spacey
Member Since: January 20, 2016Reviews
NIVEA Pure and Natural Soothing Day Care Cream
I have noticed Nivea changed packaging since the last time I used any of these creams. Face creams used to come in glass jars, while now the packaging is plastic. I liked the previous one better, but this one is lighter and more travel friendly... +
I have noticed Nivea changed packaging since the last time I used any of these creams. Face creams used to come in glass jars, while now the packaging is plastic. I liked the previous one better, but this one is lighter and more travel friendly. What I do like is that it still comes sealed. I just hate to get unsealed products, and I don’t think I need to go into details why.
The cream does come in a jar packaging, which I know some people don’t like, but I personally don’t have a problem with it.
Now, what really pops out is the ‘natural’ claim. Nivea claims that this cream is made with 95% naturally sourced ingredients, and enriched with Argan oil and Chamomile. It doesn’t contain parabens, silicones or mineral oils.
Although the ingredients’ names might look scary, I checked every single one on Paula’s choice, and most ingredients are good or very good. It’s hard to tell if they are all natural, since a lot of them can come either from natural or synthetic source, e.g. glycerin. I doubt they would make false claims, though.
The only ingredients I have a problem with are these:
Alcohol denat. = denatured alcohol – it is quite high in ingredients list, and can be drying for the skin. It makes no sense to have such an ingredient in a product tailored for dry and sensitive skin;
Methylisothiazolinon – this is a preservative known to make skin sensitive, and again makes no sense to have it in this product. Although the amount is low, it is known to cause sensitivities even in low concentrations;
Fragrance/Parfum – this is the last ingredient, meaning it has the lowest concentration in the cream, so I don’t consider it that bad, but I had to point out that it’s there.
Considering the ingredients list, I cannot recommend this product for sensitive skin. I don’t have skin sensitivities, so I can’t say would it cause any problems.
The cream has a perfect consistency for me, it’s not too thick to absorb too slowly, nor too light not to have effect on my skin. The fragrance I mentioned before is quite nice, reminiscent of other NIVEA products (not the classic blue line), but not too strong.
This cream has been a life savior for me. Combined with exfoliation, it kept my dry patches at bay for a while now. It moisturizes my skin just right. I have combination skin, and my T-zone is not getting oily from it, while it manages to keep my dry cheeks hydrated morning to evening. I have noticed a slight dryness when it’s time for my nightly routine, but way less than before I started using the cream.
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Tom Ford Cream and Powder Eye Color in Naked Bronze
The packaging is simple and sleek, with the cream shadow in the bottom glass part, and the powder in the top plastic white part. The top part holds a tiny mirror as well. The combo consist of a creamy metallic base shadow and a glittery powder. It... +
The packaging is simple and sleek, with the cream shadow in the bottom glass part, and the powder in the top plastic white part. The top part holds a tiny mirror as well. The combo consist of a creamy metallic base shadow and a glittery powder. It is designed to give a perfect, stunning summer eye look, but to be simple to use.
The cream part of the duo is extremely pigmented, and just a tiny little bit is enough to cover my whole eye, while the glittery top coat is quite sheer. For me, it’s easier to use my fingers to spread and blend the creamy part, and then press the glittery powder into it, again with my fingers. It was hard to pick up the product, especially the creamy one, with my brushes, and I believe the duo is designed to be applied with fingers.
I wore the shadows over a primer. The creamy one is easy to blend, and once it sets it doesn’t crease. The glittery shadow sticks to the creamy one really well, and I didn’t experience much fallout. However, although I loved the creamy one on it’s own, I didn’t like wearing the powder eyeshadow separately.
As much as I love the shadows together, that eye look is too much for me for day, so I tried the cream shadow on it’s own (photos below), and I love it! I think I will wear it a lot like this during summer!
Although I like the duo, I only love the cream shadow, so I would buy other cream colors separately.
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Rosebud Perfume Co. Smith's Rosebud Salve in a Tube
I really appreciate that the tube comes sealed, since it’s not in a box and it would be easy to open it. This way I know it’s safe. The applicator is simple, plastic, so there is no waste of product. I expected not to like how it applies, but it... +
I really appreciate that the tube comes sealed, since it’s not in a box and it would be easy to open it. This way I know it’s safe. The applicator is simple, plastic, so there is no waste of product. I expected not to like how it applies, but it is actually comfortable on my lips and glides easily. The product itself is rosy and has a thick balm consistency. The rose scent is quite strong, but it didn’t bother me, although I get migraines a lot.
