And the longest product name goes to the Supergoop! SPF 35+ Save Face A.M. Moisturizer with Advanced UV Protection. It's such a mouthful that I'm simply going to call it the "Supergoop! Save Face" from here on out.
Supergoop! Description:
The essential first step in a complete morning skincare regimen, Save Face A.M. is a two-in-one sunscreen-moisturizers that protects against sun and environmental damage in a shine-free, weightless lotion.
Key Ingredients
- Parsol: Provides protection from long wavelength UVA rays and boosts UV protection to meet EU recommendations for high-protection sunscreen.
- Blueberry Extract: Supercharged antioxidant helps prevent and repair oxidative damage and assists in boosting the regenerative power of the skin's cells to improve skin's smoothness, wrinkles, texture, and elasticity.
- Vitamin E: Antioxidant-rich extract to protect from free radicals triggered by sunlight, tobacco smoke, and smog.
Key Benefits
- Blends beautifully into the skin without leaving a shiny or a white, chalky finish
- Airless finger pump preserves the strength of the active ingredients while allowing every last drop to be dispensed from the tube
- Very water resistant (up to 80 minutes in water)
We're deep into summer now but I know there are still a few lazies frolicking in the sun without a sunscreen on. The lazies (like me!) loathe spending extra time applying moisturizer over sunscreen but to make it easier, Doctor T (A. Thaggard M.D.) of Supergoop! created a time saving 2-in-1 sunscreen+moisturizer. If you're OCD and want to reduce the amount of jars or tubes sitting on your vanity, Save Face also has you covered.
While the 2-in-1 product sounds terrific, Supergoop! Save Face isn't my number one pick for this summer and won't be for the next. Even though Save Face protects against UVA (PA++) and UVB (SPF 35) rays, the formula just isn't cutting it for me.
The promise of "no white, chalky finish" is promise met but there's still a problem with shine and a slight greasy feeling. The greasiness never settles and it makes my base makeup slide right off within a few hours. At least the sunscreen doesn't sting my eyes if it slides into my eyes.
For 90 ml worth of product the $28 price tag seems reasonable but then again, I have nothing to compare this to. The scent starts off like a "it came from your car engine" but it simmers down to your average sunscreen scent.
What I will comment nicely on is the packaging. The upside down tube is sturdy but not heavy. Instead of squeezing the moisturizer out, there's a pump instead that dispenses and even amount of Save Face each time. I use one pump for my entire face and another half a pump for my ears and neck. It has been nearly three months of using Save Face and I'm finally half way through my tube, not too shabby.
Bottom Line:
If you're in the market for a sunscreen & moisturizer combo for daily wear, Supergoop! Save Face is not the way to go. This would make for a great beach or pool-side face AND body sunscreen (it's water resistant) but it's not affordable if used that way.
Perhaps it's just the province I'm in but it looks like the brand is also unavailable locally in Canada. If you're still interested in Save Face or any other Supergoop! sunscreen, check the Sephora or Supergoop! website for availability.
Ingredients
Confession time: Despite being a lip balm aficionado, I have never tried the original Carmex lip balm. However, I recently tried the new Carmex Moisture Plus tinted lip balms and I am in love with them!
Now I already have a holy grail lip balm but I'm still in search of a holy grail tinted lip balm. The Moisture Plus Tints come very close but there are two things I would like to see adjusted - the availability and SPF.
As of now, the Carmex Moisture Plus Tints are only available at Walgreens within the U.S. and the Walgreens website. I purchased my two tints in Seattle but the Moisture Plus in Clear (a "satin gloss finish") is available at select Save On Foods and Shoppers Drug Marts throughout Canada.
With only SPF 15, I still rely on Jack Black for minimal sun protection. How tedious is to apply not one but two lip balms throughout the day?
Nagging aside, Carmex did good with these new lip balms.Unlike most tinted lip balms, the Moisture Plus Tints are the only ones to ever give me that natural "My Lips but Better" look while being mildly moisturizing. I prefer Sheer Pink over Sheer Peach though, what do you think?
