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emerginC Scientific Organics Kombucha Cleanser

I first became acquainted with emerginC’s Scientific Organics skin care about a year ago. I tried several sample packets of the products and gave some quick first impressions/mini reviews. One of those was this cleanser, the Kombucha Cleanser. At the time I just thought it was so-so, but now that I’ve had a chance to use it again (several more times since I have a bottle instead of a packet) I wanted to give you guys more of an in-depth review, and an update on how I feel about the product. [Read more…]

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Neaclear Skin Care Review

I discovered Neaclear while doing one of my periodic perusals of the offerings at Ulta. It intrigued me, having heard so much about oxygen and skincare. The reviews on the Ulta website sing the praises of these products, so eventually I picked up a couple to try during a BOGO 1/2 off sale. I grabbed the Liquid Oxygen Facial Toner and Liquid Oxygen Facial Cleanser. Ulta only carries the most basic of the products (6 in all), but the line is actually much larger and has everything from mouthwash to hair care (check out Neaclear’s website for the whole line).

The packaging is pretty unassuming. Clear plastic bottles (however, I gotta say that I am stoked that the pumps LOCK. Makes traveling MUCH easier!!!) with clear product inside. No frills. Next to each other the bottles look pretty much identical, save the labels of “cleanser” and “toner”.

Neaclear Liquid Oxygen Facial Cleanser
Like I said, it’s clear. It’s a thin gel consistency and lathers pretty nicely. Neaclear says this cleanser will improve skin’s hydration up to 35%. I was intrigued by a gel cleanser that claims to be so hydrating. Usually hydrating cleansers have creamier textures. The formula contains vitamins A, C, D, and E in addition to aloe vera. The “liquid oxygen” is purified water infused with oxygen. It’s fragrance free and hypoallergenic. It has barely any scent at all, and it’s not even really describable. It’s very gentle on skin, but they do recommend you avoid contact with your eyes, so use a separate eye makeup remover first. I’ve used it to remove very minimal eye makeup in the shower, but better safe than sorry. ;)

I don’t really have any way of measuring if my skin is “up to 35%” hydrated, but it’s definitely not stripped or dry afterward. Many cleansers have that effect on my dry skin. Overall, it’s a pleasant cleansing experience and I like using it. I haven’t worn much heavy makeup lately, so I’m not sure how well it would eat up heavy foundations and concealers, but for my purposes it has been working great to remove tinted moisturizer and/or powder.

Neaclear Liquid Oxygen Facial Toner
Since the cleanser was so mild and practically scentless I was expecting the toner to be as well, similar to Sana Easy Peel or some of the other Asian toners I’ve used that basically feel like water on your skin. Not so much! It has all of the same great ingredients as the cleanser, but also has sage, rosemary, MINT, and peppermint oil! The mint is very…for lack of a better word, zingy and if you like a product to wake you up with a perky scent that’ll definitely do the trick! It’s also extremely cooling and feels wonderful! It makes my skin feel refreshed and soft, and I’m not sure if it’s just me but I feel like my moisturizer absorbs better. Again, not at all tightening or drying on my skin. Love it!

I think both products are worth trying out and complement each other. They also fit nicely into my skincare routine and work well with the moisturizers I like from The Body Shop. I will say if you’re only interested in one to grab the toner first. The cleanser is nice but fairly unremarkable used on its own. Both of these retail for $12.99 each at Ulta, but you can always save some cash by using coupons (it’s not a prestige product) and/or waiting for BOGOs.

My bare skin isn’t 100% perfect but I’m pretty happy with it! I don’t mind freckles. ;)
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Clickr Skin Polishing Kit Review

