The metallic packaging matches the colour inside, which is nice for easy identifying - but awful for displaying fingerprints and always looking dirty. The lid doesn't snap on, but rather twists on similar to a bottle cap. At first this feature really bothered me, but over time I've come to enjoy it since I know the lid won't come loose in my purse.
These tinted lip balms are VERY tinted, like a sheer lipstick - to the point where I don't feel comfortable applying them without a mirror for fear of making a mess. The high shine formula means they tend to slip outside of my lipline, but that is more noticeable with the darker shades compared to the lighter. The colour will also accentuate dry patches.
They are very moisturizing, but only on a surface level. I don't feel any moisture leftover after the product wears away. The scent is very reminiscent of a watermelon jolly rancher and tends to linger for a long time, there is also a subtle sweet flavor if you accidentally get some in your mouth.
On my lips the Blackberry colour translates to a medium cool toned berry and the Macaron is a muted lilac purple. Both shades are incredibly glossy upon first application but with minor wear calm down to a satin fish. They will transfer easily and wear off in about 60 minutes or so.
Overall I'd say if you're looking for a moisturizing lip balm, this is not the product for you. But if you're looking for a shiny lip colour and can find one in the range of colours, it might be worth a shot.
I've always had issues with my armpits. I sweat heavily and tend to smell quite strongly from them. I've been wearing deodorant/antiperspirant since I was 11 years old. While some work better than others, I've never found one that solved all my issues.
I'd seen a bunch of commercials for this new concept of aerosol deodorants and I was pretty intrigued, but the high price tag (avg $8 or so) kept me from trying them. I've also been made aware of how bad aerosol products are for the environment, but I was desperate so I finally decided to bite the bullet during a "Spend your points" event at Shoppers Drug Mart. I "paid" $7.99 for this product.
The first three days it worked fantastic. My armpits were dry all day, I would occasionally smell the cool waterlily scent when I moved my arms, I had no bad odor from my armpits at all! I was thrilled and ready to rave about my new discovery, finally an answer to all my armpit problems.
Until day four came and I sprayed on the deodorant as usual... Or so I thought. I went about my day and started noticing my armpits were damp. I sprayed some deodorant into my hand and realized the bottle was just dispersing air instead of product. I shook the bottle, I cleaned the nozzle, I tried everything I possibly could to make it work and no luck. I can feel the bottle is still half full, but the sprayer is no longer dispensing product. Thinking this was just a fluke I purchased another bottle... Within a week I was suffering the same issue.
Despite this product being everything I've ever wanted in a deodorant, it appears to be full of issues which make it a total waste of money.
The first issue is the product is "invisible", meaning you cannot easily tell if it has been dispensed or not. The second issue is clearly the nozzle system, since both bottles have had the same issue within days of purchase. There is no way to open the container so you cannot check if the dispenser is blocked. The third issue is how quickly the product is used up! Less than a week of use shouldn't use up half a container, especially since it costs more than regular stick deodorant. Then finally, the container is under pressure (since it is an aerosol can) and cannot be recycled or reused - it is just landfill.
I'm really disappointed in this product. I wouldn't recommend it to anybody.
*I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review through Influenster. I have not let this affect my opinion or result in a bias.*
Influenster ft Dermalogica information card
The packaging of this product is confusing, at best. The lid screws on and off, under the cap is a small nozzle. To dispense the product you tip the bottle and then apply pressure onto the bottom, which causes it to leak out. It's near impossible to control the amount that dispenses, so it can quickly get out of hand if you're not careful. I'd prefer a different type of packaging, as this was just needlessly frustrating.
Front of the packaging
The scent is very strong, like a combination of sterile alcohol and menthol. It does stick around on the skin, which might bother people who are sensitive to fragrance, but I was able to mostly ignore it after a few minutes.
Side of the packaging - simple instructions
I originally applied the product directly onto my skin, but it caused major stinging where I had any breakouts occurring so I tried mixing it into my facial moisturizer and this seemed to help reduce the pain. It feels like a very intensive astringent, which may not appeal to everyone.
Back of the packaging - Product Information
I felt a breakout coming and tried to prevent it by using this product as a spot treatment, but I didn't find it worked. I still got a really bad case of acne and I also I didn't find this to help reduce the severity of the pimples. However it did help reduce the duration of my acne spots by a day or two.