Sheer Pink
Sheer Peach
Another good thing to note is that these tints won't leave a nasty white rim around the inner lips like some lip balms are guilty of.
But on account of the creamy formula, I have to be very careful of leaving these lip balms out in a sunny area or car because they will melt. It happened once but I was able to salvage the lip balm (pop it in the freezer!).The so called "sleek" packaging is nothing more than a slim grey tube with a fancy swivel up slant tip applicator. Carmex added a color strip on the middle of the tube that indicates which color the tint is rather than have a small sticker with an unreadable font on the bottom; nice touch.
The scent is also harmless; similar to vanilla ice cream or cupcake batter but less sickly.
Bottom Line:
If you can get your hands on it and like a fuss free "My Lips but Better" look, I certainly recommend the Carmex Moisture Plus Tints.
Active Ingredients
Octinoxate (6.0%), Oxybenzone (5.0%)
Ingredients (Tints)
aloe barbadensis leaf extract (aloe butter), beeswax, butylrospermum parkii (shea butter) fruit, C10-30 cholesterol/lanosterol esters, camphor, caprylic/capric triglyceride, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil, cocos nucifera oil, ethylhexyl palmitate, euphorbia cerifera (candelilla) wax, flavor, isopropyl palmitate, lecithin, limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil, meadowfoam delta-lactone, menthol, olea europaea (olive) oil unsaponifiables, ozokerite, palmitoyl oligopeptide, paraffin, persea gratissima (avocado butter), phenol, PPG-3 benzyl ether, hydrogenated vegetable oil, (castor) seed oil, saccharin, sorbitan isostearate, sorbitan tristearate, tocopheryl linoleate (vitamin E linoleate), tribehenin. May contain: Titanium Dioxide(CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491,CI 77492,CI 77499), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090
"Gee Ashley, why don't you make the post title even longer while you're at it..."
The title is lengthy so it's a good indication that this review will be lengthy as well. It's technically three reviews jammed into one post. Since all of the products are attached to The Body Shop's Rainforest Moisture line, it only makes sense to review them all together.I have spent three glorious weeks with the Rainforest Moisture line now and although I can't say my hair is better than ever, it's pretty darn close.
Special Information About My Hair
My hair is no longer color-damaged as the only type of hair dyes I have used since a mega hair-catastrophe in 2009 are temp's & henna's. It has taken me two years to grow out my hair and be able to snip out all the color-treated bits without going bald.
In its natural state, my hair is a boring black-brown shade that sports a fine texture. It's thin but very soft. I'd love my hair if it wasn't for my dry, flaking scalp. I occasionally get tangles and frizzing all the time thanks to heat styling but simple things like skipping a washing and using a deep conditioner can fix a majority of my issues. I also need extra help from a de-frizzing serum in the colder months.
The shampoo, conditioner, and hair butter are geared towards dry and damaged hair. They are all free of silicones, colorants, and parabens. It's a line that I've enjoyed and must review because the hair butter is holy grail status.
Beginning with the shampoo, the Body Shop's description:
Help restore moisture and improve the hair's softness without weighing it down, for a smooth and shiny finish using a moisturizing shampoo without silicones, sulphates, parabens or colorants. With pracaxi oil, manketti nut oil and Community Trade honey and sugar.
Key Ingredients
- Glycerin: an effective moisturizer which helps improve softness and maximize hydration.
- Organic honey: Moisturizes and helps condition the skin. Helps protect and preserve the forest as well as providing necessary income for beekeepers, an increasing number of which are now women.
I didn't know the shampoo contained honey before I started this review. It most definitely explains why the shampoo is quite thick and heavy in texture (but it's not sticky). Unlike the average shampoo, this one is free of sulphates and why I find this so special is because even without it, the shampoo still lathers a small amount and does a great job at cleaning my hair. As a "moisturizing" shampoo, this doesn't leave my scalp feeling extra greasy or my hair extra heavy or lighter. There are some knots that I need to comb out after I wash my hair and the shampoo alone can't defeat The Frizz but at least my hair is soft and shinier.
