Unexpectedly Awesome – NeoStrata Anti-Aging Gel Review

NeoStrata Anti-Aging Gel

NeoStrata Anti-Aging Gel

 

 

I am usually a big fan of Korres for all of my skincare, so I was pretty annoyed when I ran out of my night cream and couldn’t find a replacement! Normally I buy my Korres products at Sephora, but when I stopped there to pick up a new cream they told me they were no longer selling Korres. I was pretty surprised and asked if the sales girl knew why and she said no, but then pulled out a list of comparable creams Sephora had put together to pacify a situation such as this. I wasn’t having a full-blown melt down, but I probably had a look on my face that politely said are you freaking kidding me?

It was pretty funny because they actually didn’t have anything comparable to that cream – her closest comparison (according to her list) was a serum that you would squeeze one drop from to rub on your face. Not quite the same as my amazing smelling, nourishing cream. Needless to say I left, planning on purchasing my cream elsewhere.

I got sidetracked and found myself back at home that night looking for something to use in the back of my cabinet where I store all of my samples from gift bags and events. I actually had a full size container of NeoStrata’s Anti-Aging Gel that I had never even opened, so I thought I would give it a try. I had never tried a NeoStrata product before this. I just hadn’t heard anyone talk about the brand, and I had never looked into the brand on my own.

I gave it a try, and at first I thought it was really weird! It’s not a cream, it’s a gel which was really different for me. It actually tingled a lot when I put it on, and the first thing I thought was I am either burning the skin off of my face, or it is really working. Or it was the shock of retinol to my system, which definitely could have been the case!

Fast forward to one month later, and I have realized it’s really working! I haven’t gone looking for my Korres cream yet because I am sort of addicted to my NeoStrata gel.

 

 

NeoStrata Anti-Aging Gel

NeoStrata Anti-Aging Gel

 

 

It took about a week for my face to really adjust to the gel. I didn’t break out or have any major issues at all – it just seemed like it took a week before it tingled less when I applied it, and when I started to see results. Korres has very natural ingredients in their products, so I think my skin was also adjusting to having a few ingredients created in a lab smeared on my face. I really did think to myself though, I could deal with lab-based ingredients if my face ends up looking this fresh! Is that bad? Sorry, but those were the very non-environmentally friendly thoughts running around in my head.

The cream is supposed to be for ages 35+, and although that’s above my age, I wish I had been using this for longer. My skin seems a lot brighter, a lot smoother, and overall I can see a difference. Without make up I actually don’t look half bad!

It’s hard to say if it actually is firming my skin the way it says it will, but I can attest to the fact that my skin looks healthier than before I was using it. My face seems very smooth, and I don’t have a problem with that.

Because it’s a gel, I found it can be almost a bit sticky to apply, and it needs to dry a bit before you don’t feel it on your face anymore. It’s a very soft, whipped gel so it does dry quickly.

Once I looked the product up online I found it retails online for $67, so this stuff isn’t cheap, but unfortunately I am addicted now. It does seem to last a long time though, and you really don’t need much to cover your face and neck.

You can buy NeoStrata’s Anti-Aging Gel here online.

I definitely think it’s worth a try!

Benefit’s They’re Real Push-up Liner

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Over the weekend I tried out Benefit’s They’re Real Push-up Liner. I previously posted about Benefit’s They’re Real Mascara, and I was very impressed with it. I have probably purchased four of them since I posted about it, because I’m pretty obsessed with it! I seriously can’t live without it.

The liner was only released this weekend, and I was really excited to try it. I’m used to buying cheap pencil liners, or gel pots for around $10-$12 so it was a splurge to pay $29 CDN.

The tube distributes the liner by twisting the bottom so it comes up the AccuFlex Tip. The tip bends in the direction to pressure, which made it very easy to keep close to my lash line. The tip was really neat!

 

 

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I found it to be very very easy to apply. Prior to this I was using a gel liner in a pot with a brush, so this was so much better. The tip gives you a lot of control so you can do a very thin line, or easily layer it to thicken the line.

