Category: skincare

Product Review: Clarins Paris Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate

Ladies, if you travel, have children, work insane hours or all of the above; you know what I’m speaking of when I talk about hard to remedy dark under eye circles. You understand the desperation, and willingness to open your wallet for any product that may help you, even just a little bit.

I have an attachment to Clarins products. I’m not sure why exactly, but some of them seem to work small miracles and some are just normal products. (Like every face care line) I am addicted to Clarins double serum. That stuff is AWESOME!

I found this must-have addition to my travel kit when I took a solid glance at myself in the mirror while at work, and it was date-night. No joke, I ran to the closest department store that carried Clarins products, made a bee-line for the Clarins rep and said ‘gimme the strongest eye stuff you’ve got!’ and this was the result.

Noticeable results with eye creams have to be one of the trickiest things to figure out because so many other factors come into play; diet, sleep, stress, hydration, etc. That said, I must admit that I can’t really see a super improvement in under dark eye bags, but the puffiness has subsided and that is a good thing. HOWEVER, this eye cream is not solely focused on under eye bags and darkness. When I look in the mirror in the mornings (I currently use this day and night) I CAN see a difference in developing crows feet and smile lines. Thankfully, this elixir seems to be slowing the aging process of the skin around my eyes. So, if you’re battling aging, I would absolutely recommend this product. I also recommend the double serum for face. Although a bit on the pricey side, it’s worth every penny, especially if you have dry skin. (If you have oily skin, its just a matter of time before a break-out).

My main problem at this point is dark under-eye circles, so I will continue my quest for the perfect eye-cream which battles under eye circles, puffiness and combats aging at the same time.

The search will be cont’d…slowly, since most products have been purchased by myself and posts are unsponsored.

Which eye creams do you prefer? What are the main improvements you are searching for when you purchase eye creams? I look forward to your feedback 🙂

Thank you for reading!

-Mliae

Product review: BIOTHERM AQUASOURCE Night Spa

Like many women that live and travel in climates that range from super hot and sunny to can’t breathe freezing, my skin type fluctuates from oily to very dry. Therefore my skincare regime MUST be able to adapt accordingly. Not to mention, I’m always on the look-out for something that has anti-aging properties but doesn’t contain tons of funky ingredients.

I purchased this product when I found myself surprised by a request to attend a big event in the city that I was in that evening and found myself without make-up or skincare bag…at all! Yikes! Time to run to the closest department store and get everything I needed. So I picked-up this little beauty and it’s worked like a charm.

I began using this product on a nightly basis 2 months ago. I have to say, that it is great! The price is reasonable, so I wasn’t expecting miracles. I was surprised though, when after the first two weeks I could actually see a noticeable difference. My face looked fresher and even my neck showed some improvement. It’s tempting to lather on, but really you only need a small amount.

I would definitely recommend this product for dry or combination skin in the autumn when the weather starts to change and so do our beauty products.

Thanks for reading

-milae

Product Review: Organic Baobab Powder by Pandavita

Hello all 🙂

I’ve been testing out a new Super Food Product and I really like it, so I wanted to share my thoughts! Those of you who have been with me for awhile, know that I have been on the search for superfoods, brainfood, and good nutrient mixes. So far, there have only been a few that I’ve found worthy of a good share.

The reason why I’ve been on the lookout for the best of the best however, has remained a mystery…until now. I have blood issues. A horrendous case of anemia – no, not the ‘I bruise easily’ kind of anemia, but the ‘we’re going to find you unconscious on the floor if you don’t fix this’ kind of anemia. So, not only is it fun trying new products, but it is imperative to my health that I find good products that actually work – and stick with them! This is one of those products. Seriously. I have to take a ton of iron supplements on the daily and taking Vitamin C with that iron, helps my body to absorb more of the iron that I need. So you can imagine how excited I was to discover this product.

Until recently, I had never even heard of Baobab fruit. So, I was a bit hesitant to try it. But when I tried it, it was really good – even just on its own, so that was a two-thumbs up moment. 🙂 Also, any kind of nutrient that is derived straight from the plant, is much preferable to nutrients created in a lab. I mean honestly, who says ‘I want non-natural chemicals to make my natural body healthier!’ – Ummm…nobody. So of course I was thrilled to see that this is a vegan, plant-based product.