I mentioned previously that I’d been trying out some new skincare goodies from ClickR, and I am finally ready to give you my review! ClickR is an all vegan skincare line formulated for younger skin. While I’m not a teen, I think at 25 I still qualify. I still have the “fun” challenges of teenage skin sometimes. I like the fact that the line isn’t enormous with 500 different things. As a product junkie that can get kind of overwhelming! The product offering is actually pretty small; they focus on quality vs. quantity. 
The products I’ve been using are ClickR’s three-step Skin Polishing Kit. What I immediately notice is it’s not your typical Cleanse-Tone-Moisturize 3-step process (a la Clinique and many others). It’s more like Cleanse-Treat-Treat Some More. But there isn’t the same harshness that something like ProActiv or AcneFree has either. Far from it. These products are formulated to be sensitive skin-friendly. 
The first product in the Skin Polishing Kit is the Pearl Wash. The Pearl Wash is ClickR’s basic cleanser (the other one is a daily microdermabrasion cleanser). It’s creamy with very tiny little scrub particles. I thought it would lather like crazy due to the texture, but it actually doesn’t lather as much as I thought it would. That is neither here nor there, just an observation. Overall I like the pearl wash. It feels nice and doesn’t leave my skin feeling stripped or tight, just clean. That’s what cleansers should do. It’s only on your face for like a minute anyway– don’t expect a cleanser to do calculus or voodoo! The actives in the Pearl Wash are tea tree oil and jojoba oil. Very nice.
After cleansing comes the Vanishing Mist, which is the product I was most intrigued by before I tried this kit. They say it’s a toner, but it’s really more of a treatment because it has salicylic acid in it to help rid your skin of any impurities deep down in your pores. I’m a fan. Other ingredients include aloe and cucumber. Here’s the thing with this product. The directions say to simply close your eyes and mist over your face. The first time I tried it I sprayed it on just like I would any other face spray like MAC Fix+ etc. Wrong. It dripped down my forehead and into my eyes and it stings like a mother-you-know-what when it gets in my eyes. Well! After doing this one or two more times in the process of testing out this product I have a better system. I spray my face in “zones”, using my hand to shield my eyes each time. I make sure to pat in the spray that mists my forehead right away to avoid dripping into my eyes. If you want to fuss with a cotton pad I’m sure applying it that way would work fine too, but I was determined to make this work, haha. I definitely notice a difference in the clarity of my skin when I use it, which is the only reason I put up with the fuss.
And finally, the third step in the kit is Diamond Dust Skin Polisher. Now, any of you who know about my love affair with Purely Cosmetics‘ Diamond Perfect Finish powder will probably be perking your ears at this one. This product is actually a serum (the name made me think it was some kind of scrubby thing). It contains actual diamond dust as well as a host of other good for your skin ingredients. 
My skin has been pretty darn clear since I started using this kit. I don’t use the whole thing every single day, but I can definitely see an improvement. The pictures I posted in my last entry with my birthday crown were taken sans makeup, and my skin looks pretty awesome if I do say so myself. I definitely think this kit had something to do with it! 
Something to keep in mind – this kit is not a fully comprehensive skincare regime. All skin needs a moisturizer. I kept using my current favorite (The Body Shop Vitamin E cream) moisturizer throughout this process, and remember the sunscreen! 

The ClickR Skin Polishing Kit retails for $60 at Sephora.
Product provided for editorial consideration.
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Current Skin Routine

It seems to me that some bloggers, youtubers, and even beauty pros will talk about their “problem areas” but we never see them. We see the perfectly made up version and sometimes it’s hard to imagine how they get from point A to point Fabulous. So when I got the idea to tell you my current skin care routine, I thought you might like to see my point A, too. So okay, here’s what I’m working with. Pics can be enlarged if you dare.

Those spots on my chin are all scars. I love being pale, but I do not love how every single tiny bit of imperfection shows up so easily, and scars take FOREVER to fade. If anyone knows of something to help me out with that, I am definitely open to recommendations. 
When spring sprang and everything started blooming and blowing around, I officially entered skin and allergy hell. I don’t usually have ANY dark circles but I do now from allergies, and my eye area in general looks very fatigued. And my skin? It’s the freakin’ Sahara. I used to be oily. Now I have dry skin. Super. Oh and this is actually the improved version. It’s been getting better lately.
Here’s what I’ve been doing…
Cleansing:
Caudalie foaming cleanser w/ Clarisonic OR Ponds Wipe OR Philosophy Microdelivery Wash (only a few times a week)
Moisturizing:
Morning – The Body Shop Vitamin E Cream
Night – The Body Shop Vitamin E Night Cream and/or Vitamin E Cream Intense (I have some super dry patches that need the extra help, like my nose which is still raw from blowing my nose every five minutes)
Toning: 
Youthful Essentials Revitalizing Facial Toner – as needed. It’s a spray. Very refreshing.
mark. Mist Opportunity refreshing spray – also as needed, whichever I have on hand.
Eyes:
Morning – Garnier Anti Dark Circle Rollerball (I just picked this up today to integrate into my routine)
Night – Vasanti Eye Wonder eye cream
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emerginC Scientific Organic Skincare

Recently I had the chance to try out a few skin care products from the brand emerginC. Not to be confused with the vitamin supplement, Emergen-C. Very different things. ;) EmerginC skincare is found at top spas, like the one inside Caesar’s Palace, for example. It’s also a line you might see at a dermatologist’s office. But if you aren’t going to a posh resort or a dermatologist any time soon, it can also be purchased from their website.

