April Product Reviews
Grab a spot of tea (or wine!) and settle in to read this month’s reviews. Thanks to the msf team of testers for their help. Enjoy!
Ulrich Lang New York Anvers candle
First off, love the packaging - very simple and elegant. Second, the scent is fantastic. Manly, but not overpowering. I love lighting this candle for just about any occasion - I reach for this one more than any of mine. Perfect for a man … but also perfect for a woman who lives with a man (so we can enjoy it, too!). An A!
Paperboy Soft Twill Trousers
Selfishly, I almost don’t want anyone to know how great these pants are because they’re difficult to find. I love everything about these. The weight, the fabric, the stretch, the muted colors. Totally fab. And even better is the price. Just please save some for me. These get a B+!
Shu Uemura Phyto-Black Lift
I tend to shy away from moisturizers that appear to sit on top of skin versus penetrating skin. This goes on light, but it ends up feeling heavy on my skin. Decent ingredients (black tea ferment, black sugar and pro-xylane and lychee fruit). And while more mature skin may appreciate this product, I don’t like it very much. I give this a C.
Talika Lipocils
This product is a plant extract-based gel that is suppose to help promote the growth of eyelashes. It claims to help them grow naturally longer and thicker in just 28 days. Not so much. I used this for well over a month and saw absolutely no change. This gets a D.
SkinMedica Dermal Repair Cream
In my opinion, you just can’t go wrong with SkinMedica. They develop excellent products - both serums and moisturizers. This is one of their newer formulations that contains high levels of lipid-soluble antioxidant vitamins C and E. So incredibly hydrating. It sinks right into skin to provide immediate benefit. An A!
Shu Uemura Drawing pencil in ME Purple 10
Best eyeliners around - by far. Super soft and easy to apply. This particular color is awesome on blue and brown eyes - A! False Eyelashes in Black Luxe and Brown Cross: If I could only do a better job applying them. These are killer! Amazing what these both do for eyes … but get lessons - B+! UV Under Base: Love the mouse application and absolutely love the finish. Don’t count on this as your SPF, though - B. Base Control in Green: This is to help diminish the appearance of redness (rosacea). Too pearly for me. It did not change the tone of my skin, either - C.
Liz Earle Energising Body Wash
Love that this company uses all natural ingredients - who wants to slather chemicals on their skin in the shower? Comes in a flip top bottle that is handy for the shower, although the rest of the packaging is rather non-descript. A little goes a long way, it lathers really well, and my skin felt clean but not stripped after showering. The smell is a drawback as it is rather mediciney. Fortunately the scent doesn’t carry on the skin once you are dried off and on your way - B+. Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser: Although I love the concept and the heated cloth feels nice, I couldn’t get past the resemblance to Noxema - B-. Hand Repair: Fabulous hand cream. Love how hydrating the formula is. Leaves hands super soft with absolutely no greasy residue - an A!
Kenneth Cole Burgundy Buckle Ballet Flats
(Can’t find the exact shoe - this link is the closest I could get.) Fantastic flats with buckle detail in a burgundy patent leather. Extremely comfortable and provides decent support. Love the color - becomes such a great neutral to pair with just about anything! I give this a B.
Beautyblender Make-up application tool
Throw away any other sponge blender or applicators that you have. This is the only one you need. First, it’s pink! Second, it’s so soft and cute. Third, it works brilliantly for powder, foundation and blush. Comes with a lightly lavender-scented soy-based cleanser that’s free of dyes and skin irritants. An A.
Le Couvent des Minimes: Honey and Shea Moisturizing Body Lotion
Comes in a very cool bottle that looks sophisticated and expensive and very French. This product goes on smooth and feels silky, and it sinks into the skin quickly. Grapeseed oil, honey extract, beeswax and shea milk all seem to work together to help my skin feel soft and moisturized after application. The ingredients make the smell too sweet for my taste, although the fragrance does seem to calm down a bit a few minutes after application. I personally wouldn’t use this as an every day body lotion due to the smell … but I would have this product on hand for casual use, maybe on weekends, or during the summer months when the sweet scent would be more appropriate. This gets a B.
Update on Blue Silk nutritive perfection creme
After the review posted in January, Blue Silk contacted me with regard to changing up their formula to allow for more hydration. With the significant increase in Sea Kelp Extract and Licorice Root Extract, my skin could definitely tell a difference. In fact, I put it to the test … after a 2-day stint of skin irritation (yes, I accidentally do this to myself from time to time), I used only this product. Not only did it keep my flakes at bay, my skin really soaked it in. The new formula is a little less thick than the original (absorbs more easily). And this is a natural product - the company refrains from using any chemicals. I am happy to report this creme gets a A!
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