I have to admit I have a weakness for lip plumpers of all sorts. I also really like the brand Dermelect. I have used many many bottles of their neck serum (and need to add a new one into my line up) and have just rolled in a creamy anti wrinkle serum to the line up. I figured that made this the perfect time to add in the Smooth Lip Volumizer into the mix. According to the brand…
Non-injectable, on-the-lip treatment instantly achieves the look of a fuller, smoother, more sexier pout by utilizing moisturizing, volumizing and conditioning technologies.
Achieve fuller, smoother looking lips! Non-injectable, on-the-lip treatment instantly achieves the look of a fuller, smoother, sexier pout by utilizing anti-aging moisturizing and conditioning technologies. Progeline Tripeptide, Silkflo lip conditioner and moisture binding Hyaluronic Acid combine to provide a lip plumping, volumizing effect to the lips. Key antioxidants and hydrating agents combine to nourish and lock in moisture to create a noticeably fuller, line-free pout.
There are several things I like about this. First is that it is a lip plumper, and you know I love those. Second it is from a skin care brand I trust. Third is that not only is it supposed to help plump now, but over time it is supposed to have more, longer lasting effects. Hence the thirty day trial I am about to begin. According to the directions this is supposed to be applied both in the morning and in the evening.
So that is what i am going to do.
This is the first application. I applied it over clean dry lips. It smells very minty and smoothed on like a lip oil. I did not need to redip the wand to cover my lips, which makes me think this may actually last a full month. The lips are shiny with the first application, like with a lip oil. I took one picture before I applied and the second one five minutes after I applied.
I wanted to give it a little bit of time to settle in and actually do some plumping if it was going to. There was a little bit of tingling but it wasn’t over the top ‘my lips are burning’ kind of intense. Some lip lumpers can give that to you. This was tingly but not painful. When I licked my lips there was no taste, but my tongue was temporarily tingly. I think there was a little plumping, but I also think that this has a similar hydrating effect to a good lip oil. I think it is a good product to apply about ten minutes before I do my makeup. Before putting on lipstick i would wipe off the excess. I do this with both lip oils and with lip plumpers actually. and to be honest even if there aren’t any long term effects, I think this would be good for that. Admittedly I am hoping for more long term effects, but with that, only time will tell.
I rounded out December with sample sized moisturizers. I know it seems strange but I liked the thought of starting the new year with a new moisturizer. I decided to start 2023 with the ESPA moisturizer that came in my Look Fantastic Advent Calendar this year. To be honest it (and the Christophe Robin Scalp Scrub) were the two main reasons I bought the calendar. There were many other wonderful items in it, but they were the draw for me. So it seemed right that I start off the calendar with it.
Powered by vibrant nutrients that balance the complexion — offering a fresh burst of moisture to brighten and hydrate skin. Long-lasting hydration is on tap for thirsty skin with this revitalising, lightweight daily moisturiser. This supercharged formula smooths the appearance of dehydration lines, leaves skin feeling softer, and visibly more radiant. By harnessing the potency of natural fruits and vegetables, this long-lasting hydrator brings a youthful glow, fights signs of premature aging, and quenches skin with succulent vitality.
This moisturizer basically moisturizes while helping with anti-aging. Not terribly surprising for an anti-aging moisturizer. However that is claimed by many moisturizers. Not all of them are successful. While I will not know how it performs completely until after I have used it for a minimum of thirty days, I have to say my first use of this moisturizer went well. It also gives me high hopes for a fantastic skin month.
The jar is glass and it feels luxe in the hand. Hile the jar is glass the lid is hard plastic which is really easy to open, even if your hands are damp, which I appreciate as moisturizer is one of the last steps in my skin care routine and by the time I get to my moisturizer my hands are almost always damp. It isn’t so much a textured surface as it is just less slick than the glass.
Inside the jar is a thick white cream. It has a slightly sweet and fruity scent. Somehow it still manages to smell clean and fresh. I know I am a scent oriented person, and scent isn’t the most important thing. However, an unappealing scent can make me not want to reach for a product even if it is a good one. This is a scent I like and that I will enjoy reaching for when it is time to moisturize.
