Welcome to the Petit Vour Beauty box unboxing for November 2020. Petit Vour is an $18 subscription box featuring four to five items per month. Some items are full sized, most are not and all are cruelty free. The Petit Vour box always gets shipped out by the 20th of the month which usually puts its arrival towards the end of the month. This month we sort of ran out of month due to the holidays, but the box did arrive on time, which was sort of a minor miracle this month. So what was inside?
This month I also received a Josephine Cosmetics liquid eyeshadow in my Allure box and quite frankly until November, I never heard of the brand. I am looking forward to trying both the liner and shadow out. I have to say the liner did swatch well and didn’t seep into fine lines which is very promising.
My second item was The Green Fairy Hand and lip balm (retail $18). Clearly it is an absinthe reference and there is some anise scent to the balm. The scent does lean more towards peppermint than Anise though. I tried it on my lips and hands and I really liked it.
I also like the packaging. However my baby doll is a huge fan of anise and licorice scented/flavored anything. And getting him to remember to use a lip balm before his lips crack and bleed is always the winter trick.
He liked the scent enough that he was willing to carry around the metal tin, despite the fairy on the cover so I have passed it into his care. Hopefully he will use it. If he does, it will be worth way more than the $18 price tag.
Their Alight Foundation is fantastic. I have enjoyed several of their skin care items as well and look forwards to testing this one out. With luck it won’t be too coconutty for me.
The fourth item listed is the Lavido Mandarin Aromatic Body Lotion (retail $5). I tried a couple of Lavido products (one from Boxycharm and one from Ipsy) a while back and really enjoyed them both.
My only concern is that this has bergamot as one of the scent notes. While I love mandarin scented lotions and really think there ought to be more of them, I’m not such a fan of bergamot.I may have to open it and give it a sniff. If the orange comes up trumps I will be happy. If bergamot rules, it will be passed along.
Oddly enough even though there were only four items listed on the insert card, there was a fifth item in my box this month, it was the Juice Beauty Green Apple cleansing bar (soap).
I’ve had the item before and it wasn’t my favorite. The green apple smelled nice until water hit it, then the scent faded to nothing. (If I’m going to use a bar soap in the shower, I’m probably going to steal my Babydoll’s Cedar Citrus from Dr. Squatch.)
There was no note with the soap as to why it was included so I’m guessing it was just some sort of mistake. As I was looking up the value of the soap I did find that the cleansing bar has been discontinued so that too might have something to do with why it was tossed so unceremoniously in my beauty box this month. As I am making up several little kits for family with beauty and self care products, I’ll probably pop it into one of those. Actually, those will be mailed out this week so I can get them to their locations on time.
But my trips to the post office aside, this was a pretty good box this month. I have my fingers crossed about the Body Lotion and the lip balm has been appropriated by my babydoll (which actually makes it extra fab) but I have high hopes for the eyeliner and the Pacifica moisturizer.
For my $18 I received $59 worth of listed products and an extra bar of soap. I suspect the bar of soap is because the box is usually listed as being worth over $60. If I remember correctly the sample bar of soap was $3 in the month I received it as a listed item. Is it the most exciting box this month? No. I’ve had much more exciting items from Petit Vour in the past. I will however get some decent use out of the items. Although to be honest it is the fact of my babydoll getting a lip balm he might actually use that saves this box. But November was a difficult month for a lot of subscription boxes. Hopefully December will be more exciting.
Is there a category of lip product that I do not like? I’m not sure. From lip balms to lip masks, I am a big fan. However, when it comes to lip scrubs, not all of them are equal. I have tried several that were too harsh, left too much oil and residue on my lips, or left none and felt that I was just running sandpaper over my lips.
While I like exfoliating my lips, I draw the line at sandpaper.
Lips are one of the few body parts that needs a little assistance when shedding the excess skin, hence the need for lip scrubs in case you were wondering. And who doesn’t need a little papmpering for their lips now and again?
Most lip scrubs come in little jars. While I willingly use several of this variety, I am more partial to the ones that look like lip products. And no it isn’t the shiny lipstick like exterior I am drawn to, Although it does make storing them with the lipsticks easier. I like this style because it means I don’t have to dip my finger into the pot of product and potentially contaminate the jar. With the stick like scrubs the product just needs to be rolled up and applied. The trick is that many of the stick ones tend to be drier because of the form they take. I am pleased to see more of them appearing on the market and hope this trend continues.
The left side has the lip scrub on the lips and the right simply has the exfoliate wiped off with one swipe of the washcloth.
The Kush Lip Scrub from Milk Makeup manages to strike a really good balance between nurturing oil and exfoliation. It is neither too wet or too dry. The exfoliate it rather fine as well so there isn’t a lot of harsh scrubbing. And when you have finished you can just pat away the excess particles without having to rinse them off.
I had one lip scrub that was really heavy on the product left behind. So many sugar particles were left behind that I had to actually rinse it off my lips and then the rinsing took the moisturizing oil so the product felt a bit pointless. While I did have to brush off the excess particles one swipe did it and then it was all good. The nurturing oils stayed behind.
This lip balm smells of peppermint, does an excellent job and personally I like that it has a magnetic cap. I don’t know why that amuses me, but it does. I like feeling the lid pull back into place with a click.
Is it my favorite lip scrub? No. That title still belongs to my Hanalei lip scrub, but this does come in a close second. And to be honest even though it is a close second, I have been reaching for it more often as the Hanalei is in a jar rather than in a stick format. The difference between the two products isn’t that wide a gap and the format of the Milk Makeup product makes me want to use it more. It is one of those times where packaging actually is a benefit to the product. Do I need the magnetic cap? No but it is fun. More importantly is the ease of use that the tube provides along with the good product inside. I enjoy having it around and will continue to use it. Would I pick it up again? Yes. I tend to use lip scrubs once a week and replace them once they have been used up. I like the peppermint scent, and the way the product itself. It is an excellent product that I really enjoy keeping around. While this product will last me a while I have one cousin who is a vegan and fond of peppermint who might be getting one of these in her christmas stocking this year as well.
Timeless Skincare HA Spray with Matrixyl 3000 and Cucumber extract
I recently had a lovely conversation with a five year old about acids. Well, mostly it was about Mr. Yuk stickers from my childhood, which apparently they don’t put on things any more. In case you want a very fun throwback (or if Mr. Yuk was not a part of your childhood) you can still watch the Mr. Yuk commercials on You Tube. As a warning, they may haunt you.
I used to have a Mr. Yuk T-shirt which is what prompted the conversation. I really need to get that replaced. I wonder if they still sell them?
