minala
Reviews
CLEAN RESERVE H2EAU Nectarine Petal
I’m normally a gourmand girl but I was sooo excited to try this! I thought it would be the perfect fragrance profile for spring/ summertime! Note wise, it’s an enjoyable scent: at first you get a big whiff of the sweetness of the nectarine... +
I’m normally a gourmand girl but I was sooo excited to try this! I thought it would be the perfect fragrance profile for spring/ summertime!
Note wise, it’s an enjoyable scent: at first you get a big whiff of the sweetness of the nectarine, followed by the sharp tang of flowers, here it’s peach blossom, layered with a bit of warm musk. It’s a light and simple scent that gives clean girl energy.
One thing though, as it dries down all I could smell is sweet musk, but everyone’s body chemistry is different so it’s important to try it for yourself first! Also the staying power and sillage is quite limited for something marketed as "eau de parfum". I couldn’t smell anything after a couple hours unless I put my nose right up to my skin. However, it could be because I tried the roll-on instead of the spray bottle.
I personally would layer it with another fragrance. Something one note: maybe vanilla. My collection features some complex heavy hitters so they sadly ended up overwhelming or covering the clean reserve scent altogether.
So in a nutshell, I think this would fit someone who prefers sweet & slightly floral scents that remain discreet and close-to-the-body.
- Product received for free from CLEAN RESERVE (Canada) in exchange for an honest review.
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Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream SPF 25 47mL
Tbh, I always liked the concept of cream + spf especially since it means one less step in my ✨exhaustive✨morning skincare routine 😌 So I was definitely excited to try it! I’ll review it in two part: sunscreen & hydratation. For the... +
Tbh, I always liked the concept of cream + spf especially since it means one less step in my ✨exhaustive✨morning skincare routine 😌 So I was definitely excited to try it!
I’ll review it in two part: sunscreen & hydratation.
For the sunscreen part: it applies well and dries quickly without leaving behind a white/grey cast (yay inclusivity!) or an oil field. It says “non-comedogenic" but that term isn’t regulated per say since what’s comedogenic might vary from person to person. However, the usual suspects are absent from the formula, so that’s a plus! Personally, the only outbreak I had while testing it was when I forgot to wash it off at night so just learn from my mistakes 😂 Otherwise it’s quite effective and I just top it with my usual sunscreen when needed throughout the day.
For the cream part: it’s hydrating but for parched dry skin that’s been battered my unforgivingly freezing winds, it came a little short. Definitely more a gel I’d reserve for summertime or recommend for normal to oily skin types. One thing I enjoyed is how seamlessly it blended with my makeup! Zero piling or moving around 😙
Overall, it was a pleasant product and adding SPF to your routine is the number 1 grace you can give your skin! So if you enjoy a more minimalistic skincare routine or have hectic/busy mornings, this 2 in 1 cream would definitely be for you!
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Grown Alchemist Skin Defense Primer
I, sadly, have combo skin so a good primer is the difference between ending the day with an oil field in my T-zone or looking decent. This primer did the job quite well! It comes out as a clear gel that lathers well and dries super quickly. It has... +
I, sadly, have combo skin so a good primer is the difference between ending the day with an oil field in my T-zone or looking decent. This primer did the job quite well! It comes out as a clear gel that lathers well and dries super quickly. It has a blurring effect on my pores (thankfully) and more importantly, I wore it for 8-10 hour and my makeup did not budge one bit. I ended the day as gorgeous as I started 😌
I wore it over my spf and under my liquid fondation which glided and settled perfectly like a dream. The only minus is that when I applied my cream concealer over it (MAC colour correcting palette) , I found out that if I rub it in instead of dabbing, there’s slight piling. It’s not visible but I can feel it a bit since I use my finger for application. So dab, don’t rub!
Overall I simply loved this product! If you have combo skin, this is the primer for you!
- Product received for free from Grown Alchemist in exchange for an honest review.
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Grown Alchemist Energize Body Cleanser
I received this product to review and I have to be honest: I normally associate “Energize" with minty, orangey scented products that are generally a little too abrasive for my dry skin. This gel is quite the opposite. I have very dry skin and... +
I received this product to review and I have to be honest: I normally associate “Energize" with minty, orangey scented products that are generally a little too abrasive for my dry skin. This gel is quite the opposite.
I have very dry skin and have been using it for the past couple weeks and I’m quite amazed at how gentle and soothing it is. It helped my parched skin revive and leaves it smooth and not irritated. It has the texture of a lubricant (go figure🤣) and doesn’t foam but lathers well. A bit like their hand wash gel.
Another point is the scent. I normally HATE chamomile but mixing it with bergamot and rose is genius. It actually gives it more of an herbal-y scent that I can enjoy.
So overall, for wintertime and my very dry skin, this is a perfect gel wash :)
- Product received for free from Butterly.com in exchange for an honest review.
