BridgetJones
Member Since: March 17, 2019Reviews
BLUE LIZARD MINERAL SUNSCREEN SENSITIVE SPF50 89ML
In exchange for my honest review, I received a complimentary 89 ml tube of Blue Lizard AUSTRALIAN SUNSCREEN's® Mineral Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin SPF 50, courtesy of Crown Labs (Canada)™ and Butterly™. The tube arrived in early June 2025, and... +
In exchange for my honest review, I received a complimentary 89 ml tube of Blue Lizard AUSTRALIAN SUNSCREEN's® Mineral Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin SPF 50, courtesy of Crown Labs (Canada)™ and Butterly™. The tube arrived in early June 2025, and I was given a few weeks to try the product during the brand’s sample campaign.
Full disclosure: I cannot honestly provide a comprehensive review of the sunscreen's water-resistance, because I haven't had the opportunity to use the product in and around water. Per my geographic location in rural, northwestern British Columbia, the daily temperature increase (in seasonal weather) is slightly behind more southernly locations in Canada. This region of Canada is slower to warm up during spring and summer months, lagging about a month behind more southern areas, and our cooler weather begins earlier. We have a very short "summer" in BC's northwestern region! The month of June and the first days of July have been cooler than average; not warm enough for me to venture into local lakes, rivers, or outdoor pools, to test the water resistance of the sunscreen! I used the product under normal, daily circumstances, and spend a significant amount of my time indoors.
First impressions: the plastic cap is sensitive to UV light, changing from clear to light blue upon exposure to UV rays, allegedly to remind users to apply and reapply sunscreen. However, per the 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 change in colour, I feel this is more of a gimmick than an effective reminder. If the cap were to slowly change from clear to blue, over a few 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘴, doing so would demonstrate the need more authentically.
As a physical (not chemical) sunscreen, containing 10% Zinc Oxide and 8% Titanium Dioxide, I was impressed by how lightweight the product felt upon application! The addition of Dimethicone(s) gave the product a smooth application; there was no tug or resistance when smoothed into the skin, and I didn't have to invest a lot of effort to buff the product into my skin. There was also no pilling when I rubbed the product in, and the formula was comfortable on the thicker skin of my body. As soon as it dried down, the product was barely detectable to the touch on my body. It remained comfortable to wear. I didn't like the texture on my face—a bit too heavy, and I wouldn't recommend wearing it under makeup (or for photography—the minerals cause flash bounce-back). There was NO detectable fragrance nor lingering aroma; it is neutral in fragrance. I didn't experience the product in water until I showered, and noticed the water slightly beaded off. The sunscreen washed off with a bit of soap and water, with no residue, and the aloe in the formula contributed to softer, smoother skin at the end of the day.
A small and handy tube for on-the-go; an affordable product for those on a budget!
Cruelty-free formula, but not yet approved by PETA™ or Leaping Bunny™.
- Product gifted by Crown Labs (Canada).
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Swiss Natural Menolibrium
Upon learning that I'd been approved by Butterly to sample Swiss natural® menolibrium™, I was hopeful that there might be a product to help alleviate the multitude of perimenopause symptoms I've suffered with for more than a couple of years... +
Upon learning that I'd been approved by Butterly to sample Swiss natural® menolibrium™, I was hopeful that there might be a product to help alleviate the multitude of perimenopause symptoms I've suffered with for more than a couple of years. I've already tried a couple of OTC herbal products (including another brand's 30-day/60 capsule trial sample through Butterly in December, 2024), and have experienced little-to-no relief.
While I appreciate, enjoy, and am very grateful to receive samples to try (in exchange for an honest review): before I go any further with my review of menolibrium™, and at the risk of cutting off my nose, to spite my face (possibly affecting my candidacy for receiving future product samples from Butterly), I am going to repeat what I wrote and recommended to Butterly, months ago: in the instance of herbal, OTC, more natural products to treat perimenopause/menopause, 𝐚 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐇 (𝟔𝟎-𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐞) 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝟔-𝟖 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬 (𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝟑 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬) 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭! Though it would be more expensive for Butterly and product vendors to provide TWO months worth of a product: if an honest and possibly more positive review is the result of a longer trial period, the marketing is invaluable, and would better promote the product(s)!
Honestly: four weeks wasn't enough time for me to assess this product for possibly positive results! As HRT isn't in my budget right now, and BC PharmaCare will not begin to cover HRT until April, 2026 (the progesterone component is over $90/month), it was my 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 that something OTC might suffice for the coming year. I was excited to receive my sample from Butterly on April 22nd, and immediately began taking the product as directed on April 23rd, without missing a day or dose: one capsule in the morning and one in the evening. (I took my final capsule last night.)
