gabyfauchon
Member Since: March 19, 2009Reviews
MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in Angel
Spending $15 on a lipstick always appeared supid to me - I mean, I've always been happy with drugstore products, not to mention I hardly ever wore lipstick before! That's until I won my very first MAC lipstick (Lazy Day) in a giveaway and... +
Spending $15 on a lipstick always appeared supid to me - I mean, I've always been happy with drugstore products, not to mention I hardly ever wore lipstick before! That's until I won my very first MAC lipstick (Lazy Day) in a giveaway and that's it - that's all it took to completely change my mind.
Being a full-time University student, I have a tight budget. Sure, I have worked hard before going to Uni to be able to entirely pay for it without having to work while studying (I was afraid my grades would drop) and to be able to afford a house when I'll be done with it, but that doesn't allow me to blow my hard-earned money on things I don't really need. That's why I'm not able to afford MAC lipsticks for now, but I have been incredibly lucky to have won some in blogs giveaways - Angel being one of them.
I won a giveaway some time ago. The prize was a MAC lipstick of my choice and of course, I absolutely didn't know which one to choose so I decided to play it safe and go for Angel as it seems to be such a staple. From the swatches on the net, I really didn't know what to expect as it seemed to look different on everyone! I was afraid it would wash me out because I'm so pale not to mention that the frost finish scared me a bit, but I absolutely love it!
It actually reminds me a lot of Creme Cup, which I love. I have naturally pale lips and Angel seems to be a my-lips-but-better shade.
Angel is simply described as a soft pink, but it appears quite dark on the MAC website and it even looks a little mauvey to me, so I didn't know what to think because of the swatches I have seen on the net where it appears quite pale. It was such a nice surprise when I put it on for the first time! I think I have found my new favorite lisptick.
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KORRES Basil Lemon Body Butter
When I first tried this one, I must say I was sceptical because come on, how is it possible to have a body butter in a tube? To me, a butter has to be very thick but melts in contact with the skin, and because of this, to me this product is... +
When I first tried this one, I must say I was sceptical because come on, how is it possible to have a body butter in a tube? To me, a butter has to be very thick but melts in contact with the skin, and because of this, to me this product is definitely not a body butter.
It still has a nice texture, but it's really more of a cream to me. It's not the thickest cream I have used but it's decent, it moisturizes well and it smells A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I don't have a lot of citrusy products because I usually go for sweeter scents, but I was really surprised by this one! It smells really fresh yet sweet at the same time. I wish the smell would linger longer on the skin though!
Because of my dry and itchy skin - damn you eczema! - I had to re-apply this body cream in the morning to ensure a proper level of moisture through the day, but it's really not a con to me as I'm used to do so with most of my body products.
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LUSH NEW! Shampoo Bar
I'm not a regular LUSH shopper because all of their products seem too expensive for what they really are - $6.95 for a one time use bath bomb, really? - but I must admit I have made a mental whishlist of things that truly interest me, that are... +
I'm not a regular LUSH shopper because all of their products seem too expensive for what they really are - $6.95 for a one time use bath bomb, really? - but I must admit I have made a mental whishlist of things that truly interest me, that are original and that can't be found elsewhere, but I keep saying to myself that I don't really need those things... I probably wouldn't have tried any of their shampoo bars if I hadn't let the sale assistant explain me in details what they are, how they work, what are their benefits, etc. I must admit, I didn't even listen to what she was saying at first as I came there for Boxing Day specials, wandering around and emitting random "huh-huh" when I thought it was appropriate... but when she mentioned "oily roots" somewhere in her monologue, I froze in place. I interrupted her, amazingly excited and full of hope: "Did you say one of these things is especially designed to control greasy hair?"
OK, I new they had a solid shampoo designed for oily hair and I would have initally gone for Jumping Juniper if I really wanted to try one, but the sale assistant told me this shampoo did nothing for her oily roots but that NEW! worked awesome for her, and that, as an added bonus, it was also great to stimulate hair growth. I was still a little hesitant because I thought that $10.95 was crazy for a shampoo - especially a strange-looking shampoo like this one - but then I rembered that I had read somewhere that one LUSH shampoo bar was the equivalent of three bottles of liquid shampoo, minus the nasty things such as silicone and the not-so-green packaging. So curiosity won me over and I came home with this cute little thing. I couldn't wait to try this and now I'm excited to share my thoughts with you!
