Saturday, July 30, 2016

Gillette Venus Embrace Sensitive Disposable Razor


 
Price: $8.99-$12.75 MSRP
 
Accessibility: Disposable razors are relatively easy to find.  Supercenters, grocery stores, drug stores, and of course you can purchase them directly from the Gillette Venus website.
 
Claim to Fame: Provides a closer shave without irritation.
 
Overall Impression: I received this razor complimentary via Influenster for reviewing purposes.  I'm not extremely hairy so I don't require five blades to get a close shave.  The shave was too close for my skin and I experienced razor burn despite the fact this razor is marketed for sensitive skin.  I've used other Gillette products in the past and did not experience any issues.  Now for those who know I'm a esthetician who is pro wax is thinking why don't I just wax my legs.  Well I would but I'm contraindicated for waxing my legs due to eczema.  All in all I would say this razor lives up to it's claim to fame when it comes to providing a close shave.  Unfortunately it was just too much for my skin.  I want to thank Influenster and Gillette for providing me the opportunity to review this product.

Shea Moisture Shave for Women Collection: Honey & Black Seed After Shave Moisturizer


Price: $9.99

Accessibility: You can purchase this from the Shea Moisture website. Or you can purchase it locally from supercenters like Walmart, drug stores, and the like.  For a full list of local retailers please visit the Shea Moisture website.

Ingredients: Deionized Water, Butyropsermum Parkii (shea Butter)*, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Oil*, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Coconut Oil *, Vegetable Emulsifying Wx, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Gymnema Sylvestre Leaves Extract, Cascarilla Bark Extract, Simmondsia Chinesis (Jojoba)Oil*, Vitamin A, Alpha Bisabolol, Panthenol (Vitamin B), Honey, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate)Seed Oil, Black Seed Oil, (Proprietary) Essential oil Blend,Japanese honeysuckle Extract *Certified Organic Ingredient.

Scent: Smells just like the shave butter crème.  It's hard to describe because it's not fragrance free but it does not have much of a smell.
 

Claim to Fame: As the packaging states: "Condition and inhibit; moisturize and soften skin.  Prolong smoothness and slow regrowth of hair after shaving or waxing." 

Overall Impression: Before you label this as a bad review I invite you to look from the point of view as a this product just didn't work for me.  This is an objective not subjective review.  A little background on my skin:  it's very unpredictable when it comes to fragranced products.  Sometimes my skin can tolerate it,  or it starts off tolerating it but after continuous use irritation occurs.  I honestly think it has more to do with what the fragrance component is made from.  The reaction tends to immediate dryness, flakiness, or itching.  This product didn't dry my skin out but it did cause the flakiness but that's all.  The odd part is I used the shaving butter crème and the skin healing elixir with no issues.  It just goes to show that every product is not for everyone and this particular product just isn't for my skin.  It's all good though...I still got love for Shea Moisture. ❤️

Shea Moisture Shave for Women Collection: Honey & Black Seed Skin Healing Elixir


Price: $7.99

Accessibility: You can purchase this from the Shea Moisture website. Or you can purchase it locally from supercenters like Walmart, drug stores, and the like.  For a full list of local retailers please visit the Shea Moisture website

Ingredients: Deionized Water, Witch Hazel, Denatured Alcohol, Butyrosermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Willow Bark Extract, Vegetable Emulsifying Wax, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cascarilla Bark Extract, Simmondsia Chinesis (Jojoba) Oil*, Vitamin A, Alpha Bisabolol, Panthenol ( Vitamin B) Willow Bark Extract, Vitamin E, Tea Tree Oil, Honey Black Seed Oil, Peppermint Extract, (Proprietory) Esssential Oil Blend, Japanese honeysuckle Extract *Certified Organic Ingredient.

Scent: Smells like witch hazel (rightfully so as that's the second ingredient in the product...however it has a sweet after note.

Claim to Fame: As the package states: "Naturally soothes irritation from shaving or waxing.  Helps prevent razor burn, bumps and ingrowns." 

Overall Impression: To me this product served as an antiseptic as open pores are more vulnerable to bacteria after shaving or waxing.  Slightly burns/tingles but it's not unbearable.  I noticed that sensation more if there are any nicks present.  I'm only prone to razor burn if I use a razor that cuts way too close.  I shave my arms and legs because I'm contraindicated for waxing services due to eczema.  All in all I think it's a great product for post shave product.  

Friday, July 29, 2016

Shea Moisture Shave For Women Collection: Coconut & Hibiscus Shave Butter Crème


Price: $7.99
 
Accessibility: You can purchase this from the Shea Moisture website. Or you can purchase it locally from supercenters like Walmart, drug stores, and the like.  For a full list of local retailers please visit the Shea Moisture website.
 
Ingredients: Deionized Water, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, African Black Soap, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Argan Oil, Calophyllum Inophillum (Tamanu) Oil, Persea Gatissima (Avocado) Butter, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cascarilla Bark Extract, Vegetable Squalene, jojoba Oil, Sodium Lauroyl Bactylate (Coconut Oil), Myristic Acid (Palm Oil). Hibiscus Sabdariffa Extract, Willow Bark Extract, Vitamin A, Coconut Fatty Acids, Palm Oil Fatty Acids, Vitamin E (Gluten Free), Pomegranate Seed Oil, Vegetable Glycerine, Benzyl PCA, Alpha Bisabolol (Chamomile Extract), Allantoin (Comfrey Root Extract), Black Seed Oil, Juniper Oil, Essential Oil Blend (Proprietary) *Certified Organic Ingredient
 
Scent: It's hard to describe because it's not fragrance free but it does not have much of a smell. 
 