I am STILL experiencing fragmented sleep, and have had to resort to adding gabapentin to help slightly improve my sleep quality. (Yes, I consulted with my doctor about trying menolibirum™—she wasn't hopeful about its effectiveness.) In fairness, I have been under a lot of stress lately, and stress can negatively impact sleep. However, what came first: the stress, the poor quality of sleep, or has the compromised sleep contributed to my stress, moodiness, melancholy, and fatigue?
It's possible that the menolibrium™ might have reduced nighttime sweatiness—I still wake up with a damp shirt, but I've not experienced a chest slick with sweat (in the middle of the night) during any of my multiple, ongoing sleep disturbances! In place of nighttime sweatiness, I've experienced 2-3 breakouts (acne) on my face since I began taking menolibrium™—a couple of small, superficial pimples, and unfortunately the begins of what felt like a deeper, almost cyst-like blemish along my jawline, just beside my chin. (I've had to sleep with two remaining PM acne treatment patches, leftover from a PanOxyl™ Butterly campaign—they work!)
Though Swiss natural™ products are sold by Shoppers Drug Mart™, the menolibrium® product is NOT among the products offered by SDM—neither in store nor online. I like to be able to purchase my products in-store. It's all well and good that a product is available through a company website and Amazon Canada (who I won't support anymore because of Bezos kissing an orange clown's ring), but... with CanadaPost workers likely to go on strike again this week, people aren't likely to pay for courier service to purchase much of anything, especially not in this economy, with consumers adhering to strict budgets, and cutting out "excess" where they can.
Sorry, Butterly and Swiss natural™, but this will be a no-go for me!
Thank you for the opportunity to try the product, but please give serious consideration to my advice (re: two month supplies) before launching new campaigns for supplements. Give users adequate TIME (at least 6 weeks) to determine if a product is effective for THEM.
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OGX® Bond Protein Repair Pre-Shampoo
I jumped at Butterly's® offer to test and review OGX® Bond Protein Repair Pre-Shampoo product, and the free bottle couldn't have arrived at a more suitable time (March 31st), because I had plans to highlight my hair later that week! My tresses... +
I jumped at Butterly's® offer to test and review OGX® Bond Protein Repair Pre-Shampoo product, and the free bottle couldn't have arrived at a more suitable time (March 31st), because I had plans to highlight my hair later that week! My tresses have been damaged by bleach over the past year, and I needed to ensure that my hair was well hydrated and in its best possible condition BEFORE the intended bleach/20 and 10 volume developer touched the processed and virgin areas my hair. At twice the size of John Frieda's pre-shampoo bond repair product, and having received the OGX product as a complimentary, retail-sized sample (reg. $14.99 CDN at Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada), I could afford to be a bit more generous with use of this product. It did NOT disappoint!
First impressions: I appreciate the generous size, 250 ml bottle. The soft, floral fragrance is pleasant (not overly pungent), and thick, creamy texture was easy to distribute in my dry hair. Per the instructions, I left it in for 10 minutes, and followed with my regular shampoo and conditioner. My hair immediately felt smoother and softer, without being weighed down. I have since added a teaspoon to my bleach/peroxide mix when processing my hair (hoping to protect it during the bleaching process) and used it again today (five days post-bleach) prior to shampooing. It did not compromise the effectiveness of the bleach during processing, and though I did experience a very slight "chemical haircut" over the weekend, the damage is minimal. I will continue to use this product, but wish I could have tried the entire SYSTEM for a more comprehensive review of the bond repair range. For now, my hair is visibly smoother, seemingly in decent condition post-bleaching, and I've not noticed any further breakage, fracturing, nor excessive dryness. A winner for those on a budget.
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PanOxyl Acne Body Spray
In exchange for an honest review, courtesy of Butterly® and Shoppers Drug Mart®, seven days ago, I received an awesome, free, full, retail-sized canister of this new product from PanOxyl®—one of the top brand names in effective OTC acne... +
In exchange for an honest review, courtesy of Butterly® and Shoppers Drug Mart®, seven days ago, I received an awesome, free, full, retail-sized canister of this new product from PanOxyl®—one of the top brand names in effective OTC acne treatments. I'm always appreciative to receive and excited to try new products, but in this particular instance, I feel that Butterly® and Shoppers Drug Mart® should have launched this campaign later in the year... when the weather is warmer, less clothing is worn, more skin is shown, and people are more likely to seek treatment for chest or back acne that can be caused by sweating or sunscreen! Today is March 25th. I live in northern BC, where it's been no warmer than 10ºC this week (and as low as 1ºC)... this isn't sunscreen and sweat season! (I don't go to the gym either!)
