Friday, November 12, 2021

Trader Joe's Kombucha Black Tea Cleansing Oil Review

'Ello folksickles. Today's review will be for Trader Joe's Kombucha Black Tea Cleansing Oil.

Availability:  This is exclusive to the Trader Joe's 12 Days of Beauty advent calendar which you can find exclusively at Trader Joe's (I would suggest calling your local store(s) before heading out there to make sure this is in stock, and potentially have it put on hold, if you want it).

Would I buy this? No.

What is this product? What is it supposed to do?
There's no particular official literature on this product but my guess would be that this is meant to be a makeup removing cleansing oil. The directions would have me believe that this, theoretically, can be used as a standalone product but I personally like to use cleansing oils as the first step to a double cleanse and then follow up with a creamy, bubbly foaming cleanser.

Does this contain any special/beneficial ingredients?
Safflower Seed Oil: Has anti-inflammatory properties.
Sunflower Seed Oil: Helps to soften and moisturize the skin.
Hyaluronic Acid: Helps bind hydration to the skin.
Kombucha Tea Ferment: Has anti-inflammatory properties, helps to boost skin's elasticity.
Vitamin E: Has anti-oxidant properties.
Coconut Oil: Has moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.
Glycerin: Helps draw moisture to the skin.
Sweet Almond Oil: Has anti-oxidant properties.
Tangerine Peel Oil: Has anti-fungal and antiseptic properties.

What is the texture like?
This has a fairly lightweight, albeit slightly greasy texture to it that spreads easily across the skin. 

Is this scented?
To me this has a delicious, slightly sweet black tea scent. Personally I don't like the fermented flavor of kombucha as it comes across as somewhat vinegar-y or occasionally sweaty feet-like to me but I wish it tasted the way this smells because, as you folx know, I love tea scents and this smells incredible! 

What has my experience with the product been like?
Unfortunately, despite its wonderful scent, this isn't the best thing to remove heavy makeup. If you're someone who hardly wears more than a lip balm and tinted moisturizer I'd say you're fine but if you're someone who likes a more full glam this barely removes the surface and takes quite a bit of working into the skin to remove something like eyeliner. In fact I found it a bit irritating around the eye area. It rinses off very cleanly and is lightweight so I can totally understand how someone who maybe wears very light makeup or no makeup at all would like it as a standalone cleanser.
 
Please let me know if you have any comments or questions.

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Sleeping Mask Review: Trader Joe's Pumpkin Overnight Face Mask

'Ello folksickles. Today's review will be for the Trader Joe's Pumpkin Overnight Face Mask.

Availability: This product retails at $6.99 and is exclusive to Trader Joe's.

Would I buy this? I'm not sure.

What it is formulated to do:
Frankly I can't find any literature specifically from Trader Joe's but given my knowledge of enzyme ingredients and squalane this is meant to brighten the skin by providing gentle exfoliation and hydrates with its squalane component.

Does it contain any special/beneficial ingredients?
Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Sugar: Draws moisture into the skin and, in the cause of the hyaluronic, helps skin hold on to moisture.
Squalane: Has hydrating and anti-inflammatory properties.
Pumpkin Extract, Papain and Papaya Fruit Extract, Glycolic Acid: All have exfoliating properties and help smooth out the texture of the skin and give it a glow by means of removing dead skin cells. Pumpkin is also rich in Vitamins A and C, which have antioxidant properties. Papaya has anti-inflammatory properties as well. 
Vitamin E: Has antioxidant properties.

What is the texture like?
This has a gel-cream texture that has a slightly balmy feeling when it's worked into the skin. This absorbs fairly quickly. 

Is it scented?
This has a very soft pumpkin-papaya scent that's layered over a "clean" product fragrance. 

My overall experience/comments on the product:
Initially I was afraid of using this as a sleeping mask because of all its exfoliating ingredients. I thought it might be a bit too intense or potentially over-exfoliating for me considering I personally like to use sleeping masks as a hydration booster. That said, I didn't find this irritating at all. It leaves my skin feeling smooth and soft immediately after application and I wake up with a nice glow.

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

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

Saturday, November 6, 2021

Eye Cream Review: Trader Joe's Supreme Hydrating Eye Cream

Hello folksickles. Today's review will be for the Trader Joe's Supreme Hydrating Eye Cream.

Availability: This product is exclusive to Trader Joe's where it retails at $5.99.

Would I buy this again?: It's definitely possible.

What is this product designed to address?
I can't find any official literature on this from Trader Joe's themselves anywhere so honestly, given its name and the claims on the front of the packaging I would personally assume this product is meant to hydrate and provide some skin smoothing from the ingredients highlighted on the front of the box.

