Tag Archives: love it

Ole Henriksen 3 Little Wonders Kit

Leave a reply

With an order from Sephora, I chose this sample kit: Ole Henriksen : 3 Little Wonders. I’m not very familiar with Ole Henriksen and was excited to get to try three of their products at once – especially the Invigorating Night Gel.

How I Used It:
On the first night, I noticed that the Invigorating Night Gel (ING) felt mildly tingly – it might be too strong to use nightly, as suggested, if it feels this tingly every night. When I put the Sheer Transformation (ST) on top, it melted in nicely but felt Continue reading →

Melvita Cleansing Jelly

Leave a reply

Because the right cleanser can make all the difference, I tend to review them the most. Plus, it’s the one product I need to buy rather often and it’s hard for me to stick to just one (even if I do call it my favorite). This Cleansing Jelly is by the brand Melvita, which pulled me in when I was working at Burke Williams in the Westfield Mall. Melvita had posters advertising their natural products all around the mall and I had to check it out.

Here’s how I use it:
– Dry Skin: 3-5 pumps of the gel, massaged into skin while adding water bit by bit until rinsing. I do this when my skin is especially oily or dirty.
– Wet Skin: 1-2 pumps of the gel, massaged into skin until a light foam forms and then rinse. I do this after the above or if I’m feeling cleaner that day.

The upsides:
– The scent is a light and fresh barely there citrus.
– The texture is silky smooth and feels great on the skin and makes the skin feel soft and smooth cleansing.

The Company
– Melvita was founded by a Beekeeper and Biologist, Bernard Continue reading →

NUDE 4 piece sampler

Leave a reply

I got a sample set of NUDE Skincare products and I’m already in love and ready to settle down and make 10,000 babies with these products (and I’ve only used four little packets!)
I’m so in love with this company and its products that I’m breaking my standard “upsides/not-so-upsides” form.

The sample kit I got came with four little envelopes of product:
Cleansing Facial Oil (love)
My first experience with cleansing oils was in Esthetic school when we used Dermalogica’s PreCleanse in every facial. I may write about that one someday but for now I’ll say that I fell in love with cleansing oils back then and I still really enjoy them. Nude’s version is fabulous. You apply it to your skin without water and massage it in for a while. Bit by bit, you add water and watch it emulsify into a watery, creamy substance. This gets the skin super clean by attaching the cleansing oil to the oils on the skin and then rinsing them away with the water. Plus, it leaves the skin feeling conditioned and fresh and not dried out.

Advanced Eye Complex (feels wonderful)
It’s hard to say much about eye cream from a sample except for how it feels.

Age Defence Moisturiser (not too heavy, feels lovely)
Same as eye cream. Worth purchasing more of it to really see
Continue reading →

Avalon Organics Vitamin C Refreshing Cleansing Gel

Leave a reply

I first tried Avalon Organics about three years ago. Of course, it was cleanser that first drew me in (favorite product). I’m also a big fan of Vitamin C use on the skin so when I saw their Vitamin C Refreshing Cleansing Gel I got very excited. (Y’all didn’t have to hear about me getting “very excited” about a cleanser to know how much of a nerd I am about products, did you?)

Here’s how I use it:
– 1/2 pump [yes! I love pumps and I love measured doses (and spreadsheets and organizing – it all falls in the same nerdy category to me)] massaged into wet skin in the morning and evening. I use it over my eyes and it works great at getting eye makeup off without irritating my sensitive eyes.

The upsides:
The Scent
– I’ve used products in the past that look like they’re going to Continue reading →

Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner

Leave a reply

My name is Addy and I am a toner user.

I know a lot of people don’t want to or can’t bother taking this extra step and I respect that.

However, if you use the right kind of toner, I find it a beneficial and inexpensive step.
I’ve been using Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner for probably 10 years. There are other formulas/scents but I’ve never tried any of them. In researching this post, I discovered that they have a medicated version that looks like it could work out really well for someone with large pores and oily, acneic skin. If that’s you and you want to let me know how you like this product, I’ll post a review here with what you have to say. You can email me at addy at addysesthetics dot com.