Although it looks rosy, it goes on clear, and it makes my lips slightly shiny, but not too much.
I have to mention, this balm has a petroleum jelly base, so if you are looking for an all natural lip balm, this won’t be the one.
All this is nice, but the most important thing is that this balm helped my dry, chapped lips like no other balm did. They got really bad this winter, and Smith’s balm healed them completely! I even had to use it a bit less often than other balms. I will definitely repurchase it, and can’t recommend it enough. Mocha rose is the next one I am planning to try!
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Givenchy Rouge Interdit in Magenta
I tried a a deluxe sample of the Rouge Interdit in Magenta. I was at first afraid of the bright, pink color, until I swatched it. This lipstick is a bit sheer, and the color is easily buildable. I actually like that it’s a bit sheer, since it’s... +
I tried a a deluxe sample of the Rouge Interdit in Magenta.
I was at first afraid of the bright, pink color, until I swatched it. This lipstick is a bit sheer, and the color is easily buildable. I actually like that it’s a bit sheer, since it’s a bold color, and this way I may be able to make it work for me.
The lipstick is amazingly easy to apply. The formula is very hydrating, so it glides over lips almost like a lip balm. It also feels like a lip balm on the lips. I felt comfortable wearing it all day. I would say that it gives a medium coverage, but it can be sheer if you don’t layer it up like I did.
The lipstick is not long lasting, but still it’s longer lasting that I expected for such a hydrating formula. I got 3-5 hours of wear before having to reapply, depending on how much water I drank. I had to reapply after eating.
It leaves a nice, even stain, that makes my pale lips rosy looking.
I think the color is really fun!
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Givenchy Rouge Interdit in Marble Rouge Revelateur
The packaging of this lipstick is just stunning! The sleek, shiny cap is rectangular, so it doesn’t roll over, and it features the black ribbon design outlined with silver, and silver brand name. The etched ribbon nicely continues with a real... +
The packaging of this lipstick is just stunning! The sleek, shiny cap is rectangular, so it doesn’t roll over, and it features the black ribbon design outlined with silver, and silver brand name. The etched ribbon nicely continues with a real ribbon that is used to pull the lipstick out. A click mechanism makes sure the lipstick won’t fall out of the cap on it’s own. It’s just so fancy and beautiful! The marbling, which is not as intense as in Givenchy Beauty promotional photos, but it’s still quite noticeable.
This lipstick is a 50/50 combination of the Rouge Interdit Noir Revelateur and No.13 shades.
The lipstick itself is amazingly easy to apply. The formula is very hydrating, so it glides over lips almost like a lip balm. It also feels like a lip balm on the lips. I felt comfortable wearing it all day.
The color is brighter than I expected, and the Noir Revelateur part of it gives it a cool undertone, which makes this lipstick much more wearable for me. I would say that it gives a medium coverage, but it can be sheer if you don’t layer it up like I did.
The lipstick is not long lasting, but still it’s longer lasting that I expected for such a hydrating formula. I got 3-5 hours of wear before having to reapply, depending on how much water I drank. I had to reapply after eating.
It leaves a nice, even stain, that makes my pale lips rosy looking.
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BOOST Just Protein
BOOST® Just Protein™ is the most versatile protein I've even used! I got this product for free from Chickadvisor. It comes sealed, which is always a plus, and the powder inside is light and loose. The powder itself is 99% whey protein and 1% soy... +
BOOST® Just Protein™ is the most versatile protein I've even used!
I got this product for free from Chickadvisor. It comes sealed, which is always a plus, and the powder inside is light and loose. The powder itself is 99% whey protein and 1% soy lecithin. Thesre is no sugar and flavouring added! This makes the product so versatile that it can be used in sweet or savory meals.
As you can see from the photos, I tried the powder in healthy cookies, high protein/low carb bread and in smoothies. We liked the taste. It has the usual protein powder aftertaste, so you will have to gauge how much to use. Since there is no sugar or flavour, I could decide on my own how much sugar or which flavour to use in my recipes, which I loved, and other protein powders I tried before don't give me those options.
All in all, this will definitely become my go-to protein powder from now on!