I dipped into the cream and it felt like a really thick cream. There was nothing light and airy about it. However when I applied it on my skin, the thickness seemed to fade. It was white for a second and then the whiteness of the cream faded. It absorbed far faster than I thought it would. From the feel on my fingertip, I expected it to be heavy on the skin and to really have to massage that cream in until the white faded and it absorbed. I didn’t. It wasn’t that thick on the skin. The cream felt light and absorbed well. My skin felt hydrated and soft. I was very impressed with this. It doesn’t sound like much but when your mornings are rushed it can matter. This isn’t a moisturizer that will slow me down.
I have used many ESPA products so I suppose it shouldn’t be surprising that this was nice. Pretty much every ESPA product I have tried has been something I enjoyed using and a few have made my favorites list. Whether this one will make that list by the end of the trial remains to be seen but for me this was a fantastic first use. In fact while I have tried several nice moisturizers recently, this is one of the best first uses I’ve had in a really long time. Hopes are high for the next thirty days and this ESPA Optimal Skin Pro Moisturizer.
This moisturizer was sent to me by the brand, but as always my thoughts and opinions are my own. I have actually been really looking forward to trying out this Hydraganic Velvet Botanical moisturizer from OGEE. Not only is a good moisturizer the foundation of a good skincare regimen, but I love the thought behind the brand. Their products are organic, cruelty free, not tested on animals, GMO free, gluten free, all natural and made in the USA.
It is summed up in their About Story on their website…
Ogee is committed to creating the highest quality collection of high-performance certified organic beauty.
The stringent NSF Organic certification for all of our products covers every facet of product development, from the farm where the ingredients are grown, harvested and processed, the lab in which they are batched and bottled, the sustainably sourced paperboard in which they’re contained, until they end up on the vanity on which they’re placed.
Our pledge to provide a true organic difference is why we are proud to be Beyond Clean Beauty.
There are also a list of their certifications on the website, all of which are quite impressive. Quite honestly I love the theory behind the brand, but as always the theory only matters if the product is good. So let’s see what they have to say about this Velvet Botanical Moisturizer.
A weightless, whipped Jojoba Oil cream rich in ultra-hydrating micro Hyaluronic Acid and sugar-cane derived Squalane to reduce visible signs of aging, increase skin elasticity, and revitalize complexion. Infused with super-power flowers Rose and Chamomile to boost antioxidants, improve the appearance of irritation, and create a protective botanical barrier from pollutants.
While the ingredients list is a long one, I don’t see anything on the list that is concerning for my skin. I’m not allergic to much but I like checking ingredients lists before I try out a new skincare product. Given their commitment to Clean beauty standards (and beyond) I suspected it would be fine, but I like to check. And I will say, just because there have been a couple of products lately that I’ve tried where the ingredients on the website didn’t match what was written on the box, I checked and the ingredients list on the website matches the list that came with the actual product. Occasionally products don’t match but it is usually a case where one or the other hasn’t been updated. So I like to check both just in case. Both matched and I was good to go.
Now if you have read my posts for any length of time you know I am always excited with both Squalene and hyaluronic acid in my products. Both work really well with my skin. For much of the OGEE skincare line Jojoba oil seems to be their main hero ingredient. I love jojoba oil as it always makes my skin feel soft and never oily or greasy. When looking over their information it is pointed out that it has a similar molecular structure to skin’s natural sebum. Which I suppose makes sense as to why it works so well. For me I was also happy to see aloe as the first ingredient on the list. Aloe is fantastic with soothing and reducing redness (which is why I use my aloe plant for helping with sunburn and minor skin irritations. (Actually I used it on mosquito bites this summer and it really reduced the itch and helped the bit heal more rapidly without scaring.)
In the winter we get really harsh winds and wind burn is a big deal for me, so having a moisturizer infused with aloe is also something i am excited about. My only concern was the rose and chamomile. While I love the effects of rose and chamomile, they aren’t my favorite scents in skin care.
