Beauty


L’Oreal Paris Pure-Clay Mask review

loreal pure clay masks

Pictured: c/o L’Oreal Paris Pure Clay Mask from left: Purify & Mattify, Exfoliate & Refine, and Detox & Brighten.

I’m so excited to share these fabulous new clay masks from L’Oreal Paris with you!  The new L’Oreal Paris Clay Mask comes in three different formulas; Purify & Mattify, Exfoliate & Refine, and Detox & Brighten. Each one has an active ingredient which makes it unique, and perfect for different skin problems.

All three masks use three pure clays as their base:

  1. Kaolinite: This is a soft mineral present in kaolin clay and it is the ideal ingredient for skincare masks because it is really absorbent. It helps to rid skin of built up; unwanted impurities without stripping away any natural oils. This clay absorbs skin impurities and helps to remove excess shine. Love that! -I can get shiny!
  2. Montmorillonite: This clay is derived from igneous rocks of the smectite family. It is creamy and swells up with it comes into contact with water. It is known for its purifying and re-balancing properties.
  3. Ghassoul: This is a clay of volcanic origin which has been extracted in Morocco’s Middle Atlas Mountains. Women in that region use it in face masks and in poultices for their bodies.

Let’s start with my favorite; the Purify & Mattify mask. This is the light grey-green mask pictured above on the left. The secret ingredient is Eucalyptus! My skin creates blackheads, and can get quite shiny. This mask helps to draw out dirt and excess oil; I have a lot of that! After two uses, my pores were clean! It takes a small miracle to remove my blackheads, so I am in deep love with this mask!

I also had a fabulous time testing out the Exfoliate & Refine mask. This red clay mask contains Red Algae as it’s key ingredient. This mask also unclogs pores. It also exfoliates rough texture, which unmasks smooth, unclogged skin. My skin is fairly smooth already, so the difference I noticed after using this mask the first time, were clearer pores. The second time I used it I did feel smoother skin on my face, but the big difference were the cleaner pores, which also seemed minimized.

The Detox & Brighten mask contains charcoal as it’s key ingredient. This mask removes dirt, and impurities. It also removes dead skin cells. The result is healthier, even looking skin. This was the last mask I tested out, so my skin was very clean by the time I tried it. I used it once and my skin felt great! I feel like this is a great mask to keep on hand to use once or twice per month.

Overall, I loved all three masks. The Purify & Mattify clay mask is my favorite mask, and I plan to use it one day a week. I will keep the other two masks on hand to use as needed. The incredible thing about the L’Oreal Pure-Clay mask collection is the fact that they are priced under $13! Whaaaaaaaaat???? Yes, your eyes are working, that is not a typo, they are priced at under $13 each!

You can find the L’Oreal Pure-Clay Mask collection online here, or at your favorite mass food, and drug retailer nationwide starting in July 2016. I would love to hear your results!


Creed Royal Princess Oud edp review

creed royal princess oud edp review

Pictured: Creed Royal Princess Oud edp

Creed is one of those incredibly iconic perfume houses which instantly commands respect. When I learned they had come out with an Oud fragrance, I was intrigued. I have been wearing Van Cleef and Arpels Precious Oud for a few years now, and I love it. So the thought of Creed making an Oud fragrance caught my attention.

Van Cleef and Arpels Precious Oud fragrance is pure, heavy, and warm. It is as luxurious as a fragrance can possibly be. I expected something similar from Creed Royal Princess Oud edp, and I was surprised, in a  good way, to find a light version of Oud in Creed’s perfume.

From first spray, Creed Royal Princess Oud edp offers a spicy zing which is refreshing. Since I am accustomed to Oud perfumes offering a warm fragrance experience, to smell something light and refreshing, was a downright shock! A very good shock 🙂

Creed Royal Princess Oud edp is a woody floral which offers a spicy overtone from the Patchouli. The overall fragrance experience is light to medium, and since Creed uses pure ingredients, the scent lasts all day long. Love that!

Top Notes: Bitter Sicilian Bergamot, Rose, and sweet Violet

Heart Notes: Jasmin essential oils, Vanilla Absolute essential oils, Patchouli, Iris from Tuscany

Base Notes: Benjoin Siam, Mysore Sandalwood, Regal Indian Oud and Styrax

This is a beautiful scent to wear in any weather. Since it is lightweight, it can be worn in warm weather during the spring, and the fall. With the spicy Patchouli, floral notes, and soft oud scent, it works well in cooler weather too.

If you are looking for a heavy Oud, or a pure Oud scent, I would recommend Van Cleef and Arpels Precious Oud which can be found online here. If you love a spicy woody floral, then Creed Royal Princess Oud edp is the perfect scent! It can be found online here.


No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum

no7 protect and perfect intense advanced serumno7 protect and perfect intense advanced serumPictured: c/o No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum

No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum is a serum which is targeted at decreasing visible signs of advanced aging. It is clinically proven to be effective at visibly reducing deep lines, and wrinkles, in a mere two weeks.

As an aging GenX-er, I am just starting to see fine lines on my forehead, and around my eyes. I have been using products targeted at keeping my skin moisturized, and reducing the signs of fine lines. No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum is meant more for someone who has deeper lines than me. That being said, I did test it out for two weeks because if it can reduce deep lines, what can it for fine lines?

I used No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum with my current day cream, and night cream. I did feel a little bit of tightening in my skin, which slightly reduced the signs of my fine lines on my forehead. I did not use it on the lines near my eyes since I prefer to use an eye cream in that area.

No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum is a great product to use if you have visible lines. It will not erase them completely, but it does reduce their depth, which in turn, reduced their visibility. I felt like it added moisture to my skin, and tightened it as needed.

Since No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum is hypo-allergenic, and fragrance free. It is an easy product to use if you have sensitive skin. If you have deep lines and wrinkles, give it try!

You can find No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum online here and here.