About this product: Baobab fruit is a fruit that is grown in Africa. The Baobab powder used is 100% organic and unprocessed because the powder actually dries inside the fruit, so no processing is necessary. It contains tons of Vitamin C, Potassium, Fibre, Magnesium and Calcium. It’s very fruit-y, sweet, maybe a bit zingy so it’s great in all yogurts, smoothies, or on its own. I would personally, only suggest using this product on its own, or in cool or room temp foods; as from what I know about superfoods, mixing it with hot food – or heating it – will diminish it’s nutrient power. If you are taking other nutrients which need to be absorbed quickly into the body, or else will be wasted, taking Vitamin C will help your body absorb those nutrients faster. Trust me 😉

About Panda Vita: Panda Vita is a small company in the UK which currently focuses solely on Baobab powder. They believe that the investment into 100% organic product is well worth it because it is healthier for the consumer and the planet. Panda Vita donates 5% of all their profits to charity, to a Panda conservation center in Chengdou, China. (Ok, that’s awesome! ) The people that I have had the pleasure to be in contact with are extremely friendly and helpful. Fantastic customer service is always a huge bonus! Not to mention one of my favourite bits: Affordable World-wide shipping! Yeah, Baby, Yeah!

promo

The nice folks at Panda Vita have been cool enough to even offer a promo code for my readers: If you would like to order this product, please go to the Panda Vita site and when you are checking out, use the promo code: LEB15 for your 15% off 🙂 I will be using this code in the very near future too!

I have been using this product in a Almond Coconut milk Chia Pudding, which I think you might like and I will be sharing the recipe next week 🙂

Thanks for reading, and I hope I was able to help you on your search for great nutritional products!

-Mliae

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary package of Organic Baobab Powder in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. I will be buying myself more 😉

Green Smoothies: The weightloss & detox secret #GreenSmoothiesTheWeightLossDetoxSecret


Greetings everyone!

As most of you know, I’ve been on a slow-boat voyage to healthier living. Diet, exercise, hard work and a smile 🙂 So, you can guess correctly that I was a happy thing when I got my hands on this smoothie recipe book. At first I thought it would be just like every other smoothie book out there: All kale, all banana, all the time… Buuuttt, Much to surprise, it isn’t! There are actually some really cool and creative recipes inside. Easy too! Good, because I’m not exactly the home-chef type. So, I tried a few of the vegan/vegetarian recipes and they turned out really yummy.

I thought I would share a few of my faves, as well as a short review from my perspective:

Some of my favourite recipes include: Arugula Raspberry smoothie, Almond and strawberry smoothie, beet and broccoli smoothie, spiced pumpkin smoothie (of course, it’s perfect for this time of year!), Gazpacho smoothie (This, I’m dying to try!), Tropical green smoothie, and a delicious dandelion celery smoothie.

What I liked about this book:

  • Fantastic, healthy alternative to fast food
  • Quick and easy to read
  • Interesting recipes, not just – put a whole bunch of stuff in a blender and drink it.
  • The recipes look GREAT!
  • Each recipe includes some nutritional information
  • Explanation of if it is or is not preferable for weightloss and why
  • Each recipe includes a short breakdown of what the special benefits of that particular smoothie are
  • The health benefits of chocolate are actually included…Yay!
  • It is suitable for vegans, as milk is almond milk & yogurt can be substituted for soy.
  • All the sweeteners included are natural. Agave, honey, cocoa

What reservations I have about this book:

  • Some of the recipes include natural sweeteners, which I feel is counter-productive. Although I understand that some readers may have a sweet tooth and naturally occurring sugars in vegetables may not be enough to satisfy the taste buds.
  • The suggestion to have the smoothies at approximately the same time daily. This leads me to the assumption that many of these ingredients are naturally occurring diuretics, thus the need for your body to adapt.

Before I got these good recipes, I was making kale and cucumber smoothies (good, but boring after awhile) with the occasional dessert smoothie of berries and ice cream – which is totally not the right thing for my diet. Now it’s replaced with the almond and strawberry smoothie. Yuuummm…

This book can be purchased here  by clicking on the link. The Kindle edition is $4.95, or free with the kindle reader.    Join Amazon Kindle Unlimited 30-Day Free Trial  There are also Hardcover and paperback versions available from $18 – $19.

OR, if you are in Europe:

Amazon UK:     Green Smoothies: The Weight Loss & Detox Secret: 50 Recipes for a Healthy Diet (Special Diet Cookbooks & Vegetarian Recipes Collection Book 3)

What do you think, are smoothies the way to go? Or just a nice way to have a quick serving of fruits/vegs on the go?

Thanks for reading!

-Mliae

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Product Review: Yves Saint Laurent Forever Youth Liberator -Eyes

I am finding myself to be rather partial to this product. Granted, it is a bit of an investment, but as a lady in her late 30’s, I can easily tell you that an investment into skincare is a solid investment indeed!

Similar to the Clarins eye cream that I loved, the difference seems to be subtle…until you stop using it. After a 3 days forced break from this eye cream, I looked in the mirror and realized that OK, this is actually making a HUGE difference!