*I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review through Influenster. I have not let this affect my opinion or result in a bias.*
Dermalogica has gone above and beyond with this formula, it is claimed to be vegan, gluten-free, cruelty-free, paraben-free and include no artificial fragrance or colours. I think that covers just about every trait people would be concerned about!
The Dermalogica VoxBox from Influenster
The packaging is simplistic but not boring - the bright colours are quite eye-catching. The text is simple and the instructions are straightforward - Apply, Fizz, Remove. The pump took a long time to disperse product, at one point I even assumed it was broken until eventually I sprayed product all over my counter. This is important to note if you purchase this product, make sure you're patient if it doesn't come out immediately.
The product description says it targets blackheads before they turn into breakouts, and it is supposed to clean out your pores. I didn't find it to be very cleaning, and would definitely prefer to use a deep cleansing face wash before applying this mask.
The front of the product in full packaging
The mask comes out of the pump an odd yellow-brown colour, which was a little unpleasant but it didn't smell bad (which was a relief because sulfur is an ingredient within). The scent was a very faint freshness, but it didn't last on the skin after rinsing. However the washcloth I used to remove the mask did have a sulfur smell afterwards.
The consistency is very similar to other liquid facial washes, but once you rub it in the product transforms into something entirely different. It foams up like a shaving mousse, but infused with co2 bubbles. The feeling is very unique and might be unpleasant for some - it feels like tiny bubbles popping all over your face all in random succession. I didn't mind it, but it did take a little while to get used to.
The side of the packaging - simple instructions
The first time I tried it I might've applied too much because my face quickly turned into a cloud. So it might take some finessing to figure out the proper amount of product to apply.
After a couple minutes the mask fizzes out, leaving some minor white residue. I feel like it would be easy to forget you even had the mask on if you were multitasking. Once I rinsed it off my skin didn't feel tight or dry, but it also didn't feel like it had any moisture. My pores didn't immediately look any cleaner, but I cannot say if it will have any long-term effects with further usage.
The back of the package - detailed information
As with any other skin care item, it will take several weeks of frequent testing in order to tell if it had any positive or negative results.
Update: After using this product three times a week for 2 weeks I can see a slight improvement in the frequency of my breakouts. The duration of my acne is about the same, but I am getting less acne overall.
The bright purple bottle with pastel pink and white text is cheery and easy to read. This one smells like grapefruit, which you can smell the entire time the mask is on but it didn't irritate my eyes, the scent goes away immediately once the mask is removed. . The warning on this bottle states: "a mild tingling sensation is normal". Upon first application there was definitely an immediate tingle, along with a minor burning sensation. It wasn't too bad and it went away within a few minutes so no cause for concern.
The mask takes a while to dry, but it doesn't get tight or uncomfortable. It peels off in small chunks, which is annoying but manageable. I appreciate the fact that it doesn't pull out all the tiny hairs on my face. My skin was left feeling soft and moisturized. My biggest issue was it getting gobbed up in the brows, so be sure to avoid those as much as possible.
Overall it was a nice mask, I'll definitely continue to use it.
Recently I became aware to the amount of waste the beauty industry creates and how much waste my own beauty routine was creating, specifically with single-use makeup removal wipes. Previously I was using makeup wipes for multiple things, including removing swatches on my hands/arms, complete or partial makeup applications and even for makeup touch ups throughout the day. Then I reduced my usage to only using a makeup wipe if I had a full face of makeup, opting for liquid makeup remover for targeted makeup removal.
I had researched several options to replace my makeup removing wipes and I feel like I have finally come to a solution that is not only more eco-friendly but also efficient. A simple microfiber cloth I bought from my local dollar store.
I am now using a liquid makeup remover on a microfiber (polyester) cloth, or breaking down the makeup with a makeup removing lotion then wiping it off with the cloth which I can use multiple times and toss in the laundry when it's dirty.
This method requires more rubbing than a typical makeup removing wipe, but the cloth is soft so it doesn't hurt as long as you're gentle. I have yet to find a product that this method will not remove, aside from mascara (which I almost never wear anyways). The only downside is that it strips a lot of oil and moisture out of the top layer of skin, so a moisturizer after is beneficial.
