#InstaNatural Vitamin C serum

Thank you to Insta Natural for gifting this for me to test & review.

A vitamin c serum that contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ferulic acid, sea buckthorn oil, and plant stem cells. It’s pack full of nutrient to brighten and prevent common signs of aging. It is Sulfate-Free, Eco Friendly, Cruelty Free, Paraben-Free, Artificial Dye Free.

I’ve been using this serum for about a month now. I really love it. It doesn’t sting my skin, even if I have active acne/breakouts. It’s a bright yellow/orange serum, that smells like oranges. It does leave a bit of a tack and stickiness but will be covered up by any lotion or cream. After a month of using I see my skin to be brighter, firmer. My overall complexion has evened out. In my opinion, for the price, it’s a good replacement for the high-end vitamin C serum out there.

Aqua, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Extract, Globularia Cordifolia Callus Culture Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Algae Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Ferulic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Taraxacum Officinale (Dandelion) Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin.

Get it here: instanatural.com/products/vitamin-c-serum

Benton Cacao Moist and Mild Toner

Company About:

The Benton brand was inspired by the movie “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” Where the main character was born old and grew younger. Benton was created in hopes to capture that essence of youth while using only safe ingredients and never hurting animals in the process. Peta Cruelty-free & France Ecocert ‘approval’of raw material. Read more about their motto on their website.

Product About:

The Cacao moist & Mild line is made with Cacao extracts and Hyaluronic Acid to boost maximum hydration, replenish moisture without being heavy, greasy or tight. A mix of botanical extracts to help soothe, nourish, and calm the skin. The line has the pH of 6 throughout. It aims to help with poor oil-water balance. Great for sensitive skin types.

Testing Period:

I purchased this during 08L app Try Now campaign & have been testing this for 2 and half weeks now, almost every day, twice a day. As my main toner.

Packaging:

The bottle came in a cute pink box with pictures of cacao leaves all around. The box has a mix of English & Korean, with a short description, directions & ingredients in English and everything else in Korean. On the bottle, you will find the same info, but not the ingredients. The bottle is slim and skinny, it has a smooth & frosted feeling label with a twist off cap with a deducer pour. The plastic has a quality feel.

Key Ingredients: All 1 on the EWG.org rating.

• Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract: Moisture, nourish & balance
• Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Extract: Moisture, nourish & balance
• Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Flower Extract: Moisture, nourish & balance
• Sodium Hyaluronate: Lock in moisture & plumps the skin
• Madecassoside: Great at healing scars, soothing redness & calming.
• 2 type of Willow Bark Extract: Anti-inflammatory, clears dead skin, contains salicin which salicylic acid is converted from but not the same, but can be considered a natural SA. Read more here.

Full Ingredients: Check with Skincarisma

Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Aqua (Water), Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Madecassoside, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Flower Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Betaine, Xanthan Gum

Scent/Color/Texture/Finish:

There is no scent, but it has that classic benton (unscented, scent) Hope that makes sense. If you ever tried their products you will notice that same scent across the products. There is no color to this toner, just clear liquid. The texture is very watery with a tad of viscosity, but more on the watery side. It absorbs quickly and dries down smooth without any residue.

Skin types/Wear:

I think all skin type can use it. It provides great hydration without adding heaviness. So dry skin to oily skin will benefit from it. I have combo skin, acne & sensitive skin type, so pretty much have all the skin type minus normal. I’m so abnormal! haha. The first night I used the complete cacao line from samples I received. My skin glowed! I cheeks instantly had “chok-chok” skin. Korean slang/sound that roughly means bouncy, glowy, plump skin. The complete line is very light that my combo skin didn’t feel heavy and it didn’t feel dry or tight. The ingredients are so gentle that I had no reacting what so ever. It did a great job at balancing my moisture that I hardly got oily. It really does a great job of controlling sebum, because it balances the skin so well. This is one toner I wouldn’t mind doing the 7 skin method, but I don’t even think you need too. If you want to be a disco ball do 7-10 layer, no one’s judging.

Mini review for all three samples:

• Cacao Moist & Mild Serum: A lightweight clear serum that absorbs quickly while hydrating the skin. Gives the skin a moisture boost.
• Cacao Moist & Mild Cream: A lightweight cream that is so smooth and not greasy at all, absorbs instantly leaving the skin so soft and moist.
• Fermentation Eye Cream: A thick white cream made with fermented ingredients to help anti-aging & depuffing. I personally hated this cream because it was too thick. I just sat on my skin. I don’t recommend.

Repurchase:

Yes, I personally fell in love with this the first night. I fell hard. I like this so much better than the Klairs supple unscented toner (never tried the normal version) I find that this hydrates way better, cleans well without stripping and keeps the skin in balance longer. The klairs is a good toner too, but for me didn’t clean as well and didn’t hydrate as much as I liked and I didn’t see much results.

Website:

• Cacao Moist & Mild Toner
• Cacao Moist & Mild Serum
• Cacao Moist & Mild Cream
• Fermentation Eye Cream

Disclaimer: Not sponsored unless stated, but always honest reviews.