Also worth noting is that emerginC products are paraben-free if you’re into that, and free of artificial colorants or fragrance. None of the products are tested on animals, and they do not use animal-sourced ingredients. EmerginC takes it one step further and their cardboard packaging is only made from sustainable materials and the ink is vegetable-based. They are a safecosmetics.org compact signer. I’m interested to find out if they use those new biodegradable plastic bottles for their packaging too.

Now, I can’t really do in-depth reviews of these since I only got some little sample packets, so I haven’t been able to use each product that many times, but it’s enough to give you my first impressions and initial reactions to them. Of course, the longterm benefits of these products aren’t something I can tell you after only using each thing a couple times. Keep that in mind if you decide to try these.

I tried three products from the Scientific Organics line of emerginC products. I tried the Kombucha Cleanser, Phytocell Cream, and Phytocell Detox Mask. There is also a serum and toner that I haven’t tried that make up the complete Scientific Organics line.

Kombucha Cleanser
The Kombucha Cleanser is meant to just be a gentle cleanser that cleanses the face of makeup, dirt, and other impurities without drying/stripping your skin. It does exactly what it says it does. The texture of the cleanser is a light liquid, thinner than a shampoo or body wash. It does have a scent (not artificial) that I don’t really like. It smells kind of like dirt, or soil. I like what the cleanser does for my face (cleanses, doesn’t make my skin feel stripped, removes makeup), but the scent is off-putting. If you’re looking for a good gentle cleanser, this may be an option for you. However, it’s kind of expensive ($34 for 120 ml or just over 4 oz) and I’m sure you could find something else that smells better and does the same thing. This is advertised as suitable for all skintypes, and I agree with that. I think it would be suitable for just about anyone.

Phytocell Cream
The Phytocell Cream is an intense anti-aging moisturizer. It is meant to moisturize as well as revitalize the skin while brightening and protecting. Note, they say protect, but this is most likely because of the antioxidants in the cream. It does not contain SPF. Do not make the mistake of thinking this product will protect you from UV rays. The Phytocell Cream is definitely very moisturizing. I would suggest using this only at night, so that you don’t have to wear too many products on your face (spf, moisturizer, etc.). Save a moisturizer with SPF for daytime. I have combo skin these days and found this to be a little heavy. It didn’t break me out or clog my pores, but I felt like it was too much. A little goes a long way, and it takes a while to fully absorb. If you don’t have the time to wait around before applying foundation, that could be a problem. Because this is so moisturizing, you could probably just apply it all over including under your eyes and have that be enough moisture. This product is even more expensive, at $85 for just 50 ml, which is just under 1.7 oz. This says it’s suitable for all skin types, but I think it’s best suited for all skin types except oily.

Phytocell Detox Mask
This is a clay-based mask (French green clay to be exact) with a pleasant citrus aroma. It’s supposed to nourish and soothe while also drawing out impurities in your skin. Additionally, it is supposed to brighten your skin and fight free radical damage, giving you radiant skin. The mask itself looks like wasabi. It’s a green paste. :) Unlike other clay masks I’ve used, it didn’t really give me that “tight” feeling when it dried. The directions say to leave it on 10-15 minutes, and use 1-3 times a week. I left it on for 15 and rinsed thoroughly with warm water. Right afterward, my skin felt very soft. Then, after patting my skin dry with a towel, I realized I felt sticky. I know I rinsed really well, so that was annoying. I grabbed a toner to make sure I got everything off my face, and while there wasn’t any green clay on the cotton pad I used to wipe toner on my face, the entire cotton pad was a very dingy grey. Eww! I’m not sure if this is residue from the mask or the “impurities” drawn to the surface, but it was gross! I still felt kind of sticky so I went for a second go-around with the toner. Still grey. Gross!!! The third cotton pad with toner is finally clean. I’m going to be contacting the person at emerginC to find out if that was mask residue or gross skin purging yuck. I’ll update when I hear back. Anyway! The mask is $50 for 50 ml.

What do YOU think? I want to know…


I know skincare is very personal and very much a product that you have to try to really know if it works for you. So, with that in mind, I am going to send a sample of every product I reviewed here to one reader so that one of you can tell me how these worked for you! The winner’s review will also be posted here to my blog. Please just leave a comment if you are interested, letting me know why you want to try it. I’ll pick someone next week to receive the samples. Sorry, U.S. only for this little giveaway.