Hopefully in the future we are able to come up with a biodegradable makeup removing cloth that isn't drenched in chemicals and doesn't harm the environment - but is still efficient. Even those "flushable wipes" don't entirely biodegrade and are causing major problems in sewers across North America.
I've been very proud of the reduction in waste this simple change produced and am looking for ways to further reduce the environmental impact my beauty habits have.
This lotion is very light and gentle without being oily, it absorbs into the skin in less than a minute and leaves no residue on the surface. It spreads across the skin quickly and easily, making it perfect for giving a quick boost to the skin. It is not an intensive moisturizer, so it won't help dry skin but is great for average every day skin. My skin feels soft, without being too overloaded with product. The scent is very natural, but the fragrance is strong and tends to interfere with any additional scented products. Due to this, I choose to use this lotion right before I go to bed to help maintain moisture in my skin. The container size of 600ml lasts a long time, even with frequent use. Plus it's affordable and easily accessible!
--Something a little different from my usual, I've decided to attempt making video gaming videos, here's the script for people who prefer to read instead of listen or watch. --
Today I wanted to give you my top (5) tips on how to beat the Island Hopping scenario
in the game Cities: Skylines. Scenarios were released within the Natural Disasters expansion pack.
When you enter the scenario you are given an empty map with one highway connection, this is
the first square you start with, but you can purchase up to 8 more later on. You'll notice most
of the map is water, with small islands here and there.
The first tip is to start off as cheap as possible, here I'm only building the cheapest roads
and trying to maximize the space as best as I can. Zone as much residential as possible in the beginning,
since you can change the zoning later and our only concern right now is building our bank account.
Tip Two: This is going to sound a little bit crazy but tip number two is to ignore all
services. The first two natural disasters hit early on in the game, and if you have any
service buildings they will collapse and need to be replaced entirely. It's much cheaper
to ignore all services until later on in the scenario.
You WILL encounter issues with buildings becoming abandoned due to high crime rates and fires,
but it is cheaper in the long run to demolish those buildings as they become abandoned than
it is to replace the service buildings. As you can see, they tend to regenerate pretty quickly
anyways.
Tip Three: Raise the taxes. Citizens won't complain about taxes until they reach over 12%.
This allows you to raise funds quickly and efficiently without doing too much work or spending
what little money you currently have. You could also lower the budget for electricity and water
but since the building area is so spread out it's best to raise taxes instead.
The first natural disaster to hit is an earthquake, it will completely level any buildings
nearby and will ruin your roads. To avoid additional expenses, I don't suggest building anything
on this island here until this earthquake passes. As you can see it splits the island right
down the middle, so it's best to wait for it to pass before building on it.
Tip Four: Tsunami's will not affect your roads, so if you are going to splurge on anything
it should be your roadways. Traffic control is very important in Cities Skylines in general
so build 4 or 6 lane roads along your main routes. I like to have one main road connecting
my islands, and have all my bridges be 6 lanes. Remember to go in and adjust the amount of
stop signs versus stoplights as well.
Tip Five: As soon as you can, start zoning high density residential. This will help bring up
your population and make up for the losses you will experience during the natural disasters.
Don't rezone any low density residential until you have the population to sustain losses though
as you will lose people when rezoning. Do NOT zone any high density commercial or office space yet since your population won't be educated enough to fill those positions and they will become
abandoned before earning any money.
The second natural disaster is a tsunami with the intensity of 5.0, it will begin in the north west
corner of the map, and sweep straight down the entire map. Any buildings that sustain extensive
flooding or are under water for awhile will be abandoned. Raise your speed to 3 until the tsunami
passes your first island space and then lower it back to 1.
Quickly begin to demolish all of the abandoned buildings on the first island. Some may
have survived and you can leave those alone, but the majority will become abandoned and
require demolition. Luckily the demand should be high and they will begin to generate
quite quickly.
Only begin working on a space once the tsunami has passed and all the flooding has dispersed.
Otherwise you will encounter buildings generating and almost immediately becoming abandoned again. This step is vital to balancing out the losses of both population and money. If you are too slow,
you may go bankrupt or lose your entire population. If you get overwhelmed, feel free to pause the game and complete the process one island at a time.
Follow this pattern until the entire map has been cleared of abandoned buildings.