EUI Laboratoire France Detoxifying Rice Enzyme Powder Cleanser

Company about:

Taken from the website – “INSPIRED BY NATURE – REALIZED BY SCIENCE. Our scientists transform naturally derived plant compounds into truly functional bioactive cosmetic ingredients. Our R&D team makes use of state-of-the-art encapsulation technologies that will guarantee optimum bioavailability and thus ensure the maximum effectiveness of the active ingredients sourced.”

Product about:

Lift impurities & clean away dead skin cells while promoting natural skin turnover. Revealing bright, soft skin. With antibacterial, antioxidant-rich ingredient like rice, papaya enzymes, seaweed & fruit & herbal extracts. Refine pores, reduces age spots, evening skintone. Gentle for everyday use.

Testing Period:

I purchased this during 08L app Try Now campaign & have been testing this for 2-3 week. I use this 2-3 times a week, and I have used this 4-5 days straight.

Packaging:

The bottle came in a shrink wrap seal & a company information postcard, which I never keep, so I can’t photograph it. The bottle is simple & fits in the palm of the hand. There is a twist off cap & pour deducer top, which I’m not a fan of. I wish they can a clip cap because I hate putting the cap down, I find myself always misplacing the cap & taking a min to find it again. The pour deducer is okay, pour out a good amount, but still hard to control & it’s hard to put the product back in the bottle, it can be messy if you try.

Key Ingredients:

• Rice Powder
• Bentonite
• Papaya
• Sunflower & Coconut Oil
• Seaweed
• Fruits & Herbal Extracts

Full Ingredients:

Talc, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Glucose, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Powder, Bentonite, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Silica, Sodium Polyacrylate, Maltodextrin, Laureth-4, MIPA-Laureth Sulfate, Hydrolyzed Chondrus Crispus Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Juice, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Saxifraga Sarmentosa (strawberry) Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract, Water, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Morus Bombycis Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid

Scent/Color/Texture/Finish:

The scent is odd & hard for me to describe. It has this powdery scent mixed in with fresh floral? idk. The best thing I could compare it to would be white soap. The color is a very white powder. The texture of this powder is really fine, almost as fine as face powder. The powder does clump together at times, but easily loosen when pushed on. This is the first enzyme powder I’ve tried that is this fine. It doesn’t foam up as well as other powder washes, but it’s very slippery. When massaging into the face, you can hardly feel any granules, probably none at most. If you’re sensitive to rough powders, you might want to try this one. I personally like the feeling of the granules. However, that doesn’t’ take away from the cleaning power of this cleanser.

Skin types/Wear:

I think all skin types can use it, but oily will enjoy this the most. I fine that it is really good at removing oil & dead skin without stripping or over-drying the skin. After washing my skin is smooth, bright but can be a bit dry/tight on my cheeks which is dry skin type (I have combo oily/dry) It makes the skin bright after one use, it also makes it smooth & reduces the pore size a bit.

Repurchase:

No. I think this is a great gentle wash & good for anyone who wants to try a gentle rice powder. However, I have another brand I like that I think that works the same but has bigger granules which I prefer to wash with. I just like the feeling of massaging the granules really helps remove more dead skin. Also, not a fan of everything in the ingredient list, but I will finish it because I do see some results with it.

Website: https://euilab.com/

0.8L Campaign: http://www.08liter.com/try/detail/14183

Disclaimer: Not sponsored unless stated, but always honest reviews.

ClariSea Charcoal Solutions Mircodermabrasion Gentle Resurfacing Paste

Company about:

 

Clarisea is a 6 years company that aims to make skincare products that are truly natural, organic, & vegan, that has hard-working ingredients to help reveal your best skin while maintaining an affordable price without compromise of effectiveness & your health.

Product about:

A clay-based scrub that helps clear pore, resurfaces & revives dull skin. With organic botanical ingredients to help reduce redness, heal the skin while evening skin tone. Charcoal, kaolin & bentonite to unclog pores.

Testing Period:

I purchased this from 0.8L app during their try now campaign and have been testing this for 2-3 weeks now, about twice a week. So a handful of times.

Packaging:

I believe this doesn’t come in a box, but I can’t remember. I don’t see it in my review boxes box, I don’t throw them away until I finish reviewing. (In case I need to read something off the box) I think it came with a shrink wrap seals & head a silver seal on the inner cap. It’s a simple tube packaging with printed labels & a click cap. I personally hated this, because the texture of the paste is too thick and I had a hard time squeezing the product out. I wish the cap had a bigger hole, also the cap gets really dirty, like how toothpaste starts chalking up on those click caps.

