Review: Benefit Porefessional Hydrate Primer

Benefit Porefessional Hydrate Primer: This is a nude tinted face primer

The Benefit Porefessional Hydrate Primer (Retail Cost: $32) is easy to apply and has a nude tint to it that blends well into my skin tone NC25. I think this shade compliments a wide range of skin tones. It is very hydrating like you are rubbing water droplets on your skin and feels moist and cool. I like that its oil free so it won’t clog my pores and the hyaluronic acid formula helps provide 12 hours of hydration while feeling slick on my skin without any stickiness. 

The pictures below show "Before" without makeup and "After" with makeup applied on top.

 I applied with my fingers and it blended effortlessly into my pores. You do have to let it bake on the skin for a couple minutes to see it hide the pores but I think it didn’t do so well for my large pores or acne scars. I love that it comes in a tube so you can squeeze the right amount out and keeps the rest of the product clean from contamination.

My tip is to wait for 5 mins to bake before applying makeup afterwards like foundation or highlighter. 

It did make applying makeup a lot easier like you are working with a smooth canvas, which I was very happy to about. 

I highly recommend using this with liquid foundation. 

It didn’t irritate my skin even though it had a sweet fragrance to it and was easy to remove with a makeup removing facial cleanser and also with a face wipe.

This is one of my new favorite pore targeted primers because application is easy and does make applying makeup faster and smoother. There was no caking with my foundation, which is always a win!

*This is available at Sephora and retails for $32 full size.

x Carol 

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Review: SULWHASOO Bestsellers Trial Kit

Sulwhasoo Bestsellers Trial Kit

Sulwhasoo is a Korean skincare line that I have always been dying to try! This is their Bestsellers Trial Kit that was sent to me complimentary. I saw a big difference in my skin after first use, I am not even joking about this. This stuff actually works to improve my acne prone skin. 😍The only full size item is the serum, the others are like sample size in this kit but all the products smell heavenly if you like herbal scents or ginseng.

Close up look at all the items in this kit!

I’m reviewing in order of how to apply the items in this kit. The gentle cleaning foam is so soothing and makes me feel like I am enjoying a spa experience and it left my skin super soft and supple afterwards. The first care activating serum (largest bottle) smells so good! Like a hint of ginseng and other herbal goodies. The aromatherapy aspect of it makes me feel calm and relaxed. This absorbs quickly into the skin. The essential balancing water is very hydrating the moment it hits the skin. Like you feel like a cooling sensation like cool water on your face like you are refreshed and the tiredness from the day is washed away. The final step is applying the concentrated ginseng renewal cream. The moment I opened this it reminded me of those ginseng candies I used to have as a kid. ❤️ I personally love that smell and I really enjoyed using this face cream because of it.

When applied, I felt this warmth wash over my skin in a good way. Like it’s helping circulating the blood in my face to renew my skin and my complexion. It does feel a bit like when you apply an overnight mask but it isn’t sticky at all. Running your hands along the areas applied you can tell which parts has face cream and which doesn’t. I also applied this along my neck.

The back of the box with ingredients listed.

I woke up the next day and was amazed that some of the large pores I had closed and even the sebum on the inside was dry and could easily be removed. My skin looked smoother than the day before I started this skincare regimen. Some of the pimples I had that were puffy and turned dark because they are the kind that are like stuck inside the skin and come out looked lighter in color. The red pimples that were inflamed looked smaller and the white part came to the surface quicker than it would if I didn’t apply anything.

I am hoping it will heal my acne by penetrating underneath my skin and clear it up the more often I use this. My skin was glowing and looked rejuvenated! I had no adverse skin reactions even though my skin is sensitive usually to fragrances skincare and my skin type is oily. I never had this experience with any other skincare line so quickly that I saw results. I am definitely buying the full size when these babies run out.

x Carol

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*This product was sent complimentary by Sulwhasoo and Influenster in exchange for a review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Skincare Review: Feather and Bone Natural Face Gems Face Wash Tabs

Feather and Bone Co. Face Gems // Photo: intrice.blogspot.com 

I am always looking for natural skincare brands that make products free of harsh chemicals and dyes. With my skin type (oily), I noticed these kinds of products give the best results for my skin because they don't make my skin produce excessive amounts of oil or cause me to breakout all over.

