The Honest Company Purely Simple Face + Body Lotion Review

I am a big fan of The Honest Company, I briefly mentioned their products before in this post and since then, my love for them has only grown. I mostly just use their cleaning products, but I also really enjoyed the personal care products I tried (more about their discovery kits here). One of the stand outs for me is their Purely Simple Face + Body Lotion.

Let me start this review by saying I have not used this lotion on my face, I strictly use it as a body lotion and it is fantastic! The Honest Company has recently relaunched their body lotion to include 3 new ones to the range (the Purely Simple is the classic one) and they have repackaged them in lovely colorful tubes. The formula contains great ingredients like organic olive, shea and jojoba oils as well as aloe, calendula and chamomile. The lotion is fragrance-free, but I find the chamomile gives it very mild and pleasant scent. It is also free of silicones and parabens (read more about the ingredients here) and the formula is biodegradable. On a side note, I love how clear and informative the Honest website is, ingredients lists are detailed and easy to find and they also offer great information about the different products. 

As far as body lotions go, this one has a very unique texture. The lotion is quite light but as you rub it in, it gets a gel like quality that reminds of applying fresh aloe straight from the leaf. It feels very refreshing and soothing! It is formulated for those with sensitive skin so it’s super gentle, but still leaves you with soft skin. I used up my entire bottle and it made my skin super smooth and hydrated. I also found it helped with the little bumps I sometimes get on my arms. Overall, I was really impressed by this body lotion, it delivers nice results and I love how it has a clean ingredients’ list but is still affordable. I plan on trying out the other versions soon (probably the apricot one) and I can’t wait to see how they compare.

The Honest Company Purely Simple Face + Body Lotion is available on the Honest Company website. I believe they do have authorized sellers in different countries (Indigo is one in Canada) so you might want to contact their lovely customer service to see if you can get it in your country. 

Innisfree Canola Honey Capsule Mask

The last few weeks have been quite busy and stressful, (which explains the lack of posts) and inevitably my skin did not enjoy it. So in order to get it back under control I turned to one of my favorite new masks because there’s nothing like a little TLC when things don’t go your way. So without further ado let’s talk about the Innisfree Canola Honey Capsule Mask.  

I love this mask, it contains canola honey to moisturize and nourish the skin. I was really surprised that it actually looks and feels like real honey. The mask has a thick and goopy gel texture in the pot (just like honey), but it spreads easily on the skin and it is thankfully not sticky or hard to rinse off at all. It has quite a strong scent but I really enjoy it, it’s a floral honey scent that reminds me of a strong honey iced green tea.

As for the results, they blow me away every time. It is incredibly nourishing and it does offer a bit of surface moisture, but the best thing about it is how soothing it is. It instantly calms down any inflammation and redness so I find it great to use when my skin feels a little out of control. Honey is also a great antibacterial and I find that it helps improve the appearance of any blemishes (tones down redness) and they seem to heal faster when I use it. I seriously cannot speak highly enough of this product. Well done Innisfree!

Now the version I have is the Capsule Recipe Pack which basically comes in a smaller pot (10ml) so you can sample the mask. On their website, Innisfree says you can get 2 to 3 usage out of one capsule, but I had enough for 6 usages. It’s a steal for the price, but if you are anything like you will like it so much that you will need to get the full size (80ml) which is also very affordable because the texture makes it so you really don’t use a lot at a time. This has now become a must-have in my beauty arsenal and I always look forward to using it. 

You can get the Innisfree Canola Honey Capsule Mask on their website and the full size is available here. 

Innisfree Calming Gel Cleanser

Well guys, I think I might have found the perfect morning cleanser. As much as I love cleansing oils in the evening, I like to use something simple and light in the morning. My latest favorite comes from one of my favorite Korean brands (surprise, surprise) and let me tell you that I am very impressed by the Innisfree Calming Gel Cleanser.

According to Innisfree, this is a low acid cleanser that soothes your skin with dandelion extract. The main reason I was drawn to this was that it contains dandelion, I know all about the amazing effects the plant can have to detoxify the body so I thought it would be interesting to use it on my skin as well. Also, it is free of sulfate surfactants, mineral oil, animal ingredients, colorant and synthetic fragrance which is great if you are looking for something a bit more natural.

I love using this in the morning, the gel is light and feels refreshing on your face, perfect to wake you up. Unlike other gel cleansers, this one does not foam or leave a residue behind when you wash it off. It has a very thin formulation and I was surprised to see I could use it to massage my face just like I would with a cleansing oil, but it is not oily at all. After each use I am left with soft, soothed, and balanced skin and it does not cause any redness on my face. Some cleansers can leave you a bit irritated in the morning, especially if you need to scrub your face to get them off. The only thing I don’t love about is the scent, it is kind of citrusy and a bit odd but don’t worry it is not strong. 

You can find the lovely Innisfree Calming Cleansing Gel on their website here. 

Innisfree Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

If you are a regular reader of the blog then you might have noticed me mentioning the Innisfree clay masks. So I figured it was time I finally gave the Volcanic Pore Clay Mask a proper review seeing as it is one of my all-time favorite products from the brand.