Giveaway is closed :) thanks!

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Caudalie Instant Foaming Cleanser Review

I recently had the extreme pleasure of being introduced to the brand Caudalie. It’s one of those brands that I’d seen around but never really thought to try for whatever reason. I’m glad I can no longer say that! I have tried three products, and I can say I’m madly in love with two of them. One of those that I love is the Instant Foaming Cleanser. 
I am first to say I’ve never been a huge fan of foaming cleansers. I know some people feel that foam = clean, or that the more something lathers the more it’s doing its job. I’ve never been that attached to foam or lather, though it feels nice. Often those cleansers that foam or lather a ton contain harsh detergents to get that effect, and those can be very stripping. Let me be very clear that this cleanser does not do that to my skin at all. Caudalie claims this cleanser to be gentle and for all skin types, even those with very sensitive skin. I’m skeptical of products that say they can be used on any skin type, but I gotta say this cleanser is actually very gentle. I never feel like my skin is stripped after using it. Instead I just feel kind of pampered actually. The cleanser is completely soap-free, which makes it more gentle. It contains extract of sage and chamomile, which have calming and soothing properties. 
And then there’s the scent. It’s hard to describe. It’s very light and unobtrusive, and faintly wine-like. Not like gross wine that’s been sitting out over night after a party, but a soft pleasant wine-like aroma. The cleanser does contain parfum but I think this is also due largely to it containing grape water. Yum.  
Caudalie is available at Sephora, and at Caudalie’s website. It’s $26 for 5 oz, which sounds expensive but it’ll last a long time so it’s a trade-off. If you have really sensitive skin you might like this very much. If you have dry skin, look into their Gentle Cleanser instead. 
Full Ingredients: 
Aqua (Water), Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Water*, Glycerin* Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate*, Cocamidopropyl Betainamide Mea Chloride*, Sodium Chloride, Laureth-16th*, Parfum (fragrance), Butylene Glycol, Trisodium Edta, Citric Acid*, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract*, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Extract*, Citronellol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool.

The fragrance actually does come in perfume form, and I’ve been wearing it almost exclusively for a good month now. It’s such a perfectly light and neutral fragrance. It’s not cloying or overpowering. I really like it for wearing in an office setting because (unless you douse yourself all over repeatedly) it’s the type of perfume you can only smell if you’re in very close quarters with someone (such as a hug). I feel fresh, smell yummy, but I am not creating a toxic perfume cloud in my cubicle either. We’ve all experienced that. No thank you. ;) The fragrance is $56 for a 3.4 oz bottle, which is actually pretty inexpensive as far as perfumes go if you’re buying the big size.

If you’re curious, the third product I have from Caudalie is Vinopure Matte Finish Fluid, and I will be reviewing that at a later date after I play with it more. 









Samples provided for editorial purposes.
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H20 Plus Sea Pure Skin Care Collection

H20 plus is one of those brands I’d seen around, but for some reason never tried. What I usually would see is the spa products carried by my local Ulta. I never really paid it much attention because when it comes to bath & body stuff, like I’ve said many times– Bath & Body Works owns my heart.

As you may or may not have noticed I now blog for BeautyStat, and when I got the opportunity to try out h20 plus’ skin care line, my curiosity peaked. I have tried the full Sea Pure regimen, which is their anti-aging line. I’m 24, so that’s not too early to start with anti-aging skincare.

Sea Pure Creamy Facial Cleanser


As you might have guessed, the Sea Pure line contains ingredients sourced from the ocean, such as marine-sourced amino acids, and sea moss. The 96% natural creamy facial cleanser also contains citrus oils and amino acids derived from apples. It has a refreshing citrus scent, which I was happy about because other marine-sourced products I’ve tried did not smell good haha. It’s definitely very creamy and pleasant on the skin. I was afraid it would be too heavy for my normal-to-oily skin. Most anti-aging stuff I’ve tried is too moisturizing. However, I really liked how this worked for me. It was cleansing without stripping. It is said to be able to remove makeup but I generally use MAC Cleanse-Off Oil as a makeup remover before cleansing. This cleanser would also work beautifully with a Clarisonic brush. It is recommended for all skin types. I would recommend it for anyone except those who are extremely oily. Sea Pure Creamy Cleanser is 4 oz for $20.
Sea Pure Gentle Refining Polish

