BridgetJones
Member Since: March 17, 2019Reviews
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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No Name Spaghetti 900gr
In this day and age of massive price increases at grocery stores, I am seeking less expensive alternatives to name-brand products. Therefore, when purchasing a bag of NoName Spaghetti, I thought, "How big of a difference can there be?" Boy, was I... +
In this day and age of massive price increases at grocery stores, I am seeking less expensive alternatives to name-brand products. Therefore, when purchasing a bag of NoName Spaghetti, I thought, "How big of a difference can there be?"
Boy, was I wrong! There IS a big difference in the quality, taste, and texture! I like my pasta al denté. I cooked it for the minimum time suggested, and it turned out mushy. I thought perhaps it was due to being added to a sauce that I hadn't reduced to thicken. Nope. I cooked another batch last night, for 8 minutes, and ... spongey, gluey goop. It went in the garbage. There are no savings in buying this lower-quality product if it's barely edible and is thrown in the trash.
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Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair® Retinol Oil
Disclosure: I received this FREE, retail-sized treatment product from ChickAdvisor, approximately 10 days ago. My shared opinions of Neutrogena® Rapid Wrinkle Repair Prep Oil are my own, and I receive no monetary compensation for nor am affiliated... +
Disclosure: I received this FREE, retail-sized treatment product from ChickAdvisor, approximately 10 days ago. My shared opinions of Neutrogena® Rapid Wrinkle Repair Prep Oil are my own, and I receive no monetary compensation for nor am affiliated with any skincare or cosmetic brand. I appreciate having been chosen as a candidate to review this product. (Thank you!)
I am not loving this product, unfortunately; I am, however, ambivalent about its effectiveness, because the product arrived in the mail about 10 days ago, and such isn't long enough to notice visible, positive changes in my skin. Had I been able to use the product for at least 4-6 weeks before posting a review, perhaps my opinions and results would be different. (I will continue to use the product, then post updates/an addendum later.)
First impression: the product reminds me a lot of Kate Somerville's Quench Hydrating Serum. (KS sent me a full bottle in 2006 as gratis when I opened a retail account for Essential Day Spa's website; it was the first time KS had been offered to Canadians.) The texture, slippage, and absorbency are VERY much like Somerville's Quench, but at significantly less than Somerville's retail price of their product.
I am used to using retinol products at 44 (I really like Deciem's The Ordinary 2% Emulsion!), but am unsure if the Neutrogena® retinol serum or glycolic cleanser which led my chin to break-out in a fashion which it hasn't done for YEARS. (Yes, I am aware of what the "purging" process is.) I don't need or want a zitty chin at 44, thanks!
Sure, it smoothed and hydrated my combination skin. However, I honestly didn't notice a difference in texture (other than chin zits). Again, if I'd used the product for more than a month, perhaps I'd be able to provide more personal insight of any changes in my skin—its sun damaged, pigmentation issues, in particular.
I feel that ChickAdvisor and its sample suppliers ought to allow, bare minimum, 4-6 weeks of use by those who are sent anti-ageing/repair products to review. A 30ml bottle of treatment oil, when used twice daily as instructed: should last 3 months—adequate time for a product (with less active ingredient percentages) to be effective. Please keep this in mind when sending such products to others in the future, ChickAdvisor!
(Yes, it tingled and caused a bit of peeling on the first day of use.)
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Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Prep Cleanser
Disclosure: I received this FREE, retail-sized cleanser from ChickAdvisor, approximately 10 days ago. My shared opinions of Neutrogena® Rapid Wrinkle Repair Prep Cleanser are my own, and I receive no monetary compensation for nor am affiliated with... +
Disclosure: I received this FREE, retail-sized cleanser from ChickAdvisor, approximately 10 days ago. My shared opinions of Neutrogena® Rapid Wrinkle Repair Prep Cleanser are my own, and I receive no monetary compensation for nor am affiliated with any skincare or cosmetic brand. I appreciate having been chosen as a candidate to review this product. (Thank you!)
As a 44-year-old woman who's very familiar with skincare & cosmetic products, as well as having worked for two medical spas over 20 years, I have been fortunate to try many cleansers circa 2000–2016, particularly—prestige, cosmeceutical, and medical grade. Likewise, I have tried more than a few drugstore brands over the years (including Neutrogena®).