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Grown Alchemist Restorative Body Cream
So I received this product to review and I am quite glad. Full blown winter is my very dry skin’s nemesis. So I always need a robust but still pleasant body cream and this fit the bill to a T. I honestly loved it! It’s so rich and yet lathers... +
So I received this product to review and I am quite glad. Full blown winter is my very dry skin’s nemesis. So I always need a robust but still pleasant body cream and this fit the bill to a T. I honestly loved it! It’s so rich and yet lathers well, with none of the stickiness/heaviness I sometimes find in heavy creams. I tried it for the past couple weeks and it left my skin super smooth and hydrated. The all natura ingredients and vitamin C is great bonus. Plus, I loved the smell! It has the sweetness of the mandarin, undercut with a slight hint of "herbal-ness" coming from the bay leaf. It’s a gentle, elegant and soothing combo. So definitely a 5 stars product :)
- Product received for free from Butterly.com in exchange for an honest review.
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Grown Alchemist Hand Wash: Sweet Orange, Cedarwood, Sage
The hand wash was quite hydrating! It has a gel like texture, doesn’t foam much and feels gentle on the skin. It has a very strong and (for me) manly, slightly medicinal scent to it. While it’s meant to be orange, cedar wood and sage, the two... +
The hand wash was quite hydrating! It has a gel like texture, doesn’t foam much and feels gentle on the skin. It has a very strong and (for me) manly, slightly medicinal scent to it. While it’s meant to be orange, cedar wood and sage, the two last scents are the most present and overpowering ones. Still enjoyable!
- Product received for free from Butterly.com in exchange for an honest review.
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Grown Alchemist Hand Cream: Vanilla, Orange Peel
I’m pleasantly surprised by the quality of this hand cream… it’s absolutely heavenly. It glides on like a dream, zero stickiness and left my over washed hands soooooo smooth. I’m literally in love with it! It’s even better than the... +
I’m pleasantly surprised by the quality of this hand cream… it’s absolutely heavenly. It glides on like a dream, zero stickiness and left my over washed hands soooooo smooth. I’m literally in love with it! It’s even better than the Occitane one, and the smell… pure perfection. Some cream lean into either nose bitingly sharp florals, fruity sickly sweets or veer straight into medicinal-y territory. Well, not this one: it has the most gentle and authentic orange scent with a hint of vanilla sweetness to balance it out. It has such a calming quality to it. I’m even catching myself sniffing my hands every once in a while 😳
- Product received for free from Butterly.com in exchange for an honest review.
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Trojan Duet 2-in-1 Vibrating Massager + Ring
I’m really glad I received this toy to review: it has a sleek design, is incredibly smooth and is decently sized (under 3 inch length from top of the head to control button and around 2 inch width for the ring). It made for *ahem* maaaany fun and... +
I’m really glad I received this toy to review: it has a sleek design, is incredibly smooth and is decently sized (under 3 inch length from top of the head to control button and around 2 inch width for the ring). It made for *ahem* maaaany fun and creative uses. We really enjoyed it! I also liked that there’s quite a few settings. This toy has 2 motors, one for the ring and one for the head. They can be either activated separately or jointly, so 3 modes + 5 speed settings for each. It wasn’t too loud as well —at the lowest setting, it’s a very low humming sound but at the highest setting, it is a tad more noticeable. Overall, it’s a cool product and I would have given it 5 stars if the ring and head could be detached —more avenues for fun and all ;)
On a final hilarious note: I don’t know who among y’all needed to hear this but, as stated in the manual, and underlined in capital letters… this toy is NOT dishwasher safe 🤣
- Product received for free from Butterly.com in exchange for an honest review.
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AVEENO® Tone + Texture Renewing Night Cream
I received this #freeproduct to review. It’s meant to even out bumpy skin so I tried it for a couple weeks and it worked well enough! Just depends on where though. For my tenacious 🍓 legs, it had mildl results: the texture got better but it... +
I received this #freeproduct to review. It’s meant to even out bumpy skin so I tried it for a couple weeks and it worked well enough! Just depends on where though. For my tenacious 🍓 legs, it had mildl results: the texture got better but it didn’t take off the strawberry part 🙃 For my arms however, it worked wonders. I just a bit of a bumpy texture and that took care of it. So happy with it. Now, this cream has a very dry and thick texture when applying but no smell. Personally I didn’t mind it! -
Aveeno® Calm + Restore Nourishing PHA Exfoliator
So I received this #freeproduct to review. Honestly, I quite liked it. I used it in the morning when my face was a little irritated and sensitive and I had no issue. Its texture is very creamy and it doesn’t foam, which I prefer. Just one... +
So I received this #freeproduct to review. Honestly, I quite liked it. I used it in the morning when my face was a little irritated and sensitive and I had no issue. Its texture is very creamy and it doesn’t foam, which I prefer.
Just one thing though, I’m a bit wary of the term "exfoliator". I know chemical exfoliator can be quite gentle on the skin in low concentration but I’d rather not have any in a face cleanser meant for sensitive skin .I didn’t feel any tingling or burning when my skin was irritated but I also understand that you can’t always feel irritation per say. So I’m not sure what to think.
Also, I know doesn’t claim to be able to wash off make-up and… it really doesn’t 🤣🤣 I just used it at night as the second step after my Tatcha cleanser, which does, and it fit in nicely.
I’d say that overall it’s a decent product!
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