Another thing that made me hesitant to try those solid shampoos is that I was afraid it would be hard to use and that it would not lather well - I know we have to get over the idea that a product has to lather to properly clean, but still, it's hard to say where I have put shampoo if I can't feel it! - but the sale assistant assured me it lathers really well, even better than most liquid shampoos! As soon as I came home with NEW!, I hopped in the shower, ready to put it to the test and let me tell you, the lady was right - it really does lather like crazy! It produces such a nice, luxurious and silky foam that I have never experienced with liquid shampoos - I never want to stop rubbing it onto my hair!
Because of its strange shape much like a hockey puck, I had no idea how I was supposed to rub NEW! onto my hair, but I went at it anyway and surprisingly, it does the job almost on its own! It glides well on the hair, making sure to cover all of it and leaving a trail of luxurious foam behind it. When I rinse the foam away, I can feel my hair being squeaky clean.
NEW! may seem small but just like solid soaps that seem to last forever compared to shower gels, it should last a great deal of time if it's true that it's the equivalent of three bottles of shampoo and honestly I do believe it is. I makes sure to let NEW! dry in a area free of humidity to keep it from melting before storing it in a little container I re-used (instead of the stupid-useless-waste-of-money tin they will try to sell you).
I personally love the cinnamon smell, yes it's strong but it's very pleasant and refreshing to me. It's not everyday that you find a shampoo that smells like that! I didn't notice it lingering into my hair but I think it would have been quite pleasant.
From the reviews I have read on the LUSH website, many people say this shampoo is drying but I didn't notice my hair being dry and I really don't care as I use conditioner and leave-in conditioner everytime I wash my hair, and honestly, I would rather have dry than greasy hair! After each wash with NEW!, my hair is left perfectly clean, really shiny - something I don't think I have experienced with any liquid shampoo - and also touchably soft.
After this great experience with NEW! Shampoo Bar, I'm seriously contemplating getting rid of all of my liquid shampoos because when I think of it, none of them really did something for my hair and they sure don't work as well as NEW!. Maybe I'll use them up and then stick to solid shampoos?
Oh yes, NEW! is safe for colored-treated hair, like all of LUSH shampoo bars except Seanik because it contains sea salt which can roughen up the hair and easily strip color from the hair.
You can get NEW! Shampoo Bar for $10.95 for 55g at LUSH.ca and be sure to have a look at their wide variety of solid shampoos!
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The Body Shop Shea Body Butter
Yes, until very recently, I was a Body Shop virgin because as much as I've wanted to try their body butters, I always thought they were too pricey for me - come on, why would I want to pay $18 for a 200ml body butter that I can find at Wal-Mart... +
Yes, until very recently, I was a Body Shop virgin because as much as I've wanted to try their body butters, I always thought they were too pricey for me - come on, why would I want to pay $18 for a 200ml body butter that I can find at Wal-Mart for only $6 (I'm talking about SPAresource body butters)? I've always been happy with those drugstore body butters but I ran out of them and my eczema always seems to worsen in the winter and there's no way I will use a body lotion instead, it's just not enough moisturizing.
So at the beginning of December, I stumbled accross The Body Shop's 3 for $30 offer on their whole website, and I figured out it was the perfect time to give those mystical butters a try as they would cost only $10 each with free shipping.
The first butter I decided to try was the Shea Body Butter as it's designed for very dry skin and from what I have heard, it is claimed to be the thickest and most moisturizing of all The Body Shop body butters, which is exactly what my parched and eczema-prone skin needed!
I ordered this body butter in the jumbo format (400ml) because it was included in the 3 for $30 offer, but otherwise, it retails at $25 (!!!) Even though I was warned, let me confirm that yes, the jumbo size is really jumbo! At first I was worried I wouldn't be able to go through this humongous tub before the end of the winter (I don't use body butters in the summer, they are just too heavy) and I only hoped it wouldn't go bad too soon, but I have been using this butter since the beginning of December and I'm already half way through it (I use it every night after showering all over my body).
As soon as I started using the Shea body butter, I fell in love with its amazing texture. The consistency is dreamy - rich, creamy and perfectly thick - exactly what I'm expecting in a body butter! Some say it's greasy, but hey, this stuff has been designed for very dry skin for a reason! If you have extremely dry, dehydrated skin, like me, it soaks it all up in a matter of seconds without leaving greasy residue behind.