Although I’ve had a problem with dark circles under my eye area this year, Forever eye cream by YSL has actually made a difference. The lines and darkness are reduced, but not eliminated. I have to say though, that I would much rather look in the mirror and see the slightly tired eyes of a late 20 something, as opposed to the dark exhausted eyes of a 50 year old staring back at me. This made that difference, so I recommend it!

Runs at $100 and can be purchased in many upscale department stores or online by clicking here.

What are some of your to-swear-by eye products?

Thanks for reading!

-Mliae

Product Review: Teadora Nourishing Lip Balm

Teadora Nourishing lip butter from Brazil is the product I am reviewing today on my search to find the products to create the perfect pout. I really like this product. It does not leave my lips dried out after 1,000 uses. I found that, even better, I’m not applying it all day long. It lasts much longer than the average lip balm, so I re-apply maybe 5-6 times per day.

What I like about this product:

  • Exfoliating properties. Because this is the slightest bit gritty, it gently exfoliates the dead skin on your lips, so you don’t find yourself mindless rubbing your lips.
  • I think it smells good. I can’t exactly place what the scent is, but it smells…clean, not chemical-y.
  • It lasts for-ev-er! Due to the fact that its super thick, its virtually impossible to get a ton of it to use at one go.
  • Product is Vegan. The ingredients I found are as follows: Buriti, Açaí, Cupuaçu, Buriti, Brazil Nut, Andoriba, Maracujá (Passion Fruit), Açaí oils, Cupuaçu, Murumuru, Mango butters & Carnaúba Wax
  • Price. This product is very affordable, and with the fact that it lasts soon long it’s a good buy. Solid 🙂

What I don’t like about this product:

  • The almost un-noticeable grit contained within, takes some getting used to
  • You have to use your finger. You’ll be swiping for ten minutes with a lipstick brush to get any, because it is solid its so thick.
  • Labelling. (I know, it has nothing to do with product performance) But if you’re like me, you like all your tubes and bottles looking new and beautiful. With heavy use and banging around in my bag, the ink does rub down a bit in some places such as the container lid.

Overall decision: 

For me, this one is a keeper. I will have it in my beach bag this summer. I will be buying more, and I like this product so much I want to try to some of the other products in Teadora’s line as well.

Keeper Tally: 2

  • Teadora Nourishing lip butter
  • Clarins lip balm with rose wax

I’ve linked Teadora’s website and amazon pages here, just click on where you want to go.

I would love to hear your thoughts about Teadora products.

The search continues!

-Mliae

 

Lip recommendation: Coconut oil

Well folks, I said I would try your recommendations..and I am. Misstery blog was kind enough to share some of her favourite lip products on a comment feed discussion prior to my bath and body works honey mania lip balm review. Thank you! I never would have thought to try this if it hadn’t been suggested to me.

This is an organic, cold pressed coconut oil that I purchased to try for cooking purposes. I jumped at the chance to try this for my lip challenge, because…how awesome would it be to find the perfect that was just hiding in my kitchen cabinet!

Here’s how it went down:

On day one, my lips were already in atrocious condition. Dry, cracked and bloody. Really bad. I filled half a shot glass with coconut oil (in solid form) and started smearing it all over my lips as often as I just could. No kidding, my lips were that dry that they were sucking this stuff up like it was a mojito in the desert. I tried it on my hands too…same effect. I’ve never been this dried out; I’m starting to think its the water in the new place or something. After about 5 hours  of constant re-application, the skin around my lips and on my knuckles started to get red and itchy. (Could this be a bit of an allergic reaction or what?)

On day two, began feeling an improvement, no more redness. Still thirsty, still lathering. After about 100 applications, the skin on my lips started to peel off – in sheets. I know that this was just that horrible dry skin shedding away so that new healthy skin could appear.

On day three, lips looked much better, and even fuller. Not exactly like collagen or a shellfish allergy, but not dry and small. Pretty and a little puffy (in a good way) and MOISTURIZED = happy blogger

On day four, everything normalizes. I’m still applying this stuff constantly, but I know enough about its reactions with me to write this review.

What I like about this product:

  • Accessibility: This is a somewhat common kitchen product that serves multiple functions. The 217 ml container is 50x the size of your average lip balm container and the cost is low
  • Moisturizing!
  • Feels very smooth on the lips
  • Smells coconut-y
  • Affordable
  • Multi-purpose: cooking, lip moisturizer, face and hand moisturizer, super hair and scalp treatment and about a bizillion other things

What I don’t like about this product:

  • Maybe not for sensitive skin in some cases, as I think I might’ve had a small reaction to it.
  • Should be cautious of using any oil product on your face, hands or body during parts of the year when UV is high
  • Kind of melted as soon as it got close to my face, so I was using tons of it and all the time
  • Container issues: Since you can’t exactly carry around a bucket of coconut oil in your clutch, how do you repackage it nicely for mobility? I kept it in a shot glass at home.