Right off the bat I love the packaging of this product, it includes a lot of helpful information without being overwhelming or confusing. Some interesting facts mentioned are that this product is 99% derived from natural ingredients and it is 100% vegan! On the back it also says the bottle is made of 30% recycled plastic and can be recycled itself, as long as you remove the pump.
The mister is gentle and disperses the product evenly - no super-soaker action with this one. I like it so much I will actually refill the bottle and use this pump for other products with undesirable pumps (such as other facial mists or makeup setting sprays).
This mist feels nice on the skin, but can be slightly tacky for up to a minute before it dries on the skin. I have found this product is ideal for refreshing my makeup throughout the day and reducing the look of powders, however I didn't notice any additional skin benefits. It does provide immediate moisture, but it doesn't last very long. I believe it is supposed to be rose scented, but it comes off more like the smell of damp laundry. Slightly unpleasant while spraying, but it doesn't linger around so it's not a huge issue.
While I did find a good use for this product, I don't think I would repurchase it, especially not for the retail price of $15.99. There are other facial mists that do the same thing for less money.
I received this product as a GWP (gift with purchase) from CountOnUsStore.Ca. I have not let this bias my review. Any opinions stated below are mine alone.
The packaging makes for easy and precise dispersal of product, but the 90ml feels more like a travel size than a full product. Especially at the price of $22.99CDN. After some research I learned the regular product comes in a larger size, the limited "pink edition" is only available in 90ml.
The text on the front is simple and easy to read but uses a lot of words that became off as confusing for someone like myself who isn't very educated on skin care. Luckily the back has the information I was looking for laid out in simpler terms.
The texture feels like shaving gel. It comes out like a cream but thickens into a rich
mousse. It is easy to spread across the skin evenly, and can be built upon itself if desired. It doesn't dry down or get tight on the face. The mask isn't really pink, despite that being a big claim on the tube, rather it's white with the faintest hint of a pastel pink.
The scent reminds me of the sweet grass braids we used to have at the cottage. Its a gentle but noticeable fragrance that invoked major nostalgia. The scent did linger on my skin for a little while but dissipated within a few minutes.
My skin was left feeling clean, but neither dry nor moisturized. I didn't notice any reduction in pore size or skin redness. I will have to keep using it to see longer term results, but overall I felt like this mask was a nice treat for myself but not one I was incredibly impressed by.
My order came with a business card, along with a coupon code on the back for my next purchase
As a Canadian, it can be hard to find companies that not only ship to Canada for a reasonable price, but also won't incur duties and additional fees upon delivery. By chance I stumbled across a Reddit thread about an online company called "CountOnUs", questioning if it was legitimate or not. A quick google search revealed nothing positive or negative... But their website states they are based in Canada. That coupled with a 40% off OFRA cosmetics sale won me over, and I placed an order.
My order arrived in a bubble mailer, filled with seemingly endless amounts of bubble wrap
My order totaled $81, so I got free shipping. I assumed this meant regular shipping (3 - 7 business days), as I had the option of upgrading to expedited shipping (1-3 business days) for an additional $3.99. I wasn't in a rush so I went with the free option, but my order took less than 2 days to get to me. I placed my order on a Monday night and had it in my mailbox by Wednesday afternoon.
My order, wrapped in layer upon layer of bubble wrap
Everything I ordered made it to me intact, but I felt like the amount of packaging was borderline excessive. My OFRA highlighters came with 5 layers of bubble wrap around them, which was almost an inch thick! Things that had a very low chance of breaking such as a facial cleanser also came wrapped in bubble wrap, although only 2 layers. While I appreciate how much effort went into ensuring my order reached me intact, I couldn't help but think about how bad this amount of bubble wrap was for the environment.
Free Sample of Elizabeth Arden Superstar Probiotic Cleanser
Free Gift With Purchase - OFRA Peptide Brightening Mask (In PINK limited edition)
I received a free sample of an Elizabeth Arden facial cleanser, along with a free gift with purchase. The free gift was a 3oz OFRA face mask, the full size is 6.8oz and has a retail value of $59USD according to the OFRA website.