I found that this stuff dries very quickly, so if you make a mistake you need to clean it up right away. Once I finished using the liner, it was there to stay. I had to use make up remover to get this stuff off. Even in the shower this liner wouldn’t come off. I would definitely say that this stuff is waterproof!

 

 

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The one thing I don’t like about the liner is there is no way to tell if you are running out. I found that sometimes I would have to twist a few times before the liner refilled, and that made me worried it was already empty. Once it’s actually empty I’m sure it will be at the worst possible moment when I have only done one eye and I need to go out. It will be frustrating to not know when it’s close to being empty.

Otherwise I am a big fan of this liner! I’ve never had one so accurate before. I like that it didn’t smudge at all and seemed to have wearability all day. The only other frustrating thing about this great liner is that it’s another essential I feel like my makeup bag can’t live without, and it’s not cheap!

You can learn more about Benefit’s They’re Real Push-up Liner here!

Benefit’s Big Beautiful Eyes

Benefit Cosmetics Big Beautiful Eyes

 

I hate it when you buy an eyeshadow palette and there are colours you absolutely won’t use in it! Then when you run out of the colours you like, you end up throwing out makeup that is unused, or you end up using those colours you didn’t like in the first place because they are all you are left with.

I made in to the bottom of my last palette so I went looking for a new one this week. What I chose was Benefit’s Big Beautiful Eyes palette.

The kit includes Boi-ing Concealer which I have never used before. I was a little worried this would be the one thing I wouldn’t use, but I’m obsessed with it! The concealer blends perfectly, and it stays on all day. Normally I need to do a touch up towards the end of the day, but the Boi-ing doesn’t budge. I need a whole bottle of this stuff!

Benefit Cosmetics Big Beautiful Eyes

 

There’s an alabaster pink eye shadow (which is a little shimmery) for highlighting or applying as a base. It’s a very natural colour, and the shimmer is only slight so it can be worn easily during the day.

For the crease of the eye there is a very natural cocoa eye shadow that is very complimentary. Just using the Boi-ing, the alabaster pink shadow, and the cocoa eyeshadow is perfect for day wear! The final shadow colour is a deep brown shadow, and I use this for a bit of depth to the outer corner of my eyes when I’m going out for dinner or drinks. It’s a little dark for daytime use.

Benefit Cosmetics Big Beautiful Eyes

 

I am pretty obsessed with this palette right now! If Benefit ever stops making it I will first throw a temper-tantrum, then buy a whole bunch of them on Ebay while I can, and then I will buy all of these shadows and the Boi-ing separately and make my own palette!

If you are looking for a natural eye palette, I recommend this one for sure! It retails for $32.99.

What I Tried This Week – Schwarzkopf Professional Smooth Perfect Smoothing Cream

Schwarzkopf Professional Smooth Perfect

This past week was the perfect one to try out a new product on my hair. The weather was hot, cold, windy, rainy and even humid – the full gauntlet of hair challenges.

My hair has a natural curl which I try to hide every day with a blow-out and the use of my hair straightener. Humidity and rain are my hair’s worst enemies, but really anything can ruin it! Sound frustrating? Welcome to my world.

This week I tested out part of the Schwarzkopf Professional BC Hair Therapy line. There are six options for all hair types, and the one I chose to try was the Smooth Perfect Smoothing Cream.

Schwarzkopf Professional Smooth Perfect

It says right on the front of the bottle that it’s for unmanageable hair, which sounds sounds like it accurately describes my hair!

I washed my hair as usual, and once I was ready to blow dry I applied the Smooth Perfect Smoothing Cream to my hair. It smells nice and fresh which was a bonus, but it was also very light weight. My hair didn’t feel greasy at all, which tends to happen with products I apply to my hair.

Right after my blow-dry my hair was actually very smooth. I normally have a lot if fly-away strands until I use my straightener, but before I straightened it my hair already seemed done.

