Lancome L'Extreme Instant Extensions Lengthening Mascara

Lancome was doing a package deal so I managed to get a sample size of bi-facil and genefique eye cream for the price of the mascara :)

 

Product Description

Take your lashes to great lengths with this must-have mascara that extends lashes up to 60% instantly! The exclusive Fibrestretch™ formula turns the tiniest, finest lashes from barely-there to infinite lengths. And the patented Extreme Lash brush attaches supple fibers to every eyelash for an instant lash extension effect that’s utterly unforgettable. Ophthalmologist Tested.

Price

$34.00CAD + tax

My Thoughts

I like it. It did as promised, my lashes where considerably longer. I got this in the regular formula and it managed to stay smudge free the whole day. The bristles of the brush are very distinctive and it was very easy to use on my small eyes ^.^

Using this I can build layers without it clumping, however I think if you are into volumized lashes then its best to layer a volumizing mascara on top of this. I was simply looking for more defined and lengthier lashes so L'Extreme definitely satisfied my needs. It also dries quickly and holds the curl well which is handy during a morning rush.

Rating
4.5/5

Tree Hut Coconut Lime Shea Body Butter

After learning all the benefits of shea butter here I needed to try it out for myself. The first store that came to mind was L’occitane. I’ve always liked the design of the store and the fact that all their products are naturally derived from Provence. In the past, I have tried their immortelle range. The products didn’t do much for me, in fact, I think I ended up using the precious cream as a hand moisturizer. The cleanser worked well, it left skin clean but not tight. Anyway, I went ahead and got their infamous 20% shea butter hand cream, ultra rich 25% shea body moisturizer, ultra rich face cream, and the fabulous serum. I won’t be doing a review on those products simply because after 30min of putting them on my skin, I broke out in red dots. After a week of treating them with glaxal base, BP and nivea I am still left with brown spots that are peeling and (hopefully) healing. I am disappointed because I know people adore their shea products, but it just didn’t work for my skin >.<”

That didn’t stop me from wanting to reap in the benefits of shea though. This time I went to my local drugstore, London Drugs, and picked up a Body Butter by Tree Hut. Tree Hut uses certified organic shea and each of the body butters contain 27% shea butter (which is more than the 25% L’occitane products). I picked up the coconut lime flavor because it is their most popular. Also, the lime extract is supposed to polish skin, which I thought was a good idea seeing as the warmer skin bearing season is coming up, I’d like my skin to be in tip-top condition.

 The Product

 An intense moisturizer containing the luscious essences of Coconut and Lime extracts blended with ultra-rich Shea nut butter to seal in moisture and soften dry, rough skin.

Organic Shea Butter: skin repairing & moisturizing, anti-aging, promotes elasticity
Coconut Extract: skin conditioning
Lime Extract: skin polisher
Safflower Seed Oil: deep moisturizer

Cocoa Butter: provides relief for dry or flaky skin, protects skin from irritants

Ingredients

Water, Cyclomethicone, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Glyceryl Stearate, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, PEG-8 Beeswax, Lanolin Alcohol, Polysorbate 80, Laureth-4, Fragrance, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Disodium EDTA, BHT 

Price

$8.99CAD + tax for 198g tub

My Thoughts

Recently I’ve turned to favor the natural and organic over chemically synthesized products.Tree hut uses natural ingredients and certified organic shea butter :) The coconut lime carries a tropical, fruity scent that doesn’t smell synthetic. I can see why people would like this. However, I’m undecided about the scent; I think it’s almost too fruity? But it dries down to a soapy sort of clean scent on my skin. Scent aside, the product performs. I rushed home to take a shower and smoothed on the butter. It is rich and buttery but absorbs in 5min. It doesn’t break me out like TBS body butters. I find the scent lingers but it is faint and light. My skin feels like satin and the overall tone is improved, especially the bumpy and cellulite ridden areas of my rear and thighs. I can see and FEEL the improvements immediately. I use it all over. I feel that with this product I don’t need separate hand and foot creams (which would definitely de-clutter my collection…IF ONLY I can resist the temptation of buying product after product *blush*). I generously apply this too my feet and hands at night and wear cotton socks over them (yes over hands too), and I wake to beautifully nourished and smooth hands, AWESOME way to start off my day :D.

The consistency feels thick and luxurious, there’s no waxy film. It is completely absorbed by my skin and leaves no residue. I do want to point out that there is such thing as “too much of a good thing”. I liked the product so much that I decided to apply it every 30min, needless to say my skin stopped absorbing at a point and it did feel sticky.

It is very reasonably priced in my opinion as a little goes a long way. You do need to scoop the product out of the tub so it can be a bit unhygienic, but I like the packaging. Its feels good to reach in to take some creamy luxurious butter out and plus this way I get to use up every last drop of the product.

Thick consistency; this is enough for my hands :)

 They also make body scrubs, I can't wait to try those out.

Rating

5/5

Lancome Effacernes Waterproof Protective Undereye Concealer

Since I have yet to find a cream to cure my dark circles I am using a concealer to cover them up.


Currently I like Lancome's, its not heavy like Stila's, it doesn't oxidize like Dior's and Nars, and it doesn't dry up like Estee Lauder's.

Product Description
This natural coverage concealer lets you instantly eliminate tell-tale signs of stress and fatigue. Provides complete, natural-looking coverage, evens skin tone, covers dark circles and minimizes fine lines around the eyes. Long-wear, waterproof formula won’t crease or fade. RESULT: a soft, matte finish.