The Gentle Refining Polish is the exfoliator in the Sea Pure line. This is a physical exfoliant; it contains bamboo extract as the scrubby granules suspended in a creamy base formula. They’re not harsh at all. The scrub also contains sea moss and marine amino acids like the cleanser. I liked this scrub as it was scrubby without being too harsh, but it’s not ideal. Even rinsing and using a wash cloth, I had trouble getting all of the bamboo grains off of my face. They did not want to budge and I had a bit of a time trying to rinse my face clean. I think this scrub would work better in the shower when you can rinse it off a lot easier by just standing under the water. Other than the rinsing issue, this was a fair product. This is recommended for all skin types, and like the cleanser I think it would be fine for anyone except the very very oily. It’s kind of expensive though, at $30 for 2.5 oz.
Sea Pure Renewing Prep Tonic

This toner was actually my favorite part of the Sea Pure line. It’s alcohol free, making it good for sensitive skin. It helps to remove any remaining cleanser or dirt on the skin (it helped remove bamboo that wouldn’t come off after using the refining polish). This toner contains, you guessed it– sea moss and marine amino acids. However it also contains lactic acid, a natural alpha hydroxy acid. Lactic acid helps to smooth the skin’s surface and even out skin tone for a brighter looking complexion. Happily, this toner does not leave a residue or leave my face feeling stripped/sticky. It absorbs really well. It’s too soon to tell if it has brightened up my skintone, but because I’m already happy with it I will continue using it, and I recommend it. I think this product actually could be used by all skin types. It’s also the most economically priced piece of the collection at $18 for 7 oz.

Sea Pure Deep Moisture Cream

I’m going to preface this review by saying that I did not actually use it on my face. But here’s why: it’s way too heavy and too oily. I would not recommend this for anyone except those with quite dry skin. I tested this out on my hands. It’s very rich, and for those with dry skin I think it would be great. It has a lot of nourishing ingredients along with the marine amino acids that the rest of the Sea Pure line has. It’s just completely wrong for my skintype and I think labeling this as for all skin types will leave some people disappointed. It’s deceiving because the texture is very light and almost runny, but it’s very rich and oily; jojoba oil is the 3rd ingredient, which is a pretty high amount of jojoba. There’s also coconut oil, shea butter, glycerin, meadowfoam oil, orange oil, and the list goes on. I’m not saying oil in and of itself is bad for skin, or even bad for those with oily skin. The right oils can be magnificent for any skintype. I’m just saying that in this product, the result is something too heavy to be used on my skin and I completely disagree with saying it’s for all skin types. The moisturizer is 1.7 oz for $40, so it’s definitely on the pricey side. 
Sea Pure Perfecting Eye Cream

As far as eye creams go, I really don’t expect them to do much. I have pretty basic needs– moisturize without causing milia around my eyes. I do have some tiny fine lines under my lower lashes, but they’re minute, and I’ve had them since I was about 10 or 11 so I don’t stress about them too much. I don’t expect an eye cream to make me look like Brooklyn Decker or something. I just want my eye area to be moisturized and look healthy. With that said, this eye cream does do that. It’s also supposed to help diminish wrinkles. For first thing in the morning I like the caffeine I get from using 100% Pure’s coffee eye cream, but for hydrating and just generally feeling refreshed, this is pretty nice. I’ve been using Clinique All About Eyes (the regular one; the rich version gives me milia, ew), which is slightly cheaper. I would recommend this eye cream to those who perhaps have more concerns about their eye area than I do, haha. Before I make any decisions about which eye cream to stick with, I’m going to use this on one eye and the AAE on the other for a while and see if I can distinguish a difference. Look for that follow-up review. ;) This eye cream is .5 oz for $32.
Samples provided for editorial purposes.
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Purity Made Simple Cleansing Cloths

