Melissa B. Naturally Pumpkin & Coconut Exfoliating Mask Review

I love a good multi-tasking product! Read on to learn more...

Exfoliation is a big part of my skincare routine. It helps to get rid of the dead skin build up on the surface of my skin and also helps my other products work better by allowing them to penetrate deeper into my skin.

I'm a Retin-A user and I find that gentle exfoliators work best for me and they also assist the Retin-A in its job. Because Retin-A works with cell turnover and the exfoliator helps to remove the old skin that has built up on the surface of the skin, in this way, they work hand-in-hand.

I have been using this mask for weeks, and I find this mask rather addicting as its quick and easy and it's 3 steps in one: it works as a cleanser, exfoliator, and a mask! And I love the results that I get - my skin is clearer, brighter, firmer, and more even-toned.

The first time that I used the mask I experienced tingling and some itchiness, yet my skin didn't look irritated or red at all. I spoke to the company about this as I was concerned that maybe I was allergic to one of the ingredients. I was assured by them that this was a very normal reaction to the high concentration of pumpkin enzymes which is a very active ingredient. So, I started out with just leaving the mask on for 5 minutes until my skin became acclimated to it and I can now leave it on for the full 15 minutes.

The consistency on the thinner side, so a little goes a long way. It also has the perfect amount of grit. It's not too abrasive or rough, it's just right. I get the perfect facial every time.

Although this is a cleanser, exfoliator, and mask all in one, if I have the time or inclination for a real pamper session, I will often use another mask afterwards but it's definitely not necessary. Whether I choose to use another mask afterwards or just load on my other skincare product, this exfoliator sets the stage so that the other products will work even better as they will penetrate more deeply into the skin.

I would recommend using this before any event when you want to look fresh faced and bright or anytime you want to give your skin a treat!

This product is both gentle yet effective, which is the perfect combo for me.

Retail Price:
$24 USD / 30 ML

Ingredients:

Water, Kaolin, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Ecuadorian Ivory Palm (Phytelephas Aequatoralis) Seeds Powder, Bentonite, Cetyl Alcohol, Zinc Oxide, Glycerin, Lactobacillus/ Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Allantoin, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Vegetable Collagen, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Fragrance.

This product is made in the USA, cruelty free, and eco-friendly. 🐰

All Mellisa B. Naturally products are made without harmful chemicals. 

You can read more about this product by visiting Mellisa B. Naturally. 

*This product was provided to Health and Beauty Girl free for review. All opinions are honest and my own. This post is not sponsored and no affiliate links have been used.

Lise Watier Hydraforce Hydra-Protective Creme-Gel Moisturizer #Review

I was so excited to get the opportunity to try out Lise Watier's Hydraforce Moisturizer thanks to Lise Watier and GlamSense. As most of my readers know I am a total skincare junkie and I love to test out new skincare products, and this is my first experience with any Lise Watier product!

I received a full size jar of Lise Watier's Hydraforce for normal to dry skin accompanied by an interesting little blue device (more on that in a moment).

This moisturizer is part of Lise Watier's new line of weatherproof moisturizers that is tested in extreme conditions, and proven to increase skins moisture levels 3X.

Info from Lise Watier's website:

The formula’s effectiveness lies on the remarkable power of Gaspé Algae Extract. A survivor of harsh environments, the Gaspé algae has developed a highly efficient resistance system, enabling it to thrive in severe conditions. Its extract guarantees the skin’s global hydration, transforming it into a veritable defensive shield.

My skin bio: My skin is combo/oily but dehydrated and acne prone, add in the fact that I'm aging and it's tough to find skincare that is hydrating enough but doesn't cause me to breakout.

The moisturizer has a refreshing scent, nothing overwhelming and it dissipates shortly after application.

The consistency is like a cream-gel hybrid and very refreshing on the skin.

I found that the cream sinks right into my skin without any greasy residue and a little really does go a long way. It also made a fantastic base for my makeup!

I should note, that although I like to layer my moisturizers with serums and oils (that's just the skincare junkie that I am), I did not need to with this moisturizer. It was hydrating enough on it's own!

My skin was left feeling hydrated all day long. It was so soft and plump that I seriously couldn't stop touching it.. I know that's a no-no! I found the cream very soothing to my dehydrated and reactive skin, and I didn't experience any breakouts or irritation whatsoever. I was left with plump, youthful looking and feeling skin. My skin looks firmer and my pores are much smaller. I couldn't be happier with my results!

Now, about the little blue device. This instrument has sensors that detects the amount of moisture in your skin. It works in conjunction with Lise Watier's Hydra-Detect App that you download to your phone.

After downloading their Hydra-Detect app on my phone and plugging the instrument into my cell phone, it's ready to detect the levels of moisture in the skin simply by holding the sensors against my skin.

Just wait till you see the results in the charts below!

The Hydra-Detect App

As you can see the app is divided up into; Hand, T-zone, and cheek, where you will check your moisture levels.

This part of the app shows the various levels of moisture and what they mean ie. dry, hydrated etc.