Overall decision: Unfortunately, this is not the perfect lip product for me. However, I will be using it on my lips again in the future because it was really nice and super moisturizing!

The hunt for the perfect pout continues! Any more recommendations for me to put on the try list? I must admit, I’m having a really good time doing this experiment!

-Mliae

Product Review: The Body Shop honey lip balm

I wanted to review this product in my quest to find the perfect products to create the perfect pout. I really love products from The Body Shop. They carry Lip balm, lip butter, lip gloss, lip care, lip stick, etc. Just for the lips. This is their 10 ml Honey mania lip balm.

What I love about this product: 

  • Use of Community trade honey harvested by the Beza Mar Beekeepers
  • Price is reasonable at 8.50€, 4£ or USD$ varies by store.
  • Softens lips
  • Smells like honey! Yummmm!

What I don’t like about this product:

  • The more you use, the more you need. Lips dry a bit when product dries.
  • Im constantly rubbing my lips together to smooth it over, so my lipstick wears off much faster. Very wax-y
  • Have to use your fingers to apply it if you are out and about without a lipstick brush

Overall decision:  Although nice, I would forego this product if you use lip balm more than  5 times daily or if you plan to use a lip colour on top which lasts long. Constant use will slightly dry out your lips.

Keep it in your bag if you’ve got it on hand for occasional use, or are going for a beachy lip look.

Thanks for reading!

-Mliae

 

New Experiment: The Perfect Lips!

Hello, I’m Mliae and I’m a beauty junkie! I love face care, body care and all things pretty. Only one teensy little problem though…As a woman, I spend a fortune on beauty products but only half of them actually do what they claim and some of them actually make problems worse?! So, I’m setting out to find the best and worst products for those smackers of ours.

I am a lip balm addict during the cold months. Under, over or in place of lipstick. I am now that frustrated because some of our most popular products are tearing my lips to shreds. So I’ve made up my mind that I will use and review every product I have within  my grasp…and then some; until I find the perfect combo for soft, supple, beautiful pouty lips that hold long lasting colour and make this girls smile look Ahhh-mazing! 😀

Stay tuned…Product reviews and more coming soon!

What are some of the products you swear by?

Let’s get this party started!

-Mliae

Winter facial at Mimando

I had another opportunity to visit one of my favourite spa’s for another great facial! I am justifying these trips because winter is absolutely cruel to my skin, I’m panicking about the beginning signs of aging, and…at Mimando, the price of these very effecting facials is more than reasonable. Trust me, I have done A LOT of shopping around and most places who offer this level of proficiency charge like they are giving you pure gold face masks. Thankfully, not here. In addition, my skin care professional is goal-oriented, not task oriented. So she doesn’t stop until she has made my skin look great! I don’t know what it is…maybe the outstanding customer service, or the glowing after effects of my skin every time I leave…but I am absolutely addicted to skincare treatments at Mimando.

OK, so here’s how this went down:

I wear a lot of makeup on a daily basis, so she did a very thorough cleaning to start. Then, because my skin seems to react best to this; she did an delicate ultrasound scrub & peel treatment. This was followed by a moisturizing facial mask for 20-25 minutes (and a little nap) polished off with a super moisturizer. And voila´! I look like this 🙂

IMG_4754

This photo is my ‘after’ depicting the absolute clearness of my skin proceeding my facial. It is unedited (ok, I cropped it), un brightened and unfiltered so that you can see exactly how squeaky clean my skin is.

Mimando, I’ll be back!

Thanks for reading!

-Mliae

The Body Shop 2015 advent calendar

On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

  • Vitamin E Hydrating Toner with daily quote: ‘Don’t be a wallflower today, enjoy the limelight!’ – ‘Ne faites pas tapisserie, lancez-vous sous les feud de la rampe!’
  • Fuji Green Tea body wash
  • A green shower puff
  • Black eye definer kohl
  • Shea body butter
  • Vitamin E moisture creme
  • Frosted Cranberry shimmer lotion

I had to post a week 1 update on this calendar because I am seriously ready to break into this stuff! Est nécessaire!

Last year, I was gifted with my first Body Shop advent calendar…and there was no looking back! I actually enjoyed it so much that I requested the same Christmas present this year. And more than likely next year as well 😉 It’s a great deal for the money, a gift that lasts all month long and longer because I actually use everything in it, and its well, just fun! 😀

Until week 2 calendar goodie update…. Are there any awesome advent calendars we should look for that you know of? I spy a lego calendar that’s pretty cool for the young ones also 🙂

Thanks for reading!

-mliae