Key Ingredients:

• Different Clays for oil/acne/pore: Kaolin, Bentonite, Bamboo Charcoal
• Aloe Vera & Lavender powder for healing & redness
• Banslochan Powder (bamboo powder) for smoothing
• Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract: a natural source of parabens and alternatives to using parabens or other synthetic preservatives

Full Ingredients:

Kaolin†, Organic Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice*, Organic Vegetable Glycerin*, Bentonite†, Organic Lavandula (Lavender) Flower Powder*, Bambusa Arundinacea (Banslochan) Powder†, Activated Bamboo Charcoal Powder†, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate†, Benzyl Alcohol**, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract†, Dehydroacetic Acid**, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract†, Water†, Ascorbic Acid†, Citric Acid†

INGREDIENT KEY:

*Certified Organic 

†Natural Ingredient
^Natural Origin   

**Safe Synthetic 

Scent/Color/Texture/Finish:

At first sniff, this paste smells like lavender, but as you rub it in it starts smelling like those almond scented liquid soap, those bright pink bathroom handsoap in public bathrooms, but I think it might also be the honeysuckle in this. I the worst at describing scents, but this has a natural scent, kinda powdery, fresh & oddly reminds me of what babies smell like. The color is grey with bits of darker scrubbers in it. The texture is pretty thick, reminds me of how charcoal/bentonite clay masks, but as a scrub. There are bits of powder/beads that doesn’t melt down so you can scrub for a while. The scrub is surprisingly gentle & cleans really well. You don’t get a lot of product in the tube, so I would only use this as a scrub by mixing water to it & forming a slight foam, which turns into a mess, cause you’ll have grey water dripping all over the sink, I recommend using this in the shower. You can also spot treat with it because it still dries down as a clay.

Skin types/wear:

I think all skin types can use this. Even though this is clay based, it isn’t drying at all. In fact, every time I use it I feel really moisturized. However, I don’t like this oil/moisture residue it leaves behind, kinda like when you lotion & wash it off, but I guess it’s better than being bone dry. But I’m confused which ingredients in this is leaving this feeling because I don’t think I see oils. Unless the honeysuckle is an oil extract. After scrubbing & washing with it though, the skin is super clear, brighter & soft.

Repurchase:

Yes, I love how natural & gentle this scrub is, plus the price point is great, it’s only $12 a bottle & you only need a pea-grape size amount. I love using physical exfoliate because I grew up using them when I have acne as a teen. However, I’ve learned as an adult to only use limited the use of P.E & to use really gentle types. Also, I have been trying chemical exfoliate last half year, but still feel that they lack the ability to clear a thicker/duller layer on the skin. SO. I do use P.E week/bi-weekly to clear the skin so the C.E can reach the deeper layer of the skin, Either with scrubs, brushes or sponges. I just feel that I break out less if I don’t like it built up. Plus, I just love that feeling of rubbing the dead skins off.

Website: www.clarisea.com

Product link: https://www.clarisea.com/collections/all/products/skin-like-new-microdermabrasion-gentle-resurfacing-paste

Disclaimer: Not sponsored unless stated, but always honest reviews.

Ogana Cell Recovery Cream

Company about: (taken directly from their website)

“In OganaCell Laboratory, there are the dermatologist Dr. Oh-Gana, Japan No.1 college Tokyo University Chemistry doctor, America Washington State University PNRI Lab. Researcher, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine researcher and Peptron researcher. And members of OganaCell Laboratory published and they published 39 SCI journals and applied 25 patents.

OganaCell has Pespress™, Peptide combination technology, and Pepthfinder™, a molecular engineering technology, which are high-technology for making the high-content Peptide cosmetics that other companies can’t imagine. OganaCell has confidence with the product, high-content Peptide cosmetic, because the components are chosen by the dermatology doctor and finished clinical demonstration several times. You will experience amazing effect after you use the cosmetics. ”

Product about:

This recovery cream by Ogana Cell is made up of 10 special components, one of which is a high content Peptide at 100 ppm, that help to strengthen elasticity and moisturize the skin. They claim that it creates the optimum balance for moisture, improves wrinkles by increasing collagen synthesis to 150%. They claim this cream is excellent for recovering and soothing skin that is damaged while blocking the invasion of germs and penetration of toxic. This cream is dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic & cruelty-free. Made in Korea.

Testing Period:

I’ve had this for a few weeks now from purchasing the 08L Try Now Experience campaign. I’ve been testing it on & off for a few weeks but been using all last week. Below is the breakdown of the product & my experience.

Packaging:

I love the colors of the packaging so much. It comes in a pastel-colored box with a picture of a medical needle written with all the key ingredients used in this cream. The box only has English on the box. (what a relief, no need to guess what it does) This design repeats on the metal tube as well. The tube reminds me of medical creams, where you need to break the metal seal with the back of the cap. You get 50ml of product.

Key Ingredients:

There are no fillers in this cream, at least from the ingredients list I can find, from their website, packaging & tube labels. (but I’m not 100% sure on this) They are different types of Peptide, Madecassoside, HA, Ceramide & Allantoin to help plump up wrinkles, boost healing & recovery time, balance moisture & protect the skin.

