Category Archives: Reviews

Skincare Saturday: New Sunscreens on the Market

July 7, 2018Reviews, SkincareAveeno, Coppertone, LASPA, NeutrogenaChelle

New Suncreen

Sunscreen is one of those things that I’m pretty sure most people don’t find that interesting, and there certainly aren’t that many people that love reading about it on beauty blogs. BUT, it’s something we all need to be wearing, and finding the one that works the best for you is a necessity. We all have different needs in our products, and there’s a lot of sunscreen brands out there with a lot to offer. Here are four sunscreens that are new on the market/new to me, and my thoughts on them.

La Spa & Neutrogena — LaSpa & Neutrogena

LASPA SPF 30 Moisturizing Mineral Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin (not pictured) & SPF 20 Daily Sun Protection Mineral Sunscreen Lotion: LASPA is a Canadian-made brand that makes mineral sunscreen – a product I was a complete newbie to this year. In essence, mineral sunscreen is a physical protectant rather than a chemical one, and therefore nicer and healthier on you skin (huge thanks to Lindsey at Sustainably Savvy for helping me understand mineral sunscreen better!). It’s chemical, fragrance, paraben, gluten and nut free and has UVA/UVB broad spectrum protection. The downside to mineral sunscreens is that they don’t sink into your skin – leaving you with a somewhat sticky/moisturizing film on your skin. Out of the mineral sunscreen I’ve tried this summer, LASPA makes the best one I’ve tried as it creates the least amount of white reflect – there is still some, but it’s not as hugely apparent as some mineral ones I’ve tried. Unfortunately, I really need/want my sunscreens to fully sink in, and mineral sunscreens just don’t have that ability, so I’m afraid one with a mineral base just won’t be able to suit my needs. However, there is one huge benefit from this one- there’s no scent! No scent is a total rarity in sunscreen as far as I’m concerned! Please be sure to check out Lindsey’s review of this product on her blog – she does a much better job of explaining physical versus chemical and why physical sunscreens are better for the more green-conscious consumer.)
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Sunscreen SPF 50: I have raved on and on about how much I love the Neutrogena Hydro Boost range of skincare products, so it should come as no surprise that I was fairly excited to see them add an SPF into that range this year as well. I use this sunscreen predominantly on my face because I know that my face has always reacted well to the Hydro Boost gels in the past. I find this sunscreen to be quite moisturizing, and it leaves a bit of a dewy sheen on my face (not unexpected for sunscreen really) but it never felt greasy. I did find that this one had a bit more slip to the product, so you may not need to apply as much as you may be used to with other brands (while still remaining protected).

Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Sunscreen Lotion SPF 60: Much like Neutrogena, Aveeno is one of those brands that I come back to time and time again. They make some of my favourite skincare EVER (I’ve been using their daily moisturizer for about 16 years!). Sadly, this sunscreen didn’t work out as well as I had hoped. I found it didn’t sink in as much as I wanted it to, and it felt a bit greasy. I was honestly quite surprised – Aveeno’s never really let me down before, but I also don’t have a ton of experience with their sunscreens.
Coppertone Clearly Sheer Whipped Sunscreen SPF 50: Coppertone makes some of my FAVOURITE sunscreens on the market. I’ve been going back to their Sport Sunscreen for decades because it’s one of the few that won’t drip into my eyes when I’m out for a run or playing soccer. So, suffice to say, I’m always up for trying out a new Coppertone sunscreen! And I have to say… this whipped formula may be the most fun I’ve ever had with my sunscreen before (yes… really!). It comes out of the can like shaving cream and feels totally luxurious on application. It’s actually a real pleasure to apply this sunscreen – which is not a sentence I ever thought I would say! Who knew sunscreen could be fun?

So those are the latest sunscreens I’ve been trying out lately. Do you have a favourite brand for sunscreen? Tell me!

The products featured in this post were sent to me for consideration.

Skincare Saturday: The Body Shop Spa of the World Body Washes

June 16, 2018Reviews, SkincareThe Body ShopChelle

The Body Shop Spa of the World

The Body Shop‘s body washes are one of those feel good items for me because I’ve been using them for multiple decades at this point. I remember being 14 years old and absolutely cherishing their body washes – my favourite scents were Oceanus (RIP) and Satsuma – and I felt like I was sitting in the lap of luxury whenever I used them.

It’s many, many years later at this point and I’m happy to report that The Body Shop can still do no wrong with their body washes! The scents may have changed over time (please, PLEASE bring back Oceanus!) but the quality is just as good as ever. It’s one of those products where if you know you like the consistency, then it’s all about choosing what scent works for you – because you will not find a dud in the mix!

Brittany Coast Algae and Balkan Juniper Body Washes

In recent years, The Body Shop has revamped some of their range and created a more luxurious product collection – their Spa of the World range. While the quality is the same as their other body washes, the scents are more modern, more spa-centric and they really do give you that clean, spa-like scent when you use them.

The two scents featured in this post are quite different from each other, but they really do embody the whole spa aesthetic that they’re going for with this range.