Regardless, we talked about Mr. Yuk stickers and household poisons. And how I put Mr. Yuk stickers on the cookie jar so my brother wouldn’t eat them. Then I had to explain the time honored tradition of sibling torture to an only child.
And then came the questions about acid.
“You spray acid on your FACE?” (I would suggest reading that with the scrunched up face full of incredulity and slight admiration of a five year old – go for shocked respect if you would please, thank you.)
This was then followed by a conversation about how I was not attempting to become a comic book super villain. Which oddly enough took longer than I thought it would. I apparently make a pretty convincing potential villain to a five year old. Of course then she wanted to know if villains had apprentices.
There is a reason this kid and I get along so well.
The Timeless Skin Products I will be reviewing in the coming weeks.
But first, so that no one else thinks I am attempting a Joker style transformation, what is hyaluronic acid? According to Very Well Health (who are far more science oriented than I am…
Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the skin, connective tissues, eyes, and joints. It helps give structure to the skin, repairs tissue, and lubricates the joints.
Hyaluronic acid isn’t just a substance that encircles your skin cells. It’s vital in keeping the skin hydrated. Hyaluronic acid attracts water from within the dermis and moves it along to the skin surface, the epidermis. Hyaluronic acid and other glycosaminoglycans also play a role in skin elasticity and tone, cell metabolism, regeneration, and healing. Because it has “acid” in its name, it’s often mistaken for an exfoliating ingredient, much like salicylic acid or glycolic acid. However, hyaluronic acid has little in common with alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxy acids such as these.
Which basically means that instead of exfoliating my skin (and/or turning me into the Joker) it is actually helping to keep skin moisturized and healthy. While everyone produces a form of this naturally, it is always nice to have extra, especially as natural production decreases with age.
The HA Spray
So now that we know a little about Hyaluronic acid, let’s find out what this HA spray from Timeless Skincare is supposed to do. According to the Timeless Skincare website it is…
The perfect pick me up for your skin! Our Hydrating Sprays instantly absorbs to give tired, dull and dry skin a boost. This lighter version of our best-selling Hyaluronic Acid Serums includes Matrixyl 3000 + Aloe Barbadensis to re-hydrate, soothe and protect throughout the day.
Infused with refreshing Cucumber to awaken the senses, this one is a favorite for Spring! Instantly hydrates and refreshes skin, Provides protection from the environment, Helps refresh your makeup during the day
Matrixyl 3000™, a potent anti-wrinkle complex containing polypeptides that helps repair aging skin and protect it from environmental damage, is blended with Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate and help retain optimal moisture levels. Aloe and Cucumber help soothe, calm and refresh the skin. Can also be used as a makeup finishing spray.
Guaranteed fresh and effective for 2 years from the date of purchase. Can be applied to skin anywhere on the body!Timeless Skin is always: Paraben Free, Fragrance and Dye Free, Cruelty Free, has more actives, less chemicals and is Made in the USA.
When Timeless Skincare sent a package to me they had two separate serums. One was the best-selling Hyaluronic Acid Serums and the other was a serum infused with vitamin C. I like to rotate products in to make sure I get a fair assessment without freaking my skin out with an entirely new regime and so I can figure out what they are doing on their own.
The matching Hyaluronic Acid Serum
I started with the Hyaluronic Acid Serum test first, This Friday I will have used the serum for three entire weeks. I like to use a product for a month before reviewing (if possible) so I have been taking notes and will post my review September 21st at the end of the four weeks. After a week of just the HA Serum I rotated in the Timeless Skincare 100% pure Squalane oil (the results of its month long trial will post on September 28th). Once I knew how these two reacted to each other I added in the HA spray and have been using it for a week. Once the HA serum has passed a month long trial I will be rotating the Vitamin C +Ferulic Acid serum in to see how it performs with the others.
Now I know some of you are reading that and thinking, well that makes sense Mimsy, but shouldn’t you be waiting another three weeks to talk about the HA Spray?
Yes and no.
After a month of use I will be posting a full review of the spray, however there is a line in the description that you might have caught. The line is ‘Can be used as a makeup finishing spray.’
For those who routinely read my posts you know each week I pack a makeup bag full of products and take it from my dressing table to the bathroom where I get ready in the morning and those are the products I use for the week and then report back on each Friday. For a while I was trying to use up an older setting spray, which I did. Since I needed to replace it, I went ahead and rotated this into my makeup bag. It will spend the full month in the Makeup bag. I used it this week to set my makeup and I used it periodically to refresh my makeup and my skin.
So while there will still be a post thirty days review for the spray, there will also be a weekly mention of it, so I thought I would start with a separate post. Kind of a Thus Far… sort of posting.
And thus far, I am in love with this spray.
First off is the scent. I know, with me it’s always first with the scent. It smells like cucumbers. I know that shouldn’t be a big surprise given it’s ingredient list. But it smells like the water you get at a spa. Using it after I put on my makeup makes me sort of feel as though I have just left a spa. And that is not a bad feeling to have.
Although for those of you not interested in cucumber scent, this spray does come in several other scents including lavender, orange, and rose. I am however using the cucumber so that is the one whose scent I know. it is light and crisply scented.
Second, it is a really good setting spray. I believe that all of the ingredients designed to lock in moisture also help keep the makeup products locked down. I’m sure there is another more scientific explanation, but the end result is that it works well as a makeup spray.
Third, it is super refreshing. I am working out but no longer in the comfort of the gym. Which means the sweat factor has doubled at the minimum. It also means the sun is a more prominent feature in my day as a lot of my exercise is done in the out of doors. While I am layering on the sunblock, the sun and humidity often make me feel sticky and kinda gross even after I’ve rinsed off. The spray with its very fine mist and cucumber scent makes me feel refreshed.
Fourth, I really like having a setting spray that is skincare oriented. If you’ve ever read the ingredient lists of setting sprays you start to realize that a lot of them contain things that aren’t especially good for your skin. They lock in makeup in much the same manner as shellac locks in paint. Even though I am very guilty of just using whatever setting spray keeps my makeup in place the longest, I always kinda feel bad about using it. And if my skin is breaking out, I tend to avoid the setting spray. Since this is more skin care oriented, that is not an issue.
Plus, I have noticed that some of my break outs have been getting better more rapidly than I expected them to. Don’t get me wrong it’s not a miracle, it isn’t instant healing in a spray (although seriously how cool would that be?) It could be that it is not irritating the break outs so they are healing faster. Either way, go skin care based setting spray!
Fifth, applying it is sort of a backup for my serum. The serum gets applied before makeup and after cleansing. The HA Spray is applied after makeup and during the day. It’s sort of like sending in reinforcements to the front line troops. I can get down with that.