In the tub, the butter looks hard and solid but it really melts as soon as it comes in contact with the skin.
It's a little hard to describe what Shea smells like but I would say it's a sort of neutral clean and fresh smell that is slightly earthy and nutty, with a hint of floral. I think it's a very creamy, cozy and comforting smell that is not overpowering but I would not say it's very light either. I also doesn't linger on the skin very long, which is disappointing in my opinion.
At first, I must say I wasn't blown away by this butter. I mean, I have tried quite a few body butters in the past and I always went back to the ones from SPAresources because they were inexpensive, did the job quite well and had that perfectly buttery texture. However, I have realized that with continuous use, The Body Shop Shea Body Butter soothed my irritated skin and I haven't experienced any eczema flare-ups since I started using it. Sure, my skin still ocasionally itches and sometimes I have to apply moisturizer in the morning to get me through the day, but I haven't feel the need to reach for my steroid cream and this is a big step forward in my book.
Of course, the main issue for me with these butters is the price: mini (50 ml / 1.7 oz) for $6.00, regular (200 ml / 7.0 oz) for $18.00 and jumbo (400 ml / 13.5 oz) for $25.00. I won't need to buy these full-price anytime soon because I guess it will take me a long time to get through the six butters I ordered in December, but The Body Shop always has some kind of deals going on such as buy 1 get 1 50% off, buy 3 get 2 free, etc. But still, I'm not convinced these body butters are a must have if you don't have problem skin that requires heavy-duty moisture.
The body butters are available on The Body Shop website and you get free shipping with any purchase of $75 (be sure to check out RetailMeNot for coupons before ordering!)
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Montagne Jeunesse Apricot Scrub
In the winter, my dry skin definitely needs to be pampered more often if I want to keep eczema at bay. I always hear everyone raving about St.Ives Fresh Skin Exfoliating Apricot Scrub but the one time I gave it a try, it felt way too rough for my... +
In the winter, my dry skin definitely needs to be pampered more often if I want to keep eczema at bay. I always hear everyone raving about St.Ives Fresh Skin Exfoliating Apricot Scrub but the one time I gave it a try, it felt way too rough for my poor damaged skin and it left my face feeling sore and irritated, which never happened with any other face scrubs before. I still don't understand what happened because I always tend to go for the most abrasive face scrubs I can find, so I thought maybe I had an allergy to apricot, which felt strange because I'm OK when I eat some.
When I was sent this Apricot face scrub from Farleyco.ca, I decided to give apricot another try. I mean, how can you say no to such a yummy packaging? I think Montagne Jeunesse products packagings always look so unique and eye-catching and their products look good enough to eat! Not to mention the delicious smell... I advise you - do not use these masques if you are hungry!
The texture is great - very thick and the exfoliating beads (which are really apricot kernels) are a good size and there are a lot of them, unlike some other cheap foaming scrubs. Because it's a scrub and not a mask, you don't need to apply a super thick layer of product on your face - please don't use all of the sachet in one time! I bet this will last me for around five more scrubs. The only negative things about Montagne Jeunesse packaging is that it's messy and not resealable, so I like to pour the leftover product in a little pot so it doesn't dry up and it's easier to scoop with your fingers.
I thouroughly cleaned my face and then applied the scrub. It is advised to apply the product evenly over face and neck, massage and then let it sit for 5-10 minutes or until dry, which I thought was strange because usually, scrubs are meant to be washed away, but this is no ordinary face scrub because it contains clay so it will harden on your face and deeply exfoliate and clean your skin.
I usually tend to avoid clay masks because some tend to be drying. This Montagne Jeunesse face scrub left my dry skin feeling super tight and uncomfortable when I washed it off - like most clay masks I previously used - but it was OK when I applied my moisturizer. The day after, I noticed that my skin was not drier because of the scrub, but also that it was more glowy - what a nice surprise! I truly think this Apricot face scrub is of great quality for the price ($1.99 for 12g / 0.4oz).
All Montagne Jeunesse products are Vegetarian Society approved, not tested on animals and cruelty-free (BUAV Approved). Canadian residents can get them at Farleyco.ca for $1.99 or at selected drugstores.
