Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser for Combination or Oily Skin Review

Hi beauty lovers!I recently decided it was time to revamp my skincare routine, so I've been using Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Tamarind and Purifying Micro-Pearls for Combination or Oily Skin for about a week now. I am absolutely loving this cleanser! Previously, I was using Avene Cleanance Soapless Gel Cleanser in the morning and Bioderma Micellar Water at night. Now I am using Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser both morning, and after removing makeup with Bioderma at night. My favourite thing about this cleanser so far is that it really seems to cut back on my oilies. My skin is so oily that I often wake up a greasy mess. Yuck! Since cleansing with this, I wake up with soft, yet matte skin. This cleanser also seems to be clearing up a couple stubborn clogged pores on my chin that had been bothering me for months. So far, my skin is clear!

I just use a pea sized amount of this cleanser, and I find it really lathers up nicely. Despite the greenish bottle, this cleanser is white. It has a strong scent to it which reminds me of Zest soap. You might not like this, but it takes me back to childhood. :)  After cleansing, my skin feels quite tight so following up with a moisturizer is a must!

Here's what the back of the box says:

Leaves your skin perfectly clean and refined thanks to a refreshing mousse that rinses easily with cool water. Gentle Foaming Cleanser is rich in purifying Micro-Pearls that provide essential cleansing care for a pure, matte complexion.

Pure Cleansing:

-Ensures perfectly clean skin by eliminating impurities, excess oil and dead skin cells that block pores.
-Neutralizes the drying effects of hard water
-Refines surface skin texture and tightens pores

Gentle Plant Extracts:

-Gypsophila helps to create a fine, lightweight cleansing mousse
-Polymnia and Cottonseed maintain a balanced, comfortable skin
-Tamarind encourages the elimination of dead skin cells

Dermatologist Tested

I would say this cleanser certainly lives up to all of it's claims! I would highly recommend this product to anyone with oily skin. It is a bit pricey, but I foresee the 125ml tube lasting a while. Like I said, only a pea sized amount is needed for the whole face.

You can get this for $34 CAD at Shoppers Drug Mart.

Thanks so much for reading! :)

Weekly SDM Haul

Hello, beauty lovers! It's been a while since my last blog post! I had some computer problems this week, but I'm back for now. :)

I just wanted to share some Shoppers Drug Mart haulage from this past week. There were a couple bonus points promotions this week at SDM, and I always love to take advantage of these when I can.

 

From top left to right is Estee Lauder Sensuous Nude perfume, Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray and Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Taramind and Purifying Micro Pearls for Combination/Oily Skin.  The bottom row is just a few samples: Clarins Skin Perfecting BB cream, Gosh Extreme Length Coloured Mascara, Elie Saab Le Parfum sample and Narcisco Rodriguez For Her EDT sample. And deodorant. :P

 

 

 

 

I fell in the love with the Estee Lauder Sensuous nude around Christmas this year. I picked up several of SDM's fragrance sampler sets, and this was one of my faves! Regretfully, I didn't choose to redeem for this one, and my sample just ran out this past week. I had to have more! The top notes are quite strong and sharp, but they die down into the softest most luscious smell. If you like vanilla/musk scents then you'll love this! I can not stop sniffing my wrists when I wear this. Mmm...

 

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm was something I really liked the sounds of. Women claim they like using this under their makeup as a primer as well as using it as a tightening mask. Sounds perfect for me! I did wear it out Saturday night, and while I didn't check my face in a mirror once that night to see the effects, I can report no breakouts! Yay! I will be trying this as a mask asap and I can't wait to review it. :)

 

Here it is on my hand:

 

Urban Decay De-Slick is a product I had been dying to try. As an oily faced chick, I'm always looking for something to get me through long days/nights without having to touch up constantly. I haven't tried this yet, but I'll also be reviewing this once I have! My skin is acting super crazy lately and I've been avoiding wearing or using anything but Bioderma until it settles down. But I'll be trying this asap! Maybe by this weekend!

I was getting bored of my Avene Cleanser (which honestly has lasted me forever now), and I read great things about this Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser. I haven't any problems with Clarins products yet! I particularly love their Hydra-Quench Cream-Gel, so I'm hoping this cleanser gives me no problems! Review coming soon. :)

Here's a write up from Clarins, "Every day’s a spa day with this refreshing, skin de-stressing cleansing foam. Gentle Tamarind Fruit Acids free pores of trapped make-up, excess oil, pollutants and dull-making dead cells for a refined, matte complexion. Silky lather rinses easily with cool water. Protects skin from the drying effects of hard water."