I took before and after shots of the app showing the moisture levels in various parts of my skin. As you will see, the results were remarkable!

The pictures on the left are before application of Hydraforce, the pictures to the right are after application of Hydraforce.

Cheek

As you can see (above) my cheek went from 51.2% to 84.8% after application of the Hydraforce moisturizer. 

I was impressed!

T-zone

 Here my T-Zone went from a low 37.6% to 72.1%!

Hand

Lastly, my hand went from 32.3% to 64.2%

Chart Summary

This is a fantastic moisturizer for anyone! Moisture is the foundation to youthful looking skin. I am of the belief that even oilier skin types need moisture. So, if you're stripping your skin like I used to, stop, and give it the moisture it craves! When you dehydrate your skin, you age it, and can cause acne and wrinkles. I should know, I dehydrated my skin for a long time.. until I knew better. 

Now, I can have plumped, younger looking skin without the acne! It's a win-win!

This product also comes in a formula for normal-combination skin and there is also a lip balm in this line which is on my list to try.

This product retails for $45 CAD for 45ml

I received this product free for testing purposes, all opinions are my own.

#getinthebubble

Amy

xoxo

Laneige Advanced Water Science, Water Bank Gel Cream #lovingLANEIGE Review

I'm a total skincare junkie! I have been for years. So, I was really curious when I heard, after much anticipation, the Korean skincare line Laneige had finally arrived in Canada!

I was even more excited when I found out that I was fortunate enough to be able to give one of their products a test drive through influenster! If you are not familiar with Influenster, I highly recommend them if you're interested in trying out products for free! All you have to do is test the products out and give your honest opinion about your experience with the product. Influenster has much more than beauty products too, they have food and drinks, pet supplies, games, you name it, they have it.

Anyways, back to Laneige. Over 20 years of research has gone into the making of these products. They have a really nice range of products on Sephora's website and I'm pretty much drooling over all of them!

The product that I got to test out and will be reviewing here is the Water Bank Gel Cream, it can be found on www.sephora.com. I didn't get to choose a product from their line, instead, I filled out a questionnaire about my skin and they matched me to the right product for my skin type based on my answers.

Here is some info from Sephora's website on the Water Bank Gel Cream:

What it is:
A cooling, non-oily gel-cream that immerses skin in moisture for 24 hours.

What it is formulated to do:
The six hydrating ionized minerals—zinc, potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, and manganese—in hydro ionized mineral water replenish and lock in moisture while winter cypress polysaccharide extract soothes irritated skin. Cooling and ultra-light, its silky texture makes it the perfect choice for warm climates and oily skin, absorbing instantly and delivering 24-hour essential hydration, protection, and revitalization.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Phthalates

What else you need to know:
This product is dermatologist tested and non-comedogenic. LANEIGE does not test ingredients or products on animals.

The above are features I already look for when shopping for new skincare. Now, onto my experience with the Water Bank Gel Cream!

My Review

A peek inside

My first impression after unboxing the cream was great based on the sturdy, high-quality packaging. And, it came with a little spatula to keep the product sanitary. Talk about attention to detail, I really appreciate things like that. But, it's really what's inside that counts! I had never read any reviews on this product, so I went in with a completely open mind. Excited, I began using the product the day that I received it, of course.

A quick bit about my skin type: I have combo/oily skin that is very dehydrated, aging, reactive, and acne-prone. I know, quite the combo!

The product has a nice light fragrance that is very pleasant. It has a gel-lotion-like consistency. It layers well with my serums and other products, and I could immediately feel a cooling sensation but more importantly, a hydrating feeling on my skin. It plumped my skin nicely and gave it a more youthful look. I found it very soothing to my dehydrated and reactive skin. I did not have any irritation or acne breakouts. The hydration definitely lasted all day. This product also performs well as a base under my makeup as it is not greasy at all, yet it's super hydrating!

After using it for a few weeks I could definitely see that my skin's overall appearance was younger looking. But, the biggest testament to this product happened when I saw a friend that I hadn't seen in a few months. He accused me of "having something done." When I swore I hadn't he said I "at least had some Botox done." I told him I just started using some new skincare, I swore that was it! He didn't seem convinced but I didn't really care because I was just happy that I apparently looked that good! Or, at least that much better! I think it's often easier for other people to see changes in us than it is for us to see ourselves. I knew my skin had improved, but I didn't know to what extent until my friend accused me of "having something done." It is the first time in my life that I've been accused of that! Now, I want to try every product in the range. I mean, seriously! Like, have a Laneige bath or something. hehe

By the way, I did tell my friend that I'm not against Botox. I told him that I was just afraid to put toxins into my skin as it's obviously going to be absorbed by my body, and I don't know enough about what that might cause... but that's a whole other story.

Has anyone else tried any products from Laneige? If so, which ones have you tried, and what was your experience? I think I'd like to try the serum and sleeping mask next! :D

I received this product free for trial purposes. All opinions are my own.

Amy

xx