Next up , the conditioner:
Read the description for the shampoo but replace the word 'shampoo' with 'conditioner' and viola, the description. The Body Shop really isn't any more clever with titles or descriptions than I am which might explain why we're such great friends.
The conditioner is almost perfect. It leaves my hair soft, untangled but still a tad frizzy. Since the conditioner doesn't weigh my hair down and rinses out extremely well while still conditioning my hair, I can use it every time I wash my hair rather than every other time. Something about conditioning my hair is so relaxing. I hate having to go a day without conditioner but sometimes too much of a good thing will only reap havoc.
However, my ultimate favorite from the Rainforest Moisture line has to be the Hair Butter. It's utter perfection.
The Body Shop's Description:
Create soft, glossy, and tangle-free hair using a luxuriously rich and intensive deep conditioning treatment without silicones, sulphates, parabens or colorants. With pracaxi oil, manketti nut oil and Community Trade honey and olive oil.
Key Ingredients
- Glycerin: an effective moisturizer which helps improve softness and maximize hydration.
- Organic honey: moisturizers and helps condition the skin.
- Organic olive oil: a natural moisturizer for normal to dry skin. It also helps condition hair and gift it a silky shine. Our olive oil is organic, and it comes from our Community Trade partners in southern Italy.
I absolutely love this hair butter and it's taken the spot of my previous holy grail, the Shiseido Tsubaki Golden Repair Treatment Conditioner!
It's definitely not as intense as the Shiseido treatment but my hair is no longer damaged like it once was. It's also easier to repurchase and goes on sale more frequently too.
The hair butter feels like soft butter; thick but melts into bread hair easily. It's so nice and creamy but never heavy or greasy. It washes out fairly well but at least 5% of it stays in my hair which might explain why my hair feels moisturized and protected. I don't feel any extra weight in my hair either which is phenomenal. I can comb through my hair without knotting up or feeling static-y. It's so soft and silky, just unbelievable and then it gets better...
My hair has a coat of resistance after using the hair butter. I normally heat dry my hair so I need a heat protectant spray but with the hair butter, I don't. In other words, this butter is also a good protectant. I'll only use it twice a week so my hair doesn't grow resistant to it but it takes an army each night not to use it.
All in all, I like the Rainforest Moisture line but it did smell a bit different for the first four uses. Everything is very lightly scented and doesn't linger. I believe we as consumers are suppose to smell hints of honey but it's very light; warm but clean but again, it isn't very strong and the scent doesn't stay long. I catch whiffs of it when my hair whips into my face *ouch*.
Bottom Line:
If your hair is nothing like mine or in a state like mine, the Rainforest Moisture line probably won't work for you. If you must try it, The Body Shop has a travel kit of the entire Rainforest Moisture line for $15.00. It includes a green detangling comb that is 100% recycled plastic(?).
Overall, I'll repurchase the Rainforest Moisture Hair Butter and of course I highly recommend it to anyone with dry hair. It may just work for dry and damaged hair but at $8 and available locally, it doesn't hurt to try.
The shampoo is great for anyone with dry hair and hates sulphates in their shampoo or parabens and silicones period. There's definitely not a cheaper shampoo out there of this quality.
The conditioner is good but the hair butter is better so I'll safely skip that, as should you.
The prices vary for the shampoo and conditioner because there are 3 sizes to choose from but none are horrible considering how well they perform and follow through with their claims.
Ingredients (Shampoo)
Water (Solvent/Diluent), Sucrose (Depilatory Agent), Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate (Surfactant), Lauryl Betaine (Surfactant), Laureth-5 Carboxylic Acid (Surfactant - Cleansing Agent), Honey (Natural Additive), PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate (Surfactant), Propylene Glycol (Humectant), Sodium Chloride (Viscosity Modifier), Glycerin (Humectant), Fragrance (Fragrance), Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Sucrose Laurate (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Isopropyl Alcohol (Solvent), Polyquaternium-6 (Conditioner), Salicylic Acid (Preservative/Hair Conditioner), Citric Acid (pH Adjuster), Schinziophyton Rautanenii (Mongongo) Kernel Oil (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Sodium Hydroxide (pH Adjuster), Tocopherol (Antioxidant).