My order consisted of 1 OFRA liquid lipstick in the shade Pasedena, 2 OFRA Highlighters, one in the shade Pillow Talk and one in Glazed Donut and 1 OFRA Vitamin C cleanser. As far as I can tell all the products are authentic.
OFRA Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in Pasedena
OFRA Highlighters in Pillow Talk and Glazed Donut
OFRA Vitamin C Cleanser
Overall I was very impressed with CountOnUs! The package label said they ship out of Mississauga, ON, which is important as a Canadian consumer. Their prices were reasonable (especially with the sales) and the free gift with purchase was a pleasant surprise. CountOnUs has a range of product lines that can be hard to find (if not impossible) for Canadians, such as OFRA and TheBalm among others. I'm very excited to have found another Canadian company I can purchase from and I highly recommend them!
If you'd like to place an order with CountOnUs, you can do so here: https://countonusstore.ca/
(Not an affiliate link)
Summary: When they say "Extra Gentle" body wash, they mean it.
The personalized card was a great touch!!
In the name of full disclosure, I received a sample of this product for free through Influenster.ca. However this will not affect my review, which is always 100% honest and unbiased. All opinions and language are my own and in no way do they reflect either company.
The only grievance I have to air is how misled I felt by Influenster. In all the promotional material it appeared I would be receiving a full sized product to try. However when my samples arrived it was just 2 small (10ml) foil packets of product along with a coupon for $2 off if I decided to purchase the product myself. Luckily the foil packet was enough for 3 showers (when used sparingly) so I was able to give a proper review.
The free samples I got were tiny foil packets, vaguely misleading since Influenster's photos were of the full-sized product.
The first thing I noticed was the packaging, it is incredibly plain and straightforward. I personally appreciate the simplicity, as it makes the brand feel more approachable and user-friendly as opposed to more chaotic in your face packaging. The price is also pretty average, running between four and six dollars for 400ml depending on local sales.
The next thing I noticed was the scent, while I do not get either a mandarin or lime scent from this product, I do get a very distinct nostalgic smell. I couldn't put my finger on what exactly that scent was until I went through the car wash... Yup, this product smells like the rainbow car wash soap. This scent could be unisex, as there was nothing overly feminine about it. The scent is very light and doesn't remain past rinsing in the shower which could be a pro or a con depending on your personal preference. Personally I wish it had longer lasting power - or that there was a body lotion in a matching fragrance.
When used with a shower pouf, the shower gel will lather up slightly. If you prefer a thicker lather, this isn't the product for you. It is a very subtle and gentle type of clean, which lends itself well to those with sensitive skin. I was able to use this product over a sunburn without any issues. I didn't find the product to be very moisturizing, but it also didn't strip my skin of moisture.
Overall, I appreciate the effort the company goes through to make sure they stay true to their small-town roots in France. Their selection of products feels well thought out and authentic. However, this specific product didn't quite meet my needs. I would recommend it for anyone who wants a no-fuss, no frills type of wash they can feel confident about their whole family using.
Side Note; Upon reviewing the ingredient list I am a little dismayed. The company portrays themselves as a "natural is best" eco-friendly company, yet they are using synthetic colours in their products.
Additional Info; The company website says they are cruelty free, but in Canada they are owned by conglomerate Johnson & Johnson, which does test on animals. The containers are recyclable, which helps reduce waste.
The company description of this product is as follows:
LE PETIT MARSEILLAIS® Mandarin & Lime Body Wash gently cleans your skin. Its light and easy to rinse foam releases a zesty and citrus fragrance. Skin is left feeling soft, moisturized and refreshed.
The extra gentle pH neutral formula makes this body wash suitable for everyday use.
The Ingredient List:
Water (Eau), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Fragrance (Parfum), Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Propylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Hydroxide, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Fruit Extract, Yellow 5, Blue 1
ChickAdvisor is a Canadian company based out of Toronto, ON. The focus of the website is user-generated product reviews. The website is free to join, although they do host paid-ticket events a few times a year. ChickAdvisor runs a product review club which is also free to join, however it is suggested you become an active member before applying to join the club.
ChickAdvisor has a rewards points system that gives you points for active participation, such as posting a review, adding a new product to the database, commenting on a forum post, etc. There are also badges you can earn for specific actions such as a certain amount of reviews within a product category (Cosmetics, Skincare, Food, etc.) or posting product images.