Full Ingredients:

1. wrinkle-free J316(TM) peptide – Boost Collagen, improves elasticity & wrinkle
2. Triple-M Complex(TM) Peptide – Moisture Balance
3. Hexapeptide – 61dimer – Boost Collagen, improves elasticity & wrinkle
4. Acetyl Hexapeptide -8 – a synthetically derived peptide, is touted for its wrinkle relaxing ability. This peptide is said to prevent wrinkles by limiting facial muscle contractions (like botox)
5. Copper Tripeptide -1 – boost skin recovery & elasticity & antioxidant.
6. Madecassoside – helps heals damaged skin.
7. Hyaluronic Acid – Lock & seal in moisture & protects skin surface.
8. Nonapeptide-1 – Skin whitening by blocking melanin
9. Ceramide NP – balance & lock in moisture
10. Allantoin – soothes troubled skin

Scent/Color/Texture/Finish:

There is a light scent that smells like a musky floral mix, almost a bit metal, musky, leathery? I’m not too sure. (this is why I don’t do perfume reviews) It has a unique smell, but it’s light enough you probably won’t notice it. The color is white but rubs in clear. The texture of what you expect a medical cream to be, a thick creamy texture that feels thick. It’s thick & greasy while rubbing in, but it absorbs well and the greasiness goes away. It makes the skin really soft, however, you can still feel a bit of greasiness & see a bit of shine. People with different skin type will have different finishes. It leaves my skin soft & moist.

Skin types/wear:

I think people who are dry to normal will enjoy this cream more because it can be a bit heavy for oily skin types. Sensitive should also be fine with this, but it depends on your skin. I didn’t have any bad reaction to this other than getting oily. My combo skin had mix feelings for this cream. When I first used this cream my forehead turned into a greasy disco ball, after an hr on. It was so bad, I thought I could fry an egg on my head. However, after 2-3 times, my skin didn’t grease up as bad. So I think there is a chance of extreme greasiness depending on your skin’s condition at the moment. I still only use this overnight, because it’s still too heavy for my oily skin. On my dry skin, cheeks, jaw area, the cream sits on my skin so nicely, it gives just the right amount of moisture. After the first two nights, my skin felt firmer & plumped. I don’t have many wrinkles, but I do think my cheeks are sagging as I’m getting older, So I was happy to see that this cream helped with plumping up my cheeks. As for recovery of scars & skin texture, I’m not sure how well it did on that. I didn’t notice much brightening of my scars & my texture skin is still bumpy. This cream is heavy so it can make the bumpiness worst, but it depends on how your skins handle it.

Repurchase:

Yes, I believe these ingredients in this cream are doing some to most of what it claims. I don’t enjoy the greasiness but I don’t mind it overnight & by morning my skin is left with the just right amount of moisture, after a night of rolling around in bed. I’ve seen my skin plump up and firm up from a few uses, so I’ll keep this cream for when I need some skin boosting. This probably won’t be my go-to/main moisturizer but good booster when needed.

Website: http://oganacell.com/product/detail/37/category/display1 & http://shop2.oganacell1.cafe24.com/

Purchase on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JmophS

Disclaimer: Not sponsored unless stated, but always honest reviews.

Hot Tresses Moisturising Rehab Leave-in

About:

Hot Tresses is an Australian born and owned, Vegan and Cruelty-Free brand that has been listed on PETA’s Truly Cruelty-Free’s global site. They aim to bring professional grade hair care by only using natural organic ingredients & reduce the need for chemicals in hair products. They spent the last five years researching and developing their products with a team of highly innovative female chemists and hairdressers. They are Paraben, Sulfates, ammonia, parabens and synthetic fragrances free. They make a shampoo, conditioner & leave in, I was fortunate to be sent the leave-in to test.

Claims:

• Tame, heal & protect frizzy & damaged hair.
• Nutrients dense moisturizer to reduce the need for heating tools.
• Reducing the use of chemicals with only organic natural ingredients.

Packaging:

The bottle has a long slim profile, has a good smooth and heavy feel in the hand. The click cap is sturdy & clicks well. My only complaint is I always end up squeezing too much out, because the bottle is a bit bloated with products, so a light squeeze is a must. I’m always heavy handed with these kinds of packaging. I prefer a pump so I can be in more control.

Testing period:

I was gifted this by Hot Tresses and I’ve been testing this leave-in for 2 weeks now. I usually use this at night, after washing my hair, I towel dry & put a quarter size amount in the damp hair. I run it through my wet hair frizzy bleached hair. This helps me so much with combing my wet hair. I usually knot up like crazy and will pull hair out. This has a stopped that.

Scent/Color:

The leave-in’s scent is very herbal & floral like & can be a bit strong. I smell a lot of ylang-ylang & sage, but with other smells. There are a lot of natural oil extracts, so the leave-in does have a unique smell. I like it, but it’s not a love. The leave-in has a creamy white color that is a bit translucent.