The bottle is a lovely glass bottle, white with a gold pump to match the lettering. It honestly looks quite luxe. Also the solid white of the glass keeps the product away from sunlight. I twisted the pump to open it and pumped out a bit of cream to give it a first try. The pump puts out a relatively small amount. I needed three pumps to cover my face. I actually really like that it dispenses such small amounts. while I generally moisturize in the morning and evening, after my workouts I tend to rinse off my face even if I don’t do a full wash. Afterwards I will sometimes dab just a little bit of moisturizer onto my skin. For me one pump with the OGEE was great for this, even though I did need three for the morning moisturizer (Right now I am finishing out a night cream so I am using this during the day and as this night cream finishes towards the end of the week I will give the OGEE Velvet Botanical Moisturizer a try at night as well)
But before application, we sniff.
At first I thought there was no scent and was relieved it wasn’t a rose/chamomile blend. Then as I began to massage the cream into my skin, I realized it did have a scent. It was a very light scent. The two scents I got were a mix of aloe and jojoba oil. To be honest it reminded me of my godmother’s house. She always used aloe infused soap and a jojoba body lotion. Both were on the counter of the bathroom. She always washed her hands and after drying them applied the lotion. So for me the scent was very nostalgic. It is also very light and fades really quickly. There are no heavy perfumes or scents to it.
The cream itself is a light weight cream. I was worried it would leave a white cast on the skin or be something that needed to be warmed up first, but it melted into the skin beautifully. The moisturizer I just finished testing out, took a really long time to absorb into the skin so the absorption rate felt almost like magic by comparison. It wasn’t magic, but it was a really quick absorption.
I really like that speed in a day cream as mornings are when I am inclined to rush through my skin care. At night I have more time, but in the day time time is limited. This is definitely a moisturizer that won’t make me late. There was no greasy residue and no white cast to worry about. I pumped the moisturizer into my hand, rubbed my hands together and applied it.
Right now I am using it in the morning and for the occasional post work out rinse dab of moisture. I do have a different night cream I am finishing out. The weight of this cream is great for a day cream, and a little dab post rinse worked well for me as well in this first use trial. It is a light weight formula and I think the real test will be at night. It is a good day cream, but I suspect that I may need a bit more at night. I won’t know until I test it, but I suspect I will either need one additional pump or the occasional night mask. I am just guessing on that and will need to see how it performs over time. As of now, it is a really good day cream that I am happy to start testing for results. I like the way it feels on my skin and I like the way it absorbs into the skin. As I also like the ingredients and the ethos of the brand, I have high hopes for this OGEE Velvet Botanical Moisturizer. Let the month long trial begin!
Recently Depology very kindly sent over a package of products for me to try out and review. while these were gifted to me, the thoughts and opinions are my own. I have to admit, this was one of the products that I was most excited to try.
These are the Depology Deepcare Serum Infused Micro Dart Patches. You know how i love under eye patches. I use them routinely, especially during allergy season. It is then that their depuffing really comes into play. As this was a bad allergy season for me, extending well out of the normal season I think I ended up using under eye patches every other day this summer. However these contain a Wrinkle Smoothing serum. And Micro darts.
As always, before I try something new I go onto the website, to find out what I need to know about the product as well a what I can expect in terms of results and this was no exception. So According to the Depology website…
Our unique Deepcare+™ serum formula helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while nourishing and plumping your skin. And now with our advanced micro dart technology, the serum is getting an upgrade.
To go beyond the surface of your skin, 1000 micro darts, infused with 30mg of our Deepcare+™ serum per patch, penetrate deep into your skin and deliver our solution to the core.
Rejuvenates your skin by directly delivering key ingredients straight into the skin surface – painless, no downtime and 100% safe. You can now experience the results of professional skincare treatments from your home. Apply for 2 hours or leave overnight for best results. Use every 2-3 nights. We recommend consistent use over 6 weeks for optimal results.
I have to say, I really like the description. It tells me exactly what it is going to do and about how long it will take to see results. It also tells me how often I need to use them. I’ll be honest, the fact that they have micro darts made me worry about over use. I knew I wouldn’t be using them exactly the same way I would regular under eye patches used for simple depuffing so I appreciate the details. And as I have on occasion over used skincare items such as exfoliators, I feel more comfortable with an established time for use.