Trying and reviewing the Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Cleansing Cloths was a no-brainer. I love the original cleanser, and I love face cleansers in wipe form. However, these were a little bit of a miss for me. I’m really surprised, and kinda disappointed. I wanted to love these so much because I’ve loved nearly everything else I’ve ever tried from Philosophy! 
Philosophy claims these are supposed to be everything we love about Purity Made Simple cleanser, but in a travel-friendly wipe format. There are no sulfates, parabens, or synthetic fragrance or dyes. The product description says it is safe for the eye area and will remove even the toughest makeup without irritating sensitive eyes.
The Good
I don’t hate this product. There are actually a lot of good things about it. It has a pleasant, herbal, fresh scent that I don’t mind rubbing on my face. The cloths have just the right amount of cleanser on them so that they aren’t too wet or too dry. They’re also a good size (about 5″ x 8.5″ roughly), pretty soft (with a textured side and a non-textured side), and surprisingly strong. I doubt they will disintegrate or tear while you’re wiping your face, which is nice. Oh yeah, and they actually do remove makeup and cleanse pretty well without leaving a noticeable residue or stickiness. 
The “Meh”
The packaging for this product is just so-so. It’s a foil pouch with a sticker to close it. I like the foil pouch, as it’s going to be better insulating for the wipes and keep them moist longer, but I think a ziplock or a “lid” on the pouch would have been better than a sticker, which can eventually lose its stickiness and then not keep the pouch as effectively sealed. 
The price of these is a bit high. $20 gets you 45 wipes. When you consider that for $20 you could also get an 8 oz bottle of Purity Made Simple, which will last you much more washes than 45, the wipes seem expensive by comparison. 
The Bad (and Ugly)
One of the things I like the most about Purity Made Simple is how gentle it is while still being extremely effective. Some people have told me that it dried out their skin and made it feel stripped, which is always so shocking to me as my skin always felt so soft and clean but refreshed after using it. Anything but stripped! 
However, these wipes are not as gentle as their liquidy counterpart for me. I first used them to remove some very heavy mascara, and my eyes started to burn like crazy. In the past this has happened to me because the mascara is getting in my eyes and it burns. This time though, it was the wipe. I’ve tested it again on clean eyes and the skin around my eye socket feels like it’s on fire when I use these there. Similarly, when I wiped off a lip gloss with one of these, my lips started to tingle and go numb like I’d put a lip plumper on. 
While these do remove my makeup really well, I can’t fully endorse a face wipe that I can’t comfortably use on my eyes and lips! Insanity abounds. I don’t know what it is that makes my skin burn from these, but I know I won’t be re-testing it any time soon. I will use these up though in my gym bag, as they’ll be fine for wiping my face/neck after a sweaty workout. Wait, who am I kidding? Any work out is sweaty. I imagine then that these cloths will actually feel pretty nice. But only as long as I keep them far away from my eyeballs.
Cleansing Cloth Ingredients:
Water/Aqua/Eau, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Betaine, Sorbitan Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Dilauryl Citrate, Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Seed Oil, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Oil, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, Rosa Damascena Extract, Piper Nigrum (Pepper) Seed Extract, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Guaiacum (Guaiacum Officinale) Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool, Methylisothiazolinone.

Original Philosophy Purity Made Simple Ingredients (for comparison):
Water, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Coconut Alcohol, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Guaiac (Guaiacum Officinale) Extract, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Rosa Damascena Extract, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Oil, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Piper Nigrum (Pepper) Seed Extract, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Yellow 5 (Ci 19140).

Oh and as a final thought, Sephora advertises Purity Made Simple as sulfate-free when you can clearly see that the third ingredient is a sulfate. What??? This is not the first time I have seen this! When Sephora declares something is _____-free, READ THE LABEL just to check for yourself, please! I’m not saying that sulfates are good or bad. In fact, I like a lot of products with sulfates in them. What I don’t like is false advertising or misinformation given to consumers. What is with that, Sephora?

Product sample provided for editorial purposes.
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Makeup Remover Round-Up

Yee haw!

Okay cheesiness ends now. Promise. :) Rather than do a ton of short reviews about makeup removers, I thought I’d just do a big huge post with my thoughts on various removers I’ve tried, from cheapo to expensive! This post is for the makeup removers that are supposed to be just swipe and go, so I am omitting anything that needs to be rinsed off or followed with an additional cleanser.

Budget Makeup Removers


Avon Moisture Effective Eye Makeup Remover – $4/2 oz. @ Avon
This one comes in a lotion formula. I don’t find it to be terribly effective on difficult to remove makeup, but it feels nice on the skin and for simple makeup removing it works a treat. It’s also great for quick mistake fixing, so I keep it in my freelancing kit.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover – $5.79/3.8 oz @ Drugstore.com
This is a bi-phase makeup remover. In other words, you need to shake it to mix the ingredients together before using it. I went through probably 3 bottles of this stuff before curiosity got the better of me and I wanted to try other things. It does work really well. For hard to remove eyeliner and mascara etc. you might have to “soak” the area by holding a cotton pad up to the makeup for a minute or so before wiping. I believe Target and/or CVS sell a knock-off of this that is just as good. Maybe Walmart too, I don’t know. What I do know is this is a solid choice if you’re looking for an inexpensive makeup remover. The reason I stopped using it is partly curiosity, and also because when I started tightlining my eyes I noticed that my eyes got irritated when I used this to remove makeup from that area. Sometimes it leaves a bit of a residue, other times not. I think maybe it depends on the makeup you’re removing.