Sixth, I’m going to have to add in a comment about price. Setting sprays generally are found ranging between $15 – $30 unless you are going with a drugstore product. If you add in skincare benefits the price generally goes up. This HA Spray w Matrixyl 3000 + Cucumber Extract is $17.95 on the Timeless Skin website. That means that if nothing else, it is a good for your skin setting spray that works and is priced on the low end of the spectrum.
While I will save any mention of visible skin care benefits for the final review after a month long trial (mostly because it takes about 30 days to see benefits in most skin care products), it will be a part of my weekly Makeup Bag post for the duration of the trial. So you essentially get to follow along with weekly updates. This post is how I feel about this product based on one week of use. And Again, while this product was gifted to me by Timeless Skincare, the opinions are all my own.
For those of you who are curious about Timeless skin and aren’t certain what sort of products you might like to try (all of their products are as reasonably priced as their HA Spray), they have a skin care quiz that you can take to identify which products might suit your individual needs. Personally I love taking skin care quizzes on sited to see what sort of products are recommended. But maybe that’s just me.
I think it will be interesting to see how my thoughts change as I use it. For now, I really like it as a setting spray without harmful ingredients, and am hoping to see actual skin care results as I push forward. Stay tuned.
Normally I just post the Friday Face Mask, and try to just use masks I’ve already talked about during the week, but today I have something a little different. Instead of my fifteen minute Friday afternoon face mask break, I have a three minute Bright and Easy Flash Mask from Ursa Major. I received two small jars of this from my July Petit Vour box (one is pictured above) and I decided it would be nice to use it on a regular week day since it took so short a time.
Normally during the week I use masks at night because most days I can’t take a 15- 20 minute chunk out of my work day. It makes Friday special. Well one of the reasons anyway. I figured as this was only three minutes, I might be able to actually try it out during the day without a major calamity.
The newly opened jar
While there are no weight markers on my containers, the full sized jar is 1.57 fl oz and retails for $44. So what does this flash mask do?
Well…
After one use
This gentle but oh-so-effective “flash” enzyme face treatment enhances the appearance of skin’s tone, elasticity, luminosity and firmness – all without the irritation associated with harsh scrubs or chemical peels.
Brightens and clarifies, Boosts the appearance of firmness and elasticity, Balances the look of skin tone and texture, Easy-rinsing gel formula
The mask on the face just makes the skin look a little bit wet.
I’ve tried a 5 minute Pomegranate mask from Korres which I enjoyed, and have on my repeat purchase list and this flash mask also includes pomegranate so I had high hopes. Especially when I saw the rest of the ingredients. There are some pretty good things in there such as witch hazel and aloe that my skin tends to like.
Ingredients
Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice*, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) leaf juice*, alcohol*, glycerin, sodium levulinate, sodium anisate, lactobacillus/punica granatum ferment extract, populus tremuloides (aspen) bark extract, sclerotium gum, pectin, water/aqua/eau, sodium hyaluronate, medicago sativa (alfalfa) extract*, hibiscus sabdariffa flower extract*, salix alba (willow) bark extract, copper PCA, caprylic/capric triglyceride, rose extract, vanilla planifolia fruit extract, cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract, santalum album (sandalwood) wood extract, passiflora incarnata fruit extract, prunus armeniaca (apricot) fruit extract, rubus idaeus (raspberry) fruit extract, cananga odorata flower extract, cucumis melo cantalupensis fruit extract, coffea arabica (coffee) seed extract, cocos nucifera (coconut) fruit extract, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel extract, prunus amygdalus (sweet almond) fruit extract, citrus limon (lemon) peel extract, ananas sativus (pineapple) fruit extract, citrus grandis (grapefruit) peel extract, aniba rosaeodora (rosewood) wood extract, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) extract * Denotes organic
Ursa Major Product page
So onto the face it went. I will say that I only needed half of the jar to cover my face completely so my two little jars have enough product for four face masks. And I didn’t look like a bank robber. The mask just made my face look wet.
I really like that Petit Vour gave me enough product to try this mask repeatedly. The mask went on well and smells slightly tart but mostly sort of grassy. I’m guessing that’s the alfalfa. It smoothed over my skin and I’m not going to lie it felt like I was sort of putting jelly on my face. Some sort of weird colorless jelly, but still, jelly.
It applied well and it didn’t warm up and drip or anything it stayed exactly where I put it. I think from the consistency when I applied it I was expecting it to drip as it warmed to my body temperature. It did not.
I know the images don’t line completely up and I apologize but it does show before and after, personally I think my skin looks better after. I’m still having breakouts, but that is not from the product.
There was a slight tingle, but it was really very slight. More like a wash of cool air over wet skin than a chemical tingle. I’ll admit I was worried as I thought anything with that short a wait time might have a super chemical burn. This did not.
It was light and pleasant and after three minutes rinsed off cleanly. I don’t know if my skin felt firmer after using it, but my skin felt soft and hydrated and to my eyes looked refreshed as though I took a nap when no one was looking. I wouldn’t call it luminous, but I will say it is somewhat brighter which I consider a definite benefit.
I think this is a mask I would like to keep on hand for days when I feel a bit draggy and have a little time before an important meeting. I think taking the three minutes, using the mask and then applying makeup for the meeting would do wonders for my ability to look awake and vibrant. (clearly in the photos I applied no makeup.) I am really happy this product came in my Petit Vour box, because I had never even heard of this company. Now, it is on my watch list. It also makes me wonder what sort of goodies will come in my August Petit Vour Box.
And a happy national Lipstick day to each and every one of you. I hope you are flaunting your favorite shades today. While my lips are clad in my favorite Kristopher Buckle Cashmere lip in Bardot (it wasn’t in my make up bag again this week, but I couldn’t resist bringing it out in celebration today) let me tell you about this month’s Petit Vour Box.
Oh yes my darlings, it too finally came in the mail. There are two levels to this subscription, the Petit Vour beauty Box and the Beauty Box plus (Plus has 5-7 travel and full sized items for $25 per month). My subscription is for the regular Petit Vour beauty box and features four cruelty free items each month. You get the occasional full sized item, but most are deluxe samples.
The box is $16 per month and this is actually my second month receiving the box and thus far I am really liking it. Last month I found an exfoliating scrub I never would have come across on my own and that I have now placed on my to be ordered again list. It was from B kind and I really like how gentle, yet effective it was. The link is to my full review. The product can be purchased both at the company site or on the Petit Vour site. I know they have a points system for rewards based on purchases but I haven’t had the subscription long enough to play around with it.
But on to this month’s box. The first Item is from Province Apothecary and it is a deluxe sized cleanser and makeup remover (retail $20). As I am almost finished with my Elemis Cleansing Balm, it is pretty good timing to have this arrive now.