The purpose of a cleanser is to lift, suspend, and remove makeup, dirt, grime, and oil. I try to spend as little as possible on products which I will wash down the drain, knowing that my 13-year-old Clarisonic MD (given to me by original Clarisonic, before L'Oréal's buy-out) will effectively remove all of the above, as well as gently exfoliate my skin—even if used with a mild Castille soap (i.e. Dr. Bronner's). I try to not over-exfoliate my skin, as doing so compromises my skin's moisture barrier and leads to dehydration. IF I'm inclined to wear a face full of makeup (which I haven't been over the past couple of years), I double-cleanse with an oil or micellar water (usually Garnier), followed by the Clarisonic, using a Castille-based soap.
PERSONALLY, as a mid-40s woman with combination skin prone to dehydration, I'm not likely to purchase Neutrogena® Rapid Wrinkle Repair Prep Cleanser, because my skin is already prepped, exfoliated, and I don't like washing money down the drain. What I've been using for years: works, and I'll stick to my personal routine!
Despite removing dead, keratinized cells from my skin (2x day), I didn't feel it was necessary to cleanse morning & evening—just evening. Over-cleansing and exfoliating = dehydration and crêpiness. HOWEVER, I did appreciate the product's effectiveness when applied to my nose, deep cleaning my pores (which can appear as blackheads). I didn't like the texture of my skin after cleansing; I felt a bit of film/residue left behind.
The cleanser doesn't lather, and I question what Neutrogena® is using (in lieu of plastic) as the physical exfoliant (paired with the glycolic base).
This isn't a "yay" or "nay" from me—just a "meh!". I will add: a 36-year-old friend (who's not into skincare nor has a routine) tried a bit of the cleanser and noticed much more smoothness and suppleness. She hasn't used exfoliant before, and therefore, noticed the smoothing effect that the glycolic acid & grains had on her (surface) dryness. SHE loved the cleanser! Therefore, though it's not a product for me personally, I think it would be effective for others seeking an effective, affordable exfoliant.
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Secret Aluminum Free Deodorant Daylily
I received a full, retail-sized sample in the mail a few days ago, courtesy of Proctor & Gamble Canada. I wasn't given a choice of scents; they sent "Honeydew", which I worried would smell too fruity, but I was wrong. Normally, I choose an... +
I received a full, retail-sized sample in the mail a few days ago, courtesy of Proctor & Gamble Canada. I wasn't given a choice of scents; they sent "Honeydew", which I worried would smell too fruity, but I was wrong.
Normally, I choose an antiperspirant which has higher levels of aluminum because I hate when formulas fail me, and there are visible sweat marks showing on my clothing. I think my body must have become used to or desensitized to higher aluminum percentages, because regardless of what brand of antiperspirant I purchase—even clinical strength from Secret or Dove—I sweat. My usual, preferred brands and formulas are Mitchum Advanced Gel Antiperspirant (Revlon), Nivea Black & White Invisible Solid, or Secret Outlast Gel—always in a really light, clean, fresh, or neutral scent, nothing fruity, sweet, "vanilla", food-scented, or heavy, thanks.
I haven't worn a simple, gel-based deodorant stick since the age of 10, when my pre-pubescent pits started smelling stinky (it was a stick of Noxema deodorant, unisex, if I recall). Otherwise, I've always worn antiperspirant since the late 80s. If P&G;hadn't sent me a sample of their new deodorant, I'd likely not have bought it to try, but simply continued purchasing my aforementioned regulars.
Aluminum content concerns some people, but as Alzheimer's already runs in my paternal gene pool, I figure I'm genetically doomed anyhow, so ... might as well feel drier while I've got my senses about me, before the likely onset of the genetic, degenerative disease, right? ;)
Y'know what? I am actually PLEASED by the results and effectiveness of Secret's new deodorant, and am likley to repurchase before the end of summer! The "Honeydew" scent isn't overpowering or sickly sweet, thankfully, but I will likely choose one of the other two scents when repurchasing.
Obviously, the product is meant to only mask and neutralize odour, not reduce or prevent sweating (like an antiperspirant would). Secret's deodorant just does that: eliminates odour, all day, without the need to reapply. As I have been wearing a lot of sundresses and sleeveless items in the warm weather, Secret deodorant is perfect—no white marks, pilling product, or irritation. Just freshness. No one but me feels the slight dampness under my arms.
If I were to wear something with sleeves, I would definitely use an antiperspirant formula instead though! Perhaps in giving my body a break from antiperspirant, using deodorant for a while instead, an antiperspirant will be more effective in reducing sweat/wet marks when I return to using the product.
Thanks for the sample, Secret/P&G;! I'm impressed!
