Cuticle care

My mother gave me a Revlon nail care set years and years ago.  In this set were a few nail care tools, among them one thing I would never have known to use otherwise.  It looks like this: 

I develop tiny hard growths next to my nails.  These things hurt.  You can cut them with a nail clipper, but it works so much better with this handy tool.  Just make sure you cut against the growth and it is easy to remove them.  If you cut in the wrong direction you can sometimes cut into the skin next to your nail, which hurts.  Put it close to your skin and move the sharp end away from you, cutting the cuticle perfectly. 

Amazing little tool.  I wish I knew what it was called.

The photos are not very good.  The first one tries to show the hard growths next to my nails and the second tries to show how you use the tool, except that the tool needed to have the growth in the middle.

 

Definitely recommended.

 

Clinique dramatically different moisturising lotion

I might be fired as a beauty blogger for writing this post, but here it goes.  I would love some comments from people who can educate me.

I lived for a year as a poor student in Manhattan when I was in my early 30's.  This year Clinique really became my go-to beauty brand; mostly because of the price.  Clinique is an American product, made in America, and therefore much cheaper in America than the French products.  In South Africa there is much less of a price difference and Clinique is not so much cheaper than other brands. 

That year I started using dramatically different moisturizing lotion.  I have used it for years since.

I bought a nice big bottle of this last year in order to get the free gift.  I therefore still had a full bottle of Clinique when I became interested in beauty products and started reading up on products.  I soon learnt that this was not a good product.  It is full of mineral oils, which apparently are really bad for you.  I have not used this bottle in more than a year.  I live in Durban, which is humid, and do not struggle with dry skin.  And then winter came around, and things became a lot dryer, and my skin always felt dry.  One day I used this, kind of out of desperation between trying out some other products.  And low and behold, my skin stopped feeling dry. 

My understanding of why mineral oils are bad for you.  These oils sit on top and do not penetrate your skin.  It therefore does not moisturise deep inside where it is needed most.  Combining mineral oils with other products is a bad idea, because the mineral oils cause the other great ingredients to also sit on top.  Mineral oils are used by cosmetic companies because they provide a barrier and therefore make the skin feel moisturised.

Image from: http://www.ponikuta.com/

My take on this:  In winter I need a barrier between me and the harsh world outside.  The mineral oils in Dramatically Different Moisturiser provides this barrier.  It worked brilliantly.  My skin felt soft and plump and moisturised.

My compromise:  I do not use it at night any more, because I also use a serum at night and want that serum to penetrate deeply and do its work down there.  I use it in the morning under my make-up to keep my skin plump and hydrated all day.  That way I feel I get the best of best worlds, my skin is treated at night with something that penetrates and in the day it is nicely moisturised with a skin between me and the outside world.

Pros:  My skin feels soft and hydrated when used.
It is not too expensive.
It provides good moisturising without being oily and greasy.
No smell.
A pump bottle (which keeps the product hygienic).
Easily disappears into the skin.

Cons:
All those mineral oils.
No SPF.

I am not sure whether I will repurchase, but it is a lovely product.

There are so many reviews about this.  I just chose this one because it is very balanced.

Please leave a comment telling me how you feel about mineral oils.  Are they evil?

 

You can read a very critical review from Paula's choice.

The beauty factory: Originals. Hand and Nail cream

 

 

I received a small 10 ml tube of this hand and nail cream in my Rubybox.  I really loved this cream, but am not sure what to say about it.

Does it smell nice?  Yes, a subtle old fashioned smell, reminding me a little bit of the sun lotions from my youth.

Does it feel greasy?  No, not even a little bit.

Does it moisturise?  Yes, my hands feel soft and nourished all day

Is it expensive?  No, R49

Is it made in South Africa?  Yes

 

I think it ticks all the boxes.  A great hand and nail cream to try.

 

Their slogan:  Clean, honest, goodness

 

You can read a review from Kiss, Blush and Tell here.   

There is also a review at Beauty Bulletin. 

And a review from Rubybox.

 

Beauty Factory has a lovely website you should visit.

 

 

The July 2013 Rubybox

I had an annual subscription to Rubybox that has run out this month.  This is the first time in more than a year that I did not receive a surprise box in the mail.  Therefore there will be no review of the Rubybox this month on this site.  I am still curious to know what is in the box, so I searched the web high and low for some Rubybox reviews.  This is what I found.  If you know of any July Rubybox review I missed, please leave a comment.

Beautyqueen8

 

 

Womanonline.co.za

Becoming you seemed to have received the same box

 

This box was also the same as the two previous ones.

 

Not necessarily relevant

 

 

Review by Pink Peonies. 

This box seems to be the same as the previous box. 

 

 

 
Rubybox themselves also posted a video reviewing one of the boxes.
 

And some reviews of the new Rubybox mascara that was in the box.

 

 

Kiehl's series Nr 18: Creamy eye treatment with Avocado

I could write two completely different reviews of this eye cream.  I was first introduced to it, after a long flight, in the middle of the night, at an airport shop.  The sales lady loved it, told me she applies it throughout the day.  She let me apply some, but did not have a sample to give me.  I really liked it, it was a thick, yellowish-green (yes, avocado coloured) cream.  It was very moisturising and I was tempted to buy a pot of the stuff on the spot.  I did not however.  But in the back of my mind I kept thinking about this wonderful eye cream.