The big decision is whether I want to squirrel away the remaining Elemis and start testing the Province Apothecary or just bite the bullet, finish the Elemis and let it go. Either way, this will soon take its place in my bathroom next to my Make up Eraser and we will see how well it removes make up. With luck I’ll like it just as much as the Elemis.
The second item in my box this month is the Antonym Cosmetics Natural Waterproof Eye Pencil.(retail $19)It is a brown eye pencil, which I have to admit I don’t have a lot of. It is a standard pencil format, which isn’t my favorite, but the product did feel nice on my hand and not too sharp feeling so it should be fine.
In addition it has its own rather substantial pencil sharpener on the end. So when it gets dull I won’t have to go looking for a sharpener. It’s always nice to avoid a panicked search for a missing tool when you are half made up. It arrived too late to be in this week’s make up bag, but perhaps I’ll put it into the bag for a trial next week.
The third Item actually came in two little potted containers. It is the Ursa major flash mask. (retail $12). I’m not entirely certain if that means each pot is one use or what so I will have to investigate before I use them.
I like the idea of a three minute mask, especially if it matches the claims of increasing firmness and restoring luminosity. I’m not going to give up my fifteen minute relaxation time each Friday with my face masks, but perhaps a mid-week pick me up for my skin wouldn’t be a bad thing. Perhaps I’ll make it a self care reward for making it through a particularly grueling work out.
Finally there is a Sea Clay Body mask (retail $8) from Formulary. I have to say I am intrigued by the thought of slathering myself in sea clay, spa style, but the package suggests it is most effective on the neck, back and décolletage, so perhaps I will reign myself in. As my décolletage has taken a beating due to my propensity for v-necked shirts while working in the garden, it wouldn’t be a bad thing to treat that particular section of my body to an extra special treat.
All in all, I am really pleased with my subscription this month. It is my second month and just like the first, I received items I will definitely use and want to try. My plan was originally to test out this subscription for three months to see if I like it. I suspect I will not only keep this subscription past the three month mark, but if it continues to be such an excellent selection, around month six I may be considering upgrading to the Plus level of the beauty box, especially if I decide to let other beauty boxes go. For now however I am just going to use my products and report back. Who knows, I might find another new favorite.
The Lauren B Nail growth Serum came in my June Petit Vour box and I have to say I was very eager to try it out. My nails have taken a beating this year. I fought an ongoing battle in the garden with both bunnies and bindweed this year. While the bunnies could be scared off with a squirt from the hose and threats regarding my grandmother’s mustard based marinade, the bind weed was immune to insults.
And empty culinary threats.
I’m pretty sure the rabbits even know that non-lethal hose is my only weapon.
But at least they still run.
The bindweed just sort of digs in deeper and holds on tight. Even with gloves on, my nails needed some help. So again, I was happy to give the Nail Growth Serum from Lauren B a try. But what is it? Well according to the website…
Applicator brush
Salvation for fragile, brittle nails that refuse to grow. This sheer blend of amino acids, antioxidants, Vitamins E and C, peptides and biotin sinks in instantly to boost natural nail growth and strength. Brush it directly onto your nails before applying polish, or on bare nails once or twice a day.
Directions: Use thin applicator brush to apply directly onto the base of nails where your nail and cuticle meet (the half moon portion) allow formula to sink in for 5 min before rinsing off, applying polish, cremes etc. Best to use on clean bare nails, or over polish that is completely dried. Use once or twice a day. Pro tip: keep this product on your bed side table and apply each night before bed so you do not forget. This will also allow the formula to sink into your matrix of nail and to work. Keep container closed tight when not in use and stored in neutral environment.
I feel the need to point out that I did not read the full directions before I started applying. I only read the first paragraph (the part before the word directions – yeah I know, I amaze myself sometimes too).
Thumb at the start (with polish remnants)
The first thing I did was trim off the ratty bits on the ends of my nails. The parts that got dinged up in the ongoing battle with Bindweed. Without the damage, my nails tend to be rather healthy.
Hand at the start
So I applied it onto my nails and waited for it to dry a little, then applied polish.
I do not recommend doing that. The formula never really dries down and while the polish goes over the formula covered nail well with seemingly no problem, when you go you wash your hands (which I have been doing a LOT recently, as I’m sure we all have) at a later point in time, the nail polish sort of slides right off. Seriously, in one clean sheet. It was most disconcerting, yet oddly intriguing at the same time.
just from hand washing
Figuring out that I might have done something wrong, I returned to the site and this time read ALL of the directions.
Yeah, either wash your hands after giving it time to sink in and then polish your nails or just apply it along the cuticles overnight. I tried it over polish, but the formula just felt greasy and I think the polish kept it from soaking in. Just go bare nails for this one is my suggestion.
So once I figured out how to use the product how did it perform?
Well my nails did not grow out by a mile in the past few weeks. They do however feel stronger and less inclined to break and chip. I ended up trimming several of them down because the tips of the nails were damaged from my gardening activities.
I think the trimming eradicated the weakest part of the nails and the serum helped ensure that what grew back was healthier and stronger. I would call it more of a nail strengthening serum rather than a nail growth serum as I think adding the word growth creates different expectations.
My thumb at the end
Yes, stronger nails are less likely to break and therefore grow longer, so it isn’t a misnomer, I just think it is really about strength not length.
I also think that having to pay nightly attention to my nails helped as well. I found myself filing small dings and trimming away ragged bits nightly instead of when I sat down to do my nails (once a week).
hand at end of the trial
The nightly attention helped them out a lot as well. I don’t think this will be a continuous use product for me, but I could see keeping it on hand for the times when my nails do take a beating.
As I know that occurs two times a year, once when I deal with the garden in the spring and once in the fall when I prepare the garden for winter, it would get use then. Since I trimmed and filed the dings and chips out of my nails before applying it each night, it also kept small divots from being large breaks. It forced me to take care of problems when they were small rather than leave them for the week and possible additional damage the following day.
I think if I knew I was going to an event I wanted my nails to look nice for, I might use it the two weeks prior to the event so that I could ensure I paid attention to the nails. Do I consider this an essential item to keep around, no. Nor do I consider it some sort of miracle growth formula, but it is kind of fun to add to my at home manicure while it lasts. It was also a nice product to get in a subscription box as I don’t know if I would have ever picked this up on my own. As the subscription box was Petit Vour, I also know that this product is clean, vegan and cruelty free. While I tend to think of those elements in my skin care items, I don’t always think of them when dealing with my nails. Perhaps in the future, I will.
