Eye Cream Review: Green Pharmacy Cactus Squalane Ultra Moisturizing Eye Cream

Hello folksickles. Today's review will be for the Green Pharmacy Cactus Squalane Ultra Moisturizing Eye Cream.

Availability:  I can't seem to find a retailer online for this, but I bought it at my local Russian-speaking pharmacy for $5.69 for 15 ml (0.51 fl oz).

Would I buy this again?: No.

What is this product designed to address?

According to the packaging this is what the product is and what it does:

Green Pharmacy takes inspiration from both herbal traditions and more modern, innovative ingredients, including those used in pharmaceuticals. Using the products of this series will help to effectively address the issue of facial skin dryness, providing regeneration, moisturizing, and soothing.

Thanks to its delicate formula, the cream moisturizes, soothes, gives the skin around eyes a feeling of comfort and eliminates the problem of dryness. 

Properties:

• moisturizing
• soothing and smoothing
• increasing the elasticity of the skin
• elimination of the feeling of discomfort
• elimination of the problem of dryness
• reducing the appearance of wrinkles

Does it contain any special/beneficial ingredients?

These are the highlighted ingredients according to the packaging:

Cactus extract (Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract): is an ideal ingredient, used for both dry and oily skin. It provides very good hydration and skin toning. Thanks to a large amount of vitamins and minerals, it gives the skin moisturizing, firmness, and radiant appearance.

Squalane: is a vegetable ingredient extracted from olive oil,  shows a wide spectrum of action on the skin, moisturizes and prevents excessive water loss. It gives softness and elasticity. 

What is the texture like?

I'd describe the texture as a lightweight yet hydrating cream. 

Is it scented?

It has a watery "green" scent to it that I really enjoy: it smells fresh, not herbaceous.

My overall experience/comments on the product:
I've been using this eye cream for a few weeks now and I feel like it's hydrating and doesn't interfere with my makeup. That said, while I think this is fantastic and it's more easily accessible, my favorite remains the MIZON Multi Function Formula Snail Repair Eye Cream - because it feels both more  hydrating and I feel like it has depuffing qualities as well. I haven't found this to have particularly noticeable depuffing or brightening properties - so if you're looking for that, you might want to look for something else. I have yet to find the holy grail eye cream that will hydrated, depuff, AND brighten but I'm on the lookout for it. 

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself. 

Toner Review: PRETTYSKIN Snail Collagen Toner

Hello folksickles. Today's review will be for the PRETTYSKIN Snail Collagen Toner.

Availability: This retails anywhere from $8 - $20 for 250mL and is available at stylevana.com and yesstyle.com.

Would I buy this again?: Maybe.

What is this product designed to address?

According to yesstyle.com:

Blended with mild formulations to ensure a comfortable application without any sticky residue, making it perfect for daily use.

Designed for sensitive skin, helping to refresh and balance skin without causing irritation.

Snail Collagen: Infused with Snail Mucin Filtrate and Collagen Extract to provide skin elasticity care, while brightening up skin tone with Niacinamide.

Does it contain any special/beneficial ingredients?

Glycerin: Attracts moisture to the skin. 

Niacinamide: Has anti-inflammatory and brightening properties.

Snail Secretion Filtrate: Has hydrating and skin healing properties.

Collagen Extract: Has hydrating and tightening properties, assists with skin elasticity. 

Arginine: Helps support collagen production and hydration in the skin.

Adenosine: Has anti-inflammatory properties and helps firm skin. 

Sodium Hyaluronate: Has hydrating properties.

What is the texture like?

I'd describe the texture as being watery, refreshing, and hydrating when applied. 

Is it scented?

This has a faint, floral scent. .

My overall experience/comments on the product:
This toner leaves my skin feeling very soft and deeply hydrated. I really appreciate the boost of hydration this gives me, especially as we head into colder weather because with my dry skin, any extra lightweight boost helps. 

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

Cleanser Review: The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Foaming Cleanser

'Ello folks. Today's review will be for the The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Foaming Cleanser.