Does it contain any special/beneficial ingredients?
Betaine: Helps prevent wrinkles.
Glycerin: This acts as a humectant, attracting moisture to the skin.
Sweet Almond Oil, Shea Butter, Argan Oil, Marula Seed Oil: These all have hydrating benefits along with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Manuka Honey: Has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
Vitamin E: Has antioxidant properties and acts as a preservative for the product.
Rosehip Seed Oil: Has hydrating, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Marine Collagen: Honestly it's up in the air whether applying collagen topically actually does anything to benefit the collagen your skin produces. That being said, I find that collagen in products provides a bouncy texture and a burst of gelatinous hydration that I personally really enjoy.
Squalane: Has hydrating and anti-inflammatory properties. Helps to smooth skin's texture. 
Hibiscus Extract: Hibiscus is rich in Vitamin C which helps to brighten, tighten, and lighten the skin. It essentially assists with brightening and production of collagen and elastin which keep skin bouncy.
Coenzyme Q10: Has anti-oxidant properties.

What is the texture like?
This has a lightweight cream texture to it that feels hydrating when applied.

Is it scented?
I'd describe this as having a "clean" scent.

My overall experience/comments on the product:
I really like how hydrating yet lightweight this eye cream is. That said, I feel like calling it "supreme hydrating" will unfortunately lead people to think of this as some intense hydrating treatment which, frankly, it isn't. It's good for people like myself who need the hydration but whose skin cannot handle thick, balmy products. Personally the reason I like this so much is because it gives me the hydration I need - it literally got rid of the (slight) eczema patches I had by my lash-line within a few days of use, which I appreciate - without being a heavy product. I've noticed that this plays really nicely with eye makeup and doesn't cause me any issues with either my concealer or eyeshadow creasing any more than normal. That being said, I would say that this particular eye cream delivers on hydration specifically. If you're looking for something with brightening or de-puffing qualities this isn't going to do. Personally I'm iffy on purchasing again because while I like that this keeps my eczema at bay, I could also use some de-puffing properties. If only this had caffeine in it along with everything else I feel like I'd like it a lot more. That being said, it's a great product for its price point and if you want to try it out I'd recommend you do. 

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

Disclaimer: I bought this myself. 

Thursday, November 4, 2021

October 2021 Departures

Ok folksickles. Departure blogs will contain items that aren't empties but that are going to be given away for one reason or another. I'm working hard to curate my makeup collection and want it to include only the products that I think truly work well, that I reach for often and do what they're supposed to do.

1.  ColourPop Super Shock Shadows: As I've said in my Love it or Leave it post on these they have this odd quality of having glitter that just doesn't integrate with the shade itself so I shall be passing them along. These are the shades:

2. e.l.f. Liquid Glitter Eyeshadow in disco queen: This is a really pretty glitter shadow but I just don't see myself reaching for this color.

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

Disclaimer: I purchased these items myself with the exception of the e.l.f. eyeshadow.

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

October 2021 Arrivals

Ok folksickles! Look at me for a change, pretty much only buying essentials. 

1. e.l.f. Mini Haul: So I'm running low on powder and decided to consult my wish list that I've been keeping through the years where I've listed products I want to buy based on reviews I've seen here or there and e.l.f. powder was at the top of the powders list so here we are. They are doing free shipping on all orders and offering (full size!) free gifts so I figured this was as opportune a time as any to pick up a few things:
Total Face Sponge Duo
Halo Glow Setting Powder in Light
HD Powder in Sheer
Stay All Night Micro-Fine Setting Mist

2. wet n wild Breakup Proof Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner: It was time to replace my eyeliner and I decided to give this one a try. I am very curious to its cry-proof claim as even waterproof formulas break down if my eyes themselves water too much - I've personally never felt that it was false advertising on behalf of the product claims though as tears have a saline component that perhaps the waterproof claim doesn't guard against.

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

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above with the exception of my e.l.f. gift.

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

October 2021 Favorites

Hey folksickles,

Alright, all the goodies I've been enjoying in October :) 
1. Essie Passport To Happiness: I really love the color mint, as many of you know so honestly it does make me genuinely happy to see this color on my nails when I use it.

2. Asakuki 300ml Ultrasonic Diffuser: So the diffuser I was using before this broke and I decided to replace it with this one. I really love having a diffuser in general but I like the design of this - I think it looks like a cute little bulb and I like the "wood" grain print on its base. These come in different shapes and sizes but something about the bulb-shaped one was really appealing to me. 

3. The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: I haven't used this in a while and now that I am, I see such a difference in just the texture of my skin and a reduction in redness. I know that I always rave about squalane but the difference it makes when I don't use it and come back to it is just so noticeable to me. My skin is A LOT less inflamed or dry and its texture is so buttery smooth. Every time I put makeup on I marvel and how smoothly everything goes on and I know it's squalane's work. 