A while back Volition sent me three products to use and review. One by one I feathered them into my skin care regime and have given them each a month long trial to see how I liked them and how my skin reacted to the products.
Volition is a crowdsourced skincare brand that produces clean, cruelty free, vegan products. The crowdsourced is something I find very interesting. (although the clean and cruelty free are also very important too). According to their site anyone who has an idea for a product that they’d like to see created can send in their ideas. Volition then floats the idea to their community of voting participants (I believe you can sign up to be a member of that quite easily on their website) If the idea gets enough votes, then it is passed on to a team of professionals who turn the idea into an actual product.
Each of the three products sent to me came with a little card telling me about the innovator who came up with the idea for the product. Aja came up with the idea for the Prizmatic Luminizing Shield. Keidy came up with the concept for the Snow Mushroom Water Serum and Nastia Liukin was the innovator behind the Celery Green Cream that I am reviewing today. So what is the Celery Green Cream from Volution?
According to the website…
Celery. A classic staple turned modern juicing powerhouse. It’s the superstar ingredient in this oil-free face moisturizer that purifies and minimizes the appearance of pores for healthier-looking skin. This moisturizer hydrates and visibly plumps, helps minimize the appearance of pores and uneven skin texture, and purifies. It is good for enlarged, clogged pores, fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin texture and tone.
So those are the claims. Now let’s talk about the product. As I said, it comes with an innovator card that lets you know a little bit about the person who created the product. The product itself comes in a nice glass jar with a screw top lid. The label is sleek and clean and I have to say I like that the label can be peeled off easily so that the jar can be reused. Because quite frankly, this is the kind of jar that can be easily reused and that I probably will reuse.
But packaging is one thing, product is another. When you open the jar there is a thin inner plastic lid covering the product. I like the inner lids keeping the product and the outer lid separated. Keeping as much air away from the product as possible is always a good thing.
When this inner lid is pried up, the cream is revealed. It is a light green, almost celadon color and it smells fresh and clean.
It actually reminds me of the celery soda we used to get at the deli when I was a kid. Without the bubbles of course. I suppose it is to be expected since it too was made with celery seed. There is a very light vegetal quality to the clean scent, but it isn’t an added scent, just a natural one and it isn’t overpowering in the slightest.
My baby doll is much more sensitive to scents then I am and when he sniffed it, his reaction was to say it smelled clean not scented. I don’t think it would bother anyone who is scent sensitive. It is mostly only noticeable when you first open the jar and dissipates quickly.
The consistency is of a thin gel or water cream and I found my skin drank it up quickly. There was no sticky feeling left behind, which I have on occasion had with these types of formulas before. It sat under my makeup beautifully and kept me hydrated throughout the day.
Prior to transitioning into using this moisturizer, I had several stress related breakouts and have been treating them. Sometimes the treatment dries out the skin around the problem and sometimes instead of hydrating the skin around the treated area, moisturizers just make things greasy and irritated.
I did not have that problem with the Celery Green Cream. It moisturized the dry patches and didn’t irritate the inflamed area. I don’t normally have overly sensitive skin, but those were my sensitive areas and it handled them beautifully while they were healing.
I used this moisturizer as my main moisturizer for a month. I applied it twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. While it was beautiful during the day, I found I needed a little something extra at night. Not every night though. Instead of using a night cream every night, I found that I could use my night cream once or twice a week as an added boost to my night time moisturizing. Generally, I found that the boost was needed after I spent large portions of the day outside in the heat.
I suppose it shouldn’t be terribly surprising as on those days I was also drinking a lot more water. I think that while working outside in the garden or walking on the walking trail, I just sweated out enough moisture that my entire body simply craved more hydration in every form. And as I love masks in all forms, especially night masks I can wear while sleeping, I had no problem adding an extra product a couple of times a week.
While I really liked using this moisturizer, for me, I think the consistency of it lends itself to warm weather months. Once the weather starts to turn cooler, I tend to switch to a transition moisturizer which has a thicker consistency than the gel like moisturizers of summer and then as fall fades to winter I tend to want a thicker, more full bodied cream. This is, however a fantastic summer cream.
Using it my skin felt hydrated and used in conjunction with the Snow Mushroom Water Serum I actually saw a plumping of the skin and a reduction of the fine lines around the corners of my eyes. While I doubt anything natural will get rid of the line running across my forehead, I noticed it didn’t get any more pronounced while I used this cream. I’m calling that a win.
There is about two to three weeks of moisturizer left in my jar of product as I write this. I will be finishing this jar of moisturizer and slowly weaving additional products into my routine in order to give them a fair trial.
While this Celery Green Cream was sent to me by Volition, in the spring, my summer skin care preparation is going to include ordering a new jar of this moisturizer along with the Snow Mushroom Water Serum. As for the Prismatic Illuminating Shield, the sunscreen designed for those who hate sunscreen, I will be reordering that as soon as the bottle starts to feel too light for comfort. It is not something I want to run out of anytime soon.
Speaking of ordering, the links located throughout this site are for volitionbeauty.com. Volitionbeauty.com only ships to US and Canada, so if you are located in other countries, you and want to give Volition a try you can go through @cultbeauty, which ships Volition Beauty worldwide, and @meccamaxima / @meccacosmetica which ship to Australia and New Zealand.
I personally really enjoyed my trial of Volition and will feel very sad when my jar of Celery Green Cream comes to an end. At least I know, I can always recycle the jar. And as Volition has a skin care test to ask questions regarding all your skin’s needs, I will be going back through and looking at the other products listed. The three I tried, were all recommended on that list and my skin really enjoyed them. It gives my high hopes for the other recommended products.
The tube of B Kind’s Sensitive Skin Face Scrub (travel size)
In June’s Petit Vour Box, I received the cutest little tube of exfoliating facial scrub from B Kind. I don’t know why I find the little tube so cute. I think because it is not only small but chubby. But packaging and its cuteness is beside the point, it is the product that counts. There turned out to be a surprising amount of product in the little tube. I wasn’t certain there would be enough to do a fair trial to be honest, but I thought I’d get an an initial reaction out of it. Given the amount of product actually in the tube, it turned out there was enough for me to get a good handle on it after all. So to the review…
Our cranberry seeds and hibiscus face scrub has been created for your skin to be softly exfoliated and hugely moisturized at the same time.
Perfect for sensitive or dry skin: this face scrub will leave your skin smooth, glowing and moisturized.
Now I have to say that I shouldn’t be surprised that it is a pinkish, dare I say, cranberry color. To be honest, I’m certain the hibiscus is the color culprit there. I have grown hibiscus before and it stains everything that color. There are currently several jars of hibiscus jam in my cupboard that are only a few shades lighter.
