MintyV
Member Since: March 4, 2020Reviews
Schmidt's Bergamot + Lime Natural Deodorant
I have been on the hunt for the perfect natural deo for a few years now. I've tried Schmidt's, Live Clean, Routine, Native, and will probably try more in the future! This scent made me really excited, as I love the smell of citrus fruits. However... +
I have been on the hunt for the perfect natural deo for a few years now. I've tried Schmidt's, Live Clean, Routine, Native, and will probably try more in the future!
This scent made me really excited, as I love the smell of citrus fruits. However, I had nothing but a bad experience with it :(
I am still not sure what exactly caused a reaction, but I know for sure that is was this deodorant. It caused a rash to develop on my underarms, when I then switched to a different deo it eventually went away but it sure did hurt for a couple weeks.
-
Garnier Fructis Hydrating Aloe Treat Shampoo for Dry, Damaged Hair
I have a really hard time reviewing shampoo... I don't shower every other day, more like twice a week. My hair is thick and so I find the more I shower the faster it will get greasy. I'll get headaches the more greasy(and weighty) it is. I also... +
I have a really hard time reviewing shampoo... I don't shower every other day, more like twice a week. My hair is thick and so I find the more I shower the faster it will get greasy. I'll get headaches the more greasy(and weighty) it is. I also shampoo /twice/, as just once usually isn't enough and It will be greasy after a day.
So introducing a new product can take a while to see any noticeable changes. BUT This shampoo didn't seem to cause me any problems! I didn't notice any big changes to how my hair felt, but that's good too. Means the shampoo works well with my hair.
I was surprised to see that it's clear...and the smell is okay not anything to crazy.
The unfortunate part is that Garnier is not a cruelty-free brand. And really, it's a big player in the hair care industry. But I've never really ever wanted to buy from them, just another big brand that follows the trends.
-
teapigs Rooibos Crème Caramel
*I received this product for free from the Product Review Club* I am a casual tea drinker, but have been formally trained to steep tea (odd I know) by the owner of a local tea shop. So I can be picky with my tea and how it's steeped. Firstly this... +
*I received this product for free from the Product Review Club*
I am a casual tea drinker, but have been formally trained to steep tea (odd I know) by the owner of a local tea shop. So I can be picky with my tea and how it's steeped.
Firstly this is really nice tea. I love rooibos, my fav kind of tea hands down. I am dissapointed by the caramel flavour, it's very faint.
The tea comes in cute little triangle bags. My only question is what the material is (I should probably read the box...). I tend to drink loose leaf, and like having control over my portions since I drink my tea weak( otherwise it's too flavourful).
Man overall the tea was just dissapointing, I really wanna like it(and I do), but it just doesn't live up to the flavour name.
-
My Clarins RE-BOOST Refreshing Moisturizing Cream
*I received this product for free from the Product Review Club* Face products can be hard for me to find, I have Excoriation Disorder. Which is a OCD related disorder where I pick my face constantly either due to stress or unconsciously. This means... +
*I received this product for free from the Product Review Club*
Face products can be hard for me to find, I have Excoriation Disorder. Which is a OCD related disorder where I pick my face constantly either due to stress or unconsciously. This means most of the time there's at least one scab healing or an open wound.
Unfortunately I had a lot of gripes with this cream, but I will start with the positive.
Firstly, it didn't irritate my already irritated skin, it soaks in quickly and left my skin feeling soft. It's overall a nice feeling cream.
But the smell...it has musty floral scent that isn't overpowering but strong enough to last almost the whole day. I kept getting whiffs of it, and I don't like it.
I didn't like the packaging either, if I forgot to place it upright, it was a struggle to get any product out.
Finally the brand clarins (from my research) is not cruelty free. This is an important factor to me.