The next morning it rained, so here was a true test! As a prepared girl I was obviously armed with an umbrella and a cute hooded jacket, but sometimes that’s not enough. The Smooth Perfect actually kept my hair in line! I was very impressed. My hair stayed styled all day!

The humidity later in the week was pretty surprising with it being spring! Humidity is the worst because the only way you can hide from it is to stay inside. Since that’s not always possible, products like this are required. The Smooth Perfect Smoothing Cream did not disappoint. It was weird because the cream didn’t feel like it weighed my hair down, but somehow it didn’t get frizzy in the humidity.

The Smooth Perfect Smoothing Cream also claims to restore structure and tame frizz for up to four days. I wash my hair every other day, so I didn’t test if it would last that long, but I didn’t have any build-up in my hair when using it that often throughout the week. The Smoothing Cream claims to nourish and discipline coarse or unruly hair with Cell Perfector Technology, and I can confirm it definitely handled my unruly hair.

The other options in this new Schwarzkopf Professional line include Moisture Kick, Repair Rescue, Color Freeze, Volume Boost and Time Restore.

Schwarzkopf Professional Smooth Perfect

If you have unruly hair like mine then maybe you should give it a try! It’s definitely a part my hair ritual after this week.

What’s in my Bag?

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I’m kind of nosy sometimes, and I like to see what other products people are using. I love reading reviews that people post on beauty products to see what they thought about it to help me make my decision. I love it when magazines feature what is in a celebrities purse because I totally want to know! A celebrity I am not, but you may be nosy like me and want to know what I keep in my bag. I emptied my own purse for you to see, and after throwing away a bunch of receipts I was hiding, I’ve laid out what I carry with me always in case you were wondering.

 
 

Keep Calm and Have a Cupcake

Cupcakes make me happy, so when I saw this agenda at Chapters it was an easy choice! Keep Calm and Have a Cupcake Agenda

 
 

Cake Desserted Island Velveteen Hand Creme

This hand cream was a gift, and it smells like dessert! Cake Desserted Island Velveteen Hand Creme

 
 

Tiffany & Co Stitch Card Case

This Tiffany card case was a gift as well, and was a better choice for me instead of a silver plated one because it would have got scratched up in my purse. Tiffany & Co Stitch Card Case

 
 

Essie Marshmallow Nail Poish

Essie has a few different shades of white, but I just liked the name of this one. Essie Marshmallow Polish

 
 

Boogie Wipes

I never leave home without Boogie Wipes! It drives me nuts when my son has a dirty face, so I keep these wipes handy at all times. The grape flavour is the best! Click here for a coupon!

 
 

Dior Addict Gloss

I’m a lip gloss junkie, and this is my favourite! Perfect name too, right? Dior Addict Gloss in Sparkling Carnation Pink.

 
 

eos Strawberry Sorbet Lip Balm

Lip gloss #2! And it can be used as a secondary toddler toy! eos Strawberry Sorbet Lip Balm

 
 

TOKYOMILK Let Them Eat Cake No. 11

Yes I have two hand creams! I can’t decide which one I like better, so I keep them both on me. TOKYOMILK Let Them Eat Cake No. 11

 
 

Bath & Body Works Rhinestone Case

I think everyone has a Bath & Body Works PocketBac sanitizing gel, but I had to have this rhinestone case.

 
 

Starbucks After Coffee Mints

When I forget to buy a pack of gum, I pick up these mints in the drive-thru with my morning latte. Starbucks After Coffee Mints

 
 

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation

I’m oily, so I do a few touch ups with this stuff throughout the day. MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation

 
 

Kate Spade Cherry Lane Amherst Wallet

I need lots of card space, so this wallet delivers. Kate Spade Cherry Lane Amherst Wallet

 
 

Ray Ban Aviator Classic

These Aviators remind me of summer. And Top Gun. Rayban Aviator Classic Sunglasses