Product Review: Clean & Clear Lemon Gel Cleanser

The Front of the Lemon Gel Cleanser

First and foremost, the packaging of this product is so cute! I love the bright yellow container with the very simple black doodle of a lemon. I appreciate how simple and straightforward the text on the front is, it makes it really approachable and easy to understand for those of us who aren't skincare experts. 

The texture of this gel cleanser is slightly thicker than I was expecting, and it's yellow! I was concerned the scent would be harsh, like lemon house cleaner but was pleasantly surprised to find it was more like a limoncello fragrance. The fragrance doesn't veer into the baked goods realm, but it is a very strong fragrance - if you are not into heavy fragrance in your skin care this would be a huge pass.

The gel doesn't really foam up very much, but it does spread across the face easily - a pea sized amount was sufficient but I did feel like I needed to use more product in hopes of getting the foaming cleansing action I am accustomed to.

The cleanser washed off really easily, I didn't have to scrub and it left no residue on my skin. Something that was more unique to this cleanser compared to my regular one is that it left my skin feeling very neutral - I didn't get that dreaded tight dryness feeling, but it also didn't feel moisturized.

After using the gel cleanser for three weeks I have noticed I am breaking out more frequently than usual. The product itself isn't causing my skin to breakout, but it isn't helping prevent or reduce the amount of acne I get. This leads me to believe it is not ideal for my skin, so while I will use this cleanser until it is completed I will not be repurchasing it.

Additional information; The package is recyclable, which is great - but the pump isn't. Also, while Clean and Clear claims to not test on animals, they do include the universal claim "except where required by law", which means ultimately they are NOT cruelty free.

The Back of the Lemon Gel Cleanser

*I received these products for free through Influenster, but I have not let this sway my opinion or lend any bias to my review. #MyZestSkin 

Product Review: Joe Fresh Tinted Lip Balm

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.

These tinted lip balms are Made in Canada. 

Product Review: Secret Invisible Spray 48HR Antiperspirant/Deodorant

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.

Dermalogica Clear Start Breakout Clearing Booster

*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.

Product Review: Dermalogica Clear Start Blackhead Clearing Fizz Mask

*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. 

Formula 10.0.6 Be Berry Smooth Product Review

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.

Eliminating Single-Use Makeup Wipes

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.