Skincare

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?

Sheet Masks: Not a Fan

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Sheet Masks

I received a few sheet masks from a friend a little while ago and decided to get weird and use a couple of them recently.

In short? I don’t care for them. That isn’t to say they are bad – but after two uses of that type of product, I’m just not loving the execution. This is purely a preference thing.

I don’t like how awkward they are to remove from their packaging and unfold. They’re slimy!

Beyond that, they seem a little wasteful to me – after the duration of the mask, you just throw it away. There’s more disposable about it, which I don’t dig. I’d rather have a pot or tube to dispense product from. I can get just what I need, put it where I need it, and not have to throw anything away after each use.

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Do Your Research

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I feel like I’ve been extra-cynical and/or critical on the blog lately. It’s weird, because I don’t feel any more of either in my daily life; usually those things tend to coincide.

A vlogger I follow published a comparison video between the Clarisonic Mia and the Foreo Luna (made by the people who make the Issa and the Moda). I was interested, because I hadn’t really seen much in the way of a comparison between the two (but I also hadn’t really looked).

So I watch, and by the end of the video, I’m facepalming. The video was sponsored (which is fine, in and of itself) and the personality was clearly in favor of the Luna (again, fine). What wasn’t fine? Her utter lack of any kind of knowledge about one of the two products she was, “comparing.”

I hesitate to even call it a comparison because to suggest that it was would imply that she actually knew the properties of the Clarisonic. What the content creator shows and suggests is a Clarisonic Mia is in fact a Clarisonic Plus; she did not seem to have much experience with the device itself. While she knew that the Clarisonic she was holding (again, Clarisonic PLUS) used a charging cradle (which could be inconvenient), she insisted it had only one speed. Well yes, the actual Clarisonic Mia only features one speed…but she did not have a Mia. Her device ought to have three speeds, in fact – so did she never use the device she’s decrying? Did she just search Google for, “Clarisonic Mia,” and read (some of) a chart of its features?

Do Your Research - Clarisonic Plus, left; Clarisonic Mia, right.

For your reference, good reader – on the left is a Clarisonic Plus, and the right is a classic Clarisonic Mia. I own a Clarisonic Mia 2.

Among other things, she seemed convinced that it spun.

Not a single device made by Clarisonic spins.

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Worth it? beautyblender blotterazzi

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I love my beautyblender sponge. What it does for the application of face products (foundation, concealer, cream blush, etc) for me is outstanding. The revolutionary sponge created a class of tools and inspired a legion of pretenders. They have expanded recently with a few new products like the bodyblender and the blotterazzi. The beautyblender blotterazzi is marketed as an alternative to those little blotting papers many of us purchase to keep our shine at bay without caking on additional product.

beautyblender blotterazzi

The blotterazzi should feel familiar to any beautyblender owner – the thin, pliable sponges are made of the same material the namesake sponge. The $20 product comes with a mirrored, vented compact and two of these sponges. As someone who is trying to minimize waste, I like the idea of the blotterazzi as a reusable oil-blotting solution. That said, if you’re combination or oily, these small, thin sponges may not be enough.

Unfortunately, the reviews that are out indicate that the product does not perform as hoped; many people say it does little to nothing for their oil, and others indicate that it compromises their makeup. Maybe it’s all a big misunderstanding like the beauty world had when the beautyblender started getting big (people didn’t realize it was intended to be used wet) but nothing has come out yet suggesting that is the case.

The Bottom Line

I’m a fan of the original beautyblender, but the blotterazzi is not something I can see myself spending money on – especially since my oil-control needs are inconsistent. They are reusable, but considering the surface area and how oily some of us can get, they would almost require daily washing to keep from recirculating oil and product, leading to breakouts – I know few people who would have time for that. More frequent washing that it would need plus the thinner, less robust (compared to the beautyblender) design would result in swifter breakdown, too. I’ll either blot with a tissue or blotting paper when I need it.

Even someone wanting to cut down on waste wouldn’t really be – they’d just be converting one flavor of waste (disposing of used blotting papers) for another (water, soap, eventually replacing these).

August 2015 Favorites

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August 2015 Favorites
August 2015 Favorites
1. Philosophy Fresh Cream EDT, $38 / 2. Urban Decay Naked Skin Powder Foundation, $36
3. Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner (2oz), $8 / 4.  Gigi No Bump Roll-On, $6

Damn September, sneaking up on us. You can check out the details on my August 2015 favorites after the jump.

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