Packaging:  Older packaging was a jar which is easy to scoop out the amount you want.  The newer packaging is in a squeeze tube which is much more shower friendly. 
 
Claim to Fame: As the packaging states: "Delivers a luxuriously close, comfortable shave experience."
 
Overall Impression: Now one thing that is different from traditional shaving products I've used in the past was this doesn't lather up.  You don't need tons of it either and it seems best when you work in small sections versus larger sections.  The lack of lather assists the razor in getting closer to your skin.  It left my skin feeling unbelievably soft, smooth and super moisturized.  It applies rich and smooth like a body butter hence the need to rinse your razor more often.  All in all if you're looking to treat your skin to a luxurious experience when it comes to the dreaded task of shaving Shea Moisture is where it's at! 





Thursday, July 28, 2016

Elucence Moisture Benefits Shampoo

Photo Source: www.naturallycurly.com

Price: $9-$16

Accessibility: May be purchased online at NaturallyCurly's online boutique.  There are also other authorized online retailers and one phone order company to purchase this brand.

Ingredients: Prunis Persica (Peach) extract, Pimpenella anisum (Anise) fruit extract, Panax Ginseng root extract, Ginkgo Bilobika extract, cetraria islandica (Irish Moss) extract, saccharomyces cerevisiea (Brewer's Yeast) extract in purified water, sodium myreth sulfate (coconut oil-derived). C14-16 olefin sulfonate (mineral-derived_, cocomidopropyl betaine (coconut oil-derived)hydrolyzed wheat protein, tocopherol acetate, Panthenol (provitamin), glycol distearate (fatty acid-derived), polyquaternium-10 (polysaccharide celulose, DMDM Hydantoin, methlyparaben (USP), propylparaben(UPS), benzophenone-4 (UV absorber), fragrance, D&C orange 4CI 15510.

Scent: A soft peach fragrance.

Claim to Fame: A gentle cleansing shampoo that contains peach extract, Irish moss, ginseng and wheat protein which are suppose to assist with moisturizing the hair without weighing it down.

Overall Impression: I enjoyed the soft peach fragrance the most.  Would I say that my hair did not feel weighed down?  Can't really say since I don't bother paying to attention to how heavy my hair feels after shampooing it.  It does cleanse the hair without leaving it feeling over striped.  I would repurchase this product. 




Organic Surge Daily Care Comforting Hand & Nail Cream


Price: $5.92 
 
Accessibility: This product is from the United Kingdom so for USA shoppers the easiest way to purchase this product is online from the Organic Surge website.  If you happen to be located in the United Kingdom you can also visit their site to find local retailers.  There are also several online retailers that carry this product line as well. 
 
Ingredients: Aqua, Aloe Barbadensis*, Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Butyrospermum Parkii*, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Oil, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopherol, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Leaf Oil, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Citral, Citronellol. *naturally-derived ingredient. Naturally occurring within essential oils.
 
Scent: I received lavender meadows so naturally it smells like lavender but it's subtle.  Sometimes lavender can be overwhelming. 
 
Claim to Fame:
* 99% natural hand and nail cream.
* Clinically proven suitable for sensitive and eczema prone skin.
* Enriched with organic lavender and geranium essential oils.
* Intensively moisturizes and nourishes.
* Comforting, quickly absorbed cream.
* Naturally skin conditioning, combats dryness and irritation.
* Animal-friendly, suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
* Not tested on animals.
* Natural actives such as organic Shea butter, lavender essential oil, and organic cocoa butter.
* Certified natural and organic.

Overall Impression: From the very first use I thoroughly enjoyed this Organic Surge product.  Absorbs quickly without leaving hands feeling greasy.  The fragrance of this product was not over powering which is great since lavender can easily be overwhelming.  I like the ingredients, especially the natural actives.The consistency of the product was just right...not too watery and not too thick.  I wish I could find it locally.  It's always refreshing to know there was no animal testing and I can recommend this product to friends who are vegan.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Klorane Floral Water Makeup Remover With Soothing Cornflower




Price: $24.00 (13.5 fl oz) 

Accessibility: Available at the Klorane website.  You can utilize the store locator to find an authorized retailer.  It's also available for purchase from authorized online retailers.

Scent: subtle floral essence

Ingredients: Water (Aqua). Butylene Glycol. Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water. Poloxamer 184. PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides. Cetrimonium Bromide.




Claim To Fame: 
*Gently remove fave/eye makeup without the use of water.  
*Fragrance, alcohol, paraben, and colorant free. 
*Hypoallergenic. 
*Ophthalmologist & Dermatologist tested
*Safe for contact wearers, pH similar to tears 
*Can serve as a toner as well. 

Overall Impression: Gently removes makeup without causing stinging to the eyes. A little pricey for my personal taste. But all in all it delivers its claim to fame.