It Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness

It's rare that I get impressed by a product to the point that I get anxiety knowing that I can't get it easily when I run out. It Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness is one of those products that makes me feel this way. I picked it up on my recent trip to Singapore and it has made its way to my everyday makeup bag solidifying its position as an oh so cliche "holy grail" item.  

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness Neutralizing Correcting Cream

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness as the name suggests is a colour correcting/neutralizing cream. Even though it's of a skin colour it contains green pigment which helps to counteract redness. The product is packaged in a pot container and you get 11ml. It doesn't seem like much, but you only need a tiny amount to cover a substantial surface area, as it's very pigmented.

Among the ingredients you will find colloidal oatmeal, avocado, hydrolyzed collagen, grape seed extract, licorice root extract, tumeric root extract and aloe. It's paraben, fragrance and cruelty-free. 

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness Neutralizing Correcting Cream

It's truly a miracle worker as it gets rid of redness (including acne scarring) better than any concealer I have used before. As it contains soothing and hydrating ingredients I can also use it on dry patches without it looking caky or irritating my skin. It can be used on its own for a "no-makeup makeup days" when you just want to even out your skin tone or under foundation. I have worn it both ways and have equally enjoyed it.

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness Neutralizing Correcting Cream

If you couldn't already tell, I am extremely impressed by this product. I would highly recommend it if you are suffering from redness, rosacea, acne scarring or discoloration. The only downside is that it's not readily available here in Finland. The only place I could find that ships to Finland is Beautylish, but you'd have to pay customs fees. I do hope that eventually It Cosmetics becomes more accessible for us folks residing outside the US. I did manage to pick up a few more goodies from the brand, so keep your eyes peeled for future reviews!

Until next time,

Muffy

La Belle Lune Organic Skin

One skincare product that I always have on hand is a face oil. My journey with face oils begun with the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate, which I used for years and still think is a great one. After that I transitioned to Dr. Alkaitis Nourishing Treatment Oil, which is fantastic value for money and has a very clean list of ingredients. However, recently I came across an indie brand, La Belle Lune and its Organic Skin face oil, which had amazing reviews and story. I decided to pick it up and have been using it for a few months now. As such I am well equipped to share my thoughts, and if you care to know more, then keep on reading! 

La Belle Lune Organic Skin 

Let's start with the experience of actually getting the product to Finland (the company is based in the UK). First of all, La Belle Lune offers free international shipping (big YES!). They make their products in small batches, therefore it takes a few days before they ship it out. When they do ship it out, you get a notification and I believe I received my parcel within a week after that. The product came in a sturdy black box, very nicely wrapped and packaged (I was pleasantly surprised). It also included a separate note listing all the ingredients - nice attention to detail if you ask me. The overall presentation and the initial contact with the brand has been excellent (better than what you get with bigger, more established brands and retailers). 

About the product packaging itself. The branding is not particularly to my liking, but I can appreciate how different/alternative it is. The product is stored in a black/dark blue glass bottle which protects the ingredients from being overexposed to light (highly appreciate that). You get 20ml of product as opposed to 30ml (standard size). I was aware of this prior to ordering, hence it did not come as a surprise. Personally I don't see it as an issue, since you don't need a lot (1-3 drops) and I'd rather re-order a fresh one once I run out. It comes with a pump, not a dropper applicator. This is something that occasionally makes me a little bit frustrated as the pump can get stuck and fails to work properly.

La Belle Lune Organic Skin

What does it contain? The oil is packed full of vitamins and nutrients such as Rosehip Seed Oil, Milk Thistle Seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Chia Seed Oil, Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil, Avocado Oil, Lavender Essential Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Rose Otto Essential Oil, Frankincense Essential Oil, Carrot Seed Essential Oil and Rosemary CO2 extract. I was especially thrilled to see the Chia and Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil among the top ingredients as they're not something you can easily come by. A more detailed description of each ingredient can be found here. 

This oil didn't disappoint. It feels luxurious, has heavenly scent (if you like lavender) and is non-greasy. It hasn't broken me out: on the contrary I wake up with calmer and plumper looking skin. Besides the amazing results and ingredients, La Belle Lune is an organic and cruelty-free brand that won't break the bank (compared to Vintner's Daughter, May Lindstrom, Sunday Riley etc.). In my opinion the price (£46.00) is very reasonable considering the quality you are getting. 