This clay mask contains volcanic scoria which is made from cooled down lava and it has a creamy texture that makes it a dream to apply. Unlike a lot of other clay masks, this does not feel drying or tight as it dries and because its temperature is quite cool it feels refreshing when you apply it.

To me this is the perfect mask for weekly pore maintenance. It absorbs excess sebum and keeps my pores clean. If I am experiencing breakouts, it will sooth the skin and help them heal more quickly, however if you are looking for something more powerful to really bring all the gunk to the surface, the super version works better (review coming soon). I found that using this regularly keeps my skin clear without ever drying it out or irritating it. I have repurchased it twice already and I don’t see myself ever being without it.

Once again, Innisfree offers a very affordable mask that totally delivers on its claims. If you are interested, you can find the Innisfree Volcanic Pore Clay Mask on their website and you can also purchase it in both a larger and sample size.   

Lush Big Blue Bath Bomb

This week has been full of lovely baths curtesy of my new Lush products. In my last haul, I mentioned I would be reviewing the products as soon as possible because one is limited edition. So this weekend will be Lush themed as I have compiled my thoughts into reviews of the 2 bath products and as you can expect from Lush, they are amazing. To really put the stress of the work week behind us, let’s start with the Big Blue Bath Bomb.

The Big Blue Bath Bomb is my absolute favorite bath bomb, its effect is just so great for the price. To me using this creates the ultimate relaxing bath experience. This blue ball of goodness turns your water into the most beautiful shade of blue and contains little bits of seaweed that float at the bottom of your tub (don’t worry it won’t clog your drain).

I feel like I’m in Bali every time I use it. It also contains sea salt which really helps relax your body after a long day and I find it very soothing for sore muscles. In terms of scent, Big Blue as quite a light fragrance with a refreshing mix of citrus and saltiness. I think it smells like a beach and it has one of those scents that is relaxing but not overpowering. 

I cannot recommend this product enough and you should definitely give it a try. You can get the Big Blue Bath Bomb online from Lush and it is available in stores all-year-round. 

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream

I have mentioned my dry hands in yesterday’s post and wanted to share with you all another product I’ve been using to repair my skin. Every few nights, right before I go to bed, I apply a nice layer of Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream to speed up the healing process.

This cult product has been around for a long time; the thick orange ointment can be used on any dry areas (including your lips) and coats them with a hydrating and soothing layer. This really is more of an ointment than a cream so you need to really massage it in if you want it to penetrate nicely. It also feels quite sticky which is why I recommend applying it as the last step in your routine before you go to bed. That way you won’t leave greasy prints on anything. After use, I woke up to my softer feeling hands and the cracks had started to heal.

There’s a reason the Eight Hour Cream has such a following, it does what it claims and its multipurpose usage makes it convenient to have around. I don’t love the scent, it has an odd medicinal fragrance, but Elizabeth Arden offers an unscented version if you prefer fragrance-free products.

You can get the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream from their website as well as at any of their counters.

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Purifying Cream Cleanser

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been testing a new cleanser, the Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Purifying Cream Cleanser. Elizabeth Arden is a brand I tend to associate with an older demographic and I never thought about trying their skincare range until I received a very generous sample of this cleanser.

Basically, this is a cream cleanser that claims to remove makeup and impurities whilst soothing your face with a ceramide 3 complex. I was a bit surprised by the texture when I first used it, it comes out as a thick whipped cream. I found it a bit hard to spread, but once you do so, it turns into a light lotion that you can massage all over your face. This cleanser is definitely very gentle on the skin, it is soothing and it did not dry my skin like the initial texture of the product might suggest. As for the makeup removing claim, I have to say it didn’t hit the mark for me and failed to remove my makeup. Nonetheless, this makes a lovely morning cleanser or second cleanse in the evening.

Another thing that needs mentioning is that this is fragrance-free, making it a great option if you have sensitive skin. Due to this, it does have quite an odd smell which is not exactly pleasant, but it doesn’t linger and you honestly just get used to it.

You can find the Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Purifying Cream Cleanser on their website, at The Bay and at any Elizabeth Arden counter. 

Kérastase Spécifique Bain Vital Dermo Calm

Let’s talk hair! I’m usually a drugstore shampoo kind of girl, I have very long hair so I go through it quite quickly. However, that doesn’t stop me from lusting after fancy/expensive shampoo and for me Kérastase is the ultimate luxury in terms of haircare. So after months of reasoning with myself, I finally splurge on the Kérastase Spécifique Bain Vital Dermo Calm.

This is a hypoallergenic shampoo for sensitive scalps and it is designed to sooth as well as clean your hair. Basically, it’s exactly what my scalp needs. Texture wise, it is a liquid-gel that has a lovely blue color and an amazing scent. It’s really relaxing and smell like what a nice shampoo should smell like, it’s a very clean scent and it adds to the experience, making you feel like you’re in a nice salon.

Now in terms of effect, it deeply cleaned my hair and scalp without drying or irritating it. What surprised me is how healthy my hair felt afterwards; for a cleansing shampoo that does its job so well, it’s not drying at all and left my hair felling soft.