Brittany Coast Algae Body Wash: An aquatic scent with a side of green courtesy of the algae. I’d almost call it a “thick” water scent because of the algae. Lovely scent!
Balkan Juniper Body Wash: This one is one hell of a “bitey” scent (it’s got a bit of kick to it), but it’s my favourite between the two in this post. I think I must like the scent of juniper because I *really* like this one. It’s not a traditional body wash scent for me – this one isn’t subtle at all – it’s almost spicy, but in a clean way. Loooove this one!

Scents are a personal matter, so what I love may not be entirely up your alley, but if you’re interested in treating yourself to an at home spa retreat, then the scents in The Body Shop’s Spa of the World collection can definitely get you there! Let me know if you’ve tried any of this range out!

The products featured in this post were sent to me for consideration. Post contains affiliate links.

Skincare Saturday: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Range

May 5, 2018Reviews, SkincareNeutrogenaChelle

Neutrogena Hydro Boost

Neutrogena‘s Hydro Boost skincare range keeps knocking it out of the park for me with every single item they add to their collection. I first fell in love with their Hydro Boost Water Gel back in April 2016 (I can’t believe it’s been that long!!!) and every time I see another product being added to their range I get so excited!

Let me take you through the Hydro Boost products I’ve tried out thus far.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Cleansing Gel and Exfoliating Cleanser

I first tried out the Exfoliating Cleanser about a year ago and loved it – it’s got the perfect amount of grit to the formula so that I really feel like my face is being properly exfoliated. The particles are small and plentiful, which is what I always need – I really dislike formulas where there’s too few scrubby bits! I exfoliate about once a week, but I’ve also been able to use this a few days in a row without issue.

New to me is the Hydrating Cleansing Gel which is 100% a new favourite of mine. I use two pumps for a full face wash and the gel consistency feels absolutely wonderful on my face. I have dry skin in the winter and this range really helps to keep the moisture in, BUT it’s also thin enough that I can use these products in the summer without having to worry about them being too heavy for my skin.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum, Gel Cream SPF 15 and Water Gel

Also new to me is the Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum which I’ve been using consistently before applying moisturizer. The texture is a little bit more thin and slippery than the moisturizers, but it works really well in combination with them. I’ve used some serums that have worked AGAINST the moisturizer in the same range (which is always baffling) and I’m happy to report that this one isn’t one of those!

As I previously mentioned, I’ve been in love with the Water Gel for quite some time (see that previous post here) and it’s what formed my basis for the entire line. In short, the gel texture on this cream is thin and smooth but extremely hydrating. My face actually feels plump after using it and it’s good for both summer and winter as it’s always hydrating but never feels heavy.

In the same vein as the Water Gel, Neutrogena has also added a pump tube of the Hydro Boost Gel Cream, but this time they’ve added SPF 15 to the formula. I do like the ease of application with the pump tube (as the Water Gel is really a bit messy in the tub), however I’m not someone who generally loves SPF in my moisturizer as I’d generally prefer to apply my own separately. That being said, this product is fantastic for those who do what that extra layer of protection from their daily moisturizer and you really can’t beat the pump top for ease of use!

I don’t fall head over heels for a lot of skincare products but the Neutrogena Hydro Boost range is one that has delivered time after time for my skin and that makes me really happy knowing that the quality and consistency of the products is always there for me.

The products featured in this post were sent to me for consideration. Post contains affiliate links.

Live Clean Earth Day Giveaway

April 21, 2018Reviews, SkincareLive CleanChelle

Live Clean Earth Day Giveaway

Live Clean is one of those brands that you can really just feel good about – they’re created and manufactured in Canada, completely vegan, cruelty and phosphate-free AND their products are actually reasonably priced! So for all of those reasons I thought they’d make the perfect brand to do a giveaway with to celebrate Earth Day!

Bonus giveaway: To celebrate Earth Month, Live Clean is running a “Digital Detox” contest – win a week at a digital free resort! Head over here to enter that giveaway!

I’ll be talking a little bit about the products I’ve chosen for this giveaway – some of them are brand new to me, and some of them are long time favourites!

While I’ve tried out the bulk of Live Clean‘s products, there’s always a few that have escaped my grasp… and the Bali Oil Shampoo and Conditioner were one of those! Honestly, I was drawn to these because of my recent vacation to Bali last September and I have to say the scent of these two has certainly lived up to my expectations! The scent is a mix of coconuts and almonds… I swear I almost want to eat it.

The Exotic Nectar Argan Oil Leave-In Conditioner Spray has become a regular in the mornings for me. My hair is quite long and basically requires some kind of detangler after I get out of the shower – so this Live Clean one has been saving the day for me. I’m nearly out of my current bottle, and I’m sooo happy to have a backup now!

Are you a bath person? Or a shower person? Either way, Live Clean has you covered! I’m almost exclusively a shower person throughout the week, and Live Clean makes a ton of scents for you to choose from. Of course, the Green Earth scent seemed like the perfect option to celebrate Earth Day!

On the weekends I’m far more likely to take a bath, which is when I tend to bust out a foam bath. I know a lot of people use shower gels to get their bubbles, but I’ve personally never been a fan of doing that, so I stick to something that actually says FOAM BATH on it – like this Lavender Vanilla Aromatherapy one. Since I usually save my long runs for the weekend, getting home and jumping in a relaxing bath is definitely one of my preferred ways to soothe my tired muscles!