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INTIMINA Ziggy Cup
If you're squeamish, stop reading this review NOW! After 4-5 years of using my reliable, trusty, Canadian-made DivaCup, it was time to get a new menstrual cup (they degrade after a while, and smell funky after years of use, no matter how... +
If you're squeamish, stop reading this review NOW!
After 4-5 years of using my reliable, trusty, Canadian-made DivaCup, it was time to get a new menstrual cup (they degrade after a while, and smell funky after years of use, no matter how clean/sanitized). DivaCup sent me a coupon for $5 off my next purchase, and though I was waiting for the cups to go on sale at one of the local retailers, whilst reading up on different brands of cups available on the market, I learned that a company called INTIMINA had created a menstrual DISC—and ... it could be worn during sex (unlike DivaCup)!
https://www.intimina.com/products
Years ago, I occasionally used the disposable menstrual cups which were called "Instead" (I believe they were rebranded as "SoftCup"). I really liked and never, ever encountered difficulties when using them; however, they're pretty pricey to be throwing away daily, not to mention, add more waste to the landfill.
It appeared that INTIMINA's Ziggy Cup was a reusable, silicone cup, working in the same fashion as disposable cups on the market. BRILLIANT!
There isn't a London Drugs in my small town, so I had to order from an online source. INTIMINA had a sale in December, reducing the cost from $39.95 CDN to $29.95; Amazon Canada's was about $50. (I wish I'd gone through Amazon!) Therefore, I ordered directly from INTIMINA, to take advantage of the "savings".
Bad idea. I didn't know the company was based overseas, for one. A representative emailed me after ordering, to inform me that it was possible I'd have to pay for duties/taxes applied upon arrival to Canada. I've always been lucky to have dodged such, and therefore agreed to pay the possible additional charges, figuring it wouldn't likely be too bad *if* my package was slapped with duties/taxes. I figured it would still be less expensive than ordering from Amazon Canada or London Drugs (online).
I was wrong, and now WISH I'd ordered from Amazon, with their awesome return policy!
My parcel arrived within 5 days from eastern Europe (Bulgaria, I believe), shipped by DHL. However, there were $20 of tax/duties applied. Therefore, the device cost me as much as I'd have paid via Amazon Canada (where I have Prime shipping and could have sent the unsatisfactory item back for a full refund). Oops.
Still, I was eager to use my new cup! I immersed it in boiling water (to disinfect), and when the time came for me to put the Ziggy Cup to work, I knew there would be a learning curve for insertion and positioning—just as there had been with DivaCup (which I perfected in 2-3 uses).
TMI: I'm 44, never had children, a 28-day/like a clock woman, with light to medium flow—even with a standard copper/plastic IUD. No problems in that department. It is rare that I use anything but a super absorbency tampon (overnight); regular and light tampons for this woman. In other words: I'm not a gusher, and would only have to empty my Ziggy Cup every 12 or so hours, just as I had done with my awesome DivaCup.
No matter HOW many times I've tried to use the Ziggy Cup, positions I've used to insert (sitting on toilet, standing with a foot propped in the shower)—no matter HOW many times I've followed the directions to a "t" or tried a few variations ....
The damn thing LEAKS!🤬 Sure, it retains a bit of flow, but most of it leaks out. Every. Single. Time.
THANK GOD I sleep alone and no one but me has ever borne witness to the messes courtesy of INTIMINA's Ziggy Cup!❌ I will also add: it's a messy task to REMOVE as well; you have to hold it level while sliding it out, sitting on the toilet (not a good idea to do in a public bathroom). I never had a problem with messes using DivaCup, and beyond a couple of initial uses, I also never experienced leakage with that device.
There is nothing wrong with my anatomy. I know my body. My uterus isn't tilted, nor are there prolapse issues. Sure, my pelvic muscles aren't *as* toned as they were in my 20s (sorry girls, it'll happen to you in your 40s, too), but hardly to the degree where a menstrual cup should leak or ... begin to slide out with simple activity.
I went back to using o.b. tampons (less waste) in April.
I emailed INTIMINA about my dissatisfaction in March, receiving a response from Customer Care Representative, Ivana:
"Thank you for reaching out.
The first couple of cycles with Ziggy cup can be a little tricky - I know it took a couple of tries for me until the cup stopped popping out of place. It is normal if the cup is pushed out of place by your pelvic muscles when you for instance go to the toilet; the muscles contract and this activity can move the cup (depending on the strength your muscles of course). However, if you're not engaging in any activity that requires your pelvic muscles to contact, the cup should stay in place.