Posting product reviews is easy, just search the product you're looking to review, give it a star rating, write a quick (or detailed) review and post away!
The major issue I have with ChickAdvisor lies within their product database. The database is overloaded with multiple entries for the same products, products being named slightly different things while still being the same product (eg, Revlon Colourstay Foundation vs. Revlon Colourstay Face Makeup). There is no option to "Report" or "flag" a duplicate entry, so they tend to run rampant and it's hard to decide which entry to put your review under. I wish they would add this feature in the future to help declutter the database. Another issue is there is no quality standard for the reviews, so you occasionally will see spam-esque reviews.
As far as the Product Review club, I have received a few items such as a Vichy facial care duo, a 6-pack of Zevia soda and a SoftLips cube lip balm. ChickAdvisor sends out full-sized items, or coupon vouchers for the full sized item if it is too cost-prohibitive to ship. Their only expectation is that you post an honest and unbiased review of the product on their website.
I have been a member of ChickAdvisor since 2014 and it is my main source of product reviews, since I trust the users on that site to be unbiased more than any alternatives. It is a great resource for people interested in giving and getting product reviews, but it is not the best source for receiving products to review.
BzzAgent is a USA based influencing company, but they have branches in both Canada and the UK. When you register for an account, be prepared to fill out a bunch of surveys (there are A LOT, so be prepared to set aside a good chunk of time. Or you can do a few here and there over smaller periods of time). There are specific surveys that help them determine if you are suitable for a campaign, and those are specifically listed as "Campaign qualifiers". Also be prepared to connect your social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
Much like Influenster, BzzAgent will randomly select a group of people to try out a product, and if you are chosen you will get a survey invitation and an E-mail. The thing that I like is that once you accept the invitation and complete the survey you are automatically accepted into the campaign, unlike Influenster that says you are now eligible but might not be in.
A typical BzzCampaign box will have a full sized item (unless stated otherwise), 3-5 coupons for the item you received (either to use yourself or ideally give out to friends/family when you talk about the product!) and a card with the information about the product.
There are multiple ways you can participate in a BzzCampaign, such as posting photos to your Instagram/Facebook, tweeting about the product(s), writing product reviews on brand websites or your personal blog, chatting about the product(s) with your friends/family among other options. There are many options so you're likely to find something that works for you!
The BzzAgent policy is 100% honesty, so even if you end up not liking the product, they want you to share your experiences and be upfront with the people you share with, including your social media. No negative reviews will be held against you/your account standing.
The best way to qualify for campaigns is to frequently update your profile, stay up to date on surveys (you will get the same survey multiple times, it's just to make sure your situation hasn't changed!) and log in every so often to keep your account active. Inactive accounts will not qualify for campaigns and are subject to deletion after a set amount of time. BzzAgent will notify you by Email if your account is becoming inactive.
They recently set up a "Bite-sized Bzz" section which is just a social community of BzzAgent members. I think regular participation helps boost your "score" (liklihood of getting into a campaign) but I'm not sure.
I've been a member of BzzAgent since 2014, I have participated in a few BzzAgent Campaigns, including the Herbal Essences Naked Shampoo/Conditioner, Katy Kat Lipstick/Mascara, Vidal Sassoon Hair Dye, and a few others! I fully support this company and I reccommend them for anyone interested in becoming a product influencer. They are one of my favorite companies for product testing/reviews.
BeautyLish is a company based out of San Francisco, California, USA. They carry several high-end brands, as well as offer some brands that are harder to find - especially for those of us in Canada who don't have access to certain brands or products in brick and mortar stores.
The package came with a BeautyLish advertisement
The major concern I have when ordering internationally is duties/taxes upon arrival. For those that don't know, if I (a Canadian) order anything over $20CDN from another country, I am subjected to my provincial taxes (13%) as well as a flat $10 "shipping and handling fee" by Canada Post. No matter how much or how little I purchase. I was happy to see that BeautyLish charges the required taxes and covers any duties up front, so there is no surprise fees upon delivery. I also got free shipping.
A stamp on the box says who packed the order - a cute touch!
I'd been on the hunt for some The Ordinary (Deciem) products for a while, but the Deciem site was always sold out of the items I wanted to purchase. Luckily, Beautylish was fully stocked for their black Friday sale and I managed to scoop up some items I'd been wanting to try. I filled my cart with my top picks and completed my purchase with Paypal.