I can't will or conveniently conjure up a mild breakout on my chest or shoulders! I have had no breakouts to treat, am not inclined to break out at this time of year, and there's nothing for me to prevent or treat until possibly June! Yet I'm expected to post an honest review of the product within 14 days of receiving it (or be penalized by Butterly®).
Have I tried the product? Yes, a few times. I appreciate that there is a locking mechanism on the nozzle, and the product is propelled at any angle when applying. Will I continue to apply this product unnecessarily for an entire 14 days, wasting product that I'll likely need in a couple of months? No.
With 2% salicylic acid to gently exfoliate skin (preventing acne-causing bacteria and oil congestion), alcohol to kill bacteria, niacinamide to calm inflammation and regulate oil production, and Vitamin C to stimulate pigment and scar-correcting collagen (brightening dark spots or reducing red scarring): a great, effective formulation to quickly, conveniently, and effectively treat acne breakouts on one's chest, back, and shoulders, preventing the occurrence of more breakouts.
I wish I had received this product to try in the SUMMER months, when it will be necessary to use, and that I weren't limited to 14 days (after receipt) to post a review. I'll have a better idea of the product's effectiveness during sweat-inducing warmer weather, but... now is not the time nor do I need to use the product.
I can see it being effective and convenient—both for summer holidays AND those who regularly hit the gym, wishing to apply the product post workout shower.
- Product gifted by Crown Labs (Canada).
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PanOxyl PM Overnight Spot Patches
At 50 and in perimenopause, there are still times when I experience the odd hormonal blemish or two on my chin, nose, or cheek. Thankfully, breakouts are rare, and after receiving a sample of PanOxyl PM Overnight Spot Patches® from Butterly® and... +
At 50 and in perimenopause, there are still times when I experience the odd hormonal blemish or two on my chin, nose, or cheek. Thankfully, breakouts are rare, and after receiving a sample of PanOxyl PM Overnight Spot Patches® from Butterly® and Shoppers Drug Mart, I found myself waiting and almost hoping for a blemish to errupt, so I could honour my agreement to review the product online. As fate would have it, I woke with a couple of small, headless blemishes on my chin last week, as well as a tiny, reoccurring inflamed bump from ingrown hair on my left cheek! Despite the product being indicated for nighttime use and because I was home for the day, I applied a patch to each of the imperfections during the daytime.
First impression: the patches are virtually undetectable when applied to my fair-to-light, neutral, Caucasian skin tone. They blended into my skin so well, that I FORGOT I was wearing them, and went out in public wearing them—with no one at the store (Shoppers Drug Mart!) giving me a double-take or strange looks. The patches were INCOGNITO, camouflaged into my skin tone. (I'm 50. I don't want whimsical, "cute" blemish patches or attention-attracting ANYTHING on my face!) The patches blended so seamlessly onto my skin and into my skintone that I didn't remember to change or remove them for 32-33 hours! They stayed in place, seamlessly, even though I showered twice after applying them!
Upon their easy removal, all traces of the two blemishes on my chin were gone—no bumps, no puss-filled head, no redness, no irritation—just smooth skin, with faint traces of pink. It was also easy to remove the patch I'd placed over an irritated, inflamed (ingrown) hair follicle on my left cheek—the salicylic acid had gently exfoliated the area enough that the tip of the coarse hair had finally poked through, able to be gently tweezed out . The inflamed hair follicle was no longer dark pink-red, but soothed to a faint shade of pink, and the inflammation no longer existed. There was no irritation from the product or the adhesive.
I wish these had existed during my teens and twenties—more than half a lifetime ago. They would have been SO helpful to help impede and reduce the painful, headless, cystlike, "underground" blemishes I'd occasionally get on my chin—perhaps bringing them to a head or reducing inflammation more quickly. (I learned to use a VERY fine tipped, sterile hypodermic needle gauge, acquired from pharmacists, so I could very delicately but more deeply penetrate into the CORE of those headless, painful cystic pimples—relieving pressure, giving embedded, clear or white/yellow pus the opportunity to drain through the microfine, deeply lanced puncture, never waiting in pain for days, hoping the cyst would come to a head—I drained them myself, skillfully, without scarring, bruising, or spreading the infection under the skin!) I used to work as a makeup artist, mostly in retail settings, and if PanOxyl® PM Overnight Spot Patches® had been available on the market then, I'd not only have worn them myself, personally, even to/at work (because the patches are almost undetectable on my skin), but I'd also have recommended the patches to clients and friends!