Texture/Finish:

The leave-in has a bit a watery creamy texture but also a bit oily too. It feels really lightweight but also really conditioning. However, if you use too much, it can get heavy, but it never left me greasy or shiny. The more you use, the more it gives the hair weight, the hair just drinks this stuff up. If anyone who bleaches their hair will understand, it’s that dead weightless feeling you get after a while from over bleaching & processing the hair. The leave-in gives my hair body smoothes it out & leave it feeling good. A lot less frizz, a healthy shine but not greasy shine.

Key Ingredients:

I’m really interested in the hemp in this, I’ve never used anything with hemp in it, but have heard & seen a lot of hair products now including it because its great at moisturizing and conditioning the hair and scalp. Omega 6 & Omega 3 essential fatty acids strengthen your scalp and hair-shaft preventing hair loss due to harsh chemicals and over-processing. I have the bad family genes were the women tend to have thinning hair & since I process, bleach & dye my hair a lot, I need this in my life.

My only concerns are the preservatives used in this, they are DMDM Hydantoin (ewg rate 7, high) & Phenoxyethanol (ewg rate 4, mid), which are commonly used in most organic/natural products, but some people may not be comfortable with using them.

• Quinoa + Hemp protein to boost keratin levels & strengthen the hair shaft.
• Castor seed, coconut, rosemary, ylang-ylang oils smooth & defrizz.
• Vitamin B & E to supplement boost to stimulate growth.

More info, taken from their website:

QUINOA PROTEIN is well absorbed and helps build body. It’s a complete protein containing all of the essential eight amino acids and hydrolysed Quinoa has an enhanced ability to assist in the repair, protection and conditioning of hair. Hair treated with hydrolysed Quinoa looks and feels smoother after one use, retains moisture better, is stronger, shows less signs of damage and has better protected cuticles. Hydrolysed Quinoa is also able to penetrate the hair, strengthening it from the cortex and along the surface.

HEMP PROTEIN is a powerful little plant that contains hair growth stimulating amino acids. It’s the mother of all vegan proteins. It contains an array of vitamins, minerals, probiotics, antioxidants and enzymes that work synergistically with our other ingredients. Lack of sufficient essential fatty acids is believed to cause brittle hair, dry scalps, which can interfere with hair growth. Hemp contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which enhance blood circulation and promote cell growth in the scalp, which is required for the production of new hair follicles.

COCONUT OIL leads to healthy, lustrous, long hair. Being a triglyceride of lauric acid, Coconut Oil has a high affinity for hair proteins and, because of its low molecular weight and straight linear chain, is able to penetrate inside the hair shaft to replenish lost proteins and amino acids. It can lubricate the hair to reduce hair fibre friction, which reduces abrasive damage, especially in combing.

YLANG YLANG is known to stimulate hair growth, thicken the hair shaft while also conditioning hair follicles. It boasts a delicate, uplifting aroma, which when combined with our sophisticated blend of aromatherapy oils and plant essences, cuts out the need for chemical perfumes. Watch your locks transform into long, luscious tresses.

CASTOR SEED OIL is the Holy Grail of all oils. It contains vital nutrients like Vitamin E, Minerals, Omega-9 Fatty Acids, and Proteins. It’s a humectant – meaning it attracts and retains moisture to the hair, protecting hair from the washing process itself (and from that once per month heat styling!). Bonus – it encourages new hair growth, better hair and scalp health, more luster and OOMPH!

Full Ingredients: Check with skincarisma.com

Australian Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Acetamide MEA, Cetrimonium Chloride, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Chenododium Quinoa Seed Extract, *Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Extract, *Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, *Sage Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, *Tilia Cordata (Linden) Flower Extract, *Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, *Betula Alba (Birch) Extract, *Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail) Leaf Extract, *Achillea Millefolium (Yarrow), *Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, *Canaga Odorata (Ylang Ylang) Flower Oil, *Pelargonium Graveolens (Rose Geranium) Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Panthenol (Vitamin B), DMDM Hydantoin, Phenoxyethanol. *Organic Ingredients.

Repurchase:

Maybe, I saw results after one use. My hair was so soft, it also gave my hair life again. I bleach & dye my hair a lot, to the point it’s now pretty hay-like & lifeless. It no longer has that healthy weight or shine, good hair has, but after using this for a few weeks my hair really began to feel fuller, heavier body to it, soother to the touch & had that shine healthy hair gives off. It also kept my oiliness under control. I have fine straight Asian hair & I usually have to wash every day because I get so oily, but with this, I was able to wash my hair less, because it kept it feeling & looking so healthy. I also like that it didn’t strip my hair color or turn it weird.

My only concern is the DMDM Hydantoin Preservative – antimicrobial formaldehyde releaser preservative but is said it’s safe to use in small amounts. However I am not familiar with this ingredient so I will not make a bold statement, but below is all info you need to make your own choices.