Availability: This  retails at $10 - $20 and can be purchased at yesstyle.com and target.com.

Would I buy this again?: Yes!

What is this product designed to address?

According to yesstyle.com:

Skin-brightening cleansing foam treats skin to the conditioning effect of rice water as it lifts away surface impurities, excessive oil and makeup for an immaculate and comfortable clean. Natural rice water steeps skin in needed nutrients and minerals, creating a velvety soft feel that just begs to be touched and caressed. The first and all important step to a healthy and radiant complexion.

Benefits: Leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated.

Helps to combat acne.

Effective in reducing redness in skin.

Soft and silky on skin.

Thoroughly cleanses and brightens skin.

Retains moisture in skin.

Does it contain any special/beneficial ingredients?

Glycerin: Attracts moisture to the skin.

Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, and Glyceryl Stearate: Help prevent moisture loss from the skin barrier, have hydrating properties. 

Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract (1000ppm): Has antioxidant, hydration, anti-inflammatory, exfoliating, and brightening properties; helps strengthen the skin barrier.
Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract: Has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.
Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil (10ppm): Has hydrating and antioxidant properties.

What is the texture like?

I would describe the texture of this as a thick cream that turns into a rich, fluffy foam in contact with water.

Is it scented?

This smells floral in the tube but is sweeter when I actually wash my face with it, it's sort of honey-like, I personally really like it! 

 

My overall experience/comments on the product:

I'm so happy I finally stumbled upon a cleanser that I love again! I feel like it's been a while. I'm pretty sure I had a sample of this in the past and knew I liked it, so when I saw this at Marshall's I knew I had to snag it and am obviously glad I did! This leaves my face feeling soft, soothed, hydrated, and supple. It also does a pretty good job of removing makeup when paired with a Foreo. Frankly I very rarely wash my face without the Foreo so I can't say how well it works without.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself. 

Love It Or Leave It; Review 2.0: Moira Beauty Soul of Fire Palette

Hello folksickles. As a makeup junkie and blogger you may have realized that I review a LOAD of eyeshadow palettes and I like to think of myself as being largely an eyeshadow junkie. In order to declutter a bit  I've decided to pick out a palette or series of eyeshadows for the month and have that be my monthly selection for those instances where I'm not doing a tutorial for the blog. Every month I'll do a recap on the eyeshadows - how I feel about them and whether I'll be keeping them or giving them away (and why :P) as well as if I think it's worth its price tag. 

Moira Beauty Soul of Fire Palette

You can find a look I did with the palette here. These are the looks I created this month:

So as you can see I created all sorts of colorful and/or smoky looks with these shadows. Generally speaking, the quality of this palette is incredible - the formula is buttery smooth, the shades have great color payoff, and blend together easily. That said, I will be passing this palette along. The reason being:  I feel like I have very similar shades in palettes that I'm more likely to reach for so I just don't see this particular palette getting much love and would rather give it to someone who'd appreciate it.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: I purchased this palette myself.

Love It Or Leave It; Review 2.0: Milani Gilded Violet Palette

Hello folksickles. As a makeup junkie and blogger you may have realized that I review a LOAD of eyeshadow palettes and I like to think of myself as being largely an eyeshadow junkie. In order to declutter a bit  I've decided to pick out a palette or series of eyeshadows for the month and have that be my monthly selection for those instances where I'm not doing a tutorial for the blog. Every month I'll do a recap on the eyeshadows - how I feel about them and whether I'll be keeping them or giving them away (and why :P) as well as if I think it's worth its price tag. 

Milani Gilded Violet Palette

You can find a look I did with the palette here. These are the looks I created this month:

So as you can see I created all sorts of colorful, some soft, some smoky looks with these shadows. Generally speaking, the quality of this palette is fantastic! In fact I really loved a lot of the looks that I did with it. That said, I will be passing this palette along. The reason being: I feel like I have very similar shades in palettes that I'm more likely to reach for so I just don't see this particular palette getting much love and would rather it goes to a home where it gets the love it deserves.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: My wifey gifted me this palette, all opinions are my own.