Product Testing

Worth it? Freeman Avocado and Oatmeal Clay Mask

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I’ve used Queen Helene Mint Julep mask on-and-off for over ten years – every time I would change, I’d find myself going back to it. It was reliable, refreshing, and whipped my skin into shape. Aztec Healing Clay is no doubt effective (and I still have a ton!), but it is a labor to remove, and it isn’t convenient to mix or apply – but it’s also pretty intense. It doesn’t really irritate my skin, but it isn’t something I’d do right before going out.

Freeman Avocado and Oatmeal Clay Mask
Freeman Avocado and Oatmeal Clay Mask

I’ve been wanting a gentler approach. I still want clay masks, but I’m longing for the long-discontinued one (got2b Pure Intent kaolin clay mask). I found this Freeman Avocado and Oatmeal Clay Mask at Ulta and gave it a shot. You might have noticed that it wound up in my October 2015 Favorites post last week.

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Worth it? Josie Maran Argan Milk

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Josie Maran Argan Milk

Having enjoyed Josie Maran’s 100% Pure Argan Oil, when Sephora started offering a wee bottle ($20, 0.33oz) I decided to pick it up to try.

This is not the original formulation of the product. Evidently what I purchased is (at minimum) a second generation of the Josie Maran Argan Milk. I set forth to use it in the same manner as I have been using the original Argan Oil – at night, after removing makeup and cleansing my skin, apply a thin layer to my face (a tiiiny bit more around my eye area), and massage in for 30-60 seconds.

With the, “pure,” oil, it usually sinks in and feels absorbed, which is within 5-10 minutes. I can go to bed (I take evening showers) without getting my pillowcases oily.

With the Josie Maran Argan Milk, however… we’re looking, optimistically, at thirty minutes. I find that this tends to sit on top of my skin doesn’t have the decency to bother fully absorbing.

After two weeks of religious, nightly use, I noticed no difference in my skin’s overall condition or level of moisture. Without any other changes in my skincare routine, I also noticed a few minor blemishes near my jawline; they did not become large or inflamed, nor did they come to a head; several days after discontinuing use, they seemed to disappear.

The Bottom Line

Looks like the once-loved-by-many Josie Maran Argan Milk is not what it once was claimed (by fans) to be. I’ve since read recent reviews from other disappointed customers who echo my sentiments of it sitting atop the skin rather than sinking in, and having little real efficacy beyond the superficial. Alas, it isn’t worth it – unfortunately, I can’t speak to the original formula, but now? Don’t waste your money.

As for me? I’m someone who rarely returns products, but this is going back.

Trying Something New: Kirkland Daily Facial Towelettes

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Recently, my husband and I got a Costco membership. Generally speaking, toiletries don’t tend to be the best values there (but I’m fine with buying things there for the convenience). It’s also fairly common knowledge that the in-house Kirkland Signature brand is pretty good quality, and items under that brand are often manufactured by major labels. Although I’m satisfied with the makeup removing wipes I’ve been using, I decided to try Costco’s Kirkland Daily Facial Towelettes. So I decided to drop $11.99 for a box of 150.

Kirkland Daily Facial Towelettes
Kirkland Daily Facial Towelettes, $11.99, Costco

The 150 are broken down into six smaller packages as follows:

  • Four 30-count plastic pouches with flip-top lids
  • Two 15-count plastic pouches with resealable sticker lids

When you consider that I’ve been playing roughly $5 (though I do usually have a coupon) for 25 of the Simple branded wipes, and $4-5 for thirty of the Ponds ones, 2-3x as much for 5-6x the product is a great value; a no brainer if they work and don’t break me out.

The caveat, of course, of bulk buying is that it’s a pretty big commitment. I tend to use one wipe per day I wear makeup (which is not every day); if I wear it 5 out of 7 days in a week, it will take me upwards thirty weeks to get through these. Even if I don’t love them, as long as they don’t break me out I will use them up so I’m not wasting product.

I haven’t broken into them yet, but plan to this week. After I’ve had some time to assess their quality and performance, I’ll report back with a review.

Do you have any experience with Kirkland Daily Facial Towelettes or other Kirkland Signature beauty products?