It happened to me in the beginning that I would place the cup correctly, tucking it behind the pubic bone, but after an hour or two, it would move out of place. Since then, I changed the way I insert the cup and it definitely did the trick for me. So, I would just follow the general guidelines - squeezing the cup in the middle, making an "8" shape, inserting back end first. What I would do next is push the cup in by the rim using my thumb - this allows me to push it further in initially, deeper than it is actually going to sit. As I pull back my thumb, the cup's rim expands into place - behind the pubic bone. At this point, I just try to wiggle the rim left and right, make sure it sits well in place and also run my finger over the thin silicone part to make sure everything is in place and my cervix is covered.
I really hope I managed to explain it and that this will help you as well. Feel free to experiment a bit and let me know if it will work."
So ... I tried repeatedly, again and again ... and again ... with the same results. The $50 device, a huge disappointment, waste of money, and now sits in a drawer, unused (since I tried it AGAIN, twice, 2.5 weeks ago; same result).
I wrote to INTIMINA again on June 6, receiving a response from Ivana again the following day:
"Dear Kate,
Thank you for letting us know.
I understand your frustration completely and I'm sorry the suggestions I gave you didn't work. This did the trick for me, but of course, not everybody has the same anatomy and the same methods may work differently on different people, which is why we always suggest to experiment with insertion and adjustment. This doesn't in any way mean there may be something wrong with your body.
If the cup is inserted correctly, but it still moves out of place and leaks, I would expect it to happen if it fills up - if this is the case, the only solution is to empty it more often, but this would depend entirely on your flow.
I'm sorry to tell you that we don't have a satisfaction guarantee for our menstrual cups. According to our policy, we are not able to accept INTIMINA returns unless the item was unopened and unused, due to the intimate nature of the products. Once the seal has been broken this voids the option for return even if the pleasure object has never been used.
I'm very sorry for the inconvenience and for any further questions, I remain at your disposal.
Kind regards,
Ivana"
Had I bought from Amazon Canada or even London Drugs (who have great return policies), I'd not be out $50, with a useless, disappointing silicone disc sitting in a drawer. The whole point of buying the Ziggy Cup was to eliminate the need to spend money monthly on tampons or add to environmental waste. Now, the Ziggy Cup will likely ... be going in the garbage, contributing to waste, never to degrade or decompose.
You'd think INTIMINA would do something as a gesture to improve the situation—offering a cup device from their collection or something. NOPE!
IF you should wish to try the INTIMINA Ziggy Cup, do not order it from their corporate website; get it from Amazon or London Drugs, because they will take back items (used or unused) within a certain period (no pun intended) of time. Refund or credit.
I am waiting for DivaCup to go on sale again, and will be sure to use the $5 coupon they'd sent to me last Fall; a new DivaCup will end up costing me about $26 (on sale w/coupon)—possibly less. I'll stick with buying Canadian, and what I KNOW is a trustworthy, reliable product, thanks!!🇨🇦
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Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture Foundation
I am a firm believer in investing more money into products which enhance, protect, repair, and perfect the canvas of one's FACE: skincare and foundation. Quality skincare and perfect foundation make a huge difference in one's appearance; there are... +
I am a firm believer in investing more money into products which enhance, protect, repair, and perfect the canvas of one's FACE: skincare and foundation. Quality skincare and perfect foundation make a huge difference in one's appearance; there are great budget mascaras, lipsticks, and other cosmetics out there.
In my time as a beauty buyer and brand procurer (also, pro artist), I had the luxury of often being gifted or comped free products from many cosmetic and beauty brands.
I brought hard-to-find, Japanese cult beauty brand, Koh Gen Do, to Canada for their first, exclusive Canadian retail account in 2013 (while working for a Vancouver based e-com store who's since lost the brand/account). Koh Gen Do U.S. generously extended several retail sized products to me, and to this day, I rave about their GORGEOUS Maifanshi Moisture Foundation!
Simply put: if you have $70 USD/$92 CDN to spend on a foundation, this one is worth every penny! I say this as a woman who received free products, however; even with my 30% pro discount, and despite loving the product, I cannot justify the personal expense to repurchase (though I'd love to be able to!).
I wear shade 012. The foundation glides on, melts into and soothes skin, hydrating, but not greasy, with an incredible light-diffusing finish. Perfect for maturing skin as well as HD photography and filming. My skin is luminous and perfected with Maifanshi Moisture Foundation. However, my wallet will be emptied if I were to purchase another tube. (I use my remaining products sparingly!)