Upon opening the box I was greeted with a "Beautylish Ft The Ordinary" sticker, and wrapping paper
My package reached me in just under 2 weeks, with everything intact. The packaging was very sleek and featured multiple layers of protection. The top layer was lined wrapping paper with a BeautyLish ft. The Ordinary sticker, under which was tissue paper, and then brown paper wrapped in twine. The Ordinary products come in glass bottles so I was pleased to see nothing had broken or spilled during transit.
Brown paper wrapped with striped twine
Something unexpected that came with my package was a sticker sheet with numbers, AM/PM and reminders of how often to use the product (per day or per week). I found these to be incredibly useful and a really nice touch above and beyond my expectations.
The sticker sheet, along with some informational pamphlets
Along with the sticker sheet came some informational pamphlets for a couple of the products I had purchased (but not all of them), another really great touch that made me feel like I'd made the right decision to purchase through BeautyLish. The pamphlets are created by BeautyLish and only come with purchases made through them. They include information such as the product description, how and when to use the product and what other products would go well with it to create a skincare regimen for a specific skin concern. The harder to pronounce items also come with a pronunciation guide.
The informational pamphlet as well as the stickers
Overall I was very impressed with my experience with BeautyLish. Their website was incredibly easy to navigate, their stock was good and I didn't find myself struggling to meet the free shipping minimum. They also keep the in-site advertising to a minimum so I wasn't tempted by a series of impulse purchases during my transaction. They accept Paypal which is incredibly useful for those without credit cards.
My order from BeautyLish
I would recommend BeautyLish to any Canadian who feels uneasy about international purchases. They are very straightforward and easily addressed any concerns I had about additional fees, long shipping times, etc. The extra touches they put in my order was a step above anything I expected and made me feel like a valued customer. 5 Stars for BeautyLish!
Right off the bat I want to say I do NOT recommend this product, in fact I think it should be discontinued entirely. My reaction to it was so adverse I will be contacting the company because despite a patch test that didn’t show any adverse effects, the next 24 hours were awful.
Photo from Pharmaprix.ca
I’ve never used a sheet mask before so I had no idea what to expect, but since I got this one
for free on Christmas I decided I’d give it a shot. The first thing I noticed is the packaging was
absolutely awful. The “Tear to open” tab wouldn’t pull clean across, and tore just the plastic
layer while totally bypassing the foil packaging.
After finally getting the packet open, I was hit with the most potent rose scent. The
stereotypical artificial rose fragrance you often find in candles or perfume. I wasn’t sure if I
would be able to tolerate this scent right against my face for 15-20 minutes but after doing a
quick patch test on my wrist with no noticeable adverse effects I decided it would be fine.
The sheet mask was very large (I’ve attached a photo so you can see how much it hung over
my face and slumped down in awkward places). But I was able to maintain contact with the
majority of my face. The mask was also very saturated with product and it dripped onto my
clothes, my floor, basically everywhere.
This mask was SUPER large (Bonus kitty photobomb)
In an effort to not waste any of the product I proceeded to smooth the serum across my arms,
shoulders, chest, legs, etc. I would come to regret that decision. At first everything was fine,
when the 20 minutes was up I took the mask off and disposed of it in the trash. My face felt
and looked like an oil slick so I blotted with a paper towel to remove the excess (despite the
instructions telling me to gently massage in any excess).
I couldn’t smell anything other than rose for the next 24 hours, and I wish I was exaggerating.
My skin remained sticky, my pores became incredibly clogged and I developed a rash and
redness almost everywhere I put the serum (see attached photo below). The smell had
permeated the clothing I was wearing, the sheets on my bed, everything in my bedroom
smelled like I had rubbed rose petals onto them.
I developed an acne breakout, blocked pores, raised bumps and redness
Overall, this was a disaster of a product. I had to shower and scrub my face and body multiple
times to remove the rose scented residue, my skin is still in recovery after 48 hours since
application. I have put all the fabrics from my bedroom into the laundry and have done a
thorough deep cleaning of my floors to remove any trace of the rose scent.
Side note; if they could figure out how to make perfumes last as long as the scent from this