And yes the term micro dart made me a little apprehensive. I have never used darts, micro or otherwise on my face. I haven’t even tried those micro needle rollers that seem much more common. So I approached this with caution.
But now that I know what to expect, I felt a little more confident. Now I should also point out that I am currently using the Depology Matrixyl 3000 Collagen Boosting Serum. It’s description claims that the serum works well paired with these Depology Deepcare Serum Infused Micro Dart Patches. I wanted to try the serum on it’s own so I have been using it for two weeks (and will continue using it) to get a feel for it before rolling in the Depology Deepcare Serum Infused Micro Dart Patches. while I will do a full review on the serum when I have reached the thirty day mark right now I have to say I absolutely love it.
They come individually packaged within the box which makes for easy travel, should you want to slip them into an over night bag. Inside the pouch they are in a little plastic case. The instructions say to make sure you don’t touch the darts with your fingertips (so that the serum can go to your eyes not your fingers). As the darts have a wide patch of space around them, it was easy to avoid petting my fingers into the wrinkle reducing serum.
I’ll be honest, I was braced for stinging pain.
I was prepared for them to be very uncomfortable.
They aren’t.
I applied the patch to my under eye and as per the instructions I pressed the patches into my skin so the micro darts could shoot their serum beneath my skin. I pressed firmly and the sensation was like pressing a piece of velcro against your skin. You could feel the prickly bits, so you knew it wasn’t smooth, but that is about it. And even that was at the beginning. I tapped it a few times throughout the two hour wear time and after fifteen minutes, the darts more or less dissolved into the skin so it felt like a smooth patch with no more velcro pressing feeling.
photo to use for comparison at the end of six weeks
The patches were comfortable to wear and easy to forget about once they were on. Actually I only really felt them in the first fifteen minutes. Then once the micro darts were dissolved, the patches were just there. They weren’t uncomfortable.
As this was my first test of the Depology Deepcare Serum Infused Micro Dart Patches I did only wear them for the recommended two hours and not over night. I wanted to get the feel of them before I tried to sleep in them. To be honest, i think they will be easy to sleep in. I will just have to apply them early enough for the darts to dissolve and I think they will be comfortable enough to sleep in. I will of course try them over night during this trial.
after the two hours I peeled them off. The patches came off easily without tugging at the skin. The serum had dissolved into the skin so there was nothing left remaining on top. The Depology Deepcare Serum Infused Micro Dart Patches will take about six weeks to show results so today was more about a first wear and how they felt than results, but I enjoyed wearing these patches and am looking forward to seeing what results occur after six weeks of consistent wear,
This Tatcha Kissu Lip mask has been on my list to try for a while now and I decided now was the time. Now we all know, I love my lip products. And lip masks are one of my absolute favorite ones. I know, they surprisingly rank higher than lipstick on my personal list. let the gasps commence.
While it is easy to think of lip masks in the winter where icy winds casus daily chapping, I often find them of great use in the summer. My lips don’t chap in the summer in the same way they chap in the winter. I know that sounds a little weird. In the winter if not taken care of my lips will get dry and crack in painful chapping. In the summer time though, my lips will get dry spots on them from too much time in the sun rather then the same chapping that they get in the winter.
My only theory on this is that with the heating on the air is over all drier inside as well as the exterior exposure and in the summer time the air where I live is so humid that it is never quite the level of dryness that chaps my lips. I’m sure there is a more logical or medical based explanation. but that is my working theory. I’d be happy to be corrected, but it does mean that I deal with my lip health, shall we say, differently.
the product was all the way to the top of the glass
First off I use a lip scrub in the summer time. I don’t bother in the winter because all my lips need then is a moisture bomb, not a scrub. My current lip scrub of choice is the Hanalei Sugar Lip Scrub. It works well and it smells like lemonade. Which I rather enjoy. It also scrubs without overly drying my lips more since it has it’s own oil inside.