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

Disclaimer: I paid for the products mentioned above myself.

Monday, November 1, 2021

October 2021 Empties

All my monthly trash on display for you to see. :P

Sheet Masks Galore:
the Saem Oatmeal Natural Oatmeal Mask Sheet: I wasn't sure what to expect with this but it's a really nice hydrating mask despite having a clear serum. I find the serum to have a nice viscosity to it where it's not dripping all over the skin and feels very nourishing. 
the Saem Honey Natural Honey Mask Sheet: Much like the mask above, this is a very hydrating, softening mask with a nice viscous serum that tends to stay with the mask and not drip all over the place.
WONJIN Effect Power Rejuvenation Concentrated Essence Mask: This mask felt intensely hydrating and left my skin feeling really smooth. 
WONJIN Energy Infusion Concentrated Essence Mask: This mask is lightly hydrating and left my skin feeling smooth and soft. It also has a nice refreshing, "green" type of scent.
TONYMOLY I'm Rose Mask Sheet: This is a nice lightly hydrating rose-scented sheet mask. 

2. Essie Closing Night Gel Couture Polish: This is a really pretty elegant gray color and I'm sad to discard it but it's down to the bottom.

3.  Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream: I was using this to treat my bodily eczema and have ran out. I really like that this is deeply nourishing without being a very heavy or sticky product. 

4. Bath & Body Works PocketBac in Banana Rama Beach? Alpaca Towel: I thought this was such a cute hand sanitizer because I always pack an extra towel for when I go to the beach for sitting on (because wiping oneself off with a sandy towel isn't exactly fun). This has a sweet banana scent that I enjoyed.

5. KISS Lash Couture Faux Mink Collection Lashes in Little Black Dress x2: As much as I love the look of these lashes in the box and on myself I wish that, especially given how soft and natural they look, that they had thinner, more flexible lash bands. I find them difficult to work with because they don't want to bend to my eye shape. I do find this annoying thick band frequently with faux mink lashes so that might be the issue. 

6. Suave Professionals rosemary + mint invigorating conditioner: This is a very hydrating conditioner that leaves my hair feeling very smooth and silky. I really like its herbal scent which shocks me a bit because I typically don't like herbal scents but I think rosemary smells delicious, so there's that. I really enjoyed using this and it lasted me quite a while.

7. wondergloss Blossom Balm: Honestly this is a great makeup remover but it's too thick and balmy for my personal preferences.

8. Dove glowing mango butter & almond butter Nourishing Body Wash: As I've mentioned in the past, I really like to use these to shave with because they're moisturizing, foam nicely, and provide a nice glide for my razor. It leaves my legs feeling super smooth and silky. It works great as a hydrating body wash also, leaving me feeling soft and clean. 

9. m-61 PowerSpot Clear: As I've mentioned before I really like to use this as a spot treatment because it really helps reduce inflammation and helps any of my breakouts heal quickly. 

10. Shea Moisture Lavender & Wild Orchid Calming Hand & Body Scrub w/ Shea Butter: I  really grew to like these scrubs as they provide good scrubbiness without being abrasive. This has a sweet lavender scent that i enjoyed.

11. Chantecaille Faux Cils Longest Lash Mascara: Honestly I feel like I was determined to dislike this mascara just because it is ridiculously expensive so I wanted to avoid, at all costs, falling in love with it. That being said, I genuinely enjoyed this so much! I have seen a difference in my lash hairs becoming longer and thicker over time and I'm not 100% that I can attribute it to this or to the fact that the makeup remover I'm using is hydrating and removes most of the lash glue so my lashes just have a better chance to grow. I also really like the rose scent that this has but I can understand how it might irritate someone's eyes. Overall I do like this a lot but I still don't think I would drop $72 on an item that needs to be replaced every three months. 

12. Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Rose Petal: Overall I liked this powder because it's brightening and this jar lasted me quite a long time. That being said, I find that it can look just a bit cakey on the under-eye area and can emphasize texture there. So if you're someone with a lot of dryness, texture, or lines on the under-eye I don't know that this is great on its own. It did work really well when I would use a sponge sprayed with good setting spray and press it into the powder but not all of the sprays I used created good results. So overall mixed feelings. If you don't have the issues I described above though, it's definitely a good value product because it'll last you. 

13. Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in Exotic Bloom: The reason you're seeing two scrubs essentially back to back is because I was already low on this but I put it back in my stash and then took put it back out to use it up. Frankly, after all the other scrubs I've used, I find the sugar crystals here a bit TOO abrasive but not enough to bother me much. This smells delicious too, I really like its sweet floral fragrance.