ELF Eye Makeup Remover Pads – $1/18 pads @ ELF
I’m going to say this as nicely as possible: do. not. want. Don’t get me wrong, I love ELF. But not this product. It doesn’t remove very well and it made my eyes water and sting. They also leave a bit of a residue that you have to rinse off, which to me kind of defeats the purpose of having makeup remover in a little pad like this. The pads themselves are very thin, and also dry up quickly. Do yourself a favor and skip these please!

Almay Hypo-Allergenic Eye Makeup Remover Pads (Non Oily Version) – $4.99/80 pads @ Drugstore.com
As Randy Jackson says on American Idol, “it was just okay for me, dog”. I guess I just wasn’t feelin it. These were okay. Not terribly wonderful, not horrible either. Each individual pad isn’t that wet with remover, which made them lack effectiveness. This formula is supposed to be extremely gentle, and it was pretty gentle. I didn’t find them that great at removing all of my mascara. It was after trying these that I wondered if maybe I just don’t like makeup remover pads. Hmm.

Almay Eye Makeup Remover (Oil Free) – $6.29/4 oz @ Drugstore.com
I asked my Twitter followers what makeup remover I should try, and this got a lot of votes. It had been a couple years since my lackluster experiment with the remover pad version of this eye makeup remover formula, but I was still kind of dubious. I bought it, figuring I could always return it if it sucks…? It smells awful. Fragrance-free skincare often does. Companies add fragrance to things because the ingredients naturally smell awful. My first reaction when I opened the bottle: “is it supposed to smell like watered down paint thinner?” Apparently yes, because this eye makeup remover works really well! I’m a newly converted fan. NO stinging and NO residue. If you’re looking for a good gentle makeup remover get this, not the pads.

Mid-Range Makeup Removers

NYX All Purpose Makeup Remover Gel Type – $9/3.4 oz @ NYX
This stuff is a mystery wrapped in an enigma. It smells to me like coconuts. But I don’t know why. Looking at the ingredients, there’s no reason for it to smell like coconuts. Spooky. But I don’t care, because I love it! Leaves the face feeling soft, smooth, clean, and coconutty. Removes makeup very well! I like the gel formula as opposed to a liquid because you have more control with it, so it’s easier to put it where it needs to go. I have not tried the Eye & Lip Makeup Remover, so I can’t compare them, but I’m pretty happy with this unique, effective makeup remover.

High End Makeup Removers


Napoleon Perdis Makeup Remover (Foaming) – $25 @ Napoleon Perdis
Oh. Em. Gee. When I had the extreme delight and privilege of meeting Napoleon Perdis and having him do my makeup, this was one product I tried where I wasn’t expecting it, but I was instantly hooked. It’s a bit on the expensive side for a makeup remover, so it’s a special treat for me, but holy hell I love it. You know those waterless foaming hand sanitizers? It’s like that, but for MAKEUP removal! It creates this luxurious foam that removes ALL of your makeup. No rinsing required. If you want to treat yourself to an awesome makeup remover, try this!

Special Mention Makeup Removers
These two are really difficult to find, but need to be mentioned because they are excellent. You’ll have to go online to try and find these. Google is your friend. <3


Sana Easy Peel Makeup Cleansing Water – $13.99/10.1 oz @ Webichi
When you read the ingredients of this product you’ll be like wait what? Use this on my eyes? OH HAIL NO. Except I promise you, this is as gentle as pure water. I don’t know how they do it, but this product has AHA and BHA and yet is totally fine for use on the eyes. It also has hyaluronic acid, which is so fabulous for moisturizing. This can also be used as a toner! It’s fantastic at removing makeup, even if I have no idea how it works.

Mandom Cleansing Express – $13.99 or so on various sites such as Amazon or Ebay
Similar to the Sana product above, this is a toner/makeup remover/cleanser in one that is as absolutely gentle as water. I’ve finished 2 bottles of it (which is saying something because they’re big bottles!). This is the ultimate lazy girl’s skin care product. I keep it or the Sana on my bedside table for lazy nights or nights when I’m so tired I might be tempted to sleep in my makeup. No excuses now! Mandom Cleansing Express has 3 formulas: Sebum (oily/acne-prone skin), Moist (dry skin), and Age Care (self-explanatory). I’ve used the sebum formula and the moist formula (which really will work on any skin type in a pinch…my skin was combo/oily at the time) and both work equally well to remove even the most stubborn makeup.