The Lip scrub I need to pair with a lip mask.
From all descriptions the Tatcha lip mask sounded like it would be perfect for the summer. It is a Jelly lip mask, which I hoped would feel lighter and it has squalene inside which all of my skin tends to react well to using. According to the Tatcha website this mask is…
Elegant, non-sticky jelly melts into skin and layers on to comfort, hydrate, and lock in moisture. Plumps the look of fine lines and wrinkles for a supple, firm look. Restores essential moisture to flaky, parched lips for a smooth, soft texture.
The three key ingredients are Japanese Peach Extract: A traditional Japanese beauty secret used centuries ago to help repair damaged lips. Works with orange peel extract to revitalize and calm irritation, Japanese Camellia Oil: Rich in oleic acid, vitamins, and nourishing Omegas 3, 6, and 9, this featherweight oil has been prized in Asia for centuries for its superb ability to help seal in moisture, and Squalane: All-natural squalane works instantly to richly moisturize and improve the skin barrier, locking in moisture and minimizing dryness all day. The weightless emollient absorbs easily without clogging pores or leaving behind an oily residue.
The jar is a clear glass jar that shows off the delicate pink mask inside. The jar comes with a little golden spatula. I think that this might come in more useful as I delve deeper into the jar. Although it is fine now. It is very easy to scoop too much mask with the spatula though. You really need to just surface glide across the top to get enough product. If using a finger instead of the spatula it is a bare tap of the surface to get enough product on your finger tip.
First applied
When I first opened the jar I thought there was a plastic sheet on the top (incase you notice the divots. There isn’t one. The product goes all the way up to the top. The lid is tight fitting enough that I am not worried about it drying out at all. And honestly I love that it is completely full. There are no air pockets making the jar half empty. It is completely full of product.
I also like that very little product is actually needed to apply on the lips. It means this little jar is going to last me a long time, even with continuous use. Which my budget likes. I don’t mind spending more on good products, but I am always happy when they last a while. And even happier when they work well. Although to be honest, this mask was $28 which isn’t a terribly outrageous price (Laniege lip masks are about $25 and those tend to be my standard jarred lip masks – smaller tubes of lip masks are cheaper of course, but in size the Laneige is the closest to the Tatcha in product amount that I regularly use)
After 20 minutes (The lighting difference is natural sunlight vs. artificial)
So, how does it work?
Well the full review will have to wait until a month of use has passed but for a first use, this went really well. I used my lip scrub to remove the flaky bits and then rinsed and dried my lips, applying the mask over it (I didn’t want the il from the lip scrub affecting perception). The Tatcha Kissu lip mask is slightly sticky to the touch. when applied and spread on the lips it feels a little sticky at first, almost like a lip gloss. Thee is almost no scent to it. There is a light scent that might be peachy, but it is gone so fast it is hard to identify.
I am perfectly fine with a lip mask having no scent as a scented lip mask can be a bit much. As the lips are located right under the nose, any scent, if lingering, can become a bit much. while the light scent was there when I opened the jar, it was gone by the time I applied it to my lips and not noticeable at all as I wore it.
The mask was a little lip gloss sticky when applied and it had a lip gloss shine to it. The stickiness faded after a minute or two and after twenty minutes I took the second picture of my lips. The shine faded and while my lips felt hydrated it no longer felt as though I was wearing anything on them.
Now I did this fires test in the day mostly because i wanted to see what was happening, however I did wear the mask to bed at night. I applied it, had my usual half hour of reading before sleep and then went to sleep. I was worried that because the mask disappeared so quickly that it wouldn’t nourish through the night. I needn’t have worried. The next morning my lips were soft and nourished and completely hydrated. While I am sure that there will be greater effects after a month of use, One (okay technically two times) of use makes me very hopeful that this will be the perfect summer lip mask for me. It is light weight, with no over bearing scent and it appears to hydrate well. As a first use, this went fantastically well.
Samples I am so looking forward to trying out.