-
Green Beaver NaturaDri™ Antiperspirant, Fresh Verve
*I have received this product for free from the Product Review Club* Going from 'normal' drugstore deodorant/antiperspirant to one that will benefit the body more has been a lot easier in the last 5 years. I have tried a bunch of different brands... +
*I have received this product for free from the Product Review Club*
Going from 'normal' drugstore deodorant/antiperspirant to one that will benefit the body more has been a lot easier in the last 5 years. I have tried a bunch of different brands like routine, native, live clean, and schmidts.
Current I had been using Native's Coconut and Vanilla, it's one of my favourites. I personally sweat a lot, as I get overheated really easily, and that deo keeps the smell away for not only the whole day but the morning after as well. I work at a hospital as a housekeeper, so as you can imagine I'm on my feet constantly moving.
The construction of the dispenser is pretty typical and works. Application is easy-peasy, it quickly gets warm enough to apply quickly. I found that I couldn't smell anything, which concerned me.
tldr; I was dry, but STANK.
One of their scented ones would probably work better for me, but from what I felt...I was fairly dry and my scrubs didn't look gross. I am going to continue to use it, to see if maybe me pits change and become unscented haha.
-
Essence Lip & Color Shot
As a complete novice to makeup, I first dipped my toes(or lips lol) into lipstick. Compared to normal lip balms, I found most lipsticks too heavy. Then...I tried lip tints. They are a definite GAME CHANGER. They feel like NOTHING, it's... +
As a complete novice to makeup, I first dipped my toes(or lips lol) into lipstick. Compared to normal lip balms, I found most lipsticks too heavy.
Then...I tried lip tints. They are a definite GAME CHANGER.
They feel like NOTHING, it's amazing.
Essence, is you don't know, is a affordable Canadian brand usually sold in Shoppers Drugmart. I have tried their lip stains and nail polish and have found both to be of surprising good quality!
I have 05 Classic Simplicity, a mid red tone (mid refers to the colours saturation). I find myself always getting either mid toned reds or pinks that air on the cool/purple side. This red is almost a brick red, as it has a bit or orange in it(for orange haters, it is a red don't worry :) )
The application is easy and smooth. I can usually get away with one layer, but you could always add 2 if you want more colour. It's drying speed is about 1min (I did a test on my hand). The stain itself isn't overly powerful, so if you're looking for 'ALL THE COLOUR, ALL THE TIME' this isn't the stain for you. However, I found the way it faded very nice and subtle. With the products small size it isn't that hard to bring it with you and simply re-apply it later.
The only odd thing to me is the smell. It has an powerful fruity/floral-y smell. So please beware if you're not fond of smelly makeup.
So I used Micellar water for cleanup and it took a little bit of scrubbing(it is a stain...kind of the point). Overall painless, I'm sure a normal makeup remover would be just as if not more effective.
I would 100% recommend this product. Especially if you're new to lip tints or makeup overall and want something to try that won't break the bank, and affordable to boot!
(Pictures are of the product, and swatches; 1 layer and 2 layers)
(Technically there's always the cleanup to the left of the 1 layer one...but it cleaned up pretty nicely hahaha)
-
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Hydrating Care
I had high hopes for this. Talked to the sales person on staff about it just to make sure it wouldn't work for me. I have excoriation due to my anxiety, so there's almost always a partially open wound on my face...not the most pleasant thing but... +
I had high hopes for this. Talked to the sales person on staff about it just to make sure it wouldn't work for me. I have excoriation due to my anxiety, so there's almost always a partially open wound on my face...not the most pleasant thing but something I have to cope with and many others do as well.
I tried it out for a few weeks, but just could not jive with it. Firstly, it BURNS. Depending on how mucked up your skin is due to whatever(acne, picking, eczema, etc), you might have a bad time. Lasted about 30 seconds for me.
The texture of the cream is smooth but really thick. Just to get it out of the tube takes a little more force than you would think. Doesn't take much to cover the face and it applies easily. I am not a fan of thick creams and afterwards it almost acts like a weird antiperspirant? My face would not stop being slimey, even though the cream had soaked in. I end up always wiping my face with a tissue or napkin.