Ingredients (Condtioner)
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Distearoylethyl Hydroxyethymonium Methosulfate, Cocus Nucifera Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oilm Citric Acid, Cetyl Esters, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Hydroxyproply Guar, Schinziophyton Rautanenii Kernal Oil, Salicylic Acid, Mel, Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil, Tocopherol.
Ingredients (Hair Butter)
Aqua, Cetearyl Alcohol, Distearoylethyl Hydroxyethymonium Methosulfate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Esters, Glycerin, Schinziophyton Rautanenii Kernal Oil, Benzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate ,Mel, Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopheral.
Boy, what a depressing blog title...
Don't fret dear, I'm only talking about all of the products I have used up since January to July!
Besides showing off my most amazing purchases, I also love to brag about using up a pile of products. It's insanely hard to use up anything when you're a hoarder like me, believe me.
I'll start off with the small stuff:
My new favorite hair products. If only the Suave dry shampoo was available in Canada.
Good thing I picked up two bottles of it when I was in Seattle because I only used my first bottle ten times before it went empty (wtf??). The Body Shop shampoo & condition will be reviewed very soon. It's good stuff!
I finished a few full sized tubes of mascaras too but I accidentally threw those out yet I remembered to keep the sample sizes... Let's blame my selective memory for that.
I'm really glad I get to throw out this small collection of eye make up though.
The Physicians Formula Eye Booster serum in Clear doesn't work. I'm glad there was a full rebate sticker included because I seriously want my money back.
Clinique mascaras are horrible for my thin, pin straight lashes. They weight down my lashes (can't hold a curl for the life of it) and smudge at the tiniest sight of tears. I have tried Benefit Bad Gal twice now and I still hate it.
Lancome Définicils is the best mascara I have tried for lengthening but it's not something I'd purchase. I don't pay for mascaras over $10 unless it's a Japanese brand. I've been spoiled by Kiss Me Heroine Make and Dejavu Fiberwig!
A random assortment of cleansers and make up removers.
I used the Bioré cleansers to clean my facial clothes and make up brushes. Good for the brushes, bad for my face. The make up removers to remove make up of course. I prefer cleansing oils/waters now but these duo-phase make up removers are good. Too bad they're a waste of cotton pads and tissue. Can't you see I'm trying to shrink my carbon foot print??
The Vaseline lotion was only half full (or empty) when I started using it in January. The SO left it with me so he didn't have to take it back home with him on his last visit (lazy); yet it took me half a year to finish it. My excuse is that I have been rotating various lotion samples throughout this time. The Elizabeth Grant Lubricating Body Cream was from a Luxe's May order. Do not like it - it's sticky and smells like glue. Do not like Nivea's lotion either but I had to use it all up, including this extra sample packet of it from an Elle magazine.
When did I buy this exfoliator? It feels like I've had it forever but it can't have been too long.
I actually really like this and will probably do a review on it. If I didn't have the Salux, I would repurchase this or try out the infamous Soap & Glory Flake Away scrub!
Another random assortment of cleansers but toners as well. Eye spy a sad and empty bottle of CURE Natural Aqua Gel, do you?
I have reviewed most of the items in this picture or have spoken briefly about them. The only products I am not a fan of is the Lancôme toner and the Clinique toner. Something about mid to high-end toners always ticks me off. It could be the amount of alcohol that's in them or my skin but I'll stick to softeners and lotions from now on. Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion, anyone?
So this is my collection of empty bottles and tubes dedicated to a post where I can brag about the stuff I have used up instead of stuff I have purchased! I am upset that I can't brag a bit more because of empty bottles that have gone missing but there's always a next time.
In fact, I have a few bottles nearing it's recycling death but I'm saving that for later!