Thank you for the opportunity to try the sample, PanOxyl®, Butterly®, and Shoppers Drug Mart®. I'm sorry that I don't have photos (or me wearing the patches) to post with my review, but the patches blended SO seamlessly with my skin, I could barely see them and FORGOT to capture a selfie before I'd removed and disposed of them!
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Promensil Perimenopause (Canada)
As a newly minted, 50-year-old woman who began noticing symptoms of perimenopause nearly nine years ago and is seemingly midway through the year of menopause, I was appreciative to receive a sample of Promensil® Perimenopause formula, courtesy of... +
As a newly minted, 50-year-old woman who began noticing symptoms of perimenopause nearly nine years ago and is seemingly midway through the year of menopause, I was appreciative to receive a sample of Promensil® Perimenopause formula, courtesy of Promensil® (Pharmacare/PAC Health [Canada]) and Butterly®, in return for a review of the product.
Having noticed more severe symptoms in recent months—particularly insomnia and sleep interruptions, I was desperate for some possible relief; lack of quality sleep can cause and/or exacerbate a myriad of other issues and symptoms!
Full disclosure: I have ADHD, for which symptoms increase during puberty and... menopause. Likewise, I'm currently grieving the recent loss of a loved one who succumbed to cancer in late June. (I other words: I feel crummy!) Grief, anxiety, and depression can have psychosomatic effects on a person, as well as their sleep, and lack of sleep can exacerbate symptoms of preexisting conditions.
"Six of one, one half dozen of the other!"
The parcel from Butterly®, containing a one-month supply of Promensil®, arrived via CanadaPost on November 4th (a week before CanadaPost workers began their strike), and I started taking the tablets as instructed: 1 daily, for 30 days. I did so every morning.
A 30-day supply is NOT enough to form an opinion or determine if the Promensil® Perimenopause formula is (or is not) effective. As per the directions and claims on the bottle, it can take a few weeks to a couple of months to assess the product’s benefits. “You should be able to assess the benefits of taking Promensil® after the first 4 weeks. Thereafter, take Promensil® daily to maintain benefits.”
I think the product *might have helped improve my quality of sleep within the past few weeks—I wasn’t waking up as much or as often as I had been before introducing the daily Promensil® Perimenopause product. However, during the same time as I was taking the daily tablets, I also began taking two Jamieson® Calcium-Magnesium tablets (calcium: 333 mg, magnesium: 167 mg per tablet), paired with a small amount of chromium every evening, about an hour before bedtime!
F.Y.I.
Calcium
helps the body use tryptophan, an amino acid that helps the brain produce melatonin, a sleep-inducing substance. Calcium deficiencies can cause sleep disturbances, especially REM sleep. Magnesium
Helps regulate the central nervous system, which can improve sleep quality. Magnesium deficiency can cause chronic insomnia and frequent nighttime awakenings.
Was it the Promensil® Perimenopause product that helped to improve my sleep? The Jamieson® Cal-Mag supplements before bedtime? A combination of both? Did the seasonal shift with shorter days and going into hibernation mode influence anything?
I don’t know. Only time (without Promensil®) will tell!
The Perimenopause formula retails for $36.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart, and it's allegedly sold only on Shoppers' e-commerce site (not in stores). Though there is a $10 printable coupon on Promensil® Canada's website, the printable coupon is intended for use IN-store (where the Perimenopause formula isn't sold)—the $10 coupon cannot be deducted from any online purchases made on SDM's website. So... no savings there!
As per the price, lack of savings, and my lack of certainty of the product's effectiveness, I am not willing to shell-out $37 for a product that might not be worth the expense, and is not financially feasible to purchase for continued use during the expensive Holiday Season. (Please plan your marketing campaigns better, guys!)
- Product gifted by Promensil.