For some reason I was expecting it to be white though. I’m not entirely sure why. There is no real reason it should be. And it isn’t, it is pinky-mauve.
It is also a very good gentle exfoliate. It is a physical exfoliate rather than a chemical one, but I didn’t find it too abrasive on my skin. It is either extremely finely milled or the cranberry seeds used for exfoliation purposes are exceedingly tiny. To be fair it could be a combination of the two. I’ve never actually seen cranberry seeds. I lack the garden bog to give growing them at home a go. I will say that because the exfoliate is a seed that is mixed in with the cream, it is rather soft. It still exfoliates but I can see why it is geared towards sensitive skin. My skin had no problems with it during my use of the product.
I also only used it once a week for the duration of my use. Sensitive skin oriented or not, this isn’t something I would feel comfortable using every day. Once a week was perfect for me though. And as it had four uses in the tiny tube, I managed to get a month’s worth if use out of it. The reason I got so much use out of it is because it really doesn’t take much to cover your entire face. The little squirt pictured in my hand in the photo was all I really needed. It comes out thick, but spreads far over the skin as the heat from your skin warms it up. A little dab is all that is necessary.
product on skin
The color remained with the product instead of transferring, although on the face it made me look a bit like I face planted in the garden and then rolled around a bit for good measure. The skin just looks slightly dirty for a moment, and then you wash and all is well. Plus your skin feels amazing. Or at least mine did. I felt glowy and refreshed.
product washed off
This is a natural, vegan, cruelty free product and the packaging is recyclable. All things I really like and very much appreciate. It was made in Montreal, as was a large chunk of my family.
Although, I don’t really think any skin care company should be thought of in the same context as my Great Uncle Rene. He had skin like leather, smoked like a chimney, drank like a fish and was killed by a bus. He was surprisingly healthy until the bus. He always claimed it was because he was made in Montreal. Well, before the bus anyway. Because of his claims, he is the first thing that pops into my head when I see Made in Montreal on something.
I offer my deepest apologies to the city.
If it helps, the bus wasn’t even in Montreal.
But clearly I digress.
I really liked the facial scrub and enjoyed using it enough to purchase a full size and poke around on the website to see what other products they have in their skin care line as it was a quality product. My one criticism, is that it did leave the feeling of a slightly waxy residue on my skin. It wasn’t a lot of residue, just a little, but it was noticeable.
The website claims that it is part of the skin enhancing benefits and recommends that you only wash it off with plain water so that the ingredients remain on the skin to do their work. I tried, I really did, but it just felt waxy on my skin. I think part of the reason is that the skin care benefits, beyond the exfoliation, look like they are geared towards dry skin. While my skin falls into the normal category, it tends to skew towards oily in the warmer months and towards dry in the winter. Perhaps if I tried this again in the winter I would not have an issue with simply using water and leaving it to sit. As it was, I had to wash with more than water.
As this was a part of my skin care regime, sandwiched between my makeup removing balm and my face wash on the nights I used it, the residue was not really an issue. It would only be an issue if I were using I alone. As I always wash my face after a physical exfoliant, just to make certain it is all gone, this is a non-issue for me, but it is something you might want to be aware of if adding this to your routine. Perhaps with dryer skin, you will find this more helpful.
While I’m at it, I have to add one more thumbs up on pricing. The full size of the B Kind Sensitive Skin Face Scrub is $28 (it is 48 g as opposed to the 15 g travel size pictured in this post). This is a good price for a really good product. Given how little is needed for each use, I think it is a very good value.
I’ve noticed that some companies start raising prices on skin care once it gets to be clean, natural and vegan. Not all of them, but enough that I naturally think that clean and natural products are going to be more expensive. Perhaps that is just me and not a larger reflection. Or perhaps it was, but things are now changing. Either way, I am happy to see this quality of a product offered at this sort of price.
It also makes me really glad I’m going to be getting another Petit Vour box this month, because I honestly would not have found this on my own and I am really glad that I have now found it. At the moment it is tied with my favorite Skin and Co Face Gommage for my favorite physical exfoliator. I will be looking into their other products and possibly seeing if they have an exfoliant not geared towards dry skin for the summer months. Even without dry skin, this is a product I can easily see myself ordering.
Volition beauty recently sent me three products for the purpose of review. While they did send the products to me, the reviews of them are my own opinions. As a quick note, the links included in this post are for the Volition website and while I highly recommend visiting their site to anyone interested in finding out more about their products or the company (and they are a really interesting company) Volitionbeauty.com only ships to US and Canada. If you are not in either the US or Canada, @cultbeauty ships Volition Beauty worldwide, and @meccamaxima / @meccacosmetica ship to Australia and New Zealand.
When testing skin care, I tend to rotate products in one at a time and let my skin get used to them before swapping out any other elements to my skin care. The first product I added in of the three I was sent was the Prismatic Luminizing Shield with SPF 50, mostly because I needed a sunscreen I would actually wear. It is billed as the sunscreen for people who hate sunscreen (which is me) and is a fantastic product that has gotten me into the habit of actually wearing sunscreen daily. The link above will take you to the fill post if you are interested.
The second product I rotated in was the Snow Mushroom Water Serum and then a week later I added the Celery Green Cream. So next week I will be posting the Celery Green Cream Review after using it for a full month.
For those that are unfamiliar with Volition Skincare. They produce clean, cruelty free, vegan skincare. In addition they produce crowdsourced items. So if you have an idea for a product, you fill out the form and send it to them. They then ask the community what they think of the idea. If it is approved, then they set a team of specialists to work turning the idea into a product.
I thought this idea was interesting when I came across it the first time. I have to say that having tried some of the products produced thorough this system, I am even more impressed by it. I love that each product comes with a innovator card, letting you know who came up with the skin care idea. The Snow Mushroom Water Serum was thought up by Keidy. And what is the serum supposed to do?
According to the site…
Snow Mushroom. It’s nature’s sponge. It holds nearly 500 times its weight in water. It’s the wonder ingredient in this hydrating face serum that delivers a surge of moisture as it naturally minimizes the appearance of pores.
Now I am the first to admit, I love a good serum. I will also say, I love mushrooms. I love all sorts of mushrooms and for a while I was even growing my own blue oyster mushrooms. (mostly because I could never find them at my local grocery). I was a little skeptical about them in my skin care though. However, I am all for minimizing the appearance of my pores.
However it isn’t just the snow mushroom that makes up this serum. It has some help.
Snow Mushroom: Delivers hydration and helps improve moisture retention.
Marine Water: Helps detoxify skin, reduce shine, and minimize the appearance of pores.