Disclaimer: One or more products were sent to me for consideration to review. I am not affiliated with this company and the fact that the products were free absolutely does not influence my opinion.
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Marcelle BB Cream
Yes, Marcelle came up with the first Canadian-made BB Cream formulated specially for Canadian women in pharmacies as well as mass retail stores! If you don't know what is a BB Cream - I'll admit it, despite seeing these all over the... +
Yes, Marcelle came up with the first Canadian-made BB Cream formulated specially for Canadian women in pharmacies as well as mass retail stores!
If you don't know what is a BB Cream - I'll admit it, despite seeing these all over the blogosphere, I was confused before being finally able to try one for myself - well, "BB" stands for Beauty Balm and it's designed to perfects the skin to reveal a more even epidermis and well-hydrated, flawless complexion, all in one. Ideal for any age and any skin type, the Marcelle BB Cream comes in two shades and is suitable for a wide variety of carnations thanks to its self-adjusting pigments that transform and adapt to skin tone.
Marcelle BB Cream claims to be the ultimate skin enhancer as this Beauty Balm with self-adjusting pigments, powerful antioxidants, aloe and chamomile does it all for your skin:
Minimizes the appearance of imperfections and pores
Evens out skin tone
Provides an excellent make-up base and replaces primers
Matifies skin and controls shine
Offers immediate and long-term hydrating benefits
Soothes and calms skins
Protects from premature aging and environmental stresses
Promotes skin regeneration
I think this product is amazing for girls who are on the go or/and who can't bother with foundation - like me - as it does everything at once! I personally use it instead of foundation because I have found that it unifies my skin tone incredibly well and it's also great to minimize my huge pores. I would say this BB Cream provides light coverage as I had to use concealer on top of it to properly hide the redness around my eyes (damn you eczema!) and conceal pimples or blemishes. That's perfect with me as I can't stand heavy-duty and mask-like foundations anyway.
Because of my dry skin, I can't use this BB Cream as a tinted moisturizer in the winter but I'm sure it would be great in the summer because it does leave my skin soooo soft and smooth. The only thing is that it doesn't contain SPF, so if you are a lazy gal - like me, again - you will be disappointed to have to apply sunscreen on top of it.
I assume I was sent the shade Light to Medium to try because I can't find the name of the shade anywhere on the tube, and at first sight I thought it looked way too dark and yellowish for my skintone, but it blends surprisingly well and just disappear to an almost matte finish with just the right amount of glow to make you look healthy,
I think the packaging is amazing - light, mess-proof and sanitary. A pump is all I need to cover my whole face - OK, I won't lie, I don't apply it on my forehead as it's covered by my bangs anyway - and that's it! No need to worry about bacteria or anything.
Marcelle BB Cream is available at pharmacies and mass retail stores across Canada for $22.95 for 1.5 OZ / 45 mL. You can also order it on Marcelle website!
Disclaimer: One or more products were sent to me for consideration to review. I am not affiliated with this company and the fact that the products were free absolutely does not influence my opinion.
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Schick Hydro Silk Razor
First, let me tell you something - in the winter, I don't regularly shave/wax my legs despite being obsessed with any other area that is prone to hair (I'm having IPL done on my underarms and bikini area). Disgusting? TMI? Hey, there is a... +
First, let me tell you something - in the winter, I don't regularly shave/wax my legs despite being obsessed with any other area that is prone to hair (I'm having IPL done on my underarms and bikini area). Disgusting? TMI? Hey, there is a good reason behind this: the hair on my legs is blonde, sparse, and soft - yes, soft! In fact, you can barely see wether my legs are shaved or not unless you get a super close look or touch them. I consider myself very lucky, but have no fear, I do shave in the summer, of course! Oh, and let me reassure you, it does not bug my boyfriend at all.
Because I don't shave regularly, I have always been kind of happy with those cheap 1-blade BIC razors and honestly, I much prefer using depilatory creams such as the amazing Veet Hydro' Restor Hair Removal Cream, but I must admit that razors usually get the job done much quickly, especially when they have five blades!
Schick Hydro Silk absolutely did not disappoint, from its soft and ergonomic handle to the super close shave it provides. I can't recall how many times my razor slipped from my hand when I was in the shower - with the lightweight and easy to control handle of Schick Hydro Silk (it took two years to Schick to develop it!), you won't have this problem! I also appreciate how the smooth rounded edges of the razor head make it fit easily into those hard to shave areas no more knee cuts!