Sephora Cream Blush in Golden Spice

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Since I discovered that cream blush is actually pretty neat, I’ve been looking for inexpensive ones to try. In Sephora recently, they had a few shades marked down so I was able to pick up Sephora Cream Blush in Golden Spice for $8.

In the pan, before swatching, Golden Spice looked like a golden rosy blush – I thought it might be nice for fall since my other blushes are lighter or brighter.

Getting it home, I had a hell of a time opening it, thinking that it would open at the seam in the front like, oh, every other single compact that looks like this.
 Sephora Cream Blush in Golden Spice - Hinges

Nope. There are indents for your fingers on the sides! It isn’t meant to be pried from there, though; you gently squeeze on the indents and the lid springs open effortlessly.

Because I’m an impatient oaf sometimes, I failed to get a photo of this before meddling with the contents. The rosy Sephora Cream Blush in Golden Spice is SO LOVELY and the first swatch was fantastic. I was excited to add it into my rotation.My first use though, happened on a workday with no time to remove or redo. The below photo shows just a hint of the sparkle. I’m basically channeling Ke$ha, here.

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Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs

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First things first – I received Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs lotion for free, courtesy of Influenster, for testing purposes; product was provided, but I am not paid or sponsored. More info in this post.

I’ve made no secrets that despite my love of makeup, I just can’t be bothered every day. Sure, I might slap on mascara on a daily basis, but I’m not sure I could bring myself to do a full face on a daily basis. Likewise, applying leg makeup is not exactly on the top of my list of beauty things to do on the regular (or…well, ever).

airbrushlegs

The Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs line isn’t new; I definitely recall seeing it on shelves at least ten years ago. Never giving enough bothers to want to fuss with body makeup, I had never tried it. Realistically, I never would have sought this out in the store. This is the product you buy when you either have varicose veins/are bruise prone OR go, “OH SHIT, I have a thing this evening and my legs are the color #ffffff!” and frankly, my veins haven’t yet become bothersome enough for me to care. Influenster (a social marketing platform similar to BzzAgent) sent me a kit with the product to try, so what the hell – I’ll try it for science.

Rather than the aerosol variety that I was familiar with, Influenster sent me a small tube of the Medium to Dark lotion. Although I knew what to expect from the spray, I wasn’t sure how the lotion would go.

Application

Just like tanning products, you should shave and exfoliate prior to application. The Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs lotion dispenses from the tube as a medium consistency, terra cotta orange color. That’s…encouraging.

I was pleased to discover that it did not dry too quickly on my skin so as not to allow me to get even coloring, but as I suspected from the color of the lotion, it was very orange on me; not dark, but orange. I used my hands, but this might do well with a bodyblender.

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Before & After

Surprisingly enough, the camera is far kinder to the coloring than both true natural light and daylight bulbs are – in fact, the photo looks nice. (I did take pictures with my mobile device because I really didn’t want to handle my DSLR with orange hands). In real life, it doesn’t look like a natural tan. It reminds me very much so of Mystic Tan, color-wise.

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1st Acetone Power Gel

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We’ve all dealt with it – a manicure that is stubborn to remove (dark colors, glitter), or is more of a mess during removal than anything. I use pure acetone these days, but when I heard about 1st Acetone Power Gel (from Cutepolish, I think?) I had to try it out.

As far as I know, it is carried at Wal-Mart in two varieties: a regular and a Glitter formula. I went with the glitter formula because I tend to have trouble with glitter removal more than other varieties.

Here’s my nail before. There are two coats of China Glaze Wish Upon a Starfish. It’s one of those glittery, sandy-textured polishes (basically, there’s no smoothing it out without twelve coats of top coat). In short, it’s a pain to remove and an excellent polish upon which to demonstrate this product.

1st Acetone Power GelThe non-glitter variety is in identical packaging except the pink and yellow parts are switched.

1st Acetone Power Gel

Inside is a thick, viscous, translucent pink gel. Unlike regular liquid acetone-based nail polish removers, 1st Acetone Power Gel does not assault you with a strong, chemical odor. That said, it DOES have one – don’t get curious and sniff the jar; if I had to guess it is because the gel doesn’t throw off fumes quite like liquid does.

1st Acetone Power Gel - Gel

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