of fragrance some Badescu products may not be for you bc some are heavily scented with this one being in that category (listed as fragrance, linalool, limonene). I personally prefer scented products & usually never react unless it’s a high concentration of lavender. One major thing about this cleanser that I love is a few of the ingredients. Mainly the AHA’s for the gentle exfoliation provided. I do not rely on this to remove a thick SPF just bc it is too gentle of a cleanser (have no idea how it performs with makeup bc I no longer wear any). I mainly use this in the evenings as a quick cleanse when I’m tired bc there is no foaming or lather involved. Format itself has quite an oily texture to it the first couple seconds on cleansing, that oily texture slowly starts dissipating once I really start massaging the cleanser in. The gel is at a nice ratio as far as the viscosity goes…it isn’t a thick consistency that pulls. I store this w/other…what I like to call, “vampire” products bc of the ingredients in the formula (the fruit extracts mainly) to help with stabilization/shelf life.The price point is affordable with the 8oz running around $14 or the 16oz for $24. Amazon currently has these on sale as of posting this (12/22/21) the 16oz for $18. I usually wait until Ulta has a sale on Badescu (which is quite often) to replenish products I’m almost out of…sometimes you get a free Badescu gift (like a 4 piece sample bag with a minimum purchase that will include a 1oz of the enzyme gel to try) or I purchase from the official site (you can receive 25% off $35+ on your first order). -
La Mer seems to be one of the most controversial brands out there when it comes to those who love La Mer & who despises La Mer. It also comes down to how much someone is willing to pay for something that they personally enjoy. I don’t use the term... +
La Mer seems to be one of the most controversial brands out there when it comes to those who love La Mer & who despises La Mer. It also comes down to how much someone is willing to pay for something that they personally enjoy. I don’t use the term “Holy Grail” for any skincare products bc I just have not found one product that I have loved so much and used consistently every single day at the same time while not knowing what I would do if I didn’t have it (excluding SPF, but, I personally categorize SPF as more medicinal instead of just the regular OTC skincare products like Serums or Concentrates). I wouldn’t go so far as to call this my holy grail, however, it is one product that I have repurchased solely bc it works…for me & I enjoy it. I see this being a “powerhouse” when it comes to its category mainly in part due to the “miracle broth” found in every product. I like the process of the Kelp producing Lactic Acid within their formulas. Reformulated to provide new anti-oxidant benefits has made this even better in my opinion. This leaves a velvety after-feel that creates a barrier without making that barrier noticeable or bothersome much like those using heavy silicones. After I have dermaplaned or used the dermabrasion machine & waited a few days this is what I reach for to help with the recovery process. Any irritation I may be experiencing is soothed almost instantly. I could skip moisturizing for quite a while using this if I really wanted to. The negative aspect associated with this Concentrate though is, of course, that price tag. It is a costly item that runs about $200 for .5oz, $400 for 1oz, $550 for 1.7oz & all the way up to nine hundred dollars for 3.4oz….for a facial product. There is no justifying the price tag because it is honestly ridiculous and I would be lying if I said I thought it was sincerely worth that kind of mark up. I personally ONLY purchase this because of how long I can stretch it out by using sparingly. If you like the product and you have the money to treat yourself you absolutely should. Is it worth every single penny though? That will be depend on results & how The Concentrate itself performs on your skin. -
These sheets are so near & dear to my heart that I stock up on them…..things are crazy here with the weather & the country in general so even if Armageddon occurs, at least I will have my hoard of cotton sheets. Anytime I purchase something from... +
These sheets are so near & dear to my heart that I stock up on them…..things are crazy here with the weather & the country in general so even if Armageddon occurs, at least I will have my hoard of cotton sheets. Anytime I purchase something from Sephora or the official Shiseido website I always throw a bag (sometimes 2) in the cart to store away bc I love them that much & I go through them so quickly. Plus, my little guy is on the spectrum and he loves rubbing these on his face bc they are soft…they are also great for wiping syrup off his face since he likes the feeling of the sheets. I also don’t have to worry about them causing any irritation for him since they are safe to use on sensitive skin. These squares feel like a pillow bc they are that cushiony & plump. There is no fraying, fuzzies, uneven or textured areas at all that you sometimes get with drugstore cotton rounds/squares. Absorption of products is balanced to the point of still being able to apply a generous amount of product onto the face. I use these for many different things that is not just solely for the face bc they are so versatile. A quick “flash cleanse” at home with micellar water, lotion, etc…applying toners, essences, creating treatment packs/masks, pre-soaked with cleansing water to take on the go for a quick wipe off after exercising, applying cuticle cream, removing nail polish (sometimes soak squares then wrap around nails to let sit for a bit if polish is being stubborn), spraying w/perfume to store in dresser etc. During the Summer I soak a few pads in Aloe Vera to apply to the back of my guy’s neck after he has finished mowing or working in the field if he has gotten a bit of a sunburn. Do not have to worry about the sheet ripping or disintegrating even when introduced to warm water. The delicateness is safe for use around the eyes while not having to worry about any irritation (I always have a pack in w/my “eye make up” remover products, I don’t wear makeup but I l still like using certain removers marketed for “the eyes”). For me…I reach for these more than any other luxe brand that also has cotton pads/squares. Chanel & Clé de peau are often mentioned as being much like Shiseido only better…I have all three brands and if I was told I could only choose one to use, it would be Shiseido without even needing to give it a second thought. If you’re someone who enjoys higher end products or your skin is reactive when it comes to using the average cotton pad, the $12 for 165 sheets would probably be worth it to you, but, if your skin is ok using the average cotton sheet/round/square etc you may see these as a waste of money. There is a 40 count available though for around $5 that you could purchase just to try if you don’t mind paying a bit extra for cotton sheets. -
I’m obsessed with dry cleansing. Doesn’t matter if it’s an oil format, powder, milk, lotion etc it’s always been my favorite step…especially for the sensorial experience itself. I wouldn’t necessarily call this a favorite bc I don’t... +
I’m obsessed with dry cleansing. Doesn’t matter if it’s an oil format, powder, milk, lotion etc it’s always been my favorite step…especially for the sensorial experience itself. I wouldn’t necessarily call this a favorite bc I don’t just solely stick to this balm, but, it’s definitely one that I find myself using more frequently than some others. I like the packaging itself with the jar & the included scoop. Seems as though people are initially thinking this is just a smoothed out oil balm & go in massaging then get irritation from the grainy texture. This balm does have grittiness to it that offers a light exfoliation from the sucrose/sugar in the formula, the grit is the sugar granules….I personally don’t mind a sucrose based product as long as the granules dissolve nicely without causing any irritation. The formula of this is the main aspect that I like overall & is really the only thing that justifies spending the higher price point, however, I have never paid the full retail price of basically $50 for 3.4oz/100g & I never will…I am definitely not trying to make 4 interest free payments of $12 a month so I only purchase when it is on sale or I have a deep discount of some kind…especially with it being a cleanser that is being washed off. For the balm itself, love the nourishment provided by the different oils loaded in the formula. I love blue tansy for the calming capabilities & really helps when my cheeks are dry. The emulsification of this balm to a milk is such a smooth transition that it doesn’t require a lot of effort. I love the emulsification process & this definitely provides that milky, smooth texture. The cocoa butter didn’t cause any issues nor did the essential oils as far as irritation goes from the scent. SPF was easily removed, can’t speak on makeup removal bc it’s been a looong time since I have applied any. A nice treat is applying while in the shower as a mask. The hydration & moisture from that treatment is amazing. -