Watermelon and Apple Extracts: Excellent sources of Vitamins C and A; visibly brighten the look of skin.
Lentil Extract: Rich in Vitamin B5; Helps to soothe and smooth the skin while helping retain moisture resulting in the appearance of softer, clearer, firmer-looking skin.
As you can see there are a lot of good ingredients listed. My skin loves vitamin C and it is often in my serums. I’ve never thought of lentils as a skin car ingredient but I do have a favorite recipe that uses both lentils and mushrooms so I find it oddly comforting to see them paired together here. (and yes I realize that makes little scientific sense, but it is still true)
Before I used this serum I took a look at the reviews. I like to kind of see if there are any problems I should look out for when trying a new product out. Plus I also like to find out whose reviews closely match mine so I can compare with other products. The reviews were overwhelmingly positive. I lifted a skeptical eyebrow and continued on. Given how positive the reviews were however, I was very much hoping my experience was as positive because it sounded fantastic in a Liz Lemon -I want to go to there – kind of way.
And yes, the first thing I did was open the bottle to take a sniff.
Cause it’s me and you know that’s what I am gonna do.
I was expecting a kind of earthy mushroom funk. I will say there is a slight underlying earthy note, but it doesn’t come right out and say I am mushroom come smell the funk.
Which is fine. I may love the smell of sautéed mushrooms, but I wasn’t too certain of how I would feel about the scent in my skin care. While it does have that base earthiness, the serum just smells fresh and clean. Maybe it is just because they used the snow mushroom water.
Or because they weren’t sautéing them.
I know that the Snow Mushroom Water is one ingredient, as opposed to water pairing with serum, however this serum has a very thin ‘water-like’ consistency. It is extremely light weight. If you fear heavy pore clogging serums, then lean in this direction. It feels extremely light on the skin and I had no trouble with any clogged pores while using it.
A small amount covered my face neck and decollete with no problem. After applying it though, I did need to wait a minute before moving on with the rest of my skin care. It wasn’t terribly long.
I generally found if I applied it, and then brushed my teeth, then by the time I finished with my mouthwash rinse, my skin was ready for the moisturizer. If I didn’t wait then the two products mixed and both took longer to settle in. Since I had to brush my teeth anyway, it wasn’t a hardship to wait.
I used this serum twice a day for a full thirty days as part of my trial. I applied it in the morning and in the evening. After thirty days I am exactly halfway through the bottle. So It is a fair estimate that the bottle will last two months.
For me this is good to know because I will so be ordering a replacement bottle when this runs low and I need to know when to order it. I really enjoyed this serum. While it is light weight on the skin, it really does a heavyweight’s job. My skin felt hydrated and refreshed.
The pores on my cheeks and nose were reduced enough that I actually used a non-pore filling primer and my skin still looked smooth. I also noticed a reduction in the fine lines at the corners of my eyes. The skin was plump enough with retained moisture that they were less noticeable. I stopped using my eye cream while using this serum for my trial because I wanted to make sure it was this product doing the line filling and not a combo effort.
It was definitely the Snow Mushroom Water Serum.
closed
My only criticism of this product, and it is a slight one, has to do with the packaging. It is in a lovely frosted glass bottle with a nice rose gold cap. When you turn the cap the top pops up and operates the dropper inside. All of this is fabulous. It worked really well and it was easy to tell when the bottle was opened or fully closed.
open
The only drawback I had was that the entire cap is smooth. While opening it is no problem, closing it involves either hands still slick with left over serum after I’ve massaged it into my skin or hands slick from washing them post application. (yes I dry my hands but they are still slightly slick) There were a couple of times I almost dropped the glass bottle. If the lid had just a little bit of texture to it, I would be less worried about dropping it with slick hands.
I know I could just wait until I reach the end of my skin care regimen and my hands are clean and dry, but I don’t like leaving products open too long after I use them. Plus, I recently had to bid an untimely farewell to one of my favorite concealers because I forgot to recap it. So it is sort of on my mind. But with this I really was worried about dropping the glass bottle.
While I’m sure it is shatter resistant, I wouldn’t want to risk losing even a single drop. I may have to set this aside to try out new skin care items, but I know this is one that I will consistently return to use when I am not testing things out or need a break between tests. At the moment I am considering easing out of using it so that should my next trial not go as smoothly, I will have product remaining to repair whatever damage it does. It is a fantastic formula and The Volition Snow Mushroom Water Serum will remain on my favorites list for a long time to come.
Volition Prismatic Luminizing Shield SPF 50: This product was sent to me for reviewing purposes, the opinions however are all mine.
I have always had a love hate relationship with sunscreen. As a kid I remember being lathered up before being sent out for summer play. While I never minded my arms and legs being coated and I loved that my parents let me play outside longer if I was wearing it, I hated when the sunscreen was applied to my face. Invariably it would either get washed onto my lips where it would taste nasty or it would get washed into my eyes making them sting and burn for the rest of the day.
As I grew up, sunscreen got better and while most of it doesn’t taste any better than it did when I was a child, most of it stays in place. Still I hate putting sunscreen on my face. I know that is the one place I really need to put it, but I have to admit, I usually don’t. I spray my whole body down with sunscreen, more vigilantly now that I had that painful early spring burn, but I still avoid my face.
Instead I layer products like I’m creating the great wall of SPF. “Oh this has SPF 10, I’ll put it on and then add this product that has SPF 30.” It’s a construction project. I know I need to get over it, but I’ve had a hard time finding a product I like.
However, Volition Skincare sent over three products for me to try and the first item I pulled out of the box was the Volition Prismatic Luminizing Shield SPF50. I had to laugh because right on the top of the box it says “Sunscreen for the Sunscreen Haters.”
It’s like they knew.
Or I’m not the only one to hate sunscreen.
I prefer the term skin care psychics, but that is just me. I should point out they don’t claim to be psychic an any way shape or form. But Volition is a really interesting company even without the tarot card possibility.
If you go to their main page there is a section where you can submit an idea for a product. It doesn’t matter who you are, you can submit an idea for a product you would like to see available for purchase. The idea then gets submitted to a vote by their beauty community. If it gets enough votes then their team goes to work creating the product. All of their products are certified clean and cruelty free with no animal testing and no parabens or sulfates. Incidentally, the links posted are for volitionbeauty.com which only ships to the US and Canada. If you are outside the US or Canada then @cultbeauty ships Volition Beauty worldwide, and @meccamaxima / @meccacosmetica ship to Australia and New Zealand.
There is a whole section where you can shop the winners and I have to say, I really like going onto the site to see who came up with what. You can also take a skincare quiz to determine which of their products might be right for your particular concerns so you don’t spend a boat load of time staring at a product and trying to guess.