Here is a blob of the cleanser on my hand. You can see a little bead in the middle:

 

 

I was happy they had some samples of the Clarins BB Cream as I'd been really wanting to test this out! I received two samples of the lightest shade, 01 Light and I was pretty surprised at how dark it is. My skin is between NC20-25ish and this looked too dark for me! I'm also not huge on the smell. And I've had mostly bad luck with BB creams in the past, but I'll still give this a try and write a review.

 

Blended out:

 

Anyway, that concludes my weekly haul! Not overly exciting, but I'm sorta stoked to switch up my skincare routine. :)

 

Thanks so much for reading! xo Steph

 

 

Skin Care Faves and Reviews

Happy Wednesday, beauty lovers! I hope everyone's having a great week thus far. :)

I just wanted to share my latest skin care regimen with all of you! I have oily yet aging skin, which is a major pain in the butt! I'm in my early 30's, yet I'm seeing fine lines around my eyes, and a line between my brows. Sort of like the '11' that many people get, but mine is just one line. I always hear that oily skin doesn't age like dry skin does, but I beg to differ! I know we are all our harshest critics, but I see old lady so often when I look in the mirror. Here's the products I'm using lately to combat my oilies, as well as my lines.

On the bottom left is 1) Clarins HydraQuench Cream-Gel for Normal to Combination Skin.
Top Left to right is 2) Avene Cleanance Soapless Gel Cleanser for Oily, blemish-prone skin, 3) Avene Eluage Cream, 4) Bioderma Crealine H20 Solution Micellaire, 5) Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex, 6) NeoStrata Toning Solution Level 1 and 7) NeoStrata Eye Contour Firming Cream


1) The Clarins HydraQuench Cream-Gel is wonderful for oily skin. It absorbs quickly, feels wonderul and has a faint, yet pretty smell.  I have had no breakouts from this after using it for a few months, and it leaves my skin so soft. I apply this every morning and night, and still consider it a treat to apply, even after months of use. It runs pricey though. It is $49.50 for 50ml at Shoppers Drug Mart. I honestly just use the smallest amount and dot it all over my face. I find it's all I need. Anything more and I'd probably be a shiny mess! This cream-gel contains Hyaluronic Acid, which is said to help skin retain moisture, and plump up fine lines.

2) I began using Avene Cleanance Gel Cleanser about 7 months ago, and again no break outs or anything. I originally purchased it to use with my Clarisonic. I wanted something gentle, yet designed for oily skin, and this fit the bill! I have since stopped using the Clarisonic, but continue to use this. I feel that with the chemicals I use on my skin, I need my cleanser to be quite gentle. I only use this in the morning to break down and remove any traces of products used the night before. I also wake up oily sometimes, and I find this really helps combat that problem! It has a non-offensive scent, which is nice. I find I don't like the fragrances used in many Avene products, but this one is okay! I ordererd my 250ml bottle from a french pharmacy for dirt cheap, but you can pick up a 200 ml bottle Shoppers Drug Mart for about $23.

3) I think I've been using Avene Eluage, nightly, for about a year now. I applied it all over my face for many months, but started discovering tiny clogged pores on my chin. I now just use it under my eyes, and on my line between my brows. This cream has a thick, heavy texture, and a light, peachy colour. I did not like the scent of this, but I got used to it. It contains Retinaldehyde (a form of Retinol) and Hyaluronic Acid. I honestly don't know that this product is doing anything for my fine lines. Perhaps it's stopping them from becoming worse? I've tried Tretinoin, the full strength prescription retinoid, and it made me super flaky, and my skin just couldn't get used to it. I'd love to find a happy medium between these two products. My skin needs it! On the plus side, I did give my sister some of this to try, and she said she thought it was helping her fine lines. I'll have to follow up with her. :) The Avene Eluage is also expensive. I think it's $50 at Shoppers Drug Mart, but Avene products are frequently on sale there.

4) I've also been using Bioderma, nightly, for almost a year. I love this stuff! I'm sure most of you have heard about it, and many of you have tried it (or one of the other Micellar Water solutions available). It's wonderful stuff! I was super skeptical before I first used it; I thought it would break me out for sure, and just wouldn't cleanse my skin properly. I was wrong. I use a cotton pad to apply this to my skin and remove all makeup. It even removes my eye makeup better than my Lancome Bi-Facil, believe it or not! I do not follow up with any other cleanser, as I feel this cleanses sufficiently. A big 500ml bottle lasted me upwards of 6 months, using it once a day. It's about $22 for a 250ml bottle, but Shoppers Drug Mart occasionally stocks the 500ml size.