And when I ordered, I received three samples of other Tatcha products I’ve wanted to try out, so even though the point was to find a fantastic summer weight lip mask (which I think I might have done) I also get to try out a couple of products that were on my to try list before I place another order. I know, a lot of companies send samples with their orders so that isn’t shocking.
However i am tickled that when they showed the list of samples available and I got to choose three there were actually three available on the list that were on my personal to try list and now I get to try them before I purchase in the full sized. (they were the Liquid Silk Canvas Primer, the Silk Powder and The Rice Polish (Deep), in case you were wondering. So often when you get to check out the samples aren’t ones you wanted to try or hadn’t tried, at least for me anyway so that was just an extra bonus. All in all I was happy with my purchase and can’t wait to see how this Tatcha Kissu Lip Mask performs over the next thirty days.
I love long silky lashes but I will be honest, I am not a fan of false eye lashes. I have pretty decent eyelashes to start with, but when I try to add in false eye lashes, I inevitably end up ripping out my own eye lashes and then, I don’t have decent lashes of my own any more.
Which sort of defeats the whole point.
The last time I gave in and used false lashes for a while, I love the way they look, hated losing my lashes and tried a lash boost serum. It was the Grande Cosmetics Lash Enhancing serum and it was fantastic. I have also used the Dermelect XL Lash Volumizer, which I think made my lashes really healthy. I thas been a while since I’ve used a lash enhancing serum though. However i am always willing to extend my lashes, as long as I keep them healthy.
Apply nightly to the base of the upper and lower eyelashes. Continue using to aid the condition and appearance of your lashes.
Apply every other day if a mild tingling sensation occurs. As Eyelash Boost gets low, shake the bottle to ensure the product is on the application wand before use.
Caution: For external use only. Avoid direct contact with the eye. If irritation occurs, rinse with cool water and discontinue use. Consult with your physician if you are pregnant or nursing, being treated for any eye-related disorder, or actively undergoing cancer treatment. Keep out of reach of children.
I admit when it comes to my eyes I am kind of picky so I went through the ingredients list with a dine toothed comb. I found nothing I was allergic to on the list and then I tested it of night on the inside of my arm. There was no adverse reaction so I decided to go ahead and try it out. (I also made sure to use it in the bathroom near a sink so that if any burning occurred I could rinse out my eyes fast.
I like long lashes, but I’m not going to make myself blind to get them.
bare eyelashes at the start of the trial
The tube is heavy feeling in the hand. I know it is probably a marketing ploy but the heavier tube did feel more luxe in the hand. I also like the sleek black tube with the gold lettering. It is an attractive looking product. The wand is a very fine point brush. There is no real scent to the product. I applied the product on the base of my lashes and then brushed it along the actual lashes themselves, as directed.
There was no stinging or burning sensations. No tingling of any kind. It simply felt wet. I sealed the tube up and then left the bathroom. It took about five minutes for the Dime Serum to dry down on my lashes. I did go a bit heavy handed on this first application since I wanted to see if i would have any problems. For me, since i routinely wear a silk sleep mask to bed, the dry time of the product is important.
wet eyelashes after first application
After five minutes my lashes were dry and felt a bit stiff. I brushed them with my finger and the stiffness faded. I think it was just the consequence of having something dry on the lashes. A quickly brush over the lashes with my finger and the stiffness wasn’t an issue. (and by brush I mostly mean I ran the side of my finger over my lashes by holding my finger in front of my eyes and blinking).
Clearly I am not going to see results in just one use, but i wanted to try the serum out and see how it would effect me before committing to a month long trial. Plus I find that if I post the before and first use pictures here there is less of a likelihood I will accidentally erase them and lose them. Since there were no ill effects then i will be trying the Dime Lash Boosting Serum for the next thirty days. At the end of March I’ll post again and we’ll see what sort of results my lashes show. But for a first use, this product performed pretty well. I’m actually kind of excited about this trial. When I used the Grande Lashes, it was because I had damaged my own lashes and needed to regrow them. Now my lashes are healthy, so it is all about keeping them healthy and seeing how long they can grow. And while repair is sometimes necessary, this is just plain fun.
Ms. Mimsy Reviews 