Here is a list of other product that also uses it: https://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=chem&id=507

Here is more info on DMDM Hydantoin: https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search2/r?dbs+hsdb:@term+@rn+6440-58-0

Website: https://www.hottress.es/

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Jha32o

Dermastore: https://www.dermstore.com/product_Rehab+Leavein_70410.htm

Disclaimer: I was gifted this to test & review, but always honest review.

Lapothicell Toning Essence Facial Hydrating Booster

About:

Lapothei means pharmacist in French & cell for well, skin cells. Lapotheicell is created by Kukje Pharma with 58 years of knowledge in the skin health. They believe in using science & technology to bring us the best products for skin health on a cellular level. They created Tear-c that was inspired by the composition of human tears, which is gentle, moisturizing & cleansing. They also use bio Hydra-d that delivers hydration to extremely dry skin. They aim to give the best product for all skin types & especially for sensitive skin. They are also cruelty-free.

The toning essence is hypoallergenic tested, made to balance the skin, moisturize, soothe & clear up skin texture. It claims to increase moisture retention, prevent dead skin build-up, as well as sebum control. This toner is recommended for who need sebum control & moisture. Great for combo skin cause it can tackle both problems.

Testing Period:

I receive this from #08L about 3 weeks ago during their try now campaign. I’ve been testing this on & off since I received it, but I did use it straight for almost 2 weeks. Below is my breakdown of the product.

Packaging:

The bottle came in their signature blue packaging with a clean medical looking design. The box has a mix of Korean & English, but of the details or instructions are in Korean. The bottle has a huffy feel to it with a smooth clean slick finish, with embossed lettering that makes the bottle feel high quality. The cap twists easily & the pour reducer allows for 2- 3 drop of product to come out at a time.

Scent/Color:

This has a unique fresh scent to it, which smells a bit medically but a bit citrusy. The scent does linger on a bit & can be strong. I’m usually really picky with scents but I personally don’t mind it. The color is interesting. It’s a bit milky & clear. It rubs in clear. The only other toner that I know that exactly like this was by a Japanese brand called Naturie Hatomugi Toner which is made with pearl barley. It has the same texture too. I didn’t like that toner much, I ended up giving it away to my cousin. She seemed to like it for her dry skin. A part of me wants to explore that toner again, but that bottle was so huge, it felt like I was never going to finish it, but might be great for 5-7 skin method.

Texture/Use:

This toner has a watery but slippery feel to it, almost soapy like. As it dries down it gets tacky & leaves the skin slightly sticky soft. You can use it with 5-7 skin method, put it in a spray bottle, cotton pad to use as a mask or replace water in for dry masking. I’ve only used it as a toner with pads or as an essence straight to the face, with the pad, it wipes away some dirt but it’s not astringent enough for much visible debris. It does make the skin feel hydrated when used as an essence but layering can be bit heavy/tacky. Honestly though, after weeks of using it, I don’t feel it really did much for my skin. When I stop using it I didn’t notice anything changing with my skin either. Maybe it those products you need to use for a long time or with the complete line to see some effect, or that it works on a cell level & it doesn’t work in 2 weeks, but I just didn’t feel anything better & the first few days out trying this I noticed hyperpigmentation around my mouth & the side of my face, but I can’t tell if it’s from this toner, but I might have stopped using my serums. My other theory is that this toner was good at brightening the skin but not HP, so it left my skin kinda botchy. (but I don’t see any ingredients  or claims that brightens) I freaked out a bit & put on some niacinamide & vitamin C serums right away and HP eventually went away. I usually notice changes with my skin right away when testing new products because my skin is reactive to things, within 3-4 days I would expect something, but I got nothing for 2 weeks. My only results were some concerns about HP.

Skin type:

I can say for my combo oily/dry/sensitive skin, it did fine on my skin. It didn’t make me feel oily or heavy, it didn’t leave me dry or tight, & it didn’t irritate me or broke me out. I just didn’t see any results in 2 weeks of use.

Key Ingredients:

I ended up using google image translate on the box because I couldn’t find it anywhere online. So be aware that the translation isn’t always perfect. Since I can’t tell if Google has translated everything correctly, I will have to go by what retailers list as their key ingredients.

• Aqauxyl – is a derivative of two plant sugars (glucose and Xylitol). The skin is more prone to water loss and dehydration during the day. Aquaxyl is a powerful, long-lasting moisturizer, but it also actually increases water retention by improving the skin’s natural ability to retain water, keep skin dewy, hydrated and supple, improving the texture of the skin over time. Protects the skin against environmental stressors.
• Portulaca Oleracea Extract – It has skin-soothing properties and serves as an antioxidant.
• Epilobium Fleishceri Extract – Effective sebum production and pore size reduction for a visible skin appearance improvement.
• Madecassoside – It is an active skin care ingredient derived from the plant Centella asiatica, a medicinal plant that has been used for over 2000 years.  It has demonstrated skin healing as well as anti-aging properties.

