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.

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!

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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 | 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

Review | The Face Shop New Zealand Volcanic Clay Blackhead Clay Nose Pack

Phew. That's certainly a mouthful, isn't it?

Blackheads are annoying, aren't they? Since I was 11, I've been plagued by them. Annoying black freckles scattered all over my nose.

I've made it one of my missions to find a way to banish them for good.

Enter The Face Shop's New Zealand Volcanic Clay Blackhead Nose Pack.