And then I bumped into a Kiehl's shop again and got two small sachets of the cream.  I used the first and really liked it.  And then almost to the end of the sachet, it started feeling watery.  I have no way of describing this.  The cream you put on your finger is thick, you start applying it to your eye area and then it feels like it glides on over water.  I did check several times whether I dried my eyes properly.  The same thing happened with the second sachet I opened.  I do not understand where this watery feeling comes from.  Needles to say, the cream does not feel so thick and moisturising any more.

I searched the internet high and low, but could not find anyone else complaining of this.  I accept that I am weird and alone in this, but I will continue my search for a perfect eye cream. 

It does not have a strong smell and is very soothing and not irritating at all.

Kiehl's claims on the packaging:  This creamy preparation with Avocado Oil, gently moisturizes the delicate eye area.  Our unique, concentrated texture does not migrate into your eyes.  Tested under ophthalmologist and dermatologist control. 

I could only find one South African review.  You can read it here. 

I was looking very hard for other people who did not like this cream in an effort to figure out why I thought it felt watery, and found this rather negative, rather short review on Paula's choice.   
She said:  Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado is good for dry skin anywhere on the face, but the amount of antioxidants is tiny and they won’t last long once this jar-packaged product is opened.

UPDATE: 
I spoke to a Kiehl's shop assistant yesterday.  He had me try the eye cream and showed me how it turned watery when you rub it.  It is supposed to turn watery and he told me that it shows how much it moisturises.  It changes my opinion of the product that it is supposed to do that, but I still do not like it.  I would rather have a creamy eye cream than rub water onto my eyes.  I guess that is why we try various things before we find our favourite.

Kiehl's series Nr 17: Creme de Corps

What a lovely product.
This is a thin body lotion.  They claim that if you use it for 10 days you would see the difference in your skin.  I have not been lucky enough to try it for 10 days, only in store and one tiny sample,  so I cannot say.
Another plus is that it is completely fragrance free, so it would not clash with the perfume you are wearing. 



HOWEVER
it is very, very expensive.  So expensive I am scared to give the amount.
A litre costs about R1000.  There is no way I can justify this for a body lotion, for three reasons: you use a LOT of body lotion (especially compared to facial lotions, so it will not last as long), there are really nice cheap body lotions out there, and I do not really have dry or problem skin on my body.  Maybe if I did, I might reconsider.




It is still a lovely product, and if I was a rich man, I would have some of this in my bathroom. 

Just a few reviews.
And some South African  reviews because I like to link  to other South African Beauty bloggers. 

Kiehl's series Nr 16: An interview with Kiehl's in South Africa

 

Today's post include only a link to another website for a really nice interview with Kiehl's in South Africa.
http://le1ghlo.com/kiehls/

June 2013 Rubybox

What was in the box? 

Alilia lipstick, a full size. 

It is really nice.  Very moisturizing, and also quite matt.  The colour is very rich and it lasted well.  It went on very smoothly.  And it tasted nice.  I really like this lipstick, and I was really needing a new lipcolour, so this was a nice addition to the box.  There is no colour name on the lipstick.  The card says bright red, but I would rather call this pink or fuchia, not red.  The colour is a bit out there, very fuchsia and bright.  All in all, a winner.  Already made the box worth it.

Revlon colorsilk, luminista in dark golden brown.  Full size.

I can see how this could cause some complaints.  Not everyone colours their hair and not everyone would like this specific colour if they did colour their hair.  Rubybox always claim that the boxes are packed according to your beauty profile.  However, I often cannot see how some of the products I am sent relate to the questions I completed.  This one is different.  They know that I colour my hair and that I am a brunette.  So sending me this specific hair colour suits me perfectly.  I would be curious to know if everyone got hair colour and whether everyone got this specific colour, or whether only people who indicated that they colour their hair got hair colour.  This one is a definite win in my book.  I will use it and I am glad I got it.

Ponds all in one even tone expert BB cream.  Three small sample sachets

I am keen to use and try BB creams.  I have only ever tried the Garnier BB cream (also from a Rubybox).  I am thus happy to try this one as well.  Ponds is a very cheap brand, which I have used years ago and did not like much.  I do hope their BB cream is better.  I wish we could get to try some of the higher end BB creams.  I am no price snob, but it is easier to buy myself a ponds BB cream (since it costs only R89) than to buy myself a chanel BB cream for example.  Another win, hopefully.   All three sachets are medium, I hope the colour will work. 

Rubybox tools duel sharpener

I have a sharpener for my pencils.  I am not sure whether I am happy to get another one.  Two brushes are better than one; but I am not sure whether two sharpeners are better than one?  Rubybox sells a set of tools.  Except for the eye lash curler, which I really really wanted, I think I own the complete set now. 

I calculate the value of this box to be about R262.  All (except one thing) things that I would really use.  Sadly, no perfume this time. 

Thank you Rubybox, this was a winner.  And I received it on the 5^th of the month, no delays.

I have found a review by Pink Peonies , Becoming you and an unboxing by Rubybox and a Review by Rubybox themselves.  (This last review answers my question about the hair colour.)

 

Kiehl's series Nr 15: Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion

This might be the best exfoliator I have ever used.  I have not used a microderm abrasion before.  The beads are tiny.  It is so small, it almost hurts while using.  You are supposed to massage for 3 mins.  My skin feels soft and clear after using this.  A definite winner and a great find.  This product gets a big thumbs up.

You can read lots of reviews here.  And I managed to find a review from South Africa as well.

Here is a more interesting review from Paula's choice.
She says: Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion is your basic microdermabrasion-in-a-jar topical scrub, with alumina as the abrasive agent. The emollients and silicone in this product help protect skin from the alumina, which can be rough on your skin if not used very gently. Although pricey, this is a good, fragrance-free scrub for normal to dry skin