What have you used up recently and do you ever recycle afterwards? I'm thinking of joining Terracycle.com but I normally put my empties in the blue recycling basket for weekly recycling.
Welcome to yet another review of the ever-so popular CURE Natural Aqua Gel. I like to review reviewed-to-death products, have you noticed?
If you don't know what CURE Natural Aqua Gel is, it is chemical exfoliator made in Japan with a high cult standing. Compared to a physical exfoliator which requires manual scrubbing with "micro beads" or "scrubbers", chemical exfoliators involve a process of peeling. Unlike highly acidic chemical peels, CURE is made up of 90% revitalized hydrogen water, aloe vera, ginkgo and rosemary plant extracts which is gentler on the skin (full ingredient list at the bottom).
My lovely mother purchased CURE Natural Aqua Gel at a random Watsons in Hong Kong. It costs around $30CAD and has an expiry date of 6 months after initial opening. After reading several reviews and complaints that this exfoliator expires too soon to the point not even half of the product is finished, I need to debunk these claims.
I have tried and tested CURE since January and it's now July - that is six months folks.
Take a look at my sad & empty bottle of CURE:
This exfoliator is meant to be used on the face and body so with 1-2 times usage on the face, once on elbows and legs - three pumps for each area - it can be finished within the six month expiry date! Unlike Japalang, the instructions on my bottle say to use three pumps opposed to a "small amount":
The neat thing about CURE is that it comes out as a thin gel but turns into a milky white water as it is massaged onto the skin. With a little more massaging the gel/water will start to "pill"; form into solid white balls.
A demonstration of CURE courtesy of Japalang:
In Step 3, you see a ball of dead skin and dirt; that is what you will see on yourself when you use CURE.
What I like about CURE Natural Aqua Gel is how gentle it is on my face and body. Even though I use the Clarisonic around three to four times a week, I can still use CURE twice a week. I also enjoy using CURE to exfoliate my legs before I shave them and on my elbows because they can get a bit ashy. A strange way I use CURE is on my underarms. All deodorants irritate my underarms to the point where the area dries up and flakes but since I enjoy wearing sleeveless tops, I need smooth looking underarms. This gentle exfoliator helps remove the dead skin and leaves me with smooth looking pits (and everything else)!
Not only does CURE always leave me with smooth skin, it also helps my skin emit this radiance. My skin literally glows like Mr. Clean's bald head and it feels squeaky clean without drying or irritating my skin beyond relief. It's gentle and more effective than any physical exfoliator that I have tried so far.
The a scan code on the back for Blackberry, Android, and iPhone users is very neat. This is the first time I've ever seen a scan code on a cosmetic product. Sorry, I'm a bit lame.
It's good to know there's the price in yen printed on the bottle too:
What I hate about CURE is how it is not officially sold outside of Asia but if I can find a seller, the price is outrageous. If I want to repurchase this beauty in a bottle, I'll have to fork out almost twice the original price. I don't think it's fair for me to have to pay high end costs for a drugstore skincare item and because the exfoliator expires quicker than most generic exfoliators, it's too expensive for long-term use. Lastly, the scent of the exfoliator is like dirty dish water with a drip of vodka. Blegh!
Bottom Line:
I recommend everyone try CURE Natural Aqua Gel at least once and decide for yourself if it is worth the regular price (~$26) or inflated price ($40+). The product itself is awesome but I simply can't justify paying twice the original price for something that expires quickly.
Have you tried CURE before?
Disclosure
Make-Up Kismet is a personal blog written and edited by myself. This blog was created to share my experiences with whom ever reads it.
All reviews posted are written by me and are my honest opinions. All products reviewed are purchased by me for personal and/or review purposes unless stated otherwise. Each person is different, as are our experiences. With that said, I cannot be held responsible for any unsatisfying reaction to a product I review or recommend.
Photos on this blog are either from Google, other Bloggers or, my own. I try to depict all products as accurately as possible. I may edit photos for this purpose.