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DAP Alex Plus All Purpose Acrylic Latex Caulk Plus Silicone 300 mL White
I received a free tube of this product from Butterly. Having never caulked anything before, this was an introduction to caulking for yours truly! My first impression was negative the caulking gun that I'd intended to use turned out to be broken, and... +
I received a free tube of this product from Butterly. Having never caulked anything before, this was an introduction to caulking for yours truly! My first impression was negative the caulking gun that I'd intended to use turned out to be broken, and thus delayed my use of the caulk for a few days until I could find another one to borrow. My next impression: the tip of the applicator was difficult to cut—I don't own anything beyond kitchen scissors (no industrial knife here!), so it was a struggle for me to cut the tip, having inadequate hand strength to do so! The product itself was fine—minimal odour, no lingering scent, easy to clean up AND easy to scrape/trim edges of sloppily applied, dried caulking.
I don't think I'll caulk again anytime soon, but DAP's product made the clean up process a lot less messy than it might have been.
- Product received for free from DAP in exchange for an honest review.
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PanOxyl PM Blemish Brightening Patches
Last week, a lovely blemish erupted on my face, leaving a dark red mark because I picked at said blemish (bad girl!). The perfect opportunity to use the Panoxyl Blemish Brightening Patch samples recently sent to me by Butterly! The Spot Fading... +
Last week, a lovely blemish erupted on my face, leaving a dark red mark because I picked at said blemish (bad girl!). The perfect opportunity to use the Panoxyl Blemish Brightening Patch samples recently sent to me by Butterly! The Spot Fading Complex of Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid (?), and Vitamin C was said to "improve the appearance of post-acne marks in just 10 days". There were only 4-5 patches in the sample, but there WAS significant improvement after using them! Will I go out of my way to buy them? No, because I have other serums which do the same thing(s), without the need to stick patches on my face. I think they're likely better suited for younger skin, and imagine that the acne-treating patches are likely good, too. But not for this 49 soon to be 50)-year-old woman!
- Product received for free from Crown Labs (Canada) in exchange for an honest review.
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Temptations Lickable Spoons - Tasty Chicken/Savoury Salmon Flavour
Thankfully, I received a sample of one spoon AND a coupon for a free box of four, so I used the coupon for a box containing four of the salmon/chicken combo. Each "spoon" has half of each flavour in a jelly/paté textured disc of sorts. The peel-off... +
Thankfully, I received a sample of one spoon AND a coupon for a free box of four, so I used the coupon for a box containing four of the salmon/chicken combo. Each "spoon" has half of each flavour in a jelly/paté textured disc of sorts. The peel-off mylar lids are fussy, and the contents of the spoon are disgusting. Instead of offering the product in its spoon, I put the contents on a plate. The first disc, my cat licked 1/4 of the chicken side; the rest went to waste. She wouldn't touch it, nor would our frequent feline visitor/neighbour. I've tried giving both cats another spoon (each) tonight, and ... both turned their noses up, walking away. The contents went into the garbage. I have one spoon remaining, and it too will likely be rejected.
It's a product FAIL, and I'm glad I didn't pay a single cent for my box of four. The ONE positive: the spoons are washable and can be put in recycling. The contents: into the garbage can.
We'll stick with the squeeze tube lickable treats.
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Life Brand wax strips legs & body
When buying Life Brand products from Shoppers Drug Mart (or any of the house brands sold at Loblaws-owned companies) I know that if the products don't meet my satisfaction, the company offers a money-back guarantee. Therefore, when I purchased a box... +
When buying Life Brand products from Shoppers Drug Mart (or any of the house brands sold at Loblaws-owned companies) I know that if the products don't meet my satisfaction, the company offers a money-back guarantee. Therefore, when I purchased a box of Life Brand Argan Oil Wax Strip (40 ct) from SDM last week, I knew the only thing I'd lose was ... well, the hair on my legs. All whilst saving a bit of money for purchasing a store brand over name brand Veet, Nair, or Parissa.
Indeed, the product DID remove the hair on my lower legs (I used 6 dual-sided strips), but not without frustration, skin irritation, or less-than-perfect results. (I know how to use home waxing strips; I'm not a novice.)
1. The PINK strips are difficult to separate/pull apart, even when warmed between hands for a minute. REALLY sticky!
2. The strips are made of weird plastic material.
3. There's a strong scent of ... cherries (or something sweet). Yuck! I prefer something neutral-scented, not sweet—especially if the scent lingers!
4. My legs were itchy, irritated, and red for two days after using the strips. Red from irritation, not pulling out the hair.
As guaranteed, I was able to return the unused portion of the box for a full refund at SDM the following day (with receipt), applying the approx. $20 to purchasing other items within the store.
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