5) I haven't been using the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair long enough to leave an accurate review of it's benefits. I've only been using it about 3 weeks, but I can report no breakouts and no shine or anything. I don't know how to describe this formula. Apparently it is a serum, but it applies like no other serum I've tried. It absorbs instantly, and feels like nothing was ever applied. It does seem to leave my skin extra soft in the morning! So far, I'm very happy with it. It has a distinct medicinal smell to it, which may bother some, but I don't mind it. This stuff is EXPENSIVE. I received my bottle as a gift with purchase, but the full sized product retails for $96. Not cheap, but I imagine a full sized bottle would last a long time. I'll post a little review once I've used up mine and let you know whether it's worth it!

6) NeoStrata Toning Solution Level 1 is a basic Alpha Hydroxy Acid toner. I use it nightly to help keep pimples at bay, and I like to think it also helps with fine lines. :) This product stung when I first started using it. It felt like little pins stabbing all over my face. Not pleasant! I've learned to let my skin settle for 15-20 minutes after cleansing, and there is no pain. I've been using this for over 4 months, and I've barely had a pimple since. It costs about $26 at Shoppers Drug Mart for a 100 ml bottle. I only use a few drops on a cotton pad when applying, so it's lasting me quite a while.

7) Lastly is NeoStrata Eye Contour Firming Cream which I've been using in the morning for a few months to help with the lines around my eyes. I genuinely noticed a tightening sensation during the first few weeks of using this product, which was awesome! Now I continue to use it because it doesn't cause any milia and I refuse to go without an eye cream. I think after I finish this bottle I'll be on the hunt for something else. It takes a little while to absorb and leaves a greasy looking residue before it does. Overall, I like it, but don't love it. It is $32 at Shoppers Drug Mart, but Neostrata is also frequently on sale, with up to 30% off.

I also use Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion for Face/Body (not pictured) which helps mattify and protect my skin from sun damage.

I'd love to hear everyone else's skin care faves if you'd like to share! I'm always on the hunt for the latest/greatest thing.

Haha...my boyfriend walked by as I was typing this and said, "Woah! Writing an essay?" I apologize for the length. Must learn to write less! Thanks so much for reading! :)

Mini SDM haul - Lise Watier Pastel Power, GOSH etc.

Hello beauty lovers! Hope everyone is having a great weekend! :)

Today I did a mini haul at Shoppers Drug Mart. It's a 20x the points day, and I'm a huge sucker for bonus Optimum points. I also love the ladies at my local SDM! I called in last night, and they held a couple things for me. They are such sweethearts and always give samples, and sometimes fullsized products! It's always a joy to be in there.

I purchased two pieces from the new Lise Watier collection for spring called Pastel Power. It is the most adorable collection ever! I wanted everything, but settled for the Illuminating Beads and the Pink Power Blush. The Illuminating Beads are the same idea as the famous Guerlain Les Meteorites Balls. I only own a deluxe sample of the balls, and if I compared them, I'd say the Illuminating Beads are smaller. They are so cute! Can't wait to wear them. The Pink Power blush is just GORGEOUS. I'm completely in love with it. How adorable is the packaging for these product? It makes me so excited for spring. :)

 

 

Here's a swatch I took. From left to right is the Illuminating Beads, then the lighter shade from the blush, the darker shade from the blush, and then the two shades mixed together.

 

I also purchased a GOSH Velvet Touch lipstick in Shocking Coral. I wanted something for the spring that would work well with the Lise Watier products, and I read that the Lise Watier lipstick is drying and cakey. I think the GOSH lipstick is a lovely shade and just perfect for springtime!

 

 

I also bought the Essence Quattro in 11 Sea My Eyes. I really wanted the Lise Watier Quatuor Pastel Power Eyeshadow Quartet, but I settled for this. I forgot to take a picture of this product, but you can get the gist of it in the first pic.

 

The Shiseido Facial Cotton is my favourite cotton pads ever! Since I discovered them a few months back, I haven't been able to go back to anything else. They never shed and are soft and non-irritating.

 

The ladies also gave me a few Clarins samples; the Pure Melt Cleansing Gel with Marula Oil, the Multi-Active Day Early Wrinkle Correction and two tiny samples of the new Clarins Double Serum. I love Clarins, and I'm super stoked to try all these out!