I stumbled upon the brand Feather and Bone from Tomoson and was asked to write a review for them about their facial tabs called Face Gems. I haven't used any other product like this so I thought I would give it a shot and was sent 3 tabs for free to use and review. 

Their Face Gems are made from sandalwood, fullers earth, and starch, which work together to be a cleanser, exfoliator, and moisturizer all in one. 

Close up of Feather and Bone Face Gems

To me, it looks similar to Chinese herbal medicine tablets I take sometimes when I am sick (haha) but I have to say the packaging and it being dry does make it convenient to take around for travel. You don't have to worry about going over your 3 oz or less liquids limit if you are taking a plane. 

How To Use It: 

All you have to do is add a few drops of water onto the facial tab and mix it up in the palm of your hand. When it starts looking like a paste, it can then be applied onto the face.

The dark brownish color is how the Feather and Bone Face Gem cleanser looks when wet.
Once it dries, it becomes a khaki nude color. It feels like clay.

What is interesting about this is that it feels more like a mud mask than a facial cleanser and it does dry quick like a face mask. After 10 seconds, it was almost completely dry. I left it on for about 5 minutes because I wanted to clear out my pores and help shrink my breakouts.  

When it was time to rinse, the granules in the tab worked well as an exfoliator that felt gentle on my skin too.

This is how the cleanser looks when dry on my skin. It can double as a face mask! :D

The Results

I am happy to say it didn't irritate my skin at all. No burning sensation or redness. After rinsing, my skin looked smoother and with a glow. The parts of my face with pimples also didn't hurt as much as before and was less swollen. I guess one of the ingredients is an anti-inflammatory.

My pores looked smaller too after using this just once and some of my blackheads on my nose were washed off. This definitely exceeded my expectations on what it can do with just one wash.

It costs $15 for a box and according to the website this product is safe for normal, dry, oily and combination skin. There is also no expiration date for the Feather and Bone Face Gems so you can keep them for a long time. 

If this product is in your price range and you are looking for a gentle yet effective natural face cleanser, this is worth a try.  :)

Feather and Bone Co. Face Gems

Retails: $15 for a box

Available at: Feather and Bone Co. Website

For more information about the brand and this product, visit http://featherandboneco.com.

What is your favorite all natural skin care brand?

Have you tried dry tablets before as a facial cleanser? 

x Carol

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*This post is sponsored by Feather and Bone Co. I received samples of this facial cleanser to test and to write an honest review. All opinions are my own and reflect my experiences when using these products. All photos belong to Intrice Blog unless otherwise stated.

Review: Kiss Me Organics Dandelion Root Tea

Here I am again testing out a new flavor of tea from Kiss Me Organics, an organic tea brand with teas that have all natural flavors with no additives and is vegan friendly. I was sent a box of their organic dandelion root tea with hibiscus and cinnamon to test and keep.

I think that part of having good skin can come from detoxing the body through drinking teas. On the box, it says this tea infusion helps with digestion and detoxing the liver and kidney, which is one of the reasons why I wanted to try this out.

Flavor Profile:  Cinnamon, Hibiscus, Dandelion Root - Herbally

Review: Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara

I was chosen as one of the 4000 members of Influenster to test and keep the new Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara. I have always wanted to try Yves Saint Laurent products but it would definitely be a huge investment (this one retails $32) because they are high-end makeup so I was excited to be picked for this campaign.

First Impressions

I really love the gold color of the mascara tube. It feels very glamorous and expensive lol. Compared to other mascaras it is also very long. Hopefully that means that there is more product in the tube and the wand length is for extra control.

As for the brush shape itself, it is a skinny brush with plush bristles to help you to easily coat not only the top lashes but the teeny ones on the bottom lash line too. The color I received was in "high density black."

Brush Shape - Yves Saint Laurent Volume Faux Cils Mascara

Review

The Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara has a nice floral scent to it, which is a nice touch and probably part of why it's expensive. With drugstore brands, they usually smell very chemical in my opinion. 

My lashes coated with Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara

Application is very easy and the bristles softly glide through the lashes. When I used it for the very first time, there was no clumping but after giving it go again a week later, there were a bit of clumps. No need to worry though, I used my lash comb to brush and catch any areas where there was slight clumping. My end result was long darker lashes! I layered about 3 times to get it the right length for me.

I really like how when wearing this mascara my eyes looked more awake because of the way my lashes fanned out. The skinny brush makes it easy to coat my bottom lashes and I actually got more mascara residue on the top lid area while coating than when working on the bottom lashes. 