Full Ingredients: Check with skincarisma.com

Purified water, Methylpropanediol, Phellinus linteus, Pentylen glycol, Ephroobiule Play cherie extract, Bergamot 5-polyglyceryl-10 myristate, sodium citrate, xylityl glucoside, citric acid disodium dithiophosphate, dicarboxylic acid anhydride, glycerin diphenyldimethicone ‘triethyl hexanoate decyl glucoside, Xylitol xylitol, mdecasoside phenoxyethanol, hexyl glycerin, Syum sorbate

Repurchase:

For now no, after 2 weeks I saw nothing good happening to me skin. Maybe it’s a product that needs time & works on a cell level? Idk. I don’t care for it much. I’ll probably try to finish it but I don’t want to reach for it that often. If I notice any results after months of use, I will update.

Website:

Main site: http://lapothicell.com/product/toning-essence-facial-hydrating-booster-200ml/108/?cate_no=26&display_group=1

English translation of the Korean description (also cheaper): https://hicharis.net/charis/7qZ

Disclaimers:

Not sponsored unless stated, but always honest reviews

Bonajour Perfect Sebum Cleansing Gel

About:

This gel cleanser effectively removes whiteheads(sebum) which causes blackheads and smoothes the rough skin texture due to sebum & dead skin build up. It cleans the pore while also tightening it, leaving a smooth surface. Free of synthetic surfactant, parabens, phenoxyethanol, phthalates, silicone, petroleum, artificial colors. It is also cruelty-free & I think maybe vegan? I don’t really understand their Korean/English. “We know you are warmhearted person caring about animals. We do as well. We do not test with any type of animals. It does not have any type.” – Bonajour website

 

Testing Period:

I receive this from #08L about 2-3 weeks ago during their try now campaign. I’ve been testing this on & off since I received it. Below is my breakdown of the product.

Packaging:

The product came in a nice recycled paper black box that works with their natural cosmetics theme. There are English direction, description & ingredients on the box. The bottle itself is clear with black liquid inside. The black cap pumps out just the right about of product.

Scent/Color:

The scent of this gel is a bit hard to describe, it has a heavy scent of a light, clean & fresh but oddly familiar smell. When I first smelled it, I thought to myself if I had used anything from their brand before, but this was the first product I’ve tried. Looking at the ingredients there is added fragrance, but the end of the list, for a company that prides themselves as a natural brand. I think they can do without the added fragrance. The scent is too strong & I’m not sure if that comes from the natural elements in this or the added fragrance. All I know it gives me a headache. In the bottle, the liquid looks black, but once pump out it pretty transparent with a tint of grey.

Texture/Use:

This gel has an odd texture, it looks like a vicious & watery but feels like a gel (think personal lub) that rubs in oily & silky but washes away foamy & clean with no residue, no greasy film & didn’t leave me feeling tight. When I first went to use this, I skipped over the instructions. I figured sebum & cleansing gel, probably use it on a dry surface to rub it out blackhead & whiteheads & I think I notice some whiteheads come out but not a lot. It didn’t help with deeply clogged pores & my blackheads looked the same. I used it 2-3 times this way until I was unsure if it was doing anything, so I tried using it with water to foam up as a cleanser, but that didn’t seem to do much other than make my skin smoother & soft. So I went back to the rubbing in for 1 min & washing off method, which made my skin smooth. I noticed it rubbed away that layer of gritty sebum you get in the morning, so I think this gel does breakdown sebum & strips oil on the surface level & on occasion, it will pull out a whitehead/blackhead or two, but it doesn’t reach deep into the pores as it claims, least for my acne/textured skin, but I’m just happy it doesn’t dry me out or irritate my skin.

Skin type:

It is listed as all skin types including sensitive but I don’t think sensitive types will enjoy the added fragrance, though it is very last on the ingredients, be cautious & test patch. This never broke me out or irritated my skin. I think oily/combo types will see the most helpful with oil control & maybe even pore tightening with long-term use of this product.

Key Ingredients:

When I first saw the that this was a black liquid & for pore care. I assume automatically that there would be some charcoal in this, but there isn’t. However, I suspect the reason for the black color might come from the Castanea Crenata (Chestnut) Shell Extract or the Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, but I’m not an expert in chemistry & I don’t know if these extracts have a natural color to them. All the ingredients minus the fragrance has a low EWG rating.

• Oleanolic Acid & Tannic Acid:  potent skin-soothing ingredient. has antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging properties.
• Peat water:  A natural accumulation of mineral-rich extracts, floral components, microorganisms, and pure glacial waters that prevent and reverse signs of aging, shielding the skin from free radicals and boosting collagen production, improving cell turnover, increasing skin elasticity, and tightening pores
•  Castanea Crenata (Chestnut) Shell Extract skincare: Improves the texture of the skin by preventing wrinkles and firming up your skin.
•  Enantia chlorantha bark extract: eliminate excess oil, firms and tightens your skin.