Of course, keeping your skin clean and moisturized is always necessary. Right now I’ve got another bottle of the Live Clean Creamy Cleanser open in my shower and I really appreciate how gentle it is on my skin without stripping away the moisture. And honestly on the weekends, after exercising and filming for YouTube, I’m more likely to put on a night cream than a regular day cream, so the Nourishing Night Cream is a great option created for all skin types.

Of course, don’t forget to moisturize your body too! I’m fairly guilty of forgetting to do it, so I’ve tried to make it more of a habit lately by leaving moisturizers EVERYWHERE in my apartment. I appreciate how the Live Clean ones come with a pump top instead of a cap – makes it so much easier and you don’t have to be worried about gumming up the cap with your newly moisturized hands. Also a bonus? While I love the smell of Live Clean‘s products – not everyone can handle fragrance in their skincare products. The one in this giveaway is fragrance free!

Live Clean Giveaway!

One person will win:

Live Clean Green Earth Invigorating Body Wash
Live Clean Sensitive Skin Fragrance Free Body Lotion
Live Clean Bali Oil Nutri-Shine Shampoo & Conditioner
Live Clean Lavender Vanilla Aromatherapy Foam Bath
Live Clean Fresh Face Nourishing Night Cream
Live Clean Fresh Face Hydrating Creamy Cleanser
Live Clean Exotic Nectar Argan Oil Leave-In Conditioner Spray

Giveaway Rules

This giveaway is open to Canadians!
This giveaway starts on April 21, 2018 and runs for one week.
One winner will receive the prize pack described above.
Please be aware that all entries will be double checked to ensure fairness.
Once the winner has been contacted, they will have 48 hours to provide me with their mailing address. If the winner fails to respond within that time frame, I will pick another winner. (And so on.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The products featured in this post were sent to me at my request (I picked the products!) and the prize pack is being provided by the brand.

Skincare Saturday: Lomelin Skin Brightening Cream

March 3, 2018Reviews, SkincareLomelinChelle

This post is sponsored by Lomelin.

There are some products on the market that you look at and you have to wonder if they actually work. You WANT them to work, but do they really? More often than not I end up passing over items like this because I just figure it’s a gimmick – something that the brand wants me to believe, but that won’t actually show any visible results. It’s a cynical outlook really – but I’m sure it’s one that we’ve all encountered when looking at a shelf full of skincare items that promise you better, brighter skin.

I’m so glad to say that Lomelin – a skin brightening cream that promises to brighten skin appearance from excessive sun exposure, freckles and brown spots – has turned this nay-sayer into a believer (and I’ve got the photos to prove it!)

Lomelin - Skin Brightening Cream — Lomelin – Skin Brightening Cream

Lomelin, in the brand’s own words, is “a gentle, non-irritating formulation to brighten overall skin appearance and dark spots”. The targeted usage is anywhere on your body – it doesn’t have to just be on your face.

The active ingredients in Lomelin are 2% Alpha Arbutin (a new more gentler derivative of hydroquinone with all the positive suppressing effects on melanin production without any harsh side effects) and 5% Melaslow (a nature-based citrus unshiu peel extract which evens out the skin tone and reduces age spots).

The instructions say that the product should be used on the affected area twice a day – morning and night – and that results should appear gradually, but that noticeable improvement would be visible within 6 to 8 weeks. I had no sensitivities to the application and it felt like any other lotion/cream that I routinely to my body. The only real difference is that the product itself doesn’t have the best scent to my nose and I found it a little bit icky. That being said, I am *hyper* sensitive to smells and when I asked my husband to smell the container he said he couldn’t smell anything at all.

I decided to test the product out on one of my forearms so that you would be able to see a visible difference (if there was one). I have some sun damage and freckling on my forearms from years of playing around outside in the summer: running, swimming, soccer, etc., and I figured that would be the easiest way to show a difference.

I applied Lomelin solely to my right arm (marked “Test arm” above) and left my left arm (“Control arm”) alone. The photo you’re seeing above is after 3.5 weeks of using Lomelin (morning and night) and there is actually a noticeable difference! I was floored! I hadn’t been expecting that amount of freckle reduction in such a short time frame.

Initially I thought it was just me seeing things – but when I told my friend I was reviewing a skincare product for an upcoming post and asked him what differences he saw in my arms, the VERY FIRST THING he mentioned was that I had less freckles on my right arm. I couldn’t believe it – the fact that he managed to pinpoint the difference without any prompting was incredible!

So in short, YES, Lomelin actually works to reduce hyper pigmentation! I had no side effects and it only took about three weeks to see actual results.

Another amazing thing? Lomelin isn’t expensive. A 30 gram tub will set you back $44.99 CAD. For visible results? I’d say that’s a really good price tag.

And psssst… they’re Canadian!

So let me know if this is something you’re interested in. Have you tried skin brightening treatments before? Have they worked? This is the first time I’ve ever been able to say that I saw a real difference, and I have to say I’m impressed!