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Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eye Shadow Palette
My first surprise came upon opening the dusty rose box. I have to say I am not a big fan of pink color in anything, but this color really gives it a romantic feel. What I didn’t expect is the velvet packaging of the palette. It is stunning! The... +
My first surprise came upon opening the dusty rose box. I have to say I am not a big fan of pink color in anything, but this color really gives it a romantic feel. What I didn’t expect is the velvet packaging of the palette. It is stunning!
The palette contains 14 eye shadows. They are mostly matte, with a few fine shimmers/metallics. Colors range from neutrals to pinks/berry and earth/orange tones. A double-ended shadow brush is included. It’s soft, and I love the small side of it, while the bigger side is a bit too puffy for me.
I finger swatched the shadows - they are very pigmented, so much that I had to rub hard with a face wipe to get swatches off my arms.
All types of shadows are included: transition, highlight, liner, crease. This makes this palette perfect to travel with. You can get an array of looks, from natural to smoky, from day to evening wear.
Since the palette contains mostly matte shadows, I have to focus on them. They are unlike any other mattes I have ever tried. They apply very smoothly, not patchy when applied, even over a primer, and they blend really well.
A tip I got from a girl at Sephora: Vermeer and Primavera can be used as nice face highlighters. I didn’t try this, but swatches show that they would work for my skin tone and that would make this palette even more travel-friendly.
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LUSH Twilight Shower Gel
Twilight shower gel has a beautiful purple color. It is quite runny, more than your usual drugstore shower gel. Although lavender should be the main scent here, to me it smells extremely sweet, like burnt sugar, with a bit of lavender. Scent... +
Twilight shower gel has a beautiful purple color. It is quite runny, more than your usual drugstore shower gel. Although lavender should be the main scent here, to me it smells extremely sweet, like burnt sugar, with a bit of lavender. Scent actually lingers a bit after shower, and I can’t see myself using it during my migraine days. For any other day, I am enjoying it very much.
Twilight shower gels is only sold in sets, and comes in mini 60 ml and small 100 ml bottles. However, it is not sold at Christmas time only. If you want this shower gel, you can still buy it in Relax gift set, online and in LUSH stores.
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Lush Sleepy Hand and Body Lotion
Sleepy hand and body lotion is a light purple cream. Although lavender should be the main scent here, to me it smells extremely sweet, like burnt sugar, with a bit of lavender. It is very thick, so I wouldn’t call it a lotion. Like all the other... +
Sleepy hand and body lotion is a light purple cream. Although lavender should be the main scent here, to me it smells extremely sweet, like burnt sugar, with a bit of lavender.
It is very thick, so I wouldn’t call it a lotion. Like all the other LUSH lotions, it sits on my skin for a while until it gets fully absorbed, so don’t expect to slather this on and get dressed immediately. However, if you use it right before bed time, your PJ’s, and probably sheets, too, will smell like sweet, sugary lavender.
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Wedderspoon 100% Raw KFactor16 Manuka Honey
Benefits of honey are well known, and raw honey has a high pollen count, so this enhances its benefits. I don’t need much persuading to eat more honey, but I do recommend you read more about properties of honey, especially raw one. Wedderspoon... +
Benefits of honey are well known, and raw honey has a high pollen count, so this enhances its benefits. I don’t need much persuading to eat more honey, but I do recommend you read more about properties of honey, especially raw one.
Wedderspoon gets this honey directly from New Zealand, where it is gathered by bees from manuka flowers. Project is non-GMO, verified in USA. They guarantee 75% or higher Manuka pollen count in every jar.
The taste is a bit stronger than regular honey (stronger than meadow honey, less strong than forest/pine honey). It has a rich taste, but I don’t feel any special undertaste. It is sweet and creamy, tasty on its own, and perfect on my morning cereal! I tried it also my favorite way, bread with butter and honey, and it was perfect, too. The third pouch I used as a face mask – there is a great recipe on Wedderspoon’s website.
Wedderspoon recommends this honey as a pre or post workout boost, with cheese, yogurt or fruit. They also have a few nice recipes on their website, out of which I really like these Blueberry Cream French Toast Roll-ups .
Actual product comes in a jar, but they sell these little pouches, too, and they are great to carry in your purse, if your sugar drops during the day (it happens to me sometimes).
All in all, great honey! Now I need to try other varieties they sell, too…
(I got 3 pouches of this honey to try for free from another site)
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