Whew! I hope that helps some of you who might be curious about makeup removers. If you have one that you love that you think I should try, please let me know in the comments. :)

Sample of NYX All Purpose Makeup Remover provided for review.
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Confessions of a Face Wipe Addict

I have a confession: I’m a face wipe addict. They are a lazy girl’s dream! I’ve tried a bunch of different ones, so here are some quick mini reviews to help you choose the next time you’re in the market for some face wipes.

First, The Worst


Everyday Minerals briefly came out with some face wipes, which I eagerly ordered. I was just as quickly disappointed. The wipes were a good large size, but not very moist and barely removed anything. Those wipes have since been discontinued. Good call.

Nice To Try


Mark.’s Make It Go Away makeup removing wipes are pretty nice. They’re non-irritating and do a good job of removing everything. My only gripe with them is the price point– $8. It’s not a bad price per se, but you get 30 wipes for that price. There are equally or better face wipes at the drugstore for the same price or better. And drugstores have those awesome sales. ;)

Ah yes, the drugstore. Clean & Clear’s Makeup Dissolving wipes are another decent option. They’re inexpensive and pretty good for sensitive eyes. I like them and I used up the package quickly. But as always, I’m on the hunt for more.

I got a tip that Wet Ones Hand & Face Wipes for sensitive skin have very gentle ingredients and are a cheap (under $5!) option that works for a lot of people. I tried them out, and I gotta say they work pretty well as far as cleansing, however they’re not the greatest at removing makeup.

I think Ponds Wipes are one of those inevitable products that everyone tries at least once. They’re great, I think. There are several formulas, they’re not too expensive, and go on sale frequently. Once the patent ran out on these guys though, CVS and Target both came out with knock-offs that are cheaper and really great. I especially love the variety from CVS. There is also Walmart‘s house brand “Equate” that has a similar makeup wipe that is pretty good, but I find dries out a little faster.

Comodynes are a popular option I once decided to try. They have 2 formulas – sensitive & dry skin or combination oily skin. Err. I have sensitive oily skin. I couldn’t find the combo/oily formula in-store, so I decided to try the dry skin formula. Oh man. Your skin would have to be REALLY dry for these to work for you. They left a residue that felt kinda gross. If your skin is quite dry though, give these a shot.

Ages ago I also tried and liked Garnier’s wipes. They smell wonderful (I love how all Garnier stuff smells, really) and feel very refreshing on the skin. However, the package is not very resealable and therefore dried out quickly.

No post about face wipes is complete without mentioning MAC wipes. There are those out there that would practically like a perfume of their scent, but I find it kind of generic. I like these, but I don’t love them. Do they remove well? Sure. But they’re overpriced for what they are. If you have a gift card or a discount they might be worth it.

Most recently I tried an Alcone wipe for the first time. They are huge and remove makeup really well, but this one stung my eyes just a tiny bit. :\ Because there are so many out there that do not sting, I can’t give these a full vote of approval. I’ll keep the ones I have in my bag for emergencies. I will say I like that they’re individually wrapped so that you don’t have to keep exposing the whole package to air every time you use one.

Run Out & Buy


The Recessionista has posted about our shared love of Epielle cleansing tissues on her blog Nouveau Cheap. Epielle tissues come in a variety of scents/formulas (citrus, cucumber, green tea- maybe there are others?) and are dirt cheap. I found green tea tissues at a local Korean market for 3/$5. I have also found the cucumber variety at Big Lots for only $1 a pack (and yes, I stocked up). Fabulous doesn’t even come close to describing these. They leave no residue. They remove all my makeup. They smell nice. Ah, I just love them.

At IMATS I wanted to try out Beauty Treats, and much to my delight they had a huge display of face wipes! They have a whopping 6 varieties to choose from: Collagen, Aloe, Rose, Apricot, Green Tea, and Cucumber. That gets my addict motor running. One whiff of the apricot wipes and I was so sold. These retail for $5 each at their new website… www.my2ndlove.com :) these are so wonderful. Smell so fabulous. Soooo refreshing. Perfect for summer. They really are a beauty treat. 


Face Wipe Tip: Store your wipes with the package upside down to increase their longevity.

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