I can't say much about the water activated moisturizing serum because even though I have dry skin, it never felt incredibly dryer after shaving, even though I always apply some kind of creams or lotions after. Shick recommends using shaving cream, gel or foam with the Schick Hydro Silk razor, which I always do anyway (I use soap or conditioner), because this is a "traditional" razor - it provides moisture and glide throughout each shave and the best results are achieved by using a shave preparation.
I can definitely say that Schick Hydro Silk is a delight to use, delivering a silky-smooth shave while being gentle on the skin. I admit I cut myself very badly when I used this razor in a rush, so don't underestimate its power!
Schick Hydro Silk razor is retails at $9.99 and refills are available in packages of 4 cartridges for $14.99 at supermarkets, drug stores and mass market retailers nationwide.
Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for consideration to review. I am not affiliated with this company and the fact that the product was free absolutely does not influence my opinion.
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LUSH Cinders Bath Bomb
I was not expecting much from Cinders but it still managed to disappoint me. Despite the smell being described as "smooth fruity scent with a touch of spice", it smells absolutely nothing to me in and out of the bath. Once dropped in the bath... +
I was not expecting much from Cinders but it still managed to disappoint me. Despite the smell being described as "smooth fruity scent with a touch of spice", it smells absolutely nothing to me in and out of the bath.
Once dropped in the bath, Cinders does fizz pretty slowly compared to other bath bombs I have tried, which I find quite enjoyable as I feel I get more out of the product and it's just fun to watch. I could not hear any crackling/popping noises though but no, I did not dip my head underwater.
This bath bomb turns the bath water an interesting pee-yellow - OK, maybe a little brighter - which can bother some but I don't really care about the color of my bath water. It's not the most relaxing color but anyway. Also, Cinders did not leave my skin soft or anything, which is the most important thing to me when using a bath product.
I really wanted to think that this bath bomb disappointed me because it was old, but from what I have read on other blogs and on MakeupAlley, I'm not the only one who did not enjoy my experience with Cinders. Because this was a gift and it's limited-edition, I could not find the price but if it comes back next Christmas, please don't waste your money on this bath bomb anyway!
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L'Oreal Professionnel Intense Repair Masque
I have never tried anything from the L'Oreal Professional product range so I was excited to give this shampoo masque a go because my hair tends to get damaged quite easily as I dye it every month. The most important thing to me in a hair mask... +
I have never tried anything from the L'Oreal Professional product range so I was excited to give this shampoo masque a go because my hair tends to get damaged quite easily as I dye it every month.
The most important thing to me in a hair mask is the consistency - I couldn't care less for runny and watery masks - I want them to be super thick and "cling" well to the hair without dripping everywhere. Also, for some reasons, I just feel like it works better if it's thicker.
This mask smells of banana, which I loved! I mean, how many times will you come accross a hair product that smells of banana? It's not overpowering nor sickly sweet, but super pleasant!
This product does leave my hair smooth and shiny but I can't say it has really repaired my hair. Still, it's a great mask!
I have I have to use the tiniest quantity of product to cover my hair from roots to tip, so I think this tub will last a long time if you use the mask once a week. It's still pricey for an mask that, I'm sure, has tons of more affordable alternatives at the drugstore.
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L'Oreal Professionnel Intense Repair Shampoo
I have never tried anything from the L'Oreal Professional product range so I was excited to give this shampoo a go because my hair tends to get damaged quite easily as I dye it every month. This shampoo doesn't lather amazingly well but... +
I have never tried anything from the L'Oreal Professional product range so I was excited to give this shampoo a go because my hair tends to get damaged quite easily as I dye it every month.
This shampoo doesn't lather amazingly well but it's OK, it products enough foam to properly cover my scalp. It's also easy to wash and it leaves my hair squeeky clean, which is what I always look for in a shampoo.
The smell is kind of strange to me - at first I though it smell of banana but it quickly because overpowering herbally and strange!
I can't say this shampoo is anything special - like any other shampoo, it does properly clean the hair, but I didn't notice my hair being softer, shinier of volumized after use.
Honestly, I would not recommend this shampoo, especially if you take into account the steep price for such a small bottle. It's a very average products and there's plenty of similar shampoos at the drugstore for a much more affordable price.
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