But back to the sunscreen for the sunscreen haters.
The box clearly looked like it was aimed at me. I opened it and the first thing I saw was a little card telling me that this innovative product was created by a woman named Aja. It had a picture of her and a little bit about her on the back. I thought that was really neat. It’s rare that you actually get a name to go with a product.
But Aja made this, or at least came up with the idea while a team of highly skilled professionals brought her idea to life. But what do they have to say about what they created?
Bare face
The Prismatic Luminizing Shield SPF50 (retail $35) is…
The anti-sunscreen for the sunscreen haters. It’s never greasy, smelly or thick. It’s daily protection you’ll actually want to wear. It is a weightless, breatheable formula with broad-spectrum sun protection, luminous, pearl-like finish and a light, neutral scent. It addresses skin protection, dry skin, and dull skin and is good for all skin types.
Shake well. Apply over entire face 30 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply at least every 2 hours or as needed. Can be worn alone or under makeup. Use a water-resistant sunscreen if sweating or swimming.
Not too shabby. And I like that it is SPF 50. In my attempt to layer to build a wall of SPF on my face without actually using sunblock, I try to get as close to 50 as I can get.
Before rubbing the sunscreen in, there is a white cast that disappears quickly
So knowing who made it and what it is supposed to do, I took the product out of the box. I know appearances aren’t everything and that I shouldn’t focus on the shallow packaging, but this is a good looking bottle of sunscreen.
I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting that.
I think because sunscreen is such a utilitarian item that just gets tossed in a bag and kicked around at the beach or pool side that it always looks like a basic plastic squeeze bottle with maybe a pretty or fun decal on the front. This may be a tube you can squeeze, but everything about it says skin care. It looks like it belongs in the bathroom next to your serums and moisturizer and not something you’d chuck in a kid’s pool bag with the goggles.
Don’t get me wrong, those items have their place. I have quite a few of them stationed around the house. They are an essential part of my summer. But I needed something to put in the bathroom with my skin care. Because like skin care, I needed to make it part of my routine. I knew that was the only way I was going to get into the habit of putting it on. So I took the bottle from the box, moved it into the bathroom and began using it.
For the past two weeks, this anti-sunscreen has been part of my morning routine. I put it on after I finish my skin care, but before I put on makeup. There is no real scent to the product so anyone out there who is sensitive to scents should have no problem.
The consistency of the product is like a thin primer or a water cream moisturizer. It has some body to it, but it leans towards the liquidy side. To apply, I dispensed a pea sized amount into my palm and rubbed my hands together then applied it to my face. It sort of spread out as it hit my hand anyway so I just let it follow it’s natural inclinations. Easy peasy.
Just the sunscreen on my face
On first contact there is a little bit of a white cast. (see the above picture) The first time I applied it I started to get concerned that I was going to spend the day looking like a mime, however I rubbed it in a little bit and the white disappeared almost instantly.
While I don’t want to walk around with the white sunscreen face all day, I do like that at first touch it is a little white. This lets me see where I’ve put it to ensure full coverage before I rub it in.
True to their claims, it feels weightless on the skin and is not greasy. It is however quite luminizing. Just like the really pretty bottle, I wasn’t really expecting that. And yes I know it says it in the title, it is just brighter than I expected.
I tend to go for matte primers and foundations. For me the matte balanced it out well. With the matte foundation on top of it, I had no problems, it was actually quite nice paired with it and gave the matte product a little depth. I could not use a luminizing primer or foundation with it as it was too luminizing for me.
Makeup over the sunscreen, I used the Purlisse BB Cream over it with no primer for this photo
I should also say that the day I tried a luminizing foundation, no one had issues with the extra luminosity but me. I even got a compliment on my glow, so I think that is really just my personal preference. If you like luminosity then you are good, if you aren’t a fan, use a matte product over it.
No matter what product I used, the sunscreen sat well underneath the makeup. I had no problems with reactions between the sunscreen and my foundation. They played well together and I didn’t break out in a welter of clogged pores. There were, in fact, no extra break outs. (The stress related ones I had spent the night with some Peace Out dots, but no new ones appeared.)
In the description it is recommended that if you are going to sweat or go in the water you should look into a waterproof product. While I didn’t go swimming while trying this (because that isn’t what it is meant for and at this time the pools near me are still closed) it is June in Tennessee and you can’t step outside without sweating. If the heat lets you go then the humidity will insure the sweat rises to your brow, among other places. As my neighbor likes to say, this is the season where you get the air you can wear, the unavoidable fashion accessory.
So there was sweat.
You know what there wasn’t?
Stinging eyes.
Well, the sweat stung a little because it’s salty, but it didn’t burn like acid. There were a couple of days where it was hot enough to melt your skin off of your bones and I was standing outside with a mask on. I know some of it dripped into my eyes. There is no doubt about that. The product not dripping would be an impossibility. I think I sweated out water I drank three years ago on those days, so there was no defense for anything topical.
But there were no burning, pain filled eyes, so I am taking that as a win.
And no I am not going to squirt it directly into my eyes to double check.
Although I have to confess, I did put a little on my lips to taste since the mask kept my lips safe and secure, along with my lungs and the rest of me. It didn’t really taste of anything. I’m not going to go putting it on an ice cream sundae or anything, but the accidentally tasting wasn’t horrific.
To be honest, this sunscreen passed all of my tests with flying colors. No gag worthy taste, no burning eyeballs and it was easy to remember to apply because it sat with my skin care and became part of my daily routine. Applying it became a habit, one I hope to maintain.
The Volition Prismatic Luminizing Shield didn’t make me break out. It didn’t make me feel greasy. It felt weightless on my skin and it provided me with SPF 50 level protection for my face without having to do a construction game with other products.
Don’t get me wrong, I still favor a lot of products with built in SPF, especially in the summer time, but I really like not having to rely on them. I really like having the good sunscreen underneath so that anything layered on top is just extra, not vital.
And oh yeah, no sun burn even though I spent loads of time outside in the hot, hot sun.
Seriously, this made sunscreen part of my skin care regimen instead of something I hated and tended to forget. I honestly didn’t think that was going to happen. I suppose the only question that remains is whether or not I’m allowed to send Aja a thank you note.
Because this was a very good idea.
Remember the links in this post are for volitionbeauty.com which only ships to the US and Canada. Mostly because I am located in the US. Even if you aren’t in the US it is well worth poking around on their site. If you are outside the US or Canada then @cultbeauty ships Volition Beauty worldwide, and @meccamaxima / @meccacosmetica ship to Australia and New Zealand. I love that this sunscreen is available worldwide.
Ms. Mimsy Reviews 