 

Here's the prices for everything:

 

Pink Power Blush - $30

Illuminating Beads - $29

GOSH Velvet Touch Lipstick - $14,99

Shiseido Facial Cotton - $9

Essence Quattro - $3.99

 

Let me know if you participated in 20x the points day, today! I love hearing what other people bought! :) 

My Favourite Hand Creams

Hello everyone! I thought this cold blizzardy day (in the GTA) would be an appropriate day to post a little blog on hand creams. My hands get extremely dry in the winter. They crack and also develop small itchy red bumps that are embarrassing, so I always do my best to keep my hands as moisturized as possible.  I also make sure to drink a ton of water in the winter, but that alone doesn’t seem to cut it. I thought I’d share with you my favourite hand creams in case you also suffer from dry hands and are looking to try something new:

 

Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream  -  I fell in love with this hand cream after receiving a sample from SDM sometime in the fall. At the time, it was perfect for me! It has a nice texture and leaves behind absolutely zero residue. I mean zero! It seems to absorb instantly and your hands are immediately very soft. I purchased it this winter and I noticed that I was reapplying far too often. I started questioning whether it wasn’t making my hands more dry! I’ll definitely be trying this again in the spring! Apparently there is some ingredient in it that helps make your nails grow long and thick if used consistently. Lord knows, I definitely need help there! This 100ml tube retails for $33 at Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora.

Avene Trixera Selectiose Emollient Balm  – This cream is definitely my HG this winter. I purchased this on a whim from leguidesante.com for $13.69 USD, though they seem to raise their prices often. I bought it thinking that someone in my home would be able to use it on their face this winter, and then I read a review suggesting to use it on your hands. It has literally saved my skin! I apply morning and night, and my hands are so soft. No rough spots or itchy red bumps. Even this past week when we’ve had temps almost reaching minus 30 Celsius. I’m pretty amazed! It’s quite a thick cream and almost has the texture and smell of Elmer’s glue. If you can get past that, I’d definitely recommend this to anyone that suffers from dry hands. Amazing stuff! It comes in a large 200ml tube, and it retails for I believe $28 at Shoppers Drug Mart. Like I mentioned, you can also purchase this online from leguidesante.com, but be warned that shipping is very hefty from that site. I like to make big orders with tons of products so that shipping is worth it.

Avene Cicalfate Repair Cream  –  I also purchased this cream from leguidesante.com for $7.78 USD. The price has raised slightly since then. The texture of this cream almost feels like diaper rash ointment. You know that Penaten stuff? Yeah, like that. Less thick though. It works great at helping heal eczema, dermatitis, and I even dab it on pimples to help them clear up. Good stuff! I use it more as a spot treatment though. This comes in a 40ml tube and is $20 at Shoppers Drug Mart.

Shikai Borage Dry Skin Therapy Hand Cream – This was my favourite hand cream for years before discovering the Avene Trixera.  Here’s a little blurb from Skikai’s website about Borage:  Borage oil, extracted from the seeds of the borage plant, is a natural source of gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA), an important OMEGA-6 fatty acid which is required for healthy skin cell membranes. Without sufficient GLA, cells can't retain enough moisture. This can result in dry skin and other chronic skin problems.Borage oil penetrates deep, delivering GLA and its benefits directly to the cells. As a result, skin retains more moisture and is healthier. I love this cream! It does keep hands soft, and for years it helped keep my itchy red bumps away.  Then it stopped working. It still moisturized just fine, but wasn’t keeping me from getting eczema on my hands. I’ve read so many great reviews on this cream, and I know it’s one of the best out there. It’s cheaper than the other creams, so I’d definitely give it a try if you suffer from dry hands. It comes in a 73 ml tube and I believe I got my last one from Whole Foods in the US.  I’m pretty sure you can buy it from the Superstore, and they have it at well.ca  for 10.99.

Glysomed Hand Cream, fragrance free – Okay, who hasn’t tried this. It’s dirt cheap, in every store and works! What more can you ask for! This one isn’t enough for me during our cold winter’s, but for the rest of the year, I’m more than happy with it. I don’t have too much more to say about this, but I’m sure you’ve read or heard enough about it. If you haven’t tried, pick it up. Well.ca sells it for $3.69 for a 50ml tube. I’m sure it’s about the same price at your local Superstore or Walmart.

I should also mention that only two of these creams have a scent;  the faint smell of glue from the Avene Trixera, and the Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream has a distinct and strong smell. I don’t mind it, but maybe you would.

If you read all of this, you’re awesome! lol Thanks for stopping by. :)