Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Hydrating Treatment Mask

I have been on a hunt for a reasonably priced hydrating mask after I have run out of the Glam Glow one which is extremely pricey and not in my budget at the moment. Having looked around I decided to pick up the Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Hydrating Treatment Mask and see if it's any good. I have been using it for a good few months and now feel comfortable sharing my thoughts with you. 

As always let's start with the packaging. It comes in a squeeze tube with no outer cardboard packaging. The design is pretty basic and non-offensive. You get 118ml of product which is a good amount and should last for quite some time. It has a shelf life of 12 months after opening. It has no distinct scent. It's cruelty free, non-irritating, fragrance free and made in the USA. It's suitable for normal, dry and very dry skin.

When it comes to ingredients it's packed with various oils such as borage seed oil, evening primrose oil, olive fruit oil and apricot kernel oil. It doesn't contain PEGs which I personally try to avoid in my skincare. 

In terms of consistency it's on a thicker side but non-greasy. It glides over the face easily and absorbs quite quickly without leaving a sticky residue, which I appreciate. You can use this product as a typical mask leaving it for 20 min and rinsing it off or as an overnight mask. I prefer using it as an overnight mask. Occasionally when my skin feels exceptionally dry I use it as a night cream on consecutive days and it has worked well in this way too.

I will continue using this product and think it's a good one if you want a basic straightforward hydrating mask. It won't do miracles but no skincare will, but it will help relieve dry, irritated skin. It doesn't cost a fortune and the squeeze tube packaging helps retain the properties of light and air-sensitive ingredients.

I hope you found this helpful. I'd be happy to hear if you have tried Paula's Choice skincare and what you would recommend!

Until next time,
Muffy

Kalamazoo Beard and Facial Wash

I am such a sucker for Lush products. This time around I had an opportunity to try the Kalamazoo Beard and Facial Wash. Don't get put off by the name, you don't need to have a beard to use this product. As a matter of fact I was positively surprised by how well it works for me. 

Kalamazoo Beard and Facial Wash

As with all Lush products it comes in a minimalistic plastic packaging that is recyclable. You can bring 5 empty black pots (or spray bottles, which I was not aware of but since they are made of the same plastic they do count as well) and get a free fresh mask. You can purchase this product in two sizes. I grabbed the smaller one just to see how I get along with it. I do have to say that I am not a fan of dipping my fingers into the pot as opposed to having a pump, but that is just a minor inconvenience. 

When it comes to ingredients it includes: almond oil, apricot kernel oil, organic jojoba oil and fresh pineapple juice just to name a few. It's vegan and cruelty-free. This product does contain perfume and parabens, so keep that in mind if that is something you are wary of. 

Kalamazoo Beard and Facial Wash

It has quite a strong but pleasant scent of something citrusy and spa combined. I find it up-lifting especially in the morning. That being said if you don't like strong scents you might not like this. I am pretty picky when it comes to scents and very often prefer un-fragranced skincare products but weirdly enough I don't mind this one.

The product has a creamy texture, like that of a body butter. It's incredibly soft and silky. It doesn't dry my skin out but leaves it feeling super clean and soft. It hasn't broken me out or caused any sort of irritation to my sensitive skin. 

Overall I think it's a good cleanser with no extra bells and whistles. I would recommend using it as a second cleanse, after you have taken off your makeup or spf. I think the small pot (100g) would last a reasonable amount of time, since you don't really need much. As said I am a little bit iffy about the whole pot concept for something that I use on a daily basis. However, I can understand that perhaps the consistency could be troublesome for squeeze tube packaging.  

As always I hope you found this helpful. Do let me know what are your favourite Lush products, if any!

Cheers,
Muffy

Laura Mercier Highlight 01

I have been eyeing this product for over a year, but it hasn't been easy to get it where I live due to shipping restrictions or the product being simply out of stock. However, I was lucky enough to get it as a birthday present from my friend, oh boy was I stoked. The product I am referring to is the Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder in Highlight 01, also commonly known as the Highlight 01. Spoiler alert - it did not disappoint, but to find out all the nitty-gritty details keep on reading!

Laura Mercier Highlight 01

Let's start with the packaging first. The product comes in a sleek black plastic compact, which in my opinion is unnecessarily bulky. Personally I would have preferred a slimmer packaging but I can understand where the company was coming from. Highlighting powders tend to be extremely fragile so I guess a heftier packaging makes it more secure. If that is the case or not, I am not sure and hopefully wouldn't have to find out.

You get 7,5g of product which is a generous amount, considering how little you need per application.For comparison Dior Glowing Gardens Illuminating Powder in Glowing Pink contains 6g of product. In terms of ingredients it contains vitamin E and jojoba oil, which makes the formula less drying. It does however contain talc, therefore if you are sensitive or simply want to avoid it, this might not be the product for you. On the outer packaging it does say that the product has been dermatologically and allergy tested to minimize the risk of allergy and irritation. It hasn't broken me out, but this is just my experience. This product has a shelf life of 18 months. According to the research I have done I consider Laura Mercier to be cruelty-free. 

Laura Mercier Highlight 01- smooth baked powder formula

The product itself is of a dome-shape and is super silky and smooth to the touch. It doesn't contain any chunks of glitter or shimmer. When I dip my brush into the product, it does kick off a bit of powder. As a result I expect the compact to get messy especially with a prolonged use. That doesn't bother me, as I am pretty real with my makeup, but wanted to throw it out there just in case.

I would describe the highlight colour as a nude. It's not too cool nor too warm. It's extremely brightening on the cheekbones. Due to its finely-milled formulation it doesn't emphasise any texture on the skin and believe me I do have plenty. It provides an ethereal glow without being too obvious. If you want you can build it up for a more intense glow without looking like a disco-ball. It has a very good lasting power, when I come home in the evening I can still see it. It's a perfect highlighter if you work in an office environment or for those days when you don't prefer to be seen from outer space. 

Laura Mercier Highlight 01 swatch in a day light

Overall, I am very pleased with this product and will happily continue using it. If you have been afraid of highlighters because they would emphasise every pore and unevenness on your skin, or you can't decide what colour would work you, I would highly recommend checking this one out. It's not cheap but you get a good amount of product that will last you a long time. If your primary concern is finding a highlighter that doesn't contain talc I would keep my eyes peeled out for the new Makeup Geek highlighters that should be launching sometime in the near future.

Let me know what is your go-to highlighter and whether you prefer a subtle or a popping glow!

Until next time,

Muffy