Full Ingredients: Check with skincarisma.com

Water, Decyl Glucoside, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Olivate, Ethoxydiglycol, Castanea Crenata (Chestnut) Shell Extract, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Oleanolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Tannic Acid, peat water, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Acacia Senegal Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Propanediol, Zanthoxylum Piperitu Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Polysorbate 80, Fragrance

Repurchase:

For now, it’s no. I didn’t see major blackhead removal, but I did notice some whitehead removal, skin smoothing, but no pore shrinking. As for sebum control, I can’t tell. My skin feels like it normally does. My pore, texture all feels the same too, with some added smoothness. I do like that it hasn’t made my skin worst. However, I’ll keep using it & test is longer & see if it takes awhile for these claims to appear.

Website:

http://en.bonajour.com/product/perfect-sebum-cleansing-gel-100ml-remove-whitehead-blackhead/193/category/166/display/1/

Disclaimers: Not sponsored unless stated, but always honest reviews

 

 

Amalie Rewind Toning Face Oil

About:

This Rewind oil includes homegrown oils from Indiana, it is organic, cruelty-free & vegan. They are fragrance, additive, corn, soy & gluten free as well. It’s hand-crafted & hand-selected to help with multiple anti-aging concerns.

“A natural remedy for reducing the appearance of fine lines and aging, REWIND helps skin maintain elasticity and moisture while preventing future signs of aging with protective antioxidants.” & “Honeysuckle, extracted in organic squalane and jojoba oils, offers gentle chemical exfoliation via natural BHA salicylic acid, while gently assuaging inflammation through the same naturally occurring acid. Thanks to squalane, anti-oxidant flavonoids and saponins penetrate deep into the skin, for powerful anti-aging properties. Organic pomegranate seed oil offers additional skin-brightening properties through its high vitamin C content. ” – Amalie website

Testing Period:

I got this from #08L app with their trial experience paying 3.99 to test this product. I’ve had it for 2 weeks now & have been testing it on & off. This will not be a long-term use review, but a tested first impression.

Packaging:

The bottle comes in a brown box with a hand-stamped label & black zigzag paper stuffing. The bottle is a brown UV protection glass with a child safety lock cap & glass dropper. It has a simple gold & white label for a clean look. The bottle houses 30ml of oil.

Scent:

It has honeysuckle, lavender, sage, spearmint & rose. The scent of this reminds me of some kind of classic Chinese food herbs or medical herbals. Not floral at all. It gave me a nostalgia, but I can’t pinpoint from where or when. I even asked my husband to smell it & he agreed it reminded him of Chinese herb used in foods. It has a richness & aromaticness but light smell, not heavy or greasy. The scent lingers a bit on the skin but fades away after a few minutes. But I feel scent can be subjective because everyone smell receptors are different, what smells good to one might not to you. This is why I don’t do perfume reviews.

Color/Texture:

The color of this oil is a light bright yellow, just like how sunflower oil is. This oil is the lightest oil I’ve felt in a long time. It super liquidly & slippery but nongreasy. It soaks into the skin right away.

Finish/Wear:

The finish on the skin is so light. It pretty much disappears in a matter of seconds. It leaves the skin soft without any greasiness. I used it overnight to test how greasy I would get & I was surprised I wasn’t. My skin was just glowy & soft, even bright. After a few days of use, my skin continued to be soft & smooth, even a plumped & felt firm. I feel this oil calmed my skin & didn’t overwhelm my oily skin, but still kept my dry skin moisturized.

Skin type:

I believe this oil is light enough but moisturizing enough for all skin types. It has great in anti-aging ingredients. Dry/normal skin types will get soft, firm skin, not much glow. I think oily skin types will get a bit glowy, but nothing like other oils I’ve used. You won’t get shiny disco ball greasy. This one just gives a soft healthy glow to the skin without being greasy. I really like it for my combo skin, please I love how firm my cheeks, they aren’t as saggy.

Key Ingredients:

Jojoba & Squalane oils: great for moisturizing, plumping the skin.

Pomegranate oil: High in Vitamin C great for brightening & wound healing.

Lots of extracts from flowers with different benifit.

Full Ingredients: Check with skincarisma.com

Organic Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis) Oil, Organic Squalane (from organic olives), Organic Pomegranate (Punica Granatum) Oil, Organic Honeysuckle (Lonicera Japonica) Flower Extract**, Organic Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) Flower Extract**, Organic Sage (Salvia Sclarea) Leaf Extract**, Organic Spearmint Extract**, Organic Rose (Rosa Damascena) Extract**.

**Denotes an ingredient grown on our Indiana farm.

Repurchase:

This bottle is pretty pricey. $60. *insert fainting face* BUT, it’s really nice & light. I personally think it scent might be the deal breaker for some, but to me, it’s not a bad scent. I like it. I haven’t used it long enough to say that it works magic, but the last 2 weeks I have noticed some firming & overall brightness & better skin health with it. So, for now, I’m saying maybe until I test this long enough, but I’m leaning on yes. If you want to know more about Amalie, this products & their other products, give their website some love.

Website: https://www.amaliebeauty.com/products/rewind

Disclaimers:

Not sponsored unless stated, but always honest reviews