Review on the St. Ives Apricot Scrub

Hi Everyone!

I hope you have been well. =)

Today I will review the St. Ives Apricot Scrub

It an exfoliating cleanser that is supposed to help control blemishes and blackheads. It is said to be oil-free, with salicylic acid medication with 100% natural exfoliants. It contains 2% salicylic acid.
I only bought the travel size version but the regular size is not expensive and can be found at many drugstores such as CVS, Walgreens, Target, and maybe at Ulta.

What do I think of this scrub?
I bought a travel size, so that if I didn't like it, I wouldn't be wasting too much money. And I am glad I bought the travel size to try out.
I like the smell of this scrub it is sweet and fresh but not sharp or strong.
However, I found the exfoliating scrub to be very rough and harsh on my skin. The exfoliants in the scrub were of different shapes and sizes and irritated my normal and sensitive skin areas. The exfoliating beads were probably different shapes and sizes because they're probably natural sand or something. But my skin was not happy with me at all. Even if I tried as gently as possible to wash my face with this, my skin would hurt and get red and raw. =( The ratio of exfoliants to cream cleaners was rather high and there were a lot of tiny exfoliants that felt very rough and gritty on my face.
I tried only a couple of times, but stopped because I couldn't take it anymore. >< I think this is a good body scrub but not for my face.

Here are a few pictures of the cleanser:

As you can see, the exfoliants or exfoliating beads are not smooth in shape and are roughly textured.
Also, comparing the amount of exfoliants to the cream part of the cleanser, there are a lot of sand-like exfoliants.

Do I recommend this product?
I do not recommend this scrub to anyone with sensitive, thin, and/or dry skin. Personally, I wouldn't recommend this product to anyone at all, but if you want to try it maybe it will work better if you have thick, tougher, and less sensitive skin. It did not work for me and it irritated my skin so I just don't like it. =/
Just be really careful if you want to buy it and use it.

I hope you liked this review and found it useful! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to write in the comment box belw. ^_^ Thank you for reading and I will see you soon! =D

Review on CURE Natural Aqua Gel! ^_^

Hi Everybody! =)

Today I will be reviewing CURE Natural Aqua Gel:

This item contain 250mL of product. It cost about $37-$40. It is a gel exfoliator.
This product can be found online at Amazon or YesStyle.
Directions:
-after cleansing and drying the face completely, pump 2-4 pumps of product and spread evenly over face
-allow the product to sit on the face for a moment to activate
-gently gently massage the gel into your face for 30-60 seconds at most! you should see and feel little white beads of dead skin cells
-rinse thoroughly, and definitely do not get into eyes or on lips
-for best results use twice a week
-you can also use this on the body as well as the face

What do I think of this product?
I saw Bubzbeauty use this on one of her older skincare routine videos and I was hesitant to buy it because it was sooo expensive. In terms of price for skincare, this is probably the most expensive product I have bought in my life! I have been using this product for about 3 months. I use it once a week and I use 3 pumps for my entire face. And I think this product is AMAZING! I have combination oily, normal, and very dry and sensitive skin and it works for my entire face! My dead skin just easily comes off in white beads and after I rinse my face with water, it is wonderfully smooth and clear! My complexion just becomes so much brighter and cleaner after using this product only once! This is an amazing exfoliator and it is Japan's number 1, top selling exfoliator! I can really see why. It does everything that an exfoliator should do yet it does not irritate or harm the skin and it also helps make the skin softer and clearer!
Just a quick note, as with any exfoliator, do not use a lot of pressure when using this product. You don't need to! Just gently massage the product onto your skin and it will work its magic! Harsh pressure and rubbing will damage your skin no matter what kind of product you use on your face. Scrubbing your face like you wash dishes, isn't going to make your skin cleaner or better!
This exfoliator is the best one that has worked for me so far! I will definitely stick with this exfoliator unless something just as good but more affordable comes along.

Do I recommend this product?
YES! I definitely recommend this product for all skin types! It gently exfoliates dead skin cells, makes the skin smoother and clearer. The only problem that you may have with it, is the price. =/ Yeah, I know, it's expensive. This bottle can basically give me gasoline for a week =O. However, you should really try this product if you have rough, dull, uneven skin or if you have scars and hyperpigmentation from acne scarring or other kinds of scars. This exfoliator will really help make the texture of your skin smoother and brighten your complexion. Exfoliating, helps new skin grow and get rid of the old dead skin on top, so this way it gets rid of the hyperpigmentation from scarring by gently and gradually exfoliating scar tissue and allowing new skin tissue to grow in its place.

So I hope you enjoyed reading this review and I hope it helped you in some form! XP
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to write them in the comment box below!
Thank you for reading and have a great day! =)

Review on Aveeno Skin Brightening Daily Scrub

Hi guys!

So, a couple months ago I was watching youtube reviews on facial cleansers/exfoliators and I saw Michelle Phan talk about the Aveeno Brightening Scrub.

And of course, I bought it XP haha, here it is the Aveeno Skin Brightening Daily Scrub:

You can buy this in any drugstore or online. It is about $5-$7. It contains 5.0 oz or 140 grams of product. It is oil-free, soap-free, hypoallergenic, and noncomedogenic.
It is said to have microbeads to gently exfoliate skin and that it is gentle for everyday use and for sensitive skin. It targets tone, texture, dullness, blotchiness, and brown spots to help clear, smoothen (made up word by me =P), and brighten skin.

First Impression
So when I first used this product, I noticed that the microbeads were very fine, much smaller than the Clean and Clear Daily Pore Cleanser (which I also reviewed on). The texture of the product is smooth and has a thin consistency. But it wasn't watery. It has a nice clean fresh smell, a little on the chemically plant smell side but it's not too strong.
However, it did give my skin a burning sensation which scared me at first, because when I washed it off and came out of the shower, I thought my face was gonna be irritated and red, but, it wasn't. It didn't feel painful or itchy and it wasn't red. I thought maybe it was just me or something. But I used it a second time and I still felt a burning sensation on my skin even though, after cleansing, there was not redness or irritation afterwards.

What do I think of it now?
I have used this for about 2 months now. It does brighten the skin and makes it nice and smooth. I feel very clean after using it. The microbeads themselves/alone, are more gentle than the Clean and Clear Daily Pore Cleanser.
However, I still have a burning feeling when I used it, so I don't use it that often. It worries me, even though my skin doesn't seem to be negatively affected after use. It does not break me out or damage my skin though. I don't get redness or irritation after using, just a burning feeling when I use it. Because of this, I probably will not buy this product again after finishing it. I use it about once a week because I am afraid that if I use it more often that more problems than just a burning sensation will appear. It is kind of annoying because this was supposed to work for sensitive skin and I have sensitive skin. I am sad that I can't use this product, because it is so affordable and easy to get. =(

Do I recommend this product?
I do recommend this as a good product to try out for all skin types except sensitive skin. If you do have sensitive skin, I am not sure, because while I think it works really well, the side effect of having a burning sensation during use does bother me. If you have sensitive skin, I think it's worth a shot but you should talk to a dermatologist or try it on your hands first, because your skin is different than mine, maybe nothing will happen to you, or maybe your skin is not as sensitive as mine. If it does work for you, then great! You have found something affordable, nice and gentle that will make your skin clear and glow!

So I hope that you liked this review and that it helped you on your search for a good exfoliator.
Thank you for reading! I will talk to you soon! =)

Quick note: If you have dry skin, then after you gently exfoliate, just remember to put on moisturizers right away after washing it off!

Review on "The Body Shop" Aloe Skincare Line

Hi peoples! =D

So, the little story for this week is about "The Body Shop"!

A couple of weeks ago, I was in a mall and my skin felt very dry but I didn't bring my moisturizer! XO oh no! And I really wanted to rehydrate my skin before it started getting ugly and flaky =/.
So I walked into The Body Shop. It was a shop that I didn't know and I passed by all the time, stared at it sometimes. Always felt that it was too expensive or high class for a person like me to go and buy stuff in. But i was desperate! XD
And I asked a salesclerk for a moisturizer sample for sensitive skin. And she said: sure!
She started getting all of these little containers out and i looked at my bf like: O_o...?
Then she started filling them with all sorts of stuff and told me she was giving me samples from their Aloe Sensitive Skincare Line and I was like, okay, sure! haha, I originally came just to take some free moisturizer for my face for the day and I go back home with a bagfull of samples! Yay for free samples and good service! lol
So, I was given these samples I was not sent these samples by the company or paid to review them or anything like that. Completely random surprise =P.
(I talked with a friend of mine later and she told me that The Body Shop was really big on the East coast, UK, and Hong Kong.)

So here are the samples from the Aloe Vera Skincare Line (made for sensitive skin):

(free jars for later use too yay! XD)

So I got:
-aloe body butter (largest jar)
-aloe calming facial cleanser
-aloe gentle toner
-aloe day cream
-aloe night cream
-aloe eye defense
-aloe protective serum
-aloe gentle exfoliator
-aloe protective restoring mask

whew! yeah..lots of stuff eh? haha, not a bad thing, just something I don't get everyday. =P

I tried these products for at most 2 weeks, the ones I didn't like, obviously, stopped using earlier.
For technical information, such as price and product amount etc. I won't write it here. This is going to be a super long review and I only got samples so I don't know cost, mass, price, etc. You can search it up online at their website, it is very informative. I would say though that each of these products at regular size is about $20ish or more. They all are frangrance-free and would only have a slight tinge of aloe-ness if any.
Note: Because these products are pricy and everyone's skin is different, if I do recommendations, please go to the store and ask them for a sample! They are very kind and will probably do so!

Okay, now onto the reviewing!!! =D

Review on the Aloe Body Butter:
This cream is very rich and very dense and heavy. It is rather thick and you should warm it up with clean hands before application. It moisturizes very well and is very long lasting.
Personally, it's not my type of moisturizer, I don't like thick and dense moisturizers, I like ones with thinner smoother consistency. It is pricy so I won't be buying it.
But it works well and is very moisturizing, because it's so dense and rich, a little goes a long way and you don't need to apply a lot which can make this last for a while!
Do I recommend the body butter?
If you don't mind or you like dense rich creams, then you should try this! If you're like me and like more sheer/light consistency body lotions then you might want to find something else.

Review on the Aloe Calming Facial Cleanser:
This cleanser has a very light and smooth consistency. It is supposed to calm redness and irritation and it does do that. My redness on my face has been reduced and I don't have any negative affects with this cleanser, it works well. It doesn't lather into a foam but stays as it is, feeling cream-like and slippery on the face as you wash.
Personally, I like facial cleansers that lather into a foam. Makes me feel as if it's doing something, lol, dunno. And I'm also very happy with my Shiseido cleansers which are the same price or cheaper. So I won't be buying it.
Do I recommend the facial cleanser?
If you have sensitive red-prone, irritated-prone skin, then I think this is good to try. =) It just doesn't fit my preference, so if it doesn't matter to you that it doesn't foam up, then go for it!

Review on the Aloe Gentle Toner:
This is one of my favorite products and yes, I recently bought a regular sized one haha. I really really like this toner! It does not make my skin feel dry or tight or red. I don't feel irritation or dryness when using and when it's drying. You don't need a lot, for your face, just use your cotton ball efficiently! It works very well, removing any extra cleanser left on my face, preparing my face for moisturizer but keeping it hydrated enough so I'm not feeling like a goldfish out of water XP.
Do I recommend the toner?
Yes! I think this is great for all skin types, especially if you tend to get dry quickly after cleanser or using a toner. I really really like this and will probably use this toner from now on. It is a perfect replacement for my Neutrogena alcohol-free toner which was not good on my skin(which I did a review on).

Review on the Aloe Day Cream:
I was given the one w/o SPF because the lady knew I had sensitive skin and she said: one less thing in there, the better! haha. I like the consistency of this cream, it is very light, smooth and hydrating. It does look a little shiny on the face at first, but if you applied a thin even layer, it should absorb well. It spreads very well so you don't need a lot for your face. It also does reduce redness around my mouth. I do need to reapply when it gets dry and windy but I always have a small jar with me and it's portable. I am a little worried because sometimes when I apply it, I get a slight burning sensation, I wonder if it's just me or what...dunno, just saying. =P Because it is so pricey and my Aveeno Baby moisturizer works just as well or if not even better for like nearly 1/3 of the cost or something. I won't buy it. I'm not a rich person...yet...haha. Though I will definitely keep this cream in mind when I can afford it and when I need something stronger for my sensitive dry skin.
Do I recommend this moisturizer?
Yes, but like I said earlier, ask for a sample! This works well for people who have sensitive skin and/or  prone to dryness. Very hydrating and I really like the thin smooth consistency!

Review on the Aloe Night Cream:
This is one of my favorite products too! I did not buy it because of the price sadly =(. But it is something I will also definitely keep in mind when I can buy something like it! This consistency is a little thicker and richer than the day cream. It should be haha, our bodies do recovery at night when we sleep so a richer formula is best during rest. Even though it is creamier and thicker the consistency feels great! so smooth! I like it a lot! It does calm down the angry redness in my face after a day's worth of battling the daily air! XD It does not feel sticky or heavy, it feels good =)
Do I recommend this moisturizer?
Yes! It is fantastic! I would totally buy this if I wasn't a poor college student haha. I can only splurge so much on skincare and makeup. =P It's very hydrating and calming. When I put this on, I feel like my skin is reviving from the long day!

Review on Aloe Eye Defense:
Another favorite! And yes, I did buy this one! Now you're probably wondering why did I buy this eyecream when I already have a really good one (which is my Dermadoctor)? This is why: First, for the same amount, it is cheaper by $10. Second, I am not saying Dermadoctor eye revenge is bad, it is a very good product (you can see in my review), but I felt it was not for my age and skin type yet. I believe it is more of a treatment for older women and it is also a lot richer than what my skin needs now. I can always go and buy this when the skin around my eyes needs something stronger. If I started out with a  strong one and needed a better one, I would be in trouble. All I needed was a moisturizer and I also don't have wrinkles. So, I tried this and love it! This is a light-weight gel-like cream. It feels very hydrating and it is definitely non-irritating! My eyes really like it and it reduces the fine lines that form when I smile alot!
Do I recommend this eye cream?
Yes! If you are around 40 years old and younger I suggest an eye cream like this. It is hydrating and makes my skin soft. It still will reduce fine lines! I can visibly see a change on my face after application! So it works for fine lines and dry sensitive skin! I definitely recommend you to try this! It is a great product!

Review on Aloe Protective Serum:
This product feels has a light and creamy-gel consistency, which is favorable. However, it irritated my skin. The skin around my mouth and nose felt like it was burning and stinging. I used this serum with and without exfoliating cleansing with the same effect. Therefore, after using it twice I didn't use it anymore. I have never used a cream serum before, I usually use serums in a hydrating mask form.
Do I recommend this serum?
I don't know about this. Because my skin reacted negatively to this product. And my skin is dry and sensitive which is what it is supposed to be made for, and being pretty impressed with most of the products I was a bit disappointed in this one. I'm very happy with "My Beauty Diary" serum hydrating masks (which I did a review on) and they are more affordable so I'm sticking with those. If you want to try I suggest you ask for a sample for  this one for sure! But if it works for you then great!

Review on Aloe Gentle Exfoliator:
I was actually pretty disappointed with this product. It is supposed to be gentle and made for sensitive skin. However, the exfoliating grains felt very rough on my skin and the granules felt very uneven, overall and individually. Even if I was gently massaging my face with it, it felt painful and like it was scratching my face. The areas around my nose and mouth were red and felt raw. I used this once and stopped immediately.
Do I recommend this exfoliator?
No, sorry. I don't recommend it. It does not feel nice to me and there are drugstore brand exfoliators that feel better and work better than this, so don't get it. It's not worth your money, time, and skin!

Review on Aloe Protective Restoring Mask:
This is not one of those clay drying masks that harden, it's a hydrating cream mask which needs to be washed off after use. I'm not used to these kinds of masks but I decided to try it anyway. It is very hydrating with a nice smooth thin consistency. I could only use it once because the sample was so small, but I didn't have any negative affects for first time use. There was no irritation and redness, so that was good.
Personally, I'm not used to these kinds of masks, and I really like the ones from "My Beauty Diary" and again they are more affordable, so I'll be sticking to those.
Do I recommend this mask?
Well, I'm not sure. Because, I've only used it once. And you can't really see any possible problems and affects after only using it once. There were not immediate negative affects but it's not a product I know well. I think this is a good product to try out though if you like these kinds of masks and would like to hydrate your skin more.

Dang, I talked a lot! XD haha
This was a super long post. I'm sorry if I made you tired or burned your eyes because of this X(. But individually they're not that long, they just add up =P.
I hope my review helped anyone with dry and/or sensitive skin looking for products to try from The Body Shop. If you have any questions or comments feel free to say anything in the comment box below. =) I would be more than happy to help you with anything!
Thank you for reading and have an awesome day!