La Roche Posay is one of those higher-end brand skincare products, which you would then think it would be more effective...Unfortunately for me it just doesn't work. There are too many inconveniences to warrant continue use/another purchase.
-
Live Clean Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner
I have been using Live Clean's range of shampoos for more than 5 years. My hair is thick with waves and curls, I always shampoo twice and moisturize with conditioner/other products about once a week. What I love to do is a combo and do two... +
I have been using Live Clean's range of shampoos for more than 5 years. My hair is thick with waves and curls, I always shampoo twice and moisturize with conditioner/other products about once a week.
What I love to do is a combo and do two different Live Clean shampoos for each wash. My favourite combo so far is using the Argan Oil first and then the Smoothing one (Keratin oil) second. Afterwards my hair feels clean and dries nicely. Not as frizzy as with lower brand shampoos, eliminating the dreaded frizz triangle of powerful poofness(I look like a lion).
If you are looking for a change and are don't particularly like any post hair maintenance, I recommend any Live Clean Shampoos but especially their Argan Oil one.
(For reference I have used the two I mentioned as well as their: Colour Safe, Apple Cider and Rebalancing)
-
Eucerin complete hand repair
I had tried this out on a whim, as my sister didn't like how it worked for her. For a quick background on my hands; I can be hard on them, anxious picking combined with not keeping them warm enough leaves them irritated. I've worked in the food... +
I had tried this out on a whim, as my sister didn't like how it worked for her. For a quick background on my hands; I can be hard on them, anxious picking combined with not keeping them warm enough leaves them irritated. I've worked in the food industry before and know how constant washing can truly mess hands up.
Since using this off and on across a week, I haven't had my hands go into the danger zone!
First thing I love about the cream is the consistency. I absolutely despise thick creams, I can't stand how it feels after application, the heaviness or stickiness afterward makes me not want to move or do anything. It's labeled as being in the middle of light and rich, and I agree. You can definitely feel it for about 5 mins after applying, and BOY does it apply nicely.
I always do a little on each hand(back of the hand to lessen the amount on my palm, for comfort), about a pea or less. It sinks in quickly and has a slight stickiness that I find fades quickly. Leaves hands feeling silky soft, it's quite pleasant :)
The smell is very mild, a slight powdery smell (from the ingredients, as it is fragrance-free). Perfect for those who don't like strong smelling creams
Ultimately a really nice addition to anyone's moisturizing routine.
-
Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream
**IMPORTANT NOTE** While the product is LABELED as a cuticle butter. It is more useful for the eponychium fold(what people THINK is the cuticle but is not). The cuticle is dead skin on the nail that comes into view as the nail grows. FIRSTLY, A... +
**IMPORTANT NOTE**
While the product is LABELED as a cuticle butter. It is more useful for the eponychium fold(what people THINK is the cuticle but is not). The cuticle is dead skin on the nail that comes into view as the nail grows.
FIRSTLY, A little goes a long way with this product. Once the balm heats up a little from your body heat, light swipes can cover two fingers. I try to not rub it in too much and simply let it soak in. If you feel you are using too much, just use your own fingers instead of going back to the pot. With daily use during the winter(can be more loosey goosey depending on humidity / temp) and you can turn your eponychium fold from a crusty mess to silky smooth.
THE SCENT; The lemon scent is not your typical 'Kitchen Cleaner Lemon' and has more of an earthy smell to it. I have a baddish case of skin picking disorder (Exoriation disorder), so my fingers/skin can go to the crusty side fast. The scent and texture of the balm sometimes snap me out of that mode. Or if I find myself picking it's nice to apply as a "Sorry ;-;" to my fingers.
BURT'S BEES is a cruelty-free (certified by the leaping bunny), and the packing it comes in is cardboard and thus can be recycled. The tin itself is made of a metal material and is recyclable too! Typically it can be found for around 8-10 dollars CAD, which to some frugal can be a lot for a small cream. But if you see it on sale then it's a definite YESSS.
-
Looking for more?
Check out our other review websites:
