Week 1 check-in | Sample Swag September

This week is the first week of Sample Swag September, a personal challenge to myself to eliminate all of my stash by the end of the month. That might be a pretty lofty goal, so I'll be content if I even get it down to 1/3 of what it used to be.

This week's lineup is from IOPE, a brand under the Amore Pacific mega brand, with a mask from Innisfree in there for fun.

Week 1 | Sample Swag September

This week is the start of a wonderful month! Up this week are several samples from IOPE, a Korean brand under the large Amore Pacific corporate umbrella.

Sample Swag September: A month of tester skin care

I love samples. It's an awesome way to try things out and I often find something I really, really love.

I wish all beauty shops made giving samples a regular event, like most Korean beauty shops.

I'm talking to you, Sephora. I remember when you used to give samples out like candy, way before the VIB reward system was a thing!

I miss those times.

Three things…that help fight shine

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If you're anything like me, fighting shine is a daily battle one must face.

During the summer, anyway.

Oh well. It's the price we all have to pay for amazing weather. Right?

WRONG!

I'm sick and tired of looking like a shiny round beacon in public. As such, I'm sharing three of my favourite ways to beat shine at its own game.

Sample Selection Saturday | Malin + Goetz lip moisturizer

Malin+Goetz is one of those brands that I would love to try but would never bring myself to purchase. For the most part, anyway. Obviously there are some products within the brand that I wouldn't mind purchasing.

This lip moisturizer is one of those!

what is it:

A heavy-duty lip moisturizer.

In brief: the good and the ugly

The good:

The cost. This is one of the cheapest products Malin+Goetz offers. The full-size, 10 ml, is double my sample and costs around $12/$14 CDN plus tax, depending on where you get it.

The fragrance and colour, or lack thereof, is amazing. My lip balm should be colourless and odourless. If I wanted something exciting, I would be wearing lipstick or gloss.

This moisturizer doesn't play around! Just a little dab will do in the driest and coldest part of winter (I live on the west coast, so in comparison to some parts of North America and Europe/Asia it isn't that cold or dry). Even less than that for other parts of the year. Amazing for dry, dehydrated lips.

I put them on this week to some really chapped lips overnight. When I woke up, they were completely healed. No joke.

The ugly:

The texture is really thick, then again it's pretty much all emollients. So there you are. Has the same type of consistency as Vaseline, only more sticky and heavy.

Malin+Goetz products in generally are pretty difficult to purchase in Canada. There are no Malin+Goetz stores in Canada. Luckily there's a retailer in town that sells them. Otherwise, you are at the mercy of whatever stock the spas and stores that pick up the brand have available.

** If there are any readers who do know where I can get some Malin+Goetz I am all ears!

Would I purchase?

Yes!

Malin+Goetz lip moisturizer can be found online.

Sample Selection Saturday | Etude House Skin Malgem Deep Moist

 

Etude House, I have found, is the shop that gives me the most confusion. A large part of this confusion could be the shop's special lingo for things.

What is a freshener?! What is a smoother?!

Toners, apparently.

This week, I try Etude House's Skin Malgem Deep Moist.

what is it

Part of the Skin Malgem line. If the name sounds familiar, I sampled Etude House's Skin Malgem smoother during a Sample Selection Saturday two weeks ago.

Despite the name, it is also a toner. Unlike the smoother, which was for troubled skin, the deep moist is for those with dry skin.

in brief: the good and the ugly

The Good:

I liked it when I thought it was an essence or light emulsion/moisturizer. It is none of those things.

At least, it's not marketed as one. It's marketed in a line of five toners for five distinct skin types. This deep moist, is clearly for those with dry skin. Very dry skin.

I suppose it would be a good toner for people with that skin type. It's really thick and almost has a creamy consistency. Not liquid and fluid at all.

Anyway! Whatever, Etude House. I'll use it how I want to use it. I choose to use it as a moisturizer.

This provided me enough moisture that I could skip my night cream. Of course, it's muggy, hot and August. So this probably wouldn't work for me in a month or two.

In conjunction with the smoother, it provided enough moisture to keep my skin hydrated throughout the night/day without giving me a shiny face or leaving greasy residue.

I'm really happy that under sunscreen and under makeup, this didn't break me out or irritate my face.

The Ugly:

I was so confused when I tried this. I had originally thought this was an essence or very light moisturizer. It has that type of consistency. It works well in that capacity for me.

It was only when I looked at the back that I noticed clues. Freshener, a product in their Wonder Pore line, is a toner. To confirm my suspicions I checked GMarket and it is a toner. One of five in the line.

FYI: I have combination skin and the smoother is a better choice for my skin type, toner-wise. Definitely a better choice now, at the height of summer. This particular toner isn't targeted to me, but aimed towards someone who has very dry skin. As a moisturizer, though, I could get away with using this. Of course this isn't a moisturizer, but a toner.

I didn't appreciate the alcohol smell. It's super strong and really put me off this product.

As far as the sample goes, I hated the packaging. This small tube always makes it hard to get product out, especially if it's thicker than a normal toner. A lot thicker. The packaging, of course, is a lot different than the sample packaging. I'm sure if you do purchase it, it won't be such a struggle for you to get to use it; you did pay for it, after all.

would i purchase?

No.

Etude House Skin Malgem Deep Moist can be found online. 

Sample Selection Saturday | Etude House Skin Malgem Deep Moist

Etude House, I have found, is the shop that gives me the most confusion. A large part of this confusion could be the shop's special lingo for things.

What is a freshener?! What is a smoother?!

Toners, apparently.

This week, I try Etude House's Skin Malgem Deep Moist.

WHAT IS IT:

Part of the Skin Malgem line. If the name sounds familiar, I sampled Etude House's Skin Malgem smoother during a Sample Selection Saturday two weeks ago.

Despite the name, it is also a toner. Unlike the smoother, which was for troubled skin, the deep moist is for those with dry skin.

IN BRIEF: THE GOOD AND THE UGLY:

The Good:

I liked it when I thought it was an essence or light emulsion/moisturizer. It is none of those things.

At least, it's not marketed as one. It's marketed in a line of five toners for five distinct skin types. This deep moist, is clearly for those with dry skin. Very dry skin.

I suppose it would be a good toner for people with that skin type. It's really thick and almost has a creamy consistency. Not liquid and fluid at all.

Anyway! Whatever, Etude House. I'll use it how I want to use it. I choose to use it as a moisturizer.

This provided me enough moisture that I could skip my night cream. Of course, it's muggy, hot and August. So this probably wouldn't work for me in a month or two.

In conjunction with the smoother, it provided enough moisture to keep my skin hydrated throughout the night/day without giving me a shiny face or leaving greasy residue.

I'm really happy that under sunscreen and under makeup, this didn't break me out or irritate my face.

The Ugly:

I was so confused when I tried this. I had originally thought this was an essence or very light moisturizer. It has that type of consistency. It works well in that capacity for me.

It was only when I looked at the back that I noticed clues. Freshener, a product in their Wonder Pore line, is a toner. To confirm my suspicions I checked GMarket and it is a toner. One of five in the line.

FYI: I have combination skin and the smoother is a better choice for my skin type, toner-wise. Definitely a better choice now, at the height of summer. This particular toner isn't targeted to me, but aimed towards someone who has very dry skin. As a moisturizer, though, I could get away with using this. Of course this isn't a moisturizer, but a toner.

I didn't appreciate the alcohol smell. It's super strong and really put me off this product.

As far as the sample goes, I hated the packaging. This small tube always makes it hard to get product out, especially if it's thicker than a normal toner. A lot thicker. The packaging, of course, is a lot different than the sample packaging. I'm sure if you do purchase it, it won't be such a struggle for you to get to use it; you did pay for it, after all.

WOULD I PURCHASE?

No.

Etude House Skin Malgem Deep Moist can be found online. 

Three things…to keep mosquitoes and their itchy bites at bay

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Since the summer started every mosquito bite I've gotten has swelled to an embarrassing level.

I've got a lot of mosquito bites in the past two months.

Some of them have been red; some of them itch like crazy. Some of them I don't notice for two days, itch a bit and then disappear.

I wish all my bites were like that.

Here are three things that I can't live without each summer.

1. MOPIDICK (and its equivalents). This does regular battle with sunscreen on what I rely on the most each summer. I was introduced to this in Japan by a kind friend who took pity on my ravaged body. She let me use her roll-on and I'm ashamed to say I almost didn't give it back.

This thing is amazing! It provided instantaneous relief for hours and really cut the days of embarrassing swelling in half.

I ran out of my Mopidick, but this is a bottle that does the same job without the awkward-sounding name.

Pro tip: Mopidick is a bit hard to come by, especially if you're not in Asia. They sell them on eBay and online, but if you absolutely have to go find a bottle right now take a picture and put it on your phone.

It'll save you from having to field awkward questions, awkward looks and endure muffled laughter from merchants. Trust.

2. Mosquito repellent. This actually stops the bites from even happening, but I almost always forget about applying it before I head out.

That is, of course, until there are five mosquito bites on one leg. At that point it's pretty easy to remember to use the repellent.

3. Tea tree oil. Tea tree oil used to be the number one way I would treat my bites. Then I was introduced to Mopidick. But tea tree oil is really good in a pinch. It soothes the itch almost immediately and it comes in a mess-free bottle. All I need are a couple of drops, more depending on how bad the bite is.

Note: I mentioned that coconut oil was a good way to soothe bites a while ago. Sometimes it doesn't work. Especially when you head back out after application on a hot day. Word of advice: stick to the tea tree oil.

Tell me what you think!

Do you agree with the things on the list? What helps you when you get bitten? Do you know some place where I could get a bottle of Mopidick?!

Share in the comments below or get in touch!

Bloglovin | Twitter | She Said Beauty

Three things...to keep mosquitoes and their itchy bites at bay

Since the summer started every mosquito bite I've gotten has swelled to an embarrassing level.

I've got a lot of mosquito bites in the past two months.

Some of them have been red; some of them itch like crazy. Some of them I don't notice for two days, itch a bit and then disappear.

I wish all my bites were like that.

Here are three things that I can't live without each summer.

Sample Selection Saturday | Tarte ReCreate primer

When I buy – or use – primer, it has to pass two tests: keeping my makeup on my face and keeping my face on the dewy side of shiny.

That's all I ask of it.

I don't expect it to keep my face matte-free, especially in the middle of summer. I'm not asking it to create miracles.

Summer swaps | Bases

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We're all about skin care here at AM to PM. In an ideal world, I'd get out of my house after slathering on some SPF and go about my day with amazing, luminous skin. Naturally.

Real talk: that's never going to happen unless I'm just going to exercise, run quick errands, am sequestered at home on the weekends or it's a really, really good skin day.

Sample Selection Saturday | Etude House Skin Malgem Smoother

I've been outside lately and it's made my skin so raggedy and lacklustre.

I've also been pretty dry, when my skin isn't all shiny, but I've been short on time so I haven't had the chance to tackle these issues. Two issues = two different products = two more things I need to add to my nightly regime: an exfoliator and a toner.

When I thought of this sample, I thought I had stumbled upon the perfect product by pure coincidence.

Sadly, this product was far from perfect. Far from advertised, even.

Three things…to beat the heat

My hood is going through a brief heat wave. I love it!

What I don't love is that slightly gross look I tend to sport when I'm out and about in this heat. Shiny face and I feel just a little bit sticky.

Since sweaty and shiny aren't a good look for me, I'm sharing some of my favourite products for staying and looking cool when it's so hot.

1. Etude House Wonder Pore Freshener: It's something I've talked about in the past. While I love its makeup removing superpowers, it also works well as a mist. I don't notice any of the benefits that the bottle purports – deep cleansing, smaller pores, refined skin tone. What I do notice is a nice layer of moisture to my skin right when it needs it.

Pro tip: transfer some of the freshener into a small spritz bottle and mist and refresh your look.

Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner can be found online.

2. Avène Thermal Water This is quite possibly the most frivolous and wasteful thing that I have ever bought, in terms of skin care. Most people will get more out of it if they live in an area that has hard water since rinsing your face with hard water is not good for the skin. Fortunately, I now live in an area with soft water which is amazing for skin and hair.

Now, its only true moment of glory is the month and a half of summer where I spritz myself with some water and mist my skin when it needs an extra dose of cooling and moisturizing love. It's good to use after applying makeup to set it, use throughout the day as a mist and good on sunburns.

Pro tip: Keep it in the fridge for extra cooling powers.

Though if anyone is interested, I did live in an area with hard water before and I used a full bottle of this thing and my skin stopped having crazy breakouts.

Pro tip: If you live in an area that has soft water, what you could do to save money is DIY. Hit the dollar store for a spritz bottle and fill it up with regular water. I don't know how it'll set your makeup but it should be a pretty comparable alternative.

If you live in an area with hard water, have skin and hair that is sensitive to it and/or want the makeup setting benefits, just bite the cost and head to the drugstore for any thermal water.

Avène can be found in Murale and select drugstores, including London Drugs and Shoppers Drug Mart.

3. Nature Republic Aloe: I haven't reviewed this yet, but just know that I love it. It's a perfect allover moisturizer for the summer: cooling and soothing to the skin, it's light but delivers an ample amount of moisture. It's also multipurpose! It can soothe sunburns and act as a nice, light face mask.

Nature Republic Aloe can be found online and at T&T Supermarket.

Sample Selection Saturday | Lush Mask of Magnaminty

Another week, another sample selection!

What is it?:

This week's selection is a two-in-one product. Lush's Mask of Magniminty is a pretty generous product. It can be used as a mask and a cleanser.

In brief: the good and the ugly

The good:

It's a two-in-one product (cleanser and a mask).

I like the minty and slightly earthy smell.

As a cleanser – YOU CAN USE THIS ANYWHERE. This is kind of too strong to use as daily face wash. I'd suggest using this as a treatment mask. Definitely once or twice weekly, tops.

As a mask – YOU CAN USE THIS ANYWHERE. It left my face soft and minimized some swelling and some redness from my spots.

The ugly:

For the occasional user, it costs a lot ($12.95CDN for 125g; $24.95CDN for 315g).

It can be far too much product if you're going to use this primarily as a (face) mask, even if you're going to be using this as a face cleanser. Most of the Lush products I own can be used on the face and body, so this isn't really a problem.

It has a shelf-life of only four months.

The perils of buying products with ingredients I can pronounce. /sarcasm

Would I purchase?

Yes

Sample Selection Saturday | Weleda Wild Rose Pampering Body Lotion

Sample Selection Saturday is a new column where, every week, I will review a sample that has somehow landed on my lap.

Wild Rose body lotion was a bonus that I got when I purchased Weleda's Skinfood.

My body was definitely not pampered by this lotion. I applied it after my shower first thing in the morning and I used it all up in one go. Several hours later and my nose is still recovering from the fake rose smell.

In brief: The good and The ugly

The good:

It's a pretty good-sized sample (20ml).

It comes in a pretty tube, easy to tote around in a purse and use as hand lotion.

The ingredient list. With the exception of fragrance, because I never know exactly what that entails, I only had to look up one ingredient. Glyceryl Stearate SE is an emulsifier (stabilizer) derived from vegetables. It can be found in cleansers, shampoos, conditioners, creams and lotions.

The ugly:

The smell. I'm not one who loves scented products as it is, but I think this might even offend people who do like scents. You'd think with "wild rose" in the name it would smell like roses, but it does not. The scent is so unbelievably artificial and its a poor imitation of a floral. It is way too overpowering.

Makes sense, though. Fragrance is the seventh ingredient on the list.

I don't normally like lotions. I find them to be a bit watery in consistency and don't moisturize my skin as well as a cream or an oil. This Wild Rose body lotion was not an exception.

This is a very light moisturizer, probably better suited for summertime use.

(For reference, it's summer now and it still doesn't make the cut with me.)

Would I purchase?

No.

Empties | June

Another month, another empties post!

This month, I finished a couple of items I've already reviewed and am in the process of replacing and repurchasing.

1. Thayer's Witch Hazel with Aloe toner: This has two of my favourite products to calm and moisturize my skin: witch hazel and aloe. This toner is great at toning my face and picking up leftover makeup and dirt that cleansing leaves behind. It's also great at prepping my skin for my serum and regular moisturizer and can be used as a spritzer to refresh skin throughout the day.

Thayer's toners can be found at Whole Foods, natural health stores and online.

2. Aromatica Rose Absolute First Serum: This is more of a two-in-one product because it feels like a toner and a serum. And, if you're so inclined, you can even use it as a moisturizer for the warmer months. I like almost everything about this product – it calms my skin, is gentle, has natural ingredients, chic packaging, multiple uses and it lasted a long time. What I don't like about it now is its cost and accessibility.

Outside of Korea, it can only be bought online at a small number of retailers.

3. Coconut oil: I love coconut oil! I've forgotten which brand this used to be – the label got rubbed away by the oil – but it doesn't really matter. What does matter is that the oil has to be cold-pressed and organic. I've used this as an allover moisturizer, face cleanser, hair treatment, eye makeup remover and to keep my teeth super white (oil pulling). I could go on, but I love coconut oil's many uses so much it deserves its own post.