Before and After Photo using #YSLMascara

The formula feels light as if I didn't have any mascara on at all. I didn't feel any eye irritation either, which is what makes it hard for me to find a decent mascara to use. This is very safe for those with sensitive eyes.

Today was very hot in Florida and my Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara did not melt off my face and leave me with panda eyes at the end of the day. :) That makes this a definite keeper in my book and I will probably buy this when I run out of it.

As for removal, I just used my Neutrogena Make-up Removing Face Wipes and it took all of it off easily. No need to grab a separate eye makeup remover and go in with a q-tip to take out mascara residue.

If this is in your budget, I would make the investment if you are looking for a mascara that gives the natural lashes but better appearance and not a super plush and full lash look. It gives the right amount of intensity to lift the face but not enough to be very bold and daring.

Have you tried the new Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effect Faux Cils Mascara?

What is your favorite mascara?

Overall Rating: 5/5

Consistency: 4 - Fragrance: 5 - Longevity (when worn): 5 - Brush: 4

Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara
Retails: $32.00 (Sephora, Macy's, Nordstrom)

*This post is sponsored by Influenster and Yves Saint Laurent. I received a sample of this product to test and to write an honest review. All opinions are my own and reflect my experiences when using these products. All photos belong to Intrice Blog unless otherwise stated.

Review: Leather Nova Leather Cleaner, Conditioner, and 2-in-1 Cleaner with Conditioner

Living in a humid climate, it makes it easy for leather to become moldy or become sticky. With my leather jackets, handbags, and even belts sitting in my closet for 10 months out of the year it is bound to happen. 

I found out about Leather Nova and liked that their products are all natural and non-toxic. I contacted the company about letting me try their product in exchange for a review. Leather Nova sent me these three products to test and keep so I can share with my readers the results good or bad.

"We only use natural and non-toxic ingredients to make our products environmentally-friendly. Unlike other companies, we do not compromise the health and safety of our customers for high profits. We take pride in introducing a wide range of non-toxic leather care products to the world. Finally, we only manufacture in small batches so we can concentrate on quality control." - Leather Nova

I tested these 3 leather cleaning products on two different leather jackets that have started to get mold spots and losing their color brightness from sitting in my closet for too long.

Review: 100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream

100% Pure is a skincare brand that uses only natural ingredients in their products. I purchased the 100% Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream because I was browsing on Birchbox and saw that this product was one of the more affordable eye creams on the website. I wanted an eye cream to help with puffiness and dark circles and this seemed like it could solve these problem areas so I got it.

100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream tube in relation to packaging.

The 100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream is in a tube with a pump top with a plastic cap to prevent it from accidentally getting pushed if you tossed it into your makeup bag or travel bag. I really like this unique design for this eye cream because it allows you to easily dispense the cream while leaving it free from germs. You would not want to risk getting an eye infection when sticking your finger into jar creams. 

The eye cream sits tightly inside the tube.

Their products are all vegan-friendly, gluten-free, and never tested on animals. The paper tube that the 100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream comes in can be repurposed too! I used mine to hold my makeup pencils such as eyeliners, lip liners, and lip crayons. 

100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream - Ingredients List

Review:

When applying the eye cream on my skin, it felt very moisturizing and helped in reducing the fine lines appearing under my eyes. The first thing you will notice is how strong the scent is for this eye cream. It smells like a fresh cup of brewed coffee and will definitely awaken your senses in the morning. 

Sadly, it didn't do much for my black circles though. I used this for about a month and I couldn't see them getting lighter. As an anti-puffing cream, it made my eye puffiness less noticeable but they don't go down immediately after applying. When I looked at myself in the mirror later on in the day, my eyes looked less tired.

I think as a daily eye cream, it does enough to rejuvenate the eye area if you are just starting to see signs of fine lines or have dry spots. If you want something to miraculously fix dark under eyes, this is a product you will want to skip.

100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream
Retails: $19.00 (Birchbox.com)

For more information about 100% Pure and their products you can visit their website at www.100percentpure.com.

Overall Rating: 3/5

Dark Circles: 1 - Puffiness: 3 - Moisturizing: 5 - Fine Lines: 4

What is your current or favorite eye cream? :)

Leave me a comment.

x Carol 

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