I would highly recommend this if you have an itchy sensitive scalp and want a shampoo that can deeply clean your hair without stripping it. I know it’s expensive, but I view it as a great investment. I personally like to use it every time I wash my hair, but you could only use once or twice a week if you want it to last longer.

You can get the Kérastase Spécifique Bain Vital Dermo Calm online from Kérastase as well as in salons. If you live in the U.K. and Europe you should also be able to get it from Feelunique at a great price. There are shipping restrictions depending on your location but it’s definitely worth checking out.

What’s your favorite luxury shampoo?

Innisfree It’s Reel Squeeze Cucumber Mask

It’s Friday, you’ve had a long week and you’re trying to find a way to unwind. If this is how you feel than I have the perfect mask for you that will help you cool down and refresh your tired skin: Innisfree’s It’s Reel Squeeze Cucumber Mask.

I’ve talked about these sheet mask before and they are simply amazing both quality wise and performance wise. The cucumber one is no exception; it completely refreshes the skin and has an instant cooling effect. After I removed it, any redness was toned down, my skin was soothed and I felt refreshed and relaxed. It does moisturize a bit but it’s not the primary effect you’ll get from this mask. At the end of the day, it does everything you would expect something with cucumber to do and it does it incredibly well.

I believe this is a great mask to use after a long day when you just need to relax and want to regain some energy. Also, I think it’s going to be a must have for me this summer to help me cool down during heath waves and just deal with the general summer heath.

You can get the Innisfree It’s Reel Squeeze Cucumber Mask from the Innisfree global website for 1.50$. 

Innisfree Bija Anti-Trouble Spot Patch: Spots Miracle Workers

We’ve all had the horrible experience of waking up one morning with a huge pimple that wasn’t there the night before. By some sort of evil magic it just decided to rear its ugly head to spite us when we done nothing wrong. No matter how diligent you are with your skincare a spot can still manage to appear for no reason.

When that happens I reach for my Innisfree Bija Anti-Trouble Spot Patch, they’re clear film-type patches that contain torreya seed oil, tea tree oil and salicylic to really attack those spots. They reduce redness as well as the size of the spot and they bring it to a head super quickly. You can then drain the gunk with less stress on the skin (even though we all know we shouldn’t pop pimples) and sometimes the spot might pop on its own. These patches work best on white heads, but they can really help sooth those angry red spots that just refuse to come to a head. Even though they are super-efficient, they never irritate my skin or dry it out. This is due to the hyaluronic acid it contains which keeps the skin moisturized without clogging you pores further.

I usually apply them at night after my evening skincare routine, but I also use them during the day if I’m staying at home. They are quite discrete because they are very thin and clear but I don’t typically wear them out (I’ve seen people do it though) because you can still tell there’s a little something on your face. I do like that a pack comes with different sizes, allowing for optimal coverage and giving you options depending your spot’s size, so you aren’t left with a big and more visible patch for a small spot.

I’ve been using these for years and I really couldn’t see myself without them. I’ve seen higher end brands starting to produces similar products, but to me the Innisfree ones are just perfect. They offer great and fast result and they are very affordable.

You can get the Innisfree Bija Anti-Trouble Spot Patch from the Innisfree global website for about 3~4$ for a pack of 12 patches. 

Innisfree Green Tea It's Real Squeeze Mask

Another day, another mask, to pamper myself on weekends I mostly rely on sheet masks because they’re quick and efficient. I recently tried the Innisfree Green Tea It's Real Squeeze Mask and was quite impressed with the results. It moisturized my skin quickly and it felt very refreshing, perfect after a long week. As usual, the mask itself was of great quality and did not rip when I unfolded it. The typical Innisfree green tea scent was as pleasant as always, it soothed my mind as the essence soothed my skin.

This one is definitely going on my must repurchase list. You can find it for 1.52$ on the Innisfree website. 

Innisfree Black Berry It’s Real Squeeze Mask

The weather in Canada has been very cold recently (-30ºc anyone?) and my skin is not pleased. To combat dehydration and dryness, I turned to my favorite sheet mask brand: Innisfree. I used the Black Berry It's Real Squeeze Mask which boasts moisturizing and firming properties.

The sheet is of really great quality, it’s not thin enough to rip easily but it’s also not thick to the point where it does not adhere to the contours of your face properly. Also the size and fit were perfect unlike some masks that are too round or large. Unlike most masks, the essence this one contains was milky and thicker in consistency than the traditional clear water like type. In terms of effects, my skin was left soft and well moisturized after use. It also really soothed my face and toned down any redness which was an unexpected bonus. As far as firming goes, I didn’t notice any significant changes, but my skin’s firmness is quite good naturally.

Like all Innisfree products, most of the ingredients are natural (you can find the ingredients list on the website) and it smells amazing.

You can find the Black Berry sheet mask for a little over 1$ on the new global Innisfree website, which offers great international shipping and offers. Also Innisfree currently has a buy 10 get 10 free promotion on all their It’s Real Squeeze Mask.