Here’s how I use it:
– After washing my face both am and pm, I pour a small amount
Continue reading →

Comparison: Kryolan Aqua Color vs Makeup Crayons

Leave a reply

I’m going to switch things up a bit today and veer from the usual format because I’d like to tell you a story.

It was Easter. We decided to have a party. Of course, it had to be a themed party. I chose Zombie Bunny as the theme.

I offered to my guests that I would help everyone get zombiefied using my selection of professional makeup tools/items from Kryolan, while we ate baked goods and drank cocktails. Continue reading →

Pangea Organics Combination Skin Cream

Leave a reply

I got some samples of Pangea Organics cream for combination skin Nigerian ginger, sweet lavender & thyme over at Foxglove and I totally love it.

Here’s how I use it:
– After cleansing, toning & applying a serum, I apply a bit of this cream and massage it in. I do this at night and in the morning if it’s overcast (hello San Francisco!)

The upsides:
– I love it when products come in a pump. One because then each application can come from a measured dose. This makes the product last longer because there aren’t any accidental spills or “over scoops” of product. Two because it’s so much more germ free – no fingers in jars leaving behind whatever was on the fingers when they reached into the jars.

– The price point is very approachable. I wouldn’t call it Continue reading →

SkinCeuticals Ultimate UV Defense SPF 30

1 Reply

Now that it’s June, I thought it would be a good time to discuss sunscreen. Also, a couple of you have asked me about sunscreen lately so I figured this would be a good time to devote a few posts to the subject.

My beloved SkinCeuticals has a winner with Ultimate UV Defense. For a few years it was my favorite sunscreen. Then I got a job at a new spa that doesn’t carry SkinCeuticals so I thought I’d try something new, which I did, and I love it more (more on that later). So, I’m divided between “like it” and “love it” because I USED to love it, until I found something better. You’ll have to decide on your own!

Here’s how I use it:
– Every. Single. Day. It’s my last step before makeup.
– I use enough to cover the last digit of my middle finger and I massage it into my face, front and back of neck (short hair or updos require back of the neck SPF application), ears and down the decollete. If I’m wearing a wide neck shirt on a sunny day, I always make sure that everything within the neck hole is covered with this sunscreen. Arms and elsewhere get a less
Continue reading →

MyChelle Deep Repair Cream

3 Replies

I purchased the MyChelle All Skin Types Sampler Kit and have been working my way thru it’s offerings. I recently over did it a bit with the retinol and had some flaky skin on my chin. Some say the flaking is a good thing but I don’t like it – I think the skin should be fresh and dewey often and that dry, flaky patches are not a goal. Some types of skin need the flakes to get results quickly, but I think everyone will get results from retinoids with regular, measured applications. However, I have sensitive skin and sometimes retinol can make the skin flake (especially if the same skin has a new scrub tested on it the morning after retinol is applied…).
I tried the Deep Repair Cream from my little kit to see if it would help and I used it every night until it was gone – I love it so much I’m probably going to go buy some at Rainbow now that I’ve used the last smidgen, even tho I’ve plenty of other moisturizers to use at night.

Continue reading →

Zia Fresh Cleansing Gel

Leave a reply

I’ve been on a cleanser hunt lately. A couple of years ago, I found one I really love but when I recently inquired about it’s many months of absence from the shelf at Rainbow Grocery, I learned that they may be reformulating – sigh – so it may not be my favorite after it’s return.
Nevertheless, I continue on in my joyful hunt for the ever elusive perfect cleanser. Since I recently decided to try more Zia products, I figured I’d give their Fresh Cleansing Gel a shot.

Here’s how I use it:
– Dry method: without wetting my face, I apply about a nickle sized amount to my face and massage in, adding bits of water as it dries. I continue to add water and massage until I’ve essentially rinsed it off. This method leaves my oily, makeup covered face (and eyes!) super clean and smelling great without feeling tight or dry.
– Wet method: I wet my face and massage about a dime sized amount into my not so oily or makeup covered face (and eyes!) and rinse. This works well when I’m in a rush or it’s morning and I don’t need a super deep clean.

Continue reading →