Overall there is nothing more I can say other than I won't be looking to try something new in the face oil department anytime soon! I am, however, looking forward to seeing what other products La Belle Lune will be bringing out in the future.

I hope you found this post useful. If you know of any other indie brands that are cruelty-free and worth trying do let me know!

Until next time,

Muffy

The Body Shop Skin Defence Essence SPF 50 PA++++

Finding a suitable daily sunscreen/SPF can be pretty tricky, that is why I am still on a hunt for one. For my liking it shouldn't leave a white cast, cause breakouts or feel greasy. On top of that it should provide a sufficient level of protection, have a relatively clean list of ingredients and be cruelty-free. In the past I have enjoyed using Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defence SPF 50 but it no longer ticks all the boxes for me. Hence, I decided to branch out and try Body Shop's Skin Defence Multi-Protection Essence SPF 50 PA++++.

The Body Shop Skin Defence Multi-Protection Essence SPF 50++++

The product comes in a simple white tube which for some reason reminds me of asian skincare packaging. I quite like it. You get 40ml of product and it has an expiration time of 12 months. The texture is quite runny and lightweight. It absorbs extremely fast into the skin without leaving a white cast. If you are not careful and over apply (which tends to happen since the consistency is watery and it's harder to control how much product comes out) it can make your face look shiny. For me this is not an all-year-round product. I prefer something a bit more nourishing during the winter months.

It doesn't have a typical sunscreen scent, which is a bummer because weirdly enough I do enjoy it. The scent it does have, in my opinion, is quite overpowering with a strong reminiscence of alcohol. It also tends to linger on the skin for a prolonged period of time. 

In terms of ingredients it contains Alcohol Denat at the very top of the list, which explains the borderline alcohol scent. Alcohol can be drying and irritating especially for sensitive skin. Perfume is another irritant that can be found in this product and something to be wary of. Among other ingredients it has Red algae extract and Vitamin C but in rather low amounts as these appear at the bottom of the list. This product hasn't broken me out after continuous use.

Overall, I was not a fan of this product. I was actually looking forward to using it up and trying something else instead. It's overly perfumed, has a too high concentration of alcohol to be used on a daily basis, didn't do much for my skin and frankly speaking is extremely overpriced for what it is (in Finland it retails for 29,50 Euros). As such my search for a perfect SPF continues... 

If you know of any good cruelty-free sunscreen with a clean list of ingredients, do let the girl know!

Until next time,

Muffy

Don't Look At Me Fresh Mask

Lush fresh mask Don't Look At Me

I am always up for trying Lush fresh masks, mainly because it's a nice perk when you return 5 empty black pots. If I recall correctly I have tried almost all of them, but Don't Look At Me is a newer addition to the line. Without any hesitation I decided to pick it up and let's be honest the colour was just too fun to pass. 

As with all Lush fresh masks it comes in a black pot made from recycled material. Since these masks are fresh, they have a much shorter shelf-life compared to your traditional face masks and need to be stored in a fridge. Don't Look At Me is an exfoliating mask which helps to smooth and brighten your complexion. 

Some of the key ingredients are: fresh organic orange juice, murumuru butter, organic silken tofu, rice syrup, grounded white rice, grapefruit oil and neroli oil. It's vegan and cruelty-free.

The texture is that of a scrub, so you can feel the tiny little granules of rice when lathering the mask on your face. It has a fresh invigorating scent, not too intense, which I quite enjoy. You leave it on for 10-15 minutes and rinse it off. I usually never keep track of time so sometimes I end up having it on for 20-25 minutes and it hasn't caused any itching or irritation to the skin.

In terms of results it brightens and smooths out the skin. That being said, it's not that different from other scrubs or exfoliating masks I have tried before. Despite having the murumuru butter, I feel that it leaves my skin feeling a little bit tight, therefore I always follow up with a hydrating mask.

I think Don't Look At Me is an OK mask. It does what is says, but it lacks the WOW factor for me, if you discard the poping aquamarine colour. Do keep in mind that it's a fresh mask and you might not use all of it up prior to its expiration date. Granted you are like me and you prefer to rely on chemical exfoliators and rarely remember to use physical ones. My all-time favourite Lush fresh mask is still the Catastrophe Cosmetic, and I'd highly recommend picking that one up if you can't decide which one to get.

I hope you found this useful and let me know what's your favourite Lush fresh face mask and/or which one would you like to try next!

Until next time,
Muffy

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