Can be found at most grocery stores.

4. Nature Republic pearl de caviar cleanser: I talked about this cleanser before. It was a pretty good cleanser and had good value. This is a deluxe sample size (50 ml) and it lasted an insane amount of time. Several months, with twice daily usage. I didn't need to use a lot of product because it foamed up really well. And I really loved the scent. It didn't smell so much to be overpowering; it was just enough to leave a subtle scent which washed away pretty quickly.

Pearl de Caviar cleanser is sold in 150ml bottles at Nature Republic stores and online.

5. Skinfood 40 percent shea butter body cream: This really helped to soothe and moisturize my dry skin last winter. I mostly used it on my hands and took it everywhere with me. The tube, which is so convenient, lived almost exclusively in my purse. It's a nice, rich cream that left my skin moisturized even hours later.

Skinfood can be purchased online.

Summer skin care swaps

Summer is just around the corner (Saturday, woot!) and I've been preparing for its imminent arrival. Last weekend I put most of my sweaters away – three out of five of them! I tucked a good chunk of my scarves into storage, too (way more than just five, if you're curious). But summer preparations aren't just limited to my wardrobe. Nope! I've swapped my skincare routine too.

Adventures in…facials!

A couple of weeks ago I treated myself to a facial. I decided this was necessary when I stumbled upon a sign: gift certificates to Skoah hidden amidst a load of paperwork.

This wasn’t my first facial. Nor was it my first time at Skoah.

But it was my first time in a long time, so I thought I would visit and try the very first thing I had.

The quickie facial.

Three things…for the days when you can't be bothered to cleanse

Attaining – and maintaining – good skin isn't rocket science. It requires a good diet, adequate sleep, hydration and daily cleansing.

But there are some days when I can't be bothered to cleanse properly.

Just like there are some weeks where I can't be bothered to post.

Life happens. Sometimes you stumble home late at night from work or a party. Sometimes you collapse into bed after work for a nap, only to wake up at 2 a.m. and can't be bothered to get back up.

Those days happen!

I've stocked up on some heavy-duty cleansers and makeup removers, in preparation for those very days.

While these three products can't compare to my regular skin care routine, these do fine in a pinch.

1. Bioderma Créaline: Créaline isn't the only cleanser of its kind, but it's the one that is shown the most love. Bioderma offers this cleanser in two forms, though Créaline (Sensibio) is definitely the one to get. It's gentle on skin, yet powerful at removing makeup and cleansing. Arm yourself with some cotton rounds, cleanse to your heart's content, and be prepared to see how much comes off. An added bonus – no rinsing required.

Runs for $22CDN for a 250mL bottle and available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Murale and London Drugs.

2. Etude House Wonder Pore freshner: This "freshener" from the Wonder Pore line can do a lot of things, cleansing being one of them. Wonder Pore is similar to Créaline, with a few exceptions. It contains alcohol and is a teensy bit harsher than the Créaline. It also has a convenient pump – something lacking with Créaline. In similar fashion to Bioderma, arm yourself with cotton rounds and prepare to wipe off all that makeup and grime. Again, no rinsing is required.

Find this online in a variety of sizes.

3. Olay cleansing wipes: I reserve these for especially lazy days when I can't be bothered to use cotton rounds. Or, for that matter, find them to use with the other two cleansers. These are pretty good, despite the heavy alcohol smell. Oddly, my skin doesn't feel at all taut or dry afterwards. The sheet is pretty generous and it's possible to use both sides – great if you're wearing a lot of makeup. Its texture reminds me of a Swiffer cloth and it's just as effective at catching dirt and makeup. This is strong enough to easily take off eyeliner, ditto Créaline and Wonder Pore, but I have to tread gently while taking off my mascara.

Still possible, though!

Olay wipes come in a pack of 30 and retail for $8CDN and can be found at London Drugs.

 

A windfall for good skin

Over the weekend I did some cleaning and found some ancient gift cards from Skoah.

I took them to the store hoping that I could still use them, but not really expecting anything. (I've had these for at least two years, after all.)

But, miracles do exist! The sales associate rang them through and they work!

This must be what winning the lottery feels like.

Check back for my adventures with facials soon!