14. Duo Brush-On Adhesive with Vitamins: I feel like this has become my standard go-to lash glue. It does the job and is easy to find and purchase. 

15. KISSME Heroine Make Smooth 01 Jet Black Liquid Eyeliner Super Keep: I know a lot of people really like this liner and feel they can get precision from it because it's so thin but honestly I found it a bit of a learning curve to use this because it's so thin. Overall it's not my favorite.

16. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%: I genuinely wanted to love this because so many people say that it helps them with their breakouts and pores. Niacinamide is supposed to be a great alternative to Vitamin C as well, I hear, because it has anti-oxidant, brightening, and anti-inflammatory properties. That being said, I didn't notice any change to my skin while I was using this, and if anything, I broke out more than usual with cystic acne. With all that being said, I will most likely not be repurchasing this.

17. CVS Health Ultra-Soft Cleansing Wipes: These are fairly standard fare as far as baby wipes go - they do a good job of wiping down surfaces, especially on my makeup collection as well as removing swatches from my hands/arms when I take blog photos. 

18. Femme Fatale Glass Coffin Artisan Nail Lacquer: This nail polish is beautiful but unfortunately has gotten to the stage where I am unable to dispense enough from the bottle to go over my nails smoothly. 

19. Maya Chia Supercritical Omega-3 Chia Face Oil: This is definitely one of my very favorite facial oils because it's very nourishing to the skin and has a beautiful citrusy scent. Like I said in my review of this product, I think I will always come back to squalane because it really helps my skin's redness diminish this but this oil is a more nourishing, more luxurious-feeling alternative for hydration. 

20. Fourth Ray Beauty Turmeric Face Milk: Honestly I found that this isn't hydrating enough on its own and while this gives my skin a pretty radiance I can't tell if its the turmeric doing anything or if it's because this has a shimmery pigment in it. In addition, turmeric is supposed to have anti-inflammatory properties but I haven't noticed a difference in my skin's redness when I was using this.

21. Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater: I think this spray smells great and it feels very refreshing when applied but I personally prefer sprays that are designed to keep makeup on and this is more just for refreshment. I don't mind it but I wouldn't get it again.

22. Chesapeake Bay mind & body Clarity peppermint Essential Oil: This is a really nice peppermint essential oil that worked well to scent my apartment, keep rodents away (mice don't like the scent of mint), and worked well in my diffisuer. 

23. Korres Body Firming Serum Spray in Lilac Hyacinth: I really liked this as a lightweight moisturizer for the summertime and felt that, despite its very lightweight, silky milky serum texture, that it provided really wonderful hydration. This leaves my skin feeling super silky, smooth, and hydrated. As always, this wasn't enough hydration for the soles of my feet but it left me legs feeling amazing post-shave. I LOVE the scent of this; it's a very fresh lilac scent. The scent always takes me back to my childhood as we had lilac bushes growing all over the neighborhood back in Minsk. It smells so good and I am sad to have used it all up.  Additionally, I can't say that this had any noticeable firming effect for me personally BUT I only use body moisturizer on my legs below the knee and on my feet, because I walk around a lot and worked retail where I was standing constantly, those areas are fairly firm to begin with. 

24. Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt: I am SO SAD to have used this all up as it is by far my very favorite scalp scrub - this is amazing for dandruff or otherwise dry, itchy scalp conditions because it will physically buff away the dead skin. The sea salt in this soothes inflammation and I find that this product does a great job of also cleansing the hair without being extremely drying. That said, because of the salt, I do suggest following this up with a deep hydration treatment or thick conditioner.

24. Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Illuminating Body Scrub: This body scrub smells so delicious and is a great level of gritty without being too intense.

24. Kiss Lash So Wispy Lashes in Pompadour: These are a pretty, voluminous wispy lash. They're very lightweight and fairly easy to apply which I appreciate.

25. Peter Thomas Roth Rose Stem Cell Bio-Repair Gel Mask: This mask had a very beautiful rose scent, is lightweight, refreshing, and adds a nice boost of hydration when applied.

26. Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask: I am so sad to have used up this mask because I just loved it so much. It hydrated my skin so beautifully, left it with a pretty glow, smelled nice, had a beautiful texture. I highly recommend it as a hydrating sleeping mask.

27. Dr. Teal's Pure Epsom Salt Soaking Solution Balance & Calm with Matcha Green Tea: Honestly I was hoping these would have more of a matcha scent which was there, but it was faint. In terms of efficacy these are as good as any of the other Dr. Teal's Epsom salts, they work great for relaxing sore muscles and feeling soothing overall. 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Chantecaille, Mario Badescu, Christophe Robin, Peter Thomas Roth, Youth to the People, and TONYMOLY products.