Ingredients
Water, cyclopentasiloxane, hydrogenated polyisobutene, sorbitan isostearate, propylene glycol, titanium dioxide, aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, ozokerite, heyxlene glycol, urea, stearic acid, glycosaminoglycans, honey, tocopherol, sodium  hyaluronate, silica, chamomilla recutita extract, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium sulfate, disodium EDTA, disodium stearoyl glutamate, centaurea cyanus flower extract, disteardimonium hectorite, polydihydroxyindole, acrylates copolymer, methylparaben, propylparaben, diazolidinyl urea. May Contain: Mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxides.


Price
$32CAD + tax (got it from the Lancome Counter at The Bay)


My Thoughts
I got this in Porcelain. The slight yellow tone works perfect to counter my bluish circles.

This is enough for both eyes (lids and under eye)

I like the squeeze tube. The texture is creamy but very lightweight, I cannot feel it on my skin. It is also waterproof which is a definite plus for the warmer months. A little goes a long way so a tube will typically last me 6 months or so. I experience no sensitivity while using it. It covers red marks like no other concealer. In terms of covering dark circles it doesn't completely cover it, but I'm satisfied with the results because I do see a big improvement. This concealer doesn't settle into fine lines nor does it dry out the delicate eye skin. I feel that I look less tired and the overall results are very natural. It stays in place and its reasonably priced.

Rating
4.5/5

Is there a cure?

It's April. It's exam season. It's time to find a cure to zombie eyes! 


I've been on a quest to find the perfect eye cream for a while now (STILL trying). I need it to not irritate my eyes, to de-puff my bags, lighten my dark-circles, oh and helping with my fine lines wouldn't be so bad either...I'm going to share my recent experiences with a few eye creams below.


Lets start with Origins Starting Over Age Erasing Eye Cream with Mimosa

I had wondered to the Origins counter at the downtown Vancouver The Bay and told the SA of my eye woes. Her eyes immediately sparkled as she claimed she had the perfect solution for me, Starting Over cream, able to combat fine lines, bags, and circles. WOW. 


Product Description
This moisturizer with Mimosa, Argan leaf and Green algae helps to rebuild collagen, repair visible lines and improve skin texture and tone. Skin looks and feels measurably younger from day one.


Price
$44CAD + tax for 15ml jar


My Thoughts
The jar is a pretty pink and the cream itself is pearly pink. The texture is between a cream and gel so it is very lightweight. I didn't find it very moisturizing, in fact my eyes actually felt pretty dry after the product dried on my skin. It does absorb very quickly probably within a minute, so its great for mornings when you are in a rush. Unfortunately, I only used my cream twice. Every time I applied it, I experienced a burning sensation and I also developed allergies to it -- those annoying little red itchy and painful bumps and dry cracked skin ):
The reviews on the Origins site are actually all very positive, so it might be just my skin. I am very sensitive so sensitive eyes be careful of this one.


Rating
2/5 (It did de-puff)


Next up NUXE Contour des Yeux Prodigieux 


I thought I'd try this as this company uses natural and soothing ingredients.

Product Description
Anti-Aging, Moisturizing and Decongesting Eye Cream

• Reduces puffiness and bags around the eyes
• Protects against free radicals that speed the aging process
• Formulated with green tea, vitamins A and E and essential oils
• Provides gentle moisturization
• Suitable for all skin types - even contact lens wearers

Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Propylene Glycol, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Corylus Avellana (Hazel) Seed Oil, C14-22 Alcohols, Rosa Moschata Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Myristyl Alcohol, Acrylamides, Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Parfum (Fragrance), Retinyl Palmitate, Polysorbate 85, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Myristyl Glucoside, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Camellia Sinesis Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Carbomer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Citric Acid, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Citronellol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene, Linalool


Price
$30CAD + tax for 15ml pump container (I bought mine from my local London Drugs)


My Thoughts
I really like the pump as it keeps the product clean and it gives me the right amount so that there's no waste. The texture is light and it takes probably around 2minutes to fully sink in. Initially, it felt pretty nice and soothing on, but after 20 minutes I began to experience a tingling feeling followed by itching. Sigh. Yep another allergic reaction (to a product that tested against allergies!!!)


Rating
1/5 (this product is marketed for sensitive skin but it caused a pretty bad rash) 


I'm just gonna use my simple Vitamin E oil until I find something better..

Product Description
This formula contains 28,000 IU of pure Vitamin E oil to help protect and smoothe the appearance of skin under stress. Fortified with the original Swiss Clinic Formula, this product is proven to comfort and improve the look of skin with wrinkles, scars, stretch marks and chafing. 


Price
$9.99CAD + tax (got it on sale from London Drugs, usually sells for $12.99)


My Thoughts
It thick and sticky, but it doesn't irritate my eyes or give me milia. It will leave a shiny residue so I only use it at night and I wake to supple skin. I actually use this on my stretch marks too and I DO see some improvements with continued use yeaaa :) I'll also occasionally use this as a lip treatment to keep my lips plump and supple.


Rating
5/5

LASTLY 
My mom got me a bottle of Lancome's GÉNIFIQUE EYE Youth Activating Eye Concentrate <3 so I will post a review as soon as I get to test it out. I am super excited as it's supposed to be awesomeeee :D


Do you have a favorite eye cream? Please share below :)