Available in 12 shades, with no current Canadian stockists, be sure to check out the product in U.S. retailers or online. Customers may order inexpensive sample sets of foundation from Koh Gen Do's corporate website.
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Garnier Ombrelle Ultra Fluid SPF 60
Lightweight, fluid, non-greasy: great! Price was reasonable ($18.99 regular price at Shoppers Drug Mart; $12.99 when it's on sale), but ... The multitude of BUMPS which developed on my forehead and temples within two days of applying the product:... +
Lightweight, fluid, non-greasy: great! Price was reasonable ($18.99 regular price at Shoppers Drug Mart; $12.99 when it's on sale), but ...
The multitude of BUMPS which developed on my forehead and temples within two days of applying the product: GROSS! Not red, inflamed zits or whiteheads, but a multitude/clusters of tiny, bumpy PIMPLES! (If one were blind, a person might have confused my forehead for Braille! My forehead would have read, "Don't buy this product again!")
I should have returned the product to the store, siting irritation/reaction, sending a message to L'Oréal (Ombrelle's parent company) that their product was a "fail", but I forgot and now have 3/4 of a bottle of sunscreen which is beyond its due date for effectiveness.
What a waste of money!
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President's Choice Whey Isolate Protein Powder Vanilla
I'd been looking for an affordable, quality whey powder to use in lieu of more expensive Ideal Protein products, which also adhere to Ideal Protein's Phase 1 protocol. Based on the carb, fat, and protein percentages, the PC Whey Isolate Vanilla was... +
I'd been looking for an affordable, quality whey powder to use in lieu of more expensive Ideal Protein products, which also adhere to Ideal Protein's Phase 1 protocol. Based on the carb, fat, and protein percentages, the PC Whey Isolate Vanilla was just that, at a fraction of the cost, and with PC's money back guarantee.
One word: YUCK! No matter what I did to the shake mix or what I added to possibly improve the taste—pure vanilla extract, liquid flavouring (i.e Tang beverage drops), or packets of Splenda—the BITTERNESS of the product's stevia ruins it! Apparently, they used to make a better tasting protein powder flavoured with sucralose, but replaced it with stevia.
(If it ain't broke, don't fix it.)
Thankfully, I was able to return the unused portion of the big canister to my local Shoppers Drug Mart, where they were happy to do a direct exchange for the UNFLAVOURED, unsweetened PC Whey Protein Mix—a much more versatile product to use for shakes, cooking (i.e. pancakes), and baking, because one can add a sweetener of choice and other ingredients. NO bitter, gross stevia, whatsoever.
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LIFE BRAND Cleansing Oil
I like to double-cleanse when wearing heavier makeup: an oil-based remover to break-down polymers in long-wearing or waterproof formulations, usually followed by a gentle cleanser used with my 12-year-old original Clarisonic MD. I don't believe in... +
I like to double-cleanse when wearing heavier makeup: an oil-based remover to break-down polymers in long-wearing or waterproof formulations, usually followed by a gentle cleanser used with my 12-year-old original Clarisonic MD. I don't believe in paying a lot for makeup removers or cleansers, as they are essentially washed down the drain or tossed into the trash can. I'd rather invest in quality skincare and foundation.
Most of the time, I've enjoyed Shoppers Drug Mart's LIFE Brand products (likewise, their Baléa products and Loblaw-owed Presidents Choice). I also like the fact that I may return any LIFE, Baléa, or PC item to the store for a refund, credit, or exchange if I'm not happy with a product.
Many years ago, I received a bottle of Dermalogica PreCleansing Oil and loved its effectiveness, but not the price. Reading the description of the LIFE Brand Cleansing Oil before purchasing, it sounded like this could be an affordable dupe for the aforementioned, much pricier Dermalogica product—even allegedly turning into a milkier texture when massaged in with water.
Boy, was I wrong!
The texture reminded me of a silicone-based hair shine product, akin to Frizz-Ease Original Serum. I didn't like the smell or texture, though the product did breakdown most of my longer-wearing and highly pigmented makeup. MOST of it, but not all—it never seemed to remove all traces of waterproof mascara. I'd always wake up with mascara under my eyes, and ...
SWOLLEN, PUFFY, ITCHY eyes!
I tried the Cleansing Oil 3–4 times, with the same eye irritation resulting every single time. Also, before rinsing off and following with another cleanser, there were always traces of Cleansing Oil left behind, like a greasy film of sorts.
Thankfully, I was able to return the product for a full refund at a local Shoppers Drug Mart. Definitely won't be buying this product again, but am glad SDM stands behind its LIFE Brand return policy
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